Oatlands Archives - Page 3 of 4

M&S café in Harrogate saved after U-turn

Marks & Spencer has decided to retain a café at its Leeds Road food hall in Harrogate after previously saying it would close.

The company announced in December it planned to increase the size of its food hall at Oatlands by more than 70% and extend into the neighbouring Sofa.com retail unit.

It said the scheme would enable it to ‘deliver a bigger, better and fresher new-look food hall’ but that it would mean closing the in-store café.

How the Oatlands food hall will look.

The café is a popular meeting point and the news prompted a petition calling for it to be retained.

M&S has now confirmed to the Stray Ferret that its new look food hall will include a café.

The woman who organised the petition, who lives near the food hall but asked not to be named, said the manager of the store had contacted her to say the café would be retained but would be smaller. She said she understood it was likely to be similar in size to the new Pret shop in Harrogate town centre.

But she welcomed the decision to retain the café:

“I’m pleased. There isn’t a café like it in the area. It’s a place people go to meet friends, especially older people.

“I think they recognise the whole community uses it and a lot of people said they wouldn’t go there any more if it closed.”

Harrogate petanque player triumphs in national competition

A Harrogate petanque player has won a prestigious national competition as part of a team from Yorkshire.

Charles Stewart was one of three players who travelled to Leicester for the Petanque England National Veterans Triples competition.

Along with Alan Swift from Wetherby and Richard Burrow from Leeds, he took part in the league stages of the contest before going on to the knock-out rounds.

“Our main aim was to qualify for the main knock-out, getting through to the last eight. We achieved that last year but got knocked out in the quarter final.

“This time we went and played the quarter final, then the semi, and got through to the final where we played three ex-international players. I imagine we were probably the solid underdogs on paper, playing the pedigree of the people we were up against!

“It was one of those great occasions where things go your way. We were 11-1 or 12-1 up and said to each other, ‘it’s not over yet’. They had a little flurry of activity but we managed to nip it in the bud and the final score was 13-5.

“It was certainly worth the trip to Leicester!”

The team of three, who play under the name Le Dragon, are now set to represent Yorkshire in Lowestoft at an inter-regional contest in September. Yorkshire has just been promoted back into the first division so the trio know they will face strong competition across the two-day event.

Despite the high level they play at, Mr Stewart said the events retain the friendly, sociable feel of local, informal games, which is one of the attractions for participants.

Mr Stewart, who was a founding member of Harrogate Montpellier Petanque Club and is now president of Yorkshire Petanque, said interest in the sport across the Harrogate district has never been higher.

A new terrain has been built in Darley, while the Harrogate club has created a new headquarters with 10 courts in the grounds of Pannal Ash Junior Football Club next to Oatlands Junior School.

Meanwhile, local club members often travel to play in Ilkley, Wetherby, Horsforth and Leeds.

Mr Stewart said:

“Terrains are popping up everywhere, usually on a smaller scale because it’s often an enthusiastic group of individuals who get the ball rolling.

“In lockdown, when it was permitted to play socially distanced sport outside, it was perfect. Every club I’m aware of grew during the last two years.

“We’re trying our best to motivate and get these small clubs enthused. When you are playing in a highly visible site, like the pierhead in central Harrogate, it attracts people to stop and watch. It goes from six or eight people involved to now around 50 members in Harrogate.

“A lot of clubs suffer from being hidden away behind a hedge or a fence. The more people see it’s a game for all ages and there’s no restriction on who can play, the better.”

Harrogate club chairman Nigel Clay added:

“We are delighted for Charles and his success at becoming a national champion. As the regional chairman, Charles is also working very hard to help develop the sport across Yorkshire, and with increasing interest across the county.”

M&S employee in Harrogate unfairly dismissed after face mask confrontation

A Marks and Spencer employee in Harrogate was unfairly dismissed following an altercation with a customer over a face mask, a tribunal has found.

Deborah Daisy, who worked part-time at M&S Food on Leeds Road in Harrogate, went off work with anxiety in late January 2021.

She told her employer it was down to the covid pandemic in general, but was also caused by an incident in which she asked a customer to put on a face mask in the shop. The customer was then aggressive towards her, she said.

The report from an employment tribunal in Leeds said:

“Adjustments were discussed to facilitate a return to work. Specifically, they discuss the claimant not working on the door of the store as a store host which involved controlling the numbers of people entering the store and reminding them to wear a mask.

“[Marks and Spencer] was asked whether or not she could think of any other adjustments and replied that she could not.”

However, Ms Daisy then told her employer she would feel comfortable to return to work once she was fully vaccinated.

She was referred to occupational health and, during meetings with them, referred to a previous armed robbery and an incident when she confronted a shoplifter as making her feel unprotected in her workplace.

Following a meeting in early March, an occupational health officer said:

“This employee is not fit for work in any capacity at present and timescales for recovery are unclear, therefore it is unlikely that a return will be feasible in the reasonably foreseeable future.

“Should the business have exhausted all reasonable support and all reasonable adjustments have proven unsuccessful, I would recommend formal consideration for ill health retirement with submission of the relevant pension scheme documentation.”

Mrs Daisy had several further phone appointments with her employer over the following months, at each reiterating that she did not feel safe to return to work. Company representatives asked if any adjustments could be made to help her, but she said no.

In a meeting in June 2021, Ms Daisy was told that she could not be given an update about what action had been taken against the abusive customer “due to GDPR”. She asked about the previous incidents which had made her feel unsafe and was told they had been discussed at previous meetings.

Off work for 24 weeks

At the end of the meeting, Ms Daisy was dismissed on the grounds that she had been off work for 24 weeks and was not able to return.

She submitted an appeal the following month, but another M&S employee concluded her dismissal had not been unfair. However, the tribunal held in Leeds in May found it had been.

The report published at the end of June said:

“Although the respondent [M&S] has produced a standard operating procedure for dealing with external crime, there was no evidence of specific training in this, or in handling abusive customers, in the claimant’s case. There is no evidence before of recording threats to staff or any specific processes for reporting abuse to staff.”

In the report, Employment Judge Knowles said M&S had said Ms Daisy had not submitted an official complaint about any of the incidents. However, the report said Ms Daisy had not been trained in making these and it was unclear why, when she reported them to her manager, they were not treated as official complaints.

The report added:

“Although the number of meetings is indicative of [Mrs Daisy] being adequately consulted from the interview notes it can be seen that they did not discuss the investigations due to vague reasoning concerning GDPR.

“Throughout the process, the claimant [Mrs Daisy] raises incidents, workplace violence, and the respondent [M&S] clearly failed to establish the facts and investigate those incidents which led to the absence and perpetuate the absence.

“This was not even close to a reasonable investigation. The respondent failed to consider reasonable adjustments, stopping shoplifters, locking the doors after hours, investigating her complaints, and there could have been a return to work.”

Judge Knowles found M&S could have engaged more with its employee over its investigation into the incidents and ways of overcoming her safety fears, saying the company could have been expected to wait longer before dismissing her if that process failed to enable her to return to work.

He said:

“It is not for me to comment upon how the respondent might have taken steps to address [Mrs Daisy]’s safety concerns.

“I am surprised that those matters were not explored with [Mrs Daisy] given that [M&S] is a well-resourced retailer in the UK and given that the plight of shopworkers and the abuse they suffer at work is generally well known.”

The compensation to be given to Ms Daisy will be decided at a future date, but will be reduced by 25% on the grounds that she could have been dismissed in future anyway.

Travellers arrive on Oatlands Park in Harrogate

Travellers have set up a camp on Oatlands Park in Harrogate.

Vehicles, which arrived last night, are believed to have gained access from Hookstone Road.

A post preventing traffic from entering the park was lying on the ground this morning.

Where the vehicles are believed to have entered.

Almost 20 vehicles are parked on the grass, at the side of the field.

The Harrogate Borough Council-maintained park includes public toilets, a play area for children and is a popular place for football matches.

The Stray Ferret has approached Harrogate Borough Council to ask if it is taking any action.

Travellers on Oatlands Park

Dozens of objections to ‘ludicrous’ Crimple Valley housing plan

Almost 70 objections have been submitted in two weeks after plans were put forward to build 35 homes in the Crimple Valley.

The outline proposal for Almsford Bank Stables includes 14 affordable homes, seven first homes and 14 self or custom build (SCB) plots.

However, 69 public comments have been received since Monday, June 20, all of which oppose the plans.

Among them, nearby resident Jules Sibson said:

“This application is ludicrous. There is no way the access here would be safe.

“Only a few weeks ago the road was closed for some period of time to a major road traffic accident. The traffic is stacked back on a regular basis, and if it’s not then people speed up and down the hill. A junction here would surely lead to disaster.

“As a local who also regularly enjoys the beautiful walks along here with my children I am literally dumbfounded this planning would even be re-considered.”

The proposed site, outlined in red, lies in the Crimple Valley

Another from Judith Hooper said:

“In the time we have been resident in Harrogate there have been numerous car accidents on Almsford bank, the most recent very serious one being only a few weeks ago.

“Cars accelerate down the bank on reaching the 50mph sign and already have to contend with traffic coming out of Crimple Hall.

“Putting access at the bottom of such a busy section of road, on a bend, seems to invite accidents. At night there are many cars clearly speeding on this stretch. At busy periods traffic is queuing both up and down the hill.”

Campaign group Save Crimple Valley has urged the public to submit objections to the new proposals.

It is the third application for the site site since 2018, when plans for 65 homes were put forward but withdrawn. The following year, a reduced proposal of 35 homes was submitted, but again withdrawn in the face of extensive objections.

The site is not included in Harrogate Borough Council’s local plan, which guides where development can take place in the district.

One objection to the latest proposal by the same applicant said the repeated applications were a “waste of everyone’s time”.

However, the application argues that the district does not have a sufficient supply of SCB sites to meet its obligations.

Consultees have also submitted their responses, with National Highways (formerly Highways England) saying it had no objections to the proposals.

However, some have opposed the plans. The Harrogate branch of the Ramblers’ Association said:

“We object strongly to this latest outline application to develop this site. Any housing development here would seriously damage public amenity…

“We object to the building of houses in this special landscape. We object to this area of countryside being urbanised.

“The indicative layout shows the bridleway diverted onto a new estate road for part of its length. We object because there has been no provision made for the bridleway to be kept separate from the proposed access road to the houses.

“We do not accept a right of way being incorporated into a vehicular access road for a housing development. There is no provision to keep the non-motorised route separate from the housing estate road, but it is unlikely this can be achieved on this site.”

The plans have been submitted by Square Feet Ltd, whose registered address is on nearby Fulwith Mill Lane, and Antela Developments Ltd, two of whose three directors also live on Fulwith Mill Lane.

To view or comment on the plans, visit the Harrogate Borough Council planning website and use reference 22/02233/OUTMAJ.

The consultation ends on Sunday, July 10. A date for the application to be decided by the council has yet to be set.

Petanque players invited to sign up for return of charity tournament in Harrogate

A charity tournament with a friendly feel will return to Harrogate this summer.

The Saint Michael’s Cup sees teams of petanque players – from amateur to more experienced – compete to win the trophy and support the town’s hospice at the same time.

Teams of three can enter for a £20 donation to the hospice and will then be put in a group to play against others. The winner from each group will go into the knock-out rounds.

Although it marks 10 years since the first Saint Michael’s Cup was held in 2012, it has had a two-year gap thanks to covid. Organisers Harrogate Montpellier Petanque Club are hoping there will be renewed enthusiasm for the simple yet competitive game.

Club chairman Nigel Clay said:

“We’re fortunate we still have support from Ellis Bates as our sponsor for the tournament. We’re looking forward to raising money for the hospice again, and hopefully meeting some new teams as well as those who’ve taken part before.”

The tournament will be launched next Sunday and run until September, when the finals will be held.

