A large tree that damaged a Porsche in Harrogate during recent storms has been felled.
Zenya Dunn, who lives on Granby Road, told the Stray Ferret her partner Michael woke to find his car beneath a large splintered branch during February’s Storm Otto.
Speaking back then, she said it was the second time the Porsche had been struck by falling branches from the tree.
Ms Dunn added her Range Rover, parked nearby, and the house front window had narrowly escaped being damaged by the tree during storms. She said the couple had alerted the council to the danger numerous times.
Zenya Dunn, standing next to her partner’s Porsche in the aftermath of Storm Otto.
North Yorkshire Council has now pruned the tree to little more than a stump.
Read more:
- Harrogate couple’s dismay after tree crashes on Porsche for second time
- Historic Harrogate house to be auctioned next month
Jon Clubb, acting head of parks and environmental services at the council, said:
“Storm Otto caused considerable disruption to parts of North Yorkshire in February. Our parks and grounds maintenance team acted swiftly to remove a large branch on Granby Road which had fallen during the storm.
“Unfortunately, damage to the tree was so severe that it needed removing and the work was recently carried out. We will be carrying out replacement plantings this winter in line with our trees and woodland policy.
The splintered branch being removed in February.
A Harrogate couple have been left dismayed after a large branch from a tree crashed onto their Porsche during Storm Otto today.
Zenya Dunn, who lives on Granby Road, told the Stray Ferret that her partner Michael woke this morning to go to work, only to find his car underneath the fallen tree.
She said it’s the second time this has happened to the couple and that the council had been informed about the dangerous tree numerous times.
Ms Dunn said:
“I woke up and he asked me if he could borrow my car. It was the car he always wanted.
“It’s the second time something like this has happened. My partner has rung the council about the tree before.”
Ms Dunn added that the tree had almost hit the front window of their house.
It also narrowly missed her Range Rover, which was parked next to the Porsche 911.
North Yorkshire County Council’s highways teams arrived to deal with the tree this morning.
Workers from North Yorkshire County Council’s highways team were on scene this morning to deal with the tree.
It comes as Storm Otto caused widespread disruption across Harrogate this morning.
On Montpellier, a tree fell onto a picture frame where tourists pose for pictures. However, the frame appeared to have withstood the impact.
Meanwhile, fallen trees caused disruption for motorists on Leeds Road, Ripon Road and on the A61 near Pannal.
You can recap all of today’s storm news in the Harrogate district here.
Read more:
- Strong winds bring morning disruption to Harrogate district
- Ofsted praise for ‘warm and welcoming’ village pre-school near Harrogate
Appeal to trace suspect after assault in Harrogate
Police are appealing for CCTV footage around the Granby Road area after a man was assaulted in Harrogate.
The victim was approached by an unknown man on Granby Road and assaulted, leaving him with minor injuries to his hand, wrist and ankle.
It happened on Monday, January 23, around 2.20pm.
Police describe the man they want to speak to as white, aged in his late 20s to early 30s, and around 6ft tall with dark, mid-length hair. He was wearing a red coat and carrying a dark rucksack.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:
“We’re now requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“In particular, our officers are keen to hear from any local residents that may have CCTV or doorbell cameras which may have caught the incident.”
Anyone with information that could help the investigation should email beth.long@northyorkshire.police.uk, or call 101, select option two, and ask for Beth Long.
To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting reference number 12230013525.
Read more:
- ‘No suspicious circumstances’ in sudden death in Harrogate, police say
- Harrogate’s former Kimberley Hotel being used for drugs and crime, say police
Impartiality concerns over crime commissioner’s plan to share office with Harrogate police
Crime commissioner Zoë Metcalfe plans to relocate her office to Harrogate Police Station — triggering impartiality concerns.
Ms Metcalfe’s office said today the move could save £80,000 a year. But there are concerns working alongside police officers could compromise her duty to hold the chief constable to account on behalf of the public.
The Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is currently based at Granby Road, Harrogate. According to its website it employs 32 staff.
The crime commissioner’s current office at Granby Road, Harrogate.
A spokesperson for the office said:
“We are considering how best to meet the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s future office accommodation needs and our current, and most favoured option is co-location in Harrogate with the police and fire services.
“The commissioner recognises that the public expect police and fire buildings to be used efficiently, especially at a time of strain on public finances.
“No detailed plans have been finalised but we expect to save approximately £80,000 per year by changing our office arrangements. Like many progressive organisations, the Commissioner’s team has a strong commitment to flexible, agile working and our office accommodation needs have changed in recent years.”
A whistleblower, who alerted the Stray Ferret to the news, said:
“The PFCC and staff should be impartial and not mixing and befriending staff they may have to investigate.”
Read more:
- Crime commissioner Zoë Metcalfe resigns from Harrogate Borough Council
- Police plea to call out drink drivers amid increasing Harrogate district incidents
The commissioner’s spokesperson also said police could share space with firefighters at Harrogate Fire Station on Skipton Road:
“Proposals for neighbourhood policing teams to have access to spare office space at the fire station on Skipton Road have been under consideration separately, for a much longer period of time.
“The commissioner, chief constable and chief fire officer have asked for a specialist estates recommendation which makes the most efficient and effective use of the police and fire station buildings in Harrogate for our teams. Once this report is completed, we will make further announcements.”
Harrogate Police Station is based at Beckwith Head Road.