Shocking video shows teens ripping up trees on Harrogate Stray

A group of teenagers have been filmed ripping trees from the ground on the Stray last night.

Sara and John Scott were walking home from town along the footpath adjacent to the railway line when they saw the group of teenagers ripping the trees from their roots.

The pair were so angry they chose to film what was happening. The video shows a small group of three teens tearing the trees down at 7.30pm.

Ms Scott said:

“There was a lot of them down there earlier, as I think it was the last day of the exams but at the time of this video, there was about 10 left. They were all drunk and doing this. Playing music, drinking and they ripped down 2 different trees that we saw.”

The couple live close by and often walk through the Stray, they said it was “infuriating” to see people treat it in such a way.

The Stray Ferret visited the area today and could see two young trees on the ground with just a stump remaining.

These images, taken today, show the remaining stumps of the two trees reportedly torn down last night

Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, said the actions of a few young people were “appalling”. She said the Stray is respected by thousands of people young and old and the actions of a few were a huge disappointment.

She said:

“Why did they feel the need to do that? We are blessed with the Stray so why is it deemed a celebration to destroy nature? It’s appalling to be actively destroying the Stray like this.”

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Harrogate Borough Council, which is the caretaker of the Stray, said:

“Our parks and grounds maintenance teams work year round to ensure we have a beautiful district to live or work in and for visitors to enjoy.

“To see this pointless destruction and disregard for our lovely natural environment is shocking. Unfortunately the individuals don’t seem to realise that their behaviour doesn’t just impact on them but the enjoyment of others.

“We urge anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet reported it to North Yorkshire Police, to do so.”

The Stray Ferret also spoke to North Yorkshire Police, it said the incident had been reported at 7.40pm last night. In a statement the police said:

“We would advise anyone who witnessed the incident but has not reported it to the police to get in touch.

“Incident number 12220108383.”

Forensic experts at serious police incident in Bilton

Forensic teams remain on the scene following a serious incident in Bilton last night.

Yesterday evening, police were called to a property on Byland Road but no further information has been released since.

The Stray Ferret has been down to the address this morning to talk to residents. There is  frustration by the lack of information.

Many are also shocked by what has happened. The property remains guarded by police with forensic teams working under a tent.

At 7.15pm last night North Yorkshire Police released this statement:

“Officers are currently in attendance at a property on Byland Road following an incident earlier this evening.

“The investigation is currently in the early stages and we will issue an update in due course.

“Speculation can often be unhelpful and we ask anyone posting on social media to be mindful of this.”

The Stray Ferret has gone to the police for a further update but received nothing at the time of publication.

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Harrogate engineering consultants expand into Belfast 

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Harrogate engineering consultants expand

Harrogate-based building services engineering practice, Tate Consulting, has expanded into Belfast.

The move has created five new jobs with Belfast-born director Jim Lee set to continue splitting his time between Belfast and Harrogate.

This will be the fourth office for the company, which provides commercial engineering solutions.

It has already secured a number of contracts, including Belfast Waterside, a development of 500 homes by MODA Living and a logistics facility in Dublin.

Aaron Stevenson and Kevin Gallagher have also joined the team as associate director and mechanical associate.

Jim Lee, Tate consulting director, said:

“This expansion will give us a valuable foothold and added resource in Belfast as well as facilitating further expansion into the Dublin market.

“We’re already working on several high-profile projects and part of this success is due to us being able to attract a highly skilled team, who want to work on career defining projects. It’s great to be able to utilise the talent that exists in Northern Ireland.”

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Harrogate cafe opens deli shop

Café di Mamma Amelia on Harrogate’s King’s Road has expanded by opening a second shop a few doors down to sell deli foods and home-cooked ready meals.

Owner Antonio Cavinato said recent success had spurred him on to open a second business, similarly named Cucina di Mamma Amelia.

Both businesses are named after Mr Cavinato’s mother, who lives in Italy. The shop will sell a variety of meals to finish at home including the family’s secret recipe tiramisu, pizzas, lasagna and cannolis.

