Barn destroyed after bonfire spreads at Blubberhouses

A large barn containing farm vehicles and machinery near Harrogate was destroyed by fire last night.

Nearby trees were also damaged by fire after a bonfire got out of control and spread.

Firefighters from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Skipton and Tadcaster were summoned to Meagill Lane at Blubberhouses at 9.09pm.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said the crews responded to reports of a bonfire which had spread to a barn and surrounding woodland.

“The barn, which measured 60 metres by 40 metres, and it’s contents –  various farm machinery and vehicles, were 100% destroyed by fire.

“Crews used two hose reel jets, main jet, ground monitor, thermal imaging camera, lighting, hydraulic cutters and small tools to deal with the incident.”

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Council estimates £105m use of reserves to cover three years of deficits

North Yorkshire Council could be forced to use £105 million of reserves to cover deficits over the next three years.

The council is currently forecasting a shortfall of £25 million at the end of 2023/24.

The authority put the figure down to inflation, rising cost of utilities and taking on structural deficits from other district councils.

Officials had initially forecast a deficit of £30 million, but this has since fallen to £25 million due to savings on changing energy providers and falling fuel bills.

In February, the council agreed a “one-off use” of £30 million of its reserves to cover this year’s deficit.

However, despite the lower deficit, the council still faces being forced to dip into its reserves to cover rising deficits up until 2025/26.

Cllr Gareth Dadd, executive councillor for finance at the council, said:

“We can already see the benefits of creating one single council for North Yorkshire with the chance to make millions of pounds of savings in the first year alone.

“While this is good news for taxpayers in North Yorkshire, we do still need to be realistic as the situation can change with the major financial challenges and uncertainty that are continuing to affect the global economy.”

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The authority has estimated another £30 million shortfall next year, followed by a £45 million deficit in 2025/26.

According to a report due before councillors next week, the council estimates that it would need to use a total of £105 million to cover its shortfalls over the next three years.

Council bosses are expected to draw up plans to make savings in the coming years in order to offset any use of reserves.

A financial report before the council in February showed the authority had £285 million in “earmarked reserves”, which is used to “manage financial risk, commitments and support improvement and investment within service directorates”.

Gary Fielding, corporate director for strategic resources at the council, told the Stray Ferret previously that, despite the use of reserves, the council would still be in a good position to withstand another national event, such as a pandemic.

A report on how the council plans to make savings in the next financial year will be brought before senior councillors in February 2024.

Harrogate aesthetics clinic announces closure

A Harrogate aesthetics clinic has announced it will close.

Renee Grace Aesthetics, which is based on King’s Road, said covid and the current economic climate made it a particularly stressful time to run a business.

The clinic offers surgical treatments, such as laser hair removal, anti-wrinkle injections and lip enhancement.

In a post on its social media, the firm said:

“I have had to make a very difficult decision and I know many of you will be disappointed.

“Renee Grace Aesthetics in Harrogate is closing. Laser treatments have already stopped and I have my few last injectable clients this week.”

The post adds that a clinic will run at an “alternative venue” once or twice a month.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate Town agrees new scoreboard sponsor

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is an after work drinks event on Thursday, August 31 at The West Park Hotel in Harrogate between 5-7pm. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate Town FC has announced a new matchday sponsor.

Concrete 4 U will sponsor the club’s LED scoreboard, which displays the score and match information during games at the Enivrovent Stadium.

The company, which is based at Portgate Quarry in Ripon, becomes the latest local business to sponsor the football club after Harrogate-based Kitching Plant hire and GH Brooks agreed sponsorship deals.

Neil Harper, group commercial director at Concrete 4 U says 

“At Concrete 4 U, we believe in building strong foundations, not only in construction but also in community partnerships.

“Sponsoring Harrogate Town AFC’s LED scoreboard is a natural fit for us, we’re proud to be a part of the captivating moments that the scoreboard will showcase and look forward to leaving a lasting positive impact on matchday.”

Harrogate digital marketing agency shortlisted for four awards

A Harrogate digital marketing agency has been shortlisted for an award at a national ceremony.

Extreme, which is based at Windsor House, has been included in the shortlist for four categories at the UK Social Media Awards 2023.

Extreme's social team.

Extreme’s social team.

The nominations include the company’s work with clients such as Numatic International and cocktail bar Alcotraz.

Extreme’s social media work has been shortlisted for Best Use of Paid Social for Numatic, Best Integrated Campaign, as well as Best Use of TikTok and Best Use of Paid Social for Alcotraz.

Donna Herron, head of social at Extreme said: 

“To be recognised in any category or award ceremony is an honour, so to have four submissions shortlisted in a prestigious national scheme is so exciting for our team.

“Even being shortlisted is a great boost, and we’re excited to celebrate with other nominees at the event in September.”

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‘Miracle’ cat Charlie returns to Harrogate home after four-week search

An overjoyed Harrogate family is today celebrating the return of a cat who went missing for four agonising weeks.

Erika Hartness spent hours a day searching for seven-year-old Charlie after the Tonkinese disappeared on July 22.

She plastered the area with posters, flooded social media with appeals and put up a £500 reward.

But when Charlie, who had never been away for more than two nights, did not return after a few days she began to fear the worst.

Nevertheless, she and 17-year-old son Jack continued to search under hedges and explore every possible lead and then last night the family received the best surprise ever.

Erika recalls:

“Me and my husband Paul were in separate rooms at home when we heard this almighty miaow. We both thought ‘that’s Charlie’ and ran to the back door.”

It was indeed a bedraggled, emaciated but very much alive Charlie. He had lost half his weight, but otherwise seemed fine.

This image taken today shows how emaciated Charlie is.

A trip to the vet today confirmed Charlie requires nothing but food and tender loving care.

The family is still unsure what happened but Erika believes the wandering moggy got trapped, perhaps in a shed, and was eventually let out — possibly by someone who had just returned from holiday. She said:

“We don’t know how he survived for four weeks without food or how he got water. It’s an absolute miracle he’s alive.

“Even the vet said he should be dead.”

Charlie is now recovering at home, miaowing profusely for food and cuddles. He hasn’t ventured outdoors.

One of the posters.

He used to sleep alongside Raffles, the family Labrador, who died five weeks before Charlie’s disappearance.

Erika wonders whether Charlie went looking for Raffles on the day he went missing.

The family, which even enlisted the support of a company that helps to find missing pets, was overwhelmed by support. Erika said:

“We want to say a really big thank you to everybody. The help we’ve had has been amazing.”

She remains curious about Charlie’s missing month and said if anyone had any information to get in touch.

“There’s probably an entirely innocent person out there who saw a cat shoot out of a shed and didn’t think much of it.”

If you have any information, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will pass on the message to Erika.

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Harrogate Town life president George Dunnington dies

Harrogate Town life president George Dunnington has died.

The club announced today that Mr Dunnington, 86, who had been involved with the club for seven decades, died yesterday.

He was first involved with the club as a player in the 1950s.

When his playing days ended in the 1980s he helped the club build a new stand, floodlights, terracing, turnstiles, changing rooms and much more with a team of workers.

Mr Dunnington was elected chairman in October 1986, a position he held until 1998.

He was then elected club president In 2012/13, before being one of the inaugural inductees in the club’s Hall of Fame in 2023.

The club said in a statement:

“George was an inspiration to everyone at the club, his positivity, friendly nature and determination leaving a lasting legacy at the club he dedicated such a big part of his life to.

“Our thoughts are with George’s family and loved ones at this time.”

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visits Harrogate nursery

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited a nursery in Harrogate today.

Mr Sunak visited Busy Bees on Hornbeam Park along with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan to meet parents and early years childcare providers.

The Prime Minister and Ms Keegan were shown around the nursery on Hookstone Road by centre director Sarah Saynor, alongside Busy Bees’ group chief quality officer Gill Jones.

The visit comes as the government is planning to increase funded childcare hours.

Mr Sunak joined children in painting and outdoor play activities. He also spoke with local parents about their views on the changes the government is making to early years education funding.

Mr Sunak said:

“I was delighted to visit Busy Bees Nursery at Hornbeam Park today.

“Providing high-quality, affordable childcare for families is a priority for the government, so it was fantastic to see how dedicated the Busy Bees staff are to creating a safe and nurturing environment for the children in their care.”

Gill Jones said it was a pleasure to introduce Mr Sunak and Ms Keegan to children and show them what the nursery provider does. She added:

“We are committed to giving every child the best start in life and were pleased to be able to offer further insight into the importance of helping more parents and children to access affordable quality early years education, whilst ensuring nurseries receive the support needed.”

Pictured above: (left to right) Alex Norford, Freya Skelton, Jessica Lofthouse, Toni-Joy Lavisher, Louise Ingham, Rosie James and Baby Aubrey, Rishi Sunak, Sarah Saynor, Gillian Keegan, Helen Burton, Gill Jones and Karen MacKay.

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Council to approve £400,000 to draw up new housing plan

North Yorkshire Council is set to spend £400,000 on creating a new housing plan for the county.

The Local Plan will guide where land can be used for housing and employment for decades to come.

It will replace the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place across the district between 2014 and 2035.

The old plan was published by Harrogate Borough Council, which was abolished at the end of March.

The new North Yorkshire Council executive next week will recommend approving a sum to help progress work on the first year of the countywide plan.

This will include commissioning “key technical evidence”, such as flood, transport and housing needs assessments.

Gary Fielding, corporate director for strategic resources at North Yorkshire Council, said in a report a full cost for the plan will be published at a later date.

He said:

“The preparation of a new Local Plan for the whole of North Yorkshire is now required and involves pulling together multiple work streams across council services. 

“Discussions are underway with several services including highways to fully understand the technical evidence required to support a new plan and the resource implications involved.

“Benchmarking is also underway to understand any cost efficiencies of pulling together evidence for seven former district authorities.

“A full report on budgets will be pulled together which addresses the resource and staffing implications for developing a Local Plan over the next five year.”

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The plan will plot where housing and development can take place over the next 30 years, including across the Harrogate district.

Conservative councillors on the authority’s executive agreed to draw up the Local Plan last December.

Site cleared ahead new road being built at A59 Kex Gill

Contractors have completed clearing an area alongside the A59 near Harrogate ahead of building a new three-mile stretch of road.

The A59 is a key link between Harrogate and Skipton.

But the section that includes Kex Gill has had a history of landslips, which has caused lengthy diversions for motorists and extra costs for the council.

Work on the £68.8 million project began in February and will see a new road built from Blubberhouses to just after Kex Gill.

The Department for Transport is providing £56.1m and the remaining funds are coming from North Yorkshire Council.

In an update, the council said the site has now been cleared, which has involved removing trees, and an access road is being built to allow builders to start work on the new road.

A stone wall has also been dismantled but will be reused as part of the scheme.
The council added the project will be finished in autumn 2025 after previously saying it would be in May of that year.

Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director of environment,  said:

“The £69 million Kex Gill realignment project is progressing in line with our programme. The site has been carefully cleared, and a construction access road is being built as part of the first phase of construction.

“The stone boundary wall has been carefully de- constructed and labelled to enable future re-instatement.

“The new road is scheduled to open in autumn 2025 and once complete will reduce road closures, congestion and delays on the A59, reducing the impact on the environment.”

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The majority of the new road will be constructed without access to traffic, which means the existing road will remain open during construction.

Once open, the re-routed A59 is not likely to make journey times between Harrogate and Skipton any quicker but it will remove the risk of landslips.

The Kex Gill section runs through important habitats including a Site of Special
Scientific Interest.

The council said plans are in place to mitigate the impact on wildlife in the area that includes barn owls, bats, nightjars, wild game, toads and badgers.

Police dogs to be given collar numbers in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Police has started issuing dogs with collar numbers.

Assistant chief constable Elliot Foskett said the move was in recognition of dogs being colleagues rather than just assets.

The animals will also have their names added to a new Police Dog Roll of Honour at the force’s headquarters at Northallerton when they retire or are killed in the line of duty. Their police handlers will be presented with a ceremonial dog collar.

In another move, North Yorkshire Police has created a memorial garden for police dogs at Northallerton. PD Dixon, who died in March last year has been given the first collar number PD0001.

PC Josh Hunsely with Rhun 

ACC Foskett said:

“Our police dogs are not simply force assets, they are our colleagues. They work alongside us every day and along with their handlers, are responsible for catching some of the most prolific and dangerous criminals operating in our communities.

“I was delighted to be able to recognise their importance to us as a force and the wider public.”

North Yorkshire Police also announced today it has introduced a new animal welfare scheme that will see unannounced checks on its kennels.

North Yorkshire Police dog handler Sergeant Gareth Gummerson said:

“Animal welfare is paramount, not only to me as an individual, but also as a police dog handler and I share this passion with my colleagues on the force’s dog section.”

PC Tony Barnes with Molly, who is trained to find drugs, cash and weapons.

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