Northern Gas Networks has paused its “slower than anticipated” gas mains replacement works in Harrogate town centre.

The company said yesterday the scheme had proved “challenging” and would be temporarily halted to avoid Christmas disruption.

It means five weeks of traffic lights on Cold Bath Road, which were initially due to take place in September, won’t happen until at least January.

Northern Gas Networks, which transports gas to 2.7 million homes in northern England through a network of underground pipes, also said it had finished long-term work at Crescent Road, near the tourist information centre.

But it added it still needed to “make good” the area before traffic and pedestrian restrictions were lifted — hopefully this week.

Scott Kitchingman, business operations lead for Northern Gas Networks said:

“Our gas mains replacement works in Harrogate town centre have progressed well, but it has been a challenging project to undertake due to the location of the main.

“The complexity of the engineering involved means the pace of the works has been slower than anticipated and that has extended their overall duration.

“We want to minimise disruption for Harrogate residents and motorists as much as possible, so rather than impact customers during the busy festive period by continuing the works now, we’ve temporarily paused the project and will return to complete it in the new year.”

Mr Kitchingman added the company’s customer care officers would keep residents and businesses updated with new dates “as soon as they are agreed with North Yorkshire County Council’s highways team”, adding:

“We sincerely apologise in the meantime for any inconvenience customers have experienced.”

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The owner of The Harrogate Tea Rooms has said energy bills that have risen “five-fold” are having a major impact on his business.

Tony and Carrie Wilkinson have owned the tea rooms in Westminster Arcade for 10 years.

Mr Wilkinson described the price hike as a “nightmare” and said a cloud of uncertainty was hanging over the cafe’s future as a result.

He said his business was currently running at a loss and he couldn’t rule out closure if more government support was not provided. He added:

“Even with the government incentive, our energy bills have gone up five-fold.

“Last month my wife was trying to energy save and she managed to reduce the bills by 22 per cent just by not having the lights on as much and doing baking in the morning. But the bills are still five times higher than they were.

“We are having to change the menu so we are not offering things that take a long time to cook. It’s a real problem.”

It comes after a turbulent period for the hospitality industry, which is still recovering in the wake of the pandemic.

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Last month Ainsty Farm Shop closed due to soaring energy bills and many other businesses are struggling to cope.

Mr Wilkinson said:

“It’s a nightmare really.

“At least with covid we knew where we were and what we were doing. With this, we don’t know what’s coming tomorrow.

“We can’t pass on the costs to the customer. We are effectively running at a loss and for how long I don’t know. It has made a massive difference to us.”

‘Closure is a possibility’

Mr Wilkinson said footfall had also taken a hit due to people cutting down on spending amid the cost of living crisis.

He said:

“Visitor numbers are down. We are just going to have to see what happens and hopefully the shows at the Harrogate Convention Centre and the Royal Hall will help things to pick up.

“It’s a difficult time for anyone in the industry.

“Closure is a possibility if we don’t get more help and support.

“But we battle on. We offer a good service and home-cooked food. We get support from our regular customers. We just need more visitors. We hope things are going to pick up.”

This story is sponsored by Little Bird Made.

Jackie Crozier’s ambition is to make the Harrogate district and neighbouring areas a Mecca for artisan markets, where local traders can showcase and sell their hand-crafted goods and customers can find those extra special and unique items.

In the four years since she hatched a plan to hold an inaugural market in her home city of Ripon, Jackie’s Little Bird Made venture has spread its wings and now has more than ten venues in North and West Yorkshire where its events are regularly held.

Pictures above and below, from the bustling artisan markets held by Little Bird in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens last Christmas

The latest exciting addition to a fast-growing list of attractive and historic locations is Harewood House, where the talented and hard-working Little Bird team will curate a four-day Artisan Winter Market from Thursday November 3 until Sunday November 6.

Little Bird founder and managing director Jackie, said:

“This will be the largest event that we have ever staged, with more than 100 stalls each day located on the North Park Walk facing onto the magnificent 18th century country house.”

She added:

“It’s a fabulous setting for a pre-Christmas market and there will be a wonderful atmosphere for visitors and our community of traders.

“In addition to the wide-range of handmade goods and food and drink items on sale, there will be demonstrations of artisan crafts and a special letterbox where children can post a letter to Santa.”

Entry to the winter market is £5 and includes access to the grounds, but there will be no charge for Harewood members. Tickets can be booked by clicking here.

The market will be open daily from 10am until 4pm.

Jackie, who was born and bred in Ripon, launched Little Bird after being away from the city for more than 20 years, working as the Director of the Manchester Pride Festival and later as an events manager working on a number of high-profile events including the London 2012 Olympics.

The expertise that she gained in working with stakeholders including local councils, community groups, performers and suppliers, has been put to good use in developing the Little Bird business and ethos.

She said:

“Our aim is to create added value events that bring increased footfall to the marvellous market towns that we have in the Harrogate district and further afield.

“Visitors who come to our markets often stay to look around local attractions and spend money in shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs, before they go home.”

Jackie, added:

“We are planning to add to our list of locations next year and believe that there will be further economic, and community benefits all round if we can make this area a Mecca for artisan markets.

“We are also always looking for local artisans who would like to join us and share in the Little Bird experience.”

Upcoming Little Bird Christmas markets

Following the Winter Market at Harewood House, Little Bird will, for the second year running, be holding Christmas Markets with 75 stalls in the Sun Colonnade at Harrogate’s Valley Gardens on December 3,4,10 and 11.

Between November 12 and December 18, one day markets with up to 60 artisan traders present, will be held in Easingwold, Boroughbridge, Wetherby, Richmond, Thirsk, Leyburn, Harrogate Horticultural Nursery, Ripon, Driffield and Northallerton.

Click here to see the full list of Little Bird Made events coming soon.

The long-term gas works on Crescent Road In Harrogate town centre are due to be paused this week.

Motorists are still unable to turn left at the Parliament Street junction and traffic coming the opposite way on Ripon Road is unable to turn right but by next week the restrictions should have ended.

Roadworks near the Harrogate Town ground on Wetherby Road in Harrogate are due to end tomorrow.

According to North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map, two sets of traffic lights will be active on Skipton Road, between the Empress roundabout and King’s Road.

Traffic lights on the A59 York Road near the junction with the A658 in Knaresborough are due to remain in place until November 11.

Yorkshire Water has installed four-way traffic lights as it lays a new water main for a housing development.

In Ripon, roadworks are due to be active on Heckler Lane and New Road today and tomorrow.

Work to reconstruct the landslip-hit B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley, near Pateley Bridge, is ongoing.

The road is closed and a diversion is in place via Pateley Bridge; the B6451 Dacre; Menwith Hill Road; Duck Street and Greenhow Hill village. Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the remainder of the work.

Trains and buses

Rail operator Northern is not reporting any problems on the line passing through Harrogate and Knaresborough this morning but the live departure and arrival board for Harrogate shows the 7.37am LNER service to London is cancelled.

The Harrogate Bus Company is reporting cancellations on the 36 bus, the 9am and 10.55am Harrogate to Leeds services are cancelled, as are the Leeds to Harrogate 7.40am, 9.55am, 11.55am services and the Starbeck to Leeds 6.23am bus.

You can get updates here.

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A section of a busy Harrogate road is to be closed for up to a year to allow work to begin on a 133-home housing scheme.

Kingsley Road will be completely sealed off beyond the junction with Kingsley Drive up to the bridge leading to Bogs Lane.

It means people travelling along Kingsley Road will be unable to get to Bogs Lane without a lengthy 1.4-mile detour on to the main A59 Knaresborough Road.

Pedestrians, dog walkers and cyclists, who use the route to get to the bridge going down to the shared off-road walking and cycling route to Bilton, will also be affected.

The bridge leading down to the pedestrian and cycle route.

Jenny Mills, who lives in the area, said

“It will now mean when I take my two little boys for a bike ride or a dog walk I will now have to walk the entire way around Starbeck to get to the cycle track, which is less then 50 metres from my front door.

“The sad part is I meet so many elderly and disabled people on the cycle path for whom the path is a lifeline, basically. Without it they don’t have access to a safe and level walk in the fresh air or to a safe place to walk their dog.

“There’s no way these people will be able to walk the huge distance to get to the cycle path which then leaves them limited options to walk their dogs safely.”

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North Yorkshire County Council has issued a temporary prohibition of traffic order, which says the closure will come into force on November 7.

The order says “it is envisaged” to last until May 8 next year, but the maximum duration is 12 months.

A map showing the Kingsley Road detour.

Councillor seeks solution

Harrogate Borough Council granted final approval in July for Redrow to build 133 homes on Kingsley Road, in what will be the latest development in the Kingsley area.

Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley on North Yorkshire County Council, said he planned to hold talks with Redrow to see if access for walkers and cyclists could be maintained for some periods while work is carried out.

Cllr Aldred said the road closure would stop the route being used as a “rat run” by motorists trying to avoid the A59 Knaresborough Road and there were long-term plans to close it permanently to through traffic.

But he said those plans involved maintaining non-vehicular access and he couldn’t see why this couldn’t also be achieved now.

“They won’t be digging for all six months so I would have thought there might be option where pedestrians and cyclists can go up there for maybe five months out of six.”

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Harrogate College is holding an event that gives businesses the chance to talk to customer service-trained students about part-time work that fits around their studies.

The college’s employer network recruitment fair enables Harrogate district firms the opportunity to come into college and speak to students directly.

Each business can approach the recruitment fair in its own way: it can conduct an interview and offer work that day, or share information about the business before inviting students for a formal interview at the place of work.

The free event takes place at the college, on Hornbeam Park, on November 2 from 11am to 1.30pm. Tickets can be booked here.

Construction firm wins award for junction 47 upgrade 

Junction 47

Building contractor, Farrans Construction, won the Best Highways and Transportation Project award at a recent CIHT Yorkshire and Humber event for its delivery of the junction 47 A1(M) upgrade for client North Yorkshire County Council.

The project, near Flaxby, involved widening of three of the four slip roads onto and off the roundabout to increase capacity as well as a number of junction improvements.

Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transport, said:

“It is one of the busiest junctions in North Yorkshire and since the scheme was completed earlier this year we have seen a significant difference in reducing congestion and improving road safety.

“It represents a successful collaboration between the county council, Farrans, AECOM and National Highways in overcoming difficult situations without major delays to the travelling public during construction on this key route which unlocks future growth in and around Harrogate.”

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The organisers of Harrogate’s annual Stray fireworks announced tonight that this year’s event will include a bonfire after all.

Harrogate and District Round Table revealed last month that it had decided not to hold a bonfire at this year’s volunteer-run event on Saturday, November 5 because of the costs and logistics.

But the organisation has now said it has reversed the decision.

Andy Rickard, from the Round Table, said:

“Due to the cancellation of six bonfire and fireworks displays run by neighbouring Leeds City Council, we have taken the decision to reinstate the annual bonfire alongside the fireworks and live entertainment on the Stray this November.

“Unlike other council-run fireworks displays, our event is made possible by volunteers and the generosity of local residents, businesses and visitors to our town.

“This year we are on a mission to raise £10,000, with all proceeds going to Harrogate Homeless Project which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary.”

Read more:

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Francis McAllister, chief executive of Harrogate Homeless Project, said

“The Stray fireworks will be a cornerstone event in the charity’s 30th anniversary calendar.

“The money raised from the event will help us deliver more support, serve more hot meals and help more people into accommodation.”

The night’s schedule

In addition to the bonfire and fireworks display, there will be a licensed bar, food stalls, face-painting and family-friendly entertainment on stage.

The schedule is:

• Entertainment will start from 5pm
• The bonfire will be lit at 5.30pm
• The fireworks finale will begin at 7.15pm

For safety reasons visitors are advised not to bring sparklers, but light-up toys will be available for sale by volunteers from Pannal Primary PTA and Harrogate Gymnastics inside the event area.

The Round Table also said attendees should be aware any street-sellers outside of the Stray are not affiliated with them and do not make any contribution to the event costs or its charities.

The fireworks are held on the Stray alongside Oatlands Drive, and will include 1,400 shots and over 250 mortar shells all provided by Ferrensby Fireworks, a local company with over 30 years experience.

There is no parking in the immediate vicinity.

Entry is free but a collection will be held throughout the evening.

Event costs are paid for out of charitable funds and the entertainment is run entirely by volunteers.

After event costs have been covered the net proceeds will be donated to Harrogate Homeless Project.

You can make a donate here.

Simon Kent, who helped to establish Harrogate Business Improvement District in 2018, has been appointed interim manager for a second time.

The news was confirmed today after current manager Matthew Chapman announced he was leaving in November to take up a new position at North Yorkshire Council.

Businesses within Harrogate’s town centre pay the BID 1.5 per cent of their rateable value a year on top of their usual business rates.

Matthew Chapman

This generates around £500,000, which the BID spends on projects to improve the town and increase the number of visitors.

Mr Kent, a former director of the Harrogate Convention Centre, was previously appointed interim manager in April 2020.

Harrogate BID chair Sara Ferguson said:

“Whilst we continue the process of seeking a new BID manager, we have appointed Simon Kent in an interim role.

“Simon was instrumental in helping to launch Harrogate BID back in 2018, and in April 2020 we asked him to take on the role of interim manager, which he did until May the following year.

“Simon’s experience and knowledge of Harrogate BID are second to none, and I’m delighted that he has agreed to come back in a part-time-basis until a successor to outgoing BID manager, Matthew Chapman, is found.

“I look forward to rekindling my working relationship with Simon, particularly as we head towards the festive season, which with the BID’s involvement will see Harrogate once again become ‘Destination Christmas’.”

A violent “brute” and serial thief has been jailed for attacking nurses and police officers and running amok at Harrogate District Hospital.

