Harrogate Town fans flocked to Wetherby Road in numbers today for the return of league football.

Supporters packed inside the EnviroVent Stadium to welcome back Harrogate Town as they opened their 2020/21 League Two campaign against Rochdale.

Town fans were robbed of the experience of visiting Wembley stadium for the National League play-off final, which coincidentally was a year ago this weekend.

Fans were then left to follow the club through their laptop and mobile phone screens for most of last season as the covid pandemic saw football played behind closed doors.

Read more:

• Delight for fans as Harrogate Town allowed spectators on Saturday
• Harrogate Town: What to look out for in the new season

But, after a record number of season ticket sales, the Town faithful are back and hopefully for the entirety of the League Two campaign.

For many supporters, today was the first chance to watch Town play league football in the flesh.

Here’s a selection of pictures from the first EFL game back at Wetherby Road.

Firefighters rescued four teenagers who had climbed onto the roof of a school in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service took a call for help at a building on Wetherby Road just after 6pm yesterday.

The group had made their way up to the roof of the school but when it came to climbing back down, the teenagers got into some difficulty.

When the crews arrived they used a ladder to get them to safety.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said after the incident:

“Crews assisted four teenagers that had climbed onto the roof of a school and then were unable to get down. Crew used a ladder.”

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• Ripon sporting hero Jack Laugher reaches Olympic diving semi-finals
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A Harrogate councillor who fought against a plan for a Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road says she has been left “angry” and “astounded” after it was approved.

The government gave the go-ahead for the development on the former 1st Dental Surgery site after an appeal hearing was held in June.

Euro Garages, the developer behind the plan, took Harrogate Borough Council to appeal. But the council later withdrew its objection and residents were left to oppose the application by themselves.

Cllr Pat Marsh, who represents the area of the site, led residents in the fight against the proposal.

She said she had been left angry at the decision and warned that residents lives would be affected as a result.

Read more:

• Government approves controversial Wetherby Road Starbucks
• Harrogate councillors cave in over Starbucks drive-thru plans

Cllr Marsh added that the development would have an adverse impact on the entire Harrogate area, not just on Wetherby Road.

She said:

“Many people throughout Harrogate will be outraged by this. It is not an appropriate place to put a drive-thru.

“I cannot understand how they have come to this decision. I felt all our arguments had great strength to them.

“The residents could not have done better to put forward their arguments.”

The layout of the proposed Starbucks on Wetherby Road

Despite multiple residents speaking against the development, planning inspector Helen Hockenhull said she was not persuaded that the site would cause “significant harm”

She said in a decision notice published yesterday:

“I recognise that my findings will be disappointing to the local residents and ward councillor who gave evidence at the hearing.

“However, based on the technical evidence before me and all that I have seen and heard, with the proposed mitigation measures secured by planning conditions, I am not persuaded that the development would cause significant harm.”

Ms Hockenhull also awarded costs for the proceedings of the appeal against the borough council.

The decision to approve the development comes after almost a decade of planning applications from Euro Garages.

The approval means the former dental surgery will be demolished to make way for a drive-thru coffee shop with 19 car parking spaces. This would then be handed over to Starbucks to operate.

A spokesperson for Euro Garages said:

“We are delighted to have received planning permission and we are very pleased with the inspector’s decision.

“This development will help to create up to 20 local jobs for the area.”

The government has approved a controversial Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

Planning inspector Helen Hockenhull gave the go-ahead for the development after an appeal by the developer Euro Garages Ltd.

The move comes despite fierce opposition from local residents, who warned that traffic on the road was already at “breaking point” and that such a development would adversely affect those who live next door.

Residents were forced to defend Harrogate Borough Council’s own reasons for refusal at the appeal hearing in June after the authority withdrew its objection.

Read more:

• Wetherby Road Starbucks drive-thru plan to go to appeal
• Harrogate councillors cave in over Starbucks drive-thru plans
• Controversial Wetherby Road Starbucks would ‘change our lives’, say residents

Among the concerns were highways safety, air quality and living conditions for those in neighbouring properties.

But Ms Hockenhull said in a decision notice that was published today:

“I recognise that my findings will be disappointing to the local residents and ward councillor who gave evidence at the hearing. 

“However, based on the technical evidence before me and all that I have seen and heard, with the proposed mitigation measures secured by planning conditions, I am not persuaded that the development would cause significant harm.”

Retail firm Euro Garages has spent almost a decade trying to win permission to open the coffee shop at the former 1st Dental surgery on Wetherby Road, Harrogate, but has been refused three times by councillors and once by a government inspector.

The approval means the former dental surgery will be demolished to make way for a drive-thru coffee shop with 19 car parking spaces. This would then be handed over to Starbucks to operate.

The Stray Ferret has approached Euro Garages for comment.

A section of Wetherby Road in Harrogate reopened this morning after a burst pipe forced it to close for three days.

The busy section between Masham Close and Hookstone Road is now open. The road has also been resurfaced.

Its closure on Friday just before rush hour caused misery for motorists. North Yorkshire County Council, the highways authority, said it hoped it would reopen over the weekend.

But Yorkshire Water said the burst pipe caused “significant damage” and engineers needed more time to complete repairs.

It was thought the road could be closed until tomorrow.

This was the road on Saturday while repairs were ongoing.

Long delays were reported across the weekend with commuters having to find alternative routes.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said:

“Our teams have worked hard throughout the weekend to ensure disruption caused by the burst pipe on Wetherby Road were kept to a minimum. Our work has been completed ahead of schedule and the road has now been reopened.”

Read more:

• Delays are expected as works start on the Ripon Bypass this evening until July 10
• Yesterday’s Stray Views sparked anger over the “dangerous” queues at the recycling centre on Wetherby Road

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. See below for details on how to contribute.

Wetherby Road recycling queue is dangerous

Nick Bentley, Knaresborough

Council pay rises would be a joke

Your piece on Harrogate Borough Council pay rises is an insult to the people who live in the town.

Harrogate Borough Council is the worst council for spending money on its ‘vanity project’ council buildings. It is a joke.

The council ignores important issues that its council tax payers have. The people sitting in their ivory tower don’t deserve anything.

Susan Mitchell, Harrogate

Stop these proposed changes to Harrogate

My husband and I enjoy the articles from the Stray Ferret: they are accurate, to the point, and echo the views of people like myself who have lived most of my life within a five-to-seven mile radius of Harrogate town centre.

We have, nevertheless, travelled abroad many times during our 52 years of married life living in close proximity to this lovely town. Some of the proposed changes to the town are just not appropriate – if only Councillor Mackenzie would listen to the views of residents of Harrogate and its outskirts. Surely, the government cannot allow them to go ahead?

Pat Perry, Kirkby Overblow

The great rewilding debate: grass-cutting or cost-cutting?

I love the long and lovely wild verges – they don’t need to be cut at all, except at junctions to let drivers exit side roads safely.

Helen Barclay, Harrogate

Do you really believe that this is anything to do with being eco friendly? It’s about cost-cutting.

The grass verges where l live are prime dumping ground for dog excrement. The verges are unsightly and the result looks like we live in a dump.

Jen Dent, Harrogate

I love the council’s efforts to allow biodiversity to gain ground on the Stray! Keep it up!

Ann Broderick, Harrogate

Deliberately planting colourful wildflowers brings the Stray to life. Looks fabulous.

Leaving roadside verges uncut and scruffy is just another lazy wheeze to short-change council taxpayers.

If you park your car next to them you get wet trying to get into your car in the morning. Several residents on Coppice Drive have taken the obvious action.

Tim Emmott, Harrogate

Wild verges looks amazing, nature always needs more help these days.

Perhaps a few wildflower seeds added will give it a lift for those who think it is just a scruffy look.

Encouraging wildlife in the centre of town is is very uplifting.

Jen Mackay, Harrogate

Read more:

• Harrogate district’s wild grass verges continue to divide opinion
• ‘Victory for the people!’: Harrogate’s plastic grass removed this morning

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.

Wetherby Road in Harrogate is expected to reopen on Tuesday after a water pipe burst yesterday.

The part closure of such a busy road caused long delays yesterday as drivers sought alternative routes. This looks set to continue all weekend and Monday.

Wetherby Road remains closed from Masham Close to the junction with Hookstone Road.

Yorkshire Water has confirmed that its engineers have now fixed the broken pipe.

North Yorkshire County Council previously said the aim was to reopen the road this weekend.

However, that has been pushed back. The road has suffered “significant damage” so workers need more time to fix it.

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• Wetherby Road in Harrogate closed in both directions
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It’s unclear at this time whether Wetherby Road will be open for the morning commute on Tuesday at this time.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“The burst pipe on Wetherby Road has now been repaired. It caused significant damage to the road surface in the area and our teams will be working throughout the weekend to reinstate the road and reduce disruption to a minimum.”

An eyewitness told the Stray Ferret:

“They were working on it on Friday morning and they said they might have to close the road, I think they left it as late as they could.

“But it was the worst timing really, on a Friday afternoon.”

Wetherby Road in Harrogate has been closed in both directions just as the evening rush hour begins, due to a broken water pipe.

Heavy traffic is already starting to build up around the area.

The busy commuter route could be closed for more than a day between Masham Close and the junction with Hookstone Road, according to North Yorkshire County Council.

The council said on Yorkshire Water‘s engineers “were on scene and aim to reinstate the road over the weekend”. It apologised for any inconvenience.

Wetherby Road in #Harrogate is closed in both directions from Masham Close to the junction with Hookstone Road.

This is due to a collapsed @YorkshireWater pipe.

Their engineers are on scene & aim to reinstate the road over the weekend.

Apologies for any inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/3LzLPmoFeI

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) June 25, 2021

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“Due to a burst water pipe, we’ve had to close Wetherby Road from Masham Close to the junction with Hookstone Road.

“Our contractors are on with fixing the pipe and assessing the work that needs to be done to get the road open safely again. We’re sorry about any disruption this causes.”

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• State of roads in Ripon comes under spotlight

A developer behind a planned Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road has said it will seek full legal costs if the proposal is approved by a planning inspector.

Alan Evans, counsel for Euro Garages, told an inquiry earlier this week that the company would seek costs from Harrogate Borough Council for “unreasonable behaviour”.

Residents fighting the controversial proposal, which is planned for the former 1st Dental surgery site, appeared before the hearing to defend the refusal after the borough council withdrew its objection.

Alan Evans, a legal representative for Euro Garages, told the appeal that the planning committee’s latest decision of refusal should be overturned.

He said: 

“Members of the committee were themselves unwilling to defend their reasons for refusal so if you wanted to have a bird’s-eye view of unreasonableness, then I don’t think you could have a better one.

“No evidence has been brought forward, there never was any evidence and our application was based soundly at the outset.

“If the council can’t defend any reasons for refusal, then the obvious opposite side of the coin is that it should have been granted permission.”

Residents living next to the potential site of the drive-thru told the inquiry into the plans that it would “completely destroy” their enjoyment of their homes.

Read more:

• Controversial Wetherby Road Starbucks would ‘change our lives’, say residents
• Harrogate congestion at ‘breaking point’ even without Starbucks, say residents
• Harrogate councillors cave in over Starbucks drive-thru plans

Speaking at the hearing on Tuesday, resident Joanne Richardson, who lives behind the proposed site, said: 

“If this proposal is accepted then the impact on residents will be huge – it is seven days a week, unsociable hours and our amenity will be completely destroyed.”

Helen Hockenhull, a government planning inspector, opened the hearing into the proposed Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road on Tuesday

Mrs Richardson also said revisions to the plans – including a re-jigged car park, reduction in the size of the coffee shop and an acoustic fence – did not go far enough to address local concern.

She said:

“What this current proposal does is move the drive-thru lane to literally metres from the windows of living areas directly adjacent to the site.

“It is absurd to think that a two-metre boarded fence and a planted area of a few metres will mitigate the impact on residents surrounding the site.”

Another resident, Mark Hinchliffe, told the appeal that the nearby Woodlands junction was “probably the busiest” in Harrogate as he also warned the town was already at “breaking point” with traffic congestion.

He said: 

“Regardless of Starbucks arriving, there is already a major problem with that road – I can only describe it as the North Circular around London.”

The plans were first refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in 2017 before the applicant lodged an unsuccessful appeal, then submitted a revised application two years later.

These latest proposals were still rejected in 2019 but the council, nor its planning committee, chose not to contest the appeal because it had previously made a recommendation in support of the plans. 

The council also said it was unable to find lawyers willing to fight the appeal on its behalf.

Helen Hockenhull, the planning inspector in charge of the appeal, will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

Congestion in Harrogate is already at “breaking point” even without a drive-thru Starbucks, a planning appeal hearing was told today.

Residents fighting a proposed Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road told a government planning inspector that the road already had traffic problems without the development.

The hearing, which was held online, was opened by planning inspector Helen Hockenhull this morning.

Representatives from Euro Garages, which has proposed the development on the former 1st Dental surgery site, also appeared at the hearing

Harrogate Borough Council withdrew its objection to the proposal after council officers said the authority’s previous recommendation would “undermine” their case.

It means that residents on Wetherby Road have been left to defend the council’s refusal of the development at the hearing.

Congestion is at ‘breaking point’

Mark Hinchliffe, who has lived in Harrogate for 20 years, told the appeal hearing that the road was already dangerous without the development.

He added that the junction was the busiest in the town.

Mr Hinchliffe said:

“That junction is the busiest road into town, it is also the the busiest road out.

“You have the traffic from the conference centre, the showground and the petrol station.”

Read more:

• Controversial Wetherby Road Starbucks would ‘change our lives’, say residents
• Harrogate councillor ‘confident’ ahead of Wetherby Road Starbucks appeal
• Harrogate councillors cave in over Starbucks drive-thru plans

Mr Hinchliffe described the traffic on the road as a “major issue” and at “breaking point” even without a new drive-thru coffee shop.

“Regardless of Starbucks arriving, it is already a major issue. It has got worse over the last 10 years. It’s at breaking point.”

Meanwhile, Joe Shields, who also lives on Wetherby Road, pointed out that the road has a number of different vehicles using it every day, including commercial lorries.

He added that cars also “hurtle” along the road when merging into one lane after the Woodlands junction.

The proposed layout of the Starbucks site on Wetherby Road as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council. Picture: Euro Garages.

Residents also raised concern over the proposed right turn into the site, which they said would also be a safety issue.

Meanwhile, Gavin Snowball, speaking on transport issues on behalf of Euro Garages, said any queuing caused by the development would be “negligible”.

When asked about the number of cars trying to merge after the Woodlands junction, Mr Snowball said the merge complied with highways standards.

He said:

“There is nothing in the data that would show that there is a pre-existing issue [with the merge].”

Mr Snowball added that the developer would improve access to the site as much as possible and make sure that the entrance to the site was away from the traffic lights.

He said:

“Throughout this process it remains consistent, we would seek to improve access to the site as much as possible by relocating the access away from the traffic control system.”

Ms Hockenhull said she intends to visit the site before making a decision, which will be made at a later date.