Harrogate and Ripon survive today’s cull of HSBC branches

Harrogate and Ripon have been spared its HSBC banks shutting after the company announced a raft of closures today.

The bank said it will close 114 branches from April 2023.

HSBC UK said the closures were down to a change in customer habits and that it would invest “tens of millions of pounds” in its remaining banks.

Among the closures include branches in nearby Wetherby and Skipton.

However, Ripon’s branch on Westgate and Harrogate’s on Prospect Crescent have been spared closure.

The HSBC – which has no external cash machine – is Ripon’s sole remaining bank branch after Halifax closed on November 14.

The Halifax closed less than three months after the long-established Barclays branch closed its doors for good on August 25.

Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK’s managing director of UK distribution, said: 

“People are changing the way they bank and footfall in many branches is at an all-time low, with no signs of it returning. 

“Banking remotely is becoming the norm for the vast majority of us. 

“Not only can we do it anywhere at any time of day or night, many more things can be done at the customers’ convenience and don’t rely on a branch visit.”

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No walkout at Harrogate hospital as part of nurses strike

No strikes will take place at Harrogate District Hospital next month when nurses stage a national walkout.

The Royal College of Nursing will carry out industrial action at hospitals across the UK over a dispute over pay with the government on December 15 and 20.

Locally, staff will strike at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and Leeds Community Healthcare Trust. However, no action will be taken at Harrogate in this round of strikes.

Members of the union will walkout at half of the locations in England where the legal mandate for strikes was secured in November.

However, the RCN has warned that more staff could take industrial action in January if negotiations with government are not held.

A spokesperson for the union told the Stray Ferret last week that the dates in December were the first phase of strikes and more could be carried out if an agreement is not reached.

They said:

“Not all members at employers where there is a mandate to strike will be called to strike on these first two dates.

“Phase one could be just the beginning of a longer period of strike action.”

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Officials at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust have pledged “minimal disruption” should any walkout take place at future strikes.

A spokesperson for HDFT said:

“While pay is a matter for government and the trade unions, we value our staff and want to see a resolution as soon as possible to ensure we can continue to focus on delivering world class patient care to all those who need it.

“We understand the importance of good pay and conditions for individuals and their families, as well as wider NHS staff retention and recruitment.

“We are working to ensure there is minimal disruption to patient care and that emergency services continue to operate as normal should any strike action take place, and have tried and tested plans in place to manage any disruption.”

A list of health trusts affected by strikes is available here.

 

Harrogate council refuses James Street aparthotel plan

Harrogate Borough Council has refused plans to convert the upper floors of a Harrogate town centre building into an aparthotel.

Leeds-based Countrylarge tabled the proposal to create the 17-bedroom scheme on the floors above the new Oliver Bonas store on James Street.

Aparthotels are serviced apartments with a hotel-style booking system. London-based operator, Beyond, was brought in to run to the aparthotel, if the plans were approved.

However, the council has rejected the plan on the grounds that the scheme would “not enhance or preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area”.

It added that it would also “result in poor standards of residential amenity” for future occupiers.

The council said in a decision notice:

“The host building has historic interest and makes a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the conservation area. 

“The cumulative effect of the proposed third floor, roof extension, glazed balustrade and paint work, by virtue of their form, scale, siting and appearance would erode the character of the building and create an alienated development.”

The developers had previously said the proposal would help to “fully utilise” the building.

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Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district update

Drivers should be aware of an upcoming overnight closure of the A61 at Harewood which may cause disruption.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Drivers should be aware of an upcoming overnight road closure between the A61 roundabout and Harewood Bridge, which will be put in place tomorrow (December 1).

The closure will be in place between 8pm and 6am to allow for principal inspections of the bridge.

A diversion will be in place via the A658 and A659 Otley Road.

It will also mean the 36 bus between Leeds and Harrogate will miss stops at Walton Head Lane, Kirbyoverblow, Rigton Lane, Dunkeswick Lane, Harewood Bar and Harewood Bridge.

The closure will remain in place until December 6.

National Highways is set to carry out patching repairs on the southbound carriageway between junction 49 (Dishforth) and junction 51 (Leeming Bar) from today until mid-December.

According to the organisation, during full closures a local signed diversion will be in place using the A6055 which runs parallel to the A1.

Meanwhile, ongoing works on Station Road in Goldsborough may cause delays for drivers.

Station Road in the village is closed while a new electrical supply is installed for a new housing development.

The work is due to continue until December 16. Bus services through the village have also been diverted as a result of the roadworks.

Motorists should expect the usual traffic on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road, Knaresborough Road and Skipton Road this morning.

Trains and buses

This morning, Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal.

Harrogate Bus Company is currently reporting no cancellations on its service this morning. You can get updates here.

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Rail replacement services to operate between Harrogate and York over Christmas

Train passengers between Harrogate and York will face disruption over Christmas as Network Rail carries out track and signalling work.

The organisation will undertake £6 million improvements at York Station from Christmas Eve until January 2, 2023.

It will see 2.7km of track renewed, as well as nine sets of points – the specialist piece of equipment which allows trains to move from one section of track to another.

The work means that passengers from Harrogate and Knaresborough will have to change at Poppleton and board a rail replacement bus to get to York.

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Network Rail has urged people to check services before they travel and have warned that services will take longer than normal.

Sam MacDougall, operations director for Network Rail’s East Coast route said: 

“Our teams will be out working hard this Christmas to provide an improved railway for passengers.

“The work at York is crucial to keep trains running reliably and smoothly for years to come. Our engineering work and the impact of planned industrial action will mean changes to some services, so passengers are urged to plan ahead and check before travelling.”

A spokesperson on behalf of train operators on the route said: 

“These key upgrades at York will mean changes to services over the festive period and passengers should check their journey before travelling via National Rail Enquires or their train operator.

“We are working hard to keep people moving this Christmas, with rail replacement services and diversion routes, but this means your journey will take longer and may be busier than usual.”

The move comes as LNER cancelled two trains from Harrogate to London King’s Cross today due to a shortage of train crew.

The 9.36am and 5.36pm services have been affected.

Meanwhile, passengers on the 3.36pm service have been asked to travel to Leeds to board the train as a shortage of crew means it will no longer call at Harrogate and Horsforth.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district update

Drivers are urged to take care this morning as a yellow weather warning for fog is in place in parts of the Harrogate district.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update

Roads

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for fog in parts of the district this morning.

The fog may affect driving conditions during rush hour and lead to slower journey times on public transport.

Motorists are urged to take care on the district’s roads.

National Highways is set to carry out patching repairs on the southbound carriageway between junction 49 (Dishforth) and junction 51 (Leeming Bar) from today until mid-December.

According to the organisation, during full closures a local signed diversion will be in place using the A6055 which runs parallel to the A1.

Meanwhile, ongoing works on Station Road in Goldsborough may cause delays for drivers.

Station Road in the village is closed while a new electrical supply is installed for a new housing development.

The work is due to continue until December 16. Bus services through the village have also been diverted as a result of the roadworks.

Motorists should expect the usual traffic on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road, Knaresborough Road and Skipton Road this morning.

Trains and buses

This morning, Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal.

Harrogate Bus Company is currently reporting no cancellations on its service this morning. You can get updates here.

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Harrogate district residents aim to raise £250,000 to buy village pub

Residents in Skelton-on-Ure are aiming to raise £250,000 to buy their village pub, which has been shut for three years.

The Black Lion, on Skelton Lane close to Newby Hall, between Boroughbridge and Ripon, was bought in December 2019 by Admiral Taverns.

However since then it has stood derelict, leaving locals questioning its future.

The pub was put up for sale in June after its owners said it did not have a “long-term sustainable future”.

Admiral Taverns, which owns 1,600 pubs across the UK, said selling was the only option.

However, a group of residents are now calling on people to pledge to buy a share in the pub in order to raise funds to buy and revitalise it.

Sandy Delf, one of the residents involved in the Black Lion Community Hub and Pub, said:

“The ultimate aim is to open up a welcoming community pub and hub for the village and wider community.”

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The group, which has received support from rural community charity the Plunkett Foundation, aims to raise £250,000 in order to access government match funding as part of the community ownership fund.

Shares in the pub cost £250 each and are open to people and businesses to submit an expression of interest.

The Black Lion pictured prior to its closure.

The Black Lion pictured prior to its closure.

Mrs Delf said the venture was “especially vital in the current and recent past economic climate”, adding:

“Rural communities have particularly suffered from isolation and mental health issues as services such as public transport have become ever more diminished.”

The pub was recently listed as an asset of community value by Harrogate Borough Council.

The listing means residents have more time to raise funds to buy the property.

For more information on how to pledge a share in the pub, visit the Black Lion Community Hub and Pub website here.

People waiting up to an hour for 101 calls to be answered, says North Yorkshire Police

People are waiting for up to an hour for a 101 call to be answered, a senior North Yorkshire Police officer has said.

Mike Walker, assistant chief constable at the force, told a North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner public accountability meeting that the figure was “not acceptable”.

He said that the force had an average answer time of eight minutes and 47 seconds for October 2022 – four times the national standard.

The target for police force’s across the country is to answer 80% of non-emergency calls within two minutes.

ACC Walker said the long waiting times for 101 was the reason why the force’s abandonment rate was so high. This refers to the number of people giving up.

He said:

“On a daily basis we look at that from a chief officer team and I know there have been people waiting between half an hour and an hour on 101 on some days.

“It’s just not acceptable and this is why we have an abandonment rate of 20%. We should not be having more than 5% on 101.”

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ACC Walker told the meeting that Humberside Police had agreed to carry out a peer review of the force’s call handling and help them improve.

He added that the police were keen to improve the call times and return the control room to an “outstanding” rating.

Zoe Metcalfe, Mike Walker and Mabs Hussain, deputy chief constable, at the public accountability meeting.

