Almost 70 objections have been submitted in two weeks after plans were put forward to build 35 homes in the Crimple Valley.

The outline proposal for Almsford Bank Stables includes 14 affordable homes, seven first homes and 14 self or custom build (SCB) plots.

However, 69 public comments have been received since Monday, June 20, all of which oppose the plans.

Among them, nearby resident Jules Sibson said:

“This application is ludicrous. There is no way the access here would be safe.

“Only a few weeks ago the road was closed for some period of time to a major road traffic accident. The traffic is stacked back on a regular basis, and if it’s not then people speed up and down the hill. A junction here would surely lead to disaster.

“As a local who also regularly enjoys the beautiful walks along here with my children I am literally dumbfounded this planning would even be re-considered.”

The proposed site, outlined in red, lies in the Crimple Valley

Another from Judith Hooper said:

“In the time we have been resident in Harrogate there have been numerous car accidents on Almsford bank, the most recent very serious one being only a few weeks ago.

“Cars accelerate down the bank on reaching the 50mph sign and already have to contend with traffic coming out of Crimple Hall.

“Putting access at the bottom of such a busy section of road, on a bend, seems to invite accidents. At night there are many cars clearly speeding on this stretch. At busy periods traffic is queuing both up and down the hill.”

Campaign group Save Crimple Valley has urged the public to submit objections to the new proposals.

It is the third application for the site site since 2018, when plans for 65 homes were put forward but withdrawn. The following year, a reduced proposal of 35 homes was submitted, but again withdrawn in the face of extensive objections.

The site is not included in Harrogate Borough Council’s local plan, which guides where development can take place in the district.

One objection to the latest proposal by the same applicant said the repeated applications were a “waste of everyone’s time”.

However, the application argues that the district does not have a sufficient supply of SCB sites to meet its obligations.

Read more:

• New plans submitted for 35 homes in Harrogate’s Crimple Valley
• Consultation on bid to join bridleways in Harrogate’s Crimple Valley

Consultees have also submitted their responses, with National Highways (formerly Highways England) saying it had no objections to the proposals.

However, some have opposed the plans. The Harrogate branch of the Ramblers’ Association said:

“We object strongly to this latest outline application to develop this site. Any housing development here would seriously damage public amenity…

“We object to the building of houses in this special landscape. We object to this area of countryside being urbanised.

“The indicative layout shows the bridleway diverted onto a new estate road for part of its length. We object because there has been no provision made for the bridleway to be kept separate from the proposed access road to the houses.

“We do not accept a right of way being incorporated into a vehicular access road for a housing development. There is no provision to keep the non-motorised route separate from the housing estate road, but it is unlikely this can be achieved on this site.”

The plans have been submitted by Square Feet Ltd, whose registered address is on nearby Fulwith Mill Lane, and Antela Developments Ltd, two of whose three directors also live on Fulwith Mill Lane.

To view or comment on the plans, visit the Harrogate Borough Council planning website and use reference 22/02233/OUTMAJ.

The consultation ends on Sunday, July 10. A date for the application to be decided by the council has yet to be set.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

National recognition for plant specialism at Himalayan Garden

A visitor attraction near Ripon has been awarded National Plant Collection status by Plant Heritage.

The Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park at Grewelthorpe has been given the award for its collection of rhododendron subsect fortunea, of which it has 29 different types across its 45 acres.

Plant Heritage is a national horticultural charity aiming to conserve the diversity of garden plants in the UK and prevent species becoming extinct.

Jago Wallace, pictured, head of the national collection of rhododendrons at the garden, said:

“We have worked hard to achieve this award, undertaking specific recordings, research, care, and maintenance of these plants to keep them in good condition.

“We have created a new national collection bed to help visitors see the fortunea more closely. With the propagation of our plants being a major aim, all of the garden team have attended master classes on rhododendron propagation, which gives us the skills to improve the care of our national collection.”

The Himalayan Garden also aims to run master classes in future to allow visitors to learn the art of rhododendron propagation.

Read more:

• Carter Jonas makes new senior appointment in Harrogate
• Harrogate pregnancy brand raises £2m to grow company

Gritter firm builds community links with cricket sponsorship deal

A Ripon gritter manufacturer has agreed a deal to sponsor Thirsk Cricket Club for the 2022 season.

