Bank holiday weekend train travellers face delays and replacement buses

Northern will be running a limited service this weekend, despite the bank holiday and forecasts for better weather.

Passengers wishing to travel to Leeds this Sunday will need to use a replacement bus service between Horsforth and Leeds.

This is expected to add 20 minutes to journey times.

Engineering work on the York – Harrogate – Leeds line will take place on Sunday May 30.

Timetable changes across the Northern network this weekend are the result of engineering improvement works around Leeds, Manchester and Warrington. Full details are available on its website.

The company asked passengers to be “flexible with their journey”.

A spokesperson said:

“We’ll be adding extra carriages where possible but, with amended timetables in place in many areas, we will have fewer trains operating than on a normal weekend.

“We need our customers to plan carefully for any rail travel this weekend and be prepared for services to be much busier than they have been recently.”

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Explainer: How the Harrogate Station Gateway survey paves the way for major change

The long-awaited results of a public survey have paved the way for the next stages of the £7.9m Gateway project – but how exactly did Harrogate vote?

North Yorkshire County Council has this week revealed the consultation results which will form the basis of the next stages of the project including the drawing up of detailed designs and a business plan.

But with controversial changes on the table including pedestrianisation and the removal of traffic lanes and car parking spaces – what proportion of residents are actually backing the plans?

Here are the numbers:

Out of 1,101 respondents to the survey held in February and March, 45% voted in favour of fully pedestrianising James Street, while 32% said no changes should be made and 17% backed a partial pedestrianisation.

The remaining 6% of respondents gave no preference for the street.

These results suggest a majority of residents (62%) support pedestrianisation of some sort – whether full or partial – in what marks a major step forward for the idea which has been mooted for years.

For Station Parade, 49% favoured an option to reduce traffic to one lane, while 27% said it should stay as two lanes and 24% said neither option was workable.

Residents were also asked if they felt positive, negative, neutral or didn’t have an opinion on other parts of the project. Here is how they voted:

– Cycle lanes for East Parade (58% positive, 29.3% negative, 12.2% neutral and 0.5% didn’t know)
– Improvements to public spaces at One Arch (70.9% positive, 13% negative, 14.3% neutral and 1.8% didn’t know)
– Improvements to public spaces at Station Square (59.5% positive, 31.2% negative, 8.9% neutral and 0.4% didn’t know)

What is the aim of the Gateway project?

The project is being backed by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund which aims to make it easier, safer and quicker for people to travel on foot, by bike or on public transport by improving connections in town and city centres.

In Harrogate, the aim is to give greater priority to these modes of transport with better connections to the train station, bus station and other key parts of the town.

It is also hoped these changes will result in a reduction in carbon emissions from fewer cars on the road, as well as boost to the economy with shoppers spending more time in the town centre.

There are, however, questions over what impact the removal of traffic lanes and car parking spaces will have on business and the roads.

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What are the concerns?

The worry from some residents and businesses is that the removal of parking spaces and traffic lanes will mean busier roads and fewer shoppers.

In a joint statement released this week, Harrogate BID, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and Independent Harrogate said they were “disappointed that our collective voices have not been listened to” and that they felt what was being proposed would have a “hugely damaging effect” on trade.

They said: “Despite many feeling the outcome is already a done deal, we will continue our dialogue with local councillors and officers, as the final outcome will change the face of Harrogate town centre forever.”

On the flip side, transport officials at North Yorkshire County Council say case study evidence suggests that improvements to public spaces can boost footfall and trading by up to 40%.

They said in a report: “It is often assumed that more parking is the answer to struggling high streets.

“However across Europe, studies have linked the quality of public spaces to people’s perceptions of attractiveness of an area, contributing towards their quality of life and influencing where they shop.”

“Evaluations of pedestrian improvements in Coventry and Bristol show a 25% increase in footfall on Saturdays and predict £1.4million benefits respectively.”

What will the impact be?

The report published earlier this week also concluded that in a “worst case scenario” reducing Station Parade to one lane would increase average journey times by 53 seconds or 1 minute 14 seconds with James Street fully pedestrianised also.

It added the partial or full pedestrianisation of James Street would result in the loss of 45 out of 915 on-street pay and display spaces currently in operation across the town centre.

Currently, at peak occupancy, it is estimated there are 120 on-street spaces unused.

A separate report published by consultants WSP concluded in another “worst case scenario” estimate that the project could result in increased carbon emissions from diverted vehicles having to make longer journeys.

It added, however, that the “transformational change” from the scheme has the potential to “unlock further behavioural change” with more motorists choosing to travel by foot or bike instead of car.

The magnitude of the possible increase in emissions – around 1,400 tons of CO2 over 60 years – was also said to be “unlikely to be considered significant in the context of regional and national emissions targets”.

What do the politicians say?

Harrogate Borough Council has worked closely with the county council on the Gateway project. The authority’s cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, councillor Phil Ireland, said earlier this week that the survey results were a positive step forward and set Harrogate on path for a “21st century travel network”.

He said: “It’s positive to see that the proposals for sustainable alternatives to the car, and an improved and exciting public realm, have significant support from residents, businesses and visitors alike.

“The benefit of carrying out a consultation early on in the process is that we have everybody’s feedback and ideas to feed into the next phase of detailed design work.

Meanwhile, councillor Don Mackenzie, the county council’s executive member for access and transport, said the next steps of the project would take into account the feedback which had been received.

He said: “We are grateful to everyone across each of the towns who took the time to share their views in the consultation. We have listened.

“The next steps we are considering take into account the feedback we have received. They take account of concerns raised while providing significant benefits to facilitate and encourage people to cycle and walk.

“There will, of course, be further consultation on detailed proposals before final decisions are taken.”

What’s next?

Under the next stages of the project, county councillors will be asked to progress the plans at an executive meeting on Tuesday (25 May). Further public consultation will then take place in autumn following the development of detailed designs and a business case.

Subject to a final approval, the aim is for construction to begin by summer 2022 with completion in 2023.

True cost of livestreaming future council meetings revealed

Harrogate council has revealed the true cost of livestreaming in-person meetings – more than a year after councillors rejected the idea because of claims it would be too expensive.

The cost of equipment and installation will be £2,180 – considerably less than the “tens of thousands of pounds” which, in January 2020, conservative council leader Richard Cooper said the authority could not justify spending.

At the time, Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Aldred, who put forward the idea, offered to pay for it himself, but he was not supported and the predicted costs were never made public.

That was until Harrogate resident Jerry Diccox submitted a Freedom of Information request which was initially rejected by the council due to “commercial sensitivity” reasons but later overturned by the data watchdog ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office).

The findings in October revealed the council received three quotes, ranging from just over £5,000 to nearly £48,000.

The council had by then already made an enforced switch to livestreaming due to Covid restrictions, although meetings have been held remotely and not in-person during the pandemic.

But after the government this month instructed all councils to return in-person and said livestreaming should continue until at least 21 June, Harrogate council has now taken its first steps towards installing equipment in the chamber.

A council spokesperson said:

“The equipment has not yet been installed, but we hope it will be soon to enable the public to access meetings safely during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“No decision has been taken on whether the facility will be made permanent for any, or all, meetings.”

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Councillor Aldred said he believes livestreaming should now continue indefinitely because the pandemic has shown there is a “clear” interest in people being able to watch meetings online rather than in person.

He also said the £2,180 cost of equipment is “tremendous value for money”.

He said:

“On 10 May I chaired the first face-to-face meeting of councillors since March 2020. Not one member of the public attended this meeting and as it was not streamed in any form, they can now never see the proceedings.
“Residents are being denied their right to see how their council tax is being spent – this can not be right.
“As well as streaming these meetings live, what must be preserved, for the good of democracy, is the ability to view them at a later date.”

Meanwhile, councillor Cooper, who previously spoke in favour of continuing some remote meetings, said it is wrong to compare the £2,180 cost with previous quotes on a “like with like” basis.
He said:

The quotes we had before ranged from a low-tech solution which required not much more than training to a complete solution with new equipment, training and a fully-managed service.
“The top figure of £48,000 was also for a three-year contract. A resident offered to do it for free via Twitter but then failed to come forward when invited to do so.
“We have gone with the cheapest option using technology we currently have and the cost is reduced further because of the expertise council staff have learnt during a year of streaming Teams meetings which, while different from live-streaming from the council chamber, has similarities which can be transferred to a new basic system.
“I still think that over £2,500, including VAT, is a lot of money when community groups, charities, the homeless and businesses need every bit of support we can give, but fortunately one of our councillors – Chris Aldred – offered to pay for the new system and I am very happy to take him up on his kind offer.
“It is very generous and I am sure that those who enjoy watching our council meetings join me in thanking him.”

Harrogate outdoor diners eager to eat indoors next week

People who have braved the turbulent weather over the last month eating out in the Harrogate district are keen to head indoors next week.

Restaurants and pubs are able to throw open their doors from Monday under the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions.

While those we have spoken to have made the most of the outdoor dining experience, they have had to wrap up warm and dodge heavy rain at times.

Are you looking forward to eating and drinking indoors next week?

Five new covid cases in Harrogate district

The number of new covid cases in the Harrogate district has been five in the past 24 hours, according to data published by Public Health England.

It brings the total number of recorded cases in the district since the start of the pandemic to 7,739.

The NHS has stopped reporting death statistics at weekends and instead now reports only on weekdays.

As of May 14 (Friday) there had been no new deaths at the district hospital- the number of people who have died after testing positive for the virus remained at 179.

