Councillors approve Simon Graeme garage expansion near Hampsthwaite

Councillors have granted planning permission for a new MOT and servicing building at a garage near Hampsthwaite.

North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon planning committee met on Tuesday in Ripon to consider an application from Simon Graeme Auto Services Centre, which has operated at Graystone Plain Lane off the A59 for 30 years.

The current garage is located within the Nidderdale National Landscape (formerly called the AONB), which has strict planning laws.

The proposed new building, which would house two MOT bays and five servicing bays, sits on land just outside the National Landscape.

Plans were brought before councillors at the previous meeting in November but a decision was deferred following a request for more information about around planting, drainage and renewable energy.

At the previous meeting, Mr Graeme told councillors that the new building would future-proof his family business and allow it to service and repair electric vehicles.

Since November, an updated landscape plan and strategy has been submitted to the council, as has a drainage report and proposals to add solar panels to the site.

It was enough to satisfy councillors who unanimously approved the plans with Ripon Minster and Moorside Cllr Andrew Williams describing the changes as a “victory for common sense”.

He said:

“What we’ve now arrived at is a sensible position which everyone can hopefully subscribe to.

“It’s important the countryside isn’t a museum, it’s a place where people can live and work.”

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CCTV appeal after £10k worth of damage to Harrogate’s KD Carpets

The windows of KD Carpets, in Harrogate, were smashed in with a hammer last weekend.

North Yorkshire Police said the incident, which happened on Skipton Road, took place at 1am on Sunday, December 2.

The force said it caused damage “in the region on £10,000.”

Police are now appealing for information to help further the investigation.

It said in a statement:

“Officers are requesting anyone with information to contact them. They have also released a CCTV still which, although not high quality, may prompt people’s memories.

“Anyone with any information is asked to email chloe.winter-atkinson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for PC 1820 Winter-Atkinson.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Quote reference number 12230229335 when passing on information.

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Missing Harrogate girls found

North Yorkshire Police has said two missing teenage girls from Harrogate have been found safe.

A police statement today said the girls, who had last been seen on Tuesday, December 5, had been located.

We have updated this article to anonymise the details of the girls.

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Pateley town council calls for 24 bus to operate later service

Pateley Bridge Town Council has called for a later service to be added to the 24 bus that connects Pateley and Harrogate.

The route, which runs about every two hours, provides a service for those living in Pateley Bridge and Harrogate as well as numerous villages in between, including Summerbridge, Darley and Birstwith.

However, the last weekday bus leaves Harrogate at 5.30pm, meaning some people in Nidderdale who commute to Harrogate or Leeds struggle to get back home on public transport after work.

At a meeting this week, the town council agreed to contact North Yorkshire Council about adding a later service, which would leave Harrogate bus station at about 6.40pm.

Councillors said this would align with commuter trains from Leeds that arrive in Harrogate between 6pm and 6.30pm.

Cllr James Critchley, who favoured the additional service, said it would also encourage a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. He said:

“The biggest problem we face is climate change and people need to get out of their cars.”

North Yorkshire Council will decide whether to investigate the proposal.

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24 bus saved

The plan comes after the 24 bus route was under threat this year.

North Yorkshire Council warned in January it was one of 80 bus services in the county facing uncertain futures after the Harrogate Bus Company, which is owned by Transdev, indicated the service was no longer commercially viable.

However, Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transport at North Yorkshire County Council, said in April:

“The 24 is a key route that many people rely on so I am pleased to announce that we have been able to step in to support this service.

“When the operator notified us that it planned to withdraw most services on this route, we secured short-term funds to cover these until April 2023.

“This allowed us time to investigate a longer-term solution. We have now secured continuation of the service until April 2024, operated by Transdev (The Harrogate Bus Company).”

£1m Hookstone pollution penalty should have been spent in Harrogate, says councillor

A £1 million penalty paid by Yorkshire Water for polluting Hookstone Beck should have been awarded to a Harrogate group, according to the local councillor.

