petition Archives - Page 5 of 6

Tree campaigners protest against Ripon Cathedral development plans

Campaigners who have raised a petition signed by about 500 people seeking to save an ‘irreplaceable’ veteran beech tree from being felled, gathered at Ripon’s Minster Gardens yesterday.

Their petition, which will be submitted to North Yorkshire Council, objects to Ripon Cathedral’s Ripon Cathedral Renewed planning application.

The application proposes erecting a two-storey building on Minster Gardens, which would require the loss of the tree – described as T14 – and 10 other trees on site.

The petition states:

“We, the undersigned, do not approve of the felling of ancient trees on public land, to make way for the new build proposed by the cathedral. We believe there are alternative solutions, including the utilising of pre-existing buildings.”

The petition reflects concerns raised by statutory consultees including Jack Taylor, the Woodland Trust’s lead campaigner for woods under threat and North Yorkshire Council’s principal ecologist, Dan McAndrew.

In his response to the planning application, which can be seen on the council planning portal, Mr Taylor said:

“This loss of a veteran tree is contrary to both local and national planning policy and this application should be refused in its current form.”

The veteran beech tree described as T14 in documents relating to the annex planning application.

He added:

“Veteran trees are irreplaceable habitats, once lost they are gone forever. Any development resulting in loss or deterioration of veteran trees should not be taken forward.

“The Woodland Trust objects to this application on the basis of loss of a veteran beech tree and the loss and potential deterioration of other notable trees that are also likely to hold considerable value now and in the future, ecologically and culturally.

“Therefore, we request that planning permission is not taken forward for this site unless the plans can be suitably altered to avoid the loss of the veteran tree and suitably protect both retained veteran and notable trees on site.”

Mr McAndrew said in his response:

“I object to this application in its current form because I do not accept that there is no possible alternative location or configuration of the layout of the proposed building, which could avoid the loss of the veteran beech tree, T14, which I view as an unnecessary loss of ‘irreplaceable habitat’.

“In my view, it ought to be possible for the applicant to devise a solution, involving the reconfiguration of the building or its location which would enable T14 to be retained.”

The National Planning Policy Framework identifies ancient and veteran trees as ‘irreplaceable habitat’. It states development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists.

Petition organiser Jenni Holman (pictured above, front middle) said:

“The petition has been signed by local residents and some visitors to Ripon, who are totally opposed to felling of the veteran beech and other mature trees that play an essential role in the biodiversity of this area of the city.

“This is a lovely, peaceful open space and many of those that have signed find it inconceivable that this is even being contemplated.”

Fellow campaigner Pat Waterfall said:

“The loss of trees and this green space when other alternatives are available, is unacceptable.”

Response from Ripon Cathedral

A spokesperson for the Ripon Cathedral Renewed programme said:

“The planning application is going through its due process, as such we don’t respond to individual comments or objections during this process.

“What I can say is that we have investigated all available options within the cathedral estate, and none of the sites were suitable for the new building. This was the opinion of a range of external experts who specialise in heritage buildings and conservation as well as architects and project management experts. The needs of all internal and external users of the proposed new building cannot be met by using any other existing chapter property and all cathedral property is currently being used to its maximum capacity.

“As we’ve previously said, the building will be an asset to the people of the city, providing much needed facilities, including a safe space for our choristers to rehearse that is fully accessible, along with public toilet facilities (including a new Changing Places toilet, suitable for those who struggle to use standard accessible toilets).

“While we understand that some people may see the loss of 11 trees as too heavy a price to pay, the development will tidy up an unloved part of the city, increase the amount of public open space and enhance the existing much-valued memorial garden. The plans we’ve submitted also include the planting of 14 new trees around the cathedral, along with a further 300 trees on land made available by a supporter of the project and will see an overall increase in biodiversity across the area.”

Hundreds sign petition for 20mph limit across south Harrogate

A petition calling for a blanket 20mph zone across an area on the south side of Harrogate has received more than 600 signatures in support.

The proposal would see all streets between York Place and the southern edge of Harrogate limited to 20mph.

The petition has been set up by parents Hazel Peacock and Vicki Evans, who founded the Oatlands Road Safety and Active Travel Campaign. They say it is vital to ensure children can travel to and from school in safety.

They wrote:

“We want safer streets for the children, young people and wider community when travelling to school and other locations in the area, from their home to their destination.

“Road safety has been of particular concern from school leaders, parents and carers of school children and local residents in Oatlands and the wider Harrogate area for many years.

“A maximum speed of 20mph is now urgently needed to reduce road collisions, improve safety, reduce air pollution and create a better environment for walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting to schools, shops, workplaces and local amenities.”

Dr Evans and Ms Peacock will present their proposal to a meeting of North Yorkshire County Council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee on Thursday.

Their proposed 20mph zone covers as far east as Wetherby Road and extends west to West End Avenue and Green Lane.

There, it links with another existing petition for a 20mph zone and additional safety measures, including crossing points, proposed by campaigners Jenny Marks and Ruth Lily.

Dr Marks presented those plans to the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee in November.

Since then, pressure on NYCC’s highways department to improve road safety has grown, particularly following a serious collision on Yew Tree Lane that left two 15-year-old boys from Rossett School with leg injuries.

In the wake of the incident at the beginning of February, headteachers from almost every primary and secondary school in the area met at Harrogate Grammar School to urge representatives of NYCC to take action.

After the meeting, Rossett School’s acting headteacher, Pete Saunders, told the Stray Ferret:

“Speaking to the family of one of the boys [who was injured], they said that was one of five incidents that has affected just their family since their children were small.

“It’s a very pervasive issue. We will do whatever we can to support changes being made.”

Next week, the group is due to meet again – this time at St Aidan’s school – and will be joined by a caseworker for Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as NYCC’s transport lead, Cllr Keane Duncan, and local councillors whose divisions are affected by the concerns over safety.

The meeting of more than 30 people will follow a walk around the Pannal Ash area led by the parents, for councillors and school representatives to discuss the issues.

Petition launched to honour all England Lionesses — including Harrogate’s Rachel Daly

A petition has been launched to award honours to all members of the England Lionesses team that won Euro 2022 — including Harrogate’s Rachel Daly.

Captain Leah Williamson was appointed OBE while Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze and Ellen White became MBEs in today’s King’s New Year Honours.

But the decision to recognise four players and not others in a team game has caused controversy.

A petition calling for all of the Lionesses’ playing squad to receive honours has already attracted 2,000 signatures.

Michael McCann, who started the petition, said:

“It simply does not feel fair at all, that after such a monumental collective effort, and given the historical precedents set with previous sporting successes in England, to chose to honour just four of the Lionesses players.”

Mr McCann calls on the Cabinet Office to “honour the entire 23-player squad with at least an MBE”.

Politicians, including Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, have questioned why only four of the team were recognised.

Why only four? They were a TEAM. It should be all or none and I say ALL. https://t.co/lc6ysVKZWL

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) December 31, 2022

The Daily Mail’s northern football correspondent, Dominic King, also expressed forthright views on Twitter.

If Gareth Southgate’s squad had won the World Cup, every member would have got recognition in the honours list. It’s puzzling, them, why every member of Sarina Weigman’s squad hasn’t been honoured. Sir Hugh Robertson’s explanation for the exclusivity is nonsense, too.

— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) December 31, 2022

Daly, whose career started at Killinghall Nomads, has had an amazing year. Besides winning Euro 2022 she has twice been named Women’s Super League Player of the Month for her scoring exploits at Aston Villa.

Rachel Daly receiving her player of the month award November.

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.”

Residents petition calls on council to reject Harrogate Tesco plans

Residents living close to the former gas works in New Park have started a petition calling on Harrogate Borough Council to reject Tesco’s application to build a supermarket.

If given the go-ahead, Tesco would build a 38,795 square feet store and a petrol filling station on the site near the New Park roundabout.

Electric Avenue residents have cited various concerns, including pollution, road safety fears and environmental damage,

They say the disused site has become a home to wildlife since Northern Gas Networks moved out more than 20 years ago.

Two days since resident Nicki Balmforth set up the petition, more than 140 people have signed it. In the petition description she said:

“We believe that this new application should be rejected in full due to the time that has passed the abundance of wildlife now thriving on this land, and the certain destruction of their habitats.

“The site is home to and/or feeding ground to the following wildlife, roe deer, badgers, foxes, newts, frogs and toads, squirrels, hedgehogs, owls and more.

“We do not need another supermarket in this area, in a five-mile radius from this site there are 14 food stores including Aldi, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Co-op, and express shops. We do understand the need to support the new homes being built, but this is not the right location!”

Electric Avenue residents are holding a meeting tomorrow night to discuss the plans.

Tesco has harboured ambitions for a new store in the town for almost 20 years. The retailer previously had plans approved in 2009.

The supermarket giant held an online consultation about the plans last year — 187 people responded. Of those, 62% said they supported proposals.

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.”

Petition mooted over Marks & Spencer plans to close Harrogate Oatlands cafe

Marks & Spencer has submitted plans to expand its Simply Food store on Leeds Road, Harrogate and close the cafe.

M&S was granted planning permission to demolish a car showroom and build the store at Oatlands Retail Park in 2012.

It now plans to expand into the adjoining sofa.com unit.

The company actually had permission to occupy the sofa.com site in 2012 but did not want as much space then and chose to sub-divide the unit instead.

A planning document sent to Harrogate Borough Council by commercial real estate agents Avison Young (UK) on behalf of M&S reveals the retailer now plans to expand and ‘remove’ the cafe. It says:

“The current works to reverse the unit’s sub-division reflect changes in consumer demand for food products in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and a wider business strategy by M&S to invest in and expand its food retail offer.”

A Stray Ferret reader got in touch to say the potential loss of the cafe had not gone down well with customers and some were considering a petition calling on the company to reconsider.

An M&S spokesperson said:

“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.”

Philip Allott: ‘I have much to learn’ but no resignation

The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has admitted he has “much to learn” about male violence against women and girls but did not mention resigning.

More than 5,000 people have signed a petition calling on Philip Allot to resign following comments he made on BBC Radio York on Friday about the murder of Sarah Everard.

In the interview, Mr Allott said women “need to be street wise” and that Ms Everard “never should have submitted” to arrest.

Labour leader Keir Starmer, Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, London mayor Sadiq Khan and TV personality Piers Morgan have been among those condemning his comments and calling for his resignation.

Locally, protestors gathered near the war memorial in Harrogate yesterday to coincide with a public engagement meeting organised by the commissioner’s office, which Mr Allott did not attend.

Knaresborough resident Mr Allott, who was elected in May to succeed fellow Conservative Julia Mulligan, said in a statement:

“I would like to reiterate my heartfelt apology for my comments on BBC Radio York on Friday 1 October, which I realise were both misconceived and insensitive and have caused upset and distress. I have withdrawn the remarks.

“Clearly, I have much to learn, so as well as committing to working ever more closely with subject-matter expert colleagues in my own organisation and beyond, I will be seeking meetings as soon as possible with local partner organisations across North Yorkshire and the City of York that provide services to tackle male violence against women and girls, in order to deliver on their concerns and broaden my understanding of the issues.

“I hope that all those reading this statement will accept my apology and the commitment I have given to my own learning – and to driving forward positive progress in keeping our communities safe.”

Thousands sign petition against Bewerley Park closure

Pressure is mounting as North Yorkshire County Council prepares to decide on the future of Bewerley Park Outdoor Education Centre today.

More than 16,000 people have signed a petition opposing the closure of Bewerley Park and East Barnby, near Whitby, after it was revealed that the council is considering whether the two facilities are viable.

The impact of the coronavirus crisis could see both of them mothballed in the short term. A full review of the sites is also being planned to decide whether to keep them open.

Bewerley Park has been welcoming generations of local schoolchildren for many decades, giving them the opportunity to try outdoor activities and learn new skills. Its potential closure has caused significant concern among parents and former pupils who have benefited from the NYCC-owned residential site.

Among the comments from signatories were:

“Both centres are incredibly important for the service they provide to young people for experience of adventurous activity and insight into the environment that sustains us all. They are part of their local and much, much wider community, their impacts resonate for generations and their loss can be ill-afforded.”

One former teacher wrote:

“I have lived in Bewerley for 40 years and I have taught at Harrogate Grammar School. I know what a fantastic resource Bewerley Park represents for both teachers and students. Where else on the curriculum can children undertake these safe activities with experiences and development of skills that can last a lifetime?”

NYCC’s executive is due to meet today to decide whether to proceed with mothballing Bewerley Park and East Barnby, as well as undertaking a review of the long-term future of the service.

A report from Amanda Newbold, assistant director of children and young people’s services, recommends going ahead with both, and assessing the impact on the 42 staff affected. Some could be redeployed to other services, depending on need, but it is likely some posts would be lost.

