Harrogate business owners say soaring energy bills are a “kick in the teeth” in the wake of the pandemic.

They are calling for more government support, however they say they “are not holding their breath”, after receiving little help over the last two years.

And there are fears that it will be the final nail in the coffin for some, with the price hike affecting every business – from big to small.

Bills have doubled

Andy Preston, co-owner of F45 Harrogate gym on Albert Street, said it had just received its electricity bill and the amount had doubled.

He said:

“At the end of the day it adds an extra financial burden on the business that we have no control over realistically. It’s an extra overhead that we don’t really need.

“There’s nothing we can do, because it’s the world as it is right now. However, we are getting stung by it.

“It’s just another kick in the teeth after everything we have had to deal with over the last two years. We didn’t get much financial help during the pandemic. The government needs to step up and help businesses now.”

F45 Harrogate owners Andy Preston, left, and Matt Goodall.

Across the road at Thug Sandwich Co, owner Daniel Bell said he was waiting to find out just how much it was going to impact his business.

He said:

“I’ll have to tighten up in other areas. I’ll have to make sacrifices in my personal life – not pay myself as much. I’ve just put my prices up at the beginning of the year anyway, which is something I fought for three years.

“I can’t do that again because then I’m not competitive anymore. So it’s just going to affect my personal life more than anything.

“It’s just another thing to deal with after covid. I definitely wouldn’t hold my breath for any government support. Especially with the amount we got over the covid period. It just seems we are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. It has got to come from somewhere.”

Read more:

• Vulnerable people in Harrogate having sleepless nights over rising bills
• Harrogate council to trial recycling wheelie bins

Extra blow for hospitality

Brett Lee, director and executive chef at Italian restaurant Stuzzi Harrogate, on King’s Road, agrees that it is an extra blow for the hospitality industry.

He said many restaurants have had to put up their prices already due to a large increase in food and import costs caused by a combination of Brexit and the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

Mr Lee, who also owns Stuzzi Leeds, said:

“It feels like another big obstacle on the road to recovery.

“Every household in the country will now be reviewing how they are spending money due to the rise in energy costs. This may push people to only visit their favourite restaurants once a month instead of a more frequent affair.

“It also means people have less disposal cash to spend in different sectors like retail. This doesn’t help our struggling high streets either and could also have a dangerous effect on restaurant lunch trade across the country.

“But we can’t take a negative approach, we must continue to adapt to the circumstances given to us, work hard, be creative and use our initiative.”

Brett Lee, director of Stuzzi Harrogate.

An ‘unwelcome burden’

Sue Kramer, owner of Crown Jewellers and head of the Commercial Street Retailers Group, described the situation as “worrying”.

She said:

“Whilst many of our shops may be small on Commercial Street, the financial impact of the energy crisis will undoubtedly affect every business – from the smallest up.

“The worrying part is that we have little control over what is going to happen, and basically have to accept whatever is thrown at us. Clearly having endured the uncertainty of covid for the last two years, this is an extra and most unwelcome burden.”

Sue Kramer, owner of Crown Jewellers and head of the Commercial Street Retailers Group.

The price hike comes after the energy regulator, Ofgem, lifted the maximum rate that suppliers can charge for an average duel-fuel energy tariff by £693 — an increase of 54 per cent.

This is to reflect the fourfold increase in energy market prices over the last year.

Over 300,000 people lined the streets of the Harrogate district for the 2014 Tour De France Grand Depart, but MPs have been told the event has provided no lasting benefits to the region.

The Grand Depart saw riders given a royal send-off by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry at Harewood House.

Almost 200 cyclists took part, racing through Masham, Ripon and Killinghall before a sprint finish in Harrogate. It memorably saw Mark Cavendish crash off his bike on Parliament Street.

Since the event, other major cycling events have been held in the Harrogate district, including the 2019 UCI Cycling Championships, which has divided the town ever since.

At an MPs select committee on Tuesday, Caroline Cooper Charles, chief executive of Screen Yorkshire, which champions the film and TV industry in Yorkshire, gave evidence about promoting the UK as a tourist destination.

Asked by Labour MP Clive Efford if the Grand Depart had a lasting impact on tourism in the county, she replied:

“In all honesty, I don’t think it did.

