Harrogate Station Gateway plans now not set to be released until summer

North Yorkshire Council has said it now does not expect to release plans for the £12.1 million Harrogate Station Gateway until summer.

Work is due to start on the town centre transport scheme in September — even though the full details have not been made public.

The council said previously the plans would be made available in spring.

This prompted Rachael Inchboard, a member of Granville Road Residents’ Association, to submit a freedom of information request to the local authority asking for the plans to be made available urgently so people could have their say. But the council has declined to do so.

Its response, seen by the Stray Ferret, acknowledged the council should be transparent, there was “local interest in the gateway project” and the public should be able to hold the council to account.

But it said the public interest would be met once the council published the information, adding:

“Publishing revisions to plans ahead of schedule would involve duplication of the effort necessary to prepare it for publication and create a significant separate workstream which would detract from the work currently being carried out in its preparation and completion. The information will be published as soon as it is practical to do so.

“There is a public interest in the information being ratified before publication so it can be ensured that the information is accurate. If inaccurate information is published it could cause unnecessary concern.”

The response also indicated the timeframe for releasing the plans had slipped from spring to summer. It said:

“The council intends to present the detailed design alongside the information made available for the Traffic Regulation Order that will be required. This is likely to be in the summer as the TRO requires detailed design to be complete.”

The scheme has been ‘descoped’ after the council admitted its previous plans, which included pedestrianising part of James Street and reducing a stretch of Station Parade to single lane traffic, were legally flawed.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority gave the green light for the revised scheme to proceed last month when it approved the full business case even though a report ahead of the meeting branded it “poor value for money” and said it would “mainly disbenefit highway users”.

Cllr Keane Duncan, the council’s executive member for highways and Conservative candidate to be North Yorkshire mayor, said preparatory work would begin soon after approval was granted.

Some details of the revised scheme have been revealed to the media: they include retaining two lanes of traffic and creating a southbound cycleway on Station Parade, creating a bus lane, junctional signal improvements and improvements to Station Square and the One Arch foot tunnel.

The council’s response to Ms Inchboard said the main elements “are unlikely to change” but “the detail may be subject to change”. It added the detailed design “is currently being progressed”.

Ms Inchboard was disappointed in the response. She said:

“Perhaps they are trying to delay any challenges by informing the public about the gateway plans very close to the deadline.”

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Harrogate’s ex-Tourist Information Centre goes on the market

The search to find tenants for Harrogate‘s former Tourist Information Centre has begun.

‘To Let’ signs were put up on Friday outside the building on Crescent Road, which is part of the Victorian Royal Baths complex.

The rental asking price is £40,000 a year, according to the website of Align Chartered Surveyors, which is marketing the 2,394 square foot property on behalf of North Yorkshire Council.

The website also says the property has a rateable value of £23,500 and a £24,300 service charge, which includes maintenance, waste collection and cleaning costs.

It says:

“The site is one of the most famous attractions of the affluent town, a town whereby domestic visitors alone provide over £640m of investment each year.

“The building is grade two listed comprising Yorkshire stone masonry elevations under multi-pitch and gabled roof. The windows are double glazed with timber framing.”

The Stray Ferret reported in February the council had decided to relocate the Tourist Information Centre in the nearby Royal Pump Room Museum.

Harrogate’s new tourist information service consists of leaflets.

It said in a report the move would enable it to save costs and generate income from the Royal Baths, which has been dogged by low investment returns since the council paid £9.5 million for it in 2018.

The report said the number of visitors to the Tourist Information Centre fell from 135,000 pre-covid in 2019 to 68,000 last year, mainly due to people seeking information online.

It added it was “important to maintain access to the service to support tourism within the area and to provide services for those who are unable or prefer not to use digital services”.

The report said relocation would “improve the tourist information service” and have “minimal” impact on customers.

However, the service has been downgraded to just a desk with leaflets of mainly council services within the Royal Pump Room Museum, which has prompted concern among local businesses.

It means three of the five commercial unites within the Royal Baths are vacant.

Two are occupied by the JD Wetherspoon pub and the Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant but the former Viper Rooms nightclub and Potting Shed bar remain empty, even though the council said in February it had accepted an offer on the Viper Rooms.

 

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Friends of Pat Marsh recall ‘hard-working and warm’ Harrogate councillor

Friends of former Harrogate councillor Pat Marsh have paid tribute to a “hard-working, warm and conscientious” councillor and said her decades of public service should not be forgotten.

Ms Marsh resigned under a cloud in February following alleged antisemitic comments made on social media platform X related to the war in Gaza.

She was under suspension from the Liberal Democrats when she quit.
In a by-election on Thursday, April 11.

Lib Dem Andrew Timothy won her former North Yorkshire Council seat in the Stray, Hookstone and Woodlands division.

It marked the final chapter of Ms Marsh’s political career, which dates back to 1990 when she was first elected to Harrogate Borough Council as an independent for the Starbeck ward.

She became politicised during a battle to build a new Tesco supermarket near Stonefall cemetery in the late 1980s. It was one she was particularly proud of winning.

Long-time friend Cllr Philip Broadbank (Liberal Democrat, Fairfax and Starbeck) was three years below Ms Marsh at Woodlands Primary School and said she was always on the side of her residents.

Cllr Broadbank with Pat Marsh

He remembers evenings spent around the dinner table at the Marsh household plotting the campaign against the supermarket alongside her husband Reg Marsh, the Lib Dem councillor for Wedderburn who died in 2014.

Before they were both councillors, Reg was in the army and the family lived in Malaysia before returning to Harrogate.

Cllr Broadbank said:

“She was a fighter and was absolutely determined. She had strong opinions, was a very hard worker and was always prepared to advise.

“She wasn’t always successful but she never did anything for personal gain. There was nothing like that with Pat, she was straightforward and honest but was always pleasant to people.”

In the early 1990s, Ms Marsh allied with Cllr Arnold Warneken (Green, Ouseburn) in a coalition along with another Cllr David Rimmington.

Cllr Warneken said he looked up to her as a role model. He said:

“Pat Marsh showed us what a good councillor was. I got the benefit of that from following her for 30 years.

“She’s been a hard-working, warm and contentious councillor. People always spoke highly of her and she did a lot for the Harrogate district.”

Since 1990, Ms Marsh sat on the council’s planning committee and played a key role in how the Harrogate district has changed over the years.

She was sometimes on the end of criticism about the scale of housebuilding but as a non-car driver, she often tried to ensure that developments were served with proper bus routes.

The coalition helped the Lib Dems take control of the council in 1994 and ultimately led to council leader Phil Willis becoming the party’s first Harrogate and Knaresborough MP in 1997.

Ms Marsh joined her husband in the Lib Dems in 1996 and took charge of the leisure committee. She was instrumental in the move from Coppice Pool to the Hydro, which opened in 1999.

She was also involved in the battle to save the Sun Pavilion in Valley Gardens, worked to refurbish the Turkish baths, helped get Starbeck In Bloom off the ground and fought to improve safety outside schools in her ward.

Cllr Broadbank said Reg’s unexpected death in 2014 was a huge blow to the community as the couple were a popular double act on the doorstep.

He said:

“The pair of them were very hard-working. That’s partly why they kept getting re-elected. They were prepared to get stuck in.”

Ms Marsh became the leader of Harrogate Borough Council’s Lib Dem group in 2015 and regularly butted heads with Conservative council leader Richard Cooper.

With the demise of Harrogate Borough Council in 2022, Ms Marsh became an honorary alderwoman for the borough, a title bestowed on councillors with more than 20 years of service.

But she was almost blocked from receiving it due to disparaging comments she made about Andrew Jones MP and Mr Cooper while being secretly recorded. She eventually apologised.

Following Ms Marsh’s resignation, Cllr Warneken said she has been “hung out to dry” by her former colleagues in the Liberal Democrats.

She received no mention from her successor Andrew Timothy in his speech after winning the by-election.

However, both Ms Marsh’s friends hope she’s remembered more for her long tenure in Harrogate public life than how her political career ended.

Cllr Broadbank said:

“This isn’t how her life in local government was supposed to have finished.”

