Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 983 of 1151

Half of responses ‘strongly oppose’ Oatlands Drive plan

Half of the responses to a consultation over plans to make Oatlands Drive in Harrogate one-way were strongly against the proposal, according to a new report.

Of the 2,298 people who responded to North Yorkshire County Council’s consultation, 50% indicated they ‘strongly oppose’ the scheme, while 38% said they supported or strongly supported it.

The scheme proposes making the road one-way southbound, towards Hookstone Drive, to create more space for cycle paths and widened footpaths.

It has already proved controversial, with more than 1,600 people having signed a petition set up by resident Anna McIntee opposing the plans. Opponents have cited the impact on school buses and the increasing creation of a ‘rat run’ on surrounding residential streets at peak times.

However, Harrogate and District Cycling Action said roads including Oatlands Drive need to be made safer for cyclists in order to reduce traffic around Harrogate.

Kevin Douglas, chair of the HDCA, told the Stray Ferret:

“The main aim is to get people cycling for short journeys into the town centre. We hope to have segregate cycle lanes on all the arterial routes.

“Some think that we want the roads to be car free but we just want to be able to share the roads safely.

“Even the most experienced cyclists feel unsafe with big lorries passing them close by and would feel much safer with a segregated lane.”

In a report due to be considered by NYCC’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee next week, network strategy officer Louise Neale said:

“In total, we assessed over three hundred potential schemes to put forward as part of our bid for tranche two [funding from the Department for Transport] in August 2020.

“The criteria of the funding was particularly stringent and with a relatively small amount of funding available only a handful of schemes were deemed suitable for this round of funding. Three of the five schemes included in the bid were in Harrogate and Knaresborough.”

As well as the Oatlands Drive scheme, the consultation asked for people’s views on plans to introduce cycle lanes and crossings on the A59 near Harrogate Golf Club, and to improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure on Victoria Avenue near Harrogate Library.

Both of those schemes proved more popular in the consultation, with 44% and 43% respectively supporting or strongly supporting them.

Full details of the responses to the consultation have not yet been released, but NYCC said it will take the feedback into account. In her report for the area committee, Ms Neale added:

“The first round of consultation focussed on the corridors for the routes rather than detailed design. The feedback from the first round of consultation will be collated to inform more detailed consultation plans.

“The second round of consultation is planned to take place in late March.”

Jimmy Carr first confirmed show at Royal Hall

Comedian Jimmy Carr is the first confirmed booking at Harrogate’s Royal Hall post-lockdown.

Carr is due to appear at the venue on September 23 and it is possible other events earlier in the year will be confirmed before then.

Harrogate International Nursery Fair, which takes place from June 27 to 29, will be the first event at the adjoining Harrogate Convention Centre.

Harrogate’s hospitality businesses will be hoping the trade event, which attracts manufactures and suppliers of baby goods, will re-ignite the district’s economy, which will have faced 15 months of disruption by then.

All social distancing measures are due to be lifted on June 21.

Paula Lorimer, director of the centre, which has operated as a Nightingale hospital for the past year, said yesterday it was in talks with NHS England about returning the building.

She added: “We have more than 30 confirmed events planned between June and next March, and a further 56 provisional events in the diary that we hope to confirm in due course.

“We also have more than 115 events confirmed and provisionally booked in the Royal Hall over the same period.”

Harrogate’s Alexa House guest house sold

The Alexa House guest house on Ripon Road has been sold and is now expected to be converted into a home.

Sandra Doherty, the owner, said the Victorian property had been on the market for just five days before a buyer was found. It was sold for an undisclosed sum.

Ms Doherty said she was “delighted” to have sold the building, which she has owned for 15 years.

She recently had an application to convert the guest house into apartments refused by Harrogate Borough Council.

She said:

“Ninety-nine per cent of my guests were lovely and I had a lot of return visitors.”

Ms Doherty will soon step down from her role as chief executive of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and retire to Northumberland.

Alexa House was built in 1896 by the renowned art collector Baron Conrad Adolphus du Bois de Ferrieres.

It was built as a hunting lodge for its London-based owners to spend time enjoying Harrogate’s spa and riding in the nearby countryside.

