Starbeck residents raise concerns over street drinking

Residents in Starbeck last night raised concerns about an increase in street drinking and elected a new committee and chair who pledged to tackle the problem.

Starbeck Residents’ Association, which awards grants and campaigns to safeguard local facilities, had its annual general meeting at St Andrew’s Church. It was well-attended with about 80 residents packed into a room inside the church.

Some raised concerns about the “massive issue” of street drinking, with others saying they felt intimidated.

One said:

“Street drinking is a massive issue that needs to be addressed. People drinking during the day using Belmont Park. It’s not good and it’s a continuous problem.”

Another said:

“Older people feel extremely intimidated. It’s in doorways and in parks.”

Some residents suggested the problem had increased since the council’s homeless shelter Fern House opened this year.

Maggie Gibson, a housing officer from Harrogate Borough Council who works at Fern House, rejected this.

She said:

“There is an assumption it’s our residents. That is unfair. We monitor their behaviour.”

The work at Fern House was praised by SRA treasurer and nearby resident Leisa Mark, who encouraged residents to speak to the people that live there.

“Rather than being intimidated, we said hello. They are aware of how people perceive them.”

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New chair

Chris Watt was voted in as the new SRA chair, replacing the outgoing Geoff Foxall.

Mr Watt was voted in by all but two residents, including Starbeck post office owner Andrew Hart who objected to his appointment due to Mr Watt’s affiliation with the local Labour Party.

A new 15-person committee was also elected. It included people who had lived in Starbeck for decades as well as 16-year-old Emily Mark, who spoke of her pride in living in the area.

Mr Watt told the Stray Ferret:

“We as a committee are focused on issues that are important to Starbeck, such as the high street, green spaces and anti-social behaviour. It’s great to have that mix of youth and experience on the committee.”

Grants awarded

The SRA also announced the recipients of four grants to local charities and organisations.

The grants come from interest on a £300,000 gift that was given to the Starbeck community by Taylor Woodrow, a steel fabrication company that moved away from Starbeck in the early 1990s. The grants are administered by Harrogate Borough Council.

These were:

£1,000 to Harrogate Railway Football Club for new nets.

£1,000 to Starbeck in Bloom to improve the area around the war memorial.

£1,000 to the charity Henshaws for new IT equipment

£400 to Starbeck Methodist Church to promote events.

‘Political bias’ row in Starbeck over appointment of residents’ group chair

A political row has broken out in Starbeck over the election of a new chair to a residents’ group tonight.

Chris Watt has put his name forward to be on the committee of Starbeck Residents’ Association and to become its new chair.

The association, which awards grants and campaigns to safeguard local facilities, holds its annual general meeting at St Andrew’s Church in Starbeck at 7.30pm.

A vote will take place to appoint a new chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer and a new committee will be appointed.

However, Mr Watt’s decision to stand has attracted criticism from a local business owner because he is a member of Harrogate and Knaresborough Labour Party.

Andrew Hart, who owns the Red Box Post Office on Starbeck High Street, told the Stray Ferret he opposed Mr Watt standing because his decisions could be influenced by his Labour affiliation.

The group’s current chair, Geoff Foxall, also has connections with the local Labour party.

Mr Hart pointed to the association’s constitution, which states one of its objectives is to be “a strong non-political community voice” that represents the views of Starbeck residents.

He said this meant active political party members should be prevented from standing for senior positions.

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He added:

“I think for the sake of transparency the Starbeck Residents’ Association needs to be dissolved tonight and hold full and proper elections in one month’s time without any political office holders standing.”

Mr Hart set up a group called Starbeck Community Group this year to debate Starbeck issues.

Mr Watt told the Stray Ferret he would not comment until after the AGM tonight.

Starbeck special needs school opens new sixth form building

A special needs school in Starbeck has refurbished a former children’s centre over the road into two new sixth form classrooms.

Springwater School, which offers a modified curriculum for young people aged two to 19 with mainly multiple needs, was given the disused building by North Yorkshire County Council.

The school has grown rapidly in recent years. It currently has 98 students — an increase of about 30 over the last six years.

Head teacher Sarah Edwards said she hoped the new classrooms would provide an opportunity for sixth formers to develop their independence skills.

She added:

“The building creates a high quality educational environment that will be used as classrooms for the really important independence and employment sixth form pathway.”

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The listed building given to the school is next door to Starbeck war memorial on the High Street.

Springwater School is also seeking teachers and volunteers, including governors. Anyone interested can contact Ms Edwards at head@springwater.n-yorks.sch.uk.

 

 

Fire Ants’ fight to establish rugby league in Harrogate

A group of rugby league players struggling to establish the sport in the Harrogate district are taking on a fundraising challenge next month to raise money for their club.

Harrogate Fire Ants has had a short but turbulent existence. Founded last year, it first found it difficult to train because of covid and then at the beginning of this year the club had to rebuild from scratch after a change in personnel at the helm.

The team only had eight players for its first match in June but its fortunes picked up after Laura Symmonds, whose husband Tommy O’Sullivan plays for the Fire Ants, took charge and recruited new players.

The season has now ended and preparations for 2022 have begun. Weekly training takes place at Harrogate Railway FC in Starbeck, where the club is based, and there is also a weekly fun rugby-style fitness camp on the Stray for men and women of all abilities. Newcomers are welcome.

Some Fire Ants players are planning to complete the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge on September 12 to raise funds for the club.

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Fire Ants player Jonny Binns said:

“it was tough at first and we thought we would have to fold. We were not in a great position. We had no one to run the club and were training on the Stray with very low numbers and struggling to recruit.

“Through Laura’s hard work we are now in a great position to build as a club and we are working hard to recruit new players.

“We have a new kit on the way and recently secured the help from a local coach. We have built a strong committee who are all very committed and hard working. We all believe that the Harrogate Fire Ants has a bright future ahead.”

You can support the Fire Ants’ Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge here.

Money raised from the challenge will also go towards Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity.

 

 

Starbeck food retailer fined £500 for messy bins

A Starbeck food retailer was fined £500 at York Magistrates Court in a case brought by Harrogate Borough Council after it failed to tidy up its kerb-side bins.

Good Food GF Limited was taken to court by the borough council after local residents complained about its untidy bins.

The company was served a Section 47 notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by the council in November to ensure its waste was stored correctly.

Under the act, the council can insist that commercial or industrial waste is stored correctly to make sure it doesn’t cause a nuisance.

The order was served after a visit to the premises on Starbeck High Street. The council advised business owner Andrew Daly to replace a damaged bin and removed loose bags left either side of the bin.

However, a month later the bin hadn’t been replaced.

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The council issued Good Food GF Ltd a £100 fixed penalty notice. Mr Daly failed to pay the fine despite numerous requests.

The council said it then saw court as the only resolution. On July 16, the company was fined £500 and ordered to pay £125 as a contribution to the council’s costs.

Councillor Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said:

“Good Food GF Ltd and Mr Andrew Daly had numerous chances to address the concerns of local residents and the borough council.

“Failure to address something which could have been resolved quite easily has resulted in a significant financial penalty. And I’m afraid Mr Andrew Daly has only got himself to blame.

“The direct action of the council’s environmental health and legal teams, following concerns from local residents, has led to this prosecution and I’d like to thank both officers and residents for helping to address this matter.”

Starbeck councillor calls for demolition of former McColl’s building

A councillor has called for the demolition of an “eyesore” building on Starbeck High Street, so plans to replace it with new retail and housing units can finally move forward. 

A fire ripped through McColl’s supermarket in July 2018, but more than three years later, the Victorian-era building is still a burned-out shell with much of its roof missing.

The building in its current state.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Starbeck, Philip Broadbank, has called on the owners of the building to move forward with a plan to demolish the former supermarket and build a retail unit and one and two-bedroom apartments in its place.

He called the lack of progress on the building “very disappointing and frustrating”.

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Bates and Hemborough, who own the site, have created computer-generated images of their proposed development, which would see the original structure demolished. However, they are yet to submit a formal planning application.

Pre-application discussions between the owners and Harrogate Borough Council planning officers have focused on whether the existing building, which is not listed, can be retained and refurbished.

Cllr Broadbank said it’s time to “start afresh” with a brand new building.

He said:

“The time taken to make progress and get things moving has been very disappointing and frustrating to say the least.  Compulsory purchase of the site by the council is clearly an option but takes time and is only used as a last resort. I have spoken to planning officers about the need for demolition and urged the site owner to submit his application now.

“I have lived in Starbeck for nearly 40 years and I am looking for a prestige redevelopment that will help to re-generate the High Street and encourage other independent shop owners and retailers to have a business here. I have no intention of letting this situation continue any longer than necessary despite the frustrations that exist. The current situation is in nobody’s interest – it’s time to drop talk of restoring the existing building and time to start afresh.”

Andrew Hart, who owns the Post Office opposite the former McColl’s building and recently set up Starbeck Community Group, said he would support the owner’s proposals with “some adaptations”.

“This particular idea has been around for years. I note it does not keep the historic facade which would not be popular with some of the community. If this is a real proposal with the finances in place then the Starbeck Community Group would support it with some adaptations.”

Views wanted on future of Starbeck and Knaresborough outdoor gyms

Harrogate Borough Council has launched a consultation on the future of free outdoor gyms in Knaresborough and Starbeck.

The authority recently removed equipment at Knaresborough House and Belmont Park, which it installed in 2011 at a cost of £9,000.

It said the equipment, which included a cross country skier, push up/dip station, seated chest press and leg press, had reached the end of its life and was “in danger of causing injury”.

Council officials want to replace the kit with similar equipment.

A public consultation has been launched online and will close on Sunday, September 26.

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A post on the council’s Parks and Environmental Service Facebook page said:

“This consultation will gather opinions from local residents to help us create the most suitable design for the fitness area.

“The public consultation report will be used to create a wish list for the design brief, which will influence the final decision.”

You can give your views on the future of the outdoor gym areas in Starbeck and Knaresborough here.

Ex-UFC fighter opens mixed martial arts gym in Harrogate

Former UFC fighter Ian Entwistle has started teaching mixed martial arts at Harrogate Amateur Boxing Club in Starbeck.

Entwistle had three fights with the UFC between 2014 and 2016. He fought in New Zealand, the United States and Croatia and his first round submission victory in America earned a performance of the night bonus.

He retired after he left the UFC but made a comeback in Bahrain last year with Brave Combat Federation, a Middle East promotion.

He has also fought on Cage Warriors, which is the biggest MMA promotion in Europe, and coached in Thailand and Australia.

Weighing in under the gaze of UFC boss Dana White (left).

Entwistle, who was born in Accrington, told the Stray Ferret his sister lived in Harrogate and he was in the process of relocating here.

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He will run classes five days a week that include wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing and Muay Thai, as well as one-to-one private sessions.

Anyone from the age of 14 upwards can attend.

He said:

“I am keen to work with students of all levels whether they are a beginner or a professional and help them achieve the success they seek.”

Classes times are:

Tuesdays 6-7pm
Thursdays 6-7pm
Fridays 5-6pm
Saturdays 10:30am-12pm
Sundays 10:30am-12pm

Starbeck all set for community day on August bank holiday

Starbeck Community Day will return this month after being cancelled last year due to covid.

The free bank holiday event on Monday August 30 will be held at Harrogate Railway’s Station View ground and will offer stalls, live music and a bouncy castle.

Chrissie Holmes, who organises the event as well as the Starbeck Christmas Lights appeal, said she has been inundated with messages from local residents excited about the family get-together taking place again.

She added she wanted the event, which is in its fifth year, to be about thanking people for their efforts during the last 18 months.

She said:

“It’s our way of paying people back for the pandemic.”

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There will be stalls selling craft and homemade goods as well as a bungee trampoline and bouncy castle for children. Barbecue food will be served and there will be a bar selling drinks.

There will also be performances from Harrogate Spa Town Ukes and Summerbell Dance Academy and a new Starbeck King and Queen as well as Prince and Princess will be crowned.

The event will take place from 12pm to 4pm.

Letter: Why I love Starbeck

 

In last weekend’s Stray Views Starbeck was described by one of its residents as “worse than Birmingham”. It prompted another resident, Chris Watt, to contact us and write a passionate defence of his community.

I love Starbeck! I’m not from the area. I’m a southerner and only moved here about a decade ago.

But ever since coming here, I’ve been welcomed by the wonderful community and been struck by the great spirit we have. So I was disappointed to see the letter comparing Starbeck unfavourably to other towns and cities.

Now let’s be honest. Starbeck has its challenges. Indeed, Harrogate more widely is a wonderful place to live, but despite its image as an idyllic spa town, it is not immune to the problems faced equally by others.

Across the town, there are areas of high deprivation, substance abuse, anti-social behaviour, crime and a lack of amenities.

These can all be addressed if we all work together as part of a wider community and promote all that is best about Starbeck.

And we have great resources to build on.

Our local schools are well regarded and involved in the community, inspiring pride in the area among our young people.

Starbeck in Bloom has won national awards and brightens our area.

Our church communities provide visible support to our area and work with residents to improve our area.

Harrogate Railway provide football teams and coaching for a range of age groups, provide facilities for community events and are partnering with our outstanding local hospital charity to raise funds for vital health services in our area. Similarly, Harrogate Pythons Rugby Club, also based at Station View, support a range of community initiatives.

Our sports and leisure facilities have also recently been boosted by the re-opening of our local swimming pool after its covid enforced closure.

The Starbeck Residents’ Association is now complemented by social media groups focused on improving our neighbourhood.

Our annual Christmas lights display is always a highlight of any seasonal visit to Harrogate.

We have a vibrant high street. In common with others around the country, this has been badly impacted by the covid lockdown and the rise of online shopping. Our high street clearly needs more care and attention. However, the fact that new and diverse enterprises continue to spring up shows its potential as a shopping hub for our town.

There are, of course, issues to address in Starbeck. But if our local community pulls together, then I strongly believe that the community spirit that I have experienced since moving to the area, can continue to make a real difference.

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