Green Shoots: The Harrogate wind farm that powers 8,000 homes

COP26 has made it crystal clear that time is running out for the world to shift away from polluting fossil fuels and towards green energy.

Knabbs Ridge Wind Farm on the outskirts of Harrogate on Pennypot Lane. It’s the only large commercial wind farm in the district and is at the forefront of tackling climate change locally.

Its eight turbines, which have mammoth 35m long blades, power around 8,000 homes with renewable energy.

The wind farm is owned by German energy firm RWE Renewables, and the Stray Ferret spoke with its site manager, Richard Couzens, about how Knabbs Ridge works and why it is so important.

Energy generation

Knabbs Ridge is designed to operate unmanned and includes complex computer systems that ensure the turbines run as optimally as possible.

It’s maintained twice a year by engineers, which Mr Couzens described as being similar to servicing a car.

There’s a weather station on every turbine, which will move to tell the systems which direction the wind is coming from.

Each turbine can generate up to two megawatts of power, which at full capacity would mean the wind farm could power the equivalent of 32,000 homes.

There may be times when you drive past Knabbs Ridge and the turbines are not turning, even on a windy day. Critics of wind energy say they are inefficient compared to other forms of energy generation.

This year 7% of the country’s energy mix came from wind, a steep drop from 2020 when it generated 25%.

Mr Couzens said Knabbs Ridge generates around 30% of its total capacity, which he said is normal for an on-shore wind farm.

“Wind turbines don’t run at full capacity so it’s naive to think we can think it will get the full two megawatts [per turbine] 365 days a year. Realistically that’s not going to happen.

Turbines move when the wind speed is between four metres a second and 25 metres a second.

“Turbines have an operating window where they can generate power. They don’t run unnecessarily when wind speed isn’t running and they protect themselves when the wind is too strong as it can cause damage to internal components.

“There are occasions when the wind is too low, even if it feels theres a breeze, if wind speed is not up to four metres a second for 10 minutes, the turbines will remain idle until wind picks up.”

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Part of the landscape

Knabbs Ridge became operational in 2008 following a bitter battle with residents and Harrogate Borough Council who refused the plans in 2005.

The decision was overturned by the government’s planning inspector who said the wind farm’s green benefits outweighed its visual impact.

At the time, current Harrogate Borough Council leader and then cabinet member for planning Richard Cooper said the decision “flied in the face of common sense”.

But back then the energy mix was still dominated by coal and the climate crisis was not a mainstream concern. Cllr Cooper has since become one of the council’s biggest proponents of green infrastructure, highlighting how attitudes towards wind farms have changed over the last 15 years.

Knabbs Ridge from Beckwithshaw

Knabbs Ridge is now largely an accepted, and for some, admired, part of the rural landscape.

Mr Couzens said:

“I can see why some people want them out at sea, but there’s a great cost. For us a business it’s about balancing cost versus convenience on shore and making sure that balance is done sympathetically.

“Younger children come up and express their opinion on wind turbines, they are not seen as the blot on the landscape as they were seen in the early days.”

Subsidies scrapped

Since Knabbs Ridge was approved, no other large wind farm has been granted planning permission in the Harrogate district.

In 2015 an application to approve a wind farm overlooking Almscliffe Crag was refused by HBC.

Then in 2016, David Cameron’s government announced subsidies for on-shore wind farms would be scrapped, which has seen a sharp fall in new sites across the UK.

Mr Couzens hopes COP26 will help see wind power back on the agenda.

“The construction and development of [wind farms] is ongoing. It’s not ground to a halt, there’s been a reduction in the amount of windfarms, it’s potentially being driven by government incentives.

“I would like to think something meaningful will come out of COP26. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”

Anti-vaccine protest at Harrogate roundabout

About 10 people took part in a demonstration against covid vaccines at a roundabout in Harrogate today.

The group held placards alongside the Prince of Wales roundabout from about 1pm to 3pm.

It is part of a national movement called Rebels on Roundabouts, which co-ordinates similar anti-vaccine protests at roundabouts across the country.

A Rebels on Roundabouts website says it believes ‘the virus has been ruthlessly exploited by a global elite through their puppet politicians and mainstream media’ and is a ‘scapegoat for the inevitable upcoming collapse of the scam economy’.

Those taking part held up signs saying ‘how may vaccines are you going to have before you question it?’. ‘why vaccinate teens?’ and ‘this is not about a virus’.

 A participant from Harrogate, who asked not to be named, said the event was organised by people from Leeds and Otley.

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Guide to Remembrance services in the Harrogate district

Events are happening across the Harrogate district this week to mark Remembrance Day and the centenary of the Royal British Legion.

The pandemic reduced last year’s commemorations to small scale events but this year organisers are encouraging people to attend services and parades to remember those who have given their lives.

Below is a list of events. If you know of others that we have missed let us know so we can add them to this guide. Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Sunday November 14

Harrogate

Harrogate War Memorial:

A service at the war memorial will begin at 10.30am before a two-minute silence is observed. Local dignitaries, members of the armed forces and community groups will attend and lay wreaths.

Harrogate Borough Council has asked those attending to social distance and wear face masks if possible.

Stonefall Cemetery:

Harrogate Brigantes Rotary has arranged a service for 1pm. Wreaths will be laid by the Harrogate Mayor and Mayoress, Andrew Jones MP, the Army Foundation College and representatives from the Commonwealth.

St Mark’s Church, Leeds Road

Remembrance services on at 9am and 10.30am.

Killinghall:

A Remembrance Sunday service will take place at St Thomas’s Church, Killinghall at 10am. Members of the public are invited to join staff and junior soldiers from the Army Foundation College.

At approximately 10.40am the congregation we will walk to the war memorial on Ripon Road for a short Act of Remembrance service followed by refreshments at the village hall.

Starbeck:

A service will be held later in the afternoon on Sunday. A parade will start at Starbeck Methodist Church at 2.40pm to arrive at the war memorial for a service at 3pm.

Knaresborough

The Knaresborough branch of the Royal British Legion has organised a parade on Remembrance Sunday.

A church service at St John’s Church will begin at 9.30am on Sunday. Then a parade of the Knaresborough Royal British Legion standard will march up the High Street towards the castle grounds for a short service at the war memorial at 11am.

Ripon

Ripon’s Remembrance Sunday service is held at the city’s war memorial, followed by a service at the cathedral.

Those wishing to attend are asked to assemble at Spa Gardens from 10.30am. Around 300 troops are expected to attend alongside local dignitaries and the city’s branch of the Royal British Legion.

Following the service, there will be a march past and salute in front of Ripon Town Hall, with the procession leading to the cathedral, where a further service will be held.

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Masham 

In Masham, a small service will be held on the market square. People are being asked to congregate from 10.30am.

Boroughbridge 

The Boroughbridge branch of the Royal British Legion has organised a service of remembrance and wreath laying at the town’s war memorial on the Butermarket led by Rev Karen Gardiner.

People are invited to start arriving from 10.30am. There will be no parade this year.

Image Gallery: Cosplayers descend on Harrogate for Comic Con

Hundreds of comic book fans flocked to the Harrogate Convention Centre this weekend for the Thought Bubble Comic Convention.

Three exhibition halls were filled with artists, illustrators and authors who were meeting fans and selling copies of their art. It’s Harrogate’s biggest celebration of comic culture.

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The cosplay phenomenon was popularised in Japan and involves dressing up as a character from a film, book, or video game.

See our image gallery of Saturday’s cosplayers below. Many will do it all again tomorrow.

Which costume is your favourite?

 

Group marches through Harrogate demanding climate change action

A group of over 50 people marched through Harrogate town centre this morning to demand action on climate change.

The good-natured march was organised by Harrogate resident Ian Hallett who was inspired after cycling to COP26 in Glasgow and back.

There were chants and banners with messages about climate change as curious shoppers looked on.

The group included members of Extinction Rebellion Harrogate, Harrogate & District Green Party and Harrogate District Cycle Action,

Mr Hallett said:

“[After COP] it was an opportunity to invite people along for a march.”

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The march was attended by people of all ages. At the front was a colourful banner made by Anna Bryer and her children with the message “Act on the science”.

The colours represent Met Office temperatures from 1850 to the present day and show how the planet has heated.

It was made from recycled fabric, including a prom dress and an old pillow.

Ms Bryer said:

“It’s a striking dramatic and frightening image. It’s based on scientific fact, and we can’t argue with that.

“This is about our children’s future”

Harrogate’s Got Talent: Have you got what it takes to liven up the town?

Can you hang a tune, juggle a bit maybe or do a few nifty dance moves? If so, your town needs you.

