Stray Views: Harrogate councillors are riding roughshod over Knaresborough

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate is riding roughshod over Knaresborough with this unwanted new pool

Thank you for the report on Ripon’s issues with Brimhams Active. We in Knaresborough understand that Harrogate Borough Council officers have recommended that Harrogate Borough Council’s plans to demolish the pool and build from scratch be approved despite all the carefully prepared plans for more sustainable, more attractive, more appropriate — and cheaper — proposals.

This means Harrogate Borough Council is, as usual, riding roughshod over the views of the residents of another ancient market town.

Knaresborough Civic Society and many others have objected strongly. Many people are concerned that public land, given to the people of Knaresborough, is being commandeered by the private company Brimhams Active who will then charge inordinately high prices.

The excellent free play area will be built over and may never be replaced, leaving whole year groups of children and families without this valuable resource – possibly forever. About 20 mature trees will be chopped down. The embodied carbon cost of a new build and removal of the current pool would be immense as a pool needs enormous quantities of concrete.

The proposed new build even includes gas heating, which in the context of a climate crisis is an unforgivable gratuitous use of fossil fuels.

Knaresborough wants something to be proud of which gives the right messages, not an inappropriate building tying us in to last century’s costly and dangerous habits. A very big question is who will Brimhams Active be accountable to when Harrogate Borough Council vanishes? Who will own the building and the land? Who will profit?

This is not the time to demolish a perfectly good pool. It could remain open whilst work was done to build around and above it to add facilities such as a treetop cafe and fitness suites.

Nobody asked for a new pool; the concept appeared out of the blue, so the question must be asked — who are the real beneficiaries of these expensive and unsustainable plans? The people of Knaresborough are having free access to green spaces stolen from under their noses.

Shan Oakes, Knaresborough

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Boroughbridge school governors need to rethink

As three-times ex-Mayor and a school governor in Ripon for many years, I am appalled and concerned that sixth form provision is proposed to be removed from Boroughbridge High School, especially with the present addition of many new houses in the town.

How can this make sense to the governing body when students will have to travel into Knaresborough, increasing the carbon footprint of St James’ School? Surely governors should be wanting to reduce the carbon output by students in Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.

However, the greatest threat is to the young people of the town. Removing the great opportunities for students that sixth form life offers is unforgivable, unacceptable and unbelievable; the governors need to rethink their action.

Michael Stanley, Ripon

Econ boss is right — we need more apprenticeships instead of third-rate degrees

I wholeheartedly agree with Econ Engineering‘s Jonathan Lupton’s observations about the need for more apprenticeships.

I could rant on, but shall refrain from so doing, about youngsters almost being conned into enrolling at third-rate universities and emerging with commercially worthless degrees.

Apprenticeships for those with A-levels and similar have always been quite readily available. However, the same cannot be said for those who leave school with no qualifications, either because they are not academically inclined or for a variety of other reasons.

It is these youngsters who desperately need to be able and to have the encouragement to get qualifications through apprenticeships. Unfortunately that window has virtually disappeared in this country. I am sure that is not so in the likes Germany, the Netherlands and many of the eastern European countries.

Richard Goldstein, Harrogate

 

Knaresborough reptile rescue faces closure due to hike in electric bills

Increasing electricity bills means the Knaresborough reptile rescue could face closure.

The Knaresborough Exotic Rescue Centre has 150 animals in its care but says only 20 are up for adoption due to the temperaments or size of others.

Centre owner, Daniel Holmes, said the hike in electricity prices has caused a “serious concern” for the centre. It is already taking on a further eight snakes from another rescue in Devon which is closing due to increased costs.

Mr Holmes said these snakes are from a big snake rescue so range from 17 to seven feet long. He thinks out of the eight, six will be with him indefinitely because they’re too large to rehome.

Having these big snakes for a long time does mean he will be investing a lot of money in their care, something he said a rise in bills makes more difficult.

Eight snakes are currently in transport to the centre after another rescue facility closed.

In 2020, his bills for the month were around £1,800 now electricity alone can be £1,500 before the proposed increases. He said:

“We just about scraped through the pandemic and now this is being thrown at us. There aren’t many centres built to take on big snakes but luckily we have the space. It is a big thing to take on these animals as they aren’t cheap to feed or house but we couldn’t say no.”

