People across the Harrogate district will be asked from today for their views on a historic £540 million devolution deal for North Yorkshire.

In August, county council leaders agreed the long-awaited deal with ministers to devolve more powers, including an elected mayor, to North Yorkshire and York.

The deal will see £18 million year worth of funding devolved to the county over 30 years.

Now, as part of the process to bring more powers to North Yorkshire, the public, businesses and charity organisations will be asked for their thoughts on the deal.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said: 

“We really need the public to come forward and give us their views on what is important to them and how devolution can benefit communities and businesses across York and North Yorkshire.

“The chance to secure these decision-making powers and millions of pounds in funding from the government is set to prove a life-changing opportunity for more than 800,000 people who live and work in York and North Yorkshire.

“Devolution will give local leaders the chance to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing people in York and North Yorkshire – whether that be providing more affordable housing, improving skills and education for better job opportunities, boosting transport infrastructure or tackling the climate crisis.”

Pictured: Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Greg Clark MP and Cllr Keith Aspden, leader of City of York Council sign the document.

Meanwhile, Helen Simpson, chair of the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: 

“This is a historic moment for York and North Yorkshire and creates the opportunity to deliver long-term investment to support business growth.

“I’d like to invite business leaders across the region to contribute to this consultation.”

Consultation on the deal will run until Friday, December 16. People can have their say at the York and North Yorkshire Devolution website here.

What is in the deal?

As part of the devolution deal, a mayoral combined authority would be formed with a directly-elected mayor by May 2024.

It would mirror similar arrangements in the Tees Valley, where Conservative mayor Ben Houchen oversees the combined authority.

Read More:

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• North Yorkshire’s devolution deal: What’s in it and how will it work?

While the planned North Yorkshire deal brings £540 million worth of investment funding, it is lower than the original £750 million requested by local leaders.

However, more power over skills and transport will be devolved.

It will see whoever is elected mayor and the new combined authority have control over the adult education budget and the ability to draw up its own transport strategy.

Control over bus franchising has also been granted to the county and the power to set up Mayoral Development Corporations, which have the power to buy land for housing or employment to regenerate a defined area.

Much of the deal echoes what was given to Tees Valley in 2015, where mayor Houchen has since exercised his economic development powers to buy Teesside International Airport and Redcar Steelworks.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Local businesses attended an event yesterday to find out how Harrogate College can help them fulfil their training and recruitment needs.

The college set up an employers’ network to allow employers from the Harrogate district to influence the college’s courses and training.

Yesterday’s annual event gave representatives from the businesses the opportunity to find out more about what has been achieved in the last year and say what more could be done.

Employers also got a first-look at the proposed pathway to employment programme, which would support the cost and challenges of recruitment and retainment.

Read More:

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Raworths has been recognised as one of the leading law firms in the north of England.

The Harrogate law firm has been included in the new Chambers UK legal guide 2023, including Band 1 rankings for its Employment and Family teams.

Chambers UK is one of the leading legal professional guides; its rankings drawing on independent research carried out with clients and professional contacts.

Simon Morris, managing partner at Raworths said:

“This is a fantastic boost for the whole team who work so hard to ensure that we provide the best service for our clients across all practice areas.

“To have our teams recognised is a testament to the range and quality of our services and our genuinely integrated commercial and private client expertise, enabling our teams to work together on complex issues across our clients’ personal and business affairs.

“It’s fantastic that these rankings draw directly on client feedback – as cultivating trusted, longstanding relationships with our clients is at the very heart of our business.”

Organisers of this year’s Harrogate Christmas Fayre have said they won’t erect any seasonal attractions until wartime remembrance activities have concluded.

The decision to put up a helter-skelter next to the war memorial two days after Remembrance Sunday divided opinion last year.

Some claimed it was disrespectful to locate it so close to the memorial, so close to Remembrance Sunday; others said the war dead fought for freedom and would have liked the idea of children playing on the rides.

Ivan Nicholson van Ingen, a former soldier of 40 years’ service, contacted the Stray Ferret to seek clarification on this year’s arrangements.

Mr Nicholson van Ingen said many veterans were upset last year at seeing the helter-skelter alongside the memorial and urged the fayre organisers not to install it before Remembrance Sunday, which is on November 13.

A spokeswoman for Destination Harrogate, a tourism division of Harrogate Borough Council, which is one of the Christmas fayre organisers, confirmed this would not happen. She said:

“We would like to assure Mr Nicholson van Ingen and your readers that, as with last year, Harrogate Borough Council has been in contact with the Royal British Legion to advise of plans for the town centre festive attractions prior to any final decisions being taken.

“We can also confirm that as with last year, no festive installations will be put in place this year or in future years before remembrance activities have taken place.”

