A man has been fined for breaching an enforcement notice by storing scrap cars at a Harrogate district farm without permission.
Malcolm Grange, 67, of White Wall Farm in Felliscliffe, was found to have breached the order which was first issued to him in May 2016.
Harrogate Borough Council ordered Grange to stop using the land for the storage of external vehicles, vehicle parts and tyres without planning permission.
The 67-year-old appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on November 28 charged with breaching the order between July 27 and September 3, 2021.
He was fined £480, ordered to pay costs of £2,700 and a victim surcharge of £48.
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Grange, who was convicted for a similar offence in 2012 by the Environment Agency, had initially appealed the order to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
However, planning inspector John Braithwaite ruled in favour of the borough council.
He said:
Hampsthwaite school completes £270,000 upgrade“Evidence indicates that the land was in use for the storage of vehicles, vehicle parts and tyres on the date of issue of the enforcement notice.”
A village school near Harrogate has completed a £270,000 upgrade.
Hampsthwaite Church of England Primary School was built by public subscription in 1861 and now has 142 pupils and a nursery. It is part of the multi-academy Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust, which includes St Aidan’s Church of England High School and a number of other Church of England and community schools in the district.
Since Amy Ross became headteacher in September 2019 the elegant stone building, which originally comprised a schoolroom with classroom, and master’s house, has been further extended and modernised.
It now has an early years foundation stage outdoor area, a perimeter fence, a main school entrance and school office, a link lobby which prevents classrooms being a thoroughfare that disrupted learning and a staff room.
The new staffroom and link lobby.
The £270,000 refurbishment was paid for by a combination of section 106 infrastructure funding from housing developers along with school and trust funds
Ms Ross said:
“We are delighted to have completed this next stage of our journey at Hampsthwaite which has further enhanced our facilities for the benefit of children, families and our passionate, dedicated and exceptionally talented staff team.”
“With fantastic support from Yorkshire Causeway Schools Trust we have been able to achieve such a huge amount in a short space of time, and all of this despite covid.
“Completing the build also highlighted what a wonderful school community we have. Parents donated furniture, including a sofa and coffee tables for the staffroom and Graham Sanderson Interiors (Harrogate) made us some beautiful new blinds for the main office and for the staff room, which will be treasured for decades to come. I feel privileged and proud to be a part of this community.”
Jo Stott, the school business manager, said:
New Tesco supermarket would threaten future of Jennyfields Co-op, warns report“Following the addition of a further classroom in recent years, the school had been lacking in facilities to support this extra provision, in particular to ensure a suitable entrance into school and also in providing staff room facilities.
“The improvements made to school make a huge difference in the day-to-day operations and will without doubt help Hampsthwaite School continue to thrive.”
Two of the largest retailers in the country are locked in a battle over the location of a potential new Tesco supermarket in Harrogate.
Last December, Tesco submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council for its first major supermarket in the town.
The store, off Skipton Road on the site of an old gasworks, would be 38,795 square feet and include a petrol station, 200 car parking spaces and electric vehicle charging points. Tesco says 100 jobs would be created.
Tesco argues the supermarket is needed due to the proliferation of new housing around Skipton Road and towards Killinghall.
However, less than a mile away is the Co-op, which has been attached to Jennyfield Local Centre since 1980. The Co-op claims a new Tesco would lure shoppers and damage takings.
Harrogate Borough Council commissioned consultants Nexus Planning to examine how the new Tesco would impact on the local centre.
This is because key to the Co-op’s argument is a policy in Harrogate Borough Council’s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which says development must not “lead to a significant adverse impact” of local centres, such as the one in Jennyfields.
Artist impression of how the Tesco will look on Skipton Road.
If it can be successfully argued Tesco would harm the centre it could give the council grounds to refuse the application.
Jennyfield Local Centre was built in the late 1970s to support the growing community on the estate and it includes a small shopping precinct and the Stone Beck pub.
The Nexus report said the new Tesco, and to a much lesser extent the new Lidl on Knaresborough Road, could divert as much as 38% of trade away from the Co-op.
Read more:
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Tesco consultation results reveal support for new Harrogate store
- Waitrose objects to plans for new Tesco in Harrogate
The report adds that such an impact on the centre’s anchor tenant would, in turn, threaten the future of the whole local centre.
It said:
“In light of [The Co-op’s] well-below benchmark average turnover, its importance in anchoring the local centre and the potential future loss in turnover should the Tesco food store proceed, we have significant concerns in respect of the future vitality and viability of Jennyfield Local Centre as a result of the proposal.”
Tesco’s response
Tesco consultants, MRRP strongly disputed the claim the Co-op would be at risk of closure from the new supermarket, arguing that it is likely to lose just 5% of its regular trade after residents from new housing developments are taken into account.
