Harrogate Islamic Association has said it is confident of raising enough money to buy the former Home Guard Club and convert it into the town’s first mosque.
A price of £500,000 was agreed to buy the building, which is on the corner of Tower Street and Belford Road, before the association obtained planning permission.
The current owner set a deadline of Monday next week to complete the sale.
The group already has several hundred thousand pounds set aside to buy the building but does not yet have enough to pay the full asking price.
After planning permission was granted last month by Harrogate Borough Council, the association launched a crowdfunding campaign to help raise the extra money needed to buy the building as well as for much-needed repairs, setting a target of £200,000.
With days to go until the owner’s deadline, the crowdfunder is currently on just £18,000.
However, Zahed Amanullah, a member of the association, said there was no risk the deal could fall through because it had loans in place to cover any shortfall.
Mr Amanullah said:
“We are on our way to getting the money. It’s not all reflected in the crowdfunding campaign, which we’re extending to the end of April, which is the month of Ramadan, and will be used to pay back loans.
“We’ve been raising money from other sources, such as pledges from the community directly.
“Where there might be a shortfall, we have people to loan us the difference, so we can pay them back. Our intention is to make the payment in time with a combination of loans and crowdfunding.”
Read more:
-
‘Community goodwill’ helped to overcome anti-mosque campaign, says Harrogate Islamic Association
-
Malcolm Neesam History: the colourful past of what could become Harrogate’s first mosque
The association, which was set up in 2011, has been looking for a permanent home for several years, with previous attempts at securing a site falling through. Around 100 Muslim worshippers currently meet in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade.
The association also organises prayer sessions at Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough.
Mr Amanullah said once the group has the keys to the building, the immediate focus will be on repairs and restoring original features.
All being well, it could open to the public by the end of the summer.
Harrogate marketing agency secures United States clientsHarrogate marketing agency Big Bamboo has announced three new clients in the United States.
The clients, which are based in New York, Texas and Ohio, operate within the insurance, professional services and industrial packaging sectors.
Nicola Stamford, founding director of Big Bamboo Agency, said it was “a huge milestone for us”.
She said:
“We are thrilled to be working with these new businesses, all of which are leading players in their respective industries and have their own set of needs and marketing challenges.”
Events company helps raise £57,000 for Children’s Air Ambulance
Impulse Decisions staff helped to raise £57,000 for the Children’s Air Ambulance.
Harrogate events company Impulse Decisions has raised more than £57,000 for Children’s Air Ambulance.
Children’s Air Ambulance is a national service which transfers critically ill babies and children from one hospital to another for specialist care.
Impulse Decisions has worked with the charity before and hopes to double its funding this year.
Tom Hesketh, director of hospitality sales at Impulse Decisions, said:
“This has been a great partnership and shows the benefits of our silent auctions, and just how much money they can raise, at no cost to the charity.
“After the last two years it is even more important to continue to support charities like this and in total, we helped charities nationwide raise over £1 million last year.”
Read more:
Ice warning follows rush hour snow in Harrogate district
Temperatures are set to plummet tonight after snow hit teatime traffic in the Harrogate district.
Snow is forecast across the district this evening and overnight temperatures are expected to reach -1 degrees celsius in Harrogate. It will be colder in more remote areas, especially around Pateley Bridge.
John Benson took this photo of Greenhow this afternoon.
BBC Weather is predicting the snow will clear by 7am tomorrow.
A yellow warning for ice is in place in the district from 8pm tonight until 10pm. Roads across the county will be treated.
Read more:
- Call for urgent remedy to Ripon residents’ flooding issue
- Boroughbridge gets free public WiFi — and Harrogate is next
Nature observers, however, may get an opportunity to see the Northern Lights tonight.
The Met Office tweeted that the phenomenon, also known as the Aurora Borealis, may be visible.
Due to Coronal Mass Ejections arriving from the sun, there is a chance of seeing the #AuroraBorealis later tonight and again tomorrow night
As usual, the further north you are in the UK, the greater your chance of seeing it#NorthernLights
More here: https://t.co/sQ1IjJM44y pic.twitter.com/qxmFQNJCM6
— Met Office (@metoffice) March 30, 2022
Inquest concludes no single factor led to Harrogate woman’s suicide
An inquest into the death of a Harrogate woman has concluded that no single factor contributed to her taking her life.
Sarah Tatlow, 57, died at home on March 26 last year. At the time of her death she was undergoing treatment for an aggressive form of cervical cancer.
The two-day inquest in Northallerton, which ended today, heard Ms Tatlow’s husband, Julian Tatlow, question the actions of her doctors in the months leading to her death.
Mr Tatlow said his wife only became fully aware of her “poor prognosis” when a letter was sent days before her death.
The letter was written by Dr Isa Edhem, a consultant urological surgeon at Harrogate District Hospital, to Ms Tatlow’s GP practice. Mr Tatlow described the letter as “cold and insincere” and said it contained details not made clear to them during their consultation with Dr Edhem.
Harrogate District Hospital.
Mr Tatlow questioned members of his wife’s care team during the inquest, asking if they had made it clear to her how aggressive her cancer was. The doctors said they were sure Ms Tatlow knew her cancer was aggressive.
The coroner, Oliver Longstaff, said he took Mr Tatlow’s arguments into consideration but that there was no evidence the letter had a direct link to Ms Tatlow’s death.
Mr Longstaff concluded:
“Since it’s not known when that clinical letter arrived and indeed whether she had seen it, it is inappropriate for me to consider that a direct causal link can be found.
“Even if the letter arrived on March 26 and even if she had taken in the content, is there evidence this letter provoked her suicide over other factors?
“She was facing drastic surgery. I find it unrealistic to single out one factor only and say one was a trigger to this tragedy.”
He concluded the death was due to suicide and there was a clear link to her cancer.
Read more:
- Inquest finds homeless Harrogate man endured a ‘drug-related death’
- Wanted man fell to death from tree in Harrogate district, inquest told
Hospital action plan
Mr Longstaff then read out an action plan written by Dr David Earl, on behalf of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, setting out a number of recommendations the hospital had put into place following Ms Tatlow’s death.
These included a protocol whereby, rather than sending letters to a patient’s GP, they are sent directly to the patient, explaining their prognosis and management plan. This is due to be rolled out across all departments by autumn this year.
It also suggested doctors would be more proactive with referrals to the cancer clinical psychology team if patients are struggling to cope.
Mr Longstaff said the trust’s action plan meant there was no need for him to write to the trust outlining his own recommendations.
Dr Jacqueline Andrews, executive medical director at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said in a statement afterwards:
Work on Harrogate Hydro and Knaresborough leisure centre to start next month“We would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Sarah Tatlow, and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”
Two major projects to renovate Harrogate Hydro and build a new leisure centre in Knaresborough will get underway next month.
Harrogate Borough Council is behind the plans which will cost around £28 million and see the construction works carried out by Bristol-based firm Alliance Leisure.
The Hydro will get an £11.8 million investment, including a two-storey extension of the building, as well as a new entrance, cafe and reception area.
There will also be a new diving board structure, fitness suite and refurbished changing areas.
The venue will close on April 8 and the project will be phased to allow for the pool hall area to be brought back into use “as soon as possible in early 2023,” the council said.
It also said it anticipated all of the works will be completed by April 2023.
Read more:
- Ripon leisure centre named after local Olympic hero Jack Laugher
- £28m contracts for new Knaresborough pool and Harrogate Hydro upgrades approved
- Harrogate Hydro set to close for nine months
Meanwhile, some grounds works are already underway at Fysche Field in Knaresborough where a new £17 million leisure centre complete with a six-lane pool, health spa and fitness studios will be built as a replacement for the existing Knaresborough Pool.
It will be built behind the existing pool which will remain open during the works before being demolished.
The council said the new leisure centre will take 65 weeks to build with completion in July 2023.
After this, the demolition works will take a further 15 weeks with completion in October 2023.
Proposals for the Knaresborough Leisure Centre.
These proposals were approved last month despite concerns over the environmental impact of demolishing a large building to replace it with another.
However, Jonathan Dunk, chief development officer at the council, described the 30-year-old Knaresborough Pool as “at the end of its working life” and said more swimming space was needed for the town’s growing population.
He previously said:
“We need to renew rather than refurbish the existing facility because it is old and there is inadequate water space.
“We also want to upgrade to make the most of the energy performance of the new building.”
In Ripon, the opening of the city’s new multi-million pound swimming pool was finally celebrated on 2 March after months of costly delays.
The project was nine months overdue and £4 million over budget, and refurbishment works on the adjoining Ripon Leisure Centre are still underway after the discovery of an underground void prompted the need for an investigation.
The investigation by engineering firm Stantec was due to finish earlier this month and a report setting out what reinforcement works will be required will now follow.
Stantec previously suggested there had been a “significant deterioration” of the ground beneath the older half of the leisure centre and that strengthening works could include steelworks, thickened floors and grouting – the same method “successfully” used to stabilise the new pool.
