Any vehicle can park in Knaresborough electric vehicle bays, says council

Petrol and diesel cars can currently park in electric vehicle charging bays in Knaresborough’s Chapel Street car park, North Yorkshire Council has confirmed.

The Stray Ferret submitted a freedom of information request to the council amid confusion about the status of the 10 bays, which appeared in the town centre car park shortly before Christmas last year.

The bays are frequently empty while non-electric vehicle drivers struggle to park in Chapel Street car park, particularly on Wednesday market days and at weekends.

This has infuriated some traders, who claim it is costing them money, and they have been unable to determine the precise rules surrounding the bays.

A petition this year called for some of the bays to be made available to all vehicles until more electric cars used them.

Traders Steve and Kelly Teggin launching the petition.

We asked the council what consultation it held on having the bays in Chapel Street car park, whether it was legal for non-electric vehicles to park in the bays and how many vehicles had received parking tickets for using the bays.

The council replied it hadn’t carried out any consultation and added:

“At present it is not illegal for a non-electric vehicle to park in an electric vehicle bay in Chapel Street car park (this is not the case for all electric vehicle car park bays in the Harrogate borough).

“There is currently no Traffic Regulation Order for electric vehicle charging in Chapel Street.

“Any vehicle can park in the electric vehicle bays at Chapel Street and will not receive a penalty charge notice as long as the user has paid the fee to park in the car park; in Chapel Street you must pay to park between 8am and 6pm.”

The response also said electric vehicles would not be fined just for parking in the bays “as long as the user has paid the fee to park in the car park”.

The council agreed to pay £280,000 to the company Connected Kerb in March 2022 to install electric vehicle charging bays across the county.

It is currently conducting an internal review into off street car parking orders across North Yorkshire, which it said will “enable us to align definitions for electric vehicle charging across the county”.

This would enable it to fine petrol and diesel vehicle owners parked in an electric vehicle bays, as well as electric vehicles drivers that use the bays for parking rather than charging.

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Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West on North Yorkshire Council, said he supported electric vehicle charging to reduce pollution but “charging point installation has been poorly implemented in Knaresborough due to inadequate engagement and communication with local residents, business, visitors and the town council”.

The decision to install slow charging bays in a busy town centre car park has proved particularly contentious.

Cllr Walker was part of the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee that recommended the Conservative-controlled executive conduct a full review of all parking in Knaresborough within the next six months to ensure spaces, pricing and locations are in line with the needs of the town for both residents and visitors.

The committee also recommended the council develop a strategy for EV charging that is supported by residents and  introducing a park and ride scheme that links the York Place long stay car park and the town centre.

Harrogate and Knaresborough trains to trial leaf-busting jets

Trains passing through Harrogate and Knaresborough will be fitted with water jets this autumn to blast leaves off the line.

Fallen leaves frequently cause delays this time of year by sticking to rails and reducing trains’ grip.

Rail operator Northern said the trials on five trains operating on the line between Leeds and York, which runs through Harrogate and Knaresborough, could prevent this.

The trial, which will also take place on routes between Liverpool, Wigan and Manchester, is being funding by Network Rail’s performance innovation fund.

The technology, called Water-Trak, is based on the discovery that leaf-coated rails only become slippery if damp, noting that trains still stop safely in heavy rain.

Water-Trak creates rainy-day conditions on the rail surface by spraying a small amount of water from the train onto the track when a slippery rail is detected. This cleans the rail and makes the conditions better for braking.

Rob Cummings, seasonal performance improvement manager at Northern, said he hoped it would lead to a more reliable service.

By next autumn, a further 11 trains will have the Water-Trak system fitted.

John Cooke, co-founder at Water-Trak, said:

“Slippery rails are a massive problem for the rail industry, and we hope to play a big part in resolving this issue.

“We’re hoping that by working with Northern we can make autumn disruption a thing of the past.”

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Harrogate district Wetherspoons to host 12-day real ale festival

Three Wetherspoons pubs in the Harrogate district are set to host a real ale festival in October.

The Winter Gardens in Harrogate, Unicorn Hotel in Ripon and The Crown Inn in Knaresborough will all take part in the 12-day festival which will feature 20 different beers from the UK and around the world.

It will be held from Wednesday, October 11, until Sunday, October 22.

Among the brewers on display include Steel and Oak Brewing, Canada, Yazoo Brewing from USA and South Africa’s Zubland Brewery.

The Crown Inn at Knaresborough and The Unicorn Hotel in Ripon.

The Crown Inn at Knaresborough and The Unicorn Hotel in Ripon.

Others on display will be Robinsons Brewery, Purity Brewery and Joe’s Garage Brewery in Czech Republic.

Beers on offer will be £2.45 a pint.

Will Thorton, manager at the Winter Gardens in Harrogate, said:

“The festival is a great celebration of real ale.

“It will allow us to showcase a selection of superb beers over a 12-day period, at great value for money prices.

“It will also give our customers the opportunity to enjoy a number of beers which have not previously been served in the pub, including those from overseas.”

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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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