Free parking at Harrogate multi-storey to encourage Christmas shoppers

Parking will be free after 3pm in Harrogate’s Victoria multi-storey car park on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The initiative will last until December 23 and will be paid for by Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) to encourage Christmas shoppers and revellers into the town midweek.

Harrogate BID Manager Matthew Chapman said:

“Free parking in the run up to Christmas is what the town’s retailers have asked for, and I’m delighted to say it’s what we are now giving, four days a week, right up to the Thursday before Christmas.

“Victoria Car Park has acres of spaces and connects directly with the Victoria Shopping Centre, giving easy access to the heart of the town centre and the wonderful shops, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues it’s home to.

“With our Christmas lights now dazzling, Harrogate is looking absolutely fabulous and really  is well worth a visit for shopping, eating and drinking.”

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Project launched to protect Nidderdale’s ponds

Can you help save and protect Nidderdale’s ponds?

Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is looking for volunteers for a project to survey Priority Ponds, which are ponds with high ecological value and that may support species of high conservation importance such as toads and newts.

The AONB’s new Priority Ponds project officer, Kate Wright, will survey toad populations next spring, as well as carrying out clean water tests.

Ms Wright hopes to recruit and train around 50 volunteers to survey a minimum of 100 ponds across Nidderdale.

She said:

“I’m hoping to share my passion for ponds and the excitement of discovering varied species in and around the water. I am particularly fond of toads, and hope that we can learn more about their distribution through the project. It’s also a joy to be working in beautiful Nidderdale AONB.”

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As well as providing training for the pond surveys, short courses will be run in specialist areas, such as dragonfly identification and pond management.

The project is thanks to funding through Yorkshire Water’s Biodiversity Programme and is in partnership with national charity, the Freshwater Habitats Trust.

If you’d like your pond to be considered for surveying contact the AONB here.

Upset and anger as Otley Road tree felled for cycle path

A Harrogate resident said he is “upset and angry” because a mature tree was felled today to make way for the Otley Road cycle path.

Works have continued throughout November to build the new cycle path, which is part of a package of sustainable transport measures in the west of Harrogate.

For the first phase of the route, a section is being created between Harlow Moor Road and Cold Bath Road.

But to make way for the route, two mature trees have to be felled, including one today near Pannal Ash Drive.

Chris Dicken, who has lived off Otley Road for 35 years, said he enjoyed looking at the tree and was angry to see workers remove it this morning.

“I am intensely angry. It is a mature well-loved landmark that has been felled for minor benefit.

“They are taking a nice green environment and putting tarmac down.

“I’m very angry and upset.”

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The long-awaited introduction of a cycle path on Otley Road has been welcomed by Harrogate District Cycle Action as a major step forward for active travel infrastructure in the town.

However, Mr Dicken, who is a cyclist himself, criticised the “badly designed” cycle path. He believes cyclists will not be encouraged to use it because 58% of it will be shared with pedestrians.

“They said it will reduce traffic on Otley Road, but there’s no evidence that will happen.”

Karl Battersby, corporate director of business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council said:

“To accommodate Otley Road cycle route, this is the one and only tree that has to be removed in Phase 1, with one more in Phase 2. We intend to replace these two trees with new plantings on Harrogate Grammar School and Yorkshire Water land, and we are in active discussion with both parties. We are also working with Harrogate Borough Council to plant additional trees on Otley Road; meaning there will be more trees following this scheme than there were before.

“A congestion study in Harrogate showed overwhelming public support for sustainable transport provision as an alternative to the use of the car. Otley Road cycleway is one element of ongoing projects in Harrogate to make it easier and safer for people to use active, sustainable modes of transport, such as cycling.”

Works have also taken place to widen the junction on Harlow Moor Road for motorists, which has involved the felling of ten other trees.

Ripon’s tractor boss celebrates 60 years in agriculture

Ripon Farm Services managing director Geoff Brown has seen huge changes in farming machinery over the past 60 years.

Mr Brown began his career in 1961, back when tractors still ran on petrol and were not even four-wheeled drive.

This year the company showed the world’s largest combine harvester at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Mr Brown started as a 16-year-old apprentice at car and agricultural machinery dealers Glovers of Ripon.

He worked for the Appleyard Group as its John Deere demonstrator before forming Ripon Farm Services in 1982 alongside local businessmen Maurice Hymas and Bill Houseman.

World’s largest combine harvester at this year’s GYS.