Zoe Metcalfe, Mike Walker and Mabs Hussain, deputy chief constable, at the public accountability meeting.

He said:

“We know how we need to achieve that.

“It’s a question of putting the right plans in place and having the relevant discussions and then, over the next 12 months, it’s a question of getting back to where we need to be by serving the public of North Yorkshire with an outstanding control room.

“That needs to be the aim.”

Zoe Metcalfe, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said the aim needed to be “a lot quicker than 12 months”, but added she accepted that “these things take time”.

The move comes as concerns over the length of time it takes to answer 101 calls has been a long-running concern across the county.

Ms Metcalfe’s predecessor, Philip Allott, was told by North Yorkshire county councillors last year that the non-emergency line was “not fit for purpose and it hasn’t been fit for purpose for the last eight years” and that “the phone just doesn’t get answered”.

Flaxby Park withdraws appeal over 350 eco lodges refusal

The owners of Flaxby Park Golf Club have withdrawn an appeal over a decision to refuse plans for 350 eco lodges and a hotel on the site.

In March, Harrogate Borough Council rejected the proposal on the grounds that it would cause an “unacceptable” impact on the environment. The site is close to junction 47 on the A1(M).

Last month, Flaxby Park Ltd took the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate – which deals with planning disputes.

In documents submitted to the inspectorate, planning consultants Lichfields, which lodged the appeal on behalf of the developer, said the reasons for refusal were “unfounded”.

It said:

“The appellant will show that the council’s reasons for refusal are unfounded and that there are no technical issues arising from the proposed development, which cannot be addressed by appropriately worded conditions or Section 106 planning obligations.

“The appellant will therefore submit that planning permission should be granted for the development proposed by the appeal without delay.”

However, Flaxby Park Ltd has now withdrawn the appeal. A public inquiry into the case scheduled for January 31, 2023, has been cancelled.

An aerial computer generated image of the proposal. The A1 (M) is to the east and the A59 is to the south.

An aerial computer generated image of the proposal. The A1(M) is to the east and the A59 is to the south.

The Stray Ferret approached both Flaxby Park Ltd and its agent Lichfields to ask why the company made the decision and if it still intends to propose a new scheme for the site.

But we did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The move raises questions over the future of the former Flaxby Golf Course site, which has been closed since 2014.

History of the site

In 2008 The Skelwith Group bought the site from farming family the Armstrongs for £7m. It published plans for a 300-bedroom five-star hotel on the site that it touted as the future “jewel in Yorkshire’s tourism crown”.

But the plans never materialised and in 2016 the company went out of business.

Flaxby Park Ltd, a company made up of businesswoman Ann Gloag and regeneration specialists Chris Musgrave and Trevor Cartner, bought the 260-acre golf course site from administrators in 2016.

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Its original proposal for the site was to build 2,750 homes and a rail link at Goldsborough. But these plans ended after the council chose the Cattal and Green Hammerton area as the site for a new settlement in the district instead.

In October 2020, the developer challenged the council’s decision in the High Court but was unable to overturn it.

Risk that Harrogate hospital home care service could ‘distort the market’

A plan by Harrogate hospital to introduce a home care service in a bid to free up bed space could “distort the market”, says a councillor.

Cllr Michael Harrison, who is cabinet member for adult care at North Yorkshire County Council, said the authority had already had to prevent one social care provider from folding this week.

It comes as officials at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust revealed in September that they want to trial the service as the hospital was unable to discharge medically fit patients because of a lack of private care services.

However, Cllr Harrison told the county council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee last week that there was a risk the move could cause problems because the health service would be competing for staff with other providers.

Cllr Harrison said:

“I do think there is a real risk of distorting the market.

“Already this week, the county council have stepped in to prevent one domiciliary care provider from folding and I know that we are working on over 30 packages of care that have been handed back this week.

“The pressures out there are very tangible.”

Jonathan Coulter, chief executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, speaking at Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee.

Jonathan Coulter, chief executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, speaking at Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee.

Jonathan Coulter, chief executive of the hospital trust, said it was not the intention for the hospital to take work away from private care providers.

He added that he was aware the move could look critical of the care sector, particularly because the health service has been “well funded for some years”.

He said:

“We are absolutely not trying to be critical or trying to take any work away.

“We are just trying to find a solution. We are working well with the team at the county council to work this through rather than doing anything that would upset that.

“We are really aware of the issues, but we are just trying to collectively make it better.”

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Mr Coulter added the hospital was already carrying out interviews for the service, but stressed that it would still be a pilot at this stage.

He said:

“I know there is some concern that we could distort the market because the NHS pays a bit more than other areas, that is an issue.

“But, at the moment, we have said this is a six-month pilot and we will see how it goes.”

The trust’s home care service will initially run as a six-month trial and cost around £146,000 to provide care for 36 patients.

If the trial is a success, it is estimated around 15 patients who otherwise would be stuck in hospital could be moved back into their own homes each day.