Man denies wounding Harrogate pub landlord

A man will face trial at crown court after allegedly assaulting the landlord of a pub in Harrogate.

Christopher Roy Adamson, 30, of Woodfield Avenue, Harrogate, is alleged to have been at the Claro Beagle in Coppice Gate when the incident happened shortly after 10pm on April 9 last year.

Mr Adamson appeared at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court today to face a charge of wounding landlord Alan Hutchcraft, leaving him in need of hospital treatment for cuts to his head.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to that charge, as well as one of damaging Mr Hutchcraft’s glasses, said to be worth £485. Mr Adamson will now face a jury at York Crown Court.

He was given unconditional bail to make an initial appearance in York on Monday, July 3.

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Buy a pint of Crimple Valley and support Harrogate hospice

A Harrogate man with a lifelong career in beer is brewing up a project to support the hospice that cared for a relative in his final days.

Mark Noble has paired up with Bosun’s Brewery to create Crimple Valley IPA, which will be sold in aid of Saint Michael’s Hospice.

Mark’s father-in-law was cared for at the hospice, on Hornbeam Park, until he died two years ago. Mark said:

“It’s a fantastic place. They really cared for him. He went very peacefully and calmly in there. It was a very dignified end to his life.

“The hospice have chosen the pump clip and design — they’ve incorporated the viaduct across Crimple, which is one of the last things people there see.

“It’s a beautiful view and it has made a really nice design.

“We’ve chosen an IPA because they’re popular beers at the moment. It’s 4.2% so not too strong and palatable for most people.

“It’s a pale colour with fruity notes. The key thing is it’s brewed locally.”

The IPA will be officially launched tomorrow (Saturday, June 3) at Bosun’s beer festival at its tap room in Sandbeck Park, Wetherby.

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Mark, who spent his career working for large breweries before retiring briefly at Christmas, set up The Crafty Caskman in January and is working independently this year to sell beer into bars and restaurants on behalf of Bosun’s and several other local breweries.

He hopes to do the same with the Crimple Valley IPA and has already found it a spot on the pumps at the Shepherd’s Dog on Otley Road, Harrogate.

For every pint sold, 15p will be donated to Saint Michael’s Hospice, making each barrel worth £10 to the charity.

Mark said:

“The more we can sell, the better. It’s still early days, because it’s not officially launched until Saturday, but people are saying they’re interested in having it.

“Next week I’ll be out there promoting it to pubs, hotels and restaurants. I want to get it in as many places as possible, and I hope people will look for it when they’re out.

“The way they economy is, there’s less funding going towards charities, but everyone still finds the time to go and have a pint. If you have a pint of Crimple Valley, you’re doing something you enjoy and also contributing to a good cause.”

Any pubs, hotels or restaurants interested in buying Crimple Valley IPA to support the fundraising can email Mark Noble for more details.

Police launch investigation after trespassers enter Harrogate Spring Water

Police have launched an investigation after trespassers broke into Harrogate Spring Water‘s headquarters last night.

A source told the Stray Ferret protesters attempted to enter the building on Harlow Moor Road and “antagonised staff”. They added those responsible wore GoPro cameras and flew a drone over the site.

However, nobody appears to have claimed responsibility for the incident and no footage has emerged.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said today:

“North Yorkshire Police were contacted yesterday evening to reports of people trespassing on a business premises on Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.

“The incident had occurred prior to the report being made and an investigation is now underway.

“Anyone with any information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police by calling 101, select option 1 and ask for the Force Control Room. Please quote reference number 12230099981 when passing information.”

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A spokesperson for Harrogate Spring Water said:

“We cannot comment at this time since the incident is currently being looked into by police.

“We can confirm that no-one was injured during the incident and no damage has been made to the site.”

Harrogate Spring Water said in March it was “reviewing plans” to expand its bottling plant at its headquarters off Harlow Moor Road, in the Pinewoods.

The plans, which would involve felling trees in a public woodland planted by schoolchildren, have proved controversial.

It is not known whether yesterday’s incident was related to this.

 

Cattle introduced to Brimham Rocks

The National Trust has introduced cattle to the moorland at Brimham Rocks in Nidderdale.

A herd of Belted Galloways will graze the vegetation from June to October as part of the site’s moorland management plan.

The trust said grazing will improve the moorland at Brimham as well as improving the habitat for ground nesting birds.

A fence has been erected around the cattle’s roaming area on the south and north moors. To maintain Brimham moorland as open access land, gates have been installed on public rights of way as well as on the most popular desire lines.

Natural heather moorland habitats are rarer than rainforest. According to the Moorland Association, 75% of the world’s remaining heather moorland is found in Britain and that habitat has been declining rapidly.

The moorland at Brimham has the distinction of being home to three local varieties: ling heather, bell heather and cross-leaved heath. Unattended bracken will damage the heather moorland beyond repair, according to the trust.

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Brimham Rocks

Alec Boyd, area ranger at Brimham Rocks said reintroducing cattle was “a very important step to improving the condition of the moor”, adding: 

“We are using cattle instead of sheep or horses because the cattle rips and pulls rather than nibbles at the vegetation.

“They also eat on the move, a little here and a little there, and are less selective than sheep or horses – they aren’t as choosy about what they eat. This helps create a varied age structure that will benefit other species that call moorland their home.”

Belted Galloways are hardy but placid, which means they are unlikely to be fazed by members of the public and their dogs.

A trust spokesperson said it acquired Brimham Rocks in 1970 and there has not been any grazing since then, but it is thought grazing took place prior to this.

Further information is available here.

Ripon man wanted by police believed to be in Harrogate

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for help locating 32-year-old Dwaine Layton, who is wanted in connection with a serious assault.

The force said today Layton is believed to be in the Harrogate area.

It added:

“If you have any information which could help to locate Layton then please call 101 or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 08000 555 111.

“If you have an immediate sighting, then please dial 999.”

The reference number is 12230099771.

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No trains in Harrogate and Knaresborough tomorrow as strikes hit services

No trains will operate through Harrogate and Knaresborough tomorrow as rail workers take strike action.

ASLEF, which represents train drivers, will walkout tomorrow in a dispute over pay and conditions.

It comes as members of the RMT Union are striking today, which has left limited services available.

Tomorrow’s industrial action means no Northern trains will operate on the Leeds to York line. The company has said services will return to normal on Sunday (June 4).

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said:

“We apologise, once again, for the disruption this action by ASELF and the RMT will cause to our customers.

“This latest round of industrial action looks set to hamper people’s opportunity to explore the region during the half-term holidays. It’s understandably very frustrating.

“We all want to see an end to this dispute and the uncertainty that on-going strike action causes to people’s confidence in the railway.”

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Bridge near Harrogate closes suddenly after crack appears

A bridge in a village near Harrogate closed suddenly yesterday after a crack appeared.

A two-inch wide gap appeared at the side of the bridge on the edge of Hampsthwaite. It is possible to look through the gap and see the River Nidd.

The issue was reported yesterday on the Hampsthwaite Village Facebook group and later that day the bridge was closed to traffic.

The closure was unannounced by North Yorkshire Council, which is the highways authority.

Hampsthwaite bridge

The bridge between Hampsthwaite and Clint

Hampsthwaite bridge

A long crack has appeared

The bridge, on Church Lane, carries traffic between Hampsthwaite and Clint.

A North Yorkshire Council spokesperson said:

“The bridge has been closed due to structural concerns. We will be assessing it today and will provide an update.”

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate Specsavers sponsors Henshaws BedFest

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is lunch at Manahatta, on June 29th at 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate Specsavers has been announced as main sponsor for this year’s Henshaws BedFest.

The festival, which takes place on June 10 at Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre in Knaresborough, is set to feature live music from local artists, a variety of street food vendors, a licensed bar and an ideal spot to watch the Bed Race.

The event will also raise money for Henshaws’ work supporting people with sight loss and a range of other disabilities.

Andy Bryer, retail director for Specsavers Harrogate, said: 

“We’re delighted to be sponsoring this year’s Bed Fest, it’s such a fun-filled event tied to an iconic Knaresborough tradition and the proceeds go towards an incredible cause.

‘The work that Henshaws does is quite literally life changing and we’re really proud to be working with the team on ongoing fundraising and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.”

Harrogate Town announces new match day sponsor

Harrogate Town has announced Belzona Polymetrics as a new sponsor for next season.

The company, which is based on Claro Road, will feature on the club’s match day celebration announcements on its scoreboard.

Staff at Belzona in Harrogate.

Staff at Belzona in Harrogate.

Belzona, which was founded in 1952, is a global designer and manufacturer of industrial repair and protection materials.

Joanna Towler, commercial director at Harrogate Town, said:

“Their support means that we can continue to enhance the match day experience for our fans, creating an engaging sentiment at every game.

“We are proud to be partnering with such a reputable and community- minded company, and we look forward to a successful collaboration both on and off the pitch.” 

A spokesperson for Belzona said:

“Historically, Belzona has always fostered strong links with the local community and is delighted to have the opportunity to uphold this relationship by supporting Harrogate Town AFC, a football club that lies at the heart of the town, providing entertainment and many jobs for the local community.”

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Wanted: Field with boggy corner for new wildlife pond in Harrogate district

An environmental organisation is looking for land around the Harrogate district to create a wildlife pond.

Wildscapes community interest company is hoping a landowner with at least 150sq m – equivalent to around 10m by 15m – will come forward to host the project.

The creation of the pond would be funded by Natural England, which works with Wildscapes to improve biodiversity through habitat creation and conservation.

Jordan Porter, pond programme manager for Wildscapes, told the Stray Ferret:

“If someone comes forward with a site, we come and assess the site and meet the landowner.

“We look at the surrounding land usage and test the subsoil. They are natural ponds, not lined ponds, so we have to have quite a good clay content or very high water table in the area.

“If you have a field corner or a patch that’s always wet, that’s a good sign a pond would fill in that area. If it’s farmland, those are often the areas that are the least productive anyway.”

Wildscapes has already created around 250 wildlife ponds across South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, and has begun working in North Yorkshire in the last two years.

The primary aim of the ponds is to encourage great crested newts, a protected species, to colonise.

Mr Porter said once the newts had moved into a pond, it was a good indication other species were thriving in the area.

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After a pond was created, Mr Porter said Wildscapes would maintain it for the next 25 years – though landowners are not obliged to have the pond for the full 25 years.

Fences can be installed, all funded through the scheme, to ensure nearby livestock could not access the area.

Funding for the ponds often comes from housing and other developments, through compensatory requirements when planning permission is granted.

Mr Porter said:

“Whoever is doing the development, the mitigation isn’t their main priority.

“The idea is this is given to us, as an arm of the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, and the money comes to us to use in target areas where those compensation payments came from.

“It goes back into local landowners through the creation of habitats, and we do offer one-off landowner incentives for signing up.

“If they stay in the scheme, there’s a 25-year monitoring and maintenance programme which we deliver.”

Anyone interested in taking part in the scheme can find out if their land is in the target area by using the government’s Magic Map.

Select ‘Land Based Schemes’, then ‘Other Schemes’, then ‘Great Crested Newts Strategic Opportunity Areas’ to see which parts of the Harrogate district are being considered for wildlife ponds.

Alternatively, call Wildscapes on 0114 303 5123 or email info@wildscapes.co.uk.

Controversial Knox Lane 53-homes plan deferred for third time

A controversial plan to build 53 homes on Knox Lane in Harrogate has been deferred for a third time.

Councillors on Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency planning committee made the decision over land contamination concerns.

The committee requested that a further report into land contamination be produced, as was previously requested by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee.

The proposal, which has been proposed by North-east property developer Jomast, was initially recommended for approval subject to conditions by council officers.

Among the conditions is that Jomast would be required to pay £64,000 for healthcare, £140,000 for education and £60,000 for open spaces in the form of a section 106 agreement to compensate for the impact of development on local infrastructure.

However, councillors decided to defer the pan for a third time.

The meeting, which was held at Harrogate Civic Centre yesterday, was due to be streamed onto the authority’s YouTube channel — but was not broadcast.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Council said a “problem with the connection” in the council chamber meant it was not possible to livestream the proceedings.

The application has proved controversial with residents in the Bilton area.

Campaign group Keep Knox Natural has previously called on the council to remove the parcel of land from the Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place.

Meanwhile, Cllr Robert Windass, a member of the council’s planning committee, previously vowed not to vote for the scheme until he felt the “land is safe”.

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