Oak Beck Bridge in Harrogate may not be demolished and replaced after all.

North Yorkshire County Council received planning permission to destroy the existing structure on Skipton Road and build a new one in November 2021.

It said the £1 million project was necessary because the current bridge was in poor condition.

Howard Civil Engineering was due to start the 24-week scheme in January last year.

But in June last year, council bridges manager Philip Richardson said the scheme had been delayed due to “unforeseen circumstances” and the council was still in talks with Yorkshire Water.

Mr Richardson gave an almost identical response when the Stray Ferret asked for an update in April this year, adding “please be assured that we will begin work as soon as we are able”.

With no sign of progress five months later, the Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council, which succeeded North Yorkshire County Council this year, for another update.

Mr Richardson said

“Over the summer we carried out short-term works including resurfacing the road and repairing stonework to ensure the bridge remains safe for all road users.

“We will be looking at longer-term options including widening the bridge or strengthening the existing structure.”

Read more:

• Man dies suddenly in Harrogate town centre
• ‘Save the Station Gateway!’: Harrogate cycling campaigner issues plea

Although this does not rule out replacing the bridge, it indicates this is no longer the only option.

The Stray Ferret asked why it no longer appeared necessary to replace the bridge as it had been deemed unsafe.

A council spokesperson said:

“As the statement says, the bridge remains safe. We were in discussions around costs and will now be looking at possible long-term works.”

The bridge is located near the junction with Ripon Road at New Park — close to where the new Tesco supermarket is due to be built.

Police have released a CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to after an assault in Harrogate.

The incident happened at Montey’s Bar, The Ginnel, at 1am on Sunday, September 3.

Officers said it involved a man being assaulted with glass, causing injury to his face.

The victim was taken to hospital to receive treatment for his injuries.

A statement from North Yorkshire Police said:

“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the man in the image as they believe they could have information that will help the investigation.

“Anyone with any information is asked to email Sam.Clarke2@northyorkshire.police.uk or call us on 101, select option 2 and ask for Sam Clarke.

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

“Please quote our reference number 12230166084 when passing on information.”

Read more:

• Police name teenager who died in fatal Brimham Rocks crash
• Boy, 17, dies after car hits wall near Brimham Rocks

There are fears a Harrogate village bridge may have to close for repairs again — little more than a week after it reopened.

Hampsthwaite Bridge closed suddenly on June 2 for repairs estimated to cost £60,000

it reopened on September 7 but within days one of the parapets has been damaged.

Local resident and retired engineer Martin Weston, who uses the bridge daily, inspected it after seeing a photo on social media of a large agricultural vehicle crossing the bridge and reading comments by concerned locals.

Mr Weston told the Stray Ferret::

“I have inspected the bridge for damage and it showed that the parapet walls have been pushed out and loosened again over a six-metre section and it looks likely that we will face another closure when repairs need to be carried out.

“I have reported the issue to Geoff Howard from Hampsthwaite Parish Council, who I met at the bridge.

“The damage does not appear to be as severe as the previous incident and hopefully subject to the authority inspection team appraising it, it will be kept open at least until repairs are carried out.”

The vehicles squeezes over.

Cllr Howard said the recent closure caused considerable inconvenience and signs clearly showed a maximum width of 6ft 6ins for crossing vehicles.

He added:

“It is astonishing therefore to see the JCB being driven over recently.

“And it is recent because, as can clearly be seen on site, one of the joints broken by the upstream parapet having been pushed out, was pointed with a new mix of unweathered mortar.”

Read more:

• Harrogate village bridge set for lengthy closure
• Harrogate hospital defends new parking charges

The historic bridge, on Church Lane, crosses the River Nidd and joins Hampsthwaite and Clint.

Cllr Howard said he’d reported the incident to the parish council and highways authority North Yorkshire Council “and suggested someone in authority needs to have a word with the contractor”.

He added the entire parapet between two refuges had been nudged over by 10mm to 20mm and ought to be inspected by the council.

Cllr Howard said:

“The real issue is that some folk should be so unthinking as to even attempt such a crossing after all the disruption and cost the previous damage caused.”

Knaresborough Lions is inviting local organisations to apply for grants.

The Lions organises annual events such as Knaresborough Bed Race and the town’s beer festival and is using funds raised to support organisations in Knaresborough, surrounding villages and the wider Nidderdale area.

The Lions Community Fund will award grants to one-off projects.

The charity advised applications “will be considered only from properly constituted organisations rather than from individuals”.

