Developer resubmits Flaxby self-build homes eco scheme

A developer is not giving up on his dream of delivering a self-build eco-development in Flaxby after being knocked back by Harrogate Borough Council.

Ben Holmes, from Birstwith, first submitted plans last year to build the cutting-edge development in the village near Knaresborough.

It was for a community self-build scheme, which is a different model of housebuilding from what is usually seen.

Mr Holmes would install infrastructure, such as paths, water, drainage and a communal area, on the site.

Nine plots would then be available to people who want to build their own home. The buyers then hire an architect and builder and design a home to suit their family’s needs.

A stipulation would ensure all the homes are built to strict environmental standards and include solar panels, air-source heat pumps and super-tight insulation.

The plans were refused by the council on the grounds that it was not in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which sets out where development can take place, and because the number of homes was below the council’s requirement per hectare.

‘Moving away from the car’

Mr Holmes appealed the council’s decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate but it upheld the refusal.

He has this week submitted new plans to the council, which he hopes address the reasons for refusal.

The revised plans include plots for 20 homes, which would be available to those who have joined Harrogate’s self-build register.

He said:

“All of the principles of our original scheme will be included, which is again trying to move away from the car, with use of shared electric vehicles and further an electric mini-bus for the school run.

“The homes will generate their own electricity with photovoltaic panels on the roofs and rainwater harvesting will be used to cut down on energy bills.

“They will all be Passivhaus, relying mainly on solar gain for heating, and have air source heat pumps for any extra heating required. They will be extremely well insulated and air-tight. The intention is that they will set the standard for new homes across the area, and be a catalyst for greener developments.”

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New village hall

The initial proposal received a seven-page objection from Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council.

It cited concerns over flooding, sustainable transport and claimed the plans “gave no thought whatsoever to the village of Flaxby”.

To help win over locals this time, Mr Holmes has added a village hall and nature reserve for anyone to use.

He added:

“This was in response to some of the existing villagers’ comments that there was nothing in the original scheme to fulfil their social needs, and it should be more integrated for community cohesion.

“The joined parishes of Flaxby and Goldsborough don’t currently have a village hall so this would be an opportunity for them to have their own village asset, that they can use as they see fit.”

The council will decide on the plans at a later date.

Harrogate district unemployment figures remain low

Just 2.2% of all adults in the Harrogate district are claiming out-of-work benefits, latest figures show.

Monthly figures published today by the Office for National Statistics show 1,755 people were claiming the benefits on May 12, which was similar to April’s figure of 1,779.

The figures appear to have stabilised after falling by around 150 people a month since the start of the year.

However, they are still above pre-pandemic levels. In January 2020, 1,410 people claimed the benefits that includes Universal Credit.

Universal Credit can also be claimed by people who are in work but on low incomes.

Many of the district’s key sectors including hospitality and social care have reported difficulties hiring staff since the end of covid restrictions.

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Harrogate Sainsbury’s set to replace some manned tills for self-service

Sainsbury’s supermarket on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road looks set to remove eight manned checkouts to make way for more self-service tills.

Over the past decade, self-service tills have become increasingly the norm for shoppers.

A survey published by The Grocer last year found that manned checkouts were still the most popular choice for both men (42%) and women (39%), but 31% of shoppers now prefer to pay using self-service.

The Stray Ferret understands from a source at the Wetherby Road store, which is the largest supermarket in Harrogate, that it plans to replace eight manned tills with self-service checkouts later this summer.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson confirmed it plans to introduce more self-service checkouts, which it said would meet customer demand for the service.

She said:

“We regularly review the services available in our stores to make sure we offer the most convenient experience to our customers.

“This summer we will slightly increase the number of self-service checkouts at our Harrogate store so that we can meet customer demand for this service.

“Our colleagues are on hand to help anyone who may need support using them and we continue to offer manned checkouts for our customers who wish to use them.”

The spokesperson added that no jobs will be lost in the Harrogate store but staff that did work on the checkouts will be working “in a slightly different way”.

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Self-service checkouts are now ubiquitous in every major supermarket but they are not always popular, particular with older shoppers who like to have a chat with the person serving them.

