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17
Jan

This week, 2,000 litres of vegetable oil went up in flames in a shed in Spofforth, Harrogate Town's veteran goalkeeper James 'Belly' Belshaw announced he was leaving for his boyhood club, Notts County, and a Kirkby Malzeard amputee who was told she would never walk again is hoping to climb 199 steps for charity.
But the Stray Ferret reported on lots of other things besides, so how closely have you been following what's been going on this week?

The new road pictured above the current road, at Blubberhouses.
1. The new 4.2-kilometre section of the A59 at Kex Gill will open to traffic on June 3, North Yorkshire Council revealed. The project was originally costed at £61.6 million, but what is the final bill? a) £68.3 million b) 76.2 million c) £82.5 million

Dishang UK's employees on the chapel steps at the HQ's launch.
2. The Chapel – the former Methodist church on Harrogate's Grove Road – found a new tenant. What kind of multinational moved in? a) a German kitchen designer b) a Qatari investment management company c) a Chinese textile manufacturer

North Yorkshire Council's headquarters in Northallerton.
3. North Yorkshire Council is set to increase council tax for 2026-27 in the face of a £17 million budget shortfall. Council officials have recommended that council tax is increased by the maximum amount permitted before triggering a referendum. How much is that? a) 4.99% b) 6.99% c) 8.99%

4. The Department for Transport published a colour-coded map showing how well local authorities are maintaining their roads. Each authority was rated according to the condition of its roads, how much it is spending on road repairs, and whether it is following best practice in maintaining highways. What colour was North Yorkshire on the map? a) green: good b) amber: mixed c) red: poor
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