The new president of a business organisation celebrating its 125th anniversary said she hopes her term will be an opportunity for progress.  

Sue Kramer is set to begin her two-year term at the helm of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce at its AGM tonight. 

It will also mark the milestone anniversary with a celebration at Roosters taproom on Hornbeam Park, which Mrs Kramer said will be an opportunity to celebrate its long history. 

Once the celebrations are over, Mrs Kramer is clear that her focus will be on the future. Her priorities include making more use of technology to keep businesses engaged and to canvas their views so they can be represented to local authorities. 

“I’m looking forward to helping with working smart and being aware of moving with the times and keeping our finger on the pulse for everything. 

“One thing I’m really aware of is that we have to bring about more sustainability. I want to embed sustainability into the chamber and its members. If we could all just do a little bit, it would help.” 

Change can often be controversial in Harrogate – something Mrs Kramer, who runs a jewellery shop in the town centre with husband Stephen, knows only too well. 

Proposals to reduce car use and encourage walking and cycling through changes in road layout, such as the £10.9m Station Gateway scheme, have drawn extensive criticism from retailers over recent months.

Plans to revamp Station Parade and James Street have proved controversial

Mrs Kramer said it was tricky to strike a balance between the importance of having more environmentally friendly measures and the need to support struggling town centre businesses. However, she said, there was nothing wrong with sharing views and debating the merits of proposals in order to ensure the right solution was reached. 

“I think when these things occur, they have got to be looked at calmly and rationally and then come up with valid points for and against.

“It’s not one-size-fits-all. They are all very important and have to be viewed on their own merits. 

“I don’t see the point of antagonising people. We have all got one common goal for the benefit of Harrogate.

“We should all work together. We may not always agree, but we can put that across diplomatically.” 

For Mrs Kramer, working for the benefit of Harrogate comes naturally. She moved here as a child and attended local schools, as have her two children, now in their 20s. 

Her early career was in recruitment and she ran an agency, with large national firms among its clients. Now, having run Crown Jewellers with her husband for more than two decades, she feels she can bring the perspectives of different businesses to her term as chamber president, with support from an active management committee representing a wide range of sectors.

Outgoing president Martin Gerrard, right, with chamber chief executive David Simister.

She is naturally a ‘do-er’: over the last few years, she has brought the shops on Commercial Street together to raise the area’s profile. She has persuaded the BID and Harrogate Borough Council to invest in improving the street too. 

As the structure of local government changes over the coming year, Mrs Kramer says she will use her contacts and skills to ensure local businesses continue to have their voices heard.

“We will be building very strong relationships with North Yorkshire Council. Harrogate is going to need to step up and be very visible.

“We won’t be overlooked, but we have got to make sure we have got a strong voice.” 

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Unlike pure networking groups, the chamber often has the ear of decision-makers – its upcoming programme includes a visit from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, and senior councillors and officers regularly share their plans with members at the monthly meetings. 

As the difficulties of covid are gradually left behind, Mrs Kramer said there is a huge opportunity ahead for the 125-year-old chamber to evolve. 

“It’s like spring: everything is shooting up and growing and coming back to life. It’s really exciting. Getting the members back to meetings is brilliant. We’ve got a good programme of meetings, relevant, informative and fun – we’re really moving forward. 

“It’s a bit daunting [becoming president], but I’m really looking forward to it. Now we’re out of covid, there’s real scope to go a little bit further.” 

A business founded in the Harrogate district almost 30 years ago is being investigated for food fraud.

Bleiker’s Smokehouse, established in 1993 and previously based at Glasshouses Mill in Nidderdale, fell into administration at the end of April.

While administrators FRP Advisory seek a buyer for the business, the Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) has begun an investigation into allegations of food fraud.

Gavan Wafer, head of investigation at the NFCU, said:

“Our investigation into Bleikers Smokehouse Ltd is related to a number of alleged issues including concerns about their country of origin claims on some of their smoked salmon products. The NFCU has acted on intelligence it received and which has resulted in one arrest being made.

“It is vitally important that we ensure food is safe and what it says it is and that consumers and food businesses are confident in the authenticity of food they are buying. We would like to take the opportunity to thank North Yorkshire Police for assisting in the investigation and supporting this operation.”

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The business was founded by the Bleiker family from Burton Leonard, who stepped down as directors in 2006. At the time it fell into administration, Charles Andrew of Kirby Malzeard was the sole director.

The smokehouse had moved in recent years to a business park at Leeming Bar, employing 86 members of staff and supplying supermarkets across the UK.

On April 28, 38 people were made redundant before the company entered administration the following day.

A spokesman for FRP Advisory today said there was no further update on its work following news of the investigation.

At the end of April, Martyn Pullin, partner at FRP and joint administrator, said:

“Bleiker’s was a family operation with a track record of supporting both major and independent retailers. The loss of a significant contract left the business in a difficult financial position. Regrettably, the insolvency has meant that the business is no longer able to continue trading and redundancies have been made.

“We are on site and will work closely with impacted staff to help them access the support they need in making applications to the Redundancy Payments Office.

“We are now focused on exploring options to sell the business and its assets and encourage any interested parties to come forward.”

A pre-school in Harrogate with just 10 children on the roll has maintained its ‘good’ rating from Ofsted.

St Joseph’s Pre-school and Playgroup on Skipton Road was praised by inspectors for the welcoming and supportive atmosphere it offered to children aged two to four.

As well as praising the pre-school’s use of outdoor space, support for children’s learning and communication with parents, the report said:

“Staff are good role models and interact positively with children. They give children plenty of praise and encouragement as they play. This helps children to develop a can-do attitude towards their learning.

“Children with special educational needs/and or disabilities (SEND) are extremely well supported.

“The special educational needs coordinator is swift to work in partnership with other professionals, in order to help children with SEND reach their full potential.”

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Inspectors recommended that staff could do more to help the most able pupils to develop further, and that more support could be in place for staff members’ professional development.

The pre-school, which can cater for up to 24 children over four mornings each week, was first registered in 1986. Its last inspection in 2016 also delivered a ‘good’ rating.

Dozens of walkers will take to the paths of Nidderdale this weekend as a popular charity event returns.

Nidderdale Walk takes place on Sunday, May 8, offering participants a choice of five routes of between four and 26.2 miles.

The event, which is organised by the Rotary Club of Harrogate, has been taking place for almost three decades.

While it is promoted by 20 local charities which use it as a vital fundraiser in their calendars, participants can raise money for any cause of their choice.

Any of the local charities with 10 or more supporters taking part will also receive half of their entry fees back from the organisers.

Brian Stuttard, from the Rotary Club of Harrogate, said:

“The bigger charities have their own professional PR people and big budgets for events. Some of the smaller charities don’t have the opportunity to have an event for their own fundraising so we’re hopefully providing that role.”

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Last year, despite the covid pandemic, the Nidderdale Walk raised £18,000 when held in September.

Now back to its usual May date, organisers say the event has attracted a similar number of entrants this year compared to before the pandemic.

It begins at Pateley Bridge Scout Hut on Sunday morning, with the latest start times for the longest walks being 8am, up to 2pm for the shorter routes.

There are refreshment points along the routes, as well as cold drinks available at the end.

Entries will still be accepted on the day. For more information, visit the Nidderdale Walk website.

Plans to increase outdoor dining space at West Park Hotel

Outdoor dining areas could be created in front of shops along West Park if plans by West Park Hotel are approved.

The owners of the hotel and restaurant have applied to place six tables and 19 chairs in front of 17a and 18 West Park, where Moda in Pelle and Georgie’s trade.

The furniture would only be used outside the shops’ opening hours, no later than 10pm, and would be in addition to the furniture already outside West Park Hotel itself.

As part of the application, the owners said:

“The outside dining does create a pleasant ambience and enhance the attractiveness of the street, thereby making a positive contribution to the vitality and vibrancy of the area…

“The portable barriers will prevent encroachment into this pedestrian space.

“The facilities for pedestrians are maintained. Additional outside dining serviced by the West Park Hotel will help meet the increased demand from customers concerned about, or with vulnerability to, Covid 19. Allowing access for all to outside dining in an attractive and serviced location.”

Full details of the proposal can be found via Harrogate Borough Council’s planning website, using reference 22/01593/FUL.

Director leaves accountancy firm to pursue financial coaching role

The founder of a Harrogate accountancy firm is stepping down in order to take on a new challenge.

Teresa Hitchens, pictured left, who founded CCF Accountancy in 2010, will be turning her hand to financial coaching, after building up her own company for more than a decade.

She said:

“This is all about helping people get their business and personal finances in order and using this as the base to help them get to the position they want to be in their business, either working smarter, working less, or exiting and doing something completely different.”

CCF Accountancy will continue trading under the direction of co-owner and operations director Kelly Chadwick, pictured right, and Andy Lock.

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A father and son team form Nidderdale heading for one of the UK’s biggest races will have their bike blessed by a minister in Pateley Bridge this weekend.

Shaun Chandler and his son Ben will be racing in the Isle of Man TT, which begins at the end of May, through their team White Rose Racing.

To spread the word and drum up support, the pair will be meeting people outside Pateley Ice Treat on the high street from 10.30am tomorrow.

The event will also see them reveal the new paintwork and sponsors for the team, while children will be able to sit in the sidecar and have their photo taken.

Revered Mike Poole from Pateley Bridge Methodist Church will give the bike and sidecar a special blessing around 12.30pm.

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Shaun’s brother Lee, part of the Chandler family who own local businesses including the Spar shop, said:

“We are all going over for the race to show our support. All the family gets involved.

“Even some of the customers from the shop are going to support Shaun and Ben. It’s quite a big thing for everyone.”

Shaun has been to the TT before, but only as a sidecar passenger. This will be his first time riding in the event, and the first time Ben has taken part.

Harrogate’s Pride in Diversity will not take place this year because of a lack of volunteers to make it possible.

Last held in 2019, the event has traditionally begun with a parade through the town centre led by an open-top bus.

It then featured a festival of live music, entertainment and stalls in the Valley Gardens, drawing crowds of up to 26,000 people.

Secretary Poppy Winks said they had considered holding a smaller event, but decided it would be better to focus on delivering a full-scale occasion in 2023.

She said:

“The plan is it will be the same as pre-pandemic. It’s a joyful day: people being together and celebrating who they are, whoever that is.

“To have that space in our town is really important. It’s a really unapologetic event; everybody is there for a reason and it doesn’t matter what that reason is.”

People of all genders, sexualities, ages and races came together for the celebration in 2019.

The cancellation this year means the event will have had a four-year break by the time it returns, having missed two years because of the covid pandemic.

Ms Winks said while there used to be a strong group of volunteers, many had moved on or started volunteering elsewhere.

The remaining team decided to announce their reasons for calling off this year’s event, and it has paid off with a number of individuals and organisations come forward with offers of support. Ms Winks added:

“It was not an easy decision, but being honest about our reasons for cancelling has made people think, ‘this is an event we like and we want to come forward and help make it happen’.

“The beauty is that now we have grown enough that we’re well-known and organisations like the theatre and the Victoria Shopping Centre have said they want to support us.”

Anyone interested in helping to organise next year’s event can contact Harrogate Pride in Diversity via its website.

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The traditional St George’s Day parade returns to Harrogate for the first time in three years this weekend.

Taking place tomorrow, it will see hundreds of Scouts, Guides, Brownies, Cubs and more join together in uniform to mark the occasion.

After gathering on Coach Road, they will parade into Christ Church for a short service when they will renew their promises.

It is a shorter parade than usual, after the decision to go ahead was only made two months ago. Attendance is also likely to be reduced because the event falls at the end of the Easter holidays.

District commissioner Karsten Hartmann told the Stray Ferret:

“In the past, we have started on Beech Grove, but it was too short notice to get everything into place. We hope to come back stronger next year.”

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This year marks the first time the youngest Scouts have been able to take part in the parade. First Pannal Squirrels caters for boys and girls aged four and five, and was set up during the covid pandemic.

The deputy mayor of Harrogate, Cllr Christine Willoughby, and her consort Andrew Willoughby, will also be at the event.

The parade will gather from 2pm with the 45-minute service, led by Rev Matthew Scott Evans, set to begin at 2.30pm.

It will be the first major event in the district’s scouting calendar since 2019. Mr Hartmann said he hopes it will begin to raise the organisation’s profile again, and particularly help to attract volunteers to enable more people to join Scouts and other groups.

For more information about joining Scouts or becoming a volunteer, click here.

A man has been given a £324 fine for headbutting a police officer as he tried to arrest him.

Paul Stephen Turner, 47, of Albany Road, Harrogate, had pleaded guilty in February to the charge.

Acting for him in court today, Sonia Bhalla, of Watson Woodhouse solicitors, said Mr Turner had suffered a head injury when he was assaulted by three men with a baseball bat several years before, which still affected his actions and judgement.

Turner had been watching a documentary about fake police officers on August 18 last year when police officers knocked at his door and attempted to arrest him in relation to a separate allegation against him.

During the arrest, Turner headbutted one of the officers, PC Ryan Rudd, causing pain to one of his teeth. Turner later said he had not done so deliberately, but the process of the arrest had caused severe pain in his feet, where he had a pre-existing injury.

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A carer for his disabled father, the court heard Turner had 26 previous convictions for 52 offences, but none of a similar nature to the charge of assaulting a police officer. Ms Bhalla added:

“At 47 years of age, he has not been in trouble with the courts for a very, very long time. His last conviction was in 2011.”

Magistrates said they did not impose the maximum sentence for assaulting a police officer because the injuries appeared to be minimal, with no follow-up treatment required.

As well as the fine, magistrates ordered Turner to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and costs of £200.

A private hospital in Harrogate has launched a new service offering GP appointments to the public.

The Duchy Hospital, on Queen’s Road, will be offering the appointments with Dr Jason Jones at £100 for a 30 minute appointment.

He said:

“I’m very happy and excited to be joining the team at The Duchy and providing some primary care services.

“Being based within the hospital will also give me access to all the hospital’s facilities, services and consultant colleagues. This should improve the patient journey if any secondary care referrals are needed.”

The news follows reports that people across the UK have been struggle to get GP appointments, particularly face-to-face, following the covid pandemic.

In the Harrogate district, demand for GP services has also risen thanks to extensive house-building in recent years, increasing the population.

A report by Healthwatch North Yorkshire in December found people were struggling to access appointments either over the phone or in person. The service added:

“Several people expressed their concern about digital exclusion for people who can’t access GP and other services online. Others raised issues about misdiagnosis following telephone appointments.

“We know that GP practices across North Yorkshire are working hard to ensure everyone can access the right services for them.”

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Appointments with Dr Jones at The Duchy Hospital are available from Monday, April 25 and can be booked by calling 01423 567136 and selecting option four.

The Duchy’s executive director Rick Sanders added:

“The private GP service is a great addition for our patients at The Duchy. This new service will allow patients to see a GP face to face with easy access to any diagnostic tests, scans or onward referrals that may be required.”