Volunteers arrived at a Hampsthwaite churchyard today to clear debris left after a tree was urgently felled.

The centuries-old tree splintered during Storm Malik on Friday night, luckily avoiding graves in the cemetery at St Thomas a Becket Church.

But with some of the tree remaining, and Storm Corrie approaching, the decision was taken yesterday to fell the rest of it urgently in case it was blown over and damaged the graves.

Fortunately Darley tree surgeon Ross Hanley was able to fulfil the task before the winds picked up last night.

The clear-up operation of the fallen tree began today.

Today about 15 volunteers including a group from Community Payback, an initiative whereby offenders help with projects in their local communities, joined the clean-up operation.

Lead volunteer and Hamspthwaite resident Geoff Howard said:

“Ross Hanley was here to look at a tree that fell during Storm Arwen only a few weeks ago and he saw how close this one was to falling.

Luckily the branch that came down on Friday night fell between graves but if the full tree had fallen it could have caused damage to dozens and dozens of graves.”

Read more:

• Harrogate district braced for Storm Corrie
• Harrogate landscaping boss tells of lucky escape from falling tree

The graveyard has over 3,000 plots. The church also has a public right of way running through it.

Mr Howard said it would have been too dangerous to leave the tree in such a precarious position because of the risk it posed to people and the churchyard.

He thanked volunteers for dealing with the debris today and hoped the clean-up operation would be completed by the end of the day.

The family of a woman whose death is being linked to asbestos is trying to get in touch with her ex-work colleagues at the former ICI plant in Harrogate.

Cher Elizabeth Wray, who was known as Sharon Cooper until her marriage in 1990, died aged 63 from a lung cancer called mesothelioma — which is commonly associated with asbestos.

Ms Wray died in February 2019, leaving a husband, Michael, five children and seven grandchildren.

Before she died, she asked law firm Irwin Mitchell to investigate how she had encountered asbestos.

Her family is now appealing to anyone who worked with her during her first job after school at the age of 16 to get in touch.

Ms Wray was a PA at ICI in Harrogate between 1971 and 1973.

ICI was one of the largest employers in Harrogate at the time. The company, which was founded in 1926, became defunct 14 years ago.

Read more:

• Police seek man carrying gun in Harrogate
• Nearly 200 sign petition supporting new Harrogate Tesco

Ms Wray started work at the plant when she left school at 16. She told Irwin Mitchell she was a PA but her role would see her move across the entire plant.

Dirt and dust

She recalled seeing colleagues undertaking maintenance on pipework and added that the pipes tended to be lagged. She said that the activity generated lots of dirt and dust.

Ms Wray left the company in 1973 when she had children. She did not return to work until 1986.

Her husband, Michael Wray, 68, said:

“Cher was a much-loved wife, mother and grandmother and the entire family misses her so much every day.

“It was awful to see how mesothelioma affected her and we all still have so many questions about how this happened.

“She lived for her family and loved nothing better than spending time with them. That’s what made her the happiest.

“While time has moved on from Cher’s death, our family hasn’t. Occasions such as family birthdays are not the same without her.

“Still having so many questions about how she was exposed to asbestos makes her death even harder to try and come to terms with.

“We know nothing can make up for what’s happened but if we could at least have answers regarding Cher’s death at least we will be able to honour her memory.”

Office workers also affected by asbestos

Ian Toft, a partner at Irwin Mitchell who is representing Ms Wray’s family, said:

“This is sadly yet another case that highlights the huge impact that asbestos can have on individuals, often years after exposure may have taken place.

“Cher’s death at a young age from mesothelioma has left her family greatly upset and with many concerns about how she could have been exposed. It’s not just people in industrial jobs that contract mesothelioma.

“Sadly we see a number of office workers and those who worked in public buildings such as schools, hospitals and offices who fall victim to this disease.

“If anyone has information about the conditions Cher faced during her time as a PA at ICI it could make all the difference to her family being able to honour her memory.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mr Toft on 0113 218 6453 or email  ian.toft@irwinmitchell.com.