Econ Engineering, which has recently completed the construction of a £7m engineering facility in Sowerby, has backed the club as it builds its links with the local community.

The company has an 85% share in the UK winter roads maintenance vehicle market

Jonathan Lupton, Econ Engineering’s managing director, said:

“We are delighted to associate our name with Thirsk Cricket Club, and see this as the start of a long and fruitful partnership.

“Sowerby is now home to our 1,000-strong gritter hire fleet, which is also where they will be serviced ahead of going back out to councils, civil engineering companies and highways contractors across the UK.

“Our rental fleet had previously been based at our Ripon headquarters; however, it has now grown to such a size we needed a new base, therefore extending our operation into Sowerby.

“We are looking to increase our workforce by 50, and we hope we can attract a good number of these from the local community, hence us starting to forge a close relationship with the local community.”

Thirsk Cricket Club secretary David Richardson added:

“We would like to thank Econ Engineering for becoming our latest sponsor. The backing will enable us to continue our coaching for those looking to develop their skills within this sport.”

A children’s nursery in Harrogate has urged parents to voice their opposition to government proposals which could see fewer staff caring for young children.

Rachel Wilkinson, proprietor of Green Gables Montessori Nursery on the Great Yorkshire Showground, said the plans to allow one member of staff to care for five two-year-olds were “not safe”.

“My main concern is that it’s OK saying you can have one member of staff to five toddlers, but the reality is you can’t keep them safe. It’s wholly inappropriate.

“We still operate one-to-three for that age range because we don’t think the one-to-four is safe.”

In childcare settings in England, each member of staff can currently care for up to four children aged two. The government today said it will consult with childcare professionals and parents over whether to increase that to five.

Meanwhile, the number of children with additional needs who require extra support has grown significantly since covid. Ms Wilkinson said it was down to children having much less social interaction during lockdowns – and those born since March 2020 were at the greatest risk, she said.

“Children at two are most likely to be diagnosed with additional needs and need as much support as children under the age of two, as well as all the learning opportunities. You can’t do that with one member of staff to five children.”

Read more:

• Calls for action over ‘overwhelmed’ North Yorkshire children’s mental health services
• Fraction of free school meals children accessing school holidays scheme

The government said its proposal would help childcare providers to reduce costs and they could then pass savings on to parents, to enable them to access more affordable childcare as the cost of living rises.

However, Ms Wilkinson said the approach is completely wrong and there are better ways to address the challenges in the sector, such as increasing funding.

Children aged three and above receive funding for up to 30 hours’ childcare per week in term time in England.

Ms Wilkinson said the amount paid to the nursery for those hours was inadequate – it costs her £1.64 per hour more than she receives to care for each child.

Nurseries are not allowed to charge top-up fees and can only increase their prices so far. If rates rise too far, she said, providers would price themselves out of the market as parents would choose not to work.

Instead, she said she would like to see a range of measures to tackle the problems facing parents and childcare professionals.

“What would help the situation would be to stop business rates, to allow us to claim VAT back on investments – I have just bought £15,000 of equipment and paid 20% on it. That money that’s going to the government would have been reinvested in the nursery and come off the top line.

“I would like to pay my staff more than just above minimum rate. And the funding needs to actually be a viable amount. I think the calculation was done about 2016 and a lot has changed since then.

“Funding went up 6p per hour this time. Minimum wage went up by 60p per hour, plus you’ve got pensions and national insurance to pay. It just doesn’t add up.”

Children aged two would be affected by the proposed changes to childcare settings

Since covid, she said, nurseries have struggled to recruit, along with other relatively low-paying sectors, such as hospitality and social care.

Ms Wilkinson said she has managed not to need to close any of its rooms when staff are off sick, but other childcare settings have not been as fortunate.

Parents of children at other nurseries have told the Stray Ferret about last-minute cancellation of their childcare when too many staff have called in sick and there have not been enough agency workers to cover for them.

Combined with the increasing costs of fuel, food and other day-to-day expenses, Ms Wilkinson said it is no surprise that many nurseries are closing their doors.

