A Scandinavian-inspired coffee shop opened today on Harlow Hill.

Nord Coffee House has moved to a unit at 135 Otley Road that was previously home to cafe, The Kitchen, for five years before it closed last year.

Nord sells artisan coffee, sandwiches, pastries and donuts. A pop-up Nord opened in Knaresborough in December.

Craig Buchan, who is involved with Nord, also co-founded FI:k, which is a Swedish-style cafe in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

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Discussions are underway to purchase a road train to help people get around Knaresborough more easily.

The train would connect Waterside and Market Place and make it easier for tourists to visit the entire town.

Some Waterside visitors are deterred by the steep climb to the town centre and others don’t even realise there is a thriving town centre nearby.

Ways to connect the two areas have been a topic of debate for years, but following discussions between Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and local businessman Tony Bennett, the idea may become a reality.

The train would pick people up from various locations and transport them round the town.

It would be similar to the Candy Cane Express train that operated in Harrogate last Christmas but run on a commercial basis rather than for free.

Initial ideas would see the train run from Conyngham Hall, along the river then up the hill to Market Square and York Road — a similar route to the town’s bed race.

The Candy Cane Express road train that ran around Harrogate over Christmas.

At a chamber meeting this week, business owners said they often spoke to tourists who visited Waterside and the River Nidd without knowing there was a bustling high street just up the hill.

Knaresborough’s hilly terrain can make it difficult for some to climb up the castle steps so it is hoped the land train would make Knaresborough a more accessible destination for people.

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Knaresborough Chamber of Trade committee member, Peter Lacey, told members plans were still at the discussion stage but if it went ahead it would probably operate as a standalone commercial venture run by Mr Bennett.

Mr Lacey told last night’s meeting:

“We have spoken with a supplier who has been doing this for years and can help us source the train and with council permissions. We will support anyone who wishes to run the project as we see it being an asset to the town and its businesses.

“We don’t know for sure when it will be up and running but I’d be disappointed if it wasn’t by the summer.”

Plans for an electronic cliff lift have been put forward by Renaissance Knaresborough but the group said it hadn’t made much progress due to coronavirus.

Town and parish councillors in Boroughbridge High School’s catchment area have concerns about the level of consultation on the proposed closure of the sixth form.

The school held a consultation between mid-November and mid-December on the proposal, which would see all sixth form courses and pastoral support transfer to King James’s School in Knaresborough for two years from September.

The two schools federated last year, which means they have a single governing body overseeing both schools.

Staff, students, parents/carers and governors were asked for their thoughts on suspending the sixth form.

But local councils have concerns the consultation was not wide enough.

Boroughbridge Town Council met with a school governor on Tuesday.

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According to sources, councillors told the governor they had not been consulted and requested another meeting with more representatives from the school.

They said nearby Langthorpe Parish Council and Kirby Hill and District Parish Council share the same concerns.

No meeting date has been set yet. However, councillors plan to quiz the school on how it can increase student uptake, its future plans and what the two-year suspension would mean in practice.

The Stray Ferret asked the federation of governors whether a decision has been made following its meeting on the consultation last week.

The chair declined to comment until all parents and carers have been informed.

However, the school is expected to announce its decision shortly.

Harrogate Borough Council will be asked next week to support the return of community assets to Ripon City Council and Knaresborough Town Council.

A motion due before a full council meeting calls on the council to back requests for Knaresborough House, Ripon Town Hall and Hugh Ripley Hall being transferred back to local communities.

Harrogate Borough Council took control of the assets when it was created following local government reorganisation in 1974.

But the decision to scrap the borough council next year and replace it with a single authority called North Yorkshire Council covering the whole of the county has led for calls for local assets to be returned to town council control.

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A motion due before the council meeting next week, which was first proposed by Ripon Independent councillors Pauline McHardy and Sid Hawke and later amended by Harrogate Fairfax Cllr Chris Aldred and Knaresborough Scriven Park Cllr Hannah Gostlow, who are both Liberal Democrats, will say:

“That this council supports the principle of specific locality community assets, such as Knaresborough House, Ripon Town Hall, Hugh Ripley Hall and other such community facilities across the district being transferred to the ownership of the appropriate city, town or parish council, should these bodies express a wish to take on ownership of their local assets, in preference to ownership transferring to the new unitary authority. 

“To start the process that this council writes to local parish, town and city councils to ask which assets they would potentially take ownership of.”

Cllr McHardy told the Stray Ferret previously:

“There’s absolutely no reason for Harrogate to hang on to assets that rightfully belong to us.

“Not a penny was paid for them when they were handed to Harrogate in 1974 and we want them to be transferred back.”

The full council meeting which will debate the motion will be held on Wednesday, February 9.

Knaresborough businesses have said they would strongly oppose any moves to pedestrianise the town’s Market Place.

Knaresborough Town Council put forward an idea to pedestrianise a section of Market Place in a recent survey on the future of the town.

But businesses spoke out overwhelmingly against the proposal in a heated debate at a Knaresborough Chamber of Trade meeting last night.

They said the plans, which could see the area from the phone boxes to the market cross pedestrianised with the loss of 14 parking spaces, would damage trade.

Many said the loss of parking would encourage shoppers to go elsewhere and make deliveries more difficult.

Concerns have also been raised about how the area would look and who would manage the upkeep.

‘Massive impact on sales’

After the meeting, Stuart Pieri, who owns of The Wine Shop which looks out onto the car park, told the Stray Ferret:

“I already have people leaving boxes of wine at the door whilst they go and get their cars and park up outside on the double yellows so without those parking spaces in front it’ll be even worse. It’ll have a massive impact on sales for me. It would be the difference from people buying a box and a bottle.

“As a resident, it would be lovely to see it pedestrianised and done properly but from a business point of view it’s not as practical. Either way, of course I will adapt, but I’d rather not have to.”

Carole Bardon, owner of the Lavender Rooms, had similar opinions:

“It would make life really difficult, especially for deliveries. The idea of it is nice, more space for chairs outdoors, but it just hampers everything else. People wouldn’t be able to park out here, especially disabled people wouldn’t be able to get to us.”

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Kelly Teggin

‘Don’t fix what isn’t broken’

Kelly Teggin, owner of a hair salon on Castlegate said:

“I don’t think Knaresborough needs pedestrianising, we struggle for parking as it is. Those parking spaces are always being used so to lose them would have a huge impact, we’ll all lose customers if they don’t think they can get parking. Why fix something that isn’t broken?

“Also, it would need proper management and with the castle only a minute’s walk away pedestrians are already spoilt for choice. I think the idea is nice but the ripple effect on businesses and cost doesn’t add up.”

A Knaresborough writer with Asperger’s Syndrome and attention-deficit disorder wants to show young people diagnosed with similar conditions that they will not stop them achieving their dreams.

Matt Wilkinson was only diagnosed with Asperger’s, a form of autism, in recent years.

He had always struggling academically but said his disorder never stopped him working towards his goal of becoming a writer.

Mr Wilkinson fell in love with writing at a young age whilst watching cult science fiction films, such as Back to the Future and Ghostbusters. They inspired him to write his first science fiction novel in 2017 called Drive Time.

It tells the story of three friends who invent a machine to send messages back in time in the hope of saving humanity from itself.

Mr Wilkinson is now working on a second novel, which he hopes to finish by the end of the year.

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He said:

“I’ve always loved writing, I remember in primary school we’d be asked to write a story and I would make mine the most extravagant I could. At school I was always difficult, I was really clever but I struggle to focus.

“I think it’s good for younger people to see that just because they may have autism it doesn’t mean they can’t succeed doing what they love.”

Mr Wilkinson works with APM UK as part of a government’s work and health programme to help people improve their employment skills.

He hopes it will help him find work writing for TV and film companies that understand his needs.

Trees will be planted this weekend in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Boroughbridge as part of an initiative to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

The Queen’s Green Canopy, which was created as part of celebrations for the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, which invites people from across the United Kingdom to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

Trees will be planted in Valley Gardens and on Wetherby Road in Harrogate, at Jacob Smiths Park in Knaresborough, at High Cleugh in Ripon, at Pateley Bridge Recreation Ground and at Boroughbridge Recreation Ground on Sunday.

All but one tree at each of the locations has been planted already. The final tree ones will planted this weekend to coincide with Her Majesty’s accession day.

Harrogate borough mayor, Councillor Trevor Chapman, will unveil the ceremonial tree in Valley Gardens, Harrogate at 2pm.

The Lord Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Johanna Ropner, will join Councillor Andy Paraskos to unveil the ceremonial tree at Boroughbridge Recreation Ground at 11am.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones will join the mayor of Knaresborough, Councillor Christine Willoughby, at Jacob Smith Park in Knaresborough at 1pm.

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Cllr Eamon Parkin, the mayor of Ripon and Cllr Mike Holt, the mayor of Pateley Bridge, will plant trees in their respective locations.

Species being planted include elm, oak, hornbeam, sycamore and lime.

