New tree avenue to be planted on Harrogate’s Stray

An avenue of apple and maple trees will be planted on Harrogate’s Stray this month.

They will be among 800 trees planted by Harrogate Borough Council as part of National Tree Week.

The council will also be planting native trees, including oak, lime and sycamore, at Hay a Park in Knaresborough and at Paddies Park and Gallows Hill in Ripon.

About 500 of the trees have been nurtured at the council’s Harlow Hill nursery.

National Tree Week, which begins on November 26, is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration.

Councillor Sam Gibbs, the council’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“Planting more trees is a priority for us and this project supports a number of schemes – the White Rose Forest, for example – that will help address the climate situation and deliver carbon reduction initiatives throughout the Harrogate district.

“We couldn’t do it without the help of volunteers so I’d like to thank everyone who has either provided a sapling or will be planting a tree.”

More information about National Tree Week is available on the Tree Council website.

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Harrogate BID cleaning ‘grot spots’ ahead of Christmas

Harrogate Business Improvement District has started a town centre clean up ahead of Christmas celebrations.

Crews have been steam cleaning and power washing ‘grot spots’ across the town.

The targeted areas include Parliament Street, Cambridge Crescent, Oxford Street, James Street, John Street, Albert Street and Station Square.

Christmas will see an ice rink in Crescent Gardens, the return of the Candy Cane Express, Harrogate Christmas Fayre, a shop window competition, an observation wheel and free parking.

The BID charges town centre businesses a levy, which it uses to improve the town centre and increase footfall.

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID chair, said: 

“With the countdown to Christmas well underway, we want Harrogate to be looking at its best, hence deploying our cleaning team.

“Using low water volume, high pressure steam cleaning, they are working evenings this week tackling high footfall areas. And with Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday just days away, the team are also cleaning paths and street furniture around the town centre war memorial.”

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The work of the cleaning team, from UK Nationwide Cleaning, compliments the efforts of street ranger Chris Ashby, whose daily regime includes power-washing, weeding, painting and litter-picking.

Shoppers shun Harrogate multi-storey car parks

Harrogate’s multi-storey car parks are generating considerably less income than expected this year.

Off-street parking revenue is £293,000 below budget, a Harrogate Borough Council meeting heard on Monday.

Gillian Morland, service finance manager at the council, told the overview and scrutiny committee meeting the  Jubilee and Victoria multi-storey car parks were “particularly down on income”.

Ms Morland said the looming abolition of Harrogate Borough Council and the creation of a single unitary authority for North Yorkshire presented the chance to improve matters. She said:

“There is a good opportunity as we merge into the new authority to look at a joined-up approach and the whole issue of traffic management, bring on and off-street parking together.”

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that Harrogate Borough Council is forecasting to spend £2.5m more than budgeted in its final year of existence.

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This is mainly because utility bills are £1.7m above budget and staff pay is £1.1m higher than expected following the 2022/23 pay award of 6.7% rather than the predicted 2.5% .

But the report to councillors also revealed several other areas of shortfalls.

Besides car parking, planning application income is £320,000 less than expected due to a reduction in applications.

Ms Morland said:

“I understand planning income has been down for some time now and it’s not returned to the pre pandemic levels. The big issue is we are not getting the big planning applications, the high value ones, but I don’t know any more of the detail.”

Philip Broadbank, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Starbeck, said he understood there had been “a lot fewer applications” for house extensions because of the economic climate over the last three or four months.

 

Business Breakfast: Reed Boardall awarded top ranking for product safety

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Boroughbridge firm Reed Boardall has achieved top ranking for its product safety and best practice.

The Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standard audit awarded the company an AA+ rating.

The certification entails an annual audit covering compliance in hazard and risk analysis, vehicle operating standards, product quality and safety management.

Vicki Rushworth, site quality manager at Reed Boardall, said: 

“This industry-leading accreditation provides another layer of reassurance for our customers, adding the benefit of visibility of food safety and integrity in the supply chain. 

“It also reduces some of the audit burden on customers as the BRCGS seal of approval assures them of Reed Boardall’s compliance.

“To elect for a 20-hour unannounced audit as we did, is a demonstration of total confidence in the robust systems we have in place and that the site operates to the BRCGS’s rigorous standards of product safety 24/7.”

Marcus Boardall, chief executive of Reed Boardall, added: 

“Over the last 30 years, Reed Boardall has played an active role in driving up standards within the food industry.

“Our latest BRCGS AA+ rating gives customers the additional peace of mind of knowing that the most rigorous procedures for ensuring product safety are embedded in our business and that we are committed to continuous quality improvement.”

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Harrogate law firm founder to retire

The founder of Harrogate law firm Jones Myers is set to retire after a 42-year career.

Peter Jones founded the company back in 1992 as the sole practitioner specialising in marital difficulties.

He soon attracted fellow family lawyers, who shared his ethos in resolving relationship breakdowns in a non-confrontational and constructive way.

Peter Jones, founder of Jones Myers Family Law.

Peter Jones, founder of Jones Myers Family Law.

The law firm now has offices on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate, as well as in Leeds and York.

Mr Jones was also a founder member and former national chair of Resolution, the national association of family lawyers which now has over 6,500 members.

He also chaired its accreditation committee, which remains at the forefront of developing high academic standards and promoting excellence in family law.

Appointed a Deputy District Judge, Mr Jones served in that judicial capacity for 15 years, during which time he also lectured nationally in family law. He qualified in 2012 as one of the country’s first Family Law Arbitrators.

Mr Jones said:

“It has been a privilege to play a part in the evolution of family law since qualifying in 1980 and to have made a real difference to the lives of the valued clients.

“I am immensely proud of the development and expansion of Jones Myers and the consistently high quality of its constructive guidance and client support. The firm has a reputation for attracting the best family lawyers in its field and I am confident of the practice’s continued success as it goes from strength to strength.”

Pateley Bridge environmental artist meets Monty Don in Harrogate

Nidderdale environmental artist James Owen Thomas met Monty Don when the BBC Gardeners’ World presenter visited Harrogate.

Mr Thomas spoke recently on Gardeners’ World about being an artist in residence at Fishpond Wood in Bewerley and the importance of being in nature for his health and wellbeing.

At An Evening With Monty Don at Harrogate Convention Centre last Friday, Mr Thomas was able to meet the famous gardener shortly before he went on stage.

He presented him with one of his original collages of a garden scene, and received two books signed by Monty Don.

Mr Thomas, who will be opening a gallery in Pateley Bridge shortly, added:

“He knows I spoke on Gardeners’ World about mental health problems.

“It was good that some of his talk on stage was about mental health and the importance of being out in nature.”

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Starbeck’s former Harper’s could be turned into housing

The former McColl’s store ravaged by fire in Starbeck could be turned into housing.

Built on High Street as a Harper’s grocery, the building was later used as a McColl’s but closed and was derelict when fire struck in 2018.

Since then, the building has frequently been described as an eyesore, although it was brightened this year when volunteers painted it in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

An agent for the owners of the building said today there are plans for a “residential-led development”.

Pete Gleave, from Zerum Consulting, told the Stray Ferret:

“Our client is looking to progress proposals with the local planning authority and has entered into pre-application discussions with planning officers.

“This will be a residential-led development and we will shortly be commencing work on a formal planning application.

“Our client recognises the importance of bringing the site forward for redevelopment and we will now look to do so in a timely manner.”

Mr Gleave would not reveal who owned the building. He said he was “unable to pass on client details without their approval”.

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Andrew Hart, founder of Starbeck Community Group and owner of Starbeck Post Office, said the building was “just rotting away” and urgently needed attention. He added:

“Anything is better than nothing — it can’t stay as it is. The building is dangerous. We know it has asbestos problems inside and is an eyesore.

“But I’ll be disappointed if they don’t put some kind of retail function in on the ground floor.

“If we can get a prestigious restaurant, bar or shop in there then we can get other businesses in. There can be housing upstairs.”

In February, Harrogate Borough Council granted an application by Leeds-based developer Bates & Hemingborough to demolish the building.

