A review into traffic measures on Harrogate’s Oatlands Drive is likely to include new double yellow lines, according to a senior county councillor.

North Yorkshire County Council is due to publish a new set of measures this autumn to improve walking and cycling in the Oatlands Drive area.

The Oatlands Constituency Feasibility Study is being drawn up after the council ditched proposals to introduce a one-way system on the road following complaints from residents.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret that he expected double yellow lines to be included in the feasibility study.

It follows concern that drivers have been ignoring signs erected by Harrogate Borough Council warning drivers they face a £100 fine or being towed away if they park on Stray land next to the cycle lane on Oatlands Drive.

The new signs on Oatlands Drive.

One side of Oatlands Drive has double yellow lines but the other side — where cars park — does not.

The signs only appeared last week but pictures have already emerged of cars parked right next to the signs blocking the cycle route.

Double yellows expected for Oatlands

Although Cllr Mackenzie said he could not guarantee where the proposals would suggest the double yellow lines be placed, he said they were likely to be included in a “comprehensive scheme” for the area.

He said:

“I’m pretty sure it will be included.”

Cllr Mackenzie added that the county council had outlined plans for double yellow lines in its rejected proposals for Oatlands.

Read more:

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But he added that introducing double yellow lines might just increase parking congestion on other streets.

Cllr Mackenzie said:

“We could have put in yellow lines, but we are also aware that residents on St Hilda’s Road are already suffering from long term parkings problems.

“While those people are not breaking any laws, it does make it difficult to get in and out of driveways.

“Every time we introduce them [double yellow lines], it tends to shift the problem elsewhere. If it did not have a knock on affect then we would have done it.”

Cllr Mackenzie said he expected officers to bring the review into Oatlands to him “in the next few weeks”.

A ‘more permanent solution’ needed

Following the introduction of the signs on Oatlands, a borough council spokesperson said the authority hoped people would “think twice” before parking on the street.

The spokesperson added council officials were working with the county council on a “more permanent solution” to the parking problem.

They said that parking on the Stray breached the Stray Act 1985:

“A breach of the act allows the borough council — as custodians of the Stray — to issue a £100 fine to anyone caught parking on the Stray, or to have their vehicle towed away.

“We hope that the signage will make people think twice about parking on Oatlands Drive and allow cyclists to use the cycle path as intended.”

In a letter to the Stray Ferret, Judy d’Arcy-Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, said yellow lines was the “simplest solution” to parking problems on Oatlands Drive but the county council had been “ridiculously uncooperative”.

Travellers have left Harrogate’s Ashville College following a fracas on Saturday night that left one man in hospital.

Six caravans returned to the playing fields at the fee-paying school last week a fortnight after a previous encampment, thought to be the same group of people, pitched up.

Their presence raised safeguarding concerns that could have disrupted the new school term, which is due to start this week.

But following a disturbance on Saturday night, most of the travellers have now gone — and the few remaining are expected to depart today.

A spokesman for Ashville College said:

“Of the six caravans that returned on Saturday afternoon, just one remains and they are expected to leave this afternoon.

“Their departure follows an incident on Saturday night confined to this group, which resulted in police attending the scene and one man being taken to hospital. There has been a police presence since the incident occurred.

“We would like to emphasise that no member of the school community was involved in any way, and parents and staff have been fully appraised of the situation.”

School reviewing security

The school is now looking at ways to prevent travellers returning a third time. The spokesman said:

“A full review of the site security was already underway, and this process will now be expedited.”

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the incident was believed to be an altercation between two men at the location.

The spokesman added:

“Both were arrested and bailed pending further enquiries.

“We will be reviewing this tomorrow with the local Neighbourhood Policing Team.”

No staff, students or anyone else connected with the college is believed to have been involved.

Read more:

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Harrogate drivers can expect delays on some of the town’s busiest roads in the weeks ahead.

Gas works on Ripon Road and internet line fitting on Leeds Road beginning this week are set to cause headaches for motorists in the town.

There are also ongoing construction works on Skipton Road, close to the Ripon Road junction, which could cause further problems in the north of the town.

With schools set to return tomorrow, expect delays on these routes.

Leeds Road: September 6-13

Credit: Google Maps

Temporary lights have been causing significant tailbacks today on Leeds Road, around Firs Crescent, in Rossett Green.

The two-way traffic control signals are in place while CityFibre carries out work.

As part of an agreement with North Yorkshire County Council, the works are due to be finished by 3:30pm each day.

Read More: 

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Ripon Road: from September 8 for approximately four weeks

Credit: Google Maps

From Wednesday this week, Northern Gas Networks has said it is carrying out “essential work to upgrade the gas network” on Ripon Road.

