Plan submitted to convert Knaresborough mill into banking hub

A plan has been submitted to convert part of a grade-II listed former Knaresborough mill into a banking hub.

Cash Access UK has lodged the plan for the building on Kirkgate in the town.

The mill was built in the 18th century and was most recently used as a tile showroom.

The developer plans to convert the ground floor of the former mill into a banking hub, which will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions.

It will also provide a community banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The company identified the former mill as its site for the banking hub in June.

At the time, Gareth Oakley, chief executive at Cash Access UK, said:

“We know the new banking hub has been eagerly anticipated by the local community and so we’re delighted we’ve now been able to secure a fantastic location for you in the heart of the community.

“This brings us a significant step closer in being able to deliver improved access to cash services to individuals and businesses in Knaresborough.”

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

Cash Access UK is owned and funded by 10 of the UK’s biggest banking providers: Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money.

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Business Breakfast: Knaresborough businesses sponsor Knaresborough Celtics FC

Two Knaresborough businesses have agreed to sponsor Knaresborough Celtics girls football team.

Kelly Teggin Hair and Beauty and Huttons will sponsor the under 16s side this season.

It will see the businesses provide kit and training wear for the girls.

Kelly Teggin, owner of Kelly Teggin Hairdressers, said:

“Kelly Teggin hairdressing have sponsored the team for five years buying a kit every year so they can pass it down so all the age groups have a kit to play in moving forwards.

“Huttons have sponsored the training tops that the girls keep as they have their initials on and they will have them as a keep sake for all the hard work both the parents, team and coaches have put in over the last eight years.”

Pictured above (left to right) Kelly Young, Jaden Rigg, Issy Colbert, Lily Howliston , Lilly perry, Issy stobbs, Grace Denny, Amelia Trougton, Poppy Naylor, Poppy Johnson, Bella Richardson, Camilla Rishton ,Abigail Rushworth, Bella Bere, Freya Welbourne

Council awards Harrogate maintenance contract

North Yorkshire Council has awarded a contract for maintenance of public buildings in Harrogate to a Bingley company.

Europe Air Conditioning Ltd, which is based in Cottingley near Bingley, has been commissioned to cover “reactive call outs” in the area.

The contract is valued at £86,723.47, according to the council website.

It adds:

“This work forms part of legal compliance and is essential for the continuation of business and health and safety of our staff, occupants and public.”

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Performing arts school finds new home in heart of Knaresborough

Freedom Performing Arts has opened new studios at the former Castle Girls School in Knaresborough.

The arts school, which has 380 students aged three to 18, has operated out of the town’s Aspin Park Academy since 2010.

It will continue to run two classes every night at Aspin as well as one nightly class at the new venue in Castle Yard.

Amy Meikle, principal at Freedom Performing Arts, received the keys for the new premises in December last year after plans to open a museum on the site fell through.

Students at Friday’s opening.

She said it cost £25,000 to fully restore the building, which had been empty since it hosted Knaresborough and Harrogate Dance Centre pre-covid.

A ribbon was cut to mark Friday’s opening, which was attended by retired well known local dance teacher Miss Wenda (pictured below), who taught ballet and tap at Freedom before retiring in 2016.

Ms Meikle said being in the Castle Yard, close to the town centre, made the school feel like part of the community:

“I have loved seeing all the new businesses open in Knaresborough this month with more on the way. The town seems to be thriving and we feel super proud to have brought part of our school into the heart of the town centre.

“It really is a dream come true, I can’t believe this is real and I’m so grateful to everyone in my life who has helped make this possible.”

The studio has been completely renovated.

 

How the building looked in December.

Freedom runs a wide range of classes including ballet, tap, street, jazz, musical theatre, modern and acrobatics.

The building holds a strong personal connection for Ms Meikle, who said:

“I was born and bred in Knaresborough and my mum actually attended school in this building back in the 1950s/60s so it really has come full circle.”

The school has been nominated for four awards at Saturday’s Knaresborough Business Awards, organised by Knaresborough Business Collective.

The two-storey former girls school also hosts the 1st Scriven Scout Group.

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Knaresborough’s Remembrance Sunday parade saved

Knaresborough’s Remembrance Sunday parade has been saved after the police decided to stop providing traffic management.

Elliot Foskett, assistant chief constable at North Yorkshire Police, wrote to 32 smaller Royal British Legions in July informing them of what he described as the “difficult but lawful decision” to no longer provide the service.

Larger parades have utilised traffic management companies for many years to ensure public safety.

David Houlgate, vice-chair of Knaresborough Royal British Legion, said the news had left its annual parade in jeopardy.

But today Mr Houlgate said Knaresborough Town Council had agreed to find a traffic management company to oversee the road closure on Sunday, November 12.

This will allow the parade from St John’s Church to the war memorial in the castle grounds to take place as usual.

Mr Houlgate said:

“This is wonderful news for the town and the Royal British Legion but most importantly it enables us all to commemorate in the traditional way and thank those who have lost their lives in the service of their country as well as those who have served and continue to serve to this day.

“It would seem that the sense of community is still very much alive and kicking and we wish to place on record our thanks to Knaresborough Town Council for their intervention.  We are extremely grateful to them for this.”

The legion said in a statement it “remained extremely disappointed by the decision taken by North Yorkshire Police”.

Mr Foskett said the decision to no longer provide the service would ensure “police resources remain focused on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour”.

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Knaresborough Crag Rat Run set to return

Up to 300 people will experience the beauty of Knaresborough on foot in a fortnight’s time in the town’s biggest running event of the year.

Knaresborough Crag Rat Run has been staged annually since 2016 by Knaresborough Striders.

The event is suitable for all abilities and attracts a combination of serious club runners and people who just enjoy the challenge of completing the five-mile course.

The mixed terrain route starts at Knaresborough Cricket Club at 11am on Sunday, September 24 and includes sections on tarmac, woodland and the town’s crags. No road closures are required.

Tom Calvert, who won the race last year.

The course takes in some of the finest parts of Knaresborough, including Birkham Woods, Abbey Road and back along the crag top back to the cricket club.

Guy Close, chairman of Knaresborough Striders, said:

“In my view it has to be one of the best local races around. It’s family-friendly, suitable for all running abilities and cheap as chips to enter!

“Runners will also get the benefit of being cheered on by a fantastic group of Knaresborough Striders who are hosting the event.”

Tea, coffee and cakes will be served for cash donations. All money raised will go to local charities.

Further details, including how to enter, are available here.

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Local politicians raise concern over lack of Harrogate and Knaresborough NHS dentistry

Local politicians have raised concern over a lack of access to NHS dentistry in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Both Conservative MP, Andrew Jones, and Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said the issue had been raised with them multiple times.

It comes as this week, the Stray Ferret reported that another dentist on Harrogate’s King’s Road will go “membership only” once its NHS contract runs out in December.

Chatsworth House Dental Clinic told patients it will now only take appointments from those as part of its membership scheme.

In a letter seen by the Stray Ferret, it said it planned to cut its patient list by 70% as part of the plan — which it said would “reduce appointment waiting times” and “improve prevention of dental disease and decay”.

Chatsworth House Dental Clinic on King’s Road.

Gail Hindson, a patient who received a letter from the dentist, questioned why patients would require longer appointments.

She said:

“Why do patents need longer appointment? In the 40 years I have been a patient I have never felt my appointment time did not meet my needs.

“What support are they providing to those patients they are rejecting either due to lack of finance or understanding of the process?”

Concerns over lack of access

The decision by Chatsworth House Dental Clinic raised concern over the the lack of access to NHS dentistry in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, which replaced North Yorkshire CCG in April, is responsible for the commissioning of dental care in the district.

A review of NHS dentistry published in August 2021 found there was just one NHS dentist practice per 10,000 people in the Harrogate district.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, has taken concerns over the lack of NHS dentists to the ICB.

He said the organisation should begin expanding NHS dental provision in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Mr Jones said:

“It is positive that dental provision has moved from being controlled nationally to a more local approach. I want to see this local management produce results for our area quickly.

“Recently a small number of constituents have contacted me having had problems getting access to an NHS dentist. Anecdotally this is a wider problem. I am also concerned that residents moving into the new estates in our area will be left without dental cover.

“So I want the ICB to begin expanding the NHS dental provision in Harrogate and Knaresborough and to keep the level of service under review as the new estates become fully occupied.”

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said the issue was one that “kept coming up on the doorstep”.

He added people had also told the local party about their concerns at accessing an NHS dentist appointment.

Mr Gordon said:

“Access to NHS dentistry is one of the biggest issues that keeps coming up on the doorstep time an time again.

“That’s why we have been campaigning on this issue since I was selected earlier this year, and I have met with Daisy Cooper MP, the Lib Dem health spokesperson, and she raised it in Parliament, when our current MP has failed to do so at any point in the last 13 years.

“Over the summer we launched our local dental survey. The results made for a shocking read.

“43% of people who responded to our dental survey are not currently registered with a dentist, with more than 60% of those people having not seen a dentist in years.

“Just 30% of people we spoke with told us they were currently registered with an NHS dentist, with just under half travelling outside the district to see them. The rest pay for private care.

“More than half of the people we spoke with told us that they have delayed seeing a dentist because of the associated cost.”

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Police appeal after man bitten by dog in Knaresborough

A man has been injured after being bitten by a dog in Knaresborough.

The incident happened on Mill Lane at around 9.30pm on Saturday, August 26.

North Yorkshire Police is now appealing for witnesses and information.

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The force said in a statement:

“The dog’s owner had four or five dogs of different breeds, which were black and light colours.

“He was described as a man in his 50s wearing a plaid grey/white jacket.

“If you have any information, call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and provide reference number 12230163476.”

Scriven Park Pre-school ‘requires improvement’, says Ofsted

Scriven Park Pre-school, near Knaresborough, has received a ‘requires improvement’ rating following a recent Ofsted inspection.

Inspectors visited the school in July and published their findings in a report last week.

It was the school’s first inspection since 2018.

The report rated the pre-school as “requires improvement” in four areas including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

It said that “children do not make the best possible progress” at the school and that “during spontaneous play staff do not consistently provide sufficient challenge to children to fully engage them and extend their learning”.

The report added:

“Staff carry out risk assessments to help provide a safe place for children to play and learn.

“Staff are able to recognise risks to children during play.

“However, during the inspection, there was some broken equipment in the outdoor area. When this was identified staff took immediate action, removed the hazard, and discussed how ongoing procedures would improve.”

The inspector also noted:

“There has been a change to the manager of the pre-school in the last year. The new manager has a clear vision and plans for the continuous improvement of the setting.

“These plans are starting to have an impact, meaning that staff morale is high, and staff feel valued. However, supervision of staff, including the manager, is not targeted enough to support ongoing professional development.

“Additionally, coaching of staff is not yet effective to support them to consistently promote good quality education.”

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In order to improve, the report said the pre-school must “enhance the quality of teaching, so that staff’s interactions consistently respond to the spontaneous opportunities that arise during children’s play to challenge their thinking and learning”.

In addition, it must “extend opportunities for children to access a range of mark-making resources to support their early writing skills”.

However, the inspector did note that staff “provide a very nurturing environment, where children’s care and well-being are given priority”.

They also added:

“Staff know children well, meaning they can identify when children may need some extra help to support their development.

“The manager and staff have good links with other professionals.

“This means that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive good care, support, and development opportunities.”

This year’s inspection saw the pre-school downgraded from a previous ‘good’ rating.

Scriven Park Preschool registered in 2011 and admits children aged two to four-years-old.

The Stray Ferret approached the school for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Knaresborough community organisation launches youth bus

A community organisation based in Knaresborough has launched a community bus to provide a safe mode of transport that keeps young people educated and engaged.

Knaresborough Revolution’s SPACE Community Youth Bus offers study areas, games consoles, a music system and arts and crafts materials to be enjoyed while riding.

It is fitted with high-speed Wi-Fi for passengers to access educational resources and engage with the wider community.

Trained youth workers will also be on hand to provide guidance and mentorship to the young people.

The bus, which has been funded by sponsors and community partners, will travel to local parks, neighbourhoods and community centres throughout Knaresborough and hopes to “remove barriers to participating and foster a sense of belonging”.

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James Pickard, chair of Knaresborough Revolution, said:

“We are thrilled to launch the Community Youth Bus, as it represents a significant step forward in our commitment to empowering Knaresborough’s youth.

“By bringing our services directly to their neighbourhoods, we are breaking down geographical and social barriers, ensuring every young person has access to opportunities for growth, personal development, and positive engagement.”

The bus is suitable for children aged 11 upwards and will be free to ride.

It currently runs every Tuesday from 7 – 9pm and will begin its journey opposite Gracious Street Car Park.

Lib Dems criticise Yorkshire Water river health team project

Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have criticised a Yorkshire Water plan to set up a river health team.

The company announced this week it was setting up the department as part of a “joined-up, region-wide approach to river health” across Yorkshire.

Part of the remit of the department is to work with community groups to understand what is important to them and develop a way of working together to improve river health.

Yorkshire Water said it would be recruiting 16 new staff to the team, including an environmental investigation lead, river health improvement manager, river health partnership and community engagement advisor. 

However, local Liberal Democrats have questioned whether it is something the company should have been pursuing anyway.

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:

“Is this not something Yorkshire Water should have already been doing anyway?

“It’s hardly surprising that Yorkshire is faced with polluted rivers when the water company responsible for them has not even had a dedicated team to deal with them – all because the water regulator and the Conservatives have let them off the hook. This sewage scandal must end.

“Yorkshire Water must guarantee that the cost of the new team comes from the company’s eye-watering profits, rather than simply making consumers pay to clean up their mess in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues are calling for urgent reform of all water companies and a new regulator to hold them to account.”

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Andrew Jones (left) and Tom Gordon

However, Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, described the initiative as a “positive move”.

He said:

“Most of the focus has been on the operation of storm overflows and household waste and these aspects are incredibly important.

“But I hope in addition to addressing this the team will go further and look at rainwater run-off from agricultural land which is often the largest component of river pollution containing animal waste and pesticides.

“I also would like to see the Yorkshire Water’s community engagement team really educating people about what can be put down drains and toilets safely.  One of the reasons we see discharges from the storm overflows is because the sewers become blocked by sanitary products and cooking fat which have been disposed of incorrectly.

“It’s a big job and it looks like Yorkshire Water are assembling a big team. This is good news for Yorkshire’s rivers.”

Kevin Reardon, head of river heath at Yorkshire Water, said:

“We are committed as a business to playing our part to further improve river and coastal water quality around the region. The health of our rivers is a key national conversation, and we all have a lot to do to deliver investment in the areas that will make improvements to water quality.

“We know river and coastal water quality is a key priority for our customers and this new department illustrates our commitment to doing the right thing and working hard, alongside other stakeholders, as we begin our largest programme of environmental investment since privatisation.

“Yorkshire Water colleagues are passionate about the environment and we’re currently recruiting for 16 additional roles to help complete our team, which we believe will make further improvements to river health in the next two years and prepare ourselves for the next investment period 2025-2030.”