Harrogate’s oldest swimming pool could be closed as the council looks to cut costs in a major overhaul of its leisure services.

In a report set to be considered by Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet next week, officers say the future of Starbeck Baths – built in 1870 – would need to be considered following the redevelopment of its other pools and gyms.

The council is proposing to build a new Knaresborough leisure centre at Conyngham Hall, replacing the existing pool on King James Road. It will also refurbish the Hydro in Harrogate, with more gym space added, and complete the rebuilding of Ripon Spa Baths, with an opening date currently set for September 2021.

The plans form part of a proposal to transfer the running of leisure services to a local authority controlled company (LACC), which HBC believes would save £284,000 of taxpayers’ money. With investment in new and existing pools, and the closure of Starbeck Baths, the council projects savings to be more than double that figure.

In a report to be seen by HBC’s cabinet next week, head of culture, tourism and sport Michael Constantine says:

“With the closure of Ripon Spa Baths and Knaresborough Swimming Pool and new facilities at Knaresborough, Ripon and Harrogate the future of Starbeck Baths would need to be considered. Analysis indicates that without Starbeck continuing to be operational the cost to the council would be £2.790 million, a saving of £0.191m pa.

“Delivering the service by a LACC, following investment in new facilities, will result in an estimated saving of £585k per annum compared to the delivery in-house, with Starbeck no longer operational.

“This demonstrates that under the operational management of the LACC, the schemes have the potential to be entirely self-funded through prudential borrowing depending on future decision regarding Starbeck Baths’ continued operation.”

Meanwhile, Conyngham Hall has been identified as the best site for Knaresborough’s new leisure centre, after considering sites at Hay-a-Park and Knaresborough House, as well as building a new facility on the existing site.

The report recommends leaving the existing pool open until after the new one is built. Both would remain operational while the Hydro was refurbished, giving capacity for residents to use them and somewhere for staff to work, before the older pool was closed.

With the new Ripon pool set to open next September, building work on the new Knaresborough Pool could begin in summer 2022 and be completed in December 2023. At that point, the Hydro would be closed for work to begin, and would reopen in March 2025. The old Knaresborough pool would then be closed, and plans for the site have not been announced.

Discussions have been held between the council and trade unions over plans to transfer sport and leisure services to a private company.

Unison has this morning confirmed that it has met with Harrogate Borough Council representatives to discuss the proposal to form a Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC) to run its leisure facilities.

Unison branch secretary David Houlgate said:

“We are thankful that the Council is now talking to us and the meeting yesterday was helpful.  We are also pleased that the Council has let us have some written detail too.  We need to take a good look at that but already we can make the following observations:

“Clearly the council has ambitious plans for new and upgraded facilities and we cautiously welcome this but it has to be remembered that sport and leisure is a discretionary service so we would not wish to see high spending in this area impact on other, more critical, services elsewhere which could put jobs at risk.”

As well as the council’s six six leisure centres and its Active Health service, the plans could include transferring Little Explorers Day Nursery, the Turkish Baths, and community centres in Jennyfield, Fairfax and Knaresborough to the LACC.

According to a report set to be considered by HBC’s cabinet next week, transferring services stands to save £222,000 in business rates and £76,000 in VAT, with improved financial performance of £130,000 per year. There would be additional costs of £144,000, leaving savings of £284,000 per year, in the council’s figures.

The council has projected an increase in revenue of around £500,000 – equivalent to 10 percent of its current income – as a result of being run by a single-focus company.

The report also states that the council commissioned four studies into its leisure services in and alternative ways of delivering them, in 2018. It adds:

“SLL’s final report was presented to Cabinet on December 16, 2019 and as a result cabinet agreed in principle to progress the creation of a Company to run its sport and leisure facilities and services.”

Discussions between HBC and unions this week follow a public disagreement between them. Unison said on Monday it was disappointed that the council had failed to make any contact with its members – a claim which HBC branded “ridiculous”.

More on this story:

• Unions speak out about the lack of communication on plans which have “no overwhelming public support”
• HBC tells unions: “To expect a running commentary… is unrealistic”

The council consulted with residents last month about the proposals. In the report to cabinet, the results show 46 percent of the 433 people who responded either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the plans. Twenty-seven percent agreed or strongly agreed, while 27 percent neither agreed nor disagreed.

“We have seen the council report and it would appear that this decision was actually taken last year, so we do wonder what the point of the recent resident’s survey was.  Having now seen the survey responses it does seem to confirm our view that there is not much support from the 433 residents who responded, for sport and leisure to be run by a LACC.”

