National pet retailer to open Harrogate store this month

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes is to open a store in Harrogate this month as part of expansion plans.

The store, which will be situated at Hookstone Park, near Morrisons, will open on September 29 and employ 10 people. It will include a grooming spa called the Jolly Groomer.

Jollyes was founded in 1971 and employs more than 1,000 staff at 93 sites, many of which run community clinics offering vaccinations.

The company plans to open 10 more stores by the middle of 2024, taking its total number of sites to 103.

Inside Jollyes. Pic: Professional Images/@ProfImages

News of the Harrogate venture was included in a trading update today that revealed the company recorded sales of £33.7 million in the first quarter of 2024 — 34% higher than the £25.3m figure for last year’s first quarter.

Growth was partly fuelled by an increase in sign-ups to the firm’s pet club, which rewards customers for sales.

Chief executive Joe Wykes said:

“Our performance in our opening quarter of this financial year underlines the effectiveness of the strategy we’ve put in place – delivering exceptional value to our customers, powered by the most knowledgeable colleagues in the industry.”

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Police release CCTV images after criminal damage in Harrogate

Police have released two CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to following criminal damage to a Harrogate building.

The incident took place on Mount Parade in the town centre at 1.30am on Thursday, August 9.

It involved damage to a block of flats.

North Yorkshire Police has asked members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the person in the images, as it believes they will have information that will help the investigation.

The force said in a statement:

“Anyone with information is asked to email mark.burrows@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for PC 296 Mark Burrows.

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

“Quote reference number 12230149604.”

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Council refuses controversial Crimple Valley housing scheme

North Yorkshire Council has refused a plan to build 17 homes at Almsford Bank Stables in Harrogate saying the scheme would “erode the distinct character” of the Crimple Valley.

Developers Square Feet Ltd and Antela Developments Ltd submitted a plan for 17 homes with seven of them classed as affordable and 10 as custom self-build for people who want to build their own home.

The site has been in equestrian use and includes farmland, barns and stables.

It’s the third attempt to build housing on the site, which is on the edge of Harrogate off Leeds Road and is overlooked by the imposing Crimple Valley Viaduct which dates to 1848.

In 2021, plans for 65 homes were withdrawn. Last year, a smaller application for 35 homes was refused by Harrogate Borough Council.

The application was met with fierce resistance from the Save Crimple Valley campaign group who argued the homes would harm the appearance of one of Harrogate’s most picturesque locations.

The plans received 360 objections and no letters of support.

Documents attached to the application by the developers said they reduced the size of the scheme to minimise its impact on the countryside with homes only built on the northern part of the site.

A southern section would have provided a “significant landscaped area”.

The land is not allocated for development in the council’s Local Plan, which sets out where development can take place, however the developers said that the document supports the delivery of self-build homes on the edge of towns.

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However, the council did not agree and gave seven reasons for refusal in a lengthy decision notice.

Reasons included the site not being allocated in the Local Plan, the loss of open fields, re-routing a public footpath, and the removal of a “relatively large” number of trees.

The council’s highways department also said the scheme would interfere with the free flow of traffic on Leeds Road and potentially cause “danger to highway users”.

North Yorkshire Council case officer Jillian Rann said:

“The proposed development would result in harm to the character and appearance of its surroundings, including the Crimple Valley Special Landscape Area, through the loss of open fields and woodland and the introduction of unacceptable and incongruous (sub)urban development into an area of high landscape value, which is important to the setting of Harrogate and the setting of the grade II* listed building, Crimple Valley Viaduct and to the separation between, and individual distinctiveness of, the settlements of Harrogate and Pannal.”

Harrogate NHS dentist to move to ‘membership only’ patient scheme

A Harrogate dentist has announced it will only see patients on a membership only basis from December.

Chatsworth House Dental Clinic, which is based on King’s Road, announced it will move to a monthly payment scheme once its NHS contract comes to an end.

The move comes as concern has been raised about the lack of access to NHS dentistry within the Harrogate district.

In a letter to patients seen by the Stray Ferret, Chatsworth House said it made the decision to “reduce appointment waiting times” and “improve prevention of dental disease and decay”.

It said:

“After careful consideration, we have decided that from 1st December 2023 we will be seeing patients on a membership basis only.

“We know this decision will allow us to spend more time with you, reduce appointment waiting times, improve prevention of dental disease and decay, and offer you a greater choice in the variety of treatments we are able to deliver in a much more relaxed environment.”

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The letter adds that patients will be offered a membership plan of £21.45 per month – or 70p per day.

The practice had previously proposed plans to refer NHS patients to Starbeck Dental Centre in August 2020, but later dropped the proposal.

The Stray Ferret approached the clinic for comment on its plan, but had not received a response by the time of publication.

NHS dentist fears

It comes as politicians have raised concern over the lack of access to NHS dentistry in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans and Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, raised the issue in the House of Commons in February.

She said only half of children in North Yorkshire managed to see an NHS dentist last year, adding:

“In Harrogate if you are lucky enough to find an NHS dentist taking on any new patients you face a two-and-a-half year wait to see them. This is a shocking state of affairs.”

Meanwhile, Conservative Cllr Andrew Lee, chair of North Yorkshire Council’s health scrutiny panel, wrote to the government’s health and social committee in February with evidence over “extremely problematic” access to dentists.

A review of NHS dentistry published in August 2021 found that there was just one NHS dentist practice per 10,000 people in the Harrogate district.

Cllr Lee said:

“Radical reform is absolutely needed. The solution lies in the management of dental services. Recruitment and retention remain difficult, and dentists themselves are frustrated with the service they can provide.

“The problem does not lie with recruiting dentists, the problem lies with a broken and dysfunctional dental contract with severe underfunding. Dentists themselves cannot rectify this and it is creating by default a two-tier system whereby those that can afford to go private do so and others struggle to access any kind of care.”

Business Breakfast: Women in business networking group returns to Harrogate

A networking group aimed at business women in Harrogate is set to return this month.

Harrogate Ladies Who Latte was launched in February and has so far signed up 100 members.

Now, the group is set to return with a meeting at the Lilypad restaurant, King’s Road, at 9.30am on September 13.

The group is free to attend and is open to all women in employment or running their own business.

Business consultant Sarah Shaw, who founded Ladies Who Latte with Carol Beeley, said: 

“We’ve had an incredible response so far, and it’s wonderful to hear some of the fantastic outcomes from connections made in the group. 

“We can’t wait to get going again and would love to see new faces alongside our current members.”

For more information on the meeting, visit the Ladies Who Latte website here.

Rudding Park partners with Harrogate lighting company

Rudding Park has announced a partnership with a Harrogate-based lighting company ahead of the Christmas period.

The hotel and spa has partnered with Lights4fun to help enhance the estate with festive lighting and illuminations.

The company will set up a “Follow the Christmas Stars” experience, which will allow guests to discover stars adorning the trees and glistening golden rings during the night time.

Nicola Cook, head of marketing at Rudding Park, said; 

“We always strive to enhance our guest experience, so this year we are delighted to be collaborating with our friends at Lights4Fun whose talented creative team are helping illuminate a series of outdoor spaces to inspire magical and unforgettable moments.”

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Man jailed for raping women from Harrogate and Leeds

A man has been jailed for 14 years and nine months for raping women from Harrogate and Leeds.

The man, who was from south-east Leeds, also engaged in controlling and coercive behaviour with both victims.

The 30-year-old was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Monday after he pleaded guilty to the four offences on August 2.

The offences occurred several years ago, with extensive enquiries taking place to secure justice for the victims, whose identities are protected by law.

North Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Police conducted the investigation jointly.

Detective constable Nicky Wareham, from Harrogate CID, who led the investigation for the offences that happened in North Yorkshire, said:

“This case shows that convictions of this kind are achievable, and I encourage anyone to report sexual violence and controlling and coercive behaviour to the police and our partner agencies.

“Professional support and care are readily available. We are here to help you.”

Harrogate man jailed for wielding knife and spitting at police officer

A Harrogate man who spat at a police officer after being arrested for wielding a knife in the town centre has been jailed for 18 months.

