By-election suggests tactical voting may topple Tories in Harrogate and Knaresborough

It may only have been a council by-election but this week’s Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone vote in Harrogate provided some fascinating insights into the local political landscape at a crucial time.

Andrew Timothy won the seat vacated by the resignation of fellow Liberal Democrat Pat Marsh.

His 44% share of the vote was down on the 52% achieved by Ms Marsh in 2022 after a bruising campaign in which the Lib Dems were reported to the police for wrongly stating the Green Party was not fielding a candidate.

But the 326-vote margin of victory over Conservative runner-up John Ennis was comfortable enough and brought relief to the Lib Dems, who were in danger of losing control of the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee in a difficult by-election triggered by Ms Marsh’s anti-semitic comments.

Cllr Timothy left the count at Woodlands Methodist Church without giving interviews but Tom Gordon, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said in a statement afterwards the result “proves elections here in Harrogate and Knaresborough are a two-horse race between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives”.

He added:

“We will take the new members, new deliverers, new activists, new councillor and momentum forward into the general election to win back the parliamentary seat from the Conservatives.”

‘Labour supporters voted tactically’

Labour candidate Geoff Foxall did little to challenge Mr Gordon’s view that Harrogate and Knaresborough was shaping up to be a straight fight between the Tories and Labour — and hinted tactical voting was the way to go.

Despite his party riding high in the national polls, Mr Foxhall finished last with just 116 votes yet he appeared far from downbeat.

He said:

“The Liberal Democrats should be thankful for the many Labour voters who have voted tactically. I hope Lib Dem voters reciprocate in the mayoral election.”

Mr Foxall said “voters in Harrogate are sophisticated” and frequently voted tactically. He highlighted how Labour did “particularly badly” in Harrogate and Knaresborough in 1997 when Barbara Boyce polled just 9% despite Tony Blair securing a national landslide, paving the way for Phil Willis to win locally for the Lib Dems.

Mr Foxall said Labour was “used to getting squeezed” locally and even suggested it would be open to a coalition with the Lib Dems and Greens at county level, where he said the parties were “akin on most issues”, and together could end the Conservatives’ dominance.

Asked what voting advice he would give Labour supporters in Harrogate and Knaresborough at the next general election, he said:

“Vote according to your conscience.”

For the Conservatives, so long the dominant force in North Yorkshire, it was a disappointing night.

During the campaign Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, wrote to Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urging him to take action against local party members following the police complaint.

The ill feeling was apparent on the night when the Lib Dems complained to election officials about the number of Tories witnessing the count.

Mr Ennis and local activists campaigned hard in Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone but he still finished a distant second with 31%. The party polled 35% in 2022.

Speaking straight after the result, Mr Ennis said he had “campaigned in good faith on local issues, offering a positive message”.

He acknowledged “the national situation hasn’t helped” but added it was “difficult to extrapolate” conclusions from a by-election and he remained “confident we can hold the parliamentary seat”.

He also said the situation in next month’s mayoral election was “looking hopeful”.

Some Green Party members had hoped to claim second place but Gilly Charters still finished well ahead of Reform UK and Labour in third.

Ms Charters was upbeat afterwards, saying “a Green vote was a hopeful vote”, adding:

“The Greens will be back — and we hope we won’t have to call the police in next time.”

As for Reform UK, its 6% was below its national polling but it still finished above Labour. John Swales, its candidate, said:

“From a standing start and around four weeks to prepare we are building our presence in Harrogate and further progress will come in time.

“It was a good experience for us and we learnt a lot, performing with integrity and honour during the campaign and we would like to thank all the voters who supported us this time and we look forward to future campaigns with confidence.”

Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone by-election result

The turnout was 41%.

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Pets Corner: could you give one of these North Yorkshire dogs a forever home?

The Harrogate Dog Show is taking place on Saturday, April 13, in front of  Victoria Shopping Centre, and attention will be on the pampered pets as they compete to win accolades in categories such as ‘Cutest Puppy’.

April is also officially National Pet Month – but there are many animals, including dogs, across North Yorkshire who are still waiting for their chance to find a forever home.