Knaresborough Lions president Bob Godsell said:

“We have staged similar funding opportunities in the past before the outbreak of covid. Though we maintained help for local people during the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the effect of these was to seriously reduce our fundraising activity.

“Happily, over the past couple of years, matters have recovered, and we are now once more in a position to help. We welcome applications from any local groups involved in providing services in their community.”

Lions president Bob Godsell (left) and past president Richard Hall.

Applicants are advised to indicate the costs of the proposed project and the amount of grant requested.

There is no upper limit to applications, but, in previous years, requests have ranged from £100 to £1,000.

Applications forms must be submitted by November 30 at 5pm.

Read more:

• Height restrictor installed in Knaresborough car park
• Knaresborough resident says council was warned about collapsed wall

Former Harrogate pupil George Mills has run the third fastest time ever by a British athlete in the United States.

Competing in the final of the prestigious Diamond League in Oregon on Saturday, he finished in 3 minutes 47.65 seconds.

Not only was it a personal best, it was the fastest run by a British miler since 1985. Only Steve Cram and Sebastian Coe have ever beaten it.

Mills’ performance was hailed as “absolutely astonishing” by track and field website Athletics Weekly but remarkably he only finished third behind Norwegian superstar Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Mills told his Instagram followers:

“3.47 for the mile and third in the Diamond League final to close out the season

“it’s been a busy last three weeks but I’m pretty happy with the series of races I’ve managed to put together.”

Dad Danny, the former England footballer who lives in Harrogate, replied:

“Huge progress! So proud of how hard you work, how dedicated you are! Enjoy It – you’ll be back to work soon.”

It was Mills’ third sub 3 minute 50 second mile in succession as he ended the season in superb form.

British middle distance running is exceptionally strong at the moment and Mills will hope to join the likes of countrymen and world champions Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr at next year’s Olympics in Paris.

Mills attended Ashville College, Brackenfield School and St Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate but spends most of the year abroad now, training and competing.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Olympic hopeful from a famous sporting family
• Still no start date for work on new Harrogate Tesco

Harrogate-based employment law firm, Boardside, is celebrating its sixth year anniversary with the arrival of a new partner.

Helen Trott has spent more than 25 years as an in-house lawyer covering financial services, healthcare and fintech businesses. She has worked at board level, including as general counsel, company secretary and chief operating officer.

In the firm’s newsletter, founding partner Richard Port said Ms Trott’s appointment added a new dimension to Boardside thanks to her experience in industries that are complex from a regulatory perspective. He said:

“We offer a bespoke advisory service to boards and those who sit on them and we have always prided ourselves on our grasp of clients’ commercial concerns, which has made us acutely aware and very interested to provide corporate governance, risk, compliance and some company secretarial services, too.

“Now, we have a new partner who has a strong commercial background and thereby broadens our capabilities in this regard.”

Software company appoints Harrogate comms firm

Marketing and communications agency, Big Bamboo, in Harrogate has been appointed by AI collision avoidance software company, Safety Shield Global, to support it with brand and PR activity.

The agency will support the company, whilst its sister agency, Big Bamboo Bids, will offer support in relation to bidding and winning work.

Safety Shield Global has developed an AI human form recognition safety system specifically for the construction industry .

The system can be fitted to any type of plant, for industries such as construction, rail, mining, demolition and waste, amongst others.

Nicola Stamford, founding director of The Big Bamboo Agency, said:

“We are thrilled to have been appointed by Safety Shield Global, which is a leading player in AI software.

“The company’s story is an impressive one, led by a very passionate CEO and wider team to ensure the safety of people who are working on sites, where plant machinery is prevalent.”

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This is an email in full support of the creative youths that have developed their own entertainment in the woods. (Extensive action’ pledged to tackle teen bike track in Harrogate woods). 

We cannot speak for other users as the ‘anonymous local resident’ has so thoughtfully done, however, the track is not spoiling the space for my husband and I and we do not see this as ‘wanton vandalism’. The ramps and holes have been made from fallen trees, existing rocks and dirt tracks so we do not see where damage to flora and fauna has been made.

With regards to littering this is in fact a group of adults who utilise the woods for drinking at night so perhaps policing during the night would be better. Whomever has decided in their wisdom to remove all bins from the woodland and immediate area in favour of the tardis style bin some distance away, you can expect littering to increase not decrease because of this crazy decision.

In addition, the youths have every right to enjoy the green space along with the rest of us and have been nothing but polite to me and my husband when we walk our dog, waiting for us to pass and warning their friends to wait until the dog has walked by before they cycle, which we have thanked them for.

Let’s not ostracise the next generation, after all it is them we are relying on to save the planet, so perhaps some relationship building between the ‘anonymous’ local resident and the youths would be useful and please, we ask that the rest of us ‘local residents’ are not tarred with the same bitter brush.

Denise Webber, Harrogate

Nightmare train journey

Diabolical journey on the hottest day of the year in a non air conditioned carriage! No electricity for phones/laptops etc! If it had been at night presumably we would have been in the dark!

Everyone had to squash in the next carriage to get cool.

This is not the first time this has happened either.

Ann FitzGerald, Starbeck

Read More:

• Local streetlights could be switched off at night to save money
• Crescent Gardens rough sleepers offered accommodation ‘daily’, council says

Praise for police memorial

May I add my voice to the commendations re the police memorial recently installed (Memorial stone unveiled in honour of murdered Harrogate police officer). The men and women who are prepared to stand up in situations where others run away should be remembered and honoured.

Can I also commend the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Derbyshire. It is a huge piece of land lovingly cared for and contains not only memorials to military losses, but Lifeboat crews, Ambulance service men and women, and yes a whole avenue of memorials to the police officers who have given their lives for us.

Their area of the arboretum is known as “The Beat.” Well worth a visit.

William Thompson, Park House Green, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

The publication of Boroughbridge High School’s Ofsted report this week means all local state schools have now had recent assessments.

The government schools’ inspector’s stricter regime means the ratings for local schools have been mixed since the pandemic.

Only one is rated ‘outstanding’ but four are graded as ‘good’.

Three others received ‘requires improvement’ assessments, which is the third highest score. None are rated ‘inadequate’ – the lowest of the four options.

Here’s how each one fared in its latest inspection.

Boroughbridge High School – requires improvement

This week Boroughbridge High School was rated ‘requires improvement’ in a report published by Ofsted.

The school was previously rated ‘good’.

The inspectors noted:

“Not all teachers have high enough expectations of pupils’ behaviour and do not routinely challenge low-level disruption in classrooms.

“Although many pupils feel safe in school, some do not. Some pupils in lower year groups say they are worried or concerned about the behaviour and conduct of some older pupils.”

The report added school behaviour is “not always calm and orderly”.

Despite this, the school, which is now part of a federation with King James’s School in Knaresborough, was assessed as ‘good’ for its quality of education and personal development.

Harrogate High School – requires improvement

Harrogate High School was also downgraded to a ‘requires improvement’ rating from ‘good’ when it was assessed in June this year.

The school, which is part of the Northern Star Academies Trust, has seen a decline in the quality of education and older pupils in particular do not achieve well in exams, according to an inspector.

The report said some students with bad attitudes were “not challenged quickly enough” and some truant pupils were “disrespectful to staff and cause disruption.”

It added:

“Teachers do not consistently check if pupils know or understand what has been taught. As a result, misconceptions are not always identified and addressed.”

The inspector did note, however, the new school leaders understood the problems and the actions “have secured improvements in the quality of education.”

Headteacher Sukhraj Gill responded to the report:

“This is an exciting time for Harrogate High School. Inspectors have recognised the improvements we have already made and confirmed that we are on the right track to make Harrogate High a great school. We have achieved a great deal at Harrogate High School – with a lot more to do.

“We will continue our relentless drive to make Harrogate High the best school it can be for all the young people that we educate.”

Ripon Grammar School – good

 After 11 years of holding an ‘outstanding’ status, Ripon Grammar School was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in April.

The personal development and sixth form provision remained ‘outstanding’, according to the report, but “a very small minority of staff do not speak to pupils in an appropriately encouraging manner” – which was a contributing factor to the downgrade.

It added the behaviour policy “is not always consistently applied” and “behaviour is weaker in a small minority of classrooms, particularly where a substitute teaching is leading the lesson.”

Despite this, the inspector said:

“Across the school, and particularly in the sixth form, teachers challenge pupils and students to stretch themselves academically and to take risks in their learning.

“Pupils benefit from the broad range of provision offered by clubs and societies, for example, in science, the arts, humanities and sport. Pupils are eager to seize the extensive opportunities presented to them.”

Pupils and students “achieve very highly in the GCSE and A Level examinations”, it also noted.

A letter to parents signed by headteacher Jonathan Webb and chair of governors Elizabeth Jarvis, said:

“Overall, we are pleased with the headline conclusions that RGS is a school which offers students a culture of high expectations, an ambitious curriculum, high academic achievement, strong teaching, outstanding opportunities for personal development and strong community-based relations, as well as effective and secure safeguarding.

