Business Breakfast: Harrogate bid specialist appoints director

A Harrogate bid specialist has appointed a new managing director.

Big Bamboo BIDS has hired Ken Erksine, who has 36 years in the industry, to the post.

The company was incorporated in May 2022 and since then has won and retained work with clients in the construction, engineering, soft and hard FM and infrastructure sectors.

Mr Erksine, whose most recent role was head of bids and proposals at Careys, will be tasked with growing Big Bamboo’s business.

He said:

“Having spent 36 years working in bid and proposals in many of the UK’s leading contracting businesses, I am excited to be taking a leap into the world of consultancy.

“Having found myself in a situation where I was looking for a new opportunity, I was approached by numerous companies. Nicola, the founding director and I were introduced via a mutual connection, and it became clear very quickly that we both saw an opportunity for a consultancy that could offer something different and disrupt the marketplace.”

Homes Together sponsors Harrogate Town junior supporters club

A Harrogate housing provider is set to sponsor Harrogate Town’s junior supporters club.

Homes Together, which is based on Victoria Avenue and provides accommodation for disabled people across the district, has agreed the sponsorship deal with the club.

Harrogate Town junior supporters club with Homes Together officials.

Harrogate Town junior supporters club with Homes Together officials.

The supporters group was founded with an aim to engage more younger fans with the football club.

Joanne Towler, commercial director at Harrogate Town, said: 

“We recently launched our very first junior supporters club, and the take up has been astounding, engaging with our younger fans in a fun and interactive way to enhance their experience with the club is key as we grow our next generation of Harrogate Town fans. 

“Homes Together are the ideal partner as we both continue our journey to serve the Harrogate Communities, and we are grateful for their valued support on our mission.”

David Ashton-Jones, managing director at Homes Together, added: 

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Homes Together to support a local club that is so important to the people of Harrogate.

“Supporting the communities that our homes reside in is a top priority for us, and we’re fully on board with Harrogate Towns goal to grow the next generation of fans.”

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Harrogate’s Pannal Ash Road to get £300,000 resurfacing

North Yorkshire Council has earmarked Pannal Ash Road in Harrogate for resurfacing.

The local authority added the road to its highways capital programme, which includes roadworks and repairs across the county.

According to a council report, the resurfacing is set to cost £300,000.

A council spokesperson told the Stray Ferret the project will cover the entirety of Pannal Ash Road.

Traffic calming measures to support the 20mph limit on the road will also be considered as part of the scheme. However, those would be subject to consultation.

The resurfacing is due to be carried out in summer 2024.

The council’s highways programme includes three years worth of roadwork schemes across North Yorkshire.

A total of 840 projects were recently added the programme taking the value of the council’s project pipeline to £64 million.

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One of the last ancient trees of Knaresborough Forest falls

One of the last veteran trees of the Royal Forest of Knaresborough crashed to the ground yesterday, further shortening the dwindling list of ancient survivors. 

The oak tree, in a field off Hall Lane at Blubberhouses, is believed to be around 400 years old, meaning it was mature even when the royal hunting forest was dismembered and sold off in 1770. 

Hollowed out and rotting at its base, it is thought to have fallen victim to the recent dry weather. 

The tree is included in the Ancient Tree Inventory, which is maintained by the Woodland Trust, and is listed as measuring 5.67m (18ft 7in) around its trunk. 

David Rhodes, a local historian who has studied the Royal Forest of Knaresborough, said: 

“The only trees I know of that are older than this one are at Ripley, where some are over 700 years old. So it may not be the oldest tree, but it certainly is – or was – one of the oldest remaining from the ancient Royal Forest of Knaresborough.” 

Photo of the fallen tree behind its fencing.

Fallen giant: the collapsed oak tree.

The Royal Forest of Knaresborough lasted for over 600 years. Created in the 12th century, it was used as one of the monarch’s many hunting grounds and was a favourite of Henry II and King John. It stretched from Knaresborough, right across what is now Harrogate, and up well into the Washburn Valley. 

The tree, a common or pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), stood on land owned by Yorkshire Water and leased to a tenant farmer. Contractors rerouting the A59 around Kex Gill had fenced it off to ensure that its roots were not disturbed by digging, and it is not thought that the roadworks affected it. 

The Stray Ferret contacted Yorkshire Water to find out its plans for the remains of the tree, but has not yet received a response.

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Police release CCTV images after theft from van in Starbeck

Police have issued CCTV to identify two men involved in a theft from a van in Starbeck.

The incident happened at around 2pm on July 5, 2023, close to Papa Johns Pizza on the junction of Stonefall Avenue and Knaresborough Road.

Items were taken from a van belonging to a telecommunications engineer, who was working at height.

North Yorkshire Police have appealed for help in identifying two men who were involved in the incident.

A force statement said:

“The first man is a white male, 16-20-years-old, 5ft 8 inches tall with short ginger hair. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a black jumper.

“The second man is white, around 30-years-old, around 6ft tall and was wearing a black jumper and jeans.

“If you recognise the men in the images below, please get in contact.”

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation can email joseph.havercroft@northyorkshire.police.uk.

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

Quote North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230124365.

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Council has failed cyclists in Harrogate, says campaigner

A cycling campaigner has described North Yorkshire Council‘s attempts to improve cycling around the Otley Road area of Harrogate as a “failed project”.

The council announced 10 schemes yesterday costing £585,000 to relieve congestion and improve safety in west Harrogate.

Malcolm Margolis, a member of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said the funding provided by government in 2017 included provision for a cycleway from Cardale Park to the Prince of Wales roundabout in Harrogate.

This has now been abandoned, along with other recent cycling initiatives proposed or trialled by the council.

Mr Margolis said:

“This failed project, it should be noted, was the brainchild of the county council, not of cycling campaigners.

“Six years later almost all the cycling elements have been removed.

“This is hugely disappointing, and adds to the council’s failure to deliver funded cycle schemes on Victoria Avenue, the A59 near Knaresborough and Oatlands Drive, and the removal of the successful modal filters on Beech Grove.”

The £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway also looks set to be abandoned after the council admitted it failed to hold a public inquiry before issuing traffic regulation orders.

The council has proposed spending £100,000 to upgrade Nursery Lane for cyclists.

The new proposals include new pedestrian crossings, traffic light upgrades and bus shelter upgrades.

But there is little specifically for cyclists besides a £100,000 upgrade of the no through road Nursery Lane, which is accessed off Otley Road.

A report to councillors about this scheme said it would “investigate the potential of a cycle track order and associated infrastructure works to the surface”. But it adds “third party land would be required”.

New 20mph zone welcomed

But Mr Margolis joined other campaigners in welcoming the proposed 20mph zone covering streets in Pannal Ash and Oatlands.

The zone includes seven schools: Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett Acre Primary School, Rossett School, Ashville College, St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Oatlands Junior School and Oatlands Infants School.

Mr Margolis said this would “make the roads safer for everyone”

Hazel Peacock hands the road safety petition to Elizabeth Jackson of North Yorkshire Council

Hazel Peacock handing the road safety petition to Elizabeth Jackson of North Yorkshire Council in May.

Hazel Peacock, Dr Vicki Evans, Dr Jenny Marks and Ruth Lily, who represent the groups Oatlands Road Safety and Active Travel Campaign and Pannal Ash Safe Streets, said they were “delighted” the council had committed to delivering the proposals they put forward.

In a statement, they said:

“This is a brilliant response to the calls for safer streets by the local community, schools, education leaders and local cross party councillors, who have been fully supportive of the campaigns in recent years.

“These changes will not only improve safety, but will make a significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of the whole community, access to walking and cycling and the environment.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Cllr Keane Duncan and North Yorkshire Council staff on the delivery and specifics of the plan, to ensure the best possible outcomes for children, young people and the local community.”

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Pub landlord councillor creates tribute to Rachel Daly’s dad Martyn

Harlow Hill councillor and Shepherd’s Dog landlord Michael Schofield has created a tribute in his pub to “one in a million” friend Martyn Daly who died in 2021.

Martyn was the dad of England footballer and Women’s Super League player of the year Rachel Daly as well as a well-loved regular in the Otley Road pub for many years.

He was also dad to Andrew and step-dad to Greg and Rob.

Cllr Schofield and his wife Donna, with support from Martyn’s partner Cath, have put up a plaque and framed photo of him and Rachel that overlooks the TV where he enjoyed watching football with a pint of Stella.

The tribute was ready for when a packed pub full of Martyn’s friends and family watched the agonising World Cup final last month when England lost 1-0 to Spain.

Martyn would travel to America to watch his daughter play for Houston Dash and Cllr Schofield said it was bittersweet that he was not able to cheer England on in the final.

He said:

“Everybody turned up at the pub because they felt proud for him and wanted to be here for him and the family. He was one of life’s great ones.”

Like his daughter, Martyn was a very handy striker in his own right, playing for local clubs like Harlow Hornets and even scoring over 100 goals in one season.

Both Martyn and Rachel have worked shifts behind the bar of the pub and they would play super competitive games of pool together when she came back to visit Harrogate.

