Police have issued a photo of a man they want to talk to after a purse was stolen from a woman in her 80s.
In a statement issued today, North Yorkshire Police said the theft happened at Morrisons supermarket on Harrogate Road in Ripon.
The incident happened at 3.30pm on Thursday, August 3. However, the images have only been released today.
Do you recognise this man?
The statement said:
“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the man in the CCTV images, as he may have information that will help the investigation.”
Morrisons in Ripon
Anyone with information is urged to email richard.coulthard@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Richard Coulthard.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote reference number 12230144835.
Eight ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging points activated at Harrogate Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s has activated eight ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging points at its supermarket on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.
‘Ultra-rapid’ is the fastest type of EV charging available on the market. It means people will be able to charge their electric vehicles in as little as 30 minutes.
The 150kW charging points, which are located in the car park near, are available to all drivers, not just those shopping in-store. They were activated on Friday.
Sainsbury’s said in a statement the charging points are designed to be easily accessible for disabled customers, as well as those with young children, thanks to the additional space around and between bays.
The new charging stations at Harrogate Sainsbury’s.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s director of property, procurement and EV ventures, said:
“We know that demand for speedy, efficient EV charging facilities in the UK continues to grow and that’s why we’ve brought this great new service to the people of Harrogate.
“We hope customers enjoy the speed and convenience it offers and we look forward to hearing their feedback.”
He added the charging points would help the company achieve its goal of reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2035.
There are currently four generally recognised speeds of EV charging available in the UK, classified by the level of power or “flow” of electricity that the chargers are able to provide, in kilowatts. They are slow – 3-6kW; fast – 7-22kW; rapid – 25-99kW and ultra-rapid – 100kW+.
More information about EV charging at Sainsbury’s is available here.
Lidl silent on Ripon supermarket plansLidl has declined to give an update on its plans for a Ripon supermarket — more than 18 months after it received planning permission.
The German retailer was given the go-ahead to build a supermarket alongside M&S Food at St Michael’s Retail Park in September 2021.
At the time Lidl said it would create up to 40 jobs and occupy three units at the £10m Rotary Way site, which opened in 2020.
But there have been no updates since, prompting the Stray Ferret to ask the company this week if it still planned to proceed with the scheme and, if so, when work would start.
The company has so far declined to respond.
Lidl submitted its Ripon planning application in May 2021 following a virtual consultation.
Since then Harrogate’s first Lidl has opened at the former Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road.
There is also a Lidl on Chain Lane in Knaresborough.
Aldi has included Harrogate on a list of 30 priority locations for new supermarkets.
The German giant wants to increase its number of UK stores from 990 to 1,200. It currently has supermarkets in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough in the Harrogate district.
The company said in a press release today it “plans to invest more than £400 million in store development over the coming year” and published a list of 30 priority locations.
Harrogate and Scarborough were the only two North Yorkshire locations on the list.
Aldi already has a store on Oak Beck Road in Harrogate, close to the site where Tesco has planning permission to build a supermarket.
The company offers a finder’s fee for agents who recommend a site, which is either 1.5% of a freehold price or 10% of the first year’s rent for leasehold sites.
It is looking for freehold town-centre or edge-of-town sites that are around 1.5 acres and can accommodate a 20,000 sq foot store with about 100 parking spaces.
Giles Hurley, chief executive at Aldi UK, said:
“Demand for Aldi has never been higher here are still some towns and areas that either don’t have access to an Aldi or have capacity for additional stores.”
Harrogate was also included in a list of desired locations by Aldi last year.
Decision today on Harrogate Tesco and two major housing schemes
Councillors will decide today whether to allow a new Tesco supermarket and two major housing schemes be built on the outskirts of Harrogate.
Tesco has applied to build a supermarket, petrol station and 209 car parking spaces on the site of the former gasworks off Skipton Road.
Persimmon Homes has submitted plans to erect 162 homes off Kingsley Drive and another developer, Jomast, wants to build 53 homes off Knox Lane in Bilton.
Harrogate Borough Council officers have recommended all three scheme be approved. But the Conservative-controlled planning committee will vote whether to approve or reject each recommendation. They could also defer a decision to request further information.
The meeting, which begins at 2pm, can be watched live on the council’s YouTube page here. People can also watch the meeting at the council offices at Knapping Mount.
The Stray Ferret will also cover the meeting.
Kingsley Ward Action Group, which campaigns to protect green spaces in the Kingsley area, where several hundred homes are in the process of being built, has written to members of the planning committee expressing concerns about the role of Cllr Rebecca Burnett, who chairs the planning committee.
The action group claims Cllr Burnett, a Conservative who represents Harrogate St Georges, has a “disclosable interest” in Kingsley planning matters, according to the council’s own planning code of good practice, which states members living “close to an application site” should — subject to an exception — declare it and leave the room while the application is discussed. The code says:
“A member who lives close to an application site, will usually have a disclosable interest to declare under the Code of Conduct. This means that, subject to the exception referred to in paragraph 1.5 (ix), they cannot take part in the decision and must declare the interest and leave the meeting room. A member in these circumstances may not stay to listen to such an application even if they are not a member of the committee making the decision. This may also be the case if a relation or friend of the member lives close to the application site or where the relative or friend has submitted the application.”
Cllr Burnett’s address listed on the council website is within about half a mile of the proposed Persimmon site.
The action group is desperate to prevent further development in Kingsley. The Stray Ferret has contacted the council and Cllr Burnett repeatedly to get a response to its claims but has not received a reply on the issue.
As chair, Cllr Bennett had the casting vote in favour of the 30-home Kingsley Farm scheme when the planning committee met last month and was tied 6-6 on whether to approve the scheme.
Shoppers form long queue for opening of Harrogate’s first Lidl
A long queue of shoppers formed outside Harrogate’s first Lidl supermarket this morning for the grand opening.
On a bright but cold morning, people began queueing well before 8am when the doors opened for the first time.
Work began on the new store in February this year. Today the Mayor of the Harrogate borough, councillor Victoria Oldham, formally announced the store open and cut a ribbon before local residents poured in.
The Stray Ferret was there for a live broadcast on Facebook:
Chris Aldred, the Liberal Democrat councillor for the Harrogate Fairfax ward, said it was important the area had a lower cost supermarket:
“Times are hard aren’t they? We’re all trying to save whatever we can save so having this on the doorstep on this side of town is good.
“It’s also better for the environment as people won’t have to travel long distances to get bargains. I just think it’s really, really good for Harrogate.
“I’ve been really impressed with Lidl’s attitude throughout the process – it was a proper consultation. They went around knocking on doors talking to people and, as a result, there wasn’t a single objection.
They even refurbished the public bench on the pavement which they didn’t have to.”
Pupils from Starbeck Primary School hold up their winning designs after the store held a competition to create a poster for the opening.
Store manager Martin Hart told the Stray Ferret he was surprised by the number of people outside the store today:
“There was a massive push from the team last night and this morning to get the store ready for customers.
“When I saw the queue I was a bit overwhelmed but excited and it’s great to see how much interest is there and I think the store is going to be good for Harrogate.”
Lidl Harrogate store manager Martin Hart
Harrogate’s first Lidl to open tomorrow
Harrogate’s first Lidl supermarket is due to open on Knaresborough Road tomorrow.
Work began on the store in February this year on the site of a former car dealership.
The much anticipated store has a 1,263 square metre sales area, an in-store bakery and 94 parking spaces. The company says the store has created 40 new jobs.
To celebrate its opening tomorrow, Lidl said it is offering bargains on some products including bluetooth speakers, fan heaters and heated under-blankets.
The new store will be open daily from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
A spokesperson for Lidl GB said:
“It is fantastic that we are able to open our doors and welcome everyone into our new store in Harrogate.
“We have received overwhelming support from local residents, and we would like to thank all those that have played a part in delivering this new store.
“We now look forward to serving our multi-award winning products to everyone within the local community.”
The new Harrogate store is part of Lidl’s current expansion plans – it is now the sixth largest supermarket in the UK.
New Lidl store in Harrogate to open in two weeks’ time
The new Lidl store in Harrogate will open on Thursday, October 13 at 8am, the company has confirmed.
Construction has been under way since February on the Knaresborough Road site, previously home to Lookers Ford car dealership.
The company said the shop will create around 40 new jobs and will offer an in-store bakery, customer toilets including baby changing facilities, and parking for cars and bicycles.
It will be open daily from 8am to 10pm, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.
A spokesperson for Lidl GB said:
“It is fantastic that we are able to open our doors and welcome everyone into our new store in Harrogate.
“We have received overwhelming support from local residents, and we would like to thank all those that have played a part in delivering this new store. We now look forward to serving our multi-award winning products to everyone within the local community.”
Drone shots reveal progression of new Knaresborough Road Lidl
Drone shots of the new Lidl on Knaresborough Road reveal work is progressing ahead of opening later this year.
They were sent to us by Stray Ferret reader Darren Leeming and show that the supermarket looks almost complete from the outside, with solar panels also installed on the roof.
It will be the first Lidl to open in Harrogate, following the branch in Knaresborough.
The multi-million-pound building includes a 1,263 square metre sales area, an in-store bakery, customer toilets and 94 parking spaces.
Credit: Darren Leeming
The new store will be open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
The German-owned company is currently on a recruitment drive for the new store. A Lidl spokesperson said:
“We are delighted to confirm that construction of our new Lidl store on Knaresborough Road, Harrogate, is well under way.
“The store is due to open this autumn and we are currently hiring for open vacancies, so would encourage anyone interested to visit our careers website.
“We look forward to sharing more information with the local community closer to the time.”
Business Breakfast: Chamber meeting to focus on sustainability
Community invited to ‘fill up a parking space’ with food amid cost of living crisis
Community invited to ‘fill up a parking space’ with food amid cost of living crisis
The Harrogate district community is set to come together this weekend to help hungry families struggling with the cost of living crisis.
People are being encouraged to fill a parking space with food at Morrisons, Boroughbridge, which will then be donated to food banks in the area.
The event, which will take place from 10am – 4pm on Saturday, is being led by the supermarket’s community champions, Sue Robson and Karen Cooper.
Ms Cooper said:
“As you are aware, the current financial climate is beginning to affect many local families and further putting already vulnerable households at risk of going hungry. Now, more than ever, people are needing to utilise the services of food banks.
We are joining forces with local food banks to create an event which hopefully should create awareness, and ultimately, provide more food for families in need.
“We hope this event will help to inspire our community to begin, or continue, to donate to local food banks, should they be in the position to do so.”
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Customers, staff, and the wider community are encouraged to come and donate non-perishable food and place it in an empty parking space, which will be cordoned off on the day.
The idea is that the parking space, or spaces, will be filled and then distributed to food banks in the area. These include Resurrected Bites, in Harrogate and Knaresborough, Boroughbridge Community Care and other local causes.
Customers can purchase food from pre-made pick-up packs at the supermarket, or can bring their own from home. They can also buy items off the shelves.