Harrogate energy firm CNG ceases trading

Harrogate-based gas and energy supplier CNG has ceased trading after 27 years.

It has now entered the Supplier of Last Resort process operated by energy regulator Ofgem.

The SoLR procedure was established by Ofgem as a safety net to ensure that when a company stops supplying energy, affected customers are guaranteed continuity of supply through other companies.

An email sent to staff this morning by CNG chief executive Paul Stanley, which has been seen by the Stray Ferret, informs employees that the SoLR process has been approved by Ofgem.

The company has posted an update on its website this afternoon that says “After 27 years we are saddened to say CNG Energy Limited is ceasing to trade.”

The email from Mr Stanley said:

“Ofgem has confirmed that the SoLR process has been approved by them and will be on their website from 3pm today.

“We will be amending our website at the same time and we will then be able to offer clearer statements for customer service teams and sales people to use in discussions with customers, broker and other third parties.”

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The company, which is based on Victoria Avenue, supplied energy to about 15 to 20 retail energy companies through its wholesale business arm and also had around 50,000 business customers.

It had been impacted by spiralling global gas prices over the past few months.

The company is now expected to enter administration and the vast majority of staff made redundant.

Staff have been told that wages for days worked this month are not guaranteed to be paid.

The Stray Ferret has approached CNG for comment.

All 145 CNG energy staff in Harrogate set to lose jobs

Harrogate energy firm CNG has confirmed in internal meetings that all 145 staff at the company have lost their jobs.

The Stray Ferret exclusively revealed last month that staff had been informed the company was to enter liquidation amid the spiralling increase in wholesale gas prices.

A source who worked at CNG told us that management had now confirmed the news at internal meetings and discussions were taking place about redundancy. We have approached CNG for comment.

The company, which is based on Victoria Avenue, supplies energy to about 15 to 20 retail energy companies through its wholesale business arm and also has around 50,000 business customers.

The Stray Ferret has approached regulator Ofgem to ask whether the company had entered Supplier of Last Resort, but were told that the regulator “did not comment on supplier failures”.

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Rumours Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds could attend Harrogate Town game

Superstar actor Ryan Reynolds could swap Hollywood for the EnviroVent Stadium in Harrogate on Saturday afternoon.

The Deadpool star is one of the most famous actors in the world but in an unexpected plot twist he and fellow actor Rob McElhenney recently bought Wrexham AFC.

Wrexham have been drawn to play Harrogate Town in the first round of the FA Cup this weekend, in a match that could see some stardust sprinkled around Wetherby Road.

Reynolds, who has 39 million Instagram followers, and McElhenney both attended their first Wrexham game against Torquay on Saturday.

Rumours are now swirling that they may stick around in the UK to see their new club take on Simon Weaver’s gladiators, who will be hoping to put on an Oscar-worthy performance and book a front-row ticket to the second round.

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What is green belt land and how would Harrogate look without it?

It was first introduced in the 1960s to stop urban sprawl and protect Harrogate’s countryside from being dug up for developments.

The green belt is protected areas of rural land where the building of new homes and businesses is only allowed in special circumstances.

Its supporters say green belts have preserved landscapes across the country, while critics claim they protect the rich, stop houses being built and encourage commuting by cars.

But what would Harrogate look like if its protected areas of land had never been created?

36,000 acres of greenbelt

The green belt covers almost 36,000 acres across the district – equivalent to 11% of the total area.

It stretches along the district’s southern boundary with Leeds and up between Harrogate and Knaresborough to stop the two towns merging. There is also an area in the east of the district that forms part of the York green belt, which encircles the city.

Without the protection that the green belt offers, Harrogate and Knaresborough’s built-up areas – which sit just half a mile apart – could have formed one.

Other areas to the west including Otley and Ilkley could have also expanded ever-outwards and swallowed up the smaller settlements that surround them.

But the rules and regulations which make up green belt policy have not stopped developers coming forward with plans.

There have been almost 1,700 applications to Harrogate Borough Council in the protected areas since 2011. Most of these were for extensions and farm buildings, but others have been of some significance.

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In early 2020, a developer behind plans for 210 homes on the outskirts of Wetherby near Stockeld Park was refused planning permission by both the council and a government inspector at appeal.

On the flip side, the construction of Harrogate Rugby Club’s Rudding Lane ground would not have been possible if the council did not allow for “special circumstances” when plans were approved in 2013.

These are just two examples of when development can and can’t take place in the green belt, with the task of deciding which circumstances are “special” enough to justify development often resulting in interventions by government inspectors.

Protecting greenbelt ‘a core principle’, says council

Cllr Tim Myatt, cabinet member for planning at Harrogate Borough Council, said the authority attaches great importance to protecting the green belt and that doing so is a key part of local and national policy.

He said: 

“Any proposal for development in the district’s two green belts – namely the West Yorkshire green belt and the York green belt – would need to be in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework, which makes clear that any development should not be approved except in very special circumstances.

“Protecting the green belt is one of the core planning principles of the NPPF and something our adopted Local Plan also specifies.”

The green belt between Harrogate and Knaresborough was reviewed in 1992 and minor changes were made when the district’s 2001 Local Plan was adopted.

However, the boundaries were not reviewed when the most recent Local Plan was adopted in 2020 – something residents in Harlow and Pannal Ash say should have happened.

David Siddans, secretary of Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association, said: 

“We would have liked to see the green belt extended to provide more protection to the landscape between Harrogate and Beckwithshaw.

“But that, we understand, would have required a formal review process, and Harrogate Borough Council was not receptive to the idea.”

Mr Siddans also said it is the development of greenfield land – not green belt – which presents the biggest threat to the environment and local area, which is facing the construction of hundreds of new homes.

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He said these greenfield sites – which are untouched areas not previously built on – were seen as “easy pickings” when Harrogate’s most recent Local Plan was being developed.

Mr Siddans said: 

“When the Local Plan was being prepared and sites were being sought to accommodate around 16,000 new houses, all the greenfields around the western arc which were not green belt were targeted for development.

“No major developments are proposed on the existing area zoned as green belt west of Harrogate.

“However, greenfield sites do not have the same protection, except that those located around the western arc are all within designated areas of special landscape value.

“In practice, the planning authority pays little attention to this protection, hence the massive and highly intrusive developments currently being proposed.”

Harrogate Town and Black Sheep Brewery launch new beer

Harrogate Town FC and Black Sheep Brewery in Masham have collaborated to launch a new beer.

Called Yellow Black Army, the launch is part of the brewery’s official sponsorship of the club.

The beer, which is a session IPA, will be available to buy online and from the club’s shop on Commercial Street from Monday.

Simon Weaver, manager of Harrogate Town, said:

“I’m sure our fans will be delighted to be able to drink our very own, official beer.

“Just like our club, Black Sheep does things its own way and has created a unique sense of identity in the process. We can’t wait to see our fans’ response to Yellow Black Army, and give them another chance to enjoy how far our club has come in recent years.”

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Charlene Lyons, chief executive of Black Sheep Brewery said:

“We’ve been working really hard behind-the-scenes to create a beer that perfectly encapsulates the essence of Harrogate Town AFC, and we think fans will absolutely love the final result.

“Given the club’s recent promotion to the Football League for the first time in its history, we felt it was only right to celebrate Harrogate Town’s success in true Black Sheep fashion – with its very own, official beer.

“Our deal with Harrogate Town is the first time Black Sheep has sponsored a football club.”

The sponsorship deal is for two years with an option to extend. It’s the first time the company has sponsored a football club.

Harrogate firm EnviroVent sets 2030 net-zero target

Harrogate ventilation firm EnviroVent says it hopes to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its business by 2030.

The company, which manufacturers extractor fans and ventilation systems, has published its ‘Roadmap to Net-Zero’, which it says will generate emissions savings of more than 1,000 tonnes of carbon in the next 10 years.

A business that achieves net-zero emissions means it puts no more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than what it takes out.

To help EnviroVent achieve its target, it will move to a new purpose-built headquarters on Burley Bank Road in 2022. The building will be heated with air source heat pumps and its electricity will be generated via solar panels.

The building will also incorporate an MVHR heat recovery system, which recovers the energy from extracted air to ensure good indoor air quality.

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The company has also committed to planting 5,000 trees per year as part of a new partnership with MoreTrees, an organisation that will plant trees responsibly on the company’s behalf and then manage them for life.

Planting 5,000 trees every year will remove a total of approximately 1,500 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere, the company said.

Jane McLean, quality & environmental systems manager at EnviroVent, said:

“Environmental sustainability is very important to us as a business and to many of our public and private sector customers.  We’re delighted to be revealing our Roadmap to Net-Zero, which gives a very clear route that we will follow to achieve our environmental targets.

“To add to this, all our products are designed to use minimal amount of energy and we recycle parts from systems we replace, wherever possible. As a result, customers buying our ventilation systems can be safe in the knowledge they are giving back to the planet.”

Roadworks on Harrogate’s Ripon Road delayed for third time

The completion date for the Northern Gas Networks roadworks on Ripon Road in Harrogate has been put back again.

Traffic lights were initially due to operate for four weeks from September 6 on the busy route into Harrogate town centre for what the company described as “essential work to modernise the gas network in Harrogate”.

But they were still in place when a major gas leak, which affected 3,000 homes for 48 hours, occurred on October 15.

North Yorkshire County Council has already granted roadwork extensions until October 22 and October 28.

Now Northern Gas Networks has said it expects work to continue throughout this week.

Scott Kitchingman, business operations manager at Northern Gas Networks, said:

“We had expected to remove temporary traffic lights on the Ripon Road at the end of last week, however we have encountered a delay in completing the final stages of our work and traffic management will remain in place this week.

“We know that no one likes roadworks and we would like to thank everyone for their patience while we complete this essential work.”

Northern Gas Networks said on October 17 it would carry out a “full investigation” into the gas leak but it has not released any details since, despite requests from the Stray Ferret.

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Taylor Swift fans assemble in Harrogate for album release party

A die-hard Taylor Swift fan from Harrogate has arranged a party in town for fellow Swifties to celebrate an upcoming album release.

The party on November 13, timed to coincide with the new album, will include Prosecco, pizza, a Taylor Swift-inspired tarot card reader, cakes and a lifesize cut-out of the American superstar herself.

Swifties, as her fans are called, will assemble at the Starling Bar Cafe Kitchen on Oxford Street to sing the night away to Taylor’s new album, Red (Taylor’s Version).

Organiser Tiffany Snowden has been a fan for 15 years and said being a similar age to Taylor meant her songs often resonated with her own life.

A 10-minute version of her favourite song, All Too Well, is included on the new album.

Ms Snowden said:

“There’s nothing like a proper breakup Taylor Swift song to get all your emotions out. This album is really exciting.

“I just lost it when I found out we were going to hear the full version. This night could be the highlight of my year.”

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The party idea started after Ms Snowden asked a local Facebook page if fans would be interested in getting together. One hundred comments later and the event was planned.

She said 22 tickets have already been sold, with people of all ages getting ready to listen to the album.

“There’s a real range of ages coming and parents have bought them for the kids too,

“I can’t wait to be in a room with people who also know all the words instead of me singing alone!”

The event will begin at 7pm, tickets can be bought here.

Covid poetry raises funds for Harrogate hospital

A book of poetry and photography about covid has been published to raise money for Harrogate hospital.

The book, called Focus on the GOOD, was compiled by author Leah Knight and Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity.

The charity has been collecting thoughts, anecdotes, stories and photographs from colleagues, volunteers, patients, service users and families about their experiences over the last year. They formed the basis of the book.

Contributors include staff from The White Hart Hotel, Little Dragons Day Nursery, Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, Ashville College, Belmont Grosvenor School, Mike Brown Art, Stacey J Evans Photography and the Cedar Court Hotel.

Author Leah Knight said:

“Focus on the GOOD is filled with poetry inspired by stories of people we can all relate to, which is one of the many reasons it will always hold a special place in my heart.

“I hope everyone enjoys reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.”

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Sammy Lambert, business development, charity and volunteer manager at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“The last 18 months has been filled with much sadness, but there have also been times where we can laugh and smile too.

“This book reflects on what has been gained as well as lost, where hope and positivity overcame fear, and how through challenging times a sense of community spirit has shone through.”

All proceeds from the book, which costs £12.99, will go towards the charity. It can be bought here.

 

Harrogate’s Damn Yankee restaurant closes

The Damn Yankee restaurant on Station Parade has closed, just six months after the popular American diner was revived in Harrogate.

The restaurant was a mainstay in Harrogate from 1972 until it closed in 2017. It then became Burgers and More @ Original Damn Yankee in 2019.

Thanos Xhallo and his family reopened the restaurant at its original location in May this year.

In recent months it had received good reviews online from customers but a post on its Facebook page yesterday said that due to “unforeseen circumstances” it had now closed.

The future of the Damn Yankee brand in Harrogate now appears uncertain but the post suggests it will be changing hands to new owners.

“Reopening The Damn Yankee has been an amazing adventure, and we’ve loved sharing this time with you and listening to all your stories of previous visits. We’ve worked as a family to welcome all of you into a restaurant that we have become very fond of and we hope we gave all of your families some great new memories to share for years to come.

“Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances we have no choice but to close and the restaurant will be changing hands. Today is our last day running the restaurant and will be open at 5pm! Will also call everyone that has reserved tables! Stay tuned for more information, we will keep you in the loop as much as possible and update you on the next chapter of this restaurant’s journey.”

The Stray Ferret approached the Damn Yankee for comment but we did not receive a response at the time of publication.

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The Damn Yankee was originally opened in 1972 by Denise Wiand and her American husband, Mike, who worked at Menwith Hill.

Ms Wiand told the Stray Ferret this year that the restaurant was a huge success when it first opened with queues of excited people down Station Parade looking forward to classic American fare and the lively atmosphere that it became famous for.

It was also owned from 2000 to 2017 by Nikki and Mick Triffit.