Pinewoods tree protestor to resume vigil

A Knaresborough woman is to don her tree costume once again and resume her protest against Harrogate’s Spring Water‘s plans to expand into the Pinewoods.

Sarah Gibbs braved the cold on Fridays throughout December and January by dressing as a tree outside Harrogate Borough Council‘s civic centre at Knapping Mount.

Ms Gibbs halted her protest when the council’s planning committee voted last month to refuse Harrogate Spring Water’s plans to expand its bottling plant into Rotary Wood.

However, she has changed her mind because she believes the battle has not yet been won.

Harrogate Spring Water’s parent company Danone has still not indicated whether to appeal the refusal, submit another application or stick with the original outline planning permission it received in 2016 to remove a smaller section of trees in Rotary Wood.

If it decides to proceed with the original outline planning permission it would need to submit a full application before May, which would again be considered by the planning committee.

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Ms Gibbs said:

“I want to make sure the council knows that the public eye is still on this and that I’m not just going to go away and be quiet.

“The protest is to show the council that I’m still here. I’m not going away quietly and I don’t want this swept under the rug.”

Former Boroughbridge butchers shop to be auctioned

The former Greenwood butchers shop in Boroughbridge is to be sold by auction next week.

The butchers on Horsefair in the centre of the town was popular for its range of pies and local meats. It is believed to have closed last year.

The 19th century building, which has a guide price of £50,000, includes a retail area, storage rooms and bathroom.

The auction house Pugh says the building could be used for a variety of uses.

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Paul Thompson, managing director of Pugh, said:

“It’s always sad to see a local business close. Boroughbridge is a fantastic community with excellent road links to most of the north of England and there is definitely potential for a variety of business uses for the former Greenwood premises.

“It would be great to see the property become an asset to the town once more in the hands of an imaginative new owner.”

The shop will be sold in Pugh’s next online property auction on 24 February.

New Starbeck bar granted alcohol licence

A new bar is set to open in Starbeck after Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee granted it a licence to sell alcohol.

Robert Thompson, director of Appetite for Life, hopes to have The Waiting Room open in May, covid restrictions permitting.

The building at 34 High Street was previously occupied by Greenalls and Your Factory Bed Shop, but has stood empty for some time. The name of the bar ties in to its location near Starbeck railway station.

Mr Thompson told the committee this morning that he hopes the bar will attract a different clientele to the nearby Prince of Wales pub.

He said:

“We see Starbeck as an up and coming area that lacks a high-quality, modern hospitality venue. We want to change that through an investment of up to £100,000.”

Appetite for Life’ already runs a number of bars in the Harrogate district including the So Bars in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, and the Tap on Tower Street.

The bar will also sell coffee from 7am Monday to Saturday and from 9am on Sunday, with a deli counter open during each day. It will close at 11.30pm Monday to Wednesday and 00.30am during the rest of the week.

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Starbeck is currently served by one pub, the Prince of Wales, plus two clubs.

However, the high street could see the addition of a second new bar called The Office Ale House, which submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council last year.

Owner Kevin Jones told the Stray Ferret that he is confident that Starbeck is big enough for the two new venues, and thinks covid has highlighted how important pubs are for local communities.

Harrogate district’s mixed reaction to Leeds Bradford Airport expansion

“Very good news” was the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce reaction after Leeds Bradford Airport was granted planning permission to build a new £150m terminal.

But the decision was unpopular with Zero-Carbon Harrogate who called it a “massive setback” for local climate targets.

The airport, which is 12 miles from Harrogate town centre, was yesterday given the green light by Leeds City Council to build the new terminal, which would replace the current terminal that was built in 1968.

Sandra Doherty, chief executive of chamber, said the expansion will improve Harrogate’s standing as an international conference and exhibition destination.

She also called for a new £42 million rail station on the Harrogate line that would connect with Leeds Bradford Airport with the town.

‘Fantastic news for our region’

The airport said the new terminal will help increase annual passenger numbers from four million to seven million.

Transdev Blazefield’s Flyer buses connect the airport with Harrogate as well as Bradford and Leeds and soon to be Otley.

The company’s CEO Alex Hornby called the decision “fantastic news for our region.”

He added:

“We’re looking forward to growing demand for public transport alongside Leeds Bradford Airport and continuing our investment in increased services and low-emission buses.”

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‘Such a setback’

24 people spoke yesterday against the plans including academics, environmentalists and charity bosses. Most cited the impact the extra flights will have on climate change and carbon emissions.

Rod Beardshall, transport lead at Zero Carbon Harrogate, said the decision “beggars belief”.

“It’s so utterly shortsighted. We are playing Russian roulette with our future. I’m absolutely shocked and dismayed. It’s such a setback.”

His view was shared by local environmental campaigner Brian McHugh who added:

“I would say that this is yet another example of the UK not living up to its climate emergency pledges. Why we are still investing in industries that raise emissions further is absurd.

“We have already seen the protracted case for Heathrow expansion and yet again it seems that potential economic benefits outweigh real enviromental damage.”

Harrogate Town game postponed due to frozen pitch

Harrogate Town’s game against Leyton Orient tomorrow afternoon has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.

A pitch inspection today deemed the surface at Wetherby Road unsafe to play.

The recent cold snap has posed problems for the club, who have already been forced to postpone fixtures against Carlisle, Cheltenham, and Exeter.

The Carlisle game in December was abandoned after just 10 minutes.

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The club are currently in 15th place in their first-ever season in the English Football League.

They are 10 points clear of the relegation zone but Simon Weaver’s men could also have one eye on the play offs — which are nine points away.

Calls for community involvement in Harlow Nurseries housing

The local Green Party says a future housing development that will be built at Harlow Nurseries could be Harrogate’s “flagship” community-led housing scheme.

Harlow Nurseries, next to the Pinewoods, is owned by Harrogate Borough Council and sells plants, pots and compost to the public.

However, the council’s Local Plan says 40 homes can be built on the site with the nursery relocating if the development went ahead.

What is community-led housing?

Community-led housing developments are designed and managed by local people and built to meet the needs of the community, such as for more affordable or low-carbon housing.

Rebecca Maunder, Harrogate & District Green Party campaigner for Harlow says the site offers a “great opportunity” for the council to support community-led housing.

This means the council would offer the site to a community group rather than selling it to a property developer, who may choose to maximise the land for profit.

Ms Maunder wrote to HBC’s director of economy and culture Trevor Watson calling on the council to explore offering the site to the community:

“The site provides an ideal opportunity for any new development to be led by the community for the community.

“The proximity to the Pinewoods means special consideration should be given to integrate it into the landscape, prioritising wildlife and biodiversity, alongside mental and physical health.

“Such a sensitive site would benefit from maximum community input and help to create a sense of ownership and full integration with the existing community and landscape.”

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The council is moving forward with plans to develop the nurseries and has appointed three external consultants who will draw up a programme for what might happen to the site before the end of the year.

If the local community decided it wanted to get involved, it would first need to form a Community Land Trust (CLT).

HBC is able to issue financial grants to CLTs to help establish themselves and to conduct feasibility studies for potential schemes.

A HBC spokesperson said:

“We thank Harlow Greens for their letter and will respond shortly.

“We have now appointed a specialist to progress with masterplanning work on the three strategic sites allocated in our Local Plan.

“We will be working closely with them to engage with and involve key stakeholders and local groups to ensure we create the right type of communities for existing and future residents of the Harrogate district.”

 

 

Snow forces extended closure of Whinney Lane

The seven-month closure of Whinney Lane in Pannal Ash is likely to be extended, with the county council blaming the recent spell of cold weather.

North Yorkshire County Council closed the road in July 2020 due to the construction of two site access points for the Castle Hill Farm housing development as well as a new roundabout.

Local residents had hoped the road would be back open by February 28 — but Mike Newall, who lives in Whinney Lane, said he has been told by site foreman that the road could now be closed until Easter “at the earliest” due to problems bringing in materials.

He added:

“We understand that the planned works are now running late by some months. At this rate, the road will be shut for over a year!”

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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire County Council confirmed a delay is likely and said residents will soon be informed of exact timescales:

“Works were due to be completed and Whinney Lane re-opened on February 28 2021, but the works programme has been delayed by the severe weather over the last few weeks.

“The developer is progressing to bring the site up to formation level and digging out and installing gullies and assures us they are doing everything possible to carry out the work as quickly as possible.

“However, it is possible the closure will be extended due to the delays caused by the weather. Residents will be informed by letter and email if the closure is to be extended and what the timescale will be.”

An unpopular closure

The extended closure of Whinney Lane has been unpopular with residents and businesses in Pannal Ash. The landlord of local pub the Squinting Cat told the Stray Ferret last summer that it could even put the pub out of business due to it being more difficult for customers to drive there.

To improve access for walkers, a temporary footpath was created through a nearby field. However it faced criticism from residents who said the lights were “as bright as Leeds Bradford Airport runway”.

‘Nothing to lose’ by booking summer holidays, says Harrogate travel agent

A Harrogate travel agent has encouraged people to book holidays for the summer, despite the uncertainty surrounding future coronavirus restrictions.

Holiday travel is currently illegal but operators are allowed to sell flights and packages for summer and beyond.

The UK watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), says you should usually get your money back if coronavirus restrictions force plans to be cancelled.

Ben Poole, owner of The Travel Journal on Montepellier Mews, says people thinking about booking their holidays for the summer should feel reassured.

He said:

“It’s not illegal to have a holiday to look forward to. I have been telling anybody that has been calling up asking about holidays that they have nothing to lose by booking.

“There are really competitive deals available for June and July, for example, and the worst that will happen is you will get a refund if it’s cancelled”.

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Boris Johnson is due to set out rules for foreign travel later this month.

The travel sector has criticised government ministers for sending mixed messages surrounding holidays.

Yesterday, transport secretary Grant Shapps said people shouldn’t be booking holidays.

Yet this morning health secretary Matt Hancock declined to answer when asked by the BBC if people should book foreign holidays or not.

Mr Poole believes the government should close the borders, which could mean travel agents would be able to receive a package of financial support.

He added:

“The borders should have been closed in March 2020, with no exceptions. The trade is in full support of that.”

Harrogate charity launches ‘special moments’ box

Elderly care charity Harrogate Neighbours is helping people in the district celebrate special occasions by selling ‘afternoon tea’ boxes and added extras delivered to their door.

The boxes cost £9.95 and include a selection of home-made cakes as well as ham and cheese sandwiches.

The charity is also providing added extras, such as flowers and balloons, to help create memorable moments.

Shirley and Mick Flynn will celebrate their 50th Valentine’s Day together this week and will be the first people to receive a complimentary ‘Special Moments’ box on February 14.

The couple were both born and raised in Harrogate and have been married for 46 years. In 2018, they moved into Harrogate Neighbours’ extra care facility The Cuttings, where they receive extra support from carers.

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Inside one of the special boxes.

£1 from every box sold will be donated to Resurrected Bites, which supports families in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Nidderdale and Ripon affected by the pandemic with food parcels.

Speaking on behalf of Harrogate Neighbours, CEO Sue Cawthray said:

“Celebrating special occasions can be difficult to do in lockdown, particularly within the older generation, so we wanted to provide an affordable service that people could access to celebrate special days like Valentine’s Day, birthdays and anniversaries.

“We’re so lucky to have the kitchen space on site to create made-to-order boxes and the amazing volunteers who will help us to deliver the boxes. Due to this, we are also in a position to donate £1 from every box sold to the fantastic Resurrected Bites initiative to support families all over the region who have been adversely affected by the pandemic.”

To order your Special Moments box in time for Valentine’s Day, call Harrogate Neighbours on 01423 888777.

Rotary Wood ‘remains at risk’, say Pinewoods group

Campaigners say Harrogate’s Rotary Wood “remains at risk” after a senior Harrogate borough councillor said it would be “premature” to comment on a future sale of the site.

There have been calls to protect the wood after Harrogate Borough Council’s 12-person planning committee voted to refuse Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial plans to expand its bottling plant, which would have involved the loss of more trees at the woodland.

The company already has outline planning permission to expand into the wood, but applied for a revised application for a bottling plant that was 22% larger than originally agreed.

HBC owns the Harrogate Spring Water site on Harlow Moor Road and leases it back to them.

At last night’s full council meeting, Neil Hind, chair of the Pinewoods Conservation Group, asked Cllr Graham Swift, cabinet member for economic development, if HBC would commit to retaining Rotary Wood  “with no plan to lease or sell it” in the future.

Cllr Graham Swift responding to the Pinewoods Conservation Group last night.

Cllr Graham Swift responding to the Pinewoods Conservation Group last night.

In response, Cllr Swift said he was “personally surprised” by the committee’s decision to refuse the extension, but added that the reserved matters application still had to be determined.

He said:

“A key component about the council making any decision about a potential disposal of land is to ensure that we have access to the full facts so that all the relevant considerations can be taken into account.

“The planning status of the site is one of these considerations. Therefore, as the reserved matters application is still to be determined by planning committee it would be premature at this stage to comment on a potential future disposal.

“Equally, it would be wrong of me to interfere with planning matters or attempt to override planning decisions by causing obstruction to their decisions.

“Our committee has already taken a decision to approve one application from a significant local business and although reserved matters are still to be dealt with, I’m not prepared to interfere with the planning process or limit it in its powers.”

He added that should the council decide to lease or sell the site it would “abide by proper procedures”, including considering an asset of community value status.

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Following the meeting, a spokesperson for Pinewoods Conservation Group said:

“The fact the response was via the cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development is a clear indication of the council’s priorities and intent here.

“We were obviously very disappointed by the reply from Cllr Swift who is obviously very supportive of the development plans.

“This was an opportunity for the council to confirm once and for all its green intentions and it unfortunately failed to do so. As such it is unfortunate that Rotary Wood, planted by the community, remains at risk.“

What happens next?

Harrogate Spring Water has already said it will consider its options following last month’s decision.

The company could choose to appeal the decision, submit another application or stick with the original outline planning permission obtained in 2016.

If they decide to proceed with the original outline planning permission they need to submit a full application before May, which would again be considered by HBC’s planning committee.

In 2015 the Pinewoods was registered as an Asset of Community Value. This would give the local community a chance to buy or lease the site if the council decided they wanted to dispose of it.