Harrogate Bus Company is set to merge two routes in Bilton as part of changes to its services.

Under a shake-up of its routes which will be introduced from February 19, the current 2A and 2B services will be merged to create a circular around Bilton.

The service will run every 20 minutes from Monday to Saturday and every hour on evenings and Sundays. The 2A and 2B each currently run every 30 minutes.

The bus company said the change will see the “busiest stops and main locations” covered.

The new 2 service to Bilton, as proposed by Harrogate Bus Company.

Meanwhile, the route of the 6 will also change in an effort to “speed up journey times”.

The route will stop at Pannal Ash Drive and The Lawns and “no longer service lightly used stops”, the bus company said. The loop up Harlow Avenue past the Green Hut will no longer be served.

The X6 route will not change and will continue to run along Otley Road serving all stops in both directions.

Harrogate Bus Company added:

“If you currently catch the 6 into Harrogate along Otley Road, you’ll need to catch the bus on the opposite side of the road before it goes around Pannal Ash.”

Changes to the 6 to Pannal Ash.

People who catch the 36 between Harrogate and Leeds will see the service run every 10 minutes, under the changes. The bus company added it would continue to run to “similar timetables and frequencies” between Harrogate and Ripon.

Meanwhile, those who use the 3 service to Jennyfields will see buses every 20 minutes from Monday to Saturday, slightly reduced from the current 15-minute frequency on weekdays, but up on the half-hourly Saturday service.

For more information on the changes to Harrogate bus services, visit the Harrogate Bus Company website here.

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• YorBus: On-demand service’s running costs are twice as much as regular buses
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In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at the controversial closure of Woodfield Community Primary School in Harrogate.

On the last day of this year, Woodfield Community Primary School will officially cease to exist. But in truth, the life has been slowly sucked from the school over the last 18 months.

The school’s prospects had been bleak since an Ofsted report rated it inadequate in 2020.

Under government rules, schools rated inadequate need to join an academy or face closure.

The future of the site remains uncertain.

Hopes were raised when a monitoring report by Ofsted said the school was taking “effective action” to improve. But North Yorkshire County Council, the local education authority, said it was unable to give the school more time because the decision was “out of our hands, because of the system”.

The council eventually revealed plans to amalgamate Woodfield with nearby Grove Road Community Primary School. But the Grove Road governors torpedoed this in April, citing concerns about risk. From this moment on Woodfield’s days were effectively numbered.

The county council opened a consultation on closure and although the idea was met with fury by the trade union Unison, which said closure would be “an absolute disgrace” driven by ideology rather than common sense, and politicians on all sides lined up to say how much the school was needed, the outcome was never in doubt.

June’s poorly attended public meeting.

On a blisteringly hot day in June, council officials held a meeting as part of the consultation. Speaker by speaker methodically spelled out the case for closure — falling pupil numbers, a cumulative deficit of £229,000 in 2023/34 and the Ofsted rating.

Nobody in the room seemed to agree but only about 20 people were there. Parents said it was a done deal and had moved their children elsewhere.

In July the council said it had “no option” but to press ahead with closure.

There were more legal hoops to jump through as formal closure notices were published from September onwards.

The school officially remained open during the autumn term but the only remaining decisions were what to do with the few remaining pupils and staff — as well as the spacious school site.

In October, the council said it would consider “alternative educational uses” for the extensive school site, which many locals suspect will end up as housing. It said:

“The county council will be exploring whether there are alternative educational uses for the school buildings. There are controls around the reuse or redevelopment of school sites, and any alternative uses that are proposed will be the subject of consultation.”

This month, the Stray Ferret asked the council what progress had been made in discussions about the use of the site. A council spokeswoman replied:

“There is no update from our last statements. We are still in discussions about the future use of the site.”

The school does not formally close until the clock strikes midnight on January 1. But the school, synonymous with children’s laughter for 56 years, is empty and its future use uncertain.

Read more:

• ‘Badly let down’ Woodfield school closure confirmed
• Woodfield school site ‘should remain for education’ says MP
• ‘No option’ but to close Woodfield school, says council

A decision has still not been taken on the future use of the Woodfield Community Primary School site.

The school in Bilton will officially close on December 31 but has been empty for some time.

There has been no event to mark the closure, unlike Kell Bank Primary School near Masham, which organised several activities celebrating its history when its doors closed for the final time last year.

North Yorkshire County Council, the local education authority, said in a statement in October:

“The county council will be exploring whether there are alternative educational uses for the school buildings. There are controls around the reuse or redevelopment of school sites, and any alternative uses that are proposed will be the subject of consultation.”

The county council-owned site also houses Bilton and Woodfield Community Library, Harrogate Bilton Children and Family Hub and Oak Beck House, which remain open.

