Election 2022: High Harrogate and Kingsley candidates preview

Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret will be previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.

A total of 21 seats will be up for grabs in the district with most of the major parties contesting each one.

Today, we look at the High Harrogate and Kingsley division which will see three candidates standing for election.

Tim Myatt, Conservative

Tim Myatt will be standing for the Conservatives in the division at the election on May 5.

Mr Myatt currently represents High Harrogate on Harrogate Borough Council, which he was elected to in 2018.

He is also the cabinet member for planning on the authority.

Mr Myatt said his priority ahead of standing for North Yorkshire Council is to ensure Harrogate is a great place to live with investment in the town centre.

He said:

“My priority is to ensure our area of Harrogate is a great place to live, with investment in local services and the town centre.  I live near Harrogate High School and am the only candidate to live in the ward. I care about our area because it is my area too.  

“I have been active in opposing over-intensive development in Kingsley and off Claro Road, including formally objecting to the current proposals off Kingsley Drive. I’ve also been working with residents to lower the impact of development on the wider community, such as developers working anti-social hours or leaving dirty roads.  

“I have worked to reduce graffiti, litter and potholes, and have secured investment to improve the One Arch which will begin later this year. We also have plans to tackle anti-social behaviour on this important route into town, as well as other locations across High Harrogate and Kingsley.”

Geoff Foxall, Labour

Geoff Foxall will be standing for the Labour Party on polling day.

Mr Foxall is a retired teacher and as chair of Starbeck Residents’ Association campaigned against the relief road through the Nidd Gorge.

He said his priorities ahead of standing for North Yorkshire Council were to protect the interests of working families and to safeguard the environment.

Mr Foxall said:

“As Chair of Starbeck Residents Association, I was active in opposing a relief road through the Nidd Gorge and creating a community woodland in the Green Belt between Harrogate and Knaresborough.  I have also opposed overdevelopment in the Starbeck and Kingsley Road areas of Harrogate.

“I have eight years of experience as a Labour Councillor on Harrogate District Council including four years as Group Leader.

“If elected for a new North Yorkshire County Council, I shall defend the interests of working families in Harrogate and safeguard our environment.”

Chris Aldred, Liberal Democrat

The Liberal Democrat candidate for High Harrogate and Kingsley division is Chris Aldred.

Mr Aldred sits on Harrogate Borough Council and represents Harrogate Fairfax ward.

He is currently the chair of the authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Commission.

Mr Aldred said he was standing to ensure residents have a “strong alternative voice” on North Yorkshire Council.

He said:

“I have over 20 years’ experience as a council officer throughout the county – I know how to hold the Tories to account.

“I have lived in Harrogate over 20 years. I am fighting this election to ensure residents have a strong alternative voice on the new council.

“For – better schools, public transport, protecting & enhancing our local green space, improved Social Care. Against overdevelopment, wasting your money on vanity projects.”

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Business Breakfast: Plans for new Yorkshire tourism body

Businesses in Yorkshire’s tourism industry are being invited to an online event to ask them what they want from a new tourism organisation.

In March the troubled tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire went into administration as council leaders withdrew funding for it.

The Yorkshire Leaders Board, which is made up of local authority leaders, says there now needs to be a new approach to marketing the county. It plans to set up a new organisation to replace WTY and will meet in May to agree a timeline for its creation.

In a statement on the new website Yorkshire Tourism it said:

“We would like to ensure that Yorkshire’s tourism and hospitality businesses, and local destination managers are involved in the development of this organisation. We believe in the power of collaboration and open communication, and look forward to creating a more positive future for the Yorkshire tourism industry.”

If you want to be part of the free Zoom discussion contact Yorkshire Tourism here. 

Property firm, Artium Group, launches in Harrogate

A new Harrogate firm specialising in property development, investment, construction, and asset management is to launch.

Artium Group is headed by property developer Thomas Shotton and chartered surveyor Sam Colley, owner of Ousebank Consultancy.

The firm will have three subsidiaries; Artium Investments, Artium Construction and Artium Asset Management.

The pair have already secured projects totalling almost £30m in gross development value including two high-end residential conversion schemes, a leisure conversion with a rooftop in Harrogate and a residential new build scheme in York.

Mr Colley said:

“We are thrilled to announce the establishment of Artium Group.

“Operating initially in Yorkshire and the Humber, we are positive about the prospect of owning and operating a portfolio, focussing on occupiers and their requirements which drive quality throughout and give our investors added confidence.”

Harrogate’s Odeon cinema up for sale for £7m

Harrogate’s historic Odeon cinema building has been put up for sale for £7m.

The art-deco cinema was built in 1936 and has been home to the Odeon ever since.

The building is currently leased to Odeon on a 25-year term, with over eight years left of the current deal, which means it will be remaining as a cinema.

The 5-screen cinema has 892 seats and was refurbished in 2008. The sale is for the freehold of the building and is being marketed by property firm CBRE.

Alfie Stephenson, CBRE’s operational real estate team, said:

“This iconic building has prospered under the operation of Odeon since it opened and is a firm fixture on the Harrogate leisure scene.

“The long-income investment opportunity enables a keen investor to acquire the freehold interest on a cinema leased to the UK’s largest operator on a term that benefits from annual RPI-linked rent reviews.

“Our research shows that the cinema sector is set to have a strong 2022 with attendances anticipated to return to 100% of 2019 levels which makes this a timely opportunity.”

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Last year, Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam wrote about the history of Harrogate’s cinemas for the Stray Ferret.

On the Odeon, Ms Neesam wrote:

“On 17th June 1935, the Council approved plans from Odeon Theatres ltd for a new Cinema on East Parade which was initially publicised as having 1,800 seats. A flutter of excitement passed through the town’s many cinema enthusiasts, who realised that this was to be the first new cinema built in the town that was designed with “talking pictures” in mind, rather than an updated relic from the days of “silent” films.

“Named the “Odeon”, the new cinema had been designed by the famed architect Harry W. Weedon for Odeon Theatres Ltd whose Managing Director, Oscar Deutsch, was rumoured not to like cinema organs. Whatever the truth of this, the new Odeon had no organ, but was furnished with the latest sound reproduction equipment manufactured by the British Thomson-Houston Company.”

“Externally, the strikingly handsome art deco design was faced with cream and black tiles, highlighted with neon lighting strips in orange. Internally, perfect screen viewing was available from every one of the ground floor’s 1,000 and the balcony’s 600 seats, due to there being no pillars, and the décor was predominantly gold and silver, countered by carpets and upholstery in blue and green.”

Golf clubs stolen from vehicle in Harrogate

Police are appealing for information after a set of golf clubs was stolen from a vehicle in Harrogate.

The clubs, which were in a black Mizuno golf bag, were taken from Bilton Grove Avenue on Sunday, April 17 between 7pm and midnight.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today:

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, we are appealing for information about any CCTV footage or anybody who has sighted the Mizuno golf carry bag or golf clubs.”

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Chloe Kinnear. You can also email chloe.kinnear@northyorkshire.police.uk

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12220065288.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Dates set for second Harrogate Christmas Fayre

Harrogate Borough Council has announced the second Harrogate Christmas Fayre will take place from December 2 to 11.

The inaugural event was run by the council in the town centre in partnership with Market Place, a specialist market company from Greater Manchester.

It saw stalls and stands selling food, drink and gifts around Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.

The fayre was organised after the original Harrogate Christmas Market, on Montpellier Hill, was cancelled after the council refused to sign off the organisers’ event management plan.

A survey of local businesses undertaken by the council reported that 68% said having a Christmas market was beneficial to the town and 94% said last year’s event had a positive impact on footfall.

Candy Cane Express

Destination Harrogate, the council’s destination management organisation, has also started to plan for Christmas with its ‘Destination Christmas’ campaign.

The Candy Cane Express, a free road-train that travelled around the town, will return, as will traditional fairground rides to add to the yuletide ambience.

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Gemma Rio, head of Destination Harrogate, said:

“We are thrilled to be announcing the return of Destination Christmas. Which last year not only brought our community together at a special time of year after the challenges of the pandemic, but encouraged more visitors into our district for overnight stays at a crucial time of year for our businesses.

“Together with our partners we are looking forward with excitement and aspiration to building on the success of last year’s event. Through the market we provided a great platform to grow our offer of an engaging outdoor Christmas retail experience, and this together with the fantastic festive entertainment we are offering is set to showcase the Harrogate district as the perfect destination for Christmas.”

