The government is providing help for people experiencing slow broadband speeds in rural areas.
As part of the UK Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme, grants of up to £1,500 for households and up to £3,500 for businesses, are available for some of the hardest to reach rural areas to support the cost of installing a new gigabit-capable connection.
To qualify, you must be in a rural area, have available broadband speeds of less than 100Mbps and be part of a group project (two or more premises).
Fit4Life is a free 12-week weight management programme run by the Harrogate Borough Council team of health and exercise experts.
The programme offesr support every step of the way with healthy eating advice and physical activity classes. You can also get access to the HBC swimming pools and Brimhams fitness centres.
There’s more information about the eligibility criteria on the HBC website but you need to be aged 18 or over and have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above. If you are from an ethnic minority or you have hypertension, diabetes, cardiac or respiratory problems, your BMI can be 25 or above.
You’ll also need to live, work or be registered with a GP in the Harrogate district to join the programme and commit to all 12-weeks.
You can still find summer plants for sale at the HBC horticultural nursery in Harrogate.
It is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 4pm and Saturday, Sunday and on bank holidays from 10am until 4pm.
Currently there are geraniums, French marigolds, begonias, fuchsias and strawberry hanging baskets, petunias and nicotiana available.
This year there are more plants for pollinators as these will help wild bees and other pollinators which are crucial for maintaining plant diversity.
Also on offer are a small selection of herbs and a variety of plant pots, gifts, compost, bark and manure.
You can shop online using the click and collect service which is available from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday or request a delivery* to your home in the district.
The nursery is situated at Nursery Lane East, off Harlow Moor Road (please use the postcode HG2 0FH on your sat nav).
Knaresborough market and Ripon market both closed during the last year. However they are both now open again for shopping.
Knaresborough market takes place every Wednesday between 7.30am and 3pm, while Ripon is every Thursday between the same times. Ripon also hosts a smaller Saturday morning market between 7.30am and 2pm.
Both markets are set within traditional market squares with nearby transport links.
Knaresborough Swimming Pool is set to open in July just prior to the school summer holidays.
The pool has been closed during the last year due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, as well as an issue with the existing pool filters.
Harrogate Borough Council appointed a specialist contractor based in Spain to repair the filters but, due to the continued travel restrictions, they decided to replace the existing filters rather than face further delays.
Following an extensive amount of work to accommodate the new filters, these have now been installed and the pool is being prepared for opening.
You may have noticed that some areas of the Harrogate district are being left to grow and not mown.
This is part of an intentional plan to promote wildlife and support the bee population. The longer grass and wildflowers provide food and homes for pollinating insects, as well as supporting carbon reduction goals.
As well as leaving areas to grow and encourage biodiversity, Harrogate Borough Council have also planted – with the help of volunteers – more than 5,000 wildflower plugs on the Stray in Harrogate.
Collectively, these biodiversity areas will provide habitats and green corridors for pollinators that play a key role in sustaining the flora and fauna across the district.
Harrogate Borough Council report that the multi-million pound investment project at Ripon Leisure Centre is progressing, as work to install the swimming pool takes shape. Once complete, the facility will provide a new six-lane 25 metre pool, modern changing rooms, sauna suite, an extended gym, new activity and spin studios, meeting facilities as well as refurbishment of the existing leisure centre. The new pool offers a 70 per cent increase in water space compared to the ageing Ripon Spa Baths, that will no longer be required. The sale, and redevelopment of the spa baths, will give this local listed building a new lease of life (subject to planning approval), retain key features and remain as a city landmark.Harrogate Borough Council report
As the end of the financial year came in April the Parish Council prepared end of year accounts again. The accounts have been subject to an audit and there is now an exemption certificate lodged with the Government auditors in London.
All Parish finances are discussed, monitored and reported on at Council meetings and are managed by the Finance Sub Committee, as such are open to the public.
The Annual Governance and Accountability records 2020-2021 are available for public viewing.
During the roadshow tour next week, the YorBus team will be visiting locations within the operational area and staff will explain how the service works and answer any questions.
Run by North Yorkshire County Council, YorBus will be piloted in the Ripon, Bedale and Masham area from 1 July.
Users will be able to choose when and where they want to travel via a dedicated app, which will be available to download from 28 June. The app has been created by Via, the leader in TransitTech.