Matthew Liam Tuck, 28, took out the blade during an argument with two men outside a pizza shop on Station Parade in the early hours of July 29.

He then walked towards one of the men while “waving and brandishing” what was thought to be a kitchen knife, York Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Jade Bucklow said another man intervened and Tuck was taken to ground. But then Tuck got back to his feet and, still brandishing the knife, lunged at one of the men, although he didn’t try to strike him with the blade.

Tuck then walked around the street holding the knife aloft and a hooded top, said Ms Bucklow.

She added:

“Shortly afterwards, police arrived and the defendant drops the knife and the hoodie in the street.”

Tuck was brought in for questioning but refused to answer police questions. He was kept in custody overnight.

The following day, he pressed the buzzer in his cell to get the attention of custody staff and an officer spoke to him through the cell door shutter as Tuck was becoming “agitated” and started hitting himself in the head. He then spat in the face of the officer through the cell hatch.

Ms Buckle said:

“Some of it landed in her mouth.”

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The officer was taken to hospital for blood tests for Hepatitis B. The prosecution said it was “unclear” whether this was a purely precautionary measure.

Tuck, of Bower Street, was charged with carrying a knife and assaulting an emergency worker. He admitted the offences and appeared for sentence via video link today after being remanded in custody.

Ms Buckley said the victim of the spitting incident said she felt “devastated, disgusted and dirty” after Tuck spat in her face. 

126 previous offences

Tuck, a sometime builder, had 49 previous convictions for 126 offences including violence. In November last year, he received a 16-week jail sentence for assaulting a police officer.

In that incident, Tuck, who was on a police “wanted” list, became “aggressive and verbally abusive” as officers approached him. He resisted arrest and kneed one of the officers in the crotch.

Defence barrister John Batchelor said Tuck’s recollection of the incidents in July were “sketchy” as he had taken Diazepam. 

He said that Tuck “lost his head” after his partner told him she had been assaulted. However, Tuck was “in no fit state” to aim his ire at the men he targeted outside the pizza parlour.

Recorder Mr T. Clayson said Tuck’s attack on the men in the street was born of “nothing” and described his spitting at the officer as “very offensive”.

He told Tuck: 

“This was bad and you know you have got to serve a prison sentence for it.”

He added, however, that the officer’s seeking treatment at hospital appeared to be preventative rather than due to an actual diagnosis of Hepatitis B.

The judge described Tuck’s criminal record as “appalling”, adding that it was “extremely sad to see a young man now leaving his formative years who (is) still getting into the sort of trouble which is pretty inexcusable for someone who is 28”.

Mr Clayson said the only way Took was going to turn his life around and stay out of trouble was by renouncing drugs and getting a job. 

Tuck will serve half of the 18-month jail sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.  

Historic Harrogate jewellers to host Egyptology exhibition

One of Harrogate’s most famous shops is to host an Egyptology exhibition that highlights its links to Tutankhamun.

Ogden of Harrogate‘s Egyptomania exhibition, which opens on Thursday, celebrates 130 years of the family jewellers and the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb.

James R Ogden, who founded the business in 1893, travelled widely to obtain jewels and the exhibition features his artefacts and letters.

When Howard Carter discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb, he invited Ogden to the Valley of the Kings to value and weigh the gold, including Tutankhamun’s coffin.

The Harrogate jeweller was one of the first people in over 3,000 years to enter the tomb.

JR Ogden, who founded the family jewellers.

Ogden of Harrogate, which is based on James Street, is now run by JR Ogden’s great, great grandsons Robert and Ben Ogden.

Robert Ogden said:

“The history of our business is our cornerstone and we have recently been cataloguing our archive, where we have a vast collection of JR Ogden’s memorabilia, including a remarkable collection of 10,000 lantern slides of his travels to Tutankhamun’s tomb, and artefacts from his expeditions to Ur, Babylon, Palestine, Syria, and Assyria.

“There are also hundreds of letters that are fascinating glimpses of the key characters of that time, and their explorations.”

