knaresborough Archives - Page 46 of 178

Stinger ends 100mph police chase in Knaresborough

A stinger punctured the tyres of a stolen car following a high-speed police chase that ended in Knaresborough today.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement a high-performance Mercedes was stolen by a teenager in York just after 4am this morning.

It was stolen as part of a two-in-one burglary, which is when thieves break into a house and steal car keys. Keys to other vehicles, cash and jewellery were also taken.

The statement added:

“We tracked down a high-performance Mercedes that was stolen soon after 4am this morning.

“The driver failed to stop, reaching speeds of well over 100mph.

“We deployed a stinger to puncture its tyres near Knaresborough, with support from the NPAS police helicopter.”

The vehicle crashed on a roundabout, where an 18-year-old man from the Hull area was detained.

Police said he remains in custody.

Councillors approve 135 homes off Harrogate’s Skipton Road

Councillors have voted to approve 135 homes on the site of a former farm off Skipton Road in Harrogate.

The proposals by Rowan Green Developments Ltd will see the homes built at Cow Dyke Farm near Jennyfields.

The land is allocated for housing in the council’s local plan and the scheme was recommended for approval in a report.

The majority of the homes will have between one and three bedrooms and 54 are expected to be classed as affordable.

Chris Calvert spoke on behalf of the developer at a meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee this afternoon.

He said the application met all of the council’s planning requirements.

Mr Calvert said:

“The site is within development limits for Harrogate. It’s been assessed by the local authority to be a suitable and deliverable site for new homes on the edge of Harrogate.

“It will be a high-quality and sustainable development ”

Cow Dyke Farm. Image: Rowan Green Developments Ltd.

Councillors visited the site this morning where concerns were raised about the current 40mph speed limit for motorists on Skipton Road.

Hundreds of homes have been built nearby in recent years and Tesco has planning permission to build a new supermarket close to the site.

Cllr Robert Windass (Conservative, Boroughbridge and Claro) asked if the speed limit on the nearby section of Skipton Road could be lowered to 30mph.

He said he saw a woman cross the road this morning with a pushchair, adding:

“40mph was maybe OK when there was no housing there, but I now think it’s inappropriate.”

However, his request was knocked back by a council transport officer who said the 40mph limit was appropriate.

North Yorkshire Council has asked the developer to pay a one-off contribution of £161,906 towards Killinghall Village Hall and £76,347 for improvements at Jennyfields recreation play area.

This led Terry Jones, representing the 72 objectors, to say the developer was offering a “paltry sum” towards local services.

Mr Jones said:

“You all seem to assume it’s going ahead. It’s probably a waste of time objecting, but it’s interesting to see the impact on local services. To employ extra doctors, dentists, teachers, it costs money every year.”

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the plans but a reserved matters application that deals with the scheme’s appearance and landscape will come before the planning committee at a future meeting before homes can be built.

Cllr Windass added:

“It looks to be a sympathetic approach to development on this land. I hope when they come back at reserved matters, the sympathy of the site is maintained and improved on.”

The Knaresborough shop ‘delivering beeswax products directly from Mother Nature’

This story is sponsored by The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Co.

The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Co is an integral part of a thriving independent business community in Knaresborough, selling a vast array of natural products including candles, wax melts, soaps, lip balms and honey.

But the popular business may not have come to pass, for many reasons – one of which was that founder Michael Landreth was afraid of bees. Luckily, a friend’s form of exposure therapy meant that he soon came to respect the insects, and understand the potential in the produce that they created.

He explained:

“My friend put me in front of his beehives, and I could either run or face my fear. Working so closely with bees now has helped me overcome that fear.”

Michael Landreth

Additionally, if Michael hadn’t decided to take redundancy from his former job during the Covid-19 pandemic, the company may never have flourished into the successful enterprise it is today.

While a period of furlough allowed him to focus on growing The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Co, it was still a ‘difficult decision’ to leave his employment and dedicate himself to the business full time, but one he felt he had to make.

According to Michael, this was a risky move that ultimately paid off; today he is the proud owner of 43 beehives and a shop in the historic market town of Knaresborough that boasts an all-natural product range.

He said:

“I wanted to be in a quirky area, and Green Dragon Yard fit in with that quaint, cobbled feel.”

The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Co stocks a diverse range of products; from candles made from plant-based aromatherapy oils to beeswax cosmetics such as lip balms and body butters, there’s something to suit many tastes.

The shop interior

Since opening the premises, Michael has been delighted to receive lots of positive feedback from residents and tourists alike.

“The comments I’ve received are mind-blowing – absolutely fantastic. I have some customers who visited from Dublin, and they liked my products so much, they ordered more online when they got home.

“I even have a customer who orders all the way from Singapore.”

While it’s clear his products have established a popularity across the local area – and beyond – since establishing The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Co Michael is always looking at ways to push the business on and progress further.

2024 is proving to be one of the company’s biggest years to date; with the creation of a bee-friendly garden, the imminent opening of a honeycomb waffle bar and introducing a children’s education centre all about bees, to name just a few plans.

The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Co. products

Michael added:

“People really should pop in a visit the shop, to find out what’s going on, and how we can help them.

“Fundamentally though, we’re delivering beeswax products directly from Mother Nature.”

Find out more:

The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Co. is located 6 Green Dragon Yard, Knaresborough, HG5 8AU. There is also an online store you can purchase products from, available on the website.

Council confirms increase in car parking charges

North Yorkshire Council confirmed today it will increase all car park charges from April 19.

The Stray Ferret reported last week charges across the Harrogate district were in line to rise.

The council said in a statement today it would increase tariffs by 20% as “part of North Yorkshire’s commitment to maintain and improve its facilities”. It added the decision “was made after careful consideration of several factors impacting the service”.

Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director of environment, said:

“We continuously strive to improve our parking services to provide a better customer experience. This includes investments in technology upgrades, such as automated payment systems and the installation of electric vehicle chargers to accommodate the growing market.

“We have refrained from increasing our car parking tariff for several years. However, to ensure we can continue to maintain the current provision and not divert funds away from vital frontline council services, we plan on introducing an increase across the car parking tariff that is in line with inflation.”

The statement said the cost of parking facilities, including infrastructure, repairs, lighting, and security had risen “and ensuring a safe and well-maintained environment is essential for the convenience and satisfaction of customers”.

The move affects all parking at council-owned car parks.

The hike in prices comes despite the council increasing council tax bills by 4.99% in 2024/25. It means the amount paid by an average Band D property for council services will increase by £87.80 to £1,847.62. The council faces a shortfall of more than £30 million for the next financial year.

Mr Battersby added:

“We also remain committed to improving public transport provision across North Yorkshire to ensure there are alternatives to car usage, as well as supporting efforts to become carbon neutral by 2030.”

The council plans to draft a strategy this year that will look at parking provision across North Yorkshire to see where future changes and improvements can be made.

Knaresborough to get trained tour guides

Knaresborough Town Council has allocated £7,000 towards training tour guides to promote the town.

Knaresborough is a popular destination but visitors sometimes struggle to find basic information on attractions such as the museum and viaduct.

Cllr Margy Longhurst, a professionally trained tourist guide, began providing free tours last year.

But Cllr Longhurst wants to develop the service, which it is hoped will boost tourism and increase civic pride.

The council agreed this week to budget £7,000 towards training a pool of guides, who will provide free tours on Wednesday market days and at weekends, as well as on special occasions.

Knaresborough-born Sarah Cowling, who is now a professional tourist guide in York who also provides accredited training, will run the courses.

The 13-week training course will start in January and it is hoped the first guides will be in action by autumn next year.

Speaking after the town council meeting, Cllr Longhurst said:

“I’ve found it frustrating doing the tours because trying to do everything myself is just too much. I’ve also sprained my knee.

“We want to have regular free walking tours and when I say ‘free’, I mean ‘free’ — we won’t be asking for tips.”

Besides tourists, she said the tours would also appeal to newcomers to the town by making them “feel part of the community” as well as informing them of Knaresborough’s heritage.

Cllr Longhurst said the council was looking to recruit eight to 10 people with a love of history and Knaresborough who were prepared to undertake training and two exams.

Green grants

Knaresborough Town Council is to award grants to young people with ideas on how to improve the environment.

The Green Grant will be awarded to school pupils or youth groups with ideas on how to better Knaresborough’s environment and work towards reversing the effects of climate change in the area.

The council said people with ideas on active travel, climate adaptation, improving animal and wildlife habitats, energy reduction and minimising pollution are welcome to apply for a grant, which will be up to £500 per project.

Kit Lacey, chair of the council’s climate committee, said the authority “understands that things cannot stay the same” and is “in need of young people’s help”.

Mr Lacey added:

“It’s the young people of the town who will live with the effects of climate change longer than us councillors.

“This programme is open to all children of the town and welcomes applications from adults and children in schools and all types of youth groups. Examples would be school groups, young climate committees lead by PTA members, scouts and guides.

“We encourage groups to apply even if they are not sure where the group may sit as we, the council, can push them in the right direction of coming under a group that would be eligible.”

Although the scheme is directed at young people, Mr Lacey said the grant must be awarded to an adult in charge of an organisation, so the money can be sent to their account.

Applicants must also disclose the organisation’s latest financial accounts and, if necessary, any permissions required by North Yorkshire Council.

Knaresborough Town Council also said applicants must mention ‘Green Grant’ in their application.

You can apply for the grant here.

Council-owned Brimhams Active to spend £8,000 on staff awards party

Council leisure company Brimhams Active is to spend at least £8,000 of public money on a staff awards ceremony this weekend.

Brimhams operates all leisure provision in the Harrogate district on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, including leisure centres in Harrogate, Ripon Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge, as well as Starbeck Baths.

A source alerted the Stray Ferret to Sunday’s event at the Pavilions of Harrogate. They added:

“I would think as a North Yorkshire Council-owned company, the council taxpayers’ money they have left at the end of a financial year would go back to the council rather than finding an excuse to spend it, particularly given the increases we’ve all had on our council tax bills this week.”

The new Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre

The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire Council for further details of the event, including the cost.

Mark Tweedie, managing director of Brimhams Active, initially said costs had been “kept to a minimum by suppliers sponsoring the awards” but did not disclose a figure.

He added:

“Our annual people awards event is a fabulous opportunity to recognise and celebrate effort and achievement.

“The event itself helps our people who work day-to-day across different facilities to come together and connect. It plays a huge part in boosting morale, which in turn helps enhance workforce productivity.

“Up to 200 members of our team will attend the awards event at the Pavilions of Harrogate.”

When pressed for a figure, Mr Tweedie said:

“The venue hire and food is charged at £40 per person and we have 200 people attending. We are very careful in how we manage our budget. We believe this is a sound, proportionate investment in our people that helps to optimise people recruitment, retention and productivity for a business with a circa £8 million turnover.

“This investment serves to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding team and individual efforts that have delivered remarkable results, including overachieving in relation to footfall and budget and achievement of national accreditations (Quest and Water Wellbeing) within 2.5 years of the company’s inception.”

He added “the decorations are provided by staff” and the photographer and DJ were “providing their services in kind”.

Brimhams to be abolished

Brimhams Active, which was set-up up by the now defunct Harrogate Borough Council, is due to be abolished after executive councillors decided to bring leisure provision back in-house in January.

The council’s current portfolio, which includes 19 leisure centres, 16 swimming pools, three wellbeing hubs, a nursery and Harrogate’s Turkish Baths, is run by five different operators.

But despite councillors stating the existing Brimhams model is “particularly advanced”, the leisure shake-up will see all these services moved to a single in-house operation.

The local authority believes the new structure will see a greater focus on health and wellbeing, provide more opportunities for people to participate and will focus on addressing inequalities.

It hopes the transition will be complete by 2028.

Irish firm revives name of collapsed Flaxby housebuilder Ilke Homes

Collapsed local modular housebuilding firm Ilke Homes‘ name has been brought back to life.

The company, based alongside the A1(M) at Flaxby near Knaresborough, ceased trading and entered administration last June with the loss of more than 1,000 job losses and debts of £320 million.

Government housing agency Homes England, which was owed an estimated £68.7 million, was among the substantial list of creditors. Employee claims were reported to be more than £720,000, while HMRC was owed £2.1 million and unsecured creditors’ debt at the company totalled £249.3 million.

However, Irish company Homespace Residential Limited is now using the Ilke Homes name.

The Stray Ferret understands Homespace bought some of Ilke Homes’ assets in October last year, including some inventory items and the intellectual property, which gives it the right to use the firm’s name and logo.

The home page of the Ilke Homes website how contains information about Homespace.

It says:

“Homespace was born through the completion of a strategic asset purchase agreement, taking ownership of Ilke’s trademarks, design IP, modular stock and technology patents.”

It goes on to say Ilke Homes “delivered over 1,000 high-quality energy-efficient homes” during its six-year lifespan and that Homespace has “proven built designs available for nine core house types”.

AlixPartners UK, which was appointed liquidator last year, said Ilke Homes faced “challenges of unprecedented inflation and a lack of land supply linked to planning processes”.

The firm told the Stray Ferret today it was still acting as liquidators for Ilke Homes, but declined to comment further.

The Stray Ferret reported in August that more than 600 former employees of the company were to take legal action over the handling of the redundancy process.

We contacted Homespace to find out more about the acquisition but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Dog attacks child outside Knaresborough school

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for witnesses after a dog attacked a child outside a school in Knaresborough.

In a statement this afternoon, the force said the dog was tied to a fence outside the front gate of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School on Tentergate Road when it bit the child.

The incident happened on Wednesday, March 13 at school pick-up time.

The child required hospital treatment for what police described as “minor injuries”.

The statement said:

“Dog owners are urged take responsibility for their pets. Please do not leave dogs tied up and unattended around school premises near where young children may be playing.”

Anyone who saw the incident or knows the dog owner is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police by calling 101, or emailing jack.bocking@northyorkshire.police.uk, quoting reference 12240045161.

Read more:

Car park charges to rise by up to 25% in Harrogate district

North Yorkshire Council is set to increase car park charges across the Harrogate district by up to 25%.

Notices have been put up announcing new prices for off-street parking from April 19.

People parking at Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough for short periods look set to be hardest hit, with the cost of one hour and two hour parking going up by 25%. Most other price hikes are around 20%.

It is not known whether on-street parking charges will also increase. The council is expected to issue a media statement this week.

According to the notices, the affected car parks in Harrogate are Dragon Road, Montpellier Shoppers on The Ginnel, Odeon and Park View, West Park and Station Parade. The multi-storey car parks are not mentioned.

The Montpellier Shoppers car park on The Ginnel.

The cost of an annual permit to park at the Odeon and The Ginnel will shoot up from £756 to £907.20 and £1,425.60 to £1,710.72 respectively.

The affected car parks in Knaresborough are Castle Yard, Chapel Street and Fisher Street, Conyngham Hall, Waterside and York Place.

An annual permit at York Place will rise from £270 to £324.

Notices displayed in car parks state the changes come under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, which ‘provides that a local authority may vary the charges to be paid in connection with the use of its off‐street parking places by notice’.

It comes despite the council increasing council tax bills by 4.99% in 2024/25.

It means the amount paid by an average Band D property for council services will increase by £87.80 to £1,847.62.

The council faces a shortfall of more than £30 million for the next financial year.

Cycling infrastructure in Harrogate and Knaresborough ‘absolutely terrible’

Councillors have criticised North Yorkshire Council for not prioritising the needs of cyclists in Harrogate.

At a meeting of Harrogate and Knaresborough councillors, Alex Kay, the council’s senior transport planning officer delivered a presentation that included options for future cycle links in the town.

These included Bilton to Starbeck and Jennyfields to the town centre with cost estimates running into the millions.

In recent years the council has built a widely-criticised stretch of cycle route on Otley Road and abandoned the next phase, scrapped a Low-Traffic Neighbourhood on Beech Grove and decided against creating a one-way system on Oatlands Drive.

Meanwhile, funding bids have been rejected by the government for new cycle paths on Knaresborough Road and Victoria Avenue.

Its flagship active travel scheme, the £12.1m Harrogate Station Gateway, has also been drastically scaled back following opposition from local businesses with only a small section of Station Parade now set to include a cycle lane.

Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat for Knaresborough West, criticised the state of the cycle infrastructure in the area.

He said:

“To improve things you have to acknowledge there’s a problem. Active travel is absolutely terrible. Roads are gridlocked and full of potholes, buses are missed all the time between Harrogate and Knaresborough.

“We have to make improvements and the council needs to step its game up. It needs to get its act together so people can get out of cars and get around in a quick and environmentally-friendly way.”

Cllr Arnold Warneken, a member of the Green Party for Ouseburn, added:

“The frustration of people who want to cycle in Harrogate and Knaresborough isn’t being taken seriously.”

With several of the proposals put forward by the council years from being built, Cllr Paul Haslam, an Independent for Bilton and Nidd Gorge, said there are not enough “shovel-ready” schemes on the table.

The council’s predecessor North Yorkshire County Council undertook a much-publicised Harrogate Congestion Survey in 2019 which showed there was an appetite for improving walking and cycling infrastructure in the town so people are incentivised to leave their cars at home.

Cllr Philip Broadbank, a Liberal Dem for Fairfax and Starbeck, said:

“I get frustrated with talks and plans and various things we spend time preparing [regarding cycling] yet year-in-year-out nothing happens.”

However, Cllr John Mann, a Conservative for Oatlands and Pannal, defended the council and said it “hadn’t done a bad job” on active travel in his constituency.

Cllr Mann said:

“They’ve installed numerous cycle lanes, several 20mph zones, and school streets. The gateway scheme has not been without teething problems and it’s progressing.

“We shouldn’t be too hard on the highways team. The bigger picture is difficult on financing and funds. Costs of construction projects have gone up enormously and inflation is huge.”