Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning, it’s Al with you this morning, here to update you with any travel alerts to keep your journey moving.

I’ll let you know about roadworks, delayed trains and any traffic hotspots that could cause you delays.

If you spot anything, and it is safe to do so, give me a call on 01423 276197 and we can help other commuters too.

These blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is slow in these areas:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8:30am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is moving more slowly in these areas:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

There are a number of new road closures and temporary lights today, so do check the list below as delays will likely increase as more people get out and about.

Some traffic is starting to build in some areas:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7:30am – Full Update 

Roads

Most roads seem to be clear so far this morning. There are a number of new road closures and temporary lights today though, so do check the list below as delays will likely increase as more people get out and about.

Some traffic is starting to build around the Flaxby junction of the A1(M), and on Otley Road around Killinghall.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

Property Gold: How to be an attractive buyer

Property Gold is a monthly column written by independent property consultant, Alex Goldstein. With more than 17 years’ experience, Alex helps his clients to buy and sell residential property in some of the most desirable locations in Yorkshire and beyond. This month, Alex shares his advice on how buyers can put themselves in the best position – and it’s not all about offering the highest price. 

Ask any estate agent how many potential buyers come to them and say they are ‘cash’ and they will usually sigh and roll their eyes. This term is often thrown around quite nonchalantly and buyers need to be wary of their phrasing.

Cash in the eyes of an estate agent, really does mean cash. It is sitting in a UK bank account ready to be transferred to their solicitor. However, to some buyers it can mean part is from their savings account and the rest from their bank – in the form of a mortgage. Why is this a problem? Whilst having a mortgage isn’t an issue per se, it does mean that an agent (and their vendor client) have extra hoops to jump through, which usually creates time delays. This more prominent currently as lenders are being even more cautious, plus staff cutbacks and backlogs don’t help. So in other words, you are deemed to be a higher risk as a buyer.

Another misused phrase is ‘I am sold’. This could mean several things: ‘under offer’, ‘exchanged’ or ‘completed’. This one phrase with three possible interpretations, all of which have different meanings, can damage your reputation if misused. Being under offer (or sold subject to contract) is where you have agreed to accept an offer from a buyer and memorandums of sale have been issued. Having exchanged is the legally binding part and is what property professionals always push for, as there’s rarely any going back after this point. Completed means you are formally over the line and own the property.

Read More:

When it comes to being a property buyer in the current market, everything boils down to how risky the agent and vendor perceive you to be. You may be thinking at this point that to secure your dream home, you need to be all cash and offer the most amount of money. Not true.

It is the reliability and security of your offer, versus the monetary amount. In other words, you can offer cloud nine money, but if it is subject to a chain of several people and a high loan to value mortgage, then your risk will be seen as too high. However, if you have a limited or no chain and sensible mortgage borrowing, then you are more likely to transact – which is what actually counts.

Interestingly another element has become more important recently and that is time. If a buyer can offer additional time to a vendor to help them find an onward property, then this can be the ultimate ace card as it takes stress away from the vendor.

The key as a buyer is to get yourself into the best possible position and be prepared to think laterally to overcome any obstacles. Get this and your phrasing right with estate agents and they will judge you in the best possible light.

If you have any comments or questions for Alex, please feel free to contact him at alex@alexgoldstein.co.uk

New cosmetic surgery in district offers cutting-edge natural procedures

This article is sponsored by Kliniken

A new private cosmetic surgery centre in the Harrogate district is breaking the mould by offering natural and long-lasting procedures with faster recovery times.

Kliniken has been created for patients first and foremost. The beautiful rural Bishop Thornton setting and luxury interior design create an ambience that’s a far cry from the clinical feel of a hospital.

Each of the surgeons is not just a specialist in plastic surgery, but has spent years developing dedicated techniques for specific anatomical areas, such as the face, body, or hands.

Natural face-lifts and breast surgery

Full-time plastic surgeon at Kliniken, Mallappa Kolar, has nearly 20 years’ experience in cosmetic surgery – specialising in the head and neck area for the last five years. He advocates for more natural procedures to be used, as they often have much better – and longer-lasting – outcomes.

Mr Kolar has an MD and PhD in the use of fat cells.The cells from a client’s own body can be used in facial procedures as a natural alternative to fillers, or for other medical issues such as arthritis. He said:

“There are probably only a handful of places in the country that would do it. It’s can be used for simple things like acne scars and volume rejuvenations as a natural alternative to fillers. As we get older the creasing starts to increase, so we can rejuvenate that using fat.”

Kliniken’s breast and body consultant plastic surgeon, Ammar Allouni, also performs breast augmentation using this process. It gives a more natural look than artificial implants, with the added bonus of slimming down another area of the body, improving contouring.

Strictly judge Shirley Ballas and TV personality Michelle Visage are among celebrities to remove their man-made breast implants

Using the body’s own resources to enhance the patient’s shape has become a much more popular alternative in recent years, particularly for breast surgery.

The risks associated with man-made implants have been much publicised in recent years. Strictly Come Dancing head-judge Shirley Ballas opted to have her implants removed due to the increased risks of cancer, whilst TV personality Michelle Visage recently released a documentary about her ‘explant’ experience.

Kliniken’s natural approach offers a lower risk alternative, with excellent results.

Surgeries such as face, brow or cheek lifts are some of the most common procedures to reverse the signs of ageing. But Mr Kolar warns that ‘mini’ versions, offered at other cosmetic practices, don’t actually offer the best results:

“Here at Kliniken, we don’t offer ‘mini’ face-lifts, because they simply don’t last as well. They just don’t provide the best value-for-money for patients. Because we use such innovative techniques, we’re able to produce genuinely long-lasting results.”

Cutting edge techniques with faster recovery times

One of Mr Kolar’s most popular – and innovative – facial surgeries is the ultrasonic rhinoplasty. A traditional ‘nose job’ uses hammers and surgical chisels to remove excess cartilage and bone, which can cause significant swelling and needs a long recovery time. Mr Kolar uses an ultrasonic technique where high-speed sound waves are used instead. This means a much faster recovery time and far less swelling.

Kliniken’s innovative approach to hand surgery also offers a faster alternative to traditional procedures. Even in private hospitals, patients needing surgery for conditions like carpal tunnel, trigger finger, or ganglion swelling, can end up spending a year going through the process of pre-surgery visits and tests.

But at Kliniken, that process can be done in one day – which Mr Kolar calls “unique”.

The cutting edge process sees patients have their assessment, tests, operation and physiotherapy all on the same day. It eliminates the need for multiple days off work for appointments or an overnight stay.

The procedure is performed by one of four consultant hand surgeons, who have more than 30 years’ experience between them.

After the procedure, expert physiotherapy is carried out on the same day, with follow up appointments also available.

 

To find out more about the procedures offered at Kliniken, visit their website or call 01423 206 388

Stray Pets Rescue Club: Fraizer, Mavis and Foxy need your help

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly profile of animals in and around the Harrogate district, searching for their forever family home. This month, Mavis the cat and dogs Foxy and Fraizer need your help.

Mavis

Age: 5 years old

Mavis’ story: When Mavis came to Harrogate Cat Rescue, there were suspicions she had been abused, and she was aggressive towards cats and other people.

Temperament: Over time and with plenty of patience, Mavis has learned to trust humans once again. She is now a loving and affectionate cat.

Ideal home: Mavis needs an adult only home, with someone who will give her time to adjust. She will also need access to a safe outdoor space once she’s ready.

If you could help Mavis feel safe in a loving home, contact Celia at Harrogate Cat Rescue on 07749 461042.

Foxy

Age: approx. 5 years old

Foxy’s story: Foxy has lived at Miss Mollie’s Rescue for a number of years as she needs a very specific home – but she is ready to find her new owners.

Temperament: Foxy is very affectionate, and loves having cuddles and lots of attention. Riding in the car and going for nice, quiet walks are her favourite things to do. She can get anxious and protective of her home, and needs reassurance.

Ideal home: Because Foxy prefers women to men, she will ideally live with a woman on her own with no visiting children. Foxy will need a quiet home, and an owner with lot of experience with rescue dogs.

If Foxy could become part of your family, get in touch with Miss Mollie’s Rescue. 

Frazier

Age: 11 years old

Fraizer’s story: Fraizer came to the RSPCA in a terrible condition; an untreated flea allergy left him with sore skin and the loss of half his fur. he’s now ready to start his new life with a new family.

Temperament: Fraizer is always happy to see and meet new people and is sociable with most other dogs (but can get a bit giddy!). He loves attention and snuggling up for fuss.

Ideal home: Fraizer is desperate to be in a loving home and part of the family. He can live with other dogs (after a successful meeting) and children aged over 10.

If you have a space in hour heart for Fraizer, contact RSPCA York, Harrogate and District branch. 

Read More: 

 

The cool Harrogate bistro, inspired by fashion photographer’s childhood dream

This article is sponsored by Fashion House Bistro

With a delicious seasonal menu serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, fresh coffee and fine wines, there’s plenty to love about Fashion House Bistro.

David Dresser’s dream of opening a restaurant was born whilst he was in sixth form, growing up and working in his father’s pubs.

He put his dream on hold to become a successful fashion photographer, working all over the world with the likes of All Saints, Sonneti Jeans, Lewis’ and Laura Ashley.

Then in July last year, David decided to return to his childhood dream and channel his passion into creating the Fashion House Bistro on Swan Road.  The walls pay homage to David’s photography career and other artists regularly host their work.

“Opening a restaurant has been something I’ve been contemplating for many years, in fact ever since a sixth form classmate at Granby High School suggested it!

“Working for my father as a teenager gave me an early insight into the hospitality trade and what was needed to run a successful business.

“It also taught me that to achieve this you need a number of key ingredients, namely the right product at the right price, and a great team to deliver it.”

The Food & Drink

The most important part of any restaurant is the food, and the Swan Road venue is no different. Head chef Richard Fagg has cooked up a spectacular breakfast and brunch menu, which includes classics like the FHB breakfast and beans on toast, and customer favourites like steak & eggs, eggs benedict, and American-style buttermilk pancakes.

The main menu offering includes quality burgers, freshly made pizza, and a new ‘small plates’ menu which includes Cajun Buttermilk Chicken, Spicy King Prawn Skewers and Szechuan pepper squid.

Experienced baristas are on hand to ensure your caffeine fix is perfectly attended to. Or, if you’re looking for something a little stronger, the bistro boasts an extensive menu of international beers, fine wines, and cocktails.

Get £25 worth of Fashion House Bistro’s delicious food for just £15 with our special offer!

Events

From Halloween costume competitions and Christmas party packages, live music sessions to Caribbean tasting sessions, the Fashion House Bistro team certainly know how to throw a party.

You can find details of the latest events on the Fashion House Bistro website.

 

Visit Fashion House Bistro on Swan Road for breakfast, lunch or dinner – and enjoy a drink or two in between! Open 9am-late Tuesday – Sunday.

Join Team North Yorkshire – become a care professional and make a difference

This article is sponsored by North Yorkshire County Council.

People of all ages and all backgrounds work as care professionals in North Yorkshire – so come and join the team and make a difference to people’s lives.

That’s the message this week as the county’s social care leaders send out an appeal for people to join a profession which offers a rewarding lifetime career.

All sorts of people across the county have made this life-changing step into the care profession, from builders and retail workers to accountants, young graduates and parents wanting flexible but rewarding work.

Flavia Nyambira, a North Yorkshire care and support worker said:

“Being a care professional is something I am so proud of. Every day in the job is different and at the end of every day I always feel I have made a difference.”

Flavia has worked for the last four years helping people who have come out of hospital or experienced a physical or mental difficulty, to get back on their own feet in their own home. 

She came into the care profession after 11 years working in the British Army as a postal and courier service operator in Germany. When Flavia was posted back to North Yorkshire with her soldier husband and their three children, she started to look for work that she could fit around her family. 

She added:

“I absolutely loved being a care worker from day one and in this job I am supported and given every opportunity to do the work to the best of my ability.” 

Flavia was taken on under the County Council’s apprenticeship scheme and is currently working to complete her NVQ level 3, which will give her the qualification to become a team leader.  

“I don’t just have a job, I have a career and I am learning while I am working.”

Flavia is given one day a week to complete her studies and is considering going on to become a social worker in the long term. 

She said:

“I thought about going to university to study to be a social worker but I didn’t want to come out with a debt. With this job, I could apply to be supported to gain my social work qualification. 

“The rewards of being in the care profession are huge. I support people with care and encouragement and the right equipment to regain confidence to do things for themselves again.  It’s so great to see the look of happiness on their faces when they can get back their independence.  

“Everybody we care for has a story to tell and it’s good to be a listening ear when they are going through a difficult situation.  

“I support people of all ages. You always have that satisfaction knowing every day that you have done something worthwhile for somebody.” 

Across the county, North Yorkshire has 20,000 people working in the care sector, from the 13,000 care and support workers in 500 organisations providing services in residential care and people’s homes through to social workers, project managers and administrators. On any given day, there are at least 1,000 jobs available across the county.

 

Join Team North Yorkshire – become a care professional and make a difference. You can find out more and apply for jobs across the care sector directly at www.makecarematter.co.uk

The Cheeseboard of Harrogate celebrates 40th anniversary

This article is sponsored by The Cheeseboard.

The Cheeseboard, based on Harrogate’s Commercial Street, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month.

The independent shop stocks more than 200 types of speciality cheese from Yorkshire and across the world, as well as a full range of condiments such as crackers, preserves, oils and vinegars.

