Upset and anger as Otley Road tree felled for cycle path

A Harrogate resident said he is “upset and angry” because a mature tree was felled today to make way for the Otley Road cycle path.

Works have continued throughout November to build the new cycle path, which is part of a package of sustainable transport measures in the west of Harrogate.

For the first phase of the route, a section is being created between Harlow Moor Road and Cold Bath Road.

But to make way for the route, two mature trees have to be felled, including one today near Pannal Ash Drive.

Chris Dicken, who has lived off Otley Road for 35 years, said he enjoyed looking at the tree and was angry to see workers remove it this morning.

“I am intensely angry. It is a mature well-loved landmark that has been felled for minor benefit.

“They are taking a nice green environment and putting tarmac down.

“I’m very angry and upset.”

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The long-awaited introduction of a cycle path on Otley Road has been welcomed by Harrogate District Cycle Action as a major step forward for active travel infrastructure in the town.

However, Mr Dicken, who is a cyclist himself, criticised the “badly designed” cycle path. He believes cyclists will not be encouraged to use it because 58% of it will be shared with pedestrians.

“They said it will reduce traffic on Otley Road, but there’s no evidence that will happen.”

Karl Battersby, corporate director of business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council said:

“To accommodate Otley Road cycle route, this is the one and only tree that has to be removed in Phase 1, with one more in Phase 2. We intend to replace these two trees with new plantings on Harrogate Grammar School and Yorkshire Water land, and we are in active discussion with both parties. We are also working with Harrogate Borough Council to plant additional trees on Otley Road; meaning there will be more trees following this scheme than there were before.

“A congestion study in Harrogate showed overwhelming public support for sustainable transport provision as an alternative to the use of the car. Otley Road cycleway is one element of ongoing projects in Harrogate to make it easier and safer for people to use active, sustainable modes of transport, such as cycling.”

Works have also taken place to widen the junction on Harlow Moor Road for motorists, which has involved the felling of ten other trees.

Grayson Perry’s Harrogate show cancelled after he tests positive for covid

Grayson Perry was due to perform at Harrogate Convention Centre this weekend but has had to cancel his show after testing positive for covid.

The artist, writer and broadcaster told his followers on Saturday he had tested positive for covid. However, it was only today that his show in Harrogate on Saturday, November 27 was cancelled.

The Harrogate Theatre tweeted about the event today. It said:

“Unfortunately, due to Grayson Perry testing positive for covid, the performance on Saturday November 27 has had to be postponed.

“Ticket holders will be contacted directly with further information. We apologise for the late notice and any inconvenience this may cause.”

It is unclear when the performance will be rescheduled to, ticket holders should receive further information on an email.

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A total of four shows have been cancelled including last weekend’s performances at Buxton Opera House and Royal Albert Hall and the upcoming show on Sunday November 28 at Kendal Leisure Centre.

The show, ‘Grayson Perry: A Show for Normal People’, was described as an evening of “worthiness and silliness” with Mr Perry expected to ask big questions around the meaning of life and why it all matters.

Woman wanted after fraud scam in Harrogate shop

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for information to identify a woman spotted on CCTV in a Harrogate shop after a fraud was committed.

Cash was taken from the One Stop on Crab Lane Harrogate at 10.30am on October 22.

The woman entered the shop and asked for cash to be changed into different notes and coins. The scam known as ‘ringing the change’ involves the scammer asking for various different notes and coins to confuse the cashier into giving them extra money.

Anyone who recognises the woman in the image is asked to contact the police.

If you have information contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Brendon Frith or email Brendon.Frith@northyorkshire.police.uk. Quote reference number 12210226719.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Harrogate council criticised for lack of drink facilities at Hydro

Harrogate Borough Council has been criticised for a lack of drinks facilities at the town’s Hydro.

Bob Kennedy, who took his children to a swimming session at the leisure centre this past weekend, said there was nowhere to get a drink at the site for parents.

The Hydro, along with other facilities in the district, is now run by council-controlled company Brimhams Active.

Mr Kennedy said the cafe, which was open before the pandemic, was closed and there were no vending machines.

He added that there was only tap water available and a member of staff told him he had to bring a water bottle to use it.

Mr Kennedy said:

“There were no cafe, no vending machines, no water machine, nothing.

“As a spectator sitting there in the stifling heat for two hours, I have left completely dehydrated with a headache.”

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In response, Harrogate Borough Council said the company which ran the cafe at the Hydro had ended its contract due to covid.

