Nidd Gorge footpaths get £165,000 upgrade

Major upgrades to footpaths are getting underway at Nidd Gorge and Bilton Beck to make the woodlands more easily accessible.

The gorge and beck, which are close to Knaresborough and Harrogate, attract many visitors but the woodland suffers from wet and muddy paths for much of year, especially in winter.

Wooden boardwalks have helped over the years but are now ready for replacing. Funding from FCC Community Foundation Ltd means the Woodland Trust can now start doing this.

The work will include installing new stone paths and signage along the route, especially the southern bank of the River Nidd.

According to a Woodland Trust press release today, the project is due to be completed by late spring when the ground dries up and gives better access to machinery needed to complete the operations.

Paul Bunton, from the trust said:

“The woodland is a cherished resource for local people and visitors from further afield, however some of the paths do suffer during the wetter months so the funding from FCC is fantastic news.

“When complete even more people will be able to  enjoy this woodland without having to navigate boggy areas. It also follows on from the tree felling we have had to do over the past couple of years to manage tree disease so there have been lots of changes on the ground however we are aiming to improve the overall woodland experience for all visitors, which will ultimately benefit wildlife too.”

Penny Horne, grant manager at FCC Communities Foundation, which is a not-for-profit business that awards grants from funds donated by waste management company FCC Environment, said:

“It’s always nice to see something we have funded start to take shape. We’re delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile project and we look forward to it benefiting lots of different people across the region.”

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Closed primary school near Boroughbridge could reopen as nursery

A school between Boroughbridge and Ripon that closed last year could reopen as a nursery.

Skelton Newby Hall Church of England Primary School in Skelton-on-Ure struggled with falling numbers of pupils and was eventually forced to close after having just one student enrolled. It has been vacant since.

Baldersby Park Nursery, formally Chrysalis Montessori Nursery, has now submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council to change the use of the building

The nursery is currently located next to Queen Mary’s School in Topcliffe, Thirsk, It has been established for over 20 years and currently has a ‘good’ Ofsted rating.

According to planning documents, Skelton Parish Council and Newby Hall Estate approached the nursery in the hope that it could utilise the school site.

A document submitted on behalf of the applicant said:

“Following discussions and a review of the viability of the proposed move it was decided that the school site offered an ideal location for a children’s nursery.

 

“Baldersby Park Nursery are currently experiencing a high demand for places and the proposed move would secure a long-term future for the nursery supported by a long-term agreement with the Newby Hall Estate.”

The school was founded in 1856 by Lady Mary Vyner, the former owner of Newby Hall, and maintained a close relationship with the estate.

If the planning application is successful, the nursery will begin providing early years learning at Skelton Newby Hall from September.

The nursery’s need to expand and the intention of Queen Mary’s School to expand into the nursery building signifies a good opportunity to move.

Headteacher and owner Victoria Pollitt said:

 “We are delighted to have been able to reach an agreement with the parish council to lease Skelton Newby Hall and we are looking forward to providing early years learning there from September 2024. The new building is only around ten minutes away from our current nursery and will enable us to increase the physical size of the nursery without increasing numbers. It will also mean we can extend learning with the immediate surroundings such as Newby Hall, which will be of even further benefit to the children on their early years learning journey. We have had a fantastic five years at our current location and would like to thank Queen Mary’s School for all their support.”

Guy Critchlow, chair of Skelton cum Newby Parish Council said:

“We are delighted to welcome Victoria and her team to Skelton on Ure, and to see this truly amazing site return to education use from September 2024. We are grateful for the support of Richard & Lucinda Compton at Newby Hall who are continuing the long family tradition of ensuring space is available in our village for a nursery. Every thriving community needs a good nursery, like the Baldersby Park Montessori Nursery, to support the growing number of young families choosing Skelton and the surrounding area as their home.”

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Preloved clothing shop to open in Harrogate today

A clothes shop selling preloved, designer and high-street womenswear is due to launch in Harrogate today (April 18).

