Just 10 fly-tipping fines in Harrogate district despite 2,000 reported incidents

Just 10 fines have been handed out for fly-tipping in the Harrogate district over the last three years despite almost 2,000 reported incidents.

Of those 10 fines, only four have been paid in full by criminals caught in the act dumping mounds of waste across streets, parks and the countryside.

These eye-opening figures obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service reveal how fly-tippers are going largely unpunished.

Harrogate Borough Council, which is responsible for investigating dumped waste and has powers to issue £400 fines – has insisted it is standing firm and is asking the public for help to bring those responsible to the book in court.

A council spokesperson said officers will not hesitate to take strong action against those who are caught in the act but also admitted in many cases there is nothing they can do due to a lack of evidence.

The spokesperson said: 

“Fly-tipping is a selfish crime that blights the landscape and spoils everyone’s enjoyment of our towns and countryside.

“In order to prosecute we need to carry out thorough investigations and provide substantial evidence. This can be a challenge as not all fly-tipping contain personal or business details we can investigate.

“But we will not give up tackling fly-tippers and bringing them to justice.”

Of the 1,967 dumping incidents reported to the council over the last three years, 388 have been investigated by environmental protection officers.

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These investigations have resulted in 10 fixed penalty notices being issued but only four have been paid in full at a total cost of £1,600.

The issue of fly-tipping often stokes debate over whether charges at recycling centres are driving individuals and illegally-operating waste removal businesses to dump their rubbish at the roadside.

North Yorkshire County Council, which runs recycling centres in the Harrogate district, introduced charges for dumping waste including rubble, soil and plasterboard in 2014 but said there has been little evidence to suggest these have resulted in any increase in fly-tipping levels that would warrant a rethink.

Peter Jeffreys, the county council’s head of service for waste and countryside services, said: 

“The absence of a causal link between charging and fly-tipping suggests that the removal of charges may not reduce fly-tipping levels.

“It is important to remember that there is a large percentage of fly-tipped waste that can be disposed of for free at our Household Waste Recycling Centres.”

“The majority of residents and businesses take responsibility for the waste they produce. We will continue to educate, communicate and where necessary take enforcement action to protect the environment so it is safe for all to enjoy.”

The Harrogate and District Green Party said in a statement that cheaper and more accessible ways of recycling could help reduce fly-tipping.

The party also questioned whether private landowners should face the “onerous burden” to remove dumped waste at their own expense.

The party said: 

“We need a solution that doesn’t cost individuals and small businesses to recycle their waste that is easy and convenient to access, such as smaller satellite facilities.

“The council also needs to ensure that waste is responsibly recycled and can be re-used where possible, even as an opportunity for the council to recoup costs. Most importantly, waste is not dumped in other countries.”

In numbers: How Harrogate Borough Council has investigated fly-tipping

All candidates confirmed for Knaresborough by-election

Nominations for the upcoming by-election for the Knaresborough Scriven Park seat on Harrogate Borough Council have closed and the names are in.

It has now been confirmed who will be standing during the 29 July election, which is being held following the resignation of Conservative councillor Samantha Mearns who last month announced she had stepped down due to family reasons.

There are four candidates competing to replace her including Conservative nominee Jaqui Renton, a former landlady of The Union pub in Knaresborough.

Hannah Gostlow, a serving Knaresborough Town councillor, will stand for the Liberal Democrats, while the Labour Party has announced Sharon-Theresa Calvert as its candidate after she previously stood for a Knaresborough seat on North Yorkshire County Council in 2017.

The final name on the list is Harvey Alexander, a former UKIP member who is standing as an independent and previously competed for the Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat on North Yorkshire County Council in May.

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Councillor Mearns had held her Knaresborough seat on the borough council since 2018 and when announcing her resignation in a letter to residents last month she said she was moving to Wales to be closer to her family after her younger brother died and her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

She added it had been a “great honour” to serve the area where she had lived for more than 18 years.

Councillor Mearns said:

“Just before the pandemic struck, my younger brother, my only sibling, died from abdominal sepsis. With my sister in law and mother I watched him pass away. This had a huge impact upon me.

“Shortly after my mother became seriously unwell and was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully due to our fantastic NHS her current prognosis is good.
“However this and losing my brother in such a short time has made me look at what I needed to do with my life for my family.

“Our moves have now finalised, and with lockdown restrictions lifting, now is the appropriate time for me to stand aside.”

Councillor Mearns was also a member of Knaresborough Town Council and voting to fill this vacant seat will take place on the same day as the borough council by-election.

£10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway scheme: what key groups say

The £10.9 million Station Gateway scheme is one of the biggest and most controversial transport policies in Harrogate for years.

The scheme aims to transform the way people travel in the town centre by encouraging cycling and walking and reducing traffic.

Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority have received UK government funding for the initiative.

Two proposals have proved particularly divisive so far: reducing traffic on Station Parade to one lane and pedestrianising the northern section of James Street.

Some businesses fear these moves could damage trade but many individuals and environmental groups support them.

Detailed designs are now being drawn up after the publication of a consultation document.

Here are edited extracts of what some stakeholders said in their consultation responses.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce

In the case of James Street, whilst we are against full pedestrianisation, we are not adverse to its semi-pedestrianisation, beyond its junction with Princes Square. We would also advocate retaining some of the parking bays.

What we are sadly lacking is a well thought out plan. Not just a vision for a future Harrogate, but a sustainable transport plan which involves the views of Harrogate.

Harrogate Bus Company

Your consultation gives two choices – single or twin lane. Our preference is a hybrid approach with two lanes, one for buses and one for other traffic the length of Cheltenham Parade from Cheltenham Mount to the bus station and also on the section south of the bus station to station bridge.

CEG (property group)

CEG would whole heartedly support the Station Gateway proposals and in particular we welcome the reduction of Station Parade to one lane and the total pedestrianisation of the northern element of James Street

Zero Carbon Harrogate

Zero Carbon Harrogate supports the lowest traffic options presented in the Harrogate Station Gateway consultation as we believe the result will be a more vibrant, pleasant and prosperous town. They will also best meet the wishes expressed by around 15,000 respondents to the Harrogate Congestion Study in 2019 who overwhelmingly supported measures to increase active travel and public transport.

Harrogate Business Improvement District

The BID supports the two lane proposals but with one dedicated to buses and taxis only. We don’t agree with the proposed two-way cycle lanes as it doesn’t form part of a connected and segregated cycling route and would result in reduced space for pedestrians — we would prefer to see some pavement widening.

We are concerned that the current consultation process hasn’t engaged the wider Harrogate community and urge you to consider sending details of the proposals via email and post to all Harrogate residents a this is such a significant step change in travel.

Harrogate Civic Society

There is a problem with making comments on these specific options (which focus on a relatively small section of Harrogate town centre) when there is no indication of these being part of a longer-term, integrated traffic policy for the wider area. As with previous proposals (some of which have been implemented) there is the very real possibility that, without a clear traffic policy for the whole of the town, these changes will in the future be seen as having been unnecessary or detrimental.

The need for major change to Station Square is questioned. The principal problems with this space relate to inadequate maintenance and poor collection of litter.

Commercial Street Retailers Group

An overwhelming majority of 81.25% of Commercial Street retailers voted for the two-lane option.

We are concerned and disappointed about the length, geographical reach and visibility of the consultation. With something as significant as this, all households in the Harrogate district should be consulted.

Harrogate District Friends of the Earth

The new layout will encourage more people to use the bus and rail station It will benefit buses and bus users; it will make cycling safer on this route; it will encourage cycling; it will make walking safer on this route.

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£10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway scheme moves to design stage

Detailed plans to introduce one-way traffic on Station Parade and to pedestrianise part of James Street are to be drawn up.

These two proposed major changes to Harrogate town centre are the most contentious aspects of the £10.9 million Station Gateway project, which aims to increase cycling and walking and reduce traffic.

Some businesses fear the changes, which would slightly reduce the number of parking spaces, could hamper trade.

The decision to proceed to design stage follows the recent publication of a 160-page document analysing consultation responses to the scheme, which is a joint initiative between Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Of 935 people who replied to a consultation question about Station Parade in an online survey, 49 per cent preferred the one-lane option, 27 per cent preferred the two-lane option and 24 per cent preferred neither.

Of the 934 who replied to a question about pedestrianising the northern section of James Street, between Princes Street and Station Parade, 54 per cent said they were either positive or very positive about it while 38 per cent were negative or very negative towards it.

Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, acknowledged opinion was divided and questions remained.

But he added that just because designs were being drawn up did not mean the scheme was certain to proceed and there would be at least another two consultation stages.

He said:

“There are questions about whether one lane southbound will be sufficient to carry the volume of traffic that the A61 (Station Parade) takes. I myself still have questions about it.

“I will look at the designs to see how buses enter the one-lane system.

“I will want to know a bit more about the likely effect on other roads in the area, and additional transit times for southbound traffic heading from Ripon to Leeds.

“We have to make progress but there will be plenty more time to ask questions.”

