A row appears to have broken out between businesses and the two local councils on the first day of the Harrogate Station Gateway consultation.
North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council secured £7.8 million for the project in ring-fenced funding.
Plans include pedestrianising James Street, building cycle lanes on Station Parade and improving cycling facilities in the town centre.
However, business owners on Prince Albert Row have questioned how their stretch on Station Parade comes into the proposals, which they say are vague.
Prince Albert Row is the name the businesses have given themselves along this short stretch of Station Parade.
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A spokesman on behalf of Rigby & Peller, Helen James and Woods of Harrogate said:
“We are being asked for our views, but until we know what is actually being proposed for the entire length of Station Parade, including Prince Albert Row, we can’t make a reasoned judgement.
“The plans are incredibly vague. We’re not sure if the parking bays outside our businesses will stay or go, and we don’t know if this section of road will remain as two lanes or be reduced to a single carriageway.
“And to add insult to injury, the ‘Zone Two’ survey only covers Station Square and James Street. Those who designed this questionnaire need to go back to the drawing board and include this section.
“Our livelihoods are dependent on ease of access. Our businesses occupy Listed building in a Conservation Area, and we have regular need for deliveries, from flowers to furniture and heavy linens to kitchen appliances, fittings, televisions and hi-fis. Loading and unloading takes places throughout the day.
“Our customers also rely on the parking spaces outside our shops, and if they disappear, I’m afraid our customers may well go the same way.”
“A vibrant town centre is what we all want, one that is welcoming and accessible for all. And as more than 70 per cent of visitors to Harrogate arrive by car, we mustn’t turn our back on them.”
It comes after Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, Harrogate BID and Independent Harrogate questioned if the money could be better spent elsewhere.
The groups suggested East Parade and Cambridge Street as places they feel the money would be better spent.
However, Harrogate Borough Council has said the funding can only be spent improving the bus and train station area only and has to be focussed on transport-related activity.
Harrogate lingerie shop to closeThe Lingerie Room in Harrogate is to close this year.
Owner Nicola Silcock moved the business from Settle to its current site on Tower Street five years ago.
But she says the changing retail landscape has led her to shut up shop for good in July.
Ms Silcock plans to reopen in April when lockdown restrictions ease but only to sell the last of her remaining stock.
She said that despite having a loyal customer base, a reduction in footfall in Harrogate made the shop less financially viable.
She said:
“People are too busy and ordering shopping online is so easy.”
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The landlord of the building recently submitted a change of use application to Harrogate Borough Council to convert the shop into a home.
Ms Silcock was positive about the future of retail in Harrogate despite the ongoing challenges.
She added:
Harrogate diving club prepares to jump back in“I still believe Harrogate can sustain all the small businesses and you’ll always have smaller independent shops here. There’s entrepreneurial people out there.”
Harrogate District Diving Club is planning to resume training in April following this week’s government roadmap out of lockdown.
Outdoor pools and lidos can reopen from March 29.
Indoor pools can reopen for individual use or within household groups from April 12. Indoor children’s activities, including diving club sessions for under 18s, can also resume from this date.
But organised indoor adult sport, including diving, is not allowed to resume until May 17.
This means divers aged up to 18 will be jumping back into the pool from April 12.
Leanne Jalland, the club’s chair, said lockdown had highlighted the club’s mental health benefits and members were looking forward to returning.
She said:
“One of the most important things we have learnt from this pandemic as a club is how diving as a sport benefits both the mental and physical wellbeing of our divers.
“Therefore, we are keen to bring those benefits to others in our community and make diving accessible to all.”
The club hopes to introduce a disability diving squad in April.
It ran, in conjunction with Harrogate Borough Council, one of only two disability diving schemes in England but these haven’t taken place since March last year.
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The diving club is working with Brimhams Active, which is the new company brought in by the council to run leisure facilities, to ensure diving has a future in the district.
Mark Tweedie managing director of Brimhams Active said:
Harrogate business groups want Station Gateway cash spent elsewhere“We are working with our clubs to produce a long term development plan for aquatics.
“This plan will ensure we make the most of the opportunity presented by the multimillion pound council investments to improve the district’s leisure centres over the next three years.”
Three Harrogate business groups have come together to ask for some of the money set aside for cycle lanes on Station Parade to be spent elsewhere.
North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council launched a four-week public consultation on the Harrogate Gateway Project today.
The councils set out plans last week to pedestrianise James Street, build cycle lanes on Station Parade and improve cycling facilities in the town centre.
Under the government’s Transforming Cities Fund, the county council secured £7.8 million in ring-fenced funding.
Now that the public consultation has started, the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, Harrogate BID and Independent Harrogate have had their say.
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The groups suggested East Parade and Cambridge Street as places they feel the money would be better spent.
However, Harrogate Borough Council has said the funding can only be spent improving the bus and train station area only and has to be focussed on transport-related activity.
Sandra Doherty from the chamber, Robert Ogden from Independent Harrogate and Sara Ferguson from Harrogate BID said:
Staycation bookings ‘piling in’ for Harrogate district campsites“The challenge we are facing is how do we achieve a net-zero carbon town centre economy and simultaneously create a trading environment in which todays’ businesses can thrive?
“The Harrogate Gateway project gives us the opportunity to start the job of achieving this.
“While we welcome measures to reduce traffic congestion on Station Parade, we feel East Parade would be best placed for the new cycle lanes.
“We also believe that money would be better spent enhancing Cambridge Street, as this is very much the ‘gateway’ into Harrogate town centre from both the bus and railway stations.
“Also, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that previous studies have revealed that between 70 per cent and 80 per cent of visitors to Harrogate arrive here by car.
“Considering Harrogate’s role in Bicycling Touring Club, the Tour de France Grand Depart and the UCI World Cycling Championships, the town has somewhat lagged behind others.
“If this project is about making Harrogate accessible to more sustainable forms of transport, we particularly need to encourage visitors with electric and hybrid vehicles.”
Bookings have surged at Harrogate district campsites since the government’s ‘roadmap’ announcement, raising hopes of a staycation summer.
After almost 12 months of opening and closing, the campsites welcomed the clarity provided on Monday about when they could welcome holidaymakers once again.
When restrictions were lifted last summer, there was a staycation boom locally, with several campsites saying there had been an influx of people wishing to holiday closer to home.
They now hope for a repeat this year.
Marie Laverick manager of Woodhouse Farm caravan park, said the phone “has been ringing off the hook” since the announcement. She said:
“The phone hasn’t stopped, so many people are either booking their pitch or rearranging dates for the new restrictions.
“We are gutted about Easter; we lost it last year too and we’ll lose the first May bank holiday but it looks good going forward. We had 50 bookings overnight!”
Phil Brierley director of York House Leisure, which owns four holiday parks in North Yorkshire including sites in Boroughbridge and Ripon, said it was important for the industry to continue to be supported by government.
He said:
“We are very happy that there’s a plan in place and there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
“It’s great news but it’s bittersweet because the parks industry was originally shut down in March so this year will be the second Easter in a row that we have missed. We have effectively experienced a year-long winter so there’s an awful lot of ground to make up.
“We have certainly seen an increase in enquiries at our parks since the announcement. We would hope as an industry to see continued aid from the government, such as 5% VAT, extended business rate relief and the furlough scheme.”
Woodhouse Farm Caravan Park. Photograph: Facebook
The roadmap allows caravan parks to open on April 12 but without any facilities such as toilet blocks. On May 17 the sites can fully reopen.
Similarly in Great Ouseburn, Burrows Park has seen an increase in bookings. Co-owner Richard Kay said:
“Assuming the government roadmap targets for easing covid measures are met we will have a full opening on May 17. We look forward to welcoming back all our regular site users and to a very busy summer. We hope that the weather is with us and all our guests enjoy their time!”
Read more:
- North Yorkshire Police say it is preparing for “influx” of visitors once lockdown is eased.
- Harrogate businesses react to covid roadmap.
Richard Flinton, chair of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, said at the county’s weekly media briefing yesterday:
Lib Dem leader resigns from Harrogate climate coalition“We are optimistic in terms of what the future is for our hospitality sector. People can start booking and should enquire about refunds should they not be able to go ahead.
“This is a real opportunity for us. We do look forward to welcoming people back to our beautiful county.”
Pat Marsh, the leader of Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, has resigned from the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, accusing the group of being “plagued by inaction”.
HDCCC was set up by Harrogate Borough Council over a year ago to bring together local government, green groups and business.
HBC described the group as a “great leap forward” for the environment but the coalition has faced accusations from members over the past year that it is little more than a “talking shop”.
In a letter to Cllr Phil Ireland, HBC’s cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, Cllr Marsh said the group had not done enough to tackle climate change locally.
She also criticised the group for its “neutral” response to Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial application in the Pinewoods. She said:
“A climate coalition’ was never our preferred option. We were always concerned that it would be plagued by inaction. Nevertheless, I and others joined the committee to push for positive change from the inside.
“However, our initial fears have been proven correct and it’s clear that only by engaging with residents across the district – bringing them into the process – do we have any hope of tackling this crisis.
“Liberal Democrat campaigners and I will continue working with local residents for a greener district, fighting to declare a local climate emergency and for bold solutions.”
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The Lib Dems have long called for the council to declare a “climate emergency”, which has been rejected.
HDCCC has four subgroups, which meet several times a year to discuss issues such as sustainable transport, tree planting, renewable energy, recycling and communications.
The Stray Ferret approached HBC and HDCCC for comment but did not receive one by the time of publication.
Campaign against Oatlands one-way scheme ramps upA move to make Oatlands Drive one-way would have a “devastating effect” on students and make surrounding roads congested.
Residents and a student at St Aidan’s and St John Fisher’s Associated Sixth Form got in touch with the Stray Ferret to express their concerns about the scheme ahead of a consultation closing today.
It comes as a leaflet campaign was launched in the area which encouraged residents to send e-mails to local councillors, media and council officers objecting to the plan.
North Yorkshire County Council received £1,011,750 for cycling improvements and outlined three cycle route projects in Harrogate.
Highways bosses have launched a consultation into the plan which would make the street one-way southbound, limit the speed limit to 20mph and create a new segregated cycleway.
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In an e-mail to the Stray Ferret and his headteacher, Thomas Adamson, a year 12 student at St Aidan’s and St John FIsher’s Associated Sixth Form, said the move would have a “negative effect” on his learning and his journey to school.
Thomas, who travels to school from Wetherby, said it would add a further 20 minutes onto his bus journey as Wetherby Road was already “notoriously busy”.
He said:
“While I understand the motivation behind the one-way system, there are already usable bike lanes on Oatlands Drive and two wide pavements for pedestrians and I must think about my own future and the futures of those who must use public transport
“In conclusion, If you allow the building of this new one-way system, it will not only be a waste of public funds that could be used elsewhere to improve Wetherby Road or to provide technology for online learning to those less fortunate than I am, it also have an actively negative affect on my learning in a year that has already had so much disruption and yet is still pivotal for my future.”
Oatlands Drive, Harrogate.
Meanwhile, Philip and Julia Clarke, who live on Park Edge, told the Stray Ferret that they strongly object to the proposal as it would affect their journey to the town centre.
They said:
“In order to drive northwards from our home into Harrogate and beyond, we would have to turn right (southwards) at the end of our street and then find a route to travel north.
“To access businesses and facilities in the town centre or in the northerly part of the town and beyond, which we regularly do, would involve a more circuitous and longer journey.
“That would mean using Wetherby Road or Leeds Road, which would add to the congestion on those roads.”
However, cyclist groups have welcomed the scheme and said it was time that roads were shared with drivers.
Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate and District Cycle Action, told the Stray Ferret previously that the measures fit into a wider vision for the town.
He said:
“The main aim is to get people cycling for short journeys into the town centre. We hope to have segregate cycle lanes on all the arterial routes.
“Some think that we want the roads to be car free but we just want to be able to share the roads safely.
“Even the most experienced cyclists feel unsafe with big lorries passing them close by and would feel much safer with a segregated lane.”
Other schemes under consideration include:
- A59, Maple Close, Harrogate to Knaresborough: segregated cycle lanes along an existing cycle route and improved crossing facilities at either end;
- Victoria Avenue, Harrogate, Princes Square to Station Parade: pedestrian crossing improvements, segregated cycling infrastructure and bike storage facilities.
People can give their views on the projects here.
Harrogate mother crowdfunds £10,000 for breast reductionA Harrogate mother has crowdfunded money for breast reduction surgery after “suffering for years”.
Kelly Michaud only set up set a gofundme page five days ago and has since raised over £10,000.
Her aim was to raise the sum for private surgery but, after surpassing her target, she wants to use the extra cash to help campaign for breast reduction surgery to be more accessible.
Kelly’s fundraising page has gathered so much attention she has started working with an agency to handle all the media requests.
Ms Michaud, 26, only weighs 10 stone but has size 34H breasts, which have caused back and shoulder pain. Her bra has caused sores around her breasts.
She has received unwanted attention from a young age and had to change several outfits to avoid “showing them off”.
After years of being refused surgery on the NHS, and losing almost two stone in an effort to reduce the size of her breasts, she decided as a last resort to go private.
Ms Michaud says she can’t wait to have the operation, adding “It is going to have a huge impact on my life”.
She said she has been “blown away” by the response, not only by the amount raised but also by the number of women who have come forward with similar stories.
She said:
“I didn’t expect this, I didn’t think I would raise anything. It’s also helped to raise awareness for others, I want to help other women. I don’t think people understand the impact.”
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Ms Michaud hopes to reduce to a DD cup size but has yet to have a consultation. She says the reduction would change her life in so many ways and allow her to play with her children without feeling pain.
She added:
Harrogate district vaccine boost as over 50s prepare for jab“I have also set up a petition to campaign for breast reductions to be more accessible.
“I understand getting it fully on the NHS might not work but even just some financial support to cover it would help lots of women.”
The Harrogate district is to receive a vaccine boost this week, as inoculations are set to be rolled out to the over 50s.
A vaccination site in Knaresborough, which will be able to administer jabs to 1,000 people a week, is due to open in the town’s former Lidl on Saturday.
It means the district, which now has vaccination sites in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough, is on track to achieve the government target of offering all over 50s the jab by April 15.
The Knaresborough site is run by Homecare Pharmacy Services, which is based in the town.
Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said today it was likely other community pharmacies could start offering the vaccine in North Yorkshire as the rollout filters down to everyone over the age of 18 by the end of July.
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Speaking at a media briefing today. Ms Bloor said the Knaresborough site would administer 800 vaccines next week and had the capacity to give up to 1,000 jabs per week. She added:
Government to build 800 homes in Harrogate and Ripon“This is just part of the wider rollout across the country. I think it is likely other community pharmacies will start to come on stream.
“As of yesterday, North Yorkshire and York reached 249,000 first doses of the vaccines. So it’s significant progress and the teams are doing a fantastic job.
“We have moved further down the priority list, so we are working on the over 65s. There’s no need to contact your GP. You will be contacted directly.”
The government’s housing agency, Homes England, announced today it will build over 800 homes in Harrogate and Ripon after the previous developers pulled out.
Homes England said it has bought the 450-home Bluecoat Park site off Otley Road in Harrogate and the 390-home West Lane site in Ripon.
It said the two developments had stalled for various reasons, including the “associated enabling costs” and that their planning permissions were due to lapse imminently.
Homes England now has a major presence in the district: it is already working on a 1,300 scheme at Ripon Barracks and 200 homes at the former Police Training Centre site on Yew Tree Lane, Harrogate.
Bluecoat Park, Harrogate – 450 homes
In February 2016, Harrogate Borough Council granted planning permission to HTH Harrogate LLP to build the homes.
It followed an earlier refusal of permission on the grounds of road safety and traffic flow problems.
The site is off Otley Road, opposite Cardale Business Park and Harrogate Police Station.
The proposals included retail units, a new primary school and a village green.
However, the developer since put the site up for sale to potential developers.
With planning permission due to lapse, Homes England said the homes would not be built unless it stepped in. It plans to submit a new planning application later this year.
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West Lane, Ripon – 390 homes
In 2018, Harrogate Borough Council granted permission to Barratt Homes on appeal for the development.
It was previously rejected in 2017 for being a “substantial intrusion into the open countryside” and its impact on nearby Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey.
However, last summer Barratt Homes pulled out of the scheme.
The developer told The Stray Ferret that the decision was not related to the lockdown but in a year-end trading update, the company announced its revenue had fallen by 30% due to the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Fantastic news for Harrogate’
Both schemes are set to include 40% affordable housing, which Harrogate Borough Council asks developers to include in most developments.
Housing Minister Christopher Pincher said the acquisitions were “fantastic news” for the district.
“This is fantastic news for Harrogate and a realisation of this government’s mission to deliver quality, affordable homes, that are fit for future generations.”
Trevor Watson, director of economy and culture, Harrogate Borough Council, said:
“We welcome Homes England’s involvement in seeking to bring forward and unlock these stalled sites.
“They are important in helping to deliver our strategic objective to provide new homes that meet the needs of the district.”