Harrogate council halts covid business grants

A “very high number” of Harrogate businesses applying for coronavirus support grants could mean the council runs out of cash under one scheme sooner than expected.

Harrogate Borough Council was allocated £4.6m as part of the government’s Additional Restrictions Grant scheme to help firms forced to close during lockdown. So far it has handed out more than £2m in two phases of payments.

It had planned to open a third phase tomorrow but now says this is “on hold” because it is still working through a backlog of applications.

And because the council is not expecting any further grant money from the government under this scheme, it could mean some businesses expecting a third and final payment later this month may not get it.

The council said in a newsletter to businesses:

“We received a very high number of applications in phase two, far more than anticipated, and we are continuing to work hard to complete assessment of these.

“Until we have assessed and awarded all the grants in phase two we are unable to commit to a further grant funding phase.”

The high number of businesses asking for financial support shows how seriously the strain of the pandemic is still being felt in Harrogate’s shutdown sectors of the economy and could mean all of the £4.6m is used up before the third phase is opened.

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Some business owners who had been expecting a third payment told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the grants will be “the difference between survival and closure” for many firms as they also called on the government to provide more support.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“We recognise that many businesses across the district are relying on this financial support for their survival, so that’s exactly why we’ve been working as hard as possible to get money out the door.

“In total, across all schemes since the first lockdown, we’ve distributed £70 million to more than 5,000 businesses.

“There are strict criteria for the various grant schemes, and the different phases of those schemes, and we’ve had to make sure businesses are eligible for the support on offer.”

Under another scheme, the Local Restrictions Support Grants, the council was allocated £23m and up to the end of February had paid out £18.5m.

Almost £100,000 has also been paid out to pubs that do not serve food and are eligible for a one-off payment of £1,000.

Harrogate Borough Council said it was now keen to signpost towards the government’s Restart Grant, which will aim to help businesses get back on their feet as lockdown is lifted.

Non-essential retail businesses able to reopen from 5 April will receive grants of up to £6,000, while hospitality and leisure businesses will receive up to £18,000 before they make a full return on 17 May.

For more information go to www.harrogate.gov.uk/business-investment

Two Harrogate district village pubs to be turned into housing

Two pubs in Little Ouseburn and Great Ouseburn will be converted into housing.

Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans to turn the former Green Tree pub in Little Ouseburn into housing.

Owners Michael and Barbara Briggs applied last year to turn the pub into two one-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom semi-detached home.

Another two three-bedroom detached homes will be built in the rear car park.

The pub, which is on the main B6265 from Green Hammerton to Boroughbridge, closed in late 2019.

A statement attached to the planning application highlighted the pub’s plight in recent years:

“Local interest in using the pub has dwindled and was patronised by only a handful of regular customers. Takings were only sufficient to sustain Mrs Briggs and keep the doors open.”

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The Crown Inn pub in Great Ouseburn

Meanwhile, the council has also approved a plan to turn The Crown Inn pub in Great Ouseburn into a five-bedroom home.

The pub won the Yorkshire Pub of the Year title in 2011 but has been vacant for several years, closing in June 2016.

Despite new developments and growing populations, village pubs have found it difficult to survive. Numerous establishments in the Harrogate district have been affected.

The Lamb and Flag pub in Burton Leonard could now be turned into commercial or retail space. Plans were also submitted to convert the Half Moon in Sharow into a new home.

Council seeks UK engineers to fix Knaresborough Pool issues

Harrogate Borough Council has said it is looking to find UK-based engineers to help fix ongoing maintenance problems at Knaresborough Swimming Pool.

The council announced last month that its manufacturer, based in Spain, was unable to send engineers over to fix the pool equipment because lockdown rules prevent them from travelling.

Council bosses said the pool has an “ongoing problem” with its filtration system, which is nearly 30 years old, and requires specialist engineers to attend to it.

It means the facility is expected to be closed for the coming months, but others in the district – such as the Hydro in Harrogate – will reopen on April 12.

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Having faced some criticism on social media, the authority has said it is working with its contractor to find a “UK-based solution” to fix the problem.

A council spokeswoman said:

“There is an ongoing issue with the main filtration system at Knaresborough Swimming Pool that is nearing 30-years-old.