Throughout the planned four-week project, temporary traffic lights will be in place opposite the Co-op filling station.

Scott Kitchingman, business operations manager for Northern Gas Networks, said:

“We would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused during these essential works. However, it is vital we complete them in order to continue to maintain a safe and reliable gas supply to the residents of Harrogate.”

Skipton Road near the roundabout with Ripon Road: until June 2022

Credit: Google Maps

Works are also ongoing on Skipton Road, near the roundabout with Ripon Road.

North Yorkshire County Council is carrying out full construction work, including bridge dismantling and waterworks, as part of a project to replace the Oakbeck road bridge and footbridge with a new culvert.

Multi-way signals are due to be in place, which may cause further delays nearby to the Ripon Road gas works.

A former Harrogate vicar has been jailed for sexually abusing a three-year-old girl.

Gordon Newton, 40, of Cross Church Street, Huddersfield, was team vicar at St Wilfrid’s Church before he moved to be vicar at Staincliffe and Carlinghow, Batley, in 2016.

According to an annual report published by the church, which is on Duchy Road, Newton joined as assistant curate in May 2012 before being licensed as team vicar in April 2013.

He was also member of the management team at the Jennyfield Styan Community Centre and a chaplain with the Harrogate and District Sea Cadets.

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Newton pleaded guilty to 12 charges at Leeds Crown Court on Friday (September 3).

Six of the charges were for sexual assault on a child aged under 13, three were for engaging in sexual activity with a child aged under 13 and three were for making indecent photos of a child.

He was jailed for nine years and seven months.

The Stray Ferret contacted St Wilfrid’s Church for comment, but did not receive a response by time of publication.

Two colleagues who started working at Asda Harrogate at the same time 33 years ago have shared a retirement party between their favourite tills.

Sheila Fitzsimmons and Jean Lofthouse always served next to each other on checkouts five and six.

Their Asda colleagues decorated the tills with balloons and bunting for the celebration marking their departures.

Debs Harpin, customer trading manager at Asda Harrogate, said:

“Sheila and Jean were so popular with colleagues and customers, and had a lot of regulars who they had a good rapport with. They were always so friendly and happy and never had the Monday morning blues!”

Customers who had got to know Ms Fitzsimmons and Ms Lofthouse over the years brought in gifts and colleagues came in on their day off to wish the pair good luck.

Neil Barker, a service host at Harrogate Asda who worked with the pair for about five years, said:

“I’d really like to wish them good luck and thank them for everything they’ve done for us. It was really nice to give them a proper send off, they’ve been here a long time so it was great to make them feel appreciated.”

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Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, historian Dr Kate Vigurs and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, are to visit Harrogate for one of the north of England’s leading literary festivals.

They are due to appear at Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival live event, which is being held at Harrogate’s Crown Hotel from October 21 until October 24.

The line-up also includes BBC Newsnight presenter Gavin Esler, Costa Book of the Year winner Monique Roffey and Channel 5’s ‘Dogfather’ Graeme Hall.

The festival will begin with a literary lunch featuring BBC correspondent and BAFTA award-winning journalist, Paul Kenyon.

Mr Miliband, the MP for Doncaster North, will be following in the steps of his political adversary, former Prime Minister David Cameron, who headlined the festival in 2019, when he appears at the opening night.

Other writers appearing over the four days include Dr Waheed Arian, Robin Ince, Led By Donkeys founders James Sadri and Oliver Knowles, Dr Kate Vigurs, Dr Alastair Santhouse, Amy Jeffs and Melanie King

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Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, which organises the event, said:

“This festival has become one the country’s most important literary events, which gives an array of writers – which this year features leading politicians, academics, journalists, historians and activists, the chance to share their stories.

“The programme we have curated for this long weekend, set in the wonderful setting of The Crown Hotel, has been designed to entertain, inspire and surprise.”

Zoe Robinson, Raworths managing partner, said:

“Over the years, well-known figures from the world of politics, sport, acting and writing have graced the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival stage, and this year is no exception.”

Further information about the event will be published on Harrogate International Festivals’ website here.

Jespers of Harrogate reopened this morning following a shop refurbishment.

The pen and stationery store celebrated its 120th anniversary this year. The front of the shop has been remodelled, with the famous pen range relocated to the back of the store.

Shop manager Lynn Cummings said she was “amazed” by the transformation:

“We’re 120 years old this year, so we thought it was time to give the store a makeover and update what we have here. It has completely transformed the front of the shop.”

The luxury pen range has been given a new home at the back of the shop

The refurbishment of the Oxford Street shop comes two years after the business was taken on by new owners. The Jesper family retired and sold the company in 2019.