Once a desired pick-up and drop-off location has been selected, riders will be directed to a nearby bus stop. The mobile app allows passengers to plan and track their bus journey, even when on-board.
County Councillor Don Mackenzie, Executive Member for Access, said: “We are very excited to see the roll-out of this on-demand bus service that will enhance our existing public transport network across North Yorkshire.
“The flexibility of the service means that more seats will be taken, resulting in less traffic on the roads. It aims to cut carbon emissions and sits well within our aspirations of achieving net carbon neutrality by 2030.
“I would encourage residents to attend the roadshows as they are a great opportunity to talk to staff about the new service, find out how it works, how to book and to ask any other questions.”
The roadshows are being held at the following times and locations:
Tuesday 22 June 9.30am to 11.30am: Bedale Market Place
Wednesday 23 June 9.30am to 11.30am: Masham Market Place (Church End)
Thursday 24 June 10am to 12noon: Ripon library
Thursday 24 June 1pm to 2pm: Grewelthorpe near Village Hall
Thursday 24 June 2.30pm to 3.30pm: Kirkby Malzeard opposite The Queens Head
Friday 25 June 9.30am to 11.30am: Lightwater Valley car park
Friday 25 June 1.30pm to 3.30pm: Fountains Abbey car park
The service will run from 6.55am to 6pm on weekdays and 9am to 6pm on Saturdays. There will be a flat fare for using the service; £1.20 for adults and 65p for children between the ages of 5-17.
Customers can choose to pay with card or cash on the bus. Children under 5 can travel for free and concessionary bus passes can be used on the service, subject to existing Terms and Conditions.
YorBus is fully accessible, with low floor access and a ramp access for users of wheelchairs, pushchairs and those with mobility difficulties.
Via works with more than 200 partners across the globe and in the UK, including Transport for Wales, Milton Keynes Council, Stagecoach, and Go-Coach to power flexible, technology-enabled solutions that increase efficiency, reduce operational cost, and expand access to public transport.
YorBus, a pilot of an on-demand bus service, will begin operating on July 1.
Description: 2 signs indicating entry to Copgrove, 1 on Wath Lane and 1 on Apron Lane.
Estimated Value: £710
Acquisition: Purchased in November 2020 and installed in February 2021.
Locations:
Wath Lane – Grid Reference:
Apron Lane – Grid Reference:
Recreation Field
Description: Enclosed field of public open space with a fenced children’s play area and small football pitch.
Location: Arkendale Road, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE
Rented From: Staveley Relief in Need Charity Rental Fee: £70 per annum
Allotments
Description: 2 allotment plots leased annually to local residents.
Location: Arkendale Road, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE
Rented From: Harrogate Borough Council Rental Fee: £40 per annum per site Lease Agreement
Posts & Chains
Description: A row of posts and chains along the edge of the village green west and the unmade road in front of the Royal Oak pub, acting as a barrier to prevent car parking on the green.
Location: Village Green West, Main Street, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 363 627
Acquisition
Date: Not known Cost: £665
Current Use: Boundary fence
Notice Boards
Description: 3 village notice boards at various locations around the two villages.
Total Estimated Value: £1,425
Notice Boards 1 and 2
Location: Village Green East, Main Street, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 366 627
Estimated Value: £950
Acquisition: 1997 and 2005/6
Key Holder(s): Bill Kirkpatrick, Neil Horton
Notice Board 3
Location: Start of St. Mongah’s Lane, Copgrove. Grid Reference: SE 345 632
Estimated Value: £475
Acquisition: 2002
Key Holder(s): Peter Edwards
Safety Barrier
Description: Safety barrier alongside the pull-in in front of the primary school. The Parish Council financed the barrier following the withdrawal of funds by North Yorkshire County Council.
Location: In front of primary school, Minskip Road, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 366 628
Acquisition
Date: November 2011 Cost: £550
Current Use: Public safety barrier
Childrens Playground
Description: Childrens Playground, located on the recreation field comprising the following equipment items:
Wicksteed Whirly Bird
Record Cradle Swings
Record Flat Seat Swings
Hags Multi Pondo
Play and Leisure Multi Unit
Play and Leisure Fish Spring Mobile
Ledon Car Spring Mobile
Bench
Fencing and Gates
The playground is inspected annually by RoSPA and four times per year by a local specialist contractor. It is also visually inspected weekly by a team of local volunteers and stands on land rented annually from the Staveley Relief in Need Charity.
