Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter, Author at The Stray Ferret

No trains for two days in Harrogate next week as strike action hits

No trains will run through Harrogate and Knaresborough for two days next week as thousands of workers go on strike.

Northern, which operates services through the two towns, has published its timetable for the industrial action on June 21, 23 and 25.

The RMT union has called the strike action over pay and conditions. It will see thousands of drivers, signal operators and guards walk out next week.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, no trains will run between York and Leeds on Tuesday, June 21, and Thursday, June 23.

However, Northern services are currently expected to run on Saturday, June 25 although the company has warned of disruption and urged people to seek alternative travel.

LNER will also be running no services to London Kings Cross from Harrogate on all three strike days.

The industrial action on the railways is expected to hit commuters, schools and major events.

The disruption will affect cricket fans travelling to Headingley as England take on New Zealand in the third Test of a three-game series on Thursday.

Trains are expected to run on non-strike days, however Northern warned that services could still be affected.

The company warned passengers earlier this week not to travel on any day between Tuesday and Sunday.

It said in a statement:

“There will be no replacement buses or alternative travel provided.

“On strike days there will be extremely limited availability of both train crew and signalling staff and as such we will not be able to operate services on most routes.

“Unfortunately, as we will not be able to position our fleet how we normally would, the significant impact of the strike will also be felt on non-strike days.

“Therefore, we regrettably advise customers not to travel on any day from Tuesday 21st through to Sunday 26th June.

“Where we are able to operate trains, services will be very limited, and trains will not start as early as normal and will finish much earlier than normal.”

Buses expect surge in demand

Meanwhile, Harrogate Bus Company has said it is expecting additional passengers next week due to the strike action.

Steve Ottley, general manager at the bus company, said:

“We are expecting additional customers to travel with us next week due to the rail disruption.

“Our advice is to plan ahead of travel, using our Transdev Go app to track your bus before making a journey. Our website and Twitter feed @harrogatebus will be updated across the day with any planned alterations to services.

“We will closely monitor demand and will provide additional capacity where possible with the resources we have available.”

Council shelves Knaresborough and Ripon travel plans

Plans for a 7km cycleway in Knaresborough and other active travel improvements in Ripon have been shelved after a bid for government funding failed.

North Yorkshire County Council applied for £1.5 million – but did not receive any money from round three of the government’s active travel fund.

The council said in a statement that “there will be no progress with either project at present” following an announcement of funding allocations to councils across England last month.

If successful, £50,000 would have funded feasibility work for a segregated cycleway and footpath between Knaresborough and Flaxby Green Park.

In Ripon, around £550,000 would have been spent on the development of “sustainable travel corridors” in the west of the city. This could have included widened footpaths, better pedestrian crossings and traffic calming measures.

Also included in the £1.5 million bid was proposals for other schemes in Selby, Ryedale and Craven, which have not received any funding.

Separately, the council has announced final designs for cycling and walking improvements on Harrogate’s Victoria Avenue and the A59 near Knaresborough are “likely” to be revealed this summer as part of a consultation.

This comes after more than £1 million was awarded to the council, which had hoped to start construction works by now.

The proposals include cycle lanes, improved crossings and reducing the A59 speed limit from 50mph to 40mph.

The council said in a statement:

“Designs are currently being finalised and costed. A public consultation will need to take place before any contract is awarded.

“This is likely to happen over the summer but dates have not yet been confirmed.”

Kevin Douglas, chair of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said he was disappointed that the Ripon and Knaresborough schemes failed to secure funding and that he believed the government’s decision partly came down to the council’s record on getting projects done.

Mr Douglas said:

“Their track record on delivering schemes that have got funding isn’t good,

“It is unusual not to get any funding, but you can see why when the council has schemes that are outstanding.

“The Knaresborough scheme hasn’t been delivered, Victoria Avenue hasn’t been delivered, the Otley Road cycle path hasn’t been delivered, as well as the plans for Oatlands Drive – they are all a way off.”

