Man accused of sex offences at Harrogate train station

A man has appeared in court on two counts of groping men at Harrogate train station.

Jason Darren Graham Wilson, 51, was charged with inappropriately touching a man at the station on April 29 and May 24 last year.

He is also accused of the same crime, which is contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, at York train station on June 20 last year.

Mr Wilson, of Hope Street, York, denies all charges and following his appearance at York Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday will stand trial on May 17.

He was remanded on bail on condition that he does not enter Harrogate or York train stations unless it is within 30 minutes of a train he intends to use, and he must have a valid travel ticket.

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Government gives final go-ahead for £69m Kex Gill reroute to start

The government has given the final go-ahead for work to start on a £69 million realignment of the A59 at Kex Gill.

Officials at the Department for Transport have signed off on North Yorkshire County Council’s business case, which will see the landslip-hit road re-routed west of Blubberhouses.

The move comes as the project has been beset by delays and mounting costs due to inflation.

However, work now look sets to start in April on the scheme — three months after the council’s most recent anticipated start date.

Richard Holden, the government’s roads minister, said:

“Making journeys safer, faster and more reliable for motorists to reduce travel times and help grow the economy is vital.

“The new route at Kex Gill will benefit businesses across the North of England and local towns and villages nearby by boosting economic growth, enhancing connectivity and putting an end to disruptive road closures.

“Investing in projects like this to provide long-term improvements shows how the government is committed to levelling up transport links with long-term sustainable solutions.”

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The scheme has faced numerous delays and following tender returns, the estimated cost of the scheme increased by £7.2 million to £68.8 million, which the council attributed to inflation affecting constructions costs.

The project will be funded by a £56.1 million grant from the Department for Transport, with the council covering the rest from its reserves.

A further £11 million has been factored into the £68 million budget to cover any issues with ground conditions or bad weather.

The council had previously earmarked groundworks on the project to start in January, but was awaiting sign-off from government on a full business case.

Irish civil engineering and construction firm John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd has been appointed to build the road.

Cllr Keane Duncan, the council’s executive member for highways, said:

“It is welcome news that the government has given us the final go-ahead to begin construction. The re-alignment of Kex Gill will undoubtedly be one of the council’s most ambitious ever highways projects.

“The A59 provides a very important east-west connection in North Yorkshire and is of national significance. We remain committed to completing the scheme as quickly as possible and in the most cost-effective way.”

The A59 at Kex Gill, near Blubberhouses, is the main route between Harrogate and Skipton. Since 2000, the route has been closed 12 times following landslips.

The estimated completion date for the scheme is May 2025.

Harrogate cycling group: ‘We need delivery, not just bids’

A Harrogate cycling group has said North Yorkshire County Council needs to “deliver” cycling schemes after years of promises.

The council revealed yesterday it planned to bid for £3.19 million to help fund projects in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Both schemes — on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate and Harrogate Road in Knaresborough — were previously announced in 2020.

Now the council needs to await the outcome of its bid to tranche four of the Department for Transport’s active travel fund before knowing if either initiative can go ahead.

It follows the council’s decision to abandon phase two of the Otley Road cycle route in Harrogate and the closure of nearby Beech Grove to through traffic, as well as ongoing uncertainty over whether the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway will go ahead.

Otley Road cycle path

The Otley Road cycle route

The initiatives were part of a wider ambition to create a linked off-road cycle route from Cardale Park to Harrogate train station.

Plans to improve cycling on Oatlands Drive were also shelved.

Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate District Cycling Action, said:

“We welcome the fact that the council is continuing to bid. But what we would like to see is some delivery.

“Standalone cycle schemes are not going to work. We need a single, segregated, joined-up cycle route to make sure people are safe.”

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Mr Douglas described as “slightly embarrassing” yesterday’s comments by Councillor Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways at the council, that the latest bid was “another significant milestone in our efforts to deliver a more balanced approach to travel in the county”.

Mr Douglas said the only new active travel scheme had been the first phase of the Otley Road cycle route, which he said remained incomplete and unsafe, adding:

“There have been no new schemes here. Now they are seeking additional funds for schemes they have already announced.

“I’m not sure how they can talk about their track record for delivery.”

Victoria Avenue, which is the council’s priority scheme, would see improvements to public spaces, pedestrian crossings and segregated cycleways. Parking spaces would be removed.

A decision on bids submitted for the active travel fund is expected from the government on March 17. 

Construction must begin on successful projects before March 31, 2024.

 

Man released on bail after alleged robbery and sexual assault in Harrogate

A man has been released on bail following an alleged robbery and sexual assault in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police arrested a man in his 20s after an incident on Bogs Lane on Wednesday, February 15. Officers said a woman had sustained facial injuries.

Police have now confirmed that a man has been released on bail and inquiries are ongoing. No charges have been made.

After the incident, officers said people in the Bogs Lane area might see an increased police presence as investigations continue.

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Work to create Harrogate district’s first mosque continues after asbestos delay

Work on turning Harrogate’s former Home Guard Club into the district’s first mosque is finally going ahead after a delay caused by the discovery of asbestos. 

Harrogate Islamic Association bought the premises at the corner of Tower Street and Belford Road last April and has since been focusing on fixing the roof and making it weather-proof. 

But repair work uncovered unknown quantities of asbestos, which is carcinogenic but had not been identified by any survey at the time of purchase. 

The substance has had to be carefully removed and disposed of by licensed professionals before further work on the building could progress. 

Reda Djamaa, trustee and spokesperson for Harrogate Islamic Association, said:

“We’ve dealt with that problem and now we can carry on with refurbishing the building. Our main aim is to get the ground floor ready for use.” 

Harrogate Islamic Association raised half a million pounds to purchase the building, which stands next to St Peter’s CE Primary School, and must now raise a further £200,000 to gut the building and replace all its timbers.

Phase three will see a complete refit of the interior, including a new staircase, plasterwork, doors, windows and wiring, as well as new toilets and ablution areas, all at a cost of £250,000. 

The final phase, costing another £50,000, will add a kitchen, outdoor bollards and railings, and security and lighting systems. 

Mr Djamaa said: 

“We have weekly prayer and we pass round a bucket, and we get some funds from other mosques, but it’s a mosque for the community here in Harrogate, and so most of the money will be coming from the community here too. 

“We hope we’ll be able to get to the next stage within the year, but we’re doing it bit by bit. We’re not in a hurry.” 

In the meantime, the 100-plus members of Harrogate’s Muslim community will continue to meet at in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade. 

Picture of the front door of the former Home Guard Club in Harrogate.

The mosque premises have served the community in various ways over the last one-and-a-half centuries.

The former Home Guard Club has served the community in various capacities over the last 150 years. Originally built around 1870 as two cottages, it was converted shortly afterwards into Harrogate’s first cottage hospital until 1883, before serving as Harrogate’s Masonic Hall from 1884 to about 1930. 

At the end of the Second World War it became the home of the 5th West Riding Battalion (Home Guard) Old Comrades Association and Club. 

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Local cabbies predict ‘disaster’ as new single taxi zone created

Senior county councillors have backed creating a single taxi zone for North Yorkshire, despite concern from local drivers.

North Yorkshire County Council will introduce a single hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy from the spring.

The existing seven district councils, including Harrogate, currently have their own hackney carriage and private hire licensing policies. However, under the new policy, drivers will be able to operate in any area of the county.

At an executive meeting yesterday, senior county councillors approved the move towards a single licensing policy.

Councillors also backed a move to carry out a review of how it could increase the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles within the county.

Cllr Simon Myers, executive councillor for growth at the authority, told the meeting said:

“What North Yorkshire wants to have is the best, safest and most accessible taxi service for its residents.

“I recognise, as the trade points out to us, that they are an essential part of accessible travel in a rural county.”

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Meanwhile, Cllr David Chance, executive councillor for corporate services, proposed waiving licence fees for new wheelchair-accessible vehicles and for renewals in order to incentivise more drivers to come forward.

He said:

“Given that we wish to demonstrate the council’s commitment to increasing the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles in both the short and longer term, I’m going to suggest that we consider waiving the licence fee for new wheelchair accessible vehicles and relicensed wheelchair accessible vehicles in the lead up to finalising our policy on the matter.

“That would be done through the inclusive service plan. This would incentivise the retention of existing wheelchair accessible vehicles by the trade, but also offer an immediate incentive to those considering the purchase of new vehicles.”

‘A disaster’

However, the policy has come under criticism from local drivers who said the move was not supported by the trade during a consultation.

Fifty-two per cent of respondents disagreed with the key proposal of introducing a single zone for North Yorkshire, which would allow cabbies to operate across the county rather than only in their districts. However, the idea still looks set to go ahead.

Richard Fieldman, who owns Ripon firm A1 Cars and runs a Facebook group that includes 52 taxi drivers in Ripon and Harrogate, said:

“Making it one zone will mean that at peak times drivers will target hotspots, such as Harrogate on a Saturday night, and leave rural areas with no taxis. It’s common sense that people will drive to maximise their earning potential.

“It will be a disaster for us and a disaster for people who live in quieter areas because they won’t be able to get a taxi at busy times.

“The same policy has been tried in other areas and it just leads to some streets being swamped with taxis so it’s bad for other road users as well.”

Bridal company to open boutique on Harrogate’s West Park

A new bridal shop is set to open on West Park as a Yorkshire business expands into Harrogate.

Elite Bridal is run by mother-and-daughter duo Joanne and Holly-Ann Wilson and already has boutiques in Brighouse and Hessle, as well as outlets in Castleford and Hull.

The new Harrogate boutique is expected to open in the former Orvis unit in the coming weeks.

Holly-Ann, the company’s retail director, told the Stray Ferret:

“We often visit Harrogate for weekends away: a little trip to Bettys for afternoon tea and a stroll round the town, but our love for Harrogate started many years ago when I was a little girl.

