Harrogate walking and cycling schemes: latest plans revealed

People are being invited to comment on designs for three schemes to enhance walking and cycling in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

North Yorkshire County Council has received £1,011,750 from the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund for four schemes in the country, three of which are in the Harrogate district.

The Harrogate schemes are:

Following the first phase of consultation, North Yorkshire County Council removed a controversial one-way system for the Oatlands Drive scheme. It has been replaced with a 20 mph zone and traffic calming measures in the nearby Saints area.

NYCC says the results of the consultation will be used to develop the draft designs further before a decision is made on which schemes to progress.

Here is a look at the proposals:

Oatlands Drive

A59 (Harrogate Road, Knaresborough)

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Victoria Avenue, Harrogate

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said:

“We thank all those residents who took part in the first round of consultation on the outline proposals for these four schemes.

“We have listened to that and are trying to reach a broad consensus about the measures we put in place, given that these directly affect people’s movements and their property.

“We think we can come up with something that addresses most of the concerns raised, but that still provides significant benefits for people who are cycling and walking.

“We encourage residents to take part in this latest consultation. Your views are important to us and they will help shape the final designs of these four schemes.”

You can take part in the consultation, which ends on April 12, here. 

Lights to mark Battle of Boroughbridge 700th anniversary too modern

There are hopes 14 new street lights will be ready to illuminate the River Ure Bridge in time for the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Boroughbridge next year.

Boroughbridge Town Council is behind plans to light up the historic bridge as people at night. There has been a bridge on the site since at least the 12th century.

However, last week the town council withdrew its planning application after Harrogate Borough Council’s principal conservation officer Emma Gibbens wrote in an email that the brushed steel and modern design of the light fittings “erodes the traditional character” of the bridge.

Boroughbridge Town Council clerk John Nichols called the council’s verdict a “setback” but said it hopes to work with HBC on a new application to ensure the lights are beaming in time for the anniversary on March 16, 2022.

The scheme to light the bridge was recently awarded £13,000 from North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner following the sale of the force’s historic AJ1 number plate.

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The Battle of Boroughbridge took place on March 16, 1322, when the bridge was a key element of the encounter between Edward II and his cousin the Earl of Lancaster.

A small army of retreating rebels under the Earl of Lancaster was held at the bridge itself by a larger group of men loyal to the King.

Attempts to negotiate a truce failed and the one-sided battle resulted in the surrender and subsequent execution of Lancaster.

Harrogate to host three-week climate change festival

A three-week climate change festival will take place in Harrogate in October.

The Climate Action Festival (CAFé) is being set up by the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition  in the run-up to COP26, which is a major UN climate conference that will come to Glasgow in October.

HDCCC plans to organise three CAFé events during the festival and work with local groups, schools, businesses and organisations to inspire people into climate action.

The group has pencilled in a launch event on October 1 as well as separate events for businesses and families.

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Kirsty Hallett, communications lead for HDCCC, said she hopes the events will be fun and encourage people to act to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, help to limit climate change, and benefit nature and wildlife.

Ms Hallett added:

“We aim to involve the skills, energy and ideas of as many of our fabulous local people and organisations as possible.

“We hope the CAFé becomes an exciting period of climate focussed events which reach multiple audiences and inspire a wide range of climate actions.”

Contact email@hdccc.info if you’d like to support the festival.

Harrogate thalidomide campaigner backs covid vaccine

Harrogate thalidomide campaigner Guy Tweedy has said he had no hesitation taking the covid vaccine and has urged others to do likewise.

Businessman Mr Tweedy has been instrumental in the long-running campaign against the German drug company that gave thalidomide to pregnant mothers suffering from morning sickness in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

It led to thousands of babies in the UK, including Mr Tweedy, being born with severe disabilities.

Speaking today, he said “not all drug companies are wonderful” but added he was prepared to have the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab two weeks ago, particularly after listening to Professor Sarah Gilbert, who worked on the vaccine at the university:

“I was more than happy to take the vaccine. As soon as we can get out of this mess the better.”

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Some anti-vaxxers have used the side effects of thalidomide as a reason not to take the covid vaccine.

This prompted Dr Ruth Blue, a consultant for the Thalidomide Society, to describe comparisons between the two as “insulting”.

Mr Tweedy agreed it was wrong to draw comparisons between the impact of thalidomide and the vaccine.

He added:

“It was a nasty, toxic drug and you can’t compare it with the vaccine.”

He advised others to put their concerns to one side and be inoculated.

More than 70,000 people in the Harrogate district have received their first jab.

Mr Tweedy praised the speed of the UK vaccination rollout compared to other European countries.

“We’ve done a fantastic job.”

Harrogate Apple repair shop donates 60 iPads to local schoolchildren

An Apple repair shop in Harrogate has refurbished 60 iPads and donated them to local schoolchildren.

Howard Conrad on Leeds Road launched an appeal in January for faulty devices after staff read news reports about parents not having the technology for children to study from home during lockdown.

The shop’s team of technicians has been busy over the past couple of months bringing the iPads back to life.

They have now been donated to schools that are part of the Red Kite Learning Trust, a charitable company that operates several schools in the district, including Harrogate Grammar School, Western Primary School and Rossett Acre Primary School.

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 Danny Scott, manager of Howard Conrad, said:

“Thank you very much to everyone who donated iPads over the last two months, thanks to your generosity and our repair skills – over 60 children have been able to learn from home who otherwise might not have been able to.

“This have been a been a valuable experience for not only the children who received the iPads but also ourselves as we have learnt a lot along the way and we hope to be able to offer more charity work in the future.”

“We want to pay a special thanks to Dave Noble at the Red Kite Trust, who organised the distribution of these donated iPads on our behalf”

 

Harrogate Town Wembley petition nears 900

Almost 900 people have signed a petition set up by a Harrogate Town fan that calls on the FA to move a Wembley cup final appearance so fans can attend.

The FA announced last season’s postponed FA Trophy final between the club and Concord Rangers will take place behind closed doors at Wembley on May 3.

But for Philip Holdsworth, who set up the petition, this has led to “heartwrenching disappointment” for fans as the government says supporters can return to stadiums from May 17 — just two weeks later.

Hebburn vs Consett in the FA Vase final will also take at Wembley on May 3 which promoted Labour MP for Jarrow, Kate Osbourne, to raise the issue in the House of Commons.

Several Harrogate Town fans have now contacted Conservative Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones in the hopes he will support their cause.

Town supporter Jordan Ford said he hopes the petition will influence the FA to move the fixture:

“If we didn’t try then nothing would change. We’re getting our voices across and doing all we can.”

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The FA previously said the game would be rearranged when fans can return. Town fan Rob Nixon said long-suffering supporters should be rewarded for their patience.

“After missing out on Wembley last year, we had a lot of good faith in the FA after they suggested a final we could attend this season. I think it’s only fair they honour this and reward the fans for our patience.”

You can sign the petition here.

Plans to convert Ripon office block into apartments

Plans have been submitted to convert the Athelstan Court office block in Ripon into 19 homes.

The site owners, Athelstan Court Ltd and Spirit 80 Limited, are proposing 13 two-bedroom and six one-bedroom apartments with 30% being “affordable”.

The building on Kearsley Road has been empty since 2013 and lies within the College Business Park. It was previously used as offices by the Inland Revenue.

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In 2020, the building was being sold as office space for £1.3 million.

However, planning documents suggest the owners failed to find a buyer for this purpose:

“The marketing information over the past 7+ years has demonstrated that the site is not desirable for office use with no credible offers for use of the site for office use. This leads to conclude that the use of the site for employment use is unviable.”

Harrogate district reports 7 more covid cases

There have been 7 more positive covid cases reported in the Harrogate district today.

The total number of confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic is now 7,497.

The district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 44.1 cases per 100,000 people. The national average is 56.6, while the North Yorkshire rate is 50.3.

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It was revealed yesterday that Harrogate’s coronavirus testing centre is to be moved from the Dragon Road car park to a new location “within the next few months”.

This is because the car park is used by Harrogate Convention Centre which is planning to reopen in June.

Meanwhile, the NHS announced that 70,138 people have now received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

Weeton Show to go ahead in July

Weeton Show is set to return on July 18.

The annual agricultural show, which has taken place since 1945, includes horse, sheep, dog and poultry classes, as well as competitions for fruit, flowers, vegetables and crafts.

Organisers were forced to cancel last year’s show due to the covid pandemic.

However, after the government announced its roadmap out of lockdown, show chair Paula Harper said they were determined to give the community something to look forward to.

She said:

“We all felt strongly that we couldn’t cancel it for the second year in a row, so we thought, we better go for it.”

“We’re still in the lap of the Gods, but we’re confident it will be able to take place.”

Paula said this year’s edition at its usual home on Weeton Lane will be a smaller affair but will still feature favourites such as the Rougemont Chase, which sees runners make a dash around the Rougemont wood.

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The outlook is positive for other agricultural shows in the district.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society said it plans to stage a three-day Great Yorkshire Show from July 13 to 15. Organisers of the Nidderdale Show are also “cautiously optimistic” that the event will go ahead this year.

Paula said agricultural shows are vitally important to the rural communities they serve — but can always be helped by a bit of sunshine on the day.

She added:

“Weeton Show is institution as far as the local community is concerned.”

Train staff in Harrogate to wear body cameras

Rail operator Northern is introducing body cameras for staff to prevent crime on trains and at stations.

The company, which serves Harrogate station, is introducing more than 350 cameras for staff across the north of England.

It says the cameras will provide ‘enhanced protection’ for staff dealing with threatening behaviour.

They will not record all the time but the footage could be used as evidence in criminal cases and could be the deciding factor in securing court convictions.

Northern said in a statement that studies showed body-worn cameras reduced crime.

A freedom of information request recently submitted by the Stray Ferret revealed that since 2018 there were 22 reports of verbal or physical abuse against Northern staff on one of the Harrogate lines.

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British Transport Police chief inspector Lorna McEwan said:

“A trial using body-worn video cameras showed a significant reduction in assaults against rail staff.

“This is really positive step by Northern. As well as reducing incidents of assault on rail staff by helping to diffuse situations, body worn cameras also reassure the public as they travel through stations and on trains.”