This month, the Stray Ferret has found a few furry faces to feature, from the RSPCA York, Harrogate & the District branch. All these dogs are currently available to adopt – although hopefully not for much longer.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Drizzle.

Age: 12 months.

Breed: Lurcher.

Sex: Male.

Likes: Plenty of adventures, and exciting walks.

Dislikes: Spending too much time alone. 

About: The RSPCA describes Drizzle as a ‘gorgeous dog’ who ‘loves to live life to the max.’ At 12 months old, he’s still got plenty of puppy energy and exuberance – but that can mean he sometimes forgets his manners, and can be a bit boisterous, especially with other dogs.

However, he’s got bags of potential and needs experienced adopters who will be able to help him along the way and give him lots of exercise – as well as the fuss and attention he deserves.

Find out more about Drizzle here.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Buster.

Age: 12 years old.

Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Sex: Male.

Likes: Sitting on a lap for cuddles. 

Dislikes: Being left alone for long periods.

About: Don’t let his grey face fool you – Buster is 12 years fun, and still loves getting out and about on his daily walks.

Sadly, his beloved owner passed away which is how he ended up at the kennel, and he’s been having a tough time settling in. He’s affectionate with people and would benefit from joining a loving family soon.

Buster is sociable with other dogs and could live with a compatible companion after a successful meet at the centre, and he could also live with children aged 13 years and over.

Find out more about Buster here.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Henley.

 Age: 5 years old.

 Breed: Lurcher.

Sex: Female.

Likes: An endless supply of cuddles.

 Dislikes: Being apart from her people for too long.

 About: Sweet-natured Henley was cruelly thrown out of the back of a van before coming to the RSCPA, and while the culprits were never found, it hasn’t dampened her shine.

She’s a serious lover of snuggles, and is looking for an individual or a family with children over the age of eight to start her new life with.

While she can’t live with cats, small animals or small dogs, she is friendly with larger breeds on walks, and has previously lived with other lurchers.

Find out more about Henley here.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Cheddar.

Age: 3 years old.

Breed: Husky cross.

Sex: Male.

Likes: Hanging out with his favourite humans.

Dislikes: Being misunderstood.

About: Poor Cheddar has had a tough start to life and was brought to the shelter via an inspector who discovered his needs were not being met.

Cheddar needs will need experienced adopters who can tackle his insecurities and give him plenty of support to bring out the best in him.

Once he’s comfortable he is a very affectionate and loyal dog who will make a wonderful companion for the right person.

Find out more about Cheddar here.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Hedgehog.

Age: 14 months old.

Breed: Large crossbreed.

Sex: Male.

Likes: Socialising with other dogs.

Dislikes: New places which can be a bit intimidating at first.

About: Hedgehog is a ‘super friendly lad who can bring a smile to your face in an instant’, but unfortunately he missed out on the chance to properly be a puppy.

For this reason, he’ll need patient and experienced adopters who can make him feel comfortable in new situations, and can support him through some of his insecurities. Once bonded however, he’s a loyal and loving dog.

Hedgehog is a sociable boy, and relishes the company of other dogs – ideally he’ll be able to live with another confident dog in an adult-only home.

Find out more about Hedgehog here.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Lady.

 Age: Around 1 years old.

 Breed: Dobermann/Mastiff Cross.

Sex: Female.

Likes: Being active and getting lots of exercise.

 Dislikes: Meeting new people – especially children – at first.

 About: Lady is the definition of a gentle giant, as this nervous girl can find new situations and people quite frightening. However, once her confidence has built she’s a happy and playful pup, who loves to stay active.

She’ll need an adult-only household where someone is home most of the time, and who can help her realise the world isn’t so scary after all.

Lady is very good with other dogs and gains confidence around them so it would be beneficial if she could live with another neutered dog who can show her the ropes, and be a companion for her.

Find out more about Lady here.

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Editor’s Pick of the Week: Costly consultants, a bad tempered by-election and Brian Deane

Some stories seem to go on forever, achieving little beyond years of work for consultants and council officers.

Take the Harrogate Convention Centre refurbishment. A response to a Stray Ferret freedom of information request asking how much has been spent on consultants discovered the sum was £1.9 million since 2016.