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Readers’ Letters: Bins weren’t overflowing when Harrogate Borough Council existed

Readers’ Letters 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. 

This letter follows an article about overflowing bins in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens. Many readers were upset about the state of the bins over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

The problem of overflowing waste bins in Harrogate is a recent problem.

We often commented on overflowing bins when visiting other towns, as it was so rare here. How lucky we were to have Harrogate Borough Council in charge, which took pride in this town.

But it all changed a year ago after our local council disappeared and we had North Yorkshire Council inflicted on us – a change that none of us voted for.

Anne Boodt, Harrogate

More grammatical errors on road signs in Harrogate

This letter is in response to a story about North Yorkshire Council eliminating apostrophes from road signs. The new format will be adopted when signs are replaced.

Regarding the missing apostrophe on St Mary’s Walk, there also should not be a full stop after St (as per one of the signs).

So, vigilantes looking to insert an apostrophe with their marker pens should also paint out the full stop.

Michael Clarke, Harrogate

Are we really planting trees as a tick box exercise?

This letter follows a story about 29,000 trees being planted in Masham to create new woodlands.

I am the last person on earth to criticise a tree planting initiative, as exemplified at Swinton Estate in Masham.

But what drives me to utter distraction is the wholly unnatural and mechanical way in which trees are planted in perfectly straight lines.

Are we seriously doing this as a box ticking exercise or trying to create new natural habitats?

Think about when these trees have matured. It will look ludicrously unnatural and probably end up serving as a sustainable source of wood or paper – NOT a habitat for wildlife or a place for people to enjoy the benefits of nature.

Trees do not grow in straight lines.

You might as well be part of a planting scheme along a motorway verge if that’s the approach you condone. Totally ignorant of natural habitats, but nonetheless giving oneself a pat on the back.

I am so frustrated by these examples of mass tree planting…

Mark Fuller, 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.

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Dene Park council houses remain empty

Five new Harrogate council houses hailed as the most energy efficient in North Yorkshire are still empty, it has emerged.

The homes were created last year on a former car park in Dene Park, in the Woodfield area of Bilton.

The three houses and two flats cost £1 million to build and came as part of a council scheme to turn redundant land into social housing.

Cllr Simon Myers,  North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for housing, said in a press release announcing the new homes in November that they were were “the most energy efficient we have developed”.

Five months on, a Stray Ferret reader said the homes still didn’t appear to have tenants. We contacted the council for an update,

Andrew Rowe, its assistant director for housing, said:

“We are putting finishing touches to the properties and working to satisfy planning conditions with a view to tenants moving in as soon as feasible.”

The houses all have air source heat pumps, solar panels, triple glazing and insulation. The largest house will produce 0.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, compared to an average home creating six tonnes.

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Lib Dems win Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone by-election

The Liberal Democrats have won the Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone by-election on North Yorkshire Council.

Lib Dem candidate Andrew Timothy finished first with 1,094 votes, ahead of Conservative John Ennis with 768.

It means the Liberal Democrats have retained control of the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee. They have seven councillors, while the Conservatives have four and there are two Independents.

The Conservatives remain in control of North Yorkshire Council, with 44 of the 90 councillors. Three Independents who formed a Conservatives and Independents group helped maintain the Tories’ grip on power.

Yesterday’s by-election was called following the resignation of Lib Dem councillor Pat Marsh.

The result, which was declared at Woodlands Methodist Church on Wetherby Road just before midnight, was:

The turnout was 41%.

Mr Timothy left as soon as the count had concluded, declining to be interviewed.

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Details of proposed Harrogate children’s home revealed

Further details about plans to convert a Harrogate house into a children’s home have been revealed.

It comes after Jolyon McKay tabled a change of use application to North Yorkshire Council last month.

It outlined plans to turn Oak Back, a house on Ashgarth Court near Ashville College, into C2 classified housing – which refers to residential accommodation for people in need of care.

The Stray Ferret reported on the plans at the time of submission, which generated some concern among social media followers.

However, an email from the applicant to the case officer was yesterday posted to the planning portal, which paints a clearer picture of what the children’s home would involve if approved.

The applicant said he wanted the home to be a “nurturing environment” for children aged 11 to 18.

The letter added the staff already involved have a “wealth of expertise to ensure the highest standard of care”, adding:

“We have a healthcare recruitment professional with over three decades of experience across various specialties… with a proven track record of successfully managing care agencies covering a wide spectrum of needs…she is committed to delivering exceptional support.”

The document said a retired social worker with “over 40 years of dedicated service in children and young people’s social work” would also be employed, as well as a registered nurse with “extensive experience in caring for young people with complex needs, as well as mental health concerns”.

Mr McKay also said the home aimed to “collaborate closely with local authorities and neighbouring councils” and focus on recruiting local care staff.

The children’s home would be Ofsted registered, the document said, adding it would work to comply with “stringent regulations”. It added:

“We will meticulously craft policies covering various scenarios, including measures for missing children, such as implementing a comprehensive missing persons grab pack.”

The applicant says the overarching goal was to create a “family-style placement home that fosters a sense of belonging and security for the children” by “steering away” from a clinical environment.

Mr McKay said the home’s commitment to safety and supervision was “unwavering”. There would always be a minimum of one staff member present to ensure the wellbeing of the children and maintain a “peaceful environment that respects the neighbourhood”, he added.

In a separate covering letter submitted with the proposal, the applicant said the home would “remain looking and feeling as if it were an average home”.

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

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Coffee shop on A59 calls for Kex Gill business support

A coffee shop owner has called on North Yorkshire Council to provide financial support for businesses affected by the ongoing A59 road closure at Kex Gill.

Mark Trickett, who owns the Outside Inn at Menwith Hill, said turnover had fallen to a third of its usual level due to the reduction in traffic.

The road is not due to reopen until at least the end of June, prompting Mr Trickett to call on the council to provide financial support to companies whose futures are at risk.

He and wife Teresa bought the site, which was previously the Millstones, in 2022. He said last year — its first full year of trading — went well.

But the sudden closure of the main route between Harrogate and Skipton on February 2, and subsequent appearance of ‘Road Closed’ signs, have massively reduced traffic and hammered trade at the time of year when it is usually taking off.

He said the Outside Inn was more vulnerable to the closure than some other nearby businesses because it relied heavily on daytime passing trade but he felt everyone affected deserved support. He said:

“We were going really well and this is absolutely murdering us.”

The business, which is situated along the A59, includes a 30-seat coffee shop and an 80-seat Sunday carvery restaurant that also caters for weddings. Mr Trickett also operates motorhome business Whittams from the site.

The couple employ 23 part-time staff and have had to let two go because of declining trade.

Mr Trickett outside the coffee shop.

Mr Trickett said:

“I understand the council is trying to resolve the situation. But if they know there is an issue and there is a likelihood businesses will close and people will be jobless, they should be looking at some sort of solution.

“If we only had the cafe and no reserves we would close tomorrow. Every day this lasts is costing us money.”

Mr Trickett, who has written to council chief executive Richard Flinton and Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith about the matter, said if support were not forthcoming he would contact other local businesses with a view to commencing joint legal action.

But the council appears to have ruled out providing any funds.

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

“We appreciate that the closure of the A59 is having a significant impact on businesses, commuters and residents, and we sincerely apologise for this disruption. There is no legal requirement under the Highways Act to pay compensation as a result of disruption caused by highways works, but we are doing all we can to complete the repair as quickly and safely as possible.

“Our contractors have started preparatory work and will be working extended daylight hours and weekends to allow the road to be reopened before the end of June.

“In the meantime, we are speaking to individual local businesses to see if they would like general business advice. We will keep the public updated as work progresses.”

When the Stray Ferret visited the Outside Inn today (April 11) and showed Mr Trickett the council’s response, he said:

“What advice can they give? People are suffering, we are losing trade and have had to lay off staff. Their business advice means nothing.”

Mr Trickett echoed the claims of those who think the council-funded work on the £68.8 million road realignment at Kex Gill caused the landslip that led to the road closure at nearby Blubberhouses.

The council has denied this.

