Boroughbridge news from the Boroughbridge district - Page 83 of 208

Boroughbridge duck race returns on Sunday

A charity duck race will take place over the bank holiday weekend in Boroughbridge.

The first duck race took place in 2019 but, due to covid, has not been able to return until this year.

Sunday’s race is organised by the charity Boroughbridge Lions to raise money for local causes. It will take place from the weir to the bridge on the River Ure.

A total of 1,000 plastic ducks will race for the top prize of £200 cash. The owners of the first 10 to finish will all receive cash prizes.

The race starts at 11am and the winners’ presentation will take place at the Tap on the Tutt at 1230pm.

In a Facebook post about the event, Boroughbridge Lions said:

“Your bathtime duck pal is supporting our local community, you can too for only two Yorkshire pounds.”

Ducks are sold by the lions club at the Fox and Hounds, Grantham Arms, and the Tap on the Tutt pubs in Boroughbridge.

Purchases can be made on the day at lions stall at the Tap on the Tutt.

Organiser Simon Wade told the Stray Ferret he hoped the duck race would become an annual event that will “grow year by year”.

Mother’s tribute to son, 18, who died in Harrogate district crash

A mother has paid tribute to her 18-year-old son who died in a car crash on the edge of the Harrogate district.

James Gomersall died in a collision on the B6265 near Score Ray Lane, between Whixley and Thorpe Underwood, on June 24.

Mr Gomersall, who was from Green Hammerton, was the front passenger in a blue Ford Focus when it collided with a silver Volkswagen Touran. He died at the scene.

Police issued a statement today in which Mr Gomersall’s mother described him as “truly amazing” and a caring brother to his four siblings.

She said:

“James was truly amazing in everything he did, he shone like the sun! He was so helpful around the house and would do anything for friends and neighbours and never expected anything in return.

“He leaves three brothers and a sister, two of whom have severe learning difficulties. He had so much care in him and so much patience. He was an amazing big brother; the best you could get, and they miss him so much.

“He loved animals; turtles, fish, cats and especially his dogs which he used to walk for miles, they too are missing him, waiting at the door for him to come home.”

She added:

“James had just got his first proper job and I was so proud of him but unfortunately, he never got the chance to start. There are so many things that James will never be able to experience; my beautiful boy taken far too soon at only 18.

“He was his dad’s right-hand man and he was my best friend, being without him is very painful and a piece of us all has died with him. Our family are devastated, and our hearts are truly broken, we will never be the same again.

“He is a ray of light in the dark, he is the rainbows in the sky, he is the warmth from the sun, he is everything, he was our world and so much more. He was just a brilliant man all round. They say God only takes the best.”

An inquest into Mr Gomersall’s death opened on July 12. It was adjourned for a full hearing at a later date.

North Yorkshire Police has reissued an appeal for any witnesses to the crash to come forward.

A force statement added:

“Police are urging anyone who saw the collision or either car involved prior to it to get in touch. They would also like to hear from anyone who may have relevant dashcam footage.

“Anyone with information is asked to email PC Julie Brown Julie.Brown@northyorkshire.police.uk or phone North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Julie Brown.

“Please quote reference number 12230116638 when passing information.”

Council estimates £105m use of reserves to cover three years of deficits

North Yorkshire Council could be forced to use £105 million of reserves to cover deficits over the next three years.

The council is currently forecasting a shortfall of £25 million at the end of 2023/24.

The authority put the figure down to inflation, rising cost of utilities and taking on structural deficits from other district councils.

Officials had initially forecast a deficit of £30 million, but this has since fallen to £25 million due to savings on changing energy providers and falling fuel bills.

In February, the council agreed a “one-off use” of £30 million of its reserves to cover this year’s deficit.

However, despite the lower deficit, the council still faces being forced to dip into its reserves to cover rising deficits up until 2025/26.

Cllr Gareth Dadd, executive councillor for finance at the council, said:

“We can already see the benefits of creating one single council for North Yorkshire with the chance to make millions of pounds of savings in the first year alone.

“While this is good news for taxpayers in North Yorkshire, we do still need to be realistic as the situation can change with the major financial challenges and uncertainty that are continuing to affect the global economy.”

The authority has estimated another £30 million shortfall next year, followed by a £45 million deficit in 2025/26.

According to a report due before councillors next week, the council estimates that it would need to use a total of £105 million to cover its shortfalls over the next three years.

Council bosses are expected to draw up plans to make savings in the coming years in order to offset any use of reserves.

A financial report before the council in February showed the authority had £285 million in “earmarked reserves”, which is used to “manage financial risk, commitments and support improvement and investment within service directorates”.

Gary Fielding, corporate director for strategic resources at the council, told the Stray Ferret previously that, despite the use of reserves, the council would still be in a good position to withstand another national event, such as a pandemic.

A report on how the council plans to make savings in the next financial year will be brought before senior councillors in February 2024.

Council to approve £400,000 to draw up new housing plan

North Yorkshire Council is set to spend £400,000 on creating a new housing plan for the county.

The Local Plan will guide where land can be used for housing and employment for decades to come.

It will replace the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place across the district between 2014 and 2035.

The old plan was published by Harrogate Borough Council, which was abolished at the end of March.

The new North Yorkshire Council executive next week will recommend approving a sum to help progress work on the first year of the countywide plan.

This will include commissioning “key technical evidence”, such as flood, transport and housing needs assessments.

Gary Fielding, corporate director for strategic resources at North Yorkshire Council, said in a report a full cost for the plan will be published at a later date.

He said:

“The preparation of a new Local Plan for the whole of North Yorkshire is now required and involves pulling together multiple work streams across council services.

“Discussions are underway with several services including highways to fully understand the technical evidence required to support a new plan and the resource implications involved.

“Benchmarking is also underway to understand any cost efficiencies of pulling together evidence for seven former district authorities.

“A full report on budgets will be pulled together which addresses the resource and staffing implications for developing a Local Plan over the next five year.”

The plan will plot where housing and development can take place over the next 30 years, including across the Harrogate district.

Conservative councillors on the authority’s executive agreed to draw up the Local Plan last December.

Police dogs to be given collar numbers in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Police has started issuing dogs with collar numbers.

Assistant chief constable Elliot Foskett said the move was in recognition of dogs being colleagues rather than just assets.

The animals will also have their names added to a new Police Dog Roll of Honour at the force’s headquarters at Northallerton when they retire or are killed in the line of duty. Their police handlers will be presented with a ceremonial dog collar.

In another move, North Yorkshire Police has created a memorial garden for police dogs at Northallerton. PD Dixon, who died in March last year has been given the first collar number PD0001.

PC Josh Hunsely with Rhun

ACC Foskett said:

“Our police dogs are not simply force assets, they are our colleagues. They work alongside us every day and along with their handlers, are responsible for catching some of the most prolific and dangerous criminals operating in our communities.

“I was delighted to be able to recognise their importance to us as a force and the wider public.”

North Yorkshire Police also announced today it has introduced a new animal welfare scheme that will see unannounced checks on its kennels.

North Yorkshire Police dog handler Sergeant Gareth Gummerson said:

“Animal welfare is paramount, not only to me as an individual, but also as a police dog handler and I share this passion with my colleagues on the force’s dog section.”

PC Tony Barnes with Molly, who is trained to find drugs, cash and weapons.

Plans to create new traffic-free greenway submitted

Plans have been submitted to create a 1.6-mile traffic-free cycleway called the Hammerton Greenway.

The greenway would link Green Hammerton and Thorpe Underwood and cost an estimated £84,600,

Green Hammerton Parish Council began work on the scheme after the 2014 Tour de France passed through the area.

A planning application to change the use of land to facilitate a cycleway has now been submitted to North Yorkshire Council.

Planning documents submitted to the council in support of the application said:

“This will be a greenway for all users and will be designed to give a smooth dry surface for year round use on foot, by cycle, and with children’s buggies or by those in wheelchairs.”

Green Hammerton is surrounded by main roads, which limit access to the network of relatively quiet country roads into the vale of York.

The greenway would link with Great Ouseburn, four miles away, which is part of the Way of the Roses cycle route running from Morecambe to Bridlington.

The parish council asked path construction specialists David Gray and John Grimshaw to prepare a report detailing how best to deliver this project.

