Council Archives - Page 11 of 13

Gas supplier objects to Tesco plans in Harrogate

Northern Gas Networks has submitted an objection on Tesco’s plans to build a new supermarket in Harrogate.

The supermarket giant has lodged proposals to Harrogate Borough Council for a new store on the former gasworks in the New Park area of town.

Northern Gas Networks, which sold the site to Tesco for £2.8 million in 2003, is concerned about the potential impact on Harrogate’s gas supply.

The site of the proposed Tesco.

In its formal objection on the council planning portal, NGN said it retained legal rights on a high pressure pipeline at the site that was “instrumental in supplying gas to the town”. It says the legal rights enable it to prevent any building on or near the length of the pipeline.

The pipe cuts across the north-eastern side of the site from Skipton Road to Oak Beck.

It is standard practice for NGN to object to any plans which are close or over a high pressure pipeline. Its objection aims to ensure the company, which distributes gas to 2.7 million homes in northern England, will be involved in the planning process.

A spokesperson for Tesco said:

“We will consider all feedback received on our application. We will have further discussions with Harrogate Borough Council about the issues raised.”

Artist impression of how the Tesco will look on Skipton Road.

Tesco has harboured ambitions for a new store in the town for almost 20 years. The retailer previously had plans approved in 2009, but pulled out after opposition from local traders.

Although many people have welcomed the prospect of a new supermarket in the north of Harrogate, some are concerned about traffic plus access to the site.

However, the company has said in transport documents submitted to the council that the site would see fewer car journeys than under previous plans.

Nearly 700 secondary school places needed in Harrogate and Knaresborough

Nearly 700 secondary school places will be needed in Harrogate and Knaresborough by 2025/26 to keep up with demand caused by new housing.

North Yorkshire County Council revealed the shortfall in a report for its Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee on Thursday.

The report says Harrogate and rural secondary schools had a shortfall of 156 places in 2020/21 while Knaresborough secondary schools had a surplus of 139 places.

However, by 2025/26 there is a projected shortfall of 623 places in Harrogate and rural secondary schools and a projected shortfall of 49 places in Knaresborough secondary schools.

Harrogate and rural secondary schools include Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett School, Harrogate High School, St John Fisher Catholic High School, St Aidan’s CE High School and Nidderdale High School.

Knaresborough secondary schools consists solely of King James’s School.

The county council said in the document that it was “carefully monitoring pupil numbers” across Harrogate and Knaresborough and highlighted plans for more housing in the west of Harrogate as the cause of the issue.

Primary schools fare better

Harrogate’s primary schools look set to fare better, with a surplus of 580 places forecast by 2025/26.

There is a projected shortfall of 156 primary school places in Knaresborough, where a new school with the capacity for 420 pupils is being built to accommodate people moving into Manse Farm and Highfield Farm.

Rossett School and Harrogate Grammar School built five additional classrooms as a result of discussions about pupil numbers in 2019, the report adds.

The county council, which has a duty to provide enough spaces, says in the document that both Rossett School and Harrogate Grammar School “will assist to meet the expected rise in demand for places as a result of housing growth” but does not give further details.

‘Sufficient places’ at King James’s School

In Knaresborough, the county council said that there are currently “sufficient places for local children at King James’s School and a significant number of pupils from outside the catchment are able to secure places”.

The report says:

“The general picture across the whole of the county shows projected growth in the urban areas contrasting with declining numbers in rural locations.

“A falling birth rate combined with changing demographics means that a number of small schools are facing financial challenges associated with low numbers on roll.”

Harrogate Borough Council is due to publish a West Harrogate Parameters Plan this year, outlining the infrastructure requirements associated with the projected 4,000 new homes planned for the western side of Harrogate.

Residents and councillors have grown frustrated with delays about when the plan will be published.

The council initially said it would be published in October 2020, but this was delayed until March 2021, then September 2021. It now says a draft version will be published next month.

New data reveals dramatic impact of Beech Grove closure on nearby roads

New data has revealed the Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood has had a dramatic impact on traffic on nearby roads — but the number of cyclists using it remains around three an hour.

North Yorkshire County Council closed the Harrogate road, which connects the A61 and Otley Road, to through traffic in February, initially for a six-month trial. It later extended the trial to 18 months.

The move aimed to reduce traffic and encourage cycling and walking on the road, which runs alongside the Stray. Beech Grove was chosen because it would connect to other planned cycle schemes in the town.

But some residents and motorists were angered by the sudden loss of the thoroughfare and said it would just push traffic elsewhere.

The council has released new data about the controversial LTN following a freedom of information request from the Stray Ferret. The council’s press office had refused to provide the information, saying it wanted to wait until the trial had ended.

