Tesco has revealed its latest plans for the firm’s forthcoming Harrogate supermarket.

The company received outline planning permission in February to build a store, petrol station and a 209-space car park on the site of the former gas works at the junction of Skipton Road and King’s Road.

It has now submitted details of the measures it proposes to take to mitigate against the ecological impact, as well as a flood risk assessment and a risk assessment relating to a high pressure gas pipeline on site.

The ecological mitigation plan, compiled by Oxfordshire firm Aspect Ecology on behalf of Tesco, says “initial vegetation clearance works are proposed to be undertaken during January to March 2024”, prior to the bird nesting season. It adds:

“The majority of the habitats present within the site are of limited ecological value, and a large proportion of these habitats are to be replaced by development or landscaping under the permitted development.

“The mature trees, woodland and watercourse are of greater ecological value and will be largely retained within the permitted scheme.”

The report says measures will be implemented to safeguard species such as hedgehogs.

An artist’s impression of how the Tesco will look.

Oak Beck runs along the eastern boundary of the three-hectare site, which will be accessed off Skipton Road.

The flood risk assessment prepared by London firm Pinnacle Consulting Engineers on behalf of Tesco assesses the flood risk to be low on the majority of the land but high on a ‘proportionately small area in the north of the site’.

It says the area is currently a mixture of asphalt, concrete, and grassed surfaces.

The report concludes:

“The site is at a low risk of flooding from all sources except for fluvial flooding in the north and south of the site.

“The fluvial flooding in the north of the site will not pose a significant risk to the development. The fluvial flooding in the south is associated with an old gas tank and will be regraded as part of the development and therefore will no longer pose a flooding issue.

“Overall, the proposed development is appropriate from a flood risk perspective and the sequential test.”

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The gas pipe assessment, conducted by Essex firm MJC Environmental Services on behalf of Tesco, concludes “risk levels are considered to be as low as reasonably practicable and further risk mitigation is not required”.

The latest details have been submitted to North Yorkshire Council as reserved matters planning applications.

The outline permission granted in February established the principle of development for the site; the reserved matters applications determine the layout and design.

The council must now decide whether to accept the reserved matters applications.

North Yorkshire Council has pledged to take “extensive action” against young people using woods in Harrogate as a bike track.

The council flattened the track in Oak Beck Park in May following complaints about vandalism.

But another makeshift route has appeared in the woods, which are near Oak Beck Retail Park, during the school holidays.

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said the area had been “transformed again” and some areas had become no-go zones to her.

She said there were “massive ramps and holes” and volunteers regularly tidied litter.

“The area where the pine trees grow has been used by generations of children riding their bikes. Never in the 20 or so years I have walked here, have I seen this level of wanton vandalism, or disregard for other users, flora and fauna.

“A shrug of shoulders and the comment ‘it’s school holidays’ does not wash with me or many others trying to enjoy this green space.”

She said no cycling signs on gates at the entrance of Oak Beck Park this summer “stayed there for less than 48 hours”.

The track approaching one of the jumps.

Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director for environment, said:

“We are taking extensive action in response to complaints from regular users about littering and anti-social behaviour, including liaising with police about further patrols.

“Actions have included working with youth agencies and visiting the local youth club to talk to bike users about why ramps cannot be erected over paths and how the site is for everyone, not only cyclists. We have also spoken to bike riders on site. We have erected signs and posters, but these have been removed.

“Owners of land adjoining the site have repaired the perimeter fence to prevent unofficial access routes.”

Mr Battersby said the council was assessing damage to trees and footpaths. He added:

“We continue to visit the site regularly to ensure pathways are maintained safely, and volunteers hold regular litter-picks at the site.”

One of the holes.

Councillor Monika Slater, a Liberal Democrat whose Bilton Grange and New Park division includes the woods, said she understood there was potential funding to create an allocated site for bikers in the woods.

Cllr Slater said this would be a good outcome, adding:

“I walk my dogs there and have never seen anything although that’s not to say it doesn’t happen.

“Ultimately young people need activities to do and places to go and there’s not an awful lot of choice.”

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A Harrogate conservationist has called for signs to be put up urging children and dogs to avoid entering Oak Beck.

Keith Wilkinson described the situation as “desperate” after a series of incidents over the last fortnight have seen the beck turn brown.

The Environment Agency said last week it was “investigating the possible source of the pollution” after receiving “a number of reports of discoloured water”.

But after a brief recovery, the beck was heavily discoloured again today.

Oak Beck in Jennyfields this morning

Mr Wilkinson, who is honorary secretary of Bilton Conservation Group and chairman of the Nidd Gorge Advisory Partnership, said:

“The Oak Beck situation is desperate with daily pollution events for two weeks now — sand and silt from construction work, solids escaping from the open storm drain near The Hydro and a constant stream of what looks like detergent foam from high up near Birk Crag.

“It is totally unacceptable. Signs are needed urgently to warn children and dogs to keep out of the water.”

The Environment Agency is investigating possible pollution of Oak Beck in Harrogate.

Residents complained to the government organisation about water looking like “milky coffee” over the past couple of days.

The Stray Ferret contacted the Environment Agency to ask whether it was investigating any incident in relation to discoloured water in the beck.

A spokesperson said an officer was on site yesterday to take samples of the water.

They added:

“Over the past few days, we have received a number of reports of discoloured water in Oak Beck, Harrogate.

“An officer attended site yesterday to take samples, and we are currently investigating the possible source of the pollution.”

Hundreds of fish are believed to have died in an Oak Beck pollution incident in September last year when the water turned brown.

Dead fish could be seen in the watercourse at Oak Beck retail park.

The incident prompted leading Harrogate conservationist, Keith Wilkinson, to call on Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency to step-up efforts to work together to prevent pollutions in the beck, which he said occur too frequently.

Oak Beck, which flows across northern Harrogate, empties into the River Nidd at Bilton.

Read more:

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North Yorkshire Council has flattened an unofficial bike track created by off-road cyclists in woods near Harrogate.

Cyclists have ridden the makeshift route in Oak Beck Park, which runs alongside Oak Beck on land behind Aldi and Pets at Home, for years.

But the council has removed parts of it following complaints about “vandalism and unauthorised structures”.

Its actions have led to concerns of heavy-handedness towards young people pursuing their hobby.

Cyclists have used Oak Beck Park for years

Barrie Mason, the council’s assistant director for parks and grounds, said:

“We have acted in response to complaints from the public and local conservation groups about vandalism and unauthorised structures in Oak Beck Park over recent weeks.

“The structures have been built over and along footpaths, in areas of high footfall, putting other park users at risk.

“The building of these structures has damaged the surrounding park, including the digging out and removal of three large sleepers from a set of steps, large holes dug into the woodland embankment and across the woodland floor and trees cut down and damaged.”

Mr Mason added excavating large quantities of soil and rock, creating unstable structures and riding bikes over footpaths “is damaging to the local ecosystem and creates hazards and conflict with other park users”.

He added:

“There is an existing historical informal bike track, which is still in situ and has not been dismantled. The structures removed are only those that have been recently created.

“Our action is led solely by the desire to protect the environment and for the safety of everyone who uses the park.”

The council’s actions led to comments on social media saying bike trails and jumps had been “completely demolished”, ruining a healthy hobby among young people. One said:

“Then the council go on about kids up to no good. No wonder, there is nothing else to do. Don’t see anything wrong with them having a bike trail.”

Another added:

“They just want to ride their bikes and chill out.”

Oak Beck flows through the woods

Cllr Monika Slater, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Bilton Grange and New Park said “it was a real shame” to lose something that was “used regularly and enjoyed by many young people”.

She said she was talking to the council to try to find a solution, adding:

“I realise its unofficial, but it’s not doing harm and it has been there for a while.

“I want to keep dialogue open with the council to get something back in place, but that’s in it’s early stages.”

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