Knaresborough road to be closed for resurfacing

A road in Knaresborough is set to be closed for resurfacing next week.

North Yorkshire Council will carry out work on B6163 Briggate from Monday (October 16).

According to the council’s roadworks map, the road will be closed between 7.30am until 5.30pm everyday until November 1.

Advanced warning signs of the closure are also in place on the road.

The move comes as the road was recently hit by disruption after a wall collapsed.

The wall, which was painted by Knaresborough artist Joseph Baker Fountain last century, crashed on to the road on Thursday, September 14.

Two-way traffic lights were put in place as repairs were carried out.

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Plan to convert former Harrogate guest house into co-living accomodation

A former guest house in Harrogate could be converted into a house in multiple occupation.

Leeds-based Abbeycrown Ltd has tabled proposals to North Yorkshire Council to change the property at 6 Dragon Parade, which is known as Dragon House, into co-living accommodation.

In documents submitted the council, the developer said the guest house had seen a downturn in trade during the covid pandemic.

It added that, as a result, the property was “unviable as a guest house”.

The proposal would see the building converted into an eight-bedroom house of multiple occupation.

The developer said in its planning statement:

“The applicant is looking to address the need of high quality co-living facilities in the area to create rooms for professionals and public sector workers.”

It added that tenants would be “fully vetted and verified people” and would not have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area and neighbours.

A house in multiple occupation is a property rented out by at least three people who are not from the same household, but share facilities such as a kitchen and bathroom.

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

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North Yorkshire double devolution ‘will not help vast majority of area’

A flagship scheme to hand extra powers to parishes following the creation of North Yorkshire Council will not benefit the vast majority of the area, it has been claimed.

Opposition groups on the Conservative-run council have expressed disappointment after it emerged just 11 town councils and one parish council had submitted bids to manage more services in their area as part of what the authority has titled “double devolution”.

The offer to hand powers to parish authorities was initially made in former North Yorkshire County Council’s submission to government for the establishment of a unitary council amid concerns that decision-making for local services would become too far removed.

An officer’s report to a meeting of the council’s executive on Tuesday emphasises how the council has pledged to place local communities at its heart while covering England’s largest county, and double devolution would be “a key platform to achieving this aim”.

However, the report states double devolution applications would need to have a solid business case and be cost neutral to the unitary council.

It states of the 12 expressions of interest submitted by town and parish councils, three did not meet the council’s criteria, including the only one from a parish council.

Knaresborough Town Council could be given powers over its market.

Knaresborough Town Council could be given powers over the town’s market.

The report states Little Ouseburn Parish Council applied to manage grass cutting outside some cottages, but the parish “did not evidence legal competence”. 

Stokesley Town Council’s bid to manage off-street parking was rejected as North Yorkshire Council stood to lose income.

Double devolution bids which are set to be approved include Filey being given the power to manage its public benches, Northallerton and Thirsk and Knaresborough town councils their markets, Richmond Town Council being handed the management of Friary Gardens and Malton Town Council its public toilets.

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Elsewhere, Skipton and Whitby town councils look set to be told their bids to manage services such as toilets and parks need “amendments”, while separate project teams will be established to work with Ripon and Selby town councils to shape their bids due to their “ambition and complexity of the expressions of interest”.

Ahead of the meeting, the authority’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr David Chance, said the authority was looking to “progress cautiously, learning from the experience and developing best practice”.

He said: 

“These proposed pilots are just the start of the process, and the hope is that more will be introduced throughout North Yorkshire in the future.”

However, the authority’s Labour group leader Cllr Steve Shaw Wright said for the vast majority of North Yorkshire double devolution was “just lip service” and “managing a couple of flower beds does not require a fantastic business case”.

Cllr Wright said: 

“It was a nice soundbite, but outside some of the larger towns there’s not a lot to double devolve down.

“The issue across the whole of North Yorkshire is that there is only a handful of sizeable councils that could take on and run services. The vast majority of other parishes either haven’t got the capacity to do it, are reluctant to put the precept up to fund it or there isn’t actually anything there to run.

“It was not a particularly well thought through proposal looking at the parishes and towns we have in North Yorkshire. Most parishes are very small.”

When asked if he believed double devolution was proving a success in North Yorkshire, Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Bryn Grifths said: 

“Not at this stage, it has not taken off at all. I’m very disappointed.

“I’m not sure how much engagement the towns and parishes have had or if they understood what was involved. Having said that it is up to North Yorkshire Council to equip towns and parishes to make it happen.

“I feel Stokesley put a good case forward and North Yorkshire Council’s response has been a bit of a slap in the face.”

Developer plans 25 lodge holiday park near Knaresborough

A developer has submitted plans for a new 25 lodge holiday park near Knaresborough.

The proposal has been tabled by AMS Planning on behalf of Mr Duffield for land at Shortsill Lane at Coneythorpe, known as Spring Bank Farm.

It would see 25 holiday lodges built at the site, as well as a reception.

The proposed lodges would be built around two ponds, which the developer said would serve as a haven for wildlife and enhance “the character of the site”.

It added that the site would also help the local economy and increase accommodation in a rural area.

In a planning statement to North Yorkshire Council, the developer said:

“Spring Bank Farm provides a rare opportunity to introduce an employment generating use without detriment to the key characteristics of the districts picturesque countryside. 

“The subject proposal will help remediate the current dearth in the supply of rural outdoor accommodations.”

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

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Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens £21,000 makeover underway

Works to re-landscape Harrogate‘s Crescent Gardens have begun.

Harrogate Borough Council, which was abolished in April, announced the revamp in February, shortly after the area hosted an ice rink and funfair last Christmas. The activities are due to return for a longer period this year.

A report at the time by Kirsty Stewart, the former council’s parks and ground maintenance manager, said “we would like to take the opportunity to upgrade the area to enable better accommodation of future events with less disruption to the planting in this area”.

It also added a three-year licence for the Christmas activities “will generate a minimum income of £37,500 per year.”

The report also said the area would be re-named The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Ground, but at the time of publication North Yorkshire Council had yet to confirm this will still happen.

Jonathan Clubb, the council’s head of parks and grounds, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are carrying out work as part of our ongoing management of Harrogate’s parks and grounds to maintain a vibrant, attractive location for residents and visitors.”

A steel rose arch will be installed today and climbing roses and flower beds will be planted in the coming weeks, Mr Clubb added.

The council also said the planting, which has cost £10,000, is part of the overall £21,000 budget that also included the costs of groundwork and materials.

This is the first redesign of Crescent Gardens since 1990, following the Gateshead Garden Festival, when the central glass structured was erected.

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Angry parents say closure of Lofthouse school will ‘rip heart out of community’

Devastated parents have said a village near Pateley Bridge will have its heart “ripped out” by the closure of a primary school.

Governors of Upper Nidderdale Federation have issued a statement saying they have taken “the heavy and sad decision to ask North Yorkshire Council to begin consultation on a proposal to close Fountains Earth School” in Lofthouse.

A formal decision on closure is expected next year but the fate of the school, which was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted at its last full assessment in 2017, appears sealed as no pupils remain.

The council has said the closure is part of a trend caused by declining pupil numbers at rural schools but numerous parents have contacted the Stray Ferret to dispute this.

They say they felt compelled to withdraw their children because of the way the school was run and that it could have a viable future if the will remained.

A joint statement by a group of parents said they were “devastated to have been left with no choice but to remove our children”. It added:

“It will remain the view of the former parents that the pending closure of Fountains Earth School is not simply about known challenges around resourcing of rural schools and pupil numbers.

“We believe it has everything to do with the leadership, governance and decision making of the Upper Nidderdale Federation.

“Parents have a degree of choice and can tell when a school is failing its children. As a parent group we’ve been disappointed by how unwilling the school has been to pro-actively communicate with us and surprised by the total lack of accountability that can exist around how a school is governed.”

Some villagers also issued individual comments. Ashley Gatecliffe said it felt as if the school closure was a “deliberate act”. Former parent Leanne Jowett said things started to unravel after a previous consultation on closing the school ended in June 2022. She added:

“I truly believe the heart of the community has been ripped out because of this and questions need asking in relation to accountability, how this is able to happen yet again in North Yorkshire and who is ultimately responsible.”

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‘The whole thing stinks’

Another former parent, Fiona Ewbank, said three generations of her family had been educated at the school but she felt “forced” to move her child outside the federation, which also includes St Cuthbert’s Primary School in Pateley Bridge and Glasshouses Community Primary School.

Ms Ewbank added:

“The school had 11 pupils enrolled in June 2022 and increased to 15 by Sept 2022. Numbers were not declining, despite what is usually the story around rural school closures.”

Lofthouse

The school closure will have a significant impact on Lofthouse.

Former parent Rosie Costello, who runs a playgroup in the village, said:

“We have a thriving village playgroup in Lofthouse with children from both the local area as well as further away. This was a great pipeline for future pupil numbers, and we wanted to work pro-actively with the school to maximise on this but there didn’t seem to be the level of interest to do so that we would have hoped for.”

Stephen Ramsden, chair of Upper Nidderdale Parish Council said:

“In my opinion the parents have been pushed out and they are now forced to travel much greater distances because they’re left with no confidence in the leadership of this federation. The whole thing stinks.”

Cllr Andrew Murday, a Liberal Democrat who represents Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale on North Yorkshire Council, said:

“It’s a sad state of affairs. There has been a failure of communication between parents and the federation.”

‘Difficult decision’ to begin closure process

Asked about moves to instigate closure, Amanda Newbold, the council’s assistant director for education and skills, said:

“We very much recognise the problems of falling pupil numbers at small rural schools, which is an issue affecting a number of communities in North Yorkshire.

“Sadly, there are currently no children enrolled at Fountain’s Earth CE Primary School in Lofthouse in Nidderdale.

“After a challenging time for all, the school governors have made the difficult decision to begin the formal process of applying to the council for a consultation on proposed plans to close the school.

“The request will be formally considered in November. If a consultation is given the go-ahead, it would be undertaken later this year and include a public meeting.”

 

Brimhams Active forecasts £330,000 loss after leisure centre delays

Brimhams Active is forecasting a £330,000 loss at the end of the year due to delays in opening new leisure centre projects in the Harrogate district.

The company, which is wholly owned by North Yorkshire Council, operates leisure facilities in the district.

Its sites include Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre, Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre, the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon and Nidderdale Leisure and Wellness Centre in Pateley Bridge.

According to a council report, the company is forecast to record a £330,000 loss by the end of the 2023/24 financial year.

The shortfall is attributed to the delayed openings of both the Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre and Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre which has “negatively affected trading projections”.

The Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre.

Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre

The £13.5 million Harrogate scheme on Jenny Field Drive was due to open in January, but did not do so until September.

The Knaresborough facility, which is set to cost £17 million, was scheduled to open at the end of summer but is now not due to welcome customers until November.

A council report said:

“The delayed opening of two facilities, Harrogate Leisure and Wellness and Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness, has been brought about by construction delays and has negatively affected trading projections for the remainder of the year.”

However, the report added that income from the reopening may reduce losses before the end of the year.

In an interview with the Stray Ferret last month, Mark Tweedie, managing director of Brimhams Active, admitted the delays at the sites had been frustrating.

However, he said the benefits of the investment would soon be felt across the district.

He said:

“We will have an estate that will be the envy of North Yorkshire. The investment that’s gone in is unprecedented and significant.”

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Long-term roadworks as Harrogate office block refurbished

Work on Station Bridge in Harrogate looks set to continue indefinitely as a major office block is refurbished.

Construction work is being carried out by HACS to refurbish and redevelop Copthall Bridge House.

Businesses operating in the premises were told to vacate the building in November 2018.

A proposal to re-clad the ground floor and repaint the upper floors was approved by Harrogate Borough Council in November last year.

The application, which was submitted by a company called Rural Offices LLP, said the plans would help to “assist in attracting occupiers which will further enhance the area”.

It added:

“The building has been vacant for some time and the applicant in keen to see in brought back into active use as quickly as possible.”

As a result, one lane on Station Bridge has been closed and the footpath next to Copthall Bridge House has been closed.

According to North Yorkshire Council’s roadworks map, a notice of the works runs until April 2, 2024.

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Knaresborough and Ripon picked to advance double devolution bids

Knaresborough Town Council and Ripon City Council have been picked to advance double devolution bids, which will see them take control of some local assets.

North Yorkshire Council invited town and parish councils to submit expressions of interest to run local services in November last year.

It was part of the Conservative-controlled council’s double devolution agenda which pledges to let local people take control of local assets.

In total, 12 expressions of interest were submitted to the council. Of these, three were from the Harrogate district.

The authority has now confirmed it will move forward bids from Knaresborough and Ripon, but Little Ouseburn’s proposal was rejected.

David Chance, executive councillor for corporate services at the council, said:

“Town and parish councils are integral to our county’s vibrant communities, alongside community groups, and we recognise their understanding of the needs, opportunities and strengths within their communities.

“That’s why we are looking at this pilot scheme, working initially with selected town and parish councils, enabling us to progress cautiously, learning from the experience and developing best practice.

“These proposed pilots are just the start of the process, and the hope is that more will be introduced throughout North Yorkshire in the future.”

Ripon City Council bid to control the market place.

Ripon City Council bid to control assets including the market place.

Knaresborough Town Council’s application to manage the town’s markets, storage facility and associated assets such as road closure signs will be progressed to a full business case.

Meanwhile, the council will consider a project team to work with Ripon City Council on its bid as it was deemed “particularly ambitious”.

It included management of Ripon Town Hall, Market Place and Car Park, public toilets within the city and the Wakeman’s House listed building.

However, the council rejected to take a bid from Little Ouseburn Parish Council further. It included management of the grass cutting of the green area outside Broomfield Cottages.

Senior councillors will consider recommendations at an executive meeting on October 17.

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Knaresborough Castle to host free Glastonbury party next year

Knaresborough’s Party in the Castle will return next year, organisers have confirmed.

The free event, which was held in glorious sunshine in the grounds of Knaresborough Castle in June, enabled residents to watch BBC coverage of Glastonbury together on a big screen.

It was organised through a collaboration between business group Knaresborough and District Chamber and North Yorkshire Council.

Hundreds attended this year’s event. Pic: Mike Whorley

Enjoying the Glastonbury vibe. Pic: Mike Whorley

The two groups have now confirmed Party in the Castle 2024 will be held on Saturday, June 29.

A spokesperson for Knaresborough Chamber said:

“We are excited to announce the funding of 50% from North Yorkshire Council through Cllr Matt Walker and we have saved the date with Tim Dabell, manager of parks and open spaces, to secure the castle yard.

“We will be announcing our town events sponsorship packages in the new year. Party in the Castle is on for 2024!”

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