Cllr Schofield said he was a father figure to many at Harlow Hill, including to his own two children who grew up above the pub.

He said:

“What Martyn brought to the community and youngsters was something else. He always put other people before himself. He was always with a smile and a joke and he had time for everybody.

“If ever you felt down, he’d give you his big bear hug. He was an absolutely great guy.

“He needed celebrating in his own right. If you ask any of the guys my age who played football with him, they’d all the same. He was a great ambassador for his sport, Harlow Hill, the pub and for his family.”

“He’s sorely missed — everybody could do with someone like him in their life.”

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Harrogate’s Rachel Daly nominated for world’s top player

Harrogate-born England player Rachel Daly is one of 30 nominees on the shortlist for the world’s best female footballer.

Daly and fellow England stars Millie Bright, Mary Earps and Georgia Stanway are among those in the running for the women’s Ballon d’Or.

Daly finished top scorer in the WSL last season to win the Golden Boot and was named PFA women’s Players’ Player of the Year. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland took the men’s award.

Now the former Rossett School student, who started her career at Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club, could be named the continent’s number one.

Daly, who has 447,000 followers on Instagram and 91,000 on Twitter, posted on social media to say it was a “phenomenal honour” to be nominated.

https://twitter.com/RachelDaly3/status/1699471120116662330?s=20

Daly’s recent awards also include winning Euro 22 with England Lionesses and being runners-up in this year’s World Cup.

But North Yorkshire Council still shows no sign of bestowing a civic honour on the homegrown superstar.

A petition, launched by Killinghall Nomads with the backing of the Stray Ferret, is due to be discussed by the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee in November after meeting the required threshold of signatories.

But the council’s ruling executive, which is 80% male, has said only the matter will be discussed at an unspecified time as part of a wider policy on recognising local people.

The Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon was named after the local Olympic diving champion.

But so far the council has not  shown any inclination to do the same for Daly in Harrogate — or come up with a similar accolade.

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Taxi petition urges council to reverse ‘massive mistake’

A petition has been launched calling on North Yorkshire Council (NYC) to bring back local taxi zones, reversing a policy introduced earlier this year that local drivers have branded a “massive mistake”. 

Under the old system, each local authority in the county had its own taxi licensing zone, and drivers could only work within that area. 

But county councillors decided on February 21 that North Yorkshire would introduce a single zone for the whole of the county, meaning that drivers can now work across the region. The move was in line with “best practice” advice from the government, which advocates the policy to “allow economic forces to determine supply levels and generate cost savings for the council”.

The policy came into effect on April 1.

But Liberal Democrat Councillor Barbara Brodigan, who represents the Ripon Ure Bank & Spa division, says the single county-wide zone is failing customers and damaging the livelihoods of local drivers. She said: 

“North Yorkshire is the biggest county in the country, and it has ‘hotspots’ as well as huge rural areas. Drivers from elsewhere are now over-supplying the bigger towns, but leaving rural areas with limited or no access to taxis.”

She said local drivers had traditionally serviced the whole area – towns and villages – but are now having a lot of the lucrative town business taken away from them by competitors who have no interest in servicing the rural areas.

She added: 

“Some of these local drivers have invested up to £30,000 in their business – for the car, licence and goodwill – and are now having to compete with people from outside the area who don’t even know the area.” 

One of the people affected is Richard Fieldman, who owns A1 Cars in Ripon. He said: 

“I’d say every driver here has lost at least 25% of their income because of this policy. For example, on race day [at Ripon Racecourse], we get drivers from Skipton, Ryedale – all over – coming to Ripon and picking up fares. It’s destroying people’s livelihoods.” 

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He said the policy change had not just affected drivers, but had also had a detrimental effect on customers too. People and businesses in rural areas are finding it hard to get taxis, and disabled people are being left with fewer options. He said: 

“The increased costs and reduced incomes are forcing some drivers to sell their more expensive wheelchair-accessible vehicles and buy a cheaper saloon car instead. One guy had two of them and sold them both. It’s making finding a taxi even harder for disabled people.” 

He added that he believes that NYC has not even followed correct procedures to create the single taxi zone, so any taxis operating outside their ‘home’ zones are technically breaking the law.

According to Cllr Brodigan, the decision was flawed from the outset, as councillors didn’t take into account the response to a question asked in a NYC survey prior to the council vote, which asked: “Do you agree or disagree with the proposal for a single zone for North Yorkshire?”. Fifty-two per cent of respondents – a clear majority – disagreed. 

Mr Fieldman said: 

“The whole thing is just a mess. Council officers don’t seem to know what’s going on, and drivers aren’t being informed of new changes. It’s destroyed the taxi trade, not just for drivers, but for the public too.

“The council is due to review this policy in April to assess how well it’s gone. When they do, I’d urge them to bring back the seven local taxi zones, and reverse this massive mistake.” 

The Stray Ferret approached NYC for comment, but has yet to receive a reply. 

Business Breakfast: Ripley butchers wins regional business award

A Ripley butchers has won a regional business award.

Castle Meats of Ripley, which was formerly Hutchinsons Butchers, won best butcher category at the Yorkshire Retail Business Awards 2023.

The ceremony, which is part of the England Business Awards, was held at the Queens Hotel in Leeds.

Brian Robinson, who is now in his fourth year trading at Ripley, was voted by the public of Yorkshire and now qualifies to enter the national finals.

He said:

“It was a team effort, my wife Tracy and son Aaron work as hard at trying to give that extra bit of customer service.”

Harrogate company becomes first to join hospital charity scheme

A Harrogate company has become the first business to join a Friends of Harrogate Hospital fundraising initiative.

The scheme invites local firms to donate £1,000 and become an “enterprise friend” with the charity.

(left to right) Greg Tunesi, Friend; Rachel Tranter, EnviroVent; John Fox, Chair of the Friends and Andy Makin, Managing Director of EnviroVent.

(left to right) Greg Tunesi, Friend; Rachel Tranter, EnviroVent; John Fox, Chair of the Friends and Andy Makin, Managing Director of EnviroVent.

EnviroVent, which is based at West Business Park, has become the first company to join the initiative.

Andy Makin, managing director at EnviroVent, said: 

“Hospitals are at the centre of our communities, there for when we need them most.

“For this reason, EnviroVent are delighted to support Friends of Harrogate Hospital as their first Enterprise Friend and congratulate John Fox and his fellow trustees on creating this initiative and look forward to joining other Enterprise Friends in supporting for many years to come.”

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Landmark Harrogate road safety and transport package unveiled

New speed limits will be introduced outside a series of schools in Harrogate under plans for North Yorkshire’s largest ever 20mph zone.

North Yorkshire Council today unveiled proposals for an extensive 20mph zone covering streets across the Pannal Ash and Oatlands areas of the town.

The proposed area for the new zone includes a total of seven schools in Harrogate.

These are Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett Acre Primary School, Rossett School, Ashville College, St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Oatlands Junior School and Oatlands Infants School.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Keane Duncan, said:

“This is the most significant 20mph zone the council has ever introduced.

“Our plan will see 20mph limits introduced outside seven more schools and on nearby residential streets, meaning thousands of children can enjoy safer journeys every day.

“This landmark proposal is testament to the collective determination of schools, families and councillors to respond to public concerns and deliver ambitious action. It sets a positive example and leads the way for communities across North Yorkshire.”

A proposed £585,000 package of sustainable transport measures for the west of Harrogate has also been announced today.

The National Productivity Investment Fund package will be used to deliver parts of the new 20mph zone, as well as upgraded signals at the Cold Bath Road/Otley Road/Arthurs Avenue junction.

Western Primary School on Cold Bath Road

A crossing will be installed outside Western Primary School on Cold Bath Road.

There will also be improvements to bus stops along Otley Road, the crossing outside Falcon Chiropractic on Cold Bath Road, and a new crossing will be installed outside Western Primary School on Cold Bath Road.

Improvements will be made to cycle route signing, the crossing between Green Lane public right of way and Ashville College, and there will be new cycle parking and public realm improvements on Cold Bath Road. Nursery Lane will be upgraded to allow cyclists to use as an off-road leisure route.

Cllr Duncan said:

“We halted unpopular plans for phase two of the Otley Road cycleway to develop an alternative package of measures.

“This decision means we are now able to invest in signal improvements, new crossings, cycling improvements and new bus stops instead.

“This alternative package will be of immense and lasting benefit to all road users – motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and bus passengers.”

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Oatlands Junior School starts scheme

The first School Street initiative started today at Oatlands Junior School, whereby Beechwood Grove is closed to traffic at pick-up and drop-off times to create a safer environment and encourage more children to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

The pilot has been implemented for an experimental 18-month period to allow for its impact to be monitored and assessed. A decision will then be made whether to make the scheme permanent once a review has been carried out.

Members of the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee will be asked to provide feedback on the proposed 20mph and transport package at a meeting on Thursday, September 14.

The plans will then be considered for approval by Cllr Duncan, with the aim of implementing the measures early next year.