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Harrogate’s Rachel Daly ranked 10th best player in world

Harrogate-born Rachel Daly finished 10th last night at the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards in Paris.

The Aston Villa striker was one of two England Lionesses to make the top 10. Manchester United goalkeeper Mary Earps was fifth.

Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati, who helped her side defeat England in the World Cup final, was first.

Former Rossett School pupil Daly was top scorer in the Women’s Super League last season and named PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

She was also a member of the England side that won the 2022 European Championships.

Daly’s astonishing achievements have yet to impress North Yorkshire Council, which continues to ignore a petition by Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club — the club where she started her career — calling for a civic honour. The Stray Ferret is supporting the appeal.

None of the four England players on the 30-strong shortlist were able to attend the ceremony because they are international duty. England play Belgium in the National League tonight.

The top 30 was decided by the votes of 100 journalists, who come from the countries which make up the top 100 of the FIFA rankings.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi beat Erling Haaland for the men’s award.

Harrogate Tea Rooms closes immediately

The Harrogate Tea Rooms in Westminster Arcade has closed with immediate effect.

Owners Carrie and Tony Wilkinson, who have run the business for 13 years, announced the news “with heavy hearts” on social media last night.

They said the day-to-day running costs were not translating into profit.

Their post said:

“We are as sad and shocked as some of you will be.

“Our tenancy with the new landlord was up for renewal, but with increased rent, energy and food costs, lower than ever footfall, our out-of-the-way location and possibly the ever increasing amount of new coffee shops near us, it has forced our decision to unfortunately not be able to move forward with the business.

“It is truly a challenging time for many small businesses.

“We have a massively supportive team of thousands of followers but it is the day to day running costs and effort that is just not translating into profit.

“Obviously that is not sustainable, so we have had to take the decision to walk away.”

They added they tried to sell the business “but there is currently no market for the many local tea rooms/cafes up for sale”.

The post thanked customers and added they will continue to make scones for delivery.

The Harrogate Tea Rooms was featured in The Harrogate Crime Series by Malcolm Hollingdrake.

Mr and Ms Wilkinson said DCI Cyril Bennett, one of the main characters, will live “in our hearts and memories”, and ‘will forever be drinking tea from a China cup”.

MPs Watch: HS2, Yorkshire Water and maiden speeches

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In October, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the northern leg of HS2 would be scrapped and Yorkshire Water unveiled a £7.8 billion investment plan.

Meanwhile, Keir Mather, Selby and Ainsty MP which includes south Harrogate, made his maiden speech in the House of Commons.

We Selby and Ainsty MP Keir Mather if they would like to highlight anything in particular, but did not receive a response.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

On October 3, Mr Jones welcomed a £7.8 billion investment plan being submitted by Yorkshire Water.
On October 4, Mr Jones attended the Conservative Party conference and was present for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s speech.
Following the speech, Mr Jones said he was “disappointed” with the decision to scrap the northern leg of the HS2 project.
On October 5, he met with the owners of the former McColls store in Starbeck who are expected to unveil plans for the building this year.
On the same day, Mr Jones attended the opening of the Rachel Daly pitch at Killinghall Nomads JFC.
On October 18, Mr Jones called for a 138-home development on Water Lane in Knaresborough to be cancelled. He also raised the issue in the House of Commons on October 16.
On October 19, he hosted the Street Works UK awards in Parliament.
Mr Jones announced on the same day that he would be objecting to a planned asphalt plan at Allerton Park near Knaresborough.
On October 21, he visited Harrogate synagogue to discuss events in Israel and Gaza.
On October 28, he met with the Harrogate Imam to discuss events in Isreal and Gaza.

When we contacted Mr Jones for comment, his office sent a list of his engagements for September.

They included attending a roundtable with the British Dental Association and a Northern Powerhouse Partnership Transport Reception. He also with members of Zero Carbon Harrogate and met a local dentist to discuss NHS dentistry.

Others included visiting Yorkshire Cancer Research’s new facility at Hornbeam Park, chairing a meeting of the European Statutory Instruments Committee and meeting leaders from Luminate Education Group at a reception in the House of Commons.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Mr Smith made no spoken contributions in the House of Commons in October.
On October 11, Mr Smith tweeted that he had met residents and North Yorkshire Council to discuss recent deaths on the A61 at South Stainley and to campaign for a lower speed limit.
On October 16, Mr Smith visited the Ripon Inn ahead of its opening.
Mr Smith posted on his website on October 22 that he had visited Sharow Church of England Primary School to meet with its headteacher and answer questions from pupils.
Mr Smith updated his website 11 times in October, which included posts promoting government initiatives and visits within his constituency.

When we contacted Mr Smith’s for comment, his office sent a roundup of his engagements for October.

Among them included visiting local schools and businesses in Skipton and Ripon, including Cundall Manor School.

Meanwhile, he also visited The Beer Engine in Skipton and met with Bentham resident, Viv Barclay, who will attempt to become the oldest woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Keir Mather, Selby and Ainsty MP.

In Selby and Ainsty, which includes rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Mather:

Mr Mather posted 11 times on his Facebook page in October. None of the updates related to areas of his constituency which fall in Harrogate.
On October 16, Mr Mather made his maiden speech in the House of Commons.
On October 23, Mr Mather asked the minister for environment, Rebecca Pow, how she would be working with the Environment Agency to support people during Storm Babet.
He joined a debate on the sustainability of rural post offices in Westminster Hall on October 25.

‘Lone wolf terrorist’ plotted to blow up RAF Menwith Hill, trial hears

A would-be “lone wolf terrorist” plotted to blow up part of a hospital and an RAF base near Harrogate, a court heard today.

Mohammad Farooq, 28, a clinical support worker, downloaded material from extremist Jihadi groups and online guides on how to make a bomb, then set his sights on RAF Menwith Hill and St James Hospital, a jury was told.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting at Sheffield Crown Court, said that Farooq’s “Plan A” was to target the RAF and radar base and when that didn’t come off, he turned his attention to the hospital in Leeds where he worked at the time and was said to harbour a grudge against certain colleagues, namely nurses.

Farooq’s initial plan was to target the US spy base at Menwith Hill but he also planned to blow up part of the hospital and go on a terrorist spree with a firearm, a homemade bomb and a kitchen knife, with the aim of “killing as many people as possible”.

Mr Sandiford said:

“By January 2023, we say that the defendant had become a self-radicalised lone-wolf terrorist who had made preparations to commit a murderous terrorist attack in Yorkshire.”

At about 5am on January 20, Farooq was arrested outside the Gledhow Wing of St James Hospital.

Mr Sandiford said:

“The defendant was in possession of a viable improvised explosive device assembled from a pressure cooker and containing 9.9 kilos of low explosive.

“He had with him, either on his person or in a bag from his car parked nearby, two knives, black tape and a blank-firing imitation firearm.

“The crown’s case is that he had gone to that hospital to commit a terrorist attack (and) seek his own martyrdom by detonating the explosive device and using bladed weapons to kill as many people as possible.

“The crown says it is likely he intended to use the imitation firearm to induce the police with (what would inevitably be) a response to such an incident to give him a martyrdom that he believed would bring him the seven blessings of the martyr and direct entry into Jannah, or Paradise.”

He said it was only “two pieces of good fortune” that averted a major terrorist atrocity and the potential loss of many lives.

Mr Sandiford added:

“The defendant’s first plan of attack at St James Hospital was to send a bomb threat, that there was a bomb inside the hospital, with the intent of causing an evacuation while he was waiting in his car in his car park – waiting to detonate the improvised explosive device and then attack any survivors with the bladed weapons.

“He sent that bomb threat by text message when he was outside the hospital in his car. The first piece of good fortune is that the person he sent it to was another nurse at the hospital.

“She was off duty at home, watching TV, and didn’t see or act upon the message for over an hour. And so, there is the defendant, sat outside waiting for an evacuation that did not occur.”

When people inside the hospital were finally evacuated, it was only a “part-evacuation”, with people being moved within the hospital, not into the car park where Farooq had been waiting.

Mr Sandiford said:

“When the evacuation happened, the defendant drove away.”

He returned to St James a short time later with a new plan of attack which was to carry the weapons including the homemade bomb into the Costa Coffee cafe inside the hospital wing, wait for a change of shift so that it would be full of nurses, “then detonate it, killing as many of them as possible”.

However, “luck intervened again” when a patient having a cigarette outside the entrance bumped into Farooq and “noticed that something appeared to be amiss with the defendant”.

Police were called to the scene and arrested the alleged terror plotter. He was said to be “co-operative and frank” with officers, telling them that the patient had “talked him down”.

Plan to bomb RAF Menwith Hill

The pressure-cooker bomb was made safe by a military bomb-disposal team as police began to run checks on Farooq’s movements prior to the alleged planned attack.

Analysis of his iPhone and his movements in his Seat Ibiza showed that he had also targeted RAF Menwith Hill.

Mr Sandiford added:

“They found he had become self-radicalised by accessing extremist material and propaganda online containing material published by Islamic State and Al Qaeda.”

Farooq had viewed and downloaded extremist documents and videos on TikTok and lectures by radical preacher Anwar al-Awlaki, the Yemeni imam and leading Al Qaeda figure who was killed in an American drone strike in 2011.

He also obtained bomb-making instructions from Inspire, a magazine published by Al Qaeda to “encourage lone-wolf terrorist attacks against the west”, particularly the US and UK.

Mr Sandiford said the bomb guide, said to be written by a man referred to as the “Al Qaeda Chef”, was clearly aimed at an “American audience”.

He added:

“The defendant identified RAF Menwith Hill, the US base in North Yorkshire, as a target for a terror attack.

“The reason for that was because RAF Menwith Hill had been designated as a target for lone-wolf terrorists by Islamic State because it was believed that the base had been used to co-ordinate drone strikes against terrorists in Syria and Iraq.”

Using cell-site technology, police discovered that Farooq had made at least two visits to the RAF base between January 10 and the day of his arrest on January 20.

Farooq, who appeared for the first day of his trial today, later admitted that he had the explosive device with him when he went to the air base but claimed he had just gone there “for a drive”.

The internet history on his phone also showed he had been following guidance from another Al Qaeda publication called ‘Safety and Security Guidelines for Lone Wolf Mujahideen and small cells’.

The terror guide recommended that the would-be Mujahideen, or Jihadi solider, should have a ‘Plan A’ and a ‘Plan B’ when planning a terrorist atrocity.

He also “obtained instructions for the preparation and manufacture…of five deadly toxins as nerve agents”, namely Ricin, Sarin, VX, Tabun and Tetrodoxin.

In addition to downloading bomb-making instructions, Farooq bought a blank-firing imitation firearm and carried out internet research on how to convert it into a weapon capable of firing live ammunition.

Sheffield Crown Court.

On the ‘Open Source Jihad’ page of Al Qaeda’s terrorist magazine, there was a “map or plan” of RAF Menwith Hill, with an “arrow or flag pointing to Harrogate to the east”.

In the ‘Notes’ section of Farooq’s mobile phone, police found a series of notes in which the alleged would-be terrorist wrote that he “felt alone”.

The notes suggested that Farooq had a “very low sense of self-esteem”, said Mr Sandiford.

In the notes, Farooq said he had “a lot of demons” and was “tired, exhausted and mentally drained”.

He also wrote:

“I’m hoping there’s a little light in the daily struggles I’m facing. To me, love is a (daily struggle) because I’ve never (found it)”.

Mr Sandiford added:

“The crown says that the defendant certainly found a purpose (in life) in what he was planning to do in January of this year.”

He said that Farooq had downloaded an image of a lion with the caption ‘If you want to be strong, plan how to fight alone’, which Mr Sandiford said may have been a veiled reference to “the lone Mujahideen”.

Farooq, of Hetton Road, Roundhay, has already admitted possessing an explosive substance in suspicious circumstances, possessing an improvised explosive device and pyrotechnic fuses.

He has also pleaded guilty to possessing a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and having an imitation firearm with criminal intent, namely a Gediz 9mm PAK semi-automatic pistol, and possession of the same imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

However, he denies plotting or engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts and the prosecution must prove intent to cause injury to people and property.

The trial continues.

Call to close Harrogate’s army college after Parliament reveals cost

A campaign group has called for the closure of Harrogate‘s Army Foundation College after Parliament revealed how much it costs to run.

A question by Labour shadow justice minister Alex Cunningham discovered the annual running cost of the college, which provides basic training for 16 and 17-year-old junior recruits, is £85.5 million.

A separate question by SNP defence spokesperson Martin Docherty revealed it costs £133,000 for each trainee that completes the college’s 49-week junior entry course.

The questions were asked by the MPs on behalf of the campaign group Child Rights International Network.

Jim Wyke, coordinator for national security policy at CRIN, said the figures confirmed its suspicion that it costs more to train a 16-year-old at the college on Penny Pot Lane than it does to put an adult through the same process.

Mr Wyke said younger army recruits took longer to train (16 months vs. six months for the infantry) and were more likely to drop out (33% vs. 23%).

He also said the annual running cost of an average secondary school was £5 million, whereas the Harrogate army college costs £85.5m — 17 times more.

Mr Wyke said:

“The Army Foundation College is an incredibly expensive institution to run with an appalling track record on welfare and drop-out rates.

“It’s educational offerings fall well short of those available at a civilian college, while costing 17 times as much to run and with a record on sexual violence that would see any civilian college shut down.”

The college entrance on Penny Pot Lane.

A British Army spokesperson said:

“The Army Foundation College Harrogate trains over 900 junior soldiers annually and has exceeded 85% retention for the short course and is on track to exceed previous retention for the long course in February 2024.

“The full annual cost of the college delivers an excellent product at great value, with Ofsted rating all elements of provision such as facilities, infrastructure and resources as ‘outstanding’.

AFC Harrogate is a national employer, therefore it is disingenuous to compare it to a civilian college or secondary school.

“AFC Harrogate has very strong safeguarding mechanisms to ensure junior soldiers have the right support. The army is committed to stamping out all forms of inappropriate behaviour and has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual offences; personnel convicted of a sexual offence will be dismissed.”

Boy, 16, arrested after teenager beaten-up at Hornbeam Park

A boy has been arrested after a youth was beaten-up at Hornbeam Park in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police today appealed for witnesses to the attack, which happened at Hornbeam Park railway bridge at about 3pm on Monday 23 October.

According to police, a victim in his mid-teens was assaulted by two suspects.

A force statement added:

“He was punched a number of times and needed medical treatment.

“One boy, aged 16 from the Harrogate area, was arrested in connection with the assault. He has been released on bail while enquiries continue.”

Anyone with information can email Ruby.Rutter@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101 and ask for PC511 Rutter.

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

The incident number is 12230201575.

Fresh plan submitted to convert Harrogate strip club into flats

Plans have been submitted to convert the former Kings Club in Harrogate into 14 apartments.

The prominent town centre building is on the corner of Station Parade and Beulah Street, close to the bus station.

The strip club closed during the first covid lockdown in 2020 and never reopened.

The fresh plans come as North Yorkshire Council approved a proposal for 12 flats at the site in September.

After being empty for almost four years, planning documents state the owner hopes to undertake a major refurbishment to “bring it back to its former glory”.

Documents submitted to North Yorkshire Council said that its current adult entertainment use caused “frequent issues”, including complaints of drunken guests leaving late at night, noise, anti-social behaviour and damage to surrounding properties.

The applicant has looked to rent the first and second floors to new club operators, however, it said the post-covid demand for nightlife has deteriorated.

The 200-capacity venue was set out over two bar levels and included 25 strip booths as well as a large dancing stage with a pole.

The entrance to the club.

But the owner said if it was to remain as a nightclub it would need considerable investment to bring it up to an acceptable standard.

It concluded that converting the upper floors to a selection of “high-quality” two-bedroom apartments is the only viable economic use of the building. Access for residents would be on Beulah Street.

Kings Club was run by businessman Paul Kinsey, who also ran the Viper Rooms and Moko Lounge nightclubs in Harrogate, but all three are now closed.

In a submission to the council, architect James Robinson wrote:

“The proposed conversion of the upper floors of 1 Oxford Street will have a significant net improvement to the surrounding area and economy over the existing strip club use.

“This is an important building, located in a very prominent town centre location, and its current use as adult entertainment is not fitting for the surrounding area. As mentioned the current use attracts anti-social behaviour, and the conversion to high quality flats is a much more appropriate and viable use for the building.”

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

Bike track could replace pitch and putt course in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

The pitch and putt course in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.could be replaced with a bike track for young people.

North Yorkshire Council is conducting a survey on installing a pump track in place of the nine-hole course.

A pump track is a hard-surfaced circuit designed for bikes and scooters which uses the natural bumps and bends in the land to generate momentum.

The council said the track, which would take up 2,000 square metres. would provide an additional activity for children up the age of 10 years.

The pitch and putt course costs £5.50 for adults and £3.50 for concessions and closes in winter.

If the pump track goes ahead, it would be the first of its kind in the Harrogate district.

The survey runs until November 30. The council has yet to give any details on what will happen then.

Pateley Bridge Town Council is also considering the installation of a pump track in the town, following a suggestion at September’s meeting. However, a decision has not been made yet.

DalesBus service from Harrogate and Knaresborough extended to winter

A bus service to the Yorkshire Dales from Harrogate and Knaresborough has been extended through the winter.

DalesBus 74 will run every Saturday to Ilkley, Bolton Abbey and Grassington.

It is expected to run until Easter 2024, when operators hope to extend it into the summer.

The 74 will leave Knaresborough bus station at 9.05am before calling at Harrogate at 9.10am. It returns from Grassington at 5pm and Bolton Abbey at 5.25pm.

The service is managed by Dales and Bowland Community Interest Company, which aims to improve sustainable access to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Harrogate man to fight in boxing match in aid of charity

A Harrogate man is set to compete in a boxing match to raise money for charity.

Liam Brown is set to take part in the Ultra White Collar event at the Majestic Hotel on Ripon Road on November 26.

Mr Brown said he wanted to compete in the match to get back fit, but also to “give back more”.

He said he was inspired to embark on the fundraising campaign after recently saving a babies life on the M62.

Mr Brown, who works for Harrogate Automation Ltd, was stuck traffic on the motorway with his boss, Alex Eadington, on their way to a supplier in Warrington when they noticed a woman had pulled in the hard shoulder screaming for help.

He realised that her baby was choking and ran in to help and pulled a wrapper from its mouth.

Now, he hopes to give back more and has set up a JustGiving page to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

He hopes to raise money for the charity after his grandad died from cancer.

Mr Brown said:

“This charity is close to my heart after my grandad passed from pancreatic cancer .

“I would love to raise as much as possible to have a huge impact on the money needed to research a cure for this disease.”

The Ultra White Collar boxing match is aimed at beginners and encourages those taking part to raise money for charity.

The organisation, which was founded in 2013, holds events across the country and aims to raise thousands for charities each month.

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Plan to bomb RAF Menwith Hill

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