Thomas Barrett, Author at The Stray Ferret

Ripon dad hosting charity Tractor Fest

A Ripon dad is hosting a charity Tractor Fest after his newborn son recently spent time in intensive care at Leeds General Infirmary with a life-threatening condition.

Tom Tate’s partner Sarah gave birth to their son, Freddie, three-and-a-half months ago.

But soon after he was born he was diagnosed with Atrial flutter, a type of abnormal heart rhythm that makes the heart beat too quickly.

Mr Tate said it was a frightening time for the family. He said:

“When he was born straight away we knew something wasn’t right. In a baby, Atrial flutter is life threatening.

“But after two weeks in intensive care at the LGI, they got him right, and they looked after me and Sarah.”

Freddie is thankfully now at home and fighting fit, but his dad said he wanted to repay the hospital by raising money for the LGI Neonatal Unit through the Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Mr Tate is a member of West Yorkshire Tractor and Engine Club and around 80 vintage and modern tractors from the club will be attending F. Tate and Sons garden centre at Studley Road on September 24.

The charity tractor fest will also include a raffle with prizes up for grabs including an overnight stay at Grantley Hall. Entry is free but visitors are encouraged to make a donation.

Mr Tate added:

“We’re really pushing it to raise a lot of money for the charity. We definitely want to make it an annual thing.”

Stonefall Cemetery to host free war graves tours this month

UPDATE: This event has been cancelled as a mark of respect for Her Majesty.

Free tours will be held at Stonefall Cemetery next month where visitors can learn about some of the remarkable men and women of the Commonwealth forces who are buried there.

They are being organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) as part of the Heritage Open Days Scheme and will take place on September 10, 15, 17 and 18.

More than 1,000 casualties from both world wars are buried at Stonefall Cemetery.

Staff will be telling some new stories this year including the story of Dorothy Robson also known as ‘Bomb Sight Bertha’, the engineer who was instrumental in the development of the bomb sight on bombers and Flight Lieutenant Vincent Parker who was known as the ‘Locksmith of Colditz’.

On September 15, members of the public can also try their hand at stone engraving and will learn about how the CWGC maintains the headstones at the cemetery.

The director of external relations at the CWGC, Liz Woodfield, said:

“Everyone in Harrogate is very welcome to attend the Heritage Open Days at Stonefall Cemetery. They’re a great opportunity to learn how the CWGC honours and cares for the men and women of the Commonwealth who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten.

“There’ll be plenty going on from fascinating tours and talks to interactive activities such as stone engraving. Visitors will also learn how the CWGC is becoming more sustainable and is playing its part in tackling the key environmental concerns of our time.”

To book a free tour, visit www.cwgc.org/opendays .

Pateley Bridge butcher hopes to make former police station new home

The owners of Kendall’s Farm Butchers in Pateley Bridge have bought the town’s former police station and hope to turn it into their new home, according to planning documents.

Former North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan announced last year that the station on King Street would be sold as part of cost-cutting measures.

Officers based at the site were moved across the road where they share space with Harrogate Borough Council.

In July, the commissioner’s office confirmed that the police station was sold for £297,000. It had initially been estimated to sell for £142,000.

A planning application has been submitted to Harrogate Borough Council by Paul Kendall, a third generation butcher, to convert the former police station and adjoining property he bought at auction into one family home.

Better work life balance

According to planning documents by Harrogate architect James Robinson, the Kendalls currently live around five miles outside of Pateley Bridge, which means in the winter it can be a challenge to get to the town if it has been snowing.

The documents reveal they had been looking to relocate closer to the business for many years but were unable to find anywhere suitable.

Mr Robinson wrote that living within 200 metres of the main shop in Pateley will be “revolutionary” for the family, as it will allow for a much better work-life balance.

Drone shots reveal progression of new Knaresborough Road Lidl

Drone shots of the new Lidl on Knaresborough Road reveal work is progressing ahead of opening later this year.

They were sent to us by Stray Ferret reader Darren Leeming and show that the supermarket looks almost complete from the outside, with solar panels also installed on the roof.

It will be the first Lidl to open in Harrogate, following the branch in Knaresborough.

The multi-million-pound building includes a 1,263 square metre sales area, an in-store bakery, customer toilets and 94 parking spaces.

Credit: Darren Leeming

The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The German-owned company is currently on a recruitment drive for the new store. A Lidl spokesperson said:

“We are delighted to confirm that construction of our new Lidl store on Knaresborough Road, Harrogate, is well under way.

“The store is due to open this autumn and we are currently hiring for open vacancies, so would encourage anyone interested to visit our careers website.

“We look forward to sharing more information with the local community closer to the time.”

Travellers expected to move on from Stray this week

Harrogate Borough Council says it expects a group of Travellers will move on from the Stray “in the next couple of days” after it obtained a court order.

An encampment appeared on a section of the parkland between Oatlands Drive and Stray Rein towards the end of August.

Several vehicles are there and the council has provided bins for them to use.

Many Gypsies and Travellers travel the country staying at different places in order to earn a living. In most cases, it has been a way of life for generations.

But the law states that if they camp on private land, the landowner can obtain an order through a county court to remove them. The Stray is managed by Harrogate Borough Council.

A HBC spokesperson said:

“We had a court hearing [yesterday] for a possession order so anticipate they will move on in the next couple of days.”

Council faces calls to hold in-person Maltkiln consultation events

Harrogate Borough Council has been criticised because it plans to promote its latest Maltkin consultation through social media and video, rather than at in-person events in Green Hammerton, Kirk Hammerton and Cattal.

A draft development plan document (DPD) has been drawn up by officers at HBC that includes a vision for how the 3,000-home settlement called Maltkiln will eventually look. The developer Oakgate Group would build the homes.

It is the biggest housing scheme in HBC’s Local Plan, which sets out where development can take place until 2034, and it is likely to change the face of the three small villages off the A59.

No exhibitions

The draft DPD is set to go before councillors at a meeting on September 21.

If approved, a six-week public consultation on the document will take place, beginning on October 6.

However, an email from a senior planning manager to councillors and stakeholders, seen by the Stray Ferret, says the consultation will only be promoted through social media, posters and an ‘explanatory video’ that sets out what the DPD is.

The email says:

“Please note that we are not holding a public exhibition as we feel that the explanatory video will have a broader reach and be more appropriate given the nature of the content of the DPD.

“During more detailed master planning, when visual options are being presented and design codes discussed, then public exhibitions may be more appropriate.”

Cllr Alex Smith, of Kirk Hammerton Parish Council, said he felt this was unsatisfactory, particularly for residents who struggle to navigate the council’s website.

He said:

“By deciding not to exhibit in the affected villages, HBC are excluding those residents who are unable to navigate the depths of the consultation site, something which is challenging, even for experienced users.

“Council leader Richard Cooper went out of his way to promise residents that the consultation would be genuine and inclusive, but this feels like neither.”

The layout for Maltkiln, which is centred around Cattal Station

Cllr Smith compared the proposals to develop Maltkiln with Harrogate’s Station Gateway, which has seen several rounds of in-person public consultations organised by North Yorkshire County Council. He added:

“You only have to compare what’s happening with the Station Gateway, which, even on its third consultation, is getting three days of public exhibitions.

“For the ‘New Settlement’ – a much more significant development – the council have managed to switch preferred options, chosen the site, and even named it, without so much as setting foot in one of the local village halls.

“Some consultations are more genuine and inclusive than others, it would seem.”

In response, a HBC spokesperson said:

“This is the latest consultation regarding the new settlement in the Hammerton/Cattal area of Harrogate district, known as Maltkiln. And follows a number of earlier stages of consultation and engagement that have helped shape the Development Plan Document (DPD), which we are now consulting on.

“The DPD is a sizeable policy framework that will allow us to manage how the new settlement is developed moving forward, and due to its nature, it is more appropriate to host an online consultation to ensure all information and documents – of which there are many – are easy to view and digest.

“To ensure the public is made aware of this consultation we will be producing a video, FAQ document, issuing press release(s), social media posts, a Residents’ News article, as well as informing the community liaison group and printing leaflets and posters to raise awareness of the consultation.

“During more detailed master planning, when visual options are being presented and designs discussed, public exhibitions may be more appropriate.”

Nidd Gorge tree felling complete, but more likely to go next year

The felling of 500 trees with an infectious disease in the Nidd Gorge is now complete — but the Woodland Trust warns more are likely to be chopped down over the next couple of years.

Parts of the popular beauty spot in Bilton look a little different now after the felling, which has been taking place over the last month and involved the closure of some footpaths by the River Nidd.

