Council shares £15,000 anti-terrorism bill for Harrogate Christmas Fayre

Anti-terrorism measures for Harrogate Christmas Fayre cost £15,000, with Harrogate Borough Council paying half.

The inaugural event was run by the council in the town centre in partnership with Market Place, a specialist market company from Greater Manchester.

It saw stalls and stands selling food, drink and gifts around Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.

The fayre was organised after the original Harrogate Christmas Market, on Montpellier Hill, was cancelled after the council refused to sign off the organisers’ event management plan.

The council had raised concerns with co-organiser Brian Dunsby that the plan didn’t adequately address the threat from terrorists.

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In 2016, terrorists drove a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin, leaving 12 people dead.

Since then, Christmas markets across the UK have beefed up security to thwart any similar attempts.

The Harrogate Christmas Fayre saw temporary bollards on both ends of Cambridge Street and in other locations in the town centre to stop vehicles from entering.

The council’s publicly available list of payments over £250 includes a payment of £7,453.83 to Market Place, which a council spokesperson said was to pay for the bollards. The final bill was split 50/50 with the company.

The spokesperson said:

“As part of the event delivery plan for Harrogate Christmas Fayre, and following guidance and advice from North Yorkshire Police, we wanted to ensure a safe and enjoyable market was delivered, especially following incidents in other cities previously.

“Therefore, to ensure the safety of residents, traders and visitors of the fayre, we agreed to split the costs of anti-terrorism measures with Market Place Europe to mitigate any potential risks.

“As this was organised via Market Place Europe, our share was paid to them rather than the supplier.”

St Aidan’s new 3G pitch set to be open until 8pm

St Aidan’s Church of England High School’s new floodlit artificial sports pitch is set to open from 6pm to 8pm for community clubs to use.

The school has launched a consultation on when the FIFA-approved pitch can be hired, as well as the type of floodlights that will be built.

Last January councillors gave the school permission to build the pitch, despite the council’s own report recommending refusal.

Some nearby residents had complained that the 15-metre high floodlights would cause light pollution to their homes and the Stray.

However, the application attracted a huge amount of support from Harrogate residents, with some hailing “people power” for helping to influence councillors’ decisions.

Hours of use

The consultation document proposes the pitch will be available from 6pm to 8pm from Monday to Friday.

On Saturdays, it would be available for hire from 9am to 5pm and on Sundays from 10am to 2pm.

During school holidays, the pitch would be available to be booked from 9am to 4pm.

It says prices will be similar to other council-run facilities in the Harrogate area.

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The school will employ its own staff to manage and operate the facility and a committee will review its hours of use every year.

There has been a lack of 3G pitches available in Harrogate since Harrogate Town were forced to remove theirs following promotion to the English Football League two years ago.

County council says Bilton housing scheme ‘should be refused’

North Yorkshire County Council has said the layout of a 53-home development in Bilton is ‘not acceptable’ and the plan should be refused unless the developer agrees to pay for the widening of Knox Lane.

North East firm Jomast wants to build the homes on a field on Knox Lane in an application that has been reduced from 73 homes.

The county council, which is in charge of the Harrogate district’s roads, has submitted a response to the application as part of the consultation process.

It warned the development does not comply with standards it sets around roads and new housing schemes.

The section of Knox Lane where the homes would be built is narrow and leads towards a popular beauty spot.

Residents have long argued the road is unsuitable for any extra traffic the homes would bring but the developer’s transport report concluded the development would not lead to congestion.

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Paul Roberts, the county council’s highways officer, wrote to Harrogate Borough Council last week and said the development should be refused unless changes are made to Knox Lane as well as private roads within the site.

He wrote:

“The highway authority therefore advise that the application should be refused unless further information is provided by the developer. The layout of the site is not acceptable and will need to be amended to comply with the highway authority guidance/standards.”

Mr Roberts said Knox Lane should be widened to 5.5 metres with a two-metre footpath.

He added:

“This work shall be implemented as part of the project and if the application is approved implemented under a S278 agreement with the highway authority which the authority may wish to lead on.”

Residents’ concerns

The Stray Ferret met a group of Bilton residents in February who raised their concerns about the development and its impact on local roads.

With the busy Skipton Road nearby, and Knox Lane itself a narrow thoroughfare, Bob Wrightson said the roads surrounding the development would soon be gridlocked.

Mr Wrightson said:

“Fifty-two houses — a lot of people have cars, which has not been addressed. There might be another 100 cars using these roads and it will be gridlock.”

In February, Jomast and planning consultants Spawforths issued the following joint statement to the Stray Ferret:

“The planning application is supported by a number of specialist technical reports, including a transport assessment, which demonstrates the proposed development would not lead to any additional congestion of the local roads.”

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee will decide on the application.

State-of-the-art laser treatment in Harrogate can remove lumps and bumps

This article is sponsored by Kliniken. 

At Kliniken – Harrogate’s state-of-the-art aesthetics surgical centre – a brand new laser treatment procedure is launching that removes scars, acne, lumps, bumps and even wrinkles without surgery.

It’s called the Ultrapulse CO2 Laser Treatment and it uses a powerful laser to dramatically improve skin texture, skin tone and fine lines.

What treatments does Kliniken offer?

Kliniken offers several different treatments available to suit your needs.

Skin conditions

At Kliniken we also treat other skin conditions, there are many small things that people find on their body that are not cancerous or concerning but you don’t like the look of them.

These lumps and bumps can affect all parts of the body. When left, they can get bigger and become more obvious, resulting in staring or pointing by strangers and friends or family.

Sadly, these “benign” growths can lead to self-confidence issues or being asked by friends and family to “have those growths removed” or “have it looked at”.

However, due to the effects of COVID, most people are unable to have these growths removed by the GP or in hospital anymore.

At Kliniken, we are able to offer a review by a team of specialist plastic surgeons who can check the growths and if appropriate remove them with the help of a local anaesthetic so that you are seen and treated in one go.

Be your confident self

At Kliniken, Chief Surgeon Mr Mallappa Kolar is looking forward to helping people get back to their most confident, comfortable selves.

The non-surgical procedure takes only around 90 minutes and within 7-10 days patients should see a dramatic difference in their appearance.

Mr Kolar said:

“The experience patients receive when coming to the clinic is that our UK-trained plastic surgeon makes a full assessment of the patient. This includes any relevant history, including reasons for treatment and a thorough examination to talk about all options including using the Ultrapulse CO2 laser.

“Patients have treatment performed and go home the same day, from between 50 minutes to an hour and a half.”

Book your free consultation now to find out how this treatment could help you.

Harrogate cafe offers taste of Turkey

Sirius is a new cafe on Beulah Street that offers homemade food inspired by Turkey.

Istanbul is said to have the world’s oldest cafe culture, and Cuneyt Yazicioglu wants to bring some flavours from his home city to Harrogate.

Dishes at Sirius include kumpir, which is a Turkish jacket potato with a wide range of toppings to choose from.

Homemade sweets include the pistachio-flavored baklava. Turkish coffee and tea are also available.

Inside Sirius on Beulah Street

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Mr Yazicioglu has lived in North Yorkshire for 24 years and previously ran a Turkish restaurant in Ripon.

Pictures of famous Turkish singers, actors and comedians adorn the walls of the cafe, which used to be a card shop and is next door to Costa.

It’s the ‘Turkish breakfast’ that takes top billing on the menu. It’s a twist on the English breakfast and includes feta cheese, olives, Turkish pepperoni and honey.

As well as offering Turkish treats, the kitchen serves English breakfast, sandwiches, pizza, paninis and omelettes.

Sirius is open from 9am to 5pm seven days a week at 9 Beulah Street, Harrogate.

Harrogate’s Coach & Horses pub set to reopen in early July

Drinkers will be able to finally reacquaint themselves with the Coach & Horses this summer after over two years.

Provenance Inns, which owns West Park Hotel on the same street, bought the pub in October last year.

It’s been closed since May 2020 after the previous landlord John Nelson had his licence revoked for breaching covid rules.

Provenance has been busy revamping the bar and kitchen area and reinstating the corner entrance.

The first floor is also being converted into a restaurant area along with staff accommodation and office space.

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Scaffolding outside the building recently came down ahead of the Coach & Horses’ new era.

The company has designed a new logo for the pub but has promised to respect its long heritage with the refurbishment.

Provenance’s commercial manager Anthony Blundell said there is still work to do but he is hopeful the pub and restaurant will reopen in early July.

He said:

“Everyone is eagerly awaiting the reopening of the Coach and no one is more excited than us to get to know some of the previous patrons and, hopefully, some new ones too.”

Bid to convert Harrogate working men’s club into flats refused

Harrogate Borough Council has refused a bid to convert a former working men’s club in Harrogate into two flats.

The National Reserve Club, East Parade, formally closed in July following a unanimous resolution from its members last year. It was also known as ‘The Nash’.

The organisation had been registered as a working men’s club since July 11, 1913, when it was known as the Harrogate Battalion National Reserve of the West Riding of York Club.

ID Planning, which submitted the plan on behalf of Ashleigh and Caroline Wells, said in its application that the scheme would provide a viable use for the building.

But as the building is a community facility, the council said in its refusal that the owner had not been able to prove that it was no longer viable before submitting planning permission.

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Working men’s clubs were once the heart of the community across the country but many have faced dwindling membership numbers with some forced to close.

The Nash never reopened after the first covid lockdown two years ago.

It had 28 members at the time of closing and donated its remaining cash to charity.

However, other Harrogate clubs such as The Londesborough Club and Bilton WMC are still going strong.

Read Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam’s history of the town’s working men’s clubs here.

64 homes at former Knaresborough factory set for approval

A 64-home development on the site of a former factory in Knaresborough has been recommended for approval.

Developer Countryside Properties has earmarked the former Trelleborg factory on Halfpenny Lane for the houses.

The site is not allocated for housing in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan, which describes where development can take place. But it is included on the council’s Brownfield Land Register, which identifies locations considered to be appropriate for redevelopment for residential use.

The original proposal was for 77 dwellings. However, a group of mature trees on the site recently received tree preservation orders, which prompted the developer to reduce the number of homes. Twenty of them would be classed as ‘affordable’.

The site has been empty since 2016.

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The application faced an objection from Knaresborough Town Council, which said

“These houses are not needed, as sufficient house building is allocated elsewhere in the Local Plan and is being delivered.”

Network Rail also raised concerns about how close the homes will be to an operational railway crossing.

However, council officer Graham Smith backed the scheme, saying it would bring a derelict site back into use whilst boosting housing in the town.

He said:

“The proposal would contribute towards ensuring the district’s housing needs are met, including the provision of 20 affordable dwellings as well as properties that are designed to be accessible and adaptable.”

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council‘s planning committee will consider the plans next Tuesday.

Ison Harrison Solicitors can safeguard your future with a Lasting Power of Attorney

This article is sponsored by Ison Harrison Solicitors.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) can help give you and your family peace of mind should anything happen to your health later in life.

Ison Harrison Solicitors in Harrogate provides expert advice on how to set one up and is offering 20% on all LPAs for a limited time.

What Is A Lasting Power of Attorney & Why Do You Need One?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to appoint one or more people whom you trust, together or separately, to act on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so yourself.

One of the biggest motivators for organising an LPA is the possibility of losing mental and physical capacity later in life. With around 900,000 people currently living with dementia in the UK – and an expected increase to 1.6 million by 2040 – it’s important to put plans in place early on so your best interests are looked after by someone you trust.

If you do not have an LPA, it may be that an application has to be made to the courts for a deputy to be appointed and this is a complex, costly and time-consuming process.

What types of LPA are there?

There are 2 types of LPA:

It is often advisable to set up a health and welfare LPA and a property and financial affairs LPA at the same time, as this ensures both elements are taken care of and gives you peace of mind for the future.

Once an LPA has been executed, it will last indefinitely.

What are the benefits of making an LPA?

Most importantly, you will be taking a prudent step towards safeguarding against future problems for your loved ones whilst also ensuring you have put plans in place for your future whilst you are of sound mind and health. None of us know what the future holds, and just like making a will is important, so too is making a Lasting Power of Attorney, yet the latter is often overlooked.

How long does the process take?

Typically, it can take up to 12 weeks to register an LPA. It is always advisable to get legal advice before proceeding with the process.

Ison Harrison Solicitors specialise in wills, probate and lasting power of attorneys.

Wills & Probate expert at Ison Harrison, Rebecca Austin, said:

“Few people realise that due to increasingly complex data protection legislation, no one else is usually allowed to deal with your assets and other matters, so making a Lasting Power of Attorney helps to protect you for the future.”

Save 20% on Lasting Powers of Attorney

During the month of May, Ison Harrison Solicitors is running a limited-time offer of 20% off all LPAs.

The firm has a branch at 6A Albert Street, Harrogate, HG1 1JG.

To take advantage of this offer, please email Rebecca.austin@isonharrison.co.uk or call 01943 889 084.

Terminally ill Harrogate man to scale Snowdon

A Harrogate man with motor neurone disease is to scale Snowdon to raise funds for Leeds Hospitals Charity and the MND Association.

Ian Flatt, 56, was diagnosed with the terminal illness in 2019 and needs a ventilator for 16 hours a day.

Despite his diagnosis, he’s already completed two 100-mile trips to raise money for a new state-of-the-art MND facility in Leeds.

His latest challenge will see him ascending the highest mountain in Wales, which is 1,085 metres tall and the equivalent of climbing 4,610 steps.

The Leeds-based hospital charity is raising money to build a new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital, where both men are cared for.

The former Leeds Rhinos player Rob Burrow MBE has become an ambassador for the disease since his own diagnosis in 2019.

Mr Flatt said:

“The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease is very important to us as a family. We’re passionate about supporting other families going through this difficult disease.

“The support of the team at Leeds and their specialist help is so crucial for us to live as well as we can as a family. Whilst my mobility, dexterity and respiratory functions are failing, my sense of adventure remains intact.”

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Mr Flatt’s wife, two daughters and around forty friends will be joining him on the Snowdon trek. Staff from both the MND Centre and Leeds Hospitals Charity will also be climbing the mountain.

The charity’s appeal has raised £2m of the £5m needed to build the new centre.

To donate visit: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/ian-flatt-whats-your-mountain