Harrogate taxi firm begins insolvency proceedings

Harrogate taxi firm Airline Taxis is taking steps to wind up the company.

A meeting of any people or businesses who are owed money by the company will be held via Zoom, on June 16.

Anybody with queries is asked to contact insolvency practitioner Simon Weir on 01924 790880.

The Stray Ferret reported last month how Airline Taxis have refused to pay £25,501 to former employee Tracey Lee after she won an unfair dismissal case against them in June 2020.

A year on from the tribunal she is yet to receive a penny from the taxi firm and described the “horrible” process of trying to get her money back through the courts.

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Meanwhile, a company called Parade Taxis Limited was created in July 2020 with the same registered address as Airline Taxis. Its sole director is Areefa Naz Suleman, the daughter of Airline’s director Mohammad Suleman.

The Stray Ferret contacted Airline Taxis for a response but we did not receive one at the time of publication.

Big blue bins create ‘eyesore’ in Harrogate’s premier shopping area

Large bins being abandoned on Harrogate’s Princes Street are causing frustration for local business owners and the BID.

One business owner said the bins are often found huddled in a loading bay on Princes Street, just off James Street.

The bins are used by local businesses who are supposed to put them on the street on pick-up day and then return them behind the shops, but Bob Kennedy from Porters, says they’re always left out.

He says the bins are an “eyesore” and ruin the look of Harrogate’s high streets for shoppers.

He added:

“I just get fed up, the loading bay is full every week. Sometimes they’ll fall over and the rubbish will scatter it’s a right eyesore. It looks a right mess.

Tourists don’t need to see that as they’re walking by, we do a lot to help Harrogate look beautiful and this doesn’t help.”

Mr Kennedy says there can sometimes be as many as 30 various-coloured bins left on Princes Street.

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Harrogate BID has agreed the bins are “unsightly” and has pledged to work with North Yorkshire County Council which is responsible for commercial waste to find a solution.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:

“We are in complete agreement that the almost constant stationing of these bins on Princes Street needs addressing.

“Not only are they unsightly, their presence also leads to the dumping of further litter, and if containing food waste, they could well attract vermin.”

He added a BID survey is set to be launched in the coming days giving businesses the chance to make the BID aware of issues like the bins.

These bins are collected by Yorwaste, a company owned by North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council, under a contract between the businesses and Yorwaste.

Karl Battersby, the county council’s corporate director for business and environmental services, said:

“We and Yorwaste expect businesses to act responsibly by ensuring that their bins are stored appropriately.

“Following a complaint, Yorwaste has recently contacted a business in this area of Harrogate to ask them to ensure that they take their bins back to their property after the weekly collection. Yorwaste remains in contact with the business in an effort to resolve this issue.”

Tribute to ‘amazing’ Huby grandad killed in car crash

A grandad from Huby probably fell ill moments before his car swerved into an oncoming lorry, an inquest has found.

Basil Fordy died aged 89 on January 8, 2020 in the crash on the A658 Harrogate Road near his village home.

His family attended a delayed inquest yesterday in Northallerton to hear what happened leading up to the crash and the cause of death.

The inquest heard evidence from people who were driving in the area at the time, as well as the driver of the lorry and the police officer who investigated the crash.

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Jonathan Leach, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire, concluded:

“Mr Fordy was making a regular trip to the supermarket but on his way back all of a sudden he drove into the opposing lane.

“In doing so, he was involved in a collision with a lorry travelling in the opposite direction.

“It is apparent from the evidence that the lorry driver took all steps possible to avoid the collision.

“Mr Fordy died from the injuries he sustained in the crash. There were no faults found with the vehicle.

“The only possible reason for the crash is that Mr Fordy suffered a medical episode.”

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Fordy’s daughter Jacqui Goulding told the Stray Ferret:

“I want people to remember Basil for being an amazing dad and a fantastic grandad. He had been through a lot.

“Basil lost two wives through breast cancer but he just had a stiff upper-lip and got on with it really. He was a competent driver.

“We miss him tonnes. I am so sorry it was such a traumatic end for Basil and all the other people who were involved.”

Harrogate’s controversial James Street planters could go after June 21

The planters on Harrogate’s James Street could be removed after June 21 — but only if the government proceeds with the final stage of its roadmap out of lockdown.

North Yorkshire County Council closed parking bays on James Street at the start of the pandemic and put in planters to allow pedestrians to conform with social distancing guidance.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, the council’s executive member for access, told the Stray Ferret that “it would be reasonable” to expect the planters to be removed after June 21.

Many traders in Knaresborough are also keen for social distancing cones in the town centre to be removed and parking restored.

However, the June 21 date looks increasingly in doubt due to an increase in Delta variant cases. Cllr Mackenzie said he would be “perfectly happy” to see the planters stay if the government delayed the date.

He added:

“Frankly, I’m relaxed about what happens with the planters either way. If it’s felt social distancing is still needed we’ll keep them up.”

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Anna McIntee, of Harrogate Residents Association, set up a petition against the planters that has received over 800 signatures. She told the Stray Ferret that she wants to see the planters removed as soon as possible.

She said:

“Why is the council singling out retailers only on James Street and Albert Street? You can park freely on Cold Bath Road, Cheltenham Parade and Commercial Street.

“The June 21 reopening date is for nightclubs, theatres and large events, not for walking outside on a street. Please remove the planters and let customers have the same access as they do at our supermarkets and outlying retail parks”.

Harrogate sex offender jailed for grooming underage girl on Snapchat

A Harrogate sex offender who groomed an underage teen girl on Snapchat has been jailed for over three years.

Stefan Antonio Slack, 27, contacted the girl on the social media site and tried to entice her into meeting him for sex.

The Harrogate man was on a court order at the time designed to limit his contact with children following previous similar offences, York Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Mike Greenhalgh said the new offences occurred in October 2018 when Slack was aged 24.

After adding the 15-year-old girl on Snapchat, he began sending sexually charged messages. In one message he asked to meet the girl and her friend for “group sexual activity”.

He then asked to meet her on a specific day for sex. The message read:

“Meet me Tuesday. Just me and you and maybe (the other named girl) if she’s game.”

Slack then told the girl in gratuitous sexual detail what he wanted to do to her. She duly blocked him on Snapchat and took a screenshot of the messages.

Her mother reported the matter to the police. Slack was arrested and brought in for questioning.

Previous conviction

He told officers he knew that the girl was under-age but “sought to excuse his behaviour, saying he was heavily in drink (at the time) and couldn’t recall sending the messages”, although he admitted it must have been him, added Mr Greenhalgh.

Slack, of Avenue Street, Starbeck, was charged with inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and breaching a sexual-harm prevention order by deliberately contacting an under-age girl. He admitted both offences and appeared for sentence today.

The court heard that Slack received a suspended prison sentence in 2012 for a “very-similar” offence involving an 11-year-old girl. Slack was 17 at the time of that offence.

Abbi Whelan, for Slack, said her client was immature but had “very much turned his life around” since the offences in 2018.

Recorder Dafydd Enoch QC said Slack had “developed an unhealthy interest in minors”.

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He told Slack he had failed to take heed of the “warning shot” when he received the suspended sentence and sexual harm order.

“That order should have left you with no illusions that you would face prison if you were to commit these (kinds of) offences again.

“Once again…you allowed yourself to be tempted into communicating with (an under-age) girl. You took complete advantage of that situation.

Mr Enoch said Slack’s behaviour was “totally unacceptable” and amounted to “extremely serious conduct which could lead to much worse scenarios”.

As well as the three-and-a-half year jail sentence, he was subject to a new, five-year sexual harm prevention order for the protection of children and will remain on the sex-offenders’ register for an indefinite period.

Harrogate firefighters rescue baby squirrel from toilet

Firefighters were called to a house in Harrogate late last night to rescue a baby squirrel from a toilet.

A concerned resident called North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue last night to ask for help with an animal stuck in the bathroom.

When the firefighters arrived just before 10pm yesterday, they found a baby squirrel struggling in the toilet bowl. It is not known how it got there.

After what may well have been a bit of a struggle, they managed to fish out the little rodent.

Despite a tough evening for the squirrel, the firefighters released it unharmed back into the garden.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said:

“A crew from Harrogate responded to a report of an animal stuck in a bathroom.

“On arrival they found a baby squirrel in the toilet bowl, it was released unharmed back into the garden.”

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Delayed Otley Road cycle path set to begin in August

Work on the delayed Otley Road cycle path is set to finally begin in August. The first phase could be completed before Christmas, according to North Yorkshire County Council.

£3.2m was set aside to build the route in 2018 but the plans have been beset by delays that have frustrated Harrogate’s cycling community.

There are three phases to the construction of the route.

The first phase of the cycle path will connect Harlow Moor Road to Arthur’s Avenue close to Harrogate Grammar School .  This work could not start due to utility works on the Harlow Moor Road and Otley Road junction, which were completed last week.

The second phase of the cycle route will link Arthurs Avenue to Beech Grove. This phase meant a consultation over the use of Stray land.

Harrogate Borough Council agreed in March to designate a plot of land on Wetherby Road as Stray land in exchange for the loss of grass verges on Otley Road for the new cycle path.

The Stray Ferret asked the Duchy of Lancaster, which owns the Stray, if they have accepted the offer but we did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“I don’t know whether the Duchy of Lancaster has accepted the exchange of land. But assuming that has happened, we’re all set to start. Work on the first phase should begin in August and should be completed within a few months”.

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The third phase will link Cardale Park on Harlow Hill to the route.

Rene Dziabas, chair of Harlow & Pannal Ash Residents Association (HAPARA) called on NYCC to communicate with residents and businesses affected by the works.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“The start date of August broadly accords with what we have already been told. Given that this first phase of the Otley Road cycle path will be disruptive, we hope that NYCC will actively pursue a policy of communicating with all residents and businesses affected on what can be expected. So far this project has not been well communicated to those most affected.”

Explainer: What is the West Harrogate Parameters Plan?

Harrogate Borough Council is drawing up a plan for what infrastructure, such as schools, roads and doctor’s surgeries, are needed in the west of Harrogate where as many as 4,000 new homes could be built by 2035.

Harlow Hill, Rossett, and Pannal Ash are already some of the most popular residential areas in Harrogate and the stretch of Otley Road from Cardale Park to Beckwithshaw is set to be transformed.

Some of the biggest allocated developments in the Local Plan yet to be built include 776 homes on Windmill Farm, 750 homes near Lady Lane, and 550 homes on Bluecoat Wood.

Developments in the Local Plan are highlighted. Credit: HAPARA

During the Local Plan process, residents raised concerns about the impact of the housing on schools, roads, sustainable transport and green spaces.

This led the government’s planning inspector to request HBC create a so-called ‘West Harrogate Parameters Plan” to assess transport and infrastructure needs.

A coalition of resident groups, including Harlow & Pannal Ash Residents Association (HAPARA) and Pannal & Burn Bridge Parish Council, produced a document of its own last year which lays out what it thinks needs to be done regarding infrastructure in the area.

What is the Parameters Plan?

It’s being coordinated by HBC working with North Yorkshire County Council, other infrastructure providers, and the site promoters to identify the infrastructure requirements for the area and how they will be delivered.

This includes new schools, local shops, sports facilities, green space and parks, roads and sustainable transport options. It will also identify how it will be delivered and who will pay for it.

HBC says the plan will allow a more joined-up approach to infrastructure rather than assessment on a site-by-site basis.

What is the current status of the plan?

Work started on the Parameters Plan last year. It has involved engagement with ward members, local parish councils and other local community groups, as well as promoters of other nearby sites.

This has included sharing and inviting comments on an early draft of the plan, as well as holding joint workshops and individual meetings. Further meetings are scheduled.

An independent design review has also been undertaken which the council hopes means that quality design is “at the heart” of the plan. Following this, the site promoters have jointly commissioned design expertise to carry out more detailed work, which is currently underway.

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When will it be published?

HBC said there is no hard deadline for the creation of the Parameters Plan as its priority is “getting the content right.”

Further work is being carried out to incorporate the recommendations from the design review as well as ongoing work with infrastructure providers to finalise necessary requirements.

Residents’ groups had expected the plan to ready before the end of 2020. The council said it now expects the plan to finalised by the autumn. It will then be rubber-stamped by HBC’s cabinet member for planning Cllr Tim Myatt.

Once the Parameters Plan is agreed, how will it work in practice and how will it be implemented?

The plan will provide a framework that will guide the development of site masterplans which are submitted to the council when developers apply for planning permission.

It will also be a material consideration in the determination of relevant future planning applications, meaning councillors can use it to help them make a decision on a particular development.

The council will use legal agreements called section 106’s to secure funding for the infrastructure needed and to mitigate any impacts from the development.

Big thumbs-up for Harrogate district’s new wild look

Our story yesterday about the Harrogate district being left to grow wild to improve biodiversity and attract bees, birds and insects provoked a huge amount of interest.

Harrogate Borough Council has left large swathes of green spaces untouched by mowers and strimmers.

Even the neat and orderly Stray has a different look to previous years.

It’s a thorny subject for the district, which prides itself on its well tended, floral appearance.

Almost 100 people commented on our Facebook page, and the vast majority gave the new approach the thumbs-up.

One person praised the wildflower “anarchy” on display.

“I love it! Wild flowers are never untidy – just a bit anarchic!!”

‘The wilder the better’

Another reader called Harrogate Borough Council “brave” for taking the new approach.

“The wilder the better for wildflowers, insects and other wildlife. Well done Harrogate Borough Council for taking such a brave approach and not bowing to the ‘tidy brigade’. Currently it’s only a tiny percentage of our green space but it’s a start!”

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Someone on our Twitter page said other parts of Harrogate were also looking better:

“It’s great – not just on The Stray but also in other places like along Wetherby Road near Woodlands. Looks great with the buttercups in flower.”

However, there were some dissenting voices. Several people accused the council of not cutting the grass to save money.

Another accused it of “hypocrisy” due to the scale of housebuilding in the district.

The Stray Ferret reported last year that green spaces the size of over 700 football pitches will be lost to housing.

“The crocuses and planted up flower beds also attract many bees and many insects but oh wait, the council are selling the horticulture nurseries on Harlow for yet more housing. 

“Total double standards but they they’ll cut maintenance costs and make money from developers.”

How wild is your neighbourhood? Send us pics and give us your views. Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Harrogate’s ‘rewilding’: untidy or biodiversity boon?

Harrogate district residents may have noticed the town is looking different this year — as swathes of green spaces, including on the Stray, have been left alone by mowers and strimmers so nature can grow free.

‘Rewilding’ is one of the words of the moment, with councils across the country hoping to improve biodiversity and attract bees, birds and insects.

The new look in Harrogate has been welcomed by many, who see it as a sign that Harrogate Borough Council, which manages our parks and green spaces, is serious about improving biodiversity.

But others who cherish Harrogate’s long reputation for organised and elegant planting, believe it makes the town look untidy.

In the eye of the beholder

Shan Oakes from the Harrogate & District Green Party told the Stray Ferret that prim and proper Victorian-style floral displays can look old-fashioned.

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

She said wildflowers will encourage pollinating bees as well as insects which can good food for birds.

“It’s excellent the council is thinking seriously about this from nature’s point of view.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It doesn’t have to be a mess.”

“One or two people might think it looks untidy and not respectful. But isn’t it more respectful to be kinder to nature?

“If bees go, we all go.”

‘Very unattractive’

Alison Freeman lives near the Stray but said rewilding makes the town look “untidy and unsightly”

She said she fears broken glass and bottles lurking in the undergrowth which she believes poses a safety risk.

“It’s very unattractive and it has the potential to be dangerous. Beer bottles could get dumped in the long grass.I t’s unusable and I can’t walk on it.

She criticised Harrogate Borough Council’s approach to grass cutting this year.

“Don’t they care about the town? They are driving Harrogate down.

“The whole verge by the West Park Stray looks like the council hasn’t bothered to look after it.

“Bees are important, we are not anti-bee. But I haven’t seen any bees on the buttercups by the Stray”.

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Judy D’Arcy Thompson from the Stray Defence Association took a more balanced approach to the issue.

She called rewilding “a very emotive subject with passions running high both for and against the wilding”.

She added:

“Our Stray is arguably Harrogate’s most important environmental asset and of tremendous benefit to the whole area. Throughout the past difficult months during the pandemic it has been an amazing green sanctuary for everyone to use.

“It is essential to strike a balance between the need for safeguarding and enhancing its ecological role alongside its open and free use by people.”

Great news for wildlife

As well as letting some areas grow free, Harrogate Borough Council recently planted 5,500 wildflower plugs on two areas of the Stray near Leeds Road and York Place. They were helped volunteers from Bilton Conservation Group.

A council spokesman said the new biodiversity areas will provide habitats and green corridors for some of the 1,500 species of insect pollinators across the district.

He added:

“Residents and visitors may have started to notice that some areas of the Harrogate district are being left to grow and not mown. 

“This is great news for wildlife as the longer grass and wildflowers will provide food and homes for pollinating insects, as well as supporting our aim of reducing our carbon footprint.

“As well as leaving specific areas to grow and encourage biodiversity, we have also planted – with the help of volunteers – more than 5,000 wildflower plugs on specific areas of the Stray in Harrogate.

“We’ll be keeping an eye on how things progress and will be providing regular updates on social media channels.”