Major refurbishment of Harrogate Hydro set for approval

A major refurbishment of Harrogate’s Hydro swimming pool looks set to be approved.

Harrogate Borough Council officers have recommended that a plan to build a two-storey extension onto the ageing facility is given the go-ahead.

The Hydro was first opened in 1999 and replaced the old Coppice Valley pool.

The proposals were lodged by the authority and are due to go before a council planning committee next week.

The council is proposing to demolish the current ‘drum’ entrance and replace it with a larger structure that includes a bigger café and reception area on the ground floor and a new 400 square metres fitness suite on the first floor.

As part of its plans to overhaul leisure services, which were approved in June 2020, the council outlined a £13.5 million project to refurbish The Hydro.

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The proposal is backed by Sport England, which said an “improved and modern” facility would benefit the town.

It said:

“An improved and modern leisure facility in this sustainable location delivers a series of benefits, including increasing the opportunity for physical activity, increasing membership and usage and encouraging better interaction with the facilities and services on offer”.

Councillors on the borough council’s planning committee will make a decision on the refurbishment at a meeting on January 6.

Further projects at The Hydro

The move to refurbish The Hydro comes as other work is being done to upgrade the building.

In July, the council confirmed it is to buy a new diving platform to replace the damaged one that has kept divers out of the pool for eight months.

Meanwhile, the council has also given approval for 420 solar panels to be installed on the roof of the pool as part of a decarbonisation project.

The council successfully bid this year for funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy‘s public sector decarbonisation scheme, which helped to fund the panels.

A total of £1.8 million will be spent at The Hydro to install the solar panels, as well as replace gas boilers with air source heat pumps and put in place new energy monitoring and control systems.

The Hydro is now run by Brimhams Active, a new arm’s length leisure company set up by the council this year. It has taken over the running of 12 leisure facilities in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Pateley Bridge.

Harrogate mum finds disabled toilets in ‘disgusting state’

A Harrogate mum wants to warn others after her disabled son found litter and used needles on the floor of a locked disabled toilet in the town centre.

Pictures from Christmas Eve sent into the Stray Ferret show around six needles with some half-eaten chips on the floor in the disabled toilets at the Jubilee Car Park.

The mum who sent in the pictures would not like to be named but said her 21-year-old son with
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) was shocked to discover the state of the toilets.

Disabled toilets like the one in the car park are only accessible to those with a RADAR Key. However, it’s easy to purchase such a key online without any verification.

The Stray Ferret sent in pictures of the toilets to Harrogate Borough Council, which runs the toilet. We did not receive a response by the time of publication.

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The mother, who also sent in a complaint to the council, told the Stray Ferret:

“I just want to warn other people, my son needed to use the toilet on Christmas Eve but it was in a disgraceful state.

“Public toilets may not have a reputation for being clean but when it’s locked with a key you think it would be in a better state.

“They need to be cleaned more regularly. Harrogate Borough Council should be ashamed. It’s a health and safety hazard.”

Harrogate council reveals drop in car parking income during covid

Harrogate Borough Council has revealed a significant drop in car parking income during the covid pandemic.

Recently published figures show the council made £1,412,579 this past year in Harrogate from off-street parking.

The figure is in stark contrast with the previous 12 months when the authority made £3,284,221

The borough council is responsible for setting charges for off-street parking. Included in the figures are income from pay and display parking and fines.

Council officials said previously that part of its drop in income during the pandemic was due to car parking.

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During the national lockdowns, the nation was instructed to stay at home and retail, leisure and hospitality were all forced to close.

It left fewer people needing to pay to park in the district.

A range of ‘lost revenues’

The loss in car parking income was among a range of areas which contributed to the council’s £10 million shortfall due to covid.

Cllr Graham Swift, cabinet member for resources, told the council during the first lockdown that car parking would be just one area of “lost revenues” for the authority.

He said:

“We are going to be impacted by a variety of lost revenues in car parks, pools and other things that generate money for us.”

The borough council has since benefited from a range of government grants aimed at supporting local authorities with deficits due to the covid pandemic.

Council taxpayers also saw a hike in their bills by £5 last year – something which looks set to happen again in 2022/23.

Why 2022 will be a big year of change for Harrogate’s local government future

The New Year will bring new challenges for key council services and major projects in the Harrogate district.

But 2022 will be a year like no other.

It will mark the beginning of the end for Harrogate Borough Council which will enter its final full year before it is abolished and replaced with a new North Yorkshire-wide authority.

Elections to the new council will take place in May and are set to be one of the most intriguing campaigns yet as political parties fight for control over a drastically reduced number of councillor seats at what will be a crucial time for the future of local government.

Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper said while he would reflect on the end of the authority’s 47-year history with sadness, now was a time for planning ahead for the transition to the new council structure.

He said:

“The transfer of services to a new council is a complex process.

“Thorough planning is needed to ensure a smooth transfer for residents and staff too.

“It isn’t just Harrogate Borough Council combining with North Yorkshire County Council to form a new council; it is six other district councils combining into the new council too.

“So that is eight different ways of doing things – collecting the litter, supporting council housing, running leisure services and so on – combining into one new council on the same day.”

Cllr Cooper, who will stand down as a Conservative after 24 years of service when the new authority is created, added:

“Harrogate Borough Council will cease to exist in April 2023. I am sad about that, and sad that I will stop being a councillor at that time.

“However, how I feel as a councillor isn’t important. Like the vast majority of people reading this I am a local resident so I want the new council to deliver the services upon which I, my neighbours and friends – all of us – rely.

“What is important is making sure that the services the borough council runs are transferred efficiently to the new council and that they are run equally well or better than now.

“I am particularly concerned that our homelessness support services continue being supported.

“The poorest in society should not fall through any cracks in the process.”

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While Harrogate Borough Council’s time may be coming to a close, the authority has shown no signs of slowing up and has a number of major projects either underway or in the pipeline.

These include the £10.9m Gateway project, the new Ripon Swimming Pool, plans for a new Knaresborough Leisure Centre and a potential £47m redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre which councillor Cooper said will be a key economic driver for the district’s future.

The projects will be seen as a lasting legacy for the authority which is also pushing for the creation of a Harrogate Town Council to retain control of some services under local government reorganisation.

This comes as there are still lingering questions over what will happen to several council-owned buildings – not least to mention Harrogate Borough Council’s new Civic Centre headquarters.

Under the next stage of the councils shake-up, a structural change order will be approved by central government and act as the blueprint for reorganisation.

It will drastically cut the number of councillors representing the area, with the future of the Harrogate district set to be made up of around 20 councillors compared with 57 under the current structure.

Although they have yet to be announced, Cllr Cooper said he was confident the Conservatives had a strong selection of candidates to stand in the May election when the party will aim to keep its tight grip on the district.

He said:

“Elections are always challenging and we live in unprecedented political times.  However we have a set of excellent candidates who work hard in their local communities.

“I am confident in the ability and application of our candidates and I hope that, when it comes to polling day, people will vote for those who have a track record of action for residents irrespective of any party political concerns.”

This sense of optimism is one that is shared by Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, who said a loss of trust in central government and election victories elsewhere in the country showed the party is “on the up”.

She said:

“We hope our local residents will think very carefully about what their present Conservative-dominated councils have delivered for them over two decades.

“As the opposition group, we will keep pushing to ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget.

“With the Gateway project we would like a more holistic approach and that this scheme is not just looked at in isolation, but fitting into a wider town centre master plan.”

“A Harrogate Town Council needs to be in place quickly so Harrogate residents have the same local governance as the rest of the district.

“The new town council should have the powers to take control of places such as the Valley Gardens, the Royal Pump House Museum and any other assets that Harrogate residents feel needs local decision-making on, rather than a remote North Yorkshire council.

“We need to ensure our district has a strong voice on the council and that any area committees are balanced to ensure our area, with many residents, has a strong voice.”

Harrogate council proposes 1.99% council tax rise in final ever budget

Taxpayers are set to be hit with another rise in council tax after Harrogate Borough Council revealed plans for a 1.99% rate increase in its final budget before the authority is abolished.

Officials say the rise – which equates to an extra £5 per Band D household per year – is needed in order to balance the books as the council continues to face financial challenges due to pandemic pressures and more than a decade of government cuts.

Paul Foster, head of finance at the council, said in a report that while the authority’s grant allocations had been reduced by £8.2 million since 2010, it had continued to prioritise key services including bin collections and planning.

He said:

“During a period of significant funding reductions, as the government continued to rein in the national deficit, and as other councils across the country faced uncertain futures, Harrogate has continued to maintain its valued frontline services.

“This is a testament to the council’s strong record of financial management before and during the age of austerity.

“In addition to this, the council has been faced with an unprecedented financial detriment as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

“The resultant economic downturn continues to impact on the council’s finances, with commercial property income, planning fee income and the convention centre lettings income, now not forecast to reach pre-pandemic levels until 2023/24.”

Under government rules, 1.99% is the maximum amount the authority can raise council tax by from April without a local referendum.

The proposed increase will be debated at several meetings before a vote from councillors in February. If approved, contributions for the average Band D property will rise to £255.92.

Harrogate Borough Council makes up just under 13% of council tax bills, while North Yorkshire County Council makes up 70% and police and fire services the remainder.

After rises were agreed last year, average bills in the Harrogate district rose above £2,000 for the first time.

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North Yorkshire County Council is currently consulting with the public about its council tax and social care precept levels for next year.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of the county council, said:

“Putting up council tax is never an easy option for this authority. We have always striven to be moderate in our increases.

“In considering the level of council tax, we must understand and balance the hardship families are currently facing and the added pressure a council tax increase may bring with the need to fund essential services to support the most vulnerable in our communities through this critical period.

“We continue to feel that residents in North Yorkshire pay too much council tax, particularly in comparison to London, and urge the government to press on with funding reform to create a fairer solution for rural counties.”

The coming year will be the county council and Harrogate Borough Council’s last before the merger of all North Yorkshire councils into one new authority which will take over control of all services from April 2023.

It will mark the biggest changes to local government in the area for almost 50 years, with elections to the new council set to take place in May 2022.

Cllr Les added:

“We are currently developing our council plan and budget and encourage residents to have their say on our budget, ambitions and priorities.”

To have your say go to the North Yorkshire County Council website here.

Campaigners vow to fight on to save Kirkby Malzeard pub

Campaigners battling to save a historic Harrogate district pub from redevelopment have vowed to fight on despite suffering another significant setback.

The Henry Jenkins Inn at Kirkby Malzeard near Ripon dates back to the 18th century but has been closed for the last decade.

This has been much to the frustration of members of the Henry Jenkins Community Pub group who have raised £237,000 with hopes of running the pub as a community-owned venue.

They have made several attempts to buy the building and reinstate its protected status, all so far without success. Their latest setback came last month when Harrogate Borough Council rejected a third application for an Asset of Community Value (ACV) nomination.

Determined to continue their campaign, pub group chairman Richard Sadler said residents believe the case to reopen the Henry Jenkins is “stronger than ever” and that they are now planning their next move to submit a fourth ACV application.

He said: 

“The pandemic has taught us that community hubs – places where local people can meet up, socialise and make friends or do business – are more important than ever.

“Our legal advisers have scrutinised the official report justifying the council’s decision and found contradictions and inconsistencies.

“We can’t appeal against the decision but we’re entitled to reapply – and we believe there is a very strong case for doing so.

“It’s ridiculous that we have laws and planning policies to protect community facilities – yet the local authority that’s supposed to be helping us is still siding with a private developer.”

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If approved, the ACV status would mean part of the pub is protected from a change of use or demolition and has to be considered for community bids.

But following the latest refusal, it will now remain in the ownership of developers who have planning permission to redevelop the pub which is steeped in history.

The Henry Jenkins pictured when it closed in 2011. Photo: Google.

The Henry Jenkins pictured when it closed in 2011. Photo: Google.

The Henry Jenkins is one of the oldest inns in the Harrogate district and named after the Yorkshire super-centenarian that legend states lived to be 169-years-old.

The pub was first granted ACV status in 2017 but was then delisted by the council after it was partly sold to the developer.

Mr Salder said this decision made “no sense” and that the campaign group are now also considering making a request for the council to carry out a compulsory purchase order on the building.

He said: 

“It is within the council’s powers to restore the Asset of Community Value listing and if we can get the whole pub put back the ACV, that will put us in a much stronger position – because the owners will be forced to reconsider community bids.

“Our members have been helping support vulnerable people during the pandemic and several are working as volunteers at local vaccination centres.

“So we are already active in the community – but we have exciting plans to engage more supporters and increase our profile as we step up the campaign.”

Free Wi-Fi goes live in Knaresborough

Free public access WiFi has been installed in Knaresborough in an effort to increase footfall as more people return to working from home.

Knaresborough is the latest market town to have the WiFi installed as part of a project between North Yorkshrie County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and NYnet.

The scheme is delivering free internet access to 16 market towns across the county. It has already been rolled-out in Ripon with Harrogate soon to follow.

Harrogate Borough Council has put £300,000 to improving internet coverage in the hope of supporting recovery adn growth within district towns.

With more people encouraged to work from home, the organisations involved have said it is important for towns to find new ways to encourage visitors.

Cllr Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development at the borough council, said:

“Providing free Wi-Fi in public spaces supports our economic growth strategy which aims to make the Harrogate district the best place to live, work and visit.

The scheme also aims to offer people with limited or no broadband the opportunity to access vital online services and take part in the growing digital economy.

It has been funded by a £3.6m investment from the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership as part of its allocation from the government’s Getting Building Fund.

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Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at the county council, said:

“As the government has imposed new working from home guidance it’s more important than ever to encourage people to continue visiting town centres and supporting local businesses.

“We have already seen many towns benefit from the scheme in 2021 which represents the latest investment to improve North Yorkshire’s digital infrastructure.”

Plan to convert former Harrogate working men’s club into apartments

Plans have been submitted to convert a former Harrogate working men’s club into apartments.

The National Reserve Club, East Parade, formally closed in July following an unanimous resolution from its members last year.

The organisation had been registered as a working men’s club since July 11, 1913, when it was known as the Harrogate Battalion National Reserve of the West Riding of York Club.

Now, documents submitted by ID Planning to Harrogate Borough Council propose converting the building into two apartments.

According to the proposals, a three bedroom and two bedroom apartment would be built.

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ID Planning, which has submitted the plan on behalf of Ashleigh and Caroline Wells, said in its plans that the scheme would help a viable use for the building.

It said:

“The proposed development offers an opportunity to secure a long-term, viable use for the building while delivering two dwellings in a highly sustainable, brownfield location.”

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

Although the closure of the National Reserve Club represented the end of an era, the district is still served by working men’s clubs.

Clubs are registered with the Club and Institute Union, which represents more than 1,600 societies across the country.

According to the CIU website, nine clubs are affiliated with the union in the Harrogate district.

You can read an in-depth history on working men’s clubs in Harrogate written by historian Malcolm Ness for the Stray Ferret here.

How Stean Gorge set to build luxury cabins for groups and families

How Stean Gorge is set to build 10 holiday cabins to entice more groups and families.

Currently the gorge, which has been a visitor attraction for more than 100 years, can only accomodate people prepared to camp.

Work is due to start in January 2022 on the first phase of the plan with construction set for completion in April 2022.

The first phase includes six of the cabins and a manager’s cabin.

The second phase can only start when Harrogate Borough Council is satisfied that trees planted as part of landscaping are mature enough not to be affected by more building works.

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It means that the remaining four cabins could be a few years away.

The cabins vary in size. The rustic lodges can sleep up to 10 people but there are also chalets with room for six or four people.

All of them will be built in a log cabin style on stilts with a covered veranda and a log burner inside. The centre is also looking at sourcing hot tubs for the cabins.

Abseiling at How Stean Gorge. Photo: Gerard Binks

Tony Liddy, the head of outdoor education and estates manager, told the Stray Ferret:

“We got a lot of stag dos and hen dos as well as families at How Stean Gorge. Unfortunately for a while now the closest group accomodation has been in Harrogate.

“We are keeping the campsite but that is not always for everyone. So these cabins are going to be a big step forward for the site. It’s very exciting.”

How Stean Gorge is also planning to bring back its Vista Bistro experience where people can dine in a restaurant sat over the drop. Currently it has two dates in the calendar, March 19 and April 2.

‘Disappointing and vague’: Harrogate council’s plan to tackle climate change criticised

Three Harrogate district green groups have criticised Harrogate Borough Council‘s revised plan to cut carbon emissions in the district, calling it “disappointing” and “vague”.

The council has launched a public consultation on its draft Carbon Reduction Strategy, which will replace the original document that was first published in 2019.

HBC has a goal of 2038 when the Harrogate district will have a net zero-carbon economy. This means the district would put no more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than what it takes out.

As a major landowner and employer in the district, the council says it will be a leader in reducing emissions.

The draft document focuses on eight ‘strategic themes’ including retrofitting council housing in the district, encouraging the take up of electric vehicles and planting trees.

However, according to Zero Carbon Harrogate, Harrogate District Cycle Action and Harrogate & District Green Party, the plan does not go far enough, is light on details and has no clear targets.

ZCH said it had “major concerns” about the document.

It said:

‘We do not consider the current draft statregy to be stringent enough to deliver HBC’s target of making their own operations net zero carbon by 2038, and we have some major concerns about key elements and details that are missing from the strategy. We are concerned that there is a lack of recognition of the scale of change required to reach net zero and consequently a lack of ambition. The strategy is based on the premiss that HBC can achieve the objectives by undertaking actions using a business-as-usual model rather than by setting out Page | 2 the actions needed to reach net zero carbon and showing how these could be achieved over the remaining 17-year timescale.

“We are concerned that there are neither quantifiable actions, nor measurable success criteria included. No targets are set for either HBC or the public to gauge whether the objectives laid out in this strategy are being met.”

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Harrogate and District Green Party chair Andy Rickard accused the council of not taking the climate emergency seriously.

He said:

“The council’s draft Carbon Reduction Strategy is its third attempt at responding to the climate emergency and only emphasises that the council does not understand the meaning of the word ‘emergency’ because it has taken four years to come only this far after the first draft was prepared.”

“Planning permission for housing is still being given which approve gas heating. This only adds ‘petrol to the fire’, and a new grand leisure centre project for Knaresborough, which may not be completed for several years, still envisages gas as a main source of heat. These two examples from many recent HBC decisions, exemplify our concern that the word ’emergency’ is not being taken seriously.”

Harrogate District Cycle Action also criticised the document, saying it has “no ambition or rigour”.

“Unfortunately, the strategy gives no evidence that the potential carbon savings of any of the projects mentioned, gives no timescales and no recognition of what projects would have maximum impact and should therefore be prioritised. In addition, there are no specific actions in the document, just vague non-specific actions. Thus, the strategy appears to have no ambition or rigour.”

Have your say

Conservative councillor Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, said:

“Climate change and the impact we’re all having on the planet, is at the forefront of people minds and rightly so.

“Our draft carbon reduction strategy has a number of aims and objectives but this can only be achieved by working together.

“I’d urge everyone to share their views on our draft carbon reduction strategy so that we can help deliver net-zero carbon emission by 2038.”

You can share your views on the strategy on the council’s website. The consultation closes on January 2.