Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 245 of 1075

MPs Watch: Climate change, NHS dentists and Harrogate Station Gateway saga

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In September, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a major shift in the government’s climate policies, including delaying the ban on the sale of diesel and petrol cars.

Meanwhile, in Harrogate, the saga over the Station Gateway project continued with council officials announcing the authority would explore alternative options for the scheme.

We asked Ripon MP Julian Smith and Selby and Ainsty MP Keir Mather if they would like to highlight anything in particular, but did not receive a response.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

On September 1, Mr Jones attended a Harrogate war memorial centenary event.
Mr Jones met with Alzheimer’s Research UK in Parliament on September 6.
On September 8, he met with North Yorkshire and Humber Integrated Care Board, alongside regional MPs, to discuss NHS dentistry.
Mr Jones then raised the issue of NHS dentistry access in Harrogate during Prime Minister’s Question Time on September 13.
On September 14, he raised a question to the Department for Business and Trade regarding support for companies exporting and asked the Leader of the House for a debate on SEND funding.
He chaired a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport across the North.
Mr Jones described the Prime Minister’s announcement of a shift in climate policy as “practical and pragmatic” on September 21.
Mr Jones visited the refurbished Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre on September 22.
On September 25, he met with constituents to discuss anti-social behaviour concerns at the former Kimberley Hotel.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on September 26 that he hoped North Yorkshire Council will use money earmarked for the £11.2m Station Gateway to create a more welcoming space in Harrogate.

When we contacted Mr Jones for comment, his office sent a list of his engagements for September.

They included holding constituency surgeries, supporting Nidd Action Group’s Action Day at the Lido Leisure Park in Knaresborough and holding a roundtable with Harrogate-based cyclists to discuss local cycling infrastructure.

Others included meeting with representatives of the Women’s Institute to support their Clean Rivers campaign, meeting the Jewish Leadership Council, Food and Drink Federation and Macmillan Cancer Support and visiting the site of the local mental health crisis line to learn more about how calls are handled by TEWV NHS Foundation Trust.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Mr Smith spoke three times in the House of Commons in September, two contributions were on Northern Ireland and another on paediatric acute-onset neuro- psychiatric syndrome.
He visited Fountains Abbey near Ripon to be given an update on its plans to renovate the site.
Mr Smith tweeted 14 times in September, which included to posts to promote various government grants and initiatives.
He updated his website six times in September, which included one item specific to Ripon.

Keir Mather, Selby and Ainsty MP.

In Selby and Ainsty, which includes rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Mather:

Mr Mather was sworn in as the new MP for Selby and Ainsty on September 4.
He made 20 written questions to government departments in September, including topics such as access to GPs, anti-social behaviour and gender based violence.
On September 1, Mr Mather tweeted that he met the chief executive of Yorkshire Housing, Nick Atkin, to discuss “how to win the race to net zero in North Yorkshire by investing in affordable and sustainable housing for all”.
Mr Mather tweeted six times in September, which included topics such as meeting with the National Farmers’ Union and being sworn into parliament.
He updated his Facebook page 11 times in September. Posts included SEND provision in Selby and sharing concerns over RAAC in schools.
Mr Mather has yet to give his maiden speech in the House of Commons.

Business Breakfast: Knaresborough company acquires local financial firm

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 26 October at Banyan in Harrogate between 8 am – 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 Knaresborough company has completed the acquisition of a local financial firm.

Prosperis, which is based at St James’ Business Park, has acquired fellow Knaresborough business RMB Financial Management Ltd.

Niall Gunn, chief executive at Prosperis, said the move will help to benefit its clients.

He said:

“We are delighted to have been able to acquire such a high-quality business and, in doing so, allows us to continue to provide clients an excellent professional level of service for the foreseeable future.

“As an independently owned business, this acquisition will benefit greatly all clients. We are on track to add further locations within the north-east as we continue with our growth plans.”

Paul Meehan, chairman at Prosperis, added:

“These are exciting times for the whole Prosperis team and we remain very acquisitive.

“The purchase of the RMB business sets us up nicely as we now move to the next phase of the strategy to buy more firms. We expect to complete on another deal before the end of the year in addition to some additional senior hires.”

