Bill Hoult

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Bill Hoult

Re my previous report the decision on the planning application by Tarmac for extraction of gravel on Land near the Henges has been delayed yet again. The meeting on 20 May 2008 will not now go ahead and no new date has been fixed.

 Cllr Bill Hoult

Last week two sitting Town Councillors resigned from the Knaresborough Town Council. for personal reasons, Patricia Pye because her husband has just secured a job opportunity in New Zealand and the other Jaquie Brankin for health reasons.

Both represented Knaresborough East ward and whilst sorry to see them go I would like to thank them for the work they have done for the people of Knaresborough and also wish each of them well for the their future.

If ten electors wish to call an election for their replacement this must be done before 15 May 2008, otherwise the vacancies may be filled by co-option. Further details may be obtained from the Knaresborough Town Clerk’s Office Monday to Friday Tel 867804 (am only)

Cllr Bill Hoult

Report critical of County Council Poor Management of Tenanted Farms.

A report to be submitted to Tory Chiefs at North Yorkshire County Council on the 6 May 2008 highlights failures in the Counties management of the Estate of 53 lettings. The report by Bruton Knowles was commissioned to review the Council’s policy on the sale of tenant farms implemented 10years ago in 1998.The failures may be summarised under two headings:-

Traffic Calming measures are being considered for Halfpenny Lane to both reduce speeding traffic and deal with concerns related to the railway bridge near the new housing development.

It is proposed to provide speed cushions along both Hyde Park Road and Halfpenny Lane.

Also traffic lights under the railway bridge and a double mini roundabout at the Stockwell Lane Halfpenny Lane/Chain Lane junction.

The Knaresborough Town Council has already welcomed the proposals for speed cushions and traffic lights to the railway bridge but objected to the idea of a double mini roundabout.

What do you think? Have your say by contacting Harrogate Borough Council at Knapping Mount West Grove Road Harrogate HG1 2AE

Tel 01423 500600

Bill Hoult   

Following consultations on conservation areas in Knaresborough, Goldsborough, Kirk Deighton, Masham, Pateley Bridge, Ramsgill, Roecliffe and Spofforth, Individual documents have now been produced for each area.

Now a further final consultation on the proposals is being carried out. The three main areas on which the consultation will focus are:-

• Inclusion of Buildings and features within the Conservation Area boundary
•  Proposed changes to the Conservation Area boundary
• Proposed areas of enhancement.

The documents are well worth reading due to historical background to the development of the individual communities and the important heritage issues that merit protection and enhancement for the future.

Knaresborough Main Recommendations:-

In line with the previous consultations it is now recommended that

• That the North West of the Conservation Area at Bond End be linked to the Scriven Conservation Area
• To include Mackintosh Park in the Conservation Area
• To include the area of public open space between Rievaulx/ Abbey housing Estate in the Conservation Area
• Not to include Horseshoe Field in the Conservation Area.
• Not to include Stockdale Walk and Eddystone House in the Conservation Area.

 The draft documents may be viewed on the Council’s website at http://www.harrogate.gov.uk/planning or contact

The Planning Department, Harrogate Borough Council, Knapping Mount, West Grove Road, Harrogate HG1 2AE (Tel 01423 500600)  Comments are invited before 6 June 2008.

Bill Hoult

From Monday 28 April Transdev will be providing a new limited stop bus service from Harrogate to York. The X54 will run Monday to Saturday only(not Bank Holidays)  every half hour after 0745 until 1710hrs. From Harrogate it will pick up only at at Knaresborough Bus Station, and drop off at all stops to York Piccadilly. From York it will pick up only at Manor School, Boroughbridge Road York and drop off at all stops to Harrogate.

From York buses will start at 0935hrs with the last bus at 1835hrs.

Over 60’s free passholders will be able to use this service after 0900hrs. Full details may be found on the Harrogate and District Travel Website.

Cllr Bill Hoult 

Hope for parades
For over a year now the North Yorkshire Police have operated a “stand off” approach to the policing of events such as Bed race and the Starbeck Gala which has led to organisers facing crippling bills for road closures and traffic control by private consultants or cancellation of the event.

Following a Scrutiny review by Harrogate Borough Council the Chief Constable has now announced that there will be changes in the police stance in order that community events are not endangered. Mr Maxwell is reported to have said ” Following feedback from the community we will look again at the charging policy for these events to ensure fairness.”

Although the extent of the change is as yet unclear it is hoped that this will lift the financial burden from charitable and voluntary events in the future and allow Councils to operate less restrictive road closure legislation.

Cllr Bill Hoult comments “I am pleased that the Chief Constable has listened to the genuine concerns of local people and is prepared work with local event organisers to protect traditional community events.”

N.B See previous entry 24 December 2007

This sort of inconsiderate parking is becoming a feature of Anchor Yard just of the High Street in Knaresborough.

A few years ago this Yard was a potholed part cobbled yard at the back of what used to be the Anchor Inn in the Town. However it is a popular “cut through” for residents wanting to get to the High Street thus avoiding the narrow and sometimes frightning pavement on Park Row.

With the use of public money the Yard was recobbled and a Yorkstone “walkway installed for push chairs and the like. Now however it is used presumably by those wanting to avoid parking charges to access the Town Centre.

Obviously these two parkers have never pushed a push chair anywhere and perhaps could not care less either! The worst thing about it is that with a bit more consideration they could park without obstructing the footway.

I am currently investigating whether we can implement some sort of parking controls on the Yard.

Cllr Bill Hoult

The Tory Executive Member for Education threatened to removed the right of opposition members to “call in” embarrassing decisions made by the County Executive at a meeting on Tuesday 8 April.

It followed a meeting called by Liberal Democrats to try and overturn a decison by the County Council to freeze “the school uniform grant” given to the poorest parents.

The hypocrisy of the decision was exposed by Liberal Democrat Education spokesperson Cllr Caroline Seymour (Stokesley). Caroline highlighted that it was made at the same time as an inflation busting hike of 5% in the charge to parents for home to school transport and folllows a 4.8% increase in the Council Tax.

In a show of anger the Executive member claimed that the rise would have been too small to bother with and suggested that the issue should not have been eligible for call in.

Another Tory councillor dismissed the complaint by saying that the increase would have been less than the cost of a pint of beer and was neither here nor there!

Once again the Tory led County Council is operating double standards and hitting those most in need in the County Council area.