Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district update

The main routes into Harrogate, such as Wetherby Road, Knaresborough Road and Skipton Road, appear to be flowing normally in the approach to rush hour.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Drivers heading towards Wetherby should be aware of temporary traffic lights still in place on the A661 Harrogate Road near Spofforth.

The lights are in place while Northern Gas Networks carries out maintenance work and are now due to last until October 18.

Elsewhere in Harrogate, long-term work on Crescent Road means motorists are unable to turn left at the Parliament Street junction. Traffic coming the opposite way on Ripon Road is unable to turn right.

Montpellier Road remains closed until tomorrow as Northern Gas Networks carries out maintenance work.

Stop go boards are due to be in place on John Street today and tomorrow.

Roadworks on the Boroughbridge Road at Scriven are likely to cause delays for motorists travelling between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.

Looking ahead, work is scheduled to begin on Monday to reconstruct the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley, near Pateley Bridge, which suffered a landslip during storms in  February 2020.

The scheme requires the road to be closed from October 17 to December 9. A diversion will be in place via Pateley Bridge; the B6451 Dacre; Menwith Hill Road; Duck Street and Greenhow Hill village. Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the remainder of the work.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

The Harrogate Bus Company is not currently reporting any cancellations but you can get updates here.

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Pateley Bridge and Bewerley recognise the community response to covid

The people of Pateley Bridge and Bewerley have been recognised for their selfless contribution to the community during the covid pandemic.

Plaques have been unveiled within both of the parishes that make up the town council serving the area.

The unveilings were carried out by the Mayor and Mayoress of Pateley Bridge, Cllr Mike and Dr Janet Holt and the chair of Bewerley Parish Council, Cllr Graham Spooner.

The wording on the plaques says that each council: ‘Acknowledges and thanks the volunteers, shopkeepers and parishioners who have all contributed so much to the town during the covid-19 pandemic.’

Cllr Holt said

“This has been a great opportunity to make people aware that our town is governed by two councils, and how those councils work together for the benefit of the whole community, the local businesses and of course our all-important visitors.

The Pateley Bridge plaque. Photo: Cllr Stanley Lumley

He added:

“We are privileged to live in this amazing area and although everybody in this country has, to a greater or lesser extent, been affected by covid we have been incredibly lucky.

“We have an amazing community which, over these last 18 months has pulled together to help their neighbours, relatives and friends to cope with the personal issues that have occurred during this time.

“Both councils appreciate how our community has worked selflessly to help during this crisis and the plaques will act as a long-standing reminder of both councils’ gratitude, and they will also hopefully remind everyone how monumentally life-changing this pandemic been.”

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The purchase and erection of the plaques came after Pateley Bridge Town Council was approached by many people recommending that individuals should be recognised for their efforts during the pandemic.

While it was not possible to recognise each individual, because of the large number involved in voluntary activities and service that helped others, it was agreed that the plaques would be a poignant way of marking the collective community effort.

 

Harrogate council threatens vicar with criminal charges in planning row

Harrogate Borough Council has threatened a vicar with criminal charges in a planning row over a stone plaque at a church near Pateley Bridge.

Reverend Darryl Hall became embroiled in the dispute after parishioner and builder Carl Foxton made the plaque, along with several others for sites across the Harrogate district.

Mr Foxton, who is in his late 70s, made this latest plaque to welcome people to Bewerley Grange Chapel, which was built by Marmaduke Huby, the abbot of Fountains Abbey from 1495-1526

Mr Foxton’s work can be found attached to the wall outside the church, which is a listed building.

Revd Hall believes the wall is not part of the listed structure of the church and therefore the plaque should stay but the council disagrees.

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Andrew Lancashire, the council’s planning enforcement officer, has written to Revd Hall requesting the plaque’s removal. Mr Lancashire wrote:

“The Local Planning Authority consider that this work is a criminal offence under section 9 of the Planning Act 1990.

“I am requesting that the plaque is removed, including all stone work to construct it and that the wall is repaired and put back to how it was.

“I have consulted with the Council Heritage Officers and there is no support to retain the plaque.”

The letter goes on to give the vicar until May 31 to respond, otherwise the council has said it will be forced to take formal action.

Revd Hall, who is the Dales Vicar in Upper Nidderdale, told the Stray Ferret:

“I was blown away by the plaque, it is stunning. We would like to have something that welcomes people here.

“So it is frustrating. To think that I am going to have to go to Carl and tell him that it will have to come down.

“When I read the letter I was absolutely shocked. A criminal offence? It’s a beautiful piece of art, I have not heard anyone say anything bad about it. I have lost sleep over this row.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“The stone plaque has been installed in a wall that forms part of a listed building.

“This is an offence under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 and must therefore be removed.”

Communities thanked for covid response with commemorative plaques

Two commemorative plaques are to be installed in Pateley Bridge and Bewerley this summer to thank the communities for their “amazing” response during the pandemic.

Pateley Bridge Town Council and Bewerley Parish Council are installing the markers in their towns as a way to thank and recognise community members who collectively came forward to help out.

The idea has been discussed at a few council meetings in recent months but at Tuesday’s annual council meeting it was agreed to arrange an unveiling for July.

Both councils felt it was important to hold the ceremony once lockdown had eased to allow for a proper celebration of people’s hard work.

One plaque will be placed halfway up Pateley Bridge high street, aside other plaques, and the other on the outer wall of Bewerley youth shelter. They will be funded by the two councils.

Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Mike Holt, said he came up with the idea a few months ago after trying to find a way to recognise various people and companies’ efforts.

He said:

“On the whole, the community came together in a tremendous way. The plaque will be there forever to remind people of the past year. I think it’s important for us to come together and remember the people who came together at the time.”

Further arrangements for July’s unveilings will be announced as covid restrictions ease.

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