Police appeal after spate of vandalism in Pateley Bridge

Police are appealing for information about a spate of vandalism in Pateley Bridge this week

Overnight on May 30 to 31, damage was caused at the recreation ground near the youth shelter and the band stand.

Graffiti has been sprayed on the bus shelter at Station Square.

Later in the week, broken glass and bottles were left near the youth shelter and graffiti discovered in the toilets at Southlands car park.

North Yorkshire Police urged any witnesses or people with information to email Mike.Spittlehouse@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire police on 101 or on-line at www.northyorkshire.police.uk.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference 12230100002.

Read more:

 

Man wanted in police car tampering investigation in Pateley Bridge

Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to following “vehicle interference” in Pateley Bridge.

In a statement issued today, North Yorkshire Police said the incident “involved someone removing items from a car who then went on to try and gain access to another car, which proved to be unsuccessful”.

It happened on Old Brewery Road on an unspecified date “earlier this year”.

The statement said:

“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the person in the image as they believe they will have information that could help the investigation.

“Anyone with any information is asked to email laura.taylor@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Laura Taylor.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Quote reference number 12230013852.

Read more:

 

Plan for 15 flats on former Pateley Bridge garage site rejected

A plan to build 15 flats on a former Pateley Bridge garage site has been refused.

Chartwell Barns Ltd has tabled the proposal to Harrogate Borough Council to build a three-storey block on the site of Daleside Garage on Bridgehouse Gate in April 2022.

The proposal included an electric vehicle charging point along with 27 car parking spaces.

A total of three one-bedroom, eight two-bedroom and four three-bedroom flats were included in the scheme.

However, North Yorkshire Council, which replaced the borough council on April 1 this year, has refused the plan.

In a decision notice, it said the scheme would result in the loss of employment space and that the developer had failed to prove that the site had been marketed for employment use.

It said:

“No evidence has been submitted to demonstrate that the site has been actively marketed for employment use or that continued use of the site for employment is no longer viable, or that smaller scale or alternative employment requirements cannot be accommodated on the site.

“Therefore, on the basis of the information submitted, it is considered that the proposed development would have an adverse impact on the quality and quantity of employment land supply.”

Read more:

The council added that the development would be “unduly dominant and incongruous” within its surroundings and failed to provide an “acceptable level of privacy” to future occupants.

The decision comes as the former business on the site, Daleside Garage, has since moved in the town.

The firm has moved to brand new premises at Corn Close Farm on Low Wath Road.

Karley Haley, who owns Daleside Garage with her husband Glenn, told the Stray Ferret that the move helped to retain the MOT testing station, as well as servicing and repairs, in the town.

Yemi’s Food Stories: The perfect chocolate fix in Pateley Bridge

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in last year’s BBC TV’s Masterchef  competition. Every Saturday Yemi will be writing on the Stray Ferret about her love of the district’s food  – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.  

Charles Andrew from Cocoa Joe’s at Pateley Bridge invited me to check out what they are doing with chocolate.  He was so proud that I was intrigued to sample what was on offer.

Off I went with my friend, Carolyn and hubby (aka Matthew) who offered to double as driver and photographer.

As a granddaughter of a cocoa farmer, I grew up understanding the front end of the process up to when the dried cocoa beans were sold to warehouses.

My grandfather knew every cocoa tree like the back of his hands, and he would regale me with stories about his life’s work — a continuation from the previous generations. During the harvest season, we would live on the farm for days but still ate food like we were at home, given the fully built and stocked kitchen on the farm.

We relied on good amounts of sunshine to dry the beans and several times a day, we used rakes to move the beans round so they could get evenly dried. I learnt how to test when the beans were dried enough for storage and was responsible for the stock taking when we visited the warehouse.

My next experience of cocoa came in the form of buying Bounty, Snickers and Kit Kat when I was in boarding house from the age of 10 but I never connected what I was eating to my grandfather’s job.

Many decades later, I find myself interested in the ethics around cocoa production, varieties of cocoa beans and making every bean count.

So it was a pleasure to see Charles being as passionate about making great chocolate drinks as my grandfather was about growing the bean.

I learnt about the origins of their cocoa beans, got to sample many including the 100% Madagascar which I found jarring, various dark chocolates, the ruby chocolate with its lemon notes and the sublime caramelised white chocolate.

The quality of their chocolates shone through with their high cocoa contents. The drink had a wonderful mouth fill, felt luxurious without being too heavy.

I left not feeling the need to hit a gym or check my blood sugar level. We enjoyed three flavours of chocolate drinks including Uganda, Sao Tome, and Ecuador dark chocolates.

