Wetherby Services has submitted plans for a solar farm on land next to the A1 (M) service station — with the renewable energy it generates used to power the site’s electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

The land north of the service station, which is currently used for agricultural purposes, spans more than five hectares but it would be turned over to solar panels under plans submitted by Moto Services to North Yorkshire Council this month.

According to planning documents, the proposal forms part of Moto’s strategy to bring forward solar farms on land next to Moto’s existing service stations.

Moto Services is the UK’s largest motorway service station operator with 59 sites.

It is expected the solar panels would be able to generate up to 7MW of renewable energy.

The screening opinion application asks the council if an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be submitted for a future full planning application for the solar farm.

The majority of the site is in a zone with a low flood zone risk. However, as part of it is also located in areas with medium to high risk of flooding, North Yorkshire Council has recommended that its flooding department is consulted on the proposal.

The solar farm application follows the launch of 12 EV charging points at Wetherby Services last year.

Planning documents state: 

“The proposed development is deemed crucial for the ongoing functionality of the associated Wetherby MSA. Electric vehicles will play a big part in the transition to zero emission transport, but to achieve these targets, it is imperative that suitable infrastructure is provided to support electric vehicles.

“The proposed development forms part of Moto’s wider strategy to bring forward solar farms on land adjacent to Moto’s existing MSAs, which will generate much needed electricity to power the EV Chargers at their services.”

In May, neighbouring authority Leeds City Council approved plans for 762 homes just 600m south of the site.

However, Moto says considering the “scale and nature” of the proposed solar farm development it would “unlikely lead to significant adverse effects” on the housing development.

Read more:

• Plan to create 200 HGV parking bays at Wetherby Services
• Knaresborough traders set to escalate electric vehicle parking row
• Plans to install 12 electric vehicle charging points at Wetherby Services

Campaigners in Kirby Hill have given North Yorkshire Council notice of a legal challenge against a decision to approve a motorway service station near the village.

Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services have told the authority they intend to press ahead with a judicial review over a move to grant permission for the service station between junctions 48 and 49 of the A1(M) northbound, near Boroughbridge and Ripon.

Councillors on the authority’s planning committee granted approval for the scheme on September 12, which would see a Welcome Break built at the site, as well a filling station and 364 car parking spaces created.

The proposal already had outline permission after the government’s Planning Inspectorate approved the plan on appeal in April 2021.

Applegreen, which is based in Dublin, applied for amendments to the proposal, including an extension to the length of the slip roads and increasing the permissible height of the eastern dumbbell roundabout by up to 1.25 metres.

However, Gareth Owens, chair of the Kirby Hill RAMS, said the move amounted to “significant change” to the scheme and confirmed the campaign group would challenge the approval.

He said:

“The leader of the new council, Cllr Carl Les, told parishes that he wants to work with them and ensure their voice is represented in North Yorkshire Council decisions.

“These laudable principles form the basis of the parish charter that he signed in July 2023. Two months later, planning officers and the strategic planning committee have ridden roughshod over the needs, rights and wishes of the local community.

“This is totally unacceptable. We have written to the council initiating the pre-action protocol for judicial review and giving them 14 days to reconsider this decision and respond, in light of the serious legal issues that we have identified.”

Read more:

• Government approves A1 service station after fourth appeal in 25 years

• Plans for motorway services between Ripon and Boroughbridge approved

Mr Owens said the group would challenge the decision on four grounds: unlawful decision, irrational decision, procedural impropriety and unfair decision.

The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire Council for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The move comes after the government approved plans for the service station following a series of public inquiries and planning battles.

In a saga which has spanned a quarter of a century, Applegreen’s application has been before multiple council planning committees, faced four public inquiries and been turned down twice by the Secretary of State and the High Court.

The inquiry, which was held by planning inspector David Rose and streamed onto YouTube, lasted two weeks and included multiple testimonies from residents, campaigners and developer Applegreen.

In a decision notice, Mr Rose said after considering the evidence that the benefits of a service station would outweigh the harm.

Residents in Kirby Hill have objected to latest plans for a motorway service station near to the village.

Applegreen Ltd has submitted amended plans for the scheme between junctions 48 and 49 of the A1(M) northbound, between Boroughbridge and Ripon.

It would see a Welcome Break built at the site, as well a filling station and 364 car parking spaces created.

The proposal already has outline permission after the government’s Planning Inspectorate approved the plan on appeal in April 2021.

However, the Dublin-based company has applied for amendments to the plan, including an extension to the length of the slip roads and increasing the permissible height of the eastern dumbbell roundabout by up to 1.25 metres.

In documents submitted to the council, Applegreen said the changes were “limited design amendments”.

It said:

“These minor changes to the access / junction linking the motorway service area to the A1(M) are needed in order that this access is in full compliance with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (as required by National Highways).

“There are no other material amendments proposed whatsoever to the scheme approved under the 2021 permission.”

The site plan for the service station at Kirby Hill.

However, residents in Kirby Hill have argued that the changes are not minor and called on North Yorkshire Council to refuse the application.

Gareth Owens, of Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services, said:

“Applegreen’s failure to implement the scheme approved by the Inspector proves the case that we have been making for 27 years – a motorway service area cannot be assimilated into the large-scale, open, rural landscape at this location.

“We urge the members of the new North Yorkshire Council planning committee to refuse these two applications, as their predecessors on Harrogate Borough Council have always done, and ensure that there will be no services here.”

Read more:

• Government approves A1 service station after fourth appeal in 25 years

• Harrogate council paid £45,000 in Kirby Hill and Ripon service station legal fees

The Stray Ferret approached Applegreen for a response to residents’ concerns, but had not received a reply by the time of publication.

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

The move comes as the government approved plans for the service station after a series of public inquiries and planning battles.

In a saga which has spanned a quarter of a century, Applegreen’s application has been before multiple council planning committees, faced four public inquiries and been turned down twice by the Secretary of State and the High Court.

The inquiry, which was held by planning inspector David Rose and streamed onto YouTube, lasted two weeks and included multiple testimonies from residents, campaigners and developer Applegreen.

In a decision notice, Mr Rose said after considering the evidence that the benefits of a service station would outweigh the harm.

A van driver was taken to hospital after a serious collision with a lorry on the A1(M) at Allerton Park last night.

The crash happened at junction 47 just before 6pm and led to three-mile tailbacks and lengthy delays.

Firefighters from Knaresborough, Harrogate, Ripon and Tadcaster were summoned to help.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log, “a van had impacted the trailer of a HGV and the driver was trapped by the dashboard”.

It added:

“On arrival, crews used cutting equipment, spreaders, rams and a turfer to free the male driver of the van.

“The driver was transported to hospital by road ambulance with a suspected broken femur.”

North Yorkshire Police has not released any information about the incident.

Read more:

• Car crashes into shop in Knaresborough
• Ex-England footballer Micah Richards fined for speeding in Knaresborough

A serious crash on the A1(M) near Dishforth left the occupants of a Fiat 500 requiring hospital treatment.

North Yorkshire Police issued an appeal for further information today after the crash closed the stretch of road before junction 49 at 5.50am on Friday (March 31) for two hours.

The crash involved a white Fiat 500 and a heavy goods vehicle. The occupants of the Fiat suffered serious injuries and required hospital treatment.

A police statement said:

“Police are appealing for witnesses to the collision or anyone who recalls seeing the vehicle(s) prior to the collision, to get in touch as soon as possible to assist the investigation.

“They would be particularly keen to hear from anyone who captured dash cam footage of the collision or the vehicles.

“If you can help, please email gary.dukes@northyorkshire.police.uk, or contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Gary Dukes.”

Read more:

• Harrogate woman jailed for 10 weeks
• Guilty plea ends trial into alleged Harrogate cocaine racket
• Harrogate police officer given suspended sentence for sex assault

Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville has been fined for speeding on the A1(M) by Harrogate Magistrates Court.

Summerville, 21, was caught speeding near Ingmanthorpe, near Kirk Deighton, on August 19 last year.

He was fined £220 and endorsed with three points on his licence.

The 21-year-old, of Ackworth, Pontefract, was not required to appear in court.

Summerville was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £88 and court costs of £90.

The Netherlands under-21s international has made 20 appearances for Leeds in the Premier League this season, scoring four goals including the winner against Liverpool at Anfield in October.

He joined the Elland Road club from Feyenoord in 2020.

Read more:

• Harrogate woman jailed for 10 weeks
• Harrogate crime hotspot gets £6,000 railings to prevent loitering
• Albanian crime group ran huge cocaine racket in Harrogate, court hears

Traffic was halted on the southbound A1(M) between junctions 46 and 47 last night when a Vauxhall Corsa caught fire.

The vehicle was completely destroyed by the blaze, which occurred at about 8.45pm between Flaxby and Wetherby Services.

The wreckage of the Corsa. Pic: Knaresborough Fire Station

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log said:

“Knaresborough and Harrogate crews attended a Vauxhall Corsa well alight on the hard shoulder.

“The fire is believed to have been caused by a mechanical fault. Crews extinguished the fire using two hose reels. The car was destroyed by fire.”

Firefighters at the scene. Pic Knaresborough Fire Station

Last night National Highways alerted motorists to the incident and warned them to expect delays. Knaresborough Fire Station posted on social media this morning the road re-opened shortly afterwards.

Traffic is being held temporarily on the #A1M southbound between J47 and J46 near #Wetherby due to a vehicle fire. pic.twitter.com/Gpa4PvdDpZ

— National Highways: Yorkshire (@HighwaysYORKS) December 30, 2022

Read more:

• Wrapping paper causes Christmas Day chimney fire in Harrogate
• Firefighters rescue family trapped on black ice in Nidderdale

A woman has been recognised for bravery after saving a lorry driver’s life on the A1(M) at Boroughbridge.

Evie Armitage intervened after the driver suffered a heart attack and crashed into the central reservation on the morning on December 9, 2021.

For 11 minutes, she provided life saving CPR before paramedics arrived.

The driver was taken to hospital for urgent treatment and made a full recovery.

Evie and four North Yorkshire Police officers were recognised by the Royal Humane Society for bravery this month.

Lisa Winward, chief constable at the force, said:

“These commendations recognise the bravery and selflessness of those who put themselves at risk to save the lives of others.

“The courageous actions of the recipients are an inspiration to us all, and I was proud to be able to honour them in this way.”

Read more:

• Police plea to call out drink drivers amid increasing Harrogate district incidents
• Harrogate man jailed for three years for ‘savage’ attack

Evie was recognised alongside PCSO Felicity Wilkinson, who was first on the scene following reports of a man in distress on the wrong side of a bridge over the A1(M) near Scotch Corner on August 3, 2021.

She made the scene safe and spoke to the man, before PC Michael Smith, PC Steven Gardner and PC Alan Fenney arrived, and they grabbed hold of him to prevent him falling.

They held on to the man for 10 minutes while further officers made their way to the location. They were eventually able to pull him on to the right side of the bridge, and he was taken to hospital.

Queues of more than an hour have been reported once again this week due to temporary traffic lights on the edge of Knaresborough.

Three-way lights have been in place to allow Yorkshire Water to carry out work on the A59 near the junction with the A658, near Goldsborough.

The roadworks began affecting the busy commuter route at the beginning of October and have been regularly causing long tailbacks.

And while there has been some relief, with the lights being turned off at different periods throughout the day, it has inevitably caused traffic chaos.

This week drivers have reported queues all the way back to junction 47 of the A1(M) and beyond.

It has also had a major impact on pupils and teachers getting to and from Goldsborough CE Primary School.

With the roadworks due to last until November 27, many people have expressed frustration on social media.

@northyorkscc Could you ask your Highways Department what the point of the temporary traffic lights are at the Goldsborough/Knaresborough A59 roundabout please? The traffic is currently backed up to the A1 at Allerton Park yet there are no roadworks on the A59!!

— Alan Huddart (@alanhuddart) November 8, 2022

One woman wrote on a Facebook group:

“Not helpful when it’s a guessing game every morning to see if they are on or not going to work in York daily.”

Another added:

“50 minutes it’s just taken me to get from Boroughbridge to King James School!”

The Stray Ferret contacted Yorkshire Water for comment but has not had a response.

Read more:

• Roadworks lead to long queues on A59 near Knaresborough
• New plans to tackle traffic on Harrogate’s A61

Three men have been arrested after police stopped two vans on the A1(M) near Boroughbridge.

North Yorkshire Police identified the vans near junction 48 after acting on intelligence at around 10pm on Sunday (November 6).

Officers stopped one of the vehicles heading southbound and found suspicious items inside.

Two men from the Barnsley area were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle.

Police then spotted the second van, which was towing a horse box, heading further south.

Read more:

• Man ordered to pay £1 for role in £500,000 Harrogate cannabis racket
• Prolific Harrogate criminal jailed after hospital rampage

After officers attempted to stop it, the driver jumped out and ran into the countryside.

A police helicopter was called and guided officers to the suspect in the field.

Officers arrested a man in his 20s from the Durham area on suspicion of vehicle theft and driving without a licence or insurance.

A police statement added:

“Enquiries are ongoing and the three men remain in custody at this time.”