Harrogate park and ride plans could finally be revealed next year

A study looking into a park and ride bus service for Harrogate could finally bring forward proposals next year.

North Yorkshire County Council said feasibility work is underway and should take around six months to assess a scheme which has long been seen as part of the solution to the town’s congestion woes.

Plans would then be produced before a funding bid is made for the service where motorists would park outside Harrogate town centre and get the bus in.

However, it is unclear how much money would be needed and where it would come from as the council said “it is too early to provide costs”.

It was previously suggested that construction costs could exceed £10 million.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transport at the council, said it was looking at several locations to run the service from and that there were no longer any plans for a trial.

He said: 

“We are actively considering the feasibility of a park and ride for Harrogate and it remains a key priority for us as we work to tackle congestion.

“We expect this will take around six months to complete and then the findings will be used to determine which proposals should be developed into a bid for funding.

“There are no plans for a pilot.”

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More than 100 locations have been examined and the two most promising were last year revealed as land near Pannal Golf Club and the Buttersyke Bar roundabout south of the village.

These were identified as they connect to the 36 bus service which runs between Harrogate, Ripon and Leeds on the A61.

Making use of existing bus routes is a priority for the council as its other park and ride services often run at a financial loss due to the high costs involved.

Harrogate Bus Company runs the 36 service, and Alex Hornby, chief executive of its parent company Transdev Blazefield, said he was happy to support the council in progressing its plans.

Mr Hornby said: 

“The Harrogate Bus Company has long advocated for bus-based park and ride on the A61 – served by the 36 as an existing, high quality bus service – as we believe that will help manage congestion and emissions by reducing car journeys in the town centre.”

Determined to push ahead

The long-awaited progress comes at a worrying time for North Yorkshire’s buses after a bid for £116 million in government cash was rejected before warnings that services are at risk of being axed when other funding comes to an end in October.

The bid to the high-profile Bus Back Better scheme included new bus lanes, other infrastructure improvements and cash to keep services running.

However, it was rejected in its entirety by the Department for Transport which said the bid lacked “sufficient ambition”.

Although funding for a Harrogate park and ride service was not included in the bid, Cllr Duncan stressed the council’s determination to push ahead with the plans.

He said: 

“While we suffered a setback with our Bus Service Improvement Plan bid to the Department for Transport being unsuccessful, we are working to identify potential sites along the A61 corridor and elsewhere in town.

“This will build on the work we’ve already undertaken as part of the Harrogate Transport Improvements Programme study that was completed in 2021.”

Richard Flinton appointed first North Yorkshire Council chief executive

Richard Flinton was this morning appointed as the first chief executive of the new North Yorkshire Council.

Mr Flinton will take up the £180,000 to £197,000 a year role when the new authority comes into existence in April 2023.

An extraordinary meeting this morning ratified his appointment. Sixteen applications for the role were received.

Mr Flinton is the current chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council. Carl Les, the current leader of the county council, will be the new leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr John McCartney, an Independent councillor for Osgoldcross, told the meeting people had been assured North Yorkshire devolution would not amount to a “power grab” by the county council but that appeared to be the case now that it had been named the continuing authority and there was a continuing chief executive.

He added:

“The perception of this is absolutely appalling out there. It’s just a disgraceful perception.

“People do not understand why they did not get a vote on the governance of their local councils and their local services and they do not get a vote on how their council tax will be used.”

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Cllr McCartney went onto add that there was a “disconnect” between the council and the county, which would be “as big as the Humber estuary” when the unitary council comes into force.

He said:

“Residents who vote Conservative in the main at General Elections are irked and discombobulated and feel like they have been treated with contempt.

“I don’t take much from the USA, but government of the people, for the people and by the people is a pretty good recipe for democracy. But that is not what North Yorkshire County Council is going to be.”

In response, Cllr Carl Les, leader of the council, said the process for choosing Mr Flinton was “well done” and attended by all political groups within the council.

He said:

“I don’t know what to say to John McCartney. I don’t think much of what you have said has anything to do with what we are discussing today which is the appointment of a chief executive.”

Cllr Les added Mr Flinton had “grown through the ranks of this organisation and grown into every role we have given him. I am sure he will continue to do so.”

Following the meeting, Mr Flinton said:

“I am honoured to have been chosen to become the chief executive of the new council at a time of huge change and opportunity in North Yorkshire.

“We are faced with some unprecedented challenges that have arisen from rising inflation as well as pressures on social care and also the issues which all local authorities are facing in recruiting and retaining staff to their workforces.

“But with those challenges come immense opportunities, while working with colleagues in North Yorkshire’s district and borough councils to introduce the new unitary authority.”

 

Jurassic crazy golf coming to Harrogate this weekend

A nine-hole jurassic crazy golf course is set to come to Harrogate town centre this weekend.

The course, which combines crazy golf with dinosaurs, will be held outside the Victoria Shopping Centre piazza on Saturday and Sunday.

An educational Dino Trail around the town centre will accompany the game.

Matthew Chapman, manager at Harrogate BID which has commissioned the course and trail, said:

““With the school summer holidays nearing an end, parents maybe scratching their heads thinking what to do to entertain their children.

“Well, we have the answer – jurassic golf! And what could be me more fun than a combination of dinosaurs and crazy golf?

“In addition to coming into town to shop, eat and drink, visitors can now add mini-crazy golf to the list. The crazy golf in the Valley Gardens is incredibly popular, and we are confident our Jurassic Golf will be a roaring success.”

The Dino Trail is a fun, educational trail where people can find answers to jurassic-themed questions by scanning a QR code on a poster, displayed in shop windows.

The answer will then appear on their phones. 

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As people complete the trail, they will also be collecting letters that form a simple, themed anagram. Users can then submit the anagram/answer via the LoyalFree app for an additional chance to win a prize draw.

Those wishing to play a round of golf can turn up on the day or book at the jurassic golf website here.

The cost is adults £3, children £2.50, family of four (two adults and two children) £10 and one adult and one child £5.

Concerns over ‘perfect storm’ of homelessness in Harrogate

Concerns have been raised over a “perfect storm” of homelessness in Harrogate due to the cost of living crisis and a lack of accommodation.

Harrogate Borough Council recently revealed a “huge” 60% increase in requests for housing help, which has led to more homeless people staying in bed and breakfasts for longer.

The council also said it has had difficulties in moving hostel tenants into permanent housing as cases have been “more complex than normal”.

Speaking at a meeting on Monday, Trevor Watson, director of economy and culture at the council, said these issues combined with a lack of private rental properties in the district were creating a “perfect storm”.

A total of 370 people accessed housing help in the first quarter 2022 – up from 334 the same time in the previous year.

The increase comes amid big rises in the cost of living with soaring prices putting a squeeze on people’s finances.

Harrogate Fairfax Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Aldred urged the council to not “lose sight” of the worsening situation as he also raised concerns over long delays in the licensing of multiple occupancy houses.

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The council is currently taking an average of 323 days to licence these properties against a target of 60.

Mr Watson blamed the backlog on the covid pandemic which he said has had a “huge impact” on staff being able to process applications.

A report to Monday’s overview and scrutiny meeting said councils across the country are facing similar issues and that finding accommodation for homeless people “isn’t always easy due to complicating factors like mental health or debts”.

It said: 

“Following a huge increase in the number of families approaching the service, the homelessness indicators performance have worsened.

“Our homelessness performance indicators, though off target, unfortunately reflect broader national trends around homelessness.

“Housing teams across the country have been dealing with higher case loads.

“In Harrogate, cases are about 60% higher than previous years.”

Harrogate choir’s ‘fabulous’ Edinburgh Fringe performance

A choir from Harrogate has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the first time, just three years after it was formed.

Sixty members of The Stray Notes travelled to the famous festival to give two performances in historic venues.

They performed in the early afternoon on Sunday at St Giles’s Cathedral on the Royal Mile, before moving on to Canongate Kirk later on.

Choir director Liz Linfoot said:

“It was really fabulous. We were excited, but we didn’t know what to expect.

“The two venues were beautiful. St Giles’s was a really big audience and they were so positive – we got some lovely feedback.

“Then Canongate Kirk was a bit smaller and felt very different, but again the acoustics were beautiful.”

