Six-month planning wait ruins Starbeck micropub plan

Plans to open a new micropub called the Office Ale House in Starbeck have fallen through.

IT consultant Kevin Jones previously said he hoped to get the venue at 67d High Street up and running by May, subject to planning permission.

He applied for a change of use planning permission on September 22, but nearly six months later Harrogate Borough Council was still to consider the application.

Mr Jones said the landlord of the building has now decided to offer the building to a different tenant.

He said he was “seriously upset about it” and criticised the council’s planning department:

“Starbeck has lost what would have been a community asset.”

“Now all the money I have spent on it has been wasted.”

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A council spokesperson blamed the covid pandemic for the delay:

“We would normally endeavour to determine an application for a change of use within eight weeks. This can sometimes take longer should revisions to a scheme be needed and/or further information required.

“But, like all local authorities, the planning application process was disrupted considerably last year due to the on-going global pandemic and the numerous lockdown and social distancing measures introduced.

“Once remote meeting were introduced, along with government measures for carrying out the planning process safely, we have successfully reinstated this process. However, as a result of the aforementioned issues, some application decisions are taking longer to determine.”

A different building on Starbeck High Street will be turned into a pub called the Waiting Room, after Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee granted it a licence to sell alcohol last month.

The premises was previously occupied by Greenalls and Your Factory Bed Shop.

Harrogate Neighbours walk 36 miles for Alzheimer’s Society

Care charity Harrogate Neighbours has hosted a walk and talk memory walk to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Tenants, staff, relatives and friends of Harrogate Neighbours, which provides housing and meals for older people, took part in the walk on Saturday.

The walkers, who ranged in age from 18 months to 95 years, completed a combined 36 miles by performing 144 laps of The Cuttings, which is an extra care housing scheme run by Harrogate Neighbours.

Nearly half of Harrogate Neighbours’ tenants and residents live with Alzheimer’s, which is why the event was held in support of Alzheimer’s Society.

The walk encouraged those suffering with social isolation to talk to others.

Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, said:

“We’ve only recently been allowed to welcome children outdoors on site, so it was wonderful to see the smiles and interaction of the tenants.

“Running an event like this is a great way to support not only a charity close to all of our hearts, but the wellbeing of our residents, tenants and staff by bringing everyone together to walk and talk in a covid-safe way.”

The group reached 36 miles on Saturday and ranged in age from 18 months to 95 years.

Further donations are expected to come in this week. To support the organisation click here.

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Cat shot in Markington ‘on the brink of death’

The RSPCA is appealing for information after a cat called Timmy was found with a shot wound on his shoulder in Markington.

RSPCA officers found the seven-year-old ginger tomcat in the village, which is between Ripon and Harrogate, after a resident alerted the animal welfare charity.

Timmy was rushed to the vets where an X-ray revealed an entry wound from a pellet had shattered his shoulder.

The cat had shrapnel all over his body, and the RSPCA said it was “lucky” the pieces missed his vital organs.

Timmy is now recovering well and the RSPCA has launched an investigation.

The vet believed the shot was fired by a shotgun at close range meaning “someone really wanted to hurt Timmy”.

RSPCA inspector Natalie Taylor said:

“This poor cat would have been in terrible pain from the gun wound. Poor Timmy was on the brink of death before the vets operated on his shoulder and saved him.

“His owners are understandably distraught, this was a callous and horrible act of cruelty against him.

“It is very distressing to think that people take pleasure in causing such horrific injuries to defenceless animals. These are deliberate and brutal acts of cruelty.”

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Ms Taylor said cats and wildlife were often victims of shootings because they are out in the open.

Airgun attacks are most commonly used but the shrapnel suggested a shotgun had been used in this case.

Anyone caught deliberately injuring an animal can face up to six months in prison. They could also be ordered to pay an unlimited fine, if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.

If you have any information you can call the RSPCA inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

Harrogate dentist drops plans to stop NHS services

A Harrogate dentist has dropped plans to stop providing NHS services after patients raised concerns.

Chatsworth House Dental Clinic proposed in August transferring NHS patients to Starbeck Dental Centre.

The provider never made a formal approach to the NHS and has now confirmed it has no intention to stop the service.

The owners of Chatsworth House Dental Clinic said in a statement to the Stray Ferret:

“At the time, the practice was merely seeking opinion from our patient base about the possible merging of NHS services with another practice in the locality.

“We decided not to pursue this any further after feedback from our patients and the logistics of such a proposal.

“We have no intention of ceasing NHS services and the practice is fully committed to providing NHS services for the long-term future at its current location.”

The decision surprised the management team at Starbeck Dental Centre, which was set to take on the NHS contract.

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Jonathan Campbell, group operations manager at Starbeck Dental Centre, said:

“I can confirm that the transfer to Starbeck Dental Centre is not happening following the unexpected withdrawal from the owners of Chatsworth House Dental Clinic.

“At Target Dental Group our aim is to provide the best possible care to the patients to both NHS and private patients of Harrogate and surrounding areas.”

Investigation into NHS dentist provision in Harrogate district

It comes after an investigation by the Stray Ferret found that just two NHS dentists in the Harrogate district are currently accepting patients and they have a waiting list of at least two-and-a-half years.

We looked into the availability of free NHS services at the 18 district dental practices listed on the NHS website.

Many have not updated their information for years. But they all fall into one of three categories: they have a long waiting list; they have such a long waiting list that they are not taking on new patients; or they no longer hold an NHS contract.

Of the 18 practices, only MyDentist in Knaresborough and AW Jones Dental Practice in Boroughbridge are taking patients — with waiting times of two-and-a-half years and three years respectively.

Harrogate council spends £350,000 on B&Bs for homeless people

Harrogate Borough Council spent more than £350,000 on bed and breakfast accommodation for homeless people from the start of the first lockdown until the end of last year.

The local authority worked with some businesses in the district to put people up. But it also sent some homeless people as far as Darlington, which is more than an hour’s drive from Harrogate.

People were also sent to Leeds and York.

The Stray Ferret understands it was necessary to use accommodation elsewhere because some empty hotels in the district were reluctant to accept homeless people.

From March to December, the council spent £353,000 on B&Bs and more than £1,400 on taxis for homeless people, according to council documents.

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The national government covered the cost through a grant as part of its “Everyone In” scheme to get people off the streets during the pandemic.

A spokeswoman from Harrogate Borough Council said:

“The coronavirus pandemic has placed extra demand on our homelessness service, which accounts for the additional spend in recent months.

“We received a government grant to provide accommodation for rough sleepers or those at risk of rough sleeping in the Harrogate district.

“We may sometimes use accommodation in another council area, but at all times the receiving local authority is notified and the person continues to be supported by our homelessness team.”

The Local Government Association published a report in November, which found that Everyone In saved saves by encouraging councils to take rapid action.

Liz Hancock, chair of the Harrogate Homeless Project, echoed those findings and told the Stray Ferret:

“The Everyone In scheme was a relief. We recognise how hard Harrogate Borough Council has worked and continues to work on this.

“This was emergency action but the council is now looking at long-term solutions to keep people off the streets.”

Will the real Harrogate Residents Association please stand up?

Two rival Facebook groups with starkly contrasting opinions on cycling are locked in a dispute over the use of the name Harrogate Residents Association.

The original Harrogate Residents Association is a private Facebook group with 326 members and a website.

It was set up in February by Anna McIntee and Lucy Gardiner, who feel there has been a lack of consultation about the recent spate of transport schemes promoting cycling and walking, such as changes to Oatlands Drive and the £7.9 million Station Gateway project.

They are sceptical about the merits of the schemes and fear they could damage the town.

Last week a new Harrogate Residents Association group was formed by Mark Smith.

Its members are more favourable towards the pro-walking and cycling schemes, which also include the closure of Beech Grove to through traffic and the pedestrianisation of James Street.

The “clone” group

Lucy Gardiner

The duo behind the original page told the Stray Ferret the new “clone” group was an “obvious attempt” to discredit their opinions, and should be shut down by Facebook.

Ms McIntee said posts in her group questioning the merits of walking and cycling proposals had attracted “relentless” comments from pro-cycling accounts demanding that it “provides the facts”.

Ms Gardiner was even accused of being Tara Gunne, the now infamous ‘fake’ profile that used the image of Liverpool adult entertainer Hazel May to discredit the Station Gateway proposals.

Ms Mcintee said those behind the new group wanted to “confuse and undermine” the original group.

She added:

“It’s terrible. It’s frightening. It’s not fair for the people of Harrogate to be put through this.”

She also accused the pro-cycling voices in Harrogate of being aggressive and confrontational.

Ms Gardiner added:

“We’re the real Harrogate Residents Association.”

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Bagsied the name

Mark Smith

Mr Smith told the Stray Ferret he set up the new page because he was unhappy the original Harrogate Residents Association Facebook group had been set to private, with new members having to be approved before joining.

He said the group’s selective nature made it an untrue representation of the residents of Harrogate.

His group has flourished and has now overtaken the original group with 371 members. Discussion topics include which streets in Harrogate could become one-way and cycling in the snow.

Mr Smith said he wouldn’t be changing the name of the group:

“Just because they bagsied the name first? It doesn’t mean anything in the real world.”

He said he did not set up the new group to confuse people and wasn’t aware of any aggressive comments made by members. He said “polite discussion is the difference between the two groups”.

Mr Smith added:

“If people are bedded to ideas progress won’t happen.”

Entrenched views

Whilst the feud over the name Harrogate Residents Association may appear trivial, it has highlighted the entrenched views and polarising opinions that North Yorkshire County Council’s various active travel schemes have generated in Harrogate.

Both sides agreed it was important to listen to each other opinions — although sometimes it seems this is proving easier said than done.

Harrogate Nightingale dismantling begins

Work has begun to dismantle Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital – almost a year after it was built at a cost of more than £27m.

The temporary 500-bed site was set up at Harrogate Convention Centre in April last year to cope with a surge of coronavirus cases but it has not treated a single virus patient during the pandemic.

NHS England announced this month the emergency hospital would close at the start of April and a spokesperson has now confirmed contractors have started removing medical equipment from the venue.

“The phased dismantling of NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber has begun.

“The removal of some larger pieces of equipment will require road closures which will be advertised through the appropriate channels in due course.”

The emergency hospital was one of seven built in England and although it did not treat a single coronavirus patient, it was used for non-virus diagnostic tests and outpatient appointments.

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Earlier this month, the NHS described the network of Nightingale hospitals as the “ultimate insurance policy” as it announced each of the sites, apart from those in London and Sunderland which will stay open for vaccinations, will close next month.

Health officials also said it was a “success” that the Harrogate site was not needed but there are questions over how it would have been staffed, with councillors on the West Yorkshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee this week launching an investigation into why the facility was not used for covid patients.

Councillor Jim Clark, the Conservative chairman of North Yorkshire County Council, said there are “questions to be answered” and “lessons we can learn” around the Nightingale.

He told the health committee on Monday:

“We need to know how we would have staffed it, what capacity it would have been able to provide, where the staff would have come from and what effect that would have had on services within the rest of Yorkshire.”

It remains unclear how long the dismantling of the hospital will take and how much it will cost.

However, Paula Lorimer, director of the council-owned convention centre, previously said she was “confident” it will be ready for events to return on 21 June when all restrictions on social distancing are due to be lifted.

 

Harrogate BID “urges caution” over Station Gateway project

Harrogate Business Improvement District has “urged caution” over plans for the town’s £7.9 million Station Gateway project.

In its consultation response, the BID said it “broadly welcomed” the investment but added the town centre economy is in a “fragile state” and needed to be confident the changes would help Harrogate “thrive”.

The BID said it supported a two-lane option for Station Parade but with one lane dedicated to buses and taxis only.

It did not agree with the proposed two-way cycle lanes as it “does not form part of a connected and segregated cycling route, and would result in reduced space for pedestrians”.

Meanwhile, the BID said it supported segregated cycling on both sides of East Parade and preferred minor public realm improvements outside Victoria Shopping Centre in order to focus on Cambridge Street.

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It also preferred for pavements to be widened on James Street, allowing a single carriageway for vehicles, with some short stay/blue badge/delivery bays. Other proposals being consulted on include pedestrianising the street.

A proposal for widened pavements and single lane of traffic on James Street, which the Harrogate BID supports in the Station Gateway plan.

A proposal for widened pavements and single lane of traffic on James Street, which the Harrogate BID supports in the Station Gateway plan.

The BID also raised concerns the current consultation process had not engaged the wider Harrogate community, and urged North Yorkshire County Council to consider sending details of the proposals via email and post to all Harrogate residents.

Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate BID, said the project would have a “major impact on our town centre”, adding:

“We are pleased the investment aims to create a step change in travel, and forms part of a much wider plan to tackle the climate crisis and deliver a more sustainable future for the town centre.

“We also hope this investment will help to support our journey to recovery, but urge that consideration is given to the consultation feedback to ensure that we capture the views and ideas of businesses, residents and visitors, to shape and influence the proposed plans.

“It is essential that we continue to invest in infrastructure for cars, particularly off-street car parking, park and ride, improved signage, and electric car charging to ensure that Harrogate can thrive and prosper for many more generations.”

The government’s Transforming Cities Fund has provided funding for the gateway project, to improve the design of the town and encourage more sustainable transport.

North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority are delivering the initiative.

Bilton by-election on May 6 after death of councillor

Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge is to elect a new county councillor after the death of Geoff Webber.

Mr Webber died this month at the age of 75 after a short illness.

He was involved in local government for 28 years, leading the Liberal Democrat group on North Yorkshire County Council and serving as leader and mayor of Harrogate Borough Council.

The election is scheduled to take place on May 6. Nominations must be submitted by April 8.

The Conservative-controlled county council currently has 53 Conservative councillors, four Labour councillors and four representing the Liberal Democrats. There are also eight North Yorkshire Independent and three independent councillors.

The by-election is being run on behalf of the county council by Harrogate Borough Council.

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Councillors will stand outside the former Harrogate Borough Council offices on Crescent Road in Harrogate to pay their respects to Mr Webber on Monday at 11.45am.

More details of the notice of election can be found here.

Independent Harrogate fears Station Gateway could damage economy

A group representing 187 Harrogate businesses has expressed concern the proposed £7.9 million Station Gateway could damage the local economy.

In its submission to the gateway consultation, which ends tomorrow, Independent Harrogate said it was ‘broadly supportive’ of the scheme’s aim to promote sustainable transport.

But it added Harrogate’s hospitality and retail sector was in a ‘fragile and critical state’ and it had ‘serious concerns’ about the scheme’s economic impact.

Robert Ogden, writing on behalf of Independent Harrogate, said it therefore opposed plans to reduce traffic on Station Parade to one lane, or to pedestrianise James Street. He added the group believed East Parade to be the best location for cycling lanes.

The submission said the town needed an updated infrastructure masterplan rather than ‘pocket planning’. Such a plan should include park and ride schemes, numerous electric car charging points and extensive cycling routes, it added.

It said Harrogate Borough Council‘s current masterplan, devised in 2016, was out of date and doesn’t cater for outlying villages, which don’t have regular bus services and don’t benefit from the focus on cycling. The submission said:

“Both North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council are effectively discriminating against village residents and creating a playground for Harrogate residents only, many of whom will happily get into their cars and drive to work in Leeds and other areas.”

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The submission said Independent Harrogate was not anti-cycling, adding it would support initiatives such as Cycling Sundays, whereby some central Harrogate streets were closed to traffic to encourage walking and cycling. It added:

“This cautious approach would help gauge the appetite for cycling in Harrogate without too much detrimental economic impact.”

But overall it said town centre visitors arriving by car ‘need easy access and somewhere convenient and close to the shops/cafes/restaurants to park’, adding:

“To ignore the considerable income that visitors bring will be hugely damaging and they should not be excluded from any surveys, which sadly appears to be the case at the moment.”

The government’s Transforming Cities Fund has provided funding for the gateway project, to improve the design of the town and encourage more sustainable transport.

North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority are delivering the initiative.

Read the full letter from Independent Harrogate here.