Killinghall Cricket Club has been given the go-ahead to build a new two-storey pavilion.

North Yorkshire Council approved the club’s planning application today, after saying previous designs would have been too large and overbearing.

The decision paves the way for the demolition of the current 1970s building, which has two small changing areas and communal showers that give little privacy.

The club hopes the new pavilion will be more appealing to female players and umpires, who currently have to arrive in kit or get changed in the toilets or communal areas.

The current pavilion

Trevor Watson, assistant director of planning at the council, included a series of conditions attached to the decision.

They included that development must begin within three years and construction work can only take place between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday and from 8am to 3pm on Saturdays.

Killinghall finished fourth in division one of this year’s Nidderdale and District Amateur Cricket League.

Since the demolition of the Three Horseshoes pub and the long-term closure of The Greyhounds Inn, the club pavilion and bar has become a social centre for the village at weekends.

It hopes the new pavilion will enhance this and encourage junior players.

The club said in planning documents:

“This development is very much needed to the club and the village community.”

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A group of rough sleepers has repeatedly returned to Harrogate‘s Crescent Gardens – just days after being moved on.

The group’s two-week occupation of the pavilion in the gardens sparked concerns about anti-social-behaviour.

It was finally dispersed by North Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Police on Friday last week.

However, the group returned on Sunday evening — and again this morning.

Nearby resident Kirk Wilber-Moran said:

“They came back Sunday night but were moved on early yesterday morning.

“However, they came back again this morning and not just in the bandstand — three were stood in an empty shop doorway drinking cider at 6.45am this morning.

“There’s roughly 10 people, some I have seen previously but some new faces too. They’ve not managed to establish a full set-up like before.”

The rough sleepers were removed again this morning.

The Stray Ferret first reported the encampment two weeks ago after residents raised concerns about anti-social behaviour and a lack of action from the council and police.

Following the move-on operation, residents also wanted to know what measures would be taken to resolve similar situations in the future.

The Stray Ferret has asked the council what measures it has taken to prevent repeat occupations.

Andrew Rowe, the council’s assistant director of housing, said this morning:

“We worked with the police last week to ensure that advice and support was offered to all the individuals who were congregating in the Crescent Gardens.

“It’s important to note that not all of these individuals are homeless or rough sleepers, however, offers of support and accommodation were made to all those who needed it. We understand that despite being encouraged to move on by the police a number of people have returned to the area.

“We will continue to work with all agencies to find solutions to this issue.”

North Yorkshire Police declined to add to a statement it gave last week, which described the situation as “complex” and said it was working with partners and residents to find a solution for everyone.

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Andrew Jones MP has said he hopes North Yorkshire Council will use money earmarked for the £11.2m Station Gateway to create a more welcoming space in Harrogate.

Last week, senior Conservative councillors in Northallerton agreed to consider different options in an attempt to rescue the troubled transport scheme.

In August, the council pressed pause on the project due to a legal challenge from Hornbeam Park Developments and Mr Jones described it as a “timed-out dead scheme”.

However, he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he is still wanted the government’s Transforming Cities Fund money to be spent in the town.

A report prepared for councillors last week said one option could be to reallocate funds to other gateway schemes in Skipton and Selby if a solution in Harrogate is not found.

Should government give permission to modify the scheme in Harrogate, it appears the council will focus on its less controversial aspects, which might include public realm improvements at Station Square and One Arch.

The MP said he has lobbied government ministers about allowing the gateway money to be spent in Harrogate.

Mr Jones said:

“I fully support using the Transforming Cities Fund monies in Harrogate. This funding was allocated to Harrogate and I have urged ministers to allow the funding to be spent in Harrogate.

“The council’s decision to consider options for Station Gateway is not unexpected. Some aspects of the scheme were very positive, not least the public realm improvements. I would urge the council to fund the public realm improvements as a priority to create a more welcoming space in the town centre for residents and visitors.”

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In an interview with the LDRS earlier this month, the council’s executive member for highways Keane Duncan said the Gateway is “not dead – yet, but it is fair to say it’s on life support”.

He added: 

“Andrew [Jones] wants to secure investment for Harrogate. The Liberal Democrats say they want to secure investment for Harrogate. I do too, and I will do my best to deliver on that objective.”

North Yorkshire Council has said it will make a decision on what happens next with the Station Gateway before November.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which won the initial funding from government, has said it has accepted the principle of a modified scheme. The Department for Transport has also indicated initial support for a modified scheme but has not yet formally responded.

The DfT has reiterated that the Transforming Cities Fund money must be spent before March 2025 at the latest.

A weather warning has been issued from noon tomorrow until 7am on Thursday as Storm Agnes approaches.

The Met Office has forecast “a spell of strong and disruptive winds through Wednesday afternoon into early Thursday” for most of Britain.

In Harrogate, gusts of up to 44mph are predicted, with the worst of the wind expected tomorrow evening.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, which is less severe than amber and red warnings.

It said power cuts, damage to building and travel disruption are possible.

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London North Eastern Railway is to introduce longer trains on some of its direct services between Harrogate and London on Sundays.

Five of the current five-carriage Sunday trains will be upgraded to nine or 10-carriage trains, meaning more seats for passengers.

LNER announced the news today as part of a series of changes in response to a 30% increase in demand for Sunday leisure travellers since 2019.

The company will also introduce three additional Sunday services — two between Leeds and London King’s Cross and one between Doncaster and London.

Although these will not stop at Harrogate they will benefit people who want to get direct London trains from Leeds and Doncaster.

The new services and longer trains will start in December this year.

Brian Dunsby, leader of the Harrogate Line Supporters Group, said:

“This is a great testament to the popularity of the direct Harrogate to London services and the increasing demand for travel on Sundays.

“We are also aware that LNER are currently planning to reschedule their east coast mainline services in December 2024 so we are hopeful for gaining an earlier morning service from Harrogate to King’s Cross and a later evening return to Harrogate.”

David Horne, managing director at LNER, said its plans “will provide more than 3,000 extra seats from December”.

Rail minister Huw Merriman said travel patterns had changed since the pandemic and this was “a real win for passengers”.

Which services are affected?

These two services will no longer be able to call at Horsforth due to the platform length.

Southbound

• The 13:15 Harrogate to London King’s Cross service will increase from five carriages to nine.

Services which will become nine-carriage Azuma services:

People wanting to get to London earlier on a Sunday by train and can get to Leeds will be able to do so. The 08:05 on Sundays from Leeds to London King’s Cross will no longer call at Retford, Newark Northgate and Grantham resulting in a shorter journey time.

The service will arrive at London King’s Cross at 10.18 – 19 minutes earlier than before.

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A Harrogate bodybuilder announced he will star in the Channel 4 series Married at First Sight UK today.

Window cleaner Matt Pilmoor, 29, will join 16 other people on the programme in marrying a stranger.

The reality show hires relationship experts to match people based on their interests and personalities in the hope of establishing long-term relationships.

The catch is, the couples don’t meet each other until they’re at the altar.

They then jet off on their honeymoons and live together for six weeks to see if their relationship lasts.

Matt, who was a pupil at Harrogate’s Rossett School, was scouted by producers to feature in the series after being single for a year before the show.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I went into the process not knowing what to expect but I gave it my best shot. Putting your trust into the experts knowing they will match you up with someone you want is a scary thought.”

The series began last week and has already seen three couples tie the knot.

Unlike the US version, however, Married at First Sight UK couples are not legally married.

As he is a latecomer to the show, Matt will be considered an “intruder groom” – a character thrown in to potentially turn heads as well as find love.

Despite announcing his part in the series today, Matt will not make an appearance until mid-October.

He continued:

“It was one of the most intense experiences of my life, but also one of the best, and a journey I’ll never forget.

“Expect lots of laughs, drama, and downfalls that get re-built through the show.”

Matt said viewers will have to wait and see if he found true love, but could reveal he spent his honeymoon in Tenerife.

Married at First Sight UK continues tonight and is on Monday to Thursday from 9pm.

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Council officials have recommended refusing a plan for a Hampsthwaite garage to build a new MOT building.

Simon Graeme Auto Services Centre, which is based on Grayston Plain Lane, applied to build the facility on the opposite side of the road in June this year.

The garage, situated just off the A59 near Hampsthwaite, has been established for over 25 years.

The company said the new building would be used in association with the current base on the other side of the road, which would be retained.

Documents submitted to the council said:

“The proposed building will be used in association with the existing business which will be retained – as such main reception area will be as existing with service / MOT bay and the new building will enable the business to meet its growing demand and also provide safe space to service electric vehicles and larger leisure / agricultural vehicles.”

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It added the new building was required in order for the business to adapt to changes in the industry.

However, North Yorkshire Council officers have recommended councillors refuse the plan at a meeting of the Skipton and Ripon area constituency planning committee next Tuesday (October 3).

In a report due before councillors, officers said:

“The site is located outside defined development limits in ‘open countryside’, where the principle of new build development is not supported. 

“It is considered that the proposal would have an economic benefit to the area however by virtue of the scale and level of landscape harm created to the open countryside and views in and out of the Nidderdale AONB, the proposal would be contrary to national government policy.”

Councillors will make a decision on the plan at a meeting next week.

if they accept the officer’s recommendation to reject the scheme, it will be second time this year the council has refused the garage’s plans to create new facilities.

A Harrogate-based housing developer has secured £150 million worth of funding to help support its plans for new homes across the UK.

Casa By Moda, which is based at Beckwith Knowle, has been granted an initial £60 million debt facility from NatWest, which will rise to £150 million.

