Meeting called to hear concerns about state of River Nidd

Anglers, Yorkshire Water and Andrew Jones MP are to meet this month to discuss concerns about the quality of water in the River Nidd.

The meeting will focus on the foul smell and state of the river near Darley sewage treatment works.

But it will also consider the wider issue of the Nidd’s health, which is under the spotlight after a spate of young people who swam in it fell ill during last month’s heatwave.

Seven angling groups that fish from the source of the Nidd to where it flows into the Ouse will be represented at the meeting by Harrogate Fly Fishers’ Club, which is based in Darley.

The meeting, at Darley Memorial Hall, will also be attended by Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones, Darley and Menwith Parish Council and Yorkshire Water.

Anglers have requested Yorkshire Water provide data about the design and operation of Darley sewage treatment works.

The Environmental Information Regulations provide a statutory right of access to environmental information held by public bodies.

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David Clayden, honorary secretary of Harrogate Fly Fishers’ Club, said there were concerns about the amount of sewage being pumped into the Nidd and he hoped the meeting might lead to some answers. He said:

“We are trying to understand why Yorkshire Water think the Nidd is OK when it doesn’t seem like it is to us.”

Mr Clayden added that the river was fishing well but dead trout and grayling could often be seen floating on the surface.

The Nidd is predominantly a fly fishing river containing trout and grayling but the lower reaches contain significant numbers of coarse fish, such as roach and chub.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“We’re due to meet with the MP and the local angling group to discuss the operation of our treatment works, as well as listen to any points they would like to raise about the health of the river.”

Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm shortlisted for property award

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Berwins up for award

Berwins’  residential property team has been shortlisted as finalists in the 2022 Yorkshire Legal Awards.

Judges said they were impressed by the way Berwins’ property team supports clients, offers high levels of service and uses an innovative digital solution to ensure this is both monitored and maintained.

Commenting on the development, Head of Residential Property, Jo Randall said

“I’m thrilled that the team has been recognised in this way.”

“We understand that the process of moving home can be a stressful one and, through years of experience, have seen the difference that genuine care and high service standards can offer.

That is why we never fail to place a real emphasis on how we deliver legal services, not just what we deliver.

To see that approach validated by being shortlisted for such a prestigious regional award is particularly pleasing.”

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Fund raising for Tech businesses

Co-Lab in Harrogate is to hold a free workshop to help tech companies access funding for business growth, product development or new services.

The workshop on September 28 is described as a “practical and delivered by the funding experts from NorthInvest, who work with tech and digital start-ups,  mentors and investors in the North of England”.

Hosted at Co-Lab, the workshop is part of the company’s celebration of the Leeds Digital Festival. To register click here.

Stray Views: Signing up to social care scheme ‘irresponsible’

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.

Signing up to social care scheme ‘irresponsible’

In response to the county council’s pilot scheme for social care. Isn’t it irresponsible to sign up to a scheme when you know it could bankrupt you? And is this the same authority which will shortly control Harrogate’s finances? Heaven help us.

Diane Stokes, Harrogate

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Concern over new Knaresborough junction layout

Whoever was responsible for designing the new layout and the subsequent flow of traffic through the Chain Lane and Wetherby Road junction needs to be severely reprimanded for failing to think out the consequences of their actions due to a lack of knowledge on such matters.

Every time you attempt to cross the A59 from Chain Lane you are faced with trying to avoid a collision. The inside lane is for turning left or crossing the A59 to enter Wetherby Road. The outside lane is for turning right to travel in the direction of Knaresborough town centre. Due to the poor standard of the road markings, the number of vehicles that still try and cross into Wetherby Road from the outside lane is astonishingly high causing vehicles having to take action to avoid a collision. 

Horns beeped, hand gestures etc from those in the outside lane who think they are in the correct lane. Travelling the other way from Wetherby Road there is a temporary road sign that indicates no right turn. Try telling that to the individuals who have always turned right at this junction and continue to do so, 

Today I was confronted by a youth who was following the instructions of a driving instructor who insisted that you can still turn right onto the A59 in the direction away from Knaresborough. The signage needs to be much larger and clearer and needs to be rectified before somebody ends up in the cemetery that is situated at his junction. North Yorkshire Council sort it out.

Robbie Payne, Knaresborough

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.

Children to set up shop in street to raise money for Saint Michael’s

A group of community-minded children will set up shop in the streets of Harrogate tomorrow to raise money for Saint Michael’s Hospice.

The children will sell cakes they’ve baked along with bric-a-brac for what has become an annual event on Valley Mount.

It was started in 2015 by sisters Yasmin and Louisa Stokes when they were aged five and three respectively. Last year’s event generated £647.

In 2019 the group was invited to visit Saint Michael’s headquarters at Hornbeam Park to see where their funds had gone.

Yasmin and Louisa will be joined at this year’s sale by friends Ben and Chloe Annett and Annalise Plummer-Rooke.

It will take place from about 9am on Valley Mount until the cake sells out.

Saint Michael's bake sale

Presenting a cheque to Saint Michael’s in 2019.

Meet Harrogate’s Eurovision super-fan event organiser

In the week when it was confirmed the UK will host Eurovision next year, Harrogate resident Tania Hodson had more reason than most to celebrate.

The self-confessed super-fan helps to organise the annual EuroStarz gig, which sees former contestants perform again for a crowd of dedicated enthusiasts.

It takes place every summer, three months after the contest, and a handful of tickets are still available for this year’s event on Saturday, August 13. Tania said:

“We aim it for when people are starting to get post-Eurovision depression, before any of the songs for the following year come out.”

This year’s event  will feature Denmark’s 2018 entry Rasmussen, and Suzy who represented Portugal in 2014. UK entries James Fox from 2004 and Lindsay Dracass, who was just 16 when she represented her country, will also be on the bill.

It is held at the Water Rats in London, known for a number of landmark events including Bob Dylan’s first UK performance in 1962 and Oasis’s first ever gig in 1994.

Previous Eurovision entrants perform at EuroStarz in 2018

The annual event has a strong Harrogate influence – Tania and former Knaresborough resident Michael Woodhead make up half of the small team of organisers.

The graphic designer said they are thrilled about the return of Eurovision itself to the UK and are hopeful of getting tickets.

“I’ve only been to Eurovision once – it’s quite hard to get tickets and quite expensive.

“They do give more to the hosting country and I’m part of the official fan club in the UK so I’m hoping I can get some through that.”

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The exact location of the event is yet to be confirmed, but Tania knows her home town could never be on the list now, despite having hosted in 1982 – before she was born.

“I would love it, but it’s a bit big for Harrogate now. It’s not like it was then, with a little orchestra and everyone in formalwear.

“I heard rumours that Glasgow is likely to get it. It would be great if it came to Leeds so there might be some people staying around Harrogate.

“It would be nice to get it out of London, but to be honest, I don’t mind as long as I can get tickets!

“It’s really unfortunate it can’t be held in Ukraine, but we hope they will do enough to pay tribute to Ukraine. It’s not just about us, but it’s really exciting to get the opportunity to maybe go and also see all the events leading up to the contest.”

Harrogate district businesses asked to add their details to defibrillator register

Harrogate district businesses and other organisations are being encouraged to provide details of defibrillator units on their premises.

The Defibs-Ripon Group, working closely with Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) has been at the forefront of installing and raising awareness about the location of defibrillators in the city, but is keen to make the Harrogate district aware of a wider initiative.

Group member Alec Lutton told the Stray Ferret:

“The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has created an online log in site called The Circuit, which provides locations throughout Britain of defibrillators that can be accessed 24/7 by emergency services.

Now, the BHF is looking to expand this, by registering the whereabouts of every defibrillator by including location details for all of the life-saving devices.

Mr Lutton added:

“This will be achieved by including the business names and postcodes for those ‘restricted access’ units on the premises of shops, leisure and hospitality, other businesses and organisations, where the devices are only available for use during working or opening hours.”

“Our contacts at YAS have asked us to encourage all those with such units to support this important initiative.

“There are currently 23 defibrillators in Ripon and the surrounding area that can be accessed 24 hours a day and, as a group, we would also like to add onto our locations list,  the  names and postcodes of Ripon-based businesses and organisations, where there is restricted access.”

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Helping a heart attack victim

A heart attack or cardiac arrest could happen to anyone of any age at any time, day or night and the following advice is offered by defibrillator providers, if an incident arises:

 

‘Play like the star you are’: Harrogate gets behind Rachel Daly ahead of Euro final

Harrogate has thrown its support behind Rachel Daly ahead of England’s Euro final against Germany on Sunday.

Daly, who went to Saltergate and Rossett schools in Harrogate, will be among the squad which walks out on the hallowed turf at Wembley in front of a sellout crowd.

The Lionesses have captured the hearts of a nation during the tournament, which has seen late goals and thrashings of the likes of Norway.

Ahead of the semi-final against Spain, Mike Sweetman, who coached Daly at Rossett, told the Stray Ferret he was not surprised at her success.

“I’m not surprised she has had more than 50 caps for England.

“In all my years teaching I had not seen a better female player, saying that, she struggled with a bad knee at school and you definitely need a lot of luck along with talent to cement your place in an England team.”

‘Play like the star you are’

Now, Daly has the chance to make history and help lead England to their first Euro trophy.

Ahead of the seismic tie against Germany at 5pm on Sunday, the Stray Ferret asked our readers on social media what message they had for Daly as she prepares for the big game.

Jean Daly said:

“Play like the star you are – my lovely granddaughter.”

Lorraine Simcock said:

“Whatever the outcome, we are so proud of you all, you have done so much to inspire the younger generation and to promote women’s football. Good luck and best wishes.”

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George Miller added:

“Smash it up in the final this Sunday, we’re all cheering you on.”

Deborah Risdon said:

“Good luck we are behind you all and most important enjoy the moment.”

Tracy Atkinson said:

“Wishing you all the very best for the final, your dad will be so proud of you and he’ll be watching over you on Sunday.”

Residents criticise key Harrogate planning document as ‘incoherent’

A residents group has criticised a key council planning document for the West of Harrogate as lacking detail and “incoherent”.

The West Harrogate Infrastructure Delivery Strategy was due for completion in May – but Harrogate Borough Council has now said it expects it to be published before the end of the year.

It forms part of the wider proposals for the area and builds upon the West Harrogate Parameters Plan, which sets out how the area’s infrastructure and services will cope with 4,000 new homes.

Residents said they were disappointed after a meeting earlier this month over some of the proposals in the delivery strategy.

The Western Arc Coordination Group brings together organisations including Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association, Duchy Residents’ Association, Hampsthwaite Action Group, Zero Carbon Harrogate, Harrogate District Cycle Action and Pannal & Burn Bridge Parish Council.

After the meeting with the council, the group said:

“On the day, we were asked to provide comments on a document that only consisted of a series of diagrams in relation to a number of road junctions without any supporting data. The whole of this work came over as incoherent and lacking any real structure.

“After more than two years we would have expected far more detail than we were presented with and we still have real concerns that the end result of all this time (more than two years) and work will not bring about any significant improvements to overall infrastructure or tackle the existing, and increasing, traffic problems. At the very least we would have expected clear statements on why this work is being done and what it will achieve.

“Our argument has always been that the end result of all the West Harrogate Parameters Plan (WHPP) and associated works should be a series of mitigations that prevents the overall infrastructure problems from getting any worse, and preferably should also help overcome some of the existing problems.”

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West Harrogate was identified for major expansion during the creation of the district’s Local Plan when a government inspector ordered the parameters plan to be made.

Once complete, both the delivery strategy and parameters plan will be used together to shape decisions on how west Harrogate will cope with 2,500 new homes – although as many as 4,000 properties are set to be built in the wider area by 2035.

A borough council spokesperson said the meeting was held to help design the strategy and further consultation will take place with residents groups later in the year.

In response to the concerns, they said:

“The West Harrogate Infrastructure Delivery Strategy (WHIDS) document – that is designed to help the long term co-ordination of infrastructure across the West Harrogate sites – will be signed-off later in the year.

“The information sessions recently held are helping shape this document, along with the support and guidance from technical officers and our appointed consultants.

“There will be further targeted engagement with stakeholders later in the year before the documents are signed off.

“This engagement, will also help inform other working draft documents such as the cumulative transport strategy, which will be subject to public consultation before any decisions are made on live planning applications in West Harrogate.”

In Pictures : the joy of Harrogate Carnival

Thousands lined the streets of Harrogate today as a colourful parade of dancers, costumes and music from all over the globe made its way from the centre of town to Valley Gardens.

This year’s Carnival was paid for by Harrogate Borough Council‘s tourism body, Destination Harrogate, and was put on by Harrogate International Festivals. Unlike the last carnival in 2019 when the weather was atrocious, this year the rain held off allowing everyone to have a great time.

Here are some images that aim to capture that carnival spirit:

 

Play tells story of Harrogate seance held by Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle

A seance held in Harrogate by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Houdini forms the inspiration for a new play by a local writer.

Paul Forster started looking into the 1921 event at the Harrogate Club when he was researching a new book about the town’s ghostly connections.

He said:

“I love history and things that are a bit spooky. When I found out the story about the Harrogate Club where Arthur Conan Doyle had gone, that really intrigued me.

“To then find out that Houdini – someone I really admire – was there, it was too good to be true, really.”

Paul then did more research into the pair’s relationship, which he discovered was fractious.

Houdini, still in the early stages of his career, was keen to make a name for himself and contacted the Sherlock Holmes author. Paul said:

“They enjoyed a good friendship together and came to Harrogate and visited the spa and went to the club, where they held a seance.

“Doyle was a strong believer in clairvoyance. Houdini was open-minded, but being a magician he could see a trick a mile off. He thought they were all fakes.”

The friendship between the famous pair was short and their contrasting views increasingly came between them.

However, inspired by the unlikely pairing and unusual event, Paul – a trained actor who has worked in the arts most of his life – wrote a play, Conjuring the Dead.

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A combination of lecture and performance, it sees him share his research into what took place, before reading some letters he has written based on imagined correspondence between the two.

After that, Paul transports the audience to the Harrogate Club, where he recreates the seance, bringing the story to life.

He has been performing it at Durham Town Hall as part of the city’s fringe festival this week, with the last show due to take place this evening.

Later in the year, Paul hopes to bring the show to Harrogate in combination with the ghost walks he already runs in the town. They take place on the first and last Friday of each month, setting off from the Royal Pump Room Museum.

He said:

“They’ve been incredibly popular – about 900 people have been on the walk.

“I’ve been rwriting a book about Harrogate ghost stories and I’ve found some new material to use.

“My plan is to do a new half-hour ghost walk just to a few locations from my book, then afterwards we go to the Crown Hotel and I’ll perform the show.”

Although describing himself as a paranormalist, Paul said he only saw his first ghost while researching the new book, when he was speaking to staff in the Turkish Baths on Parliament Street.

Spooky experiences

He said he saw a woman look out of a cubicle which staff later told him, without prompting, was haunted. They said the ghost often shut the cubicle door so Paul challenged the ghost to do so – and the door closed just as the interviews finished.

He then heard a woman’s voice saying “ha ha!” which a customer told him she had also heard on a previous occasion.

He has had a number of other spooky experiences – including at this week’s performances, where he made changes to the play after an incident on the first night left him and producer Neil Bradley-Smith perplexed.

He said:

“Something went wrong in the routine that shouldn’t and couldn’t go wrong. There was a bit with a fake key that I gave to an audience member and asked her to unlock a box.

“The key worked. I shot a look to my producer – neither of us could understand it. Then the lady tried it again and it didn’t work. How can a key work and then not work, when it shouldn’t work in the first place?

“I took that bit out of the play the next night!”