Firefighters and councillors have called on Zoe Metcalfe, the Conservative police, fire and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire, to tackle the long-running issue of Starbeck crossing holding up emergency vehicles.
As many as nine trains an hour can pass through Starbeck Station heading to Leeds or York.
It means when the barriers are down there are waits of several minutes for all vehicles, including fire engines, police cars and ambulances.
At a Harrogate Borough Council meeting last night, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hookstone, Pat Marsh, asked Ms Metcalfe if she’d had feedback from firefighters about the problem as she believes delays could potentially be costing lives.
Cllr Marsh said:
“It worries me, that a five minute wait can be the difference between doing something and not.”
In response, Ms Metcalfe said the problem has been raised to her by both firefighters at Harrogate and Knaresborough fire stations.
However, she said firefighters “know exactly what times trains come and go” and can also use other routes to avoid the crossing.
Ms Metcalfe said:
“I went back to the fire service and they quite rightly said that out of Knaresborough fire station you can also turn left out of the fire station and go into Harrogate via Morrisons. They can also go into Starbeck and can turn right into Bogs Lane.
“There’s not just one way into Harrogate. Even if they did get to a crossing they can call ahead (to Network Rail) to let them know they are coming down.”
Read more:
- Starbeck railway signaller carries on centuries-old tradition
- Starbeck groups call truce and promise to work ‘positively together’
Her response didn’t please fellow Conservative and councillor for Old Bilton, Paul Haslam, who also chairs Transport for the North‘s scrutiny committee.
Cllr Haslam told Ms Metcalfe he was “a little disappointed that you weren’t upset about the crossing at Starbeck”, particularly as it’s an issue that was raised to her by the firefighters themselves.
He added:
“I’ve tried for five or six years to get Network Rail to improve technology that would reduce waiting time to two minutes but they’ve refused to do it at the moment.
“I feel if your firemen had been upset that could have been leverage. I’m concerned about it for lots of reasons. The cars are just idling.
“Network Rail have told me all the reasons they can’t do it but they’ve also told me what technology they need.”
Ms Metcalfe promised Cllr Haslam that she would raise the issue with Network Rail.
Fire destroys workshop in Harrogate districtFire has destroyed a workshop in the Harrogate district this evening.
Firefighters from Ripon and Harrogate were called to the blaze at Bishop Monkton, which is five miles south of Ripon.
Tony Walker, station manager for York, Selby and Tadcaster tweeted about the incident tonight.
He added:
“Investigation is underway to determine the cause. No injuries reported.”
Crews from Ripon & Harrogate have just dealt with workshop fire in the village of Bishop Monkton. Investigation is underway to determine the cause. No injuries reported. @theyorkmix @BBCYork pic.twitter.com/sEdEZgc2VH
— Tony Walker (@sierra18NY) July 12, 2022
Read more:
- Firefighter photos reveal extent of Harrogate district field fire
- Six baby hedgehogs in Ripon rescued from bonfire at last minute
Firefighter photos reveal extent of Harrogate district field fire
Photos released by Harrogate firefighters have revealed the extent of yesterday’s field fire near Ripon.
The blaze, which occurred just after 4pm at Hutton Bank, Sharow, was one of two crop fires in the district as the heatwave hits.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log says:
“Ripon and Harrogate crews attended reports of a field of standing crops on fire.
“They requested a further four appliances due to the 300m fire front. Crews worked with the farmer to extinguish the fire. Incident has been scaled down now.”
Minutes later crews from York, Northallerton and Colburn attended a large field fire measuring approx 100 metres at Dishforth.
They used pitchforks and beaters and a hose reel to extinguish the flames.
Read more:
- Six baby hedgehogs in Ripon rescued from bonfire at last minute
- North Yorkshire fire service has adequate funding, says minister
Hundreds attend Harrogate fire station open day
Hundreds of people visited Harrogate fire station today for an open day.
Children got the chance to sit in the fire engines and watch demonstrations while parents were able to receive advice on fire prevention.
There was also the chance to sit in police vehicles.
The station, on Skipton Road, has 40 firefighters operating on four watches.
Read more:
- Harrogate firefighters issue smoke alarm warning after house fire
- Up to 1,000 runners set for Sunday’s Harrogate 10k
Families will get the chance to meet Harrogate firefighters and sit in fire engines tomorrow.
Harrogate fire station is holding an open day at its site on Skipton Road.
