Boroughbridge news from the Boroughbridge district - Page 83 of 205

Andrew Jones MP urges police to continue Remembrance Day traffic management

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has called for police to continue providing traffic management for Remembrance Day parades.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed yesterday it will no longer close roads or manage traffic for Remembrance Day parades in the county.

Knaresborough Royal British Legion has said its annual parade along the High Street is in jeopardy as a result of the decision, which could threaten other local parades on November 12 and in subsequent years.

Elliot Foskett, North Yorkshire’s assistant chief constable, said the decision was based on national guidance that will allow police to focus on fighting crime.

Conservative MP Mr Jones today called for a rethink. He said:

“This decision from North Yorkshire Police has taken everyone by surprise. I am both surprised and disappointed.

“Every year in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Starbeck and further afield hundreds line the streets to watch parades to war memorials. Simply put, it is part of the fabric and tradition of our community remembrance.

“I have contacted Zoë Metcalfe, police, fire and crime commissioner, asking her to speak with the leadership at North Yorkshire Police and reinstate the force’s assistance with closing roads to allow parades to take place.”

Lib Dem leader criticises ‘outrageous’ decision

Councillor Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat leader in Harrogate and Knaresborough, described the police’s decision as “outrageous”.

She has also written to Conservative Ms Metcalfe.

Cllr Pat Marsh

Cllr Marsh’s letter says:

“This seems a ridiculous decision and I really hope you reverse it, nobody I have spoken to can understand the logic behind your decision.

“Please can you reconsider this so we can all pay our respects safely to those who gave their lives for our freedom?

“How will we be able to pay our respects to those who gave their lives so we can live freely today? This proposal is outrageous and I wonder where else in the country that people are not bring kept safe as they pay their respects to these very brave individuals who gave their lives.”

Met Office issues weather warning for rain in Harrogate district

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for rain across the Harrogate district this morning.

Following prolonged downpours, the Met Office said the warning was in place from 11am until 8pm today.

The warning covers most of the eastern half of northern England.

The Met Office said “a few” homes and businesses were likely to flood and bus and train services were likely to be affected.

Drivers were warned to expect spray and flooding on roads and power supplies could be interrupted.

The wet spell is expected to continue until the middle of next week, when temperatures are finally expected to rise.

Parish council objects to latest Kirby Hill service station plan

Kirby Hill and District Parish Council has objected to the latest plans to build a motorway service station near to the village.

Applegreen Ltd has submitted amended plans for the scheme between junctions 48 and 49 of the A1(M) northbound, between Boroughbridge and Ripon.

It would see a Welcome Break built at the site, as well a filling station and 364 car parking spaces created.

The proposal already has outline permission after the government’s Planning Inspectorate approved the plan on appeal in April 2021.

However, the parish council has objected to the proposal on the grounds that the developer was planning “major changes” to its plan.

It added that there was already a service station planned for Catterick and one on the A168 near Thirsk, which it says “plugs the gap” for a motorway service area.

In its objection, which was sent to North Yorkshire Council by parish council clerk, Martin Rae, the authority also called for the proposal to be considered by a planning committee.

It said:

“It [the parish council] also requests that this resubmitted application is dealt with by the planning authority in full committee at Tier 1 level.

“This is because councillors believe that it cannot be considered in isolation in view of the changed wider context in which services have now been approved at Catterick and greater provision of services now exists on the A168 link to the A19 at Thirsk.”

Applegreen, which is based in Dublin, applied for amendments to its plan, including an extension to the length of the slip roads and increasing the permissible height of the eastern dumbbell roundabout by up to 1.25 metres.

In documents submitted to the council, the company said the changes were “limited design amendments”.

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

The move comes after the government approved plans for the service station following a series of public inquiries and planning battles.

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.

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.

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

North Yorkshire Police confirms it will no longer manage Remembrance Day traffic

North Yorkshire Police has confirmed it will no longer close roads or manage traffic for Remembrance Day parades in North Yorkshire.

Knaresborough Royal British Legion revealed yesterday its annual parade was in jeopardy after police said they would no longer support it.

Vice-chair David Houlgate said the decision “almost certainly means there will be no Remembrance Day parade in Knaresborough as things currently stand” because the legion, as a charity, could not justify the cost incurred by managing traffic itself.

The force said today the ruling applied throughout the county and would enable it to focus on fighting crime.

In a joint letter from North Yorkshire Police and highways authority North Yorkshire Council, assistant chief constable Elliot Foskett said the new arrangements would “be in place for 2023 and beyond”.

