Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A Harrogate district estate agents is to plant trees in Nidderdale to offset its carbon footprint.

Dacre Son & Hartley commissioned Mark Shayler, from consultants APE, to carry out an assessment of its carbon dioxide emissions.

The report covered the estate agency’s direct and indirect activities, right down to the impact of employee travel, purchased goods and services, before making recommendations to offset existing levels and setting reduction targets.

As a result, the estate agency has partnered with Make it Wild, a woodland management group, and pledged to plant native trees to offset the 111 tons of CO2 that the independent audit found the company produced each year across its 21 Yorkshire offices.

Head of residential at Dacre Son & Hartley, Patrick McCutcheon, said: 

“At Dacres we wish to play our part in helping to protect both the planet and our environment for future generations and recognise that the current initiative is just a small step on our sustainability path.”

Zoe Metcalfe, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Crime commissioner to address Harrogate business meeting

North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is set to face Harrogate district business leaders at a meeting next week.

Zoe Metcalfe will address a meeting of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce on October 10 where she will outline her priorities for the county’s fire and police services.

The meeting, which will also be open to first-time visitors, will also hear from former MI5 ‘spook’ Martin Smith MBE, who will focus on the implications of cyber security and hybrid working.

David Simister, chief executive of the chamber, said: 

“We are looking forward to welcoming both Zoë and Martin to our October meeting, when the focus will be law, order and cyber security.

“Policing is always a contentious issue, and whilst Harrogate has a relatively low crime rate compared to other towns in the country only this week did I read that seven bikes had been stolen from a Ripon cycle shop. Businesses are concerned by anti-social activity, theft and a lack of officers on the streets.

“Cybercrime is also a big fear for business, and with the post-covid rise in hybrid working, this is a major priority for businesses, particularly as the criminals get ever more sophisticated.”

The meeting will begin at 6.15pm. Those wishing to attend should register at the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce website here.

Read more:

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• Business breakfast: Ripon firm invests £250,000 in robot laser welder

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

‘Inconceivable’ Knox Lane housing scheme can go ahead

Regarding the proposed full planning application for 53 residential dwellings at Knox Lane, it is inconceivable that Harrogate Borough Council are prepared to push forward with this without addressing any of the 313 objections that have been submitted.

I would further add that there are no supporting comments added. Fulcrum to this is the historical use of the proposed site.

Damian Bowen, Harrogate

Knox Lane housing scheme ‘lacks detail’

In reference to the proposed 52 homes on Knox Lane in Harrogate.

I am writing to express my dismay at the decision by the Harrogate Borough Council’s planning officer to recommend the application be deferred for approval at the next planning committee meeting on Tuesday.

How can the Harrogate Borough Council planning committee have any confidence in the quality of this application given the current documentation submitted contradicts itself and contains a total lack of required detailed information regarding retaining walls, limited traffic, ecology and contaminated ground surveys and no electric charging point locations?

Given this lack of assessment of public and professional comments, surely the planning department could be leaving themselves open to a judicial review?

Stephen Readman, Harrogate

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Voters ‘have to be realistic’

We have to be realistic. Anyone who is appalled at Liz Truss’s approach to sorting out the economy. i.e giving vast amounts to the rich in the hope that it will trickle down to the poor, has to realise that the only way to get the Tories out and restore fairness and our public services is to vote for candidates most likely to defeat them. 

In Harrogate, the only way is to vote for the Lib Dems. If the other parties don’t realise it’s in their interests to stand down, then we the electorate have to take the only way open to us to get rid of the Tories, which in Harrogate means voting for the Lib Dems.

Barbara Penny, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Specialist spa treatments tailored to people who are battling cancer have been launched at Grantley Hall.

The 17th century luxury hotel, near Ripon, has partnered with skincare specialist Jennifer Young in a bid to make spa experiences more inclusive.

Ms Young provides skincare products that have been created in collaboration with NHS cancer patients.

She has worked with Grantley Hall to train spa therapists in tailored oncology massage treatments.

As a result, the Three Graces Spa is now offering treatments, including facials, massages and reflexology, to clients at all stages of their cancer journey.

The treatments can be tailored to the individual and help ease the common side effects of cancer treatment.

Ms Young told the Stray Ferret that a person going through treatment should still be able to visit Grantley Hall and enjoy a full spa experience.

She said:

“What is really important is normalising the experience for someone going through treatment. If you want to come to Grantley, you should be able to, even though you are in a different place. It’s really important to me that that normality is attainable.

“It has been a joy to work with a team who wanted not only to offer oncology massage, but to make sure that the experience was every bit as luxurious as any other treatment on their menu.

“While all of our oncology touch therapies are designed for enjoyment as well as efficacy, the collaboration with Grantley Hall has enabled us to take the experience even further, creating something really beautiful for anyone visiting the spa following a cancer diagnosis.”

Ms Young has also created bespoke top-to-toe treatments for the luxury spa destination.

Read more:

• A Taste of Home: Grantley Hall’s Shaun Rankin and his triumphant return to North Yorkshire
• ‘The Grantley effect’: Property boom near luxury hotel

Formulated around her collection of wellbeing body oils, the therapeutic body and face experiences focus on nine core objectives including relaxation, sleep, energy, headaches, nausea and calm.

Specialist manicures and pedicures are also being offered.

Emma Button, senior spa therapist and Jennifer Young ambassador at Grantley Hall.

Emma Button, senior spa therapist and Jennifer Young ambassador at Grantley Hall, said:

“We found we had guests coming in who weren’t sure if they could have treatments. As a therapist, it’s quite a scary area, as you don’t want to do anything wrong.

“We can now do treatments on people going through a cancer journey and it’s great that we can offer that.

“If you are going through chemotherapy, it tends to dry out your skin. Your hands and nails also get quite dry. All the products are aimed at helping to relieve symptoms and side effects of treatment. Everything is really well thought out.”

A sheep stuck in brambles on a steep bank of Oak Beck was rescued by Harrogate firefighters yesterday.

Sandra Schiendorfer spotted the animal when she was walking her dog at Oak Beck Park yesterday morning.

She reported it to the land owner but noticed it was still stuck in the afternoon and the water was rising.:

Ms Schiendorfer said:

“When I went back with the dogs in the afternoon the poor thing was still there, but now the beck was rising, because of the heavy rain.

“I rang 101 who in turn contacted the fire brigade. They turned up very quickly with the animal rescue unit.

Read more:

• Confirmed: Harrogate to have just one night time fire engine
• Oak Beck will take three years to recover from pollution, says Harrogate conservationist

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log says it was alerted to the incident, near Oak Beck retail park, at 3.20pm yesterday. It adds:

“Crews from Harrogate and Ripon responded to reports of a sheep stuck in wire by the horns, in distress.

“Crews used wading poles, water rescue equipment, an animal halter and a salvage sheet to release the sheep back into the field.”

The sheep back in the field afterwards.

A picket line is operating outside Harrogate train station this morning as rail strikes resume.

The RMT union and Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (Aslef) are striking today, Wednesday and next Saturday over pay and conditions.

Previous industrial action was cancelled because it coincided with the Queen’s mourning period.

The strikes have affected some people travelling to Harrogate for the three-day Green Party autumn conference, which started yesterday, as well as football fans that planned to catch the train for today’s Harrogate Town vs Bradford City derby at 1pm.

About 15 picketers turned up to support the action today.

Rail passengers have also been warned to expect disruption on Harrogate’s LNER services from today until October 9.

Major engineering works in the Newcastle area by Network Rail will affect many services on the LNER route during this period.

Read more:

• Ouseburn councillor opens Green Party conference in Harrogate
• Harrogate and Knaresborough commuters face further strikes

Harrogate man Rod Findlay takes a minute out of each day to take stock of where he is — working with one of the best views of one of Britain’s finest stately homes, Castle Howard.

Breathtaking as the estate is, with more than 200 listed buildings and monuments set over around 8,800 acres, there is much to do to ensure Castle Howard retains its prestigious reputation for generations to come.

The estate, 15 miles north of York, has been home to the Howard family for 300 years and is rich in history. The Great Fire of 1940 devastated the building decades ago and, more recently, covid has proved hugely disruptive.

Castle Howard’s worldwide reputation, enhanced by its many screen appearances in films such as Brideshead Revisited, meant it relied heavily on international visitors, mainly from China, so covid restrictions hit visitor numbers dramatically.

With every cloud comes a silver lining, though. Covid also made people want to seek out local places of beauty they had previously taken for granted, and the challenge now is to capitalise on that.

Mr Findlay started his career in law before moving into leadership roles in sports such as rugby league, golf and cycling. His current role as chief operating officer and company secretary at Castle Howard presents numerous challenges. He said:

Rod Findlay enjoys nothing more than a walk with his dogs.

“It’s really varied. You know, one day you are talking about Santa Claus and the next day you are talking about the long-term strategic vision for Castle Howard.

“That is interesting to me. We have a really ambitious plan to turn the house around. In the last few years we have done some work to look at the heritage deficit here.

“To look at Castle Howard, it’s a beautiful house but it needs investment.

“The mausoleum on the outskirts of the estate needs £18 million, the house needs £50 million, the gatehouse needs £15 million.

“It is a 300-year-old house so it needs continual investment. This is a long-term vision and requires a major change in our approach as we won’t get that money by putting up the price of scones.”

More than a house

Profit from the estate is invested in areas such as reports, conservation and restoration.

Castle Howard posted a loss of £2.1 million in its 2020 financial year, but recorded a profit the following year of £5.7 million.

A major reason for that quick turnaround was £7.5 million in upwards property revaluation on Castle Howard’s investment property portfolio, which is made up of the estate, residential accommodation and the holiday park.

So if an opportunity arose to expand its property portfolio in areas identified for development in the Ryedale Local Plan, Castle Howard would be keen to get involved.

The estate has bid to develop four areas of its 8,800 acres, which is made up largely of farmland and woodland.

There is, Mr Findlay says, a severe need for housing in the area surrounding the estate:

“We have a waiting list to get into our properties of 180 people. So it’s clear there are a lot of people who want to live and work in the area but they can’t find those opportunities.

“So if we increase the housing stock there’s another benefit as we can invest that money back into the estate, which also benefits the local economy.

“The first job is to get these properties included in the local plan, as it is currently listed as farmland. Then we can start work with a developer to bring them to life.

“We are keen to keep some control over the look and feel of these properties while the developments need to be responsible and sustainable.”

Can Harrogate improve its events?

Mr Findlay, who is originally from Newcastle, moved to Harrogate in 2014.

He has always enjoyed living in the town but the open spaces of Valley Gardens, Crimple Valley and the Stray enhanced his appreciation during covid lockdowns.

Castle Howard is embracing new kinds of events.

Mr Findlay believes the town should embrace more larger events. He said:

“I do think those large events will drive people.

“We certainly have seen that at Castle Howard where, we have attracted visitors we perhaps otherwise wouldn’t get with events like Cafe Mambo, Duran Duran and the Chemical Brothers.

“This attracts a demographic we’re not necessarily seeing. Harrogate shouldn’t shy away from those events, even if the town had a mixed experience like with the UCI.

“People should remember the positive benefits of those large scale events and I feel we should be using our incredible public spaces to that end all year round, weather depending.”

What next for Castle Howard?

Building work began at Castle Howard in 1699 but it took more than 100 years to complete, spanning the lives of three earls.

The estate has seen a lot in that time. While Castle Howard works well as a visitor attraction with around 250,000 expected annually, it’s clear the leadership will not rest on its laurels.

Mr Findlay and his team work for the Howard family, specifically Nicholas Howard and Victoria Barnsley, who are heavily involved in the business and its direction. He said:

“The family wants to make sure this is a place welcoming visitors for many years to come. It’s that long term vision which is important, we are talking about developments we will never see.”

Christmas is coming to Castle Howard.

There are lots of reasons to visit Castle Howard this year with Stately Superstitions: Eerie Encounters at the Castle from October 21 to 31 and Into the Woods: A Fairytale Christmas from November 12 to January 2.

The Green Party autumn conference was opened this afternoon by Harrogate man Arnold Warneken, North Yorkshire County Council councillor for Ouseburn.

Cllr Warneken was elected in May with 69% of the vote and he gave a passionate speech to delegates at Harrogate Convention Centre.

He recalled how he was first elected as a councillor 32 years ago to the then-Harrogate District Council.

In those days, he was the only Green Party councillor in the north of England.

After his recent return to local politics, he said the five Greens elected to the county council in May were “already starting to make a difference”. He accused the Tory-led council of “procrastinating” on the climate emergency.

Cllr Warneken also had some sharp words for Harrogate Spring Water and its plan to fell trees in Rotary Wood to expand its bottling plant.

He said:

“At the pump rooms, people came from all over the country to have our foul-tasting and smelly water heal them. It was dispensed in a ladle by Betty Lupton.

