Angry villagers in Minskip, near Boroughbridge, are joining forces to fight against an industrial development which they say could endanger a Roman mosaic.
They also say the development at Hazeldene Fold, an otherwise residential cul-de-sac, is out of character with the village and does not comply with the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place.
Local resident Lynne Scott said:
“The mood here is very angry, because the developer hasn’t made any effort to interact with us or tell us what’s going on. They’ve already done massive groundworks without even having planning permission yet, and we just don’t know if there’s been any damage to the archaeology there.”
The developer, Harrogate-based Forward Investment Properties, has applied to Harrogate Borough Council for retrospective planning permission to demolish some Nissen huts on the site, and build four light industrial units, a car-park and a turning circle for goods vehicles.
But campaigners believe the existing buildings may well conceal Roman remains. According to local resident Tony Hunt, a Roman mosaic floor is reported to have been discovered when the huts were built in 1970 but covered over with a layer of sand and plastic to preserve it. The location cross-references on Ordnance Survey maps with a square-shaped earthwork, and a Roman coin hoard was found nearby in the 19th century.
Mr Hunt said:
“My conclusion is that the data confirms that the ‘Ancient Enclosure’ at the top of Hazeldene Fold is the site of the Roman encampment which served the Roman fort at Aldborough”.
Forward Investment Properties has agreed to an “appropriate scheme of archaeological investigation and recording” as part of a planning condition to be applied if planning permission is granted, but residents say the groundworks could have done damage already, even before any such investigation has taken place.
Campaigners point to a 2017 application to build five houses on the site, which was rejected. Planning officers said then that the development would tower over neighbouring properties, create noise and disturbance, lack an adoptable highway, and be “out of keeping with the acknowledged linear form of the village”. They say the current proposals should be rejected for the same reasons.
Forward Investment Properties says its application should be approved because there is a shortage in the Harrogate district of employment sites of the type being proposed, and points out that the site has long been used for commercial purposes.
Access to the site is via Hazeldene Fold, a private residential road managed by Hazeldene Fold Management Company Ltd. On formation, the company was made up of one representative from each of the eight homes on the road, plus one from the original developer of the houses. Each of these nine members has a single vote on communal matters, including those involving planning permission.
Residents believe the developer’s vote should pass automatically to the new owner of the site, but the new owner, Forward Investment Properties, has not so far contacted the company or its individual members.
Ms Scott said:
“It makes you feel suspicious. If someone is upfront with you and you can ask them questions, you can have a conversation and iron things out. But if you have a body you can’t get hold of, you feel you have no control.”
Forward Investment Properties is registered with Companies House as a limited liability partnership and its three members are believed to be brothers. One of them, Daniel Ward, was approached by the Stray Ferret, but declined to comment.
Thieves steal 10 motorbikes in MinskipPolice are appealing for information after motorbikes and tools were stolen in Minskip.
Thieves took the bikes from a commercial premises in the village overnight on Friday, January 6, and Saturday, January 7.
Officers said 10 motorbikes and several tools were taken.
A North Yorkshire Police statement added:
“Police are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“In particular officers are keen to hear from anyone who noticed any vehicles in the area acting suspiciously on the night that the incident occurred.
“Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should email Conor.taylor@northyorkshire.police.uk
“You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for PC 499 Conor Taylor.
Please quote reference number 12230003712 when passing information.
“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Inquest opens into death of Minskip man who went missing
An inquest has opened into the death of a Minskip man who went missing in June.
Luke Earnshaw, 31, was reported missing after leaving home on Prospect Terrace in the village on Saturday, June 13, just before 2.30pm.
His body was later found in a field off Thorndikes Lane on June 16.
He was reported dead by North Yorkshire Police.
A coroner opened an inquest into Mr Earnshaw’s death at County Hall in Northallerton yesterday.
She said the 31-year-old died as a result of wound injuries to his arm. A knife was found at the scene.
The hearing was adjourned and a full inquest will be held at a later date.
Harrogate district churches win grants for repairsTwo churches in the Harrogate district have been awarded grants worth a total of more than £9,000 for repairs.
Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust gave grants totalling £78,000 to 19 churches for repairs, conservation and maintenance work in its latest funding round.
Successful Harrogate district applicants were St Mary’s in Great Ouseburn, which was awarded £6,000 for boundary wall repairs and St John’s in Minskip, near Boroughbridge, which received £3,300 to tackle damp.
Robert Beaumont, churchwarden at St John’s, said the grant “means the world to our little church”,
Mr Beaumont said damp threatened the structure of the church, and was also damaging the interior. He added:
“Specifically, faulty drains and a broken bell tower are causing peeling walls and discolouration inside, as well as a damp exterior.
“In addition, a couple of windows are broken and the floor is uneven in places. Whilst we are able to hold and enjoy our services, the structure of the church has been worrying us for some time.
“We have undertaken some serious fundraising which, together with this grant, will enable us to pay for the whole regeneration project. We have a very strong and committed church council and we have already raised £3,000 towards this specific project.
He added work carried out by local builder Tim Wilkinson will begin in January.
Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust provides funds for churches, chapels and meeting houses of all Christian denominations within the county of Yorkshire.
Trust chairman Tom Ramsden said:
“Our latest grant awards support a wide variety of churches and projects.
“They range from helping to repair the roof of the Grade II listed St James in Slaithwaite built in 1796, through to helping make watertight Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic chapel in Headingley, built in the 1930s
“We are also delighted to support St John’s Church in Minskip, which is a lovely little church that serves its community so well. It is very rewarding to see at first hand the structural problems that will be tackled and solved, thanks in part to our grant.”
Great Ouseburn, St Mary, £6000 for boundary wall repairs
Minskip, St John, £3300 for bell tower repairs
Leeds, All Hallows, £10,000 for roof repairs
Leeds, Our Lady of Lourdes, £3000 for roof repairs
Leeds, Cathedral Church of St Anne, £3000 for stonework repairs
Leeds, Holy Rosary, £1500 for roof repairs
Clifford, St Edward King and Confessor, £3500 for roof repairs
Baildon, St James £2000, for tower repairs
Bierley, St John the Evangelist, £5000 for clock repairs
Skipwith, St Helen, £7000 for drainage works
Golcar, Providence Methodist, £3500 for window repairs
Slaithwaite, St James, £5000 for roof repairs
Ripponden, Stones Methodist, £5000 for roof repairs
Thornaby, St Peter, £1000 for stonework repairs
Gargrave, St Andrew £1358 for clock repairs
Golcar, St John the Evangelist, £5000 for internal decorations
Goole, St John £4500, for roof repairs
Harome, St Saviour, £3000 for bell turret repairs
Slingsby, All Saints, £4500 for window repairs
Guide to bonfire and fireworks displays in the Harrogate district
This story is sponsored by Belmont Grosvenor School which will be holding a Bonfire Night Party on Friday, November 4. There will be s’mores round the campfire, music, hot food, a licensed bar, stalls and more. Gates open at 6pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm and the firework display starts at 7.20pm.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate and cost £10 for adults (children under the age of 18 are free). Get them in advance by emailing kaye.walker@bewonder.co.uk.
Bonfire night is fast approaching so we have put together a list of events coming up in the Harrogate district.
They all take place over the weekend of November 4, 5 and 6.
Let us know if we have missed your event and we will add it to the list. Email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk or call us on 01423 276197.
Belmont Grosvenor School Bonfire Party
Where: Belmont Grosvenor School, Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 2JG
When: 6pm start, 6.30pm fire lit, 7.20pm firework display
Tickets: £10 with children under the age of 18 entering for free
Ripon Rowels Rotary Charity Bonfire and Firework Display
Where: Ripon Racecourse, Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, HG4 1UG
When: 5.30pm start, 7pm fire lit, 7.30pm firework display
Tickets: adults £6, children £3, family (2 adult, 2 child) £12, under 3s free
Spofforth Village Firework Display
Where: Spofforth Cricket Ground, School Lane, Spofforth, HG3 1BA
When: Gates open 5pm, 7pm-7.15pm firework display.
Tickets: Family pre-paid £12:50 and on the gate £15. Adult pre-paid £4 and on the gate £5. Child pre-paid £2:50 and on the gate £3.
Swinton Bivouac Silent Bonfire Night
Where: Swinton Bivouac, Masham, Ilton, Ripon, HG4 4JZ
When: 6.30pm bonfire lit. There will be no fireworks or loud bangs.
Tickets: free entry, food and drinks available from the Bivouac Café
Aspin Park Academy Fireworks Night, Knaresborough
Where: School grounds
When: 5.15pm start, 6.30pm firework display
Tickets: Advance online booking – adults £4, children £3, family ticket £12, preschoolers free. On the gate – adults £5, children £4
Harrogate Stray Bonfire and Fireworks, Harrogate Round Table
Where: Oatlands Stray, Harrogate, HG1 1BJ
When: 5pm start (there will be entertainment), bonfire lit 5.30pm, 7.15pm firework display
Tickets: free entry, donations welcome
Upper Nidderdale Scouts Group Pateley Bonfire
Where: Pateley Bridge Showground
When: 6pm start, 6.30pm torchlit procession and bonfire lit, 7pm fireworks
Tickets: free entry, donations welcome
Kirkby Malzeard community village bonfire
Where: North Close Farm, Ripon Road, Kirkby Malzeard
When: 6pm start, 6.30pm bonfire lit, 7pm fireworks
Tickets: Free entry but donations welcome to fund next year’s event. Parking is available at North Close Farm. No sparklers allowed. Bring a torch.
Yolk Farm Bonfire and Burger Night – dog-friendly
Where: Yolk Farm, Minskip Road, Minskip, York, YO51 9HY
When: 5.30pm start, 6.30pm bonfire lit, no fireworks
Tickets: free entry for the event, advanced bookings only for Burger Night in the restaurant – 5:30pm and 8pm sittings
Staveley Arms Bonfire
Where: The Staveley Arms, Greenfields, North Stainley, Ripon, HG4 3HT
When: 6pm
Tickets: £5 per person to include a choice of hot dog or cup of soup
The owners of the Wild Swan, the 19th century inn at Minskip, near Boroughbridge, have hired Paul Murphy as chef.
