Boroughbridge news from the Boroughbridge district - Page 179 of 186

Drop in vacant shops boosts hope for high streets

The deputy leader of Harrogate Borough Council has said he is “extremely optimistic” about high streets recovering from the covid crisis as he revealed positive economic data boosted by the reopening.

Cllr Graham Swift, who is also cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said the percentage of vacant shops across the district had fallen to 6.8% in March – a “significant improvement” from 8.6% around this time last year.

He added data on people’s movements showed the number of visitors to rural areas had returned to pre-pandemic levels, although Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon had not yet reached this point.

Cllr Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, Cllr Swift said:

“I’m extremely optimistic. The rural areas are already seeing traffic flow of people movements, as measured by Google, back to pre-pandemic levels.

“The three major conurbations are not back to pre-pandemic levels yet but the fact is retail is looking extremely positive and I’m very hopeful we will see a strong bounce back in the economy.”

Shops classed as vacant are those not paying business rates to the council.

Cllr Swift said the strongest performing areas for this currently are Boroughbridge, which has just one vacant shop, and Pateley Bridge, which has a vacancy rate of 2.5%.

His comments followed a question from Boroughbridge councillor Robert Windass, who said members of the public were “curious” over the current state of high streets during the pandemic.

Cllr Swift responded:

“We are now seeing considerable extension of the opening up and unlocking of the country. Last week we saw the opening up of non-essential retail on April 12.

“I went into Harrogate on that morning and was overwhelmed by the innovation and creativity that is going on, particularly around the bar and hospitality sector who have used limited spaces to create exciting opportunities to open up.

“I was very, very impressed by the sector but most important to this question is what is going to be happening in the near future.”

He added:

“There has been a lot of talk over the last few months about Harrogate as a district and how its towns and city have responded to retail sector closures.

“A lot of people count the stores to see which ones are open or closed. In a case where we are in lockdown, it’s obvious that people will see things closed and think they have withdrawn from the site.

“But in actual fact, what we record are the business rate activities of these retail sectors and I’m extremely heartened by the fact that as of March 2021 our retail sector has improved.”

The latest unemployment figures for the district show a slight increase with 3,625 people claiming out-of-work benefits in February, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This equates to 3.8% of the population aged 16 to 64 and is up from 3,460 in January.

Meanwhile, the number of people in the district who were furloughed from their jobs was 12,300 in February, according to the latest HM Revenue & Customs figures.

This was an increase from 9,100 in December, before the third national lockdown began.

First glimpse at ‘exciting’ plans for Boroughbridge community centre

Plans for a new community centre in Boroughbridge have been unveiled as the town looks to serve its growing population.

Boroughbridge Town Council is behind the proposals for near the car park on Back Lane. It has asked residents to fill in a survey before May 14 to determine demand.

Such a project has been debated for many years. The council has said that it is now starting to become more of a reality.

While there is no timescale or cost just yet, the council hopes that government will help to fund it.

The plans include a small sports hall, community event room, kitchen, public toilets, a new home for the council and tourist information point.

Boroughbridge Town Council has promised to build it in an eco-friendly, energy efficient way and also to not lose car parking spaces.

Cllr Peter Phillips, who has been working on the plans for the past year, told the Stray Ferret:

“Boroughbridge is a rapidly expanding community due to the accelerated home building programme in our area.

“Our population is expected to almost double over the next few years and we have no central community facility to cater for this.

“We need to ensure that these proposals are indeed what our community wishes to have.

“There are some fears and concerns which are fully understandable, but overall the feedback so far looking at around 80% in favour.”

A1 service station decision ‘flies in the face of localism’, say campaigners

Campaigners in Kirby Hill have said a government decision to approve a motorway service station on the A1 “flies in the face of localism”.

Gareth Owens, chair of Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services, said the approval by planning inspector David Rose reversed 25 years worth of rejection by central government.

The proposal was submitted by Dublin-based company Applegreen and went to its latest public inquiry in February, which lasted for two weeks.

Mr Rose gave approval to the plan yesterday, which will see the service station built on the A1 northbound between junctions 48 and 49.

In a saga that has spanned a quarter of a century, the application has been before multiple council planning committees, faced four public inquiries and been turned down twice by the Secretary of State and the High Court.