Having established her nursery 27 years ago, she said she is increasingly concerned about the state of the sector.

“I think the profession was in crisis before the pandemic and that has just made it worse. It’s a perfect storm.”

Howard Conrad has sponsored this article.

A specialist apple repair centre set up a decade ago has grown a loyal local following of customers keen to spread the word.

Howard Conrad offers repairs to all Apple devices, from Macs to iPhones, with a team of experienced technicians delivering the best possible care and outstanding quality.

Manager Danny and ­­­­the friendly team of Steve, Ollie and Mattie have a combined experience of more than 30 years.

Danny said:

“We have a really strong, steady team here. We are really focused on making it a great place to work, and, quite simply, we all love what we do.

“There aren’t many problems with Apple devices we encounter that we haven’t seen before – and even if it’s new to us, we love a challenge!

“We’re all tech enthusiasts at work and at home. We have systems and programmes we’ve built ourselves to make everything we do run smoothly. It means we have total control of customer experience, rather than relying on someone or something else.”

The team know Apple devices aren’t cheap, so will always look at ways to extend their lives. They only use high quality parts and are so confident in their work that they give an impressive three-year warranty compared to the industry average of six months.

The Howard Conrad team knows how to fix your Apple devices.

Not only that, but for extra peace of mind, they have a seven-step process to ensure the safety of customers’ data. That’s backed up by an impressive guarantee: if a customer can prove their data privacy has been breached, they get a payout of £10,000.

The business is situated on the first floor above the row of shops on the Oatlands parade at Leeds Road in Harrogate. While its position may not be highly visible, happy customers do a great job of spreading the word to their friends and family.

Whenever someone asks on social media where to go for a repair to an iPad, MacBook or other Apple device, local residents are quick to recommend Howard Conrad.

Up to now, the company has been referred to by its customers as “Harrogate’s best kept secret” – but its growing popularity is raising its profile and bringing plenty of new people through the door.

Danny said:

“What’s really important to us is that our customers have a good experience – not just that they get the repairs carried out, but that they have confidence in us and that we deliver great customer service.

“We’re really proud to be able to say our Google reviews place us not just as one of the best apple repair services in Harrogate, but across the whole of Yorkshire.”

It may have been established for 10 years, but Howard Conrad is not a company to sit back and relax when it could be developing new ways to meet its customers’ needs.

Howard Conrad has a special offer just for Stray Ferret readers. Just quote STRAYFERRET when you book a repair online for 10% off.

The team has already introduced a new call-out service for people who can’t bring their devices into the shop, enabling more people to benefit from their expertise.

Danny said:

“We get a lot of people that have almost given up and don’t know whether it is worth repairing a device. We’ll do all we can to fix it – we will attempt to repair most Apple devices!

“Equally, we don’t like customers to make poor choices if the repair cost outweighs the value of the device. We’ll always explain the situation clearly and simply, and let them make the choice.

“Even if it’s unrepairable, we can attempt to recover what’s on the device so people don’t lose their precious photos or important work.

“We also offer to erase data securely, free of charge, and recycle the device if the customer has no further use for it.”

With a positive team, a determination to succeed and outstanding service, it’s not hard to see why customers are eager to sing the praises of this specialist business.

Want to see for yourself? Until Sunday, July 31, Howard Conrad is offering 10% off iPhone and iPad screen and battery replacements. To benefit from the offer, simply use the code STRAYFERRET when you book your repair via the website.

A new fast food drive-through restaurant is set to open in Harrogate early next month.

Leon will welcome customers from “early July” to its new Wetherby Road premises, though it has not yet confirmed an exact date.

New manager Alex Parkinson said a 17-strong team is already in training and she is hoping to add three more to that number. She said:

“I love working for Leon as I love the real sense of family within the teams we create – every store I visit has its own family dynamic but you are always made to feel welcome and at home.

“I enjoy the challenge of being a general manager, but my favourite thing about the role and Leon is developing people and watching people grow. Watching my team grow and develop during training has been my favourite part of Leon so far.”

The Mediterranean-inspired restaurant will be open daily from 7am to 10pm, except Sundays when it opens at 8am. It will have a total of 70 covers, including some outdoor seating.

