Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 225 of 1178

Council facing questions over 76% rise in expulsions

North Yorkshire Council is facing calls to explain the reasons behind the “shocking” 76% rise in expulsions.

An officer’s report to a meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s executive on Tuesday (May 28) has revealed the latest available figures – for the academic year ending last July – saw 95 children permanently excluded from mainstream schools, an increase from 54 from the previous year.

The report states the trend has continued into the current academic year and that there were also 1,607 more suspensions in the year to the end of March, an increase of 34%.

The authority’s executive member for education, Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, has been approached for comment.

When asked what was behind the increase, council officers did not directly respond, instead stating “persistent and general disruptive behaviour is the primary reason for exclusions in North Yorkshire accounting for over half of all exclusions”.

However, teaching unions have stated schools have insufficient resources to support pupils and earlier this year it emerged schools across North Yorkshire had forecast they are likely to face a collective annual deficit of more than £11m in just over two years.

Officers said the financial challenges were partly due to the high costs of providing education across a vast rural area not being being properly recognised by the government.

According to the latest Department for Education data, England and Wales saw the largest number of suspensions on record for one term last spring.

The Association of School and College Leaders says mental health issues, unmet special educational needs, disengagement with the curriculum and family issues are behind the national trend.

An Ofsted study published last year found 42 per cent of teachers had noted a decrease in behavior standards since the pandemic, partly due to a lack of “socialisation”.

Nevertheless, research by IBB Law published in March found exclusion rates for the five years to 2022 to be markedly higher in Yorkshire and the North-East than anywhere else in the country.

In 2019 the authority unveiled detailed plans to support a sea change in the way children at risk of exclusion were handled, described by the authority as a “preventative and inclusive culture”.

When asked if its strategies to reduce the number of children being excluded were working, a council spokesman said:

“Data relating to exclusions in North Yorkshire is similar to or below national levels. Preventative work is underway and is resulting in a number of children successfully remaining in schools.”

Former teacher and North Yorkshire Council’s children and families scrutiny committee chair, Councillor Barbara Brodigan, said she wanted to know how deeply the council was investigating the reasons behind the “shocking” exclusions rise.

Cllr Brodigan, who used to work with children at risk of exclusion and those who had been excluded, said changes the council introduced in 2019 “had not had any impact at all”.

She said:

“Is it linked to Ofsted inspections? Schools have been known to suspend children prior to an inspection because they don’t want disruptive children in the school.

“When I used to ask permanently excluded young people why they didn’t engage at school it was often due to the curriculum offer and how it was delivered.

“Locality boards are working with head teachers to develop creative alternative solutions. Schools hands are tied with the curriculum, but not how it is delivered. These children need extra support.”

Explained: The new constituency which will cover part of the Harrogate district

Voters in some parts of the Harrogate district will fall under a new constituency in six weeks’ time.

Polling day on July 4 will be the first time that the Wetherby and Easingwold seat will be contested.

The constituency replaces part of the former Selby and Ainsty seat, which will now be known as Selby.

In this article, the Stray Ferret looks at the implications of the new constituency and explains why it has been introduced and what it means for voters in our district.

Why has Wetherby and Easingwold been introduced?

In June 2023, the Boundary Commission made final recommendations to government over changes to constituency boundaries.

As part of a periodical review of the 650 constituencies in the UK, it looked at whether some seats needed to be reduced in size, increased in size or abolished altogether.

Among the recommendations was to introduce a new constituency called Wetherby and Easingwold.

At the time, Tim Bowden, secretary of the Boundary Commission, said the proposals were made following extensive consultation.

The Wetherby and Easingwold seat.

He added that the move to change the boundaries was made to “best to reflect local community ties”.

The changes, which include retaining a total of 650 constituencies across the UK, see each seat contain no less than 69,724 voters and no more than 77,062.

Where in the Harrogate district will fall under the new constituency?

Wetherby and Easingwold will take in areas of five current constituencies including Harrogate and Knaresborough, Thirsk and Malton, Elmet and Rothwell, Selby and Ainsty and Skipton and Ripon.

A total of 5.6% of the current Harrogate constituency will fall under the new seat.

This includes Boroughbridge, Minskip, Marton-cum-Grafton, the Dunsforths, Ripley and Nidd.

Goldsborough, Flaxby, Allerton Park, Hopperton, Follifoot, Spofforth and Burton Leonard will also be added to the seat.