The company has grown to become one of the biggest in Ripon, employing 260 employees people and having a turnover of over £100m.

It is now the UK’s largest John Deere dealership with 11 depots and groundscare machinery departments.

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Mr Brown said:

“I’ve seen many changes, both in the world in general and in farming in particular, but the values that I’ve followed throughout my career – hard work and an unwavering commitment to the very best customer service – have remained the same. Many of our customers are also long-standing friends.

“I’ve taken great pride in the success of Ripon Farm Services, which I founded with friends and fellow businessmen in 1982. I’ve watched the company grow from a small concern to one of the biggest employers in the Ripon area, with some 260 staff and a turnover of more than £100m.

“This gives me tremendous pleasure, but I would stress that the success of Ripon Farm Services is down to the loyal and committed staff we have employed over the years. They have been the bedrock of this company and their dedication and expertise is second to none.”

Staveley villagers begin fight against 22-home development

Residents in Staveley are mobilising against a 22-home development that they say will damage the appearance of the picturesque village.

Two weeks ago Jack Lunn Properties submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council to build three one-bedroom, 13 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom homes on Main Street in Staveley.

The rural site is not allocated for development in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where planning will take place.

Residents say this means that the development should not go ahead.

Residents met at the village hall on Thursday evening to form an action group to fight the plans.

Staveley resident Graham Bowland, who is a member of the group named SV2, called on HBC to refuse the plans.

He said:

“Once a field is given over to developers, it’s lost forever and the nature and ecological benefits it provides are given over to concrete, cars and CO2 emissions. Housing is needed of that we can all agree, it’s a question of where and how many.”

The village has a population of 430 and is between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.

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The site isn’t in the Local Plan, which in normal circumstances would mean it’s highly unlikely the development would be granted planning permission.

However, the application has been brought forward through a rural exception scheme, which allows councils to grant planning permission for affordable housing in the open countryside if a developer can prove there is a need for it.

The government defines affordable as homes sold at 80% of the market rate or homes for social rent. 

Mr Bowland said villagers fought against a previous application for 13 homes on the site in 2019 but it was withdrawn.

“We expressed their anger at the application and we had substantial support and well-argued planning points against the proposal.”

The Stray Ferret contacted Jack Lunn Properties for a response but we did not receive one at the time of publication.

Harrogate district bird owners must keep birds indoors to tackle flu

The government has ordered bird owners in the Harrogate district to keep their birds indoors to limit the spread of avian influenza, or bird flu.

There is no evidence that the virus can affect humans but it is highly contagious among birds can wipe out poultry flocks. There have been several outbreaks across the country in recent days.

Harrogate joins Hambleton and Richmondshire as new prevention zones in North Yorkshire. It means it is now a legal requirement to keep birds in housing until further notice, whether you have a few hens or thousands.

The government’s chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said:

“We have taken swift action to limit the risk from wild birds and have introduced a legal requirement for all poultry and captive bird keepers three districts in North Yorkshire to keep their birds housed and to implement enhanced biosecurity.

“Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from 8PM today onwards you will be legally required to keep your birds indoors. We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.

“I urge all bird keepers to be vigilant and take all necessary steps to implement the highest standards of biosecurity.”

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Photos show how far Harrogate Town have come in 30 years

Harrogate Town’s EnviroVent Stadium has been transformed from a few rickety stands to a modern English Football League ground in 31 years.

Photos by photographer Andy Dakin from November 17 1990 show Town’s home back when it was simply Wetherby Road and a much more humble place to watch the Sulphurites.

The shots were taken before Harrogate Town drew 2-2 with Horwich RMI in the 2nd round of the NPL Cup.

Just 215 fans were in attendance, a far cry from over 2,000 that will be in the crowd for the game against Salford City later today.

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We’ve compared the photos with how the ground looks today. Did you follow Town back then? Send us your comments about how the club has grown to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk 

Black Sheep Brewery Stand/Main Stand

EnviroVent Terrace/EnviroVent Stand

Myrings Stand

AON Stand

Katherine Swinn from the Harrogate Town Independent Supporters Club told the Stray Ferret about how Wetherby Road has changed over the years.

“One of the first matches that I recall attending was towards the end of the 1989/90 when Harrogate Town won the HFS Loan’s League Cup against Congleton. I still have the programme for this match! At that time the ground was open. There were no stands built or seating although there was what used to be affectionately called a shed behind the goal at the Hospital End.

“This wasn’t really used though & was eventually removed to create more room for fans.The pitch had its well-known slope which sloped down towards what used to be the 1919 end. People were free to walk around the ground & attendances were only small although there was a bigger crowd than usual for the Congleton match.

“Away teams were able to park their coach in the ground next to where the Kop is now towards the exit. Some limited parking was allowed in the ground too. Around November 1990 the club unveiled its first seated stand which used to be known as the Family Stand and is now the Main Street.

“This had a couple of hundred seats & was much smaller than it is now. It was a large step forward for the club. Anyone could sit in the stand. There wasn’t a separate charge. If you didn’t want to sit in the stand then there used to be the odd chair at the 1919 end but that was it for outside seating.

“Over the years the ground has developed significantly so for example a roof was added to the Wetherby Road terracing & the Kop was built in 2014. The Family Stand has been developed twice over the years. Stands have also been built at the 1919 end, next to the Family Stand too with what is now known as the Black Sheep Brewery Stand & seating for away fans has also been added too.”

Carringtons and Pinocchio’s: Harrogate adverts from the 70s and 80s

Fascinating adverts placed inside Harrogate tourist brochures in the 1970s and 80s offer a glimpse into the town’s recent past.

The adverts are available to view upstairs in Harrogate Library on Victoria Avenue.

The retro adverts range from luxurious quilts made at the Dunlopillo factory in Pannal to swimming at the long-demolished Coppice Valley pool.

They also include staples of the era such as Carringtons nightclub on Station Parade and Pinocchio’s Italian restaurant on Cheltenham Parade.

Other businesses such as Olivers fish and chips on Cold Bath Road are still going strong.

Library supervisor Jane Trigoso has been posting some of the images on the library’s Facebook page.

Ms Trigoso said Pinocchio’s is the “number one” best remembered former Harrogate business.

She said:

“People have so much affection for some of these businesses. They like to reminisce about how it used to be.”

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View our image gallery below. How many do you remember?

Harrogate district men fined for selling van with ‘potentially catastrophic’ brake faults

Two Harrogate district men were fined over £4,000 today for selling a van with ‘potentially catastrophic’ faults to its brakes and structural parts.

North Yorkshire County Council’s Trading Standards team began an investigation after receiving a complaint from a resident who had bought the van in October last year to use in a long-distance house move.

The Iveco Daily van was listed on a Gumtree advert as “ready to work and runs perfect”.

However, an expert vehicle examiner found that on a road the van was dangerous because some components were corroded and there was excessive corrosion to the brake discs.

Paul Beesley, of Allotment Gardens, Harrogate and Andrew Birch, of The Green, Kirkby Malzeard, Ripon pleaded guilty at York Magistrates’ Court to offences under the Road Traffic Act 198T8 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

Mr Beesley and Mr Birch were each ordered to pay a total of £2,006 in fines and costs at the rate of £200 per month.

The two men are listed on Companies House as directors of Boroughbridge firm Boss Motorhome Hire.

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County Councillor Derek Bastiman, executive member for Trading Standards, said:

“The resident relied on the description of this van in the advert he saw, and thought that he had bought a vehicle that he could use safely on an international journey.

“The nature of the faults on the van could have led to a terrible outcome for him, other road users or pedestrians, and for that reason trading standards officers will always take action where there is evidence that an unsafe vehicle has been supplied in the county.”

Harrogate gelato restaurant hygiene rating improves after concerns raised

Ice Scoop Gelato on King’s Road in Harrogate has received a 5-star hygiene rating from Harrogate Borough Council, after receiving a 1-star rating last month.

An inspection took place yesterday by a food safety officer from the council to check that the food is safe to eat. 5 is the highest rating and indicates hygiene standards are very good and fully comply with the law.

It followed an inspection on October 8 that found the restaurant required ‘major improvement’ in the management of food safety and ‘improvement necessary’ in the cleanliness and condition of the building. It received a ‘generally satisfactory’ rating for the hygienic handling of food.

An anonymous source sent the Stray Ferret photos of the restaurant’s kitchen believed to have been taken before the October inspection. The photos show a dirty fridge and microwave.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“The business has been working with the council to address the matters raised in the previous inspection. Follow up visits and inspections are part of the national working protocol to ensure improvement is made and maintained.”

Thomas Graham, manager of Ice Cream Gelato, confirmed to the Stray Ferret that both recent inspections had taken place.

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