ice rink Archives - The Stray Ferret

A week of floods, facial recognition cameras and ice rink meltdown

Welcome to a new weekly feature rounding up some of my favourite articles on the Stray Ferret each week.

We often publish more than a dozen stories a day and it’s easy to miss things. Hopefully this digest will give you the chance to catch up.

The Harrogate ice rink saga has been one of our best read stories of the week. The rink has been criticised for slushy ice, rusty skates and slow refunds. It’s difficult not to feel some sympathy because — ironically — a winter wonderland attraction has been somewhat undone by the northern winter, which has forced its closure rather too regularly.

The company running it said this week it won’t be back for Christmas 2024.

As editor, one of the questions I’m asked most is ‘when is the new Lidl opening in Ripon?’. It was granted planning permission in September 2021 and we have an update on one of the slowest moving but most popular local retail stories here.

We also have news of a fascinating dual enterprise by two sisters in the former Dangerfield & Keane salon on Cold Bath Road in Harrogate. Ever used a hyperbaric chamber?

It’s been a week of rain and flood. The Ford car stuck in the ford over the River Skell in Ripon has caused a bit of a ripple. It was still there yesterday. The weather may be improving but Boroughbridge rarely looks prettier than when the River Ure floods, as happened this week.

How do you feel about walking through Harrogate town centre and having facial recognition cameras matching your features to those of police suspects? It could happen if Conservative Keane Duncan is elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire this year. Read more here.

Who remembers Knaresborough’s new primary school? You’d be forgiven if you didn’t given that it was pledged nearly four years ago and not a jot of progress appears to have happened. We got an update this week.

The week ahead should see Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones appear before the Liberal Democrat-controlled area constituency committee of North Yorkshire Council. It could be tetchy.

Enjoy the site. If you have a view on any of our articles, or indeed anything else that’s bugging you about life in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, do email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will consider it for publication in our Stray Views letters page.

And if you don’t already, sign up to our new look daily bulletins for a round-up of the news every evening in your inbox. Click on the link below.

River Nidd bursts its banks as Storm Gerrit hits Harrogate district

A Met Office weather warning for rain and strong winds was active in the Harrogate district from 3am to 6pm today. Here’s a look back at how the weather affected the district.

5.26pm: Flood alert issued for River Ure

Until today, all the local flood alerts were for areas alongside the River Nidd. But at 4.48pm this afternoon the Environment Agency issued one for the lower River Ure. The alert is for a wide area, including Ripon. It says:

“Areas most at risk include low-lying land including agricultural land and local roads in the areas around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton.”

5.10pm: Harrogate trains affected by flooding at Horsforth

Rail operator Northern has announced rail replacement transport on Harrogate services due to flooding at Horsforth. It posted the following information on X:

Further rail replacement transport has been sourced:

17:00 Harrogate – Leeds (York Pullman)

17:40 Harrogate – Leeds (J&B)

18:40 Harrogate – Leeds (J&B)

19:00 Leeds – Harrogate ( York Pullman)

4.37pm: It’s go for Glow at Harlow Carr

The Royal Horticultural Society has posted on social media that its Glow event at its Harlow Carr gardens is going ahead. The charity said:

“RHS Glow is going ahead tonight. Sorry for the uncertainty the weather has been causing us! But following Met Office advice, we understand the weather is due to clear so Glow can proceed.”

3.54pm: Strong wind alert

The Met Office weather warning for rain is due to end at 6pm today. At precisely the same time, a separate warning will become active for winds.

Gusts of up to 45 mph are forecast locally overnight. The wind warning is active until 3am tomorrow.

3.06pm: Council issues flood advice amid road closures

How are the roads looking where you are? An awful lot of rain has fallen — do let us know by emailing information and photos from where you are to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk so we can update this live blog.

North Yorkshire Council has posted on social media that the A684 between Aysgarth and Worton and Bruntacres Road at Hawes have been closed due to rising river levels. Neither is particularly close to the Harrogate district but the council has nevertheless urged anyone worried about the storm to get information on issues such as requesting sandbags and protecting your home to visit here.

2.35pm: Nidd bursts banks at Knaresborough

The Nidd at Knaresborough. Pic: Andrew Pinder

Andrew Pinder took this photo by the footbridge over the Nidd, looking upstream, in Nidd Gorge. Mr Pinder said:

“Whilst the Nidd appears to have burst its banks, on Waterside it was still contained. When the photo was taken, the level was about 1.2 metres above normal.”

1.39pm: New flood alerts issued

The Environment Agency has added flood warnings on the middle and lower reaches of the Nidd to go with the one already in place on the upper Nidd.

The middle Nidd flood alert area includes land around the middle Nidd and its tributaries including Thornton Beck, Newton Beck, Oak Beck, Cow Dyke Beck, Bilton Beck, Frogmire Dike and Syke Dike.

The yellow lines indicate the areas at risk of flooding alongside the Nidd.

The lower Nidd alert says area includes land around the lower River Nidd and its tributaries including Sand Beck, Sike Beck, Pool Beck and Great Gutter.

11.10am: RHS expects Glow event to go ahead tonight

RHS Garden Harlow Carr has posted on social media to say:

“The garden is open as usual today, and we expect our Glow event can go ahead tonight. We are nevertheless keeping a close eye on the weather, so please check back in case anything changes.”

9.56am: Flood alert issued for Crimple Valley

A second flood has been issued locally by the Environment Agency. This time it is for the River Crimple, The areas most at risk include land around the River Crimple and its tributaries, including Horn Beck, Clark Beck, Hookstone Beck, Rud Beck, Toad Hole Beck and Park Beck.

An Environment Agency map showing the area at risk of flooding.

The alert says:

“Flooding is possible from 11:30am on Wednesday. Further rainfall is forecast over the next few days. We are monitoring rainfall and river levels and are checking rivers for blockages in the area.”

7.52am: River Nidd flood alert

A flood alert has been issued for the upper River Nidd catchment area as Storm Gerrit hits the Harrogate district.

At 7.01am this morning, the Environment Agency issued its first flood alert for the district.

It said flooding is possible on land around the upper River Nidd and its tributaries, including How Stean Beck, Blayshaw Gill, Ramsgill Beck, Lul Beck, Foster Beck, Fosse Gill, Fell Beck and Darley Beck in the Pateley Bridge area of Nidderdale.

An Environment Agency map of the area at risk of flooding.

The alert added:

“Further rainfall is forecast over the next few days and into the weekend. Please avoid using low-lying footpaths near local watercourses and do not walk or drive through floodwater. Please consider putting your flood plan into action.”

The ice rink in Harrogate announced on social media it will once again be closed for the day due for the day.

We will bring any further storm updates throughout the day.

Harrogate ice rink closes as wind brings more disruption

Today’s strong winds are having an impact on local attractions on Christmas Eve.

The ice rink at Crescent Gardens in Harrogate announced on social media it would be closed for the second time in recent days due to wind.

It said:

“Due to the Met Office yellow warning for today being wind gusts up to 61mph, it will be unsafe conditions to ice skate.

“It is with great regret that we have therefore made the difficult decision to close the ice rink for Christmas Eve.

“We plan to reopen the ice rink as usual on Boxing Day but please keep an eye on our social media.”

RHS Garden Harlow Carr has also closed due to the weather. It posted on social media:

“Unfortunately due to the forecast of strong winds, the garden will be closed all day on Christmas Eve. Betty’s will be open from 8am and the garden centre (except the glasshouse) will be open as usual.”

Mother Shipton’s in Knaresborough has said it will be closing slightly earlier than scheduled on Christmas Eve due to the weather warning.

A yellow weather warning is in place with gusts of up to 66mph forecast in the Harrogate district.

Harrogate ice rink installation gets underway

Work to install the Harrogate Ice Rink in Crescent Gardens is underway ahead of its return for the festive period.

Crescent Gardens has been fenced off to prepare the site for its opening in 10 days.

The rink, which debuted last year, was set up by Events by Cynosure in collaboration with Destination Harrogate – the North Yorkshire Council tourism organisation.

Events by Cynosure has a three-year deal to operate the rink as part of the Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which will also be returning next week.

This year, there will also be an outdoor bar, food stalls and a tipi with an indoor seating area.

A carousel, bungee trampolines, a frozen swing and game stalls will also be on offer for children to enjoy.

The ice rink will run daily from Friday December 1, to Sunday, January 7 2024.

Skating costs £10 per person for a one-hour session and bookings can be made now.

Christmas market on Harrogate’s Montpellier Hill bids to return this year

The original Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill could be set to make a comeback this year.

Brian Dunsby, co-organiser and founder of Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd, confirmed it had submitted an event management plan to North Yorkshire Council to stage the event from November 2 to 5.

The event was held annually from 2012 to 2019 until it was halted by covid.

