A new cafe-bar and vinyl records shop could open on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road if planning permission is granted.
Plans have been put forward to convert the ground floor of 129 Cold Bath Road, which has up to now been used by a travel agency.
The proposals state that the travel agency would continue to trade from the two floors above, while the ground floor – stretching to 52m sq – would be used as a cafe, bar and shop selling records and clothing.
The business would create three full-time jobs and five part-time roles. Its proposed trading hours are 9am to midnight, seven days a week.
The site on Cold Bath Road.
The application has been made by John Caladine, who founded Audio Archtct Experience Ltd in February, along with David Swallow.
To view or comment on the application, visit the planning pages of Harrogate Borough Council’s website and use reference 22/03540/FUL.
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Business Breakfast: Former director of British Council appointed Ashville bursar
Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
A former director of the British Council has been appointed bursar at Harrogate’s Ashville College.
Richard Rooze has taken on the financial role after spending two decades with the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.
Ashville College head Rhiannon Wilkinson said:
“This is an incredibly important role as a bursar is a school’s financial director.
“Having started his career as a teacher – and spending many years at a very high level within the British Council – he (Richard) brings with him a wealth of experience within the education sector.”
Mr Rooze said:
“After more than 25 years working abroad, I was looking at both a career change and to move to the Harrogate area, so when I saw Ashville advertising for a bursar I knew this was the perfect position for me…
“My goal is to use my skills to deliver excellent outcome for students and partners, and to build the brand of UK education over the long term… I’m excited to be helping develop and deliver Ashville’s strategy for the next five years, which will see the college celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2027.”
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Housing developer supports poverty charity
Redrow homes has held an event at its Granby Meadows development in Harrogate to announce a partnership with a charity that supports people living in poverty.
Zarach, which is based in Leeds, aims to support children and their families who are struggling with the cost of living.
Redrow said Granby Meadows is a showcase development for the company in Yorkshire with its first re-branded, digital-led and paperless customer experience suite. Every new home purchased at the Harrogate site will also receive a copy of Zarach’s bedtime book entitled Zed Ted.
Steve Jackson, sales director for Redrow Yorkshire, said:
“We are always keen to help worthwhile charities and causes, and I have never been more delighted to offer our support than with Zarach which is, sadly, a much-needed organisation.
“Having a bed to sleep in and food to eat so they can get a good night’s sleep should be a basic right of every child; likewise that families, as Zarach points out, should be able to thrive and not just survive.”
Redrow has made a first donation of £2,500 to help fund the work of the charity.
L-R: Steve Jackson, sales director at Redrow Yorkshire, Amy Green, co-ordinator of volunteers for Zarach, and Redrow Yorkshire’s managing director John Handley.
A ‘little temple’ in the centre of Harrogate is set to be removed as part of the £11.9m Station Gateway.
The tempietto, an Italian term for little temple, is close to the Victoria monument opposite the train station in the town centre.
The area is due to be redeveloped as part of the gateway scheme, which aims to improve the public realm and encourage cycling and walking.
Station Square, where the little temple is situated, would be cleared to make way for an open landscaped area with water jets that can host events. The Victoria monument would, however, remain.
The tempietto
North Yorkshire County Council, which is leading on the gateway scheme, said today it had submitted a planning application to remove the tempietto.
A council spokesman said:
“The proposal is to remove the tempietto permanently from Station Square under the redesigned public realm to facilitate an open vista suitable for performance and event space options.
“It would be recycled or sold as appropriate to enable re-siting in another location as opposed to being scrapped.”
The council also revealed it plans to consult on new traffic regulation orders, which would involve closing some roads to traffic, as part of the gateway scheme.
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Richard Binks
Richard Binks, head of major projects and infrastructure at the council, said:
“We have recently submitted two planning applications relating to individual scheme elements – removal of the tempietto and wall lowering in Bower Street – and will consult on the scheme’s traffic regulation orders shortly.
“After that, the executive will be asked to consider whether to submit a full business case to West Yorkshire Combined Authority and implement the project.”
Asked why the council had submitted these applications before the executive has made a final decision on whether to go ahead with the gateway, the council spokesman said:
“Statutory orders and applications are being processed now to capture an informed position, which is needed before submission of a full business case.
“That submission of a business case is subject to approval from the council’s executive.”
Latest gateway consultation response
Mr Binks also today revealed details of the third round of consultation on the gateway scheme. He said:
“In the third public consultation on the Harrogate Station Gateway Transforming Cities Fund project, held between 20 July and 23 August, we received 2,044 completed surveys. This is higher than the previous two consultations (which received 1,101 and 1,320 responses).
