A coffee shop owner has called on North Yorkshire Council to provide financial support for businesses affected by the ongoing A59 road closure at Kex Gill.
Mark Trickett, who owns the Outside Inn at Menwith Hill, said turnover had fallen to a third of its usual level due to the reduction in traffic.
The road is not due to reopen until at least the end of June, prompting Mr Trickett to call on the council to provide financial support to companies whose futures are at risk.
He and wife Teresa bought the site, which was previously the Millstones, in 2022. He said last year — its first full year of trading — went well.
But the sudden closure of the main route between Harrogate and Skipton on February 2, and subsequent appearance of ‘Road Closed’ signs, have massively reduced traffic and hammered trade at the time of year when it is usually taking off.
He said the Outside Inn was more vulnerable to the closure than some other nearby businesses because it relied heavily on daytime passing trade but he felt everyone affected deserved support. He said:
“We were going really well and this is absolutely murdering us.”
The business, which is situated along the A59, includes a 30-seat coffee shop and an 80-seat Sunday carvery restaurant that also caters for weddings. Mr Trickett also operates motorhome business Whittams from the site.
The couple employ 23 part-time staff and have had to let two go because of declining trade.
Mr Trickett outside the coffee shop.
Mr Trickett said:
“I understand the council is trying to resolve the situation. But if they know there is an issue and there is a likelihood businesses will close and people will be jobless, they should be looking at some sort of solution.
“If we only had the cafe and no reserves we would close tomorrow. Every day this lasts is costing us money.”
Mr Trickett, who has written to council chief executive Richard Flinton and Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith about the matter, said if support were not forthcoming he would contact other local businesses with a view to commencing joint legal action.
But the council appears to have ruled out providing any funds.
Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director of environment, said:
“We appreciate that the closure of the A59 is having a significant impact on businesses, commuters and residents, and we sincerely apologise for this disruption. There is no legal requirement under the Highways Act to pay compensation as a result of disruption caused by highways works, but we are doing all we can to complete the repair as quickly and safely as possible.
“Our contractors have started preparatory work and will be working extended daylight hours and weekends to allow the road to be reopened before the end of June.
“In the meantime, we are speaking to individual local businesses to see if they would like general business advice. We will keep the public updated as work progresses.”
When the Stray Ferret visited the Outside Inn today (April 11) and showed Mr Trickett the council’s response, he said:
“What advice can they give? People are suffering, we are losing trade and have had to lay off staff. Their business advice means nothing.”
Mr Trickett echoed the claims of those who think the council-funded work on the £68.8 million road realignment at Kex Gill caused the landslip that led to the road closure at nearby Blubberhouses.
The council has denied this.
Mr Battersby previously said:
“We have no evidence to say the works that they’ve done have caused this.”
He added “very wet weather” in the landslip-prone area had “accelerated what has already been happening and caused us that problem”.
Read more:
- Harrogate businesses ‘trying their best to survive’ Kex Gill closure
- ‘The lack of communication and transparency over Kex Gill is appalling’
- Harrogate to Skipton bus suspended due to Kex Gill work
Fourth of July protest to take place at RAF Menwith Hill
Campaigners will hold an Independence from America demonstration at RAF Menwith Hill on Tuesday.
Menwith Hill Accountability Campaign and Yorkshire CND have timed the event to coincide with the Fourth of July — American Independence Day.
The groups believe the American spy base poses a significant risk to local people because its surveillance work makes it a military target.
The demonstration aims to increase awareness of US operations at the base and ensure activities take place in accordance with UK and international law.
RAF Menwith Hill. Photo credit – Wikimedia.
Running from 5pm to 8pm, speakers include Peter Burt of Drone Wars UK, Prof Fiona Macauley from Bradford Peace Studies and Prof David Webb from Yorkshire CND.
There will also be a steel band, performance poet and a choir.
This year’s gathering will not occur outside the main gate as usual. Instead if will take place at Kettlesing lay-by on the A59 as the area around the main gate will be closed for upgrades and expansions.
Read more:
Ex-Rossett student publishes war-time novella set in Harrogate
A former Rossett School student has recently published a novel that takes place in early 20th Century Harrogate.
Gary Baysinger lived in Harrogate more than 30 years ago and has now written a war-time novella set in the town.
In the space of just ten days, he lost his mother and was diagnosed with skin cancer so took up writing “as a distraction”.
The book, A kind of Homecoming, was inspired by the 1969 film, “Oh What a Lovely War” – a musical about World War One.
A scene in the film depicts the Christmas truce of 1914, during which a German soldier tells a British solider about his love for a British girl he left behind when he went to fight.
Mr Baysinger said:
“The scene left me with more questions than answers; who is this young man? Who is the girl? Did he survive the war? Did they end up together?
“I decided to write a story and answer those questions — I set it in Harrogate because I am fond of the place.
“I think we all sometimes wonder what would have happened if life had gone different at a young age.”
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Mr Baysinger’s family moved to Harrogate in the late 1970s, where his father took a position at Menwith Hill. Despite his short stint in Yorkshire – moving back to America in 1981 – he said he “wouldn’t want to be anywhere else” at the time.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“I spent my weekdays at Rossett High School, my Saturdays at Elland Road, and my Sundays kicking a football around a muddy pitch in Hampsthwaite, or on the Stray”.
Mr Baysinger is hoping Harrogate library will keep a copy so locals can read the war-time novel.
“I recently visited Harrogate for the first time in nearly three decades.
“I met up with some old friends and was astounded by the warmth and hospitality they showed me.”
A Kind of Homecoming is available to buy now on Amazon.