The plans had been put on hold in December after the council asked for safety documents, which were later provided, addressing how the demolition would impact the adjacent St Andrew’s Church.

‘Real solutions’ needed to west of Harrogate congestion, say residents

Residents in Pannal have called for “real solutions” to congestion amid an upcoming “explosion in housing” in the west of Harrogate.

Thea area is set to see up to 2,500 new homes built over the next two decades.

North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council are currently working on the West Harrogate Infrastructure Delivery Strategy, which looks at how the area will cope with increased homes.

The strategy is part of the wider proposals for the area and builds upon the West Harrogate Parameters Plan, which sets out how the area’s infrastructure and services will look.

However, Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council has said some of the measures planned by the county council, which include junction modifications, “will do nothing” to ease congestion and called for “real solutions” to the problem.

John Mann, a Conservative county councillor representing Pannal and Oatlands, spoke on behalf of the parish council at a county council executive meeting today.

Cllr Mann (pictured) said an increase in homes would have an impact on local road infrastructure, including the A61 towards Leeds and Bradford.

He said:

“New or vastly improved roads are required, not merely a few modified junctions.

“Previous consultation meetings have been little more than Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council outlining a few junction modifications plans plus a great deal of promotion for cycle and pedestrian paths, plus increased bus services that would not come into operation until all the developments are finished.

“Active travel and buses in and out of Harrogate from the west of Harrogate developments will do nothing to alleviate the daily commute, rat running and school runs through our parish.”

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In response, Cllr Keane Duncan, executive county councillor for access, said 

“The county council is working to address congestion in and around Harrogate now and in advance of the planned development in the west of Harrogate, which will see an extra 2,500 homes constructed between now and 2035.

“This major strategic development is key to providing much needed housing and promoting Harrogate’s future economic growth, as is the proposed Maltkiln development.

“It is vital therefore that the council continues essential work on both of these schemes in parallel.

“While the west of Harrogate development is spread over several sites and a number of separate planning applications, a unified approach is being taken for the delivery of essential infrastructure and mitigation of traffic impacts.

“We are working with the land promoters and their consultants, who have been instructed to look at traffic impacts cumulatively and this will be documented in a transport strategy.”

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for access at North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for access at North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Duncan added that a “number of junctions” had already been identified for improvement, which would be paid for by developers.

He said further consultation on infrastructure would be held with resident groups and parish councils.

The move comes after the Stray Ferret revealed that North Yorkshire County Council appointed RPS Consulting Services Limited to oversee a review of junction improvements in the west of Harrogate.

The Oxfordshire company was awarded £200,000 as part of the contract.

Park and ride plans still in the works

Meanwhile, Cllr Duncan said work on a park and ride for Harrogate was “still in the feasibility stage” and no decision on its site had been made.

The scheme has long been seen as part of the solution to congestion in the town.

The county council said previously that the plans would take around six months to assess and could be published next year.

Cllr Duncan said today:

“Given this, it would be wrong to rule out or rule in any particular site at this stage”

Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre celebrates 30th birthday

Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre will begin 11 days of celebrations this week marking its 30th birthday.

Tomorrow’s official birthday date will see visitors receive a free birthday cupcake from 10am at the centre.

The celebrations will then continue until November 20, adopting a ‘looking back’ theme.

A screen installed on the ground floor will show photos and videos of the centre, as well as news clips from the last 30 years.

People are being inviting to send their own images or videos to be included on the screen, creating a community time capsule. They can be uploaded on the centre’s website.

A birthday party from 11am to 3pm on November 19 and 20 will include visits from favourite 1990s movie characters, including Lightning McQueen on the Saturday and The Terminator on the Sunday.

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Giant 90s themed props will also appear throughout the centre to provide selfie opportunities.

There will also be a free photobooth on the first floor and family party games, crafts and prizes on the ground floor.

James White, centre manager, said:

“We are hoping that our birthday party will be an opportunity to bring together a town that is full of pride about its own history, something that Victoria Shopping centre greatly represents.”

 

 

 

 

Harrogate and Knaresborough to have fewer voters under new plans

The Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency would be reduced in size, under revised plans published today by the Boundary Commission for England.

The commission first published proposals for a shake-up of Harrogate and Knaresborough in June 2021, which included moving Boroughbridge to another seat and shrinking the size of the constituency.

Under today’s revised proposals, the electorate would stand at 75,800. Latest Parliament figures show the current boundary has an electorate of 77,605.

The seat is currently held by the Conservative Andrew Jones.

The latest changes would see Claro ward and areas such as Burton Leonard reintroduced to the constituency from the initial proposals.

However, Boroughbridge would still remain in a newly created seat.

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The commission will now undertake another round of public consultation until December 5 before making recommendations to government.

It will publish a final report on boundary changes in 2023. 

Under the current proposals, the number of constituencies in Yorkshire and Humber would remain at 54.

Conservative Nigel Adams’ seat of Selby and Ainsty, which includes the south of Harrogate, would be scrapped.

The Wetherby and Easingwold seat.

The Wetherby and Easingwold seat.

Instead, Selby would have its own seat and the north of the district would fall under a new constituency called Wetherby and Easingwold, which would take in areas including Wetherby, Bishop Monkton and Boroughbridge.

The Skipton and Ripon constituency, which is currently represented by Conservative Julian Smith, would include Ripley, which is currently part of Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Tim Bowden, secretary to the Boundary Commission for England, said:

“Today we are announcing the publication of our revised proposals. Last year we published our initial proposals for new constituency boundaries – our first go at what the map should look like. We are delighted with the huge number of comments from members of the public on our initial proposals, many which included valuable evidence about local communities.

“Today’s publication is the culmination of months of analysis and we have revised nearly half of our initial proposals based on what people have told us. We now believe we are close to the best map of constituencies that can be achieved under the rules we are working to.

“However, we still want people to tell us what they think of this latest map before we submit our final recommendations to Parliament next year. This is our final consultation and I encourage you to participate in the 2023 Boundary Review.”

As part of the review, the number of constituencies in England will increase from 533 to 543.

You can comment on the proposals at the Boundary Commission website here.

Business Breakfast: Harrogate solicitors funds junior staff development

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A Harrogate solicitors has sponsored three of its junior staff through professional courses and accreditations.

Kirbys Solicitors, which is based on Victoria Avenue, has fully funded the move which it says will help grow the trio’s legal knowledge and business skills.

Among the staff members is Catherine Danks, a probate executive in the private client department, who has just passed all her STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) exams with distinction.

Holly Freeman is on her way to becoming a chartered legal executive specialising in residential conveyancing. She is currently studying towards a qualification with CILEX, the UK’s largest professional body for paralegals.

Meanwhile, administration and IT assistant William Geddes is studying for a City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration.

David Dow, director of Kirbys Solicitors, said: 

“Kirbys has been in Harrogate for more than 250 years and, although our roots are firmly in the past, we recognise the importance of laying foundations for the future and giving our staff the opportunity for career development with us.”

South Stainley pub set to host artisan markets

A South Stainley pub is set to host three artisan Christmas markets this month.

The Inn South Stainley will hold the markets in an effort to showcase the best festive produce from local businesses.

The Inn at South Stainley owners Graham Usher and Matthew Rose.

The Inn at South Stainley owners Graham Usher and Matthew Rose.

They will run from 4pm to 8pm on three consecutive Thursdays – November 10, 17 and 24.

The three artisan Christmas markets will feature an array of regional goods including paper crafts, clothes, cards, 3D flowers and models, jewellery, gifts for animal-lovers, Christmas decorations, candles, bath bombs, clothing, bags, cakes, bakes and sweet treats.

Graham Usher, part-owner of the pub, said: 

“This is the first time we have hosted an event like this, and the support from businesses has been terrific.

“These markets are an ideal opportunity to do a spot of early Christmas shopping and at the same supporting local, home-grown enterprises. And those attending can browse the stands whilst enjoying a glass of mulled wine, hot chocolate or a Yorkshire Bratwurst sausage from the kitchen BBQ.

“The market will be a great opportunity for shoppers to find Christmas gifts, whilst enjoying the best of Yorkshire food and drink.”

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