Follifoot business park refused permission to expand on green belt

Follifoot Ridge Business Park has been refused permission to expand onto a plot of green belt land despite pleas that growing Harrogate district firms are in “desperate” need of more room.

The owners of the business park submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council last year claiming they should be granted “very special circumstances” to build on protected land in the centre of the site in order to meet pent up demand and boost the economy.

But the council’s planning committee last week rejected the plans, with members saying they could not make an exception to green belt policies.

Speaking during a meeting on Thursday, councillor Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat leader, said:

“If we aren’t ready to protect our green belt at this stage when there are no special circumstances then we are going to have it under threat.”

Green belts were introduced in 1955 to stop cities from sprawling and countryside being spoilt.

About 13% of England is now covered, and green belt areas are meant to be permanently protected and only reviewed in exceptional circumstances.

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The application for Follifoot Ridge Business Park was for two new buildings, which would have sat next to existing units previously allowed because they were classed as farm conversions.

Kim Eastwood, a planning agent for the business park, told the committee on Thursday that the development would have little impact on the area because the green belt land is already surrounded by these existing units.

This was an argument echoed by Andrew Paraskos, a Conservative who represents the Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale ward. He said:

“This site is completely surrounded by other buildings. It has no impact on the open countryside and can only be seen from the side where trees are and from the access point.

“Normally I would support protecting open countryside but it doesn’t really make sense in this case.”

Mrs Eastwood also said the business park had received several inquiries from firms looking to move to the site and that companies already there were “desperate” to expand.

She said:

“These businesses have been based at the park from two to 14 years and they range widely, which is partly a testament to the success of the business park.

“This scheme presents an opportunity to provide additional commercial space, which is confirmed by the council’s economic development team to be very much in demand.”

The committee voted seven votes for and one against to reject the expansion plans.

No deaths but Harrogate district covid rate continue to rise

The Harrogate district’s coronavirus rate of infection has continued to increase — but there have been no covid-related deaths for almost two months now.

The district recorded a further seven coronavirus cases, according to today’s figures by NHS England

The seven-day average rate of infection is now to 29 per 100,000 in population. The North Yorkshire average is 23 and the England average is 44.

Harrogate’s rate is the second highest of the seven North Yorkshire districts behind Selby.

The last covid-related death at Harrogate District Hospital was on April 11.

There have been 109,175 first vaccine doses and 83,547 second doses in the Harrogate district.

From tomorrow, all those who are 25-years-old and over will be invited to book a vaccine.

It comes as the UK health regulator has also given the go-ahead for the Pfizer/BioNtech jab to be used on 12 to 15 years old.

Read more:

 

Historic link between Canada and Harrogate celebrated

You might not heard of him before, but today is Sir Robert Barrie Day.  Sir Robert was a Royal Navy officer who fought against the USA in the 19th century and is buried in the Harrogate district.

The day marks the 180th anniversary of his death as well as the eight year anniversary of  Harrogate and Barrie in Canada becoming twin towns.

Sir Robert saw service in the War of 1812 which was a conflict fought between the United States and Great Britain over British violations of U.S. maritime rights.

He then took up a post in Ontario, Canada to inspect a key trading route called the Nine Mile Portage. He settled there, calling it “one of the most beautiful places on earth”. In 1833 the area was renamed in his honour.

As of the 2016 census, Barrie’s population was 141,434.

Twinned

Barrie was twinned with Harrogate in 2013 at the suggestion of local aristocrat Sir Thomas Ingilby.

Sir Robert married Sir Thomas’s ancestor, Julia Wharton Ingilby, in1816.

In mid-1834, Barrie returned to England and King William IV made him a knight commander of the Royal Guelphic Order. He was promoted to rear-admiral in 1837 and knight commander of the Order of the Bath in 1840.

Barrie retired in Swarthdale, Lancashire and was buried at All Saints Church in Ripley in 1841.

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Barrie deputy mayor, Barry Ward, who was a guest for Harrogate’s UCI cycling event in 2019 said:

“Sir Robert Barrie had quite an interesting life, both as a military commander and administrator in what later became Canada.”

Harrogate is also twinned with two with Bagnères de Luchon in France and Montecatini Terme in Italy. Read more about Harrogate’s twin towns here.

Interested in history? 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. 

Harrogate resident scoops £30,000 on lottery

A lucky Harrogate resident is celebrating winning a £30,000 cash prize on the People’s Postcode Lottery at the weekend.

Every Saturday and Sunday throughout the June draws, one postcode will be announced as a £30,000 prize winner.

All the players in the postcode will win that sum for every ticket they hold.

The winning postcode of HG2 8QA was announced on Saturday.

A media release by People’s Postcode Lottery revealed one person in the Harrogate postcode area won last weekend.

People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador, the TV presenter Judie McCourt, sent her well-wishes to the winner, who asked to remain anonymous.

She said:

“What a fantastic surprise for our winner in Harrogate! I hope they enjoy celebrating this weekend and enjoy spending the cash. Congratulations!”

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The draw costs £10 a month to enter. People play with their chosen postcode and are automatically entered into all draws.

A minimum of 33% of ticket sales goes directly to charities.

Players have helped raise over £700 million to date for thousands of good causes across Britain and internationally.

Harrogate school reaches national equestrian championships

Three equestrian teams from Harrogate Grammar School have reached the final of the national championships.

Two of the school’s dressage teams and one Jumping with Style team qualified for the final rounds of the event, and three students qualified individually.

They will now travel to the national championships at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre, Buckinghamshire, in October.

The event is run by the National Schools Equestrian Association.

Beth Harrison - dressage

Beth Harrison

Julie Curran, the biology teacher who runs the equestrian team, said:

“This is our best ever equestrian achievement as a school and I’m exceptionally proud.

“It’s a reflection of the dedication of our students, who ride every day in all weathers, and of their parents, who put in so much time and effort to support them.”

Headteacher Neil Renton added:

“Congratulations to our equestrian teams in qualifying to represent Harrogate Grammar School at a national level, and to Dr Curran for helping them fulfil their ambitions to achieve excellence.

“The school will be cheering them on as they compete at the national championships in October.”

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The dressage teams which qualified for the national championships are:

HGS Stripes — Sophie Harris (Year 9); Becky Weston (Year 10); Chloe Harris (Year 13)

HGS Red — Megan Harrison (Year 10); Becky Weston; Emily Gaskell (Year 11) and Beth Harrison (Year 11).

The 90/95cm Jumping with Style team is: Layla Brown (Year 9); Amelia Jesson (Year 10) and Becky Weston.

Emily Gaskell and Becky Weston also qualified as individual competitors in the dressage preliminary class, and Beth Harrison qualified as an individual competitor in the dressage novice class.

dressage

The successful dressage team of Emily Gaskell, Beth Harrison, Becky Weston and Megan Harrison

 

Teens arrested in Harrogate after Kinder eggs stuffed with heroin found

Police in Harrogate have arrested two boys aged 15 and 16 after finding Kinder eggs stuffed with suspected heroin and crack cocaine.

Plain clothed officers from North Yorkshire Police‘s county lines drug dealing unit Operation Expedite noticed the boys acting suspiciously on Thursday.

The suspects ran away but were caught after a chase on foot.

A police statement today said when officers caught the boys they found two Kinder eggs stuffed with suspected heroin and crack cocaine wraps, as well as knuckle dusters.

Police believe the unnamed boys, who are both from West Yorkshire, are involved in bringing drugs from another county into Harrogate.

Police arrested the 16-year-old on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply, possessing cannabis and possessing an offensive weapon.

The officers also arrested the 15-year-old on suspicion of supplying class A drugs.

They were released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

County lines is where drug dealers from urban areas exploit vulnerable people, including children, and force them to deal drugs in smaller towns.

It takes its name from the mobile phone lines used by dealers to communicate between towns and advertise their drugs for sale.

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Harrogate councillor ‘confident’ ahead of Wetherby Road Starbucks appeal

A Harrogate councillor has said she is confident in defending a decision to refuse plans for a controversial Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road.

Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents the area, is set fight the proposals with local residents at an appeal hearing next week.

It comes as Harrogate Borough Council rejected plans for the former 1st Dental surgery site three times.

But the authority has dropped its objection to the latest plans by Euro Garages for the site.

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It has left local residents to fight the proposals themselves before a planning inspector at an online appeal hearing on June 15.

Cllr Marsh, who will lead the residents’ defence next week, said she felt there were enough reasons to turn the application down.

She said:

“I think there are very sound planning reasons to turn it down and I’m confident we have come up with enough of them.

“Residents are not against the development of the site. But this is too much.”

Cllr Marsh previously described the proposal as another example of “big companies pushing for planning applications” to be put through.

Euro Garages, which also operates drive-thru facilities for KFC and Greggs, did not wish to comment ahead of the hearing.

‘It would change our lives’

Residents who live next to the 1st Dental site told the Stray Ferret previously that the Starbucks would adversely affect their lives.

David Stephenson, who has lived on Coachman’s Court with his wife for six years, is among those fighting the proposal.

Mr Stephenson’s house is next door the proposed site and he would be able to see the serving hatch of the Starbucks from his lounge window.

David Stephenson, whose house on Coachmans Court is next to the proposed Starbucks site on Wetherby Road.

David Stephenson, whose house on Coachmans Court is next to the proposed Starbucks site on Wetherby Road.

Mr Stephenson said:

“I think it is going to change our lives.

“We live in a nice, quiet cul-de-sac and this is not what we wanted in our retirement.”

Meanwhile, Joanne Richardson, who also lives on Coachman’s Court, said she “could not believe” the council would not be defending its refusal.

Last month, John Worthington, the council’s executive officer for development management, said officers could not stand successfully at appeal because their previous recommendation would “undermine” their case”.

He added that losing also risked legal costs of over £50,000.

A council spokesman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that not contesting the appeal “hasn’t been an easy decision to make” but was “the best way forward in this instance”.

Smouldering barbecue sets garage alight in Pannal

Fire crews were called to Pannal yesterday when smouldering ashes from a barbecue set a garage alight.

Firefighters from Harrogate, Wetherby and Knaresborough used breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire and ensure the fire had not spread to the attached bungalow.

The incident happened at Crimple Meadows shortly after 2pm.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log said:

“The cause of the fire is believed to be hot barbecue ashes stored in the garage overnight.”

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Harrogate house prices soar in just one year

The average price of a house in the Borough of Harrogate has increased by more than £28,000 in the course of the past year, according to the Land Registry.

This is a 5% rise, which is lower than the national average. The Office of National Statistics reported that house prices in the UK had risen by an average of 10.2% over the year to March 2021.

Demand has also shifted more towards spacious properties, with estate agents reporting an unprecedented shortage of detached family homes.

The trend can be attributed towards housebuyers’ changing priorities over lockdown and more people starting families.

However, certain factors affect the statistics and mean that they may not paint an accurate picture of the whole year.

The stamp duty land tax holiday on properties worth up to £500,000 is set to end on June 30, which will most likely reduce housing demand in later in the year.

Estate agents said that, anecdotally, there has been a post-vaccination rush for some people who now feel more comfortable attending house viewings and going through the moving process.

Read more

Charles Myring of Myrings Estate Agents summed up how the pandemic has changed the housing market in the borough:

“Stock levels in Harrogate were so depressed during the lockdowns, especially on certain properties (bigger family houses with good outdoor space/south-facing gardens/garages etc), which meant there wasn’t always enough quality stock available to buy and to encourage more people into the market.

“As a consequence prices started to edge up every month.”

The Harrogate borough encompasses the city of Ripon and a number of small towns including Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.

David Waddington of Linley and Simpson projected the average price rise to be even higher, at somewhere between 1% and 2% each month.

He agreed that the rise in demand for housing in the borough was also mostly related to covid:

“Harrogate became particularly desirable over lockdown as people realised they no longer had to go into the office and live in suburban areas.

“More people are looking to live in semi-rural areas, because of a subliminal need for space as a result of isolation.”

However he urged first-time buyers and those with mortgages not to give up hope, as the latest iteration of the Help to Buy scheme is still helping people with smaller deposits to take the first step on to the housing ladder.

 

 

Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning, it’s Leah with you this morning giving you updates every 15 minutes on the road and rail links near you.

Our live blog, brought to you by The HACS Group, will give you up-to-date information on traffic hotspots or where it may be building and the temporary lights in place. We also keep an eye on any bus or train delays.

If it is safe, please get in touch on 01423 276197 if you experience any delays.

9am – Full Update 

That is it from me this morning, Connor will be back with you from 6.30 tomorrow with updates every 15 minutes. Have a lovely Monday.

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough town centres this morning, keep checking for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

 

8:45am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough town centres this morning, keep checking for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8:30am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough town centres this morning, keep checking for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8:15am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough town centres this morning, keep checking for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough town centres this morning, keep checking for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough town centres this morning, keep checking for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough town centres this morning, keep checking for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.15am – Full Update 

Roads

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

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7am – Full Update 

Roads

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

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

6.45am – Full Update 

Roads

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

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

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

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses