Action call to transform Knaresborough eyesores
A DESIRE to see a delapidated corner of Knaresborough tidied up was one of the key issues raised at the annual Town Meeting.
About 40 people attended Monday’s meeting at Knaresborough House and there was full agreement that the now derelict former pub, the Yorkshire Lass, and the deteriorating Boathouse Cafe and surrounding area on the opposite side of the River Nidd, urgently need attention.
Both properties are for sale, but town councillors confirmed that although there had been a number of enquiries, there hadn’t been any offers or planning applications put through to Harrogate Borough Council.
Local resident Sue Almond said: “How long is a building left to decay? It’s very depressing, this part of the town is looking empty and derelict and we need to improve the look of it.”
Pat Stephenson, who lives close to High Bridge, agreed. “This is now a terrible entrance to Knaresborough for our visitors.”
Coun Christine Willoughby said she had been trying to persuade officers at Harrogate Borough Council to do something about the eyesores for the last five years.
“I understand it just hasn’t got bad enough yet! Apparently the owners are not concerned about it at all,” she said. “We need to get onto the Planning Enforcement Officers and ask that they serve orders on these owners to tidy them up, we need to pressurise them.”
A show of hands saw unanimous agreement to asking the town council to take action. Everyone was also urged to write individually to Harrogate Council asking that something be done.
Other issues raised included more allotments for Knaresborough, the spending of commuted sums, parking restrictions on Station Road, the mobile recycling scheme and litter problems at the Fscyhe Hall playing fields youth shelter.
In her report, the Mayor of Knaresborough, Coun Mavis Clemmitt spoke of the work of the town council over the past year.
The council had given grants to numerous projects and groups in the town. Successes included the monthly Farmers Markets, Viaduct Terrace, the mobile recycling scheme, new public toilets at the bus station and an updated play area at Fscyhe Hall fields.
Coun Clemmitt said work was ongoing about the constant locking of the railway crossing gates, the need to find more land for allotments and traffic issues regarding the A59.
The Council, however, was disappointed at the loss of some evening bus services to Knaresborough’s outlying estates.
Some 250 planning applications had been heard, the Emergency Response team had been put into action during the flooding at park home sites off York Road, and preparations were going well for the 800th anniversary Maundy celebrations.
Tribute was paid to two former mayors who died during the past 12 months; Dr Arnold Kellett and Mr George Cook.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Harrogate
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