Yorkshire Water said last week it had agreed to pay £500,000 to York-based Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and £500,000 to Pateley Bridge-based Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust.

The payments were to atone for an unauthorised sewage discharge that polluted Harrogate’s Hookstone Beck in 2016 and killed fish.

Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone on North Yorkshire Council, said the money could have paid for “desperately needed” repairs in Hookstone Woods.

A photo of cloudy water in Hookstone Beck caused by pollution from an unauthorised sewage release by Yorkshire Water.

Cloudy water in Hookstone Beck caused by Yorkshire Water’s pollution.

Cllr Marsh, who is also chairman of Hookstone and Stonefall Action Group, said she was “outraged” by the pollution and the decision to spend the penalty elsewhere, without consulting local councillors, “rubbed salt in the wounds”.

She said volunteers at HASAG, who look after the Pan Handle, Stonefall Park and Hookstone Wood, were trying to raise money to rebuild the willow bridge that connects two ponds in Hookstone Wood.

Cllr Marsh said:

“This is so close to where the spill occurred. Why shouldn’t they be supported rather than some area not even in the Harrogate area?

“Consultation with Harrogate councillors should have happened. Again this is another reason why we need a Harrogate Town Council. So we suffer the mess and receive nothing to compensate.”

Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust will use the funding on developing the iNidd campaign to improve the River Nidd.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate BID appoints communications officer

Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.

Entries close on January 19, 2024.

Harrogate Business Improvement District has hired a public relations and communications officer.

Ed Horner, a former journalist at The Press in York, has joined the organisation and will be tasked with working alongside alongside the BID team, board directors and BID members to deliver its term two business plan.

He will also oversee the BID’s communications, as well as offering support on projects, campaigns and events.

Town centre businesses which fund the BID voted this year to continue to support it for another five years.

Matthew Chapman, manager at Harrogate BID, said:

“We were thrilled to have a strong collection of people apply for this role and Ed’s experience in local media, appetite to deliver positive outcomes and awareness of the local area really take us to the next level as an organisation as we approach term two and our new business plan.”

Pictured above: Matthew Chapman, BID manager, Chris Ashby, street ranger, Bethany Allen, business and marketing executive and Ed Horner, PR and communications officer 

Investment management firm recognised at London awards

Redmayne Bentley has been recognised at the Investors’ Chronicle Celebration of Investment Awards.

The investment management firm, which has an office on Victoria Avenue near Harrogate Library, received the accolade for Best Wealth Manager for Tax Services at the event in London.

The awards recognise the best financial service providers, and winners are voted for by Investors’ Chronicle readers.

Nigel Bottomley, head of office of Redmayne Bentley’s Harrogate office, said: 

“The expertise we have across the firm, coupled with the effort and commitment we put into building personal client relationships, is what we believe sets us apart.

“This award comes at what is a special time for the firm, coinciding with our celebration of 148 years in the industry after first being established by John Redmayne in 1875.”

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Harrogate hospital defends criticism of new parking payment system

Harrogate District Hospital has defended appointing Parkingeye to oversee its car parks after criticism from patients.

The hospital brought in the company to operate its new parking arrangements in September, which includes automatic number plate recognition and a ticketless system.

However, some patients and visitors have criticised the decision after being given fines due to problems paying for parking.

Derek Sendrove and his wife, Zhanna, used the hospital car park in October when both were receiving treatment.

Mr Sendrove said the couple had registered their card with the app, which makes it possible to pay for parking via mobile phone.

Derek Sendrove.

Derek Sendrove.

However, on a visit on October 30, which lasted 44 minutes and would cost £4, the card was not recognised. 

Mr Sendrove said the card has been valid every other time they have used the car park.

The couple were subsequently handed a £70 fine by Parkingeye, which Zhanna appealed but was refused. The pair have since taken the decision to Parking On Private Land Appeals, the industry arbitrator.

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Mr Sendrove told the Stray Ferret he felt the incident raised questions over why the hospital chose the parking company in the first place.

