Knaresborough firms raise concerns about proposed new BID

Three independent businesses in Knaresborough have expressed concerns about the process to create a new Business Improvement District for the town.

Companies in Knaresborough will be balloted on Friday on whether to set up a BID.

BIDs, which already exist in many towns and cities, including Harrogate and Ripon, aim to create safer, cleaner and better promoted city and town centres to improve footfall.

Plans to create a Knaresborough BID began in September 2019 and the outcome of this week’s ballot is due to be revealed on October 9.

But three business owners jointly contacted the Stray Ferret saying they felt their voices hadn’t been heard during the BID set-up process and highlighting concerns about transparency, communication and accuracy.

They are Tracey Bell from Ruebury Flowers, Annie Wilkinson-Gill at The Crystal Buddha and Natalie Horner from Sid Horner and Son.

Transparency

If the BID is voted in, all businesses in the Knaresborough area will have to pay an annual levy for five years. The amount depends on each company’s rateable value and can vary from 68p to £21 each day.

The three women said it was important for them to know before they voted what schemes would be introduced from the £700,000 the BID is expected to receive over five years.

The Knaresborough BID’s business plan sets aside £575,000 for ‘communicating, connecting, celebrating and collaborating’ but the women say they are not clear what this means even though they have sought clarification.

Ms Bell said:

“It’s just not been done in the right way and it’s not transparent. I really do think it could have worked well but it’s just a shame that our opinions haven’t been listened to.

“I have no confidence in how the process has been handled so far that these people [the BID task group] are going to be able to deliver what they said they will deliver.”

When asked what the £575,000 will go towards, Bill Taylor, chair of the BID task group, said:

“If the vote is successful a not-for-profit company will carry out the detailed implementation of the themes identified in the plan. This company will be run and managed by businesses themselves and the details of this are also set out in the business plan.”

Communication

The three business owners said they found out about the BID through word of mouth and social media rather than from BID consultants.

They added numerous businesses, included in the BID map area, are yet to be contacted despite ballot papers going out at the end of the week.

The business owners also said they had raised numerous questions and suggested ideas for the business plan but none had been included. They said they felt they weren’t being listened to.

Ms Thorner said:

“We kept trying to get involved and ask questions but now it’s going to ballot and we’re still no more aware of where the £700,000 is going.”

Ms Bell added:

“For me, it sounds like they’ve thought ‘let’s do this thing’ and not tell anyone.”

Read more:

Accuracy

They also claimed the ballot list is full of inaccuracies, saying some businesses included don’t exist anymore or have changed hands.

Ms Wilkinson-Gill said:

“Some of the owners on the list have passed away. There should be an accurate list.”

In response, Mr Taylor said the ballot process was handled by an officer at Harrogate Borough Council and incorrect information should be reported to it.

The three women are delivering flyers this week to businesses to ensure they are aware of the upcoming vote. Insisting the flyers are non-biased, Ms Wilkinson-Gill said:

“We don’t care how people vote, we just want everyone to know about it. I’m still optimistic that the BID could be good for the town, we just need to make sure everyone has the chance to be involved.”

More homes set to be added to 600-home Knaresborough scheme

House builder Taylor Wimpey looks set to be granted permission to include another 23 properties in the 600-home Manse Farm development in Knaresborough.

A Harrogate Borough Council report recommends the council’s planning committee approves two variations to the original planning permission, which allowed 600 homes to be built.

The first variation is to increase the number of homes number by 23. The second variation is for the developer to change the road layout to its nearby 400-home Highfield Farm development, which is yet to be granted planning permission.

In total, over 1,000 homes could eventually be built to the east of Knaresborough off the A59.

Read more:

The council report recommends councillors approve the application to improve access between the Manse Farm and Highfield Farm developments.

It says:

“Without such a condition there is a risk that the links would not be provided, leaving the residents of the Highfield Farm development isolated from the proposed facilities on Manse Farm and forced to use the A59 as the sole point of access.”

Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council objected to the proposal, saying the development needed fewer homes rather than more.

It said:

“The original overall total 1,002 approved houses on the east side of Knaresborough, at the Manse Farm and the neighbouring Highfield Farm developments, was already excessive and inappropriate.

“Taking this total up to 1,027 is therefore not supported. Reductions in housing in these developments should be taking place, not increases, in order to make the developments a more rewarding living environment.”

The council’s planning committee will meet next Tuesday to consider the application.

‘We will not resort straight away to criminal prosecution’ of travellers, say police

North Yorkshire Police has said it will not “resort straight away” to criminal prosecution of travellers who set up illegal encampments.

Travellers have pitched up at Hay-a-Park in Knaresborough and on the playing field at Ashville College in Harrogate this month.

Asked today by a member of the public why officers did not use the Criminal Disorder Act 1984, which prohibits trespassing, deputy chief constable Phil Cain said the police always looked to resolve the matter at “the earliest opportunity”.

But he added the force had a “graduated response” to dealing with such incidents.

DCC Cain, speaking at a North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner public accountability meeting, said police had to balance the human rights of all those involved, particularly as the travelling community often has families with small children.

He said:

“The graduated response from North Yorkshire Police, as it is with other forces, is that we will not resort straight away to criminal prosecution. We will engage with the travelling community and the land owners as we have done on this occasion.

“We will seek to resolve the matter at the earliest opportunity using the least intrusive means possible. That includes graduating up through private land owners utilising powers in civil courts for unlicensed travellers settlements all the way through to the final element, which would be criminal prosecution.

“On this occasion, local officers have engaged with the travelling community and they have agreed to move on without the need for us to resort to criminal prosecution.”

Read more:

“It’s not that we are not prepared to use these powers, it’s that there has to be a graduated response and we have to show that graduated response in order to show that we are complying with the Human Rights Act.”

Last week travellers set up camp on Ashville College’s rugby pitch and demanded £5,000 to leave, according to a college spokesperson.

However, after less than two days the travellers hitched up their caravans and moved on. The college said they left of their own accord.

Hay-a-Park rugby field in Knaresborough was sealed off by police and deemed to be a health hazard due to the amount of human excrement after travellers departed on August 10.

Knaresborough traveller site Hay-A-Park

A police cordon sealing off Hay-a-Park rugby field after travellers left.

£7.7m upgrade of junction 47 on A1(M) delayed by two months

A £7.7 million project to upgrade junction 47 on the A1(M) at Flaxby has been delayed and is now scheduled to end in December.

Work began at the start of September last year to widen slip roads and install traffic lights to prevent vehicles queueing.

The project, carried out by contractors Farrans Construction on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council, also involves upgrading the road network just off the junction.

It was due to end shortly but the completion date has been pushed back two months due to “unforeseen ground conditions”.

Barrie Mason, assistant director highways and transportation at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Work to upgrade junction 47 on the A1(M) is progressing well and when complete will address congestion, improve road safety and support sustainable development in Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as supporting the county council’s objective of improving east-west connections across North Yorkshire.

“Unforeseen ground conditions have required extra work on the southbound on-slip carriageway and this has delayed the scheme.

“The original planned completion date of late September or early October has been revised to December this year.”

The project is being funded by the county council with £2.47m from the government’s Local Growth Fund along with contributions from Highways England and developer Forward Investment LLP.

Read more:

 

Letter: Extending the Nidderdale Greenway is a ludicrous idea

Your recent article about plans to extend the Nidderdale Greenway fills me with dismay.

The article refers to ambitious plans to extend the Nidderdale Greenway from Ripley to Pateley Bridge and then to Scar House reservoir.

At a time when the world is trying to reduce its carbon footprint, encourage conservation and care of the environment and preserve historic footpaths and bridleways, it seems ludicrous that there should be a suggestion of a Greenway.

We all know it is not a Greenway, it will never be a Greenway but a Blackway as it will result in 19 miles of tarmac being laid over footpaths, bridleways, disused railway lines and virgin land.

It will destroy bridleways, which are used by walkers and horses, it will destroy footpaths that are used by walkers, it will destroy the environment and destroy flora and fauna. It will destroy and displace wildlife, animals, birds and insects from their homes and it will urbanise what is a beautiful rural dale.

I have no objections to cyclists but there is a perfectly adequate road system in Nidderdale for them to use which in part requires some physical fitness.

Read more:

The first cycle route from Knaresborough to Harrogate and Ripley is an urban route that people can access easily by cycle or on foot from the town. The proposed Blackway is not an urban route. It would require people to drive to it and then walk and cycle part of it. That in itself will cause congestion and increase our carbon footprint. The villages do not have adequate parking for an influx of vehicles.

Having viewed the Knaresborough to Ripley cycle route I see there has been a great deal of encroachment on to adjoining countryside and I am appalled to think of the amount of encroachment that would happen on any proposed extension.

I have yet to speak to a landowner who is in favour. I have yet to speak to a resident who is in favour, but I have spoken to many people who enjoy walking and riding on the existing footpaths and bridleways, and they are not in favour.

Instead of this constant misplaced enthusiasm that our local authorities show for cycling it would be better if they tried to spend taxpayers’ money on improving the town centre and its attractions. North Yorkshire has many challenges to deal with and a proposed tarmac track up Nidderdale should not be high on its priority list.

Richard Rusby, Burnt Yates

Knaresborough man turns passion for DJing into radio succcess

During the first lockdown one Knaresborough man and his cousin set up a new radio station to share their passion for DJing.

Andy Bolton from Knaresborough and Alex Render from Hull set up Locked Down Radio on Facebook in April 2020. Over the last 18 months they have moved to streaming on Mixcloud and hit 10,000 listeners in a week.

The pair had previously just played to family or put videos on Facebook but set up the radio station whilst they were stuck at home.

In the daytime Mr Bolton works as a high school teacher and Mr Render as a plumber but at night they stream live to hundreds of listeners as Rebs and Rendez.

The pair have now pulled together a rota with 30 international DJs. There are dance and house sets as well as themed nights such as Rock night.

Mr Bolton said:

“It was my cousin who set up the Facebook page after saying I should put my DJ videos out there. We got family involved at first then wanted to be a little more professional.

“We want to keep growing. We have loved everything we have done so far and are extremely proud of what we have achieved, we still don’t even know where this will take us, but we have some big ideas!”

Read more:

The pair said setting up Locked Down Radio has become a passion project for them and a way to bring the family together with a promotion team now on board the men are hoping to keep growing.

Their first live event will go ahead in Hull this weekend.

A website has now been launched with hopes of developing this to broadcast live on the site.

‘Dispose batteries safely’ warning after bin wagon catches fire in Knaresborough

Harrogate Borough Council has warned people to be careful disposing their household waste after a bin wagon caught fire in Knaresborough.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue responded to reports of smoke coming from the refuse collection vehicle on Manse Lane at 9.24am yesterday.

Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough rushed to the scene where they worked with the binmen to tip out the waste in a safe location and extinguish the fire. Nobody is believed to have been hurt.

An investigation by the fire crews determined the cause was likely to be a chemical reaction.

Read more:

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“Our crew responded effectively to the event and our thanks go to them and the fire crews for their quick actions to ensure the fire was safely contained.

“Can we remind businesses and residents to think carefully about what they are disposing of in their general waste.

“Please ensure substances and in particular batteries are disposed of safely, not in with their general waste.”

Council blames covid for barring group from Knaresborough House

Harrogate Borough Council has blamed government advice on coronavirus for preventing a community group from meeting at Knaresborough House.

Knaresborough & District Men’s Forum has used Knaresborough House since 1970, so members consider it to be their home.

However, with just under a month to go until they plan to meet again the group has nowhere to go.

Even though the government dropped all legal social distancing measures in July, the council still considers coronavirus restrictions as part of its risk assessment.

With such restrictions in place the Knaresborough & District Men’s Forum, which attracts around 80 people, would not be able to use the council-owned Knaresborough House.

Read more:

The forum offers entertainment and company during winter for retired and semi-retired men in the Knaresborough area.

It usually meets every Tuesday morning and hosts speakers on all kinds of subjects except politics and religion. The £2 entry fee includes a hot drink and a biscuit.

Peter Cresswell, press officer for the forum, told the Stray Ferret:

“If we have to adhere by social distancing measures then we would not be able to use Knaresborough House.

“We do not want to find a new place to meet. The forum has met there every year for the past 50 years.

“It is just hard to understand when thousands of people can mix in football stadiums and at music festivals.”

Knaresborough House is the home of the group. Photo: Habiloid/Geograph

A council spokesman said:

“Whilst we appreciate the law governing social distancing may have changed, our risk assessment still contains certain measures in line with government advice.”

The guidance the council refers to states people “should limit the close contact with those you do not usually live with, and increase close contact gradually.”

The council spokesman added:

“The virus is still in circulation, and with public meetings often involving a number of different people who don’t normally come into contact with each other, particularly as it’s indoors, we’re continuing to apply a degree of caution to help keep everyone safe.

“To be clear on the social distancing point, we recognise that two metres isn’t always possible so have advised “one metre plus mitigating measures” under those circumstances.

“This is our current position, but we will of course continue to review our risk assessment and make changes as and when we deem it necessary.”

Knaresborough’s Picnic in the Park cancelled due to heavy rain

Organisers have cancelled today’s Picnic in the Park in Knaresborough due to the forecasted heavy rain and possible thunderstorms.

The free event in the gardens of Knaresborough House was set to start at 12pm and be part of the popular FEVA arts festival that is celebrating its 25th year.

Musicians that had been booked to play, including DJ Trev and Hot Sauce, will instead perform inside as part of the Knaresborough Lions Beer Festival at Knaresborough House that starts at 12pm.

See information about other FEVA events that are taking place this weekend here.

Read more:

 

Boulders installed to stop illegal traveller site in Knaresborough

Harrogate Borough Council has said large boulders will be installed at the site on Hay-A-Park Lane to try and prevent future illegal encampments.

The council has said the boulders are a temporary measure.

At the beginning of the month a large number of caravans arrived on Knaresborough’s rugby fields off Hay-A-Park Lane. The travellers were given an eviction notice by the council and left a week later.

A large amount of rubbish and human excrement was left at the site. Local residents called for volunteers to help with the clear-up but they were met by the police and told to stay away because of the threat to human health.

A council spokesperson said the site was cleaned by a group of council staff over “a couple of days” and added:

“There was numerous items of rubbish including furniture and white goods.

“A temporary solution of large boulders will be installed to prevent illegal encampments.”

Read more:

The council has not confirmed where the boulders will be placed but it is likely they will be put in the gap between the hedges in front of the gravelled entrance.

No further information was given on permanent measures.