Knaresborough ‘bed race’ protest against raw sewage being dumped into Nidd

A group pushed a bed through Knaresborough this morning to protest against water companies releasing raw sewage into the River Nidd.

Water companies are legally allowed to release sewage through overflow pipes when the sewage system becomes too full which can happen during increased rainfall.

A section of the Nidd is crossed by competitors in the annual Knaresborough bed race, so Jeremy Scott, who organised today’s protest, wanted to take a bed from Conyngham Hall through the town to raise awareness.

Mike Kaye, who was on the protest, said:

“More people want to swim in rivers and have a good a time so it’s bonkers. The water companies should put investment in so it doesnt need to happen. It’s crazy.”

Stray Ferret research has found that Yorkshire Water released raw and untreated sewage into Harrogate district rivers and becks on 3,800 different occasions last year for a total of 36,000 hours.

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In October there was anger after MPs, including local Conservative MPs Andrew Jones, Julian Smith and Nigel Adams, voted to reject a Lords amendment to the Environment Bill to stop raw sewage from being pumped into rivers.

In November, MPs then voted in favour of another amendment to the bill that will legally require water firms to make a “progressive reduction” in the amount of sewage it dumps, but campaigners said this doesn’t go far enough.

Mr Kaye wanted to raise awareness about the bill and put pressure on local MPs as well as Yorkshire Water to stop sewage from being released into local rivers.

He said:

“There is far too much sewage in the Nidd and the Wharfe.”

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“As rainwater can be unpredictable, we have permitted storm overflows on our sewer network to act as a relief valve. They help to reduce the pressure on sewers during heavy rainfall events and stop the system from backing up and flooding homes and gardens by allowing heavily diluted wastewater to be discharged into watercourses.

“This is permitted by the Environment Agency and closely monitored by them and us.”

Green Shoots: What it’s like to own an electric car in Harrogate

Harrogate residents Ralph Armsby and his partner Judy Carrivick ditched their petrol car for an electric Kia e-Niro earlier this year.

They got the car on a four-year lease and pay around £450 a month plus £460 a year in insurance.

Because it’s a low emission vehicle they pay zero car tax, and when they charge it at home it ends up costing just over 1p a mile to drive.

Mr Armsby said switching to an EV was “a no-brainer” due to the environmental cost of driving a petrol car.

“We’re very aware of air pollution, not just from the car but it starts when they take the oil out of ground, to tankers driving around the UK.

“You should get something that is powered down a wire rather than being pumped out at stations all over the place.”

Mr Amsby said it’s important to check with Northern Powergrid that your home is able to install a charging point because there was a lack of fast public charging points in Harrogate.

It cost the couple around £600 to install one, which they plug into the car overnight whilst they sleep so they can wake up with a full charge.

If they decide to charge the car throughout the day, it works out at around 3p a mile.

Range anxiety

Mr Armsby said he sometimes suffers from “range anxiety”, the phenomenon where EV drivers are worried their car will run out of charge before they find somewhere to power it up. But on a full charge, their car can manage over 280 miles, depending on driving style.

They use an app called ZapMap to find public charging points. During a recent trip to Wales, they found towns much smaller than Harrogate were better equipped for EV drivers with more places to charge.

Harrogate has several public charging points, with 7kw, 24kw and 50kw connections.

The only fast 50kw charging points are at Harrogate Borough Council’s civic centre at Knapping Mount, where it costs more to charge than at home. There are also three fast charging points outside Lidl in Knaresborough.

If you charge your car at the civic centre it takes around half an hour to get a full charge.

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Mr Armsby said the council charging points were welcome, but Harrogate needed more and was poorly equipped for business travellers who might be using the convention centre.

He said:

“If you come here on a conference, you’ll be fighting for a space there.

“We desperately need more fast charging points.”

There are other slower charging 7kw charging points around the district, which are able to give an EV a short boost.

There are even now charging points at the almost 1,000-year-old Fountains Abbey. Mr Armsby said he has visited twice because he could charge his car outside the ruin.

In total, the Harrogate district has 53 EV charging points in 30 different locations, but some can only be used by Teslas.

Mr Armsby plugging in

Mr Armbsy said many more on-street charging facilities were needed in Harrogate so people can plug in whilst they shop.

He added:

“Other countries have had on-street charging and had it for years, we’re not world beating in the UK, we’re miles behind European countries.”

Joy to drive

The couple are retired and use their car mainly for leisure and shopping. 

Mr Armsby said:

“It’s a joy to drive, we’re fighting each other on who’s going to drive!”

Whilst electric vehicles still produce emissions through their tyres — and there are concerns over the mining of minerals to make the batteries — Mr Armbsy said he would never go back to driving a petrol car.

He said:

“Harrogate is quite polluted. Cold Bath Road, for example, is a rat run in the mornings with kids being dropped off in Range Rovers. It would be so much nicer on these roads if everyone was driving electric.”

Do you have an interesting project or passion that improves the environment and could feature in Green Shoots? Contact thomas@thestrayferret.co.uk

Andrew Jones MP tells constituent that clarity is needed on No 10 party

Conservative MP for Harrogate & Knaresborough Andrew Jones says the findings of an investigation into an alleged Christmas party at 10 Downing Street last year should be published as soon as possible.

Harrogate resident Patrick Milne sent Mr Jones an email this week asking him to “speak out” against the party or “gathering” as the government phrases it, which has dominated headlines and TV news reports all week.

Mr Milne shared the response he received from the MP with the Stray Ferret.

Mr Jones wrote:

“Some gatherings were permissible of course but if the reports of cheese and wine, crowding, secret santas and so on are true it is very difficult to see how on earth such a gathering can have been within the rules.”

“There are two sides though to every story and I am willing to hear both. At the moment though, and the story evolves hour-by-hour, we are only hearing one side. That is why I think a clear statement of what happened needs to be released by Number 10 detailing what the gathering was, who was there, what refreshments were served, how this complied with the rules at the time and so on.”

The government has since ordered an investigation into three alleged parties at 10 Downing Street and the Department for Education. The Labour Party has called for prime minister Boris Johnson to resign if he is found to have misled MPs.

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Mr Jones said he hopes the findings of the investigation will be published “in days”.

“I hope therefore to see the full report in days and, by that, I mean before Christmas.”

The MP said he cancelled plans to comply with rules last Christmas and that he expects leaders to set an example to others.

He added:

“Like many others I spent the Christmas period following the rules, cancelling plans to comply with rule changes, sitting outside talking to elderly relatives, dropping off shopping on the doorstep and video calling.

“I know too that some people broke the rules, inadvertently or otherwise, and so I have taken the view that I will be accountable for my own actions and others need to be accountable for theirs.
I recognise that there is a huge chasm between minor and inadvertent infringements at Christmas and a party among those whom we want and expect to take a lead, where an example must be shown.

“That is why the investigation and a final statement from Number 10 are needed. As with the Cummings affair and the standards issue, I will not offer my support if that statement points to wrongdoing.”

Mr Jones has not made any public comments about the recent scandal facing his government. Instead today he used his party’s Harrogate Community News website to publish an article about the winner of a competition for his electronic Christmas card.

 

 

Arrests made after 2am crash near Harrogate Asda

North Yorkshire Police has arrested two teenagers after a stolen car crashed into several parked vehicles on Dragon Parade in Harrogate.

The Stray Ferret reported on the crash on November 17 after a bystander sent us photos of the aftermath.

Police said today the occupants abandoned the vehicle, which was later found to be stolen.

They added a 17-year-old male had been arrested on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking and property damage. He was interviewed and released on bail.

A 16-year-old male voluntarily handed himself into the police and was also interviewed on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking and property damage. He has been released under investigation.

Enquiries are ongoing.

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Snow globe from Netflix’s The Witcher to come to Ripon

Netflix will bring to Ripon a giant 18ft snow globe to promote the second series of The Witcher.

The fantasy series featuring Henry Cavill premieres on December 17 and part of it was filmed in our district at Fountain’s Abbey and Plumpton Rocks.

The globe, which has a monster from the show inside it, is on a tour of the UK and will be at Ripon Market Square on Monday.

The Witcher is based on a series of books and video games and features battles between humans, elves, witchers, gnomes, and monsters.

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Blubberhouses to host Christmas Tree Festival this weekend

Blubberhouses will host its annual Christmas Tree Festival this weekend at St Andrew’s Church.

The event is free to attend from 11am to 4pm both days this weekend.

This year, trees have been decorated by Crafters, Fewston Bellringers, The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, Friends of Blubberhouses Church and Farnley Estate Young Farmers. 

Hot drinks, mulled wine and mince pies will be available to add to the festive atmosphere.

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Pat Anderson, who organises the event, praised the Young Farmers’ effort.

She said:

“Many local young people enjoy the thriving activities of the Young Farmers – they are an essential part of the local community”.

