Harrogate district’s wild grass verges continue to divide opinion

The Harrogate district’s wild new look this summer continues to divide opinion, as swathes of land are left to grow several feet high. Now that some areas have been cut the contrast is really starting to show.

Harrogate Borough Council‘s bid to encourage rewilding has won plaudits but there is also concern about the state of some verges that have grown up to three feet tall in buttercups and wildflowers — sometimes hampering visibility at junctions.

A recent Stray Ferret post on Facebook about whether the grass should be cut attracted more than 300 comments.

Some praised the council for biodiversity but others raised concerns about aesthetics and safety.

Here is a selection of the hundreds of comments, in no particular order.

Maurizio Hales said:

“I really like it. Natural looking, good for wildlife.

“Don’t think of us all the time. Think of the wildlife that lives around us as well.”

But Lynne Oliver-walsh was less enthusiastic. She said:

“It’s a mess! Not safe for children to play in as it’s full of dog mess that to be fair to the owners it is difficult to clean up when the grass is so long.

“We pay a lot of council tax and it should be kept neat and tidy in residential areas so children are safe to play on it.”

Ben Askew, however, said:

“I love that the verges are being left to grow. Good for a bit of biodiversity and interesting to see what is coming up naturally.”

Abi Fulford raised the issue of road safety. She said:

“I’m not against it but do find pulling out at certain junctions very difficult! Some have been cut back slightly but not enough.”

Paul Mayfield gave a thumbs down:

“Absolutely scruffy scruffy scruffy. There’s plenty of greenery around without turning the Stray into a hay meadow.

“Perhaps the council support it because it reduces maintenance costs.”

Karl Richardson objected not only on the grounds of how it looks but also on the impact it has on dog owners.

“Certain areas look fine but the whole lot just looks scruffy.

“Plus as a responsible dog owner trying to pick up your dogs crap when you eventually find it is a task in itself. Stand in more than you pick up.”

Gill Thompson-Hammell said:

“Love love love it, more flowers, more crazy wildness, please stop spraying, let it grow, grow, grow!

“The ‘right’ place for wildlife is everywhere! Newsflash – buttercups and dandelions are flowers too!”

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Should Harrogate adopt the Rotherham approach?

Some readers urged Harrogate Borough Council to follow the lead of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, which plants wild flower verges.

For the last three years the Rotherham council has worked with Pictorial Meadows to create an eight=mile long stretch of colourful roadside meadows.

It has received praise for its environmental approach and saved about £25,000 in ongoing management expenses.

The colourful verges in Rotherham. Photo: Pictorial Meadows

What do you think of the new look for Harrogate’s verges? Send your thoughts to be included in Stray Views by sending an email to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate councillor resigns for “family reasons”

A Conservative councillor for Harrogate Borough Council and Knaresborough Town Council has resigned from both posts.

Samantha Mearns, who was also chair of the general purposes committee, sent out a leaflet to residents over the weekend.

She said she was resigning after her younger brother died and her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

Her mother’s current prognosis is good but she has recently moved with her husband to Wales to be closer to her family.

She said:

“Sometimes things happen in your life which make you rethink your life plan. 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.”

The Stray Ferret understands that Knaresborough resident Jacqui Renton will stand in her place for the next election.

It is unclear at this time when the by-election will be held. It is also unclear whether Samantha Mearns will stay on as a case worker for Andrew Jones MP.

Police investigation into Gmund Cars Ltd

Samantha Mearns remains at the centre of a police investigation into missing Porsche cars worth more than one million pounds because she had “significant control” in the company which her husband owned.

Gmund Cars Ltd, which traded classic Porsche cars, was dissolved in September 2020.

The Stray Ferret spoke to six victims who took their cars to Gmund Cars Ltd on a sale or return basis. They said they never saw their cars again.

