Lovely sunny warm day as it has been nearly all of May.Not today though that is why you are getting this. Yesterday I was invited up to see the chimney at Dunlopillo being demolished, Went up and had a coffee sitting outside the post office met up with John Mann our local Councillor and we went up to the road entrance into the site. A bit annoying as the screens were up and we had to view it through wire. It was a long way away and we were in no danger of being flattened. Still the proceedings were enlivened by CC Cliff Trotter who brought cups and wine. A great idea Cliff. There was a satisfying thump as it hit the ground. The chimney not Cliff, me or the wine. Andrew McDonald Parish Clerk came with his lovely dog and Sarah Carr from Bellway. Sarah is a very nice person but her job is to go round looking for sites for Bellway to build houses. Fields are not safe from Sarah. We all had our photograph taken. When I came back down the village people were saying what was that awful noise was it a plane. They were thinking back to when a plane went through the sound barrier at 10.30 one winter evening and frightened us all to death. Windows and doors shook. I assured them it was the chimney. Alex the Ackrill said to me will the chimney be missed? I said only by Pannal Golfers as we used it to line up on the 18th tee.
In Dunlopillo's early days (1962) it was welcomed as it provided employment to a number of villagers. There were lovely Gala Days. I remember one year when the person who opened the Gala was Jimmy Savile. I was coming out of playgroup having taken my oldest daughter there when he spotted me and shouted Now then, now then and came across the road with his arms outstretched.In those days his reputation was not known. I tore off down the road with him after me and I was wearing stilletoes but he never caught me and gave up at the bridge. He was just creepy and I did not want him touching me. Fear lends wings to ones feet. Latterly the smell coming from the site and the rubbish leaking into the duck pond had to be stopped. A Environment group was set up which I was a part of and the Council eventually took Dunlopillo to Court and won. They appealed and lost that and were made to put the chimney up. Did it help not a lot only for golfers. I am only sad that in the demolition the Art Deco building was destroyed. I tried so hard to save it.
Hopefully all will be well with the new houses and Pannal as that will bring more cars. On average 2 cars per household and a through road will bring even more cars through our village.
Cannot leave on this note so I will tell you about Tigs. She whom I have always thought as the more intelligent of the two of them. I have been having breakfast in the garden these lovely mornings and Tigs has been sitting on the table. Yesterday morning she decided to lie. Rolled over and fell off with a thump. Marble looked at her then at me and honestly she shrugged her shoulders.
Saturday, 2 June 2018
Wednesday, 9 May 2018
Peaceful Pannal
At the moment all is quiet. Well the village is but the traffic is not. Cars plus builders lorries and skips and of course the banging and crashing from the old Dunlopillo site. Don't think I would want to live there as the ground must be contaminated. With all the spillages and latex over the years and as for that enormous chimney. Sad to see the art deco building the original Bintex headquarters be demolished. I tried my best to save it apart from being the only art deco building we had it was where radar was tested with the workers being sworn to secrecy during the Second World War. I went down to the Peak District to look after my oldest grandson Alex when it was bitterly cold. I said to him have you any homework turn that tv off and get it done. About two minutes later tv back on. Don't tell me you have done your homework. Yes I have. Next day I said bet you got your homework all wrong. Alex said not all wrong just mostly wrong. There was one nice day so after he went to school I thought I would get the bus into Sheffield town. Went to open the front door to find I had been locked in. Could not find the keys then thought I can go out the back way. No I could not it was locked as well. Susan's neighbour I heard come out so I called to her. Carol is there any way I can come through your garden etc. Susan has an extremely long back garden with a pond at the bottom. Very wet. Answer was yes but our garden is very wet. Ok I shall see if I can find some wellies. No I could not but I did find a pair of Dick's boots size 12 no laces put them on went down the garden, climbed the fence boot fell off back I went got boot out of the pond. Put the soggy thing on. Sat on Carol's doorstep changed shoes only one sock on as other soaking. Did get to town. Then Susan and Dick came back a couple of days later and she said did you bring your swimming costume. Yes. Ok do you want to go swimming before Alex goes to school. What. No. So set off after. Cloudy spitting with rain. . Get there to find it is a lido. Outside changing rooms, little doors. wind blowing in the top and bottom. Got in the pool after walking over frozen concrete. Susan swam up and said I have taken your clothes and put them on the bench. Whatever for. Well people might want to use the changing rooms. What people there is only you me and another lady and it is freezing no one will be daft enough to come swimming. (Except me) Then I looked it was raining and my clothes were on the bench. AAgh. Out I got went into the changing room to put them on. Wind blew the mat out of the door and I was once again on cold wet concrete. Susan arrives and says we shall go to the cafe. We did, she bought the coffee and said Oh that is better your face does not look as blue now.
Tuesday, 10 April 2018
Excitement in Pannal
Oh the excitement in Pannal at 8.30am when fire brigade, police, ambulance raced down Station Road and Main Street and up Church Lane to Rossett Green Lane sirens blaring to be followed by the Air Ambulance. Some of the vehicles were from West Yorkshire and there was a large fire engine of the type that Harrogate does not have. What had happened? I was walking round the village (not at 8.30am I wasn't but a bit later) up Church Lane along Rossett Green Lane down Yew Tree Lane and down Spring Lane. My usual walk but not that morning as I was stopped on Rossett Green Lane by the police and the ticka tape across the road. Sorry love you will have to go back. Why? Because there is a workman trapped down a hole. Oh ok. Householders were coming out with cups of tea etc. The British spirit. A cup of tea will cure everything and it very nearly does. Hours later the poor man was released and taken to hospital fortunately not too badly hurt but it must have been awful being trapped that long.
This followed on from the flooding at St Roberts when the little Pannal Stream at the bottom of my garden ( a most benign little soul most of the time) flooded, joined Clark Beck which in turn joined the River Crimple.
Pannal Golf Club (I am a member) seems to have been closed most of this year. Well on Tuesdays - Ladies Day it has. Yesterday was a beautiful warm sunny day, Spring is here. No it was only for the day. Today very heavy rain (Tuesday) and the course is closed once again. Having lived here 52 years this is the worst prolonged rain I remember. Poor daffodils are not upright and I noticed a few nurseries are selling their spring plants cheaper. Have you noticed that with every disaster there is always someone who profits. This time umbrellas and waterproofs.
I had the great excitement of being away seeing my four children and their families at Easter and coming home trainwise . Delayed (incident on the line - so sad but that is what it is called when someone jumps in front of a train. Sad for them, their families and the poor train driver) missed my connection ended up at Leeds Station awaiting the Harrogate/York train. On the board TBC - to be confirmed - then cancelled next two trains due to flooding at Horsforth. All milling about we were, and Leeds is not the warmest of stations, Then platform on the board all rushed there no train there. A passenger said TBC on the board again. Back we all went then hurrah announcement there would be a train which was going to go through the flood very slowly and it did but by this time far too dark to see why. Walked down the road, very heavy raid, through puddles at the bridge,got soaked and then home at last. A great welcome by Tigs and Marble. Who said where have you been? We want in the lounge. We have had no one to sit on for over a week.
Must just tell you this. Have you noticed down by the Information Board by the patio bit by St Roberts that I look after, Have you seen the tyre marks across the grass and patio by drivers mounting the pavement in order to avoid the speed bump. Well I have asked "the powers that be" if they could put a bollard there similar to the ones on the railway bridge at the top of the road. Either do that or place a memorial to me as I have nearly been run over twice when doing the little garden but in all honesty I would prefer a bollard.
This followed on from the flooding at St Roberts when the little Pannal Stream at the bottom of my garden ( a most benign little soul most of the time) flooded, joined Clark Beck which in turn joined the River Crimple.
Pannal Golf Club (I am a member) seems to have been closed most of this year. Well on Tuesdays - Ladies Day it has. Yesterday was a beautiful warm sunny day, Spring is here. No it was only for the day. Today very heavy rain (Tuesday) and the course is closed once again. Having lived here 52 years this is the worst prolonged rain I remember. Poor daffodils are not upright and I noticed a few nurseries are selling their spring plants cheaper. Have you noticed that with every disaster there is always someone who profits. This time umbrellas and waterproofs.
