A Harrogate couple who run a mobile business selling tacos hope the discovery of some tinned jalapenos by the side of a road will lead them to whoever stole their van.
Tom and Emma Peak set up Tacoporium six years ago and sell their Mexican treats at weddings, festivals and corporate events.
But the business suffered a blow when one of the two vehicles they use, a white Ford van, was stolen from the back of their house just off King’s Road on Sunday night.
Fortunately, it isn’t their main vehicle but it contained numerous items including cutlery, trays, a cooking back — and jalapenos.
Today the couple received an email from Ryedale District Council accusing them of fly-tipping a list of items that had been dumped near Malton.
Mr Peak explained to the council the van had been stolen and now hopes that knowing where the goods were deposited will help narrow down the police search of where to look for the still-missing van.
He has even seen the funny side, posting on Instagram:
“Now let’s find that van and nail these fools who don’t appreciate a good quality pickled pepper.”
He told the Stray Ferret:
“They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. They put no value on my jalapenos whereas they are the best money can buy.”
Mr Peak plans to drive to Malton this week to collect the abandoned items — and reassured customers the business would continue despite the missing van.
Read more:
- Harrogate district police inspector reveals local crime hotspots
- Plan to convert former Harrogate Italian restaurant into flat
Harrogate’s affordable boutique gym goes from strength-to-strength
This story is sponsored by Coach.
Harrogate’s £1.5m Coach gym is continuing to go from strength-to-strength following its launch in the town a year ago.
The affordable boutique gym boasts more than 200 pieces of state-of-the art equipment, as well as over 200 instructor-led fitness classes across four studios.
Surge Padel, where members can play one of the world’s fastest growing sports, can also be found on the first floor of the building at Hornbeam Park.
Stuart Perrin, owner and CEO of Coach, which opened in January 2022, said:
“Coach is a boutique health and fitness concept, which in a nutshell means everything is very high end. From the fixtures and fittings, to the experience.
“It’s something very different and is the biggest gym in Harrogate by a long way.”
Coach boasts a bar area, which serves bespoke shakes and smoothies. There are also luxury changing rooms, including GHD straighteners and solid oak benches.
The gym itself features a range of equipment – from cardio and resistance machines to free weights, squat racks, battle ropes, tyre flips and a sled.
Mr Perrin said:
“If you’re a real gym-goer, the equipment we have is really quite special. We have the best the brands have to offer, including Nautilus, Schwinn, StairMaster and Concept, all under one roof. We make sure we have the best possible pieces of kit.”
Boutique fitness studios
Coach’s four boutique fitness studios offer something for everyone. They include:
Coach Spin: A spinning studio that can take up to 30 people in a session.
Coach Class: A group exercise studio, which hosts everything from Body Pump to yoga and Pilates. Classes are delivered and programmed by highly-qualified, passionate and respected instructors.
Coach Box: A boxing studio, which can take up to 20 people in a full cardio and bodyweight resistance class, where you learn the fundamentals of boxing in the process.
Coach Evolution: A High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) studio which has 10 treadmills, 10 airbikes and 10 HIIT benches. Coach Evolution is designed using HIIT to give you a full cardiovascular exercise and full-body resistance workout.
Mr Perrin said:
“Within Coach itself we have four studios and we offer a timetable of more than 250 classes a month, which are included in membership if you are on our top tier.”
Coach is offering Stray Ferret readers a free day pass to come and try the facilities, which can be accessed here.
Mr Perrin added:
“Members love the feel, the experience, the quality. Come and try it for yourself with a free day pass.”
Coach Gyms is redefining affordable luxury. Join now from only £18.99 a month. Find out more and join the fitness revolution today!
Harrogate hospital pays six-figure sum to patient left severely disabled
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has paid a six-figure sum to a patient who suffered a stoke and cardiac arrest after an operation, leaving him severely disabled.
The trust and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust were found jointly responsible for the treatment of the 74-year-old patient, who suffered a minor stroke in January 2016.