Ms Cummings added:

“Our new directors are very keen to keep the ethos that the Jesper family started and created, but also build on that with new products and lines.

“We’ve still got the lines we had, including an extensive range of writing implements from Montegrappa, Waterman, Parker, every brand that you can think of.

“We’ve also developed a whole new area to promote our personal care products. We deal with the likes of Bentley Organics, Watkins soap, Floris, and Edwin Jagger.”

In addition to stationery and personal care products, Jespers also has an art department and a variety of children’s creativity kits and jigsaws.

The personal care range.

When the store closed on June 25, the refurbishment was planned to take three weeks. That time was extended as it became clear more work was needed. But Ms Cummings is excited to be back open to the public.

“As these things go, older buildings spring up surprises and we were closed a bit longer than we wanted.

“We’re very much looking forward to reopening here at Jespers, and seeing our loyal customers and inviting new customers into the store.”

Harrogate Male Voice Choir will resume face-to-face practice tomorrow night for the first time since March last year.

The choir began in October 1969 but members were forced to practice over Zoom during the pandemic.

It will meet at 7.30pm every Tuesday at Woodlands Methodist Church in Harrogate.

Lawrie Coulthard, who has sung in the choir for several years, said Zoom hadn’t been the same.

“You can’t sing all at once. It’s not conducive to group singing”

The choir, which had about 50 regulars pre-pandemic, will welcome a new musical director, Richard Kay.

Covid precautions include ensuring all singers are doubled jabbed.

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Mr Coulthard said he’s looking forward to meeting his friends face-to-face after a long absence. He said the first hymn sung is likely to be Softly and Tenderly.

He added:

“We’re absolutely excited. We’re all going to be a bit rusty but it will be fantastic.

“It’s not just singing, it’s a social event too. It’s a fellowship.”

If you are interested in joining the choir, contact Lawrie Coulthard on 07905515492 or lawriecoulthard@hotmail.co.uk

One of the Harrogate district’s finest churches is to open to visitors and local residents this week after undergoing a £500,000 restoration.

St Wilfrid’s, on Coltsgate Hill in Ripon, will open from 10.30am to 4pm on Friday for the first in a series of four Heritage Open Days,.

The national programme sees historic places invite people to visit free of charge. The church, which opened in April 1863, is one of this year’s main attractions as it is considered to be one of England’s finest Catholic places of worship.

The grade II* listed building was designed in French Gothic style by the prolific York architect Joseph Hansom, inventor of the Hansom cab.

Features include stained and coloured glass, an imposing altar screen or reredos designed by Edward Pugin depicting scenes from the life of St Wilfrid and other fine statuary, carvings and artwork.

Windows in the tower were replaced as part of the refurbishment.

These include ornate medallions of saints above the nave arches by Salviati of Venice, and the side altar of Our Lady of Fountains, brought  from the private chapel of the Marquess of Ripon  at Studley Royal after his death.

The marquess converted to Catholicism in 1874 – six years before becoming viceroy and governor general of India.

Born at 10 Downing Street, when his father Viscount Goderich was briefly Prime Minister, he was a towering parliamentary figure in Victorian Britain and a major donor to St Wilfrid’s and to Ripon, where he was elected as the city’s mayor in 1897.

An addition to the 158-year history of St Wilfrid’s is a dramatic holograph-style set of stations of the cross, commissioned by a benefactor to the restoration appeal.

Many local people and organisations donated to the fundraising programme headed by parishioner Barrie Price.

This, combined with a Heritage Fund lottery grant, provided the money needed for the restoration and will fund further improvements, among them better access to the church.

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In addition to Friday’s open day, three more open days will be held on Saturday and Sunday and on Thursday next week.

Entry is via the front door steps or ramp on Coltsgate Hill and parking spaces are available in the church car park, accessed via Trinity Lane.

A social running group is returning to Harrogate after being suspended during the pandemic.

The group, run by local store Up and Running, was started in 2014 to offer local people the chance to run with a large group. However it had to stop in March 2020.

Staff at the shop are pleased to be able to restart the group and have already had 30 runners sign up.

The run follows a number of 5km routes across Harrogate starting at the store on Station Parade.

Store manager, Becky Townsend, said:

“We have a few members of staff and eight store ambassadors running alongside participants. It was set up so the store could be more inclusive locally and to have fun runs.”

Ms Townsend emphasised people with all running abilities can join in. She added the group stops at each crossing to make sure everyone stays together.

In previous years, the runs welcomed up to 70 runners.

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Those wanting to join in must visit the store to register before the first run on September 20.

The runs will then be held every Monday at 6.15pm.