harrogate borough council Archives - Page 72 of 159

Plan for 68 retirement flats in Knaresborough recommended for approval

Plans for 68 retirement flats in Knaresborough have been recommended for approval, despite objections from residents and the town council.

Adlington Retirement Living, part of the Gladman group, wants to build the flats with additional care facilities on land adjacent to the single-track Grimbald Bridge on Wetherby Road, alongside the River Nidd.

The scheme was initially refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in February 2021 over concerns that the development was “overpowering” and intrusive.

However, a fresh application by Adlington has now been recommended by council officers to be given the go-ahead.

The developer has made changes to the original plans, including removing four apartments from the top of the building to reduce its height and adding 10 electric vehicle car parking spaces. The housing mix will be changed to regain the lost apartments.

It said the need to provide this type of accommodation for older people in the area was “critical” due to an ageing population.

Despite the revised proposal, the plan has still been met by objections.

In a letter to the council, Knaresborough Town Council said:

“Knaresborough Town Council strongly objects to this latest application. This new development is still over intensive with poor access.

“The 68 proposed dwellings constitute an over-intensive development of the site due to design, height and massing.”

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee will make a decision on the plan on Tuesday next week.

Harrogate tourism body makes health and wellbeing top priority

Harrogate Borough Council’s tourism organisation has identified health and wellbeing, events and responsible tourism as its priorities over the next three years.

The council set up Destination Harrogate last year as its new ‘destination management organisation’ to showcase the Harrogate district and to grow the visitor economy and attract inward investment.

Destination Harrogate has now unveiled its three-year plan to “position the Harrogate district as a first choice destination for tourism, large-scale events and investment”.

The plan was approved by senior councillors at a cabinet meeting yesterday.

According to a council press release, the visitor economy makes up 14.3 per cent of the economy in Harrogate district.

The plan cites health and wellbeing as its top priority. It says it wants to “position the Harrogate district as a first choice health and wellbeing destination”.

Its second priority is to “position Harrogate district as a first-choice events destination by attracting, hosting and delivering exceptional events”.

The council press release said:

“A year-round festival, conference and events programme will ensure a lift in the visitor economy and enable sustainable growth.”

Responsible tourism is the third priority. The press release says:

“As we become more conscious of and conscientious about green travel and sustainable tourism, the DMO will work with partners to develop a responsible tourism strategy in order to be recognised as a destination for responsible tourism by 2030.

“In doing so, the DMO intends to minimise the negative environmental and social impacts of tourism, and enhance the economic and cultural benefits for visitors, businesses, and residents.”

Worth £600m to economy

Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of the council, said:

“The visitor economy plays a huge role locally, underpinning 8,000 jobs and bringing £600 million in to our economy. Without it our district would be a very different place with fewer shops, businesses and job opportunities. That is why it is important that we seek to grow the visitor economy.

“This plan is the culmination of a number of interviews and surveys provided by people and businesses that have a direct input into the success of our visitor economy and who have shared their ideas and suggestions to take us forward.”

Gemma Rio, head of Destination Harrogate, said:

“To attract business and investment, a destination must be distinctive, attractive and well managed and we have developed this destination management plan to set out the vision, priorities and actions, we – as a destination – need to put in place to meet that vision.

“Key stakeholders from visitor attractions and restaurants, independent hotels, conference venues and event organisers from across the district have contributed towards the shared goals of our ambitious plan to achieve the long-term vision of a visitor economy worth around £835 million per annum by 2030.”

Plans for pet crematorium in Harrogate set for approval

Plans to build a pet crematorium at Stonefall Cemetery in Harrogate look set to be approved.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee will make a decision on the council’s own application next Tuesday. It has been recommended for approval in a council report.

It follows the lead of councils in north east Lincolnshire and Barnsley, which have already opened or started work on pet crematoriums.

The council currently charges £36 to collect dead pets from people’s homes. The closest pet crematoriums are in Leeds, Thirsk and Skipton.