More information about the development of the childrens play area is available here. Maintenance of the playground is one of the Parish Council’s ongoing projects. Progress on the project can be seen by selecting the Children’s Play Area project page.
Location: Arkendale Road, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 366 625
Acquisition: Adopted .
Estimated Value: £12,000
Bus Shelter
Description: Coated steel frame, clear screen shelter with 4 seats
Location: On village green east, Main Street, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 366 627
Acquisition: January 2012. Purchased by the Parish Council, thanks to a donation from Abacus, a local employer based at Jubilee Court, Copgrove.
Description: Ex BT telephone box, now home to the village public defibrillator unit. The phobe box is a K6, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1936 and introduced to celebrate the King George V Silver Jubilee. It was probably installed under the ‘Jubilee Concession’, which meant kiosks were installed in every town and village with a Post Office. The K6 was 80 years old in 2016.
Location: Opposite the village green east, Main Street, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 366 627
Acquisition: Phone box purchased from BT in May 2016 for a nominal sum of £1. The defibrillator was purchased from Wel Medical Ltd. and installed in June 2016.
Cost: £1,800 Current Valuation: Defibrillator £1,800. Replacement cost of K6 approx £2,500 plus delivery and installation.
Further Information:The defibrillator is checked weekly by the local Community First Responders coordinator. See Community First Responders for more details on how to use the unit.
Wooden Benches
Description: 5 wooden benches at various locations around the two villages.
Estimated Value: £1,900 for benches 1 – 4
Bench No. 1
Location: Wath Lane, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 359 625
Acquisition: 1995
Bench No. 2
Location: Village Green West, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 363 627
Acquisition: 1995
Bench No. 3
Location: Village Green West, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 363 627
Acquisition: 1995
Bench No. 4
Location: Main Street, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 365 627
Acquisition: 1995
Bench No.5
This seat was removed in 2020.
Location: Arkendale Road, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 368 624
Bench No.6
Location: Open space on St. Mongah’s Lane, Copgrove. Grid Reference: SE 345 633
Estimated Value: £475
Acquisition: 2002
Stone Bench
Description: Wooden bench set within a stone surround.
Location: Junction of Main Street, Minskip Road and Arkendale Road, Staveley. Grid Reference: SE 366 627
Acquisition:
Estimated Value: £2,375
From the Archive: The seat when new in 1990
The Pinfold
Description: An animal pound where stray livestock were impounded. Animals were kept in a dedicated enclosure, until claimed by their owners, or sold to cover the costs of impounding. The term pinfoldis saxon in origin and common in the north of England. A village pound was a feature of most English medieval villages.
Location: Arkendale Road, Staveley. Size: approx 250 sq mt including the adjacent land. Grid Reference: SE 367 626
Acquisition: Erected in 1832 by public subscription and restored in 1986. Date: Not known Cost: £20,470 Current Valuation: £20,470
Current Use: Public amenity
Further Information: In 2012, thanks to an initiative by Staveley resident Ken Barker, a rose garden was planted in land next to the Pinfold to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. In 2019 a new gate to the Pinfold was installed by D.Hargreaves (Blacksmith) of The Forge, Coneythorpe.
Village Green East
Description: Former allotment site, purchased from the estate of F.L. Knowlson. A copy of the deed of conveyance is available here.
Location: Junction of Main Street, Minskip Road and Arkendale Road, Staveley. Size: Grid Reference: SE 366 627
Acquisition
Date: 2nd September 1986 Cost: £750 Current Valuation: £750
Current Use: Public open space
From the Archive: Oak Tree Planting
Village Green West
Description: Triangle of land registered to the Parish Council under Section 3 of the Commons Registration Act 1965 when no evidence of ownership was offered to the Commissioner at a hearing in Harrogate on 31st October 1973. A copy of the decision notice is available here.
Location: In front of the Royal Oak pub Main Street, Staveley Size: Grid Reference: SE 363 627
Acquisition
Date: 9th November 1973 Cost: £0 Current Valuation:
