The 10-day International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival is returning to Harrogate this year, in a major boost for the town’s economy.
Harrogate hosted the event annually from 2014 until last year, when it was cancelled due to covid.
The festival, which will take place from August 8 to August 18 at the Royal Hall, attracts thousands of visitors from around the world.
Covid restrictions require the productions to be adapted to ensure the safety of performers, audience and backstage staff.
Janet Smith, festival director, said:
“After the horrible year we have all endured, we cannot wait to get back into the theatre.
“Our seating plan in the theatre is socially distanced, and only 40% of the usual Royal Hall seats are available, so we expect tickets to sell out quickly.
“We will have to wait to hear the government announcements about easing restrictions on June 21, when hopefully we will be allowed to open up more seats.”
The National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company will open proceedings with HMS Pinafore.
Other highlights include Simon Butteriss directing and starring in The Mikado. The opera company will also bring along a brand-new production of Patience.
Read more:
- Harrogate bed and breakfast diversifies to survive coronavirus
- Jimmy Carr first confirmed show at Royal Hall
Charles Court Opera will present its production of Iolanthe and Charles Court Opera also give two performances of its new G&S Express.
Forbear! Theatre, directed by Rachel Middle, will bring two productions of The Pirates of Penzance and The Yeomen of the Guard.
For something completely different, on August 6, Simon Butteriss will premiere The Diary of a Nobody comedy.
There will be an additional fringe programme of morning talks, masterclasses and afternoon concerts.
Tickets go on open sale from May 5 and can be ordered on 01422 323252 or online at www.gsfestivals.org.
Stray Views: Harrogate’s army college brings discipline and opportunitiesStray 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. See below for details on how to contribute.
Harrogate’s Army Foundation College saves young people
Network Rail has questions to answer about tree felling
Your journalist reports that ‘some trees have been felled’ at Hornbeam Park. As a Harrogate resident living on Tewit Well Road, I want to report that all the trees have been felled. Tell it as it is, please.
We now have a situation where residents are having to prevent some of the young people of Harrogate putting themselves at risk and using this newly cleared area for their own purposes. When the line had mature trees, we may have the occasional leaf on the line, but we certainly didn’t have youngsters jumping over to sunbath, party etc.
I’m afraid Network Rail has a lot to answer for here. A poor ecological management decision has left local residents policing an area that was once a mature habitat for local wildlife.
Who was the ecologist who advised Network Rail? Are they not accountable for the habitat decimation that we have been left with? How can they say anything other than recovery will take years? Is Network Rail pleased with the result?’
Not impressed.
Charlie McCarthy
Local resident
Questions that need answering about Beech Grove
As a resident and local business owner of 11 years, I and many others strongly believe the Low Traffic Neighbourhood experiment on Beech Grove creates more congestion, longer car journey times and increased carbon emissions on surrounding roads.
Otley Road currently has major road works and the planned 20-week cycle lane construction will cause further disruption and congestion.
There are many unanswered questions for North Yorkshire County Council:
- What is the overall aim of this Low Traffic Neighbourhood?
- In the latest council meeting we were told that the cycling groups are being consulted to make these decisions. Why are the cycling groups being consulted and the residents and businesses, who pay taxes and rates, not consulted?
- How do you measure success or failure?
- What data are you collecting and where from?
- Which company are you using to analyse this?
- Did you count how many cyclists and motorists use the roads, before you closed them?
- Is information collected during the same months of the year, so you can directly compare activity in all seasons and weather?
- Is it the best time to do this during a lockdown?
- Why did NYCC approve all the housing developments, each with 2-3 cars, when 84% of people expressed that Harrogate was congested in the 2019 survey?
- What’s the projection of people who will swap their cars for bikes and what is this based on?
- Far more people walk than cycle and yet the pavements are shocking, they are left for months after the Autumn leaves fall without being cleared and go untreated in ice and snow. How does this encourage people to walk?
- Where is the evidence that there is an appetite for more cycling?
I have spoken to many residents and businesses and cars are critical for the school run, appointments, visiting relatives, holidays, tourism but, most importantly, to access businesses.
