Boroughbridge takeaway opens Harrogate branch

A Boroughbridge takeaway has opened a second branch in Harrogate.

Bozza Fodder, which was first established in the kitchen of the Fox and Hounds pub in 2019, began serving food at The Manhattan on Beech Avenue last Thursday.

Owner Mark Davies, who moved from Teeside to Boroughbridge, said he hopes to bring a taste of the northeast to north Yorkshire and introduce Harrogate residents to a “proper Teeside parmo”.

Mr Davies said he launched Bozza Fodder, which currently offers takeaway, eat-in and delivery services, after realising Boroughbridge “did not have a food delivery service of its own”.

He said after struggling to find IT work locally, he turned to the kitchen to develop his skills.

Mr Davies and his partner Rachael have since offered the town traditional takeaway-style food, including pizzas, burgers and wraps, which he said is “nearly all made in-house”.

Now embarking on a new venture in Harrogate, Mr Davies said:

“I play a lot of pool and started playing at the Manhattan club in Harrogate.

“When I told the owner about my venture in Boroughbridge, he too had an unused kitchen which we thought could be used to benefit us both.”

Bozza Fodder’s chicken parmo.

Bozza Fodder Harrogate also offers both eat-in and takeaway food, as well as delivery services around the centre of the town and as far as Jennyfields and Starbeck.

Chicken parmos, pizzas, gyros, toasted sandwiches and desserts are all available at the new Harrogate site.

Mr Davies said people can expect “the same great service we provide in Boroughbridge but with a few twists to the menu”, adding:

“It’s very exciting times and I’m looking forward to seeing new faces and getting good feedback. Harrogate is a big place, but we have equally big ambitions!

“My mum passed away not long after I started the business, and she always wanted me to do well.

“I’ve put my heart into it for her and I hope she’d be proud how far we have come.”

Both Bozza Fodder branches are open Monday to Friday, from 4pm to 10pm, and 1pm to 10pm on Saturdays.

Read more:

Harrogate Hydro to close on Friday for £11m refurbishment

The Hydro swimming pool in Harrogate will close for nine months on Friday ahead of a £11.8m refurbishment.

The facility will get a two-storey extension as well as a new entrance, cafe and reception area.

There will also be new diving board equipment, a new fitness suite and the changing areas will be upgraded.

A computer generated image of how the Hydro would look.

A computer generated image of how the Hydro will look.

The existing gas boilers will be replaced with air source heat pumps and 250 solar panels, as well as new metering and energy monitoring and control systems.

The pool is run by Brimhams Active on behalf of Harrogate Borough Council.

It means until January, the nearest available council-run pools will be in Starbeck, Knaresborough, Patelely Bridge and Ripon. Opening times are available on the Brimhams Active website.

Read more:

The project will be carried out in phases, with the refurbished pool hall and changing rooms re-opening in January 2023 and the ‘dry side’ activity space by April 2023.

Knaresborough pool

How the new Knaresborough Pool will look.

Work to build the new Knaresborough Pool will start on April 26. The current facility will remain open.

Wallace Sampson, Harrogate Borough Council’s chief executive, said:

“This investment at both the Hydro in Harrogate and a new facility in Knaresborough follows our investment at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon and shows our commitment to providing first-class leisure facilities for Harrogate district residents.”

£17m Knaresborough Leisure Centre approved

Plans for a £17m leisure centre in Knaresborough have been unanimously approved by councillors in what will mark the town centre’s biggest building project in decades.

Harrogate Borough Council yesterday passed its own plans for the new facility to be built over a play area at Fysche Field before the existing Knaresborough Pool just metres away is demolished to make way for a larger car park and new play equipment.

The new leisure centre will have a six-lane pool and exercise studios, and has been hailed by the council as a “modern and fit-for-purpose” facility for the town’s growing population.

Environmental impact

It could be built by the end of 2023 and will also be powered by air source heat pumps and solar panels.

However, some concerns have been raised over the environmental impact of demolishing a large building to replace it with another.

Bill Rigby, chairman of Knaresborough Civic Society, told today’s planning committee meeting that the project should be scrapped in favour of rival proposals for a major upgrade of the existing pool.

He said:

“Rejecting an extension in favour of a new build frustrates the nation’s and district’s own attempts to meet the challenge of a climate emergency.

“We are at a pivotal moment in our history as a community, nation and citizens of the world.

“The proposal fails to respond appropriately at all of these levels.”

Mr Rigby also criticised a council-run survey on where to build the new leisure centre as “flawed” and added residents were never asked if they believed there was a need for it at all.

‘Low carbon priority’

But Jonathan Dunk, chief development officer at the council, described the 30-year-old Knaresborough Pool as “at the end of its working life” and said more swimming space is needed. He said:

“We need to renew rather than refurbish the existing facility because it is old and there is inadequate water space.

“We also want to upgrade to make the most of the energy performance of the new building.

“We have chosen to invest more money and develop to a higher, excellent standard because addressing low-carbon is a high priority for the council.”

Read more:

Today’s vote of approval comes after the council confirmed the project budget had increased from £13million to £17million due to increased material and labour costs, and extra spending on safety equipment.

All nine members of the planning committee voted in favour of the project which was described as a “wise investment” for the town.

Knaresborough mayor councillor Christine Willoughby said:

“I’m very pleased to support this new facility.

“This is the perfect site as I have always felt the pool needs to be in the centre of Knaresborough.

“In a town with a river, it is really important that our children learn to swim.

“We have had too many fatalities in the river over the years.”

Other locations previously considered for the leisure centre included Knaresborough House, Hay-a-Park, Conyngham Hall and a plot of land at Halfpenny Lane.

Alliance Leisure

Today’s decision will now be followed by a cabinet meeting on Wednesday when councillors will be asked to approve a £28million contract for Bristol-based firm Alliance Leisure to build the new leisure centre at Fysche Field and separate plans for the Harrogate Hydro.

The proposals for a two-storey extension of the Hydro were approved in October 2021 and include demolishing the existing entrance and replacing it with a larger cafe and reception area, as well as a new fitness suite.

Meanwhile, the council last week announced that Ripon’s new multi-million-pound swimming pool is finally set to open on Wednesday after months of costly delays.

The project is nine months overdue and £4million over budget, and refurbishment works on the adjoining Ripon Leisure Centre are still underway after the discovery of an underground void prompted the need for an investigation.

Brimhams Active

All 11 council-run leisure venues across the Harrogate district are now being run by Brimhams Active – a council-owned company which launched last year and aims to save around half a million pound a year.

Brimhams Active was hailed as a “new vision for the future” sports and leisure services when it launched last year, although there are now questions over what will happen to the company when the council is replaced by a new North Yorkshire Council in April 2023.

Bid to open scuba diving pool in Knaresborough

A businessman has resubmitted plans for a bespoke scuba diving training pool in Knaresborough.

Tim Yarrow, owner of Harrogate-based DiveShack UK, has lodged the plans in a bid to give the district a “truly unique” facility.

The plan would see the training pool built at land at Thistle Hill in Knaresborough and see the site changed from agricultural land to a deep water diving centre.

Mr Yarrow, who has been a a scuba instructor around the world for 30 years, said the move would help to draw people in from the area and improve access to the sport.

He added that his club, which has been open since 2018, currently trains young and upcoming divers. He said the facility would help to expand this.

He said:

“Our youngest diver is now 11, having completed her course at 10 and is currently spearheading an environmental charity campaign.

“This involves eight of her school peers coming and doing try dives with us and all money is going toward the British Divers Marine Life Rescue Association. These guys are the future and the potential saviours of our planet.”

Read more:

Mr Yarrow added that he hoped the proposed facility would be sympathetic to the local area. He has resubmitted the plan after withdrawing a previous proposal following concern from Knaresborough Town Council.

He said:

“The facility proposed will allow access for Diveshack to promote courses tailored to individual needs and timings, taking very little of the land for change of use and no negative impact on the close neighbours of whom all have been consulted and are in support.

“It has been drawn up in a sympathetic way to the environment with materials and energy usage and aims to be the best, most eco designated scuba training facility in the North.

“It will allow access to an amazing sport to numerous people who would maybe never have thought they could ever give it a try.”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

£13 million Knaresborough Leisure Centre plans to go to vote on Monday

Plans for a £13 million leisure centre in Knaresborough will go to the vote on Monday after a decision was previously delayed due to a “technical error”.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee was recommended to approve the controversial plans last week, but an error meant residents were not invited to speak at a meeting.

The council apologised and has now rescheduled a decision for 2pm on Monday.

Residents and campaign groups are expected to speak against the plans which include the demolition of the existing Knaresborough Swimming Pool at Fysche Field and building the new leisure centre over a play area to the rear.

Several concerns have been raised over the environmental impacts of demolishing a large building to replace it with another, as well as whether the new facility is needed.

Knaresborough Civic Society has repeatedly called on councillors to reject the plans in favour of rival proposals from the ‘Not on Fysche Field’ campaign group which has produced designs to upgrade the existing 30-year-old swimming pool.

