A Starbeck community group has offered to find a new home for the ‘little temple’ that looks set to be moved from Harrogate.

North Yorkshire County Council said yesterday it had submitted a planning application to remove the tempietto in Station Square.

It plans to sell or recycle the construction so it can open up the area and use the space to host events, as part of the £11.9 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme.

Postmaster Andrew Hart has written to the council offering to donate £1,000 towards bringing the little temple to Starbeck.

Mr Hart, who founded Starbeck Community Group, which has 1,800 members, wrote in his letter:

“Starbeck is very much the poor relative of Harrogate and Knaresborough and has suffered badly due to a depleted High Street, covid and the economy.

“We noticed with interest that you are planning to recycle or sell the tempietto from Harrogate. Could we please have first claim on it as either a gift or as a purchase?

“The community would be so proud to have this in Starbeck, it would not only enhance our community but it would lift spirits. I would happily start a community fund with a donation of £1000 towards the purchase if necessary.”

Read more:

• Harrogate’s ‘little temple’ could be sold to make way for Station Gateway
• Firefighters and councillors make calls to improve Starbeck crossing

Mr Hart was behind a successful bid last year to relocate eight planters from Harrogate to Starbeck when Harrogate Borough Council decided to get rid of them.

He said “these things help poor neglected Starbeck” and told the Stray Ferret the idea of Belmont Park hosting the little temple had been well received by locals:

“Everyone is working hard in Starbeck to make it look more colourful and this would give us a sense of pride.

“I saw the story and thought ‘this is a great opportunity for us’.”

This article is sponsored by Queen Mary’s School.

Choosing a school for your child is one of the biggest decisions you will make as a parent.

Finding the right place to nurture your child’s young mind, delivering everything from the best possible academic teaching to support for their growing talents and passions, can be tricky.

At Queen Mary’s School, that balance of academia and extra-curricular opportunities is the highest priority.

The results speak for themselves: But as all parents know, school is about so much more than numbers and letters on a piece of paper before you leave.

There’s much more to Queen Mary’s.

Queen Mary’s offers outstanding opportunities for young people from the age of four to begin exploring the things they enjoy. That might be acting, horse riding, tennis, computing, lacrosse, science, languages, dance, or any number of other skills.

Pupils are given the support and encouragement to find their passions in life and Queen Mary’s School is more than willing to adapt its offering to suit their needs.

From musicals to opera to rock band

Take music, for example.

Queen Mary’s has introduced new scholarships to enable talented young musicians to develop their skills, with contributions to paid instrument lessons included.

Budding choristers can join the Chapel Choir as part of their scholarship. The Choir, which was formed 40 years ago, has been featured on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4. Some members of the school community have performed at the Royal Albert Hall.

Former chorister Emilia Jacques was one of the BBC Young Choristers of the Year in 2018. She then went on to receive a choral scholarship to study music at Queen’s College Oxford.

Pupils are also encouraged to take exams on their chosen instruments, with many achieving Grade 8 before the age of 16.

The production of Dido and Aeneas.

Last year, one pupil who achieved the milestone with distinction on the flute then went on to achieve her Diploma. Another achieved the Diploma as a singer at just 12 years old and has her sights set on a career as a professional singer.

Queen Mary’s has also put on numerous productions including Matilda the Musical Junior, Sister Act Junior, and the opera Dido and Aeneas. This year they are rehearsing for Mary Poppins.

Head Carole Cameron said:

“Music is one of our priorities at Queen Mary’s, and not just because of the enjoyment it brings to those performing and hearing it.

“Research shows that studying music and playing instruments are beneficial to academic studies.

“It also provides opportunities for children to learn additional skills, building their confidence and giving them experience in performance which is helpful for their future careers, too.”

Opportunities in classrooms and outside

Naturally, it is not just about the music. The school excels in sports, with a brand new astro pitch and sports pavilion on site, and has a British Horse Society-approved equestrian centre.

Girls are encouraged to compete in their chosen sports both regionally and nationally.

Pupils excel at sport.

That focus on extra-curricular activities is not to the detriment of academic time: at Queen Mary’s, the focus is on learning to balance the two.

Facilities in the school are also outstanding, with planning permission granted for a brand new learning resource centre. The design will reflect the acres of countryside surrounding the school, which lies between Ripon and Thirsk.

Mrs Cameron said:

“We always say we offer academic excellence and extensive extra-curricular activities in a nurturing environment, but even knowing that, families are always surprised by the warmth of Queen Mary’s when they visit.

“It’s such a pleasure to show people what we offer and to demonstrate how our flexible approach will give the right support for their child’s future.”

Visiting Queen Mary’s allows you to experience first hand the unique atmosphere, exciting curriculum and the fantastic range of opportunities on Prep and Pre-Prep Open Day on Friday November 11, 2022 and Senior School Open Day on Saturday November 12, 2022.

