It seemed apt that former Coronation Street actor Tracy Brabin, who is now Mayor of West Yorkshire, starred in this week’s latest episode of the Harrogate Station Gateway soap opera, which saw West Yorkshire Combined Authority approve the business case.

The cost may keep rising and the full plans remain secret, but the gateway reports written by council officers are producing some memorable language. After the original plans were ‘de-scoped’ the latest report says the scheme will ‘mainly disbenefit highway users’.

There appears to be more chance of a cannabis farm being found on Haywra Street in Harrogate than this storyline ending amicably.

Mayor Tracy Brabin

It takes something remarkable to quieten a well lubricated audience of 350 people at an awards ceremony at 11pm at night. But Justin Kitson did precisely that at this week’s Stray Ferret Business Awards when he talked movingly about how Northern Energy had gone beyond the call of duty to help his sister, who worked for the company, when she was terminally ill.

It was the highlight of a fantastic night at the Pavilions of Harrogate. Check out the winners.

Northern Energy celebrates its Employer of the Year award.

The previous night, Knaresborough firefighter Bruce Reid, who is best known for organising free Christmas meals for up to 100 people in the town, appealed to Knaresborough & District Chamber’s for help raising funds to treat his son’s brain tumour. Bruce has raised tens of thousands of pounds for good causes over the years and chamber members agreed to do all they could to help. Donations can be made here.

We report on various attempts by communities to buy pubs, such as the Henry Jenkins Inn at Kirkby Malzeard and the Half Moon Inn at Sharow, but few come to fruition. So it was heartening to report on a successful community campaign to save the Black Swan at Skelton-on-Ure.

The Black Lion pub

This weekend sees the BEAM Light Festival in Harrogate and excitement is mounting for the annual Knaresborough Tractor Run on Sunday. It’s become one of the biggest events on the calendar — do check it out.

Read more:

• Business case approved for £12.1m Harrogate Station Gateway
• Ripon garden centre now equipped to look after hearts and flowers
• Knaresborough hero Bruce Reid seeks help for son

A survey has discovered Knaresborough is one of the most popular local towns and cities to visit.

The study by research company 56 Degree Insight asked a representative sample of 500 people from a regional pool to rate 10 nearby places to visit.

Knaresborough ranked third with 87% describing it as either OK, good or excellent, behind only York (93%) and Harrogate (91%) — which are both larger and better known.

Knaresborough scored ahead of Skipton (82%) and Ripon (81%), with Otley in West Yorkshire and Thirsk in joint sixth on 76%. Helmsley, Northallerton and Malton filled the last three slots.

The survey also revealed 93% of visitors were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ likely to visit Knaresborough again — higher than anywhere else.

56 Degree Insight also discovered Knaresborough residents’ pride in their town.

They asked 300 Knaresborians to rate where they live and 96% said it was either excellent, good or OK. Only Harrogate residents rated their location higher, at 97%. York was third at 89% and Ripon was seventh at 65%.

The results were revealed at this week’s annual general meeting of business group Knaresborough & District Chamber.

Executive member Peter Lacey said the results indicated that Knaresborough’s already popular visitor economy could be a growth sector.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Lacey said he was still digesting all the results, but the take away message was that there are opportunities for the town to attract visitors and encourage them to stay longer whilst ensuring that the requirements of residents are also addressed.

He said suggestions on how to improve the town, which the survey also covered, attracted positive responses to ideas such as town centre improvements, more benches to sit on and wet weather covers, adding:

“We were also encouraged that whilst sensitivity to design and local impact ideas such as park and ride, a land train and the cliff lift were all considered appealing to both visitors and residents.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough hero Bruce Reid seeks help for son
• Knaresborough hotel rebrands under new name
• Route and times revealed for Knaresborough Tractor Run

A Knaresborough man who has devoted much of his life to helping others is now appealing for help to get vital medical treatment for his son.

Retired firefighter Bruce Reid is best known in the town for organising free Christmas Day meals for up to 100 people. But he has also raised tens of thousands of pounds over the years for a host of other good causes in North Yorkshire.

His son Andrew, 32, underwent surgery for a brain tumour three years ago. The operation successfully removed 80% of the tumour but it continues to grow and the family has set up a gofundmepage to pay for treatment abroad as nothing suitable is available in the UK.

