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.

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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.

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.”

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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.

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.”

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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.

A Ripon organisation is able to reflect on a remarkable response to the coronavirus crisis.

With the anniversary of the UK’s first covid lockdown looming, Food Support has been able to measure the weight of the city’s reaction.

The service, located at Community House in Allhallowgate, has received more than 50 tonnes of donations since last March.

This has enabled Suzanne Bowyer, her colleague Caroline King and an army of volunteers, to help families and individuals.

Assistance is provided to people living in Ripon, Boroughbridge and surrounding areas.

Suzanne Bowyer, who says support from the Ripon community has been incredible

Suzanne, told the Stray Ferret:

“The response from individuals, supermarkets, other shops and businesses, has been incredible.

“We have received donations of fresh, packaged and tinned food, beverages and items such as nappies.

“Volunteers have also donated their time.

“This has provided a lifeline for people affected by the pandemic.”

Food Support, works with partner organisations ranging from the NHS and Harrogate Borough Council to doctors’ surgeries and the Salvation Army, who make referrals.

For some, the help will be temporary as they wait for Universal Credit, while others may have a longer-term need.

Suzanne, pointed out:

“We provide a totally discreet and confidential service designed for anybody needing a helping hand.

“People should feel no shame in seeking help to feed themselves or their family in these difficult times, caused by circumstances outside their control.”

Numerous churches, groups, individuals, businesses and organisations continue to rally to the call by providing practical assistance.

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Food Support has continued throughout the crisis. Donations that arrive at Community House in Allhallowgate are weighed on industrial scales.

More crunch times lie ahead, with school summer holidays, the end of furlough, mortgage holidays and emergency rights preventing tenants from being evicted.

Further details are available at:  www.riponcommunityhouse.co.uk

A Boroughbridge agricultural business has gone from strength to strength has now been acquired by global firm, Origin Enterprises.

Green-tech is based on Rabbit Hill Business Park in Arkendale, near Boroughbridge. Since it formed in 1994, it has grown to be a well-known manufacturer and distributor of landscaping, forestry and grounds maintenance equipment.

The acquisition was made on Thursday for an un-disclosed figure. Staff have been assured that no jobs will be lost.

Rachel and Richard Kay are the team behind Green-tech, the local pair set up the company with ambitions to become a one-stop shop for the UK landscape trade. In 2015 its turnover was over £10 million.

Mr Kay, chairman of Green-tech said:

“The Green-tech success story is beyond our wildest dreams and we are incredibly proud and grateful for what has been achieved. But none of it would have been possible without the dedicated team at Green-tech who are the backbone of the business.

“This deal reflects the ambition of Green-tech, very much onwards and upwards and definitely business as usual.”

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Origin Enterprises began as a small Irish business but is now a global distributor of farming machinery.

Through the deal it is hoped that Green-tech can enhance what Origin currently offers in the areas of environmental land management for their agri focussed businesses.

Chris Clark, managing director of Origin’s Amenity business, said:

“We are delighted to announce the acquisition of Green-tech. Origin Enterprises’ long-term strategy is to further enhance Origin’s amenity brands and the Green-tech acquisition is an ideal fit.

“Green-tech has a very experienced team, an extensive sector-focused product range, operates in complementary markets and brings a level of diversification.”

The former Greenwood butchers shop in Boroughbridge is to be sold by auction next week.

The butchers on Horsefair in the centre of the town was popular for its range of pies and local meats. It is believed to have closed last year.

The 19th century building, which has a guide price of £50,000, includes a retail area, storage rooms and bathroom.

The auction house Pugh says the building could be used for a variety of uses.

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Paul Thompson, managing director of Pugh, said:

“It’s always sad to see a local business close. Boroughbridge is a fantastic community with excellent road links to most of the north of England and there is definitely potential for a variety of business uses for the former Greenwood premises.

“It would be great to see the property become an asset to the town once more in the hands of an imaginative new owner.”

The shop will be sold in Pugh’s next online property auction on 24 February.

A suspected drug dealer has been arrested near Boroughbridge after the police helicopter helped to track him down.

Officers were on patrol on the A1 southbound on Tuesday when a black BMW drove past.

The vehicle had markers attached to it that linked it to an incident in Humberside.

Officers caught up with the vehicle but when it pulled up on the hard shoulder the driver jumped out and fled across nearby fields.

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The National Police Air Service (NPAS) used a helicopter to track down the man who was found hiding next to a river.

The 27-year-old Sheffield man was arrested and a large amount of cannabis was seized from the car along with the vehicle.

He remains in custody at this time and the investigation continues.

A police spokeswoman said:

“We hope our response reassures you we will do everything we can to take drugs off our streets and tackle criminality in North Yorkshire.”

Two boys from Boroughbridge have found a way to stay active during lockdown while helping their community by litter-picking.

Gregory Bishop, 11 and brother Christopher, nine, were undeterred after a village litter-pick was cancelled due to covid.

Fed up seeing rubbish in their neighbourhood, they kept asking to go out and clean up.

This week they went to a stretch of Bar Lane and collected eight bin bags worth of litter.

Their efforts have been praised by the parish council.

Dad Laurence Bishop said:

“We are proud of them. They take a lot of pride in the area and environment and are disgusted by the litter that some local businesses take no responsibility for.

“We are planning another litter-pick this weekend.”

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North Yorkshire Police is appealing to the public for information after 11 sheep were stolen from a field near Boroughbridge.

According to the police, the Beltex breed of sheep were taken between November 10 and January 17.

Police are particularly interested in any suspicious sightings of vehicles on Holbeck Lane or the B6265 between these dates.

Anyone with information can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for Ruby Rutter. Or email the officer on ruby.rutter@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and quote reference number 12210032203.

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A motorbike has been stolen from Boroughbridge as part of a spate of garage thefts of cycles and motorbikes.

Thieves took the red and white motorbike, which had been given as a Christmas present, after cutting through two locks between 19 and 21 January.

North Yorkshire Police said today bikes and motorbikes worth thousands of pounds have been stolen in recent days and appealed for people to check their outbuildings were secure.

It later added a mountain bike was stolen from a garage in Hookstone Grange Way last week between 5pm on Tuesday and 8am on Wednesday. It is an orange and black Whyte T130-C carbon framed bike with a new Vittoria front tyre.

PC Liz Estensen, of North Yorkshire Police, said:

“Recorded crime figures show that thieves are far more likely to break into sheds and garages than houses, so consider taking extra steps to protect your outbuildings, particularly if you live in a rural or isolated area.”

Police added officers were also investigating reports of youths interfering with high-value vehicles parked in Harrogate overnight.

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The force issued the following crime prevention advice:

• If you have a door lock or window lock on your outbuilding, use it.
• A simple padlock and hasp correctly fitted to a door can deter opportunist thieves. Use a close coupled padlock for increased security.
• If you have an integral door between your home and garage, consider this as an external door and secure it appropriately.
• Consider installing CCTV, external lighting or an alarm.
• Mark particularly valuable items prominently with your postcode.
• Consider placing smaller items in a secure cabinet within your shed or garage, or store them in your home.

Anyone with information about the Boroughbridge theft can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting incident reference 12210034339.