Plans approved for new tattoo studio in Harrogate

A planning application for a new tattoo studio in Harrogate has been approved.

Applicant Marco Giusti submitted a change of use plan to North Yorkshire Council last month. It was approved on Tuesday, April 16.

It proposed to convert the unit currently occupied by the Chihuahua Lounge café, on Knaresborough Road, into a tattoo studio.

Mr Giusti, who moved to York from Italy six years ago, told the Stray Ferret the company, which will be called Dark Lab Tattoos, will offer predominantly “black and grey realism and ornamental tattoos”.

He added:

“As a studio, we will be able to offer people the right artist for the type of work they are looking for.

“This includes for traditional, realism, lettering, geometric, blackwork and fine line tattoos. Any style is welcome.”

The business will be based in the Chihuahua Lounge unit.

Mr Giusti said Dark Lab Tattoos will also offer piercing services, as well as custom prints and clothing.

He said he decided to open in Harrogate because it a “beautiful town with a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere”.

The refurbishment of the unit will cost around £25,000, he added.

Mr Giusti said all tattoos will have a £50 minimum charge, but prices will range from £80 per hour up to £400-£500 for a full day of tattooing (around six hours). He added:

“Occasionally we will be hosting walk-in days, where some designs may cost less than the minimum charge.”

Dark Lab Tattoos is expected to open at the beginning of June.

It will be open Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 6pm.

Read more:

Harrogate bus station to close temporarily at nights after 7pm

Alternative bus stops have been announced as Harrogate bus station prepares to close temporarily.

The Harrogate Bus Company, which is owned by Transdev, shared the news on social media last night.

It said the bus station, on Station Parade, will close after 7pm, from Sunday to Thursday between April 21 and May 23.

As a result, the 1, 2, 3, 7 and 36, which all offer evening services, will be affected.

A phot of a bus leaving Harrogate bus station.

The closures begin this Sunday.

The Stray Ferret asked the Harrogate Bus Company where exactly the alternative stops will be. A spokesperson gave the following information:

Services 1 and 7:

Services 2 and 3:

The 36:

A graphic of the alternative bus stops. Pic: The Harrogate Bus Company.

A Transdev spokesperson told the Stray Ferret the bus station will be closed while the operator carries out work to “support the infrastructure” of its new electric fleet, which is set to be introduced this summer.

Read more:

Bilton independent candidate leans on business experience in mayor campaign

Bilton resident Paul Haslam believes his extensive business experience stands him in good stead to be Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

The Bilton and Nidd Gorge councillor was the last of six candidates to throw their hat into the ring to be the inaugural mayor.

Standing as an independent, Mr Haslam has centred his campaign around the economy and emphasised his business experience as his credentials.

Born in Lancashire before moving to Harrogate in 2006, he spent his career working for various businesses in retail management including New Look and Poundstretcher.

Mr Haslam set up his own consultancy firm, which specialises in areas such as change management, the circular economy and mergers and acquisitions. His clients have included Adidas and national supermarkets.

He was also chief executive of Leyland SDM, a London-based decorators’ merchants, which he helped to sell to Grafton Group in February 2018.

During an interview with the Stray Ferret, Mr Haslam pointed to this as an example of the experience he feels the mayor needs.

He said:

“One key things about this role is bringing private finance into York and North Yorkshire. The other thing that you have got to look at is what business clusters you are bringing in.”

Paul Haslam

Paul Haslam

Mr Haslam said the mayor needs to be able to help grow the economy and attract businesses to the county.

One area of business that has been of interest to him is food security. He said as mayor he would promote farms, food production and sectors such as agri-tech.

The topic has been included in his online manifesto, which includes pledges on affordable housing, tourism and adult education and skills.

He has also identified public transport as an area that he feels needs to be tackled.

One of the policies he has proposed is a single ticket for travel across North Yorkshire. As chair of Transport for the North’s scrutiny committee, he says he has pushed for such a ticket for five years:

“We have got to have this frictionless way of getting through.

“One of the other things is because we have different operators doing different things, compared to London it can make it up to four times more expensive to get the same distance here than it does in London because you’re changing operators.

“You can bring the cost of the tickets down by just having one ticket that goes right through.”

Read more:

Mr Haslam has also been a keen proponent of introducing new railway stations in areas such as Claro Road. He says the station would be a similar size to Hornbeam Park and would help to ease car journeys during rush hour.

Mr Haslam admits the scheme would be expensive, but believes it would be good value for money.

He said:

“It’s not just about putting a train station there, you’ve got to look at what it is going to do to Skipton Road for example.

“A lot of the people that live around Claro Road, whether it’s the Kingsley side or the Woodfield and Bilton side, actually work in Leeds every day. We have to accept that every day there is a mass exodus south out of Harrogate down to Leeds where people work.

“If you could get on the train there, you could go straight to work in Leeds.”

‘A step change’

Last month, Mr Haslam resigned the Conservative whip to stand for mayor.

As part of his campaign literature, he says that as an independent mayor he would be “free from party shackles”.

However, he faces the prospect of campaigning against established parties on the election trail.

When pressed on why specifically he decided to stand for mayor, he said he felt the role offered an opportunity for “a step change” in North Yorkshire:

“There are five other very capable candidates going for this role, but what I want to make sure is that all the things that I think are important get out there and see the light of day.

“Even if I’m not the one who implements those ideas at the end of the day, those ideas are out there.”

The York and North Yorkshire mayor will be chosen by residents of the region in an election on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

The full list of candidates is:

The Harrogate Vet to open 24-hour animal hospital

The Harrogate Vet is set to open a new 24-hour hospital.

The practice, which opened on Leeds Road in 2019, is owned by parent company and integrated veterinary services provider CVS UK Ltd.

It shared the news on social media this afternoon.

The post said building work on its new “state-of-the art veterinary hospital” on Ripon Way had begun and it was due to open this summer.

Veterinary surgeon Diane Cole told the Stray Ferret the new site will include five consult rooms, two surgery theatres, a dental suite, a CT machine and on-site parking.

Ms Cole added:

“Katherine, the founder and clinical director, set up the practice in 2019 and I joined shortly after. We’ve always wanted to open a second site that offers 24-hour care.

“We’re all about providing the best possible service and we know to do that we need to offer 24-hour care. I’d come from working in that environment, so it was something we’ve both always wanted to do.”

The existing Leeds Road site. Pic: Google Maps.

Ms Cole also said her and Katherine Jacklin felt there was a “gap in the market” for emergency veterinary services in Harrogate town centre, adding:

“It just doesn’t seem fair to have to refer people to practices in Wetherby, Leeds or Ripon when they live in Harrogate.

“We’re also hiring more vets with specialised certificates, so we’ll be able to deal with much more specialised cases and complex surgeries at the new site.”

She said the practice will be expanding its team of vets, nurses and receptionists as part of the expansion.

The Harrogate Vet treats all small animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and tortoises.

Only existing clients of the practice will be able to use the services to begin with, Ms Cole added.

She also said:

“Because the building is already there, we’ve been able to really take the time to plan the layout of the new site. The rooms need to be as coherent and stress free as possible for both the owners and animals, especially when they’re coming in for a sad reason, so we’ve put a lot of effort in to make that happen.

“We’re just so excited about opening.”

Ms Cole said the practice does not have an official opening date for the new site yet.

Read more:

North Yorkshire Council issues ‘call for sites’ for new planning blueprint

North Yorkshire Council has begun the process of developing a new planning blueprint for the county.

The local authority is now accepting call for sites submissions as part of its plans to draw up Local Plan.

The Local Plan will set out where development can take place across North Yorkshire over the next 15 to 20 years.

The Harrogate District Local Plan was adopted in 2014 and was set to be in place until 2035.

However, following the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council and the formation of the unitary authority, North Yorkshire Council is now in the process of drawing up the new North Yorkshire Local Plan, which will replace existing plans for former district authority areas.

As part of the process, landowners or developers have until June to offer their sites for consideration for the new Local Plan.

The council said in a statement sites can be “put forward for any use or designation”. These include housing; employment and commercial development; retail and leisure; renewable energy generation and other environmental enhancement schemes.

Those submitting sites are advised to provide as much detail about the land and intended use as possible, the council said, adding this would enable the local authority to “consider the impacts of the site”.

The council also said it will take “expert advice” on the impact of each proposed site, including the effects on local schools and health services, sewage capacities, wildlife and the infrastructure of surrounding roads.

Nic Harne, the council’s director of community development said:

“The call for sites represents a crucial early stage in our local plan preparations and we welcome submissions from across North Yorkshire.

“However, submitting a site for consideration does not necessarily mean it will be taken forward for development. This exercise is not the planning application process and at this early stage, it is often the case that more sites are submitted than are needed to meet the future needs of the area.”

