Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret is 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 Harlow and St George’s division, which will see five candidates standing for election.
Steven Jackson, Conservative
Steven Jackson is the Conservative candidate for the Harlow and St George’s division.
Mr Jackson is currently a councillor on Harrogate Borough Council and represents the Harrogate Saltergate ward.
He chairs the council’s audit and governance committee.
When asked why he was standing for North Yorkshire Council, Mr Jackson said:
“As an experienced councillor, I can demonstrate a track record of delivering for residents. Whether the issue is housing, development, traffic, crime or the local economy, I always fight for my constituents.
“Living in the ward myself, I have established strong relationships with local residents and community groups, and I am passionate about ensuring our local area is the best it can be.”
He added:
“Outside politics I work to regenerate brownfield land, and I believe that the skills I have developed can be used working on a key issue in our area – ensuring that we have sustainable, environmentally friendly, infrastructure led development, which protects what makes our town a great place to live. I promise to scrutinise any development in our area and ensure that local people’s views are heard.
“If elected, I promise to continue working all year round and to support all residents, irrespective of political allegiance.”
Andrew Rickard, Green Party
The Green Party candidate for the division is Andrew Rickard.
Mr Rickard has lived in Harrogate for 15 years and in the Harlow and St George’s area for the last decade.
He currently runs a consultancy business providing financial advice to businesses and was recently the chair of Harrogate and District Round Table. He is also chair of the Harrogate Green Party and is a scout and rugby coach.
On why he is standing, Mr Rickard said:
“I’m standing in this election because of the frustration of seeing the growing disconnect between the common sense views of local residents and the divisive direction and decision making of those apparently in control.
“I will use my extensive experience of managing and chairing businesses and community groups to reverse the flow of power – local government decision making must reflect the views of the local people it represents.”
He added:
“I believe I will make a good councillor because of my business experience, my community engagement and my local knowledge and connections through raising a family here.”
Sarah Hart, Independent
Sarah Hart will be standing as an independent candidate for Harlow and St George’s division.
A business owner and resident in the division area, Ms Hart said she and the other independent candidates wanted to make a difference on the new authority.
Speaking in a personal capacity, she said she felt there was a “lack of transparency” in local politics and wanted to “facilitate genuine community engagement with local groups, businesses and residents”.
Among her priorities would be to fix roads and pavements, stop the Otley Road cycle path, promote existing cycle routes and protect community green spaces.
She said:
“I will push for a circular economy, and support shop local, which will benefit our local economy.
“I recognise we are a tourist town, but for too long it seems tourists have been a priority over the residents and businesses, this needs to change.
“I recognise the lack of secure affordable homes for local people and co-founded Harrogate Community Land Trust to address this problem, which is a not-for-profit, community led organisation. I also volunteer at Resurrected Bites, a fantastic charity that is helping families with the cost of living crisis and stopping food waste going to landfill.”
She added that she would also push for a review of the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, recognise the climate emergency and work with schools to ease congestion.
John Adams, Labour
John Adams is standing for the Labour Party in the Harlow and St George’s division.
Mr Adams is a retired university professor and has lived in Harrogate for the last 17 years.
His grandfather was Labour MP for South Hammersmith, William Adams.
Mr Adams has been a lifelong member of the party and says he is committed to “reducing inequality”.
He said:
“I have a commitment to reducing inequality in UK, which has deepened so much in the last decade. My professional expertise is in economics.
“At present I am treasurer of a national charity, have chaired another, and have an MBE for services to education.”
Mr Adams added:
“Our area is relatively prosperous, compared to much of the country, but there are major issues about social housing and transport and the need for career opportunities — not just ‘jobs’ — for young people.”
Michael Schofield, Liberal Democrat
The Liberal Democrat candidate for Harlow and St George’s is Michal Schofield.
Mr Schofield was born in Harrogate and has lived in Harlow Hill on-and-off since 1982.
He is currently the landlord of the Shepherd’s Dog pub on Otley Road, which he runs with his wife Donna.
He has acted the role of the Dame in Rossett School pantomimes for the last couple of years.
Mr Schofield said he felt it was important to help local schools.
He said:
Harrogate council tax rebates on the way – but thousands of households will have to wait to apply“I believe it is important to see improved funding for schools.
“In addition, as local businesses continue to struggle it’s important to grow the buy local campaign so everyone is contributing to a much stronger local economy.”
Council tax rebates worth £150 are starting to be paid into bank accounts across the Harrogate district – but thousands of households will have to wait to apply.
The government support is being sent out by Harrogate Borough Council to help ease the impact of huge rises in gas and electricity bills.
The payments are being made directly into the bank accounts of households with council tax bandings of A – D, but only to those which have a direct debit set up with the council.
Around 15,000 households paying by any other means will need to apply online, however, the application process has yet to go live.
Julie Gillett, customer services manager at Harrogate Borough Council, told a meeting of the council’s cabinet last night that the authority was working to put the process in place and that this could take around another month.
She said:
“At the moment, we are working on making payments to the direct debit payers and then opening applications up to non-direct debit payers.
“We are still in development, but we will be looking more towards the end of May to be able to get these applications made.”
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The council this week confirmed the £150 payments have started for those whose first direct debit was taken in April.
It also said the majority of other payments will be made within 28 days.
Also at the meeting, councillors approved the use of £253,350 in government funding to provide £150 payments to households which are not eligible for the main scheme.
This will include households which are in higher council tax bands of E – H but have a low income, as well as multiple occupancy homes which are not liable for council tax but are responsible for energy bills.
The support will also go to band A – D households where council tax liability falls to the owner but the occupiers are responsible for energy bills.
Separately, a further £35 will be added on top of the £150 payments for households which receive council tax reductions.
As well as the council tax rebate announced in February, the government will also discount energy bills by £200 for all domestic electricity customers from October.
However, unlike the council tax rebate, this discount will be automatically recovered from people’s bills in equal £40 instalments over a five year period from 2023, when it is hoped global wholesale gas prices will have come down.
‘Devastating news’ as 500 trees to be chopped down in Nidd GorgeFive hundred larch trees will be felled in Nidd Gorge due to a disease that is ripping through the woodland.
The Woodland Trust, which owns Nidd Gorge, says the infectious disease is called phytophthora ramorum and is already having a devastating impact on native trees.
Government body Forestry England has given the trust permission to fell the trees before it spreads further.
It means some of the footpaths in the popular beauty spot will close this spring and summer whilst work takes place.
Paul Bunton, community engagement officer at the trust, said:
“It is devastating news for our site team and visitors that we are having to reluctantly fell these diseased trees at Nidd Gorge to protect others. Phytophthora ramorum, while of no risk to the public, is one of the biggest threats to our native tree species at the site.
“Nidd Gorge is and will remain a really popular and cherished woodland close to Harrogate and Knaresborough and we ask the public to bear with us while we carry out the work.
“Our community events are a great opportunity for people to find out more before the work starts, especially those who visit the woodland on a regular basis.”
Read more:
Keith Wilkinson, chair of Bilton Conservation Group, described what happens to larch trees once they become infected with the disease.
“It’s not a mould or a fungus but it is between the two and it attacks the larch. The needles start dying. It takes a while to kill the tree, but once it’s got it, it’s doomed.”
The Woodland Trust is holding two drop-in sessions in Bilton where members of the public can find out more about the works and ask questions to staff.
These will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at Bilton Community Centre between 6pm and 9pm and on Nidderdale Greenway off Bilton Lane on Saturday between 10am and 4pm.
Bid to demolish gas holder on Harrogate’s Skipton RoadNorthern Gas Networks has revealed plans to demolish the gas holder and three other buildings on Skipton Road, Harrogate.
Notices have gone up near the former gasworks saying the company has contacted Harrogate Borough Council to find out whether it needs permission to carry out the demolition work.
Tesco, which bought the site from Northern Gas Networks for £2.8 million in 2003, has submitted plans to build a new supermarket on the land. A decision has yet to be made.
Mark Johnson, senior projects manager for Northern Gas Networks, which is responsible for distributing gas, said:
“The notice relates to work we are proposing to carry out on our own site, to safely dismantle and remove the existing gas holder located there.
“Because of advances in technology and the enhanced capability of the modern-day gas network, the holder is no longer used so the decision was taken to remove it using specialist teams.
“The application is part of a standard process we undertake with every local authority where we are removing a gas holder.”
Planning documents submitted to the council say “the gas holder is below ground and comprises of an outer tank wall with two inner lifts” and that “the general condition of the tank is believed to be in good order”.