Samantha Mearns told the Stray Ferret last year :

“I was a shareholder in my husband’s business until December 2018.  When the business was put into administration in June 2019, allegations were made which resulted in a police investigation.  As far as I am aware the investigation has concluded with no further action being taken.  I was never interviewed in relation to any of the allegations.”

The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire Police this morning, the investigation has not concluded and is still ongoing.

Plan submitted for 23 affordable homes in Scotton

Developers have submitted plans for 23 affordable homes in Scotton.

Harrogate-based Jack Lunn (Properties) Ltd has lodged the proposal to Harrogate Borough Council, which would see the development built off Ripley Road in the village.

The plan would see a mix of one, two and three-bedroom affordable homes built on the site.

Affordable housing is defined as housing for people who cannot afford to buy or rent homes on the open market. The price varies locally.

The council estimates the district needs 6,600 affordable homes built between 2014
and 2035, which is the equivalent of 313 per year.

Also included in the Scotton proposal are measures for access and public open space.

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In documents submitted to the council, the developer said that the homes would make a “positive contribution” to the area.

It said:

“The design proposal intends to provide a sympathetic response to the surrounding context. 

“The homes use materials indicative of the local area whilst the layout seeks to provide a range of homes as part of the development to allow for a positive contribution to the local community.”

The borough council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

Exclusive: Data breach at Harrogate council causes anguish for business

District businesses could be at risk of fraudulent activity after Harrogate Borough Council warned of a possible data breach.

The Stray Ferret has seen an email sent by the council’s Revenues Welfare and Customer Services department encouraging businesses to to monitor any suspicious financial transactions.

The extent of the breach is unknown, but the email said an online form had been used to try to apply for a restart grant against local business rates accounts.

One business owner, who wishes to stay anonymous, said the email did not give full details of exactly what information had been stolen, or how.

The source said they had already received two phishing emails before the council contacted them about the issue this afternoon:

“I’m shocked and it’s disturbing at what they could know. I’m concerned my banking details may have been seen because why else would [the council] tell us to monitor our banks?

“I’ve read it that someone has tried to take out a grant in my [business name]. They have to have got this information from somewhere.

“I don’t think the council is telling us everything, I think they are trying to water it down.”

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In hopes of protecting firms, the council said it had closed the affected business rates accounts and updated the online form, which is usually automatically filled with elements of a company’s details.

The business owner said they have been told not to call the council but instead send any complaints via email. They have already reported the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

They said they had been told 440 businesses had been affected, but The Stray Ferret was unable to substantiate that number.

A council spokesman said:

“We have been made aware that an online form, used in relation to restart grants, has been used fraudulently.

“When attempts were made, information – including some that could be available via the Valuation Office Agency or Companies House – may have been auto-populated.

“As soon as this was discovered, we updated the online form to stop it from happening and ensured all information was secure.

“As a further precautionary step we have closed all affected existing business rates accounts and created new ones.

“Affected businesses do not need to take any further action – but should remain vigilant – and will receive confirmation of their new business rate account number in the post shortly.

“We’d like to apologise for any inconvenience this has caused and would like to reassure businesses that no bank details have been shared.

“When processing restart grants we have a number of additional checks in place that prevent people from receiving any government grants that they have tried to claim fraudulently.”

Grantley Hall withdraws helipad plan for third time

A luxury hotel in the Yorkshire Dales has for the third time withdrawn an application to operate a helicopter landing pad after being recommended for refusal by council planners.

Grantley Hall – an 18th-century mansion located five miles west of Ripon – wanted permission to use the helipad to fly guests into and out of the five-star venue but concerns were raised over the impact of flight noise on the surrounding countryside.

A decision was due to be made by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee next Tuesday, but after a recommendation for refusal was made the hotel withdrew its application.

Grantley Hall has since been contacted for a comment but did not respond at the time of publication.

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The hotel has withdrawn three applications and had another rejected since first asking for permission to use an existing helipad in 2018.

In documents submitted with its latest plans, the hotel said it wanted to use the helipad to attract top events and that if refused it could lose around £650,000 in income.

It also said it had proposed to restrict flights to no more than three a month after listening to concerns over noise disruption.

Nidderdale AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), Grantley and Sawley Parish Council and several residents objected to the plans, with one local describing the application as “totally unnecessary” and “self-fulfilling”.

The reasons for recommending refusal given by council planners were the impact on the Nidderdale AONB and Studley Royal Park, which is classed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, as well the impact on ecology and biodiversity.

Planners also questioned how the helipad could generate so much income and said the restricted number of flights would still have too great an impact on the area.

A report to the committee said:

“Whilst there are economic benefits to be considered with relation to the local economy, it is not considered that these are sufficient to outweigh the harm created by the proposal.

“Concerns are raised that the content of the business plan does not directly appear to correlate with the small number of flights proposed and it is difficult to assess if the numbers proposed.

“Nor is it considered that the visitors arriving by this manner are likely to be direct spending with other attractions in the area, rather they will fly in and fly out.”

Grantley Hall opened as a hotel after a £70million refurbishment in 2019.

It was once used by West Riding County Council between 1947 and 1974 as an adult education residential college, as well as a training and conference centre by North Yorkshire County Council.

Senior staff could get pay rises totalling around £133,000

Some of the most senior staff at Harrogate Borough Council could be in line for pay rises totalling around £133,000 between them.

The authority has proposed a new senior management pay structure with increases to the upper salary limits for 17 top earners including the chief executive Wallace Sampson, two directors and several heads of service and managers.

Mr Sampson is the highest paid member of staff and could see his upper limit increased to £130,000 under the proposals, which were supported by the council’s human resources committee on Wednesday and will require a final approval from full council next month.

It follows a review by the Local Government Association (LGA) and Yorkshire and Humber Employers Association, which concluded the recruitment and retention of senior staff was challenging and that pay was a factor.

The review looked at council salary levels elsewhere in the region, as well as Harrogate’s cost of living, and proposed several pay rises to be introduced from 1 July.

These will not apply to mainstream staff who had their pay structure reviewed two years ago and are currently in negotiations for a further rise.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, Kay Atherton, head of organisational development and improvement at the council, explained:

“In 2019, as part of the National Joint Council pay agreement, a new pay structure was agreed for mainstream staff where some staff did see an uplift in pay.

“That pay structure was to address the issues of low pay – which it did.

“At this point in time, because we have only reviewed the pay structure for mainstream staff recently, we don’t feel we need to do that again.”

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Under the proposals for senior staff, the vacant position of director of community would be scrapped after Paul Campbell suddenly stepped down last spring and was paid £55,065 in compensation for loss of office after three and half years in the role

His responsibilities – which included emergency planning, housing, parks, and health and safety – have since been shared between the other two directors and this arrangement is likely to continue.

Rachel Bowles is director of corporate affairs, while Trevor Watson is director of economy and culture, and he could see his title renamed as director of economy, environment and housing under the proposed changes.

The pair would also see their upper salary limits increased from £92,194 to £100,000, although this is only an upper limit and how much they and all other senior staff actually earn is based on a grading system.

Meanwhile, Paula Lorimer, director of Harrogate Convention Centre, would remain on the same £104,502 salary, while the managing director of the council’s new leisure company Brimhams Active, Mark Tweedie, could earn up to £76,350.

For the 12 heads of service, the upper limit would be boosted from £63,584 to £75,000.

Meanwhile, some managers, including those in charge of communications and engagement, elections, and democratic services will see no increase in their upper pay limit.

All council workers last received an across-the-board 2.75% pay rise in August, but union officials have issued a warning over the “perception” by lower-paid workers and the public of reviewing senior staff pay now.

In response to the LGA review, Unison Harrogate said in a statement:

“Whilst we do not dispute the legitimacy of the senior management proposal, perception is something that does need to be factored in.

“Staff, who have recently been offered a derisory 1.5% pay rise, will understandably question why a senior management review is happening much quicker than one for the majority of staff, which seems way off in the future.

“It is our expectation that the council gets on with the pay and grading review for mainstream staff now, prioritises it and delivers on it in a much quicker time frame than is being proposed.”

Self-isolation payments widened for Harrogate district low-income earners

Self-isolation payments of £500 are to be made available to more low-income earners in the Harrogate district.

The one-off payments were introduced by the government and administered by Harrogate Borough Council from September to compensate for any loss of earnings workers may suffer as a result of having to self-isolate because of covid.

More than £119,000 has been allocated to the council but as of this month around £68,000 remains unspent so officials have proposed to widen the rules around who can apply.

Those currently eligible must be on benefits such as Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowances, however, people who do not receive these and are still in need of help can get discretionary payments.

The proposal to widen the rules will mean a limit on those who can apply for discretionary payments based on their earnings is increased from £280 to £450 weekly.

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Julie Gillett, revenues, welfare and customer services manager at the borough council, said in a report this will mean the scheme is”available to more customers, providing more financial support within the Harrogate district.”

She said: 

“The council, together with the government, recognises that self-isolation is an important tool for controlling the transmission of the covid-19 virus.

“The self-isolation support payment schemes ensure that individuals with low incomes facing financial hardship as a result of not being able to work will be supported through this scheme.”

In December, there were warnings that thousands of people in England were being excluded from the scheme as councils reported running out of cash and loopholes leaving families ineligible.

The council said at the time that this was not an issue in the district, although it had rejected almost as many applicants as it had accepted as many who applied did not have a valid Test and Trace reference number or were not on one of the required benefits.

Currently, the scheme is due to end nationally on June 30, however, it is expected that there will be an extension as the legal requirement to self-isolate will remain in place.

How to apply

The borough council has set up a dedicated claims page on its website with information on eligibility and how to apply.

It said applicants will have to provide evidence of the notification from NHS test and trace, such as a text message, when making an application, as well as a bank statement to show your income has fallen.

Employed people will be asked to show proof of employment, for example your contract or payslip, while the self-employed will need to show evidence of their trading income and that their business cannot be carried out without social contact.

Applications will need to be made within two weeks of your quarantine period ending.

Workers who have to self-isolate after travelling abroad and those who can work from home while they isolate won’t be able to claim.

Mayfield Grove: crime concerns to be aired this afternoon

Police and council officers are holding a drop-in session this afternoon to address concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour around Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove.

People on Mayfield Grove and nearby Mayfield Terrace, Strawberry Dale, Nydd Vale Road and Nydd Vale Terrace have long-term concerns about criminality in the area, which is just a short walk from the town centre.

North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council issued a three-month closure order on 38 Mayfield Grove in March.

The authorities can apply to a court for a closure order on a premises if they have concerns about antisocial behaviour and criminal behaviour.

With the order expiring this month, a letter sent to homes in the area said today’s outdoor community engagement drop-in session would enable police and council representatives to talk to residents “regarding 38 Mayfield Grove, the closure notice and future steps”.

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It is being held from 4pm to 6pm on the green triangle of land between Mayfield Grove and Mayfield Terrace.

A summit involving police, council officers and residents’ representatives was held in March.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said the area had been quieter since the closure order but they remained concerned about problems merely shifting from house to house in the area.

They added:

“I’ve felt safer over the last few months but am now worried for my safety and the safety of my children.”

Paul Ivison, who is setting up a Mayfield Grove and Mayfield Terrace residents association, said the main issues included drug dealing, speeding cars, parking and dog fouling.

A man died at 38 Mayfield Grove in March. Another man is awaiting trial for murder.

 

Harrogate council set to offer homes to four Afghan families

Harrogate Borough Council looks set to offer homes in the district to four Afghan families as part of a UK government scheme.