Original Christmas market gives up battle

Last month, the organisers of Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill gave up their battle to bring the event back.

The market, which was staged from 2012 to 2019, attracted over 80,000 visitors, 187 coaches and nearly 200 traders.

But the event was scuppered late into its planning stages last year when Harrogate Borough Council refused its event management plan.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Month-long roadworks begin near Birstwith this morning with a road closure on Darley Road

Northern Gas Networks is carrying out roadworks on a section of road north of Birstwith from today for the next month.

The works to repair and replace pipes begin today and are expected to finish on May 20.

A section of Darley Road, heading north out of Birstwith, is closed with drivers having to take a diversion along Back Road behind Menwith Hill.

Photograph: North Yorkshire County Council roadworks map

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Regional Wedding Award presented to Harrogate business

Harrogate Wedding & Events have been awarded the Regional Wedding Award for the Décor category.

Its partner business, DJMikeRobson, won the Regional Wedding Award for the DJ category.

The business, which provides wedding services in Harrogate, won the award for within the Yorkshire and North East region.

It was presented by the Wedding Industry Awards for the year 2022.

The awards bring together businesses in the wedding industry from across the UK and are held every year in London.

Ina Robson, owner of Harrogate Wedding & Events, said:

“We are delighted to receive the award and pride ourselves on excellent customer service. To know this award is also driven from customer feedback, means a lot to us.

“The industry itself has had a very difficult few years, but we are now looking forward to a bright future.

“I would like to thank all our clients and DJs for all of their support over the last year, and for helping to make our businesses a great success.”

New managing director appointed at Ripon BID 

Lindsay Elizabeth Mcphearson Austin has been appointed as managing director at Ripon BID.

News of the appointment was recently published on Companies House.

The appointment replaces former directors Sheila Webb and Sarah Blenkinsop.

There are currently twelve active directors as a part of the Ripon BID.

BIDs, which are funded by a levy on local firms,  aim to increase visitor numbers to towns and cities.

Real Food Harrogate asks for local food producers to join market

Real Food Harrogate market

Real Food Harrogate market, Crescent Gardens

Real Food Markets is looking for independent food producers to join its Harrogate market.

The not-for-profit organisation operates in both Harrogate and Ilkley and supports local, independent and speciality producers.

Real Food Harrogate is run by a selection of traders and volunteers on Crescent Gardens on the third Sunday of each month from 10-3pm.

Set up in 2022 with the support of Harrogate BID and Harrogate Council, the market has gradually expanded in size.

Now, organisers are looking for local food producers to take part in Real Food Harrogate.

To join their group of traders and volunteers, you can find out more information here. 

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Send us your firm’s business news and we’ll publish it.  Business Breakfast is a daily round-up of all things related to business and the economy in the district. Get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Stray Views: Boris Johnson has paid the fine – it’s time to move on

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.

Boris Johnson fine: get over it

Ask those complaining about the Prime Minister who they voted for. Give him a break; he’s had to deal with Brexit, a covid pandemic plus having covid himself.

There are many families who aren’t with loved ones when they die; I wasn’t with my son when he drowned.

Do these people not consider that there are more important things to deal with now? It’s done, he’s apologised and paid the fine, get over it.

Susan Mitchell, Harrogate

What has Nigel Adams done as MP?

Nigel Adams, the Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty, has announced he will be standing down at the next election, so possibly not until 2024. To quote his own website, this is what he is supposed to do: “…to represent the interests and concerns of all the people who live in their constituency, whether they voted for them at the General Election or not”.

Yet this MP does nothing and represents no one unless it be himself or to benefit himself. His senior parliamentary secretary must have a difficult job – they reply to almost all the letters I have ever sent, either having to defend the indefensible on his behalf e.g the Owen Paterson issue or they are generic responses that miss the points being made.  

Yet Mr Adams has accepted well over £30,000 from a former Kremlin-related oligarch, Alexander Temerko (previously associated with the arms trade in Russia and who, according to Catherine Belton, author of Putin’s People, has praised senior members of the Russian security establishment, including the Russian security council chief Nikolai Patrushev).

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What due diligence was done to establish the money was ‘clean’? He has also accepted £11,350 from Sanjeev Gupta, who had links with Greensill Capital, the company which collapsed in March 2021 and has been at the centre of a financial and political scandal.

His Twitter account consists mostly of re-Tweets but he has also happily accepted thousands of pounds of hospitality from gaming and betting organisations to attend the football Euros during the pandemic – then tweeted about it.  Yet he has remained silent on any of the many substantive, ethical issues which have occurred under the Johnson government, including even Partygate.

Hansard records show that he almost never mentions any of his own, specific constituents’ problems or issues (merely using  the word ‘constituents’ in general) and the Stray Ferret itself has shown month after month in its MPs Watch articles just how little trace there is of what exactly this MP does. A particularly memorable note was made that in July 2021, Nigel Adams tweeted that a dog had visited his office.

What a difficult life.

He should go now so his constituents can have a by-election. Why should the public purse continue to finance this ‘career’ until the next election?

Friedy Luther, Spofforth

Government ‘prioritises self-indulgence over social responsibility’ with covid

Three weeks ago, I left these shores for the first time since 2019: a three-day visit to Madrid. Covid was still rife, but few people inside the terminal at Leeds-Bradford were wearing masks in spite of the signs.

On the plane, however, masks were mandatory except when refreshments were served. They were much in evidence during transfer at Schipol airport and then at Adolfo Suárez. On the metro to Madrid centre, everyone wore masks and did their best to leave free seats between passengers. Madrid was buzzing, but on the wide streets, well over half of the people were masked, a higher number still in crowded areas.

In the bars and restaurants, customers scrupulously replaced their face coverings when moving around the establishment. In the hotel lift, signs urged guests not to mix households when using them. At my appointments, masks were worn even during business. I found this eminently sensible and reassuring, under the circumstances. The complaints and worries I heard were not about restrictions but about non-compliance and what might happen when guidelines were relaxed.

Back in England 15 days later, having dodged covid since the start of the pandemic, I tested positive. The next day my partner did, and six days later, my younger daughter. That, I suspect, is what happens when, under the pretext of returning to ‘normal’ and unshackling the economy, a government prioritises the right to self-indulgence over social responsibility.

Glyn Hambrook, 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 Beer Festival for women returns next month

The Harrogate beer festival that attempts to break down barriers between women and beer is back next month.

The beer and arts festival called WOTFEST SIX, organised by Women on Tap CIC, will return to Harrogate between May 4 and 8 and offer a place for women interested in beer or those wanting to learn more to come together and try it out.

The festival works with bars, breweries and industry experts to provide a space for thought-provoking communications and for women to explore more beers.

Festival highlights include an evening of conversation with women in beer from Track Brewing Co and Brew York and Mindful Drinking workshops hosted by Club Soda which aim to emphasise positive drinking habits over abstinence.

There will also be quizzes, treasure hunts and other events held at some of Harrogate’s best known bars including Major Tom’s Social, The Disappearing Chin, The Harrogate Tap and Rooster’s Taproom.

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As in previous years, a special festival beer has been brewed at Brew York. The pineapple sour will be available at venues throughout the festival.

Women on Tap founder, Rachel Auty said:

“It feels good to properly root the festival back in Harrogate where it all began while also retaining an element of online events and activity.

“We are a tiny team with an enormous goal and thanks to the incredible support we get from the UK wide beer industry, our network across Harrogate and Knaresborough, and our local friends who never fail to cheer us on from the sidelines, we continue to stride out every year – passionate, determined, and smiling!”

Women on Tap CIC was formed in 2017 in Harrogate to help influence and shape a beer industry where women have equal opportunities, feel welcome, and are safe.

Napkin in toaster causes fire in Harrogate

Firefighters were called to a home on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road last night when a napkin in a toaster caused a blaze.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log said help was summoned at 7.25pm. It adds:

“Crews attended a fire in a residential building. Fire was caused by a napkin inside a toaster. Fire was out on arrival.

“Minor fire damage to toaster and napkin. Crews gave resident advice.”

In a busy night for the fire and rescue service, firefighters were later called to a single vehicle collision near Summerbridge in which a man was taken to hospital with suspected pelvic injuries.

The collision occurred at 9.25pm at Middlesmoor. The incident log says:

“One male was trapped and crews extricated him using hydraulic cutting gear. Male is believed to have pelvis injuries and was taken to hospital.”

Firefighters were also called when a children’s toy car caught fire in a rear yard off Market Place, Ripon, shortly after 6pm. The fire was out on arrival.

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