Readers’ Letters: Does North Yorkshire Council not know how a drain works?

Readers’ Letters 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.  

The following three letters are in response to the extreme flooding in Knaresborough earlier this week. Roads were under water, homes were flooded and residents evacuated. The council denied the conditions of the drains played a part, but some residents feel otherwise.  

Does North Yorkshire Council not know what a drain is and how they work?

I think the Stray Ferret should take a stand on behalf of all Knaresborough folk and demand that they do something about it.

I live up Ripley Road and can tell you that the drains on High and Low Bond End and Ripley Road haven’t been cleaned out properly for at least 30 years.

Steve Newbould, Knaresborough

Here on Hambleton Close we had a near miss – although both our neighbours took on water.

I have consistently notified North Yorkshire County Council (that was) about the state of drainage in Knaresborough. Each time I receive hollow words of acknowledgement, but nothing is done.

The autumn leaf-fall and the failure to sweep the roads only added to this catastrophe.

What do we pay our council tax for?

Ralph Thrower, Knaresborough

We have reported the blocked drains for years and no works seems to have been done.

Last week we were down to one working drain on our street and we directly reported it to the council.

We have issues with Waterside becoming a river even with normal levels of rainfall.

We warned the council numerous times it would flood, as the water has nowhere else to go other than through the houses.

Mark Johnson, Knaresborough

Maybe Keane Duncan’s defeat means he will ‘finally fix our roads’

This story follows the York and North Yorkshire mayoral election last week. Labour’s David Skaith took home the crown, leaving Tory councillor Keane Duncan defeated.

Thank goodness for the mayoral result, which hopefully now means we are also done with Mr Keane’s tedious photo opportunities (hopefully!).

For months he’s courted the camera and delivered on little else. Even the well-hyped ‘100 days in Peggy’ went suspiciously quiet.

Maybe now he can finally concentrate on the job he has, including fixing our roads for starters.

He might want to take Peggy for a drive down Pannal Ash Road and sample the disgraceful state of a public highway.

Simon Ewing, Harrogate

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.

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Harrogate disability charity launches accessible walking route packs

A Harrogate disability charity has launched a range of accessible route packs to help more people to access the outdoors.

Open Country has produced a range of ‘breakfree’ packs offering inspiration on great places to walk, wheel, stroll, or cycle, covering the Harrogate district.

The charity helps people with disabilities to access the countryside. It offers daily activities for disabled people, including walks, conservation projects, allotment clubs, tandems clubs and adventure clubs.

The packs have been launched to celebrate National Walking Month, which takes place in May.

The Harrogate routes include the Beryl Burton cycleway, Staveley Nature Reserve, Pateley Bridge Glasshouses and the Valley Gardens.

A spokesperson for Open Country said:

“The free packs have been specially developed with wheelchair users in mind, but they could also support anyone who might struggle with exercise, limited mobility or even families with pushchairs.”

“Each trail features clear, colour maps for each location, with all the information needed to help plan a trip out, including access to facilities and points of interest.”

Open Country walks

The ‘breakfree packs’ also cover Leeds, Wakefield, Wharfedale and York. A range of audio walks are also available on the Open Country website or on their YouTube channel, so that people can enjoy fully descriptive walks from the comfort of their own home.

The charity also provides advice for landowners and organisations on accessibility issues through its Countryside Advice Service.

Packs are available to download here or the charity can to deliver or post packs in bulk to organisations. To request packs contact community@opencountry.org

An available breakfree map from Open Country, the Beryl Burton cycleway

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Photo of the week: sunrise over Harlow Carr

This week’s photograph was taken by Julie Addyman, capturing  the sun rising over Harlow Carr.

Photo of the Week takes centre stage in our new-look nightly email newsletter. The newsletter drops into your inbox every evening at 6pm with all the day’s stories and more. To subscribe, click here.

(Image: Julie Addyman)

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week. We reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

Controversy over taxi fare rise in North Yorkshire

Taxi passengers in North Yorkshire are facing having to pay five per cent more per mile in the face of appeals to increase and lower maximum permitted fares across the county.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive agreed to the daytime rates rise, extending night-time rates time to eight hours from 10pm and increasing the maximum call-out charge from £1 to £1.50 after hearing taxi drivers were divided over the rates which should be charged.

If the move is not contested, day-time taxis will be able to charge £4 for the first quarter mile and 20p for every extra quarter mile or 35 seconds of waiting time.

Ripon cabbie Richard Fieldman told the leading councillors the 70 drivers from Whitby to Harrogate he represented were opposed to the proposals.

He said:

“What you see before you today is totally unacceptable for those that work nights and the unsocial Christmas period. The proposal gives no increase to those working these hours which less and less drivers are prepared to work these days.”

The meeting was told one of the proposed changes, to start higher rates from 10pm rather than 11pm, would have a minimal impact on night-time drivers.

He added:

“It is ironic that officers recognise that drivers need rewarding for late-night unsocial hours with abusive, alcohol and drug-fuelled customers, yet are failing to provide them with the same increase as the day-time drivers.”

Mr Fieldman said the £1 per mile call-out charge had remained the same for many years and when combined with higher fuel costs had become “unviable in a vast rural county” to travel significant distances to pick up passengers who only wanted to go a few miles.

The meeting heard drivers were refusing to do these types of journey, leaving some passengers unable to get home. In addition, areas such as Northallerton, Thirsk, Ripon and Skipton had serious shortages of drivers working unsocial hours and the proposals would ensure even less cover.

Ripon councillor Barbara Brodigan told the meeting recent changes in Barnsley similar to the North Yorkshire proposals had led to too few or no taxis being available during holiday periods and at night-time.

However, Cllr Kevin Foster, who represents Colburn, an area with amongst the highest levels of deprivation in the county, said he received a lot of complaints over the cost of taxi fares.

He said the public needed to be made aware taxis did not have to charge the maximum permitted fares.

Several executive members said they felt the proposals represented a reasonable compromise.

While the fare increase will be subject to consultation if anyone objects, managing our environment executive member Councilor Greg White said some people had called for the maximum charges to be lowered to make North Yorkshire more competitive with nearby areas.

He said a three-mile trip in Barnsley would cost £8.90, but in North Yorkshire it would be £14.98.

A report to the meeting showed while a 20-mile night-time journey in North Yorkshire would cost £68.67, in Bradford passengers would be charged £42.40, in Leeds and £49.45 in East Riding.

Cllr White said:

“We are already more expensive than Bradford, Durham, East Riding, Lancaster, Leeds, Redcar and Cleveland and York. So I’m really keen that we don’t get to the situation where we do an injustice to the people who use the taxi service by making those taxis become unaffordable.”

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Harrogate residents react to road reopening

A week ago, traffic started flowing again on a road in Harrogate that had been blocked for 18 months.

Bogs Lane and Kingsley Road together form a horseshoe shape off the A59 Knaresborough Road. The bridge where they meet was closed to facilitate one of the many new housing developments in the area.

The route serves thousands of residents and is also used as a rat run or cut through to avoid the A59. Emergency vehicles travel along it when the barrier at Starbeck level crossing is down.

So are residents pleased to see the road fully back in use or did they prefer living in a quieter neighbourhood?

The Stray Ferret talked to residents this week and visited the site to speak to councillor Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley on North Yorkshire Council.

The road closure has ended.

Cllr Aldred said most residents he’d spoken to — particularly those in the new developments — appeared happy to have the full use of the road back.

When we met, a woman who lives in Barratt Homes’ Kingsley Meadows passed by and said she often drove to Knaresborough and unblocking the road had saved a lengthy detour.

Claire Mortimer, whose salon The Nail Garden is attached to her home in Kingsley, supported the re-opening. She said:

“The closure has been hard for my business as I have clients that travel far so it’s been annoying they’ve had to go the long way for so long.”

Kevin Francis agreed, saying he moved to the area in 2019 because of its “great links to other areas”, adding:

“Bogs Lane being closed has had a real impact on our day-to-day lives.

“Working to the east of Starbeck we had been shunted onto the High Street and spent many an hour clogging up the A59.”

Daniel Jefferson said the road “provides an important additional link around Starbeck”.

He added:

“Since the temporary closure of Bogs Lane I’ve felt like we’ve seen a significant increase in traffic congestion both exiting Kingsley Road and through Starbeck which I also believe has contributed in additional road traffic accidents occurring along these routes, significant increase emissions and congestion.”

‘More speeding cars’

But Nicola Woods is among those who have the opposite view. She said the reopening encouraged speeding motorists with little respect for the many cyclists and horse riders that used the road, adding:

“At times it is tricky getting in and out of my driveway which is again caused by the speed of some vehicles coming round the bend near Hillbank Road, I have had some near misses.

“The past few months whilst the road has been shut I have seen an increase in people walking and cycling down Bogs Lane. It will be interesting to see what affect the re-opening of the road has on this.”

Tim Redshaw said Bogs Lane was an unclassified road that could not sustain the increased volume of traffic. He said:

“Having lived in Starbeck most of my life l’ve seen how the traffic flows have changed, and the negative effects it’s creating. To keep building on the green belt land we till recently held so dear is a very big mistake.”

New footpath

The new footpath

The road re-opening is not the only change. New traffic lights have been installed near the entrance to Redrow’s Kingsley Manor development and a footpath has been created alongside it towards Bogs Lane to make walking safer.

Darren Long, whose family lives on Kingsley Road, said he didn’t understand why traffic from the Redrow site is now forced to turn right onto Kingsley Road.

“It’s a very odd decision. On a daily basis, we see residents turning around in the Barratts junction to go back over Bogs Lane way. It totally baffles me.”

Mr Long also called for traffic calming measures on Kingsley Road “as the speed of the traffic on here from some rat runners and residents is absolutely frightening”. He added:

“We’re regularly overlooked in this area and it’ll unfortunately take a fatality for the council to act on this I suspect.”

The road closed to allow Redrow to work on its Kingsley Manor development.

Cllr Aldred said the new footpath and road surface looked good but the old crumbling footpath across the bridge needed upgrading. He added:

“I’m going to ask for that to be done, as the new footpath makes it look terrible.  Highways also need to do something about the potholes on the approach from Kingsley Drive — they are awful.”

He added he suspected not everyone had realised yet the road had reopened, and the volume of traffic could increase in the weeks ahead.

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Local history spotlight: Louis Copé

(Lead image: Harrogate Civic Society and Alex Goldstein)

London, Milan, New York – and Harrogate?

It might not be mentioned amongst the so-called style capitals of the world, but Harrogate certainly has sartorial credentials of its own. Just a brief wander around the central shopping district offers independent boutiques and designer brands, as well as the usual high street favourites.

However, it’s when looking back into the past that Harrogate’s reputation as a fashion-forward town really comes to the fore. In fact, it was once the home of a famous female fashion emporium, that considered members of the royal family as part of its clientele.

The shop belonged to Louis Copé (pronounced co-pay), a Jewish refugee whose family fled to the UK from Poland to pursue a better life. He was a major player in the fast-paced fashion world of the time, and while his shop closed in the 1970s, his influence in town remains to this day.

Early life

Copé’s distinctive moniker wasn’t actually his family name or birth name – he was officially christened Ulik Bidenkopf. His birth date is believed to be October 7, 1877.

Parliament Street in the 1900s (Image: Walker-Neesam Archive)

Copé was a later adaption of his surname, transitioning from Bidenkopf to Bidencope and then to Copé – a surname most commonly found in Europe – to sound more ‘sophisticated’.

His family first arrived in the UK in the early 20th century, having fled their home in Poland. In that time period, Poland was split between Prussia, the Habsburg monarchy, and Russia, with its Jewish citizens heavily persecuted.

Copé suffered from asthma, and the oppressive industrial smog of London wasn’t helping his health. In 1914, he made the move to Harrogate in search of the purer air that many believed the spa town, and the Yorkshire countryside, could offer.

Clothing Harrogate’s high society

While he may have first worked as a barber when he arrived in the UK – although this is unconfirmed – he made his first career change when arriving in Yorkshire, to become a jeweller. He was always a purveyor of the finer things in life, and in 1918 he opened the store which occupied numbers 52-58 on the corner of Parliament Street, facing the Royal Baths.

Copé’s shop rivalled that iconic building as an architectural talking point; the single pane of glass that wrapped around the main façade must have been an expensive installation, and indicated that customers could expect class when they stepped over the threshold.

The store sold a vast array of luxury couture such as dresses, fur coats, hats, and bags, as well as offering repairs to jewellery and clothing. The clientele was just as prestigious as the attire; the wealthy residents of Harrogate and beyond soon became loyal customers.

A fashion show organised by Louis Copé (Image: Alex Goldstein)

Copé’s reputation quickly grew, and ladies’ maids from across the country were soon contacting his shop to ask his advice on what latest accessory or style their mistress should be wearing.

