Criticism over 560 homes plan for Otley Road in Harrogate

560 homes have been proposed for fields near Harlow Hill in Harrogate- 25% more than the number of homes agreed in the council’s Local Plan.

The government’s housing agency, Homes England, which owns the 26-hectare site called Bluecoat Wood, has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report to Harrogate Borough Council for a development off Otley Road.

The homes, as well as a community hub and sports facilities, would be built directly opposite Cardale Business Park and Harrogate Police Station.

HBC’s Local Plan, which was finally adopted in March 2020 following a tortuous process, says 450 homes can be built on the fields.

A spokesperson for Harlow & Pannal Ash Residents’ Group (HAPARA) said it was “extremely disappointing” that Homes England wants to increase the number of homes for the site and called on HBC to “prevent large-scale overdevelopment”.

Homes England is also the developer hoping to build 200 homes at the former Police Training Centre on Yew Tree Lane. That site is in the Local Plan for 161 homes and faced similar criticism for “unjustifiable planning creep”.

A HAPARA spokesperson said:

“The news that Homes England is seeking to increase the numbers of houses on the Bluecoat Wood site from 450, as the Local Plan indicates, to 560 is extremely disappointing but not unexpected.

“This 24.4% increase follows a similar increase applied for on the Police Training Centre site and would result in a 19% increase overall in new housing in the area, compared to the Local Plan provision.

“HAPARA along with others welcomed the Local Plan as giving certainty to the location and scale of housing in this area. However, it is becoming clear that developers are treating the Local Plan as a licence to build as many houses as possible, substantially above the identified need, and the Borough Council seem unable to prevent large-scale overdevelopment.

“So we ask the question: what is the point of the Local Plan?”

Homes England and HBC respond

A spokesperson for Homes England said:

“The submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Opinion Request represents an early stage of the planning process and future development proposals will be subject to further consultation with the local community and Harrogate Borough Council before a planning application is submitted.  The Bluecoat site is identified as a commitment in the Local Plan and will make an important contribution towards Harrogate Borough Council’s housing and infrastructure delivery.”

A council spokesperson said:

“The Local Plan sets out a minimum target for new homes, along with allocations and planning policies to guide a sustainable pattern of growth and quality place-shaping. This minimum figure is based on a number of important housing-need factors and has been agreed at the public examination of the Local Plan. 

“The appropriate dwelling numbers for each site are determined upon more detailed site masterplanning, taking into consideration important policy matters set out in the Local Plan such as appropriate density and mix of development as well as the provision of infrastructure, open space and facilities. All of these factors need to be considered when assessing the suitability of any proposal at the planning applications stage. Additionally, site H45 falls within the West Harrogate area for which an additional layer of masterplanning is taking place (the West Harrogate Parameters Plan). Homes England have committed to working with the council and the promoters of adjacent sites H51 and H49, to ensure coordinated delivery of infrastructure and quality place making across the area.

“The submission of an environmental impact assessment scoping opinion request represents an early stage in the planning application process and it is too early for us to comment on the appropriateness of the yield for the site until the planning application has been fully worked up, evidenced, consulted upon and can be assessed against the Local Plan as a whole.”

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What happens next?

HBC’s Local Plan identifies more than 4,000 homes that could be built on the Western side of Harrogate. Several developments have already been built or are currently underway, including 600 homes by Persimmon Homes at Pennypot Lane.

Homes England said it is in discussions with Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council, and other developers in the West of Harrogate about the upcoming Parameters Plan.

This document will assess transport and infrastructure needs associated with the huge increase in housebuilding. It was expected last year but has been delayed.

The developer has also asked Harrogate Borough Council to now provide a formal opinion on the scope of an Environmental Impact Assessment which it plans to submit at a future date. This will explore how the development will impact on the environment.

The site’s history

In February 2016, HBC granted planning permission to a partnership of developers called HTH Harrogate LLP to build 450 homes at Bluecoat Wood.

It followed an earlier refusal of permission on the grounds of road safety and traffic flow problems.

However, Homes England bought the site in February after the developer pulled out.

Wildflower planting starts on the Stray tomorrow

Wildflowers will be planted on the Stray tomorrow in an effort to boost biodiversity and bring colour to busy roadsides.

In recent history wildflower meadows have slipped into a dramatic decline as the species-rich grasslands are ploughed up for housing, farming and roads.

This has prompted a push from campaigners for the young wildflowers called “plugs” to be planted and grasslands left to blossom.

Last year members of the Harrogate and District Green Party called on Harrogate Borough Council to take action.

Now, with the help of volunteers from Bilton Conservation Group, 5,500 wildflower plugs will be planted on two areas of the Stray near Leeds Road and York Place.

The trial could see more areas across the district transformed to support the return of insects from bees to butterflies.