The Oatlands Drive plans originally included a one-way traffic system, but this was scrapped last year after a backlash from residents who warned the changes would be “disastrous”.

Plans for Oatlands Drive were dropped following public opposition

It was then agreed that government funding would be used for a feasibility study looking into improvements for the wider area.

However, the council has yet to go out to consultation and the new proposals won’t be ready until at least autumn – more than a year-and-a-half after the original plans were abandoned.

A council statement last month said the consultation is “still being finalised” and was “likely to start soon after” the Queen’s platinum jubilee bank holiday weekend.

The statement also said the new proposals will be made public at the end of the study, “which will be in the autumn”.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed this week that a third round of consultations will be held on the £10.9 million Harrogate Gateway project after further traffic concerns were raised.

It means a final business case for the scheme has yet to be submitted and construction works could now be delayed until at least winter.

Developers appeal Harrogate working men’s club flats plan

Developers behind plans to convert a former Harrogate working men’s club into flats has appealed a council decision to refuse the proposal.

The National Reserve Club, on East Parade, formally closed in July following a unanimous resolution from its members last year. It was also known as ‘The Nash’.

The organisation had been registered as a working men’s club since July 11, 1913, when it was known as the Harrogate Battalion National Reserve of the West Riding of York Club.

ID Planning, which submitted a plan to convert the club into flats on behalf of Ashleigh and Caroline Wells, said in its application that the scheme would provide a viable use for the building.

However, Harrogate Borough Council rejected the plan in May this year.

The council said in its refusal that the owner had not been able to prove that it was no longer viable before submitting planning permission.

Now, the developers have launched an appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate to challenge the decision.

It said in a statement to the planning inspector:

“Based on the assessment provided, it is considered that the reasons for refusal of the planning application given by Harrogate Borough Council are unfounded and the proposed development accords with all relevant local and national planning policy.”

A government planning inspector will make a decision on the appeal at a later date.

Demise of working men’s clubs

Working men’s clubs were once the heart of the community across the country but many have faced dwindling membership numbers with some forced to close.

The Nash never reopened after the first covid lockdown two years ago.

It had 28 members at the time and donated its remaining cash to charity.

However, other Harrogate clubs such as The Londesborough Club and Bilton WMC are still going strong.

Read Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam’s history of the town’s working men’s clubs here.

Knaresborough, Pateley and Markington could get new electric vehicle charging points

North Yorkshire County Council is to bid for £2 million worth of funding to install electric vehicle charging points in rural areas.

The proposal comes as the government has launched a £10 million pilot fund to rollout the infrastructure across the country.

The county council’s bid would see 70 charging points installed across the seven districts. It has suggested three areas in the Harrogate district, including Markington, Pateley Bridge and Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough.

A submission to government to bid for the funding was backed by Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways, this morning.

Cllr Duncan said:

“We have embraced this opportunity to bring forward the strongest possible proposal within the tight 12-week deadline to benefit rural parts of our county.

“This is a competitive process across the whole of England for a relatively small pilot funding pot, so success is not guaranteed, but this bid is another clear signal of our ambition to improve transport options for people across our large, rural county.”

The charging points would be powered by renewable energy, including small-scale hydroelectric generators and solar panels linked to battery storage.

Council officials said the move would help to tackle poor connectivity and opportunities in rural areas of the county.

The bid for funding is supported by district and borough councils and the county council plans to work with NYnet, the council-owned broadband company, and Northern Powergrid on the scheme.

Harrogate Borough Council recently commissioned London company, ConnectedKerb, to install 34 charging points across the district as part of a £280,000 contract.

Harrogate hospital to spend £900,000 on A&E streaming service

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust is to spend £900,000 on an emergency department streaming service aimed at reducing waiting times.

Under the plans, Harrogate District Hospital patients will be assessed on arrival at A&E.

If they have a less serious illness or injury will be transferred to another part of the hospital, which will have its own designated clinical practitioners.

Hospital officials said this will allow the emergency department to “focus on patients who require urgent stabilisation, resuscitation and/or further assessment in our hospital”.

