Ferris wheel, carousel and road train part of huge Harrogate Christmas offering

A Ferris wheel, Victorian carousel, helter skelter and road train will be among the highlights of Harrogate’s festive offering.

Harrogate Borough Council announced a raft of new initiatives today to bring festive cheer this year.

The festivities will last from November 15 to the first week of January.

A road train will operate around the town centre from December 3 until December 12, which coincides with the dates of the new Harrogate Christmas Fayre.

It’s all part of the council’s drive to get people into the town centre to support the new fayre and the artisan market in the Valley Garden, which will also stimulate high street businesses.

The Stray Ferret asked where the attractions will be placed and what the cost will be but a council spokesperson said those details were yet to be confirmed.

To encourage footfall to town centres across the Harrogate district, a magical window trail will also be unveiled.

Funded by the government’s Welcome Back Fund, the window trail will feature 12 festive depictions that have been designed by local people.

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Gemma Rio, head of destination management at Harrogate Borough Council, said Harrogate would be “an absolutely unmissable destination for a festive day trip or weekend away” this Christmas.

She added:

“We have been working hard to ensure festivities return this year in order to drive visitors to our district’s shops, restaurants, visitor attractions, hotels and B&Bs.

“This latest announcement confirms that Christmas is well and truly set to return to Harrogate town centre and I’m really excited about what we’re due to bring.

“We are also about to launch the biggest Christmas marketing campaign in Visit Harrogate history to ensure all towns enjoy the benefits the additional footfall brings.”

Free parking

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate Business Improvement District manager, said it promised to be “one of the most impressive festive offerings Harrogate has seen in many years”.

He added:

“In addition to supporting the Harrogate Christmas Fayre and co-funding the Ferris wheel, Victorian carousel, and helter skelter, in just a few weeks our Christmas lights will be illuminating more streets than in previous years.

“We are again partnering with the Rotary Club of Harrogate for the annual Christmas Shop Window competition and Harrogate International Festivals for their North Pole post office. And on Monday (18 October), we will officially take the Christmas wrapping off our Father Christmas experience.

“We have also been working with Harrogate Borough Council to offer shopper’s free parking in Victoria multi-storey car park at set times during the month of December. Retailers are expecting us to pull out all the stops this Christmas, and I don’t think they will be disappointed.”

Christmas markets

Christmas market operator Market Place Europe have also announced this week that Harrogate Christmas Fayre will be open between 10am and 7pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am and 9pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10am and 4.30pm on Sunday.

The market will take place on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent and will be a great place to pick up some last minute and unique gifts along with mouth-watering treats for people to enjoy as they wander around taking in the sights and sounds.

Around 50 traders from Yorkshire will take part in the fayre.

In addition, Little Bird Made is set to hold a festive artisan market in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 December, with times to be confirmed.

The artisan market will feature approximately 60 local and regional traders and producers who will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware, jewellery, as well as food and drink.

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“More than 100 traders, as well as our high street businesses, will bring a first-class offering to Harrogate town centre this December that will truly get people in the festive mood.

“With the absence of a number of Christmas markets across the region this year, I have no doubt visitors will arrive by the coach load to see what Harrogate has to offer.

“Whether that’s our district’s shops, restaurants, visitor attractions or hotels and B&Bs, I hope everyone will see the benefit this town centre offering will bring.”

Harrogate’s Victoria Road scheme delayed due to bin wagon concerns

A scheme to stop vehicles in Harrogate turning from Victoria Road onto Otley Road has been delayed because bin wagons will find it difficult to turn.

North Yorkshire County Council was due to introduce the initiative before the end of September as an 18-month trial to improve safety for cyclists using the forthcoming Otley Road cycle route.

A barrier would have been placed at the junction, and one-way only and no entry signs installed.

However, the scheme has been delayed while the council draws up a new design that accommodates turning bin wagons. The council does not know when the project will now be introduced.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at the council, said:

“The original design needs to be amended to accommodate the safe turning and manoeuvring of bin wagons and making sure the proposed one-way filter lane doesn’t have any other impacts on waste services.

“We anticipated this design stage to be concluded by the end of September.

“We are currently working with Harrogate Borough Council to agree a revised design before the introduction of the 18-month trial of a one-way filter lane on Victoria Road.

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The council wants the Victoria Road scheme to join up with other active travel schemes in the town, including the nearby Beech Grove low traffic neighbourhood, the scheduled new cycle path on Victoria Avenue, and the Harrogate Station Gateway project.

Construction on the much-delayed Otley Road cycle route began last month.

There are still uncertainties over when the project will be completed due to negotiations with the government and the Duchy of Lancaster – the landowners of the Stray – over the use of grass verges protected by law.

Live: Harrogate District Traffic and Travel

Happy Friday and good morning. It’s Leah back with you this morning on the traffic and travel desk to help with your commute.

There are a few road closures and temporary lights in place across the district, make sure you check our lists in case you need to leave a few minutes earlier.

Give me a call on 01423 276197 or get in touch on social media if you spot anything on the roads or are waiting for a delayed bus or train.

The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is it from me this morning, I will be back with you on Monday morning. Have a lovely weekend.

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‘Irreplaceable’ Harrogate Theatre pantomime director Phil Lowe dies

Phil Lowe, who directed and co-wrote Harrogate Theatre‘s hugely popular pantomime, has died unexpectedly.

Mr Lowe, who had been instrumental in the success of the pantomime since he took charge in 2007, died yesterday.

He was an associate director, pantomime director and co-director at the theatre.

The theatre issued a statement today saying it was “devastated” by the news but that this year’s production of Cinderella will continue in his honour.

The statement said:

“Phil was an integral part of what makes Harrogate Theatre special, both to work at and visit.

“Our pantomime has truly sparkled since he came to the helm in 2007. He is irreplaceable.

“In his memory Cinderella will continue this Christmas. No one wanted to bring the party back to Harrogate Theatre more than him.

“Our thoughts are with Phil’s wife, Caroline, their beloved boys, family and friends.”

Harrogate Theatre has set up a Just Giving page on Mr Lowe’s behalf with a £1,000 target. All of the money raised will go towards Harrogate District Hospital and its cardiac care unit.

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Harrogate firm CNG to stop supplying energy companies

Harrogate-based energy supplier CNG Group is to stop supplying gas to energy companies, amid spiraling gas prices that have caused several companies to close.

CNG, which is based on Victoria Avenue, was set up 27 years ago and is one of Harrogate’s major employers with around 180 staff.

It supplies about 15 to 20 retail energy companies through its wholesale business arm. It also has about 50,000 business customers.

However, an email from chief executive Paul Stanley to customers, seen by the Stray Ferret, said the current energy crisis had caused “significant financial damage to CNG” and it was exiting the wholesale market.

The email urged customers to find alternative suppliers.

It said:

“The past few weeks in the energy market have been unprecedented. Market volatility has caused many suppliers to exit the market in a short space of time, causing a significant amount of financial damage to CNG.

“We expect more suppliers to fail in the coming weeks, further compounding the issue. We have been exploring options to sustain CNG’s shipping services, but it is with regret that I have to inform you that we do not have any further option but to exit CNG’s wholesale business.

“This means CNG will no longer be able to provide gas shipping services. We advise you to seek alternative shipping arrangements through other known gas shippers in the market.”

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Mr Stanley hailed the company’s return to profit in the latest annual report, published in June. This was in part due to improvements in its now stricken wholesale division.

But since June, the energy crisis has deepened and the future of the company appears uncertain.

Sources told Sky News that CNG was preparing its wholesale business for insolvency. Sky News also reported yesterday that the company has a Friday deadline for bidders for its small and medium-sized enterprises arm, which directly supplies more than 40,000 SMEs.

CNG was formerly the main sponsor of Harrogate Town’s stadium on Wetherby Road, which was called the CNG Stadium.

The Stray Ferret has asked CNG for a statement and if it expects to make any job losses but we had not received a response by the time of publication.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Happy Thursday and good morning. It’s Connor with you for the final time this week on the traffic and travel desk to help with your commute.

There are a few road closures and temporary lights in place across the district, make sure you check our lists in case you need to leave a few minutes earlier.

Give me a call on 01423 276197 or get in touch on social media if you spot anything on the roads or are waiting for a delayed bus or train.

The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

That is all from me this week on the traffic and travel desk. I am heading over to the news desk now. Leah will be back with you tomorrow from 6.30am.

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8.30am – Full Update 

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The roads are starting to become quite busy this morning as people drive through Harrogate and Knaresborough to get to work and school. Look out for these areas:

Road closures:

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8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to become quite busy this morning as people drive through Harrogate and Knaresborough to get to work and school. Look out for these areas:

Road closures:

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7.30am – Full Update 

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7am – Full Update 

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6.30am – Full Update 

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Coach and Horses set to reopen under new ownership

The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is set to reopen under new owners Provenance Inns and Hotels.

Provenance Inns, which also owns the West Park Hotel on the same street, plans to refurbish the historic pub before it reopens.

It is unclear when the Coach and Horses will open but the new owners said in a statement today it will create more than 50 jobs.

Karen French, operations director for Provenance Inns and Hotels said:

“We are delighted that we could take on such a fantastic building and have the opportunity to bring the Coach and Horses back to life. It’s a very exciting time for us all.

“Not only will this opportunity create more than 50 new jobs, but we plan to work with local groups and the community, to be able to offer something that’s accessible to everyone.

“We are pleased that we will be the new custodians of the Coach and Horses, and that we are able to retain the family values of the pub.”

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The news comes almost a year since Harrogate Borough Council granted Samantha Nelson a new alcohol licence.

Previous landlord John Nelson, Ms Nelson’s father, lost the licence when police found customers drinking outside and not observing social distancing rules during the weekend of May 30, 2020.

Nelson is well-known in the Harrogate area — he was landlord for 33 years and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities.

New ‘immersive soundscape’ art celebrates Harrogate’s spa history

A new art installation will celebrate the 450th anniversary of William Slingsby’s discovery of spring waters at Tewit Well in Harrogate.

Sound and light artists Dan Fox and James Bawn will bring the history to life on Crown Place, which is the cobbled street between the Crown Hotel and the Royal Pump Room Museum.

Called ‘1571 The Waters That Made Us’, the artwork will consist of recordings of water sounds, from deep underground noises to the well and the tap water sounds at the pump room museum.

Mr Fox said:

“This is an immersive soundscape played through speakers along the length of Crown Place.”

The temporary exhibit will be in place from October 17 until October 23. You can visit for free between 2pm and 9pm daily.

It will form part of the build up to the four-day Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival, which takes place from October 21 to 24.

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Speakers at the festival, which takes place at The Crown Hotel, include Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and historian Melanie King, who will talk about the history of Harrogate’s mineral springs.

Pictured from left are Deborah Boylan, from Raworths, and Marcus Black and Clare Gibson from Slingsby Gin.

Harrogate International Festivals chief executive Sharon Canavar said:

“2021 has been momentous for a lot of things, few of them being celebratory.

“So it felt only right we lead on a new, temporary attraction for Harrogate to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the discovery of our spa waters.

“The event industry was particularly hard hit by covid, and commissioning new artistic work, and a new tourism attraction, in the midst of the pandemic was a risk.

“However, as an arts organisation, it was one we were determined to take as we firmly believe that keeping artists in work is key.

“It’s also a superb opportunity to celebrate the rich history of Harrogate.”

Information about this year’s Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival, and the visiting guest writers, can be found on Harrogate International Festivals’ website.

Interested in Harrogate’s history? Join celebrated local historian Malcolm Neesam on two guided audio walks by clicking or tapping here.

Two arrested after police seize drugs and zombie knife in Harrogate

Police arrested two men in Harrogate after stopping their car and finding a large quantity of drugs and a zombie knife.

Officers from North Yorkshire Police‘s county lines drugs team pulled over a Volkswagen Passat on Victoria Road last week.

They searched the men and found two bags containing around 100 wraps of suspected class A drugs and the knife.

The men, aged 18 and 31 and from the Bradford area, were arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply and possession of an offensive weapon.

Both suspects have been released by the police on conditional bail for further investigation.

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The officers were from North Yorkshire Police’s proactive county lines drugs team Operation Expedite team,

County lines refers to when dealers travel to smaller towns to sell drugs that they have advertised online.

Police revealed details of the incident today. A spokesperson said:

“We urge anyone with information about drug dealing or if they believe a vulnerable neighbour is being targeted by drug dealers to contact us or Crimestoppers.”

Anyone with concerns about county lines can speak to the police on 101 or call 999 in an emergency.

If you’d rather stay anonymous you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Harrogate businesses call for meeting to discuss £10.9m Station Gateway

Business representatives in Harrogate have called for face-to-face meetings to be held to discuss the latest plans for the £10.9 million Station Gateway project.

North Yorkshire County Council announced yesterday that people will be able to hear more about the plans and ask questions at two hour-long online events on October 21 and 28.

People will also have the chance to fill in a consultation survey.

But businesses say such a key decision, which could have a major long-term impact on the town by pedestrianising James Street and reducing traffic on Station Parade to single lane, requires a large scale physical meeting everyone can attend.

Richard Norman, owner of town centre jewellers Fogal and Barnes, said:

“It’s vitally important for the whole town that people can get together and have a proper adult conversation and decide what’s best.

“This scheme is not just about environmental issues — there are challenges around jobs too.”

Richard and Mona Norman

Mr Norman is also managing director of marketing organisation Brand Yorkshire, which held a conference last week in Harrogate. He said:

“Everyone said it was far better meeting face-to-face. All the online meetings I’ve seen have been too clinical. You can’t read body language.”

“Having an actual meeting is the correct thing to do for such a big issue.

“I can’t tell what impact this will have on my business until I see the full proposal. My concern is they will try to railroad it through, which is why we should have an actual meeting.”

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David Simister, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, agreed and said it would invite Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, to its November meeting to discuss the proposals with businesses.

Mr Simister said:

“It’s important that our elected members hear what businesses have to say about it.”

Project team to meet in Harrogate

Asked to respond to the lack of notice of physical meetings, a North Yorkshire County Council spokesman said there would be opportunities to discuss concerns directly with the project team in a unit in the Victoria Shopping Centre.

“Online events enable as many people as possible to attend and ensure covid safety.

“However, during the consultation there will be opportunities for members of the public and businesses to speak to the project team face-to-face at a dedicated unit within the Victoria Shopping Centre.

“These will take place on Wednesday 27 October, the morning of Friday 29 October, Monday 1 November (for businesses only) and Friday 5 November.

“Businesses in the area will be contacted with details of how to book a slot for 1 November. In addition, the project team will be speaking to businesses at an open chamber of trade event on 8 November.”

New plans yet to be revealed

Cllr Mackenzie said yesterday the council had listened to feedback from previous consultations on the initial plans and “taken that response into account in the further development of the designs”.

But details of the changes are not yet available.

Cllr Mackenzie told the Stray Ferret:

“The exact details of the proposals and designs for all three gateway schemes, which are going forward for public consultation from next Monday, will be published online in the next few days.

The Harrogate scheme is one of three projects worth a combined £42m in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby paid for 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.

Details of the online consultation, which runs until November 12, will be available from Monday at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/northyorkshire

Following this consultation, a final business case will be prepared before approval is sought to deliver the schemes.

It is anticipated that work in Harrogate will begin by mid-2022 and be completed by March 2023.