Cars are the lifeblood of many businesses and thousands of jobs depend on them. Banning them cannot be the only solution.
Lucy Gardiner, Harrogate Residents Association
Why is government spending so much on roads?
Got an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.
A covid-delayed project to refurbish a former Harrogate Borough Council office has taken a step forward after the approval of a £500,000 construction contract.
The council vacated Springfield House, at Harrogate Convention Centre, when it moved all of its operations to its new £13m civic centre at Knapping Mount in 2017.
The office has since been let out to businesses.
A planned refurbishment of the upper floors was due to start last year but hit delays as access was restricted during the convention centre’s use as an NHS Nightingale hospital.
At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, councillor Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development at the council, said he had been “thwarted and frustrated” by the setbacks.
He added that he welcomed the awarding of the £501,815 contract to York-based Lindum Group Limited after a competitive tender process.
The works will include new office spaces, a refurbished space for convention centre staff and a business incubator scheme which provides mentoring and support services for entrepreneurs starting out in business.
The ‘digital incubator hub’ will be funded through £540,000 through the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and is expected to make the council around £49,000 a year.
This is according to a report which also said the other office spaces would generate around £40,000 a year when fully let.
Speaking about the Springfield House plans, councillor Swift said:
“I have been thwarted and frustrated with this project which we would have liked to have implemented over 12 months ago but as the project was up-and-running when then found ourselves in a covid environment.
“This is an essential project for the district and the sort of project other people are investing in too. I know Crescent Gardens is gathering momentum and other developers in town are keen to take advantage of what is going to a fluid but important space in the market for small start-up businesses to grow.”
Read more:
- What have our local MPs been up to this month?
- Knaresborough free parking extension comes to an end this month.
It comes as plans to transform the council’s former Crescent Gardens headquarters into offices and a roof garden restaurant have been formally submitted.
Harrogate-based property company Impala Estates bought the site in January last year for £4m. Its plans also include creating a gym, as well as turning the former council chamber and mayor’s parlour into meeting rooms.
Harrogate Youth Festival heads online this eveningThe Harrogate International Youth Festival will have a new look this year as it heads online tonight.
The festival’s ‘Big Night In’ will take place at 7.30pm.
It is the longest running International Youth Music and Performing Arts Festival in the UK holding an event each Easter weekend since 1973.
The official festival has been postponed until next year, when international travel resumes. The organisers couldn’t let the weekend go ahead without some form of celebration – so instead they arranged the virtual concert.
The festival organisers will bring regular participants together on Zoom to watch key moments of previous festivals.
Micheal Newby, former Harrogate Mayor, will be hosting the online show and introducing a variety of video footage of recent concerts involving local and international artists.
Mr Newby said:
“This really will be a jammed packed evening! We simply could not put everything in that we wanted to – but I think we’ve got a really good selection that we know our audiences will love to see.
“We can’t wait to be together again and perform at these amazing venues in our community – but until then, we wanted to celebrate these amazing schools, groups and colleges that have performed with us over the years and really look forward to a fantastic Festival year next year.”
Read more:
- Hollywood director to start in this year’s Harrogate Film Festival.
- First ever four-day Great Yorkshire Show confirmed for this July.
In previous years, the six night festival would start with marching bands parading through the Harrogate town centre. Shows would run in big venues such as the Royal Hall and Ripon Cathedral.
The festival aims to bring, primarily youth, choirs, orchestras and bands together from across the world to perform in Harrogate.
Picnic bench near Pinewoods goes up in flamesA picnic bench in Irongate Field near the Pinewoods in Harrogate went up in flames last night.
Firefighters from Harrogate attended the blaze at 9.30pm last night and used two backpack sprayers to dampen down the area.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has now confirmed it believes the fire was set deliberately.
The person who found the fire said that he found beer bottles around the bench.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said:
“A crew from Harrogate attended a fire in the open, this turned out to be a fire to a picnic bench.
“They used two knapsack sprayers and dampened down the area. The cause is believed deliberate.”
Read more:
Harrogate arts organisations awarded culture grantsFour culture organisations in the Harrogate district have been awarded further funding as part of the government’s culture recovery fund.
Arts Council England granted the funding as part of a further £300 million worth of financial support for culture and art organisations.
The government announced a £1.57 billion fund last year which aimed to support cultural and heritage sectors from the economic impact of covid.
Read more:
- Ripon cultural organisations receive £170,000 lifeline
- Harewood House awarded funding boost
- Harrogate Theatre awarded £250,000 survival boost
Among those to be awarded a grant is Cause UK, which has secured £35,000 in funding.
The agency hosted Ken Loach and Brian Blessed in Harrogate on behalf of the Harrogate Film Festival, as well as family events at the Royal Hall with Steve Backshall and Chris Packham
Clair Challenor-Chadwick, managing director of Cause UK, said:
“As a vibrant agency for 10 years, Cause UK had strong growth pre-covid, thanks to our growing cultural portfolio. Obviously, that was all put on hold with covid.
“A significant part of our work is also as a support agency to arts, public sector and charities. We’ve supported organisations as diverse as Besbrode Pianos, Ilkley Literature Festival, The Barnsley Civic, Harrogate Convention Centre, the Wesley Centre in Malton and the Himalayan Sculpture Park.
“We’re proud our work has had significant impact, helping clients to win awards, increase visitor and audience reach, engage sponsors, and attract investment.”
Harrogate Theatre with stands empty in the town centre.
Meanwhile, Harrogate International Festivals has been awarded £80,000 and Harrogate Theatre secured £91,078.
Ripon Museum Trust has also been granted £69,350.
The chief executive of Harrogate Theatre Trust, David Bown, gave his reaction to the grant:
“We are thrilled to receive this funding from the Cultural Recovery Fund. It will allow us to move forward with increasing confidence as we launch our Raise the Roof season by bringing drama, comedy and music to community venues throughout the district in what will be challenging times as restrictions are relaxed.”
The cultural recovery fund is targeted at organisations which work in music, theatre, dance, combined arts, visual arts, museums or literature.
The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute
Oliver Dowden, culture secretary, said:
Harrogate venues double down on outdoor dining“Our record-breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced.
“Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”
Hotels, restaurants and bars in Harrogate are doubling down on their outdoor dining offering in time for reopening on April 12.
Although hospitality businesses are praying for a great British summer, they are also preparing for rain.
Venues in the Harrogate district had to adapt quickly to covid last year but this year’s roadmap has enabled them to plan to increase their outdoor covered areas based on what they have learned works.
Read more:
- Blow for businesses wanting to use Stray this summer
- First ever four-day Great Yorkshire Show confirmed
The West Park Hotel is one of those trying to take full advantage of space, both at the front and back.
As well as using its back courtyard, it is also working with neighbouring shops to bring the pavement in front of the building into use after hours.
In total West Park will have 160 outdoor seats, with many under awnings and marquees.
Cedar Court Hotel Harrogate is bringing back an updated version of its Tipi on the Stray, which will now has removable sides, making it compliant as an outdoor space. It will be able to serve lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
It’s here and we’re taking bookings #Harrogate #Yorkshire … #Podville by @fatbadgerpub is taking bookings on a first come first served basis so be quick to secure your spot by calling 01423 505681 now! Full food & drink outdoor #hospitality offering in a unique setting pic.twitter.com/4OjtJJZMyn
— simon cotton (@simoncotton69) March 31, 2021
Instead of last year’s beach, the Fat Badger has now built what it calls “podville” in its rear car park.
Six people are able to book one of 15 pods for £5 an hour Monday to Thursday and £10 an hour Friday to Sunday.
Bodybuilding barber David Steca to stage Mr HarrogateBodybuilding barber David Steca is to stage a Mr Harrogate competition this summer to showcase the area’s finest physiques.
Mr Steca, who owns Steca No6 in Harrogate and another salon in Leeds, is one of the most experienced and successful bodybuilders in the north of England, with a string of titles to his name.
He has won numerous British and international trophies and continues to compete at the age of 61 as well as train clients.
He plans to stage the event on August 1 in a marquee with seating for up to 200 people near his home in Menwith Hill. He said:
“The aim is to inspire and give local physique and fitness enthusiasts a goal coming out of covid.
“I want to give something back and provide a local platform to enthusiasts.”
Read more:
- Harrogate man finishes 9th at World’s Strongest Man
- Harrogate boxing and martial arts gym fighting for survival
There will be a wide range of male and female categories catering for the toned beach body look through to hardcore bodybuilding.
Mr Steca added there will be British and world champion judges, along with food, nutrition and clothing stalls.
There will be HG postcode classes and open classes. Entry fee is £20 and spectator tickets are £20 and £10 for under-12s.
The event will also be a qualifying competition for the IBFA British Championships.
Mr Steca added:
“We already have prizes from local business for class winners. We look forward to an exciting day of muscle and fitness!”
Locations of 34 electric vehicle charge points revealed
The locations of up to 34 new electric vehicle charge points in the Harrogate district have been revealed.
The district has seen the largest increase in North Yorkshire of motorists switching to electric vehicles and Harrogate Borough Council aims to get 10,000 on the roads by 2023.
To help hit this target, the authority plans to install charge points at several council-owned locations to encourage motorists to make the switch ahead of the government’s ban on the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars in 2030.
Tom O’Donovan, economy and transport officer at the council, told a meeting on Wednesday the 34 charge points were being rolled out as part of a phased scheme, with more to come later.
The locations include up to four charge points at the council’s Claro Road office, as well as up to five at its civic centre headquarters at Knapping Mount.
There will also be up to four at Harrogate’s multi-storey Victoria Shopping Centre car park and the same amount at Ripon Cathedral car park, plus a hub of charge points at Knaresborough Chapel Street car park.
Read more:
There are three options for Pateley Bridge, including the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty office, Nidderdale Leisure Centre and south car park.
The car park at Hornbeam Park railway station could also get up to 10 charge points, while no proposals have yet been put forward for Boroughbridge because infrastructure works would be “too costly”.
Up to 160 charge sites planned
Harrogate Borough Council approved its Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle Strategy two years ago with an aim to provide 61 public charge points by 2024, although this could be increased up to 160 if required.
North Yorkshire County Council is also developing a county-wide strategy but has said it currently has no plans to roll out on-street charging infrastructure on a large scale or in response to individual requests for charge points.
It said this is because of “difficulties” with electricity tariffs and setting out the terms on the maximum time a vehicle can charge in shared on-street spaces.
The council said:
Avoid recycling centres over Easter, says council“We will continue to review the overall situation, taking into account demand from residents and funding availability, including external grant funding.”
People in the Harrogate district have been advised to avoid household recycling centres this weekend because of expected queues.
North Yorkshire County Council’s 20 recycling centres remain open during lockdown but queueing systems to comply with social distance guidelines have caused tailbacks.
The Harrogate district has three centres: Wetherby Road and Penny Pot Lane in Harrogate and Dallamires Crescent in Ripon.
Queues at the recycling centre on Wetherby Road. Photo: Mark Westerman
Councillor Andrew Lee, executive member for open to business, said:
“We expect the household waste recycling centres to be extremely busy over the holiday weekend, as Easter is always a busy time.
“Given the rules in place to ensure the sites can operate safely, this will inevitably lead to queues.
“We’re asking people to consider whether they really need to visit their household waste recycling centre this weekend. Could you keep the waste at home for another week or so and take it at a less busy time?”
The centres moved to summer opening hours today, meaning they are now open from 8.30am to 5pm every day except Wednesdays.
Hannah Corlett, spokesperson for the Harrogate and District Green Party said the location of the centres was the main issue. She said:
“I know people from Ripon who have travelled all the way to Bedale recycling centres because the queues are so large so we should be asking why the centres are where they are.
“These high traffic areas are a bad place for them if they’re causing such big queues.
“Asking people to avoid them this weekend also sends a bad message about accessibility. Lots of people don’t have time to travel to their local recycling centre and so more and smaller recycling centres would probably be a better option.”