Preloved Chic Harrogate will be located in Windsor House on Cornwall Road. The business is co-owned by Harrogate women Cat Stanford, 52, and Kate Watts, 49 who said they aim to offer the town’s shoppers a sustainable alternative.

Ms Stanford has been in the fashion industry for over 30 years and has been offering a preloved service for the past four years. The duo met when Ms Watts was a customer and proposed becoming a business partner.

The move to Windsor House marks a new start for the business.

Windsor House was built as a hotel in 1900 and is now used mainly as contemporary office space.

It underwent a refurbishment to create a co-working space, meeting area and café in 2022.

The building, which overlooks the town’s Valley Gardens, is home to over 100 businesses, and covers 75,000 sq ft.

Inside Preloved Chic

Ms Stanford and Ms Watts said in a joint statement:

“Harrogate lacks a place where ladies can come and shop for amazing pieces at greatly discounted prices, you can buy a Stella McCartney Jacket for less than a third of the original price and a beautiful dress from Zara new with tags.

“Everything that we sell is preloved with most of it never worn, still with the original tags. Sustainability and recycling is huge now and we felt that we needed to offer this to the ladies of Harrogate.”

The store will be open every day except Mondays. Personal shopping appointments will be available in store.

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New headteacher appointed at Harrogate primary school

Western Primary School in Harrogate has appointed a new headteacher to take over at the end of the academic year.

Johanna Slack will take over from current headteacher Tim Broad, who is to retire.

Ms Slack is currently headteacher at Tang Hall Primary School in York and has over 20 years teaching experience.

She will take charge of Western Primary, which more than 500 children aged from two to 11 attend on Cold Bath Road.

Ms Slack said:

“My leadership style is one that is open and nurturing. It is built from developing strong relationships with everyone in the school community which has mutual respect at its core.

Joining Western Primary School will see me starting my third headship and I am looking forward to bringing to my new role a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge which will support me and the team to continue the improvement journey to ensure all our children are getting the very best we have to offer.”

Ms Slack and Western Primary School

Mr Broad became acting headteacher of Western Primary in January 2020 before his full-time appointment in 2021.

Prior to this, he had worked as a teacher, phase leader and deputy head at the school since September 1999.

Mr Broad said:

“I feel very proud and privileged to have had the opportunity to lead this fantastic school. I have very mixed emotions around the prospect of retirement but feel it is the right time for me, my family and the school.

“I have been lucky enough to work with some incredibly talented colleagues over many years, both at Western and within our Trust, and am grateful for their support and for their sustained contribution to our pursuit of excellence for our pupils and families.”

Western Primary is a member of Red Kite Learning Trust, a multi-academy trust of 14 schools across North and West Yorkshire.

Trust chief executive Richard Sheriff said:

“We are indebted to Tim Broad for leading Western through some of the most challenging years any of us have faced. His constant, reassuring presence at the school during the pandemic was a huge comfort to children and parents.

“He has led his wonderful team with skill and moral purpose, ensuring Western has become even stronger under his tenure.”

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Harrogate pub set to rebrand

The Swan on Devonshire Place in Harrogate is to be rebranded by new owners.

The Harrogate pub will reopen as The Mucky Duck, under the ownership of Appetite for Life Ltd.

The company also run SO! bars in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, the Devonshire Tap House in Harrogate and Tap On Tower Street in Harrogate.

The High Harrogate venue was previously owned by Market Town Taverns, a Harrogate company which operates a chain of pubs in Yorkshire and north-west England.

An application for a pavement licence has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council by Robert Thompson, who is named as the licensee of Appetite for Life Ltd on Companies House. He and Alison Thompson are the new owners of the venue.

The application, which was submitted at the start of the month, is for ‘the ability to place several tables and chairs outside the front of the premises for the sale of food, drinks and alcohol’.

The new signage is set to go up this week with the pub expected to open in May, although there is no confirmed date at this time.

