Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 736 of 1164

Harrogate council gives £37,000 grants for jubilee events

Harrogate Borough Council has given a total of £37,000 to 46 different community groups to fund events and legacy projects for the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

The four-day weekend from June 2 to 5 will be marked by numerous events across the district.

The money issued by the council has helped to hold events in towns and villages such as Ripon, Skelton-Cum-Newby, Little Ouseburn and Bishop Monkton.

Organisers of Bishop Monkton’s platinum jubilee celebrations said the money has helped them expand on their initial plans:

“We are now able to make two films – one using archive footage and interviews with long-standing residents and a film of this year’s celebrations in the village.

“In addition, the grant is enabling a time capsule project involving Bishop Monkton Primary School where everyday objects from 2022 chosen by school pupils will be buried near the village hall for future generations to discover.”

In Skelton-cum-Newby, the parish council said the grant will enable its celebrations to be “truly memorable”:

“We are now able to engage a professional artist to supply music on the day and have ordered commemorative mugs for all our children in the village to mark a reign which will most likely never be repeated again.”

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“Her Majesty The Queen is the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee and it is therefore only right we recognise this momentous event in such a way.

“I’m sure that the residents – young and old – who are involved in the festivities of these 46 community groups will remember this event for many, many years to come.

“And of course, there are events happening all across the district. Not least, a four-day event across Harrogate town centre that will truly bring the community and visitors to our wonderful town together.”

Drone photo shows Harrogate’s first Lidl taking shape

A drone photograph has shown that work on the Harrogate’s first Lidl is taking shape.

The photo, taken by drone photographer Darren Leeming, who lives near the site, shows the roof covered in solar panels.

But a considerable amount of building work still has to take place before the Lidl can open.

The supermarket is being built on the site of the former Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road.

How the supermarket will look.

Councillors granted planning permission to the German chain in August and work on site began in February.

It will be the first Lidl in Harrogate, although there is already one on Chain Lane in Knaresborough.

The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

The Stray Ferret asked Lidl for an update on work and an expected opening date but has yet to receive a reply.

Harrogate Borough Council to be stripped of financial powers

Harrogate Borough Council is to have its biggest powers stripped away next week, some 10 months before it is abolished.

All seven district and borough councils in North Yorkshire are affected by the move, which has been introduced by the UK government.

Political commentators claim it aims to prevent controversial spending, particularly of councils’ reserves.

It means any major financial decisions by Harrogate Borough Council will need to be approved by North Yorkshire County Council‘s executive.

This could have implications on Harrogate Borough Council’s plans to spend £47m redeveloping Harrogate Convention Centre.

The action follows concerns that district councils could propose large-scale schemes to ensure at least some of the money left in their coffers is spent in their areas, rather than added to general North Yorkshire funds from April 1 next year.

The seven district councils will continue to operate and make decisions until they are replaced by North Yorkshire Council.

Michal Gove intervenes

But Michael Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, has issued a direction which gives the county council’s decision-making committee the power from Monday to veto any relevant financial decision which could bind the new authority in a potentially unfavourable way.

The direction will restrict district councils from entering into revenue contracts and disposals of land over £100,000 or capital contracts exceeding £1m without the executive’s consent.

An officers’ report to the executive states the sanctions for any council not complying with the direction and consent regime would be “severe”.

It adds councils face legal action if they enter into any contracts without the required consent and any transfers of land will be void.

To avert “a large and unmanageable number of decisions” being put before the executive and to ensure a continuance of business in all the councils until the unitary authority is launched next May, the district councils will be handed a list of lower-scale decisions they can approve without seeking consent.

Implications for future

The requirement for seeking permission as a result of the direction will only apply to the district and borough councils.

Councillor Gareth Dadd, who looks set to be reappointed as the county council’s deputy leader and finance chief later this week, said the move would help all the district councils pull in the same direction ahead of the unitary authority’s formation:

“I’m sure colleagues in the districts will be very sensible in any event, but this order by the Secretary of State recognises the democratic mandate given to all those new members on the new unitary authority and North Yorkshire County Council.

“It is those, as a collective body, that has to deal with the decisions which could have serious implications in the future.”

Harrogate Borough Council has been approached for comment.

Harrogate commuters frustrated as early trains axed today

Harrogate commuters have vented their frustration as early morning trains to Leeds are axed today.

Rail operator Northern has cancelled the first two services of the day from Harrogate to Leeds at 6.07am and 6.33am.

It means the earliest Harrogate commuters can arrive in Leeds is 7.28am, compared with 6.24am from Bradford, 6.27am from Skipton and 6.31am from Ilkley

It will also inconvenience some Harrogate business passengers travelling to London for early morning meetings.

