Thomas Barrett, Author at The Stray Ferret

Cattal family disconnected from relatives due to station works

A family in Cattal says they are struggling to contact elderly relatives because their phone line has been disconnected for almost two weeks following works at Cattal railway station.

Network Rail recently completed a £9.8m upgrade of the Knaresborough to Poppleton route which includes changes to the track layout at Cattal station.

However, it is suspected a BT telephone line that runs underneath the station has been damaged due to the works, affecting households living nearby.

Val and Keith Welton live near Cattal Station and said their line has been disconnected since December 6.

Keith said the mobile signal in the house is not good enough to hold long conversations and Val has struggled to keep in contact with her mum, who is 80.

He said:

“We don’t know when the line will be back. From our point of view, we have a massive inconvenience.

“My wife likes to keep in touch with her 80 year old mother-in-law everyday and it’s problematic. We have kids and grandchildren too. One doesn’t know what’s going to happen during covid.”

Network Rail confirmed it is aware of the issue and is looking into it.

A spokesperson said:

“Our teams have completed a major project to upgrade the signalling system on the line between Knaresborough and Poppleton.

“Network Rail is aware of the issues that a resident near Cattal station is having with their phone line. We are investigating the cause of the problem and looking to help resolve it as soon as possible.”

Marshals at Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs over Christmas

Yorkshire Water will employ marshals at Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs over the Christmas period in the expectation of increased visitor numbers.

People seeking solace from lockdown restrictions have flocked to the two reservoirs during 2020, but it has put pressure on their three car parks, with reports of people parking on nearby verges instead.

Marshals will offer advice to visitors on safety issues, including parking, and will encourage people to head to nearby reservoirs Thruscross or Lindley Wood if the car parks become too full.

They are also able to escalate issues to the Yorkshire Water Control Centre, or the police, if necessary.

They will be present as Fewston (Blubberhouses) car park, Swinsty Moor car park, and Swinsty Stack Point car park.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“We know how important the outdoors and our reservoirs are to people at the moment. Over the Christmas period we know people will be looking for outdoor spaces to meet their loved ones safely.

“We expect a lot of visitors to Fewston and Swinsty, so there will be additional Yorkshire Water reps on site to remind people about social distancing, let them know about safety works taking place at Swinsty, and ensure people are parking responsibly.”

Yorkshire Water announced last month a section of footpath at Swinsty would close for 18 months to allow the company to undertake £6 million safety works.

A temporary footpath has been created but the Stray Ferret has been contacted by walkers who say the path is already “too muddy to walk”.

Mystical Ways shop brings the occult to Harrogate

A shop specialising in the mystical and spiritual has opened in Westminster Arcade, Harrogate.

Mystical Ways is owned by Harrogate-born Jay Clarke, who is also a full-time manager at The Crest care home on Rutland Drive.

He said his passion for the occult led him to opening his new business, which could be the only venue in Harrogate to have a pentagram on the window.

According to Jay, there’s a growing community of witches, druids and pagans in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

But rather than being something to fear, he says modern witchcraft, or Wicca, has more positive connotations in the 21st century.

For sale are dreamcatchers to “ward off nightmares”, crystals that can summon “good energy” and insense which can help cast spells that attract “money, love, protection or light”.

Jay said lockdown has led to more people turning to the occult and witchcraft to find answers and help them through a tough year.

And he doesn’t mind the skeptics who say it’s all made up.

“There is criticism, people find it funny but paganism is a real thing. People get comfort from looking at tarot cards or meditating. If that gives people good intentions then why not? It’s no different to going to church and praying.”

Once social distancing rules are relaxed, Mystical Ways will partner with Westminster Arcade neighbours, Harrogate Tea Rooms, to host tarot card readings.

Jay says a recent tarot reading told him that the covid crisis will begin to disappear by Easter.

“The cards say 2021 will begin by being a struggle, but by Easter things will be much better. They also told me to continue to be dedicated and strong and bring Wicca to Harrogate.”

Harrogate council billing NHS over £100,000 a month for Nightingale

Harrogate Borough Council is continuing to bill the NHS over £100,000 a month for gas, electricity and water at Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital.

Set up at the council-owned Harrogate Convention Centre in April at a cost of £27m, the Nightingale has so far not treated a single covid patient.

The council does not charge the NHS rent for the building. However, figures from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust show the venue, which opened in the early 1980s, incurs significant costs for utilities.

The payments for utilities have been ongoing throughout the year and were previously reported by the Stray Ferret in August.

The most recent published figures are below:

August: £144,583

September: £161,518

October: £124,449.

The NHS’ contract with the council to run the Nightingale is due to end in March 2021.

A council spokesman said:

“Any costs relating to the use of utilities at the convention centre are calculated on standard metered usage. These costs are then passed onto the client throughout the term of the contract.”

The Stray Ferret has requested interviews with the NHS about the Harrogate Nightingale on numerous occasions but so far has not received one.

Last month, Lord Newby, the Liberal Democrats leader in the House of Lords, said the time had come to let the council take back control of the building.

The first event listed on the convention centre’s website is the Assemblies of God conference from May 6-8.

Hospitality businesses that rely on trade from the convention centre have suffered this year from its closure.

The Stray Ferret reported earlier this month that the Kimberley Hotel on King’s Road has permanently closed.

Ripon fish and chip shop could be turned into flats

The Jolly Fryer fish and chip shop in Ripon could be turned into flats after becoming a victim of coronavirus restrictions.

The business has been run by the same family for over 35 years, but has remained closed since the covid pandemic began in March.

A planning application submitted to Harrogate Borough Council said the restaurant “cannot viably” re-open due to its narrow size and social distancing guidelines.

The owner of the building wants to convert it into one one-bedroom and two two-bedroom flats.

Several businesses have announced closures in Ripon this year, blaming the pandemic, including Wrens department store, Leeds Building Society, and the Old Deanery hotel.

Read more:

The Jolly Fryer building dates back to the early 18th century and is situated on Allhallowgate, which is one of the oldest streets in the town centre.

The street dates back even further to the earliest known pre-medieval urban settlements in Ripon, when the city was centred on a north-south thoroughfare connecting the minster with the now-demolished Celtic monastery.

One in five North Yorkshire charities have closed since March

Almost one in five charities have closed in North Yorkshire since March, according to a new report that highlights the impact of the pandemic on the voluntary sector.

Community First Yorkshire, which supports voluntary organisations, surveyed not-for-profit groups in North Yorkshire in October to find out how they’re coping with one of the toughest years for charities in memory.

The message was stark: 18% of charities in the county have closed and 28% say they will struggle to survive after March next year.

Charities have also been hit by a 43% decrease in volunteers, due to many older volunteers shielding.

Leah Swain, chief executive of Community First Yorkshire, said:

“Many voluntary sector organisations depend on volunteers to deliver critical services. Without them, many North Yorkshire organisations, and the people they support, are going to struggle.

“Many volunteers need to stay at home because of the coronavirus, but we want to encourage those that can to consider giving their support in any way they are able.”

The survey is based on 175 responses from North Yorkshire voluntary organisations.

Community First Yorkshire is running a #DonateLocal campaign encouraging people to support local charities by giving them their time, money or skills.

Meanwhile, charities in Harrogate are gearing up for Christmas.

About 85 meals will be delivered to the doors of older and vulnerable people in the Harrogate district on Christmas Day.

Harrogate and Ripon Food Angels staff and volunteers dressed festively will cook, pack and deliver a traditional Christmas dinner, Christmas pudding, mince pie and a cracker for those in need of a meal and some cheer.

£1,000 worth of jewellery stolen in Knaresborough

Police are appealing for information after £1,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from two homes in Knaresborough yesterday.

The burglaries took place at Hilton Lane and Park Row between 10.30am and 6pm.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information about any jewellery seen for sale on local social media sites or in shops. The items include a silver ring with gold love hearts and a Tiffany necklace with a silver heart attached.

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Mark Nursey. You can also email mark.nursey@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12200235413.

County council housing company accused of avoiding building affordable homes

North Yorkshire County Council has been accused of “getting out of” building affordable and social housing on two new housing developments in the Harrogate district.

The council’s housing company, Brierley Homes, has recently been granted planning permission to build 19 homes in Bilton, Harrogate, and another 20 in Pateley Bridge.

As they are on brownfield sites, Harrogate Borough Council would normally ask for at least six affordable homes in each development, however, the Bilton development will have none and the Pateley scheme will have just four.

This is because Brierley Homes was able to use a Vacant Building Credit, which can be used to incentivise property developers to bring difficult sites back into use by removing the need to provide 30% affordable housing.

A Harrogate politician has suggested the local authority should be concentrating on providing more affordable homes in its developments, rather than speculating on the housing market.

Liberal Democrat county councillor Geoff Webber wrote to Brierley Homes chairman Karl Battersby to say he was “very disappointed” at both plans.

He called on NYCC to adopt a more “socially responsible” approach to housing in the future.

He said:

“I appreciate that the use of this device to get out of providing much-needed affordable and social housing is within the law but I would have thought, as a public body responsible for the well-being of our residents, that NYCC might have influenced this decision.

“It would be worth bearing in mind that whatever happens with local government re-organisation the new single tier authority will have responsibility for housing.

“I remain very disappointed and hope that in future Brierley Homes (and NYCC) will adopt a more socially responsible attitude.”

The homes in Pateley Bridge will be sold at the market rate which will mean a three-bedroom home could expect to fetch well over £300,000.

In an objection to the proposals, Pateley Bridge Town Council said the plans will come at the expense of “badly needed affordable and social housing for local people”.

Harrogate Civic Society also spoke out against the plans in Bilton, which will replace a demolished council-run care home, calling the Vacant Building Credit a “dreaded thing” due to its effect on affordable homes.

NYCC will demolish one of its Woodfield House care homes in Bilton to build new housing.

Harrogate Borough Council says 208 affordable homes need to be built in the district every year. Council case officer Kate Broadbank expressed “disappointed” in the lack of affordable housing in the Woodfield scheme.

Brierley Homes was established in 2017 by North Yorkshire County Council. All profits are used to support frontline council services in the county.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, defended the company’s business model in a statement released to the Stray Ferret:

He said:

“Brierley Homes’ focus is on developing high-quality housing with the primary aim of generating an income to reinvest in supporting frontline services provided by the county council. This is a socially responsible approach and is something buyers see as positive, too. I believe that our taxpayers expect the county council to use its assets wisely and responsibly, as in this case.

“In compliance with Harrogate Local Plan policy, the Pateley Bridge scheme will provide four affordable homes, which will be transferred to a local housing association upon completion. The business is further exploring the provision of rural affordable housing and is keen to progress this.

“Unitary status, whatever form it takes in North Yorkshire and York, will offer opportunities for housing, and Brierley Homes is well placed in this regard.

“Vacant buildings credit is an important tool in national planning for brownfield sites and given the focus of the business it is appropriate to take account of it.”

Ripon housing development on old industrial site refused

Harrogate Borough Council has refused a 13-home development in Ripon city centre due to its impact on local heritage.

Red Tree Developments wanted to demolish buildings at the site of the former NY Timber yard to build the homes.

The site on Trinity Lane was home to a timber yard from 1860 to 2018.

Red Tree bought the 0.64-acre plot, which is adjacent to the listed buildings, Holy Trinity Church of England Junior School and St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, from Cairngorm Capital for an undisclosed sum this year.

In the planning application, the developer said the timber yard, which is not listed, must be replaced due to its “poor state of repair”:

“In order to create a high-quality residential scheme which achieves all of the required standards it is essential that the building is replaced.”

The building in 1929.

However, Christopher Hughes, chairman of the Ripon Civic Society objected to the plans and said the structure should be retained due to its historical importance.

He said:

“It’s an important survival of Ripon’s industrial heritage and its importance is underestimated and in this application totally overlooked.”

The council’s chief planner John Worthington refused the plans which he said would cause “unacceptable harm” to the Ripon Conservation Area. He also criticised the plans for offering no affordable homes.

The Stray Ferret asked Red Tree Developments for a response but we did not receive one at the time of publication.

Upgrades for three Harrogate district schools

A major extension to Harrogate secondary school has been built, whilst two primary schools have been granted planning permission this week to expand.

Harrogate Grammar School has completed work on a £1.75m extension to connect its 1930s old building to a 1960s design block. It includes three classrooms on the first floor and a large atrium below, which forms a new student entrance.

The secondary school exceeded its planned student admission number of 260 to 285 over the past five years so needed the extra classroom space.

The expansion means the school can increase the number of places available to 290.

Spofforth C of E Primary School will build a 227 square metre classroom extension, after being granted planning by North Yorkshire County Council yesterday.

A “dilapidated” 180 square metre prefabricated building which the school has used since the 1970s will be demolished to make way for the new building. It will include classrooms for reception and key stage one, as well as two glazed canopies.

Rossett Acre Primary School has been given the green light this week by Harrogate Borough Council to build a new hard court multi-use sports pitch.

Children will be able to play five-a-side football, basketball and netball on the court, and offer opportunities for sport when the school’s playing field is unusable due to bad weather