Traffic is moving as normal in the Harrogate district this morning.
However, some roadworks remain in place in areas.
Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.
Roads
Drivers should expect the usual traffic on Wetherby Road and Skipton Road this morning during the rush hour.
Temporary lights on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road are now in place as Northern Gas Networks carries out replacement work to gas pipes in the area.
The lights will remain in place for seven weeks.
Meanwhile, long term roadworks are in place on Station Road in Goldsborough. The road will be closed until September 19, 2022, as Stonebridge Homes installs a foul water and surface water pipes to connect to the sewer system.
A diversion route is in place in the village.
Trains and buses
Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.
Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting cancellations on the 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and the 1D this morning.
You can find out more information on the disruption here.
Read more:
Contractor for Harrogate’s Otley Road cycle route to be appointed in autumn
Council officials have said a contractor to build the second phase of the Otley Road cycle route in Harrogate is expected to be appointed in the autumn.
But it is still unclear when work on the project will start.
The first phase of the route, which runs from Harlow Moor Road to Cold Bath Road, was completed in January.
However, residents raised concerns over its design and the length of time it took to complete the project.
As a result, county council officials delayed progress on the second phase to review its designs.
The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire County Council when the next phase of the route will be built and whether a contractor had been procured.
Melissa Burnham, highway area manager at the county council, said:
“Final detailed designs for phase two of the Otley Road cycle route are due to be approved within the next few weeks, with the contract expected to go out to tender during August.
“It is expected the contract will be awarded to the successful provider during the autumn.”
Read more:
- Fears for trees in next Otley Road cycle path phase
- Calls to reduce ‘plethora’ of Otley Road cycle path signs
- Residents may ask council to reconsider Otley Road cycle path
However, she did not respond to another question enquiring when construction is expected to start.
Council officials had previously set that procurement for a contractor would begin in June.
The second phase of the cycle lane will run from Arthurs Avenue to Beech Grove.
Costs have yet to be revealed for the next section of the route, but Hull-based PBS Construction was awarded a contract worth £827,000 for the first phase.
The third and final phase of the scheme, which will run from Harlow Moor Road to Cardale Park, is expected to be funded via contributions from housing developers.
EnviroVent extends Harrogate Town sponsorship until 2024EnviroVent has extended its stadium sponsorship of Harrogate Town for another two seasons.
The deal will see the company sponsor the Wetherby Road ground until 2023/24.
It will also see EnviroVent work with the Harrogate Town Community Foundation to teach children about climate change as part of the club’s environment programme.
Iain Service, head of foundation for Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation:
“We are absolutely thrilled that EnviroVent will be helping the community foundation to deliver our new environmental sustainability projects.
“Activities, workshops and campaigns will highlight the importance of climate change, recycling and other ways in which we can do our bit to safeguard our planet for future generations.”
Read more:
- Man completes epic football fan challenge at Harrogate Town
- Harrogate Town plans new scoreboard as part of stadium improvements
The Harrogate-based company manufactures ventilations for house builders and employs more than 250 people at its manufacturing plant, training suite and head office on Hornbeam Park.
EnviroVent is due to move to a new state of the art headquarters on PennyPot Lane.
It has sponsored Harrogate Town for the last nine seasons.
Andy Makin EnviroVent MD, with past winners and runners up (from 2021/22) of the Enviro Way Awards, an internal award voted for by staff members.
Andy Makin, managing director at EnviroVent, said:
“As a local business with shared ideals, EnviroVent is delighted to announce a further two-year commitment in our partnership with Harrogate Town AFC.
“We were excited to become stadium sponsor when the club was promoted to the National League and now, two years on, we are very happy at the prospect of building further on our relationship. This will allow closer links with the club on the pitch and its great work, off the pitch, in our local community.”
Joanne Towler, commercial director at Harrogate Town AFC, said:
Harrogate hospital records increase in heat-related illnesses“We are delighted EnviroVent is continuing its partnership with the Club as Stadium Sponsors, our like-minded values create an enjoyable and rewarding working relationship.
“We are very fortunate and thankful to have EnviroVent behind us, the company’s commitment to the club is invaluable.”
Harrogate District Hospital recorded an increase in heat-related illnesses during this week’s record-breaking temperatures as it also warned of extra pressures from a further rise in covid patients.
The hospital saw a 10% increase in visitors with conditions such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, while covid patient numbers have tripled to 33 since the end of June.
Dr Matt Shepherd, deputy chief operating officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said demand on services was “higher than we would typically expect” for summer and that there is “no doubt” much of this was due to the pandemic.
He added:
“Extreme weather, such as heatwaves, also adds additional pressure on hospital services.
