Call for ‘greater transparency’ over Knaresborough pool reopening

Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have called for “greater transparency” over the reopening of Knaresborough Pool.

Matt Walker, a local campaigner for the party, has written to Cllr Stan Lumley, cabinet member for leisure at Harrogate Borough Council, after the pool was not included on a list of openings on April 12.

A council newsletter has said Knaresborough pool will continue to remain closed until further notice.

It added engineers from the Spanish-based equipment manufacturer were unable to undertake urgent repair work because lockdown rules prevented them travelling.

Mr Walker said the council’s announcement “raised more questions than it answered” and that Knaresborough Pool needed to reopen as soon as possible.

He added that the facility had been closed “multiple times” for maintenance and had now been shut for more than a year.

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Mr Walker said:

“The council appears to have taken its eye off the ball, yet again. Residents deserve answers.

“Many other organisations have continued to carry out essential maintenance work during the lockdowns. It would appear that this is nothing more than poor planning from Harrogate Borough Council, but questions certainly need to be answered.

“Knaresborough pool is a real community asset. It is important for the health and wellbeing of thousands of local residents, so residents shouldn’t have to wait many additional months to see it return.”

The council’s other leisure centres — The Hydro in Harrogate, Nidderdale Pool and Leisure Centre and Ripon Leisure Centre — will open on April 12.

Knaresborough Pool is due to be demolished and replaced by a new leisure facility on the same location.

The council has been approached for comment.

Harrogate district covid rate hits six-month low

The Harrogate district seven-day covid rate has fallen below 50 infections per 100,000 people.

The average now stands at 46 and has fallen below 50 for the first time since September last year.

The overall rate for North Yorkshire is 41 and the England rate is 60.

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Just eight cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district today by Public Health England.

It takes the total number of infections in the district since last March to 7,384.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Wetherby Road Starbucks drive-thru plan to go to appeal

The company behind a plan to build a Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road is taking Harrogate Borough Council to appeal over its decision to reject the proposal.

Euro Garages Ltd, which manages petrol stations and fast food outlets across Europe, submitted plans to build a coffee shop on the former 1st Dental site.

The proposals included demolishing the existing building to make way for a drive-thru coffee shop with 19 car parking spaces. It would then be handed over to Starbucks to operate.

The borough council refused the application in December 2019 – the third time the plan has fallen short.

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Councillors rejected the proposal on grounds of air quality and traffic flow concerns along Wetherby Road. The authority also raised concerns over a loss of amenity to those living next to the Starbucks due to noise and light pollution.

In a council decision notice published at the time, the council said:

“The proposed highway alterations to facilitate a right turn into the site would lead to the loss of a traffic lane to the detriment of the flow of traffic along Wetherby Road which would lead to an increase in congestion together with highway safety concerns regarding those turning right into the site having to cross two lanes of oncoming traffic and the increase of vehicular traffic close to a traffic signal controlled junction that is already operating at capacity.”

Councillors threw out a similar proposal back in 2017. The government then dismissed an appeal against the decision the following year.

Now, Euro Garages has submitted another appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

The layout of the proposed Starbucks on Wetherby Road.

The layout of the proposed Starbucks on Wetherby Road.

In its statement of case, the company said there was “no justification” for refusing the proposal on the grounds of a loss of a traffic lane.

It said:

“The proposal would not lead to the loss of a traffic lane and additional highways space would be created by the development which would see localised widening on Wetherby Road.

“The development would not result in a material detrimental impact on the flow of traffic along Wetherby Road as evidenced in the Transport Assessment Modelling.”

Cllr Pat Marsh, whose ward the development falls into, said the plan was “absolutely ludicrous” and wrong on traffic and health grounds.

She said the development would increase pollution as traffic backs up down Wetherby Road.

Cllr Marsh said:

“People cannot understand the absurdity of wanting to build a drive through on one of the busiest roads in Harrogate. It is the only air quality management area in Harrogate, it has a lot of traffic movements.”

She added that residents would also see an increase in noise and light pollution due to the Starbucks being built next to them.

“Can you imagine from 7am in the morning until 10pm at night cars coming in and out ordering coffee?

“How are those residents going to be able to have a reasonable amount of amenity? They are just not.”

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

Three more covid deaths at Harrogate hospital

Three more patients who tested positive for covid have died at Harrogate District Hospital.

The deaths were reported on March 3, according to NHS England figures.

It takes the death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic to 165.

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Currently, 48 patients who tested positive for covid are being treated in Harrogate hospital according to latest Public Health England data.

A further 12 covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

it takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,354.

Meanwhile, 58,293 people have had the first dose of a covid vaccine in the Harrogate district.

NHS England has started to publish local data with a breakdown of vaccination figures by area and age.

Hope that Nidderdale Show will go ahead this year

Organisers of the Nidderdale Show are “cautiously optimistic” that the event will go ahead this year.

The show, which is held by the Nidderdale Agricultural Society, attracts crowds of 15,000 and aims to celebrate agricultural traditions.

Held in September, the event closes the traditional agricultural show season.

Last year, the show fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic and was cancelled.

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But organisers say they are now “cautiously optimistic” that it will go ahead this year on September 20.

A post on the Nidderdale Show Facebook page said:

“We are cautiously optimistic that the Nidderdale Show may be able to go ahead on Monday 20th September and plans are underway.  

“We will keep reviewing this as government guidelines change and updating with more details as they become available. Keep watching this page and our website for more announcements as we move forwards. In the meantime stay safe.”

Mike Holt, Mayor of Pateley Bridge, told the Stray Ferret that he was hopeful that the show would return later this year.

