A man has been charged in connection with a collision on Yew Tree Lane in Harrogate that left two teenagers seriously injured.
The 15-year-old Rossett School students who were walking to school at the time, were taken to hospital following the collision at 8.46am on February 2.
Benjamin Oakes, 46, of Tewit Well Avenue, Harrogate has been charged with two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving in a Vauxhall Astra.
He is due to appear at Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning.
Police said a second man who was interviewed under caution will face no further action.
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Fire ravages home in Harrogate
A house has been badly damaged by fire in Harrogate this afternoon.
Firefighters were called to Hill Top Crescent in Bilton at 3.26pm and are still in attendance. The road was cordoned off.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said three fire engines from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon attended.
It did not say whether anyone was injured.
The report added:
“Fire in a garage spread to an attached bungalow.
“Crews have used breathing apparatus, hose reels, main jets and a quantity of firefighting foam.
“The cause of the fire is to be investigated.”
The damaged roof
The road was cordoned off.
Read more:
- Three homes damaged in major fire in Ripon
- Accident reignites safety concerns near Harrogate schools
Missing Harrogate boy, 12, found safe
Police have confirmed that a missing Harrogate boy has been found.
The 12-year-old went missing from his home in Harrogate on Wednesday (June 21).
North Yorkshire Police has since confirmed that the boy has been found safe and well.
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Body found in search for missing Sophie Lambert
Police searching for missing Harrogate woman Sophie Lambert have found a body.
It was found in the River Nidd near Nidd Gorge this morning.
A North Yorkshire Police statement said:
“It is too early to confirm the identity, but Sophie’s family have been informed and are receiving specialist support. We ask that their privacy is respected.
“We thank everyone who has supported the missing person appeal over the last few days.
“A further update will be issued in due course.”
Sophie, 22, was last seen leaving home in Starbeck on the evening of Friday, June 16.
Her family alerted police later that evening and extensive searches were carried out.
Read more:
- Posters go up as search for missing Sophie continues
- Search for missing Sophie Lambert finds her mobile phone
Summer solstice yoga in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens today
A free yoga event will be held in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens this evening to mark the summer solstice.
Today is the longest day of the year, with the sun not due to set until 9.42pm in Harrogate.
To mark the occasion, Ebru Evrim, who owns a yoga and pilates studio on James Street in Harrogate, will lead people through 108 sun salutations, which are moves to greet the sun.
The event is open to everyone who brings a mat, and people can take part in as much or as little as they like. Instructors will be on hand to show beginners through modified variations.
It is free but pre-booking is required.
The company’s website says there will be “beautiful calming music in a stunning natural, peaceful setting”, adding:
“It is a truly powerful evening of connection – with self, with others, and with nature and the sun.”
Read more:
- Accident reignites safety concerns near Harrogate schools
- Where to see Open Gardens in the Harrogate district
New kitchen team celebrates top rating for Harrogate nursing home
A nursing home on the outskirts of Harrogate has achieved the top food hygiene rating after a major refurbishment of its kitchen.
Bilton Hall Nursing Home on Bilton Hall Drive was given a rating of just one out of five after an inspection in March, but has now achieved the top rating of five after a revisit.
Tracey Turner, interim manager at the home, owned by We Care Group, said the improved rating was down to the hard work of the kitchen staff.
She told the Stray Ferret:
“I’ve been here for four weeks. I came in as a new manager, had a look around and decided the kitchen should be a priority. In the last three weeks, we’ve turned it around.
“The company have invested in new flooring and new equipment. That kitchen team really, really worked and it has paid off. It’s so much better.”
The original low-scoring report found “poor levels of cleanliness” and said there was a lack of food safety systems and monitoring.
Both the inspector and the home’s former manager said some of the problems were linked to the use of agency workers, after it had struggled to recruit permanent staff for the kitchen.
Ms Turner said those problems had now been resolved and the restoration of the full five-star rating was a reflection of the effectiveness of their work.
A new permanent manager is set to take up the post in the next few weeks, she added.
Meanwhile, other areas of the historic building are also being refurbished, she said, to ensure it offers the best possible living accommodation to its 52 residents.
The latest food hygiene inspection and rating had been celebrated by staff and residents alike, Ms Turner said.
She added:
“[A poor rating] quickly gives the place a bad reputation, which it doesn’t really deserve.
“It just goes to show in a couple of weeks how, as a team, you can pull it together. That’s what care is about. It’s wonderful.”
Read more:
- Managers appointed at Harrogate care home after ‘requires improvement’ rating
- New plans submitted to create 12 flats in former Harrogate care home
Accident reignites safety concerns near Harrogate schools
A road accident this afternoon has reignited safety concerns for children walking to school in Harrogate.
A red Fiesta mounted the pavement on Yew Tree Lane — the same street where 15-year-old Rossett School students Fraser and Reuben were taken to hospital with serious injuries following a collision with a vehicle in February.
No further details of today’s incident are known — the Stray Ferret has asked North Yorkshire Police to provide some information.
But the sight of a car on the pavement prompted the father of one of the teenagers who was injured in February to get in touch to say it reinforced the need for safer roads around schools.
He said:
“A lot of people are campaigning for a 20 mph speed limit on roads near schools.
“The issue feels very close to home when I see something like this so near to where my son’s accident took place.”
The Yew Tree Lane area is particularly busy because it caters for children attending three secondary schools — Ashville College, Harrogate Grammar School and Rossett School – as well as primary schools, nurseries and pre-schools.
But the parent said 20 mph “should be the limit outside all schools”, including small village primary schools.
A petition calling for a 20 mph limit to be imposed on streets across the south of Harrogate was handed to North Yorkshire Council last month.
Hazel Peacock, who delivered the petition on behalf of the campaigning parents, said the limit would “change people’s attitudes in regard to comfort around walking, cycling and mobility users”.
Read more:
- Mum of boy seriously injured on school run in Harrogate issues plea for 20mph limit
- Child airlifted to hospital after collision outside school near Ripon
Council ‘not considering’ sale of Harrogate Convention Centre
North Yorkshire Council has said it has no plans to sell Harrogate Convention Centre nor has not it received any offers of private investment for the ageing facility.
It comes as a decision day on a proposed £49m redevelopment moves nearer.
The new council inherited a plan to upgrade the facility from the now-abolished Harrogate Borough Council so it can better compete with rival convention centres in the north.
The convention centre opened in 1982 and its conferences and other events have provided a boost to the town’s bars, restaurants and hotels. However, it has struggled to make a profit.
It still remains unclear how North Yorkshire Council, which is looking to slash £70 million from its budget over the next three years, will pay for the redevelopment.
Harrogate Convention Centre.
A decision is planned later this summer. If approved, construction work could begin early next year.
North Yorkshire Council’s Conservative deputy leader, Cllr Gareth Dadd, said:
“Design work is progressing for the Harrogate Convention Centre redevelopment project and we are working towards a decision relating to the construction work early in 2024. We will continue to explore any external funding opportunities that arise in the future and in the interim.
“We have not received any offers of private investment nor have we been considering a sale.”
Economic impact of Harrogate Convention Centre
A council report published this year described the convention centre as the largest driver of economic impact in the district with many venues depending on the business through its conferences and exhibitions.
Using Visit Britain methodology, the report predicted the convention centre will boost the local economy by £31 million during 2022/23.
If the redevelopment goes ahead, it’s hoped the upgrade will increase the centre’s visitor numbers from 147,000 in 2020 to 192,000 in 2040, with profits of £29 million over a 40-year period.
In February, Harrogate Borough Council failed in its £20m Levelling Up Fund bid for the redevelopment but at the time, convention centre boss Paula Lorimer suggested the council would bid again for funding in its third round.
Ms Lorimer warned that Harrogate would “wither on the vine” if its convention centre ever closed.
Read more:
- Warning that Harrogate would ‘wither on the vine’ without convention centre
- Local Tories and Lib Dems urge new council to back £49m Harrogate Convention Centre upgrade
Local MPs vote in favour of Privileges Committee report
The two local Conservative MPs voted in support of a report last night that found Boris Johnson deliberately misled MPs over lockdown parties.
The Commons backed the report by 354 votes to seven — however 225 MPs either abstained or did not turn up to vote, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Andrew Jones, who represents Harrogate and Knaresborough, and Julian Smith, who represents Skipton and Ripon, were among the 118 Tories who supported the report by parliament’s Privileges Committee.
Mr Smith tweeted afterwards “upholding the rules of parliament is key to our democracy”.
Tonight I voted to support the cross party privileges committee report. Boris Johnson did a number of positive things as Prime Minister, but upholding the rules of parliament is key to our democracy https://t.co/YFJIsOs1zU
— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) June 19, 2023
Mr Jones indicated his intentions last week when he said:
“I called for the Privileges Committee investigation into this issue and I have supported its work. I will be voting on Monday to accept their recommendations in full.”
The cross-party committee’s report found Mr Johnson committed repeated offences when he said covid rules had been followed at No 10 at all times.
The Selby and Ainsty constituency, which covers part of the Harrogate district, does not currently have an MP following Nigel Adams’ resignation.
A by-election will take place on July 20.
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- Tories select replacement candidate for Selby and Ainsty by-election
- Yorkshire Party mayoral candidate quit after ‘chicken policy disagreement’
Taxi driver killed in crash near Harewood Bridge
A man died in a crash near Harewood Bridge that led to the closure of the A61 for more than 12 hours yesterday.
Police said today the man, who has not been named, was a taxi driver in his 40s.
He died at the scene of the crash, which occurred at about 1.20am yesterday morning on the A61 Harrogate Road at Dunkeswick. The road reopened at 3.20pm.
North Yorkshire Police is now appealing for witnesses to the collision, which involved a grey BMW and a black Peugeot taxi.
It said in a statement today:
“Sadly, the driver of the taxi, a man in his 40s died at the scene. His family have been informed and are receiving support form specially trained officers.
“The driver of the BMW, a man in his 20s remains in hospital.
“The stretch of road was closed until 3.20pm on Sunday afternoon to allow officers to investigate the scene.
Anyone who saw the collision or has dashcam footage is urged to dial 101, select option 2 and ask for Steve Hawkins.
Alternatively, you can email DC 55 Steve Hawkins on Steve.Hawkins@northyorkshire.police.uk
Quote reference number 12230111568 when passing information.
Read more:
- Police close A61 after serious collision south of Harrogate
- Harrogate bar to permanently keep covered outdoor area