Its menu includes “carbon neutral” burgers, rice boxes, breakfast muffins, egg pots and cakes.

The company has built its reputation on being good for the environment as well as for people – something which is not normally associated with fast food.

Alex, 28, trained with the company in London and helped to open its first drive-through in Gildersome, Leeds. She said she believes Harrogate is ready to welcome a new take on the fast food concept:

“I think it’s something different in the community, fast food that’s good for your gut and a place to come and sit with friends or family…

“We are mindful of our environmental impact in everything we do which is why we have put a number of processes in place to ensure our drive-through [restaurants] do as little damage as possible.”

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Nelson Inn sold to pub restaurant chain
• Harrogate restaurant to do takeaways only due to staffing issues

The arrival of Leon has proved controversial from the start, long before it was built.

Planning permission was eventually given after the application was initially rejected by Harrogate Borough Council, only for the developer to launch a successful appeal.

It was initially expected to be a drive-through Starbucks, but it was confirmed in March, after construction had begun, that it would instead be a Leon, another brand owned by Euro Garages.

The following month, developers were ordered to remove an 8m advertising sign outside the restaurant which had been erected before planning permission was granted.

However, Alex said now the construction work is complete, she is looking forward to welcoming customers inside.

“I am so excited to launch Leon in Harrogate – it’s probably one of my greatest accomplishments of my career, opening a store as a general manager.

“I could not have done it without the help of my team; they are absolutely amazing.”

An apprentice engineer working in the Harrogate district is urging more women to consider career opportunities in the sector.

Freya Osment joined Northern Gas Networks last year as an electrical and instrumentation apprentice.

To mark International Women in Engineering Day today, she has been discussing her role and why she’d recommend a career in engineering to anyone considering it – even if they are the only girl in a class full of boys.

She said:

“I always wanted to do something involving engineering. My dad was a mine engineer, and then moved into precision engineering and lathe work.

“Growing up I was kind of a tomboy, and I liked helping him out, helping fix things.

“At secondary school, I did the usual subjects but after I left, I went to college to study general engineering which I did for three years. That involved CAD, lathe work, welding.

“In my class of 30 students, I was the only girl. But I was in Army Cadets between 13 and 18, and always enjoyed doing logical things so it just felt like the right fit for me.”

Read more:

• RAF careers are taking off for Ripon Air Cadets
• Harrogate district unemployment figures remain low

Northern Gas Networks said it is keen for more women to explore careers in the energy sector, adding to its existing workforce.

As well as apprentices, it has women working at senior levels and in green energy, such as hydrogen development manager Stella Matthews, whose role involves developing zero-carbon gas for heating domestic homes.

She said:

“My advice to girls wanting to get involved in engineering is ‘go for it’ and say yes to every opportunity. It’s such an exciting time to be involved in our industry, shaping the future of energy.

“We definitely don’t shout enough about our achievements. Role models are really needed, so girls interested in a career in engineering, or in industry, can see them and aspire to get there too. The more visible we are, the better.”

Gender decoder

Across the UK, 16.5% of engineers are women. This is the ninth year the country has marked International Women in Engineering Day, this time focusing on a theme of inventors and innovators.

NGN has a diversity and inclusion strategy to offer more opportunities to female engineers. It uses a gender decoder for its job adverts, ensuring their language suits anyone who might consider applying.

For women already employed by NGN, a women’s network community has been created to ensure women’s voices are heard across the organisation.

For Freya, there are more benefits to a career in engineering than enjoying her job. She spends her working hours travelling around Yorkshire to different ‘off-take’ sites and has days at college working towards two qualifications.

She added:

“My advice to any girl considering engineering would be to go for it, don’t worry about what people think and be yourself.

“If you like being out and about, days that are very different from each other and logical ways of working then it’s a great job to be doing.”

A new planning application has been submitted for 35 homes in the Crimple Valley to the south of Harrogate.

The outline application is for 14 affordable homes, seven first homes and 14 self or custom build plots at Almsford Bank Stables.

The site, which lies to the east of the A61 at the foot of Almsford Bank, is currently used for equestrian purposes, with stabling and barns.

Supporting information in the application said:

“It is proposed that the site will be developed for residential use through a combination of terraced cottages, semi-detached and detached dwellings.

