North Yorkshire tourism bosses warned not to repeat past mistakes

Officials developing a destination management plan to replace Welcome to Yorkshire have been urged to learn the lessons from the past.

A meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s transition scrutiny committee yesterday heard councillors call for the local authority to protect the Yorkshire brand, take more heed of the views of small businesses and work to attract international events without losing oversight of the consequences of tourism on communities.

Councillors were told the local authority was weeks away from submitting a destination management plan  to Visit England to join neighbouring areas such as East Riding, Durham and Cumbria in becoming a local visitor economy partnership, to gain more national funding and support.

Officers told the meeting at County Hall in Northallerton they had consulted extensively with the sector on the framework which would lead, influence and coordinate all of “the aspects of our destination which contribute to a visitor’s experience”.

They said the plan would take account of the needs of visitors, residents, businesses, and the environment, joining all organisations with an interest in the industry responsible for 10 per cent of the county’s economy.

It is planned to bring Yorkshire LVEPs together in a destination development partnership, which would then identify collective strategic priorities.

In addition, the council is also part of a group looking at marketing North Yorkshire at a national and international level, the meeting was told.

Councillors heard while the council’s ambition is to increase the £2bn visitor spend by about 5% a year and increase the proportion overnight visitors to 20% of all visits, there were concerns the latter aim could exacerbate housing and staff accommodation issues in some areas.

An officer told members the council was confident the plan’s priorities reflected what the industry was wanting.

He added: 

“We have a really ambitious set of targets to grow it year on year and to retain more overall visitors.

“We get a lot of day visitors but there is a real shift to try and get overnight stays and the retention time being longer.

“We want that plan to be private sector-led, but also with a clear steer from where the local authority is taking the lead. We are not under-estimating our leadership role in this, but we also want the sector to own and help us deliver these ambitions.”

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However, Helmsley division councillor George Jabbour highlighted how comments by the Federation of Small Businesses, which represents 4,000 businesses in the county and York, on the council’s plan had been “very far from glowing”.

FSB comments included: 

“Businesses are frustrated after being excited about the new start that this is where we have landed – they don’t see the purpose of the DMP or what need it answers due to the confused plan and lack of vision.”

Cllr Jabbour added: 

“North Yorkshire County Council had too close a relationship with Welcome to Yorkshire. There were a few scandals involved there. It is a concern from the start we don’t get as close and that the new council makes the same mistakes as before.

“The reality is we have got to make sure we have something quite ambitious and hopefully we will have enough time to change and improve the final plan.”

Officers said they would meet the FSB to address concerns, but some businesses appeared to have confused the management plan for a strategy.

The committee’s acting chairman, Cllr Bryn Griffiths, told officers: 

“Don’t lose the Yorkshire brand. The Yorkshire brand is so strong. Don’t degenerate it.”

Harrogate ‘rat run’ to return as road set to reopen

A Harrogate road often used as a cut-through by vehicles is set to reopen to through traffic this autumn.

A 12-month traffic order has blocked traffic at the bridge where Kingsley Road meets Bogs Lane since November last year.

The route was previously used by some vehicles to avoid congestion on the main A59 Knaresborough Road, as well as by locals.

The traffic order was issued to enable developer Redrow to carry out work at its 133-home Kingsley Manor development.

Kingsley Road - Bogs Lane bridge

The bridge that divides Bogs Lane and Kingsley Road is to re-open to vehicles.

North Yorkshire Council  wanted to make the closure permanent but has been unable to do so and the roads will reopen to through traffic when the 12-month order lapses on November 3.

A council email sent to interested parties said it needed to construct a turning area on Bogs Lane “as a prerequisite to any road closure”.

The email, which is attributed to a ‘development management team’ rather than any named individual, added:

“We have been negotiating with this third party landowner for over 18 months and despite protracted correspondence, there has been no conclusion to the enquiry.

“The local highway authority is now at the stage where we must proceed with an alternative option to create a safe pedestrian environment on Bogs Lane as the temporary road closure expires in November and the occupation of dwellings on the Redrow site will begin shortly after.”

The council now wants to install a pedestrian route between the proposed Redrow site entrance on Bogs Lane and the garage to the east of the railway bridge.