Antonio Cavinato

The new deli has allowed Mr Cavinato to hire two part-time staff and keep on his two full-time staff spreading the four staff and himself across both businesses. He said:

“When the opportunity came out of the blue to open a smaller business on King’s Road I came back from Italy and started small, but demand has soon outstripped what we could do in the small shop, and when No 148 became available, I decided to just go for it!

“Harrogate is a great town to run a business in, there is lots of support from locals for a small business, and I will now be running between the coffee shop and the deli up and down the street, so my gym will miss me!”

Young Boroughbridge actors finally put on Grease

It’s Greased Lightning! Young actors from Boroughbridge are taking to the stage tonight to put on Grease the musical.

The youth group of The Hightimers, an amateur theatre company, are putting on the musical two years later than originally planned.

The show was casted in 2020 but due to the pandemic it had to be delayed. After a few cast stages and new members, the kids can finally take to the stage.

The ‘Pink Ladies’

The first show is this evening at 7.30pm in the Coronation Hall. It will be performed at the same time on Friday and Saturday evening as well as a 1.30pm Saturday matinee show.

Director, Marlo Lomas, said:

“The kids have worked so hard and so have the crew to ensure that we put on a cracking show for the audience. So, for all you Greasers Pink Ladies out there let’s go back in time together and support these kids. You will not be disappointed.”

Tickets can be bought online, here, Boroughbridge Post Office, cafe Chez Nous and Ripon’s Realitea.

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The “T-Birds” 

Suspected drunk driver hits two cars and demolishes wall after Harrogate driveway crash

An 18-year-old man has been arrested after crashing into a Harrogate driveway this week and hitting two parked cars and demolishing a wall.

The driver was in a black Audi A1 when he drove onto the driveway on Kingsley Drive just before 1am yesterday, Wednesday, June 22.

The driver hit the cars with such force he reportedly damaged the garage door behind them too.

He attempted to flee the scene but, with the arrival of other officers and a police dog, a man matching his description was found nearby.

An 18-year-old was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, and has since been released under investigation while the investigation continues.

Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and use crime reference number 12220107265.

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Fire destroys BMW on A1 near Boroughbridge

A BMW was destroyed by fire on the A1 near Boroughbridge last night.

Firefighters from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge were called to the blaze at 9.16pm last night.

They used two hose reels and two breathing apparatus to douse the flames.

It is not believed anyone was injured but in a tweet last night North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said:

“Vehicle totally destroyed. Two hose reels and two breathing apparatus used. Believed to be due to an electrical fault.”

Plumes of smoke rising above the carriageway. Photograph: @NorthYorksFire, Twitter

It was one of two car fires in the district last night.

A crew from Boroughbridge was called when a Skoda Fabia caught fire in Minskip shortly before 8pm.

The cause is again believed to be a faulty engine.

The Skoda engine suffered fire, heat and smoke damage.

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Jules B to open in Harrogate in September

Luxury fashion retailer Jules B said today it hopes to open in Harrogate in September.

The Stray Ferret revealed in April the company planned to trade in the former Jaeger unit on Cambridge Crescent.

The retailer sells women’s designer brands including Holland Cooper, Hayley Menzies, Stine Goya, Oska and Lurdes Bergada.

The Harrogate shop, which will be the company’s sixth store, has been empty since Jaeger cleared its stock in January last year. But it is now set to reopen in the second week of September.

The shop, which will sell womenswear only, will feature an autumn and winter collection when it opens.

An artist’s impression of how the shop will look.

Julian Blades, managing director of Jules B, has said its brands “will be perfect for the sophisticated customer demographic in Harrogate and surrounding areas”

The retailer is currently recruiting for full-time and part-time staff for Harrogate, including a store manager and assistant store manager.

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Several national retailers, including Pret A Manger and Hotel Chocolat, have announced they will join Harrogate’s high street recently.

Oliver Bonas is also due to open in September.

