Roadworks on main routes towards Ripley and Wetherby may cause delays for motorists this morning.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Temporary lights are in place on the Ripon Road near Killinghall, which may cause delays for drivers.

Long queues were reported on the road yesterday morning heading into Ripley.

Yorkshire Water is carrying out maintenance work near to the bridge for the River Nidd and the lights are due to remain in place until November 7.

Meanwhile, drivers heading towards Wetherby and the A1(M) may face delays as temporary lights are in place after Kestrel roundabout in Harrogate.

The lights have been put in place by Yorkshire Water for maintenance work and are expected to remain until November 7.

As previously reported, five days of roadworks on the A658 Harrogate Road started yesterday which may cause delays for drivers.

It will see motorists diverted along Crag Lane, The Sleights and Gravelly Hill Lane through North Rigton and Huby while work takes place.

The work is being carried out by North Yorkshire County Council to resurface the road, with a closure in place between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Meanwhile, Traffic lights on the A59 York Road near the junction with the A658 in Knaresborough are due to remain in place until November 11.

Yorkshire Water has installed four-way traffic lights as it lays a new water main for a housing development.

Drivers are urged to allow extra time if using the route this morning.

Work to reconstruct the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley, near Pateley Bridge, is ongoing.

The road is closed and a diversion is in place via Pateley Bridge, the B6451 Dacre, Menwith Hill Road, Duck Street and Greenhow Hill village. Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the remainder of the work.

Fell Beck Bridge remains closed for works until November 6, with a diversion in place via Burnt Yates and Summerbridge.

Planned gas replacement works in Harrogate will be paused. It means five weeks of traffic lights on Cold Bath Road, which were initially due to take place in September, won’t happen until at least January.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

However, commuters are being warned of upcoming strike action on Saturday (November 5) and to check service times on Sunday (November 6) for disruption.

The strike action by the RMT union will be repeated on Monday (November 7) and Wednesday (November 9).

The Harrogate Bus Company is currently reporting cancellations on its 1A, 1B, 1C and 36 services this morning. You can get updates here.

Read more:

• Warning not to travel as strikes set to hit rail travel across Harrogate district
• Harrogate and Knaresborough train operator accused of ‘dire’ performance

Community groups in the Harrogate district are being invited to apply for grants of up to £3,000.

The Local Fund for the Harrogate District opened today for applications to its latest round of awards.

The fund is a three-way partnership between Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate & District Community Action and Two Ridings Community Foundation.

it focuses on small organisations with charitable aims where a small amount of money can make a significant difference.

The guidance notes say:

“Local groups can apply for activities and services that support people, keeping them connected to their community and with each other.

“This may be particularly important during the cost-of-living crisis, you may want to run more activities throughout the winter months, so people have a warm space to access.

“We cannot support overheads alone but encourage you to include them as part of your application and our commitment to full cost recovery.”

Read more:

• £41,000 given to 14 community groups in Harrogate district
• Harrogate hospital well below urgent cancer referral target

A total of 14 groups received a total of £40,688 in the last funding round, which was celebrated at an event at West Park Hotel in Harrogate last night.

Successful applicants included Boroughbridge and District Community Care, Nidderdale and Pateley Bridge Men’s Shed, St. Andrew’s Church in Burnt Yates, Pannal Ash Junior Football Club and Harrogate District of Sanctuary.

A total of £84,681 was given to 29 groups in the previous year.

The deadline for the new funding round is January 9. Decisions will be made by mid-February.

Grants from £200 to £3,000 are available.

Applicants must be based in and/or working in the area served by Harrogate Borough Council.

Further details are available here.

Jan Garrill, chief executive of Two Ridings Community Foundation, said:

“It is five years since The Local Fund was launched and since 2018, 88 projects have been supported and £237,266 paid out in grants.

“These grants have supported activities around mental health, inequality, hidden poverty and loneliness. More recently they have assisted in the response to and recovery from covid and now the impact of increases in the cost of living.

“Despite the local government changes in 2023 the fund will remain for the long term, supporting local grass roots community action across the whole of the district and with local people involved in decisions about the awards.”

Pic shows: Harrogate borough mayor, Councillor Victoria Oldham (centre), with voluntary sector representatives at last night’s event.

The steel frame for the new leisure and wellness centre on King James Road in Knaresborough is starting to take shape.

The centre, which is due to open at the end of next summer, will include a six-lane 25-metre pool, activity pool with flume, sauna and steam room, fitness suite and studio, spin studio, café, electric car charging points and cycle storage.

It is being built next to the current leisure centre, which will stay open until the new facility is ready.

Harrogate Borough Council, which is funding the project,  previously said this will be in July next year.

Once it opens, the existing pool will be demolished and replaced by a new play area, which is due to take a further 15 weeks.

The council has appointed Bristol-based firm Alliance Leisure to carry out construction work.

Councillor Stanley Lumley, the council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said in a statement today:

“This new facility for Knaresborough will be a fantastic asset for the town and shows our commitment to investing in leisure provision across the district.”

Councillors Stanley Lumley (left) and Phil Ireland

Councillor Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability and borough councillor for the Knaresborough Aspin and Calcutt ward, said the centre would be “a brilliant addition for the town of Knaresborough”, adding:

“What is also so important is the fact it will be built to BREEAM standard of ‘Excellent’, ensuring that is as energy-efficient as possible to help us achieve our net-zero emissions target.”

The BREEAM standard is based on an assessment of the building’s sustainability and energy performance.

Councillors Phil Ireland and Stanley Lumley with project manager Julian Donnelly.

Civic society view

The centre will be powered by air source heat pumps and solar panels to reduce the carbon footprint.

Andy Grinter, secretary of Knaresborough Civic Society, said it was pleased the centre was not going to be run on gas.

Speaking after a recent civic society visit to the site, Mr Grinter said it was also heartened to hear the council planned to appoint local caterers.

He aded:

“We were disappointed by some aspects of the planning process; in particular the lack of interaction by Harrogate council officers, who appear to have taken decisions without any consultation with residents eg the design of the new play area, which has it seems already been designed, bought and paid for.”

He said senior manager “gave us reassurances that it is on time and on budget” but the society was surprised to discover the centre is only expected to have a shelf life of 25 to 30 years.

Mr Grinter also said the society remained unconvinced there was a need for a new centre and was disappointed by the modern design, close to Knaresborough conservation area. He said:

“I don’t think we will ever be happy about the look of it.”

Main photo shows Councillors Stanley Lumley and Phil Ireland, Alliance Leisure business development manager Sean Nolan and ISG project manager Julian Donnelly.

Read more:

• Building society opens new branch in Knaresborough Library
• Pictures show progress of £28m Harrogate Hydro and Knaresborough Leisure Centre works

A yellow weather warning has been put in place for the Harrogate district for strong winds.

The Met Office has issued the warning until 8pm tonight.

It forecasts a spell of “very windy weather” to hit the district and parts of northern England.

The Met Office has warned that public transport and roads could be affected.

It said:

“Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely.

“Probably some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer.”

Meanwhile, the district is expected to see temperatures of 12 degrees today.

This morning will be dry before rain showers arrive this afternoon and into this evening.

Read More:

• Firefighters put up poppies as Ripon prepares for services of Remembrance
• Starbeck to have two Remembrance Sunday events amid time disagreement
• Poppies to adorn Knaresborough castle again

Traffic is moving as normal this morning during rush hour in the Harrogate district.

However, drivers should still be aware of ongoing roadworks on main routes across the district.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Drivers should expect the usual traffic on Wetherby Road, Knaresborough Road and Skipton Road this morning.

Motorists heading towards Spofforth and Wetherby could face delays as temporary traffic lights are due in place on the A661 Harrogate Road just after Kestrel roundabout.

The lights have been put in place by Yorkshire Water for maintenance work and are expected to remain until November 7.

Temporary lights are also being reported on the Ripon Road near Killinghall, which may cause delays for drivers.

Yorkshire Water is carrying out maintenance work near to the bridge for the River Nidd.

As previously reported, five days of roadworks on the A658 Harrogate Road started yesterday which may cause delays for drivers.

It will see motorists diverted along Crag Lane, The Sleights and Gravelly Hill Lane through North Rigton and Huby while work takes place.

The work is being carried out by North Yorkshire County Council to resurface the road, with a closure in place between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Meanwhile, Traffic lights on the A59 York Road near the junction with the A658 in Knaresborough are due to remain in place until November 11.

Yorkshire Water has installed four-way traffic lights as it lays a new water main for a housing development.

Drivers are urged to allow extra time if using the route this morning.