After Woodfield school’s final term ended, the Stray Ferret asked the council for an update on its plans for the site.

A council spokeswoman said:

“There is no update from our last statements. We are still in discussions about the future use of the site.”

Read more:

• Woodfield school site ‘should remain for education’, says MP
• Harrogate street named second most expensive in region

A group of churchgoers in Bilton have knitted 330 Christmas angels in an effort to “cheer everyone up” this year.

The group, which attends Bilton Grange United Reformed Church on Woodfield Road, takes on the task of knitting angels every year.

Norma Trotter, one of the churchgoers, said the aim was to cheer people up during the festive period.

The angels will be placed on the hedge outside the church every day until the Sunday before Christmas.

Norma said:

“They’re sometimes gone within the first half an hour.”

Norma explained that they are sought after by the locals, asking if they can still have one after school when they are usually all gone.

She said:

“Some of the knitted angels have even ended up in Poland and North America.”

Read more:

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Norma referred to her crafting group as “the natty knitters” as they come together every other Monday to get out of the house and catch up.

She added that the group may embark on another project at the church next year, which could make knitted fruit and veg for the harvest.

The Christmas angels will be free to take until Sunday, December 18.

Christmas is edging closer and there are plenty of festivities taking place over the next couple of weeks.

Among them are a growing number of churches hosting Christmas tree festivals around the Harrogate district.

If you fancy seeing some inspiring, creative decorations, check out our list below of some of the festivals taking place across the district. 

Know of another that’s not on our list? Email the details to us now.

St James’s Church Boroughbridge

Boroughbridge launched the district’s festivals last weekend with some spectacular efforts.

Visitors cast their votes and overwhelmingly selected Kirby Hill WI’s jam jar tree as their favourite (pictures below). The Post Office was in second place and Spar came third.

In the children’s competition, Boroughbridge Scouts came out on top, followed by Roecliffe Primary School and Boroughbridge Junior School Early Years.

The festival concluded with a carol service on Sunday.

St John’s Church, Knaresborough 

The St John’s Christmas Tree Festival returns for another year.  

The Knaresborough Christmas tree festival takes place every year: 70 Christmas trees are decorated by local groups and are displayed in the St John’s Church in the heart of Knaresborough.  

It started last weekend and is running up until the December 23.  

As well as the Christmas tree competition there is live music and festive mulled wine refreshments. 

There will be live music every Saturday of the festival:

• Saturday, December 10
• Saturday, December 17

Admission to the festival is free, but donations to the church and their chosen charity are welcomed.

The event takes place at Vicarage Lane, Knaresborough HG5 9AE. 

St John’s Church, Bilton 

The Christmas tree festival in Bilton got up and running last weekend and continues throughout the month.

It features 20 trees created by community groups, many themed by the teams behind them.

The church is open from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Thursday each week, for visitors to see the trees. They are also on show at services until the end of December.

Entry is free and everyone is welcome at the Bilton Lane church.

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• Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal: ‘It’s our privilege to care for each other’
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St Andrew’s Church, Blubberhouses 

Another Christmas tree festival with an amazing variety of trees, a creative and festive event for everyone. 

The festival is open this weekend, Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11, from 11am to 4pm. 

On Sunday, The 4 – a musical quartet will be singing Christmas music and carols.  

There will also be wreaths and Christmas crafts for sale.  

Enjoy a festive atmosphere with mulled wine and refreshments.  

Admission to this event is free and it is taking place at Shepherd Hill Road, Blubberhouses, Otley, LS21 2NU.

Boroughbridge Christmas Tree Festival

St Peter’s Church, Harrogate

St Peter’s Church Christmas Tree Festival returns for its 18th year. 

The festival is running from December 10 to 17 and organisers hope to make this year “bigger and brighter than ever”. 

The opening times are 8am to 5.15pm. 

Charities, local schools, shops, and businesses have been invited to decorate a Christmas tree or wreath, decorations can either be Christmas themed or reflect their organisation.

This gives the decorators an opportunity to tell the community about their activities and achievements and brings the whole community together for some festive fun at the end of the year. 

Attendees will vote for their favourite Christmas tree, and the winner will be announced at their 9.30am service on December 18.  

The trees each have their own frame with details of who the tree is sponsored by and the name or theme of the tree. 

It takes place at St Peter’s Church, Cambridge Road, Harrogate HG1 1PB. 

Campaigners have launched a petition to save land on Knox Lane from housing.

Keep Knox Natural has called on Harrogate Borough Council to remove a parcel of land in the area from its Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place.

The move comes after councillors on the authority’s planning committee voted to delay a decision on a proposal to build 53 homes on the land amid concerns over contamination.

Last Sunday, campaigners took to Nidderdale Greenway, off Bilton Lane, dressed as woodland creatures to collect signatures for the petition.

The group argues that the council should reject the current application and remove the land from the local plan.

A spokesperson from the group said:

“We believe that this land should never have been included in the Harrogate local plan; it is entirely unsuitable for development.

“It lies within a designated special landscape area and building on this land will severely damage bio-diversity and destroy a range of landscape and historical features.

“Additionally, we believe that the development would cause serious risk of floodwater damage to Spruisty Bridge and houses near the site on Knox Lane.”

Spruisty Bridge

Read more:

• Controversial Knox Lane housing plans recommended for approval
• Contamination concerns delay decision on 53-home Knox Lane site
• Stray Views: Knox Lane housing scheme ‘lacks detail’

The council’s planning committee has yet to make a decision on the Knox Lane housing plan.

The plans first submitted in April 2020 initially included 73 homes, but this was reduced to 53 after local complaints.

Despite further changes, residents have continued to strongly oppose the development with a total of 313 objections and no letters of support being submitted to the council.

The proposals – which include 30 homes classed as affordable – will be brought back to another meeting of the council’s planning committee in the coming months.

You can view the Keep Knox Natural petition here.

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

My dog was banned from church – this is wrong

My gorgeous bit of fur, a well behaved six-year-old French bulldog, was asked to leave a well known church in Harrogate this afternoon. She could have stayed if she was an assistance/ guide dog on a lead and wearing a jacket. ‘Ordinary’ dogs are not allowed as their allergens may cause suffering to churchgoers. Do the leads and jackets stop allergens… no!

Belle has been visiting the sessions most weeks this year, to no known detriment to the church community. Has there been an anaphylactic reaction to a person during or after our sessions? Probably not.

Belle is adored by the churchgoers. They love giving her treats, petting and interacting with her. Pat-a-dog activities are a welcome therapy with the elderly and dementia sufferers. As a nurse for over 30 years, and having been a matron/ manager of care homes, I have seen the happiness this interaction brings.

Are dogs not God’s creation like us? Is a house of God not a sanctuary and place of peace? Are all of God’s creatures not welcome?

Although Belle is not officially a therapy dog, she helps me overcome anxiety/panic attacks and kept my mental health and wellbeing from spiralling into a black hole during the covid crisis. She continues to support me and bring joy.

Chrissy Richardson, Scotton

Read more:

• ‘Badly let down’ Woodfield school closure confirmed
• Diners to eat blindfolded to raise funds for Harrogate guide dogs

Politics of Woodfield school closure should not be forgotten

As branch secretary of the National Education Union, it is with great sadness that I have watched Woodfield Community Primary School, in the Bilton area of Harrogate, move towards closure.

The community of Bilton deserves a thriving primary school and over the course of the past decade the school has undergone several traumatic events that led to a lack of parental confidence. Rather than working with the community to help the school re-establish its reputation, it seems that far too many agencies involved have sought to sweep things under the carpet and not give the school staff and the local community the support they deserved to keep the school functioning.

I read with interest Cllr Paul Haslam’s comments in which he argues that the school should not be closing, due to the growth in population in Harrogate. I agree with Cllr Haslam about the need to keep Woodfield school open, but I do take issue with the fact that it is the Tory party, a party he represents, whose policy of forcing schools to become academies that has been the final death knell for the school.

The behaviour of the Department for Education is akin to the school bully who get their own way by any means necessary. Every member of the Tory party, from the Prime Minister to the Andrew Jones MP, to ward councillors are culpable in the decimation of our education system and schools such as Woodfield pay the heavy price for their neo-liberal ideology.

Over the past months the NEU has run a campaign to save Woodfield School. A campaign to which Tory councillors were happy to say they supported in words but then failed to back it up in gestures. When children are having to travel increased distances and crossing over catchment area borders to get the education they deserve I hope those local councillors, and the local MP, hang their heads in shame.

Mostly, I feel for the future generations of children in Bilton who will not be able to attend what was, not so long ago, a thriving, caring and wonderful educational setting.

Gary McVeigh-Kaye

North Yorkshire County Council has said it will consider “alternative educational uses” for Woodfield Community Primary School‘s buildings after it closes.

Councillors confirmed this week the 56-year-old Bilton school will close on December 31.

The council claims it has “exhausted all options” to keep the school open after years of falling pupil numbers and an inadequate rating by Ofsted.

But the move has angered local families who do not understand why the school, in a densely populated area of Harrogate, needs to close.

Following this week’s decision, the Stray Ferret asked the council about the future of the site, which includes substantial playing fields as well as the school building.

We asked what discussions have taken place about the use of the school site, what the options are and what the timescale for a decision is likely to be. We also asked whether the council had ruled out using the site for housing.

Read more:

• ‘Badly let down’ Woodfield school closure confirmed\
• Starbeck and Bilton community libraries set for 10-year council deal

The council replied in a statement:

“No discussions have taken place on the future use of the site, ahead of a decision being made on the school’s future this week.

“The site is owned by the county council and also houses Bilton and Woodfield Community Library, Harrogate Bilton Children and Family Hub and Oak Beck House. All of these services remain open and unaffected by the school closure.

“The county council will be exploring whether there are alternative educational uses for the school buildings. There are controls around the reuse or redevelopment of school sites, and any alternative uses that are proposed will be the subject of consultation.”

No further details have been released.

The 56-year history of Harrogate’s Woodfield Community Primary School is set to come to an end after councillors confirmed its closure today.

The school in Bilton will shut on December 31 despite complaints that pupils and parents have been “badly let down” by education bosses at North Yorkshire County Council.

But the council claims it has “exhausted all options” to try to keep the school open after years of falling pupil numbers and an inadequate rating by Ofsted.

Speaking at a meeting of the council’s executive today, ward councillor and school governor Paul Haslam repeated his objections to the closure which he blamed on an “unfounded allegation” about the school that was posted on social media several years ago. Cllr Haslam said”

“Today is a sad day. We have allowed social media and its consequent impact to close a perfectly good school.

“This cannot be allowed to happen to another school and it is only a failure if we do not learn from this sad event.”

Read more:

• Fears more Harrogate schools could follow in footsteps of closure-threatened Woodfield primary
• Fate of Woodfield primary school to be confirmed next week

Cllr Haslam, who represents the Bilton and Nidd Gorge division, added that the closure will “rip a large hole in this community” as he also called for a review into how it happened.

Paul Haslam

Stuart Carlton, the council’s corporate director of children and young people’s services, responded to say he “could not compel” other education bodies to discuss the issues around social media, but that he would meet with Cllr Haslam. He said:

“These are always very difficult decisions, but we have followed all the processes.

“The problem nationally of social media is one that isn’t unique to ourselves or particular schools here – it is something that plagues out across the country at times.

“I’m more than happy that I commit with my assistant director of education to meet with councillor Haslam and the chair of governors to talk through that point.”

Conservative councillor Annabel Wilkinson, the executive member for education and skills, also said the decision to close the school was made with a “heavy heart”.

Today’s decision comes after pupil numbers at the school dwindled from 155 in 2018 to just one earlier this month.

The inadequate rating by Ofsted inspectors came in 2020 and meant the school had to become part of an academy, however, it failed to one to secure its future.

Woodfield Community Primary School, which opened around 1964, then held merger talks with the nearby Grove Road Community Primary School, but these fell through.

Financial troubles have also hit the school, with debts forecast to reach almost £100,000 by the end of 2022/23 set to be absorbed by the county council.

The closure will also mean the Woodfield catchment area will be shared with both Bilton Grange Primary School and Grove Road Community Primary School.

The fate of Harrogate’s Woodfield Community Primary School is to be confirmed next week after a recommendation was made to close it at the end of the year.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive will next Tuesday be asked to agree to the closure on December 31.

It comes after council officials said they “exhausted all options” to try to keep the Bilton school open after years of falling pupil numbers and an inadequate rating by Ofsted inspectors in 2020.

But parents say the school has been “badly let down” by the local education authority, while councillors have labelled the planned closure a “disgrace”.

The school reception

There was just one pupil on the school roll earlier this month after the closure plans were revealed in summer and parents were forced to start looking elsewhere ahead of the new term.

Ward councillor Paul Haslam, who is also a governor at Woodfield, said the sudden death of a former headteacher in 2018 led to instabilities at the school and that an “unfounded slur” on social media then caused an “exodus” of about a third of the pupils later that year.

He said in a letter: 

“The school was exonerated of any wrongdoing and the correct safeguarding procedures were found to have been followed and to be in place by the local authority, as they were at the Ofsted judgement.

“What failed to happen was a restoration of the reputation of the school and difficulty in getting permanent, long term leadership.

“The school did not get enough support to come back from this reputational damage.”

Cllr Haslam also argued the school should not be closing because Harrogate’s population is growing and it had made good progress since the inadequate rating in January 2020.

Read more:

• Parents vow to fight closure of ‘fantastic’ Woodfield primary school
• Woodfield school taking ‘effective action’ to improve, says Ofsted

But a report to Tuesday’s meeting said government legislation requires the school to close unless an academy sponsor can be found. Any school rated as inadequate is required to become part of an academy, but Woodfield has failed to find one to secure its future.

The school had also held merger talks with the nearby Grove Road Community Primary School, but these fell through.

If approved, the closure will mean the Woodfield catchment area will be shared with Grove Road and Bilton Grange Primary School.

The school’s debts, which were forecast to reach almost £100,000 by the end of 2022/23, will be absorbed by the council.