Philip John Watson, 32, “kicked off” inside the hospital’s A&E department where he assaulted two nurses, threatened doctors, threw a blood-pressure machine to the floor and launched a fruit-and-veg crate at a receptionist, York Crown Court heard.

Watson was on bail at the time after being arrested for a series of violent offences and shop thefts, said prosecutor Brooke Morrison.

During the “disgraceful” incident at the hospital on February 26, he went into the A&E department where he was treated for an apparent drug overdose.

He was left to “sleep it off” but when nurses went to rouse him, he began shouting and swearing at them. He then ripped the cannula, a fluid tube, from the back of his hand and pushed one of the nurses in the chest before elbowing her colleague in the shoulder “to get (her) out of his way”.

He then threw a blood-pressure machine to the floor and flicked blood from the cannula around the room. Ms Morrison added:

“He (then) stormed through A&E, pushing trolleys and trying to flip over the equipment.”

When a doctor asked him to stop, Watson threatened him before marching into the hospital reception, “again dripping blood onto the floor”. Ms Morrison said:

“He sat in a wheelchair before going outside and returning to reception with a wooden fruit-and-veg crate.”

Watson threw the crate at the ceiling, causing cracks and holes in the plastering. He then went outside, grabbed another crate and threw it at the reception desk, causing the receptionist to duck out of the way.

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He was escorted out of reception by two staff members, but then started throwing pieces of meat at nurses in the ambulance bay and threatening the ambulance driver.

Police were called in but when officers tried to cuff him, Watson tried to run away, shouting, “You will not arrest me”.

Officers took him to ground and hauled him into the police van, but Watson started kicking the police cage and told a special constable he would “bite his face off”.

Claimed to have swallowed bags of heroin

On arrival at Harrogate Police Station, Watson claimed he had swallowed bags of heroin, forcing officers to take him back to hospital for checks. On the way there, he subjected the special constable to a torrent of “foul and racist” comments.

Watson, from Harrogate but of no fixed address, was on bail at the time following a string of offences including a previous incident at the hospital on May 20 last year, when he went into A&E – again in a drink and drug-induced state – and was placed in a cubicle “to sleep it off”.

When he woke, he tried to leave the hospital through the “wrong door” and went berserk, “grabbing and shaking” doors and walking into the resuscitation room.

A doctor called for assistance and two hospital porters escorted Watson back to the cubicle where he told the doctor he wanted to “put his hands around somebody’s neck and squeeze them until their heads pop”.

Such was Watson’s “aggressive and intimidatory” behaviour, hospital staff called police who arrived to arrest him.

That same month, Watson stole alcohol from Asda on Bower Road and after being arrested he headbutted a glass door at the police station, causing it to crack.

The following month, on bail again, he elbowed a police officer in the face, causing a small cut, after being stopped on suspicion of shoplifting in Bower Street. Two other officers tried to bring him under control him, but he ran away as they fired a Taser gun at him which missed.

He was finally arrested following a short chase, but it took three officers to restrain him.

Three months later, he was arrested again for handling stolen goods after he and another man stole about £150 of clothes from TK Max at the Victoria Shopping Centre.

In October, he stole from the Co-op and used a stolen bank card to buy cigarettes from Tesco.

In November, he stole razors worth £145 from Asda and was arrested again the following month after stealing hundreds of pounds’ worth of clothes from TK Max. On being arrested, he was found with heroin.

He was ultimately charged with a raft of offences including assaulting police officers and hospital staff, resisting a police constable, criminal damage, shop thefts, threatening behaviour, possessing a Class A drug and handling stolen goods.

He admitted all matters and appeared for sentence via video link today after being remanded in custody.

‘Enormous’ criminal record

The court heard that Watson had an “enormous” criminal record for offences including burglary, robbery, carrying knives, racially aggravated criminal damage, assaulting police officers and “beating people up”. All the offences were fuelled by drink and drugs.

His solicitor advocate Graham Parkin said Watson was “completely out of control” at the time of his latest series of offences.

Judge Sean Morris said Watson had behaved “like a brute” towards the doctors and nurses who were “trying to save people’s lives”.

He described his behaviour as “disgracefully violent”.

Watson was handed a 21-month jail sentence, but he won’t be spending too long in prison as he will only have to serve half of that behind bars and he had already served the equivalent of a 14-month sentence on remand.

A person required medical assistance at lunchtime today after an incident at the crossing outside Bettys in Harrogate.

Paramedics covered the injured person in blankets and administered first aid until an ambulance arrived at about 2pm.

The person was lying on the ground near the traffic lights on the opposite side to Bettys.

Traffic on Parliament Street was diverted into a single lane while help was administered.

The Stray Ferret has asked Yorkshire Ambulance Service for further details.

The crossing outside Bettys has been the scene of numerous incidents involving pedestrians and traffic over the years.

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