knaresborough Archives - Page 117 of 186

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey to visit Harrogate next week

The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, is to visit one of the party’s target constituencies — Harrogate and Knaresborough — next week.

Mr Davey will be in Harrogate on Wednesday to meet local members and speak at the Local Government Association conference, which takes place at Harrogate Convention Centre from June 28-30.

The local party is in buoyant mood following last month’s local election results, which saw it become the largest party on North Yorkshire County Council in the constituency area. However, the Conservatives retained overall control of the council.

Nationally, the Lib Dems overturned a 24,000 Tory majority to win yesterday’s Tiverton and Honiton by-election.

David Goode, chair of Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, said:

“He will meet with members and will want to talk about the fantastic Tiverton and Honiton success where we overturned a massive majority.

“It’s also a good opportunity to share our own successes with him and our plans for the general election.”

The Conservative Andrew Jones has been the MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough since 2010 and has won four elections. He succeeded Liberal Democrat Phil Willis.

In the 2019 general election, Mr Jones won 29,962 votes, beating Lib Dem candidate Judith Rogerson by almost 10,000 votes.

The Lib Dems did gain a 12-point swing on 2017, which largely came at the expense of the Labour Party.

Mr Goode said the Lib Dem’s prospective parliamentary candidate could be announced as soon as next month, with the selection process currently underway.

Last week, former candidate Ms Rogerson ruled herself out for personal reasons.

Mr Goode added:

“There are rumours of a potential autumn election and we want to be ready.

“Andrew Jones is going to be a worried man. It looks like it’s becoming an unrecoverable position for the Conservative government.”

Andrew Jones MP writes to Priti Patel about ‘law-breaking’ Travellers

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has written to Home Secretary Priti Patel about speeding up measures to evict Travellers who break the law.

The Conservative MP said the recent encampment at Hay-a-Park in Knaresborough produced “disorder and anti-social behaviour completely off the scale compared to that associated with previous traveller encampments in our area”.

Mr Jones said his comments were based on reports received from residents, police and landowner Harrogate Borough Council.

Writing on his Community News website, he said:

“Vandalism of property, damage to cars, late night motorbike and quad bike racing through residential estates, break-ins at barns, use of pavements and open space as a toilet were just some of the unpleasantness residents nearby reported and had to put up with.”

Mr Jones added that some Travellers had “took the openness and generosity of spirit which is the hallmark of our communities and simply abused it” and further action was needed to “protect the rights and property of residents against future incursions of this nature”.

Eviction currently takes place three days after notice is served.

“I have written to the Home Secretary asking her to look at ways in which enforcement can be brought forward on the advice of the police where law-breaking occurs from the activities of a travelling community.

“I have also written to our local Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Zoe Metcalfe, asking her to look at the policing of this encampment and to see if any improvements could be made with the benefit of this experience.

“Finally, I have asked the council to look at how it can secure public land more effectively and more anticipate the movements of travelling communities and provide appropriate sites to be used as layovers for them.”

Mr Jones described the Traveller encampment as “a darker episode for many” amid recent celebrations, such as Knaresborough Bed Race and the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

“I want to make sure that local people and travelling communities can enjoy their everyday lives in peace.

“It is a shame when the minority act in a way that risks labelling the majority and that is what my actions are seeking to avoid.”

Rail strike: 10% of Harrogate and Knaresborough trains to run today

Rail services in Harrogate and Knaresborough will be severely affected by a second day of strike action today.

Only about 10% of services are expected to operate on the line between York and Leeds.

Rail operator Northern is expected to be among the worst affected by today’s industrial action by the RMT union.

A third strike is expected on Saturday.

People hoping to travel by train to the first day of the England vs New Zealand Test match at Headingley will be among those affected.

Harrogate station has been largely deserted for the last two days.

Many services ran yesterday but passengers had heeded warnings not to travel.

Rail campaigner Brian Dunsby, of the Harrogate Line Supporters Group, said:

“We are very concerned that this unnecessary national rail strike will risk driving people away from rail and thereby undermine and set back rail’s steady recovery from the pandemic.

“We express deep regret and concern given the uncertainty the industry and its consumers face following the effects of covid on passenger numbers.

“We ask management and government to get talking to the unions resolve things and for everyone to avoid further aggravating tensions by making hostile or critical comments. We urge the union to be more considerate of the impact on passengers of all categories.”

Read more:

A statement by Northern said:

“Customer safety is our priority, we advise you not to travel between Tuesday 21 and Sunday 26 June and make alternative plans.

“There will be no replacement buses or alternative travel provided.”

Harrogate buses enjoy strike boom but taxis suffer

The Harrogate Bus Company has reported a 25% increase in customers on the first day of the rail strike.

However, Harrogate taxi drivers have said today “feels like a Sunday” with little trade.

Today’s rail strike left many commuters having to make alternative arrangements.

A spokesman for Harrogate Bus Company said it had anticipated a surge in demand. He added:

“So far, we have carried 25% more customers on the 36 compared to a normal Tuesday.

“All of our buses have ran, including a number of extra 36 buses around rush hour from Harrogate and Leeds to ensure our customers can travel comfortably and rely on us during this time.”

The 36 bus to Leeds.

By contrast, business has been slow at the taxi rank opposite Harrogate train station.

Paul McMahon, who runs PM Taxis, said:

“It’s been exceptionally quiet. Whether people have made alternative plans or booked the day off, i don’t know.”

Mr McMahon said he had been on the rank opposite the station since 6am in case people whose trains weren’t running needed a ride. But little trade had transpired, he added.

“Today feels like a Sunday. I expected to be busier.”

Harrogate taxi

Richard Fieldman, who owns A1 Cars, said he too had been quiet.

But he added he had two jobs booked tomorrow at Thirsk station, which he suspected were for commuters who were affected by the strike.

The Harrogate and Knaresborough line is due to operate a limited service tomorrow before the strike resumes on Thursday.

But with six days of disruption expected, rail operator Northern is advising customers to seek alternative travel arrangements.

Harrogate train station this morning.

61 retirement flats in Knaresborough approved at fourth attempt

Plans for 61 retirement flats in Knaresborough have been approved at the fourth time of asking by developers which refused to further reduce the size of the building.

Adlington Retirement Living was today granted approval for the scheme which it said would become “unviable” if reduced in size.

It follows complaints from residents and councillors over the size of the building, parking, traffic and the risk of flooding at the Wetherby Road site.

However, no objections were raised by statutory consultees.

At a meeting of Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee today, Conservative Robert Windass was one of eight councillors who voted in favour of the plans, while three voted against.

Cllr Windass said:

“The applicant has made significant moves to improve this scheme.

“There are no objections from the clinical commissioning group, Environment Agency or highways authority – it is about time we passed this.”

Adlington Retirement Living – which is part of the Gladman group – first submitted its plans in March 2020. Since then, it has had one application refused and been told to rethink another twice.

The developers had agreed to remove a fourth storey of the building and also pay for a new footpath on Grimbald Bridge.

It will also pay £40,000 to the NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCC) which previously raised concerns that another care facility in the area could “overload” local health services. The CCG later withdrew its objection once the payment had been agreed.

Despite these changes and agreements, residents had continued to push for the plans to be turned down.

Speaking at today’s meeting, resident Steve Benn said:

“This development is twice the height of any current building on Wetherby Road. The developer claims it has been to a minimum of 60 apartments to be viable, yet its flagship scheme in Otley is only 48.

“Knaresborough town centre and local facilities are a mile uphill from the site, and residents will be unable, without personal transport, to make it to churches and community events.”

The risk of flooding was another concern raised by Mr Benn, as well as Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, who previously asked for the building to be moved further away from the River Nidd.

Adlington Retirement Living refused to do this after including a flood storage basement in its plans. The company also previously said there is “no record” of the site flooding.

However, residents claim the River Nidd has overflowed at the site as recently as February.

Cllr Marsh also told today’s meeting:

“I sent every member of this planning committee a photograph of a building literally just down the river from this site which has been badly flooded for the last five years. We know this area floods.”

She added:

“This scheme is an overdevelopment and I still have very serious concerns about it.

“The developer hasn’t done anything to allay those concerns.”

No trains in Harrogate and Knaresborough as strike begins

No trains will run through Harrogate and Knaresborough today as a national strike gets underway.

Harrogate station was deserted this morning with no picketers outside. However, the ticket office was still manned.

The RMT union has called the strike, which is also scheduled for Thursday and Saturday, over pay and conditions.

Thousands of drivers, signal operators and guards will walk out, crippling services.

Timetables published by Northern don’t show any trains on the Harrogate line on Tuesday or Thursday this week and there will be no replacement buses.

The train operator is currently expecting to run limited services on Saturday, although the company has warned of disruption and urged people to seek alternative travel.

LNER will also be running no services to London King’s Cross from Harrogate on all three strike days.

Some trains are expected to run on non-strike days, however Northern has warned that services could still be affected.

The company is advising passengers not to travel on trains on any day between Tuesday and Sunday.

Harrogate commuters braced for ‘inconvenient’ train strikes

As train services prepare to wind down today ahead of the looming rail strike, the Stray Ferret went to Harrogate station this morning to speak to commuters.

No trains will run between York and Leeds on Tuesday and Thursday this week, which will affect rail passengers in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Further strike action is planned on Saturday and rail operator Northern is urging people not to travel on trains between tomorrow and Sunday.

No replacement buses are being put on.

The RMT union has called the strike over pay and conditions. It will see thousands of drivers, signal operators and guards walk out.

Commuters in Harrogate said they had been forced to change their working days this week or work from home. Some have had to rearrange or cancel meetings.

Kevin Dalton told us:

“I’m not a regular train user as I work from home most of the time.

“But I had a meeting this week and I’ve had to rearrange to today just so I can make it. The idea of driving into Leeds or York for 9am just isn’t worth thinking about.”

For others still having to travel into the office, the additional petrol and taxi fees were a concern.

Kayleigh, who works at Hornbeam Park and asked not to publish her surname, said:

“I’ve had to arrange for someone to come and pick me up and bring me home each day.

“It is an inconvenience, I work with people from York and Leeds so they’ve either got to work from home or spend two and a half hours on the bus.”

Another commuter, Diane Hitchen, sympathised with the strikers and said the difficulties it is causing highlighted how much rail workers do. She added:

“I have a lot of teacher friends who have taken strike action before so I understand why.

“Clearly rail workers feel they have to make an impact for their requests to be met.”

Northern has said it will publish its Sunday timetable shortly.

Further details on how the strike will affects services are available here.

Business Breakfast: Knaresborough barbers celebrates 20 years in business

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Knaresborough barbers celebrates 20 years in business

Knaresborough barber shop, The Barber Asylum, celebrated 20 years in Knaresborough last week with a day of festivity.

The Barber Asylum, on the High Street, was first opened in Knaresborough on Cheapside by Alex Tabor.

After 20 years Mr Tabor has said barbering has definitely changed, with new styles and trends keeping him and his five staff on their toes.

He said:

“It feels good it seems to have gone really quick. We’ve had customers that have supported us from day one, we’ve got to know them really well. We’ve also watched some of our youngest customers grow up and go off to university.”

The shop is looking to hire one or two new barbers currently:

“Covid was a bit of a nightmare, we lost three members of staff. We’ve just recruited EJ but it’s been really bad getting staff. People have moved out of the industry over covid and there’s probably been a bit of a lag with the colleges getting people trained.”

Mr Tabor also owns Bluebeards Barber Shop on Commercial Street which opened 18 years ago.

Former Harrogate Convention Centre operations head promoted

A former head of operations at Harrogate Convention Centre has taken up a senior post at Leeds First Direct Arena.

Martin McInulty, who has 20 years experience in the industry, will become general manager at the arena.

He said:

“I have lived and worked in Leeds for over 20 years and I have a real passion for the city.

“I started my events career at Leeds Town Hall in 2000. In this time, I have worked at some of the region’s most iconic venues.”

Calls for more temporary sites for Travellers in Harrogate district

There have been calls for Travellers to have more temporary sites in the Harrogate district.

Cllr David Goode, who is a resident in Knaresborough and a Liberal Democrat town councillor, said recent groups of Travellers setting up camp had been met with “negative feelings” from locals.

Travellers parked on the old rugby field on Hay-a-Park Lane last week and were served legal notice to leave by Harrogate Borough Council.

Several caravans and cars also parked on the Stray near to Oatlands Drive.

All the Travellers have now moved on.

Cllr Goode said while the council has already set up a permanent designated Travellers site off the Knaresborough bypass, there needed to be more transit sites where groups can stay temporarily.

He added that council officials should start to engage with local Gypsy and Travellers trusts to find out what more can be done.

Cllr Goode said:

“My thinking coming out of this is to start engaging with the local Gypsy trust.

“They will know the issues.”

Sharon Calvert, who also lives in Knaresborough and has worked with Travellers in her role in education, shared the view that more temporary sites should be set up.

She said:

“What they need is to have a transit site. There are always going to be Travellers coming through [the district].

“We need some joined up thinking on this. There needs to be some temporary sites on the A1 with running water and facilities to get rid of rubbish. There must be some sites.”

‘Engagement is number one’

Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange, a charity which aims to improve the quality of life for the communities, said engagement with Gypsy and Travellers in the first instance was important.

In September 2020 the organisation worked with Leeds City Council to create a good practice guide to design Traveller sites as part of its work.

A spokesperson for Leeds GATE told the Stray Ferret that it was important for authorities to make those community links to better understand Gypsy and Traveller people.

They said:

“The engagement with the community is number one. Whether it is a council or a planning department, they really need to make those community links.

“There are organisations that people can speak to. We at Leeds GATE are here and we do make ourselves known.”

In the Harrogate district, North Yorkshire County Council owns and maintains two designated sites for Travellers.

One is at Bickerton and another is off Thistle Hill in Knaresborough.

Knaresborough Museum plan given go-ahead

Plans have been approved to convert a former girls school in Knaresborough into a museum.

Based at the old National Girls School in Castle Yard, the town museum looks set to open next year.

Harrogate Borough Council backed proposals by Knaresborough Museum Association to convert the former school into the facility.

It will see the dance hall changed to a museum as well as alterations to the interior, a new entrance, disabled toilets and a new ramp.

In a post on its Facebook page, the museum said:

“We have been awarded planning permission and listed building consent for change of use from dance hall to a new museum and to create a new entrance, steps and handrails, disabled access toilets, new ramp and internal modifications.

“Now we really can start planning ahead.”

Plans for the museum have been in the works since 2020 and it is earmarked to officially open in February 2023.

Funded by public donations and grants, it will include eight exhibition zones covering periods of history from the Jurassic age to the world wars.