Work to reconstruct the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley, near Pateley Bridge, is ongoing.

The road is closed and a diversion is in place via Pateley Bridge, the B6451 Dacre, Menwith Hill Road, Duck Street and Greenhow Hill village. Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the remainder of the work.

Fell Beck Bridge remains closed for works until November 6, with a diversion in place via Burnt Yates and Summerbridge.

Planned gas replacement works in Harrogate will be paused. It means five weeks of traffic lights on Cold Bath Road, which were initially due to take place in September, won’t happen until at least January.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

However, commuters are being warned of upcoming strike action on Saturday (November 5).

Northern is urging passengers not to travel on the day and to check service times on Sunday (November 6).

Further strike action is scheduled to take place on Monday (November 7) and Wednesday (November 9).

The Harrogate Bus Company is currently reporting no cancellations on its services this morning. You can get updates here.

Read more:

• Harrogate roadworks ‘paused’ until New Year
• Harrogate road closure means 1.4-mile detour for walkers and cyclists

Just 43% of urgent cancer referrals to Harrogate District Hospital are being seen on time, according to new figures.

Under national targets, 93% of cancer patients are required to see a specialist within two weeks of an urgent GP referral.

But Harrogate hospital’s performance is now significantly below this.

A report to the trust’s board, which includes figures up to August this year, shows how the figure for two-week waits has been in gradual decline since April.

Managers at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust have attributed to the decline to increased demand.

The matter has seen officials at the trust designate the performance under “matters of concern and risks to escalate”.

The trust said in board papers that additional breast clinic work to improve its performance included “outsourcing work to a private provider with additional clinics in place”.

Harrogate District Hospital’s two-week cancer waiting time performance. Data: Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

The Stray Ferret asked the trust what was being done to improve waiting times for patients.

A spokesperson said:

“The two-week target performance for cancer has been affected by some large spikes in demand, in particular, specialty areas such as skin and breast cancer.

“Our clinical teams are providing additional clinics to address this and bring our waits back under the two-week target.

“For those patients who are unable to be seen within two weeks, the vast majority are seen just outside this target, and treatments, where cancer is confirmed, continue to be delivered in a timely manner.”

Read more:

• Harrogate hospital urges people to stay away from A&E amid ‘very busy’ week
• ‘Get jabbed’ plea as ‘wave of covid’ predicted in North Yorkshire

Drivers using the A658 Harrogate Road should be aware of a roadworks near Huby and North Rigton which is diverting traffic.

Meanwhile, commuters are reminded of upcoming rail strikes in the district this week.

Roads

As previously reported, five days of roadworks on the A658 Harrogate Road started yesterday which may cause delays for drivers.

It will see motorists diverted along Crag Lane, The Sleights and Gravelly Hill Lane through North Rigton and Huby while work takes place.

The work is being carried out by North Yorkshire County Council to resurface the road, with a closure in place between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Meanwhile, Traffic lights on the A59 York Road near the junction with the A658 in Knaresborough are due to remain in place until November 11.

Yorkshire Water has installed four-way traffic lights as it lays a new water main for a housing development.

Drivers are urged to allow extra time if using the route this morning.

Work to reconstruct the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley, near Pateley Bridge, is ongoing.

The road is closed and a diversion is in place via Pateley Bridge, the B6451 Dacre, Menwith Hill Road, Duck Street and Greenhow Hill village. Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the remainder of the work.

Fell Beck Bridge remains closed for works until November 6, with a diversion in place via Burnt Yates and Summerbridge.

Planned gas replacement works in Harrogate will be paused. It means five weeks of traffic lights on Cold Bath Road, which were initially due to take place in September, won’t happen until at least January.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

However, commuters are being warned of upcoming strike action on Saturday (November 5).

Northern is urging passengers not to travel on the day and to check service times on Sunday (November 6).

Further strike action is scheduled to take place on Monday (November 7) and Wednesday (November 9).

The Harrogate Bus Company is currently reporting cancellations on its 1, 1A, 1B and 1C services this morning. You can get updates here.

Read more:

• Harrogate roadworks ‘paused’ until New Year
• Harrogate road closure means 1.4-mile detour for walkers and cyclists

The owner of Knaresborough’s Dower House has said it is finalising the appointment of a contractor.

The hotel closed this year for refurbishment after the hotel was acquired by the Inn Collection Group in December last year.

The decision to permanently close the hotel gym and spa as part of the changes upset some members.

A former member Michael Ward contacted the Stray Ferret last week to say he was concerned by the lack of activity at the site in recent months. The Stray Ferret asked the owner for an update.

“Planning permissions have been received and listed building consents are now in place.

“We are now in the process of finalising a contractor appointment ahead of refurbishment works getting underway.”

The spokesman described the renovations as “complex” but said they would “enhance the Dower House’s environment, improve accessibility, and align the site with our food-driven pubs with rooms offer”.

However, he was unable to say when the venue will reopen.

Gym and spa replaced by 16 bedrooms

The works will see an extension to the rear of the Dower House and will include a portico entrance, the installation of an accessible ramp, pergolas, a retaining wall and a keg store.

The renovation will also include the replacement of roof coverings, repairs to brickwork, the creation of a footpath and parking, and the installation of an extract flue.

The spokesman added:

“Once complete, the works will see 16 additional bedrooms created in the space previously occupied by the gym and spa.

“In the public report provided as part of the process, it was noted that ‘the overall the development will preserve the setting of the listed building’.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough’s Dower House accelerates closure of spa and gym
• Knaresborough man jailed for ‘punishment beating’ of ex-partner

Taxi drivers in the Harrogate district could be able to operate in other areas of North Yorkshire, under plans being considered by county council officials.

A consultation is being held into vehicle licensing for the entire of the county ahead of North Yorkshire Council being set up.

As of April 1 next year, the new authority will be responsible for licensing vehicles in the Harrogate district. Harrogate Borough Council, which currently fulfils the role locally, will no longer exist.

County council officials have proposed North Yorkshire operates as one hackney carriage zone in order to offer drivers “flexibility to operate across the county”.

A review of fare rates across the county will be carried out at a later date.

The council said in a statement:

“In accordance with the Department for Transport’s best practice guidance, it is proposed that the new council will operate one hackney carriage ‘zone’ for North Yorkshire.

“Thereby providing drivers with the flexibility to operate across the county, encouraging environmental efficiencies and creating a wider distribution of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

“There are no plans to impose hackney carriage quantity restrictions on the creation of a new single zone. Hackney carriage fares and fees will also be reviewed at a later date.”

Read more:

• No increase in wheelchair accessible taxis in Harrogate district
• Harrogate and Knaresborough trains to Leeds to be reinstated in December

The consultation will run for 12 weeks and end on January 19, 2023.

You can take part in the survey here.

A gastro pub near Ripon has been granted an extension to its licensing hours until midnight.

The Sawley Arms, which has eight bedrooms and is popular with diners, applied for an extension until 1am, seven days a week.

But Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing committee decided on Friday that alcohol could only be served until midnight.

Steve Manton, owner of the Sawley Arms, told the committee he had spent more than £1 million refurbishing the pub since he bought it 11 years ago as a retirement project.

Mr Manton, who previously ran several businesses in the Harrogate area, said the pub’s main activity was food.

“It’s a destination pub. The traditional boozer has disappeared.”

Customers, he said, “like to linger and that’s why we have put in the extension until 1am”.

Mr Manton addresses the meeting.

He added:

“That doesn’t mean we will stay open until 1am every night. Last night we closed at 9.30pm.”

Mr Manton, who lives on the Isle of Man, described the venue as “a summer pub”, adding there was “very, very little activity in winter and we close our gardens”.

He said besides diners, the pub attracted weekend walkers, visitors to Fountains Abbey and guests from nearby Grantley Hall, the opening of which he described as “a lifeline”.

Before the meeting, David Taylor, clerk to Grantley and Sawley Parish Council, had submitted an objection to the proposal raising “grave concerns”.  He said:

“The residents of the village are very likely to be disturbed by vehicles leaving the site at times that would extend beyond 1am.

“Although 1am is the requested extended time, there would be ‘drinking up time’ and staff leaving the premises, therefore it would be nearer to 2am when the last cars leave the site.”

Wan Malachi, a licensing enforcement officer at the council told the committee it had received no complaints about the venue.

Ed Darling, the Conservative councillor who chairs the licensing committee, told Mr Manton it had granted the extension on condition that it applied until midnight, seven days a week, rather than the 1am requested. Cllr Darling added:

“There is a right of appeal against this decision to Harrogate Magistrates Court within 21 days of receipt of the decision notice.”