The company said the deal will help to “accelerate our delivery of high-quality new communities across the UK”, which includes creating more than 1,100 rental homes.

The move comes as the firm recently acquired a 223-home site known as Abbey Court between Kirkstall and Headingley in Leeds.

Johnny Caddick, chief executive at Moda Living, said: 

“This new funding package from NatWest is a major milestone in Casa’s growth trajectory. This year we will welcome our first residents into our neighbourhoods in both Glasgow and Leeds, but we’re also gearing up our programme of delivery which will see us achieve our aim of securing more than 5,000 new homes by 2025.”

Harrogate energy firm recognised by WIRED magazine

A Harrogate smart energy company has been recognised as one of WIRED magazines trailblazers of 2023.

The technology publication set up a trailblazer programme, in collaboration with HSBC UK, to shine a light on the innovative, mid-sized businesses.

Among them is Chameleon Technology, which is based on Otley Road.

Mike Woodhall, chief executive of Chameleon Technology.

The firm specialises in smart energy devices and recently delivered its 10 millionth in-home display this summer. It has manufactured on average 1.6 million devices a year.

Mike Woodhall, chief executive at the company, was invited to a celebratory event on behalf of WIRED at the Shears Yard in Leeds.

He said:

“The initiative celebrates companies across the UK that are contributing to the UK becoming a global hub of innovation.

“We are thrilled to have our work in the ongoing revolution of smart home energy recognised, and to join such an inspiring group.”

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Almost half a million pounds of taxpayers’ money is being spent on halving the number of litter bins in the Harrogate district.

Council staff are replacing 1,500 old bins with 775 new, larger bins.

Some dog walkers are upset because bins on popular routes have been taken away and replaced by ones alongside main roads that are easier to empty.

A freedom of information request by the Stray Ferret to North Yorkshire Council revealed the new bins cost £478,000.

The council said the cost of replacing the old bins would have been £339,000.

It estimated it will save £16,000 a year by no longer having to buy 240,000 bin liners because the new receptacles don’t require them.

It also expects to save between £17,000 to £19,000 a year because the new bins can be handled more efficiently by bin wagon. The council also expects to save an unspecified sum on fuel, because there are fewer bins to empty.

A new bin in Knox.

The freedom of information response by North Yorkshire Council said the management board at the now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council signed off the new system.

A spokesperson from the council’s environment directorate said:

“The main aim of the project was to reduce the number of duplicate journeys between different services.

“This does provide a level of savings, coupled with a benefit to the environment, through a reduction in annual mileage and almost eradicating the need for the 240,000 single-use liners used on the smaller bins.”

They added:

“It provides further benefits by allowing the streetscene team to provide a more proactive service in regard to littering, fly tipping, and the clearance of detritus.

“To achieve this, the old infrastructure, totalling close to 1500 bins, is being replaced with 775 new bins. With the greater capacity, fewer bins are required which helps reduce street furniture, particularly in locations where two bins may have been placed close together.”

Dog walkers in Knox, Jennyfields and Knaresborough have contacted the Stray Ferret with concerns about the new system.

A new bin on Jenny Field Drive.

In Jennyfields, where new bins have been sited on main roads rather than in the field near the leisure centre, Elizabeth Horner said “the amount of rubbish from having no bins in the area has got disgusting”.

Another dog walker, Diana Salama, said there was now “nowhere to easily dispose of poo”.

Under the new system, dog waste is no longer classified as hazardous waste and can be placed in any bin. This means dog waste can be placed in owners’ general waste bins.

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North Yorkshire Council has approved a plan to convert the upper floors of a Harrogate shop into flats.

The application, which was lodged by York-based developer Andrew Farr, will see six flats created on West Park above the Elite Bridal store.

Mr Farr had previously withdrawn a plan for the site. However, council officials have now granted permission for development to go-ahead after he resubmitted proposals in June.

The decision increases the trend towards town centre living. In the last month alone, plans have been approved for a  17-bedroom aparthotel above the Oliver Bonas store on James Street and for the former Kings Club strip club on Oxford Street to be converted into 12 flats.

Now the upper floors of numbers 21a, 21 and 22 West Park can be converted. Access will also be made from a retail unit at 21a, which is occupied by Boho Chic and could be forced to close as a result.

A planning statement sent to the council in support of Mr Farr’s application says future residents of the flats would be able to apply for monthly or annual parking pass for West Park multi-storey car parking.

It adds the scheme would “enhance the vitality of the Harrogate town centre” and bring vacant floors back into use “without any identified harm to the character of the host building and the neighbouring Harrogate Conservation Area”. 

It concludes:

“It is considered that the proposed scheme responds to the constraints of the site, planning policy constraints and its heritage context and should fall within the parameters of acceptable development.”

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