Talented Knaresborough photographer Alex Heron is working on a unique portrait photography project that she hopes will break down barriers around autism.

The 24-year-old former King James’s pupil has Asperger’s syndrome and wants to take portrait photographs of local people who are on the autism spectrum to help them feel more comfortable with the disorder and change negative perceptions about what autism is.

Alex has had her work published in Italian Vogue and is passionate about shooting on 35mm and 120 medium format film photography.

She said:

“I didn’t tell anyone I had Asperger’s until I went to university. I was so scared to tell people because I thought they would judge me.

“On TV and film, autism is portrayed as someone rocking back or forth in a chair, or a Rain Man ‘savant’ type character, but there is a spectrum.

“I really want to show it’s a broad spectrum from all ages and walks of life. This project will help people see the ordinary face of autism”.

Read more:

• Harrogate photographer moves from studios to doorsteps during lockdown
• Showcasing the beauty of Nidderdale through art

Alex got into film photography after she inherited an old camera from her grandfather. She said shooting on film helps her slow down from the frantic pace of life.

“Being autistic, the world can be a busy and scary place, but film photography forces you to be within that moment and slow down. It really calms me down.”

Some of Alex’s previous work.

Her ambition is to turn her autism portraits into a coffee table book or have them shown at a gallery exhibition.

Alex said she wants to reassure anyone who might be nervous about having their photo taken that the project is “just about showing them how they authentically are”.

She will begin shooting the portraits once covid restrictions are eased. If you would like to take part in Alex’s project, email: her.on.shoots@gmail.com or visit her website.

The Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition (HDCCC) has launched a residents’ survey that asks for views on reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change.

The survey, which is available here until March 28, asks questions about people’s lifestyles to learn more about how actions impact on the local environment.

HDCCC was set up by Harrogate Borough Council over a year ago with the aim of bringing together local government, green groups and business.

‘All of mankind’

Conservative councillor and HDCCC committee chair Paul Haslam told the Stray Ferret that “it’s vital that people make their voice heard” on climate change.

He said:

“It’s a serious issue facing all of mankind. This is about making a difference locally to our environment, quality of air, reduction in carbon emissions and contributing to the global situation.”

HDCCC chair of communications Kirsty Hallett said a high number of responses to the survey will help inform local action on climate change.

She added:

“This will help the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition to provide information which will be genuinely useful. It will also help local residents and businesses to understand the choices we all need to make in order to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero.”

Read more:

• Is Harrogate big enough for two major climate coalitions?
• Environmental campaigner quits Harrogate Climate Coalition
• Why Harrogate Borough Council won’t declare a ‘Climate Emergency’

Concern over the environment is arguably at its highest point ever in Harrogate following Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial application for its bottling plant into Rotary Wood, which was rejected by councillors last month.

HDCCC issued a “neutral” response to the proposals, whilst highlighting the importance of trees in mitigating climate change locally.

Since HDCCC was formed it has not been without criticism. HBC called it a “great leap forward” for the environment but members have criticised it for being little more than a “talking shop”.

HDCCC has four subgroups, which meet several times a year to discuss issues such as sustainable transport, tree planting, renewable energy, recycling and communications.

Harrogate Borough Council charged housing developers £1.2m in 2019/20 to fund infrastructure projects, such as children’s play equipment and village halls.

The figure is revealed in the council’s first infrastructure funding statement.

The statement includes details of section 106 payments, which developers pay as part of the planning process to fund infrastructure that residents will use. 

A report to councillors revealed that of the £1.2 million generated, the council has so far collected £550,000.

Almost £200,000 of this has already been spent on schemes such as children’s play equipment, allotments, cemeteries, open spaces, village hall improvements and outdoor sports repairs around the district.

Examples of specific projects include: improving the toilets at Killinghall village hall, improving a multi-use games area in Kirkby Malzeard, installing planters in Darley and erecting village signs in Little Ouseburn

Harrogate Borough Council’s section 106 payments relate only to open space, village halls and affordable housing.

Developers also pay section 106 payments to improve education, roads and public transport but these are collected and monitored by North Yorkshire County Council.

Read more:

• Housing Investigation: infrastructure at breaking point?

• New housing in Harrogate district creates £98m infrastructure shortfall

The report also reveals the council has collected £2.4 million in section 106 payments from previous years, which it has not yet spent.

The document says section 106 payments can only be spent when the final payment from a development has been received.

It also says it keeps the money to “avoid the risks associated with developers going out of business”.

The report is expected to be rubber-stamped by the council’s cabinet member for planning, councillor Tim Myatt, on Tuesday.

North Yorkshire County Council is offering to refurbish donated laptops and give them to needy children and adults during lockdown.

The Reboot North Yorkshire scheme, which was announced today, will enable children without digital devices to study from home.

It will also connect socially isolated adults to family and friends.

Businesses and people can bring devices to drop-off points in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Masham Community Office or Nidderdale Plus libraries.

Laptop donations have been received already from Harrogate firm Bettys & Taylors and social housing provider Beyond Housing.

Cllr David Chance, North Yorkshire’s executive member for stronger communities, said:

“Perhaps you have an old laptop collecting dust, or an unused tablet hiding in the bottom of a drawer? Or maybe you received a new device for Christmas and you don’t know what to do with your old device.

“Donating any unwanted devices in good working order will make a huge difference to people in our communities who may not be fortunate to have sufficient IT access.”

Read more:

• Harrogate repair shop launches iPad appeal for kids

• Scheme to donate laptops to Harrogate pupils

Last month, Howard Conrad Apple repair shop in Harrogate launched a similar appeal for faulty iPads that will be refurbished and given to local school children.

Tom James, owner of the shop on Leeds Road, was spurred to act after reading news reports about parents not having the technology for children to study from home during lockdown.

The shop has an agreement to donate iPads to Red Kite Learning Trust, a charity that operates several schools in the district, including Harrogate Grammar School, Western Primary School and Rossett Acre Primary School.

Two Harrogate students and their politics teacher have featured in the latest episode of the BBC podcast Americast.

Pippa Linden Howe and Hannah Reinsch, who are year 13 students at the St Aidan’s & St John Fisher Associated Sixth Form, joined teacher Emily Reynard as guests on the programme hosted by Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis.

It was released on Friday and is available to download for a year.

The BBC invited them on the show after Pippa and Hannah emailed the hosts asking to take part.

They discussed US politics with Sopel and Maitlis during the podcast.

Pippa said it was a “dream come true” to appear on the show.

To keep up with the dizzying rollercoaster of stateside politics, Miss Reynard encourages students to listen to podcasts. Sopel, the BBC’s North America editor, described the teacher as ‘inspiring’.

Lockdown boost

Miss Reynard, who has taught history and politics at St Aidan’s since 2015, praised the students for their performance on the show.

She added:

“Jon Sopel emailed afterwards to say thank you for coming on the show.

“It’s been really exciting for all them and was the morale boost they needed at the moment, so having it happen has made a big difference.”

Read more:

• ‘We won’t abandon children’ on exams, says Harrogate headteacher

• St Aidan’s floodlit pitch plans approved

Emily Reynard who teaches history and politics at St Aidan’s.

Pippa has received an offer from Oxford University to study languages this year and Hannah plans to study politics but has yet to decide which offer to accept.

Miss Reynard said studying politics at A-Level gave them a good grounding.

She added:

“They are really proactive and engaged with it.

“Politics as an A-Level gives them the skills to articulate their own ideas and listen to each other’s without getting confrontational.

“There are differing opinions and they are passionate, but being in the class helps them explain to each other why they disagree rather than it getting heated.”

Miss Reynard said the unpredictability of politics over the past few years had made it a “cool” subject to study.

“The American side is so current and exciting – so by default, it’s cool! But some of my friends might be rolling their eyes when I describe politics as cool!”

Harrogate District Hospital and North Yorkshire Police staff have reported increased instances of abuse from members of the public.

The hospital tweeted yesterday that it has received “some really disappointing feedback” from volunteers offering free facemasks who say a small minority of “rude and unpleasant” people have been causing problems.

Volunteers at the hospital’s mask station are on hand to ask visitors and patients to take off the mask they are wearing and put a clean one on, which they provide for free.

A hospital spokesperson added:

“The incidences are increasing but we really want to emphasise that it is a small minority of people and that we appreciate there may be questions and concerns about why we are asking people to wear a mask we provide when in hospital.

“It is for the safety of everyone and the volunteers are very happy to help anyone who may need some further advice and guidance. We just need to ensure this is done courteously.”

Read more:

• Harrogate hospital covid patients up to record 64

• 59 care home residents and staff vaccinated in 45 minutes

The trend was echoed by North Yorkshire Police which published figures last week that revealed 36 arrests were made in January following assaults on police, fire and ambulance personnel – an average of more than one a day. 

The figure has risen by 45% compared to the same period last year. 

They include physical assaults such as punches, kicks, biting, assaults with a weapon and spitting.

Starbeck resident Hayley Wilson said she was “disgusted” to find five discarded needles, believed to be used for drug taking, when walking her dog yesterday morning.

She told the Stray Ferret she found the needles on Prospect Road in Starbeck and returned with rubber gloves to put them in a plastic tub after she took her dog home.

She said:

“I was walking my dog which went near them. I’m a care worker and I’m going to do the right thing. What if a kid had picked them up?”

Ms Wilson said it’s the first time she has found needles in Starbeck but urged people to be vigilant, especially after snow has fallen.

The needles were found in the road.

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Harrogate Borough Council says if someone finds a discarded needle or syringe in a public place, don’t touch it and contact them straight away on 01423 500600, or complete the online reporting form, giving us as much detail as possible about the location.

The council will safely and hygienically dispose of it, using a sharps box and protective clothing.

Proposals for a £20 million Killinghall bypass have been criticised by environmental group Zero Carbon Harrogate.

North Yorkshire County Council has put forward plans to build a bypass, with a likely route from the Old Spring Well pub on the A59 to the roundabout in Ripley that goes to Pateley Bridge and Ripon.

It would be one of range of measures, including a park and ride bus scheme and enhanced cycling routes, to ease congestion in the Harrogate district.

But Rod Beardshall, transport lead at ZCH, told the Stray Ferret awareness of climate change had increased locally and building a major new road would “send out the wrong message”.

Mr Beardshall described the decision to refuse Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion plans into Rotary Wood as a “tipping point” for the town, where environmental concerns outweighed other factors.

Rod Beardshall, from Zero Carbon Harrogate

He called a bypass “yesterday’s solution” to tackling congestion:

“It would take years to build and as the climate situation moves on the idea would end up being more anachronistic.”

Killinghall has been bedevilled by traffic for decades and the problem has worsened recently as new housing developments have swelled the size of the village.

Read more:

• Killinghall bypass ‘could cost in excess of £20 million’

• Killinghall bypass proposed as part of plans to tackle congestion

Mr Beardshall highlighted a 2017 study by countryside charity CPRE that suggests new roads actually increase traffic rather than ease congestion.

He described roads “a very clumsy tool to address congestion” and called on the council to focus on better bus services and walking and cycling access for Killinghall. He even suggested charging motorists to drive through the village:

“If you build a road, it’s there forever.

“By thinking about a bypass you take the eye off the ball for more imaginative solutions.”

Last month, councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, said the bypass would ease congestion in the “fastest-growing village in the county”.

He said:

“We have a duty to respond to the many residents and local members who feel that they want to take some of this traffic out of their village.

“That includes 44-tonne lorries, which could not be replaced by a person walking or cycling. That is why we firmly believe that certainly further consideration of a bypass to take this traffic out of the village is needed.”

Leeds Bradford Airport’s plans to build a bigger passenger terminal building have been recommended for approval.

The £150 million scheme would increase annual passenger numbers from four million to seven million and extend flight hours.

Leeds City Council will vote on the plans next week but the council’s chief planning officer has recommended approval.

If they are given the go ahead, the current building would be demolished and a new three-floor, 34,000 square metre glass building would be created on an alternative site.

Leeds Bradford Airport Limited estimates the development will support 12,650 permanent jobs across the Leeds City Region, as well as create 850 construction jobs while building work takes place.

The company claims the proposals would “deliver one of the UK’s most environmentally efficient airport buildings”. The current terminal building, which was built in 1968, would be demolished.

The scheme would also increase the times when flights can take place from the current period of 7am-11pm to 6am-11.30pm.

Read more:

• £42 million Leeds Bradford Airport interchange proposed for Harrogate line

• New Harrogate to Leeds Bradford Airport bus service begins

The airport’s website says about the new terminal building:

“This will not only be more operationally efficient but will provide a gateway to Leeds and beyond and will greatly improve the passenger and employee experience and provide higher quality welcome for travellers to the city and the region.”

The proposal faces opposition from green groups, which claim it would contradict Leeds City Council’s climate emergency policy and increase CO2 emissions.

Leeds’ five MPs, who all represent the Labour Party, also object on environmental grounds.

There have also been almost 2,000 public objections, including more than from 100 people with a HG post code.

If approved next week, the redeveloped terminal building could open in 2024.

Work on the £60m overhaul of the Kex Gill section of the A59 between Harrogate and Skipton is set to begin this summer.

It was announced today that the UK government has declined to have the final say on the plans, which clears the way for the project to begin.

The new road, which is expected to take a year to complete, will divert traffic away from the landslip-prone part of the route.

North Yorkshire County Council’s planning and regular functions committee backed the proposals this month.

However, no decision was made after Lewis Williams, representing mining firm Sibelco, requested the application be given final approval by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick.

Mr Jenrick has now declined to ‘call in’ the decision, which the council today said meant it can proceed with plans to begin this summer.

The government has committed up to £56 million for the scheme; the council will spend £4.95 million.

Read more:

• Government commits £56m for Kex Gill re-routing

• Kex Gill re-route decision delayed despite council support

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at the council, said:

“The decision by the Secretary of State is very good news indeed, leaving the way open to the commencement of this important scheme.

“The A59 at Kex Gill has been subject to closures in the recent past because of land slips, which have disrupted travel, caused long diversions through West Yorkshire, and have been costly.

“The realignment of this trans-Pennine route provides much better connectivity for all road users and is a major boost to the economy of North Yorkshire.”

Cllr Stanley Lumley, member for Pateley Bridge division, said:

“Locals, commuters and visitors will all benefit from enhanced safety and reliability of the important trans-Pennine route.”