Names suggested by Harrogate Borough Council for street names for housing on the Dunlopillo site. Their suggestions were Buckingham and Windsor. I did not agree with these names so I was asked to forward some names which I have done stating "If one is looking for a Royal connection Princess Royal Way (part of the A61 near Dunlopillo site) named for Princess Mary, Princess Royal who was the wife of Henry Lascelles Earl of Harewood. So we can have Lascelles or Harewood Drive/Street whatever. Other suggestions: Names of fields within this area in the 1800s. Whin Bank, Great Bank, High Laithe, Willow Garth. Pannal Park, Springfield, Buttersyke. Sandstone names of quarries in this area. Hullah Well just the other side of A61 near Dunlopillo site. Smithy Hill/Close/Drive - there was a blacksmiths same era in Pannal. Plants that grew there could be used as street names Broom, Teazle, Cedar (of Lebanon 2 of these endangered trees in Pannal. Also birds that were numerous when this area was fields and a farm. Skylarks, lapwings. Pavilion large one that was on the Sports Field on the old Bintex/Dunlopillo site.So I have given them plenty to work with.
Last Thursday a heavy fall of snow in the morning rush hour. Cars abandoned in Main Street. Three cars crashed into a fourth one. Police came and closed Church Lane where the accident happened. I had a late shower that morning as I was watching all the excitement. In the afternoon the sun came out and by evening snow all gone as if it had never happened. Then this week St Robert's Church and surrounding area flooded. I have a little stream - Pannal stream - at the bottom of my garden which turned into nearly a raging torrent. It plus Clarke Beck plus the River Crimple all joined so the damage was done. Fire Brigade to the rescue. This is the area Crimple Valley that HBC have earmarked for housing. It is on a flood plane. How many times do we have to tell them and it is no use saying they can "fix" the water. Yes maybe from part of the Crimple Valley but one does not have to be a genius to know that water will always find a way to come back. I and others like me who have lived here a long time (me 52 years) remember the tragic floods of September 1968 when boats were out in Main Street rescuing people from the cottages near the church (some demolished now) and poor little Melville Guy Pullein Bentley aged only eight of Pannal Hall was tragically drowned having fallen into the River Crimple which was in spate just behind St Robert's Church, WE all pray that tragedies like this will never happen again.
I have been feeding the birds with fat balls, bird seed and bread much to my cats annoyance. As having ventured out from a warm house they put up with the pigeons and the pheasants from the Quarry but they were not prepared for the kite that flew down. A fast exit through the cat flap and they looked at me as if to say WHAT!
