Harrogate district’s wild grass verges continue to divide opinion

The Harrogate district’s wild new look this summer continues to divide opinion, as swathes of land are left to grow several feet high. Now that some areas have been cut the contrast is really starting to show.

Harrogate Borough Council‘s bid to encourage rewilding has won plaudits but there is also concern about the state of some verges that have grown up to three feet tall in buttercups and wildflowers — sometimes hampering visibility at junctions.

A recent Stray Ferret post on Facebook about whether the grass should be cut attracted more than 300 comments.

Some praised the council for biodiversity but others raised concerns about aesthetics and safety.

Here is a selection of the hundreds of comments, in no particular order.

Maurizio Hales said:

“I really like it. Natural looking, good for wildlife.

“Don’t think of us all the time. Think of the wildlife that lives around us as well.”

But Lynne Oliver-walsh was less enthusiastic. She said:

“It’s a mess! Not safe for children to play in as it’s full of dog mess that to be fair to the owners it is difficult to clean up when the grass is so long.

“We pay a lot of council tax and it should be kept neat and tidy in residential areas so children are safe to play on it.”

Ben Askew, however, said:

“I love that the verges are being left to grow. Good for a bit of biodiversity and interesting to see what is coming up naturally.”

Abi Fulford raised the issue of road safety. She said:

“I’m not against it but do find pulling out at certain junctions very difficult! Some have been cut back slightly but not enough.”

Paul Mayfield gave a thumbs down:

“Absolutely scruffy scruffy scruffy. There’s plenty of greenery around without turning the Stray into a hay meadow.

“Perhaps the council support it because it reduces maintenance costs.”

Karl Richardson objected not only on the grounds of how it looks but also on the impact it has on dog owners.

“Certain areas look fine but the whole lot just looks scruffy.

“Plus as a responsible dog owner trying to pick up your dogs crap when you eventually find it is a task in itself. Stand in more than you pick up.”

Gill Thompson-Hammell said:

“Love love love it, more flowers, more crazy wildness, please stop spraying, let it grow, grow, grow!

“The ‘right’ place for wildlife is everywhere! Newsflash – buttercups and dandelions are flowers too!”

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Should Harrogate adopt the Rotherham approach?

Some readers urged Harrogate Borough Council to follow the lead of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, which plants wild flower verges.

For the last three years the Rotherham council has worked with Pictorial Meadows to create an eight=mile long stretch of colourful roadside meadows.

It has received praise for its environmental approach and saved about £25,000 in ongoing management expenses.

The colourful verges in Rotherham. Photo: Pictorial Meadows

What do you think of the new look for Harrogate’s verges? Send your thoughts to be included in Stray Views by sending an email to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate councillor resigns for “family reasons”

A Conservative councillor for Harrogate Borough Council and Knaresborough Town Council has resigned from both posts.

Samantha Mearns, who was also chair of the general purposes committee, sent out a leaflet to residents over the weekend.

She said she was resigning after her younger brother died and her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

Her mother’s current prognosis is good but she has recently moved with her husband to Wales to be closer to her family.

She said:

“Sometimes things happen in your life which make you rethink your life plan. Just before the pandemic struck, my younger brother, my only sibling, died from abdominal sepsis.

“With my sister in law and mother I watched him pass away. This had a huge impact upon me.

“Shortly after my mother became seriously unwell and was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully due to our fantastic NHS her current prognosis is good.

“However this and losing my brother in such a short time has made me look at what I needed to do with my life for my family.

“Our moves have now finalised, and with lockdown restrictions lifting, now is the appropriate time for me to stand aside.”

The Stray Ferret understands that Knaresborough resident Jacqui Renton will stand in her place for the next election.

It is unclear at this time when the by-election will be held. It is also unclear whether Samantha Mearns will stay on as a case worker for Andrew Jones MP.

Police investigation into Gmund Cars Ltd

Samantha Mearns remains at the centre of a police investigation into missing Porsche cars worth more than one million pounds because she had “significant control” in the company which her husband owned.

Gmund Cars Ltd, which traded classic Porsche cars, was dissolved in September 2020.

The Stray Ferret spoke to six victims who took their cars to Gmund Cars Ltd on a sale or return basis. They said they never saw their cars again.

Samantha Mearns told the Stray Ferret last year :

“I was a shareholder in my husband’s business until December 2018.  When the business was put into administration in June 2019, allegations were made which resulted in a police investigation.  As far as I am aware the investigation has concluded with no further action being taken.  I was never interviewed in relation to any of the allegations.”

The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire Police this morning, the investigation has not concluded and is still ongoing.

‘Drab’ Harrogate town centre street to get colourful makeover

Harrogate residents and businesses are being asked to submit ideas to help give Cambridge Place a colourful makeover.

Harrogate Business Improvement District is working in partnership with Oxford Street-based charity, Artizan International, to install mosaics in the nine, blocked-out windows, on the side of the Boots building.

Each window space will spell out Harrogate — and the two organisations are looking for inspiration on what might go on the individual backgrounds.

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:

“Cambridge Place is an extremely popular pedestrian cut-through between Cambridge Street and Oxford Street, yet one of the drabbest in the town.

“Now, in partnership with Artizan International, we want to give this street a real lift by installing nine colourful and eye-catching mosaics in these nine blocked out windows.

“Whilst each one will feature an individual letter to spell out Harrogate, we are asking for suggestions to create the individual backgrounds. The only proviso being it must be representative of the town itself.

“This could be its spa heritage, iconic buildings, or famous names and businesses associated with the town. We will leave it up to individuals, then choose nine different ideas.

“These will then be turned into mosaics by the Artizan International team, giving this much used thoroughfare a real splash of colour.”

Read more:

Ideas can either be emailed to Harrogate BID at info@harrogatebid.co.uk, or left with Artizan International, at their shop located at 39 Oxford Street, Harrogate.

The closing date is Friday, July 2.

Harrogate Food Festival coming to the Stray this weekend

Harrogate Food and Drink Festival is set to arrive on the Stray this weekend for two days of food, drink, live music and cooking shows.

The outdoor event will be held on the Oatlands Drive area from 10am on Saturday June 26 to 7pm on Sunday June 27.

Visitors can expect about 100 stalls selling all types of produce, from jams and cheeses to Lebanese food, as well as artisan crafts.

Despite a four-week delay to the end of restrictions the event can still go ahead with its current measures. It will be encouraging social distancing, have hand sanitising stations around the site and provide extra toilets, tables and chairs.

Social distancing means the event does have a limited capacity, but organisers said tickets were still available. Each ticket is given an entry time to stagger arrivals through the day.

A festival spokesperson said:

“We are lucky to be a naturally socially distanced event with limited indoor areas. However, this year we have brought the entire festival outdoors, apart from the cookery theatre, which is in a marquee with the walls removed.”

Read more:

It will be in the same area in which the town’s bonfire and fun fair is usually set up.

In 2019, the event was based in Ripley Castle for three days. It will return there for a second event on this year’s August bank holiday weekend.

Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning and happy Monday, I’m back this morning with updates every 15 minutes on the road and rail links you rely on in the morning.

It’s Leah with you today.

Temporary traffic lights, train delays and traffic hotspots are all included in our blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group.

If you are experiencing delays, and it is safe to do so, please let us know or social media or call 01423 276197.

9am – Full Update

That’s it from me today, Connor will be with you from 06.30 tomorrow morning with updates every 15 minutes. Have a lovely day!

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

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Traffic is building here:

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8.45am – Full Update

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Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

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8.30am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8.15am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

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8am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7.45am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.30am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.15am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

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7am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

6.45am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

6.30am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

Stray Views: Do something about these awful bins!

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. See below for details on how to contribute.

Do something about these awful bins!

I totally agree that the large commercial waste bins that seem to be permanently kept in Princes Street are an eyesore.

These bins obstruct the highway (carriageway and footway). A loading bay marked on the carriageway is surely for use by vehicles loading and un-loading, not for waste bin storage.

The county council highways department is surely responsible for ensuring that the highway is not obstructed. The business owners are also responsible for removing their bins to their premises immediately they have been emptied. If these owners do not remove their bins they become liable to prosecution for obstruction.

The county council commercial waste management must manage its waste collection service much better to avoid this public health situation.

Angus Turner, Harrogate

Cycling to work? No, thanks

The whole point of cycle lanes is being missed.

Cyclists will, of course, like them. The issue is that the lanes need to encourage non-cyclists to start riding bikes.

I rode my bike to work from near Harrogate Grammar School to ICI when I was on Hornbeam Park for about three years, every working day, in all weathers.

The difference between cycling and riding a bike to work is immense. If you cannot have a shower on arrival at work you WILL stink all day. If it’s raining you will have, at a minimum, wet legs for half a day.

Once I had a car I only rode my bike for fun, and it can be fun. But as a means of daily travel for work, shopping and the rest? Not for me thanks.

Chris Knight, Bilton

Roads used as race tracks 

I live in a house on East Parade in Harrogate and the road from Bower Road to Skipton Road is used as a race track in the evening for noisy cars.

I can’t understand why all the other roads around East Parade, eg Chudleigh Road, have a 20 mph limit while East Parade, where two cars can’t even pass, has a 30mph limit.

The antisocial driving is well in excess of that 30 mph limit.

Vicky Taylor, Harrogate

Cut the verges

I have noticed on my travels around Ripon, Harrogate and various other North Yorkshire areas the lack of cutting of the grass verges on all types of roads.

There is now a situation on some roads where the height of the grass is impeding the view of oncoming cars, cyclists and motorcyclists

Peter, Ripon

Read more:

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

 

Did you know a Hollywood film star died in Harrogate 50 years ago this month?

Hollywood star Michael Rennie, most famous for playing an alien in the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still, died in Harrogate 50 years ago this month.

He suffered an aortic aneurysm on June 11 1971, aged 61, when he was visiting his mother’s home in the town. His ashes are interred at Harlow Hill cemetery.

The Bradford-born actor had a lively and diverse career, starting out with an uncredited role in Alfred Hitchcock’s Secret Agent.

He appeared in 20th Century Fox blockbusters alongside Orson Welles, Richard Burton and Clark Gable.

His most recognisable role was as the friendly alien Klaatu, which landed on a spaceship in Washington DC. It made famous the phrase “Klaatu barada nikto!”, which has left fans guessing its true meaning ever since.

He also made appearances in several hit TV shows during the 1960s, including opposite Adam West’s Batman as the dastardly villain the Sandman.

Film fans in Harrogate during Rennie’s era were spoiled for choice, with several cinemas showing the hits of the day, as Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam wrote in a recent Stray Ferret article.

Read more:

Mr Neesam told the Stray Ferret that whilst there are not many celebrities interred in Harrogate’s cemeteries, there are some notable names.

Also at Harlow Hill is the Royal Academy artist, Bernard Evans, RA, whose studio was on Park Parade.

Grove Road cemetery has Fridel Dalling-Hay, who was an immigrant from Nazi Germany and became the first person in the world to circumnavigate the island of Britain in a canoe.

Sergeant Major Robert Johnston, one of the gallant 600, who was in the charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War, is also buried at Grove Road.

Did you know that the Stray Ferret has teamed up with Malcolm to produce audio walking tours of Harrogate? The walks are sponsored by the Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) and take you back to the Golden Age of the Harrogate Spa and a walk through the Commercial Heart of Harrogate.  

Why not take a walk back in time and learn about Harrogate’s glorious past.. They’re easy to do and a great day out. For more information click here. 

Exclusive: Data breach at Harrogate council causes anguish for business

District businesses could be at risk of fraudulent activity after Harrogate Borough Council warned of a possible data breach.

The Stray Ferret has seen an email sent by the council’s Revenues Welfare and Customer Services department encouraging businesses to to monitor any suspicious financial transactions.

The extent of the breach is unknown, but the email said an online form had been used to try to apply for a restart grant against local business rates accounts.

One business owner, who wishes to stay anonymous, said the email did not give full details of exactly what information had been stolen, or how.

The source said they had already received two phishing emails before the council contacted them about the issue this afternoon:

“I’m shocked and it’s disturbing at what they could know. I’m concerned my banking details may have been seen because why else would [the council] tell us to monitor our banks?

“I’ve read it that someone has tried to take out a grant in my [business name]. They have to have got this information from somewhere.

“I don’t think the council is telling us everything, I think they are trying to water it down.”

Read more:

In hopes of protecting firms, the council said it had closed the affected business rates accounts and updated the online form, which is usually automatically filled with elements of a company’s details.

The business owner said they have been told not to call the council but instead send any complaints via email. They have already reported the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

They said they had been told 440 businesses had been affected, but The Stray Ferret was unable to substantiate that number.

A council spokesman said:

“We have been made aware that an online form, used in relation to restart grants, has been used fraudulently.

“When attempts were made, information – including some that could be available via the Valuation Office Agency or Companies House – may have been auto-populated.

“As soon as this was discovered, we updated the online form to stop it from happening and ensured all information was secure.

“As a further precautionary step we have closed all affected existing business rates accounts and created new ones.

“Affected businesses do not need to take any further action – but should remain vigilant – and will receive confirmation of their new business rate account number in the post shortly.

“We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience this has caused and would like to reassure businesses that no bank details have been shared.

“When processing restart grants we have a number of additional checks in place that prevent people from receiving any government grants that they have tried to claim fraudulently.”

Andrew Jones MP should be ‘shaking in his shoes’, says local Lib Dem leader

The leader of the local Liberal Democrats says Harrogate and Knaresborough’s Conservative MP Andrew Jones should be “shaking in his shoes” after a shock by-election result yesterday.

In Chesham and Amersham the Lib Dem Sarah Green overturned a 16,000-vote Conservative majority in a seat that has always voted Tory. It’s being described as being part of a “blue wall” in the south of England.

Cllr Pat Marsh told the Stray Ferret she was “delighted” with the result, which she said has given the local party hope that it can overcome a 9,000-vote majority in Harrogate and Knaresborough at the next general election.

Like Harrogate and Knaresborough, the Buckinghamshire constituency has a reasonably affluent and older demographic.

Cllr Marsh said:

“It’s given us a positive boost. It’s shown us that it’s not impossible and it can be done. He can’t be complacent any more.”

Read more:

Mr Jones has won four general elections in Harrogate and Knaresborough and first took the seat in 2010. It was held by Liberal Democrat Phil Willis from 1997 until 2010.

In yesterday’s by-election, housing and planning concerns were cited as the biggest reason voters turned their backs on the Conservatives.

Cllr Marsh said she expects housing to be a factor for voters at the next election in Harrogate and Knaresborough, which is currently seeing an unprecedented growth in new build housing developments.

She said Mr Jones “doesn’t listen to people” when it comes to housing concerns:

“Central government has allowed developers free rein throughout this country. It’s had a devastating effect in parts of Harrogate.”

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones for a response, but he did not reply by the time of publication.

Wetherby Road Starbucks developer to seek legal costs if plan approved

A developer behind a planned Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road has said it will seek full legal costs if the proposal is approved by a planning inspector.

Alan Evans, counsel for Euro Garages, told an inquiry earlier this week that the company would seek costs from Harrogate Borough Council for “unreasonable behaviour”.

Residents fighting the controversial proposal, which is planned for the former 1st Dental surgery site, appeared before the hearing to defend the refusal after the borough council withdrew its objection.

Alan Evans, a legal representative for Euro Garages, told the appeal that the planning committee’s latest decision of refusal should be overturned.

He said: 

“Members of the committee were themselves unwilling to defend their reasons for refusal so if you wanted to have a bird’s-eye view of unreasonableness, then I don’t think you could have a better one.

“No evidence has been brought forward, there never was any evidence and our application was based soundly at the outset.

“If the council can’t defend any reasons for refusal, then the obvious opposite side of the coin is that it should have been granted permission.”

Residents living next to the potential site of the drive-thru told the inquiry into the plans that it would “completely destroy” their enjoyment of their homes.

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Speaking at the hearing on Tuesday, resident Joanne Richardson, who lives behind the proposed site, said: 

“If this proposal is accepted then the impact on residents will be huge – it is seven days a week, unsociable hours and our amenity will be completely destroyed.”

Helen Hockenhull, a government planning inspector, opened the hearing into the proposed Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road on Tuesday

Mrs Richardson also said revisions to the plans – including a re-jigged car park, reduction in the size of the coffee shop and an acoustic fence – did not go far enough to address local concern.

She said:

“What this current proposal does is move the drive-thru lane to literally metres from the windows of living areas directly adjacent to the site.

“It is absurd to think that a two-metre boarded fence and a planted area of a few metres will mitigate the impact on residents surrounding the site.”

Another resident, Mark Hinchliffe, told the appeal that the nearby Woodlands junction was “probably the busiest” in Harrogate as he also warned the town was already at “breaking point” with traffic congestion.

He said: 

“Regardless of Starbucks arriving, there is already a major problem with that road – I can only describe it as the North Circular around London.”

The plans were first refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in 2017 before the applicant lodged an unsuccessful appeal, then submitted a revised application two years later.

These latest proposals were still rejected in 2019 but the council, nor its planning committee, chose not to contest the appeal because it had previously made a recommendation in support of the plans. 

The council also said it was unable to find lawyers willing to fight the appeal on its behalf.

Helen Hockenhull, the planning inspector in charge of the appeal, will make a decision on the plan at a later date.