It said the Co-op and local facilities in Jennyfields would be boosted by the hundreds of new homes that are set to be built in the area. It added:
“In these circumstances, there is not considered to be any threat of closure in relation to the Co-op, none has been asserted by its consultants, or that there is a real risk of other shop units falling vacant.”
MRRP also disputed Nexus’s claim that the Co-op acts as an anchor tenant for the local centre. It said most people visit only to shop and do not use its other units. Two are currently empty and the other is a charity shop.
On November 22, a letter sent by Louise Ford, Tesco’s town planning manager, to the council said it was “disappointed” the two consultants could not agree on the potential impact of the new store.
Ms Ford pledged that Tesco would open a mini supermarket in Jennyfield Local Centre if the Co-op closed within five years of the new Skipton Road supermarket opening.
She said:
Starbeck woman, 67, takes on swimming charity challenge“If the Co-op does close within five years of the Tesco store opening and remains vacant for more than six months, then Tesco would use reasonable endeavours to open a convenience format store within Jennyfield Local Centre.”
A Starbeck woman is set to take on a 50-length swim in aid of a children’s cancer charity.
Carol Bland, who is 67 and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis and fibromyalgia, aims to raise funds for Candelighters, which helped her after her 12-year-old daughter Faye died.
Faye had leukaemia and passed away in 1991.
Carol said the Leeds-based charity helped the family during the two years her daughter was ill.
She said:
“The Candlelighters did a lot for us as a family for the two years that Faye was ill. They also provided us with a free caravan at Primrose Valley after we lost her.”
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The 67-year-old now wants to thank the charity for their help and is planning a 50-length swim at Starbeck Pool.
She will take on the challenge on her birthday and is asking for donations instead of presents.
Carol added:
“I’m not in the best of health anymore and can’t participate in the walks or runs so I decided that for my birthday on December 17 instead of presents I would ask for sponsorship to do a 50-length swim of Starbeck Pool.”
For more information about Candlelighters and to donate to Carol’s swimming challenge, visit the donations page here.
Plan to create six flats above former Harrogate Orvis storePlans have been lodged to create six new flats above the former Orvis store in Harrogate.
The proposal lodged by York-based Balance Planning Solution Ltd on behalf of Andrew Farrar would see the upper floors of the unit on West Park converted for housing.
Orvis closed its doors back in April after 25 years of trading in the town.
The plan would see part of the ground floor unit converted for access to the apartments, along with an entrance to the back of the building next to the Coach House flats on Robert Street.
It would see a mixture of one bedroom and two bedroom apartments created.
The developer said in documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council that the plan would not include any extension of the building.
It said:
“It is considered that the proposed scheme responds to the constraints of the site, planning policy constraints and its heritage context and should fall within the parameters of acceptable development.”
Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.
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Firefighters called to Pannal business
A faulty storage heater caused a fire at a business in Pannal today.
A member of staff dialled 999 when they noticed smoke at the commercial premises on Station Road.
Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were summoned to the scene at 8.43am and entered the building wearing breathing apparatus.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log says they discovered a “small fire to a storage heater”, adding:
“Firecrews extinguished the heater, which had developed an electrical fault, and cleared the premises of smoke with a positive pressure ventilation fan.”
The fire, at the unnamed business, was the first of two incidents in the Harrogate district today.
At two minutes past midday, fire crews from Boroughbridge and Knaresborough were called to the A1 southbound near Boroughbridge to deal with a car fire.
A Vauxhall Zafira had caught fire following an engine fault. Firefighters using breathing apparatus dealt with the incident.
The incident log adds:
“Occupants had left scene, believed to have been picked up by another vehicle prior to arrival of emergency services.”
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‘We will prosecute if we have to’: On the road with Harrogate’s traffic police
Harrogate traffic cop TC Craig Taylor has been a police officer for 20 years – 16 of which have been policing Yorkshire’s roads.
In that time, he’s stopped drug drivers, pursued motorists speeding and been at crime scenes where a drink-driver has killed someone.
These days, he’s on Harrogate’s roads making sure that cars are abiding by the speed limit.
On a cold, crisp Tuesday afternoon, the Stray Ferret joined TC Taylor on a patrol to see what he faces on a daily basis.
‘No one sets out to have a collision’
“I don’t think people set out to have a collision,” TC Taylor says as we head down Leeds Road in his BMW.
He says that drink and drug driving is what the force is particularly looking out for at Christmas.
While he has come across 16 years worth of incidents involving drivers under the influence of drink and drugs, he says none set out to do anyone harm.
“No one that I have ever come across ever thinks ‘that’s what I’m going to do today’.
“But they ruin their own lives and other people’s lives.”
TC Taylor first started by patrolling Bradford and Leeds before moving to police the roads in Harrogate.
TC Taylor, who has been a roads police offer for 16 years.
While the metropolitan cities of neighbouring West Yorkshire may seem a different world for policing, he says there is not much difference.
This week North Yorkshire Police launched its “save a life, call it in” campaign, which urges people to call out drivers who appear to be under the influence on the county’s roads.
Amid the plea to the public, TC Taylor says there is not much difference between finding drink drivers in the centre of Harrogate to out on rural roads where they “feel safer” driving home.
“It’s a broad mix.
“Obviously you’ve got more chance [of catching drink drivers] where it’s more densely populated and where you’ve got more drinking establishments.
“But you could have the same person thinking ‘I’ll drive home, it’s only a couple of miles up the road’.”
While some cases of drink driving are stopped before an accident happens, TC Taylor has experience of incidents which don’t end so well.
Read more:
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As we pull over on Leeds Road to carry out a speed check, he talks about a crash where a businesswoman killed two pensioners while under the influence of drink.
The woman had been out on a Christmas party, where she had got drunk and decided to drive home.
As she drove home, she turned onto a main road and crashed into a parked car where the two pensioners were unloading their shopping. Both were killed.
“That’s one that always sticks in my mind.”
TC Taylor carrying out a speed check on Leeds Road, Harrogate.
Last year, police arrested 137 people during their December campaign for drink or drug driving in North Yorkshire.
From the 137 arrests, 120 were men and 17 were women. 72 people of the 137 were charged with an offence. A total of 25 of the arrests were made following a crash.
TC Taylor points out that when it comes to a fatal crash, there is always an underlining factor involved.
“Sometimes it can just be an accident. You can slip on some diesel on the road, but that’s few and far between.
“Generally speaking if you’ve got 100 cars that drive down this road, 99 of those cars will go on the same road and the same path.
“But the one car that doesn’t and ends up running into a tree and ends up fatal, that’s normally because there’s another factor involved.”
‘We will prosecute if we have to’
Armed with his speed gun and fluorescent jacket, he starts to point at oncoming drivers down Leeds Road – which he says is a common area for speeding in the town.
Most drivers spot TC Taylor in the distance and begin to temper their speed.
He pulls over a woman who was going too fast and orders her to take a breathalyser. She passes and is given words of advice before being sent on her way.
TC Taylor says that it is not the case that every driver needs to be prosecuted.
Harrogate Hydro reopening delayed until summer“We will prosecute people if we have to, but it’s about education as well.”
The reopening of Harrogate Hydro has been delayed until summer next year.
The swimming pool and leisure centre closed in April for an £11.8 million refurbishment.
At the time, the pool hall and changing rooms were due to re-open next month and the ‘dry side’ activity space was expected to welcome visitors in April.
The pool opening date was later pushed back until May. But in a post on its Facebook page this week the venue said it is now due to open in summer.
The facility will get a two-storey extension as well as a new entrance, cafe and reception area and sauna and steam suite.
There will also be new diving board equipment, a new fitness suite and the changing areas will be upgraded.
How the Hydro is looking.
The Hydro, which is run by Harrogate Borough Council-controlled leisure company Brimhams Active, said in its Facebook post that work was “well underway”. It added:
“As is often the case when refurbishing an existing building, we have discovered some additional areas of work that could only have come to light when the building was closed and a strip-out of the internal fabric had taken place.
“This includes some improvements to the fire protection of the steel frame, replacement of corroded steelwork, replacement of soffit boarding, and resolution of air leakage and heat loss between the roof and the external walls. As well as some work to ensure the building conforms to the latest legislation and is as energy-efficient as possible.
“Despite everything being done to minimise delays to the project, we now anticipate opening our doors once again next summer (date TBC). But by carrying out the work now, we will be able to ensure people across the Harrogate district can keep fit and active for many years to come.”
The Stray Ferret has asked the council if the “additional areas of work” will mean the cost of the project has risen. We have not received a response at the time of publication.
Read more:
- Pictures show progress of £28m Harrogate Hydro and Knaresborough Leisure Centre works
- Harrogate’s free Christmas lights extravaganza to be switched on today
One person commented in response on Facebook about the length of time Harrogate swimmers would have to travel to Ripon to use another council pool:
“This is going to be well over a year swimmers in the north of the town have been without a pool, and ‘summer (tbc)’ isn’t inspiring me with a lot of confidence.
“Driving to Ripon (actually quicker than trying to get through traffic to Starbeck or Knaresborough) isn’t a particularly appealing prospect on a foggy/icy winter morning, nor is it very green.”
Another person said the wait would be worth it.
“Ah well a least another seven months travelling through to Ripon. If it’s going to be as good as Ripon, really looking forward to it reopening.”
The council, which will be abolished in April, is also spending £17 million on a new leisure centre in Knaresborough, which will have a six-lane swimming pool, health spa and fitness studios.
It is being built behind the existing Knaresborough Pool which will be demolished.
Guide to Christmas fairs and markets in the Harrogate district
Christmas markets are taking place across the Harrogate district.
Here’s our guide to what’s taking place. If you know of one that isn’t included, let us know and we will add it. Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
RHS Harlow Carr, Bath House Gallery: Christmas Crafts
10am, Thursday, October 20 to 4pm, Friday, December 23
Country Living Christmas Fair, Harrogate Convention Centre
10am, Thursday, December 1 to 4pm, Sunday, December 4
Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair, The Yorkshire Events Centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate
9.30 to 5am Thursday, December 1 to Sunday December 2022 (4.30pm finish on Sunday)
Harrogate Christmas Fayre, Harrogate town centre
10am, Friday, December 2 to 4.30pm, Sunday, December 11
Pateley Bridge and Bewerley late night shopping, Pateley Bridge High Street
December 2, 5.30pm
Little Bird Artisan Market, Valley Gardens, Harrogate
Saturday, December 3, 10am to 5pm, and 10am to pm on Sunday, December 4
Knaresborough Christmas Market, Knaresborough Market Place
10am, to 5pm Saturday, December 3 and 10am to 4.30pm on Sunday, December 4, finishing with firework fiesta over the viaduct at 4.30pm
Knaresborough Artisan Market, Gracious St Methodist Church, Knaresborough HG5 8AN
10am to 3pm, December 3
Copt Hewick Christmas Fair, Copt Hewick village hall and church
11am to 3pm, December 3, cash-only event, Santa arrives at noon and carols at 1.30pm
St Luke’s Church Parish Christmas Fair, St Luke’s Church, Franklin Square, Harrogate
10.30am to 1.30pm on Saturday, December 3
Belmont Grosvenor School Christmas Fair, Belmont Grosvenor School, Birstwith
Saturday, December 3, £3 entry for adults, free for children
Minskip Christmas Gift Fayre, Minskip Village Hall
Saturday December 3, 1pm to 4pm – all gifts priced at under £10
Nativity Festival, St Cuthbert’s Church Pateley Bridge
Saturday December 3, 10.30am to 2.30pm. Followed, at 7pm by Christmas carol singing accompanied by local choirs. (Tickets for the carol concert cost £5 and will be available on the door or from church members)
SYD* Christmas Craft, Vintage & Collectables Fayre, Masham Town Hall
10am, Sunday, December 4
* Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs
Knaresborough Winter Fayre, Knaresborough Market Place
10am to 4pm, Saturday, December 10
Little Bird Artisan Market, Valley Gardens, Harrogate
Saturday, December 10, 10am to 5pm, and 10am to pm on Sunday, December 11
Impartiality concerns over crime commissioner’s plan to share office with Harrogate police
Crime commissioner Zoë Metcalfe plans to relocate her office to Harrogate Police Station — triggering impartiality concerns.
Ms Metcalfe’s office said today the move could save £80,000 a year. But there are concerns working alongside police officers could compromise her duty to hold the chief constable to account on behalf of the public.
The Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is currently based at Granby Road, Harrogate. According to its website it employs 32 staff.
The crime commissioner’s current office at Granby Road, Harrogate.
A spokesperson for the office said:
“We are considering how best to meet the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s future office accommodation needs and our current, and most favoured option is co-location in Harrogate with the police and fire services.
“The commissioner recognises that the public expect police and fire buildings to be used efficiently, especially at a time of strain on public finances.
“No detailed plans have been finalised but we expect to save approximately £80,000 per year by changing our office arrangements. Like many progressive organisations, the Commissioner’s team has a strong commitment to flexible, agile working and our office accommodation needs have changed in recent years.”
A whistleblower, who alerted the Stray Ferret to the news, said:
“The PFCC and staff should be impartial and not mixing and befriending staff they may have to investigate.”
Read more:
- Crime commissioner Zoë Metcalfe resigns from Harrogate Borough Council
- Police plea to call out drink drivers amid increasing Harrogate district incidents
The commissioner’s spokesperson also said police could share space with firefighters at Harrogate Fire Station on Skipton Road:
“Proposals for neighbourhood policing teams to have access to spare office space at the fire station on Skipton Road have been under consideration separately, for a much longer period of time.
“The commissioner, chief constable and chief fire officer have asked for a specialist estates recommendation which makes the most efficient and effective use of the police and fire station buildings in Harrogate for our teams. Once this report is completed, we will make further announcements.”
Harrogate Police Station is based at Beckwith Head Road.