New Conservative Wathvale councillor puts young people at top of agenda

Amid the frenzy of Friday’s election results for the new North Yorkshire Council, a new Harrogate borough councillor was voted in.

Conservative Sam Green was elected to represent the Wathvale ward for the final year of Harrogate Borough Council before the authority is abolished in April 2023.

He beat his closest rival Liberal Democrat Chris Knight by 365 votes, while the Green Party’s Hannah Corlett came in third place.

Speaking after his by-election win, Cllr Green, who is 26-years-old and a former Harrogate Grammar School student, pledged to put young people at the top of his agenda.

He said:

“This is my first time standing for election, so I’m of course delighted to have been elected to represent the people of Wathvale.

“I’ll strive unceasingly to try to fulfil the trust and confidence that the people of Wathvale have placed in me and the things in which I believe.

“It is my ambition to encourage greater engagement by younger voters and to try and address the fundamental issues affecting our future generations, including a need for more genuinely affordable homes.”

The by-election was held following the resignation of Conservative councillor Bernard Bateman who held the Wathvale seat since 2016.

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Cllr Green, who owns a financial and real estate company in the town, is now the youngest of the borough council’s 39 members.

He added: 

“I know first hand from my peers that many young people simply cannot afford to remain in the rural villages and locations in which they have grown up in, in many instances due to the cost of housing or lack of suitable supply.

“This is a critical issue not only for these people and their families, but also for the future of the settlements themselves.

“Without fresh blood and ideas, villages and settlements slowly become less and less sustainable, with the resulting loss of services and facilities.

“Moreover, if our young people are then forced to move out of the borough to meet their housing needs in lower value areas, this creates a needless brain drain and will have several knock on effects across the borough.

“The answer is not simple, but this is something I feel very passionately has to be looked at properly and every viable avenue explored to try and address the issue.”

The turnout for the by-election vote was 38%.

Meanwhile, Conservative Nick Brown was voted in to represent the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division on the new North Yorkshire Council in last Thursday’s local elections.

His victory was one of a few reasons to celebrate for the Tories, which loosened their grip on Harrogate by winning nine seats on the new unitary authority compared to 10 for the Liberal Democrats.

One Green Party candidate and one Independent were also elected in the district.

Tories appoint leader for new North Yorkshire Council

Former service station owner and ex-butcher Carl Les has been selected to lead the new Conservative-run North Yorkshire Council.

The Catterick councillor faced no opposition from the 46 other Tory councillors at the North Yorkshire County Council Conservative group’s annual meeting at Northallerton Methodist Church Hall yesterday.

Cllr Les, 72, is the current leader of North Yorkshire County Council, which is being abolished along with the seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, next year.

It means he will solidify his position as the most powerful politician in the Harrogate district and the rest of North Yorkshire.

Cllr Les’ name will be put forward as leader of the authority at the first meeting of its 90 elected members on Wednesday next week.

If, as expected, he is elected he will then go on to select councillors to serve on the authority’s decision-making executive.

It is not known whether any from Harrogate will hold senior posts. Harrogate-based Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access at the county council, did not seek re-election at last week’s election.

Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper also did not seek re-election and his deputy, Graham Swift, lost the vote in his division.

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Cllr Les has been at the helm of the county council since 2015, having sold his business Leeming Bar Services, near Bedale, to Moto the year before.

He has also played a leading role in a spectrum of influential bodies including North Yorkshire Youth, Welcome to Yorkshire, the Local Enterprise Partnership, Citizens Advice and the Police and Crime Panel.

Thirsk’s Gareth Dadd to be deputy leader 

After a challenge from a Conservative member who has not been named, the Tory group meeting saw Thirsk councillor Gareth Dadd elected as its deputy leader, a role which he has also held for seven years.

Gareth Dadd

Following the meeting, senior Tories said they hoped the decisions would end the district and borough councillor versus county councillor rivalries that have existed for decades within Conservative ranks in North Yorkshire.

Political commentators have described the pair as “pragmatic One Nation Conservatives who above all prioritise vulnerable people who are unable to help themselves”.

They have stated the top of their agenda is to ensure a smooth transition to the new unitary authority next May, squeezing out savings from the reorganisation and to get devolution.

The meeting also saw councillors Tom Jones, of Bedale, Tim Grogan, of Monk Fryston and South Milford, and Esk Valley member Clive Pearson appointed to serve as whips, acting as the leadership’s “eyes and ears” in the Tory group, which has seen its majority shrink by about 20 per cent.

When asked if the group’s whips would be busier due to the decreased majority, Cllr Les said:

“They will have work to do to make sure people are getting to meetings or whatever.

“Not only do we have a majority over all the other parties, albeit a slim one of only two, but not everybody who is not a Conservative is against the Conservative proposals. As I did for the previous five years I will be reaching out to other members and groups to work on a common agenda as we are all there to serve the people of North Yorkshire.”

Harrogate Olympic hero brings bobsleigh into his ex-school

Harrogate Olympian Axel Brown has treated children at his former prep school to a special show and tell.

Axel Brown attended Brackenfield School between 1995-2003 and returned recently to talk about competing in the two-man bobsleigh at this year’s winter Olympics in Beijing, representing Trinidad and Tobago, the country of his mother’s birth.

Children had the chance to sit in Mr Brown’s bobsleigh and ask questions about his rise to Olympic fame.

Axel Brown bobsleigh at Brackenfield

Children try out the bobsleigh.

When he competed in Beijing, the school took time out of the day to watch on the big screen and cheer him on.
Mr Brown, who had seen a video of the children watching him, said:

“Seeing the kids cheering me on and chanting my name still gives me goosebumps. Seeing that was genuinely one of the most fulfilling moments of the whole experience. It’s those moments that make it all worth it.”

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Joe Masterson, headteacher at Brackenfield, said:

“Representing Trinidad and Tobago on the international stage is a huge accolade not only for Axel, but for us too – we couldn’t be more proud of the heights Axel has reached so far and we’re certain there is more to come from our super-fast and super-agile ex-pupil!”

Mr Brown, who also attended Harrogate Grammar School, played American football for Division 1 NCAA team the Colorado State Rams before taking up bobsleigh in 2014.

He said:

“I have always preferred sports with short fast efforts like sprinting, which is why I played American football in place of rugby. I also like the idea of taking one aspect of a skill and trying to do it really well, so bobsleigh has allowed me to focus and really find a niche.”

Founded in 1977, Brackenfield, is an independent school for boys and girls aged two to 11.

New chamber president ready to reinvigorate Harrogate business scene

The new president of a business organisation celebrating its 125th anniversary said she hopes her term will be an opportunity for progress.  

Sue Kramer is set to begin her two-year term at the helm of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce at its AGM tonight. 

It will also mark the milestone anniversary with a celebration at Roosters taproom on Hornbeam Park, which Mrs Kramer said will be an opportunity to celebrate its long history. 

Once the celebrations are over, Mrs Kramer is clear that her focus will be on the future. Her priorities include making more use of technology to keep businesses engaged and to canvas their views so they can be represented to local authorities. 

“I’m looking forward to helping with working smart and being aware of moving with the times and keeping our finger on the pulse for everything. 

“One thing I’m really aware of is that we have to bring about more sustainability. I want to embed sustainability into the chamber and its members. If we could all just do a little bit, it would help.” 

Change can often be controversial in Harrogate – something Mrs Kramer, who runs a jewellery shop in the town centre with husband Stephen, knows only too well. 

Proposals to reduce car use and encourage walking and cycling through changes in road layout, such as the £10.9m Station Gateway scheme, have drawn extensive criticism from retailers over recent months.

Plans to revamp Station Parade and James Street have proved controversial

Mrs Kramer said it was tricky to strike a balance between the importance of having more environmentally friendly measures and the need to support struggling town centre businesses. However, she said, there was nothing wrong with sharing views and debating the merits of proposals in order to ensure the right solution was reached. 

“I think when these things occur, they have got to be looked at calmly and rationally and then come up with valid points for and against.

“It’s not one-size-fits-all. They are all very important and have to be viewed on their own merits. 