The government has said thousands of Afghans who worked for the British army, mostly interpreters, will be offered resettlement in the UK as the armed forces withdraw from the country.

Senior council officers have recommended the authority commits to taking part in the scheme.

A report due before the council’s cabinet next week says up to four families, totalling 19 people, would be offered resettlement.

It said:

“Harrogate district has a proud history of welcoming those forced to flee their home due to oppression and tyranny. 

“The latest group to require assistance are Afghans who have worked with and supported British armed forces in Afghanistan.”

If approved, the council expects the first three families to arrive from Afghanistan this summer.

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The council has previously taken part in other resettlement programmes, including Syrian refugees when 13 families were relocated between July 2016 and April 2017.

Earlier this month, Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, announced the government intended to accelerate the resettlement scheme.

The government’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, which was published on April 1, intends to relocate those who worked with the military alongside the UK’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Under the policy, any current or former locally employed staff assessed to be under serious threat to life are offered priority relocation to the UK regardless of employment status, rank or role, or length of time served.

Mr Wallace said:

“We owe a debt of gratitude to our interpreters and other locally employed staff who risked their lives working alongside UK forces in Afghanistan.

“We have always made clear that nobody’s life should be put at risk because they supported the UK government to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan.

“As we withdraw our armed forces, it is only right we accelerate the relocation of those who may be at risk of reprisals.”

Helipad plan for Grantley Hall set for second refusal

A five-star luxury hotel and wedding venue near Ripon looks set to be refused permission to use a helicopter landing pad at the site.

Grantley Hall – an 18th century mansion which opened as a hotel after a £70m refurbishment in 2019 – wants to use an existing helipad to attract top events including luxury car launches and yachting clubs.

But its application has been recommended for refusal at a Harrogate Borough Council meeting on Tuesday.

After a previous application was rejected in March last year, the hotel said it had restricted flights to no more than three a month to address concerns about noise to nearby residents and animals.

It also said it could lose £650,000 in income if the helipad was not made available to the type of clients that it wants to attract.

However, a council planning officer has questioned how the helipad could fetch that much money and said the restricted number of flights would still have too great an impact on the area. The officer said in a report:

“Whilst there are economic benefits to be considered with relation to the local economy, it is not considered that these are sufficient to outweigh the harm created by the proposal.

“Concerns are raised that the content of the business plan does not directly appear to correlate with the small number of flights proposed and it is difficult to assess if the numbers proposed.

“Nor is it considered that the visitors arriving by this manner are likely to be direct spending with other attractions in the area, rather they will fly in and fly out.”

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Nidderdale AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), Grantley and Sawley Parish Council and residents have also objected to the plans, with one local warning the noise from flights would disturb daily lives and nature. Robert Ash said in a letter:

“Grantley is a peaceful village, much-loved for its tranquillity both by residents and visitors. In these days of mindfulness it is very therapeutic to be able to listen to the countryside rather than intrusive helicopters.

“This is a totally unnecessary, self-fulfilling application which should once and for all be rejected.”

Michelin star

As part of its application, Grantley Hall commissioned its own noise impact report, which concluded restricted flight times and paths would mean access to the helipad would be carried out in the “quietest manner”.

However, the reasons for recommending refusal are the impact on the Nidderdale AONB and Studley Royal Park, which is classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well the impact on ecology and biodiversity.

The planning officer’s report added:

“A temporary permission for 12 months would allow for a more robust assessment of the impacts of the proposal and the viability of the proposed number of flights and hours of operation, however, it is considered that without the ability to adequately control the routes of the helicopters that these impacts would be significantly adverse.”

Grantley Hall has 47 rooms and four restaurants, including one with a Michelin star, as well as 30 acres of wooded parkland and grounds.

It was used by West Riding County Council between 1947 and 1974 as an adult education residential college, as well as a training and conference centre by North Yorkshire County Council.