The last reported death at the hospital was on April 11.

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The 7-day average rate of cases per 100,000 population stands at 19.9 in the Harrogate district.

That’s now above the average for North Yorkshire which is 18.8. Recent data up to May 13.

Stray Foodie recipes: Pappardelle Pasta with herbs

Stray Foodie Lockdown Recipes are written by Michelin-starred chef, Frances Atkins. In 1997, Frances opened the Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, where she was the owner for 20 years. During her ownership, she held her Michelin-star status for 16 of those years. This week, Frances shares her pasta recipe.

“I’d love to see how you make the recipes your own – let me know by using #StrayFoodie or tagging @thestrayferret in your social media posts.”

 

A few days to go before hospitality can return to their INSIDE venues and their various creative enterprises. How exciting! Unfortunately due to the pandemic this will be the ‘survival of the fittest’ all jockeying for position. I for one am looking forward to visiting the plethora of local establishments opening up fully and supporting restaurants again.

This week’s recipe is my last for a while as I will be busy enjoying other people’s food as well as producing my own! It’s for a simple Pappardelle Pasta with handfuls of these wonderful herbs that I am surrounded by, chickpea, artichoke puree and pesto.

Once again it is the sort of recipe you can use your own interpretation of – such as, if you don’t like artichoke you can use tomato with spicy sausage and parmesan shavings.

With the flavour of these herbs, this dish is sensational. I have used meadowsweet, chives, pine buds, pea shoots, all the good things that are in the garden at the moment.

The pesto is made with lovage but you can decide which herb you would like to use for your pesto. This dish is all about seasonal inspiration and that is what is going to be so exciting in the weeks to come when we can try out all the new dishes from our local chefs, both simple and sophisticated.

For the Pasta, you will need:

Mix together in your processor.

Knead well and rest for an hour.

Roll out thinly or put through your pasta machine.

Cut into half an inch strips.

Plunge into boiling, salted water for 4 minutes until transparent. It is important the pasta still has a bite to it and is not overcooked.

Drain off the water and let stand for a couple of seconds.

Mix in the pesto and scatter your selection of fresh herbs over the top. The heat from the pasta should stimulate the flavour of the herbs.

Add the cooked chickpeas, artichoke puree and any other flavours you might wish to use.

For the Artichoke Puree, you will need:

Wash and peel the artichokes, this is sometimes a little tricky due to the knobbly surface but persevere.

Cover with boiling water and a little knob of butter until well cooked.

Drain well and put through your blender with a little grated nutmeg and a teaspoon of cream.

Season to taste.

This puree is a great natural flavour enhancer for other dishes, such as fish, chicken or vegetables.

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This is Frances’ last recipe for the time being — she is to return to monthly restaurant reviewing for the Stray Ferret now that indoor dining has returned. Will she be visiting your favourite restaurant? Make sure to watch out for the next Stray Foodie in a month’s time. 

Bookings surge for Harrogate restaurants reopening next week

Previously closed pubs and restaurants in the district have been inundated with bookings ahead of restrictions easing next Monday.

This is the first time many venues without large outdoor seating areas have been able to open in five months.

We spoke to three local independent venues to hear how they’ve dealt with the sudden demand.

The Tannin Level on Raglan Street told the Stray Ferret that they’re almost fully booked for their first week of opening, with the second week filling up fast. Owner, John Roberts, describes the prospect of reopening as “daunting but exciting”.

“It will feel strange after having the place so quiet and empty for so long.

“We’ve taken time to redecorate and look at our menu. We’re trying to use ask much local produce as possible and support the North Yorkshire economy.

“By supporting local independents you’re supporting the local economy.”

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Mike Schofield owns The Shepherd’s Dog on Otley Road. While they could have opened sooner using outdoor space, they decided that it would be a gamble to open with such unpredictable weather.

They will be opening on a first-come-first-served basis but have already heard from people excited to get back.

“There’s a big demand from people wanting to drink inside.

“[Local pubs] have gambled their futures this year and now people want to support the local independents.”

The Two Brothers Grill and Pizzeria in Knaresborough is also fully booked on 17 May. While the venue does have a courtyard, owner Nandor Ravasz told the Stray Ferret they were unable to use it for outdoor seating as it did not comply with covid regulations:

“We’re excited to get back and see out customers. We have lots of bookings coming in very fast.”

Four more covid cases in the Harrogate District

There have been four more cases of coronavirus in the Harrogate district.

It brings the total number of cases of the virus in the district to 7,703 since the start of the pandemic.

There have been no further recorded deaths of covid at the district’s hospital.

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The 7-day rate of cases per 100,000 population stands at 13.1 in the Harrogate district – compared with the North Yorkshire average of 20.7.  The latest data up to May 6.

The North Yorkshire district with the highest infection rate per 100,000 remains Selby with a 7-day rate of 65.1.

