Conservatives choose candidate for Bilton by-election

Harrogate borough councillor Matt Scott has been chosen as the Conservative candidate for the vacant Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat on North Yorkshire County Council.

A by-election is taking place following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Webber.

Cllr Scott has represented the Bilton Woodfield ward on  Harrogate Borough Council since 2018 and works in Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones’ office. He has lived in Bilton all his life.

He said:

“I am proud to call Bilton my home and there are many aspects of the area that make it a great place to live.

 “We are served by many small independent businesses; we have great schools and of course we have the Nidd Gorge, a vast green space on our doorstep.

 “I was part of the campaign to save it when proposals came forward for a relief road and my view has not changed.”

He said he wanted to be a “strong, local voice” on the county council, alongside fellow Conservative Paul Haslam, who also lives in Bilton and sits on both the borough and county councils.

He added:

“I will work hard to ensure we continue to have great schools, safe neighbourhoods and that our valuable green spaces remain untouched.”

Read more:

The by-election is scheduled on May 6. Nominations must be submitted by April 8.

It will be the only time residents can vote to elect county councillors this year after the government delayed elections due to local government reorganisation.

The Conservative-controlled county council currently has 53 Conservative councillors, four Labour councillors and four representing the Liberal Democrats. There are also eight North Yorkshire Independent and three independent councillors.

When the by-election was last run in 2017, Conservative Paul Haslam and Liberal Democrat Geoff Webber won the ward’s two seats with 1,618 and 1,414 votes respectively.

Liberal Democrat Mark McDermid came third with 1,285 votes and Conservative Graham Swift was fourth with 1,207 votes.

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said it would choose its candidate after Mr Webber’s funeral today.

 

Appeal to find dead Harrogate man’s next of kin

The North Yorkshire coroner’s office is appealing for help to locate the next of kin of 53-year-old Craig Fryer from Harrogate.

Mr Fryer died at his home in Woodfield Road, Bilton on March 15 and officers have been unable to trace his next of kin.

It is believed he has two daughters, one in Australia and one in the south of England. However, it is unknown exactly where.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today:

“If you are Craig’s daughter or have information that could help find them, please contact our coroner’s office via email to coroner@northyorkshire.police.uk.”

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Fryer’s death.

Read more:

 

Nidderdale Greenway blocked by huge fallen tree near Ripley

A huge tree has fallen on the Nidderdale Greenway, blocking the route to the east of Ripley.

Local resident Megan Hatfield spotted the blockage when she was cycling on the route today and was forced to turn back.

She said the section of the Greenway was “passable by scrambling on foot, but not by bike”.

The tree is thought to have fallen within the last 24 hours. The Greenway is popular with walkers and cyclists, especially at weekends when it is often busy.

North Yorkshire County Council has been alerted to the blockage, which lies less than a kilometre east of where the path meets the A61 at Ripley. However, a spokesperson said trees adjacent to a right of way are the responsibility of the landowner, and NYCC is working to find and make contact with the relevant person.

Read more:

Nidderdale Greenway follows the route of an old railway line from Harrogate to Ripley. It was opened in 2013 and is maintained by Sustrans as part of its national network of cycle routes.

Could a Claro Road rail station solve Harrogate’s congestion?

A Harrogate conservative councillor has suggested a rail station could be built near Claro Road to ease the town’s congestion problems.

Paul Haslam, who lives in Bilton and represents the area on both North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate District Council, is gathering support for the idea.

He thinks a station could be built near the footbridge at Dragon Junction between Harrogate and Starbeck stations on the Leeds to York line.

He told the Stray Ferret the station would be a “win-win” for Harrogate because it could reduce traffic congestion on Skipton Road, improve links to the Claro Court Business Centre and improve the quality of life for local residents.

He said it would also promote cycling because of its proximity to the Nidderdale Greenway.