This year a pensioner in London called Pat McCarthy launched a petition against Tesco, which is also replacing manned tills with self-service checkouts.

At the time of publication, it’s been signed by over 170,000 people.

Ms McCarthy, 69, wrote:

“What used to be a great shopping experience has now become physically difficult, overwhelming, and a ‘nightmare’.

“I love chatting with the staff, albeit briefly, especially as l live on my own. Talking with human staff is important to me. Now that experience has been taken away.”

Crowds line streets of Knaresborough to cheer on Bed Race

Good morning and welcome to our Knaresborough Bed Race live blog. It’s Tom here who will be here all day. It’s the first race since 2019 and it’s fair to say there’s a buzz of excitement around.

The weather at the moment is overcast with a light breeze, perfect weather for lugging a heavy bed through town.

The actual race kicks off at 3pm but there’s a whole day of activities organised by Knaresborough Lions. I will be heading to Knaresborough Castle shortly for the judging of the best-dressed beds competition.

Amusements at Conyngham Hall open at 12pm and there’s the traditional parade of beds through the town from 1pm.

Teams have been slowly making their way up the high street all morning carrying their beds to the castle, conserving some energy for later you suspect.

 

17.00 – Presentation at Conyngham Hall

With all the festivities of the day, it’s easy to forget there was an actual competition taking place.

The presentation followed a very enthusiastic live band who performed hits from The Killers and Mumford and Sons, which had the crowd dancing like it was Glastonbury.

GH Brooks was the quickest team on the day, making their way around the course in a rapid 12.59.

The Welly Wheelers were the fastest women’s team at 15.14 and celebrated on stage to pick up their trophy.

GH Brooks, the fastest team

The Welly Wheelers, the fastest women’s team

That’s all for a very enjoyable Bed Race 2022. See you next year!

15.30 – Crowds line streets for the 2022 race

Thousands of people lined the streets to cheer on every team who competed in this year’s bed race. We got a good vantage point close to Henshaws to take in all the action.

One moment that summed up what bed race is all about was near the end when a woman was walking after being separated from her team. She looked in agony but the crowd roared and she picked up the pace to carry on running past the delighted spectators.

Watch the race below:

 

13.45 – Town is heaving

Whilst the bed race at 3pm is main attraction, today is usually the busiest day of the year for pubs and cafes in Knaresborough. We stopped for a quick pitstop in the Hart on Market Place, where it was lively.

The Hart pub

 

1.00pm – Bed parade through the town

All 85 beds took part in a glorious parade through the town that was led by bagpipes, The Rocketmen and a resplendent Knaresborough town crier Roger Hewitt.

The parade was a feast for the senses and it was hard to keep up with everything on show but there were bumblebees, men dressed as mermaids, rugby players and more. We’ll pretend those few raindrops we all felt didn’t happen.

Watch our video of the full parade below:

 

12.30pm – The Rocketmen are victorious!

A team of Knaresborough dads called The Rocketmen have picked up the top prize for their steampunk-inspired effort. Bravo.

The Wall-E bed that caught my eye going up the high street this morning came a commendable second.

The steampunks will take pride of place with their bed at the front of the parade, which starts shortly. The streets are already full with people hoping to get a good view for the afternoon.

11.30am – Best dressed beds competition

Judging is underway for the not-so-serious business of best dressed bed. There are over 80 teams and they’ve all got into the environment spirit.

Without wanting to pre-empt the judges decision, I really did like Techbuyer’s effort which involved decorating a bed and bicycle with used computer components. Although it did look very heavy, which could cost them in the time trial.

Top marks to Monkton Meanderers and Meadowside Academy, too.

Techbuyer

Meadowside Primary Academy with their ‘English Countryside’ theme

Monkton Meanderers with their bed that shows the recycling process.

10.30am – People and their beds make their way to Knaresborough Castle.

The theme this year is The Environment: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. One woman was seen walking up the high street with an ingenious dress made out of crisp packets. Crisp chic!

Another team was pushing up their bed, which was the Pixar trash cleaning robot Wall-E.

‘We just want to make a living’: Harrogate cabbies hit out at new rules

A group of over 100 taxi drivers has said it feels unfairly targeted by Harrogate Borough Council after the authority agreed new licencing conditions that include suspending drivers who get seven penalty points for speeding.

The conditions also stipulate drivers must keep taxi plates on their vehicles even when they are not working and they must attend mandatory training courses.

The council has said the changes are “reasonable” and will improve safety for passengers but cabbies argue the policies are draconian and will put good drivers out of work.

Several drivers the Stray Ferret spoke to today on Harrogate’s taxi rank on Station Parade said the new conditions were the last thing they needed after a tough couple of years due to covid and spiralling fuel costs.

Currently drivers face a suspension if they tot up 12 points for speeding.

‘Totally out of order’

Dave Goodall, a taxi driver at Blueline, called the new conditions “upsetting” and “totally out of order”.

He said drivers could easily rack up thousands of miles a month and were faced with an ever-increasing number of hidden mobile speed vans around the Harrogate district, as well as cameras in nearby cities such as Leeds, York and Bradford.

He said:

“To have this put on us, on top of everything else, it’s a bit too much.”

Mr Goodall said cabbies often had difficult customers who were drunk, high on drugs or had mental health issues, which could distract drivers and result in them inadvertently going over the speed limit.

He added:

“If someone is caught doing 70mph in a 30mph zone, yes, they should be reprimanded.

“But to say if you get seven points you could be suspended, we think that’s totally out of order. With the best will in the world it’s so easy to get points sometimes. 

“There are drivers who are on six points now who are very, very nervous. They are not bad drivers.”

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Musa Ebzao, a Hackney cab driver in Harrogate, said covid had already led to an exodus of drivers in the town. He fears the changes would put off new drivers from joining.

He said:

“We are fighting for our businesses. There’s a shortage of drivers already and a lot of lads will leave the trade. It’s the Harrogate people who will suffer.”

United front

A letter objecting to the new conditions has been signed by over 100 drivers and it will be delivered to Harrogate Borough Council’s civic centre next week.

The drivers are putting on a united front, with signatures from drivers at all the large firms, such as Blueline, Mainline and Central as well as smaller companies and private hire drivers.

They said they have not ruled out legal action or protests, like those seen in Leeds over similar proposals, in the future.

Council’s response

The proposal to suspend taxi drivers who receive penalty points has been put forward by the Department for Transport. However, it does not specify how many points a taxi driver can get before their licence is revoked.

In Harrogate, drivers will still be given the chance to argue their case and give reasons why their licence should not be revoked.

A council spokesperson said:

“The safety of customers using taxis is paramount.

“Seven penalty points issued for motoring offences is consistent with proposals for City of York and the West Yorkshire authorities and is recommended in national guidance.

“Taxi drivers’ licences are reviewed on an individual basis when points accumulate. And while the policy specifies seven points, an opportunity is given to the driver to put their side and reasons why their licence should not be revoked.

“Once a vehicle is licensed it is always a licensed vehicle and the law does not permit drivers to take licence plates off. It cannot sometimes be a private vehicle and sometimes be a licensed vehicle at the driver’s choice. And by ensuring a valid licence plate is secured and displayed at all times it allows the public to identify the vehicle as licenced by the local authority, and prevents it being stolen and used by others.”

Police investigating brawl in quiet Pateley Bridge street

North Yorkshire Police is investigating a brawl involving a large group of men and women on a quiet Pateley Bridge street this week.

The incident took place just before midnight on Monday when the group, who officers described as young adults, were seen fighting and swearing on Bishop Way.

A police spokesperson said the incident was “very unusual” for Pateley Bridge and “completely unacceptable”.

If you have any information, photos or video footage, you can contact bill.hickson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting 12220097471.

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Petrol station in Harrogate district has joint most expensive fuel in country

Wetherby Services on the A1 has the joint highest petrol price in England — costing an eye-watering 202.9p per litre to fill up.

Prices at the pump have risen yet again this week due to increases in the cost of crude oil, which is used to make petrol and diesel.

The website PetrolPrices publishes up-to-date fuel prices at sites across the country.

It shows the BP station at Wetherby Services has passed the £2 per litre threshold and is now the joint highest petrol price in the country.

It’s the same price as other BP motorway petrol stations in Cumbria, Sunderland and Wiltshire.

It was announced today that it now costs over £100 to fill up a 55-litre family car, which the motoring body RAC called a “truly dark day” for motorists.

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In Harrogate, PetrolPrices says the most expensive place to fill up is Texaco on Skipton Road where it costs 197.9p a litre for petrol and 194.9p for diesel.

The cheapest place for petrol is Morrisons in Starbeck, where it’s 170.4p.

For diesel, it’s Asda where it currently costs 181.7p

In Ripon’s three petrol stations, the most expensive is BP where it costs 183.9p for petrol. The cheapest is Morrisons at 180.9p.

In Knaresborough, the Co-op on Manse Road has the most expensive petrol at 184.9p.

Fans hopeful new Harrogate Town ticketing system will boost crowds

Harrogate Town fans are optimistic that a new deal with US ticketing giant Ticketmaster will solve some of last season’s problems at the turnstiles.

The club announced this week that Ticketmaster will become its official ticketing partner on a ‘long-term contract’ with immediate effect.

Last season, well-documented problems with the club’s ticketing system soured the matchday experience on occasions and left some fans unable to attend a home match against Stevenage in September.

Throughout the season, fans were unable to buy tickets at the ground after 11am on matchday and tickets were only available online until midnight the night before a game.

It meant the club’s shop on Commercial Street was the only place to pick up a ticket close to kick off.

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Jordan Ford, Harrogate Town Independent Supporters Group, called the previous system “not fit for purpose” and had put fans off going to games.

He said:

“An improvement in the ticketing system will be welcomed by all supporters. It was apparent that what was in place wasn’t fit for purpose, and no doubt impacted on the number of fans coming to the ground. It’s good to see the club recognising areas of improvement, and this is definitely a positive move for both the club and its fans.”

The club said details on ticket prices for next season will be announced soon.

The new ticketing system is part of a £3.5m investment by chairman Irving Weaver into the club’s EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road.

Hamilton Mattock, Harrogate Town ticket office manager, said:

“We are delighted to have come to an agreement with Ticketmaster Sport and are looking forward to improving our ticket purchasing journey for supporters. Given the problems faced over the 21/22 season, Ticketmaster will make the entire ticketing process much smoother for both staff and supporters with their support and range of solutions. The platform will continue to develop and meet the needs of our fans as we continue with our ambition of growing the crowd.”

Northern Powergrid criticised over ‘unacceptable’ Storm Arwen failings

Energy regulator Ofgem has today published a damning report into how Northern Powergrid handled Storm Arwen.

The storm battered the Harrogate district and much of the UK in November and caused widespread disruption to homes and businesses. Over one million customers lost power as winds hit 98mph.

The storm struck during bitterly cold weather and left some rural homes in the district, including in Beckwithshaw and parts of Nidderdale, unable to cook or heat their homes.

Northern Powergrid is the company responsible for the electricity distribution network across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

Six-month review

Ofgem published its findings after a six-month review into how Northern Powergrid, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks and Electricity North West responded to the storm.

The review focused on whether the power outages could have been prevented and whether correct and timely information was given to customers.

Storm Arwen Jenny Field Drive

A fallen tree in Jennyfields during the storm.

It also looked at whether power was restored quickly enough and how customers were supported after the storm including the processing of compensation payments.

It found some households remained off power for an “unacceptable” amount of time, received poor communication from their network operator and compensation payments took too long.

It highlighted Northern Powergrid in particular for not contacting vulnerable customers prior to the storm.

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Below standards

The report warned Northern Powergrid that the performance at its call centre fell below standards, which could be a breach of licence conditions.

It also suggested that some of the electricity poles that fell onto power lines were susceptible to damage because of their age, although it said this needs further investigation.

Jonathan Brearley, chief executive of Ofgem, said:

“The frequency of extreme weather events is only set to increase so it is really important that industry, and those involved more widely, learn from Storm Arwen to better respond in future.”

The three energy firms have already agreed to pay nearly £30m in compensation to affected customers but following the report, they have agreed to pay a further £10.3m.

Read the report in full here.

Northern Powergrid’s response

Phil Jones, chief executive of Northern Powergrid, has published a full response to the Ofgem report on its website.

Mr Jones said:

“As we said at the time, we understand how challenging Storm Arwen was for our customers and we are sorry for the difficulty and disruption it caused to their lives. We appreciate the patience that they showed and the dedication of our team who worked through some of the most difficult conditions we have ever faced.

“The extreme nature of the event meant we learned some difficult lessons. It highlighted some limitations in our systems and showed us things we can do to be able to provide a stronger response to more extreme storms. We are committed to doing those things to make the communities that we serve more resilient to extreme weather events.”

Council criticised for leaving ‘scorched earth’ rings around Stray trees

Harrogate Borough Council has been criticised for spraying weed-killing chemicals around trees on the Stray leaving ‘scorched earth’ rings around them.

From UCI cycling to litter and rewilding, no topic exercises Harrogatonians quite like the Stray.

The latest debate involves the council’s approach to managing weeds on the 200-acre parkland which has troubled environmentalists and led to criticism on social media.

The council recently sprayed glyphosate around the base of almost every tree, bin and bench. It’s the most widely used pesticide in history but its use is controversial.

Exposure to glyphosate has been linked to poor health and several UK councils have pledged to stop or limit its use due to its negative impact on the environment.

Shan Oakes, Harrogate & District Green Party co-ordinator, criticised HBC for using the pesticide and said “we have to stop poisoning the planet”.

“It looks horrible. It doesn’t look good, so why do you need to tidy up vegetation around trees? Greenery looks better than scorched earth.

“We need plants wherever we can put them, nature doesn’t know about so-called weeds.

“We need to stop removing every little weed and so on, we have to think about bees and all the rest of the wildlife. We depend on nature.”

Rewilding row

This year, the council’s parks team has again left grass verges close to the roadside on West Park Stray uncut until late autumn to improve biodiversity.

But at least one tree has been sprayed with glyphosate in the middle of a grass verge that has been left to ‘rewild’.

Ms Oakes said the example was “an absolute contradiction”. She added:

“It’s like the plastic grass fiasco, they have not got their head around a different approach to gardening. Rewilding means a different kind of management.”

Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, took a more pragmatic approach to weed-killing on the Stray.

She said the council “presumably have their reasons” for spraying the chemicals but added weeds can give the Stray an unsightly appearance.

On rewilding, she said the verges have been used as a dumping ground for litter and dog waste.

“All those that love the wilding, there are those that hate it.

“Its a very difficult situation. It can look good and we must help the bee population. I’m down the middle on it. It’s an emotive subject, people get wound up about it.”

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Council’s response

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson explained why it has been using the weed-killer on the Stray.

“Twice a year, weeds around path edges and the bases of trees, bins and other street furniture are sprayed with glyphosate.

“When applied – through a lance which produces droplets directly onto the weeds – it is instantly absorbed and kills the weed quickly. Any brown grass should grow back in the following months.

“This is kept to a minimum and only used because our lawnmowers are unable to cut close enough. It also means we’re not constantly strimming, using hoes or pulling out weeds by hand, allowing us to spend more time maintaining our parks and opens spaces across the Harrogate district.

“Understandably, weeds are favoured by some and are an eyesore to others. So we have to strike a balance to ensure all residents can enjoy the district.

“And we are constantly reviewing, trialling and amending our work practices to ensure we are working towards a sustainable environment.

“We actively encourage many areas to grow naturally and leave several areas from being cut as regularly; the Stray in Harrogate, Jacob Smith Park in Knaresborough and Quarry Moor Nature Reserve in Ripon, to name but a few. Again, some residents favour this approach and some don’t.

“We have also planted thousands of wildflowers, with the help of volunteers. As well as leaving log piles as habitats and vegetation, and adapting our formal bedding areas across the district to include more single, open flowers that are great for pollinators.

“This is a key objective for us and we have a number of schemes to enable the flora and fauna to thrive. We also continue to work in partnership with local community groups to collectively enhance the district’s wildlife and biodiversity.”