The estimated electorate size of the new constituency will be 71,455.

Who will be contesting the seat?

It’s early days in the election campaign, but two candidates have already been announced for the seat.

Current Elmet and Rothwell MP, Alec Shelbrook, will contest the constituency for the Conservatives.

Mr Shelbrook’s current seat is among those being abolished as part of the boundary review.

Meanwhile, Reform UK will field Mike Jordan as its candidate and James Monaghan will stand for the Liberal Democrats in the new constituency.

So far, Labour and Greens have yet to announce candidates for the seat.

Former Harrogate working men’s club thriving in its 125th year

A former working men’s club in Harrogate is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.

The Oatlands is bucking a decades-long nationwide trend that has seen many other similar clubs decline or close.

It has managed not just to survive but to thrive, with membership numbers topping pre-pandemic levels – and rising.

Founded on November 1, 1889, the club has earned its place as a vibrant part of the community through an ability to adapt with the changing times, and a proactive approach to investing in its facilities.

An ethos of inclusivity and a warm welcome has helped, too. Visit The Oatlands on any given day and you’ll find a mix of members. There are the older regulars who drop in for a drink and a chat at the same time every day. The cricket and football teams enjoying a post-match pint. Mums and kids popping in after school pick-up, and dog walkers stopping by for refreshment. Clubs and groups gathering for their weekly sessions.

It’s what the club is all about, said Lucy Hague, the secretary on the 11-strong committee.

“A lot of it is about our community using it. We are here: Come and use us. It’s great when we get new faces – we are really welcoming.”

Changing times

black and white image of a working men's club in harrogate

Oatlands Mount Working Men’s Club in 1967.

Across the UK, there has been an estimated 75 per cent drop in the number of working men’s clubs during the last half century. In Harrogate, the National Reserve Club closed in 2021, while High Harrogate WMC shut in February this year.

But instead of declining, The Oatlands’ membership is growing. From 888 members at the end of 2020, by the end of 2023 there were 1,158. Thirty joined last month alone. And members don’t just come from the local community. Some are from the other side of town and even as far as Leeds.

It’s a diverse membership, too, with men and women of all ages taking advantage of the bargain £10 annual fee. Many have life membership, automatically bestowed after 25 years. One has been a member since 1956.

A name change has been successful in enticing more people through the door. Originally called Oatlands Mount Working Men’s Club, a rebrand in 2019 aimed to dispel the ‘cloth cap image’ and reflect a more modern, diverse and welcoming ethos.

Other clubs in Harrogate have since followed suit, with Bilton ditching the reference in 2022 and Starbeck becoming Forest Club last year. Nationally, around 60 per cent of the clubs still in existence have changed their name.

Lucy, whose late father Ron Hague joined the club aged 16 and served as president in the 1990s, said:

“I remember when I was little, women weren’t allowed in here. Now we are getting a lot more ladies than we ever used to. Our vice president and bar manager are women. There is much better representation than in the past. Kids and dogs are also welcome. It’s a very mixed community.”

“It’s about our community using it”

The Oatlands committee: Gordon Selby, Lucy Hague, Brian Rhodes, Lesley Watson, Ivor Stainton, George Elmes, Rob Jackson, Mark Bowers, Simon Williams and David Dorsey. Absent, Andrew Milestone

The club’s facilities are varied. There’s a lounge, snug and bar area, where live sports matches are regularly televised. A large function room hosts special events such as comedy nights and live music, and can be hired by members free of charge for private celebrations.

On the first floor are two snooker tables, darts, a table tennis room and a meeting room. There’s even a beer garden, where summer barbecues and other outdoor events are held.

Led by members’ suggestions, the committee organises a range of activities, from children’s Halloween discos to charity fundraisers, quiz nights, and coach trips to the coast or the Christmas markets. Lucy said:

“A lot of what we do is about our community using us. There’s always been an issue with clubs like ours getting young people to join but we get all ages here. Young people come to use the pool and snooker tables. We recently held a Beyonce and Rhianna music night, and a lot of young girls came.”

Everyone at the club cares about it and wants to see it do well. The committee works hard to create a hub for the whole community, re-investing money to improve facilities and infrastructure. Over the last couple of years around £65,000 has been spent on refurbishing the toilets, revamping the outdoor space and improving accessibility, among other things. A redesign of the bar is up next.

