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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Warning after cigarette causes Penny Pot Lane fire

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has warned people to discard of cigarettes properly after a fire on Penny Pot Lane.

Crews from Harrogate were called to a fire to a gorse bush in the area yesterday.

The incident is believed to have been caused by a discarded cigarette.

The fire was put out on arrival, but the service is urging people to dispose of cigarettes carefully.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said:

“A reminder if you’re heading out today in the countryside to please take care. Dispose of cigarettes carefully, don’t leave glass bottles lying around and don’t light bbqs or camp fires on or near dry grass/moorlands. Call 999 if you see a wildfire.

“Grass fires like these can tie up our fire crews meaning they’re not available to attend other incidents.”

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St George’s Day parade to return to Harrogate tomorrow

The traditional St George’s Day parade returns to Harrogate for the first time in three years this weekend.

Taking place tomorrow, it will see hundreds of Scouts, Guides, Brownies, Cubs and more join together in uniform to mark the occasion.

After gathering on Coach Road, they will parade into Christ Church for a short service when they will renew their promises.

It is a shorter parade than usual, after the decision to go ahead was only made two months ago. Attendance is also likely to be reduced because the event falls at the end of the Easter holidays.

District commissioner Karsten Hartmann told the Stray Ferret:

“In the past, we have started on Beech Grove, but it was too short notice to get everything into place. We hope to come back stronger next year.”

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This year marks the first time the youngest Scouts have been able to take part in the parade. First Pannal Squirrels caters for boys and girls aged four and five, and was set up during the covid pandemic.

The deputy mayor of Harrogate, Cllr Christine Willoughby, and her consort Andrew Willoughby, will also be at the event.

The parade will gather from 2pm with the 45-minute service, led by Rev Matthew Scott Evans, set to begin at 2.30pm.

It will be the first major event in the district’s scouting calendar since 2019. Mr Hartmann said he hopes it will begin to raise the organisation’s profile again, and particularly help to attract volunteers to enable more people to join Scouts and other groups.

For more information about joining Scouts or becoming a volunteer, click here.

Harrogate rugby to face local rivals in final home game

A bumper crowd is expected at Harrogate Rugby Club today for the last home game of the season.

The club will welcome local rivals Wharfedale RUFC to Ruddling Lane in what is expected to see the largest crowd in more than five years at the ground.

The match will also be David “Doc” Doherty’s last home game after six years’ service. Doherty will step down after serving as director of rugby, as well as a player and coach.

Harrogate and Wharfedale faced each other just five weeks ago, when the latter ran out 23-21 winners.

As well as the first team match, the day will also see touch rugby and a mini-tournament take place ahead of the local derby.

A spokesperson for the club said:

“Besides the first XV match, there’s lots more happening on Saturday.  At 1pm it’s the tap-off of Harrogate Touch Rugby team’s first game of their season versus Catterick. Seen as an area of considerable future growth, Pitch 2 has been specially marked out for Touch Rugby matches over summer. New players of all ages are very welcome.

“At 1.30pm on Pitch 3, Harrogate’s U13 Boys kick off in a three-way round robin mini-tournament against touring side Chester and local rivals Moortown.”

Adult entrance to non-members is £10, all juniors have free entry. Kick off is 3pm.

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Man fined for headbutting police officer in Harrogate

A man has been given a £324 fine for headbutting a police officer as he tried to arrest him.

Paul Stephen Turner, 47, of Albany Road, Harrogate, had pleaded guilty in February to the charge.

Acting for him in court today, Sonia Bhalla, of Watson Woodhouse solicitors, said Mr Turner had suffered a head injury when he was assaulted by three men with a baseball bat several years before, which still affected his actions and judgement.

Turner had been watching a documentary about fake police officers on August 18 last year when police officers knocked at his door and attempted to arrest him in relation to a separate allegation against him.

During the arrest, Turner headbutted one of the officers, PC Ryan Rudd, causing pain to one of his teeth. Turner later said he had not done so deliberately, but the process of the arrest had caused severe pain in his feet, where he had a pre-existing injury.

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A carer for his disabled father, the court heard Turner had 26 previous convictions for 52 offences, but none of a similar nature to the charge of assaulting a police officer. Ms Bhalla added:

“At 47 years of age, he has not been in trouble with the courts for a very, very long time. His last conviction was in 2011.”

Magistrates said they did not impose the maximum sentence for assaulting a police officer because the injuries appeared to be minimal, with no follow-up treatment required.

As well as the fine, magistrates ordered Turner to pay a victim surcharge of £34 and costs of £200.

Harrogate Railway one step closer to promotion after semi-final win

Harrogate Railway Athletic are set to play North Ferriby in the tenth tier play-off final tomorrow.

After A 2-1 win against Brigg Town, Railway will play at the Dransfield stadium tomorrow.

Mick O’Connell, Railway’s manager, spoke about the win:

“We managed to get  a 2-0 lead going into half-time. We were very disciplined and were able to hold out. The lads were very bright in the first half and looked dangerous on the break.”

Railway travelled to Brigg Town for the semi-final and will play away again for the final. Mick said the away support was ‘great,’ with around 150  fans making the trip down to Lincolnshire.

Mick said:

“It was great, we had a full coach and more people travelled down to the game. We ended having around 150 supporters. I think they were able to get us through the last 20 minutes of the game.”

Mick O’Connell celebrating the win (Photo credit – Craig Dinsdale)

Joe Crosby, Railway’s midfielder, scored two goals in the first half to win the game. In the 90th minute, Railway were able to survive a ‘goalmouth scramble’ to prevent extra-time.

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North Ferriby FC, who finished second in the division, ended the year with the least amount of goals conceded.