The conservation charity, which owns Nidd Gorge, said the work was necessary to protect other trees in the woodland. The charity said it did not profit financially from the work.

The disease is called Phytophthora ramorum and has a devastating impact on native trees. Once infected, the tree eventually dies.

Larch trees like those found in Nidd Gorge are highly susceptible to the disease.

The Woodland Trust’s site manager, Jonny Walker, said:

“The planned felling work is complete. There is likely, however, to be more felling in the next 12 to 18 months. We are awaiting confirmation as to whether a further section of larch is also likely infected with Phytophthora ramorum and subject to a statutory plant health notice from the Forestry Commission.”

A poster about the works in Nidd Gorge

Planned work to improve footpaths will shortly be starting downstream of Rudding Bottoms with further disruption to footpath users.

But it is hoped once complete regular walkers should see safer, firmer footing along the riverside path.

Mr Walker added:

“There will also be removal of some diseased ash trees where they cause a danger to the public using the paths in the wood. Silvicultural work will also be taking place in the young woodland along Rudding Bottoms to promote varied canopy heights, gaps for sunlight, shelter for birds and invertebrates and to create deadwood habitat.

“All of which increase ecological integrity and are vital for a healthy woodland; something highlighted in State of the UK’s Woods and Trees report published by the Woodland Trust in 2021.”

Reported sighting of missing Harrogate woman in Wetherby

North Yorkshire Police says a member of the public reported seeing missing Harrogate woman Judith Holliday in Wetherby yesterday, as officers continue to search for the missing 73-year-old.

Judith was last seen on Saturday at 10.43am at Library Gardens in Harrogate after she left her care home.

Police believe she may have walked from here to use public transport.

She is described as white, thin build, approximately 5ft in height, with medium-length grey bobbed hair. She was last seen wearing dark-coloured trousers and a coat.

The police have deployed their operational support unit as well as a drone to search for her in rural areas around Harrogate.

Extensive CCTV enquires are also taking place to try and establish any further positive sightings.

North Yorkshire Police critical incident inspector, Martin Smith said:

“We’re currently extremely concerned for the welfare of Judith. I believe that Judith has either walked from this location on foot or has used public transport.

“I would urge members of the public, in particular people in the Harrogate and Wetherby areas to remain vigilant, and report any sightings to police immediately.”

Free home security upgrade scheme opens in Harrogate district

A scheme for some Harrogate district villagers to improve the security of their homes opens today.

The Protect Your Home scheme aims to prevent burglaries on the district’s border with West Yorkshire. Grants are available for new locks for doors, windows, garages and sheds as well as alarm systems for farms.

For homes with suitable WiFi coverage, the scheme also includes a RING video doorbell.

£719,590 is available in total with over 1,000 homes and 90 farms eligible. It is funded by the government and administered by the office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner North Yorkshire.

Residents living in Harrogate district villages Hopperton, Kirk Deighton, Kirk Hammerton, Leathley, Long Marston, North Deighton, Sicklinghall, Spofforth with Stockeld can apply.

Residents will receive a registration pack through the post over the next six weeks and can sign up at www.protectyourhome.org.uk.

Conservative Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, Zoë Metcalfe, said:

“Burglary can leave people feeling vulnerable, frightened and distressed, the best way of deterring criminals from the entire community is for as many residents as possible to sign up and make their properties more secure so please sign up as soon as possible.”

Police growing ‘increasingly concerned’ for missing Harrogate woman

North Yorkshire Police says it is growing ‘increasingly concerned’ for the welfare of missing Harrogate woman Judith Holliday who has been missing since Saturday.

Judith, who is 73, was last seen on Saturday at 10.43am at Library Gardens in Harrogate after she left her care home.

She is described as white, thin build, approximately 5ft in height, with medium-length grey bobbed hair. She was last seen wearing dark-coloured trousers and a coat.

The police have deployed their operational support unit as well as a drone to search for her.

Judith requires daily medication and it’s believed she doesn’t have this with her. She has a limited amount of cash and doesn’t have a mobile phone.

Anyone with information that could help with the search should email matthew.bulmer@northyorkshire.police.uk. You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Matthew Bulmer.

If you have an immediate sighting of Judith call 999.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12220153505

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UPDATE: This event has been cancelled as a mark of respect for Her Majesty.

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