Questions raised over timing of Harrogate council’s UCI review

Questions have been raised over why Harrogate Borough Council has decided to hold a review on the UCI Road World Championships two years after the event.

The authority has launched a public survey of the competition, which was held in Harrogate back in September 2019.

The council’s overview and scrutiny committee set up the review to build on “its successes and identifying any areas for improvement to inform the organisation of future events”.

But both residents and businesses groups have said the council should listen to those who were directly affected by the nine-day event and raised questions over why the review is being held now.

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Anna McIntee, of Harrogate Residents’ Association, said the town was “exhausted” by the competition and traders let their feelings known at the time.

She added that she could not understand why a review was being held two years after the event.

Ms McIntee said:

“I do not really understand why it is two years on. It had such a large effect, businesses lost money.

“I just feel that they had a response from businesses at the event. So what has changed two years on?”

At the time, the event proved controversial due to road closures and £130,000 worth of damage to the West Park Stray.

It received a hostile reception from many local traders, who said they did not feel the benefits of the event coming to town, particularly as it led to many road closures that deterred people from coming into Harrogate.

David Simister, who has been named as the new chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce.

David Simister (left), chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce.

But a council-commissioned report by Ernst and Young claimed the championships brought in an estimated £17.8 million boost to the district economy.

David Simister, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said the event was a disaster for businesses and that the council should listen to those trader directly affected by it.

He said:

“For many town centre businesses, and in particular retailers, the UCI was a total disaster, and came at a heavy cost.

“The chamber held a meeting directly after the event and feelings were running very high. Two years on, and the same sentiments still stand.

“Because of the daily road closures, residents and visitors avoided the town centre. The ideal location for an event of this size, which caused so much disruption, should have been the Great Yorkshire Showground, with buses laid on to take spectators to and from the site.”

“The council says the aim of this review is to build on its successes and identify any areas for improvement to inform the organisation of future events. What it needs to do is to listen to those businesses who will be directly affected as a result.”

Meanwhile, Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate BID, said the UCI was “untenable” and the focus in future should be to bring smaller events to the town.

She said:

“While the Tour de France was hailed as great success, sadly the same could not be said of the UCI, and I have great sympathy for those businesses who lost money.

“It was a coup for Harrogate to host it – and the races were watched by cycling fans around the world – having the town centre closed for 15 days was simply untenable. Because of the disruption, people just stayed away from town, and this was evident, day after day, by the empty streets.

“The focus should be on attracting a wide range of smaller events to the town on a regular basis, which bring people in, which I know businesses would welcome.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“The overview and scrutiny commission has decided to look at the UCI Road World Championships with the aim of building on its successes and identifying any areas for improvement to help inform the organisation of future events.

“Following the consultation the task and finish group of the overview and scrutiny commission will produce a report.”

Those wishing to give their views have until June 16 to complete the survey.

Mixed reaction to proposed Harrogate wheelchair taxi licence changes

Plans to tackle a decline in disabled-friendly travel in the Harrogate district by introducing an unlimited number of taxi licences have been met with a mixed reaction from local cabbies and campaigners.

Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing committee will next Wednesday be asked to remove a limit on licences and make all new plates available only to wheelchair accessible vehicles after complaints that disabled people have been “cut off from society” because of a lack of travel options.

The move has been welcomed by campaigners who hope it will put an end to “the inequality that the current system imposes”.

But cabbies have warned unlimited licences would lead to “deregulation” in the taxi trade.

Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, said the charity has long campaigned for a solution to the problem which has caused “social isolation and frustration” for disabled people.

She said: 

“While in recent years many of our cities and towns have increased their numbers of wheelchair accessible vehicles, the exact opposite has been occurring across the Harrogate district.

“This is despite an increasing demand, which sadly has led to a real problem for local disabled people.

“Disabled people go to work, have medical appointments and go shopping just the same as non-disabled people, but with the difference being that many are reliant on others for their transport.

“The impact of not being able to get a taxi on the same basis as a non-disabled person should not be under-estimated.”

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But Richard Fieldman, who runs A1 Cars of Ripon and Harrogate, said going through with the proposal would be a “big mistake” as more licences would mean the supply of taxis would outstrip demand.

He said: 

“I’m rather surprised they want to introduce an unlimited number of licences – it will have a massive impact on the trade because it will mean every man and his dog can get one.

“This isn’t about throwing a load of plates out there, this is about what is fair to the existing trade which has planned a lot of money and time into this.”

No increase in licenses for 30 years

Harrogate Borough Council has restricted the number of taxi licences to 148 for about 30 years, which in effect has meant the only way to acquire a licence is to buy an existing vehicle from someone.

In September last year, the licensing committee agreed to double the number of licences designated for wheelchair-accessible taxis from 11 to 23 after a study concluded disabled people were suffering from a “great deal of anxiety” over worries they could not get around.

However, the council has since run into difficulties over creating a “fair and lawful” system to distribute just 12 additional licences.

Dean Richardson, head of safer communities at the council, said in a report to Wednesday’s meeting: 

“It became apparent to officers that it would not be straightforward to design a fair allocation system which would not be susceptible to legal challenge by disappointed applicants.

