Roadworks are to begin next week on some of Harrogate town centre’s busiest routes.

The work, which is due to start on Monday and last for seven weeks, will see traffic lights on key routes including Parliament Street, Ripon Road, King’s Road and Cold Bath Road.

The disruption will enable gas distributor Northern Gas Networks to replace metal pipes with plastic pipes.

Cold Bath Road could be the worst affected route, with “multiple lights” operating for five weeks.

It is the continuation of road works that were “paused” a year ago following delays.

Northern Gas Networks said last week it would be digging up Skipton Road in a separate scheme over half-term.

Here’s what the company said is involved with the latest work starting next week.

Crescent Road lane closure and traffic lights 

A lane closure will be introduced on Crescent Road and Ripon Road along with four-way lights at the junction of Crescent Road, Parliament Street, Ripon Road and Kings Road for two weeks. The existing lights will be bagged, and temporary traffic lights will be in operation from 7am to 7pm.

Traffic on Parliament Street is likely to be affected.

Montpellier Road (roundabout) & Montpellier Hill Lane closure

A lane closure will be implemented on Montpellier Road (roundabout) and Montpellier Hill Lane for two weeks.

Cold Bath Road traffic lights and parking suspensions

Multiple two and three-way lights will be introduced on Cold Bath Road for five weeks starting from Monday.

Multiple traffic lights will be on Cold Bath Road.

Wellington Square Road closure

A road closure will be implemented on Wellington Square for two weeks.

Northern Gas Networks said traffic lights will be manned seven days a week between 7am and 7pm “to ensure a smooth flow of traffic”.

Scott Kitchingman, business operations lead for Northern Gas Networks, said the work was vital “to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Harrogate” and apologised for any inconvenienced.

He added:

“We completed phase one of this project in autumn 2022. It was a complex scheme during which we faced multiple engineering challenges because of the depth of the gas main.

“This caused a delay to our timescales and meant we were unable to complete the following phase within a reasonable timeframe without impacting customers and businesses during the busy Christmas period.

“Collaborating closely with North Yorkshire County Council, we’ve worked hard to review the remaining work and plan this final phase in a way that minimises impact to residents and local businesses as much as possible.”

Read more:

• Roadworks to hit main road in Harrogate over half-term break
• Rough sleepers return to Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens

A community project run by Harrogate’s Bettys & Taylors celebrated its 20th anniversary last week.

The Cone Exchange marked two decades of recycling on Friday.

The idea was sparked by Chris Powell who worked in the Taylors tea production hall at the time.

He was showing a group of children around the factory, when one child saw a cardboard cone being put into a recycling bin and requested to take it home to make a Christmas angel.

From there, the Cone Exchange was born and has since dedicated itself to recycling waste, raising money for charities and bringing the community together.

The project, which is based on the Bettys & Taylors Harrogate site, collects waste from businesses and the wider community to raise money, which is then donated to local charities, including Horticap and Henshaws.

It has also worked with a range of local initiatives, including planting trees with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, as well as providing work experience for people with additional needs.

Mr Powell is now the events and education co-ordinator for the project and has helped over 200 schools, playgroups and community groups teach young people about recycling.

He said:

“From that first spark of the idea for the Cone Exchange, our aim has always been to release the potential of things that others might see as waste, and seeing the ability, not disability, in people.

“By encouraging the reuse and repurposing of items that some might consider ‘trash’ into treasure, we try to capture people’s imaginations and show them how they can make a difference to protect the planet and raise funds for local good causes.

“I don’t think any of us ever imagined how far-reaching our impact would be so it’s lovely to celebrate and thank so many of our key partners and supporters from the last two decades.”

The Cone Exchange has raised over £200,000 in the last decade from talks, events and sales of recycled materials.

Sarah Wells, community manager at Bettys & Taylors, added:

“We have long-standing partnerships with some brilliant local charities and groups and by working together, we create a wider-reaching impact. Not to mention our team of community volunteers who give their time, crafty skills, and ideas, and without whom we couldn’t run the project.

“And finally, this special occasion offers us the opportunity to recognise and thank Chris. His dedication and creative vision for this project, along with his commitment to supporting our local community has been enduring for 20 years and we are delighted to be able to recognise these achievements today.”

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A Harrogate police officer was awarded a British Empire Medal today in recognition of his services to policing and charity.

Sergeant Paul Cording was honoured in the king’s birthday honours list in June.

Today, Sgt Cording received his medal from the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Jo Ropner at her Camp Hill Estate near Bedale.

Sgt Cording joined North Yorkshire Police in 2001 and moved to the roads policing department in 2010.

He has since been called to over 100 fatal road traffic collisions and become well-known for tweeting about life as a roads policing sergeant in North Yorkshire.  He has also featured on Channel 5’s Traffic Cops.

Sgt Cording was nominated for the award by the chief constable’s office.

In a social media post, Sgt Cording said:

“What an amazing and humbling experience to be in a room with such incredible people.

“My thanks to North Yorkshire Lieutenancy and Jo Ropner for presenting my award and thank you to everyone that has and continues to support me.”

In another post on X, Sgt Cording described his anticipation for the awards ceremony as:

“Proud moment in the Cording household if not a little bit overwhelmed by it all.”

Besides his police work, Sgt Cording frequently supports charities.

He visits local schools to educate young people and children on road traffic safety, and this year ran 325km in a week to honour the 325 people killed or seriously injured on North Yorkshire’s roads in 2021.

Read more:

• Honour for Harrogate’s fundraising traffic officer
• Knighthood among King’s honours for Harrogate district residents

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

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

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

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

The current pavilion

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

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

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

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

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

The club said in planning documents:

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

Read more:

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

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

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

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

Nearby resident Kirk Wilber-Moran said:

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

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

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

The rough sleepers were removed again this morning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more:

• Rough sleepers evicted from Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens
• Reader’s Letter: Who does have the power to tackle rough sleeping camp near Crescent Gardens?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mr Jones said:

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

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

Read more:

• ‘Save the Station Gateway!’: Harrogate cycling campaigner issues plea
• ‘Collective will’ at council to rescue £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway

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

He added: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more:

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• Harrogate man to say ‘I do’ on Married At First Sight UK tonight

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which services are affected?

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

Southbound

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

Services which will become nine-carriage Azuma services:

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

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

Read more:

• Train strikes to hit Harrogate and Knaresborough this week
• Harrogate set to get earlier and later direct London trains

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

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

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

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

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

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

He told the Stray Ferret:

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

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

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

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

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

He continued:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Documents submitted to the council said:

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

Read more:

• Council rejects Hampsthwaite garage plan to relocate
• Hampsthwaite garage resubmits plan for new MOT building

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

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

In a report due before councillors, officers said:

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

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

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

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