One of the oldest inns in Knaresborough has been sold with planning permission to convert it to a pub and six homes.

The Board Inn, which is situated in a prime town centre location next to the bus station, was sold by Harrogate estate agents FSS Property after eight months on the market.

The property fetched “very close” to the guide price of £325,000, according to the estate agents.

It was sold under auction conditions at the end of last month with planning permission for a public house, two flats and four houses.

The buyer’s details have not been revealed but the town’s easy access to the A1 make it an enticing option for developers looking for residential opportunities.

The pub has been sold at a time when Knaresborough’s high street has seen several new shops.

Read more:

• The growth of housing in Knaresborough has encouraged the county council to discuss opening a new primary school.
• Knaresborough’s former Natwest bank building is planned to be converted into a home.

Recently, the town of Knaresborough has been showing positive signs of regeneration. Several new shops have opened on the high street in recent months.

A Summerbridge man has written a children’s book during lockdown to raise money for children’s cancer charity Candlelighters.

The author, Joe Bothamley, connected with the charity after wanting to do some fundraising following his father’s cancer diagnosis.

His parents suggested Candlelighters, which works with children and families dealing with cancer in Yorkshire.

The main message of the book, called The Secret of Hartwith Hill, is the value of community. The author was inspired by the new-found community spirit he saw during lockdown.

Joe said:

“The idea came at a time when my daughter wasn’t getting into the bath and I was making up stories to distract her. I wanted to raise money for a cancer charity after my dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer. The response has been incredible – we raised £1,800 in the first three days and it’s continuing to grow momentum.

“The work Candlelighters do is incredible; the decisions those families are making each day are unthinkable. I just hope the momentum continues to grow and we can raise more for them.”

The author hopes he can continue to raise money for the Yorkshire-based charity.

Read more:

• An art exhibition in Knaresborough is raising money for Harrogate’s cancer centre.
• Parents were “emotional” at the school gates last week as children returned to school for the first time in six months. 

This is Joe’s first book and was written while he was off work during lockdown.

Today is the first day the books are being sent out. The author hopes the fundraising can continue as he returns to his job as a painter and decorator.

The head of fundraising and marketing for Candlelighters, Leanne Windell, said:

“We’re touched that Joe has chosen to support Candlelighters in such a lovely and unique way. The coronavirus pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on our fundraising and we expect to lose £865,000 this year.

“It has been an incredibly difficult time for families affected by childhood cancer and it is crucial that, no matter what, we continue to support them, to ensure they are not facing these challenging times alone. Joe has made such a vital contribution to this effort and we are very thankful.”

To buy the book and support Candlelighters, click here.

A Harrogate family who delayed a series of celebrations during lockdown have had their plans dashed once again.

The Wood family had three children’s birthdays and one new baby to celebrate during covid, but were unable to do so and decided to mark them all together later this month.

However, the new six-person rule has forced the cancellation of events planned previously when limits were set at 30 people – leaving the Woods disappointed again. As a family of six, they are unable to meet up with anyone under the new restrictions.

“The family were very disappointed at not being able to share the joy physically that a new baby brings. There was lot of concern over the baby’s health and size, which also caused concern. Thankfully everything is well, but as you can imagine it was a worrying time.

“We’ve had to cancel our birthday plans for mid-September which would have included 20 to 30 family members and friends. My children feel disheartened, they feel it’s just a waiting game. It’s sad children can’t enjoy the things that help make their childhood, like unlimited access to family including birthday parties and celebrations.”

Read more:

• WATCH as parents send their children off to school for the first time in six months. 
• Despite two cancellations, one due to lockdown, a couple’s dream wedding will go ahead in the winter. 

“I understand the reasoning behind the government’s new guidelines but feel they could be elaborated more clearly. Apparently my daughter’s drama classes can go ahead but she can’t go to her friend’s birthday party in a week’s time. Maybe there isn’t a right or a wrong way but to place new restrictions and then send children back to school with no measures in place is confusing.”

Farmers, other land managers and conservation staff working in Nidderdale or the wider Dales are being called on by photographers to be part of a film.

It will focus on the lives of people working rurally and how they have responded to recent challenges.

The photographers want to include rural practices such as sheepherding, lambing and dry stone walling.

Both photographers involved have won awards for their work and hope this project can be another way to show off the Yorkshire landscape and those working on it.

Gary Lawson, a videographer and photographer from Ripon, said:

“Over the next year ‘Future Talks’ will be filming farming, land management and conservation practice in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and northern hills.

“We’re looking to explore how Dales people are responding to Covid-19, climate change and Brexit, and the forthcoming changes to agriculture policy. Participants will be free to raise any issues they see as a concern.

“The final product will be a series of films offering an insight into grassroots perspectives on the future direction of land management in a changing political, economic and environmental climate.”

The photographers want to focus on those working on the land and how recent events such as covid and Brexit have affected them.

Mr Lawson is working alongside David Higgins to complete to project. It has received a grant of £10,000 from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund.

Anyone interested should contact Gary Lawson or David Higgins on info@future-talks.com

A plaque to commemorate how the people in Harrogate raised funds for Spitfires during the Second World War has been unveiled today.

A government campaign in 1941 asked communities to raise funds to build more Spitfires. The people of Harrogate managed to raise £7,000 in support of the Spitfire campaign and, alongside other communities, was awarded a plaque by the government.

Over time, the plaque deteriorated and was sadly lost. The Harrogate Civic Society, and individual donors, have lead the efforts to fund a replica plaque.

Local historian, Malcolm Neesam, will write for the Stray Ferret tomorrow morning about Harrogate’s contribution to the Spitfire campaign.

The new plaque will be mounted at the Crown Hotel, in Harrogate, on Monday. It was unveiled today by Lord Houghton of Richmond – former Chief of Defence Staff.

The small group invited included MP Andrew Jones, two female war veterans, members of the armed services and donors.

Molly Todd (left) and Sheila Pantin (right) are both veterans from World War Two.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:

“I think it’s absolutely fantastic that we will have this on the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. It reflects the way the people of Harrogate came together in this moment of national emergency and contributed so much money to help the war effort. It has been a powerful and fascinating unveiling of this plaque and I look forward to to seeing it go up into location on Monday.”

Read more:

• Local historian, Malcolm Neesam, writes about the harsh realities for Harrogate residents during the war.
• Services were held across the district to commemorate VJ Day. 

Stuart Holland, Co Vice Chair of the Harrogate Civic Society, said:

“The civic society are really proud to have been given the opportunity to have a new plaque I’m quite moved by the response of the donors, people have been so generous in putting the money forward. The Civic Society now have been responsible for 86 plaques in the town now. We are working towards bringing together the masses of information about the town onto our website, before we lose it.”

The council is calling for volunteers to help plant 60,000 crocuses on the West Park Stray in the coming months.

Following last year’s UCI World Cycling Championship, West Park Stray underwent months of landscaping work to repair the land.

Harrogate Borough Council is now asking for help to dig 60,000 holes so the crocus display next spring will be as impressive as ever.

The council has said the recent works and heavy rainfall make this the right time to plant the bulbs. Approximately, 8,000,000 bulbs have been planted across the whole Stray over the years, blooming in late spring.

Read more:

• The Stray turns green once again as shoots of grass start to grow.
• A few summer crowds on the Stray has left the SDA hoping the new restrictions will encourage people to enjoy the Stray responsibly. 

Local voluntary groups and organisations have been approached to help with the effort. The council has said the planting will be done in line with covid restrictions.

In an email to local voluntary organisations, a council horticultural officer Sue Wood said:

“We are working on a project to refurbish the West Park Stray with crocus following the remedial work to the Stray following the UCI Cycle races last year. The idea would be for the volunteers to dig the holes and then other groups will do the planting of the bulbs.

“There are approximately five areas to plant, some smaller areas and some very large areas on West Park Stray and we are hoping that it will be a real community project.”

After months of mud, the Stray is once again green and open for the public to enjoy

The Stray was protected by orange netting during the repair until recently when it was opened to the public.

The landscaping work is thought to have cost the council around £130,000 and was completed by Glendale Services. The outsourcing of a Lancashire company was met with criticism from local firms.

Today is the final opportunity to take part in a survey on plans for a multi-million pound leisure services investment.

Harrogate Borough Council is giving residents the opportunity to give their views on the £26.5 million plans, which include a complete refurbishment of the Hydro in Harrogate and a new pool and leisure centre for Knaresborough.

Leisure services in the district will soon be under the control of an authority-owned company, Brimhams Active. Senior councillors previously said the new company and investment plans go “hand in hand”.

Read more:

• Backing given for a new company to take authority of the district’s leisure services
• Harrogate council will need to borrow £26 million for leisure improvements 

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate Borough Council about the next steps for the plans following the consultation and for an update on the four proposed sites for Knaresborough’s new leisure centre.

A council spokesman said:

“Following the end of the leisure centre consultation, the results will be evaluated and used to inform the various options and subsequent recommendations for the multi-million pound investment in sport and leisure across the Harrogate district.”

The council is yet to narrow down the four proposed areas for Knaresborough’s new pool and leisure centre.

The plans for Knaresborough’s new leisure centre are yet to be confirmed. Four areas of the town are currently being investigated – including Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough House and an unspecified site at Hay-a-Park, as well as the existing location of Knaresborough Pool.

Development plans for Conyngham Hall have created opposition, with hundreds of people joining a Facebook page against the plans.

A Harrogate charity has reported a 44% increase in demand for its counselling services in recent months.

Wellspring Therapy and Training, which provides affordable professional counselling for people suffering with their mental health, said it expected demand for its services to continue to rise.

News of its extra demand coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day today.

A total of 65% of adults and 75% of young people nationally have said their mental health has worsened since the pandemic.

Wellspring’s centre remains closed as it continues to offer video and telephone counselling.

It offers counselling at a price chosen by the individual, according to their situation, meaning it could be as little as £5.

Freya, who did not wish to reveal her real name, has used Wellspring’s counselling service throughout lockdown.

The charity expects its referral rate to continue to rise as the long-term effects of lockdown are felt.

She said:

“All these emotions were sitting there like a great weight, but not going anywhere. After my first counselling session at Wellspring, I came away with such a sense of relief and gratitude. When lockdown happened, we ended up doing video calls instead.

“It’s lifted so much of the pressure and the anxiety. I also think I’m more able to deal with things when I do experience difficult emotions now. I am able to move forwards and think about the future. I’d highly recommend Wellspring and encourage anyone weighed down by life’s pressures to get in touch and see a counsellor. It’s a safe place.”

Read more:

• Harrogate charity receives grants to continue offering support to vulnerable members of the community. 
• WATCH as one boy finishes running 465 miles for mental health charity.

Lockdown has amplified anxieties over issues such as money, jobs and social interaction.

The charity is passionate about helping those who are struggling to find hope again.

Police are appealing got information after a number of cars were damaged along St John’s Road in Harrogate around 11.30pm on Tuesday.

Three youths – one girl and two boys – dressed in dark clothing are believed to have been involved.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said:

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, we are appealing for any witnesses who saw the damage take place or for any CCTV or doorbell-camera footage which may have captured something relevant.”

Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Jessica Deacy – 1568.

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The reference number is 12200157107.

Read more:

• Police are appealing for information after a man was assaulted during the day on Sunday. 
• The police made over 160 drug arrests in Harrogate between January and July this year. 

The Stray Defence Association has urged people using the Stray to respect the new six person limit on gatherings.

During the summer crowds gathered on the Stray, breaking social distancing rules.

The association hopes there will be no repeat of this from Monday when groups of more than six people will be forbidden from gathering, except in exceptional circumstances.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday this would “stop the spread of the virus and save lives”.