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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- Harrogate Borough Council has said its needs more details before it hires covid marshals.
- Community groups begin speed checks today on district roads.
Knaresborough pub sold with planning for homes
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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- 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.
Plans for new primary school in KnaresboroughNorth 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:
Final day for public survey on Harrogate’s leisure investment“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”.
Read more:
- Backing given for a new company to take authority of the district’s leisure services
- Harrogate council will need to borrow £26 million for leisure improvements
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.
Knaresborough employment site ‘that could support 2,000 jobs’ soldA 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:
Local property business expands“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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- Stamp duty holiday relief for Harrogate estate agents
- Harrogate guest house to be converted into flats
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.
Knaresborough enjoys business boostBusiness 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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- Plans have been approved for a micropub to open in Knaresborough railway station.
- New music shop set to open on Knaresborough high street next month.
The business and community website, Knaresborough Online, painted a similar picture of an increase in business interest in the area.
Harrogate district gets £2m discount with Eat Out to Help Out“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.”
Diners in the Harrogate district who took part in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme got a discount of more than £1.9 million in August.
New figures out today from HM Treasury also revealed that people in the Harrogate and Knaresborough and Skipton and Ripon constituencies ate 314,000 meals in the scheme.
The scheme was designed to help the struggling hospitality sector get back on its feet. The Stray Ferret reported that many cafes and restaurants saw a big spike in interest last month.
Some restaurants were fully booked and were forced to turn some diners away who were trying to take advantage of the Eat Out to Help Out discount.
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- Harrogate restaurants fully booked for final week of government scheme
- Discount scheme extended in district restaurants
- ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ fills restaurants across the Harrogate district
In Harrogate and Knaresborough 153 restaurants signed up compared with 205 restaurants in Skipton and Ripon.
Some restaurants across the Harrogate district have seen such a boost that they have extended the discount without any government backing to fund it.
Lydia Hewitt-Craft, supervisor at So! Bar and eats Harrogate, said:
“It’s been massively helpful and it’s a relief because it was hard at the start when everyone was worried about coming out but this has been great for us.”
Nertil Xhallo, manager at Sarando on Station Bridge, said:
“It has been really busy, we’ve had a lot of bookings. Most people have returned which is good. The offer has been helpful for the business.”
Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrogate BID and owner of two Harrogate restaurants, said:
District’s house building sites hotspots for burglaries“I think it’s been a massive help, everyone I have spoken to says it’s been worth doing. I think with the uncertainty going forward its given all those places a boost.”
North Yorkshire Police is urging for vigilance following an increase in burglaries on new home development sites across the district.
During the past 24 hours, two incidents have been reported. One at a new site one in Langthorpe, near Boroughbridge, and the second in Penny Pot Gardens in Harrogate.
Boilers are the main item to be stolen. The perpetrators are cutting the gas and water pipes before removing the boilers, meaning some of the homes are left flooded.
Other targeted locations in the district include Knaresborough and Ripon. Furnishings valued at £70,000 were stolen from two show houses at a site in Knaresborough. In Ripon, a dumper truck was stolen from a site in the nearby village of Markington.
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- A police operation to combat drink driving in the district encouraged over 20 arrests on local roads in one weekend.
- A routine traffic stop in Pannal resulted in three arrests connected to modern slavery.
The police are asking local residents to keep an eye out and report any suspicious activity.
It has also asked if any CCTV overlooking any of the targeted sites is checked for activity such as large vans driving around the sites.
Information can be reported using the 101 number, dial 1 and pass the information onto the Force Control Room.
Uncertain future for General TarletonThe fate of the General Tarleton is unclear as it shows no sign of reopening after being closed for five months.
Award-winning chef John Topham and his wife Claire have shared full ownership of the hotel and eatery in Ferrensby since 2005, according to information on the Companies House website.
Over the past 15 years the couple have built a reputation for serving quality food.
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In 2016, the couple also gained a stake in the Alice Hawthorn, a country inn in Nun Monkton.
The Alice Hawthorn is managed by the Tophams and in 2017 it was named the Yorkshire Life Dining Pub of the Year.
The Alice Hawthorn has reopened since the coronavirus lockdown but the General Tarleton remains closed.
The Stray Ferret contacted the Alice Hawthorn yesterday to inquire about the future of the business but it declined to comment.