As part of the £900,000 spend, new staff will be hired and enhancements made to the existing department.

The trust said the streaming model will be introduced gradually over the next four to six months as training and building work takes place. It aims to have the new system fully operational by winter this year.

A spokesperson for HDFT said:

“The streaming model in the emergency department at Harrogate District Hospital is focused on improving the experience and timeliness of care for patients attending the emergency department.

“It will help us to reduce delays and some of the pressure in the main emergency department, which is a significant area of concern for all trusts.

“Patients arriving at the emergency department will be rapidly assessed and if they have a less serious illness or injury they will be transferred into the new stream which will have its own trained clinical practitioners with injury and minor/moderate illness skills.

“This will allow the main emergency department to focus on patients who require urgent stabilisation, resuscitation and/or further assessment in our hospital.”

Long waiting times

Latest figures show that Harrogate District Hospital had 4,331 attendances to its emergency department in April 2022.

The national standard for emergency department waiting times is to admit, transfer or discharge 95% of patients within four hours.

Harrogate District Hospital

According to NHS England figures, 66% of patients were seen within that timeframe at Harrogate hospital.

In April, West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts, which is a partnership of six hospital trusts including Harrogate, urged patients to only attend emergency departments for life-threatening injury or illnesses.

Dr Andrew Lockey, consultant physician in emergency medicine with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, which is part of the association, warned that units were “extremely busy” with waits of up to 12 hours.

Officials at Harrogate hospital hope that the new streaming model will help to relieve pressure on the department.

The move comes as other hospital trusts across the UK have introduced similar measures.

In 2018, United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust spent £500,000 on expanding Boston Pilgrim Hospital’s emergency unit in order to introduce a streaming service.

At the time, ULHT said it felt there were too many patients attending the emergency department who could be seen by a general practitioner instead.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district travel roundup

Traffic is moving normally on the roads in the Harrogate district this morning.

However, some cancellations have been reported on bus services.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic and travel roundup.

Roads

Traffic is running as normal this morning, but drivers should be aware of the usual queueing on Wetherby Road and Knaresborough Road during rush hour.

Construction work on the A661 Harrogate Road is Spofforth is due to end today.

Meanwhile, roadworks are still in place in Knaresborough at the junction between Wetherby Road and York Road which will cause delays this morning.

The works are expected to continue until August 15.

Trains and buses

Train services are running as normal from Harrogate to Leeds and York this morning.

However, commuters should be aware of planned strike action on the railways next week. Industrial action is due to take place over three days from June 21 and will affect Northern services from Harrogate.

Northern is expected to publish a timetable of its services which it will be able to run this week.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting some early morning cancellations on the 36 from Leeds to Harrogate at 7.40am and 8.55am.

There is also a cancellation from Harrogate to Leeds at 7.35am.

The bus company is reporting early morning cancellations to the 1A, 1B and 1C services. You can find out more here.

Police launch urgent appeal for missing Minskip man

North Yorkshire Police has launched an urgent appeal to locate a missing man from Minskip.

Luke Earnshaw, 31, was last seen on Saturday (June 11) when he left his home on Prospect Terrace in the village shortly before 2.30pm.

He was seen walking down Thorndikes Lane towards Staveley.

Officers are extremely concerned for his welfare.

Luke is of slim build with a bald head and bushy ginger beard. He has tattoos on his arms.

He was captured on a doorbell camera (pictured above) when he left his home. He was wearing a blue jumper, brown jacket, dark blue jeans and a grey flat cap.

A police statement added:

“If you have any information which could help locate Luke please contact police on 101 or call 999 for an immediate sighting. Ref: 12220101715.”

Traffic and Travel Alert: Road and public transport roundup for the Harrogate district

Roads and trains are running as normal this morning, but there are some early morning bus cancellations.

Here is your Harrogate district traffic and travel roundup.

Roads

This morning, rush hour is expected to bring the usual delays on Wetherby Road and Knaresborough Road.

Maintenance work on Skipton Road today by CityFibre near to Regent Grove is due to continue until June 15.