A spokesperson for the council said:

“The café at the Hydro in Harrogate was leased to a catering provider that sadly, due to covid-19 and the unavoidable closure of the leisure centre throughout the pandemic, ended their contract.

“Part of this contract was also to supply vending machine drinks and snacks.

“We are looking at identifying a new supplier and as part of the multi-million pound refurbishment project will be exploring the future provision of a new and improved café at the Hydro.

“In the meantime, a water fountain is available for customers to refill their own drinks bottles”

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and happy Monday. It’s Leah back with you this morning with frequent travel alerts to try and make your journey as smooth as possible.

I’ll let you know about roadworks, delayed buses and any traffic hotspots that could cause you delays.

If you spot anything, and it is safe to do so, give me a call on 01423 276197 and we can help other commuters too.

These blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is it from me this morning, Alys will be with you for regular traffic and travel updates in the morning. Have a lovely day.

Roads

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8:30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning, with no hotspots just yet.

Traffic is building here:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning, with no hotspots just yet.

Traffic is building here:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

 

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier this morning, with no hotspots just yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

 

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

 

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no hotspots just yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

 

Yoga studio plan for former Laura Ashley shop approved

A yoga studio is set to open in the former Laura Ashley shop in Harrogate after plans were approved.

Harrogate Borough Council has given the go-ahead for the unit on James Street to be converted into a boutique yoga and pilates studio.

Ebru Evrim, which lodged the proposal, currently provides classes in Skipton and sells activewear clothing.

In documents submitted to the council, the owner said they wanted to replicate the business in Harrogate town centre.

As part of the plan, the unit will be converted into retail and teaching space over three floors.

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The two upper floors would be used as yoga and pilates studios and the activewear would be sold on the ground floor.

The owner said in its plans:

“This diverse development will enable a small and local business to occupy a prominent unit on a struggling high street.

“There are obvious economic benefits here to the town centre and wider district.”

The Laura Ashley store has been closed for some 12 months after the company went into administration following trading concerns caused by the covid pandemic.

Harrogate historian writes book about town’s Edwardian past

A Harrogate historian has written a book about the lives of working-class people during the Edwardian period in Harrogate.

This will be the fifth book by Dr Paul Jennings, who has lived in Harrogate for 25 years.

He said Harrogate’s rich and lavish past is often documented but the lives and names of people who helped to build the town are lost to history.

The book, ‘Working-Class lives in Edwardian Harrogate’, looks at the lives of numerous working-class professions including servants, hospitality staff, rail workers and industry workers.

Around 3,000 women worked as servants in Harrogate during the Edwardian period, 1901-1914, which was a lot more than other sectors.

The book also looks at education for poorer people, local amusements and some of the rich families they worked for.

Anyone interested in local history may know the name Samson Fox, he was mayor of Harrogate three times between 1890 and 1892 an also brought Harrogate with its first steam fire engine, built the Grove Road School, funded the Royal Hall and provided affordable social housing.

Another local life examined in the book is Richard Ellis who funded the Queen Victoria statues which still stands across from the train station.

Dr Jennings said:

“I was more interested in the names people don’t often remember. I spent a lot of time in Northallerton’s record office as well as local libraries. Some schools were also kind enough to let me go through their historical records.

“It was seriously enjoyable doing it.”

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The idea for the book came around seven years ago.

Dr Jennings became inspired when he started researching the Edwardian period, 1901 to 1914. It was the period Harrogate really boomed, well-known buildings such as the Harrogate Theatre, the Majestic Hotel and the Royal Baths were being built around this time.

Dr Jennings is a retired history lecturer from the University of Bradford and also a member of the Harrogate Civic Society.

He said he has no current plans to write another book on Harrogate but has plenty of work lined up with the civic society.

The book is also in conjunction with an upcoming exhibition at the Pump Room Museum, which has a provisional opening date of December 2.

Stray Views: Let’s get behind the Station Gateway

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Station Gateway is best thing to happen to Harrogate for years

The Station Gateway plans are the first glimmer of hope I have felt in my seven years of living in Harrogate town (aka ‘my car’s bigger than your car’ Town).

A glimmer of hope that we just might have a lovely, friendly, safe, human, caring, bustling, fun town buried somewhere here. Buried beneath the surging, charging, horrific madness that is currently ‘our town’.

We have dual carriageways with parking down both sides. The humans lurk, unwanted, forgotten, ignored, often frightened, on a little strip of tarmac potentially a mere few metres from where they want to be. As for cycling. You’d have to be mad.

Nowhere have I seen a town so well-suited to walking, running, cycling and generally playing out, that instead chooses to destroy itself in deference to its rich, entitled, car-addicted populous.

The Station Gateway is just the start…

Ruth, Walker, runner, cyclist, mother and musician of Harrogate

Ripon needs a First World War walking tour

I read with interest your article about the installation of the memorial at Hell Wath nature reserve, which was the site of the WW1 army camp in Ripon.

I was born and grew up in Ripon and have spent a lot of my adult life there, but I had to ask a fellow walker for help to point me in the right direction to find it when we went to have a look at it. It would have been far easier if you had included directions on how to find it in your article.

It would also have been useful to have had more information there about the camp at Hellwath and its significance to WW1 history.

A walking route pointing out points of interest would be both interesting and educational to all age groups. Perhaps some of those metal figures could be placed in key areas of interest. Considering the great lose of life in WW1, it would be a fitting tribute to those that served and were billeted there. Most families were touched in some way by the war at the time, mine included.

Geoff Fletcher, North Stainley

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Time to deal with these dangerous gases

It’s been common practice for some time now to vent to the surface gases from land that has previously been a landfill site.

The gas that is emitted is typically methane (CH4), which we know to be significantly more dangerous to the climate than carbon dioxide (CO2). Some studies rate it as 100 times more powerful a climate change gas.

There are sites in Harrogate that currently vent this gas to the atmosphere: Stonefall Park and parts of the Great Yorkshire Showground, amongst others.

Has the time come to deal with this harmful gas in a more environmentally friendly way?

Robert Newton, Pannal

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Malcolm Neesam History: The Sun Pavilion and Colonnade, Valley Gardens

This festive history is written for The Stray Ferret by celebrated Harrogate historian, Malcolm Neesam.  

The Council’s recent statement that they are to improve conditions at the Valley Gardens Sun Pavilion and its associated buildings, is welcome news.

Following the magnificent achievement of having saved the Sun Pavilion from demolition in the 1990’s, the Friends of Valley Gardens, with the full co-operation of the Council, enjoyed the sight of the re-furbished building being opened by the Queen in 1998. At that time, Council Leader, George Crowther, assured the Friends that they could rely on the Council to look after the Sun Pavilion, and to finish the job by restoring the Sun Colonnade and two Sun Parlours.

Unfortunately, these were ideals that later administrations were unable to achieve, apart from removing the glass roof of the colonnade, and also the windows and doors of the two Sun Parlours – the net result being that these structures were exposed to the weather, with deterioration setting in.

The Sun Colonnade and Pavilions, 1936

As walking and exercise were long recognised an essential part of the Harrogate “cure”, along with an understanding that weather conditions often discouraged visitors from walking very far, many Harrogate buildings incorporated glazed spaces where people could walk and be protected from the rain, cold and wind, which sometimes makes outdoor walking a trial. The encircling “ambulatories” at the Royal Hall, the Royal Bath’s Wintergardens, and the Wintergardens at the Old Swan are all examples of this trend. Consequently, when the Sun Pavilion was planned for Valley Gardens, a long covered walk was added to link the new Sun Pavilion with the Royal Pump Room to the east, and the Royal Bath Hospital to the north. After the new buildings were opened in 1933, they soon became a highly popular attraction.

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Night time illuminations, 1938

Recent news that improvements are to be made are indeed welcome, as they open up exciting possibilities for the future. With a rain-proofed roof, the Sun Colonnade would be a good location for special fairs and markets such as the Art Market or Christmas Market, without damaging the grass or flower beds of Valley Gardens. Perhaps Harrogate International Festivals, or other local Festivals, could find the refurbished locality ideal for their needs.

The two Sun Parlours are more problematic, but surely – at this location – offer potential for private sector involvement, such as for hire by a children’s creche, a flower and seed shop for the Royal Horticultural Gardens, a venue for youth interest, etc. etc. To make the area safer by night, it would be good if the dud lights along the Elgar walk could be replaced, for unless I am wrong, this path seems completely blacked out at night.

As to the immediate future, I suggest that what Harrogate needs to steer it successfully through the next few years is strong leadership, with a bold vision allied to good business sense. This is desperately needed, and it may well be that the future use of these Valley Gardens buildings will be as good a test of resolve and ability as any.

Malcolm Neesam.

Christmas markets 2021: The best festive events around the district

This article is sponsored by Berwins

A less-than-ideal Christmas in 2020, many of us want to mark the festive season as early as possible this year.

And what better way to get into the festive spirit than to wrap-up warm and wander around a Christmas market with a cup of mulled wine.

While some events have been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns, there are still plenty going ahead across the district.

And just like buses, three events have come all at once in Harrogate following the cancellation of the town’s original Christmas market.

Knaresborough’s popular Christmas market is also back!

Here is our guide to the festive markets taking place across the district this year:

Christmas Market Weekend at Crimple, Harrogate

We kick off with the Christmas Market Weekend, which will feature more than 20 food and craft stalls at the brand spanking new Crimple food hall and restaurant.

It comes after Brian Dunsby, co-organiser of the original Harrogate Christmas Market, has worked with some of the stallholders to get them a new venue.

There will be music all day, including performances from the Chris White Jazz Trio, Tewit Youth Band and local busker Freddie Cleary.

There will also be plenty of children’s activities, including a festive animal farm, face painting and Christmas treasure trails, as well as wreath-making demonstrations.

November 27 and 28, Crimple, Leeds Road, from 8am to 7pm on the Saturday and 10am to 4pm on the Sunday

Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity’s (HHCC) Outdoor Pop-up Christmas Market

In the true spirit of Christmas, this NHS charity event is being held at Harrogate Railway Athletic Football Club for an extremely good cause.

Visitors are invited to “soak up the festive atmosphere” at the outdoor market, while browsing a selection of stalls. The big man himself will also be making an appearance, with a chance to visit Santa.

There will also be a licensed bar, “merry donkeys” and live music.

Tickets are available for a donation of £5 per adult (aged 14 and over), £2 for children over the age of 3 and under 3s are free.

Tickets include and entry drink on arrival, a mince pie and a visit with Father Christmas – an absolute bargain! And what’s even better, is the proceeds from the event will go towards making life changing differences in the town’s hospital and wider community.

November 28, Harrogate Railway Athletic FC, Station View, Harrogate, 1pm to 7pm.

Harrogate Christmas Fayre 

Market Place Europe is taking on the main event in Harrogate, but instead of Montpellier Hill, this new market will take place across the town centre over 10 days.

There will be a mixture of local and European stallholders on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.

The Harrogate Christmas Fayre will feature around 50 traders, which will spaced out wider than usual to encourage social distancing.

December 3 until December 12, Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent, Monday to Wednesday – 10am to 7pm, Thursday to Saturday – 10am to 9pm, and Sundays from 10am to 5pm

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Harrogate Christmas Artisan Market

Little Bird Made, which has carved out a name for itself across North Yorkshire with its artisan markets, is set to hold a special two-day Christmas event in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.

More than 60 local traders and producers will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware and jewellery, as well as locally-produced food and drink.

This is a new addition Harrogate, set to complement the town centre’s Christmas Fayre, with organisers working with Harrogate Borough Council.

December 4 and 5, Valley Gardens, Harrogate, 10am to 3pm

Market Square, Knaresborough at Christmas

Photograph: Charlotte Gale Photography

Knaresborough Christmas Market 

Knaresborough Christmas Market is back with an actual bang – yes there are fireworks – after last year’s cancellation.

With the organising committee promising a “Yorkshire experience to remember”, there will be over 50 stalls selling decorations, gifts and locally-sourced produce.

While visitors sip their mulled wine, they can also enjoy live entertainment from local dancers, choirs and brass bands.

As in previous years, the market will culminate with a fireworks display over the town’s iconic viaduct at 4.30pm on Sunday, December 5.

December 4 and 5, Market Square

Boroughbridge Christmas Market

This is another festive artisan market by Little Bird Made, which is being held the same weekend as the event in Harrogate.

This one is taking place at Langthorpe Farm Shop and promises “a Christmas shopping bonanza, mulled wine and some special surprises”.

There will be an assortment of handmade gifts and stalls will include arts, crafts, plants, clothes, jewellery, candles, soaps, coffee and gin. For the foodies, there will be cheese, pies, flapjack, biscuits, preserves, cakes and street food.

December 4, Langthorpe Farm Shop, Leeming Lane, from 10am to 3pm

Ripon Christmas lights

Ripon Christmas Market

Last year the covid lockdown meant that the city and its traders were unable to capitalise fully on the £65,000 spent on a major expansion of Christmas lights and displays.

However, this year the festivities are back! And so is Little Bird Made, with another Christmas market in the district, this time in partnership with Ripon City Council.

On December 5 and 12, artisan markets will be held on the square and free children’s fairground rides will be in operation on those dates.

There will be a selection of stalls from local traders, arts, crafts, food, an outdoor bar and live music.

December 5 and 12, Ripon Market Square, 10am to 3pm