Police ‘would not support’ blanket 20mph limit in parts of North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Police has said it would not support a blanket 20mph limit policy in towns and villages in the Harrogate district and across the county, despite calls from campaigners.

North Yorkshire County Council is facing calls for another review of its road safety policy just days before councillors consider a series of nine recommendations to update its 20mph speed limit policy.

It comes as schools in the Harrogate district have called for 20mph to improve road safety for children.

Last September, Killinghall Primary School headteacher, Sarah Bassitt, urged the authority to take action before a child is killed or seriously injured on the 30mph stretch of main road outside its building.

Campaigners have claimed the county council, which undertook a 15-month inquiry into its 20mph zone policy, has ignored crucial evidence as well as the benefits of introducing the limit across all towns and villages.

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The authority’s transport scrutiny committee will examine proposals to make its policy more explicit in considering 20mph speed limits around schools, as well as extending the distance traditionally considered around schools in order to encourage greater use of active modes of transport.

Other key changes it will consider include the production of a list of high-risk collision areas using three years’ worth of data to examine whether an area would benefit from a 20mph speed limit.

However, a meeting of the council’s Thirsk and Malton constituency committee heard campaigners remained unhappy with the recommendations.

Campaigner Ian Conlon claimed the support of Philip Allott, the county’s police, fire and crime commissioner, “for default 20mph zones in all towns and villages”. 

He added children, elderly and vulnerable people were being “disproportionately excluded from public space” by allowing cars to travel at 30mph in towns and villages.

Mr Conlon said the council was not addressing the positive impacts of 20mph zones, such as people feeling safer and children playing outside.

He said: 

“It does not assess the evidence from other area that have developed 20mph speed limits. It is only looking backwards, at what North Yorkshire has done, rather than what it could do.”

Councillors heard North Yorkshire Police would not support a blanket 20mph limit and that they needed to be self-enforcing, either through driver behaviour or physical measures.

In addition, ahead of being elected in Mr Allott pledged he would only “support and implement 20mph in urban locations, where local authorities are prepared to support it”.

Mr Allott told the Stray Ferret that he would support local authorities judging 20mph zones on a “case by case basis”.

He said:

“It’s sensible that local authorities do not have their hands tied. Providing that a local authority supports it [a 20mph zone], I will support it.”

The council’s deputy leader and former highways boss Cllr Gareth Dadd told the meeting it “would be foolish to usurp the findings” of the inquiry,

Meanwhile, a member of the investigating team, Cllr Roberta Swiers, said although she had initially believed a blanket 20mph limit would be a good idea, the evidence had proved it was not “the safe answer”.

Police and council bid to close two Starbeck houses over crime

Police and council officers are attempting to close two more properties let by landlord John Willis.

North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council have jointly applied to Leeds Magistrates Court for closure orders on 19 and 31 Avenue Grove, Starbeck.

The two organisations can apply to courts for closure orders if they have concerns about antisocial behaviour and criminal behaviour on premises.

The same authorities successfully applied for a three-month closure order on 38 Mayfield Grove, Harrogate, in March. This order expired last month.

All three properties are let by Mr Willis.

A joint statement today by the two authorities said:

“Following concerns about crime, drug use and anti-social behaviour at two multi-occupancy addresses – 19 and 31 Avenue Grove – Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire Police have applied for closure orders.

“Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, a closure order prohibits access to a property for a specified period. Breach of an order is a criminal offence punishable with imprisonment and/or a fine.”

The application was due to be heard on Wednesday but the hearing was adjourned until July 14.

Until this date the two properties have been served with closure notices, which prohibit visitors.

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Dean Richardson, head of safer communities at Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“It is imperative that residents across the Harrogate district feel safe in their homes and community.

“If landlords fail to manage their properties properly, and there is sufficient evidence to support any reports, we will work with the police and partner agencies to explore all legislative options available and act accordingly.”

Inspector Nicola Colbourne of North Yorkshire Police said:

“This action once again demonstrates our commitment to ensuring Harrogate remains one of the safest towns to live in.

“By listening to residents and working with partners like Harrogate Borough Council, we can address concerns head-on while offering the appropriate support to any vulnerable people we encounter.”

Last month Constable Kelvin Troughton, of North Yorkshire Police, told the Stray Ferret there had been a “reduction of incidents” at 38 Mayfield Grove since the closure order was served.

 

 

Can you help locate dead Harrogate man’s next of kin?

Coroner’s officers in North Yorkshire are searching for the next of kin of a man who died recently in Harrogate.

Malcolm Miles, 70, was found dead at his home in Dene Park. It’s believed he lived in the Harrogate area for at least a few years.

North Yorkshire Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Anyone who believes they are Mr Miles’ next of kin or has information that could assist the coroner, can email coroner@northyorkshire.police.uk

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Harrogate TV shop window smashed by bricks and boulders

Just a week after reopening due to a flood, a Harrogate shop has had its windows smashed by bricks and boulders.

The electrical goods store, Crampton & Moore, on Commercial Street is boarded up following the incident in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Store manager Chris Johnson said he received a call at 2.15am on Saturday to say the glass had be smashed.

He said North Yorkshire Police called within 15 minutes about the incident.

The window pane needs replacing but thanks to metal grills behind it, nothing was stolen.

Smashed window and Crampton and Moore

The extent of the damage at the electrical shop.

Mr Johnson said:

“The whole thing was caught on CCTV. Luckily they didn’t get anything so it’s just a case of waiting for the repair this week.”

The shop had only reopened on Monday last week after the eight-week flood closure.

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The shop remains open, with the damaged section closed off to customers.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement:

“A man in his 50s was promptly arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary following this incident. He’s been bailed while the investigation continues.”

Tools, oven and lawnmower found by police in back of Starbeck van

A lawnmower, an oven and power tools have been seized by police from the back of a van in Starbeck.

Road policing officers stopped the white Mercedes Sprinter van at 8.35pm on Friday.

According to a statement from North Yorkshire Police, the items “could not be accounted for” by the occupants of the van, who were from Leeds.

Police are now asking local residents to check if they’re missing any of the items.

Starbeck van loot

Two more of the items found in the van on Friday.

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Have you noticed anything missing or see something suspicious? You can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option1 and speak to the Force Control Room quoting reference number 12210146727.

Or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Up to nine cars vandalised in minutes on same Bilton street

Up to nine cars have been vandalised in the space of a few minutes on the same street in Bilton.

Three young people in hoodies are being blamed for the incident, which occurred at about 5am yesterday on Dene Park.

The Stray Ferret visited the area last night and saw several car windows smashed.

Residents said the youngsters were seen running up the street damaging the cars during the early morning spree and that police had subsequently been in the area taking statements.

The residents added there had been a spate of attacks on homes and cars lately but this was the worst so far.

One Dene Park resident, who asked not to be named, said:

“How do I know it won’t be my front window that gets smashed next?

“This has been going on for a while and we know who the culprits are. It’s very worrying.”

The resident said nine cars had been damaged but another person in the area said they believed the number was seven.

The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire Police about the incident yesterday but has not yet had a response.

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Police urge people to avoid Cold Bath Road area due to ongoing incident

Police have urged the public to stay away from the Cold Bath Road in Harrogate this afternoon as they deal with an incident.

A heavy police, fire and ambulance presence has been reported. Officers have been diverting people away from the area.

An eye witness reported that officers have closed off Belmont Road and Belmont Close, adjacent to Cold Bath Road.

A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“Emergency services are at the scene of an incident in Belmont Road Harrogate involving a distressed man on the roof of a building.

“It was reported at 12:50pm on 25 June and officers are working to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

“The road has been closed for safety reasons, to protect members of the public and to assist the emergency services while the incident is ongoing.

“We urge members of the public to stay away from the area to assist the emergency response.”

Police issue knife warning in Harrogate district schools

Police are urging parents to have “difficult conversations” with children after a spate of knife incidents in Harrogate district schools.

North Yorkshire Police said it was aware of five incidents of knives being brought into schools since September.

They include children flashing knives in the playground to other students.

Boys and girls had both been involved.

Officers said that, while the number of cases were high, no pupils or staff had been harmed or threatened.

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Police Constable Colin Steele, from Harrogate neighbourhood policing team said:

“Not only are young people risking their life, and the lives of other students and teaching staff by carrying a knife, they are also showing a disregard for their own futures. 

“Carrying a knife on school premises is a serious offence and a conviction for such an offence can stay with you for life. 

“I encourage the parents and guardians of young people to have what can be a difficult conversation with their children around the dangers of carrying knives and the real implications this can have on their child’s future.”

The police praised teaching staff for identifying children carrying knives at school.

Who was in today’s police VIP escort in Harrogate?

The sight of two Range Rovers escorted by four police motorbikes racing around Harrogate today had tongues wagging about who was in town.

Such VIP treatment is usually reserved for the likes of politicians, Hollywood celebrities and royalty. So who could it be?

Lots of readers spotted the escort around Ripley this morning and then in Harrogate this afternoon.

The above picture, sent by a reader, was taken at about noon when the escort left the Mercer Art Gallery and headed towards the nearby Royal Pump Room Museum.

Sadly, though, it appears there were no VIPs in the district. Staff at the Mercer gallery told the Stray Ferret:

“The police escort was not for a celebrity or anything like that. It is part of a police training exercise for when they need to escort people safely.”

We contacted North Yorkshire Police to confirm the information and get more details of the exercise but did not receive a response.

120 marathons in 120 days: Harrogate man set for Herculean challenge

A retired Harrogate police officer is set to take on the Herculean feat of completing 120 marathons in 120 days.

Graham Wilson, 54, intends to walk and run 26.5 miles a day every day for four months, starting in his hometown of Harrogate on Saturday.

The 120 marathons challenge, which is the equivalent of 3,180 miles, is back on track after a 15-month delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

His wife Marion and dog Tilly will support him from the sidelines for the next four months and will also join in at times.

After starting in Harrogate, Graham will complete three marathons in North Yorkshire before heading off in a van across 48 counties in England.

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He also plans to cover the marathon distance in parts of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of the Republic of Ireland, if covid travel rules permit.

The last marathon will be in Harrogate on October 23. So far, Graham has raised more than £40,000 for 15 charities. He said:

“I’ve always been into long-distance hiking. Now that I’ve retired from the police I want to do something to raise money for charities which I’ve come across.

“This includes the British Heart Foundation, which I’ve got a personal connection to after my dad experienced a heart attack when he was just 39.

“He sadly later passed away from a cardiac arrest, and I’ve also lost grandparents to heart disease too.

“I know the devastating impact these conditions can have and how important the BHF’s research is in finding better treatments and preventions to save more lives.”

The marathon challenge will also support Macmillan Cancer Support, Tiny Life, Saint Michael’s Hospice, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Living with CAH, Harrogate Homeless Project, Disability Sports Yorkshire, and numerous art groups.

You can donate here.