The council also provided a letter sent in October to residents living close to the LTN. The letter includes data that reveals road traffic has reduced on Beech Grove by as much as 85% since the closure.

The council compared current data with a traffic count on the road undertaken in 2015 that found, on average, 2,712 vehicles a day used its mid-point.

Displaced traffic

The data addresses the question of whether the closure has pushed traffic onto nearby roads.

An automatic traffic counter on Victoria Road found there has been a 230% increase in vehicles using the northern section since the LTN was introduced. In February, 300 vehicles a day used the road. The number increased to 1,058 a day in April then fell slightly in subsequent months.

Information by North Yorkshire County Council. AADT stands for annual average daily traffic.

Queens Road has also seen the number of vehicles using it double from around 500 to over 1,000 a day.

However, in the letter sent to residents the council disputed claims that Cold Bath Road has born the brunt of displaced traffic from the LTN. It said its traffic counter found “no evidence” to support the suggestion that traffic levels have increased.

It said around 8,500 vehicles used Cold Bath Road a day pre-covid 2019 and the number had fallen to 7,200 in 2021. However, it added the the latest numbers from August this year suggested traffic had now returned to pre-covid levels.

The number of cyclists using the Beech Grove LTN remains between two to three an hour, although the number increased in November.

North Yorkshire County Council does not record what time of day cyclists use the road and only has the figures for a 24-hour period.

In August 2020, before the LTN was introduced, around 50 cyclists used the road each day. This has stayed broadly the same throughout 2021.

Council officers believe the automatic traffic count numbers are “light” compared to casual observations they have made when visiting the LTN. The council said it planned to conduct manual surveys on this.

In August, the Stray Ferret joined cycling campaigner Malcolm Margolis, who spent an hour counting cyclists using the LTN on a sunny September afternoon. He counted 21.

Information by North Yorkshire County Council

Conservative county councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said:

“We are committed to encouraging active travel, easing congestion and improving air quality in Harrogate. Experimental traffic restrictions on Beech Grove and Lancaster Road will run until August 2022. At that point we will compile an extensive report of cyclist data which will span the 18-month period to paint a full comprehensive picture.

“We will consider this alongside the consultation responses, vehicle data, ongoing site observations and other active travel measures in Harrogate before a formal decision will be taken on the way forward.

“Other schemes such as the Otley Road cycle route, the Station Gateway project and the Active Travel Fund proposals for Victoria Avenue are all at various stages of design and construction so when work is complete we anticipate a further increase in cycling.

“A reduction in traffic levels on Beech Grove has resulted in a reduction in the speed of vehicles and an increase in cyclists. More people are likely to cycle – for both commuting and leisure – when improved infrastructure is in place that reduces conflict with vehicles.”

Why 2022 will be a big year of change for Harrogate’s local government future

The New Year will bring new challenges for key council services and major projects in the Harrogate district.

But 2022 will be a year like no other.

It will mark the beginning of the end for Harrogate Borough Council which will enter its final full year before it is abolished and replaced with a new North Yorkshire-wide authority.

Elections to the new council will take place in May and are set to be one of the most intriguing campaigns yet as political parties fight for control over a drastically reduced number of councillor seats at what will be a crucial time for the future of local government.

Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper said while he would reflect on the end of the authority’s 47-year history with sadness, now was a time for planning ahead for the transition to the new council structure.

He said:

“The transfer of services to a new council is a complex process.

“Thorough planning is needed to ensure a smooth transfer for residents and staff too.

“It isn’t just Harrogate Borough Council combining with North Yorkshire County Council to form a new council; it is six other district councils combining into the new council too.

“So that is eight different ways of doing things – collecting the litter, supporting council housing, running leisure services and so on – combining into one new council on the same day.”

Cllr Cooper, who will stand down as a Conservative after 24 years of service when the new authority is created, added:

“Harrogate Borough Council will cease to exist in April 2023. I am sad about that, and sad that I will stop being a councillor at that time.

“However, how I feel as a councillor isn’t important. Like the vast majority of people reading this I am a local resident so I want the new council to deliver the services upon which I, my neighbours and friends – all of us – rely.

“What is important is making sure that the services the borough council runs are transferred efficiently to the new council and that they are run equally well or better than now.

“I am particularly concerned that our homelessness support services continue being supported.

“The poorest in society should not fall through any cracks in the process.”

While Harrogate Borough Council’s time may be coming to a close, the authority has shown no signs of slowing up and has a number of major projects either underway or in the pipeline.

These include the £10.9m Gateway project, the new Ripon Swimming Pool, plans for a new Knaresborough Leisure Centre and a potential £47m redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre which councillor Cooper said will be a key economic driver for the district’s future.

The projects will be seen as a lasting legacy for the authority which is also pushing for the creation of a Harrogate Town Council to retain control of some services under local government reorganisation.

This comes as there are still lingering questions over what will happen to several council-owned buildings – not least to mention Harrogate Borough Council’s new Civic Centre headquarters.

Under the next stage of the councils shake-up, a structural change order will be approved by central government and act as the blueprint for reorganisation.

It will drastically cut the number of councillors representing the area, with the future of the Harrogate district set to be made up of around 20 councillors compared with 57 under the current structure.

Although they have yet to be announced, Cllr Cooper said he was confident the Conservatives had a strong selection of candidates to stand in the May election when the party will aim to keep its tight grip on the district.

He said:

“Elections are always challenging and we live in unprecedented political times. However we have a set of excellent candidates who work hard in their local communities.

“I am confident in the ability and application of our candidates and I hope that, when it comes to polling day, people will vote for those who have a track record of action for residents irrespective of any party political concerns.”

This sense of optimism is one that is shared by Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, who said a loss of trust in central government and election victories elsewhere in the country showed the party is “on the up”.

She said:

“We hope our local residents will think very carefully about what their present Conservative-dominated councils have delivered for them over two decades.

“As the opposition group, we will keep pushing to ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget.

“With the Gateway project we would like a more holistic approach and that this scheme is not just looked at in isolation, but fitting into a wider town centre master plan.”

“A Harrogate Town Council needs to be in place quickly so Harrogate residents have the same local governance as the rest of the district.

“The new town council should have the powers to take control of places such as the Valley Gardens, the Royal Pump House Museum and any other assets that Harrogate residents feel needs local decision-making on, rather than a remote North Yorkshire council.

“We need to ensure our district has a strong voice on the council and that any area committees are balanced to ensure our area, with many residents, has a strong voice.”

‘Severe weather’ delays Otley Road cycle path in Harrogate

North Yorkshire County Council said today that severe weather had delayed completion of the first phase of the Otley Road cycle path in Harrogate.

The first phase of the much delayed scheme was due to finish today. It has focused on creating the cycle path from Harlow Moor Road to Arthur’s Avenue.

The council, which is the highways authority, said today the majority of work on the footpath and carriageway will be completed by tomorrow.

It added the roads and footways around the construction works will reopen on Saturday for Christmas and New Year while the council pauses the scheme.

New permanent traffic signals are expected to be in operation from Monday and over the Christmas period.

The remaining phase one cycle path works will restart in the week commencing January 3 and are now due to finish by January 14.

A press release issued by the council today said “recent severe weather conditions have delayed completion of the cycle path”.

Highways area manager Melisa Burnham said:

“We have made every effort to complete the work, but the weather has been against us.

“We will lift the works over the holiday period for the convenience of residents and aim to complete the work quickly in January, though this again will be subject to weather conditions.”

Phases two and three

Work on the second phase, which will cover Harlow Moor Road to Beech Grove, is set to start in March.

It is unclear when phase three, from Harlow Moor Road to Cardale Park, will start. That stretch of the cycle lane relies on developer funding from housing built in the west of Harrogate.

The county council is currently working on various plans, including a feasibility study, for phase three.

The cycleway aims to improve safety and alleviate congestion along the Otley Road corridor.

It will complement other schemes, such as the Beech Grove low traffic neighbourhood and future projects in the town centre, ultimately providing a cycle facility from the west of Harrogate to the town centre.

North Yorkshire parish councils will not have to cover early election costs

The leader of a council undergoing its biggest transformation in almost half a century has said “common sense has prevailed” after all seven of North Yorkshire’s borough and district councils have agreed to fund next year’s parish council elections.

North Yorkshire County Council leader Councillor Carl Les was speaking after it emerged Richmondshire District Council had joined the six other second-tier authorities in the county in taking on the extraordinary and unexpected cost of parish council elections next year.

It had previously been agreed parish councils with contested seats should hold their elections a year early next May to bring their polls into line with ones for North Yorkshire’s new unitary authority and save taxpayers money.

However, parish councils had been told some by some district authorities they would face charges for the election despite having little time to raise funding.

Some parishes had stated due to their lack of resources they faced having to double their tax demand from residents to cover the election, which it was claimed had been “foisted” on them by the county council.

Despite the potential charges being levied by district and borough councils, the county council’s leader Coun Les had faced pressure to ensure parishes did not go into the red.

Cllr Les said

“It will be for the new unitary authority to decide whether they charge parish councils in future, once it becomes into being, but I would hope this sets a good precedent.”

County council opposition leader Councillor Stuart Parsons said it had been disappointing that a campaign had been necessary to ensure parishes were not burdened with the costs.

Planning backlog blamed on staff shortages and 20% rise in applications

A planning backlog at Harrogate Borough Council is being blamed on a “double whammy” of staffing shortages and rise in applications.

The authority is asking for patience as its depleted planning department works through a long list of applications that have seen a recent 20% rise compared with previous years.

Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh, leader of the council’s opposition party, told a meeting on Monday that residents were becoming “frustrated” with the delays but added she was reassured action was being taken.

She said:

“This is being noticed by a lot of residents who have got planning applications in.

“There is a lot of frustration and I have had several people contact me saying this is taking too long.

“But this council isn’t just sitting still and doing nothing.”

A report to Monday’s meeting of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee said the planning department had job adverts out for the five vacancies it is currently trying to fill.

However, councillors admitted it could prove difficult to attract suitable candidates due to the uncertainties surrounding local government reorganisation which will mean the council is abolished by April 2023.

The report to Monday’s meeting said:

“Planning applications are all showing as off target.

“This has been because the service is receiving 20% more applications than has been experienced in previous years.

“The service also experiences a high staff turnover which means the service has not been fully staffed since the review in March 2020.

“Agency staff contracts have been extended and the service has adverts for five new members of staff.”

The council aims to process all major applications within 13 weeks and all minor applications within 8 weeks.

Latest figures show 67% of major applications and 81% of minor applications met this aim between April and June this year.

Both of these were against a percentage target of 85%.

Stray bonfire and fireworks officially given go-ahead

The 50th Stray bonfire will take place on November 6 after Harrogate Borough Council gave organisers the green light.

The Stray Ferret revealed last month the event was set to go ahead. Now the news has been confirmed.

Harrogate District Round Table was forced to cancel last year’s display due to coronavirus restrictions but it is now preparing for the event to return at its usual spot alongside Oatlands Drive.

Round Table volunteers hope to raise £8,000 to pay for fireworks and additional costs, such as first aid and traffic management, and have set up a gofundme page.

Any extra money generated though the fundraiser, and on the night, will go to Friends of Harrogate Hospital.

A spokesperson for Harrogate District Round Table said:

“This will be the 50th year Harrogate Round Table has run the Stray charity bonfire and fireworks event and, with your help, we want to run an amazing event the whole community can enjoy.”

Speculation Harrogate council leader will not seek re-election in 2022

Sources have told the Stray Ferret that Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper will stand down as a councillor next year and leave local government.

Multiple senior political figures have reported to us that the Conservative, who has been council leader since 2014, will not seek re-election when the Harrogate district next goes to the polls in May 2022.

He is expected to continue in his role as office manager for the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Andrew Jones.

With Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council set to be abolished and replaced by a new single authority for North Yorkshire, the number of councillors in the Harrogate district is likely to be halved from 40 to 20.

Cllr Cooper, who represents Harrogate Central, has been on Harrogate Borough Council since 1999.

In 2013, he was also elected to represent Harrogate Central on North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Cooper has been at the helm during the borough council’s move from Crescent Gardens to the Civic Centre, the development of the Harrogate district Local Plan, which outlines where development can take place in the district, the staging of the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Harrogate and proposals for a £47m redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre.

The Stray Ferret asked Cllr Cooper if he would like to comment on the speculation but he asked us to direct the inquiry to the Harrogate Borough Council press office.

However, the press office said it would not comment because it was a political matter for the Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative Party.

Council exploring ways to keep travellers off Knaresborough park

Harrogate Borough Council is exploring ways to prevent travellers from using Hay-a-Park as a professional clean up operation gets underway.

Volunteers from Knaresborough Wombles had planned to help out. But police deemed it a health hazard due to human excrement and warned the group to stay away this morning.

So Harrogate Borough Council has stepped in and sent in staff to survey the site and clear it in a safe manner. It’s unclear at this stage how long the process will take.

The council had served the travellers with an eviction notice on August 3 but the group only left yesterday.

We sent a reporter down to Hay-a-Park today who found piles of rubbish across the area, a trashed outbuilding and a strong smell of faeces.

Once the council workers restore the park, officers will look into ways to prevent illegal encampments in the future.

Cllr Andy Bell, who serves the Scriven ward on Knaresborough Town Council and set up Knaresborough Wombles, told the Stray Ferret:

“In terms of what happens in the next few days we will need professionals with proper equipment to come and sanitise the site.

“Then we will have to look at ways to secure that site and maybe try to find a specific area for the travellers to stay.

“Next year we are looking at how we can handle the situation in a different way.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman said:

“Now that the travellers have moved on we are in the process of clearing the site. We are also exploring other options to prevent further illegal encampments in the future.”

A police spokesman said: