Police are investigating after a man died on a building site near Ripon.
The Health and Safety Executive has also been called in after the incident at the Palladian Homes development in Marton-le-Moor.
The man has not been identified, but is understood to have been working on the site at the time.
A spokesperson for HSE said:
“We are aware of an incident and making enquiries alongside North Yorkshire Police.”
The incident happened on Saturday, July 5, but has only just been confirmed after a nearby resident contacted the Stray Ferret.
North Yorkshire Police has confirmed its officers were called to the site. A spokesperson said:
“We can confirm that we received a call from the ambulance service at 11.41[am] with a report that a 34-year-old man had life threatening injuries following an incident at Marton-le Moor.”
The Stray Ferret contacted Palladian Homes about the incident but had not received a response by the time of publication.
The development, off Chapel Lane in the village, features 10 detached homes of between three and five bedrooms.
It was originally given outline planning permission for up to 16 homes in 2019 after the developer appealed against Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to turn down the proposal.
Detailed plans were then drawn up for a development of 10 homes, which were approved in 2021.
Work was today continuing on the site, where several of the houses have already been listed for sale and some are under offer.
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Council investigates planning breach claims at 53-home Harrogate site
North Yorkshire Council is investigating an alleged breach of planning in a Harrogate field where 53 homes could be built.
North-east property developer Jomast has applied to build the homes off Knox Lane in Bilton. Councillors deferred the scheme for a third time this month amid concerns about land contamination.
Since then, the council has opened a probe into potential damage to trees within the tree preservation order.
The Stray Ferret has seen a letter from a council planning enforcement officer to a resident saying it is investigating and will provide a further update within 28 days.
When we approached the council about it, assistant director for planning Trevor Watson said:
“We can confirm that we are currently investigating a possible breach of planning regulations at that location.
“While that investigation is ongoing we will not be commenting further.”
The Knox scheme has received more than 300 objections amid concerns about its impact on a quiet corner of Bilton.
Sue Wrightson, of the Keep Knox Natural campaign group, which opposes the development, claimed field activity undertaken at the site this month did not conform with council guidelines on contaminated land.
Photos of the site
Dr Damian Bowen a toxicologist and local resident who has submitted a review of Jomast’s phase two contamination report, alleged the company had not addressed concerns raised about the reliability of its data.
In response to a request for comment on the council investigation, Stephen Courcier, planning consultant for the application at Jomast, said:
“We can confirm that the further site investigative works to the railway embankment took place over Thursday and Friday of last week.
“These further investigative works were specifically requested by the local planning authority.”
Read more:
- Council’s new dog poo policy causes a stink in Knox
- Controversial Knox Lane 53-homes plan deferred for third time
Housing developer ‘doesn’t anticipate’ Kingsley road closure will last six months
A housing developer has said it “doesn’t anticipate” a controversial road closure in the Kingsley area of Harrogate will last six months.
The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that pedestrians, dog walkers and cyclists face a 1.4-mile detour when Kingsley Road is completely sealed off beyond the junction with Kingsley Drive up to the bridge leading to Bogs Lane.
The affected route is popular among people looking to access the shared cycle route and footpath to Bilton.
North Yorkshire County Council issued a temporary prohibition of traffic order, from November 7, lasting for up to 12 months, to enable Redrow to carry out work at its 133-home Kingsley Manor development.
David Faraday, technical director for Redrow (Yorkshire), said:
“The road closure will be in place while works to create a new junction, access road and associated services for the development are completed. This includes extensive excavation works to connect the sewers and installation of a new three-way traffic light system.
“We don’t anticipate the works will take the full six months to complete and the closure allows for a period of contingency.”
Hundreds of homes are being built in the Kingsley area.
Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley on North Yorkshire County Council, said yesterday he planned to ask Redrow if access for walkers and cyclists could be maintained for some periods while work is carried out.
Asked if this was something Redrow would consider, Mr Faraday responded:
“The road will be closed to ensure the safety of local residents and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience they may experience over the coming months.
“If it is possible to create a safe through route for pedestrians temporarily while more minor works are underway we will endeavour to do so, but a full closure will be in place while all major works are undertaken, as advised by our contractor.”
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Asked what consultation had been carried out, he said:
“We notified local residents of the works and road closure via letter on October 19. Formal notification of road closures is the statutory responsibility of the local authority.”
An artist’s impression of how the Redrow development will look.
Mr Faraday said the two, three and four-bedroom homes would “provide a huge boost to local housing supply for a wide market” and the development “will be characterised by areas of natural green space, mature trees and varied planting, and will also feature two play areas”.
He added:
“We are making significant contributions to the local community as part of the planning agreement, including more than £540,000 towards local education, £190,000 towards open space provision, £44,600 towards traffic signals and £5,000 for a local travel plan.”
Council faces calls to hold in-person Maltkiln consultation events
Harrogate Borough Council has been criticised because it plans to promote its latest Maltkin consultation through social media and video, rather than at in-person events in Green Hammerton, Kirk Hammerton and Cattal.
A draft development plan document (DPD) has been drawn up by officers at HBC that includes a vision for how the 3,000-home settlement called Maltkiln will eventually look. The developer Oakgate Group would build the homes.