A civic society spokesperson said:

“Knaresborough Civic Society is extremely concerned that the planning committee is in danger of making a decision on the say so of council officers that will result in unnecessary and unequivocal damage to the environment and the gateway to the town.

“On behalf of future generations, members of the planning committee must show the necessary governance and be prepared to take full responsibility for the outcome of such a huge decision.”

Read more

A public consultation on five potential locations for the proposed leisure centre was held in 2020 and referred to locating the facility “on the site of the existing pool”.

However, it was only several months after this that the council revealed it wants to build the leisure centre over a play area to the rear.

The other locations previously considered included Knaresborough House, Hay-a-Park, Conyngham Hall and a plot of land at Halfpenny Lane.

The council has hailed its proposals for Fysche Field as an opportunity to provide a “modern” and “fit-for-purpose” facility for Knaresborough’s growing population.

And if approved, the council said the new leisure centre could be built by the end of 2023.

Monday’s decision will be followed by a cabinet meeting on Wednesday when councillors will be asked to approve a £28million contract for Bristol-based firm Alliance Leisure to build the new leisure centre in Knaresborough and refurbish Harrogate Hydro.

This comes after plans for a two-storey extension of the Hydro were approved in October 2021.

These proposals include demolishing the existing entrance and replacing it with a larger reception area on the ground floor, as well as a new fitness suite on the first floor.

Ripon pool opening delayed again

Harrogate Borough Council has delayed the opening of a new pool in Ripon — again.

The pool was due to be completed in May 2021 at a cost of £10.2 million but it is now eight months overdue and £4 million over-budget.

At the end of November, the council said workers had identified an issue with the lining of the pool and that it would open in January.

But an update by the council today revealed further delays and no opening date.

Read more:

It said:

“The pool manufacturer has been carrying out additional work to resolve this issue, at no cost to us, and are continuing to do so.

“We were hopeful the pool would open this month but due to the complexity of the work involved it is taking longer than first anticipated.

“We’d like to reassure you that this has nothing to do with ground conditions and relates to the overflow drainage channel and the membrane around the edge of the pool.

“Once this work has been completed – which we hope won’t be too much longer – we will need to carry out some final testing ahead of opening.

“We are as disappointed as you, but carrying out this remedial work and rigorous testing now will allow you all to enjoy the pool for many years to come.”

The council added that it hopes to have a further update “in the coming days”.

Green light for major refurbishment of Harrogate Hydro

Harrogate Borough Council has given the green light for a major refurbishment of Harrogate’s Hydro swimming pool.

Councillors on the planning committee approved the plans today with work on the project set to start in April.

The Hydro was first opened in 1999 and replaced the old Coppice Valley pool.

As part of its plans to overhaul leisure services, which were approved in June 2020, the council outlined a £13.5 million project to refurbish The Hydro.

The authority will demolish the current ‘drum’ entrance and replace it with a larger structure that includes a bigger café and reception area on the ground floor and a new 400 square metres fitness suite on the first floor.

Outside, the car park will be reconfigured with a new area bicycle storage and room for six electric vehicle charging points.

Read more:

Cllr Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at Brimhams Active, said:

“I’m delighted that the planning committee has approved the plans to redevelop the Hydro in Harrogate.

“This multi-million pound refurbishment project will create exciting new opportunities for local people to move more, live well and feel great.

“Our vision is to create a healthier and more active population that are living longer, more independent and happier lives.

“By creating first-class facilities like this we’ll be able to deliver the aims and objectives of Brimhams Active.”

Mark Tweedie, managing director of Brimhams Active, said:

“Through the provision of fantastic modern leisure and wellness facilities and engaging, inclusive services we will be able to help many more people become active and lead healthier lifestyles.”

Further projects at The Hydro

The move to refurbish The Hydro comes as other work is being done to upgrade the building.

In July, the council confirmed it is to buy a new diving platform to replace the damaged one that has kept divers out of the pool for eight months.

Meanwhile, the council has also given approval for 420 solar panels to be installed on the roof of the pool as part of a decarbonisation project.

The council successfully bid this year for funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy‘s public sector decarbonisation scheme, which helped to fund the panels.

A total of £1.8 million will be spent at The Hydro to install the solar panels, as well as replace gas boilers with air source heat pumps and put in place new energy monitoring and control systems.

The Hydro is now run by Brimhams Active, a new arm’s length leisure company set up by the council this year. It has taken over the running of 12 leisure facilities in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Pateley Bridge.

Ripon leisure centre named after local Olympic hero Jack Laugher

Ripon Leisure Centre is set to become the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in honour of the local Olympic hero.

Jack Laugher’s family home is in Littlethorpe, near Ripon. He attended Ripon Grammar School and learned to dive with the Harrogate and District Diving Club.

He became Great Britain’s first Olympic champion in diving alongside his partner Chris Mears at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He followed it up with an individual silver to become the most successful British diver ever.

In the years that followed he achieved three gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a bronze and silver medal in the 3m individual and synchro springboard events respectively at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju and a bronze medal in the 3m springboard at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The council has said the new six-lane 25 metre pool at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre is now set to open “early in the new year” after a number of delays due to problems in construction.

Read more:

Jack Laugher said:

“I’m truly honoured that Harrogate Borough Council have named the new facility in Ripon the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre.

“As a city I grew-up in and a district where I learned to swim and dive, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would have a facility named after me.

“I hope this new pool and the diving facilities in Harrogate encourage others to follow their dreams like I have.”

Councillor Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at Brimhams Active, said:

“The addition of the new swimming pool is a major development for Ripon and shows our commitment to providing modern and fit-for-purpose leisure facilities.

“Jack may not have had this opportunity if it wasn’t for his perseverance and determination, and the leisure facilities available across the Harrogate district. I am therefore delighted that we have named the new facility after him.

“The pool will open early in the new year and I hope everyone, irrespective of disability, gender, age, race, sexual orientation or religion use this fantastic new facility.”

New Ripon pool to open on December 8

Ripon’s new swimming pool will open on December 8, Harrogate Borough Council announced today.

The new facility on Dallamires Lane will include a six-lane 25-metre pool, sauna suite and electric car charging points.

An AngelEye pool safety system using underwater cameras will help lifeguards detect whether swimmers are in danger or drowning.

Ripon Spa Baths will close on Sunday November 7 so staff can be transferred across to the new facility and receive training ahead of the opening.

Mark Tweedie, managing director of Brimhams Active, the council’s new arms-length leisure company that will run the pool, said:

“This amazing new facility will provide residents with local access to great swimming experiences for a generation to come.

“I’d like to thank Harrogate Borough Council for their bold and brave vision to provide unprecedented levels of investment into leisure and wellbeing across the district.”

Conservative councillor Stanley Lumley, the council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of Brimhams Active, added:

“The addition of the new swimming pool is a major development for Ripon and the surrounding area and I’m delighted to announce that it will be officially opened this December.”

Read more:

£3m over budget

The Stray Ferret revealed that the new pool is more than £3 million pounds over budget.

The running total for the scheme is now in excess of £13.5 million and that figure is likely to increase.

There has also been growing concern over the project after a ‘void’ was discovered while digging foundations at the entrance of the leisure centre.

Knaresborough campaigner: ‘This park will be lost unless we speak up’

Campaigners in Knaresborough fighting a leisure centre and swimming pool being built on a park have accused Harrogate Borough Council of “not being honest” about the location of the new site.

A photo taken yesterday appears to show exploratory work for the new facility taking place on Fysche Field, next to the current swimming pool.

The council plans to build a new leisure centre to replace the town’s existing pool and begun drawing up designs earlier this year. A public consultation found over 80% of respondents were in support of the site, which is now the council’s preferred location.

However, some residents have criticised the consultation process and launched a campaign to protect the playing field next to the leisure centre from development.

They believe the consultation was flawed because it did not make it clear that the field next to the current pool could also be built on.

Campaigner David Hull, who set up a website against the development, took a photo that appeared to show drilling rigs and piling machines, which are used to drill holes.

Mr Hull told the Stray Ferret he believes the photo shows the council is intent on pressing ahead with its plan to build on the park.

He said:

“It is now abundantly clear to everyone that the intention is to build on the green park and not the existing pool site.

“We’ve had enough of this and this park will be lost unless we speak up.

“The council are being disingenuous and not being honest with people”.

Read more:

A council spokesperson said:

“The current facility in Knaresborough is nearing 30 years old, only provides a swimming pool and has a number of on-going maintenance issues which are not resolvable without significant investment.

“As part of the design feasibility work, we are currently carrying out ground investigations across the entire existing site. This is normal for a project of this scale and does not pre-empt any preferred design or layout for the new leisure centre.

“When plans have been submitted they will be subject to the normal planning application process.

“Once completed, the new leisure centre will provide energy efficient, state-of-the art facilities that will encourage a healthier and more active lifestyle for our residents and something they can be proud of.”

Knaresborough Pool reopened yesterday after being closed since last summer following a problem with the pool’s filters.