As reports of anti-social behaviour in Bilton increase, the Stray Ferret has been told some older residents have become afraid to leave their homes.

North Yorkshire Police has recently issued appeals to help find the group of youths who assaulted a teenage girl on the iron bridge behind Woodfield Primary School, and vandals who targeted Richard Taylor Primary School.

There have been other reports on social media about “almost daily” damage to cars and properties.

Bilton resident Andrew Hart told the Stray Ferret that lockdown and a “lack of police presence” are to blame for the rise in crime.

He said:

“It became more apparent in July, I can’t even think how many cars have been scratched and tyres slashed. My car has been targeted several times. It’s a waste of time ringing the police as nothing ever happens.

“The lack of police presence in Bilton definitely doesn’t help. Lockdown has exacerbated the problem. Of course there has been crime in the 27 years I’ve lived here but there hasn’t been this amount of vandalism and confrontation before. Some older residents have even said they’re frightened to come out in the afternoons.”

Read more:

• Girl assaulted by teenagers in Bilton
• Young men set up Bilton group to encourage community spirit

Steve Pepper, who has lived in Bilton since 1989, is forming a local action group with Mr Hart to try and get to the bottom of the problem.

He is hoping to speak to candidates standing for the upcoming North Yorkshire Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner elections to discuss the issue.

Mr Pepper said “people have been doing all sorts of horrible stuff” in the area and blamed cuts to police funding as one reason for the increase in anti-social behaviour.

Other residents in Bilton told the Stray Ferret that the police should increase their presence in the area to act as a deterrent.

Ella Cooper and Melissa Underwood both said more police patrols are needed and Carol Deeming said CCTV should be installed on the iron bridge near Claro Road.

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Police to comment but we did not receive a response by publication.

Building thousands of new homes in Harrogate could lead to more raw sewage ending up in the River Nidd, the Harrogate & District Green Party has warned.

A Stray Ferret investigation published this morning revealed Yorkshire Water released raw sewage into rivers and becks such as the Nidd, Ure and Coppice Beck for 36,000 hours last year.

Water companies are legally allowed to release sewage through overflow pipes when the sewage system becomes too full.

New housing developments are being built on Skipton Road and Penny Pot Lane.

With more developments proposed for Otley Road. it could mean over 4,000 new homes being built on the western side of Harrogate alone.

The Greens say Oak Beck, which runs from near Beckwithshaw, through the west of Harrogate and into the River Nidd, could suffer the brunt of this.

Oak Beck

Arnold Warneken, who is standing for the party in the upcoming North Yorkshire County Council Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election, said more needed to be done to tackle the problem.

He said:

“Whose job is it to mitigate the negative impacts of housing developments on the environment?

“We would like to see that any developments in this area are built with consideration to the combined sewer overflows, that Yorkshire Water fixes long-standing issues, and ensures new housing developments do not exaggerate these issues.”

Read more

• Raw sewage released into Harrogate district rivers for 36,000 hours last year
• River Nidd fails water pollution tests due to raw sewage

Yorkshire Water said yesterday it is investing £137m in storm overflow improvements, investigation and increased monitoring by 2025.

“We are also investigating the environmental impact of 158 frequent spilling overflows as part of the Water Industry National Environment Programme.

“As frequency of spill does not necessarily equate to environmental harm and environmental permits do not set spill threshold limits, these investigations will be key to understanding environmental impact, and what action needs to be taken to resolve any impacts.”

Harrogate Town football club will open a pop-up shop on Commercial Street for a week from Monday.

The club’s Community Foundation will open the shop at number 32 Commercial Street on April 12 at 9am in a unit previously occupied by Scandinavian lighting company Nordium.

Town supporters will be able to buy club merchandise in person for the first time since before the latest lockdown came into effect.

Fans can also have their picture taken with the National League promotion trophy that the team won last summer.

Information will be available on community initiatives, including Louie Swain’s boot camp, walking football, a running club, sporting memories, man vs fat, and NCS summer programmes.

Read more:

• Young Harrogate Town footballer to take up exciting USA scholarship
• Star striker Muldoon hoping to end career at Harrogate Town

On Wednesday, in association with the English Football League’s Day of Action, when clubs showcase their community work, club mascot Harry Gator and former player Jack Emmett will be available for pictures and a chat from 2-3pm.

Then at the weekend, visitors will have the chance to show their skills as Harrogate Town on FIFA 21.

The first customer through the doors each day will receive a prize.

The shop will open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5.30pm and on Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Yorkshire Water released raw and untreated sewage into Harrogate district rivers and becks on 3,800 different occasions last year for a total of 36,000 hours.

The figures, which were shared with the Stray Ferret by Yorkshire Water, show the scale of river pollution that the Environment Agency said is causing harm to the environment.

Water companies are legally allowed to release sewage through overflow pipes when the sewage system becomes too full which can happen during increased rainfall.

Some of the data is below:

‘Wouldn’t even let dogs in’

Yorkshire Water said the sewage has been diluted by rainwater and it is investigating the environmental impact of the storm overflows. But people who use and enjoy the rivers said they were concerned about the pollution.  Harrogate district rivers such as the Nidd, which runs through Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough, offer some of our most scenic places to visit.

Kath Martin, who runs the Facebook page Keep Nidd Gorge Gorgeous, said the Nidd “can get very nasty” due to the pollution.

She said:

“I wouldn’t let children or even dogs in the water”.

Kath was part of the campaign that fought to protect Nidd Gorge from a major new road and said “it’s an area we have to protect.”

She added:

“It needs someone at the top to do something about the pollution. We have to address it.”

Concern

Whilst the raw sewage that lurks in Nidd or the Ure makes it unappealing for anyone wanting to wild swim, its impact on local wildlife could also be severe.

Environment Agency data from last year revealed that every section of the River Nidd that runs through the Harrogate district failed annual water pollution tests due to the river being contaminated.

David Clayden is secretary of the Harrogate Flyfishers’ Club. Members fish on the section of the Nidd that runs through Darley, close to where Yorkshire Water released sewage over 2,800 hours last year.

He said he was concerned about the figures and added the club will soon testing the water to try and gauge its impact on the fish.

He said:

“Sewage takes oxygen out of the water so fish can’t breathe. This is particularly important for trout which we fish. They need clear water.”

“The club would want to know that every effort is being taken to maintain the river in a lovely, as well as fishable, state.”

Harm to the environment

The Environment Agency told the Stray Ferret that nationally, the number of sewage spills has increased by 27% since 2019.

It said this was, in part, due to increased monitoring of water companies.

Sir James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency, said:

“The Environment Agency is working actively with the water companies to ensure overflows are properly controlled and the harm they do to the environment stopped.”

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“Combined sewers carry both foul water from homes and businesses as well as rainwater which falls onto impermeable areas such as paved areas, roofs and highways. As rainwater can be unpredictable, we have permitted storm overflows on our sewer network to act as a relief valve. They help to reduce the pressure on sewers during heavy rainfall events and stop the system from backing up and flooding homes and gardens by allowing heavily diluted wastewater to be discharged into watercourses. This is permitted by the Environment Agency and closely monitored by them and us. Many storm overflows have preliminary treatment such as screens or storm settlement before any discharge is made.

“We are seeing a combination of factors, from urbanisation to climate change, frequently testing the design and capacity of our network. At the same time, increased awareness of the operation of storm overflows is driving an important debate on what society sees as acceptable. We’re committed to supporting the Defra Storm Overflow Taskforce activity in ending pollution from storm overflows.

“We will be investing £137 million by 2025 in storm overflow improvements, investigation and increased monitoring. We are also investigating the environmental impact of 158 frequent spilling overflows as part of the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP). As frequency of spill does not necessarily equate to environmental harm and environmental permits do not set spill threshold limits, these investigations will be key to understanding environmental impact, and what action needs to be taken to resolve any impacts.”

Police are appealing for information after a teenage girl was assaulted by a group of teenagers in Bilton on Sunday.

The incident happened at 5.50pm on the iron bridge behind Woodfield Primary School.

The girl was approached by a group of six or seven youths believed to be about 13 or 14 years old. One of the boys pushed her over, which resulted in bruising.

They were wearing dark hooded jackets and black joggers.

