18-carat gold ring stolen from Harrogate home

Police are investigating a burglary in which an 18-carat gold, sapphire, emerald and diamond ring along with World War Two medals were stolen from a Harrogate home.

North Yorkshire Police said the valuables, as well as a silver hip flask, a gold locket and silver fern earrings were taken from a house on Woodlands Drive on May 29 this year.

Almost two months on, it is now appealing to the public to come forward if they have been offered the ring for sale.

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Officers are also appealing for information on a man seen leaving the house.

A police statement said:

“Officers also want to trace a man seen leaving the house who is described as young, white, approximately 5ft 7in and wearing a high-visibility jacket with a grey hood.

“Anyone who has information about the ring or has any other information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police by email 000740@northyorkshire.police.uk

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210127985.”

Public inquiry could delay £60m Kex Gill scheme by 15 months

A major project to realign the A59 near Kex Gill could be delayed by 15 months if a public inquiry is called.

The £60 million North Yorkshire County Council scheme will see a section of new road built between Harrogate and Skipton to divert traffic away from the landslip-prone part of the route.

This current road has a history of unsafe driving conditions and delayed journeys, as well as high maintenance costs.

Work on the project could start as early as this autumn. Earlier this year, the government declined to have a final say on the scheme, clearing the way for it to begin.

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However, Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, has said the project could face delays if objections are lodged against the compulsory purchase orders required for the scheme.

In a statement expected to be made to a full council meeting next week, he will say:

“The compulsory purchase and side roads orders have been published with a formal consultation period until the end of August. 

“The project programme without a public inquiry indicates that construction could start this autumn. On the other hand, if a public inquiry is required, the start of works could be delayed by up to 15 months.”

Construction work on the project is expected to take 18 months.

The government has committed up to £56 million in funding for the Kex Gill project, with the county council covering the remainder of the cost.

More than half-a-million pounds is also to be given to Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for environmental and tree planting project in an effort to offset “irreversible damage” of the project.

Harrogate district records 119 daily covid cases

The Harrogate district has recorded 119 daily covid cases, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

The number is the highest number since January 11 when 138 infections were reported.

It takes the total number of cases since last March to 9,711.

Meanwhile, the number of covid patients in Harrogate District Hospital has increased to five.

However, no covid-related deaths have been recorded at the hospital in three months.

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 402 cases per 100,000. The North Yorkshire average is 372 and the England rate is 357.

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A total of 219,249. vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 120,473 people receiving a first dose and 98,776 second doses.

The figures come as health bosses in North Yorkshire announced that new walk-in clinics will be introduced in the district this weekend.

Walk-in covid vaccination clinics with no bookings required will take place on July 17 in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge.

Meanwhile, Ripon Racecourse vaccination site is set to close down next month.

The centre was set up back in February in an effort to increase vaccination capacity in the Harrogate district.

The site is still open for second doses until the end of this month, but is expected to close in August.

Union criticises Harrogate district MPs for backing compulsory vaccines

The trade union Unison has criticised MPs in the Harrogate district for voting in favour of compulsory vaccinations for care home staff.

MPs voted through plans to make it mandatory for staff who work in a Care Quality Commission-registered care home to have two jabs of a covid vaccine unless they have a medical exemption.

It will become law from October after the House of Commons last night approved the regulation by 319 votes to 246.

The district’s three Conservative MPs, Andrew Jones, Julian Smith and Nigel Adams all voted in favour of the move.

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But the North Yorkshire branch of Unison tweeted:

“Concerning that Conservative MPs in our area voted to allow the state to mandate vaccination.

“We encourage all our members to get vaccinated, but making it law is not the way a liberal democracy should operate.”

Concerning that Conservative MPs in our area voted to allow the state to mandate #vaccination. We encouragr all our members to #GetVaccinated but making it the law is not the way a liberal democracy should operate. @nadams @AJonesMP @kevinhollinrake @RishiSunak @JulianSmithUK https://t.co/usBHo7oKvj

— North Yorkshire UNISON (@NYUnison) July 13, 2021

Unison was responding to a tweet by Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, saying care staff “need respect” and she objected to mandatory vaccines.

She said:

“This authoritarian state is encroaching on human rights of others. What next?”

Some rebel Tory MPs said the government should have published an impact assessment before the vote, which ministers said was “being worked on”.

William Wragg, Conservative MP, said he was “in despair” and that the government was “treating this House with contempt”.

Care minister Helen Whately said managers could discuss the vaccine with staff or look at alternative roles for those who did not want to be vaccinated.

The Stray Ferret approached all three of the Harrogate district MPs for comment, but received no response.

Chief executive defends Welcome to Yorkshire after accountability allegations

The chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire has defended the organisation amid allegations that the tourism body has become unaccountable.

James Mason, who joined the organisation in January 2020, called on people to judge the body on its record “going forward”.

Mr Mason joined the organisation after former boss, Sir Gary Verity, resigned in March 2019. on health grounds. He later faced allegations of bullying and inappropriately claiming expenses, which he denied.

Two inquiries carried out after Sir Gary’s resignation cost the tourism body £482,500. Following the announcement of the investigations, the then chairman of Welcome to Yorkshire, Ron McMillan, resigned after councils funding the organisation demanded a “significantly revamped board to take the business forward”.

In July 2019, Lord Paul Scriven, a former leader of Sheffield City Council and Liberal Democrat peer, called for the board to resign and said “fundamental change” was needed to regain its reputation.

The new allegations come after the Yorkshire Post reported that Sir Thomas Ingilby, owner of Ripley Castle and Gardens, said in an email to members of Welcome to Yorkshire that the body had become “completely unaccountable” and had failed to meet with members.

Mr Mason told the Stray Ferret that he “fully respected” Sir Thomas’ disappointment, but added that the organisation had taken steps to be accountable and transparent.

He said the accusation “could be labeled at the past” and the present “to a point”.

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But, Mr Mason said the body was undertaking a governance review, held meetings in public and published minutes of its board.

He added that Welcome to Yorkshire was also looking at its constitution and how it elected chairmen and board members.

Mr Mason said:

“We’re looking at how we as an organisation can represent the future as a county.”

Meanwhile, Mr Mason said the organisation needed to come together in order for the tourism industry to recover after the covid pandemic.

He said:

“Whether you are for or against Welcome to Yorkshire is not really important.

“What you need to be for is the Yorkshire tourism industry and the visitor economy that really needs support right now. It’s an unwelcome distraction.”

Mr Mason added:

“We all want the same thing at Welcome to Yorkshire, whether you are a member or not a member.

“We all have to come together and want the same thing. That’s the only way we are going to recover. 

“It’s not going to be via fighting, bitter feuds, looking back or looking at the present, it’s about looking forward.”

Mr Mason called on people to judge Welcome to Yorkshire on their record going forward.

“Just judge us please on the now and going forward. That is all I would ask.”

‘We have a duty to support Tour de Yorkshire’

Senior county councillors have today backed awarding the tourism organisation Welcome to Yorkshire up to £200,000 to host the Tour de Yorkshire.

It comes after Amaury Sports Organisation, which is part of a French media group that owns the event and co-organises it with Welcome to Yorkshire, said last week it would not cover the costs of the race.

This has prompted the council to offer Welcome to Yorkshire up to £200,000 to stage the race next May in the hope it will boost tourism.

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Senior county councillors approved a payment of £100,000 to fund the event and to set aside a further £100,000 to underwrite any failure to secure sponsorship.

Council bosses said the money set aside would only be paid if Welcome to Yorkshire make a “final evidenced request”.

Cllr Gareth Dadd, deputy leader of the county council, said at a meeting of the authority’s executive today:

“We have a leadership responsibility in North Yorkshire and I know that one or two of the district and borough councils have shown their support by passing a similar recommendation.

“But as the principle authority, I think we have a duty to support anything that could have potential benefits to tourism.”

Cllr Dadd added that a review of the race would be carried out to determine the benefits to the county of holding it.

Welcome to Yorkshire has requested funding from numerous local authorities which are host towns for the race in case it fails to get sponsorship.

Harrogate Borough Council is not one of them but Harrogate district people will still fund the event through the portion of their council tax payments that goes to North Yorkshire County Council.

If all the payments are approved, Yorkshire taxpayers could underwrite the event by up to £900,000.

 

Council to launch loan scheme to bring empty homes into use

Harrogate Borough Council is to launch a loan scheme aimed at helping owners of empty homes bring them back into use.

The scheme is designed to help property owners to carry out essential repairs and improvements to houses which have been empty for more than six months.

Called the Empty Homes Loans scheme, the authority will target loans at those owners who want to carry out improvements but do not have the money to do so.

It will also prioritise properties which have stood empty for more than two years.

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Currently, there are around 200 private properties in the district that have been empty for more than two years.

Madeleine Bell, head of housing and property at the council, said:

“We want to work with property owners who, for whatever reason, have an empty property that could be better used to provide a home for local people.

“The Empty Homes Loan allows these property owners, who might not have the money to do so, carry out repairs or improvement works and bring them back into use. Anyone interested should get in touch with the private housing team to find out more.”

The loan can be used for essential repairs and improvements to an empty home, such as fixing faulty electrical wiring or a leaking roof or to bring it up to a standard so that it can be occupied again.

It will have no set repayment term and there are no monthly repayments. However it will be required to be paid back within five years of the work being completed or when the house is sold.

No covid deaths at Harrogate hospital for three months

No covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital for three months.

According to NHS England figures, the last death from a patient who tested positive for covid was on April 11.

It means the death toll at the hospital since last March remains at 179.

Meanwhile, a further 98 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

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It takes the total number of cases in the district since last March to 9,516.

The district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 406 people per 100,000 — the highest in North Yorkshire.

The North Yorkshire average is 343 and the England rate is 323.

A total of 218,303 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 120,348 people receiving a first dose and 97,955 second doses.

New planters installed in Harrogate after fake grass saga

New planters are being installed on Cambridge Street in Harrogate town centre.

The move comes two months after Harrogate Borough Council placed fake grass in raised flower beds in the town centre.

Workers were seen installing the new planters today.

One worker told the Stray Ferret that the planters would have “flowers in spring and autumn and shrubs other times of year”.

A council spokesperson said:

“Over the years we’ve planted numerous varieties of plants and flowers in the planters. But sadly, nothing has lasted very long due to the trees’ roots structure soaking-up all the moisture and nutrients in the soil.

“These new bespoke plant beds, which sit above the root base, will have their own soil that is full of nutrients and should allow the plants to grow successfully every year.

“For the summer, they will be filled with bright cheerful geraniums (as shown in the photo). And in the winter we will plant spring bulbs and perennials.

“In the coming weeks they will start to compliment Harrogate’s award-winning floral displays that we take enormous pride in looking after.”

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It follows a fierce backlash to the artificial grass installed on Cambridge Street in May, which residents and campaigners described as “cheap and tacky”.

Council officials initially claimed the move received “lots of positive feedback”, but later removed the grass and apologised.

It was later revealed that the council had spent £800 on the artificial grass.

However, Cllr Andrew Paraskos, cabinet member for environment, defended the saga at a full council meeting last week.

He said that the fake grass was removed “straight away” and that the authority had to “try new ideas”.

Plans to bid for more cycling and walking funding

North Yorkshire County Council looks set to bid for further government funding for walking and cycling projects.

Louise Neale, transport planning officer at the authority, told a Transport scrutiny meeting this morning that the Department for Transport had announced plans for further funding last month.

While no detail has been revealed on the bid, officers are expected to submit an application for funding by August.

Ms Neale told councillors this morning that a report on the bid would be made public later this week.

She said:

“We will hopefully find out the outcome of that in the Autumn and we will have until March 2023 to spend that funding.”

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, told the Stray Ferret that he hoped the government would award the county council “roughly the same” funding as in the last bid.

He said:

“I’m hopeful that what we will get is the same as the last tranche. But I would be happy to get more.”

Cllr Mackenzie said no detail was yet available on what projects would be included in the bid, but added that Harrogate had “its fair share” in the last tranche of funding.

The county council has already outlined two projects in Harrogate as part of a previous bid to the government’s active travel scheme. A third is planned in Whitby.

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Ministers awarded the county council £1,011,750 last year to help fund the projects, despite the authority bidding for more.

It includes plans for cycle lanes and junction upgrades on the A59 between Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as a scheme on Victoria Avenue in the town centre.

Meanwhile, a proposal to make Oatlands Drive more friendly to cyclists met with fierce backlash from local residents.

The plan originally included a scheme to make the whole of Oatlands Drive one-way. However, this was dropped in March after 57% of respondents to a council consultation opposed the scheme.

The scheme moved forward and included making nearby St Winifred’s Road and St Hilda’s Road one way but this was similarly unpopular with residents.

In May, the council decided to withdraw the scheme altogether from its bid.

Instead, the council has commissioned an ‘Oatlands Constituency Feasibility Study’, which it says will “reassess opportunities” for infrastructure improvements across a wider area than the government scheme allows.