“It certainly put the spotlight on Yorkshire and people came to see the race. Probably for a short amount of time hotels were booked up and restaurants were full. In terms of long term impact no, I wouldn’t say so.”

Read more:

• Cycling group to meet council to raise concerns about Otley Road cycle path
• New moves to improve cycling in North Yorkshire

In 2014, Gary Verity, then chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, the tourism body that played a major role in bringing the event to Yorkshire, said the event “will have a lasting impact on visitor numbers and businesses for years and years to come”.

But Ms Cooper Charles said Yorkshire as a county had failed to capitalise on the success of the event.

A Harrogate Borough Council report published in 2015 claimed £19m was spent in the district thanks to the race. A Welcome to Yorkshire report claimed £100m was spent across the county.

Ms Cooper Charles said:

“Once the bikes are gone, what’s left? It’s the roads.

“In terms of a campaign to sell the rest of Yorkshire around the Tour de Yorkshire leg, i don’t think that happened. If it happened there would have been a longer-term impact.”

The Stray Ferret asked Welcome to Yorkshire to respond but we did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Lynda La Plante, Paula Hawkins and Tess Gerritsen are among the authors set to appear at this year’s Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival.

Hosted by programme chair and award winning novelist, Denise Mina, the event will return to Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel from July 21 to 24.

The event, organised by Harrogate International Festivals, offers an international audience the opportunity to discover the next big names in crime fiction and hear giants of the genre discuss their work. It includes panels, workshops and talks.

Among those appearing will be Lynda La Plante, creator of Prime Suspect, and Paula Hawkins, author of the global phenomenon Girl on the Train.

Michael Connelly, CL Taylor, Lucy Foley, John Connolly and Kathy Reichs will also appear as special guests.

Channel 4 journalist and broadcaster Steph McGovern, who lives in Harrogate, will also be speaking with actor and author Charlie Higson about his new crime novel Whatever Gets You Through the Night.

Read more:

• Ripon gala concert will celebrate the Queen’s jubilee
• State of the art: Harrogate’s boom in independent galleries

Meanwhile, festival favourite Val McDermid will be returning with her New Blood panel, showcasing four exciting debut crime writers to look out for.

‘Greatest crime-writing event of the year’

Denise Mina, bestselling author of the Garnethill trilogy and the Paddy Meehan novels, said: 

“The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is the greatest crime writing event of the year so it is a very real honour to be chairing it, to work with the programming committee and to have the chance to attend all the thrilling events. 

“After the difficulties and hardships of the past two years we are all very much looking forward to all of the writers and readers coming together in Harrogate once more.”

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of event organisers Harrogate International Festivals, said: 

“We look forward to announcing the full programme in the coming months, and sharing the exciting weekend we have planned for our attendees.”

Weekend break packages for the festival are on sale now.

A full programme for the event will be released in spring.

For more information and to book tickets, call +44(0)1423 562 303 or email info@harrogate-festival.org.uk.

This article is sponsored by Ison Harrison Solicitors.

As life starts to get back to normal, for some, covid has uncovered irretrievable cracks in their relationship. Now might therefore be the time to make the first tentative steps towards separation and divorce.

Ison Harrison Solicitors in Harrogate provide advice on what to do next to make the transition as amicable as possible.

Where To Begin

If you feel that the only outcome for you and your partner is to divorce, the process can seem really daunting. You may be thinking; where do I start, how long will it take and how much will it cost?

The biggest step for most people is the first one, engaging a family solicitor. To do this you have to accept that the marriage is over and have the motivation to do something about it. This is no easy task and can often lead people to stay in unhappy relationships.

Shaun Hulme who is a partner and family solicitor at the Harrogate branch, said:

“I am all too aware of the difficulties faced by those who are separating and facing a future they did not necessarily expect for themselves.

My role as a family solicitor is to help my client navigate this difficult and unexpected future not only for themselves but for their family.”

What to expect from a divorce case

Divorce is never something someone can plan for. It is often a decision that has taken careful consideration and comes with varying emotions such as heartbreak, upset and stress.

To think of a life without your partner may be hard to imagine but solicitors at Ison Harrison, like Shaun, are already thinking of the end goal before you’ve even got there:

“Whilst clients are at the very outset of the case, often with heightened emotions making difficult decisions even harder, I am already at the end point planning the case backwards to get them on the road to independent living.

“I help them to look forward to a future albeit one they had not planned.”

Often during proceedings, it can get heated between couples with each person determined to have the last word. Shaun Hulme makes sure to help his clients navigate this tricky part. He said:

“I advise all of my clients to avoid the need to have ‘the last word’ and move forward. This is particularly true with children. At the end of the process people want to look back and know that they have acted in the best interest of their children.”

Ultimately, Shaun said his main aims throughout a divorce case is to meet his clients expectations whilst managing them, to build trust and to ensure they feel supported throughout.

Top tips for reducing stress and getting the best outcome

Ison Harrison solicitors have provided some advice on what to remember as you work through the process:

• Start as you mean to go on – try and stay as calm and focused as possible rather than letting resentment guide you
• Be open and honest – hiding information only results in increased costs and animosity
• Be respectful – if you are feeling hurt it can be difficult to be respectful, however if you make things difficult for your ex-partner they of course will be less likely to cooperate
• Put the children first –  the welfare of your children should be the first thing you consider when making decisions. Children are often most affected by family breakdowns and will remember a bad experience for the rest of their life
• Consider what you want in the long term and the short term – to ensure that you walk away with a result that works for you both now and in the future

For a 30 minute free initial discussion about the steps involved in the divorce process, contact Ison Harrison Solicitors, Harrogate on 0113 284 5000 or email us on harrogate@isonharrison.co.uk

To download a copy of our Roadmap to Divorce document which takes you through all of the stages in the process, click here.

Three companies have been awarded a share of a £20 million contract to help progress major transport schemes in Yorkshire, including Harrogate’s Station Gateway.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which works in partnership with local authorities to improve transport and stimulate economic development, advertised a contract to bring in a strategic development partner for its Transforming Cities projects.

The projects include the £10.9 million Station Gateway scheme in Harrogate, which was approved last month, and similar schemes that promote sustainable travel in West Yorkshire, including a new bus station for Halifax town centre.

Leeds-based companies Jacobs UK Limited, Ove Arup & Partners Limited and WSP UK Limited have now been commissioned to help move the schemes forward.

This includes support to help “ensure that all necessary technical work and tasks are completed to enable projects to complete full business cases”.

Business case earmarked for August

Works on detailed designs of the Harrogate project – which includes reducing a stretch of Station Parade to single-lane traffic and a part-time pedestrianisation of James Street – are now continuing ahead of a final business case being submitted around August.

The business case will then be presented to West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which is overseeing the project funding from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

Read more:

• In depth: What is the economic case for Harrogate’s Station Gateway?
• Harrogate Station Gateway could take a year longer to complete than expected
• Harrogate set for ‘greatest investment in town centre in decades’

Subject to its approval, a contractor will then be appointed to carry out the works, as well as similar projects in Selby and Skipton.

The Harrogate gateway scheme is one of numerous schemes being funded by a £2.45 billion central government fund to boost active travel in towns and cities.

Work on the scheme was due to begin in spring this year and take a year to complete. But North Yorkshire County Council, the lead partner, has said work can continue longer. Business groups have expressed concern that roadworks could affect Christmas trade.

As previously reported by the Stray Ferret, following final approval, work on the scheme could continue into 2024 after the Department for Transport advised council officials that the deadline could be extended.

Harrogate Borough Council has announced it will trial the use of wheelie bins for recycling, just days after appearing to pour cold water on the idea.

Recent articles by the Stray Ferret have highlighted concerns by residents about the amount of recycling left out for collection blown across streets.

They prompted many people to call on the council to introduce wheelie bins with lids.

However, a spokesperson for the council suggested this month it might not be possible. They said wheelie bins could lead to “higher contamination rates”, adding:

“Another challenge we would need to overcome is the wagons used for collection. At the moment they cater for black boxes so any change would require adaptation of the fleet.”

Last week, The Stray Ferret published a video that appeared to contradict the council’s claim.

The video showed council workers emptying recycling from black boxes into garden waste wheelie bins and then into the refuse trucks.

After showing the footage to the council, a spokesperson said it had 10 bin lorries and only two could operate wheelie bins.

This photo posted on Facebook by Christina Clarkson highlighted the problem.

Following this article, a source contacted the Stray Ferret to say the council was introducing 7,000 recycling wheelie bins in unspecified pilot areas across the district and was unsure why the council was not being upfront about this.

This was confirmed yesterday by David Houlgate, branch secretary of the public sector trade union Unison, who said the move was “long overdue”.

Read more:

• Video contradicts Harrogate council’s claim about wheelie bins and recycling
• Harrogate council responds to calls for recycling wheelie bins

Mr Houlgate said wheelie bins would be introduced for tins, cans, glass and plastic. Paper and card would still be collected in blue bags.

The Stray Ferret asked the council about this yesterday. The council did not reply but instead released a statement on social media today saying “we will be launching a trial scheme to replace black recycling boxes with wheelie bins” this year. It said:

“For some time we’ve been looking at how we could improve our kerbside scheme. We’ll be trialling the wheelie bins in certain areas with different types of properties, areas of high recycling rates, and will use the data to influence an approach later in the year.pilots are underway.”

The full statement is below.

We know you are increasingly conscious of the environment and have been recycling more year on year.

Later in the year (date to be confirmed) we will be launching a trial scheme to replace black recycling boxes with wheelie bins.

Find out more below… ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qGBxAjcLnI

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) February 23, 2022

Harrogate Borough Council has approved a long-awaited plan that aims to solve how the west of Harrogate’s roads, schools and health services will cope with 2,000 extra homes.

The West Harrogate Parameters Plan will be used to identify what infrastructure is required and to help assess the planning merits of future developments in the area.

Council officials devised the document following discussions with the county council, developers and site promoters, along with community groups, parish councils and stakeholders.

Cllr Tim Myatt, cabinet member for planning, said the plan would ensure “we have the necessary infrastructure to support these future communities on the west side of Harrogate”.

He said it included two new primary schools, four playing pitches and two new local centres for shops and health services, as well as land designated for employment, new cycle lanes, footpaths and bus routes.

Cllr Myatt added:

“A number of suggestions have helped shaped the West of Harrogate Parameters Plan and I’d like to thank stakeholders – and especially local community groups and residents’ associations – for their valuable feedback.

“This engagement has played an integral part in ensuring we have been able to produce a plan that clearly identifies what infrastructure is required, whether that’s community facilities, school provision, green infrastructure or sustainable travel opportunities, for example.

“It also sets a benchmark for future developments across the Harrogate district and ensures that we not only delivery much needed homes but also create communities that residents can be proud of to call home.”

Beckwithshaw is set to see an increase in through traffic due to new housing on Otley Road.

The council added that the document was designed to help “support the sustainable and coordinated” development of future homes in the west of Harrogate.

Council to draw up infrastructure strategy

Now the plans has been approved, the council will begin preparing a West Harrogate Infrastructure Delivery Strategy (WHIDS) that will provide more detail about infrastructure requirements for West Harrogate and the associated cost.

It will include a review of existing capacity and timings for the phasing of key infrastructure, including education provision, health and wellbeing services, water and drainage, sport and playing fields provision, highways and open space.

Read more:

• Infrastructure plan for 4,000 homes in west Harrogate ‘a missed opportunity’
• Harrogate council exceeds house-building targets by almost 1,700 homes

The plan is due to be completed in May and will also be used to inform section 106 agreements paid by developers to fund infrastructure associated with their schemes.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive councillor for access at North Yorkshire County Council, said the authority would continue to support the borough council on infrastructure.

He said:

“North Yorkshire will continue to work closely with the borough council as a key partner responsible for services like education, highways and transport.

“We will support investment in the local highways infrastructure, as is already taking place on Otley Road, but will place the greatest priority on the provision of excellent public transport and facilities for walking and cycling.”

Residents remain unhappy

However, David Siddans, secretary of Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service previously:

“We, along with other organisations in the area, say that the council should not be approving the parameters plan until full details of the infrastructure package is agreed.

“We understand that is not expected before May this year.

“We have no confidence that this will happen and it is likely that developers will again be given the green light with the wider infrastructure needs remaining unaddressed.”

The GP-run vaccination sites in Harrogate and Ripon administered their 200,000th covid jab in the last week.

The figure applies to vaccines given at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon Races, which are operated by the Yorkshire Health Network, which is a federation of the 17 GP practices in the Harrogate district

When pharmacy vaccines are also included, the total number of jabs in the Harrogate district since the start of the pandemic comes to 374,994.

Ripon Races held its final vaccination clinic on Sunday. The Great Yorkshire Showground is due to close in March.

The information comes as the number of covid infections in the district continues to fall rapidly.

The latest daily UK Health Security Agency figures show that 100 covid cases have been reported in the last 24 hours.

Read more:

• NHS writes off £13m in Nightingale hospital beds cost
• Harrogate care boss: Vaccine mandate led to ‘significant’ staff losses

Currently the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 531 per 100,000 people.

It remains above the county-wide average 412 and the England rate of 417.

NHS England figures show the number of deaths from patients who tested positive for covid at Harrogate District Hospital stands at 228.

Fears are growing amongst some of the Harrogate district’s most vulnerable people ahead of a record increase in gas and electricity bills in April.

Customers at community grocery shop Resurrected Bites and people who use the Harrogate District Foodbank, say they have been “having sleepless nights”  over the price hike.

One man, whose food budget for the entire month is £30, said he had just received his renewal quote for energy and it was up to triple the original amount.

Another woman, who uses a pre-pay metre, said she was preparing to cut back and put on some extra clothing to keep warm if necessary.

Resurrected Bites is a Harrogate and Knaresborough-based community organisation aiming to reduce food waste and food poverty.

One of the customers at the organisation’s grocery shop at New Park Primary Academy, told the Stray Ferret about the impact it would have.

The man, from Harrogate, who works full time and has a six-year-old daughter, said:

“I have had to take advantage of the Citizen’s Advice Warm and Well scheme, which has tided me over, hopefully until the minimum pay rise in April.

But I’ve just had my renewable quote for energy and the variable rate is double what I’m paying now and for fixed, it’s triple. So the extra money I will receive will just be swallowed up.

“I don’t know what is going to go on. I think I’m just going to have to wait until April when it actually happens and just take a view on it or hope that the politicians do something more, because at the moment it’s just not a viable option for many people.

“My food budget for the month is £30, including coming here, and that’s for me and my daughter. That will just be gone with any kind of increase. What do you do? Luckily it’s coming into summer.”

Resurrected Bites provides a ‘lifeline’

The customer, who did not wish to be named, said organisations like Resurrected Bites, which also runs ‘pay-as-you-feel’ cafes in Harrogate and Knaresborough, were a lifeline to those in need.

The community grocery store sells good quality donated food to people on a low income for a small cost, that would otherwise end up in landfill. It often sees between 30 and 40 customers coming through its doors in one day.

The man began using the service after separating from his daughter’s mother, who receives all the available benefits due to being listed as the main residence.

Resurrected Bites’ community grocery store at New Park is a lifeline to those in need.

He said:

“It’s brilliant. I can work out what my meals are going to be. So for example, last week I got some sausages and a turnip and then I’ve cooked them all yesterday and that’s my next three or four meals. I usually make my meals in advance. That way if there are a couple of days where you run short, there’s always something in the back like the odd Pot Noodle.

“You come here on a weekly basis to stock up. The fruit and veg is brilliant, as not a lot of people eat as much as they should do and it fills a gap.”

The price hike comes after the energy regulator, Ofgem, lifted the maximum rate that suppliers can charge for an average duel-fuel energy tariff by £693 — an increase of 54 per cent.

This is to reflect the fourfold increase in energy market prices over the last year.

Volunteers at Resurrected Bites’ New Park Community Grocery Store.

New Park community grocery manager Sophia Clarke said customers, who come from a variety of different backgrounds, were worried about the impact it would have.

She said:

“There are a lot of people who are coming in to sign-up in preparation for the fact that once the energy bills rise they are not going to be able to feed themselves.

