Northern Archives - Page 3 of 9

Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm to offer free e-commerce legal advice

Harrogate businesses that sell products and services online are being offered free legal advice.

LCF Law, which is based on Station Parade, is offering the advice as part of an online event during Leeds Digital Festival.

The event will be held on September 21 and aims to offer insights into e-commerce regulations and compliance.

James Sarjanston, head of commercial and digital at LCF Law, said:

“We will explore key topics, including consumer rights, marketing to clients, data protection and upcoming legislation, shedding light on the complexities and challenges faced by e-commerce entrepreneurs.

“Through practical guidance, we will provide invaluable knowledge on implementing effective strategies that ensure compliance, safeguard a business and help to foster long-term growth.”

For more information and to register for the event, visit the Eventbrite page here.

Northern appoints new recruitment head

Northern has appointed a new head of talent acquisition.

The rail operator, which runs services through Harrogate and Knaresborough, has appointed Matthew Moxton to the role.

Matthew Moxton, new head of talent acquisition at Northern.

Mr Moxton, who is from Boston Spa and was the company’s legal and general executive, will now be responsible for recrutiment.

Lisa Leighton, people director at Northern, said:

“Matthew brings with him a wealth of experience from multiple sectors including engineering, construction, logistics and other support functions.

“He has an impressive track record in employee mentoring and coaching as well as developing a high-performance culture and we’re thrilled to add him to Northern’s first class HR team.”

Mr Moxton added:

“I am delighted to be joining the team at Northern. I see a wonderful opportunity to build on the great work that has already started and to enhance the talent attraction and on-boarding within the business.”

Business Breakfast: Transport leaders to reveal plans for Harrogate

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is an after work drinks event on Thursday, August 31 at The West Park Hotel in Harrogate between 5-7pm.

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Prominent local transport leaders will discuss their future plans with Harrogate businesses next week.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting on September 11 includes key speakers from the bus, rail and aviation sectors.

They include Henri Rohard, managing director of Harrogate Bus Company, Tony Baxter, regional director east at rail operator Northern, David Flesher, commercial director of LNER and Vincent Hodder, chief executive of Leeds Bradford Airport.

A chamber spokesman said:

“Harrogate businesses rely on dependable transport, and so this event is an invaluable opportunity for members to ask travel-related questions to experts.”

The event at the Cedar Court Hotel begins with networking at 5.30 pm and ends at 8pm. You can book a spot to attend here.

Harrogate agency recognised by World Land Trust

The environmental charity World Land Trust has recognised a Harrogate research agency as a valued and significant supporter

The agency, which was established by Jennifer Brennan and Clare Vokes in 2019, donates a percentage of its annual turnover to the trust.

Its contribution was mentioned in the charity’s latest annual report.

Ms Brennan said:

“Even if you’re too busy running your business, there are easy steps you can take, like supporting organisations like the World Land Trust to protect biodiverse habitat and help offset your organisation’s carbon footprint. If businesses act collectively, we can make a difference.”

Harrogate and Knaresborough trains face bank holiday strikes

Passengers in the Harrogate and Knaresborough area are set to face further train strikes this bank holiday weekend.

Members of the ASLEF and RMT unions will be carrying out industrial action tomorrow (August 26) in a dispute over pay.

It means no trains will run through Harrogate and Knaresborough tomorrow.

This will affect people travelling to York Races for the Ebor meeting, which includes the prestigious Ebor Handicap.

Knaresborough station

Northern has also urged passengers to check before they travel on Sunday (August 27) as train services will start later.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said:

“We know these RMT strikes will cause disruption to the general public.

“Whilst this is only a one-day strike, it falls right in the middle of the busy August bank holiday weekend and will impact people trying to get to major events taking place across region, including Manchester United and Everton football fixtures, York Races, Leeds Festival, Creamfields and Manchester Pride.

“The RMT is still refusing to put the latest pay offer negotiated on behalf of train operators to a vote by their members and it is unfortunate that these strikes continue for their second summer.”

Meanwhile, further union strike action will be taken on September 1 and September 2.

Mick Lynch, general secretary at the RMT Union, said:

“The mood among our members remains solid and determined in our national dispute over pay, job security and working conditions.”

Business Breakfast: Starbeck pub awarded beer accreditation

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is an after work drinks event on Thursday, August 31 at The West Park Hotel in Harrogate between 5-7pm.

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Starbeck pub has been awarded an accreditation for the quality of its beers.

The Office Ale House, which opened in April on High Street, has received Cask Marque accreditation.

Cask Marque, which was founded in 1998, is backed by major brewers and pub companies and audits the quality of ale.

Kevin Jones, who owns the Office Ale House, was awarded the accreditation this past week.

He said:

“This award is a great endorsement for us. A lot of our customers visit the pub especially for the cask ale and it is really gratifying to know that we are getting the formula just right.

“We did have some problems with our cooling system that unfortunately was never installed properly and during the heatwave this led to a drop in quality, but with the help of the right people and guidance from Cask Marque, we are now serving the perfect pint again. We achieved 5s across the board.”

Northern appoints new managing director

Train operator Northern has appointed a new managing director.

The company, which runs trains through Harrogate and Knaresborough, has hired Tricia Williams to the role.

Tricia Williams, managing director at Northern.

Ms Williams, who is currently Northern’s chief operating officer, will take over from Nick Donovan when he steps down from his role in spring 2024.

She said:

“After three great years as chief operating officer, it’s an absolute honour to be taking on the managing director role.

“Nick has set the standard – not only for driving this business forward but the standard for truly supportive and inclusive leadership.

“We know we still have big challenges ahead of us. Nick will leave us in a strong position, and the team and I are ready to continue the great work he has started.”

Stray Views: Electric car campaigners don’t speak for everyone in Knaresborough

Stray Views 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.

I am writing in response to a couple of articles relating to the council’s provision of electric vehicle charging points at its car parks in Knaresborough. The campaign itself is not reflective of the residents, taxpayers or visitors to Knaresborough.

The campaigners are failing to understand the effects petro carbons have not only on the environment but on people affected with chronic lung conditions like COPD and the more common asthma. There is also a direct cost to tax payers of Knaresborough as we have effectively paid for the electric vehicle charging points so to actively campaign for their removal is going to mean service provision cuts in order to fund it, and, no doubt in two years’ time to fund putting them back.

As such 0.12% of the Knaresborough taxpayer’s population are trying to make decisions for the 99% majority which is simply undemocratic and narrow minded.

If the issue is, as they allege that the car parks are full, what is wrong with reverting Gracious Street car park to short stay only? It used to have a maximum stay time so why not reintroduce this concept and make it two hours maximum stay with a no return in four hours, this could be extended to the castle car park.

Whilst the market place spaces could be subject to a very short term stay of one hour no return in four hours again. This leaves Conyngham Hall and York Place as longer stay car parks.

I have another proposal here too as there are businesses that do have car parking which may not be fully utilised so as a collective why don’t they work together and use the space we have but more effectively? What about car sharing? Using our fantastic public transport?

I am writing this letter due to the toxic nature of the anti-environment campaign given repeated air time at the Stray Ferret without seeking the views of Knaresborough taxpayers who will suffer if the spaces are removed.

We should be praising the council for taking the issue of pollution by the scruff of the neck and making Knaresborough a blueprint for other cities, towns and villages within North Yorkshire. I would welcome more clean air studies as per the Bond End work, subject to them getting government funding as I believe councils have funds but they can also apply for grants for such work.

Adrian Robson, Knaresborough

Lack of planning on trains after The Hundred match at Headingley

The match finished around 9.15pm. Burley Park station was mobbed with no staff to manage the situation. The platform was jammed and more people continued to arrive without any control – lots of families with young children.

People were very good natured but it was very lucky that there were no problems. After the test match, which ended at 6pm, there were loads of staff and transport police.

When the train arrived it was already busy and so everyone was jammed in. Surely this could have been planned for?

Stephen Hutchison, 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.

No trains in Harrogate and Knaresborough on Saturday amid further strikes

Train passengers in the Harrogate district are set to face further disruption this weekend amid strike action.

Members of the RMT Union are set to strike on Saturday, July 29, over a pay dispute.

Northern, which operates trains between York and Leeds through Harrogate, has announced that the industrial action will affect services.

It means no trains will run through Harrogate or Knaresborough stations on Saturday.

The company has also urged passengers to check before they travel on Sunday (July 30) as “some services may be affected”.

The move comes as the district was hit by two days of strike action last week, when RMT members walked out on July 20 and July 22.

At the time, Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said:

“Yet again, thousands of our customers will be inconvenienced as a result of this action by the RMT union.

“We all want to see an end to this dispute and the uncertainty that on-going strike action causes to people’s confidence in the railway.”

Defending the move, Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, said:

“This latest phase of action will show the country just how important railway staff are to the running of the rail industry.

“My team of negotiators and I are available 24/7 for talks with the train operating companies and government ministers.

“Yet quite incredibly neither party has made any attempt whatsoever to arrange any meetings or put forward a decent offer that can help us reach a negotiated solution.”

No trains on Harrogate line for two days next week amid strikes

No trains will run through Harrogate and Knaresborough next week as staff stage further walkouts.

Members of the RMT Union are set to strike on Thursday, July 20, and Saturday, July 22, over a pay dispute.

A further walkout will take place on Saturday, July 29.

Northern, which operates trains between York and Leeds through Harrogate, has announced that the industrial action will affect services.

The company has said no trains will run on strike days and early morning services on Friday (July 21) and Sunday (July 23) are also expected to be disrupted.

Northern has urged people to check train times ahead of planning a journey.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said:

“Yet again, thousands of our customers will be inconvenienced as a result of this action by the RMT union.

“We all want to see an end to this dispute and the uncertainty that on-going strike action causes to people’s confidence in the railway.”

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT, said the strike was a result of ministers failing to put forward a “package that can settle this dispute”.

He said:

“This latest phase of action will show the country just how important railway staff are to the running of the rail industry.

“My team of negotiators and I are available 24/7 for talks with the train operating companies and government ministers.

“Yet quite incredibly neither party has made any attempt whatsoever to arrange any meetings or put forward a decent offer that can help us reach a negotiated solution.”

Harrogate survives mass cull of train station ticket offices

Harrogate has been spared in today’s announcement that hundreds of train station ticket offices in England will close.

The Rail Delivery Group, the industry body which represents train companies, proposed the closures of almost 1,000 ticket offices, saying it would move staff to “more face-to-face support for customers”.

Northern plans to shut 131 ticket offices — but Harrogate, plus others including Blackburn, Blackpool, Leeds and Skipton, will remain open on amended hours.

Harrogate ticket office will be open from 6am until 6pm Monday to Saturday, as opposed to its current hours of 6.15am until 7pm, and from 9am until 5pm on Sundays.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said the “traditional ticket office is no longer required at most staffed Northern stations” as only one on six journeys were paid for through a ticket office.

She added:

“We need to modernise to meet the changing needs of our customers and we are seeking views from the public on these proposals.”

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said the decision to retain Harrogate ticket office “will be welcome news to passengers who value the ability to buy tickets face-to-face”. He added:

“Rail companies are looking at this as the numbers of people purchasing tickets in person has plummeted with the rise of online booking and user-friendly electronic terminals at stations. All the plans are subject to consultation.”

Consultation on today’s recommendations runs from today until July 28. You can have your say here.

Brian Dunsby, of the Harrogate Line Supporters Group, said:

“The closure of ticket offices is inevitable.

“It’s the way the world is going, but Harrogate has largely been spared.”

Of the stations between York and Leeds on the Harrogate line, Horsforth is earmarked by Northern to have its ticket office closed.

Knaresborough Train Station

Other stations, such as Knaresborough, do not have offices and instead have machines for passengers to buy tickets.

The decision to close ticket offices elsewhere in the country was condemned by trade unions.

Mick Lynch, general secretary at the RMT, described it as “a savage attack on railway workers, their families and the travelling public”, adding:

“Travellers will be forced to rely on apps and remote mobile teams to be available to assist them rather than having trained staff on stations.

“This is catastrophic for elderly, disabled and vulnerable passengers trying to access the rail network.”

Andrew Jones calls for apology after Lib Dem rival wrongly says Harrogate ticket office closing

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has called on his Liberal Democrat rival to apologise for wrongly claiming Harrogate train station ticket office was due to close.

Rail operator Northern said this morning it planed to shut 131 ticket offices — but Harrogate’s would be one of 18 to remain open. It is part of a nationwide cull of hundreds of ticket offices.

Some four hours after the news was announced, Tom Gordon, the Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, published a press release titled ‘Lib Dems call on rail bosses to save Harrogate ticket office’.

It said the “the closure of the ticket office at Harrogate station will lock so many people out of being able to access tickets and travel by train” and urged the government and rail leaders to “think again”.

Not closing: Harrogate train station ticket office.

An hour later Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dems issued an ‘updated press release’ in which Mr Gordon called for “reassurances on the future of Harrogate ticket office”.

His initial press release prompted Mr Jones to say:

“Harrogate ticket office is remaining open. It doesn’t need saving. It was never threatened with closure.

“Assuming they didn’t know the facts, although this may just be political scaremongering, all the Liberal Democrats had to do was read the Stray Ferret, any other local news outlet or my Community News website and they would have known the actual situation.

“The news had been up on those sites for hours before they issued their erroneous press release. An apology to the customers and staff who have been worried by this false claim would seem to be an appropriate thing to do.”

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Gordon for a response to Mr Jones’ comments and whether he would issue an apology but had not received a response by the time of publication.

Stray Views: Stranded in Leeds thanks to shambolic trains

For my 72nd birthday, my son purchased tickets for us to attend a T20 game at Headingley on June 22.

Having consulted the timetable we found we had two options for our homeward journey to Knaresborough: the 21.34 train from Burley Park to Knaresborough or the 22.44 train from Burley Park to Harrogate.

For some strange reason only known to Northern, the 22.44 service terminates at Harrogate. Why?

To resolve this issue we decided for our outward journey we would drive to Hornbeam Park Station, park up and then get the train to Burley Park Station.

During the Yorkshire Vikings innings (they batted second), luckily my son checked on his phone and found that both of the trains we could have got home had been cancelled.

Stranded in Leeds. Car at Hornbeam Station. Possible £40/£50 taxi back to Hornbeam.

A solution was an earlier train home that hadn’t been cancelled at 20.34, which would mean missing the last hour of the game. The problem was the train departed in 10 minutes.

At 72 years of age, running to catch a train is not much fun but we made it.

How many people attending this event got stranded in Leeds by Northern Rail? I can see why they have had their franchise taken over by the government.

Did any other readers get caught out by this pathetic excuse of a train company?

They completely ruined our day out and we missed a very exciting end to the game.

Robbie Payne, Knaresborough

Boy racers at Conyngham Hall

Malcolm Wood’s letter on the A59 Badger Hill race track caught my attention. It isn’t the only race track which is a noise nuisance.

There is a big problem in Conyngham Hall car park in Knaresborough. Each evening it becomes a mecca for anyone with a souped-up engine/exhaust. They start at one end of the car park, rev up, backfire, then race to the other end where handbrake circles, skidding and revving are performed.

This happens well up to and sometimes beyond 11pm. It’s not a recent thing, it’s been happening for at least three years, together with drug usage, drinking parties and fire lighting. The police have been informed and a crime number issued, but do we see any action from them or the council — what do you think?

Jean Butterfield, Knaresborough

Bond End also a race track

I am in absolute agreement with Malcolm Wood’s letter of June 16 about speeding in Knaresborough at Badger Hill. It is a problem on Bond End too.

Noisy, modified cars and motorbikes use Bond End as a slingshot before breaking the speed limit on the dual carriageway of Harrogate Road, from Mother Shipton’s towards the golf club. This has been ongoing since spring.

The beginning of this area has a lot of pedestrians. Alas, a police presence, acting as enforcement and deterrence, is absent.

Dr. David Oldman, Knaresborough

And so is York Place…

I can concur with Malcolm Woods regarding boy racers. I live on Iles Lane, I walk my dogs every night and I can say that boy racers race in town up York Place through the High Street nearly every night between 9.30pm and 10.30pm. No police visible

Maggie Boyd , Knaresborough

Full marks for promptness to local politician

I have no political allegiance or affiliation, but when I raised an issue concerning his ward, Matt Walker responded almost immediately. This was even though his contact page on the council website said he was on holiday at the time. Full marks, and good luck, sir!

Colin Harrison, Knaresborough

Station Gateway: we expect better from councillors

A couple of issues in particular discussed by councillors at the area constituency committee meeting on June 8 should be raised.

1 THE PETITION

A Conservative member attending this meeting queried the petition’s veracity, saying its signatories included people from as far away as South Africa. According to people who are more computer literate than I am, it is reportedly an anomaly where the IP address of people’s computers shows up on the petition rather than their postal address. So I have been told, it occurs when a virtual private network is used to provide additional security and privacy rather than that afforded by the normal internet connection.

For example, two people I know who certainly live in Harrogate had their addresses displayed on the petition as Sunderland. It therefore seems to confirm that the councillor who announced in a sarcastic manner at the North Yorkshire Council executive meeting that he had rigorously checked the petition and that it proved nothing as at least 20% of the signatories lived outside the Harrogate area was quite wrong.

Surely there must be some way in which these misleading discrepancies, fabrications and exaggerations can be taken into account as they were extremely misleading. I find it hard to comprehend the technology wizards at the council have not come across this anomaly before.

2 INTERPRETATION OF THE PETITION

Another Conservative member attending the meeting pointed out even 500 local signatures, the threshold needed to have the petition debated by the committee, were not representative of all views from local residents. Just over two years ago quite extensive coverage was given in the local media of the survey results following public consultation on the gateway project including the pedestrianisation of James Street.

A report commissioned by North Yorkshire County Council claimed the gateway project still had more supporters than detractors. I understand the overall population of Harrogate at the time was in the region of 75,000 residents, from which there were some 1,101 respondents to the online survey. This equates approximately to 1.5% of Harrogate town’s total population – some 45% of the 1,101 participants voted in favour of this proposal or in real terms somewhere in the region of 0.75% of Harrogate’s population.

So, if you adopt this councillor’s theory, it is less representative of all the views from local residents even though at the time Cllr Phil Ireland from the then Harrogate Borough Council claimed “we have EVERYBODY’S feedback and ideas to feed into the next phase of detailed design work”. And yet, they dare to trash the recent petition which reached over 2,000 signatures and continues to increase.

We do not expect this standard of behaviour form councillors who were elected to represent us the residents of Harrogate and a public apology on both issues would be appropriate.

The simple fact that the signatories to the petition may not be representative of all views from local residents rests firmly in the lap of the council. It is quite disturbing to find out even now how many local residents and businesses still have not heard of or do not know what the station gateway involves. Whilst I appreciate it will always be a problem to ensure everyone is aware, I believe the council and the highways team in particular has a history of poor consultation, ignoring the democratic process; not listening and dismissive of public comment, and hiding behind a meaningless excess of words in press releases. If only they had involved us much earlier in the democratic process more of us would have shared in ownership of a gateway project.

Barry Adams, Harrogate

Northern appoints new recruitment head

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Boy racers at Conyngham Hall

Bond End also a race track

And so is York Place…

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Full marks for promptness to local politician

Station Gateway: we expect better from councillors