 

The Young Farmers’ tree

Consultation launched for 480 homes on Harrogate’s Otley Road

Homes England has begun a public consultation on plans to build 480 homes at Bluecoat Wood, opposite Cardale Park and Harrogate police station.

The government housing agency bought the site this year after previous plans to develop it stalled. It plans to call the development Bluecoat Park.

The site covers 28 hectares of largely green fields and homes would wrap around Horticap.

The scheme would include a new pitch for Pannal Ash Cricket Club, a sports hub and a children’s play area. Homes England said 40% of the homes would be “affordable”.

A new community woodland would also be planted.

The consultation, which will end on January 10, will inform the submission of a full planning application to Harrogate Borough Council. A website has been created for people to submit their thoughts on the scheme.

Harrogate Borough Council‘s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, the council’s plan for development in the district until 2035, says 450 homes can be built on the site.

Traffic concerns

Separate plans for 780 homes and a new primary school have been proposed by Taylor Wimpey and Redrow at nearby Bluecoat Wood on Otley Road.

Local residents group Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association has raised concerns about congestion on Otley Road as well as extra traffic through nearby villages such as Beckwithshaw, North Rigton and Burn Bridge.

Homes England said its Bluecoat Park development would help inform the West Harrogate Parameters Plan, a document that will assess transport and infrastructure needs associated with wider plans to build up to 4,000 homes on the western side of Harrogate.

The plan was expected last year but has been delayed until February 2022.

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The site’s history

Housing has been mooted at Bluecoat Wood for many years.

In February 2016, HBC granted planning permission to a partnership of developers called HTH Harrogate LLP to build 450 homes.

It followed an earlier refusal of permission on the grounds of road safety and traffic flow problems.

However, Homes England bought the site in February after the developer pulled out.

In the summer, Homes England submitted an environmental impact assessment for 530 homes on the site. The number has now been reduced.

97 more covid infections in Harrogate district as rate falls to 430

The Harrogate district has reported a further 97 covid cases, according to today’s government figures.

The district’s covid rate now stands at 430 infections per 100,000 people. It was 450 yesterday.

Across the county, the average stands at 390 and the England rate is 503.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

A total of 200 patients have died with covid at the hospital since the start of the pandemic.

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Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground reopened this week as a vaccination site.

Those eligible can book appointments on the NHS booking site here.

Anyone over 18 who had their second covid jab over three months ago can also walk-in for a jab. The walk-ins are available until Sunday when they will be reviewed again.

The showground site has also said it is closed for walk-ins between 1215pm and 115pm each day when staff change shifts.

 

Investigation into ‘sea of bubbles’ in Harrogate’s Hookstone Beck

Yorkshire Water says it is investigating an unusual incident where bubbles filled a section of Hookstone Beck today.

Two Stray Ferret readers contacted us with photos of the beck this morning when what appeared to be a sea of washing-up liquid bubbles appeared on the surface.

Andrew Mann said he was out for a walk near the Yorkshire Event Centre when he noticed “something clearly had gone wrong”.

He said bubbles had risen 10-feet-high and raised concerns about any fish that might be swimming in the beck, which feeds into Crimple Beck.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said the incident was not related to sewage pollution. He suspected somebody had poured detergent down a drain that is intended for rainwater and runs off into the beck.

An investigation is underway to find the source of the problem and whether the substance is harmful to wildlife. Yorkshire Water will then share its findings with the Environment Agency.

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Birstwith school appoints new headmaster

Nathan Sadler has been appointed the next headmaster of independent prep school Belmont Grosvenor.

Father-of-three Mr Sadler will take up the role in September next year. He is moving from GEMS Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis in Dubai, which he helped open more than a decade ago.

Set in 20-acres of grounds in Birstwith, the school and nursery welcomes boys and girls from three months to 11 years old.

Mr Sadler said he was looking forward to taking the Harrogate prep school forward “to its next chapter”.

He said:

“It is my absolute privilege to be joining Belmont Grosvenor School as headmaster starting next academic year and I am excited by the opportunity to collectively work with staff, pupils, parents and the governors to celebrate and build on the school’s successes and identity and continue to provide the children with strong foundations to thrive in their ever-changing world.

“I’m very impressed with the school grounds and emphasis placed on outdoor learning opportunities and look forward to embracing the whole school community and collectively creating life-long memories for the children.”

Gordon Milne, chair of the governors, said Mr Sadler brought a wealth of experience, including seven years in a senior leadership role in Dubai. He added:

“Nathan displayed a real passion for learning and primary education.”

Mr Sadler will visit the school in March to meet pupils, parents and staff, before taking up his position at the start of the next academic year.

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