A senior Conservative Harrogate councillor has said grievances about Harrogate Borough Council not spending enough money in Ripon are like “listening to the Scottish National Party.”
The comment was made at last night’s full council meeting by Cllr Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development at HBC.
It came after Ripon Independent councillor, Pauline McHardy, called on HBC to pause its sale of the Ripon Spa Baths site which she said is being sold “from under our noses”. She said she wanted the council to maintain the building for other purposes.
In response, Cllr Swift said:
“The grievance story is like listening to the Scottish National Party at times. It’s not right, it’s not correct and it’s not relevant. We are investing heavily in that beautiful city.
“Rather than complaining about what you think we don’t do, we’d love to hear the ideas that will drive the regeneration of Ripon”.
The Scottish National Party is led by Nicola Sturgeon and is the largest political party in Scotland. It wants independence from the UK.
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Cllr McHardy spoke to the Stray Ferret this morning and called Cllr Swift’s comments “rude and disrespectful”.
She said he should apologise.
“It’s disgusting. The Conservatives strategy of defence is attack. Comparing the people of Ripon with the Scottish National Party is an insult and he has offended the many Scottish people who live in the district.
“Cllr Swift goes for the jugular and it’s so rude and disrespectful.”
The Stray Ferret contacted Harrogate Borough Council and Cllr Swift for a response but we did not receive one at the time of publication.
‘Nobody cares about us’: Pub landlord criticises extended road closureThe landlord of the Squinting Cat pub in Harrogate has spoken out against the controversial road closure of Whinney Lane — which could now last until June 30.
The road was initially closed in July 2020 due to the construction of access points for two new housing developments as well as a new roundabout.
North Yorkshire County Council had told residents the road would be back open by February 28 this year. However, this was put back until April with the county council blaming snow for the delay.
NYCC now says the works will not be completed until June 30. A spokesperson did not give a reason for the delay.
Andy Harrison, landlord of the Squinting Cat which is on Whinney Lane, said he had not been informed of the road closure being extended until being told about it by the Stray Ferret.
He called the nearly 12-month long closure “just ridiculous” and said it will have an impact on the pub’s trade.
He said:
“You can’t budge them and they do what they want. I’ve given up.
“It will affect us massively but nobody cares.”
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After being asked when Whinney Lane will reopen, a North Yorkshire County Council spokesperson said:
“Whinney Lane is currently closed due to the construction of two site accesses and a new roundabout for developments of new housing estates by Stonebridge Homes (130 dwellings), Mulgrave Properties (40 dwellings).
“These works are due to be completed by June 27. In addition, Yorkshire Water is doing works at the other end of Whinney Lane and are due to be completed June 30.”
A spokesperson for Mulgrave Properties said its works within the highway was completed “some time ago.”
The Stray Ferret also contacted Stonebridge Homes for a response but we did not receive one by the time of publication.
Harrogate residents disappointed at 95-home Granby Farm approvalResidents’ groups that fought against the 95-home Granby Farm development have expressed disappointment at Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to grant planning permission.
Redrow Homes was given the green light yesterday to build the homes by the council’s planning committee despite complaints the development will result in the loss of the last remaining link between the Stray and the town’s surrounding countryside.
Gary Walker, from Granby Residents’ Group, wondered whether the fear of contesting a costly legal appeal had played on the minds of some councillors.
Last month, the government’s planning inspectorate overturned a planning committee decision to refuse 149 homes on nearby Kingsley Road. The council was ordered to pay the developer’s legal costs.
He said:
“It’s been a long fight and we are obviously very disappointed. Four councillors voted against the development and we were impressed with what Cllr Pat Marsh had to say.
“We already have a good supply of housing in Harrogate.”
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- Plans approved to build 95 homes at Harrogate’s Granby Farm
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The plans include an access road that cuts through Pickering Gardens, which was created when the former Harrogate rugby union ground was redeveloped for housing.
Members of the Devonshire Gardens Residents’ Association argued that the road will destroy a green space that has been a lifeline to people during lockdown.
An access road to the new development will be created through Pickering Gardens.
The group’s chairman, Mark Tordoff, said:
“We feel as residents we all pulled together and put up a good fight.
“However, many of the planning committee members appeared totally disinterested at the impact the development will have on our park.”
The Local Plan
People who have contested the plans over the past year pointed to a council assessment report published in 2016, which said about half of the site should be maintained as a green corridor under any housebuilding plans.
This, however, was only a recommendation and didn’t become official policy when the Local Plan was adopted last year and included the Granby Farm site.
A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:
“Every planning application received is carefully considered on its own planning merits.
“Recommendations presented to the planning committee are based on whether they align with our adopted Local Plan, local and national planning policy, legislation, consultation and anything else that might be material to the case.
“They are not based on fear of incurring legal costs.”
John Handley, managing director of Redrow Yorkshire said:
Pannal car boot sale returns today“We’re pleased that the benefits of our proposed development have been recognised and are looking forward to fulfilling our promise to deliver a scheme that demonstrates strong placemaking and contributes to the surrounding community. “
Pannal car boot sale is set to return today from 12pm.
Bargain hunters will be able to attend every Wednesday from 12pm to 6pm as well as Sundays from 6am to 12pm.
The sale takes place in a field on the A61/A658 roundabout near Burn Bridge.
Established in 1996, the sale usually attracts people from March to October but covid has hampered it over the last year.
According to the organisers’ Facebook page, it costs £8 to sell items from a car and £10 to sell items from a van. Entry for buyers is £1. Children go for free.
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Ex-teachers from Knaresborough support calls for children to start school aged 7
Two former teachers who live in Knaresborough are supporting calls for children to start formal education aged seven.
Husband and wife Shan Oakes and Bill Rigby said starting at seven, as opposed to four or five, would improve wellbeing and attainment in later years.
The couple, who taught at secondary schools in East Yorkshire, said they had seen children burnt out from learning by the time they were teenagers and believe the UK should adopt an approach inspired by countries like Norway and Finland.
In these Scandinavian countries, children learn through play at kindergartens or nurseries until they are seven.
The proposal is part of the Scottish Green Party manifesto for the upcoming Scottish Parliament election. Education philosophies such as Montessori and Steiner also advocate starting school at a later age.
The couple are both members of the Harrogate & District Green Party and Shan said she knew parents of young children in the Harrogate district who had decided to adopt home schooling to prevent stress.
She said:
“Starting school later puts an emphasis on the child instead of being forced into the template of state schools.”
Bill added:
“We start far too young here. Lots of countries who start later perform much better than ours.”
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In the Harrogate district last week, parents of three and four-year-olds were informed which primary school their children will be starting in September.
But Shan and Bill believe children should spend longer outside of formal classrooms and learn more about nature.
Shan was full of praise for Harrogate schools but said the system often let children down by focusing too much on learning facts and excessive testing.
She added:
‘We’re not giving up on our Harrogate B&B dream’“Harrogate schools do wonderful things often in spite of the system.
“But all the testing of children is ludicrous. You can put children off learning.
“Our system is focused on what we think children need to learn rather than drawing out a child’s unique perspective.”
It’s been a difficult year for the many bed and breakfasts that depend on Harrogate’s Convention Centre, which has been an NHS Nightingale for the last year.
But the owners of Scotia House on King’s Road are now excited about better times ahead.
In the months before covid, South African couple Mark and Gill Church travelled the length and breadth of the UK looking for their perfect location before buying Scotia House, opposite the convention centre.
The couple left careers in marketing and event management to take over the business in December 2019 — but little did they know what would be around the corner.
Instead of a busy conference and tourist season, the convention centre was swiftly turned into a Nightingale hospital in March last year, with the two large oxygen tanks by the Royal Hall a grim reminder of what might have been.
Mr Church said it was a “blessing in disguise” that the Nightingale was never used to treat covid patients.
Not going to run away
Some longstanding hotels nearby shut their doors for good during the pandemic, including The Kimberley Hotel and Alexa House.
But Mr Church said they never thought about selling up and were determined to get to the other side. The hotel will reopen on May 17.
He said:
“These times were sent to test us but we were not going to run away.
“We’re incredibly blessed to still be here.”
He called the last 12 months “horrendous” but said they had used the time to find different ways to help the business, including going on courses to better equip them for life as hoteliers.
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- WATCH: NHS takes down Nightingale hospital in Harrogate
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Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the convention centre, is working on a £50m plan to upgrade the ageing facility.
The council hopes the investment will help Harrogate better compete with other conference venues across the country.
Mr Church is looking forward to conferences and events finally returning to the town.
Andrew Jones MP: Vaccine passports ‘extremely problematic’“More money spent on the convention centre is a fantastic thing. We’re also hoping to get tourists in too who will use Harrogate as a base.
“Friends always wonder why would you leave sunny South Africa, but it’s fantastic here in Harrogate. We absolutely love it.”
Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones MP has spoken out against vaccine passports, calling them “extremely problematic”.
The government is considering whether to introduce the passports to enable people who have proved their covid-free status to travel abroad and reduce social distancing measures.
On his website, Mr Jones has published a response to constituents who have messaged him on the subject.
He said he “understands the depth of feeling” on the issue, adding:
“I do understand the points that you and others make and I think vaccine passports are extremely problematic.
“There will be people who do not want a vaccine for religious or cultural reasons. Some may deride this but it should be a consideration when the government looks at the issue.
“Others may not be able to have the vaccine because of health conditions; we need to ensure these people can return to a normal life too. There are still of course millions of people aged 50 and over who have not yet received a jab.”
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Some Labour and Conservative MPs have expressed concerns about the impact of vaccine passports on civil liberties.
A petition calling on the government to scrap the idea has over 300,000 signatures.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove is in charge of a Whitehall study into how coronavirus passports could work in the UK.
Campaigners protest against Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods plansCampaigners gathered at Valley Gardens yesterday to protest against Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion into the Pinewoods.
It was organised by Harrogate & District Green Party who had members on hand to provide information to the public about the proposals alongside activities for children and live musicians.
Harrogate Spring Water, which is now owned by multinational firm Danone, was granted outline planning permission in 2017 to expand into Rotary Wood in the Pinewoods.
Danone recently bid to vary the terms of this by increasing the size of the bottling plant even further into the woodlands. Harrogate’s planning committee rejected the proposal in January after almost 400 people objected.
Many objectors were jubilant at the outcome but the original outline permission in 2017 still applies.
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- Harrogate Spring Water’s Pinewoods expansion refused
- Harrogate Spring Water to ‘consider options’ following expansion refusal
A Green Party spokesperson said:
Fire brigade rescues stranded teenagers from Rudding Park pond“We were able to inform people of the proposals and how to object to the Danone/ Harrogate Spring Water compensation plans and highlight the tragic potential loss of woodland habitat in our community.
“Many people don’t realise the planning application could still go ahead – and we feel strongly they should be able to understand the process and the potential outcomes – and importantly make their voices heard.
“It was fantastic to see so many people enjoy the weather, and families and children get involved with learning more about nature and share how they feel about trees. The community came out together to share the goal of saving our trees and highlighting the plight of Rotary Wood.”
Two teenage boys had to be rescued by firefighters after being stuck in the middle of a pond on Rudding Park’s golf course.
Rudding Park has an ‘access pontoon’ to allow staff to cut the grass on an island on the golf course.
The two youths, who were believed to be trespassing, decided to take the pontoon across to the island yesterday evening and made the mistake of letting go of the rope.
The fire brigade was called and officers threw lines to reach the boys and pull the pontoon to shore.
Other than perhaps a dented ego, the boys were both unharmed. Officers advised them on their future behaviour.
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Bilton bridge mural aims to lift community spirit
Artist Emma Garness hopes her ‘uplifting’ mural on the Iron Bridge in Bilton will become a beacon of positivity in the area.
The bridge, which is on the edge of Bilton and crosses over towards Claro Road, was previously covered with tags and offensive graffiti.
The Beverley-based artist was commissioned to paint the mural by the owner of the bridge, Network Rail, and she’s been putting the finishing touches to it today.
Emma asked local schools to contribute ideas, with children from Grove Road Community Primary School asking for a fox, and Woodfield Community Primary School an oak tree.
It also includes a cherry tree blossom and crocuses from the Stray.
She said:
“The mural includes elements from the community. I want it to be something they can be proud of. It was so dark and uninviting but the space has changed completely.”
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There have been problems with anti-social behaviour on the bridge but Emma said art has the power to change a space that has had negative connotations.
The bridge was previously covered with graffiti.
She said:
“This was a dark and grimy bridge but art can change the atmosphere of somewhere.”
Emma started working on the mural on Saturday and has been inundated with positive feedback from curious people crossing the bridge.
She added:
“People have said it’s so uplifting. To see how an overnight change can give people such positive vibrations. It can drop pebbles that ripple to people’s emotions.”