“However, 100 years later Betty Lupton has been replaced by Danone. Her ladle has been replaced by millions of plastic bottles produced by Harrogate Spring Water and Danone before being sent all over the world. Shame on them.”

He was followed by a speech from Green Party co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay.

The three-day conference ends on Sunday.

Read more:

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The Stray Ferret spoke to Cllr Warneken beforehand where he said he was “proud and honoured” to open the event.

Cllr Warneken added:

“We are at a turning point in Green politics. In 2018, we had 150 councillors, now in 2022 we have over 500. We are hoping we can get somebody to help Caroline Lucas MP in Parliament.

“We have Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh speaking here on Sunday. That’s the way politics has to move forward. We’re hoping for a hung parliament so we can introduce PR. The future’s bright, the future’s green.”

Two teenage girls are to appear in court after police officers were allegedly assaulted in McDonald’s in Harrogate.

The incident happened at the restaurant on Cambridge Road on April 1 this year.

North Yorkshire Police said two community support officers were allegedly assaulted while responding to an incident at around 7pm.

A 13 year-old and 15-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged and will appear in court on October 28.

Read more:

• Police recruitment won’t be felt ‘for years to come’, says chief constable

• Teen girl referred to youth panel after Harrogate McDonald’s police attack

• Two PCSOs seriously injured after attack in Harrogate McDonald’s

Another girl, 14, was referred to a youth outcomes panel following the incident and was dealt with by an out of court police disposal.

The panel, which is a partnership between police, North Yorkshire Youth Justice Service and York Youth Offending Team, decides what action, if any, is most appropriate to pursue.

It encourages a restorative approach with victims and looks to address the causes of the young person’s offending.

The majority of people support controversial changes to the number of fire engines based in Harrogate, according to consultation documents.

North Yorkshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe confirmed yesterday Harrogate fire station will be reduced to one fire engine at night as part of a three-year blueprint for countywide fire services.

However, the station will have two fully operational appliances during the day rather than the current model of just one plus a smaller tactical response vehicle.

Ms Metcalfe’s decision followed a three-month consultation in which concerns were expressed that the loss of a second appliance from 10pm to 9am could put lives at risk.

But her 207-page consultation report, published yesterday, said 46% of respondents to an online survey supported the changes to Harrogate fire station whereas 40% oppose them.

The report, however, also said 53% of respondents whose closest fire station is Harrogate disagreed with the changes. Additionally, it highlighted opposition within focus groups held as part of the consultation.

It said:

“Those who supported the proposals did so on the grounds that they are evidence-based and represent a better use of resources in offering better capability during the day when needed.

“However, even if they understood the rationale behind it, most focus group participants ultimately opposed the proposals.

“The main worries were around the ability to provide an adequate nighttime response, especially to incidents requiring two or more appliances. Related to this, many questionnaire comments centred on the potential for more severe incidents at night, including house fires.”

Zoe Metcalfe and fire officials answer questions about her proposals.

Ms Metcalfe also suggested some people over-estimate the number of fires in North Yorkshire. She said:

“There is also some very different views of what and how high is the service’s demand versus the reality.

“The fact is that in North Yorkshire we are lucky that our service’s demand is low by comparison to the rest of the country. Moreover, what they attend has changed significantly, with fires making up a smaller proportion than before.”

The consultation, which ran for 12 weeks from May 23, 2022 to August 14, 2022, cost £30,000.

Savings made by the changes will be used to fund fire prevention work and boost on-call fire stations in rural areas.

The new Lidl store in Harrogate will open on Thursday, October 13 at 8am, the company has confirmed.

Construction has been under way since February on the Knaresborough Road site, previously home to Lookers Ford car dealership.

The company said the shop will create around 40 new jobs and will offer an in-store bakery, customer toilets including baby changing facilities, and parking for cars and bicycles.

It will be open daily from 8am to 10pm, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

A spokesperson for Lidl GB said:

“It is fantastic that we are able to open our doors and welcome everyone into our new store in Harrogate.

“We have received overwhelming support from local residents, and we would like to thank all those that have played a part in delivering this new store. We now look forward to serving our multi-award winning products to everyone within the local community.”

Read more:

• Drone shots reveal progression of new Knaresborough Road Lidl
• Aldi looking to open second Harrogate supermarket