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They add:
“The works will consist of the removal of wastewater, sludge, and any other debris from inside the gas holder, establish site welfare arrangements including environmental monitoring stations, time lapse cameras, erection of temporary traffic management arrangements, erect and maintain temporary Heras’s fencing, erect a scaffolding crash deck to protect the MP/LP regulators on site and agreed ground protection measures to underground pipework.”
The documents say the site “is situated near to a highly populated residential and commercial area” and “it is vitally important that the demolition method statement deploys approved monitor systems for measuring nuisance noise, dust and vibration and will have a provision in place should these levels reach unacceptable levels in accordance with current legislation”.
They add:
“Access to all neighbouring properties, footpaths and roads will be maintained at all times during the works,
unless the works activity presents significant risk that will require a closure.”
It is not known how long the work would take.
Harrogate’s Hustle & Co for sale as owners hatch new planHustle & Co in Harrogate is up for sale — but the owners have reassured customers and said there are “exciting times ahead”.
The Harrogate cafe and restaurant has been put on the market for £175,000 by Ernest Wilson Business Agents.
The cafe, which is owned by business partners Jo Bradshaw and Nici Routledge, opened in December 2020 on Prince Albert Row.
Nici Routledge and Jo Bradshaw
Hustle & Co is a sustainable and ethical café serving hot and cold drinks, breakfasts, lunches and sweet treats.
According to the advertisement, the business has a turnover of £702,000 and is being sold due to “personal circumstances”.
Ms Bradshaw told the Stray Ferret:
“There are exciting times ahead, this decision is part of a bigger picture.”
She added she couldn’t give any more information at this stage.
Read more:
The cafe currently employs more than 20 members of staff and its outdoor courtyard and inside seating has space for 90 covers. The brochure also said:
Election 2022: Oatlands and Pannal candidate preview“This is truly one of the best businesses seen for quite some time — fabulously fitted out, coupled with enviable weekly turnover of £13,000 to £14,000 in modest daytime hours.
“Truly fabulous, yet offering scope to extend the hours, introduce supper club and evenings openings.”
Ahead of polling day on May 5, the Stray Ferret is previewing each of the divisions in the Harrogate district up for election to North Yorkshire Council.
A total of 21 seats will be contested in the district with most of the major parties standing in each one.
Today, we look at the Oatlands and Pannal division, where four candidates have put themselves forward.
John Mann, Conservative
John Mann is the Conservative candidate for Oatlands and Pannal division.
Mr Mann is currently a councillor on Harrogate Borough Council, representing Harrogate Pannal ward.
He is also chair of the authority’s planning committee.
The Stray Ferret asked Mr Mann for comment for this preview, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
A Conservative party spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they were confident in their election campaign and pledged to continue investing in services across North Yorkshire if elected.
A party spokesperson said:
“The Conservatives are fielding an experienced slate of candidates. This is important as we argue the case for local services with settlements from Selby to Richmond and Whitby to Settle.
“That case includes continued investment in local services that has seen a new pool in Ripon and the start of a new pool and leisure centre in Knaresborough.”
Gillian Charters, Green Party
Gillian Charters is standing for the Green Party in Oatlands and Pannal division.
Ms Charters taught at a Knaresborough comprehensive school for 20 years before retraining as a probation officer.
She now works part-time for a Quaker special school in North Yorkshire.
For 30 years, she has been a member of the Green Party, which she says is the party that has “both the environment and social justice at its heart”.
Ms Charters said she was standing for North Yorkshire Council because she wants to “improve living conditions and the environment” within the area.
Margaret Smith, Labour
The Labour candidate for Oatlands and Pannal is Margaret Smith.
Ms Smith worked for several years at a further education college before setting up a business focused on the use of IT in communities and small to medium-sized enterprises.
She said the company employed up to 25 people and provided opportunities to people, particularly those with childcare responsibilities.
On why she is standing, Ms Smith said:
“Although not resident in the actual division, I live quite close and regularly walk through the Oatlands area, use its facilities and have conversations with people out and about.
“It is one of Labour’s many environmental policies which will have a major impact in the area. We intend to invest in reducing residential streets to safe environments where families can walk, cycle and play, e.g by stipulating a 20 mph speed limit in residential areas.”
She added:
“Pannal has for some years now suffered by being used as a “rat run” for drivers coming from new housing developments built in areas of the town without appropriate infrastructure – something which must be stopped.
“Residents on the streets around the Leeds Road traffic lights in Oatlands are now experiencing the same problem with motorists trying to avoid the lights on the main road. These are narrow streets with an infant school located on one of them – Cromwell Road.”
Ms Smith added that she would also support a town council for Harrogate and devolution of powers to parish councils, such as Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council.
Read more:
- How the Harrogate district’s wards will change ahead of local election
- Full list of election candidates in Harrogate district revealed
Justin Chan, Liberal Democrat
Justin Chan will be standing for the Liberal Democrats in the division on May 5.
Mr Chan is a lifelong Harrogate resident and currently works in retail as a customer services assistant.
He has a degree in politics and spent a year at Catania University in Sicily as part of an Erasmus exchange.
Mr Chan said he believes North Yorkshire Council should aim to create jobs, affordable and social housing and ease traffic congestion.
He said:
Woods of Harrogate celebrates 127 years“It’s important to make local voices heard and to allow councillors strong decision-making powers to enable them to campaign for their local communities.
“The new local authority should aim to create jobs, affordable and social housing and ease traffic congestion perhaps with a park-and-ride scheme. I will work to ensure Harrogate gets its own town council.”
Woods of Harrogate, one of the town’s oldest businesses, had a celebration today to mark its 127th anniversary.
Since the company was set up in 1895, it has expanded into Woods Fine Linens and William Woods Interior Design.
The family business began with William Ernest Woods, who opened the first linen shop after watching his father, George Woods, weave linen at the local flax mill in Knaresborough.
Since then it has been managed by multiple members of the Woods family. William Woods, grandson of the founder, currently runs the venture alongside his daughter and son-in-law.
The shop has been on Prince Albert Row since 1927
The shop, which describes itself as one of the finest linen shops in Europe, has supplied the royal family since 1923.
William Woods said:
“The quality that we have and the range makes us the finest. You can have over 100 different bed linen colours made to order in in three weeks and not many shops can do that.”
Inside is a vast array of goods from around the world including a selection of showrooms arranged by interior design director Sarah Woods.
Read more:
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Some of the old traditions remain intact. For example, the building on Prince Albert Row has workshops where all furnishings and designs are produced in-house and purchases are still wrapped in brown paper and string.
The building itself hosts the oldest lift and exterior clock in Harrogate. The clock was installed on the building when Woods moved from Princes Square in 1927.
These days Woods has an online presence, allowing customers worldwide to purchase traditional and modern styles.
The company employs 16 staff and plans to keep the family’s history and reputation at its centre.
Election 2022: Bilton and Nidd Gorge candidate previewAhead 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 Bilton and Nidd Gorge division which will see three candidates standing for election.
Paul Haslam, Conservative
Paul Haslam is the Conservative candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge division.
Mr Haslam, who lives in Bilton, is currently a councillor on Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, where he represents the area.
On his priorities for standing, Mr Haslam said:
“I am passionate about all things Bilton, having lived on Bilton Lane since 2006
“My priorities continue to be serving the people of Bilton, protecting our green environment especially our green spaces such as the Nidd Gorge and protecting our urban environment. I set up quarterly Bilton residents’ meetings at the United Reformed Church in July 2021 to bring together residents, Harrogate Borough Council safer communities team and the police to locate and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in our area.
“Maintaining the best local primary education facilities possible, make sure we are well represented in the new council and that the services are maintained and improved as the new council takes on its new responsibilities.
“I will work with others such as Councillor Matt Scott and our MP Andrew Jones to get the best for Harrogate and Knaresborough as well as my division.”
Read more:
- How the Harrogate district’s wards will change ahead of local election
- Full list of election candidates in Harrogate district revealed
Deborah Havercroft, Labour
The Labour candidate for Bilton and Nidd Gorge is Deborah Havercroft.
Ms Havercroft lives in Bilton and works in the NHS. She also worked for the Ministry of Defence and in education.
She said she has made the cost of living and congestion on Skipton Road some of her priorities for standing.
Ms Havercroft said:
“I am aware of the hardships that will be caused to local families by increased living costs, especially energy and fuel and would urge NYCC to find a solution to the traffic congestion in Harrogate, particularly on Skipton Road.”
Andrew Kempston-Parkes, Liberal Democrat
Andrew Kempston-Parkes is the Liberal Democrat candidate for the division.
Mr Kempston-Parkes is a former councillor and works as a chartered surveyor. During the pandemic, he volunteered at a homelessness charity and at a covid vaccination centre.
He said among his priorities would be to oppose major housing developments and work with police to “make Bilton and Woodfield safer”.
Mr Kempston-Parkes said:
Developer appeals James Street flats plan“We need to protect our green fields.
“I will work with the police to continue to make Bilton and Woodfield safer places to be. I will also make sure education and services for children are a top priority.
“The establishment of a new Harrogate Town Council is vital to ensure continued strong local representation of residents views to the County Council.”
A developer has appealed a decision to refuse a plan to redevelop a retail unit on Harrogate’s James Street to create three flats.
The application was made by Leeds-based company SJM Cotech Ltd and included plans to create a three storey extension for the flats to the back of the site and create two ground floor retail units.
The developer revised the plans after submitting them in May 2021, which initially outlined proposals for four flats.
It said in documents submitted to the council that the proposal would help to “deliver a high quality residential scheme” for the town.
However, Harrogate Borough Council refused the plans in February this year.
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The property is located at 16 James Street, near the cut-through to the Victoria shopping centre. It fronts both on James Street and on Market Place to the rear. It was previously home to Thomas Cook, the travel agent.
Council officials said the proposal would fail to enhance or preserve the character of the conservation area.
In a decision notice, the council said:
“The rear historic offshoot is considered a heritage asset. The proposal seeks to remove and replace this without suitable justification.
“The proposal therefore would fail to enhance or preserve the character and appearance of the host building and Harrogate Conservation Area.”
It added that the proposal would “result in poor levels of natural daylight to all apartments”.
SJM Cotech Ltd has since taken the refusal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.
A planning inspector will decide on the proposal at a later date.
Housing and congestion dominate Harrogate hustingsCandidates standing for the upcoming North Yorkshire Council elections were quizzed by an audience in Harrogate last night.
The Stray Ferret held an election hustings chaired by editor John Plummer at the Wesley Centre ahead of a landmark polling day for the town.
Questions on housing and congestion featured heavily on the night, as well as the environment, the Stray and a Harrogate town council.
Voters will head to the polls on May 5 to elect councillors to the new North Yorkshire Council.
The election will be the last before the authority replaces North Yorkshire County Council and seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, in what will prove to be the biggest shakeup in local government since the 1970s.
Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Independents all attended the hustings on Tuesday evening – but the Conservatives declined.
You can watch the full hustings below.
Housing and congestion
The candidates first faced a question on how they would ensure roads and local services could cope with ongoing housebuilding in Harrogate.
Labour’s Chris Watt, who is standing in Fairfax and Starbeck division, said:
“The first thing I would do is work with local residents to oppose housing developments where there is not adequate infrastructure.”
He pointed to developments on Kingsley Drive as an example.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Fairfax and Starbeck, Philip Broadbank, said he felt the council should encourage more people out of cars.
He said:
“We have to encourage people to get out of there cars and use them less.
“We also need investment in public transport.”
(From left) Bill Rigby, Chris Watt, John Plummer, Philip Broadbank and Sarah Hart.
Bill Rigby, who is standing for the Green Party in Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate, said the number of cars on the road needed to be reduced.
“The main way you can reduce the traffic is by reducing the number of cars.”
Sarah Hart, Independent candidate for Harlow and St George’s, said:
“We need the right homes in the right places.
“We need more homes for local people who work here. And they should be in suitable locations.”T
Town council and the Stray
Meanwhile, the candidates were also asked about how the Stray would be used under the new council and who would look after it.
Mr Watt said:
“There should be a local community work on the Stray.”
He added that people should be involved in what happens with the Stray and what events are held on it.
Mr Rigby agreed that local people should be involved in deciding what happens with the Stray.
“I agree that the community should be involved in its management.”
He added that he would support the introduction of a town council to take control of the Stray.
Ms Hart agreed that the community should look after the Stray and supported creating a Harrogate Town Council.
“If there is a Harrogate Town Council, then they should protect it.”
Mr Broadbank said that the Stray was “unique” and added that Valley Gardens should also be considered for events too.
Hustings in full
The candidates also fielded questions on a Killinghall bypass, the environment and opposition parties working together.
You can watch the full debate below.