A high court judge has blocked a Harrogate widow’s attempt to receive a regular income from the estate of her late husband, a well-known businessman.

Christopher Ramus was found by a coroner to have taken his own life aged 72 following the breakdown of his 48-year marriage to Elizabeth Ramus, and difficulties in other relationships.

The couple were the founders of Ramus Seafood, which operated for many years from Kings Road until the couple sold it and retired. Despite their separation, Mr Ramus’s will still made provision for his wife, entitling her to an income from his estate for the rest of her life.

However, the income was at the discretion of the three trustees, including the couple’s daughter, Claire Holt, and two family friends. Mr Ramus wrote a letter of wishes in September 2019, stating:

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Regular monthly income

Mrs Ramus, 77, had said in order to maintain her lifestyle, she would need a regular monthly income from Mr Ramus’s estate, otherwise she would use up her own assets and risk running out of money.

She submitted to the court a list of monthly outgoings which totalled more than £5,000, against income from pensions of £1,800 and other assets including bonds and ISAs.

However, sitting in Leeds, Judge Mark West found Mrs Ramus’s own assets of more than £1.6m were significantly more than the value of Mr Ramus’s estate, at just under £1.1m. He said:

“Standing back and looking at the matter in the round, this is a case of an applicant who in all likelihood would not have received anything on divorce, and who, even after the purchase of a three-bedroomed house for £750,000, would have financial autonomy and still have net assets not far short of £900,000.

“In addition, her case was that she requires a monthly income to enable her to pay her outgoings without using the capital which would be left after her purchase of a new home.

“For these reasons, and taking into account all of the relevant factors… I am satisfied that the disposition of Mr Ramus’s estate under the terms of his will is such as to make financial provision for Mrs Ramus in the circumstance of the case and that the claim fails.”

North Yorkshire County Council revealed today it has selected three possible sites in the Harrogate district to become investment zones.

The sites are: junction 47 of the A1; Potter Space Ripon, a business park at Junction 50 of the A1 and Harrogate Convention Centre.

The government has said the zones, which will receive liberalised planning laws and tax incentives for businesses, will support business and economic growth.

But they have been criticised by conservation organisations because of the potential impact on wildlife.

Last month, North Yorkshire County Council was named as one of 38 local authorities in talks with the government over creating investment zones.

Today, the county council named the 12 commercial sites it had identified for possible zones in North Yorkshire.

Read more:

• Harrogate district planning rules could be ‘radically streamlined’
• Harrogate Convention Centre ‘could lose £250 million without investment’

Of the seven districts within the county, only Selby, where five sites have been identified, has more locations than the Harrogate district.

Carl Les

Carl Les, the Conservative leader of the county council, said:

“We are at a very early stage in the process, but this could be an exciting and welcome initiative that would enable us to work with the government to deliver benefits for the North Yorkshire economy.

“Following discussions with our district council colleagues, we are submitting an expression of interest. This identifies a number of sites across the county that we feel fit the criteria from government. We look forward to further negotiations with Government following our submission.”

Full list of sites in North Yorkshire

The sites identified in the expression of interest are:

• Hambleton: Dalton, at Junction 49 on the A1.
• Harrogate: Harrogate, at Junction 47 of the A1; Potter Space Ripon, at Junction 50 of the A1; Harrogate Convention Centre.
• Richmondshire: the area around A1 Junctions 52 and 53.
• Ryedale: Eden Camp East, Malton.
• Scarborough: Scarborough Business Park.
• Selby: Gascoigne Wood Rail Interchange, Olympia Park, and sites at Eggborough, Kellingley and Sherburn.

Cllr Les said:

“The sites we are putting forward for consideration are locations that have already been earmarked for commercial development to support business growth and job creation. The proposed benefits of investment zones could help to make these sites even more attractive to new businesses and accelerate development ambitions.

“We are fully aware of the need to minimise any environmental impacts, so all the sites we are putting forward have been selected in accordance with local planning and conservation policy. None are sensitive or protected sites.”

Proposed sites must meet the Government’s criteria to offer a significant economic opportunity, be ready to deliver quickly and align with the wider local strategy.

Once the government has received the expressions of interest from invited authorities, further criteria will influence site selection, including consideration of the overall geographic distribution of investment zones, the balance between residential and commercial, and urban and rural sites and the readiness to deliver.

The absence of police custody facilities in parts of North Yorkshire is taking teams of officers out of action for up to four hours at a time while they drive detainees around, a meeting has heard.

Members of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel have asked commissioner Zoe Metcalfe to provide a report amid concerns over the length of time it takes officers across the north of North Yorkshire to travel with those arrested to custody suites in Harrogate and Scarborough, due to the closure of cells in Richmond and Northallerton.

Custody suites are areas within police stations where people are taken when they are arrested.

The issue has been repeatedly raised as a concern by community leaders, particularly following outbreaks of antisocial behaviour as pandemic lockdown restrictions were eased.

Councillors had claimed the distances involved in arresting people is serving as a deterrent to functional policing in parts of the county.

Panel member Martin Walker, a former judge, told Ms Metcalfe he had received various reports that police officers were “not arresting people that perhaps they should” because of the length of time it was taking to travel to custody suites. He added:

“I can’t see there’s any other reason for doing it than saving money.”

The meeting heard the Northallerton custody suite had been closed since the town’s police station moved into the police and fire service’s headquarters at the former Rural Payments Agency offices.

Read more:

• Police start two-week speeding crackdown in Harrogate district
• Harrogate’s 200-year-old ‘little temple’ could be sold to make way for Station Gateway

Conservative councillor Peter Wilkinson said the commissioner at the time, Julia Mulligan, had promised a report into the effectiveness of the closure and gave reassurances that Darlington and Northallerton police stations would be used for custody when required.

He said it had since emerged that the force was using Harrogate’s custody facilities, which took up to four hours’ of officers time. Cllr Wilkinson said:

“This is having a detrimental effect on response times in Hambleton.”

£15m savings

In response, Ms Metcalfe said when the decision to close Northallerton’s custody suite was made in 2017 the force estimated the average cost of building custody facilities was £15m.

She said she would monitor and review the situation with the chief constable, but the demand for custody facilities in the Northallerton area, similarly to Ripon, did not support a custody suite.

Mrs Metcalfe said the force had instead invested heavily in creating “voluntary interview suites” across the county.

She said a government inspection of the force’s custody system earlier had raised no concerns about the transporting of detainees to custody suites. Ms Metcalfe said:

“I do hope this provides members with some assurance that these arrangements have been based on extensive assessments and the recent inspection.”

“The public quite rightly expect the police to maximise its assets to use public money effectively.

“Offenders are only brought into custody when it is a necessity and proportionate to do so.”

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly won the Barclays Women’s Super League player of the month award for September.

Daly, who plays for Aston Villa, scored three goals last month including a brace against Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Carla Ward, coach of Aston Villa Women, picked up manager of the month award for the WSL.

Villa went unbeaten throughout September and currently sit third in the league.

On her return the England from Houston Dash, Daly scored twice in the opening WSL fixture against City at Villa Park.

The match ended in a 4-3 win for Villa and Daly was crowned player of the match.

Her third goal of September came against Leicester City in a 2-0 victory.

The award continues a stellar year for Daly, 30, who was also a key part of the England Lionesses’ success at Euro 22 in the summer.

Read more:

• Rachel Daly joins Aston Villa on three-year deal
• Rachel Daly picked for England World Cup 2023 qualifier squad

A new cafe-bar and vinyl records shop could open on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road if planning permission is granted.

Plans have been put forward to convert the ground floor of 129 Cold Bath Road, which has up to now been used by a travel agency.

The proposals state that the travel agency would continue to trade from the two floors above, while the ground floor – stretching to 52m sq – would be used as a cafe, bar and shop selling records and clothing.

The business would create three full-time jobs and five part-time roles. Its proposed trading hours are 9am to midnight, seven days a week.

The site on Cold Bath Road.

The application has been made by John Caladine, who founded Audio Archtct Experience Ltd in February, along with David Swallow.

To view or comment on the application, visit the planning pages of Harrogate Borough Council’s website and use reference 22/03540/FUL.

Read more:

• Residential conversion plan submitted for upper floors of Harrogate estate agency
• New plan to convert former Harrogate post office into holiday apartments

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A former director of the British Council has been appointed bursar at Harrogate’s Ashville College.

Richard Rooze has taken on the financial role after spending two decades with the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.

Ashville College head Rhiannon Wilkinson said:

“This is an incredibly important role as a bursar is a school’s financial director.

“Having started his career as a teacher – and spending many years at a very high level within the British Council – he (Richard) brings with him a wealth of experience within the education sector.”

Mr Rooze said:

“After more than 25 years working abroad, I was looking at both a career change and to move to the Harrogate area, so when I saw Ashville advertising for a bursar I knew this was the perfect position for me…

“My goal is to use my skills to deliver excellent outcome for students and partners, and to build the brand of UK education over the long term…  I’m excited to be helping develop and deliver Ashville’s strategy for the next five years, which will see the college celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2027.”

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• Business Breakfast: New fund for small businesses and start-ups in Harrogate district
• Shoppers form long queue for opening of Harrogate’s first Lidl

Housing developer supports poverty charity

Redrow homes has held an event at its Granby Meadows development in Harrogate to announce a partnership with a charity that supports people living in poverty.

Zarach, which is based in Leeds, aims to support children and their families who are struggling with the cost of living.

