Harrogate council agrees sale of land next to Oak Beck retail park

Harrogate Borough Council has agreed to sell a plot of land next to Oak Beck retail park.

The land, a former quarry extending to a third of an acre, was put up for sale by the council in order to encourage economic development.

It sits next to the retail park off Skipton Road, where Aldi and B&Q are based.

Council officials said the authority received six offers for the site after it had been put on the market. Senior councillors agreed to the sale at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, though it was not revealed who the buyer is.

Cllr Graham Swift, cabinet member for resources at the borough council, said the cash received from the sale would help fund major projects, such as the planned redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre.

He told the meeting:

“This summarises the fact that in our asset management strategy, we have taken the opportunity to sell off small parcels of non-strategic land which enables us to then fund very considerable investments that viewers and residents will be hearing tonight around the HCC, leisure complexes and the significant investment we’re making in enhanced services.

“So it speaks such a lot of sense and it’s a very clear, fair market programme and I am very happy to move the project.”

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Bars not allowed to use Stray land for outdoor dining

Harrogate Borough Council has told three bars that they cannot use Stray land for outdoor dining when they reopen next week.

The Blues Bar, The Empress and Fashion House Bistro were all hoping to capitalise on the space outside their businesses from April 12.

All had approached the council when the Government released its roadmap out of lockdown. But the council has told them that it will not be possible.

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David Dresser, who owns Fashion House Bistro, told the Stray Ferret:

“For us it was about making the most of the good weather so we do not take as much of a hit when we get some bad weather.

“We will still be able to reopen with room for around 40 to 50 people outside, but it is just a bonkers decision.

“The reason the council gave was that the Stray should be open for everyone to enjoy it.

“But I have never seen anyone use the space outside, people would enjoy it if they could and eat and drink there.”

Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) approved the use of tables and chairs on Stray land last summer.

Kirsty Stewart, business development manager at HBC, sent the following in reply to Mr Dresser’s request:

“Thank you for your email below requesting to use the public grass area at Promenade Square for your business from 12 April until 17 May.

“This is something the council is not licensing this year, which means that all the available space is accessible for all members of the public to enjoy.”

A council spokesman added:

“As custodians of the Stray, we encourage all visitors to use it responsibly and enjoy the wonderful public space it provides.

“However, after feedback from land owners – the Duchy of Lancaster – it has been decided that it wouldn’t be appropriate at this stage to grant licences to select number of individual businesses that could potentially inhibit the open access and enjoyment for all.”

Bid for businesses to use the Stray faces opposition

Bars, cafes and restaurants keen to take advantage of the Stray for alfresco-style dining this summer face opposition from its guardians.

Harrogate Borough Council is in talks with the Duchy of Lancaster, the freeholder of the Stray, ahead of a public consultation.

The Blues Bar, The Empress and Fashion House Bistro are all hoping to put tables and chairs on the Stray when they reopen outdoors on April 12.

But ahead of a public consultation, the Stray Defence Association has today made its opposition to the plans clear.

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Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the SDA, told the Stray Ferret:

“The tendency for both HBC and NYCC to ignore or try and overrule the Parliamentary Stray Act is disturbing. Indeed, the Stray Act was formulated and put in place to prevent such misuse.

“No one is against people having fun or enjoying the Stray, that is what it is there for, and how blessed Harrogate has been to have it for the benefit of everyone during the past traumatic year.

“However, as with many things, the few could well spoil it for the rest of Harrogate.

“In fact, a few years back when HBC wanted to levy a charge on the footballers using the Stray and make them pay to play, it was the SDA who argued that this could not be done as the Stray is an open and free space for the benefit of the people of Harrogate.

“Without going into too much detail, Section 6(2) of the 1985 Stray Act also precludes anyone making profit from the use of the Stray.

“We are not aware of any time, other than by explicit and limited dispensation given by Parliament as a result of a specific detailed application, when the council has been empowered with a general discretion to consent to inclosures and our history confirms this.

“After all, the Stray is protected by law for the free use of Harrogate’s people, not businesses.”

The SDA has raised further questions about the types of businesses which would be able to use the Stray and also asked where such a scheme would begin and end.