The choir performed a wide variety of music, from a Bon Jovi medley to gospel and choral songs. They finished the concerts with Hey Jude, which got the audiences joining in, and One Day More from Les Miserables.

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The performances were the most prestigious yet for the choir, which formed in September 2019 but was unable to give concerts during the covid pandemic.

Since then, members have been able to travel to perform in Manchester and Liverpool, and are looking forward to getting on the road more in the future. Liz said:

“The choir just love going to difference places together – it’s a really sociable group.

“The idea of the Fringe was a suggestion from a choir member. We try to give them the opportunity to make suggestions so everyone feels like it’s their choir.

“We went up early so we had time for a meal out together and even a silent disco! Some people saw some shows and others just wandered around the city.”

The Stray Notes will be performing in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens on Sunday, September 4 from 2pm, before its autumn term begins that week.

Liz said it welcomes new members and it particularly keen to hear from anyone with a lower voice. It is offering the first term’s membership free to tenor and bass singers.

Members do not need to be able to read music and previous experience in a choir is not necessary. if two singers join from the same household, the second gets their membership half price.

Calls to tackle construction vehicles who cause ‘misery’ in Harrogate

A councillor says more should be done to tackle construction vehicles that are making people’s lives a ‘misery’ in residential areas.

There has been an unprecedented levels of housebuilding in the Harrogate district in recent years, which has resulted in an increasing number of trucks, lorries and other construction traffic going to-and-from sites.

At a Harrogate Borough Council meeting last night, Conservative councillor for Old Bilton, Paul Haslam, queried what more the council could do to support residents dealing with disruption.

When a development receives planning permission, conditions are attached that stipulate how housebuilders will minimise the impact of issues such as noise and dust.

But Cllr Haslam said he and other councillors had received complaints from residents that the council’s planning enforcement team was not ensuring that conditions were being upheld.

Cllr Haslam said:

“I’m very concerned at the moment about some building work that’s going on in Harrogate, where it’s close to existing properties. [The housebuilders] have been given permission to build, not to make their lives a misery.

“How can we help officers enforce conditions to ensure that development is conducted in a safe and healthy way?”

He added:

“I have potential building on the edge of my area at the moment. The people who live next to it will have 10 years of disruption.”

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In response, Conservative councillor for Killinghall and Hampsthwaite, Michael Harrison, suggested council officers should meet with the directors of housing companies so they can better understand “how much work they need to do” to support people who live next to building sites.

Conservative councillor for the Washburn ward, Victoria Oldham asked Cllr Haslam if he thought HBC’s planning enforcement team was acting on complaints from residents “in a timeous manner”.

Cllr Haslam said he was concerned that enforcement officers “don’t have enough support”. He said:

“Quite clearly, guidelines are being flaunted by the developers. We need to make sure we are seen to protect our residents.”

22 junior soldiers in Harrogate complained of sexual assault last year

Twenty-two junior soldiers at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate said they were raped or sexually assaulted last year.

Figures released by ministers reveal 47 British army recruits under the age of 18 claimed to have been raped or sexually assaulted last year.

Dave Doogan, the Scottish National Party MP for Angus, asked armed forces minister Leo Docherty how many of those were from the Harrogate college.

Mr Docherty replied:

“Of the 47 victims in those statistics, 37 were female and of those cases one has been proven, four are ongoing, and 11 have been transferred to the civilian police.

“Twenty-two were based at the Army Foundation College at the time of the offence.”

The Harrogate college, which recruits about 1,500 recruits each year, is the only British army establishment that delivers military training to junior soldiers aged 16 and 17. Recruits undertake 23-week or 49-week basic training at the college on Penny Pot Lane.

army foundation college

The college on Penny Pot Lane.

Colonel Philip Ingram a former army commanding officer and NATO planner was quoted in The Sun saying:

“These statistics are shocking whatever way you look at them.

“They highlight the most basic of failures in command at a number of different levels and yet it takes a parliamentary question to get the information into the public domain, delivered by the very minister who continuously says the MoD is making huge progress in addressing inappropriate behaviours.

“It is clear that either he is lying or is being lied to in his briefings and the result is the lifetime of trauma imposed on the victims, some of whom are still children. Until defence gets some form of independent oversight then it will continue to cover up what can only be described as atrocious acts.”

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The Stray Ferret asked the Ministry of Defence to respond to the allegations and asked why so many abuse claims were made by recruits at Harrogate.

An MoD spokesperson said:

“There is absolutely no place for unacceptable behaviour in the army. We recognise the great courage it takes to come forward and report a sexual offence and commanding officers will always refer any allegation of rape and sexual assault, or any other offence which may have a sexual element, to the service police. All allegations are thoroughly investigated, and support provided to alleged victims.

 “At the Army Foundation College emotional, psychological and the physical safety of our young junior soldiers is taken extremely seriously and is central to the ethos at the college. Junior soldiers are empowered to call out unacceptable behaviour and should have confidence that their complaint will be investigated.”

Series of claims

This is not the first time concerns have been expressed about behaviour towards junior soldiers at the Army Foundation College.

Claims of bullying and abuse were raised in the House of Lords in November last year.

Last year also saw a female instructor at the college demoted after being convicted of punching teenage soldiers and three parents call for the college to be closed after claiming their children were abused.

But the college was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted last year. Government inspectors gave positive feedback on safeguarding at the college, saying it investigated incidents thoroughly and made necessary improvements.

Last year Carol Monaghan, the Scottish National Party’s spokesperson for the armed forces, attempted to introduce a clause in the Armed Forces Bill preventing 16 and 17-year-olds enlisting in the army. Anyone under the age of 18 in the UK is legally classified as a child.

But Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham, defended the college. He said:

“I suggest that anyone who wants to see the positive way individuals can and do improve their lives visits the Army Foundation College in Harrogate.”

Business Breakfast: Knaresborough businesses to be recognised at awards event

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A new awards ceremony is set to take place in Knaresborough this weekend to recognise the town’s businesses.

About 130 guests will attend Knaresborough Business Awards at Hopewell Farm on Saturday.

Set up by the Knaresborough Business Collective, the ceremony is designed to celebrate the different businesses in the town.

Award categories include favourite place to eat and drink, favourite retailer, favourite female and male led businesses and favourite long standing business.

Natalie Horner, of the Knaresborough Business Collective, said:

“We are so excited about the event. It will be a welcome event to Knaresborough and a great way for business owners to socialise and get to know one another too.

“Hopefully we can run it every year.”

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Harrogate rental company concludes sale process

A Harrogate-based equipment rental company has concluded a formal sale process after finding no satisfactory buyers.

Vp, which has its headquarters at Central House on Beckwith Knowle, launched a formal sale of the company earlier this year.

The decision followed the company’s controlling shareholder, Akers P Investment Company, a company which is connected to Vp chairman Jeremy Pilkington, indicating its desire to explore opportunities and dispose of its 50.26% shareholding.

However, in an announcement yesterday, Vp said its board had voted to conclude the sales process after finding that none of the proposals “would satisfactorily meet the interests of all stakeholders”.

Ackers P Investment Company added that it no longer had any intention of selling its shares and “remain committed to Vp”.

Mr Pilkington said:

“In the original FSP announcement I commented that Vp’s controlling shareholder, a company connected to me, had decided that it wished to diversify its investments.

“Following a review conducted with our advisers, we, as a board unanimously concluded that it would be in the best interests of all the company’s stakeholders to launch the FSP. The process was focused on identifying the right owner for the business and whilst we were pleased with the level of interest shown, the FSP did not lead to the identification of a suitable new owner.

“I am pleased that Vp’s controlling shareholder Ackers P Investment Company Limited, a company connected to me, has confirmed its ongoing commitment to Vp following the conclusion of this process.”

‘Serious concerns’ over Swinsty Reservoir parking charges plan

Residents have raised serious concerns over plans to introduce parking charges at Swinsty Reservoir.

Yorkshire Water has tabled proposals to Harrogate Borough Council to introduce parking machines and automatic number plate recognition cameras at the car park.

The company also plans to trial charges at Fewston and Thruscross reservoirs in the Harrogate district.

The reservoirs are popular beauty spots that attract numerous visitors and dog walkers.

There are fears the charges would encourage them to park on the roadside to avoid payment and block the route for emergency vehicles.

Similar concerns were expressed during covid lockdowns when the car parks were closed.

Cllr Graham Hebblethwaite, who sits on Washburn Parish Council, said:

“We have very serious concerns because everything is working well at the moment with the car parks.

“If they start to charge, then people may start to park on the road.”

He added:

“The area is open to all walks of life. Peacefulness plays a major part in a lot of people’s lives who are in desperate need of this within the present climate.

“The proposed car parking charges may create more stress. It would be nice if Yorkshire Water, who have made very large profits in recent years recent years, seriously considered the need to charge.”

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Some local residents have written to the council expressing similar fears.

Richard Pullen, who lives in West End, told the authority that the proposal would create “a further divide” between those who live in the area and those who visit.

He said:

“Putting parking meters in will push traffic onto roads causing blockages and damage to the already narrow roads, inconveniencing emergency services, farmers and others who need access.

“It is going to cause a further divide between people that live in the countryside and those visiting.”

Cars parked outside Swinsty reservoir in the first week of lockdown restrictions being eased.

Cars parked outside Swinsty reservoir when lockdown restrictions were eased but the car parks remained closed.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said:

“As we said when we announced our plans to trial the parking charges at Swinsty and other reservoirs, the revenue generated from the parking charges will contribute towards the provision of Yorkshire Water’s first in-house Ranger team. Three rangers will be based in the north area, which includes Swinsty, and so this will be one of the sites they focus on. 

“They will be engaging with visitors helping to reduce the things such as fires and BBQs, swimming, littering, fly-tipping and genera anti-social behaviour. They will also support the maintenance and conservation of the site making repairs, improving wildlife habitats and litter picking. Money from the parking charges will also be reinvested across Yorkshire Water’s sites to deliver nature conservation, countryside management and improvement of facilities at reservoir sites.

“The project is a trial and impacts, if any, of dispersed parking will be monitored and we will keep in regular contact with the Parish Council throughout the trial period.

“As we aren’t responsible for the roads in the area, we are continuing to work with the local council, the Police and Highways England to look at solutions to deter/prevent unsafe and inappropriate parking.

“We are committed to working with key stakeholders to monitor the impact of the parking charges during the trial period including both negatives and positives.”

Those who use the car park will be able to pay via car payment on site, by using the RingGo app or telephone.

Emergency services and blue badge holders will be exempt from the charges.

The proposed tariffs will be one hour at £1, two hours at £2, six hours at £3, an all day pass for £5 and an annual pass for £30.

Bransby Wilson Parking Solutions, based in York, have been appointed to operate the parking meters. 

Starbeck groups call truce and promise to work ‘positively together’

Two rival community groups in Starbeck have called a truce and are promising to work together.

Starbeck Residents Association, chaired by Chris Watt, was formed in the 1990s and awards grants and campaigns to safeguard local facilities in Starbeck.

Starbeck Community Group was launched by Starbeck Post Office owner Andrew Hart in 2020 and has been involved in several local campaigns including painting a giant Ukraine flag on the former McColl’s supermarket building.

But the group’s two leaders have history — there was public acrimony when Mr Watt was appointed chair last year at the residents association’s annual general meeting.

In May this year, Mr Hart then said it was “an insult to the community” that Labour Party member Mr Watt was standing for a political party in local elections and called on him to step down from his role as chair.

There have also been unpleasant comments on social media.

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Mr Watt, alongside SRA secretary Geoff Foxhall, met Mr Hart and SCG member Lucky Hubbard over the weekend and they agreed to put their differences aside and work together.

Mr Watt and Mr Hart issued a joint statement that said “public attacks and criticism of other local groups only create division and foster a negative impression of Starbeck”.

The statement said:

“Starbeck is a wonderful area, where we are proud to live and work. The Starbeck Residents’ Association and Starbeck Community Group have been working hard, in our respective ways, to support the area. We complement the many other groups and organisations who put so much into Starbeck and we are proud to support them as well.

“For the good of our area, it is important that we work together. Public attacks and criticism of other local groups only create division and foster a negative impression of Starbeck among people who live here and are considering moving to or investing in our area. It also discourages people from contributing their time and energy into local groups and organisations.

“For the good of Starbeck, we are promising to work constructively and positively together.”