I had the great excitement of being away seeing my four children and their families at Easter and coming home trainwise . Delayed (incident on the line - so sad but that is what it is called when someone jumps in front of a train. Sad for them, their families and the poor train driver) missed my connection ended up at Leeds Station awaiting the Harrogate/York train. On the board TBC - to be confirmed - then cancelled next two trains due to flooding at Horsforth. All milling about we were, and Leeds is not the warmest of stations, Then platform on the board all rushed there no train there. A passenger said TBC on the board again. Back we all went then hurrah announcement there would be a train which was going to go through the flood very slowly and it did but by this time far too dark to see why. Walked down the road, very heavy raid, through puddles at the bridge,got soaked and then home at last. A great welcome by Tigs and Marble. Who said where have you been? We want in the lounge. We have had no one to sit on for over a week.
Must just tell you this. Have you noticed down by the Information Board by the patio bit by St Roberts that I look after, Have you seen the tyre marks across the grass and patio by drivers mounting the pavement in order to avoid the speed bump. Well I have asked "the powers that be" if they could put a bollard there similar to the ones on the railway bridge at the top of the road. Either do that or place a memorial to me as I have nearly been run over twice when doing the little garden but in all honesty I would prefer a bollard.
Wednesday, 14 March 2018
New street names for site in Pannal plus snow and floods.
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!
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!
Sunday, 25 February 2018
Can Pannal be saved
Can it? Are we going to be surrounded in Housing and lose all our green fields where we walk the footpaths? I am talking of the Crimple Valley. As Pannal's historian these fields belonged in far off days to King George 111 then passed on to The Earl of Harwood and William Bentley. Sold in 1952 and 1963 to Harrogate Borough Council and as "guardians" they created a Special Landscape Area. I have been in touch with the Duchy of Lancaster to see if they hold the mineral rights to this land.
Yesterdays meeting was well attended.I was there from 11am to 4.30pm. Villagers are concerned. Not only are they concerned about losing this land but the traffic that goes through the village. Thursday and Friday last week particularly bad. Traffic queuing from the traffic light on Pannal Bank to All Saints Court from 4pm to 6.45pm non stop. It was like living on an island as we in Main Street could not get our cars out had we needed to. Everyone here times their outings. Do not go out until after 9.15am and be back by 2.45pm. Unfortunately I overshot this time on Friday and came home at 4.30pm. I could not get in my drive as the cars, vans etc were nose to tail - could not go forward or reverse- to let me in. Now this has happened before and I have gone down Rosedale and round to join the traffic coming down Main Street but Friday no I was not going to I stayed where I was and the cars behind me started hooting. I was so cross I felt like getting out the car and punching them and shouting I LIVE HERE AND YOU ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH. I am not alone in this as it has happened to my neighbours. Hopefully the burst water main on the A61 will be fixed and Thursday and Fridays chaos will be over but this happens every day. Not quite to 6.45pm but certainly starts at 4pm. OK rant over I will not go on about some of the rude mothers that park their cars over our drives and subject one to abuse when asked to move up a bit. None of us are bothered about the cars parking on the road (WE DO NOT WANT DOUBLE YELLOW LINES) just the stupid parking and the abuse.
A great number of villagers both far and near read this blog. Please Pannal readers object to the Local Plan. This is your only chance. HBC have made it particularly difficult to do so but if you feel strongly just write to them include your name and address and tell them what you object to. Before March 9th please. Anything received after that day they will disregard. They will you know.
On a happier note Tigs was sitting up the apple tree and Marble did not see her and passed below. Tigs jumped on top of her and Marble did a cartoon jump in the air all four legs stiff. Animals do have a sense of humour.