Funding is now thought to be in place thanks to contributions from developers that have built housing in the area.

Upgrading paths

Creating the cycleway will mainly involve upgrading existing paths with a more even and levelled surface.

The planning documents add:

“Furthermore, the work will require the replacement of an existing bridge with a new, North Yorkshire Council standard cycleway bridge, the installation of potential street furniture (benches, bollards, and gates) and new/enhanced boundary treatments in the form of hedge planting and where necessary fencing.”

Cycling groups Harrogate Wheel Easy and Harrogate District Cycle Action support the scheme.

Gia Margolis, chair of Harrogate Wheel Easy, said in planning documents:

“The proximity of this route to the growing cycle network in this area is very exciting.

“The success of the Nidderdale Greenway and the Spofforth to Wetherby and Thorp Arch cycleway are major contributors to encouraging more people to cycle.

“Children and adults who have the opportunity to cycle along traffic free routes gain confidence and skills that cannot be done on our busy roads.”

Where to watch the World Cup final in the Harrogate district

Pubs, sports clubs and other venues across the Harrogate district are gearing up for a morning like no other tomorrow, as England’s Lionesses face Spain in the World Cup Final.

The match takes place at Stadium Australia in Sydney, kicking off at 11am UK time.

The early start has not deterred fans and businesses alike from making the most of the occasion.

No doubt the biggest cheers will be for Rachel Daly, the former Rossett School student and Killinghall Nomads junior player, who will be hoping to start once again for the Lionesses.

Here’s a round-up of some of the places putting on a special event for the match.

If you know anywhere else, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will add it to the list.

Harrogate

The Empress on the Stray will be open from 10am to welcome fans.

The Tap on Tower Street is opening its doors at 11am for the match.

The Den, on Cambridge Road, will be showing the match.

The Balcony at Harrogate Cricket Club will be open from 10am, with bacon butties, hot drinks and the bar open. Book a seat via the website.

Husk Beer Emporium will be open for the match from 11am.

Harrogate Conservative Club on East Parade will be showing it from 10.45am.

Bilton Cricket Club on Bilton Lane is opening at 10am and offering a free pint to anyone who wears their England shirt. Check the club’s Facebook page for booking details.

Starbeck Working Men’s Club on Forest Avenue will be showing the match on a big screen, with doors open from 10.30am.

The Knox in Bilton will be serving breakfast butties from 10.30am ready for kick-off.

The Shepherd’s Dog on Otley Road will be open from 10.30am and serving sausage and bacon butties.

Knaresborough

Knaresborough Town Football Club on Manse Lane is hosting a watch party, with doors open from 10.30am.

The Cricketers on Thistle Hill will be open from 10am for the match.

Ripon

The Black Swan in Westgate is throwing a Women’s World Cup Final party from 10.30am, with a raffle and England merchandise.

So! Bar and Eats in Old Market Square will open its doors at 10.30am. There will be free bacon sandwiches until kick-off.

Ripon Bowling Club in Bondgate Green is opening from 9am for fans to gather and watch the build-up and match together.

Firefighters respond to hot tub blaze near Knaresborough

Firefighters from Knaresborough were called to a hot tub that went up in flames near Knaresborough today.

Flames from the wood-fired hot tub, which didn’t have anyone in it, spread to the surrounding canopy on Arkendale Road in Ferrensby.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report said:

“This was extinguished prior to the arrival of the fire service using five small fire extinguishers, buckets of water and garden hose pipes.

“Crews assisted the owners with damping down the area. The hot tub and canopy were 100% destroyed by fire. The cause of this was a jammed motor.”

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP calls for police talks on remembrance parades

Harrogate and Knaresborough’s MP Andrew Jones has written to North Yorkshire’s chief constable asking her to reconsider the force’s approach to this year’s remembrance parades.

North Yorkshire Police has said it will no longer provide traffic management for parades, including those on Remembrance Sunday, ending a practice that has lasted for decades.

Knaresborough Royal British Legion has said the decision threatened this year’s parade in the town from taking place.

Mr Jones has called for the police to continue to provide the service this year, as there is little time for alternative arrangements, and then work with community groups so they can take over in future.

North Yorkshire Police claims its decision is due to changes to the law in 2004 and subsequent guidance from professional bodies representing police. It also says it is now out-of-step with other police forces which ceased traffic management of remembrance parades many years ago.

Remembrance Sunday in Knaresboroug. Picture: Charlotte Gale

Mr Jones wrote to North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe asking her to review the force’s decision and reinstate police support at remembrance parades.

His office said today chief constable Lisa Winward had replied “outlining the legal position and the guidance from professional bodies”.

Mr Jones has asked the chief constable asking her to reinstate police traffic management for remembrance parades this year.

He said:

“Remembrance is about our public services coming together and facilitating a collective act of tribute not just to those who have fallen in our armed forces but those in the emergency services who have given their lives that we can be free.

“The parades are an integral part of this and an important tradition that will be lost without traffic management.

“The sudden decision by North Yorkshire Police has endangered that tradition and left little time to put in place alternative arrangements.”

Recognising the police want to stop traffic management duties, Mr Jones has asked Ms Winward to meet with him and parade organisers to discuss “a managed handover of traffic management to volunteers, community groups or council staff”.

He said:

“If the police want to stop traffic management for remembrance it is an operational decision. I think it is a poor decision but in the final analysis it is their decision to take.

“But the sudden announcement means there is little opportunity to save this year’s parades. That is why I am asking them to reconsider the approach for this year and then work with community groups to ensure they have the capacity and knowledge to provide the support for future years.

“I am hopeful that by taking a constructive and collaborative approach we can save these much-loved parts of our remembrance in which the police join and in which we remember the fallen among their number too.”

Harrogate Bus Company places £21m order for 39 electric buses

The Harrogate Bus Company has placed orders worth £21 million for 39 new buses and to equip its Starbeck depot to convert its entire Harrogate fleet to fully electric power.

Funding for the bid includes £7.8 million secured by North Yorkshire Council from the government’s zero emission bus regional areas scheme.

Ministers set-up the scheme to help local authorities outside London introduce zero-emission buses.

The Harrogate Bus Company, whose services include the 36 that runs between Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds, is owned by French firm Transdev.

Transdev has already trialled several types of all-electric buses on three routes in and around Harrogate, and on its shuttle route linking Bradford and Keighley.

Transdev orders, which it revealed today, call for:

20 new Mercedes-Benz E-Citaro all-electric single deck buses, to be used on the urban route 1 between Harrogate and Knaresborough, route 7 linking Harrogate, Wetherby and Leeds, and rural route 24 between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge.
19 new Alexander Dennis Enviro 400EV fully electric double deck buses, to relaunch flagship route, The 36 linking Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds. These will be among the first of this new British-built design to enter service.

One of eight current Harrogate Electrics-branded single deck vehicles, seen at Harrogate Bus Station.

Henri Rohard, managing director of Transdev, described the news as “an important evolution in the quality and sustainability of our network in and around our home town of Harrogate”.

Mr Rohard added:

“All our bus fleet will be renewed in the process, giving our Harrogate Bus Company the most modern and passenger oriented network.

“In combination with our existing eight Harrogate Electrics-branded Volvo 7900E electric buses, the first of their kind in Britain, 47 fully-electric vehicles are now expected to be in service in spring 2024.

“Higher power output delivered by today’s new generation batteries means each bus can go further between charge-ups – and to make sure we provide a reliable service, our buses will also have top-up charges at Harrogate Bus Station, as they will travel further in a day than the maximum range achievable by fully electric buses.”

The Starbeck depot will be upgraded.

Roads minister Richard Holden said:

“It’s fantastic to see Transdev turn its Harrogate fleet to fully electric by ordering 39 new electric buses.

“We’ve awarded £330 million of dedicated funding for zero emission buses in England excluding London, as we continue in our quest to decarbonise transport and reach net zero by 2050.”

Conservative-controlled North Yorkshire Council was among 12 local authorities to submit a successful bid for government funding.

Cllr Keane Duncan, the council’s executive member for highways and transport, said:

“It’s great news for passengers and an important step towards achieving our climate aims.”

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Upgrading paths

Harrogate

Knaresborough

Ripon

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