Even the beer is good: For the second consecutive year, The Oatlands was this month named Club of the Year by the Harrogate & Ripon branch of Camra, the Campaign for Real Ale.

Bar manager Kate Shutt and assistant Elena Watson receive the Camra award from a branch representative.

In November members will be marking the club’s anniversary with a live band, comedy night and a buffet. Lucy said:

“We were worried during covid that things might take a turn for the worse but we’re doing better now than pre-pandemic. We are thriving, and it’s something to celebrate.”

The Harrogate business group providing in-person meetings in an ‘increasingly virtual society’

(Above: Harrogate Business Group)

According to data from the Office of National Statistics, there were more businesses created in North Yorkshire in 2023 than any previous year – and 1,556 of that record-breaking number can be found in Harrogate.

With such an influx of new companies and entrepreneurs, is there still a feeling of community amongst local businesses? After all, the benefits of connecting within the local area are numerous and multi-faceted including finding support, fulfilment and offering an organic way to expand a professional network.

One group that seeks to encourage this is the Harrogate Business Group. It holds networking and development workshops that aim to empower entrepreneurs of all ages, and helps them to build a strong community in Harrogate.

The challenges of being online

While owning and running an independent business has many positives, in an increasingly digital world it can also be challenging.

With the business world migrating online, it can become an isolated place; inundated by social media content that only celebrates success or presents a carefully curated highlight reel, it’s easy to see how obstacles can feel harder to navigate.

Valuing face-to-face relationships

The Harrogate Business Group places great emphasis on in-person meetings. Its regular Breakfast Networking Events are one of the ways the organisation provides a platform for this.

Taking place every Friday over breakfast at Cedar Court Hotel, business owners, representatives and entrepreneurs can meet and share their advice and experiences face-to-face, rather than virtually.

Speaking at the last event which took place on Friday, May 10, Martin Taylor, owner of Xi Communications said:

“It’s so easy to get lulled into doing everything online.

“As a small business, it can give you a huge advantage if you actually take the time to see your customer, or phone them, to build that relationship.”

Networking event (Image: Harrogate Business Group)

‘One-to-one brings you so much more’

Rachel O’Rourke, HR consultant for Mint HR, highlighted that while she feels building relationships in person takes time, she certainly reaps the rewards.

She added:

“The virtual world has enabled people to expect things quickly. People want instant access and instant information.”

Tom Lawrence, owner of TLC Properties, commented:

“One-to-one brings you so much more. Not just about what it can do for your business, but what it can do within your business; advice, friendship, company. We are all social people.”

A diverse background

The group has a wide range of business backgrounds, from HR and marketing, to consultancy and accountancy. The variety allows members to learn from each other about every aspect of business, while also creating meaningful relationships.

Chris White, owner of Green Ink explained:

“It’s a learning curve for everybody. If I have a problem, I can speak to them about it because they have had the same issue.”

Future events

Alongside its breakfast events, the Harrogate Business Group also offers speed business clinics, where entrepreneurs and members of the public can meet a business professional from the group and receive advice, guidance or simply make new connections.

The next clinic is being held on Friday, June 7.

It is also holding a pitch your business idea event on July 5 for those looking to broaden their business opportunities. Tickets are available on a discretional donation policy, with all proceeds going to charity.

Building relationships (Image: Harrogate Business Group)

The ripple effect: What are the benefits?

According to the group who attended the Breakfast Networking Events on Friday, May 10, the increase in local businesses being created across Harrogate – especially by the younger generation – is evident.

Micheal Grant, chairman of the group and owner of Minford Chartered Accountants commented:

“There are a lot of younger entrepreneurs that are coming through which is fantastic.”

His advice to young business owners would be that networks like the Harrogate Business Group are a great way to ‘get out and meet people, and push outside your comfort zone.’

Tom added:

“[The group is] a bit like dropping a pebble in a pond. The ripples go out and you don’t know where they are going to go.”

Everyone commended the group’s efforts at creating such a friendly atmosphere, concluding that being part of it provides camaraderie, emotional support, and a sense of personal and professional fulfilment – a precious commodity in today’s increasingly virtual and isolated society.

Read more:

Harrogate men take on Peru ultra marathon for St Michael’s Hospice

Two Harrogate men are set to take on one of the world’s toughest challenges.

Ross Grange, 35 and Kevin Walton, 42, will tackle a 230km five day ultra marathon in Peru and battle the Amazon Rainforest in aid of St Michael’s Hospice.

Mr Grange is a personal trainer and owner of The Fitness Rooms in Harrogate, while Mr Walton is a client and friend of the fitness rooms.

The challenge begins next Sunday, June 2, and the event sees competitors take on five marathons in five days. The race is open to sixty entrants with only a few people completing the challenge each year.

The ultra marathon is in the Manu National Park and involves a battle against the elements, with high altitudes, humidity, and temperatures of up to 30 degrees.

They will cover over 200km, climb over 4,000m and cross the Amazon River, while sleeping in a hammock each night. It is a self-sufficient race meaning entrants carry their own supplies for the duration of the challenge.

Mr Walton suggested the challenge the pair began training last October and had never previously run more than a 10k. They began running on Harrogate’s roads and built up tolerance, then began running at Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs.

Mr Grange said:

“I’m feeling alright about the race now. I had a bit of a wobble recently and sometimes I wake up thinking I’ve signed up for hell on Earth and other times I think it is a great, once in a lifetime opportunity. I will just go and try my best.”

He aims to raise £10,000 for St Michael’s Hospice and his fundraiser is currently over £5,000.

St Michael’s Hospice is a care charity that provides care and support to people affected by terminal illness in the Harrogate district. It is a charity is close to Ross’ heart as his Mum spent her final days there in 2020.

He said:

“I am donating to charity in honour of my mum. It will be an honour giving back to St Michael’s. It is a strange way of thinking but doing one of the hardest races in the world hardship is nothing compared to what people in St Michael’s go through every day.”

He will out to Cusco in Peru next Wednesday and the race begins on Sunday June 2. With a downhill race from the mountains into the rainforest.

Mr Grange continued:

“Everyone thinks we’re a bit mad. It is an incredible event, people do great events raising money through running but the ultra-marathon is so extraordinary because it is just completely wild. At first, I didn’t know if it was possible for someone to even do something like this.”

To find out more and donate to the cause click here.

Readers’ Letters: Harrogate GP moving to online requests is ‘totally unfair’

Readers’ Letters is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This letter comes after a Harrogate GP practice moved the majority of its requests process online. It has since been accused of discriminating against older people.

Reading about the surgery wanting patients to submit letters and prescriptions mainly online made me annoyed.

Although elderly myself, I am computer literate and not at all bad! But my husband’s claim to fame is that he has never touched a computer and has no interest in technology.

Without me, he’d be stumped.

Fortunately, our great surgery prints out the prescriptions for your next month of medication.

It is totally unfair that so many things must be done online when there are probably thousands of people, like my husband, who have no idea how to use a computer.

Sandra Goldberg, Harrogate

Is it a coincidence Knaresborough’s drains are now being cleared?

This letter comes after some of Knaresborough’s gullies were reportedly cleared this week. It follows severe flooding in the town earlier this month, which forced some people to evacuate their homes.

How strange; we are told the drains weren’t to blame for the Knaresborough flooding, yet suddenly jetting equipment is seen all over the town this week.

Coincidence? I don’t think so.

I have reported blocked drains in the town for several years and I always receive the same reply: “we are looking into it”.

Nothing ever gets done until a tragedy ensues.

Ralph Thrower, Knaresborough

How much more money will be ‘wasted’ on Ripon Leisure Centre?

This letter responds to news of an additional £2m being poured into stabilisation works at Ripon Leisure Centre. The total spent on the remedial work is now nearing the original budget for the actual project.

How much more money is going to be wasted on underpinning Ripon Leisure Centre?

Anyone with any knowledge of Ripon could have informed the shower of a council that the ground was not suitable.

When is this total waste of money going to stop? Yet another folly in Ripon’s long list of botched projects.

Tony Sidwell, Ripon

Re-wilding on Harrogate street looks ‘awful’

This letter comes after strips of the Stray have been re-wilded in line with a council policy.

I do not object to re-wilding as such – but not in a residential area.

I live on Westminster Drive and there is a small semi-circular area on the corner of Burn Bridge Oval and my road, which belongs to the council and has been left to re-wild as of last year.

It looks awful. It’s now full of dandelions and buttercups that are getting bigger every day. The seeds from these plants have blown into nearby gardens and dog walkers allow their dogs to “perform” in the long grass.

This is definitely not a suitable place to allow re-wilding and the council should mow it regularly and thoroughly – not just around the edge.

I’m sure I am not the only one to dislike this way of reducing council expenses and causing residents lots of extra work!

Alison Roscoe, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Mourner says state of Harrogate cemetery is ‘disrespectful’

A mourner has been left heartbroken after finding Harrogate‘s Stonefall Cemetery in a “neglected state”.

Shirley Askew often goes to the cemetery to visit her late husband’s grave and has been left upset after seeing the ‘disrespectful’ state of the site.

Ms Askew went to the cemetery over the weekend and found weeds surrounding headstones and overflowing bins.

She said:

“I was very upset to find the area totally neglected with overflowing rubbish bins a few meters from where ashes are scattered. What was once a gentle flowing stream has been covered over by overgrown grass since last summer and has left a stagnant pool.

“The areas in front of the benches are full of weeds. But the really upsetting sight was all the headstones surrounded by 2-3 foot high weeds. No part of the cemetery should look like this, but these are all fairly recent graves. Have the council considered the feelings of grieving loved ones seeing such neglect and disrespect.”

Weeds surrounding headstones and benches at Stonefall Cemetery. Image: Shirley Askew

She added:

“I’m so relieved I visited alone as I would have been so ashamed for other family members to have seen my husbands resting place treated with such disrespect.”

This is not the first time mourners have been left distressed by the state of Stonefall Cemetery.

Two years ago, Trish Stephenson, who goes to the cemetery to visit the grave of her cousin, described the state of the site as “disgraceful”. At the time, the former Harrogate Borough Council said it would make the site a priority.

Graves are barely noticeable due to the overgrown weeds at Stonefall Cemetery. Image: Shirley Askew

At the time, a spokesperson for the council said:

“Demand on our teams has understandably been high over the last two years but these works will now be prioritised.

“The team will visit Stonefall Cemetery in the coming weeks and address any concerns that have been raised. Some areas are being left to grow and not mown as we want to encourage biodiversity, attract pollinators and create habitats. We will of course continue to mow the grass along pathways and around gravestones so that mourners can pay their respects to their loved ones.”

Immaculate war graves

The war graves are decorated with flower and maintained at Stonefall Cemetery

Ms Askew added that the Wetherby Road entrance up to and around the crematorium is completely free of weeds.

She added:

“Presumably because this is the area seen by funeral attendees. All of the rubbish bins should be placed behind fencing or hedges, not just the ones near the crematorium.”

The clean white headstones of the war graves at Stonefall Cemetery

The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire Council who said they would look into the issue but did not give any further details at this time.

Editor’s Election Diary: Is 5,000 days of local Tory control ending?

It’s been 5,134 days since Andrew Jones and Julian Smith were elected Conservative MPs for Harrogate and Knaresborough and Skipton and Ripon respectively in 2010.

Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a general election on July 4 means they could have just 40 days left in Westminster.

The national polls don’t look good for the Tories but unlike some of their colleagues, who have chosen to stand down, Messrs Jones and Smith are preparing to fight.

Mr Jones will be up against two men in their 20s from the main opposition parties: Liberal Democrat Tom Gordon and Labour’s Conrad Whitcroft.

The latter, whose candidature was announced just hours before Mr Sunak called the election, informed me he was too young to vote in the Brexit referendum when we met on Friday. Look out for the interview on Bank Holiday Monday.

While Mr Gordon has been attacking the Tories’ record, Mr Jones has been questioning his youthful opponents’ local credentials.

Having two twenty-somethings in the race is a step forward for better representation of young people in politics but so far just one of the five candidates declared — Shan Oakes of the Green Party — is female.

Reform UK has actually had two parliamentary candidates so far. It emerged this week that original selection Richard Brown had been replaced by John Swales after a dispute that resulted in Mr Brown saying of Mr Swales that he “didn’t want to see the bugger again”.

The website Electoral Calculus gives Mr Gordon a 62% chance of winning but UK Polling Report has Mr Jones slight favourite, giving him a 36.72% likelihood of success against Mr Gordon’s 35.4%. These regularly updated forecasts will be compulsive but perhaps not wholly reliable viewing in the weeks ahead given the disparities.

