Harrogate Town to return to action after covid outbreak

Harrogate Town are set to return to action today after a covid outbreak set back the start of the club’s League Two campaign.

Town will face Barrow at the EnviroVent Stadium, two weeks since the club last played against Rochdale in their opening game.

The outbreak forced the club to postpone two EFL fixtures and forfeit a Carabao Cup tie against Rochdale.

Five players tested positive and others had to self-isolate as a result of the outbreak.

Manager Simon Weaver said on Thursday that the postponed fixtures were frustrating, but added that the players were now through the worst of it.

“Initially it was a feeling of frustrating and deflation really. We’d come off the back of a really good opening day win and the circumstances of a last minute winner from Warren as well. It was a blow but it’s not insurmountable.

“Covid is part of our everyday life now so people getting it wasn’t a total surprise and I think we’ve reacted strongly to it. The players have rested up and come through the worse of it now and we’re looking forward to a couple days training and a big game.”

Not using covid as an excuse

Town returned to training on Thursday morning following the enforced break, which saw games against Crawley and Leyton Orient rearranged.

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Weaver said the players would have two sessions ahead of Barrow, but would not use covid as an excuse for the short preparation.

He said:

“I think we don’t use covid as an excuse, no matter what.

“We’re firmly focused on the game and we’ve got that excitement in our stomach like how it was on the opening day.

“The crowd were exhilarating on that day and really lifted us all so we’re really looking forward to getting back home and that’s the lucky thing about it, the first game back is at home – a place we’ve got very good recent memories of.”

Simon Weaver after the win against Rochdale on the opening game of the season. Picture: Matt Kirkham, Harrogate Town.

Simon Weaver after the win against Rochdale on the opening game of the season. Picture: Matt Kirkham, Harrogate Town.

Weaver expects a physical game

Both Barrow and Harrogate Town were promoted from the National League in 2019/20, but Town got the upper hand over the Cumbrian side last season.

Jack Muldoon scored both goals in two 1-0 wins over Barrow in both clubs inaugural season in the EFL.

Barrow will be without striker Dimitri Sea, Jamie Devitt, midfielder Mike Jones and Tom Beadling for today’s clash.

Sea will remain on the sidelines as Barrow follow concussion protocols and Devitt has a thigh injury.

Jones is short of fitness and Beadling faces a long period out due to a partial tear to his crucial ligament.

Town manager Weaver said he expects Barrow to be more physical this season.

He said:

“They’re up for it and I think a bit more physical this season, and under Mark Cooper they have a lot of experience.

“But, we also think we have a lot in our ranks which can allow us to have a real good go at them and play our way. It’ll be great to have the fans behind us like against Rochdale and to win would be great, especially in the circumstances.”

Another 75 covid cases reported in Harrogate district

Another 75 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital is currently treating nine patients for covid.

Harrogate hospital has recorded no covid deaths in the last 24 hours. However, earlier this week it reported its first covid death in four months.

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It means the death toll at the hospital from covid since March 2020 stands at 180.

The district’s weekly rate has increased to 323 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate stands at 296 and the England average is 320.

Elsewhere, 123,810 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 110,396 have had a second dose.

Harrogate district pub pays staff to get double vaccinated

A Harrogate district pub is paying its staff to get double covid vaccinated in an effort to prevent further closure and keep its team healthy.

Graham Usher, co-owner of The Inn at South Stainley, has put a £100 incentive for staff to have their two covid jabs.

Those who get double vaccinated will receive the payment after their second vaccine.

Mr Usher, who employs 50 people across three sites, said the move to incentivise staff would help with both health and keeping the pub open.

He said:

“It’s cheaper for us to incentivise the team and keep the pub open.

“It’s a much better way to do this, rather than force everyone [to get the vaccine] it is up to them.”

Mr Usher added that the payment also incentivises younger staff to get the vaccinated.

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As of Monday, all 16 and 17 year olds will be offered a first dose of a covid vaccine.

Keeping the pub open

Mr Usher, who took over the pub with his co-owner Matt Rose in April, said The Inn had so far coped well with the so-called “pingdemic”.

He said one or two staff had been told to self-isolate, but the pub had largely managed.

Under new rules introduced on Monday, those who are fully vaccinated are not required to self-isolate when pinged by the NHS covid app.

Some hospitality businesses had to close under the old system after staff were forced to isolate.

Mr Usher added that he hoped that staff getting double jabbed would help prevent the pub from closing due to staff isolation.

Harrogate council ends recruitment freeze but hiring staff now a ‘real challenge’

Harrogate Borough Council has ended a recruitment freeze more than a year after it was introduced to keep costs down during the covid pandemic.

After halting hiring in May 2020, the council has now begun recruiting again for vacant roles including lifeguards and receptionists as the freeze is “no longer sustainable”.

However, some non-critical posts will still be kept on hold as services continue to make a gradual return from lockdown.

Cllr Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said it is “encouraging” that recruitment is now underway but he admitted it will be challenging due to local government reforms which will mean the council is abolished by April 2023.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, he said: 

“Throughout coronavirus the council has made enormous sacrifices in taking salary and recruitment freezes, leaving significant shortfalls in key roles.

“I’m very encouraged now that as we come out of coronavirus we will start to see more services restoring to normal levels.

“We have a number of vacancies, some of them senior positions and critical, and as we go out to advertise we need to be sensitive to the fact that local government reform will put pressure on filling those.”

Under the reforms, North Yorkshire’s district councils and the county council will be scrapped to make way for a new unitary authority which will take over control of all council services.

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There are questions over what the major changes will mean for the 10,000 local government staff across North Yorkshire but until then recruitment will remain a challenge as councils try to fill posts which could soon cease to exist.

As well as the recruitment freeze, the borough council also shrunk its workforce by around 60 jobs and redeployed staff into under-pressure services as part of its Covid response.

Leisure centres were particularly affected by this with staff numbers at one stage being a third down earlier during the pandemic and services yet to make a full return due to ongoing staffing shortages.

Cllr Stanley Lumley, cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said recruitment was now a “real challenge” with leisure centres currently having around 27 vacancies as a result of the recruitment problems which span across the country.

He said:

“We have struggled at times to open all our venues at the same time but as we increase the number of staff we will get back to normal services as soon as we can.

“It is something which we are working extremely hard to address and we are looking at recruiting from all avenues.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, council leader Richard Cooper also repeated warnings that services including leisure centres and bin collections could face disruptions due to staff self-isolating as covid cases remain high across the district.

He said: 

“A few weeks ago we notified the public that like lots of other local and national companies we are having recruitment issues with the so-called pingdemic.

“That warning we gave still stands because we are not out of the woods yet.”

Beech Grove closure: County council receives 600-signature petition

North Yorkshire County Council officials are to investigate a low traffic neighbourhood scheme on Beech Grove after a 600-signature petition was handed in to the authority.

Residents have raised concern that the closure to through traffic on the road and Lancaster Road is inconvenient, pushes traffic elsewhere and that very little notice was given over the decision.

A consultation on the scheme closed this past weekend, but it will remain in place as a trial until August 2022.

However, the county council is now set to investigate and debate the matter after 655 people signed a petition calling for the scheme to be scrapped.

In response, the county council said:

“The matter has been referred to the council’s highways service for investigation. They will contact the petitioner directly. 

“As over 500 signatures have been received, the petitioner is also able under the council petition scheme to attend a meeting of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee and have the matter debated.”

Anna McIntee, a Harrogate resident and co-founder of the Harrogate Residents’ Association, launched the petition after she believed the scheme only pushed traffic elsewhere in the town.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“The changes to Beech Grove and Lancaster Road affect the day to day lives of so many residents and locals, who use this road and surrounding the area. Many people rely on their cars.

“We need to see the data that cycling has increased since the trial LTN introduction in February of this year.

“Grant Shapps said himself ‘’I’ve set out tough new conditions to ensure these schemes are properly consulted on and that evidence of this is shown before schemes are rolled out. Plus monitoring reports are submitted after the schemes open to clearly show how they have been modified based on local feedback.’’.

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However, Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, said previously that the scheme had been successful in freeing up road space for up for cyclists and pedestrians.

He added that there was a “good chance” of the low traffic neighbourhood becoming permanent.

Cllr Mackenzie said:

“Its been successful. There’s been views in both directions but most residents have accepted it as a positive.

“I see it continuing after 18 months. It’s a part of town where we are making changes to sustainable travel. I can see the Low Traffic Neighbourhood remaining in place formally.”

Jeff Stelling to march from Harrogate Town in aid of prostate cancer

Well-known Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling is set to march from Harrogate to Leeds in aid of Prostate Cancer UK this month.

Jeff, who is known for anchoring Sky’s Soccer Saturday coverage, has raised more than £1 million for the men’s health charity and has taken part in four marches since 2016.

This year, he is set to walk from Harrogate Town’s EnvioVent Stadium to Elland Road in Leeds via Kirk Deighton Rangers and Leeds Rhinos.

The stop at Kirk Deighton will be poignant as the club was home to Yorkshireman Lloyd Pinder, who sadly died of the disease last year after striking up a firm friendship with Stelling.

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The walk, which is taking place on August 31, will be one of four walking marathons he takes part in.

Jeff said:

“Covid has had a horrific impact on lives across the UK, but prostate cancer has not gone away. In fact it’s now more important than ever that we support men and their loved ones.

“One in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. I deal in stats, but that one still shocks me. This is our dads, partners, brothers, grandads, uncles and friends.

“That’s why I wear the Prostate Cancer UK ‘Man of Men’ badge. That’s why we’ve marched across the UK three times, helping raise more than £1 million for crucial research to beat prostate cancer.”

Jeff has invited 400 football fans to take part in his walking marathons, including the walk to Elland Road, to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

For more information on how to sign up, visit prostatecanceruk.org/jeffsmarch.

Police investigate spate of violence and anti-social behaviour in Ripon

Police investigating a spate of anti-social behaviour offences in Ripon have called on the public to help them bring the perpetrators to justice.

North Yorkshire Police said a “small group of people” were causing issues in the city and that violence and anti-social behaviour “will not be tolerated”.

The plea comes after officers arrested a fifth man in connection with a knifepoint robbery outside the Ship Inn, Bondgate, in the city.

The force said today that it had stepped up patrols in the city after launching investigations into four separate incidents.

The offences include:

Officers have called on anyone with any information or CCTV footage from those areas to come forward to help their investigations.

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Inspector Alex Langley, North Yorkshire Police, said: 

“Violence and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in Ripon and we are doing all we can to bring those responsible for the events over the past week to justice.

“We have stepped up patrols in the area but we also need your help. We would like to hear from anyone who has CCTV covering Bondgate, Southgate, Mawson Lane and surrounding areas – this could be from a traditional CCTV camera, a video doorbell or dash-cam footage.

“A number of arrests have been made already and I hope this goes someway to reassure the public.

“I would like to thank those who have provided information already and continue to urge people to report any acts of anti-social behaviour or other crimes to police.”

Detective superintendent Steve Thomas, said: 

“Following the success of local policing operations to reduce anti-social behaviour in Ripon over recent months these latest incidents are disappointing.

“We are determined that this small group of individuals are held to account for behaviour that harms the quality of life for everyone else. Local residents will see an increase in police presence over the coming days and we want to reassure you that we will do everything necessary to tackle this isolated problem.”

Ninety-nine covid infections reported in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported 99 covid infections, according to latest Public Health England figures.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital is currently treating nine patients for covid.

Health officials in North Yorkshire said earlier this week that a “sharp rise” in the number of patients being treated for covid has been reported at the county’s hospitals.

Yesterday, Harrogate hospital recorded its first covid death in four months.

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It means the death toll at the hospital from covid since March 2020 stands at 180.

The district’s weekly rate has increased to 314 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate stands at 292 and the England average is 315.

North Yorkshire to rehome eight Afghan families

Eight Afghan families are to be rehomed in North Yorkshire as part of a government resettlement scheme.

Earlier this year, ministers said thousands of Afghans who worked for the British army, mostly interpreters, will be offered resettlement in the UK as the armed forces withdraw from the country.

The move comes as the withdrawal of Britain and United States has been criticised after Taliban forces rapidly took control of Afghanistan this past week.

Now, county council officials said North Yorkshire will open its doors to those fleeing the country from persecution.

Neil Irving, assistant director for policy, partnerships and communities at North Yorkshire County Council, said: 

“Following the announcement that NATO military forces would withdraw from Afghanistan, the UK government saw a need to accelerate relocations under the scheme.

“So far the councils in North Yorkshirehave agreed to resettle about eight families. The people we are welcoming to North Yorkshire have shown great courage in supporting British troops in the face of high personal risk. With the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, they now face increased threats to their lives, so it is right for us to honour their service by offering them our protection.

“Thanks to thorough preparation by the organisations involved, we are confident that their settlement and integration will be safe and as smooth as possible.”

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Nationally, more than 3,000 Afghans are expected to be allowed to settle in the UK, joining 1,300 who have already done so.

In June, senior Harrogate borough councillors agreed to offer resettlement to 19 Afghans, which amounts to four families, under the same scheme.

The Harrogate district has previously taken part in other resettlement programmes, including welcoming 13 Syrian families between 2016 and 2017.

Cllr Mike Chambers, cabinet member for housing and safer communities at the council, said the families are not only offered a place to live, but also given opportunities to go to school, learn English and find employment.

He added that the authority would be prepared to resettle more families if it was required to do so.

Meanwhile, the government has also committed to resettling 20,000 Afghan refugees in the UK after thousands have tried to flee the country.

First covid death in four months at Harrogate hospital

Harrogate District Hospital has recorded its first death from a patient who tested positive for covid in four months.

According to NHS England figures, the death was reported on August 16.

The last time a covid death was reported at the hospital was on April 11.

It comes as health managers reported a “sharp increase” in covid patients in North Yorkshire hospitals, with Harrogate treating nine – an increase from seven last week.

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The death toll at Harrogate hospital since March 2020 now stands at 180.

Meanwhile, 77 covid infections have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The district’s weekly rate has increased slightly to 299 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate stands at 274 and the England average is 310.

Elsewhere, 123,688 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 109,423 have had a second dose.