Horrible Histories is heading to Harrogate in April for a car park show at the Yorkshire Event Centre.

The centre, which is based at the Great Yorkshire Showground, will host Barmy Britain shows at 2pm and 5pm on April 3.

The event will also take place at Harewood House on April 5 at 11am.

It will feature the stories of Queen Boudica, King Henry VIII, Guy Fawkes, Dick Turpin, Queen Victoria and more.

Read more:

• Stray bollard planned for Beech Grove road closure
• ‘Road map’ to reopening raises hopes of district revival

Families sitting in cars will be able to watch actors on stage and on a large screen while listening on their radios.

The audience can get involved by honking horns, flashing lights and turning on their wipers.

Neal Foster, actor and director at Birmingham Stage Company, said:

“I’m over the moon to be back on tour with Barmy Britain after its hugely successful tour last summer.

“It’s weird and wonderful to be performing in car parks and to see the audience having fun behind their windshields. We can’t wait to get back out there.”

The Birmingham Stage Company has produced 18 different Horrible Histories shows and taken them around the world.

Tickets are available here for the Harrogate and Leeds shows and cost £42.50 per car or £62 per car on the front row.

A Harrogate care home resident, who turns 105-years-old this week, has celebrated by opening visiting pods.

Molly Robinson lives at The Gatehouse Residential Care Home and was guest of honour at today’s unveiling.

The care home has previously only been able to allow video calls and window visits, so it has seen plenty of demand for the pods.

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Care home manager Adam Carling told the Stray Ferret:

“This allows us to have those visits in person again. The impact on wellbeing is what we need.

“It’s lovely and warm, comfortable and accessible. It is easy to have those meaningful conversations in here.”

When asked what Molly’s secret was to a long life, she said: “I’m not telling him.”

Harrogate Borough Council has been accused of jeopardising wildlife by severely pruning a hedgerow this morning.

Neil Hind, a local resident, told the Stray Ferret the council’s decision to “dramatically reduce” the height of the hedgerow on Nursery Lane, Harlow Hill could have a negative impact on wildlife.

Mr Hind, who said the hedges were previously well-managed by local charity Horticap, said it also raised questions about the council’s green credentials.

The RSPB recommends avoiding hedge cutting during the main breeding season for nesting birds, which usually runs from March to August each year.

But the depth of the reduction, so close to the breeding season, has caused concern.

Mr Hind said:

“Whilst appreciating this is the council’s prerogative it has an obvious negative impact on the biodiversity of the area adjacent to the Pinewoods.

“It is difficult to see how such decisions match the council’s ambitious to be a green authority as well as incurring unnecessary costs for the Harrogate taxpayer.”

The Harlow Hill Tower Twitter account also expressed concern.

Wow! More evidence of our green & conservation focused @Harrogatebc cutting a mature hedge.

Hedge a home to many birds and key to biodiversity?#Harrogate #conversation pic.twitter.com/SWEmdthue5

— Harlow Hill Tower (@HarlowHillTower) February 22, 2021

But one reply defended the council, saying severe hedge pruning at this time of year was common.

Read more:

• Harrogate has ‘much more to do on climate change’
• Twelve more weeks of road closures for Harlow Hill

A council spokesman said:

“We carry out maintenance like this to keep things looking smart across the borough during the winter period before the nesting season begins.

“As people on Twitter are saying – farmers do the same with their hedgerows but they use much bigger machinery.”

Retailers are hoping a new way of life could be on the horizon as they await the Prime Minister’s plans for easing lockdown.

Independent business owners in the Harrogate district say support for them over the last year has been heartwarming – and they hope it will lead to a revival in their fortunes after covid.

Among those eagerly waiting for Boris Johnson to reveal his plans this evening are traders on Harrogate’s Commercial Street. Sue Kramer, who runs Crown Jewellers with her husband, said:

“We want to get back to business so people can come to real shops and deal with real people.

“I hope people will fall back in love with going to little streets like ours and that sense of community and knowing the people in the shops they use.

“I hope it will go back to how it used to be, years ago.”

Though the last year has been tough for retail, the businesses on Commercial Street have come closer together than ever before and are working on plans to increase footfall over the coming months.

Read more:

• Third lockdown threatens Knaresborough retail revival
• Harrogate theatre boss hopes for covid clarity on Monday

Similarly, Knaresborough had been enjoying a rise in its fortunes before the coronavirus crisis hit: it currently has just six empty shops, compared to 16 two years ago.

Steve Teggin, president of the town’s chamber of trade, said he hoped businesses would be able to reopen in time to allow the newest to find their feet properly after months of uncertainty.

“The government has helped to keep them limping along, but we really need to be able to open again now.

“We don’t want another lockdown after this, so it has to be right, but in this area particularly the vaccine system has gone as smooth as silk, so hopefully Boris will safely get us back open.”

Retailers in Knaresborough hope reopening will run smoothly

While a sector-specific reopening plan could be announced, Mr Teggin said he hoped there would not be too much delay between different businesses being allowed to return to trading. A barber himself, he said many customers come into town for haircuts and go on to use other shops, so having as much open as possible will deliver the most trade for all businesses.

His view was backed up by Kala Timson, who runs children’s shoe shop Stomp in the market place. She said the business’s third lockdown had been quieter, as customers awaited warmer weather and shops reopening, but she was hopeful of a boost in trade when the doors are opened again.

“Last time, the kids wanted to come back in and see us, and the parents were saying ‘we haven’t spoken to anyone for so long!’. It’s almost a novelty to be out and browsing, so we’ll have to have appointments again to limit the number of people in the shop.

“We’ve got things set up well for click and collect at the moment, and we can get the shop open again when we’re allowed. What we don’t want to do is come out of lockdown too early and find we have to close again.”

Mrs Kramer agreed, adding:

“I just hope it’s a well thought-out plan that takes into account businesses’ needs, but also the fact that we don’t want to end up in lockdown again.

“You wouldn’t have thought a year ago that we’d still be here, being locked down again. We don’t want to keep having this situation.”

International charity Friends of the Earth says the Harrogate district has much more to do to tackle climate change.

Using data from December 2020, the charity analysed how different local authority areas across England and Wales are taking action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

It found that Harrogate is falling behind other areas when it comes to green transport, renewable energy, and housing emissions.

‘Shocking waste of energy’

Friends of the Earth’s research found 31% of homes are well insulated in Harrogate which it said represents “a shocking and avoidable waste” of energy.

Currently, Harrogate produces 66,048 megawatt hours of renewable energy per year but the charity says at least seven times this amount is needed.

Regarding transport, it suggested that 23% of commuter journeys could be taken on a bicycle every day, yet only 2% are at the moment.

York performed much better where 12% of commuters cycle to work.

Rod Beardshall, transport lead for Zero Carbon Harrogate said the research shows that North Yorkshire County Council should “accept the scale” of climate change and invest in better cycling infrastructure for the district.

NYCC has been in the eye of the storm this week in over its six-month closure of Beech Grove, which provoked a fierce debate around the future of transport in Harrogate.

Read more:

• Is Harrogate big enough for two major climate coalitions?
• Harrogate coalition seeking views on tackling climate change

Harrogate fared better with waste. The research found the district reuses, recycles and composts 41% of its household waste, slightly higher than Leeds on 39% and Scarborough on 36%.

However, the charity says the figure needs to be closer to 70% if it’s to make a meaningful difference.

Whilst the charity said Harrogate has made average progress in tackling climate change it said there is potential to create over 3,000 local green jobs in areas such as heat pumps, insulation, and renewable energy.

Kirsty Hallett from the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition welcomed the data and said it provides meaningful evidence on what needs to be prioritised in the district’s battle to improve the environment.

Climate breakdown

The government has a target for the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.

Friends of the Earth says to avoid “climate breakdown” we need to make deep cuts in emissions by 2030.

Researchers at the Tyndall Centre have published a detailed carbon report for every local authority and say that Harrogate should reduce its emissions by at least 13% per year.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said itself, North Yorkshire County Council, and individuals, all have a part to play in cutting emissions.

They said:

“The latest figures show the Harrogate district has had a 29% reduction per person in CO₂ emissions over the past ten years which is positive news.

“However, we have ambitious targets and have agreed a package of measures that form part our climate reduction strategy. This strategy outlines an action plan for a number of priorities with an overall vision of having net-zero carbon emissions by 2038.

“The most effective projects for achieving our ambitious targets are not going to happen overnight but we are committed to working hard to we implement the right measures in the best way possible.”

Stray 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. 

Oatlands one-way system will cause havoc

Thoughtless Implementation

I live on Beech Grove and feel the need to redress the apparent balance of opinion on the new traffic scheme. It is not yet clear whether it will be an eventual benefit as it awaits the link to the cycleways on Otley Road, which are later this year. So patience is required for now.

However, it has been the most thoughtless implementation imaginable. The signs are completely inadequate to inform the motorists of the change so it is almost inevitable that drivers will come up against the barriers. It would have been so easy to display reasonable size signs in good time, but no, it has been implemented as a motorist trap. It would also have helped if there was a partial barrier at the town end of Beech Grove, outside Wentworth Court, being a clear indicator that entry was for residents and parking only.

Whoever has done this should show a little respect for road users.

Chris Graville, Harrogate

Bewerley Park changes lives – we must preserve it

Harrogate schools have shone during covid crisis

As we possibly move closer to a phased reopening of schools, a word of praise and gratitude for our local schools and their excellent staff: the state primary and secondary schools attended by my daughters in years 3 and 7 have done a truly marvellous job of providing user-friendly, well structured online education to pupils during lockdown, honing their provision during this latest period of restriction to a fine art.

They even set up a laptop and tablet donation scheme when the government’s promise to provide these where needed fell short of the mark.

The schools’ exemplary efforts in such testing times show up Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s premature encouragement to parents to report inadequate online provision for what it is: an act of petty, ideologically driven malice.

Glyn Hambrook, Harrogate

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 Harrogate-based digital company has launched a 3D interactive website of the high street to boost online sales.

Xpansive Digital has set up a website offering customers a 3D virtual tour and the option to make a purchase all from their favourite shops from the comfort of their couch.

The website, HighStreet Revolution, will include high street retailers, large and small, and eventually larger names too.

Unlike other online platforms, Justyn Shea, director of Xpansive Digital, says his website takes people into the shops they love without leaving home with a 3D tour.

Mr Shea is launching the pilot scheme with Harrogate businesses only but has hopes to take it national.

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Mr Shea said:

“Lockdown instigated the project, so many traders have gone online purely to keep themselves going. For those businesses local to us we are happy to do it free of charge. Hopefully it’ll give them a little stepping stone for more online sales.”

The website is reaching out to Harrogate businesses to get involved and have their shops incorporated into the 3D model.

A Harrogate cycling group which consults with local councils believes that it is time for cars to start sharing the road with cyclists more.

The Harrogate and District Cycle Action (HDCA) comments come ahead of another proposed shakeup of the town centre to encourage cycling and walking.

North Yorkshire County Council will launch a consultation on Monday into its “gateway” project, which includes James Street and Station Parade.

The comments also come in the week that debate raged on about the closure of Beech Grove and proposals to make Oatlands Drive one way.

The Stray Ferret has seen record numbers of comments about these stories on our social media posts this week, in which people seem to be increasingly polarised.

Some local residents came out against the schemes because, they said, it would reduce access and choice for them. But others welcomed the news.

Read more:

• Cars could make way for cyclists on another Harrogate road
• Cars drive over Stray to avoid Harrogate road closure

Contrary to claims that the road closures appear random, the Harrogate and District Cycle Action (HDCA) group said that they all play into a wider vision for the town.

Kevin Douglas, chair of the HDCA, told the Stray Ferret:

“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.

“There has not been any new cycling infrastructure built here since 2015 so it’s not like we have been dominating.

“Housing developers should also think about cycling routes. They build roads for cars but don’t seem to consider bikes, it’s nonsense.

“There are lots of new homes going up in Killinghall and there’s the greenway nearby. It would make sense to connect the village to that existing route.”

Mr Douglas, when asked about demand for all these new cycling routes, pointed to North Yorkshire County Council’s congestion survey in 2019.

That survey, answered by 14,000 people, found that 77% would use improved cycling and walking infrastructure if it was built.

A traffic marshal at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Harrogate has been jailed after she was caught selling cocaine and ketamine on the side.

Ripon woman Monique Shiels, 25, was marshalling at the world championships when police responded to a tip-off and caught her red-handed.

When confronted by officers, Shiels said: “Who was it who dobbed me in?”

Prosecutor Matthew Collins told York Crown Court:

“Information had been received by police…that this defendant was dealing drugs whilst working as a traffic marshal for (the) UCI Cycling World Championships in Harrogate.

“Police (turned up at) the location where she was reported to be and found her standing near her vehicle. Her first response to officers was, ‘Who was it who dobbed me in?’”.

Officers found £333 cash on Shiels, as well as a “quantity of orange tablets and some powdered substance” in a black bag she was carrying.

They searched her car – which she used for traffic marshalling during the event – and found digital weighing scales and a mobile phone with text messages sent between Shiels and her customers discussing deals and amounts.

The drugs stash found inside the vehicle included about 8g of cocaine and 10g of ketamine, but Mr Collins said this was just a snapshot of Shiels’s drug-dealing activities, which text messages proved had been going on “for some length of time”.

Selling drugs as crowds gathered

The court heard that Shiels had been selling drugs as crowds gathered for the 92nd UCI World Championships, whose elite competitors vying for the champion’s jersey included Denmark’s Mads Pedersen, time-trial world champion Rohan Dennis and Holland’s Annemiek van Vleuten.

Shiels was arrested on the fourth day of the week-long event.

Mr Collins said Shiels had only been charged in relation to the drugs found on her at the time, which judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, described as “bad prosecuting by the CPS”.

Shiels, of Water Skellgate, Ripon, was taken in for questioning following her arrest on September 25, 2019, but refused to answer police questions.She was charged with possessing cocaine, a Class A drug, and Class B ketamine, with intent to supply. She admitted both charges and appeared for sentence on Thursday.

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• Arrests soar as ‘county lines’ investigations continue
• UCI Championship organisers to pay £35,500 towards Stray repair costs

The court heard that Shiels had nine previous convictions for offences including violence, breaching court orders and possessing MDMA, an Ecstasy-type drug.
During conversations with the Probation Service following her arrest for the drug-supply offences in Harrogate, Shiels said she didn’t see anything wrong with dealing drugs.

Self-confessed drug user

Andrew Petterson, mitigating, said that Shiels, who worked as a sales adviser for a TV dealership, was a self-confessed drug user.

“Clearly, she is one of the misguided individuals in society that doesn’t see (drug-dealing) as a problem,” he added.

Judge Mr Morris told Shiels: “These courts hear stories of (drug-related) robberies and muggings and fights, burglaries, all to pay people like you…and that’s why you are going to prison.”

He said her offences were so serious and her previous breaches of community orders so many that anything other than an immediate prison sentence was out of the question.

Shiels was jailed for two years – a much-reduced sentence due to the delay in the case reaching the courts and the current covid pandemic that had affected living conditions in prisons.

The judge also ordered the confiscation of Shiels’s vehicle and made her pay a statutory surcharge.

A Harrogate conservative councillor has suggested a rail station could be built near Claro Road to ease the town’s congestion problems.

Paul Haslam, who lives in Bilton and represents the area on both North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate District Council, is gathering support for the idea.

He thinks a station could be built near the footbridge at Dragon Junction between Harrogate and Starbeck stations on the Leeds to York line.

He told the Stray Ferret the station would be a “win-win” for Harrogate because it could reduce traffic congestion on Skipton Road, improve links to the Claro Court Business Centre and improve the quality of life for local residents.

He said it would also promote cycling because of its proximity to the Nidderdale Greenway.

Cllr Haslam said:

“I am convinced this would make significant inroads to congestion on Skipton Road, our quality of air, our reduction in CO2 emissions and most importantly the quality of life to those who live in this area.

“It should also improve links to the business park and therefore help local prosperity and jobs. Adding a supermarket would also add jobs whilst improving the facilities in the area.”

Read more:

• £9.8m upgrade of Knaresborough to Poppleton rail route complete
• Harrogate railway station newsagent to close

Cllr Haslam said he has had conversations about the idea with North Yorkshire County Council, which would need to undertake a feasibility study to determine costs.

The government is keen to open new rail stations and last year awarded funding to help bring back ‘forgotten’ stations axed in the Beeching cuts during the 1960s.

A new rail station opened in Wales earlier this week at an estimated cost of £8 million, but it took over 11 years to develop the plans.

The latest station to open in the Harrogate district was Hornbeam Park in 1992, which was used by 400,000 passengers in 2019/20 and is a popular stop for commuters and visitors.

Don Mackenzie, executive member for highways at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret he supported the idea of a Claro Road station.

However, he said that due to a lack of funding the chances of it being built were slim, and that any final decision would be made by Network Rail.

He added:

“Just as I supported Hornbeam Park 30 years ago I would be supportive of this, but I can’t see it happening any time soon.”