Vicky Carr, Author at The Stray Ferret

Cycle path, housing and more on agenda for Harlow Hill residents

Residents of the Harlow Hill and Pannal Ash areas of Harrogate will gather tomorrow night to discuss the issues they face as a community.

From housing developments and cycle lanes to the upcoming reorganisation of local government in North Yorkshire, Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents’ Association (HAPARA) has a busy agenda for its AGM.

Chairman Rene Dziabas said the long-delayed West Harrogate Parameters Plan – setting out a plan for infrastructure to support thousands of new homes in the area – was likely to be among the topics generating the most interest.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“We still have over-riding concerns about the infrastructure for these successive developments – public transport, paths, cycle paths, hospitals, schools.

“We work with a number of parish councils and they hold similar views to us.”

This will be the first time HAPARA has held an in-person AGM since 2019, thanks to the covid pandemic. In the intervening three years, many new households have arrived in the area, and the group is keen to welcome them alongside long-standing residents.

Though it encourages people to sign up as members, anyone can go along to the AGM and, unlike a parish council, it has no defined geographical boundary, so is open to anyone who wants to join.

As well as the changes that have taken place in the area in recent years, the group will look at what is ahead for local residents.

While phase one of the Otley Road cycle path has been largely completed, and phase two is scheduled to begin “shortly”, according to North Yorkshire County Council, phase three – from Harlow Moor Road to Cardale Park – remains contentious among residents, according to a survey of residents by HAPARA this year.

Mr Dziabas said he hoped the new North Yorkshire Council would keep to its word of engaging added:

“We are also trying to introduce some local issues. A couple of residents are doing a presentation on low traffic neighbourhoods.

“If we can get something like that, an idea from grass roots, and if we can make the beginnings of something, that would be nice.

“Money is going to be tight and there is going to be less money around over the next few years than there is now.

“If you engage with local organisations, the people you are engaging with are doing it for free and there’s a lot of knowledge and a lot of professional people in those organisations. If you keep an open mind, you can tap into it.’

The HAPARA AGM takes place at Harlow Community Centre (The Green Hut) on Harlow Avenue on Wednesday, October 12 from 7pm. The full agenda is available here.

Former solicitor breached restraining order in Harrogate

A solicitor from Harrogate has been remanded in custody after breaching a restraining order preventing him from contacting his ex-wife.

Richard Wade-Smith, 66, appeared at York Crown Court this morning via video link from HMP Hull to be sentenced after pleading guilty to the breach at York Magistrates Court last month.

The court heard he had previously been sentenced to a community order and restraining order on September 15, after ramming his car into his ex-wife’s house at Slingsby Walk, near the Stray in Harrogate. He had admitted harassment causing fear of violence, damaging property, and drink driving.

Just four days after being sentenced, he breached the order, turning up at his ex-wife’s house as well as visiting her neighbour.

Prosecuting, Kelly Sherif said:

“[His former wife] said that ‘I knew that when Richard was released, that he would not abide by any orders and here we are, four days later…

“I sit in my house with the curtains closed, too scared to venture outside in case I see him’.”

The prosecution said Wade-Smith had knocked on his ex-wife’s door at 8.15am, but left when she failed to answer. He then returned at 10.30am and knocked, as well as calling to his wife and saying it was “Susie” at the door.

When she recognised his voice and again did not open the door, he went to the neighbouring house. The neighbour answered the door but told him he should not be there because of the restraining order.

Wade-Smith said he had nowhere to go, but the neighbour repeated that he was not allowed to be near his ex-wife’s home.

In mitigation, Alasdair Campbell told the court Wade-Smith had been unable to access temporary accommodation following the sentencing on September 15.

It had taken a long time for arrangements to be made for him to leave HMP Hull, by which time Harrogate Borough Council’s offices had closed and he was unable to get a place at a homeless hostel.

He slept rough that night and the next night, then paid “a lot of money” for a hotel the third night. He slept rough again the following night, but woke up in hospital, having been drinking and apparently been robbed, with his bank card and cash taken.

Recovering alcoholic

Wade-Smith, a recovering alcoholic, admitted breaching the restraining order, though he argued he had only visited his former wife’s home once.

Mr Campbell said:

“When I asked him why he did that on that particular occasion, my instructions are that, faced with what he was going through, [he chose] the option of breaching the restraining order to get himself locked up so he had somewhere to stay that night…

“In hindsight, it may have been a foolish option.

“If someone is prepared to breach a serious court order, it does give one some idea of the desperate position he perceived himself to be in.”

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York — who heard Wade-Smith’s original case in September — adjourned sentencing until November to allow a full victim impact statement to be taken from Wade-Smith’s former wife.

He told Mr Campbell that Wade-Smith should have gone back to the council the day after his release to access the hostel place that had been arranged for him by the court.

He added:

“He isn’t stupid, this man. He should have gone the next day.”

Wade-Smith is due to be sentenced on Friday, November 18.

Residential conversion plan submitted for upper floors of Harrogate estate agency

Plans have been put forward to convert part of a town centre estate agent’s office in Harrogate into a two-bedroom flat.

The premises on Albert Street is occupied by North Residential, previously Knight Frank, but under the proposals part of the first floor and all of the second floor would be changed to residential use.

The prior notification documents submitted to change the use of the premises state that other than a meeting room to the rear, the upper floors have been out of use for some time.

The application states:

“The upper floors of the premises were ceased to be part of the commercial use following the refurbishment of the building at the rear 18 months ago.

“The ground floor floorspace was considered more convenient and offered a high quality meeting room. Since that time, the first and second floors have remained vacant in excess of the three month requirement.”

Access to the upper floors is through the estate agency office on the ground floor. However, the proposals state that a separate application will be made to alter the access and provide a self-contained staircase to the flat.

The plans show it would have a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom on the first floor, with a second bedroom on the top floor.

Supporting information submitted with the plans states:

“The proposed scheme looks to preserve and enhance the character of the conservation area through conversion of its first and loft floor, improving the amenity of the building and bringing the upper floors of the building back into use.”

North Residential began trading last month after a management buy-out of the Harrogate branch of Knight Frank, having been operating it in Harrogate for 15 years.

The business will continue in the ground floor of the Albert Street building, along with a first-floor meeting room to the rear.

To view or comment on the application, visit the planning section of Harrogate Borough Council’s website and use reference 22/03448/PCBSR.

Ofsted finds ‘good’ village school near Knaresborough is ‘like a second home’

A village school near Knaresborough with 78 pupils on the roll continues to be ‘good’, according to Ofsted inspectors.

The latest report found Goldsborough Primary School was welcoming and safe, described as “like a second home” by one pupil when inspectors visited in July.

The new report, published last week, found pupils’ behaviour was “calm and purposeful” and that staff were quick to deal with any bullying at an early stage. It said:

“Pupils are taught how to care for their mental health. Leaders support this through a commitment to the school values of happiness, perseverance, resilience, kindness, friendship and respect.

“The school works closely with the church. Alongside school leaders, church members contribute to thoughtful discussion about a wide range of spiritual and moral topics in assemblies.”

Inspectors found teachers had high expectations of pupils and set a “well-sequenced curriculum”, though said they acknowledged it was not implemented consistently in all classes.

Executive headteacher Zoe Ellis welcomed the report and said the school and Ofsted understood reasons why there was some inconsistency and had a plan to tackle it. She said:

“Ofsted and leaders both recognised that the approach was not always consistent in classes due to significant absences throughout periods of covid.

“Ofsted were positive that leaders were already making strides to improve this and that they had a strong, strategic approach to continue with the positive trajectory witnessed on the inspection day.”

The report highlighted the teaching of reading as a particular strength, along with the development of the curriculum in core subjects such as maths since the last inspection. It also praised the support for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities, which inspectors found helped all pupils to make progress through the school.

Personal, health and social education (PHSE) and relationships and sex education (RSE) were both found to be “a strength within this small school”.

Inspectors also praised the school’s leadership, saying:

“Staff say that leaders are considerate of their workload and well-being. They work hard because they want the best for the pupils in their care.

“Members of staff explained that they enjoy their job and are proud to work at Goldsborough. Governors are supportive of leaders across the federation. They are very proud of what the school has achieved.

“They are dedicated to working with leaders to continue to improve the school further. They work well with leaders to oversee this ongoing improvement.”

Goldsborough Primary School has been federated with Sicklinghall Primary School since January 2017. Mrs Ellis is executive headteacher of both schools and has a shared governing body.

Inspectors said the ‘good’ rating of the previous full inspection in 2012 had been maintained, which under Ofsted’s new framework means a further full inspection is not required.

‘Theatre on your doorstep’ returns to communities across Harrogate district

A touring theatre company is making its return across the Harrogate district this autumn – and doing so on a scale it has never attempted before.

Badapple Theatre specialises in bringing shows to small venues and usually tours three shows a year, with a break between each.

But a “post-covid lag” has left the company putting on three productions almost at the same time.

Two one-hander shows, Yorkshire Kernel and The Land Girl, complete their tour in Harrogate next weekend, just after The Frozen Roman gets under way in Aldborough on Friday. Meanwhile, rehearsals continue for The Marvellous, Mystical, Musical Box, which runs throughout December.

The busy season aside, artistic director Kate Bramley said the company had managed to keep operating during the pandemic, when many arts organisations struggled.

“We have been very lucky, or perhaps enterprising, or both, over the last few years. We went outdoors when we did some filming, some podcasting, we brought the youth theatre back outdoors and then indoors when we could.

“We really had to think very hard about it. Very early on we had to cancel our big tour. The Arts Council have funded us for a long time, now through our projects and they were amazing with the level of understanding about what was happening.”

Kate Bramley of Badapple Theatre

As restrictions began to be relaxed, Badapple was able to respond quickly and take advantage of any change in regulations. It went from online work to outdoor performances to socially-distanced indoor theatre.

What was less possible was performing in its usual small venues: Badapple specialises in pop-up theatre in “your village hall or aircraft hangar or wherever”.

Now, with all restrictions lifted, its small teams of three actors and a stage manager can get back to the kind of venues they are used to. Village halls in Tockwith, North Stainley and Bishop Monkton, along with the Green Hut on Harrogate’s Harlow Avenue, are typical of the places to be visited by the upcoming tours.

Kate said:

“We went back to our theatre roots during covid and now we’re returning to the ‘theatre on your doorstep’ concept.

“I just really like going to places where people don’t expect us to be. It does tend to be a social event, more than a theatre event, and that breaks down some of those misconceptions people have about going to the theatre and how you have to behave and what you have to wear and so on.”

Alongside its performances, the team at Badapple did all they could to ensure the thriving youth theatre was kept alive through the pandemic. Having rehearsed outdoors for some time, its 35 members – all aged between seven and 14 – are now back to their usual weekly classes and ‘play in a week’ summer school.

Badapple’s thriving youth theatre

One of the appeals of the youth theatre is that it is treated with the same respect as a touring production. Full costumes, proper lighting and good set design are all on show when the youngsters put on their performances at Green Hammerton Village Hall.

There are no auditions or casting calls and it is open to all children, whether they are keen to be actors or want an encouraging space to boost their confidence.

The youth theatre may be back to full strength, but Kate said the wider theatre industry is still seeing audience numbers around 20% lower than before. With the company’s 25th anniversary to be marked next year, she is hopeful things will continue to improve.

A tour of Badapple’s popular show Eddie and the Gold Tops will begin in the spring to start the celebrations. Kate said:

“Beyond that, we’re just waiting to see. This autumn and winter season will help everyone figure out what’s best for community delivery and live events. Everyone’s coping with the cost of living and what if covid comes back.

“We just need to see what happens next. I’m hoping it’s a new, buoyant bubble, people keen to come out and have a life and enjoy themselves with friends. We’re low threat, as a theatre event. I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Harrogate town centre restaurant not expected to reopen

A restaurant which opened in central Harrogate earlier this year is understood to have closed permanently.

Samsons began welcoming customers in mid-March, offering fine dining with seasonal Yorkshire produce from the former home of Le Bistrot Pierre in Town Centre House on Cheltenham Crescent.

However, it closed in the summer, when a spokesperson said the closure was temporary for “essential works”.

Now, the Stray Ferret understands, the restaurant will not reopen.

Its website is still taking table bookings, but there have been no new posts on its social media feeds since the end of July.

The company was incorporated in March 7 this year by Thomas Shotton, Duncan Bell and Mark Morris, who was its general manager. Mr Morris resigned as a director on March 23.

On the same date, he resigned as a director of Harrogate Industries Ltd, a company he co-founded last October with Mr Shotton. Mr Bell was then appointed director.

When the business launched, executive chef Josh Whitehead said it would offer “a taste of Harrogate”. He said, having begun his career in Harrogate, he was looking for a new challenge when he saw the Samsons role advertised and it “stuck out like a sore thumb”.

He was joined in the kitchen by his friend and former colleague Andy Castle, previously head chef at the Ox Club in Leeds.

The Stray Ferret approached Samsons for a comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.

Oatlands community artwork to be unveiled in Harrogate this weekend

A ceramic tree mural created as part of a community arts project will be unveiled this weekend in Harrogate.

Oatlands Community Centre was awarded funding from the Arts Council to run the project in June, marking the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Local ceramic artist Anna Whitehouse ran free workshops at the centre, teaching people about the history of brickworks in the Oatlands area and how to process the locally-dug clay.

They then created pieces of art themselves, putting together a ceramic tree mural which will go on display outside the community centre. Anna said:

“The tree design was chosen for its symbolism, with Oatlands Community Centre being rooted firmly at the heart of the community.”

The centre and its volunteers are the supportive framework; the roots, trunk and branches, but can only grow leaves and flourish through the engagement of the community and their sense of ownership.”

Oatlands Community Centre was previously a Methodist chapel, located near the top of Mount Street, just off Leeds Road. The street used to be the access road to the Harrogate Red Brick Company, which operated from 1860 to 1936.

The church itself was built using bricks from the works, which were taken from the heavy clay which lies in the ground across the area.

Since the workshops were held in June, the ceramic pieces have been dried, fired in the kiln and assembled into a mural ready for the unveiling tomorrow between 10am and noon.

Anna will be on hand to talk about the project, and Oatlands Community Centre will be offering coffee and cake to visitors.

Funding was organised through Two Ridings Community Foundation. Its CEO Jan Garrill said:

“This was a great and very creative way to celebrate Her Majesty’s platinum jubilee. All credit to Oatlands for embracing both the spirit of the jubilee and the Let’s Create funding from Two Ridings.”

Progress in Knaresborough museum plan after lease dispute with council

Progress could finally be made in plans for a Knaresborough museum next month after “protracted” negotiations with Harrogate Borough Council.

Knaresborough Museum Association (KMA) said it had been offered a year-long rent-free period on the ground floor of the former Castle Girls’ School building, while it spent money refurbishing the rooms and setting up the museum.

However, when the proposed lease was delivered in the spring, the rent-free period was set begin on April 1, even though the rest of the details had yet to be agreed and there were several more months of negotiation ahead.

KMA chair Kathy Allday said:

“They set the start date at April 1. They just made that decision, we had no forewarning.

“We were really upset, because we thought it was going to be a genuine rent-free period. We’re going to have to start paying rent before the museum is open and bringing in money.”

Harrogate Borough Council argued it had been “completely supportive” of the plans for a long period. A spokesperson said:

“Despite a successful Knaresborough castle and museum already existing in the town, we have been completely supportive of the museum group and have worked tirelessly to help accommodate their endeavours.

“A rent commencement date was agreed at the start of the negotiations, something the group were fully aware of. We have also kept the building vacant for them for more than two years while they finalise their plans – at a time when another community group or organisation could have rented the building – as well as agreeing to a concessionary rent over the first five years of the lease.”

The group said it had disputed a clause which obliged it to pay £12,000 to the council in order to take up a single parking space to install a lift to create an accessible entrance. After negotiation, the fee was reduced to £6,000.

Ms Allday added:

“Elsewhere, when parking spaces have been used, for example for bicycle racks by the town council, they didn’t have to pay a fee.

“The entrance is actually a fire escape route and there’s a fire escape used by the tenant above, the Scouts. [The council] have plonked two car parking spaces right underneath it.”

The council spokesperson said the fire escape was fully compliant with regulations. He also said the charge for the parking space was £6,000 over 10 years, equating to less than £2 per day.

He added:

“We have a responsibility to look after and maintain our assets to generate funds and help support the delivery or frontline services, while also supporting community groups.

“And sadly, despite working extensively with this group and offering them a significant number of incentives to use this building – that could otherwise be occupied by another group for the benefit of the town – they continue to be dissatisfied with what has already been agreed.”

Despite the disagreements, more than six months on from its official start date, the lease should be agreed in the next few weeks.

Fundraising has been slower than expected because of the covid pandemic. Costs have also risen, meaning the association is still fundraising to ensure the project will be completed.

Staff from Succession Wealth in Harrogate have volunteered to help with the preparatory work for the project and KMA is keen to hear from anyone else who can help.

An artist’s impression of how the museum’s exhibits could look

Planning permission has already been granted to improve the building and work is expected to begin in the new year.

The museum will feature a replica Marigold boat, a 3D model of Nidd Gorge in prehistoric times, a wartime Knaresborough display featuring part of a Nissan hut, and plenty of interactive elements.

Ms Allday said:

“Knaresborough has been hiding much of its geology, archaeology and social history under a bushel resulting in much of the town’s history not being told.

“By showcasing the amazing geology and archaeology of the town along with its fascinating social history, Knaresborough Town Museum will complement and dovetail with what is displayed at the Court House Museum.

“It is a really exciting opportunity for the two museums to complement each other and we hope by continuing to engage with HBC’s museum service that the benefits of a new heritage quarter for Knaresborough can be realised.”

KMA hopes the Knaresborough Town Museum will open in late summer 2023.

No Bonfire Night event in Tockwith this year

The organisers of the annual Bonfire Night celebrations in Tockwith have said the event will not take place this year.

Tockwith and District Agricultural Society has previously used the bonfire and fireworks to raise funds for the village show in the summer.

However, the committee has decided not to run it this year because of the amount of work involved and the difficulties of using the showfield site.

Committee chair Georgina Watson said:

“It was a hard decision for the committee but ultimately our focus as an agricultural society is making sure we can put on the annual Tockwith Show.

“We have just held an incredibly successful show in August, but organising it, staging it on the day and most importantly clearing up the field afterwards involved a tremendous amount of work by a relatively small group of volunteers, and the burden of organising the Bonfire Night event would have fallen on the shoulders of that same group.

“Unlike the show itself the Bonfire Night event is totally at the mercy of the weather but still involves the same amount of hard work, so given both reasons we have with regret decided to cancel the event.”

The event was held last year, after a gap in 2020 because of the covid pandemic. In 2019, it had to be called off at the last minute when heavy rain left the showfield waterlogged.

The waterlogged field in 2019. Photo: Tockwith and District Agricultural Society

The announcement this week follows a decision by Harrogate’s Round Table to alter the format of its event on the Stray.

Rather than a bonfire, the volunteers said they would offer family entertainments including fairground rides, as well as the popular firework display.

A survey of the public after last year’s event found people were ambivalent about the bonfire, which the Round Table said was expensive and challenging to organise.

Are you putting on a community Bonfire Night event? Email the details to us for our round-up next month.

Business Breakfast: Harrogate firms listed in UK legal guide

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Seven Harrogate law firms have been included in the Legal 500 Guide for 2023.

Berwins, LCF Law, McCormicks and Raworths are all listed across a number of areas of law, including corporate and commercial, employment and private client work.

Harrogate Family Law and Stowe Family Law are listed for their work in this area, with Raworths, LCF Law and McCormicks also included.

McCormicks is mentioned for its sports law, Berwins for its IT and telecoms law provision, and Hempsons for its work in healthcare and with charities.

The latest version of the guide was welcomed by Raworths, whose managing partner Simon Morris, pictured above, said:

“We’re extremely proud to be recognised once again in the Legal 500 Guide, as this cements our reputation as one of the leading law firms based in the north of England delivering a genuinely integrated service to business and private clients.

“The guide highlights our commitment to delivering a high-quality service through our genuine team approach. We feel that our personal approach to looking after our clients sets us apart, and it certainly has helped us to build trusted, longstanding relationships with our growing client portfolio.

“Half of our lawyers are referenced in the guide across various practice areas, which is a testament to their knowledge and skills. It is particularly gratifying as the results are based on independent feedback and reiterates our approach which puts clients first.”

Chief executive Paul Berwin said he was particularly pleased the guide described Berwins’ support for clients, adding:

“I am naturally delighted to see the firm recognised in this way. We have some outstanding lawyers and it is a testament to them that their teams have been recognised as regional leaders.

“Essential though this deep expertise is to the way we support clients, what is particularly pleasing to see is the way the guide have identified Berwins’ high standards of service.

“From day one, we have had two overriding mantras – that care for the client is paramount and that, if we cannot do something well, we won’t do it at all. This outstanding directory recognition, built as it is on the feedback of clients and commentators, affirms the fact that we are being successful in both.”

The prestigious guide, which lists the top legal practices for each region of the UK, is independently researched and uses data from in-house peers.

Late businessman behind coach donation to Knaresborough special school

A school in Knaresborough has been given a coach thanks to the generosity of a late businessman.

The Forest School received a special Variety Sunshine Coach in memory of Paul Ziff, a Yorkshire philanthropist who was a lifelong supporter and former regional chairman of Variety.

The children’s charity has helped to provide more than 5,700 coaches for SEND schools and other non-profit organisations working with disabled and disadvantaged children and young people across the UK since it was founded in 1949.

At The Forest School, 94% of pupils have speech, language and communication needs, and the specially-adapted minibus will give them the chance to visit new places and gain experiences which will support their development.

Mr Ziff’s widow Lea said:

“Paul had a lifelong passion to help others, and in particular to champion young people and unlock their full potential, no matter what their circumstances or disabilities. That’s why he was so dedicated to working tirelessly for Variety for so many years, having the same aims at heart.

“I chose Forest School to be the recipient of this sunshine coach, as Paul himself suffered from severe aphasia for 20 years so we both knew how challenging language and communication impairments can be.

“I really hope this bright new sunshine coach will broaden horizons for all the children at Forest School and give them the freedom and opportunity to experience many wonderful educational and recreational days out.”

Paul Ziff’s widow Lea hands over the Sunshine Coach keys to The Forest School

Paul James, co-headteacher at The Forest School, said:

“We are extremely grateful to our sponsor and Variety, the Children’s Charity for providing a Sunshine Coach.

“A donation such as this means our pupils will benefit for many years to come by having transport to allow them to take part in opportunities such as horse riding, swimming, learning in the community, theatre visits and school residentials. Thank you so much.”

Mr Ziff was made chairman of the Leeds committee of Variety from 1975 and continued his support for the charity until his death in 2020, aged 84. As well as helping to organise coaches for schools across the region, he set up numerous events including the sportsman of the year dinner and the first ever woman of the year awards.

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Late businessman behind coach donation to Knaresborough special school