“Due to the specialist nature of the equipment required and complexity of the work involved, only a single bid received through the tender process met this requirement.

“The contractor appointed specialist engineers from Spain – who have experience of fixing aging swimming pools – to carry out this work. Which, due to the travel restrictions, has meant they are currently unable to do so.

“We are having on-going conversations with the contractor to see if we can find a UK-based solution, but at the moment there is no alternative.

“We understand residents’ frustrations and are equally as disappointed that the pool cannot open in the coming weeks.

“As soon as we have an update we will let our customers know.”

It comes as Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats called for “greater transparency” over its closure after the council announced it would not be open in April.

Local party campaigner, Matt Walker, wrote to Cllr Stan Lumley, cabinet member for leisure, calling for the pool to reopen as soon as possible.

Knaresborough pool is due to be demolished and replaced by a new leisure facility on the same location.

Northern Energy submits plans to move from Hampsthwaite

Northern Energy has submitted plans to relocate its headquarters from Hampsthwaite to near Marton-cum-Grafton.

The company, which has an annual turnover of £27 million, has been based at its Hampsthwaite headquarters for over half a century.

It supplies more than 50 million litres of oil and liquid petroleum gas across the UK each year.

However, planning documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council say the business has outgrown its current site:

“Such is the success of the business, the company have now outgrown their current premises on the edge of Hampsthwaite.

“Indeed, the location of the facility, some distance from the local highway network, and the absence of oil and fuel storage capacity on site is now beginning to hinder the business.”

The company wants to build its new headquarters on Limebar Lane, one kilometre from the village of Marton-cum-Grafton.

The plans include 10,000 square feet of office space, a vehicle depot, LPG and oil storage tanks and a new car park.

The site would accommodate 30 office staff and 20 operations staff.

Established in 1932 by Ralph Robinson, the grandfather of current chairman, Howard Illingworth, the company originally began collecting milk from farmers and supplying coal to local people.

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Obituary: Geoff Webber’s life was dedicated to helping others

A long-serving councillor and community champion, Geoff Webber has died at the age of 75 after a short illness.

Tributes have come from across the political spectrum, as well as the community groups he worked with and supported over the years.

His family described him as a “loving husband, father and grandfather” who was dedicated to helping others.

Born in 1945, Cllr Webber had a 32-year career in the RAF before moving to Harrogate with his wife, Pat, and their three sons, Samuel, Simon and Matthew.

He spent the final years of his service at the St George’s base in the town, including a four-month tour of the Falkland Islands, followed by a spell as a civil servant back in Harrogate. Having left school with few qualifications, he gained a degree in the late 1980s through the Open University.

When St George’s was closed in 1994, Cllr Webber decided to open a music shop specialising in classical and jazz. Pomp and Circumstance began its life in Wetherby before moving to Commercial Street in the centre of Harrogate.

Cllr Webber became heavily involved in his community in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when plans were being put forward to build a supermarket around the Jennyfield area. He helped to establish a community group and fought the plans for the junction of Jenny Field Drive with Ripon Road, which instead became the site of the Hydro swimming pool with open green space for locals to enjoy.

Matthew said his desire to help people drove him to get involved in local politics, as well as community issues.

Supporting homeless people

One of his passions was access to affordable and social housing, so it was natural that he became a volunteer and supporter of Harrogate Homeless Project.

Its chairman, John Harris, told the Stray Ferret:

“It is so sad to hear of the death of Geoff: he was a great supporter of Harrogate Homeless Project. As well as being a trustee he was deputy chair and chair as well – and importantly he was a volunteer with Pat, preparing meals at the day centre each week for years.

“The day centre was a priority for him as HHP needed to focus on fundraising for it and it is the key place for the trust to be established, leading to encouraging homeless individuals to a life off the streets. As a member of the Wesley Chapel he was thrilled when HHP were able to transfer to the Lower Hall which will be transformational for what HHP can provide in the future, post Covid.

“We are so grateful to Geoff for his wonderful commitment over very many years to the homeless – and this included personal help. It was unstinting and committed support from someone who was determined to help others in desperate need.

