A new grocery store and post office is set to open in Masham next year as part of an ambitious £1.5 million heritage project.

The former grocery store Reah’s at 15 Silver Street will be completely renovated by Masham-based non-profit company Peacock and Verity Community Spaces Ltd.

As well as a grocery store and Post Office counter, the building will include an Edwardian-style tearoom, heritage and learning centre celebrating Masham and four affordable flats.

The project, which has received planning permission from Harrogate Borough Council, has been in the pipeline since autumn 2019 .

The building has been at the heart of the town for over 200 years and this renovation aims to return it to its former glory.

The £1.5m cost of buying and renovating the property is being funded by numerous grants.

Harrogate Borough Council, Broadacres Housing Association and Homes England have all been involved in progressing the scheme.

Traditional ethos

The new grocery store will use traditional methods, such as selling items by weight and using limited packaging. The Edwardian-style tea room will reflect the one that existed before the outbreak of the First World War.

The heritage and learning centre will host workshops and activities as operate as a training space for local businesses.

Four affordable flats will also be developed on the first and second floors. They will be managed by a housing association and allocated to those in need of housing in Mashamshire.

Read more:

• Planning approved for Ripon garages to be converted into houses
• Harrogate town centre street is set to get a colourful makeover

The project is due to be completed next year.

Alan Hodges, chair of the Peacock and Verity Community Spaces board, said:

“Peacock and Verity Community Spaces is delighted that the vision and hard work of our directors, staff, and partners has been recognised by Harrogate’s planners.

“Our architect, surveyors, heritage and business advisors, and housing association partners have been working on this project for several years, and we are now much closer to bringing the whole building back to life.

Councillor Mike Chambers, cabinet member for housing and safer communities at Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“It is the first community-led scheme in the district to have reached this stage.

“We look forward to continuing to work with all partners as the building is restored to its former glory – a fitting testimony to Masham’s rich heritage.”

Cyclist Lizzie Deignan, who has homes in Harrogate and Otley, has been picked to represent Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

Ms Deignan, 32, who won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics and was the world road race champion in 2015, was named in British Cycling’s 26-person Olympic team this week.

She will represent her country in the road race at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which are due to take place from July 23 to August 8.

Ms Deignan, nee Armitstead, becomes the third Harrogate district person selected for the Olympics, along with Ripon diver Jack Laugher and US-based Harrogate footballer Rachel Daly.

She told her 95,000 Instagram followers:

“It’s official. I have been selected to represent Great Britain in Tokyo at my third Olympic Games. If Phil West didn’t come to my school when I was 15 to look for kids with talent my life would have been so different, I didn’t even own a bike, it’s still a bit surreal. Tokyo here we come.”

Read more:

• Olympic diver’s mum says her son still loves coming home to Ripon
• Celebrity cycle road set to close Nidderdale roads on Friday

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Friday.

The event, which begins at 7.45am, is to be filmed by ITV and raise money for Soccer Aid for UNICEF.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

The list of celebrities taking part is yet to be revealed.

The route will head towards Grassington, across to Pateley Bridge, then past Menwith Hill before heading to Pool-in-Wharfedale at about 2.30pm.

The road closures will last for between 15-25 minutes, according to North Yorkshire County Council.

Commuters can expect to be directed by police motorcycle riders and traffic management stewards.

The show is set to be broadcast on ITV on the August bank holiday weekend.

Read more:

• Harrogate to York trains set to be double to two an hour
• Traffic misery in Knaresborough set to continue until late July with temporary lights staying put

Keep an eye on our morning traffic blog for updates on the road delays. 

A 17-year-old motorcyclist was knocked off his bike in a suspected hit and run on Harrogate’s Valley Drive on Sunday.

The teenager came off his black Lexmoto Null motorcycle at about 2.30pm.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement he suffered minor injuries.

It is appealing for witnesses or anyone who recalls seeing the vehicles prior to the collision to get in touch. It added:

“In particular, we are appealing for information about a white, Mini Cooper S seen being driven by a male driver at the time believed to be involved in the collision.”

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Rebecca Foster. Or email Rebecca.Foster2@northyorkshire.police.uk.

The police reference number to quote is 12210143529.

Read more:

• The house at the centre of crime concerns on Mayfield Grove in Harrogate is now allowed to reopen
• Police ask residents to report any sightings of a missing murderer with local links

A new padel tennis centre could arrive at Harrogate’s Hornbeam Park as popularity for the sport grows.