Mr Thompson said:

“We knew the area lacked a good quality pub, serving great freshly prepared British & pub classics with a modern flare, great familiar beers, and a proper friendly welcome, so that’s what we plan to do”.

 

“We have made Harrogate our home since the mid-nineties and knew the pub was known as The Black Swan before it was the Swan on the Stray but was affectionately known as the Mucky Duck by locals. We wanted to modernise the pub a bit, but with a nod to its past, hence adopting the locals nickname for the pub”.

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E-cigarette shop opens in Knaresborough

An e-cigarette shop has opened on Knaresborough High Street.

Kings Lites is based in the former Yorkshire Building Society unit that has been vacant since 2018.

The e-cigarette specialist already has two stores in York and is looking at opening a fourth site, with Harrogate on its radar.

Former professional boxer Zak Collins, founder and director of Kings Lites, said the store aimed to help smokers quit and move onto e-cigarettes.

Mr Collins said:

“It is a healthier alternative to smoking and saves you a fortune. Cigarettes now cost around £17 a pack, if you switch to e-cigarettes you are saving around £120 a week if you smoke a pack a day, that can add up to a family holiday.

“It is also better for the environment and we have recyclable vape bins in our stores.”

Mr Collins said he grew up following a healthy lifestyle but his parents smoked and he watched his mum struggle to quit using replacement products.

When she eventually managed it using an e-cigarette, Mr Collins had his “lightbulb moment” and opened the Acomb store in York to help others.

‘We have received a lot of hate’

A social media post by the company announcing its opening said the Knaresborough shop would “help, serve and advise the local community on living a much healthier and finically beneficial lifestyle”.

Mr Collins said a 2021 NHS review found people who used e-cigarettes to quit smoking were up to twice as likely to succeed as people who used other nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gum.

But he added there remained a stigma around e-cigarette stores. When Kings Lites announced its new location, it received a backlash on this Knaresborough Facebook group for what it does and its colourful frontage.

Mr Collins said:

“It is completely shocking, the shops in York have always gone down really well. We have received a lot of hate opening the new shop and it is difficult to understand and quite insulting.

“There is a market for us in Knaresborough and we offer a huge selection. The shop is a big change for the High Street but things are bound to change and the colour is just to draw people in, the ones in York are the same.

“I just hope people will give us a chance to show who we are. We haven’t set out to upset anyone or be garish we are just trying to help people quit smoking and give the people of Knaresborough a healthier alternative.”

Mr Collins didn’t comment on today’s vote to ban smoking and vaping for children born since 2009 but said:

“Children vaping is horrendous and the entire industry gets tarnished because of it. We take pride in offering people a healthier alternative.”

He said the company planned to “strike while the iron is hot” by expanding, adding it was looking at potential sites in the Harrogate area to open its fourth store.

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Couple hand themselves in following Harrogate shop theft

A couple have handed themselves into the police following a CCTV appeal issued on Monday (April 15).

North Yorkshire Police released a set of CCTV images at the time to appeal for information following a theft at TK Maxx, in Harrogate‘s Victoria Shopping Centre, on February 25.

Police said on Monday “a woman and a man bagged various of items including sandals, trainers and T-shirts, leaving the store without making payment.

However, the force today (April 17) issued an updated statement, which said a local couple in their 50s “saw the appeal and came forward to the police to admit the theft”.

It added:

“With agreement from the store manager, a Community Resolution Disposal was applied which involved the couple paying for the goods valued over £100 within 24 hours.”

We have updated our coverage to anonymise the details of those involved.

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CCTV appeal after Harrogate M&S theft

North Yorkshire Police has issued a CCTV image of a woman it wants to speak to following a theft in Harrogate.

The incident happened at M&S Simply Food at Beech Avenue, at about 2pm on Friday, February 23.

According to a police statement today (Monday, April 15), a woman stole large amounts of alcohol in her bag.

The statement said:

“Please contact us if you recognise the women pictured on CCTV, as she may have information that will assist our investigation.”

