North Yorkshire County Council says a controversial seven-month road closure at Whinney Lane won’t be reduced, despite pleas from the manager of the Squinting Cat that it could put his pub out of business.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Don Mackenzie, executive member for highways at North Yorkshire County Council, called the delay unfortunate but said the seven-month timeframe agreed with the housing developer Mulgrave is “reasonable”.

The Stray Ferret reported earlier this week that the road will be closed to build two access points for the Castle Hill Farm housing development as well as a new roundabout.

The roundabout will have four exits, including one into another site on Whinney Lane which is earmarked for development in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan. However, planning permission is yet to be granted for the site and residents say North Yorkshire County Council should not allow the roundabout to be built.

Cllr Mackenzie said the authority is entitled to plan ahead for highways improvements.

He said:

“When one designs highways and roundabouts one has to have a certain amount of foresight to look ahead.

“We’d be criticised if we constructed the roundabout then it has to be completely redone. We’d be accused of wasting tax payers money.

“NYCC gets criticism that we don’t put infrastructure in place before development happens. In this case we are, even though permission has not been granted.”

Read more:

• Squinting Cat pub says seven-month road closure ‘could kill us’
• Whinney Lane in Harrogate to be closed for seven months

Several residents have contacted the Stray Ferret this week to voice their complaints about the closure, with one calling it “absolute madness”.

Cllr Mackenzie sought to reassure residents and the Squinting Cat, saying access will be maintained.

He added:

“It’s unfortunate but residents needn’t worry. Their access will be maintained as will access to the Squinting Cat.

“But I cannot deny that large scale residential of this nature will cause disruption. Whinney Lane is not alone in that.”

Harrogate’s “puppy boom” during lockdown has seen local people set up new businesses to capitalise on the new market.

More dogs and the needs of new pet owners has been the driving force for several new start-ups in Harrogate.

With more people working from home the number of puppy sales has increased. This is good news for local entrepreneurs who have been able to set up new businesses to work with the new dogs in the district.

New puppies increases the need for training, grooming and accessories – this has given a boost to business for three local business owners.

Holly Hamp has opened up Dog Spa Harrogate:

“I was working in a kennels and a lot of people aren’t going on holiday so it turned into the right time right place. There are a lot of people doing the same thing. People have been getting dogs over lockdown but there are concerns with that too. There has been a puppy boom which means people need their dogs grooming and walking especially as they return to work.”

Charlotte Wilson has put her work as a makeup artist on pause so instead set up a business making personalised dog accessories. She said:

“Its all based around personalisation anything from dog treats, bowls, treat baskets. It has been really successful, I didn’t think it would go that well. I am wanting to grow it with staff, eventually we hope to sell more each day to employ people that had lost their jobs. A lot of people have just got a new dog so want to spoil it with new products. People are just mad about them! I’d never tried it before but I have three dogs and I thought what do I love and that was dogs, so I ordered the printer and set it all up.”

Katie Bell has resumed her career as a dog trainer after seeing a niche for owners with new puppies over lockdown.

Read more:

• Harrogate pet shop says they missed out on puppy boom because people purchased online goods instead. 
• Police have reported a rise in people being scammed when trying to buy puppies online.

Katie Bell has trained as a dog behaviouralist but worked as a dog walker until lockdown when she saw a niche for new owners needing to train their dogs. She said:

“Since lockdown I knew there would be a lot of dogs needing help specifically with separation anxiety as their owners return to work. I am getting another dog soon so I have set up a facebook group to provide regular training videos for people to follow at home. My enquiries have massively increased, I think since people have been at home more they have realised their dog or new puppy has behavioural issues. Now the rules have eased I am able to do training in people’s gardens or indoors and I think that will only increase.”

Holly Hamp has set up a dog groomers in Harrogate after seeing the need for dog services grow.

News of this latest reported death on July 15th comes after eleven consecutive days without any coronavirus fatalities at the Hospital. It brings the total number of coronavirus deaths at the hospital to 82.

A further 8 people, who tested positive for the coronavirus have died in England, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,181. 2 of those patients were from Yorkshire and the North East.

The hospital trust said on Thursday that it had discharged a further two patients, taking the total up to 141.

Read more:

• New North Yorkshire coronavirus cases ‘remain low’
• Government should pay compensation for HCC Nightingale extension

Patients were aged between 61 and 91 years old.   All patients had known underlying health conditions.

Strayside Sunday is our weekly political opinion column. It is written by Paul Baverstock, former Director of Communications for the Conservative Party. 

This week, Harrogate Borough Council was on the receiving end of the Stray Ferret’s interest in its sparkling, circular, glass-fronted, council headquarters at Knapping Mount.  This to replace the down at heel Victorian jewel at Crescent Gardens that served as the council’s home between the 1930’s and 2017.  At question, both the decision-making rationale and the economic fundamentals of the move.  Given the usually somnolent nature of the council’s communications in response to our publication, it has been with some surprise that the investigation has provoked a series of carefully written council Tweets and a special edition of its “Resident’s News” email to issues its denials.

