Starbeck library celebrates £6,000 refurbishment of children’s area

Starbeck Community Library celebrated a £6,000 refurbishment of the children’s section on Saturday.

The building faced closure in 2017 when North Yorkshire County Council withdrew funding from smaller libraries.

Thanks to the support of volunteers, it has continued to operate but needed to find new revenue streams to upgrade facilities.

This year the library secured a £6,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards for All programme. Starbeck Post Office boosted the total by £500.

The income enabled Starbeck-based Amara Jane Furnishing to refurbish the children’s area.

The refurbished children’s area.

Tina Harper, a volunteer who looks after the children’s area, said local people had indicated the “faded and jaded” area was most in need of improvement.

The funding has paid for a new rug, sofa and shelving and enabled the section to be brightened up.

Julia Moseley, one of the volunteers that helped save the library when it faced closure, cut a ribbon to mark the refurbishment at Saturday’s celebration.

You can find out more about the library here.

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Proposals to revive Starbeck’s ‘burnt-out shell’ due by Christmas

A public exhibition on plans to bring the former McColl’s building in Starbeck back into use is expected to be held before Christmas.

The empty High Street building has blighted High Street since it was ravaged by fire five years ago.

In an article on his Community News website, Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones said plans for ground floor retail and flats above were finally coming to fruition.

Mr Jones, who described the building as “a burnt-out shell” that local people and residents’ groups were keen to see redeveloped, commented after meeting the owner of the site.

The article said the site owner, who was not named, “outlined the various issues they have had with developing a proposal” but “were able to reassure Mr Jones that they would be bringing a scheme forward very soon”.

It added the owner and architect hoped to run a public exhibition in Starbeck before Christmas “so that Starbeck residents can examine the proposals and have their say”.

Mr Jones said:

“This is very positive as, like many others, I have been keen to see proposals brought forward so that we can see progress on removing a building which is, frankly, an eyesore.  It is important that in bringing this site back into use the setting next to St Andrew’s Church is respected.

“I was grateful to the owner for sharing his thoughts with me and I urge people to keep an eye out for the start of the public consultation.”

A five-year eyesore

The old Harper's building in Starbeck.

The building was painted last year.

The historic building in the centre of Starbeck was originally a Harper’s grocery store and still bears the name. It continued to function as a supermarket but was vacant when fire broke out in July 2018.

It was brightened up last year when regulars at the nearby Prince of Wales pub painted it in the blue and yellow colours of the Ukraine flag.

However, its size, history and prominence lead many to regard it as a key part of regenerating Starbeck.

Harrogate Borough Council, which was abolished in April, approved plans submitted by Leeds-based developer Bates & Hemingborough in November 2021 to demolish the building.

The owner hoped to build retail and housing units on the site but a formal planning application for the development did not proceed after the council asked for safety documents, which were later submitted, addressing how the demolition would impact the adjacent St Andrew’s Church.

Planning agent Pete Gleave from Zerum Consulting told the Stray Ferret in February last year the developer would “was looking to progress the redevelopment of the site as quickly as possible and will be working up a planning application in the coming months” but the building remains derelict.

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Starbeck Working Men’s Club changes name in ‘family-friendly’ move

Starbeck Working Men’s Club (WMC) has become the latest social club in Harrogate to change its name. 

Now known as the Forest Club, it was founded in 1901 and has played a pivotal role in community life ever since. 

The newly rebranded club does everything the WMC did, but members felt they should move with the times and voted overwhelmingly to rebrand at the club’s annual general meeting back in April. 

The club is working with the CIU (Club and Institute Union) to change the name officially by the end of the year, and in the meantime will be developing a new website, email and logo. 

Club secretary Catriona Patterson said:

“People have an image of what a Working Men’s Club is, and we’re not that – we’re trying to distance ourselves from it. 

“We want to be more family-friendly. We’ve got a large function room, which we’ve used for big family events such as the King’s coronation and a beach party on the August bank holiday. 

“We’re planning to hold another big one on New Year’s Eve, with games for the children and a big screen showing the countdown live from London. People often struggle to get babysitters on New Year’s Eve, so this will allow the whole family to come out and celebrate.” 

She said the name change was a response to a wider cultural shift that has seen many licensed premises – including Working Men’s Clubs – fall victim to the growing trend for home drinking, exacerbated in part by increases in beer duty. She said:

“Covid hit us hard, and habits changed – people just don’t go out as much as they used to – so we had to do something. 

“There isn’t a Working Men’s Club in the country that isn’t struggling, and we need to attract younger members. A name-change will help bring us into a new era.” 

But she stressed that the Forest Club was not about to lose touch with its roots as a Working Men’s Club with over a century of service to the community. She said: 

“We’re rebranding our lounge as the Heritage Lounge, and we’ll be keeping all the old WMC memorabilia there. It’s an important part of our history, and we shouldn’t forget it.” 

The Forest Club’s name change, which reflects its location in the ancient Forest of Knaresborough, is part of a wider trend. Last year, Bilton Working Men’s Club slimmed its name down to simply Bilton Club, and a few months later, High Harrogate Working Men’s Club on Skipton Road rebranded to High Harrogate Bar and Lounge. 

Working Men’s Clubs were first created in the mid-19th century, predominantly in industrial areas outside the south of England, to provide recreation and education for working-class men and their families. 

There are several in our district, including those in High Harrogate and Bilton, as well as Harlow Hill Club, Knaresborough WMC, The Oatlands, and Boroughbridge Social Club. 

The Forest Club will be holding a Disco Inferno night of 70s, 80s and 90s disco classics – for members and non-members – on Saturday, October 28 from 7pm till late. 

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Starbeck counselling charity Wellspring celebrates 20th birthday

Wellspring Therapy and Training, the Harrogate-based counselling and training centre, is about to celebrate its 20th birthday.

The charity provides affordable short and long-term counselling for people in the Harrogate district.

Founded in 2003, it now faces unprecedented demand for its help tackling issues such as mental health and depression.

The Rt Rev Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds and a patron of Wellspring, is leasing a service at St Andrew’s Church in Starbeck on Sunday, October 15.

Wellspring is also holding a fundraising dinner at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate on Friday November 17.

Emily Fullarton, executive director of Wellspring, said:

“This is a very special year for us. These two exciting events are celebrating how a small local charity has survived and thrived during the past 20 years and how we have tackled the problem of increasing poor mental health, anxiety and depression, which has threatened to overwhelm the NHS.

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Founding director Elaine Wainaina set up Wellspring as a Christian-based organisation to help those struggling with anxiety and depression but it soon extended its services to everyone who needed them.

Wellspring moved from a terraced house in Prospect Road, Starbeck into nearby St Andrew’s Vicarage after it was bought for the charity by the Bramall Foundation.

This has enabled the organisation to expand its services in the Harrogate area since 2018 and to relieve the burden on the NHS.

Wellspring hopes to counsel 170 this year and 220 by the end of 2025. It helps children as young as eight.

Ms Fullarton said:

“In the UK, one in four people will experience a mental health issue at least once in their lifetime. According to local research, many people in Harrogate assume because it is a ‘nice town’ people don’t struggle with these issues. That simply isn’t true. There is a huge demand in Harrogate for our services and it’s increasing.

“What makes Wellspring’s work unique in is that we offer affordable long-term, open-ended counselling where needed. Unfortunately, this type of therapy is not currently widely available from the NHS. Most private counselling typically costs between £50 or more for each session, but many of our clients are unable to afford this.”

 

New café opens in Starbeck

A café in Starbeck has been refurbished, renamed and relaunched following a change of ownership.

The Munch Box – which was formerly the Little Way Café – opened its doors on Tuesday and sells a range of sandwiches and panini, with coffee sourced from Dancing Goat in York. 

Owner Mel Lyons took over the lease on the Camwal Road property in August and has spent the last couple of months redecorating and re-equipping it. She told the Stray Ferret: 

“I gutted the place, repainted it and laid a new floor, so it looks a lot brighter and lighter now. We’ve been pretty busy, and the customer base is building as more of the guys from the workshops along this street find out we’re here.”

Photo of Mel Lyons, owner of The Munch Box in Starbeck.

Mel Lyons, owner of The Munch Box.

Mel is from Winchester, Hampshire, and only moved north at the end of October 2022. She previously spent several years managing coffee shops for Caffè Nero-owned chain Coffee #1, and then managing coach stations in Southampton and Bournemouth for National Express.

She moved north to be with her partner and says the change has been very positive. She said: 

“I love Starbeck. It’s full of characters and has a real sense of community. It’s unpretentious – just a nice place to be.” 

But she’s also having to navigate a few cultural differences when planning her menu. She said: 

“I’m learning quickly. On my first day I made a huge tub of egg mayonnaise. That would have flown out the door down south, but no-one wants it here, so I’ve still got it!

“But breakfast is a much bigger deal up here. Bacon and sausage baps may not be health food, but they’re much tastier than some of the breakfasts I’ve seen.”

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New cafe opens on Starbeck High Street

A brand new cafe has opened in Starbeck.

Susie June’s Cafe, which is based at 67F High Street, opened its doors yesterday.

The new venture was founded by local business partners Simone MacDermid and Charlotte Currie.

They acquired the site, which was the former Millers Cafe, in July.

The pair, who both worked in the hospitality industry, launched the venture with the aim to create a “community feel”. The name comes from the first names of both owners’ mothers.

Ms MacDermid told the Stray Ferret:

“We’re both local girls.

“Everyone knows that we are here to provide for everyone’s needs. We have had local people in and use local produce.”

She added that the pair had help from friends and family to get the venture off the ground.

The cafe offers traditional breakfast, hot sandwiches, soups, cakes and pastries.

It is open six days a week from 7am until 4.30pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 2pm on Saturdays.

Susie June’s becomes the latest hospitality venue to open in Starbeck this year.

In April, The Office Ale House bar opened on High Street.

Meanwhile, Chilli Chicks chicken restaurant and takeaway opened in July.

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Missing Harrogate man found ‘safe and well’

North Yorkshire Police said today a missing man from Harrogate had been found “safe and well”.

Police issued a description and appeal yesterday for help locating the 27-year-old from Starbeck, who had not been since since Friday night.

But the force issued a statement today, which said the man had been found.

It added:

“North Yorkshire Police would like to thank members of the public and the media for sharing the appeals.”

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Council to hire contractor for Harrogate school expansion

North Yorkshire Council is set to hire a contractor to expand Springwater School and refurbish Oak Beck House in Harrogate.

The authority will take on the procurement exercise over the next six months.

It comes as senior councillors backed plans to increase the capacity at Springwater School in Starbeck by 45 pupils in February this year.

According to a council report, the work is earmarked to start in August 2024 and is due to be complete by May 2025.

It says:

“The scheme will create additional teaching space at Springwater School, Harrogate and adaptations and refurbishment at Oak Beck House, Harrogate.”

No cost for the work is included in the report.

Springwater School, which is based off High Street, teaches children aged two to 19 with “profound and multiple, severe or physical difficulties”.

At a meeting in February, the council said the move would help to provide “more local, quality in-house special school places” within the county.

As part of the plan, the council intends to spend £3.1 million from its High Needs Provision Capital Allocation, which is granted by government.

Meanwhile, the council also intends to carry out refurbishment work to Oak Beck House on Electric Avenue.

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Police release CCTV images after theft from van in Starbeck

Police have issued CCTV to identify two men involved in a theft from a van in Starbeck.

The incident happened at around 2pm on July 5, 2023, close to Papa Johns Pizza on the junction of Stonefall Avenue and Knaresborough Road.

Items were taken from a van belonging to a telecommunications engineer, who was working at height.

North Yorkshire Police have appealed for help in identifying two men who were involved in the incident.

A force statement said:

“The first man is a white male, 16-20-years-old, 5ft 8 inches tall with short ginger hair. He was wearing dark blue jeans and a black jumper.

“The second man is white, around 30-years-old, around 6ft tall and was wearing a black jumper and jeans.

“If you recognise the men in the images below, please get in contact.”

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation can email joseph.havercroft@northyorkshire.police.uk.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230124365.

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Business Breakfast: Starbeck pub awarded beer accreditation

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is an after work drinks event on Thursday, August 31 at The West Park Hotel in Harrogate between 5-7pm. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Starbeck pub has been awarded an accreditation for the quality of its beers.

The Office Ale House, which opened in April on High Street, has received Cask Marque accreditation.

Cask Marque, which was founded in 1998, is backed by major brewers and pub companies and audits the quality of ale.

Kevin Jones, who owns the Office Ale House, was awarded the accreditation this past week.

He said:

“This award is a great endorsement for us. A lot of our customers visit the pub especially for the cask ale and it is really gratifying to know that we are getting the formula just right.

“We did have some problems with our cooling system that unfortunately was never installed properly and during the heatwave this led to a drop in quality, but with the help of the right people and guidance from Cask Marque, we are now serving the perfect pint again. We achieved 5s across the board.”

Northern appoints new managing director

Train operator Northern has appointed a new managing director.

The company, which runs trains through Harrogate and Knaresborough, has hired Tricia Williams to the role.

Tricia Williams, managing director at Northern.

Tricia Williams, managing director at Northern.

Ms Williams, who is currently Northern’s chief operating officer, will take over from Nick Donovan when he steps down from his role in spring 2024.

She said:

“After three great years as chief operating officer, it’s an absolute honour to be taking on the managing director role.

“Nick has set the standard – not only for driving this business forward but the standard for truly supportive and inclusive leadership.

“We know we still have big challenges ahead of us. Nick will leave us in a strong position, and the team and I are ready to continue the great work he has started.”

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