Former Harrogate bank building goes on the market

A former bank building in Harrogate has been placed on the market for offers over £1 million.

No7 Cambridge Crescent is a landmark listed building, which covers 6,000 square feet in the town centre.

No7 Cambridge Crescent in Harrogate.

Cambridge Crescent was built in 1867-8 by George Dawson to a design of J H Hirst of Bristol featuring enriched Flemish Renaissance frontage with the former banking premises suitable for retail, office and residential uses.

The property has been stripped out for ease of development with the ground floor former banking hall now open plan and a lower ground floor, previously the secure storage area, has had the safe removed.

Tim Waring, prime property at GSC Grays which is marketing the building, said:

“This is a unique opportunity to purchase a charming building in a fantastic central location in the famous spa town of Harrogate with potential for various development options.”

New cafe opens on Starbeck High Street

A brand new cafe has opened in Starbeck.

Susie June’s Cafe, which is based at 67F High Street, opened its doors yesterday.

The new venture was founded by local business partners Simone MacDermid and Charlotte Currie.

They acquired the site, which was the former Millers Cafe, in July.

The pair, who both worked in the hospitality industry, launched the venture with the aim to create a “community feel”. The name comes from the first names of both owners’ mothers.

Ms MacDermid told the Stray Ferret:

“We’re both local girls.

“Everyone knows that we are here to provide for everyone’s needs. We have had local people in and use local produce.”

She added that the pair had help from friends and family to get the venture off the ground.

The cafe offers traditional breakfast, hot sandwiches, soups, cakes and pastries.

It is open six days a week from 7am until 4.30pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Susie June’s becomes the latest hospitality venue to open in Starbeck this year.

In April, The Office Ale House bar opened on High Street.

Meanwhile, Chilli Chicks chicken restaurant and takeaway opened in July.

Yorkshire Water investment plan ‘utterly scandalous’, say Lib Dems

The Liberal Democrats in Harrogate and Knaresborough have described a plan by Yorkshire Water to increase bills to invest in infrastructure as “utterly scandalous”.

The company submitted the £7.8 billion proposal to Ofwat yesterday as part of investment plans for 2025 to 2030.

Tom Gordon, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said people would be “rightly outraged” if the plan were approved.

However, Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for the constituency, said the proposal was a step up for Yorkshire Water which would help to “strengthen” plans for a bathing water application for the River Nidd.

The company’s plan includes £3.1 billion to improve resilience in the water network, £4.3 billion to protect river and coastal water quality and investment in customer service and financial support for customers.

However, it would mean average bills would rise from £438.12 in 2024/25 (£36.51 per month) to £518.76 in 2025/26 (£43.23 per month) with increases each year thereafter.

Mr Gordon said he had joined calls for Ofwat to ensure that money is spent to fix and upgrade the water network.

He said:

“It is utterly scandalous that customers are going to be expected to cover the costs of these upgrades. Yearly water bills are going to rise by nearly 20% under these proposals. It is a slap in the face to our community that we are expected to pay for the years of underinvestment in water company infrastructure that has led to this sewage scandal.

“To add insult to injury, in recent years, Yorkshire Water executives have taken home million in bonuses. That money should have been invested in upgrading their ageing infrastructure instead.

“I am happy to join the calls of the Liberal Democrats, who today wrote to the government and Ofwat asking that they step in to ensure that this money is spent on fixing leaky pipes and stopping sewage discharges rather than lining the pocket of water company execs.

“People in Harrogate and Knaresborough will be rightly outraged if they are made to pay the price for this sewage scandal, while water company bosses continue to trouser huge bonuses.”

River Nidd bathing water status

However, Mr Jones said the move would help to strengthen plans to submit a bathing water application for the River Nidd.

The move would oblige organisations such as the Environment Agency to take action to clean the Nidd, amid concerns about high sewage levels and bathers falling ill at Knaresborough Lido.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Mr Jones added that, while bills would increase if approved, the plan also included measures to support “less well-off customers”.

He said:

“This proposal put to Ofwat looks to be a real step up from Yorkshire Water when it comes to water quality and I welcome that. Investing nearly £4.3 billion in environmental initiatives as part of a 7.8 billion plan is a significant commitment. It recognises the scale of the task and the proposals will strengthen the bathing water quality application for the Nidd in Knaresborough which is being put together right now.

“None of us like seeing bills increase which is why I was pleased to see the support package put in place for less well-off customers and the commitment from shareholders to support the plan financially.

“We need Yorkshire Water to lead the way with critical new and upgraded infrastructure to waste treatment plants, water storage facilities and storm overflows. Alongside this they need to provide better and more impactful information about how people should dispose of sanitary products, items containing microplastics and kitchen waste so that they don’t get to the sewerage system and our waterways. We should also look at how we can reduce the effect rainwater run-off from agricultural land has on our rivers.

“The approach should be to tackle the water quality issue positively from every angle and this investment should enable Yorkshire Water to do that.”

Nicola Shaw, chief executive of Yorkshire Water, said the plans were the company’s largest ever investment into the network.

She said:

“This submission marks our largest ever environmental investment and illustrates our commitment to deliver what our customers expect. The programme will protect and improve the quality of water in rivers and at coasts, leading to cleaner, safer water environments that support recreation and biodiversity across the region.”

Celebrations mark Rossett School’s 50th anniversary

Rossett School‘s first headteacher and former pupil Rachel Daly featured in celebrations to mark the Harrogate school’s 50th anniversary.

Jack Kennerley, who is now 87, sent a video message of congratulations that was played during a whole school assembly at which two other former headteachers, John Whittle and Pat Hunter, were among the special guests.

Mr Kennerley attended later in the day to plant a commemorative tree.

He recalled how Rossett had been due to launch at the start of the school year, but he had refused to open because there were no blackboards, chairs or tables. The first day eventually took place on September 24, 1973.

Mr Kennerley plants a commemorative tree.

England footballer Rachel Daly, who left Rossett in 2010, also sent a video message of congratulations. She will be visiting in person on Thursday to unveil the 3G sports pitches renamed in her honour.

The day of celebration and reminiscences, which took place on Thursday last week, also included a retro lunch of chicken in a basket and 1970s fancy dress.

About 150 former pupils attended a party for former students and staff that rounded off the celebrations.

Current headteacher Tim Milburn, himself a former Rossett student, said:

“The whole day was really special and it was wonderful to welcome so many people back to Rossett and to hear so many fantastic memories.

“There was such a fondness and appreciation for the school and its many inspirational staff and students.”

“There was a delightful atmosphere at the party, with lots of memories being shared and connections made. It was also lovely for me to see some of the teachers I remember from my time at Rossett.”

Rossett recently joined the Red Kite Learning Trust.

Missing Harrogate girl found

Police are searching for a missing Harrogate teenager have confirmed she has been found.

The 13-year-old was reported missing yesterday.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement this morning that she has been found safe and well.

Inquest opens into 15-year-old girl killed in A61 crash at South Stainley

An inquest opened this morning into the death of a 15-year-old girl who was killed in a crash on the A61 between Harrogate and Ripon.

Anastasia Bartienieva died following a three-vehicle collision that involved a double decker bus on Ripon Road at South Stainley on September 3.

Her step-mother, Daria Bartienieva, 35, and her younger brother, Ihor Bartienieva, 6, also died as a result of the crash.

All three were from Ukraine and living in Ripon.

An inquest into the death of Anastasia was opened at a hearing in Northallerton this morning.

The court heard the teenager was a front seat passenger in a car involved in the collision. A provisional cause of death was given as multiple injuries due to blunt force trauma.

The inquest was adjourned to a full hearing at a later date.

Jon Heath, senior coroner for North Yorkshire, opened inquests for Daria and Ihor in Northallerton on September 25.

Mr Heath said both were killed as a result of a road traffic collision. The provisional cause of death was given as multiple injuries due to blunt force trauma.

Holy Trinity School paid tribute to former pupil Ihor after the collision.

A fundraiser set up for 15-year-old Liza Bartienieva, who was orphaned following the incident, raised £48,000.

Long queues in Harrogate as roadworks begin to bite

There were long queues on the roads into Harrogate this morning as a seven-week programme of roadworks got underway.

Four-way traffic lights and lane closures at the junction of Parliament Street and Crescent Road caused the main blockage.

Traffic heading into town on Ripon Road and vehicles heading in the opposite direction on Parliament Street were caught up in the disruption.

On Ripon Road, traffic backed up all the way to New Park roundabout and beyond, with queues almost as far back as Killinghall. Skipton Road was also even busier than usual.

Traffic approaching New Park roundabout this morning.

Here’s what motorists can expect in the weeks ahead.

Crescent Road lane closure and traffic lights

A lane closure will be introduced on Crescent Road and Ripon Road along with four-way lights at the junction of Crescent Road, Parliament Street, Ripon Road and Kings Road for two weeks. The existing lights will be bagged, and temporary traffic lights will be in operation from 7am to 7pm.

Montpellier Road (roundabout) & Montpellier Hill Lane closure

A lane closure will be implemented on Montpellier Road (roundabout) and Montpellier Hill Lane for two weeks.

Cold Bath Road traffic lights and parking suspensions

Multiple two and three-way lights will be introduced on Cold Bath Road for five weeks starting from Monday.

Wellington Square Road closure

A road closure will be implemented on Wellington Square for two weeks.

Northern Gas Networks saud traffic lights will be manned seven days a week between 7am and 7pm “to ensure a smooth flow of traffic”.

Harrogate and Knaresborough trains to trial leaf-busting jets

Trains passing through Harrogate and Knaresborough will be fitted with water jets this autumn to blast leaves off the line.

Fallen leaves frequently cause delays this time of year by sticking to rails and reducing trains’ grip.

Rail operator Northern said the trials on five trains operating on the line between Leeds and York, which runs through Harrogate and Knaresborough, could prevent this.

The trial, which will also take place on routes between Liverpool, Wigan and Manchester, is being funding by Network Rail’s performance innovation fund.

The technology, called Water-Trak, is based on the discovery that leaf-coated rails only become slippery if damp, noting that trains still stop safely in heavy rain.

Water-Trak creates rainy-day conditions on the rail surface by spraying a small amount of water from the train onto the track when a slippery rail is detected. This cleans the rail and makes the conditions better for braking.

Rob Cummings, seasonal performance improvement manager at Northern, said he hoped it would lead to a more reliable service.

By next autumn, a further 11 trains will have the Water-Trak system fitted.

John Cooke, co-founder at Water-Trak, said:

“Slippery rails are a massive problem for the rail industry, and we hope to play a big part in resolving this issue.

“We’re hoping that by working with Northern we can make autumn disruption a thing of the past.”

Former homeless hostel in Harrogate to be converted to flats

Councillors have approved a plan to convert former homeless hostel Cavendish House in Harrogate into six apartments.

The hostel on Robert Street was operated by Harrogate Borough Council from 1983 until its closure in November 2021.

In 2021, the council opened a new homeless centre called Fern House in Starbeck.

Cavendish House had nine bedsits which will be converted into six self-contained flats and sold by the council through shared ownership schemes.

A-two storey flat roof extension to the rear of the building will be demolished under the plans.

The application from North Yorkshire Council was considered by councillors on the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee last week.

Air source heat pumps will be fitted to the building but Paul Haslam, the Conservative councillor for Nidd Gorge and Bilton, said the council could do more to make it energy efficient for residents.

He said:

“We need to add a condition so that this is retrofitted to the highest standard, particularly as we own it”.

However, Cllr Haslam was told by council planning officer John Worthington that internal alternations were not planning matters.

The decision to fit UPVC windows was criticised by Hannah Gostlow, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Knaresborough East, who said she would prefer them to choose wood.

But John Mann, the Conservative councillor for Pannal and Oatlands, said UPVC windows were cheaper and more effective than traditional windows.

He said:

“We do need to save the planet and try and reduce emissions. In my experience, what people are looking for is warm homes that save electricity and don’t cost a fortune to heat.

“One of the advantages of UPVC windows is they are really warm if they’re double-glazed and save on electricity bills. Wooden windows cost a fortune and they’re not very warm.”

The plans were approved by six votes to none with Cllr Gostlow abstaining.

Read more:

Former Harrogate bank building goes on the market

Read more:

Read more:

River Nidd bathing water status

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more: