Today, details of a sensitive housing development go to Harrogate Borough Council planning committee for approval.

The Vistry Partnership and Yorkshire Housing Ltd want to build 72 houses on a 2.8-hectare site on the edge of Spofforth, a conservation village, south of Harrogate.

Over 300 locals, Historic England, Natural England, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the council’s principal ecologist, North Yorkshire’s highways, the Lead Local Flood Authority and Spofforth Parish Council all raised serious concerns.

They range from the adverse impact of development upon historic character and setting, regionally important green infrastructure, bio habitat-diversity, road safety, congestion, risk of flooding. subsidence and surface water drainage.

A village at risk

Spofforth is built on a ridge overlooking fields that have been farmed since the 8th century.

The village is listed in the Doomsday Book with a long and chequered past.

Locals are protective of over 30 Grade II listed heritage assets that are to be found in this beautiful village.

In 1978, this legacy was awarded conservation status in recognition of the village’s special character and distinctiveness of its setting, buildings and open spaces.

But Spofforth, like so many other rural settlements in the borough is facing rapid expansion under Harrogate Borough Council’s drive to meet housing targets.

The development 

In March 2019, Opus North (Spofforth) Ltd acquired outline planning permission on the ‘Massey Fold’ site in Spofforth.

The ‘indicative’  plans showed a luxury development with a series of ponds, substantial landscaping and trees.

Historic England, the council’s conservation officer, and the borough council’s Local Plan raised concerns that any development on the site would cause “significant harm” to the village’s unique character.

A previous application on the same site had been refused for that reason.

Historic England warned planners that that there must be ‘clear and convincing justification and that the public benefits of the proposal outweigh the harm’.

Planners claimed that ‘the benefit would come from the delivery of new homes’.

Later that year Opus North put the site up for sale. The Vistry Partnership (formerly Bovis) and Yorkshire Housing Association reached agreement to take the site forward to completion.

To overcome the various challenges the site presented, a new plan was drafted by the developers.

Natural England, the borough council’s principal ecologist, and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust had all originally advised planners that the development will have a long-term impact on the ecological functioning of the River Crimple Corridor.

The principal ecology officer reminded planners that the National Planning Policy Framework protected against a net loss of biodiversity and advised that the original plan should not be accepted by the local authority.

The plan was then adjusted to take in concerns but neither the principal ecologist nor Historic England have subsequently been consulted about the latest lay-out design, access and landscaping proposals going to committee today.

Harrogate Borough Council argues there is no requirement to re-consult as “the principle of development has been established”.

The parish council says that the most recent plans are so far removed from the original proposal a new, full application should be made.

Flood risk

Harrogate Borough Council is responsible for ensuring that the drainage on the site meets a myriad of conditions to protect the new homes and surrounding properties from flooding.

The fields are known to have flooded since medieval times.

Locals sent photographs to planners showing the river inches away from breaching Spofforth’s flood defences during Boxing Day floods in 2015.

Boxing Day flooding around Spofforth in 2015 taken by resident John Chiltern and submitted to planners

In a public consultation in August 2017, residents expressed the concerns:

“Building on a flood plain should not be allowed under any circumstances”

“A report needs to be made available with details of how the flooding can be dealt with”

“Flood plain—HUGE CONCERN”

More recently Marmaduke Heslop contacted planners saying:

‘I have lived at Crosper Farm all my life (63 years) and have been involved with farming the field in question for many years. It has always been subject to flooding to the top of the hedge at the far end of the field. The amount of hard landscaping involved in this development would cause more rainwater run-off into the Crimple which is already running at more than capacity. The river has flooded over the banks for 3 consecutive weekends in February this year (2020) ‘

Over the past three years, various versions of a drainage system for the development have been put forward to protect the site and surrounding properties from surface water and flooding.

The parish council says these are ‘ill-considered’.  The Lead Localised Flooding Authority(LFFA) consults and advises the council on surface water drainage. In a letter dated 16th October this year, they emphasised early advise and told  planners:

‘The submitted documents are limited and the Lead Localised Flood Authority recommends that the applicant provides further information before ANY planning permission is granted.’

The latest proposal involves raising the site level by 1.5 metres sloping towards the existing level at the foot of the flood defences and surrounding properties.

The parish council told planners:

‘Not only will this make the new development even more prominent which will impact on the views from surrounding properties, but it will have a significant effect on adjacent land with regards to flooding.’

A failing system

The council says:

“The proposed development would result in social benefits by contribution towards the district’s housing need, including affordable housing. The additional population from the development would also make a contribution towards maintaining and enhancing existing facilities in the village.”

But last month, the council received a letter from the parish council. It listed 18 policies contained within the Local Development Plan, the National Planning Policy Framework, and the Town and Country Planning Act, which the parish council considered were not well met by the scheme.

The council has acknowledged the concerns and attached an elaborate list of ‘conditions’  to any approval to mitigate the issues.

But it’s not enough for the parish council, which said:

“Although the applicants have prepared revised proposals, they have failed to address our basic concerns about density, numbers, levels, flooding, parking and sustainability. They claim to have achieved ‘a closer-knit urban grain’, which is what most parishioners are hoping to avoid, in our historic rural village.”

Today the planning department is recommending to the planning committee that the decision should be deferred to the chief planner, John Worthington to approve when all conditions are satisfied.

Harrogate Borough Council released a statement saying:

“It is considered that the scheme is in accordance with the provisions of the development. The details of the reserved matters, appearance, scale, layout and landscaping are acceptable, and approval can be supported.”

As a resident of Spofforth I contacted my local conservative MP, Nigel Adams, and outlined all the concerns raised in this report. His office has contacted me making it clear he is well aware of the issues:

 Nigel Adams MP has taken note of the salient points which have been raised and has asked the decision makers to take them into consideration when the application is decided.

An appropriate representation has been made to the Planning committee.

However it is important to understand that an MP has no formal part to play in deciding planning applications. However an MP can make representations in the same way as members of the public and this has been done in this case.

Nothing so far has allayed fears of flooding or convinced the locals that the proposed development offers the benefits the council claims it will have.

The Stray Ferret has been investigating the unprecedented amount of housing development in the district and examining the impact of Harrogate Borough Council’s failure to have a Local Development Plan up to March 2020. 

In a series of special reports each morning next week we will be asking: 

Building Boom or Housing Crisis– have the wrong homes been built in the wrong places at the wrong price? 

A 72-year-old former guest-house owner is to face trial after she denied cannabis production.

Yoko Banks, of Scargill Road, Harrogate, appeared at York Crown Court yesterday to face three charges.

The alleged offences took place at properties in Harrogate, where cannabis grows were discovered by police in September.

Banks pleaded not guilty to being concerned in the production of a Class B drug. Judge Sean Morris adjourned the case for a trial starting on March 2 next year.

Read more:

• Woman, 72, in court today on cannabis production charges
• Police drugs bust near Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

Thieves tricked their way into an elderly woman’s house in Summerbridge, stealing bank cards which were later used for transactions in Ripon and Darlington.

The pair – a man and a woman – told the occupant they were from a disability service and were allowed into her home.

While there, on Wednesday, October 14 between 4.30pm and 5pm, they took three bank cards which were later used to make fraudulent transactions. A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said:

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, we are appealing for information about the identity of the people in the CCTV images as officers would like to speak to them in connection with the incident.”

Read more:

• Police hunt owner of Cockapoodle that bit man in Burn Bridge
• Man arrested in Harrogate after suspected £1,500 shoplifting haul

Anyone with information should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for Katie Bell, or email katarina.bell@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To report information anonymously, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200181553.

A 72-year-old woman from Harrogate will appear in court this morning charged with three counts of cannabis production.

Yoko Banks, of Scargill Road, will be at York Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing this morning.

Should she plead not guilty, a trial date will be set. If she pleads guilty, sentencing will also happen at a future hearing.

Ms Banks was charged following a police incident in central Harrogate on Saturday, September 26.

Officers were called to Alexandra Road, where they said they found “cannabis littering the entire street”. They then investigated a house on the road and discovered a “large quantity” of cannabis plants inside.

Not long after, police also discovered two other cannabis grows on Somerset Road and on Woodlands Road.

Read more:

• Police charge Harrogate woman, 72, after major cannabis find
• Police drugs bust near Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

A 72-year-old woman was arrested at the scene. Six other suspects travelling in two vehicles left the scene of the original incident on Alexandra Road, but were later stopped and arrested by Hertfordshire Police.

The six people were charged with possession of class B drugs with intent to supply. They were sent to court, which remanded them in custody.

A man in his 20s was also arrested on September 28 and released on bail, taking the total number of arrests up to eight.

A simple idea to create festive spirit in Harrogate has gone global in just a few days.

Wanting to bring people together at the end of a difficult year, Mary Beggs-Reid came up with the idea for a Christmas Eve Doorstep Jingle last week.

She set up a Facebook group, supported by the Harrogate Mumbler network, to invite local people to ring bells on their doorstep at 6pm on Christmas Eve and even sing a few carols if they wanted.

Within hours, the group was attracting interest from around the world. Less than a week later, it had 160,000 members – and an event sent up on Facebook had 570,000 people interested in taking part.

More groups have also been set up for people in other countries, including Canada, America and Australia, all linking back to Mary’s original idea. She told the Stray Ferret:

“It just blew up over night and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. It’s all from one hub, but there are people around the world doing it at 6pm their time, in their country.

“It’s going to be like a wave across the world – everybody is getting involved. If we pull it off, it will sound fantastic.”

Read more:

• Downing Street Christmas tree chosen in Harrogate today
• Charity calls on community to help spread Christmas cheer

Mary’s inspiration for the event came from the film Elf, where residents of New York sing together to power Santa’s sleigh with their Christmas spirit. Mary added:

“I thought people might be too embarrassed to sing, so I thought of bell-ringing. All the kids will love it, thinking they are going to fly Santa’s sleigh.”

The Facebook group has become so busy that Mary has enlisted the help of friends to help her organise it. People are sharing their own Christmas traditions and ideas from around the world and discussing how they can make this year special, even if they can’t do what they normally would.

The Facebook group has also become a hub for people to support each other. A buddying system will see anyone feeling lonely receive a message from someone else on Christmas Day, while one group member is working on a Christmas Day quiz to run on Zoom.

Mary and her family will be ringing bells on their doorsteps at 6pm on Christmas Eve.

As well as setting up the event, Mary is working with Sally Haslewood at Harrogate Mumbler to create a sheet of carols which people will be able to download nearer Christmas so they can sing with their neighbours if they want to. There will also be a poster for people to put in their windows, spreading the word about the plans.

Mary hopes people who don’t use social media will find out from their friends and neighbours and will be able to join in – especially those who live alone and may feel particularly isolated at Christmas.

“It’s lovely everyone wants to get involved in it. It’s free, it’s going to make everyone feel much better – it’s giving everyone an escape from the doom and gloom.

“There’s two months to go yet, but whatever tier you’re in, this can’t be cancelled and that’s why people are enjoying it so much.”

Ripon City Netball Club has held a socially distanced version of its annual awards due to covid.

The awards are the biggest event on the club’s calendar, but this year only award winners were invited to attend the presentation outside Ripon Grammar School, where the club trains. 

Some of the award winners.

The club has five teams, each named after a different bird of prey, with three trophies given out per team for most improved player, coach’s player and players’ player. 

The 2020 award winners were;

Hawks: Kerry Rich, Lindsey Stockdale, Karen Dodds.

Eagles: Carla Darbyshire, Thandiwe Mahlangu, Becky Stacey.

Ospreys: Rebecca Kirby, Claire Barnett, Jenny Addyman.

Kestrels: Kimberley Adele, Joanna Wallace, Hayley Blaymires.

Falcons: Frankie Louise, Sarah-Louise Norton, Jenna Sadler.

Other winners of individual prizes were: Lindsi Baldwin, Kirsteen Dixon, Helen Mackenzie, Georgina Roberts, Samantha Wilson, Karen Ellam, Cathy Simms, Jackie Laugher, Lindsey Virr, Rachael Clark, Suzanne Armstrong, Nicola Lymer, Louise Withy, Becky Ash and Tracy Chapman.

A new Winter Wonderland Teepee has opened in the grounds of a Harrogate hotel, enabling people to socialise more safely in winter.

The Majestic Hotel on Ripon Road said it will offer a family-friendly dining experience, with traditional Christmas market-style food and drinks including bratwurst, roast chestnuts, hot chocolate, mulled wine and winter cocktails.

It is a step up from the hotel’s Majestic Pavilion al fresco dining area, and will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings until mid-December, when it will change to Fridays and Saturdays only. The hotel has already taken more than 400 bookings for the teepee in the last week alone.

Read more:

• Harrogate district restaurants extend discount meals into November
• Harrogate bars warn further measures could ‘finish us off’

Andy Barnsdale, general manager of the DoubleTree Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa, said:

“Since the summer we have had the Majestic Pavilion on our terrace, which has proved incredibly popular for those looking for relaxing alfresco food and drinks.

“Now the clocks have gone back and winter is officially here, we have added our Majestic Winter Wonderland Teepee into the alfresco dining mix.

“It is family, child and dog friendly, and all covid-19 safety precautions will be strictly observed and adhered to. In addition to festive food and drink there will be live music on each of the three evenings, provided by local artists performing acoustic sets.

“What we are offering is an escape from the constraints that covid-19 has brought to the nation. Our Winter Wonderland is ideal for friends to catch up in a safe environment and for families wanting an afternoon or evening out together.”

Two suspected drug dealers have been arrested in Ripon as part of a police operation.

Officers stopped a vehicle on Hutton Bank at about 5.20pm on Wednesday and arrested two men aged 21 from Leeds.

They seized a large amount of suspected ecstasy tablets and crack cocaine, as well as a knife and around £500 in cash.

The arrests were part of North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Expedite, which tackles county lines drug crimes.

Officers believe the pair travelled from West Yorkshire to supply large quantities of class A drugs in the Ripon area.

One of the men has been charged with possession of a bladed weapon and will appear in court in February. In relation to possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, both men have been released under investigation.

Read more:

• Police drugs bust near Harrogate’s Valley Gardens
• Warning to parents after police seize ‘drug-laced sweets’ in Ripon
• Harrogate county lines drug suspect arrested

Operation Expedite

Officers working on Operation Expedite are focused on targeting people who travel to North Yorkshire in order to deal drugs. They often exploit young and vulnerable people, forcing them into selling drugs.

As well as detecting those behind the crimes, the police teams work to protect those who are vulnerable to being targeted by organised crime networks.

For more information, visit North Yorkshire Police’s website. To report suspected drug dealing, call the force on 101, or speak anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111.

A further 57 people in the Harrogate district have tested positive for covid-19, according to figures released today.

It means the district’s total confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic is now 2,106.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, 3,565 further cases were confirmed today, bringing the total for the region to 115,145 since the outbreak began.

No further deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital in today’s figures from NHS England.

Read more:

• Harrogate Nightingale ‘could open with five days’ notice’
• Harrogate district’s coronavirus cases since March pass 2,000

Yesterday, the hospital reported the death of a patient who had been diagnosed with coronavirus. The death took place on Sunday, October 25.

The total number of deaths in patients with covid-19 at the hospital since the start of the pandemic stands at 85.

Regionally, 44 deaths were confirmed today in Yorkshire and the Humber, out of a total of 207 across England. The patients were aged between 36 and 101, and all except six of them – aged between 60 and 93 – had known underlying health conditions.

Another 59 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today.

It brings the total number of people in the district confirmed to have the virus to 1,989 since the start of the pandemic.

Today’s figures also show there have been no further deaths at Harrogate District Hospital, with the total number of covid-related fatalities there still standing at 84.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, 14 deaths were confirmed today, out of a total of 76 across England. The region had 2,380 positive covid tests confirmed today, bringing the total in the pandemic to 108,580.

Read more:

• Harrogate coronavirus testing site opens with 57 appointments
• Harrogate Nightingale hospital put on standby