Harrogate district schools urged to consider park and stride schemes

Schools are being urged to follow the example of a Knaresborough secondary school by setting up park and stride schemes.

Park and stride schemes incentivise parents to park in designated areas away from the school gates, with students walking the rest of the way.

They aim to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality near school entrances.

King James’s School in Knaresborough introduced a park and stride scheme in 2019. Harrogate Borough Council issues permits to those taking part, enabling them to park for free in York Place car park at certain times.

Carl Sugden, headteacher at King James’s School, said:

“It helps further reduce congestion around our school grounds during drop-off and collection times and, as a result of the park and stride scheme, more pupils have the valuable opportunity to safely walk their last five minutes to school in the fresh air, promoting alertness in support of their learning and a healthy routine.”

North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council collaborate on park and stride schemes.

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North Yorkshire County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said:

“There are many advantages to park and stride schemes like this one at King James’s School. Keeping motor vehicles well clear of school entrances keeps pupils safe, provides a bit of useful exercise, and improves air quality.

“Our road safety and active travel team would be happy to talk to any schools keen to investigate the possibility of introducing a park and stride scheme.”

Councillor Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability at Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“I hope lots of people take full advantage of this incentive and support our efforts in making the district greener for future generations.”

Any schools interested in learning more about park and stride schemes can contact North Yorkshire County Council via the Open North Yorkshire website, opennorthyorkshire.co.uk, or email opennorthyorkshire@northyorks.gov.uk

Knaresborough’s 30,000 knitted poppies honour the dead

The site around Knaresborough Castle has been covered with 30,000 knitted poppies to commemorate Remembrance Day and the centenary of the Royal British Legion.

The Knaresborough branch of the RBL worked with Harrogate Borough Council to install the poppies yesterday.

The poppies will remain in place until Remembrance Sunday on November 14.

Last year’s remembrance commemorations were reduced due to covid so the Knaresborough branch was determined to do something special this year.

The 30,000 knitted poppies have been created over the past two years by local women’s institutes, craft groups and individuals who have spent hours supporting the project.

Photograph: Sharon van Zelst

More poppies are set to adorn the castle next Wednesday when 1.500 poppies made by children from five Knaresborough primary schools using recycled petals from last year’s wreaths will be added to the display.

The branch will also hold a stall at next Wednesday’s market to raise funds for the RBL.

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There will be a small service at the war memorial at 11am on November 11. But the town’s main commemoration will be on Remembrance Sunday, November 14.

The main event will begin with a church service at St John’s Church at 9.30am followed by the parading of the Knaresborough Royal British Legion standard up the High Street to the memorial for a short service at 11am.

Photograph: Sharon van Zelst

Photographs: Sharon van Zelst

Photograph: Sharon van Zelst

Wild swimmer says River Nidd pollution levels ‘concerning’

Wild swimming has become more popular in recent years among people who prefer swimming in rivers and lakes than inside buildings.

Knaresborough woman Miranda Newbery is among those who have taken up the sport. She started last year during lockdown and says feeling connected to nature whilst exercising gives a sense of freedom and changed her life.

Ms Newbery currently swims in the River Nidd with friends once or twice a week but says pollution levels have become an increasing concern.

Last summer she introduced her children to wild swimming. They later fell ill and although she cannot be sure it was due to pollution she has since bought them snorkel-like masks to wear.

Swimming with a friend in Ullswater

She said:

“It makes me nervous, of course I couldn’t prove it was because of the water but it gives us all so much pleasure I don’t want to stop the kids doing it.

“The river is key to Knaresborough and used by so many. It is something we should look after with our politicians working to protect it too.”

The state of rivers has been a hot topic since MPs voted last month against an amendment to stop water companies, such as Yorkshire Water, pumping raw sewage into British rivers.

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough was among those who voted against the amendment. He later said he would support a new amendment to the Environment Bill that would reduce sewage in waterways.

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Failed pollution tests in Nidd

The Stray Ferret spoke to other local residents last week who echoed Ms Newbery’s views and called for action to reduce pollution in local rivers.

Jacqui Renton, from Knaresborough, who swims in the Nidd as part of her training for a British championships open water swimming competition, said the Nidd had failed water pollution tests and was “a potential health risk”.

Nevertheless the swimmers plan to keep plunging into the Nidd.

Ms Newbery says she’s shared laughter and heartbreak with other wild swimmers over the last year and encourages people to give it a go.

