Calvin Robinson Chief Reporter, Author at The Stray Ferret

Bin collections as usual on Monday despite England game

Bin collectors across the Harrogate district will still be out in force on Monday morning after England’s big game.

While some businesses are giving employees a day off after the Euro 2020 final, Harrogate Borough Council has said all refuse will still be collected at its usual time.

England are set to walk out at Wembley tomorrow evening to play Italy in their first major tournament final in 55 years.

A council spokesperson said:

“Garden waste, refuse and recycling will be collected as normal next week.

“We have a dedicated team who look after our parks, open spaces and streets across the district. They will be working hard next week, as they do every week, to make sure the Harrogate district looks as wonderful and presentable as residents expect.”

As pubs and beer gardens are expected to be packed, the council also urged punters to use the bins provided and to take rubbish home with them after the game.

Officials have said there are no plans for a big screen on the Stray to show the match, and no third parties had applied for a screen either.

While bin collections will continue as normal, other businesses have offered their employees time off.

National firm McQueens Dairies delivers milk, eggs and other essential produce to homes in the Harrogate district every week and told its drivers they can take the night off on July 11 to watch the final.

Customers received an email saying there would be no deliveries on the morning of July 12 due to its anticipation of a victory for England.

The rescheduling “will allow our staff… to enjoy the celebrations”, the firm explained.

But the chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours housing association has said it is “unfair” that some workers and students have been given a late start to the working week.

Sue Cawthray said that although her team members will be watching the final, essential workers don’t have the option of a mass half-day off. She said:

“Its so unfair, we’ve been through enough with the pandemic and it feels like we’ve been forgotten about. We still have to get up for our shifts on Monday. We can’t say ‘oh, we can’t wake you up or help you get dressed this morning because England were in the finals’.”

Harrogate Town reveal ticketing arrangements for first two pre-season matches

Harrogate Town season ticket holders are to be entered into a ballot for tickets to the club’s first pre-season friendlies at home.

Tickets for Town’s games against Premier League outfit Newcastle Untied on July 18 and Championship club Rotherham United on July 21 will be balloted ahead of the games.

Both matches will be held at the EnviroVent Stadium this month and will be held in front of a limited crowd.

Announcing the ticket arrangements, the club said:

“Due to the amount of Harrogate Town seated season ticket holders exceeding the amount of seats available, all seated Harrogate Town season ticket holders as of July 9 will be entered into a ballot for a seat in the family stand, with those unsuccessful offered a seat in an alternative standing area.

“Unfortunately, for these two fixtures only, season ticket holders will not be seated in their chosen seat, each supporter successful in the ballot for a seat will be allocated their seat. Seated season ticket holders will be contacted with the result of the ballot.”

The club added that those season ticket holders not wishing to attend because they cannot sit in a seat will be given a free streaming pass in compensation.

A limited number of standing tickets will go on sale from 12pm on Monday July 12 at the club shop on Commercial Street. Tickets will not be available online.

General sale tickets will be will be sold on a first-come first-served basis at £10 for adults, £8 concessions and £2 for under-18s.

The club added:

“The fixture will fall under the same protocols as our last home match with supporters, which includes staggered arrival and departure of supporters and a one way system in place in the stadium.”

Town are set for trips to Huddersfield, Brighouse Town and Darlington as part of their pre-season schedule.

League One club Sunderland are also set for a trip to Wetherby Road on July 24.

Harrogate council forecasts £6.5m income losses despite covid restrictions easing

Harrogate Borough Council has predicted that covid will wipe millions of pounds off its finances this year despite the hopeful end of all lockdown restrictions.

Finance bosses at the authority have forecast income losses of around £6.5million from areas including Harrogate Convention Centre, leisure centres and planning in 2021/22 after what they described as an already “incredibly challenging” year during the first 12 months of the pandemic.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, Paul Foster, head of finance, said out-turning on budget in February was an “incredible achievement” and that the council would now need to generate around £18.8million in income to do the same this financial term.

He said:

“I can report that in line with monitoring through the year, we will out-turn on budget. This is despite a net cost of circa £10million that the council faced last financial year as a result of the pandemic.

“To out-turn on budget is an incredible achievement, particularly as we have managed to maintain performance in a number of critical areas – and this is in addition to the council’s response to the coronavirus pandemic itself.

“Key to achieving a balanced budget in 2021/22 is income recovery. We have budgeted for ongoing income losses of £6.5million as a result of covid, but income generation of £18.8million is still required to balance the budget.

“There is a lot to play this year to see how successful we are in keeping to budget.”

Council budgets across the UK have been stretched for some time as a result of years of government cuts, but for many covid has only compounded the problem.

At a time when local authorities have had to spend more on supporting their communities, income streams have been hit hard with little cash coming in and a lot going out.

Some councils have struggled to carry out statutory duties, been at risk of bankruptcy and have had to ask the government to borrow emergency money in order to keep services running.

In Harrogate, the situation has not been quite as alarming but serious all the same.

At the start of the pandemic, the council scaled back spending to essential areas only before introducing a recruitment freeze and shedding around 60 jobs.

The council has also redeployed many staff into under pressure areas such as bin collections and business support grants, with chief executive Wallace Sampson himself lending a hand to waste collection crews.

The authority has received around £7.8million in emergency government grants, but this has still meant £2.7million of reserve cash has had to be used in to plug funding gaps.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council – which looks after the vast majority of services including social care, education and highways – is facing a much starker picture with a projected funding shortfall of £59million over the next three years.

Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting, Mr Foster said detailed reports of how Harrogate Borough Council is plotting its way out of the financial pressures of the pandemic will be brought to a cabinet meeting later this month.

He said:

“This report will be finalised this week and published next.

“The out-turn position reflects the support across the council in adhering to the spending controls we put in place, including the recruitment freeze, in response to the financial challenges of the pandemic.

“The delivered savings would not have been achieved without a successful staff redeployment scheme. However, as we move towards business as usual, it is clear that the vacancy freeze is not sustainable and the filling of essential posts is key to our continued success.”

Delta variant cases in Harrogate district rise to 465

A total of 465 cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to the latest government data.

The number, which represents cases up to July 7, is an increase on the 331 recorded in the district up to June 30.

Meanwhile, a further 90 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district according to Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases in the district since last March to 9,225.

The district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 377 people per 100,000 – the highest in North Yorkshire.

The North Yorkshire average is 294 and the England rate is 295.

However, the number of patients being treated for covid at Harrogate District Hospital has fallen to two.

No covid-related deaths have been reported at the hospital since April 11.

A total of 216,710 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 119,378 people receiving a first dose and 97,332 second doses.

Harrogate district draped in England colours ahead of Euro 2020 final

Football fans across the Harrogate district have been decorating their homes in England’s colours ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2020 final.

England will step out at Wembley for their first major tournament final in 55 years this weekend and people have draped their houses in St George’s flags as part of the excitement.

Stray Ferret readers have been sharing their pictures of their shows of support for Gareth Southgate’s men.

Houses are covered in red and white, “it’s coming home” slogans and one household even singled out Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips, dubbed the “Yorkshire Pirlo” by the club’s supporters.

England will take on Italy in the Euro 2020 final in front of a crowd of more than 60,000 at Wembley. The game will be broadcast on both BBC and ITV.

Have you decorated your house ahead of England’s big game? Share your pictures with us on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will feature them.

These Leeds fans paid tribute to both England and Kalvin Phillips, dubbed the “Yorkshire Pirlo” by supporters.

Sheburn House in Knaresborough showing its support for England this weekend.

More bunting and decorations ahead of England’s big game.

Creation of Harrogate Town Council ‘inevitable’ if reorganisation happens

The leader of Harrogate Borough Council has said it is “inevitable” that a new town council will be created under plans for local government reorganisation across North Yorkshire.

Conservative councillor Richard Cooper made the statement after members of the opposition Liberal Democrat party called for commitments to ensure residents’ voices are not “lost” if the current two-tier structure of county and district councils is scrapped and replaced with unitary authorities.

Harrogate and Scarborough are the only areas in North Yorkshire currently not served by a town or parish council and a review of how services are run would be required if the Government decides to press ahead with reorganisation later this month.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, councillor Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said Harrogate would be “woefully underrepresented” if the town was not given a chance to retain control over some services such as parks, markets and sports pitches.

She said:

“We owe it to the people of Harrogate town to be able to make a strong statement that this council supports the parishing of Harrogate.

“Even with 75,000 residents’ voices, those voices would be lost in some large unitary authority. It would leave Harrogate residents adrift and very under-represented.

“We as the locally elected members for those 75,000 residents need to ensure their voices are not lost and that true devolution occurs, bringing decision-making and accountability down to the people.”

In response, councillor Cooper said he had previously offered assurances that a Harrogate Town Council would most likely be created and that a review of services would be carried at “the correct time, in the correct way and by the correct people.”

Under the reorganisation plans, the current two-tier system could be replaced with either a single authority for all of North Yorkshire or two bodies split on an east/west basis in what would mark the biggest shake-up of local government in the county since the 1970s.

The government will also decide whether the City of York should be engulfed in the east/west proposal or be left as unitary authority.

The aim of the reforms is to unlock the door to a devolution deal and save cash by streamlining services.

Currently, North Yorkshire County Council is responsible for services including social care, education and highways, while district and borough councils look after the likes of planning, licensing and bin collections.

If approved, the reforms would see almost all services brought under the control of a unitary structure with some likely to be left in the control of a Harrogate Town Council.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Matthew Webber received the backing of all members after presenting a notice of motion which called on the borough council to “strongly recommend” the creation of a town council.

He said:

“We are facing reorganisation and the announcement is due later this month. Harrogate will not become the centre of the world, it will probably be Northallerton so the influence Harrogate has got across its district is likely to be lessened.

“What we are asking through this notice of motion is that Harrogate is given a voice.”

Harrogate Borough Council, along with Scarborough, Ryedale, Craven, Selby and Richmondshire councils, is behind the proposals to split North Yorkshire on an east/west basis, while North Yorkshire County Council has proposed a single authority for the whole county.

Each rival bids have boasted multi-million pound savings and better ways of working – and it is MP Luke Hall, minister for regional growth and local government, who will have the final say on which path to take later this month.

No plans for big screen on Stray for Euro 2020 final, says council

Council officials have said they have no plans to hold a big screen on the Stray for England’s Euro 2020 final against Italy on Sunday.

The Three Lions reached their first major tournament final in 55 years on Wednesday after beating Denmark 2-1 after extra-time in front of 60,000 fans at Wembley.

Sunday is expected to see pubs and beer gardenpacked out to watch the match against Italy which will be broadcast on both ITV and BBC.

Despite being England’s first final since winning the World Cup in 1966, Harrogate Borough Council has said it has no plans to host a big screen for the occasion.

A spokesperson for the council said:

“We have no plans to organise a big screen, or the associated social distancing measures that would be required, on the Stray this weekend.”

The council added it also had no received any applications from other parties to host a big screen.

The Stray has been used in the past for people to watch major sporting events, such as the Wimbledon final in 2013.

Meanwhile, the government has announced that pubs will be allowed to stay open until 11.15pm on Sunday evening.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said the extension would allow people to watch the game in case it goes to extra time and penalties.

Travel concerns over Indian-made AstraZeneca jabs given in Harrogate district

Travel concerns have been raised over Indian-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine batches which have been given out in the Harrogate district.

The Indian version of the jab, known as Covishield and made by the Serum Institute of India, is not currently recognised by the European Union’s passport scheme.

The vaccine conforms to medical standards but did not get the right paperwork for Europe so has thrown into doubt travel plans for millions of people across the UK.

Tim Stokes, a caterer from Harrogate, is one of those who received the a vaccine from the Indian-manufactured batch.

He said he received his vaccine at the Yorkshire Showground site.

While he has not yet booked a holiday, Mr Stokes said he would think twice before looking to take a break abroad.

He said:

“I think we will wait and if something comes up then we will take it.”

Mr Stokes added he was concerned that if the vaccine was not recognised then it would require him to isolate upon arrival.

Around five million British people have had the vaccine, which has not yet been authorised by the European Medicines Agency for use on the EU Digital covid certificate.

Some of the batches of the vaccine have been given at the Yorkshire Showground vaccination site.

.However, the Department of Health said vaccines given in the UK would appear as “Vaxzevria” on the NHS covid pass.

It said:

“The government has confirmed that no Covishield vaccines have been administered in the UK and that all AstraZeneca vaccines given in the UK appear on the NHS COVID Pass as Vaxzevria.”

Meanwhile, other countries such as Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Ireland and Spain have already approved the Covishield vaccine for travel.

Estonia, Switzerland and Iceland have also said they will recognise the vaccine.

A further 99 covid cases in Harrogate district

A further 99 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases in the district since last March to 9,135.

The district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 358 people per 100,000 — the highest in North Yorkshire.

The North Yorkshire average is 283 and the England rate is 282.

However, the number of patients being treated for covid at Harrogate District Hospital has declined to two.

No covid-related deaths have been reported at the hospital since April 11.

A total of 216,571 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 119,292 people receiving a first dose and 97,279 second doses.

Senior Harrogate councillor defends fake grass saga

A senior Harrogate borough councillor has defended a council decision to put fake grass in the town centre.

The council’s decision to install plastic grass in the raised flower beds on Cambridge Street in May met a fierce backlash from residents.

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

Last night, Cllr Andrew Paraskos, cabinet member for parks and environment, told a full council meeting that the grass was removed “straight away” and that the authority had to “try new ideas”.

When asked to comment on whether the council explained its decision properly and if its value system “focussed only on money”, Cllr Paraskos defended the move.

He said:

“I totally disagree. The stuff that we put down, I don’t like to use the term artificial grass, was there as a barrier. If we had put down the black mesh stuff to keep the weeds under control, nobody would have ever mentioned a word.

“But because we have used something that looked like grass, everybody jumped on the bandwagon straight away and believed we were trying to grass the town centre. That was never our intention.

“We thought it was possibly a good idea, put a little colour behind the new planters that we put in and when everybody objected we removed it straight away. Nobody liked it, so we carried on and we will come up with new plans for that area to make the town centre look more attractive to visitors going forward.

“We must try new ideas even if they are wrong and we will find out afterwards. If you don’t try, you don’t move forward.”

When the Stray Ferret broke the story, the article received well over 150 responses – nearly all of which criticised the move.

The fake grass and planters were put in place in May.

Comments ranged from “it looks cheap and tacky” to “wasting council tax money yet again” to “who actually sat there thinking this was a cracking idea?”.

Some residents offered to remove the grass and plant flowers, but it was rejected by the council.

Extinction Rebellion later took direct action by replacing some of the grass with flowers in protest and handed it back to the council in person.

The borough council’s statement apologising for the lack of communication on the saga can be read in full here.

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