Redrow said Granby Meadows is a showcase development for the company in Yorkshire with its first re-branded, digital-led and paperless customer experience suite. Every new home purchased at the Harrogate site will also receive a copy of Zarach’s bedtime book entitled Zed Ted.

Steve Jackson, sales director for Redrow Yorkshire, said:

“We are always keen to help worthwhile charities and causes, and I have never been more delighted to offer our support than with Zarach which is, sadly, a much-needed organisation.

“Having a bed to sleep in and food to eat so they can get a good night’s sleep should be a basic right of every child; likewise that families, as Zarach points out, should be able to thrive and not just survive.”

Redrow has made a first donation of £2,500 to help fund the work of the charity.

L-R: Steve Jackson, sales director at Redrow Yorkshire, Amy Green, co-ordinator of volunteers for Zarach, and Redrow Yorkshire’s managing director John Handley.

A ‘little temple’ in the centre of Harrogate is set to be removed as part of the £11.9m Station Gateway.

The tempietto, an Italian term for little temple, is close to the Victoria monument opposite the train station in the town centre.

The area is due to be redeveloped as part of the gateway scheme, which aims to improve the public realm and encourage cycling and walking.

Station Square, where the little temple is situated, would be cleared to make way for an open landscaped area with water jets that can host events. The Victoria monument would, however, remain.

The tempietto

North Yorkshire County Council, which is leading on the gateway scheme, said today it had submitted a planning application to remove the tempietto.

A council spokesman said:

“The proposal is to remove the tempietto permanently from Station Square under the redesigned public realm to facilitate an open vista suitable for performance and event space options.

“It would be recycled or sold as appropriate to enable re-siting in another location as opposed to being scrapped.”

The council also revealed it plans to consult on new traffic regulation orders, which would involve closing some roads to traffic, as part  of the gateway scheme.

Read more:

• Transport chief denies inflation will lead to ‘cheap’ Harrogate Station Gateway
• Harrogate traffic to be counted for £11.2m Station Gateway

Richard Binks

Richard Binks, head of major projects and infrastructure at the council, said:

 “We have recently submitted two planning applications relating to individual scheme elements – removal of the tempietto and wall lowering in Bower Street – and will consult on the scheme’s traffic regulation orders shortly.

“After that, the executive will be asked to consider whether to submit a full business case to West Yorkshire Combined Authority and implement the project.”

Asked why the council had submitted these applications before the executive has made a final decision on whether to go ahead with the gateway, the council spokesman said:

“Statutory orders and applications are being processed now to capture an informed position, which is needed before submission of a full business case.

“That submission of a business case is subject to approval from the council’s executive.”

Latest gateway consultation response

Mr Binks also today revealed details of the third round of consultation on the gateway scheme. He said:

“In the third public consultation on the Harrogate Station Gateway Transforming Cities Fund project, held between 20 July and 23 August, we received 2,044 completed surveys. This is higher than the previous two consultations (which received 1,101 and 1,320 responses).

“Analysis of all the feedback, including approximately 5,000 text comments, plus letters and emails, is ongoing.”

Questions are being raised over the future of a partnership which sees North Yorkshire and Cornwall’s fire control rooms share emergency calls at peak times.

At more than 300 miles apart, the fire services joined forces in 2016 with each call centre able to dispatch crews in the two counties.

It has been hailed as a move to make services more effective as the geographic distance means they are less likely to be affected by major incidents at the same time.

But the partnership is now being brought into question after plans were revealed to close Cornwall’s call centre and merge it with others elsewhere in England.

Cornwall Council, which administers the service, said all options are being considered for the control room and that a final decision would be made next year.

However, it would not comment on what a potential closure could mean for the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

At a recent Cornwall Council meeting, the proposals were met with protests from dozens of firefighters after further criticism from the Fire Brigades Union, which said it is opposing the “ridiculous move” in the interests of public safety.

Read more:

• ‘Harrogate firefighters being used as guinea pigs’, says union
• Harrogate district businesses ask police for help tackling anti-social behaviour

The issue has also been raised by Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who represents Harrogate Fairfax on Harrogate Borough Council. He was contacted by a member of staff at Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service who said the proposals have caused “huge upset and emotional strain”.

Councillor Aldred has since has called on North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to carry out a review into the “critical” service.

In a statement, Conservative commissioner Zoë Metcalfe said the agreement with Cornwall “remains in place with no change” and that she had been reassured that talks would be held about any potential change. She said:

“My chief fire officer, Jonathan Dyson, has provided assurance of the current and future resilience of our control room in North Yorkshire.

“Jonathan is in regular contact with the chief fire officer of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service and the timescales for any decision and potential change to their control room allows North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to explore future resilience opportunities.

“As such, there is no current impact on our control room’s ability to handle 999 calls and to effectively mobilise our fire engines to emergencies.”