I had a really enjoyable tour of the new police station before it comes into operation on 17 May 2012. Hopefully this new building with modern technology will help reduce costs of running our police force. Air source heat pumps are installed, and photovoltaic panels will generate power to make the building as sustainable as possible.
This state-of-the-art building replaces one built around 80 years ago. It also seems very likely much of the N. Yorkshire central services will move there over time too. ‘Hot desking’ is the plan for the majority of staff and police.
I was most impressed with the security features from small things like solicitors phone calls can be transferred direct to the cell to CCTV covering all areas and cells. Also, everyone working there will only have a door pass for the areas they need access to.
It cost £18m which was amazingly £2.8m under budget!!! Have a look at the photo of the rear view in the slideshow below and tell me what you think it looks like.
Harrogate’s New Police Station on PhotoPeach
For more pictures and further details read this story from Harrogate-News
Olympic Torch to come through Harrogate on 19 June 2012. The torch will come by convoy to Harrogate Golf Club at 2.06. It will then be carried towards harrogate along the A59 to the Empress Roundabout, along York Place and the Stray to the Prince of Wales Roundabout. Then turn right along West Park Street, past the War Memorial and Betty’s towards Ripon until Duchy Road. It will then go by convoy to Ripon. I will be there, so look out for me!
Do you know the torch will pass within a few yards of the old Railway Station site. The only remains of it is this plaque:
Local people and businesses initially opposed the railway fearing an influx of people from Leeds and Bradford would lower the tone of the area but this opposition was overcome and the line opened to a temporary terminus at Spofforth. Read more about it.
Harrogate is a great town to visit for a day trip or weekend break. It has a great shopping centre with unusual shops etc. Also, North Yorkshire is ‘God’s County’ with many interesting places to visit.
If you want to stay, avoid busy times when there are conferences, exhibitions or the Great Yorkshire Show etc. Hotels will be fully booked and more expensive. At other times the choice will be vast and fit most pockets. You will also find an abundance of places for eating out.
Harrogate is a floral town and from early spring flowers are in abundance. This photograph was taken mid March 2012.
If you want a real experience then Betty’s is a must. Very easy access from Leeds especially for Olympics visitors. Queues can be long. If too long take a 2 minute walk down the hill to the side to Catwalk Cafe. Home made cakes etc and prices are reasonable. However, my favourite is 2 miles out of town. My personal faviourite is Limetree Cafe at Moorland Nurseries, Forest Moor Road, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire HG5 8JY. There, I think, all the food is home made and the cakes and scones of the best! Just look at this scone I bought today (27 May) and the cabinet full of fantastic food! Hot meals available too.
Yes they really have to swim that deep river and hopefully the bed will float.
Bed Race 2011 on PhotoPeach
This is a link to larger images of the slide show above. I think I took a picture of 87 of the 90 beds. Sorry if I missed you but at times it was a bit crowded. http://photopeach.com/album/uo4ghl
The Stray Fair is now open and looking busy on my way home from work today (25th August till 4th Sept 2011) ready for August Bank Holiday weekend. It will be open daily from 2 pm – 11 pm (Sunday 2 pm – 9 pm). All rides £1. The photos below are from the Stray Fair 2010.
My street is now a ‘No Cold Calling Zone’. If you hate answering to door to sales people or are worried about distraction burglaries (someone talks to you at the door while someone else enters your house around the back) then why not set one up for your street?
You need to contact the police who will give you the the information needed. You then need to contact your neighbours to make sure there is no one who objects. If there is an objection, you can just make the zone smaller to exclude them. The police will then send off the form to Trading Standards, who then carry out their own survey to ensure everyone agrees, then it is set up.
It is then illegal for cold callers and the police will take action against them and move them on.
Just a short drive from Harrogate, Brimham Rocks is so unusual. It is great place to visit for people of all ages and is most visited page on my Harrogate Blog.
Children love to run and explore rocks at Brimham Rocks that seem to defy gravity and many ask to be climbed. But the shapes are so interesting and it is a great location just to walk around. The rocks are scattered over about 50 acres of moor and some other shapes are like elephants, hippos, bears & and mushrooms.
I am posting just one picture of the many different unusual rock formations. All the rock formations are natural and made by nature. No trick photography, honest!
Owned by the National Trust, the location is free to visit. The only charge is for car parking (free for members).
Harrogate is an ideal UK holiday destination. As a Spar town it has historic buildings, specialist shops, just for ladies to buy exclusive clothes, with a touch of class from a romantic image of towns from our past.
Top Shop with Top Man and Miss Selfridge has opened a now shop in Harrogate on 25th November. It is opposite the new Primark shop that opened a week before. I took a look in on its opening day and it was very busy. There is a 1st floor sales area as large and the ground floor.
