The Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats are to restart their process to choose a prospective parliamentary candidate.

The party had begun moves to find someone to oppose Conservative Andrew Jones at the next general election.

But the process will be re-run after the national Lib Dems upgraded Harrogate and Knaresborough to a target seat.

Local members participated in a first selection in June and July. But a recent email to party members, seen by the Stray Ferret, said:

“Before the results of our PPC selection had been announced, we were notified that Harrogate and Knaresborough has been recognised as a target seat.

“This is great news and something that the local party executive have been working towards. However, this has implications for the selection of a PPC.”

Conservative Andrew Jones has represented Harrogate and Knaresborough since 2010.

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The letter goes on to say that every PPC in a target seat “must be selected through a more robust selection process” and therefore the current selection process had been “curtailed”.

The email adds further information will be sent in “due course”.

David Goode, chair of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dems, said

“We have been recognised as a target seat and this is fantastic news. This is the result of months of work by our local campaigners and councillors.

“The local party started the process of selecting a parliamentary candidate earlier this summer. News of their target seat status means the process will now begin again.

“We will have to kick start a new selection process, in line with party rules. This is just something we must do but it will not detract from our campaign. ”

Local election success

At the local elections in May, the party won eight of the 13 North Yorkshire County Council seats in Harrogate and Knaresborough.  It won 11,907 votes compared to the Conservatives’ 11,103.

However, the Tories won 47 of the 90 seats across the county to retain control.

Jubilant Liberal Democrats in Harrogate and Knaresborough celebrate the local election results.

At the last general election in 2019, the Lib Dems increased their share of the vote in the constituency by 12 percentage points and reduced Conservative Andrew Jones’s majority to 9,675 votes. But Mr Jones has held the seat since 2012.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Boroughbridge-based online women’s fashion retailer and brand Kit and Kaboodal is set to expand into the United States and Australia.

The company, founded in 2013, has posted a 48% increase in revenue on the same period the previous year, 20% ahead of target.

It’s now on track to surpass its annual target of £8m for the full 2022/23 financial year.

The retailer has now made the decision to trial international expansion and, from this autumn, it will launch specific sites and products in the US and Australia.

Helen Marsden, co-founder and buying director, said:

“We’re a family-run and family-owned business that began by making all our decisions around the kitchen table. Now we’re watching the orders grow daily and we’re reaching entirely new markets and customers.

“We’ve focused on building strong relationships with suppliers and customers and that has helped us navigate some of the most disruptive years in history and come out the other side with a strong business that’s fit for the future.”

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• Harrogate’s Old Bell gets holiday accommodation approval

Harrogate district nursery supplies plants to luxury resort

Johnsons of Whixley are supplying plants to The Springs.

Johnsons of Whixley has supplied plants worth £135,000 for a multi-million-pound renovation at the 133-acre The Springs Resort & Golf Club in Oxfordshire.

The plants have been used to enhance the grounds of the Tudor-style hotel building, clubhouse, golf course and spa grounds and most recently used to landscape the modern lodges which include private outdoor areas with hot tubs and landscaped decking.

Johnsons has supplied a large number of hedging, shrubs, herbaceous, trees and grasses with varieties including mixed native hedging elements, Choisya, Geraniums, Heleniums, Hebes, Hydrangeas, Heucheras, Ilex, Lavender, Magnolia, Prunus, Stipa, Taxus, Viburnum and more.

Eleanor Richardson, marketing manager at Johnsons, said:

“We are pleased to be working with Darwin Escapes once again, and are honoured to be their principal plant supplier. It’s great to see our plants adding the finishing touches to this ambitious project, the grounds look fantastic and will certainly entice people to stay.”

Travellers have pitched up on the Stray in Harrogate for a second time this summer.

An encampment has appeared on a section of the parkland between Oatlands Drive and Stray Rein. Several vehicles are on site,

Harrogate Borough Council is the legal protector of the Stray. Asked if it was aware of the Travellers’ arrival, a council spokesman said:

“We are indeed and will be following the normal procedure to ensure they are moved on swiftly.”