Bilton playgroup rated ‘outstanding’ by OfstedOfsted has rated Acorns Playgroup in Bilton ‘outstanding’ following a recent inspection.
The education inspectors visited the setting, which operates at Bilton Grange Community Primary School on Bilton Lane, in February.
It has 30 children registered between the ages of 2 and 4.
Ofsted found that children “excitedly enter the safe and vibrant pre-school” and are “deeply engrossed in a limitless range of first-class activities and experiences”.
The report said:
“Children’s interests and ideas are at the heart of staff’s thinking when they implement the curriculum.”
Read more:
- Bilton’s Richard Taylor Funclub gets glowing Ofsted report
- Beckwithshaw primary school rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted
The inspector praised the playgroup for its safeguarding procedures and said staff give the “utmost priority” to keeping children safe.
It said staff have “very high aspirations” for all children and swiftly identify any possible developmental delays to help any child catch up. It said staff at Acorns have an “admiral passion and dedication” to their jobs.
The report added:
“Children demonstrate exemplary behaviour and play extremely well together. They solve problems while building impressive constructions, excitedly dig for ‘treasure’ in the large sand pit and make ‘Chinese noodles’ in the exploratory kitchen. Older children play a mathematical card game skilfully and ensure everyone plays fairly and follows the rules.”
Catherine Kaiser, director of Acorns, thanked staff following the report
She said:
“The staff here are fantastic, we’ve all worked really hard and the report reflects that. It’s our fourth ‘outstanding’ rating in a row. It really has been a team effort.”
Woodlands Kids Club
Earlier this month Woodlands Kids Club, at Willow Tree Primary School on Wetherby Road, received a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted.
Inspectors visited the setting on February 1 and praised staff for offering a welcoming and encouraging environment for young learners.
The report said:
Bid to save ‘at risk’ Harrogate district bowls clubs“Staff know the children well and respond to their interests. They extend their learning as they play together. Children greet staff with huge smiles as they arrive at the end of the school day. They show a good sense of belonging as they excitedly talk about their day.
“They form meaningful relationships with the staff and follow instructions well. Staff use their knowledge and experience effectively to support those children who need additional help and encouragement. The strategies they use are highly effective.”
Bowls clubs in the Harrogate district have joined forces in an attempt to recover from the covid pandemic.
All 16 clubs that play in the Harrogate league have come together after it became clear that some were at risk of folding.
Dave Rowson, secretary of Harrogate Amateur Bowling Association, which governs the game in the district and coordinates its development, said the organisation had launched a drive to increase participation and retain players.
Mr Rowson said membership in local crown green bowls was declining and some clubs were at risk of going under.
He said:
“Membership of many clubs is declining and of the 16 clubs in the district there are a number forecasting that without an increase in participation they could be at risk of being unable to remain in existence.”
Mr Rowson, who is also secretary of Black Swan Bowling Club on Devonshire Place in Harrogate, pointed to Bilton Working Men’s Club as an example of a club which needed support.
The club currently has 26 bowlers and needs more players to remain viable.
Read more:
Paul Gill, who is a member of Bilton Working Men’s Club, said part of the problem was that the sport was regarded as an “old man’s game”.
He added that people also did not know where the bowling greens are situated because they are often behind buildings or hidden.
Mr Gill said:
“They do not know they are there.
“There are a lot of locations and a lot of clubs.”
Grants and strategy
After two years of the covid pandemic, the 16 clubs decided to come up with a strategy to ensure their survival.
As part of that, Mr Rowson secured a £1,500 grant to set up a website for Harrogate Amateur Bowling Association.
The site will enable each club to advertise open days for potential new members. The season runs from April to October so the number of open days is expected to ramp up shortly.
Mr Rowson added:
“The programme will be open to all. Bowls is a sport for everyone irrespective of age or gender. Everyone can compete equally.”
Younger players, parents and people retiring from other sports such as cricket and football will be encouraged to come along.
The association aims to get 600 new participants trying bowls. Mr Rowson added that there was capacity for 13 more eight-person teams in the Harrogate league.
He estimates that the league would need 80 new bowlers for those teams and to cover any player holiday or illness.
The association has also bid to North Yorkshire Sport for up to £5,000 in funding for equipment costs and coaches to help new players.
For more information on how to get involved with your local bowls club, visit the Harrogate Amateur Bowling Association website.
TikTok video on mental health in Harrogate goes viralA TikTok video of a man raising awareness of mental health in Harrogate town centre has gone viral.
The clip, by Ben Ogden on Cambridge Street, shows him standing with a sign saying: “If you’ve struggled with mental health, let’s talk”.
Mr Ogden is well known on TikTok for his videos talking to people on the street about mental health and has posted clips in Leeds and Skipton.
In Harrogate, he speaks with a woman, who is off camera, about her struggles with mental health.
Mr Ogden says in the video:
“We’re just trying to raise awareness for mental health and to let people know it’s alright to talk about it and it should be a normal conversation.”
@itsbenogden It’s okay to talk 💬 #mentalhealthmatters #friends
The video has racked up 429,000 views on TikTok and has more than 21,000 likes and 200 comments.
Mr Ogden, who has nearly 50,000 followers on the social media platform, also published a video outside Sainsbury’s on Cambridge Street with a sign that reads: “If you’re missing your mum this Mother’s Day, let’s talk”.
The clip clocked up 465,000 views.
Read more:
- ‘So beautiful I can’t believe it’s real’: TikTok video of Knaresborough goes viral
- Viral TikTok video sees Brimham Rocks staff kick out mobile DJ
The video becomes the latest TikTok in the Harrogate district to go viral this year.
In January, a Russian TikToker racked up a million views with a video of Knaresborough that she described as “a place in England so beautiful I can’t believe it’s real”.
In the same month, a bizarre video by DJ Zach Sabri, better known online as SUAT, showed the TikToker being told by National Trust staff that he cannot film at Brimham Rocks.
Plan to convert former Harrogate district school into house approvedPlans to convert a former Harrogate district primary school into a house have been approved.
Leeds Diocesan Board of Finance applied to Harrogate Borough Council to convert the former Bishop Thornton Church of England Primary School site off Colber Lane.
The school closed in 2019 after it outgrew the site and moved to the former Burnt Yates Church of England Primary School building. The school has since been renamed as Admiral Long CE Primary School.
The council has now given the go-ahead to the proposal.
According to plans submitted to the council, the Bishop Thornton building will be converted into a three-bedroom house with two parking spaces.
Read more:
- Bilton’s Richard Taylor Funclub gets glowing Ofsted report
- Derelict Ripon pub to be converted into home
The developer said in documents that the proposal will represent a “satisfactory replacement” for the former school building.
It said:
Labour announce Harrogate and Knaresborough election candidates“Making use of empty buildings and placing great weight on using suitable sites within existing settlements is supported by national planning policy.”
The Labour Party has announced its candidates in Harrogate and Knaresborough for the upcoming local elections.
Voters will head to the polls on May 5 to elect councillors to the new North Yorkshire Council.
A full list of candidates for each ward including Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Green Party and independent candidates is expected to be published on April 6.
The Labour Party has announced a candidate for every ward in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
Read more:
- No deals expected between Harrogate district opposition parties ahead of election
- Speculation mounts over Harrogate independent candidates after website set up
Among them include acting constituency party chair Chris Watt, retired teachers and a mental health nurse in the NHS.
The full list of candidates are:
- Geoff Foxall – High Harrogate and Kingsley
- David Crosthwaite – Knaresborough West
- Pat Foxall – Coppice Valley and Duchy
- Edward Clayson – Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate
- Chris Watt – Fairfax and Starbeck
- Andrew Zigmond – Bilton Grange and New Park
- Deborah Anne Havercroft – Bilton Woodfield and Nidd Gorge
- John Adams – Harlow and St George’s
- Andrew Williamson – Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate
- Sharon Calvert – Knaresborough East
- Margaret Smith – Oatlands and Pannal
- Helen Burke – Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone
The move comes after opposition parties indicated they are not expected to agree to a pact ahead of polling day.
Harrogate and Knaresborough Green Party said it had reached out to both the Lib Dems and Labour, however the Stray Ferret understands no agreement has been made.Labour’s list of candidates indicates it intends to fight every ward.
Register to vote
A total of 13 councillors will be elected in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge to the new authority, with an average of 6,194 people to each representative. A further eight will be elected across Ripon, Pateley Bridge and Masham.
Those wishing to vote in the upcoming election have until April 14 to register to vote. You can register here.
Meanwhile, events will be held online for residents across Harrogate and Knaresborough to learn more about the upcoming unitary council.
People will be given the opportunity to ask a panel of senior council officials about the changes and what it means for them.
Wallace Sampson, chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council, and Neil Irving, from North Yorkshire County Council, will appear on the panel at the event on April 12. You can find more information on how to attend here.