Sewage spills in Nidd and Ure more than doubled in 2023

The Environment Agency has published its annual storm overflow spill data for 2023 – and the two main rivers in the Harrogate district saw significant increases.

The agency today released its event duration monitoring data, which shows the frequency and duration of sewage spills as a result of storm overflows in England.

It includes data from the nation’s 10 water and sewage companies, including Yorkshire Water.

Yorkshire Water recorded the second highest number of storm overflow spills. Its 77,761 figure was surpassed only by United Utilities, which released sewage on 97,537 occasions.

The Stray Ferret has been looking at the data for storm overflows that affect the River Nidd and the River Ure.

The Nidd flows through Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough and its tributaries, such as Crimple Beck and Oak Beck, run through Harrogate.

The Ure flows through Masham, Ripon and Boroughbridge.

Nidd and Ure data

The Nidd saw a total of 16,226 hours of sewage spills in 2023, which is a 120% increase from the year prior (7,380 hours).

The data also shows the total number of spills using the Environment Agency’s 12-to 24-hour count method, which records spills according to their duration.

Any discharge in the first 12-hour block is counted as one spill. Any discharge in the next 24-hour blocks are each counted as one additional spill.

This method is used to ensure very long, continuous spills over multiple days are not counted as one spill.

Using this method, the number of counted spills in the Nidd in 2023 was 1,561, compared with 1,010 in 2022 (a 55% increase).

The Ure saw a mammoth 11,612 hours of sewage spills in 2023 – a 166% increase from 2022’s 4,370 hours.

Using the 12-to-24-hour count method, the Environment Agency recorded a total of 1,238 spills in the Ure in 2023, compared to 880 in 2022.

Yorkshire Water ‘disappointed’ by figures

We contacted Yorkshire Water for comment on the number of spills.

A spokesperson for the firm said it was “disappointed about the number of discharges in 2023”.

They added:

“This increase is due to the wet weather experienced in the 12-month period, which included 11 named storms. The weather experienced in the region in 2023 included a very wet summer and prolonged heavy rainfall towards the end of the year resulting in groundwater infiltration into the sewer network.

“Overflows operate during prolonged or heavy rainfall and multiple storms in close succession can lead to increased discharges due to the storm capacity being used up.

“Our teams worked hard throughout 2023 to reduce discharges as part of our commitment to improve the operation of our network. As a result, our modelling indicates investment in our network and changes to our operations since 2021 equate to an improvement of 12,980 discharges when normalised against rainfall.”

The spokesperson added Yorkshire Water was “making headway” with a £180 million programme to reduce discharges across the region by April 2025.

They continued:

“Work is in progress on 62 projects, including some on the Nidd and Ure, that will reduce discharges from some of the most frequently operating overflows, with more to follow later in the year.”

National picture

The Environment Agency revealed a 54% increase in the total number of sewage spills in 2023 compared to the year prior, and said there were 14,318 storm overflows during the calendar year — up from 13,313 in 2022.

A total of 100% of storm overflow networks are now fitted with event duration monitors in line with the government target, the agency added, which enables it to collect data.

Helen Wakeham, director of water at the agency, said:

“Whilst it is disappointing that water companies have reported an increase in sewage spills in 2023, it is sadly not surprising. We are pleased to see record investment from the water sector, but we know it will take time for this to be reflected in spill data – it is a complex issue that won’t be solved overnight.

“No other country has the level of monitoring we do, with 100% of storm overflows in England now fitted with a monitor. We are better placed than ever before to hold water companies accountable.”

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5 alternative Easter activities in and around Harrogate

(Image above: a Frank Sinatra tribute act is performing on Easter Monday at Grantley Hall)

Easter has come early this year and there are some brilliant activities this weekend – see our 7 Easter activities to keep the kids entertained – but aside from this there are other goings-on in and around Harrogate; read on for inspiration aplenty…

Watch a Frank Sinatra tribute act at Grantley Hall

Listen to Phil Fryer belt out some of the most iconic Frank Sinatra songs of all time including My Way, Strangers In The Night and Come Fly With Me.

Dining during the performance is already fully booked for the event, but guests can sip drinks and enjoy the show in newly relaunched The Orchard’s lounge area where Phil will perform some of Frank’s biggest hits. Or you can always make a reservation to dine in Fletchers restaurant pre- or post-show instead.

Free, limited spaces available, first come, first serve, 1.30pm-3pm, April 1, Grantley Hall, Ripon, HG4 3ET.

Learn how to make pasta from scratch

Pixaby

If you’re walking or up in the Yorkshire Dales this Easter weekend and you fancy trying your hand at something a little bit different, why not take part in a pasta making workshop?

Keld resident Chris Giles demonstrates how you can make pasta from scratch using no specialist equipment. All ingredients are included, and afterwards you can savour the fruits of your labour with a hearty bowl of what you’ve cooked.

£30, March 31, 1-4pm, The Keld Resource Centre, Keld, Richmond, DL11 6LJ.

Take part in traditional Yorkshire Dales dancing 

Nidd Music and Dance

Did you know that there’s traditional music and dances that derive from Yorkshire Dales’ villages? Help to keep it alive by taking part in this event at Ripley Town Hall.

Each traditional Dales dance such as the Kendal Ghyll and the Huntsman’s Chorus is explained and walked through before you dance to them, all to the background of live folk music.

Free for children, £10 for adults, 6.30pm-10pm, March 30, Ripley Town Hall, HG3 3AX.

Visit Ripley Castle Markets

Ripley Castle Markets

Taking place on the last Sunday of every month from February to December, this month Ripley Castle Markets is holding a seasonal market. It will bring together more than 40 independent local artisans, producers and creatives to showcase their wares all to the backdrop of the Grade I listed building.

Goodies and treats that will be available include breads and cakes from Baltzersen’s, Skipton’s Antony’s Biltong, cookie boxes from Carlton Kitchen, cheeses from Wharfedale Fine Cheeses, plus something for your four-legged friends, as well as present ideas inspiration aplenty.

You can make a day of it too as on market day, the castle and grounds are free to visit. And there will be extra Easter activities including a bunny hunt, children’s craft activities – click here for more information – and guided tours of the castle.

Free, there’s an additional cost for the children’s craft activities and castle tours and pre-booking for these is advised, March 31, 10am-3pm, Ripley Castle, HG3 3AY.

Laugh out loud at a comedy show

Harrogate Theatre

If you’ve not yet been to one of the regular Hyena Lounge Comedy Club nights at Harrogate Theatre, this Saturday could be the opportune occasion as there’s a trio of brilliant stand-up comedians including Hal Cruttenden, Simon Evans and Jenny Hart, all led by the compere for the night, Danny McLoughlin.

From £20, 8pm, March 30, Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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Rail disruption expected over Easter weekend

Train operator Northern has advised people to ‘check before you travel’ over Easter.

Engineering work is scheduled over the bank holiday weekend, meaning there will be disruption to services between Friday, March 29 and Monday, April 1.

Trains will still be running on Easter Sunday and the two bank holidays, but some journeys may take longer than usual and services may finish earlier in the day. Some routes have reduced services and a small number are closed completely.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer, said:

“Easter has long-been a period when essential engineering work is carried out as there are fewer customers travelling than normal.

“We do appreciate, however, that this still causes disruption for those who are on the move and we work closely with Network Rail to ensure the impact is kept to a minimum and alternative transport is provided wherever possible.

“During periods of disruption, customers are always advised to ‘check before you travel’ and to allow extra time for their journeys.”

Last week, the train driver union, ASLEF, announced that strikes that will take place the week after Easter. Walk outs are planned between Friday April 5 and Monday April 8.

Northern services will be impacted by this action on Saturday April  6. More information is due to be released closer to the time.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with over 500 stations across the North of England including Harrogate, Knaresborough and Starbeck.

For more information about travelling over the Easter bank holiday weekend, click here.

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Boys arrested after bottles thrown on Harrogate’s Parliament Street

Three boys have been arrested after items including fire extinguishers and glass bottles were hurled on to Harrogate’s Parliament Street today.

Police were called to reports of a burglary just before 2am. Parliament Street was closed and fully reopened at about 8am.

A North Yorkshire Police statement this morning said:

“CCTV in the area showed three young people throwing items from the top floor of the property into the street.

“Items included fire extinguishers, poles and boxes, one of which contained an amount of glass bottles, which smashed across the road.

“Specialist officers, including negotiators were called to the property bringing the incident to a safe conclusion around 6.30am.”

Yorkshire Ambulance Service and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were also called out and highways workers cleared debris before the road fully reopened at about 8am. Many windows on floors above the businesses on Parliament Street were broken this morning.

Two lanes of Parliament Street reopened until the remainder of the debris was removed.

The statement added:

“Three boys aged, 15, 16 and 17-years-old were arrested a short time later on suspicion of burglary and affray. They remain in police custody while the investigation continues.”

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said it was alerted at 2.43am.

“A crew from Harrogate responded to reports of a large number of youths inside an unsafe derelict building, throwing items from the roof.

“Fire crew stood by awaiting instruction form the police. Eventually incident was dealt with without fire service intervention.”

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Meet the team – Lauren Ryan, journalist

We’re continuing to feature a different member of the Stray Ferret team each week.

It’s now Lauren Ryan’s turn – one of our news journalists.

If you’d told Lauren as a child that she’d be writing stories like the ones found in the pages of her favourite fashion magazines, she might not have believed you.  

Born and raised in Yorkshire, she moved out of the area briefly to study journalism to a postgraduate level at the universities of Lincoln and Nottingham respectively.  

After several industry internships as well as a stint at Jorvik Radio, she joined the Stray Ferret at the start of 2024, and has become an integral member of the news team ever since.   

According to Lauren, although she has a special interest in ‘human-interest subjects that celebrate achievements or life-changing events’, any subject that can make a difference to the local community is a story worth sharing. 

 She explained:

“I love writing about local issues that impact a community and I enjoy talking to people in the area about what is important to them.

“I may have lived in Yorkshire all my life but working as a journalist I discover new things about the area every day.”

Although Lauren joined the Stray Ferret a matter of months ago, she’s already covered an eclectic range of subjects – from charity ventures and daytime discos to rail strikes, parking charges and even bomb scares. 

 A story that epitomises the variety the job offers was her exclusive interview with Sarah Collins, a Harrogate singer who recently starred on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. 

Lauren attending Neuhaus’s shop opening

“In order to talk to Sarah about her appearance on the show I had to track down the creators and producers of the TV show and discuss the interview I aimed to do with the BBC and the producers at Hungry Bear Media. 

“I first heard about Sarah a month prior and tried to contact her multiple times, I had almost given up hope when she called me the night before the show was due to air after being given a strict embargo by the producers.“

Another personal highlight was speaking to the teachers and pupils at Holy Trinity infant school who contacted the Stray Ferret to help solve the mystery of a 50-year-old mural they discovered on school grounds.  

She added:

“Due to their enthusiasm and determination to find who created it 50 years ago I was swept up in their search and loved learning more about the mystery.“

Her passion for North Yorkshire shines through both her work and her free time; at weekends, Lauren likes to visit nearby towns and cities as though she’s a tourist, to experience familiar areas from a fresh perspective. 

Lauren said:

“I love romanticising places I have always known by visiting art galleries, theatres and trying out new bars and restaurants in my spare time. 

“I especially love going to vintage sales and record fairs on a weekend, which both York and Harrogate are great for.

“North Yorkshire has an underrated cultural scene and it’s also a great place for walking and hiking.” 

If you think you’ve got a story that might be of interest to Lauren, you can contact her by email at lauren@thestrayferret.co.uk. 

Harrogate’s Parliament Street reopens after vandals smash windows

Harrogate’s Parliament Street was closed this morning after numerous windows were smashed in what appeared to be an outbreak of vandalism.

Police and workers were on the site this morning clearing glass off the road.

Two of the lanes had reopened at 7am but the lane where traffic turns right on to King’s Road remained closed while glass was being swept off the carriageway.

Some of the smashed windows.

However, the road was expected to fully re-open shortly.

Police at the incident did not give any details about what had happened.

The Stray Ferret has contacted North Yorkshire Police’s press office for further information but has not. had a response.

We will update this article when we have more information.

Workers sweep up the debris.

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Councillors approve 135 homes off Harrogate’s Skipton Road

Councillors have voted to approve 135 homes on the site of a former farm off Skipton Road in Harrogate.

The proposals by Rowan Green Developments Ltd will see the homes built at Cow Dyke Farm near Jennyfields.

The land is allocated for housing in the council’s local plan and the scheme was recommended for approval in a report.

The majority of the homes will have between one and three bedrooms and 54 are expected to be classed as affordable.

Chris Calvert spoke on behalf of the developer at a meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee this afternoon.

He said the application met all of the council’s planning requirements.

Mr Calvert said:

“The site is within development limits for Harrogate. It’s been assessed by the local authority to be a suitable and deliverable site for new homes on the edge of Harrogate.

“It will be a high-quality and sustainable development ”

Cow Dyke Farm. Image: Rowan Green Developments Ltd.

Councillors visited the site this morning where concerns were raised about the current 40mph speed limit for motorists on Skipton Road.

Hundreds of homes have been built nearby in recent years and Tesco has planning permission to build a new supermarket close to the site.

Cllr Robert Windass (Conservative, Boroughbridge and Claro) asked if the speed limit on the nearby section of Skipton Road could be lowered to 30mph.

He said he saw a woman cross the road this morning with a pushchair, adding:

“40mph was maybe OK when there was no housing there, but I now think it’s inappropriate.”

However, his request was knocked back by a council transport officer who said the 40mph limit was appropriate.

North Yorkshire Council has asked the developer to pay a one-off contribution of £161,906 towards Killinghall Village Hall and £76,347 for improvements at Jennyfields recreation play area.

This led Terry Jones, representing the 72 objectors, to say the developer was offering a “paltry sum” towards local services.

Mr Jones said:

“You all seem to assume it’s going ahead. It’s probably a waste of time objecting, but it’s interesting to see the impact on local services. To employ extra doctors, dentists, teachers, it costs money every year.”

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the plans but a reserved matters application that deals with the scheme’s appearance and landscape will come before the planning committee at a future meeting before homes can be built.

Cllr Windass added:

“It looks to be a sympathetic approach to development on this land. I hope when they come back at reserved matters, the sympathy of the site is maintained and improved on.”

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Yorkshire Dales Monopoly edition revealed

There’s nothing quite like a game of Monopoly between friends and family, especially during the holidays. Launched just in time for Easter, the official Monopoly: Yorkshire Dales has been released and highlights iconic places, landmarks and game pieces from God’s own country.

The new Yorkshire Dales game follows on from previous local editions including Monopoly York that was released in 2010, Monopoly Harrogate which was launched in 2019, Monopoly Leeds released in 2008, and Monopoly Sheffield launched in 2007.

Monopoly Harrogate

Bolton Abbey features as the new ‘Mayfair’ as it is the game’s top-ranking space, while other famous Yorkshire Dales sites that the board features include Malham Cove, Fountains Abbey, Masham Market and Settle Railway Station.

Players will ‘pass GO’ on more than 30 local landmarks that are on the board such as The Forbidden Corner, with well-known Yorkshire hotels including the Stone House Hotel and Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa also on the board.

John Keen-Tomlinson, custom games executive at Winning Moves UK said:

“We have been absolutely spoilt with choices when putting this Monopoly game together, including the customised wording on Community Chest and Chance playing cards.

“For example, some players could be penalised for ‘wild camping’, whilst others could be rewarded for ‘quality sheepdog trials.’ Very Yorkshire!”

The board also features miniature game pieces of a dry stone wall, a slab of Wensleydale cheese, a pair of walking boots, a Craven Ram, a cricket bat, and a bicycle, instead of traditional tokens like the Scottie dog and boot.

Jason Bunn, proud Yorkshire resident and Britain’s only Monopoly world champ said:

“It’s a real slice of Yorkshire.

“I have a one of the world’s largest collections of Monopoly editions – more than 300 different themes, from Elvis to the Wizard of Oz, but Monopoly: Yorkshire Dales edition could very well be my favourite now.”

Did you know?

The first game of Monopoly was launched in 1935, and today the game is enjoyed by more than one billion players in 114 countries across the globe. In total it is licensed in 103 countries and printed in 37 languages.

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New owner takes over Deli Bar Harrogate

The Deli Bar in Harrogate is under new ownership.

The business has been at 23 Regent Parade for the last 17 years. Now the lease has come to an end Darren Winder, who has owned the deli since 2006, has decided to step down and Jason Evans has taken over.

The deli offers daily specials, salads, sandwiches, coffee and baked goods to customers in High Harrogate.

Mr Evans said running a deli had been an ambition of his since he was a child, through to his last job as a software engineer

He said:

“It is a childhood dream of mine, I have bored people about it for 30 years. I dreamed of having a slice of heaven and something of my own.

“I always said I’ll do it when I’m older and a friend of mine said recently, ‘Jason, you are older, when are you going to open a business?’ and it just hit me — if I didn’t do it now I’ll never do it and I would rather look back and regret doing it than never taking a chance.

“I said years ago if this place ever came up for sale I would buy it and it did — some things are fate.”

Deli Bar Harrogate

Mr Evans said he wanted to maintain the overall feel of the deli but would also “build on what customers want”, which would involve reviewing the menu and introducing a delivery system through Just Eat.

The deli has created a community over the years. It has built up regular customers and Hayley Francis has worked there for 15 years. Mr Evans said:

“Darren has done a fabulous job, it has a great reputation and we hope to maintain that.

“If you make good food people will come, it is so much more than one owner, it is our whole team. We also try to use local produce because us independent businesses need to stick together.”

The sandwich bar

The interior of Deli Bar.

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Harrogate Greens accuse Lib Dems of telling ‘blatant lie’ on by-election leaflet

The Green Party has reacted angrily to a Liberal Democrat leaflet that wrongly says they are not putting forward a candidate in the Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone by-election.

Campaigning is underway for the by-election which will take place on April 11 following the resignation of former councillor Pat Marsh.

Gilly Charters is standing for the Greens in the division, but she was contacted by two supporters over the weekend who asked if she was stepping down after they read a leaflet credited to Liberal Democrat candidate Andrew Timothy.

The leaflet urges voters to submit their postal votes before the deadline and describes the race as being between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.

It says Labour “came a distant third last time” and “the Green’s (sic) have stood down this election.”

Arnold Warneken, Green Party councillor for Ouseburn, was campaigning in the division on Sunday. He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the leaflet includes a “blatant lie” about the Greens standing down.

He said:

“I am angry, all these people are out there working hard for us. There should be a sense of mutual respect. The Lib Dems need to read what they put through people’s letterboxes.”

The Lib Dem leaflet.

The Greens did not put forward a candidate the last time the division was contested in 2022 because Cllr Warneken said they supported Pat Marsh.

The party has made a formal complaint about the leaflet to North Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Police for a breach of the Elections Act 2022.

The LDRS asked the Liberal Democrats to respond but they declined.

However, we have seen a direct message on social media platform X from a local Lib Dem official that blamed an external printing company for the error.

Cllr Warneken called it a “limp excuse”.

The direct message said:

“The letter that went out on Saturday was printed by an external printer who printed an earlier draft of the letter that was neither approved by the candidate nor the election agent. At no point was the intent to mislead anyone. There is going to be a correction issued once we’ve taken the appropriate advice from party HQ.”

A full list of candidates in the by-election is below:

Conservative – John Ennis

Green – Gilly Charters

Labour – Geoff Foxhall

Liberal Democrat – Andrew Timothy

Reform – John Swales

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