‘A costly PR stunt’: calls for an inquiry into Harrogate Nightingale

A senior politician from Ripon has described the Harrogate Nightingale as a “costly PR stunt”, amid calls for an inquiry.

Lord Newby’s criticism comes after NHS England said this week the hospital, which cost £27 million to set up, would be decommissioned at the end of the month.

It has not treated a single covid patient, prompting calls for an inquiry.

Lord Newby, the Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords, who lives in Ripon, said:

“The Nightingales were a costly PR stunt.

“They could never be used as planned because there was never the staffing for them. They were introduced because the government was desperate to be seen to be responding effectively to the pandemic, which at the time looked to be potentially out of control.

“The Harrogate Nightingale should have been closed months ago, in order to avoid the high cost of maintenance and so that Harrogate could begin to plan for its reopening.”

Jim Clark, a Conservative who represents Harrogate Harlow on Harrogate Borough Council, repeated his

call for an inquiry on BBC Look North yesterday.

He told the programme:

“It wasn’t an insurance policy in Harrogate because we didn’t have the staff to man it and I think it’s then been discovered that as soon as it was built it wasn’t essentially fit for purpose.”

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones and Richard Cooper, leader of the Conservative-controlled Harrogate Borough Council whether they supported calls for an inquiry. Neither replied.

Asked the same question on Look North, Cllr Cooper said the location of the Nightingale Hospitals was likely to be considered as part of a wider covid inquiry. He added:

“But we’ve been pleased to host the Nightingale and to host the thousands of diagnostic tests that have been carried out there.”

Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council, supported calls for an inquiry, adding:

“Over a decade of Conservative cuts has led to an NHS operating on a shoestring. Whether there was ever the staff to run such a Nightingale hospital, should it have been toward full capacity, needs to be made clear.”

Margaret Smith, chair of Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party, said the Nightingales were “a legitimate insurance policy” in the early days of covid when it seemed hospitals could be overwhelmed. She added:

“There seems little point in wasting any more public money on an inquiry at this stage.”

Harrogate man died from drugs, not head injury, inquest told

A coroner has ruled that a Harrogate man died as a result of drugs rather than a head injury, as police first believed.

Aaron Atkinson, 38, who was homeless at the time of his death, was found at a flat at Park House Green on May 7 last year.

North Yorkshire Police arrested two men, aged 46 and 40 at the time, on suspicion of murder and robbery shortly after the incident.

However, the force has now dropped its suspicions of murder.

It told the Stray Ferret today that one of the two suspects remains under investigation for assault and robbery. The other is still under investigation for robbery and theft.

Jonathan Leach, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire and York, said at an inquest in Northallerton today:

“It is clear from the reports I have seen that Aaron Atkinson had a history of alcohol and drug abuse.

“Mr Atkinson was found unresponsive at a flat on Park House Green at 3am. The post-mortem found that he had taken heroin, cocaine, alcohol and anti-depressants.

“I have found the cause of death to be drugs-related.”

A mother’s tribute

Christine Bloomfield, Mr Atkinson’s mother, was at the inquest and told the Stray Ferret about her son’s life:

“People should remember Aaron for his heart of gold and his smile. He was a loving brother and son.

“He just got on the wrong path and went through a lot of heartache. Aaron recently lost his nan, dad and wife.

“My son was getting back on track. I saw him before he died in March and he had cleaned himself up.

“When we go through a life with a lot of sadness we all go in search for something to comfort us. With him it was drugs and alcohol.

“But he started to realise that he needed to make some changes. I believed him, he was doing well and I was proud of him. Then this happened.”

Harrogate Theatre to replace 120-year-old roof

Harrogate Theatre is set to undergo a major £1 million refurbishment, which will include replacing the original 120-year-old roof.

The windows and guttering will also be repaired to ensure the building is fit for many years to come.

Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet will discuss fully funding the £1 million project at the end of the month.

The council has already carried out fire safety works at the building over the last year.

The theatre hopes that, if agreed, work can start as early as May, which would coincide with a new season of performances.

The theatre plans to host shows across the district this summer. Performances will be staged in different venues and community spaces.

The performances will be part of the theatre’s aptly-named Raise the Roof season. Our Gate, a large community project that will be at the heart of the season, will explore Harrogate’s connection to water.

The theatre has also confirmed the return of Emergence Dance for a one-off digital stream. Harrogate Comedy Festival will also return but will be held in community spaces.

The community spaces could include the Royal Hall, Harrogate Convention Centre and other places across the district.

Harrogate Theatre

David Bown, chief executive of the theatre, said:

“We are extremely excited to be reconnecting with our audiences out in the community whilst the theatre is being much improved and made safer for our return.

“We’re working closely with Harrogate Borough Council to minimise disruption and relocate events where possible.

“We look forward to hosting live events back at the theatre as soon as we can.”

Stanley Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport at Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“All buildings need maintenance, and the theatre is no exception. We are planning to invest over £1million this year to allow these fantastic performances to continue.

“These are significant works to any building, especially one that is a triangle shape, a listed building and on a hill.

“Working with the theatre, we’re aiming to get most of the works undertaken when the theatre would be closed over the summer.”

Police appeal for help after row on Skipton Road

Police are appealing for witnesses to a heated argument on Skipton Road in Harrogate.

It happened near the junction of Woodfield Road between 2am and 3am on Saturday.

The altercation was between a man and a woman in the same car.

North Yorkshire Police is seeking help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Officers are particularly keen to hear from any witnesses to the incident or anyone who may have CCTV.

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Matthew Reeve.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210072735.

Harrogate murder trial set for October

A murder trial following the death of Harrogate man Mark Wolsey will take place at Leeds Crown Court from October 18.

The date was set at a hearing at Leeds Crown Court this afternoon.

Daniel Liam Ainsley, 23, of no fixed abode, has been charged with the murder and is remanded in custody.

He spoke at the hearing only to confirm his name.

A pre-trial preparation hearing will take place in early April.

Mark Wolsey died on Friday at a flat on Mayfield Grove, Harrogate after sustaining serious injuries.

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Dramatic fall in number of covid patients at Harrogate hospital

The number of patients at Harrogate District Hospital with coronavirus has more than halved in a week.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust revealed today the hospital currently has 18 coronavirus patients compared with 42 last week — a reduction of 24.

At its peak, there were 67 people in the hospital with the virus and the number had remained stubbornly high in recent weeks despite the declining covid infection rate locally.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissio ning Group, told a press briefing today the current covid wave had been “long and hard” on hospital staff but that the situation was finally improving.

“The trend is very much in the downward direction and that’s very positive and where we want to see it.”

Ms Bloor also commented on the Harrogate Nightingale hospital, which NHS England confirmed this week will be decommissioned and returned to Harrogate Borough Council from next month.

She added:

“It’s the right time to stand the Nightingale down but we’re lucky we had it there.

“Throughout the last year, it’s been a vital insurance policy in our approach to managing covid.

“It also provided a valuable role supporting routine care as well as safe and fast access to CT scanning.”

Hollywood director Oliver Stone to star in Harrogate Film Festival

A Hollywood director is to star in one of Harrogate Film Festival‘s headline events when it returns for a fifth year.

Oliver Stone directed the film JFK about the assassination of American president John F. Kennedy, which was nominated for eight Academy Award nominations, including best director.

The film will be screened online on April 23 and be followed by a question and answer with Mr Stone. It is the 30th anniversary of the political thriller’s release.

Festival director Adam Chandler said:

“We are beyond thrilled to be welcoming Oliver Stone to the Harrogate Film Festival. JFK is an amazing piece of cinema that set a high bar for the political thrillers that followed it.”

Organisers said this year’s events have been planned to ensure they’re in-line with covid restrictions.

Unlike the usual 10-day event, this year’s festival will be a series of mini festivals between April and September. It is hoped some of the later events will run face-to-face.

Mr Chandler said:

“Since our 2020 festival, a lot has happened in the world. We have planned the 2021 festival to allow for a fully online event, holding events in person, or a combination of the two.

“We really hope that by running a full schedule of events we can help bring some normality and joy to film fans. Whatever the situation at the time, all events will be streamed online.”

The event with Mr Stone is part of the festival’s Independent Filmmakers competition. The four-day event offers a platform for up and coming filmmakers to show their work and attend workshops.

When restrictions ease in May, the JFK event and Independent Filmmakers will be re-run in cinemas in May.

Founded in 2017, the festival has welcomed numerous famous faces and says its aims are to captivate audiences with film education and interactive events.