Councillors are set to approve new loan agreements for some of Harrogate’s rare civic items which include objects that date back to the town’s Victorian heyday.

Following local government reorganisation, the Harrogate Borough Council civic collection was transferred to the town’s charter trustees, which are 10 councillors who represent divisions in Harrogate.

The charter trustees now have responsibility for the collection of civic regalia, silverware, trophies and plaques, glass and crystal, books and scrolls and other historic items.

Currently the Royal Hall Restoration Trust, the Harrogate Club and Masham Town Hall have some items from the collection on loan which they hope to retain.

North Yorkshire Council said loaning the items out has provided more opportunities for the public to view the civic collection and has increased awareness of the town’s heritage and history.

Items held by the the Royal Hall Restoration Trust include the foundation stone trowel for Harrogate Library, a pump room cigarette box and a framed Tour de France yellow jersey signed by Marcel Kittel — winner of the first stage in Harrogate 2014.

The organisation also holds a scroll that was produced to mark a royal visit in 1894, the spade that cut the first section of the Bilton gas works railway in 1907 and a framed proclamation of King Edward’s accession from 1936.

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The charter trustees will meet next Monday at the Civic Centre when they are expected to renew the loan agreements.

They will also consider a finance report that notes how much the charter trustees have cost the public so far.

For the financial year 2023/24, there was a budget of £12,500 and a report says £5,000 has been spent on officer support from North Yorkshire Council.

A Harrogate Town Council was expected to take over the running of the town’s civic traditions next year but its likely creation has been put back until 2025.

This is to allow for another consultation that will ask the public about proposed ward boundaries and the number of councillors the new council will have.

Plans have been submitted to build a new footbridge over the River Wharfe to connect West Yorkshire with North Yorkshire.

Currently, there is a public right of way connecting the two banks of the river between Burley-in-Wharfedale and Askwith on the edge of the Harrogate district and walkers have to navigate a series of stepping stones.

But due to rising river levels and heavy rainfall the stones frequently become submerged, making the crossing impassable.

The plans have been submitted by volunteer group Burley Bridge Association, which says there have been hopes of building a bridge over this section of the Wharfe for 120 years.

A public meeting in 1896 voted overwhelmingly in favour of a bridge near Burley Weir to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee — but it is still yet to materialise.

The nearest road bridges are at Ben Rhydding and Otley although these are two and three miles away from the proposed new bridge.

Last year, Burley Bridge Association devised a new 42-mile walking trail trail called the Yorkshire Heritage Way to link Bradford with Ripon.

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It passes through the two UNESCO World Heritage sites of Saltaire and Fountains Abbey and also crosses the Wharfe using the stepping stones. The group hopes the new bridge will guarantee an all-year round crossing for people following the trail.

The Nidderdale AONB is also a supporter of the bridge as it would like to encourage more foot traffic into the area.

Burley Bridge Association estimates the bridge will cost £400,000 and it will be paid for through donations and voluntary sources.

The group said: 

“A reliable, safe, and weather-proof crossing will be of benefit to the entire local community who regularly use the stepping-stones to access walking and running routes, and to those who travel into the area to enjoy all that the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the adjacent Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have to offer.”

Plans have been submitted to both North Yorkshire Council and Bradford Metropolitan Council and will be decided at a later date.

Pupils at Hampsthwaite Church of England Primary School near Harrogate have been celebrating the opening of a new playground.

A wooden trim trail has been installed along with colourful playground markings to make playtimes more exciting.

The playground project started in March when pupils, teachers and parents took part in a fundraiser to collectively cycle the 1,000-mile distance of Land’s End to John O’Groats on four stationary bikes in the school hall in 24 hours.

The original aim was to raise £2,000 to make some improvements to the playground, but the final total was £6,500.

Headteacher Amy Ross said:

“We were overwhelmed by the sponsorship support that we received from parents, extended family, local businesses and members of the community.

“The new playground will be beneficial to children of all ages at the school, and we were keen to choose equipment that was eco-friendly and long lasting to provide enjoyment for pupils for many years to come.

“It was a pleasure to see the smiles on the children’s faces this morning when they saw the new playground for the first time.”

On Friday, October 27, the school will be holding its first open morning of this academic year.

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Fourteen newly built flats in the centre of Harrogate are set to go on the market in the next few days.

The Trinity House development, which was built on the site of the former River Island shop on Cambridge Street, consists of one and two-bedroom properties.

Prices for one-bedroom flats start at £300,000.

It is one of several schemes recently approved by planners to convert town centre retail units in Harrogate to residential homes.

The former main post office on Cambridge Road, the former Orvis shop on West Park and the former Kings Club strip club on Oxford Street, are all due to be transformed to homes.

Trinity Court features a central landscaped courtyard. Eight parking spaces are also available by separate negotiation to the flats.

Cathy Evans, head of Preston Baker land and new homes, which is the sales agent for Trinity House, said the flats “epitomise luxury living” and were “sure to be extremely popular”. She added:

“They are exquisitely crafted to provide an unrivalled living experience with an emphasis on space and style.”

Trinity House spans three floors and includes a lift, entry video intercom, private balconies in some apartments, CCTV in communal areas, underfloor heating throughout and hardwood floors.

The scheme is being delivered by Doncaster-based developer Swan Homes, part of the Vigo Group.

Nathan Brough, managing director of Swan Homes, said:

“We are thrilled to have completed the development of Trinity House. The 14 apartments will make beautiful homes for people who wish to live or work in Harrogate.”

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Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have called for answers over rising response times at North Yorkshire’s fire service.

A meeting of North Yorkshire’s police, fire and crime panel last week was told that people had to wait for an average of 13 minutes and nine seconds for firefighters to respond to incidents.

This compared with 11 minutes and 37 seconds the year before.

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, described the figures as “worrying”.

He called on Zoe Metcalfe, Conservative North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, to explain the rise in the service’s response times.

Mr Gordon said:

“Local residents I speak to are deeply worried. According to the latest figures, people in the areas covered by the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service had to wait an average of 13 minutes and nine seconds for firefighters to respond to incidents. This is an increase from 11 minutes and 37 seconds the previous year. It’s clear that something is amiss, and the people of North Yorkshire deserve to know why their safety is being put at risk.

“One cannot help but wonder if these rising response times are a direct result of budget cuts or resource allocation decisions. It’s essential that Commissioner Metcalfe provides a transparent and comprehensive explanation for these delays.

“If budget constraints or ill-advised resource changes are indeed contributing to slower response times, it is imperative that corrective actions are taken immediately to ensure the safety of our community.”

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The move comes as Ms Metcalfe said North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue was “improving” despite the rising response times.

The Conservative commissioner said the service had been working “at pace to make considerable progress” over the eight recommendations linked to concerns highlighted by government inspectors.

Inspectors rated the fire service as “inadequate” and “requires improvement” last year.

Rural locations

A spokesperson for the commissioner’s office said the increase in response times was a national trend and North Yorkshire’s rural nature “significantly impacts our average response times, due to the travel time required to reach them from their nearest fire station”. They added many station are crewed by on-call firefighters who travel from work or home to attend incidents.

The spokesperson added:

“Last year, due to extremely hot weather, the service attended a large number of fires involving farms and farm vehicles, often located in the more rural areas of the county, meaning longer travel times on slower country roads. These will naturally have impacted on our average response times for last year.”

Ms Metcalfe said the fire service “rigorously analyses and interrogates its response times to all incidents”. She added:

“The service has provided a comprehensive explanation for the change in average response times, and assurances that the increase is not attributable to resource decisions, but to the increase in primary fires taking place in rural locations which require longer travel times.

“The time it takes the service to respond to fires in dwellings is particularly important since these incidents can pose a greater risk to life. The average response time to these types of emergency incidents has continued to be far quicker at 9 minutes 29 seconds, just three seconds slower than other ‘predominantly rural’ services.”

Area manager Damian Henderson, director of service improvement and assurance said:

“I would like to offer reassurance that we always attend incidents as quickly as possible and as part of our response principles we look at primary fires we attend where the average response times are above the average for predominantly rural services.

“This allows us to make proposals for improvement, where we can. We are also increasing our prevention and protection work in our more rural areas. Following the large number of farm related fires we have already undertaken work with the farming community including the production of a farm safety leaflet.”

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10 am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate environmental company has appointed a new director.

Adler and Allan, which is based on Victoria Avenue, has hired David Jarvis as operations and commercial director.

Mr Jarvis will take up the role in the company’s newly formed water division and will be tasked with overseeing the firm’s growth strategy.

He said:

“I am impressed by Adler and Allan’s purpose, vision, and plans for growth within the water sector.

“There is nothing I enjoy more than getting my PPE on and spending time out on site with teams delivering essential services, keeping taps wet and manholes dry.”

Harrogate estate agents backs food bank challenge

A Harrogate estate agents is backing a campaign to donate one tonne of food to local food banks.

Verity Frearson is supporting Harrogate’s Supplies Web Ltd, which is aiming to complete the challenge.

It would see one tonne of food delivered to food banks in Harrogate and High Wycombe, where Supplies Web Ltd has its southern branch.

Matthew Stamford (director VF), Paul Graves (director SW) and Mark Hague (business development manager SW).

Matthew Stamford, a director at Verity Frearson, said the firm took on the challenge after being contacted by Paul Graves, a director at Supplies Web Ltd.

He said:

“When Paul contacted us to see if we’d be interested in getting involved in their food bank challenge we jumped at the chance.

“As a business, we have made ongoing commitment to give back to the local community and to help the people who need the most support.”

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North Yorkshire Police has launched an investigation after a car crashed into parked vehicles and a fence on a Harrogate street.

The incident happened on Tuesday, October 10, on Birstwith Road.

Officers said a white Vauxhall Insignia collided with parked vehicles and a fence at around 9.20pm. The occupants of the car had left the scene upon police arrival.

The force has appealed for anyone with information on the incident to come forward.

A police statement said:

“Police enquiries are ongoing.

“Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference 12230192818.”

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A weather warning covering four days has been issued for the Harrogate district as Storm Babet approaches.

The storm is forecast to bring wet and windy weather across the UK from Wednesday. Eastern Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Pennines are likely to be worst affected.

A Met Office weather warning for rain is in place in the Harrogate district from 9pm on Wednesday to 6am on Saturday.

Although gusts of over 60 mph are expected in Scotland, the Met Office isn’t currently forecasting anything higher than just above 30mph locally. But plenty of rain is due, especially on Friday.

The Met Office, which has issued a less severe yellow weather warning, said there was a “small chance” of some homes and businesses flooding and has warned of difficult driving conditions.

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Miriam Margolyes took time out from her book tour to visit Harrogate Homeless Project this morning.

The actor, who starred in Harry Potter, was in Harrogate to publicise her latest book, Oh Miriam! She appeared at Harrogate Convention Centre last night and will be in York this evening.

Ms Margolyes visited staff and service users at Springboard Day Centre, which provides food, shower and washing facilities, skills workshops, activities, psychotherapy, medical services and housing advice to homeless people.

Harrogate Homeless Project runs the day centre at the Wesley Centre on Oxford Street in Harrogate. It also operates a 16-bed hostel on Bower Street and move-on housing for those wishing to escape homelessness.

Ms Margolyes said:

“I was honoured to visit the Harrogate Homeless Project and witness at first-hand the remarkable dedication of staff and volunteers and their powerful work, transforming lives. It’s essential that we all address the issue of homelessness with compassion and empathy.”

Clair Challenor-Chadwick, a trustee of the charity, said Ms Margolyes “didn’t hesitate to visit the project when asked”, adding:

“It’s her unwavering commitment to social causes, her kindness, and absolute belief in fairness and justice that truly sets her apart.”

Miriam Margoyles with Harrogate Homeless Project today. Pic: Gerard Binks

With chief executive Francis McAllister. Pic: Gerard Binks

Chief executive Francis McAllister said the visit would raise awareness about homelessness.

“Her visit will undoubtedly throw a spotlight on this cause, and I hope her compassion inspires the wider community to come together and make a difference in the lives of those in need.”

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An “obsessed” Harrogate man has been jailed for yet another breach of a restraining order designed to protect his former partner with whom he was “fixated”.

Carl Ingles, 44, made the victim’s life a “complete misery” for years, York Crown Court heard.

Ingles, who held a “responsible” position at Boots Opticians in Harrogate, had received community orders and two short prison sentences in the past for previous offences against the victim including battery, smashing up her property and harassment.  

He was jailed for two years today after he admitted two breaches of a lifetime restraining order.

Threatening and abusive phone calls

Prosecutor Lily Wildman said that Ingles bombarded the woman with “threatening” and abusive phone calls and text messages between March 31 and April 12. He breached the order again on September 5 following a court appearance the day before.

Ingles, of Kent Road, Harrogate, had appeared at the crown court on September 4 when he was bailed with restrictions including a prohibition not to contact the victim. 

However, the following day she was at a hospital appointment when she noticed a message on her phone from Ingles which read: ‘I’m sorry about yesterday in the Crown court. You looked beautiful yesterday and you look beautiful today.’ 

Ms Wildman added:

“She told him to leave her alone (but) then the defendant approached her inside (a restaurant in York).”

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Ingles and the victim had been in a relationship for about nine years until 2017 when the original restraining order was imposed after Ingles was convicted of assaulting her. Since then, there had been five breaches of the order before the latest transgressions.

Ms Wildman said that Ingles had three previous convictions for battery against the victim. He had 12 offences on his record including harassing the same victim and damaging her property. 

Ms Wildman said that Ingles had attacked her on “several occasions” in 2017 which led to the order being imposed, but he breached it within months. His last breach was in August last year when he was given a two-week jail sentence.

Defence barrister Steven Garth said that Ingles, a father-of-two, was working in a “responsible” position at Boots Opticians at the time of his arrest. 

Mr Garth added:

“He fears that he may have now lost that job.

“Had he not had these feelings and this obsession (with) this (victim), no doubt he would have lived a respectable and law-abiding life.”

He said although the relationship ended in 2017, Ingles believed that he and the victim were still an item by 2021. 

Recorder Dafydd Enoch KC said Ingles appeared to have “zero insight” into his “persistent” harassing of the victim. 

He added:

“It’s been going on for years.

“(The victim) is absolutely at the end of her tether.”

He said Ingles had “made (the victim’s) life a complete misery (and) it has been interspersed with violence”.

Mr Enoch added:

“She is worried sick every time she goes where he might be.

“She lives in fear of the defendant.”

Mr Enoch told Ingles: 

“For a considerable number of years you have been fixated on your ex-partner. The relationship appeared to work for a while but ended in violence on your part on several occasions in 2017. 

“There were multiple incidents of violence resulting in restraining orders which you breached from day one. You had absolutely no regard for court orders whatsoever because (of) your obsession.”

He described Ingles’ behaviour towards the victim as “scary” and “disturbing” and that she had been caused “very serious distress”.

He added: 

“It is crystal clear you have been a presence in the life…of this lady which causes (her) constant fear.

“You are not getting the message from the courts for some reason, Mr Ingles, and so the court is left with very little option.”

Ingles will serve half of the two-year jail sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence. He will remain subject to the restraining order for an indefinite period.