Letters Archives - Page 5 of 9

Stray Views: Rossett Nature Reserve ‘has been slashed back’

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

I recently walked through the above with my friend (a local resident) and her two small dogs to discover this delightful nature reserve had been cut back in a most unsympathetic manner, in fact for the most part it had been “slashed/hacked”.

I understand that the fellow residents are disgusted with the way in which the reserve has been treated. We realise the newts need to be protected but certainly not by using a bulldozer and other mechanical methods to cut back the foliage.

Patricia Perry, Harrogate

Victoria Avenue plan ‘solves problem that doesn’t exist’

I have read your article about Victoria Avenue. This is a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist from a cyclist perspective.

There isn’t much traffic down this road, it’s slow moving and there is enough space for cars to pass. Why are they spending all this money to solve a problem that doesn’t exist?

Let me tell you. Victoria Avenue’s road surface is shocking. It has pot holes galore and probably needs ripping up and relaying. So, the council have decided we can access money for cycling improvements and use it to relay the road surface and put in a couple of lanes on each side to justify the spend.

Again, people will be left wondering where £1.5m has been spent. Some of us will know – on road improvements that will benefit cars (and cyclists).

Please don’t make the same mistake and report this as an improvement for cyclists, like you have with the Otley Road cycleway.

We all know it’s the council using cycling money to improvement road infrastructure. Not to improve the safety of cyclists.

Scott Mordue, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Stray Views: Memories of Harrogate’s St George Hotel

I was very sad to read of the recent closure of the St George Hotel in Harrogate. My father, Bill Pritchard, worked there for around 40 years, starting as a hall porter and later acquiring the grand title of front of house manager. I think he would certainly have agreed with Mr Donkin that hospitality was ‘the best job in the world’.

The hotel changed a lot over the years, but the front desk, as it was then (see photo taken in 1954) has long gone. However, at the time, it was the first thing you saw as you went through the rotating doors into the lobby and it was where guests checked in and out and collected their room keys, messages etc. There was also an old-fashioned switchboard where each call had to be put through to a room or the office.

Though my father’s job changed over the years he still maintained customer contact and no more so than when a trade fair was taking place in the town. Toy Fair, for example, was held in Harrogate and I recall being the lucky recipient of a very nice doll or two – thanks to my father’s hard work assisting the sales representatives staying at the hotel.

from L to R: Bill Pritchard, May Barker, Eddie Jack (Head Porter) and Jack)

(From left to right) Bill Pritchard, May Barker, Eddie Jack (head porter) and Jack pictured on New Years 1954.

My mother sometimes worked at the hotel too, as what I think was called at the time an extra duck. My understanding of this is that they were brought in as extra waitresses for big events, such as banquets and balls. I will always remember how smart both my parents looked for work. My mother wore a black skirt and top with white cuffs, collar, hat and apron. My father always dressed smartly; I never saw him looking scruffy. He never owned a pair of jeans or a T-shirt and always polished his shoes.

When The Kinks were staying at the hotel, my father came home with Ray Davies’ autograph for me. Other famous people were guests and he often mentioned that he had met Sir Laurence Olivier.

I don’t recall a car park at the hotel but there may have been some limited parking at the side. My father sometimes mentioned assisting guests by instructing them as they manoeuvred into a space. I’ve always wondered how he did that, as he couldn’t drive and never owned a car.

Kathleen Mitchell

Further blow for Kingsley area

Thank you for giving us residents in the Kingsley area a voice with all that is going on with all the houses being built in the Kingsley Road and Bogs Lane junction area. To read that a sixth housing plot has now been agreed was a further blow as the area can’t even handle the other five – and five that are not even fully populated yet.

Although the infrastructure is not set up in the area for nurseries, schools, hospitals, doctors, dentists etc. (and in my opinion never will be) I am currently more concerned about the effect of the “normal” day to day basics that impact the “everyday person”. Such as getting to their destinations or commute to work, the impact on air quality because it’s just one constant traffic jam, the impact when ambulances can’t get through and the danger to pedestrians crossing.