“My mum Joanne would take me to the bridal exhibition twice a year where we would do our buying for the year ahead. Over the last 10 years we have moved towards designing our own collections in house in Yorkshire and overseas and we now proudly exhibit as a wholesaler at the shows rather than visiting for trade.

“We have expanded our business in the last five years and doubled in size and Harrogate was one of our desired locations. When Joanne saw it, she knew it was hers. Destiny had arrived and now it’s finally happening.”

One of Elite Bridal's other boutiquesOne of Elite Bridal’s other boutiques

Holly said she and chief executive Joanne focus on having thousands of designs available in their boutiques, with a range of sizes for brides to try on rather than just samples.

They plan to offer a luxury experience in the boutique, from selecting the right gown to having designs and alterations completed in-house.

The company, founded in 2003, will create up to four part-time and full-time jobs at the new Harrogate store.

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Dog owners urged to keep dogs on leads after sheep attacks

Dog owners in the Harrogate district are being urged to keep their pets on leads by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust following two attacks on sheep at nature reserves last week.

The trust looks after more than 100 nature reserves across Yorkshire, including sites in Burton Leonard, Staveley, Bishop Monkton, Ripon and Upper Dunsforth, near Boroughbridge.

At a reserve in Huddersfield, an attack from a dog left one of the trust’s Hebridean grazing sheep with deep bite wounds.

Meanwhile, at Kilnsea Wetlands in East Yorkshire, pregnant ewes were chased by dogs, angering the local grazier.

As well as posing risks to livestock, dogs have also been trampling rare plants and bird nests.

The majority of ground-nesting birds are in decline in the UK, including curlews, woodcocks and skylarks. If dogs scare birds away from their nests, they leave chicks at risk.

A Skylark, one of the vulnerable ground-nesting birds.

Increasing instances of dogs disturbing wildlife has led the charity to issue the plea for owners to keep dogs on leads.

Rachael Bice, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s chief executive said:;

“Dog walking is one of the best reasons to get outdoors, feel great and enjoy our beautiful countryside – and we thank every responsible dog owner who keeps their dog on a lead and encourages others to do the same.

“Wildlife is suffering huge declines and dogs in wild places can cause problems, especially when many species are breeding and resting close to the ground.”

Jenna Kiddie, head of canine behaviour at the charity Dogs Trust, added:

“Dogs [should be] kept on a short lead, and close to their owners, whenever livestock are nearby, within seeing, hearing or smelling distance or whenever their presence is likely to be expected.

“It is important to remember that chasing is normal dog behaviour, and that any dog is capable of chasing, irrelevant of breed, type, age or size.”

You can find more info about being a nature-friendly pet owner here.

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Harrogate police officer sexually assaulted woman while on duty, trial hears

A Harrogate police officer sexually assaulted a woman at a cemetery in Harrogate while he was on duty, it’s alleged.

Christopher Hudson, 32, assaulted the woman in a car park at Stonefall Cemetery on Wetherby Road, the prosecution told a jury at Leeds Crown Court.

Prosecuting barrister Gerald Hendron said Hudson, who was serving as a police constable based at Harrogate Police Station at the time of the alleged incident, stroked the woman on the back of the neck and ear and “pulled her…towards him”.

He then kissed her, but she repeatedly told him “No”. 

Mr Hendron added:

“She started to panic but he continued.

“He took hold of her hand and moved it on (an intimate part of his body).

“The defendant had his hand (near an intimate part of her body) and touched her there.”

She later told friends about what happened and how “shocked and confused” she had been during and after the incident.

Mr Hendron said:

“She feared she would not be believed.”

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She sought help from a counsellor about stress which was brought on by the alleged incident in February 2021. 

Hudson, of Hollin Terrace, Huddersfield, was arrested in March of that year when he denied sexually assaulting the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He denies one count of sexual assault.

The trial continues. 

Harrogate’s Royal Pump Room Museum closes for refurbishment

The Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate has closed for a fortnight for refurbishment.

The domed grade two listed building, which was originally a spa water pump house and now tells the story of Harrogate’s spa past, will look different when it re-opens on March 7.

Most notably, the welcome desk that visitors see when they walk in will be returned to its original location in the octagonal room. The Egyptology exhibits have been sent for study at Cardiff University and are not expected to return for two years.

The building, whose notable visitors include Tsarina Alexandra of Russia and novelist Charles Dickens, is operated by Harrogate Borough Council.

The Stray Ferret asked why the refurbishment was being carried out and the cost.

A council spokesperson said:

“This year marks the 70th anniversary since Harrogate’s pump room opened as a local history museum.

“We want to ensure the museum remains open and enjoyable for residents and visitors for another 70, and are excited to announce that we are restoring the original welcome desk back into its position in the octagonal room for which it was designed.

“We are also creating a glass floor above the wells so that these can be seen more clearly and redesigning some existing displays to tell more fascinating stories of Harrogate’s past.”

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