A group of rough sleepers in Harrogate‘s Crescent Gardens has been evicted this morning after occupying the pavilion for two weeks.

Representatives from North Yorkshire Council‘s property services division and North Yorkshire Police began the move-on operation just before 9am this morning.

The council also brought a van to gather the rough sleepers’ belongings.

One nearby resident, who asked not to be named, said some people started arguing with the council after they were told to disperse but there was no violence.

He added:

“One or two sleepers appeared frustrated and declined to cooperate, but they eventually started packing and leaving from 9.15am.

“The police were present to ensure the operation was non-violent.”

The operation ended at approximately 9.40am.

Larger items, such as mattresses, were removed by the council.

The Stray Ferret first reported the encampment after nearby residents raised concerns about anti-social behaviour last week.

One of those residents, Eileen Dockray, said after today’s developments:

“I’m now concerned that the police and the council, who both tried to pass this problem back and forth between each other, should now come together and work out who’s responsible for dealing with this sort of problem in the future.

“We, the public, also need to know who we can go to for help when a situation like this arises again, as it surely will.”

Read more:

• No resolution in sight for rough sleeping den in Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens
• Reader’s Letter: Who does have the power to tackle rough sleeping camp near Crescent Gardens?

Councillors have approved the latest plans for a motorway service station near to Kirby Hill.

Applegreen Ltd submitted amended plans for the scheme between junctions 48 and 49 of the A1(M) northbound, between Boroughbridge and Ripon.

It would see a Welcome Break built at the site, as well a filling station and 364 car parking spaces created.

The proposal already has outline permission after the government’s Planning Inspectorate approved the plan on appeal in April 2021.

At a meeting last week, councillors on North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee approved the amended proposal.

Applegreen, which is based in Dublin, applied for amendments to its plan, including an extension to the length of the slip roads and increasing the permissible height of the eastern dumbbell roundabout by up to 1.25 metres.

In documents submitted to the council, the company said the changes were “limited design amendments”.

But, Gareth Owens, of Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services, told the committee that the plan did not amount to minor amendments.

He said:

“Minor amendments would not warrant an officer’s report that runs to 110 pages.”

Mr Owens added:

“What we have here is an applicant who misrepresented to an inspector at a public inquiry what it is possible to achieve on this site.

“They are now having to row back from that position and ask your permission for a much more harmful scheme.

“Let’s not be taken in by the claim that these are minor amendments.”

Cllr Nick Brown, who represents the area on North Yorkshire Council, said he knew of no other local issue which residents felt more strongly about.

He added the scheme was “materially different” to what was approved by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

Nick Roberts, who represented Applegreen at the meeting, said the need for a motorway service station at the site was established by a planning inspector after a three-week public inquiry.

Read more:

• Government approves A1 service station after fourth appeal in 25 years

• Harrogate council paid £45,000 in Kirby Hill and Ripon service station legal fees
• Residents object to latest Kirby Hill service station plans

The move comes after the government approved plans for the service station following a series of public inquiries and planning battles.

In a saga which has spanned a quarter of a century, Applegreen’s application has been before multiple council planning committees, faced four public inquiries and been turned down twice by the Secretary of State and the High Court.

The inquiry, which was held by planning inspector David Rose and streamed onto YouTube, lasted two weeks and included multiple testimonies from residents, campaigners and developer Applegreen.

In a decision notice, Mr Rose said after considering the evidence that the benefits of a service station would outweigh the harm.

North Yorkshire’s transport boss has spoken of his optimism that all existing bus services will be saved and the network expanded over the coming years,

Cllr Keane Duncan, the Tory candidate to become North Yorkshire and York’s first elected mayor, said nearly 80 routes were close to being wiped out a year ago.

But Cllr Duncan has now said the county’s public transport services has undergone a reversal of fortune after landing a £2.9m government grant and a £2 price cap being introduced on local and regional journeys.

He told a meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s executive this week many of the county’s bus services were “more popular than ever” and some services had even become “too popular”.

He said the Department for Transport funding would serve as “a lifeline to services” without which “many services would have ceased” and that having achieved survival, anyone elected to become mayor would face the challenge of reversing the erosion of bus routes in the county.

Bus campaigners said they hoped the statement marked “a significant milestone” for public transport services in the county, which shrunk by one of the largest amounts in the country over the last decade.

Since the North Yorkshire Rural Commission recommended the county’s transport bosses “take up the opportunity to provide more innovative passenger transport” in 2021, there has been little progress on increasing coverage of rural areas, partly due to the failure of the demand-responsive Yorbus service that covered Ripon and Masham.

Last summer, Cllr Duncan warned of a “grave” situation facing public transport in North Yorkshire, with about a third of the network — 79 routes — being under threat due to passenger numbers remaining low following the pandemic.

Read more:

• North Yorkshire transport boss warns bus network faces ‘really grave situation’
• North Yorkshire Council to review bus services support, says transport chief
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It came just three months after it emerged the authority’s £116 million Bus Back Better bid had been rejected in its entirety by the government, which claimed the bid had lacked “sufficient ambition”.

However, Cllr Duncan said the Department for Transport grant of £2.9m, which the government has stipulated must not be used to replace existing council support for public bus services, would help ensure all services are maintained until after the launch of a mayoral combined authority.

The meeting heard existing service levels would be maintained, “based on local circumstances and need”, over the next two years.

The funding will be spent on what the council considers “are the best overall outcomes in growing long-term patronage, revenues and thus maintaining service levels, whilst maintaining essential social and economic connectivity” for communities.

Cllr Duncan told the meeting he was delighted to be reporting “a much more positive picture” as a result of the council’s action plan to work closely with bus operators.

Harrogate bus service lost

After claiming that “not a single service had ceased as a result of becoming commercially unviable”, fellow Conservative councillor Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, told the meeting a Harrogate bus service had been lost over commercial viability.

Cllr Duncan replied the authority had “supported changes to timetables to help the viability of several routes across the county”.

He added the achievement of the council’s passenger transport team could not be underestimated and the £2 fare cap had been “immensely successful in getting passengers back on to services”.

Cllr Duncan said: 

“We are hopeful that we can continue to support all the services across the county over the coming months and years. It gives us the solid foundations we need to support those lifeline services.

“It gives us a solid foundation for building that network back in the coming months and years.”

A Harrogate company that set up a Christmas choir last year is looking to recruit members for this year.

Entertainment company Enchantica’s is looking for 18 members to take centre stage at the third Harrogate Christmas Fayre in the town centre.

Enchantica’s is managing the festive entertainment programme on behalf of North Yorkshire Council.

Create a Choir is an opportunity to come together enjoy the benefits of performing, the company says. No experience is needed.

It added:

“Following on from the success of last year’s debut event, both the fayre and the entertainment are set to return, with the search for singers and performers already underway.”

The choir will be led by professional singer Emma Carrington.

Members will attend three rehearsals and give three performances at the fayre, which has been extended to 18 days this year.

Suzanne Vaughan, director at Enchantica’s, said:

“Community is at the heart of the town. People contributing and showing off their talents helps the town to shine bright for all.

“Performers will enjoy the buzz of playing to a festive audience, while their friends and their family will also come along to support them and get to enjoy the festivities in the town.”

Last year’s Christmas celebrations also included performances from local primary schools, dance schools and bands.

Amy Moseley, co-chair of Harrogate Choral Society, said:

“To be part this fantastic event was a real joy for us as a local organisation which has been present in Harrogate for over 75 years and now has 140 members.

“There’s nothing more festive than a choir singing carols and it was so well received by the local community and visitors to Harrogate that we can’t wait to take part again this year.”

Create a Choir is open to adults of all abilities.

Rehearsals will take place on November 5, 12, 26 from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at Enchantica’s eorkshop.

Performances will be on December 3, 10 and 17.

Those wanting to join the choir – or perform at the fayre in another capacity – can click here or email events@enchanticas.co.uk to sign up.

Read more:

• Harrogate Christmas Fayre extended to 18 days
• Harrogate women’s Morris dancing group holds trial for new recruits

North Yorkshire Council has approved plans to convert the former Kings Club in Harrogate into 12 flats.

The proposal was submitted by Harrogate developer Forward Investments LLP last October.

The move will see the first and second floor of the building on Oxford Street, known as the Villa Mercedes, converted into residential use.

The Kings Club, which described itself as ‘Yorkshire premier gentleman’s club’, offered topless pole dancing, topless stage strip tease and full nudity lap dancing.

However, the club has since closed.

The proposal will see a mixture of one and two bedroom flats created at the site.

In documents submitted to the council, James Robinson, the planning agent representing the developer, said the conversion of the building would be a “significant improvement” for the area.

He said:

“The proposed conversion of the upper floors of 1 Oxford Street will have a significant net improvement to the surrounding area and economy over the existing strip club use.

“This is an important building, located in a very prominent town centre location, and its current use as adult entertainment is not fitting for the surrounding area.

“As mentioned the current use attracts anti-social behaviour, and the conversion to high quality flats is a much more appropriate and viable use for the building.”

Read more:

• No date for Harrogate horticultural nursery move
• Plan to convert former Harrogate hostel into flats set for approval

A road in Harrogate had to be dug up last week to fix a gas leak – which was caused by council resurfacing work just days earlier. 

North Yorkshire Council had just completed work near the Stray, giving the top end of North Park Road a pristine new surface at a cost it estimated at £144,350. 

But the tarmac was barely set when gas was smelt and remedial work ordered.

Northern Gas Networks, the company responsible for piping gas across most of the north of England, was called in and the leak was fixed the next day, with repairs reducing traffic to a single lane for the day. 

But NGN claimed the leak had been caused by the council’s machinery. 

The pristine new surface of North Park Road already has a repair patch.

Dominic Nevison, site manager for NGN, told the Stray Ferret: 

“We recently attended a gas escape on North Road, Harrogate. We were able to successfully repair the affected standpipe. 

“The cause of the gas escape was due to disruptions during the resurfacing of the road. Although this does not happen frequently it is something that can occur on occasions. 

“I am pleased to say that we were able to swiftly resolve the issue and reinstatement was carried out and completed at the end of last week.” 

“Our priority was to repair the escape as an urgent priority and ensure the road could be re-opened when safe to do so.” 

Read more:

• A61 reopens after gas leak at Ripley
• Road closure continues after gas pipe problem found in Knaresborough
• North Yorkshire Council urged to fine utility firms over roadworks

North Yorkshire Council has said a 21% price increase for trips to its outdoor learning centres proved “prohibitive” to some schools.

The council runs outdoor learning sites at Bewerley Park near Pateley Bridge and East Barnaby at Whitby.

It hiked fees and charges by 21% this year to reflect increases in inflation and costs.

However, Teresa Thorp, head of outdoor learning service at the council, said in report:

“There have been a few schools who have found the increase in fees and charges for 2023-24 prohibitive, demonstrating that last year’s fees and charges increase has adversely affected the take up of services in some cases.”

Ms Thorp added the council had to compete with other outdoor learning centres, such as Low Mill, Robin Wood and Carlton Lodge.

Robin Wood is currently charging £250 for a three day and two night stay compared to £275 at a North Yorkshire Council run site.

Competitor prices for outdoor learning centres. Picture: NYC.

In her report, Ms Thorp said that the market would “not sustain a further price increase”.

As a result, the council has proposed keeping charges the same for the academic year from September 2024 to March 2025.

However, the authority has proposed to increase course fees offered by the outdoor learning service by 6.8% in line with inflation.

It also plans to implement charges for corporate and conference facilities to generate income.

Ms Thorp added:

“It is believed that continuing with our fees and charges for school residential will enable the service to retain its current customer base, recruit new customers and compete with its surrounding competitors, all of which will result in increased bookings and customer retention.”

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The headteacher of Harrogate Grammar School has said a section of Otley Road should be reduced to 20mph to improve safety for schoolchildren.

North Yorkshire Council announced last week speed limits will be introduced outside seven schools in Harrogate under plans for a “landmark” 20mph zone across Pannal Ash and Oatlands.

The move followed repeated calls from headteachers and parents to introduce lower speed limits around schools following high-profile collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians. This included an incident this year that left two schoolchildren in hospital.

The seven schools Harrogate Grammar School (HGS), Rossett Acre Primary School, Rossett School, Ashville College, St Aidan’s Church of England High School, Oatlands Junior School and Oatlands Infants School.

The 20mph zone by HGS will be introduced on Arthurs Avenue and its surrounding side roads.

But the headteacher of Harrogate’s largest secondary school Neil Renton said the zone should be extended to include the busy B6162 Otley Road, which is a key route in-and-out of town and currently has a limit of 30mph.

A statement was read out on behalf of Mr Renton at a meeting of councillors on the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee on Thursday.

He said:

“I absolutely support the landmark scheme put forward and hope this pioneering initiative will also include Otley Road. A large number of students leaving the site at start and end of school would make it entirely sensible to reduce the speed limit on Otley Road.

“Our staff see the need for this daily when supervising children. As a school we fully support reducing the speed limit for the safety of children in our community and hope you will also include Otley Road.”

Read more:

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Officers published a report ahead of the meeting that said due to national and council policy as well as “the volume of traffic” on Otley Road it would not be possible to introduce a 20mph speed limit.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Bilton Grange and New Park, Monika Slater, asked the council’s chief highways officer Melisa Burnham if she was aware of how other cities had “circumvented” national guidelines to introduce 20mph limits on A or B roads.

Ms Burnham said: 

“We do look at examples in best cases across the country, so yeah, the team certainly have the knowledge but whether it’s something we can look at for the specifics here I’m not sure. 

“We do have that policy in place for a reason and we do have to adhere to it. It’s about that consistency across not just Harrogate but across the county as well.”

North Yorkshire Council has said it does not know when a planned relocation of Harlow Nurseries will take place.

The site on Nursery Lane is where the council grows flowers for its displays across the district. It also sells plants to members of the public to bring in revenue.

However, the land it’s on is allocated for housing in the council’s Local Plan and a 62-home scheme is planned.

Harrogate Borough Council, in one of its last acts before being abolished to make way for the new unitary authority, proposed buying land to the north-east of Harrogate to relocate the nursery.

But since North Yorkshire Council took over in April, there has been no public comments on the move.

North Yorkshire Council has now confirmed the sale did go through.

But it added that a review of horticulture across North Yorkshire is underway and the move can not progress until that review is completed.

Read more:

• Harlow Hill and Pannal Ash residents bracing themselves for ’15 years of disruption’
• Plans for housing at Harlow Nurseries emerge
• 62 homes set to be built at council’s Harlow Nursery

A Harrogate Borough Council report did not disclose its specific location, citing a confidentiality exemption, but did say the land is in the former Killinghall and Hampsthwaite ward and is valued above £250,000.

North Yorkshire Council’s assistant director for highways and transportation, Barrie Mason, said this week: 

“While the purchase of land in the former Killinghall and Hampsthwaite ward was completed earlier this year by the former Harrogate Borough Council, there is currently no date for the nurseries to move.

“This is due to a review of horticultural provision across North Yorkshire following local government reorganisation.

“The nurseries remain located at Harlow Hill which, in accordance with the Local Plan, is allocated for housing.”

The occupation of the pavilion in Harrogate‘s Crescent Gardens by a group of rough sleepers shows no sign of ending.

The rough sleepers, who have refused offers of accommodation, have been living in the pavilion for 12 days.

The Stray Ferret first reported concerns about anti-social behaviour last week.

Nearby residents continue to express frustration while police and council officers say resolving the situation is complex.

North Yorkshire Council told the Stray Ferret last week the people in the pavilion had been “offered accommodation daily”.

In an update yesterday, Andrew Rowe, the council’s assistant director for housing, said:

“We continue to work with our partners to tackle this complicated issue.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police, which had not previously commented, said:

“Local officers and PCSOs have attended the location regularly and will continue to engage with the individuals going forward.

“Homelessness is a complex issue that requires the input of a number of local partners to resolve.

“We are committed to working jointly with partners, local businesses, and residents to find a solution for everyone involved.”

Nearby residents remain frustrated by the apparent stalemate.

Kirk Wilber-Moran, who wrote a letter to us expressing his concern last weekend, said this morning:

“Whilst the amount of people there has reduced the armoury of belongings and/or rubbish has doubled, if not tripled, since the weekend.

“We still have people using the bandstand as a hangout base to congregate and drink and are there into the late evening. Still lots of noise and yesterday a woman aggressively shouting at people walking through the gardens.

“Nothing seems to be happening and no one seems to care as it’s not on their doorstep.”

Read more:

• Concerns over encampment of rough sleepers in Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens
• Crescent Gardens rough sleepers offered accommodation ‘daily’, council says