Gemma Aykroyd has been the owner of The Cheeseboard for 21 years – making her the longest running of the shop’s four owners. She said:

“Not much has changed over forty years, except that cheese ranges have expanded so we’ve got more products. We’re still an independent shop with an emphasis on customer service, we still have lots of fun, and we still get to know our customers like our friends.

“Especially when you walk around the high street and see how shops have struggled in the last few years, it’s amazing that we’ve reached our fortieth year in such tough times. I’d say it’s probably down to our friendly customer service, professionalism and loyal customers who keep coming back.”

Customer favourites sold at The Cheeseboard include a local Pateley Bridge raw milk Wensleydale from Stonebeck, and Blue 61, an Italian blue cheese steeped in local wine and topped with berries. Not to be missed is Yorkshire cheesemaker Cryer and Stott’s Endeavour, a soft cheese made with Masons tea infused Yorkshire gin.

Of course, The Cheeseboard doesn’t just sell cheese. Truffle honey, which is drizzled over hard cheeses (particularly salty cheese like pecorino) always goes down a treat, and the lovely range of boards and hampers make fantastic gifts.

For the shop’s 40th anniversary on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 December, customers can join in the celebrations by sampling a range of cheeses and enjoying a complimentary glass of fizz. There will also be a lucky dip box, with prizes ranging from truckles of cheese, to vouchers, to a discount off your shop.

You don’t need to wait until December for a chance to win though. Any customers who place their Christmas order before the end of November will be entered into a special prize draw, where three lucky winners will get their order for free!

Find the Cheeseboard on Commercial Street, Harrogate, or visit www.thecheeseboard.net

The no nonsense Yorkshire internet provider shaking up the status quo

This article is sponsored by Boundless Networks

Yorkshire-based Boundless Networks is shaking up the world of broadband providers. It’s taking on big-name companies with straight forward packages, no contracts, and excellent customer service.

You can now pre-register to get speed of light full fibre internet, on the CityFibre network, with a FREE activation fee (usually £30) when most homes in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon are connected in the near future.

No nonsense, no hidden fees, no contracts

Mbps (megabits-per-second), Gbps (gigabits-per-second), it can all get a little confusing. But the best way to think of it is like the internet’s equivalent of miles-per-hour. The bigger the number, the faster it is. The faster it is, the more traffic you can consume, traffic being anything that a device like a phone or Xbox sends and receives over the internet. This means a household of data-hungry devices can do their thing when they want, without it impacting other devices or people trying to use the internet.

Sometimes it feels easier to crack the Da Vinci code than understand a broadband package. With Boundless, it’s simple: you pay a fixed monthly price for your internet. That’s it. No confusing add-ons or complicated package names. A home phone and extra equipment to increase the Wi-Fi coverage around your home is still available to those who need it.

You won’t be handcuffed into a contract with extortionate get-out fees, or face any nasty surprises in your bill.

Prices start at £32 a month for 150Mb per second average download speed. That means you can download a 4K Ultra HD movie on Netflix in 12.5 minutes.

At 500Mbps (£38 a month), you can download the same film in under 4 minutes.

Or at 900Mbps (£62 a month), you’ll be able to do it in just over 2 minutes.

Excellent customer service

There’s a reason Boundless can operate without tying its customers into contracts. Customers want to stay.

A Boundless customer is 358% more likely to recommend their services to a friend or colleague than other internet service providers, according to data from Ofcom and Survey Monkey.

You only need to take a look at Boundless’ Trustpilot reviews to see how happy their customers are…

Emma Wilkins: “Boundless have THE BEST customer service. If anything goes wrong they are super quick to fix it, and really friendly too. Such a great team – thanks!”

Graeme Robinson: “The outstanding service I have had from Boundless deserves the highest praise… The results are outstanding and I now continue to choose Boundless because they are the best and have the best people.”

Edward Taylor: “I wouldn’t dream of changing my internet provider now I’ve found Boundless. If I could give 10 stars I would.”

 

Pre-register for Boundless Networks’ Full Fibre internet, and claim your free activation here.

Stray Gardener: To dig or not to dig?

The Stray Gardener is written by Rudding Park’s Kitchen Gardener, Fiona Slight. Fiona has worked in horticulture for more than 30 years in the UK and abroad, and specialises in growing fruit and vegetables for fine dining. This month, Fiona explains her easier alternative to digging – and how it can help the planet too. 

November is usually the time of year when you start thinking about tidying up your vegetable garden, start digging over the beds and adding manure or other humus rich material. But do you really want the hassle of all that hard work, and is it really necessary? I don’t think so and here’s why…

I am essentially quite a lazy person and if there is an easier way to do something I’ll have a go! I have found there is an alternative to digging that is becoming increasingly popular, especially by people who want to grow along organic lines and be more environmentally friendly.