Police are searching for a man believed to have been carrying a gun in a street close to Harrogate town centre yesterday.

Officers received reports of a man acting suspiciously in Harlow Oval at 12.30pm yesterday.

According to police, he had approached a nearby car and spoken to the driver. As the man moved away from the car, a witness saw what is believed to have been a gun tucked in the waistband of his trousers.

The suspect is described as white, in his early to mid-twenties and around 5ft 10/11in tall.

He had black short hair with a receding hairline and a short fringe. He’s described as having red blotchy, acne-marked skin and was wearing a blue facemask pulled down his chin.

A statement from North Yorkshire Police today said:

“He was dressed in a plain navy t-shirt and a black mid-length coat, which was unzipped, blue jeans with a belt. He is described as having a local accent and was smoking a cigarette at the time.”

Police are asking anyone who was in the area at the time who saw the incident or anyone who recognises the description of the man to contact them.

Read more:

• Man charged with drink driving after lorry crashes near Wetherby Services
• Firefighters called to tree house blaze in Knaresborough

Anyone with information can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask to speak to PC 1606 Kinnear or email chloe.kinnear@northyorkshire.police.uk.

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The crime reference number 12220017125.

A counter campaign has been launched in support of a new Tesco supermarket in Harrogate after a group of residents petitioned against the plans.

Tesco has applied to build the supermarket at the former gas works site on Skipton Road in a move which it said would create 100 new jobs.

The plans have been met with opposition from a group of residents who live on the nearby Electric Avenue and have gathered the support of almost 500 others as part of a ‘No To Tesco’ campaign.

But another petition has now been launched by residents who say there is a “significant need” for a new supermarket in the area.

Ann Lambert, who launched the second petition and has so far gathered more 100 signatures, said:

“There are thousands of homes on this side of Harrogate, the majority of which will travel at varying times across town to other supermarkets.

“The area is growing at a fast pace and it needs a supermarket that is close by and large enough to deal with the customers that are created from so much house building.”

Ms Lambert also said the 100 new jobs were much needed as she highlighted how Tesco has scaled back its plans after it was first granted planning permission for the site in 2012.

Read more:

• Harrogate residents launch campaign against Tesco plan
• Tesco consultation results reveal support for new Harrogate store

These previous plans were never brought forward by the supermarket chain which has now proposed a smaller store.

Despite this, the group of residents living on Electric Avenue are still opposed to construction at the former gas works site which they say has become a home and feeding ground for animals including badgers, frogs, squirrels and hedgehogs.

Resident Jennifer Dance also criticised a public consultation carried out by Tesco and said there were further concerns over the potential impacts of the new store on people’s daily lives.

She previously said:

“I believe sites like this should be nurtured and cherished, not destroyed and replaced with concrete, steel and tarmac in the name of progress, prosperity and profit.”

Tesco has also acknowledged the concerns raised by residents and said all feedback would be taken onboard ahead of a decision on the plans from Harrogate Borough Council around April.

Residents can comment on the plans on the council’s website up until Sunday.

If approved, Tesco said the supermarket could open in 2023.

Trees will be planted this weekend in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge as part of an initiative to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

The Queen’s Green Canopy, which was created as part of celebrations for the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, which invites people from across the United Kingdom to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

Trees will be planted in Valley Gardens and on Wetherby Road in Harrogate, at Jacob Smiths Park in Knaresborough, at High Cleugh in Ripon, at Pateley Bridge Recreation Ground and at Boroughbridge Recreation Ground on Sunday.

All but one tree at each of the locations has been planted already. The final tree ones will planted this weekend to coincide with Her Majesty’s accession day.

Harrogate borough mayor, Councillor Trevor Chapman, will unveil the ceremonial tree in Valley Gardens, Harrogate at 2pm.

The Lord Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Johanna Ropner, will join Councillor Andy Paraskos to unveil the ceremonial tree at Boroughbridge Recreation Ground at 11am.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones will join the mayor of Knaresborough, Councillor Christine Willoughby, at Jacob Smith Park in Knaresborough at 1pm.

Read more:

• Harrogate landscaping boss tells of lucky escape from falling tree
• Stray Gardener: Create a legacy and plant a tree
• 100 trees to be planted in Harrogate district for Queen’s jubilee

Cllr Eamon Parkin, the mayor of Ripon and Cllr Mike Holt, the mayor of Pateley Bridge, will plant trees in their respective locations.

Species being planted include elm, oak, hornbeam, sycamore and lime.

Individuals, town and parish councils, community groups, schools, businesses and landowners will be encouraged to plant tress during the planting season from October to March.

White Rose Forest

The Queen’s Green Canopy will coincide with the council’s plans to plant thousands of trees in Bilton Beck Wood and Willow Wood, Harrogate and Upper Horse Shoe Fields, Knaresborough as part of the White Rose Forest partnership.

The White Rose Forest is the community forest for North and West Yorkshire being created by local authorities, landowners, businesses and communities.

Councillor Andy Paraskos, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“The Queen’s Green Canopy is a wonderful opportunity for us to not only honour Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee but also help address the climate situation and deliver carbon reduction initiatives throughout the Harrogate district.

“Similar to the White Rose Forest project, we want to encourage as many people as possible in the district to get involved to improve air quality and biodiversity.”

Sarah Wells, community manager at Bettys & Taylors Group, which has supported the scheme, said:

“Trees remain very close to our hearts at Bettys & Taylors and we are delighted to support this unique project which not only highlights the importance of climate action, but also the positive impact of community collaboration. We hope that these trees will be enjoyed by residents and visitors to the area for many years to come.”

A Harrogate nurse has pledged to game non-stop for 24 hours to raise money for Medecins Sans Frontieres, a charity also known as Doctors Without Borders.

Andy Masters will start his gameathon at 10am next Saturday, February 5, and hopes to raise £1,000 for the medical charity.

Mr Masters has worked as a nurse for 30 years and began working at Harrogate District Hospital seven years ago.

The charity offers medical assistance in areas affected by conflict, epidemics and natural disasters. Mr Masters said he’s known doctors who have worked with the charity and seen first hand how necessary its help is.

Mr Masters said:

“It’s a highly respected charity and they go and help those in real need in areas others don’t. I just want to do a little bit to help them.

“Last time I raised over £1,000 so if we can get close to that it would be great, but anything is amazing.”

Read more:

• Local woman sets up charity for Malawi schoolchildren
• John Shackleton, 83, hoping to deliver one final ambulance to Eastern Europe

He is a keen gamer and said he will switch between multiple games to help keep him awake. The whole event will be streamed on his Youtube and Twitch accounts.

To donate, click here.

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

John Shackleton deserves an honour

I’ve just watched John Shackleton’s interview on BBC feature stories. I know him from St. Robert’s Church in Harrogate, he’s a dear friend and a great supporter of the youth. 

I think what he’s done over these years is remarkable and extraordinary. He has served not only our local community but also our European neighbours especially those in need. 

John is an amazing person who has touched and changed so many lives and it’s time he is recognised for his bravery, selflessness, generosity and service. I would like to make an appeal to nominate him for the Queen’s honours. 

I tried to apply online but I wasn’t very successful. He deserves the gratitude not just from us but from the world. If we are all a little bit like John, the world would be a much better place to live.

Joy O’Brien, Harrogate

Objections to proposed mosque

We live very close to the proposed development and have canvassed our neighbours, none of whom have received one piece of paper through our letterboxes opposing this development. I should also point out there has not been one piece of publicity supporting this development.

No one who lives near this development supports it, but the reasons for this are not based on race or religion. This development is surrounded by residential properties and a primary school on three sides then joined to a retail premises on the fourth, all of which have to cope with horrendous traffic and pollution as it is.

Traffic from two hotels, two pubs, a 24 hour gym, a primary school, the Alms houses and a church already pass our doors at all hours of the day and night.

Does anyone really think adding to this with a community building that opens 24 hours, catering for up to 200 people a day together with the attendant traffic will in some way improve the quality of life and air pollution and congestion in this small area of Harrogate?

I also note that of those who support this plan, not one of them lives in the area so would not be affected by it.

Brian Preston, Harrogate

Read more:

• Stray Views: Doubts remain about Harrogate Station Gateway
• Stray Views: Harrogate Tesco would be ‘horrendous’ for nearby residents

Influencer post has more channels

Commenting on your council influencer story. Facebook is not the influencer’s primary channel. A two-minute tally of Instagram shows 300 likes for her Harrogate post series (eight posts) and 5,000 video views across two Harrogate/ North Yorks videos.

I’m not suggesting that is good value (at 7p per like or view on insta) or that the council’s mico-influencer strategy is correct, but I normally find the Stray Ferret a lot more accurate and feel that’s really important when reporting on public spending. 

If we slate every penny the council spends, when they really misspend the public’s ears will be closed to it and we only really have the Stray Ferret to shine a light on this matters.

Kate Garrett, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Recent photos have revealed Harrogate’s abandoned railway tunnel and air-raid shelter close to the Stray.

The pictures were taken by an urban explorer who uses the name Venturing Off Limits on social media and agreed to share them with the Stray Ferret. They show the dark and dank brick passage, known locally as ‘The Darky’, with icy stalactites hanging from the roof.

The only evidence of humans being there is a discarded shopping trolley. So what’s the story behind this tunnel?

Abandoned for good

The last train passed through Brunswick Tunnel over 150 years ago.

The tunnel begins close to the current Hornbeam Park station and runs underneath the present-day Langcliffe Avenue, towards St Mark’s Church on Leeds Road.

Credit: Venturing Off Limits

It served Harrogate’s first railway station, Brunswick Station, which was only in operation for 14 years before the current station was built.

Locals and businesses initially opposed the railway, fearing an influx of people from Leeds and Bradford would lower the tone of the town.

Brunswick Tunnel runs underneath Langcliffe Avenue

The tunnel was resurrected as an air raid shelter during WW2 before being abandoned for good in 1943.

In 1954, the government surveyed the tunnel to bring it back into possible use, but this idea never materialised.

Read More:

• Malcolm Neesam History: The Sun Pavilion and Colonnade, Valley Gardens
• Malcolm Neesam History: Harrogate’s thriving working men’s clubs

Park Drive roundabout

The tunnel runs under where the Park Drive roundabout is now.

When the roundabout was built in the 1960s, workers accidentally dug into the roof of the tunnel not knowing it was there.

The Park Drive roundabout

Today the only evidence above ground of Brunswick Station, which was made out of timber, is a plaque mounted on a stone at the site, which is close to the Prince of Wales roundabout.

Brunswick Station plaque

Brunswick Station is on the left of this drawing. You can see the present Otley Road and Harlow Hill in the background.

The entrance to the Brunswick Tunnel is on private land and The Stray Ferret does not encourage anyone to try to enter.

As the formation North Yorkshire Council edges closer, questions have been raised over where the new authority should be based.

From April 2023, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and the six other district authorities will be abolished and replaced with a new council.

A decision has yet to be made on where the new North Yorkshire Council will be based.

North Yorkshire County Council is based at County Hall in Northallerton, which is the hot favourite to be home to the new unitary authority.

But Harrogate’s modern Civic Centre has been suggested as an alternative. Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, told a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting this month that Harrogate’s Knapping Mount had a case.

He said:

“It’s still not decided where the new council will be and it could be Harrogate. It would certainly have the best office facilities in North Yorkshire.”

No decision will be made on the location until after the May local government elections. So what are Harrogate’s prospects and what is at stake?

Harrogate or Northallerton?

The location of the new authority will be one of the key decisions that councillors make in the coming 12 months.

Ninety councillors will be elected to North Yorkshire Council, covering 650,000 residents and 32,000 businesses across England’s largest county.

The location of the new council matters because most key decisions will be made there.

Across North Yorkshire, Harrogate is the highest populated town with 75,070 people. The town itself is one of the two main urban areas in the county, along with Scarborough, and benefits from transport links, a vibrant hospitality sector and various public facilities.

North Yorkshire County Council offices in Northallerton.

It also has a modern council facility. The Knapping Mount headquarters, which staff moved into in July 2020, is purpose-built for local government. It is designed to accommodate 500 staff.

The council said the building cost £13 million. However, the Stray Ferret investigated the overall cost of the move from Crescent Gardens and put the figure closer to £17 million.

County Hall in Northallerton was built in 1906 and has served as the headquarters of various local governments in North Yorkshire, including North Riding County Council up until 1974.

The grade II listed building underwent a £500,000 refurbishment in 1999.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council. Picture: NYCC.

Conservative Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret that it would make sense for the new council to remain at county hall.

However, he added that the authority does plan to implement local office space for staff and a “double devolution” agenda for local decision making.

He said:

“It will be for the new council to decide. But there is a lot of jobs in Northallerton.

“It would not make sense to move from Northallerton.”

The sentiment is echoed by Liberal Democrat Cllr Philip Broadbank, who represents Starbeck on the county council. He said:

“There is a high chance it would in Northallerton because it is more central.

“The Harrogate council has been mentioned, but it needs to be central.”

But for Independent Cllr Stuart Parsons, the future needs to be based around regional decision making.

Cllr Parsons, who represents Richmond on the county council, said the council needed to be “trimmed” and decision-making should be spread around the county.

He said:

“I suspect they [the council[ see themselves where they are. But no one has thought to ask if that is sensible.”

Why does the council’s location matter?

Much of the criticism over the new council is that it is too remote.

The county is scattered in terms of populations, with an estimated 160,830 people in the Harrogate district compared to 55,380 in Ryedale.

Having such a large county makes the headquarter issue even more important.

Read more:

• May 5 date set for first North Yorkshire Council elections
• Harrogate can be economic driver for North Yorkshire after devolution, says council chief
• Ballot could decide whether to set up Harrogate town council

For example, if a planning decision relates to Starbeck the issues are more likely to be understood by council officers based in Harrogate than in Northallerton

Cllr Parsons said there needed to be a plan for how “double devolution”, which would give powers to local areas, is distributed.

“There needs to be a short, medium and long-term plan. We are nowhere near that.”

What happens now?

County council leaders have said a decision on where the new council will be based will not be made until after the May elections.

Currently, an implementation board made up of senior council officers and an implementation executive, which includes cabinet members from across the county, is working through proposals.

Once the new councillors are elected, decisions will be made on matters such as location, planning, senior management committees ahead of North Yorkshire Council coming into operation in April 2023.

The owner of a Harrogate landscaping company was lucky to avoid being crushed by a tree that blew over in Bilton today.

Jason Kirk, owner of Jennyfields firm Patios and Groundworkz, had parked his van outside a customer’s drive on Woodfield Road.

He and employee Steven Beecroft were digging holes for fencing in the driveway until Mr Kirk had to drive off for some timber shortly before 11am.

In the 20 or so minutes he was away, a large tree came crashing down exactly where his van was parked.

Mr Kirk said:

“It was sheer luck.I was parked outside the driveway, exactly where the tree came down.

“There would not have been a van left if it had happened when it was parked there and I was lucky to avoid it too.”

Read more:

• New moves to improve cycling in North Yorkshire
• Fallen trees and delays in Harrogate district as Storm Malik hits

Mr Beecroft, who was still working in the driveway when the tree fell, said:

“I heard this almighty crackling sound  I stood up thinking ‘what was that?’ and saw the tree coming down.

“It was lucky there were no cars coming and nobody walking by on the path. It’s a busy road.

“A guy in a house opposite came running out because the tree had come down half a foot from his car but luckily it was OK.”

Jason Kirk next to his van and the fallen tree on Woodfield Drive, Bilton.

The tree is one of several trees to have fallen today in the Harrogate district due to Storm Malik.

A Met Office yellow weather warning of strong wind has been in place across the district.

You can read more about today’s storm here.