Cllr Haslam said:

“I am convinced this would make significant inroads to congestion on Skipton Road, our quality of air, our reduction in CO2 emissions and most importantly the quality of life to those who live in this area.

“It should also improve links to the business park and therefore help local prosperity and jobs. Adding a supermarket would also add jobs whilst improving the facilities in the area.”

Read more:

Cllr Haslam said he has had conversations about the idea with North Yorkshire County Council, which would need to undertake a feasibility study to determine costs.

The government is keen to open new rail stations and last year awarded funding to help bring back ‘forgotten’ stations axed in the Beeching cuts during the 1960s.

A new rail station opened in Wales earlier this week at an estimated cost of £8 million, but it took over 11 years to develop the plans.

The latest station to open in the Harrogate district was Hornbeam Park in 1992, which was used by 400,000 passengers in 2019/20 and is a popular stop for commuters and visitors.

Don Mackenzie, executive member for highways at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret he supported the idea of a Claro Road station.

However, he said that due to a lack of funding the chances of it being built were slim, and that any final decision would be made by Network Rail.

He added:

“Just as I supported Hornbeam Park 30 years ago I would be supportive of this, but I can’t see it happening any time soon.”

Young men set up Bilton group to encourage community spirit

Two young men from Bilton have set up a Facebook group for local residents to encourage community spirit and conversation.

Tyler Reeton, 19, and Ben Rothery, 21, both live in Bilton. They set up the ‘Bilton Community Group’ Facebook group in December.

It already has 1,300 members posting daily messages about local issues.

The pair felt Bilton lacked a platform focused solely on the area and hope their initiative brings back some of the spirit they say has been lost since the cancellation of the annual Bilton Gala and the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

Mr Reeton said he also hoped the group would encourage young people to come forward and play a more active part in the community.

The group’s plans include setting up a newsletter and arranging community events. Mr Reeton said:

“We wanted to bring the community together. We wanted to expand on the community spirit and give people somewhere to go during these dark times.”

Read more:

On Wednesdays and Fridays the page allows local businesses to advertise for free. The founders hope this will encourage people to support local enterprises.

Mr Reeton and Mr Rothery have also made contact with the borough and county councillors representing the Bilton ward. They hope the group can improve communications between residents and councillors.

Bilton couple have vaccine a week after diamond wedding anniversary

A couple from Bilton have had the covid vaccine together — a week after their 60th wedding anniversary.

Chris and Joan Jackson, aged 81 and 80, went to the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate shortly before Christmas to receive their vaccination “side by side”.

The couple said the entire process was easy.and they were pleased to see light at the end of the tunnel after months of isolation.

The pair wanted to offer thanks to the medical staff and volunteers at the vaccine centre and said they were doing a “smashing job”.

Chris said:

“It was a very easy process and we were done in 45 minutes. It was managed quite well.

“It was no different to the flu jab.”

Mr Jackson said there were about 40 people in the building and they were well looked after from start to finish.

Read more:

Mr and Mrs Jackson have three children and are sad to miss out on this festive season with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren too.

They planned to treat themselves to a takeaway Christmas dinner from a pub their son owns in Pateley Bridge.

He added:

“We have been isolating for months, not going into town and I’ve only been out to the library once. We’re keeping out of the way until the pandemic dies down.”

Mr Jackson said he hoped the couple would be able to get away in their beloved motorhome when the vaccination programme expands.

The couple already have their booster vaccination booked in January.

Doorstep jingle founder Mary leads the ringing in Harrogate

Hundreds of thousands of people from Britain and beyond stood on their doorsteps at 6pm tonight and rang bells as part of an idea that started in Harrogate

Bilton woman Mary Beggs-Reid came up with the idea of a doorstep jingle to “spread festive spirit and help Santa’s sleigh fly”.

More than 500,000 people pledged to take part and this week Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Ms Beggs-Reid pledging his support.

The Stray Ferret went to St John’s Grove, Bilton, where Ms Beggs-Reid lives, to witness the phenomenon.

Mary Beggs-Reid

TV crews from the BBC and Sky were due to be present but the signing of the Brexit trade deal prompted them to change plans.

But the Stray Ferret was there to capture the moment when Mary led the countdown. After two minutes of jingling, carols were sung.

Mary’s inspiration for the event came from the film Elf, where New York folk sing together to power Santa’s sleigh with their Christmas spirit.

Read more:

 

Demolition of Bilton’s Woodfield House set to begin in January

Work to demolish Woodfield House care home in Bilton and build 19 flats could start in a fortnight and last more than a year.

A construction management plan submitted to Harrogate Borough Council says construction firm HACS will start the project on January 4 and continue for 55 weeks.

If the plan is approved, workers will be on site in Woodfield Square from 8.00am – 6.00pm from Monday to Friday and 8.00am – 1pm on Saturdays.

Access to the site is from Skipton Road via the Woodfield Estate.

North Yorkshire County Council’s housing company Brierley Homes was granted planning permission for the project last month.

It has sparked controversy because none of the homes is classed as affordable.

This is because Brierley Homes applied for a Vacant Building Credit — a government mechanism to encourage vacant properties back into use, which can be used to remove the provision for affordable housing.

Instead, Brierley Homes will make a financial contribution of £72,528 to Harrogate Borough Council, which granted planning permission.

Henry Pankhurst, ex-chairman and current planning spokesman for Harrogate Civic Society, told the Stray Ferret he was not happy that all the new homes will be sold at market value with no provision for affordable properties, particularly as they are being built by a local authority.

Mr Pankhurst said:

“It’s very disappointing. I would have hoped North Yorkshire County Council would have recognised that Harrogate Borough Council has a difficulty in providing affordable housing. It’s an ideal location to have more affordable housing.”

Read more: 

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, defended the company’s business model in a statement released to the Stray Ferret: 

“Brierley Homes’ focus is on developing high-quality housing with the primary aim of generating an income to reinvest in supporting frontline services provided by the county council.

“This is a socially responsible approach and is something buyers see as positive, too. I believe that our taxpayers expect the county council to use its assets wisely and responsibly, as in this case. “

 

Vandals target Bilton primary school

Police are appealing for information after vandals damaged Richard Taylor Church of England Primary School in Bilton yesterday.

A classroom window was smashed and the roof of a wooden pavilion damaged.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for anyone who may have seen people on the school premises since it closed last week to come forward.

The force said in a statement:

“The school has recently suffered a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour, all of which has caused alarm to the school community.”

A member of staff at the school told the Stray Ferret it had found empty vodka bottles on the premises.

Read more:

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Geeta Maharjan. You can also email geeta.maharjan2@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12200241866.

Police search for Bilton flasher

Police are searching for a man who exposed himself to members of the public in Bilton yesterday.

The incident, which occurred near a pond close to the sandy banks of the River Nidd, off Bilton Lane, was reported to the police at 2.42pm.

Police have stepped-up patrols in the area to try to find the man, who it is believed has indecently exposed himself previously this year.

North Yorkshire Police is asking people to come forward with possible sightings of the man – either clothed or unclothed – or with details of any suspicious behaviour along the riverbank or in nearby woodland between 2pm and 4pm yesterday or recently.

Read more:

The man is described as white with a short dark-brown beard, aged in his 30s or 40s, about 6ft tall with a muscular build. He was wearing a mid-blue baseball cap.

Inspector Alex Langley, of the Harrogate neighbourhood policing team, said:

“This is clearly very worrying and disturbing behaviour and we are doing all we can to locate the suspect.

“If anyone has information that could assist the investigation, please get in touch immediately so we can take action.

“It is always best to make a report straight away and to provide as much detail as possible about the location so we can target our searches. Ideally, this will include accurate data from smartphone maps or apps such as What3Words.”

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and speak to the force control room.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Quote reference number 12200232879.