Hotel golf course near Boroughbridge to extend into fields

North Yorkshire Council has approved plans to extend Aldwark Manor Estate’s hotel golf course into two agricultural fields.

Aldwark Manor is a luxury four-star hotel between York and Harrogate and sits within 120 acres of parkland that is used as the golf course.

The 18-hole course spans across the River Ure and will now be lengthened to include six hectares (15 acres) of former farming land.

The hotel has committed to planting new areas for native and wild flowers and improve tree hedge planting across the site as part of the plans.

Planning documents state the hotel was bought in 2019 by a local family who are looking to “invest significantly” in the resort to improve its sporting, leisure and business facilities.

The buildings at the hotel date back to 1865 and were used as a private home and an RAF Base before being converted into a hotel.

The site covers both the former Harrogate and Hambleton council areas and in 2022 the now-defunct Hambleton District Council approved plans to convert and extend a building on the golf course into a new clubhouse that also features a small hotel.

Documents said: 

“The proposals seek to provide a defined golfing facility that enables smoother management and operations on a day to day basis of both the golfing and wider leisure offer provided within the existing hotel building.”

Read more:

Plan for River Wharfe footbridge withdrawn

A plan to build a footbridge over the River Wharfe to connect West Yorkshire with North Yorkshire has been withdrawn.

The proposal was submitted by volunteer group Burley Bridge Association. The group said there have been hopes of building a bridge over this section of the Wharfe for 120 years.

Currently, there is a public right of way connecting the two banks of the river between Burley-in-Wharfedale and Askwith on the edge of the Harrogate district and walkers have to navigate a series of stepping stones.

The association lodged proposals for a footbridge to both North Yorkshire Council and Bradford Metropolitan Council in November 2023.

At the time, the group said the bridge would provide a safe route for walkers over the river which would then connect to its 42-mile Yorkshire Heritage Way trail that links Bradford with Ripon.

It said:

“A reliable, safe, and weather-proof crossing will be of benefit to the entire local community who regularly use the stepping-stones to access walking and running routes, and to those who travel into the area to enjoy all that the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the adjacent Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have to offer.”

However, the plans have now been withdrawn.

Read more:

In comments submitted to North Yorkshire Council, Dan McAndrew, principal ecologist at the authority, raised concern that the river is a designated UK priority habitat, which includes “in channel gravel bank features”.

While Mr McAndrew acknowledged that the bridge would offer a “sustainable and accessible” route for walkers, he added that the Environment Agency recommends that “in-channel impacts should be avoided through the provision of a single span bridge”.

He said:

“The recently submitted ‘design rationale’ does not address this matter, although I acknowledge that the application proposes some mitigation measures such as planting of riparian alders, bat boxes and provision for nesting birds and control of Himalayan balsam. 

“Whilst these are welcome measures, they do not address the fundamental issue of damage to a priority habitat, which, as the Environment Agency suggests, ought to be avoided through the design of a single span bridge.”

Harrogate bar hosts sober night out for Dry January

North Bar in Harrogate is hosting a sober night out to promote Dry January.

The event will be hosted by North Yorkshire Connected Spaces, which was launched in September last year to provide support for the recovery community in North Yorkshire.

The 80s and 90s themed night is also supported by North Yorkshire Council and the Drink Drug Hub, which provides safety information about drink and drugs.

A spokesperson for NYCS said they “join together people and groups from all walks of life, meeting the needs for a stronger community, well-being, recovery from addiction and other harmful issues”. They added:

“Our aim is to get out in the community and run events so we can offer support for individuals involved with social issues connected with addiction. This includes homelessness, domestic violence, trauma, mental health, social care and probation.”

The group is working with the NYC public health team to tackle the harms associated with alcohol use.

NYCS said:

‘’North Yorkshire, connected spaces have been working with North Yorkshire Council on supporting their dry January campaign. As part of the campaign NYCS have organised the sober night out social event for people who are completing the month off booze.

“Dry January is a great opportunity for people to reflect on their relationship with alcohol.”

The event will be a “good chance to socialise with friends, have a boogie and meet new people – just without alcohol”.

North Bar will have  DJ for the night playing 80s and 90s hits in the function room and said the event will have the capacity to hold 45 people. Dress up is optional and anyone can buy food from Pizza Social next door and bring it into the venue.

The event takes place on January 19 from 7pm

Dry January facts:

Read more: 

 

Knaresborough roadworks to resume for 10 weeks on Monday

Traffic lights will return to a main road in Knaresborough for 10 weeks from tomorrow (January 8).

The lights will enable the next phase of a £200,000 scheme to repair and maintain the wall on Briggate to take place.

A section of the wall collapsed on to the road on September 14. Nobody was hurt but the rubble remained on the carriageway for almost three months.

Traffic lights were put up and North Yorkshire Council, which had been warned about the state of the wall multiple times in the run-up to the incident, finally began repairs on November 27.

Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director for environment, said in November some cellars belonging to residents had been impacted by the collapsed wall and consequently the “works are now more complex than first anticipated”.

Work paused before Christmas when the first phase of repairs finished.

Now the next phase is set to begin. The council posted on social media yesterday:

“We will be carrying out further repairs and maintenance work to the wall on Briggate in Knaresborough from Monday, with work due to be completed by Friday, 14 March.

“This follows the collapse of a section of the wall.

“For the safety of our team and road users, two-way lights will be in place while the work is carried out.”

Read more:

 

Thomas the Baker set to open new store in Boroughbridge

Thomas the Baker plans to open a store on Boroughbridge High Street, where the Cooplands bakery used to be.

Cooplands closed its Boroughbridge store last April following “an in-depth review of the business”, having opened it nearly three years ago in February 2021. The Scarborough-based chain’s closest store is now on Beulah Street, Harrogate.

Beulah Street Cooplands in Harrogate.

Thomas the Baker has submitted a planning application to North Yorkshire Council for a replacement shopfront including new non-illuminated fascia and projecting sign.

People can comment on the application concerning the new store at 33 High Street until this Sunday, January 7. The store would add to the current number of bakeries in the market tow, which include Gilchrist’s and Havenhands.

The family-owned bakery chain headquartered in Helmsley was established in 1981. The company has 30 shops across Yorkshire and the North-East, including: Ripon, Knaresborough, Thirsk, Acomb, Easingwold, Haxby, Kirbymoorside, Malton, Pickering, Scarborough, Selby and four in York.

Read more:

Call for council to improve ‘poor’ Boroughbridge road conditions

A Boroughbridge resident has called on North Yorkshire Council to make “urgent” improvements to a local road.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, lives on Roecliffe Lane and told the Stray Ferret he has spent the last year campaigning to have the road resurfaced.

He said he and other local residents have issued “over a decade of complaints” to the council to resurface the road, as well as requested traffic-calming measures to make it safer, but are yet to see anything come to fruition.

Following a recent petition organised by the man and signed by Roecliffe Lane residents, he said the same recurring issues became “abundantly clear”:

“Several residents’ houses along the road shake whenever HGVs, buses, and often even cars, drive over the potholes next to them.

“This is our personal number-one issue and has at times caused deep regret moving to the street.

“We have had to endure over a year of it so far since moving in, our bed shaking most mornings when HGVs start driving the road in the early hours, doors juddering in frames, our baby’s rooms’ wardrobe rattling, the timber frame of the house creaking and more.

“Even people that visit notice, because the kitchen floor vibrates and the glasses in the cupboard clink. The council have been made aware of this multiple times.

“Several residents also commented about needing to repair their vehicles and bicycles from broken suspension and burst tyres. An elderly lady I spoke to had also fallen off her bike from a pothole.”

The noise from traffic can also be alarmingly loud and frequent, and speeding is a big issue along the road, he added.

The road was in ‘poor’ condition back in 2013. Pic: fixmystreet.

Now, he is proposing a “resident-first rethink”. He said:

“What worked for it when it was originally built is clearly not working for its residents now with increased housing, traffic and HGVs.

“It needs resurfacing urgently. It needs traffic-calming measures putting in place to reduce the thousands of noisy vehicles per day, and mitigations for the frequent HGVs.”

He also suggested the council implement new speeding enforcements to “protect the residents and their children from the up-to-81mph speeding vehicles.”

Roecliffe Lane in 2023.

‘Resurfacing is in our programme’

In response to the concerns raised, Melissa Burnham, highways area manager for North Yorkshire Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“Resurfacing of Roecliffe Lane is included in our programme for 2024/25. Once dates are confirmed, we will ensure the local community are aware.

“The local Highways team are also aware of the concerns raised and are liaising with North Yorkshire Police regarding enforcement.”

Read more:

 

Council approves staff accommodation plan at Follifoot equestrian centre

North Yorkshire Council has approved a plan to convert stables at Follifoot Park Riding Centre into accommodation for staff.

The stables that will be converted into a one-bedroom flat are currently home to three horses. The proposal will also see a barn extended to replace the space lost in the conversion.

The family-run equestrian centre near Harrogate has been in operation since 1986 and offers riding tuition for beginners to advanced riders.

It’s also home to the Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group and Follifoot Park Young Riders club.

The centre has 36 stables, an indoor arena, outdoor flood-lit menage, function and teaching rooms, as well as a simulator horse to practice riding.

However in a statement submitted to the council by applicants Mr and Mrs Pedley, it says the business does not offer significant salaries so an accommodation package is important for staff retention.

It will mean staff can be on site around the clock to check on horses and deter thieves.

According to the statement, there was a recent incident at the centre where three men in balaclavas attempted to steal a quad bike and there have been numerous other break-in attempts.

The statement added: 

“The application property would be offered to one of the three full time staff members who currently commute from outside the Harrogate district and cannot afford to move closer due to house prices.

“This would then provide two full time members of staff on site and alleviate some of the pressure of the applicant’s family to cover such a significant operation.”

Read more:

 

Adult learning opportunities showcased at Harrogate pop-up event today

Anyone wanting to start the new year by learning something new can find out about the courses available to them at a pop-up event in Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre today. 

The event, organised by North Yorkshire Council (NYC), runs from 9.30am to 1.30pm, and breakfast is included. 

NYC teachers are at the shopping centre to answer any questions that visitors may have about the learning opportunities available, and there’s a family learning teacher on hand to look after children while their parents discuss their options.  

Jennifer Ferguson, marketing officer for Adult Learning North Yorkshire, told the Stray Ferret: 

“At the start of the year, a lot of people will be thinking of a career change, and we can help them make an informed decision. 

“Whether you want to train as an accountant or become an accredited teaching assistant, we can point you in the right direction.” 

The council runs part-time adult education and training courses to help learners brush up on English skills or improve their numeracy through the government’s Multiply scheme, and there are also courses in IT, wellbeing, cookery and crafts.

A full course list can be found on the Adult Learning page of the NYC website.

Jennifer added: 

“If you’re thinking of learning something new this year, go for it. Come along – you’ve got nothing to lose. 

“We’ve got really friendly staff who can talk you through all the courses we offer and help you find the best one for you.”

Many of the courses are free of charge, but even for those courses that are not, 92% of NYC’s learners receive full funding.

Read more:

Will Sharow’s potholed roads ever be top of a levelling up agenda?

Will enough of the pots of money for pothole repairs announced by the government find its way to sorting out Sharow’s unresolved road issues?

The village near Ripon has 195 potholes of varying dimensions along 300 metres of Sharow Lane — its principal throughfare — and New Road.

When Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled the HS2 high speed rail project and promised to use the billions saved on solving the nation’s persistent pothole problems, Sharow resident and former parish councillor James Thornborough initially felt that his lobbying on the issue would finally reap reward.

But the long-time road and environmental campaigner now believes that his village could be overlooked as the re-directed HS2 is spent on other locations across North Yorkshire.

Spending of £630,000 to solve nearby Ripon’s long-running rocky road issues around Market Square looks a certainty, but Mr Thornborough has already spotted the potential get-out clauses that would enable North Yorkshire highways to make a last-minute swerve around Sharow’s resurfacing request.

The potholes run the length of New Road

An email sent to him last month by Barrie Mason, North Yorkshire’s assistant director for highways and transportation said:

“The Highways Capital Annual Programme for 2024/25 was recently approved. The roads in Sharow were not included in this programme, however, North Yorkshire Council has been awarded additional funding as part of the government’s Network North funding.

“We are currently in the process of developing an updated programme for 24/25 which will outline how this additional funding will be spent.

“Both New Road and Sharow Lane are being considered for this additional programme in 24/25. It is the intention that the updated programme will be finalised and formally approved in late January 2024.”

‘So many false dawns’

For Mr Thornborough, it’s the words ‘being considered’ which gives him most concern. He told the Stray Ferret:

“There have been so many false dawns on this long and bumpy journey and I currently feel pessimistic rather than optimistic, but have fingers crossed.”

He believes that the on-going situation is unsustainable and pointed out:

“All we are getting is reactive repairs to an increasingly worsening situation

“The current default of filling every new pothole does not constitute ‘corrective action’. Corrective’ action requires a sustainable solution and filled in Sharow potholes barely survive three months.”

Sharow Lane, where temporary-fix repairs have been made to the deteriorating road surface

Mr Thornborough added:

“New Road and the top of Sharow Lane bear manifest evidence of a failed defect strategy. At last count 195 repaired pot holes spanned 300 metres of highway. No other road section in the region bears evidence of such wholesale degradation. Driving over the road surface is a ‘bone shaker’.

“The North Yorkshire highways director has conceded repairs amounting to £200,000 are needed. To date that sum has never received capital award, despite the appalling condition. Intervention is required.

“In the case of Sharow, future tarmac repairs will only survive if the road is returned to a level surface. Highways engineers will need to complete a graded mechanical scrape followed by a new tarmac top. North Yorkshire Highways have no other option because they have admitted that the road surface is so decrepit that it will not support ‘dressing’ with chippings.”

Read more:

Harrogate Ice Rink organiser says it has ‘no plans’ to return this year

The company operating the Harrogate Ice Rink has revealed it won’t be returning to the town this year.

York-based Events by Cynosure is running the rink in collaboration with Destination Harrogate, North Yorkshire Council’s tourism body, in Crescent Gardens.

The venture is in the second of a three-year deal between the two organisations.

However, John Lowery, chief operating officer at Events by Cynosure, told the Stray Ferret the ice rink will not be returning for the next festive season. He said:

“We have no plans to return for 2024 due to the losses sustained this year from the weather and lack of footfall in the area.”

The news comes after the company faced criticism from customers about the condition of the ice and poor customer service.

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday on complaints from some unhappy customers, one of whom described the surface as “extremely dangerous” and said the “rusty blades” had not been maintained.

One customer described the rink as “wet and rippled”.

Mr Lowery said the company had “suffered like all outdoor ice rinks” following adverse weather conditions throughout December, which led it to close eight times in just over a month.

The rink opened on December 1 and will run until Sunday, January 7.

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council to respond to the complaints made by readers and also whether it would comment on Events by Cynosure’s announcement that its deal would end a year early. But it declined to comment.

Read more: