There have been fresh calls to create a mayor for North Yorkshire following the election of new councillors last week.

Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, has written to each of the county’s 91 newly elected councillors urging them to back a devolution deal that includes the creation of a metro mayor.

Mr Murison, who went to school in Boroughbridge and Harrogate, said the move could unlock “a huge amount” of funding for the county, with the mayor responsible for allocating much of it.

He or she would assume control over areas such as transport and economic development for the whole of North Yorkshire. The mayoral office could also swallow up the role of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

Mr Murison’s letter, which has been shared with the Stray Ferret, said:

“The maximum powers and funding are only available for a devolution deal with a directly elected mayor. As the Tees Valley has proven, a large urban metropolitan area is not a prerequisite and the mayoral model can prove hugely successful in areas where the economic geography is dominated by towns.

“Locally-led economic growth strategies to raise productivity in areas such as these are vital. The North of Tyne Combined Authority shares much of its geography with the Borderlands Growth Deal, which included Carlisle, parts of Scotland and rural Northumberland – and these places are already reaping the benefits.”

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The government’s Levelling Up White Paper was published in February and cited the creation of strong, local mayors as a key part of its levelling up agenda.

It said the government would open up negotiations over a devolution deal, including a mayor, with leaders at North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council. However, a deal is yet to be signed off.

York council is run by the Liberal Democrats whereas NYCC is controlled by the Conservatives.

“Metro mayors are needed”

Labour’s Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester is often cited as an example of a mayor who has used his platform to win more funding from government and put a spotlight on the region.

Conservatives mayor for Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, has also built a strong reputation for making the most of his region’s devolution deal.

But others, like Bristol’s Labour mayor Marvin Rees, have been divisive. Bristol residents voted last week in a referendum to scrap the position from 2024.

Mr Murison added:

“Devolution is flourishing in some places (South Yorkshire has just elected its second Metro Mayor) while stalling in others. It is not right that Cumbria or North Yorkshire should miss out on empowered local leadership – nor the government funding which goes hand in hand with it.

“Metro mayors are needed for cities, towns, and rural areas alike if we are serious about building a truly productive, prosperous Northern Powerhouse.”

Actor Simon Pegg was in Harrogate last night shooting a new film.

The Cornetto trilogy star was on Crown Place, the cobbled street between the Crown Hotel and the Royal Pump Room Museum.

He was working an upcoming movie called Nandor Fodor And The Talking Mongoose, which also stars Minnie Driver, Tim Downie and Paul Kaye.

The film, described as a dark comedy, is based on a 1935 investigation by para-psychologist Nandor Fodor into claims of a talking mongoose.

Fake rain and smoke gave Crown Place an atmospheric air as the crew took several takes of Mr Pegg walking beneath an umbrella (pictured below) and entering a side entrance to the Crown Hotel.

Simon Pegg pictured filming in Crown Place in Harrogate.

Filming finished at about 10.30pm, when the crew retired to the Crown Hotel.

Shooting is expected to continue today in Leeds before returning to Harrogate.

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Film crews have been almost a permanent fixture in Harrogate in recent weeks, prompting jokes that it’s the new Hollywood.

Doctor Who actor Matt Smith has been shooting a horror film in Nidderdale; Sir Patrick Stewart filmed a Yorkshire Tea advert at Cardale Park and Netflix film ‘Bank of Dave’, featuring Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor, was shot at the former Harrogate Borough Council offices in Crescent Gardens.

Shooting for All Creatures Great and Small also took place at Crescent Gardens over the last bank holiday weekend.

The leader of Harrogate Borough Council has spoken out after his Conservative party were left bruised during last week’s elections to the new North Yorkshire Council.

Councillor Richard Cooper – who was not standing for re-election – partly blamed Boris Johnson for the election results which saw the Liberal Democrats win the most seats in the Harrogate district after more than a decade of Conservative control.

Councillor Cooper said:

“It is right to reflect when you have results that don’t go as you would have wished and I have been in local politics long enough to have seen results go both ways; sometimes with the trend and sometimes against.

“A knee-jerk reaction is seldom the right one although it is clear that the opposition’s oft-repeated ‘send Boris a message’ theme was clear and had some degree of resonance to put it mildly.

“We will need to reflect too on local issues although they did not seem to be the dominant theme of the literature or social media activity during the campaign.

“But while that reflection occurs, as an outgoing council leader and someone who announced his retirement from representative politics some time ago, I would like to congratulate the winners of all parties, commiserate with the losers and look forward to them all promoting our fantastic area in a constructive way for the next five years.”

