A Harrogate home was severely damaged when an unattended chip pan caught fire last night.

Firefighters used a door breaker tool to get into the home, which is in the Coppice area, at about 6.20pm.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log does not say whether anyone was hurt.

Harrogate and Knaresborough firefighters responded to the call. The incident log says:

“This was a fire to a chip pan that had been left unattended.

“This caused 70% smoke damage throughout the property.

“Crews used a door breaker to enter the property and extinguished the fire using a hose reel jet and a 45mm hose.”

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Polling stations across the Harrogate district opened at 7am this morning as elections take place for the new North Yorkshire Council.

The unitary authority, which comes into existence on April 1 next year, will replace North Yorkshire County Council and seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council.

Councillors elected will serve on North Yorkshire County Council for its final year and then a further four years on North Yorkshire Council.

The political make-up of the council, which will be determined today by voters, will shape services for 600,000 people in North Yorkshire over the next five years.

A total of 310 candidates are contesting 90 seats in the county.

Polling stations close at 10pm tonight and results will be announced tomorrow.

The Stray Ferret will attend the declaration of results and provide full details as they happen.

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People in the Harrogate district will go to the polls tomorrow for perhaps the most important local elections for almost 50 years.

Voters will shape key services for 600,000 people in the county by deciding the political make-up of the new North Yorkshire Council.

The unitary authority, which comes into existence on April 1 next year, will replace North Yorkshire County Council and seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council.

Councillors elected tomorrow will serve the final year of North Yorkshire County Council and then a further four years on North Yorkshire Council.

It represents the biggest shake-up in local government in North Yorkshire since 1974, when the current structure of local government was introduced.

Tomorrow’s elections will see 310 candidates contest 90 seats in 89 electoral divisions.

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The Conservative Party, which currently controls North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council, is fielding candidates in all 90 seats. There will also be 67 Labour and Co-operative Party candidates, 48 Green Party candidates, 45 Liberal Democrats and 45 Independents. The remaining 15 candidates will be from a range of other smaller parties.

Richard Flinton, the county returning officer for the election who is also the chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“This is an opportunity for everyone who is registered to vote to help decide on who they want to represent them at what is a defining moment for North Yorkshire.

“The importance of these elections is hugely significant, as it not only lays the foundations for the decision-makers for the new unitary authority, but it also paves the way for a devolution deal for North Yorkshire and York.”

The government has stipulated that a new unitary authority is a key requirement for any devolution deal for North Yorkshire, which could see an elected mayor with new powers.

Polling stations will be open across the county from 7am until 10pm tomorrow.

More details about the new electoral divisions and the May 5 county council elections are available here.

An inquest into the death of Dean Christopher Myers, who was struck by a digger on a Ripon construction site, has concluded it was an accident.

Mr Myers, 56, died on January 13 last year whilst working as a ground worker for the HACS group at a site on Whitcliffe Avenue.

The Scotton man’s cause of death was a severe head injury due to blunt force trauma. Today’s hearing at Pavilions of Harrogate examined the circumstances surrounding his death.

It heard that at the time of his death, Mr Myers was stationed in a manhole in a three metre-deep trench, which had been dug for sewage pipes.

Fellow construction workers Lee James and Andrew Temple said it was not unusual for workers to be positioned in the manhole.

Mr James was standing at the top of the trench, acting as a guide for machine operator Mr Temple. Both said the arm of the digger had got stuck, probably on some limestone in the ground, and this was when Mr James saw Mr Myers put his head out of the manhole to look at what was stopping the digger.

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Mr James said he shouted to Mr Myers twice but got no response so he urged Mr Temple to stop before getting into the trench to check on Mr Myers.

The court heard the digger had become unstuck and started to move again, which was when it struck Mr Myers.

‘No sign of negligence’

A statement read out by police officers at the scene said:

“This was an unfortunate accident caused by Mr Myers putting his head out of the hole at the wrong time. There was no sign of negligent or criminal activity.”

In a witness statement, health and safety inspector Benjamin Cairns said it was a typical construction site set-up with no obvious safety concerns.

When asked by coroner Jonathan Leach whether it was appropriate for Mr Myers to be in the manhole, he said:

“If I witnessed that [a construction worker in the man hole] on site I would have asked the person to leave.”

Mr Myers’ work colleagues at the inquest described him as “more conscious than most” about safety and an experienced construction worker. They said they were unsure why he stuck his head out.

After hearing multiple statements, the nine-person jury concluded Mr Myers’ death was an accident.

