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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

Today is the final opportunity to take part in a survey on plans for a multi-million pound leisure services investment.

Harrogate Borough Council is giving residents the opportunity to give their views on the £26.5 million plans, which include a complete refurbishment of the Hydro in Harrogate and a new pool and leisure centre for Knaresborough.

Leisure services in the district will soon be under the control of an authority-owned company, Brimhams Active. Senior councillors previously said the new company and investment plans go “hand in hand”.

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The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate Borough Council about the next steps for the plans following the consultation and for an update on the four proposed sites for Knaresborough’s new leisure centre.

A council spokesman said:

“Following the end of the leisure centre consultation, 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.”

The council is yet to narrow down the four proposed areas for Knaresborough’s new pool and leisure centre.

The plans for Knaresborough’s new leisure centre are yet to be confirmed. Four areas of the town are currently being investigated – including Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough House and an unspecified site at Hay-a-Park, as well as the existing location of Knaresborough Pool.

Development plans for Conyngham Hall have created opposition, with hundreds of people joining a Facebook page against the plans.

A 38-acre employment site near Knaresborough that could support 2,000 jobs has been sold for an undisclosed fee.

Ilkey property developer Opus North and London-based fund manager Bridges Fund Management have bought the site from a private individual.

They say the development could make a “significant contribution” to the local economy.

The site, located south-west of junction 47 of the A1(M) near to Flaxby Park is allocated as an employment site in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan, which sets out the area’s policy and planning framework until 2035.

The site benefits from existing planning permission for over half a million square feet of development for employment uses.

The two companies will now develop a masterplan for the site, alongside stakeholders including Harrogate Borough Council, which “maximises its job-creating potential”.

An Opus North spokesperson told the Stray Ferret a decision on what type of employment the site could support will be made at a future date.

An outline planning application will be submitted to HBC later this year.

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Ryan Unsworth, development director of Opus North, said:

“This is a site with clear potential to make a significant contribution to the local economy through job creation and also through the delivery of high-quality office and logistics accommodation to meet existing and future market demand.

“With our joint venture partner, we are in a position to bring this development to life and are looking forward to continuing our discussions with both the council and local stakeholders to create an exemplar development to address the local and regional shortages of employment space.”

The 101-year old property business Lister Haigh has expanded its workforce with five new recruits.  

The company, which was started by Oswald Lister at Clint and Hampsthwaite in 1919, has offices in Knaresborough, Harrogate and Boroughbridge.  

The company’s expansion comes a week after the Stray Ferret reported a ‘manic’ July and August for the local housing market. 

Tim Waring, head of residential at Lister Haigh, said: 

“The majority of our appointments are due to expansion of the business post-lockdown. Our agricultural consultancy is as busy as ever. Our residential agency business is getting busier and busier, which we expect to continue into the new year.” 

In July, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak increased the threshold for stamp duty from £125,000 to £500,000, which has boosted the house market. This will continue until April 2021.  

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Surveyor Richard Duffus has joined the firm from London and will be based in Boroughbridge where he will work alongside Paul Johnston on residential and commercial lettings.

William Pheasey has been appointed assistant rural surveyor at the Knaresborough office.  

Samantha Paterson has joined the Harrogate residential property team as a sales negotiator.

Two administrative appointments – Gill Harris at Knaresborough and Annie Thompson at Boroughbridge – complete the list of new starters at Lister Haigh. 

Business representatives in Knaresborough have said there is a buzz about the town as more companies seek to relocate there.

Despite the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Stray Ferret has recently reported a flurry of new shops opening on the high street.

The latest addition – The Knaresborough Lock Centre – opened on Monday.

Owner John Long said:

“The town was lacking a DIY, hardware, lock shop and I felt it was a good time to open up. We have had a warm welcome in the town and are positive about the future.”

Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has said the number of empty shops is decreasing, offering further cause for optimism.

Bill Taylor, treasurer of the chamber, said:

“Many people seem to have used the lockdown to develop business ideas and see Knaresborough as a great place to start their new business.

“The chamber had a record month in August for new members and September has started in the same vein. It is a great time to be a business owner in the town, there is a real buzz around now with several new shops about to open and a very low number of empty shops currently being available.“

The number of empty shop fronts has decreased in the town, improving its aesthetic and encouraging more visitors to the town.

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The business and community website, Knaresborough Online, painted a similar picture of an increase in business interest in the area.

“Since the easing of lockdown we have noticed an increase in general enquiries about relocating to Knaresborough. This flurry of interest is supported by the recent opening of a number of new businesses in town, including a new pet shop, Persian rug store, restaurant, butchers and a DIY shop. These are really encouraging signs as we move forward after a difficult few months.”