A motorcyclist is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash in the Harrogate district last night.

The collision, which occurred at the junction of the A61 Harrogate Road and Weeton Lane, involved a black Range Rover and a Yamaha motorcycle.

It occurred at about 7.30pm.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information about the incident.

In a statement this morning it said:

“Unfortunately, the rider of the motorcycle suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries and was transferred to hospital where they remain in a stable condition.

“A stretch of Harrogate Road was closed for around two hours in both directions to allow for an initial investigation and vehicle recovery.”

Anyone with information or dashcam footage of the collision or the events leading up to the collision can email adam.smith@northyorkshire.police.uk, or contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Adam Smith.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12220103906.

Read more:

• Police seek to identify man after homophobic chanting in Harrogate
• New pothole machine could be coming to Harrogate district roads

A machine that can repair potholes and other road damage in minutes could be coming to the Harrogate district.

Highways engineers are trialing the JCB Pothole Pro, which is said to be able to repair a typical pothole more quickly than conventional methods.

The machine has different heads, which can plane off areas of road surface, chop out sections of carriageway and clear up debris when the repair is complete, providing options to deal with different types of repairs.

Because the processes are automated the risk of health problems caused by hand / arm vibration from using power tools is eliminated.

NYHighways, which is the arm’s-length company responsible for maintaining roads on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council, is evaluating the machine in the Hambleton district.

The Stray Ferret asked how much the machines cost, how many the council was thinking of buying and when it would make a decision.

A council spokesman said it had nothing further to add. However, the machines have been widely reported to cost £165,000 each.

Council leader Carl Les (left) watches the machine in operation.

Keane Duncan, the Conservative councillor for Norton who is also the executive member for highways, said in a statement:

“We are putting this machine to the test so we can evaluate how it works in real-world conditions and a decision will be made later on whether NYHighways should add it to their fleet.

“Whatever the outcome, road users can be confident we are always aiming to provide them with the best service possible.”

Ross Bullerwell, managing director of NYHighways, said in a statement:

“The JCB Pothole Pro system is just one innovation we are trialling, with many more planned over the next year in order to find solutions that are the right place, right time, and right price for the county’s roads.”

Read more:

• No replacement buses for Harrogate district commuters during strike
• Reservoir parking costs could cause ‘tremendous problems’ on nearby roads

A body has been found in the search for a missing 31-year-old from Minskip, near Boroughbridge.

Luke Earnshaw was reported missing after leaving home on Saturday just before 2.30pm.

He was seen walking down Thorndikes Lane towards Staveley.

North Yorkshire Police said the body found today has not been formally identified but is believed to be that of the missing man. His family have been informed.

Posting on a local Facebook group, a family member thanked everyone who had helped in the search for Mr Earnshaw.

She also praised police officers’ support to the family, adding:

“He’s finally at peace after suffering with mental health for many years.”

Read more:

• Police search for missing man last seen in Harrogate
• Police find missing Ripon man

An 11-year-old boy had to be rescued after falling at Brimham Rocks.

The young boy was coming down from one of the high rocks near the car park when he fell onto a grassy area on his arms.

Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association was summoned to help the boy. The team stretchered him to an ambulance where he was treated for arm injuries.

One of the association’s volunteers, Derek Hammond, said he thought the boy fell “about three or four metres”, putting his arms out to protect himself as he fell.

The volunteer rescue team were at the the National Trust-owned site near Pateley Bridge for 52 minutes.

Just last month, The Stray Ferret wrote about the latest young boy to fall from the rocks. 

Read more:

• Boy, 8, rescued at Brimham Rocks
• Ripon firefighters save pony stuck in mud

North Yorkshire County Council is to bid for £2 million worth of funding to install electric vehicle charging points in rural areas.

The proposal comes as the government has launched a £10 million pilot fund to rollout the infrastructure across the country.

The county council’s bid would see 70 charging points installed across the seven districts. It has suggested three areas in the Harrogate district, including Markington, Pateley Bridge and Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough.

A submission to government to bid for the funding was backed by Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways, this morning.

Cllr Duncan said:

“We have embraced this opportunity to bring forward the strongest possible proposal within the tight 12-week deadline to benefit rural parts of our county.

“This is a competitive process across the whole of England for a relatively small pilot funding pot, so success is not guaranteed, but this bid is another clear signal of our ambition to improve transport options for people across our large, rural county.”

Read more:

• Harrogate council awards £280,000 electric vehicle contract to London firm
• Locations of 34 electric vehicle charge points revealed
• Harrogate businesses go electric as number of cars licensed doubles

The charging points would be powered by renewable energy, including small-scale hydroelectric generators and solar panels linked to battery storage.

Council officials said the move would help to tackle poor connectivity and opportunities in rural areas of the county.

The bid for funding is supported by district and borough councils and the county council plans to work with NYnet, the council-owned broadband company, and Northern Powergrid on the scheme.

Harrogate Borough Council recently commissioned London company, ConnectedKerb, to install 34 charging points across the district as part of a £280,000 contract.

Traffic is moving normally on the roads in the Harrogate district this morning.

However, some cancellations have been reported on bus services.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic and travel roundup.

Roads

Traffic is running as normal this morning, but drivers should be aware of the usual queueing on Wetherby Road and Knaresborough Road during rush hour.

Construction work on the A661 Harrogate Road is Spofforth is due to end today.

Meanwhile, roadworks are still in place in Knaresborough at the junction between Wetherby Road and York Road which will cause delays this morning.

The works are expected to continue until August 15.

Trains and buses

Train services are running as normal from Harrogate to Leeds and York this morning.

However, commuters should be aware of planned strike action on the railways next week. Industrial action is due to take place over three days from June 21 and will affect Northern services from Harrogate.

Northern is expected to publish a timetable of its services which it will be able to run this week.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting some early morning cancellations on the 36 from Leeds to Harrogate at 7.40am and 8.55am.

There is also a cancellation from Harrogate to Leeds at 7.35am.

The bus company is reporting early morning cancellations to the 1A, 1B and 1C services. You can find out more here.

Read more:

• Harrogate walkers highlight shared cycling routes and footpath concerns
• Review into Harrogate’s 2019 UCI cycling championships finally set to come out

North Yorkshire Police today issued an appeal for information to find a man last seen in Harrogate.

A police statement today said Mark Griffiths has been missing since last week, and friends are concerned about his welfare. It added:

“Mark is described as white, 54 years old with no hair.

“He was last seen in Harrogate town centre wearing all black clothing on Wednesday 8 June.”

If you see him, or know where he is, you can contact the police by calling 101 and quoting reference number 12220100118.

Read more:

• Police launch urgent appeal for missing Minskip man
• Harrogate mourner left ‘distressed’ by rubbish and overgrown grass at Stonefall Cemetery

Roads and trains are running as normal this morning, but there are some early morning bus cancellations.

Here is your Harrogate district traffic and travel roundup.

Roads

This morning, rush hour is expected to bring the usual delays on Wetherby Road and Knaresborough Road.

Maintenance work on Skipton Road today by CityFibre near to Regent Grove is due to continue until June 15.

Meanwhile, roadworks are still in place in Knaresborough at the junction between Wetherby Road and York Road which will cause delays this morning.

The works are expected to continue until August 15.

Trains and buses

Train services are running as normal from Harrogate to Leeds and York this morning.

However, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting some early morning cancellations on the 36 from Leeds to Harrogate at 7.40am, 8.55am and 9.55am.

There is also cancellations from Harrogate to Leeds at 7.35am, 9am and 9.25am. 

There are also early morning cancellations to the 1A, 1B and 1C services. You can find out more here.

Read more:

• Harrogate rail campaigner ‘optimistic’ early morning train could be reinstated
• Harrogate district train station parking review a ‘lost opportunity’

Traffic is moving as normal this morning in the Harrogate district, but some disruption remains in place in Knaresborough.

Here is your traffic roundup.

Roads

Rush hour is expected to bring the usual delays on Wetherby Road and Knaresborough Road.

Those travelling through Spofforth should be aware of roadworks on the A661 Harrogate Road coming into and out of the village.

Planned maintenance work is expected to start on Skipton Road today by CityFibre near to Regent Grove.

Meanwhile, roadworks are still in place in Knaresborough at the junction between Wetherby Road and York Road which will cause delays this morning.

The works are expected to continue until August 15.

Trains and buses

Train services are running as normal from Harrogate to Leeds and York this morning.

However, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting some early morning cancellations on the 36 from Leeds to Harrogate at 7.40am, 8.55am and 9.55am.

There is also cancellations from Harrogate to Leeds at 7.35am, 9am and 9.25am. You can find out more here.

Harrogate Bus Company still has a diversion in place on its 21 service meaning it is unable to reach Ashbourne Road due to a road closure.

The nearest alternative stop is Morrisons in Boroughbridge. This diversion will be in place until June 30.

Read more:

• Harrogate rail campaigner ‘optimistic’ early morning train could be reinstated
• Harrogate district train station parking review a ‘lost opportunity’

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Woodfield’s school’s planned closure a sad reflection of times

Woodfield Community Primary School is going through a consultation process to close at the end of this year. There is to be a public meeting on Wednesday 15th June at 6pm at the school.

Woodfield is, as the name suggests, a community primary school which serves the local population. It has been extensively refurbished over the last few years, has a large playground and extensive playing fields, It has a community library and children’s centre at the same site.

Why then is it closing? This is, like many things, complex. It is to do with poor management by North Yorkshire County Council, inexperienced acting headteachers, social media, Harrogate parents exercising their ‘choice’ to go to the ‘better’ schools, and finally Ofsted rating the school in 2020 as ‘inadequate’.

The Ofsted rating was the death blow for Woodfield. It meant the school had to join an academy but no academy wanted to take it on, due to small pupil numbers, leaving the school in a catch- 22 situation.

There was no attempt to alter this situation by the education authorities, who could have stepped in at this point as far as I am aware. The school is now almost certain to close.

Many people do not know of the existence of Woodfield. Many people will not be bothered. It is not the school that the affluent of Harrogate send their children to, it was a good, caring school around the corner with teachers and teaching assistants that cared for the children, but didn’t get the best SATs results.

I think it is important sometimes to reflect on what do we really want for our children.

Vicky Lack, Bilton

Read more:

• Public meeting next week over future of Woodfield school
• ‘We just want to make a living’: Harrogate cabbies hit out at new rules

Trying to order a drive-through coffee without a car

Yesterday whilst walking past Costa Coffee in Pannal I decided to go for a coffee. The restaurant part was closed due to lack of staff.

Upon walking away I noticed that the drive-through was open so I decided to ask for a coffee at the drive-through whilst there were no cars queueing. I was informed that due to not being in the car I could not be able to get a coffee. How does that work ??

Needless to say, I accepted that I was not driving a car. My options would have been to pretend I was driving a car or jump in the next car and ask to be a passenger.

We live in a seriously mad world where common sense has gone totally out of the window.

Amanda Finney, Pannal

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.