Mr Blades and his wife, Rhona, opened their first womenswear store in Jesmond in 1984.

Harrogate hairdresser to rebrand with new name and new look

Harrogate hairdresser to rebrand with new name and new look

The Joseph Ferraro salon on Cheltenham Crescent in Harrogate is to be taken over by salon manager Nicola Rayner and rebranded with a new name and new look.

Ms Rayner has worked for Joseph Ferraro, who has another salon on Leeds Road, for 10 years and been part-owner of the salon for six years. But the pair have now decided to part ways and Miss Rayner is taking on the salon alone.

From August, she plans to rebrand as Rayner and Green and refurbish the salon. She said:

“As the years have gone on we both decided it was the right time to separate and I’m really excited to take on the salon as my own. All of my team will be staying with me too.”

Ms Rayner and her four staff intend to make a few changes including setting up Klarna, a payment app which allows customers to pay for their hair appointment over a number of instalments.

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Investment advisor with Harrogate branch makes deal with The Law Society

Wealth and investment advisor, St James’s Place, has struck a deal to become strategic partner of the Law Society of England and Wales.

As part of the relationship St James’s Place (SJP) will help solicitors at all stages of their professional career decide how to invest, manage significant cash bonuses or business cash flow, acquire or merge with other practices or create a legacy plan for their business.

The advisor has more than 4,000 partners across the UK with one of those offices being in Harrogate. The deal allows it to work with all solicitors represented by the Law Society.

Paul Ainslie, head of campaigns and partnerships at SJP, said:

“I am delighted that the Law Society of England & Wales have chosen to work with St. James’s Place, affording us the opportunity to expand on the support we already provide to solicitors via The Law Society of Scotland.”

“Our remit is simple, we will share our professional expertise with members so that they have the confidence and knowledge to help make the right decisions at the right time to create the future they want for themselves, their family, their business and their clients.”

No update from police following blade incident in Beckwithshaw

A man and young boy were left with serious injuries following an incident with a “bladed article” on Monday in Beckwithshaw but the police are yet to give any further updates.

North Yorkshire Police was called to a house on Church Row at 8.20am on Monday morning. It later said an 11-year-old and a 40-year-old man had been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Later in the day, police confirmed the 11-year-old had undergone emergency surgery and was now in a “stable condition in hospital”.

The 40-year-old man, however, was still in a serious condition and remained under police guard. The police added two children aged 10 and 13 had escaped the house and were now under the care of relatives and specialist officers.

Since this update at 3.15pm on Monda,y the police have given no more information.

The Stray Ferret asked today about both the man and child’s current condition, whether anyone has been charged and if the man was still under guard. The police said:

“No update at the moment – enquiries ongoing.”

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On the day, the Stray Ferret received reports of numerous emergency services vehicles and an air ambulance attending the scene.

First Ripon Theatre Festival launches tomorrow

A weekend of theatre kicks off in Ripon tomorrow with street performers, a Shakespeare play and puppeteering all taking place in the city; some for free.

This will be the first Ripon Theatre Festival and will take place from tomorrow, June 23 to Sunday, June 26.

There will be more than 40 events from 20 professional acts taking part in this packed weekend of events.

Saturday is the main day of action with performances from The Comedy Waiters, The Green Finger Folk, the Million Dollar Mermaids and The Flying Wheelnuts.

Events are happening in the ‘festival zones’ in Market Place, Canal Basin and Ripon Spa Gardens. Saturday also sees four family theatre performances, each lasting 20 -55 minutes aimed at children.

There are also pop-up events in The Little Ripon Bookshop, at the Library and at the Curzon cinema.

Comedy Waiters

Other festival highlights include Red Ladder Theatre Company with their acclaimed production of The Damned United, the comic Holmes and Watson – The Farewell Tour and Illyria Theatre Company’s A Midsummer Nights Dream at Fountains Abbey on Sunday night.

The event is organised by a team of 30 volunteers from the Ripon City Festival Trust.

To see the full programme of events click here.

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