“In the Harrogate district, wheelchair users have been facing increasing difficulty obtaining wheelchair-accessible licensed vehicles’ services.

“Wheelchair accessible vehicles are vital in allowing users to access essential services and for them to live their lives as anyone else would.”

The recommendation to committee members next Wednesday is to remove the limit on licences with all future licences to be designated as wheelchair accessible vehicles plates.

If approved, the changes would be reviewed within five years.

Harrogate and Wetherby to get dedicated radio service

Ofcom is to offer Harrogate and Wetherby a DAB radio licence.

The communications regulator said today organisations would be able to bid for the licence, which will enable listeners to tune in on digital radio, in the coming months.

Harrogate and Wetherby is one of 25 licence areas included in the latest round of Ofcom’s roll-out of small-scale digital licences.

At the end of last year, in a previous phase of the rollout, five organisations bid for the digital licence in Leeds.

Currently only Greatest Hits Radio in the Harrogate district has an FM licence.

Other stations such as Harrogate Community Radio, Your Harrogate and Harrogate Hospital Radio are available online, via an app and or smart speakers.

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Harrogate Community Radio said it would look into the financial situation before deciding whether to bid but it was excited about the opportunity. Board member Charley Christopher said:

“It’s definitely something we’re looking into but we would need support from others. There may be grants available that we could look into. It is exciting for us and potentially another platform to expand into.”

Your Harrogate presenter Nick Hancock said it intended to bid for the licence. He added:

“It’s great that all our efforts, as well as those of many others, for this to come to Harrogate and Wetherby, have been rewarded.”

 

Man died in Harrogate swallowing suspected drugs he was hiding from police

A man died in Harrogate after swallowing a suspected package of drugs that he was hiding from North Yorkshire Police officers.

According to an Independent Office for Police Conduct report, on February 23, 2019, officers from the county lines drugs team saw the unnamed man who they suspected was involved in supplying controlled drugs.

After they stopped him, he immediately swallowed what was believed to be a package of drugs.

Officers and paramedics tried to help after the man started to choke and managed to dislodge the package from his throat.

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He was transported to Harrogate District Hospital where he received medical treatment, but died.

The report, published last week, added:

“Our investigation concluded there was no indication the officers may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence. 

“The officers were treated as witnesses and cooperated fully with this investigation. The evidence also suggested that all reasonable attempts were made to provide the man with medical assistance at the scene. The officers continued this work until paramedics arrived. 

“Their actions in this regard demonstrated a commendable degree of diligence and professionalism.”

The IOPC said the investigation was completed in September 2019, but was published following the outcome of an inquest in March this year.

The inquest reached a conclusion of accidental death.

Sneak peek: Warburtons pop-up cake shop opens in Harrogate

National bakery chain Warburtons has opened a new pop-up cake shop in Harrogate today on James Street — so we went for a sneak peek.

Ellie Warburtons, which is based in the former Swarovski store at 36 James Street, will sell premium cakes and hot drinks.

There are eight different flavours on offer and customers will be able to vote for their favourite in store.

The menu includes espresso and raspberry brownies, cookie dough caramel slices, ginger with orange cakes, raspberry and passion fruit cakes, coffee and chocolate cakes.

The cakes cost £3 each and are also available as a box of four for £10. People will be able to buy the cakes online after the national launch on June 21.

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Warburtons has worked with the founders of Harrogate’s Love Brownies on the new concept.

Lee Teal, managing director of Love Brownies, told the Stray Ferret:

“It is really exciting to get rocking and rolling with these cakes. This is the second of our pop-up shops, Warburtons is famous for bread but we want to see where we can go with these handmade cakes.

“This is going to suit Harrogate really well, we are just trying to make the best product we can. Warburtons has a really good transport network so we can get fresh cakes around the country quickly.

“Of course it is amazing working with such a massive brand, it is very exciting putting these together and fingers crossed it works.”

Jonathan Warburton, chairman of Warburtons, previously said:

“This is an exciting new venture for our family business and we are taking very much an entrepreneurial approach to how we build the brand while bringing with us the core of Warburtons ethos – quality and taste.”

The new brand takes its name after Mr Warburton’s great-great auntie Ellie. If it goes well a permanent shop could open in Harrogate.

Self-combusting linseed oil causes freak house fire in Bilton

Self-combusting linseed oil is believed to have caused a fire that spread to a Harrogate house and shed last night.

The fire shattered a kitchen window and melted a PVC frame during the freak incident at a home in Cecil Street, Bilton about 9.30pm.

The North Yorkshire Fire and Service incident log said:

“Two crews from Harrogate and an officer attended a fire to a shed that spread to a garden fence and caused damage to the rear of a property.

“The fire shattered a kitchen window and melted some of a PVC frame.

“The cause is believed to be some linseed oil that self combusted and melted a turps containers and then run down to the shed setting that alight.”

Linseed oil, which is extracted from flax seed, is a natural oil used as a preservative for wood as well as being an ingredient in paints and varnishes.