Electoral Calculus says Labour has a 59% chance of winning in Skipton and Ripon, but at the time of writing Keir Starmer’s team hadn’t even named a candidate. With an autumn election expected, the announcement of a July election caught many people on the hop — expect a busy week ahead of more candidates being announced. Will the Official Monster Raving Loony Party detect enough local lunacy to throw its hat in the ring?

It will be particularly interesting to see the outcome in the new Wetherby and Easingwold constituency, which includes Boroughbridge and numerous villages in the former Harrogate district.

The Stray Ferret will be in Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough, Ripon, and Harrogate this week speaking to readers, local groups and businesses to find out what matters to you.

We also have several articles this weekend setting the scene for the campaign ahead. Stay tuned, as Election ’24 hots up.

Five key issues in Harrogate district at the upcoming election

Over the next six weeks, politicians will be vying for votes and clashing over what they see as the key issues in the Harrogate district.

From the state of the NHS to the quality of water in our rivers, candidates of all party colours will be having their say on topics as they head into a six-week election campaign.

With this in mind, the Stray Ferret has looked at what could be the key election issues in the Harrogate district.

Water quality

Perhaps the most pertinent issue over the last six months is the quality of water in the district’s rivers.

Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, led the campaign for bathing water status at Knaresborough Lido.

Mr Jones is likely to use the success of the Nidd being granted bathing water status as part of his election pitch to emphasise his record as the town’s MP.

Robbie Moore, Defra Minister, and Andrew Jones at the Nidd.

But, Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat candidate, will likely point to the amount of sewage dumped into the district’s rivers as a counter narrative.

As recently as Thursday, Mr Gordon highlighted river pollution as one of the key issues in the area. Labour candidate Conrad Whitcroft also cites the state of the Nidd as one of his key issues.

Health service

Much like the rest of the nation, the Harrogate district is not immune to pressures on the NHS.

The area particularly struggles with GP appointments and dentists, with Harrogate in particular acutely lacking NHS provision for dentistry.

It’s a topic that has not escaped the attention of some of the candidates on July 4.

Tom Gordon pictured with Daisy Cooper, Lib Dem health spokesperson.

Both Mr Jones and Mr Gordon have raised the issue in their own way.

The Conservative MP brought up the topic of dentistry in the House of Commons in September while Mr Gordon met with the Liberal Democrat health spokesperson to raise the issue in March last year.

Expect the lack of dentistry in Harrogate to raise its head again at some point in the next six weeks.

Housing

Whether it be new estate off Kingsley Drive or 3,000 homes in the west of Harrogate, or the Manse Farm development in Knaresbrough, housing is a major issue.

The Stray Ferret has covered the extensive housebuilding in the area and its knock on effect onto local residents extensively.

Given its prominency in Harrogate and Knaresborough, the topic is expected to be debated extensively by candidates.

Mr Jones raised the issue over new build estates in the House of Commons as recently as April, where he pointed out he had run a ‘fair deal for new estates’ campaign for over a year.

Meanwhile, Mr Gordon is no stranger to criticising the government’s record on housing.

In April, he told the Stray Ferret that new homeowners should be protected from “dodgy developers” by strengthening the law on leaseholds and freeholds.

Education

The provision of education is always a hot topic at elections.

Both Mr Gordon and Mr Jones have clashed before over the issue of funding for schools.

But, in the Harrogate district, perhaps a more pressing issue is the provision for those with special educational needs and disabilities.

The Stray Ferret reported recently on a significant increase in demand for SEND places.

A report before councillors on Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee on March 14 showed a significant increase in the number of education health and care plans submitted to the council.

The plans detail a child’s needs and are given to schools to consider ahead of a potential admission.

The matter has even seen parents from Harrogate go to Leeds to demonstrate over provision for SEND pupils.

Transport

The need for people to get around is another issue frequently raised in Harrogate.

Mr Jones, who is a former rail minister, has campaigned for better rail services and championed the town’s electric bus fleet.

Some of this has led to noticeable improvements in the town, such as more direct services to London. But other areas remain questionable.

Take for instance the pledge by government to divert millions of pounds of HS2 money towards potholes and road repairs.

While some roads in the Harrogate district have benefited from resurfacing, others still await repair.

Readers of the Stray Ferret this week shared with us pictures of some roads in the district which they feel are in need of some attention.

It’s a topic which election candidates in Harrogate may face at some point this campaign.

Former Harrogate working men’s club thriving in its 125th year