Pannal and Country Parks

Having lived here nearly all my life I believe I know everywhere in Harrogate and I have been walking the County Parks. Killinghall and Knox. As I did so I have been wondering why there is not a Country Park in Pannal.  Almsford Bank is mentioned in a council blurb as a leisure area but we have the Crimple Valley and it would make a great Country Park. When you think how important Pannal was long before Harrogate was thought of I do not feel we have come off very well. Many years ago there was a Director of Technical Services called Ken Corri and I happened to be sitting next to him at a meeting and he said to me you live in Pannal then showed me a map and pointed at the Bilton area and said this is what I want  Pannal to be like, many more houses. Now alive or dead his wish is coming true. That is why I think it is time we, the residents approached our Parish Council and our Councillor and made our feelings known. Bilton and Knox residents have a lovely area to walk in which will never be built upon. We in Pannal know HBC own the Crimple Valley having purchased it from Bentley of Pannal Hall in 1963. The part I am talking of is the land this side of the A61 Leeds Road from behind St Robert's Church.  The Crimple Valley the other side of the Leeds Road also owned by the council and supposedly kept as a lung separating Pannal from Harrogate. That land is doomed and will be built upon. I would like the area including Sandy Bank Quarry to the Leeds Road and up to All Saints Court to be a Country Park. Left wild as it was and perhaps the wild flowers will return. It was so beautiful before it was ploughed up. This area is always under threat from HBC plans for a gypsy site, plans for housing. I am so very afraid for it as it will in time be attacked again. Look around everyone all the area we have is the Recreation Ground and Woods and a small grassed area called Pannal Green. We deserve better. We deserve the Crimple Valley as a Country Park and we deserve to know it will be safe for future generations. 

Pannal achievements with love

Now this is not boasting but I was only thinking today of how much I love living here. So in 1969 with all the building going on Rosedale, Rosedale Close and the demolition of the beautiful Rosehurst. I thought about the trees and how could I protect them. I had never done anything like this before so I rang up the Forestry Commission and a lovely man called Mr King came to see me and we walked round (Me pushing the pram with dog at the side) and we mapped out all the trees we thought were important. I sent it to Mr Hoyle the Borough solicitor and he agreed and so the very first tree preservation order for Harrogate was born. TPO No 1 Pannal 1969. Then some years later Dr Kellner's house just off Westminster Drive, Burn Bridge the owners put in a p/a to have it demolished and houses built on the site. I thought no so put a very good case forward for its retention and it was granted a reprieve .I unfortunately could not save Spacey Houses PH as I had written to HBC to try to when in the middle of one night/very early morning Punch Taverns who owned it sent workmen to take the roof off and that was the end of a very old Hotel which had been used as a meeting place for the Captain and Committee of Pannal Golf Club when they were formed in 1906 and before they had their Clubhouse built. Then Spacey Houses Farm and buildings were in danger of being razed to the ground as HBC owned it and I had such a lot of opposition from Councillors but I contacted English Heritage and persuaded them to send someone up. Took a lot of persuading but he eventually came and said it was not a wasted journey as it was one of the best ancient farmhouse and buildings, barns etc that he had seen so that was saved. I then got in touch with Batchelor the Builders and said they were, in my opinion, good sympathetic builders were they interested and yes they were. Saved Sandy Bank Quarry and had it made a SINC and Crimple Valley behind St Robert's Church which I think we will always have to protect as it is also owned by HBC and considering they want a light industry site on the other part of the Valley we shall always have to protect it. When I look at Pannal Village we have so little green spaces now that what we do have we must look after.  I became Chairman of The Harrogate Society then I formed the Friends of the Valley Gardens and was the first Chairman in order to save the Sun Pavilion which HBC wanted to demolish to build a car park. I can look back on these achievements and just thank goodness I had a very supportive husband who was always there for me. I trained as a journalist which was a great help as I knew my way around but it was my success with the Tree Preservation Orders that set me on this path. One other success was with the help of the villagers the stocks were replaced. I still look after the little patio garden by St Robert and now I shall have to pick up all the leaves but I shall wait until they are all down. I wrote the first book ever written The History of Pannal followed by Postcards from Pannal with the help and kindness of the villagers who were very generous sharing their village history and photographs with me. My new book Pannal and Burn Bridge will be out soon. I am always here to help people who write/email me or come to the door. I have helped two people last week with Pannal queries. I am Pannal Golf Club Historian having written their Centenary Book which fortunately they loved . As I said I am here and willing to, if I can. help or answer questions about Pannal and Burn Bridge places and people. 

Pannal and Whinney Lane

 On one of my walks around Pannal I thought I will go up Cobler Hill and Whinney Lane and round. Very pleasant to start with then when I reached Whinney Lane devastation. Rows and rows of large houses so very close to existing houses on Castle hill. so very many of them.  One lady I met lives in a bungalow and has a large house looming over her bungalow and garden with windows looking into her bedroom etc. The developers had a meeting with residents and what they said to local enquiries is "we are here to make a profit". In other words we don't care. I listened to Week in Parliament this morning and Boris Johnston said re the development of many many houses we do not want to destroy countryside. Obviously his words do not mean Whinney Lane which is a Lane no longer as houses are being built both sides of it so it is now being widened. There is a "builders footpath" for one to walk down (no cars allowed except for resident access). Go and have a look and you will have a first hand view of countryside being turned into tarmac and buildings. It is so very sad as in  the old days it was so pleasant to walk to the Squinting Cat (when it was a lovely country pub before being altered to what it is now. At least they should benefit from the housing. Who remembers the lovely oak panelled rooms and how they were one of the first places to put meals on with a carvery on a Sunday? Our day for gardening and we were so often stopped by people in cars saying is this the way to the Squinting Cat? Also who remembers the little railway and small engine that ran round the garden and tooks the kids on rides?

On a sort of lighter note my long haired cat Tigs disappeared for three days. I was worried and went round the quarry as I know there are foxes there and as we back/front onto to it it is where she goes. Went round the school to see if she had been shut in saw Jane head teacher and mentioned why I was there. She said she would keep an eye open for her. Next morning the stupid cat wanders in without a care in the world no shame. Last time I am looking for you and getting soaking in the process I said, she just looked and said and where is the food I am starving. I did email Jane and tell her stupid was back. 

Since I published my email address last blog people have been using it to ask about people and places in Pannal. Great I am happy to answer queries. My blog can be read by just going onto google and typing Anne Smith Pannal.