Editor's Pick of the Week: Christmas in September, housebuilding and Dame Judi Dench

It was a timely reminder that Christmas is a mere three months away when details of this year’s Harrogate fayre landed in our inbox on Thursday.

As I looked out at the trees outside Stray Ferret HQ beginning to take on their autumnal colours, I felt a sense of disbelief that we are quickly approaching the festive time of year.

Regardless, the details of this year’s event will excite some readers as a land train, an array of stalls and a 32-metre high ferris wheel are set to return to Harrogate town centre.

Also on Thursday, we had one councillor asking the question: “does the west of Harrogate has too much housing?”

Those who live in the area will be familiar with the vast number of planning applications currently going through the council, which are expected to make up to 4,000 homes.

But, Cllr John Mann told us that the areas such as Whinney Lane, Otley Road and Yew Tree Lane have had enough and no more should be allocated to the west of the town under North Yorkshire Council’s upcoming Local Plan.

Whether council bosses listen to his plea is another matter altogether.

In Pateley Bridge this week, the town did what it does best — come together to support its community.

After a fire engulfed a building on King’s Road, businesses were impacted and one resident was taken to hospital.

It came as no surprise to us at the Stray Ferret that as we followed the story, we came across two fundraisers set up to support the community and its businesses. It was suitably Pateley Bridge which is well known for its community spirit.

Finally, Dame Judi Dench has weighed in on the plans for Ripon Cathedral’s annexe — yes, you read that correctly.

The star of stage and screen is an ambassador and patron for the Woodland Trust and took the opportunity this week to support a campaign to protect a veteran beech tree as well as 10 other trees on the gardens.

It’s not the first time a high profile figure has opted to weigh in on matters in the Harrogate district. TV presenter Julia Bradbury did so in 2021.

I suspect Dame Judi will not be the last celebrity to dip their toes into controversial matters in the district.

John Plummer is away.

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