knaresborough Archives - Page 64 of 178

Number Thirteen cafe in Knaresborough to close next month

The owner of retro coffee shop Number Thirteen has announced the closure of its Silver Street premises in Knaresborough.

The coffee shop originally opened on Castlegate in the town in 2018.

It expanded into a second location above Donkey’s Years Antiques on Silver Street about six months ago.

But owner Sarah Ward has announced this second location will close for good at the end of September.

In a Facebook post, Ms Wood said it was “the hardest thing I have ever had to do”.

She said:

“There is no denying that the hospitality industry has been suffering these past few years, and I can’t pretend that we haven’t been affected.

“With costs in energy prices still increasing, costs of ingredients and stock increasing, as well as large staff costs and overheads like rent and VAT, it just isn’t financially viable to remain open.”

Odds ‘stacked against small hospitality businesses’

Ms Ward said the odds were stacked against small hospitality businesses not only because of the cost of wages but also the cost of pensions, holiday and sick pay alongside rising utility and ingredient prices.

She added:

“The team we put together have made the space their own, while also becoming part of what makes Number Thirteen so special. I’m so proud of all of them, and I’m so upset that it has had to come to this.”

Ms Ward, who will now focus on the Castlegate shop, said she was grateful for the support she has received:

“I have always felt so supported and connected to the people of Knaresborough, and the comments I have received from my own staff, customers and fellow business owners following the announcement have meant so much to me.

“It has been the toughest decision to make, but knowing that we will continue to be a part of Knaresborough’s business community with our Castlegate shop, lightens the load a little.”

Stray Views: Electric car campaigners don’t speak for everyone in Knaresborough

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

I am writing in response to a couple of articles relating to the council’s provision of electric vehicle charging points at its car parks in Knaresborough. The campaign itself is not reflective of the residents, taxpayers or visitors to Knaresborough.

The campaigners are failing to understand the effects petro carbons have not only on the environment but on people affected with chronic lung conditions like COPD and the more common asthma. There is also a direct cost to tax payers of Knaresborough as we have effectively paid for the electric vehicle charging points so to actively campaign for their removal is going to mean service provision cuts in order to fund it, and, no doubt in two years’ time to fund putting them back.

As such 0.12% of the Knaresborough taxpayer’s population are trying to make decisions for the 99% majority which is simply undemocratic and narrow minded.

If the issue is, as they allege that the car parks are full, what is wrong with reverting Gracious Street car park to short stay only? It used to have a maximum stay time so why not reintroduce this concept and make it two hours maximum stay with a no return in four hours, this could be extended to the castle car park.

Whilst the market place spaces could be subject to a very short term stay of one hour no return in four hours again. This leaves Conyngham Hall and York Place as longer stay car parks.

I have another proposal here too as there are businesses that do have car parking which may not be fully utilised so as a collective why don’t they work together and use the space we have but more effectively? What about car sharing? Using our fantastic public transport?

I am writing this letter due to the toxic nature of the anti-environment campaign given repeated air time at the Stray Ferret without seeking the views of Knaresborough taxpayers who will suffer if the spaces are removed.

We should be praising the council for taking the issue of pollution by the scruff of the neck and making Knaresborough a blueprint for other cities, towns and villages within North Yorkshire. I would welcome more clean air studies as per the Bond End work, subject to them getting government funding as I believe councils have funds but they can also apply for grants for such work.

Adrian Robson, Knaresborough

Lack of planning on trains after The Hundred match at Headingley

The match finished around 9.15pm. Burley Park station was mobbed with no staff to manage the situation. The platform was jammed and more people continued to arrive without any control – lots of families with young children.

People were very good natured but it was very lucky that there were no problems. After the test match, which ended at 6pm, there were loads of staff and transport police.

When the train arrived it was already busy and so everyone was jammed in. Surely this could have been planned for?

Stephen Hutchison, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Knaresborough basks in sun and ale at Picnic in the Park

Almost 500 people attended Picnic in the Park in the gloriously sunny gardens of Knaresborough House this afternoon.

The free five-hour event, which featured four live bands and two DJs, is a highlight of the town’s 10-day arts festival Feva.

Knaresborough Lions Beer Festival was held alongside the picnic.

Knaresborough has been decked in Feva pink for the annual late summer festival.

It ends tomorrow with Harrogate Spa Town Ukes playing on the High Bridge gardens and a poetry evening at Mother Shipton’s Inn.

The beer festival also finishes tomorrow at Knaresborough House.

Feva chairperson Gwen Lloyd, who has attended dozens of events during the festival, said she was delighted with how it has gone:

“It’s been really well attended. We have a four-pronged format of street entertainment, visual art, music and spoken word.

“Now it’s a question of developing it and taking a few risks.”

You can watch a live video of today’s picnic on our Facebook page here.

Here are some photos from Knaresborough House today.

The team from Feva.

Knaresborough House provided the backdrop.

Knaresborough Lions took care of visitors’ thirst.

The stage featured live acts throughout the day.

Councillor calls for clampdown on overnight parking at Knaresborough’s Conyngham Hall

A Knaresborough councillor has called for a clampdown on overnight parking at Conyngham Hall.

About a dozen vehicles pitched up at the back of the car park and stayed for three nights a week ago.

Signs say overnight parking is prohibited but the rule is often flouted.

Conyngham Hall car park last weekend.

Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West, said the latest encampment, which he reported to a council officer, was the largest he was aware of.

He said:

“I have on several occasions asked for the gate at the end to have a padlock due to overnight stays of motorhomes.

“There are always excuses and reasons why not.”

Cllr Walker says the gate should be locked at night.

Cllr Walker said the cost of moving on vehicles and cleaning up afterwards could cost taxpayers thousands of pounds.

He added:

“Residents let me know every few weeks over the summer that people are camping in their vans and often leave it a mess, The council haven’t listened so far.”

The Stray Ferret asked the council what action it took against last week’s encampment and why it didn’t lock the gates as suggested by Cllr Walker.

Steve Brown, the council’s head of parking services, said:

“We started the protocols needed to remove the encampment as soon as we were made aware of their arrival in Conyngham Hall car park.

“However, the process takes time and the travellers moved on by Monday. Our environment team cleaned-up any rubbish left behind.”

“This car park is open 24 hours a day.”

Firefighters respond to hot tub blaze near Knaresborough

Firefighters from Knaresborough were called to a hot tub that went up in flames near Knaresborough today.

Flames from the wood-fired hot tub, which didn’t have anyone in it, spread to the surrounding canopy on Arkendale Road in Ferrensby.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report said:

“This was extinguished prior to the arrival of the fire service using five small fire extinguishers, buckets of water and garden hose pipes.

“Crews assisted the owners with damping down the area. The hot tub and canopy were 100% destroyed by fire. The cause of this was a jammed motor.”

Nidd Art Trail in full swing as local artists begin to open their doors

Local artists, craftspeople and photographers are opening their doors to the public this weekend to showcase work as part of NiddArt Trail.

The trail, run by community organisation Nidderdale Art Trail, aims to highlight both the artistic talent on offer throughout the district, as well as keep community spirit alive.

It originated as Nidd Art Fest, which ran from 1997 to 2008, and has been known as NiddArt Trail since 2009.

Venues in upper and lower Nidderdale, Pateley Bridge, Bewerley, Knaresborough and surrounding villages will house the works of both professional artists, such as Claire Baxter Gallery and JOT’s Gallery, as well as amateur groups such as Pateley Bridge Art Club, which will hold its summer exhibition in St Cuthbert’s School, and Lofthouse Art Group.

A number of community venues will also host featured works, including Summerbridge Methodist Church and Sawley Village Hall.

St Paul’s Art Group will have a variety of mediums on display, including photography and crafts, with some on sale to the public. The work will be held in St Paul’s United Reformed Church, Harrogate, on 26 and 27 August. Refreshments will also be available.

Poetry readings will also take place at Darley Methodist Church as part of the trail. Reverend Alastair Ferneley of Dacre and Alan Jordan, Lay Pastor in the Methodist Church, will be reciting their own poetry on Saturday, August 19, and Saturday, August 26.

Paintings, pottery and photographs curated by local artists will all be housed in St Andrew’s Church, in Blubberhouses, on 19 and 20 August, as well as 26 – 28 August too.

Treasurer Charles Mellor said:

“It’s very much a community event and is made from a mix of talent and community effort.

“There is quite a spectrum of activity this year.”

Some pieces will be available to buy from both the professional and amateur artists, however many choose to simply be involved in the trail.

“I think people just really enjoy being a part of it.

“Many of the groups and venues involved become very enthusiastic about the trail.”

The participating venues are free to attend and will be open at various times from Friday, August 18 to Monday, August 28.

The trail has been available to view online from August 1.

Find a full breakdown of the participating artists and venues, as well as their opening times, here.

Anonymous £10k boost to Knaresborough man’s Ukraine fire engine appeal

A fundraising campaign by a Knaresborough man to buy a fire engine to send to Ukraine has received a £10,000 donation.

Bob Frendt was hoping to raise £20,000 to buy the appliance and send it to Volodymyr, which had its fire engines commandeered by the army in the fight against Russia.

However, he said he was worrying the total was unachievable, after getting stuck at £7,000 for several weeks.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I was getting a bit depressed and very stressed over it. I was thinking, ‘I’ve bitten off more than I can chew’, making promises I couldn’t keep and letting people down.

“Then I got this call out of the blue from a man who came to a fundraising folk night in Wetherby and heard me say a few words about what I was doing.

“He said he wanted to make a donation and asked for my bank details. He didn’t say how much – but when I saw it come through, I couldn’t believe it.

“I’m still buzzing now. I can’t believe it has happened. It just shows you what wonderful people there are around.”

The donor has asked to remain anonymous, but said the money was taken from a legacy left by his mother after she died earlier this year.

The man told Mr Frendt she was always a generous supporter of good causes, and had left him “more than he could ever spend” in her will.

In recognition of their generosity, Mr Frendt said he will name the fire engine after the man’s mother.

Now, he is working with a former fire officer to source an appliance that he can take across Europe and hand over to the fire service in Volodymyr.

He added:

“I just need to raise the last £3,000 now.

“The paperwork shouldn’t take too long to get sorted. Hopefully, we can get it to Volodymyr before the end of October, when the weather closes in.

“If we can’t do that, we’re looking at not doing it until the end of March next year. I don’t want to leave it that long – they’ve got to have that fire engine.”

To help him take his funds from £17,000 to the total, Knot Another Choir will be performing a fundraising concert at Trinity Church in Knaresborough on October 6.

Tickets are £10 and available to buy online in advance.

Donations can also be made via Mr Frendt’s Just Giving page.

New roadworks revealed for Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon

Details of upcoming roadworks for Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon have been revealed.

Cllr Paul Haslam, a Conservative who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on North Yorkshire Council, posted details of scheduled resurfacing schemes on his Facebook page.

The information is set out below with details of where and when each scheme will take place and the accompanying plan to manage traffic.

North Park Road, Harrogate

Monday, August 21 to Friday, September 1 (7pm to midnight)

21st, 22nd, 24th, 25th 29th – traffic management – combination of two-way lights and road closure during working hours

23rd, 30th, 31st and 1st Sep – traffic management – road closure during working hours. Access for residents will be maintained