The president of the Rotary Club of Knaresborough will skydive next month to raise funds for the organisation.

Helen Westmancoat is an experienced skydiver, having completed 43 tandem jumps since 2011.

She will make her latest leap from an aircraft on October 9 at Hibaldstow in North Lincolnshire.

The rotary club’s fundraising efforts have been hampered this year due to Covid, which has forced some events to be cancelled.

It is hoped the skydive will generate funds to enable the club to continue to support the local community.

Ms Westmancoat said:

“It is a difficult time for everyone, Rotarians have an important role to play. Financial support has been given to both Harrogate Foodbank and Resurrected Bites.

“The club has been involved in setting up and operating Knaresborough Connectors. Disposable face masks have been donated to community groups.

“For the time being the club will continue to meet online and respond to the challenges that the pandemic has created.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough Rotary gets a new president. 
• An ice cream shop in Knaresborough used its sweet treats to raise money for local charity Frank’s Fund. 

Since becoming president, Ms Westmancoat has set out to encourage new members such as women and younger people.

To support her jump, click here.

A Ripon businessman led police on a cat-and-mouse road chase in which he shot through red lights and bombed through built-up areas at more than twice the speed limit on an uninsured Kawasaki motorbike.

Craig Hindson, 34, rode like a “lunatic” as he clocked up speeds of more than 80mph through Knaresborough and put at least one cyclist’s life in danger, York Crown Court heard.

He was jailed for six months and given a 15-month driving ban.

During the death-defying chase, the father-of-two taunted the pursuing officer by slowing down and “waving with his hand, indicating to pull over” – only to drop down the gears and speed off again, said prosecutor Dan Cordey.

At one stage, Hindson appeared to give himself up after pulling into a layby and stopping the bike. Police pulled in and an officer got out – only for Hindson to speed off again.

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The chase began on the A59 at the junction of York Road and Wetherby Road on 20 March.

Hindson began revving his engine aggressively in a line of traffic at temporary traffic lights at roadworks, drawing stares from people waiting at a bus stop.

Suddenly, Hindson “accelerated sharply, straight through a red light at high speed towards the Goldsborough roundabout”, added Mr Cordey.

80mph in 30mph zone

Among the queue of traffic was a marked police car, which gave chase but despite the wailing of sirens and flashing blue lights, Hindson sped up to “at least” 80mph on a 30mph stretch of road.

He shot through another set of lights, hotly pursued by police, just as two cyclists – a man and a woman – were crossing the junction.

The female cyclist had to stop in her tracks to avoid a potential collision. The scenes were witnessed by startled pedestrians walking along the pavement.

Hindson, wearing shorts, kept looking over his shoulder at the police car as he tore through Goldsborough.

“At times, he would slow down (and) wave with his hand, indicating to pull over, (then) drop gear before accelerating quickly away,” said Mr Cordey.

Ignored police

A short time later, Hindson appeared to give himself up when he pulled into a layby and came to a stop. The police car pulled up beside him, an officer got out and walked up to Hindson.

“He shouted at (Hindson) to remove his helmet and switch the machine off,” added Mr Cordey.

“The defendant nodded, but then very quickly accelerated away…onto the A59, towards the A1.”

The police vehicle managed to prevent Hindson pulling onto the A1 and instead the Kawasaki was forced into a dead-end, where it came to a halt. Hindson was duly arrested.

The officer found false registration plates on the Kawasaki, which Hindson said he had obtained from a “local lad”. The exact provenance of the motorbike remains unclear.

Hindson, of Princess Close, Ripon, was charged with dangerous driving, handling a stolen Kawasaki ZX and using a vehicle without insurance or a licence.

The tweed-jacketed businessman appeared in court on Tuesday when he admitted all three driving matters but denied handling stolen goods. His pleas were accepted by the prosecution and the handling charge was allowed to lie on file.

‘Foolish and out of character’

Defence barrister Holly Clegg said Hindson’s actions were “foolish”, albeit out of character.

He had been going through a “difficult time” after being kicked out of the family home and separating from his partner.

She said Hindson had been offered a go on the bike by a “lad he had seen around the local area” and “foolishly” the businessman took up the offer because he thought the motorbike was “cool”.

Hindson, who wore a crisp blue shirt and gold-coloured tie, ran a successful groundworks and Tarmacking company, which employed eight people.

References from business contacts described him as a hard-working, “reputable businessman” who was a devoted father and “very honourable individual”.

Judge Sean Morris told him he had ridden “like a lunatic” and could easily have killed someone, particularly the female cyclist who was in danger of being struck by the police car due to Hindson’s actions. This was no fault of the pursuing officer.

Two women from the Harrogate district are to swim the English Channel this weekend for charity.

Andrea Stark, from Harrogate, and Jacqui Hargrave, from Knaresborough, have been open water swimming together for seven years. But this will be the duo’s biggest challenge yet.

They are part of a four-person relay team in which each person will raise money for a different cause. Andrea is raising money for the mental health charity Samaritans. Jacqui is swimming for Harrogate-based Saint Michael’s Hospice, which supported her best friend in her final days.

The swim normally takes 15 hours and the rules state each person can only swim one hour before another member of the team takes over. The team has to tackle currents and find their way around shipping lanes – so the swim could be up to 30 miles long.

The team of four are set to embark on the English Channel Challenge on Friday.

Andrea, a nurse at Harrogate Hospital, said:

“We’re beginning to let ourselves get excited but it’s still all very dependent on the weather. We are definitely ready, we’ve done lots of training and swam at Whitby to get used to the current and the temperature.

“It’s taken us 7 years to build up to this. We love it so much and we prefer the open water and the feeling it gives – you’d be amazed at the positive impact it has on your mental health. Our families have been amazing too. There will be times when our bodies hurt but that’s when we’ll think of those charities and it’ll keep us going.”

To support Andrea, click here.

Jacqui, who writes an open water swimming blog, said:

“I am feeling more confident now, I really want to get it done – we all do! It’ll be invigorating and a challenge for us but we’ve done all the preparation and we’ve planned it all out.

“Under a quarter of people succeed but we are all very determined to accomplish this. Our driver is very experienced and understands the water so we’re in safe hands. It’s just about pushing ourselves against the harsh currents and of course the cold. The charities need their work promoting especially with all the uncertainty.”

To support Jacqui, click here.

Read more:

• An ice cream shop in Knaresborough has raised money for the local charity, Frank’s Fund.
• Former Ashville pupil will attempt to swim the channel this month.

The women are due to enter the water on Friday morning but the weather could postpone it by a few days. Their swim has already been postponed once following lockdown.

Richard Powell, a deputy health centre manager from Chesterfield, and Leanne Davis, a paramedic from Rotherham, make up the rest of the relay team.

A Knaresborough ice cream shop has raised £300 for local charity Frank’s Fund.

Castle Creamery is beginning to slow down ready for hibernation in the winter. As one of its final activities, it gave all proceeds from sales between 2pm and 5pm yesterday to the local charity.

Frank’s Fund was set up by the parents of Frank Ashton who died last year from Ewing sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. The money it raises goes towards to Bone Cancer Research Trust.

Simon Lee, owner of Castle Creamery, was introduced to the charity through his daughter who attended St Aidan’s with Frank. He said:

“We’re coming to the end of the season and wanted to do something to raise a bit of money with the stock we have left over. Frank’s Fund is a local charity that we’re happy to support. It was great to see lots of local regular customers who came especially to support Frank’s Fund.

“We opened for three hours and raised, through donations and takings £260, which we rounded up to £300.”

The money will offer the charity a starting point to recover from the amount it lost during lockdown.

Frank’s family are committed to raising money to prevent other families facing what they did. But lockdown has had a huge impact on the charity’s ability to fundraise.

Louise Ashton, Frank’s mother and charity organiser, said:

“We’ve been hit really hard by lockdown – we had lots fundraisers planned that unfortunately had to be cancelled. We had the FiveForFrank challenge recently which was great because we’re raising money and keeping him in people’s memory.

“All the small things really help even just £30 pays for one hour of research. It also helps more people to learn about us in Harrogate.”

Read more:

• An author has written his first children’s book in aid of the cancer charity Candlelighters.
• An art exhibition in Knaresborough is raising money for the Harrogate cancer centre. 

A second consultation will be held over the future of leisure services in the Harrogate district.

After 417 people responded to a consultation which closed earlier this month, Harrogate Borough Council said it will go back to the public – but it has not confirmed when, or what it will ask.

Campaigners in Knaresborough are calling for the council to rule out using the Conyngham Hall site for a new leisure centre,. However, HBC said responses to the survey are being assessed and no decision has been made over where it will be built, with Knaresborough House, Hay-a-Park and the existing swimming pool site all on the shortlist.

The council has confirmed residents will get another chance to express their opinions in a follow-up consultation in the coming weeks. A spokesman said:

“The results will be evaluated and used to inform the various options and subsequent recommendations for the multi-million pound investment in sport and leisure across the Harrogate district.”

Read more:

• Civic society label proposed decision to build at Conyngham Hall ‘cultural vandalism’
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The suggestion of the Grade II* listed Conyngham Hall as a potential spot for the new leisure centre has been met with criticism. The hall itself is used as office space and leased by the council to businesses, while the grounds are popular for leisure activities.

Campaigns to protect the green space have been set up by local residents on Facebook, and by the Harrogate & Knaresborough Liberal Democrats and Knaresborough Civic Society.

Civic society chairman James Monaghan said:

“Knaresborough Civic Society believes that building a new leisure centre and car park on green space at the grade 2 star listed Conyngham Hall would be completely unacceptable.

Our preference is to see the Conyngham Hall site removed from consideration full stop.”

The current site being used for the swimming pool is favoured by local groups over the proposal to build at Conyngham Hall

Mr Monaghan said he was pleased that the council had agreed to consult again and was hopeful that it would give local people a say on the location of the new leisure centre. The civic society’s preference is for the existing site to be used.

He added:

“The proposals for a leisure centre at either Conyngham Hall or on the green space at Knaresborough House would have a terrible impact on the historical character of Knaresborough.”

Every section of the River Nidd that runs through the Harrogate district has failed water pollution tests due to the river being contaminated with wastewater – including raw sewage.

The Environment Agency yesterday published its latest report into the health of the UK’s rivers which revealed that each of the Nidd Middle and Lower’s 13 water bodies failed chemical tests to determine whether the water is of good quality.

The agency said this was mainly due to wastewater from water companies and agricultural pollution.

Wastewater includes raw sewage, household chemicals, and water from sinks, showers, washing machines and dishwashers.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson told the Stray Ferret that the company uses sewer overflows into the River Nidd which helps to prevent flooding in the sewer network. Sewer overflows (known as CSOs) are permitted and regulated by the Environment Agency.

The spokesperson said:

“As our network takes rain water and foul water from properties, the sewers can become overwhelmed when there is a significant amount of rainfall.

“When this happens, they can discharge very diluted waste water into watercourses through permitted overflows, as this prevents the system from backing up and flooding customers’ homes. CSOs are an important part of the sewer network and help to protect against flooding.”

The spokesperson added that the company is investing in sustainable drainage systems to reduce sewer overflows into rivers. He also said that to keep sewers clear, people should not flush products like wet wipes down the toilet or pour fats down the sink.

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The Nidd Middle and Lower begins in Birstwith, and flows downstream through Killinghall, skirting the northern edge of Harrogate and through Knaresborough. The river then travels through rural areas before it meets the River Ouse at Nun Monkton near York.

Several sections of the river have decreased in quality over the past decade. Low Bridge in Knaresborough to Crimple Beck had previously received ‘good’ ratings from 2013 to 2016 but has now failed chemical tests two years in a row.

The Nidd Upper, which runs through Pateley Bridge, also failed chemical tests.

The data released yesterday revealed that the health of rivers across the country is poor, with just 14% receiving a “good” ecological status.

Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the Environment Agency, said:

“Water quality has plateaued since 2016, which isn’t good enough. Today just 14% of our rivers are [rated good]. To get where we want to be everyone needs to improve how they use water now and that means water companies, farmers and the public.”

A Knaresborough pub has launched a young chefs competition to inspire the next generation of foodies.

Six Poor Folk has invited anyone between the ages of 11 and 16 to design their own small plate using seasonal produce.

The winning entry will be featured on the pub’s menu throughout October. The pub is organising a celebrity chef to judge the dishes.

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Thousands of chefs leave the profession every year because of tough working conditions. But the pub is trying to stem the tide.

Ashleigh Lambert, one of the owners at Six Poor Folk, told the Stray Ferret:

“When you are young it can make a big difference to win a competition like this. It could inspire them to carry on in food. It could inspire people like Harvey. He is working in our kitchen part time and really enjoying it.”

Ms Lambert said she had seen a high calibre of entries already but she urged as many people as possible to get involved.

Anyone interested can send their pictures and recipes to Six Poor Folk via email by clicking or tapping here.

An elderly couple were driving for 15 hours yesterday after getting lost on a 40-minute route from Knaresborough to Thirsk.

The couple, a 96-year-old driver and his 90-year-old partner, were trying to drive to a caravan dealer in Thirsk – a route they had driven many times before.

They set off at 2pm on Sunday and were found by North Yorkshire Police officers at 4.40am on Monday morning near Roecliffe.

The officers were initially called to a suspected drink driver on the A168 near Thirsk. The car was reported to be driving all over the road at 20-25mph.

Police caught up with the car just before the Roecliffe industrial estate roundabout. It was confirmed the “lost and confused” couple had not been anywhere else but had been trying to get home.

Officers took the couple home and have submitted forms to the DVLA over medical concerns for the driver. The driver was also strongly advised to stop driving. A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:

“It’s a difficult conversation to have, but be honest with your relatives and friends you have medical concerns over. Tell them to stop and report them to the DVLA.

“This driver was nearly 15 hours into a 40-minute journey. The ending could have been much worse.”

Read more:

• Harrogate Borough Council has said its needs more details before it hires covid marshals.
• Community groups begin speed checks today on district roads.

One of the oldest inns in Knaresborough has been sold with planning permission to convert it to a pub and six homes.

The Board Inn, which is situated in a prime town centre location next to the bus station, was sold by Harrogate estate agents FSS Property after eight months on the market.

The property fetched “very close” to the guide price of £325,000, according to the estate agents.

It was sold under auction conditions at the end of last month with planning permission for a public house, two flats and four houses.

The buyer’s details have not been revealed but the town’s easy access to the A1 make it an enticing option for developers looking for residential opportunities.

The pub has been sold at a time when Knaresborough’s high street has seen several new shops.

Read more:

• The growth of housing in Knaresborough has encouraged the county council to discuss opening a new primary school.
• Knaresborough’s former Natwest bank building is planned to be converted into a home.

Recently, the town of Knaresborough has been showing positive signs of regeneration. Several new shops have opened on the high street in recent months.

North Yorkshire County Council is set to consult on a new primary school in Knaresborough.

In a report before the council tomorrow (September 15), the authority said it was minded to build a new school in response to growth in housing in the town.

It comes as 600 new homes are to be built at Manse Farm in the town. The new school is proposed to be a free school with 210 places as well as a nursery.

County councillors granted planning permission for the school back in June and will decide tomorrow whether to consult on taking the development forward. The report advises that it is “good practice” to consult the community on the specifics of the new school proposal, even after the planning process has been completed.

If approved, the consultation will run for four weeks from September 23. The county council will also consult on a new school for Northallerton.

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The authority said the intention was to open the schools in September 2022, however this will be kept under review in light of the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The report due before councillors tomorrow said:

“The county council is planning to maintain school place sufficiency in Knaresborough and Northallerton through the addition of two new primary schools. 

“These are primarily to serve housing growth through two main sites known locally as Manse Farm, Knaresborough, and North Northallerton.”