Local voluntary organisations in the Harrogate district are set to be given 17 public defibrillators.
The move comes as part of £22,000 worth of funding from Harrogate Borough Council.
The council, which will be abolished at the end of today, launched a defibrillator grant scheme in January.
Defibrillators provide 24-hour access to life-saving emergency equipment when a cardiac arrest is suspected.
The council has now selected the 17 groups which will receive them.
Cllr Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council and chair of the voluntary and community sector liaison group, said:
“I am delighted that the borough council has been able to provide these defibrillators to local communities.
“They can save lives, and while I hope they never have to be used, it is reassuring to know that so many are now out there across the district.”
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Dishforth Parish Council, which has received funding for a defibrillator, said:
“This grant will play a vital part in ensuring our parishioners and members of the public have the use of a defibrillator at the playing field and sports pavilion should it be needed.”
Starbeck Tennis Club said:
“It is so important to our members and the neighbourhood that this defibrillator is available for anyone who needs access as every second matters in a medical emergency.”
Groups that will receive defibrillators
1. Dishforth Parish Council
2. Fewston Parochial Hall
3. Haverah Park with Beckwithshaw Parish Council
4. Healey Masham
5. High Ellington Masham
6. Knaresborough Football Club
7. Knaresborough Lions
8. Knaresborough Forest Cricket Club
9. Little Ribston Village Hall
10. Low Burton
11. Moor Monkton Parish Council
12. Ripon Community Link
13. Rotary Club of Knaresborough
14. Starbeck Tennis club
15. The Parish Meeting of South Stainley with Cayton
16. Thornthwaite Scout Centre
17. Thruscross Parish Council
Harrogate Borough Council to be abolished todayHarrogate Borough Council will be abolished at the end of today after 49 years of existence.
The council, along with six other district councils and North Yorkshire County Council, will be replaced by North Yorkshire Council from April 1.
The move comes as part of the biggest shake-up in local government since 1974.
It means North Yorkshire Council, which will employ 11,500 staff, will be responsible for all council services in the district, including bin collections, planning, licensing and highways.
The change will also see the district represented by 16 councillors, instead of the current 40 on the borough council plus more on the county council.
Among those councillors stepping down are Richard Cooper and Graham Swift, the leader and deputy leader of Harrogate Borough Council respectively.
‘We will be locally-based’
The new leaders of the unitary council have pledged the new authority will be local, despite being based in Northallerton.
Speaking ahead of the takeover, Richard Flinton, the new chief executive of the council, defended the authority from criticism that it was too remote.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:
“We will have locally-based managers who have a strong understanding of the issues in their areas.”
The authority’s leadership says while one safeguard against parochialism on the new authority would be in its executive members representing communities from across the county, another is by retaining its headquarters in Northallerton.
Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire Council.
Mr Flinton said:
“If our headquarters was in Harrogate or Scarborough then there might be more of a concern that we would be focused on that as the council view of the world.
“Being in a fairly modest market town mitigates against that.”
Meanwhile, Cllr Carl Les, the Conservative leader of the new council, defended the decision to create 90 councillors to cover the entire county – rather than the current number of 319 which cover different councils.
He said:
“Representation by numbers doesn’t work. What matters is if you’ve got energetic people in the cohort of 90. The great benefit of reducing from 319 is that we have saved £750,000.
“I think we’ve got enough members to represent the people and continue the political process. You don’t have to go to a parish meeting to understand what’s happening in that parish.”
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Leeds United star fined for speeding by Harrogate magistrates
Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville has been fined for speeding on the A1(M) by Harrogate Magistrates Court.
Summerville, 21, was caught speeding near Ingmanthorpe, near Kirk Deighton, on August 19 last year.
He was fined £220 and endorsed with three points on his licence.
The 21-year-old, of Ackworth, Pontefract, was not required to appear in court.
Summerville was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £88 and court costs of £90.
The Netherlands under-21s international has made 20 appearances for Leeds in the Premier League this season, scoring four goals including the winner against Liverpool at Anfield in October.
He joined the Elland Road club from Feyenoord in 2020.
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Inquest opens into death of 29-year-old man in Harrogate
An inquest has opened into the death of a 29-year-old man in Harrogate.
Joseph Paul Aaron Morrison, of no fixed abode, died at Harrogate District Hospital on October 30, 2022.
Opening the inquest at Northallerton, Catherine Cundy, coroner for North Yorkshire, said Mr Morrison was “found unresponsive” at an address in Harrogate on the same date.
She said the provisional cause of death was drug related.
Mr Morrison was found with morphine and tramadol in his system.
Ms Cundy adjourned the inquest for a later date.
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Greggs opens new shop in Knaresborough
Greggs has opened a new shop in Knaresborough.
The shop, in the former Fultons Foods unit on on High Street, has created 10 jobs.
The bakery will stock the usual range of sausage rolls, steak bakes and treats, as well as vegan alternatives.
It will be open from 7am until 6pm Monday to Saturday and from 9am until 4.30pm on Sundays.
The location also includes a heat-holding Nuttall Unit so customers can also purchase hot items such as southern fried chicken goujons and potato wedges.
People will also be able to collect from the store using the click and collect option on the Greggs app.
Shop manager Ash Ishfaq said:
“We can’t wait to welcome both Greggs fans and new customers to our brand-new shop.”
Gillian Long, retail operations director for Greggs, said:
“Our new shop in Knaresborough has brought 10 new jobs to the local area, as well as providing customers with a modern, convenient new place to experience their favourite Greggs food.”
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19th century Italian mosaic panel set to go to auction in Ripon
An early 19th century Italian micro-mosaic panel that came to light at a valuation event could make up to £7,000 at auction in Ripon.
The panel depicts the Roman Temple of Vesta and will be presented at Elstob Auctioneers’ antiques sale on Wednesday, April 5.
It measures 23cm by 30cm, which is large for a panel of this type, and is mounted in a broad ornate gilt frame
The Temple of Vesta was an ancient Roman shrine dedicated to the goddess of the hearth, the remains of which are found in the southeast of the Roman Forum beside the Atrium Vestae.
Serving as the temple of the Vestal Virgins – the priestesses dedicated to Vesta – the Temple of Vesta housed an eternal flame, which represented the everlasting nature of the Roman state. If the flame were extinguished, this would indicate bad fortunes for Rome.
David Elstob
David Elstob, auction house director, said:
“This extraordinary piece was brought along to one of our valuation days in Southport.
“At first glance it looked like a painting but closer examination showed that it was actually a mosaic. The pieces are so intricate that you can hardly see them and the craftsmanship is truly amazing.”
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The panel has a guide price of £5,000 to £7,000.
More information on the auction and antiques for sale can be found at the Elstob Auctioneers website.
Junior doctors set for 96-hour strike at Harrogate hospitalHarrogate District Hospital is braced for further disruption as junior doctors prepare for a 96-hour walk-out next month.
The British Medical Association announced members will strike from 7am on Tuesday, April 11, until 7am on Saturday, April 15.
Junior doctors are walking out in a dispute over pay and conditions.
Both the BMA and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association are calling for a 26% pay increase, which they claim will “reverse the steep decline in pay faced by junior doctors since 2008/9”.
Junior doctors at Harrogate hospital formed a large picket line on Wetherby Road as part of a 72-hour walkout on March 13.
Dr Vivek Trivedi and Dr Robert Laurenson, co-chairs of the BMA junior doctor committee, said:
“It is with disappointment and great frustration that we must announce this new industrial action.
“The government has dragged its feet at every opportunity. It has not presented any credible offer and is refusing to accept that there is any case for pay restoration, describing our central ask as ‘unrealistic’ and ‘unreasonable’.
“Even yesterday they continued to add new unacceptable preconditions to talks instead of getting on and trying to find a resolution.”
A statement from Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said:
“We are working hard to ensure there is minimal disruption to patient care and that emergency services continue to operate as normal.
“We are currently developing our plans for the propose action and its impact on our services, patients or staff.
“Outpatients appointments and planned activity may be affected. Patients should continue to attend appointments as planned unless contacted to reschedule. We will be re-arranging any postponed appointments as a priority. We appreciate this situation is frustrating for patients affected and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
“Nobody should put off seeking urgent or emergency care during the strikes, and key services will continue to operate.”
You can read the full statement on the trust’s website here.
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Business Breakfast: Knaresborough pest control company appoints new chief
A Knaresborough pest control company has appointed a new chief executive.
Alex Ashmore has joined Pelsis Group, which is based on Grimbald Crag Close.
Mr Ashmore, who previously worked for Delphi Technologies, will be tasked with continuing the group’s development in the pest control industry.
Martin Schwab, managing partner at Pamplona, Pelsis’ parent company, said:
“I am very pleased to welcome Alex to Pelsis.
“His deep, hands-on experience within complex global businesses makes him the ideal choice to accelerate Pelsis’ growth and capture the significant opportunities ahead of us, as well as continue to drive consolidation within the industry following the acquisition of Brandenburg and Sanitrade last year.”
Mr Ashmore said:
“I am delighted to join the Pelsis team at this exciting time for the company.
“Pelsis is known for its leading role in driving quality and innovation in the pest control market, and I look forward to working with our customers, suppliers and colleagues to address the needs of the industry, and continue to drive sustained growth.”
Minister visits Harrogate plant nursery
A government minister has paid a visit to a Harrogate district plant nursery.
Johnsons of Whixley hosted Trudy Harrison MP, parliamentary under secretary of state in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, along with Nigel Adams, the Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty and Lee Lyons, a Defra civil servant.
(From left) Graham Richardson and Jonathan Whittemore from Johnsons of Whixley with Trudy Harrison MP and Nigel Adams MP.
Ms Harrison and Mr Adams were welcomed by group managing director, Graham Richardson to discuss issues including commercial importing and rising costs due to inflation.
Mr Richardson said:
“It was an honour to host the minister and other key individuals to discuss the key horticultural challenges facing our sector, the importance of our sector was acknowledged, and the challenges that the ‘retreat from peat’ brings in terms of a practical growing media alternative (in sufficient volume) and the associated timings are better understood.”
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The Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall retains Michelin star
The Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall restaurant has retained its Michelin star.
The restaurant, based within the 17th century luxury hotel in Ripon, is headed by well-known chef Shaun Rankin.
It was awarded its first Michelin star in January 2021 after being open for just 18 months.
The restaurant is the only one in the district with a star in the latest ratings, which were published on Monday.
Mr Rankin is originally from Yorkshire and bases his menus on locally sourced ingredients. The kitchen uses ingredients found in its own garden or within a 30-mile radius
Following the announcement this week, Mr Rankin said:
“It’s absolutely fantastic to hear that we have retained our Michelin star for a third year running – the team and I could not be more proud. It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to work alongside such incredible local suppliers and I’m honoured to be able to use such a rich variety of their produce on our taste of home menu.
“Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall would not be what it is today without each and every guest that has dined with us over the years, so I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to all those who have supported us over the years.”
Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall.
This isn’t the first Michelin star for Shaun Rankin. He opened his first restaurant, Bohemia, in Jersey in 2003 and it gained a Michelin star two years later.
He did it again in 2013 at his second restaurant, Ormer in Jersey which was awarded a Michelin star after only four months.
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Two men arrested in Harrogate after car break-ins
Two men have been arrested after reports of cars being broken into in Harrogate.
The men, both from Bradford and aged in their 50s, were arrested in the early hours of this morning.
North Yorkshire Police acted after a resident in Bilton saw a man trying car door handles on their doorbell camera.
As a result, officers arrested two men on suspicion of vehicle interference and going equipped for theft.
Both are currently being questioned in custody.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a 34-year-old man was arrested and charged with theft from a vehicle following an incident on Yew Tree Lane on March 26.
He was due to appear before York Magistrates Court today.
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