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.
Congratulations to all the councillors who voted to pass the Station Gateway plans — you have just killed off a large quantity of small businesses in the town.
It’s about time your salaries and pensions were docked at the same amount as these small business owners are going to lose.
Then you might start making the right commercial decisions. Shame on you.
Tony Cowan, Harrogate
Gateway is ‘a highway engineer’s-led solution’
I along with all those who spoke against the gateway project in its present form were extremely disappointed with the outcome but the support from the public gallery was encouraging.
We had all put a lot of time, thought and consideration into preparing our statements. This was the result of talking to others, local knowledge, professional experience and above all an understanding of how this town works – the skills which the executive and officers of North Yorkshire Council clearly still do not have.
There was nothing new in the North Yorkshire Council presentations and it was clearly a case of delivering the same old information that we have all heard so many times before but yesterday in a series of rather long, boring and bumbled presentations that did not inspire any of us.
It is still unfortunately purely a highway engineer’s-led solution. It is not capable of celebrating this as an exemplary and attractive gateway to the town simply because there was no mention of urban design (or an understanding of what makes places work). This is generated by a lack of awareness from those with limited understanding of Harrogate, its character and the largely cohesive Conservation Area it sits in.
Once again an attempt at a publicity exercise to justify the project but with more than a hint of desperation as threats emerged at the loss of funding or it being moved elsewhere.
All this was followed by councillors debating a decision which will have far reaching consequences on our town. Unfortunately, most of those present seemed to have little grasp of the actual mechanics of what will occur.
Sadly the project now has conditional support from the area constituency committee but does require North Yorkshire Council officers to work with residents and businesses to find the best use of the money.
Part of this should include discussions on the alternative scheme I handed to area constituency committee members. Cllr Keane Duncan did however point out there were time pressures to proceed with the project. Sadly as we all know the highways executive has a history of ignoring the democratic process, not listening and dismissive of public comment.
Time will definitely determine what happens next.
Barry Adams, Harrogate
Read More:
- Tree that crushed Porsche on Harrogate street is felled
- £11.2m Station Gateway set to go ahead after crucial Harrogate area vote
- Bank holiday gathering leaves mess in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens
Old trees are dangerous
I’ve just read your article reference the crushed Porsche.
I’m not sure what the council’s tree and woodlands policy is but Harrogate has thousands of very mature trees requiring radical maintenance to reduce various risks to pedestrians, motorists and subsurface infrastructure alike.
Mike Hodgson, Harrogate
Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.
Bank holiday gathering leaves mess in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens
The boating lake in Valley Gardens had to be drained of rubbish this morning after a bank holiday gathering last night.
Gardeners were on site early this morning to clean-up after revellers left so much mess.
Numerous bin bags were filled and removed before the lake was refilled.
Jon Clubb, acting head of parks and environmental services at North Yorkshire Council, said:
“Last night we experienced some antisocial behaviour in Valley Gardens. This morning the gardeners removed rubbish, drained the boating lake and gave the surrounding area a clean. It is now refilled with water.
“This was due to take place tomorrow in anticipation of the three-day event to mark the King’s coronation at the weekend when we hope thousands of people will visit the beautiful gardens.”
Some of the rubbish
Jane Blayney, former chair of the Friends of Valley Gardens, noticed the clean-up operation this morning. She said:
“It was a dreadful mess. Sacks and sacks of rubbish were taken.
“I felt sorry for the gardeners, who are busy enough and were diverted from their preparations for the coronation weekend.”
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Model boating to continue in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens
A 99-year-old tradition of model boating looks set to continue in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.
Members of Claro Marine Modellers and a representative from North Yorkshire Council held talks at the boating lake today about a new fountain.
The model boating club was concerned the fountain would damage boats and bring an end to their hobby in Harrogate.
But Adrian Selway, the new club secretary who has been sailing model boats for 30 years in Valley Gardens, said the talks had reached a solution.
Mr Selway said the council had agreed the fountain will not operate when club members sail their boats on Sunday mornings all year round and on Wednesday evenings during summer.
He added:
“It was a very amicable meeting and the outcome was favourable. The council was anxious to support the club.”
Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to spend £6,000 installing the fountain prompted concerns of boats running aground on the structure.
There were also fears spray from the fountain could ruin boats.
Harrogate Borough Council was abolished at the end of last month. North Yorkshire Council has inherited its assets, including Valley Gardens.
Read more:
- Harrogate model boating club could fold due to Valley Gardens fountain
- Regal floral art wows visitors at Harrogate Flower Show
Fountain will end model boating in Valley Gardens, says club
A Harrogate model boating club has said plans to erect a fountain in the boating pool at Valley Gardens will stop them being able to pursue their hobby.
Claro Marine model boating club meets twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays to operate motor boats on the pool behind the cafe.
Harrogate Borough Council plans to put a fountain in the pool to help improve water quality.
David Finnegan, secretary of Claro Marine, told the Stray Ferret it would make sailing the boats impossible:
“Model boats do malfunction – if we are distracted and steer them underneath the fountain by mistake, the boats’ electrics will be damaged and, if they fill up with water, it’ll sink them.
“A home made model boat can cost up to £1,000 — to get a well made British scale model steam plant for the boat can cost £800.”
Until recently council staff regularly drained and cleaned the pond of leaves and litter and then refilled it.
Last month, though, the pool was drained but not refilled due to the drought and the fountain is due to be installed next year.
Mr Finnegan said the council told him the decision had already been made:
“I am very disappointed at Harrogate Borough Council and certainly upset. We have members who are elderly and can’t drive so we need a central location.
“It’s a cost-cutting exercise and they’ve made no real effort to get in touch with us
“I have one friend who lives on his own and he loves the hobby. He is a non driver and, for him, this is like the end of the world.
“For us boaters it is such a relaxing and pleasant thing to do”
Mr Finnegan, 68, says there’s a long tradition of boating on the small pond – as a child he paddled in the water amongst the vessels. The boaters often have spectators who enjoy watching them – particularly children.
A video of the club’s boats being sailed on the pool.
The Stray Ferret put the club’s concerns to the council. A spokesperson said:
“Currently, the boating pond in Valley Gardens is empty due to maintenance and the continued hosepipe ban in place across Yorkshire.
“Next year, we will be installing a new fountain to help aerate the water and improve its cleanliness (once the hosepipe ban has been lifted).
“It will also provide another distinctive area for people to enjoy and complement the award winning floral displays, Himalayan and Japanese gardens, Grade II listed Sun Pavilion and Colonnades, and games and attractions currently on offer.
“The fountain – supported by Friends of Valley Gardens – is controllable so once installed, if it is problematic for the model boating club, we would be happy to discuss it with them to ensure it can be enjoyed by all visitors of Valley Gardens.”
The Boating Lake, Valley Gardens, Harrogate c.1949
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