The through road access between Kingsley Road and Bogs Lane has now been closed several times over the last couple of years which we have had to put up with. Why? So us pesky residents in our cars going about our day to day business in the area that we have brought houses didn’t get in the way of the construction vehicles, so the amenity suppliers could dig the road up over and over again because a long term housing plan hadn’t been thought of by council “planners”?

But we put up with this. Then they resurfaced Bogs Lane – but not Kingsley Road or the bridge that has been wreaked by the lorries – to the point of being dangerous.

Dee Downton, Kingsley

Harrogate drivers to lose out under new regulations

I have just read the information on your website about the new taxi regulations and find myself surprised as to the lack of detail on the impact on Harrogate taxi drivers.

You have failed to mention that prior to the WAV revolution some two years ago, Hackney carriage plates were sold privately amongst interested parties.

These plates were valued at somewhere in the region of £15,000, and often sold for more. Their value now will be nothing, resulting in all Harrogate taxi drivers to lose £15,000 immediately as the new North Yorkshire merge is completed.

Once again, unqualified decision makers with a lack of common sense and knowledge of the taxi trade are failing both local taxi drivers and their loyal passengers.

I dread to think the number of complaints which will arise for OTT taxi fares, when “out of town drivers” fail in their capacity to be able to navigate the numerous roadworks which cause chaos in our day to day operation.

The list is endless as to why not employing local taxi drivers is beneficial.

Peter Brown, Harrogate

Stray Views: Lib Dems should reconsider proportional representation stance

In reference to the story on changing voting systems, has Cllr Chris Aldred seriously considered the implications of proportional representation?

I realise the aim is to try and reduce political conflicts, but parties all have different policy aims making agreement difficult. Compromises often are the worst of both. He forgets in countries with proportional representation it can take months for a government to be formed, Germany being an ideal example.

I believe it should be mandatory to vote in elections, also postal votes should be an exception and not the norm

There is no perfect solution and no doubt whatever changes are made there will still be dissenters.

Catherine Alderson, Harrogate

Councillor should be allowed alderman status

From the reports of the council meeting on December 14^th it is clear to me that the councillors attending had not been apprised of all the facts and they were not interested in questioning the report or hearing the real facts.

I have observed at numerous planning committee meetings of over a period of 28 years, that Cllr Pat Marsh always read and assessed accurately plans put before her.

She addressed persons present in planning meetings to ask necessary questions, courteously and to the point, at very many planning committee hearings at which I was present.

She has served the residents in her ward without fear or favour for some 32 years and should therefore be eligible to become an alderman.

In fact, there is no limit to the number of long serving councillors who are eligible to become Aldermen.

Rosemary Carnaghan, Harrogate

Stray Views: Knaresborough gyms should provide ‘human-powered energy’

As Knaresborough is now to have the Pure Gym, as well as the existing gym in the old town hall, and the new leisure centre on Fysche Field, isn’t it time that the machines in these gyms were attached to electricity generators to provide human-powered energy for the town?

Shan Oakes, Knaresborough

Nidderdale ‘poorly served’ by buses

This letter was submitted prior to leak fix

Nidderdale is poorly served by buses as it is, they are every two hours. But now, until the burst pipe is fixed there’s no bus running through Darley.

It’s not good enough just to cut out a huge chunk of the bus route and provide no alternative. It’s a four mile walk from Darley to Birstwith to pick up the bus there before and after it’s diversion.

I have been quoted £30 for a taxi on Saturday morning at 7.30 am to get to Harrogate from Darley. The same to return is £60. They are having a laugh.

Helen Staniforth, Birstwith

Stray Views: How long will the A59 roadworks take?

How long will the A59 roadworks take?

In reference to the ongoing roadworks at the A59 junction with the A658 near Goldsborough.

It is clear that the deadline is just being extended again and again. Earlier this week it was due to finish this Friday, now it is November 27.

Yorkshire Water must know how long the whole project will take – why can’t they just say and then we can all be clear what is going on or not.

Steve Cove, Boroughbridge

One fire appliance is ‘not good management’

As one person has stated, cutting down to one appliance at night time is a not good management.

As a retired firefighter of 30 years of experience, I can state that there are more fatalities at night time by the event that the fire is discovered later than during the day. One reader has made the same comment.

I know what I am talking about as I attended quite a few fatalities during my time as I served in a city fire service.

Leonard Redmond, Harrogate

Stray Views: Why would Starbeck need a ‘little temple’?

Why would Starbeck need a ‘little temple’?

In response to a Starbeck community group’s offer to take on Harrogate’s ‘little temple’.

I’m not sure why Mr Hart thinks Starbeck needs this piece of concrete but I certainly don’t feel ‘neglected’. Nor do I think having it would make anyone feel less so.

We have a library which provides an excellent service and doubles as a social hub. It is well supported by local people and businesses.

We have proactive churches and excellent councillors. We have open space and easy access to rail and bus services. Added to which there is a great community spirit.

We even have our own swimming baths. To ensure we continue to retain and keep control of these assets we need to make sure that Harrogate has a town council when everything goes to North Yorkshire.

Diane Stokes, Starbeck

Few people using Harrogate village buses

In response to North Yorkshire County Council’s warning over bus services.

During this year I have had many days out using various bus routes though local villages just to enjoy the ride.

I have been amazed at how few people get on or off during these journeys but I bet if the bus company announced that they are stopping the service there would be an outcry from the people who live there.

Paul Smith, Knaresborough

Stray Views: why build Maltkiln when Flaxby would be better?

Flaxby development would be ‘much better’ than Maltkiln plan

In March, Harrogate Borough Council planning officer Kate Broadbank said the development would have a negative impact on the district’s natural environment as well as harming views from the nearby Temple of Victory, which is Grade II* listed.

Ms Broadbank wrote:

“The scale and layout are considered to have an unacceptable adverse impact upon the district’s natural and historic environment.

“In addition, the application site is not considered to be accessible to local services nor is it demonstrated that an acceptable connection to public utilities can be achieved.”

It begs the question what the council has against the development of Flaxby considering the incinerator can be used to provide heating and hot water to homes. Much better than using the development of Maltkiln to widen the A59 also trains do not go to the nearest significant shopping centre Clifton Moor.

Catherine Alderson, Harrogate

Stray Views: Concerns over Scotton Weir removal on River Nidd

Concerns over Scotton Weir removal

Over the last few years, ecologists and others have been busy building dams and weirs in streams throughout the UK in order to slow the flow of water into river catchments thereby reducing the impact of flooding. It’s been pretty successful, dams and weirs are well known to help in lessening the impact of flooding. Indeed, in some areas we now employ beavers to do it for us.

Why then has Scotton Weir on the River Nidd been removed?

Scotton Weir has, for over 200 years, held back thousands of cubic metres of flood water that will now race down the catchment increasing flooding and the risk of flooding in Knaresborough and downstream communities.

The work, as I understand it, is to help fish migrate upstream towards Harrogate North sewage treatment works outfalls and west which is great news for the fish but not so for those at risk of flooding.

I did ask the scheme promoter for comment, he didn’t have the courtesy to respond. I spoke to North Yorkshire County Council’s flood and water management team who describe themselves as “the lead local flood authority” — they batted it on to the Environment Agency quicksticks and I finally got a lengthy and rather tedious phone call from a chap at the EA who assured me I was wrong and that there would be no impact on downstream flooding.

I hope he’s right but I fear he isn’t.

David Howarth, Bilton

Call for Knaresborough cemetery group to be formed

Responding to Jayne Jackson’s letter regarding the cemetery in Knaresborough, I think it would be really helpful if a ‘Friends of the Cemetery’ group was formed.

It could then formulate policy and practice about how the cemetery is managed. Personally, I’m always aiming to maximise biodiversity and wildlife havens, since humans destroy so much nature all the time, so we need to find places where we can give nature a home.

It seems to me that cemeteries are an ideal place to have wild areas, as long as there are pathways so that it’s still possible to get close to the graves.

Many cemeteries have this policy, such as the wonderful York Cemetery, Sharow Church, and now also St John’s Church in Knaresborough.

Shan Oakes, Knaresborough

Queen’s great-grandchildren were well behaved

The most important part of a funeral if you have to take your children, for them to pay their, respects to their great grandma the Queen is that they know how to behave in the service and try to follow and understand what is going on.

I congratulate William and Kate on their upbringing of their children. It was a very long day for two young people. Their behaviour was impeccable when required.

If the children outside of the service behaved as children do, it doesn’t matter. They are human children

Any grown up does not have the right to criticise any parents about the behaviour outside the services their children have had to go through.

Margaret Beckingham, Harrogate

Stray Views: Harrogate plant nursery consultants ‘offensive waste of money’

Plant nursery consultants ‘offensive waste of money’

What on earth do we have planning departments and development experts employed for if our local authority is still prepared to waste £50,000 on external consultants to help us find somewhere to build a large greenhouse?

At a time when the cost of living is tight to say the least, this is the most offensive waste of taxpayers money. Have we not better things to do? How much tatty street furniture could be replaced? How many care workers would it employ? How many potholes would it fill? The list goes on.

It just pains me to see that something like this is deemed to be a priority. I despair.

Mark Fuller, Harrogate

Ripon Spa Baths refurbishment welcomed

Brilliant news that Spa Baths will be refurbished and protected in future.

A large part of my childhood too, as with the developer and his family. I’d love to see it when it’s back to its former glory.

Trish Baker, Ripon

Stray Views: Dogs without leads ruining Valley Gardens

Dogs without leads ruining Valley Gardens

Yesterday I walked through the valley gardens at 9am and I counted 20 dogs off their leads. One did a huge poo and the owner was oblivious on their mobile.

Another was digging up the amazing flower beds. This has got to stop. I’ve lived in Harrogate all my life and this is preventing me from using the amazing Valley Gardens.

Gale Filburn, Harrogate

Ripon Cathedral plans ‘adequately discussed’

Councillor Williams is leader of Ripon City Council and as such has no statuary right of consultation about the Cathedral plans. The Cathedral has more than adequately discussed its plans with the relevant local authorities in Harrogate and Northallerton.

The City Council of Ripon is represented on Ripon Together where local organisations have a voice on all local issues.

I suggest that Cllr Williams’ time be better spent in finding out why the Spa Hotel remains closed in spite of purchase by The Inn Collection, a disaster for Ripon tourism and its economy.

Dr Christopher Bennett, Ripon

Thank you, Stray Ferret

Thank you so much for your coverage of the Great Knaresborough Bed Race.

As I have been laid up with some mysterious illness I was unable to do my usual duties at Bed Race, so therefore I would have missed it all except for being able to watch your videos. So thank you all once again for yesterday.

Pamela Godsell, Knaresborough

Read more:

Victoria Avenue plan ‘solves problem that doesn’t exist’

Further blow for Kingsley area

Read more:

Harrogate drivers to lose out under new regulations

Councillor should be allowed alderman status

Read more:

Read more:

Nidderdale ‘poorly served’ by buses

How long will the A59 roadworks take?

Read more:

One fire appliance is ‘not good management’

Why would Starbeck need a ‘little temple’?

Read more:

Few people using Harrogate village buses

Flaxby development would be ‘much better’ than Maltkiln plan

Concerns over Scotton Weir removal

Call for Knaresborough cemetery group to be formed

Read more:

Queen’s great-grandchildren were well behaved

Plant nursery consultants ‘offensive waste of money’

Read more:

Ripon Spa Baths refurbishment welcomed

Dogs without leads ruining Valley Gardens

Read more:

Ripon Cathedral plans ‘adequately discussed’

Thank you, Stray Ferret