The council said it would be a “lengthy process that will take several years to complete, including an independent examination of the plan and all of the proposed sites by an appointed planning inspector”.

It added:

“When submitted, these sites will be carefully assessed by planning officers with advice taken from both internal and external specialists on a range of matters from flooding and heritage to impact on the local roads, schools and ecology.”

The news comes just over a month after councillors backed a plea to exclude Knox Lane, in the Bilton area of Harrogate, from the new Local Plan.

Teeside developer Jomast’s plans to build 53 homes off Knox Lane (pictured) were refused last September. However, the Stray Ferret revealed this week the developer has now lodged an appeal with the government’s Planning Inspectorate against the decision.

North Yorkshire Council aims to adopt the revised Local Plan by late 2028.

People will be able to comment on submitted sites at a later date.

Read more:

Harrogate businessman denies stalking allegation

A Harrogate businessman is to face trial by jury after denying allegations of stalking and breaching a restraining order.

Jason Shaw, 55, of Rutland Drive, appeared at York Crown Court via video link today when he pleaded not guilty to the two allegations.

The prosecution alleges that Mr Shaw – who owns Pineheath, the historic, 12-bedroom mansion on Cornwall Road – stalked a woman named in court between November 2023 and March this year, causing her to fear that violence would be used against her, in that he drove past her, turned up at her workplace and her home, and sent notes to her and left her a gift.

He is also accused of breaching a restraining order by entering the woman’s home in February this year.

Judge Simon Hickey set a trial date of September 2. It is due to last three days.

Read more:

General Tarleton goes on the market for £1.2 million

One of the best known gastropubs in the Harrogate district has gone on the market for £1.2 million.

The General Tarleton at Ferrensby, near Knaresborough, closed several months ago.

Leeds business broker Christie & Co is now marketing the freehold for the property, which comes with 15 en-suite bedrooms, a 90-seat restaurant and a private dining and function room. The 0.8-acre site also includes a car park and outdoor terrace.

The marketing details say:

“This impressive and imposing coaching inn boasts a wealth of period charm including oak beams and exposed stone walls and flooring and has been recently refurbished and upgraded to an excellent standard by the present owners, and very much deserving of its AA five-star inn accreditation.”

Father and daughter Jonathan and Sarah Morris spent £500,000 refurbishing the venue after taking over from previous owners, Suzanne and John Topham, in 2021.

The marketing information adds:

“The sale represents an excellent opportunity for an owner operator or hospitality-led group to capitalise on the significant capital investment made by the current owners, as well as the enviable reputation and client base, and to take the business to the next level.

“The business has only been trading in the hands of the current owners since mid 2021 but in that time, they have carried out a significant revamp and overhaul or the building and the operation. Turnover for the 12 months to the end of October 2023 is around £850,000 with trade splits as follows: food 42%, drinks 26% and rooms 32%.

It also says the site has “the possible option of further expansion and development, subject to appropriate planning permission”.

Read more:

Nidd Gorge footpaths get £165,000 upgrade

Major upgrades to footpaths are getting underway at Nidd Gorge and Bilton Beck to make the woodlands more easily accessible.

The gorge and beck, which are close to Knaresborough and Harrogate, attract many visitors but the woodland suffers from wet and muddy paths for much of year, especially in winter.

Wooden boardwalks have helped over the years but are now ready for replacing. Funding from FCC Community Foundation Ltd means the Woodland Trust can now start doing this.

The work will include installing new stone paths and signage along the route, especially the southern bank of the River Nidd.

According to a Woodland Trust press release today, the project is due to be completed by late spring when the ground dries up and gives better access to machinery needed to complete the operations.

Paul Bunton, from the trust said:

“The woodland is a cherished resource for local people and visitors from further afield, however some of the paths do suffer during the wetter months so the funding from FCC is fantastic news.

“When complete even more people will be able to  enjoy this woodland without having to navigate boggy areas. It also follows on from the tree felling we have had to do over the past couple of years to manage tree disease so there have been lots of changes on the ground however we are aiming to improve the overall woodland experience for all visitors, which will ultimately benefit wildlife too.”

Penny Horne, grant manager at FCC Communities Foundation, which is a not-for-profit business that awards grants from funds donated by waste management company FCC Environment, said:

“It’s always nice to see something we have funded start to take shape. We’re delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile project and we look forward to it benefiting lots of different people across the region.”

Read more:

Review: RAOS’s Sister Act is happy, hilarious and vibrant

Lauren Crisp is a book editor, writer and keen follower of arts and culture. Born and raised in Harrogate, Lauren recently moved back to North Yorkshire after a stint in London, where she regularly reviewed theatre – everything from big West End shows to small fringe productions. She is now eager to explore the culture on offer in and around her home town.  You can contact Lauren on laurencrispwriter@gmail.com. 

Ripon Amateur Operatic Society brought the house down at Harrogate Theatre last night with their take on the feel-good musical comedy, Sister Act.

Grace Knill assumes the role of sassy heroine Deloris van Cartier, a singer and wannabe star who is forced into hiding in a convent after witnessing a hit by her gangster boyfriend. Arriving to a frosty reception by the nuns’ stern Mother Superior (an excellent Rowenna Naylor), Deloris ultimately finds her purpose: to help the ladies learn how to sing.

Knill makes for a perfect Deloris; with joyful energy, she captures the humour and warmth of her character, belting out one showstopper after another with ease.

There are so many great personalities in this show, and the cast do them real justice, embracing their roles with gusto, providing a sense of warmth, familiarity and connection; audience members are drawn into the narrative easily.

Chris Wall as Deloris’ nasty ex, Curtis, and his trio of hilariously hapless gangsters, TJ (Luke Bailey), Joey (Will Thirlaway) and Pablo (Elliot Hutchinson), drew the biggest laughs, their choreography planned and executed to a T.

RAOS transport us to 1970s Philadelphia, with set, costume and sound combining to create an eruption of vibrant vivacity and fun on stage. John Atkin’s band sprinkle sparkle on the musical, with a good splash of soul and upbeat funk.

I had some difficulty hearing the occasional lyric early on, and many of the songs are appreciably tricky ones to sing, especially above a band, but any initial teething issues were swiftly ironed out. With banger after banger, you’re sure to come away feeling good.

A production filled with habits aplenty, gun-wielding gangsters, confession boxes and knockout showtunes, but mostly with colour, happiness and charm, the amateurs of Ripon know how to put on a show.

Sister Act is at Harrogate Theatre until Saturday, 20 April.

(Lead image: Helen Tabor Photography)

Read more:

Otley Road cycleway in Harrogate to be extended

The Otley Road cycleway in Harrogate is to be extended, a meeting heard last night (April 17).

The cycleway was conceived as part of wider plans to form a safe off road cycling route from Harrogate town centre to Cardale Park.

The first phase from Cold Bath Road to Harlow Moor Road, was constructed at a cost of £2.2 million but North Yorkshire County Council scrapped plans for the second phase last year.

Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transportation at the council, said at the time none of three options put forward proved popular with cyclists, walkers or motorists — despite cyclists highlighting how a consultation revealed more people were in favour of going ahead than not.

However, last night’s spring meeting of Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association heard that although there were no plans to revive the second phase, the third phase would go ahead.

Hapara chair Rene Dziabas said it had been informed of the news by North Yorkshire Council, which succeeded North Yorkshire County Council in April last year.

Mr Dziabas told the meeting, which was attended by council highways officials, the 1.1km phase three would be built on the north side of Otley Road between Harlow Moor Road and the western edge of Harlow Carr.

It would be a two-way shared cyclist / pedestrian route measuring three metres wide, he said.

He added five trees and about 1,500 square metres of grass verge would be lost as part of the scheme and there would be toucan crossings at Beckwith Head Road/Crag Lane and Cardale Park junctions.

The cycleway will be funded by developers who are in the process of building 4,000 homes in the west of Harrogate.

Mr Dziabas said:

“Just about everyone thought because phase two had been cancelled, phase three wasn’t going ahead. It’s going ahead. We have had it confirmed by highways.”

He added there will be no specific public consultation on phase three, which will be considered as part of a far broader west of Harrogate traffic assessment.

A leaflet by Hapara said:

“The general view of this scheme is that it will not deliver any real benefits to mitigate against the high levels of traffic on Otley Road which is how it was sold when initially launched.

If the intention is to get more people cycling, which is a perfectly sensible aim, this scheme seems to be an expensive way of delivering the
objective.”

It added:

“No timescales are available at the moment, but North Yorkshire Council has indicated that they wish to see phase 3 constructed prior to the occupation of dwellings on the relevant major sites, including H49 and H45. This could be years away but meanwhile design studies will continue.”

Read more: