Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Is this rewilding eyesore acceptable for our town?

I was interested to read in the Stray Ferret that Harrogate Borough Council has decided to repeat last years exercise of ‘wilding’ the Stray.

The article was accompanied by an attractive picture of wild flowers and grass gently bending in the breeze. It looks idyllic, and just the image that we want to project to encourage people to visit our town.

The grass verge directly in front of 8 West Park (Specialized & OKA) was ‘wilded’ last year and for weeks we had a miserable view of two-metre high weeds, and the odd dandelion amongst the sparse grass.

This year, as my images illustrate, it’s going to be another eyesore. The kind of abandoned verge you wouldn’t be surprised to see on a motorway central reservation but not Harrogate, home of the RHS Harlow Carr and Valley Gardens.

This is on the main walking route into our town, passed by thousands of visitors each year and yet the council seem oblivious to this embarrassment of a ‘maintained’ verge. There were no spring crocuses bursting through. It’s pointless the council cutting the grass because there is as much bare earth as grass. Why has it been forgotten?

I broadly support the concept of ‘wilding’. if the preparation has been done it can look really attractive as it does in neighbouring towns.

I anticipate the council’s response i.e. ‘lack of resources due to covid’ and’ budget restraints’ etc but would it cost so much for a rotavator, some weed killer and grass seed? I would gladly pay for the wild flowers seeds!

Please take a stroll past this verge and ask yourself is this acceptable for our town.

Ian Latham, Harrogate

Sort out this traffic light mess!

I agree with Liz Carnell and the appalling situation with traffic congestion on Skipton Road.

The phasing on all the traffic lights from Bilton Lane right through to Claro Road is completely rubbish.

They all need to be adjusted to time and flow with emphasis on ensuring traffic turning into Skipton Road is not then impeded by red lights, which in turn cause log jams such as King’s Road and Woodfield Road into Skipton Road, both of which allow three cars to turn and immediately into red lights.

As always, local authority make changes at will without understanding the situation in the first place and almost always make the problems worse.

Tony Petrie, Woodfield Road, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

The Nelson Inn in Killinghall is to reduce its opening hours after agreeing to a takeover bid.

The pub, which is situated on the A59 Skipton Road, posted on social media today that it will be closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from next week but open as normal for the rest of the week.

It said:

“The reason for this change in opening hours is because we have been approached by an established company to take over The Nelson Inn and has made us an offer we can’t refuse.

“We believe they will continue with the values and beliefs we have founded into bringing The Nelson Inn back to its former glory.

“We’ve tried to put our very best energy and effort into creating a family friendly pub with good home cooked food. We are hopeful we have created a stepping stone for something special.”

The post thanked customers for their support, adding:

“Hopefully we can see everyone before we close the doors, we will be updating with more information as soon as we know our final date.”

Read more:

• Plan resubmitted to convert Sharow pub into house
• Have missing Killinghall peacocks been secretly killed?

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Skipton Road ‘improvements’ have made delays worse

At 9.30am today (Wednesday) it took me 16 minutes to drive between the New Park and Empress roundabouts in Harrogate, a distance of just over a mile.

The recent ‘improvement’ to the traffic lights at the junction of King’s Road and Woodfield Road has made Skipton Road jams much worse, in both directions.

When will North Yorkshire County Council return to remedy these problems where the traffic lights are not giving anything like enough time to motorists on the main Skipton Road, and how much has this wasted work cost so far?

Liz Carnell, Knox Way, Harrogate

Get it beeping right!

I read your articles about beeps at pedestrian crossings.

I have reasonably good eyesight and hearing but I entirely agree with Mr Raho that beeps are really necessary at pedestrian crossings and should be installed, as they do help so much when trying to cross.

Patricia Perry, Harrogate

Our MP is in first gear

I read last week’s letter about Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones’ lack of communication on his website.

It’s because it’s such a safe seat and he thinks he will walk it again at the next election — he’s in first gear all the way.

Michael Ward, Knaresborough

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Four masked men broke into a Harrogate shop and attempted to remove a cash machine in the early hours of this morning.

The Co-op store at the junction of Skipton Road and Bilton Lane was targeted at around 2.35am.

The Stray Ferret reported the break-in this morning. Now North Yorkshire Police has released further details.

It said thieves broke through the front door and attempted to remove the ATM. When this failed, they stole cash from inside the shop.

Police were alerted by store security and sent officers to the scene, supported by a National Police Air Service helicopter.

Eyewitnesses said the men left in a small, dark car — possibly a Volkswagen Golf — and made off towards New Park roundabout. Despite attempts to trace the thieves, there were no further sightings of the car.

Now, detectives are appealing for more witnesses and CCTV footage to help their investigations. They have asked anyone living near the Co-op or along Skipton Road who has CCTV or a doorbell camera to check for footage of a small dark car leaving the area around that time. Drivers with dash cams are also asked to check their footage.

Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 101, selection option one and speak to the force control room, or email tom.baker@northyorkshire.police.uk, quoting reference 12220041651. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Read more:

• Police investigate serious crash on Cold Bath Road
• Harrogate Co-op closed after reported break-in

The Co-op store on Harrogate’s Skipton Road is closed this morning after reports of a break-in overnight.

The Stray Ferret was alerted to the break-in at the shop, which was cordoned off by police this morning.

At the scene, the glass on the automatic door of the store was smashed in. An in-store cash machine, which was found lying on the floor inside the entrance, was also damaged.

The store normally opens at 7am, but was still closed at 8am this morning. A sign reads that the Co-op is “temporarily closed”.

The Co-op entrance, which was smashed overnight.

The Stray Ferret has contacted North Yorkshire Police for more information on the incident.

A police helicopter was also out in Harrogate at 3am this morning. However, it is unclear whether this is connected to the break-in.

Read more:

• Harrogate man jailed for historic sexual abuse of young girl
• Four men jailed for Harrogate district burglary spree

Waitrose has submitted an objection to Tesco‘s bid to build a new supermarket on Skipton Road in Harrogate.

The objection, which was submitted last week by planning consultants First Plan on behalf of the retailer, says the new store would have a “significant adverse impact” on both Waitrose on Station Parade and Asda on Bower Road.

It also claims other retailers could be affected and questions shopping data provided by Tesco to support its application.

Tesco submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council to build the new store in December.

It would be 38,795 square feet and include a petrol filling station, 200 car parking spaces, electric vehicle charging points and 24 cycle spaces. A new mini-roundabout would also be built on Skipton Road.

Tesco says 100 jobs would be created.

Assessment ‘lacks detail’

Waitrose’s objection says a retail assessment by Tesco in December to support its application “lacks detail”.

It says the assessment does not provide enough evidence to support the claim that a new Tesco supermarket would not harm retailers in the town centre.

Tesco has argued that the Bilton, Jennyfields and New Park areas of Harrogate are poorly served by major supermarkets.

Read more:

• Nearly 200 sign petition supporting new Harrogate Tesco

• Tesco consultation results reveal support for new Harrogate store

Its assessment, written by town planning consultants Martin Robeson Planning Practice, said Tesco will “add to local consumer choice” but will not cause “any significant adverse impact on existing shopping centres”.

The document adds:

“The northern part of Harrogate, particularly the extensive Bilton community, has very limited provision for food shopping.”

Change in shopping habits

However, Waitrose says the data around shopping habits in Harrogate used to underpin Tesco’s conclusions does not give an up-to-date picture.

Tesco’s retail assessment makes several references to the 2014 Harrogate Retail Study, which was undertaken by Harrogate Borough Council to identify trends in shopping habits.

It also says an increase in online shopping, which has been accelerated by the pandemic, has reduced the amount of spending in ‘bricks and mortar’ stores.

The six-page objection letter concludes:

“The cumulative impact of the proposed Tesco store and other recent permissions on town centre foodstores unquestionably represents a ‘significant adverse’ level of impact on the anchor Waitrose and Asda foodstores, with associated implications for the wider vitality and viability of Harrogate town centre, which has already been impacted by a number of high-profile closures in recent years and this should, in our view, constitute a reason for refusal of the application.”

A Tesco spokesperson said:

“We will consider all feedback received on our application and will have further discussions with Harrogate Council about the issues raised.”

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

A man has been arrested after police found bags of drugs, 10 knives and a sword at a house in Harrogate yesterday evening.

Police were called to reports of a man threatening a woman in the Skipton Road area and officers detained a man in his 40s at the scene.

He was arrested and searched, and officers found bags of white powder, which is believed to be cocaine, two knives and a quantity of cash in the suspect’s possession.

This led to a further search of his house in the Skipton Road area of Harrogate, where further items were discovered including:

• More bags of what are believed to be Class A drugs
• Ten knives, including flick knives
• A sword
• A large amount of what is believed to be cannabis
• Drugs paraphernalia including digital scales

The items were seized and the suspected drugs have been sent for analysis.

The man was arrested on suspicion of drug, weapon and public order offences and remains in custody today while enquiries continue.

Read more:

• Police seize ‘substantial amount’ of drugs in Jennyfields
• Harrogate councillor calls for campaign to make class A drugs ‘shameful’

More roadworks will begin on Harrogate’s Skipton Road next week.

Highways authority North Yorkshire County Council will be carrying out improvements at the junctions with Bilton Lane and Woodfield Road.

At Bilton Lane, the pedestrian island will be removed and the island at the end of King’s Road will be widened.

The left turn from Woodfield Road on to Skipton Road will change from being controlled by traffic lights to being a give way to improve traffic flow and air quality.

The lights in the traffic lights at both junctions will be replaced with more energy-efficient LED lights.

Read more:

• Skipton Road traffic lights refurbishment to cost £143,000
• Bilton man cleans graffiti from mural bridge again

The work will begin on Monday and is due to complete on February 27, when half-term ends. However, temporary traffic lights are not expected to be required until February 19 as the initial work will take place off road.

Lights will initially be in place at the Bilton Lane junction before moving to the King’s Road and Woodfield junctions.

The Stray Ferret asked the council how much the work will cost.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said:

“These works are included in our annual highways maintenance budget of around £55 million, which covers planned maintenance programmes as well as responding to problems as they arise.”

Motorists are facing delays of up to 12 minutes this morning on Skipton Road and Wetherby Road.

The two roads are often key hotspots for traffic, this morning it is busy heading towards the Empress roundabout from both sides.

Delays on these roads usually decrease after 9.30am.

The Stray Ferret has changed the way it offers Traffic and Travel alerts.

We will now notify you instantly through app notifications and flash tweets when there is an urgent alert. This could include heavy traffic, dangerous weather and long delays or cancellations of public transport.

The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.

North Yorkshire County Council said today there was no confirmed start date to demolish and replace a footbridge near Harrogate’s New Park roundabout.

The council previously said work would begin in January to replace Oak Beck Bridge, which it says is in poor condition.

The A59 road on which the bridge is situated is heavily used by traffic, especially by people visiting Aldi, B&Q and Pets at Home on the Oak Beck retail park.

The volume would increase if Tesco is given permission to build on the former gas works site nearby.

The council previously said work would take place from January until July this year and temporary traffic lights would be used throughout. The road will remain open to single-way traffic.

Read more:

• Harrogate theatre roof repairs could be finished this month
• Still no opening date for Ripon’s new swimming pool

On Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones’ Community News website, Matt Scott, the Conservative councillor for Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge said last week a bridge engineer at the council had told him work would begin in April.

But a council spokesperson was unable to confirm this date when asked by the Stray Ferret and said the start date had yet to be confirmed.

Plans for the new Tesco include a petrol station, 200 parking spaces and a new roundabout on Skipton Road.