Now, the plan has been given the go ahead after Mr Rose decided the benefits of the proposal outweighed the harm.

Gareth Owens, chair of the Kirby Hill RAMS, speaking against the application at Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in 2019. Picture: Kirby Hill RAMS

Mr Owens described the decision as “disappointing” and added it had undone all the hard work by residents who have opposed the proposal over the years.

He said:

“We are disappointed as a community.

“It flies in the face of localism that a man from central government can turn up and change the decision.

“The community has gone through a lot of effort to demonstrate that it is not an appropriate site for a motorway service station.”

In a decision notice yesterday, Mr Rose said after considering the evidence that the benefits of a service station would outweigh the harm.

He said:

“In summary, considerable weight attaches to the less than substantial harm relative to the identified designated heritage assets.

“Loss of best and most versatile agricultural land is also a further negative factor of moderate weight.

“However, individually, and cumulatively, the wider public benefit in meeting the demonstrable need for a motorway service area, for the safety and welfare of motorists, would outweigh that harm.”

The Kirby Hill RAMS group held a meeting last night to decide its response to the inspector’s decision.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret this month, Mr Owens said the group was prepared to continue to oppose the plan whatever the outcome of the appeal.

Government approves A1 service station after fourth appeal in 25 years

The government has approved a motorway service station on the A1 near Kirby Hill after 25 years of public inquiries and planning battles.

The proposal from Dublin-based company Applegreen will see the service station built between junctions 48 and 49 of the A1(M) northbound, between Boroughbridge and Ripon.

A filling station, hot and cold food outlets, a drive-through coffee shop will be built and 364 car parking spaces created.

However, a separate appeal from Moto Hospitality Ltd for a motorway service station on the A1 near Ripon has been rejected.

In a saga which has spanned a quarter of a century, Applegreen’s application has been before multiple council planning committees, faced four public inquiries and been turned down twice by the Secretary of State and the High Court.

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council initially rejected the latest plan in 2019, but Applegreen took the decision to an appeal hearing, which was held in February.

The inquiry, which was held by planning inspector David Rose and streamed onto YouTube, lasted two weeks and included multiple testimonies from residents, campaigners and developer Applegreen.

The motorway service station site, as proposed by Applegreen, on the A1 northbound near Kirby Hill.

The proposed motorway service station site on the A1 northbound near Kirby Hill.

In a decision notice today, Mr Rose said after considering the evidence that the benefits of a service station would outweigh the harm.

He said:

“In summary, considerable weight attaches to the less than substantial harm relative to the identified designated heritage assets.

“Loss of best and most versatile agricultural land is also a further negative factor of moderate weight.

“However, individually, and cumulatively, the wider public benefit in meeting the demonstrable need for a motorway service area, for the safety and welfare of motorists, would outweigh that harm.”

Speaking to the Stray Ferret earlier this month, Gareth Owens, chair of the Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services, said the group was prepared to continue to oppose the plan whatever the outcome of the appeal.

Saint Michael’s and Cancer Research UK shops reopen locally

Saint Michael’s Hospice and Cancer Research UK‘s charity shops in the Harrogate district will be opening their doors next week as they try to recover from financial losses during the pandemic.

The two charities rely heavily on money raised from the shops and are eager to reopen once more.

For local charity Saint Michael’s, most of its shops will reopen on Monday, while those in Boroughbridge, Knaresborough, Jennyfield Drive and 149 King’s Road in Harrogate are reopening on Tuesday.

Donations can be dropped off on Tuesdays and Fridays each week but customers are advised to call the shop beforehand.

The donation drop-off point on Hookstone Wood Road is no longer in operation.

Saint Michael’s chief executive Tony Collins said:

“We’re pleased that our shops will now begin to reopen their doors from next Monday, giving those across the Harrogate district the opportunity to purchase a range of preloved items.

“Stringent health and safety measures will be in place in each of our shops, with the safety of our community, staff and volunteers at the forefront of our reopening plans.”

The Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon Cancer Research UK stores also hope to welcome back plenty of customers to boost their finances.

The charity has predicted its fundraising income will decline by £300million over the next three years, due to the pandemic.

Ripon’s Cancer Research UK shop is looking forward to welcoming back shoppers

Anticipating a staycation boom, Cancer Research UK is asking for donations of men, women and children’s summer clothing. Any items can be dropped off in store.

Lisa Millett, Cancer Research UK spokesperson, said:

“Covid has hit us hard. That’s why we’re calling on everyone to please bag up and bring in any unwanted items.

“Right now, we need quality clothing, shoes, homewares, accessories and books to help keep our tills – and bargain hunters – busy. Most important of all, the sale of these items helps to ensure we can keep making progress for people with cancer.”

Harrogate district restaurants already fully booked ahead of reopening

There has been a rush to book tables at restaurants in the Harrogate district ahead of re-opening on Monday.

Restaurants can open their doors to eager customers as long as they have distanced outdoor seating.

Bookings have been overwhelming, with some places saying it’s busier than it was after previous lockdowns.

After months away restauranteurs and staff are eager to get back to work, even if the circumstances are a little different.

Chris Richardson, operations manager at Six Poor Folk in Knaresborough, said:

“We have almost full capacity on Monday which obviously filters down through the week but we’re pretty much fully booked on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. After that, the bookings are similar every week throughout April and we just cannot wait to get back to it.”

Grantham Arms is preparing to reopen with space for 90 people to sit outdoors.

A similar number of bookings has been seen across the district.

Simon Wade, owner of the Grantham Arms and Fox and Hounds in Boroughbridge said:

“We’ve done really well with table bookings. We have extended the outdoor area [at the Grantham Arms] and now have seating for 90 people. Getting the green light from government to reopen like this is a massive help for our business.”

David Dresser, who owns Fashion House Bistro in Harrogate, said:

“We’ve had a lot of bookings come in for next week I think so far it’s only Tuesday that is looking quiet. We have 40-50 table outside. We didn’t really have any preconceived conceptions of how we’d be, we aren’t packed but we are looking busy. We are just going to have to pray for good weather.”

After April 12, the next big step of the government’s roadmap comes on May 17 when it is hoped restaurants and hotels can open fully to allow guests indoors.

Locations of 34 electric vehicle charge points revealed

The locations of up to 34 new electric vehicle charge points in the Harrogate district have been revealed.

The district has seen the largest increase in North Yorkshire of motorists switching to electric vehicles and Harrogate Borough Council aims to get 10,000 on the roads by 2023.

To help hit this target, the authority plans to install charge points at several council-owned locations to encourage motorists to make the switch ahead of the government’s ban on the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars in 2030.

Tom O’Donovan, economy and transport officer at the council, told a meeting on Wednesday the 34 charge points were being rolled out as part of a phased scheme, with more to come later.

The locations include up to four charge points at the council’s Claro Road office, as well as up to five at its civic centre headquarters at Knapping Mount.

There will also be up to four at Harrogate’s multi-storey Victoria Shopping Centre car park and the same amount at Ripon Cathedral car park, plus a hub of charge points at Knaresborough Chapel Street car park.

There are three options for Pateley Bridge, including the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty office, Nidderdale Leisure Centre and south car park.

The car park at Hornbeam Park railway station could also get up to 10 charge points, while no proposals have yet been put forward for Boroughbridge because infrastructure works would be “too costly”.

Up to 160 charge sites planned

Harrogate Borough Council approved its Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle Strategy two years ago with an aim to provide 61 public charge points by 2024, although this could be increased up to 160 if required.

North Yorkshire County Council is also developing a county-wide strategy but has said it currently has no plans to roll out on-street charging infrastructure on a large scale or in response to individual requests for charge points.

It said this is because of “difficulties” with electricity tariffs and setting out the terms on the maximum time a vehicle can charge in shared on-street spaces.

The council said:

“We will continue to review the overall situation, taking into account demand from residents and funding availability, including external grant funding.”

Lights to mark Battle of Boroughbridge 700th anniversary too modern

There are hopes 14 new street lights will be ready to illuminate the River Ure Bridge in time for the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Boroughbridge next year.

Boroughbridge Town Council is behind plans to light up the historic bridge as people at night. There has been a bridge on the site since at least the 12th century.

However, last week the town council withdrew its planning application after Harrogate Borough Council’s principal conservation officer Emma Gibbens wrote in an email that the brushed steel and modern design of the light fittings “erodes the traditional character” of the bridge.

Boroughbridge Town Council clerk John Nichols called the council’s verdict a “setback” but said it hopes to work with HBC on a new application to ensure the lights are beaming in time for the anniversary on March 16, 2022.

The scheme to light the bridge was recently awarded £13,000 from North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner following the sale of the force’s historic AJ1 number plate.

The Battle of Boroughbridge took place on March 16, 1322, when the bridge was a key element of the encounter between Edward II and his cousin the Earl of Lancaster.

A small army of retreating rebels under the Earl of Lancaster was held at the bridge itself by a larger group of men loyal to the King.

Attempts to negotiate a truce failed and the one-sided battle resulted in the surrender and subsequent execution of Lancaster.

Census Support Centre open in Pateley Bridge today

It’s Census Day and Nidderdale Plus in Pateley Bridge will be open today to provide help and advice.

Filling in the form, which takes around ten minutes, can be done on paper, smartphone, tablet or computer.

It is a legal requirement.

The census helps local and national government to obtain a snapshot of the entire population at one point in time.

This helps in future planning for services such as healthcare, education and transport.

Assistance is being provided to those people who have queries about filling in the form, those who do not have a computer or are not confident about going online.

This is through Census Support Centres across the UK and Nidderdale Plus Community Hub is the centre selected for the Harrogate district..

Based in Station Square, King Street, it will be open from 10am until 1pm and will be observing social distancing requirements for people wanting to drop by.

Millions of households across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, received the letter calling for information for the 2021 Census

Some people who already knew who would be in their household today, completed their forms in advance.

Nidderdale Plus executive director, Helen Flynn, said:

“Advice can be provided at the door, or an appointment to visit the centre can be booked by calling 01423 714953.”

Census support advisers Sandra Walker and Heather Blundell, have been trained by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to deliver this service in a Covid-safe and confidential way.

They can provide help face to face or over the phone.

Mrs Flynn, pointed out:

“We have already helped lots of people from Nidderdale and Harrogate to fill in their form.

“We are very proud to be the only Census Support Centre operating in Harrogate district, playing a role in this important information gathering process.”

Census facts and figures

This year marks the 22nd Census.

It has been held every ten years, except for 1941, when it did not take place because of World War II.

The first Census was held in Great Britain in March 1801.

It recorded the combined population of England, Wales and Scotland at 10.9 million, living in 1.8 million houses.

By the 2011 Census, the UK population – which also includes Northern Ireland – had grown to 63 million, of which 32 million were female and 31 million were male.

The census in Scotland has been held up by the covid pandemic and will take place next year.

Boroughbridge hotel features in Channel 4’s Four in a Bed

A Boroughbridge hotel and restaurant is set to feature in next week’s episodes of Four in a Bed.

The Channel 4 programme follows four sets of hotel owners as they travel around the country to experience and examine each other’s businesses.

Beginning on Monday, Simon Wade, owner of the Grantham Arms and manager Joseph Mackie-Graves, will appear on the show.

The pair said it was a “fantastic experience” and they still remain in contact with the other participants.

The show tracks the pairs over five episodes from Monday to Friday.

As well as looking round the hotel, the hosts take their guests on an excursion. Simon and Joseph took their guests to Mother Shipton’s Cave.

Grantham Arms in Boroughbridge.

The episodes were filmed in September 2020 in line with coronavirus restrictions.

Simon Wade said:

“It was very exciting to be a part of the show, definitely out of the norm. It took us to various other parts of the country where we got to meet some fantastic owners. The other competitors all stayed in their own double en-suite bedroom at the Grantham.

“The experience was pretty special because it is two weeks out of your life but you’re experiencing things from a perspective as business owners to find any ideas that they’ve got that you don’t use and vice versa.”

The other hotels and bed and breakfasts were based in Southport, Derbyshire and Coxwold in North Yorkshire.

The final episode of the week will see the hoteliers discuss the feedback they received and see how much each pair thought their room was worth.

The show is aired 5pm every weeknight.

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Up to 160 charge sites planned

Read more:

Read more

Read more: