Harrogate district’s garden waste collection to remain county’s most expensive

The cost of garden waste collection in the Harrogate district looks set to rise to £43.50 next year.

The service currently costs £41 a year, which is £15 a year more than people in Richmondhsire pay and is also higher than charges in the other five districts. Selby’s is free.

Harrogate Borough Council, which is currently responsible for the service, will be abolished on April 1.

North Yorkshire county councillors, who will transfer to the new single unitary authority North Yorkshire Council on the same date, look set to agree a six per cent increase in the cost of the service.

It would mean Harrogate district households that choose to pay for the service will see the charge increase by £2.50. Hambleton households will pay the next highest at £40, followed by Scarborough and Ryedale at £38, Craven at £36 and Richmondshire at £25.

The service is currently free in Selby.

Read more:

Garden waste is a discretionary service, which councils are not legally required to provide.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for business and economic development, Cllr Derek Bastiman, whose portfolio includes the management of waste disposal, said the service would be fairer because currently households in some districts that didn’t use the service subsidised those who did.

He said:

“This is a service people choose to opt into and it is important that we are clear on the need for it to pay for itself, alongside our commitment to continue to provide it to those residents who would like to receive it.

“There are real benefits to the service, including the environmental benefits of recycling garden waste and the convenience of not having to take your own garden waste to a recycling centre. It may well be cheaper than paying the fuel to get there, too.”

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive members will be asked to agree the new rate when members meet on January 10.

 

 

Paris fashion comes to Harrogate with Aurélie pop-up

This story is sponsored by Aurélie 

Having lived in Paris in her 20s, Lucy Robinson always dreamed of owning her own clothing boutique.

Her wish came true when she launched her fashion brand Aurélie after her travel PR business was hit by the pandemic.

Now, the Harrogate business owner is bringing her online Parisian-style clothing collection to the high street with her first ever pop-up in her hometown.

The event will take place at handmade British ethical Jewellers India Mahon, in Montpellier Street, on Friday 18 and Saturday, November 19 from 10am to 6pm.

During the pop-up, Aurélie will be showcasing the brand’s Autumn/Winter collection, which includes a selection of tailored coats and jackets, cosy knitwear, jeans, shirts and blouses, plus Aurelie’s first ever party wear collection.

Lucy, who worked for a leading luxury fashion PR agency when she lived in Paris, launched Aurélie in January 2021.

She said:

“When the pandemic hit my travel PR business, I had a lightbulb moment and realised I wanted to go back to my fashion roots.

“I spent a lot of time in Paris and worked with some major luxury fashion brands, so I knew where to get hold of beautiful French clothing.

“I used savings to buy stock and off we went. I started off in the spare bedroom at home and I now have an office and showroom at Windsor House with a small team working for me.”

Harrogate business owner, Lucy Robinson, is behind fashion business Aurélie.

Lucy, who attended Harrogate Ladies College, is keen to showcase her clothing to fashion-lovers in the town following its growing success nationally.

Currently customers can make an appointment to visit Windsor House to view the collection, however the pop-up will allow customers to experience Aurélie on the high street.

There will be the chance to try on and purchase pieces from the sustainable brand, which aims to create timeless looks, featuring contemporary shapes that can be seamlessly styled with existing wardrobe items.

Lucy, who takes pride in curating an edited collection of beautiful, timeless clothing for Aurélie, will be on hand throughout the pop-up to offer personal styling sessions.

She said:

“People will be able to see the full collection, which also includes our first partywear collection. I will be there to offer advice and there will also be fizz available!”

For more information or to book a personal shopping appointment at Windsor House: Email: lucy@aurelie.co.uk or find Aurélie on Facebook and Instagram: @aurelie.co.uk 

Commercial Street shops unite to sweeten Christmas for struggling families

A “mountain” of chocolate will be collected by a group of independent businesses in Harrogate to ensure everyone has treats to enjoy this Christmas.

The Commercial Street Retailers group is inviting people to donate festive chocolates for three weeks, to hand over to Harrogate District Foodbank.

It is the second year the businesses have united to organise the scheme and Sue Kramer, who owns Crown Jewellers, said she hopes they will do even better than last year:

“Last year, we got over 16 stones of chocolate, so we donated them in three parcels over a few weeks. It was a mountain of chocolate!

“It was amazing: heartwarming, humbling and absolutely incredible. It’s a wonderful thing for people to do.

“This year, with everything else going on – the economic crisis, the cost of living etc – it’s a wonderful thing do to again.”

Any chocolates can be donated as long as they don’t contain alcohol. Ms Kramer said everything from large tubs and selection boxes to chocolate biscuits is very welcome.

Read more:

Collection points will be open from Saturday, November 19 to Saturday, December 10, at five shops on Commercial Street: Foxy Vintage and Interiors, Harrogate Town AFC shop, White Rose Sewing, Curtain and Blind Design, and H Nail Club.

As an added incentive, anyone who donates chocolate by Saturday, December 2 will be given a raffle ticket, with five £10 vouchers on offer from the businesses on Commercial Street. Ms Kramer said the prizes would offer a helping hand to people shopping in the run-up to Christmas Eve.

Sue added:

“The foodbank get food donations, but they don’t get things like chocolate because it is seen as a luxury.

“I can’t bear to think of local families and particularly children not getting chocolate at Christmas. I really hope people will be generous again this year and make sure everyone has a treat to enjoy on Christmas Day.”

Lapicida’s exciting new collections blends outdoor and indoor life

Lapicida has sponsored this article.

Lapicida is set to launch an exciting new range designed to seemlessly combine outdoor and indoor life at an exclusive event next week.

On Wednesday June 16 and Thursday June 17 from 9am to 4pm Lapicida will unveil the ORNAMENTI collection at its delightful show garden recently opened at its headquarters and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Knaresborough.

The UK’s leading specialist in tile and stone has curated ORNAMENTI as an inpirational collection of ornaments and objects designed for private gardens and interiors.

ORNAMENTI comes in the form of planters, fountains, furniture, sundials, obelisks and more.

Technogym’s Personal Line of gym equipment.

The event will also see TechnoGym, which has been the official supplier to eight Olympic Games, present its stunning new Personal Line range of premium cardio equipment.

The Personal Line collection of premium home fitness equipment includes a treadmill, bike, recline, elliptical, kinesis and power station.

Lapicida is also exclusively launching FYSIK in the UK market. FYSIK is a beautiful collection of handmade leather and wood weights and gym equipment, which brings that spa resort feel home.

A new beautiful collection of weights and gym equipment.

These three new lines will be presented alongside Lapicida’s existing lifestyle collections from Albatros Spas and Saunas and Luke Irwin Rugs.

All readers of The Stray Ferret are invited to this premium event where they will be able to:

Visit the Lapicida website for more information by clicking or tapping here or arrange a visit to the showroom at St James Park in Knaresborough.

Giggling Squid sets Harrogate opening date

A Thai restaurant chain known for fresh dishes and bright interiors has revealed the month when it plans to make its Harrogate debut.

Giggling Squid is currently renovating the former Las Iguanas unit on John Street in anticipation of a March opening date.

The restaurant started in the basement of a fisherman’s cottage in Brighton but has since developed into a business with more than 40 restaurants.

When it opens there will be the opportunity to eat indoors, outdoors as part of the alfresco experience or take the food home with click and collect or delivery.

Read more:

Andy Laurillard, Giggling Squid co-founder, said:

“Thai mealtimes are energetic, informal, adventurous and where food is celebrated. It’s relaxed and there’s no standing on ceremony.

“We simply want people to have a great time over something tasty. Every Giggling Squid has its own personal touch to it, and this restaurant is no different.”

Giggling Squid Harrogate will be open Monday to Thursday 12pm to 10pm, Friday to Saturday 12pm to 10.30pm and Sunday from 12pm to 9.30pm.

A few restaurants already specialise in Thai food in Harrogate, including Sukhothai, Tah Chang and takeaway service Nakhon.