Knaresborough survey calls for phased introduction of electric vehicle chargers

Knaresborough people support electric vehicle chargers but feel they should have been introduced in a more phased manner, a survey has revealed.

The survey showed concern about North Yorkshire Council‘s decision to install slow charging bays in town centre car parks that already struggled to cope with traffic on weekends and market days.

Business group Knaresborough & District Chamber conducted the survey amid particular concerns about the nine electric vehicle bays and one electric vehicle car-share space in the town centre Chapel Street Car Park.

The sight of petrol and diesel cars struggling to park there while most of the electric vehicle bays are empty has enraged some traders, who say they are losing business as customers give up and go elsewhere.

The survey, which was completed by 81 people including 30 local business owners, revealed about seven out of 10 supported the call for the council to renegotiate the contract, perhaps by phasing-in or sharing the spaces between electric vehicles and other vehicles.

It is believed the council is unwilling to enter talks with the private company that provided the charging infrastructure as it could jeopardise the contract across the county.

A chamber press release said:

“Respondents to the survey believe that Chapel Street was the wrong place to install chargers, particularly as they are of the slow charge type, and that York Place Car Park, which we believe was originally preferred by the council, should have been used.

It added “local opinion is not against the need for electric vehicle charging, in fact many recognise the need, welcome it and want Knaresborough to be seen as a leading venue for sustainable transport, including visiting by train”.

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Twice as many businesses said they had had customers complain to them about the lack of parking places when EV spaces were free compared to those who had not heard such comments.

The survey also highlighted concerns about poor engagement, lack of information and lack of adequate signposting to car parks across the town .

One survey respondent said:

“These spaces cropped up overnight and whilst used by electric cars they are not always on charge.  There is limited parking in town and this initiative has seen congestion within Chapel Street as people strive to park with electric vehicle spaces either empty or misused.”

Steve Teggin and Kelly Teggin began the petition.

A 600-signature petition, instigated by local traders Kelly Teggin and Steve Teggin, calling for some parking spaces to be reallocated is due to be discussed by the council’s area constituency committee on September 14.

Chamber executive member Peter Lacey said:

“We’re pleased to have been able to highlight broader issues that the installation of the EV charging points has raised and are keen to engage constructively with other partners in the town and with North Yorkshire Council to improve the ways in which people can access our fantastic retail and recreational offer both in the town centre and at Conyngham Hall public car park where 14 spaces continue to be blocked due to grid connection issues.

“Access to the town by car will always be critical, particularly for more vulnerable groups, and we certainly want to encourage the adoption of EVs, but this needs to be part of a strategy that improves footfall and reduces congestion, something that has currently taken a step backwards in our town.”

 

 

 

 

 

Petition submitted to push council to honour Harrogate’s Lioness

A petition to honour England footballer Rachel Daly in Harrogate has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council after attracting more than 700 signatures.

There are now hopes it will be debated by the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee, and local councillors can push officers for action.

The petition forms part of a campaign by Killinghall Nomads, backed by the Stray Ferret, to ensure the Lioness was recognised after playing in the World Cup Final.

As well as being available online, paper copies were signed by attendees at the club’s World Cup watch party last weekend.

Her former football club has called for Harrogate’s Hydro leisure centre to be named after her.

Following a 16-month refurbishment, it is set to open next week under its new name, Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre.

North Yorkshire Council has said it is “urgently” looking at creating a policy for recognising successful local people.

Ripon’s new leisure centre has already been named after the city’s Olympic gold medal winner, diver Jack Laugher.

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Killinghall Nomads, which has honoured Daly by naming its cafe after her, said it is important that there is a public recognition.

That sentiment has been echoed by her former school.

While Rossett School will name its sports centre’s 3G pitches after her, both the headteacher, Tim Milburn, and her former coach, Mike Sweetman, said a civic honour was needed.

Mr Sweetman added:

“Killinghall Nomads have done their bit and we are doing our bit. I still feel the council needs to do something for her.”

Daly was a crucial member of the England squad, playing in all of the group stage matches, as well as the last 16, quarter final and semi-final matches.

She played the first half of the final against Spain, before being substituted at half time. The Lionesses went on to lose 1-0, finishing as runners up in the tournament.

Young Rachel Daly fans from Killinghall Nomads watch the World Cup Final

Politicians back campaign for council to honour Rachel Daly

Politicians from both sides in Harrogate and Knaresborough have backed Killinghall Nomads‘ campaign for Rachel Daly to receive a civic honour.

The club — supported by the Stray Ferret — set-up a petition for North Yorkshire Council to recognise the achievements of the Harrogate-born England footballer.

Daly won Euro 22 last year and was this year awarded the Golden Boot for being the Women’s Super League top scorer, as well as playing in last weekend’s World Cup final.

Nomads have suggested renaming the council-owned Hydro leisure centre, which is close to the pitches where Daly and thousands of young people have played, after the England Lioness. The council is keen to promote community fitness at its leisure centres.

This week Rossett School said its sports pitches in Harrogate will be named after the former pupil.

Headteacher Tim Milburn described the decision as a “no brainer” but both he and Mike Sweetman, the former Rossett coach who spotted Daly’s potential, said this didn’t absolve the council of responsibility to confer a civic honour on Daly.

Mr Milburn said:

“The town is clamouring for something to have in her honour. The Hydro probably fits that bill – a place that inspires people to get fit and active.”

Daly and mum Louise, who lives locally. Pic: Rachel Daly Instagram

The Stray Ferret sought the views of local politicians this week.

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said Daly was an inspiration whose CV “is much more than being part of our world cup final team”.

He said:

“We should certainly recognise her achievements here in her hometown.

“She was a pupil at Rossett School and she played for Killinghall Nomads.  The Stray Ferret have set up a petition giving the Hydro as an example of the type of place that might bear her name.

“A representative of Killinghall Nomads has asked for other suggestions on Facebook and Ms Daly will need to be consulted too.

“I think it is absolutely right that the town marks her achievements in a big way and whatever local honour is settled upon will have my wholehearted support.”

Tom Gordon, who will stand for the Liberal Democrats against Mr Jones at the next election, said he supported the petition.

“As part of the renovation currently underway the centre is due to be renamed, dropping the Hydro, becoming Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre.

“We have the opportunity to recognise Rachel’s achievements as a world cup finalist, a Euro 22 winner, and as a top flight professional footballer from this town.“

Council’s lukewarm response

Whether it happens will depend on the Conservative council’s ruling 10-person executive.

The executive, which is 80 per cent male, so far appears lukewarm on giving Daly the same recognition diver Jack Laugher received in Ripon, where the leisure centre was renamed after him.

Jack Laugher displays his Olympic gold medal at the opening of Ripon leisure centre.

Leader Carl Les acknowledged the council “need to find a fitting way” to celebrate the Lionesses achievements and pledged to come up with a  policy on recognising local people at an unspecified date.

He said:

“For clarity, our sense of urgency is linked to our commitment to consider a policy for how we recognise and celebrate the achievements of local people, not to renaming a leisure centre that will reopen in a few days’ time, as I am sure people will understand.”

The only Harrogate councillor on the executive, Michael Harrison, who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate, declined to give an opinion when asked by the Stray Ferret.

He suggested we try fellow executive member Simon Myers, whose culture, arts and housing portfolio covers such matters.

Cllr Myers, who represents Mid Craven for the Tories, told the Stray Ferret he had only just learned of the situation and “will have to speak to a number of people to get their views before coming to any of my own”.

‘We should encourage girls to stay active’

Killinghall Nomads petition, backed by the Stray Ferret, has surpassed the 500-signature threshold that makes it eligible for debate by the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee, an advisory body that can put pressure on the council leadership.

We emailed all 13 local councillors on the committee, which consists of seven Lib Dems, five Conservative and one Lib Dem, to ask if they felt the council should recognise Daly and if they supported the Hydro petition.

All five of the Lib Dems who replied backed the idea.

The Hydro is due to reopen under a new name on September 4.

Cllr Monika Slater, whose Bilton Grange and New Park division includes the Hydro, said:

“The positive influence that the Lionesses have had on women’s sport should not be underestimated.

“We should be doing much more to support and encourage girls and women to stay active and participate in sports so yes I whole heartedly support this.”

Cllr Chris Aldred, who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley, said it was a “great idea”.

Cllr Matt Walker, who represents Knaresborough West, said positive role models in sport helped to “get people active early for good health and wellbeing throughout their life”. He added:

“In principle I’m supportive and to be consistent then the new Knaresborough pool would need a suitable sports person. Perhaps Beryl Burton?”

Cllr Pet Marsh, the committee chair who represents Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone, said she supported it but would prefer to see a football ground recognise Daly.

Cllr Peter Lacey, who represents Coppice Valley and Duchy, said:

“I do believe that the renaming of the Hydro at this point would be a fitting tribute to Rachel’s contribution to sport and would therefore be in support of the proposal.”

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Two Conservatives replied.

Cllr John Mann, who represents Oatlands and Pannal, said he had signed the petition, adding:

“I think she has done a lot for women’s sport and indeed sport in general and Harrogate should, indeed is, proud of her achievements.  I would support the Hydro leisure centre being renamed after her.

Paul Haslam, the only other Conservative to reply, said it was a “peoples’ decision not a councillor one and I would not wish to influence this is anyway”.

The Bilton and Nidd Gorge councillor added:

“Rachel is no doubt an outstanding athlete. I do note that Rachel plays for Aston Villa and left Harrogate in 2012. We do have other female sporting celebrities such as Charlotte McGuinness or from the past Beryl Burton for example.”

Independent Cllr Mike Schofield, who represents Harlow and St George’s, said he supported Rossett Sports Centre celebrating Daly “as it was the school which she attended and has a rich history of producing sports people” but did not say whether he felt the council should do anything.

You can still sign the petition here.

 

New plans submitted for 138 homes on Knaresborough’s Water Lane

A new application has been submitted to build 138 homes on Water Lane in Knaresborough.

The plans, put forward by Cunnane Town Planning on behalf of landowner Geoffrey Holland, also include a playground, a pond, and tree-lined streets.

The site had previously been subject to a proposal for 170 homes, which was rejected by Harrogate Borough Council in August 2021.

An appeal over that decision was unsuccessful, with the government’s planning inspector saying the plans would have caused “significant harm” to the surrounding area.

In the new plans submitted to North Yorkshire Council, Haines Phillips Architects said:

“The submission now presents a well-balanced, landscape dominated proposal where front gardens are generous, dwellings are no longer cramped, parking or garaging no longer remote or dominant, and casual surveillance and street activity visible in all locations.

“Thus this revised proposal addresses both the inspector’s concerns at appeal and the subsequent comments of the planning officers throughout the recent pre-application dialogue.”

The documents reveal that plans for 148 homes were initially considered after the appeal failed, but a council case officer suggested the scheme be “wholly redesigned”.

After this was done, the planning officer said the proposal was “moving in the right direction”, and further discussions resulted in the new plans being submitted this month.

Site layout for the 170 homes on Water Lane, Knaresborough, as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council.The previous plan for 170 homes, which was rejected on appeal

The site, a former nursery, lies adjacent to housing on Halfpenny Lane, and to the Hay-a-Park site of special scientific interest.

Road access would be created via Mint Garth, with footpaths onto the site from Guinea Croft and Water Lane.

To view or comment on the application, visit North Yorkshire Council’s planning website and use reference ZC23/02886/FULMAJ.

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‘Extensive action’ pledged to tackle teen bike track in Harrogate woods

North Yorkshire Council has pledged to take “extensive action” against young people using woods in Harrogate as a bike track.

The council flattened the track in Oak Beck Park in May following complaints about vandalism.

But another makeshift route has appeared in the woods, which are near Oak Beck Retail Park, during the school holidays.

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said the area had been “transformed again” and some areas had become no-go zones to her.

She said there were “massive ramps and holes” and volunteers regularly tidied litter.

“The area where the pine trees grow has been used by generations of children riding their bikes. Never in the 20 or so years I have walked here, have I seen this level of wanton vandalism, or disregard for other users, flora and fauna.

“A shrug of shoulders and the comment ‘it’s school holidays’ does not wash with me or many others trying to enjoy this green space.”

She said no cycling signs on gates at the entrance of Oak Beck Park this summer “stayed there for less than 48 hours”.

The track approaching one of the jumps.

Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director for environment, said:

“We are taking extensive action in response to complaints from regular users about littering and anti-social behaviour, including liaising with police about further patrols.

“Actions have included working with youth agencies and visiting the local youth club to talk to bike users about why ramps cannot be erected over paths and how the site is for everyone, not only cyclists. We have also spoken to bike riders on site. We have erected signs and posters, but these have been removed.

“Owners of land adjoining the site have repaired the perimeter fence to prevent unofficial access routes.”

Mr Battersby said the council was assessing damage to trees and footpaths. He added:

“We continue to visit the site regularly to ensure pathways are maintained safely, and volunteers hold regular litter-picks at the site.”

One of the holes.

Councillor Monika Slater, a Liberal Democrat whose Bilton Grange and New Park division includes the woods, said she understood there was potential funding to create an allocated site for bikers in the woods.

Cllr Slater said this would be a good outcome, adding:

“I walk my dogs there and have never seen anything although that’s not to say it doesn’t happen.

“Ultimately young people need activities to do and places to go and there’s not an awful lot of choice.”

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Rossett sports pitches to be renamed in honour of Rachel Daly

Sports pitches in Harrogate will be named after former pupil and England star Rachel Daly, Rossett School has confirmed.

Headteacher Tim Milburn said the decision was a “no brainer” after Daly was part of the Lionesses team which reached the World Cup Final last weekend.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I’ve only been here a relatively short time, apart from when I was a pupil, but the association with her has been quite close.

“As everything has ramped up, with winning the Euros and now getting to the World Cup final, to talk about your former pupil like that is incredible.

“The messaging we can give to young people about whatever you dream, you can go on to do, has been phenomenal.”

Mr Milburn said the Football Association had promised to invest in pitches in honour of each Lioness after the team won the European Championships last summer.

However, that had “failed to materialise”, he said, so the school will rename its 3G pitches at Rossett Sports Centre in her honour.

While the school is investigating the potential for funding to be given by the FA or the Department for Culture, Media and Sport towards the renaming, Mr Milburn said the school would proceed regardless.

“it’s a quite straightforward, simple thing for us to do, given that she spent many hours in that area of school, honing her skills.

“It’s a really great visual reminder for our students that you can dream big and go on to achieve it.”

Mr Milburn said he had hoped to get Rachel back to join Rossett School’s 50th anniversary celebrations at the end of September, but she will be playing for her club, Aston Villa, at that time.

However, the school is planning to organise another date when an official opening of the newly-named pitches can be done with Rachel as guest of honour.

Early promise

Among those on the guest list at both events will be Mike Sweetman, the former football coach at Rossett School who first spotted Rachel as a promising young player.

Now retired, has spent the last week being interviewed by news organisations around the country, all keen to hear more about England’s number nine.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I was head of recruitment at the school in year 7, so I used to go round the primaries to get them to come to Rossett.

“Really, it was just an excuse to secure the best footballers.

“Someone said, ‘there’s this kid, Rachel Daly, she plays for Killinghall Nomads’. I went down there and I stood on the sidelines and I saw this blonde-haired kid up front who was great, but I couldn’t see any girls, so I thought, ‘I’ve missed the game’.

“Someone came up to me afterwards and said, ‘you haven’t missed her, you watched the match’. I said, ‘don’t tell me it was the blonde-haired kid up front!’.”

After starting at Rossett aged 11, Rachel was soon selected for the under 16s – the only girls’ team at the school at the time.

But over the following years, Rossett gained an impressive reputation for its girls’ football, so much so that promising young players chose to go there so they could be part of it.

Mike Sweetman with England international Rachel Daly, who he coached at Rossett School.Mike Sweetman with Rachel Daly

Mr Sweetman was so sure he had a future star on his hands, he rang the FA to bring her to their scouts’ attention while she was still at school.

A representative came to a game where Rossett won 5-0, with Rachel scoring two of the goals. A few weeks later, she was invited to an England training camp.

Yet even he lists her achievements with a sense of wonder.

Rachel has been shortlisted as PFA players’ player of the year, as well as winning the golden boot in the WSL last season, before playing in the World Cup Final.

Mr Sweetman added:

“I felt proud when she was playing in my school team, never mind playing for Villa or England.”

Backing the campaign

While they’re keen to honour Rachel at school by naming the pitches after her, both Mr Milburn and Mr Sweetman believe more should be done for the wider town to recognise her achievements.

The Stray Ferret and Killinghall Nomads have been pressing North Yorkshire Council to do so, such as by naming the newly-opening Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre after the town’s Lioness.

A petition in support of the campaign has attracted more than 600 signatures.

Mr Milburn added:

“The town is clamouring for something to have in her honour. The Hydro probably fits that bill – a place that inspires people to get fit and active.”

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BT reveals plans to remove two rural phone boxes

BT Group has revealed plans to remove two payphones from rural locations near Ripon.

The company has applied to North Yorkshire Council for planning permission to take away phone boxes in Grantley and Winksley.

According to planning documents submitted in support of the application, the Winksley phone box has not been used for any calls in the last 12 months, while the one in Grantley has been used five times.

People have 90 days to object to the plans.

Planning documents say communities can also apply to adopt phone boxes and transform their use. They add:

“Thousands of boxes have been reinvented as cafes, mini-libraries and defibrillator sites. Communities can adopt most red boxes for just £1.”

The deadline for making representations to BT is November 20.

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Knaresborough councillor ‘disgusted’ at council job ad with £82,000 salary

A councillor has criticised North Yorkshire Council for advertising a role with a salary of up to £82,000 at the same time as the authority attempts to plug a huge budget shortfall.

Cllr Matt Walker, who represents Knaresborough West for the Liberal Democrats, tweeted this morning about the council’s advert for a head of operations role in its waste collection team, which comes with a salary of between £73,755 and £82,065 plus a relocation package.

According to a report due before the council’s executive next week, the local authority is facing a budget shortfall of £30 million its first year and unless savings are found, £105 million will be need to be used from the council’s reserves over the next three years.

Cllr Walker tweeted:

“@northyorksc predicting a deficit of millions I’m disgusted that a job with this salary is been advertised. So much for savings.”

The new unitary council took over household bin collections from Harrogate Borough Council and waste disposal from North Yorkshire County Council when it was created in April.

The job advert said the successful applicant “will play a key role in bringing together and harmonising the council’s waste collection and street scene services across the county”.

Bin workers in the county who are part of the Unite union have been in a dispute over pay and have taken part in two four-day strikes in August with three more planned before the end of September.

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A Unite spokesperson previously said staff at a North Yorkshire depot were paid “some of the lowest rates in the country for doing a difficult and unpleasant job”.

In a follow up tweet about the job advertisement, Cllr Walker described the role as a “whole new level of bureaucracy”.

He added:

“We were sold the unitary on efficiencies and economies of scale. We don’t have enough waste collectors to collect our rubbish/recycling and a street cleaner is rarer than a unicorn.”

‘He’s chasing a headline’

Carl Les

In response, Cllr Carl Les, the Conservative leader of North Yorkshire Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

“I’m disappointed with these remarks. Cllr Walker is clearly chasing a headline without understanding the issue. We will find efficiencies and savings in the new single council’s operation, and this is a good example.

“We are rationalising six previous posts, and are now recruiting one manager for the whole county. Far from knocking the service that colleagues work hard to deliver, Cllr Walker should be pleased  that there will be a single head ensuring that these vital and well-demanded functions will be managed to the best of our ability.”

Council concedes it should have held public inquiry into Harrogate Station Gateway

North Yorkshire Council has conceded it should have held a public inquiry into the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway.

The council halted the scheme last week immediately after lawyers acting on behalf of local property firm Hornbeam Park Developments launched a judicial review.

Lawyers claimed there were six grounds for challenging the council’s decision.

Among them was the council’s failure to hold a public inquiry before issuing traffic regulation orders for measures such as partly pedestrianising James Street and reducing traffic on a 300-metre stretch of Station Parade to single lane.

A decision notice published on the council website this week confirmed it had “quashed” its May decision to proceed with the gateway. It said:

“The possibility of fully defending the legal challenge was considered and to have this mattered determined by the courts.

“However, due to the necessity of having a public inquiry before confirming the relevant traffic regulation order, it was considered prudent to accept this ground of challenge.”

It added the decision would “avoid any further exposure to costs and time delays”.

‘Dead scheme’

A report setting out what happens next is due to go to the conservative-controlled council’s ruling executive on September 19. However, Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has called the gateway a “dead scheme”.

The legal challenge by planning lawyers Walton & Co also claims the council did not disclose a climate change appraisal that said said drivers would be forced to take longer alternative routes as a result of the road changes and overall “user emissions are anticipated to increase as a result of the scheme”.

A spokesperson for Walton & Co said:

“The claimant’s case put forward multiple grounds for challenge. One such ground included the fact that the climate change appraisal had not been made available.

“The claimant maintains that this still amounts to an error in law, and has reserved the right to take issue both with the alleged defective consultation and also other grounds set out in the claim, should a further decision be taken in the absence of such alleged error(s) being rectified.”

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Harrogate care home given go-ahead to expand to 60 bedrooms

Plans for a Harrogate care home to expand the number of its bedrooms by 20 have been approved.

Apley Grange, which is based on Oatlands Drive, submitted the plans to the former Harrogate Borough Council in December 2022.

The proposal would see the number of bedrooms increased from 40 to 60.

North Yorkshire Council, which took over from the borough council, has now approved the plan.

As part of the scheme, alterations will be made to three of the buildings on the site. A garage will also be demolished as part of the extension.

The Society of the Holy Child Jesus, which runs the home, said in documents submitted to the council that the move would also create 20 full-time jobs and bring the total number of staff at the facility up to 80.

The society added that the proposals would help to “ensure the viability over the next generation” for the home.

It said:

“The stated catalysts present great opportunity to address the issues in a considered and coordinated fashion to deliver a more integrated and responsive care home to meet current expectations and to maximise the potential afforded by available space.”

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