The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

Next up is the Digital Innovation Award, which is sponsored by ASE Computers.

This award is designed to highlight those businesses which are leading the way in the digital world.

These businesses have embraced digital and grown the business as a result.

This innovation can come in many forms, including putting your business online, developing an app or using other digital applications like social media.

Companies looking to enter for the Digital Innovation Award need to provide examples of the success your business has had with digital, including any statistical data to support.

Do you know a business that deserves to win the Digital Innovation Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

What are the best children’s toys and games, and are they worth the money?

Those are questions parents ask themselves every Christmas – but an old TV clip recently released from the BBC Archives provides some answers from Harrogate primary school pupils. 

The video was first broadcast on December 10, 1975, when schoolchildren from Bilton Grange County Primary School (as it was then) took over from the regular presenters of BBC Nationwide’s Consumer Unit, Valerie Singleton and Richard Stilgoe, to offer their expert opinions on the best children’s games to buy as Christmas presents. 

Archive footage from Bilton Grange Primary School, which was broadcast on BBC’s Nationwide.

Among the toys ranked by the retro reviewers were Mouse Trap, Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, Haunted House, Baby Alive, Super Striker, Scalextric, Action Man, Frustration and Campaign.  

The schoolchildren will be in their late 50s by now, and many may well still live in the area. Are you one of them? Do you know someone who is? Let us know – we’d love to hear from some of them, nearly half a century on. Let us know by emailing contact@thestrayferret.co.uk. 

You can watch the video on the BBC website here.

Read more:

• New book reveals history behind Valley Gardens trees
• History of Ripon Spa Baths captured as venue prepares for new lease of life

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at the controversial closure of Woodfield Community Primary School in Harrogate.

On the last day of this year, Woodfield Community Primary School will officially cease to exist. But in truth, the life has been slowly sucked from the school over the last 18 months.

The school’s prospects had been bleak since an Ofsted report rated it inadequate in 2020.

Under government rules, schools rated inadequate need to join an academy or face closure.

The future of the site remains uncertain.

Hopes were raised when a monitoring report by Ofsted said the school was taking “effective action” to improve. But North Yorkshire County Council, the local education authority, said it was unable to give the school more time because the decision was “out of our hands, because of the system”.

The council eventually revealed plans to amalgamate Woodfield with nearby Grove Road Community Primary School. But the Grove Road governors torpedoed this in April, citing concerns about risk. From this moment on Woodfield’s days were effectively numbered.

The county council opened a consultation on closure and although the idea was met with fury by the trade union Unison, which said closure would be “an absolute disgrace” driven by ideology rather than common sense, and politicians on all sides lined up to say how much the school was needed, the outcome was never in doubt.

June’s poorly attended public meeting.

On a blisteringly hot day in June, council officials held a meeting as part of the consultation. Speaker by speaker methodically spelled out the case for closure — falling pupil numbers, a cumulative deficit of £229,000 in 2023/34 and the Ofsted rating.

Nobody in the room seemed to agree but only about 20 people were there. Parents said it was a done deal and had moved their children elsewhere.

In July the council said it had “no option” but to press ahead with closure.

There were more legal hoops to jump through as formal closure notices were published from September onwards.

The school officially remained open during the autumn term but the only remaining decisions were what to do with the few remaining pupils and staff — as well as the spacious school site.

In October, the council said it would consider “alternative educational uses” for the extensive school site, which many locals suspect will end up as housing. It said:

“The county council will be exploring whether there are alternative educational uses for the school buildings. There are controls around the reuse or redevelopment of school sites, and any alternative uses that are proposed will be the subject of consultation.”

This month, the Stray Ferret asked the council what progress had been made in discussions about the use of the site. A council spokeswoman replied:

“There is no update from our last statements. We are still in discussions about the future use of the site.”

The school does not formally close until the clock strikes midnight on January 1. But the school, synonymous with children’s laughter for 56 years, is empty and its future use uncertain.

Read more:

• ‘Badly let down’ Woodfield school closure confirmed
• Woodfield school site ‘should remain for education’ says MP
• ‘No option’ but to close Woodfield school, says council

Free Sunday bus journeys are to return to Harrogate in January and February.

The Sunday Freeway, which is a partnership between Harrogate Business Improvement District and the Harrogate Bus Company.will enable passengers to travel for free into the town centre on the company’s electric buses.

The Sunday Freeway buses are routes 2A, 2B, 3 and 6, which link Bilton, Dene Park, The Knox, Jennyfield and Pannal Ash with the town centre.

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID chair, said:

“Harrogate is a brilliant town, with an impressive array of bars, restaurants and shops – and we hope many people will take advantage the Sunday Freeway initiative to make the most of what the town has to offer.

“This scheme also benefits the environment, encouraging those travelling to Harrogate to leave their cars at home in favour of hopping on an electric bus.”

Read more:

• Hot Seat: Why 2023 will be economically ‘huge’ in the Harrogate district
• YorBus: On-demand service’s running costs are twice as much as regular buses

Harrogate Bus Company chief executive Alex Hornby said:

“As well as reducing emissions and congestion, free Sunday travel on our Harrogate Electrics buses will make it easier to support our local economy and help keep our town thriving into 2023.

