How to get around Harrogate during the Great Yorkshire Show

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This story is sponsored by Harrogate BID.

Anyone needing to get around Harrogate and the surrounding areas is being advised to plan ahead this week.

Tens of thousands of visitors are expected at the Great Yorkshire Show across its four days, and there will be changes on some routes to accommodate the additional traffic.

North Yorkshire Council’s highways area manager, Melisa Burnham, said:

“We work closely with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, its traffic management company and National Highways to agree a traffic management plan.

“We always ensure that roadworks on the main routes are kept to a minimum, with only emergency work permitted. Highways officers will monitor traffic on the routes and are available should they need to support the traffic management company.

“Whilst every effort is made to ensure that traffic flows efficiently, visitors to Harrogate should expect delays at peak times and plan their journeys accordingly.”

Here is your handy guide to the key points to remember from Tuesday, July 11 to Friday, July 15 – whether or not you’re going to the show.

Roads

A661 Wetherby Road: one way westbound from the Kestrel roundabout to Rudding Lane from 6.30am on each day of the show. This reverses in the afternoon from 2pm until 8pm, taking traffic away from the showground. If traffic eases earlier, the one-way system may be taken down before then.

A658: One way inbound towards the showground from Thistle Hill near Knaresborough to the Kestrel roundabout, from 6.30am for the mornings only. No one-way system during the afternoon.

B6164: Traffic arriving from the north via the A1(M) will be directed off at junction 46, before going through Kirk Deighton and on to North Deighton on the B6164. It will then turn right onto the A661 near Spofforth and follow the road to the showground.

A59 Skipton Road: Show visitors will be directed from the Curious Cow roundabout onto the B6161 to Beckwithshaw, where they will turn onto the B6162 Otley Road.

Parking

Traffic approaching from the west and north will follow the ‘blue zone’ directions to the car parks via Hookstone Drive.

Those coming from the east via the A661 will be directed down Rudding Lane into the ‘green zone’ car parks.

Traffic arriving from the south will follow ‘brown zone’ directions along the A658 towards Rudding Lane and into the car parks from there.

Public transport

A free shuttle bus operates every 10 minutes from the bus station in central Harrogate to the white gate at the showground. It begins at 7.20am and runs until 7pm.

Passengers arriving in Harrogate by train will be able to catch the shuttle bus. Those arriving at Hornbeam Park can follow a signposted walking route to the showground gates.

Walking and cycling

Pedestrians can follow signs from Hornbeam Park to the showground.

There is secure cycle parking at the blue and white gates for people arriving on two wheels.

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Midnight licence request for new Knaresborough bar in former bank

A new bar and restaurant could be opened in Knaresborough if a licence is granted by North Yorkshire Council next week.

An application has been made for an alcohol licence at the former Natwest bank premises at 42 High Street.

Planning permission was granted last year to convert the ground floor into a cafe and sports therapy rooms.

Now, owner Jaime Wilkinson is seeking a licence to sell alcohol until midnight seven days a week, under the business name 1858 Bar and Restaurant Ltd.

Mr Wilkinson has requested extended opening hours until 2am on bank holidays, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The application also states there will be live music until 11pm.

As part of the application, Mr Wilkinson said there will be a “higher retail price for alcohol than other venues in Knaresborough to restrict over drinking and commotion”.

He also committed to install CCTV at the premises, as one of a number of conditions suggested by North Yorkshire Police’s licensing officer.

However, there have been five objections to the plans submitted to the council.

One nearby resident said an alcohol licence until midnight and reference to the premises as a bar is not in line with the planning approval given last year. They said:

“Harrogate Borough Council conducted a public hearing for a former license (sic) application and the resulting decision limited operation and licensing hours to strict terms and much earlier hours than those being applied for again here.

“We kindly ask the team and [North Yorkshire] Council to review the former hearing outcome and consider this in review of this latest application, where all points we believe are relevant, as are the views of those objecting and as such the restrictions should adhere again here to this license (sic) at the least, if indeed permitted at all.”

The application will be decided by North Yorkshire Council’s licensing committee at a meeting next Thursday.

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Temporary lights at Knaresborough’s Bond End to remain until Friday

Drivers are set to face delays at Bond End in Knaresborough until Friday.

Temporary traffic lights were installed yesterday by North Yorkshire Council.

According to the council’s roadworks map, the lights are necessary because scaffolding has been erected to enable roofing work to take place.

Motorists have taken to social media to report long delays at the notorious bottleneck.

The council website shows that the lights will remain in place until Friday.

Further roadworks at nearby Scotton are also due to last until Friday.

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Sneak peek: Transformed Harrogate hotel to re-open on Monday

A new chapter in the history of one of Harrogate’s most famous hotels will begin on Monday when it reopens with a new name and completely fresh look.

The Harrogate Inn, formerly known as the St George Hotel, is one of three major local hotels to have undergone multi-million pound renovations by the  Inn Collection Group.

Ripon Spa Hotel and Dower House will re-open shortly under new names the Ripon Inn and the Knaresborough Inn.

The Harrogate Inn has a new main entrance on Crescent Gardens that leads into a bar called the Barking George — a nod to its former name.

Visitors will walk into the Barking George bar.

The adjoining area, which used to serve food to hotel guests, has been transformed into a food and beverage area called Stray Away, which the owners hope will become a destination for local people.

It will serve breakfasts, morning and afternoon teas and coffees, lunches and evening meals in the hope of attracting customers for 18 hours a day. It also has a separate Sunday menu.

Six new ground floor suites have increased the number of rooms from 90 to 96.

One of the new suites.

The outdoor terrace has been redeveloped and the Ripon Road entrance will lead to another smaller bar. The existing rooms have undergone only minor changes.

An Inn Collection Group spokesman said:

“The reason we pitch ourselves as inns rather than hotels is because we make the space work from breakfast to night.

“It’s a new place to come and eat and drink. We want it to become a destination for locals to enjoy as much as hotel guests. Ultimately, that’s what will make us successful rather than just relying on high season visitors.”

Andrew Robson, senior communications and marketing executive and Louise Stewart, property director at the Inn Collection Group outside the Harrogate Inn.

The Newcastle-based Inn Collection Group has 32 venues in northern England, including eight in North Yorkshire.

Henry White, who previously managed the company’s Commissioners Quay in Blyth, has been appointed general manager.

The new name is displayed.

It will be the first of three local Inn Collection Group properties to reopen this summer.

The Knaresborough Inn — formerly the Dower House — is scheduled to reopen on August 20. It will have 57 rooms, compared with 41 previously, largely due to the closure of the spa.

The reopening of the Ripon Inn — formerly Ripon Spa Hotel — was scheduled for August 20 but may not happen until early September. The number of rooms will increase from 41 to 57.

The domed roof remains.

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Flaxby housebuilder enters administration

Flaxby-based Ilke Homes has entered administration after being unable to find a buyer.

Earlier today, Clare Kennedy, Catherine Williamson and Deborah King of AlixPartners were appointed as Joint administrators to Ilke Homes Holdings Limited, Ilke Homes Land Limited and Ilke Homes Limited collectively.

The appointment was made at the request of the company’s directors.

In a statement, the administrators said the move will see the immediate closure of the manufacturing facility in Flaxby and all site activities are to cease.

They added that a “significant majority” of the company’s 1,150 staff will be made redundant. A small amount will remain to assist in the winding up of the firm’s affairs.

Clare Kennedy, joint administrator and a partner & managing director at AlixPartners, said:

“This is an incredibly difficult time for all associated with Ilke Homes, and in particular its employees, who have worked tirelessly alongside management over recent months to find a resolution.

“Unfortunately, the market and economic headwinds have proven too strong to overcome, thus leading to today’s appointment. Our focus now is on helping all stakeholders, employees, suppliers and customers alike, to find the best possible outcome in this undoubtedly difficult situation for all.”

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Administrators added that the firm had “faced the challenges of unprecedented inflation and a lack of land supply linked to planning processes”.

Ilke Homes, which is based alongside junction 47 of the A1(M), filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators last week.

Officials at the firm said previously that it needed additional funding to fulfil a £1 billion order book and to protect jobs, adding that new investment was needed to build its pipeline of 4,200 new homes.

Ilke Homes was established in 2017 and opened its Flaxby factory the following year. Since then, it built up a client base that included major institutional investors, housing associations, developers and local councils.

Local firm that employs 1,000 staff set to close

Ilke Homes has told staff not to return to work and is expected to announce its closure imminently.

Numerous members of staff at the Flaxby-based firm, which employs about 1,000 staff, have told the Stray Ferret they were informed of the decision today.

Chief executive Giles Carter is expected to hold a video conference tomorrow.

Senior management have been told to hand in laptops and IT equipment ahead of the meeting.

The Stray Ferret has approached Ilke Homes for comment.

The modular house-building manufacturer told staff 20 days ago not to come into work as it sought a buyer and further investment.

Staff were paid in full on Wednesday and were informed by an email from Mr Carter that the firm continued to “pursue all angles to secure a long-term future for the business”. But no deal has transpired.

Ilke Homes' factory at Flaxby near Knaresborough

The headquarters at Flaxby

Ilke Homes, which is based alongside junction 47 of the A1(M), filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators last week.

The company said the move was due to financial difficulties caused by “volatile macro-economic conditions and issues with the planning system”.

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Last week, the Stray Ferret reported the company had been offered to potential buyers for bids over £1, and some major housebuilders had been approached.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Ilke Homes told the Stray Ferret that “talks with potential investors remain ongoing”.

Officials at the firm said previously that it needed additional funding to fulfil a £1 billion order book and to protect jobs, adding that new investment was needed to build its pipeline of 4,200 new homes.

Ilke Homes was established in 2017 and opened its Flaxby factory the following year. Since then, it built up a client base that included major institutional investors, housing associations, developers and local councils.

Knaresborough luxury car dealer denies fraud and theft charges

The owner of a luxury car dealership has denied defrauding and stealing from customers in an alleged scam worth over £1 million.

Andrew Mearns, 54, who owned Gmund Cars in Knaresborough, appeared at York Crown Court today when he pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of fraud and three theft allegations.

All the allegations relate to his car dealership at the Nidd Valley Trading Estate and involve 16 alleged victims.

The alleged offences are said to have occurred between September 2015 and December 2020.

One of the allegations is that Mr Mearns stole a £130,000 Porsche from a named man in January 2019.

Mr Mearns, now living in Conwy, Wales, is also alleged to have stolen a £60,000 Porsche Turbo from another named man in October 2018 and a £65,000 Porsche 911 Carrera in November of that year. 

Judge Simon Hickey adjourned the case for a trial on a date to be fixed. The trial is due to last between two and three weeks and may be held in a different court. 

Mr Mearns, of Colwyn Place, Llandudno, was granted bail until his next appearance. 

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Toaster and alarm clock cause false alarms for firefighters

Firefighters in Harrogate responded to two unusual false alarms today.

At 8.46am, a crew from Harrogate responded to reports of a fire alarm sounding on Kings Road in the town.

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

“This was a false alarm caused by burnt toast.”

Shortly afterwards, the Harrogate crew was summoned to The Spinney in Knaresborough at 10.01am after another fire alarm went off. The incident report said:

“This was a false alarm, where an alarm clock had been mistaken for a fire alarm.”

It was the third strange false alarm in less than a day for the Harrogate firefighters, who responded to a house alarm going off at 5.04pm yesterday on Leeds Road.

Again, there was no fire — the cause this time was described “a faulty deaf alarm”.

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Free walking tours of Knaresborough get underway

Free weekly walking tours of Knaresborough have been introduced.

Professionally trained tourist guide Margy Longhurst is leading 60-minute tours every Wednesday — market day.

Those taking part will learn about the historic market and castle and much more.

Ms Longhurst said:

“The aim is to welcome visitors and newcomers to Knaresborough and give them an insight into the town’s history and places of interest.”

The not-for-profit tours get underway at 11am and 1pm at the Market Cross.

Margy Longhurst

Walkers will learn about the nearby statues and painted windows depicting colourful local characters, notably the Tudor prophetess Old Mother Shipton and Blind Jack, musician and engineer extraordinaire.

Moving along to Green Dragon Yard, medieval and Georgian buildings will be pointed out, including the Old Flax Mill, which played a key role during the heyday of the town’s linen industry.

Arriving at Knaresborough Castle, visitors will be guided round the ruins and hear stories of its association with royal monarchs such as King John and Edward II.

They will then experience the beauty of the view over the River Nidd and hear more about the surrounding places of interest, before being escorted back to where the tour commenced.

People can just turn up at the meeting point on Wednesdays at the Market Cross but the number of participants is limited to 16 on a first-come, first-served basis for health and safety reasons.

Free group tours for local charities and educational institutions can also be arranged by emailing Margy at margylonghurst@hotmail.com

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Council’s 20mph review ‘kicking can down the road’

North Yorkshire Council‘s decision to refuse blanket 20mph zones across the county in favour of a speed limit review has been described as “kicking the can down the road” on road safety.

Councillors on the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee requested default 20mph zones in November 2022.

However, rather than accept the request the council has now said it will draw up a speed management strategy to “guide a countywide review of speed limits across towns, villages and rural road”.

Council officials said they did not support area-wide or default speed zones on the grounds that “each area will be considered on its own merits”.

Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive councillor for highways, said the proposal would “deliver real improvements” across the county.

He said:

“The new council is taking an ambitious, proactive approach to setting speed limits, built on evidence and community empowerment.

“This will move away from setting limits in a piecemeal fashion, where we look at one road in one location at a single point in time.

“By taking a strategic view of a town or village we will ensure speed limits there are effective and be able to identify positive changes in partnership with local communities.

“We cannot review all locations immediately, and resources will need to be prioritised, but our approach will deliver real improvements across all parts of the county over time, addressing concerns, improving safety and saving lives.”

But Cllr Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat chair of the area constituency committee, said the move would only delay the implementation of 20mph streets further.

She added that a speed management strategy, which the council says will take six months to draw up, was not needed to implement zones immediately.

Cllr Marsh said:

“It is an issue that affects the whole of North Yorkshire, they have got to address it.

“Get the 20mph zones in first and then monitor them. It really is just kicking the can down the road.”

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The council intends to undertake a series of planned speed limit reviews which will be “underpinned” by the speed management strategy.

It added that the move would “generate a rolling pipeline of safety improvement schemes for delivery”.

However, Cllr Arnold Warneken, Green Party member for Ouseburn, said the proposal lacked ambition and described it as “another delaying tactic”.

He said:

“There is no real substance to the North Yorkshire Council proposals. Whilst I was told to be patient as there was a comprehensive review taking place and the report would reflect this I was, and it does not, so now we have yet another example that the executive know better and show shallow concern and fake listening to the people they represent.

“We cannot keep putting off taking action to make our roads safer for everyone, we cannot keep putting off taking action to protect our environment, we cannot keep putting off taking action that will prevent life changing injuries or worse still fatalities. If not now, when?”

Ian Conlan, of the 20s Plenty North Yorkshire campaign group, said:

“There is a far better evidence base to have a default 20mph to replace existing 30mph limits, and develop an exceptions process to decide where to have higher speed limits than 20mph in a few roads in towns and villages, but only where vulnerable road users are fully protected.”

Mr Conlan urged supporters to demonstrate outside County Hall in Northallerton on Tuesday next week, when North Yorkshire Council’s executive will discuss the matter.