Having developed some slurring of speech and a headache, he was taken to Harrogate District Hospital by ambulance, where he was admitted to the stroke unit and underwent a CT scan of the head.
As part of the legal case against the two trusts, solicitors acting on behalf of the man made several allegations of negligence. It was alleged imaging was wrongly reported and surgery was unnecessarily performed.
During the surgery the patient suffered a stroke and later a cardiac arrest from which he was successfully resuscitated. He was left severely disabled and brain damaged.
Solicitor Elizabeth Maliakal, a specialist in medical negligence claims at Hudgell Solicitors, led the legal case on behalf of the patient, whose daughter was appointed his deputy by the Court of Protection to manage her father’s affairs.
Ms Maliakal alleged the operation had been carried out without the patient or his family being fully informed of the risks involved, and without being informed that the benefits of surgery were small. She said the case centred on two key aspects of care and treatment:
“Firstly, there was no need for surgical intervention and, had my client not undergone surgery, he would have avoided the stroke which occurred during surgery and the later cardiac arrest.
“Secondly, he was inadequately consented over the decision to operate and, given doubts about his mental capacity to consent, his family were not consulted over the decision either.
“Had an appropriate discussion taken place regarding the relative risks and benefits, neither my client nor his family would have consented.
Read more:
- First ever nurses’ strike begins at Harrogate hospital
- Harrogate district police inspector reveals local crime hotspots
Ms Maliakal (pictured above) added:
“Whilst our medical experts felt that he may well have gone on to suffer further strokes in the near future, had he not undergone the surgery, they were of the opinion that he would not have been left as profoundly disabled as he is now.
“He has been left with a catastrophic injury. He is paralysed, has little vision in his right eye and reduced vision in his left eye. He is unable to talk, he is doubly incontinent, needs to be fed through a tube and requires hoists to be moved. He now lives permanently in a nursing home.”
‘Denied liability’
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust and York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust agreed a six-figure sum for damages. The precise amount has not been revealed.
The compensation agreed covers the cost of future care, nursing home fees, private medical treatment, medication expenses and aids and equipment.
Mrs Maliakal added:
“This was a hard fought case. Initially both trusts denied liability and it was only after court proceedings were commenced that settlement discussions took place. The negligent treatment left my client severely disabled, and in need of round the clock care, which could and should have been avoided.
“As part of our investigations into the case we instructed independent medical experts, including a vascular surgeon, a stroke physician and neuroradiologist. The Trusts agreed to compensate
A joint statement for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:
First ever nurses’ strike begins at Harrogate hospital“The trusts sincerely regret the difficulties experienced by the claimant and are pleased to have been able to reach an amicable compromise of his claim. The trusts wish the claimant and his family well for the future.”
Nurses at Harrogate District Hospital have gone on strike today for the first time ever.
A picket line is in place outside the hospital on Lancaster Park Road for the first of two 12-hour strikes called by the Royal College of Nursing.
Surgical nurses, paediatric nurses and accident and emergency nurses were among those taking part in this morning’s industrial action. Some passing vehicles sounded their horns in support of the strikers.
Amanda Brown and Andy Law, RCN officers from Leeds who joined Harrogate nurses on the picket line this morning, told the Stray Ferret the action was necessary because the NHS is “broken”.
Mr Law added the NHS was short of 47,000 nurses — up by 7,000 on a year ago.
Although the strike will disrupt some services for patients, Ms Brown said people requiring urgent care would not be affected:
“We’ve ensured staffing levels are safe.”
Today’s action is the latest wave of industrial action in the Harrogate district. Ambulance workers, rail workers and postal workers have all been on strike this winter.
Pat Cullen, the RCN’s general secretary and chief executive, has warned the strikes could escalate in the weeks ahead if a settlement isn’t reached.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said “unaffordable” pay rises for nurses would prevent investment in the NHS.
Read more:
Maltkiln developer still ‘confident’ in new town near Cattal
The developers behind a planned new town of up to 4,000 homes said they “remain confident” the project will go ahead, despite one of the landowners pulling out.
Caddick Group, which has submitted plans for a settlement called Maltkiln near Cattal, said it is continuing to work with other landowners and local authorities on the project.
It comes after Harrogate Borough Council announced yesterday it was “pausing” its work to submit a development plan document (DPD) to the Secretary of State for a new settlement in the area because one of the pieces of land was no longer available.
A spokesperson for Caddick Group said:
“As with most large and complex developments, the proposed new settlement at Maltkiln involves several landowners and we have been working with them for a number of years.
“It is regrettable that one of the landowners has now expressed their intention to withdraw their support for the development. However, we continue to have positive relationships with the other landowners and we remain confident that development can progress in accordance with the policy objectives of Harrogate Borough Council’s Development Plan Document for the new settlement.
“The Maltkiln site was established as the preferred option by Harrogate Borough Council based on its location, accessibility and relative freedom from constraints.
“In parallel with the council’s DPD process, we have undertaken thorough community and stakeholder consultation as part of defining our proposals to deliver much needed new housing and associated amenities for this part of North Yorkshire.
“We intend to continue a positive dialogue with all the landowners in the vicinity of our site and any updated proposals will be publicised after we have discussed with the borough and county councils how the amended site area may best be developed in accordance with the proposed DPD.”
Caddick put forward plans last year for two primary schools, a GP surgery and shops as part of its proposal. It also said the homes would be built to “very high environmental standards” with communal air and ground source heat pumps, solar power generation and electric vehicle charging points in every home.
Several “mobility hubs” are planned to offer fast charging for vehicles as well as repairs and storage for e-scooters and bicycles, and flexible working spaces available to hire.
Read more:
- New settlement plans ‘paused’ after land withdrawn near Cattal
- Concern over lack of secondary school at new Harrogate district town
Cllr Arnold Warneken, whose Ouseburn division includes the proposed site, said he was concerned that changes to the land available could impact the viability of the whole development.
The Green Party councillor said he was “not surprised” one of the landowners had pulled out, as any of them could be considering other uses for their land that might be “more viable”. He added:
“I’m not surprised but I’m concerned about the impact that might have on the rest of the development.
“My concern is that the viability would be an excuse for changing the specification to not being an exemplar for carbon neutrality and so on. At some point, we could end up with a developer wanting a standard housing estate.”
Cllr Warneken said he would work to bring together all the affected parish councils in the area again to discuss any changes to the proposals as a result of the piece of land being withdrawn.
Business Breakfast: Judges face tough task today in first Stray Ferret Business AwardsA panel of four leading business people faces a tough task today as judging takes place in the first ever Stray Ferret Business Awards.
More than 100 entries have been submitted across 10 categories, highlighting the strength of the business community in the Harrogate district.
The four judges are Marcus Boardall, CEO of Reed Boardall, Black Sheep Brewery CEO Charlene Lyons, Cloud Nine founder and CEO Martin Rae, and James Farrar, COO of York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (pictured).
They will meet in central Harrogate to spend today going over all the entries, selecting those most deserving of our 10 awards.
From growing businesses to the up-and-coming stars of the future, the categories are designed to allow businesses to showcase their strengths. Each is sponsored by a leading local business, and the headline sponsor for the awards scheme is Prosperis.
The shortlists will be announced this Friday, January 20.
The spectacular awards ceremony takes place on Thursday, March 9 at Pavilions of Harrogate. To book your tickets, click here.
Read more:
- Business Breakfast: Housing developers partner to begin £16m Knaresborough scheme
- Business breakfast: Solar plans for business park near Harrogate
New appointments boost Harrogate law firm
Managing partner Stephen Hopwood, centre, with, from left, Stuart Farrar, Helen Ramsden, Kate Develly and David Leuchars.