“One lady I spoke to said she was going to lose her house because she couldn’t keep up with mortgage payments and the bills rising.

“I don’t think anyone knows the full extent yet, but we are here to help people and offer advice and support.

“People are just getting back on track after covid and are now being faced with this. When you’re struggling to feed yourself and your children, this is not good news for the many.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough residents assess Storm Franklin flood damage
• Harrogate district community groups encouraged to apply for £2,500 grants

Foodbank fears

Over at a very busy Harrogate District Foodbank, at Mowbray Community Church, on Westmoreland Street, one woman said she used a pre-pay meter to avoid getting into trouble with her bills.

She said:

“If I can’t afford heating, I don’t have it on. If the bills get too much in April, I’ll just have to put a woolly jumper on or wrap a duvet around me.

“I’m topping the meter up as much as possible in preparation. I’m okay at the moment but when it goes up, I don’t know what will happen. Luckily warmer weather is coming. I don’t know what I would have done if it had happened in the middle of winter.”

Harrogate District Foodbank at Mowbray Community Church, Westmoreland Street.

Another man, who suffered with mental health problems, said he was worried that his landlord would put his rent up as a result of the price hike.

He said:

“I’m worried about it. If it goes up, I’m going to struggle financially again. That makes me anxious. I suffer with my mental health and I’m on benefits and this just plays on my mind. You’re always thinking about it.”

Dawn Pearson, project manager at Harrogate District Foodbank.

Dawn Pearson, project manager at the foodbank, which also provides help and support for people in Knaresborough and Starbeck, said more support from the government was needed.

She said:

“We find with clients coming in that they tend to get some help, for example Universal Credit, but it’s not enough to cover their bills. Or if it is just enough and something unforeseen goes wrong, then they are in debt again. It’s a vicious circle, they never seem to get above where they should be and it’s sad.

“A lot of people are saying they can’t have the heating on or they are only having it on a couple of times a week, or a couple of hours a day. That’s why people are here because they don’t have enough money for food.”

The planned merger of two Harrogate primary schools has moved another step closer after it was hailed as an opportunity to provide “excellent education” for all children in the town’s most deprived area.

Woodfield Primary School and Grove Road Primary School will become one in September 2022 if the proposals are approved.

The plans were progressed at a North Yorkshire County Council executive meeting today when members agreed that a statutory notice proposing the move should be published.

This was despite objections from some parents who said “Woodfield School’s problems should not become Grove Road’s problems” after Woodfield was judged inadequate and put into special measures by Ofsted, before failing to find an academy to take it over.

These comments were made during a consultation which closed in January and received just 12 responses.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, executive member for education and skills at the county council, said this low figure was “quite unusual” and something he believes is “tacit approval” for the merger.

Cllr Paul Haslam, who represents the Bilton area and is a governor at Woodfield Primary School, also said it was key that the school avoided a full closure – despite its struggling pupil roll and finances.

He said:

“We know that the provision of excellent education is the cornerstone of moving areas out of poverty.

“Woodfield is the most deprived ward in Harrogate and one of the most deprived in North Yorkshire. We must keep a school in this area.

“There may be some short-term logistical challenges, but I believe this merger will be great for the pupils, parents and area.”

The two schools sit just half a mile apart, but have very different ratings, pupils numbers and finances.

Read more:

• Parents vow to fight closure of ‘fantastic’ Woodfield primary school
• County council ‘would give Woodfield school more time to improve if it could’
• Woodfield primary school set to close in September

Grove Road is rated as good by Ofsted inspectors, while Woodfield received its inadequate rating and was put into special measures in January 2020.

Woodfield is also forecasting to be almost £333,000 in debt by 2024 due to having just 49 pupils on its books, while Grove Road is currently operating at capacity with almost 300 pupils and is forecasting a budget surplus by 2026.

The proposed merger has been agreed by both governing bodies of the schools, and statutory proposals will be now published in March.

After this, a final decision on the move will then be made by the county council’s executive in April.

If the proposals go ahead, nursery aged children will attend the site at Woodfield, which will be re-named Grove Road Nursery from September.

Eventually all Key Stage One pupils will be taught at the Woodfield site, with Key Stage Two being taught at the larger Grove Road site.