Individuals, town and parish councils, community groups, schools, businesses and landowners will be encouraged to plant tress during the planting season from October to March.

White Rose Forest

The Queen’s Green Canopy will coincide with the council’s plans to plant thousands of trees in Bilton Beck Wood and Willow Wood, Harrogate and Upper Horse Shoe Fields, Knaresborough as part of the White Rose Forest partnership.

The White Rose Forest is the community forest for North and West Yorkshire being created by local authorities, landowners, businesses and communities.

Councillor Andy Paraskos, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“The Queen’s Green Canopy is a wonderful opportunity for us to not only honour Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee but also help address the climate situation and deliver carbon reduction initiatives throughout the Harrogate district.

“Similar to the White Rose Forest project, we want to encourage as many people as possible in the district to get involved to improve air quality and biodiversity.”

Sarah Wells, community manager at Bettys & Taylors Group, which has supported the scheme, said:

“Trees remain very close to our hearts at Bettys & Taylors and we are delighted to support this unique project which not only highlights the importance of climate action, but also the positive impact of community collaboration. We hope that these trees will be enjoyed by residents and visitors to the area for many years to come.”

A Knaresborough car park is set to undergo £30,000 resurfacing works.

Harrogate Borough Council has awarded a contract to Ripon-based AE Duffield and Sons to carry out the work at Fisher Street car park.

The 48-bay car park on Chapel Street is close to the town’s High Street and is open seven days a week.

The work will see the car park relined to offer 45 parking bays, three disabled parking bays, together with directional markings and yellow hatching.

The advertised contract added:

“The works will also involve the removal of the existing timber bin enclosure, with the formation of a new, due to its current dilapidated condition.”

According to the contract, work is expected to start on February 16 and last until February 22.

AE Duffield and Sons have also carried out similar work at Ripon Cathedral Car Park, where the company was awarded a £106,000 contract to resurface the site.

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Firefighters were summoned to a blaze in a tree house in woodland in Knaresborough last night.

Appliances from Harrogate and Knaresborough were summoned to the fire at about 9.30pm last night.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log, the fire occurred in a wooded area at Waterside. It said:

“The structure suffered 100% fire damage and was extinguished using a main 45 mm jet and a ceiling hook.

“The cause of the fire is unknown.”

There have been several fires recently in the woods near the River Nidd in Knaresborough.

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A local authority facing a huge demand to increase cycling infrastructure has revealed it is mapping all non-public right-of-way cycle routes for the first time to make it easier for people to swap their cars for bikes.

North Yorkshire County Council’s highways team is set to produce a cycling route map spanning England’s largest county while also examining moves such as segregating road users as sweeping Highway Code changes are introduced to make cycling easier and safer.

The announcements follow the authority being inundated with proposals for cycle route schemes from residents and community groups after the authority received £1m from Department for Transport Active Travel Fund last year to improve the infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.

Despite numerous calls for action to enable active travel in rural areas, the council said it would focus the funding on large towns, such as Harrogate, as greater populations meant better value for money.

Harrogate currently has cycling routes planned for Otley Road and Victoria Avenue in Harrogate and Harrogate Road in Knaresborough.

A meeting of the county’s Local Access Forum this week heard safety concerns continued to be a major factor in determining whether people chose to cycle and that the government was trying to discourage segregating cyclists by using white lines, “given that white lines don’t do anything to protect cyclists”.

Instead, highway officers said, the authority was now moving towards physically segregating cyclists and motorists, but it was a more expensive than simply using white lines and would “not happen overnight”.

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The forum’s chairman, Paul Sherwood, said action was needed to improve roads for cyclists. He said:

“Is the highways section of the county council aware of the incredibly dangerous situation of the appallingly maintained roads in which cycling is extremely hazardous in the way the roads are at the moment?”

Funding from developers

Officers replied that the roads were subject to a scheduled programme of inspections and the council was looking to gain extra funding through property developers’ contributions for safety improvements. The meeting heard the availability of funding could increase when the forthcoming unitary authority controls most of the county’s planning matters.

The meeting was told it was hoped a county-wide map of non-public right of way routes would make it easier for cyclists to plan.

An officer said:

“We recognise it is not that easy to find out where those routes are. We are moving towards making that more accessible.”

The meeting heard the authority would be taking into account the HIghway Code changes, in which cyclists are encouraged to cycle in the middle of the road, but the changes were unlikely to impact on the design for cycling infrastructure.

Councillors were told the council would examine schemes such as one introduced in parts of York where bollards have been placed at the side of the road to segregate cyclists and motorists, which had increased safety for cyclists while the narrowing of the road had slowed traffic.