Harrogate fast food restaurant Leon to close

Harrogate fast food venue Leon is to close — just nine months after opening.

The Mediterranean-inspired drive-thru and restaurant opened on Wetherby Road at the end of June.

There were concerns that having a drive-thru close to the junction of Wetherby Road and Hookstone Drive would cause traffic problems.

But they failed to materialise and staff were informed yesterday the site will close on April 2.

A source, who asked not to be named, said:

“It is purely down to low sales to my knowledge, it has never been as busy as you would expect a new restaurant to be.”

About 20 staff, most of whom are part-time, are affected by the news. The source added:

“There was some discussion about other job roles in the EG group, which owns Leon, but it wasn’t clear exactly what would happen.”

Leon’s closure will prompt speculation about the future of the site.

EG Group had considered opening a Starbucks on the site and may be tempted to revive those plans.

EG Group is the UK’s largest operator of KFC, Greggs and Starbucks franchises.

It has transformed the derelict former dentist site and installed electric vehicle charging points. There is a large car parking area.

The Stray Ferret has approached Leon for comment.

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Junior doctors begin strike at Harrogate District Hospital

Junior doctors formed a large picket line on Wetherby Road in Harrogate this morning as a 72-hour strike got underway.

Up to 61,000 junior or trainee doctors began a walkout at 7am today in a dispute over pay.

Many cars sounded their horns in support of those taking part in today’s action on Wetherby Road, close to Harrogate District Hospital.

The British Medical Association and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association have defied calls from Health Secretary Steve Barclay to call off the strike.

They are calling for a 26% pay increase to “reverse the steep decline in pay faced by junior doctors since 2008/9”, according to the BMA.

A statement on Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust‘s website says the strike will impact services to patients. It says:

“Outpatients appointments and planned activity may be affected.

“Patients should continue to attend appointments as planned unless contacted to reschedule. We will be re-arranging any postponed appointments as a priority.

“We appreciate this situation is frustrating for patients affected and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“Nobody should put off seeking urgent or emergency care during the strikes, and key services will continue to operate.”

The full statement is here.

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Harrogate police officer sexually assaulted woman while on duty, trial hears

A Harrogate police officer sexually assaulted a woman at a cemetery in Harrogate while he was on duty, it’s alleged.

Christopher Hudson, 32, assaulted the woman in a car park at Stonefall Cemetery on Wetherby Road, the prosecution told a jury at Leeds Crown Court.

Prosecuting barrister Gerald Hendron said Hudson, who was serving as a police constable based at Harrogate Police Station at the time of the alleged incident, stroked the woman on the back of the neck and ear and “pulled her…towards him”.

He then kissed her, but she repeatedly told him “No”. 

Mr Hendron added:

“She started to panic but he continued.

“He took hold of her hand and moved it on (an intimate part of his body).

“The defendant had his hand (near an intimate part of her body) and touched her there.”

She later told friends about what happened and how “shocked and confused” she had been during and after the incident.

Mr Hendron said:

“She feared she would not be believed.”

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She sought help from a counsellor about stress which was brought on by the alleged incident in February 2021. 

Hudson, of Hollin Terrace, Huddersfield, was arrested in March of that year when he denied sexually assaulting the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

He denies one count of sexual assault.

The trial continues. 

Roadworks to start on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road this week

Ten days of roadworks are due to commence on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road on Thursday.

Northern Powergrid will carry out work to connect new electric vehicle charging points at Leon restaurant to the electricity network.

It will mean closing the inside lane of the carriageway outside Leon on the approach to the Woodlands junction.

Roadworks took place in the same area from April to June last year in the run-up to Leon opening.

Project engineer Richard Appleyard said in a letter on behalf of Northern Powergrid to residents in the area:

“I regret it will be necessary to excavate a trench, install new cables and cable joints in the highway footpath, in front of the previously installed green substation kiosk at the front corner of the property.

“It is appreciated that there will be a certain amount of disruption during the implementation of this work, but every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum.”

The letter added it would be necessary to close a section of the inside lane “and set up a barrier system incorporating a temporary footpath within the carriageway”. It added:

“Every effort will be made to maintain access to adjacent properties at all times.”

Joe Shields, who lives in the area, questioned why the work wasn’t carried out when the road was previously dug up. He said:

“I can see the tailbacks and frustrated drivers already. Not to mention locals and pub customers.

“Last time there was work it was complete chaos and took weeks and weeks.”

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Flats plan approved for Harrogate’s Wetherby Road despite traffic concerns

A three-storey building of six apartments will be built on Wetherby Road despite concerns from residents over traffic problems.

The site, at the corner of Wayside Crescent, was previously a home with a large garden, where two detached homes have been built since 2020.

Meeting today, Harrogate Borough Council‘s planning committee followed officers’ recommendation to approve the plans to demolish the building and create the new flats.

They had heard from Martin Hughes, representing nearby residents on Wayside Crescent, who said the area was a “living hell” with cars regularly mounting the pavement to pass each other.

The situation had become worse, he said, during construction of the two detached homes in the former garden of the house in question.

Mr Hughes said:

“We had contractor vehicles parking on double yellow lines throughout — in fact they are still parking on double yellow lines.

“There’s no policing of that and I understand why, because there’s insufficient resources, but it doesn’t help matters on the ground.”

The location of the site, close to the football ground, hospital, and several schools, made it a busy “rat run”, said Mr Hughes.

As a result, he said, residents had undertaken their own survey on a weekday morning in November to assess the situation.

They found 151 pedestrians had crossed the end of Wayside Crescent between 8am and 9am, of which 26 were accompanied children and 72 were unaccompanied children.

Meanwhile, 162 cars were driven along Wayside Crescent, and 17 of those had to take evasive action, either pulling into a driveway or going onto the pavement, in the face of an oncoming vehicle.

He added:

“This is already a dangerous road and are we really, seriously going to add to this madness?”

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While Cllr Pat Marsh, of the Liberal Democrats, said she could not support the proposal because of the impact on the nearby roads, Conservative Cllr John Mann disagreed.

He said although traffic was clearly a problem in the area, there had been no objections raised by North Yorkshire County Council‘s highways team to this plan. On those grounds, he said, he would support the application.

He added:

“I agree with the comments of colleagues and the objector. In relation to the rat-running and the amount of traffic on Wayside Crescent and the difficulty of crossing Wetherby Road apart from using the pedestrian crossing.

“I also agree with the amount of pedestrian traffic, the school children etc. But at the same time, I don’t think the addition of six flats is going to change that at all in terms of the quantity of traffic and the difficulties which people experience with that.

“I don’t think that will alter the situation one way or the other.”

Planning committee members voted by nine votes to one in favour of the plans. They also voted by the same margin to write to the highways department to ask for traffic on Wayside Crescent to be assessed with a view to making improvements, which could include making the road one way.

Burst pipe leaves Harrogate homes and businesses without water

A burst water main has left homes without water and affected businesses in Harrogate this morning.

Yorkshire Water said it was working to repair the fault on Wetherby Road at 5.30am.

⚠️#WetherbyRoad #HG3 ⚠️
Apologies to customers experiencing low pressure or no water due to a burst water main, we will restore supplies as soon as possible. Thank you – Sam pic.twitter.com/ym1zhsszCE

— Yorkshire Water Help (@YWHelp) December 17, 2022

Farm shop Fodder posted on social media that it was unable to open its cafe this morning because of a lack of running water.

Its shop remains open as normal, with eight days to go before Christmas.

A Yorkshire Water spokesman said:

“We are currently dealing with a high number of burst pipes in the region due to the weather conditions. We are aware of the burst on Wetherby Road and will be attending to complete repairs as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

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Yorkshire Water also said this morning it was readying its leakage detection and repair teams for an increase in bursts and leaks caused by an expected thaw.

It urged homeowners to take measures to prevent damage.

Homes are particularly at risk if they have exposed water pipes on the outside of the house or an outdoor tap, which are vulnerable to the cold weather.  The spokesman said:

“One way to prevent a frozen pipe is to wrap them in foam insulation to protect them from the cold weather, which is also known as lagging.”

Also this morning, Harrogate Town confirmed its fixture this afternoon at Doncaster Rovers has been called off because of a frozen pitch.

 

 

New crossing on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road to be installed next year

A toucan crossing on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road looks set to be installed next year after plans were approved.

North Yorkshire County Council proposed the crossing to encourage walking and cycling at the junction with Slingsby Walk.

It will be the fourth set of lights in less than a mile between the Empress roundabout and the Woodlands junction, which is already one of the most congested stretches of road around Harrogate.

Council officials have estimated the crossing could double the number of cyclists using the Slingsby Walk route, which runs alongside the Stray.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at the authority, approved the crossing at a meeting yesterday.

Subject to a feasibility study, it will be installed in the 2023/24 financial year.

The section of Wetherby Road and Slingsby Walk which is earmarked for a new crossing.

The section of Wetherby Road and Slingsby Walk which is earmarked for a new crossing.

Cllr Duncan said:

“A crossing at Slingsby Walk would be a positive step forward for active travel in Harrogate, providing a safe, formal crossing point for both pedestrians and cyclists who might currently be hesitant about using the link.

“We recognise the concerns around existing traffic congestion on this section of Wetherby Road and at the meeting we discussed how we will use sensor technology to detect automatically when the crossing is clear to ensure no unnecessary delays to motorists.

“We are committed to doing more to create opportunities for people to walk or cycle for work, education and shopping as part of a balanced approach to travel. This means doing what we can to support all road users – motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport services.”

Likely to increase delays

Council officers have admitted the crossing is likely to cause further delays for drivers.

In a report outlining the proposal, Barrie Mason, assistant director for highways and transportation, accepted the move would likely increase pressure on the road network.

He added there were also officer concerns over “existing traffic congestion on this section of Wetherby Road”.

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However, he said these concerns had to be balanced against the benefit that it would offer to pedestrians and cyclists.

Funding of £75,000 for the crossing has been secured from Harrogate Borough Council’s sustainable transport budget.

Stray Views: Harrogate’s Wetherby Road crossing ‘poorly thought out’

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. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

I walked or cycled along Slingsby Walk for several years on my way to and from work at Harrogate District Hospital. 

While it was sometimes difficult to cross Wetherby Road at that point, there is an existing crossing within about 100 meters. 

This is used by many people who are going to and from the hospital every day. The traffic is already often at a standstill in that area and it is pointless to have yet another crossing. 

This scheme seems poorly thought out, much like the pointless Beech Grove one.

Ralph Amsby, Harrogate

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Slow deterioration of Harrogate phone box

I have lived in Harrogate for three years and during this time l have watched the slow deterioration of the phone box at the top of Otley Road.

Whose responsibly is it? Other towns and villages take care of theirs. They have many uses such as free book donation, plants etc. if this phone box is not restored soon. It would be a shame to lose it.

Christine Weldon, Harrogate

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.

More crossings needed in Oatlands area, says Harrogate councillor

More crossings should be installed on Oatlands Drive to make cycling and walking safe, says a Harrogate councillor.

Cllr Pat Mash, who represents Stray, Woodlands and Hookston on North Yorkshire County Council, said she welcomed new plans for a toucan crossing on Wetherby Road.

The authority revealed the proposal for the junction at Slingsby Walk this week.

But, Cllr Marsh said more crossings were needed on Oatlands Drive and Stray Rein following the announcement of the Wetherby Road installation.

She said:

“I have been pushing for this for sometime. However it does not go far enough crossings should be created  across Oatlands Drive and Stray Rein to ensure pedestrian and cyclists have safe access and hopefully it would encourage more people to use this as a cycle route. 

“I am not too sure traffic signals are right on such a busy road as Wetherby Road. Maybe a well signposted pedestrian crossing, but then it is about the safety of all. 

“This would have more benefit to the cycling community than the cycle way proposed on Oatlands Drive which is in such isolation from the rest of the community. At least Slingsby Walk would achieve more connectivity.”

North Yorkshire County Council has proposed the Wetherby Road crossing, which would cost £75,000, which it says could “double the number of people using a popular cycling and walking route”.

However, council officers have conceded that it will likely cause further delays for motorists in the area.

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If approved, implementation of the crossing will be subject to a detailed design and safety audit before it could be introduced in 2023/24. 

Funding of £75,000 for the crossing has been secured from Harrogate Borough Council’s sustainable transport budget.

Conservative Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways, said:

“We are committed to creating opportunities for people who want to walk or cycle for work, education, shopping or other reasons. This is clear in the Harrogate area through our Transforming Cities Fund gateway project and Active Travel Fund schemes to develop a safe, accessible network for cyclists and pedestrians.

“The Slingsby Walk crossing could offer a significant addition to the town’s infrastructure, providing a safe, formal crossing point for pedestrians and cyclists who might be hesitant about using the link at the moment.

“We recognise concerns around existing traffic congestion on this section of Wetherby Road. While an additional crossing would place extra pressure on the network, this needs to be weighed against the benefit to pedestrians and cyclists that already use this location and those that would if there was a formal crossing.”

Wetherby Road crossing ‘likely to cause further delays’ for Harrogate drivers

A new crossing on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road is likely to cause “further delays” for drivers, a county council officer has said.

North Yorkshire County Council yesterday revealed plans to install a toucan crossing on the road next to Slingsby Walk on the Stray to encourage walking and cycling in Harrogate.

The crossing would be the fourth set of lights in less than a mile between the Empress roundabout and the Woodlands junction, which is already one of the most congested stretches of road around Harrogate.

In a report outlining the proposal, Barrie Mason, assistant director for highways and transportation, accepted the move would likely increase pressure on the road network.

He added there were also officer concerns over “existing traffic congestion on this section of Wetherby Road”.

However, he said that the measure had to be balanced with the benefit that it would offer to both pedestrians and cyclists.

Slingsby Walk

Slingsby Walk is popular for walkers and cyclists.

Mr Mason said:

“Any additional crossing of the A661 Wetherby Road will likely cause further delays for people travelling on the road.

“It is felt, however, that the signalised crossing would be of benefit to pedestrians and cyclists and the safety and movement of vulnerable road users should be prioritised in this location in order to achieve a better balance between travel modes.”

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Mr Mason added that the measure has the potential to more than double the cyclists on Slingsby Walk.

According to the report, a cycle count in the area on a single day in 2021 counted 84 cyclists.

Mr Mason said:

“Given the route’s geography, it is highly likely that most of these cyclists reached the A661 at the proposed crossing point location.

“The proposed crossing is thought to satisfy a key desire line for present and future cyclists.”

‘Creating opportunities’ for cycling and walking

Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transportation, is to consider the proposal at a meeting on Wednesday, December 14.

If approved, implementation of the crossing will be subject to a detailed design and safety audit before it could be introduced in 2023/24. 

Funding of £75,000 for the crossing has been secured from Harrogate Borough Council’s sustainable transport budget.

Cllr Duncan said:

“We are committed to creating opportunities for people who want to walk or cycle for work, education, shopping or other reasons. This is clear in the Harrogate area through our Transforming Cities Fund gateway project and Active Travel Fund schemes to develop a safe, accessible network for cyclists and pedestrians.

“The Slingsby Walk crossing could offer a significant addition to the town’s infrastructure, providing a safe, formal crossing point for pedestrians and cyclists who might be hesitant about using the link at the moment.”