Knaresborough’s first pop-up shop to open tomorrow

Knaresborough’s first pop-up shop will open on the High Street tomorrow.

The former Sid Horner and Son unit will provide week-long premises for a wide range of businesses.

Clothing and accessories firm Martha and Bea will be the first to occupy the site tomorrow.

Jane Weston, who runs Martha and Bea, said the concept was perfect for small firms like hers that didn’t require full-time premises.

“Natalie and Rob Horner have done an absolutely amazing job with the shop.

“It’s a stunning and a fabulous addition to the High Street.”

Ms Horner said the pop-up was fully booked until the end of the year and will host a wide range of businesses selling items ranging from glass ornaments to lingeries and photographic images.

Asked about the striking design, she said:

“We just wanted to something eye-catching that was fresh and clean and the polka dots seemed to work well with the pop-up theme.”

Sid Horner and Son now operates from premises on Finkle Street.

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New beauty salon opens in Knaresborough

A new hair and beauty salon has opened its doors in Knaresborough.

Boujeé, which began operating at 47 High Street this month, offers a range of beauty and aesthetic treatments.

The salon was founded by friends Natasha Daniel, Natasha Peacock and Tanya Maynard.

The three said they set up the venture in the hope of offering a “warm welcoming atmosphere” for clients.

Ms Daniel said:

“We’re just three local girls that have been friends for years and worked in the industry collectively for over 10 years, so have a wealth of experience.

“We worked in local salons separately for many years and thought we’d club together and bring you a luxury experience that we thrive in, we are perfectionists with a passion to give the best service and warm welcoming atmosphere.”

She added the firm has retained some of its existing clients and hoped to add new ones in the future.

The salon is among a range of businesses to have opened in the town recently, including the Knaresborough Inn and 1858 Restaurant and Bar.

For more information on the Boujeé salon, visit their Facebook page here.

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Ofsted praises ‘welcoming and friendly’ Scotton school

Scotton Lingerfield Primary School, near Knaresborough, has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted.

The inspection took place in June this year and the findings were published in a report on Wednesday.

It maintains the school’s official ‘good’ rating from 2013.

When a school receives a ‘good’ rating, Ofsted visits about every four years to confirm the grading.

Government inspectors found the school to be welcoming and friendly, and said pupils are polite and courteous.

They added that pupils demonstrate the school’s three rules: be safe, be respectful and be responsible.

The report found:

“Older pupils play well with younger pupils at breaktimes and lunchtimes.

“This adds to a sense of community.

“Bullying is extremely rare. Pupils told inspectors that they did not think it took place.”

During the visit, pupils were enthusiastically rehearsing songs for the end-of-year production, inspectors said, adding these opportunities support the development of pupils’ talents and interests effectively.

They commented:

“Leaders have designed and implemented a curriculum to meet the needs of pupils at the school.

“Children in reception begin to learn phonics from the start of the academic year. There are plentiful opportunities for children to apply their phonic knowledge within the classroom and outside area.

“Adults effectively model how to read with expression and interest to bring stories to life.”

Leaders were also praised for their approach to pupils with special educational needs. Tasks are suitably adapted to enable them to access the curriculum and adults know when it is necessary to explain something in a simpler way, the report added.

It continued:

“Pupils are proud of their school.

“Older pupils are positive role models to younger pupils.”

“Requires further refinement”

Ofsted did note, however, some of the curriculum requires further refinement.

The report added:

“In some subjects, leaders have not clearly defined the knowledge that pupils should learn as they progress through the school.

“Some pupils do not develop the depth of knowledge that they could in some subjects.

“Leaders should further develop the curriculum to support pupils to build their knowledge over time so that they are able to make connections within subjects and across the curriculum.”

Headteacher “incredibly proud” of report

 In response to the report, headteacher Debbie Calvert said:

“We are incredibly proud of the Ofsted report. The inspection was thorough and rigorous and offered a valuable opportunity to engage in professional conversations around all aspects of school life. All staff work tirelessly to ensure that pupils are happy, safe and able to achieve to their full potential. We are delighted that these efforts have been recognised across all areas of school.

“We couldn’t have achieved this outcome without a huge team effort. We are blessed with hardworking staff, supportive families, knowledgeable governors and children who have excellent attitudes to their learning.”

Chair of governors, Rob Manton, added:

“The passion that the staff put in, day in, day out is immeasurable.

“They truly make the school a special place for our children to learn.”

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Knaresborough hosts main running race of year

More than 200 runners took part in the Knaresborough Crag Rat Run yesterday.

The five-mile race around the town is the primary event organised each year by running club Knaresborough Striders.

Harrogate Harriers provided the top female athlete, Davina Ellis, who finished the mixed terrain course in 32 mins 11 seconds.

The men’s race was won by Mark Holden, of Dewsbury Road Runners, who blitzed around in 28 mins 27 seconds.

Gareth Somerville, of Harrogate Harriers, was the second male and Jack Brierley, of Nidd Valley Road Runners, was third.

The race, organised annually by Knaresborough Striders since 2016, started and finished at Knaresborough Cricket Club. A total of 217 runners took part.

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Female champion Davina Ellis

 

Men’s winner Mark Houlden

Train strikes to hit Harrogate and Knaresborough this week

More train strikes are set to disrupt services in Harrogate and Knaresborough this week.

Rail company Northern has said no services will operate on Saturday due to industrial action by train drivers’ union Aslef.

It added in a statement:

“Additional disruption is expected on Friday, September 29 and from Monday 2 to Friday 6 October due to action short of strike called by Aslef and customers are advised to check before they travel as there may be some short notice cancellations to services running on these days.

“There will also be no services on Wednesday, October 4 – when an additional strike has been called by the union.”

Northern’s guide to forthcoming services.

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Mick Whelan, Aslef general secretary, said:

‘While we regret having to take this action – we don’t want to lose a day’s pay, or disrupt passengers, as they try to travel by train — the government, and the employers have forced us into this position.

“Our members have not, now, had a pay rise for four years – since 2019 – and that’s not right when prices have soared in that time.”

River Nidd bathing water bid to be sent next month

An application for the River Nidd in Knaresborough to be designated bathing water status is to be submitted to the government next month.

If successful, the move would oblige organisations such as the Environment Agency to take action to clean the Nidd, amid concerns about high sewage levels and bathers falling ill at Knaresborough Lido.

Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones will submit the application after overseeing a survey of how many people use the Lido during the bathing water season from May 15 to September 30.

Mr Jones said the deadline for sending the application to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was the end of October. He added:

“Once submitted, there begins a long process in which Defra consult with many key stakeholders including Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency.

“Whilst we can’t be sure when the result will be known, applications that were submitted last year found out around March of this year.”

He said further surveys at the Lido were unlikely due to the colder weather, adding:

“The numbers we received from the surveys were excellent, and were nicely capped with that final burst of good weather a couple of weeks ago which saw hundreds of people swimming in the River Nidd at the Lido.”

The surveying was hampered a change in guidance in early July, but Mr Jones said “we have a committed team of volunteers which enabled us to adjust our plan quickly and fulfil the new criteria”.

Water sampling continues

Last month’s sampling in Bilton.

Nidd Action Group, which consists of anglers, academics, conservationists and volunteers has undertaken water sampling along the Nidd as part of the clean-up campaign.

The first round of sampling took place last month and a second round is required.

David Clayden, chairman of the group, said:

“We have identified four possible dates, but they are dependent on getting four days with no rain prior to the sampling day – so the first two, September 25 or 27, are no good.

“We are now aiming for either October 4 or 5 – again dependent on prior weather forecasts.”

Knaresborough Lib Dems send message to MP

Knaresborough Town Council gave its backing to the bathing water application this week — but the Liberal Democrat-controlled council added clauses urging the government to do more to protect rivers.

Cllr Kathryn Davies, a Conservative elected in Aspin and Calcutt who took part in the Lido survey, proposed a motion calling for the council to support the application.

It said the Nidd at the Lido was an important resource for the people of Knaresborough and improving water quality “would have significant benefits for the environment, public health, recreation and the local economy”.

But David Goode, a Liberal Democrat who represents Castle ward, said the motion “looked like a concerted effort by the Tory party to deflect attention” from allowing water companies to dump sewage in the river.

He proposed additional clauses, which included writing to Mr Jones requesting he “votes against any legislation that weakens planning and environmental policy” and “supports the call for water companies to be turned into public benefit companies with the aim of reducing leaks and sewage dumping, as well as limiting returns to shareholders”.

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New photos show Knaresborough’s £17m leisure centre shaping up

New photos have shown Knaresborough’s £17 million leisure centre taking shape.

Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre is due to open in November. It will replace Knaresborough Pool, which closed a month ago.

Like the old site, it will have a pool and a fun pool with a slide. But unlike the old site it will also have a a studio, gym, steam room and sauna.

Councillors were given a tour of the site today.

Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat on Knaresborough Town Council and North Yorkshire Council, shared some photos on his Twitter account. He said:

“It’s a huge investment for the town with lots more facilities than the previous pool.”

Cllr Walker added green technology would save about 50% of the running costs and 85% of the old pool will be recycled after demolition.

The children’s playground and zip wire is due to be reinstated.

The new sauna

The steam room

The site is due to open in November.

The leisure centre will be run by Brimhams Active, a leisure company controlled by North Yorkshire Council.

Brimhams reopened the former Harrogate Hydro as Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre this month.

Look out for an interview with Mark Tweedie, the managing director of Brimhams Active, this weekend.

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Police officer bumps into shoplifting suspect in Knaresborough McDonalds toilets

A police officer bumped into a suspected shoplifter when he used the toilets at McDonald’s in Knaresborough today.

The roads policing officer was on routine patrol at St James Retail Park when he and colleagues were alerted to a theft at a nearby store just before 1pm.

Three suspects were detained within five minutes after a member of the public directed officers to four people running from the store.

Police at the scene today.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:

“There was one outstanding suspect and extensive police resource which included a police dog unit, roads policing officers and response officers were sent to the area.

“One of the officers who was assigned to the search needed to use the bathroom, so he made a quick trip into the nearby McDonalds.

“The officer couldn’t believe his luck when he walked in and spotted a person who matched the description of the outstanding suspect.”

Two men in their 20s, a 19-year-old woman and a 23-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and are currently in police custody.

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Council declines to say if it ignored warnings about Knaresborough wall

North Yorkshire Council has declined to comment on claims it failed to heed warnings about a wall that collapsed in Knaresborough last week.

The wall, which was painted by Knaresborough artist Joseph Baker Fountain last century, crashed on to the road on Thursday.

Nobody was hurt, and traffic lights remain in place at the site on Briggate.

Nearby resident Catherine Rogerson told the Stray Ferret she and other local people reported the wall to North Yorkshire Council last month because it appeared unsafe.

The Stray Ferret asked the council whether it had been alerted to concerns about the state of the wall.

Melisa Burnham, the council’s highways area manager, replied:

“Two-way traffic lights will remain in place until repairs to the wall are carried out.

“We are liaising with residents of nearby properties and are in discussions with contractors to ensure the work is completed as quickly as possible.”

Ms Rogerson told the Stray Ferret last week:

“I said it was an emergency and could collapse, causing a nasty accident.

“Several other local people have also contacted them about it. We all stressed it was in a dangerous state.”

Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West on the council, said he understood the wall was inspected this month.

He added:

“I realise that the council have to use council tax wisely but the obsession with finding the owner of the wall has put the public at risk.

“I’d like the council to review how they assess the safety of walls and have asked to see the survey report that I’ve been told showed the wall was safe when it was inspected last Monday.”

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New children’s cafe opens in Knaresborough

A new children’s cafe has opened in Knaresborough.

The Hungry Caterpillar opened its doors on High Street on Saturday.

The cafe aims to provide a “safe and friendly environment” for young children and adults to enjoy playtime, as well as food and drinks.

It includes a play area with pool pit, toys, books and sensory toys on the wall.

Danielle Bartley-Mould, owner of the cafe, said in a Facebook post:

“My aim when opening this café and doing the refurbishment was to provide a safe and friendly environment for young children and their grown-ups, while enjoying some playtime with some food and drinks.”

The cafe will be open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, Saturday 10am until 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

For more information, visit the Hungry Caterpillar Facebook page here.

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