A scuba diving business owner has said plans for a deep diving facility in Knaresborough have been “woefully misunderstood” after the proposals were rejected.
Tim Yarrow, who owns Harrogate-based Diveshack, had planned to build the training pool facility on Thistle Hill.
However, Harrogate Borough Council rejected the plan on the grounds that the proposal would “result in harm to the visual and spatial openness of the green belt”.
Mr Yarrow, who has been a scuba instructor around the world for 30 years, said his facility would have offered an opportunity for “potential local investment”.
He said:
“It is my opinion that the necessity and requirements of a specific training facility for scuba and all it brings with regards to potential further local investment, employment and potential career paths has been woefully misunderstood.”
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The plan would have seen the site at Thistle Hill changed from agricultural land to a deep water diving centre.
Mr Yarrow said that his club, which has been open since 2018, currently trains young and upcoming divers. He said the facility would help to expand this.
However, the council said in its decision notice that the facility was also outside the development limit of any village or settlement.
It said:
Cake, cards and cava for Harrogate couple marking 65 years of marriage“The proposal is for a new tourism and recreational use however the application fails to demonstrate that there is a local need for the facility in this location, that the facility is of a scale and nature appropriate to its location and intended purpose, and that the facility is accessible to the community or catchment population it is intended to serve.”
A couple from Harrogate celebrated 65 years of marriage with a dinner party in a Knaresborough care home.
Henry and Bella Walker, 92 and 86-years-old, reached their blue sapphire wedding anniversary last week and celebrated in style at Thistle Hill Care Centre in Knaresborough.
The pair first met in the dinner queue while working at the munitions factory at Thorp Arch, near Wetherby. Henry initially tapped Bella on the arm and said “I’m taking you out”.
Bella said even thought it was love at first sight, she said “no” until a friend persuaded her to give Henry a chance.
They were later married at the Knaresborough register office on May 18, 1957.
Henry and Bella enjoyed cake and cards and a little cava last week.
The Walkers were joined by family and friends, as well as staff from the home, for a dinner party with cava, sherry and of course cake.
The married couple share four children, six grandchildren and great grandchildren, and even great great grandchildren.
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General manager Mandy Scott said:
Firefighters called to Knaresborough pub“We have had such a lovely day celebrating Henry and Bella’s anniversary. It’s so wonderful to see two people still very much in love after all these years and reaching a blue sapphire anniversary is just incredible.”
Firefighters were called to reports of a fire at a pub in Knaresborough last night.
According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, the incident took place at 9.47pm at a pub on Thistle Hill in the town.
The only pub with an address on that street is The Cricketers, which is in the Calcutt area of Knaresborough.
The incident log says:
“Crews from Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and an aerial ladder platform from Harrogate responded to reports of a fire to a public house.
“On arrival this was a fire confined to the chimney hearth. Crews extinguished the fire in the hearth and inspected the rest of the building for hotspots.”
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Two people cut from vehicles in Knaresborough this morning
Two people had to be cut from their vehicles in Knaresborough this morning following separate crashes.
Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were initially called to a two-vehicle collision at the junction of the B6164 and A658 at 8.34am.
On arrival, all occupants from one vehicle were out of their car but a woman was unable to leave the other vehicle because of neck injuries.
Firefighters used hydraulic cutting gear to free the woman, who was taken to hospital.
Another image from the incident on Thistle Hill. Photograph: @NorthYorkshireFire, Twitter
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Harrogate and Knaresborough crews were called out again at 9.44am when a single vehicle collided with a bollard on Thistle Hill.
The elderly male driver suffered neck, back and knee injuries and was unable to get out of the vehicle.
Firefighters again cut the roof of the vehicle to release the man, who was taken to hospital.
Neither person taken to hospital is believed to have suffered serious injuries.