Mick added:

“It’s a one off game so it will be a similar game plan. It’s a final so anything could happen but we have players up top who can cause trouble. We need to be ourselves and play the way we’ve done all year.”

The game will kick off at 3pm tomorrow and will be played at the Dransfield Stadium in North Ferriby. Tickets will be available on the gate.

Harrogate election hustings: Conservatives decline invitation

The Conservative party has declined a Stray Ferret’s invitation to take part in a Harrogate election hustings debate.

All four parties and the independents who are standing within divisions in Harrogate were invited to the hustings at the Wesley Centre on Tuesday, April 26, at 7pm.

The election will be the last before North Yorkshire Council replaces North Yorkshire County Council and seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and the independents have all confirmed candidates for the evening.

However, the Conservative party has said it will not attend.

The candidates confirmed are:

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You can book your free ticket here.

If you would like to submit a question to the candidates, send it to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk with the subject heading ‘hustings question’.

We will also invite questions on the night from the audience.

Council approves parking plans for Claro Road depot

Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans to demolish buildings at its Claro Road depot to make way for more parking.

The depot is used to store and sort recycling, and the proposals include 47 staff parking spaces with ten electric charging points, 36 spaces for council vans and the same amount for bin lorries.

Six storage and workshop buildings will be demolished to create room for a “more efficient and safe” site layout with a new one-way system.

The plans were approved at a meeting of the council’s planning committee yesterday, when Cllr Pat Marsh questioned what will happen to the depot when the council is replaced by the new North Yorkshire Council in April 2023.

Cllr Andrew Paraskos, cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, responded to say he was “hopeful” that the site will be used in its current form in the future.

He said: 

“We will still need a waste transfer station somewhere in the Harrogate district even though we do empty residual waste at Allerton Park.

“Recycling is taken to Claro Road first and then decanted into wagons to be taken wherever it is recycled and turned back into other products.

“Hopefully the site will have a future going forward.”

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Election 2022: Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate candidate 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 Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate division which will see five candidates standing for election.

Sam Gibbs, Conservative

The Conservative candidate for the Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate division will be Sam Gibbs.

Mr Gibbs currently sits Harrogate Borough Council representing the Valley Gardens ward.

On his priorities for standing for North Yorkshire Council, Mr Gibbs said:

 

“My priorities are tackling anti-social behaviour, promoting town centre investment, protecting green spaces and ensuring Harrogate remains a great place to live and visit.

“As a borough councillor since 2018 I have campaigned to protect Rotary Wood, to tackle town centre anti-social behaviour and to keep our streets tidy.

“Harrogate has recovered well from the pandemic. Our retail vacancy rates are at 8.2% – well below the national average and the council distributed over £93m to local businesses during covid. The Convention Centre brings around £30m into the local economy annually and underpins thousands of jobs. We must support it.”

He added:

“Parking charges should be kept low. Most have not been increased in eight years and parking is far cheaper than York and Leeds.

“As a trustee of Harrogate and District Community Action, and through my work with the Local Fund, I have supported community groups who do fantastic work and help our most vulnerable.”

Paul Ko Ferrigno, Green Party

Paul Ko Ferrigno will be standing for the Green Party in the division.

A scientist in biology and biochemistry, Mr Ferrigno coaches grassroots football and is a governor at two local primary schools.

He also founded Wetherby-based Avacta Life Sciences. Mr Ferrigno said he felt strongly about cuts to local government funding, which he believes has “negatively impacted” education.

 

He said:

“The Green Party is the only party to put the future first. What I have learned is those small decisions can lead to massive changes. 

“I want to take this lesson and apply it to every decision made by the new council so that we can improve our local communities by thinking about the long term impact of each proposal on our children and their future.”

Lucy Gardiner, Independent

Local businesswoman Lucy Gardiner will be standing as an independent in the Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate division.

Ms Gardiner said among her priorities will be to improve infrastructure, clean up the town centre, support businesses and reduce congestion.

 

 

She said:

“I hold Harrogate very close to my heart. I am very proud that it’s my hometown, where I have my interiors business and where I bring up my family. We must protect its future. 

“For far too long the councils haven’t been transparent nor fully engaged with the residents and businesses. Rather than towing a party line, I wish to use the wealth of knowledge at our finger tips by engaging with local people, businesses and groups to protect our heritage, while encouraging positive change for the future.”

She added:

“We need proper infrastructure before any more house building is passed. Smarten up our town centre and support our businesses, to lead the way on the high street.

“Reduce congestion with well connected travel schemes for all not the few. Protect our Stray and gardens for a greener brighter future.”

Andrew Williamson, Labour

Andrew Williamson will be standing for the Labour Party in Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate.

Mr Williamson has lived in Harrogate for most of his life and works in the private sector, but has previously worked for Harrogate Borough Council.

He said he wanted to get involve with the Labour Party due to his concern over the loss of the district councils.

Mr Williamson said he felt the best way to represent those who may be affected by the abolition of the lower-tier authorities was to stand himself.

He said:

“I have been an active member of the Labour Party for about six months now. I wanted to get involved because I’m concerned about what impact the abolition of North Yorkshire’s district councils might have on local services and amenities.

“I believe strong Labour representation on the new unitary authority is the best way to protect the services our communities depend upon.”

David Johnson, Liberal Democrat

David Johnson is the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate division.

A Harrogate resident for 30 years, Mr Johnson works as a librarian and was the secretary of the local Liberal Democrat constituency party.

He said he takes an interest in library policy issues, but has also campaigned on issues such as the European Union, fracking and children’s food allergies.

 

Mr Johnson said:

“There needs to be more done to deal with congestion on our roads and improve the local bus services. There is a need for more social housing in Harrogate.”