Councillor Cooper last year announced he will stand down after 24 years of service when the borough council is abolished in April 2023.

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• New Conservative Wathvale councillor puts young people at top of agenda

And although the new North Yorkshire Council will remain a Tory majority, the party have suffered some big losses in Harrogate where several senior councillors – including deputy leader Graham Swift – were defeated in last Thursday’s elections.

Previously, the Conservatives had 16 Harrogate district seats on North Yorkshire County Council compared to just two for the Lib Dems.

Now, they have nine while the Lib Dems have taken 10 in what marks a significant swing of power.

Meanwhile, one Independent and one Green councillor were also elected.

Speaking after the results were announced on Friday, Lib Dem leader Pat Marsh – who was voted in to represent the Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone division – said the Conservatives “should realise that being elected isn’t just about having the title of councillor”.

She said:

“You have got to be on the council for a reason – and that is to improve the area you represent.”.

Harrogate-based law firm Haddletons has announced a merger with Leeds firm SCE Solicitors.

SCE provides specialist employment, HR support and health and safety services.

The merger is expected to provide the enlarged firm with the opportunity to bolster the range of services it offers to clients.

The company will trade under the name of Haddletons

The merger is expected to provide the enlarged firm with the opportunity to grow, strengthen and further develop the range of services offered to clients.

James Haddleton, chief executive of Haddletons, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Samira and the SCE team into the Haddletons family.

“At both SCE and Haddletons we know our clients well and we know what we want to offer them. For that reason, the tie-up is a strategic and mutually beneficial move for both our firms’ clients, bringing them excellent practical support borne of decades of experience. We can’t wait to get going with our extended team.”

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• Harrogate district village wins eight-year battle for more planning control
• New Conservative Wathvale councillor puts young people at top of agenda

Harrogate business group celebrates 125th birthday

More than 100 business people attended the 125th birthday celebration for Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce last night.

The event, which was held at Roosters taproom at Hornbeam Park, included the presentation of several awards, including the President’s Cup, which was given to Robert Ogden (pictured above) of jewellers Ogden of Harrogate for services to the town.

The chamber’s 125 birthday was actually last year but the celebration was postponed for 12 months due to covid.

Former service station owner and ex-butcher Carl Les has been selected to lead the new Conservative-run North Yorkshire Council.

The Catterick councillor faced no opposition from the 46 other Tory councillors at the North Yorkshire County Council Conservative group’s annual meeting at Northallerton Methodist Church Hall yesterday.

Cllr Les, 72, is the current leader of North Yorkshire County Council, which is being abolished along with the seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, next year.

It means he will solidify his position as the most powerful politician in the Harrogate district and the rest of North Yorkshire.

Cllr Les’ name will be put forward as leader of the authority at the first meeting of its 90 elected members on Wednesday next week.

If, as expected, he is elected he will then go on to select councillors to serve on the authority’s decision-making executive.

It is not known whether any from Harrogate will hold senior posts. Harrogate-based Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access at the county council, did not seek re-election at last week’s election.

Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper also did not seek re-election and his deputy, Graham Swift, lost the vote in his division.

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Cllr Les has been at the helm of the county council since 2015, having sold his business Leeming Bar Services, near Bedale, to Moto the year before.

He has also played a leading role in a spectrum of influential bodies including North Yorkshire Youth, Welcome to Yorkshire, the Local Enterprise Partnership, Citizens Advice and the Police and Crime Panel.

Thirsk’s Gareth Dadd to be deputy leader 

After a challenge from a Conservative member who has not been named, the Tory group meeting saw Thirsk councillor Gareth Dadd elected as its deputy leader, a role which he has also held for seven years.

Following the meeting, senior Tories said they hoped the decisions would end the district and borough councillor versus county councillor rivalries that have existed for decades within Conservative ranks in North Yorkshire.

Political commentators have described the pair as “pragmatic One Nation Conservatives who above all prioritise vulnerable people who are unable to help themselves”.

They have stated the top of their agenda is to ensure a smooth transition to the new unitary authority next May, squeezing out savings from the reorganisation and to get devolution.

The meeting also saw councillors Tom Jones, of Bedale, Tim Grogan, of Monk Fryston and South Milford, and Esk Valley member Clive Pearson appointed to serve as whips, acting as the leadership’s “eyes and ears” in the Tory group, which has seen its majority shrink by about 20 per cent.

When asked if the group’s whips would be busier due to the decreased majority, Cllr Les said:

“They will have work to do to make sure people are getting to meetings or whatever.

“Not only do we have a majority over all the other parties, albeit a slim one of only two, but not everybody who is not a Conservative is against the Conservative proposals. As I did for the previous five years I will be reaching out to other members and groups to work on a common agenda as we are all there to serve the people of North Yorkshire.”

Harrogate Olympian Axel Brown has treated children at his former prep school to a special show and tell.

Axel Brown attended Brackenfield School between 1995-2003 and returned recently to talk about competing in the two-man bobsleigh at this year’s winter Olympics in Beijing, representing Trinidad and Tobago, the country of his mother’s birth.

Children had the chance to sit in Mr Brown’s bobsleigh and ask questions about his rise to Olympic fame.

Children try out the bobsleigh.

When he competed in Beijing, the school took time out of the day to watch on the big screen and cheer him on.
Mr Brown, who had seen a video of the children watching him, said:

“Seeing the kids cheering me on and chanting my name still gives me goosebumps. Seeing that was genuinely one of the most fulfilling moments of the whole experience. It’s those moments that make it all worth it.”

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Joe Masterson, headteacher at Brackenfield, said:

“Representing Trinidad and Tobago on the international stage is a huge accolade not only for Axel, but for us too – we couldn’t be more proud of the heights Axel has reached so far and we’re certain there is more to come from our super-fast and super-agile ex-pupil!”

Mr Brown, who also attended Harrogate Grammar School, played American football for Division 1 NCAA team the Colorado State Rams before taking up bobsleigh in 2014.

He said:

“I have always preferred sports with short fast efforts like sprinting, which is why I played American football in place of rugby. I also like the idea of taking one aspect of a skill and trying to do it really well, so bobsleigh has allowed me to focus and really find a niche.”

Founded in 1977, Brackenfield, is an independent school for boys and girls aged two to 11.

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.

Why didn’t many residents in the district vote?

Where is the curious journalism that wants to know why nearly 70% of eligible residents in the Harrogate district could not raise themselves from their sofa to vote? Why are these people so disenfranchised that they can’t be bothered to put an X on a piece of paper and have an influence on the direction of their own lives? Why is it that I haven’t seen a candidate or an activist canvasing in my area since the EU referendum in 2016?

Did people really vote in numbers for the Liberal Democrats because of a strong ideological belief, was it because they had an inspiring manifesto at a local and national level or was it simply a protest vote from an electorate that will never vote Labour? The truth is no one knows because no one bothers to ask us!

Nobody won today, the political class has been an embarrassment for some time and continues hell bent on its race to the bottom in terms of performance, conduct and perception. Beyond this our town lost its council today and probably its unique identity as a result. The Tories will celebrate their success in taking control of the unitary council and will conveniently forget that an overwhelming majority didn’t actually vote for them at all. For that, us the electorate should be ashamed of our apathy, the low turnout was disgusting.

David, Killinghall Moor

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The wrong platform

Is it not possible for the London train to depart and arrive into Platform 1 at the main Station Concourse. Everyday railway customers struggle with their luggage up stairs or along the platform to queue for the 2 Lifts.

This does not give a good first impression of Harrogate and does little to help the railway customers.

Surely this can be sorted quickly within the busy timetable. Let’s put the travellers first.

Paul Lawrence, Harrogate

It has been a volatile few years in Hong Kong with protests, the jailing of opposition politicians and the closure of media outlets.

Now according to a local estate agent, an increasing number of people from Hong Kong are moving to Harrogate as Chinese rule has led to a crackdown on freedom and democracy.

In January last year, the UK government offered a new visa to residents of its former colony. It expects that 300,000 Hong Kongers will make the move in the next five years. Around 100,000 applied for the visa in 2021 alone.

Three of them are members of a family that moved to Harrogate last year.

Candy Yip and her husband Man Wong, both 44, brought with them bubble tea and opened a cafe called Sweet Pearl House on Commercial Street in January. It also sells traditional Hong Kong egg waffles.

Ms Yip said she wanted their daughter, 16, to have more freedom and a better education than what was possible in Hong Kong.

She said she has been impressed with the town’s safe surroundings and friendly people since making the move.

“Harrogate’s environment is very lovely and I feel very safe when I live here. People are very friendly.

“When we live in Harrogate, we can feel no stress. The people here enjoy their life and I can also feel the relaxing atmosphere.”

More fresh air

Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers above 150 metres in the world with 518.

Space is at a premium and many families live in cramped apartment buildings high up in the sky.

Harrogate’s tallest building is The Exchange on Station Parade which stands at a humble 42 metres.

There is also decidedly less hustle and less bustle than the Asian metropolis, which has almost 8 million residents.

Ms Yip said the lower building density in Harrogate coupled with much more open space makes it an appealing contrast to back home in Hong Kong.

She said:

“I think Harrogate is a popular place for Hong Kongers to live in is because Harrogate has not many tall buildings. It makes people feel more comfortable because Hong Kong has too many tall buildings and here we can get more fresh air.

“Harrogate has lots of countryside and we can also see different kinds of animals such as sheep and horses. It is really beautiful.”

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Global property map

Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post published an article in March that said Hong Kongers are ‘turbocharging’ the UK’s already red-hot housing market.

David Waddington, director at Linley & Simpson, said since the start of the year the estate agent has seen an increase in people from Hong Kong looking to move to the Harrogate district.

Many Hong Kong exiles have sold their property or businesses in the city before moving to the UK, which means they can afford the district’s high house prices.

Mr Waddington said in one new development in the area as many as 15% of the properties were sold to families relocating from Hong Kong.

“Since the turn of the year we have seen people moving from Hong Kong to start a new life in the Harrogate district in ever-increasing numbers.

“In one new homes development we launched to market recently, three of the twenty properties have been sold to families relocating from Hong Kong.

“Hits on our website from Hong Kong have witnessed a notable uptick too. While Harrogate is a magnet for home buyers from a diverse number of international countries, its name and ‘brand’ is well-known to many in Hong Kong.”

An attractive destination

HK UK Support Ltd is a company that specialises in helping people from Hong Kong relocate to the UK.

Last month it published a Q&A on its YouTube channel with Sue Brandom, inward investment officer at Harrogate Borough Council.

Ms Brandom cited Betty’s, Knaresborough and the Nidderdale countryside as reasons why the district can be an attractive destination for Hong Kongers looking to make the move.

They are all points that are hard to disagree with, although new district resident Candy Yip said Harrogate would be “perfect” if it had just a few more Asian food options.

“I miss my family and friends and also the food in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has more options of food for people such as Korean food. I think if Harrogate can have more variety of food, it will be perfect.”

North Yorkshire Police has issued a warning to motorists after four deer were killed by motorists in the Harrogate district over the last month.

Collisions involving deer usually increase in spring, when young buck roe deer move to new areas.

A police spokesperson said motorists should look out for deer on roads close to wooded areas.

They added if you hit a deer, you should park in a safe place with the hazard lights on and call the police on 101 and not approach the animal.

A spokesperson added:

“So please look out for deer warning road signs and take particular care in forested areas and at ‘peak’ times (from sunset to midnight, and the hours shortly before and after sunrise).”

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When Kim Ellis had back pain on the last day of her Lanzarote holiday, she thought she was just unwell.

She was only 26 weeks pregnant, so it didn’t even enter her head that she might actually be going into labour.

Just over 24 hours later, on October 12, 2021, her “miracle baby” Ava was born, weighing a tiny 1lb 15oz.

She said:

“You worry about miscarrying, but you never think your baby could come that early. It didn’t even enter my head.”

Baby Ava in hospital.

Last weekend the brave little girl was christened in Harrogate, surrounded by her family and friends.

More support

Now, Kim is calling for more support for mums who have had premature births.

The hairdresser, who owns Blossom Hair, based at the Wellness Rooms, on Cold Bath Place, said:

“It is actually such a big thing, but not always something that is really talked about.”

When I met Kim for a coffee, I was in awe of this incredibly resilient mum who had clearly been through so much.

After cooing over a sleeping Ava for five minutes, we started chatting and I learned that her story actually began in the January lockdown of 2021.

Dating website

Kim explained that she had met her partner Connor Stewart on dating website. After chatting, they decided to meet up for a walk in the New Year, just a day before the third national lockdown.

She said:

“We were in our own little bubble then. So we decided to carry on meeting up for walks, chatting and FaceTiming. So really we got to know each other quite well, because there was nothing else to do.

“We made all these plans to go on holiday and do all sorts of things.

“Then in May I found out I was pregnant. It was a complete and utter shock, as we had literally only been together for about three months.

“We discussed everything and said ‘let’s just do this’. As we weren’t even living together at that point, he moved in with me and we started preparing for the baby.”

Back Pain

When restrictions were eased in October last year, the couple decided to book a short break to Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands.

Kim said:

“We flew on October 6. I had been checked out and was about to go into my 25th week.

“We had a great holiday. Then on our last day, I started getting a bit of back pain.”

Kim realised she could barely walk up the steps to their room.

She said:

“The baby wasn’t due until January 16, so I was wondering how I was going to cope until then. I felt like she was so low down, she was going to drop out!”

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What she thought was back ache, actually turned out to be contractions, which started to come on thick and fast during the night.

She said:

“I could feel her moving the whole time, so I wasn’t concerned at all. I just thought it was me.

“But then it continued and there was definitely a pattern. It got to 2am, so I rang Harrogate Hospital to ask for advice. They thought it could be a urine infection.”

At around 8am, Kim noticed she had started bleeding. As the baby was still moving, she believed there was something wrong with her, so she decided to visit a medical centre near the hotel.

She said:

“Poor Connor didn’t have a clue what was going on. Covid rules were so strict over there, he was kept away from me.”

After being taken by ambulance to the main hospital on the island 40 minutes away, Kim was relieved to be met by a huge team of midwives and doctors.

4cm dilated

However, her relief was quickly replaced with shock when she was told she was 4cm dilated.

She said:

“They were really positive, as obviously I was only 26 weeks. But they weren’t sure if the baby would have any health problems. However, they said she seemed really strong.”

After being given medication to stop her contractions, Kim was taken to a bed to get some sleep.

But then her waters broke.

‘So strong’

She said:

“It was now Tuesday morning, it was 10am and I was 7cm. I stayed 7cm all day, so then they had to put me on a drip to try and induce me.

“I just got set up with gas and air when I was told I needed to push.

“They had to be careful how to deliver her as she was so small. But she was ready to arrive. She was in the right position. She was so strong, she didn’t get distressed.

“They told me not to be be alarmed if she didn’t cry as she had weaker lungs. But when she came out she was crying and looking around at everybody.”

Kim cuddles tiny baby Ava at the hospital in Lanzarote.

Ava was then taken away and put on a ventilator ready for both mum and baby to be airlifted to a larger hospital on Gran Canaria, which had more facilities.

However, the doctors discovered Kim had been bleeding, so she was whisked off to theatre.

This meant that Ava was flown to hospital without her mum.

Kim said:

“I got to see her for about 10 minutes before she got transferred to Gran Canaria, which was really hard. But I was just so relieved she was going to get the care she needed.”

Ava is airlifted to Gran Canaria.

Just under two days later, quite remarkably, Kim boarded a standard passenger flight to Gran Canaria to be reunited with Ava.

Adrenaline

She said:

“I don’t know how I did it. I just wanted to get to my baby. It was total adrenaline.

“It was so amazing to see her, but it was hard as she had lost weight. However, she was doing really well and wasn’t on a ventilator.

“Apart from two blood transfusions, she just did so well.

Kim stayed on the island by Ava’s side for six weeks.

She said:

“Connor had to go back to work at Avenue Bakery, in Bilton. He also had to move house for us. So I got out of that one!

“We had to get Ava an emergency passport. I was quite scared to fly her back to the UK. But the plane was like a private jet with an amazing team, which included a neonatal doctor, nurse and two pilots.

“I was so petrified, but it was like a military operation.”

Kim and Eva arrived at Leeds Bradford Airport on November 27, where a bed was waiting for them at St James Hospital.

Harrogate Hospital

After a nine-day stay, when Ava turned 34 weeks, they were transferred to Harrogate District Hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit.

Kim, who said she was extremely thankful to all the midwives, doctors and nurses, said:

“We came out on December 21 just before Christmas, which was lovely. To be honest, I think I was still on adrenaline, as I somehow cooked a massive Christmas dinner.”

Last weekend Ava Lottie Grace was christened at Woodlands Methodist Church, on Wetherby Road, in Harrogate.

Connor, Kim and Ava at the christening in Harrogate.

Kim said:

“I’m absolutely loving motherhood and getting stuck in, despite a scary start.”

More awareness

Kim is now calling for more awareness for premature births and would eventually like to see more support and information provided to mums.

She said:

“You don’t think you are going to give birth to a premature baby, but when you do there are things you have no idea about.

“Ava has two ages, she is 6-and-a-half months old, but actually she should be three-and-a-half months. So her milestones are different.

“It’s hard, because I’m going down that route of knowing when to start the weaning process. There is information out there, but it’s still so new.

“Babies are surviving more now thanks to medical advancements, so I feel like there needs to be more out there.

“No matter how small any change in your body is, you should get it checked out. Even if it’s considered normal in pregnancy.

“I kept looking things up, so in hindsight I think I knew something wasn’t quite right. But as it was my first baby and the midwife didn’t seem concerned, I didn’t think anything of it.”

Kim and Ava.