Controversial 200-home Pannal Ash scheme approved

Harrogate Borough Council‘s planning committee has voted to approve Homes England‘s plan to build 200 homes on the site of the former police training centre in Harrogate.

Councillors debated the application for almost three hours today with discussion focused on traffic congestion and the loss of a football pitch on the site.

Seven voted in favour, three against and John Mann, whose Harrogate Pannal ward would be affected by the scheme, abstained.

Homes England, which is the government housing agency, had permission to build 161 homes on the Yew Tree Lane site but wanted to increase this by 23% to 200 homes by building on the pitch.

The planning committee voted in June against a recommendation to approve the application.

Instead it deferred the scheme pending publication of the West of Harrogate Parameters Plan, which will assess transport and infrastructure needs associated with wider plans to build up to 4,000 homes on the western side of Harrogate.

Councillors were told a draft version of the parameters plan would not be published until February 2022.

However, this time they decided to approve the housing scheme, with a representative of Homes England suggesting it would consider legal action if the application was deferred again.

More to follow on this story

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Getting your home ready for Christmas? Check out these local businesses with the products you need

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and a time when many of us go all out to make our homes look spectacular.

Here in the Harrogate district, we’re lucky to have lots of independent businesses to help you add a festive touch to your home – whether it’s trees and decorations, the perfect Christmas scent, or those all important kitchen utensils to pull off cooking your Christmas dinner.

For your tree: Harrogate Christmas Tree Centre

After trading for more than 40 years, and as the leading retailer of cut Christmas trees in Harrogate, these guys really know their stuff.

With the widest selection of strong and low needle retention trees, Harrogate Christmas Tree Centre can offer you advice on how to keep your tree looking good until the New Year.

The company is also a member of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, and pride themselves on a high level of customer service.

Find more here. 

For your decorations: Rudfarlington Farm 

The Christmas Barn at Rudfarlington Farm is now selling top quality Christmas decorations, lighting, ornaments and gifts.

There are several ranges of themed decorations, plus all the extras you’ll need to turn your home into the perfect Christmas setting.

Find all the details here. 

For that lovely Christmassy smell: Olivia Jade Candle Company 

For a wonderful festive scent in your home, try the orange, cinnamon and cranberry candle from Olivia Jade Candle Company.

The fruity, floral combination gets more pronounced as the candle starts to burn, with great depth and roundness.

All Olivia Jade candles are handmade, vegan friendly, and cruelty free.

Order your candle here. 

For cooking your Christmas dinner: Cooking Fantastic 

Tucked away in Killinghall, Cooking Fantastic is a true hidden gem. With an extensive array of baking and cooking tools and essentials, you’ll find everything you need to cook up a brilliant Christmas dinner.

Don’t miss Christmas items from Yorkshire suppliers like the fabulous red table runner (pictured above with the roasting tins), or stocking fillers like the ‘knob grabbers’… for lifting the lid off a casserole dish!

Discover more here. 

Just so you know, all of the local businesses featured here were selected on their own merit, but some have paid to be featured in this article. 

Under pressure Harrogate hospital apologises for delays

Harrogate District Hospital has apologised for delays faced by patients and outlined the pressures staff are facing at the start of a busy winter period.

The plea for understanding came after a difficult weekend, which culminated in the hospital urging those with less severe illness or injury to go to Ripon Community Hospital.

A combination of coronavirus patients needing care for longer and issues discharging patients means the hospital has the highest number of longer stay patients so far this year.

Some patients have not been discharged because home care services are not available.

It means longer waiting times across wards, community services and in the emergency department.

The hospital hopes that the completion of an upgrade to its elderly care ward next week will increase winter bed capacity and reduce pressures.

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Dr Matt Shepherd, deputy chief operating officer and consultant in emergency medicine at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said:

“Recently we have been experiencing a very busy period at Harrogate District Hospital, across our wards, community services and in the emergency department. This has meant people with less urgent issues are experiencing longer waiting times.

“It has also been more difficult recently to discharge some of our patients who no longer require hospital care, as there is less availability of home care to support people safely in their own homes.

“Difficulties in discharging patients combined with the extended stay required for patients with covid has meant the hospital currently has its highest number of longer stay patients so far this year. This has led to a reduction in the number of empty beds available for new admissions.

“We know our colleagues in social care and our team at HDFT are working incredibly hard to reduce these pressures. We are working closely with our partners in social care, both locally and across North Yorkshire, to ensure patients are able to be discharged as soon as they are well enough to no longer require hospital care. Upgrades to our elderly care ward will also be completed next week, which will increase winter bed capacity.

“We would like to apologise to those patients who might have to wait longer than usual when they visit the hospital to access our services. Unless it’s a life-threatening or severe illness or injury, we would ask them to contact NHS 111 first. The NHS will help you right away and if you need urgent care, the NHS can book you in to be seen quickly and safely.

“People with life-threatening illnesses or injuries should continue to dial 999 and anyone who arrives at A&E without calling NHS 111 will still receive medical care, with those needing emergency treatment prioritised.”

Council accused of ‘trophy investment’ for £9m purchase of Harrogate’s Royal Baths

North Yorkshire County Council has been accused of making a “trophy investment” by buying Harrogate’s Royal Baths for £9m, as part of a bid to raise money for frontline services.

The council set up the Brierley Group of firms, ranging from house builders to lawyers, in 2017 to bring together council-owned companies and save money. However, last year it reported a loss of £639,000.

With further losses forecast for the current financial year, some members of the authority have questioned whether the council has the necessary business acumen to run the array of firms.

A meeting of the Tory-led authority’s corporate and partnerships scrutiny committee heard the pandemic was continuing to significantly affect some arms of the Brierley Group.

Officers have estimated revenue returns for its property investment this financial year of £282,000, which equates to a return of 2.38 per cent.

The meeting heard the Royal Baths property comprises four commercial units, including a nightclub, bar and restaurant that had all closed for extended periods over the last two years, but also that “the longer term viability of some tenants is a concern”.

Officers said covid and the resulting lockdowns could not have been foreseen and officers were working closely with tenants to achieve a return to pre-covid performance as soon as possible.

‘Absolutely speechless’

After learning of the rate of return, Conservative member for Escrick, Councillor Richard Musgrave, told the meeting he was “staggered” to learn the council had invested £9m in the Royal Baths:

“I thought you might say a million for example for four units. I am absolutely speechless.”

“The performance looks very very poor. Several of the tenants are struggling by the looks of things. It looks like a poor investment, it looks like a trophy investment.”

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The meeting heard the council had carried out thorough checks before accepting tenants.

Councillor Gareth Dadd, the authority’s deputy leader who also chairs the council’s Commercial Investment Board, said the Harrogate Baths investment had been approved by the council’s executive.

He said businesses sometimes had to take non-payment of rent “on the chin”:

“It’s about the percentage rate of return of investment that we would expect and at the time it looked good. Even with covid, which has clobbered the market, we are still the right side of the line in terms of leaving the money in the bank. Overall, yes it hasn’t performed as well as anybody would have hoped, but we are still making a margin on it.”

The meeting heard a proposal, first revealed three years ago, for the council to set up a solar farm to generate more funding had been shelved after the set-up costs and time for a return on the investment were found to be prohibitive.

Today only: Harrogate vaccine centre offers walk-in boosters

Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground is to accept walk-ins this afternoon to help with the roll-out of the covid booster programme.

Those eligible for a booster can just turn-up between 1.30pm and 4pm at the showground. Currently, there are no other walk-in sessions scheduled for the site, which re-opened this week.

To qualify, people need to be aged 40 and above. At least six months must have passed since their second dose and they must have no coronavirus symptoms.

The showground was due to close on December 22 but it now looks set to continue until March, although this has yet to be confirmed.

Non walk-in appointments can be booked on the NHS booking site here.

Hospital issues urgent appeal for crutches and walking sticks

Harrogate District Hospital has issued an urgent appeal for patients to return crutches and walking sticks.

Pamela Bagot, principal physiotherapist at the hospital, contacted the Stray Ferret to say the therapy services department wanted to offer them to patients who had undergone surgery or been involved in an accident.

“If you have any crutches and walking sticks you no longer use sitting around at home, please drop them off at therapy services at Harrogate District Hospital so we can reuse them and help our patients back up and walking as soon as possible.

“As most people know, there are problems with transporting goods and deliveries around the country, and by individuals returning these items we will ensure that we have enough patient equipment during the winter months.”

Anyone able to help should ask at hospital reception for therapy services.

hospital crutches appeal

 

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Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning it’s Connor here this morning to keep you updated with the latest traffic and travel news from across the Harrogate district.

If there’s anything I’ve missed, and only if it is safe to do so, give me a call on 01423 276197.

These blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is all from me this morning. Al will be with you tomorrow morning from 6.30am. I am heading over to the news desk now.

Roads

The roads are busy this morning, see below for hotspots. People in the Harrogate have been warned not to travel during the expected high winds and icy conditions during Storm Barra today.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to become busy this morning, see below for hotspots. People in the Harrogate have been warned not to travel during the expected high winds and icy conditions during Storm Barra today.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to become busy this morning, particularly around Wetherby Road. People in the Harrogate have been warned not to travel during the expected high winds and icy conditions during Storm Barra today.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

Harrogate engineer spends year crafting incredible Christmas light and music show

A Harrogate computer engineer has spent the last year crafting an incredible Christmas display unlike any other in the district for charity.

Dale Hughes, who lives on Norwich Drive in the Jennyfields area of town, is hoping to raise spirits and £1,000 for Martin House Hospice.

Instead of heading to the supermarket to grab the usual fairy lights, he has painstakingly installed and individually programmed 24,000 low-energy LEDs.

From 5pm until 7.30pm his house will light up and will play a loop of around 20 songs over an hour.

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Mr Hughes has earned a reputation over the years with his displays, particularly at Halloween. This is his biggest job yet but he hopes to add to it further in time for Christmas 2022.

Donate to the Martin House Hospice fundraiser by clicking or tapping here. Visitors will also notice posters with QR codes for donations on the trees close to the display.

Mr Hughes told the Stray Ferret:

“We have a great community here around the Jennyfields area. We love putting on these shows so people can come here and have some fun.

“People have had a tough time over the last two years so hopefully this can put a smile on some faces.

“I love for my kids to come and enjoy. It’s great for the kids who live around here too. Sometimes we will come outside and have hot chocolate and minced pies for the show.”

Increased Harrogate district police patrols to get people home safe

Police in the Harrogate district have increased patrols to help people get home safe over the festive period.

North Yorkshire Police has partnered with Harrogate Borough Council as part of an annual Get Home Safely from bars, nightclubs and restaurants campaign.

The key message of the campaign is for people to plan their journeys home in advance, look-out for one another, and look after their drinks and possessions.

Statistics show that domestic abuse incidents increase during bank holiday periods, and the campaign also aims to highlight emotional and practical support available through the charity IDAS.

Revellers will notice posters and digital boards with advice across the district. They will also notice more police on the streets.

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Cllr Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said:

“The festive period is often a time when people catch-up with friends and enjoy themselves in pubs and restaurants, and we want them to be able to do so safely.

“For many, this will be the first festive period since before the pandemic, that they have celebrated the festivities and we want them to remember it for all the right reasons by staying safe, and following the latest vovid guidance and advice.”

Chief Inspector Andy Colbourne, from North Yorkshire Police, said:

“The police and council continue to work in partnership to make the Harrogate district a safe place for all to enjoy the Christmas and New Year festivities.

“The support of licensed premises in the Get Home Safely annual campaign is particularly prevalent this year and we hope that everyone enjoys a safe night out.”

Lauren Doherty, from Road Safety Talks was left paralysed during a night out with friends. She said:

“A moment of distraction during a night out can change your life forever. Have fun, enjoy yourselves and get home safely.”

Fund set up in memory of Harrogate musician Aaron Bertenshaw

The mother of Harrogate singer-songwriter Aaron Bertenshaw, who died suddenly aged 26 last week, has set up a fundraising page to help people with diabetes overcome mental health problems.

Aaron, a former pupil at St Aidan’s Church of England High School, was a popular and well known figure on the Harrogate district music scene. He was a regular at the Blues Bar, where he first performed and at many other venues, such as Hales Bar.

Sammy Oates, his mother, told the Stray Ferret she was in “complete shock” at the loss of her son “who had the most infectious smile”.

Sammy said she believed Aaron went into a diabetic coma but a post mortem would be held to ascertain Thursday’s cause of death.

She added he had struggled massively to cope with being diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic at the age of 18 and had recently been treated for ketoacidosis, which affects people whose bodies don’t produce enough insulin.

“Aaron touched a lot of lives. He was only 26 but packed a lot in. He also worked as a barber and played rugby for Otley when he was young.

“He was such a bright shining star and an absolute social butterfly. Everyone knew him and he never had a bad word to say about anybody.

“What I remember most is his smile. He had the most infectious smile. There was always a twinkle in the eyes.

“He had a heart of gold. We lost the family dog as well last week and we were all devastated about that.”

A gofundme page set up by Sammy has already raised over £3,000. Donations can be made here.

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She said the money would be used to provide mental health support to people with diabetes. Mental health and diabetes are usually treated separately and there was a need to provide a service that addressed the two issues together, said Sammy.

“Aaron hated being diabetic. He couldn’t handle it and he didn’t take his insulin.

“Because he was a musician he was in the party scene a lot. So at 18 when all his friends were out partying he was at home injecting himself.

“It’s a bit of a vicious circle. Diabetes is massively life changing so he’d get down about it and then not want to deal with it.”

Memorial show

Sammy said a memorial service would be held at St John’s Church in Bilton where he and his family were christened. She also plans to stage a memorial show next year.

Aaron, who was due to perform in Wakefield this weekend, started gigging at 15 and shortly afterwards released an EP record. His mum was a singer and he regularly watched bands with his dad, Sam Bertenshaw.

He played the guitar and his vast musical influences included Ed Sheeran and Leonard Cohen. Besides playing in venues, he busked for cancer charities when the disease claimed the life of his uncle at the age of 42. Sammy said:

“If we can just help one person it will all be worthwhile. Perhaps we could find a counsellor who could advise on living with diabetes rather than just the medical side of things. Maybe set up a charity. I just know I need to do something and I need to do it in his name and now while everyone is aware.”

Aaron leaves Sammy and her partner, Jonathan, dad Sam and his partner Fiona and a sister, Ruth.

Sammy described the Blues Bar as “a huge part of Aaron’s life “.

Simon and Sharon Colgan, the owners of the Blues Bar, paid a joint tribute to Aaron. They said:

“Aaron sang in the Blues Bar from the beginning of his career. He inspired other young musicians and was never demanding of attention

“He was a warm, intelligent and gifted young man who was giving and thoughtful towards others

“He is a part of our blues family, known and loved by everyone We will always have fond memories of Aaron. It is such a tragic loss to us all.”