Another error spotted on Otley Road cycle path

A reader has alerted the Stray Ferret to another error on the Otley Road cycle path in Harrogate.

A bicycle has been painted on the ground on the wrong side of the path as it heads up Harlow Hill.

It contradicts the blue sign alongside it, which suggests bikes should be in the lane closest to the road and could lead to confusion for pedestrians and cyclists.

On Monday, the Stray Ferret reported that a town centre sign for the cycle path was built pointing in the wrong direction.

North Yorkshire County Council appointed Hull-based PBS Construction to build phase 1 of the project, in a contract worth £827,000.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said it was a “genuine mistake” by the contractor.

She added that the error will be amended as soon as possible at no cost to the council.

The county council previously called the firm “the standout applicants” following a tendering process.

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The long-awaited cycle path has been called a step forward for cycling in the town by Harrogate District Cycle Action but even its supporters would admit it’s had a bumpy ride so far.

Work to build phase 2 of the route, which will extend to Beech Grove, is set to begin in April. Funding for the third phase has yet to be finalised.

County council ‘would give Woodfield school more time to improve if it could’

North Yorkshire County Council  says giving Woodfield Community Primary School more time to improve is out of its hands, and plans to amalgamate it next year with the nearby Grove Road school are likely to go ahead.

The council says amalgamation is necessary because Woodfield has been unable to find an academy willing to take it on since it was rated inadequate by Ofsted in January last year.

Woodfield would be effectively swallowed up by the bigger Grove Road, which would operate as a split-site 280-pupil school.

The Woodfield site would initially operate as a nursery for children from both schools while Grove Road would cater for all children from reception to year six.

A six-week consultation is set to start on December 2 and a final decision taken on April 19.

The Stray Ferret spoke to North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for education and skills, Cllr Patrick Mulligan, about how Woodfield got to this point, and whether the decision to close the school could be changed.

Why isn’t NYCC giving the school more to improve given that its latest Ofsted visit recognised significant progress being made in a short space of time?

It’s out of our hands. Because of the system, when Ofsted finds a school is inadequate, it has to become an academy.

We tried to find a multi-academy trust to take on Woodfield but we couldn’t find anyone. The school was then faced with possible closure.

I don’t think people understand how little influence we have in the academy system. It’s frustrating. We get into a process where we can’t keep a school open even if we wanted to. The system is flawed. 

What were the reasons no academy trust wanted to take on Woodfield?

We can make suggestions to the trusts and ask them and come and look at school, but they do their due diligence and see declining numbers, financial difficulties. If it’s too risky they don’t take it on.

Parents have a choice now. If a school is deemed to be inadequate by Ofsted. You get into a downward spiral [and numbers of pupils then decline].

Would NYCC give Woodfield more time to improve if it had the power to?

We would probably give it more time and send our school improvement team to turn it around.

We’ve had a lot of discussions with governors over many years. We’ve been working with them to find a solution. We wanted an academy to take it on but none would.

Sometimes you get beyond that downward spiral.

We do everything we can to support schools. There’s another issue that we don’t receive enough funding to cover these small schools. We have good schools but the system is corroding it.

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Can the decision to close Woodfield be changed?

It is now with the regional schools commissioner.

We had a school in Ryedale. It had 20 kids and was facing closure. We had a public meeting and the community was in uproar. Unlike Woodfield, it did not have an academy order.

Parents formed a community group and they created a business plan to make the school sustainable. It was robust and looked at other things such as housing. It paused the process of closure. 

But over the summer, Ofsted came in and gave an inadequate judgement. In the following September, just six children came in, which was depressing. The school closed.

[The parents in Woodfield] could try to do that, but once an academisation order is in, it cannot be reversed.

What are the projected financial savings of this merger?

I don’t have that to hand. It’s not something that has come up in discussions. Grove Road school has done its due diligence and deems it can be successful. 

Is it possible that the Woodfield site could eventually be sold for housing?

That’s a very good question, that would be out of our hands. It would be a decision for the regional schools commissioner to take. 

One Woodfield parent has concerns about the proposed ‘walking bus’ from one school to the other. It does seem a long and not very safe route.

We have school transport and if it is deemed to be unsafe, we’d provide transportation. 

It’s just over half a mile and we’ll look at it very carefully. I can promise we’ll look at it very carefully. We’ll abide by the process.

It all depends on the results of the consultation.

Speculation Harrogate council leader will not seek re-election in 2022

Sources have told the Stray Ferret that Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper will stand down as a councillor next year and leave local government.

Multiple senior political figures have reported to us that the Conservative, who has been council leader since 2014, will not seek re-election when the Harrogate district next goes to the polls in May 2022.

He is expected to continue in his role as office manager for the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, Andrew Jones.

With Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council set to be abolished and replaced by a new single authority for North Yorkshire, the number of councillors in the Harrogate district is likely to be halved from 40 to 20.

Cllr Cooper, who represents Harrogate Central, has been on Harrogate Borough Council since 1999.

In 2013, he was also elected to represent Harrogate Central on North Yorkshire County Council.

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Cllr Cooper has been at the helm during the borough council’s move from Crescent Gardens to the Civic Centre, the development of the Harrogate district Local Plan, which outlines where development can take place in the district, the staging of the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Harrogate and proposals for a £47m redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre.

The Stray Ferret asked Cllr Cooper if he would like to comment on the speculation but he asked us to direct the inquiry to the Harrogate Borough Council press office.

However, the press office said it would not comment because it was a political matter for the Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative Party.

Stray Ferret reveals high number of old and harmful school buses in Harrogate

A Stray Ferret investigation has found that children in Harrogate are being taken to school in diesel buses that are amongst the dirtiest and most polluting vehicles on our roads.

As our local councils push for sustainable transport, we have discovered that schoolchildren in Harrogate are being allowed to get to school on buses that are over 20 years old and pump out high levels of toxic fumes that can harm their growing lungs.

The Stray Ferret sent a freedom of information request to North Yorkshire County Council, which is in charge of school buses in the district, asking them for the registration number of every bus contracted to pick up and drop off children at Harrogate district secondary schools.

The council awards contracts to private bus providers to run routes.

We then used DVLA data to find out what year the vehicle was made and what type of fuel it used. We found that all 91 buses that were currently taxed and MOT’d are fuelled by diesel.

Almost 50% of these buses are over a decade old and almost 20% of these go back at least 20 years.

How old are Harrogate’s school buses?

“Not appropriate anymore”

These older buses pump out significantly higher levels of air pollution compared with newer models.

European Union emissions tests on buses made 20 years ago found they produce over 10 times as much nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than buses made in the last five years. This figure halves for buses made around 2011.

The Stray Ferret also observed some school buses outside St Aidans, Rossett, and Harrogate Grammar school with their engines idle, effectively creating concentrated arenas of air pollution as children end the school day.

University of Leeds climate scientist and Harrogate resident Professor Piers Forster told the Stray Ferret that the old school buses will be having a damaging impact on children’s lungs in Harrogate.

He said:

“That is the time when your lungs are developing. It’s not just kids on buses, either, but those who walk or cycle have to stand by these buses that are belting out diesel. It’s not really appropriate anymore.”

What damage can diesel fumes cause?

A 14-year-old Abbotts of Leeming school bus on the Prince of Wales roundabout

Knowledge about the harm diesel fumes can cause to children’s growing lungs has been known for decades.

Diesel buses pump out nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions through their exhausts. Multiple studies have found it can cause reduced lung function in children, trigger asthma attacks and hospital admissions.

Diesel also produces particulate matter (PM2.5) particles which when breathed in can penetrate deep into the lungs and be absorbed into the bloodstream. It’s been linked with a myriad of health impacts for children, including asthma.

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In a landmark case in December 2020, a coroner said air pollution from diesel vehicles contributed to the death of nine-year-old Londoner Ella Kissi-Debrah due to her exposure to toxic exhaust fumes near her home by a busy road.

Sarah Hart is a parent of a child at Harrogate Grammar School who previously went to Western Primary School on Cold Bath Road. She told the Stray Ferret that her daughter suffers from a lung condition that she believes is exacerbated by air pollution from Harrogate’s school buses.

Buses outside St Aidan’s

She said:

“She found the experience of walking to Western really uncomfortable as she has issues with her lungs.

“The buses are really, really old. When they are stationary you can physically see the fumes.

“They should try and get cleaner buses.”

Jemima Hartshorn created a campaign group to tackle air pollution called Mums for Lungs. She told the Stray Ferret that it was “worrying” that so many of Harrogate’s buses are “very old” and use “very polluting diesel”.

She added:

“We really urge schools, authorities and bus companies to work together and electrify this bus fleet to ensure pollution levels across Yorkshire drop and health levels increase.”

“We need electric buses”

A 16-year-old Transdev bus on Hookstone Drive

Not only does air pollution have a potentially deadly impact on children’s lungs, but a 2019 US study also found it affects cognitive performance too.

It reported that children who went to school on diesel buses that had been retrofitted to make them cleaner achieved 10% better exam results at the end of the school year, particularly in English.

It also found that the children saw improvements in cardiovascular health, meaning cleaning up Harrogate’s school buses would have widespread benefits.

Prof Forster added:

“We certainly need a bus fleet that is ideally electric and kids biking and walking to school as much as possible, this is better than anything for both their health and their social development.”

Tomorrow we ask the council, schools and bus companies what they are doing to tackle air pollution on school buses.

Only 12 of 500 complaints against Harrogate builders led to prosecution

Trading Standards has received 500 complaints against Harrogate district builders or contractors since 2012 — but only 12 prosecutions have taken place.

The Stray Ferret obtained the data from North Yorkshire County Council through a freedom of information request.

The request also revealed that 338 separate investigations have taken place following the complaints. However, the number of investigations each year has fallen sharply: in 2013 there were 72 and the number fell to just 16 in 2020.

The findings, along with the experiences of some of those who have filed complaints, have led to concerns about the value of taking action.

Jon Fallis, who filed a complaint after Harrogate cowboy builder James Moss left a £30,000 conversion in a poor state, said the figures “were not a surprise at all” and raised questions about the effectiveness of Trading Standards in tackling rogue builders.

Trading Standards, which is run by North Yorkshire County Council, has the power to investigate cases of poor work or allegations of fraud against builders.

Mr Fallis added:

“The numbers fit our experience. They have been difficult and obstructive. There’s no feeling they are on the side of the taxpayer.”

We spoke to another person who was so defeated by his dealings with Trading Standards he didn’t bother making a complaint after being unsatisfied with the quality of another Harrogate builder’s work.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, called the department a “toothless tiger”.

Trading Standards is prevented by law from providing information about individuals or businesses, but its list of prosecutions against builders in Harrogate includes prison sentences, community service and compensation.

The full data is below:

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The Federation of Master Builders, a trade association for builders, conducted a national survey that found 56% of people who commissioned building work had a bad experience with their builder.

The body has called for the government introduce licensing to stamp out rogue traders.

Trading Standards response

In response to the FOI request, Matt O’Neill, assistant director growth, planning and Trading Standards at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Our trading standards service is determined in its enforcement work, not only to protect the residents of North Yorkshire as consumers, but also to ensure a level playing field for the many legitimate businesses in the county.

“The service receives about 7,000 complaints from consumers each year. Officers assess these to determine which should be investigated. Following an investigation, enforcement may range from advice and guidance to prosecution and confiscation or forfeiture of assets following conviction.

“In deciding whether to prosecute, the service must first be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction. A decision to prosecute is not taken lightly. Prosecution is a serious step with considerable repercussions for those who face criminal charges.

“The service has a strong track record. For example, a joint operation with colleagues from other agencies last year saw the courts order offenders to give up £140,000 in proceeds from their crimes to compensate their victims.

“There are occasions when the standard of businesses’ work does not meet consumers’ expectations. This is not acceptable and consumers could take action in the civil courts for breach of contract. However, such conduct would not necessarily amount to a practice over which the trading standards service could take action.

“Equally, businesses sometimes fail. This is recognised in law, with provision for the management of bankruptcy and insolvency. A business failure alone will not amount to conduct about which the trading standards service could take action. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has a remit to investigate sole traders and companies that have acted illegally in relation to the formation or solvency of trading entities.”

Wetherby Road in Harrogate closed in both directions

Wetherby Road in Harrogate has been closed in both directions just as the evening rush hour begins, due to a broken water pipe.

Heavy traffic is already starting to build up around the area.

The busy commuter route could be closed for more than a day between Masham Close and the junction with Hookstone Road, according to North Yorkshire County Council.

The council said on Yorkshire Water‘s engineers “were on scene and aim to reinstate the road over the weekend”. It apologised for any inconvenience.

Wetherby Road in #Harrogate is closed in both directions from Masham Close to the junction with Hookstone Road.

This is due to a collapsed @YorkshireWater pipe.

Their engineers are on scene & aim to reinstate the road over the weekend.

Apologies for any inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/3LzLPmoFeI

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) June 25, 2021

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“Due to a burst water pipe, we’ve had to close Wetherby Road from Masham Close to the junction with Hookstone Road.

“Our contractors are on with fixing the pipe and assessing the work that needs to be done to get the road open safely again. We’re sorry about any disruption this causes.”

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Conservatives choose candidate for Bilton by-election

Harrogate borough councillor Matt Scott has been chosen as the Conservative candidate for the vacant Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge seat on North Yorkshire County Council.

A by-election is taking place following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Geoff Webber.

Cllr Scott has represented the Bilton Woodfield ward on  Harrogate Borough Council since 2018 and works in Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones’ office. He has lived in Bilton all his life.

He said:

“I am proud to call Bilton my home and there are many aspects of the area that make it a great place to live.

 “We are served by many small independent businesses; we have great schools and of course we have the Nidd Gorge, a vast green space on our doorstep.

 “I was part of the campaign to save it when proposals came forward for a relief road and my view has not changed.”

He said he wanted to be a “strong, local voice” on the county council, alongside fellow Conservative Paul Haslam, who also lives in Bilton and sits on both the borough and county councils.

He added:

“I will work hard to ensure we continue to have great schools, safe neighbourhoods and that our valuable green spaces remain untouched.”

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The by-election is scheduled on May 6. Nominations must be submitted by April 8.

It will be the only time residents can vote to elect county councillors this year after the government delayed elections due to local government reorganisation.

The Conservative-controlled county council currently has 53 Conservative councillors, four Labour councillors and four representing the Liberal Democrats. There are also eight North Yorkshire Independent and three independent councillors.

When the by-election was last run in 2017, Conservative Paul Haslam and Liberal Democrat Geoff Webber won the ward’s two seats with 1,618 and 1,414 votes respectively.

Liberal Democrat Mark McDermid came third with 1,285 votes and Conservative Graham Swift was fourth with 1,207 votes.

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said it would choose its candidate after Mr Webber’s funeral today.

 

Harrogate care home to be demolished and replaced with 19 homes

A former care home in Harrogate is to be demolished to make way for 19 homes.

Harrogate Borough Council has granted North Yorkshire County Council, which ran the home, permission to demolish Woodfield House on Woodfield Square in Bilton.

The county council will build the new homes through its housing company, Brierley Homes.

The new development will include 11 two-bedroom, six three-bedroom and two four-bedroom homes.

The 28-bed care home was built in the 1970s but closed in 2018 because it was deemed no longer able to deliver the required standard of care.

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A Harrogate Borough Council report said the derelict care home had become a hub for anti-social behaviour.

It said:

“It is now becoming an eye-sore for local residents and they are experiencing increasing anti-social behaviour. There appears to be local acceptance of the proposed scheme and a desire for the site to be re-developed quickly.”

Brierley Homes was established in 2017 by North Yorkshire County Council. All profits are used to support essential frontline council services in the county.

This will be the company’s second major project in the Harrogate district. It also plans to build 20 homes in Pateley Bridge.

Care providers back county council’s devolution bid

An independent body for care providers in North Yorkshire has said it would be “pointless and unnecessary” to allow devolution to dismantle the current system of social care in the county.

Under the existing two-tier system of local government, North Yorkshire County Council has full responsibility for social care in the county.

But this could change under government plans to devolve power.

The seven district and borough councils in North Yorkshire, including Harrogate Borough Council, would prefer to create an east / west model of local government.

NYCC prefer having a unitary authority for the county, which Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, said would offer the best outcome for older and vulnerable people in the area.

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Mr Padgham said effective county-wide social care services already existed built on years of close working between the local authority and independent providers of social care. He added:

“It would seem pointless and unnecessary to dismantle this.

“NYCC is looking to bring in more investment and more decision-making power to a single authority, which can only be a positive move forward for the overall future of North Yorkshire.

“The proposal from NYCC for a single unitary authority provides the best option for facing and overcoming those challenges.”

Speaking on behalf of the seven district and borough councils, Keane Duncan, leader of Ryedale District Council, told the Stray Ferret it was “surprising and disappointing” that the ICG has backed NYCC’s proposal.

He added:

“ICG’s support for a mega-council is particularly disappointing too when they have not engaged with us about their views, aspirations and concerns for the future of care in our county.

“We would welcome the opportunity to share with them how our alternative to a mega-council can best support care providers, and those who need care, not only in North Yorkshire, but in the City of York too.”

 

Extra £1m bid for Harrogate cycle and walking routes

With this second bid for more than £1m from North Yorkshire County Council, comes accusations that it was not ambitious enough when it bid for the first phase of funding.

3 routes in Harrogate have been put forward for significant improvement: Oatlands Drive, Victoria Avenue and the A59 road connecting Starbeck to Knaresborough by Maple Close.

The money is part of the The Department for Transport’s  Emergency Active Travel Fund (EATF) and will be allocated to the county if it can meet strict criteria.

North Yorkshire County Council representatives said:

“This bid had to meet strict DfT criteria, including a maximum allocation of £1.065 million, being deliverable in this financial year, supporting both cycling and walking and replacing a well-used bus route or enabling roads to be closed to traffic. We believe the five schemes we have put forward, three of which are in the Harrogate area, present a strong submission.”

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The 2 other listed locations are in Helmsley and Whitby.

The EATF is phase one of a five-year £2 billion sustainable travel scheme announced by the government. Its aim is to create more green and alternative ways of traveling across the UK.

In July, North Yorkshire County Council was disappointed to receive only £133,000 from government, half the potential amount available in the first wave of emergency funding.

Harrogate District Cycling Action said that NYCC lacked ambition:

“It’s disappointing that NYCC has only received 50% of the Tranche 1 amount provisionally allocated to it (which was £266,000). It must be because the plans presented weren’t ambitious enough.

North Yorkshire’s Cabinet member Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, this time round said :

“The bid had to be prepared quickly, with only about four weeks between receiving the DfT guidance and the deadline.”

There’s no doubt the cycling community in the Harrogate district will be waiting for the outcome of this bid. A date has not been announced for when local authorities will hear if they have been successful with funding. The Department for Transport said they will turn decisions round quickly.