Read more:

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The spokeswoman said the helter-skelter was put up on November 15 last year, increased footfall and and “provided a fun, safe, family-friendly experience that was particularly welcomed following the challenges of the pandemic”. She added:

“Our Christmas attractions will be in situ and open to the public between December 2 and January 8 and we look forward to a great opportunity for our residents and visitors to enjoy the festivities in Harrogate.”

A campaign group has claimed that improvements for cycling and walking in Harrogate are not a top priority for the county council which has revealed more delays for key projects.

Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said transport officials have found more time for infrastructure upgrades for cars than active travel.

His comments come after North Yorkshire County Council announced it is preparing to launch a consultation on plans for Oatlands Drive and phase two of the Otley Road cycle path which now won’t be built until at least next summer.

Mr Douglas said the latest delays were “incredibly frustrating” and that it is now “vital” that progress is made.

He said:

“Unfortunately we know the priorities tend to be on issues around car transport – and that can be seen in the time it has taken to get these active travel schemes moving.

“Some of the first consultations on these schemes were held in January 2019 and yet here we are still doing the same thing now.

“The most disappointing thing of course is the latest on the Otley Road cycle path. There are no firm dates and it just keeps flipping away from us.

“But I’m not surprised as vague deadlines seem to be the order of the day.”

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This coming Monday will see the launch of the long-awaited consultation on new proposals for Oatlands Drive after original plans for a one-way traffic system were scrapped after a backlash from residents.

This came after government funding for the scheme was awarded in November 2020.

But the delays for the Otley Road cycle path stretch back much further after the project first secured cash in 2017.

Five years on, the first phase of the route has yet to be completed as some sections need to be rebuilt, whilst final designs for phase two have not been revealed.

Councillor Keane Duncan, executive member for highways at the county council, said three design options are being considered for the second phase and that the consultation results will be presented in November. He said:

“The public engagement demonstrates our commitment to ensuring local people are involved in the design process from the outset.

“There are pros and cons for all of the proposed designs which is why we need to engage with local residents and stakeholders.

“It’s important to consider the possibility of conflict between road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, as well as the impact on properties along the route and parking.”

Councillor Duncan added:

“Previous consultations about the Oatlands area have generated a lot of comments, so we have made a commitment to carry out a more detailed study to assess possible improvements there.

“Once completed, we will assess public responses along with the traffic data to develop potential options.”

The first phase of the Otley Road cycle path opened at the start of this year, but some sections are to be rebuilt following safety complaints. This includes the junction with Harlow Moor Road, although the county council has yet to purchase a plot of land to make the junction bigger.

Under other active travel projects, plans for a 7km cycleway in Knaresborough and other improvements in Ripon were shelved altogether in the summer when a bid for £1.5 million in government cash was rejected.

Consultations on final designs for cycling and walking improvements on Harrogate’s Victoria Avenue and the A59 near Knaresborough have also been pushed back until at least the New Year.

And there have been further setbacks for Harroagte’s Gateway project which has been hit by a legal threat.

This sparked a third consultation on the £11.2 million project and over 2,000 responses were received in summer ahead of a pending decision from the county council on whether to submit a final business case for funding.

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63rd+1st was set up by TGI Fridays UK. Named after the street in New York that was home to the original TGI Fridays, its Harrogate venue joined the likes of Yo Sushi! and Estabulo on Albert Street last year.

The restaurant area

The company said at the time it would generate 30 part-time and full-time jobs. Those affected were told the news today.

The restaurant, lounge and bar was built to seat 101 people and to serve Manhattan street food.

The company said it wanted to attract customers ranging from early morning coffee drinkers to late evening drinkers.

Liz Truss resigned as Prime Minister today after just 44 days in office.

See how the Harrogate district reacted to the news this afternoon.

5.01pm – Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dems still searching for candidate

The lengthy process to find a prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough remains ongoing.

The local party called today for an election but as yet it doesn’t have anyone to take on Conservative Andrew Jones.

It said in June it had started the process but four months on the matter remains unresolved.

David Goode, chair of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dems, said

“We are moving at pace to select a parliamentary candidate. It is a rigorous process for a target seat but be in no doubt we are planning to fight Harrogate and Knaresborough to win at the next election, whenever that maybe. We need a MP who will work for us, not just trot along behind the government.”

Monika Slater, a Lib Dem who represents Bilton Grange and New Park on North Yorkshire County Council, said

“Boris Johnson failed our country and Liz Truss trashed our economy.

“People in Harrogate and Knaresborough deserve better than this incompetent and chaotic government, which has sent mortgages spiralling while our NHS services are stretched to breaking point.

“The Conservative party have proven time and time again they are not fit to lead our great country.

“This country needs a general election and Andrew Jones and other Conservative MP’s cannot prop up more chaotic Governments.

“At the next election people across Harrogate and Knaresborough will be backing the Liberal Democrats to get a fair deal on the NHS and the cost of living instead of more Conservative chaos.”

4.35pm – Andrew Jones MP: Truss departure ‘inevitable’

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has published a statement on his Community News website.

Mr Jones said:

“As difficult as today is for her it has, I’m afraid, been inevitable and it is the national interest that matters.

“It was an enormous and unforced error to bring forward the mini-Budget without an assessment by the Office of Budget Responsibility and an accompanying statement on departmental spending.

“It was a mistake for her to surround herself with just supporters and not form a broader-based team.

“Ms Truss began to undo the damage with the appointment of Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor who jettisoned a lot of the mistakes she had made, calmed the markets and emphasised the need for stability.

“But the personal damage to her was done and too severe for her to have any hope of recovery.  It has felt in parliament that over the last week her authority had been seeping away. That is why she had to go.”

Mr Jones, who said there was “plenty to be positive about here in Harrogate and Knaresborough” when the government announced its mini-budget last month, did not reveal who he supports as a successor.

But he said whoever it is “needs to bring on board all the talents available to them, adding:

“Our politics and our country need a period of calm stability and I look forward, at last, to that being delivered.”

4.17pm – Could North Yorkshire be home to the Prime Minister by next Friday?

Richmond MP Rishi Sunak is the clear bookies’ favourite to succeed Liz Truss as Prime Minister. Oddschecker currently has him at 10/11, with Penny Mordaunt second favourite at 11-4. But the odds against third favourite Boris Johnson have been slashed to 9-2.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones and Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith both supported Mr Sunak in the leadership contest against Liz Truss.

3.50pm – Nigel Adams ‘not doing any media at the moment’

Minutes after posting that none of the local Conservative MPs had replied to us, one of them responded. But it isn’t exactly hold-the-front-page stuff.

Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams’ senior parliamentary assistant emailed to say:

“Nigel is not doing any media at the moment.”

3.41pm – Silence from Harrogate district MPs

We asked the three Conservative MPs whose constituencies include parts of the Harrogate district whether Liz Truss was right to resign and who they supported to be her successor.

We asked Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith and Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams to reply by 3.30pm today. So far none has replied.

3.06pm – Are local opposition parties ready to fight an election?

Local Liberal Democrats and Harrogate supporters have been quick to call for an election but would they be ready to fight one?

Currently only the Green Party has a prospective parliamentary candidate to take on Andrew Jones in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

We have asked the Liberal Democrats and Labour for details of their search to find PPCs and will report their responses.

2.50pm – Yorkshire Party calls for end to ‘London-centric’ politics

The Yorkshire Party says ‘Yorkshire has been left to fend for itself’.

https://twitter.com/Yorkshire_Party/status/1582825610136588288

2.33pm – Tories ‘have lost mandate to govern,’ says Green PPC.

Paul Ko Ferrigno, the prospective parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in Harrogate and Knaresborough, has added his voice to calls for an election. He said:

“The Conservatives are unable to govern themselves and have lost any mandate to govern the country.

“People are worried about the cost of fuel and the cost of energy and rising mortgage rates and rising inflation and their dwindling quality of life.

“We don’t need another week of Tory navel gazing, we need a General Election and a government that puts people first.”

2.11pm – Ripon-based Lib Dem leader in House of Lords calls for election

Dick Newby, the Liberal Democrat peer and party leader in the House of Lords, has tweeted for an election.

The Conservatives no longer have any shred of credibility left. Their MPs should do their patriotic duty and call a general election. https://t.co/i7iTru5ReT

— Dick Newby (@RichardNewby3) October 20, 2022

2.05pm – Harrogate Labour campaigner calls for election

Chris Watt, local Harrogate Labour party campaigner, has also called for an election.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“The Tory government are a shambles. They’ve trashed the economy and presided over 12 years of stagnation.

“They can keep changing their leader but we need a change of government.

“The choice is clear: more of this incompetent Tory government, which the MP here has consistently supported. Or a Labour Government led by Keir Starmer. We need a General Election now so the people can decide.”

He has also been tweeting:

The Tories can keep changing leader but we need a change of Government and a General Election now. @UKLabour stands ready to serve.

BBC News – Liz Truss resigns as prime minister after Tory revolthttps://t.co/CyaXUp9Lky

— Chris Watt (@ChrisWatt4) October 20, 2022

2pm – Call from Liberal Democrats for General Election

Skipton and Ripon Liberal Democrats have called for a General Election following the departure of Liz Truss.

https://twitter.com/SkiptonRiponLD/status/1583077632979062784?s=20&t=yOrqpSznmcwOkHCPUYvvNA

1.55pm – Harrogate politicians reaction

Following the announcement of the resignation of Liz Truss, the Stray Ferret has contacted the Harrogate district’s three Conservative MPs for their reaction.