He said:

“It brings a massive amount to the area and it was a crying shame that it did not go ahead last year.

“If the road map works as the government hopes it will, I’m certainly hoping everything will be okay.”

It comes as organisers of shows and events across the district have made decisions in light of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown as whether to go ahead or not.

The Great Yorkshire Show intends to go ahead in July, with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and NHS bosses in discussions over how to hold the show while continuing vaccinations.

Birstwith Show announced last month that it will return in July.

However, Masham Steam Rally has postponed its event until next year and Tockwith Show has sent out an urgent SOS for volunteers to enable this year’s event to go ahead.

Lofthouse schoolchildren prepare for charity moveathon

Two schoolchildren from Lofthouse are urging people to get moving in an effort to raise money for charity.

Petra and Thora Vardy, pupils at Fountains Earth Church of England Primary School, decided to organise a “moveathon” tomorrow in aid of Salvation Army.

Children and adults can take part at any time in their own homes or gardens. Toilet breaks are allowed but drinks must be taken whilst exercising. The movement must be non-stop to qualify.

Petra and Thora decided to organise the event as they were concerned by the number of homeless recently in the cold weather, as well as those who cannot afford food or heating.

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Jo Metcalfe, teacher at the school, said:

“Anyone can take part and they will be required to move as vigorously as their health permits and ask for sponsorship for every 15 minutes that they can keep the movement up.

“Walking does not usually qualify – nor does watching television and wiggling toes – unless these are all you can do! Dancing, gymnastics or any other form of exercise would be fine.”

Dr Peter Vardy, Petra and Thora’s father, said the pair came up with the idea themselves and organised for other schools to take part.

He said:

“They organised everything and arranged for St. Cuthbert’s in Pateley bridge and their own little school, Fountains Earth primary in Lofthouse, to take part.

“They asked to visit the Salvation Army to see what they did over the holiday and we’re so impressed they decided to raise money.”

You can sponsor the moveathon and find out more details here.

Nearly 60,000 receive covid vaccine in Harrogate district

Nearly 60,000 people have had the first dose of a covid vaccine in the Harrogate district, according to the latest figures.

Statistics from NHS England show a breakdown of the number of people vaccinated by region and age.

A total of 58,293 people in the district have received a first dose so far – 36% of the district’s population.

The number includes:

It comes as health bosses in North Yorkshire have started to offer vaccines to over 60s and those with underlying health conditions.

The vaccine rollout in the district also received praise from Health Secretary Matt Hancock this week. Mr Hancock said health staff in the district had done an “amazing job” delivering the vaccine.

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Harrogate is currently served by vaccine sites at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Ripon Racecourse and the former Lidl supermarket in Knaresborough.

People in the district may also be invited to the mass vaccination centre at Askham Bar in York and a site at Elland Road stadium in Leeds.

Meanwhile, the company behind the new vaccination centre in Knaresborough has said it has ambitions to administer 10,000 vaccines a week from next month.

Jason Baskind, of Homecare Pharmacy Services which runs the site, told the Stray Ferret that vaccine supply is expected to improve “significantly” in the coming months.

Police warning after increase in burglaries in Harrogate

Police have issued a warning after an increase in burglaries in the Harrogate district.

Officers said there had been an rise in burglaries in the Pannal, Rossett and the Stray areas.

The force said people should ensure their windows, doors and cars were locked and to report any suspicious activity to police.

A warning has also been issued to residents in the Duchy Road area after thieves stole property from cars. Police said vehicles had been left “insecure” and urged people not to leave items on display.

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A post on North Yorkshire Police’s Facebook said:

“Last night a number of insecure vehicles were entered in the Duchy Road area of Harrogate and property was stolen. 

“This is reminder to motorists to ensure that your cars/vans are locked, even if parked on your driveway and ensure that no items of value are left on display.”

Police added:

“There has been an increase of burglaries in Pannal, Rossett and the Stray areas of Harrogate.

“Please ensure that you lock your doors, windows and cars. If you witness any suspicious activity, please contact the police immediately.”

Harrogate district covid rate lowest for six months

The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen to its lowest level for six months.

According to North Yorkshire County Council figures, the average now stands at 59 infections per 100,000 people.

It’s the lowest rate since September 29, when it stood at 55.

The current county-wide average is 47 and the England rate is 74.

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Today’s Public Health England figures confirmed a further 13 cases of covid in the district.

It takes the total number of infections since the start of the pandemic to 7,342.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

Harrogate covid testing site to become rapid test collection point

School pupils and staff in Harrogate will be able to collect rapid covid tests at the town’s testing centre from next week.

The Dragon Road site will become a collection point in the afternoon as part of a government plan to expand access to local community testing.

It comes as secondary school children will be tested using lateral flow tests twice a week from March 8.

The site will operate as a collection point for lateral flow kits from 1.30pm until 7pm.

Households with primary school, secondary school or college aged children, which includes childcare and support bubbles, will be able to use the site to collect rapid test kits.

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Primary school, secondary school and college staff will also be able to use the facility.

The site will still carry out symptomatic testing as normal in a morning until 12pm.

Dr Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, a partnership of emergency agencies, that it should not affect symptomatic testing.

She said:

“We have discussed in recent weeks that we have had plenty of spare capacity at local test sites, so this should not impact peoples’ ability to access symptomatic testing should they need it.”

Dr Turner added that she expects that more collection sites will be created nationally by the end of March.

Meanwhile, Harrogate District Hospital has reported another death from a patient who tested positive for covid.

According to NHS England figures, the patient died on March 2. It takes the death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic to 162.