Harrogate Spring Water to submit new plans to expand bottling plant soon

Harrogate Spring Water is to revert back to its original 2017 plan to expand its bottling plant — and will submit a new application soon that proposes how felled trees at Rotary Wood will be compensated for.

The company won outline planning permission to expand its premises on Harlow Moor Road by 5,500 sqm five years ago. It means the principle of development has been established but the finer details have not been agreed.

The approved 2017 plans involve the felling of some trees at Rotary Wood, a woodland behind its current site that was planted by The Rotary Club of Harrogate and local schoolchildren in the 2000s.

In January 2021 a high-profile reserved matters application that was 40% larger and looked to chop down more trees than had been agreed was turned down by Harrogate Borough Council‘s planning committee.

The application provoked a public backlash and generated a debate about how a large, successful businesses should operate in the era of climate change.

Compensation

To compensate for the loss of trees, the company offered to plant new ones, create scrubland and build a pond on private land behind RHS Harlow Carr.

But this was an offer that dismayed some councillors on the planning committee and local groups including Pinewoods Conservation Group.

Piers Forster, a professor of climate physics at the University of Leeds who lives in Harrogate published a co-authored report that said about five times more new woodland was needed to properly compensate for the loss of trees.

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Next steps

The company said in July 2021 that it was working on a brand new application and the old plan would be disregarded.

However, the company has now decided to go back to its original plan rather than going through the torturous process of starting from scratch.

But, as in 2021, it still will need councillors on the planning committee to approve a reserved matters application that deals with its appearance and crucially, how the destroyed trees at Rotary Wood will be compensated for.

The company is yet to publish exact details on how it will do this.

Consultation events

Harrogate Spring Water said in a statement that it is looking to achieve “net biodiversity gain” for the site, carry out a compensatory tree planting scheme and it will make the remaining part of Rotary Wood more accessible to the public.

A series of public consultation events will take place in June where people will get to have their say and shape the proposals.

The company said the plans would create 30 new jobs.

Richard Hall, managing director at Harrogate Spring Water, said:

“The town of Harrogate and the local community are at the heart of our business. So it is important for us to ensure that, as we look to grow, create further job opportunities and continue to support the local and regional economy, we also listen to them.

“That’s why we are now encouraging people to engage with us on this process, to give us the benefit of their views and to help shape the future of the company.

“We have a shared interest in driving prosperity for the town and creating a sustainable future for a key business that takes the Harrogate name around the UK and the world, and we hope that this process will allow us to come to a resolution which addresses people’s concerns and the town’s aspirations.”

A spokesperson for the Pinewoods Conversation Group said:

“Whilst we are pleased that the plans for the larger site have now been dropped we are disappointed that the company still plan to progress with the original development first proposed 5 years ago. Since then, the public’s concerns around single use plastics and views on supporting the environment have strengthened substantially. This original development still has a large footprint of almost 2 acres that will see the removal of many trees and the loss of public accessible green space.

“However, we are encouraged by this new consultation and a commitment to work with us and other key stakeholders to achieve a net biodiversity gain for the site and to create more shared areas. Any replacement for land lost is a must for the local community. We would encourage all those with an interest to attend the planned events and make their views known.”

Nazi symbol outside Harrogate home leads to police visit

A Harrogate man’s efforts to commemorate the sinking of a ship in the Second World War led to a social media outcry and a visit from police.

He put up a German naval flag for “less than six hours” on Friday afternoon to remember those who lost their lives in the sinking of the Bismarck on May 27, 1941.

However, the flag includes a swastika symbol, which was spotted by a passer-by who posted a photograph on Twitter that evening.

The home owner – who we are not naming because police said they are concerned about putting him at risk – said he was taken aback by the reaction.

“It’s what’s called a kriegsmarine flag. It’s not the first time it has flown – I’ve flown it twice a year, to mark the sinking of the Bismarck and the Battle of the River Plate [the first naval battle of the Second World War].

“I spoke to my neighbours and they know it’s not a racist or anti-Jewish or pro-Nazi thing. It’s just a commemoration.”

‘Naval tradition’

The man said he regularly displays flags to mark significant days in the calendar and has been doing so for almost three years.

He often puts a sign in his window explaining the significance of that day’s flag, which he said also did on Friday. It outlined the loss of the battleship along with 2,200 sailors, as well as more than 100 captured by the British Navy.

The homeowner said:

“They died for their country as much as our naval crew did for ours. It’s a naval tradition to respect your foe as well as your own men.

“My father was in the Navy and my uncle was in the air force. I’m more of a pacifist – I wouldn’t ever do anything to offend anyone.”

He said the photograph was not close enough to show the information about the Bismarck so, when it was shared on social media, it lacked the context of his explanation.

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After being posted on Twitter, the photograph was shared in local Facebook groups, attracting dozens of responses. One called the owner “vermin” while others described flying the flag as “inexcusable”, “disgusting” and “sickening”.

A handful of responses on social media identified the flag and made reference to the anniversary of the sinking of the Bismarck, as well as pointing out it was adjacent to a British naval flag and one displaying poppies.

The homeowner added:

“I did try and get a modern kriegsmarine flag but the only one that was available was a Second World War one.”

‘Repercussions’

He took down the flag on Friday evening but, on Sunday, had a visit from North Yorkshire Police officers who had been contacted by members of the public who had seen the photo.

“They were very nice – they were more concerned about whether there would be repercussions for me.

“I told them I will try and find a modern Kriegsmarine flag for next time, or I’ll put a piece of white fabric over the middle.”

We have not identified the man or given the location of his house because police said they are concerned about potential risk to the resident.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“Police visited an address in Harrogate after concerns were reported by a member of the public about a flag in a garden. On arrival, the flag in question wasn’t on display.

“An officer talked to the resident, who confirmed he flies many different flags throughout the year and it was a naval flag flown alongside other flags to commemorate a battle.

“No further action was necessary as no crime had been committed.”

Harrogate guest house owner plans to appeal cannabis racket conviction

A Harrogate guest house owner who played the role of “facilitator” in a half-a-million-pound cannabis racket has sacked her legal team as she pursues plans to appeal her conviction.

Yoko Banks, 74, rented out her properties to an Albanian drug gang for “industrial” cannabis production “in the expectation of significant profit”, Leeds Crown Court heard.

The pensioner, of Scargill Road, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in August last year after she admitted three counts of being concerned in the production of cannabis. 

Her six co-conspirators, Visar Sellaj, 33, Kujtim Brahaj, 50, Indrit Brahaj, 27, Bledar Elezaj, 36, Andi Kokaj, 23, and 31-year-old Erblin Elezaj, an illegal immigrant, were jailed for a combined 22 years for various offences including drug supply and production of skunk cannabis.

Banks, who owns properties across Harrogate, was back in court today to face financial confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

But they were postponed once again after the court heard she was still intent on appealing her conviction and wanted to leave her legal team in favour of another firm of solicitors.

Prosecutor Michael Bosomworth said there was also an issue with a statement provided by one of Banks’s co-defendants, the gang’s ringleader Sellaj, who claimed that some of the money in his bank account had been transferred to him by relatives in Albania. 

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He added, however, that the major sticking point involved Banks and her “complicated accounts and property empire”.

Mr Bosomworth said Banks was now claiming “she only understands Japanese” – although she spoke in English in the dock and appeared to understand everything that was put to her. 

Matters have been further complicated by Banks initially telling her legal team she didn’t wish to appeal, but then changing her mind.

She had pursued the appeal “notwithstanding she told (her solicitors) she wasn’t pursuing it” and was now in the process of transferring legal aid to a new team of solicitors.

If her legal aid application is granted, it would mean her costs being covered at least partly by public money.

Banks has “messed everyone around” for 18 months

Mr Bosomworth said there had been an issue between Banks and her present solicitors and she was “awaiting legal aid to be transferred”.

He said it was the Crown’s case that Banks had “messed everyone around for the last 18 months” and that the prosecution would “invite the court to consider the matter on the basis she is just not co-operating”. 

He added that any order made today in terms of benefit and confiscation amount would “inevitably” be challenged by Banks who, as things stood, did not have any legal representation.

Mr Bosomworth said it was incumbent on Banks to submit a statement to the court showing her assets and “what the issues are”, but she had not yet served one.

When Recorder Mr Baird asked Banks if she understood what had been said and that she must submit a statement, she said she did and that she had “messed up quite a lot” during the legal case.

At the previous hearing in January, the Crown said it was not yet in a position to make a financial confiscation ruling because Banks’s defence team needed more time to delve into her “complicated” accounts and extensive “property empire”.

Leeds Crown Court. Picture: the Stray Ferret.

Leeds Crown Court. Picture: the Stray Ferret.

Banks’s then defence counsel said that a forensic accountant had been instructed to scrutinise her accounts and the “considerable amount” of properties and other assets she owned. 

Mr Recorder Baird adjourned the confiscation proceedings until July 29. 

He said: 

“These are important matters for Mrs Banks. There’s a lot of money at stake here and I take the view that she should be legally represented.”

Banks was ‘facilitator’ in cannabis racket

At the sentence hearing in August 2021, the court heard that the “professional”, London-based gang had invested tens of thousands of pounds into three cannabis factories at Banks’s properties on Alexandra Road, Woodlands Road and Somerset Road near Harrogate town centre.

The criminals had even dug a trench outside the three-storey Edwardian villa on Alexandra Road through which they fed electricity cables to the house to power the “highly sophisticated” cultivation system and bypass the electricity grid.

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Their plot finally unravelled when police were called to the five-bedroom villa on September 26, 2020, after reports of a “disturbance” in the street involving what appeared to be two rival gangs vying for the cannabis farm.

Banks had rented her properties to the Albanians through an “unidentified individual who goes by the name of Francesco”, who sub-let the houses to the gang’s ringleader Sellaj.

The total potential yield of the cannabis factories was valued at up to £456,000, not including previous harvests.

Although Banks was not involved in the cultivation, she had played a “facilitating” or advisory role in the plot and was constantly “pressing (the gang) be paid by them”.

Banks – who had previous convictions for health-and-safety offences through her work – was due to be paid at least £12,000 a month in rent for the three properties and was also receiving “high” deposits.  

Rare Beatles Royal Hall poster fetches almost £3,000

A rare original poster from The Beatles’ famous 1963 concert at Harrogate’s Royal Hall has fetched £2,800 at an antiques auction.

The poster was given to the seller in the early 1980s as a gift by a colleague who had worked at the Royal Hall in the 1960s.

The concert on March 8 was during the height of Beatlemania and was the group’s first and only Harrogate gig. It has since become part of Harrogate folklore.

The poster was sold at Ryedale Auctioneers in Kirkbymoorside last week with fierce interest from bidders.

Auctioneer Angus Ashworth said:

“The provenance was good, and the poster was in good condition commensurate with its age. We knew there would be plenty of interest, and bidding was fierce.”

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Last month the Stray Ferret visited the Royal Hall’s archives to look at a collection of bill posters from the 20th century.

Since opening as The Kursaal in 1903 it has welcomed some of the biggest names in entertainment, including The Beatles, Louis Armstrong and Little Richard.

Other huge names of the 20th century such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sir Ernest Shackleton also visited to perform lectures in Harrogate.

Andrew Jones MP tells constituent he feels ‘anger’ over partygate

Harrogate & Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones has told a constituent that he feels “anger” over partygate — but would not say whether he has submitted a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The long-awaited Sue Gray report was published last week and found that many of the parties in Downing Street “should not have been allowed to happen”.

The report included details of vomiting and parties lasting until 4am while the UK was under covid restrictions.

Following the publication of the report, a constituent wrote to Mr Jones. The MP responded in a letter on May 27 with his thoughts on the subject.

The constituent asked not to be named, but shared the letter with the Stray Ferret.

Mr Jones wrote:

“I understand the anger people feel. I feel it too. Most of all I feel intensely depressed that senior people in our political system have pretended, or somehow genuinely believed, that tables groaning with bottles of wine, as we have now seen pictured, were in some way allowed work practices.”

Mr Jones has previously been outspoken over partygate and said in the letter that his “anger is not going to lessen”.

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In January, the MP wrote to a different constituent to say if criminal actions were found then “consequences must flow from that”.

In April, the Prime Minister was given a fixed penalty notice for attending a birthday gathering on June 20, 2020. It made him the first Prime Minister to have been found to have broken the law while in office.

However, the letter suggests that Mr Jones now considers the case closed.

He wrote:

“My anger isn’t going to lessen and I am not going to forget this episode in the story of Covid-19. But I won’t be commenting again unless something substantially new comes to light having already responded to hundreds and hundreds of emails and letters on every aspect of this matter.”

The BBC has reported at least 20 Tory MPs have written to the 1922 committee of backbenchers with letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

Fifty-four letters are needed to trigger a leadership vote, but Mr Jones would not reveal if he has submitted one, writing:

“This is a matter that will remain between myself and the chair of the 1922 committee.”

The Stray Ferret has asked Mr Jones for his views following the publication of the Sue Gray report, but has not received a response.

From corgis to bollard covers: Harrogate district is getting into jubilee spirit

With just a few days to go before the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations begin, signs of the festivities are already appearing across the Harrogate district.

Harrogate corgi Mr Bingley has been posing in front of famous landmarks across the town ahead of the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

With corgis being the Queen’s favourite breed of dog, Mr Bingley’s owner, Molly Fetherston, thought it would be a “bit of fun” ahead of the upcoming weekend of celebrations.

The pictures show the 10-year-old dog outside Bettys tea rooms, by the Sun Colonnade in Valley Gardens, on the Stray, and near the Harrogate picture frame and Slingsby Gin shop.

Photograph: Rozalia Szatanik Photography

Photograph: Rozalia Szatanik Photography

Ms Fetherston said:

“Shockingly, he doesn’t mind dressing up, especially when he gets extra cuddles from people passing by!

“Almost every day when we go on walks, I’m stopped by at least one person telling me they don’t see many corgis or that their grandmother had one, but that they haven’t seen one in years.

“He’s almost like a little nostalgic furball and I love seeing the smiles on their faces. We all had so much fun and Mr Bingley loved all of the special attention from both shop owners and residents alike.”

Photograph: Rozalia Szatanik Photography

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Meanwhile in Knaresborough, a group of knitters have been busy making bollard covers for the jubilee.

The bollards, on Market Place, are now adorned with colourful covers with toppers of the Queen, corgis and a crown or two.

The knitted covers were commissioned by Knaresborough Business Collective and made by a group of local knitters and crochet artists called KYM.

Photograph: Brian King

Photograph: Brian King

New Harrogate Pret criticised for lack of disability access

Pret a Manger has been criticised for opening a new shop in Harrogate that is currently inaccessible to wheelchair users.

Customers to the sandwich and coffee chain, which opened on Harrogate’s James Street on Friday, have to walk up two steps to enter.

Pret has said a permanent ramp cannot be fitted due “to the structure of the building”.

It added that a low-level bell has been fitted outside to alert staff to bring out a “purpose-designed portable ramp” when requested but it has not yet been delivered.

Local resident, Jeannine Fisher, contacted the Stray Ferret today after seeing a wheelchair user unable to get inside the shop. She said:

“It makes me very frustrated that we should exclude people from society.  It beggars belief that a multinational company, who must clearly be aware of the guidelines, have neglected to create inclusive access.

“With everything else that wheelchairs users have to navigate in the town it feels so unfair that they are unable to do simple things that others can do such as having a coffee with their friends.”

Harrogate charity Disability Action Yorkshire offers accessibility audits to help businesses do all they can to be fully accessible.

Chief executive Jackie Snape said:

“It is very disappointing that Pret had not consulted with disabled people, or a disability organisation, about accessibility to its new James Street outlet. We would be more than happy to speak with the local team as to what they can still do to aid disabled customers.

“We do note, however, that Pret has a digital accessibility policy on its website, it’s just a shame there isn’t a store accessibility policy to match!”

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A Pret spokesperson said:

“We know how it important it is for customers in wheelchairs to have easy access to our shop.

“Sadly, in Harrogate we’ve been unable to fit a permanent ramp due to the structure of the building and its listed status. That’s why we’ve had a bespoke portable ramp designed to give our customers step-free access into the shop.”

Harrogate childrenswear brand to launch at Great Yorkshire Show 

A new Harrogate based childrenswear brand is due to launch at the Great Yorkshire Show in July.  

The high-end country style clothing store will be online, but will also have stands at various country events and shows.

It plans to sell a variety of sustainable products, from tweed coats to hand-knitted cashmere boots.  

Eleanor Charles’ tweed range

Mum of two and former solicitor Katie Heptonstall started the plans for Eleanor Charles after the pandemic hit.  

After moving from London back to Harrogate when her father-in-law suffered a heart attack, Mrs Heptonstall and her husband chose to stay in the town after the birth of their children, Elle and Charlie, who the business is named after. 

She said:  

“I am really excited to bring together everything we have been working so hard on over the last few months and to bring Eleanor Charles to life at the Great Yorkshire Show. 

“It has been a complete change for me in my career, I have learnt so much over the last few months and I have enjoyed every second of it.” 

The shop will launch at the Great Yorkshire Show , which runs from Tuesday, July 12 to Friday, July 15, where the clothing stand will also have a sofa for breastfeeding, a baby changing area, a colouring table and a photo wall.

The Alice Hawthorn pub wins three regional awards for architecture 

The Alice Hawthorn pub in Nun Monkton has won three regional RIBA awards for Yorkshire, celebrating its architecture and sustainability.  

The hotel and pub won the regional Yorkshire award, the Yorkshire sustainability award and the Yorkshire client of the year award at the ceremony held in London.  

Twelve new guest bedrooms were recently designed by De Matos Ryan, with the aim of preventing the pub from closing.  

Since four local taverns closed down, The Alice Hawthorn is the only remaining pub in the village.  

The new timber frame buildings include the sheds, field barn, stables and tack room

De Matos Ryan director Angus Morrogh-Ryan said: 

“We are delighted that this project has been recognised by the RIBA Yorkshire jury in this way.  

“It has been an honour to collaborate with such a brilliant client and contractor team, and together ensure that this village pub will continue to sustainably service its community but also welcome visitors from afar.” 

The ensuite bedrooms were designed with sustainable elements including timber frame buildings, low energy lighting and a heat pump for hot water and heating. 

The Alice Hawthorn has now been shortlisted for the RIBA national awards, which will take place later this year.  

Stray Views: Harrogate fire service cuts will cause ‘safety blackspot’

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.

Cuts to fire service will cause ‘safety blackspot’

Harrogate with its many large and old hotels has the largest concentration of overnight accommodation in North Yorkshire. 

With only one fire engine at the first attendance the crew have little chance of saving lives, let alone commencing to fight a fire. 

These large rambling buildings are a tragedy waiting to happen with no turntable ladder at the first attendance. What has happened to the risk determining the attendance to all properties? 

The police and fire commissioner and the chief officer can quote their 26% of fires during the night hours but that is when these hotels are most full of guests and also most at risk and quoting 26% as a reason to reduce to one engine at night only means that Harrogate as a conference centre will not cause sensible companies to want to come here. It will become a safety blackspot.

Brian Hicks, Pateley Bridge

Sun Pavilion Grade-II listing welcomed

The Civic Society welcome the addition of the Sun Pavilion and Colonnade and hope that  additional funding may become available to restore the colonnade to its former glory – with glazed roofing and windows to the rear to provide a weather proof facility.

Of course, Valley Gardens are themselves Grade II as a listed Park and Garden.

Stuart Holland, Harrogate

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New Harrogate Town stadium a good idea

I agree with Pat Marsh’s views on Harrogate Town. Good idea to speak to the council to see what could be done.

Although consultation with Harrogate Borough Council may be obsolete now, it may be necessary to consult with the new North Yorkshire Council I suppose.

Richard Blackshaw, 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.

Harrogate interior designer’s jubilee styling tips

As we approach the Queen’s platinum jubilee, many of us are starting to scroll through Pinterest and Instagram to get some inspiration on how to decorate our homes.

The monumental royal celebration is the perfect excuse to string up the bunting, blow up balloons and do a spot of baking to host unforgettable parties throughout the long weekend.

We asked Harrogate interior designer Joan Maclean, who has launched a new online course, for some styling tips to help make your jubilee party one to remember.

Use a teapot as a display

“Isn’t tea the most quintessentially British thing? So dig out that old teapot, but use it instead of a vase and fill it with flowers. Here it is sitting on a bread board which is made of oak – the most English of trees.”

Think red, white and blue

 “You don’t just have to wave a flag – add a few red, white or blue touches. Here the Union Jacks just add a nod to the celebrations.”

Use a tray as a frame

“A tray is always a great way to contain your pieces – it acts like a frame. Here, alongside some bubbly and champagne flutes, I’m using the coronation glasses and mug for my red, white and blue flowers.”

Start at your front door

“I’ve planted up some perfect red flowers and with the addition of some tall silver branches and a couple of flags in my tall concrete planters,  here’s a stylish way to embrace the jubilee spirit at your door.”

Keep it simple – but striking

“If you just want to make a nod to the festivities, then raid your garden for some seasonal leaves or branches. With the addition of some red and white roses, here’s a striking, but simple, display in my hallway.”

Use a cake stand to display treasures

“A cloche or a glass cake stand, with its dome, is the perfect way to display a few treasures. Here are three pieces of coronation memorabilia.”

Raid your attic

“My family has treasures in the attic that don’t often see the light of day. These lead figures, with the incredible gold carriage, are part of a complete set from the coronation that are still in perfect condition.

“This window sill is the perfect spot – in fact window sills are the perfect place to display all kinds of treasures.”

Display memorabilia

“Here’s an old biscuit tin, which has found new life on my mantlepiece.”

“We used to get commemoration mugs and coins from school and here are some little things my mum had squirrelled away at the back of a cupboard.

“Dig out your family’s treasures and put them out – they stir fascinating memories and are a reminder of quite how long it is since 1952.”

Set the table for a traditional British afternoon tea

“A perfect British occasion calls for a fabulous afternoon tea – champagne, anyone?”

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