The mid-1920s was a busy and prosperous time; not only did Copé get married and become a ‘naturalised British citizen’ in 1926, but he even had a brush with royalty. He received a request to dress Queen Mary, whose daughter Princess Mary was Countess of Harewood, the sprawling country estate near Leeds.

Later, the introduction of Freda – his only daughter out of three children – to a William Goldstein, a member of famed fashion house of its day Ellis & Goldstein of London, resulted in a marriage and the union of the two powerful families in society.

Fortune and philanthropy 

A good indication of the dizzying heights of success and fortune Copé reached would be the time he came into possession of the ‘Tenant Diamond’, a gemstone valued at around £10,000 – a vast amount for the era.

Despite his lavish lifestyle, he still remained an active member of the Harrogate community and was just as well-known for his philanthropic endeavours. This included supporting several local charities, and throwing fundraising evenings for Harrogate Infirmary.

His legacy

Copé passed away on June 30 1957 at the age of 79. He is buried in Leeds, in the New Farnley Jewish cemetery. His store was taken over by his son Harry and enjoyed many more successful years trading, before eventually being sold in the late 1970s.

Copé’s great-great grandson Alex Goldstein is a property consultant and still calls Harrogate home. In 2022, alongside the late historian Malcom Neesam, he successfully petitioned for a brown plaque to be installed outside of the former premise – now home to Rhodes Menswear.

Alex Goldstein, property consultant in Harrogate and London.

Alex Goldstein with the brown plaque

Speaking to the Stray Ferret in 2022 about the unveiling of the plaque, Mr Goldstein said:

“I am so pleased to have been able to mark the history and story of my great grandfather, whose fashion house spanned decades and formed important memories for so many people in and around Harrogate.”

Sources for this article include a biographical timeline on the Harrogate Civic Society website, Regional Couture: The Inter-war British Couture Fashion House Isobel (London & Harrogate) Ltd in the academic journal Costume, by Hannah Wroe, Edinburgh University Press, an article on Harrogate Spa Stories website and a profile on Geni.com.

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Pierce Brosnan ‘borrows screwdriver’ from Knaresborough optician

Staff and customers at a Knaresborough eyewear store had a surprise today when James Bond star Pierce Brosnan walked in.

Yorkshire Eyewear, on High Street, helped the 70-year-old film star after he came in with “a problem with his glasses”.

Meg Lazenby, who runs the store’s social media, told the Stray Ferret that Brosnan asked to “borrow a screwdriver” at about midday today.

She said:

“He sort of walked past and then came in. He said he had an issue with his glasses and asked to borrow our screwdriver to fix them. He didn’t buy anything though.”

Ms Lazenby said the star, who is rumoured to be filming a new biopic called Giant about Sheffield ex-boxer Naseem Hamed, was “lovely and very polite”.

He agreed to pose for a photo with a customer, telling them he was in the area because he “loves the Yorkshire scenery”.

During his trip to Knaresborough, the former 007 also stopped at Castle Creamery.

Owners Tim and Jane said he was “lovely and really charming”, adding he enjoyed his ice cream “outside with other customers”.

Tim added:

“He said he was working on a project in Leeds and was on a day off today”.

Pierce Brosnan with Castle Creamery owner Jane.

The Harrogate district seems to have stolen Pierce’s heart – much like he stole the hearts of many admirers when he played Bond four times. Three weeks ago he was spotted having a pint — rather than a martini — in the Fat Badger in Harrogate.

Shortly after his sighting, the elusive former frontman of The Smiths, Morrissey, another Harrogate regular, was photographed on Cut Throat Lane in Shaw Mills.

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Lucy Pittaway unveils new original celebrating Harrogate life

This story is sponsored by Lucy Pittaway.

Step into Lucy Pittaway’s colourful world and get ready for an adventure through her diverse collection of artwork. From the tranquil beauty of Yorkshire landscapes to the playful antics of her beloved sheep, there’s something for everyone to love in Lucy’s gallery.

Picture this: you stroll into the gallery, and you’re hit with a burst of energy and colour that just screams Lucy Pittaway, it’s like stepping into a rainbow.

You’ll find yourself surrounded by splendid landscapes, vibrant florals, adorable dogs, energetic cyclists, and of course, those iconic sheep.

Lucy’s latest masterpiece “Yorkshire Life”

Let’s talk about “Yorkshire Life.” This latest masterpiece is all about celebrating the scenic wonders of Harrogate and its surroundings.

Think rolling hills, iconic landmarks, and maybe even a few fluffy friends thrown in for good measure. It’s like a love letter to Yorkshire, painted with Lucy’s signature flair and style.

The original “Yorkshire Life” on display in the Harrogate gallery.

Lucy’s collections are inspired by her travels, her love of nature, and her passion for capturing life’s little moments. Whether you’re dreaming of dramatic skies, sunrises and sunsets or simply want to bring a touch of joy and colour into your home, she has got you covered.

Harrogate gallery bursting with joy

Now, let’s talk about the gallery itself. Located in the middle of Harrogate’s bustling high street, it’s a beacon of creativity and fun.

Since opening its doors, it’s become a hotspot for art lovers and locals alike, drawing in people with its vibrant colour and welcoming atmosphere.

The store sells homeware, stationery and more.

Let’s not forget about Tanya, the gallery manager, and her team who unveiled the original “Yorkshire Life” in Harrogate today.

The team are always ready with a smile and a friendly chat, they’ll help you find the perfect piece to suit your style and personality.

Whether you’re a seasoned art expert or a newbie just dipping your toes into the art world, they’ll make you feel right at home.

So why not pop by Lucy Pittaway’s Harrogate Gallery? Lose yourself in the beauty of “Yorkshire Life” and discover a world of colour, joy, and endless possibilities. Who knows? You might just leave with a little piece of Lucy magic to brighten up your day!

Harrogate-born man to represent UK in Eurovision final tomorrow

A Harrogate-born man will represent the UK at the world’s biggest music competition tomorrow night.

Olly Alexander, frontman of UK-chart-topping band Years & Years, will go head-to-head with 25 other countries in the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö.

The competition celebrates its 68th anniversary this year and marks the beginning of Olly’s solo career after more than a decade of success with Years & Years.

The group achieved two number one UK albums, 10 UK top 40 singles and, most recently, were awarded the BRIT Billion Award after reaching 6.5 billion global streams.

But Olly will tomorrow face other European hopefuls alone – all competing to follow in ABBA’s footsteps 50 years on.

In an interview with the BBC, he said:

“I’m feeling very proud to be representing the UK with my song Dizzy. I can’t believe that it’s happening to be honest with you, this whole experience feels like a dream.

“I’ve watched Eurovision since I was a kid and now that I’m going to be out there on the stage, flying the flag for my country. It’s quite overwhelming but very exciting.”

He also said he has one pre-stage ritual, which is to “hug whoever I’m going on stage with”.

Olly Alexander rehearsing for Eurovision. Pic: BBC/Mercury Studios Media Limited.

However, Olly also told the BBC he did the one thing Eurovision contestants shouldn’t do – he looked at his odds – and it appears the UK doesn’t stand a great chance of winning (again).

“My odds for winning are at one per cent”, he told the BBC, adding “but that’s fine. It’s better than zero”.

According to EurovisionWorld.com, Croatia is favourite to win, with a 38% chance of success. Israel and Switzerland are next.

The competition is being held in Malmö following Sweden’s seventh win last year.

The final of the Eurovision Song Contest will be streamed on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 8pm tomorrow night (Saturday, May 11).

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Starbucks reveals opening date for new Harrogate drive-through

Starbucks has finally revealed when it will open its new drive-through on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

The company will welcome its first customers at 8am on Tuesday, May 21.

The business will be open from 6am to 9pm daily.

Store manager Chris Gilbert told the Stray Ferret the Starbucks had brought 18 jobs to the local area through the new initiative, and the number was expected to increase.

Mr Gilbert said:

“We are looking forward to helping boost the local economy. We have already been out litter picking around the area as we know this is becoming an issue in Harrogate at the minute.

“On our opening day, we will be giving out free tall drinks vouchers to customers that come and visit. These can be redeemed on the first weekend and will be on a first come, first serve basis.

“We are super excited to open, and we look forward to being part of the community.”

Starbucks is based on the site previously occupied by Mediterranean fast-food chain Leon, which closed in April last year after just 10 months.

It was operated by Blackburn-based EG Group, which also runs Starbucks franchises as well as brands including KFC and Greggs.

The site was previously a Leon restaurant.

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