A contractor has been lined up to carry out the £68.8 million re-alignment of the A59 at Kex Gill in the Harrogate district.
North Yorkshire County Council has awarded preferred bidder status to John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd, an Irish civil engineering and construction firm. A council spokeswoman said the value of the contract was “commercially confidential”.
John Sisk & Son was involved in the delivery of the 2012 London Olympics and the capital’s Crossrail project.
The decision is dependent on funding from the Department for Transport, which is currently reviewing the full business case. A decision is expected next month.
Contractors will move on site in December to clear the moorland by late February next year to avoid the bird nesting season. An estimated completion date is May 2025.
The A59 at Kex Gill, near Blubberhouses, is the main route between Harrogate and Skipton. Since 2000, the route has been closed 12 times following landslips.
The DfT awarded a £56.1 million grant for the realignment towards an original budget estimate of £61.6 million. The county council agreed to pay the remainder from its capital reserves.
The project has faced numerous delays and following tender returns, the estimated cost of the scheme increased by £7.2m to £68.8m, which the council attributes to due to inflation affecting constructions costs.
It therefore approved an increase in its allocated funding from £5.5m to £12.7m, given the DfT grant is fixed.
Asked whether the scheme would require detours and road closures, a council spokesewoman said:
“It’s very early to say for certain at this stage. However, we don’t envisage road closures or detours. The majority of work is offset from the existing A59 alignment being on the opposite side of the valley.”
Cllr Keane Duncan
Cllr Keane Duncan, the council’s executive member for highways and transportation, said:
“This is a key step forward for the Kex Gill re-alignment, which is one of the council’s most ambitious ever highways projects.
“The A59 provides a very important east-west connection in North Yorkshire and the route is listed by the government in the top 10 for strategic importance nationally.
“Re-aligning the route is the only real solution so we are pleased to now be at the stage where we are ready to appoint a contractor.
“We remain committed to carrying out this key project as quickly as possible and in the most cost-effective way.”
‘Light at end of tunnel’
Cllr Nathan Hull (pictured above), a Conservative who represents Washburn and Birstwith on the council, said:
“There’s light at the end of the tunnel with this project now that we have a preferred contractor and a start date in mind.
“The re-aligned route, which will leave the A59 at North Moor Road and re-join the existing road at Blubberhouses, will be safe and reliable for residents, businesses and visitors for generations to come.”
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Sisk’s Yorkshire projects include completing the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme City Centre Gateways and is delivering major infrastructure work at York Central.
Dominic Hodges, managing director of Sisk, said:
“The scheme is technically challenging with complex engineering solutions required within an environmentally sensitive area.
“We are working collaboratively with all stakeholders to develop an innovative scheme and look forward to working with the local community to leave a lasting legacy.”
Robert Harris and Chris Ryan coming to Harrogate literary festival
Historical novelist Robert Harris, SAS hero Chris Ryan and broadcaster and political commentator, Iain Dale, have added their names to the line up of speakers at this year’s Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival.
They are the latest headline names that have agreed to appear at the celebration of books, which is being held between October 20 and October 23, at the Harrogate’s Crown Hotel.
Other names already announced include the 8th Earl of Harewood David Lascelles, Antiques Roadshow expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan, broadcaster Sarfraz Manzoor, The Great British Dig co-presenter Dr Chloë Duckworth, and broadcaster and TV presenter Nihal Arthanayake.
Commencing with a literary lunch staring Countdown’s Susie Dent, this year will see 23 names appearing on the Raworths stage.
Bringing the curtain down at the end of the four-day event is Fatherland author, Robert Harris, who has had many of his novels adapted for TV or film, including Enigma, which starred Kate Winslet, and Archangel featuring Daniel Craig.
He will be talking about his latest thrilling novel, Act of Oblivion – set in 1660 after the restoration of the monarchy — with BBC Radio Four’s Mark Lawson.
Read more:
- Countdown’s Susie Dent among speakers at Harrogate literary festival
- New music festival to mark composer’s link to Nidderdale village
Iain Dale’s latest book, On This Day in History, charts the main events of the last few hundred years, with one event per page, per day.
He will be joined on stage by former LBC stablemate and festival regular, Matt Stadlen, as the pair take a journey through Britain’s political history, told in 365 events.
Former SAS corporal, Chris Ryan will talk about how his own experiences have influenced his writing.
Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, which produces and curates the event, said:
“The latest names added to this year’s roll call, Robert Harris, Chris Ryan and Iain Dale, are all best sellers in their own right and need no introduction, and the
quality of speakers is a testament to the ever-rising prominence of this annual literature festival.”
Further information about the festival is available here.
Artificial intelligence to be used to improve winter travel on Harrogate district roadsArtificial intelligence is to be employed on Harrogate district roads this winter to keep traffic moving during severe weather.
North Yorkshire County Council revealed yesterday it was working with Finnish weather technology firm Vaisala to improve monitoring of its network of 5,800 miles of road.
Vaisala will use a combination of artificial intelligence, computer modelling and live data to survey road conditions more quickly.
A council news release said:
“As highways officers drive the network, the video technology automatically surveys the roads and identifies defects. It processes the data within a few hours.
“This gives the highways team a visual snapshot of the whole network, capturing useful data about the road condition and road signs very quickly and enabling them to target resources most efficiently.”
The authority is trialling Vaisala Wx Horizon, which uses real-time weather information, historic weather and road condition data alongside computer modelling to help identify required winter treatments.
It is also investigating Internet of Things sensors to provide feedback on road surface temperatures and moisture levels.
Read more:
- More weather stations give North Yorkshire ‘best coverage in UK’
- Cost of living crisis fund launched for North Yorkshire
Last year the council spent £500,000 on measures including installing 27 weather stations across the county to provide up-to-date information to help the council make decisions about when and where to grit roads.
The B6265 at Greenhow near Pateley Bridge and the B6267 Low Burton near Masham are among the areas with weather stations.
Cllr Don Mackenzie, the former executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire County Council, pictured at a weather station last year.
The stations include solar-powered cameras that relay live images of road conditions to the county council’s website, where they help people plan their journeys.
‘Vital to everyday lives’
Cllr Keane Duncan, the council’s executive member for highways and transportation, said:
“North Yorkshire’s extensive highways network, which includes many rural roads, is vital to the everyday lives of the county’s residents, its businesses, tourism industry and wider economic prosperity.
“That’s why we have a strong track record in putting ourselves at the forefront of technological advances that enable us to make quick, well-informed decisions to help to keep our roads open and people on the move during winter weather.
“These latest developments with Vaisala continue that long-standing approach and demonstrate our commitment to ongoing improvement to enable our dedicated teams to support residents, businesses and visitors across the county.”
Jarkko Sairanen, Vaisala’s executive vice president for weather and the environment, said:
“I am convinced the county and its people will benefit from the latest advances in mobile and Internet of Things technologies to help keep the road network safe and accessible, while minimising the cost and carbon footprint of efficient winter maintenance operations.”
The Stray Ferret has asked the council how much the new measures cost but has yet to receive a figure.
Picture: At one of North Yorkshire’s weather stations are (from left): Mike Francis of NY Highways; Erik Sucksdorff, sales director at Vaisala; Jo Wright, sales manager at Vaisala; Richard Marr, highway area manager at North Yorkshire County Council; Nigel Smith, head of highway operations at NYCC; Barrie Mason, assistant director, highways and transportation at NYCC; Jarkko Sairanen, Vaisala’s executive vice president for weather and the environment; and Alan Palfreyman, technical officer at NYCC
Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm facilitates Norwich City FC deal
Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
A Harrogate law firm has acted to help facilitate a deal to acquire a minority share in Norwich City Football Club.
McCormicks Solicitors was involved in negotiations in which a group led by Mark Attanasio successfully acquired shares from a variety of holders, including long-serving club director Michael Foulger.
Mr Attanasio is an American businessman who is chairman and principal owner of Major League Baseball team the Milwaukee Brewers.
The McCormicks team, led by James Towler, a partner and head of corporate and commercial, acted on behalf of both Norwich and current joint majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones.
Mr Towler said:
“It’s been a pleasure to work with the club and its majority shareholders on this transaction and I am delighted by the successful outcome.”
Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones said in a statement:
“We’re really excited about the future. We care passionately about the football club and are confident that this will be right for all involved.
“Mark and his team come to us with amazing credentials. Their vision and way of working is very much aligned in how we work at our football club. They care about their community and supporters and that’s exactly how we work.
“Our club is being run excellently, so we don’t expect any big changes. We look forward to collaborating with Mark and his team as they learn more about our club and we gain insights from their relevant expertise.”
Harrogate running retailer to help donate socks to homelessness charity
A Harrogate running retailer has teamed up with a sock brand to donate socks to a homelessness charity
Up & Running, which is based on Station Parade, has partnered with Balega as part of the initiative.
Throughout September, for every pair of socks sold by the retailer, Balega will donate a pair to the Harrogate Homeless Project.
Talking about the campaign, co-managing director for Up & Running, George Cunningham said:
“We are happy to once again be supporting local homeless shelters and projects, and are grateful to customers, staff and Balega for the contributions to the sock donation.
“The issue of homelessness is heart-breaking and serious, and affects all communities. We hope that the sock donation will help in a small way to bring some comfort and dignity to those in need.”
Thomas Richards, from Harrogate Homeless Project, said:
“Good quality socks make a real difference to the wellbeing of the most vulnerable people within our community. Thank you.”
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Ainsty Farm Shop says if new PM was chosen sooner it could have saved their business
The owners of Ainsty Farm Shop have said if a new Prime Minister had been appointed sooner it could have saved their business.
This morning, the government announced a huge package of support for businesses that will see energy bills cut in half for the next six months.
Despite the energy crisis growing all summer, the measures were only announced after the two-month Conservative Party leadership battle between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
For the farm shop off the A59, which closed last week, it’s come too late.
The Stray Ferret reported in August how farmers Lily and Stuart Beaton had run the popular store for 22 years but planned to close due to spiralling bills.
They had been given an energy quote of £90,000 — a massive increase from the £20,000 a year they had previously been paying.
Ms Beaton said:
“In all honesty, if they’d got on with choosing the Prime Minister quicker, and made the announcement [on energy bills] sooner, we might have sat down and worked out the figures and looked if we’d be able to go on. gone on.
“I think we would have had a go at putting our prices up and seeing what the reaction was from people.”
Read more:
- Cost of living crisis fund launched for North Yorkshire
- £70,000 energy bill increase forces Harrogate district farm shop to close
The package of support will last for six months, which Ms Beaton described as a “stay of execution”.
She is worried that next winter, businesses could again be placed in a perilous position with no guarantee of another government bailout.
She added:
“I think there are a lot of businesses that will benefit but I feel it’s moving the problem on. In six months time we won’t have all the renewable power in place, that’s the way we need to go.”
The couple are now busy removing the fridges, tills and shelving from the store as they prepare to simplify their business.
They will continue to sell meat and produce from their farm via an online mailing list and through their online shop.
Government awards North Yorkshire £336,000 bus grantThe government is set to award North Yorkshire County Council £336,000 for bus services just five months after rejecting a multi-million pound funding bid.
Ministers wrote to council officers to offer a grant to cover the costs of staffing in its enhanced partnership team, which helps to draw up funding bids and work with bus operators to improve services.
The move comes after the Department for Transport rejected a £116 million funding bid as part of the authority’s Bus Service Improvement Plan for the county.
In a letter to council officials, the government said the grant would help it continue to work with bus companies.
It said:
“We understand that this funding does not replace BSIP funding to spend on transforming your bus services.
“But we do hope it will help to support your ongoing work with operator partners, especially working through an enhance partnership or franchising arrangement, to deliver better bus services (whether they are commercial or tendered) and enable you to use local bus funding to best effect and attract future bus funding as it becomes available.”
