New crossing on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road ‘on track’ to be installed this year

A new crossing on Wetherby Road in Harrogate is “still on track” to be installed this financial year, say council officials.

North Yorkshire Council has proposed the crossing to encourage walking and cycling at the junction with Slingsby Walk.

The plan was first revealed in December and officials now say the scheme is in “the design stage”.

It will be the fourth set of lights in less than a mile between the Empress roundabout and the Woodlands junction, which is already one of the most congested stretches of road around Harrogate.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at the authority, who approved the crossing last December, said the scheme was still on course to be installed this year.

He said:

“We remain on track to install a toucan crossing on Wetherby Road at the junction with Slingsby Walk during this financial year in a bid to encourage walking and cycling.

“A feasibility study has been carried out and we are now in the design stage of the scheme.

“This is a key and popular route, and the crossing will make journeys on foot and by bike safer and more convenient.”

Council officials have estimated the crossing could double the number of cyclists using the Slingsby Walk route, which runs alongside the Stray.

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However, officers at the authority also admitted the crossing is likely to cause further delays for drivers.

In a report outlining the proposal, Barrie Mason, assistant director for highways and transportation at the council, accepted the move would likely increase pressure on the road network.

He added there were also officer concerns over “existing traffic congestion on this section of Wetherby Road”.

However, he said these concerns had to be balanced against the benefit that it would offer to pedestrians and cyclists.

Funding of £75,000 for the crossing was secured from the former Harrogate Borough Council sustainable transport budget last year.

Drug dealer jailed for second time for supplying cocaine in Harrogate

A drug dealer has been jailed for supplying cocaine in Harrogate for the second time in the space of a year.

Robert Luke Varela, 27, was caught “bang at it” after police spotted him lurking suspiciously on Franklin Road, Harrogate.

Prosecutor Camille Morland told York Crown Court that Varela – who once bragged he would “need a counting machine” due to the vast profits he was making from his illicit trade – took his hands out of his pockets as police drove past and threw a bag of crack cocaine to the ground.

She said that when officers went to speak to him, they found the bag, containing 11 wraps of high-purity crack cocaine, dumped on the pavement.   

They seized an iPhone from Varela on which WhatsApp messages showed he had been dealing crack cocaine in the three months preceding his arrest in February 2021.

Varela, formerly of Harrogate, was charged with possessing crack cocaine with intent to supply and ultimately admitted the offence. He appeared for sentence via video link today.

Ms Morland said that in February 2022, Varela was jailed for two years and three months for possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply in 2019. 

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That sentence was imposed without Varela or the prosecuting authorities informing the then sentencing judge that he had been quizzed about the new matter a year earlier. 

He was arrested for the 2019 offences after security staff and Harrogate Borough Council’s CCTV operators spotted Varela and his notorious sidekick Sirus Alexander, then aged 21 and from Idle, Bradford, engaged in a transaction in a red Audi with two “unknown men” behind an Early Learning Centre in Harrogate.

Alexander and Varela scuttled off to a nearby Travelodge where they stashed over 60 wraps of heroin and cocaine in their room.

Police turned up at the hotel, but the two men had vanished. A search of the room revealed a major cocaine and heroin stash worth about £2,575 – as well as a machete and digital weighing scales.

In the early hours of the following morning, police received another call from CCTV operators who spotted the pair going into Asda in the town centre. 

Officers swooped on the supermarket and arrested the two men. Varela was found with a large hunting knife in his jacket and about £300 cash.

17 previous offences

Varela, who was living in Elland before being jailed, had 17 previous offences on his record including assault, possessing cocaine and carrying a blade. He was jailed for the latter offence in August 2021.

Defence barrister Lydia Pearce said Varela should have been sentenced for all the dealing offences in February last year.

She said that Varela was twice interviewed about the previous dealing matters in 2019 but carried on offending until his arrest in Harrogate in February 2021.

Judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, told Varela: 

“This case has come back to bite you, but that’s your fault, as well as the prosecution’s fault.”

He said that if Varela had been facing this new offence alone, he would have been looking at a jail sentence measured in years, but that he should have been sentenced for all matters over a year ago, which meant he would receive a reduced sentence.

The judge said that the new offence was part and parcel of Varela’s overall offending and “showed you were a determined drug dealer bang at it”.

Varela, who was due to be released from his existing prison sentence in December this year, was handed a new 12-month jail sentence which will run consecutively and extend his period behind bars by a further six months. 

Concern Harrogate charities will lose out with new ‘mayor-lite’ position

The final mayor of the Harrogate borough Victoria Oldham says the new charter mayor position will see charities lose out on profile-boosting visits.

Cllr Michael Harrison was appointed on Monday (April 17) as the charter mayor of Harrogate for the next 12 months.

But his role will be much-reduced from the former Harrogate Borough Council mayor who attended hundreds of events and functions across the district every year.

By contrast, the charter mayor is only expected to attend around a dozen events over the next year. Cllr Harrison described the role as ‘mayor-lite’.

Former councillor and mayor Victoria Oldham attended the meeting at the Civic Centre where she congratulated Cllr Harrison and wished him well.

But after the meeting she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that organisations in Harrogate will suffer due to the charter mayor’s leaner schedule.

Ms Oldham said:

“I do have my concerns that a lot of organisations in the Harrogate area will miss out on mayoral visits.

“Most mayors have done hundreds of visits and engagements, the charities, the churches and the elderly care homes will obviously not have those visits. They are a stimulus and they do help, let’s just hope it’s only for 12 months.”

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North Yorkshire Council has allocated an annual budget of £12,100 for Harrogate charter trustee business.

However, if a Harrogate Town Council is created, it will assume responsibility for the mayoral position from North Yorkshire Council should it want it.

It could then decide to allocated more money to a mayoral position that would see its role expanded, which Ms Oldham said she would be in favour of. 

She added:

“Going forward the citizens of Harrogate will need mayoral representation and I will be fully supportive of a town council being set up.”

Ms Oldham, who was the Conservative councillor for the Washburn ward on Harrogate Borough Council until it was abolished on March 31, also said some people don’t always appreciate the volume of work that went into the mayoral position. 

She said:

“It’s not just smiling for the photographs and shaking hands. It’s the time, commitment, the caring and being prepared to drop everything and make it work. 

“It’s not just about you as mayor, it’s about the citizens, Harrogate, our vibrant festival and hospitality industries, sports and more.”

Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesswoman wins lifetime achievement award

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate businesswoman has won a lifetime achievement award.

Sue Cawthray, who is chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, was praised for her service to care catering at the Public Sector Catering Awards 2023.

The ceremony, which was held at the London Hilton Metropole on April 13, saw Ms Cawthray given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards celebrate the best catering operators working across schools, hospitals, care homes, universities, prisons, catering colleges and the military.

Ms Cawthray said:

“I am absolutely shocked and did not expect it. 

“I am just so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to do the job I do every day. I believe at Harrogate Neighbours we make a difference to people’s lives every day.”

She added:

“I have the most amazing team at Harrogate Neighbours who are dedicated and hardworking.

“I am just so grateful for the work they put in as well as their dedication and commitment because we do it together.”

Knaresborough not-for-profit exceeds numeracy scheme targets

A Knaresborough not-for-profit organisation has celebrated reaching its annual target for a numeracy scheme.

Better Connect launched its Multiply programme as part of a government initiative to improve maths skills for people from all backgrounds.

The scheme is scheduled to run for three years.

The organisation has gone on to exceed its targets for the first year of the scheme and have helped over 450 adults across eight districts in North Yorkshire, as well as engaging over 250 local employers to get involved.

Emma Lyons, Multiply programme manager at Better Connect, said:

“We’ve just completed year one, and we’ve absolutely smashed it. There’s been such great provision by such great partners, and we are really excited to move the programme forward on to year two.

“We’ve got even bigger and even better, so watch this space.”

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Follifoot primary school told to make improvements by inspectors

A primary school in Follifoot has been told to make changes by Ofsted after being rated as ‘requires improvement’ in its latest inspection.

Ofsted visited Follifoot Church of England Primary School on February 2 and 3 and published its report at the beginning of the Easter holiday. The school had previously been rated as “good”.

Four out of the five areas of inspection were rated as good. However, quality of education was graded as ‘requires improvement’.

Inspectors noted in the report that the school was welcoming, fostered pupils’ aspirations well and had high expectations for children, saying:

“Leaders foster pupils’ aspirations well. They have high expectations for every pupil to be successful. Older pupils value the opportunity to contribute to the life of the school through a range of different leadership roles, such as worship and play leaders.”

The report praised the way the pupils were prepared for life in modern Britain, with their personal development prioritised by the school’s leaders. Ofsted also found that leaders had a “good understanding” of the school’s strengths and weaknesses.

But its report that there was “too much variation” in the quality of education that pupils received.

The report said:

“Leaders have clearly identified the order in which pupils should learn important content. However, in some subjects, pupils have gaps in their knowledge and understanding. 

“This means that in some subjects, pupils cannot build on their previous learning because it is not secure.”

It added that some staff “lack expertise” when working with pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

It said:

“Some staff lack expertise in supporting pupils with SEND. This means that the support pupils with SEND receive is inconsistent.

“Leaders should ensure that they continue to ensure that all relevant staff access high-quality training to support pupils with SEND.”

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The school, which has 56 pupils, was given a ‘good’ rating at its last full Ofsted inspection in April 2016.

In response to the latest rating, Rebecca Holland, headteacher at the school, said:

“The report has recognised so many of the strengths at Follifoot CE Primary School. Leadership and management, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and EYFS were all graded as good. 

“The inspection report provides clarity as to the position of the school in terms of the quality of education in February and a firm foundation for everyone in our Follifoot (and Federation) team to build on. 

“As the new headteacher, I am pleased that the inspection team confirmed our priorities are the right ones and that improvements have been made in a short space of time’.”

Meanwhile, David Harrington, chair of governors at the school, said:

“The governing body is proud of the commitment shown by all our staff at Follifoot. We are pleased with the number of positive comments made in the Ofsted report which reflect both the hard work of our staff and the progress which the school has made since Mrs Holland became Headteacher in September 2022. 

“Ofsted’s revised inspection framework rightly sets high standards for our curriculum and for the quality of education that we provide to our children. 

“The governing body is confident that the improvements sought by Ofsted in these areas can be delivered quickly and that Mrs Holland will continue to raise standards across the school.”

New Harrogate planning committee to meet for first time

A new planning committee for Harrogate is set to meet for the first time next week.

Councillors on Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Planning Committee will hold their first meeting, which will see decisions made on two proposals.

The committee was formed after the abolition of Harrogate Borough Council more than two weeks ago.

On Tuesday, April 25, it will meet for the first time under North Yorkshire Council at Harrogate Civic Centre, the former headquarters of HBC on St Luke’s Avenue.

As part of the meeting, councillors will consider two applications.

The first, which has been submitted by Abacus Properties Ltd, proposes the demolition of a pallet store at Jubilee Court in Copgrove in order to relocate the store.

Meanwhile, a further application from Abacus plans to form a car park and landscaping scheme at the same site on Wath Lane.

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Both proposals are recommended for approval by council officers.

The meeting will be chaired by Liberal Democrat Cllr Pat Marsh, who was elected chair of the committee last month.

Following her election, she said:

“I am keen to make sure Harrogate and Knaresborough get the right planning decisions.

“It is about having local knowledge that can make all the difference. I have done 33 years of planning none stop and been involved in formulating four Local Plans.

“I have never chaired a planning committee but I think I have a few years’ experience to bring to the role and I am looking forward to that new role.”

The Harrogate committee will make decisions on proposals for 500 homes or less in the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency area.

A second committee called the strategic planning committee, which will hold meetings in Northallerton, will deal with major proposals, such as plans for 500 or more homes and employment sites.

Plans for Ripon will be overseen by the Ripon and Skipton Area Constituency Committee.

Business Breakfast: Harrogate property specialists move to new office

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Land and property specialist Strutt and Parker has moved to new offices in Harrogate town centre.

The business, which has been based in Princes Square for nearly 50 years, has moved to a new premises at Westgate House on Albert Street.

Nick Bramley, senior director at the firm, said the move will help Strutt and Parker continue to offer a “high quality” service in the district.

He said:

“This is an exciting opportunity for us as a team and reinforces Strutt & Parker long-standing commitment to the town of Harrogate and our business operation across the North of England.

“The location of the new office is fantastic and the space on offer will provide a first-class working environment for our growing team. Having a new office which our team and clients enjoy spending time in will help us to continue to deliver high-quality estate agency and rural services across Yorkshire and neighbouring counties.”

The new office will have 16 staff led by director James Wort who has been helping buyers and sellers move for nearly 25 years.

The Harrogate office also offers land management services to estates, farms and other rural business owners.

Harrogate rental company reports ‘good progress’ despite inflation

A Harrogate-based rental company has reported “good progress” since its last round of results.

In a trading update, Vp, which is based at Central House on Beckwith Knowle, said the firm has shown “resilience and growth” despite soaring inflation and volatile markets.

The update added that it expects to report results for the full year in line with the board’s expectations.

In its last round of results which covered the six months up to September 2022, Vp reported revenues of £186.5 million compared with £176.1 million on the same period last year.

Neil Stothard, chief executive of Vp, said: 

“Since we reported our interim results last November, the group has continued to make good progress across our core markets and we are pleased that our performance for the full year will be in line with the Board’s expectations.

“In the period, we have worked hard to successfully mitigate cost inflationary pressures and we believe that the group is well placed to optimise performance in the current environment.  We are confident that we will continue to deliver value growth for our shareholders and will be able to react quickly to both challenges and opportunities as specific markets recover.”

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Body found at Harewood was 250 metres outside police search area

The body of missing man Jesus Moreno lay undiscovered for more than eight months because it was just outside the 500-metre police search area.

A police search team found Mr Moreno’s body on Friday on land close to the River Wharfe in the Harewood area.

He had been missing since August 1 last year when he got off a 36 bus from Leeds to Harrogate at Swindon Lane near Dunkeswick, just north of Harewood bridge.

The discovery of his body, close to the last sighting, came two weeks after West Yorkshire Police said it had “exhausted every possible line of enquiry”.

Asked why it had taken so long to find the body when it was so close to the last sighting, a police spokesperson said:

“Police can confirm the body of a man found in undergrowth on land close to the River Wharfe in the Harewood area on Friday has been identified as that of missing Jesus Moreno.

“A number of searches by specialist police search teams were undertaken in the Harewood area for Mr Moreno, as part of extensive enquiries conducted into his disappearance.

“The specialist search team initially set a search area of 500 metres radius from Jesus’ last known location. This area was searched with specialist resources.

“Mr Moreno’s body was found just over 250 metres outside that boundary and hidden under thick undergrowth, as part of ongoing work undertaken according to the wider search plan.”

The statement added that enquiries into the death remain ongoing but “there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances”.

Images released by West Yorkshire Police of missing man, Jesus Moreno.

Police images of Jesus Moreno

Piglove Brewing Co, the Leeds brewery Mr Moreno co-founded, said in a statement on social media:

“It is with great sadness that the Piglove family announces that our beloved Jesus’ remains have been found near Harewood bridge, the last place he was seen on the 1st of August 2022.

“Please be thoughtful to our staff and family during this challenging time. It has been a tough eight months for the business but your support through this time has meant the world to us.

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Rudding Park refurbishment plan ‘could generate £14m’, say owners

A plan to renovate a golf and country club at Rudding Park estate could generate an economic benefit of £14 million a year to Harrogate, its owners have said.

The hotel and spa has formally submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council for the project.

It includes proposals to replace the current golf club, upgrade the family hub and create outdoor tennis courts and a pavilion.

It would also see the county’s first five-star country club created and restore the estate’s walled garden.

In documents submitted to the council, estate agents Carter Jonas, which is representing the hotel, said the move would contribute an additional economic impact of £14.3 million a year through employment, suppliers and tourism spend.

Masterplan of the renovations as proposed by Rudding Park.

It would also create 75 new jobs.

Simon Mackaness, owner of Rudding Park, said in a statement to the council:

“This application is an integral part of Rudding Park’s continuing programme for improvement and investment in the facilities so we can continue to fulfil our role as a responsible steward of the estate.

“To remain the jewel in the crown for Harrogate tourism, Rudding Park must develop these high-quality fitness, sports, leisure and recreational spaces to complement the hotel, spa and house and the legacy of the last 50 years development.”

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

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Councillor Michael Harrison appointed first charter mayor of Harrogate

Councillor Michael Harrison was appointed the first charter mayor of Harrogate at the Civic Centre this morning.

Cllr Harrison is a Conservative who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate on North Yorkshire Council.

The non-political role will involve promoting the historic and ceremonial traditions of the Harrogate area during events and occasions such as Remembrance Sunday.

It will differ from the former Harrogate Borough Council mayoral role, which covered the whole of the former borough and undertook a wider range of engagements.

Cllr Harrison described the position as “mayor-lite“. He said:

“We’re doing that deliberately but there needs to be the element of civic duty that will continue. I can assure you I will be doing that.”

The mayor was elected by the Harrogate charter trustees, which are 10 councillors who represent divisions covering the unparished parts of Harrogate town.

Harrogate's 10 charter trustees

Harrogate’s 10 charter trustees

It was a more low-key occasion than previous Harrogate Borough Council mayor-making ceremonies, which were traditionally held each year at Harrogate’s Royal Hall.

Cllr Harrison was nominated for the role by Liberal Democrat councillor for High Harrogate and Kingsley, Chris Aldred, who was also appointed charter deputy mayor during the meeting.

Cllr Aldred said:

“Some observers may expect us to nominate one of our own but it’s also equally important to prove that charter trustees are actually non-political in order to continue the civic traditions and heritage of Harrogate. I’m sure Michael will do that and be a great ambassador for the town.”

charter mayor Michael Harrison and Chris Aldred

Cllrs Michael Harrison and Chris Aldred

Cllr Harrison’s first engagement as charter mayor will be at the unveiling of new sculptures at the New Zealand garden in Valley Gardens this month.

He will also attend ANZAC memorial day at Stonefall Cemetery.

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Ceremonial robes and chains most recently used by the last Harrogate borough mayor, Victoria Oldham, will be used by the charter mayor.

But he won’t be entitled to perks enjoyed by previous council mayors such as having a chauffeur-driven car to get to events.

The new council has allocated an annual budget of £12,100 for Harrogate charter trustee business.

However if a Harrogate Town Council is created, it will assume responsibility for the mayoral position from North Yorkshire Council should it want it.

The charter trustees will meet again in October. Cllr Harrison said at the next meeting the charter trustees will make a suggestion to North Yorkshire Council on what the council tax precept for the town council might be.

Consultation documents for the town council state Harrogate households would be asked to pay between £40 and £60 on top of their council tax each year if a Harrogate Town Council were created.

The budget would be spent on accommodation, employment costs, office and IT equipment, insurance, professional fees, the mayor and delivering services.

What those services might be are still to be decided but it would likely involve taking control of assets once held by the abolished Harrogate Borough Council.