“The density of the site has been determined to reflect the pattern of development throughout the surrounding area but also taking into account a variety of dwelling sizes in order to serve local demand.

“It is intended that the new dwellings will vary in height, making use of the existing contours and reflecting the density of the residential context to the north whilst allowing the edges of the development to take on a more rural scale.

“The use of traditional building materials – local sandstone and slate will help to reflect the local vernacular buildings and help soften the visual impact of the new development.”

The application includes information about the provision for self and custom build (SCB) homes, which it argues are in short supply in the Harrogate district.

It is the third application to build housing on the site, and is the first time the suggestion of SCB homes has been put forward.

The first proposal, in 2018, was for 65 homes and was withdrawn after 132 objections were submitted by members of the public.

The Almsford Bank site, outlined in red, is less than half of the area owned by the applicants.

In 2019, plans for 35 homes were submitted, including 21 open market houses and 14 affordable homes.

That application attracted more than 100 comments from members of the public, none of whom supported the plans. Many cited concerns about access to the site from a fast and busy road, as well as objecting to the development on land designated a special landscape area in the local plan.

The proposal was again withdrawn.

Read more:

• Consultation on bid to join bridleways in Harrogate’s Crimple Valley
• Key planning document delayed for west Harrogate residents facing 4,000 new homes

All three applications have been put forward by Square Feet Ltd, whose registered address is on nearby Fulwith Mill Lane, and Antela Developments Ltd, two of whose three directors also live on Fulwith Mill Lane.

The new application said:

“The applicant’s ownership extends to an area of approximately 10 hectares. However, the development area extends to 4.4 hectares as a result of the parts of the site which are not considered to be suitable for development including woodland areas, land with steep gradients, flood zone areas and areas which are sensitive to change due to impact on openness and landscape value.

“The site has historically been in equestrian use with associated farmland, barns and stables. Development is only proposed on the northern part of the site, with the southern part of the site providing a significant landscaped area which will remain open.”

To view or comment on the plans, visit the Harrogate Borough Council planning website and use reference 22/02233/OUTMAJ.

A date for the application to be decided by the council has yet to be set.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Move to residential work for Harrogate interiors firm

A Harrogate business specialising in commercial interior design has expanded its work into the residential property sector.

The House Collective, based in Windsor House on Cornwall Road, has already completed a hat-trick of residential projects and is about to begin work on a 17-room home in Roundhay, Leeds.

It was set up by Rob Umpleby, who founded commercial interior design agency RU Creative. When a client struggled to find an interior designer, the RU Creative team stepped up to the challenge.

As well as providing detailed drawings instead of simple mood boards, the team offers a 3D visualisation service, creating photorealistic images and using virtual reality to give an exact picture of how the project will look when complete.

Mr Umpleby said:

“We are really excited to have launched The House Collective, and whilst it is a brand-new business, we bring with us a long and successful history within the world of commercial interior design.

“Over the years we have worked on some amazing refurbishment schemes, and our skills in creating workspaces with a residential feel has given us the confidence to break into the residential property world.”

Read more:

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• Business breakfast: Experienced lawyer joins Harrogate firm’s life team

Arrow Electronics adds £10k to children’s hospice fundraising

A children’s charity will benefit from £10,000 of fundraising thanks to a team of colleagues in Harrogate.

Employees at Arrow Electronics, along with their vendors and suppliers, cycled more than 150 miles from Harrogate to Whitby and back in support of Martin House Children’s Hospice.

The 28 cyclists completed the route including a 4,000ft climb at the start of a second year of fundraising for the hospice. Since May 2021, they have raised more than £23,100.

Nick Bannister, vice president sales for Arrow’s enterprise computing solutions business in the UK and Ireland, said:

“I’m really proud of our team who have gone out of their way to support this great charity over the last 12 months.

“It was great to see so many of our vendors and suppliers get involved in the Arrow Great Yorkshire Cycle, and I’m looking forward to seeing how much we can raise this year.”

Martin House cares for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions across West, North and East Yorkshire, as well as supporting their families. Its care includes planned respite stays, emergency and symptom control stays, end-of-life care and bereavement support.

Abigail Proctor, partnerships manager at Martin House, said:

“We’re so grateful for the support of Arrow over the last 12 months. The support they are giving us will make such a big difference to the hundreds of families we care for every year.”

The Arrow team will take on another challenge in September, tackling the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

An 11-year-old boy who suffered serious injuries in an incident in Beckwithshaw today is now in a stable condition in hospital following emergency surgery.

A man aged 40, who was also taken injured from the scene, remains in hospital in a serious condition and is under police guard, North Yorkshire Police confirmed this afternoon.

Both are believed to have been injured with what police are describing as “a bladed article” around 8.20am today.

Senior Investigating Officer DI Steve Menzies, of the North Yorkshire Police major investigation team, said:

“Two other children aged 10 and 13, who were also in the house at the time of the incident, are being cared for by relatives and supported by specialist police officers.

“I can reassure the public that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and an investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances of exactly what happened this morning.

“I also want to thank ambulance staff, paramedic teams and police officers who quickly arrived at the scene and administered emergency aid to the injured males.”

The B6161 through Beckwithshaw was closed for several hours this morning as police entered the home in Church Row, close to Beckwithshaw Primary School, which police said was not linked to the incident.

An air ambulance landed in the field behind Beckwithshaw Village Hall, while numerous police cars and vans, as well as road ambulances, were on the scene.

Read more:

• Boy, 11, and man seriously injured after blade incident in Beckwithshaw
• Road closure in Beckwithshaw as emergency services respond to incident

A pupil referral unit in Harrogate which helps students get back into education has won praise from Ofsted inspectors.

Springwell Harrogate – previously known as The Grove Academy – received a ‘good’ rating in its latest report from the schools watchdog.

Inspectors referred to the “strides” taken by students after starting at Springwell, often following a period out of education. They said:

“While at the school, pupils develop their self-esteem, confidence and sense of purpose. Their time at the school has a tremendously positive effect on them.

“For example, many become more engaged in their education. Pupils told inspectors that the school had ‘turned them around’. One parent, echoing the views of others, described the school as a ‘lifeline’ for their youngster.”

The report said the unit, which takes students aged 11 to 16, helped to develop an interest in reading, in other cultures and in their own future careers.

However, it added that the curriculum is most effective for those who are at the school for short periods and less strong for those who are there for more than a year. Inspectors recommended doing more to deepen the curriculum for those staying longer.

They also suggested building on teaching of vocabulary to enable pupils to improve their use and understanding of language.

Read more:

• Ofsted returns to St Aidan’s for ‘very positive’ monitoring visit
• Harrogate Grammar School rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted

Inspectors highlighted the “dramatic” improvement in some pupils’ attendance after staff worked “tirelessly” to encourage them.

They added:

“Since the previous inspection, there have been significant changes at the school, including to the staffing structure. Several new methods for working with pupils have been introduced.

“New leaders and staff are ambitious for pupils and are determined that they succeed in their next steps. Most pupils move back to their original school or to appropriate settings, including college.

“Pupils join having missed large amounts of their schooling and lacking in motivation. The curriculum reignites pupils’ interest in learning.

“It enables pupils to fill some of the gaps they have in reading, writing, mathematics and science.

“The ‘experiential learning programme’ develops pupils’ physical fitness as well as broadening their knowledge of the world around them.”

‘Positive difference’

According to Ofsted, all of Springwell’s 29 pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities and five have education, health and care plans. It takes students from across the Harrogate area.

The school has welcomed the new report, which comes after a difficult two years. Executive principal Scott Jacques said:

“Everybody at Springwell Harrogate is pleased with the outcome of our recent Ofsted inspection and that the school has been recognised as good in all areas.

“The school was under threat of closure when it joined the Wellspring Academy Trust in April 2020, and the report notes the considerable change that the academy has been through since then, which has secured its future.

“We are particularly pleased with the fact that inspectors acknowledge the positive difference Springwell Harrogate makes to the lives and educational journey of the young people with whom we work.

“We would like to thank the pupils for their engagement and positive attitudes and also their parents and carers for their continued support in working with us. We also thank all staff involved for their daily dedication and hard work, and the governing body for backing the vision of the academy.”