The letter, sent to branches of the Royal British Legion, added:

“For many years, North Yorkshire Police has continued to provide a traffic management function to smaller Remembrance Day events like the one held in your community.

“In line with the legislation, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing have stressed that policing should not take responsibility for closing roads or managing traffic, other than in an emergency.

“This is to make sure police resources remain focused on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

“With immediate effect, North Yorkshire Police has repositioned to fully comply and will not be undertaking routine traffic management for any Remembrance Day events in 2023 and in subsequent years.”

Extra costs

The letter said organisations will now need a temporary traffic regulation order from North Yorkshire Council and will have to appoint “suitably qualified persons to implement associated traffic management i.e. signs and barriers etc”.

Those British legion branches affected now have to decide whether to go down this route or re-route or cancel parades.

Mike Comerford, chairman of the Harrogate Victory branch of the Royal British Legion said the police had not provided traffic management for its parade for many years.

Mr Comerford said the service had been provided recently by Harrogate Borough Council, which was abolished at the end of March, and he would contact the successor authority, North Yorkshire Council, to see if this arrangement remained in place.

Ripon’s Remembrance Sunday parade is managed by members of the armed forces.

Local Remembrance Sunday parades under threat after police withdraw traffic help

This year’s Remembrance Sunday parade in Knaresborough may not go ahead after police told organisers they could no longer provide traffic management.

David Houlgate, vice-chair of Knaresborough Royal British Legion, said the charity had been “rocked to the core” by the news.

A letter from the assistant chief constable of North Yorkshire Police told the legion it would no longer provide traffic management because the force needed to ensure it focused resources on tackling crime.

Mr Houlgate said:

“This immediately puts this year’s Remembrance Day parade’s at risk of being cancelled and future ones not happening too.”

It is unclear whether this will jeopardise other local Remembrance Sunday parades or other events which require police traffic management.

Will Harrogate’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations also be affected?

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Police to clarify the situation. It said it was working on a statement about traffic management which would be forwarded on.

Mr Houlgate said:

“We were not expecting this and it is a major blow for the town. There is of course a cost to providing our own traffic management provision so this decision by North Yorkshire Police almost certainly means there will be no Remembrance Day Parade in Knaresborough as things currently stand.

“And it is not just Knaresborough, it appears that North Yorkshire Police have made this decision right across the county. We are devastated.”

Mr Houlgate added:

“We are a charity and we are focused on raising funds to provide lifelong support to serving and ex-serving personnel and their families. So even though every year we also lead the nation in commemorating and honouring those who have served and sacrificed, we cannot justify spending funds on traffic management.”

Remembrance Sunday commemorations in Knaresborough begin with a service at St John’s Church followed by the parade, which lasts about 20 minutes, to the war memorial in the Castle Yard.”

Mr Houlgate said:

“Apart from the covid lockdown this will be the first time in living memory the Remembrance Day parade will not happen here in Knaresborough unless there is a change of heart by North Yorkshire Police, which seems unlikely, or something else turns up.”

Council to offer new Harrogate district foster carers £500 ‘golden hello’

New foster carers in the Harrogate district will be offered a £500 “golden hello” payment if they are approved to look after young people.

North Yorkshire Council’s fostering service, Fostering North Yorkshire, is offering the payment to newly approved carers until December 31.

The move comes as the council is launching a recruitment drive for more foster carers over the summer.

Cllr Janet Sanderson, executive councillor for children and families at the council, said:

“We are delighted to announce the ‘golden hello’ for all newly approved foster carers between now and the end of December.

“Our foster carers are there day in, day out giving our local children a loving home and offering them support and guidance.

“Our foster carers are very much appreciated, and we are fully committed to ensuring our foster carers are properly supported and rewarded. We would encourage anyone who has been thinking of fostering to enquire now.”

The service currently has 181 carers looking after children in care.

However, the council said more children are coming into care and there is a national shortage of foster carers.

Those who join will receive training and support from the authority. Anyone aged over 21 can foster.

There are also payments and allowances for every night a carer fosters, most of these are tax-free.

For more information on fostering, visit the North Yorkshire Council website here.

Yorkshire Party calls for August 1 to be made a bank holiday

The Yorkshire Party is calling for Yorkshire Day – August 1 – to be made a bank holiday within the region.

White rose bunting has been installed in Harrogate to mark the yearly celebration, which occurs tomorrow.

The Yorkshire Party, which campaigns for devolution for Yorkshire in the form of a Yorkshire Regional Parliament, wants to take things further.