 

 

Bilton Liberal Democrat candidate ‘very sorry’ after by-election defeat

The Liberal Democrat candidate for the Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election has said he is “very sorry” for the result after the Conservatives took the seat from the party.

Speaking today, Liberal Democrat Andrew Kempston-Parkes said the election result was “not what we hoped for”.

Matt Scott, the Conservative candidate, won the North Yorkshire County Council seat for the Tories by 352 votes.

The by-election was held following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Webber who died in March after holding the seat since 2017.

Mr Kempston-Parkes said after the result:

“I look to my comrades in the Labour Party and my sisters and brothers in the Green Party and say as long as the parties of the centre and left continue to fight each other, Conservatives will continue to have power even though they get less than 50% of the vote.”

Matt Scott, Conservative candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge.

Matt Scott, the new Conservative councillor for Bilton and Nidd Gorge on North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Scott, who already represents the area on Harrogate Borough Council, won the North Yorkshire County Council seat this morning by a margin of 352 votes ahead of second-placed Liberal Democrat candidate Andrew Kempston-Parkes.

His victory marks a shift in power away from the Lib Dems who had previously won six out of eight county council elections in Bilton in the last 16 years.

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Speaking after being announced as winner at the Pavilions of Harrogate today, Cllr Scott said:

“I’m very grateful to the people of Bilton and Nidd Gorge – it’s been a pleasure to serve as the Harrogate borough councillor in Bilton Woodfield since 2018.

“It’s a real privilege to be the county councillor for Bilton and Nidd Gorge as well.”

There are two Bilton and Nidd Gorge seats on the county council, the other being held by Conservative Paul Haslam whose position was not up for election.

Cllr Scott won today with 1,991 votes, followed by Liberal Democrat Andrew Kempston-Parkes (1,639), Labour’s Tyler Reeton (434), Green Party’s Anrold Warneken (430), Yorkshire Party’s John Hall and  , independent Harvey Alexander (46).

Voter turnout was 37.4% of eligible voters and there were 19 spoiled ballots.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Labour candidate Tyler Reeton gave a message to other young aspiring politicians and promised the party will “come back stronger”.

He said:

“If you are young don’t be scared to run in politics. Politics is yours and you are the future generation. As a 19-year-old, I am honoured to have stood here today with rather strong competitors.

“The Labour Party is not going anywhere in Harrogate – we are going to come back stronger next year and we will win Bilton.”

Ripon council to buy CCTV camera to tackle anti-social behaviour

A mobile CCTV camera is to be deployed in Ripon to target hotspot areas for anti-social behaviour and crime.

Ripon City Council has this week agreed to purchase the surveillance equipment which its leader said will act as a “significant deterrent” against “frustrating” levels of crime seen during the third national lockdown.

It comes as the authority discussed using the cameras in March in an effort to tackle anti-social behaviour which has blighted the city.

Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of the council, said:

“We have witnessed in recent months problems with anti-social behaviour across the city.

“Thankfully the pressure that this council has brought to bear upon the relevant authorities has led to a significant improvement.

“But I do think it would be helpful in terms of supporting police efforts generally across the city, and reinforcing the point that the city council and city as a whole won’t tolerate anti-social behaviour, that we have a mobile CCTV camera.

“The ability to deploy a camera would act as a significant deterrent and be extremely useful.”

Cllr Williams said a “yob culture” had developed in the city with recent reports of crimes including street robberies, assaults on emergency workers and members of the public being spat at.

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He previously said empty streets and dark evenings earlier in the lockdown had created the “perfect storm” for crime and that some residents – including himself – had become too afraid to leave their homes on an evening.

Cllr Wiliams also raised concerns over the number of officers patrolling the streets.

In February, North Yorkshire Police responded by stepping up patrols and said it had made “a number” of arrests, recovered drugs and seized criminal property including cash, imitation firearms and other weapons.

This was after the spate of crime prompted a meeting between city councillors and North Yorkshire, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan who later said she was “confident” that officers were dealing with the problem “robustly”.

At Tuesday’s meeting, city council clerk Paula Benson said the CCTV camera could cost more than £7,000 and that the authority hoped to secure the funds through grants.

Cllr Stuart Martin said:

“It is absolutely essential that we support the police in the fight against crime and the more we can do to help them the better.

“It is a good move forward and a good use of public money.”

In a direct plea to those causing anti-social behaviour problems, North Yorkshire Police inspector Alex Langley previously said:

“If you commit anti-social behaviour and mindless acts of theft and criminal damage we will take every opportunity to investigate and prosecute you.

“As a young person you may not realise that throwing that stone or stealing some alcohol may result in a criminal record – and that a criminal record could prevent you accessing higher education and certain types of employment.

“Please stop and think about the consequences of your actions and how your decisions today could impact on your future.”