The crematorium at Harrogate would be built inside a converted shipping container.

The plans also include converting a storage building at Stonefall into a “goodbye room”, where owners can say their final farewells to their pets before they are cremated.

Victoria Shopping Centre value falls by more than 80% in 10 years

When Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre opened in place of the old Market Hall in 1992 it came at a time of hustle and bustle on the high street.

Two decades later, things are now very different with the rapid emergence of online shopping and the covid pandemic dramatically changing people’s shopping habits for good.

This changing state of the high street has been highlighted by new figures which show the shopping centre is worth less than 20% of what it was valued at a decade ago.

The figures from Harrogate Borough Council – which owns but does not run the shopping centre at Station Square – show its estimated value has fallen from £4.8 million in 2011 to just £925,000 last year.

And the latest evaluation is an even bigger drop from when the building lease was bought by developers for £23 million in 1998 ahead of a revamp of the building, which was initially inspired by the famous Palladian Basilica in Italy.

The council has this week confirmed it has no plans to sell the shopping centre and also said it believes the building will play a key role on the high street for years to come – especially with the £11 million Station Gateway project, which will get underway this year. It is part of the wider Transforming Cities Fund project.

A council spokesperson said:

“Like all high streets up and down the country, the demand for and value of some commercial properties has declined over the last few years.

“There are numerous reasons for this, not least the increase in online sales as well as the introduction of out-of-town retail parks and the global pandemic over the last two years.

“We aspire to continue this drive in footfall by working with colleagues at North Yorkshire County Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to deliver the £11 million Transforming Cities Fund project.

“This project, which has been supported by government funding, will begin later this year to improve sustainable travel options and provide a better town centre environment to help support the local economy.”

The council also said its new destination management plan – which was approved yesterday and aims to boost the value of the district’s visitor economy from £600 million to £835 million by 2030 – will also help drive footfall on the high street.

It said the plan will “position the Harrogate district as a first choice destination for tourism, large-scale events and investment.”

The council added:

“The visitor economy makes up 14.3% of the economy in Harrogate district and tourism plays a significant role in helping to ensure this continues.”

In numbers: how the Victoria Shopping Centre’s value has declined

2020/21 – £925,000
2019/20 – £2,200,000
2018/19 – £3,500,000
2017/18 – £3,950,000
2016/17 – £4,100,000
2015/16 – £4,100,000
2014/15 – £4,125,000
2013/14 – £4,070,000
2012/13 – £4,150,000
2011/12 – £4,800,000

The company that runs the Victoria Shopping Centre declined to comment.

Harrogate hospitality group accuses Stray Ferret of ‘misleading’ information

Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Association Ltd has accused the Stray Ferret of publishing “misleading press reports” in an article about a £3,720 payment for the purchase of the domain name Destination Harrogate.

Yesterday The Stray Ferret published an article about Harrogate Borough Council spending taxpayers’ money to buy the domain name from Destination Harrogate as part of our remit to scrutinise the use of public money.

The association said in a subsequent statement that Harrogate hoteliers Simon Cotton and David Ritson, who are directors of Destination Harrogate Ltd, did not own the domain name and “it was not theirs to sell” because the decision was taken jointly by members.

Mr Cotton is managing director of the HRH Group, which owns the Fat Badger, the Yorkshire Hotel and the White Hart hotel. Mr Ritson is general manager of the Old Swan hotel.

It adds:

“In 2019, HBC approached HHTA and investigated the opportunity to purchase the rites to the brand name and website. All members met and took a formal vote on the matter and agreed to sell the rites to HBC for a nominal sum. At no point did either Mr Ritson nor Mr Cotton have any greater involvement in this matter more than any other association member. It was agreed that Destination Harrogate as a company would be wound up and a newly formed company under the name ‘Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Association Ltd’ was registered. All assets were transferred to the new company”

The statement continues:

“In setting up the new company HHTA, Mr Cotton stood down as a director and therefore has no direct involvement in this company other than being a member of the association.

