Local News
Harrogate’s newest councillor says town ready for a Lib Dem MP
Andrew Timothy says his victory in the Stray, Hookstone and Woodlands council by-election is a sign that Harrogate and Knaresborough are ready for a Liberal Democrat MP. Earlier this month, Cllr Timothy beat his Conservative rival John Ennis by 326 votes — and with a general election around the co...
Town-centre residents launch petition to demand Station Gateway details
A resident of Harrogate town centre has launched a petition demanding to be informed about how work on the £12.1 million Station Gateway redevelopment will affect her and her neighbours. As we reported last week, Rachael Inchboard previously submitted a freedom of information (FOI) request to No...
Knaresborough primary school receives ‘good’ Ofsted rating
Knaresborough St John’s Church of England Primary School has received a ‘good’ Ofsted rating in its latest report. Inspectors described the school, which is part of Elevate Multi Academy Trust, as “welcoming and caring” and said “the school places very high value on pupils’ personal...
Conservative mayoral candidate promises ‘bold ambition’ for North Yorkshire
Keane Duncan believes he has a “bold ambition” for North Yorkshire. The 29-year-old candidate for Mayor of York and North Yorkshire is tasked with securing the position for the Conservative Party on May 2. Mr Duncan, who is also executive councillor for highways on North Yorkshire Council, told ...
Police issue CCTV appeals after Harrogate shop thefts
North Yorkshire Police has issued CCTV images for two separate shop thefts in Harrogate. Police are appealing after a theft involving four women from Next clothes store in the Victoria Shopping Centre. The incident happened in February and involved four women entering the store with pushchairs. The ...
City council supports rejuvenation plans for Ripon’s Spa Baths
Ripon City Council has given its backing to plans designed to return Ripon’s iconic Spa Baths to its former Edwardian glory. Ripon-based property investment and development company Sterne Properties Limited, is seeking planning approval from North Yorkshire Council for a mixed-used hospitality-led...
Call for retailers to get involved with Harrogate fashion show
Retailers have been called on to get involved with this year’s Harrogate fashion show. Harrogate Business Improvement District is once again organising the event with the Stray Ferret as media partner for the second year. The celebration of fashion will again feature a pop-up catwalk on the piazza...
Police investigate suspected dog poisonings at Harrogate reservoir
North Yorkshire Police is investigating suspected dog poisonings at Lindley Wood Reservoir near Harrogate. Police are appealing for information following the death of two dogs at the site. The animals died after eating something that is believed to be toxic on a walk at the reservoir between March 3...
Knaresborough health and beauty week begins today
Knaresborough’s first health and beauty week begins today. Sixteen businesses are involved in the venture, which runs from April 22 to Sunday, April 28. It is one of many events being organised this year by Knaresborough Business Collective. The collective was set up by independent traders Natali...
Councillors reject last-ditch bid to save Fountains Earth school
Councillors have rejected a bid to ‘call in’ the decision by the Conservative-run executive to close Fountains Earth primary school in Nidderdale. North Yorkshire Council’s executive met last month in Northallerton to approve the closure following a consultation. It took effect at the end of M...
Harrogate NHS dental patients offered places at clinic 10 miles away
A dental clinic in Boston Spa has announced it will take on NHS patients affected by the reduction in NHS service by Pannal Dental Clinic (PDC). As the Stray Ferret reported in November, PDC was forced to reduce its NHS contract after being hit with a demand for tens of thousands of pounds from th...
Government rejects North Yorkshire’s bid for traffic light funding
North Yorkshire Council’s bid for £965,000 of government money to upgrade traffic lights has been rejected. Sixty-seven local authorities successfully applied to the Department for Transport’s traffic signal obsolescence grant. North Yorkshire was one of 23 whose bids were rejected. It means th...
Victory for villagers as industrial development is refused planning permission
Residents have cautiously welcomed the refusal this week of planning permission for a controversial scheme to build an industrial development on their residential cul-de-sac. The project, on Hazeldene Fold in Minskip, near Boroughbridge, has been deeply unpopular with neighbouring householders, an...
Business Breakfast: New managing partner announced at law firm after 30 years
LCF Law has announced that managing partner Simon Stell, who has led the firm for almost 30 years, is to step down from the role. The firm has announced that partner and disputes specialist Ragan Montgomery will take the position. Mr Stell joined LCF Law in 1995, when it was known as Last Cawthra Fe...
Readers’ Letters: Of course the Lib Dems won the Harrogate by-election – the candidate wore a tie!
Readers’ Letters is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. This letter followed news of the Liberal Democrats ...
Harrogate blinds and shutters company enters liquidation
A blinds and shutters company near Harrogate has gone into liquidation. HG – NY Blinds and Shutters Ltd, which was based in a unit on Clint Bank, broke the news to customers in an email on Saturday, April 13. In the email, seen by the Stray Ferret, the company said the move followed “unforeseen ...
Grammar guerrilla takes Harrogate road sign matters into own hands
A vigilante has taken action against the council’s decision to eliminate apostrophes from Harrogate district road signs. The move comes after North Yorkshire Council last week told the Stray Ferret it will abolish apostrophes from road signs after a new sign was installed on St Mary’s Walk. The ...
Mayoral candidates hoping for a cleaner, greener Harrogate
Three candidates hoping to be the first Mayor of York and North Yorkshire were in Harrogate this week for an environment-themed hustings. It was organised by charity Zero Carbon Harrogate with Felicity Cunliffe-Lister (Liberal Democrat), Keith Tordoff (Independent) and Paul Haslam (Independent) ans...
From lidos to Eurovision: Ripon teacher’s quirky musicals
It was during an open day at a lido in Cumbria that composer and playwright Emily Roberts found the inspiration for her latest musical. The premise of All Those On Board suddenly popped into her head while she was chatting to campaigners of a multi-million pound project to bring the lido at Grange...
Harrogate district runners take on the London Marathon this weekend
Harrogate born stand-up comedian Maisie Adam is set to complete the London Marathon tomorrow to honour a 14-year-old boy who died from bone cancer. Ms Adam attended the same high school as cancer patient Frank Asthon. Despite not personally knowing him, she was moved by his story and is running the ...