Harrogate church runs consultation as £330,000 fundraising campaign beginsSt Peter’s Church in Harrogate launches appeal for new roof£231,000 plan to replace roof at Ripon hospital buildingRipon solicitors appeals replacement roof refusal

A Ripon solicitors has appealed a refusal for a replacement roof and solar panels.

Newtons Solicitors relocated from Duck Hill to new, larger premises at 36 Market Place South last year.

It lodged plans for a replacement roof and solar panels to North Yorkshire Council. However, the proposals were refused in October.

The council said the move would cause “unjustified harm” to the Ripon Conservation Area due to the use of modern slate tiles over traditional stone slate.

The firm has since taken the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which deals with planning disputes.

In a statement of case, CLB Heritage, which is handling the appeal, said:

“The change from stone to Welsh (or similar) slate roof tiles on the rear elevation will have a very minor visual impact.

“The impact is reduced because the Welsh slate is a key feature in Ripon Market Place as set out in the Conservation Area Appraisal and also because the solar panels are fit within the roof plane so do not protrude above the slope and will not be visible from public vantage points.

“The dark colour of the panels and dark slates will help assimilate them visually within the roof slope.”

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The law firm has also submitted revised plans for a replacement roof to North Yorkshire Council.

Under the proposal, the roof would be constructed from modern Brazilian slate to the front and rear elevations, with solar panels on the roof at the back of the property.

Historic England, which is the government’s statutory advisor on the historic environment, concurred with the council’s previous refusal and said the fresh plan would cause “unjustified harm” to the area.

A government planning inspector will make a decision on the appeal at a later date.

Three teens arrested after missiles thrown from Harrogate Theatre roof

Police have arrested three youths after reports that building materials were thrown off the roof of Harrogate Theatre.

The incident happened at around 4am this morning. A resident who lives nearby sent a video to the Stray Ferret of what appears to be broken tiles littering Cheltenham Parade.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue sent a crew from the Harrogate station to the scene. They managed to get the youths down from the six-storey building before leaving them with the police.

A £1 million refurbishment of the 120-year-old roof of the theatre is due to be completed in March. It is unclear whether this incident will affect the timescale.

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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“Shortly before 4am Tuesday 25 January 2022, police were called to reports of young people on the roof of Harrogate Theatre on Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate.

“The group were believed to be throwing projectiles from the roof.

“Officers attended with colleagues from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and the young people were brought safely to the ground.

“Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with this incident.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said:

“A crew from Harrogate were mobilised to assist police with searching a six-storey property following reports of youths on the roof possibly stealing roof materials.

“Crews set up the aerial ladder platform to be used as a lighting platform to assist with the search. The youths were left in the care of the police.”

Harrogate theatre chair on the panto, scaffolding and being ‘cautiously optimistic’

Cancelled shows and a huge roof renovation have made the last 18 months “very difficult” for Harrogate Theatres but the chair says it is going into 2022 “cautiously optimistic”.

Knaresborough-born Deborah Larwood, who has been visiting the theatre for years, worked in the arts sector for over a decade before she took a seat on the board four years ago. She then became chair in December 2019.

Harrogate Theatres is a charity that hosts events at Harrogate Theatre, Royal Hall and Harrogate Convention Centre.

Its biggest challenge during the pandemic has been generating enough income to cover costs whilst being unable to get on stage.

It has held online workshops, socially distanced theatre and launched its HT Together fundraising campaign.

Ms Larwood said initiatives like these and grants from the likes of Arts Council England have been crucial to the theatre’s survival and allowed it to plan for upcoming events.

Cinderella ends today

The biggest event for the theatre each year is its annual pantomime. As Cinderella comes to a close today, after running since November, Ms Larwood said she was pleased with its success although it is unclear how well tickets sold compared with previous years. She said:

“People’s habits have changed during the pandemic and some of our usual audience members still aren’t comfortable in the auditorium. We still had huge success in terms of ticket sales, but it was different especially with some schools choosing to cancel their trip.

“When we lost the panto in 2020 it was a significant worry because we rely so heavily on that revenue we earn.”

Some of the cast of this year’s pantomime, Cinderella. Photograph: Karl Andre

She added tickets for this year’s pantomime, Aladdin, are already selling with a number of schools also choosing to book.

Roof completion date still set for March 

One of the biggest projects undertaken in the last 12 months has been the roof renovation. The project has been managed by Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the building.

Work began in May last year and with multiple setbacks due to covid and building materials it is now due to be completed by March.

Ms Larwood said workers on site were “determined” to stick to that date.

The theatre roof during works in June 2021.

The board has been trying to recruit new trustees. Last year, Ms Larwood, said multiple trustees came to the end of their tenure, which gave the opportunity to bring in new people and expertise.

She said:

“The pandemic allowed us to refocus and its exciting to hear from new people who are equally as passionate as us about the arts.”

So far the charity has added Fiona Hunt to its board but plans to speak to more potential new trustees after panto season.

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‘Necessary evil’ to make people redundant 

During the pandemic the theatre made staff redundant in an attempt to remain open. Ms Larwood said it was a “necessary evil”.

Long-term closures in 2020 and 2021 meant a big loss in revenue. Ms Larwood said despite the grants, cuts had to be made.

However, the charity hopes to start recruiting again this year. She said:

“We had terrible levels of redundancies but we had to make sure we made it through the other side. Recruitment will begin in earnest, but it’s all about striking a balance. We need people but we live in a time of rapid change and hiring too quickly is a big investment to lose.

“Our core team has been amazing throughout, doing the job of a team normally two or three times its size. It’s now time for us to bring in new people as we move into a busy year.”

Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant reveals plans to re-open

A Chinese restaurant set in the main hall of the Royal Baths in Harrogate plans to reopen next year after months of repairs.

Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant has been closed for most of the last two years due to coronavirus lockdowns and an extensive refurbishment that began in May this year.

Because the restaurant is based in a Grade II listed building, the work has been more complicated than expected.

The building, which is owned by North Yorkshire County Council, underwent a series of roof repairs before work started on the internal central hall in September.

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Now the Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant has revealed that the works are almost complete. It said on its Facebook page:

“We are almost finished with the renovations. However we will not be open until after the New Year.

“Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy New Year. We look forward to seeing everyone in 2022.”

Although the Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant has been closed, the owners have continued operating at their other site, Haks Little Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant, on Station Parade.

Harrogate Theatre appoints new panto director after tragic death

Harrogate Theatre has appointed a new director to direct the pantomime this Christmas after the sudden death of Phil Lowe.

Mr Lowe, who had been instrumental in the success of the pantomime since he took charge in 2007, died last week.

The theatre issued a statement to say it was “devastated” by the news but that this year’s production of Cinderella will continue in his honour.

Joyce Branagh, who is the sister of Sir Kenneth Branagh and a celebrated pantomime director in her own right, has taken up the mantle.

Ms Branagh will use the Cinderella script written by Mr Lowe but will hope to bring her own spin on the classic fairytale story. She said:

“I know what a huge shock this is for the theatre to lose such a talented colleague and friend, especially at this time of year.

“However, Phil has left us an amazingly funny script, and I feel honoured to be able to step in and help the cast and team here bring his wonderful gags to life.

“In the words of Phil’s heroes Morecambe and Wise, we’ll bring some sunshine, laughter and love back into the theatre. It’ll be our tribute to him.”

Cinderella will open on November 24 and runs until January 16, 2022. The pantomime show will be the first performance at Harrogate Theatre since March 2020.

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Delayed Harrogate Theatre roof works

Audiences will notice that the scaffolding, which was due to come down in November, will remain in place throughout the pantomime season at Harrogate Theatre.

Due to the complexity of the work, difficulties in sourcing building materials and staff shortages the roof replacement work is now due to finish in March 2022.

The building work will continue into the new year but construction will work around scheduled performances, including those of community groups.

Cllr Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said:

“Our significant investment in this local asset will allow the fantastic performances to continue, promote cultural activity in the town, attract visitors and support the local economy at a time when it is needed the most.

“Although the scaffolding will be up until the new year, while we complete these delicate and complex restoration works, the theatre is very much safe to use and I hope visitors enjoy the wonderful performance of Cinderella.”

David Bown, chief executive of Harrogate Theatre, said:

“We look forward to welcoming back audiences in November to Cinderella and to our spring programme in 2022.

“Although the building might not be looking its best until works are complete, the theatre will be filled with the joy of live performance once again and that’s something we are all looking forward to.”

Harrogate Theatre £1m roof replacement well underway

The £1million replacement of Harrogate Theatre’s ageing roof is well underway in preparation for the hopeful return of live shows this year.

The huge scaffolding structure erected around the 120-year-old venue will remain in place until the roof replacement is complete.

The aim is for the roof to be fully stripped back next month in what will mark a crucial stage of the project. The true extent of the works is expected to be revealed beneath.

David Bown, chief executive of the theatre trust, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the venue was planning for the worst but hoping for the best with its sights set on the return of shows in November.

“This is a huge and complex project in terms of the geography of the building, which is such a difficult site to work on.

“We also have the uncertainty of what we are going to find underneath once the roof is taken off. We just don’t know what will be there – it could be rotten beams.”

If the roof replacement stays on schedule, shows will return in November. This will mark 20 months since the theatre was last filled with spectators in March 2020.

The theatre’s survival has only been possible thanks to around £650,000 in emergency government grants and a fundraising appeal which raised more than £100,000.

There was also a need for the theatre to make 60% of its staff redundant in the wake of £4million losses from cancelled shows.

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Mr Bown said:

“The roof replacement project was due to start last year but when the pandemic hit we just couldn’t get the people power to make it happen. And even though we are in a period of uncertainty, it was still agreed that now was the best time to get it done.

“I can’t quite envisage what it will be like having audiences back – it has been an empty building for so long. But what I am looking forward to though is the return of our pantomime, that is the jewel in the crown of our shows.”

Harrogate Borough Council owns the Grade II-listed theatre and is funding and overseeing the roof replacement works.

The council’s deputy leader councillor, Graham Swift, said once completed the project will provide a theatre fit for the future.

“Like any heritage building of this age and complexity, there will always be a certain amount of conservation and investment required to ensure the building is fit for another 120 years.

“This significant investment will allow the fantastic performances to continue, promote cultural activity in the town, attract visitors and support the local economy at a time when it is needed the most.”