Bruce, who was made an MBE in 2015 for services to the Fire Fighters Charity and the community, said:

“Surgery is no longer an option but there are some potential treatments abroad and this is the reason we need to raise as much as we can to make this possible to access.”

Bruce, along with son Andrew, daughter Amanda Glennon and nephew Callum Reid, are training for the London Landmarks Half Marathon on April 7.

The fundraising target is currently £10,000 but the actual sum needed is likely to be several times higher. However, because the family is still unclear what treatment is required, or the sum, they are just trying to raise as much as they can for now.

Bruce appealed for help at this week’s Knaresborough & District Chamber AGM and said he hoped to arrange fundraising events in Knaresborough after the half marathon to continue generating income. Members agreed to do all they could to support him.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret afterwards, he said:

“We don’t know how much we will need yet. We are gearing ourselves up. All many pledged will be spent purely on treatment for Andrew.”

You can donate to the cause here.

Read more:

• Knaresborough hotel rebrands under new name
• Report reveals state of schools in Harrogate and Knaresborough
• Plans revealed to revive Knaresborough cattle market site

Knaresborough people support electric vehicle chargers but feel they should have been introduced in a more phased manner, a survey has revealed.

The survey showed concern about North Yorkshire Council‘s decision to install slow charging bays in town centre car parks that already struggled to cope with traffic on weekends and market days.

Business group Knaresborough & District Chamber conducted the survey amid particular concerns about the nine electric vehicle bays and one electric vehicle car-share space in the town centre Chapel Street Car Park.

The sight of petrol and diesel cars struggling to park there while most of the electric vehicle bays are empty has enraged some traders, who say they are losing business as customers give up and go elsewhere.

The survey, which was completed by 81 people including 30 local business owners, revealed about seven out of 10 supported the call for the council to renegotiate the contract, perhaps by phasing-in or sharing the spaces between electric vehicles and other vehicles.

It is believed the council is unwilling to enter talks with the private company that provided the charging infrastructure as it could jeopardise the contract across the county.

A chamber press release said:

“Respondents to the survey believe that Chapel Street was the wrong place to install chargers, particularly as they are of the slow charge type, and that York Place Car Park, which we believe was originally preferred by the council, should have been used.

It added “local opinion is not against the need for electric vehicle charging, in fact many recognise the need, welcome it and want Knaresborough to be seen as a leading venue for sustainable transport, including visiting by train”.

Read more:

• Discussions revive idea to create Knaresborough BID
• The golfer championing Knaresborough on the world stage

Twice as many businesses said they had had customers complain to them about the lack of parking places when EV spaces were free compared to those who had not heard such comments.

The survey also highlighted concerns about poor engagement, lack of information and lack of adequate signposting to car parks across the town .

One survey respondent said:

“These spaces cropped up overnight and whilst used by electric cars they are not always on charge.  There is limited parking in town and this initiative has seen congestion within Chapel Street as people strive to park with electric vehicle spaces either empty or misused.”

Steve Teggin and Kelly Teggin began the petition.

A 600-signature petition, instigated by local traders Kelly Teggin and Steve Teggin, calling for some parking spaces to be reallocated is due to be discussed by the council’s area constituency committee on September 14.

Chamber executive member Peter Lacey said:

“We’re pleased to have been able to highlight broader issues that the installation of the EV charging points has raised and are keen to engage constructively with other partners in the town and with North Yorkshire Council to improve the ways in which people can access our fantastic retail and recreational offer both in the town centre and at Conyngham Hall public car park where 14 spaces continue to be blocked due to grid connection issues.

“Access to the town by car will always be critical, particularly for more vulnerable groups, and we certainly want to encourage the adoption of EVs, but this needs to be part of a strategy that improves footfall and reduces congestion, something that has currently taken a step backwards in our town.”

Mark Hunter has won a contest to become Knaresborough’s next town crier.

In a ‘cry-off’ with two other entrants described by organisers as “almost too close to call”, Mr Hunter was selected to succeed Roger Hewitt.

The competition took place during Knaresborough Community Festival on Saturday, which celebrated the town’s many community organisations.

Organised by the Knaresborough & District Chamber, which manages the town crier position, the event saw competitors give renditions of Mr Hewitt’s pre-prepared cry and their own original contributions.

Retiring town crier Roger Hewitt introduces the second round of the competition. Pic: Charlotte-Gale

Mr Hewitt and fellow judges Cllr Kathryn Davies, Mayor of Knaresborough and chamber executive member Charlotte Gale selected Mr Hunter to be the town’s next town crier and the other two candidates — Leigh Hudson and Andrew Richards — to serve as deputies.

Knaresborough-born and bred Mr Hunter has sung in the choir at St John’s Church and is the church’s current director of music.

He is also a keen amateur naturalist and wildlife photographer.

Ms Gale said:

“We’re delighted to invite Mark to be Knaresborough’s next town crier.

“It was a fantastic competition and we’d like to thank all our contestants for the huge effort they put into it and for their entertaining performances on the day. It certainly made the role of judging a tough one.

“We will be very sad to see Roger go and we’d like to pay tribute to eight years of outstanding service, but we are also looking forward to a new chapter and the continuation of this historic role in Knaresborough.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough festival to return with town crier contest this weekend
• Two children admit Knaresborough graffiti outbreak

Mayor of Knaresborough Kathryn Davies added:

“Records show there has been a town crier in Knaresborough since the early 1600s, although the tradition probably dates back to earlier times.

“In those days the town crier used to be called the bell man. Literacy amongst the general populace would have been low and the bell man fulfilled an important role in delivering news to local townsfolk.

“Although literacy rates are now much improved, the popularity of the role means that Knaresborough Town Council, Knaresborough and District Chamber and the people of Knaresborough are keen to maintain this important tradition for the town.”

Main pic: Charlotte Gale, Leigh Hudson, Mark Hunter, Roger Hewitt, Mayor Kathryn Davies and Andrew Richards (entrant)

A Knaresborough institution closed its doors for the last time this afternoon, after its owners were surprised by an impromptu party to mark their retirement. 

Andy and Elaine Grinter opened Art in the Mill, in Green Dragon Yard, in 2007 as a commercial art gallery with a picture-framing business, Green Dragon Framing, running alongside.

But over the years it has become something of a community hub, hosting weaving workshops, life drawing sessions, children’s art classes, poetry evenings, book signings for local authors, and even a wedding. 

In a Facebook post, Elaine said: 

“We’ve given it our all, as if we were raising a child – well twins, actually, if you count two separate businesses – and the rewards have been beyond measure. 

“It’s always been about ‘the people’ for us – the artists and the customers – and we want to thank you for the trust you placed in us to occupy the space in the middle.” 

Since the couple took over the premises 16 years ago, they have held more than 60 exhibitions by 250 artists, as well as hosting primary school visits and working with young artists. 

They have also worked extensively to further the interests of the local business and cultural communities, being heavily involved with Knaresborough’s Festival of Visual Arts (feva), Knaresborough Civic Society and Knaresborough & District Chamber, and starting the Visit Castlegate traders’ association.

Pimms was served in Green Dragon Yard during a Castlegate family fun day.

They have organised Castlegate family fun days, eve of feva parties, and Knaresborough’s celebrations when the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in 2014, as well as raising money for various charities, including funds for the town’s defibrillator. 

Their daughter Holly said:  

“Mum and dad have just worked so hard to push Knaresborough and benefit the whole community – they’ve never really taken holidays or switched off. They’ve done so much for the town over the years – I’m sure they’ll be really missed.” 

Andy and Elaine, who have been married for 36 years, plan to use their retirement to travel and see friends and family. It is understood that their premises, in a converted flax mill built in 1808, have been sold and will be converted for residential use.

Art in the Mill occupied a converted Georgian flax mill in Green Dragon Yard, off Castlegate.

In her Facebook post, Elaine wrote: 

“The mill is an amazing space and has served us all so well that on the eve of our departure we’re predictably sad to be leaving it, and our beloved Green Dragon Yard community, but we have many happy memories to be thankful for.” 

Read more:

• Knaresborough unveils blue plaque to celebrate its ancient market
• ‘Time to come together’ for Knaresborough businesses after BID row
• Art exhibition raises money for Harrogate cancer centre