Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 430 of 1043

Ofsted paves way for new Harrogate school offering additional support

Education inspector Ofsted has given its seal of approval for the opening of a new school in Harrogate for pupils requiring additional support.

Strive for Education currently provides alternative provision to 28 students aged 14 to 19 from Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough for one to three days a week.

Many struggle in a mainstream school environment due to social, emotional or mental health issues and are at risk of exclusion. Often they are referred to Strive by local schools.

Strive now wants to open as an independent school catering for 18 pupils in September, with a view to expanding numbers. Most of the pupils would be on its roll full-time, rather than sent there part-time by other schools

As part of that process, it underwent a pre-registration inspection from Ofsted in November.

The inspector’s report, published last week, concluded the school “is likely to meet all the independent school standards when it opens”.

Andy Brown

Strive, which was set up by former Harrogate Grammar School assistant headteacher Andy Brown and his wife Sonja in 2020, is now awaiting confirmation from the Department for Education that it can open as an independent school in autumn. Mr Brown said:

“We’ve grown and grown and got to the point where we need to be an independent school. It will make a huge difference for students that require extra provision.

“There’s a huge lack of support for special education needs students who need extra support beyond what mainstream schools can offer.”

Local shortage

Mr Brown said local students requiring additional support currently often had to travel to places such as Leeds or Darlington because of a shortage of local provision.

Students with special educational needs can apply to their local education authority for an education, health and care plan, which identifies their needs and the additional support required.

Those assessed to have the greatest need receive personal budgets, which can be used to fund additional support such as that provided by Strive, which will charge annual fees starting from £25,000.

Strive for Education

Strive is based on North Park Road in Harrogate and has a workshop in Starbeck.

It will continue to use these sites but Mr Brown said it was “definitely looking for a suitable venue to increase our size and additional numbers”.

If Strive’s plans are successful, it will initially have 12 full-time pupils on its own roll.

It also wants to maintain alternative provision for six pupils to fulfil demand for this from local schools.

Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm makes senior appointment

A Harrogate-based law firm has made a new appointment to its senior team.

Jones Myers has appointed senior family law specialist Neil Dring to lead its office on Victoria Avenue.

Mr Dring joins the firm’s financial remedies department, which is regularly instructed in multi-jurisdictional proceedings and cases involving complex corporate and offshore trust structures.

He said:

“Jones Myers’ standing as an award-winning leader in its field which attracts the best family lawyers is acknowledged on a regional and national level. Its esteemed Children’s Department is also renowned internationally.

“The firm’s ethos of seeking non-confrontational solutions to relationship breakdowns resonates with my approach and values, and I am looking forward to playing a key role in the practice’s continued expansion.”

Richard Peaker, Jones Myers managing partner who heads the financial remedies department, said:

“Neil is a highly respected and well-known family lawyer whose breadth and depth of experience highly complements our expertise and approach in delivering bespoke solutions for our clients.

“We warmly welcome him to the team as we continue to go from strength to strength in Yorkshire and beyond.”

Harrogate BID to host counter-terrorism workshops

Harrogate BID is set to host counter-terrorism workshops for its members this month.

The workshop will deal with ‘Document Awareness’ and is aimed at those in HR or those responsible for recruitment in their organisations, helping recruiters identify false documentation.

This initiative coincides with an announcement that new counter-terrorism legislation will be introduced for UK venues as a reaction to the 2017 attack at the Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert.

Bethany Allen, Business and Marketing Executive at Harrogate BID, said:

“At the same time as Martyn’s Law shores up the UK’s venues against attacks, the BID is partnering with Counter Terrorism Policing North East to help Harrogate’s business stay prepared.

“It essential that criminals seeking unlawful access into an organisation be caught in the recruitment stage, which is exactly what our workshop should help business accomplish.

“The practical workshop is approximately two hours long, and provides detailed training in how to identify document fraud, looking at passports and driving licences, comparing features of real and false documents.”

The workshop will take place on Thursday January 12, between 1.30 and 3.30pm at The Crown Hotel, Crown Place, Harrogate, HG1 2RZ.

BID Members wishing to attend this session should email info@harrogatebid.co.uk.

Firefighters rescue horse after collision in Killinghall

Firefighters came to the rescue when a horsebox left the road in Killinghall today.

Crews from Harrogate and Ripon were summoned to the village at 12.07pm after a 7.5 tonne horse box left the road following a single vehicle collision.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log said:

“Crews stabilised the vehicle to allow the owner to remove the horse from the rear of the vehicle. Incident then left with police.

“Crews used a tirfor winch and stabfast stabilisation equipment.”

Five minutes after the Killinghall call, Harrogate firefighters attended flooding in the basement of a house in Beckwithshaw.