“Our condolences to Pat and his family.”

Geoff Webber, pictured far left on the middle row, was a keen supporter of Bilton and Woodfield Library. Greta Knight received an award on behalf of the library from NYCC chairman Jim Clark last year.

Bilton and Woodfield Community Library also received extensive support from Cllr Webber over the years. Chairman Greta Knight said:

“Geoff Webber was a staunch supporter of Bilton & Woodfield Community Library from the very beginning, in fact it was he who identified our current premises on Woodfield Road as a suitable home for us when we moved out of the old vicarage.

“He always attended any events that we held, and along with his wife Pat was a regular at our Saturday coffee mornings. He voiced any concerns we had with NYCC on our behalf and was always prepared to help us whenever he could.

“We will miss his support and enthusiasm for what we have achieved in the library.”

Cllr Webber supported the Richard Taylor Foundation, which helps families struggling to meet the costs of education, including school trips and uniforms. He was also a governor at Woodfield Community Primary School, which paid tribute to him:

“We were incredibly saddened to hear of Geoff’s passing; he served our school as a Governor for a number of years and will be truly missed in the community. Our thoughts are with his family.”

Local politics

Cllr Webber was first elected to North Yorkshire County Council in 1993, representing the Bilton and Nidd Gorge division for the next eight years. He was re-elected in 2009 for four years, after which he said he would not stand again – but he was re-elected in 2017.

Tributes have already been paid by Cllr Webber’s colleagues at NYCC, who praised his dedication to the role and his willingness to engage in productive debate.

Cllr Webber also sat on Harrogate Borough Council for 17 years, first representing the Duchy ward from 1994 to 2002 and then the Saltergate ward from 2002 to 2011.

During that time, he was Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate for a year in 2006. He also served as council leader and chaired the planning committee.

Royal Hall

It was a time of significant change for the district in many ways, and one of his proudest achievements was helping to save the Royal Hall.

By 2000, the building had fallen into disrepair and faced being mothballed because of the huge repair bill for major structural problems. However, Cllr Webber called for a meeting of the council to find a way forward.

As a result, £8m of funding was found from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Harrogate Borough Council to save the building, along with a massive community effort to raise £2.7m. The Royal Hall was reopened in 2008 and returned to active use.

Cllr Webber was made an honorary alderman of Harrogate in 2011, in recognition of his long service. A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“It is with great sadness to hear that Honorary Alderman Webber has passed away. Our thoughts and condolences go his family and friends.”

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Cllr Webber was still active in local politics until the beginning of this year. He spoke passionately about devolution at a meeting of NYCC in November, and put forward the motion that led to the council writing to local hospital bosses to call for free parking for NHS staff.

After being diagnosed with cancer six weeks ago, Cllr Webber spent time on the Littondale Ward at Harrogate District Hospital before moving to St Michael’s Hospice, where he died on Thursday morning.

His family said they were grateful to all those who provided outstanding care for him in his final weeks, and that they were able to be with him throughout his illness at both the hospital and the hospice.

He leaves wife Pat and sons Simon and Matthew, who still live locally, and Samuel, who lives in Florida, along with four grandchildren to whom he was devoted. Matthew said:

“He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. For me, he was also a wise counsel in my role in local politics, for advice and support.”

A small family funeral will be held in line with covid restrictions, and led by Lord Willis, according to Cllr Webber’s wishes. Later in the year, the family hope to be able to hold a more formal service at the Wesley Chapel to celebrate his life.

Grants awarded to 10 Harrogate district charities

Ten charities will receive a share of almost £40,000 in grant funding thanks to The Local Fund for the Harrogate district.

The money will help with essential running costs and specified projects, helping them to continue supporting local people despite the pandemic.

Among those to have benefitted is Masham Town Hall Community Charity, which received £3,852 to pay running costs for six months while it is unable to open. Its administrator, Nick Reed, said:

“This grant is vital as it helps us to stay in touch with user groups and hirers as we prepare to reopen. The Local Fund is a wonderful resource as it understands that these costs, while not glamorous, are essential to the running of a small local charity.”

Also benefitting was Badapple Theatre Company, based in Green Hammerton, which received £2,980 to resume live performances when restrictions allow. Artistic director Kate Bramley said:

“We are incredibly grateful for this vital support which contributes to our business overheads and crucially keeps our Youth Theatre services for young people open while we work to rebuild our community events network.”

Other grants included £5,000 each given to St Mark’s Church to fund Harrogate Food Bank, Samaritans of Harrogate and District for running costs, and to the Wesley Centre to employ an administrator. Harrogate Bowling Club and Harrogate Hospital Radio each received £2,500 towards their costs during the pandemic.

Harrogate and Knaresborough Toy Library received £3,525 to fund lending sessions and stay and play events while capacity is limited, while Chain Lane Community Centre has been given £2,885 to meet health and safety requirements.

Having seen a 350% rise in demand for its services during the pandemic, Peer Support at New Beginnings has been given £4,680 to increase staff hours.

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The Local Fund for the Harrogate District is supported by a partnership of Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate and District Community Action and the Two Ridings Community Foundation. It aims to support community groups and charities which are meeting the needs of local people.

Money for the grants has come from the Harry Bolland Fund, The Local Lotto and other sources, along with £30,000 from Harrogate Borough Council. Cllr Sam Gibbs, who chairs the authority’s voluntary and community sector liaison group as well as sitting on the Local Fund grants panel, said:

“The Local Fund provides continuous support for our local voluntary and community sector organisations and charities across the Harrogate district and the residents they support.

“It has been an incredibly tough year for them. And now, more than ever, it is critical these charities receive vital funds to ensure they can exist in the future when life returns to normal.”

The Local Fund will open in May for applications from local groups looking to restart activities and services as lockdown restrictions are eased. For more information, click here.

‘A costly PR stunt’: calls for an inquiry into Harrogate Nightingale

A senior politician from Ripon has described the Harrogate Nightingale as a “costly PR stunt”, amid calls for an inquiry.

Lord Newby’s criticism comes after NHS England said this week the hospital, which cost £27 million to set up, would be decommissioned at the end of the month.

It has not treated a single covid patient, prompting calls for an inquiry.

Lord Newby, the Liberal Democrat leader in the House of Lords, who lives in Ripon, said:

“The Nightingales were a costly PR stunt.

“They could never be used as planned because there was never the staffing for them. They were introduced because the government was desperate to be seen to be responding effectively to the pandemic, which at the time looked to be potentially out of control.

“The Harrogate Nightingale should have been closed months ago, in order to avoid the high cost of maintenance and so that Harrogate could begin to plan for its reopening.”

Jim Clark, a Conservative who represents Harrogate Harlow on Harrogate Borough Council, repeated his

call for an inquiry on BBC Look North yesterday.

He told the programme:

“It wasn’t an insurance policy in Harrogate because we didn’t have the staff to man it and I think it’s then been discovered that as soon as it was built it wasn’t essentially fit for purpose.”

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones and Richard Cooper, leader of the Conservative-controlled Harrogate Borough Council whether they supported calls for an inquiry. Neither replied.

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Asked the same question on Look North, Cllr Cooper said the location of the Nightingale Hospitals was likely to be considered as part of a wider covid inquiry. He added:

“But we’ve been pleased to host the Nightingale and to host the thousands of diagnostic tests that have been carried out there.”

Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council, supported calls for an inquiry, adding:

“Over a decade of Conservative cuts has led to an NHS operating on a shoestring. Whether there was ever the staff to run such a Nightingale hospital, should it have been toward full capacity, needs to be made clear.”

Margaret Smith, chair of Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party, said the Nightingales were “a legitimate insurance policy” in the early days of covid when it seemed hospitals could be overwhelmed. She added:

“There seems little point in wasting any more public money on an inquiry at this stage.”

 

Harrogate Theatre to replace 120-year-old roof

Harrogate Theatre is set to undergo a major £1 million refurbishment, which will include replacing the original 120-year-old roof.

The windows and guttering will also be repaired to ensure the building is fit for many years to come.

Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet will discuss fully funding the £1 million project at the end of the month.

The council has already carried out fire safety works at the building over the last year.

The theatre hopes that, if agreed, work can start as early as May, which would coincide with a new season of performances.

