Knaresborough floods ‘not related to condition of drains’, says council

Last night’s flooding in Knaresborough was due to the sheer deluge of rain rather than the state of drains, North Yorkshire Council said today.

About 30 homes were affected by flooding last night and some people had to be found emergency accommodation. This prompted questions about whether better maintained drains would have helped.

A statement this morning issued by the council on behalf of agencies involved in last night’s emergency response said 32 millimetres of rain fell in an hour, which is the equivalent of about an inch-and-a-quarter.

It said:

“The flooding related to the volume and speed or heavy rainfall and is not related to the condition of the drains.

“Yorkshire Water is investigating concerns regarding sewage around St Margaret’s Gardens.”

Speaking on behalf of the agencies involved, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service station manager Dave Dixon said as part of the statement:

“In the space of two hours from around 6pm last night an extreme localised weather event saw the equivalent of 32 millimetres of rain per hour fall in Knaresborough. The speed and volume of heavy rain led to flooding in some properties and overwhelmed local drainage systems for a period of time.

“Knaresborough Town Council and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service led the response on the ground ensuring people were safe. The town council has a robust emergency response plan and this was put in place ensuring people were safe and where appropriate electricity supplies were turned off.”

It added:

“Two vulnerable households were evacuated to temporary accommodation, some other people chose to leave themselves but most chose to stay because the water had not entered their property or they preferred to go upstairs to safe space.

“Four fire appliances attended the scene, along with North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Council staff.

“I would like to thank all those involved in last night’s response  and to reassure local residents that the agencies involved will also be on the scene this morning to follow up on damage and any assistance anyone may need.”

High Bridge drains concern

Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West on North Yorkshire Council and is also a town councillor, has been part of the emergency response.

Cllr Walker told the Stray Ferret 25 homes on Orchard Close and six properties in the St Margaret’s area were flooded.

He said most residents chose to stay at home or stay with relatives or friends but a family of three were found accommodation at the Knaresborough Inn and one older male was found council accommodation.

Cllr Walker said the town council was undertaking welfare checks on Orchard Close today and was finding out what other support was available.

He added he thought the state of drains was a contributory factor, particularly at High Bridge, which was among the worst affected areas by flooding.

He said:

“We have raised concerns about blocked drains on the A59 going from High Bridge to Henshaws on a number of occasions and and nothing is done about it.

“It’s a district-wide frustration. The council needs to review why this has happened and it’s my view that the drains were a contributory factor.”

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Questions raised after Knaresborough floods

Some people were forced to evacuate their homes last night after flash floods hit Knaresborough.

An intense storm hit the town and some nearby villages at about 6pm last night, with reports that two inches of rain fell in two hours. Remarkably, many nearby places stayed virtually dry.

The Stray Ferret published a live blog last night giving updates on the situation.

One person commented on our Facebook post relating to the article that they were forced to book their parents into a hotel because of the state of their home.

Two other people posted their homes were also uninhabitable. One said:

“Our downstairs is destroyed, at least a foot of water has run through the whole of the downstairs and ruined everything, the drains just couldn’t cope with the sheer volume of the water and how quickly it came down.”

Another said:

“My parents’ bungalow was completely flooded under a foot of water, have had to move them out, its completely uninhabitable for them, everything completely ruined.”

Cllr Mat Walker, who represents Knaresborough West on North Yorkshire Council, said on the thread:

“I’m aware that a number of homes in Knaresborough have been flooded. I’ve activated North Yorkshire Council’s major incident response team who are working with Knaresborough Town Council to ensure those affected have accommodation to stay in tonight.”

Cllr Walker told the Stray Ferret he was aware “a number of people have been evacuated” and he would seek an update from the council ‘s major incident response team this morning.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report this morning said it received calls for almost two hours from 6pm last night of flooding in the Knaresborough area.

“Fire appliances from Knaresborough, Harrogate, Tadcaster and Acomb responded and assisted various premises affected by flooding, by pumping water away when they could, cleaning up work and transporting vulnerable people to places of safety.

“North Yorkshire Council and local council resources also assisting with the aftermath, together with police.”

However, the sheer volume of rain caused chaos, with one person saying they had to rely on neighbours with buckets to help them remove water from their homes.

Many comments today are questioning the state of the town’s drains.

We will continue to cover this issue today by putting questions to North Yorkshire Council. If you were forced to evacuate your homes last night please get in touch by emailing us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk or send us a direct message on Facebook.

Pic: The view over High Bridge outside Mother Shipton’s last night.

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Business Breakfast: Ripon company raise £20k in memory of former director

A memorial fund in honour of former businessman Andrew Lupton is set to beat its fundraising target of £20,000.

Ripon-based Econ Engineering set up the Just Giving campaign to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation following the death of their sales director in 2022.

Mr Lupton, ran the family business alongside his brother Jonathan and was 56 years old when he died of a heart attack. Founded by their father Bill 55 years ago, Econ is a manufacturer and supplier of winter maintenance vehicles.

Econ’s managing director, Jonathan Lupton said:

“We have been proud to partner with the British Heart Foundation and absolutely delighted that we have been able to support them with our fundraising. This is particularly poignant given the sad death of Andrew and we want to do as much as we can to increase awareness of heart disease and raise vital money for the charity, in his memory.

“We may have reached the £20,000 mark, but we are not finished yet. A team of Econ employees will be tackling the Three Peaks in May and we hope people will continue to support the memory of Andrew by donating to their efforts.”

To support the Econ Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge click here.

Investment management and stockbroking firm win management award

(L-R): Charlotte M, Sharon G, James I, Evelyn J, Richard R, Katie J, James W, Mary C, James S. A and Grace P-B.

Redmayne Bentley received the London Stock Exchange Award for Best Execution-Only Stockbroking at the City of London Wealth Management Awards 2024.

This year’s awards were highly contested. The awards were decided by public vote, with over 50,000 cast, the greatest number of votes the process has ever received.

Lawrence Fisher, head of investment said:

“As we approach our 150-year anniversary, this outcome reinforces the success we’ve enjoyed over many years in our industry, rewarding the personal service the firm provides to clients.

Traditional stockbroking is where Redmayne Bentley first began in 1875. Our services have expanded over time however our values remain at the centre of everything we do. This award reflects the excellence and teamwork delivered by Redmayne Bentley colleagues across the firm every day.”

Knaresborough clinic celebrates 20 year anniversary

Staff at Castle Clinic, left to right: Chris Horsman, Anna Mackay, Hilary Clissitt, Brit Watson, Seb Contreras, Sarah Chisem, Jon Rebanks

Castle Clinic has celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The clinic first opened in April 2004 as the vision of acupuncturist, Janice Miller, to bring together a range of therapists and disciplines all under one roof.

Tony Cowley bought the Knaresborough clinic in 2009 and retired at the end of 2022, selling the clinic to osteopath, Seb Contreras, who has worked at the clinic since July 2004.

Mr Contreras embarked on a clinic wide renovation plan refurbishing and adding to the site. The business now offers more than 1200 appointments every month in acupuncture, audiology, chiropractic, physiotherapy, podiatry and osteopathy.

Harrogate bus company announce charity partnership

Transdev bus company collaborates with Yorkshire Cancer Research

Yorkshire Cancer Research has been named as the charity partner of Transdev bus company.

Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said:

“We’re so grateful to have been chosen by Transdev as their charity partner for the coming year. The partnership kicked off with a visit from a Transdev bus and we’re looking forward to many more opportunities to bring the two organisations together to raise awareness of cancer research in Yorkshire.

Transdev will show support for cancer research with activities including training for employees on the signs of the most common cancers, collections at local bus stations and getting involved in Yorkshire Day celebrations. The company will also be adding the charity’s branding to a new bus to help raise awareness of the charity.

Harrogate company wins Broker of the Year

Synergy Car Leasing was named Broker of the Year award as well as the Best Customer Service Award at the Broker News Awards 2024

Ralph Morton, editor of Broker News said:

“Synergy Car Leasing has absolutely nailed customer service. In their category, they were winners by a significant margin with enough points to ensure they also carried off the Broker of the Year title.

“For a leasing business that has also been awarded a Feefo 10 Years of Excellence Award for 10 successive years of attaining the Trusted Service Award earlier this year, it is fitting that they should be recognised with the Broker of the Year title.”

Have some news to share about your business? Send it to us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

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Knaresborough pet show to return today

A Knaresborough pet show is set to return this May bank holiday.

Knaresborough Pet Day, which takes place in the grounds of Knaresborough House, is a chance for local owners to show off their four-legged friends for the day.

The event, which was set up more than 30 years ago, will include dog shows, an obedience demonstration and a ‘sausage retrieval’ session.

Organiser Val Rodgers told the Stray Ferret the pet day has since become popular with animal charities.

She said the dog shows will be judged by representatives of Dogs Trust, while the Blue Cross, Tia Greyhound Rescue, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and Harrogate Cat Rescue will all have stalls to raise money for their organisations.

Ms Rodgers added there will be refreshments on offer in Knaresborough House, which will be provided by Miss Mollies Dog Rescue. She said:

“I am hoping that the weather is kind, everything goes smoothly, and the charities make money for their individual organisations.”

The pet show will be broken down into different categories, including best rescue, prettiest bitch, most handsome dog and dog fancy dress.

There will also be food stalls and a tombola.

The event is free to attend and will open at 10.30am. Dog show entries cost £1 per class.

Knaresborough Pet Day will take place today (May 6).

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Brew York to open today in historic Knaresborough pub
The Mitre in Knaresborough is to reopen today under the ownership of Brew York.

Brew York acquired the pub, whose future appeared uncertain after it closed last year.

The Mitre is one of three venues taken over by the independent brewery via an agreement with Market Town Taverns.

Brew York, which was founded in 2016 on Walmgate in York by Wayne Smith and Lee Grabham, has also acquired the Horse & Farrier in Otley and Coopers Bar and Brasserie in Guiseley.

Founders of Brew York Lee Grabham (left) and Wayne Smith

The Mitre, which opened in 1923, is next to Knaresborough’s grade two listed train station. The venue has a large central bar, function room, outdoor seating area and rooms to let.

Brew York beers are on offer from traditional hand-pull cask and keg. The pub has best sellers such as Juice Forsyth, a fruited Indian Pale Ale, Tonkoko, a milk stout and Golden Eagle, a Czech style pilsner on tap.

All Brew York beers are brewed in York either at the original brewery on Walmgate or at the main production facility in Osbaldwick.

Over the bank holiday weekend Frango Eduardo will be serving Portuguese chicken while details of permanent food offerings are finalised.

Brew York beers on tap in The Mitre, Knaresborough

Wayne Smith said:

“I’m really excited to be reopening the Mitre, it’s a pub I used to visit regularly when it was ran by market town taverns and pleased we have been able to take over and get it back trading again. We will be making some enhancements over the coming months and appointing a permanent street food vendor, but for the first few weeks will be bringing in a new vendor each weekend, starting with Frango Eduardo this bank holiday. We will be bringing a wide range of brew york cask and keg beers with something to suit everyone’s tastes.”

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Plans for extension at Knaresborough Waterside home approved

North Yorkshire Council has approved plans to demolish two outbuildings on Knaresborough’s famous Waterside to facilitate a housing extension.

The three-storey property is in a prominent location on Waterside Road, which runs along the banks of the river Nidd and is a popular walking route for tourists.

The owner of the home stated in planning documents that the outbuildings connected to it are in a poor state of repair and block sunlight from the rear windows.

They asked the council for permission to demolish them to add a new 2-storey extension to their home.

Larger plans for the extension were refused in 2022 and for a second time in 2023 after the council criticised its design saying it was “excessive” and would feel “oppressive and overbearing” to the adjacent property.

A third application was submitted earlier this year which the developer said addressed the previous reasons for refusal.

It said the design had been scaled back to reduce its impact on the neighbouring properties and the wider Knaresborough Conservation Area.

Documents added:

“The design aesthetic has been paired down in the latest proposal, removing the larger contemporary elements found in the previous applications. The new extension has a traditional form constructed from traditional materials but utilises contemporary glazing to maximise the amount of natural light entering the extension.”

The resubmitted plans received an objection from statutory consultee Knaresborough Town Council, which said the extension would cause “unacceptable issues of privacy” for the neighbours.

However, the changes satisfied a council planning officer who approved the plans on April 26.

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North Yorkshire Council increases library fines for first time in a decade

North Yorkshire Council has increased the fine for an overdue book at its libraries from 30p to 35p per day.

The council said it was the first increase in almost a decade and was being made “in the light of increased pressures on finances”.

The changes will only apply to adult library members and not children.

The price to print an A4 piece of black and white paper at the library has also increased from 10p to 20p. It remains 50p to print a page of colour.

In an email sent to members yesterday, the council said income from fines and other charges goes into the library budget and contributes to ongoing service delivery costs.

The maximum fine for one book is £8.

The email added:

“Charges incurred at our community libraries goes directly back to the groups managing those libraries and makes up a valuable part of the income needed to meet their running costs.

“To mitigate the increase and to help customers keep track of items on loan we will be introducing reminders about when books are due back.”

For details of all library charges visit the council’s website.

Last year, Harrogate Library was the most popular in the county with 177,629 visits.

Visitor numbers at other libraries in the former Harrogate district area were Knaresborough with 110,191, Ripon with 73,428 and Starbeck with 18,676.

In 2015, the running of 31 libraries in the county was handed to volunteers in the face of mounting financial pressures brought on by austerity.

In this model, the council’s library service continues to provide the infrastructure including books and public IT, as well as some paid staff support to ensure consistency across the county.

The community libraries account for just under 40% of active library users and deliver on average 50% of the total business for book lending and computer access.

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Knaresborough Heritage Centre opens

Knaresborough Heritage Centre officially opened over the weekend.

The centre, which celebrates and showcases Knaresborough’s rich history, is located in the former Printzone premises at 12 High Street.

Knaresborough Museum Association, which runs the centre, marked the occasion by holding an opening event attended by Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones, Knaresborough mayor Cllr Hannah Gostlow, and Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Tom Gordon, along with almost 100 visitors.

The heritage centre consists of a small heritage shop, a visitor information desk and a museum gallery with a programme of exhibitions.

The first exhibition is called ‘the archaeology beneath our feet’ and covers geology and social history. There is also a kids zone, audio visual presentations and hundreds of artefacts and models.

Visitors are asked to make a minimum donation of £2. Accompanied under-16s receive free entry.

The centre is open four days a week, on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.

Kathy Allday, chair of Knaresborough Museum Association, said:

“The heritage centre is the first of its kind – by the community for the community. Knaresborough has a wealth of archaeology that even local people aren’t always aware of. We’ll display artefacts which show that people have been living in Knaresborough for an astonishing 4,000 years.

“We want the heritage centre to be a hub where schools, groups and individuals can all get involved with lifelong learning opportunities, helping to make Knaresborough an even more wonderful town.”

Knaresborough Heritage Centre display. Image: KMA Facebook

The opening marked the culmination of a long-running campaign to find larger and more suitable premises to the small gallery and office space that previously operated from a converted house at 8 York Place.

The association has spent almost £30,000 on refurbishing the premises.

Knaresborough Town Museum Group was set up in 2019 to campaign for a new museum and plans were first put to Harrogate Borough Council in 2020 to create the space. The museum group was renamed Knaresborough Museum Association and registered as a charity in 2021.

You can see images of the opening event below:

The town crier and trustees were in attendance

A window poster at the new centre. Image: KMA Facebook

MP Andrew Jones with vice-chair Malcolm Hay at the VIP preview.

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Housing scheme in Knaresborough set for refusal

Revived plans to build eight flats off Stockwell Road in Knaresborough look set to be refused.

Paul Franklin applied to demolish an existing property at 13 Stockwell Road and build six two-bedroom flats and two one-bedroom flats on the site and adjoining land. Parking and landscaping would also be included.

North Yorkshire Council case officer Emma Walsh has recommended councillors on Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee refuse the application when they meet next week.

Mr Franklin submitted plans to the council last year for nine flats on the plot. But those plans were withdrawn after about 30 residents and Knaresborough Town Council objected, citing concerns the development would be “overbearing and will overlook neighbouring properties”, create parking problems and increase congestion.

The Stray Ferret has followed the issue closely and met residents on site in June last year to hear their concerns and to seek Mr Franklin’s response.

He told the Stray Ferret at the time the scheme would “provide local people a quality and sustainable place to live and enjoy Knaresborough”.

In its response to the consultation on the latest plans, the town council said it “sees no reason to change its objections from the previous applications at this site”.

It added:

“The increase in traffic from this site will have a negative impact on the overall traffic in the area and impact on parking around the St Margaret’s area that already experiences difficulties.”

Ms Walsh’s report said the site is within the development limits of Knaresborough but added the apartment block would be “visually cramped due to the limited width of the site, between St Margaret’s Road and St Margaret’s Gardens”.

It said:

“The development would appear as a visually incongruous addition to the street scene which does not respect the pattern of development.”

The land where the flats would be built.

The report also cited concerns about how close the building would be to neighbours’ homes on St Margaret’s Road and St Margaret’s Gardens as well as “an unacceptable impact on highways safety”.

The report concluded:

“The scale, form and massing of the development would fail to adequately safeguard the character of the street scene.”

Twenty-seven letters of objections were sent to the council.

Councillors on the Liberal Democrat-controlled planning committee will decide whether to accept Ms Walsh’s recommendation when they meet at the Civic Centre in Harrogate on Tuesday, May 7.

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Knaresborough student entrepreneurs win business award

A group of Knaresborough sixth form students have launched a business and won an entrepreneurial award.

The students are part of King James School’s sixth form young enterprise team.

They are operating as a business under the Young Enterprise Group, a charity aiming to support and encourage young individuals to enter the business world.

The group are the North Yorkshire winners of The Young Enterprise Company of the Year award.

Their business, Plant Pets, is a creative sustainable approach to planting. They offer boxes of terracotta pots, paint, brushes, seeds, a leaflet and soil.

A spokesperson for the group said:

“Our aim is to encourage creativity and sustainability for people of all ages. The kit allows you to paint and later grow your ‘Plant Pet’ from a variety of seeds, a product that from our research is yet to exist within the market.”

“We try our best to ensure that the majority of our packaging is not only recyclable but made from recycled material. The supplier for our boxes is certified to be carbon neutral, supporting our belief that creative activities which produce calming and mindful effects should not come at the expense of the environment.”

Young enterprise company of the year award 2024

The group plan to sell their products at the next Knaresborough market on Wednesday. They also plan to gift plant pets to St. Michaels hospice.

The Plant Pet founders added:

“We have received overwhelming support from local businesses and King James School themselves who have been nothing but supportive throughout our journey. We hope for further partnership opportunities.”

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