The scene on the Stray today,

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• Travellers arrive on Oatlands Park in Harrogate
• Calls for more temporary sites for Travellers in Harrogate district
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A recent spate of arrivals by Travellers in the Harrogate district has led to calls to provide more designated temporary sites.

Six caravans and several cars arrived near to Oatlands Drive on the Stray in the week leading up to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria.

Last month Travellers also pitched up on Oatlands Park, off Hookstone Road,

On both occasions, the council instigated legal proceedings and the Travellers moved on quickly.

But more friction occurred when Travellers parked on the old rugby field at Knaresborough this summer.

It prompted Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, to write to Home Secretary Priti Patel complaining of “disorder and anti-social behaviour completely off the scale compared to that associated with previous traveller encampments in our area”.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has defended the government’s response to the energy crisis, saying there are “no easy short-term fixes” to reduce the nation’s dependency on gas and oil.

Business leaders wrote to Mr Jones this week with warnings that many firms face closure due to soaring energy prices.

In response, Mr Jones said long-term progress had been made in the move away from fossil fuels and that the government was providing support for businesses and households during the current crisis.

He said in a letter: 

“Renewable capacity in the electricity market has increased from 2.3% in 1996 to 49.7% today, according to the UK Energy Brief 2022.

“Even though renewable energy is supplying more of the market, its cost is linked to wholesale gas prices.

“What the above shows is that there are no easy short-term fixes to reduce our dependency on gas and oil. But the long-term decisions that have been taken are beginning to bear fruit.”

Mr Jones was writing in a letter to the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, which also contacted Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith and Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams about its “grave concerns”.

Chamber chief executive David Simister urged the Conservative MPs to put pressure on the government to “act now” and help businesses before they reach “tipping point”.

Read more:

• £70,000 energy bill increase forces Harrogate district farm shop to close
• Harrogate council could dip into reserves to cover soaring energy costs
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In response, Mr Smith said in a statement he was “extremely concerned” about energy costs and that he would “put pressure on ministers to do more”.

Meanwhile, Mr Jones also highlighted the support already being provided to businesses and families, including a £400 grant for all UK households from October.

Homes in council tax bands A to D should have also received £150, while eight million low income households will get £650 on top of this. There are also £300 payments promised for eight million pensioners.

For businesses, Mr Jones said a new rates relief will support investment in property upgrades from 2023 when a separate small profits rate will also mean around 1.4 million businesses continue to pay corporation tax at 19% or none at all.

Mr Jones added: 

“Business owners, those who work for them and their customers are also domestic gas and electricity users and you will know that a lot has been done in respect of shielding everybody from rising prices.

“I wanted to highlight that support for businesses and employees is already of scale.”

His comments come as the government has previously said there would be no new policies before a new Prime Minister is in place. 

The new Conservative Party leader – and Prime Minister – is set to be announced on September 5.

Liz Truss is the current favourite to replace Boris Johnson. She has promised tax cuts and recently hinted at direct financial help for hard-hit households.

Her rival, Rishi Sunak, has vowed to introduce more targeted support for households, including a reduction in VAT on domestic energy bills from 5% to zero.

A new zip-wire on Fysche Field in Knaresborough is now open.

The zip-wire will be part of a new play area to be built next to Harrogate Borough Council‘s £17m new fitness centre and swimming pool.

The facility is due to be finished by the end of summer 2023 and will have a six-lane 25-metre pool, activity pool with flume, sauna and steam room, fitness suite and studio, spin studio, café, electric car charging points and bicycle storage.

The council said in a statement today it will be built to high environmental standards and include air source heat pumps and solar panels to reduce the carbon footprint.

Once complete, the current pool will be demolished and be replaced by a bigger and better play area with swings, slides and a roundabout.

Conservative councillor Phil Ireland, who represents Knaresborough Aspin and Calcutt ward, said:

“This is a great new addition for Knaresborough and the start of a much wider play area and leisure facility for the town.

“I’m delighted it is now available for young people to use and look forward to the scheme being completed next year.”

Read more:

• The Farm Dairy takes main prize at Knaresborough Business Awards
• Campaign to improve Knaresborough High Street

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A care provider from Northallerton has expanded into the Harrogate district.

Blossom Home Care provides care to the elderly and other adults with home care requirements. Established in 2015 in Northallerton, Blossom has moved into the north-east, North Yorkshire and other areas of the UK.

Carrianne Walters and Darren Kacis, franchise owners of Blossom Home Care Harrogate, have over 30 years experience in social care.

Their office opened this week on Hartwith Way in Harrogate.

They can be contacted on 01423 649885 or by email at managerharrogate@blossomhomecare.co.uk.

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Harrogate town centre flats nears completion

Apartments being developed in central Harrogate are due to be ready to move into this autumn.

Lambert House is being built by Harrogate-based Tate Estates and consists of 12 two-bedroom apartments, just off Station Parade.

All the apartments have private under-croft parking and several of the properties include two-storey duplex layouts and balconies.

Shane Tate, from Tate Estates, said:

“We’re excited to release the homes for sale, and especially because we’ve already had high levels of enquiries from a wide range of potential buyers during the construction phase.”

The Farm Dairy was named business of the year in the first Knaresborough Business Awards on Saturday.

The event, organised by the new Knaresborough Business Collective, attracted 132 guests — 50 more than initially expected.

Sixteen awards, voted on by other local businesses, were handed out at Hopewell Farm, with the main one going to longstanding deli, cheesemonger and sandwich shop The Farm Dairy, based on Market Place.

Jenna Routh, who has owned the business for seven years, said:

“I feel really honoured and proud that our little shop was recognised as the best in Knaresborough.

“We couldn’t have done without the support of our brilliant team and loyal customers.”

Everyone involved with the awards, from the caterers and trophy providers to the entertainers, runs a business in Knaresborough.

Natalie Horner, of Sid Horner and Son, who organised the event with Annie Wilkinson-Gill, from The Crystal Buddha, said she was already planning a similar event next year:

“It all went so well and the feedback we’ve had has been amazing — people had a lovely time.

“We aimed to get 80 guests and then tickets kept selling so we expanded and ordered more tables.

“It was lovely for everyone to get together. After the last couple of years, people wanted a morale booster.”

Read more:

• Campaign to improve Knaresborough High Street
• 170-home plan ‘not right’ for Knaresborough, says town councillor

Knaresborough Business Collective was formed eight months ago, shortly after companies in the town voted against setting a business improvement district. Currently 62 firms pay £50 a year membership.

It provides a vehicle for businesses to work collaboratively to promote the town. Profit from events is used to fund future initiatives.

The collective is now working on a Halloween extravaganza in the town centre and a winter fair. Ms Horner said:

“Knaresborough is doing well, there are not many empty shops. We just want to keep that going.”

Knaresborough Business Awards winners

Favourite female led business – 4 Seasons Florist

Favourite male led business – Zigzag Cards & Gifts

Favourite family run business – Two Brothers Grill and Pizzeria

Favourite new business – The Clothing Store of Knaresborough

Favourite health & beauty business – Divine Hairdressing

Favourite place to stay – Custard Creams Cottage

Favourite retailer – Harriets

Favourite attraction – Mother Shipton’s Cave

Favourite coffee shop – Number Thirteen

Favourite place to eat & drink – two brothers grill & pizzeria

Favourite service provider – Clicking With Canines

Favourite class/group – Freedom Performing Arts

Favourite long standing business – Sid Horner and Son

Favourite party provider – Painting Pots Knaresborough

Favourite green business – Resurrected Bites

Knaresborough business of the year – The Farm Dairy

Photos from the awards

No trains will operate in the Harrogate district today due to the latest rail strike.

The strike will cause disruption for people travelling to the final day of the Ebor Festival at York Racecourse.

Today’s Sky Bet Ebor is the richest flat handicap in Europe and always attracts huge crowds.

A spokesman for the racecourse told the Stray Ferret

“It’s not our dispute – it’s frustrating and disappointing for lots of people that the two parties don’t seem to have reached a resolution.

“We will leave the car parks open and unlocked so people can leave their cars and come back to collect them on Sunday.”

The spokesman said Harrogate had good bus connections with York and racegoers from the town faced fewer travel problems than those from many other places.

He added free shuttle buses operated throughout the day between York train station and the racecourse on Knavesmire Road.

Today’s national strike is the second in three days. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union also called a one-day strike on the underground in London yesterday over jobs and pensions.

Transport Secretary Grants Shapps has threatened to limit union power and force through legislation for changes to the railways if the strikes are not settled.

Machines are Harrogate station urging people not to travel today.

Two councillors in Knaresborough are launching a consultation over the town’s high street after saying it has been neglected over a number of years.

Cllr Hannah Gostlow and Cllr Matt Walker, who were both elected to North Yorkshire County Council in May for the Liberal Democrats, will be in the town centre tomorrow asking local residents, shoppers and business owners for their views.

Under the title Starter for 10, they want to hear opinions about Knaresborough High Street as well as views on what improvements are needed.

Cllr Gostlow said:

“There has been little or no investment in Knaresborough by North Yorkshire County Council over the last 10 years and residents and businesses are fed up.

“Now we want North Yorkshire Council to invest in Knaresborough High Street and not just the cars passing through it! Cllr Walker and I want to push for positive change and we want to make sure the voices of those in Knaresborough are heard.”

Read more:

• Cheers! Knaresborough and Harrogate to host beer festivals
• Business Breakfast: Knaresborough businesses to be recognised at awards event

Residents and business owners can also take part in the consultation online or by calling Cllr Gostlow on 07867 797594 or by email.

Cllr Walker added:

“We are publishing our starter for 10 to begin a constructive and positive conversation about the future of the High Street, what people would like to see and how we can make that happen. A starter for 10 is just that, a start of a discussion.”

Beer lovers in the Harrogate district will be spoiled for choice with two festivals taking place in Knaresborough and Harrogate.

This weekend, Knaresborough Lions will stage their annual beer festival during the FEVA arts festival. It gets underway tonight (Friday) at Knaresborough House from 7pm where there will also be live music on offer for revellers.

Entry is free and there will be a large selection of beers, ciders, lagers, wine, soft drinks and food available.

On Saturday, the festival runs from 12pm until 11pm and will coincide with FEVA’s Picnic in the Park, which is also being held at Knaresborough House.

On Sunday, the festival starts from 12pm until the beer runs out.

Harrogate Beer Week

Harrogate is gearing up for the return of its beer week following its debut event in 2021.

Running from September 19-25, Harrogate Beer Week will celebrate the town’s craft beer scene, brewing heritage and beer in the community.

There will be events hosted at bars, brewery taps, and other venues across Harrogate such as beer and food pairings, blind beer tasting quizzes, bottle shares, home brew competitions, talks and brewery tours exploring the making of beer.

Other features on the programme will include an ‘Indie Beer Trail’ and live local music and a special local beer has been brewed for the occasion. The programme will be announced on August 24.

The event is being sponsored by Harrogate Business Improvement District, Cold Bath Brewing Co, Daleside Brewery, Harrogate Brewing Co, Roosters Brewing Co, and Turning Point brew Co and Black Sheep Brewery.

Harrogate Beer Week was created by Harrogate-based Rachel Auty. She said:

“This event is a spotlight on the very best of what’s on offer in Harrogate and is created and delivered by people who actually live and work here, and know the town.

“The north of England is a superb destination for great craft beer and I’m incredibly proud of the beer scene we have in Harrogate — we boast some of the UK’s leading innovators in brewing and a truly unique portfolio of indie bars and taprooms.”

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