Harrogate Business Improvement District, which is made up town centre businesses, is looking for new street entertainers to liven the town up and make shopping a more upbeat experience.

Matthew Chapman the Harrogate BID manager said:

“We are looking for entertainers from all genres whether it be singers, magicians, actors or dancers – anything that will add to the shopping and hospitality  experience – the quirkier the better.”

Harrogate already has regular buskers who knock out Adele or Sinatra classics outside M&S on Cambridge Street in the hope of making money.

Mr Chapman says there’s no move to stop them. The aim is to provide a more consistent offer in the town and place entertainers in different areas, possibly at the rear of Primark on Oxford Street or at the end of Cambridge Street outside HSBC.

The BID has a small budget to support the new performers.

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If you think you’ve got what it takes and want to get involved, get in touch with the BID. Mr Chapman said:

“If people have got videos or YouTube accounts then we can see them perform – or you can email us and come in for an audition. We want to create a vibrant town centre so that people can enjoy the experience as well as the retail and hospitality offerings.”

The BID is keen to trial new performers during the Xmas period and roll it out across next year.

To contact the BID email info@Harrogatebid.co.uk

Do you know that Harrogate has a long history of street entertaining and that in Victorian times it could all get a bit raucous?  Read Harrogate Historian, Malcolm Neesam’s article on the very lively scene that existed in previous centuries. 

 

 

 

 

 

Cold Bath Road police chase leads to three drug arrests

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of dealing drugs after police chased a car through the streets of Harrogate.

The arrests took place on Wednesday afternoon after a vehicle failed to stop for the police on Skipton Road, officers chased the vehicle before it crashed on Cold Bath Road with the driver making a getaway.

Passers-by directed police officers towards him and the 23-year-old man was stopped and was arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply, acquiring criminal property, dangerous driving and failing to stop.

The police searched a nearby address and found more drugs and cash. They also arrested two more male suspects, 18 and 15, who were arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply.

They have been released under investigation while police enquiries continue.

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Harrogate Army Foundation College instructor demoted for punching teenage soldiers

A British Army instructor who told junior recruits at Harrogate’s Army Foundation College “you’re mine now, bitches” has been demoted after being convicted of punching teenage soldiers.

Corporal Kimberley Hey worked as part of the directing staff at the college on Penny Pot Lane, where junior soldiers undergo training for six months, split into three terms of around six weeks.

Following a court martial, Corporal Hey was found to have hit one 16-year-old in the stomach on his first day of training and delivered a similar blow to another recruit because he had ‘smirked’ at her.

Reducing the 34-year-old in rank to Lance Corporal, Judge Advocate Alistair McGrigor told her that although the punches were at a ‘low level’ she had ‘abused’ her relationship with the recruits and her acts had the potential to ‘erode public trust’ in the armed forces’ training.

Cpl Kimberley Hey. Photo: Solent News and Photo Agency

Cpl Kimberley Hey. Photo: Solent News and Photo Agency

“You were a very experienced instructor in charge of junior soldiers.

“You had the interests of the junior soldiers at heart but this was an abuse of your relationship.

“It’s an extremely bad example to give young, impressionable soldiers at the start of their army life. Such behaviour had the potential to erode public confidence in training young soldiers.

“You have forfeited your rank by such behaviour.”

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Cpl Hey, who has served in the armed forces for 18 years, had denied the charges, insisting her actions only amounted to ‘mutual flicking’ that was part of ‘bonding’ with the soldiers.

But she was found guilty during a three-day trial at Bulford Military Court, Wilts, of two counts of battery relating to junior recruits Craftsman Joseph Wiggin and Craftsman Jonathan Bryan.

Jonathan Bryan. Photo: Solent News and Photo Agency

She was acquitted of six other charges of battery relating to three other soldiers including allegations that she had punched recruits for failing in tests.

‘You’re mine now, bitches’

One trainee told the court martial Cpl Hey, of 3rd Regiment Royal Logistics Corps, told new recruits, ‘You’re mine now, bitches’ shortly after they first arrived.

Signaller Hannah Harwood, who gave evidence via video link from the Falkland Islands, spoke of multiple incidents on ‘the company line’ — a line running down a corridor at the base along which recruits would line up. She said:

“Cpl Hey addressed the platoon at the beginning of the first term, when we first arrived.

“She said something along the lines of, ‘You’re mine now, bitches’.

“At the start of the second term Cpl Hey addressed the platoon again. She asked us, ‘Who thinks they’re hardest?’.

“Three people put their hands up and Cpl Hey punched them all in the stomach.”

Craftsman Wiggin told the court Cpl Hey had punched ‘everyone in the platoon’ on their first day in training, when he was just 16 years old.

Cfn Wiggin said:

“The platoon was called onto the line on the first day of training.

“Our section was on the line and we were all punched. There was no malice behind it – it was more of a sort of bonding thing.

“My arms were behind my back as we were all at ease. She didn’t say anything or give any reason, and I didn’t know she was going to punch me.

“I would have been 16 at the time.”

The Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

The Army Foundation College in Harrogate.

‘Strict but fair’

Craftsman Bryan told the court:

“Cpl Hey gave me a jab in the stomach on one occasion.

“The whole platoon were on the line. I was smirking at the time and she jabbed me in the stomach.

“I slightly anticipated it because she would do it as a joke with a few from her section.

“Cpl Hey was a good DS; she was strict but fair. She treated us more like friends and joked around with us.”

Handing down the sentence, Judge Advocate McGrigor said:

“You punched Private [Joseph] Wiggin on his first day as he stood in line with his whole platoon.

“Later you punched Private [Jonathan] Bryan because he smirked at you. The court rejected that this was ‘mutual flicking’ as you said.

“We do, however, accept that these punches were at the very low level.”

Harrogate cafe closes due to temporary staff shortages

A cafe in Harrogate has been forced to close its doors temporarily due a shortage of staff.

Staff at Caffé Nero, on the corner of Cambridge Street and Station Parade, posted a notice in the door this morning to explain why it would not be opening.

This closure highlights the ongoing recruitment crisis in the hospitality sector, which has forced many restaurants and cafes to reduce services.

The Stray Ferret asked the head office of Caffé Nero when the site would reopen. A spokesperson said it would be open “as soon as possible.”

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Meanwhile the notice in the door points customers to the second Caffé Nero site in town, which is a short walk away on Cambridge Crescent.

A spokesperson for Caffé Nero said:

“The store you’re referring to is only temporarily closed due to staff availability and will reopen as soon as possible.

“The larger store two minutes away at Cambridge Crescent is open as usual and trading normally.”

‘Station Gateway consultation a whitewash’, claim Harrogate petitioners

Harrogate residents described the Station Gateway consultation as a “whitewash” when they delivered a petition today.

Consultation on the revised plans for the £10.9 million scheme, which would see Station Parade reduced to single lane traffic and James Street partly pedestrianised, closes today.

Five members of Granvillle Road Area Residents Association took the petition to Harrogate Borough Council‘s Knapping Mount office at lunchtime today.

They are concerned that re-routing traffic off Cheltenham Parade and Cheltenham Mount through the nearby residential streets where they live will increase traffic and pollution and make it more difficult to park.

Dan Harper, executive officer economy and transport at Harrogate Borough Council, received the petition, which had about 140 signatures. He declined to be photographed by the Stray Ferret.

The residents expressed frustration over the consultation process, claiming it was difficult to get hold of information or people to address their concerns.

Catherine Ward-Brown, who lives on Cheltenham Mount, where traffic will be diverted if Cheltenham Mount is made one-way, said:

“They are trying to force commercial traffic on to residential streets and ignoring valid points made. They are hellbent on sticking to their views. It hasn’t been a consultation — it’s been a whitewash.”

Andrew Jones ‘not willing to engage’

Antonia Lowe questioned why Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, had not meaningfully replied to residents’ questions about the scheme.

“He was willing to engage with the process to relocate the post office but isn’t willing to engage with us.”

Rachael Inchboard said:

“He is passing the buck and refusing to engage. He has a duty to the Harrogate residents who voted him in to engage with this at the earliest opportunity. We would like to see him come to Granville Road.”

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The petitioners are considering paying to monitor air quality in their local streets as well as launching an online fundraising appeal to pay for an environmental impact assessment, which Harrogate Borough Council did not deem necessary.

The Stray Ferret has approached Mr Jones for comment.

What is the Harrogate Station Gateway?

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which encourages cycling and walking.

They are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Craven District Council and Selby District Council.

A consultation on the revised designs ends today. It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by the middle of next year.

To take part in the online consultation, click here.