The vast majority went on a firm whose plans were recently scrapped. The solution? Hire new consultants to come up with a fresh vision!

An in-depth article by my colleague John Grainger this weekend looks at the refurbishment options. Convention centre director Paula Lorimer, who was named in the annual Taxpayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List this year for her £121,828 salary, declined to speak to us for the article.

It’s been a big political week with the Liberal Democrats winning the Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone by-election. The ill-feeling between local Lib Dems and Conservatives was palpable at Thursday night’s count. On the previous night, the Stray Ferret chaired a mayoral hustings event in York.

Brew York announced it was coming to Knaresborough but my personal highlight this week was news of a Beatles exhibition coming to Harrogate. Not so much because it’s the Fab Four but because sharp elbowed former footballer Brian Deane, who often pops up in Harrogate, retweeted our post on X about it.

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Hornbeam Park is a hive of activity for kids

You may be already be aware of some of the activities for kids at Hornbeam Park – especially at The Zone – but did you know that there are all of these activities on offer? Almost one for every day of the week. Now that will keep them busy.

World of Their Own

World of Their Own

You wouldn’t expect to see an imitation of the Wild West on the industrial business park of Hornbeam Park, but World of Their Own is exactly that. Designed to spark the imagination of children, grown-ups are also sure to be impressed with the immersive play town that’s somewhat of a hidden gem.

Kids can take part in activities including escaping the sheriff’s jail, making and drinking their own mocktail from the Cowgirl Saloon Bar, robbing the Wild West bank, exploring inside the spooky gold mine and taking aim for a prize from the shooting range, to name just a few of the experiences on offer.

World of Their Own

Not forgetting the Wild West toy pony rides of course, and the kids that run riot as they shoot water at each other (and the grown-ups) with water pistols.

And to stop those tears when either the 2.5-hour morning or afternoon session comes to an end, kids can enjoy a chocolate coin from the treasure chest.

Why not try…? The Fairytale Ice Cream Parlour.

Good to know: don’t miss the holiday themed specials. 

The Ice Cream Parlour at World of Their Own

Harrogate Gymnastics

Harrogate Gymnastics

The largest purpose-built gymnastics facility in the Harrogate area, Harrogate Gymnastics features all the equipment a budding gymnast needs; from a sprung floor to beams, bars to trampolining, there’s something for everyone. Classes take place from the age of 2.5 years and there’s open free play sessions too.

Why not try…? The holiday inflatable fun sessions or the drop-off Ninja Camps?

Good to know: it has recently started offering SEND sessions, and it also hosts adult gymnastic classes too. 

Gracie Barra Harrogate

Gracie Barra

There are many benefits to martial arts including learning how to focus, be disciplined, be persistent, learn cooperation and have respect. Gracie Barra on Hornbeam Park offers all this and more through its Brazilian jiu jitsu lessons for kids and adults.

Classes take place from the age of three, and each attendee can work their way up over the years to achieving five belts: white, blue, purple, brown and black.

Why not try…? A free taster session.

Good to know: it has a drop-in fee, or the option to buy a block of five or 10 classes for non-members. However, its monthly memberships work out the best value for those wishing to train regularly.

Surge Padel

Surge Padel

Padel is the go-to sport of the moment and Surge Padel on Hornbeam Park offers junior group coaching lessons on Saturday mornings for under 8s and under 11s. As well as taking part in lots of games that aid hand-eye coordination, juniors get a deeper understanding of the sport which will set them in good stead to play matches in the future.

Why not try…? Hiring a court for extra practice.

Good to know: junior classes are just £7.50 but can get booked up in advance, so ensure you reserve your spot.

Live For Today Climbing Centre

Marc Wise and Dan Miller

As you may have read in The Stray Ferret, Live For Today has recently taken over from Parthian Climbing Centre and is looking to introduce more classes and offerings for young ones. Last month one of the new owners, Marc Wise – who met his business part Dan Miller at the climbing wall 12 years ago – said:

“Acquiring the climbing wall is really significant and special as it is where it all began.

There’s been criticism about the lack of indoor activities and things to do for young people, so the climbing wall is a huge asset for the area.”

Why not try…? Some of the 25 other adventures that Live For Today offers such as caving, rock climbing and canoeing in the Yorkshire Dales.

Good to know: it has plenty of climbing equipment to hire.

Indulge

Indulge playroom

Parents and caregivers with small children can sometimes avoid cafés and restaurants, especially if they don’t seem particularly family friendly. However, there’s no need to worry at Indulge as it actively welcomes children and is often the go-to place for those with babies, toddlers and primary school-aged children.

Offering a playroom with an assortment of toys, as well as a range of food and drink for both kids and grown-ups, it’s a fail-safe way to spend a few hours. And you may just get that hot coffee in peace too. Bonus.

Indulge

Why not try…? A pink sprinkle doughnut.

Good to know: the café is also dog friendly.

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College revamp plans ‘will cause parking chaos’ at Hornbeam ParkDisability charity unveils assisted living flats in Harrogate

A disability charity has opened its new assisted living development in Harrogate.

Disability Action Yorkshire, which offers support and residential care to people with a range of disabilities, unveiled the St Roberts Grove development on Wednesday, April 10.

The building, which is also owned by Highstone Housing Association, aims to provide disabled people with a space to live independently.

The development consists of 35 accessible flats, 23 of which are now open, which all have their own kitchen, living area, bedroom and wet room.

Support staff will also be on site 24-hours-a-day to provide people with personal care and support when required.

Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones, who cut the ribbon alongside Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thomson, said the development is “what the future of care looks like”.

The charity said residents of its current care facility, 34 Claro Road, would move into the new flats on Monday, April 14.

The existing care home, which is located next door to St Robert’s Grove, is scheduled for demolition later this year. This will allow for the final stage of development to begin, the charity said, adding it expects the project to be complete by spring 2026.

The charity’s chief executive, Jackie Snape, said:

“The hardest task was finding land, and after a number of false starts we finally realised that our own land on which our current care home stands, along with a small piece of land owned by the council was the solution.

“We are so excited that, finally, our ambition to be part of providing accessible housing is coming to fruition. Being a disabled person doesn’t mean that you have to live in a care home with a large number of people you haven’t chosen to live with; the right to a home of your own is one that should be extended to everyone.”

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Overnight closures on A1(M) between Boroughbridge and Wetherby

National Highways has announced a series of full overnight closures on the A1(M) between Wetherby and Boroughbridge.

Drivers planning to travel on the A1(M) in North Yorkshire are advised to plan their journeys in advance as a bridge is due to undergo essential maintenance from April 29.

National Highways is repainting steel beams on Moor Lane Bridge, which carries the A168 over the A1(M) near Walshford. At the same time, it will be carrying out further maintenance on the A1(M) in this area.

To ensure this is carried out safely, full overnight closures will be in place between junctions 46 (Wetherby) and 48 (Boroughbridge).

Closures and diversions

The overnight closures will begin on April 29 on the A1(M) northbound between junctions 46 and 48 over up to three weeks. During these nights, the southbound carriageway will remain open.

From May 18, this work will switch to the southbound side, with overnight closures on the A1(M) southbound between junctions 48 and 46 for a further period of around three weeks. The northbound side will stay open.

The closures will be in place each night, Monday to Friday, and every other weekend, between 8pm and 6am. The A1(M) will remain open during the day, and no road closures will take place over the May bank holiday weekends.

All work is subject to weather conditions and may be rescheduled if poor weather prevents it going ahead.

Drivers are advised to follow the signed diversion – and not rely on their satnavs. The northbound diversion will be via B1224 and A168, with the route reversed for the southbound work.

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Harrogate business owner through to The Apprentice final

The owner of a Harrogate business has made it to the final of the BBC’s The Apprentice.

Rachel Woolford, owner of North Studio on Cold Bath Road, is just one of two remaining contestants competing for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.

The two North Studio sites, in Harrogate and Leeds, currently offer small group fitness classes, including running, reformer pilates, boxing and HIIT workouts.

Over the 11-week series, the 28-year-old has sold and run a tour in Budapest, created a vegan alternative to cheese and even flogged paddling pools on a TV shopping channel.

Now, the Leeds woman has one final chance at convincing the British billionaire she is worthy of the prize money.

But her success has not come without obstacles.

In last night’s episode, the five remaining candidates were interviewed — and their business plans scrutinised — by business tycoons.

Rachel’s plan is to open three more North Studio sites in the north of England.

But Claude Littner, long-term business associate of Lord Sugar, crunched Rachel’s numbers — and not in the way she had hoped.

After failing to turn up with her company’s accounts, Mr Littner told Rachel she had made a “very serious mistake” before the interview had even started.

She told Mr Littner she spent more than £250,000 on both North Studio gyms, funded partly through a bank loan, plus monthly finances spent on equipment. But without the figures in front of him, he responded:

“All I can see is losses, loans. It’s impossible to get any idea.”

Rachel Woolford preparing for her interview. Pic: BBC Pictures.

Before Rachel thought the interviews could get much worse, they did.

Publishing pioneer Mike Soutar bought both website domains Rachel had anticipated on purchasing for her new gyms.

Her business plan included opening a site in Newcastle – or more specifically, Jesmond.

However, Mr Soutar beat Rachel to buying her desired website domain for Newcastle (www.northstudionewcastle.co.uk), as well as the Jesmond domain (www.northstudiojesmond.co.uk) – pointing out two flaws in her business plan.

The interview did, however, resolve in Rachel purchasing both domains from Mr Soutar for £34 plus VAT.

Mike Suter. Pic: BBC Pictures.

But despite the rocky interviews, Rachel was praised for her passion about her business.

Mr Soutar told Lord Sugar there may be financial “difficulties” when scaling her business, but added if it can be done right “she is definitely the person to do it”.

Lord Sugar even created a new tagline for Rachel: “You want people to get ripped in Ripon”.

When asked to convince Lord Sugar why she should be his business partner, Rachel said:

“In the first year, I turned over £85,000. However, for six months of that year, we were closed because of the pandemic.

“Now I’ve turned it into a profitable business, and I’ve got a model there that we can copy to other cities, to other locations, which I believe is successful.

“With your mentorship, I will put my all into this, as I already do. I’m willing to learn and I will continue to put my entire life into it.”

Rachel was the first contestant through to the grand final – and is now just one task away from £250,000.

It will be a battle between fitness and food as she faces owner of family-run pie business, Phil Turner, in next week’s final.

The Apprentice finalists Rachel Woolford and Phil Turner. Pic: BBC Pictures.

The final of The Apprentice will air on Thursday, April 18, at 9pm on BBC One.

You can read our interview with Rachel Woolford here.

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Man arrested after car crash and brawl in Harrogate

A man has been arrested following a car crash and suspected assault in Harrogate last night.

North Yorkshire Police today said two vehicles collided on Otley Road at the junction with Wharfedale Place at around 6pm.

According to a force statement, the two men then got into an “altercation at the scene” and both sustained injuries. The statement added:

“The man in his 30s was taken to hospital for treatment in relation to chest injuries. His injuries are believed not to be life-threatening.

“A man in his 60s was arrested on suspicion of assault and was also taken to hospital for facial injuries.”

Police said an investigation has now been launched.

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College revamp plans ‘will cause parking chaos’ at Hornbeam Park

Plans to redevelop Harrogate College’s site are threatening to cause parking “chaos”, according to neighbouring tenants on Hornbeam Park. 

As we reported in February, the college is replacing its main building and constructing a £20 million renewable energy skills hub to ‘future-proof’ the site. 

Luminate Education Group, of which Harrogate College is a member, applied for planning permission for the project in August and the case is due to be decided upon by today. 

Preparatory work has already begun on site and Harrogate College has announced that its car park, which it says is used by around 70 staff and students at any one time, will be closed from Monday, April 22 to allow work to proceed.

The college aims to move into the new main campus building in July 2025, after which the current property will be demolished, making way for new parking facilities. 

In the meantime, the college will have 242 fewer car-parking spaces, and has told staff and students to park at the Hornbeam Park rail station and in nearby streets. In its construction management plan, main contractor Caddick Construction states: 

“We encourage the use of the nearby station car-park.” 