The email added:

“The proposal would create a notional 1.5 metre wide footway on the northern side of the road, which would be slightly narrower over short sections in some places due to physical site constraints.

“This option would require the road to be realigned slightly to the south and reinforced in places in order to retain its current minimal width of 4.8m.

“Discussions are already underway with Network Rail with regards to the proposed footway crossing the bridge deck, as this bridge is a Network Rail asset for which permissions would be required to undertake works.”

The email added the council is talking to Redrow about amending 2017 documents that obliged the developer to construct a footway.

‘The infamous Kingsley rat run will reappear’

Some people welcomed the road closure for making the Kingsley area quieter; others said it added time to their journeys and the detours only increased pollution.

Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley on the council, was among those who supported a permanent closure. He said:

“I do see the point, which I understand many of the consultees made, regarding keeping Bogs Lane open to emergency vehicles, which would benefit residents on both sides of the bridge.

“I’m really pleased that, at long last, Bogs Lane is going to get a decent footway, hopefully prior to November 4th, when the Redrow Road Closure expires.

“My main worry is that the infamous Kingsley rat run will reappear when the road re-opens, but I understand traffic lights and traffic calming measures on both sides of the bridge and around the new junction will not make the road any quicker for motorists than using Knaresborough Road.”

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Wrexham FC considers appealing Harrogate striker transfer refusal

Wrexham FC is considering appealing an English Football League decision to reject the transfer of Harrogate Town striker Luke Armstrong.

Armstrong, 27, was due to join the League Two side as part of a deadline day deal on Friday (September 1).

The sum has not been disclosed but it was believed to have been in the region of £450,000, which would have been the most Harrogate have ever received for a player.

Town issued a press release announcing the deal but it later emerged the EFL had declined to approve the transfer because it said Wrexham had failed to submit paperwork on time.

The Welsh side has now said in a statement yesterday that it has requested “relevant information regarding a potential appeal against the decision”.

It said:

“Further to Saturday’s statement on the rejection of Luke Armstrong’s transfer registration, Wrexham AFC can confirm the club is still actively collating all the relevant information regarding a potential appeal against the decision.

“Late this afternoon we requested key information from the EFL, which we are informed we should receive tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.”

Armstrong has scored 31 goals in 106 appearances for Harrogate.

Wrexham have been on the lookout for a replacement for star striker Paul Mullin after he suffered a collapsed lung and four broken ribs during the club’s USA pre-season tour.

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Major expansion of Rudding Park recommended for approval

Council officers have recommended councillors approve an expansion of Rudding Park Hotel and Spa to create a new golfing clubhouse, family hub, tennis courts and the reinstatement of a walled garden.

Rudding Park is a luxury tourist destination on a sprawling 300-acre estate three miles south of Harrogate.

Planning documents say that its current clubhouse was originally built as a temporary facility but has now outgrown its useful life and “considerably discredits the course”.

The new building would be spread over two storeys and also would feature swimming pools, restaurants, a gym and changing rooms.

A replacement family hub would also be built to include a creche, softplay area and swimming pool.

Masterplan of the renovations as proposed by Rudding Park.

A walled garden was converted into a caravan park in the 1970s but would be reinstated.

Four new tennis courts and a pavilion are also proposed as part of the plans.

According to planning documents, the improvements will result in an additional 75 full time jobs and will lead to an extra £14.3 million being spent in the local area every year.

Documents state:

“Over the last 50 years, Rudding Park has become the standard bearer for quality hospitality in Harrogate, and positions Harrogate as a UK wide and international tourist destination. The owners have made consistent and intentional decisions to design and build the highest quality amenities and experiences for Harrogate, the North and the UK. With no exception.

“The vision is to create the UK’s best independent luxury resort and, to do this, the resort requires a new club house, redeveloped family facilities and additional sports amenities.

“To remain the jewel in the crown for Harrogate tourism, Rudding Park must develop these high-quality fitness, sports, leisure and recreational spaces to complement the hotel, spa and house and the legacy of the last 50 years’ development.”

The application will be decided by councillors who sit on North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee in Northallerton on Tuesday (September 12) rather than those on the Harrogate & Knaresborough planning committee.

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Harrogate nursery Tiny Teapots rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

Tiny Teapots nursery in Harrogate has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted just a year after receiving a ‘requires improvement’ rating.

The government inspector said in a report published last week that “children in this setting play happily with one another and eagerly participate in activities with the warm and friendly staff who take care of them”.

The report said “staff communicate well with children” and take the time “to share in children’s interests”.

It added:

“The curriculum is carefully planned to meet the needs of individual children in the nursery.

“[It] is built upon an ethos of ‘magic and wonder’ and the learning environment actively supports this aim.

“The nursery benefits from a strong management team which is keen to ensure the nursery continues to progress. Relationships with parents are a priority.”

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Despite reporting that “children generally behave well”, the inspector did note “occasionally, children are not fully supported to understand boundaries and behavioural expectations” which can “lead to some boisterous play”.

However, it added that “this is an area of development which the management team recognises and is actively supporting staff with”.

Claire Martin, nursery manager at Tiny Teapots, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are absolutely thrilled with the recent Ofsted report which serves as a testament to the dedication and care delivered by the team.

“As we look ahead, we are excited about the promising path we are on.

“We are firmly committed to building upon this remarkable achievement and ensuring that we continue to offer nothing but the very best care for our children.”

The inspection, which took place on July 25, followed an inspection in July last year.

Tiny Teapots is part of Just Childcare – a group of day nurseries across the north-west, Yorkshire and the south west of England.

No local schools due to close because of crumbling concrete

None of the schools facing closure in England and Wales due to crumbling roofs are in the Harrogate district.

The government said last week 104 schools in England and Wales would fully or partially close due to safety fears connected with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

Raac, which is cheap building material popular between the 1960s and 1980s, has been compared to “chocolate Aero” because it contains pockets of air.

Children in North Yorkshire are due to go back to school tomorrow for the autumn term and the government has yet to name which schools are affected.

Stuart Carlton, director of children and young people’s service at North Yorkshire Council, said only one school in North Yorkshire was affected . He said:

“We are aware of one school in the county which has been constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

“Scalby School in Scarborough has been asked to close the buildings affected. The school is required to make suitable arrangements to continue the education of their 1,000 pupils until safety work can be carried out.

“Scalby School is the only one in North Yorkshire on the current Department for Education list of 104 schools affected.”

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate accounting firm rebrands

A Harrogate accounting and advisory firm has rebranded.

Saffery Champness, which has offices on North Park Road, will now be renamed Saffery.

The firm, which has 10 offices across the UK and Ireland, said the rebrand would help the company to grow.

Jonathan Davis, head of the Yorkshire practice at Saffery, said:

“This is a hugely exciting time for the firm and our team here in Yorkshire. Our new brand provides a platform for success and will help us to continue our trajectory of growth in the region. It follows a period of consistent growth in our client base and the development of our team.”

Growth hub to host business support session in Harrogate

York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub will host a free business support session in Harrogate this week.

The session will be held at Harrogate Co-Lab on King’s Road from 10am until 4pm on Wednesday, September 6.

The event will offer one-to-one consultations for businesses, expert advice and help with resources and programmes.

John Hartley from Forsta Projects in Harrogate said: 

“The drop-in sessions, and the Co-Lab workspace, help to bring the local business community together and it provides immediate access to a range of sources of support.

“Our goal was to make new connections and we’ve achieved that – we’ve met some great people.”

For more information on how to register for the event, visit the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub website here.

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North Yorkshire Council to re-examine planning decisions by unelected officers

North Yorkshire Council officers have defended its planning service following a sharp decline in the number of development proposals being decided by councillors.

A meeting of the council’s transition scrutiny committee was told the authority was re-examining the balance between planning applications which could be made by unelected council staff and ones which went before the authority’s six area planning committees.

The authority’s planning service has been the focus of criticism by many councillors since it took over from the seven district and borough councils in April, with some areas seeing decreases of 60% in the number of decisions by councillors.

A recent meeting of all the planning committee chairs heard claims the council was only giving councillors the chance to decide upon developments it was legally bound to and had made its scheme of delegating decisions to planning officers “so tight that nothing’s really coming through”.

Harrogate councillor Philip Broadbank, a Liberal Democrat who represents Fairfax and Starbeck, told the meeting since April Harrogate borough had seen two planning meetings cancelled due to the lack of proposals being put before councillors and just one proposal being considered at other meetings.

He added that the move had led councillors to conclude that they were no longer closely involved with the planning process.

Cllr Broadbank said while 92% of planning applications had previously been decided by officers, it appeared the number being decided by elected members was getting fewer.

The meeting heard while much time was spent developing conditions which developers would have to adhere to to make a development acceptable, “sometimes it’s quite obvious nothing is done about enforcement to follow up if anything goes wrong”.

Cllr Broadbank said: 

“Elected members are there for a purpose. They are the ones who go round knocking on doors, they are the ones who need to be involved some of the decision-making that’s going on.”

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The meeting was told town and parish councils were “tearing their hair out” over the lack of or delays in enforcement action, often due to a lack of available legal support.

Committee members heard the Scarborough borough area had had no dedicated enforcement resource “for quite some time”, while Richmondshire was in a similar situation.

Grappling with change

Planning officers said councillors were able to call in contentious applications for committees to consider if there were sound planning reasons.

They said the council was examining where to focus its enforcement resources and legal support needed for an effective enforcement service.

Officers said they were “grappling with” whether the authority’s delegation system needed changing and that they were working to understand which proposals were decided by committees previously.

An officer underlined there had been no attempt to try to block some proposals going before councillors and officers were “trying to understand where those lines should be drawn”.

He added the authority would examine changing the balance over which planning applications should go before councillors.

The officer said: 

“The intention here isn’t to disenfranchise members. Members are a key part of this process.”

Council consults on new social housing plan for Harrogate district

A consultation on introducing a “choice-based” social housing system in the Harrogate district has been launched.

North Yorkshire Council is asking residents for their views on the proposal.

The plan comes as part of the authority’s move to introduce a single housing policy for the county.

From April 2025, the council must have a single policy and allocations scheme for North Yorkshire.

The initiative, which allows tenants to bid for homes advertised through the authority by housing associations, aims to give those on the waiting list more choice over where they live.

The authority set up its choice-based scheme, called North Yorkshire Home Choice, in 2011. However, it currently does not operate in the Harrogate district.

Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s executive councillor for housing, said:

“By creating a new social housing allocations policy we will create a single, unified social housing allocations scheme, which will be beneficial to all our tenants and applicants.

“However, it is important we get the views of our proposals for a new policy from all existing applicants on the current schemes, as well as our partners, and this consultation aims to do just that. We hope everyone will take part and attend the face-to-face sessions if they need more information.”

A consultation on the proposal will run until November 27.

You can have your say on the single housing policy here.

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Harrogate hospital roof contains crumbling concrete

Harrogate District Hospital’s roof contains the type of crumbling concrete that has prompted the closure of more than 100 schools.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed its buildings contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

The material, popular between the 1960s and 1980s, has been compared to “chocolate Aero”. It has led to one hospital using 3,000 steel props to keep its roof up.

A trust spokesperson said:

“We are following HSE and NHS England guidance regarding managing the risk posed by RAAC roofing and are doing all we can to ensure that any RAAC used in our buildings does not pose any threat to the safety of our patients, staff and visitors.”

The trust is the district’s biggest employer with more than 4,000 staff employed across its sites. The main hospital was built in 1975.

The spokesperson added the trust had been undertaking surveys since last year “to identify areas of concern and monitor all RAAC roofing on our trust sites”. They added:

“We have mitigated risks that have so far been identified through remedial work, such as providing additional structural support where it is required. This work will continue to be undertaken to address any further issues that are found.

“The trust is part of an NHS England scheme to eradicate this form of roofing. We have submitted a bid to NHS England for funding so that we can develop plans to remove all RAAC from Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust sites by 2030 at the latest.”

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Concerns about RAAC were flagged up at a trust board meeting in May this year.

A report by the director of strategy said RAAC roofing had been surveyed and “remedial works were underway and mitigation was in place”.

The corporate risk posed by RAAC was rated at 12 — lower than managing the risk of injury from fire and control of contractors and construction work, which were both rated at 16.

It added failure to manage the risk associated with RAAC could lead to “major injuries, fatalities, or permanent disability to employees, patients and others”.

A financial plan included in board papers said the trust had allocated £700,000 for backlog maintenance but this “excluded any national funding for RAAC”.