Harrogate’s joint cadet centre has officially reopened following a £750,000 refurbishment of the drill hall.

The centre, on Strawberry Dale, is home to both the town’s army and air cadets and also houses the region’s first virtual reality aviation centre for cadets.

The Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Yorkshire and the Humber hosted the official opening by Jo Ropner, the lord-lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

Ms Ropner unveiled the commemorative plaque with representatives of the town’s army and air cadets looking on.

Thursday’s opening was also attended by Harrogate borough mayor Victoria Oldham.

Mayor of Harrogate Victoria Oldham with the RFCA chairman and chief executive.

The funding was provided predominantly by the RAF, with support from the Yorkshire Cadet Trust and the Royal Flying Corps.

RFCA chief executive Jason Wright said:

“The refurbishment of Harrogate joint cadet centre has transformed the experience of the 100 or so local cadets who parade here every week.

“It’s created bright, attractive classrooms, offices for our adult volunteers, a wonderful drill hall and has even made room for Yorkshire’s first virtual reality training centre.

Mr Wright said 28 other cadet squadrons also used the virtual reality training centre.

Mr Wright added:

“We couldn’t be more delighted that the benefits this new development is already bringing to young people in the town and we are delighted that His Majesty’s lord-lieutenant in addition to Harrogate’s mayor have been able to join us for its official opening.”

Harrogate’s bodybuilding barber David Steca has won another national title.

Mr Steca, 63, finished first in the over-60s category at the IBFA British Championships in Gateshead last weekend.

It is the latest success in a remarkable career that has seen him become one of the most successful bodybuilders in the north of England.

Mr Steca, who owns Steca No6 in Harrogate, is now focusing on the NAC British Championships in Middleton, Greater Manchester on November 13. Success there would earn him a place at next year’s World Championships.

He weighed a peeled 84kg in his latest appearance on stage, and insists he is too young to quit.

David Steca (centre) takes first place.

He said:

“It’s never unachievable and you’re never too old!”

Besides being a competitor, Mr Steca is also a personal trainer who has helped numerous aspiring physique competitors in the Harrogate district.

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Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has denied voting in favour of fracking in the House of Commons last week.

An opposition Labour motion was put to the house which would have forced a vote on a bill to ban the controversial practice in the UK.

Mr Jones voted with the government on the night against the motion.

In his latest ‘Fact Check Friday’ video on Instagram, Mr Jones denied he voted in favour of fracking.

He said:

“Contrary to what some people would have you believe, I didn’t vote in favour of fracking during the debate in parliament this week.

“In fact, the vote wasn’t even directly about fracking at all. The vote was about changing the scheduled timetable of parliamentary business to allow the Labour Party to bring in a bill about fracking.

“A bill that hasn’t even been published.”

Read more:

• Andrew Jones MP launches ‘non-political’ fact-checking service
• Harrogate district MPs back government amid chaotic fracking vote

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

Mr Jones goes on to say in the video he is “relaxed” about the government’s position on fracking as there is “little possibility of any successful applications to frack”.

He adds that he has “always been skeptical about fracking” and that the UK’s future energy should be in renewables.

The video, which Mr Jones says includes “no politics”, goes onto show a clip of the then Liberal Democrat energy secretary, Sir Ed Davey, saying that the government had to find a “commercially viable way” to get shale gas out of the ground.

The clip then cuts to an image of Mr Jones and the hashtag ‘awks’, suggesting it reveals an awkward truth for the Lib Dems.

This article is sponsored by The Hearing Suite.

Hearing aid technology has improved drastically over the last few decades.

Many of the devices now boast Bluetooth technology, come with mobile apps or compatible gadgets and some are even invisible to the naked eye.

Emily Balmer, founder and lead audiologist of The Hearing Suite, Harrogate, explained why the modern hearing aid is “out of this world”.

She said:

“A comfortable, clear listening experience is always our top priority. But today’s hearing aids are designed to fit in with your life, rather than you fitting in with them.”

Ms Balmer said hearing aid programs are now able to adapt to your surroundings.

She said:

“Instead of hearing all around you or pressing a button to hear in front of you, hearing aid programs blend seamlessly all by themselves. If you are in the car, they even detect and reduce road noise. Or if you have an echoey kitchen, they compensate for that too.”

However, Ms Balmer said some people still wanted to change the volume, program or even create their own bespoke program for a specific environment.

She added:

“That’s easy too, with the use of an app – and the bluetooth features don’t end there.

“You can track the location of a missing hearing aid and stream music and phone calls directly into your ears. You can even track your steps and heart rate and alert people if you have had a fall.

“And gone are the days of worrying about a spot of rain if you are wearing one, as there are even hearing aids you can swim in.”

Ms Balmer said rechargibility had made the use of hearing aids much easier, with handy charging points and battery lives of up to 24 hours.

She continued:

“Then there’s the gadgets that work with hearing aids, taking them to even greater heights.

“For example the remote microphone that cuts out background noise in a restaurant,  or the TV streamer; a tiny box behind your TV that takes the sound instantly and wirelessly into your ears.”

Ms Balmer also praised the benefits of modern extended-wear hearing aids.

She said:

“These are fitted 4mm away from your ear drum every eight weeks and are invisible to the naked eye. These allow you to forget you even have a hearing loss.”

To book a consultation and hearing aid assessment at The Hearing Suite, click here. You can also call 01423 429 222 or email enquiries@thehearingsuite.co.uk

The 56-year history of Harrogate’s Woodfield Community Primary School is set to come to an end after councillors confirmed its closure today.

The school in Bilton will shut on December 31 despite complaints that pupils and parents have been “badly let down” by education bosses at North Yorkshire County Council.

But the council claims it has “exhausted all options” to try to keep the school open after years of falling pupil numbers and an inadequate rating by Ofsted.

Speaking at a meeting of the council’s executive today, ward councillor and school governor Paul Haslam repeated his objections to the closure which he blamed on an “unfounded allegation” about the school that was posted on social media several years ago. Cllr Haslam said”

“Today is a sad day. We have allowed social media and its consequent impact to close a perfectly good school.

“This cannot be allowed to happen to another school and it is only a failure if we do not learn from this sad event.”

Read more:

• Fears more Harrogate schools could follow in footsteps of closure-threatened Woodfield primary
• Fate of Woodfield primary school to be confirmed next week

Cllr Haslam, who represents the Bilton and Nidd Gorge division, added that the closure will “rip a large hole in this community” as he also called for a review into how it happened.

Paul Haslam

Stuart Carlton, the council’s corporate director of children and young people’s services, responded to say he “could not compel” other education bodies to discuss the issues around social media, but that he would meet with Cllr Haslam. He said:

“These are always very difficult decisions, but we have followed all the processes.

“The problem nationally of social media is one that isn’t unique to ourselves or particular schools here – it is something that plagues out across the country at times.

“I’m more than happy that I commit with my assistant director of education to meet with councillor Haslam and the chair of governors to talk through that point.”

Conservative councillor Annabel Wilkinson, the executive member for education and skills, also said the decision to close the school was made with a “heavy heart”.

Today’s decision comes after pupil numbers at the school dwindled from 155 in 2018 to just one earlier this month.

The inadequate rating by Ofsted inspectors came in 2020 and meant the school had to become part of an academy, however, it failed to one to secure its future.

Woodfield Community Primary School, which opened around 1964, then held merger talks with the nearby Grove Road Community Primary School, but these fell through.

Financial troubles have also hit the school, with debts forecast to reach almost £100,000 by the end of 2022/23 set to be absorbed by the county council.

The closure will also mean the Woodfield catchment area will be shared with both Bilton Grange Primary School and Grove Road Community Primary School.

In the bright morning sunshine, two Harrogate Borough Council workers and their friend started putting up the annual knitted poppy display outside Bettys, ready for Remembrance Sunday.

Frank McCann and Michael McElhinney both work as as civic attendants — but today have been putting up the poppies display with volunteer, Lindon Wallace.

Mr McCann told the Stray Ferret:

“The poppies have all been hand knitted by thoughtful volunteers in Harrogate and we’ll put them all around the war memorial.

“It reminds people of the sacrifice made and on a beautiful day like this it really adds a splash of colour and interest.”

On the pavement there are bin liners full of the handmade poppies. The men have no idea how many poppies there are — they have 500 ties so Mr McCann said hundreds, maybe thousands, will be put up in the coming days.

Mr McCann added:

“It’s been very noticeable over the last few years that there’s been an increasing interest in this. Ever since the 100th anniversary of the First World War — it brought people’s mind back into focus.

“As another part of my role, I will be up at the war graves at the crematorium. Young people are buried there — a lot from Canada. Something like that hits home. They were really little kids who died all those years ago.”

The Royal British Legion will formally launch its Poppy Appeal on Thursday. To donate click here.

Remembrance Sunday is on November 13.

Read More:

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• Historic Harrogate building set to put on a Halloween show

A long awaited survey on cycling and walking plans for the Oatlands Drive area of Harrogate has finally been launched more than a year-and-a-half after original proposals for one-way traffic were scrapped.

Residents are being asked to make suggestions via an online map ahead of plans being presented by North Yorkshire County Council later this year.

The consultation comes after the council was awarded government funding, but later binned its plans for a one-way traffic system in March 2021 following widespread opposition from residents who said the changes would be “disastrous” for the wider Saints area.

A 20mph limit and traffic filters were then proposed, however, residents were still unhappy.

The council then announced it would use the £200,000 it was awarded from the government’s Active Travel Fund to carry out a review which includes the survey launched today.

Read more:

• New start date for next phase of Otley Road cycle path works to be revealed
• ‘Nightmare’ and ‘flawed’: Harrogate’s Otley Road cycle path under further fire

But progress up until now has been slow and it could still be some time before any road changes are introduced as the council said it will have to wait for further funding opportunities.

Kevin Douglas, chairman of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said the delays for all active travel schemes in Harrogate have been “incredibly frustrating” and that he believes there has been some “muddled thinking” on the Oatlands Drive area.

He said: 

“We have said all along that there needs to be a segregated cycleway on Oatlands Drive to encourage people to link with the Harrogate gateway project.

“But whatever they decide to do, they are going to have to get on and have the backbone to deliver.”

As well as the survey, the council is also gathering traffic data looking at parking and how people choose to travel in the Oatlands Drive area which includes St. John Fisher Catholic High School and St. Aidan’s Church of England High School.

The council said this will capture the volume and speed of traffic, as well as what type of vehicles are used.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways at the authority, added: 

“We are looking at options for active travel and traffic calming improvements in the Oatlands area as part of our aim to encourage cycling and walking, easing congestion and improving air quality in Harrogate.

“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.

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

Under other active travel schemes, the council previously said final designs for Harrogate’s Victoria Avenue and the A59 near Knaresborough – which include cycle lanes, improved crossings and reduced speed limits – were “likely” to be revealed this summer.

However, this has been pushed back until at least the New Year.

To have your say on proposals for Oatlands Drive here.

A spectacularly spooky light show will be held at a historic building in Harrogate this weekend.

The Chapel on Grove Road will celebrate the occasion with its first ever display, complete with projected images, creepy smoke and themed music.

Owner Mark Hinchliffe said he hoped the free display would be enjoyed by people of all ages:

“It’s a bit mad – when you get one of those ideas and think, ‘what a great Halloween thing to do opposite the cemetery and on the road so you can see it easily’.

“It’s local, in town, and people can come and see it.”

Although the concept came from Mr Hinchliffe and his partner Heidi, they say they have had a huge amount of support from other local businesses.

FTAV has put together the programme of projection, lighting and effects, while Studio One and Kall Kwik helped with producing publicity material to promote the event.

In full costume, the couple will be greeting visitors with sweets donated by Asda, Waitrose and The Serious Sweet Company.

Read more:

• Spooky castles, pumpkins and haunted houses: Halloween fun in the district
• Ripon pumped up on pumpkins for Halloween half-term

The show will run on Sunday, October 30 as well as Halloween itself, Monday, October 31, from 6pm to 8pm each day.

It may only be two days long, but Mr Hinchliffe has already set his sights on something more extensive for the next significant event in the calendar. He said:

“If I do things, I like to make it really visual. I’m a creative and I’m a bit bonkers.

“It all started with Halloween and now I’ve had another idea of doing a Santa’s grotto. I’ve found an antique sleigh to die for – it’s 2.5m from North America, about 1900, with a double button cushioned seat. It’s the real thing.”

Details of the grotto will be confirmed nearer the time, but Mr Hinchliffe said he hoped to tie it in to Harrogate’s other Christmas celebrations for the benefit of the whole community.

Harrogate Borough Council has seen a rise in complaints over the last five years, according to an analysis of local government data.

A study by legal firm claims.co.uk shows that the authority has seen an 18.97% increase in complaints since 2017.

The analysis used figures from the Local Government Ombudsman and showed the most improved council’s across the Yorkshire and Humber region.

According to the study, Harrogate came 19th, below Kirklees Borough Council and City of York Council, out of 19 council where full data was available.

The figures show that the council received on average 3.6 complaints per 10,000 people across the district between 2017 and 2019.

This increased to 4.3 between 2019 and 2022.

Scarborough Borough Council was the most improved with a decrease in complaints of 38.95%, followed by North Lincolnshire Council with 34.62%.

George Patton from Claims.co.uk said:

“Council tax has increased by an average of £67 for Band D properties this year amid the cost of living squeeze.

“Along with the tax hike are residents’ rising expectations towards their local authorities to provide better services.

“Hence, although taking on your council might seem daunting, it’s vital to know your right as a resident and speak out if you feel that your council has failed to deliver a service.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“Harrogate Borough Council aims to provide an excellent service to our customers. If we get something wrong, we want to try to put it right quickly and learn from the mistake to help improve services in the future.

“We are generally able to resolve the complaints we receive but sometimes our customers are not satisfied with our response to their complaint and we signpost them to refer their complaint to the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO).

“The data published by the LGSCO shows that it has received 103 enquiries or complaints relating to Harrogate Borough Council over the last 5 years and made 101 decisions on these referrals.

“Many of these cases were closed after initial enquiries (43), referred back for local resolution (29), or not upheld (11).

“In only nine cases was the complaint against the council upheld.”

In June, the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that in 2020/21 13 complaints were made against councillors alone.

There were 11 complaints where a monitoring officer and independent person ruled that investigations were not needed. This included allegations of bullying by a parish councillor.

Read More:

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Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Law firm Raworths has renewed its sponsorship of the Harrogate Literature Festival for the next five years.

This year marks a decade of Raworths association with the annual event, which is produced by Harrogate International Festivals.

Festivals Managing Partner, Simon Morris said:

“We are very proud to have supported the Harrogate Literature Festival since its inception a decade ago. Over that time it has grown from strength to strength, bringing a diverse array of speakers to Harrogate, enriching the community and promoting the region.

“We are delighted to be committing to the next five years and look forward to working alongside the festival team in continuing to develop this cultural keystone.”

Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals Chief Executive, said:

“This month sees us celebrating ten years of an amazing partnership with Raworths, and I’m thrilled it’s to continue for another five years.

“We are incredibly proud of our relationship, and delighted that the firm has put its faith in us to continue to produce an exciting programme of events as part of our literature festival.”

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The General Tarleton at Ferrensby has been awarded an AA Rosette for culinary excellence after a recent inspection.

The restaurant was recognised for culinary excellence and also achieved a five-star Inn rating for accommodation.

General Manager, Silviu Hasna, said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded two such important awards.

“It’s been a difficult journey out of the pandemic and to be recognised by the AA is an incredible achievement indeed.

“Whilst the hospitality market is constantly evolving, what remains a constant for me is the need and desire to provide the best possible overall guest experience… Whilst quality is key we also recognise customers demand value at the same time.

“I know it’s cliché but as a team we work really hard to source the very best quality ingredients Yorkshire has to offer. Even the toiletries are from H2K in Harrogate.”

The General Tarleton