The union has welcomed measures to protect employees, including keeping them in the local government pension scheme. However, it raised concerns about changing terms and conditions after the LACC is formed, and the possibility that an outside provider will be found to run services in future.

The proposals to create the LACC will be put before the council’s cabinet when it meets online next Wednesday, June 17.

Members of the community showed their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement this afternoon in Harrogate.

Unlike other protests seen around the world, in Harrogate it took the form of a five-minute silence, maintaining social distancing.

Individuals and families gathered near Harrogate’s war memorial at 3pm this afternoon. Once gathered, each took a knee and fell silent for five minutes from 3.15pm. The protest ended with applause at 3.30pm.

Organisers Bill Rigby and Shan Oakes said:

“We, the residents of the Harrogate district, want to express our great sadness at the murder of George Floyd, and our solidarity with black and other oppressed groups in communities worldwide.”

Dozens of home-made posters and banners were on display

Protestors spread along West Park after the area around the war memorial became full

Individuals and groups of family members joined the protests

People of all ages gathered to protest, kneeling in silence for five minutes

A charity which offers counselling to people across the Harrogate district has launched a fundraising appeal so it can help more people struggling with their mental health through the coronavirus crisis.

With its One-Day Lockdown Challenge, Wellspring Therapy & Training is hoping to fund more professional counselling for people going through mental ill health and emotional distress.

The charity, which is based in Starbeck’s High Street, has been offering remote counselling throughout the crisis and said demand has begun to increase. Executive director Emily Fullarton said:

“It has started to creep up. We’re definitely getting more referrals now and I think it will pick up further.

“People are starting to realise this is going to go on for longer than they realised. Normal life isn’t going to happen. Schools reopening and people having a bit more time to think – when you’re in a crisis, you don’t tend to process it. It’s only when you are out of it you start to think about how it has affected you.”

The urgent fundraising appeal was kicked off by young supporter Joe Lepine, 13, who decided to stay awake for 24 hours. Aiming to raise £200, with support from friends and family he achieved ten times that sum.

Now Wellspring is inviting others to follow his example and challenge themselves to do something for 24 hours – always within social distancing guidelines. From giving up TV to doing star-jumps every hour, the charity says there is something suitable for anyone who wants to show their support.

A new group has been established in Harrogate to support the protests being held around the world following the death of George Floyd in the USA.

Black Lives Matter Harrogate has more than 400 members on Facebook after being established at the beginning of the week.

While organisers say they will not be setting up marches like those seen elsewhere – such as London, pictured above – because of the risks during the Covid-19 pandemic, they wanted to give people in Harrogate a place to discuss racial equality and show their support.

Dianna-Roxanne Kananowitz, who set up the group, said:

“This group isn’t a knee jerk reaction to current events, although that was the initial catalyst.

“Black lives should matter every day, so it’s an on-going thing. I’ve emailed the local MP and I’m awaiting a reply. I’m in design talks about a logo that can be shown in cars or shops to show solidarity – I still need to figure production costs as a non-profit organisation. I’ve tons of ideas. I’m hoping people will have a few of their own.”

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For Pajwa Mo, who has volunteered as an admin on the group, marches are less important than educating people and helping to make the next generation more aware of institutional racism.

Pajwa, who ran Spoilt Gelato in Starbeck until last year, lives in Bradford but still works in the Harrogate area and keeps in touch with friends he made. He says he experienced racism in Harrogate a number of times, but he has also seen it in Bradford, despite a more multicultural population.

However, he believes it is everyone’s responsibility to stand up against racism and challenge problems they see. He said:

“The problem we have got with the younger generation is, if it’s something that concerns us directly, we will get involved, but if it’s happening in London, America or Syria, we aren’t interested. Whether it’s in Asia, Africa, England – if it’s wrong, we should all speak up and say it’s wrong.

“Today it’s America. Tomorrow it could be Harrogate. Then what? When will we speak up? We don’t want to lose someone before we realise we have to do something.”

A former teacher, Pajwa strongly believes educating and setting good examples to children is vital in giving them the confidence to stand up for equality. Showing love and care for people, he said, will generate more of the same and make a better society for everyone.

He likened the Black Lives Matter movement to the support shown for the NHS and key workers from the beginning of the coronavirus crisis.

“With the rainbows in windows and coming out to clap, people made an effort in their own homes first.

“You can’t fix the world without fixing your own house first. The only way we can take a step forward is if we all take a step in our own homes first.”

Final plans for almost 400 new homes to the west of Harrogate are set to be approved despite concerns about access to the site.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee gave the go-ahead this week for the second half of the new Penny Pot Lane housing development to be signed off by the chief planner.

It will see 367 homes built, along with a link road for buses, cyclists and pedestrians to the Jennyfield estate. The site layout also includes allotments, public open areas and space for a primary school.

The full site was given outline planning permission for 600 homes in 2016. This week’s meeting looked at the detailed layout of the northern half of the site, including layout and amenities, after the southern half had its details approved in 2018 and construction began.

New homes are already under construction and some occupied on the southern half of the site off Penny Pot Lane

Cllr Pat Marsh raised concerns about access to the homes, saying:

“I’ve opposed this application every time it has come to committee. I still think one access road for that amount of houses is ridiculous. In a way my hands are tied.

I’ve got no reason to refuse it but I still want to put my point across that I really don’t support the principle. To have 600 houses off that road I think is wrong.”

Planning committee members also raised concerns about the bus route which, they said, if open to cyclists, could also be accessed by motorbike riders. Planning officer Mark Williams confirmed the details would be supplied at a later date and would be approved by the chief planning officer.

Cllr Marsh abstained from the vote, but the rest of the committee agreed to defer the decision to the chief planner to approve, subject to receipt of additional details relating to issues including the bus route.

Separate plans are expected to be submitted for a primary school once more homes have been completed and occupied.

Read more:

• Council breaks listed building guidelines to give itself permission to put up fence
• Who will run Ripon’s £10m leisure centre?

Meanwhile, plans for 52 new extra-care apartments on Wetherby Road were approved by the planning committee. The site – formerly Greenfield Court care home – will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments for over-70s requiring support with personal care.

It will include a communal lounge and dining facilities, as well as laundry space on each of its three floors of apartments.

Cllr Marsh raised concerns about the proposal having just 30 parking spaces for both residents and staff, alongside cycle sheds. She said the area already had significant problems with parking relating to the nearby hospital, football club and schools.

However, planning officer Mike Parkes said the applicant, McCarthy and Stone, had similar developments elsewhere in the country and had found that level of parking to be adequate, especially among residents requiring extra care who were unlikely to drive.

Planning committee members voted in favour of the application, with just one abstention.

Two boys have been assaulted on the Bilton to Ripley cycle path after a confrontation with a group of teenagers.

The victims and a friend were chased onto the Bilton viaduct on Tuesday, between 6.15pm and 6.30pm, by a group of between five and seven people.

One of the group approached the first victim and punched him in the face a number of times. The boy suffered facial injuries which required hospital treatment.

The second victim tried to help his friend and was punched in the back of the head by another member of the group.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said:

“This incident took place on a busy public footpath, in broad daylight, where members of the public are exercising. We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Police are trying to trace two suspects. Both are described as white teenage boys, aged between 16 and 18. One was between 5ft 9ins and 6ft tall and well-built, with medium length brown hair. He was wearing a blue t-shirt and grey shorts and was on a bicycle, carrying a dark blue backpack.

The second suspect had a thin build and was more than 6ft 2ins tall. He is also believed to have been on a bike and was wearing a black t-shirt with grey jogging bottoms. Both of the suspects were part of a group of up to seven people.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Ryan Rudd. Alternatively, email ryan.rudd@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200093071.

To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A series of major fundraisers in Harrogate has been called off, leaving a hole in the budget for a national charity.

Race for Life, along with Pretty Muddy and Pretty Muddy Kids, had already been postponed from July to October but has now been cancelled altogether for this year.

Organisers Cancer Research UK say the decision has been made to keep participants safe. The events usually attract hundreds of participants onto the Stray, completing 5km and 10km courses.

Lisa Millett, the charity’s spokesperson in North Yorkshire, said:

“Since it began in 1994, Race for Life has raised over £890m for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken part and hope their support will continue.

“We know Race for Life is such a treasured part of the UK’s events calendar and it is with a heavy heart that for the first time in 27 years we have to announce that it won’t be taking place. The safety of our supporters, volunteers, suppliers and staff is however essential.

“We hope the Race for Life event series will be back bigger and stronger than ever in 2021. In the meantime, we’d love to invite as many people as possible to join us by taking part in Race for Life at Home in these challenging times.”

As a result of lockdown, Cancer Research UK says it expects to see a drop in income of up to 25 percent.

Through Race for Life at Home, the charity is encouraging people to set themselves challenges to complete in their own gardens or public places. It hopes the money raised will go some way towards filling the gap left my its major events, which fund long-term research and pioneering trials to treat people across the UK.

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Cancer Research UK is expecting a 25 percent drop in income this year because fundraising events have been called off

Lisa added: “Cancer hasn’t stopped and people affected by cancer need our support more than ever.

“From a run or 5K walk around the garden or local park to limbo in the living room, there is no wrong way to Race for Life at Home. With no entry fee, people might choose to twerk, star jump, squat, skip, dance, trampoline, or come up with their own novel way of taking part and share it with friends. We’re urging everyone – men women and children – to join our community and help raise vital funds.”

A Harrogate family has been able to share the joy of a new arrival for the first time since lockdown began.

Jen Carne gave birth to Samuel on April 21 and, along with husband Rob Earl, was unable to introduce him properly to his extended family.

Though they visited and waved through the windows, the easing of lockdown restrictions this week enabled grandparents Ed and Rosie Carne to meet Samuel in the park for the first time – and catch up with his 20-month-old sister, Hannah. Jen said:

“There have been a few positives in that we’ve been able to spend a lot of time as a family without having lots of pressure to see lots of people, but we’ve missed out on family being able to come over and help. We’ve missed being able to see other mums and babies. I have missed a lot of Hannah’s groups – it has been tricky trying to entertain her while taking care of Samuel.”

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• Which attractions are open for families to meet up outside?
• Nurseries welcome children back for the first time since lockdown began

This week’s meet-up was a special moment for the whole family, who should have been gathering this week to celebrate Jen and Rob’s wedding, which has had to be postponed. However, Jen said they hope to be able to hold a small ceremony soon, with a reception at a later date.

Ed and Rosie Carne enjoyed a picnic with their daughter Jen, granddaughter Hannah and new grandson Samuel after lockdown restrictions were eased

Meanwhile, Ed and Rosie are just pleased to be able to meet their new grandson and see how Hannah has grown over recent weeks. Rosie said:

“I feel we’re very lucky we live so near so at least we can see them, but I find not being able to pick Hannah up very hard. We were helping out with looking after when Jen was working so I feel we’ve got quite a close relationship and sometimes she wants to crawl to us and we have to back off. We have a few little games we can do, but it’s not the same.”

With less than four weeks remaining in the contract between the NHS and Harrogate Convention Centre, both parties are remaining tight-lipped about the future of the Nightingale Hospital.

The initial agreement allowed the NHS to establish the emergency hospital across eight halls at Harrogate Convention Centre and was set to last until the end of June. No rent was payable to HCC – which, owned by Harrogate Borough Council, had to cover costs using taxpayers’ money.

Now, with the end of the contract looming, the council has refused to comment on whether any further agreement has been made.

However, with national government advisors speaking publicly about the likelihood of a second wave of Covid-19, it seems unlikely the NHS will take down the facility in the near future. England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, said this week:

“It may be that there’s a seasonal element and if so, for most respiratory viruses, they are more likely to be transmitted, there is a higher likelihood of transmission, in the winter.

“The winter is always worse than summer, spring and autumn for health services, and we need to think about this in terms of how we come out for the next phase.”

While having the NHS Nightingale on stand-by has been described by many as reassuring, concerns have been raised repeatedly about the potential impact on the local economy – especially as hospitality businesses prepare to reopen in early July.

Harrogate’s businesses are heavily reliant upon tourist and conference visitors to the centre, which says that it contributes around £60m to the local economy. Hotels, restaurants and bars have already spoken out about the need to fill the gap left by the conference trade.

Read more:

• Harrogate District Hospital had a fifth of its workforce off sick
• Why one leading hotelier believes the Nightingale hospital could cause problems for the town’s hospitality trade

Harrogate Borough Council refused to make any comment on the status of negotiations with the NHS over the future of the Nightingale hospital, saying the contract was confidential. Last month, HCC director Paula Lorimer told The Stray Ferret that the next events were scheduled for August and, in the meantime, she was doing all she could to reschedule events which could not be held.

This week, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce’s chief executive, Sandra Doherty, told The Stray Ferret it was a “feather in Harrogate’s cap” to be chosen to host the NHS Nightingale for the region. However, she warned:

“The conference and exhibition industry is the life blood of Harrogate’s economy, and those businesses that rely on this vitally important trade need clarification as to when these venues will be handed back.

“Whilst the coronavirus lockdown has resulted in the cancellation and postponement of many events, organisers will now be looking to reschedule them for later in the year. Harrogate is blessed with a number of other superb conference facilities, and we need to do everything we can to encourage organisers to consider using them as an alternative.

“We must do everything in our power to keep new and existing business here.”