Locations of thousands of Harrogate district recycling bins revealed

The locations of where thousands more recycling wheelie bins will be trialled in the Harrogate district have been revealed.

Harrogate Borough Council is testing out the blue-lidded bins as a replacement for black boxes which residents complain are not big enough and result in recycling being blown across streets during bad weather.

The Appleby estate in Knaresborough was chosen as the first area for the trial and now more locations have been revealed.

Cllr Sam Gibbs, cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling at the council, said around 2,000 bins have already been rolled out and that 880 more in Bilton and 1,800 in Ripon will follow this month.

He also said 2,000 will be introduced in the Harlow Hill and Arthurs Avenue areas of Harrogate in August.

When questioned how the trial is going, Cllr Gibbs told a council meeting that residents seemed “very happy” with the changes, although there had been some issues with items including a bouncy castle and petrol cans being incorrectly placed in the bins.

Cllr Gibbs said: 

“One thing we pride ourselves on as a council is the low contamination rates of our recycling which has enabled us to recoup as much money as possible.

“Whether this trial is a success or not will depend on the cleanliness and contamination rates of the recycling that we collect.

“So far, albeit from a very small sample size, things are looking good.”

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Recycling that contains contamination – including the wrong items or food waste – costs more to dispose of and the recycled material produced can be of lower quality.

The new wheelie bins can be used to recycle glass bottles, jars, tin cans, foil, food and drink cartons, and plastic bottles and tubs.

Blue bags for recycling paper, card and cardboard will continue to be used.

However, these will be replaced with heavy-duty bags for those properties that don’t have them.

Harrogate teenagers to embark on 48 mile walk in aid of Ukraine

Two Harrogate teenagers are set to embark upon a 48 mile walk in two days in an effort to raise money for Ukraine.

Grace Brierley and her friend Elena Dickson, who are both 14, will start the walk by taking on the Knaresborough round on Saturday, July 9.

From there, they will walk the Harrogate ringway on Sunday and will be camping out in between.

Money raised will go towards United 24, an initiative set up by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, amid the war with Russia.

The charity aims to be a direct source for donations for the country and helps with medical aid, rebuilding and defence.

Grace and Elena have set up a JustGiving page as part of their walk. You can find their page here.

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Sinkhole in central Harrogate causes traffic problems

A sinkhole appeared this morning outside Harrogate Convention Centre on King’s Road.

Police and highways staff from North Yorkshire County Council have been on site ensuring vehicles and bikes can pass safely.

But the hole, which is about 50cm wide and a metre deep, is causing some delays in the area.

Traffic turning left at the end of Ripon Ripon is particularly affected.

The hole is in the right hand lane of King’s Road heading out of town so traffic is able to pass in the inside lane.

Harrogate sinkhole

The hole could take a few days to repair.

The Stray Ferret has asked North Yorkshire County Council for further details.

There were delays on the same stretch of road last week when a lorry broke down.

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Harrogate family firm sold to international company

A family firm formed in Harrogate 20 years ago, which now employs 45 staff, has been sold to a large international company.

Keith Swales founded civil engineering business S&B Utilities in 2002. Based at Kestia House in Lingerfield, near Scotton.

The firm has been acquired by Hargreaves Industrial Services, which is a subsidiary of international land, property and infrastructure development company Hargreaves Services.

The sum has not been disclosed.

Managing director Mr Swales, who is 77, and finance director Karen Cocker will exit the business. All other staff will be retained.

Kestia House Lingerfield

Kestia House

S&B Utilities, which constructs water projects and other civil engineering schemes, is a framework contractor with Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water. It also works on military bases.

Locally, its projects have included undertaking structural concrete work for the Esplanade tower block in Harrogate and for the Tower Street car park.

Mr Swales, a civil engineer who worked for Yorkshire Water before setting up the company, said negotiations had taken eight months to complete. He added:

“We’ve been a family orientated business from day one and we believe the move to Hargreaves will enhance that.”

He thanked past and present employees for their help over the last 20 years.

Darren Swales, Will Griffin and Lee Swales will continue as directors of S&B Utilities and will be joined on the board by Sean Hager and John Samuel, who are directors of Hargreaves Industrial Services.

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Harrogate creative agency reports increase in turnover

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Impression Studio in Harrogate has reported a 30% growth in turnover in the last financial year.

The company, which is based on Albert Street and is a creative digital agency, saw its turnover in 2021/22 increase to £750,000.

The firm works with clients including Power Sheds, Hippo Digital, Infinity Works and KAL Fitness.

Charlie Hartley, founder and managing director of Impression Studio, has also announced plans to develop the business further with an increased focus on brand strategy.

Mr Hartley said:

“The new focus and direction for the business is already helping brands to build emotional connections with customers by creating compelling digital-first brands and digital experiences that both excite and deliver results.”

Chamber meeting to focus on financial support

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce is set to hold its next meeting on Monday.

The meeting will focus on what practical and financial support is available to businesses in the district.

It will be held at Harrogate College on July 11. 

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Three expert speakers including Danny Wild, principal of Harrogate College, Steve Bolton, a leader consultant for Harrogate Borough Council, and Amrit Choda, an Aspire2Lead job coach.

David Simister, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce chief executive, said:

“For Harrogate businesses seeking information about what financial grants, practical support and staff training they can access, then our July meeting is a must attend event.

“And I’m delighted to say this meeting is open to non-members too. The aim of our meetings is to educate and inform, and this is what July’s speakers will do.”

For more information on the meeting, visit the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce website.

Andrew Jones MP calls on Boris Johnson to resign

Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP, Andrew Jones, has called on Boris Johnson to resign as Prime Minister.

It’s been a day of mass resignations at Westminster with Boris Johnson’s position becoming more precarious by the minute.

This afternoon Andrew Jones MP published a statement on his party’s Community News website calling for Mr Johnson to step down.

Mr Jones has already made his unhappiness with Mr Johnson clear when he voted against him in a confidence vote.

This was before the furore over the former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher.

In his statement Mr Jones said:

“Nothing has happened which has changed my opinion of the Prime Minister’s conduct since the no confidence vote just a few weeks ago when I voted no.  In fact the behaviours which put me in that position have continued.  This is disappointing as I was willing to give the Prime Minister time to change those behaviours but recent events show that he is unable to do so.  Indeed he has quite clearly said that he will not be changing.

“For that reason I think we have come to the end of the road with this Prime Minister.  It doesn’t take a genius to read the room.  The Prime Minister should do that and move aside for the good of the country and our politics.”

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In an update this evening, Conservative MP for Ripon & Skipton Julian Smith has also suggested that the PM should resign.

The Prime Minister is absolutely right in what he said just said at the liaison committee, 'all flesh is grass'. He must now take the lead in a responsible transition to ensure stable government for our country.

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) July 6, 2022

North Yorkshire County Council finally declares climate emergency

A council which has repeatedly been challenged over the speed and scale of its carbon-cutting actions has made a U-turn to declare a climate change emergency.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive agreed the authority would immediately adopt a climate emergency, following in the footsteps of several hundred British councils.

Senior councillors said the significant change in position by the Conservative administration had followed it listening to the requests of elected members from a number of political groups.

They added that not declaring a climate emergency could prove a distraction from its significant green efforts.

Commitments made by the council include support for the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s ambition to be the UK’s first carbon negative region – carbon neutral by 2034 and carbon negative by 2040.

These ambitions have been endorsed by the leaders of the Councils of York and North Yorkshire in the devolution deal requests submitted to government in December 2020.

An independent commission set up to examine levelling up for rural communities in the county last year found tackling climate change should be a priority, backing other ambitions for North Yorkshire to become a ‘green lung’ and to lead on employment in the green economy and a revolutionary energy transition.

In addition, the authority, which is the region’s largest employer, has sought to change staff work bases to cut commuting emissions and has made a £1m pump-priming fund available to support new carbon cutting projects, with just under half of the fund already allocated.

Harrogate acted in 2019

Nevertheless, neighbouring councils in Leeds, Darlington and York, as well as district and borough councils in North Yorkshire declared a climate emergency in 2019.

At the time North Yorkshire County Council stopped short of doing so, instead committing to producing a carbon reduction plan.

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Since then, and particularly following May’s elections, North Yorkshire council’s leadership has faced increasing numbers of requests from campaigners and councillors to formally declare a climate emergency.

A meeting of the council’s executive heard the authority’s leadership was “absolutely committed” to getting its own carbon emissions in order.

Councillor Greg White, climate change executive member, told the meeting the authority was “keen to affirm how serious we are about tackling climate change” by declaring a climate emergency and pledging to play its full part in cutting carbon emissions.

He said the authority was doing everything possible to reduce its emissions and meet a challenging net zero emissions target it had set for 2030 while protecting key services.

‘Proud that we acted’

The council’s deputy leader, Councillor Gareth Dadd, told the meeting significant carbon cutting progress had been made across the council’s many properties and workforce.

He said:

“It’s often said that actions speak louder than words. Well I think as an authority we can be very proud that we have acted in a very positive way after recognising the climate emergency two or three years ago.”

Following the meeting, Cllr White said the authority had previously been reluctant to declare a climate emergency as it could be viewed as putting words above actions.

He said the council was already undertaking most measures people associated with tackling the climate change emergency.

Residents may ask council to reconsider Otley Road cycle path

Harlow & Pannal Ash Residents’ Association (Hapara) could launch a petition that asks North Yorkshire County Council to reconsider the next phases of the Otley Road cycle path.

The first phase was completed, save for some remedial works, earlier this year and runs from Harlow Moor Road to Arthur’s Avenue.

It has been welcomed by some as a long-overdue investment into the town’s cycling infrastructure, but for others, its execution has been poor.

There has been widespread criticism over the design of phase 1, which weaves on and off a pavement that is partly shared with pedestrians.

In its latest newsletter published this week, Hapara poured scorn on NYCC’s claim that the cycle path will reduce motor traffic and said there is little prospect of it being used by more cyclists due to its design.

It added:

“We have already seen that phase 1 has the effect of reducing pedestrian facilities, whilst at the same time Otley Road is as busy as ever with traffic.”

The newsletter says consultation with residents and businesses has so far been a “token” gesture with those affected by the route “not allowed their voice” in the development of the scheme.

It asks residents if it supports Hapara gathering a petition that asks the council to “reconsider the whole approach to this cycle path” and undertake a “proper consultation”.

‘Needs to be completed’

Phase 2 will continue the path towards Beech Grove and plans for how it will look were published along with phase 1 in 2019.

The plans show one tree will be felled below Victoria Road and some grass verges down both sides of Otley Road will be tarmaced over to make way for the cycle path. Like phase 1, the path will be shared with pedestrians.

NYCC previously said work on phase 2 would begin in spring 2022, which has now been pushed back until this summer.

Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said he disagreed with Hapara that another round of consultation was needed.

He said this will slow down the progress of the route which “needs to be completed at the earliest opportunity”.

Mr Douglas said work to complete phase 1 hasn’t been finished due to “poor project management” by the council, which has put some cyclists from using the £2m route.

He added:

“The initial concept was awarded funds for a single scheme from Cardale Park to the Prince of Wales roundabout. If that had been done it would have made a greater impact in encouraging new cyclists due to it being a safe environment.

“We would urge Hapara to lobby NYCC to progress all remedial works on Phase 1 and deliver the remaining phases to the government standards so the work on getting people out of their cars for short journeys (school, town etc) can be promoted.

“A further consultation will add nothing other than further delays and with the proposed housing developments that will increase the pressure on Otley Road.”

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Walking the route

Liberal Democrat councillor for Harlow & St Georges, Michael Schofield was elected in May.

His day job is landlord of the Shepherd’s Dog pub, where the cycle path will eventually go past if phase 3 ever sees the light of day.

Cllr Michael Schofield

Last Thursday, Cllr Schofield invited Conservative cabinet member for highways, Cllr Keane Duncan, to walk phase 1 with him so he could voice his concerns.

In May, Cllr Duncan took over the highways brief from the retiring Don Mackenzie, who for many had been the public face of the Otley Road cycle path.

Cllr Schofield said:

“I was lucky enough that Cllr Duncan accepted my invite to walk the current cycle path with me to see the issues. I feel it was a positive meeting because he saw for himself some of the issues residents have raised with myself such as having a speeding cyclist whizz past us, to seeing the disjointed layout of the route and the anxieties of vulnerable residents on Swinton Court.

“I hope he takes this away to evaluate before pushing the plan for Phase 2 and 3.”

Council’s response.

Melisa Burnham

Responding to Hapara, Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at NYCC, said:

“Three representatives of Harlow & Pannal Ash Residents Association attended our recent stakeholder meeting in May and we have offered a separate meeting and walkthrough.

“We paused phase 2 to undertake this event, where we consulted stakeholders on the details of phase 2. We will be carrying out further consultation for phase 3 when we have detailed designs.

“Their concerns will be considered in the final safety audit of the route in July. We acknowledge the required improvements at the Harlow Moor Road junction, which will be addressed as soon as we have access to the third party land. We continue to listen to their views which will shape our plans going forward.”

Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Show on course for 140,000 sell-out

The Great Yorkshire Show could welcome 140,000 visitors next week, with tickets already sold out for Wednesday and Thursday.

The county’s showpiece agricultural event will take place over four days from Tuesday to Friday next week at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

In 2021, organisers capped the number of visitors at 104,000 and made the show a four-day event to spread out the number of visitors due to covid.

This year, the show is back to full strength and the last few tickets are available for Tuesday and Friday. Tickets are available here and won’t be sold at the gates.

As well as the usual animal shows, activities, stalls and competitions, Tuesday will see a royal visit from Princess Anne and a new GYS stage will welcome TV stars Matt Baker, Amanda Owen and Peter Wright.

Show director Charles Mills said:

“We have capacity for 140,000 visitors across the four days and there are no ticket sales on the gate so anyone who wants to come and enjoy the show needs to be buying their tickets as soon as possible.”

The Stray Ferret will be attending the show and will also be giving traffic updates from Wetherby Road and Harrogate town centre each morning.

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Ripon man jailed for stealing two bikes in Harrogate

A Ripon man has been jailed for 26 weeks for stealing two bikes in Harrogate.

Dwain Carl Layton, 31, of King Edward Road, appeared before York Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with stealing the bikes from a garage on Kingsley Road on June 28.

The bikes were estimated to be worth £1,000.

Layton pleaded guilty to the charge and was jailed.

The magistrates said the sentence was handed down after Layton had failed to comply with requirements of post custodial sentence supervision.

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It added that the offence was aggravated by “the defendant’s record of previous offending”.

Layton was also ordered to pay compensation of £100 and a victim surcharge of £154.