Harrogate family pet shop to close after more than 50 years

A Harrogate family pet shop will close after 52 years because the owners have seen footfall and sales drop.

Mick Stothard, who started working at A P & K Stothard Pet Store when he was 10 years old, will retire and the shop will shut its doors on October 3.

He believes that there is not enough support for independent businesses in the town and called for local councillors to step up to help.

A P & K Stothard in 2014 when it owned more unit.

Peter and Kath Stothard, Mick’s parents, started the pet store in 1968 with just £47. It had spanned over four units along the street before it reduced in size to one unit in recent years.

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Mr Stothard told the Stray Ferret that he will transfer most of his stock over to his son and daughter’s shop, Posh Paws on Leeds Road, which will continue to trade. He added:

“We are just not getting enough people through. The town centre is struggling, there are so many shops that are closing down.

“It is all I have ever known. It will be tough to say goodbye after so many years. It is much more difficult now.”

What the pet shop used to take in one week is now taken over four or five weeks. This latest closure follows Bookstall Newsagents, The Cooperative Bank and Gambaru Fitness all closing their doors in recent weeks.

However, it has not been all bad for businesses on Commerical Street. A new fishmonger opened today, with queues out of the door.

Harrogate street spends days in darkness

A street in central Harrogate has spent the past three working days in darkness after the power company failed to fix a fault.

Businesses on Victoria Avenue said that the constant power cuts have been very disruptive.

Northern Powergrid has been trying the fix the issue since Friday. However, businesses report that, each day, the power goes off for several hours and offices have had to close as a result.

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Many on the street are offices, but there are also opticians and dental practices which have had to cancel some appointments.

Andrew Gray, the director of Truth Legal and a landlord on the street, told the Stray Ferret that all of his tenants have gone home:

“It has been massively disruptive. I have a team of lawyers, together with five sets of tenants in this building, and they are all trying to work from home. With coronavirus some businesses are already prepared to switch to home working but there are some office staff who don’t have laptops.”

David Simister, one of the directors at Different PR, also told the Stray Ferret:

“There haven’t been this many power cuts since the Winter of Discontent. It is a nightmare to deal with but I have been able to work from home as a result. Following on from coronavirus this has been the last thing many businesses on this street need.”

Northern Powergrid’s live power map shows that 40 properties have been affected. A spokesperson said:

“We have had engineers out again today. They dug up the road to get access to the faulty cables. It will only be a temporary fix but it should stop the power going out on an intermittent basis.”

‘Emotional’ day as children head back to school

Today was a big day, as many children across the district returned to school for the first time in six months.

The Stray Ferret has been outside the gates of St Aidan’s High School speaking to parents as they waved their children off for their first day back.

For children starting year 7, today is a particularly big milestone: the first day at high school, unfamiliar surroundings, new friends – and on top of this, having to get used to a strange ‘new normal’ with covid restrictions in place.

Ruth Dunn, Mum of a year 7 pupil at St Aidan’s.

Mary Buck, was one of those at the gates, saying goodbye to her daughter who was starting high school today.

“It makes it worse when she’s crying as it makes me cry. Normally her big sister would have been able to walk her in, but she wasn’t allowed with covic.

“My daughter has a medical issue, she doesn’t know her form tutor, she doesn’t know where she’s going. Normally they have a half-day and then a full day induction but they haven’t had this this year.

“The transition from primary to high school is a big change and they didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to all their primary friends.”

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Despite the nerves and emotion felt among the pupils and parents, most expressed how important it is that they get back to school.

Another mum who was also dropping her child off for her first day at high school said:

“It couldn’t have gone on any longer – the children’s mental health was going to suffer. I feel very reassured by the school, It is my daughter’s first ever day at St Aidan’s but I know they have great processes in place.”

The headteacher at St Aidan’s, Chris Burt,  told the Stray Ferret that he recognises the significant step from primary school to secondary school:

“We have been delighted to welcome Year 7 into St Aidan’s for the first time today. Throughout the day. students will familiarise themselves with the building, meet their fellow students, meet their teachers and get a good feel for what a typical day will be like going forwards.

“The transition from primary to secondary school is a significant step for many students in normal circumstances; ever more so in the context that we are all working in at present and our staff and dedicated pastoral team are on hand to support them throughout.

“We are incredibly proud of how all of our students have coped over the last five months and we look forward to having everyone back in school tomorrow.”

Home library service maintains morale

The home library service has earned praise in Harrogate for its support for local people as lockdown restrictions are eased.

The service delivers books to those who cannot select them in person, including people with disabilities, illness and caring responsibilities.es.

The service is run by volunteers and was operating out of libraries across North Yorkshire since before lockdown. As libraries began to reopen, the service has also been restarted.

Doris Guiseley, 92, from Harrogate, said:

“I’ve had the service since I was 80 and to me it is a godsend. I’m an avid reader and can get lost in a good book, it’s what keeps me going. I recommend it to everyone I meet and tell them it’s a brilliant service.” 

The Harrogate library volunteers have been praised for their support over lockdown.  

Edith Beckley, a 96-year-old from Harrogate, said: 

“The volunteers have become friends too and when they couldn’t visit they rang me every week during lockdown just for a chat.” 

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The service has now been adapted to ensure the protection of both volunteers and the community. All books are left in a secure place on a pre-arranged date and quarantined after collection. 

In July, a Select and Collect service was also launched to allow customers to limit contact whilst collecting books. 

County Councillor Greg White, executive member for libraries, said:  

“I would encourage more people to take advantage of our brilliant service. If you or someone you know would benefit please get in touch.” 

Andrew Jones MP enters devolution debate

Local government minister Simon Clarke has sidestepped a request by Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones to state the minimum population size for a new unitary authority.

Mr Jones submitted a written question asking what the minimum size should be to achieve value for money and quality service delivery.

But Mr Clarke’s response did not give a figure. He said:

“Whilst traditionally various population ranges for unitary councils have been referred to, where a unitary council is proposed its particular circumstances need to be considered when assessing whether its population would be appropriate.”

Mr Clarke added the government’s devolution and local recovery white paper, due to be published this autumn, would provide more details.

‘Too big and remote’

Population size is a critical issue in the ongoing devolution debate in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire County Council has proposed creating one large authority that would serve all 610,000 people in the county besides York, which would remain a separate unitary authority.

The seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, have put forward an alternative east / west model that would result in two smaller authorities.

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The district councils claim the county council’s model is too big and remote and their alternative suggestion would lead to more responsive local government.

In June, Mr Clarke said the size of unitary authorities “depended on local circumstances but as a rule of thumb are expected to be substantially in excess of 300,000 to 400,000”.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones if he was satisfied with Mr Clarke’s response and his view on the best devolution model for North Yorkshire but he had not replied by the time of publication.

Plan to convert Harrogate guest house to flats

The owner of Alexa House guest house in Harrogate has submitted plans to convert the building to seven apartments.

Sandra Doherty, who is also chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, told the Stray Ferret she planned to retire.

Ms Doherty will, however, continue her role with the chamber. She said:

“It was falling last year and breaking both arms that finally made my mind up. That and requests for seeing my grandchildren more.

“Covid hasn’t helped as I hoped to enjoy one last year, especially with my regular guests who I have become such good friends with over the past 14 years.”

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Plans sent to Harrogate Borough Council request change of use from hotel to seven residential apartments at the site on Ripon Road.

The application also proposes to demolish existing extensions and outbuildings, create a rear extension and remodel the car park.

Fears Harrogate food bank will see spike in demand when furlough ends

Organisers of the Harrogate food bank are concerned there maybe an increase in demand for food when the furlough scheme ends. 

The Stray Ferret reported in May that the amount of people who used Harrogate’s food bank more than doubled when lockdown was introduced. The facility, located at the Mowbray Community Church has continued to see a high level of demand.  

Linda Macrow, the temporary project manager, thinks that the end of the furlough scheme could cause a further increase in demand. She said: 

“I suspect numbers might increase but we will have to wait and see what happens”.

Among those needing its services are single people, who could be facing job difficulties, and people who are homeless. 

Linda feels confident that the organisation will adapt to any situation, as the food bank is well supported by volunteers and donations. She told the Stray Ferret: 

“The people of Harrogate have always been very generous”. 

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North Yorkshire County Council recently allocated £18,055 of funding to other Harrogate organisations that help people get enough food. It is part of a national grant to local authorities from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.  

The money will be divided between two community groups: Resurrected Bites and Supporting Older People. 

New Harrogate fishmonger opens today

A new independent fishmonger will open on Commercial Street today.  

