Two of Harrogate’s busiest junctions could undergo improvement work worth £200,000 to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

North Yorkshire County Council agreed today to bid for funding to improve the traffic lights at the junction of Wetherby Road and Railway Road, next to Sainsbury’s, and at the junction of Leeds Road, Pannal Bank and Follifoot Road.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, approved the bid at a meeting this morning.

He said there were no designs for the junctions at this stage but the idea was to make them safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

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The authority will bid to the Department for Transport, which has made £15 million funding available to councils for the maintenance of traffic lights.

Cllr Mackenzie said the bid was not a reflection of a lack of highways funding in the council’s budget.

He said:

“We get opportunities to bid for certain types of funding.

“We make a bid and we hope to receive that funding and that is the nature of some highways funding these days.”

A report before Cllr Mackenzie this morning said that the two junctions were key to the town and could “be improved significantly”.

It said the lights were running on “aged equipment” and needed to be modernised.

The report said:

“Both junctions are operating with aged equipment and technology that requires full refurbishment and upgrade improvements. As key junctions, the current performance is of some constraint to network performance and efficiency.

“Each site can be improved significantly not only in terms of traffic flow but also for pedestrian and cyclist facilities, particularly Railway Road that is one of the largest signalised junctions and does not have pedestrian crossing facilities.”

The county council expects to learn about the outcome of the bid at a later date.

It comes as the county council is pressing ahead with plans to improve cycling and walking in the town.

The authority has unveiled four proposals as part of its active travel scheme, including cycle lanes on Victoria Avenue and a 20 mile per hour zone on Oatlands Drive.

Other measures include the £7.9 million Station Gateway project, which could see James Street pedestrianised and one-lane traffic on Station Parade.

The joint plan by North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority seeks to encourage sustainable transport in the town centre.

After being forced to move online during lockdown, one Harrogate business has now decided to permanently close its store and move fully online.

Change Mobility operated on King’s Road for five years before closing for good last week. The pandemic accelerated its move online.

The company decided on the move after listening to customer feedback and assessing sales during lockdown.

Change Mobility is the sister company of Beaucare another Harrogate-based business that supplies products to care homes, hospitals and individuals.

Change Mobility sells a range of care supplies from living aids such as grab rails to wheelchairs.

It will still provide home visits and a click and collect service from its office on Hornbeam Park.

Heather Mawray, managing director of Beaucare, said:

“The retail market has been difficult over the last 12 months. This has accelerated our move to a different operating model. During the pandemic many customers have required home deliveries, this will continue as a key feature for Change Mobility going forward.

“Advice and assessments will be available in person at home visits arranged at times to suit the customer, this has been welcomed by many of our customers who would have previously found it difficult to travel to the store.

“We are really looking forward to continuing to support our Change Mobility customers and ensure they receive outstanding service.”

The company told the Stray Ferret no jobs had been lost due to the move.

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First there were the planters… now artificial grass is causing anger in Harrogate.

Fake grass first appeared on raised flower beds on Cambridge Street a few days ago. Today workers were tearing out plants and laying more artificial grass on Oxford Street.

It has led to passionate debate on social media about not only the aesthetics of the hyper-green look but also whether it conforms with modern thinking on the use of plastics.

A post by Lizzie Brewster drew almost universal condemnation.

Oh no! This is wrong on so many levels. Hope its temporary! 🌻🌼🌷

— Catherine Wright (@HgCatherine) May 6, 2021

Andy Dennis replied on Twitter:

“Plastic is not the way forward and normalising this very abnormal product is misguided. This needs to be removed.”

The Little Ale House, which is based nearby, added:

“It’s also visually depressing.”

The Pinewoods Harrogate twitter account noted wryly the bright new look might be part of Harrogate Borough Council’s commitment to be the greenest council ever.

Cartoonist Graeme Bandeira was somewhat blunter:

“What the hell is that?”

Nina Jolly commented that astro turf belonged on sports pitches and nowhere else.

The Stray Ferret has asked Harrogate Borough Council about the artificial grass and will publish its response when received.

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A disability swimming squad in Harrogate jumped straight back in this week after finally getting back to club sessions following the easing of restrictions.

The swimming team, Hotshots, returned to the water last night after months away with the members just as eager as the coaches.

Run by Harrogate District Swimming Club at Harrogate Hydro the group encourages disabled people into the water offering them training and the chance to compete in local competitions.

An arrangement with Harrogate Borough Council to add extra pool time means the club’s disability swimming squad can return.

The team’s first session back was on Tuesday night with their coach Lisa Gill. She was very excited to see all the swimmers back again, some haven’t been in the pool for over a year.

Club representative, Brian Charlton, said:

“It’s something we’ve been pushing for for a long time so it was great to see the swimmers back in the water last night. To see the smile on their faces was just amazing. I was speaking to one of the members’ mums who said this was her happy place and that is why we do it.”

Last night five swimmers came to the practice but Mr Charlton has high hopes to return to the team to its previous size of 20 members.

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Currently, group sessions can only include under 18’s but due to different rules Hotshots can invite people of all ages to its practices.

With the return of the Hotshots squad the club now have 60 swimmers under the club squad scheme.

The club has said it is working with the borough council and the new arms-length company running leisure services, Brimham’s Active.

A parking warden fined a pensioner with a bladder problem who says he parked in Harrogate for four minutes to use the toilet.

Lee Chadwick, 78, has medication for an overactive bladder so when he feels the urge to use the toilet he has to act quickly.

Mr Chadwick, who lives in Markington, parked at the back of the taxi rank on Station Parade to use the public toilet, leaving his wife in the passenger seat.

When he returned his wife was explaining the situation to the parking warden. Mr Chadwick also talked to the warden but he still issued a fine.

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The pensioner then contacted Harrogate Borough Council to appeal. However, the council replied today to say it cannot uphold his appeal without more evidence.

A council parking administrator wrote to Mr Chadwick saying he could either settle in the next 14 days at the discounted rate of £35 or pay £70 if he waited longer. Alternatively, Mr Chadwick could ask his doctor to send a letter about his condition.

But he told the Stray Ferret he did not wish to bother his doctor about such a request. He added:

“It was our first trip out to Harrogate in a long time but we will not be going back again after this incident.

“I do think it is unreasonable. I have tried to appeal and I will continue to fight it. If I need to I will take it to the magistrates’ court. I have faith in the magistrates.

“If the council continues to insist on this fine then I think it is quite cruel and unjust.”

A spokeswoman for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“Mr Chadwick is appealing the ticket and we are awaiting further information from him to confirm the circumstances and his medical condition.”

A political row has broken out after a Liberal Democrat campaign leaflet accused the Conservatives of “hypocrisy” and “tricking” voters ahead of the Bilton by-election.

Voters will go the polls tomorrow to elect a new county councillor in the marginal Bilton and Nidd Gorge division.

Andrew Kempston-Parkes, the Liberal Democrat candidate, has distributed two leaflets to residents that make several claims about the proposed Knox Lane housing development.

Housing developer Jomast is behind the proposals, which would see 73 homes built on a green field in Bilton.

The development is still to go before Harrogate Borough Council‘s planning committee, when 12 councillors will vote on the plans.

However, the site is allocated for 52 potential homes in Harrogate district Local Plan, which sets out where development will occur in the district until 2035.

Cllr Matt Scott, who is standing for the Conservatives in Bilton and is a current HBC councillor, voted for the Local Plan before it was adopted in March 2020.

In the leaflet, Mr Kempston-Parkes claims the “Conservatives pretend to oppose the Knox Lane development while secretly voting for it”.

In another leaflet, he alleges the Conservative-run council proposed the development.

The Liberal Democrat leaflet

The second Liberal Democrat leaflet

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In response, Harrogate & Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones MP intervened with a leaflet of his own.

It called the Liberal Democrat literature “grossly misleading” and said he was “disturbed” by some of the claims made.

He said:

“I like to see positive and constructive campaigns based on a record of local action. I don’t approve of US-style attack-ad politics.”

Andrew Jones’ leaflet

The Bilton and Nidd Gorge election follows the death of Liberal Democrat Geoff Webber.

It is the only local council election taking place in the Harrogate district tomorrow.

Voters will head to the polls tomorrow to elect a new county councillor for Bilton and Nidd Gorge.

A new councillor will be elected to North Yorkshire County Council following the death of Liberal Democrat Geoff Webber.

It is the only local council election taking place in the Harrogate district.

Ahead of polling day, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has interviewed and profiled each candidate.

Andrew Kempston-Parkes, Liberal Democrat candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge.

Andrew Kempston-Parkes, Liberal Democrat

The Liberal Democrat candidate standing in tomorrow’s Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election says a vote for Labour or the Green Party “will just let the Conservatives win”.

Andrew Kempston-Parkes, who has previously represented the Bilton area on Harrogate Borough Council, said in a message to Labour and Green voters: “your vote is safe with me”.

He is one of six candidates competing to take the Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat.

Mr Kempston-Parkes said he has “big shoes to fill” but hoped to continue the “great work that Geoff did” if elected.

He said:

“I would be honoured if the people of Bilton and Nidd Gorge would trust me to be their county councillor – they have my word that I will work tirelessly for them.

“I want to continue the great work that Geoff did in being a voice for local people, the homeless and those seeking affordable houses. I also want to support our great educational establishments, protect our green spaces and stop overdevelopment.

“Another big thing I would push for is a park and ride similar to the one in York which has been a great success.

“Harrogate could benefit hugely by taking more traffic out of the town and bringing more people in. Sadly there has been lots of talk but no action on this in the past.”

Mr Kempston-Parkes is a local businessman who runs a chartered surveyors firm in Harrogate. He previously served as a borough councillor for four years but lost his seat in the 2011 elections.

He said there is a “real need for change” in local politics which has “Conservatives at every level”.

Mr Kempston-Parkes said:

“I feel there is incompetence and arrogance, and the Conservatives are not helping our town.

“It’s only through hearing opposing views and listening to arguments that we can find the best way forward.

“I would ask anyone who sees themselves as centre or left-centre on the political spectrum to vote for me. A vote for Labour or the Green Party will just let the Conservatives win.”

Matt Scott, Conservative candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge.

Matt Scott, Conservative

Conservative candidate Matt Scott has told voters to “judge my record on its own merits” ahead of polling day for the Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election.

Cllr Scott has represented the Bilton area on Harrogate Borough Council since 2018 and is one of six candidates competing to take the vacant seat on North Yorkshire County Council.

He said:

“I have lived in Bilton my entire life which means I use the same roads, shops and all the same council services as local residents – and I’m immensely proud to already represent the community I have grown up in.

“As a Harrogate borough councillor since 2018, I have been handing out newsletters into the Bilton division which set out our record of action locally.

“In addition to the Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat, there is the current Conservative county councillor Paul Haslam who is a sort of next door neighbour to me. We have a great working relationship and I would want that to continue if I was elected.”

Cllr Scott, who is employed as a case worker by Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, added:

“I will still be serving as a Harrogate borough councillor if I’m elected and will continue my current top priority of tackling litter. I’m hoping as restrictions ease further, I can organise more outdoor gatherings for litter picking and street cleansing.

“I also know anti-social behaviour has been an issue of late and in my capacity as borough councillor I have worked with safer communities teams on this.

“I’m putting a positive message out there that I will allow residents in my division and the wider Bilton and Nidd Gorge area to judge my record on its own merits.”

Tyler Reeton, Labour candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge.

Tyler Reeton, Labour

A teenager who will become North Yorkshire County Council’s youngest member if elected this week has pledged to bring a “fresh face” and “real change” to local politics.

Tyler Reeton, 19, is standing in his first election for the Labour Party and is one of six candidates competing to fill the Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat left vacant following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Webber.

Voting will take place on Thursday and Mr Reeton said tackling anti-social behaviour is his top priority as he also promised to launch a new annual event to “bring the community back together”.

He said:

“While I’m young at 19-years-old, that doesn’t make me any less passionate than the ordinary person – I will be a fresh face and the only candidate who will be truly accountable to residents.

“Anti-social behaviour is a problem which is spiralling out of control because not enough has been done. It’s a difficult situation to tackle but I believe in the message that if we all work together, we can get the job done.

“I would organise surgeries so residents can speak directly with police to crackdown on the problem before it gets to this point again.

“My local recovery plan will focus on rebuilding the community after Covid and using my county councillor grants, I will bring back a yearly community event like the Bilton Gala which has been fundamental for so many years.”

The Labour candidate is a former Harrogate Grammar School student and aspiring solicitor who says his sole aim in life is to help others.

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He believes “years of party politics” have damaged relationships in Bilton but vowed to start a “rebuilding process” if he is elected.

He said:

“I am not in this for myself, my aim is to help others and make Bilton a better place to live. I feel party politics has damaged reputations between councillors and residents and I now want to start on that rebuilding process.

“With the effort I am putting in and the fact I will be accountable to residents, I believe I have a great chance of winning this election.

“We need a councillor who is accountable and can crack on with the job. If you pledge a vote for me, you will be voting for real change.”

Harvey Alexander, Independent candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge.

Harvey Alexander, Independent

An independent candidate has vowed to do everything he can to bring more speed camera warning signs to North Yorkshire if he is elected as the new Bilton and Nidd Gorge county councillor.

Harvey Alexander said he is standing in Thursday’s by-election because he has become “incensed” with the “lack of” warning signs in the county as he also pledged to push for the creation of more high-tech jobs in Harrogate to support the economic recovery from covid.

He said:

“Every other local authority in the Yorkshire area puts up speed camera signs but in North Yorkshire there are none.

“The point of these signs is to slow traffic, not catch people speeding. Some areas have signs up 24/7 even when there are no cameras there and they do their job to make the roads safer.

“If you vote for me I will do everything I can to bring more speed camera signs to the area and also address concerns about unemployment.”

Mr Alexander is a former UKIP member and retired electronics engineer who first became involved in politics when he stood for Leeds City Council at 21-years-old.

He most recently represented UKIP at a Leeds election in 2016 and is one of six candidates competing to take the Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat.

He said:

“There is an awful lot of housebuilding going on but there is no industry being brought in to give jobs to local people.

“There is also a hell of a lot of commuters who travel outside Harrogate and this is a problem which is only going to get worse.

“What I find so annoying is all these big companies taking their business down south. We need to be doing a lot more to encourage big businesses to come here in Harrogate, especially these companies in high-tech industries.”

Mr Alexander, who also served as a parish councillor in North Rigton and Pannal, said he could not support any of the options on the table for local government reorganisation in North Yorkshire and instead believes Harrogate should reclaim its historic links with the west of the county.

He said:

“I do feel Harrogate should go back to its connections with West Yorkshire. A huge number of people have links with Bradford and Leeds – that’s where people work and travel to the most.”

Arnold Warneken, Green Party candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge.

Arnold Warneken, Green Party

The Green Party candidate contesting in this week’s Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election has claimed the community is at risk of being “dismantled” by current councillors.

Arnold Warneken is one of six candidates competing to become the division’s new county councillor with voters set to go to the polls on Thursday.

He has put anti-social behaviour, littering, traffic pollution and loss of green space as his top priorities and has promised to “retain the uniqueness of the Bilton community” if elected.

Mr Warneken said:

“With the backing of the Green Party, I would work to solve these issues, push to retain the uniqueness of the Bilton community, and build on the fantastic resources they already have here, which are under-rated, under-stated and under-funded.

“Local councils must have our climate in mind as we build the economy back after covid.

“More Green councillors mean a substantial commitment to the climate action we all know is urgently needed in all our council chambers. Future generations depend on the steps we take now, protecting green spaces, reducing CO2 pollution from cars, making our roads safer and providing resources for them.”

Mr Warneken became the first ever Green councillor in the north of England when he was elected to Harrogate Borough Council in 1991.

He has lived in the district for 65 years working as a farmer and currently sits on a number of committees and environmental groups including Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition.

Mr Warneken added:

“As chair of the area planning, town twinning and environmental health committees, my experience will be invaluable moving forward as the region changes under the re-organisation of the authority in the coming years.

“I will use my experience working with and for the community, if I’m elected; I’ve been the district council representative on the Selby Police Liaison committee and a director of Harrogate Theatre and established and chaired Harrogate Environmental Forum.

“Now is the time to help local people have a say in local matters they deserve. I want to amplify their voices for the good of the community, to ensure that services they rely on and the future of the community is not at risk.”

John Hall, Yorkshire Party candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge.

John Hall, Yorkshire Party

The Yorkshire Party candidate competing in this week’s Bilton and Nidd Gorge by-election says it’s time the county got a fairer share of government funding.

John Hall is standing in his third election for the party which launched six years ago with the aim of devolving spending and decision-making powers from Whitehall to Yorkshire.

And while the government rejected its ‘One Yorkshire’ devolution bid in 2019, Mr Hall said the party’s priorities remained clearer than ever.

Mr Hall said:

“Fairer funding for Yorkshire is our main message..

“School pupils who live in the London borough of Tower Hamlet receive around £6,965 of government funding per head, while those in Yorkshire get £4,613. This is not fair and something I want to tackle.

“We want a proper Yorkshire devolution package to keep as much localism as possible.

“And where Yorkshire Party candidates have been elected in the past, they have always been a success. We are pushing a new message but we know we can make a difference.”

Mr Hall previously stood to be MP for Thirsk and Malton and also for the Starbeck seat on Harrogate Borough Council.

His party have previously won seats on three councils in Yorkshire including North Yorkshire County Council, East Riding Council and Selby District Council.

Speaking about the issues he hopes to tackle as the new county councillor for the Bilton and Nidd Gorge division, he said:

“I do know anti-social behaviour is becoming an issue so I would hope to get a good working relationship with police right from the word go.

“Affordable housing is another issue I want to get involved in and I would insist that any new homes to be built must fit almost seamlessly into the area.

“It’s going to take time for me to truly understand all of the issues and concerns in Bilton but I would be a new broom who could start afresh and not be tied to any existing problems or difficult relationships, as I know there is some hostility currently.”

Police have confirmed that a man and a woman from London died at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel last night.

Officers discovered the bodies at 10.20pm. Detectives believe that both victims, who were in their late 30s or early 40s, knew each other.

North Yorkshire Police also confirmed it is not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

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Detective superintendent Wayne Fox, of North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team, said:

“We were called at around 10.20pm on Tuesday May 4 by hotel staff at the Majestic hotel to a report that the bodies of a man and a woman had been located in a hotel room.

“On arrival, a man and a woman, both in their late 30s/early 40s from the London area, were pronounced dead at the scene by colleagues from the ambulance service. Their families have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers.

“A detailed investigation is under way looking into the circumstances of both deaths. We can confirm that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths and would like to reassure the local community that we believe that this is an isolated incident.”

A hotel guest has also spoken of his shock. The man, who requested anonymity, told the Stray Ferret:

“There were police and ambulance all over the car park. I would say around four police cars and a couple of ambulances. Plenty of officers and first aiders were milling around the hotel as well.

“I overheard some conversations between the police that led me to think that at least one person had died here but I have no idea of the circumstances and still don’t.

“They were here from 10pm to 1am. It’s not what anyone expects, it was a bit of a shock.”

Police are currently at the hotel on the corner of Springfield Avenue and Ripon Road. No further details are currently available.

A spokesman for the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel and Spa said:

“Following an incident last night, the police were called and we are currently assisting them with their enquiries.”

A hotel guest has spoken of his shock at finding police investigating two deaths at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel last night.

The guest arrived at the hotel at about 10pm to find police cars and ambulances outside, with officers and first aiders walking around inside.

The man, who requested anonymity, told the Stray Ferret:

“There were police and ambulance all over the car park. I would say around four police cars and a couple of ambulances. Plenty of officers and first aiders were milling around the hotel as well.

“I overheard some conversations between the police that led me to think that at least one person had died here but I have no idea of the circumstances and still don’t.

“They were here from 10pm to 1am. It’s not what anyone expects, it was a bit of a shock.”

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We understand both people who died were hotel guests.

Police are currently at the hotel on Ripon Road. No further details are currently available.

A spokesman for the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel and Spa said:

“Following an incident last night, the police were called and we are currently assisting them with their enquiries.”

Two people have been found dead in an incident at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic hotel.

Police are currently at the hotel on Ripon Road. No further details are currently available.

A spokesman for the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa said:

“Following an incident last night, the police were called and we are currently assisting them with their enquiries.”

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