Police tell drivers to stop abusing Harrogate lollipop man

North Yorkshire Police has urged motorists to stop abusing the lollipop man at Richard Taylor Church of England Primary School in Harrogate.

The lollipop man helps children cross the busy Bilton Lane outside the school.

But following a visit yesterday, police said in a statement:

“We have had reports of anti-social driving with drivers being abusive towards, and failing to adhere to the lollipop man outside Richard Taylor primary school.

“The school crossing patrol is there to ensure the safety of children crossing the road and failure to adhere to a stop sign outside of a school could result in penalty points and a fine.”


During their visit to Bilton, police speed cameras detected 15 vehicles travelling in excess of the 20 mph limit during a 30-minute check at school arriving time.

The statement added:

“We will be back in the area and continue enforcing to help tackle the issue.”

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Wreath laid in Killinghall to honour heroic Harrogate airman

A wreath was laid in a churchyard in Killinghall on Sunday to mark the 80th anniversary of the death of a local RAF pilot in the Second World War.

Flying officer Ted Thackway lost his life on Black Thursday — the worst night in British military aviation history. He was just 23 years old.

Bilton-born Ted was part of the elite RAF Pathfinder force that guided British bombers to their targets.

He was one of five men killed flying back to Britain from Berlin when their Lancaster crashed in dense fog near Hardwick, east of their home airfield of RAF Station Bourn. Two members of the crew survived. Fifty members of the Pathfinders crews died on the night of December 16 and 17 due to fog and low cloud.

Ted Thackway. Pic: rafpathfinders.com

Relatives laid a wreath on Ted’s grave at St Thomas the Apostle in Killinghall, where his headstone is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Debbie Havercroft said her father, who died in 2021, brought them up on tales about Ted, whose youthfulness and modest upbringing made him something of a rarity among RAF officers.

Nick Wrightson, who lives in Birstwirth, said Ted grew up in Killinghall and Bilton and left school at 15 before joining the RAF in 1939 aged 19.

Ted (left) with his family in Bilton in 1938. Pic: www.rafpathfinders.com

His funeral was held at St John’s in Bilton, where Ted had been a choir boy, and later that day he was buried at Killinghall, where his mother had grown up. His grandfather had been churchwarden at St Thomas.

Ted’s mother Elsie met a Canadian after the war, remarried and moved to a town called Egansville, where a commemoration also took place marking the 80th anniversary of his death.

You can read more about Ted and Black Thursday here.

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New Dene Park council houses the most energy efficient in North Yorkshire

Five new homes in Harrogate are the most energy efficient properties ever developed by North Yorkshire Council, the local authority said today.

The three houses and two flats, which have been built on the site of a former car park in Dene Park, in the Woodfield area of Bilton, have air source heat pumps, solar panels, triple glazing and insulation.

The homes, which were developed for £1 million as part of a council scheme to turn redundant land into social housing, will be let to local people.

The scheme sees the council in-house development team obtain unused land, dilapidated garages and anti-social behaviour hotspots, then build properties and let them as social housing.

The Harrogate homes are the latest in more than 50 to be built on  in the former Harrogate and Craven district areas over the last eight years.

The largest house will produce 0.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, compared to an average home creating six tonnes.

Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s Conservative executive member for housing, said:

“This scheme is delivering new social rented affordable homes which make a big difference to the lives and well-being of local families. It is a scheme that has been running in Harrogate and Craven for many years and we hope to expand it across the county.

“Added to that these new homes in Harrogate are the most energy efficient we have developed, reducing fuel and lighting costs for the tenants, making them truly affordable homes.”

Cllr Simon Myers (centre) outside the new Harrogate homes with the council’s assistant director of housing, Andrew Rowe (left) and corporate director for community development, Nic Harne.

Kirsty Birbeck, manager for provider management at government housing agency Homes England, which contributed a £225,000 grant, said:

“As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities.

“This investment through the affordable homes programme does just that, enabling North Yorkshire Council to build five much needed new homes the people of Harrogate can be proud of.”

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Harrogate district adorned in poppies as Remembrance Sunday approaches

The Harrogate district has been adorned in poppies in the lead up to this weekend’s Remembrance Day.

Scores of poppies have been put up in Ripon, Harrogate, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge, Boroughbridge and Masham and in villages in between in honour of the fallen.

Bilton Community Centre is among the organisations to mark remembrance with a wall display.

Neil and Sonya Milsted Funeral Directors, which is based on Hookstone Chase, has created a display in the shape of a poppy featuring old photographs of servicemen.

Meanwhile, Ripon Spa Gardens and Knaresborough Station are also adorned in poppies ahead of Sunday.

Remembrance services will be held across the district this coming weekend. You can read a list of the commemorations here.

Ripon Spa Gardens

Bilton Community Centre

Bilton Ladies Forum members have made many of the poppies on Bilton Community. Centre.

Knaresborough rail station

 

Neil and Sonya Milsted Funeral Directors's display.

Neil and Sonya Milsted Funeral Directors’s display.

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Bilton’s iron bridge mural suffers worst graffiti attack yet

The mural on the iron bridge in Bilton has been covered with offensive graffiti.

Beverley artist Emma Garness was commissioned by Network Rail, which owns the bridge, to paint the mural in 2021.

Its uplifting nature-themed design, which incorporates local elements including cherry tree blossom from the Stray in Harrogate, has been well received.

Artist Emma Garniss finishing her design in 2021.

But the bridge, which links Claro Road and Woodfield Road, has been subject to several outbreaks of graffiti.

Ms Garness used special paint which enables it to be cleaned,

Bilton man Chris Knight has twice volunteered to help after a swastika and anti-Pakistani messages appeared.

The latest outbreak is perhaps the most extensive yet. It includes three slogans, two of which make offensive personal comments about national and local politicians.

The iron bridge

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Harrogate women’s Morris dancing group holds trial for new recruits

A women’s Morris dancing group in Harrogate is hosting a trial session to recruit new dancers.

Betty Lupton’s Ladle Laikers has danced its way through Harrogate and the surrounding areas since 1977.

The group has 22 members including musicians but has not recruited any new dancers since before covid.

The taster session will be held at St John’s and St Luke’s Church in Bilton, where the group meets every Wednesday, and welcomes women and girls of all abilities.

Dance teacher and founding member Margaret Burrell said:

“We know it won’t be for everyone but we’d just like people to come and have a go.

“We hold trials every September – usually advertising them with posters in shops – but found it hadn’t been much success.

“This year, we’re putting much more effort in!”

The Morris dancers recently performed at Whitby Folk Week and frequently take part in local events too.

Pic: Tony Rees. Betty Lupton’s Ladle Laikers performing in 1980.

Although the youngest member is just 16, Ms Burrell said:

“Most of us are in our 50s, 60s and 70s, and when you’re in your 70s things begin to hurt a bit during the dances!

“It would be great to get people of a young age, but we welcome anyone to give it a try.”

Dancers go on a probationary period for four weeks after the trials to ensure they’re happy before becoming official members.

Membership costs £40 per year but the trial is free to attend – the group takes on women and girls aged 16 and upwards.

The taster session will be held on Wednesday, September 20 from 7.45pm.

To register your interest, contact Anita Roy, the group’s secretary, on 07801 948480.

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Firefighters rescue 16-year-old dog in Harrogate

Harrogate firefighters rescued a 16-year-old dog that had got stuck on a path yesterday.

A crew from Skipton Road were summoned to nearby Dene Park in Bilton at 9.43pm last night.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report, the dog was too frail to stand.

It said:

“Fire control received a call from a resident who was concerned for the safety of a 16-year-old dog who was unable to get up and was laid in the middle of the path.

“The caller stated the dog was very old and his owner was also an elderly gent.

“Other residents were unable to lift the dog and take him back home. A fire crew from Harrogate attended whilst still maintaining their availability and assisted by lifting and carrying the dog back home to his owner.”

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‘Regret’ after 300-year-old oak tree felled in Harrogate

North Yorkshire Council has said it is “regrettable” that a 300 year old oak tree in Harrogate was felled yesterday due to its decaying condition.

The authority has also claimed it is possible that work carried out by Northern Powergrid in April near to the oak on Woodfield Road in Bilton “would have accelerated the death of the tree”.

The council carried out an assessment of the tree at the junction with Bilton Lane in June.

It concluded that due to decaying roots the “risk to the public” was considered too great for it to remain in place and it was destroyed yesterday.

Cllr Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on the council, said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of the tree.

Northern Powergrid, which manages the electricity network, carried out emergency work to repair a cable fault in the area in April this year.

The work included excavation of the roots of the tree to dig a trench.

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Council officials said although the work did not contribute to the tree’s decay, it is possible that it would have accelerated its death, which led to the authority’s decision to remove it “earlier than we would have otherwise”.

Jonathan Clubb, North Yorkshire Council’s head of parks and grounds, said a “thorough examination” would now be carried out into the tree.

He said:

“It is always regrettable when we have to remove a tree and we do not do so lightly. However, after a detailed assessment of the risks posed, a decision was taken to remove this specimen due to its condition.

“Oak trees can live for centuries and this particular tree was around 300 years old.

“However, the extent of the root decay meant the stability of the tree may have been affected. Because of its location on a main road, the risk to the public was considered too great to allow it to continue to stand.”

Mr Clubb added:

“We were aware of the decay as the tree has been regularly assessed over the years as part of our active tree surveys.

“While the work undertaken by Northern Powergrid did not contribute to this decay, it is possible that it would have accelerated the death of the tree, leading to our decision to remove it earlier than we would have otherwise.

“Now the tree has been removed it will be subject to a thorough examination and if experts confirm this view then we will look to take the matter further.”

The Stray Ferret approached Northern Powergrid to ask for a response to the claim that the work carried out contributed to the council’s decision to remove the tree.

A spokesperson said:

“Our engineering team attended Woodfield Road in Harrogate in April 2023 to repair a low voltage cable fault. 

“Northern Powergrid’s remit was to repair the low voltage fault, which our teams did safely, to keep our customers connected.”

Harrogate autism school could save £4m a year

A proposal to convert a former Harrogate primary school into a secondary school for 80 autistic children could save up to £4 million over five years, it has emerged.

North Yorkshire Council’s ruling executive will next week discuss the findings of a six-week consultation into proposals to spend £3.5 million repurposing Woodfield Community Primary School.

A report on the consultation, published before the meeting, revealed considerable support for the scheme, with 86 per cent of 105 responses in favour.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Councillor Paul Haslam, a Conservative who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, said the proposal was a good outcome.

He said:

“The community was severely disappointed when the primary school closed, however we are delighted a new school will be here to provide provision for children with special educational needs.

“It’s a great green location with good air quality and facilities and as the primary school had 50 per cent special needs pupils, the area is used to providing that type of care.”

Special needs rocketing

Since 2016, the number of children in North Yorkshire with identified special educational needs and disability and a legally-binding education, health and care plan has increased by more than 110 per cent, leading to a shortage of special school places and numerous children being taught by independent providers.

As independent day sector placements typically cost the public purse up to £70,000 annually and the average cost of a special school placement is about £23,000.

The council is therefore forecasting savings of up to £4 million over the first five years of the new school.

Woodfield School

Woodfield school closed in December.

Woodfield school closed at the end of last year, with the council claiming it had “exhausted all options” after years of falling pupil numbers and an inadequate Ofsted rating. It is hoped the new school will open in September next year.

Numerous consultation respondents said the specialist school was “desperately” needed in the area, with one parent highlighting how their child had to travel to Darlington for autism provision.

Respondents said many children with autism failed to do as well as they could because they were not in the correct setting to flourish.

A headteacher of a local primary school, who is not named, told the consultation:

“This is very good news indeed, especially when we consider the number of pupils attending private placements alongside the skyrocketing levels of need. It is very good to feel heard by the local authority.”

Some respondents questioned whether the funding should have been focused on improving or extending other specialist schools, including Springwater School in Starbeck and the Forest School in Knaresborough, with one claiming it was “too little too late for the academic autistic community”.

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Bilton to host second Party on the Pitch

Bilton Cricket Club in Harrogate is to host a second Party on the Pitch this month.

Last year’s first party, held as part of the late Queen’s jubilee celebrations in June, was a big hit, attracting about 2,500 people.

If the second event is also successful it could become an annual event.

It could even replace Bilton Gala, which has not been held since 2019, as the community’s main annual get-together, albeit on a smaller scale.

The party, which is free to enter, will be held on August 27 at the club’s pitch on Bilton Lane.

Starting at 12.30pm, it will include four live bands from 3pm to 9pm, a hog roast and various children’s entertainment, including a bouncy castle and a magician.

Bilton Cricket Club

Club president Jane Blackburn said:

“Unfortunately Bilton Gala no longer takes place and people in the community have asked if we will be doing our Party on the Pitch again.

“As we are primarily a cricket club, we didn’t want to do it in June or July in the middle of the season so we thought we’d have it at the end of August when there are only a couple of fixtures left.

“If the community likes it and it goes well we will do it every year.”

Ms Blackburn said she hoped the party would attract 2,000 people. Funds raised on the day will be divided between the club’s £42,000 appeal to buy new cricket nets and Yorkshire Cancer Research.

The club has currently raised £23,000 towards its target. It hopes the new nets will be installed by April in time for next season.

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