King James’s School – good

King James’s School in Knaresborough retained its ‘good’ rating following an inspection of a good school report by Ofsted.

The report, which was published in March, said the school had a “caring environment where pupils learn well” with a “strong focus on ensuring that everyone feels welcome.”

The inspector added the “vast majority of pupils are keen and engage confidently in their learning” and bullying is “rare”.

Despite the praise, the report also said King James’s provides “insufficient opportunities for pupils to engage meaningfully with the world of work” and “pupils who struggle with reading do not receive effect interventions routinely”.

Schools graded ‘good’ are usually visited once every four years to confirm its status – a process known as an ungraded inspection.

Saint John Fisher Catholic Academy – good

Harrogate’s Saint John Fisher Catholic Academy was also rated ‘good’ following a report published in February.

It was the first inspection since it was converted into an academy in 2021.

All areas received a ‘good’ status, and the inspectors praised the “rich set of extra-curricular opportunities”.

The report said:

“[Pupils] leave well-equipped for their next step in education, employment or training.”

However, the inspectors did add “a small but significant minority of parents do not feel that communication between school and home is effective.”

Rossett School – requires improvement

Rossett School in Harrogate still ‘requires improvement’ according to the inspectors for the second time in four years.

The report, which was released in January, said high staff turnover, disruptive pupils and extremely high absence rates in disadvantaged students were all among concerns highlighted.

It said:

“Most pupils who communicated with inspectors feel safe at school, but the conduct of the minority makes some pupils feel unsafe at times.

“Some pupils’ conduct out of lessons is variable, with overly boisterous behaviour. Some pupils ignore staff requests and instructions.

“Some staff do not apply the school’s behaviour policy consistently. A minority of pupils are regularly late to lessons, or have to be rounded up by leaders and escorted to class.”

However, the school, which is part of the Red Kite Alliance, was described as “warm, friendly and welcoming.”

The report added:

“Leaders, governors and staff are deeply committed to the pupils who attend the school. A strong determination to be inclusive and supportive permeates the school.”

The school was rated ‘good’ for quality of education, personal development and sixth-form provision and ‘requires improvement’ for behaviour and attitude, and leadership and management.

John Hesketh, chair of governors, said the school was “incredibly disappointed” by the report.

St. Aidan’s Church of England High School – good

St. Aidan’s School received a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted in July last year – just six months after being rated ‘inadequate’.

Prior to the ‘inadequate’ grading – the lowest of the four Ofsted grades – the Harrogate school was declared ‘outstanding’.

Usually, an ‘inadequate’ school has to wait up to three years before another full inspection, however after the first routine monitoring visit, inspectors felt the rating was “not a fair reflection of the school”.

As a result, the inspection was revised.

The most recent report found the school to be “a happy school with a positive and nurturing environment where pupils flourish”.

It added the sixth form was ‘outstanding’ and pupils “demonstrate a real love of learning”.

The report said:

“Teachers have strong subject knowledge. They bring their subject to life for pupils with the clarity of their explanations and richness of examples. Pupils are captivated in lessons and are keen to answer the questions that teachers ask.”

Chair of governors, Jo Wicks, said:

“We are truly delighted that we can end the year so positively and hope that we can build on the recent success when Ofsted next visit us to secure an outstanding judgement overall.”

Nidderdale High School – good

 Ofsted said “Nidderdale High School continues to be a good school” in a report published in March.

Like King James’s, it was only a short inspection due to its previous ‘good’ rating, but the inspectors praised the school for its ethos and “high ambitions”.

The report said:

“There is a full personal development programme in place for pupils. This has a clear focus on important issues such as careers education, personal safety and relationships, sex and health education.

“Morale among staff is high. They feel valued by members of the leadership team, who are mindful of their workload. All staff who responded to the staff survey said that they were proud to work at the school.”

It did also cite areas of improvement and said “where behaviour is not as strong in some lessons, learning activities are not as challenging as they could be”.

Headteacher Kath Jordan responded:

“We were delighted to see the importance of strong relationships highlighted through our emphasis on ready, respectful and safe.

“The new inspection framework places great emphasis on curriculum development and we were very pleased that the school’s ‘high ambitions’ were recognised and that our ability to provide a ‘wide curriculum offer’ is also noted.”

The school became part of the Red Kite Alliance in August.

Harrogate Grammar School – outstanding

Harrogate Grammar School is the only Ofsted rated ‘outstanding’ school in the district following a report published in March last year.

It retained the status from its last inspection 15 years prior.

Inspectors described the school, which also a member of the Red Kite Learning Trust, as “an extremely rewarding place to learn” with “an exceptional curriculum”. They added:

“Effective teaching and assessment enable pupils to learn well. This depth of knowledge is sustained from key stage 3 to the sixth form.

“Through sports, outdoor pursuits and performance opportunities, pupils develop their skills and self-confidence. Pupils are articulate and polite. They are keen to engage in discussion and debate. Teachers make sure that pupils’ views are heard.”

The report also said “the headteacher has built a very strong team of leaders at all levels.”

Headteacher Neil Renton responded to the report:

“It makes us very proud to see the exceptional commitment that we experience every day from our community, being recognised in this way.”

Read more:

• Harrogate head welcomes plan for new crossing outside school
• Trial scheme banning school run cars from Harrogate street launched today

Tesco has still yet to reveal when work will start on its new supermarket in Harrogate.

The now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council approved plans for a store on the former gasworks site on Skipton Road in February.

The scheme, which will create 100 jobs, also includes a petrol station and 209 car parking spaces.

It was approved despite concerns about the impact on the nearby Jennyfields local centre, which includes a Co-op, medical centre and Post Office.

But seven months on, work has yet to begin on the site near New Park roundabout.

The former gasworks site pictured from Ripon Road this week..

The application was approved subject to conditions, such as a £50,000 contribution to a new bus service from Penny Pot Lane in Killinghall.

The Stray Ferret understands Tesco is still working through the details of the conditions and hopes to start on site in the near future.

But the supermarket still hasn’t given a date.

The council received 82 representations about Tesco’s planning application. A total of 24 were supportive and 57 objected, mainly on the grounds of amenity, traffic, environmental and drainage impacts.

But the council’s planning committee went along with case officer Kate Broadbank’s recommendation for approval.

She said the development would “create jobs and provide social, environmental and economic benefits to the local area” and was “in accordance with the development plan policies”.

Tesco first secured planning permission on the site in 2012 but revived its plans in December 2021.

Read more:

• Five take aways from Harrogate Tesco approval
• Harrogate’s Pitcher & Piano to change name and management

Harrogate District Hospital has defended its new parking charges and said the ticketless system is reducing congestion.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust introduced a new system and charges on September 6.

The old entry barriers have been replaced by automatic number plate recognition.

Visitors are now entitled to 20 minutes of free parking. It then costs £4 for up to two hours, £6.50 for up to four hours, £8.50 for up to six hours and £11 for up to 24 hours.

The new prices have attracted criticism on social media, with some complaining £4 is a lot to pay for a visit that might only last for 25 minutes.

Visitors previously received 30 minutes free parking and were then charged £2.60 for up to 90 minutes, £3.80 for up to two-and-a-half hours and £6.10 for up to four-and-a-half hours.

A trust spokesperson said:

“Increasing parking charges is never an easy decision to make, but we have to ensure that our car parks are well maintained and safe for patients, visitors and staff.

“All funds gathered from parking charges are invested back into the delivery of patient care and maintaining facilities, such as car parks across the trust.

“Over the next five years we anticipate that we will need to invest significant sums in our car parks and security, and the revenue raised through car parking charges will help us to fund this work.

The old barrier has been removed.

The spokesperson added the trust chose to keep free parking or concessionary rates for certain patients and visitors including blue badge holders, patients receiving cancer treatment, parents visiting the paediatric ward or special care baby unit, and those in receipt of benefits.

They added:

“Parking is also free for the first 20 minutes allowing for patients to be dropped off and collected without the driver needing to pay for parking. It also encourages drivers from waiting in the car park after dropping someone off, ensuring that other people who require our services can find a parking space.”

The spokesperson said car park management firm Parkingeye had not issued any parking charge notices to date because the hospital was operating a grace period.

He did not say how long this would last.

Asked how the new system was working, the spokesman said:

“The new ANPR parking system is helping eliminate congestion on Lancaster Park Road through the removal of barriers which has improved flow into the hospital grounds.

“We welcome feedback from users so that we can further improve on their experience of our new car parking system.”

The ANPR system will be expanded into the trust’s staff car parks in October, where staff will be charged a monthly fee to use the car parking facilities calculated on their vehicle’s emissions, their pay band and their contracted hours.

Read more:

• Harrogate hospital roof contains crumbling concrete
• Man dies suddenly in Harrogate town centre