Firefighters used two hose reel jets and a thermal imaging camera to tackle the blaze.

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Calls to reopen Starbeck Baths heat up as restrictions ease

Local residents have called for Starbeck Baths to reopen this month.

With temperatures soaring, and schoolchildren on half-term, many families in the Harrogate district are keen to go swimming. But the Starbeck pool remains closed — and no reopening date has been announced.

Harrogate Borough Council has said that, due to the nature of the historic building, it would be difficult to open with coronavirus restrictions in place.

But with the lifting of restrictions on June 21 approaching, residents believe there should be no further barriers in the way of reopening and want to keep up the pressure.

Staffing may still be an issue for the baths though. The Stray Ferret understands a number of employees have either left or been seconded to new roles.

The reopening debate has raged since last summer but heated up further last month when Ripon Spa Baths re-opened, which is also based in an old building with limited space.

Harrogate Borough Council said Starbeck Baths would open “shortly” after Ripon Spa Baths but there has been no word since on an opening date.

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The ongoing uncertainty is frustrating residents, including Chris Watt, who told the Stray Ferret:

“My little boy, who I used to bring here every Saturday, has been missing his swimming lessons for the last 18 months.

“I think now is exactly the time to be reopening the baths. The council said before that it would reopen in May but here we are in June and we still do not have a date.

“Local residents would be delighted if the baths reopened. It’s really well-used and massively valued.”

Philip Broadbank, a Liberal Democrat who represents Harrogate Starbeck on Harrogate Borough Council, added:

“I have been lobbying on the issue for the last year. I do not understand why the baths were able to open in Ripon but not here, they have the same layout.

“The council officers tell me they are now waiting for the next government announcement for the next stage in the roadmap. They tell me they want to reopen it as soon as possible.”

Stuart Rhodes, a committee member on Starbeck Residents Association, said:

“I am disappointed that the baths are not open yet and so are the school children.

“I understand for Harrogate Borough Council that it is not easy but it is frustrating.”

Councillor Stanley Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport at Harrogate Borough, said in April:

“We are hoping to open Ripon Pool in May and providing we have got staff availability, very soon after that we will be opening Starbeck.

“Staff shortages are a problem – there was no point recruiting stuff during the pandemic for obvious reasons and now we are on a campaign to recruit.

“We do hope to open the pools as soon as possible… providing nothing changes with government guidelines or we have any serious staffing shortages.”

Last month the council said there were no updates and there have been no announcements since.

Revealed: Somerset company’s Harrogate leisure contract worth £2 million

Harrogate Borough Council awarded a Somerset company a contract worth £2 million to develop plans to build a new Knaresborough leisure centre and refurbish Harrogate Hydro.

Alliance Leisure was formally chosen for the contract in November last year and appointed development manager for the £26 million projects.

The Stray Ferret asked the authority the value of the contract, which was awarded without competitive tender, but did not receive a response.

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Now, details on a local authority contract register have revealed that the contract is worth £2,107,161 and will last for 11 months.

The value is broken down into £873,783.50 for the Harrogate Hydro and £1,233,377.50 for the new Knaresborough leisure centre site.

Jim Anderson, who runs Ripon recycling firm K A Anderson, told the Stray Ferret in November he was “utterly dismayed” that the authority had given the contract to the Somerset firm.

He said:

“You see plenty of business struggling in Harrogate now.

“I just think there are lots of good local firms that could do the work. I think whatever the work, it should be given to them especially now.”

Council bosses plan to build the new Knaresborough centre on the existing leisure centre site.

The authority has started to draw up designs for the new facility after a consultation revealed that 80% of respondents supported the site.

But residents criticised the consultation and have since launched a campaign to save a local playing field next to the development from being built on.

Champagne thief strikes in Harrogate supermarket

Police have appealed for information after champagne and spirits worth more than £800 were stolen from a supermarket in Harrogate.

The theft took place at Morrisons on Hookstone Road in Starbeck at about 10.30am on Thursday April 22.

Officers have released CCTV footage of two men they would like to speak to. They believe the men “hold information which would be of assistance to the investigation”.

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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“While it’s recognised that the men in the images are wearing face masks, officers are appealing to anyone who may recognise them by their hair or clothing to get in touch.”

Anyone who has information can call the police on 101 and quote reference 12210103291.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Brass band to give free live performance on Harrogate Stray tonight

A brass band will give a free live performance tonight on the Stray in Harrogate from 7pm.

Harrogate Band will play hymns and gentle music alongside the In Memoriam artwork that was installed last week on West Park Stray as a memorial to NHS workers who have died due to covid.

In Memoriam, which is the first of a series of art installations organised by Harrogate International Festivals this summer, will be available to see until June 7.

Harrogate International Festivals organised tonight’s live music.

Harrogate Band consists of 25-30 members and has been performing for 51 years.

Band chairman Ed Dennis said;

“The band are delighted to be back performing after 14 months of not seeing each other of being able to make music together.

“We’re so pleased to be working with Harrogate International Festivals once again on this very special project.”

Catch them tonight in front of the memorial on the Stray from 7pm to 7:40pm.