Harrogate couple’s desperate hunt for dog-napped Dachshund

UPDATE: since publishing this story we are happy to report that Maggie has been found and reunited with her very relieved owners Paul and Laurie Smith

Harrogate couple Paul and Laurie Smith have told the Stray Ferret how their miniature Dachshund was taken from their front garden yesterday morning.

Maggie, who is only 17 weeks old, was with Paul in the back garden of the home on Swan Road when she was coaxed down the drive at the side of the house to the front garden by a woman who then picked her up and stole her.

The couple say the incident was caught on a neighbour’s CCTV but the images are grainy and they are now trying to get them enhanced.

Paul said:

“We watched the woman come to the house, she comes to the drive and encourages the dog towards her.

“As soon as Maggie gets within arms length she picks her up, puts her under her right arm and sets off rapidly towards Valley Gardens.

“The was no hesitation, it is a very deliberate act.”

The couple are now frantic to find Maggie and have reported her theft to the police.  They’ve put up posters in the area and published the images of the woman on social media. Maggie is chipped, which has been alerted.

Laurie Smith said:

“It made me sick when we saw the CCTV, it’s absolutely desperate.  We don’t know where to look. She’s so friendly and socialised. She must be so frightened.”

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New high tech van to help victims of rape and sexual assault in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Police has bought a new digital van to improve how the police service responds to rape or serious sexual offences.

The van is a mobile digital forensic laboratory containing all of the latest equipment and software that the force said it needs to perform phone and computer digital examinations at a scene.

It means officers can examine a range of devices at the earliest opportunity at any location and, when appropriate, return them immediately.

The van is unmarked which means it can visit a victim’s home or a crime scene discreetly.

The force said its main objective was to deliver a faster, safer and more sensitive service for those affected by rape, and sexual assault and to increase confidence in the criminal justice system.

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The van’s purchase is in response to the findings of the government’s Rape Response Review and it’s hoped will help the force meet Government targets around rapid victim mobile phone examination.

Assistant chief constable Lindsey Butterfield said:

“The new digital forensics van is a huge asset to the force as it will help us provide an enhanced service to victims of rape and serious sexual assault.

“We recognise that we must do everything we possibly can to support and protect victims at the most distressing time of their lives, and we are confident this new mobile technology will help us do that.  Ultimately, it will also help us deliver our strategy around the prevention of violence against women and girls.

“The use of this van will also strengthen our opportunity to gather valuable evidence and hopefully increase public confidence in the police’s ability to deal with vulnerable victims in the most sensitive way possible.”

Zoë Metcalfe, police, fire and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire, added:

“We must ensure we do all we can to support victims of rape and serious sexual assault, while at the same time ensuring we collect the evidence needed to make sure these crimes can be properly investigated.

“These new digital tools are an important part of that, making it easier and quicker for police to collect evidence and making the process less intrusive for those who have been attacked at the most traumatic of times.

“Victims need to feel they will be taken seriously and can achieve justice if they report these crimes, and I will be making sure that happens in North Yorkshire and York.”

Mayor for North Yorkshire agreed in £540m historic devolution deal

An historic agreement has been announced today that sees the biggest shake-up of local government in North Yorkshire and York for more than fifty years.

The 30 year devolution deal agreed by the government will mean North Yorkshire and York will see an elected Mayor in 2024 with £540 million pounds of government cash to focus primarily on skills, housing and transport.

The mayor will take over the role of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and have an annual £18m budget to spend.

The agreement has been described as “a one-in-a-generation chance to help tackle regional inequalities by not only reducing the North-South divide nationally, but also helping to resolve economic differences that are being felt between urban and rural areas”.

The aim is that the mayor and combined authority – which would be made up of North Yorkshire and City of York councillers – will be able to have more control of strategic investment for jobs and skills and infrastructure.

Key points to the deal are:

The structure of the mayor and a combined authority will be similar that of the Tees Valley and West Yorkshire, which have already gone through the devolution process and have elected mayors.

North Yorkshire County Council’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, said:

“The chance to secure a wide range of decision-making powers as well as bringing in millions of pounds of investment for North Yorkshire is a huge opportunity for us all to shape our own future for many years to come.

“It will make a real difference to the hundreds of thousands of people who live and work in North Yorkshire, driving future prosperity and much better opportunities that are so important to everyone.

“Whether it is improving skills and education, bringing in more investment to the region or helping improve transport links and providing much-needed affordable housing, the proposed deal would enable us to take far greater control of our own destinies.

“An elected mayor representing both York and North Yorkshire would be a powerful figure to have a seat at the table for further negotiations with the Government, bringing real and tangible benefits to the region.”

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm shortlisted for property award

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Berwins up for award

Berwins’  residential property team has been shortlisted as finalists in the 2022 Yorkshire Legal Awards.

Judges said they were impressed by the way Berwins’ property team supports clients, offers high levels of service and uses an innovative digital solution to ensure this is both monitored and maintained.

Commenting on the development, Head of Residential Property, Jo Randall said

“I’m thrilled that the team has been recognised in this way.”

“We understand that the process of moving home can be a stressful one and, through years of experience, have seen the difference that genuine care and high service standards can offer.

That is why we never fail to place a real emphasis on how we deliver legal services, not just what we deliver.

To see that approach validated by being shortlisted for such a prestigious regional award is particularly pleasing.”

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Fund raising for Tech businesses

Co-Lab in Harrogate is to hold a free workshop to help tech companies access funding for business growth, product development or new services.

The workshop on September 28 is described as a “practical and delivered by the funding experts from NorthInvest, who work with tech and digital start-ups,  mentors and investors in the North of England”.

Hosted at Co-Lab, the workshop is part of the company’s celebration of the Leeds Digital Festival. To register click here.

In Pictures : the joy of Harrogate Carnival

Thousands lined the streets of Harrogate today as a colourful parade of dancers, costumes and music from all over the globe made its way from the centre of town to Valley Gardens.

This year’s Carnival was paid for by Harrogate Borough Council‘s tourism body, Destination Harrogate, and was put on by Harrogate International Festivals. Unlike the last carnival in 2019 when the weather was atrocious, this year the rain held off allowing everyone to have a great time.

Here are some images that aim to capture that carnival spirit:

 

Plans to set up temporary gym at Ripon Leisure Centre

Harrogate Borough Council has submitted a planning application to install a temporary gym at  Ripon Leisure Centre.

It comes after an investigation into ground conditions beneath the older half of the leisure centre after an underground void was discovered in 2020.

The first floor of the leisure centre is currently open but the ground floor remains closed because of concerns over safety.

The council said the void is understood to have been “present for a number of years and was only discovered when the reinforced concrete slab, which provides the foundation for the new swimming pool, was cast.”

The temporary gym – which will be situated in the car park next to the main entrance – is due to open in the autumn whilst ground stabilisation works take place.

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Councillor Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at Brimhams Active, said:

“We remain committed to enabling people to enjoy physical activity. By providing a temporary gym, while the ground stabilisation works take place, we can minimise the disruption to current and potential customers and ensure they can continue to maintain their health and wellbeing goals.”

 

 

 

Memories and tributes at much-loved Harrogate historian’s funeral

The funeral of much-loved Harrogate historian, Malcolm Neesam, took place this afternoon at Christ Church on the Stray.

The humanist service saw friends and family pay tribute to Mr Neesam, whose work to document and archive the history of Harrogate has been so admired.

Mr Neesam wrote some of the most comprehensive histories of the town. His last chronicle Wells and Swells: The Golden Age of the Harrogate Spa 1842-1923, was published in April.

He died in the early hours of his 76th birthday.

In her introduction the celebrant, Michelle Burns, talked of Mr Neesam’s “devotion to conservation” and how his family and friends were so important to him.

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Amongst those who spoke were friends Edward Barnwell and fellow Harrogate historian, Anne Smith.

Mr Barnwell said Mr Neesam “had been an important part of my life. Harrogate has lost a great man, I have lost a dear friend.”

Professor Paul Jennings said Mr Neesam’s work had been a “magnificent achievement” and that very few English cities and towns had a historian like Malcolm Neesam.

At the wake after the service, Stuart Holland, of Harrogate Civic Society said Harrogate Borough Council had committed to creating a lasting memorial to Mr Neesam, but a decision on what that would be was yet to be decided.

He also said that the civic society was keen to work with others to erect a plaque in the town in his memory.

 

 

Love Brownies goes into liquidation but Harrogate store to stay open

Love Brownies has gone into liquidation but said that its Harrogate store, which is a franchise, will stay open.

The company said it had suffered  “unsustainable” losses and liquidators were appointed to its Ilkley headquarters at the end of last week.

Lee and Chantelle Teal set up Love Brownies in 2009 with the “ambition of baking the ultimate chocolate brownie and making people smile”. It went onto to win three gold stars from the Great Taste Awards in 2015 and expanded rapidly with a new bakery at Howgill.

In a statement included in correspondence sent to creditors it said:

“Whilst the expansion had led to increased revenues, the company has also been adversely affected by covid, significant increases in raw material costs and spiralling expansion costs. As a result of this, the company incurred significant losses of £359,095 in the 10-month period to May 2022 which were unsustainable.

“The impact of these losses on cashflow resulted in the directors seeking investment from a third party known to them who had expressed an interest in purchasing the company.

“Unfortunately, after a period of working with the private investor, a suitable offer was not received and ultimately the directors sought advice to place the company in liquidation.”

Mr Teal told the Stray Ferret however, that the Harrogate store on Montpellier Parade would stay open as it is franchised but other parts of the business, including the flagship store in Leeds Victoria Gate had been closed and staff made redundant. He added:

“Chantelle and I would like to thank everyone who has been with us through a very difficult time. Our plan now is to rebuild Love Brownies from the bottom up. The Harrogate store is fantastic. It’s still the original team, they do a great job for us and they will keep going.”

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Business Breakfast: Newtons solicitors to move to new premises in Ripon

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Newtons Solicitors is to move to larger premises in Ripon.

The Harrogate-based firm has nine offices across Yorkshire and the North East; it employs 90 staff and has an annual fee income of £6m.  It’s current Ripon office is based on Kirkgate.

Managing director Chris Newton told the Stray Ferret:

“An opportunity arose to purchase our own premises in Ripon. The Ripon office is very good for business.

“We saw a good new location in Market Square and seized the opportunity. It’s the old Yorkshire Bank office and needs a lot of refurbishment work. That work is underway and we hope to be in by November in time for Christmas. “

Six staff work at the current Kirkgate Ripon office. Mr Newton said he hoped that number would expand with the new premises.

The interior of the building on Market Square

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New charity store in Harrogate

Yorkshire Cancer Research is preparing to open a new shop in Harrogate town centre this summer.

The charity has secured the site of the former Porters store on Oxford Street as part of its plans to open shops on every high street in Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Cancer Research has been based in the spa town of Harrogate since 1978.

Funds raised at the shop will help fund research to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer in Yorkshire.

Juliet Glendinning, director of Yorkshire Cancer Research said:

“Harrogate has been home to Yorkshire Cancer Research for over four decades, and we have always felt very lucky to be an integral part of this beautiful town…

“With the opening of a new shop in the heart of the town, we look forward to becoming an even bigger part of the fabric of Harrogate.

“Our charity shops play a vital role in raising funds to support pioneering research, and the new store means we can offer volunteering and employment opportunities while contributing to the local high street.”

The new shop will be run by manager Kate Morris, who said:

“I am so excited about the opening of a Yorkshire Cancer Research shop in Harrogate. It is so great working for Yorkshire Cancer Research, knowing that we are playing a part in raising money to fund vital research and really having an impact on the lives of people with cancer, right here in Yorkshire.”

While the shop is being prepared for opening, good quality clothes, homewares, toys, books, small electrical and furniture can be dropped off at the charity’s donation centre at i2D Hornbeam Park Oval, Harrogate, HG2 8RB. The donation centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

 

Scheme launched to find Ripon’s community heroes

Residents in Ripon are being asked to nominate people who they feel make a positive contribution to life in the city.

The St Wilfrid’s Stars scheme has been designed by the organisation Ripon Together to thank “those people and organisations who do so much for Ripon”.

The Very Reverend John Dobson, Dean of Ripon and chair of Ripon Together (pictured above), said:

“Ripon is an incredible city, full of wonderful people who do so much for the community.

“Many are volunteers who give much of themselves, and also receive much in return, enjoying what they do. There are also many organisations vital to our life.

“None of these individuals and organisations do what they do in order to gain recognition. But this shouldn’t stop us wanting to express our gratitude by recognising them in this way.”

This year marks the 1,350th anniversary of the building of the cathedral’s crypt by St. Wilfrid, whose symbol is the star.

The plan is to display a star in the cathedral for each person or body nominated.

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Simon Hewitt, Ripon Together director, said,

”We want to fill the cathedral with stars, but that can only happen if people nominate those they believe should be recognised.

“The same person or body can be nominated in several different categories and people can make as many nominations for different people as they want.

“The point is to nominate all those we wish to thank, not just those we think might win in any category.”

As well as volunteer of the year, there’ll be awards in the following categories:

Business – A business or individual who has demonstrated a significant achievement in the development of their business during the past year.

Community – An individual who has made a difference to local people or the wider local community.

Culture – The organisation or individual who has made a significant contribution to cultural activities in the Ripon locality.

Sports – An individual who has excelled in their sport during the past year.

Tourism – The organisation that can demonstrate a significant contribution to improving the locality’s offering as a tourism destination over the past year.

Environment – An individual or organisation that has made a significant contribution to protecting or improving the environment during the past year.

Youth – The young person (up to 18 years of age) who has demonstrated a significant achievement during the past year.

Nomination forms can be obtained from the cathedral, the library and Community House on Allhallowgate, or downloaded here.

They can be returned to the same places or emailed to info@ripontogether.com.

The deadline for nominations is August 31.