Mr Battersby previously said:

“We have no evidence to say the works that they’ve done have caused this.”

He added “very wet weather” in the landslip-prone area had “accelerated what has already been happening and caused us that problem”.

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Council eliminates apostrophes from Harrogate district road signs

North Yorkshire Council is to abolish apostrophes on road signs.

The news comes after a Harrogate resident, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted the Stray Ferret to complain about a grammatical error on the new St Mary’s Walk sign in the town.

He said the sign was “spelled incorrectly with no apostrophe”, adding it had been placed opposite another St Mary’s Walk sign, which is grammatically correct.

The Stray Ferret put the resident’s concerns to the council. A spokesperson said in response:

“Regarding grammar, the council, along with many others across the country, has opted to eliminate the apostrophe from street signs.”

The new format will be “adopted when road signs are replaced”, they added.

The resident responded to the council’s move:

“I do not feel I have been consulted about the council deciding to use poor English language and the council has not responded to me when I raised the issue.”

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St Mary’s Walk is not the only Harrogate road to fall victim to grammatical errors. St Winifred’s Road, on the south side of the town, also has contradictory spellings on signs.

The signs reflect the change of format, meaning the older one includes an apostrophe and another does not.

The contradicting signs. Pic: Google Maps.

A similar initiative back in 2014 which proved less than popular.

The Guardian reported in 2014 that Cambridge City Council’s decision to abolish apostrophes led to a backlash from “self-declared defenders of grammar” who used marker pens to fill in missing apostrophes on road signs.

Bus operator defends itself after parents’ frustrations over new Boroughbridge service

A bus operator has responded to concerns raised by Boroughbridge parents about a new service serving schoolchildren.

East Yorkshire Motor Services Ltd, which trades as East Yorkshire Buses, this week took over the 22 service, which French-owned Transdev ran between Ripon and Boroughbridge.

The move, funded by North Yorkshire Council, means Boroughbridge High School pupils now have to use the 82 or 83.

However, parents claimed they were “not informed” about the change of operator and pupils’ pre-paid Transdev tickets were no longer valid.

The Stray Ferret put these concerns to East Yorkshire Buses. A spokesperson yesterday said:

“East Yorkshire Motor Services commenced operation of several public service routes on April 8, 2024, following a contract award from North Yorkshire Council. On our first day of operation of one of these services which calls into Boroughbridge High School, we became aware that some customers possessed period tickets issued by the previous operator which were yet to expire.

“To prioritise customer satisfaction and ensure a smooth transition, we took immediate action to accommodate these existing tickets for a grace period of one week. This decision was made to afford customers ample time to transition onto our service offerings seamlessly.”

Duncan Gray, whose granddaughter is a pupil at the school, told the Stray Ferret some children were “were initially refused to travel” with Transdev tickets, but after “protests from parents” they were permitted.

The spokesperson said in response:

“We have not been made aware of any reported instances where customers were denied travel due to possessing tickets from the previous operator. In fact, during the inaugural journey to Boroughbridge High School from Ripon, all such tickets were accepted without issue, as confirmed by our managing director who was present onboard.

“To further reinforce this commitment, a senior staff member was onboard the service this morning, and all legacy tickets were once again accepted without hesitation. We have also reiterated this message to our drivers and controllers to ensure that there are no issues.”

Another parent Tasha Newcombe, who also expressed concerns to the Stray Ferret following the change of operator, today said ticketing was “not the issue” now — instead the problem is “how late the bus is running”.

She added:

“On Tuesday they arrived at school at 9.30am as it was so late, and yesterday after school the children were waiting for 40 minutes to be picked up. It’s just ridiculous, some of these children, I believe year 7, have had exams this week which they have been late to.

“The timings really need sorting as this is going to impact on their education, and being late after school means missing clubs etc.”

Mr Gray reiterated Ms Newcombe’s concerns, adding his wife is driving their grandchildren to school this week as the bus has been “15 to 20 minutes late in the mornings”. He also said:

“The situation has to change otherwise the kids will be late every morning!”

East Yorkshire Buses said its priority was the “provision of reliable, efficient and customer-centric transport solutions”.

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