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JR Ogden knew Howard Carter, Lord Carnarvon, Max Mallowan (Agatha Christie’s second husband) and worked particularly closely with the archaeologists Leonard and Katharine Woolley.

Some of these artefacts and letters will be on display for the first time.

The exhibition also includes previously unseen letters of Katharine Woolley, a pioneering female archaeologist, that are of particular interest, as on her death she asked that all her personal documents be destroyed.

Yvonne Nightingale, general manager at Ogden of Harrogate, with some letters from the exhibition. Pic: Lorne Campbell. Guzelian

Ogden made many replicas of the artefacts found at Tutankhamun and Ur and donated them to the British Museum.

The exhibition provides an insight into the social and political context in which archaeology was practiced at that time. JR Ogden collected hundreds of newspaper clippings about archaeological digs, some of which will also be on display.

Egyptology runs at Ogden of Harrogate on James Street, Harrogate, from September 7 to 21.

Major expansion of Rudding Park recommended for approval

Council officers have recommended councillors approve an expansion of Rudding Park Hotel and Spa to create a new golfing clubhouse, family hub, tennis courts and the reinstatement of a walled garden.

Rudding Park is a luxury tourist destination on a sprawling 300-acre estate three miles south of Harrogate.

Planning documents say that its current clubhouse was originally built as a temporary facility but has now outgrown its useful life and “considerably discredits the course”.

The new building would be spread over two storeys and also would feature swimming pools, restaurants, a gym and changing rooms.

A replacement family hub would also be built to include a creche, softplay area and swimming pool.

Masterplan of the renovations as proposed by Rudding Park.

A walled garden was converted into a caravan park in the 1970s but would be reinstated.

Four new tennis courts and a pavilion are also proposed as part of the plans.

According to planning documents, the improvements will result in an additional 75 full time jobs and will lead to an extra £14.3 million being spent in the local area every year.

Documents state:

“Over the last 50 years, Rudding Park has become the standard bearer for quality hospitality in Harrogate, and positions Harrogate as a UK wide and international tourist destination. The owners have made consistent and intentional decisions to design and build the highest quality amenities and experiences for Harrogate, the North and the UK. With no exception.

“The vision is to create the UK’s best independent luxury resort and, to do this, the resort requires a new club house, redeveloped family facilities and additional sports amenities.

“To remain the jewel in the crown for Harrogate tourism, Rudding Park must develop these high-quality fitness, sports, leisure and recreational spaces to complement the hotel, spa and house and the legacy of the last 50 years’ development.”

The application will be decided by councillors who sit on North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee in Northallerton on Tuesday (September 12) rather than those on the Harrogate & Knaresborough planning committee.

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Harrogate nursery Tiny Teapots rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

Tiny Teapots nursery in Harrogate has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted just a year after receiving a ‘requires improvement’ rating.

The government inspector said in a report published last week that “children in this setting play happily with one another and eagerly participate in activities with the warm and friendly staff who take care of them”.

The report said “staff communicate well with children” and take the time “to share in children’s interests”.

It added:

“The curriculum is carefully planned to meet the needs of individual children in the nursery.

“[It] is built upon an ethos of ‘magic and wonder’ and the learning environment actively supports this aim.

“The nursery benefits from a strong management team which is keen to ensure the nursery continues to progress. Relationships with parents are a priority.”

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Despite reporting that “children generally behave well”, the inspector did note “occasionally, children are not fully supported to understand boundaries and behavioural expectations” which can “lead to some boisterous play”.

However, it added that “this is an area of development which the management team recognises and is actively supporting staff with”.

Claire Martin, nursery manager at Tiny Teapots, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are absolutely thrilled with the recent Ofsted report which serves as a testament to the dedication and care delivered by the team.

“As we look ahead, we are excited about the promising path we are on.

“We are firmly committed to building upon this remarkable achievement and ensuring that we continue to offer nothing but the very best care for our children.”

The inspection, which took place on July 25, followed an inspection in July last year.

Tiny Teapots is part of Just Childcare – a group of day nurseries across the north-west, Yorkshire and the south west of England.