Accessorize in Harrogate is to reopen next week — but its sister shop Monsoon has permanently closed.

The two shops shared a unit at 20-22 James Street, where customers visited Monsoon, via the James Street entrance and Accessorize via a door at the back.

Both closed last month and although signs in the window said ‘sorry, we’re closed but this isn’t goodbye forever’ and ‘be right back’, the unit was described as ‘permanently closed’ on Google.

This prompted speculation neither business would return but as reported by the Stray Ferret, the site will reopen after the refit.

Gifts and homeware specialist Accessorize will welcome customers back on Friday, May 17 — but Monsoon will not return.

Accessorize storefront Harrogate

An Accessorize spokesperson told the Stray Ferret today:

“The Monsoon shop has now closed, and this is now only an Accessorize store with a homeware focus.”

Accessorize told the Stray Ferret the refurbished store will offer “a more diverse selection of gifting categories such as bridal, home and summer”, as well as self-care and men’s gifting products.

Paul Thomas, retail director at Accessorize said:

“We are excited to introduce our customers to our exciting new store concept of gifting and homeware.

“The new design store and gifting collection is just some of the many exciting features we have in store for our customers, and we can’t wait for them to experience everything the store has to offer.”

Accessorize will officially reopen May 17 at 9.30am. The closest Monsoon store will now be York.

Read more:

• Halfpenny Lane closure extended in Knaresborough
• 5 things to do in Harrogate and the district this weekend

Firefighters were called to help a boy whose leg got trapped in railings at Ripon Market Place.

On-call firefighters from the city were summoned to the incident at 8.31am yesterday.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report did not say how the boy managed to get stuck.

It added firefighters “released the boy unharmed using hydraulic spreaders”.

Ripon firefighters were back in action at 2.05pm when they responded to reports of a hedge on fire on Dishforth Road in Sharow,

The incident report said:

“Crews extinguished the fire measuring 5m x 5m using one hose reel jet. The cause was accidental.”

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• Ripon garden centre now equipped to look after hearts and flowers
• Four fire crews tackle blaze at Pateley Bridge caravan site

A Ripon solicitors has appealed a refusal for a replacement roof and solar panels.

Newtons Solicitors relocated from Duck Hill to new, larger premises at 36 Market Place South last year.

It lodged plans for a replacement roof and solar panels to North Yorkshire Council. However, the proposals were refused in October.

The council said the move would cause “unjustified harm” to the Ripon Conservation Area due to the use of modern slate tiles over traditional stone slate.

The firm has since taken the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which deals with planning disputes.

In a statement of case, CLB Heritage, which is handling the appeal, said:

“The change from stone to Welsh (or similar) slate roof tiles on the rear elevation will have a very minor visual impact.

“The impact is reduced because the Welsh slate is a key feature in Ripon Market Place as set out in the Conservation Area Appraisal and also because the solar panels are fit within the roof plane so do not protrude above the slope and will not be visible from public vantage points.

“The dark colour of the panels and dark slates will help assimilate them visually within the roof slope.”

Read more

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The law firm has also submitted revised plans for a replacement roof to North Yorkshire Council.

Under the proposal, the roof would be constructed from modern Brazilian slate to the front and rear elevations, with solar panels on the roof at the back of the property.

Historic England, which is the government’s statutory advisor on the historic environment, concurred with the council’s previous refusal and said the fresh plan would cause “unjustified harm” to the area.

A government planning inspector will make a decision on the appeal at a later date.

Knaresborough’s Christmas Market Weekend will be held on December 2 and 3 in the town’s historic Market Place.

Almost 60 stalls will be selling seasonal goods and there will be hot roasted chestnuts and mulled wine as well as performances by local dancers, brass bands and choirs.

The town centre will be largely pedestrianised for the event, but a free park and ride is available all weekend from the GSPK car park (postcode HG5 8LF) on Manse Lane to Chapel Street, close to the market square. Buses will run from 8am to 5.30pm throughout the weekend.

As always, the market weekend will close at 4.30pm on the Sunday with a firework finale set against the backdrop of Knaresborough viaduct and Nidd Gorge.

The firework finale. Pic: Charlotte-Gale Photography

The Christmas Tree Festival. Pic: Peter Wilkinson

The Christmas Tree Festival at St John’s Parish Church will also take place that weekend.

Market chair Hazel Haas said this year’s market would be “even bigger” than last year’s event. She added:

“We are also keen that the market benefits the town as a whole. Members of our volunteer committee have been liaising with other local organisations and businesses to ensure that we are promoting the full range of festive events taking place in Knaresborough over the market weekend.

“We are also supporting Rotary, Lions, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Knaresborough ATC and Knaresborough Cricket Club, who are our charitable partners for this year.”

The Christmas market will feature almost 60 stalls. Pic: Charlotte Gale Photography

Committee member Charlotte Gale added:

“We have a fantastic range of local independent shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants in town, not just in the market square, but on the surrounding streets and High Street. We hope that visitors to the market will also take the time to explore everything which Knaresborough has to offer.”

The new Knaresborough banking hub, at the top of Kirkgate, has agreed to open its Post Office counter services during the Christmas Market. This will allow people to access cash over the counter from 9am to 5pm on both days.

Event co-sponsor 1858 Bar & Restaurant will hold an after-party following the firework finale.

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Outdoor clothing company Trespass looks set to open in Ripon after advertising for new staff online.

The firm has advertised for a store manager on the Indeed recruitment website.

Trespass is expected to move into the former Barclays building in Market Place East in the city.

A sign is in place at the former bank which states that the store is “coming soon” and is hiring.

Meanwhile, Jacob and Turner Ltd, which trades under the name Trespass, applied to North Yorkshire Council for advertising consent at the site in September.

It would see two signs implemented at the former bank.

The Stray Ferret has approached Trespass to ask if it had an opening date for its new store and how many staff it was looking to hire.

However, we did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The outdoor clothing specialist currently has a store on Harrogate’s James Street.

Read more:

• Harrogate McColl’s to reopen as Morrisons Daily
• New hair salon opens in Ripon
• Trespass applies to open in former Ripon bank

A new Trespass store looks set to open in the former Barclays bank in Ripon.

The bank closed its doors on Market Place in August last year.

Barclays made decision despite the number of counter transactions at the branch increasing in the two years to March 2020.

Now, Jacob and Turner Ltd, which trades under the name Trespass, has applied to North Yorkshire Council for advertising consent at the site.

It would see two signs implemented at the former bank site.

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

The Stray Ferret approached Trespass to ask why it had chosen the site in Ripon and if it had further details on an opening date, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The outdoor clothing specialist currently has a store on Harrogate’s James Street.

Read more:

• Harrogate McColl’s to reopen as Morrisons Daily
• New hair salon opens in Ripon
• National pet retailer to open Harrogate store this month

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 am writing in response to a couple of articles relating to the council’s provision of electric vehicle charging points at its car parks in Knaresborough. The campaign itself is not reflective of the residents, taxpayers or visitors to Knaresborough.

The campaigners are failing to understand the effects petro carbons have not only on the environment but on people affected with chronic lung conditions like COPD and the more common asthma. There is also a direct cost to tax payers of Knaresborough as we have effectively paid for the electric vehicle charging points so to actively campaign for their removal is going to mean service provision cuts in order to fund it, and, no doubt in two years’ time to fund putting them back.

As such 0.12% of the Knaresborough taxpayer’s population are trying to make decisions for the 99% majority which is simply undemocratic and narrow minded.

If the issue is, as they allege that the car parks are full, what is wrong with reverting Gracious Street car park to short stay only? It used to have a maximum stay time so why not reintroduce this concept and make it two hours maximum stay with a no return in four hours, this could be extended to the castle car park.

Whilst the market place spaces could be subject to a very short term stay of one hour no return in four hours again. This leaves Conyngham Hall and York Place as longer stay car parks.

I have another proposal here too as there are businesses that do have car parking which may not be fully utilised so as a collective why don’t they work together and use the space we have but more effectively? What about car sharing? Using our fantastic public transport?

I am writing this letter due to the toxic nature of the anti-environment campaign given repeated air time at the Stray Ferret without seeking the views of Knaresborough taxpayers who will suffer if the spaces are removed.

We should be praising the council for taking the issue of pollution by the scruff of the neck and making Knaresborough a blueprint for other cities, towns and villages within North Yorkshire. I would welcome more clean air studies as per the Bond End work, subject to them getting government funding as I believe councils have funds but they can also apply for grants for such work.

Adrian Robson, Knaresborough

Lack of planning on trains after The Hundred match at Headingley

The match finished around 9.15pm. Burley Park station was mobbed with no staff to manage the situation. The platform was jammed and more people continued to arrive without any control – lots of families with young children.

People were very good natured but it was very lucky that there were no problems. After the test match, which ended at 6pm, there were loads of staff and transport police.

When the train arrived it was already busy and so everyone was jammed in. Surely this could have been planned for?

Stephen Hutchison, 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.

Read more:

• Stray Views: Let’s see police tackle anti-social behaviour after Remembrance Day withdrawal
• Stray Views: Time to ban dogs from Valley Gardens

Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and quote incident number 12230127884.

To pass on information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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A man has been jailed for setting fire to a historic Knaresborough pub and causing £15,000 worth of damage.

Stephen Pearson, of Pinhoe Road in Exeter, was charged with arson at Blind Jack’s pub on Market Place in the town on August 21 last year.

He admitted the offence and was jailed for 31 months at York Crown Court this morning.

Pearson, who had grown up in the area, had been in Knaresborough for a week’s holiday to visit old places from his childhood.

The court heard how, because the weather was poor, the 45-year-old decided to go drinking in Wetherspoons.

At around 8.15pm, he went to Blind Jack’s pub where customers complained he had been handing out flyers from a bag.

Dan Cowdy, prosecuting, told the court that Pearson had been asked politely by bar staff to leave the premises.

He was described as “smelling of cannabis” and stumbling.

Mr Cowdy said:

“On his way out, he asked if [other customers] had complained about him.”

The court was told that Pearson then went to the Cross Keys pub and missed his train to Leeds.

As a result, he decided to sleep in the castle grounds and woke up at 4am.

‘Woke up cold and angry’

Mr Cowdy told the court that Pearson “woke up feeling cold and angry” and began walking back to Market Place.

On his way, he picked up a bin bag of paper and placed it in front of Blind Jack’s pub.

CCTV shown in court showed Pearson attempting to light the bag multiple times at 4.14am.

He then left and returned with a piece of paper at 4.27am, which he set fire to and used to ignite the bag before leaving the scene.

CCTV footage from the fire, which shows the bin bag in front of the pub.

The fire caused an estimated £15,235 worth of damage to the door, glass and signage of the pub.

The Grade II listed pub is named after Knaresborough’s John Metcalf, the first professional road builder to emerge in the industrial revolution.

The fire service extinguished the blaze and Pearson was arrested and later charged with arson.

Owners left feeling ‘unsafe and anxious’

Owners Christian and Alice Ogley were staying at a friend’s house at the time of the incident.

In a statement read out in court, Mr Ogley said then fire had left them “constantly checking” CCTV and feeling “unsafe and anxious”.

He said:

“We feel that the effect of this incident has made us feel unsafe.”

The court heard how during interviews with North Yorkshire Police, Pearson apologised and described himself as “an idiot”.

Read more:

• Arsonist sets fire to historic Knaresborough pub
• Man jailed for lewd act near children’s play area in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

He told officers that he did not intend to set fire to the pub itself, but wanted to leave the bag in front of the building as he was angry.

Mr Cowdy said:

“He assumed that the pub was empty and that no one lived there.”

Mitigating for Pearson, George Hazel-Owrem told the court that the 45-year-old had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

He added that Pearson had shown “genuine remorse” for his crime and had issues with alcoholism and homelessness.

Mr Hazel-Owrem said:

“It is plain that he has a number of serious issues, particularly with alcohol and as a consequence of that has been homeless for some time.

“He also suffers from depression and anxiety and has had suicidal ideation in the past.”

Sentencing Pearson, Judge Simon Hickey told him that the fire had a significant impact on the victims.

He said:

“As the owners have pointed out, it had a drastic effect of them and a knock-on effect as they came out of covid.”

However, he accepted that Pearson had shown remorse for his actions.

Pearson was jailed for 30 months for arson, plus an extra month to be served consecutively for assaulting an emergency worker in Devon while on bail for the Blind Jack’s offence.

He will serve half the sentence before being released on licence.

During the current climate, we all need a bit of sparkle in our lives.

And what better way to inject some festive cheer than switching on the Christmas lights.

Here are the dates for your diary for switch-on events across the district:

Harrogate – Thursday, November 17

The countdown to Christmas in Harrogate will officially get underway this evening, with Harrogate BID flicking the festive switch.

There will be no official switch-on event this year, however Christmas lights around the town centre will start to dazzle for the first time this evening.

The whole town will be illuminated by the weekend.

Ripon – Saturday, November 19

Ripon’s festive season gets into full swing this weekend, with the switch-on of the city’s Christmas lights on Saturday.

The city’s Market Square will be a hive of activity from 1pm, ahead of the lights switch-on, which takes place at 5pm.

The reindeer, which proved popular when they visited Ripon for last year’s event, will be returning with Santa and once again there will be free fairground rides and a climbing wall for children to enjoy.

The Ripon City Council event will also provide free musical entertainment from 2pm.

Knaresborough – Friday, November 25

Boroughbridge – Wednesday, December 7

Santa’s sleigh out and about in Boroughbridge in 2018.

The annual late night Christmas Shopping and lights switch-on event, organised by the town’s Chamber of Trade, will take place on Wednesday, December 7.

The event kicks-off with the official switch-on of the Christmas tree lights in Hall Square at 5.30pm, followed by short performances by school choirs.

Boroughbridge Lions will have Santa and his sleigh on display and there will be children’s rides, along with the Scouts’ roast chestnuts and Brighter Boroughbridge with a mulled wine and mince pies stall. There will also be a hog roast.

The shop window display competition theme this year is “A Christmas Panto”.

The lights on the Christmas tree will be switched on by BBC Radio York’s Georgey Spanswick and the Mayor, Sean Hynes.