“We need to ensure that the people in our care and our staff are not unduly affected by increasing temperatures and we have severe weather plans in place to address any issues.
“Waiting times to be seen during these times can also be longer than usual due to demand.”
Temperatures are easing today after approaching 40 degrees in the district yesterday when North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service declared a ‘major incident’ on the hottest day ever recorded in the county. It said today it had ‘stood down’ this status.
Gosh it was a hot one yesterday! ☀️ As you know we, like most other fire services around the country, declared a major incident due to the level of demand. The good news is we have now stood down this status and have returned to expected levels of demand.
— North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (@NorthYorksFire) July 20, 2022
As well as causing a surge in demand for emergency services, the heatwave also led to cancellations for train services and forced some schools to shut.
The forecast for today is still warm, but cooler on Thursday and Friday with highs of 19C in Harrogate.
Covid pressures
Covid infections and hospital admissions have been creeping up since the end of spring and after the emergence of the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron.
Dr Shepherd said while most patients are not falling seriously ill with the virus, it was still causing pressure for the hospital which is battling long backlogs.
He said:
“Since we emerged from lockdown, our priority has been to reduce the backlog for operations and treatment.
“The increased number of planned operations being performed has added to the pressures, but it has meant we have been able to reduce our waiting lists and no longer have any patients who have been waiting over two years for treatment.”
Read more:
- Positive covid patients at Harrogate hospital doubles in three weeks
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service declares ‘critical incident’ status
The Harrogate district’s weekly infection rate has been climbing steadily over the last few months and currently stands at 288 cases per 100,000 people.
The latest figure is up from 52 in May, but well below the previous peak of 1,007 in March.
The increase comes as the government has announced that everyone aged 50 and over will be offered a booster vaccine this autumn to top up their immunity.
Younger people at high risk from covid, as well as health and social care staff, will also get the booster.
Dr Shepherd added:
Care provider gives notice on Harrogate council-owned buildings“Covid vaccinations have been extremely successful in reducing the severity of the virus, however, the highly infectious nature of the new variants is having an impact at our hospital.
“Thankfully, most patients who have tested positive are here for other medical issues or surgical procedures rather than having acute covid symptoms.
“However, in most cases it does mean that their treatment cannot be progressed until they test negative, which increases the time they need to stay in hospital and reduces the number of beds we have available.
“Whilst we are much better prepared at treating covid than we were two years ago, this virus has not gone away and it still has a significant impact on the hospital and is still a threat to people’s health – particularly vulnerable or unvaccinated patients.”
A care provider has pledged that none of its residents will be forced to move when it ends leases at three council-owned buildings in Harrogate.
Anchor Hanover has decided to give notice on buildings on Kings Road, York Place and Brunswick Drive which are owned by Harrogate Borough Council and used as retirement homes.
Joanne Hanson, regional head of housing at the care company, said it made the decision as the buildings require “extensive works…. to suit the needs of older residents”.
She added no one will be required to move out, while the council has confirmed it will take on the properties as affordable housing.
Ms Hanson said:
“We have a long history of working closely with Harrogate Borough Council to provide good quality retirement housing, providing valued services to residents and the local community.
“We regularly review all of our locations looking at financial viability, the investment required and the needs of current and potential customers, both now and in the future.
“After carrying out a review of this nature here, we have identified that extensive works are required to modernise these properties to suit the needs of older residents.
“Our priority is the welfare of our residents and we will be working closely with the council to effect a smooth transition.”
Read More:
- Harrogate residents set to be asked if they want a town council
- New town with 3,000 homes could get just 20% affordable housing
The leases have been in place since the 1980s and are worth £6,000 per year for all three buildings.
The retirement homes range from nine to six bedrooms which are rented out by people over the age of 55 who receive different levels of care.
Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update
The extreme heat over the past two days is still effecting some Harrogate district train services this morning.
Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update
Roads
Drivers should expect the usual traffic on Wetherby Road and Skipton Road this morning during the rush hour.
Works are due to take place today at the junction with Leadhall Lane and Hookstone Road in Harrogate to replace junction markings, according to North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map.
The work is scheduled to finish tomorrow.
Meanwhile, long term roadworks are in place on Station Road in Goldsborough. The road will be closed until September 19, 2022, as Stonebridge Homes installs a foul water and surface water pipes to connect to the sewer system.
A diversion route is in place in the village.
Trains and buses
Following the heatwave, Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.
Meanwhile, LNER is urging passengers not to travel to London Kings Cross due to damage to the rail line near Peterborough which was caused during the hot weather.
This has led to the direct service from Harrogate to London Kings Cross at 9.36am being cancelled as repairs are carried out.
The Harrogate Bus Company is reporting cancellations on the 1C and the 7 this morning.
You can find out more information on the disruption here.
Read more:
-
£1 billion plan to dual A66 takes a step closer to construction
-
Questions over deadline for £11.2m Harrogate Gateway project hit by legal threat
Harrogate district sizzles on hottest day ever
The Harrogate district is slowly cooling down from its hottest day ever.
Here’s how the heatwave impacted on life in the district today.
5.39pm – Temperatures start to fall
Temperatures are finally beginning to fall from their afternoon peak. It is forecast to still be 26 degrees at 10pm and not drop below 17 degrees all night. Tomorrow is set to be much milder, with some rain later on, and a maximum temperature of 23 degrees.
4.10pm – Met Office storm warning
A Met Office yellow weather warning is in place in Yorkshire and Humberside from 4pm until 8pm.
The Met Office says:
“Thunderstorms could bring disruption this afternoon from lightning strikes and strong, gusty winds.”
4.06pm – Yorkshire Water reports record water use
Yorkshire Water has said it provided more than 1.56 billion litres of water on Monday – which is around 260 million litres more than usual.
The increase is enough to supply the equivalent of the whole of York and Leeds and is the highest the water company has seen since 2006.
Yorkshire has seen a particularly dry spring and summer, with only 52% of rainfall expected in June actually falling on the region.
Neil Dewis, director of water at the company, said:
“Our reservoirs are still feeling the impact and levels do continue to decrease. As the ground incredibly dry, we would need a few weeks of wet weather to help them return to their usual levels, so it’s really important that people keep taking steps to save water throughout the summer.”
3.38pm – Temperatures touching 40 degrees as peak heat hits
We are now hitting the hottest part of the hottest day. According to local weather stations, which post their details online, most places are at about 38 degrees but Staveley is at 39 degrees. In old money, 39 degrees is 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
2.50pm – Bystanders smash car window to rescue four dogs in Harrogate
Bystanders in Harrogate had to smash a car window today to free four dogs who were trapped for 40 minutes without even a window open.
Ruth Watson and her partner had been shopping at Aldi on Oak Beck Road at around midday when they spotted the labradors who were visibly distressed and barking in the sweltering heat, which has topped 38 degrees today.
1.25pm – Lunchtime meltdown in Valley Gardens
Harrogate is unusually quiet at lunchtime as most people avoid the approaching hottest part of the day.
Daniella Kerr and Albie Kerr staying cool in Valley Gardens paddling pool.
Staying in the shade
Brollies up to shield from the sun.
12.31pm – Major Tom’s closes for the day
Major Tom’s Social on The Ginnel has succumbed to the heat for the day.
A post on its Facebook page says:
“Hey all, we’re taking the day off today. It’s already pretty warm in here and the kitchen feels like the centre of the earth at the best of the times! Back to normal from tomorrow.”
12.22pm – Free ice cream in Harrogate
A cafe on Beulah Street in Harrogate is offering free ice cream to help shoppers stay cool.
Cafe Lago Di Como posted on Facebook that it was going to place an ice cooler filled with free water bottles outside its cafe today. It added:
“We are also offering for free ice cream all day.”
11.54am – Burst main causing low or no water in HG2
On a day when we are being urged to keep hydrated, this isn’t great news for people in HG2,
⚠️ We are currently doing some work on a burst on a main in the area which may be causing low pressure or no water. We aim to get your supplies back to normal as soon as possible. -Tarna pic.twitter.com/AbgWXwZFHt
— Yorkshire Water Help (@YWHelp) July 19, 2022
11.05am – Harrogate chip shops closed for the day
The Wharfe of Harrogate has confirmed it will be closed today.
In a post on its Facebook page, the restaurant said it will be shut due to extreme heat but be open as usual tomorrow.
10.45am – Heatwave impacts on River Nidd
The heat is having an impact on the Harrogate district’s rivers.
Compare and contrast the two pictures from the River Nidd at Birstwith above. Pictured right is the river in February and left is its current level.
10am – 30 degree morning heat in Killinghall
Local weather stations are reporting 30 degree heat in Killinghall at 10am.
Meanwhile, its 29 degrees in Knaresborough and 28 degrees in Ripon.
9.50am – Businesses close during the heat
Some businesses in Harrogate are either closed today or closing early because of the extreme heat.
KD Fruiters, which is based at Harrogate District Hospital, will be closed today as its stall is outside.
Meanwhile, Imagined Things Bookshop, which is based on Montpellier Parade, has asked customers to check its social media in case it makes the decision to close early.
Resurrected Bites has also asked people to keep an eye on its social pages for information on whether its grocery outlets will be open. It has, however, said its Gracious Street cafe will be closed.
9.20am – County council warning over tourist hotspots
North Yorkshire County Council has issued advise over tourist hotpots during the extreme heat.
It has urged people to plan journeys in advance and take water with them.
Popular tourist destinations are expected to be very busy during the hot weather.
If you're planning a trip out please:
– Plan your journey in advance
– Take water with you
– Be kind to others around you
– Park consideratelyGet #heatwave advice ⬇️https://t.co/LvFJHsibGi pic.twitter.com/rAYqnilVAs
— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) July 19, 2022
8.45am – Yorkshire Water issues reservoir plea
Yorkshire Water has urged people to act responsibly around its reservoirs today as temperatures soar.
It has also asked people not to use the reservoirs to cool off.
https://twitter.com/YorkshireWater/status/1549295368994783233
8.35am – Bin crews out early in Ripon
Harrogate Borough Council’s refuse crews across the district are ensuring that homes are clear of rubbish as temperatures soar. In Ripon, the sack crew who collect black bags left outside thousands of city homes, started two hours early at 5am today in a bid to beat the heat, while maintaining hygiene for householders.
Simon and Danny (pictured) were out in the city this morning.
8.20am – Northern: Do not travel
Northern is urging people not to travel today amid the extreme heat.
Those who have to travel are advised to carry water and find a safe spot in the shade while waiting for their train.
https://twitter.com/northernassist/status/1549287296825966594
8am – Amber weather warning in place
The Met Office has an amber weather warning in place for the Harrogate district until midnight.
7.45am – Dog walkers out early in Ripon to beat the heat
Dozens of early to awake men and women were out before dawn in Ripon today to walk their dogs before the scorching sun makes being outdoors too hot to handle.
Later today, there will be nowhere hotter than Hell Wath’s wide open spaces, so many regular dog walkers wanting to find cool paths to protect the paws of their pets, were up before the dawn and walking in the shade of the nature reserve’s trees and shrubs.
Kathy and her dogs Mile and Max.
Among them was Kathy, with her rescue dogs Mila aged 12 and six-year-old Max, who told the Stray Ferret:
“I wouldn’t normally be here this early, but with the forecast weather, I decided to take the dogs out before the heat arrives to keep them safe.”
Paula with her fox red labrador at Hell Wath.
The same applied to Paula and her Fox Red Labrador, who said:
“This is definitely the best time to come, before the paths get too hot.”
Hell Wath, which is one of the few places in Ripon where it is safe to let a dog off its lead, has been popular with generations of owners, many of whom bring their pets for morning exercise.
7.23am – Bin collections to start earlier
Harrogate Borough Council has said bin crews will be out earlier this morning due to the soaring temperatures.
It has advised people to put their waste and recycling out early.
⚠️ Due to the expected high temperatures tomorrow (Tuesday) and possibly later in the week, our crews will be starting earlier than normal.
Please can you ensure your waste and recycling is presented the night before your scheduled collection. pic.twitter.com/ST4GQIWDIr
— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) July 18, 2022
7.20am – School closures amid heatwave
Harrogate Grammar School, the largest school in the Harrogate district, is closed today due to the extreme weather.
Hampsthwaite Primary School has also told parents that although the school will be open, if parents are uncomfortable sending their children to school it will not be considered unauthorised absence.
Meanwhile, St Aidan’s Church of England High School has told parents that the school will be open. Those in year 7 to 10 can wear their school PE kit, while sixth form can wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.
7am – LNER cancellations
No trains will run from Harrogate to London Kings Cross today due to the extreme heat.
LNER has cancelled the direct trains and urged customers not to travel.
https://twitter.com/LNER/status/1548638466656931840?s=20&t=RqCt_XWfE1CyMZlgOOFXLQ
£1 billion plan to dual A66 takes a step closer to constructionA £1 billion plan to dual one of the busiest roads in northern England has taken a step closer.
National Highways, formerly Highways England, wants to dual the remaining parts of the A66 between the M6 at Penrith and A1 at Scotch Corner.
The road is used by thousands of drivers in the north of England each day to travel between the north east and Cumbria and on to Scotland.
Now, proposals have taken a step further after the government’s Planning Inspectorate approved a development consent order from National Highways.
Lee Hillyard, National Highways’ A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project director, said:
“We are pleased that our DCO submission has been successful and accepted by the Planning Inspectorate and this marks another significant milestone for this important project.”
Should the Secretary of State for Transport give the final go-ahead for the scheme, construction will start in 2024.
Read more:
‘No option’ but to close Woodfield school, says council
North Yorkshire County Council has “no option” but to press ahead with plans to close Woodfield Community Primary School in Harrogate, local authority officials have said.
Senior county councillors on the executive today agreed to publish formal closure notices from September 2022 ahead of a final decision to close the school from December 31.
Stuart Carlson, director of children and young people’s services at the county council, said although it was “regrettable” that it had to close the school, the authority had no alternative.
He said:
“It is regrettable and with heavy hearts that we come to this decision.
“But there is no further options available to us now other than to move to the recommendations.”
Mr Carlson added that a “thorough consultation” was carried out into the closure and that it had exhausted all options available to it.
He denied that the executive of the council would be “ignoring” parents by going ahead with the closure plans.
Mr Carlson said:
“I don’t think we have done [ignored parents]. We have conducted a thorough consultation, we have looked at all the proposals that have been put forward and we have indeed tried our hardest working with the governing body and other schools to find a solution.
“But they are no longer available to us.”
Read more:
- Woodfield school parents ‘frustrated and upset’ after merger U-turn
- Woodfield school closure ‘an absolute disgrace’, says union
Liberal Democrat councillor Monika Slater, who represents the Bilton Grange and New Park division, said she believed pupils at Woodfield should have been given greater priority for places as she also urged the council to learn lessons for the future.
She said:
“Part of the issue comes down to the fact neighbouring schools have been allowed to become oversubscribed.“
“And I was disappointed to hear that children were going to be treated the same as any other child in the area who wished to move given their situation is somewhat different when we are potentially looking to close the school.
“I really feel these children should have been given a higher preference on their choices.”
Conservative councillor Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on the county council and is also a governor of the school, called for a “post-mortem” into the downfall of Woodfield school.
A motion from Harrogate Borough Council asking to keep the school open was also considered.
But councillors said they had no other option but to move ahead with the closure plan.
Failure to find academy
The school was rated inadequate by Ofsted in 2020 and placed into special measures.
The rating meant the school had to become a sponsored academy, but it failed to find a backer.
A proposed merger with Grove Road Community Primary School fell through this year, prompting the county council to open a consultation on closing the school in the next academic year.
The school is also faced with a cumulative deficit of £229,000 in 2023/24 due to low pupil numbers.
Union bosses in North Yorkshire previously described the move to close Woodfield as an “absolute disgrace”.
The publication of the statutory notices will include a four-week period for objections to be made to the council by October 6.
Should a final decision to close the school be approved in October 2022, it would include expanding the catchment area of Bilton Grange and Grove Road Primary Schools to cover the Woodfield area.
New Harrogate podiatry clinic aims to tackle growing need
This story is sponsored by Stray Podiatry.
A new podiatry clinic has opened in Harrogate aimed at tackling a growing need for the service in the area.
Stray Podiatry, which is located on Wetherby Road, was opened by Maxine Wrightson and Katie Bradley earlier this year.
The pair, who are both fully qualified podiatrists and have a background in the NHS, set up the business after spotting a need for podiatry in the town.
Both Maxine and Katie had different routes into the industry, but share the same passion to offer patients a quality service.
For Katie, it was after suffering with plantar fasciitis and a painful crack on her heel. She went on to see a specialist podiatrist, who inspired her to enter the industry.
Meanwhile, for Maxine, a career in healthcare stemmed from watching her family receive great care while ill and realising “what a difference it can make”.
She said she settled on podiatry after seeing the “real improvement” she could make to a person.
She said:
“I decided on podiatry because there is a lot of variety in the role and you can make a real improvement to a person’s comfort and mobility, often after just one appointment.”
Providing gold standard care
As a result, the pair came up with the idea to set up their own clinic and Stray Podiatry was born.
The clinic, which is just off the Woodlands junction on Wetherby Road, is newly renovated with modern facilities.
Katie Bradley and Maxine Wrightson, founders of Stray Podiatry in Harrogate.
There is free parking and new patients are being taken on daily.
Maxine and Katie said the goal of the clinic is to offer gold standard care, as well as excellent aftercare.
“We are a newly established, rapidly growing practice, who are continuously adding new services and committed to providing the gold standard of care for our patients.
“We both work as a team, bringing different strengths and complimenting each other. We are passionate about patient education and providing excellent aftercare for our patients.”
Stray Podiatry offers a range of services, including nailcare, corns, verruca treatment, ingrowing toenails, nail surgery, biomechanical assessments and orthotics.
Both Maxine and Katie also offer home and care home visits.
All are welcome to arrange an appointment. There is no waiting list and all new patients receive a free foot health check.