Knaresborough man to deliver two fire engines to Ukraine this monthA Knaresborough man will drive to Ukraine later this month to deliver two fire engines.
Bob Frendt, who is in his 70s, began his humanitarian work just over 18 months ago after the war between Ukraine and Russia began.
He said:
“I saw it on the TV when it started and saw the conditions these people were living in.
“I said to my wife ‘I can’t just sit here; I need to do something to help’.”
He is now preparing to make his ninth trip to the city of Volodymyr.
The Mayor of Volodymyr requested Mr Frendt, who is a retired truck driver, to supply the community with a fire engine after the original one was taken for use in Kyiv.
Bob Frendt’s fire engine.
He has held several fundraising events to pay for the £24,000 fire engine, including quiz nights and choir concerts, but said he has not worked out the total amount raised yet.
A company also donated a second vehicle to Mr Frendt after hearing about his venture.
He will be joined by his wife Maureen and two other passengers along the way.
The group will set off on Friday, October 27 at 2pm, from Aldi car park in Knaresborough.
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Police link Scotton collision to Knaresborough car theftNorth Yorkshire Police believe a collision in Scotton could be linked to a recent car theft in Knaresborough.
Emergency services, including North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, were called to the incident, which happened on Market Flat Lane in Scotton at 6.17pm yesterday.
Fire crews found a 53-reg blue Land Rover Freelander on its roof on arrival.
A police spokesperson told the Stray Ferret:
“The vehicle had overturned and two young men ran off into a nearby field, off Scotton Way.
“Despite ground searched and assistance from a police airplane, they have not yet been located.”
The force does not believe the men suffered serious injuries.
It added an investigation into the theft of the Land Rover Freelander in Knaresborough, which happened on Wednesday, October 11, has been linked to the collision.
The car is believed to have been stolen between 2pm and 6pm that day.
A spokesperson added:
“Witnesses or anyone with dash-cam or doorbell footage are asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 4, and speak to the Force Control Room.”
You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Quote reference 12230193555 when providing details.
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Harrogate road to be closed for another six monthsA busy Harrogate road is to remain closed for another six months.
Vehicles have been blocked from crossing the bridge where Kingsley Road meets Bogs Lane since November last year.
Besides serving the Kingsley area, the road is also used as a cut-through to avoid congestion on the main A59 Knaresborough Road.
The road was due to re-open to through traffic on November 3 but North Yorkshire Council, the highways authority, has now said the traffic order will remain in place until May.
The order was issued to enable work on the 133-home Redrow homes site Kingsley Manor to take place.
But in an email seen by the Stray Ferret, the council said Barratt Homes —which built the nearby Kingsley Meadows development — had not fulfilled an obligation to build a footway along Bogs Lane to make the area safer for pedestrians.
The email said:
“Unfortunately following a meeting with Barratts last week, we have been informed that their internal commercial processes would not allow them to award a works contract to the contractor who is currently working in the area and forming the Redrow site access.”
The email adds the council had therefore extended the temporary road closure “to ensure the road does not open until a footway is constructed allowing safe pedestrian access”.
By May, the road closure will have lasted for 18 months — the maximum legal time.
There appears no guarantee, however, the footway will be finished by then.
A spokesperson for Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire East, said:
“In 2019, we agreed a plan with North Yorkshire County Council for new pathways on Kingsley Road. However, the council has now requested that a revised plan is put in place because another developer is also building homes in the area, creating the need for further road improvement works.
“While we are not legally required to do the more extensive road improvement works, we have agreed to go out to tender to get costs for doing this work and intend to make a contribution towards it.”
A local resident, who asked not to be named, said the situation typified the ‘act now, think later’ approach to development in the area over the last six years.
They said:
“Bogs Lane is an unclassified country lane yet it was deemed safe by highways for the development and entrances of five major construction sites.
“No thought was put into the safety of the current and thousands of future residents. Highways were warned over six years ago of the dangers on Bogs Lane and it took them nearly five years to act and then only due to repeated complaints of incidents and near serious accidents.”
A familiar site on Kingsley Road.
Cllr Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley, said:
“While it’s disappointing that Barratts internal processes don’t enable them to work speedily with the Redrow contractors to provide the long awaited and much needed footpath, which myself and council officers have been pressing for, I agree with the officers that it better for the road to remain closed to cars – pedestrians and cyclists are still able to use it, as they have been doing for the last year of course – until the safe footpath is in situ.