“Along with our maximum £2 single fare which will be in place for the first three months of the New Year, the return of Sunday Freeway free buses in January and February will also help to keep travel costs down during the cost of living crisis.”

Timetables for the free Sunday buses and all of the Harrogate Bus Company’s services are available online here or from the travel kiosk at Harrogate Bus Station or via the Transdev Go mobile app.

Next year will see the start of seismic political changes in North Yorkshire.

On April 1, seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, will be abolished, along with North Yorkshire County Council. and be replaced by a new unitary authority called North Yorkshire Council.

These changes will pave the way for something potentially even more significant in 2024, when North Yorkshire is likely to elect a mayor and become the 11th place in England to get a combined authority.

Words like ‘combined authority’, ‘devolution’ and ‘mayor’ don’t slip down as easily as mulled wine at Christmas and the temptation is to ignore them.

But James Farrar, chief operating officer of York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, thinks the political changes will bring economic benefits — especially to those who grasp the significance of what’s going on. Mr Farrar says:

“This is huge. There will be significant investment on an ongoing basis right across North Yorkshire.”

Mr Farrar, who is from Huby and went to primary school in North Rigton and secondary school in Harrogate, heads one of 38 local enterprise partnerships.

LEPs sit between local and national government to stimulate economic growth. York and North Yorkshire LEP, which employs 40 staff, is mainly funded by £375,000 from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and £250,000 from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

It invests in capital infrastructure that provides conditions for growth, such as the upgrade of junction 47 on the A1(M) at Flaxby. It also invests in skills and business support.

Right now, devolution is by far the biggest game in town.

James Farrar

Mr Farrar, who has worked in economic regeneration for two decades, pinpoints two major benefits — long-term funding and a closer dialogue with national government. He says:

“Currently organisations are constantly bidding for funding from government for one, three or five years. When you are constantly bidding it’s very hard to take long-term strategic decisions. Thirty-year funding gives certainty. Having been stuck in a cycle of short-term bidding, it will make a massive difference.

“Also, areas with mayors have a constant dialogue with government. It will put us round that top table. There will be an ongoing, permanent relationship between North Yorkshire and Whitehall.”

Mr Farrar describes the proposed 30-year, £540 million devolution deal, which is expected to be ratified in the new year, as “a really, really good deal compared to what other areas got at the beginning”.

It will mean an £18 million a year mayoral investment fund, plus there will be separate funding for specific areas such as transport. He says it will “enhance rather than erode” the powers of North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council, which will continue to handle areas such as highways and planning.

Read more:

• Devolution could end ‘half a century of under investment’ in Ripon
• £540m North Yorkshire devolution deal looks set to progress, say officials

The creation of a mayoral combined authority has led to fears too much power will be concentrated in too few hands.

The authority will be chaired by the mayor and have two members each from North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council plus the chair of the LEP.

Mr Farrar says the fact the mayor will need re-electing to maintain office will act as a democratic check on his or her power.

‘Be on the front foot’

Mr Farrar, whose brother still farms in Huby, acknowledges people will only value devolution “when they see real change” but he insists it’s coming.

He also thinks businesses and councils need to be ready.

“My message to any area is it’s important to be clear about your priorities. Think about what investment they need to make sure town centres are vibrant, what will make businesses want to relocate there and what are the barriers to that.

“My experience is that places with a plan attract investment. If you wait for the money you will be waiting a long time. Be on the front foot.

“We have some amazing towns in North Yorkshire but they are going through a lot of problems and change. Their USP is the quality of places and if they get this right they will see significant progress.”

Mr Farrar also predicts a “big change in agriculture because of environmental changes and leaving the EU”, which will have a particularly significant impact on rural North Yorkshire and further reshape the county’s economy.

But he insists the outcome of all the changes will be worth it, with more prosperous towns and a more politically tuned in county. He also reiterates a point he made in a speech to Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce last month — that there are  successful businesses in York looking to relocate and alert nearby towns in the Harrogate district could benefit.

The LEP is based in York and Mr Farrar says:

“York is constrained by its geographical size. We have businesses wanting to grow and we don’t want them to move outside the area. Whether it’s Knaresborough or Boroughbridge in the Harrogate district or somewhere else like Selby and Easingwold, there are opportunities to be part of that growth.”

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at the district’s ongoing multi-million pound leisure projects.

Spades hit the ground this year as an overhaul of leisure services in the district continued.

Since taking over the reigns of facilities in 2021, Brimhams Active has slowly pressed on with shaping a new look leisure offering.

Harrogate Borough Council is spending more than £40 million on new pools in Ripon and Knaresborough and on a major refurbishment of The Hydro in Harrogate.

Those projects made progress this year, although the saga over Ripon’s ground instability coloured the debate over whether the site was suitable for a new pool.

The investment in leisure is the largest the district has seen.

In Harrogate, the Hydro will be expanded and in Knaresborough an entirely new facility will be built.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret in March, Mark Tweedie, director of Brimhams, said he expects the transition to the new pool to be “seamless”.

Both projects are set to cost around £28 million.

Delays and cost hikes

But, while they represent ambitious schemes, they have not been plain sailing.

The reopening of the Hydro has been delayed and is set to cost more than originally planned.

This month the borough council revealed it is set to cost £12.8 million – £1 million more than planned.

Cllr Stanley Lumley, Cllr Phil Ireland, Alliance Leisure business development manager Sean Nolan and ISG project manager Julian Donnelly outside the Knaresborough Leisure Centre construction.

Meanwhile, the facility is not expected to reopen until the summer.

The opening of a gym at Ripon has also been beset by delays as the council carries out ground stability work.

On top of that, a temporary gym which is expected to be put in place during the works will not arrive until the new year.

Despite the issues in Ripon, the decision to build on the site was defended by Cllr Stan Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport at the borough council, amid concern over the future of the centre due to instability.

While the projects may be ambitious, the revolution over leisure in the district is taking time to come to fruition.

Read more:

• Delayed opening for temporary gym at Ripon leisure centre
• Ripon Leisure Centre ground works will cost £3.5 million

Harrogate Town are set to clash with Grimsby Town today in their first fixture in three weeks.

The Boxing Day match comes as Town have had two EFL League Two games postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Harrogate will welcome the Mariners to the EnviroVent Stadium in the hope of building on their 4-1 away win at Rochdale on December 3.

The fixture will be the first of three over the Christmas period.

Ahead of today’s game, Town will be without Will Smith, Dior Angus, Stephen Dooley, Matty Daly and Lewis Richards who are out injured.

Read more:

• Harrogate Town submits major new ground redevelopment plans
• Business Breakfast: Aon renews Harrogate Town sponsorship

However, Joe Mattock is set to be available after missing the victory at Rochdale.

Town will be hoping for a repeat of last season when they took six points from the Mariners in the league.

Manager Simon Weaver said it was important that the players kept their focus over the next three games.

He said:

“We have got to make sure we have got that focus and don’t it slip.

“Three back to back wins would be huge for us in our season. It would make the table look completely different from where we were three games ago.

“It’s a tough prospect is this game. I have been watching a lot of the coverage of Grimsby. They had a great FA Cup victory against Plymouth, they went to Wimbledon and were probably the better team on the day and they beat Tranmere last time out.

“We know Paul Hurst, he was the last manager I played under. I know the quality he looks for in players and he is a very good manager.”

Harrogate firefighters were called out this morning to a chimney fire cause by wrapping paper.

The crew was called to Kingsley Road where paper burnt on a log burner had caused excess draw up the chimney.

The firefighters used tools to remove the hearth and checked the chimney breasts belonging to the property and the house next door as they shared a flue.

After the cause was discovered and the fire extinguished the firefighters installed a smoke alarm.

Read more:

• Harrogate set to get town council after 75% back the idea
• Firefighters rescue family trapped on black ice in Nidderdale

This week we have a selection of photographs celebrating Christmas day across the Harrogate district.

Photographs by Kate Filippi and Brittany Thompson

Photographs by Helen Sunderland and Jenni Foley

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.

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at the the questions surrounding Harrogate Convention Centre’s future.

Harrogate Convention Centre is at a pivotal moment in its 40 year history.

That much was clear this past 12 months when political leaders, business owners and HCC officials debated its very future.

Amid the shake-up of local government, council bosses have juggled a strategy to make the centre viable with how best to run the facility in the coming years.

For the past two years, Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the HCC, has been working up a £49 million plan to renovate the convention centre in an attempt to make it attractive to future users.

The money would have been the single biggest investment the council has ever made in modern times – but that will no longer be the case.

In four months’ time, the authority will no longest exist and the keys to the HCC will be handed to North Yorkshire Council.

The new authority will not only be burdened with a figuring out how best to manage one of the town’s biggest assets, but also how to pay for a project that would keep it viable.

Questions over money

Questions have mounted over recent months over exactly how the scheme would be paid for.

Since January, borough council bosses have made multiple attempts to figure out how to fund their ambitious project.

Officials pinned their hopes on the devolution negotiations with government. Within the document submitted to ministers was a bid for funding specifically for the convention centre refurbishment.

However, much to the dismay of council leader, Cllr Richard Cooper, ministers refused to commit any funding to the project.

Another blow came in the shape of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt dropping plans for investment zones, which Harrogate Convention Centre was earmarked for – though council leaders said this was expected.

Council bosses went back to the drawing board and drew up a bid to the government’s Levelling Up fund.

Read more:

• Council explores move to protect Harrogate Convention Centre with limited company status
• Working group set up to steer future of Harrogate Convention Centre
• What now for Harrogate Convention Centre after investment zones dropped?

The £20 million bid is another roll of the dice in terms of finances.

In the end, any decision on the project will be entirely out of the borough council’s hands.

Councillors on the new North Yorkshire Council will decide the fate of the project.

Not only that, but the new council will also decide how the facility is run – a topic which is already being considered by a strategic board set up by the authority.