It seems the investigation struck a nerve; not least the claim, based on assessments made by local estate agents, architects and quantity surveyors, that the land value of the site at Knapping Mount can be estimated at £4.5 million.  Given that the adjacent Springfield Court parcel of land (which is roughly half the Knapping Mount acreage) sold with planning permission to developers for £4.8 million just a couple of years ago, this does not seem an unreasonable estimate.

In one of its Tweets the council said: “The land at civic centre did not cost the council £4.5million. We already owned it, so the cost was £0.”  This is an answer to a question the Stray Ferret did not pose.  The point made was that the council had a duty to maximise taxpayer value as it explored its relocation options, including an assessment of the value of the Knapping Mount plot, both with and without planning consents.  Saying that Knapping Mount cost £0 is either voodoo economics or commercially illiterate.  Neither is good enough.  Further, a Tweet like the one published is silly and, in my view, serves only to mislead Harrogate’s good burghers.

It leads one to the unavoidable conclusion that the council ‘did decree’ they were going to have their stately pleasure dome come what may. Close to town, nuzzled into a leafy hillside, shaped around a consensus building demi-sphere, this was to be their Xanadu.  At a time when, even pre-Covid, the council was facing real financial challenges, it was (and remains) their duty to mangle every last drop of value from the council’s estate – which they hold on trust for the public – and that should include being live to the economic potential of all its land assets.  National campaign group The Taxpayer’s Alliance agrees.

I accept that being a modern public servant is a hiding to nothing; everyone is a critic.  But when decisions are made that place a premium on vanity and status, and disregard utility, service, and cost effectiveness, they need to be called out.  The great days of building neo-gothic municipal town halls as palaces of leadership are long gone; I would argue that in contemporary society we don’t much care what the council building looks like; we care whether the services we receive for the council tax we pay feels like a fair deal.  I’m not sure Harrogate Borough Council gets it.

When Covid struck and Harrogate Convention Centre was named as one of the Government’s Nightingale Hospitals, I confess I felt pride.  And it seemed morally right that the council gave use of the facility to the NHS free of charge.  Now we know that the HCC will remain a Nightingale until at least March 2021, left in place – take your pick – either to provide specialist care, NHS Winter Pressures cover, or Covid second (or third) wave capacity.  I’ve written here before that diverting HCC away from conference use deprives Harrogate’s economy of up to £57 million per annum.  That’s a huge fiscal hole to fill, particularly in “new normal” circumstances. And now it seems the HCC may well be out of commission for two years, which has come as a bitter blow to local businesses already on their knees and (I suspect) to the chagrin of the council.  Its ‘greater good’ decision has come back to haunt it – even when it does the right thing, Harrogate Borough Council is unlucky.

Talking of which, word reaches that Boris Johnson aims to fast track his plans for regional devolution for implementation in 2022.  If brought into effect, this will mean that Harrogate Borough Council would be subsumed into a newly empowered and funded North Yorkshire unitary authority, with a directly elected Mayor.  What this will mean for the political careers of local politicians like HBC leader Richard Cooper, one can only speculate.  It wouldn’t comfort me if he were catapulted onto a larger political stage before he can demonstrate he has mastered the footlights at the local rep.  Still, if devolution does go ahead, and Harrogate Council ceases to exist, we might yet be able to realise the true value of Knapping Mount.

That’s my Strayside Sunday.

Read More:

• Strayside Sunday: Is Harrogate too dependent on its hospitality industry?
• Column: Not all of Rishi Sunak’s measures will help Harrogate’s hospitality industry

A Harrogate manufacturing firm has worked with 1st Pannal Cubs to offer a remote lesson in furniture design and building.

The Harrogate cubs troop teamed up with Create CNC to learn via Zoom how to build their own piece of birch plywood furniture. Each of the 24 members were supplied with all the materials needed to make a wooden stool with guidance from instructors.

During covid, the cub sessions have been run remotely every Friday over zoom. This task enabled them to assemble the stool with instructions and tips from Create CNC.

The cubs have had to adjust to their new virtual meetings.

Harrogate District Hospital has reported no new coronavirus deaths for 11 days, according to the latest NHS figures.

It means the total number of deaths of patients who tested positive for coronavirus at the hospital remains at 81.

Meanwhile, the hospital trust discharged a further two patients this week, taking the total up to 141.

Read more:

• New North Yorkshire coronavirus cases ‘remain low’
• Government should pay compensation for HCC Nightingale extension

A further 13 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in England’s hospitals. 2 were in the Yorkshire and North East region.

Patients were aged between 49 and 96 years old. All patients had known underlying health conditions.

It means the death toll from coronavirus nationally has increased to 29,173.

Extinction Rebellion Harrogate picked the Prince of Wales roundabout today to hold a demonstration highlighting the climate emergency.

The group told The Stray Ferret it had chosen the location as it wanted “somewhere striking” to draw attention to its cause and to re-ignite the group after lockdown.

It is hoping the demo will lead to more people wanting to join its ranks. Drivers blew their horns as they passed the group of around 20 demonstrators.

Read More:

• Extinction Rebellion Harrogate says it will hold regular cycle rallies
• Bilton homes will be “catastrophic” to the environment claim residents

Questioned as to whether the demonstration was safe or could have been distracting to drivers, Jess Thompson, coordinator for Extinction Rebellion Harrogate’s action group said:

“Our intention isn’t to distract drivers- we know safety is paramount. The banners were large and so drivers could easily see our messages. We want to highlight that time is up – we are living in a real emergency and we demand action.”

Ms Thompson told the Stray Ferret that the police had spoken to them and asked them how many were expected and how long they were staying there but took no action to stop them demonstrating.

An open top bus has brought live music to the streets of Harrogate today.

New York Brass Band was touring the town thanks to a collaboration with Harrogate International Festivals.

The band – which regularly performs around the UK and has played Glastonbury in the past – is known for its engaging style and interactive performances. Its music had shoppers dancing in the streets this morning.

Read more:

• Virtual world-class line up for Harrogate International Festivals
• Great Yorkshire Show holds first-ever virtual event

New York Brass Band by the war memorial

Meanwhile, HIF said its digital material has gained a worldwide following since lockdown began. More than 6,000 hours of podcasts, featuring top musicians, authors  and inspirational speakers, have been listened to by audiences  around the world, including Finland, Australia and New Zealand.

HIFAtHome combines archive recordings with resources for families, giving a virtual festival experience with highlights from previous live events.

HIF chief executive Sharon Canavar said:

“Since our first Festival in 1966, our mission has been to promote the arts – and despite the cancellation of our entire summer programme, 2020 won’t be an exception!

“With HIFAtHome we are able to continue with our goal to deliver the very best in the arts. Instead of simply shutting down, or bemoaning our festival position and lack of income, we have harnessed the creativity and agility we are famed for.

“We have spun on a pin to ensure that we can still create and deliver both with artists and for audiences, and the result has been to bring Harrogate International Festivals to life, digitally. At the click of a mouse button, you can now access new commissions and exciting projects, together with looking back at some of the highlights of the last few years.

“The arts is worldwide and people are craving the arts to help make sense of the world right now.”

HIF is now preparing for four days of music performances and star interviews from Thursday, July 23. It will begin with the announcement of the winner of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel on the Year – usually the popular opening ceremony to the crime writing festival, which draws authors and fans from around the world.

A child sex abuser from Harrogate has been jailed for 3 years at York Crown Court.

Daniel John Gresham, aged 34, was arrested in March this year. Police seized electronic devices from his home which were analysed by North Yorkshire Police’s Digital Forensics Unit.

The Online Abuse & Exploitation Team identified Gresham as the person responsible for making indecent images of children. Detectives were then able to prove that he had been sexually abusing the girl in the images over a  2 year period from 2013 and that he had then shared the images online earlier this year.

Gresham had earlier pleaded guilty to sexual touching a girl aged under 13 and also making and distributing indecent images of the same girl.

As well as being imprisoned for 3 years Gresham was made subject to a 15 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Read More:

• Man suffers bleed to the brain after assault in Ripon
• Harrogate Nightingale Hospital to stay in place until March next year

Detective Sergeant Lee Allenby, of the Online Abuse and Exploitation Team, said:

“Despite the emerging operational difficulties posed by the coronavirus during this time, we were able to progress the investigation and secure charges against Daniel Gresham.

“More importantly, we were able to identify and safeguard a young victim who had been keeping her abuse a secret for many years. I have nothing but admiration for her bravery in supporting the investigation and I hope the outcome at court will help her to put this terrible experience behind her…

“..As for Gresham, he is clearly a dangerous individual who is now facing up to the consequences of his depraved actions.

“We will not rest until such offenders are arrested, convicted and put behind bars where they can do the least amount of harm to vulnerable victims and to society as a whole.”

A survey carried out by a Harrogate cycling club has shown that riding in groups improves mental and physical wellbeing.

Liferiders, which was set up nearly four years ago, is a beginners cycling group which encourages people to get from “couch to countryside.” The group was founded on the idea that riding bikes together helps people feel better.

At the start of lockdown Simon Thomas, the group’s founder, asked members to fill in a survey to measure their wellbeing during lockdown. Having enjoyed a number of rides together, members then took the same questionnaire and saw their wellbeing had improved by at least 35%.

Read more: 

• HBC consult land for Otley Road Cycle Route
• Harrogate cyclist completes ‘Everest Challenge’ 

He told The Stray Ferret:

“It has been interesting for me to watch more people turn to cycling during lockdown. Some people might come out of this with a new hobby and a new sense of wellbeing.”

The group cycle all round the district on quiet roads and cycle paths.

Since lockdown the group has seen an influx in new members joining. The cycle group meet every Wednesday evening as well as some Sunday mornings and all the rides are free to join.

For more information and to join a ride visit – http://www.cbad.club