Briggate left in ‘totally unacceptable’ state, says ex-Knaresborough mayorFormer Knaresborough mayor Philip Allott has said people have been put at risk by the half finished resurfacing of a busy town road.
Tarmac was removed from the surface of Briggate last night as part of scheduled resurfacing by North Yorkshire Council.
But the new surface has not been added and the uneven state of the highway, along with leftover debris and heavy rain, has made driving and cycling hazardous this morning.
Mr Allott, who is also a former North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:
“The contractors have removed all the tarmac down to the low bridge and then left the site. Debris from potholes are putting pedestrians at risk.
“It’s totally unacceptable. Why haven’t they done it in sections as per recent tarmac work in Harrogate?”
The road is unsurfaced from the junction with the A59 to the low bridge, where temporary lights are in place.
This isn’t the first time Briggate has been in the news lately. A section of wall alongside the road fell in September 2022, leading to several months of temporary traffic lights until it was repaired.
The Stray Ferret has approached North Yorkshire Council for comment.
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Ripon councillors call on crime commissioner to keep CCTV promise
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe has been called on by Ripon City Council to keep a promise made by her predecessor regarding the purchase of CCTV cameras to combat violent and anti-social behaviour.
Former commissioner Philip Allott, who resigned in October, said he would pay £20,000 for two cameras out of his PFCC community fund.
He pledged in September to pay for cameras for use in the Bondgate area of the Ripon, following a “mini crime wave”.
He told a meeting of North Yorkshire County Council‘s Skipton and Ripon Area Constituency Committee that his office was willing to pay for the extra cameras, costing £10,000 apiece, if Ripon City Council submitted an application — which it did.
He subsequently resigned before the cameras were bought.
The PFCC has now said in an email to the city council:
“The PFCC community fund is not, at this stage – under the funding criteria as it stands – in a position to support your application for the CCTV requested.”
The email added that the PFCC has agreed with North Yorkshire County Council that a joint strategic approach to a countywide CCTV review will proceed after the May local elections next year.
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Ms Metcalfe told the Stray Ferret:
“It is deeply disappointing that the previous commissioner committed resources without advice and full consideration of the funding criteria of the community fund, and I am sorry the city council has been put in this position.
“Unfortunately, if we were to fund CCTV for one area, we would find ourselves in an impossible position of being asked to replicate this type of provision across the whole of York and North Yorkshire.
“The funding pot we have available is simply unable to support this, which is why it is important we take an overall view.
“I give my full assurance to the city council and the residents and businesses of Ripon that my team and I will support them to address their community safety concerns together with the appropriate statutory partners.”
Councillor Andrew Williams, leader of Ripon City Council, said:
“I have been contacted by the commissioner, who has offered to meet with me.
“I will be taking her up on the offer, so that I can press the case that residents in Bondgate were promised by her predecessor two CCTV cameras, which are much-needed to ensure that residents who have felt blighted by anti-social behaviour feel safe.
“The temporary camera installed in Bondgate by Harrogate Borough Council earlier this year had a significant impact and a permanent solution now needs to be delivered as promised.”
Mr Allott, stood down after making comments in a radio interview about the murder of Sarah Everard murder trial.
One week left to register to vote for North Yorks police commissionerPeople in North Yorkshire have a week left to register to vote to elect a new North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
The by-election will take place on November 25 following last month’s resignation of the Conservative commissioner Philip Allott in the wake of comments he made about the murder of Sarah Everard.
The commissioner holds the county’s chief constable and chief fire officer to account.
If you are not currently on the electoral register and wish to vote, you can register here.
Turnout at the last election in May was 25%.
Applications to vote by post must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 10th, while proxy vote applications must be entered by 5pm on Wednesday 17th.
Janet Waggott, police area returning officer, said:
““Polling cards will be arriving shortly, and I urge all our residents to take this opportunity to have their say on who is elected to this role.
“Covid remains an important consideration and we’re putting arrangements in place to help you stay safe at the polling station; such as hand sanitiser and face masks.”
Further details about voting are here.
The full list of candidates is:
Hannah Barham-Brown, Women’s Equality Party
James Barker, Liberal Democrats
Zoë Metcalfe, Conservatives
Emma Scott-Spivey, Labour
Keith Tordoff, Independent
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Pressure mounts on Philip Allott as LGBTQ+ group withdraws inviteHarrogate LGBTQ+ non-profit organisation Pride in Diversity has withdrawn an invitation to North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott to the launch of an art event next week.
Mr Allott was due to attend a Speaking Out exhibition at Cold Bath Brewing Co on King’s Road on Monday evening. The exhibition explores the experiences of Harrogate’s LGBTQ+ community through oral history recordings, objects and photographs.
But following Mr Allott’s comments on BBC Radio York about the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving Met Police officer, Leonora Wassell, chair of Pride in Diversity, told the Stray Ferret she has asked him to stay away from the event.
In the interview, Mr Allott said women “need to be streetwise” and that Ms Everard “never should have submitted” to arrest. He has since apologised.
Ms Wassell said she was “disappointed and appalled” by his comments.
She said:
“Pride in Diversity has valued the work of the North Yorkshire Police and the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and are grateful for the funding towards our Speaking Out project from the office.
“We have worked hard to foster a good working relationship and wish to acknowledge the tireless work of NYP to break down barriers and work within marginalised communities.
“However, the recent comments by Mr Allott has left us both disappointed and appalled at the attitude expressed by him. Despite him retracting his statement we believe untold damage has been done to this hard work.
“We remain committed to working closely with NYP and the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner but feel unable to work with Mr Allott.”
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The Harrogate & District Law Society committee’s also released a statement this morning that said trust in Mr Allott has been “irretrievably lost” and he should resign.
Yesterday Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce revealed it has withdrawn an invitation for the Conservative commissioner to speak at its November meeting.
90 complaints to crime panel
North Yorkshire police, fire and crime panel, which holds the commissioner to account, is due to meet on Thursday next week and Mr Allott’s comments will be on the agenda. The meeting will begin at 10.30am and will be available to watch online via North Yorkshire County Council’s website.
A report reveals the panel has had 90 complaints from members of the public about Mr Allott’s BBC interview.
At a meeting of Harrogate Borough Council last night, Conservative council leader Richard Cooper condemned Mr Allott’s comments.
Cllr Cooper said:
“[He needs to] think about what is best for the organisation he leads and best for the safety of women and girls.”