Harrogate Borough Council then scuppered its prospects of returning by refusing to grant a licence and organising its own town centre Harrogate Christmas Fayre in conjunction with Market Place Europe, a specialist market company based in Greater Manchester.

But Harrogate Borough Council was abolished last weekend, with the new North Yorkshire Council taking its place.

The original Christmas market, which was organised by local people, had 170 traders and 53 coaches booked to attend in 2021 when the rug was pulled from under its feet.

By contrast, last year’s town centre fayre only had about 50 stalls, and some people have said there were too many food outlets and not enough craft stalls.

The fayre was accompanied by a giant Ferris wheel near the war memorial, an ice rink in Crescent Gardens and the Candy Cane Express free road train, which were popular with many visitors.

Some people welcomed the decision to hold the event in town rather than on the muddy Stray. Others said the new event lacks charm compared to Montpellier Hill.

Destination Harrogate, a tourism organisation within North Yorkshire Council, issued a press release yesterday saying this year’s fayre would be extended from 10 days to 18 and run from December 1 to 17.

Because the dates for the seasonal events do not clash, there is the possibility that both could take place this Christmas.

Mr Dunsby declined to comment beyond confirming Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd had submitted its event management plan for what he hoped would be a similar event on Montpellier Hill to those staged up to 2019.

Too many food stalls?

Yesterday’s news release by Destination Harrogate announcing this year’s market extension did not mention North Yorkshire Council.

The Stray Ferret asked Destination Harrogate who was in charge of the market now Harrogate Borough Council no longer existed, who authorised the fayre extension and what response it had to claims that last year’s event had too many food stalls.

It said in a statement:

“The Harrogate Christmas Fayre has always been an event owned and operated by Market Place Europe and Destination Harrogate will continue to support them at a local level.

“The decision (to extend) was based on feedback from many of the town centre retailers, hoteliers and hospitality businesses, following the impact that the market made on their December trading. After taking on board the feedback from those sectors in particular, and following discussion with Market Place Europe, we’ve been able to agree the addition of the extra week and weekend.

“The market is open to any trader that wishes to apply to have a stall. We would actively encourage any local traders that would like to be part of the Christmas fayre to apply – as we have done since the new event was introduced in 2021. The variety and volume of stalls are dependent upon those traders that come forward and want to take the opportunity to be involved.”

Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens to get £21,000 makeover and new name

Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens is set to be re-landscaped and re-named The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Garden.

Harrogate Borough Council wants to spend £21,000 redesigning the space so it can hold more events.

Three yew trees and rose and shrub beds would be relocated as part of the scheme. Commemorative plaques within the rose beds would also be moved to new beds on the site.

A report by Kirsty Stewart, the council’s parks and grounds maintenance manager, said work “will need to be undertaken to return the grounds to their current state” after Crescent Gardens hosted an ice rink and funfair in December and January.

The report adds:

“We would like to take the opportunity to upgrade the area to enable better accommodation of future events with less disruption to the planting in this area.”

It added a three-year licence for the Christmas ice rink and funfair on the site “will generate a minimum income of £37,500 per year… with some of this being available to be reinvested in the space to make necessary changes and improvements”.

The area will be re-landscaped so it can host more events.

The council, which will be abolished at the end of next month, announced yesterday it had renamed its leisure centres in Pateley Bridge, Harrogate and Knaresborough. Now it intends to rename the land outside its former municipal offices.

It plans to create a new central rose bed across the whole of the sloped area and install a metal arch/tunnel adorned with climbing roses across the main footpath leading to the central structure.

The report, which will be discussed by councillors on Tuesday next week, puts the cost of the work at £21,000 but added “pricing is subject to change depending on the increase in steel/materials costs over the next few months”.

Engagement with plaque owners will be undertaken “where possible before works commence”, it adds.

Crescent Gardens was last redesigned following the 1990 Gateshead Garden Festival, when the central glass structure erected.

Over the last 10 to 15 years, it has hosted the Spiegeltent, organised by Harrogate International Festivals, the mayor’s carol concert, church events, and more recently artisan markets and the ice rink and fun fair.

Councillors will also discuss plans to refurbish Bebra Gardens in Knaresborough and the paddling pools in Ripon at the same meeting next week.

However, a report outlining the details of these schemes has been classified as exempt from the public.

Harrogate ice rink to return again this Christmas

The company behind Harrogate’s Christmas ice rink has said it was “very happy” with how it went and plans to return for at least the next two years.

Events by Cynosure transformed Crescent Gardens into a festive treat, installing the ice rink and a host of fairground attractions, including a carousel.