“HHTA would like to clarify that they were happy to work with HBC to transfer the domain name and that the transaction was between the HHTA and HBC only, and not anyone personally.”

The Stray Ferret has sought clarification on the statement.

Public records from the council show payment for the domain was made to Destination Harrogate Ltd, not HHTA Ltd.

Companies House records show Destination Harrogate Ltd is still an active company. A notice for voluntary strike-off was issued on January 4 this year. Mr Cotton and Mr Ritson have been listed as sole directors since late November 2019.

Companies House records for HHTA Ltd show the company has been dormant since 2020 with no activity.

In the light of this we asked for evidence of the assets, including the payment for the domain name, being transferred from Destination Harrogate Ltd to HHTA Ltd, as we have been unable to find any record.

We also sought clarification on how the domain name was not Mr Cotton or Mr Ritson’s to sell as they are listed as company directors, and requested further details about the links between Destination Harrogate Ltd, HHTA and HHTA Ltd.

The association, which lists the Crown Hotel in Harrogate as its address, replied to say it “will be making no further comment or response”.

The Stray Ferret contacted Mr Cotton prior to publishing yesterday’s article asking him if he wished to comment on the payment. We have not received a response.

15,000 Harrogate district households could miss out on council tax rebate

Around 15,000 Harrogate district households could miss out on a £150 council tax rebate because they do not have a direct debit set up with the borough council.

The government announced the support last month to help ease the impact of huge rises in gas and electricity costs.

The payment will be made in April directly into the bank accounts of households with council tax bandings of A – D, but only if they have a direct debit set up with the council.

Anyone paying by any other means will need to make a claim or risk missing out on the £150.

Harrogate Borough Council has this week confirmed it is reaching out to around 15,000 households in this situation to urge them to sign up.

A council spokesperson said:

“We’re still going through the government guidance for the scheme but we can ensure we’ll do everything we can and make every effort to ensure all eligible residents receive the rebate.

“The easiest way to ensure residents will receive this rebate is by signing up to pay their council tax by direct debit as it will be paid automatically.

“If you do not pay your council tax by direct debit you will be contacted by email or letter in due course so that this information can be provided.

“Please note, we will not contact you by telephone for this information.”

Some concerns have been raised about the way the payments will be distributed, with Harrogate’s Liberal Democrats describing the approach as “complicated” and “divisive”.

Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the opposition party on Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“Surely the best way to do it is just to reduce everyone’s council tax bill by £150 at source.

“The bills have not gone out yet, so there is time to do it.”

Cllr Marsh also echoed calls for a one-off windfall tax on big profit oil and gas companies to “raise money to support millions of families facing soaring energy costs”.

This comes after figures from the Liberal Democrats showed Harrogate residents will be among the hardest hit by the energy crisis, with households in the district paying around £796 more this year.

Cllr Marsh said:

“For years the Conservatives have ignored this problem and failed to take the bold action we need to reduce fuel poverty.

“Boris Johnson cannot look the other way any longer while families face an impossible choice between heating and eating.”

The government has argued that a one-off tax like this would put jobs and investments at risk – something Harrogate MP Andrew Jones previously said would be “very dangerous” and a “potentially hugely damaging blow to British industry.”

As well as the £150 council tax rebate, the government has also announced a £200 discount on energy bills for all domestic electricity customers from October, with the government meeting the costs.

However, unlike the council tax rebate, this discount will be automatically recovered from people’s bills in equal £40 instalments over a five year period from 2023, when it is hoped global wholesale gas prices will have come down.

For more information on the council tax rebate go to www.harrogate.gov.uk/council-tax.

Ripon’s long-awaited new pool opens its doors

Ripon’s new swimming pool and partly-refurbished leisure centre, officially opened its doors early this morning.

The reaction of the first swimmers through the door at 6.30 was unanimously positive.

Comments included, ‘superb’ ‘fabulous’ ‘absolutely great’ and ‘It’s really exciting.’

Named in honour of a history-making Olympic diving champion and local hero, who learnt to swim in Ripon’s Spa Baths at the age of 3, the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre is designed to be a facility fit for the 21st century.

Jack Laugher MBE , is on the sign that greets swimmers and gym users when they enter the centre

The pool contains almost half a million litres of water

The centre, along with other swimming and leisure facilities across the district, is being operated on behalf of the council by Brimhams Active.

The people of Ripon have been waiting for this day – the project to build the pool ran nine months behind schedule and cost approximately £5 million more than its original £10.2 million budget.

The Changing Places toilet at the new Ripon pool

The charges for members of the public to use the new pool, have not increased from the entry fees charged at Spa Baths.

A swimming session for an adult costs £5.10 with children aged 3 to 16 paying £2.70 and complimentary entry for children under 3. The adult concession rate also remains at £3.70.

Centre operations manager Ben Cutting, was on duty with his Brimhams Active team to welcome the early-bird swimmers

Containing almost half a million litres of water, the six-lane pool can accommodate 108 swimmers at a time and leading-edge AngelEye technology has been installed as an added safety measure, should anybody get into difficulty during a swim.

Accessibility features are an integral part of the design, from the inclusion of wider doors, steps for entry at the shallow end of the pool and the provision of Changing Places toilets in both the pool and at the leisure centre.

Sophisticated equipment in the gym room The gym area

The ground floor of the centre remains closed, awaiting the remediation measures required before the whole of the building can be used, but the upper floor is equipped with an array of top-of-the-range health and fitness equipment – from treadmills to cycling machines that can link into digital media.

There is also a sauna room that can be used by swimmers and gym goers and outside, the well-equipped Dallamires Children’s Play area, which opened on Monday, is already proving popular.

Harrogate council leader cancels Russian State Ballet and Opera performance

The leader of Harrogate Borough Council has cancelled a Russian State Ballet and Opera performance in the town following the invasion of Ukraine.

Conservative councillor Richard Cooper announced at a cabinet meeting tonight that the event due to be held at the council-owned Harrogate Convention Centre in October will not go ahead as a result of the “terrible” war.

He said:

“Although the company is registered and addressed in England, until we can verify that the ownership is not Russian, that ban remains in place.”

Performers from Russian State Opera appeared at the Royal Hall in Harrogate last week just before Russia invaded Ukraine and the onset of arts boycotts and economic sanctions that followed.

Several theatres across the UK have banned similar Russian performances, including at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, the Royal and Derngate Theatre in Northampton, and New Theatre Peterborough.

At tonight’s cabinet meeting, Cllr Cooper described the war in Ukraine as “terrible” and said the Harrogate district stood ready to welcome refugees fleeing the country.

He said he was contacted by Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones and asked to look at what housing could be offered if the district is called upon to do its part.

Councillor Cooper said:

“Mr Jones has written to the Prime Minister and held discussions with him about increasing the United Kingdom’s offer to Ukrainian refugees.

“He has asked that we look at our housing stock and those of housing associations with whom we partner to ensure we are able to play our part in accommodating Ukrainian refugees if and when we are asked to do so.

“As we did with Syrian and Afghan refugees, we stand ready to do whatever is asked of us – and more – to welcome Ukrainians fleeing this terrible war.”

Councillor Cooper also sought to offer reassurances that the council does not have any direct involvement or investments with any Russian companies. He added:

“I can reassure members that Harrogate Borough Council has no cash on loan to Russian banks, our property funds are only invested in the United Kingdom and we have no share capital invested in Russian companies.

“We also do not purchase any services directly from Russian companies.”

Developer submits 181-home Kingsley Drive plan

A developer has lodged revised plans for 181 homes on Kingsley Drive after previous a previous proposal was rejected.

Persimmon Homes has lodged the fresh plan after Harrogate Borough Council rejected a development for 217 homes on the site back in August.

It is the third time that the developer has submitted a proposal at the location, which used to form part of Kingsley Farm.

The Kingsley ward area will eventually see more than 600 homes built, including developments at Granby Farm and 149 homes on Kingsley Road.

The new application would see a mixture of one, two, three and four bedroom properties built.

Persimmon have also allocated 72 homes on the site for affordable housing.

The developer said in its documents submitted to the council that the scheme would help to “create a sustainable and mixed community”.

Residents will ‘fight tooth and nail’ to stop development

Last month, 100 residents packed into St Andrew’s Church in Starbeck for a meeting on the proposed scheme.

Three Persimmon employees attended, as did two highways consultants and a planning consultant, Paul Butler, who spoke on behalf of the developer.

(Left to right) Paul Butler (PB Planning), Graham Whiteford (Persimmon), Josh Popely (Persimmon), Cllr Philip Broadbank, Catherine Maguire (KWAG) and Chris Watt (Starbeck Residents’ Association)

Mr Butler told residents that the site is allocated for development in the Harrogate district Local Plan, a council document that outlines where new housing schemes can be built until 2034.

However, John Hansard, from Kingsley Ward Action Group, said residents “will fight tooth and nail” to stop it from happening.

He said:

“People lived here for decades and have had this beautiful view, how do you think they will feel [when it’s gone]?”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

Council paid hoteliers £3,720 to use name Destination Harrogate

Harrogate Borough Council paid hoteliers Simon Cotton and David Ritson £3,720 for permission to use the name Destination Harrogate for its new tourism body, the Stray Ferret can reveal.

Destination Harrogate is the council’s destination management organisation, which promotes the district to tourists.

The council decided to replace its old Visit Harrogate name last year and give the organisation, which is headed up by Gemma Rio, a facelift for 2022.

However, the name Destination Harrogate had already been used by Mr Cotton and Mr Ritson since 2011 for the organisation behind the Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Association awards.

Mr Cotton is the managing director of the HRH Group, which owns the Fat Badger, the Yorkshire Hotel and the White Hart hotel. Mr Ritson is the general manager of the Old Swan hotel.

Questions for council

According to the council’s openly available list of expenditures over £250, it paid Destination Harrogate Ltd £3,720 in September 2021.

The council has confirmed to the Stray Ferret that this money was used for the rights to the name Destination Harrogate.

The transaction raises questions about why the council felt this name was worth the money, and why it didn’t come up with a different name that wasn’t already in use, saving the taxpayer thousands of pounds.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said other names were considered but “none reflected the purpose of the organisation as well as Destination Harrogate”.

They added:

“Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Association Limited was paid the sum of £3,750 to transfer ownership and control of the business name and the domain name of Destination Harrogate to Harrogate Borough Council, which included the costs for winding up the company known as Destination Harrogate Limited.

“Destination Harrogate was selected as the most appropriate name for Harrogate district’s destination management organisation as it reflects the ambition of the organisation to showcase the district as an exceptional destination to visit, meet and invest. Other names were considered but none reflected the purpose of the organisation as well as Destination Harrogate.”

Typical sum

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate-based intellectual property solicitor Andrew Clay for his opinion on the deal.

Mr Clay described the sum paid by the council as typical, although he wondered whether it chose the name before realising it was already in use.

He added:

“What is perhaps a little surprising is that before they adopted the brand Destination Harrogate that Harrogate Borough Council didn’t carry out a Google or Companies House search on the words Destination Harrogate. Either search would have revealed the existence of Simon Cotton’s company.

“Had they done that they could have chosen another equally appropriate available name and saved the tax payer several thousand pounds.”

We have published a subsequent article, which you can read here, after HHTA Ltd published a statement.

Read more:

Read more:

Worth £600m to economy

Read more:

Read more:

In numbers: how the Victoria Shopping Centre’s value has declined

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Read more:

Residents will ‘fight tooth and nail’ to stop development

Questions for council

Read more:

Typical sum