It is the biggest housing scheme in HBC’s Local Plan, which sets out where development can take place until 2034, and it is likely to change the face of the three small villages off the A59.
No exhibitions
The draft DPD is set to go before councillors at a meeting on September 21.
If approved, a six-week public consultation on the document will take place, beginning on October 6.
However, an email from a senior planning manager to councillors and stakeholders, seen by the Stray Ferret, says the consultation will only be promoted through social media, posters and an ‘explanatory video’ that sets out what the DPD is.
The email says:
“Please note that we are not holding a public exhibition as we feel that the explanatory video will have a broader reach and be more appropriate given the nature of the content of the DPD.
“During more detailed master planning, when visual options are being presented and design codes discussed, then public exhibitions may be more appropriate.”
Cllr Alex Smith, of Kirk Hammerton Parish Council, said he felt this was unsatisfactory, particularly for residents who struggle to navigate the council’s website.
He said:
“By deciding not to exhibit in the affected villages, HBC are excluding those residents who are unable to navigate the depths of the consultation site, something which is challenging, even for experienced users.
“Council leader Richard Cooper went out of his way to promise residents that the consultation would be genuine and inclusive, but this feels like neither.”
The layout for Maltkiln, which is centred around Cattal Station
Read more:
- ‘Let’s make the best of it’: Hopes and fears for 3000-home Maltkiln settlement
- ‘Green gap’ will protect villages from 3,000-home Maltkiln scheme, says council
Cllr Smith compared the proposals to develop Maltkiln with Harrogate’s Station Gateway, which has seen several rounds of in-person public consultations organised by North Yorkshire County Council. He added:
“You only have to compare what’s happening with the Station Gateway, which, even on its third consultation, is getting three days of public exhibitions.
“For the ‘New Settlement’ – a much more significant development – the council have managed to switch preferred options, chosen the site, and even named it, without so much as setting foot in one of the local village halls.
“Some consultations are more genuine and inclusive than others, it would seem.”
In response, a HBC spokesperson said:
Ripon primary school receives ‘buddy bench’ to combat loneliness“This is the latest consultation regarding the new settlement in the Hammerton/Cattal area of Harrogate district, known as Maltkiln. And follows a number of earlier stages of consultation and engagement that have helped shape the Development Plan Document (DPD), which we are now consulting on.
“The DPD is a sizeable policy framework that will allow us to manage how the new settlement is developed moving forward, and due to its nature, it is more appropriate to host an online consultation to ensure all information and documents – of which there are many – are easy to view and digest.
“To ensure the public is made aware of this consultation we will be producing a video, FAQ document, issuing press release(s), social media posts, a Residents’ News article, as well as informing the community liaison group and printing leaflets and posters to raise awareness of the consultation.
“During more detailed master planning, when visual options are being presented and designs discussed, public exhibitions may be more appropriate.”
A primary school in Ripon has been given a new buddy bench to mark anti-bullying week.
Moorside Primary School received the bench from the company Annington, which has been refurbishing former Ministry of Defence homes nearby.
Children who feel sad or anxious can sit on the bench as a signal to others that they need a friend to speak to.
Made with sustainable wood, the buddy bench is engraved with the following poem:
“We sit, we chat and ask each other questions. We leave as friends, with all good intentions.”
Claire Rowett, the headteacher at Moorside Primary School, said:
“It’s so important to create a safe and caring environment for children so that they are able to talk about their feelings, especially during such uncertain times.
“A shy or anxious child may struggle to ask someone else for support, which is why the buddy bench is such a vital tool in teaching the children what to do when they feel lonely.
“We are very grateful to Annington for donating the bench to us.”
The new buddy bench.
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Annington is one of the largest private owners of residential property in the UK, with over 40,000 homes across England and Wales.
Louise Saunders, sales and marketing manager at Annington, said the company strived to support local communities, adding:
“We are proud to gift the buddy bench to Moorside Primary School, and we hope that the children will be able to use it to create new friendships and feel more confident for many years to come.”
Anti-Bullying Week is organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and takes place from November 15 to 19. This year’s theme is “one kind word.”
Sainsbury’s is planning to open its new Harrogate’s town centre store in the next couple of months.
The supermarket chain had hoped for a late summer opening but only managed to get permission from Harrogate Borough Council in late July.
When the new Sainsbury’s Local shop opens it will create 25 new jobs and also bring the former Topshop unit at 33-37 Cambridge Street back into use after four years.
While there’s not been too much movement at the store in recent weeks, the internal fit out is due to start before the end of November.
The developer plans to split the building into three seperate units. Sainsbury’s would occupy the largest on the left side.
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Skipton Building Society is also planning to move in but it is unclear at this stage which business will take on the third unit.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Property Director, said:
“We’ll soon be moving to the next stage in the fitout of our new convenience store for Harrogate and I’m looking forward to seeing it take shape as it really starts to look like a Sainsbury’s Local.
“It won’t be long now until residents, workers and shoppers in the town centre will be able to enjoy great value, high quality products as well as the improved convenience and choice that a new Sainsbury’s store will bring.”
Mr Dunne added that his team is also in the process of finding a charity to donate excess food to.
Sainsbury’s already has four stores in Harrogate: a large store on Wetherby Road and smaller Local stores on Leeds Road, King’s Road and Cold Bath Road.