Harrogate rail station

Martyn Fletcher, who was one of the commuters caught out by today’s timetable change, was left waiting at a wet Pannal station at 6.15am for a service that no longer exists. He said:

“I commute to Kent every week and have done so for over two years with no problems but no longer can get to Leeds to catch my scheduled train.

“I am not the only person living in Harrogate who needs to commute . In my opinion, trains must run every half hour from 5.30am until 8.30am so that those that need to catch connecting services from Leeds to elsewhere can do so.

“This change to schedule makes no sense at all . If you want to save money only run a hourly services during the quieter mid-morning mid-afternoon period . But provide a proper service for workers and business people.”

Northern has said the cuts are due to be reversed in December but rail campaigner Brian Dunsby told the Stray Ferret he wasn’t convinced.

“They have done this without good reason and without justification. I don’t trust them to reinstate the services.

“I can’t get proper answers out of them or find out who made this decision.

‘Harrogate is being picked on’

Mr Dunsby, of Harrogate Line Supporters Group, said it would be far better to scrap an afternoon service rather than the key early morning trains, adding:

“It’s crazy that the Harrogate line seems to have been picked on when others haven’t been treated this way.”

Tony Baxter, regional director at Northern said:

“The new timetables are designed to deliver high levels of reliability.

“We’ve made decisions about our timetables based on the levels of resource we have available.

“We’ve then prioritised the routes with the highest customer demand, and which support the region’s economic growth.”

Harrogate College art students to showcase their work

Artists, sculptors and ceramicists at Harrogate College are preparing to stage their first North Yorkshire Open Studios event.

The artists, who are studying for master’s degrees in creative practice, will showcase their work on June 4. Visitors will be able to view and buy items.

North Yorkshire Open Studios gives artists the chance to open their studios, network, and show and sell their work directly to the public over the first two weekends in June.

The artist-led event is run by a voluntary steering group of North Yorkshire based artists.

Dr Annabel Smith, programme manager, MA creative practice at Harrogate College said the event would give many college students the opportunity to showcase their work, adding:

“The NYOS event has grown to become one of the major events in North Yorkshire’s cultural calendar, as well as one of the north’s most prestigious open studios events.

“The college is honoured to be included this year and is highlighting and showcasing work produced by our year 1 and year 2 MA creative practice students.”

The exhibited work will include ceramics, paintings, printmaking and textiles and will be on view to the public in the college’s canteen.

The show takes place at the college, at Hornbeam Park, from 9am to 5pm.

Homes England submits 480-home Otley Road plan

Homes England has submitted formal plans for 480 homes at Bluecoat Wood opposite Cardale Park.

The government housing agency bought the site on Otley Road last year after a previous scheme stalled.

The plans follow a public consultation which was held in December 2021.

Documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council show that the site is set to be called Bluecoat Park.

The site covers 28 hectares of largely green fields and the homes would wrap around Horticap.

The proposals include plans for a new cricket pitch, which would also act as a village green. The pitch would be used by Pannal Ash Cricket Club.

The site layout for the homes at Bluecoat Wood.

A “football hub” would also be created, which would include changing rooms, a full-size pitch, a youth pitch and two mini pitches, along with car parking.

A new community woodland would also be planted.

As part of the plans, a mixture of one, two, three, four and five-bedroom houses are proposed for the site. Homes England says in its plans that 40% of the houses will be allocated as affordable.

The housing agency said in its planning documents:

“The proposed development at Bluecoat Park provides a most important opportunity to deliver a new sustainable and thriving community which will form part of the proposed new urban extension to west Harrogate.”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

To view the full details, click here and search using reference 22/01558/EIAMAJ.

Site history

Housing has been mooted at Bluecoat Wood for many years.

In February 2016, the borough council granted planning permission to a partnership of developers called HTH Harrogate LLP to build 450 homes.

It followed an earlier refusal of permission on the grounds of road safety and traffic flow problems.

However, Homes England bought the site in February 2021 after the developer pulled out.

That summer, Homes England submitted an environmental impact assessment for 530 homes on the site. The number has now been reduced to 480.

Harrogate Homeless Project appoints new chief executive

Harrogate Homeless Project has appointed Francis McAllister as its new chief executive.

Mr McAllister, who lives in Harrogate, was previously deputy chief executive at Leeds homelessness charity St George’s Crypt and previously was part of the senior leadership team at the NSPCC.

He has worked in the charity sector since 1994 when he joined children’s charity Barnardo’s as deputy director of fundraising.

