Green Shoots: Why Harrogate should be at the vanguard of tackling climate change

Did you know that Harrogate played a key role in the major IPCC “code red for humanity” climate change report that was published last week? The document was discussed around the globe and warned of climate catastrophe unless we act now.

Renowned climate scientist Piers Forster has lived in Harrogate since 2005 and was one of the main authors of the report. He’s a director of the Priestley International Centre for Climate and Professor of Physical Climate Change at the University of Leeds.

The report was a global effort and each line had to be painstakingly signed off by all 195 countries that are part of the IPCC.

Much of this was done by Prof Forster from his kitchen in Harrogate.

He said:

“That bit was quite tiring. There were 3am calls to talk to places like China and Brazil. It was bizarre.”

Extreme weather events

As we go about our everyday lives in the Harrogate district it might feel like we are insulated from the most frightening consequences of climate change like wildfires in Australia or landslides in China.

But Prof Forster warns that extreme weather events, such as the January floods in Boroughbridge, will become much more common unless we take immediate action.

Flooding in Boroughbridge. January 2021.

He said:

“This country gets off gets off quite lightly from the effects of climate change but we are absolutely beginning to see changes. We’re warmed by the gulf stream here a lot, but it might collapse. That will have a very big effect on our weather.”

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Consumption lifestyle

Harrogate is one of the most affluent towns in the UK and Harrogatonians have a stereotype for enjoying an expensive way of life.

So is our consumption-based capitalist lifestyle part of the problem?

A web tool created by researchers at the University of Leeds suggests it is.

It looks at things like transport use, energy consumption and flights taken and estimates the average carbon footprint of a person living in a particular postcode, grading it from A+ to F-.

Harrogate fares badly with Duchy getting the lowest score of F-, meaning its residents are in the 1% of people across the UK with the biggest carbon footprint.

Credit – the University of Leeds

Prof Forster says:

“On a lot of categories we do a lot worse in our town, particularly in the Duchy. It’s very nice of course, but we’re one of the worst in the country for getting on aeroplanes.

“We also drive a car that’s too big, have a home that’s too big and we heat by gas. It’s up to us to begin to make the changes”.

Planning paradox

Prof Forster describes both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council‘s green credentials as “certainly not terrible” but thinks they are hamstrung by a planning system that does not work in the best interests of the environment.

He points to the paradox of NYCC and HBC promoting active travel schemes in the town centre, whilst vast housing developments are approved on the outskirts of town where residents have no choice but to use a car.

He said:

“They absolutely do want to get to net zero. We all have to get there, but I do think the biggest issue is they dont have authority, investment or power to really make the big changes they want to make.

“The biggest issue is with planning. The way the system works and you do not necessarily get the best outcome for the environment.”

Harrogate Spring Water

One planning application that captured the imagination of the town was Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial advance on Rotary Wood to expand its bottling plant.

In the days leading up the planning committee, Prof Forster intervened to produce his own research paper that said the water company vastly underestimated the number of replacement trees needed to achieve carbon parity with the current woodland.

He believes the refusal was the kind of local victory that needs to be replicated across the country if we are to turn a corner on climate change.

“If you don’t like something, it’s your opportunity to get involved like i did with the spring water application. It was an impressive decision by the council’s planning committee because they went against the norms. There needs to be more and the council needs to be empowered to make these decisions”.

Changes in our community

A key message of the report is catastrophe can be averted if the world acts fast. Prof Forster hopes discussions around the climate in Harrogate can be less divisive, as seen with the Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood debate.

He said:

“It’s sad as often the first reaction is eurgh!

“We need to learn by doing. We can’t just have endless consultation and reports. We have to try and get on and make changes. 

“This big international report has to be translated into changes we want to see in our community.

“We have to try and get on and make changes that works to improve our town, job prospects whilst saving the world.”

Andrew Jones MP branded ‘hypocrite’ and ‘out of touch’ over foodbank picture

Harrogate & Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones has been branded a “hypocrite” and “out of touch” by the local Green party after he posed for a picture to promote Harrogate District Foodbank earlier this week.

Mr Jones posted an article on his website Community News alongside two of his caseworkers, Stephen Culpin and the Harrogate Borough Council councillor Matt Scott, that said the pair would be attending sessions of Harrogate Foodbank to offer “advice and support”.

In the article, Mr Jones is quoted as saying:

“It’s important that we tackle the long-term underlying problems which cause people to visit Foodbanks in the first place.”

