Car window smashed in Knaresborough by slingshot

A car window was smashed in Knaresborough last night by a person believed to be using a slingshot or catapult.

Police sent armed officers and a helicopter after receiving reports that a window had been smashed in a car driving along Chain Lane at about 7.25pm.

A North Yorkshire Police statement this morning said:

“Due to the serious nature of the report, specialist firearms officers and the police helicopter were deployed immediately.

“After reviewing dashcam footage, it is a believed a slingshot or catapult-type weapon was used to damage the car window. No one was injured.”

“Enquiries are ongoing to identify any suspects.”

The statement does not say whether anyone was injured in the attack.

Police have asked anyone who witnessed the incident to call them on 101, quoting reference 12220098605.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic roundup

Traffic is moving steadily in the Harrogate district this morning.

However, roadworks are still in place in some areas which may cause delays.

Here is your Stray Ferret morning traffic roundup.

Roads

Traffic is moving steadily in Harrogate this morning, although that is expected to build up during the morning rush hour.

Roadworks are still in place in Knaresborough at the junction between Wetherby Road and York Road which will cause delays this morning.

The busy junction just past King James’ School and the cemetery has been undergoing resurfacing works for a few weeks and continues to cause delays during rush hour.

The works are expected to continue until August 15.

Trains and buses

No delays or cancellations to report on the trains from Harrogate to Leeds and York this morning.

Harrogate Bus Company still has a diversion in place on its 21 service meaning it is unable to reach Ashbourne Road due to a road closure.

The nearest alternative stop is Morrisons in Boroughbridge. This diversion will be in place until June 30.

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Knaresborough poised for first Bed Race in three years

Excitement is building for the first Knaresborough Bed Race since 2019.

The historic event on Saturday afternoon will see teams take part in a 2.4 mile course through the town in fancy dress, pushing a bed, before finishing with a wade through the River Nidd.

As many as 30,000 people line the streets for the event which is due to return on June 11. Since the first in 1966 the tradition has been picked up across the world with similar events being held in USA, Germany and New Zealand.

This year’s competitors have based their costume and bed design on the theme ‘The Environment: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’. 

Nigel Perry, secretary at Knaresborough Lions, the volunteer group that organises the event, said he has enjoyed seeing teams practicing this week ahead of the big day.

He said:

“Taking part in the Bed Race takes fortitude. The streets of Knaresborough are full of teams practicing.

“The town will be packed on the day.”

Newly elected Liberal Democrat Knaresborough county councillor Matt Walker added:

“It’s great to see the beds back practicing the course through the town and the infamous water crossing . The crowds are in for a real treat as the beds are pushed through the town for the parade.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the teams have interpreted this year’s theme of recycle, reuse and reduce. It’s really opportunity to show off Knaresborough at its best to thousands of locals and visitors. Reminding people what make it a special place to live, work and visit.”

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The Lions have organised park and ride facilities on Manse Lane (Knaresborough Technology Park) and Grimbalds Crag (ALM) on Bed Race day where a free Transdev bus service will take visitors to and from the town.

Knaresborough’s pubs, cafes and restaurants will also be looking forward to Saturday, which is traditionally their busiest day of the year for trade.

Mr Perry added:

“The Bed Race is good for them and good for the town.”

There has been a lot of rainfall this week but Mr Perry said the Nidd will be safe for competitors to wade through.

The race will start at 3pm from Conyngham Hall but a whole day of events are planned including a best-dressed bed competition and a parade through the town.

Click here to read the full programme.

We’ll be running a live blog on the day, would you like to send a good luck message to anyone competing? Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will publish your message.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Roadworks at Wetherby Road and York Road junction in Knaresborough causing delays

The current roadworks at the junction between Wetherby Road and York Road in Knaresborough are causing delays this morning.

The busy junction just past King James’ School and the cemetery has been undergoing resurfacing works for a few weeks and continues to cause delays during rush hour.

The works are expected to continue until August 15.

If you driving in that direction it may be worth leaving a few minutes earlier.

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Council rejects Knaresborough scuba diving facility plan

Harrogate Borough Council has rejected plans for a bespoke scuba diving training pool in Knaresborough.

Tim Yarrow, owner of Harrogate-based Diveshack UK, lodged the plan to build the facility at Thistle Hill in the town.

Mr Yarrow said the proposal offered the district a chance to get a “truly unique” facility.

The plan would have seen the pool built at land at Thistle Hill and see the site changed from agricultural land to a deep water diving centre.

However, the borough council refused the proposal on the grounds that the plan would “result in harm to the visual and spatial openness of the green belt”.

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Council officials added that the site was outside the development limit of any village or settlement.

In a decision notice, the council said:

“The proposal is for a new tourism and recreational use however the application fails to demonstrate that there is a local need for the facility in this location, that the facility is of a scale and nature appropriate to its location and intended purpose, and that the facility is accessible to the community or catchment population it is intended to serve.”

Mr Yarrow, who has been a a scuba instructor around the world for 30 years, told the Stray Ferret previously that the move would help to draw people in from the area and improve access to the sport.

He added that his club, which has been open since 2018, currently trains young and upcoming divers. He said the facility would help to expand this.

Mr Yarrow said:

“The facility proposed will allow access for Diveshack to promote courses tailored to individual needs and timings, taking very little of the land for change of use and no negative impact on the close neighbours of whom all have been consulted and are in support.

“It has been drawn up in a sympathetic way to the environment with materials and energy usage and aims to be the best, most eco designated scuba training facility in the North.

“It will allow access to an amazing sport to numerous people who would maybe never have thought they could ever give it a try.”

Harrogate digital marketing agency rebrands

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Harrogate digital marketing agency rebrands

Kariba, Harrogate’s oldest digital marketing agency, has rebranded as it celebrates its 25th year.

The business was set up by Chris Wilson in 1997, after being asked to build Harrogate Borough Council’s first ever website.

Since then, Kariba has gone on to design and build websites and provide a range of digital marketing services for clients in Yorkshire and across the UK.

Mr Wilson, who is Kariba’s managing director as well as its founder, said:

“Our brand refresh and new website means we have a more current look and feel, and in turn better reflects who we are and what we do today, so that we can appeal to those ambitious, growth-focused companies whom we love partnering with.”

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Building society set to move into Knaresborough Library

Andrew-Haigh-and-Chrys-Mellor-web Knaresborough library

Knaresborough Library will close today at 5pm for work to accommodate the new branch Newcastle Building Society that is due to go into the building.

Since the last bank in Knaresborough closed last year, North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council have worked with the society to maintain local access to financial services.

Harrogate Borough Council has also worked with Barclays to bring its mobile banking service to the market town.

The library will reopen on Saturday. The building society is expected to open late this month or early July.

Work to accommodate @NewcastleBSoc at #Knaresborough Library will start this week.

The library will close at 5pm tomorrow and is scheduled to reopen at 9.30am on 11 June.

More: https://t.co/6CqfsfCfjY pic.twitter.com/aOYN06L2Dp

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) June 7, 2022

Cllr Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said:

“The issues regarding banking availability in Knaresborough have been well documented, and Harrogate Borough Council has pushed hard to seek a solution.”

Knaresborough flower shop set to stay as new florist takes over

The Knaresborough flower shop on Market Place is set to change hands this month as one florist retires and another takes on the reins.

Tracey Bell has run Ruebery Flowers for four years, she said it was longer than planned but she felt the town needed a florist so said she wouldn’t retire until she found another person to take over her shop.

Ms Bell has worked in floristry for 15 years, for her having a florist in the town is “as important as a bakers and butchers”.

Over the years she’s had some interesting requests, the most memorable was from a Swiss priest who had travelled over to the bless the marriage of an Indonesian couple. Ms Bell said he asked for two colourful garlands to hang round the couple’s necks but was surprised when he said “could you do them whilst I go put a bet on?”

Ms Bell said:

“Being part of this business community is just really lovely, we’re all really supportive of each other.

“There’s almost too many stories to tell but being a part of lots of people’s wedding days or special occasions has been wonderful. A lot of people are willing to be guided and go down sustainable roots, sometimes people are very specific, other times they’re happy for me to arrange the design, either way I love it.”

The florist shop as it stands now

She said covid brought its own challenges, a lot of her customers passed away but there were also many who were unable to see family. She began to do small flower deliveries to around 20 homes each week all ordered from families living away from their Knaresborough relatives.

The florist said for her it was important to be as sustainable as possible, so she removes plastic packaging and foam and purchases her flowers from local growers. This is something the next shop owner, Kirsty Wilson, plans to continue.

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Ms Wilson has worked in floristry for 15 years and had her own business River & Rose for eight of them. She said having a shop in her hometown seemed like the next step.

She hopes to work with other local florists and businesses to continue what Ms Bell started. Ms Wilson said:

“I’m super excited to carry on what Tracey has started and be a lovely presence in the town. It’s just a lovely location and a really cute shop.

“It’s really important for me to continue supporting other local artists.”

Ms Wilson said her shop will be similar – offering flowers for weddings and events, as well as fresh flowers for people to choose from.

Ms Bell’s last day will be Friday, June 17. However she is finishing with a “full circle moment”  with one final wedding on June 18 at Ripley Castle where she started her floristry career.

Ms Wilson is aiming to open River & Rose on July 1.

Travellers leave Harrogate’s Stray

A group of Travellers who set up camp on Harrogate’s Stray have now left.

Six caravans and several cars arrived on the section near to Oatlands Drive on Saturday.

It is thought that the Travellers were on their way to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria, which starts on Thursday.

Harrogate Borough Council, which is the legal protector of the Stray, was due to begin the eviction process today, according to the Stray Defence Association.

But the Travellers are believed to have vacated the parkland yesterday.

Travellers also parked on the old rugby field at Knaresborough three days earlier and remain on site.

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A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council confirmed that the travellers in Knaresborough were now subject to a legal process.

The spokesperson said:

“The travellers in Knaresborough are being managed through the legal process and a team will undertake a clear up (if required) once they have gone.”

How the Harrogate district celebrated the jubilee

From street parties to concerts, the Harrogate district celebrated the Queen’s platinum jubilee in style this past week.

Across the district people draped themselves and their neighbourhoods in red, white and blue as part of the four-day bank holiday weekend.

In Harrogate, a jubilee square was set up just for the occasion while Ripon had a feast of celebrations in the market square.

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Masham featured a parade of floats and fancy dress, and Knaresborough had an array of events to mark the jubilee.

The Stray Ferret was out every day capturing the celebrations and you can watch our montage of how the district celebrated the jubilee below.

Andrew Jones MP to vote against Boris Johnson tonight

Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones has said he will vote against Prime Minister Boris Johnson in tonight’s confidence vote.

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs, confirmed this morning that a ballot will be held at 6pm today.

The move comes as the threshold of 15% of the parliamentary Conservative party seeking a vote of confidence in Mr Johnson was met. He will need the support of 180 MPs this evening to remain as PM.

In a statement published in various media outlets, the MP said he will not be supporting the PM due to the partygate scandal.

The MP said he has received emails from “hundreds of people” in Harrogate and Knaresborough, with most of them calling for the PM to resign.

The statement said:

“There were many harrowing stories in those emails where people couldn’t visit elderly relatives or mourn them at their funerals. These were people following the rules the Prime Minister set and championed.”

The Stray Ferret has asked Mr Jones for a copy of the statement but we did not receive a response.

The statement in full is below:

Credit – Yorkshire Post

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