Her report said the facilities at Bewerley Park are in need of significant investment to bring them up to modern standards.

The council has vowed to carry out a consultation with schools and local communities about how outdoor learning should be delivered in the future. Ms Newbold said:

“We know that many generations in North Yorkshire have fond memories of visiting Bewerley Park and East Barnby during their schools years. Many thousands of students has passed through the doors of these centres over the last few decades to take part in outdoor adventures and it has a special place in many people’s hearts.

“Unfortunately the estate, including dormitory huts, dining hall and other buildings are in urgent need of updating and modernising and we need to create a more suitable model of outdoor education provision for future generations of children.

“If the buildings at Bewerley Park were old stone structures there wouldn’t be a problem, but the material estate has worn out and we’re spending a significant sum of money trying to patch it up. Unfortunately the buildings aren’t fit for purpose or for the future.

“We need to launch a full review of outdoor learning services and potentially come up with a more sustainable model of delivering the service.

“At this stage nothing is off the table and we would like to work with our existing outdoor learning staff and other stakeholders to see if we to make sure we fully meet the future needs of schools and young people for outdoor education and have a sustainable, long-lasting model for the service in place.”

Councillor’s petition criticism infuriates Knaresborough and Ripon traders

Market stallholders and Knaresborough Chamber of Trade have reacted angrily after a councillor discredited a petition they raised about increased charges.

At the online full meeting of Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) in October, Steve Teggin, president of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, presented a ‘save your market’ petition with 4,000 signatures, raised during the summer at the town’s Wednesday market and Ripon’s Thursday market.

Following the meeting, Councillor Andrew Paraskos, HBC’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, contacted individual signatories, saying in a letter sent by post to their homes, or to email addresses:

“The statements made in the petition were misleading and incorrect.”

Photograph of the entrance to Harrogate Civic Centre

Harrogate Borough Council has an uneasy relationship with stallholders at its markets in Knaresborough and Ripon

The petition said:

“Harrogate Borough Council is increasing the cost of rent and stall assembly to traders by over 25 per cent. This will mean that it will not be financially viable to continue trading for several market traders.

“Other local councils helped market traders who could trade during lockdown providing essential food products. This was through charging no rent or discounting rent.

“When non-food traders were allowed to return, after not being able to trade for 3 months, full rent was charged (by HBC), despite other local councils providing financial assistance.”

Twenty non-essential traders applied for local authority discretionary grants and each received payments of £10,000 in two instalments – the first in the summer of £2,000 and then £8,000 in October. At the time the grant money was welcomed by those who had received it.

However, the stallholders are unhappy about an increase of £5 plus VAT from August 1 for the supply and assembly of stalls by the council. Traders who erect their own stalls have not had to pay the additional fee.

The bid to get a council u-turn on increased charges failed, but Cllr Paraskos’s letter has reignited feelings of distrust between the traders and the council and the relationship has deteriorated. A statement on the letter was given by HBC:

“It is not unusual for an elected member to correspond with the electorate on a range of different issues, whether related to their cabinet responsibilities or ward matters.

“In this case, it was important to set out in clear terms the council’s position on Knaresborough and Ripon markets after much mis-reporting and false claims circulating.

“There were only 747 unique names and addresses among the signatories on the petition.”

Mr Teggin told the Stray Ferret:

“I speak on behalf of stallholders, when I say attempts to undermine the petition is an insult, not only to the people who signed it, knowing it was factually correct, but to the market traders in Knaresborough and Ripon who have played an important role throughout the coronavirus crisis.

“We have already lost traders who have found the increased cost too much to bear and we cannot understand why Harrogate Borough Council treats us with such disdain.”

Brian Murphy, who represents Ripon’s stallholders, pointed out:

“The monthly invoice for rental and assembly of stalls that I paid the council in June was £550 including VAT and in August it shot up by £156 to £706 – that’s an increase of more than 25 per cent.

“I feel that with his letter, Cllr Paraskos was calling me and other market traders liars, but he has failed to substantiate in what ways the wording on our joint petition was ‘misleading and incorrect’.

“Attempting to cast doubts over a petition signed freely by the people who visit and value the markets in Ripon and Knaresborough, is yet another kick in the teeth from a council that is completely out of step with neighbouring authorities, who genuinely support and have a good relationship with stallholders.”

Response from Ripon Cathedral

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