Mark Smith, managing director of the HACS group, which employed Mr Myers for eight years, told the Stray Ferret afterwards:

“We would like to say how sorry we are at the loss of a valued colleague and our thoughts are with the family at this time.”

Sports clubs in Harrogate could get free life-saving defibrillators thanks to a cricket club’s fundraising efforts.

Luke Trower, a member of Bilton in Ainsty CC, who play in the York and District Senior Cricket League, wanted to do something after his dad died while playing football. He might have survived if a defibrillator had been available at the ground.

Mr Trower and 10 other club members embarked on a sponsored climb of Ben Nevis to raise money for the machines, which revive people having cardiac arrests. Those taking part included umpire Jim Stevens, who is 67 years old.

So far their efforts have generated almost £6,000, which has funded new machines at Bilton in Ainsty CC’s ground and Wetherby bandstand. Donations can still be made here.

Drew Walker, one of those who climbed Ben Nevis last month, said:

“We are looking to put defibrillators in other sports clubs in the Harrogate area that need them. We think we can fund another three.”

Mr Walker said any organisations interested should contact Mr Trower on 07897409689.

Those that climbed Ben Nevis were Luke Trower, Drew Walker, Alex Bowden, Grace Piechocki, Chris Newby, Adam Stobert, Henry Gardner, Andrew Wilson, Jim Stevens, James Good and James Wilkinson.

Here are some images from their expedition.

Harrogate Thalidomide campaigner Guy Tweedy has laid a wreath to pay tribute to victims of the morning sickness ‘wonder drug’.

Mr Tweedy placed the wreath at the foot of a copper beech tree planted on the Harrogate’s Montpellier Hill in 2012.

The tree was the UK’s first-ever memorial to those who died as a result of their mothers being prescribed the drug in the early stages of pregnancy.

The wreath commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Thalidomide Society, which was formed in 1962 by the parents of children affected by the drug.

Mr Tweedy, who turns 60 in June and is himself a Thalidomider, is a prominent campaigner for the society.

The society was formed by parents of children affected by the drug in order to provide mutual support and seek compensation.

At least 2,000 babies in the UK were born due to Thalidomide, and more than half of them died within their first year. An unknown number also died in the womb.

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Common deformities included missing or shortened limbs, blindness, brain damage and missing internal organs.

442 UK Thalidomiders still alive

There are a total of 442 Thalidomiders aged between 56 and 63 still alive in the UK today.

Over the last two decades, Mr Tweedy – who sufferers from shortened arms and fingers fused together, has helped secure hundreds of millions of pounds from the government for the ongoing care of fellow survivors.

He said:

“A decade ago, we planted this tree to commemorate those who died from this hideous drug. Thalidomide was the worst man-made disaster in peace time history.

“It killed thousands of babies in the womb and in their first years of life. It left thousands more with terrible deformities and affected the lives of thousands of families around the world.

“For the last ten years I have watched the memorial tree grow – and it will be here long after I, and all the other Thalidomide survivors, have passed away.

“The Harrogate district has seven thalidomide survivors, and since its inception 60 years ago the Thalidomide Society has fought our corner and championed our welfare.

“Whilst this wreath is to commemorate the victims of this tragedy, it’s also to recognise the ongoing work of the Thalidomide Society which aims to ensure the impact of thalidomide is never forgotten.

Plans to redevelop Harrogate Borough Council’s former headquarters have been recommended for approval next week.

The proposals for Crescent Gardens, which has sat empty for five years, include a two-storey extension, rooftop restaurant, gym and new office space.

The plans have been recommended for approval at a meeting on May 10 after the council’s planning department released a report saying the redevelopment would “increase the vitality of this town centre site and prove beneficial in boosting Harrogate’s economy”.

Harrogate-based property developers Impala Estates are behind the proposals after purchasing the building for £4 million in 2020.
This came after the council moved to its new Knapping Mount headquarters in 2017.

At the time, the council announced it would sell Crescent Gardens to property developer Adam Thorpe who had plans for a £75 million redevelopment including luxury apartments, an art gallery, underground car park, swimming pool and restaurant.

But two years later, Mr Thorpe’s company ATP Ltd fell into administration with debts of almost £11 million, including £24,394 owed to the council.

Crescent Gardens

Crescent Gardens then went back up for sale and was eventually bought by Impala Estates.

Historic England objection

In the report to next Tuesday’s meeting, the council’s planning department said the latest plans from Impala Estates would “alter the locality but on balance are considered acceptable.”

An objection by Historic England questioned the public benefits and said the roof extension should not exceed one storey. The body also said the plans relate “very poorly” to the existing building.

However, the council has argued this view contradicts a previous assessment from Historic England’s predecessor body, English Heritage, which described the building as “poorly proportioned in classical terms” because it was originally restricted to two storeys.

These comments came when English Heritage refused listed status for the building in 2002.

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Meanwhile, the latest proposals have already won the support of Harrogate Civic Society which described the scheme as “excellent”.

The civic society previously said:

“The existing roof lends itself to a two-storey extension, something that was advocated many times to Harrogate Borough Council, making use of the original design that envisaged future extensions at roof level.

“We are pleased to see that the building will be retained and refurbished as offices, with a restaurant on the roof and meeting rooms within the historic core, as this will retain a degree of public access and use of the building.”

Police are appealing for witnesses after 64 sheep were stolen from a field near Boroughbridge.

Forty-eight ewes in lamb and 16 hoggs were taken from land off the A168 at Marton-cum-Grafton.

It happened between 5pm on April 27 and 7am the following day.

A statement by North Yorkshire Police today said the sheep were worth a total value of tens of thousands of pounds. It added:

“They were stolen from a field on Legram Lane. It is believed a wagon would have been used to take the sheep.

“Officers are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, they are appealing for information about any wagons in the vicinity in the early hours of 28 April, or anything else that may assist with the investigation.”

Of the 48 ewes, 39 are Beltex and 9 are Bleu du Maine. The 16 hoggs were all young Beltex sheep aged 9-18 months.

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Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Chloe Kinnear. You can also email chloe.kinnear@northyorkshire.police.uk

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12220071650.

Firefighters urged people to have their chimneys swept regularly after being summoned to a blaze in Scotton last night.

A crew from Knaresborough dealt with the incident at a home in the village at around 9pm.

Using the aerial ladder platform from Harrogate, firefighters were able to extinguish the flames and make safe the chimney pot.

Harrogate Fire Station said in a social media post the cause is believed to be an accumulation of flammable materials within the flue. It added:

“Please do make sure you regularly sweep your chimneys to prevent fires from happening.

“We recommend that your chimney should be swept at least once a year for smokeless fuel, at least twice a year for bituminous coal, and quarterly for wood.”

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Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret is previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.

A total of 21 seats will be contested in the district with most of the major parties standing in each one.

Today, we look at the Washburn and Birstwith division, where four candidates have put themselves forward.

Nathan Hull, Conservative

The Conservative candidate for Washburn and Birstiwth is Nathan Hull.

Mr Hull, who lives in Nidderdale, works as a solicitor in Harrogate.

On his priorities for standing, Mr Hull said:

“I am a family man, married with five children and have lived in Nidderdale for almost 10 years. By day I work in Harrogate as a solicitor.

“My priorities, if elected, will be to increase road safety around our villages by reducing speeding, ensure that local housing development serves local residents, look after our local schools and special schools, look after the elderly and vulnerable — some of my children have disabilities — protect our environment and countryside and support local businesses and organisations.”

Paul Trewhitt, Green Party

Paul Trewhitt will be the Green Party candidate for the division.

Mr Trewhitt has lived in Lower Nidderdale for the last 20 years and is a chartered marketer by trade.

He said his priorities if elected would be to tackle environmental issues such as flooding and water run-off, energy poverty, sustainable transport, as well as affordable housing.

Mr Trewhitt said:

“My primary concern is the environmental legacy current policies will leave on future generations.

I have lived in Lower Nidderdale for the last 20 years and feel well grounded within the community.

“My great-grandfather farmed in the valley at the time of the First World War. I am interested in local and environmental issues which will affect this community.”

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Ian Galloway, Independent

Ian Galloway will be an independent candidate for the Washburn and Birstwith division.

Mr Galloway was the Conservative councillor for Bishop Monkton on Harrogate Borough Council until 2018.

But, he said he is standing as an independent after not being selected by the party.

Mr Galloway, who lives in Beckwithshaw, said his priority if elected would be to get more funding for rural areas.

He said:

“We are at the southern end of the new unitary authority area and we need to be cute and keep our eyes open.

“Resources are going to be allocated for by Harrogate and Scarborough. So we will need to keep our eyes open.”

Tom Watson, Liberal Democrat

The Liberal Democrat candidate for Washburn and Birstwith is Tom Watson.

Mr Watson lives in Dacre Banks with his wife.

He is currently the councillor for Nidd Valley on Harrogate Borough Council, which he was elected to six years ago.

Mr Watson is also chair of Hartwith-cum-Winsley Parish Council.

He said:

“I am a hard-working experienced councillor with the time, energy and commitment to actively represent the people of this new division on the new North Yorkshire Council.”