A Harrogate law firm has begun the year with a series of appointments and promotions.
McCormicks Solicitors has added David Leuchars to its corporate and commercial department, assisting its head, James Towler in business law matters.
Stuart Farrar joins the residential conveyancing team, bringing more than 40 years’ experience, while Kate Develly has been offered a training contract in the crime and fraud department.
She joined McCormicks just over a year ago and has recently become accredited to advise clients at the police station. Her former role has been filled by Helen Ramsden, who has been promoted to criminal law executive.
Managing partner Stephen Hopwood said:
Harrogate district police inspector reveals local crime hotspots“It is always good to welcome new talent to the team and these appointments and promotions will help to bolster some very busy departments.”
A Harrogate district police inspector has revealed the district’s crime hotspots — and what police are doing to tackle them.
Inspector Ed Rogerson addressed members of Harrogate Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny committee last night.
Insp. Rogerson, who works for North Yorkshire Police’s Harrogate outer area, identified five areas as causes for concern.
1 Around McDonald’s in Harrogate
Insp. Rogerson said the area around McDonald’s and Oxford Street in Harrogate had “always been an issue” and attracted “lots of anti-social behaviour reports”. He attributed this to it being a meeting point for young people plus the fact the restaurant is open 24 hours and includes free WiFi. He said police were working with businesses to take a ‘more active role’ to address problems.
2 Strawberry Dale, Mayfield Grove and Nydd Vale Terrace in Harrogate
Insp. Rogerson said “some particular residential streets” had issues, and named Strawberry Dale, Mayfield Grove and Nydd Vale Terrace. But he said these streets had “seen a considerable reduction” after the main problematic property in that area was subject to a closure order obtained by the multi-agency community safety hub, which works collectively to address crime. He said police continued to liaise with the landlord and would continue to hold ‘community surgeries’ at which local people could talk to officers and “pass on concerns”. Insp. Rogerson also said there had been an increase in tackling traffic offences on Strawberry Dale and the nearby Asda as part of the police’s Operation Chrome operation.
Read more:
- More than half of violent crime in North Yorkshire is against females
- Met Police serial rapist case ‘abhorrent’, says North Yorkshire chief constable
3 Bower Street in Harrogate
Insp. Rogerson said Bower Street was the only location reported more than once as making people feel unsafe. Police experts on long-term crime solving were considering what to do. He added:
“It’s still an open case with the community safety hub who are seeking funding for environmental improvements in the area to reduce reports of anti-social behaviour.”
4 Boroughbridge
Insp. Rogerson said “a small group of young people in Boroughbridge are causing anti-social behaviour and crime problems at the moment”. He said police were working with social care and schools and there were likely to be “some charges coming in the future” which would enable the perpetrators to get support from youth offending teams. He added:
“We don’t want it to escalate. We want to help the children so it protects them and the community as well.”
Councillor Robert Windass, a Conservative who represents Boroughbridge, told the meeting he had received “numerous reports” of drug taking in the Back Lane car park and urged police to “up patrols and get rid of drug dealers”. Insp. Rogerson said two new police community support officers were joining his team and he would ensure everyone was aware of the problem.
5 Knaresborough housing sites
Insp. Rogerson said there had been a spate of burglaries from new build housing developments in Knaresborough and surrounding areas. Boilers and new white goods were particularly targeted, he said.
“There’s a lot of new build sites in and around Knaresborough and these locations are vulnerable. It’s hard to keep an eye on everything even with 24-hour security.”
He said the force was “updating its problem solving plan and will be working with housing developers to reduce” such incidents.

Inspector Ed Rogerson and chief constable Lisa Winward at last night’s meeting.
‘Still one of the safest places’
North Yorkshire chief constable Lisa Winward, who also attended the meeting, said overall crime levels were “fairly consistent” in the Harrogate district but reports of anti-social behaviour were down by 43% and the number of fatal road traffic collisions had fallen by 50%.
The chief constable said North Yorkshire remained “one of the safest places in the country” and some 200 extra officers were being recruited as part of the UK government’s bid to get 20,000 more police.
She added 101 and 999 response rates were “still not where we want to be” but added she had recently signed an agreement with the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for an additional budget of £1.9m to increase staffing in the force control room.
Council to consider creating public path in Crimple valleyPlans to join two public footpaths separated by five metres of land could take a step forward on Friday.
North Yorkshire County Council is looking at whether a public path creation order could be used in the Crimple valley in south Harrogate.
It aims to link up bridleways 61 and 129 via a stretch of former railway line on the Rudding Park estate, creating a circular route near the viaduct.
Although its owners agreed in 2014 the land could be used as a bridleway, the owners of a small stretch of land required to complete the route have objected to the plans.
However, a consultation last year received more than 100 responses in support, including from nearby parish councils. A second consultation, carried out after an error in legal referencing was found in the first, received support from 58 of the same people, as well as four new.
Now, a proposal will go before the county council’s corporate director for highways and transportation, Karl Battersby, and executive member Cllr Keane Duncan, to consider making a public path creation order, which could have to be approved by the Secretary of State.
The report, to be considered on Friday afternoon, said:
“The creation agreement envisaged that the two routes would connect to make a circular route.
“The ‘need’ for the route is satisfied in that it acts to connect existing routes to make a circular route, in the absence of the proposed route the existing routes end in a cul de sac which is an unsatisfactory and illogical position.
“The pre-order consultation responses clearly demonstrated public support for the making of a creation order to connect the bridleways and indicated that the route would ‘add to the convenience or enjoyment of a substantial section of the public, or to the convenience of persons resident in the area’.
“The viaduct is a high value feature of the landscape and enhances the views along the length of both existing bridleways. A circular route would undoubtedly add to the convenience and enjoyment not only of persons residing in the area but also to the wider public of North Yorkshire, surrounding areas and tourists.”
Read more:
- Controversial plan for 35 homes in Crimple Valley rejected
- Consultation on bid to join bridleways in Harrogate’s Crimple Valley
The landowners and tenant farmers of the affected piece of land were among four people to object to the plans during the consultation.
One pointed out that people already divert from the existing bridleways during wet weather to avoid waterlogged stretches, straying onto land used for livestock.
The objections also raised concerns about dog fouling, damage to the land and fencing, and inconsiderate parking nearby, all of which could be exacerbated by creating a new circular route, they said.
One opponent added:
“We have a situation whereby the public seem to treat the fields as parkland, literally wandering wherever they choose, which constantly damages the land by walking over grass used for grazing and twice yearly harvesting for winter feed.”
However, the report due to be considered by NYCC on Friday said it does not expect there to be any “significant increase” in users of the bridleway.
The report also reveals that the Rudding Park estate has said it will withdraw consent for the bridleway on the former railway line if the circular route cannot be created.
If the county council decides to make the public path creation order, it would have to issue a notice of doing so to all local landowners and other organisations affected. If any objections are received, they would have to be considered by the Secretary of State before the order could be confirmed.
North Yorkshire Council plans council tax hikeNorth Yorkshire residents look set to have to find more than £100 extra from April to pay an average council tax bill, despite their newly-launched local authority embarking on a rigorous cost-cutting programme.
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive will next Tuesday consider charging average band D households £83.64 more just for services that have traditionally been provided by the district, borough and county councils.
Residents are also facing having to pay significantly higher council tax bills due to expected rises in precepts from North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and parish councils, some of which are considering levying large-scale increases to cover their costs.
As the proposed police and fire precepts will not be announced until later this month it remains unclear what total council tax rise residents will face, but under the proposal for the unitary North Yorkshire Council element of council tax bills, band D residents would have to pay £1,759.96.
Residents of areas such as Hambleton will face yet steeper increases, paying about £45 extra on what they paid last year to bring their bills into line with those charged elsewhere in the county.
A report to the executive states even with a 4.99% increase in its charge, the new council will need to use £30m of reserves to balance its budget in 2023/24 alone alongside a cost-cutting programme to save up to £68m annually.
Read more:
- Council freezes Ripon parish precept for third year running
- Levelling up council tax charges over two years is ‘best compromise’
Cllr Gareth Dadd, the authority’s finance executive member, said he was acutely aware of financial pressures households are facing and that those in the greatest financial need would be given up to 100 per cent reductions on council tax bills.
The authority’s leader, Cllr Carl Les, said:
“We are facing the greatest ever financial challenges in North Yorkshire, which means we have a huge task in ensuring that services can be delivered effectively and efficiently for the public.
“However, without the opportunities presented with the launch of the new council, the situation would be a great deal worse, and it is vital that we take full advantage of these opportunities.
“We have the chance to make millions of pounds in savings by reorganising the way services are delivered, meaning that we get the most out of every pound of taxpayers’ money in North Yorkshire.”
‘Forced on local councils’
Opposition groups on the authority said although the 4.99% increase would be very difficult for many households to cover, with inflation at 11% it meant a six per cent real terms reduction to pay for council services.
Cllr Andy Brown, Green Party leader, said:
“This is being forced on local councils by national government decisions and it leaves North Yorkshire Council massively short of what it needs to provide a reasonable level of service.”
Cllr Stuart Parsons, leader of the Independents group, said as the government had failed to carry out its promised reforms of social care charging councils were being forced to put the charge onto council tax bills.
He said:
New taxi fares for North Yorkshire revealed“It shows yet again the Conservatives are a high tax party.
“Since 2010 onwards with austerity the government has savaged local authorities and then expected them to massively increase local taxation to cover their inadequacies.”
All hackney carriage vehicles in North Yorkshire look set to be allowed to charge a maximum of £7.40 for a standard two-mile journey.
Currently Harrogate Borough Council and the other six district councils in the county set their own fares for hackney carriages.
But the new North Yorkshire Council, which will become the sole licensing authority on April 1, will align the maximum fares when senior councillors meet next week. A report to the councillors is here.
The proposed new county-wide fare structure is based on what customers currently pay in both Harrogate and Selby districts.
Out of 350 local authorities Harrogate and Selby currently stand at number 76 in the national hackney carriage fare table — meaning the taxis will be more expensive than in almost 80% of other places.
Under the proposed tariff, a two-mile journey within North Yorkshire would cost a maximum of £7.40 between 6am and midnight. The price will go up after midnight and at Christmas and new year.
A maximum soiling charge of £100 – should a vehicle need to be cleaned – has also been set to align with the current charges in Richmondshire, Craven and Ryedale. The rate in the Harrogate district is currently £80.

Cllr Derek Bastiman
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for open to business, Cllr Derek Bastiman, said:
“We need to ensure all businesses, residents and visitors across North Yorkshire are subject to the same maximum fare, regardless of where they live, work or visit.
“The setting of taxi fares is a statutory duty for the licensing authority and our aim is to strike a balance between setting a fare that is acceptable to the customer and to the taxi driver, and not create confusion by varied fares in the licensed area.
“The proposed fares are the maximum hackney carriage drivers can charge. They can, of course, charge a lower fare, should they wish to do so.”
If approved by North Yorkshire County Council’s executive on Tuesday next week, the proposed fares will be subject to a statutory 14-day consultation period.
Once a tariff of fares has been set, a driver cannot charge more to passengers than the charge shown on the meter apart from in certain exceptional circumstance, such as where a journey ends outside of the council area and a fee has been agreed in advance.
Private hire vehicles set their own fares and cannot be regulated by the licensing authority, so customers should agree the fare before the journey commences.
Read more:
- Council considers North Yorkshire knowledge test for taxi drivers
- Call to retain taxi zones in North Yorkshire amid proposed changes