We have also contacted opposition parties for their thoughts on this afternoon’s news.

Heavy rain has led to flooding on some Harrogate district roads today

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms this morning and warned some roads could be flooded.

It proved accurate as drivers across the district, which is still under drought, struggled in many of the usual highway trouble spots for flooding.

Pic: Lynne Hardcastle

Church Lane in Hampsthwaite, pictured here, remained open despite treacherous conditions.

Pot Bridge, where there is a sharp double bend, on the B6161 was also difficult due to the conditions.

The weather warning ended at 1pm but driving conditions are expected to remain difficult this afternoon due to spray and standing water.

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North Yorkshire health bosses are urging people to get their flu and covid vaccines ahead of the winter period.

NHS officials say they are preparing for a busy winter of respiratory illnesses, which may overwhelm hospitals.

Dr Bruce Willoughby, Harrogate GP and part of the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, said he expected to see more cases of covid in hospitals in the coming weeks.

He said:

“Health and care services in North Yorkshire and York, like everywhere, are already extremely busy. We do expect to see more cases of covid in the coming weeks as people mix freely again and spend more time indoors as the weather gets colder. The risk of catching covid is highest indoors and in crowded places.

“More people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the pandemic. The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before it starts spreading. 

“You can help though. Your actions during the pandemic made an enormous difference and we need people to look out for each other in the same way again.”

Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire’s director of public health, added that there was also a risk of a wave of flu hitting hospitals.

She said:

“We expect to see a wave of covid in North Yorkshire during October/November and possibly another in January.

“There’s also the risk of being hit with a wave of flu cases at the same time so it’s particularly important that people take up the offer of vaccinations as soon as they can.

“Please also remember the basics – hands, face, space and fresh air. They protect against covid, flu and lots of other nasty viruses that can make you feel quite unwell.”

Read more:

• Harrogate care costs climb to £54,000 a year as ‘colossal’ price rises bite
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People aged 50 and over, pregnant women, carers, frontline health and care workers, care home residents and people of all ages who are vulnerable are eligible for a covid booster jab now.

Those who are able to book their vaccinations can do so via the NHS website.

Most groups are eligible for a flu vaccine and have been offered a free vaccine. People do not need to wait to be invited for a flu jab and can book at their GP surgery.

A Hollywood actor has praised the Stray in Harrogate after running laps around it during his theatre tour.

Richard E Grant was in town as part of his An Evening With tour, discussing his memoir, A Pocketful of Happiness.

Before heading off to Liverpool yesterday, he posted a video on Twitter of him running around the Stray, which he described as an “extraordinary parkland right in the middle of this beautiful city”.

https://twitter.com/RichardEGrant/status/1582656478090969088

The night before, the Oscar-nominated actor – who first found fame in the celebrated film Withnail and I – appeared at the Royal Hall in front of a sell-out audience.

He described the venue as “stunning” – and the audience seemed equally impressed with him, giving a standing ovation at the end of the night.

https://twitter.com/RichardEGrant/status/1582496498599591936

Mr Grant’s more recent work includes parts in Game of Thrones, Downton Abbey, and Doctor Who. In 2019, he was nominated for an Academy Award, a Bafta and a Golden Globe for best supporting actor in Can You Ever Forgive Me?.

His memoir takes its title from his late wife Joan Washington who, before her death last year from lung cancer, challenged him to “find a pocketful of happiness in every single day”.

Two Harrogate district MPs voted against a motion to ban fracking last night amid a chaotic night in the House of Commons.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tabled the motion as part of an opposition day debate to introduce a law to ban fracking in the UK.

Conservative MPs were whipped to vote with the government in what was seen as a test of confidence in Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, and Julian Smith, Skipton and Ripon MP, voted against the motion. Nigel Adams, Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate, did not vote.

Mr Adams was one of 40 Conservative MPs who did not take part.

Read more:

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The government won by 319 votes to 228 – however the night descended into chaos amid allegations that Tory MPs were “bullied and manhandled” into supporting the Prime Minister.

Confusion arose when Graham Stuart, climate minister, told the Commons before MPs entered the voting lobby that “obviously, this is not a confidence vote”.

The move led to whips trying to get their own Conservative MPs to vote against the opposition motion.

Charles Walker, a Conservative MP, described what he saw as “inexcusable” and said there was “no coming back” for the government.

Following the vote, Labour MP Chris Bryant urged the deputy speaker of the House of Commons to investigate the claims.

He said:

“I urge you to launch an investigation into the scenes outside the entrance to the No Lobby earlier. 

“As you know, members are expected to be able to vote without fear or favour and the behaviour code, which is agreed by the whole House, says that there shall never be bullying or harassment of members.

“I saw members being physically manhandled into another Lobby and being bullied.”

Speaking about the allegations, Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg told Sky News that to “characterise it as bullying was mistaken”.