Queues of more than an hour have been reported as motorists try to navigate roadworks on the edge of Knaresborough.
Four-way traffic lights are in place to allow Yorkshire Water to carry out work on the A59 near the junction with the A658.
However, they have been leading to long tailbacks, especially at peak times. Drivers have reported queues all the way back to the junction of the A1M and beyond.
Harrogate Bus Company said its 21 service between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge has also been caught up in the delays.
https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1584480023918309381
Works in the area began at the start of October, but recently moved to the roundabout.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said the queues had eased today, adding:
“Our teams are on site laying a new water main for a new housing development.
“To allow the work to be completed safely, two-way temporary traffic lights will be in place this week.
“These will be manually controlled from 7am to 7pm to minimise disruption as much as possible during busier periods of the day.”
The works in the area are scheduled to continue until November 11.
Read more:
- Otley Road cycle path could be re-routed with new traffic restrictions
- New plans to tackle traffic on Harrogate’s A61
Malt Shovel reopens today under new owners
The Malt Shovel at Brearton is due to reopen today under new ownership.
The 16th century venue near Knaresborough forged a good reputation for traditional pub food under previous owners Charlotte and Les Mitchell.
But they decided to sell after 28 years, having leased the pub for the last 18 years before retiring to Cumbria in 2015.
The Malt Shovel
It has been taken over by Ignition Pub Management on a three-month trial, and will be managed by partners Laura Davis and James Campbell.
Both worked at the pub previously: Mr Campbell, who was a sous chef, will run the kitchen and Ms Davis, who has 15 years experience in hospitality, will be in charge of front of house.
The couple held a pre-opening for villagers and regulars last night but will open to everyone from noon today. Ms Davis said:
“I want to reassure people that we are very much keeping it the same. We don’t want to change things too much.
“It’s a great opportunity and we are very excited.”
The dining area
Ms Davis said the menu would be “very similar” although there were plans for a lower priced lunchtime menu featuring sandwiches and they were also considering introducing afternoon teas.
She added the couple also hoped to eventually spruce up the outside space.
Read more:
- Malt Shovel pub near Knaresborough up for sale
- New plans to promote cycling in Harrogate to be revealed on Monday
Business Breakfast: Experts to discuss Knaresborough’s economic potential
Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.
Knaresborough’s potential for economic development will be the subject of a business meeting on November 9.
Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce has invited two senior regional business experts to the event at Knaresborough Rugby Club on Hay-A-Park Lane from 530pm to 7pm.
They are James Farrar, chief operating officer of the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Alan Reiss, director of strategy for West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Delegates will have first sight of data about Knaresborough’s economic future, which has been compiled by Leeds not-for-profit organisation Open Innovations, which was commissioned by Knaresborough Connectors to provide insights and intelligence.
Peter Lacey, chamber executive member and owner of a nationwide consulting firm based in Knaresborough, said:
“Economic development is crucial for a town like Knaresborough, bringing together all the skills and opportunities across the town and local district.
“We’ve got some great companies based here, but to date there’s been little joined-up thinking about how we can all add to the wellbeing of local residents, the community and how we see the future of the town as a thriving centre of innovation and growth.”
Further details of the event, which the chamber has organised in association with Knaresborough Voice and Knaresborough Connectors. are available here.
Success for Harrogate solicitor
The crime department at McCormicks Solicitors of Harrogate has extended its ability to assist people who are interviewed under caution with the admittance of criminal law executive Kate Develly as an accredited police station representative.
It means Ms Develly can assist not only those interviewed by police but also by other bodies, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, HMRC or the Environment Agency.
The accreditation scheme covers publicly funded criminal defence work and accredited representatives are usually called to a police station to advise and assist people who would otherwise have no legal representation.
Head of the crime department Peter Minnikin said:
“Kate’s accreditation brings the total number of the team who can act in legally-aided police station visits to seven and comes at a time when we have been exceptionally busy so is very welcome.”
Ms Develly joined the criminal team last year.
McCormicks was the only Harrogate firm to be ranked for general crime and fraud in the latest edition of the UK Legal 500, a leading guide to the legal profession.
Two excavators stolen from Knaresborough building site
Two excavators have been stolen from a building site just off the A59 at Knaresborough.
The machines were taken last night from Swallowtail Way, which is near the Trinity Fields development and Aldi supermarket.
North Yorkshire Police today appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
The machines are both yellow — one is five tonnes and the other is nine tonnes.
A police statement said:
“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“In particular, we are appealing for sightings of any suspicion people or vehicles in the vicinity of this location, or any sightings of the stolen excavators following the offence.”
Anyone with information can email Hazel.Simms-Williamson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Hazel Simms.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12220185371.
Read more:
- Police say Harrogate town centre ‘is safe’ despite highest anti-social behaviour rate in county
- Tandem stolen from Knaresborough garage
Harrogate district MPs silent on emergency statement
The three Conservative MPs whose constituencies include the Harrogate district have declined to comment on today’s emergency statement.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt reversed almost all of Prime Minister Liz Truss’s tax cuts, which were announced in the government’s mini-budget three weeks ago.
Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, welcomed last month’s growth plan, saying on his Community News website:
“There are a huge number of measures, many focused on our productivity and investment which are the platforms for future growth. So, plenty to be positive about here in Harrogate and Knaresborough.”
Today we asked Mr Jones, along with Julian Smith, who represents Skipton and Ripon, and Nigel Adams, who represents Selby and Ainsty, to comment on today’s announcement by Mr Hunt.
We also asked them whether the Prime Minister should resign, after three Conservative MPs called for her to do so.
Neither Mr Jones nor Mr Smith had replied by the time of publication.
Read more:
- Andrew Jones MP launches ‘non-political’ fact-checking service
- Harrogate business chief: government’s economic credentials ‘in tatters’
Mr Smith was critical of the tax cutting agenda in last month’s mini-budget. He said at the time:
“In a statement with many positive enterprise measures this huge tax cut for the very rich at a time of national crisis and real fear and anxiety amongst low income workers and citizens is wrong.”
Maire Crosse, Mr Adams’ senior parliamentary assistant, did reply but only to say:
“Nigel is away today and not contactable. Therefore, he will not be providing a comment.”
Tandem stolen from Knaresborough garage
A tandem bicycle has been stolen in a burglary at Forge Garage on Park Row in Knaresborough.
Suspects stole the bike from one of multiple small units belonging to the garage they broke into.
North Yorkshire Police today appealed for information about the theft, which occurred at about 1.40am on October 7.
The force said in a statement:
“Notably, we’re looking for a Transit-style van that was believed to have been involved in the incident.
“We’re asking nearby residents and businesses to review CCTV or ring doorbells for potential footage, as well as any information that could help recover the tandem bicycle.”
Anyone with information can email jacob.wright@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Jacob Wright.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The North Yorkshire Police reference number is 12220178605.
Read more:
- Ofsted finds ‘good’ village school near Knaresborough is ‘like a second home’
- Pedestrian seriously injured in collision at Knaresborough retail park
Bay Horse at Goldsborough appoints new manager and head chef
The 17th century Bay Horse Inn at Goldsborough has appointed a new manager and head chef and revamped its food offering.
Clare Oglesby and her husband Mark, who own nearby Goldsborough Hall, took on the village pub in November 2019.
The pub, near Knaresborough, was fully refurbished but then had to close due to covid.
Ms Oglesby said:
“After being open/shut/open for the last couple of years with the covid times, we finally have the right team in place to drive the pub forward.”
The inn will continue to provide traditional home-cooked food but Ms Oglesby said visitors would notice a difference in terms of quality and presentation with the new team in charge.
Marius Salaru, who was previously deputy general manager at Goldsborough Hall for three years, has taken over as manager.
Eric Mucha, whose previous experience includes running the kitchens at Goldsborough Hall, has been appointed head chef. Originally from Krakow, Mr Mucha has been a chef in the UK for over 10 years and has cooked to a 3AA rosette level.
Mr Salaru said:
“We are thrilled to have Eric as our executive chef. He brings a wealth of experience from his fine dining background, which is reflected in the new seasonal menu and daily specials.
“The pub is cosy with a real fire, traditional oak beams, and is great for families and locals. It’s got dog-friendly areas as well. Having an amazing chef will elevate our offering, taking it to the next level while still being affordable.”
The menu will change seasonally, using ingredients and produce from Goldsborough Hall’s kitchen garden.
Read more:
- Goldsborough Hall secures place in Michelin Guide
- Councillors call for 20 mph limit to be trialled in Harrogate and Knaresborough
Mr Mucha said:
“I am so excited to be working at The Bay Horse Inn and plan to incorporate as much local produce as I can to my dishes.”
Recent specials include pan-fried scallops, venison steak and chocolate delice as well as a new vegan menu.
The venison steak dish
The Bay Horse Inn, which opens daily, dates back to the early 17th century.
It is named after the original Bay Horse, the Byerley Turk, the eldest of three stallions that make up all thoroughbreds today, which was buried in the grounds of next door Goldsborough Hall, in 1706.
Campaign launched to achieve bathing water status on River Nidd
Organisations have agreed to work together to achieve designated bathing water status on the River Nidd at Knaresborough.
Longstanding concerns about water quality were heightened in summer when people and dogs fell ill after entering the Nidd.
If the bathing water bid is successful, the Environment Agency would be obliged to put plans in place to monitor and protect the water.
Not a single waterway in North Yorkshire currently has bathing water status but the River Wharfe in Ilkley has achieved it.
Knaresborough has been chosen because of the amount of recreational river users it attracts, but if the campaign succeeds the rest of the Nidd would also benefit from the measures introduced.
Anglers, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, Nidderdale AONB, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, Leeds University, councillors and Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, are among those involved after a meeting this month.
They must demonstrate the river attracts a large number of bathers and has support for such a move. Landowners must also support applications for privately owned sites.
Shan Oakes
Shan Oakes, a Green Party councillor in Knaresborough chairing the group, said the government was not setting high enough water quality standards and action was necessary. Ms Oakes, who is also on Knaresborough Town Council, added:
“It’s not going to be a quick fix. We need to consult with a lot of groups.”
Read more:
- Meeting called to hear concerns about state of River Nidd
- UK’s largest weir removal project begins on River Nidd at Scotton
Last week Hannah Gostlow, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough East on North Yorkshire County Council, agreed to chair a cross-party sub-group of the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee that will examine the issue. She said:
“We are well placed to achieve this but we need the support of the community and the town council.”
Knaresborough lido, which is particularly popular with recreational river users, will probably be the focus of the campaign. Cllr Gostlow said:
“The river plays a big part in the local economy but people are getting ill so we need to do something.”
She added she hoped the campaign might succeed by summer 2024.
Action by anglers
The Nidd Catchment Angling Group held a meeting in August to discuss concerns about the Nidd near Darley sewage treatment works.
A further meeting on October 3 was held to address wider concerns about the river.
David Clayden, honorary secretary of Harrogate Fly Fishers’ Club, said:
“We’ve broadened and deepened our membership, and are pursuing a number of shared objectives.
“I am the lead for the improved monitoring and analysis of the Nidd’s water, while Shan Oakes, of Knaresborough Town Council, is leading on the bid to get Knaresborough established as a safe bathing water location.
“We also have established a strong link with staff and postgraduate students from the University of Leeds, through James McKay, who will help us with research studies about quality of the Nidd catchment’s water course, and the efforts by local people to maintain and improve them.
“We are all agreed of the importance of Knaresborough achieving this designation, and are working together to achieve this.”
Mr Jones raised the matter in Parliament this week when he called for a debate on how to establish more designated bathing areas on rivers, However, he did not respond to questions by the Stray Ferret on the Nidd campaign.
The £1.2 billion Allerton Park waste recovery plant continues to be dogged by mixed performance more than four years after being launched.
The waste recovery plant and incinerator between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge takes 220,000 tonnes of waste collected by councils in York and North Yorkshire and 50,000 tonnes of business waste annually,
A performance report has revealed it is significantly exceeding its target for diverting waste from landfill, achieving almost 90%.
However, it is recycling and composting just over one per cent of the waste, against a target of 5%.
North Yorkshire and City of York councils awarded a contract to private company AmeyCespa to create the facility in 2014 following a high-profile battle with residents of villages surrounding the plant, such as Marton-cum-Grafton.
Last year councillors raised concerns over the plant’s recycling performance after it emerged it had never met its recycling targets, leading the councils to levy £653,000 in performance deductions for the first three years of its operations.
An officer’s report to a meeting of the county council’s transport, economy and environment scrutiny committee next Thursday shows the plant’s recycling performance has marginally worsened during the last year.
The report states issues with the mechanical treatment equipment meant sometimes the plant had to be run in by-pass mode, which meant recyclates were not extracted.
Read more:
-
£1.2bn Knaresborough incinerator has never met recycling targets
- £740,000 awarded as part of Knaresborough incinerator fund
The report states following maintenance works this year the mechanical treatment performance has significantly improved, with Amey forecasting recycling performance to rise to almost half the targeted proportion.
However, the amount of unplanned downtime at the energy from waste plant significantly improved this year, falling from 61 days to 29, which allowed more waste to be processed.
The report states the latest figures show the best year to date for landfill diversion and energy from waste.
The report concludes further opportunities are being explored with the councils, Amey and Yorwaste seek “to optimise the types of waste delivered to the plant” to secure continued performance improvements.
The county council’s executive member for open to business, Conservative councillor Derek Bastiman, said while the recycling target remained well below what was wanted, the lack of improvement this year had been largely due to unforeseen mechanical issues.
He said the energy from waste scheme had proven to be a good investment by the councils.
Ouseburn division Green Party councillor Arnold Wareneken said any profits from the scheme should be used to increase recycling rates.
He said:
Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district update“We need to recycle the money as well – it just needs a bit more investment. The problem I see is we are not collecting food waste separately or enough food waste from industry.
“All local authorities are meant to be collecting food waste.
“We have got to make it more easier for people to put compostable waste in wheelie bins.”
No new issues today on the main routes into Harrogate, such as Wetherby Road, Knaresborough Road and Skipton Road, but traffic on Wetherby Road has been particularly bad in recent days.
Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.
Roads
Temporary traffic lights are still in place on the A661 Harrogate Road near Spofforth. The lights are in place while Northern Gas Networks carries out maintenance work and are due to last until October 18.
In Harrogate town centre, long-term work on Crescent Road means motorists are unable to turn left at the Parliament Street junction. Traffic coming the opposite way on Ripon Road is unable to turn right.
Stop go boards are due to be in place on John Street today and on Harcourt Drive.
Roadworks on the Boroughbridge Road at Scriven are likely to cause delays for motorists travelling between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge.
Looking ahead, roadworks are due to begin o Cold Bath Road on Monday. Work is also scheduled to begin on Monday to reconstruct the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley, near Pateley Bridge, which suffered a landslip during storms in February 2020.
The scheme requires the road to be closed from October 17 to December 9. A diversion will be in place via Pateley Bridge; the B6451 Dacre; Menwith Hill Road; Duck Street and Greenhow Hill village. Temporary traffic lights will be in place during the remainder of the work.
Also, lights will be installed on the B6265 at Red Brae Bank, Bewerley on Monday. The road suffered a landslip during storms in February 2020 an a weight limit has been in pace since.
Details of the scheme are here.
Trains and buses
Train operator Northern has issued this today:
“Due to significant IT issues this morning, Northern currently do not have access to update any customer information systems. This means that live departure board screens at Northern managed stations may not show the most recent updates and PA systems can not be used.”
The Harrogate Bus Company is not currently reporting any cancellations but you can get updates here.
Read more:
- Gasworks on Cold Bath Road rescheduled until Monday
- Harrogate district businesses ask police for help tackling anti-social behaviour