Thomas Barrett, Author at The Stray Ferret

Out-of-work benefit claims fall slightly in Harrogate district

The latest figures for people claiming out-of-work benefits show a slight drop in unemployment levels in the Harrogate district.

In June there were 3,740 people claiming out-of-work benefits, down slightly from 3,990 in May.

The figures were published today by the Office for National Statistics and are accurate up to June 11. They reveal that 3.9% of the district’s population were claiming out-of-work benefits, a decrease from 4.5% in May.

Of those, 2,135 were men and 1,605 were women.

Harrogate is below the UK figure of 6.3% for people claiming the benefits, which includes Job Seekers’ Allowance and Universal Credit. The ONS said that the labour market has stabilised but the long-term outlook remains uncertain.

Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician at the ONS, said:

“As the pandemic took hold, the labour market weakened markedly, but that rate of decline slowed into June, though this is before recent reports of job losses.”

In his summer statement, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that from August to January, any company that hires an apprentice aged 16 to 24 will receive £2,000 from the government, while those that hire apprentices over 25 will be paid £1,500.

The announcement was welcomed by the principle of Harrogate College, who told The Stray Ferret that it will boost jobs in the district.

Squinting Cat pub says seven-month road closure ‘could kill us’

The seven-month-long Whinney Lane road closure “could kill” the Squinting Cat pub, says its manager.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Andy Harrison said he is “absolutely mortified” that the main road to the pub from Harrogate will be closed for seven months – just as it attempts to recover from lockdown.

North Yorkshire County Council announced that a section of Whinney Lane will be closed to traffic from Monday, July 27 to February 28 2021, due to the construction of two site access points for the Castle Hill Farm housing development as well as a new roundabout.

The closure will end around 200m before the Squinting Cat. Mr Harrison said it will have major implications as most people driving to the pub use Whinney Lane rather than the longer route through Burn Bridge.

He added the road closure will be a major blow after reopening following lockdown on July 6 and questioned whether NYCC could offer the pub financial compensation.

He said:

“We’ve struggled. Trade is hard anyway and with the road closure I don’t know if we can sustain it”.

Local residents told the Stray Ferret that the closure of Whinney Lane will be the start of years of disruption due to the different housing developments planned for the area.

One resident, who didn’t wish to be named, said she has seen construction vehicles blocking the lane for residents who use it to exercise. She said “it’s like a takeover”.

Another resident, David Siddans, said he is expecting further closures when more homes are built on the adjacent field of Whinney Lane.

Nigel Smith, head of highway operations at NYCC told the Stray Ferret that they hope works can be completed ahead of schedule and that there will be a temporary footpath installed for pedestrians.

However, he said the authority would not be able to provide any compensation to the Squinting Cat.

He said:

“We understand the inconvenience the closure will cause however these are essential and unavoidable works associated with the development.

“A signed diversion will be in place and pedestrian access has been agreed with the landowner, providing a temporary footpath to houses and businesses.

“We understand the concerns that businesses have regarding trade during any road closure. However, there is no statutory provision for compensation by the Highway Authority for businesses affected by essential roadworks.

“If a business is concerned about a road closure please get in touch with their local highways office, but regretfully we are unable to make any offer of compensation due to the temporary disruption of traffic flow in this area. That said, local access to residences and The Squinting Cat will be maintained where possible.”

Barratt Homes pulls out of 390-home Ripon scheme

The UK’s largest housebuilder, Barratt Homes, has pulled out of a 390-home development in Littlethorpe, Ripon.

The housebuilder had signed a deal with land promoter Gladman to build on the land at West Lane but Barratt’s withdrawal means Gladman is looking for a new developer to take on the project.

Barratt Homes told The Stray Ferret that the decision was not related to the lockdown but in a year-end trading update last week, the company announced its revenue has fallen by 30% due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2018, Harrogate Borough Council granted permission on appeal for 390 homes at Littlethorpe race track after previously it was rejected in 2017 for being a “substantial intrusion into the open countryside” and its impact on nearby Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey.

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In June 2020, a scoping document was sent on behalf of Barratt Homes to bring the development up to 470 homes, which has now been withdrawn.

The site forms part of Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan and outline planning permission for 390 remains.

Barratt Homes said it remains “committed” to the Harrogate District.

Liam Tate, planning manager at Barratt Developments Yorkshire East told The Stray Ferret:

“Barratt Developments is no longer pursuing the application in Littlethorpe. We are committed to providing high-quality new homes and investing in local communities across the region, as demonstrated at our Kingsley Meadows development in Starbeck.”

Ripon Barracks proposals move online following criticism

Homes England has published updated plans online for the 1,300 home development at Ripon Barracks, after concerns were raised from Ripon residents about transparency during lockdown.

The development, which encompasses Claro Barracks, Deverell Barracks and Laver Banks is being developed by the government’s housing agency, Homes England, and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

There are 1,300 homes mooted and it’s designated within Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan.

The development will be called Clotherholmes and the new plans include a community centre, employment space, shops, parkland, a new primary school and sports facilities.

Homes England had been accused of “a lack of transparency” around the plans due to lockdown, with local resident Barbara Brodigen telling The Stray Ferret that local residents have failed to have their voices heard.

Whole process online

Homes England said they initially wanted to publish the proposals online and to display them at a public event. However, due to the restrictions in place as a result of Covid-19, they have instead put the whole process online which includes information boards, an FAQ document and a pre-recorded presentation from the project team.

Ripon councillor Mike Chambers told the Stray Ferret he welcomed the plan but said its “achilles heel” is its lack of transport provision.

He said:

“I’m very concerned about displaced traffic and rat runs. I’m continuing to press to ensure we have the best possible traffic plan going forward so residents can live their lives as they want.”

People can submit questions about the development until July 26. Responses will then be added to the FAQ document and uploaded to the project website.

A planning application is due to be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council later this summer.

Martin Wilks, Ripon Barracks project manager at Homes England, said:

“After being impressed with the level of interest shown in our proposals last autumn, we provided local groups with further opportunities to comment on our proposals – we paused, listened, and refined our proposals.

“We now feel confident that our updated plans meet the needs of Ripon’s community, both present and future, as well as providing a number of additional benefits that will allow community spirit to be placed at the heart of the development of Clotherholme.

“These include greater access to green space through the establishment of parkland in Laver Banks, more diverse employment opportunities through the provision of flexible workspaces, and a range of facilities such as allotments, sports pitches and mixed-use community spaces.”

Meanwhile, Julian Smith MP has published a response from Homes England on his website, dated July 9, after he raised concerns from residents in a letter last month.

Councillors back plans for 64 homes in Tockwith

Councillors have given the green light for 64 homes to be built at Church Farm in Tockwith, despite passionate pleas from objectors.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee met this afternoon via Zoom and voted by seven to four for the application to be deferred to the chief planner for approval, subject to a Section 106 agreement and an ecology report.

The development was brought before the planning committee in January but was deferred after concerns were raised around the density of housing. Since then, York-based developer Mulgrave Developments reduced the number of homes from 68 to 64.

Cllr Norman Waller, ward member for Marston Moor, said the strength of feeling against the development from Tockwith residents was so strong that to approve it would “show local democracy at its worst”.

The site is allocated within HBC’s Local Plan for 53 homes and Cllr Waller said the extra 11 homes were a “stab in the back” to the local community.

He also criticised the design of the homes, suggesting the development could become the “slums of tomorrow”.

He said:

“The design is totally bog-standard, unimaginative and doesn’t represent housing styles in Tockwith conservation area.”

Another objector, Mr Pozman, pleaded with councillors to reject the application, saying it “rides roughshod over the principle of conservation.”

He said:

“The development would obliterate the landscape setting of our village. Please don’t let the developers destroy the character of Tockwith forever.”

Mark Blaine, speaking on behalf of the developer, said the updated plans are “more spacious and have reduced density”. He also said the houses are built to the “highest standard of materials and design”.

Cllr Pat Marsh asked why no energy statement had been submitted as part of the application. She said she was “very unhappy” with the way the council is currently dealing with environmental and sustainability issues surrounding housing.

In response, Mr Blane confirmed that no energy statement was submitted as there was no requirement to do so.

Nicholas Turpin, planning officer at HBC, added that until the council has a supplementary planning document in place regarding greener housing, it doesn’t have the ability to refuse an application on that basis.

A Section 106 agreement includes what the developer will pay towards local infrastructure such as roads or schools.

Whinney Lane in Harrogate to be closed for seven months

A section of Whinney Lane in Harrogate will be closed to traffic from Monday, July 27 to February 28.

The closure is due to the construction of two site access points for the Castle Hill Farm housing development as well as a new roundabout.

The road will be closed from the Castle Hill Drive junction and continue until around 200m before the Squinting Cat pub.

Meanwhile, Penny Pot Lane will be closed to traffic for four weeks, beginning on Monday, August 3.

This is for the Persimmon King Edwin Park residential development between the Jubilee roundabout and the Ethelburga’s estate.

Access to the estate will be kept open during the road closure and cycling and walking will be permitted.

180-home plans submitted for former Police training centre

Fresh plans have been submitted for housing at the former Police training centre on Yew Tree Lane.

The site is now owned by the government’s housing agency, Homes England, who wants to build 164 new build homes on the land whilst converting North Lodge, Headmasters House, Kensington House and Library into an additional 16 homes.

In 2018, Harrogate Borough Council granted planning permission for 161 homes to be built on the site. However, since then, the land has been transferred from the Home Office to Homes England who now wants to add an extra 19 homes to the development, which is also above the 160 allocated for the site in HBC’s Local Plan.

The development would keep some playing fields which Homes England says could be used by local football teams and potentially adopted and managed by HBC.

Homes England said the extra homes would “better suit the profile of local housing needs emerging from the recently adopted Local Plan evidence base.”

A consultation of residents found that 73% of respondents either strongly disagreed or disagreed that an increase of 19 homes with a broader mix of house sizes will help to meet local housing needs, with just 13% agreeing and 13% neutral.

Homes England is now inviting expressions of interest from developers.

For decades police recruits from all over the UK came to Harrogate to train, however the site was closed in 2011 due to cost-cutting. In 2006, HBC gave the green light for the site to be turned into housing but these plans never materialised.

Harrogate council wins contentious planning case at Court of Appeal

Harrogate Borough Council has won a case in the UK’s second-highest appeals court over a contentious planning decision.

The ruling stems from September 2018 when HBC granted planning permission for 21 new homes in the village of Bickerton near Wetherby.

Oxton Farm, which is near to the development, sought to overturn the decision through a judicial review, which was rejected in 2019.

In June 2020 the farm took the case to the Court of Appeal in London. They argued that HBC deviated from a government method councils use to calculate how many homes are needed in an area.

As Harrogate had no Local Plan at the time of the decision, the government says planners should use the most recent household projections made by the Office of National Statistics as its baseline for calculating its five-year housing supply.

In a report published five days before the Bickerton planning decision was made, the ONS said HBC requires 383 homes to be built a year to meet its five-year housing supply. This was almost half the 669 homes that HBC said it needed to be built each year in a previous report.

Lawyers representing Oxton Farm said that HBC’s original projection was “falsified” by the ONS statistics.

They argued that the ONS figure of 383 new homes showed there was a “substantial surplus” of deliverable housing sites in the district and therefore there was no need to grant permission for this development, which is on green belt land.

Ruling in favour of HBC in his judgement, Lord Justice Lewison said Oxton Farm’s position was “erroneous” because the ONS was not mandatory for councils to follow.

He said:

“Government policy states quite clearly (a) that the standard method is not mandatory; (b) that the purpose of the
standard method is to determine the minimum starting point in deciding the number of homes needed in an area; and (c) that higher housing targets than those produced by the standard method will be considered sound.”

Odeon Harrogate delays reopening date

Harrogate’s Odeon cinema will not open on July 16 as previously announced – but the Everyman will open later today.

Because summer blockbusters including Wonder Woman 2 and Mulan have been delayed, Odeon said its Harrogate cinema will instead open at some point later this summer.

Cinema-goers in Harrogate had hoped to be able to visit the Odeon from next Thursday and it had announced it would be showing a selection of classic films including The Empire Strikes Back.

An Odeon spokesperson told the Stray Ferret:

“Our next phase of reopening will continue to take place from this Friday. However, in light of changes in the timing of this summer’s big blockbusters, the reopening dates scheduled for the rest of our cinemas across July, including Odeon Harrogate, will now be phased over July and August.

“We are pleased to be welcoming guests back to selected cinemas across the UK, and we continue to receive positive feedback from cinemagoers on their experience and the additional safety measures we have put in place.”

Odeon said when customers are allowed back into its Harrogate cinema, family groups and social bubbles will be allowed to sit next together, but between separate customers there will be an unoccupied seat. Staggered show times will also limit the chance of long queues.

In related news, Everyman cinema in Westgate House, Harrogate, will open later today for the first time since March. A mix of classic films and recent releases are available to watch including Parasite, the Wolf of Wall Street and Fantastic Mr Fox.

St Aidan’s floodlights raises old concerns over light pollution

St Aidan’s high school has put forward new proposals to build an artificial 3G football pitch with controversial 15-metre floodlights.

In 2016 the school submitted similar plans to Harrogate Borough Council — but withdrew them in 2019 after objections were raised around light pollution and traffic.

Objectors said the floodlights would have a negative impact on residents as well as on the Stray Rein section of The Stray.

For the school to receive grant funding from Sports England to help pay for the new facility, it must be open for community use outside of school hours.

The 2016 application stated the facility would close at 10pm Monday to Friday, which has been reduced to 8pm.

The floodlights in the new application are also telescopic which manufacturers say emit less light pollution.

Resident David Bell who lives adjacent to St Aidan’s told the Stray Ferret the floodlights will have a “dramatic” effect on his property.

He said:

“This mad rush to install 3G pitches throughout the area is having a dramatically negative impact on those living closest to the pitches due to the extended opening hours. It seems the march of the plastic pitch is unstoppable.”

The new pitch, which would be built on existing playing fields at the school, would put St Aidan’s on par with nearby St John Fisher which built its own 3G facility in 2017.

As well as being able to be hired by local football teams in evenings and weekends, the pitch would also be used by local C of E primary schools within the School’s Multi Academy Trust who St Aidan’s said have an “acute shortage” of external playing fields.

St Aidan’s borders the Stray Rein section of the Stray and Judy D’Arcy Thompson from the Stray Defence Association told the Stray Ferret that the floodlights would “impinge upon the tranquillity the Stray affords people”

She said:

“Such widespread, obtrusive light pollution is undesirable, with the distinct possibility of damaging the Stray in many ways.”

The formal consultation period for the development ends on July 27.

The Stray Ferret has asked the agent MHB Partnership, who is working on behalf of St Aidan’s for the development, for a response which they had not provided at the time of publication.