Failed funding bid
The move comes after the county council failed in a bid for bus improvement funding back in April.
Ministers rejected a £116 million bid from the authority which would have funded new bus lanes, more affordable fares, real-time passenger information and a simpler ticketing system for services across North Yorkshire.
The government said it refused the scheme because it “lacked ambition”.
Read more:
- Harrogate park and ride ‘still possible’ despite £116m funding failure
- Harrogate park and ride plans could finally be revealed next year
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for transport at the council, warned in July that bus services were “facing a potential cliff edge” due to loss of government subsidies.
Despite the failed bid, Cllr Duncan said previously that the council would continue with some of its plans for transport – such as a park and ride in the district.
He said:
“While we suffered a setback with our Bus Service Improvement Plan bid to the Department for Transport being unsuccessful, we are working to identify potential sites along the A61 corridor and elsewhere in town.
“This will build on the work we’ve already undertaken as part of the Harrogate Transport Improvements Programme study that was completed in 2021.”
The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire County Council to ask whether it felt the latest bus grant was sufficient, but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Sneak Peek: The Secret Bakery, KnaresboroughHarrogate’s The Secret Bakery has expanded and launched a second branch in Knaresborough.
The shop and cafe, in Market Place, sells baked goods, including artisan bread, cakes and sandwiches, which are all made at the Knaresborough Road site.
The new outlet, which also serves drinks, including coffee, is being run by the bakery’s co-owner Jane Spencer, a former teacher from Keighley.
She said:
“This shop used to be The Reading Room and we used to deliver bread here from our shop in Harrogate. When they decided to close, we thought it was a great opportunity for us to open in Knaresborough
“A lot of our Harrogate customers come from Knaresborough, so it’s nice that we can be here.
“I would say our most popular product is our bread, particularly our sourdough. People come from all over to buy it. Our cakes and scones are also really popular.”
Jane Spencer (right), co-owner of The Secret Bakery, Knaresborough and Aime McNaught in the new shop and cafe.
Opening hours are currently under review, but the aim is to eventually open seven days a week, from 8am until around 4pm and from 10am on a Sunday.
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Mrs Spencer and her husband James bought The Secret Bakery in November 2020.
The business is continuing to grow, with work starting next week to develop the Harrogate site.
Mrs Spencer said:
“It will give us some more space in the back to make all the bread and cakes and everything.
“We are also going to be opening later from Thursday through to Sunday and offering things like bread and dips. We will also be serving alcohol.”
The cafe area at The Secret Bakery, Knaresborough.
Businesses in the Harrogate district will breathe “a temporary sigh of relief” after the government announced a cap on energy bills, a local business group has said.
David Simister, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said the intervention by ministers to tackle the sky high cost of gas and electricity was welcome.
The scheme will see the government fix wholesale gas and electricity prices for businesses for six months from October 1.
It means bills are expected to be cut for firms by half their predicted level this winter.
Mr Simister said he hoped the move would prevent businesses from closing down.
He said:
“Today’s announcement by the government is extremely welcome, and there will be many businesses breathing a temporary sigh of relief.
“Over the last few weeks we have seen businesses pull the shutters down because of rising energy costs, and I hope today’s intervention will prevent many more from doing likewise.
“At the end of the week, the Chancellor will be unveiling a mini budget which I am hopeful will further take into account the needs of businesses.
“However, one thing we do have to bear in mind is that this money is being borrowed and therefore will have to be paid back at a later date.”
Rising energy bills has already forced some businesses in the district to close.
They included Ainsty Farm Shop, which closed last weekend after its owners were told their annual energy bill was set to jump from £20,000 to £90,000 a year.
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Meanwhile, ministers announced that the cut in energy bills would also apply to hospitals, charities and schools.
A spokesperson for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said:
“As with every other area of society, hospitals are not immune to rising energy costs, and as part of our annual budget planning we do our utmost to take into consideration any potential rises.
“Additional support provided by government during the current energy crisis will help alleviate some pressures that we face so that we can continue to provide the best possible health care for our community.
“We cannot simply rely on cost capping energy bills and our trust is committed to reducing costs, becoming more energy efficient and lessening our environmental impact by becoming a greener, more environmentally friendly organisation.
“A number of major projects have been undertaken as part of our £14 million Salix investment. This work includes insulating our roofing and replacing glazing across the Harrogate District Hospital site to help reduce our energy consumption.”
Kwasi Kwarteng, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:
Green Party chooses man to fight Andrew Jones in Harrogate and Knaresborough“We have stepped in to stop businesses collapsing, protect jobs, and limit inflation.
“And with our plans to boost home-grown energy supply, we will bring security to the sector, growth to the economy and secure a better deal for consumers.”
Harrogate and District Green Party is set to name Paul Ko Ferrigno as its prospective parliamentary candidate for the next general election.
Mr Ko Ferrigno was one of two people nominated but the other contender, Arnold Warneken, withdrew.
The party is holding an election hustings event tonight when Mr Ko Ferrigno will outline his vision.
Members will have the opportunity to ask questions before deciding whether to ratify his selection as PPC.
Tonight’s hustings, which is open to everyone, will take place at the Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade at 7.30pm.
The Friends Meeting House
It is hoped the process to select a candidate will be finalised before the Green Party autumn conference begins in Harrogate on September 30.
Mr Ko Ferrigno, 59, a scientist, told the Stray Ferret he had been a “passive supporter of the Green Party” for many years and a party member for two years.
Born in London, he lived in France for a decade from the age of 10 and has lived in Harrogate since 2007.
Mr Ko Ferrigno is a football referee, and has widespread volunteering experience as a coach for Pannal Ash Junior Football Club, a welfare officer on Harrogate and District Junior Football League and a governor at Oatlands Junior School in Harrogate.
Read more:
- Harrogate to host Green Party conference this month
- Green Party stands down in Knaresborough by-election to support Lib Dems
He said he wanted to see more taxis and fewer cars and greater support for cycling, including measures to encourage cycling couriers to replace vans. He said:
“Harrogate is seen as being the Bettys of the country. Let’s live up to that reputation by doing everything well.”
The Green Party did not field a candidate in Harrogate and Knaresborough in the 2019 general election, when Conservative Andrew Jones retained the seat with 53% of the vote.
Asked whether the Greens would consider stepping aside as part of a pact with other parties, Mr Ko Ferrigno said “it’s a conversation to be had” but added:
“I’m not one of those who think we need to get the Conservatives out at all costs. We need to elect the right candidate
“Having a Green in any conversation makes a difference. Recycling started as a Green Party conversation.
“What we will do by standing is shift the conversation. Even if I don’t get elected — and I hope I will — we will move the conversation.”
Hoard of medieval treasure discovered in Harrogate set for auction
A hoard of medieval treasure found in a field of stubble near Harrogate is set to be auctioned.
Coins and a ring believed to date back to the 1470s were found by metal detecting enthusiast Jeff Warden, 65, and his sons Michael, 41, and 42-year-old Nick.
The family discovered the treasure in July 2020 during the first covid lockdown.
The discovery included a silver hammered penny, a silver groat or fourpence of Edward IV minted in Norwich and a gold ring, engraved with images of the Holy Trinity.
Nigel Mills, consultant at Noonans auctioneers, said the hoard dates to the War of the Roses and was likely to belong to a soldier from that time.
He said:
“The hoard dates to the late 1470s and was deposited during the Wars of the Roses, a conflict fought between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists lasting for 30 years from 1455 to 1487.”
“The hoard is very unusual, comprising 21 coins with a face value of two shillings and threepence together with the gold ring. It is likely that the hoard represents a soldier’s valuables who died in the Wars of the Roses.”
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The ring sold for £6,500 earlier this month, but the coins are set to be auctioned by Noonans on September 28.
The coins have a guide price of £260 to £340.
Proceeds from the sale will be split equally between the landowner and Warden family.