Alex Bond and Stephen Lennox, who bought the Wild Swan last year, heralded Mr Murphy’s arrival as the start of a new era for the inn.
Mr Murphy previously built up the Timble Inn near Otley into a five-star hotel and worked with chef Frances Atkins at the Michelin-starred Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge.
Chef Paul Murphy (left) and co-owner Stephen Lennox. Photo: Laura Hargreaves.
Mr Bond said:
“Paul’s appointment is crucially important for the future of the Wild Swan.
“He has a superb reputation and we are in no doubt that he will take the Wild Swan to a completely new level in terms of the quality and the presentation of our food.
“We are looking to establish the Wild Swan’s reputation for excellent food and drink in relaxed and informal surroundings, making it a destination location for food lovers across the county.”
Mr Murphy said he was “determined to give Minskip and the surrounding district an inn to be proud of”, adding:
“I have completely revamped the menu and am determined to create enjoyable and imaginative food at competitive prices. I haven’t been here long, but the reaction so far has been brilliant.
“I am aiming to replicate the success I had at the Timble Inn, which my wife and I ran from 2009 to 2014. Like the Timble, the Wild Swan has immense potential.
“This is a fabulous opportunity. Alex and Stephen have given us a blank canvas. They simply wants the Wild Swan to be at the heart of the Minskip community and to be loved and treasured by villagers.”
The owners said this year they intended to create a microbrewery at the inn but a spokesman for the venue said those plans were currently on hold.
Minskip scarecrow competition set to return this weekend
A scarecrow competition in the village of Minskip is set to return this weekend.
The annual event will be held on Saturday (September 3) and Sunday (September 4) with a pantomime theme.
The annual competition sees almost the entire village making scarecrows which then line the main street in a blaze of colour throughout the weekend.
Debbie Hargreaves, one of the organisers of the event, said:
“It’s absolutely wonderful how so many villagers have made scarecrows in the past and I expect the same this year. The competition has really caught the imagination of the village and the standard is incredibly high.
“It’s great fun and all proceeds from the competition go towards our little church, which, like so many rural churches, is desperately in need of money.
“It may still be summer, but the Panto season has come early to the village. I can’t wait to see Buttons, Widow Twanky, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk and even the back end of a horse all fighting it out to win our prestigious competition.”
The entry fee is £10 and the competition will be judged by Minskip councillor Monika Kaczmarczyk.
Prizes have been donated by Thorpe Perrow Arboretum and two Minskip businesses The Wild Swan pub and restaurant and the Yolk Farmshop.
(L-R) Minskip villagers Robert Beaumont, Meghan Holmes, Rob Peacock, Monica Kaczmarczyk, Val Tattersall and Beverley Johnson.
The winners of the competition will be announced on Sunday afternoon at 3pm in the garden in front of the church.
Robert Beaumont, senior churchwarden of Minskip Church, added:
Fire destroys BMW on A1 near Boroughbridge“I’d like to thank Debbie for all her hard work, enthusiasm and imagination in creating this fantastic weekend. It will raise much-needed money for our lovely little church.”
A BMW was destroyed by fire on the A1 near Boroughbridge last night.
Firefighters from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge were called to the blaze at 9.16pm last night.
They used two hose reels and two breathing apparatus to douse the flames.
It is not believed anyone was injured but in a tweet last night North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said:
“Vehicle totally destroyed. Two hose reels and two breathing apparatus used. Believed to be due to an electrical fault.”
Plumes of smoke rising above the carriageway. Photograph: @NorthYorksFire, Twitter
It was one of two car fires in the district last night.
A crew from Boroughbridge was called when a Skoda Fabia caught fire in Minskip shortly before 8pm.
The cause is again believed to be a faulty engine.
The Skoda engine suffered fire, heat and smoke damage.
Body found in search for missing Minskip man
A body has been found in the search for a missing 31-year-old from Minskip, near Boroughbridge.
Luke Earnshaw was reported missing after leaving home on Saturday just before 2.30pm.
He was seen walking down Thorndikes Lane towards Staveley.
North Yorkshire Police said the body found today has not been formally identified but is believed to be that of the missing man. His family have been informed.
Posting on a local Facebook group, a family member thanked everyone who had helped in the search for Mr Earnshaw.
She also praised police officers’ support to the family, adding:
“He’s finally at peace after suffering with mental health for many years.”
Police launch urgent appeal for missing Minskip man
North Yorkshire Police has launched an urgent appeal to locate a missing man from Minskip.
Luke Earnshaw, 31, was last seen on Saturday (June 11) when he left his home on Prospect Terrace in the village shortly before 2.30pm.
He was seen walking down Thorndikes Lane towards Staveley.
Officers are extremely concerned for his welfare.
Luke is of slim build with a bald head and bushy ginger beard. He has tattoos on his arms.
He was captured on a doorbell camera (pictured above) when he left his home. He was wearing a blue jumper, brown jacket, dark blue jeans and a grey flat cap.
A police statement added:
“If you have any information which could help locate Luke please contact police on 101 or call 999 for an immediate sighting. Ref: 12220101715.”