Boost to Nidderdale Greenway extension plans

Harrogate Borough Council has pledged to support plans to extend the Nidderdale Greenway by up to 23 miles.

The authority has agreed to join a steering group leading on the plans, which would see the four mile cycling and walking route from Harrogate to Ripley extended through the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to Scar House Reservoir.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting last night, councillor Stanley Lumley, who represents the Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale Moors ward, said:

“These plans have been approached on several occasions, but this is the first time it has got real credence.

“The first part of the Nidderdale Greenway has proved to be an enormous success creating a safe cycling and walking route.

“The ambition to extend it through Nidderdale to Pateley Bridge would have great benefits for businesses and residents. It would also be a great asset to Nidderdale and the district as a whole.”

Councillor Phil Ireland, cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, added:

“Sustainable transport is a key priority of this council and opportunities such as this should be supported.

“We do need representation on the steering group otherwise we would have no input into the development and delivery of the project.”

Councils, campaigners and residents will make up the steering group which could be officially formed by this autumn.

It is being led by cycling campaigner Malcolm Margolis, who long before the greenway opened in 2013 has always held an ambition of extending the route, which is used by an estimated 200,000 people every year.

Mr Margolis worked with Sustrans, a national charity that lobbies for and helps build cycling infrastructure, to produce a feasibility study for the extension plans before the pandemic struck and caused some delays in moving the project forward.

The plan though does have its detractors with some landowners in Nidderdale calling it a “Blackway”, arguing it will urbanise the rural footpaths.

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The steering group will oversee the next stages of the project, including route planning and further talks with landowners. The aim is for the route to follow disused railway lines or existing rights of way wherever possible.

Mr Margolis previously said he hoped the route would be “substantially built” within the next five years and be funded by government grants and fundraising.

Lidl store at Ripon retail park gets go-ahead

Plans for a new Lidl supermarket at St Michael’s Retail Park in Ripon have been given the go-ahead.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee today granted approval for the store, which the German retailer said will create up to 40 jobs and occupy three units at the £10m retail park.

Lidl also said the supermarket would represent a “multi-million-pound” investment into the Rotary Way site, which opened last year and is currently only occupied by Marks and Spencer.

Speaking at a meeting today, Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh said she was happy to support the development because of the hundreds of homes set to be built in the area over the coming years, including plans for 1,300 homes at Ripon Barracks.

She said:

“This huge residential development is coming so there is a requirement to make sure that there is this kind of retail in Ripon.

“And what made me comfortable with this was the analysis of whether the store would impact on the city centre itself.

“Once that assured me it wouldn’t, I was very happy to support this to give the people of Ripon a choice in their shopping.”

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The Lidl plans were submitted to the council in May following a virtual consultation with the local community earlier in the year.

Today’s approval comes after separate plans for a Lidl store at the former Lookers car dealership on Harrogate’s Knaresborough Road were approved by the council last month.

Lidl previously said this store will also create up to 40 jobs once built.

Housing developer dubbed ‘insensitive’ over Kingsley street names

Residents have called Barratt Homes “ignorant” and “insensitive” for its choice of names for two new roads on one of its housing developments. 

Barratt is building 100 homes on a former green field off Kingsley Drive near Knaresborough Road.

The development, which is called Kingsley Meadows, includes new roads Meadow Place and Wildflower Close, which has attracted the ire of Kingsley Ward Action Group who think the names are cruelly ironic.

Locals fought against the proposals and submitted 155 objections with many lamenting the loss of green space. The application was initially refused by Harrogate Borough Council in 2015 because councillors agreed it would “unduly harm the rural pastoral character” of the area.

However, the application came during the period when HBC had no Local Plan, and the developer succeeded in overturning the decision on appeal.

Credit – Bill Shaw

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John Hansard from Kingsley Ward Action Group told the Stray Ferret it was “ironic” that the developer had chosen to give the new roads these names, considering what was there before.

A field on Kingsley Drive, with a crane from the Kingsley Meadows development in the background. Bill Shaw.

Mr Hansard accused the developer of “crass insensitivity and commercialism”.

He added:

“Why not stop at this, why not have a Deer Avenue, a Fox Drive or a Badger Close, after the animals whose habitats they’re destroying?

“These people are ignorant, thoughtless and only interested in making a fast buck at the expense of communities and the environment.”

A spokesperson for Barratt Homes said:

“The road names at Kingsley Meadows have been chosen in consistency with the name of the development itself and to reflect the scenery of its surroundings. The names were certainly not intended to cause offence to local residents and were required to meet the approval of Harrogate Borough Council before being confirmed.

“We have always been fully committed to supporting the ecology and biodiversity at Kingsley Meadows and its surrounding areas. As well as planting a number of new trees and enhancing the nearby watercourse with wetland wildflowers, we have installed hedgehog highways across the development and a wildlife friendly garden at its show home.”

Plans for 36 homes in Goldsborough sent back to drawing board

The housebuilders behind a 36-home development in Goldsborough have been sent back to the drawing board for the second time this year after claims residents’ concerns have been “ignored”.

Stonebridge Homes has outline permission for the Station Road scheme but has now twice failed to get a final go-ahead after Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee voted for another deferral on Tuesday.

This comes after a meeting in March ended in the same result.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Andrew Paraskos, the Conservative councillor for Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale, said residents have accepted the development will eventually go-ahead but concerns over the density and design of the homes remained.

Photograph: Stonebridge Homes

These revised plans included two two-storey homes being reduced to bungalows, as well as more tree planting.

Cllr Paraskos said:

“Everybody realises that this site will be developed but no discussion has been made between the developers, the village and ourselves. We were asked for a meeting but due to holidays and other commitments we were unable to attend.

“The materials are still the same, the layout is the same, everything else is exactly as it was before.

“The revised application was also sent in before any meetings were tried to be arranged which really defeats the object.”

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Jacqueline Dowker, chair of Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council, also spoke in objection to the plans and described the changes as “minimal and superficial”.

No final decision for three years

In response, Mark Johnson, an agent for Stonebridge Homes, said the developers have “always been available” for discussions with residents and that not having a final decision after first submitting the plans in 2018 was now becoming an “issue”.

Mr Johnson was also questioned by councillor Victoria Oldham if he thought residents’ concerns should be “ignored” and he said:

“No I don’t – what you have to understand though is that when the architects approach every scheme they are looking at the character of the area.

“When the site was allocated for a particular number of dwellings, those issues were already considered.

“On that basis, the scheme has been found acceptable by the council’s design officer twice.”

The plans – which include a mix of one to five-bedroom properties – received 37 objections from residents.

It was agreed at Tuesday’s meeting that residents and councillors would meet with the developers before revised plans are brought back before the committee later this summer.

Two year wait for planning decision forces appeal over Ripon townhouses

Developers have lodged an appeal against Harrogate Borough Council over a “failure to determine” a planning application for new apartments and townhouses in Ripon.

Spinksburn Ltd had tabled a plan to build four apartments and four townhouses on land off North Street in the city.

The site, which used to be retail units, was demolished to make way for Marshall Way and has remained undeveloped since.

The company tabled a revised plan back in November 2019, but says it has yet to receive a decision on the proposal.

Now, the developer has taken the matter to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

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In a letter outlining its grounds for appeal, the developer said it had requested a delay to the decision due to the covid pandemic back in April 2020.

A further extension was then agreed until July 15, 2021.

However, the developer said that since then the borough council has yet to determine the application.

The letter written by the developer’s lawyer said:

“Our client has therefore instructed us to submit the appeals for non-determination because the council does not appear to have the resources to be able to determine the applications and there appears to be no end in sight.

“My client is extremely concerned that determination of the applications is being allowed to drift and there are no means by which to secure the determination of the applications besides the appeal process if the council does not have the necessary resources.”

A government planning inspector will make a decision on the appeal at a later date.

£22,000 fundraising campaign launched for Ripon Walled Garden

The charity that runs Ripon Walled Garden has launched a £22,000 fundraising campaign to buy new facilities for the disabled people it helps.

Ripon Community Link, which provides day support services for people with learning difficulties, operates from two sites in the city area — St Wilfrid’s Bungalow and Ripon Walled Garden.

Many of the people it helps work at the walled garden. The fundraising campaign will help to finish and furnish a new building on the site which they will use.

The building, which includes four classrooms, a reception and toilets, has already been paid for by grants and donations.

Victoria Ashley, Ripon Community Link chief executive, said:

“The new building is the next phase of our improvements for the walled garden to benefit members, customers, staff and volunteers.

“The opening of the toilet block was a major step for us, and now we are setting our sights on this new building, specifically aimed at benefitting our members. Our aim is to have this new facility fully opened in autumn”

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A charity gold day at Rudding Park on August 19 is among the events planned to support the fundraising campaign.

To donate, click here.

Masham needs more homes not holiday lets, says parish council

A planning application has caused debate in Masham after councillors said they would only support it if the building was used as housing rather than holiday lets.

At a Masham Parish Council meeting this month, councillors decided to neither support or object to a proposal to convert a building on Market Place into two dwellings.

The plans would see the former Forrest House Veterinary Ltd practice turned into two semi-detached houses. One would be one-bedroom and the other two-bedrooms.

The building is thought to have been empty for 12 months after the business moved during lockdown.

Masham councillors said they were passionate about fulfilling the demand for smaller properties from local residents.

Cllr Ian Johnson said:

“We’ve just got too many. It wasn’t a problem five years ago but it is now. It’s upsetting when you see people struggling to get a home in Masham because there aren’t any of the right ones available.”

Councillors believe the current 90 holiday lets in Masham were enough.

The parish council will now advise Harrogate Borough Council of its decision.

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Boom in padel tennis brings new centre to Harrogate

A new padel tennis centre could arrive at Harrogate’s Hornbeam Park as popularity for the sport grows.

With more than 6.000 padel players in the UK, according to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the sport is one of the fastest growing in the country.

Plans have been submitted for a new six-court padel centre in one of Hornbeam’s new developments.

If planning is approved a new “boutique” gym will also open on the ground floor of the Matrix building with the padel courts on the first floor.

The building is currently empty but if planning is approved it could see the site transformed.

Unit M1 Matrix building, Hornbeam Park

The court would be housed in the Unit 1M Matrix building if plans are approved.

Here are ten facts you might not know about padel tennis, from the LTA:

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Planning documents have described the ground floor gym as “boutique with premium facilities”.

The centre will be opened by Coach Gyms Limited and Surge Padel Limited if planning is given the go ahead.

Wetherby Road Starbucks developer to seek legal costs if plan approved

A developer behind a planned Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road has said it will seek full legal costs if the proposal is approved by a planning inspector.

Alan Evans, counsel for Euro Garages, told an inquiry earlier this week that the company would seek costs from Harrogate Borough Council for “unreasonable behaviour”.

Residents fighting the controversial proposal, which is planned for the former 1st Dental surgery site, appeared before the hearing to defend the refusal after the borough council withdrew its objection.

Alan Evans, a legal representative for Euro Garages, told the appeal that the planning committee’s latest decision of refusal should be overturned.

He said: 

“Members of the committee were themselves unwilling to defend their reasons for refusal so if you wanted to have a bird’s-eye view of unreasonableness, then I don’t think you could have a better one.

“No evidence has been brought forward, there never was any evidence and our application was based soundly at the outset.

“If the council can’t defend any reasons for refusal, then the obvious opposite side of the coin is that it should have been granted permission.”

Residents living next to the potential site of the drive-thru told the inquiry into the plans that it would “completely destroy” their enjoyment of their homes.

