New travel agents to open in Harrogate

A new travel agents looks set to open in Harrogate town centre.

Althams Travel plans to open a new branch on Cambridge Street next to Claire’s and WHSmith.

The unit used to be occupied by camera shop, Jessops.

The travel agent, which currently has 32 branches across Yorkshire, Lancashire and Lincolnshire, was established in 1874.

Its nearest branches to Harrogate are currently Otley and Horsforth in West Yorkshire.

The company is advertising for a branch manager, assistant manager and two travel consultants for its Cambridge Street outlet.

The Stray Ferret contacted Althams Travel to ask when it expects to open its Harrogate branch, but had not received a response by the time of publication.

Read more:

 

Starbucks recruiting staff for new Harrogate drive-through

Starbucks has advertised for staff for a planned drive-through on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

The multi-national coffee shop, which already has an outlet on Cambridge Street in the town, looks set to open a new site at the former Leon drive-thru.

North Yorkshire Council approved plans to change the signage around the Wetherby Road site to Starbucks branding in August.

Since then, the company has advertised for a supervisor, assistant manager and barista on hospitality recruitment site caterer.com for a new store in the HG2 area.

The Stray Ferret asked Starbucks if it had an opening date planned for the site and how many staff it would employ.

A spokesperson for the company said:

“We are always looking for new locations and opportunities to bring the Starbucks experience to customers in the UK, but at this time we have no updates to share about plans in Harrogate.”

Read more:

The move comes as Leon, which opened at the site last June, closed its doors on April 2 with the loss of around 20 jobs.

It was operated by Blackburn-based EG Group, which also runs Starbucks franchises as well as brands including KFC and Greggs.

Currently, the building has been empty for eight months and has been stripped of its Leon branding and signage.

Police say Seb Mitchell murder sends ‘clear message’ on knife crime

The senior investigating officer in the murder of Harrogate teenager Seb Mitchell has said the outcome of the case “sends a very clear message to anyone who may consider possessing a knife”.

Dylan Cranfield, 17, was sentenced to  a minimum of 11 years in jail at Leeds Crown Court yesterday for murdering Harrogate Grammar School student Seb with a kitchen knife in February this year.

Cranfield will be eligible for parole in a little over 10 years.

Dylan Cranfield

Detective superintendent Wayne Fox, of North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team, described the case as “an absolute tragedy”.

He added:

“The life of a young man has been needlessly taken in circumstances which escalated as a result of the defendant arming himself with a lethal weapon in retribution for causing a very small amount of damage.

“No sentence can bring back a young person, who had such a bright future ahead of him and so much to look forward to in life.

“The defendant’s actions in resorting to the use of a knife, have been catastrophic, taking Seb’s life and changing beyond recognition the lives of his family, friends and loved ones.”

Det supt Fox added:

“There are no words that can sum up the devastation caused by young people who think nothing of picking up a knife or other weapon and using it. I hope that the outcome of this case sends a very clear message to anyone who may consider possessing a knife that no good can come from such action.

“Our thoughts remain very much with Seb’s family and friends. We hope that the conclusion of the proceedings brings a semblance of closure for them at such a difficult time.”

The Stray Ferret published articles yesterday about Cranfield’s sentencing and also the family’s reaction to the conclusion of the case.

Read more:

 

 

Cyclists brand scaled-back Harrogate gateway plans a ‘huge disappointment’

Cycling campaigners have described North Yorkshire Council’s scaled-back plans for Harrogate’s station gateway as a “huge disappointment”. 

The plans originally envisioned a radical transformation of the town centre’s main thoroughfare, with traffic on Station Parade reduced to one lane to allow for cycle lanes, as well as the part-pedestrianisation of James Street and a cycle-friendly Dutch-style roundabout at the junction of Station Bridge and East Parade. 

But a legal challenge by Hornbeam Park Developments put a stop to the scheme, and those elements have now been dropped. 

The revised scheme may now only include a redeveloped One Arch and Station Square, better traffic signals, a bus lane on lower Station Parade, new paving for pedestrians and cycling parking at Harrogate railway station. 

A computer visualisation of part of the Harrogate Station Gateway scheme, with large red x's over elements that have been scrapped.

Several of the scheme’s major elements have been scrapped.

In a statement, Harrogate District Cycle Action (HDCA) said: 

“From a cycling point of view, most of the worthwhile elements have been stripped out of the scheme. 

“If cycle parking had been proposed on its own, we would have supported it. If cycle parking is all that’s left of what was an ambitious scheme which would also have enabled people to reach the station by bike in safety and comfort, it will inevitably be a huge disappointment.” 

The Harrogate scheme is one of three in North Yorkshire – the others are in Skipton and Selby – that are being developed with £42 million from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF). 

The TCF is a £2.45 billion capital grant fund aimed at driving up productivity through investments in public and sustainable transport infrastructure in England. 

HDCA was also critical of some of the elements of the scheme which will remain, such as the coordination of traffic lights, which it said would only benefit motorists. 

It said: 

“Driving is, by definition, unsustainable transport, and in our view TCF money should not be spent on this. 

“Five sets of lights are coordinated along West Park/Parliament Street. What is the effect for pedestrians? Extremely long wait times.  

“To see the long wait times at the prestige town centre location outside Bettys is shameful. We can expect the same thing on Station Parade.” 

A computer visualisation of part of the Harrogate Station Gateway scheme, with a large red x over the Dutch-style roundabout, which has been scrapped.

The proposal for a Dutch-style roundabout at the junction of Station Bridge and East Parade has been scrapped.

HDCA member Malcolm Margolis, who was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2019 for services to cycling in Harrogate, said the gutting of the station gateway scheme meant it now fell far short of its original aims. 

He said: 

“The main way that Station Gateway could have made Harrogate a better place to live was by reducing the dominance of motor vehicles – and the noise, danger and pollution that they cause – in the town centre, by reducing Station Parade to one lane. 

“It seems that is now not going to happen, so TCF will not have a transformative effect on Harrogate, whatever the final details. 

“The most disappointing aspect of all is that it is proposed to spend sustainable transport funding to prioritise cars.” 

The council must now undertake more public consultation, publish updated Traffic Regulation Orders and submit a new business case to West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which won the initial funding. It expects this process to take another five months. 

If the business case is approved next summer, work on the scheme could begin by autumn 2024, but that will not leave much time for its construction. 

The Department for Transport has previously insisted that all projects must be built before March 2025.

Read more:

 

Business Breakfast: Reed Boardall awarded Silver by MOD

Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.

Entries close on January 19, 2024.

Reed Boardall, the cold storage food distributor based at Boroughbridge, has been given a Silver award by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for being an armed forces-friendly organisation.

The company currently has more than 20 veterans and regular and reservist serving personnel among its 800 employees, and a further eight are soon to join.

The Silver award, which must be nominated by a third party, was given to the company in recognition of its pledge to advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and for aligning its values with the Armed Forces Covenant. The company signed up to the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme last year, and achieved a Bronze Award in November 2022.

Reed Boardall operates an in-house driver academy, which is popular among defence personnel seeking a new career as an HGV driver. It has also adapted its employment policies to accommodate the training and deployment needs of those still serving, where possible.

The company has also built links with the prison services to increase the employment of ex-offenders, and is partnering with organisations such as Career Transition Partnership (CTP), Army Families Federation, the Department for Work and Pensions, HM Prison Service and People Plus, as well as charities Veterans into Logistics and Clean Slate Solutions.

Reed Boardall was presented with the Silver award at a special event hosted by Jo Ropner, the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, and attended by senior military representatives.

Marcus Boardall, chief executive of Reed Boardall, said:

“This Silver award is another fantastic achievement for the team. It is a real accolade to be nominated for such a prestigious award from the MOD by CTP and some of the charities with which we work, and is a further demonstration of how much we value services personnel and our commitment to supporting military families.

“We hope that more businesses put initiatives in place to welcome those embarking on a new career, whether they are veterans, services personnel or ex-offenders, and we are already working towards the ERS Gold award.”

Workers unaware of zero-hours rights, poll finds

More than three in every five workers in Yorkshire and the Humber (61%) are unaware of the rights of people on zero-hours contracts, a new survey from Acas has found.

A zero-hours contract is usually where an employer does not have to give any minimum working hours and a worker does not have to take any work offered.

The employment status of a zero-hours worker can vary depending on the exact nature of the working arrangement.

Acas chief executive Susan Clews said:

“Acas has advice in this area and a new law next year aims to give zero-hours contracts workers the right to request more predictability around their working pattern.

“We are currently consulting on a new Code of Practice to help businesses and workers in Yorkshire and the Humber understand the new law and provide good practice around requests for a predictable working pattern.”

Acas advice is that someone on a zero-hours contract could be legally classed as an employee or a worker; their employment status will determine their legal rights.

People on zero-hours contracts are always entitled to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, paid holiday, rest breaks, pay slips, and protection from discrimination.

Employers must grant all relevant statutory employment rights to people who work under these arrangements.

Acas – the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service – is a publicly-funded body that works for better employment relations.

It is currently consulting on its new draft statutory Code of Practice on handling requests for a predictable working pattern. The consultation closes on January 17, 2024.

The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act is expected to come into force in autumn 2024.

Read more:

 

Brother of murdered Seb Mitchell issues knife plea to young people

The eldest brother of murdered Harrogate boy Seb Mitchell has urged young people to “think again” about carrying knives after the killer was sentenced today.

Dylan Cranfield, 17, plunged an eight-inch kitchen knife through Seb’s heart, causing a fatal loss of blood and cardiac arrest after an argument at a house party.

He received a life sentence at Leeds Crown Court today – but will be eligible for parole in a little over 10 years.

Seb’s family read out heart-rending victim-impact statements expressing their devastation at the loss of a “beautiful, kind soul” and their wish to see Cranfield jailed for “many years”, the Harrogate killer.

Jack Mitchell, Seb’s eldest brother, also warned other young people to “think again” about carrying knives. He said:

“No amount of justice will ever compensate for the loss of Seb.

“He was an utterly beautiful soul who filled all of our lives with laughter and treated everyone he met with love and kindness. The chasm in our lives from his loss will never be filled.

“I urge anybody listening to this that carries a knife or thinks it is acceptable to pick up a knife in anger to think again.

“All it takes is one knife. One moment. One stab. And suddenly you are a killer.

“Your life is over and you have destroyed so many lives.”

‘Every day is felt with sadness, tears and heartache’

Seb’s mother Sonya Mitchell said Cranfield had committed “the ultimate betrayal” by killing his friend, which had destroyed her family’s life.

She added:

“Seb was my baby, the youngest of our five boys. Seb was one of the good guys, the best. He loved his life.

“The day that Seb died was the day our lives and many other lives in the Harrogate community and beyond changed forever.”

“We received the devastating news that although the knife wound had been repaired in his heart, it was not enough to save his life. It was the day our family of seven were shattered and broken into a family of six.”

Seb Mitchell. Picture: Sam Mitchell.

Seb Mitchell. Picture: Sam Mitchell.

She said her family were enduring a “life sentence of pain and misery that will never, ever leave us”, adding:

“Seb was a beautiful soul, a courteous, bright, funny, popular, talented and supportive son, brother, grandson, friend and cousin loved by so many people,” she added.

“It’s impossible to comprehend the needless, senseless and violent way such a wonderful young man died. He was ripped away from us all forever, leaving a Seb-shaped hole in our hearts.

“Since the dreadful incident in February, every day is felt with sadness, tears and a heartache (from) losing Seb in such a ruthless and barbaric way. He had such a bright future ahead of him.”

Ms Mitchell, who has been on high levels of medication since her son was murdered, added:

“Whatever sentence is given to Seb’s murderer will never be enough. Seb will still be dead.

“I will still be dreading going to bed every night and dreading waking up the following morning to the awful realisation that I will never, ever see my beautiful, happy, smiling boy again, never hear his laugh, never see him evolve from the loving, kind teenage boy into the brilliant young man we all know he would have been.”

Grandmother’s tribute to ‘dearly loved’ Seb

Seb’s grandmother Lynette Fellows said:

“It’s impossible for me to quantify the abject misery, pain and distress this has had on us all. The loss of a dearly loved child (and) grandchild in the most brutal and senseless of ways has caused a grief so profound no-one can imagine.

“Seb had so many friends and talents with so much to give in the future. He had such a zest for life. Sadly, this future has been cut short in the most cruel and senseless way.”

She said her beloved grandson was kind to people and animals alike and “those blue eyes…always sparkled with love and a sense of fun”.

Murder after row over mirror

The incident, which was witnessed by three other teenagers, occurred at Cranfield’s house on Claro Road, Harrogate, where the two boys became embroiled in a blazing row.

Seb, who was just a week away from his 18th birthday, died two days after being stabbed in the chest by his friend who was “heavily intoxicated”, said prosecutor Peter Moulson KC.

Dylan Cranfield

Cranfield, of Claro Road, was found guilty of murder following a nine-day trial in August after the jury decided he had used the knife with intent to cause grievous harm.

Judge Guy Kearl KC, the Recorder of Leeds, lifted reporting restrictions allowing the press to name Cranfield who had previously remained anonymous due to his age.

The jury heard how the incident was triggered by a smashed mirror after Harrogate Grammar School student Seb had pushed Cranfield into a door during an argument. Within seconds, the two boys were squaring up to each other, shouting and swearing, whereupon Cranfield grabbed a large knife from the kitchen block and pointed it towards Seb’s stomach.

“A minute or two” since the initial argument, Seb was laid out on a sofa with a chest wound and gasping for breath, his face going white.

Read more:

Three teenagers who witnessed the incident in the early hours of February 19 went to Seb’s aid and called police and an ambulance as he lay barely conscious on the settee.

Mr Moulson said that when police arrived, Seb was unresponsive and falling deeper into unconsciousness.

He was taken to Harrogate District Hospital by ambulance, but his condition was so critical he was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary where he underwent emergency surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma, but despite the best efforts of doctors he was certified dead two days later, having suffered “catastrophic” brain damage due to fatal blood loss which led to a lack of oxygen reaching the brain.

‘I’m going to wet you up’

Police launched a murder investigation and spoke to two girls and a teenage boy who were at the house that night where drinks had been consumed.

The three teenagers had tried to separate the two boys and calm Cranfield down, but he pushed one of the girls away before grabbing the knife and “pointing it at Seb”.

She said that Cranfield seemed “fixated with (Seb)” and told him: “I’m going to wet you up.”

The expression “wet you up” is London slang for a stabbing.

She said she heard Cranfield repeatedly tell Seb: “I’m gonna kill you.”

Cranfield told Seb:

“If you don’t pay me (for the smashed glass) I will kill you. Like, I will…stab you up and wet you up.”

The girl saw Seb and Cranfield “on the (kitchen) floor, with glass smashed around them”.

They ended up “face to face” as Cranfield pointed the knife towards Seb’s stomach. She tried to grab the knife from Cranfield, but he told her: “Don’t touch my fxxxxxx knife.”

Claro Road murder scene

Police at the scene on Claro Road.

The two boys were still shouting at each other as the fight spilled over into the living room, but then Seb fell silent and was laid out, grasping his chest which was oozing blood.

The girl called 999 and was told by Cranfield to tell the ambulance operator that Seb had fallen onto the knife on the floor and that it was an accident. The two other teenage witnesses went along with this because they thought Cranfield “could kill them” too.

‘This wasn’t meant to happen’

When police and an ambulance crew arrived just after midnight, Cranfield told them:

“It was me. I was scared. Really sorry. This wasn’t meant to happen.”

The court heard that earlier in the evening, Seb, Cranfield and others had been drinking vodka. They carried on drinking at Seb’s grandparents’ house while they were away for the weekend.

Mr Moulson said that following Cranfield’s arrest, police also found a lock knife at the scene which was not used or produced during the incident, but he was charged with a separate offence of possessing a blade.

Seb, a black belt in karate who also played football, was put on life support following the stabbing but died later surrounded by his family.

Mohammed Nawaz KC, for Cranfield, said there was “no doubt” that drink had played a part in his client’s behaviour on the fateful night.

He said that while there was “love and guidance” in Cranfield’s childhood, a “degree of instability” had informed his early life and “that may have impacted on his…life choices that led him to the position that he is in”.

Judge Kearl KC said that Cranfield’s alcohol-fuelled, “spontaneous” act of violence had caused a lifetime of trauma for Seb’s family.

He imposed a life sentence on Cranfield with a minimum term of 11 years, which the teenager must serve behind bars before becoming eligible for parole, less the nine months he had already spent on remand.

 

Harrogate boy given life sentence for murder of Seb Mitchell

A 17-year-old boy has been given a life sentence after murdering Harrogate schoolboy Seb Mitchell.

Dylan Cranfield appeared before Leeds Crown Court this afternoon to be sentenced after being found guilty of murder in August this year.

He stabbed Harrogate Grammar School pupil Seb in the chest with a kitchen knife which led to a fatal loss of blood and cardiac arrest.

Guy Kearl KC, the Recorder of Leeds, sentenced Cranfield to a life sentence with a minimum of 11 years.

Cranfield murdered Seb, 17, after a row over a broken mirror at a property on Claro Road in Harrogate on February 19 this year.

Cranfield pleaded not guilty – he accepted he stabbed Seb, but said he did not intend to kill him.

A teenage girl who witnessed the incident told police Cranfield pointed the knife at Seb and said “I’m going to wet you up”, which the court heard was “London slang” for a stabbing.

Seb was taken to Harrogate District Hospital by ambulance, but his condition was so critical he was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary where he underwent emergency surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma.

He died two days after the incident.

Read more:

Cranfield, who was 16 at the time of the incident, was found guilty at a court hearing on August 25.

Judge Kearl lifted reporting restrictions on Cranfield, which had previously prevented the media naming him during proceedings.

Courts have discretionary powers to prevent the media from naming children to protect their welfare. Such orders remain in place until the child reaches 18.

However, Judge Kearl the welfare of children had to be balanced against the open justice principle that says the media should be able to report cases “fully and contemporaneously”.

He said the public interest of highlighting the dangers of knife crime meant it was therefore “in the interests of justice to lift reporting restrictions”.

Free bus vouchers offered as biodiesel mix-up causes travel chaos

Bus passengers across the Harrogate district were made late for school and work today, after dozens of cancellations were caused when vehicles were filled up with the wrong type of fuel. 

At least 56 services were scrapped on six routes, leading to one of the worst days for disruption so far this year for The Harrogate Bus Company. 

The company’s website stated there were numerous cancellations of the 36 service between Ripon and Leeds via Harrogate, the 1, 1A, 1B and 1D between Harrogate and Knaresborough, and the 3 from Harrogate to Jennyfield. 

This morning, it also tweeted that the S2 school bus from Bilton to Rossett School was being delayed by up to 30 minutes due to what the Harrogate Bus Company said was “a vehicle-related issue”. 

After receiving reports from readers, the Stray Ferret asked The Harrogate Bus Company about the disruptions. Operations director Vitto Pizzuti said:

“We apologise to our customers for the issues on some of our routes today. Since summer 2023, all our diesel buses have been running on a blend of biodiesel, leading to reduced emissions: the proportion of biodiesel in the fuel blend is normally higher in summer, and lower in winter.

“Unfortunately, it seems our fuel supplier delivered a higher bio blend to our depot last week, which meant that some of our buses were unable to run in the low temperatures over the weekend and this morning. Our supplier, Argent, is currently investigating what happened and has assured us that any necessary lessons will be learned.” 

He said the company’s engineers were working through the affected vehicles and normal levels of service were expected to resume by tomorrow (Tuesday, December 5).  

He added: 

“In the meantime, our advice to customers is to check before travelling on the free Transdev Go app and if your service is cancelled today, please let us know and we will send you a voucher for a free trip next time.” 

Read more:

 

Two arrested after cars stolen from Harrogate property

Police have arrested two people after two cars were stolen during a burglary in Harrogate.

The incident happened on Lime Street between 10.30pm on November 28 and 7.15am on November 29.

The offenders entered the house before taking two Skodas from the address.

One was a white Fabia, registration YD14 NVT, and the other was a grey Octavia, registration FT10 0CY.

A man in his 20s and a teenage boy, both from the Harrogate area, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Both have been released under investigation while police enquiries continue.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward if they have not already done so.

“In particular officers are appealing for information or CCTV around the area, showing any suspicious activity around this time, or anyone who has seen the vehicles since the burglary.

“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email phillip.brown@northyorkshire.police.uk

“You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for PC108 Brown.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230226608.”

Read more:

 

The Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023: ‘This group has changed my life’

This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is to raise money for a minibus for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district. 

The appeal is kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare.

Please give generously to support local people and their families living with dementia. Let’s not forget who needs our help this Christmas.

Today, we talked to member of the young onset dementia group.

Before being diagnosed with young onset dementia, members of Dementia Forward‘s Time Out Together group were just like anyone else. One was the captain of Leeds Rhinos rugby, another a high-flying musician, and one a secretary for the Bank of England.

But everything changed before they reached the age of 65.

“We feel like a family – we are a family.”

This is how one member, Ally, described Time Out Together.

The group supports people living with young onset dementia – a form of the disease which affects people under the age of 65.

They meet every Wednesday and begin their day with coffee, cakes, and a catch-up. They laugh and chat and escape the evil disease they’re living with – even just temporarily.

Ally, who joined the group around nine months ago, said:

“I absolutely love it – it has changed my life.

“Everything we do is different – once we walked with llamas, and mine was named Gary!”

Time Out Together members visit the beach, nature reserves, play golf, visit art galleries, go on walking trips, go to the theatre and much more.

The purpose of the group is to socialise with people who understand them. The disease is robs these people of their former selves every day, but Dementia Forward works tirelessly to combat this.

Kev, the group’s volunteer bus-driver, said:

“It’s about laughing and joking together – we don’t judge here.”

Time Out Together is helping those living with young onset dementia and their carers every week, but the reality is that these people are fighting a downhill battle.

That’s why we need your help to ensure that the vital minibus service continues, and that people carry on receiving the care they need.

Dementia Forward’s current bus is old and urgently needs to be replaced. The charity would seriously struggle to afford a new one, which is why they need your help to keep this vital service going. Without it, many people living with dementia wouldn’t be able to access the help and support they need.

Every donation to our campaign will go directly to Dementia Forward, helping us hit our £30,000 target to buy the charity a new minibus and improving the lives of those living with dementia and the people around them.

Please give generously to those who need our help this Christmas. Click here to donate whatever you can – you never know when you, your family or a friend may be in need of Dementia Forward’s help too.

Thank you.

For those that need urgent help or have a dementia-related enquiry, call 03300578592 to speak to a helpline adviser.