The ice rink, which operated for a month, was one of the highlights of Harrogate’s Christmas offering, which also included a ferris wheel, a market and the Candy Cane Express free road train.

Harrogate Borough Council tourism organisation Destination Harrogate organised the activities in partnership with Events by Cynosure, Harrogate Business Improvement District and events company Market Place Europe as part of a bid to attract more Christmas visitors.

John Lowery, director of Events by Cynosure, told the Stray Ferret it had a three-year deal to operate the ice rink in Harrogate.

Mr Lowery said the ice rink attracted about 15,000 bookings and although he was pleased overall there was room for improvement.

He said the main improvement would be to extend the length of the 10-day market, which ended before mid-December:

“When the market ended it did go quieter. A lot of traders said the same thing. I’d like to see the market there right up until Christmas.

Mr Lowery also said he wanted the Crescent Gardens site to include a Santa’s grotto and better bar facilities.

He said:

“Our intention is to make Harrogate a destination for people to go at Christmas so they spend money in town and restaurants.

“We’ve learned more about the site and the flow of people and how Harrogate works. Between Christmas and the new year was a lot quieter than I expected.”

Last chance to visit Harrogate’s ice rink and ferris wheel

The ice rink, carousel and ferris wheel that have become key features of Harrogate town centre over the last month are set to close.

Harrogate Borough Council introduced the attractions to attract local people and tourists to the area over the festive season.

The Christmas offering began on December 2 with the opening of Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which consisted of about 50 market stalls in town centre streets, along with the ice rink, carousel and 32-metre ferris wheel.

The fayre and the free candy cane express road train, which transported people around town, lasted 10 days.

Since then the festive feel has continued with the ice rink, carousel and other fairground rides at Crescent Gardens and the ferris wheel in the very centre of town alongside the war memorial.

The ferris wheel is due to make its last rotation at 5pm tonight. The attractions at Crescent Gardens will end tomorrow.

The council organised the activities in partnership with events company Market Place Europe, Harrogate Business Improvement District and Events By Cynosure.

Details of the costs and impact on the local economy have yet to be released.

Harrogate’s cracking Christmas rolls on with ice rink and Ferris wheel fun

This story is sponsored by Events by Cynosure.

Harrogate’s incredible Christmas offering is here to stay until the new year with plenty of festive fun to be had at the incredible Ferris wheel, ice rink, traditional carousel and more.

All of these showstopping attractions are new for Harrogate and will be here until January 3 – so now’s the time to get your skates on!

The giant, illuminated Ferris wheel is in a great location, right in the centre of town.

At its peak of 32-metres, the Ferris wheel offers spectacular views both in the day but also at night with the town centre dressed up for the festive season.

The Christmas Fayre wheel in Harrogate town centre.

The giant wheel is a great way to experience the town from above.

There’s no need to book ahead for the Ferris wheel so just turn up when you’re ready to experience Harrogate from above.

A true fairground feeling

The fairground feeling at Crescent Gardens is not to be missed either, especially at night when the festoon lighting switches on.

With a traditional carousel, ice rink, fairground rides for children and an aprés ski bar for adults – there’s certainly something at Crescent Gardens for everyone.

The traditional carousel looks the part.

Sessions at the ice rink are 60 minutes, so there’s plenty of time to find your feet and make the most of the experience.

It’s perfect for families, dates, catching up with friends, Christmas parties with a twist or those wanting to learn with the skate school.

John Lowery, Director of Events by Cynosure, said:

“We have been very pleased with the attendance from all over the country this Christmas.

“We are looking forward to seeing more visit us before we close on January 3, 2023. We are even open on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day so there are plenty of chances to enjoy this magical experience.

“This is the first year of a three year contract and we already have some amazing plans for 2023 Christmas.”

Book ahead for the ice rink and secure your timeslot by clicking or tapping here.

Get your skates on! Harrogate Christmas festivities get underway

The first skaters took to the ice and the giant Ferris wheel wheel began turning as Harrogate’s Christmas festivities got underway.

Fog lifted at noon just in time for people to get a great view of the festivities, including the 50 market stalls, ice rink and more from the top of the 32-metre Ferris wheel.

The Christmas Fayre is running with the Candy Cane Express road train from today until December 11 but many of the rides including the ice rink, ferris wheel and carousel will stay in the town centre until January 3.

Read our comprehensive guide to Harrogate’s Christmas fun here. Check out our gallery from this morning for a taste of the fun: