Harrogate’s business groups have raised concerns over plans to close off streets in Harrogate to create a “low traffic neighbourhood”.
North Yorkshire County Council revealed that it will close Beech Grove to through traffic in less than two weeks’ time.
The experimental closure will be in place for six months from February 15 and, depending on the results of a public consultation, it could become permanent.
Residents, refuse collections and emergency services will still have access to the area. But motorists will no longer be able to get directly from Otley Road to West Park via Beech Grove.
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Now officials at the chamber of commerce and business improvement district have weighed in on the debate, arguing the struggling high street could be negatively affected by the plans.
Sandra Doherty, the chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said:
“The solution is not, and never will be, the random closing of one road or another. A fully thought out, cohesive plan, which must involve all stakeholders should be undertaken.
“We must understand that no one single group will have the perfect solution. There will have to be some give and take.”
She added:
“I am not convinced that the Government’s view of car free towns surrounded by cycle lanes and pavements is the solution to the decline of the high street.
“Now we have all got used to shopping online, towns will have to provide a more experiential offering. Banning cars or discouraging them just won’t help.”
The proposed area for the Low Traffic Neighbourhood on Beech Grove, including the planters on the junction with Lancaster Road.
Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate BID, added:
“We need to know what else North Yorkshire Council is planning for the town centre.
“In its letter to Beech Grove and Lancaster Road residents, the council says this initiative is part of an overall ‘package of improvements’ but fails to reveal any more details.
“If its wider strategy is to reduce traffic in the town centre, then we need to know.
“We would like to think any future plans would include the addition of a large number of electric charging points. It would encourage those with electric vehicles to visit the town and help to reduce CO2 emissions.”
Ms Ferguson also said, if any free parking is to be lost, the BID would like to see Harrogate Borough and North Yorkshire County councils work together to reduce the costs in multi-storey car parks, which she said were under-used.
Harrogate Gift Card enjoys record monthHarrogate Gift Card enjoyed its best-ever month in December, as 392 cards were bought with a combined value of £17,200.
The cards, which can be pre-loaded with any value up to £500, are redeemable at more than 90 town centre shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, businesses and attractions.
Participating businesses include Bettys, Crown Jewellers, Dizzy Duck, Harrogate Theatre, Yorkshire Farmers Meat Co, Rhodes Wood and Blamey’s Florists.
The initiative, which is free for businesses to sign up to, ensures that every £1 pre-loaded onto a card stays within the local economy.
Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate Business Improvement District, said many people regarded its card as an ideal Christmas present. She added:
“It was also particularly pleasing to note that a number of businesses and organisations bought cards as gifts for employees and clients.
“The biggest single transaction recoded at the beginning of the month was for 50 cards!
“The BID’s remit is to increase footfall, spend and dwell time within Harrogate town centre, and the Harrogate Gift Card is one such initiative helping us support our high street.
More information on the Harrogate Gift Card, which during lockdown can only be purchased online, is available here.
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Have you seen our Shop Local section? You can shop online and continue to support Harrogate businesses during lockdown. Click here to find out more.
Harrogate BID votes in new chairHarrogate BID has elected a new chair for the next 12 months, with a unanimous vote in a virtual meeting.
Sara Ferguson, who co-owns Sasso and Caffe Marconi, had been the acting-chair since last May.
She stepped up into the role when former chair Bob Kennedy resigned along with three directors in April last year.
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As well as the appointment of Sara Ferguson as the chair, six new directors have joined the board.
Bokmun Chan, Studley Hotel & Orchid Restaurant, Nick Hubbert, Hoopers, Dan Siddle, the Crown Hotel, and Wayne Topley, Cedar Court Hotel have just joined.
Jim Mossman, Cold Bath Brewing Co, and Lesley Wild, Bettys, have been co-opted members since last summer.
Existing board member Richard Wheeldon, Berwins Solicitors, has taken on the position of Harrogate BID deputy chair.
Harrogate BID chair Sara Ferguson said:
Harrogate BID pledges £60,000 to tackle homelessness“I’d like to thank my fellow directors for placing their faith and trust me for the coming 12 months, and I’m proud to become Harrogate BID’s chair.
“I’m also delighted Richard Wheeldon, who has been involved with Harrogate BID since its inception, has agreed to become deputy chair.
“In officially welcoming the new board members, who bring with them a wealth of business experience, I’d like to thank those directors who stood down at the AGM, for their contribution over what was an exceptional 12 months in many ways.”
Harrogate Business Improvement District is to give the Harrogate Homeless Project £15,000 a year for the next four years.
The funding will go towards converting the lower hall at the Wesley Centre into a day centre for homeless people.
The sum is in addition to the £37,500 the church received from the National Lottery’s coronavirus community support fund.
The Wesley Centre will use the awards to install new toilets and refurbish the kitchen ready for the day centre services.
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Liz Hancock, chief executive of Harrogate Homeless Project, said it was “hugely grateful” to the BID:
“We will now be fundraising hard to realise some of the ambitions we have to extend our operating hours and expand health, wellbeing, skills and rehabilitation services.
“This significant donation will be over four years, allowing us to plan with certainty to develop this fundamental service.”
Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrrogate BID said:
BID advertises for new manager at £45k per year“One of our key objectives is to make Harrogate town centre ‘safe, clean and welcoming’, and we see our partnership with Harrogate Homeless Project as a key driver in this.
“When homeless people gather in the town it can be intimidating for some people, and Springboard will offer them a sanctuary where they can go and receive the support they need.”
A new manager is being sought for Harrogate BID as it enters its third year of operating.
The organisation is offering a salary up to £45,000 for the permanent role, which will lead the business organisation as it tries to support town centre businesses through and beyond the coronavirus crisis.
Simon Kent, who helped to establish the BID (Business Improvement District) in late 2018, was appointed interim manager last April and announced in December he was stepping down. The BID had been without a manager for six months prior to that, following the resignation of its first manager after less than four months in the post.
The newly-advertised job description says the manager will be responsible for the budget of £3m over the five-year term of the BID, managing staff and partners, driving forward projects and delivering on key performance indicators (KPIs).
Harrogate BID acting chair Sara Ferguson said:
“This is very much a hands-on role, and ideal for someone already used to leading a team, supervising a number of external contractors, and leading high-profile consumer campaigns with tangible results for sponsors and stakeholders.
“Additionally, the position will require the successful candidate to report to a board of directors on a regular basis, understand the sometimes challenging differences between the private and public sector, liaise with other interested parties, to act as an ambassador, and be (traditional and social) media savvy.
“Most importantly, they will bring with them fresh and exciting ideas to help promote Harrogate as a must-visit destination for residents and visitors alike, looking for a welcoming and friendly destination to ‘stay, shop, eat and drink’.”
The manager will report to the 14-person BID board, made up of representatives of different sectors in the business community. The role has a six-month probation period.
In the last year, the BID has used its funds – taken from a levy on business rates – to carry out additional street cleaning, provide signage to aid social distancing, and put up Christmas lights around the town centre. It also brought a giant elf to Harrogate in the run-up to Christmas, encouraging families to come into town in order to support local businesses.
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Florist wins Harrogate Christmas shop window competition
A florist has won this year’s Harrogate Christmas shop window competition.
It was hard fought with 27 shops taking part but Helen James Flowers, on Station Parade, took the top spot.
The competition aims to promote the town centre’s shops and encourage people to shop locally.
With shops pulling out all the stops it also gives Harrogate a festive boost.
As in previous years there are three separate categories for large, medium and small retailers.
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Mama Doreen’s Emporium was the winner in the large shops category, Helen James Flowers won the medium shops category, and Boho Chic, on West Parade, was the winner in the small shops category.
Graham Saunders, who organised the judging on behalf of the Rotary Club, said:
“We were delighted to be able to organise the competition again this year particularly with the problems for retailers brought about by the coronavirus lockdown.
“Harrogate is lucky to have so many independent shops who enjoy taking part in the competition.”
This year Harrogate BID partnered with the Rotary Club of Harrogate on the initiative. Each of the winners took home a Harrogate BID gift card.
Sara Ferguson, the Acting Chair of the BID, congratulated all the retailers for making the extra effort to decorate their window for Christmas and take part in the competition during this very difficult time.
Giant elf makes Harrogate debut ahead of town centre tour“The retailers who took part in the competition have gone to great lengths to make their shop windows look fabulous, which in turn has given the town centre a real festive boost.”
A four-metre tall elf has made his debut in Harrogate ahead of his festive tour around the town centre.
Harry the Harrogate Elf made his first appearance at the Yorkshire Hotel this morning and will move to a new location every day for a total of nine days.
The Harrogate BID, which is behind the festive campaign to bring people into the town centre, is keeping the details of the tour under wraps.
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He will be in shop windows and and a variety of spaces outdoors where people can see him for a safe distance.
When Harry the “naughty elf” appeared at the hotel this morning he got stuck in the lights. The fire service was soon on scene to rescue him.
Sara Ferguson, the acting chair at Harrogate BID, said:
“We always wanted to do something spectacular this December, but Covid made planning especially tricky.
“However, we persevered, and I’m delighted to say Harry the Harrogate Elf’s first adventure has been unveiled today.
“We want as many people to come and see Harry on his adventures, and because these will be taking place over nine days, there is no need to rush.”
The elf will be on display from today until Monday and will appear again from December 18 until December 22.
Watch the rescue of Harry the Harrogate Elf on the Stray Ferret’s Facebook page as part of a live video.
Free buses and parking for Harrogate Christmas shoppersFree Sunday buses and free weekday parking after 3pm are being introduced this month to encourage shoppers to spend money in Harrogate’s shops this Christmas.
Harrogate Business Improvement District, which aims to boost the town centre, is behind both projects.
The ‘free after three’ parking initiative allows motorists to park in the Victoria car park on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays free of charge after 3pm.
It begins on Monday and will run until Christmas Eve.
The ‘Sunday Freeway’ initiative, which returns this year, gives people the chance to catch a free ride on one of Harrogate Bus Company’s electric buses on a Sunday.
It includes the 2A, 2B, 3 and 6 services, which link Bilton, Dene Park, The Knox, Jennyfield and Pannal Ash with the town centre. The initiative will run through December and into the New Year.
The projects are part of the BID’s Harrogate at Christmas campaign, which encourages shoppers to support local businesses after a difficult year that has seen many closures.
Harrogate BID acting chairman Sara Ferguson said:
“Because of the lockdown, traders in the town have already lost a month’s worth of business and are playing catchup.
“Now we are coming out of the second lockdown, we are launching these two initiatives to bring people into town, via two different modes of transport.”
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The Harrogate Bus Company chief executive Alex Hornby said:
Harrogate post box with a direct line to Santa opens“It’s amazing news for our town – reducing emissions and congestion, while making it easier for everyone to support our local economy and get our town’s traders back on their feet.
“Harrogate’s businesses have had an incredibly tough year, with two lockdowns and continued restrictions impacting everyone. It’s now up to us all to support them as they re-open for the crucial run-up to Christmas by taking advantage of free travel.”
A new post box with a direct line to the North Pole has opened in Harrogate offering children the chance to write to Father Christmas.
Harrogate International Festivals has turned its Cheltenham Parade office a magical makeover.
As well as the post office, the site has snow flurries and Christmas music, and Father Christmas also makes appearances in the window.
The North Pole Post Office, which will be open right up to Christmas eve, aims to bring some festive cheer to children denied the chance to visit Santa due to covid.
Children posting letters should include their name, age, what they would like for Christmas and something they like doing. Those who would like Santa Claus to write back should also include their address.
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Lizzie Brewster, Harrogate International Festivals’ head of development and communications, said:
“Because Santa’s grottos will be few and far between, we are inviting the town’s children to write a letter to Father Christmas and then pop it into our post box.
“And naturally we would also ask that social distancing is adhered to at all times. The last thing we want is Father Christmas and his elves coming down with covid!”
Harrogate Business Improvement District has sponsored the North Pole Post Office as part of its Harrogate at Christmas campaign.
Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrogate BID, said:
Search to find Harrogate’s best Christmas shop window begins“Harrogate International Festivals are known for their creativity. The North Pole Post is simply genius. We are delighted to partner with them for this end of year treat.
“It is a feature of our Harrogate at Christmas campaign, designed to bring residents into town all through the week, not just at the weekend when it’s at its busiest.”
Harrogate Business Improvement District launched its annual Christmas window competition today.
The annual contest was featured in the Channel 5 documentary, Harrogate: A Yorkshire Christmas, last year.
It aims to promote the town centre’s shops and encourage people to shop locally using the BID’s online directory of shops.
Shops have until 8am on December 8 to dress their windows. After a few days of deliberations a winning window will be announced.
The judges will be looking for three elements: illumination, innovation and the sprit of Christmas.
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The contest will be restricted to 50 businesses within the BID’s quarters of Kings, Montpellier, Victoria and West Park.
As in previous years there are three separate categories for large, medium and small retailers.
Winners will be presented with a framed certificate to display on December 14. The overall winner will receive the prized rose bowl.
This year Harrogate BID has partnered with the Rotary Club of Harrogate on the initiative. One of the club’s members, Graham Saunders, said:
“More than ever we need to encourage residents and visitors alike to venture into Harrogate and view the wonderful Christmas display the town is famed for.”
Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID acting chair, said:
“We would encourage everyone to come in to Harrogate town centre, but in a Covid-safe way, and wherever possible, do all their Christmas shopping with local traders.
“The Harrogate Gift Card is also a great Christmas present and ensures every one pound loaded onto a card is one pound spent within local community.”