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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New owners at long-standing Harrogate fish and chip shop

Two businessmen are hoping to breathe new life into a popular Harrogate fish and chip shop and keep it as a local favourite.

Taru Pahwa and Pradeep Angoor took over Dougie’s on King Edward’s Drive three weeks ago, and said they are already getting to know regular customers.

Taru said:

“It’s good. People are liking it. There are things for us to improve, but we have had a positive response so far, and sales are improving every day.”

Known to friends as Taz and Deep, the pair each own off-licences around Harrogate, including the Number One Shop on Electric Avenue and Harlow Hill Stores on Otley Road.

Dougie’s is their first venture together, but they are old friends and play sports together, which they hope is a recipe for good team spirit.

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While Taz works behind the scenes, taking care of supplies, Deep will be in the shop day-to-day, serving customers and managing the small team.

They have already recruited kitchen staff, but are still looking for a couple of people to work front-of-house.

Taking ownership of Dougie’s has been a long aspiration for the pair, who live nearby and first looked at it when it was put up for sale by the founding family around six years ago, after running it for many years.

Taz said:

“We were new and still settling in with our businesses. It wasn’t the right time for us.”

The person who bought it in 2017 decided to sell up this year, and Taz and Deep took their chance this time.

While they have no immediate plans for change, they said they are happy to listen to what locals want. Deep said:

“The first thing we did was increase our opening hours. It was only three-and-a-half days, and now it’s six full days, including Sunday.

“I think people appreciate that. For me, I think it confuses people if you are open a couple of hours and then again later. To keep it simple, we decided to open all day.”

Pradeep and Taz at Dougie'sDeep and Taz ready to serve lunch

The hours may be longer, but the menu and prices will remain the same – despite increasing costs in the industry.

Deep said he had heard from his supplier this week that the price of potatoes will be rising by more than 20%, but that won’t be passed on to customers.

He added:

“The support from the community will be really helpful to keep us going, because of the bills and the rent itself – forget about the raw materials.

“We’re happy to take on board any recommendations and requests and work on it.”

Taz added:

“We’re introducing deliveries – in the next couple of weeks, it will be all up and running.

“It’s still early stages. Maybe in six months, a year, because there is no pizza or kebab shop, that’s something we are seriously considering. At the moment, people have to go into town for it.”

As for the name – long associated with decent fish and chips by people in Bilton and beyond – Taz and Deep are happy to honour its founder and keep Dougie’s going for years to come.

Harrogate resident claims council did not properly minute planning meeting

A resident who objects to 53 homes being built on Knox Lane in Bilton has complained to the council about its minute taking at meetings which she says falls “well below” the standards expected for public bodies.

At North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee this week, Adele Lawrie-Wilson addressed councillors about the minutes produced following a meeting on May 31 regarding the controversial housing scheme by developers Jomast.

Planning committee meetings are usually streamed live on YouTube. But technical difficulties on the day meant the only way to watch proceedings was in the council chamber.

Ms Lawrie-Wilson said residents who were unable to attend could not get an accurate picture of what was discussed due to “missing information” and “inaccuracies” in the minutes, which were later published on the council’s website. 

She said:

“Given the livestream wasn’t available and no alternative recording was made, I would have expected more detailed minutes taken.

“There was no recording of what Cllr Haslam spoke about or what several residents covered in their speeches. It also omitted any content of the fairly tense debate.”

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Ms Lawrie-Wilson also said the minutes recorded the council’s planning officer Nick Turpin saying no houses were proposed in the Special Landscape Area, which is incorrect.

She added:

“I urge that the minutes are expanded to give a more accurate recording of the meeting that took place.”

Mr Turpin responded to the claims and said it is not in the council’s practice to produce verbatim minutes of meetings. 

He said:

“They accurately reflected the decision taken and reflect good practice. The published minutes meet all legal requirements and follow the council’s agreed standards.”

However, Mr Turpin conceded that his comment about the SLA was inaccurate and would be changed.

The Knox Lane plans will go before the council’s planning committee again at a later date.