With more than 6.000 padel players in the UK, according to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the sport is one of the fastest growing in the country.

Plans have been submitted for a new six-court padel centre in one of Hornbeam’s new developments.

If planning is approved a new “boutique” gym will also open on the ground floor of the Matrix building with the padel courts on the first floor.

The building is currently empty but if planning is approved it could see the site transformed.

The court would be housed in the Unit 1M Matrix building if plans are approved.

Here are ten facts you might not know about padel tennis, from the LTA:

• Lionel Messi has a padel court in his garden
• Padel was invented in Mexico in the 1960s
• It is played in doubles
• Padel rules are similar to tennis – but you serve underarm
• It’s the second-most-popular sport in Spain
• Jamie Murray has played in a professional padel tournament
• Padel balls are smaller than tennis balls
• Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp plays the game to discuss ideas with his coaches
• There are more than 6,000 padel players in the UK
• It may not be an Olympic sport yet but campaigns are underway to make it one

Read more:

• Plans submitted for 23 affordable homes in Scotton
• Bogs Lane green field could be sold for housing

Planning documents have described the ground floor gym as “boutique with premium facilities”.

The centre will be opened by Coach Gyms Limited and Surge Padel Limited if planning is given the go ahead.

The North Yorkshire Crime Commissioner has pledged investment in Ripon after he joined a local officer on patrol to discuss to the city’s recent spike in anti-social behaviour.

Commissioner Philip Allott was driven around the Bondgate area by Police Community Support Officer, Sue Whitehead, to discover how the force is tackling crime on the frontline.

Mr Allott said he intends to give local officers the resources they need. This includes a phased investment in the city’s combined police and fire station on Stonebridgegate.

Short-term plans are set to go before the executive board next week which could see the old smokehouse tower demolished to make space for new development, such as extra office space.

Longer term plans involves a new combined station but Mr Allott said this wouldn’t be for three to four years.

Mr Allott said:

“It was good to meet the local policing team and hear about the issues that they face daily.

“Inspector Langley and I discussed options for providing diversionary activities for young people in the city which we can look at.

“I also looked at the facilities for the police officers in Ripon and Chief Constable Lisa Winward and myself both agreed that some investment is needed in the building.”

Read more:

• Local residents react to four-hour armed police incident in Bilton
• Call for modern slavery investigation into Harrogate car wash

Mr Allott also said the number of officers in the city is under review. Former Commissioner, Julia Mulligan, had already increased the number of officers in the city after calls from the public and city councillors.

Harrogate Food and Drink Festival is set to arrive on the Stray this weekend for two days of food, drink, live music and cooking shows.

The outdoor event will be held on the Oatlands Drive area from 10am on Saturday June 26 to 7pm on Sunday June 27.

Visitors can expect about 100 stalls selling all types of produce, from jams and cheeses to Lebanese food, as well as artisan crafts.

Despite a four-week delay to the end of restrictions the event can still go ahead with its current measures. It will be encouraging social distancing, have hand sanitising stations around the site and provide extra toilets, tables and chairs.

Social distancing means the event does have a limited capacity, but organisers said tickets were still available. Each ticket is given an entry time to stagger arrivals through the day.

A festival spokesperson said:

“We are lucky to be a naturally socially distanced event with limited indoor areas. However, this year we have brought the entire festival outdoors, apart from the cookery theatre, which is in a marquee with the walls removed.”

Read more:

• Upcoming events for the Harrogate Convention Centre still set to go ahead despite lockdown delay
• Ripon community company sets up free events for kids in the summer

It will be in the same area in which the town’s bonfire and fun fair is usually set up.

In 2019, the event was based in Ripley Castle for three days. It will return there for a second event on this year’s August bank holiday weekend.

Do you believe in ghosts? Ripon Ghost Walks return this month with more tales to tell about the spooky side of the city.

The performers have been out of action since the pandemic hit, but this month they will dust off their dark robes and get ready to resume the guided tours.

The outdoor walks begin at 7.15pm in the Market Place and last around 90 minutes.

Audiences are taking around the city to explore ancient burial sites, curious bone finds and meet those who lived in the city years ago.

Ghost Walk performer Tony Hirst said:

“It’s great to be back again, we were really keen to get going again. We’ve got lots of stories to tell with a few frights along the way.”

Read more:

• World famous Black Dyke Band are coming to Harrogate for a free concert next month 
• Great Yorkshire Show still set to go ahead

People must now pre-book tickets for the shows so numbers can be managed.

Six dates are planned for this year with the first taking place on June 24. There will be special events on August 12 for the Museums at Night event and others at Halloween and Christmas time.

The walks were set up in 2015 and later joined with the Ripon Museums to offer more history for the audiences.

The performers are looking for an extra person to join their team. If you have a passion for spooky storytelling and want to get involved, email Tony Hirst on tonyhirst@hotmail.co.uk.

Claro Enterprises in Starbeck is launching three groups to deal with the mental health “aftermath” of the pandemic.

The charity said its workshops and courses offer people the space to work and chat to new people.

General manager Owen Jones has said more people are coming forward for mental health support after struggling in lockdown.

The first group, which starts on June 30, is an introduction to woodwork. The charity operates a commercial wood workshop making goods for businesses.

It will help new clients who have asked for a space to meet other people, but haven’t worked in a workshop before.

If restrictions ease as anticipated on July 19, the charity will re-launch its Starbeck Men’s Shed and launch the first Starbeck Ladies’ Shed. These weekly groups will again offer those suffering with their mental health the chance to be a part of group activities.

The Men’s Shed mainly works with the wood workshop and the Ladies’ Shed will offer activities such as upholstery, art and card making.

Before lockdown the Men’s Shed had 20 members.

Mr Jones said:

“We have a bank of people waiting to get out there again and meet people. We’ve seen an increase in people coming to us over the last few weeks after struggling during lockdown, it’s been a difficult time for a lot of people.”

Read more:

• WATCH as the Pateley Bridge Men’s Shed opens
• Harrogate charity, Horticap, opens new cafe with the legacy left by a former student

The charity works alongside GP practices in a Route One Partnership, which allows local doctors to refer patients struggling with their mental health to it.

The Route One Partnership includes other local charities: Wellspring Therapy and Training, Harrogate Mind and The Orb.

Since the partnership was set up six months ago the charity has received an additional 20 referrals.

Mr Jones added:

“There will be an aftermath for this [pandemic] and hopefully we can help.”

District businesses could be at risk of fraudulent activity after Harrogate Borough Council warned of a possible data breach.

The Stray Ferret has seen an email sent by the council’s Revenues Welfare and Customer Services department encouraging businesses to to monitor any suspicious financial transactions.

The extent of the breach is unknown, but the email said an online form had been used to try to apply for a restart grant against local business rates accounts.

One business owner, who wishes to stay anonymous, said the email did not give full details of exactly what information had been stolen, or how.

The source said they had already received two phishing emails before the council contacted them about the issue this afternoon:

“I’m shocked and it’s disturbing at what they could know. I’m concerned my banking details may have been seen because why else would [the council] tell us to monitor our banks?

“I’ve read it that someone has tried to take out a grant in my [business name]. They have to have got this information from somewhere.

“I don’t think the council is telling us everything, I think they are trying to water it down.”

Read more:

• Developer says it will seek full legal costs if the Wetherby Road drive-thru plan is approved by the planning inspectorate
• Harrogate Convention Centre events still go ahead despite lockdown delay

In hopes of protecting firms, the council said it had closed the affected business rates accounts and updated the online form, which is usually automatically filled with elements of a company’s details.

The business owner said they have been told not to call the council but instead send any complaints via email. They have already reported the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

They said they had been told 440 businesses had been affected, but The Stray Ferret was unable to substantiate that number.

A council spokesman said:

“We have been made aware that an online form, used in relation to restart grants, has been used fraudulently.

“When attempts were made, information – including some that could be available via the Valuation Office Agency or Companies House – may have been auto-populated.

“As soon as this was discovered, we updated the online form to stop it from happening and ensured all information was secure.

“As a further precautionary step we have closed all affected existing business rates accounts and created new ones.

“Affected businesses do not need to take any further action – but should remain vigilant – and will receive confirmation of their new business rate account number in the post shortly.

“We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience this has caused and would like to reassure businesses that no bank details have been shared.

“When processing restart grants we have a number of additional checks in place that prevent people from receiving any government grants that they have tried to claim fraudulently.”