Read More:

• Police appeal after CCTV camera damaged in Ripon
• Increased police patrols after vandalism at Stonefall park

North Yorkshire Police is asking for help to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC 822 Cleary. The reference number is 12210092122

You can also email jonathan.cleary@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Five Harrogate Borough Council officers earning over £100,000 a year have been named in an annual rich list by the TaxPayers’ Alliance.

The pressure group, which claims to speak for ‘ordinary taxpayers fed up with government waste’, published its Town Hall Rich List 2021 report this morning.

It includes details of every council officer in the UK earning over six figures in 2019/20.

Chief executive Wallace Sampson topped the list for Harrogate Borough Council, earning over £125,000.

Paula Lorimer, who runs the Harrogate Convention Centre for the council, was second, earning over £120,000.

The final figure includes salary, pension payments and expenses.

The Harrogate officers in the report are:

• Wallace Sampson, chief executive: £125,571.
• Paula Lorimer, director of Harrogate Convention Centre: £120,012.
• Rachel Bowles, director of corporate affairs: £107,763.
• Trevor Watson, director of economy and culture: £106,976.
• Paul Campbell, director of community: £105,314.

The Stray Ferret revealed yesterday that Mr Campbell was paid £55,065 in compensation after he left the role suddenly in March last year.

The report found that at least 2,802 people employed by local authorities in 2019-20 each received total remuneration packages in excess of £100,000.

The average number of people paid over the sum per local authority is seven.

Read more:

• Plans in to transform Crescent Gardens into offices

• HBC chief executive interview: The vision for Harrogate is very clear

The report links officer salaries with council tax rises. From this month taxpayers in Harrogate will see a 3% increase in council tax compared with last year.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:

“While councils were plunged into tackling the pandemic, many staff will have more than earned their keep, but households have nevertheless struggled with enormous and unpopular council tax rises.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman said:

“We have always published our senior salaries and our pay policy on our website and have nothing to hide.

“These salaries are in line with those paid by comparable local authorities and are regularly reviewed.”

Chikara Karino is on a mission from Chiba, Japan to the Harrogate district to spread the word of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as Mormonism.

The 19-year-old has spent the last three months in Harrogate as part of a two-year trip away from his home to teach people in the UK about his religion and convert them to the faith.

The missionary said he’s enjoyed his time in Harrogate & Knaresborough so far and feels at home due to our Christian tradition. He first came to the UK last summer when travel was allowed.

“The UK and Japan have very different cultures!

“In Japan a lot of the culture is based on Shinto Buddihism whereas here is Christian so I feel united with the people.”

“It’s so beautiful in Harrogate. I like it so much.”

The religion was founded in the 1820s and now has over 16 million members across the world. They consider themselves Christian but also believe God sent more prophets to earth after Jesus Christ’s death.

Whilst members of the church believe in the Bible, both the Catholic and Methodist churches do not recognise the religion’s form of baptism.

Its suit-wearing young believers go on “missions” to different parts of the world where, in non-covid times, they knock on doors and speak to people in the street about their faith.

He said he hasn’t converted anyone in Harrogate yet, but has appreciated the conversations he’s had with people who are curious about his religion over Zoom.

“It’s been such a crazy time but thanks to technology I’m so grateful.”

Read more:

• Column: Out of lockdown life springs eternal this Eastertide
• Harrogate footballer’s journey from Killinghall Nomads to Tokyo Olympics

Chikara said he preferred to be called a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints rather than a Mormon. He said this is because Mormon was an ancient prophet who edited The Book of Mormon, rather than a nickname for people who follow the religion.

There are around 200,000 believers in the UK.

He said he misses his mum, dad and six siblings in Japan as well as his favourite dishes of sushi and ramen. He hopes to visit Harrogate’s Japanese restaurant Domo when it reopens, as well as other local landmarks, such as Fountain’s Abbey.

He added:

“I want to thank everyone in Harrogate. I’m so grateful for their kindness. It’s been weird timing but thank you for letting us talk about Jesus and share what we believe in.”

People living in the Harrogate district have complained about an increase in dog owners leaving poo bags tied to trees, dumped in bushes or even thrown into private gardens.

Lockdown has led to a puppy boom, with many buying a new four-legged family friend.

However, many people told the Stray Ferret they were fed-up seeing discarded poo bags in our most scenic locations, such as the Pinewoods and Stainburn Forest and were appalled by the “lazy” and “disgusting” behaviour of some dog owners.

Mark Hanford said bags were everywhere:

“The dog poo bag pandemic has been raging for years, it’s an absolute disgrace — it’s everywhere! Crab Lane and St. John’s area is really bad for it!”

“We have a real problem in our lovely village. The majority of the village are disgusted. How do we shame the perpetrators? Or shame Harrogate Borough Council to clear up the mess the overdevelopment of our village has caused?”

When England footballer Rachel Daly hopefully laces up her boots at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, it will be the culmination of a stellar career that began at the Killinghall Nomads boys team.

The diehard Leeds United fan played with the Nomads’ boys from aged 8 until she was 12, when the club formed its first-ever girls team.

She told the Stray Ferret on a Zoom call earlier this week that she was even mistaken for a boy when she lined up with her teammates.

“I had a really short hair and a lot of the boys on the other team thought I was a boy, which was quite funny.”

Today, the Harrogate and District junior girls league has 46 different teams for girls to play in. But back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, opportunities for girls to play football in Harrogate were much more limited.

Rachel added:

“There were no teams but we then started the Killinghall Nomads girls team and I started playing for the Leeds United academy which was good, but there’s so much more opportunity for the girls now.”

Rachel went to high school at Rossett and praised the PE teacher, Mr Sweetman, who helped her develop her game throughout her time at the school and she said they still keep in touch.

Equality

After leaving Rossett, Rachel travelled to New York City in 2012 for a sports scholarship.

The forward scored an eye-catching 50 goals in 60 appearances for the university team, which led to her being drafted to Houston Dash, which plays in the US women’s football equivalent of the Premier League.

The lioness has now racked up 36 appearances for England since her debut in 2016 and is a regular fixture in the squad. She’s hopeful she’ll be picked to play in the Tokyo Olympics this summer and at the European Championships which will be played in England in 2022.

Rachel said the women’s game has evolved massively since her early days playing around the Harrogate district. But she said the fight for equal pay with the men’s game is its next big challenge.

She added:

“The next ten years will be huge with the way we’re fighting for equality and trying to get equal pay.

“The league and international football keeps growing and it will only keep improving. We won’t go backwards. The strides I’ve seen the game take until now have been absolutely massive.”

My hometown

When the Stray Ferret spoke to Rachel she was on her way to a team day out to a Texas beach, but she said she always looks forward to visiting her hometown of Harrogate.

She added:

“I miss my family, that’s the hardest thing being away from home. Just being in Harrogate generally, it’s where I grew up and I do appreciate it when I do come home.”

Harlow Hill locals are suffering from a “constant and continuing” succession of road closures, says a local residents group.

It follows the confirmation that Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate will be closed until April 21, including for pedestrians. A series of roadworks on nearby Otley Road began on January 5.

Whinney Lane has been closed since July 2020.

Northern Power Grid needs Harlow Moor Road closed to relocate underground utilities. This is so NYCC can upgrade the Harlow Moor Road/Otley Road junction as part of the Otley Road cycle scheme.

David Siddans, spokesman for the Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association (HAPARA), said locals now expect “years of disruption” due to the various new housing developments on the Western arc of Harrogate.

NYCC has an order to close Harlow Moor Road at any time between January 18 2021 and January 17 2022 but a spokesperson said no further closures are currently planned on the road.

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• Is it a buzzard? A great tit? …Or a police speed van?

Mr Siddans said:

“Whilst we accept that temporary closure works are necessary for works to improve the junction layout, we know that residents in this area are suffering from a constant and continuing succession of road closures and disruption from utilities diversions and construction activities relating to the extensive housing developments, on top of which we fear the prospect of further lengthy delays on Otley Road once works on the cycleway begin later this year.

“It seems that residents will be facing the prospect of continuing disruption from infrastructure works relating to a succession of housing developments on the west side of Harrogate for many years to come.”

When the Otley Road works began in January, Melisa Burnham, the council’s highways area manager, said those involved would try to keep disruption to a minimum.

She said:

“The traffic management will be continuously monitored and manually controlled during peak times each day. We are committed to keeping disruption to a minimum.”