Yesterdays meeting was well attended.I was there from 11am to 4.30pm. Villagers are concerned. Not only are they concerned about losing this land but the traffic that goes through the village. Thursday and Friday last week particularly bad. Traffic queuing from the traffic light on Pannal Bank to All Saints Court from 4pm to 6.45pm non stop. It was like living on an island as we in Main Street could not get our cars out had we needed to. Everyone here times their outings. Do not go out until after 9.15am and be back by 2.45pm. Unfortunately I overshot this time on Friday and came home at 4.30pm. I could not get in my drive as the cars, vans etc were nose to tail - could not go forward or reverse- to let me in. Now this has happened before and I have gone down Rosedale and round to join the traffic coming down Main Street but Friday no I was not going to I stayed where I was and the cars behind me started hooting. I was so cross I felt like getting out the car and punching them and shouting I LIVE HERE AND YOU ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH. I am not alone in this as it has happened to my neighbours. Hopefully the burst water main on the A61 will be fixed and Thursday and Fridays chaos will be over but this happens every day. Not quite to 6.45pm but certainly starts at 4pm. OK rant over I will not go on about some of the rude mothers that park their cars over our drives and subject one to abuse when asked to move up a bit. None of us are bothered about the cars parking on the road (WE DO NOT WANT DOUBLE YELLOW LINES) just the stupid parking and the abuse.
A great number of villagers both far and near read this blog. Please Pannal readers object to the Local Plan. This is your only chance. HBC have made it particularly difficult to do so but if you feel strongly just write to them include your name and address and tell them what you object to. Before March 9th please. Anything received after that day they will disregard. They will you know.
On a happier note Tigs was sitting up the apple tree and Marble did not see her and passed below. Tigs jumped on top of her and Marble did a cartoon jump in the air all four legs stiff. Animals do have a sense of humour.
Tuesday, 20 February 2018
Important meeting at Pannal
Saturday 24th February is the date from 9am to 4pm there will be information on what is happening to Pannal. There are obviously villagers like me who have lived here a long time (me 52 years) and remember the green fields before Crimple Meadows, Walton Park and Pannal Green housing.Even where I live was a field belonging to Walter Hustler who lived at Rosehurst. A beautiful house that was demolished in 1967. I remember it very well it and its beautiful grounds where Rosedale houses now are. I am happy with what we have but I honestly think enough is enough. What do we have left if the Crimple Valley is built upon. All those greenfields gone and as for the traffic we shall not be able to cope. It is bad enough now there have been times when we in Main Street have found it difficult to get in and out of our houses. There will be housing on the old Dunlopillo site and if the Ward Bros get their way there will be housing on the green belt that stretches from their housing site at Dunlopillo all the way to Buttersyke Bar. We need the Crimple Valley both sides of the A61 as a green lung that separates us from Harrogate and also leaves us somewhere to walk and use for recreation.
Will we win this fight I do not know as Harrogate Borough Council seem determined to put as much housing and light industry in Pannal as they can but we can have a show of force and try to protect what we hold dear. That is if you agree with my views. Come to the meeting on the 24th and put your objections in. Pannal needs all the help it can get.
I also know the numpty that put forward the suggestion of making Spring Lane (Woodcock Hill) from its junction with Rosedale to the top of Main Street into one way. Enough said.
Keep Pannal separate we do not want to be joined onto Harrogate. We are an ancient village Harrogate is not. We want to keep our identity. Only the people of Pannal can fight these proposals. WE STAND ALONE.
Will we win this fight I do not know as Harrogate Borough Council seem determined to put as much housing and light industry in Pannal as they can but we can have a show of force and try to protect what we hold dear. That is if you agree with my views. Come to the meeting on the 24th and put your objections in. Pannal needs all the help it can get.
I also know the numpty that put forward the suggestion of making Spring Lane (Woodcock Hill) from its junction with Rosedale to the top of Main Street into one way. Enough said.
Keep Pannal separate we do not want to be joined onto Harrogate. We are an ancient village Harrogate is not. We want to keep our identity. Only the people of Pannal can fight these proposals. WE STAND ALONE.
Friday, 9 February 2018
Pannal and the Local Plan
Please everyone respond to the Local Plan. If you are not sure about it I have asked the Parish Council to put some details on their Facebook site or whatever they decide to do as it would be helpful for residents to see what to object to. I am objecting to the proposed housing on the Crimple Valley. This land belongs to Harrogate Borough Council who purchased it from William Bentley of Pannal Hall in the 1960s. He also owned Sandy Bank Quarry but sold that to the council too. THEY (HBC) were supposed to protect this area but their promises meant nothing as it is now being proposed for housing. Looking at this proposal from the residents point of view. There will be housing on the old Dunlopillo site and could be housing on Spring Lane Farm, Where are the open green spaces for us to walk? Behind St Robert's Church that is a lovely open space and one of the last places to lose the sun on a summer's evening. It is well used by walkers and dog walkers. As well as children playing. When the old oak tree came down a couple of years ago the children from Pannal Green and around had a wonderful time climbing all over it. I walk there and I love it. Loved it better when it was covered in wild flowers. It was so beautiful and it had orchids there. I do not feel Pannal needs anymore housing. If it does it won't be Pannal it will be Harrogate as we shall be joined up. We could lose our name and instead just be known as South Bilton. Poor Bilton went from being a village to having a massive amount of housing but there is plenty of open space to walk there much more than we have and ten times more if we lose the Crimple Valley to one side of the Leeds ~Road housing and the other side industry.
I have been doing some talks about Pannal these last few weeks. I enjoy doing them and people seems to enjoy hearing them, Also walking round the area. I enjoy walking at Starbeck, Knaresborough, Ripon and Otley. Have walked The Stray all of it for about the hundredth time. I would not want to live anywhere else Soon be able to get back to golf and gardening. Using these cold months to catch up with friends and have lovely lunches.
Tigs and Marble are fine and love being in the lounge when it gets dark.
One more rant. The volume of traffic that goes through Main Street starting at 4pm and carrying on until 6.15pm is horrendous. Feels as though we the residents are living on an island as at those times we cannot get out or in to our drives. Some of the car drivers are amazingly rude> I feel like getting out and shouting I live here you are only passing through. When I was doing the little patio, sorry I said little sometimes does not feel like that with the amount of leaves I have to shift I, for the third time, was nearly wiped out by a 4x4 avoiding the street humps and coming onto the grass and pavement. Marks still there of his tyres. What is the matter with people?? I have also brought it to the attention of the Parish Council that in the 1970s at the top of Main Street where it joins Church Lane Just before the Quarry entrance the road collapsed. It was judged to be the weight of the bus going up and down so it was diverted by way of Rosedale. Hope it has been well strengthened as the amount of cars - and heavy lorries that are not supposed to come through Pannal - that use it now. I have lived here 52 years and my parents lived in Hookstone so have seen all the changes. Are they for the better? I will leave you to judge that.
I have been doing some talks about Pannal these last few weeks. I enjoy doing them and people seems to enjoy hearing them, Also walking round the area. I enjoy walking at Starbeck, Knaresborough, Ripon and Otley. Have walked The Stray all of it for about the hundredth time. I would not want to live anywhere else Soon be able to get back to golf and gardening. Using these cold months to catch up with friends and have lovely lunches.
Tigs and Marble are fine and love being in the lounge when it gets dark.
One more rant. The volume of traffic that goes through Main Street starting at 4pm and carrying on until 6.15pm is horrendous. Feels as though we the residents are living on an island as at those times we cannot get out or in to our drives. Some of the car drivers are amazingly rude> I feel like getting out and shouting I live here you are only passing through. When I was doing the little patio, sorry I said little sometimes does not feel like that with the amount of leaves I have to shift I, for the third time, was nearly wiped out by a 4x4 avoiding the street humps and coming onto the grass and pavement. Marks still there of his tyres. What is the matter with people?? I have also brought it to the attention of the Parish Council that in the 1970s at the top of Main Street where it joins Church Lane Just before the Quarry entrance the road collapsed. It was judged to be the weight of the bus going up and down so it was diverted by way of Rosedale. Hope it has been well strengthened as the amount of cars - and heavy lorries that are not supposed to come through Pannal - that use it now. I have lived here 52 years and my parents lived in Hookstone so have seen all the changes. Are they for the better? I will leave you to judge that.
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