“There is something about the combination of the cold water and being in the beautiful natural surroundings that we are blessed with in Knaresborough that is truly restorative.”

“It’s a mindful practice and sharing that with friends is so special.”

 

What is green belt land and how would Harrogate look without it?

It was first introduced in the 1960s to stop urban sprawl and protect Harrogate’s countryside from being dug up for developments.

The green belt is protected areas of rural land where the building of new homes and businesses is only allowed in special circumstances.

Its supporters say green belts have preserved landscapes across the country, while critics claim they protect the rich, stop houses being built and encourage commuting by cars.

But what would Harrogate look like if its protected areas of land had never been created?

36,000 acres of greenbelt

The green belt covers almost 36,000 acres across the district – equivalent to 11% of the total area.

It stretches along the district’s southern boundary with Leeds and up between Harrogate and Knaresborough to stop the two towns merging. There is also an area in the east of the district that forms part of the York green belt, which encircles the city.

Without the protection that the green belt offers, Harrogate and Knaresborough’s built-up areas – which sit just half a mile apart – could have formed one.

Other areas to the west including Otley and Ilkley could have also expanded ever-outwards and swallowed up the smaller settlements that surround them.

But the rules and regulations which make up green belt policy have not stopped developers coming forward with plans.

There have been almost 1,700 applications to Harrogate Borough Council in the protected areas since 2011. Most of these were for extensions and farm buildings, but others have been of some significance.

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In early 2020, a developer behind plans for 210 homes on the outskirts of Wetherby near Stockeld Park was refused planning permission by both the council and a government inspector at appeal.

On the flip side, the construction of Harrogate Rugby Club’s Rudding Lane ground would not have been possible if the council did not allow for “special circumstances” when plans were approved in 2013.

These are just two examples of when development can and can’t take place in the green belt, with the task of deciding which circumstances are “special” enough to justify development often resulting in interventions by government inspectors.

Protecting greenbelt ‘a core principle’, says council

Cllr Tim Myatt, cabinet member for planning at Harrogate Borough Council, said the authority attaches great importance to protecting the green belt and that doing so is a key part of local and national policy.

He said: 

“Any proposal for development in the district’s two green belts – namely the West Yorkshire green belt and the York green belt – would need to be in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework, which makes clear that any development should not be approved except in very special circumstances.

“Protecting the green belt is one of the core planning principles of the NPPF and something our adopted Local Plan also specifies.”

The green belt between Harrogate and Knaresborough was reviewed in 1992 and minor changes were made when the district’s 2001 Local Plan was adopted.

However, the boundaries were not reviewed when the most recent Local Plan was adopted in 2020 – something residents in Harlow and Pannal Ash say should have happened.

David Siddans, secretary of Harlow and Pannal Ash Residents Association, said: 

“We would have liked to see the green belt extended to provide more protection to the landscape between Harrogate and Beckwithshaw.

“But that, we understand, would have required a formal review process, and Harrogate Borough Council was not receptive to the idea.”

Mr Siddans also said it is the development of greenfield land – not green belt – which presents the biggest threat to the environment and local area, which is facing the construction of hundreds of new homes.

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He said these greenfield sites – which are untouched areas not previously built on – were seen as “easy pickings” when Harrogate’s most recent Local Plan was being developed.

Mr Siddans said: 

“When the Local Plan was being prepared and sites were being sought to accommodate around 16,000 new houses, all the greenfields around the western arc which were not green belt were targeted for development.

“No major developments are proposed on the existing area zoned as green belt west of Harrogate.

“However, greenfield sites do not have the same protection, except that those located around the western arc are all within designated areas of special landscape value.

“In practice, the planning authority pays little attention to this protection, hence the massive and highly intrusive developments currently being proposed.”

Rural art studio in Knaresborough a hub for creativity and mindfulness

Hopewell Studios in Knaresborough is a unique space in the district that offers a vast array of classes from photography, painting, drawing and floristry to dance.

Creating the studios has been a labour of love for photographer and artist Edward Webster.

He recently converted three sheds on his brother’s farm on Hay-a-Park Lane into the space.

Mr Webster wants the rural and rustic setting to encourage not just creativity but wellness and mindfulness too.

Hopewell Studios

‘A lifelong passion’

Dotted around the studios are 35mm, medium format and large format cameras. Some date back to the 19th century.

But they are not just ornaments, Mr Webster has rescued and rebuilt them to teach people how to use them. He said:

“It’s a lifelong passion”.