The incident log said:

“Crews pumped water from basement and gave advice to owner. A light portable pump and hard suction were used at this incident.”

The incidents were part of a busy day shift for the Harrogate crew, which at 8am dealt with a reports of a diesel leak on a road in North Rigton.

Firefighters carried out an investigation and requested a highways gully-sucker to unblock a surface water drain.

Revealed: locations of 100 new electric charging bays in Harrogate district

One hundred new electric vehicle charging bays are due to be installed in the Harrogate district this year, bringing the total to 120.

The bays are expected to be available early this year but the dates for each locality have not yet been published.

Half of the district’s 120 bays will be in Harrogate, which will have 60. They include a dozen each at the Victoria multi-storey car park, the Odeon cinema and Hornbeam Park.

There will be 27 in Knaresborough, 19 in Ripon, six in Boroughbridge and four each in Pateley Bridge and Masham.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said the bays would help achieve a net zero-carbon economy by 2038, adding:

“These new charging points support the uptake in electric vehicles for both our residents and our visitor economy, and complement other sustainable travel options.”

Chapel Street car park in Knaresborough

The decision to block off existing car park spaces for the new bays before they were in use caused controversy in Knaresborough last month when one business said it was damaging trade.

Hairdressers Kelly Teggin said she supported the introduction of electric charging bays but couldn’t understand why it had been done in the run-up to Christmas when the new bays weren’t even in use yet.

Harrogate

Victoria multi-storey car park – 12 Bays

Hornbeam Park – 12 Bays

Odeon – 12 Bays

West Park – 8 Bays

Park View – 6 Bays

Dragon Road – 10 Bays

Knaresborough

Conyngham Hall – 12 Bays

Chapel Street – 10 Bays

Leisure Centre (new) – 5 Bays

Ripon (new)

Cathedral Car Park – 6 Bays

Blossomgate Car Park – 4 Bays

Ripon (existing)

Leisure Centre – 5 Bays

Phoenix Business Park – 4 Bays

Boroughbridge (Phase 2)

Back Lane Car Park – Up to 6 bays

Pateley Bridge

Southlands Car Park – 4 Bays

Masham

Market Place – 4 Bays

PHOTO GALLERY: Hampsthwaite defeats Birstwith in village tug of war

Hampsthwaite claimed bragging rights over Birstwith for the rest of the year after winning the annual New Year’s Day tug of war contest.

Men’s and women’s teams from the Joiners Arms in Hampsthwaite and the Station Hotel in Birstwith did battle at Hampsthwaite cricket field yesterday in front of a large crowd of spectators.

The men’s and women’s teams from Hampsthwaite both came out top in the best-of-three pulls.

The teams then put aside their rivalries to enjoy pie and peas at the Joiners Arms and take part in a raffle to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

All the photos below were taken by Edward Lee.

Hampsthwaite v Birstwith tug of war 2023

Last chance to visit Harrogate’s ice rink and ferris wheel

The ice rink, carousel and ferris wheel that have become key features of Harrogate town centre over the last month are set to close.

Harrogate Borough Council introduced the attractions to attract local people and tourists to the area over the festive season.

The Christmas offering began on December 2 with the opening of Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which consisted of about 50 market stalls in town centre streets, along with the ice rink, carousel and 32-metre ferris wheel.

The fayre and the free candy cane express road train, which transported people around town, lasted 10 days.

Since then the festive feel has continued with the ice rink, carousel and other fairground rides at Crescent Gardens and the ferris wheel in the very centre of town alongside the war memorial.

The ferris wheel is due to make its last rotation at 5pm tonight. The attractions at Crescent Gardens will end tomorrow.

The council organised the activities in partnership with events company Market Place Europe, Harrogate Business Improvement District and Events By Cynosure.

Details of the costs and impact on the local economy have yet to be released.

Looking ahead 2023: What lies in store for our town centres?

There can be no doubt that times are tough for retail and hospitality.

After surviving the challenges of covid, businesses have this year faced the cost of living crisis.

Not only does this mean their own bills are rising, from energy tariffs to stock on their shelves and in their kitchens, but it’s also putting pressure on their customers’ budgets.

Meanwhile, debate continues fiercely about the best way to support those businesses and balance the other, competing needs of communities at the same time.

Here are the big stories to look out for affecting our town and city centres in 2023.

Station Gateway

The coming year is likely to see a decision about whether this controversial project is to go ahead or not.

There have been vocal objections since it was first suggested back in February 2021 and, in practice, little progress has been made.

However, the last month or so has seen some indication that things may begin to happen in the new year.

A planning application has been submitted to remove the tempietto outside the Victoria Shopping Centre. It may not be the full scheme, but its removal is central to the wider plans being possible, indicating preparations are now being made.

Meanwhile, Cllr Keane Duncan – who picked up the project as North Yorkshire County Council’s new head of transport after Don Mackenzie stood down – indicated his continuing support for the £11.9m scheme.

Despite months of silence, Cllr Duncan said in December the council remained committed to the Station Gateway.

However, his enthusiasm was tempered by the news that the council was still analysing the results of the third round of consultation. The authority would also speak to Harrogate and Knaresborough councillors before deciding how to proceed, he said.

The anticipated start date has already been put back to late 2023. Whether or not that is further delayed, by this time next year, we should at least know whether the project is going to proceed, and in what form.

Knaresborough transport

While Harrogate ties itself in knots over cars, bicycles and buses, near neighbours in Knaresborough have come up with two alternative solutions.

A cliff lift has long been mooted to help locals and visitors alike have an easier journey between the low levels of the river and the heights of the castle.

Renaissance Knaresborough said earlier this year that the project is still an aspiration, but was being held up by the process of devolution.

The land required is leased by Harrogate Borough Council and its owner, the Duchy of Lancaster, was reluctant to agree a new deal until devolution had been finalised.

However, Renaissance Knaresborough said it was “no longer a question of if, but when” the project would be delivered after an independent tourism consultant said it would be viable.

The cliff lift and road train could take people from Waterside to the town centre. Photo: Mike Smith

Meanwhile, Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and local businessman Tony Bennett said they were investigating the possibility of introducing a road train to the town.

Outlining that the project would have to run on a commercial basis, the chamber of trade said it was speaking to a train supplier and was looking for an operator.

Hopes that it would be up and running for the summer, however, did not come to fruition.

With devolution now just a few months away, the cliff lift project could make progress this year, while the road train, being much more easy to set up, could also be revived in time for the tourist season.

Harrogate BID vote

After a rocky first couple of years of existence, Harrogate BID (business improvement district) has settled into its work of supporting and promoting businesses in the town centre since the height of the covid pandemic.

But the upcoming 12 months will see it face one major challenge.

When a BID is formed, it has a five-year term to prove its worth and persuade its members that they should continue to pay for its existence.

Harrogate BID’s first vote took place in late 2018 and it began operations in early 2019. Its five-year term therefore ends this time next year.

The vote over whether to continue the BID is expected to take place this summer.

The electorate is made up exclusively of those businesses which are in the BID area and have a large enough rateable value to be included in the organisation.

Public opinion counts for nothing: it’s all down to the businesses and whether they feel the BID has proved to be value for money over the last five years.

There’s no doubt it has been active, especially in the run-up to Christmas: it partnered with Harrogate Borough Council and others to deliver the Christmas Fayre, Candy Cane Express, ice rink and fairground rides through December.

Over recent months, it has also paid for free parking for fixed periods in December, organised additional street cleaning, organised energy-saving workshops for its members, and brought other entertainments to the town centre.

Its plans in early 2023 include funding free travel on Sundays of the Harrogate Bus Company’s electric services, as well as setting up events for members to find out more about protecting themselves against terrorism.

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman

BID manager Matthew Chapman clearly rates its work: after announcing his departure in the summer, he had a change of heart in the autumn and decided to stay on.

Expect to see significant activity over the coming six months as the BID continues to try to prove its value in making the town centre the best it can be in these challenging times.

But will the BID have done enough to convince its voters to continue contributing to the pot that pays for its existence?

We’ll find out later this year.

Town council powers

With devolution finally happening across North Yorkshire in April, there are still questions over what it could mean on a more local level – particularly for our town and city councils.

NYCC has invited lower tier authorities to apply for more powers once North Yorkshire Council takes over.

It could affect all parish councils across the Harrogate district. Those most likely to be impacted are the ones taking care of a sizeable population, such as the town councils in Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge, Boroughbridge and Masham, which might have the capacity to take on more work.

Ripon City Council, meanwhile, has already said it is keen to have control of more of the city’s assets, reversing what it sees as years of neglect from those who have held both the keys and the purse strings.

As well as the town hall, Hugh Ripley Hall and Wakeman’s House, the council could apply to run Market Square – and even the public toilets.

However, it’s far from a done deal.

Once expressions of interest have been received from parish councils by the end of March, the new unitary council will choose six lower tier authorities to develop a business case.

While it’s likely it would take many months for any power to be devolved to parish councils, there should be some progress before the end of the year for those six chosen to be involved.

£2 cap on Harrogate district bus fares starts today

Bus fares charged by the Harrogate Bus Company and Connexions Buses will be capped at £2 for three months starting from today.

The two companies are among more than 130 transport firms taking part in the government-funded Help for Household scheme.

The scheme, supported by £60m of taxpayer money, will cap single bus fares on more than 4,600 routes.

Ministers hope the initiative will reinvigorate bus services amid fears many routes will be cut when funding runs out.

For buses run by Transdev, the French-owned parent company of the Harrogate Bus Company, it means a 29-mile journey from Ripon to Leeds on the 36 bus will be reduced by 73 per cent from £7.50 to £2, while the cost of a ticket from Harrogate to Bradford on the Flyer A2 will be reduced by 63 per cent from £5.40 to £2.

The maximum single fare for any Transdev one-way bus journey has been cut to just £2 – including the 84-mile journey from Leeds to Whitby.

The £2 single fare is available anytime, anywhere and on any day from bus drivers using cash or contactless payment.

All Transdev single fares which are already lower than £2, and all other day and longer-term tickets will remain at their current prices.

Transdev chief executive Alex Hornby said:

“We are delighted to be able to offer this amazing promotion to our customers throughout Yorkshire and into Lancashire and Greater Manchester, thanks to our continued partnership with industry partners and UK government.

Buses Minister Richard Holden MP said:

“Brits love buses. They’re the most popular form of public transport in England, making up half of all journeys. So, we’re investing £60 million to cap single bus fares at £2 to help families, students and commuters and help get people back on the bus.”

Parks in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough to get contactless donation points

Harrogate Borough Council looks set to install contactless donation points in parks in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough.

The donation points will be put in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, Knaresborough Castle, Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough and in Ripon Spa Gardens to generate income for the upkeep and development of parks and open spaces.

Councillors are expected to approve spending £18,000 to install them at a meeting on January 10.

Ripon Spa Gardens

A report to councillors said all the locations”feature high quality ornamental gardens and relatively high levels of footfall”.

There will be three sites in Valley Gardens — the main entrance, the band stand and the children’s play area. The report said:

“The proposed locations will encourage visitor interaction as each is a prominent footfall area and will be particularly busy during the increased number of events held in the gardens.

“The colourful ‘duck’ for coin donations that is emptied and banked at Claro Road is proposed to be retained.”

The Valley Gardens Development Strategy, published in July last year, proposed creating contactless donation points.

Subsequent consultation with Bournemouth Parks Foundation and the Lake District Foundation suggested an average annual income of £2,000 per donation point.

Knaresborough Castle

It added financial modelling indicated the initial capital investment of £18,000 would be repaid within two years with an annual income of around £12,000 achieved thereafter.

A phased roll-out this year, starting with Knaresborough Castle, Ripon Spa Gardens and Valley Gardens by the end of March, are set for approval. The report concludes:

“Supporting the additional contactless donation points will help raise additional funding to maintain and improve parks and open spaces for the enjoyment of residents, visitors and will support the wider local economy.”

Professional musician from Harrogate returns to give recital

A professional musician who grew up in Harrogate will return to the town in eight days to give a lunchtime recital.

The London Horn Duo will play at the Wesley Centre on January 9 as part of the venue’s monthly concert series.

The duo consists of Kerin Black and Jo Withers, nee Greenberg, who went to school in Harrogate and whose family still live in the town.

Jo began playing the violin aged four and the piano aged five before learning the French horn almost by chance In her final year at St Peter’s Church of England Primary School.

Her sister, Sarah, played the clarinet in Harrogate Grammar School’s orchestra and band. The school’s head of music at the time, Brian Hunt, told Sarah he had lots of violinists but was short of brass players and if Jo would learn French horn to a reasonable standard he would take her on the band’s foreign tour when she joined the grammar school.

So she took lessons with Stephen Price, which proved to be the start of her career as a professional musician.

After attending the Guildhall School of Music and Drama she freelanced in London for 10 years before taking an extended sabbatical to home-educate her children.

Jo now plays for film and TV sessions, orchestras including the LSO, RPO and London Chamber Orchestra and is a regular guest principal for the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

For the past 18 years she has been a member of the orchestra of English Touring Opera, and travelling round the UK with her children, Charli and Nathan and their grandparents Mike and Maureen Greenberg.

The London Horn Duo was created in 2020 when Ms Black and Ms Withers formed a lockdown bubble two decades after meeting as students in the Britten-Pears Orchestra. Ms Black grew up near Washington DC.

Their programme at the Wesley Centre includes:

Otto Nicolai – Sonata in A Minor

Bernhard Krol – Laudatio (Kerin solo)

Mozart – selection from Twelve Pieces for Two Horns K.487

Catherine Likhuta – I Threw a Shoe at a Cat: Theme, Waltz, Yazz,
Finale (Jo solo)

Tickets cost £10 on the door or in advance from Andrew Hitchen on 01423883618 or email a.hitchen81@gmail,com

Local shortage

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Station Gateway

Knaresborough transport

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Harrogate BID vote

Town council powers

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