Harrogate is the cannabis hotspot of North Yorkshire

Police have raided more cannabis farms in the Harrogate district in the last three years than any other area of North Yorkshire.

A Freedom of Information request by the Stray Ferret to North Yorkshire Police revealed that 25 or more cannabis plants had been seized on 13 occasions in the district since 2017.

The district has also seen the most police activity this year, with 11 cannabis raids compared with just four in all the other districts combined.

In total, police have raided 43 cannabis farms across the county since January 2017.

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Officers also made 22 arrests relating to cannabis farms, though the figure includes people who may have been arrested for more than one offence.

North Yorkshire Police have been approached for comment, but did not respond by time of publication.

Figures on the number of cannabis farms seized across North Yorkshire. Data: North Yorkshire Police.

Figures on the number of cannabis farms seized across North Yorkshire broken down by Safer Neighbourhood Command. Data: North Yorkshire Police.

‘Sophisticated’ cannabis farms

Police were called to a cannabis farm in the district just two months ago.

In September, officers launched an investigation after a large cannabis farm was found in a former Ripon nightclub.

Officers were called to the former Matrix nightclub on Kirkgage when two people were reportedly seen running away away after being disturbed during a routine building check.

Despite an extensive search, including the use of a police drone, the two people were not found but a search of the building found a “large scale, sophisticated” cannabis farm.

Patrolling Harrogate’s streets during lockdown

Being a police traffic sergeant and father to a young child, Sergeant Paul Cording is used to being busy. Some nights he is the only traffic sergeant patrolling North Yorkshire’s 6,000 miles of roads.

But although the first lockdown decimated the volume of traffic on the roads, the second one has been far busier — and more challenging in some ways. He says:

“We’ve seen more high end speeding. That could be a result of less traffic on the road and people thinking they can use it as a race track.”

Sgt Cording, 49, who lives in Harrogate, said there have also been more incidents involving drink and drug drivers and more domestic incidents. But late night alcohol disturbances are down.

14,000 Twitter followers

Sgt Cording’s sometimes shocking tweets about life on the frontline have brought him a near-14,000 following,

North Yorkshire Police trust him to communicate directly with journalists and the wider public in his warm, engaging manner.

He weaves personal anecdotes, such as cannabis drivers, chasing suspected poachers and a colleague being bitten by a person with covid, with more serious messages, such as promoting the charity Brake’s road safety week.

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He says there were “some issues” within the force when he started tweeting in 2011 but increasingly the police recognise the value of officers engaging directly with the public and showing a bit of personality rather than parroting corporate lines.

“You have to be engaging otherwise there’s no point.”

A former RAF man, he works from 7am to 7pm for two consecutive days, then from 7pm to 7am for two consecutive nights then has four days off. What has been his most distressing incident?

“Being first on the scene of a fatal road traffic accident involving one of my colleagues. She was hit by a speeding drink and drug driver.”

Likes a beer

Since joining the police in 2001, Sgt Cording says there has been “huge progress” in looking after officers’ mental health by providing welfare meetings, incident briefings and trauma incident management. But some things are never forgotten.

To unwind, he spends time with his wife and three-year-old son, plays hockey, runs and “likes a beer”.

He tries to answer every direct message he receives on Twitter.

“I’ve only ever had to block two people and that’s because I didn’t want to buy any Raybans and because I’m a happily married man. Read into that what you will!”

Harrogate Spring Water Pinewoods plans: decision delayed

A decision on whether to allow Harrogate Spring Water to expand its bottling plant in the Pinewoods has been delayed until the new year.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee was expected to consider the controversial proposals, which include felling trees, next month.

But after talks between concerned local groups and Danone, which owns Harrogate Spring Water, the issue has been put back to allow time for further discussions around the ecology of the proposal.

Trees in the area of Pinewoods known as Rotary Wood, which were planted by families in 2015, would be lost as part of Danone’s plans.

The groups involved in the discussions are not satisfied that the loss of trees and biodiversity will be compensated for.

The groups include Harrogate Civic Society, Harrogate and District Green Party, Pinewoods Conservation Group, Zero Carbon Harrogate, the Rotary Club of Harrogate and Duchy Residents’ Association.

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Danone has had outline planning permission to expand to the west of its existing site since 2016.

A spokesperson for Pinewoods Conservation Group told the Stray Ferret it hoped the extra time resulted in a plan that is “acceptable to all parties”.

The spokesperson said:

“We welcome the pause on this planning application and the offer from Harrogate Spring Water for further discussion on this important topic.

“There was a clear condition on the original planning application that there must be replacement land and trees to compensate for the ecological loss to the area.”

Nicky Cain, brand manager at Harrogate Spring Water, told the Stray Ferret the company planned to have discussions with local groups every two weeks until at least the new year.

She said:

“The delay gives us longer to consult with local stakeholders and discuss the issues around landscaping. All round it’s worked out well.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman said:

“These plans are yet to be submitted and when they are there will be a period of consultation to allow residents and interested parties the chance to comment on these proposals ahead of the matter being reported to our planning committee.

“The provisional date of 8 December is no longer achievable and a date for when the application will be presented to planning committee will be decided at a later date following the receipt of the plans and consultation period.”

Spofforth villagers ‘over the moon’ at 72-home planning refusal

Spofforth villagers are “over the moon” that an application to build 72 homes in the historic village was refused yesterday — but there is uncertainty over what happens next. The proposed development has been the subject of fierce opposition.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee rejected the proposal yesterday at a meeting that dealt with the appearance and landscaping of the scheme even though a council report recommended approval.

Houses will be built on the site in some form as outline permission for the development was granted to Vistry Partnerships and Yorkshire Housing in March 2019.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret today, Spofforth parish councillor Chris Heslop said the decision was the “best possible outcome” for the village.

He urged the developers to work with residents on a scheme that better addressed housing density, appearance and flooding.

“All we hope as Spofforth Parish Council is we now get some involvement in the application that comes forward. That site has outline planning so they won’t just walk away from it.

“It was refused so we were absolutely over the moon about it. That was the best possible outcome. For once it looks like sense has prevailed.”

If the applicants appeal it raises the spectre of a costly legal battle for Harrogate Borough Council, but Cllr Heslop believes there would be grounds to fight it.

At yesterday’s planning committee, Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh referred to the government’s National Planning Policy Framework, which says, “permission should be refused for development of poor design that fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area and the way it functions”.

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If Vistry Partnerships and Yorkshire Housing do go develop a new plan for the site, people in Spofforth hope they will be able to have more of a say.

Cllr Heslop added:

“This plan was put on us and the wants needs and requirements of the village weren’t thought of at all. I would hope with this, [the developers] would have learned they need to work with the village not railroad over it. We won’t give in to another poor application.”

Andy Gamble, director of development at Yorkshire Housing, told the Stray Ferret it was considering its options.

“We are disappointed with the decision to refuse our application and await further details from the council, after which we will consider our options.

“Yorkshire Housing is passionate about creating new communities and delivering quality affordable homes that will help address the housing crisis and provide homes in Yorkshire.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman said:

“Decisions made at planning committee are determined by councillors based on officers’ reports and information held on the application file. Officers do make a recommendation but it is entirely up to the committee how they vote on applications.

“In regards to an appeal, we would not comment on something that hasn’t even happened.”

Coronavirus clinic to open at Harrogate community centre

A coronavirus clinic will open in a Harrogate community centre next week and will be in place until January next year.

The Jennyfield Styan Community Centre in Grantley Drive will enable those with coronavirus or symptoms to see a GP face-to-face.

Currently, patients with covid-19 who need an in person appointment attend their own surgery.

While other surgeries have strict safety measures in place, doctors have been pushing for a dedicated site.

GPs and part-time doctors will begin seeing patients next week between 12pm and 6pm on Mondays to Fridays.

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Appointments will alternate between the two rooms, enabling a deep clean between each patient.

Patients will be asked to wait in their vehicle on arrival, wear a face covering and keep hands sanitised, before they are escorted to the appointment.

If the patient requires medication then they will get an electronic prescription sent directly to the patient’s usual pharmacy.

NHS North Yorkshire CCG and the Yorkshire Health Network secured the community centre from Harrogate Borough Council.

The CCG’s clinical chair, Dr Charles Parker, said:

“This additional capacity will be of enormous benefit to practices. It will help ensure surgeries can continue to meet the demands of a busy winter period.”

Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“Jennyfield Styan Community Centre plays a vital part of the community for so many, and now more than ever.

“I hope the NHS can make use of the facility and provide much needed GP appointments for those that so desperately need them.”

Three weekends of disruption to improve Harrogate rail services

Three weekends of rail disruption in and around Harrogate will begin this weekend.

The disruption is due to a £9.8 million project that will enable trains to run more frequently between Leeds and York.

North Yorkshire County Council and the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership is funding the upgrades, with Network Rail carrying out the work.

Network Rail will begin by installing equipment at Harrogate’s train station this weekend that enables trains to change track.

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Weekends of disruption

North Yorkshire county councillor Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access, said:

““When complete, it will significantly enhance the rail infrastructure in the north. The capacity of services as well as their frequency will be increased, making it much more convenient and reliable for passengers using this line.”

Ice cream show set to return to Harrogate

The Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate has received a welcome boost with the news that a major three-day event will return.

The Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show will be held from February 8 to 10 in 2022.

Harrogate has hosted the show, which is organised by the Ice Cream Alliance, every year since 2008. But the February 2021 edition has been cancelled.

Zelica Carr, chief executive of the association, which is a trade body and membership association for the ice cream industry, said:

“Harrogate is an amazing town with its array of hotels, excellent choice of restaurants, shopping and transportation connection from all over the UK, which caters for all visitors here and abroad via Leeds-Bradford Airport.”

The event showcases a huge assortment of ice cream varieties, equipment and supplies.

It also attracts companies from the coffee, pastry and bakery industries.

The Yorkshire Event Centre, and Harrogate as a whole, has had to cancel numerous trade shows and events this year due to coronavirus.

 

Several hundred people miss early cancer diagnosis in Yorkshire

Several hundred people in Yorkshire have missed potentially life-saving early cancer diagnosis because of covid, according to a Harrogate-based research charity.

Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive of Yorkshire Cancer Research, gave the figure in an interview with the Stray Ferret.

The NHS halted screenings in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Scott said:

“We have lost some opportunities to find early cancers. People were also very nervous to go to the doctors. Then the people that do go have delays in diagnosis and treatment.

“The NHS tried innovative ways to get around that. But it is still a sad fact that we think several hundred people have missed out on early diagnosis in Yorkshire.”

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She added that when people miss out on early diagnosis they often have to go through more invasive treatments and have a worse chance of survival.

Dr Scott spoke to us after the publication of the charity’s annual accounts for the year ending 31 March 2020, which showed total income had increased from £12.8 million to £18.7 million.

Royalty income accounted for £12 million – up from £6.7 million – of this.

The charity, however, is expecting its next accounts to be more challenging because of covid, with fundraising income likely to be down by more than £1 million.

£8.3 million for new cancer research

To combat what Dr Scott sees as a “big hill to climb” with cancer, the charity is pumping another £8.3 million into new research.

Of this sum, £3.4 million will be used to fund research into whether chemotherapy before surgery in bowel cancer patients improves survival rates.

Other projects it funds will look into ways to use medication to slow the spread of prostate cancer, urine tests to detect bladder cancer and whether vaping products can help those with mental illness quit smoking.

How coronavirus vaccine push can help cancer research

There has been much excitement about the development of coronavirus vaccines with efficacy of up to 95%.

Dr Scott hopes the development of new technologies, such as synthetic DNA-based vaccines, could be adapted to improve cancer treatments. She said:

“One of the benefits of the way they have run the clinical trials is the new technology and the new techniques they’re using in those trials.

“It really compresses the time and so absolutely in the future, fingers crossed, we can get cancer treatments and therapies through that pipeline faster.”

Although the pandemic is likely to hit Yorkshire Cancer Research hard financially, it believes its future is bright, and that it will be able to continue with its aim of helping 2,000 more people survive cancer every year in Yorkshire.

Bilton housing scheme criticised for lack of affordable homes

Harrogate Civic Society has said it is “very disappointed” a 19-home council development in the Bilton area of the town doesn’t include any affordable homes.

North Yorkshire County Council was granted permission last week to demolish its Woodfield House care home on Woodfield Square and build the new homes through its property company, Brierley Homes.

Henry Pankhurst, ex-chairman and current planning spokesman for the society, told the Stray Ferret he was not happy that all the new homes will be sold at market value with no provision for affordable properties, particularly as they are being built by a local authority.

He said:

“It’s very disappointing. I would have hoped North Yorkshire County Council would have recognised that Harrogate Borough Council has a difficulty in providing affordable housing. It’s an ideal location to have more affordable housing.”

The government defines affordable as homes sold at 80% of the market rate or homes for social rent.

Harrogate Borough Council policy requires 30% affordable on all brownfield developments.

However, for this scheme North Yorkshire County Council applied for a Vacant Building Credit — a government mechanism to encourage vacant properties back into use, which can be used to remove the provision for affordable housing.

Instead, it will make a financial contribution of £72,528 to Harrogate Borough Council, which granted planning permission.

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Mr Pankurst called the Vacant Building Credit a “dreaded thing” and said North Yorkshire County Council should have done more to provide affordable housing, particularly as Harrogate Borough Council had identified a need to build 208 affordable homes in the district every year.

Prior to the decision to grant planning permission, a report from Harrogate Borough Council case officer Kate Broadbank also expressed “disappointed” in the lack of affordable housing in the scheme.

‘Excellent opportunity’

Brierley Homes was established in 2017 by North Yorkshire County Council. All profits are used to support frontline council services in the county.

A spokesperson for Brierley Homes said:

“Brierley Homes welcomes the planning approval to redevelop the former care home at Woodfield Square, Harrogate into 19 quality new homes.

“The regeneration and redevelopment of brownfield land is recognised by government as an important aspect of our national ambition to deliver much needed homes.

“The scheme will deliver a mixture of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes, with over 50% of the homes being 2 beds. This will offer first time buyers an excellent opportunity for modern and contemporary living within walking distance of the town centre of Harrogate.”

Rudding Park named hotel spa of the year in global awards

Rudding Park has been named hotel spa of the year in a global competition.

The Harrogate-based venue beat competition from top spas in London and Paris to win the award.

The annual World Spa and Wellness Awards, which are organised by the Professional Beauty Group, were held virtually this year due to covid.

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It has been a difficult year for spas and the hospitality industry in general so this will bolster the team at Rudding Park.

Peter Banks, the managing director at Rudding Park, said:

“Winning such a prestigious global award voted by high profile industry judges is a fantastic endorsement.

“We are confident there will be a real appetite for people to experience a change of scene, relax and unwind.”

As the end of the second lockdown approaches, Rudding Park said it was confident of plenty of bookings during the Christmas period as people look for a chance to relax and unwind.