“I am very conscious that when the road eventually does reopen to vehicles we do not want a return to the infamous Kingsley rat run, which has knock on effects for all the residential roads leading to Kingsley Drive from Knaresborough Road and need to make this link safe for all users of the road, particularly bearing in mind there is bound to be increased vehicle use by residents living in the new developments.
“It’s important the footpath is in place prior to the road reopening to vehicles.”
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Land Rover found on its roof after Knaresborough collisionFire crews were called to a single vehicle collision near Knaresborough last night.
Knaresborough and Harrogate firefighters arrived at the scene at 6.13pm on Market Flat Lane, in Scotton, and found a car was on its roof.
The vehicle, which was a Land Rover Freelander, had lost control, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue reported.
The incident log added:
“Witnesses had seen two persons running from the scene and no other persons were involved.
“Fire crews used a thermal imaging camera to check the nearby vicinity for any casualties, none were found.”
The incident was left with the police and no further details were provided.
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Plan to convert former Harrogate guest house into co-living accomodationA former guest house in Harrogate could be converted into a house in multiple occupation.
Leeds-based Abbeycrown Ltd has tabled proposals to North Yorkshire Council to change the property at 6 Dragon Parade, which is known as Dragon House, into co-living accommodation.
In documents submitted the council, the developer said the guest house had seen a downturn in trade during the covid pandemic.
It added that, as a result, the property was “unviable as a guest house”.
The proposal would see the building converted into an eight-bedroom house of multiple occupation.
The developer said in its planning statement:
“The applicant is looking to address the need of high quality co-living facilities in the area to create rooms for professionals and public sector workers.”
It added that tenants would be “fully vetted and verified people” and would not have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area and neighbours.
A house in multiple occupation is a property rented out by at least three people who are not from the same household, but share facilities such as a kitchen and bathroom.
North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
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North Yorkshire double devolution ‘will not help vast majority of area’A flagship scheme to hand extra powers to parishes following the creation of North Yorkshire Council will not benefit the vast majority of the area, it has been claimed.
Opposition groups on the Conservative-run council have expressed disappointment after it emerged just 11 town councils and one parish council had submitted bids to manage more services in their area as part of what the authority has titled “double devolution”.
The offer to hand powers to parish authorities was initially made in former North Yorkshire County Council’s submission to government for the establishment of a unitary council amid concerns that decision-making for local services would become too far removed.
An officer’s report to a meeting of the council’s executive on Tuesday emphasises how the council has pledged to place local communities at its heart while covering England’s largest county, and double devolution would be “a key platform to achieving this aim”.
However, the report states double devolution applications would need to have a solid business case and be cost neutral to the unitary council.
It states of the 12 expressions of interest submitted by town and parish councils, three did not meet the council’s criteria, including the only one from a parish council.
Knaresborough Town Council could be given powers over the town’s market.
The report states Little Ouseburn Parish Council applied to manage grass cutting outside some cottages, but the parish “did not evidence legal competence”.
Stokesley Town Council’s bid to manage off-street parking was rejected as North Yorkshire Council stood to lose income.
Double devolution bids which are set to be approved include Filey being given the power to manage its public benches, Northallerton and Thirsk and Knaresborough town councils their markets, Richmond Town Council being handed the management of Friary Gardens and Malton Town Council its public toilets.
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Elsewhere, Skipton and Whitby town councils look set to be told their bids to manage services such as toilets and parks need “amendments”, while separate project teams will be established to work with Ripon and Selby town councils to shape their bids due to their “ambition and complexity of the expressions of interest”.
Ahead of the meeting, the authority’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr David Chance, said the authority was looking to “progress cautiously, learning from the experience and developing best practice”.
He said:
“These proposed pilots are just the start of the process, and the hope is that more will be introduced throughout North Yorkshire in the future.”
However, the authority’s Labour group leader Cllr Steve Shaw Wright said for the vast majority of North Yorkshire double devolution was “just lip service” and “managing a couple of flower beds does not require a fantastic business case”.
Cllr Wright said:
“It was a nice soundbite, but outside some of the larger towns there’s not a lot to double devolve down.
