Harrogate Borough Council has approved an application to convert the former Home Guard club in Harrogate into the town’s first mosque.
The building on the corner of Tower Street and Belford Road has stood derelict for several years but Harrogate Islamic Association plans to bring it back into use as a place of worship for Muslims.
The association, which was set up in 2011, has been looking for a permanent home for several years, with previous attempts at securing a site falling through. Around 100 Muslim worshippers currently meet in the Quakers’ Friends Meeting House on Queen Parade.
The association also organises prayer sessions at Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough.
Sustainable travel
The planning application was submitted in December and received 107 letters of support and 68 objections.
Several objections said the Mosque would increase traffic in the area and that there would be a lack of car parking spaces, but these points were dismissed by council officer Arthama Lakhanpall in his report.
He wrote:
“The site is well connected to transport links and lies within a sustainable location for travel and access. It would promote walking, cycling and sustainable travel in this town centre location. It would therefore be accessible.
“There is no requirement for the proposal to provide off-street parking provision, although the site benefits from nearby short stay and long stay parking areas including the West Park pay and display and multi-storey car parks, and on-street parking on Belford Place, Belford Road and Victoria Avenue.”
The council tweeted the news this morning.
We know there has been a lot of interest surrounding planning application 21/04557/FUL (conversion of vacant former home guards club to place of worship).
We can confirm approval was given (subject to conditions) today under delegated powers. pic.twitter.com/BdMBtQXmWd
— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) March 4, 2022
The HIA will run religious, community and charitable events at the building. It will also support Syrian and Afghan refugees who have moved to the area.
Read more:
- Malcolm Neesam History: the colourful past of what could become Harrogate’s first mosque
- Harrogate district church leaders back mosque
Whilst the HIA has obtained planning approval, the next stage is raising money to purchase the building from the current owner.
£200,000 fundraiser
It hopes to raise £200,000 and has set up a fundraising page here where people can donate.
Harrogate Islamic Association said:
Traffic and Travel Alert: Delays of up to 10 minutes on Ripon Road in Killinghall and Knaresborough Road into Harrogate“We are grateful to everyone in the Harrogate community who supported us, including those at Harrogate Borough Council who engaged with us regularly to alleviate any concerns during the process.
“We view this as a success for everyone in Harrogate, not just ourselves. We can’t wait to welcome one and all for a cuppa.
“Our next step is to raise the balance of funds necessary for us to purchase the property outright. Although we have raised most of what we need, we had a number of pledges that were dependent upon planning permission being granted.
“So for the next 30 days, we will be collecting these pledges, inshallah. We are also re-launching a crowdfunding campaign to make up the difference.”
Delays of up to 10 minutes are being reported along Ripon Road through Killinghall and on Knaresborough Road heading towards the Empress roundabout.
Be aware of the three-way traffic lights on York Place which could increase your queuing time after getting over the Empress roundabout.
It may be best to leave a little earlier if possible if you’re driving into Harrogate town centre this morning.
Keep us posted with any traffic updates on our social media channels or via contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.
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Traffic and Travel Alert: Traffic is queuing in Killinghall due to temporary lights outside the new Tesco
Traffic is reportedly queuing in Killinghall this morning due to the temporary lights outside of the new Tesco store in the centre of town.
Yorkshire Water is responsible for the works. It says they will be in place until the end of today.
Delays are currently around six minutes on Ripon Road, A61.
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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.
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Harrogate Bus Company has had to cancel multiple services on its 1A, 1C and 36 routes this morning.
Those affected include:
- 9.04 – 1C Harrogate to Carmires – cancelled
- 9.29 – 1C Carmires to Harrogate – cancelled
- 9.57 – 36 Ripon to Harrogate – cancelled
- 10.11 – 1A Harrogate to Aspin – cancelled
- 10.36 – 1A Aspin to Harrogate – cancelled
For updates from Harrogate Bus Company, follow it on Twitter @harrogatebus.
https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1498194886763421696
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 Police has put out a warning for motorists to drive carefully on rural roads following snow fall this morning.
The force said motorists should be wary of slippery roads and poor vision this morning.
In a tweet it asked drivers to “slow down and drive to the conditions”.
⚠️WEATHER UPDATE⚠️
❄Areas of #NorthYorkshire are currently experiencing snow fall.
Roads are becoming covered & slippery.
Please #slowdown and drive to the conditions. Allow extra travel time for your Journey.❄
#Craven #A6068 #drivetoarrive pic.twitter.com/yVFj6UFuBX— N Yorks Police Traffic Bureau & Road Safety Team (@NYTrafficBureau) February 24, 2022
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.
To downloads our app, click here.
The alerts are sponsored by The HACS Group.
Traffic and Travel Alert: Delays expected due to Army Foundation College paradeMotorists should expect delays around the Army Foundation College in Harrogate as it holds its annual passing out parade.
Delays are expected around the college today from 8.30am to 10am and 1pm to 2pm on Rough Road and Penny Pot Lane.
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.
Council to pilot banning cars outside North Yorkshire schoolsCars could be banned on streets directly outside many schools at drop-off and pick-up times to improve safety, encourage active travel and cut pollution.
North Yorkshire County Council looks set to examine the impacts of the Department Of Transport-backed School Streets initiative over 18 months, just weeks after ratifying a new 20mph zone policy, under which the authority has undertaken to scrutinise where it could lower speed limits outside schools.
While the move followed years of pressure from road safety campaigners calling for blanket 20mph zones across all built-up areas in the county, the authority has insisted such action would not be suitable everywhere.
The authority’s executive member for access, Cllr Don Mackenzie, said it hoped if a Safer Streets pilot outside Seamer and Irton Community Primary School was successful, that the initiative would complement the council’s 20mph zone policy.
The trial would involve the school placing a ‘Road Closed’ sign across the road by the school at the appropriate times.
However, an officer’s report on the proposal states while North Yorkshire Police would be responsible for enforcing road closures, the force had advised that “it is supportive of School Streets, but could not resource enforcement”.
The council officer’s report states:
“An appropriately applied scheme should minimise the risk of regular contravention and enforcement issues.”
It states the trial will be judged on whether it has led to an increase in active travel, cut traffic speeds and volumes in the area and the impact on the surrounding community and environment, but it was anticipated Schools Streets would not be appropriate for the majority of locations.
Read more:
- Calls for blanket 20mph speed limit dismissed again
- Harrogate hospital’s beds full as it battles winter pressures
The move comes weeks after a Transport for London study of 300 established School Streets found most people believed the vehicle bans had pushed congestion and parking issues elsewhere, while the lack of enforcement created safety concerns.
Coun Mackenzie said introducing restrictions in front of schools could displace parking problems elsewhere, but added:
“I would rather have the problem removed from in front of schools because that is an area that deserves more protection than any other.”
“We fully appreciate, and I personally understand, why the police have areas of greater concern to them to enforce than 20mph limits. In North Yorkshire we have very very few road traffic incidents involving injury in our built-up areas where there is a 30mph limit.
“We’re looking at other interventions to improve safety outside schools, to persuade people not to park in front of schools, or even worse, to drop their children off and leave the engine running.
“If this pilot is successful we will look to introduce it in many other locations in front of schools.”
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe said decisions on how North Yorkshire Police enforced any restrictions put in place were operational ones for the chief constable and her team.
She said:
Traffic and Travel Alert: Two lanes closed southbound on A1 (M) at J49 for Dishforth and Ripon, 20 minute delays expected“North Yorkshire Police will always prioritise those areas where there is greatest risk to road users and will deliver on road safety enforcement activity where appropriate with partners.
“Once decisions are made by the county council, I am sure all groups and organisations in the York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership will come together to discuss how any School Streets projects can be implemented and supported as part of the wider delivery of the recently published Safer Roads Strategy.”
Two of the three lanes heading southbound on the A1 (M) are closed following an accident, delays are reported to be up to 20 minutes.
The accident is affecting the road heading towards J49 for Ripon and Dishforth.
National Highways is warning motorists about delays of up to 20 minutes if heading southbound.
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.
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There are reports of a major accident near Huby this morning on the A658 Harrogate Road.
The crash happened close to the Leathley Farm Shop and Cafe around 8am this morning with delays from Poole in Wharfedale to Huby.
It is unclear at this time how many vehicles were involved at this time. We have asked North Yorkshire Police for a response.
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.
Traffic and Travel Alert: Heavy Killinghall traffic on fourth day of worksThere are miles of tailbacks around Killinghall this morning, particularly for drivers heading southbound, on the fourth day of construction works.
Northern Powergrid is laying cable for an electric vehicle charger outside the new Tesco Express.
Three-way traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Otley Road. Buses and lorries are unable to turn in and out of Otley Road from Ripon Road.
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.