Killinghall roadwork misery set to continue for extra week

Roadworks at the junction of Otley Road and Ripon Road in Killinghall are to continue for an extra week.

Long queues either side of the village have been a regular site since temporary traffic lights were installed on Monday.

Northern Powergrid wrote to nearby residents before the scheme began saying work would last 10 days until Friday 4 while it excavated a trench and laid cables beneath the pavement outside the Tesco being built on Ripon Road.

But residents have not been informed of further work due to take place from February 7 to 11.

According to the North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map, broadband and water works will begin once the current work has ended.

The work by Openreach and Yorkshire Water will again involve three-way traffic lights, which are likely to cause more delays to motorists.


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A spokesperson for Openreach said:

“We have some minor works taking place between 7 and 9 February. This is to lay around 30 metres of underground ducting. To enable our engineers to work safely, we will require temporary traffic lights.

“We will work as quickly as we can do and make every attempt to co-ordinate the timing of our work with other companies to keep disruption to a minimum.”

Traffic in Killinghall this week has been described as “chaos”, with tailbacks of up to two miles reported during rush hours.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Bus delays due to Killinghall temporary lights issues

The Harrogate Bus Company has revealed that its 36 service will be delayed this morning due to issues with the temporary lights in Killinghall.

Long queues either side of the village have been a regular sight since temporary traffic lights were installed on Monday but particularly from Ripley heading south.

Northern Powergrid is laying cable for an electric vehicle charger outside the new Tesco Express.

Three-way traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Otley Road. Buses and lorries are unable to turn in and out of Otley Road from Ripon Road.

That work was due to last until February 4. But residents say they had not been informed of further works due to take place from February 7 to 11.


The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.

We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.

The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Heavy Killinghall traffic on fourth day of works

There are miles of tailbacks around Killinghall this morning, particularly for drivers heading southbound, on the fourth day of construction works.

Northern Powergrid is laying cable for an electric vehicle charger outside the new Tesco Express.

Three-way traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Otley Road. Buses and lorries are unable to turn in and out of Otley Road from Ripon Road.


The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.

We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.

The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.

Killinghall pet shop issues appeal to dog owners over mystery virus

Pharmall Country Store in Killinghall has urged dog owners not to bring their pets into the shop due to a mystery virus.

There have been widespread reports of vomiting and diarrhoea affecting dogs across Yorkshire, including in Harrogate, in recent weeks.

The shop on Otley Road, which sells pet food and animal supplies, posted on its Facebook page yesterday that it has made the decision to reduce the chance of the virus spreading.

It said:

“Due to the amount of cases of sickness and diarrhoea in dogs in our local area at the moment, we ask that you don’t bring your dogs into the shop.

“We don’t want any of your doggies getting poorly!

“As you know we LOVE seeing them all but for the time being, we think this is best.

“Stay safe everyone!


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The Harrogate Vet, on Leeds Road, told the Stray Ferret this month that its vets had seen a three-fold increase in dogs with gastroenteritis.

Sarah Woods, one of the vets at the practice, said:

“It is not unusual for viruses to spread but this is different in terms of the sheer number of unwell dogs we are treating — around a dozen a day.

“We do not want dog owners to panic or change anything they are doing.

“Dogs that have symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea just need to avoid popular areas to prevent the spread.”

Traffic and Travel Alert: Two miles of tailbacks around Killinghall

There are two miles of tailbacks around Killinghall this morning due to construction works on Ripon Road.

The works are into the third day and are due to finish on February 4. Northern Powergrid is laying cable for an electric vehicle charger outside the new Tesco Express.

Three-way traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Otley Road. Buses and lorries are unable to turn in and out of Otley Road from Ripon Road.

Traffic in Killinghall this morning.


The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.

We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.

The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Heavy traffic in Killinghall near roadworks

There is already heavy traffic in Killinghall this morning near the construction works on Ripon Road.

Work started yesterday and is due to finish on February 4. Northern Powergrid is laying cable for an electric vehicle charger outside the new Tesco Express.

Three-way traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Otley Road. Buses and lorries are unable to turn in and out of Otley Road from Ripon Road.


The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.

We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.

The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.

Roadworks bring morning ‘chaos’ to Killinghall

Temporary traffic lights in the centre of Killinghall brought “chaos” to the village’s roads this morning.

Northern Powergrid began work today excavating a trench to install cables beneath the pavement outside the Tesco Express, which is being built on Ripon Road in the centre of the village.

Three-way traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Otley Road and buses and lorries have been prevented from turning in and out of Otley Road from Ripon Road while work is carried out.

The area is always busy at peak times because it is the main route between Ripon and Harrogate. But this morning the works led to particularly heavy traffic and delays to the 36 bus run by Harrogate Bus Company.

The situation had calmed down by mid-morning but long delays at rush hour are expected for the next 10 days while work is carried out.

‘Avoid Killinghall at all costs’

One resident in Killinghall described the situation as “chaos” at rush hour.

They told the Stray Ferret:

“Bus stop outside new Tesco shut. Northern Powergrid have three-way traffic lights on junction and the other contractors are here doing the footpath work as well. Avoid Killinghall at all costs.”

Another resident, who was driving between Ripley and Harrogate, said the journey which would normally take a couple of minutes was now “taking more than half an hour” due to the temporary lights and traffic. They said traffic was particularly bad heading into Harrogate.


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Traffic problems caused delays and cancellations to Harrogate Bus Company’s 36 service.

The company said its service would continue to run as normal, but passengers should expect delays at peak times due to the heavy traffic on Ripon Road.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Bus Company said:

“Planned work by Northern Powergrid is taking place in the Otley Road/Ripon Road area of Harrogate, from today. This means our service 24 between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge will be diverted in the Killinghall area, and will be unable to reach stops between Redfearn’s Garage and Grainbeck Lane. This diversion is expected to remain in place until Friday, February 4.
“Full details of alternative arrangements are being advertised to keep our customers informed, including on our Twitter feed ‘@harrogatebus’ and on our free to download Transdev Go mobile app.”

Northern Powergrid wrote to residents last week. It said:

“There will be a certain amount of disruption during the implementation of this work but every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum.”

Traffic disruption expected in Killinghall next week

Delays are expected in Killinghall next week when new electricity cables are laid for the village’s forthcoming Tesco Express.

Temporary traffic lights will be installed and buses and lorries will be prevented from turning in and out of Otley Road from Ripon Road.

The measures will allow Northern Powergrid to excavate a trench and install cables beneath the pavement outside the Tesco on Ripon Road.

Northern Powergrid has written to residents saying work is expected to last 10 days. The letter says:

“There will be a certain amount of disruption during the implementation of this work but every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum.”

The letter adds the traffic lights will “inevitably lengthen journey times” and buses will be affected.

A barrier and temporary walkway will operate outside the Tesco for pedestrians.


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A spokesman for The Harrogate Bus Company, which is part of the French company Transdev, said:

“This will mean our service 24 will be diverted in the Killinghall area, while journeys on our 36 route may also experience some delays.

“Full details of alternative arrangements are being advertised to keep our customers informed, including on our Twitter feed ‘@harrogatebus’ and on the free to download Transdev Go mobile app.”

The Stray Ferret asked Tesco when the store was due to open. All it would say was “early 2022”.

Old Spring Well to be renamed Curious Cow in luxury revamp

A popular family pub on the outskirts of Harrogate is set to get a luxury makeover.

The Old Spring Well, at Killinghall, will be rebranded as the Curious Cow and will reopen as part of the Revere Pub Company, which is the premium arm of Marston’s.

Marston’s has yet to provide further details of the refurbishment, but a spokeswoman from the pub company confirmed the move.

She said:

“The Curious Cow will be reopening as part of Revere which is the premium arm of Marston’s Pubs.”

A recruitment drive for chefs and bar and waiting staff is currently taking place, with the job advert from Revere stating:

“Our premium food and drink offering is at the heart of each experience with Josper charcoal-cooked steaks, crisp wood fired pizzas and hearty Sunday roasts always being part of the delicious seasonally changing menu.”


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The Foundry Project, in Harrogate, is also part of the Revere group, however the spokeswoman said this obviously operated more like a city centre bar than a pub, despite falling under the same brand.

A licensing application has been submitted to change the operating hours of the pub, which is currently still open, including until 1am on a Friday and Saturday.

The Old Spring Well was built on the site of the Travellers Rest pub, which was demolished about 10 years ago.

Man denies firearm charge at Harrogate gastro pub

A 25-year-old man has appeared in court charged with carrying a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence at a gastro pub in Harrogate. 

Brad Tristan Plummer, from Killinghall, denied the accusation when he appeared at York Crown Court yesterday.

The alleged offence is said to have occurred at the Nelson Inn on Skipton Road, Killinghall, on September 29 last year.

The prosecution claims that Plummer intended to cause a named man fear of violence with a BB gun, which is a type of air gun. He denies this.

Judge Simon Hickey adjourned the case for a trial on July 18 next year. 

Plummer, of Skipton Road, was granted unconditional bail until that date. 


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