The centre runs as a non-profit organisation and relies on public donations and adoption fees to survive.

Mr Holmes also said the increasing number of animals it is having to take in is also taking a strain. He said January had been “horrendous” with people already surrendering animals bought for Christmas and others choosing to do so before bills made them too expensive to keep.

“It’s a serious enough situation to think we could shut down.

“There’s a real problem with people taking on animals they can’t afford or not knowing the size they can grow too and then we have to take care of them. But because of this we are often spending huge amounts of money on animals we can never re-home.”

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He said he was hoping to find larger premises to expand the centre’s offering in hopes of finding more revenue streams but is unable to find a unit that’s affordable.

He is looking into a sponsorship scheme so people pay money each month to sponsor one of the permanent rescues which will help the centre feed them. He said developing schemes like this are essential for its survival.

To donate to the centre, find them on Facebook here or send a donation via PayPal to krescue@hotmail.co.uk.

Knaresborough to be backdrop of this Sunday’s Songs of Praise

The town of Knaresborough and one of its charities are set to feature in this weekend’s Songs of Praise programme.

A few weeks ago Katherine Jenkins caused excitement around the town when she was spotted filming at Knaresborough Castle and down by St Robert’s Cave.

As it is the weekend before Valentine’s Day, the theme for the show is love and kindness and showcases the work of Resurrected Bites which is based in Gracious Street Methodist Church.

The charity runs a community grocery store out of the church where people who are struggling to make ends meet pay a small sum to become members and can then shop at the grocery.

Ms Jenkins visited the church to speak to charity volunteers and director, Michelle Hayes, who said:

“It was great for them to recognise the work we do and we’re always grateful for the chance to show people the help we offer. There are still people struggling locally who don’t know what we do, so this programme might help us reach them.”

Filming also took place down by the River Nidd. The Welsh mezzo soprano visited St Robert’s Cave to hear the story of the 12th century hermit who is celebrated locally for his work to support the poor in his community.

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It will be broadcast Sunday morning at 11.25am on BBC One.

During Sunday’s programme, John Sentamu, the former archbishop of York, remembers his friend archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Knaresborough Civic Society urges councillors to reject leisure centre plans

Knaresborough Civic Society is calling on councillors to reject a £13 million leisure centre in favour of rival proposals for an extension of the town’s swimming pool.

The civic society is supporting plans from the ‘Not on Fysche Field’ campaign group which has produced designs to upgrade the 30-year-old swimming pool as an alternative to its demolition proposed by Harrogate Borough Council.

A recommendation of approval has been made by the council on its own plans at a meeting next Tuesday, and the civic society has cautioned councillors that they must “take full responsibility for the outcome of such a huge decision”.

A civic society spokesperson said: 

“Knaresborough Civic Society urges the planning committee to reject this short-sighted recommendation in favour of an alternative solution which will not result in the loss of mature trees, vital outdoor play facilities and green space.

“We have played an active role in campaigning for a more considered approach to this project and have made our views clear that building on the existing site – as was promised at the public consultation – should be the preferred option.”

The proposed £13 million leisure centre includes a six-lane pool and exercise studios, and has been hailed by the council as a “modern and fit-for-purpose” facility.

However, several concerns have been raised since the plans were first revealed in 2020, particularly over a council-run survey and the environmental impact of demolishing a building to replace it with another.

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The survey on five potential locations for the leisure centre referred to locating it “on the site of the existing pool”, but it was only several months after this that the council revealed it wants to build the facility over a play area behind the existing pool at Fysche Field.

The civic society said demolishing the existing pool would result in “unnecessary damage” to the environment and argued it is at odds with separate council plans to extend The Hydro in Harrogate.

It also raised questions over what the scrapping of Harrogate Borough Council in April 2023 will mean for its proposals and new leisure company Brimhams Active.

A civic society spokesperson said: 

“Sadly many Knaresborough residents who use the play area will only be aware of the loss of valuable community green space when the trees are felled and the diggers move in.

“This would be the wrong decision by a council favouring a company run by councillors that may or may not exist after local government reorganisation in a year’s time.”

If approved, the new leisure centre could be built by the end of 2023.

The other locations previously considered included Knaresborough House, Hay-a-Park, Conyngham Hall and a plot of land at Halfpenny Lane.

Electrical fault blamed for Harrogate district crane fire

An electrical fault is being blamed for a crane fire that caused the closure of a main Harrogate district road for most of yesterday.

The driver, believed to be from Ripon, escaped unharmed when the blaze started shortly before 7.30am yesterday on Arkendale Road, Ferrensby, which is between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.

The crane was not moving at the time of the incident. Two other cranes were required to remove it.

Firefighters from Knaresborough, Harrogate and Ripon used hose reels, breathing apparatus, a thermal imaging camera and a triple extension ladder to fight the blaze, which severely damaged the cab and engine compartments.

Ferrensby crane fire

Arkendale Road remained closed until last night.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement:

“The crane was in transit and not in operation at the time of the fire.

“The cause of the fire is believed to be electrical.

“No injuries were reported.”

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Harrogate district road closed as crane catches fire

A main road in the Harrogate district was closed this morning when a crane caught fire.

The incident happened on the A6055 at Ferrensby, which is almost midway between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.

The fire was extinguished but no further details are currently available.

The Stray Ferret has contacted North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, which does not have a phone number for media inquiries, to request further details.

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Developer appeals Knaresborough 170-homes refusal

A developer has appealed a council decision to reject plans for 170 homes in Knaresborough after seeing the proposal twice refused.

Landowner Geoffrey Holland’s application would have seen homes built on Water Lane in the town.

However, Harrogate Borough Council rejected the latest proposal after planning officers said the scheme had a number of “fundamental” issues.

Proposals for 218 homes near Meadowside Academy were first rejected by the borough council’s planning committee in October 2019.

Mr Holland then scaled back house numbers for the scheme to 170 in his second push for approval, but saw this turned down in August last year.

Now, the developer has taken the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

‘No demonstrable adverse impacts’

In a statement of case, Cunnane Town Planning, which has lodged the appeal on behalf of Mr Holland, said there were “no significant or demonstrable adverse impacts that would arise as a consequence of the development”.

However, Kate Broadbank, the council’s planning officer, told the meeting in August 2021 that the scheme had a number of issues to resolve.

She said:

“One of the site allocation requirements is the provision of a circular recreation route – and this has been provided around the edge of the site.

“However, it is considered to be unsatisfactory, as it is a narrow path between the site boundary and side elevations of dwellings, meaning it is not very well overlooked and would not provide a safe, attractive route.

“The same situation occurred around the open space and children’s play area where houses backed onto this.

“The applicant has tried to overcome this by turning some houses around to face onto the path and play area, however, this has led to an issue with rear gardens now backing onto the streets.

“On the whole, the scheme is considered to lack character or a sense of place.”

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The site is allocated for more than 148 homes in the Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-2035, which outlines development in the district until 2035. This means development will happen once councillors are satisfied with detailed plans.

The latest proposals included a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as two, three and four-bedroom houses.

A total of 81 of these properties would have been classed as affordable.

More than 80 residents had lodged objections against the plans, which did not receive a single letter of support.

Plans for Knaresborough cliff lift ‘far from forgotten’

A Knaresborough not-for-profit organisation has said plans for a cliff lift in the town remain active — but devolution is delaying the process.

Renaissance Knaresborough is behind moves to create a lift linking Waterside and the town centre.

In a press release issued this week, it said plans have been in existence since 2005 but multiple obstacles have meant it is yet to come to fruition.

The organisation, which aims to support schemes that make the town better, said Knaresborough Castle and its grounds are owned by the Duchy of Lancaster but managed by Harrogate Borough Council under long-term lease.

It said the council supports the project but because the lease only has 11 years remaining the Duchy is reluctant to move forward until North Yorkshire devolution, which will see the council abolished, is finalised.

The press release said:

“The challenge is in renegotiating a long-term lease in the backdrop of the regional move to a unitary authority.

“Whilst there remains support from the council, we understand that there is an understandable hesitancy from the Duchy to renegotiate lease terms when a unitary authority transition has yet to be finalised.”

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Last week the Stray Ferret published an article about proposals for a Knaresborough land train to help tourists travel up the hill from Waterside. This would serve a similar purpose to the cliff lift but could probably be delivered sooner.

According to Renaissance Knaresborough, an independent tourism consultant found the scheme to be a viable prospect in 2019 and that “it is no longer a question of if, but when”.

The project has since received interest from private sector investors but no ownership structure has been identified, according to Renaissance Knaresborough.

Renaissance Knaresborough member Shan Oakes said:

“We feel that the cliff lift is a no-brainer, it’s desperately needed as part of a revival of the whole area.

“Knaresborough has been neglected for far too long. You watch people really struggle getting up that hill and those steps and its an access issue too.”

Forty-one Harrogate district schools take part in ‘walk to school day’

Forty-one schools from across the Harrogate district took part in Friday’s walk to school day, which aims to tackle the impact on the climate from transport.

The event, which was the first of 2022 and the fourth since its launch in June 2021, saw pupils from across Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Ripon take part.

Parents and children who were unable to stop using their cars completely were encouraged to “park and stride” by parking further from the school gate and continuing the journey on foot.

Kettlesing Fellscliffe Primary School won the district’s “Zero Hero” primary school award with 100% of pupils taking part.

Meanwhile, Harrogate Grammar School won the secondary school prize with 90% participation.

Winning pupils from Kettlesing Felliscliffe Primary School.

Winning pupils from Kettlesing Felliscliffe Primary School.

Holly Whyte, interim head of school at Kettlesing Felliscliffe Community Primary School, said:

“At Kettlesing Felliscliffe Primary School we are committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing for our pupils.

“While many of our children are local to the village, some of our families made the extra effort to take public transport for part of their journey to school before walking the final kilometre into school.

“This ties in with our schools plans to reduce the carbon footprint in the area with our child-led eco-committee.”

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Sarah Bissett, events coordinator for Zero Carbon Harrogate, the volunteer-led charity that runs the initiative, said:

“We have been positively overwhelmed by the level of support received from schools, families and children since the Harrogate District Walk to School Day initiative launched last summer. 

“This first event of 2022 has demonstrated the continued enthusiasm towards positive transport choices both on the day and beyond; building habits which benefit our environment and the health of participants in both the short and long-term.

“Encouragingly, there has also been an increase in the geographical spread of schools taking part across the district: a trend which we hope is set to continue throughout the year.”

The next walk to school day is set to take place on Friday, March 25.

£13m Knaresborough Leisure Centre recommended for approval

Plans to demolish Knaresborough Swimming Pool and replace it with a £13million leisure centre have been recommended for approval by council officers.

Harrogate Borough Council wants to build the new facility over a play area to the rear of the existing pool at Fysche Field.

It would mark Knaresborough’s biggest building project in decades and has been hailed by the council as an opportunity to provide “modern and fit-for-purpose leisure facilities” for the town.

But the proposals have been met with opposition from residents and groups who have criticised the designs and questioned the need for a new facility.

Knaresborough Civic Society described the proposed building as looking like an “industrial warehouse”, while a ‘Not On Fysche Field’ campaign has claimed to have gathered the support of around 940 residents in a petition.

Knaresborough Leisure Centre

Sport England has also objected over the loss of outdoor playing space, although the council said it had amended its plans and was awaiting feedback.

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There have been further criticisms over a council-run survey, which asked residents where the new facility should be built out of five locations.

Play area fears

The survey referred to locating the new leisure centre “on the site of the existing swimming pool”, but it was only several months after this that the council revealed it wants to build over the play area.

Despite the opposition, the council claims its plans have been well supported by many residents and it has now made a recommendation of approval to councillors.

A report to a meeting of the council’s planning committee next Tuesday said: 

“The enlarged facilities are required to meet the growing population need of Knaresborough and its surrounding area.

“This would help meet an existing undersupply of fitness stations in the locality and meet increased demand as the population increases.

“The public benefits of the scheme weigh heavily in favour of the proposal and are considered to outweigh the harm arising from the development.”

Six-lane pool

The plans include a new six-lane pool, learner pool, fitness suite, spin studio, sauna and steam room, and dry and wet changing facilities.

A total of 28 residents have lodged objections on the council’s website, while two letters of support have been received.

The other locations previously considered by the council included Knaresborough House, Hay-a-Park, Conyngham Hall and a plot of land at Halfpenny Lane.

If approved, the project could be completed by the end of 2023.