Tarbett’s describes itself as the largest independent fish retailer in Yorkshire and will open its fourth branch in Harrogate this morning.  

It takes over a unit formerly occupied by Save the Children, which has been empty for four years. 

Amy Shaw, the business manager, said: 

“Commercial Street is the perfect place for us because it is very similar to our location in Chapel Allerton, which also has an independent butchers. It makes sense for us to be in Harrogate because we already have a lot of customers here. Our home deliveries are popular and we regularly supply Harrogate businesses.” 

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Tarbett’s will start trading at a time when Harrogate town centre lacks a traditional fishmongers, following the relocation of Ramus from Kings Road earlier in the year. Ramus is now based at Fodder farm shop and café. 

Amy added: 

“Perhaps other fishmongers were too far out. We hope to encourage the public to shop with us through our convenient location.” 

The business was founded by Liam Tarbett upon leaving university. Starting his enterprise at a farmer’s market in Leeds, he now has shops in Chapel Allerton, Leeds Kirkgate Market and Wetherby. 

The fish retailer offers a wide range of products at its other locations including Shetland scallops, extra-large king prawns, Scottish salmon fillet and sashimi grade tuna. Its arrival on Commercial Street has been celebrated by neighbouring retailers.

Play reveals Harrogate’s secret royal role in WWII

A new play has revealed the Harrogate district’s little-known role in a secret plan to protect the royal family and Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the Second World War.

The Stray is a two-act drama by playwright Keith Burton with the assistance of Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam.

It tells the story of Harrogate’s role in the Coats Mission, which was a secret plan to evacuate the royal family from London.

Newby Hall, near Ripon, was identified as a possible home for the royal family and a wing of Grove House on Skipton Road in Harrogate, opposite an RAF bunker, was designated as a possible home for Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

On September 8 1940 Buckingham Palace was bombed and the Coats Mission plans were expedited.

However, the RAF and the Secret Intelligence Service did not want the Harrogate district plans to go ahead as they were building Washington bombers at nearby Yeadon and had a station at Forest Moor in Nidderdale feeding code-breaking intelligence to Bletchley Park.

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Then on September 12 a Junker 88 attacked the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate. These were the only bombs to fall on the town in the war.

Newspapers at the time reported “a stray” bombing by a plane and said it was part of a bigger raid on “northern industrial targets” without naming where the other bombs had fallen.

But the intelligence agencies did not regard it as a stray bomb and two days after the attack on Harrogate the Coats Mission was dropped.

The Stray is based on what might have happened in Harrogate during the week commencing September 8 1940.

Newby Hall.

Cllr Jim Clark, who is the chairman of North Yorkshire County Council and commissioned the play, has a long history of involvement in theatre. He said:

“There have always been stories about Harrogate’s part in the war so I thought this was a unique way of capturing the drama of it. I wanted to be able to make a contribution to help drama groups at schools and amateur dramatic groups. I will have the rights to the play for five years so anybody can perform it within reason.

Mr Clark has approached Harrogate Dramatic Society and Harrogate Theatre with the play. He hopes that it will start in Yorkshire and spread further afield.

New Tesco could open in Killinghall next year

The new Tesco Express in Killinghall is unlikely to open until late next year at the earliest.

The store is due to be built on the site of The Three Horseshoes pub on the main Ripon Road in the middle of Killinghall.

The pub posted a message on its Facebook page on Saturday saying it will close on September 27. But it could be some time before the Tesco Express opens.

In July, Harrogate Borough Council approved plans by Ilkley developers Dynamic Capital Killinghall to convert the site to a convenience store.

The plans also involve constructing four flats and installing six electric vehicle charging points.

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At a meeting of Killinghall Parish Council last week, Cllr John Moretta said the developers had suggested once work gets underway it is likely to take a year to complete.

Last month Tesco applied for an alcohol licence from 6am to 11pm seven days of the week at the site, which has hosted a pub for 150 years.

Tesco subsequently submitted three more planning applications for signage, lighting and an ATM machine. Work is unlikely to begin until these matters are resolved.

Fellow parish councillor George Novelli told last week’s meeting the store would be “absolutely vital for the village”, which has grown considerably in recent years. A Tesco spokesman said:

“We believe the new store will be a positive addition to the local community and we aim to be serving customers there in 2021.”

The Greyhounds Inn opposite The Three Horseshoes remains closed.