Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 191 of 1130

Floral trail to be installed in Harrogate this summer

Large floral displays will once again be installed around Harrogate this summer.

Harrogate Business Improvement District announced today it is bringing back its floral summer of celebration.

A trail of displays will be placed in locations around the town, allowing visitors to celebrate the town’s floral heritage.

This year’s theme is friendship, which has also been adopted by the Royal Horticultural Society for its 60th anniversary celebrations in 2024.

Last year’s BID displays told the story of Harrogate’s twinned towns and multi-national co-operation.

Last year’s floral celebration focused on Harrogate’s twinned towns.

Harrogate BID’s floral celebration won gold in the BIDs, town centres and city centres category at the Britain in Bloom awards.

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:

“We are incredibly passionate about promoting Harrogate as a floral destination in our own unique way – and we were thrilled to be crowned with the gold award at Britain in Bloom last year.

“We cannot thank the partners we work with, including Harrogate in Bloom, enough and look forward to welcoming hundreds of people and the In Bloom judges to our trail later this year.”

The floral event is part of the BID’s work to maintain Harrogate’s floral offering including planters and barrier baskets.

Further details of the event are yet to be announced.

Here are some of last year’s displays.

Local river bathers to get live data on sewage

Outdoor bathers at places such as Knaresborough Lido will be able to get almost real time data this summer on sewage being pumped into rivers.

There has been widespread concern about the state of local rivers, especially the Nidd and Ure.

Yorkshire Water announced yesterday it had launched an interactive map that will provide current information on the operation of storm overflows.

Water companies use storm overflows to release extra rainwater and wastewater into rivers when the sewerage system is at risk of being overwhelmed.

This usually happens during heavy rainfall but there has been concern about the overflows operating at other times and pumping more sewage into waterways.

River Nidd

The interactive map has been launched ahead of the 2024 bathing water season, which runs from May 14 to September 30.

It shows the live status of each of Yorkshire Water’s storm overflows, when they last discharged into a watercourse and for how long. The information refreshes at 15-minute intervals,

Yorkshire has 2,180 storm overflows and Ben Roche, director of wastewater at Yorkshire Water, said the map would increase transparency for customers:

Mr Roche said:

“All the data will be available to anyone accessing the map. We have decided to launch now, ahead of the bathing water season to ensure customers are better informed about our operations in their area.

“We know replumbing the whole of Yorkshire is not a quick fix as it would be both significantly disruptive and costly to customers. The map shows just how big an engineering challenge this is from the vast numbers of overflows we have.”

He added Yorkshire Water was “investing £180m by the end of April 2025 to tackle 134 of the more frequently discharging overflows”.

The £180m investment is split into four areas, he added. They are: increasing storage at Yorkshire Water’s wastewater treatment works and within the sewage network; separating surface water from the combined sewer system; reducing groundwater infiltration into sewers; and changes to the operation of treatment works.

You can view the storm overflow map here.

Police withdraw appeal to find woman with baby in Harrogate

Police have withdrawn an appeal for help finding a woman with a pram in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police issued CCTV images in the early hours of this morning of the woman.

Officers said they had concerns for her welfare and were trying to trace her.

But in an update this morning, a police statement said:

“We have spoken to the woman and pleased to confirm that everything is okay.”

Forestry England to create 35-hectare woodland near Harrogate

Forestry England has announced it is to create a 35-hectare woodland near Harrogate.

The woodland will be located at Haverah Park between Beckwithshaw and Killinghall. It will be planted as Coronation Woods to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

The site will become the second Forestry England site in the district, alongside Stainburn Forest.

Forestry England, which is an agency of the Forestry Commission, is England’s largest land manager.

The organisation said in a press release today the woodland will contribute to its ambition to create 2,000 hectares of new woodland by 2026 provide public access for recreation, habitats for wildlife, and sustainably-grown timber.

It added the woodland designs will be informed by site surveys, and the public will be invited to comment on the proposals later in the year.

It did not reveal how much it had paid for the site.

Haverah Park, Google Street View

Gareth Parry, Forestry England’s forest management director in Yorkshire, said:

“The nation’s forests are absolutely critical to the fight against climate change, and expanding England’s tree cover is an essential part of this work.

“Research has shown that being amongst nature improves our health and wellbeing, so public access will be established for local communities to enjoy and share this green space.”

Haverah Park entrance, Google Street View

The government plans to increase tree planting rates across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year by the end of this parliamentary term.

‘Cult’ concerns raised about yoga event in Harrogate

A Harrogate resident has raised concerns after discovering a yoga event in the town tonight is being run by an organisation that has been described as a cult.

The free to attend Sahaja Yoga Music, Dance and Meditation event takes place at the Crown Hotel this evening.

The event is organised by Sahaja Yoga, whose website says it is a ‘world-wide movement for peace and self-awakening’.

But a woman who booked to attend became suspicious after researching the organisation and got in touch with the Stray Ferret to alert local people.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said alarm bells started ringing when she discovered all yoga classes run by the organisation are completely free of charge.

She said:

“Naturally, I asked myself ‘what is the catch?’

“Usually, these things are taster sessions to encourage you to take up a block of paid classes or something as part of a wider PR campaign on behalf of a brand.

“But then I watched one of their recorded videos where two stoic women got on stage to talk to a room of seated people about their Indian-born leader Shri Mataji, someone who had supposedly achieved “self-realisation” and wanted to share it with the world.

“They began sharing their stories talking about this person as if they were a god, and that the only way people would see the truth is if they followed her.

“Now there’s nothing wrong with spirituality, but the way they were talking it dawned on me, this sounds like a cult.”

Cult allegations

The Sahaja Yoga organisation has faced long-term allegations of being a cult.

In an article by the Independent in 2001, several ex-followers of the movement recounted their experiences on the inside.

One man claimed Sahaja Yoga “insisted he break off all family ties” and that followers became “zealous disciples” who followed instructions.

Another ex-disciple said he “wasted” six years of his life after becoming involved with Sahaja Yoga at the age of 19.

A Wikipedia page also lists cult allegations against the organisation.

Charitable status

Despite the claims, Sahaja Yoga, which is officially called Life Eternal Trust UK, was registered by the Charity Commission in August 1985.

The commission’s site says the organisation’s activities include “disseminating the knowledge which promotes and actualises physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, balance and wellbeing; in particular the techniques of Sahaja Yoga meditation and the teachings of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi”.

The commission website says the organisation has 220 volunteers.

The organisation was established in 1970 by Indian-born Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, who died in 2011.

According to its UK website, its classes involve “simple meditation techniques, with guided meditation to help reduce stress and achieve the peace of true meditation”.

The website, which refers to Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi as “the all-compassionate Divine Mother”, adds:

“Shri Mataji established a living integration of all the great religious traditions, thereby laying a firm and lasting foundation for cross-cultural unity, universal love and world peace.”

Hotel ‘does not represent or endorse views’

The Stray Ferret contacted the Crown Hotel to ask whether it was aware of the allegations. We also forwarded the resident’s concerns.

A spokesperson said in response:

“The Crown Hotel Harrogate is the event venue for Journey into Silence on April 30, which was booked independently by event organiser Sahaja Yoga Meditation, as a part of its ongoing tour across the UK.

“The Crown Hotel does not represent, endorse or support the views of any organisations hiring its event spaces.”

We also put the allegations to Sahaja Yoga UK and offered it the opportunity to respond. The Stray Ferret did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Harrogate woman given suspended jail sentence for benefit fraud

A Harrogate woman has received a suspended jail sentence for a two-year benefit fraud in which she failed to declare the proceeds from a property sale.

Vanessa Boyd, 49, acted out of “sheer greed” by failing to disclose to the Department for Work and Pensions that she had received £126,518 from the sale of a property, York Crown Court heard.

That resulted in benefit overpayments of just over £13,881 over a period of more than two years from September 2020, said prosecutor Brooke Morrison.

She said that Boyd started receiving Universal Credit payments in September 2020 due to being out of work and having very meagre savings.

Ms Morrison added:

“However, she informed the Jobcentre Plus that she would have an amount of money coming from solicitors as a result of the sale of a property, but (that there was) some delay in receiving those funds.”

Boyd, of Tewit Well Road, received just over £126,518 in November 2021 from the proceeds of the sale which would have affected her benefit entitlement, but she failed to declare it to the authorities.

Ms Morrison said:

“She had been informed of her need to do so before receiving the funds.”

Boyd made “multiple declarations” about her savings which didn’t include the proceeds from the property sale.

When questioned about these omissions by fraud investigators, she claimed she didn’t think she had to declare the proceeds of the sale because “the money was going to be used to purchase another property”.

Boyd admitted fraud by making the false declarations and appeared for sentence today.

Her barrister Benjamin Bell said she had since been making repayments to the DWP at a rate of £55 per month and had never been in trouble before.

Judge Simon Hickey said that Boyd had acted out of “sheer greed” and fraudulently claimed a “substantial amount of money over a substantial period”.

He said the offence was so serious that it had to be met with a jail sentence, but that it could be suspended because Boyd had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had child-caring responsibilities.

The six-month jail sentence was suspended for 18 months. As part of that sentence, Boyd was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work and complete 20 rehabilitation-activity days.

‘Unbelievably disappointing’ – cyclists respond to Victoria Avenue plans

A Harrogate district cycling group has described new plans to improve Victoria Avenue as “unambitious” and “unbelievably disappointing”.

North Yorkshire Council announced yesterday it had scrapped plans to create cycle lanes on the avenue in favour of other measures, such as new parking meters and making the Belford Road junction left-turn only.

You can read the proposals here.

The proposals include making it illegal to turn right from Belford Road.

The government body Active Travel England awarded the council £1 million in 2020 for cycling schemes, and £250,000 was allocated towards creating a cycleway on Victoria Avenue.

As recently as February this year the council said the cycleway was a “priority“.

So yesterday’s announcement that it would no longer happen due to “budgetary constraints” has not been well received, particularly as the funding will be spent on other measures to improve the road for pedestrians instead.

In an article on its website, the campaign group Harrogate District Cycle Action said the new scheme “does nothing at all for cycling”.

It added:

“Given that the successful bid for this funding was to build four ambitious cycling schemes, that is unbelievably disappointing.

“North Yorkshire has been making promises of ‘jam tomorrow’ for cycling for at least 10 years. It is always just about to deliver a meaningful cycling scheme, but then at the last minute it changes its mind.”

It cited the second phase of the Otley Road cycleway, the abandonment of Beech Grove modal filters, other undelivered Active Travel England-funded schemes and the watered down Harrogate Station Gateway as examples.

The group has urged people to respond to the consultation by calling on the council to change its mind and support cycling infrastructure.

Beech Grove, pictured from the end of Victoria Avenue.

It called on the council to make Victoria Avenue right-turn only at the junction with West Park to remove traffic from Beech Grove and said the proposed measures would have only marginal benefits.

It said:

“The new scheme for Victoria Avenue is unambitious, and all the cycling elements have been stripped out of it.

“Among other things, the council plans to spend the active travel fund cycling money on car parking ticket machines and a bus stop.

“Whenever we ask for improvements to the cycle network, we are told by the council that it is not possible due to lack of funding.

“Then when they do have funding for cycle improvements, they spend the money on a bus stop instead.”

Have your say

Consultation on the proposals ends on May 12. As part of this, an engagement session will take place from 5pm to 7pm on Tuesday, May 7 at the council office. The address is Stray Room, St Luke’s Mount, Harrogate HG1 2AE.

To comment, you can email Area6.Boroughbridge@northyorks.gov.uk using ‘Victoria Avenue ATF 2 Consultation’ in the title of your email or letter.

Or post comments to: NYC Highways, Area 6 Boroughbridge Office, Stump Cross, Boroughbridge YO51 9HU

Harrogate’s Miss England contestant rescued after Yorkshire peak challenge

Harrogate’s very own Miss England contestant was rescued after getting lost on one of the Yorkshire three peaks.

22-year-old Chloe McEwen, who was last year crowned Miss Yorkshire, took on the challenge alongside another Miss England finalist on April 22 as part of their pageant campaigns.

The former Rossett School pupil was raising money for Mind, a local mental health charity, which she volunteers for following her previous struggles with bipolar.

The women set off at 9am and started their final climb at 6.30pm. However, by the time they reached the Ingleborough summit at 8.30pm, nightfall and cold weather had begun to close in.

Chloe said:

“It was pitch black at the top and we were terrified we would fall down one of the steep slopes. We were so grateful to get down in one piece.

“We got lost and it meant that we were on top of Ingleborough at night. The batteries on our phones had nearly died and we had no back up map and compass to guide us.

“We could have fallen at any point, and we feel very lucky to have climbed down safely.”

Chloe added her hiking partner, Lisa Ellis, managed to ring 999 before their phones died and emergency services called in a mountain rescue operation.

She said the rescue team was searching for the girls for “hours”, but the pair managed to “navigate their way down the peak safely”.

They eventually reached a farm near Clapham, which was a six-mile detour from their original route, where the mountain rescue team picked them up.

The Harrogate beauty queen also said:

“We are both physically fit and had packed food and warm clothing. Our mistake was setting off too late at 9am, which meant that we did not get to the final peak until nightfall. We were determined to finish the trek for the charities that we were supporting but we should have turned back or had an expert guide to show us the way.

“When our phones were about to die at the top, Lisa felt the safest option was to call the emergency services but we really didn’t want the challenge to end. We did think about bedding down on the top, but it was bitterly cold and we were worried that we might suffer from hypothermia.

“Thankfully we found a safe route down by using our torches and we were so relieved when we got to the farmhouse where we were picked up by mountain rescue. It was six miles from the route we should have taken because we had got lost in the dark. I am very grateful to the emergency services for their help and I would urge anyone attempting the three peaks to make sure they have an experienced walker with them, head home if the weather deteriorates and don’t climb after dark.”

Chloe and fellow Miss England finalist Lisa Ellis during their three peaks challenge.

Despite the ordeal, Chloe raised more than £1,700 for Mind during her three peaks challenge. She added:

“I learnt a lot along the way, too. I know that with a positive attitude, inner faith, gratitude and courage you can overcome your greatest fears and challenges.

“I love working with Mind and have found my purpose helping and inspiring those struggling with mental health.”

Chloe’s work with the charity comes after she suffered a breakdown aged just 16.

She was sectioned for eight months after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which led her weight to soar by almost four stone at the time.

She made it her mission to embrace a healthier lifestyle and dedicated fitness regime, leading Chloe to became a personal trainer and is now in the running for a national beauty queen title.

Chloe will compete against 39 others at the Miss England final at the Grand Station in Wolverhampton on May 16 and 17. The winner will qualify for Miss World later this year. You can choose who to vote for here.

Harrogate charities urged to apply for share of £100,000

Charities and community groups in the Harrogate district have the opportunity to bid for thousands of pounds in funding.

A benefactor left over £100,000 in his will to Harrogate Brigantes Rotary, which raises money to help local and international communities.

The donation was given by a resident and member who wanted to see the funds being put to good use within the district.

Harrogate Brigantes is now preparing to give away £50,000 in the first wave of donations.

Groups are asked to outline why they should benefit. A second phase of funding, again offering £50,000, will be made available at a future date.

Brigantes president Bill O’Rourke said:

“Although we were very saddened to hear the news of our friend’s passing, we were honoured and delighted that they chose to bequeath such an incredible amount of money to us, which will in turn be used to help and support worthy causes across the Harrogate district. They understood our policy of ‘making a difference’ and wanted to ensure that we continued to have the ability to support local organisations which have a significant impact on the wellbeing of our community.

“In accordance with his wishes we are therefore making a first tranche of £50,000 available to local good causes, with another to follow at a future date. We are now seeking applications from organisations located within the former Harrogate Borough Council district and we are particularly keen to support those which have a strong connection to their local community and for whom a donation would make a significant difference.”

Matthew Stamford, director of estate agent Verity Frearson, Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals and Frances Elliot, chief executive of Harrogate and District Community Action, will draw up a shortlist of applicants.

Mr Stamford said:

“This is such a fantastic amount of money that can do so much good for many groups across the town and the district.”

Ms Canavar added:

“We know that Harrogate is home to a great number of wonderful charities and community groups, all of whom need financial support in these difficult times.”

Mr Elliot said:

“This money can really make a difference to people and groups within our community, and I would urge anyone who thinks they can make good use of it, to apply.”

Harrogate Brigantes is part of one of the largest humanitarian organisations in the world, with around 1.4 million members across 200 countries and geographical regions.

To find out more click here and to apply for the funding click here.

Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens set to become private road

A bid to close Crescent Gardens road in Harrogate to the public looks set to clear its first hurdle next week.

North Yorkshire Council has recommended councillors approve an application to install bollards and planters at either end of the road to prevent public access.

The move would involve the loss of 35 public car parking bays and could also eventually lead to the closure of the pedestrian footpath on Crescent Gardens.

Impala Estates, which bought the former Harrogate Borough Council headquarters for £4 million in 2020, submitted plans to close the road to the public last year.

The firm was granted planning permission to convert the building into offices, a gym and a restaurant / bar, and to construct a two-storey roof-top extension in May 2022. However, work has yet to begin.

The public parking bays lost would be retained for the private use of businesses using the building.

A 12-page report by case officer Gerard Walsh to councillors on the Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee recommends they approve the scheme when they meet on Tuesday, May 7.

The planning application would see the road running between Swan Road to the west and Montpellier Road to the east closed. Block paving would be installed on the road in front of the building to “form a clear pedestrian connection between the building and the Crescent Gardens park opposite”, the report said.

If approved, the Secretary of State for Transport could then issue a stopping up order extinguishing the public right of way.

The report said:

“Officers consider that the proposed development will have a minor positive impact on the character and appearance of the conservation area and no significant impact on the setting of nearby listed buildings.”

It added:

“The council’s highways team have no objection to the proposed development subject to proposed conditions requiring the submission of a bollard and access management plan, a construction phase management plan, and provision of a tactile pedestrian crossing at the junction of Crescent Gardens / Swan Road to improve the pedestrian facilities on the remaining highway.”

The view from the Swan Road junction.

The report said the loss of parking bays “is not a significant concern and would not warrant refusal, as there are sufficient alternative on-street parking facilities nearby, in addition to an abundance of available off-street parking options in the town centre”.

But Harrogate Civic Society, which lodged one of seven objections, said:

“Loss of public access to the parking spaces on the road would compound the previous loss of parking beside the Royal Hall.

“Crescent Gardens is important as a highway for two-way traffic to ease the passage of vehicles to Ripon Road and to and from Swan Road and the Duchy estate etc. The fact that a route other than Crescent Gardens exists is not a reason for stopping up this right of way.”

The planning committee will vote whether to accept Mr Walsh’s recommendation.

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Cult allegations

Charitable status

Hotel ‘does not represent or endorse views’

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