But neighbouring tenants on the business park say the rail halt car-park is usually full, and neighbouring streets are not a satisfactory solution to the shortage of spaces. 

Chris Bentley is director of Hornbeam Park Developments, which owns and runs the business park. He told the Stray Ferret: 

“I am not objecting to the new college – I applaud the fact that they are replacing it with an all new facility, fit for purpose for the next generation. 

“What I am objecting to is the displacement of car-parking without thought to the businesses here at Hornbeam. They are also encouraging their car-users to park at the rail halt or around the nearby residential area. 

“It’ll cause chaos to the businesses here – there is no extra available parking on the site and the Hornbeam Park railway station car park it always full. 

“When the project was originally proposed we were given to understand that a new college car-park would be rebuilt on the old building’s site. 

“Now we find that they are reducing the allocation by a third from 242 currently available down to 88, based on a one-day survey taken as we came out of covid.” 

Photo of Harrogate College, on Hornbeam Park.

Harrogate College, on Hornbeam Park.

His views are echoed by several Hornbeam Park tenants who left comments on the council’s online planning portal. 

In his comment, Alan Fisher, facilities manager at nearby Techbuyer, said: 

“Our concern is that it may devolve into a chaotic situation, with people potentially parking in other spaces across Hornbeam Park, including our staff car-parks which are already reaching capacity. Such a scenario could adversely affect our business and staff, as well as customers and clients.” 

He added: 

“We have a large number of heavy vehicles delivering to our sites, and third parties – who haven’t been briefed as our staff are – pose a safety risk in relation to the operation of these vehicles and the forklifts needed to load and unload them.” 

Also commenting on the planning application, Deb Robinson, of family business Witch Casket, said: 

“I already have issues with our parking spaces, stopping my employees being able to park in our own dedicated car-park and deliveries from being made to our warehouse. People have been incredibly abusive and this has caused great emotional distress to our staff.”

Mr Bentley suggested that the college use a nearby field – believed to be owned by Hull College and the Department for Education – as a temporary car-park. However, Harrogate College said it explored the idea but found it was impractical for a number of reasons, principally due to the impact on traffic. It said North Yorkshire Council had advised that making the field into a car-park would require altering all of Hornbeam Park Avenue – the main road through the business park – to ensure safe access.

Danny Wild, Principal of Harrogate College, said the closure of the car-park could not be avoided and said that Caddick Construction had secured 20 spare parking spaces at Hornbeam Park to mitigate the shortfall. He told the Stray Ferret:
“Our exciting £20 million rebuild will allow us to provide the education and training required by Harrogate and North Yorkshire now and in the future, and so bolster the local economy by filling the skills gaps, including in the fast-growing sustainability sector, currently holding us back.
“Doing so will bring great and long-term benefits to our students, community and businesses, which is what we are committed to.
“The temporary closure of our car-park is a necessary part of this project. During this time, we are advising our staff and students to either make alternative travel arrangements to college where possible or to park responsibly in the local area.”

Hornbeam Park has about 120 tenants, and it is estimated that around 4,500 people work and study on the park each day. All the roads providing access around the site belong to site owner Hornbeam Park Developments Ltd, so parking there is not a matter for North Yorkshire Council.

There is no longer any direct bus service from Harrogate town centre to Hornbeam Park, but commuters can still catch buses as far as either Leeds Road, which is 750m away, or Oatlands Drive, 500m away. Both fall within the walking distances deemed acceptable under Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation guidelines. 

The regular rail service between Harrogate and Leeds also stops at Hornbeam Park 30 times per day in each direction. 

The redevelopment of Harrogate College’s site will create modern facilities such as a mock hospital ward, digital technology suite, electric vehicle workshop and a construction centre focused on teaching modern building methods. 

A total of £16m of the funding has come from the Department for Education’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund. 

Luminate Education Group is a collection of six education providers based in the Leeds City Region and also includes Leeds City College, Leeds Conservatoire, Keighley College, University Centre Leeds and Leeds Sixth Form College.

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