Meanwhile, roadworks are still in place in Knaresborough at the junction between Wetherby Road and York Road which will cause delays this morning.

The works are expected to continue until August 15.

Trains and buses

Train services are running as normal from Harrogate to Leeds and York this morning.

However, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting some early morning cancellations on the 36 from Leeds to Harrogate at 7.40am, 8.55am and 9.55am.

There is also cancellations from Harrogate to Leeds at 7.35am, 9am and 9.25am.

There are also early morning cancellations to the 1A, 1B and 1C services. You can find out more here.

Why Elderflower Homecare is a great place for carers

This advertorial is sponsored by Elderflower Homecare.

Three years ago, Katie Livesley was working as a nanny but, after looking after her auntie who had early-onset dementia, she decided to change tack and she is now building her career at Elderflower Homecare.

Starting out as a homecare and rehabilitation assistant in August 2019, Katie has worked her way up to care co-ordinator. Now, she not only cares for clients in their own homes, but she also spends part of her time working in the office, supporting clients and staff.

Elderflower Homecare is a care provider covering Boroughbridge, Ripon and local villages and supporting people in their own homes.

Despite having no previous experience in health and social care, Katie was given the support and training to develop.

Elderflower offered her in-house training and the opportunity to undertake a National Vocational Qualification in health and social care.

The company also supports its carers through paid mileage and providing uniforms and PPE.

Katie said the team has helped her feel at home.

She said:

“It’s just nice to be part of a big family.

“Everybody helps each other out and every day is totally different.”

At Elderflower, she helps a range of clients including people with disabilities and dementia.

But her responsibilities do not stop there, Katie also looks after marketing, social media and publishes a monthly newsletter.

Part of a team of around 40 staff, she said carers at Elderflower are given the space to build a rapport with their clients.

Katie said:

“We are provided with our uniform and a work phone. We get paid our mileage as we all need to drive to see our clients.

“It’s a really worthwhile job and I feel we’re helping our clients lead the lives they want in their own homes.”

For more information on how you can join Elderflower Homecare as a carer, visit their website.

Reduction in Knaresborough retirement flats ‘unviable’, says developer

Developers behind plans for 61 retirement flats in Knaresborough have said reducing the size of the scheme would be “unviable”.

Adlington Retirement Living, part of the Gladman group, wants to build the flats with additional care facilities on land adjacent to the single-track Grimbald Bridge on Wetherby Road, alongside the River Nidd.

Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee have twice delayed making a decision on the proposals after concern over its size, flooding and impact on local health services.

Now, the developer has said reducing the scheme’s size and moving it further away to reduce flooding fears would not be “necessary or indeed achievable”.

In a letter to the council responding to its deferral, Robert Gaskell, planning manager at Gladman Retirement Living Ltd, said:

“The applicant has investigated both of these requests and concluded that neither are necessary or indeed achievable.

“A further reduction in the number of units (bearing in mind the loss of over 11,000 sq ft to date) would make the scheme unviable, mean care and support cannot be provided as efficiently, and lead to unaffordable service and well‐being charges.”

Mr Gaskell added:

“The applicant asks that the council decide on the application as it stands‐ which has been assessed to accord with every single relevant development plan policy and relevant elements of national policy, has no objections from any statutory consultee, has significant material benefits, and has continuously been recommended for approval.”

The response follows concern at a planning committee meeting in May that the apartments amounted to “overdevelopment”.

Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat member of the committee, said at the time:

“It is the numbers that are being asked for on this site which are problematic.

“It is too large. If they want to do it, I would like to see them cut the numbers down considerably and move that building further away from the river.”

North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group also raised concern over the impact on local health services.

However, this objection was later withdrawn after a £40,000 developer contribution was agreed.

The scheme will now be considered by the borough council’s planning committee at a meeting on Tuesday, June 21.

Council officers have recommended that the development be approved.

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Buses expect surge in demand

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Demise of working men’s clubs

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Long waiting times

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Roads

Trains and buses

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Roads

Trains and buses

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