Police would like to speak to the woman in the picture.

Anyone with information can email katie.hicks@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101, quoting reference 12240033400.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Business Breakfast: Massage therapy business opens in Harrogate

A massage therapist has opened her new practice, Bodyworks by Corey, in Harrogate on Oakridge View this week.

Corey Lofthouse moved to Harrogate from the USA in 2022. Soon after moving she faced a challenging battle with Breast Cancer.

Her personal experience with pain management during surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy encouraged her to open the business.

Still undergoing treatment but heading for full recovery, her business is ready to go. Offering all forms of massage therapy including deep tissue, Swedish, Orthopaedic and Oncology her practice is home based.

Ms Lofthouse said:

“I was always fascinated with oncology massage and had planned to add it to my services anyway, but this just solidified it, and made it a huge priority for me. There is so much pain management during breast cancer care that just isn’t catered for during treatment. The nerve damage that occurred with lymph node removal meant that I had to re-learn how my skin understood touch.”

Private wealth company plant 250 trees to extend Harrogate forest

Titan Private Wealth volunteers at the White Forest

Fourteen volunteers from Titan Private Wealth and Titan Financial Planning have planted trees to extend the White Rose Forest, near Bilton in Harrogate.

They cleared spaces for saplings to be planted, staked the plants and put a mulch mat around the saplings.

The White Rose Forest is the community forest for North and West Yorkshire. It is the largest of England’s community forests.

Mark Puleikis, joint chief executive of Titan Private Wealth, said:

“Our staff really relished the opportunity to contribute to the local area and we hope to continue our partnership with the forest in the future.”

Firm donates £4,000 to Harrogate mental health charity

Robert Beaumont (left) fund-raiser for Wellspring, with Hussein Kahil of Pegasus

Pegasus World Holding, has donated £4,000 to Harrogate mental health charity Wellspring Therapy & Training.

Chief executive Ivan Zhou said:

“Wellspring provides private counselling at affordable rates, easing the overwhelming demand on the NHS’ mental health services, and providing hope for children, families and individuals who are struggling with mental ill health and distress.”

Nick Garrett, interim chief executive of Wellspring said:

“This much needed donation is also vital as it will help us improve peoples’ mental health. I can’t thank Ivan Zhou enough for his company’s generosity.”

Wellspring Therapy & Training, which is based in Starbeck, was founded in 2003. It provides affordable short and long-term counselling for the Harrogate and district community.

Tax consultants open new Harrogate office

PD Tax. Front L to R: Lucy Bagnall, Paul Davison, Charlotte Wardle. Back L to R: Laura Brennan, Lloyd Bean, Daniel Hill, Peter French

Leeds based PD Tax Consultants have opened a new Harrogate office at Royal House on Station Parade.

The company was founded by Paul Davison in 2013, with head of the Harrogate branch Lucy Bagnell joining in 2023.

Ms Bagnall said:

“This is an exciting step in the growth of PD Tax and I am looking forward to working with the business community of Harrogate.”

A company spokesperson added:

“Paul and Lucy have a wealth of expertise to call on. We are looking forward to working with entrepreneurs and businesses in Harrogate, but also supporting local accountants with their clients’ more complex tax needs if their in-house tax team needs additional one-off support.”

Live for Today opens new shop at Ripley Castle

Live for Today store at Ripley Castle

Outdoor activities business, Live For Today, have acquired a new shop at Ripley Castle.

The company is owned by Marc Wise and Dan Miller. The new Live For Today shop is now co-located with the Grindhus Coffee Shop.

The new store offers direct access to Ripley Castle’s grounds and includes a meeting space upstairs.

Designed to accommodate up to 15 people, the meeting space is set to be ready to book in the coming months, offering a place for corporate groups, educational outings, or private gatherings.

Izak Jackson, marketing manager for Live For Today said:

“This move signifies an evolution for Live For Today. Our new shop at Ripley Castle, while only a few doors down from the old one, offers a perfect backdrop for our adventurers to experience the thrill of the outdoors, grounded in the rich history and stunning landscapes of Yorkshire.”

New salon opens in Harrogate

Era Salon Harrogate

A new salon, Era Harrogate, has opened on Grange Avenue. Co-Owners Jenny Addyman and Kirstie Bowdin, both originally from Harrogate, have been in the industry for 10 years.

The salon will offer hair services from bridal, to extensions, to colour changes, colour maintenance and then trims right through to restyles. As well as nails, lashes, brows and facial waxing.

The unit has undergone a full refurbishment costing thousands. The site was a salon previously, meaning the team managed to “upcycle a few things”.

Ms Addyman and Ms Bowdin said in a joint statement:

“We opened in Harrogate as we both grew up, went to school and trained as hairdressers here and so this is where our families and clienteles are. But we knew we wanted more of a residential area to suit our already existing clients and to make parking less of a hassle. Our dream of opening a salon together from those younger years has stood the test of time. This just seemed like the perfect time to take the leap and go into business together.”

Owners of Era Harrogate Salon, Jenny Addyman and Kirstie Bowdin

Big Bamboo appoints PR director

Matt Reeder Big Bamboo PR director

Full-service marketing and communications agency, Big Bamboo, has appointed Matt Reeder as its new PR director.

Mr Reeder, a journalist with more than 30 years’ experience, takes the role having worked alongside the team as a PR consultant since November 2023.

Mr Reeder said:

“Having already experienced first-hand how extremely talented and dedicated the team of marketing experts are at Big Bamboo, the opportunity to join them was simply too good to turn down.”

Nicola Stamford, the company’s owner and founding director, said:

“Matt is a welcome addition to the team, having already demonstrated his PR capability to us since November last year. I have no doubt he will be an asset to us and our clients.”

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Has Harrogate iStore closed for good?

The Stray Ferret understands the iStore on Harrogate‘s James Street may have closed for good.

The town centre shop has been a long-term destination for many people looking to buy or repair Apple products.

It is one of 10 stores run by London-based Albion Computers PLC, and the only one in the north of England.

At the start of the month, the Harrogate iStore closed its doors and put up a notice in the window saying it was ‘working on a new look’.

But multiple well placed sources have since told the Stray Ferret they do not expect it to re-open.

The signs advertising the new look have been removed and the view inside has been covered up. Albion has not provided an update.

The istore refurbishment notice in the shop on April 2.

The Stray Ferret has contacted Albion but has not yet had a response.

The company describes itself on its website as ‘an Apple premium reseller and Apple premium service provider’ with ‘over 35 years experience in supplying and supporting Apple technology’.

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Couple hand themselves in following Harrogate shop theft

A couple have handed themselves into the police following a CCTV appeal issued on Monday (April 15).

North Yorkshire Police released a set of CCTV images at the time to appeal for information following a theft at TK Maxx, in Harrogate‘s Victoria Shopping Centre, on February 25.

Police said on Monday “a woman and a man bagged various of items including sandals, trainers and T-shirts, leaving the store without making payment.

However, the force today (April 17) issued an updated statement, which said a local couple in their 50s “saw the appeal and came forward to the police to admit the theft”.

It added:

“With agreement from the store manager, a Community Resolution Disposal was applied which involved the couple paying for the goods valued over £100 within 24 hours.”

We have updated our coverage to anonymise the details of those involved.

Read more:

CCTV appeal after Harrogate M&S theft

North Yorkshire Police has issued a CCTV image of a woman it wants to speak to following a theft in Harrogate.

The incident happened at M&S Simply Food at Beech Avenue, at about 2pm on Friday, February 23.

According to a police statement today (Monday, April 15), a woman stole large amounts of alcohol in her bag.

The statement said:

“Please contact us if you recognise the women pictured on CCTV, as she may have information that will assist our investigation.”

Police would like to speak to the woman in the picture.

Anyone with information can email katie.hicks@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101, quoting reference 12240033400.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.