Photography has never been more instant thanks to smartphones, but Mr Webster wants to demystify film and show that it is accessible too. The studio has what he believes is the only professional darkroom in the district to create high-quality photos.

“Once you know about how film photography works you can work with it really creatively. It’s just a tool, same as a chisel, a paintbrush or pencil. You can let your creativity flow and if you teach it properly it’s accessible to anybody.”

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When the Stray Ferret visited the studio, Mr Webster printed our logo using a process called salt printing. It’s one of the oldest forms of photography and dates back to the 1830s.

Mr Webster still enjoys the “magic” of film.

“That’s why I still like teaching it. It’s real and tangible. We see so many images today. One every second on Facebook. You’re looking and not seeing them.”

Edward Webster in the darkroom

Photographer Alex Heron helps out with social media and web design for the studio. She added:

“Film’s had a resurgence. It’s a huge thing now for young people who are so into shooting film. It’s cool and trendy.”

‘Enjoying the magic’

As well as the indoor studios, visitors can also make the most of a private woodland to use nature and wildlife as a muse.

They are also currently building a kiln to teach ceramics.

Mr Webster said he hopes visitors can find inspiration through traditional artistic processes taught by experienced teachers.

Find out more about classes here.

Mr Webster added:

“It’s about coming in here and enjoying the magic”

Mr Webster used salt printing to reproduce our logo.

More than 500 excess deaths in North Yorkshire during coronavirus

There have been 559 excess deaths in North Yorkshire during the coronavirus pandemic, new figures have revealed.

Excess deaths are a measure of how many more people are dying than would be expected when compared to previous years and can be used to show the overall impact of the pandemic.

Figures presented to a meeting of North Yorkshire’s Outbreak Management Advisory Board showed 11,347 deaths from all causes were expected during the weeks of the pandemic based on the five-year average.

A total of 11,906 deaths from all causes were recorded up until 1 October – giving an excess of 559.

Dr Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, told today’s meeting that these figures were “largely reflective of the national position”. She said:

“The largest peaks of excess deaths, unsurprisingly, were during covid’s first and second wave.

“This was followed by periods where deaths were actually a bit below the expected number, however, those periods were not enough to offset the very high numbers of excess deaths that we saw during both wave one and two.”

According to Public Health England figures, there have been a total of 1,227 deaths in North Yorkshire where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

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The recent rate of Covid deaths and hospital admissions has increased slightly since the end of summer, however, the figures are lower than previous waves.

20 patients still in intensive care

Despite this, Sue Peckitt, chief nurse at NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said the heath service was still facing “unprecedented” demand with 171 Covid patients currently in the county’s hospitals.

She told today’s meeting that the majority of these patients were over-65 and that 20 were in intensive care:

“We continue to see high demand into our primary and emergency care departments.

“Whilst we are seeing high numbers of Covid infections in our younger population, it is the older population that is presenting into hospital.”

Ms Peckitt also said the vaccine rollout was continuing with a focus on booster jabs for over 50s and increasing uptake for 12 to 15-year-olds who will be offered their single dose by the end of November. She added:

“The schools programme for 12 to 15-year-olds is now rolling out through our provider Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, but we have also opened up three sites on the national booking system.

“These are the pharmacy site at Knaresborough, the Askham Bar site at York and the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough.”

MPs watch: Sewage dumps, commissioner resignations and David Amess

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced his Autumn budget and MPs were criticised for rejecting an amendment to stop raw sewage being pumped into rivers.

All of our district MPs were urged by North Yorkshire Police to report personal security concerns following the murder of David Amess MP in his constituency.

We asked our three Conservative MPs, Harrogate & Knaresborough’s Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon’s Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular that they have been doing this month, but, as usual, we did not receive a response from any of them.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

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Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Skipton and Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

In rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Adams:

Harry Kane’s World Cup shirt auction to fund community groceries

Harry Kane has donated his signed shirt from the England v Poland World Cup qualifier to Resurrected Bites for an auction to raise money for a community grocery project.

The Tottenham striker and England captain scored in the fixture which ended 1-1 on September 8.

Kane’s shirt was signed by all of the players and also comes with a letter of authenticity.

Resurrected Bites usually takes in surplus food but this special donation was thanks to the team’s relationship with Gareth Southgate’s assistant manager Steve Holland.

Michelle Hayes, the founder of Resurrected Bites, said:

“Steve is the nephew of my step-dad Tony. Tony is one of our volunteers and washes up at one of the Resurrected Bites cafés every week.

“When he told Steve about Resurrected Bites, Steve offered to help us with our fundraising. We were over the moon to receive Harry Kane’s shirt which has been signed by all of the England players.

“We think this shirt could really make an exceptional Christmas present for someone. That is in addition to raising much needed funds for our organisation.”

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The auction is being held on the Resurrected Bites Facebook page, where people are invited to share their bids by commenting below the post.

Bidding will end at 8pm on Sunday, November 7. The auction started off at £100 and has already reached £340.

Steve Holland with Gareth Southgate.

All of the money raised will go towards the community grocery project.

Resurrected Bites set up its first grocery at New Park Academy Community Hub but plans to open a second in Knaresborough in December.

At the community grocery people pay £5 a year to sign up as members. They are then entitled to pay £3, £5 or £9 depending on the size of their family, for items that would typically cost £30.

It stocks a wide range of tinned, fresh food and frozen food as well as toiletries, sanitary products and nappies in various sizes.

‘Time to come together’ for Knaresborough businesses after BID row

Knaresborough business owners say the town must come together and mend the divide following a row over setting up a town BID.

The voting down of a BID earlier this month, by 80 to 73, caused acrimony between businesses and led some to walk out of a Chamber of Trade AGM.

The Stray Ferret asked businesses where the town goes from here. The common message was one of “coming together to have their voices heard”.

Elaine Grinter, who has owned the Art in the Mill gallery with her husband Andy for 14 years, said:

“As a town we generally all get along and want the best for Knaresborough. Chamber is going through a period of turnover. Hopefully that experience of BID and all the acrimony will be put to one side and we’ll see a positive energy coming through.

“My query going forward is how we will be represented in the future with council changes. I think anything that sees us work together is a good idea.”

The upcoming devolution agreement is at the forefront of business owners minds with some saying without a BID representing them, like in Harrogate and Ripon, they will need to shout louder to make sure the town isn’t forgotten.

Businesses also raved of the “booming” summer of tourism experienced this year and are keen to keep the momentum high with a Christmas market, trees and window displays.

Kelly Teggin, owner of Kelly Teggin Hair and Beauty, was on the BID taskforce before it had to be disbanded and is hoping some of the projects BID had planned for can still go ahead. She said:

“I think it’s going to take a few months to settle down but we do need to draw a line under this divide or the town will suffer. The BID was going to bring some amazing things to the town because it was a big pot of money.

“I would still like to see some of the things we’d planned, this is time to come together for the town.”

A number of other businesses agreed the town needed time to heal but were confident the community would come back together for the good of the town.

Chamber attempts to build bridges

Peter Lacey, membership secretary of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, agreed the town must move on and has said the chamber is taking forward suggestions from this month’s AGM.

Networking events, joining up with other community groups and improving links between the town centre and Waterside are all to be looked at.

Today, the Chamber sent a letter apologising for previous comments made by former Chamber president Steve Teggin who hit out at “anti-BID activists” in an open letter. The current Chamber board said it had not signed off on the letter and “apologised for the hurt”.

Mr Lacey said:

“I hope when we come together in January we can talk positively and constructively about Knaresborough’s future.”

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John Ashton has just opened his business on the high street, Jovial Antiques. He said he was aware from other businesses there was a divide:

“I have heard some talk about people feeling upset at the outcome of the BID. I’m new to the area but I can tell there is a great community feel, businesses on the high street were straight into the shop to welcome me.

“I voted for a BID but of course we didn’t get it. The one thing we need is parking but visitors aren’t going to stop coming it’ll always be a busy town.”

Knaresborough caravan park extension plan withdrawn

Developers behind plans for an extension of a caravan park in Knaresborough have withdrawn the proposal.

The proposal by Lido Leisure Parks would have seen the Low Bridge Holiday Park, Abbey Road, expanded with a further 28 caravans.

Documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council say the plan would have seen the development built on Orchard Cliffs on Briggate.

As well as the holiday lodges, car parking and access were also included in the application.

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However, residents wrote the borough council to raise concern over increased traffic, impact on amenities and damage to wildlife.

The site layout for the caravan park in Knaresborough as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council.

The current holiday park includes 36 privately owned static caravans.

The developer said in its plans that the site would be a “valuable investment” in the town.

In documents submitted to then authority, it said:

“Detailed and careful consideration has been given to the proposals. The proposals create a development that not only respects the site and its surroundings but also provides a high quality and well considered place to live and holiday.

“The proposal will be a valuable investment in the town’s tourism offer.”