I couldn’t resist their chilli chocolate drink and for even more exotic taste, there was lavender flavour.

After a few sips from my cup, the child in me asked for some marshmallows. Charles offered to toast them but that wasn’t needed as they melted into the chocolate doing a dance on my tongue and tingling my tastebuds.

Hmm … which flavour to choose?

Cocoa Joe’s is popular with the locals and tourists; I can see why. The skill and passion exhibited by the team and the quality of the varieties of chocolates available to choose from, keep their customers coming back.

I left with some ruby, caramelised white chocolate and Uganda chocolate and I am already dreaming and drooling about what I will make with them.

Charles was excited to tell me about everything the town had to offer, so I wandered around to take as much in as possible and crossing the road was all it took to get to Kendall’s butcher.

More about Kendall’s and the rest of my visit next week.

Next on my list is The Café at the Himalayan Garden, Grewelthorpe which I will visit on Saturday 27 of May from 12.30pm. Come join me and I hope to see you there.

Read More: 

 

New mayor appointed for Pateley Bridge

Chris Thompson has been appointed mayor of Pateley Bridge for the next civic year.

Cllr Thompson was elected chair of Pateley Bridge Town Council at May’s annual meeting in May. His wife, Dawn Thompson, is his mayoress.

London-born Cllr Thompson is a former telephone engineer who moved to Glasshouses with his family in 2001.

He suffered a near-fatal heart attack in 2012 and received so much support from the local community he pledged to give back when he’d recovered. He added:

“So in 2014, I became chair of Glasshouses Village Association, organising community events and outings, with a lot of help and support from my wife.

“Then in 2018, I was also co-opted onto Pateley Bridge Town Council. At the same time, my wife and I started working with the Pateley Bridge based community singing group All Together Now to help people with dementia and other memory loss problems.

“I am the organist for Pateley Bridge Methodist Church. We’re also members of the Nidderdale Community Choir, which is a lot of fun as well as singing some great music.”

Cllr Thompson pledged to attend as many community events as possible, support local North Yorkshire councillor Andrew Murday in his bid to establish a youth council in Pateley Bridge and to promote the town as much as possible.

Read more:

 

Police release CCTV images after Pateley Bridge petrol station attempted arson

Police have released CCTV images of a man they wish to speak to after an attempted arson in Pateley Bridge.

Officers say the incident happened between 1.45am and 2.45am on Sunday (May 14) at the Dales Market Corner petrol station in the town.

Two men walked onto the forecourt, placed a backpack in the area and set it alight. The backpack then self-extinguished.

Yesterday afternoon, officers arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of arson and criminal damage. He was interviewed and later released on conditional bail.

North Yorkshire Police has now appealed for the public to help with further information which may assist with the ongoing investigation.

Jill Cowling, detective inspector from Harrogate CID, said:

“We’re treating this incident as deliberate, and enquiries are continuing.  Thankfully no one was injured, but we will be increasing police activity in the area to provide additional reassurance to the public.

“As part of the ongoing police investigation I’m now appealing for people to come forward about any suspicious activity at the location on the night of Saturday 13 and in the early hours of Sunday 14 May 2023.”

Anyone with any information is asked to email Jill.Cowling@northyorkshire.police.uk or you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Jill Cowling.

Read more:

 

Hundreds set for tomorrow’s Nidderdale Walk

About 400 people are expected to take part in tomorrow’s annual Nidderdale Charity Walk and Run.

The event, which is being held for the 29th year, has raised over £900,000 for charities since it started.

People will meet in Pateley Bridge from 7am before completing either four-mile, eight-mile, 15-mile, 22-mile or 26-mile routes.

The shortest route is around Wath while the longest is a challenging hike around Wath, Bouthwaite, Ramsgill and Lofthouse before returning via Scar House reservoir.

Registration is from 7am

Many participants are being sponsored to raise money for voluntary organisations, including Dementia Forward, Disability Action Yorkshire and Harrogate Homeless Project, while others just want to enjoy some of the country’s finest scenery in spring.

The routes are signposted and include checkpoints with medical help.

Brian Stuttard, chairman of the walk committee for the Rotary Club of Harrogate, which organises the event, said:

“About 320 people have registered so far and we expect another 100 or so on the day.”

Mr Stuttard said 40 junior soldiers from Harrogate’s Army Foundation College would be taking part in the four-mile route for the first time.

Nidderdale awaits

Registration begins at 7am and those taking part in the 22-mile and 26-mile routes are expected to depart by 8am. The shorter routes can start later.

It costs £10 for adults to enter (£5 for the four-mile walk) and you can enter on the day.

Read more:

 

Covid vaccine banners stolen from Pateley Bridge

Two large banners advertising covid booster vaccinations have been pulled down and stolen from Pateley Bridge.

The banners were attached to the walls outside Pateley Bridge Pharmacy on the town’s High Street and outside Pateley Bridge and Bewerley Memorial Hall on Park Road.

Both banners advertised vaccines at the pharmacy, which has been at the forefront of the local covid campaign.

Covid banner stolen Pateley

The banner attached to the pharmacy.

North Yorkshire Police today appealed for information about the thefts, which occurred overnight on either Monday or Tuesday last week.

It did not comment on the possible reasons for the theft.

The banner attached to the Memorial Hall.

The banners were bright yellow and measured approximately 1 metre x 2 metres.

Police said:

“Anybody with information about this crime can email bill.hickson@northyorkshire.police.uk, call 101, or report on-line at www.northyorkshire.police.uk. Please quote reference 12230080065.

“Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers UK on 0800 555 111 or online at the Crimestoppers website.”

Read more:

 

Company defends Nidderdale school bus cost amid price hike

A bus company has defended an increase in fares for a Nidderdale school service after the cost rose to nearly £1,000 a year.

The price of a bus from Ripon to Nidderdale High School jumped from £600 to £950 for the forthcoming school year starting in September.

The figure amounts to a 58% increase in price compared with the previous academic year.

Procters Coaches, which runs the bus, said diesel costs, wages and insurance meant the cost had to be passed on.

Jennie Eyres, who lives in Ripon, has a daughter heading to the school this September.

She said that she was “astonished” to find the hike in cost when she was looking to send her child to Nidderdale.

Ms Eyres said:

“As a parent with a child intending to start at Nidderdale in September, travelling from Ripon, I was astonished to find out how expensive the bus was, and even more so to find out the huge hike in price that has happened since the previous academic year.

“We are all very aware of costs going up all around us at the moment, and to an extent we do understand. However this is much more than the 10,15 or even 20% rise that could potentially be expected.”

Ms Eyres said diesel prices had actually gone down since the middle of last summer, and should not be cited as a reason for the fare increase, adding:

“The cost of insurance has increased by 20% and wages approximately 10% – neither of these are figures that back up the increase of almost 60%.”

Read more:

Nidderdale High, which has 401 pupils on its roll, said it had subsidised the cost that had been passed on as part of the bus contract.

Kath Jordan, headteacher at the school, pointed out that governors had taken the decision to subsidise the cost “very significantly” despite the hike.

She added that officials at Nidderdale were mindful of the cost of living when setting prices for parents.

She said:

“The governing body were very mindful of cost of living pressures this year when making the difficult decision to increase the cost of bus passes and have increased the level of subsidy paid by the school to keep the cost to parents as low as possible, whilst also trying to balance this against the increased cost pressures on the overall school budget.

“The Ripon bus service is used entirely by families who live outside the school’s catchment area and therefore are not entitled to free transport to school provided by the local authority. There isn’t a public bus service available for families to use. Families who choose Nidderdale High School and live out of catchment are responsible for transport to school.

“We are delighted that so many families from beyond our immediate catchment area have recognised the high quality of education and care for the individual that we offer at Nidderdale High School and have made the positive choice to be part of our school community.”

Kevin Procter, managing director at Procters Coaches, said his company had to handle the cost of inflation like other businesses.

Mr Procter, who has run the school bus for six years, said he sympathised with parents but had to make the service cost-effective.

He said:

“Things go up in price and do not go down, unfortunately.”

As it happened: Second day of coronation celebrations in Harrogate district

Coronation celebrations continued across the Harrogate district today.

Today’s events include a parade of floats in Masham, The Big Lunch in Pateley Bridge, free entertainment in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, maypole dancing in Kirkby Malzeard, a picnic in Beckwithshaw, street parties and a fireworks display and Beatles tribute band at Spofforth Castle.

Our reporters were out and about capturing the fun and celebrations.

For a full list of events, visit our coronation diary here.

You can catch up with Saturday’s live blog here.

7.04pm – Big crowd for Coronation Concert in Knaresborough

Knaresborough coronation

Kelly Young (centre), alongside other chamber members

Nearly 400 people have gathered in the grounds of Knaresborough Castle to watch a livestream of the Coronation Concert on a big screen.

As the sun still shines, families and friends are seated with picnics and drinks waiting to enjoy the BBC concert. Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has also created a video compilation of iconic moments in the King’s life, including his christening, his crowning as the Prince of Wales, and music from the 1940s up to the 2000s.

Knaresborough Castle is part of the Duchy of Lancaster, a property portfolio owned by King Charles III himself, but the castle is predominantly run by North Yorkshire Council and the people of Knaresborough.

Kelly Young, director of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, said:

“We’re grateful to Matthew Walker and North Yorkshire Council for the funding to host this event.

“We hope to have many more events like this in the future”.

6.32pm – Coronation tea at Oatlands 

A good turnout for the coronation afternoon tea at Oatlands Community Centre in Harrogate. Pics by Oatlands Community Group.

Oatlands coronation

4pm Carr Close Street Party, Ripon

With nearly 100 attendees, Carr Close in Ripon hosted a street party to continue the royal celebrations. Residents of the street have enjoyed a lunch in the sun, a royal raffle and lots of dancing and games.

The party began at 1pm and will end at 6pm when the road closure ends. It has been in the works for six months, after Harrogate Borough Council allowed the street closure.

The party’s royal raffle raised £100 for Harrogate Road Methodist Church in Ripon.

The residents of Carr Close gave a cheer to the new King.

Organiser Jane Lincoln, a resident of Carr Close, said:

“Today has made me feel so lucky to be part of such a lovely community”.

Carr Close resident Julie Carr said:

“It has been a great day, with lovely weather and lovely company.

“We have spent it with our friends and family”.

3.30  Ripon Cathedral begins Commemorative Service 

Whilst the festivities continue in villages across the district, the bells of Ripon Cathedral have been ringing to mark the start of a special commemoration service.

The Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Ms Jo Ropner, representing the newly-crowned King Charles III, arrived at a packed Ripon cathedral this afternoon for a commemorative service to celebrate yesterday’s coronation.

She was greeted by the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson. Both pictured below.

Among the 600 plus in attendance are civic dignitaries from across the county. The service will see the cathedral’s girl choristers, choral scholars and lay clerks sing with the additional accompaniment of Ripon City Band (pictured).

The service is being led by the Dean, with readings from The Lord-Lieutenant, and the commanding officer of the Royal Engineers’ 21 Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Perry Bishop. The regiment is based at Claro Baracks, Ripon.

3pm – Masham parade 

Flora has now moved from Kirkby Malzeard to Masham to cover the afternoon fun.

The coronation float parade has begun into the town’s square, featuring a performance from Elvis, a live band and the fire service. 

Richard and Sandy Cole, drivers of a Morgan in the parade, said: 

“It’s been a wonderful day. It’s lovely to be in the fresh air and always good to be in our cars. We feel we’re in good hands with King Charles III.”

The First Rainbows, Brownies and Guides won best float

Vick Greensit who’s two daughters were on the winning float (below) told the Stray Ferret:

“ It’s been a fantastic day and atmosphere. Masham has pushed the boat out and we all love a community event.”

Ellie Greensit (L) aged 7 and her 10 year old sister Jessica on the winning float

1.10pm – Kirky Malzeard’s Big Lunch gets underway

The Stray Ferret’s Flora Grafton has started her coverage of the district today in Kirkby Malzeard.

Around 300 people have gathered in the village in aid of the national Big Lunch event.

As well as a picnic lunch, visitors can enjoy maypole dancing, sword dancing and a bouncy castle.

Villager Karen Pickles said:

“People gathered together to have lunch and I’m just to glad it has brought the village together.” 

Pippa Manson chair of Kirkby Malzeard Parish Council (R), Karen Pickles and Jeni Cropper (L)

The Kirkby Malzeard Long Sword Dancers

12.50pm – weather forces change of venue in Pannal 

The earlier torrential rain has meant a change of venue for today’s festivities in Pannal to the Village Green and Church car park.

 

 

Ripon bell ringers prepare to ring for the King 

Ripon coronation

Their work high up in the south west tower of Ripon Cathedral goes unseen, but they are heard across the ancient city.

The 32-strong team of bell-ringers, whose numbers have increased recently with four new recruits, will ‘ring for the king’ once more this afternoon, with a joyous quarter peal between 2.15 and the start of the North Yorkshire commemorative service at 3.30, which celebrates yesterday’s coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Ringing master Martin Davies, told the Stray Ferret that 10 of the cathedral’s 12 bells were cast in 1932 and were rung to mark the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953.

This afternoon’s service will be attended by the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Ms Jo Ropner, along with other civic dignitaries. It will be led by the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd. John Dobson.

Our pictures show members of the bell-ringing team in action prior to this morning’s Sung Eucharist Service and a group photo supplied to us by Mr Davies.

Ripon coronation