“Analysis of all the feedback, including approximately 5,000 text comments, plus letters and emails, is ongoing.”
A 2010 conservation area character appraisal published by Harrogate Borough Council describes the Station Square area as ‘bitty’, with “a thoroughly unscholarly tempietto”.
Questions are being raised over the future of a partnership which sees North Yorkshire and Cornwall’s fire control rooms share emergency calls at peak times.
At more than 300 miles apart, the fire services joined forces in 2016 with each call centre able to dispatch crews in the two counties.
It has been hailed as a move to make services more effective as the geographic distance means they are less likely to be affected by major incidents at the same time.
But the partnership is now being brought into question after plans were revealed to close Cornwall’s call centre and merge it with others elsewhere in England.
Cornwall Council, which administers the service, said all options are being considered for the control room and that a final decision would be made next year.
However, it would not comment on what a potential closure could mean for the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
At a recent Cornwall Council meeting, the proposals were met with protests from dozens of firefighters after further criticism from the Fire Brigades Union, which said it is opposing the “ridiculous move” in the interests of public safety.
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The issue has also been raised by Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who represents Harrogate Fairfax on Harrogate Borough Council. He was contacted by a member of staff at Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service who said the proposals have caused “huge upset and emotional strain”.
Councillor Aldred has since has called on North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to carry out a review into the “critical” service.
In a statement, Conservative commissioner Zoë Metcalfe said the agreement with Cornwall “remains in place with no change” and that she had been reassured that talks would be held about any potential change. She said:
Community sentence for Pateley Bridge man caught masturbating in Harrogate car park“My chief fire officer, Jonathan Dyson, has provided assurance of the current and future resilience of our control room in North Yorkshire.
“Jonathan is in regular contact with the chief fire officer of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service and the timescales for any decision and potential change to their control room allows North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to explore future resilience opportunities.
“As such, there is no current impact on our control room’s ability to handle 999 calls and to effectively mobilise our fire engines to emergencies.”
A Pateley Bridge man has been given a 12-month community order for masturbating in a public car park in Harrogate.
Thomas Christopher Watson, 29, of Millfield Street, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court this afternoon having already pleaded guilty to one count of outraging public decency.
The court heard a member of the public had called police on September 3, after she had seen Watson masturbating in his car in the car park on Station Parade.
When officers arrived, Watson was compliant and admitted the offence when questioned at the police station.
Defending, Brian Nuttney of McCormicks Solicitors said it was important not to conflate Watson’s actions with indecent exposure, where the act is targeted towards someone else. He said:
“In short, he describes this as a terrible decision. It was not something that was planned and it was not something that was thought through.
“It was not something that was going on in response to anything or anybody around him… Intent isn’t something that can be shown in any way here.”
Mr Nuttney said Watson was “shocked” by his own behaviour and had done some work to address whether he needed help.
The court heard Watson, an office worker who was based mainly at home, had received a police caution for a similar offence in 2010.
Magistrates imposed the community order along with a requirement to complete 30 days’ rehabilitation activity, designed to help him address his problems.
They ordered him to complete 120 hours’ unpaid work and to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and costs of £85.
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Man on the run from police has Harrogate connections
A wanted man who didn’t turn up in court to face attempted robbery charges has Harrogate connections, police said today.
Keith David Whitehead, 45, failed to appear at York Crown Court on Friday last week.
He was accused of attempting to rob a man in Scarborough in October last year. The court issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
He has also been recalled to prison for displaying poor behaviour, including harassment, which is in breach of his licence conditions.
North Yorkshire Police today appealed for help locating Whitehead.
A police statement today said:
“Police enquiries are ongoing in North Yorkshire where it is known Whitehead has connections in Scarborough and Harrogate.”
Keith Whitehead
Whitehead is described as white, short grey hair, 5ft 8in tall, with a slim build.
Anyone with information is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and speak to the force control room, quoting reference number 12220163507.
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Vic Reeves art exhibition at Harrogate gallery
An exhibition of original art by the comedian Vic Reeves is on display at Red House Originals Gallery in Harrogate.
The exhibition, called Yorkshire Rocks and Dinghy Fights, includes several paintings of Brimham Rocks.
Leeds-born Mr Reeves, a keen artist who exhibits under his real name Jim Moir, is a frequent visitor to the National Trust site near Pateley Bridge.
The exhibition, featuring work priced up to £12,500, also includes paintings that show his love of birds and shoes, as well as art highlighting his surreal sense of humour.
Mr Reeves attended the opening of the exhibition, which was extended by a week due to demand. Saturday will be the last day.
Mr Reeves at the opening night. Pic by Robin Clewley.
Dave McTague, who is responsible for marketing at the gallery, said:
“We’ve had a phenomenal response to it. We’ve had people travelling from all over the country.”
Red House Originals Gallery, on Cheltenham Mount, is owned by Richard McTague, nephew of Paul McTague, who owns the McTague of Harrogate gallery next door.
While McTague of Harrogate features traditional art, Red House focuses on pop art, modern art and contemporary work, often showcasing Yorkshire artists.
Dave McTague in front of three of the Brimham Rocks exhibits.
Opening night of the Vic Reeves exhibition.
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Introducing Smiths of Harrogate: the new brand with 115 years of history
This article is sponsored by Smiths of Harrogate.
A family business in Harrogate is set to step into a new era this Autumn.
For more than 115 years, Smiths has been recognised as a leading retailer of furniture, beds and upholstery across the Harrogate, Yorkshire and beyond.
Its familiar building on Dragon Road and its blue delivery vans have borne the name “Smiths The Rink” since 1935, when the Smith family took over the former roller rink which became its home.
However, the fifth generation of the Smith family has decided now is the time to update and move forward, ensuring the brand is recognised even by those who don’t know its history.
Company director Olly Smith said:
“The link to the roller rink was such a long time ago and for a very brief amount of time compared to the business’s history, which goes back to 1906.
“There are very few people who recognise the reason for the name these days – most people assume it was an ice rink.
“We’ve been changing the business significantly over the last five to 10 years into what it is now, and this is the final piece of the jigsaw.”
The new name, Smiths of Harrogate, maintains the historic family link as well as serving to continue the company’s reputation for quality, trustworthiness and style.
Updated branding
That service includes a huge showroom and knowledgeable staff with 70 beds and impressive displays of sofas, chairs and more. Its furniture range covers everything from bedside tables to dining sets, while the flooring department has carpets, wooden flooring and luxury vinyl floors.
Smiths Of Harrogate offers an impressive range of brands to suit all tastes, including Ercol, Amtico, Duresta, Himolla, Parker Knoll, Hypnos, Vispring and many more.
Once customers have selected their furniture, it is delivered by Smiths’ own team in their recognisable vans – now carrying the new name and logo.
The Smith family is looking forward to introducing the refreshed business to customers old and new over the coming weeks and months. Olly added:
Crown court trial for man charged with Harrogate town centre attacks“Anyone who comes through the door is wowed by the scale of the building and our product offering.
“We have a lot of people coming to us from some distance away, having found us online. This is a great opportunity for local people who only know our old brand to meet the modern business and see for themselves what’s behind the doors.”
A man will face trial at York Crown Court after allegedly carrying out a series of attacks in central Harrogate.
Vaughn Ellis, 40, of Grove Park Terrace in Harrogate, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court this morning facing six charges relating to incidents on April 19 this year.
He has been charged with two counts of assault by beating against two people in Oxford Terrace, as well as criminal damage to a door in the same location.
He also faced two charges of attempted robbery, to which he indicated not guilty pleas, on West Park, along with one count of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress, also on West Park.
Magistrates ordered that Mr Ellis be sent to York Crown Court for trial on all six counts. He was given a preliminary date of November 14, when he will be asked to enter formal pleas.
In the meantime, he was bailed and ordered not to make direct or indirect contact with any of the alleged victims.
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Learning goes outdoors at Hookstone Chase Primary School
A new play area has opened at Hookstone Chase Primary School in Harrogate.
The new equipment is part of investment the school is making in facilities especially for reception age children.
The school is part of Northern Star Academies Trust, which runs four primary schools in Harrogate.
Constructed from natural timber to reflect the school’s commitment to the environment, the play area gives children a new learning space to get physical and creative – with a water stream, sand play and jungle planters.
A new shelter offers a place to act out plays, have outdoor lessons, or even an alfresco story time.
The play area is the first part of a development plan for the school being led by new headteacher, Joe Cooper, who joined the academy at the start of September.
Headteacher, Joe Cooper, tries out the new outdoor learning area.
Mr Cooper said:
“Learning should be engaging and fun – whether it’s inside the classroom or outside it.
“Our new play area for our youngest children is a safe place where they can let their imaginations run free. Whether children want to run and climb or play quietly with friends in specially created seating areas, there is something for everyone. Outdoor play is a great way for children to build social skills and friendships”.
Jenn Plews, chief executive of Northern Star Academies Trust, said:
“Learning outdoors is an important part of the curriculum in every Northern Star Academy. Getting outside has benefits for children’s wellbeing and health, as well as their learning”.
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