Knaresborough man fined after hare coursing in East Yorkshire

A Knaresborough man has fined after admitting charges of hare coursing in East Yorkshire.

Shane Hooton, 31, appeared at Beverley Magistrates Court on Monday (October 9) for sentencing.

He was charged with trespass and going equipped to trespass with intent to search for or pursue hares with dogs.

Hooton, of Thistle Hill in Knaresborough, was caught along with three other men, John Langan, 37, Joseph Foster, 35, and Dean Adams, 27, by Humberside Police coming off private farmland at Leven in East Yorkshire on December 23, 2022.

They were in possession of running dogs without any permissions to be on the land.

In court, Hooton was fined £500, issued with £85 cost and a £200 victim surcharge. 

He was also given a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order which included conditions around the control of dogs, not being on private farmland without permission and a complete ban on entering Humberside.

Read more:

Langan, of The Hawthorns, Great Ayton, was sentenced to a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months. He was also given a 10-year Criminal Behaviour Order with the same conditions at Hooton.

Foster, of Manton Crescent in Worksop, was sentenced to a £500 fine, £85 costs and £200 victim surcharge.

Adams, of Hebron Drive in Stokesley, failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Speaking after sentencing, sergeant Kevin Jones of the rural task force at Humberside Police, said:

“This Humberside Police’s first suspended prison sentence for hare coursing offences, our longest Criminal Behaviour Order of 10 years and fines and costs totalling over £1800.

“It certainly sends out a message that such offences are taken seriously by the criminal justice system and will not be tolerated by Humberside Police.”

Knaresborough and Ripon picked to advance double devolution bids

Knaresborough Town Council and Ripon City Council have been picked to advance double devolution bids, which will see them take control of some local assets.

North Yorkshire Council invited town and parish councils to submit expressions of interest to run local services in November last year.

It was part of the Conservative-controlled council’s double devolution agenda which pledges to let local people take control of local assets.

In total, 12 expressions of interest were submitted to the council. Of these, three were from the Harrogate district.

The authority has now confirmed it will move forward bids from Knaresborough and Ripon, but Little Ouseburn’s proposal was rejected.

David Chance, executive councillor for corporate services at the council, said:

“Town and parish councils are integral to our county’s vibrant communities, alongside community groups, and we recognise their understanding of the needs, opportunities and strengths within their communities.

“That’s why we are looking at this pilot scheme, working initially with selected town and parish councils, enabling us to progress cautiously, learning from the experience and developing best practice.

“These proposed pilots are just the start of the process, and the hope is that more will be introduced throughout North Yorkshire in the future.”

Ripon City Council bid to control the market place.

Ripon City Council bid to control assets including the market place.

Knaresborough Town Council’s application to manage the town’s markets, storage facility and associated assets such as road closure signs will be progressed to a full business case.

Meanwhile, the council will consider a project team to work with Ripon City Council on its bid as it was deemed “particularly ambitious”.

It included management of Ripon Town Hall, Market Place and Car Park, public toilets within the city and the Wakeman’s House listed building.

However, the council rejected to take a bid from Little Ouseburn Parish Council further. It included management of the grass cutting of the green area outside Broomfield Cottages.

Senior councillors will consider recommendations at an executive meeting on October 17.

Read more:

 

Knaresborough Castle to host free Glastonbury party next year

Knaresborough’s Party in the Castle will return next year, organisers have confirmed.

The free event, which was held in glorious sunshine in the grounds of Knaresborough Castle in June, enabled residents to watch BBC coverage of Glastonbury together on a big screen.

It was organised through a collaboration between business group Knaresborough and District Chamber and North Yorkshire Council.

Hundreds attended this year’s event. Pic: Mike Whorley

Enjoying the Glastonbury vibe. Pic: Mike Whorley

The two groups have now confirmed Party in the Castle 2024 will be held on Saturday, June 29.

A spokesperson for Knaresborough Chamber said:

“We are excited to announce the funding of 50% from North Yorkshire Council through Cllr Matt Walker and we have saved the date with Tim Dabell, manager of parks and open spaces, to secure the castle yard.

“We will be announcing our town events sponsorship packages in the new year. Party in the Castle is on for 2024!”

Read more:

 

Hydro project planned for River Nidd at Knaresborough

A scheme to build a water-powered turbine on the banks of the River Nidd in Knaresborough has received a £10,000 boost.

Knaresborough Community Energy, a not-for-profit community benefit society founded in February this year, wants to build the turbine at the town’s Lido to produce low carbon electricity.

A £10,000 grant from electricity distributor Northern Powergrid will enable the society to conduct structural surveys of the Lido weir to ascertain its condition.

If the weir is found to be in good condition the scheme will proceed to the next stage, which would involve civil engineering design, environmental permits and a planning application.

Building a water turbine is estimated to cost a minimum of £300,000, which would be raised via a community share offer.

Investors would be paid back from revenue generated from the electricity sold. Any surplus would be reinvested in more renewable energy projects.

Gilly Lacey, director and secretary of KCE said:

”Our purpose is to generate low carbon electricity for the community as a means to tackle climate change in a positive way.

“Our current project is a proposed hydroelectric turbine on the River Nidd at the Lido. It will be similar in design to the one on the Nidd at Goldsborough”.

Fellow director Adam Harper said it hoped to know by next summer whether the Lido project is feasible.

He added the group also had plans to help install rooftop solar panels on local buildings.

Read more:

 

Business Breakfast: Mother Shipton’s Cave wins special recognition

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10 am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Mother Shipton’s Cave in Knaresborough has been awarded a Welcome Accolade from VisitEngland following its latest VisitEngland Quality Scheme Assessment.

Among the 91 exceptional attractions recognised, Mother Shipton’s Cave is one of only two in Yorkshire to receive the = welcome accolade, acknowledging its commitment to excellence in visitor service. The attraction team’s customer service, professional demeanour, and warm approach were specifically highlighted.

Fiona Martin, owner of Mother Shipton’s, said:

“We are over the moon to have received such special recognition from VisitEngland. Our team are passionate about providing exemplary customer service and preserving the magical story of Mother Shipton for generations.”

This latest achievement, alongside the team’s achievements in various local and regional award schemes, such as Attraction of the Year at the Knaresborough Business Awards, adds to the reputation of Mother Shipton’s Cave as an outstanding tourist destination.

Mother Shipton’s Cave is open every day until November 5, as well as on selected dates throughout November and December for its Magical Christmas Experience. The next family event is Halloween Creepy Carnival, running through October half term from October 28 to November 5.

Harrogate asset management firm wins award

Cardale Asset Management took home the first-place awards in two categories at the prestigious Citywire Investment Performance Awards.

The annual awards showcase the firms and strategies which delivered top risk-adjusted returns over a three-year period.

Cardale, which is based at Cardale Park in Harrogate, won the Aggressive Shortlist award for the performance of its equity model. It also won the prize for the Best Medium-Sized Firm in the UK.

Ian Wood, chief investment officer at Cardale, said:

“We are incredibly proud to win this award. It is testament to our investment philosophy, experience and approach and is truly a team effort.

“We have over 3,000 clients within Cardale Asset Management, with total assets under management of over £2 billion. Our ethos is to provide investment options to a broad spectrum of investors, therefore enabling more people to access the strong performing and experienced Cardale Asset Management team.”

Read more:

 

Greenwoods ‘thriving’ after shocking tragedy, says founder’s daughter

When Greenwoods Solicitors attended the Yorkshire Legal Awards on Thursday, for director Camilla Greenwood it felt as if they had already won. 

It’s been 18 months since her mother, Knaresborough solicitor Lynda Greenwood, tragically died in a fire at her home in Brearton, leaving the firm’s future up in the air. Camilla had a job she enjoyed with Leeds law firm Irwin Mitchell, and the magnitude of carrying on her mother’s legacy was daunting. 

Speaking exclusively to the Stray Ferret, she said: 

“My family home had just burned down, my mum, who was my only relative, had died, and I could barely even feed myself. The thought of dealing with all this – I didn’t know if I had it in me. 

“But then it became a sort of security blanket. This was my mum’s lifetime’s work and she was a pillar of the community. And it wasn’t just about me; it was everyone else who was involved as well – the members of staff, and the clients with ongoing cases.” 

Lynda founded Greenwoods in 1991 and was determined it would be a trusted part of the local community. The firm now has a team of six – Camilla calls it “small but mighty” – and has just appointed a seventh to help it cope with an increase in private client work. Now, Camilla wants to continue the firm in the spirit her mother intended, maintaining the very human ethos that elicited loyalty among clients. 

She said: 

“My mum opened Greenwoods when I was six months old, so I saw it all – I used to do my homework at a desk in the office. I grew up here, so I felt partly raised by the firm, really. 

“You’ve got to carry on. She did that too – she set up this firm so she could have me, so we extend that support to other parents. Our new employee has a little boy, so we’ll alter her working hours so she can take him to school and pick him up – because that’s what the firm was for.

“You don’t have to have one or the other – you can have a family and a career, and we’ll support you with that.” 

The firm, which has a double frontage on Knaresborough’s High Street, applies the same kind of human approach to its dealings with clients. Camilla said: 

“We know that moving house is really stressful, so give us a ring and you’ll speak to the same person every time you call the office – you’re not going to be fobbed off with a ‘press 1 to speak to…’. You’re not a number, and that’s something that has to be relevant to staff and clients.” 

Photo of the team at Greenwoods Solicitors in Knaresborough.

The Greenwoods team dressed for the awards season.

Camilla is soon going to have reason to take advantage of her firm’s family-friendly employment policies, as she’s due to have her first baby at the end of November. She said: 

“Timing is everything, isn’t it?! I found out I was pregnant in the week of the anniversary of my mum’s death. It was very spooky. 

“Just when I thought I was gaining some control and thought I had reins on the situation, here comes generation three!” 

It was a lovely and unexpected twist in the tale of Greenwoods’ survival after such a shocking tragedy, and it seems fitting that Camilla’s daughter will be brought up “in the firm” just as she was. It also feels in some way like a vindication – a seal of approval – on Camilla’s decision to carry on the business. She said of that time: 

“It took a lot of soul-searching, but once I’d made the decision to do it, there was very little that was going to stop me. I needed the ground to stop shaking after the earthquake for me to take a breath and say ‘let’s do this’, and since I made the decision to do it, magical stuff has happened.” 

That “magic” isn’t just confined to the imminent new arrival. Greenwoods has been nominated for several awards over the last few months, and has won some of them, including Family-Run Business of the Year at the Knaresborough Business Awards, which Camilla says was “really special and touching” . 

Now, with a growing team, local praise for the firm’s newly refurbished offices, and a slew of five-star client reviews, Camilla says things are very much looking up: 

“We’re getting recognition from the industry, from clients and from the community. I feel quite emotional about it. I know my mum would be so proud.” 

Greenwoods didn’t win the awards they were shortlisted for at the awards ceremony in Leeds on Thursday evening, but Camilla says it doesn’t matter – the transformation of the firm’s fortunes over the last 18 months feels like a huge win in itself. She said: 

“Literally a couple of days after the fire, I was shell-shocked and one compliance solicitor in London told me I had two options: either close or dispose of the firm. But I thought ‘those aren’t my only options; there is another choice: I do this, I find a way and make it work’ – and I have done.

“We’re not just coping, we’re thriving, and I think that needs celebrating.”

Read more:

 

‘I loved my 6-month job so much I’ve stayed for 20 years’ says Knaresborough business owner

This story is sponsored by Knaresborough Kitchens.

A Knaresborough business owner began his job on a 6-month contract but, 20 years later, he is still there.

Matt Johnson, Owner of Knaresborough Kitchens, initially took on the role to help his parents short-term after graduating from university. Now married and a father-of-four, Matt has watched the company grow and succeed – and hasn’t looked back since.

Knaresborough Kitchens, located on the town’s high street, was launched in 1996 by Matt’s parents. The company provides timeless and stylish kitchens, ranging from sleek modern units to traditional country-look cupboards.

It also offers customers an entirely bespoke service. Whether you’re searching for your forever kitchen, the highest-technology German units to host friends, or just something different to everyone else, Knaresborough Kitchens can provide you with the kitchen of your dreams, with a smile on their faces.

If there’s one thing Knaresborough Kitchens prides itself on, its quality. It excels in the materials your heart and wallet desires; from classic painted kitchens with Quartz work surfaces, to boiling water taps and state-of-the-art appliances.

The front-runner of the company’s values, however, is customer care. Matt and his team not only compete with national suppliers on price, but as a local family business, they also work customer satisfaction at the forefront of their minds.

Matt told the Stray Ferret:

“We take our roles very seriously and customers are at the forefront of what we do and why we do it.

“We have customers who have become good friends over the years. One local couple have had 3 kitchens from us in 20 years!”

Over the years, the Knaresborough Kitchens team has multiplied and now has three friendly faces to welcome customers. The Office Manager, Janet, has worked for the company for over 20 years, while Designer, Hazel, and Installations Manager, Sam, joined later. All are extremely valuable members of staff.

Following the pandemic, Matt’s parents retired from the business. He said “they went home and never came back!”

Matt added:

“The business was started in 1996 by my parents and I joined after university in 2002. I loved it so much after 6 months I’ve stayed an extra 20 years!

“I spent over 20 years working everyday with my parents and I do miss them being in the business. However, they worked for over 40 years and are finally enjoying well-earned retirement.”

Knaresborough Kitchens has seen significant growth over the years, but has seen its greatest accolade so far just this year: the company bought its showroom premises after 27 years of renting.

Matt added:

“We bought our building from the landlord after 27 years of renting – that was pretty major for us.

“Hopefully that helps makes sure we’re on Knaresborough High Street for another 27 years…”

The company also receives frequent recognition from customers for its relentless efforts, as well as industry-wide features in notable magazines and publications.

Despite the company’s growing success and Matt’s devotion to the company, his focus has shifted from world-wide expansion to local optimisation. For this reason, he made the tough decision to close the York showroom earlier this year. He said:

“In my 20s (before kids) I was very ambitious to expand the business – almost at the expense of anything else. Now I’m in my 40s and I have 4 children under 13, I do like to spend as much time with them as I can.

“That was one of the reasons we closed our York showroom earlier in the year. The lease was running out and it had become rather time consuming and stressful running another showroom 25 miles away. I made the decision, therefore, to close the showroom and be based in Knaresborough all week.

“So, my plans are to keep getting better at what we do and make sure all our customers are happy with our kitchens and service!”

It’s clear Knaresborough Kitchens has gone from strength-to-strength over the last 27 years, but thanks to the team’s dedication to providing the highest-quality kitchens and ultimate customer satisfaction, the company sees no sign of slowing down the success.

To find out more about Knaresborough Kitchens, visit knaresboroughkitchens.co.uk or call 01423 862286. Alternatively, you can pop into the showroom located at the bottom of Knaresborough High Street.

 

Asda Express preparing to open in Knaresborough

Asda is preparing to open its first express store in Knaresborough.

The supermarket announced last year it had bought 132 Co-op stores located on petrol forecourts for its new convenience store venture.

The Co-op on Wetherby Road in Knaresborough was among those acquired.

Adverts have now appeared for staff at the site. They say successful applicants will initially be employed by Co-op before transferring to Asda on the same terms under TUPE rules.

Asda opened its first express stores in Sutton Coldfield and London last year and plans to have 300 sites operating by the end of 2026.

An Asda image of how its express stores will look.

The express stores sell hot and cold takeaway food from brands including Leon, plus £10 meal deals for two people.

Asda hopes its expansion into the convenience store market will help it achieve its goal of overtaking Sainsbury the UK’s second biggest supermarket behind Tesco.

The Stray Ferret asked Asda for further details of the Knaresborough store, including the opening date.

A spokesperson said it would be in touch as soon as it had more information to share.

Read more:

 

MPs Watch: Climate change, NHS dentists and Harrogate Station Gateway saga

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In September, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a major shift in the government’s climate policies, including delaying the ban on the sale of diesel and petrol cars.

Meanwhile, in Harrogate, the saga over the Station Gateway project continued with council officials announcing the authority would explore alternative options for the scheme.

We asked Ripon MP Julian Smith and Selby and Ainsty MP Keir Mather if they would like to highlight anything in particular, but did not receive a response.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

When we contacted Mr Jones for comment, his office sent a list of his engagements for September.

They included holding constituency surgeries, supporting Nidd Action Group’s Action Day at the Lido Leisure Park in Knaresborough and holding a roundtable with Harrogate-based cyclists to discuss local cycling infrastructure. 

Others included meeting with representatives of the Women’s Institute to support their Clean Rivers campaign, meeting the Jewish Leadership Council, Food and Drink Federation and Macmillan Cancer Support and visiting the site of the local mental health crisis line to learn more about how calls are handled by TEWV NHS Foundation Trust. 

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Keir Mather, Selby and Ainsty MP.

Keir Mather, Selby and Ainsty MP.

In Selby and Ainsty, which includes rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Mather:

Read more:

 

Business Breakfast: Knaresborough company acquires local financial firm

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 26 October at Banyan in Harrogate between 8 am – 10 am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Knaresborough company has completed the acquisition of a local financial firm.

Prosperis, which is based at St James’ Business Park, has acquired fellow Knaresborough business RMB Financial Management Ltd.

Niall Gunn, chief executive at Prosperis, said the move will help to benefit its clients.

He said:

“We are delighted to have been able to acquire such a high-quality business and, in doing so, allows us to continue to provide clients an excellent professional level of service for the foreseeable future. 

“As an independently owned business, this acquisition will benefit greatly all clients. We are on track to add further locations within the north-east as we continue with our growth plans.”

Paul Meehan, chairman at Prosperis, added: 

“These are exciting times for the whole Prosperis team and we remain very acquisitive.

“The purchase of the RMB business sets us up nicely as we now move to the next phase of the strategy to buy more firms. We expect to complete on another deal before the end of the year in addition to some additional senior hires.”

Former Harrogate bank building goes on the market

A former bank building in Harrogate has been placed on the market for offers over £1 million.

No7 Cambridge Crescent is a landmark listed building, which covers 6,000 square feet in the town centre.

No7 Cambridge Crescent in Harrogate.

No7 Cambridge Crescent in Harrogate.

Cambridge Crescent was built in 1867-8 by George Dawson to a design of J H Hirst of Bristol featuring enriched Flemish Renaissance frontage with the former banking premises suitable for retail, office and residential uses.

The property has been stripped out for ease of development with the ground floor former banking hall now open plan and a lower ground floor, previously the secure storage area, has had the safe removed.

Tim Waring, prime property at GSC Grays which is marketing the building, said: 

“This is a unique opportunity to purchase a charming building in a fantastic central location in the famous spa town of Harrogate with potential for various development options.”

Read more: