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.

What’s happened to the park and ride?

Have I missed something or has the sensible idea of a park and ride for Harrogate been shelved?

While the council continues to charge blindly forward with idiotic cycling/single file traffic schemes thinking that the traffic will disappear, a park and ride really would help reduce cars in the town centre.

So where is it?

Judy Rowson, Harrogate

Encouraging cyclists will make motoring better

Bob Hankinson makes several strawmen in his letter, making the argument that if “everyone shifts to bikes” when clearly not everyone will.

But hopefully enough will that the various roads in Harrogate are relieved of traffic at least to enough of a degree that it isn’t an utterly ridiculous proposal to actually drive into and through Harrogate as it currently is.

Bob is clearly not a cyclist given his complaint about hills and rain, which to most cyclists is neither a problem nor an obstruction. As, I assume, a car driver (his letter has all the hallmarks of someone who spends all morning sat immobile in their car trying to get to work).

Surely Bob would welcome less cars on the road — it would make Skipton Road, Leeds Road and Wetherby Road more of a road and less of a car park from 8am to 10am, wouldn’t you agree Bob?

Alastair Moore, Bilton

What about dog muck, Philip?

It’s great that Philip Allott, the new crime commissioner, is concerned about dog theft. Will he also be stamping out dog muck?

Nigel Heptinstall, Darley

The Stray Ferret is underselling itself

Meeting people on my daily walk, I ask if they receive the Stray Ferret. To those that don’t, I explain how simple it is to sign up and that it’s free.

Invariably this is a surprise to them so the purpose of this letter is to suggest your advertising on shop windows, roundabouts etc should contain the word ‘free’.

My grandfather started the first advertising agency in the north and he instilled into me how strong the word ‘free’ is in marketing. Many years later as a retailer in Harrogate I used this magic word in my advertising with great success.

Keep up your very good work!

David Hill, Harrogate

Read more:

• Harrogate cyclist prepares to pedal 300 miles in 24 hours
• Sneak peek: Warburtons pop-up cake shop opens in Harrogate

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.

Caterpillars have covered a hedge on Wetherby Road in what looks like a ghostly web.

Drivers will spot the small section of hedge covered in the white webbing on the A661 heading towards Spofforth.

It has become home for caterpillars, which create the webs to protect themselves against predators such as birds.

The phenomena allows them to feed on the hedge, say experts, and is nothing to be concerned about.

Read more:

• Ripon students to plant hedges in battle against climate change
• Who is the mystery Good Samaritan carving seats in Nidd Gorge?

According to the charity Butterfly Conservation’s website, while the webs may look “sinister”, they are common this time of year.

The webs often hide hundreds of caterpillars, known as “small ermine moths”.

It said:

“These striking and obvious webs hide hundreds and sometimes tens of thousands of caterpillars of a group of moths called the Small Ermine moths.”

It added:

“These webs and caterpillars are harmless and usually last from May to June. The webs slowly disappear over the summer and typically the hedgerow shrubs/trees recover. 

“The adult moths fly later in summer and all look superficially similar, being white or greyish with many small black dots, hence the ermine name.”

Friends of Mercer Art Gallery is calling for artists and creatives to get involved in its online exhibitions focusing on climate change.

This year’s React 2 exhibition is titled ‘Our Planet, Our Home’ and encourages artists to use any medium and have fun.

Last year’s exhibition was centred around coronavirus and had more than 100 applications. The organisers are determined to have another successful exhibition.

The exhibition will go live in October and artwork can be submitted under these categories: our natural world, climate change and creations using recycled materials.

There is no fee for submission, but the charity asks that the artist makes a donation to support its outreach work supporting art locally.

Last year, creative people aged up to 70 took part in the exhibition.

Catherine Wright, deputy chair of the Friends of the Mercer Project, said:

“Following on from the success of our first online exhibition, we encourage all artists in our local community, amateur and professional, to get involved with this event.

“The subject ‘Our Planet, Our Home’ is such an important and relevant theme and we hope there will be some really thought provoking pieces submitted.

“There were some extremely high-calibre pieces in our last exhibition and we hope the standard will be high again but it is important to us, the Friends of the Mercer that this exhibition is for open to all. If you are artistic we urge you to get creative and get involved!”

There are additional categories for any budding artists under 16. More information on how to enter can be found here.

The submission deadline is September 17 at 5pm.

Read more:

• Musical Shakespeare performance set to arrive in Ripon this month
• Northern Aldborough Festival makes its comeback this month

A Harrogate man has been jailed for six months after he tried to ‘follow’ a woman on Instagram while on a restraining order designed to protect her.

John Paul Mortimer, 45, had been handed the order in 2019 after threatening to kill the named woman in a previous incident.

But after spotting her in Harrogate town centre in May this year, after being released on prison licence, he sent her a ‘follow’ request on the social-media site in breach of the injunction, York Crown Court heard.

Jailing Mortimer for six months, Recorder Richard Woolfall said: 

“I don’t think I have seen a record like it for threats to kill.”

Prosecutor Matthew Collins said Mortimer saw the named woman on two occasions in May when she was driving through Harrogate and Mortimer just happened to be crossing the road.

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After seeing her on the second occasion, he created an Instagram account and made a request to ‘follow’ her, which was forbidden under the terms of the restraining order which prohibited any contact.

The order had been imposed at the Crown Court in September 2019 along with a 40-month jail sentence.

The woman reported the breach to police and Mortimer was arrested. He was charged with breaching the order and recalled to prison.

Mortimer, of Ashfield Terrace, admitted the breach and appeared for sentence via video link on Friday.

The court heard he had 20 previous convictions for 39 offences – most recently the threat to kill the woman which led to the restraining order. He also had convictions for violence, harassment and disobeying court orders.

In 2012, Mortimer was jailed for two years and eight months for making threats to kill and received another prison sentence in 2007 for the same behaviour and harassment.

Defence barrister Kristina Goodwin conceded that Mortimer had an “extremely unenviable” record.

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• Inquest opens into two deaths at Harrogate’s Majestic hotel
• Two men flee after crashing car on Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove

She said he had flagged down a police car in the town centre once he realised they were looking for him and admitted the offence at the first time of asking.

Recorder Mr Woolfall told Mortimer:

“You have got a particularly bad record for offences of threats to kill – I don’t think I’ve ever seen a record quite like it. You have repeatedly been sent to prison for (such) offences.”

He said the original offence of threatening to kill the woman had had a “significant” effect on her.

She was now “very careful not to leave a trace of where she lives because she’s anxious that (Mortimer) might try to get in touch with her again”.

He said the victim’s “distress” was aggravated by Mortimer’s appalling record.

Mortimer’s six-month jail sentence for the breach was practically immaterial because he still had to serve the remainder of his original prison term which had another year-and-a-half to run.

The restraining order will remain in place for an indefinite period and Mortimer will remain behind bars until next year.  

A Harrogate councillor has been granted final approval to build a new countryside home at the third time of asking.

Conservative Cllr Margaret Atkinson, who represents the Fountains and Ripley ward, has won permission to build a four-bedroom farmhouse opposite her existing home in Kirkby Malzeard after previously being refused over size concerns.

She was asked to justify why the property classed as a farm workers dwelling needed to be so large before she scaled back the overall floorspace from 276 sq m to 199.5 sq m.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee, which Cllr Atkinson was formerly a member of, voted through her new proposals at a meeting yesterday (June 3) with five votes for, one against and two abstentions.

The only committee member to speak against the plans was Cllr Pat Marsh who said it was a “mistake” to previously grant outline permission in 2019 and that she was still not convinced why a property of that size was needed.

Cllr Marsh said: 

“I do feel that the mistake, in my eyes, was made when first consent was given. The applicant has had opportunities to build up to seven properties around that area in very close proximity – one of those could have been used if required.

“Because of this piecemeal approach, we have not been able to get any affordable housing because they have been individual applications.

“The property is down to almost 200 sq m, whereas what they expect of an agricultural worker’s dwelling is probably on average about 140 sq m. I still do not think it is down to the right size and I’m still not convinced of the need.”

Cllr Atkinson told the committee the farmhouse needed to be larger than Nationally Described Space Standards (NDSS) – which recommends up to 124 sq m – because of family and business needs, with a family-run farm amassing around 200 acres and 800 cattle.

Read more:

• Harrogate councillor’s third bid for four-bed farmhouse set for approval
• Sight-impaired Ripon man calls for council boss to intervene over pavement cafe

As well as four bedrooms, Cllr Atkinson’s plans also include a living room, dining room, kitchen, sunroom, office, storage space and two-bay carport.

Other reasons for refusal previously given by officers were a negative impact on the surrounding countryside and that the farmhouse would not have been affordable to any future owners because of its size.

The scale and layout of a proposed garden area was also a concern, as well as a lack of “suitable planting species and mix”.

However, a report to yesterday’s meeting said these areas had now been addressed in the new application.

It said: 

“The overall layout and design of the proposed property is considered to be in keeping with the local area and would not have a detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the Nidderdale AONB.

“The proposed landscaping scheme sets out a clear delineation of the domestic curtilage from the wider landscape and the proposed planting  provides opportunities for biodiversity net gain and a suitable level of screening.”

This year the Harrogate Harriers will use money raised to support the cardiac unit at Leeds General Infirmary, which saved the life of club member Rob Athey.

Mr Athey, 48, who lives in Harrogate, survived an alarming chain of events that started with a grazed knee last autumn and resulted in life-saving heart surgery and a two-month hospital stay.

He said:

“I do a lot of off-road running so I picked up a graze on my knee, which caused me to contract a blood infection called endocarditis. That took over my body and damaged my heart valve. Some of the heart valve came away, causing a blood clot, and then I suffered a stroke on the back of that.

“Then it came to light that I needed open-heart surgery to actually replace the heart valve.

“I got tested positive for covid as well, which meant that when they performed the open-heart surgery – because they have to stop your heart to work on it – it was touch and go. Basically, they actually saved my life.”

Harrogate Harriers club member Rob Athey. He will run this summer’s 10k event to raise funds for LGI’s cardiac unit.

Mr Athey, who went back to work for Lloyds Banking Group in March, added:

“It’s life-changing. Life will never be the same again, but I’m so grateful for LGI for treating me. The NHS are fantastic, Harrogate ambulance service were fantastic in getting me there for all my procedures that I needed.

“I’m now recovering and I’m back trying to do a bit of running, although I can’t do too much. Because I’m a member of Harrogate Harriers I’d like to raise money for the cardiac unit at the LGI and (club chair Adam Prentis) said ‘yes, fantastic, we’d love to support that cause’.”

He has been running 5k distances as part of his training and is aiming to get around the 10k route in an hour – but insisted that his main motivation was completing the course and raising money.

Read more

• Artisan market set to return to Boroughbridge
• Questions raised over timing of Harrogate council’s UCI review

The undulating route in the Crimple Valley, south-east of the town, will start and finish at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre, next to the Great Yorkshire Showground. Although it is described as multi-terrain, 70% of the single lap is on roads.

Runners on the Run Harrogate 10k course through the Crimple Valley in 2019. Photo: Dan Oxtoby Photography

So far the 10k event is only at half capacity, with 428 places out of 1,000 still up for grabs. The entry fee is £17 for UK athletics club members and £19 for non-members.

A Harrogate couple who went for a delayed honeymoon in Portugal have been forced to cut their celebrations short.

The government announced yesterday that Portugal would move to the amber list next Tuesday, meaning anyone returning from that date will need to isolate for 10 days.

To avoid the isolation period and extra cost that comes with additional tests, Britons in Portugal are trying to fly home before the change comes into effect.

However, with so many people trying to get back at the same time airlines have increased the cost of tickets.

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• Knaresborough pool to reopen next month with new filters
• Two covid cases reported in Harrogate district

Hamish and Gemma Coventry got married on March 21 2020 and had to cancel their dream honeymoon to the Maldives.

They jumped at the chance to go to Portugal when it was on the green list and enjoyed the week so much that they booked in for another week.

But Gemma was on the beach when she found out that Portugal was moving off the green travel list. She told the Stray Ferret:

“We have made the most of the holiday and have had a lovely time but it was stressful when we were trying to book flights back.

“If we kept the original return flights we would have to isolate for 10 days and Hamish would miss the start of his new job.

“So we needed to get a flight back urgently. So many people have been scrambling for flights and the prices have jumped up astronomically.

“I don’t understand it. There was plenty of room on the flight out but now we are all cramming on to a full flight back to the UK.”

The couple did manage to secure new tickets, although they said prices had jumped up by £400, and should be returning to the UK on Sunday.

TGI Fridays has been granted a late night alcohol licence for its planned Harrogate venue in the former Ask Italian restaurant on Albert Street.

The American restaurant chain submitted plans for a licence to Harrogate Borough Council back in March.

It was lodged under the company’s new cocktail bar 63rd+1st, which opened its first UK venue last month in Cobham, Surrey.

The licensing application for Harrogate includes films, live music, recorded music, late night refreshment and the supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 9am to 0030am Monday to Sunday.

Read more:

• TGI Fridays applies to open venue in Harrogate
• Sainsbury’s to open store in Harrogate town centre

A TGI Fridays and 63rd+1st spokesperson said:

“We are excited to be opening 63rd+1st in Harrogate and will release further details on timings later this year.”

The company launched the new cocktail-led bar and restaurant venture last year, which is named after the location of the original restaurant in Manhattan, and plans to open more in 2021.

The company has promised that it will be a “vibrant meeting place” and that it will have the feel of a New York loft in the 1960s.

When the new brand was announced last year, Robert Cook, chief executive of Fridays and 63rd+1st, said in a statement that “audiences are becoming increasingly discerning and their attitudes towards food and drink are evolving”. 

He added:

“We are in a strong position to cater to this audience and, as a result, we are securing other sought-after sites in prime locations.”

Harrogate BID has launched a new app in an effort to help town centre businesses increase footfall and sales.

The app comes in partnership with LoyalFree, which has partnered up with the BID from today.

Harrogate is the thirty-first town in the UK to adopt the digital platform, which provides information for locals and visitors alike such as a local guide, exclusive deals and loyalty schemes, fun local events and interesting trails.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, told the Stray Ferret previously that the idea behind the app was to “showcase the best in town”.

Read more:

• ‘New normal’ will be good for Harrogate, says new BID manager
• Harrogate Pubwatch relaunches to keep out town’s troublemakers

BID levy payers will benefit from advertising opportunities, customer insights and social media support from the app. Businesses already signed up include Cafe M, The Crown Hotel and Nutrition Joe’s Urban Cafe

Mr Chapman said he knows “first-hand” the benefits of using an app for businesses.

He said: 

“From my previous role with Huddersfield BID, which introduced LoyalFree more than a year ago, I know first-hand the benefits it can help deliver.

“The LoyalFree app now provides Harrogate town centre with a great digital platform to showcase all the amazing businesses here. There is so much on offer in the town, and we hope it will encourage more people to support our local high street.

“Even before our launch, a number of businesses have already signed up to the LoyalFree, which is really encouraging news.”

Sophie Hainsworth, co-founder of LoyalFree, said: 

‘‘We are delighted to be working with Harrogate BID. 

“It’s more vital than ever for digital solutions to support the high street experience, and we hope businesses take advantage of everything the app has to offer.”

The LoyalFree app can be downloaded for free here or by searching ‘LoyalFree’ on the iOS and Google play store.

A Harrogate DJ who has turned to plumbing over the last year is anxiously waiting for the moment he can get behind the decks again.

Ed Marshall has kept a keen eye on the coronavirus numbers recently, particularly in the run-up to the full lifting of lockdown on June 21.

Like many in the industry, the past year has been hard for Ed. He has been a DJ for 25 years but has lost thousands of pounds in cancelled events due to coronavirus.

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When coronavirus first hit he suffered more than 30 cancellations in one day. Soon his packed schedule had been reduced to nothing.

Instead he has thrown himself full-time into his brother’s plumbing business Andy Marshall Plumbing and Heating.

The government has not yet confirmed all restrictions will be lifted this month but many of Ed’s clients are confident and have booked him for events. He told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s all I have known, going out and doing parties so the last year has been a nightmare.

“I think people are looking forward to it. I mean the first event I have got booked is a young farmer’s 21st birthday so it’s going to be absolutely mental.

“Well I thought maybe it’s nice to have a couple of months as a break but nobody was expecting more than a year.

“I have got a really good day job but for people out there who rely on the entertainment industry, they have been forgotten.”

Are you in an industry keen to get back to work on June 21? Tell us your story by sending an email to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.