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Speaking at the hearing on Tuesday, resident Joanne Richardson, who lives behind the proposed site, said: 

“If this proposal is accepted then the impact on residents will be huge – it is seven days a week, unsociable hours and our amenity will be completely destroyed.”

Helen Hockenhull, a government planning inspector, opened the hearing into the proposed Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road on Tuesday

Mrs Richardson also said revisions to the plans – including a re-jigged car park, reduction in the size of the coffee shop and an acoustic fence – did not go far enough to address local concern.

She said:

“What this current proposal does is move the drive-thru lane to literally metres from the windows of living areas directly adjacent to the site.

“It is absurd to think that a two-metre boarded fence and a planted area of a few metres will mitigate the impact on residents surrounding the site.”

Another resident, Mark Hinchliffe, told the appeal that the nearby Woodlands junction was “probably the busiest” in Harrogate as he also warned the town was already at “breaking point” with traffic congestion.

He said: 

“Regardless of Starbucks arriving, there is already a major problem with that road – I can only describe it as the North Circular around London.”

The plans were first refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in 2017 before the applicant lodged an unsuccessful appeal, then submitted a revised application two years later.

These latest proposals were still rejected in 2019 but the council, nor its planning committee, chose not to contest the appeal because it had previously made a recommendation in support of the plans. 

The council also said it was unable to find lawyers willing to fight the appeal on its behalf.

Helen Hockenhull, the planning inspector in charge of the appeal, will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

Helipad plan for Grantley Hall set for second refusal

A five-star luxury hotel and wedding venue near Ripon looks set to be refused permission to use a helicopter landing pad at the site.

Grantley Hall – an 18th century mansion which opened as a hotel after a £70m refurbishment in 2019 – wants to use an existing helipad to attract top events including luxury car launches and yachting clubs.

But its application has been recommended for refusal at a Harrogate Borough Council meeting on Tuesday.

After a previous application was rejected in March last year, the hotel said it had restricted flights to no more than three a month to address concerns about noise to nearby residents and animals.

It also said it could lose £650,000 in income if the helipad was not made available to the type of clients that it wants to attract.

However, a council planning officer has questioned how the helipad could fetch that much money and said the restricted number of flights would still have too great an impact on the area. The officer said in a report:

“Whilst there are economic benefits to be considered with relation to the local economy, it is not considered that these are sufficient to outweigh the harm created by the proposal.

“Concerns are raised that the content of the business plan does not directly appear to correlate with the small number of flights proposed and it is difficult to assess if the numbers proposed.

“Nor is it considered that the visitors arriving by this manner are likely to be direct spending with other attractions in the area, rather they will fly in and fly out.”

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Nidderdale AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), Grantley and Sawley Parish Council and residents have also objected to the plans, with one local warning the noise from flights would disturb daily lives and nature. Robert Ash said in a letter:

“Grantley is a peaceful village, much-loved for its tranquillity both by residents and visitors. In these days of mindfulness it is very therapeutic to be able to listen to the countryside rather than intrusive helicopters.

“This is a totally unnecessary, self-fulfilling application which should once and for all be rejected.”

Michelin star

As part of its application, Grantley Hall commissioned its own noise impact report, which concluded restricted flight times and paths would mean access to the helipad would be carried out in the “quietest manner”.

However, the reasons for recommending refusal are the impact on the Nidderdale AONB and Studley Royal Park, which is classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well the impact on ecology and biodiversity.

The planning officer’s report added:

“A temporary permission for 12 months would allow for a more robust assessment of the impacts of the proposal and the viability of the proposed number of flights and hours of operation, however, it is considered that without the ability to adequately control the routes of the helicopters that these impacts would be significantly adverse.”

Grantley Hall has 47 rooms and four restaurants, including one with a Michelin star, as well as 30 acres of wooded parkland and grounds.

It was used by West Riding County Council between 1947 and 1974 as an adult education residential college, as well as a training and conference centre by North Yorkshire County Council.