Stray Views: Noisy cars in Harrogate should be monitored at weekends

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.

Noisy cars should be monitored at weekends

Totally agree there should be a clampdown on noisy cars – especially needs to be monitored in Harrogate during weekends. 

This is not the first time action has been promised but monitoring not kept up. Police would find a hefty contribution towards funds if they were fined.

Gillian Long, Harrogate

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Noisy cars ‘constant’ on Harrogate Road

I live next to Harrogate Road. Cars are constantly coming over High Bridge accelerating to hit the double carriage section.

The noise is at times deafening with the back firing, which seems to be the fashion.The speed  which they travel up the road is way past the speed limit and you hear them throttle back when reaching the bollards opposite the Care Building on the right.

Why they do it beats me, because you usually catch them up at the lights on Bogs Lane. The police, you never see them.

Malcom Wood, Harrogate

Boris Johnson better than the alternative

In response to Paul Baverstock’s latest Strayside Sunday column, although Boris Johnson was not a perfect Prime Minster at least he is not Jeremy Corbyn or Keir Starmer.

Paul Smith, Knaresborough

Waiting on Gateway consultation

We’ve read more than once that there will be a third consultation regarding this ghastly scheme.

Could you please publish the details of this consultation in your pages as we would all like to know exactly what form it’s taking and who exactly is being consulted as we don’t know of anyone who was on the first and second ones.

It’s a dreadful scheme and we’d like a chance to give our opinions.

Brian and Tricia Preston, 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: Time to get tough on noisy cars in Harrogate district

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.

Noisy motorists should get hefty fines 

I was interested to read that Harrogate police are allegedly clamping down on noisy vehicles and anti-social behaviour of drivers in Harrogate town centre.

I’d like to know where the police are, particularly in the evening after Halfords has closed, on Knaresborough Road?

The reckless and inconsiderate driving of high powered vehicles in the area is truly awful.

Noise from so called ‘sporty’ exhausts, speeding, doughnutting on Halfords car park, intimidating other road users etc. Police presence is noticeable by its absence.

Whilst I’m dead set against what sometimes appears to be victimisation of the motorist, something should be done to get these idiots either off the road or given hefty penalties for the problems they’re inflicting on motorists and residents in this area.

Lesley Tudor, Harrogate

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Malcolm Neesam’s support for Valley Gardens

Malcolm Neesam, whom I came to know over the last few decades, willingly shared his vast historical knowledge, research, photographs of yesteryear and documents with us all.

His enthusiasm and interest for Harrogate’s history was immeasurable.
However, we have many books and publications to remember him by, including his last publication Wells and Swells, published in April.

During my time as Chairman of Valley Gardens and afterwards Malcolm’s support was incalculable. In 2016 Malcolm opened the restored Old Magnesia Well Pump Room in the Valley Gardens.

He also attended our other restorations, the Japanese Garden, King Edward VII Memorial Gate and events in the Valley Gardens.

For A Souvenir Guide to Valley Gardens, Malcolm wrote the introduction and again proof read the contents and found some photographs for the publication, for Anne Smith and I.

Thank you Malcolm.

Jane Blayney, 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: Ditch the Station Gateway scheme

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. See below for details on how to contribute.

Ditch the Station Gateway scheme!

Harrogate Civic Society’s comments on the proposed Station Gateway are correct. There is no overall traffic scheme for Harrogate, which has congestion problems, and this scheme will result in more traffic on the A59 as people try and park elsewhere because of this ill-thought-out scheme.

We do not need any changes on the pretext of more people cycling and walking, as most will need to drive in and park somewhere first before doing either. The population of Harrogate includes a lot of older people who cannot walk or cycle into town and this ‘scheme’ does not cater for this at all and should be ditched.

John Holder, Harrogate

Time to get life back to normal

I read with interest your article on the ‘rocketing’ Covid infection rate in the Harrogate district.

Can we not just accept that this whole charade is over and get back to normal? Even the never-used Nightingale Hospital has disappeared.

I personally have been vaccinated twice. What more do I need to do, for heaven’s sake?

I say this with genuine sympathies to anyone who has suffered with, or who has lost a loved one to this virus.

James Colin Harrison, Knaresborough

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Police need to check car number plates

Regarding your article on police taking action against noisy cars.
It is not only the noise these cars make but they are normally driven without a front number plate too. The police need to address this issue too.
Adrian Day, 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.
Police pledge to crack down on fast and noisy cars in Harrogate

Police have pledged to take a zero tolerance approach to fast and noisy drivers in Harrogate town centre this summer.

Harrogate often attracts drivers, sometimes in modified vehicles, racing around the main roads, particularly during summer.

North Yorkshire Police said today it has already handed out three traffic offence reports and one more serious section 59 warning for antisocial driving behaviour, which could lead to the car being seized.

It pledged in a statement to keep up the pressure during the summer months on “the irresponsible behaviour of some drivers which is not only unsafe but also highly disruptive”.

Operation Chrome, which began last summer last year, has restarted and will see increased police patrols in hot spots, more speed cameras across town, vehicle stops and detailed CCTV reviews.

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Superintendent Steve Thomas said:

“As the weather improves we see a surge in the number of vehicles driving antisocially around the town centre.

“Residents and visitors should not have to fear for their safety or have their days blighted by this excessive noise.

“We are taking a zero tolerance approach to this dangerous behaviour.

“Rest assured if you receive a warning and continue driving irresponsibly, we will be watching and your vehicle will be seized.”

Have you noticed more fast and noisy cars on your street? Tell us your experience contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.