The new club headquarters in Oatlands

The launch will be part of the official opening of the club’s new base at Pannal Ash Junior Football Club (PAJFC) on the playing field next to Oatlands Junior School, off Hookstone Road. The event runs from 11am to 3pm, with the Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate, Cllr Victoria Oldham, officially opening the new courts and kicking off the charity tournament.

Club members will be playing against a team from Leeds, offering visitors a chance to see how the game works, and there will be time for social play.

While covid may have put a stop to the tournament for two years, the club has seen a rise in membership. As a game which lends itself to social distancing yet is sociable, petanque – also known as boules – was ideal for playing outdoors when covid restrictions allowed.

The launch of the new venue with its 10 courts adds to the existing four at the pierhead bouledrome on top of Montpellier Hill in Harrogate town centre. Club chairman Nigel Clay said:

“The pierhead is ideal for social play and small groups, but lacks facilities. We have been working for some time to find a larger venue to host full club events and competitions.

“Oatlands provides all we need in terms of facilities over the summer, when we will use it, and for PAJFC during the football season.”

For more information about the Saint Michael’s Cup tournament, visit the club website or call Nigel Clay on 07735 388359.

Council to start moves to evict Travellers on Harrogate Stray tomorrow

Harrogate Borough Council looks set to begin legal moves to evict Travellers on the Stray tomorrow.

Six caravans and several cars arrived on the Oatlands section of the Stray yesterday.

Three days earlier Travellers also parked on the old rugby field at Knaresborough.

The council, which is the legal protector of the Stray, has not replied to the Stray Ferret’s request for information about what action it is taking.

But Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, said the council had informed her that is is “aware and prepared to serve papers on Monday if required with a court hearing already scheduled for Thursday. Unfortunately due to the legal process, this is the fastest we can progress the situation.”

It is thought the Travellers are on their way to Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria, which begins on Thursday.

Ms d’Arcy Thompson said the council had informed her that its street cleaning team was “prepared to check the area and clear any waste left behind”.

Travellers on Stray

She added the council appeared to be doing everything it could to resolve the situation, adding:

“With experience of similar events in the past we appreciate the complexity of the legal process.

“We naturally hope that they respect our Stray and that the minimum of mess and damage is left behind when they depart.”

The Stray Defence Association was founded in 1933 to safeguard the Stray against building and encroachment.

Harrogate petanque club prepares to move home

After 10 years in its town centre location, Harrogate Montpellier Petanque Club is set to expand to a new home this year.

The club has been based at the pierhead bouledrome close to Bettys since it was founded in 2012.

However, with a growth in membership and a change in the way people are playing, it has outgrown the site and has ambitions to develop further.

Club chairman Nigel Clay told the Stray Ferret:

“Petanque has been a life-saver for a lot of people during covid. It was something you could do which was relatively safe: it was sociable but at a distance.

“It has changed the pattern of play – it has been far more informal and become far easier. Rather than just the fixed times organised by the club, people have formed a WhatsApp group and are meeting up whenever they’re free.”

The sport – also known as boules – is closely associated with France. However, it has origins in ancient Greece and is widely played in south-east Asia.

The Harrogate club was set up by Nigel after he moved to Harrogate in 2009, having established petanque terrains near his previous home in Leeds.

The new location for the Harrogate Montpellier Petanque Club

With club membership now around 50 – just a small percentage of the number of people who have used the terrains over the years – a larger site is needed to add to its existing four pistes. Expecting to outgrow the pierhead, Nigel had already been researching potential locations before covid struck.

Now, over the coming weeks, 10 pistes will be built on the current car park at Pannal Ash Junior Football Club near Almsford Close in Harrogate. Not only will this provide more playing space, but the clubhouse facilities – including a kitchen and toilets – can also be shared by petanque club members.

The central terrain in Harrogate has proved a good way to drum up interest in the past, with passers-by often stopping to ask about the game, and Nigel hopes the new suburban location will continue the club’s growth in the coming months.

Surrounded by family homes and adjacent to a primary school, the terrain will welcome players of all ages – and the open surroundings will allow people to come and watch. Both he and the football club hope the site will become more vibrant over the coming years.

“They share our vision of providing a community resource for residents. It’s like the pierhead: if it’s standing there doing nothing, what is it?

“If people see us playing and ask questions and you say, ‘come and have a game’, it develops interest.”

Nigel said as well as being accessible to people of all ages and levels of fitness, one of the most appealing aspects of petanque is its affordability. A set of boules costs around £20 and will last for many years.

For anyone wishing to join the club, membership costs a similar amount, and playing time is limited only by daylight and weather conditions.

And there is good news for the many people who have enjoyed seeing the town centre pistes in use: they will remain in situ for both club members and the public to use whenever they want.

200 people sign petition to save Harrogate M&S cafe

More than 200 people have signed a petition opposing the closure of the cafe in Marks & Spencer‘s store on Leeds Road, Harrogate.

The company wants to increase the size of its food hall at Oatlands by more than 70% and extend into the neighbouring Sofa.com retail unit.

But the plans would also see the closure of the cafe, which is a popular meeting point.

The petition, sent to the Stray Ferret by one of the signatories, says:

“There is such strong feeling about the cafe. Your customers really appreciate the service and feeling of community there. The staff are also so kind and friendly.

“The customers see it as a wonderful meeting place, a resource which is convenient for shopping and a place for parents and children to meet up before and after school.

“The elderly and lonely also find friendship in the cafe. Plus the food and drink is excellent! I really hope you will read all the comments and reconsider closing the cafe.”

The petition has also been sent to Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

If M&S’ plans are approved by Harrogate Borough Council, the expanded store will include an in-store bakery, wine shop, fill your own section to reduce waste and new decor throughout.

The retailer said in a statement:

“Our expansion plans at M&S Harrogate Oatlands are designed to deliver a bigger, better and fresher new-look food hall for shoppers and mark a significant investment in the local area.

“Whilst these plans involve closing the in-store café, they will allow us to transform the store to deliver the very best of M&S for our customers in Harrogate, with a bigger range of M&S food products than ever before.”

M&S gives sneak peek of expanded Harrogate Oatlands store

Marks & Spencer has given a sneak peek of how its Oatlands Foodhall on Leeds Road in Harrogate will look if plans to extend it are approved,

The company wants to increase the size of the food hall by more than 70% and extend into the Sofa.com retail unit next to the existing store.

The plans would also see the closure of the cafe, which prompted some disappointed regulars to consider setting up a petition to retain it.

M&S said the expansion was designed to deliver a “bigger, better and fresher experience” for shoppers and would involve a significant investment in the town.

Harrogate stores’ transformation one of the first in the country

The Leeds Road store will be one of the first in the country to be refreshed with this new-look M&S design. The features would include new fresh product displays and an in-store bakery.

The bakery would be open all day.

Work would take place in stages to allow customers to continue shopping at the store throughout redevelopment.

There would also be an expanded frozen food section, a wine shop and new decoration throughout the store.

A wine shop would be included in the store.

M&S has committed to cutting 1,000 tones of plastic from its business by March next year and halving food waste by 2030. With this in mind, the store would have a ‘fill your own’ section to reduce packaging.

Shoppers would bring their own reusable containers to fill with dried items, such as pasta, rice, cereals, nuts and other snacks.

The fill your own section would reduce plastic packaging and food waste.

There will be more checkouts, a mobile scan and shop option and new digital screens in store to make it quicker to process click and collect online orders.

The Harrogate history of M&S

M&S first opened in Harrogate in December 1906 in the old Market Hall under its earlier name of Penny Bazaar.

The original Harrogate Penny Bazaar was replaced in May 1934 by a new Marks & Spencer store at 36 Cambridge Street.

It moved again in 1999 to its current location on Cambridge Street.

M&S regional manager Rona Hulbert said:

“We’re delighted to be celebrating our 115th anniversary in Harrogate this month. M&S has a long and proud history of serving local customers, dating all the way back to the days of the Penny Bazaars. I’m really excited that we’re looking forward to the future and continuing to invest in Harrogate.”

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Off work for 24 weeks

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Harrogate stores’ transformation one of the first in the country

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The Harrogate history of M&S