“The issue across the whole of North Yorkshire is that there is only a handful of sizeable councils that could take on and run services. The vast majority of other parishes either haven’t got the capacity to do it, are reluctant to put the precept up to fund it or there isn’t actually anything there to run.
“It was not a particularly well thought through proposal looking at the parishes and towns we have in North Yorkshire. Most parishes are very small.”
When asked if he believed double devolution was proving a success in North Yorkshire, Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Bryn Grifths said:
“Not at this stage, it has not taken off at all. I’m very disappointed.
“I’m not sure how much engagement the towns and parishes have had or if they understood what was involved. Having said that it is up to North Yorkshire Council to equip towns and parishes to make it happen.
“I feel Stokesley put a good case forward and North Yorkshire Council’s response has been a bit of a slap in the face.”
Business Breakfast: London firm acquires Harrogate car leasing companyThe 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 London finance firm has completed the acquisition of a Harrogate vehicle leasing provider.
Newable has acquired Synergy Automative Limited, which trades as Synergy Car Leasing.
The company has purchased the outstanding equity in the Harrogate firm after acquiring an initial majority stake in 2020.
Set up in 2006, Synergy Car Leasing, which is based at Hornbeam Park Oval, offers personal and business hire cars.
Phil Reynolds, managing director of Newable Lending, said:
“We are pleased to have completed this acquisition and are now looking forward to the next phase of growth for Synergy Car Leasing, building on an exceptional, customer-first track record built over the past 17 years.”
Inn Collection Group hires new finance officer
The Inn Collection Group, which operates the Harrogate Inn and Knaresborough Inn, has appointed a new chief financial officer.
Joe Bernhoeft has been hired to the position from global fashion brand Barbour.
He will be tasked with overseeing the company through further multi-million pound refurbishments and expansion across the north of England and Wales.
Sean Donkin, group CEO at The Inn Collection Group said:
“We are very excited to welcome Joe as our new CFO in what is a very exciting time for the company.
“He is an incredibly experienced finance professional having worked for some significant blue-chip organisations, including one of the north east’s most recognisable, global brands.”
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Scarecrow festival to raise awareness of speeding in NiddThe village of Nidd between Harrogate and Knaresborough is to begin a scarecrow festival this weekend to highlight concerns about speeding.
About 16 scarecrows will line both the B6165 that passes through Nidd and Town Street. Many have been designed specifically with a speed theme and one will resemble a police officer.
Nidd resident Jayne Brown said villagers wanted the speed limit reduced from 40mph to 30mph after longstanding concerns had been heightened by two recent fatal accidents in the area.
A police scarecrow with a safety message.
Another of the designs
Ms Brown said the lack of visible houses on the B6165 encouraged motorists to drive faster than they should. She added:
“Most drivers are not even aware they are driving through a village with elderly and young children crossing the particularly dangerous part of the road between Nidd Hall hotel and Town Street.
“The corners after Nidd Hall hotel have seen numerous accidents. If the most recent had been seconds earlier it would have hit schoolchildren on the pavement.”
The B6165, which links Ripley and Knaresborough, has some sharp, narrow bends in Nidd, especially near Nidd Hall.
(left to right) Villagers Jayne Brown, Alan Lunn and Shirley Hudson
An eye-catching scarecrow
Ms Brown said cars sometimes scraped walls in incidents that weren’t reported to the police so the actual number of accidents was higher than statistics suggested.
The scarecrows are expected to remain in place for a couple of weeks.
However, Nidd Parish Council, which is working with North Yorkshire Council to tackle the traffic issues, does not support the scarecrow initiative.
The clerk said:
“We are concerned that any distractions to drivers as they approach, what we all agree is a dangerous bend, is not sensible.
“They (drivers) should be concentrating on the road ahead and navigating the significant blind curves.
“Secondly, the possibility of attracting people to stop and view scarecrows has several potential difficulties including parking and pedestrians.”
An already unsatisfactory could be made worse by additional hazards, the council added.
Nidd Hall Hotel has agreed to allow two scarecrows at its entrance.
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Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens £21,000 makeover underwayWorks to re-landscape Harrogate‘s Crescent Gardens have begun.
Harrogate Borough Council, which was abolished in April, announced the revamp in February, shortly after the area hosted an ice rink and funfair last Christmas. The activities are due to return for a longer period this year.
A report at the time by Kirsty Stewart, the former council’s parks and ground maintenance manager, said “we would like to take the opportunity to upgrade the area to enable better accommodation of future events with less disruption to the planting in this area”.
It also added a three-year licence for the Christmas activities “will generate a minimum income of £37,500 per year.”
The report also said the area would be re-named The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Ground, but at the time of publication North Yorkshire Council had yet to confirm this will still happen.
Jonathan Clubb, the council’s head of parks and grounds, told the Stray Ferret:
“We are carrying out work as part of our ongoing management of Harrogate’s parks and grounds to maintain a vibrant, attractive location for residents and visitors.”
A steel rose arch will be installed today and climbing roses and flower beds will be planted in the coming weeks, Mr Clubb added.
The council also said the planting, which has cost £10,000, is part of the overall £21,000 budget that also included the costs of groundwork and materials.
This is the first redesign of Crescent Gardens since 1990, following the Gateshead Garden Festival, when the central glass structured was erected.
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Little Bird markets to light up Christmas across the Harrogate district
This article is sponsored by Little Bird Made.
From the garden of the Magdalens Pub in Ripon to the stately splendour of the Harewood estate, it has been a remarkable journey for Jackie Crozier and the Little Bird Made venture that she launched five years ago in her home city.
In 2018, Jackie’s first artisan market was held just a stone’s throw from Ripon’s magnificent cathedral, providing a platform for 20 local traders to showcase and sell their hand-crafted goods.
Since then, Little Bird has spread its wings, increasing year on year the number of historic Yorkshire towns and cities where its markets are held.
As Christmas approaches, a very busy period lies ahead, beginning with their biggest event of the season on the North Park Walk at Harewood House.
Visitors flocked to the 2022 Winter Market curated by Little Bird at Harewood House
Over five days between November 8 and 12, the home to Earls and Countesses since the 18th century, will be the exquisite backdrop for a very special winter market, curated for the second successive year by Jackie and her 14-strong team of professional event managers.
It will feature 130 local makers, crafters and producers and with pre-booked entry available at the reduced price of £5, those visiting the market will also be able to explore Harewood’s 150 acres of stunning grounds, including the Terrace Garden, Himalayan Garden, Walled Garden, Farm Experience and Adventure Playground.
For the energetic, there’s a three-mile walking trail across the North Park, South Park and Lakeside.
Little Bird will also be back by popular demand for the third year running to curate the Christmas Markets being held in the elegant setting of the Sun Colonnade at Harrogate’s glorious Valley Gardens. These will take place over three consecutive weekends on December 2,3, 9,10 and 16, 17.
The Christmas markets in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens will be held over three consecutive weekends
On November 25 and 26, Harrogate Horticultural Nursery is the venue for a Christmas market staged by Little Bird and further festive markets will also be held in Northallerton, Easingwold, Richmond, Leyburn, Thirsk, Wetherby and, of course, Ripon.
A birthday celebration
Before the festive season gets into full swing, Sunday October 22 will see Little Bird’s fifth birthday celebrated with an artisan market on Ripon’s Market Square.
The day will be dedicated to Jackie’s late parents David and Marilyn, who ran the former Fleece Pub on St Mary’s Gate for ten years.
Jackie, said:
“I think about them every day and know that they would be proud of what I have achieved since returning to the city where I was born and bred and am now an Independent member of the city council.
“I had been away for more than 20 years, working as the Director of the Manchester Pride Festival and later working on high-profile events including the London 2012 Olympics, Manchester’s Parklife Festival and the Download Festival at Donnington Park.”
Jackie, added:
“Dad’s nickname was Crow and I was known as Little Crow – so that’s how the Little Bird name came about, though sadly he didn’t live to see my fledgling venture get off the ground,
“Mum was in the intensive treatment unit at Harrogate Hospital for much of the time when I was setting up the business. I visited her every day and though she was very poorly, she never failed to take an interest and offer me words of advice and encouragement.
“That meant so much to me and has made me determined to use the expertise that I have gained through 25 years in event management, to make the Harrogate district and neighbouring areas a Mecca for artisan markets which support independent traders, while bringing increased footfall and economic benefits to the communities where they are staged.”
Visiting a Little Bird Made market is a great way to support local businesses and find unique Christmas gifts.
Here’s when you can visit a market near you: