Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

The Stray Ferret Letters inbox has been dominated this week by correspondence regarding the decision to go ahead with Harrogate’s Station Gateway proposal. Here are excerpts from some of the emails we have received.

It beggars belief that even after so many negative comments /opposing opinions from local residents and established businesses, the gateway proposal should be given the go ahead to proceed. .. To endorse such a plan clearly paints those with authoritative clout as having no real knowledge of the consequences this proposal will have on the impact of vehicles through our town centre.

Steve Allcock

What kind of a democratic system do we have in Harrogate? When the residents from Granville Road Area Group have not been allowed a Public Meeting with regards to ‘The Gateway Scheme’ before the scheme was passed.

However, we will now be allowed one after they were passed last Friday 5 of May.

Surely in the scoping and screening phases of a major project such as the Gateway, this community of people should have been consulted directly by the planners. Which one would have thought included a ‘Public Meeting’ at the start, not at the end of such a major scheme and plans from NYCC.  Has this really happened? Or are we just actors playing a part in a film set for NYC. [North Yorkshire Council].

Isn’t it a bit late in the day to consult residents and their concerns? Is this even acceptable or legal in any democratic process for a Public Consultation?

What is even more concerning is that some of the elected Councillors who have either dismissed this or are perhaps are just not concerned with the people that voted for them.

Rachael Inchboard

The biggest mistake of all. One day they will realise. The town is a Ghost Town with more empty shops than nice open ones. Cambridge street and the old market with shops round the outside were busy everyday. Parking is too expensive. Not easy to park and step onto the pavement and pop to buy something.

One Lane is a total disaster – no one will bother with town. PLEASE BRING BACK OUR BEAUTIFUL SPA TOWN.

Read More:

• Stray Views: ‘Shame’ on councillors who approved Station Gateway
• £11.2m Station Gateway set to go ahead after crucial Harrogate area vote

It’s difficult to think of a bigger star from Harrogate right now than England footballer Rachel Daly.

Daly was part of the England Lionesses team that won Euro 2020 last year and is this season’s Women’s Super League leading scorer.

She also has 328,000 followers on Instagram so it was little surprise hundreds of football fans gathered at Killinghall Moor this afternoon to greet her homecoming.

Daly was back where it all started — Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club — to open the Nomads Daly Brew cafe named in her honour.

She arrived with friends and family, not to mention dog Dexy, shortly after midday to a chorus of ‘She’s Coming Home’ and after a few quick speeches and media interviews signed autographs non-stop for more than hour.

Alongside her mural

Many fans turned up wearing shirts bearing Daly’s name.

Sitting in the cafe bearing her name and mural, people queued with balls, shirts, boots and bits of paper for her to sign. Many wore England or Aston Villa Women shirts bearing the name ‘Daly’.

She obliged them all and flashed her megawatt smile for selfies until everyone had got a memento. Mum Louise, who still lives in Harrogate, looked like she would burst with pride.

Some fans queued for over an hour to meet Daly.

Posing with current Killinghall Nomads players

Daly played for Killinghall Nomads from under-eight to under-15 level before moving on. Her brother and father also represented the club. Dad Martyn, who died two years ago, set up the under-15 girls team.

This was her first trip to Harrogate since Christmas and the event provided a chance to catch-up with some old friends as well as fans.

She was impressed by the building’s transition to a cafe and humbled by the decision to name it in her honour. She said:

“I spent every waking second of the day on these pitches, hitting a ball against this wall so to be here today is a great honour.

“It’s always important to remember your roots. When I was last here it was a meeting room with just a kettle!”

Simon Walker, vice-chair of the club, told the crowd that Daly continued to inspire others, which was evident by the number of girls and boys who turned out.

Read more:

• Harrogate hotshot Rachel Daly to open Killinghall cafe
• Harrogate’s Rachel Daly on target as England win Finalissima

David Terzza, women and girls’ football lead at the club, said it now had about 150 females on its books.

He emphasised how much Daly had contributed to its growth by sponsoring kit, arranging for some of the junior players to watch the Lionesses train at the St George’s Park national football centre and taking part in a zoom question and answer with girls during covid.

She said:

“Nomads will always have a special place in my heart. If it wasn’t for this place, where I played on every blade of grass and broke every piece of fence, I wouldn’t be here today. It’s such an honour.”

Her classy display on the day ensured Daly will also have a special place in Harrogate’s heart too. Time for a statue?

Here are some more photos from today’s event.

This week’s photograph was taken by Len Bownes, capturing two artists working with the cherry blossom as their subject.

Len Bownes

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

The government takeover of Transpennine Express has shone a light on a similar service closer to Harrogate.

Northern, which operates trains to Harrogate and Knaresborough between Leeds and York, was effectively nationalised back in March 2020.

The then Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, brought the company under government control from March 1, 2020, amid years of cancellations and delays.

Northern has been operated by the government’s DfT OLR Holdings Ltd for the last three years.

So, what can passengers of Transpennine Express learn from Northern’s performance since then?

Northern performance

The Office of Rail and Road collects annual statistics on the performance of rail companies.

Most recent annual figures, published in July 2022, show Northern managed 465 stations at the end of March 2022 compared to 478 before it was brought under government control.

It also shows that the percentage of trains cancelled was 3.3% compared with 4.1% in the 2019/20.

The figures are caveated by the fact that 2020/21 was effected by the coronavirus pandemic, when fewer people travelled by train and the country was put into lockdown three times.

Read more:

• £11.2m Station Gateway set to go ahead after crucial Harrogate area vote
• Publican says cycle path crackdown in Harrogate is ‘unreasonable’
• Council in discussions with Harrogate Station Gateway contractor

Meanwhile, the percentage of trains on time between April 2021 and March 2022 was 67.0% compared with 76.3% in the previous year and 55.1% in 2019/20.

The number of passenger complaints has also dropped since 2019/20 from 34.249 to 14,379 in 2021/22.

Perhaps the most striking figure is the number of delay compensation claims.

In 2019/20, this stood at 364,689 and fell to 22,836 the following year. In 2021/22, the figure was 98,934.

The number of passenger delay compensation claims at Northern since 2018/19. Data: Office for Rail and Road.

More recent figures show similar results.

In April 2023, 65.6% of trains were on time, while 2,545 services were cancelled in full.

Brian Dunsby, of the Harrogate Line Supporters Group, said the group was pleased with the way that Northern has performed since going under public ownership.

He said:

“We believe that the Harrogate line services have performed very well since it came under public control in 2020 – especially so considering the recent pandemic and the industrial action that followed.

“The services that we lost for six months during the cut backs in 2022 have all been restored and they are very well used.

“The latest timetable just issued starts on May 21, 2023, and it includes all the vital services needed to operate a half-hourly frequency between Harrogate and Leeds and between Harrogate and York – from early morning until late evening.  So we are very happy – provided that they do actually operate as planned.

“The three-car Class 170 trains are much larger and  more comfortable, much quieter and faster than the previous Class 150 series and the even older Class 140 series trains. The passenger loading does appear to be increasing – but not to the point of being over-crowded.

“We do hope that Northern Trains continues to keep up the latest scheduled timetable.”

Need for a reset

For politicians in the north, the decision to put Transpennine into government hands was necessary.

Lord McLoughlin, chair of Transport for the North, said Transpennine needed “a reset” to improve.

He said:

“We welcome the decision announced by the Secretary of State to bring the contract under Operator of Last Resort (OLR) for TransPennine Express.

“The TfN Board’s position on this issue has been clear for some considerable time, that services need to significantly improve. While we have seen some improvements over recent months, to achieve the performance levels passengers expect and deserve, and that the northern economy needs, there is a need for a resetting of the operation.

”We will now look forward positively to discussing with our members and working with the government to ensure the best way to achieve a service that meets the expectations of those living and working in the north.”

North Yorkshire’s Police Fire and Crime Commissioner has declined to respond to a call for her to resign after a government watchdog found some vulnerable children “remain at risk unnecessarily” due to delays in police investigations.

Zoe Metcalfe, who is aiming to be the Tory candidate to be the first North Yorkshire and York elected mayor, said she would not be commenting on a notice of motion lodged by North Yorkshire Council’s opposition leader, Cllr Bryn Griffiths, which is tabled to be considered at a full meeting on Wednesday.

However, rather than debate the issue at the meeting, one option for the council’s chairman would be to refer the notice of motion to one of the authority’s scrutiny committees for consideration.

The critical Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary report followed its assessment last year which found the force was “not effectively safeguarding children”.

Last week, at a public accountability meeting Ms Metcalfe said the information she had been provided about the force’s progress over its failings was bogus.

She said: 

“We were led to believe that North Yorkshire Police were in a better position than they ultimately were and we accept this.

“And as a result, we have entirely overhauled our scrutiny and assurance process, I have clearly set out how I will hold North Yorkshire Police to account for delivery.”

Read more:

• Crime commissioner’s office to move to Harrogate Police Station
• North Yorkshire Police ‘still needs to improve’ on child safeguarding, say inspectors
• Crime commissioner Zoe Metcalfe under pressure following critical report

Cllr Griffiths called for Ms Metcalfe’s resignation to be debated at the meeting.

He said the second report, published earlier this month, had examined 33 child protection cases, of which 11 were found to be good, eight required improvement and 14 were inadequate.

He said: 

“For so many cases to be found inadequate is a damning entitlement not only on the police, but also on the overall management of the force by the police and fire commissioner.

“The police, fire and crime commissioner is elected to be responsible for generally overseeing both police forces and fire services. Clearly has failed and is continuing to fail to hold the North Yorkshire Police force to account and keep the public and in particular children safe.

“Urgent action is therefore needed to remove the existing commissioner immediately and replace with a far more effective manager.”

In response, a spokeswoman for Ms Metcalfe said the motion was being put to the council “for discussion only, and so we will not be commenting at this time”.

Some of Ms Metcalfe’s Conservative former colleagues on the authority said they believed the notice of motion was “political” and that they would not be supporting the call for her to resign.

The Tories said those behind calls for her resignation had misunderstood the situation as the reports referred to a time before she was the commissioner.

Bus fares in the Harrogate district are set to increase from tomorrow.

Transdev, which runs Harrogate Bus Company, has an announced an increase in prices on some of its tickets from Sunday, May 14.

It will effect services in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.

However, tickets for single fares will remain at the £2 cap until the end of June – but will return to original prices with no increase as of July 1.

A statement from the bus firm said:

“Unfortunately due to the rate of inflation we are seeing the cost of running our buses increasing. 

“We’ve been able to freeze many of our fares – our single and return fares will not change, including the £2 maximum single fare. 

“We still think these fares offer excellent value for money, especially compared to the cost of driving and parking.”

The price increases will be as follows:

• Harrogate one-day – £5 to £5.70
• Harrogate one-day (under 19) – £3.40 to £3.80
• Harrogate seven days – £15.50 to £18
• Harrogate seven-days (under 19) – £10.30 to £12
• Harrogate 28 days – £58 to £66
• Harrogate 28 days (under 19) – £40 to £44
• Boroughbridge – £32 to £36
• Boroughbridge (under 19) – £16 to £18
• Transdev Gold ticket (7 days) – £40 to £45
• Transdev Gold (under 19) – £26.50 to £30
• Transdev Gold ticket (28 days) – £130 to £150
• Transdev Gold ticket (28 days, under 19) – £86 to £100
• Daytripper – £12 to £14
• Daytripper (under 19) – £8 to £9.50
• Daytripper group (up to five) – £22 to £25

Read more:

• Ripon’s new city-wide bus service launches with guaranteed funding
• Harrogate Station Gateway: What happens now?

North Yorkshire Councillors have voiced frustration at proposals to delay the introduction of a separate food waste collection service for another 20 years.

The delay has happened due to the government’s failure to state how much funding it would give the service.

Several members of the council’s executive underlined that the recommendation to delay the service until up to 2043 did not reflect their determination to rapidly reduce carbon emissions.

The urgent calls for government action appear to mark a significant shift in policy for the authority. Four years ago its leadership stated it was opposed to the introduction of a separate food waste collection service.

In 2019 the council stated it did not support the separate collections as it already recovered organic matter from residual waste at the county’s Allerton Park energy-from-waste plant in a “very cost-effective way”.

When a year later, the government committed to rolling out separate household food waste collection across the country by 2023, 51% of local authorities already collected food waste separately.

A meeting of the council’s current executive heard how separate collections could realise up to a 3,300-tonne reduction in carbon emissions a year compared to the current arrangements.

By collecting food waste separately, the council could increase the amount that can be converted into green electricity using an anaerobic digester. The delay would mean the carbon equivalent of an extra 18 million kilometres of diesel car emissions every year.

Although the council has effectively been given consent by Whitehall mandarins to delay implementing one of its flagship carbon cutting schemes due to its waste disposal contract running until 2043, the authority’s executive members said they wanted the service launched long before that “backstop position”.

Read more:

• Weekly food waste collections in Harrogate district to be delayed over costs
• ‘Few teething issues’ with North Yorkshire Council launch, say political leaders

However, officers told the meeting the council had received “no further clarity” over government funding for introducing the new food waste collection service, saying the authority faced a bill of anything up to £6.4m annually.

Climate change boss Cllr Greg White said while council wanted to launch the separate collections with a county-wide overhaul of bin collections in 2027, it faced “very significant additional costs” over the separate food waste service.

He said: 

“Three thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide saved is huge, significant and something we want to do, but we can’t do that – with the best will in the world – if we don’t know what it’s going to cost us and at the moment we haven’t got sufficient clarity from the government.”

Other executive members said the authority, which is already facing having to cut a 30m annual deficit, needed “crystal clear” figures from the government before it could launch separate food collections and emphasised they had been left facing a choice of cutting carbon or funding other council services.

Cllr Simon Myers said: 

“As a responsible executive what we can’t do is take a decision when we don’t know the financial consequences for our residents at a time when there are financial pressures anyway.”

Police have recovered the body of a local woman from the River Nidd, near Bilton viaduct.

Concerns were raised about the woman, who is aged in her 40s, this morning.

An urgent missing person investigation was launched which included searches in and around the River Nidd at the location.

The woman’s body was recovered by the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Marine and Underwater Search Unit at around 1.20pm. She has not been named.

The bridge was closed while the body was recovered. A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the coroner in due course.

“The woman’s family are being supported by the police.”

Read more:

• Hundreds set for tomorrow’ Nidderdale Walk
• Garden centre near Harrogate to reopen after eight years

A village nursery near Harrogate has received praise from Ofsted for the way it encourages children to develop their independence.

The School House Nursery in Pannal was also found to be a “welcoming” environment where children felt “safe and secure” when inspector Jennifer Cowton visited.

Rating the nursery ‘good’ in all areas in a report published this week, she said:

“Children know what is expected of them and follow the boundaries and routines of the setting well. They enjoy playing alongside each other and understand the importance of sharing and taking turns.

“Staff act as positive role models and encourage children to be kind. They speak to children in a calming manner, and carefully consider and respect children’s views and opinions.”

During the inspection, which took place at the end of March, Ms Cowton said children were “well prepared for their next stage in learning”, being encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves.

Children benefitted from learning about the natural world through growing flowers and feeding wildlife, she found.

Read more:

• ‘Good’ Ofsted rating for ‘happy and welcoming’ Starbeck nursery
• ‘Good’ Ofsted rating for Boroughbridge nursery and out-of-school club

The report said the nursery, which is part of Kids at Heart based near Knaresborough, helped children to learn about good health, as well as offering a menu of freshly-cooked, healthy meals and snacks.

Ms Cowton said:

“Parents speak highly of the nursery. They say that their children love attending and arrive happy and smiling.

“Staff share information with parents about their children’s learning experiences through daily conversations. In addition, they share photographs of children’s activities using an online application.

“Parents are encouraged to contribute to their children’s learning and support their learning at home. Staff provide parents with activity ideas.”

The report found that, while staff understood how to support children’s language development, they could do more to model language to younger children while playing.

It also recommended the nursery manager could make better use of observation and supervision to help staff develop their teaching.

Responding to the report, Julie Shaw, owner of Kids at Heart, said:

“I would like to say how delighted I am with our Ofsted report. I feel it truly reflects the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the staff team at The School House Nursery, Pannal.

“I would also like to say a massive thank you to the wonderful children (who are amazing) and their parents for all their supportive comments, not only on the inspection day, but on an on-going basis.”

Harrogate Town has revealed it is letting go of three players following the conclusion of the 2022/23 League Two season.

Dior Angus, Max Wright and Alex Pattison will be leaving the club.

Attacking midfielder Alex Pattison spent two seasons with the Sulphurites, making a total of 86 appearances after arriving from Wycombe.

He scored 19 goals and registered 14 assists at Town.

Angus and Wright arrived at the club last summer and made a combined 12 appearances for the club.

Simon Weaver’s side finished the season 19th in League Two.

Eighteen players remain under contract for the 2023/24 season.

Read more:

• Knaresborough Town pair championing women’s football after remarkable season
• Harrogate Town secure English Football League status

In addition, negotiations are underway with midfielder George Horbury on the academy graduate’s future.

Matty Foulds, Tom Eastman, Kazeem Olaigbe, Matty Daly and Danny Grant have all left following the expiry of their loan deals and Rory McArdle has retired after a 19-year playing career that included 39 appearances with Town.

The contracted players are:

Mark Oxley

Pete Jameson

Joe Mattock

Warren Burrell

Toby Sims

Anthony O’Connor

Kayne Ramsay

Josh Falkingham

George Thomson

Levi Sutton

Stephen Dooley

Sam Folarin

Jack Muldoon

Emmanuel Ilesanmi

Luke Armstrong

Miles Welch-Hayes

Kyle Ferguson

Will Smith