Stray Ferret Readers, Author at The Stray Ferret

Stray Views: I can suggest only two solutions to Harrogate’s traffic congestion

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district.

It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Dear Editor,

I read repeatedly of North Yorkshire Council councillors and others stating that recent consultations on Harrogate’s traffic congestion have rejected any road building projects and instead have supported more active travel schemes as the preferred solution. [Council quashes hopes of west Harrogate bypass]

Whilst I do not have a copy of the consultations to refer back to, my memory is that there never was a question along the lines of “Would you like to see further bypasses built? ”. The questions were more vague and designed to obtain the preferred council outcome. For example “Would you support the encouragement of more active travel?”. It is almost impossible to say “No” to such a question. The health benefits alone make “Yes” the only sensible answer.

But active travel will not remove Harrogate’s congestion at anytime in the near future, or even the medium term. The station gateway as originally proposed would not have improved the journey from, for example, Oatlands to Asda nor the journey back with a week’s shopping – wobbling up Leeds Road on a bicycle!

I can suggest only two solutions to Harrogate’s traffic congestion – one would be to complete the bypass around Harrogate, on a route that avoided sensitive areas of countryside. The other would be to ban all non-electric vehicles and all large cars from journeys into and within Harrogate. This second solution would need to be coupled with a scheme to provide small electric vehicles to all residents at a much subsidised cost (which would be demonstrably cheaper than building a bypass!), together with 2 or 3 Park and Ride schemes.

We could be pioneers! Think of Harrogate leading the way and being ahead of other towns in its innovative approach to reducing traffic congestion.

Yours

Andrew Dodd, Harrogate

I would like to add my support to the letter condemning the proposed removal of large numbers of mature trees in order to be able to increase production of Harrogate Spring Water. [Stray Views: Harrogate Spring Water plans a ‘total tree wash’]

Water in plastic bottles has a place in emergency situations such as the war in Gaza or Ukraine but there is no justification for it in this Country. Convenient it may be, but necessary it is not, and certainly not at the expense of the felling of mature trees.

Michael Pattinson, Harrogate

We’ve also had a number of emails from readers getting in touch with us after we ran a story about the new parking payment system at Harrogate District Hospital, run by private firm Parkingeye. Harrogate hospital defends criticism of new parking payment system. We will be doing a follow up story including some of your experiences this week. Get in touch with your views contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Stray Views: Harrogate Spring Water plans a ‘total tree wash’

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate Spring Water state loudly on their website: “It is our role to take care of our natural environment.” They then make great play of their plastic bottles being fully recyclable. And yet, and yet.

The Stray Ferret’s article [Harrogate Spring Water plans reignite debate on trees and plastic] shows HSW aim to expand at the expense of 450 trees planted by children some 20 or 25 years ago. In return, they have arranged to plant some more trees somewhere else.

So: it seems they think that simply by virtue of trees being planted somewhere else that CO2 will be absorbed and stored maximally, instantly, regardless that the new trees will be smaller and younger and take years to establish and grow to the extent of those to be lost. It is as if there is no difference in the rate CO2 is absorbed and sequestered between old and young trees.

Likewise, it seems they think that “biodiversity” will magically re-materialise in a jiffy. It is as if there is no difference between an area where lots of trees have just been planted and actual habitats and ecosystems which may have take decades, centuries or even millennia to develop.

It’s all the same thing to Harrogate Spring Water: everything is equivalent, or at least as good. Immediately. And how can they even be 100% certain that the new sites of tree planting will never be touched again, given that those places are owned by someone other than HSW?

Shame on Harrogate Spring Water. This is Total Tree Wash. If they really cared about our “natural environment”, then they would stop distracting us from the fact that the world really doesn’t need more plastic bottles, recyclable or otherwise. Even assuming a plastic bottle finds its way to a recycling plant, plastic cannot be recycled endlessly anyway so it pollutes our “natural environment” (e.g. sea; rivers and animals including us) for hundreds of years (and maybe forever) in the end.

Perhaps they should expand by creating teams to educate the public about more sustainable ways of supplying bottled water and/or developing other materials that would carry water without polluting anything. Or they could simply stop selling bottled water.

Friedy Luther, Spofforth

Litter bin removal is rubbish

Walking from Harrogate through the Dragon Road car parks towards Bilton on the Nidderdale Greenway, it was disappointing to see five waste bins have now been removed from use.

There is now no general waste bin on the conference centre exhibitors off site Dragon Road car park.

Rubbish is strewn along the Nidderdale Greenway footpath, shopping trolleys over the railway fencing, street lights are out on both the Dragon Road car parks and along the Nidderdale Greenway footpath.

The first bin was located just before the Nidderdale Greenway passes over the railway line, and then another immediately on the other side of the railway line!

Likewise upon reaching the Woodfield Road / Dene Park junction at the Woodfield Park playing fields entrance, there was another pair of bins, one on either side of the Woodfield Road!

What thought has been put into removing existing bins, locating the news one and why the abhorrent OTT dalek design fabricated from plastic, when the simple metal “stand” seen in use would suffice all round!

North Harrogate Resident

Wonderful Harrogate panto

Our 40-something son Dan has been over from the States for a few days and expressed a wish to see the pantomime.

The three of us went to Harrogate Theatre’s Dick Whittington and were not disappointed. It’s a treat for all ages, with great sets, music, comedy, dancing and costumes. And the best Dame I’ve seen in ages.

I urge you all to book now!

Barbara Coultas, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Stray Views: £10.8m junction 47 upgrade on A1 was ‘gigantic misuse’ of public money

Thank you for the article on junction 47. We felt all along that this was a project too far.

At a time when humanity is facing existential crisis due to fossil fuel emissions, we should be slowing traffic down, not trying to speed it up…so the project is a gigantic misuse of public money in our view.

It is on a par with the race to cover fields with inappropriate housing – designed to make profits for developers and their friends in government.

Also, please can we hear what happened to the newts? They really can’t expect us to believe that the newt relocation was that costly!

Shan Oakes, Knaresborough

Hospitality firms should contribute to Harrogate Convention Centre’s rebuild

The hotels and restaurants of Harrogate will be disappointed that the loss-making conference centre is not in line for a multi-million pound upgrade.

The rest of us will be relieved that such profligacy is to be avoided.

As the hospitality industry would be the only beneficiary of a new look conference centre I suggest that the hotels, pubs, restaurants and cafes of Harrogate all contribute, on a pro rata basis, towards its rebuild.

Dr Christopher Bennett, Ripon

A bypass would be more effective in south Harrogate

What is the purpose of the proposed Killinghall bypass road? Is it to take traffic that is going from east/west and getting around town in the shortest way?

If so, the Killinghall idea doesn’t make any sense since that isn’t where most of the traffic is. Traffic is much worse on the south side of Harrogate.

If the bypass was put in nearer to Pannal and then Beckwithshaw and on to the A59, there would seem to be a better chance to get more of the traffic off the roads.

Fred Hicks, Bilton, Harrogate

Stray Views: Government should clamp down on homeless tents

While I can’t imagine how on earth a penalty could be enforced against those that refuse accommodation, I must re-educate Lib Dem candidate Tom Gordon, on his belief that tents are not a “life choice” for some of the homeless.

Believe me Tom – having volunteered to work with the homeless for a good couple of years, I am only too aware that there are several local individuals who – for whatever reason – decline offers of help, support, accommodation or stability. It is their preferred lifestyle, and they have no desire to engage with services or have a permanent roof over their heads.

Personally, I don’t understand it. But I acknowledge it – each to their own. But I certainly stand by any decision to clamp down on the use of tents, lest we become a society reflective of some of the horrendous “tent cities” that are synonymous with many American cities.

Want to live in a tent? Fine. Your call. But to do so on the High Street, I draw the line. I may not vote Conservative, but I do agree that Suella Braverman understands someone needs to get a grip.

Mark Fuller, Harrogate

Badger Hill speeding an issue

The speed of traffic round the bend at Badger Hill needs to be seen, it has resulted in cars hitting the wall and the house. The latest was two weeks ago when a car left the road hit the wall and overturned. This is where many people sit waiting for the bus.

This is a very big concern and the councillors comments seemed to dismiss the involvement of the present Lady Mayoress, who visited us to hear our concerns.

Malcom Wood, Knaresborough

Stray Views: ‘Ridiculous difficulty’ parking at Harrogate hospital

How many people are late for their Harrogate District Hospital appointments or simply go home due to the ridiculous difficulty parking? I was there this afternoon and an elderly woman said she had been driving around for an hour looking for a space.

You now have to arrive a good 45 minutes early and even then you may not be parked in time. It took numerous circuits last week before I found a space.

The parking fee has been hiked to £4 for a couple of hours, it’s daylight robbery, particularly when all you are doing is driving around aimlessly, competing with other drivers for non existent spaces. Using two buses to get there isn’t an option for most people.

It’s time to reinstate the barrier so that people only enter the hospital car park when there is actually a space.

Liz Carnell, Harrogate

Leeds Bradford Airport needs covered walkway

I note your report on Leeds Bradford Airport upgrading the terminal at cost of £100 million.

It would be great if they could spare a few pounds and construct a covered walkway for the drop-off point to the terminal so passengers can arrive dry into the booking in departure area.

Paul Smith, Knaresborough

Stray Views: Does big Harrogate Xmas light switch on help businesses? Perhaps not.

Although it may be a tad disappointing not to have a formal switch on of the Christmas lights, it’s reassuring to hear that the BID are listening to members and thinking about return on investment. They don’t have money to waste.[No Christmas lights switch-on event in Harrogate this year]

It may be a “nice to do” but does it actually help local businesses? Perhaps not. Whereas street cleaning, murals, lighting, flowers, window dressing and advertising does feel (and look) as though the BID is doing a good job.

I don’t run a local business but as a resident, I can see the impact and it does feel notably better than the lacklustre efforts from whatever was being done (or not) several years ago.

So if ever businesses are questioning their investment in the BID, please be assured that from someone who lives in the town centre, it’s making a positive impact.

But FYI – please sort the dangling lights that have been brought down by the recent weather (especially Montpellier Hill), before some morons decide to vandalise them instead. Thank you!!

Mark Fuller, Harrogate

I note that the cost of the garden waste collection will rise next year to £46.50 and that a member of the Council stated that those people who do not use the service should not be expected to pay towards it. [Harrogate district garden waste fees set to increase by 7%]

I can think of many service’s I pay towards that I do not use but am happy to pay for.

Paul Smith, Knaresbrough

I have a great deal of sympathy with the residents of Nidd and the speed of motorists passing through. I do not think it helps to have a 40 mph speed limit on the sharp S bends. It is clearly too high. [Council removes anti-speeding scarecrows in Nidd for ‘safety reasons’]

I have tried to negotiate the bends at 40 mph but it is very close to the limit of my cars ability to do so and I suspect many drivers ability as well. A 20 mph limit would be much more in keeping with the road conditions.

Eric Buckland, Knaresborough

Stray Views: Valley Drive parking fines a ‘money spinner’

Valley Drive parking fines are a council money spinner

It is little wonder the council makes so much money from parking fines on Valley Drive in Harrogate as one side of the road permits three hours of parking whilst the opposite side gives only one hour.

It’s fairly obvious that if someone who does not know the road parks on the one-hour side and looks across to the other and sees the three-hour parking sign, they may well think that applies to their side too without checking.

It has always seemed unfair to me that this anomaly could catch many people out. I daresay the council realises the anomaly too but are hardly likely to remedy it when it is such a money spinner.

Carol Trueman, Harrogate

Ripon councillors still dining out on anti-Harrogate rhetoric

Ripon city councillors have dined out on anti-Harrogate antics from 1974 to 2023 — almost 50 years of negative opposition instead of creative engagement — ensuring the continuous election of the same.

How long before they then turn their sights on the new North Yorkshire Council for failing to give them what they want, which is complete control of everything Ripon-related?

The ‘leader’ of Ripon City Council (actually a parish council) — is there even such a role in most parish council standing orders? — was elected as an ‘independent’ but has subsequently decided to support the Conservative councillors on North Yorkshire Council.

John Edmonstone

(Ex-parish councillor nearby to Ripon)

Why weren’t pedestrians consulted about Station Parade roadworks?

I was disappointed to see that pedestrians have been given little thought in the redevelopment of Copthall Towers on Station Parade. The footpath along one whole side of Station Bridge is now entirely blocked off.

I walk this way on the school run daily, coming from the direction of East Parade. This obstruction means we have to go clockwise around the roundabout in order to reach the far side of Station Bridge.

This may not seem like a significant detour to some, but try adding a pushchair and early walkers into the mix.

More significantly, it also necessitates crossing two roads which don’t have a pedestrian crossing, one of which has two lanes approaching the roundabout.

Was any thought given to adding temporary pelican crossings at Station Avenue and North Park Road? Or perhaps, giving pedestrians priority over Station Bridge, rather than drivers?

It would be refreshing to see our elected leaders and planning officials put pedestrians first for a change; prioritising greener, more sustainable travel choices and making it easier and safer for people to walk.

It’s already hard enough to navigate the piles of dog excrement, pot holes and parked cars which furnish our pavements so abundantly.

Jessica Eaton, Harrogate

Stray Views: Dog attack victim says Harrogate owners need to control their pets

Nearly daily the news reports serious dog attacks and fatalities. Almost dying because of a dog attack myself, I know how serious the dog problem in the Pinewoods and Valley Gardens could be. I was about seven years of age, just playing in the street with friends when I was attacked by a Spaniel, a neighbour’s family pet.

In my experience, most dog owners are responsible by always keeping their dogs under close control and removing their dog deposits. Most days, dogs running wild and even out of sight of their owners can be seen in these locations. Poo bags are being left on the ground or hanging in trees which is a health risk and another sign of irresponsible dog ownership. This is bad enough, but my main concern is lack of effective control of their dogs by some owners which could result in a serious incident with life changing consequences. I have owned dogs myself in the past and I know how attached owners are to their dogs. I am sure most owners feel their dogs are harmless and they would never attack anyone. The owners of the dog which attacked me, said the same thing.

I am asking all dog owners to consider what I have said and to keep their dogs under close control, in their sight at all times and to remove their dog deposits. I would like to thank the council’s dog warden who has been very helpful in recent years with dog problems in the Pinewoods and Valley Gardens. Having said that, as the council must accept some responsibility for the safety of visitors to these areas, I am calling on them to take note of this very real threat and to take action to prevent irresponsible dog owners.

Lyndon Wallace, Harrogate

Bog Lanes closure

Would be interested to find out from the council/NYCC whether the road will be one way or two way when it reopens. Looking at the finished junction to the new housing estate, any vehicle wishing to turn left as they exit the new development on to Bogs Lane is going to find it impossible.

I can only presume that the final decision when its announced will be a permanent closure to through traffic. Personally, I think a closure would be the best outcome.

The increasing numbers of pedestrians and cyclists using the road, and the width of the roadway, necessitate its permanent closure on health and safety grounds alone. But is this yet another case of public bodies reluctant to make a decision?

Stephen Huxley, Harrogate

Stray Views: New larger waste bins are a ‘wasteful debacle’

Your recent article [Council spends £478,000 on halving number of litter bins] highlights the scandalous and wasteful irresponsibility of the new council. Blaming the defunct Harrogate Borough Council for making the decision is lazy – North Yorkshire Council didn’t have to action it.

Key points/questions that need exploring/asking:

1. How many of the ‘old’ bins actually needed replacing?

2. £478,000 will take 14 years to recover from the alleged savings. Will the new bins even last that long?

3. What are the respective capacities of the bins? The new ones would have to be significantly bigger (at least double) to make meaningful travel savings. In any event, there will be more travel required to clear up fly tipping which itself is an environmental hazard! – which will also reduce the actual savings achieved by the council.

4. The previous bins were presumably sited with the experience of public activities. Re-siting them merely for the convenience of the council was asking for trouble.

5. If the council had consulted the public beforehand they might have learnt valuable information from everyday users of the bins, to inform eventual decisions and facilitate community ownership of the final decisions who’d have a vested interest in the practical outcomes. It would also have been a valuable opportunity to explore the idea of dog walkers taking their dogs’ waste home to save money. And show how those savings could be invested in the local community.

6. What does Ms Wallis mean by saying “The main aim of the project was to reduce the number of duplicate journeys between different services.” ? What services were making the same journey to the same bins and why were they doing that?? If this was the main aim, what are the expected savings? If this statement is true, it’s everything to do with management of staff and nothing to do with numbers and sizes of bins.

7. Ms Wallis also refers to improving the street scene with this initiative. How is this improved with less bins or no bins at all? – leading to more overflowing waste in high footfall areas that previous bins couldn’t cope with and fly-tipped waste where bins have been removed altogether?

Alice Woolley

Let’s have empathy for the homeless

I have been reading with some sadness the conversations on here about homelessness in Harrogate, especially the rough sleepers around the Crescent Gardens, and how people find this disturbing.

What I find more disturbing is how nobody has mentioned the plight of those homeless people and why they are rough sleeping in the first place. It’s not like it’s a life choice. These conversations remind me of “tidying up“ the streets of Windsor before the last royal wedding.

How awful that poor people with drug, alcohol and mental health problems make the place untidy and have nowhere to live. The wealth of Harrogate sits amidst absurd house prices, unaffordable rent, and the gig economy. But the visible consequences make us uncomfortable.

Life for the poor is getting worse, we need to help them, not demonise them.

Penny Robinson, Harrogate

20mph is correct

I can’t support Mark Fuller’s view [Stray Views: Why no 20mph limit outside my children’s primary school?] that we need the the evidence of a child death before a 20mph speed limit is applied outside Willow Tree School on Wetherby Road.

The sheer weight of traffic should be reason enough.

John Hibbitt, Boston Spa

Stray Views: Why no 20mph limit outside my children’s primary school?

I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment following the recent publication of a news story announcing traffic restrictions and pedestrian crossings outside schools in our town.

While I wholeheartedly support efforts to enhance the safety of school zones, I am shocked and puzzled that Willow Tree Primary School has not been included in these vital plans.

Willow Tree Primary School is one of the largest primary schools in our community, serving a significant number of students and families. It is strategically situated on a main and busy route through our town, making it a crucial focal point for ensuring the safety of our children and all pedestrians. It is baffling to me that, in terms of a risk assessment, Willow Tree Primary School has not been considered as a priority.

As a concerned parent, I witness the alarming and dangerous behaviour of speeding HGV vehicles on most days during the school run. It is evident that the current traffic situation outside our school poses a severe and imminent risk to the safety of our children. It is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs, and we must take proactive measures to prevent such a tragedy.

I am eager to understand the rationale behind the decision to exclude Willow Tree Primary School from these critical traffic safety plans. The safety of our children should always be our top priority.

I have emailed to request that the local authorities reconsider their decision and include Willow Tree Primary School in the upcoming traffic safety measures. I believe that our school’s omission from the plans raises questions about the fairness and equity of the decision-making process.

Pippa Cox, Harrogate

Why have 20mph where it isn’t needed?

Can we please ensure a modicum of common sense is used as we run the risk of an ever increasing number of roads becoming 20mph zones?

Panel Ash Road has for many years been a 20mph limit, which is entirely appropriate given the nearby schools. But can we please recognise how pointless and stupid this is (and how infuriating some drivers are) when they pootle along at that speed during evenings, weekends, school holidays and the wee small hours.

There are no pedestrians and it serves no tangible benefit. Quite aside from being safe, people get so exasperated, they overtake in an unsafe manner.

There is now an argument in favour of including Otley road in this scheme and as someone who lives on Cold Bath Road, quite aside from the perpetual road works that bring traffic to a grinding halt, I have to navigate three sets of lights before heading out toward Beckwithshaw. That rather makes speeding an impossibility. So on the rare occasion we can actually move at 30mph, it’s nothing short of a luxury.

If we read of routine accidents and deaths because of reckless drivers near a school, I would support the argument completely. But to do so, “just because” is simply no argument at all. Harrogate struggles with congestion as it is. Slowing it further without incredibly good supporting evidence and sound logic is simply foolish.

Mark Fuller, Harrogate

Diesel trains?

Why are diesel trains still being used to Harrogate, when Skipton and Ilkley have had electric multiple units since the 1960’s?

The Government needs accelerate the electrification of the Harrogate Line and cascade the excellent redundant Class 379 EMU’s North.

Clive Broadhead, Harrogate

Harrogate’s rough sleepers embarrassing

I have been reading stories regards homeless people sleeping rough in Harrogate.[Rough sleepers evicted from Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens]

I moved to Harrogate over a year ago and am shocked and appalled by the amount of drugs, alcohol and people sleeping rough here. My family came to stay over at the weekend and going into town it was nothing short of embarrassing. There were drunks hanging around near McDonald’s shouting and swearing, what appeared to be drug takers near the bridge not far from the bus station and two men sleeping rough on benches near the cenotaph.

Harrogate has one of the highest council tax bands in the country but it is beyond me as to why?

I will be leaving Harrogate as soon as I can as it is dangerous, noisy and down right embarrassing. Such a pity.

Tracy Baldwin, Harrogate

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