Summerbridge Players are going ‘cuckoo’ in a pantomime that promises to provide pre-Christmas fun for all the family.

Four performances of Alice in Cuckoo Land will be staged at Dacre and Hartwith Village Hall in Dacre Banks, starting from November 30.

Rev Alastair Ferneley (pictured back, third from left) will be swapping his clerical clothes for high heels and a dress, as he takes the part of the Dame.

Peter Nuttall’s panto provides a comical and alternative view on the festive season as Rev Ferneley, the Vicar of Dacre with Hartwith & Darley with Thornthwaite, told the Stray Ferret:

“The evil Queen of Hearts hates Christmas and is determined that it will be banned from her realm.  She has even thrown Santa into the dungeons.

“Alice and her friends Chester the Cheshire cat, Floppy the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter set out to rescue him.  Of course, there are also the Dame and other colourful characters to add to the fun and games.”

The pantomime, starting at 7.30pm, will be held from Thursday November 30 until Saturday December 2 and there will also be a matinee performance starting at 12,30 on the Saturday. Tickets are available at the J Todd and Sons store in Main Street ,Summerbridge.

Planners have rejected a bid to build 20 homes and 12 glamping pods at the former Nidd Valley Saw Mills.

Wakefield-based Milner Homes submitted plans to redevelop the former mill alongside the River Nidd at Dacre Banks.

The mill was sold to the developer in 2020 after its former owner retired.

Milner Homes, planned to convert the mill into five homes, and build a further 15 two to four-bedrooms homes, as well as a dozen glamping pods.

It said the proposal, submitted last year, would “create a distinctive residential development which is sympathetically designed to respect the surrounding built and natural environment” and “promote sustainable tourism”.

But North Yorkshire Council refused the application this week.

The housing and glamping pod scheme as outlined for the Nidd Valley Saw Mills site.

Trevor Watson, assistant director of planning, listed nine reasons for refusal.

He said “no exceptional circumstances” for the scheme, which is outside the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35 for development, had been demonstrated.

Other reasons included “a significant, adverse landscape and visual effect upon the landscape and scenic beauty of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”,  “insufficient evidence that the continued use of the site for employment purposes is not feasible or viable” and flood concerns.

Mr Watson added:

“The proposed layout creates a scheme that is of poor quality, does not create a safe and accessible environment or reflect the principles of good, sustainable layout design.”

Hartwith cum Winsley Parish Council objected because the application was outside the local plan boundary and also because of highways and noise concerns.

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Summerbridge Players will perform the comedy Give Us A Sign by award-winning playwright Tony Domaille next week.

The play, which features a Russian spy, spooky happenings, a drunk CIA man, MI5 and the ghost of a dead professor, makes for a hilarious comedy of errors.

The players’ preview, says:

“When unemployed Ken Lockwood sets himself up as a clairvoyant he bites off more than he and his wife Rachel can chew and things soon get out of hand.”

Performances will be staged at Dacre and Hartwith Village Hall in Dacre Banks on May 18, 19 and 20, starting at 7.30pm and tickets costing £6, are available from Todds stores, Summerbridge or can be reserved by e-mailing Jackie Kerr – jackiekerr812@btinternet.com

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