It said today an extra summer bank holiday would enable the county to celebrate its Yorkshire heritage and break up the long period between May and Christmas, which currently has only one bank holiday.

Yorkshire Day bunting on Princes Street.

England has eight bank holidays — fewer than many other countries.

Dr Bob Buxton, the Yorkshire Party’s co-leader, said:

“There’s a strong argument that England should have more bank holidays. Why not have one to celebrate our regional identity here in Yorkshire, at the height of summer?”

“Scotland and Northern Ireland both have their own bank holidays; there’s no reason why Yorkshire couldn’t do likewise, which could give a massive boost to Yorkshire’s tourist and leisure sectors, from the coast to the Dales.”

Yorkshire Party candidate Mike Jordan finished fourth – ahead of the Lib Dems and Reform UK – with 4.2 per cent of the vote in this month’s Selby and Ainsty by-election.

Beckwithshaw and Goldsborough meet tonight in cricket’s Addison Cup final

Update: The match has been postponed for a week until Monday, August 7 due to the weather. Play will begin at Knaresborough Cricket Club at 6pm.

Beckwithshaw will take on Goldsborough in the final of cricket’s 20-over Addison Cup in Knaresborough tonight — weather permitting.

The Addison Cup, which is contested by the top 16 teams in the Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League, is one of the oldest cricket competitions in the world, dating back to 1922.

Burnt Yates won the centenary final last year at Follifoot Cricket Club.

Byron Boshoff was named man of the match in last year’s final.

Beckwithshaw have lifted the cup 18 times — a joint record with Bilton. The village team first won the trophy in 1924 and did so most recently in 2017.

They recently rejoined the league after a short break and are currently top of Division 3, having gone through the season undefeated so far.

By contrast, Goldsborough have appeared in two previous finals but have never lifted the trophy. They are joint second in Division 1.

Tonight’s match, which is free to attend, begins at 6.15pm at Knaresborough Cricket Club on Aspin Lane.

If the match is postponed due to weather it will be rearranged shortly afterwards.

Knaresborough Cricket Club

Can you solve the mystery of the 1930 trophy?

Last year Eric Wainwright discovered a winner’s medal from the first ever Addison Cup final whilst clearing out his father’s house.

This year Peter Horsman, secretary and treasurer of the league, was contacted by an antiques dealer in Canada who found an individual winner’s replica cup which it is thought was given to each team member from the final in 1930.

The antique dealer searched online to find out more about the Addison Cup and read about it in an article on the Stray Ferret.

The individual replica (pictured below) is an exact smaller copy of the main cup and is about three inches tall.

Mr Horsman said:

“In 1930 the winners of the cup were Woodlands, who went on to win it five years in a row from 1929 to 1933.

“It would be interesting to hear if anyone knew of somebody who played for Woodlands CC and who later moved to Canada so that we could trace who was presented with the individual replica.”

If you have information about the Woodlands team you can call Mr Horsman on 07798 582792 or email him at peter_horsman@hotmail.co.uk.

MPs Watch: New MP, River Nidd and Mayoral election

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In July, Labour’s Keir Mather became the new MP for Selby and Ainsty after overturning a 20,000 majority to unseat the Conservatives.

Meanwhile, the debate over the River Nidd bathing water status campaign continued and the Tories selected current North Yorkshire councillor, Keane Duncan, as their candidate for mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

We asked Ripon MP Julian Smith if he would like to highlight anything in particular, but did not receive a response.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

On July 5, Mr Jones welcomed the decision by rail companies not to close Harrogate station ticket office as part of plans to close hundreds of kiosks across the country.
He also called for an apology from Lib Dem candidate Tom Gordon after he wrongly claimed the ticket office was due to close.
Mr Jones called for a debate in parliament on July 13 over electric vehicle charging infrastructure. He said progress across the country had been “quite mixed”.
On July 13, Mr Jones posted on his community news website that he hosted pupils from Harrogate Ladies College and St Aidan’s Church of England High School in parliament.
Mr Jones welcomed the confirmation of Keane Duncan as Conservative candidate for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire on July 17.
On July 25, Mr Jones defended his involvement in a campaign to designate the River Nidd at Knaresborough bathing water status after Liberal Democrat councillor Matt Walker accused him of using it as a “political tool”.
Mr Jones also welcomed North Yorkshire Council’s backing for the campaign.
On July 25, Mr Jones posted a video of him taking part in a “Take The Bus” campaign, which encourages more disabled and older people to use free bus travel.

When we contacted Mr Jones for comment, his office sent a list of his engagements for July.

They included holding constituency surgeries, hosting a reception in Parliament on behalf the Rail Delivery Group to increase awareness of sexual harassment on the rail network and visiting Springwater School to meet with the headteacher and chair of governors.

Others included visiting GirlGuiding West’s new headquarters development on Cornwall Road and hosting a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport across the North to discuss the new strategic transport plan.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Mr Smith made no spoken contributions in the House of Commons in July.
On July 21, Mr Smith met with the Ripon Military Heritage Trust to discuss the trust’s plans to preserve military heritage in the city.
On July 22, Mr Smith tweeted his congratulations to Labour’s Keir Mather after his victory in the Selby and Ainsty by-election.
Mr Smith posted 15 tweets on his Twitter account in July, which included promoting government grants and national funding announcements.

Yemi’s Food Stories: Cooking the perfect steak

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in last year’s BBC TV’s Masterchef competition. Every Saturday Yemi will be writing on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food and sharing cooking tips– please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

One of my favourite things to eat is a rib eye steak which has to be tasty, juicy and tender; topped with a sauce like chimichurri or flavoured butter.

Growing up in Nigeria, meat was broiled with spices and seasoning before frying and adding to a pepper and tomato based sauce, boiled in a soup, slow cooked to make stews, roasted or grilled over open fire.

Our cooking methods meant that I grew up with meat cooked well done.

Decades ago on a work trip to London, I ordered a well done steak; I was warned that it would be tough to eat and it was. It was my first appreciation of how different cuts of meat react to heat and different cooking methods.

I started to ask for my steak as medium well and slowly began to work my way to medium. I love cooking steak but I’m always tempted to leave it slightly longer than it needs to be.

It’s no surprise that learning how to cook a perfect steak remained high on my wish list next to making great sauces. A few years ago, I watched a steak cooking masterclass by Heston Blumenthal on the Australian MasterChef competition.

He suggested using a heavy-bottomed frying pan over a high heat, with a thin layer of oil that is heated until the oil is smoking hot. Cooking the steak involved seasoning it with a little salt before placing in the hot pan for 15–20 seconds. The steak is turned over and cooked for 15 – 20 seconds and this process is repeated for 2 – 3 minutes before it is removed and rested over a wire rack.

Letting the pan heat up between each turn results in a good caramelisation and juicy steak.

During the Yorkshire Dales Food and Drinks Festival, I signed up for the Tomahawk cooking class (main image) as I was eager to pick some pointers for steak cooking.

Yemi’s tips on cooking steak:

Choose the right cut: opt for well-marbled cuts like ribeye or filet mignon for the best flavour and tenderness
Let it come to room temperature: take the steak out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking to ensure even cooking. If you’re short on time, leave steak in original water tight packaging and place in slightly warm water to quickly bring the temperature up.
Season generously: remove excess moisture and generously season the steak with salt and pepper or your favourite dry rub to enhance its natural flavours
Preheat the cooking surface: make sure your grill or pan is preheated to a high temperature before placing the steak on it.
Get a good sear: sear the steak over high heat to lock in the juices and create a flavourful crust. Depending on the thickness of the steak, sear each side for 1-3 minutes. Turn every minute.
Sear all the edges of the steak to kill off any bacteria which can be on the surface. Add some butter or oil with garlic and fresh herbs; baste the meat for extra flavour
Always use a meat thermometer: for precise cooking, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. For medium-rare, aim for 130-135°F (54-57°C), medium 140-145°F (60-63°C), and medium-well 150-155°F (66-68°C).
Let it rest: once cooked to your desired doneness, remove the steak from the heat and let it rest for as long as possible. This allows the juices to redistribute and keeps the meat juicy and tender.
Add flavoured butter or finishing sauce: for an extra touch of richness and flavour, add some melted butter or your favourite finishing sauce to the steak while it’s resting.

My most important takeaway is to always use my meat thermometer. I use Thermapen gifted to me by the company during my MasterChef UK competition.

No one should call the shots on how your steak should be cooked, so eat your steak the way you like it. Remember to use the right cuts of meat and a well done steak needs longer resting time.

I am at Yolk Farm and Minskip Farm shop today. Drop by and come say hi if you’re in the area.

For more stories on food and drink locally why not check out our Lifestyle section.

Lib Dem leader criticises ‘outrageous’ decision

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Extra costs

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Can you solve the mystery of the 1930 trophy?

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Yemi’s tips on cooking steak:

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