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15
Oct 2024
Harrogate residents' group faces closure unless volunteers come forward
A group that has championed the views of west Harrogate residents on the large number of housing developments taking place in the area is in danger of folding.
Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association has given a voice to people on issues ranging from the ongoing development of 4,000 homes, the Otley Road cycle path and Harrogate Spring Water’s proposed expansion in the Pinewoods.
But chair Rene Dziabas, secretary David Siddans, membership secretary Sarah Cross and treasurer David Parry are standing down at the group's autumn meeting tomorrow (Wednesday, October 16) — and so far nobody has come forward to replace them.
An email sent to group subscribers ahead of the meeting said:
In the event that no one comes forward it has been decided by the committee that a formal proposal will be put forward for the dissolution of Hapara since it’s felt that it will no longer be possible to operate the association effectively.
The intention would be to dissolve the association as soon as practically possible given there are ongoing commitments such as a bank account to be terminated and IT services to be cancelled. This means that the website and all associated activity would cease in due course.
The email added any outstanding funds would be donated to Harlow Community Centre Association, which is also known as the Green Hut.
Hapara is known for its trenchant views: two years ago Mr Dziabas told councillors the Otley Road cycle path they commissioned was like a “crazy golf construction”.
This year cyclists accused the group of trying to “stir-up opposition” to the cycleway being extended towards Cardale Park when it claimed there was a “strong negative public response” to earlier plans to extend it on Beech Grove and the money would be better spent improving buses.
This month Mr Siddans told a North Yorkshire Council meeting that infrastructure in west Harrogate “cannot support the development of up to 4,000 new dwellings”.
Mr Dziabas told the Stray Ferret he liked to think the group had been “an irritant to the council” but it was time for change. He said:
Now that the process to develop a new local plan for North Yorkshire has begun, it is time for somebody else to bring a fresh pair of eyes.
Asked why nobody had stepped forward to volunteer yet, he said it was maybe because the roles require a “fair amount of commitment” as well as a willingness to stand up at council meetings and put forward residents’ views.
He added:
A lot of people think ‘crikey, I don’t know anything about planning’ but really you just have to jump in and pick up knowledge as you go along.
Harlow and Pannal Ash doesn’t have a parish council because it is part of Harrogate. But it will have representation on Harrogate town council when it is formed next year. Mr Dziabas said:
The town council should take on a lot of things a residents' group does. You could argue that with the creation of Harrogate town council, the role of residents’ groups may have to be reviewed.
Wednesday’s meeting takes place at the Green Hut on Harlow Avenue at 7pm.
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