The station, which will be open from 11am until 4.30pm, will host activities, stalls and demonstrations.
Two fire engines and the aerial ladder platform will be on display.
Firefighters will give safety advice and take part in two rescue demonstrations using the ladder platform.
Police will also be present.
There will be tea and cakes and a bouncy castle, as well as a maze for children.
Read more:
- Harrogate fire station changes won’t increase risk to life, says commissioner
- Harrogate firefighters issue smoke alarm warning after house fire
Harrogate firefighters rescue dogs from hot car
Harrogate firefighters rescued two dogs yesterday when they got stuck in a car on one of the hottest days of the year.
The car self-locked when the owner went into the boot and was unable to get back into the vehicle shortly after 11am.
With the temperature rising, and the dogs still in the back of the car, the owner summoned help.
The fire crew was called to the incident at Harlow Carr Gardens, Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Fore and Rescue Service’s incident log says:
“Crews cooled the vehicle with one hose reel jet, then released the dogs using a glass punch and gave water to them.”
Read more:
Hotspots cause second fire in days at old rectory near Ripon
Firefighters were called to the old rectory at West Tanfield yesterday for the second time in three days.
The building, next to the parish church of St Nicholas, suffered major damage when the roof caught fire on Tuesday.
But fire crews from Ripon, Bedale and Harrogate were summoned back to the site, near Ripon, at 8.50am yesterday when smoke was seen.
Firefighters discovered the smoke was coming from the roof space above a first floor bedroom.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log says:
“This was believed to be caused by hotspots from the previous fire.
“Crews used one hose reel jet to cool the beams and set up an aerial ladder platform to carry out observation from above and check for further hotspots.”
Read more:
- Roof fire causes ‘serious damage’ to old rectory near Ripon
- Five Harrogate firefighters could lose jobs in plans to reduce service
Crane catches fire on Harrogate’s Leeds Road
A crane caught fire on the busy Leeds Road in Harrogate this afternoon.
Two crews from Harrogate fire station were summoned to deal with the incident at 3.54pm.
Fortunately the fire was already out by the time they arrived thanks to the crane driver using an extinguisher.
The fire station said in a social media post:
“An extinguisher had been used prior to arrival and crews used a hose reel to cool the overheated wheel bearings.”
Read more:
- Chimney fire warning after blaze in Scotton
- Harrogate commuters frustrated as early trains axed today
A fire station spokesperson said the incident occurred at the Stone Crop Lane junction on Leeds Road.
Police directed traffic but the road remained open.
At 15:54 on Leeds Road, Harrogate, two crews from Harrogate attended a report of a crane on fire, an extinguisher had been used prior to arrival and crews used a hose reel to cool the overheated wheel bearings pic.twitter.com/f0rne18T8Z
— Harrogate Fire station (@Harrogate_NYFRS) May 16, 2022
Car flips on roof after swerving to avoid deer on A1 in Harrogate district
A car flipped on to its roof when it swerved to avoid a deer on the A1 near Boroughbridge in the early hours of the morning.
According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, the vehicle left the road and one person was stuck inside.
Its incident log says firefighters used “stabilisation and extrication gear” to free the trapped person.
Harrogate fire station said this morning that one female was out of the vehicle when firefighters arrived and another female was trapped inside. Both are believed to be unharmed after the second female was freed.
The incident, which occurred at about 2.30am, was one of two serious traffic accidents logged in the Harrogate district last night.
At 9.40pm, Ripon firefighters were called when a car collided with a house on Kingston Avenue in the city.
The incident log says:
“No people were trapped, one male occupant of car was treated for a minor ankle injury by paramedics.
“Crews assisted ambulance and police at the scene and gave advice.”
Read more:
- Sid Hawke to be Ripon’s next mayor
- Parents describe ‘chaotic’ morning after Boroughbridge school bus cut
Two cars deliberately set alight in Knaresborough
Firefighters were called last night to deal with two vehicles that had been deliberately set alight in Knaresborough.
A fire crew from the town was summoned to Maundy Grove at 10.22pm.
According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log, they used two hose reel jets and breathing apparatus to tackle the blaze.
No further details are available.
In a separate incident last night, firefighters were alerted to reports of a fire in woodland on Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.
The incident log, which says the call was received at 5.53pm, adds:
“This turned out to be a camp fire well supervised. Fire service not required.”
Read more:
- Firefighters battle large wildfire near Brimham Rocks
- Traffic lights coming to busy Knaresborough junction