He said:

“It seems that Parkingeye are profiting from their own faulty app, and it is also rather surprising that instead of choosing another app, Appy Parking, which is installed throughout the town; for some inscrutable reason, Harrogate hospital have chosen to partner with a different organisation, Parkingeye.”

The Stray Ferret took Mr Sendrove’s concerns to Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust and asked whether it had any response to the question over its choice of provider.

A spokesperson for the trust said:

“Parkingeye has extensive experience of working with NHS organisations and currently manages parking at over 30 NHS trusts and more than 680 healthcare sites. After careful consideration Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust chose Parkingeye to provide a car parking management service at Harrogate District Hospital.

“Since the introduction of the new camera controlled barrierless system at Harrogate District Hospital, congestion has significantly decreased on Lancaster Park Road due to the improved access into our car parks ensuring that visitors can get to their appointments on time and visit their loved ones.

“On occasion a parking charge notice may be issued to motorists who do not follow the parking rules which are displayed on the parking signage.

“A motorist has the opportunity to challenge the decision through Parkingeye’s appeal process. Parkingeye will consider the evidence and circumstances and if it is appropriate may cancel a parking ticket.

“Should the motorist still wish to contest the decision, they can contact Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA), an independent organisation that allows motorists to contest the decisions of parking operators by visiting https://www.popla.co.uk/. POPLA will look at both sides of the appeal, consider the evidence provided and ultimately decide to uphold or overturn the ruling made by the parking management company.”

A Parkingeye spokesperson said:

“Parkingeye has partnered with Harrogate District Hospital since September this year to significantly improve how its car parks operate.

“During this time there has been investment in modern consumer-facing systems which has enhanced accessibility and made parking at the hospital easier and safer for staff, patients and visitors. The system is designed to ensure the efficiency and smooth operation of the hospital by ensuring that patients, visitors and staff park in their allocated car parks.

“The car park features over 30 prominent and highly-visible signs providing information on how to use the car park responsibly, including guidance that patients and visitors must pay on exit using one of the user-friendly payment kiosks or through the Evology payment app.

“The motorist received a parking charge after parking in an area that is reserved for patients and visitors and not making a payment. Our systems also show that the Evology app was working effectively and took a normal level of transactions on October 30th.

“Parkingeye operates a BPA (British Parking Association) audited appeals process, which motorists can use to appeal their parking charge.

“The motorist’s appeal was unsuccessful and is now being reviewed by POPLA, the independent appeals service.”

What’s your experience of using the new Parkingeye app at the hospital? Get in touch on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

 

Harrogate women offer to cook free Christmas meals for people in need

Two Harrogate women have offered to cook and deliver free Christmas meals to people in need as a way of giving back to the community.

Anna Howe and Aimee Ions, who are both 20, got the idea after local people helped the couple through a “rough financial situation”.

The pair have now pledged to cook free Christmas meals to return the favour.

Ms Howe told the Stray Ferret:

“It was a hard time for us. My partner lost her job and we thought we would lose our house. We had to use a foodbank before getting back on our feet.

“We’re getting there now and we’re in a comfortable enough position to do this.

“Christmas can be a hard time for people – we just want to give back.”

Ms Howe, who is originally from Manchester but moved to Harrogate in April, said the meal will be “the full works” — with all the trimmings — and the pair will cater to any dietary requirements.

It will be made at their home on Christmas Day before being delivered to people’s front doors, she added.

Ms Howe also said anyone is welcome to get in touch and use their services.

“There is no real criteria.

“It can be daunting to ask for help – we felt the same. You don’t want that judgement.

“Those who helped us told us to ‘give forward’ when we wanted to give back to them. So, that’s what we’re doing.”

Ms Howe said people can order meals as late as Christmas Day and the pair will “do their best” to help anyone they can.

They will deliver across the Harrogate district, including to Ripon and Boroughbridge, and will travel as far as Leeds and Thirsk.

You can email Anna Howe on annahowe13@hotmail.co.uk or contact her on Facebook to find out more.

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River Nidd clean-up campaign boosted by £500,000 from Yorkshire Water

A campaign to clean-up the River Nidd has received a £500,000 boost — from a penalty paid by Yorkshire Water for polluting Harrogate..

Yorkshire Water revealed last week it had agreed to give £1 million to charities for polluting Hookstone Beck in Harrogate.

The sum — to atone for an unauthorised sewage discharge that killed fish in the beck — was divided equally between Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust.

A meeting in Knaresborough yesterday heard Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, which is based in Pateley Bridge, will use the funding to lead the iNidd project to clean-up the River Nidd.

Charlotte Simons, senior project manager at the trust, told the meeting:

“The sad thing is we have the money because something went wrong.

“But we have been given a lump sum that can lead to long-term improvements on the River Nidd.”

Yesterday’s meeting in Knaresborough.

The trust, which runs improvement projects across the catchments of the Swale, Ure, Nidd, Wharfe and Ouse, will work with anglers, academics and wild swimmers as well as Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency on the iNidd scheme.

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, is also involved through his campaign to achieve bathing water status on the Nidd at Knaresborough Lido.

The trust previously led the iWharfe project to improve the River Wharfe.

Yorkshire Water’s iNidd funding will pay for water quality schemes and other initiatives, such as habitat improvements and tackling invasive non-native species.

Nidd Action Group organised yesterday’s meeting at the Centre on Gracious Street, which gave members of the public the chance to quiz those involved in the iNidd campaign.

It followed a previous meeting at the same venue in spring this year, which marked the start of the clean-up campaign.

David Clayden, chair of the action group, said:

“We have achieved a lot in six months. I expect to see plans come together in the next six months that are collaborative and will make a difference.”

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Harrogate’s Grove Road remains a ‘good’ school, says Ofsted

Grove Road Community Primary School in Harrogate has retained its ‘good’ rating by Ofsted.

The findings were published in a report today, following an inspection in October.

Grove Road was previously rated ‘good’ in 2018. Ofsted carries out short routine inspections every four years to confirm schools previously assessed as ‘good’ have maintained standards.

Government inspectors said the pupils at the 307-pupil school are “happy, friendly and confident” and have “positive attitudes to learning.”

It added:

“The school ensures that its pupils are safe.

“Bullying is not a problem. Pupils are confident that adults would sort it out if it did happen.

“Many pupils behave very well.”

Ofsted praised the school for its “coherently planned and sequenced curriculum” and said it breaks learning into small steps.

Inspectors also said that in some subjects, such as maths, pupils can “talk about their learning confidently” and show how their knowledge is building over time.

“Teachers use a consistent lesson structure for teaching phonics.

“Pupils achieve well in the Year 1 phonics screening check.

“The school supports pupils who find learning to read difficult to catch up with their peers.”

The school “quickly identifies” any children with potential special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND), inspectors added, and found those with SEND are “fully included in the life of the school”.

They added:

“The school provides opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interests. For example, there are some sports after-school clubs and a singing club.”

The report said staff are “proud” to work at the school.

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Areas of improvement

 However, inspectors did note some areas the school could improve on.

Although the school is “ambitious for its pupils”, the report said this is not currently reflected in pupils’ achievement. But, leaders are taking action to ensure that outcomes for pupils improve, it added.

Inspectors praised the curriculum but said some leaders’ checks on what is taught and how it is taught are not “sufficiently rigorous”.

They said, as a result, some leaders have an “overly positive” view of how well the curriculum in their subject is implemented.

‘A special place to learn’

The inspection came after what Ofsted described as a period of “turbulence” in leadership and staff in recent years.

In the academic year 2021/2022, the school was in the highest 20% of all schools nationally for staff turnover and teacher absence.

New headteacher James Grayston said:

“We are delighted with the report which reflects the hard work of everyone involved in the school.

“I would like to personally thank all the staff, governors and parents for their unwavering dedication in everything we’ve been doing. Without fail, they always put the children at the centre of everything we do.

“We all know that Grove Road Community Primary School is a very special place for children to learn and we’re so pleased that the inspector saw what we see every day.”