However, Harrogate & District Green Party member Arnold Warneken, who is a former HBC councillor and stood to become a Bilton county councillor earlier this year, told the Stray Ferret that he believes Mr Jones has contributed to the need for foodbanks through his voting record since he became an MP in 2010.

On 53 occasions Mr Jones has voted to cut spending on welfare benefits. He has also consistently voted against paying higher benefits for those unable to work due to illness or disability. He voted in favour of the so-called “bedroom tax” 16 times.

Mr Warneken said:

“If you look at his voting record on benefits it’s disgraceful.

The Conservatives should put policies in place to protect people, but they don’t. There is hypocrisy there.

“I think Andrew Jones is out of touch, hypocritical and has the power to make change but he’s ineffective.”

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Mr Warneken set up Ainsty Community Larder from his farm where he distributes food and medicine to those in need.

He accused the MP of “electioneering and getting brownie points” by posing for the “staged” picture.

“If he was quietly doing it in the background I’d give him a pat on the back.

“But he’s smiling, whats he smiling for? He is saying, ‘Arent we wonderful, a problem we created we are getting credit for solving.

“Humility is something people should adopt.”

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones to respond to Mr Warneken’s comments but we did not receive a response.

On Community News, he said:

“Over the years my casework team have helped hundreds steer the maze which is the benefits system to get cash which is available to them.”

81 more covid cases reported in Harrogate district

Another 81 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It means there have now been 12,660 positive cases reported since the start of the pandemic.

Harrogate hospital has recorded no covid deaths in the last 24 hours. However, earlier this week it reported its first covid death in four months.

The death toll at the hospital from covid since March 2020 stands at 180.

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The estimated R rate in North Yorkshire is between 0.9 and 1.1 and the district’s weekly rate has increased to 330 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate stands at 296 and the England average is 320.

110,495 people have received both doses of the vaccine in the district.

Two charged over Ripon knifepoint robbery

Two people have been charged after a teenage boy was robbed at knifepoint in Ripon last week.

A 17-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man have been charged with robbery and possessing an offensive weapon and appeared at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

They have been remanded in custody to appear again on September 17.

Three other men who were also arrested in connection with the incident remain on police bail whilst enquiries continue.

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There has been a spate of anti-social behaviour incidents in Ripon over the past week and police have urged the public to contact them with information on 101.

Inspector Alex Langley, North Yorkshire Police, said: 

“Violence and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in Ripon and we are doing all we can to bring those responsible for the events over the past week to justice.

“We have stepped up patrols in the area but we also need your help. We would like to hear from anyone who has CCTV covering Bondgate, Southgate, Mawson Lane and surrounding areas – this could be from a traditional CCTV camera, a video doorbell or dash-cam footage.”

Harrogate electronics firm receives £600,000 Northern Powerhouse loan

A Harrogate firm that refurbishes computer equipment has received a government-backed loan worth £600,000 from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

Intelligent Servers Ltd, which is based at Hornbeam Park and employs 50 people, says the loan will help the company increase its stock, expand its warehouse and employ 23 more staff members.

Since the company was founded in 2011 it has delivered refurbished products to over 3,000 customers including Manchester United FC.

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The loan was provided through FW Capital Debt Finance.

Its assistant investment executive Alex Brown said:

“We are delighted to back Intelligent Servers, a business with a great track record of growth and a proven management team.

“Our investment will assist Intelligent Servers in achieving their growth strategy through maintaining higher stock levels and improving purchasing power. Best of all, this growth strategy will support significant job creation.”

Knaresborough’s Picnic in the Park cancelled due to heavy rain

Organisers have cancelled today’s Picnic in the Park in Knaresborough due to the forecasted heavy rain and possible thunderstorms.

The free event in the gardens of Knaresborough House was set to start at 12pm and be part of the popular FEVA arts festival that is celebrating its 25th year.

Musicians that had been booked to play, including DJ Trev and Hot Sauce, will instead perform inside as part of the Knaresborough Lions Beer Festival at Knaresborough House that starts at 12pm.

See information about other FEVA events that are taking place this weekend here.

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Harrogate Town invites over 50s to join walking football team

Harrogate Town is inviting people to join their walking football team to help boost physical and mental health.

Walking football is a twist on traditional football that is played by people who have mobility or other issues.

It’s generally played by the over 50s although the majority of players with Harrogate Town are in their 60’s, with some even in their 70’s.

The club has a 50’s team and a 60’s team who both play competitively in the Northern Premier League and they also play friendlies with clubs throughout Yorkshire and the North East, both home and away.

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The club holds sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Rossett Sports Centre. There are different sessions to accommodate players of all ages and abilities, including those who are new to the game.

Harrogate Town walking football player Andy Town said:

“I decided to call it a day at the age of 62 after a football injury. When my wife said ‘why don’t you try walking football?’ I responded as I imagine most old footballers might react, with a mixture of incredulity and mirth.

“After giving it a go, I found that like ‘real’ football it can be played at different levels, from slow and social to fast and competitive. I’ve met lots of interesting people and made a whole new group of friends.”

Would you like to give walking football a try? Email community@harrogatetownafc.com or htwfc2020@gmail.com

Harrogate fire crew come to aid of TV presenter Steph McGovern

Crew at Harrogate Fire Station came to the aid of TV presenter Steph McGovern this morning to cut off a ring from her swollen finger.

The host of Steph’s Packed Lunch tweeted that she had trapped her ring finger in a door which led to a painful-looking injury.

After the ring was cut free she thanked crew at the station for their help.

McGovern lives in Harrogate and filmed her Channel 4 show from her house during last year’s covid lockdown.

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Eventful morning…..started with trip to @FireHarrogate to get a ring cut off swollen finger I’d trapped in door……thanks so much to Matt @TurnerTurner11, Lisa @Arcticwolf31, Dave + James for sorting it out!

Straight after had to take my daughter for first ever day at nursery pic.twitter.com/6a1ZdtEP4i

— Steph McGovern (@StephLunch) August 20, 2021

Original Harrogate Christmas Market organisers admit defeat in fight to stage event

The organisers of Harrogate Christmas Market between 2012 and 2019 have admitted defeat in their battle with Harrogate Borough Council to stage the event.

Brian Dunsby, Beryl Dunsby and Steve Scarre, the directors of Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd, have released a statement this evening that says Harrogate Borough Council will no longer negotiate with the company to host the market in its Montpellier location and that they are “extremely saddened” at the outcome.

In a parting shot, they accused HBC of “having their own agenda” while discussions between the two sides took place over the past few weeks.

The council announced this morning it has entered into formal talks with Manchester-based Market Place Europe to host a 10-day market at a yet-to-be-announced location in Harrogate.

The statement from Harrogate Christmas Market says the council have “refused our request for a top-level meeting” about hosting the event on Montpellier Hill, after HBC raised concerns about visitor safety. The organisers met with council officers, but not the council leader or chief executive, earlier this week to discuss an alternative location.

The statement says:

“We realise that the council leaders want us to relocate elsewhere but we cannot find anywhere else suitable – and there is insufficient time to rearrange the large number of details involved.  We now have 172 Market Traders applications waiting for acceptance whilst there are already 55 coaches planning to come to Harrogate during the market.”

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The statement claims local traders “will probably not get much of a look in” with the new organisers, who have experience staging Christmas markets across Europe.

“We have tried to engage with Harrogate Borough Council in positive discussions, but in recent weeks it has become clear that they have their own agenda. This has now been revealed. Despite Brexit, their new market will provide only 45 stalls mostly from European countries.  Local traders will probably not get much of a look in.

“We want to thank you for all your support and encouragement over the past 8 years. We have enjoyed working with you and are extremely saddened at this unfortunate outcome.”

The Stray Ferret has asked HBC to comment but we did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Conservative council leader Richard Cooper said this morning that the potential new organisers will bring “an abundance of knowledge” to Harrogate for a new Christmas market.

He said:

“From what I’ve seen, Market Place Europe have years of experience hosting events. So I know they’ll bring an abundance of knowledge to Harrogate this Christmas.

“You’ve only got to look at the photos online from markets they’ve hosted in major cities such as Belfast and Glasgow to see what they’ll bring is a first-class offering.”

Police warn public about convicted burglar that targets North Yorkshire schools

North Yorkshire Police have warned the public about a convicted burglar who has been released from prison today and targets schools and sports changing rooms.

Andrew Philip Horsman, 39, from York, served time for multiple burglaries where he stole laptops as well as bank cards and cash.

In 2020, York Crown Court issued Mr Horsman with a Criminal Behaviour Order that states he must not enter any school building or sports facility across North Yorkshire until August 2025.

He is also not allowed to be in a possession of a bank card that is not in his name.

The police say call 999 if you suspected a crime is in progress.

A map of where Mr Horsman’s Criminal Behaviour Order applies.

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