Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 381 of 1176

Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm appoints new commercial property solicitor

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.

A Harrogate law firm has appointed a new solicitor as part of its commercial property team.

McCormicks Solicitors, which is based on East Parade, has hired Janice Colley to the department.

She will be tasked with offering advice on commercial property matters and acquisitions and disposals, including specific expertise in licensed premises, especially pubs and hotels.

Claire Baker-Kemp, the senior associate at McCormicks who heads the department, said:

“Having both worked with and instructed Janice in the past, I know she brings unrivalled levels of experience and competence which will undoubtedly be an enormous benefit both to our clients and as we build the team here.”

Harrogate business installs community defibrillator

A Harrogate environmental company has installed a defibrillator outside its offices for public use.

Adler and Allan, which is based on Victoria Avenue, put up the device so it can be used in emergencies such as cardiac arrest.

Adler and Allan office on Victoria Avenue, with the defibrillator pictured on the right.

The company said it invested in the defibrillator in order to support staff and the local community.

Henrik Pedersen, chief executive officer at Adler and Allan, said:

“Keeping our staff safe is of the utmost importance to us at Adler and Allan.

“That’s why we have invested in 20 automated external defibrillators for key depots and offices across the group. Being a responsible business and supporting our local community is key for us, so making this device accessible to everyone in Harrogate was a logical decision.”

Harrogate musician died from poorly-managed diabetes, inquest finds

A talented Harrogate musician diagnosed with diabetes at 18 died eight years later from the disease, an inquest heard today.

Aaron Joseph Bertenshaw was 26 when he went into a diabetic coma and died at his home in Dene Park in December 2021.

At the inquest in Northallerton, coroner Catherine Cundy heard evidence that he had struggled to come to terms with his diagnosis and the condition had not been well managed.

Mr Bertenshaw, a popular musician who also worked as a barber, was admitted to the emergency department of Harrogate District Hospital 40 times over a period of five years.

Of those, 36 admissions were because of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which occurs when the blood glucose level is dangerously high.

Following his high frequency of admission to hospital, a multi-disciplinary team meeting was called in April 2021, involving the GP practice as well as the hospital’s diabetes team.

As well as his poor diabetes control, health professionals were concerned that he failed to keep appointments or respond to attempts to contact him.

The meeting considered whether Mr Bertenshaw had the mental capacity to make decisions in his own interests and it was agreed this would be assessed whenever contact was made with him in future.

However, the psychiatry team at Harrogate District Hospital never felt that Mr Bertenshaw had an underlying mental health problem that would have impacted on his ability to make decisions.

Mental health

The consultant psychiatrist, Dr Akram, told the court Mr Bertenshaw had had a number of referrals to mental health services over several years, the latest in October 2021.

He said patients in acute episodes of DKA can lack judgement and behave strangely, but this does not mean they have a mental health disorder.

Nor, he said, can someone be detained under the mental health act to force them to accept treatment, which Mr Bertenshaw’s parents had suggested could have been done for him.

The community mental health team felt that Mr Bertenshaw was struggling to accept his diagnosis, but was not deliberately misusing his insulin.

Dr Akram added:

“His intention was not to hurt himself. He just wanted to be on a different type of diabetic medication.”

The inquest also heard that the diabetes team at the hospital had discussed different options with Mr Bertenshaw to help him manage his condition.

He had requested going onto an insulin pump, which diabetes consultant Dr Sutapa Ray told the inquest had been “on the table” for him.

She said Mr Bertenshaw was told he first needed to have his sugar levels under control, which he had not been able to do.

Mr Bertenshaw’s mother, Sammy Oates, told the court he had lost a significant amount of weight and vomited after every meal, causing her to suspect he had an eating disorder.

However, Dr Ray said this was a common symptom in cases of poorly controlled diabetes, and Mr Bertenshaw had not engaged well with the diabetes team to help him manage the condition.

She said:

“It was very much the case that we would reach out to Aaron and we would do whatever he allowed us to do to engage with him to make the changes that needed to be made…

“Type one diabetes is such a burdensome condition. People adjust in different ways. Some take years and years, and some never come to terms with it.

“It’s probably one of the most difficult conditions to live with for the person and the people around them. it’s not at all uncommon [to struggle with it].”

The court heard Mr Bertenshaw had avoided emergency admission to the hospital for most of 2021.

When he was admitted in early October, he said he had been drinking and taking cocaine following the death of a friend. Having initially refused tests and treatment, he did later agree to accept help.

He was again referred to the mental health team but, despite repeated attempts to contact him, he failed to respond.

Aaron Bertenshaw was a well-known musician who gigged around Harrogate

On Thursday, December 2, 2021, Mr Bertenshaw’s mother went to his house, having not been able to contact him or seen him active on WhatsApp since Monday, November 29.

She found him on his living room floor, and paramedics attended to confirm his death.

Police officers who were also present reported signs of a “chaotic” lifestyle, including an unhealthy diet, and use of alcohol and drugs.

The post-mortem and toxicology reports found that while there was some cocaine in his system, it was not in large enough quantities to have put him at risk of death. However, the court heard use of cocaine is thought to be linked to a higher risk of DKA.

Concluding that Mr Bertenshaw had died of natural causes relating to his diabetes, Ms Cundy said she had not seen any evidence that more could have been done to intervene by the organisations caring for him.

She said she accepted that sectioning him to force him to take medication was not appropriate, adding:

“People cannot and should not be detained in psychiatric institutions simply because they make what others of us might consider to be unwise choices about how they live their lives.”

Emergency workers rescue person trapped after crash in Pannal

Firefighters and paramedics rescued a person who was trapped following a two-car collision in Pannal today.

The crash happened on the main A61 at about 10.30am.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough responded to the collision, which involved a Range Rover and a Mazda.

It added:

“Male occupant of Range Rover was not trapped or injured.

“Two occupants in Mazda, one of which was trapped. Released by fire crews under paramedic supervision and taken to hospital with minor back and hip injuries.”

Firefighters made the vehicles safe and left the incident with police.

‘Regret’ after 300-year-old oak tree felled in Harrogate

North Yorkshire Council has said it is “regrettable” that a 300 year old oak tree in Harrogate was felled yesterday due to its decaying condition.

The authority has also claimed it is possible that work carried out by Northern Powergrid in April near to the oak on Woodfield Road in Bilton “would have accelerated the death of the tree”.

The council carried out an assessment of the tree at the junction with Bilton Lane in June.

It concluded that due to decaying roots the “risk to the public” was considered too great for it to remain in place and it was destroyed yesterday.

Cllr Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on the council, said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of the tree.

Northern Powergrid, which manages the electricity network, carried out emergency work to repair a cable fault in the area in April this year.

The work included excavation of the roots of the tree to dig a trench.

Council officials said although the work did not contribute to the tree’s decay, it is possible that it would have accelerated its death, which led to the authority’s decision to remove it “earlier than we would have otherwise”.

Jonathan Clubb, North Yorkshire Council’s head of parks and grounds, said a “thorough examination” would now be carried out into the tree.

He said:

“It is always regrettable when we have to remove a tree and we do not do so lightly. However, after a detailed assessment of the risks posed, a decision was taken to remove this specimen due to its condition.

“Oak trees can live for centuries and this particular tree was around 300 years old.

“However, the extent of the root decay meant the stability of the tree may have been affected. Because of its location on a main road, the risk to the public was considered too great to allow it to continue to stand.”

Mr Clubb added:

“We were aware of the decay as the tree has been regularly assessed over the years as part of our active tree surveys.

“While the work undertaken by Northern Powergrid did not contribute to this decay, it is possible that it would have accelerated the death of the tree, leading to our decision to remove it earlier than we would have otherwise.

“Now the tree has been removed it will be subject to a thorough examination and if experts confirm this view then we will look to take the matter further.”

The Stray Ferret approached Northern Powergrid to ask for a response to the claim that the work carried out contributed to the council’s decision to remove the tree.

A spokesperson said:

“Our engineering team attended Woodfield Road in Harrogate in April 2023 to repair a low voltage cable fault.

“Northern Powergrid’s remit was to repair the low voltage fault, which our teams did safely, to keep our customers connected.”

Councillors agree to create new school for autistic children in Harrogate

The former Woodfield Community Primary School in Bilton will become a new special school for children with autism, councillors confirmed today.

North Yorkshire Council’s Conservative-run executive unanimously approved the creation of the school, which will cater for up to 80 students and is set to open in September next year.

The results of a six-week consultation over summer revealed considerable support, with 86% of 105 responses in favour.

The council has pledged a £3.5m investment into creating the school.

The meeting was held this morning at the Civic Centre in Harrogate — the first time a North Yorkshire Council executive meeting has taken place outside of Northallerton.

Michael Harrison, the Conservative councillor for Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate, said the council was doing a “wonderful thing” by opening the school, which he said would help meet demand for special educational needs places locally.

Cllr Harrison said:

“Our commitment to education in the area and at that site specifically, and for children with autism, is evidenced in that we are proposing to reopen a school on that site so soon after Woodfield closed.”

Since 2016, the number of children in North Yorkshire with identified special educational needs and disability and a legally-binding education, health and care plan has increased by more than 110%, leading to a shortage of special school places and numerous children being taught by independent providers.

Independent day sector placements typically cost the public purse up to £70,000 annually and the average cost of a special school placement is about £23,000.

Paul Haslam, the Conservative councillor for Bilton and Nidd Gorge, said he “very much welcomed” the proposals and has already heard from parents interested in sending their children to the new school.

The Woodfield site also includes large playing fields and Cllr Haslam called on the council to allow them to be used by the local community in Bilton.

He said:

“I wondered whether we can consider making the playing fields dual access with separate changing rooms so the community can also have access when it’s not in use by school.

“It’s more benefit for my area which has a lot of outdoor space but no playing fields. It could also create additional revenue for the school.”

Lib Dems call on Keane Duncan to resign over Harrogate Station Gateway

Liberal Democrats councillors have called on North Yorkshire Council’s Conservative transport leader Keane Duncan to resign after the council pressed pause on the £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway project.

Last week, the council said it had “rescinded the decision to proceed” with the controversial active travel proposals, which have been years in the works, due to a legal challenge.

In a statement, the council said it would not be proceeding at the moment to avoid “further costs and delays” after a judicial review was launched by Hornbeam Park Developments over the way the council consulted residents and businesses about the scheme.

The company, owned by businessman Chris Bentley, is a major commercial landlord in Harrogate and owns properties on James Street, which would be part-pedestrianised under the proposals.

The future of the Station Gateway is now in doubt with Harrogate and Knaresborough’s Conservative MP Andrew Jones describing it as a “timed-out dead scheme”.

The traffic order for James Street to be part-pedestrianised.

In an email to Cllr Duncan that has been shared with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the Lib Dems said he should now resign from the council’s Tory-run executive after “failing to deliver” for Harrogate.

Cllr Duncan has been selected by the Conservatives as its candidate for the York and North Yorkshire mayoral election next year.

The letter says:

“At an executive meeting in July, you reaffirmed the commitment of yourself and your colleagues to the gateway project. You confirmed your ‘focus was delivering this landmark £11million investment into Harrogate.’

“You have failed to do so. Harrogate deserves better from the lead member for highways and transportation. You had the opportunity to develop and deliver a bold and innovative comprehensive integrated transport plan for Harrogate but you have failed.

“There is a very real concern that as a result of your mismanagement the potential investment will be lost.

“Harrogate needs meaningful improvements that will boost travel opportunities for local residents, business and visitors. This cannot happen without well managed and significant investment. It seems you are not capable of delivering this.”

The Lib Dems initially backed the scheme at a meeting in May, before withdrawing their support just a month later.

‘Petty point scoring’

In response to their email, Cllr Duncan accused the party of playing political games.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

“I have been consistent throughout that I would take the gateway project forward only if a majority of local councillors supported it.

“The Liberal Democrats’ decision to vote in support the gateway then withdraw their backing just weeks later can represent nothing other than blatant political game playing.

“Their failure to stick by their own decision undermines not only this much-needed £11m investment but future investment too. Such weak and inconsistent leadership lets down the people of Harrogate.

“As the Liberal Democrats play games with the gateway, I remain focussed on working towards solutions and securing investment for Harrogate. If the Liberal Democrats wish to join me in that then I will welcome them, but the evidence so far shows that they are more interested in petty point scoring.”

Safety audit rules out traffic lights at notorious Killinghall junction

A safety audit at a notorious Killinghall junction has ruled out introducing traffic lights.

North Yorkshire Council, which conducted the audit after a pedestrian was badly injured in February, has also rejected installing a mini-roundabout.

Instead it has recommended repainting the yellow box junction and investigating other measures, such as shortening the length of the Ripon Road bus shelter to create more space for cars going in and out of the Tesco car park.

Councillor Michael Harrison, a Conservative who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate, updated residents in a recent email.

Cllr Harrison instigated the safety audit after February’s accident heightened longstanding concerns about the Ripon Road and Otley Road junction.

The new Tesco has added another dimension to the issues facing motorists and pedestrians in the centre of the village.

His latest email said the council discovered about 4,600 vehicles exited the B6161 Otley Road junction every 24 hours. of these, 90% turn left to Ripley. A third of the right-turning traffic then go to Tesco.

Cllr Harrison’s email concluded that “we know this junction is not ideal, but working out what to do about it remains a challenge”.

Villager Tom Beardsell remains in favour of traffic lights. He said:

“I feel a fully smart signalised junction is the most sensible and safe before there is a fatality at this junction.

“There is far too much going on around that junction especially now the Tesco connivence store is in full swing.

“Re-painting the road markings and yellow box area will help initially, but it doesn’t distract from the fact there is limited visibility from the Tesco carpark in both directions especially when a bus is at the stop.”

The Ripon Road entrance to the Tesco car park.

Mr Beardsell added he didn’t see any benefit in widening the Tesco entrance and would prefer to see the bus stop moved elsewhere.

He said:

“I first reported the issues at this junction in late January this year, eight months later we are here and there continues to be incidents. How long will it take to make the solution clear and be implemented?”

Asked by the Stray Ferret what he would like to see done, Cllr Harrison said:

“I would like to see a bypass for Killinghall – that is the only solution to remove all of the issues.”

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.”

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.”

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.

Harrogate business installs community defibrillator

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Mental health

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‘Petty point scoring’

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