‘No-dig’ as it is called, is a process where organic matter such as garden compost, well-rotted manure or spent mushroom compost is applied to the soil surface copying the natural process of decomposition when plants die back and leaves fall. Doing this avoids breaking up the fragile ecosystems that have developed in the soil and allows fungi and soil organisms to break down and incorporate the organic matter into the soil naturally. We have adopted this technique on all the raised beds in the Kitchen Garden at Rudding Park, and are now reaping the rewards.

No-dig is especially beneficial for vegetable growing, by making either raised beds (useful if you have very wet, clay soils) or beds that have narrow paths round them for easy access, but to avoid having to tread on them too often. That being said, once a no-dig bed has established, it is possible to stand on it and not do too much damage as the soil organisms produce a strong structure to withstand some light foot fall.

Once the no-dig beds are in place and they are established, you will find you need less time weeding. Digging over soil is a sure-fire way to expose seeds which will then germinate and can cause problems if not dealt with quickly; by not digging the soil over you can avoid this happening. By applying manure or compost to the top layer of your bed, you are effectively mulching, which can stop the first flush of annual weeds growing through in the spring, buying you more time for other jobs.

The downside is, it doesn’t get rid of all perennial weeds, so careful preparation beforehand will pay dividends. Removing any obvious perennial weeds before you start or by laying cardboard or other thick layers such as carpet that can be removed after a period of time should help to get rid of them. Any that pop up after that can be dealt with individually and will eventually decline in time.

No-dig is also a great way to help the environment. By continuously mulching your beds, it helps improve their ability to hold on to moisture, meaning you do not need to water as much in dry periods. Also, digging the soil can cause stored carbon to oxidise and be released as carbon dioxide, so by avoiding digging the carbon stays in the soil, helping to limit climate change.

If you have been put off growing fruit and vegetables in the past because of the hard work digging, consider giving no-dig a try. Once you have the structure in place, not only does it make life easier, you are also doing your bit for the environment.

Read More: 

Fiona’s Five Top Tips for November:

  1. Prune your fruit bushes – blackcurrants, redcurrants, whitecurrants and gooseberries can all be pruned from November to March. Prune out any dead, dying or diseased stems, aiming for a goblet shape.
  2. Clear out fallen leaves from ponds to ensure the water stays healthy for fish and other wildlife.
  3. Prune roses down to prevent wind rock over the winter.
  4. Pot up amaryllis bulbs and water regularly for a good display at Christmas.
  5. Try root cuttings on plants such as papaver, anemone and verbascum.

Happy gardening!

For every for-sale and let sign, FSS will plant a tree

This article is sponsored by FSS.

Feather Smailes Scales (FSS) have become the first Harrogate estate agent to launch a ‘plant a tree’ scheme to help combat climate change, ahead of next week’s COP26 Climate Change Conference.

For every for sale, to let or auction board put up, FSS will plant a tree. So when your for sale sign goes up, you’ll know that somewhere in the world, a new tree is growing too, and the planet is a little better protected.

Harrogate’s leading estate agent have joined forces with a tree planting agency to ensure that they do their bit for our world.

The trees will be planted as part of a wider project to support communities in poverty and increase biodiversity in Madagascar, Kenya, and Haiti. Not only will the trees themselves help the planet, but the planting projects also help grow the economy and offer employment opportunities in these low-income communities.

Simon Croft is a partner at FSS. He said he hopes thousands trees will be planted under the company’s scheme:

“We are all much more aware of the need to be greener, as such all of us at FSS wanted to contribute to reducing our carbon footprint.

 “We are conscious of numerous things we can do to help, such as staycations, recycling, sustainable energy, or greener cars – and they all have divergent arguments as to how green they actually are! 

“To try and improve our green footprint as a business, we have decided to plant a tree for every single board we place on property or land we have for sale or to let, across sales, lettings, auctions and commercial property.

“Trees are without doubt the lungs of the earth and are essential to our future wellbeing on this wonderful planet.

 “We feel the physical planting of a tree couldn’t be more demonstrative of our wish to improve the environment.

 “So you know whenever we are instructed, you are also helping to help us save our world!”

FSS, the only fully comprehensive property agent in the district, offers a range of services, including sales, lettings, surveys, auctions, valuations and commercial offerings.

FSS Property are leading the way with combatting estate agents’ carbon footprints.

Anyone who instructs FSS to sell, let or auction their property will have a tree planted on their behalf! You can follow how many trees the company has planted by checking the tree-counter on their website.

 

Find out how FSS can help sell or let your property, and have a tree planted on your behalf by visiting the FSS website.