Green Party campaigner Rebecca Maunder said:

“This is a really welcome move that we have been encouraging – it can make a big impact in improving local habitats for our declining wildlife.

“There does also need to be a joined up approach required to increase biodiversity locally and we should cease every opportunity we can.”

Planting will now take place across four days in May with the plugs, hopefully, blooming in September.

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Sue Wood, horticultural officer at Harrogate Borough Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that there are other ways the authority hopes to bring back biodiversity. For example, some churchyards in the district have been left untouched by lawnmowers so they can blossom into meadows.

She also said the planting of plugs elsewhere would depend on the success of the Stray scheme:

“Climate problems and the loss of habitats have had an impact on insects and pollinators so we hope by planting wildflowers we can increase biodiversity.

“It will be a trial to start with but we hope to expand it elsewhere in the future.”

Horticultural Strategy 

In September, Harrogate council revealed its new horticultural strategy which set out how the authority will manage its almost 1,000-acres of green space over the next decade.

The strategy included the planting of wildflowers and extra measures to make sure dogs are kept on leads, but was criticised by Green Party members who welcomed some schemes but called for greater ambition and public involvement.

This forced the council’s cabinet member for environment, councillor Andrew Paraskos, on the defensive with him previously saying “it is in our power to make positive change but we can’t do everything overnight”.

Also included in the strategy are plans for a sensory garden, a review of grass cutting and research into whether parks could be used for bee-keeping.

The wildflower planting comes during a week where the council has faced intense criticism for  replacing raised flowerbeds in the town centre with astroturf .

The fake grass created a hugely negative response on social media and the local branch of Extinction Rebellion took action and removed it from one bed and put in its own plants.

Love is in the air as marriage proposal seen above Harrogate skies

A romantic offer of marriage was spotted above the skies of Harrogate earlier today.

The words, “Chloe will you marry me? Luke”, were seen tied to the back of an aeroplane flying over the Great Yorkshire Showground at around midday.

After Luke popped the question it seemed to brighten up an overcast day in the district for those who saw it and it received warm comments on a local Facebook group.

One person said:

“Aww I love this … every lady deserves a Luke.”

Another person asked the important question:

“Do we all need to buy a new hat?”

The question is …did Chloe say yes? 

Are you Chloe or Luke? Get in touch contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

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Giant public artwork coming to the Stray remembers NHS covid dead

A huge art installation that commemorates NHS staff and care workers who died from covid will come to West Park Stray in Harrogate this month.

In Memoriam measures 36 metres in diameter and features more than 100 flags made from hospital bed sheets arranged in the form of a medical symbol.

It’s been designed by award-winning artist Luke Jerram and will be on the Stray from May 28 until June 7 before being transported to Edinburgh, Fleetwood and Weston-super-Mare.

Work installing it on the Stray will begin on May 24.

In Memoriam will be the first in a series of installations and events delivered in the months ahead by Harrogate International Festivals, which this year celebrates its 55th anniversary.

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Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals chief executive, said

“Two years ago, we were lucky enough to bring Luke’s Museum of the Moon to St Wilfrid’s Church, which was one of the highlights of that summer’s international festival, and was visited by more than 10,000 people.

“As an arts charity delivering festivals and events, we were first to close and will be the last to open, but we can’t just open the doors on our venues and go straight back to normal.

“We wanted to create something unique in Harrogate that acknowledged the last year whilst allowing us to create a safe, outdoor event for the town.

“We don’t want people to just look at In Memoriam from afar, we want people to experience it; we want individuals, families and friends to walk into the heart of it; we want them to sit under the flags and quietly reflect the events of the last 15 months.”

In Memoriam is being supported by Hornbeam Park, Harrogate BID, and Swainsons Funeral Directors.

Bilton car park could be converted into council houses

Plans to convert a car park in Bilton into council housing have been sent back to the drawing board.

Harrogate Borough Council’s housing team wants to build the two-bed properties near Dene Park and Woodfield Road to provide what it described as “much-needed” accommodation for some of the hundreds of people on the social housing waiting list.

Planning assistant Arthama Lakhanpall told a meeting on Tuesday that 1,700 households are currently in the queue for council homes, with 316 specifically requesting two-bed properties.

He asked councillors to approve the plans but was told to take another look at the layout and designs.

Conservative councillor Nigel Simms, who represents Masham and Kirkby Malzeard, said the proposals were “just not right yet” and “completely at odds” with existing properties in the area:

“I would like to see something that represents the vernacular that surrounds it, not something that looks as if it has just been brought out of a design brief.

“This needs to go away and come back with something that reflects the local distinctiveness.”

There were also questions over why seven car parking spaces – including three disabled bays – were needed in the plans, with councillors suggesting that more or larger homes could be built.

They also said eco-friendly methods of heating, such as air source heat pumps and solar panels, should be installed instead of gas.

Conservative councillor Andrew Paraskos, who represents Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale, said:

“We could make better use of the land that is there. Whether it is more houses or bigger houses I’m not sure, but it should be sent back for reworking for a scheme that we actually need and is more fitting.”

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A report to councillors said the homes would provide a “modest addition” to the council’s housing stock and that the loss of 12 ‘underused’ car parking spaces would not have a negative impact on the area.

It said:

“The design of the dwellings would respect local distinctiveness and there would be no significant harm to local residential amenity.

“The development would provide off-street parking and additional tree planting. It is considered that the housing development would provide a more efficient use of the site.”

Councillors unanimously voted to defer a decision on the plans at Tuesday’s meeting.

Damn Yankee restaurant to return to Harrogate

The Damn Yankee on Station Parade in Harrogate is set to return with new owners.

Thanos Xhallo and Natasha Farmer are behind plans to reopen the popular American diner, which was a mainstay in Harrogate from 1972 until it closed in 2017.

It then became Burgers and More @ Original Damn Yankee in 2019 before the current owners took charge.

Thanos moved to Harrogate from his native Albania in 2014 and has worked in the kitchen and front-of-house at several restaurants in the town, including the Damn Yankee under its previous owners.

He said it’s been his dream to open a restaurant of his own since he began life in the UK.

The couple has bought the name of the business, which Thanos said means a lot to the people of Harrogate.

“It’s been all hands on deck getting the place ready.

“One women in her 60s walked past and said she used to come here as a child with her dad who has now passed away.”

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Thanos said the menu will offer what people expect from the Damn Yankee and will include steaks, pizzas, burgers and many different options for kids.

It will also offer Mexican fare, including burritos, house chilli, chimichanga and quesadillas.

Thanos said he might even bring back some of the old food challenges, where customers race against the clock to eat a giant burger or steak for the chance to get a picture on a wall of fame.

He said:

“We are going to do our best to give quality and for it to be affordable.”

Natasha added:

“This was my family’s favourite restaurant growing up, so when it became available we thought, we have to do this.”

“It isn’t just any American diner, it’s the American diner.”

The couple hope to have the restaurant open within the next few weeks.

Appeal launched for Bilton boy Archie’s life-saving treatment

An appeal has been launched to raise money for the family of a young Bilton boy with a rare life-threatening illness.

Archie Flintoft, 5, has Diamond-Blackfan anaemia, an incurable condition whereby his bone marrow doesn’t create the red blood cells he needs to survive.

Only 1,000 people worldwide have the condition and Archie needs to go to Leeds General Infirmary for blood transfusions every three weeks just to keep him alive. He also has to travel to London for a special check-up two or three times a year.

Although treatment costs are covered by the NHS, mum Vicky had to leave her job to take care of Archie. Family visits to St Mary’s Hospital in London can set them back up to £1,000 each time because of transport and accommodation costs.

Two years ago mum Vicky set up a Facebook group called Archie’s Army, where followers can keep up with what Archie’s doing and help out with fundraising projects. But since the covid pandemic it’s been difficult to raise money.

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Mum Vicky says young Archie takes everything in his stride:

“When he has his transfusions he has to sit still for six hours, and that’s not easy for a five-year old. So I get him a magazine with a little toy, and that’s his treat. He has lots of videos, games, and a tablet, and we eat snacks as well.”

The current fundraising bid was launched yesterday as part of a community appeal led by Andrew Hart and Asma Ola, owners of the Red Box, a post office and gift shop on Harrogate’s King Edward Drive.

For every pound donated, Post Office Ltd has agreed to add another pound, and Red Box will donate two pounds on top of this. Donations have already reached a total of £800, including the top-ups.

Vicky said:

“We’re absolutely blown away by everyone’s kindness and support. I don’t have the words to say how much it means to us that people are behind us to provide the best care we can for our boy.”

The family aims to get Archie’s hospital fund to £3,000. Any further money received will be given to DBA UK, the charity which supports people with the condition and their families.

Donations can be made in person at the Red Box newsagent in Bilton.

 

Majestic murder-suicide: one week on, questions remain

The Harrogate district was shocked last week when two guests from London lost their lives in an apparent murder-suicide at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel.

Eight days on, the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Chenise Gregory and Michael McGibbon, who were both aged 29, remain unclear.

Staff found the pair dead with stab wounds on the Tuesday night at 10.20pm. North Yorkshire Police said it believed Ms Gregory was murdered by Mr McGibbon, who then killed himself.

But the police and the hotel have said little since.

One of the key unanswered questions is why and how the pair booked their room or rooms. Under current coronavirus rules, hotels can only allow guests if the hotel is their main address or if their visit is essential for work, education or training purposes.

The family of Ms Gregory has said she was a childcare specialist. It is unclear what Mr McGibbon did for a living. The reason for their booking has not been revealed.

Devante Gravesande-Smith, a barrister from London who was a cousin of Ms Gregory, described her as a “loving and caring person, whose smile would light up a room”.

He claimed she was “lured to her death at the hands of her controlling and manipulative ex-boyfriend”.

We asked the hotel the purpose of the two people’s stay and how it verified the reasons.

A spokesman for the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel told the Stray Ferret:

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the incident and our thoughts are with all of those affected.

“The hotel complies with the government guidelines in respect of who can stay. We are unable to comment further on the specific guests.”

The Stray Ferret has also asked North Yorkshire Police for an update on the case. It did not reply by the time of publication and, eight days after the tragic incident, many questions remain unanswered.

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Temporary detective chief inspector Jonathan Sygrove of North Yorkshire Police’s major investigation team said when the deaths were announced:

“We are treating Ms Gregory’s death as murder and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

“An investigation into the circumstances around the deaths is ongoing, but the evidence we have gathered at this stage suggests it was a suspected murder-suicide.”

There have been no police updates since.

Harrogate turf war: residents offer to swap fake grass for flowers

Harrogate Borough Council has rejected an offer from a residents group to remove the fake grass in town and plant flowers instead.

Lucy Gardiner, co-founder of the original Harrogate Residents Association group, wrote to council leader Richard Cooper offering to carry out the work with local schoolchildren.

Her offer follows yesterday’s direct action by Extinction Rebellion Harrogate in which. the plastic grass in one of the raised beds was removed and replaced by shrubs.

Yesterday’s direct action by Extinction Rebellion Harrogate.

Harrogate Residents Association’s offer is the latest twist in the turf war saga that has provoked a fierce backlash by residents concerned about the environmental impact as well as the damage to Harrogate’s reputation as an upmarket, floral town.

Ms Gardiner’s letter, seen by the Stray Ferret, said:

“We have quite a few volunteers who would like to remove the Astro turf in the centre of town and plant up the beds with flowers/shrubs that survive in shaded conditions.

“Do we have the permission from you as the head of the Harrogate Borough council to do this please?

“We thought we could also engage with some of the primary schools to encourage the children to help plant them up, supporting a greener future and community spirit for their future town.”

Cllr Cooper declined her offer and in his reply copied yesterday’s council statement, which apologised for not explaining its actions better.

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The statement, which can be read in full in this article, said the artificial grass would serve as a base for planters that will sit on top of the beds, resulting in “a vibrant display of colour all year round”.

It added the scheme was a trial and if it didn’t make the town look better “we will remove them and try something else”.

Ms Gardiner said the group would pursue the matter with Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones.

 

 

 

‘Bring back Bilton Youth Club to tackle anti-social behaviour’

A campaign has been launched to bring back Bilton Youth Club a decade after it closed.

Arnold Warneken, who was the Harrogate and District Green Party candidate in last week’s the Bilton by-election, has set up a petition calling on North Yorkshire County Council to reinstate the youth club. It was wound up in 2012 following funding cuts.

He said a reinvigorated youth club would have a big impact on young people in Bilton who have been stuck for things to do, particularly during lockdown.

Anti-social behaviour and crime were key issues when he was out campaigning, he added.

Mr Warneken said:

“It’s about getting people to acknowledge the relationship with anti-social behaviour and the lack of youth clubs.”

His petition currently has 230 signatures and Mr Warneken hopes the Bilton community will rally behind it to put pressure on North Yorkshire County Council, which runs children’s services in the district.

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Bilton Youth Club ran for over 50 years and was open three nights a week for teenagers to meet up and socialise. It also offered a range of activities, including sports and outdoor pursuits, until 2012.

The building is now run by the charity North Yorkshire Sport, which operates Bilton Health and Wellbeing Hub. It provides community activities, including a youth club, art club, physical activities, and social sessions for older people.

However, it only offers teenagers the chance to meet up once a week on Monday evenings from 5pm-7pm.

Mr Warneken proposes the youth club could be run at different venues in Bilton and offer activities from camping and foraging to musical tuition and sports coaching.

He added:

“It needs imagination and for the community to believe it will make a difference to crime, safety and health. The kids need to be given a chance.”

North Yorkshire County Council’s head of stronger communities, Marie-Anne Jackson, said:

“The county council’s children and families service are currently actively working with the stronger communities team, North Yorkshire Sport and North Yorkshire Youth to look at how we can work with local communities to support them to develop activities for children and young people and their families.

“We’re keen to harness the incredible energy and community response that has been seen in this work during the pandemic, by engaging with local people and organisations and making sure they have the support, skills and confidence needed to provide community services they would like to see in their local area.

“This includes making sure communities can provide support networks or services they feel they need for children, young people and families in their area.”