A new music shop is set to open in one of the large empty properties in Knaresborough in a move that will help to reinvigorate the town after lockdown.
The Music Bank, which is due to open on October 3, will be based in the old Barclays bank on the high street. It will sell instruments and offer music tuition.
Its owner, David Lombardi, wanted a place for customers to see and touch the instruments as well as a base to run an online store.
Mr Lombardi said:
“After carrying out extensive market research in the area we found that there are very few music stores available in the Knaresborough, Harrogate area and saw this as an opportunity to fill that void.“Whilst the world is certainly a changed place given current and recent events, our business was one of a few that prospered throughout the lockdown with more people taking to instruments than ever before.“Musical instruments will always have a place on our high streets. People like to make sure it feels right, looks right and sounds right before they make a purchase.”
Well-known brands will be sold at the shop, encouraging customers to come in and browse.
The Music Bank already has a tuition centre in Rotherham, South Yorkshire teaching over 70 students each week.
The shop is currently advertising for seven jobs, including full-time and part-time staff for the shop and music tutors.
The new store comes as high streets try to regain customers after months of lockdown.
Knaresborough Chamber of Trade welcomed the new addition to the high street.
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“It’s wonderful that such a specialist shop can consider Knaresborough. It’s a prime position and we welcome them with open arms.
“We know of five shops, including this one, coming to the town at a similar time. I think the people of Knaresborough will benefit during these strange times. A couple of years ago we had 22 empty shops, which is greatly reducing. We only have a few empty shops left now.”
The shop will further widen Knaresborough’s appeal to shoppers. A pet shop opened last month despite the pandemic.
Roadworks are due to begin today at junction 47 of the A1(M) near Knaresborough, with the £7.7m project set to continue until autumn 2021.
Three of the four slip roads onto and off the roundabout will be widened to increase capacity and traffic lights will be installed to improve the traffic flow. North Yorkshire County Council hopes this will reduce the number of vehicles queuing on the A1 slip road.
Traffic lights will also be added to the T-junction between the A168 and the A59, a short distance from Junction 47 on the York side.
To the west of Junction 47, between the A1 and the Flaxby roundabout, a lane will be added for traffic travelling east, so there will be two lanes in each direction between those two roundabouts.
County Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for roads at NYCC said the council will work with the contractor to minimise disruption for motorists.
He said:
“At busy times, congestion is an issue at this junction, particularly for traffic coming off the southbound carriageway of the A1. The upgrades we will put in place will address this congestion, improve road safety and support development in the towns.”
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There are several major housing developments planned for Knaresborough, including 600 homes at Manse Farm, which Cllr Mackenzie said the roadworks will support.
He added:
“We are looking ahead and helping to support sustainable growth by considering future housing developments, particularly along the A59 corridor between Knaresborough and York.
“Inevitably there will be inconvenience for drivers at certain times during the project, but we will give as much notice as possible and ask people to be patient.”
The project is being funded with £2.47m from the government’s Local Growth Fund along with contributions from NYCC, Highways England and developer Forward Investment LLP.
Camping pod manufacturer moves into KnaresboroughA Yorkshire glamping pod manufacturer has expanded into Knaresborough with a new warehouse space of 4,000 square foot.
Anthropods & Co Ltd’s new premises – its largest yet – is on Hambleton Grove industrial estate in Knaresborough. The company’s previous warehouse was in Killinghall, but it needed more space to keep up with its orders.
Over lockdown, the company had to suspend production for four months. Its return to production comes as people are favouring staycations and working from home and the company hopes its range of products will suit the surge in demand.
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Doug Adamson, executive chairman of Anthropods & Co Ltd, said:
“We are manufacturing from the plot now – we moved in a couple of weeks ago and we are now set up. We have expanded the workforce too. The reason to move was because we required more space to up production capacity and grow our workforce. We managed to just get the site – we wanted to stay in the Harrogate district.
“We had to shutdown for four months but luckily we didn’t lose any orders. Now the staycation market is growing so rapidly, it may be beneficial for us, but there is normally quite a long period of time between enquiries and final production as people are making a big investment with us.”
The company hopes to increase production within the new estate, where it took the last remaining unit of a total of seven units.
Models like these pods are installed in Europe.
Knaresborough town centre will continue to provide free parking until the end of the year, with the time limit doubled to one hour.
North Yorkshire County Councill will bring in the new rules on September 1 for Knaresborough Market Place, as well as Northallerton High Street.
The county council made the decision after it saw a petition from Northallerton BID which called for a review into the parking policies.
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County Councillor David Blades, member for Romanby and Broomfield, said:
“This decision goes a long way to show our support for retailers on the High Street and residents who requested an extension to free parking to allow for more time to do their shopping.”
County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Highways, added:
Knaresborough Christmas Market will go ahead“The parking regime in Northallerton High Street has been a great success in encouraging a turnover of spaces and making it easier for drivers to find a parking space, resulting in less congestion. We must remember that parking charges in these towns are extremely low compared to other places.”
Knaresborough Christmas Market will still go ahead this December after organisers found ways to ensure visitor safety.
The two-day event, scheduled for December 5 and 6, is set to proceed after organisers used the town’s weekly market as a guide.
Last week, the Stray Ferret reported that the Harrogate Christmas Market is set to be called off. Organisers of the Knaresborough market said it will be “different”, with the number of stalls having to be reduced and others spread to other areas of the town in an attempt to avoid overcrowding and large queues.
Hazel Haas, chair of the Knaresborough Christmas Market committee, said:
“We are fortunate to be able to go ahead this year. It will be different but we are working on the premise that people will be glad something is going ahead and support it. Limiting the number of stalls means we are running it at a loss but we are prepared to do that because Knaresborough needs it.
“Provided the restrictions remain the same it will go ahead – it is all very dependent on the government advice. We are asking people to be prepared that it will be different, it can’t be the same, but we will do our best to give a true Christmas experience.”
Stall numbers will have to be reduced and visitors will need to follow the advice of organisers. Credit: Charlotte Gale Photography on behalf of Knaresborough Christmas Market.
Meanwhile the annual firework display in Knaresborough has had to be cancelled. Its popularity has raised concerns over crowding and the difficulty of managing it safely.
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- Harrogate Christmas Market set to be called off.
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Plan for a home at former Knaresborough high street bank
Plans have been submitted to convert the Coach House at the back of the former Natwest Bank on Knaresborough high street into a two-bedroom home with two car parking spaces.
Knaresborough-based CFK developments is behind the proposal which will see the building put back into full-time use after almost a hundred years.
The main building is called Claro Chambers and has been vacant since the bank moved out in October 2017.
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The Coach House is part of CFK Developments’ wider plans for the site. In 2019, Harrogate Borough Council granted the company planning permission to build three 3-bedroom terraced homes in the car park of the former bank.
Earlier this year, CFK also submitted plans to change the bottom floor of the bank to a cafe, restaurant or office. The plans are yet to be decided.
Knaresborough woman steps up for asylum seekers on doorstepA teacher from Knaresborough says she needs more support to help those seeking asylum settle into the Harrogate district.
Anne Morley has spent her free time in recent months taking supplies like shoes and mobile phones to asylum seekers in Leeds.
There are currently around 130 asylum seekers living in a hotel in Leeds. The coronavirus pandemic has meant that they are not able to go into detention centres.
Ms Morley has won the support of some people in Knaresborough but she needs more help. Asylum seekers are not entitled to any benefits before they have gone through a legal process and gained refugee status.
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She says it is a life in limbo for the asylum seekers after a treacherous journey from war-torn countries like Syria, Iraq and Sudan. Many are not able to tell their families that they have arrived safely in the UK because they have no working phones.
That is something that Ms Morley and charity Care4Calais has tried to change. Ms Morley told the Stray Ferret that asylum seekers want to come to the UK and contribute:
“Some people have this view that asylum seekers want to come here and claim benefits but it is simply untrue. They all want to work and build better lives for themselves. I know people who have gone onto work in Harrogate’s hospital or as carers or even as mechanics.”
Her plea for people to donate to the Care4Calais emergency appeal comes as the body of 16-year-old Sudanese boy attempting to cross the English Channel was found earlier today.
Drop in number of deliberate fires across Harrogate districtThe number of deliberate fires started across the Harrogate district has halved this summer compared to the same time last year.
Data from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has revealed there were 17 deliberate fires during June, July and August this year, down 50% from last year’s 35 recorded incidents.
However, the fire service has urged people to think about their actions, emphasising that the time spent dealing with a deliberate fire is taken from someone who may be in danger.
A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said:
“Over the last few months North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has attended a number of fires in the Harrogate district that are believed to have been started deliberately. While we are responding to these fires we are not available to respond to other emergencies.
“Starting fires is usually a criminal offence and can endanger lives. We’ve also been to a few campfires that have been left unattended or have spread. Please only light campfires in safe, designated areas and make sure they’re fully extinguished.”
Fires in woodlands and outdoor spaces are particularly dangerous. If left unattended or not extinguished properly, they can spread quickly.
The fire service believes some of the fires could have been started by young people. It has offered advice to parents to ensure that, as the summer holidays continue, children stay safe. It said:
- Fire spreads quickly and can be unpredictable.
- Playing with fire in the home or garden can have serious unintended consequences.
- Fires outside can easily get out of control and cause damage to woodland, moorland and wildlife.
Parents can get confidential advice by calling 0800 074 0064 or emailing safeguarding@northyorksfire.gov.uk.
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Services held across the district to commemorate VJ Day
People from across the district came together today to commemorate VJ Day on its 75th anniversary.
Today commemorates Victory over Japan which led to the end of World War Two.
Services were held in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough to remember all of those who served and sacrificed their lives in the Far East to bring an end to the war. A two minute silence took place at 11am to remember the fallen.
Similar to VE Day in May, celebrations had to be reduced to allow for social distancing.
In Harrogate, members of the public, local dignitaries and members of the armed forces gathered to pay their respects at the war memorial. The Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor Stuart Martin, said it was an “honour” to lay a wreath this morning.
Harrogate’s Mayor, Councillor Stuart Martin, lay a wreath this morning to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. Credit: Ernesto Regatta.
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Members of the Knaresborough branch of the Royal British Legion arranged a service at the town’s war memorial in the castle grounds. During the service the newly refurbished commemoration bench was unveiled.
In Ripon, a small service was held within Spa Gardens with local representatives placing a wreath on the war memorial.
Ripon’s Mayor Councillor Eamon Parkin, said:
Knaresborough commemorates VJ day“On landmark days like these, we take a few minutes to remember what the men and women of the armed forces have done for us in every theatre of war and continue to do for us in keeping the peace.”
Today marks the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. The Knaresborough branch of the Royal British Legion held a service this morning to rededicate the town’s commemoration bench after its refurbishment.
VJ Day marks the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War. The day is to remember recognise all those who served and sacrificed their lives in the Far East to bring an end to the war.
The branch has spent time renovating the bench that sits opposite the war memorial in the castle grounds. It has been inscribed with VE and VJ and the years 1945 and 2020.
Vice-Chair of the branch Dave Houlgate said:
“The Bench was installed in 1995 to mark the 50th anniversary of VE and VJ days but has become weather worn in recent years. We had planned to undertake this work and re-dedicate the Bench for VE Day back in May but we were unable to do that due to the pandemic lockdown.”
Members of the Knaresborough branch came together today to commemorate VJ Day and unveil the refurbished commemoration bench. (Credit: Sharon Van Zelst)
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The branch organised a service in the castle grounds today but was unable to make the time public to ensure social distancing.
The branch has previously warned “we don’t have to disappear” after a drop in income during the pandemic. The branch is determined to continue its efforts to support local veterans, soldiers and their families.