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Cllr Mackenzie said Harrogate was the most congested place in North Yorkshire besides York and the 15,000 responses to the Harrogate and Knaresborough congestion survey in 2019 showed strong support for better cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

The three councils have secured £34 million from the UK government’s Transforming Cities Fund, which aims to change the way people travel.

The funding will also be used to pay for walking and cycling schemes in Skipton and Selby but neither of those has proved as controversial as the one in Harrogate.

 

Skipton Building Society plans new office in Harrogate

Skipton Building Society has applied for permission to open a new branch in Harrogate town centre.

The company, which currently has a branch on Princes Street, plans to refurbish a unit on Cambridge Street.

The units at 33-37 Cambridge Street, which were previously occupied by Topshop and Miss Selfridge until 2017. are to be split into three.

Skipton Building Society plans to lease the central unit and refurbish it to include open plan public space, office spaces, toilets and staff space.

It has also proposed to fit five air conditioning units to the back of the building facing Petergate.

A spokesperson for the company confirmed that the plans would see the current branch relocated.

They said:

“The proposed new branch offers greater accessibility for our customers and will enable us to provide more facilities for them. Clearly this is all subject to planning approval and we look forward to hearing back from the council in due course.”

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In documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council’s planning department, the company said the proposal will ensure the “continued life of the building”.

It added:

“It will also ensure the property does not become unused or rundown which is important for its position.”

Sainsbury’s has also lodged plans to open a store in the same building.

The supermarket chain submitted proposals this year to open a Sainsbury’s Local at the site, which is a short walk away from Tesco Express on Cambridge Road.

The company said it intends to employ about 25 people in a mixture of full-time and part-time roles.

The council will make a decision on both proposals at a later date.

No final decision on HCC investment until 2022, says council

A final decision on a potential major investment in Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC) is likely to be made next year, council bosses have said.

Harrogate Borough Council outlined plans for a £46.8million project to renovate the centre last July.

Councillors backed a feasibility study ahead of the phased redevelopment of the 40-year-old centre, which will return before the council to approve the investment.

But a council spokesman has said that this final decision is to take place next year when detailed designs and costs will be presented to councillors.

It comes as a major shake-up of local government in North Yorkshire looms, which will see the borough council and the county council scrapped and replaced with either one or two unitary authorities.

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It would mean that control of the convention centre would be handed over to a new council, which the government said it aims to have in place by 2023.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret last week that he was hopeful of an announcement from ministers on which model they preferred before Parliament breaks for recess on July 22.

The Stray Ferret asked the borough council how the potential reorganisation of councils in the county would affect the investment in the HCC.

A spokesman for the council said:

“The proposed reorganisation of local government in North Yorkshire and the investment in Harrogate Convention Centre are two entirely separate things.

“That’s why we are continuing with projects and initiatives such as the redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre, the leisure investment strategy, etc. so that we can provide modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that our residents and visitors can be proud of.

“A final decision is yet to be made on the future investment in the convention centre, and this is likely to be next year when more detailed design work and costs will be presented the council.”

Convention centre ‘will not survive’ without investment

Last year, the council said in a report that without the upgrade the convention centre “would not survive”.

The council is proposing to refurbish the conference centre, auditorium and two of the main halls. It also plans to divide the space known as Studio 2 to create “breakout facilities” for up to 1,850 delegates.

Work to upgrade the venue would be carried out over two phases.

Last July, a confidential cabinet paper seen by the Stray Ferret showed that the HCC was forecast to lose £710,000 in 2019/20.

The report said the convention centre’s financial performance had “declined significantly” since 2008/9 and renovation was needed to increase income.

Despite warnings over the state of the venue and the need for investment, businesses and councillors outside of Harrogate were left “dismayed” by the project.

Emergency flood response underway in Harrogate district

An emergency response is underway at homes in the Harrogate district in danger of flooding after today’s thunderstorms.

The emergency planning department at Harrogate Borough Council revealed tonight it had been called to homes in Pannal and Dishforth following today’s heavy rain.

The council’s emergency planning department supports the emergency services in the response to major incidents.

It said on Twitter:

“Our team have deployed to Dishforth this evening to protect a property at risk of foul water flooding and are currently working with our North Yorkshire County Council colleagues to protect another property in Pannal from surface water flooding.”

No further details are available at this time.

A Met Office yellow weather warning is in place in the Harrogate district until midnight tonight. The warning says:

“Heavy showers and thunderstorms leading to a chance of flooding and disruption.

“There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.”

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Council to host first full in-person meeting at Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Borough Council will hold its first full in-person meeting since the start of lockdown at the town’s convention centre.

All councillors were due to come together at the authority’s Civic Centre headquarters on Wednesday, July 7, but the venue has been changed after the government delayed making the decision to end of all coronavirus restrictions until later this month.

A council spokesperson said the change was necessary because there is not enough room for all 39 councillors to socially distance within the council chamber.

The spokesperson said:

“Due to social distancing guidelines, the meeting of the council on 7 July will now be held at Studio 1, Harrogate Convention Centre.”

Meetings have been held online during the pandemic, but the government ordered all local authorities to hold them in-person from May.

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Wednesday’s meeting will be livestreamed on the council’s YouTube channel and members of the public can attend in person.

Up for discussion is a decision to remove a limit on the number of wheelchair accessible taxi licences despite concerns from cabbies that it will have a “devastating” impact on trade.

Councillors will also be asked to approve the permanent livestreaming of meetings, while Liberal Democrat councillors have tabled a motion asking for the creation of a Harrogate Town Council to be “strongly recommend” under plans for local government reorganisation.

Pay rises for some of the council’s most senior staff are also on the agenda.

The meeting will start at 5.30pm.

Police and council bid to close two Starbeck houses over crime

Police and council officers are attempting to close two more properties let by landlord John Willis.

North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council have jointly applied to Leeds Magistrates Court for closure orders on 19 and 31 Avenue Grove, Starbeck.

The two organisations can apply to courts for closure orders if they have concerns about antisocial behaviour and criminal behaviour on premises.

The same authorities successfully applied for a three-month closure order on 38 Mayfield Grove, Harrogate, in March. This order expired last month.

All three properties are let by Mr Willis.

A joint statement today by the two authorities said:

“Following concerns about crime, drug use and anti-social behaviour at two multi-occupancy addresses – 19 and 31 Avenue Grove – Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire Police have applied for closure orders.

“Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, a closure order prohibits access to a property for a specified period. Breach of an order is a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment and/or a fine.”

The application was due to be heard on Wednesday but the hearing was adjourned until July 14.

Until this date the two properties have been served with closure notices, which prohibit visitors.

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Dean Richardson, head of safer communities at Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“It is imperative that residents across the Harrogate district feel safe in their homes and community.

“If landlords fail to manage their properties properly, and there is sufficient evidence to support any reports, we will work with the police and partner agencies to explore all legislative options available and act accordingly.”

Inspector Nicola Colbourne of North Yorkshire Police said:

“This action once again demonstrates our commitment to ensuring Harrogate remains one of the safest towns to live in.

“By listening to residents and working with partners like Harrogate Borough Council, we can address concerns head-on while offering the appropriate support to any vulnerable people we encounter.”

Last month Constable Kelvin Troughton, of North Yorkshire Police, told the Stray Ferret there had been a “reduction of incidents” at 38 Mayfield Grove since the closure order was served.

 

 

First candidates for Knaresborough Scriven Park by-election revealed

The first candidates have been revealed for the forthcoming by-election for the Knaresborough Scriven Park seat on Harrogate Borough Council.

The by-election is being held following the resignation of Cllr Samantha Mearns, who announced she was stepping down due to family reasons after holding the seat as a member of the Conservative party since 2018.

Voting for candidates to replace her will take place on July 29, with the deadline for nominations to be made by 4pm today (July 2).

The Conservatives have announced Jaqui Renton, a former landlady of The Union pub in Knaresborough, as their candidate, while Hannah Gostlow, a serving Knaresborough Town councillor, will stand for the Liberal Democrats.

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Sharon-Theresa Calvert will also compete in the by-election for the Labour Party after previously standing for a Knaresborough seat on North Yorkshire County Council in 2017.

The Yorkshire Party told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it was looking for a suitable candidate, while the Green Party said in a statement it had “initiated discussions with opposition parties” about working together.

Announcing her resignation in a letter to residents last month, Cllr Mearns said she was moving to Wales to be closer to her family after her younger brother died and her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

She said it had been a “great honour” to serve the area where she had lived for more than 18 years.

Cllr Mearns said: 

“In many people’s lives things happen that change the direction of their lives. This is the same with me. Not too long before the pandemic struck, my younger brother – my only sibling – died after a relatively short but terrible illness.

“Shortly after, and during the pandemic, my mother was diagnosed with cancer.

“Having lost my brother and faced with potentially losing my mother in a short time made me look at what I needed to do with my life to do the right thing by my family.”

Cllr Mearns was also a member of Knaresborough Town Council and voting to fill this vacant seat will take place on the same day as the borough council by-election.

The by-election will be the second held in the Harrogate district this year after Conservative Cllr Matt Scott last month won the Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat on North Yorkshire County Council following the death of Liberal Democrat Cllr Geoff Webber.