Roller skating, Woolies and Carrington’s: Memories of the Harrogate diaspora

For anyone who has moved away from their hometown it will always have a special pull.

There are Harrogatonians living in almost every corner of the globe.

Five of them told the Stray Ferret about why they left, their favourite haunts in Harrogate from back in the day, and whether they would ever return:

Hilary Bottomley: Germany since 1988

I initially left in 1982 to study modern languages at university. It wasn’t until 1988 that I got a job in Germany and moved away from Harrogate permanently.

What I miss most about living in Harrogate are the people and their warm and friendly nature. Germans are much more formal and reserved.

For example, it would be unthinkable to get on a bus here and strike up a conversation with your fellow passengers, whereas that always used to happen to me in Harrogate. Germans find it much harder to let their barriers down.

When I was still at Harrogate Grammar School, I had a Saturday job as a sales assistant at Woolworths on Cambridge Street.

I remember working on the front cash desk and being able to listen to the singles being played at the record counter. The girl who worked on the music counter was a fan of The Police, so even now whenever I hear the song “Message in a Bottle”, I’m immediately transported back to my early days at Woolies.

Meanwhile, down in the basement, the boys who worked in the stockroom would start having loo roll fights the minute they were left unsupervised, so you’d often have to dodge a flying pack of Izal toilet paper whenever you ventured down there.

Cambridge Street in the early 1980s

I also used to love going to Annabella’s nightclub at the base of Copthall Towers (now The Exchange) on the nights when they played rock music and heavy metal.

I was only just 17 and looked even younger, so I went to all the trouble of having a silver pendant engraved with a false date of birth in case my age was ever queried. In actual fact, the bouncers didn’t take their job too seriously and I always got in without any questions asked.

Lisa Sullivan: Florida, USA since 1990

I studied for my A-levels at Harrogate Grammar School. Unfortunately, I wasn’t very academic so I ended up failing my A-level exams, which meant I was unable to go to university in London, as planned.

However, I was restless to leave Harrogate. Fortuitously, a friend from HGS offered me the opportunity to spend the summer of 1990 in the US working at a summer camp. I jumped at the opportunity.

At the end of the summer when it came time to come back to Harrogate, I decided I didn’t want to return home. Instead, I wangled my way into staying in the US. 32 years later I’m still living in America!

Failing my exams at 18 felt like the end of the world. However, if I had passed my A-levels I would have attended university in London and my life would have been very different. I’m a firm believer that when one door closes, another one opens.

I live in Jupiter, which is a relatively non-touristy town on the east coast of Florida. Many well-known people have made it their home over the years like Burt Reynolds, Tiger Woods and Olivia Newton-John. The beaches are unspoiled, the water is aquamarine and there are many restaurants on the water. Dining by the water while the sun is shining is an enjoyable way of life in this part of the world.

Jupiter, Florida

Over the years I have contemplated moving back to be close to family. What stopped me from moving back were my pets: I didn’t want to risk transporting my dogs across the Atlantic.

I’ve been in Florida too long! Sadly, after living in the US for 32 years, I have come to the realisation that the US is my home.

Ms Sullivan today in Jupiter, Florida

I worked at various places around the town, waitressed at Pinocchio’s restaurant and the Damn Yankee; bartended at Legends nightclub, and helped in my parents’ wool and clothing shop on Cheltenham Parade.

When I wasn’t working, I hung out at discos at the Royal Baths, the Chequers pub, or at Picasso’s nightclub. I spent Sunday mornings at the roller skating events in the gym of Rossett High school, watched my school friends breakdance in Harrogate town center, or drove around town in my banana yellow car. Thinking back to those times always brings a smile to my face!

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Graham Steele – Maryland, USA since 1997

I loved the Valley Gardens. My dad used to take me to play on the swings and slides, and as I got older, I played 9 hole golf. This was my weekend treat.

We also used to go to the little pond next to the ice cream stand and play with sailboats. I can still smell the sulphur from the stream that ran down the side of the gardens and the little path that used to run down the side of it. The Pinewoods was also fun too, me and my brother used to ride our bikes up through there and play French cricket.

As I got older I loved the nightlife around Harrogate. Fridays and Saturdays were always buzzing and there were so many unique pubs in such a small square footage.

I enjoyed The Rat and Parrott, West Park and the Blues Bar. Then there was Carrington’s, which was a Harrogate icon for so long. I also loved the uniqueness of the shops around the town, no big chain stores, local and friendly.

When I was younger, Saturday mornings at the Odeon was my highlight, watching westerns or kids shows.

The Crow’s Nest on Knaresborough Road and Graveley’s has some fond memories and of course who can forget Pinocchio’s? Bettys has always been a constant but was too civilized when I was young. Today I order from Bettys every Christmas, it’s my piece of home.

Old adverts from the 1970s

What do I like about the US is it’s so diverse and a melting pot of different cultures, foods and ideas. The US also offers plenty of opportunities to make something of yourself. People here work hard and play hard and depending on where you are there is some beautiful scenery.

Unfortunately, I have not been back to Harrogate much as I wanted, probably about four times in the last 25 years. There was so much to see over here and it was expensive to fly back, especially with two kids in tow, but you cannot touch God’s county.

My favourite memory was going to The Great Yorkshire Show. It was always something I loved to look forward to.

Gemma Abdullah: Cyprus since 2004

I left Harrogate in 2004 after the birth of my daughter and emigrated to North Cyprus to try something new. I had always fancied living abroad, trying a new language and embracing a new culture. When my parents moved over here two years before, it seemed the right time.

A night out in Harrogate circa 1997

Most of all I miss my daughter. She lived in North Cyprus her whole life and is fluent in Turkish. In 2020 she flew back to the UK to further her studies. We are so close and this has been incredibly hard to come to terms with, I miss her desperately.

Living in North Cyprus offers me and my husband a much more relaxed and less stressful lifestyle. It’s a very slow pace here, where you have time for long lazy lunches with friends and family and enjoy a much simpler less fast pace way of life. We have our own olive grove so this has been interesting to learn how to harvest these.

We do still visit the UK regularly. Primarily to see my daughter and family, but also to just get a fix of civilisation for a short while. We tend to come back for Christmas as it’s just never the same here. I couldn’t live in the UK again now, it’s too much hustle and bustle for me.

Harrogate will always hold a very special place in my heart. I have a lifetime of memories from living in Pannal as a child, going to school and college and living there right up to being 28.

School days in Pannal

My Nanna is also born and bred in Harrogate and is now 96. She used to drive me and my brother around the Stray around this time of year to see the spring flowers in all their glory!

My beloved Dad, who sadly died when I was only 7, let me have my first shandy at the Black Swan in Burnbridge.

There is a lifetime of memories!

Susan Croft: Christchurch, New Zealand since 2002

I first left Harrogate when I was 24 but I only moved to Ripon, where I lived for six years with my children.

My family were all still in Harrogate. I moved to Ripon to be near a very dear friend who helped me through my early years as a single parent of two babies. Then I moved to Cambridge when I was 30. This was for my career, a very good move in that respect, but we never felt settled there.

We lived in Cambridge for 12 years and I had met my second husband while living in Ripon, so Cambridge was where we raised our children. In 2002 our children were grown up and had left home and I was a school principal. I didn’t enjoy my work by that time, it was stressful and I missed teaching and teacher training.

We loved the outdoors life and so we decided to go to New Zealand for two years. I got the perfect job there and we love where we live.

We’re right on the ocean, with the water just at the end of our road . We have hills behind our house where we can go walking for hours, and the mountains are our backdrop.

Covered in snow, they look beautiful against the sea and a blue sky. It’s a 90-minute drive to the mountains. Unfortunately a couple of huge earthquakes destroyed the city in 2011 and 11 years on, we’re still in demolition and rebuild mode. It takes a very long time to rebuild a city.

An earthquake destroyed much of Christchurch in 2011. Credit – Wellington City Council

As for Harrogate, I miss my family there, of course. I miss the Valley Gardens, the Nidd Gorge, and the surrounding dales. Until Covid hit, I flew home three times each year, spending about four and a half months in England.

My time there was split between the midlands where our children and grandchildren live and Harrogate. Because of Covid, I haven’t seen my family for two years and the separation is awful. My health is quite precarious and the journey home is difficult for me so once the Covid situation settles down, we will probably move back to England.

£28m contracts for new Knaresborough pool and Harrogate Hydro upgrades approved

Two construction contracts worth a total of £28m are to be handed to a Bristol-based firm to build a new leisure centre in Knaresborough and refurbish Harrogate Hydro.

Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet agreed this week to the deals with Alliance Leisure ahead of the works starting next month.

Jonathan Dunk, executive officer for major projects at the council, said the company had been chosen because it has “the right experience and expertise to ensure we deliver good value for money”.

The decision comes after Alliance Leisure was previously awarded a £2m contract to draw up plans for both schemes in 2020.

A planning application for the £17m Knaresborough Leisure Centre was approved on Monday. The plans include building the new facility over at play at Fysche Field before the existing Knaresborough Pool is demolished.

The new leisure centre could be built by July 2023 and will have a six-lane pool, health spa, fitness studios and replacement play area.

The £11.8m Harrogate Hydro plans were approved in October 2021 and include a two-storey extension of the building, as well as a new entrance, cafe and reception area.

There will also be a new diving board structure, fitness suite and refurbished changing areas.

These works could be completed by April 2023.

Councillor Stanley Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, told the cabinet meeting that the council was committed to both projects despite rising costs.

He said:

“Keeping people fit and active as long as possible has to benefit everyone with both physical and mental health.

“These new facilities will be far more efficient and this investment keeps us competitive.

“We live in a new world post-Covid and increasing costs, materials and labour shouldn’t stop us in our ambitions.”

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Cllr Lumley also said he was pleased to see the completion of Ripon’s new multi-million-pound swimming pool which officially opens today after months of costly delays.

The project is nine months overdue and £4m over budget, and refurbishment works on the adjoining Ripon Leisure Centre are still underway after the discovery of an underground void prompted the need for an investigation.

The new facility has been named the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in honour of the city’s triple Olympic medal winner who was born in Harrogate and went to Ripon Grammar School.

Cllr Lumley said:

“Yesterday I spent a very proud morning in Ripon at the new leisure and wellness centre with local lad and Olympic hero Jack Laugher.

“I was privileged to show Jack around the new multi-million pound facility and he was delighted with what he saw.

“He was also extremely pleased that his name appeared above the door.”

When legendary wrestlers Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks came to Harrogate

40 years ago two spandex-clad giants came to Harrogate.

The names Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks conjure up scenes of smoky ballrooms and chants of ‘easy easy easy’.

Harrogate’s opulent Royal Hall has hosted ballet, theatre and opera in its 120-year history — but for many people, it’s memories of big blokes wrestling that they cherish the most.

The Stray Ferret uncovered an advert for a tag team contest that involved Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, which took place on a Monday night in February 1982.

Tickets cost £1.50 but it was £2 for ringside seats, a chance perhaps for the ladies to whack the wrestlers with their handbags.

Other household names such as Les Kellett, Jackie Pallo, Mick McManus and Kendo Nagasaki were also regular performers at the Royal Hall throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

The opulent Royal Hall regularly hosted wrestling. Credit – Jim Counter

“20 stone bull-necked brute”

Big Daddy, who was born Shirley Crabtree, was billed on the card as “children’s favourite, a hero of our time”.

The Halifax man was 6ft 6″ tall and had a record-breaking 64″ chest.

But even he was dwarfed on the night by his ring nemesis Giant Haystacks, who was billed as 6ft 11″ scaling a gigantic 40 stone. 

Haystacks reputedly ate three pounds of bacon and a dozen eggs every morning to maintain his strength. Paul McArtney and Frank Sinatra were fans.

Legend in Harrogate goes that after the match, Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks went for a drink at the cocktail bar in the Traveller’s Rest pub, but they both had to duck through the entry and just about filled the place on their own.

Also on the Royal Hall card in 1982 was Castleford wrestler, the “20 stone bull-necked brute” Mal King Kong Kirk.

But in a sad twist, he died in the ring after a trademark Big Daddy Splash and it was said Daddy was never the same man afterwards.

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Good memories

We asked members of the Facebook page Harrogate, Past, Present And Future if anyone had memories of the night in 1982.

Paul Mitchell said the fans went home happy after Big Daddy’s team won:

“Yes I remember, Giant Haystacks was disqualified before the bout started, so Big Daddy won”.

Jill Rimmel said she used to go to the wrestling at the Royal Hall with friends from work.

“There was a lady that sat ring side with her handbag that lashed out at the wrestler’s, so funny. I could have been there that night, good memories.”

Susan Aspey added:

“My mum used to work at the Royal Hall and I used to go and watch the wrestling sometimes. Jimmy Two Rivers was a favourite there as well.”

 

What role is the US spy base at Menwith Hill playing in the war in Ukraine?

RAF Menwith Hill on the outskirts of Harrogate is reportedly the United States’ largest overseas surveillance base.

It was built in the late 1950s during the height of the Cold War when America hoped espionage would give it the upper hand over the Soviet Union.

Over the last two decades, the base has been a key intelligence outpost for the War on Terror, with Edward Snowden’s leaks alleging it has provided intelligence that led to deadly drone strikes in the Middle East.

With Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the base is expected to be playing a role in intelligence gathering that support military operations against Vladimir Putin’s army.

Richard Norton-Taylor is a veteran journalist who wrote for the Guardian about defence and security from 1975 to 2016. He reported on RAF Menwith Hill throughout that time and continues to do so.

The Stray Ferret spoke to Mr Norton-Taylor about what role Menwith Hill might be playing in the invasion.

Richard Norton-Taylor

The current role of Menwith Hill

Mr Norton-Taylor said he believes the satellites at the base will be trying to intercept intelligence from Moscow and find out the broader movements of Russian forces.

This might be ships in the Black Sea, or troops in the area around Russia.

He said:

“They will be picking up on how it all relates to Ukraine. It’s not about what the immediate impact in next hour or two, its lower grade in a sense.”

“[Menwith Hill] won’t be involved in the attack function. It will be general eavesdropping what the Kremlin is telling its forces.”

He added:

“It can coordinate acitivirs and targets, or relay info to GCHQ in Cheltenham or National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters in the US, its a kind of information exchange hub as well as receiving info from satellites.”

Could Menwith Hill be a target?

Last month Mr Norton-Taylor wrote an article for the defence journalism website Declassified UK about $2.8bn plans to expand the United States’ military bases in the UK.

Following a recent Parliamentary question from Leeds North West Labour MP Alex Sobel, it was revealed $40M of this will be spent at Menwith Hill.

Mr Norton-Taylor’s article included comments from Lee Baker, a former NSA satellite engineer. Mr Baker said in the event of a conflict, Menwith Hill would become a “significant military target” for an enemy.

It’s an argument been made by critics of the base for a long time, but with Vladimir Putin using the rhetoric of nuclear war, are Mr Baker’s words hyperbole or something now more realistic?

Mr Norton-Taylor said:

“Its either hyperbole or stating the bloody obvious. It’s not a secret the base is a big NSA station, so much has been written about it now.

“In a sense, in a pre-nuclear attack, it certainly would be a target. It’s also nearer Russia than NSA headquarters, it’s not hidden.

“Lee Baker made it quite clear what a priority target the base is, but it’s hypothetical.”

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Prod like mad

Throughout Mr Norton-Taylor’s career as a journalist, he said it has remained difficult to glean information about what really goes on at Menwith Hill.

However, he said asking questions and persistence is still worthwhile.

“It’s worth prodding like mad, even even it seems like bashing your head against brick wall.

“It should be in their interests to say this is a useful outfit. If it is doing such a good job, why don’t they say so? But they don’t give examples. It’s ridiculous.”

The Snowden leaks revealed the base collects vast streams of information that is sent back to NSA headquarters in Maryland, USA.

But how much of this information is actually useful is unknown.

Mr Norton-Taylor said:

“With the Russians, it’s good knowing what they are doing, of course it is. I’m not against intelligence gathering, but we want to know the operations, capacity and general nature of the intelligence gathering at Menwith Hill, who is controlling it? Do the British bother to question the Americans?

“If it’s there to know what the Russians are thinking, that’s good, but we don’t know whether it’s that or wasting time on other things.”

Unanswered questions

The secretive nature of intelligence gathering means to it is difficult to answer the question of whether Menwith Hill makes us safer in the event of war.

It’s possible we will never really know.

Mr Norton-Taylor said:

“It is good we have intelligence gathering with the Americans [at Menwith Hill], it’s a question of keeping an eye on it, and knowing in general terms what it is up to.

“It’s a powerful intelligence gathering outfit, but it’s there in who’s interest? Is it for the security of British and American people, or the elite? It’s a question that should be answered.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said:

“The MOD can confirm that RAF Menwith Hill is part of a worldwide US Defence communications network, with the base supporting a variety of communications activity.

“For operational security reasons and as a matter of policy, neither the MOD nor the DoD publicly discuss specifics concerning military operations or classified communications regardless of unit, platform or asset. US forces maintain robust civilian and military cooperation with the United Kingdom and manage all base activities in accordance with the agreements made between the United States and Her Majesty’s government.”

Covid rate falls from 1,300 to 344 in Harrogate district over last month

Latest figures reveal how dramatically the covid rate of infection has fallen in the Harrogate district over the past month.

Data published by North Yorkshire County Council shows the seven-day rate of infection was 344 per 100,000 people on March 1.

On February 1, when the Omicron variant was rampant, the rate was 1,300 per 100,000 people.

Although the rate continues to fall, there have still been covid-related deaths reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

NHS England figures show that one death was recorded on February 28 and another on February 25.

There have been 232 covid-related deaths at the hospital since the pandemic started almost two years ago.

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From Tuesday, the rules for people visiting patients in Harrogate and Ripon’s hospitals will be relaxed.

Since December 23, visitors have only been allowed for patients on end-of-life care, patients with a learning disability or severe cognitive impairment such as dementia. Visits to parents or carers of children and birthing partners are also permitted.

But from Tuesday, patients can have one visitor, by appointment, between 2pm-4pm for 30 minutes. Only two visitors will be allowed in each bay at any one time.

Harrogate district volunteers wanted to fill sandbags for floods

A team of volunteers hopes to fill more than a thousand sandbags in Harrogate tomorrow.

Harrogate Borough Council keeps a stockpile of around 3,000 sandbags to support communities across the Harrogate district when they’re threatened with flooding.

The recent floods have depleted its stock so the council wants to prepare for future floods by filling up sandbags from 7am at its depot on Claro Road in Harrogate.

During floods in Pateley Bridge in February, some residents reported difficulties in getting hold of sandbags to help protect their properties.

Volunteers will come from Ready for Anything, which is a database of North Yorkshire County Council volunteers that are called upon in times of emergency.

If you are interested in coming along contact Harrogate Borough Council’s emergency planning officer Ash Demaline at ash.demaline@harrogate.gov.uk

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Plans for Harrogate’s first mosque approved

Harrogate Borough Council has approved an application to convert the former Home Guard club in Harrogate into the town’s first mosque.

The building on the corner of Tower Street and Belford Road has stood derelict for several years but Harrogate Islamic Association plans to bring it back into use as a place of worship for Muslims.

The association, which was set up in 2011, has been looking for a permanent home for several years, with previous attempts at securing a site falling through. Around 100 Muslim worshippers currently meet in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade.

The association also organises prayer sessions at Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough.

Sustainable travel

The planning application was submitted in December and received 107 letters of support and 68 objections.

Several objections said the Mosque would increase traffic in the area and that there would be a lack of car parking spaces, but these points were dismissed by council officer Arthama Lakhanpall in his report.

He wrote:

“The site is well connected to transport links and lies within a sustainable location for travel and access. It would promote walking, cycling and sustainable travel in this town centre location. It would therefore be accessible.

“There is no requirement for the proposal to provide off-street parking provision, although the site benefits from nearby short stay and long stay parking areas including the West Park pay and display and multi-storey car parks, and on-street parking on Belford Place, Belford Road and Victoria Avenue.”

The council tweeted the news this morning.

We know there has been a lot of interest surrounding planning application 21/04557/FUL (conversion of vacant former home guards club to place of worship).

We can confirm approval was given (subject to conditions) today under delegated powers. pic.twitter.com/BdMBtQXmWd

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) March 4, 2022

The HIA will run religious, community and charitable events at the building. It will also support Syrian and Afghan refugees who have moved to the area.

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Whilst the HIA has obtained planning approval, the next stage is raising money to purchase the building from the current owner.

£200,000 fundraiser

It hopes to raise £200,000 and has set up a fundraising page here where people can donate.

Harrogate Islamic Association said:

“We are grateful to everyone in the Harrogate community who supported us, including those at Harrogate Borough Council who engaged with us regularly to alleviate any concerns during the process.

“We view this as a success for everyone in Harrogate, not just ourselves. We can’t wait to welcome one and all for a cuppa.

“Our next step is to raise the balance of funds necessary for us to purchase the property outright. Although we have raised most of what we need, we had a number of pledges that were dependent upon planning permission being granted.

“So for the next 30 days, we will be collecting these pledges, inshallah. We are also re-launching a crowdfunding campaign to make up the difference.”

Knaresborough nursery acquired by Kids Planet

Knaresborough nursery acquired by Kids Planet

A nursery group with a setting in Knaresborough has been acquired by north-west operator Kids Planet.

Twinkles Nursery Group, founded in 2003, has sites in Knaresborough, Leeds city centre, Wetherby, and Boston Spa. All are rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Kids Planet acquired Bradford-based nursery Kinder Heaven in 2021.

Jill Smith, managing director at Twinkles Nursery Group, said:

“It has been an honour to serve all our wonderful families and to work alongside such a dedicated and super talented team over the years, and I feel now is a good time to step back and take some time to decide what comes next.”

Flaxby modular housebuilder features in 153-home deal

Flaxby-based modular housebuilder ilke Homes, in partnership with Gresham House and agent SO Resi will install a factory-built home on a site in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex as part of a wider 153-home scheme.

Ilke claimed the two-storey family home, which will be sold under a shared ownership scheme, is the UK’s first home to guarantee zero-energy bills.

Gresham House will install low-carbon technologies such as solar panels and an air source heat pump, which provides all heating and hot water. Battery technology will be installed to store energy.

Giles Carter, chief executive at ilke Homes, said:

“The cost of living crisis is here and now. Since the turn of the century, UK households have become overly reliant on gas imports, leaving consumers at risk from rising wholesale gas prices.

“Thanks to advances in manufacturing, materials, and renewable energy, we have created homes that not only drastically reduce household bills but also give consumers greater control over their own energy usage.”

Value of farm shops revealed

The Farm Retail Association, which is based at the Great Yorkshire Showground, has released new research that shows Britain’s farm shops generate £1.4 billion in sales nationally and employ 25,000 workers.

The findings, released in conjunction with Harper Adams University, were part of its biggest research project to date. They were announced at the annual Farm Retail Association Conference on Wednesday.

The study found that there are an estimated 1,581 farm retailers nationally, employing 25,000 people, with sales totalling £1.4 billion. Some 64% of farm shops expect sales to increase further in 2022 and a third of all farm shops have opened in the last 10 years.

New FRA chairman Rupert Evans said:

“This was the biggest research project that the FRA has ever undertaken and the results show the vital part that farm retailers play in the community as well as on a national scale.

Alastair Boot (left), senior lecturer in food retail and marketing and Rupert Evans, FRA chair and 

Send your business news to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Plea for ‘moratorium’ on controversial 181-home Kingsley development

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Aldred has issued a plea for Harrogate Borough Council to halt a controversial planning application for 181 homes on Kingsley Drive in Starbeck.

At a full council meeting last night, Cllr Aldred asked Conservative cabinet member for planning, Cllr Tim Myatt, if he would consider issuing a ‘moratorium’ on the plans, which were submitted this week by Persimmon Homes.

It is the third time the developer has submitted a proposal at the location, which used to form part of Kingsley Farm. A larger application for 217 homes was rejected by councillors in August.

Cllr Aldred, who currently represents the Fairfax ward, cited government Housing Delivery Test figures that revealed Harrogate Borough Council has exceeded its housebuilding target by almost 1,700 homes over the last three years.

He said he attended a meeting of Kingsley residents last month to discuss the application and heard how various housing schemes have heaped “misery” on local residents due to the disruption caused.

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Cllr Aldred said:

“We’ve met the target, so would the cabinet member be prepared to consider an immediate moratorium halting the proposed development of a further 181 homes that went into planning yesterday?

“It’s greatly affecting the physical and mental health of Kingsley residents.”

‘Intense period of development’

In response, Cllr Myatt, who represents High Harrogate on the council, said he had “great sympathy” for people affected by the “intense period of development” in the ward.

But he said over the past six years, the council was still below the housing need target identified in the council’s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-2035, which maps out where development can take place until 2034.

Cllr Tim Myatt

The government and the council’s Local Plan have different housebuilding targets for the district.

Cllr Myatt said:

“I have been speaking with residents regularly about this application and about what I think the weaknesses are.

“We have a Local Plan, which was adopted recently. It has a target for local need for the past six years. It’s around 690 homes per year. If you look at those figures, we haven’t exceeded that target over the past six years, in fact we are slightly below it.”

Local Plan

The Local Plan was adopted in 2020 but can be reviewed after five years.

Cllr Myatt confirmed that officers are already working on the review, which could see some sites removed if it is deemed the housing need for the district has changed.

Cllr Myatt added:

“Can I order a cease of planning applications? That simply wouldn’t hold up on a national level and I think the councillor knows that, he was just trying to get me to say no. It’s not something within my gift to cease housing applications, if I tried to do so, it would be overturned nationally.

“Our Local Plan is in place, it was voted on by this council and received a strong approval.”

Conservative councillor Victoria Oldham nominated as final Harrogate mayor

Conservative councillor Victoria Oldham has been nominated as the final ever mayor on Harrogate Borough Council.

She will take over from Liberal Democrat councillor Trevor Chapman, who has held the role since April 2021 during a term disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking at a full council meeting last night, Cllr Oldham said it was an “absolute thrill” to be nominated.

Conservative council leader Richard Cooper congratulated her on her nomination, saying:

“Vicki and I have known one another since she first became the candidate for the Washburn ward.

“It was my great pleasure to support her during that by-election, and it will be my great pleasure to support her during her mayoral year.”

Councillor Pat Marsh, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, also described the nomination as “wonderful”.

She said:

“Not only will Vicki be our last civic mayor, but she is female and she is rural. Those two pluses are amazing.”

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Cllr Oldham will be the final ever mayor on Harrogate Borough Council as the authority will be abolished and replaced with a new North Yorkshire Council from April 2023.

Elections to the new council will take place in May.

Outgoing mayor, Cllr Trevor Chapman.

The role of the mayor is to chair full council meetings and represent the borough at ceremonies and events. They also raise money for charities and are required to put their political affiliations aside to be impartial.

Also at last night’s meeting, Conservative councillor Robert Windass, who represents the Boroughbridge ward, was also elected as deputy mayor.

He will take over from Liberal Democrat councillor Christine Willoughby who represents the Knaresborough Eastfield ward.

The new mayor and deputy mayor will be officially sworn in at an annual full council meeting in May.