The charity, which receives funding from Harrogate Borough Council, runs a 16-person hostel on on Bower Street that accepts referrals from the council as well as self-referrals from individuals in need of accommodation.

It also operates five bunk beds for emergency overnight accommodation, the Springboard day centre for homeless people at the Wesley Centre in Harrogate and a three-bed house and eight flats where staff provide support to people not yet ready to move on to fully independent living.

According to latest accounts filed with the Charity Commission, it employed 22 staff and had income of £585,000 and spending of £597,000 in the financial year ending August 31, 2020.

Mr McAllister said Harrogate Homeless Project had “a very clear ambition to increase the positive impact it has on the lives of those who need its support”, adding:

“I have experience of delivering some of the changes that are already being discussed to help widen its reach and I also have an enthusiastic team of staff, volunteers and trustees to work alongside me.”

Harrogate Homeless Project is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2022 with a series of events and a campaign to raise funds to develop its Springboard day centre.

Liz Hancock announced in December she would step down as chief executive after 16 years at the organisation.

Its chair, David Thomas, said:

“Francis’s experience of working alongside other third sector organisations and stakeholders to deliver services very similar to those we operate here in Harrogate will be of enormous value to us at this pivotal moment in our evolution as a charity and we are delighted to have him on board.”

Revival for James Street as major brands set to open doors

Business leaders say one of Harrogate’s most prestigious streets is experiencing a resurgence after the challenges of covid.

James Street was for many years seen as the most desirable place to open a shop in the town, with its heritage features and high quality brands.

However, the last couple of years have seen it struggle with empty units, the temporary removal of parking spaces, and controversial plans to pedestrianise at least part of the street.

But with major national brands including Oliver Bonas and Pret a Manger set to open there in the coming months, along with popular local beer emporium Husk, could James Street be experiencing a return to its former fortunes?

Harrogate BID certainly thinks so, as manager Matthew Chapman explained:

“It is very good news to see a swathe of new business opening on James Street, including a number of well-known national brands.

“It has always been one of the town’s most prominent streets, hosting a wide variety of quality shops, and when Next moved to Victoria Shopping Centre it was a blow. In its place we had a discount store, which certainly wasn’t in keeping with other shops on the street.

“Now the unit is to be occupied by what we believe to be a top fashion brand, and coupled with Pret a Manger moving in next door, it will give James Street a very welcome boost.”

The positive news for the street comes despite fears raised by existing businesses that any pedestrianisation – and the nearby Station Gateway scheme which would reduce Station Parade to one lane for cars – could be severely damaging to retail.

Latest Station Gateway visuals which show Harrogate's James Street pedestrianised.

Station Gateway proposals show Harrogate’s James Street pedestrianised.

Business owners have argued that customers like to park up nearby and pop into shops for just a few minutes, rather than parking further afield and walking in. Reducing their ability to do so, owners say, will have an effect on footfall and seriously hamper their viability.

Bob Kennedy, who owns Porters on James Street, said the arrival of new businesses is a welcome sign – but does not necessarily reflect confidence in the proposed changes.

“It’s a classic case of what will happen if we pedestrianise it. Walk up Cambridge Street and have a look at the quality and you realise why people want to be on James Street instead.

“I don’t think [pedestrianisation] would lead to businesses leaving. With the larger independents and upcoming chains, it’s simply if you are in a spot and it’s making you money, you stay. If it’s losing you money, you look to leave.

“Whether the Station Gateway will lead to people taking less money and less profitability and therefore make them think about leaving, who knows?”

Mr Kennedy said rents had come down as landlords realised demand for retail space had fallen slightly, making it more viable for businesses to open up and try to make shops viable.

This was more likely to be a factor, he said, than any proposed changes which could take a long time to come into effect.

However, he said the situation was cyclical, with low rents encouraging more demand, which would in turn drive rents back up. Larger, national brands would be more likely to be able to absorb those higher costs, he said.

Three options for James Street will be consulted on, under council plans.

Planters were used to prevent parking on James Street during the covid pandemic

For Harrogate BID, there is a clear sense of positivity across the town centre after a tough two years.

Mr Chapman added:

“It’s not just James Street that is seeing new life being breathed into empty units.

“Walking around town as I do regularly, new businesses are also popping up in a number of other locations, including Montpellier, which is good news for the town centre economy.

“Having a vibrant mix of national and independents is what makes Harrogate appealing to shoppers, both local and from further afield.”

Harrogate Convention Centre: What happens now?

With a planned £47 million renovation and a change of control to North Yorkshire Council on the horizon, the next 12 months are set to be pivotal for Harrogate Convention Centre.

Now that last week’s local elections are out of the way, the clock is ticking until one of the town’s major assets is handed over to the new unitary authority.

But key decisions on the convention centre, including the £47 million spend, have yet to be made.

Harrogate Borough Council currently controls the centre’s destiny, but that will no longer be the case come April 1 when it is abolished.

So what will happen with the convention centre and when will decisions be made?

Historic investment

In August 2020, the borough council outlined what would become its single biggest investment in recent times.

It tabled a plan to renovate the convention centre at a cost of £47 million over three phases.

However, while a plan to create seminar rooms in studio two to accommodate up to 1,200 people have been brought forward over fears the local economy could miss out on £14.9 million worth of events, the wider project has yet to be signed off.

A spokesperson for the council previously said it intented to seek approval for the studio two project ahead of the first phase of the wider scheme.

The council also said that a final decision on the scheme was due to be put before councillors in 2022.

Meanwhile, questions also remain around how exactly the project will be funded.

Council officials have included an investment in the convention centre in a list of requests to government as part of a North Yorkshire devolution deal.

The 140-page document, which has already been submitted to ministers, includes a request to “work with government to address the capital funding gap we have identified through our business case work to date”.

The report adds:

“Our ‘ask’ is that stakeholders work together to develop a dialogue with government to meet the capital shortfall identified through business case modelling.

“Debt costs in meeting this high upfront capital expenditure will weigh-down the projects viability necessitating innovative funding solutions to enable these costs to be mitigated.

“Finding a means to write-off or subsidise a portion of the upfront capital costs is considered necessary to enable the scheme to be viable.”

Ministers and council leaders in North Yorkshire are currently in negotiations over the devolution deal.

But given the government’s long list of funding headaches at the moment, there is a risk that ministers could not agree to the request – which would raise questions over how the scheme would be funded and who would stump up the cash.

Depending on timing, it’s likely that it fall to the new North Yorkshire Council to take the decision – it too will have funding pressures.

‘An integral part of Harrogate’

While the politics of the convention centre rumbles on, the prospect of any investment remains key to traders.

The centre continues to host a range of events, including bridal shows, political conferences and Thought Bubble Comic Con.

Sue Kramer, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce president.

For businesses, the hope is that the convention centre attracts more visitors to the town who will then go onto stay, shop and visit the area.

Sue Kramer, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce president, told the Stray Ferret:

“From a retail perspective, with the number of customers we have who have come to Harrogate specifically because of HCC I regard it as an integral part of Harrogate’s special and unique offering.

“The range of events held throughout the year attract a diverse range of visitors to Harrogate, many of whom then visit the town centre to shop, eat and stay.

“The HCC is undoubtedly a huge benefit to local businesses.”

District businesses donate to Ukraine aid convoy

Businesses from across the Harrogate district have shown their support for Ukraine by donating dozens of pallets of supplies.

Neom Organics has given shower gel, soap and hand sanitiser, while Taylors of Harrogate has contributed supplies of tea and coffee.

Children’s shop Milk and Honey donated thousands of pounds’ worth of clothes, from wellies and hats to summer clothes. Other donations have included bottled water and fizzy drinks.

The supplies are being sent to Global Empowerment Mission, which is distributing them to refugee camps as well as communities in Ukraine.

Organiser Whitney Vauvelle said:

“It has been an incredible effort from the Harrogate and Yorkshire community. It really speaks highly of the bread and butter of what this community is about.

“People are going numb on this and we can’t let that happen. Supply chains are severely disrupted into Ukraine so we have to keep donating and sending trucks over.”

A final collection will be held at White Horse Machinery (WHM) on Hornbeam Park on Wednesday, May 18, from 9.30am to 1.30pm, when businesses and individuals can make contributions.

Donations of non-perishable foods are needed, along with clothing including shoes, new underwear, new and like-new trainers, and sportswear for children.

For more information, call Ms Vauvelle on 07860 922600.

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Home care company expands from Harrogate base

A home care company founded in Harrogate in 2018 is expanding to a satellite office in West Yorkshire.

West Park Care will cover Ilkley, Burley in Wharefedale, Guiseley, Menston, Yeadon and surrounding areas from its new office at Wharfe Bank Mills in Otley.

Founder Tom Page said:

“We’ve got through the pandemic which has been a slog to say the least. We’ve come out of that relatively unscathed and now we’re looking to expand.”

The company offers domiciliary care to private clients in their own homes, and now has 30 staff and 44 clients on its books.

Mr Page said its point of difference was not using zero-hours contracts and paying above minimum wage, which helped it to keep staff turnover low.