North Yorkshire Council has given an update on work to repair the A59 at Kex Gill.

The road, which is the main route between Harrogate and Skipton, closed suddenly on February 2 when a crack appeared on the verge.

Repair work costing £750,000 began on April 15.

Karl Battersby (pictured above), the council’s corporate director of environment, said in a 57-second video yesterday it was still hoped the road would re-open by the end of June.

He said:

“We know this has caused significant disruption and we acknowledge that in a different environment that we’d have got on site quicker to do these repairs.

“But we’ve had to do a number of survey works to make sure what we do doesn’t cause us a problem in terms of the current road but also doesn’t cause a problem in terms of the new road being constructed.”

Machinery on site

Mr Battersby said a piling rig was putting large metal poles into the side of the road to stabilise it. The road will then be resurfaced.

He added:

“We will be doing weekend working and extended day working to try to keep within that deadline.”

Irish construction firm Sisk, which is carrying out the nearby £68.8 million three-mile realignment, was appointed to oversee the repair work, with Ivor King carrying out the piling.

The crack was caused by a landslip which the council attributed to wet weather but some residents have claimed it is due to the impact of the realignment on the landscape.

Read more:

• Coffee shop on A59 calls for Kex Gill business support
• Three arrested in fraud investigation at well-known Harrogate firm

North Yorkshire Council has approved plans to create seven new flats on Harrogate’s Parliament Street.

The scheme will see the former Sofa Workshop unit, which is next to the now closed Bijouled store, converted to living accommodation.

The upper floor of the former Moko nightclub and office space will also be adapted to become flats.

The former Bijouled unit will be retained under the plans.

In documents submitted to the council, the developer, JC Robinson Ltd, said the application would cause no harm to the grade two listed building.

It added:

“Subject to further detailing of internal and external works including the design of new window and door openings to the exterior of the building, it is considered that the development can be undertaken without giving rise to harm to the significance of the listed building.”

Moko closed in 2019 and Bijouled ceased trading in February last year.

The former Sofa Workshop shut in April 2022 after the company entered administration.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens set to become private road
• Harrogate named as one of UK’s best shopping destinations

Polling stations across Harrogate and Craven open at 7am today for residents to choose the first-ever mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

Here is everything you need to know about the election.

What will the mayor do?

The mayor will lead a new public body called the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority which will receive £750 million in funding from central government over 30 years.

It means the new mayor will have £18 million a year to spend and will take charge of the combined authority, which will include two councillors each from North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council.

There will be new powers to improve public transport although services will still be delivered by the local authorities.

More money will also be available to support the building of new homes on brownfield land.

The mayor will also be key in developing skills across the region and attracting investment from businesses.

The mayor will be paid £81,300 a year.

Who is standing?

Conservatives: Keane Duncan – A former journalist who is a Malton councillor and is in charge of transport on the council’s decision-making executive.

Labour: David Skaith – A Harrogate-born shopkeeper who is chair of the York High Street Forum.

Liberal Democrats: Felicity Cunliffe-Lister – A Masham councillor and owner of the Swinton Park Hotel.

Green Party: Kevin Foster – A Richmond councillor and former soldier who worked as a civil servant for 30 years.

Independent: Keith Tordoff – A former police officer in West Yorkshire and former owner of The Oldest Sweet Shop In The World in Pateley Bridge.

Independent: Paul Haslam – A Harrogate councillor and business consultant who quit the Conservatives to stand as an independent.

Where can I vote?

If you’re on the electoral register you should have received a polling card in the post that says which polling station you should attend.

For a full list of polling stations in the Harrogate/Craven area visit here.

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm.

You do not need to bring your polling card to vote but you do need ID. The following forms of ID will be accepted:

• UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional) or driving licence issued by European Economic Area (EEA) country, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
• UK passport or passport issued by EEA or Commonwealth country
• Blue badge
• Older person’s bus pass
• Disabled person’s bus pass
• Oyster 60+ Card
• Freedom Pass
• Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
• Biometric residence permit
• Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
• National identity card issued by an EEA state
• Voter Authority Certificate

When will the winner be announced?

Unlike general elections, the count will not take place overnight, so it means you’ll have to wait until Friday before the winner is announced.

This will take place at Harrogate Convention Centre with counting underway from 9am. A winner could be announced by 12pm.

Read more:

• How will North Yorkshire’s mayor help the economy?
• Who are North Yorkshire’s mayoral candidates?

Candidates in tomorrow’s York and North Yorkshire mayoral election have been out and about making their final attempts to woo voters.

Polling stations will open at 7am tomorrow (May 2) and close at 10pm.

Counting won’t start until Friday so whoever is elected to the £81,300 role is unlikely to be known until Friday afternoon.

The six contenders have been using a variety of methods to win votes as the campaign draws to a close — from TikTok videos to meeting people in the street.

Conservative candidate Keane Duncan posted on social media that his 100-day-campervan trip across the county was coming to an end. He published more photos of him meeting residents and pledged ‘bold, ambitious action for York and North Yorkshire’, adding:

“I’ve campaigned everywhere. Not just in the major settlements, but in the remotest outposts too.”

Keane Duncan

Labour’s David Skaith posted a photo of himself on the campaign trail with West Yorkshire’s Labour mayor Tracy Brabin. He said:

“We’ve been knocking on thousands of doors right across York and North Yorkshire and it’s very clear that people are desperate for change.”

David Skaith and supporters

Liberal Democrat Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, who has been in Knaresborough today, said on social media:

“Lots to talk about and lots of hope and optimism that this election will bring about the change that we need – voters choosing me for my skills and business experience, a hard working candidate with common sense who will get the very best for all of us.”

Pateley Bridge-based Independent Keith Tordoff has taken to TikTok as part of his campaign.

A few days ago he posted a video of him hitting the heavy bag in boxing gloves to Rocky music, before pausing to say:

“It’s time we knocked the Tories, Labour, the main parties, out of York and North Yorkshire.”

Bilton’s Paul Haslam stood in Harrogate town centre with recyclable home-made banners talking to people.

He told the Stray Ferret he had loved the chance to get out and meet people and, as an independent with strong business background, felt he was well placed to push forward ideas such as an integrated transport policy.

Paul Haslam

Green candidate Kevin Foster posted a video of himself by a river, saying:

“As your mayor I will fight for North Yorkshire to get our fair share from the government. People tell me they want change from the same old parties letting them down.”

The Stray Ferret will bring live election coverage of Friday’s count followed by reaction and analysis over the weekend.

Read more:

• Three arrested in fraud investigation at well-known Harrogate firm
• Naked walk returns to Ripon
• Still no re-opening date for new Knaresborough playground

Police have arrested three people on suspicion of fraud and money laundering at a well known Harrogate firm.

Steve Mann Caravans, which is based on Claro Road, was founded in 1991. The family-owned firm sells caravans and motorhomes and runs a repair business.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today it arrested two men and a woman yesterday as part of an investigation involving about 50 victims.

It described the investigation as “complex” and said enquiries could take a long time.

The statement said:

“Three people have been arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering in connection with a caravan business in North Yorkshire.

“The arrests are part of a complex investigation by North Yorkshire Police into the company. Officers are investigating fraud offences involving around 50 victims.

“A 38-year-old man, a 62-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering on Tuesday, April 30 2024. They have since been released and remain under investigation.”

The statement added:

“As is usual with complex investigations of this nature, it is anticipated that enquiries will take a long time to complete.

“If anyone believes they may be affected by the investigation, please call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and pass information for reference number 12240018133.

“If you do not wish to speak to the police, you can pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or online via their website.”

Read more:

• Forestry England to create 35-hectare woodland near Harrogate
• Harrogate woman given suspended jail sentence for benefit fraud

Rudding Park in Harrogate is to open a new fine-dining restaurant.

Fifty Two, which the hotel described as an “immersive dining experience”, will be headed-up by former head chef at the hotel’s Horto restaurant, Adam Degg.

The news follows Mr Degg’s stint on Great British Menu this year.

The hotel said Fifty Two was inspired by the on-site kitchen garden and will use the “highest quality ingredients” grown at the hotel or by local producers.

Mr Degg said:

“We have been developing the concept for some time and want guests to feel as though they are at a relaxed dinner party at home with great food and drink, great company and great conversation.

“Given ‘the best parties always happen in the kitchen’, the space is literally an open kitchen, featuring a bespoke seven-metre kitchen island.

“Five tables with social seating offer prime views of the action. Like a dinner party with friends, you don’t see a menu in advance and guests place their faith in the cooking skills of the host, so in this case, me and my team!”

Adam, who has previously been awarded three AA rosettes, also said guests will be “immersed in the kitchen garden” from the moment they arrive, before entering the restaurant building which is made up of five shipping containers.

He added:

“From the moment guests arrive they will be immersed in the kitchen garden which they can explore with a drink and snack before making their way through an espalier hornbeam hedge linking the kitchen garden to Fifty Two.

“Here the evening continues with a series of dishes starting with a selection of snacks, freshly-baked bread and an assortment of plates leading up to our signature sharing dish, followed by desserts and treats.

“A key part of the concept, we want guests to feel at home. We’ll have aprons on hand for those who are keen to get involved, a pack of cards to spark the art of conversation and over pudding, we couldn‘t resist ‘dessert‘ island disc – the chance for guests to select a track for the Fifty Two playlist.”

The restaurant will be open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday.

On Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the six-course menu will set you back £85 per person, plus another £35 each for three wine pairings.

On Fridays and Saturdays, the menu will consist of 10 servings at £115 per person including a drink on arrival. There are also five drink pairings available, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, which cost another £50 per person.

Karen Tyson, resort general manager, also said:

“The importance of providing amazing experiences, memorable for all the right reasons, continues to grow. Fifty Two is just that – an innovative concept and one we believe will become a Yorkshire destination dining experience.

“Adam is an extremely talented chef and certainly one to watch – a star in the making.”

Fifty Two at Rudding Park Hotel will open on Thursday, May 16.

It is currently taking bookings until August 31.

Our food columnist Yemi will be reviewing Fifty Two soon. Keep an eye out for her feature, which is published every Saturday.

Read more:

• Naked walk returns to Ripon
• Three arrested in fraud investigation at well-known Harrogate firm

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In April, Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda Bill looked set to reach royal ascent, while MPs threw their weight behind their party’s candidates in the race to be the first York and North Yorkshire mayor on May 2.

Here’s what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what found on Conservative Andrew Jones:

• Mr Jones made two spoken contributions in the House of Commons this month. One was about the standards of new build housing in his constituency, and the other was during a Health and Disability Reform debate.
• On April 12, Mr Jones opened Disability Action Yorkshire’s new assisted living flats in Harrogate.
• Mr Jones welcomed a new bus service for Wedderburn Road, in Harrogate, on April 22.
• He joined Harrogate Pumping Marvellous, a heart failure group, for its first birthday on April 29.
• Mr Jones also voted in favour of the draft Economic Growth Order, and against the Renters Reform Bill (report stage) amendment 28.

When we contacted Mr Jones for comment, his office sent details of April engagements.

These included attending Horticap’s 40th anniversary event and presenting awards at the first Lego League Final at Harrogate Convention Centre.

Mr Jones went to the opening of the Knaresborough Heritage Centre and hosted a reception for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport across the north.

He also voted in favour of the motion to disagree with the Lords on amendment 3J of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

Mr Jones also saw the new electric 36 bus at the Harrogate Bus Company.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Ripon, here is what we found on Conservative Julian Smith:

• Mr Smith made no spoken contributions in the Houses of Parliament in the month of April.
• On April 16, he voted in favour of the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.
• Mr Smith also voted against the report stage of the Renters Reform Bill amendment 28.
• He also welcomed the news of the new childcare rollout in England, which grants working parents of two-year-olds access to 15 hours of free childcare per week.
• Mr Smith also said he was “really pleased” after North Yorkshire Council was awarded £7.8 million of additional funding to help those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with alternative provisions.

Mr Smith visited Glasshouses Community Primary School to talk about the role of an MP.

He also welcomed news of five local primary schools receiving funding, which will go towards improving the grounds and buildings.

Mr Smith also voted in favour of the motion to disagree with the lords on amendment 3J of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

We contacted Julian Smith for comment, but did not receive a response.

Keir Mather, Selby and Ainsty MP.

In Selby and Ainsty, which includes parts of south Harrogate, here is what we found on Labour MP Keir Mather:

• Mr Mather was listed among the Sunday Times’ top 25 most inspiring people under 30 in April for overturning a large Tory majority at such a young age.
• He updated his social media several times throughout the month. None of the updates related to areas of his constituency which fall in Harrogate.
• On April 22, Mr Mather spoke in the House of Commons about the upcoming election for the mayor of York and North Yorkshire. He raised concern about one candidate’s spending commitments.
• He voted against the motion to disagree with the lords on amendment 3J of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.

Mr Mather posted repeatedly online to encourage people to vote for David Skaith (a fellow Labour MP) as York and North Yorkshire’s inaugural mayor.

He also plugged Labour’s plans for failing bus services.

We did not receive a response from Mr Mather’s office after approaching him for comment.

Read more:

• MPs Watch: Spring Budget, Kex Gill and Rwanda Bill updates
• MPs Watch: Antisemitism, £380m transport fund and road safety
• MPs Watch: Rwanda bill, Post Office scandal and rough sleeping in Harrogate

North Yorkshire Council has increased the fine for an overdue book at its libraries from 30p to 35p per day.

The council said it was the first increase in almost a decade and was being made “in the light of increased pressures on finances”.

The changes will only apply to adult library members and not children.

The price to print an A4 piece of black and white paper at the library has also increased from 10p to 20p. It remains 50p to print a page of colour.

In an email sent to members yesterday, the council said income from fines and other charges goes into the library budget and contributes to ongoing service delivery costs.

The maximum fine for one book is £8.

The email added:

“Charges incurred at our community libraries goes directly back to the groups managing those libraries and makes up a valuable part of the income needed to meet their running costs.

“To mitigate the increase and to help customers keep track of items on loan we will be introducing reminders about when books are due back.”

For details of all library charges visit the council’s website.

Last year, Harrogate Library was the most popular in the county with 177,629 visits.

Visitor numbers at other libraries in the former Harrogate district area were Knaresborough with 110,191, Ripon with 73,428 and Starbeck with 18,676.

In 2015, the running of 31 libraries in the county was handed to volunteers in the face of mounting financial pressures brought on by austerity.

In this model, the council’s library service continues to provide the infrastructure including books and public IT, as well as some paid staff support to ensure consistency across the county.

The community libraries account for just under 40% of active library users and deliver on average 50% of the total business for book lending and computer access.

Read more:

• Naked walk returns to Ripon
• Three arrested in fraud investigation at well-known Harrogate firm

Residents in Pannal feel “hemmed in” and “isolated” as a result of ongoing roadworks in the area, says the local councillor.

Northern Gas Networks started utility repairs and maintenance work on the A61 Leeds Road near to the traffic lights at the junction with Follifoot Road two weeks ago.

The work, which is due to continue until May 13, includes temporary traffic lights in both directions on the A61 and on Station Road and Follifoot Road.

Cllr John Mann, a Conservative who represents the area on North Yorkshire Council, said the work had led to long queues on Leeds Road in both directions, congestion and rat running, particularly during rush hour times.

He also pointed to ongoing work by Yorkshire Water on Spring Lane, which he said had caused a “near perfect storm” of roadworks.

Cllr Mann said:

“Local residents feel hemmed in and slightly isolated at the moment.

“I have contacted the highways team at North Yorkshire Council and have called for urgent steps to be taken to reduce the effect on traffic, especially in the rush-hour and at school drop off and pick up times.”

Read more:

• Business case approved for £12.1m Harrogate Station Gateway
• Drivers face delays as four-week Pannal gasworks start

Cllr Mann, along with local resident Brian Dunsby, have both contacted Northern Gas Networks over the matter and urged them to put measures in place to reduce queuing, congestion and rat running.

Cllr Mann added that the utility company had agreed to manually operate the lights and to reduce the temporary lights at the top of Church Lane to a two-way operation.

The Stray Ferret put the concerns over the works in Pannal to Northern Gas Networks, but had not received a response by the time of publication.

The move comes as the company has started further work on Leadhall Lane in Harrogate.

Temporary lights are due to be in place until 7th May as Northern Gas Networks carries out “essential work to ensure the continued safe and reliable supply of gas”.

Northern Gas Networks said:

“Ageing metal pipework is being upgraded to ensure a safe and reliable supply of gas. Two-way temporary traffic lights are now currently in place on the junction of Leadhall Lane, Church Lane and Green Lane. These will be in place until Tuesday May 7 at the latest. Once this phase is complete, our work will continue down Leadhall Lane towards Leeds Road. It will be necessary to use two way rolling traffic lights whilst this stretch of work is completed.”

Mark Mawhood, operations manager for Northern Gas Networks, said:

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these essential works. However, it is vital we complete them in order to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Harrogate. We want to assure residents and road users that we will be working hard to complete this essential scheme as safely and as quickly as possible.”

Meanwhile, the company is also carrying out repair work on Halfpenny Lane in Knaresborough. The work, which includes a road closure, is due to be completed by May 5.