Traffic fears in Beckwithshaw over plans to build 780 homes

Haverah Park & Beckwithshaw Parish Council has raised concerns that a major housing development on Otley Road will significantly increase traffic through the village.

Planning consultants Johnson Mowatt has released details of a 780-home development and new primary school that could be built on Otley Road, less than a mile from Beckwithshaw.

The Windmill Farm development would be the largest housing scheme to be built in Harrogate for many years. It would dwarf Beckwithshaw, which has a population of 400.

Cllr Derek Spence, chair of the parish council, told the Stray Ferret he expected residents of the new development would drive through the village to get to Otley and Bradford, or Leeds via North Rigton.

He said:

“Our overriding concern is traffic through the village, it’s increased quite remarkably over the last decade. The development will make the situation worse.”

Harrogate Borough Council is drawing up a West Harrogate Parameters Plan, which is a document assessing the transport and infrastructure needs associated with plans to build up to 4,000 homes on the western side of Harrogate.

Mr Spence said local residents’ groups would like to see the plan published before any further decisions are made on the Windmill Farm development. He said:

“It’s been massively delayed. It’s almost a year late. We want some public involvement.”

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‘We don’t want to be NIMBYs’

Windmill Farm is allocated for development in the Harrogate district Local Plan, which outlines development in the district until 2035. This means the battle over whether it will be built has effectively been lost already and the debate is more about the amount and type of homes plus infrastructure.

Mr Spence said the parish council hoped the new homes reflected the character of the surroundings. He added:

“We don’t want to be NIMBYs, we respect the fact that people need somewhere to live.

“We want the village of Beckwithshaw to retain its influence rather than be subsumed into a massive development. Our little community wouldn’t be the same.”

Number of Harrogate district councillors could be cut by two-thirds

The number of councillors representing the Harrogate district as a whole could be reduced by nearly two-thirds after devolution, under proposals for a new super council in North Yorkshire.

A working group led by North Yorkshire County Council’s former leader Cllr John Weighell has concluded 89 councillors should be elected to serve communities stretching from Skipton to Whitby.

Under the current two-tier system, 57 councillors are elected to serve the Harrogate district on the district and county councils. Forty are elected to Harrogate Borough Council, which is the district authority, and 17 are elected to North Yorkshire County Council. Some people serve as councillors on both councils.

Under plans for the unitary council, just 20 councillors would be elected to serve the Harrogate district on the new super council — a drop of nearly two-thirds.

The proposals would see wards such as Harrogate Stray merged with Harrogate Hookstone to create larger new wards on the unitary council.

Some of the wards proposed by North Yorkshire County Council for the new unitary authority.

Some of the wards proposed by North Yorkshire County Council for the new unitary authority.

6,000 voters per councillor

The 89 councillors proposed for the whole of North Yorkshire on the super council would be 17 more than are currently elected to North Yorkshire County Council.

Each councillor would represent around 6,000 voters, which is almost double the number some currently represent.

There are concerns over councillors’ workloads under the new unitary authority because they will be responsible for matters currently covered by the county and seven district authorities.

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The number of elected members who will make decisions on the unitary authority and the composition of the wards they will represent is expected to be laid before parliament in January, ahead of polls in May to elect councillors to run the county council for a year and then sit on the unitary authority for a further four years.

Westminster to have final say

Proposed wards for the unitary council have been shaped by using parliamentary constituencies, district council wards or county council divisions.

Cllr Carl Les, the leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“We will make a proposal, but it will be a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government decision. 

“I’m pleased to see there has been proposed a very small number of two-member wards and no three-member wards.”

Cllr Les added that government guidance setting a maximum of 90 councillors for the unitary authority reflected the county council’s local government reorganisation proposal and would enable residents to be well represented.

The authority’s Labour group leader, Cllr Eric Broadbent, said while the proposal was following government-imposed rules, every political group appeared to be looking after their own interests.

He said: 

“I hope that there is fairness all round. I’m keeping my eye on everything and if I get complaints from Labour members, I will propose changes.”

More homes added to 600-home Manse Farm development in Knaresborough

More homes are to be added to the 600-home Manse Farm development in Knaresborough.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee yesterday granted approval for an extra 24 properties at the site, which is being built out by developers Taylor Wimpey and Linden Homes.

Councillors also approved changes to the road layout in order for the site to link up with separate proposals from Taylor Wimpey for 400 homes at the nearby Highfield Farm.

The Highfield Farm plans have yet to be granted planning permission and, if approved, would mean building over 1,000 homes to the east of Knaresborough in what councillors previously described as a “new village” being tacked onto the town.

The extra homes at Manse Farm were approved despite an objection from Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council, which said:

“The total 1,000 approved houses on the east side of Knaresborough, at the Manse Farm and the neighbouring Highfield Farm developments, are already excessive and inappropriate.

“Adding more housing in this soon-to-be congested area is not supported and we strongly recommend reducing the housing density at this, and each of the other developments, to make this a more rewarding living environment.”

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No loss of green space

Speaking at a meeting today, Becky Lomas, an agent for Taylor Wimpey, defended the increase in house numbers, saying it would provide more smaller family homes for the area.

She said:

“The uplift in dwellings is as a result of looking at the mix of housing – we have looked at what was previously proposed and there are now more smaller family homes.

“The uplift is also only in the developable area of the site, so we haven’t reduced any green space, public open space, landscaping or wildlife corridors.”

Also included in the Manse Farm development are plans for a new primary school, which will cater for families moving into the new homes.

In May, Elevate Multi Academy Trust was appointed by the Department for Education to run the school, which will provide 210 places for pupils, with the capacity to take in a total of 420 children if needed in future.

The project is expected to cost in the region of £5m and will be funded by North Yorkshire County Council using government grants, together with a £2m contribution from the developers.

Elevate Multi Academy Trust already runs Meadowside Academy, Aspin Park Academy and St John’s C of E Primary School in Knaresborough, as well as nine other schools in Yorkshire.

Lidl store at Ripon retail park gets go-ahead

Plans for a new Lidl supermarket at St Michael’s Retail Park in Ripon have been given the go-ahead.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee today granted approval for the store, which the German retailer said will create up to 40 jobs and occupy three units at the £10m retail park.

Lidl also said the supermarket would represent a “multi-million-pound” investment into the Rotary Way site, which opened last year and is currently only occupied by Marks and Spencer.

Speaking at a meeting today, Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh said she was happy to support the development because of the hundreds of homes set to be built in the area over the coming years, including plans for 1,300 homes at Ripon Barracks.

She said:

“This huge residential development is coming so there is a requirement to make sure that there is this kind of retail in Ripon.

“And what made me comfortable with this was the analysis of whether the store would impact on the city centre itself.

“Once that assured me it wouldn’t, I was very happy to support this to give the people of Ripon a choice in their shopping.”

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The Lidl plans were submitted to the council in May following a virtual consultation with the local community earlier in the year.

Today’s approval comes after separate plans for a Lidl store at the former Lookers car dealership on Harrogate’s Knaresborough Road were approved by the council last month.

Lidl previously said this store will also create up to 40 jobs once built.

Harrogate councillors approve new rules on staff exit packages

Harrogate Borough Council has approved new rules on staff severance packages after a review into the payments.

The payments, which can include allowances, hardship payments and paid leave for departing staff, will now have to be approved by the council leader and chief executive, and reported on an annual basis.

Any payments over £100,000 will also require approval from full council.

Previously, the payments were signed off by a monitoring officer and only those to senior staff were reported annually.

The new rules were approved at a meeting on Monday after independent auditors Mazars warned this year that the previous process risked a lack of balance between “inappropriate expenditure” and “allowing ineffective employment relationships to continue”.

£354,000 paid out in 2019/20

The council’s annual statement of accounts showed £354,000 was paid to 19 former employees in 2019/20 for wider payout packages, also including redundancy costs and compensation for loss of office.

This was an increase from the previous financial year, when £278,000 was agreed for 15 staff.

The statement of accounts also showed one member of staff received a £62,000 exit package in 2019/2020, although it is not known what job title they had or how much they were earning before they left their role.

The only member of staff who was named in the document was former director of community Paul Campbell, who left last year and was paid £55,065 in compensation for loss of office.

Mr Campbell had an annual salary of £89,727 and oversaw a range of council services, including emergency planning, housing, parks, waste and health and safety.

He has not been replaced since leaving 18 months ago. The council has said his responsibilities are being shared by other directors.

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At Monday’s audit and governance committee meeting, Jennifer Norton, head of legal and governance at the council, explained the new rules to councillors. She said:

“In accordance with current regulations, you do receive in the annual report the remuneration of senior employees including details of any severance payments.

“What I am proposing in line with government guidance is that regardless of seniority, all severance payments are reported on an annual basis.

“In terms of member involvement in the approval process, then the government guidance says that should sit with the leader of the council, which is what is proposed here.”

The new rules were unanimously voted through by members of the committee.

Harrogate council installs beehives to pollinate flowers

Harrogate Borough Council has installed two new beehives to help pollinate flowers and support biodiversity.

Once established, the bee colonies will produce honey that could be sold to the public.

A council spokesman said the beehives had been put on council-owned land off Wetherby Road, although the precise location wasn’t revealed.

They will be looked after by Terrence Ogilvie, a keen beekeeper who works in the council’s parks and street cleaning team.

If the experiment proves successful, the council could introduce more beehives across the district.

Conservative councillor Andrew Paraskos, cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“Bees are a vital part of the ecosystem to help pollinate many of the trees and flowers that provide habitats for wildlife.

“By introducing beehives we are further playing our part to help stop and reverse the decline of wildlife in the district.”

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Earlier this year, the council’s new rewilding strategy saw swathes of green spaces, including on the Stray, left untouched by mowers and strimmers to allow nature to grow free and attract bees.

The idea was welcomed by many, who saw it as a sign that the council was serious about improving biodiversity. But others, who cherish Harrogate’s reputation for organised and elegant planting, believed it made the town look untidy.

Staff shortage at Harrogate council affects leisure and recycling

A shortage of staff at Harrogate Borough Council is causing delays to recycling collections and changes to timetables at leisure centres in the district.

The council, which employed 1,062 staff at the end of July, currently has 95 vacancies.

Most vacancies are in sport and leisure, however the council is also advertising jobs for receptionists, nursery nurses and lifeguards.

Last week, the authority was forced to delay recycling collections due to a shortage of drivers.

Unfortunately, due to driver shortages, we won’t be able to collect all recycling due to be collected this week.

If we haven’t collected yours by the end of the week, or if you have already received a text from us, please return your recycling to your property.

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) September 6, 2021

Staff shortages in leisure facilities have also seen timetables change for gyms and swim sessions.

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A council spokesman said: 

“Like many organisations across the country – in both the private and public sector – there are numerous services that are trying hard to fulfil specific roles.

“We are not immune to this and currently have around 95 jobs available across all council services that are either currently being advertised or are in the process of being filled.

“A number of these roles are available in our sport and leisure services and we are doing what we can to fill these so that all facilities can return to normal as soon as possible. We also have a smaller number of vacancies in our waste and recycling service but are optimistic that these will be filled in the coming weeks.

“As well as great colleagues, we offer competitive salaries, flexible working and a range of other benefits.”

Harrogate council reveals new £18,000 street cleaning machine

Harrogate Borough Council has unveiled its latest weapon in the fight to keep the district’s streets clean.

It is an £18,000 waste vacuum cleaner, which sucks up litter up through a flexible nozzle and then collects it in bags at the back of the machine.

The contraption also has an on-board pressure washer to remove any stubborn stains.

The council said in a statement the machine is much quicker than manual litter picking and “especially effective at picking up small items of litter such as cigarette butts and disposable takeaway cups”.

The 100 per cent electric machine has a 10-hour battery life and will be rotated around towns in the Harrogate district.

Councillor Andrew Paraskos, the council’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“Sadly, some people think it is completely acceptable to just discard litter on the street. Which is why we, and an army of volunteers, work tirelessly to ensure our town centres and villages look their best for locals and visitors alike.

“The addition of the street cleaning machine will make this task even easier and I know it will make the task of clearing litter that bit easier for our dedicated team.”

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Council to debate petition to lift Harrogate’s Beech Grove closure

A 770-signature petition calling for Harrogate’s first low traffic neighbourhood to be removed is to be debated by councillors this week.

Members of North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee will meet on Thursday to discuss the traffic restrictions.

They were introduced in February and have proved popular with pedestrians and cyclists but caused complaints from some locals.

The trial restrictions have seen planters placed on Beech Grove to stop through traffic and create quieter streets where residents feel safer walking and cycling.

It has made getting around the area by car more difficult and that is the idea behind it – to decrease car use.

David Pickering is one of the 770 residents who have signed the petition against the restrictions, which he said have only made traffic worse on surrounding streets.

He said: 

“I continue to be surprised by the enthusiasm of North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council to spend taxpayers’ money on projects which are universally unpopular with local residents.

“It is all very well for public sector employees to sit around examining ways of maintaining budgets and tinkering with local roads to divert traffic when it has no material impact whatsoever on their personal lives.

“But on the ground it will concentrate traffic down certain roads.

“Anyone with a modicum of common sense would be able to work out that it will just concentrate traffic on Cold Bath Road and Queens Road.

“I just don’t see the point of the initiative.”

The low traffic neighbourhood was introduced by highways authority North Yorkshire County Council and received the strong backing of Harrogate Borough Council.

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Last month, the county council ended a public consultation on the restrictions ahead of a decision on whether to extend the 18-month trial, make the road changes permanent or scrap them altogether.

Barriers on Victoria Road

Last month the county council also announced plans to introduce a one-way traffic filter on nearby Victoria Road in another trial to improve road safety and encourage cycling and walking.

These restrictions will be trialled from this month and involve erecting a barrier to prevent vehicles from leaving to join Otley Road.

Mr Pickering said many residents were also against these plans, which he fears will make traffic “unbearable” on nearby Queens Road and Cold Bath Road.

The county council was contacted for comment but did not respond by the time of publication.

Harrogate’s Local Lotto raises over £160,000 for good causes

The Local Lotto celebrated its third birthday at the weekend having raised over £160,000 for local causes

Harrogate Borough Council set up the lotto to raise money for local voluntary sector organisations.

Players have won a combined total of £41,000.

Every 60p in £1 goes to 108 local causes, including Autism Angels, Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP), and Woodfield Millenium Green.

Beneficiaries paid tribute to the fund.

Low Harrogate Crown Green Bowling Club said in a statement the Local Lotto had “provided a revenue stream that has enabled the bowling club to invest in new equipment”.

Ripon Community Link added the initiative had provided “a regular, reliable income stream when charitable income can be erratic, especially in such turbulent times”.

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A pie chart showing where the money goes

Cllr Sam Gibbs, chair of Harrogate Borough Council’s voluntary and community sector liaison group, said:

“These vital funds can sometimes be a lifeline for smaller community groups and I’d like to thank everyone for getting involved and signing up to play the Local Lotto.”

The Local Lotto takes place every week, with the winning draw every Saturday night.

For more information, see the local lotto’s website.