“I don’t see the point of antagonising people. We have all got one common goal for the benefit of Harrogate.

“We should all work together. We may not always agree, but we can put that across diplomatically.” 

For Mrs Kramer, working for the benefit of Harrogate comes naturally. She moved here as a child and attended local schools, as have her two children, now in their 20s. 

Her early career was in recruitment and she ran an agency, with large national firms among its clients. Now, having run Crown Jewellers with her husband for more than two decades, she feels she can bring the perspectives of different businesses to her term as chamber president, with support from an active management committee representing a wide range of sectors.

David Simister, who has been named as the new chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce.Outgoing president Martin Gerrard, right, with chamber chief executive David Simister.

She is naturally a ‘do-er’: over the last few years, she has brought the shops on Commercial Street together to raise the area’s profile. She has persuaded the BID and Harrogate Borough Council to invest in improving the street too. 

As the structure of local government changes over the coming year, Mrs Kramer says she will use her contacts and skills to ensure local businesses continue to have their voices heard.

“We will be building very strong relationships with North Yorkshire Council. Harrogate is going to need to step up and be very visible.

“We won’t be overlooked, but we have got to make sure we have got a strong voice.” 

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Unlike pure networking groups, the chamber often has the ear of decision-makers – its upcoming programme includes a visit from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, and senior councillors and officers regularly share their plans with members at the monthly meetings. 

As the difficulties of covid are gradually left behind, Mrs Kramer said there is a huge opportunity ahead for the 125-year-old chamber to evolve. 

“It’s like spring: everything is shooting up and growing and coming back to life. It’s really exciting. Getting the members back to meetings is brilliant. We’ve got a good programme of meetings, relevant, informative and fun – we’re really moving forward. 

“It’s a bit daunting [becoming president], but I’m really looking forward to it. Now we’re out of covid, there’s real scope to go a little bit further.” 

Stray Views: Turnout for this week’s local election ‘disgusting’

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.

Why didn’t many residents in the district vote?

Where is the curious journalism that wants to know why nearly 70% of eligible residents in the Harrogate district could not raise themselves from their sofa to vote? Why are these people so disenfranchised that they can’t be bothered to put an X on a piece of paper and have an influence on the direction of their own lives? Why is it that I haven’t seen a candidate or an activist canvasing in my area since the EU referendum in 2016?

Did people really vote in numbers for the Liberal Democrats because of a strong ideological belief, was it because they had an inspiring manifesto at a local and national level or was it simply a protest vote from an electorate that will never vote Labour? The truth is no one knows because no one bothers to ask us!

Nobody won today, the political class has been an embarrassment for some time and continues hell bent on its race to the bottom in terms of performance, conduct and perception. Beyond this our town lost its council today and probably its unique identity as a result. The Tories will celebrate their success in taking control of the unitary council and will conveniently forget that an overwhelming majority didn’t actually vote for them at all. For that, us the electorate should be ashamed of our apathy, the low turnout was disgusting.

David, Killinghall Moor

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The wrong platform

Is it not possible for the London train to depart and arrive into Platform 1 at the main Station Concourse. Everyday railway customers struggle with their luggage up stairs or along the platform to queue for the 2 Lifts.

This does not give a good first impression of Harrogate and does little to help the railway customers.

Surely this can be sorted quickly within the busy timetable. Let’s put the travellers first.

Paul Lawrence, Harrogate

Reader’s photo: Mandarin duck in Birstwith

Mike White, a keen amateur photographer from Birstwith, sent us this image of a Mandarin duck he photographed on the River Nidd.

The waterbird was introduced to the UK from China and escaped captivity. A shy bird, it nests in trees. Male birds have elaborate plumage.

Mr White told us he had seen three pairs of the birds on the Nidd at Birstwith this year.

Send us your photographs of the Harrogate district to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

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Hong Kong residents choosing Harrogate for a new life

It has been a volatile few years in Hong Kong with protests, the jailing of opposition politicians and the closure of media outlets.

Now according to a local estate agent, an increasing number of people from Hong Kong are moving to Harrogate as Chinese rule has led to a crackdown on freedom and democracy.

In January last year, the UK government offered a new visa to residents of its former colony. It expects that 300,000 Hong Kongers will make the move in the next five years. Around 100,000 applied for the visa in 2021 alone.

Three of them are members of a family that moved to Harrogate last year.

Candy Yip and her husband Man Wong, both 44, brought with them bubble tea and opened a cafe called Sweet Pearl House on Commercial Street in January. It also sells traditional Hong Kong egg waffles.

Ms Yip said she wanted their daughter, 16, to have more freedom and a better education than what was possible in Hong Kong.

She said she has been impressed with the town’s safe surroundings and friendly people since making the move.

“Harrogate’s environment is very lovely and I feel very safe when I live here. People are very friendly.

“When we live in Harrogate, we can feel no stress. The people here enjoy their life and I can also feel the relaxing atmosphere.”

More fresh air

Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers above 150 metres in the world with 518.

Space is at a premium and many families live in cramped apartment buildings high up in the sky.

Harrogate’s tallest building is The Exchange on Station Parade which stands at a humble 42 metres.

There is also decidedly less hustle and less bustle than the Asian metropolis, which has almost 8 million residents.

Ms Yip said the lower building density in Harrogate coupled with much more open space makes it an appealing contrast to back home in Hong Kong.

She said:

“I think Harrogate is a popular place for Hong Kongers to live in is because Harrogate has not many tall buildings. It makes people feel more comfortable because Hong Kong has too many tall buildings and here we can get more fresh air.

“Harrogate has lots of countryside and we can also see different kinds of animals such as sheep and horses. It is really beautiful.”

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Global property map

Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post published an article in March that said Hong Kongers are ‘turbocharging’ the UK’s already red-hot housing market.

David Waddington, director at Linley & Simpson, said since the start of the year the estate agent has seen an increase in people from Hong Kong looking to move to the Harrogate district.

Many Hong Kong exiles have sold their property or businesses in the city before moving to the UK, which means they can afford the district’s high house prices.

Mr Waddington said in one new development in the area as many as 15% of the properties were sold to families relocating from Hong Kong.

“Since the turn of the year we have seen people moving from Hong Kong to start a new life in the Harrogate district in ever-increasing numbers.

“In one new homes development we launched to market recently, three of the twenty properties have been sold to families relocating from Hong Kong.

“Hits on our website from Hong Kong have witnessed a notable uptick too. While Harrogate is a magnet for home buyers from a diverse number of international countries, its name and ‘brand’ is well-known to many in Hong Kong.”

An attractive destination

HK UK Support Ltd is a company that specialises in helping people from Hong Kong relocate to the UK.

Last month it published a Q&A on its YouTube channel with Sue Brandom, inward investment officer at Harrogate Borough Council.

Ms Brandom cited Betty’s, Knaresborough and the Nidderdale countryside as reasons why the district can be an attractive destination for Hong Kongers looking to make the move.

They are all points that are hard to disagree with, although new district resident Candy Yip said Harrogate would be “perfect” if it had just a few more Asian food options.

“I miss my family and friends and also the food in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has more options of food for people such as Korean food. I think if Harrogate can have more variety of food, it will be perfect.”

North Yorkshire leadership to be discussed at local Tory AGM today

North Yorkshire’s Conservative councillors will gather today for their annual general meeting with discussions on who will lead the new authority on the agenda.

After losses across the county, the Conservatives now hold 47 out of 90 seats on the new unitary authority, North Yorkshire Council.

Despite having overall control, the Conservatives have a greatly reduced majority. Whoever leads the new authority will face the challenge of dealing with a larger group of opposing parties.

Cllr Carl Les, the current leader of North Yorkshire County Council, has confirmed he intends to stand as leader once again but his position is by no means certain.

There’s also deputy leader, group secretary and whip roles to be filled.

Councillors have had to put themselves forward ahead of the meeting and it will be down to those at today’s AGM to vote them in.

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Talking about Friday’s results, Cllr Carl Les said:

“It has been a sizeable event for us in terms of seats, we’ve gone from 55 out of 72 to 47 out of 90. The council will look very different.

“Whenever you have an election, people often bring up national matters and this time there were a lot of matters on a national level such as Partygate.

“I wish people were more concerned about looking at what we do locally rather than on national issues.”

He said moving forward the main aim would be to work collaboratively with new councillors to ensure a “smooth transition” as devolution gets underway.

“We have to work together as a group, it’s vitally important. Whatever party you are there’s always difference between us but there’s an awful lot that binds us together.

One of the main things is ensuring a smooth transition from eight divisions to one. When it comes to things like bin collection local people shouldn’t feel a difference.”

 

Three men charged following Harrogate drugs bust

Three men were charged last night following a police operation targeting suspected cocaine dealers in Harrogate.

Four men were arrested on Thursday when officers seized suspected cocaine, bulking agent, cannabis, cash, mobile phones and drugs paraphernalia.

It followed an investigation by North Yorkshire Police’s organised crime unit into a gang suspected of bringing cocaine and cannabis into Harrogate and the surrounding area.

The arrested men included one aged 22, from London, one aged 34 from Portsmouth, and two aged 37 and 40 from Harrogate.

The police today said three of the four men have been charged with supplying cocaine and cannabis.

The 22-year-old was also charged with assault of a police officer and the 37-year-old was also charged with two counts of assault of a police officer.

The three men will appear at York Magistrates’ Court today.

The fourth man, aged 40,  has been released on conditional bail.

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Yesterday, Detective Inspector Fionna McEwan, of North Yorkshire Police’s organised crime unit, said:

“The latest action follows six months of painstaking information gathering behind the scenes.

“This work is not always visible but I can assure local people that we continue to work hard to disrupt organised crime and relentlessly pursue those believed to be involved.”

 

Harrogate mum’s ‘miracle baby’ born on holiday three months early

When Kim Ellis had back pain on the last day of her Lanzarote holiday, she thought she was just unwell.

She was only 26 weeks pregnant, so it didn’t even enter her head that she might actually be going into labour.

Just over 24 hours later, on October 12, 2021, her “miracle baby” Ava was born, weighing a tiny 1lb 15oz.

She said:

“You worry about miscarrying, but you never think your baby could come that early. It didn’t even enter my head.”

Baby Ava in hospital.

Last weekend the brave little girl was christened in Harrogate, surrounded by her family and friends.

More support

Now, Kim is calling for more support for mums who have had premature births.

The hairdresser, who owns Blossom Hair, based at the Wellness Rooms, on Cold Bath Place, said:

“It is actually such a big thing, but not always something that is really talked about.”

When I met Kim for a coffee, I was in awe of this incredibly resilient mum who had clearly been through so much.

After cooing over a sleeping Ava for five minutes, we started chatting and I learned that her story actually began in the January lockdown of 2021.

Dating website

Kim explained that she had met her partner Connor Stewart on dating website. After chatting, they decided to meet up for a walk in the New Year, just a day before the third national lockdown.

She said:

“We were in our own little bubble then. So we decided to carry on meeting up for walks, chatting and FaceTiming. So really we got to know each other quite well, because there was nothing else to do.

“We made all these plans to go on holiday and do all sorts of things.

“Then in May I found out I was pregnant. It was a complete and utter shock, as we had literally only been together for about three months.

“We discussed everything and said ‘let’s just do this’. As we weren’t even living together at that point, he moved in with me and we started preparing for the baby.”

Back Pain

When restrictions were eased in October last year, the couple decided to book a short break to Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands.

Kim said:

“We flew on October 6. I had been checked out and was about to go into my 25th week.

“We had a great holiday. Then on our last day, I started getting a bit of back pain.”

Kim realised she could barely walk up the steps to their room.

She said:

“The baby wasn’t due until January 16, so I was wondering how I was going to cope until then. I felt like she was so low down, she was going to drop out!”

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What she thought was back ache, actually turned out to be contractions, which started to come on thick and fast during the night.

She said:

“I could feel her moving the whole time, so I wasn’t concerned at all. I just thought it was me.

“But then it continued and there was definitely a pattern. It got to 2am, so I rang Harrogate Hospital to ask for advice. They thought it could be a urine infection.”

At around 8am, Kim noticed she had started bleeding. As the baby was still moving, she believed there was something wrong with her, so she decided to visit a medical centre near the hotel.

She said:

“Poor Connor didn’t have a clue what was going on. Covid rules were so strict over there, he was kept away from me.”

After being taken by ambulance to the main hospital on the island 40 minutes away, Kim was relieved to be met by a huge team of midwives and doctors.

4cm dilated

However, her relief was quickly replaced with shock when she was told she was 4cm dilated.

She said:

“They were really positive, as obviously I was only 26 weeks. But they weren’t sure if the baby would have any health problems. However, they said she seemed really strong.”

After being given medication to stop her contractions, Kim was taken to a bed to get some sleep.

But then her waters broke.

‘So strong’

She said:

“It was now Tuesday morning, it was 10am and I was 7cm. I stayed 7cm all day, so then they had to put me on a drip to try and induce me.

“I just got set up with gas and air when I was told I needed to push.

“They had to be careful how to deliver her as she was so small. But she was ready to arrive. She was in the right position. She was so strong, she didn’t get distressed.

“They told me not to be be alarmed if she didn’t cry as she had weaker lungs. But when she came out she was crying and looking around at everybody.”

Kim cuddles tiny baby Ava at the hospital in Lanzarote.

Ava was then taken away and put on a ventilator ready for both mum and baby to be airlifted to a larger hospital on Gran Canaria, which had more facilities.

However, the doctors discovered Kim had been bleeding, so she was whisked off to theatre.

This meant that Ava was flown to hospital without her mum.

Kim said:

“I got to see her for about 10 minutes before she got transferred to Gran Canaria, which was really hard. But I was just so relieved she was going to get the care she needed.”

Ava is airlifted to Gran Canaria.

Just under two days later, quite remarkably, Kim boarded a standard passenger flight to Gran Canaria to be reunited with Ava.

Adrenaline

She said:

“I don’t know how I did it. I just wanted to get to my baby. It was total adrenaline.

“It was so amazing to see her, but it was hard as she had lost weight. However, she was doing really well and wasn’t on a ventilator.

“Apart from two blood transfusions, she just did so well.

Kim stayed on the island by Ava’s side for six weeks.

She said:

“Connor had to go back to work at Avenue Bakery, in Bilton. He also had to move house for us. So I got out of that one!

“We had to get Ava an emergency passport. I was quite scared to fly her back to the UK. But the plane was like a private jet with an amazing team, which included a neonatal doctor, nurse and two pilots.

“I was so petrified, but it was like a military operation.”

Kim and Eva arrived at Leeds Bradford Airport on November 27, where a bed was waiting for them at St James Hospital.

Harrogate Hospital

After a nine-day stay, when Ava turned 34 weeks, they were transferred to Harrogate District Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit.

Kim, who said she was extremely thankful to all the midwives, doctors and nurses, said:

“We came out on December 21 just before Christmas, which was lovely. To be honest, I think I was still on adrenaline, as I somehow cooked a massive Christmas dinner.”

Last weekend Ava Lottie Grace was christened at Woodlands Methodist Church, on Wetherby Road, in Harrogate.

Connor, Kim and Ava at the christening in Harrogate.

Kim said:

“I’m absolutely loving motherhood and getting stuck in, despite a scary start.”

More awareness

Kim is now calling for more awareness for premature births and would eventually like to see more support and information provided to mums.

She said:

“You don’t think you are going to give birth to a premature baby, but when you do there are things you have no idea about.

“Ava has two ages, she is 6-and-a-half months old, but actually she should be three-and-a-half months. So her milestones are different.

“It’s hard, because I’m going down that route of knowing when to start the weaning process. There is information out there, but it’s still so new.

“Babies are surviving more now thanks to medical advancements, so I feel like there needs to be more out there.

“No matter how small any change in your body is, you should get it checked out. Even if it’s considered normal in pregnancy.

“I kept looking things up, so in hindsight I think I knew something wasn’t quite right. But as it was my first baby and the midwife didn’t seem concerned, I didn’t think anything of it.”

Kim and Ava.