The theatre plans to host shows across the district this summer. Performances will be staged in different venues and community spaces.

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The performances will be part of the theatre’s aptly-named Raise the Roof season. Our Gate, a large community project that will be at the heart of the season, will explore Harrogate’s connection to water.

The theatre has also confirmed the return of Emergence Dance for a one-off digital stream. Harrogate Comedy Festival will also return but will be held in community spaces.

The community spaces could include the Royal Hall, Harrogate Convention Centre and other places across the district.

Harrogate-Theatre

Harrogate Theatre

David Bown, chief executive of the theatre, said:

“We are extremely excited to be reconnecting with our audiences out in the community whilst the theatre is being much improved and made safer for our return.

“We’re working closely with Harrogate Borough Council to minimise disruption and relocate events where possible.

“We look forward to hosting live events back at the theatre as soon as we can.”

Stanley Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport at Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“All buildings need maintenance, and the theatre is no exception. We are planning to invest over £1million this year to allow these fantastic performances to continue.

“These are significant works to any building, especially one that is a triangle shape, a listed building and on a hill.

“Working with the theatre, we’re aiming to get most of the works undertaken when the theatre would be closed over the summer.”

Dutch firm awarded £1.1m design contract for Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Borough Council has awarded a £1.1m contract to Dutch firm Arcadis to design the first phase of the £47 million redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre.

The firm was appointed following a procurement process using YORconsult2, which helps local authorities find consultants.

Arcadis employs 28,000 people in 70 countries, including the UK.

The council has been criticised previously for not working with local firms, including when it appointed Ipswich firm Jacob Bailey last year to redevelop its tourism website Visit Harrogate without a competitive tender process.

A council spokesman said:

“Arcadis will also work with a number of highly skilled, local and regional architects, engineers and specialists.”

The convention centre, which is due to return to council control next month after operating as a Nightingale hospital for a year, usually attracts 157,000 visitors a year. The council estimates its annual economic impact to be £35m.

But although the venue brings significant income to the district, the building itself makes a loss and requires a subsidy.

According to council documents, the building is now in ‘critical need of investment’.

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The council has estimated that doing nothing would cost at least £19m in long-term maintenance.

It has therefore agreed to a £46.8m redevelopment delivered in two phases.

Arcadis will provide the design development and detailed feasibility of phase one, including an options appraisal into the district heating system. The council will then decide whether to proceed to phase two.

The council has also agreed to appoint a project manager for three years at a cost of £155,000, funded by borrowing.

Huge increase in Harrogate district allotment applications

Applications for allotments in the Harrogate district have gone up massively since 2018.

The increase is being attributed to lockdown tempting people with the promise of clear air and fresh vegetables grown from a patch of ground they can call their own.

Harrogate Borough Council owns and manages allotments at Claro Road and Pearl Street in Harrogate and Ferrensby in Knaresborough. The remaining 23 allotments in the district are run by parish councils or managed privately.

In 2018, Harrogate Borough Council received 12 requests for allotments at its Claro Road site, which is one of the biggest allotments in the district with 56 plots.

In 2020 there were 103 applications, an increase of over 750%.

The other two council-run sites saw a similar surge of interest. Pearl Street went from two applications in 2018 to 27 in 2020. Ferrensby saw an increase of six to 37 over the same period.

The council warns on its website that applicants could wait for up to five years, depending on which site they apply for.

Caroline Linford, who runs the website Sustainably Harrogate, has been on the waiting list for an allotment in Harrogate for two years. She would like her own plot so she can re-use food waste from her family’s dinner table.

“I love the idea of creating our own circular system where our food waste turns into nutritious compost that helps our vegetables grow. I intend to garden organically too so will avoid pesticides to help with local biodiversity.”

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The six allotments in Ripon are owned by Ripon City Council and leased to the Ripon Allotments Society.

Malcolm Hutchinson from the Ripon Allotments Society said there are now 76 people on the waiting list for a plot in Ripon, a significant increase over previous years.

He’s had an allotment since the 1970s and says they have become popular for people with more time on their hands due to lockdown.

He said:

“A lot of people are wanting to have a go at it. For most people, it’s something to do where they can potter away at their own pace.”