Harrogate teenagers to embark on 48 mile walk in aid of Ukraine

Two Harrogate teenagers are set to embark upon a 48 mile walk in two days in an effort to raise money for Ukraine.

Grace Brierley and her friend Elena Dickson, who are both 14, will start the walk by taking on the Knaresborough round on Saturday, July 9.

From there, they will walk the Harrogate ringway on Sunday and will be camping out in between.

Money raised will go towards United 24, an initiative set up by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, amid the war with Russia.

The charity aims to be a direct source for donations for the country and helps with medical aid, rebuilding and defence.

Grace and Elena have set up a JustGiving page as part of their walk. You can find their page here.

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Ripon MP: Prime Minister causing ‘constitutional crisis’ by refusing to resign

Boris Johnson is causing a constitutional crisis and acting “Trumpian” by not resigning, says Conservative Ripon MP Julian Smith.

Mr Smith heavily criticised the Prime Minister in an interview with BBC Radios 4’s Today programme and said Mr Johnson had suffered a “catastrophic loss of confidence” among Tory MPs.

The comments come as Mr Johnson faced calls from his own MPs and some members of his cabinet to resign last night.

Yesterday, a record 40 ministers and aides quit the government. Brandon Lewis, Northern Ireland secretary, becoming the latest to step down this morning.

The Prime Minister has said he has a mandate from voters to continue.

But Mr Smith said: 

“It’s a preposterous argument, the British voters voted for the Conservative party.

“At the time of that election, Boris Johnson was the leader. But that was not a personal vote, it was a vote for individual candidates across the country.

“The bulk of those MPs who supported him at that election now do not have the confidence in him to remain as Prime Minister.”

Mr Smith joined Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, yesterday in calling for the Prime Minister to step down.

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However, Nigel Adams, a Johnson ally and MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes parts of rural Harrogate, remains in the cabinet and is yet to comment.

This morning, Mr Smith said the country was in a constitutional crisis because Mr Johnson’s refused to leave Downing Street despite having no “confidence from his party”.

He said:

“I think we are [in a constitutional crisis] because he doesn’t have the confidence of his party. So on what basis is he residing in Number 10?

“Obviously many times before you have had Prime Ministers who may have outstayed their welcome.

“But the key difference is that Boris Johnson, for whatever reason, has had a catastrophic loss of confidence and is still holding out in a Trumpian style seemingly trying to write the next chapter or the first chapter of his memoirs or trying to prepare for the speaker circuit.

“But [he is] actually challenging, extremely worryingly, the system that we have run the country for years.”

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic roundup

Some roadworks remain in place across the Harrogate district this morning with reports of queuing at Bond End in Knaresborough.

Elsewhere, traffic is moving as normal ahead of the rush hour.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Drivers should be aware of the normal rush hour traffic on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road, Skipton Road and Knaresborough Road this morning.

There are reports of traffic queueing at Bond End in Knaresborough as three way traffic lights are in place as North Yorkshire County Council carries out repair works.

According to North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map, a closure will also be in place from today on Crag Lane in North Rigton to allow BT to replace a pole. This will be in place until Friday.

Meanwhile, Briscoe Ridge Lane will be closed from Friday until Sunday to allow for pothole maintenance.

Motorists should also be aware of road closures for the Cancer Research UK Race for Life this weekend.

Oatlands Drive and Stray Rein will be closed on Sunday. July 10, for the race.

Trains and buses

Train 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 36 bus from Leeds to Harrogate at 9.55am this morning and on the Harrogate to Leeds 9am service.

There is also cancellations on the 1A, 1C, 1B and the 7.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

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Harrogate creative agency reports increase in turnover

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Impression Studio in Harrogate has reported a 30% growth in turnover in the last financial year.

The company, which is based on Albert Street and is a creative digital agency, saw its turnover in 2021/22 increase to £750,000.

The firm works with clients including Power Sheds, Hippo Digital, Infinity Works and KAL Fitness.

Charlie Hartley, founder and managing director of Impression Studio, has also announced plans to develop the business further with an increased focus on brand strategy.

Mr Hartley said:

“The new focus and direction for the business is already helping brands to build emotional connections with customers by creating compelling digital-first brands and digital experiences that both excite and deliver results.”

Chamber meeting to focus on financial support

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce is set to hold its next meeting on Monday.

The meeting will focus on what practical and financial support is available to businesses in the district.

It will be held at Harrogate College on July 11. 

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Three expert speakers including Danny Wild, principal of Harrogate College, Steve Bolton, a leader consultant for Harrogate Borough Council, and Amrit Choda, an Aspire2Lead job coach.

David Simister, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce chief executive, said:

“For Harrogate businesses seeking information about what financial grants, practical support and staff training they can access, then our July meeting is a must attend event.

“And I’m delighted to say this meeting is open to non-members too. The aim of our meetings is to educate and inform, and this is what July’s speakers will do.”

For more information on the meeting, visit the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce website.

Ripon man jailed for stealing two bikes in Harrogate

A Ripon man has been jailed for 26 weeks for stealing two bikes in Harrogate.

Dwain Carl Layton, 31, of King Edward Road, appeared before York Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with stealing the bikes from a garage on Kingsley Road on June 28.

The bikes were estimated to be worth £1,000.

Layton pleaded guilty to the charge and was jailed.

The magistrates said the sentence was handed down after Layton had failed to comply with requirements of post custodial sentence supervision.

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It added that the offence was aggravated by “the defendant’s record of previous offending”.

Layton was also ordered to pay compensation of £100 and a victim surcharge of £154.

Harrogate Scrubbers to showcase memory quilts in Victoria Shopping Centre

Quilts made by members of Harrogate Scrubbers are set to go on display at the Victoria Shopping Centre.

Harrogate Scrubbers had 800 members making scrubs for hospital staff during the first covid lockdown.

In just six weeks, they handed over 2,037 scrubs to front line staff at Harrogate District Hospital at a time when there was a shortage of PPE supplies.

To celebrate their achievement, the scrubbers were invited to sew a square of fabric detailing what it meant to them to be part of the sewing group. The squares were then stitched together to create five memory quilts.

The group showcased the quilts at Pavilions of Harrogate in May. Now, the quilts are set to go on display for the public in the shopping centre in Harrogate town centre on Wednesday, July 27 until the end of August.

Founding member Fran Taylor said:

“We were so overwhelmed by the reaction of the public to the memory quilts that the group made to remember the scrubs that were made for Harrogate hospital in the first lockdown, that we decided to find somewhere to display them for everyone to be able to see them.

“It has been brilliant to collaborate with the Victoria Shopping Centre and use one of their units to display them all, throughout the whole summer, enabling people to come and see them from anywhere.

“We want people to look back and remember some of the positives that came out of the pandemic, and how the community pulled together to support each other, also benefitting everyone’s mental wellbeing as well.”

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James White, centre manager of Victoria Shopping Centre, said: 

“It is a true privilege to be able to honour the exceptional work that the Harrogate Scrubbers have done and continue to do for our community.”

 

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic roundup

Traffic is moving normally in the Harrogate district this morning, but there remains some roadworks in place.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic and travel update.

Roads

As usual, drivers should be aware of the normal rush hour traffic on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road, Skipton Road and Knaresborough Road.

Meanwhile, road closures are due to come into force near North Rigton this week.

According to North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map, a closure will also be in place from tomorrow on Crag Lane to allow BT to replace a pole. This will be in place until Friday..

Meanwhile, Briscoe Ridge Lane will be closed from Friday until Sunday to allow for pothole maintenance.

Trains and buses

Train 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 36 bus from Leeds to Harrogate at 8.55am this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

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Ripon business gets Dragons’ Den star endorsement

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A Ripon business has been endorsed by retail entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis.

The GreenHouse, which is based on North Street, opened three months ago and offers an array of home and garden supplies.

Owner Rebecca Crallan messaged Mr Paphitis on Twitter as part of his Small Business Sunday campaign, which picks six weekly winners to be endorsed on his social media.

The winners also get a chance to network with other small businesses and include a profile on the Small Business Sunday website.

Mr Paphitis picked The GreenHouse and, as a result, shared the Ripon business with his 490,000 Twitter followers and 34,000 Instagram followers.

Ms Crallan said:

“The GreenHouse has only been open three months but I’ve been warmly welcomed by the community in Ripon, both shoppers and fellow retailers alike. 

“It is great to have support from Theo because it’s been tough trying to raise our profile and Theo has recognised our hard work and helped spread the word about what we do to his following.”

Harrogate jewellers wins shop frontage grant

A Harrogate business has been awarded a £750 grant to improve its shop frontage.

Fattorini’s on Parliament Street, which reopened under new management in March, has been granted the money by Harrogate Business Improvement District.

Harrogate BID Matthew Chapman, left, and Fattorinis Director Wayne Beales outside the Parliament Street jewellers.

Harrogate BID Matthew Chapman, left, and Fattorini’s director Wayne Beales outside the Parliament Street jewellers.

The grant was part of £10,000 awarded to BID levy payers to help improve the frontages of their businesses.

Other businesses awarded grants include The Den, Cold Bath Brewing, Drum and Monkey and the new Coach & Horses.

The jewellery business used its £750 to refurbish the Victorian canopy and install a new facia board and signage.

Wayne Beales, Fattorini’s director, said:

“Being a BID levy payer, I’m delighted that our application for a grant was approved.

“The painted canopy and new signage has really helped us shout about our revival. It has certainly made us stand out from other businesses on Parliament.

“I would also recommend all levy paying retailers to take advantage of the next round of BID improvement grants, so Harrogate town centre can really shine.”

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Work to fell 500 Nidd Gorge trees to start next week

Work to chop down 500 trees in the Nidd Gorge has been delayed until next week.

The Woodlands Trust, which is a conservation charity that owns Nidd Gorge, says the trees are infected and need to be felled.

They have a disease called phytophthora ramorum, which is having a devastating impact on native trees.

Government body Forestry England has given the trust permission to fell the trees before the disease spreads further.

Work, which will be accompanied by footpath closures, was due to begin yesterday.

A map showing the first planned footpath closure.

But it is now expected to start on Monday next week and will take between four to six weeks, the trust has said.

As part of the tree felling, a footpath between Bilton Beck footbridge and Milers Fork will be closed.

Paul Bunton, community engagement officer at the trust, said previously:

“It is devastating news for our site team and visitors that we are having to reluctantly fell these diseased trees at Nidd Gorge to protect others. Phytophthora ramorum, while of no risk to the public, is one of the biggest threats to our native tree species at the site.

“Nidd Gorge is and will remain a really popular and cherished woodland close to Harrogate and Knaresborough and we ask the public to bear with us while we carry out the work.”

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Man dies after three-car crash at Scotton

A man in his 80s has died after a three-car collision on Ripley Road at Scotton.

A Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta and Seat Ibiza were involved in the crash, which happened at about 6.15pm on Sunday.

Police, fire crews and and an air ambulance were summoned to help.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the driver and passenger of the Focus, who were a man and woman in their 50s, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The man in his 80s, who has not been named, was driving the Fiesta.

A police statement added:

“North Yorkshire Police’s major collision investigation team has launched an investigation.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet come forward, or anyone with dashcam footage, is asked to email marie.williams@northyorkshire.police.uk

“You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Marie Williams.

Please quote reference 12220115083.”

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