The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate is at its lowest since August last year.

Currently, the average stands at 11 per 100,000 people.

It’s the lowest rate since August 30 when it also stood at 11, according to North Yorkshire County Council statistics.

Meanwhile, the North Yorkshire average is 31 and the England rate stands at 38.

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Just three covid cases were reported in the district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,595.

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

The death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic stands at 178.

The last recorded death at the district’s hospital was on March 29.

Police are appealing for information following an incident which closed the A1 southbound near Knaresborough.

North Yorkshire Police closed the road between junctions 47 and 48 earlier this morning.

Officers said the incident involved a single vehicle and have appealed for anyone who saw a Black VW estate car with hazard lights on which was on the southbound carriageway.

Read more:

• Residents against A1 service station vow to fight on

• ‘There is a need’ for A1 service station near Kirby Hill, inquiry told

A police statement said:

“The road closed shortly after 6.25am due to an incident involving a single vehicle.

“Officers are appealing for anyone who saw a  Black VW estate car with hazard lights on and was stationary, on the southbound carriageway between 5am and 6.30am, to come forward. 

“Officers also request that anyone with any dashcam footage from the area at that time gets in touch.

“Dial 101, press 2 and ask for Traffic Constable 174 David Minto. Alternatively you can email David.minto@northyorkshire.police.uk

“Please use reference number 12210091937 when passing on any information.”

The A1 southbound between junctions 47 and 48 has now been reopened.

A historic pub in Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, is set to reopen on April 12 as lockdown restrictions on hospitality are eased.

The Crown Inn, which dates back to the sixteenth century, will open its doors again next week and has already taken bookings for weddings.

Bars and restaurants will be allowed to serve people outside from April 12 as part of the government’s “roadmap” out of lockdown.

Chris Hannon, managing director of Coastal and Country Inns group, which owns the pub, said he was “absolutely delighted” to be able to welcome customers back.

Read more:

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Mr Hannon said:

“This has been a devastating year for so many people and we are fervently hoping that the easing of lockdown next month is the beginning of the end of this nightmare.

“We cannot wait to become the beating heart of Roecliffe again. It seems wrong that a tight-knit community such as ours hasn’t had a pub open since Christmas.” 

Mr Hannon added that the pub had taken bookings for weddings from June onwards. Restrictions on social contact are expected to be lifted after June 21.

He said:

“Our first wedding is in late June – and it will be a spectacular celebration.

“We suspect that a number of weddings have been postponed because of covid and we are more than happy and ready to host any re-arranged marriages and ensure they are very special and memorable occasions.”

The pub was taken over by Coastal and Country Inns in September last year.

At the time, Mr Hannon said the company wanted to restore the pub to its former “glory days”.

Its new managers, Lukas and Veronicka Alman, have previously worked at another of the group’s inns in the Peak District.

The pub has been refurbished and is offering food and drink, accommodation and events space.

The A1 southbound near Knaresborough was closed due to a police incident this morning.

North Yorkshire Police said the road was closed between junctions 47 and 48.

Officers urged drivers to avoid the area and seek an alternative route this morning.

Read more:

• Residents against A1 service station vow to fight on

• ‘There is a need’ for A1 service station near Kirby Hill, inquiry told

The route remained closed while emergency services deal with the incident.

A post on the Highways England website said:

“Delays are likely on the approach to the closure, with additional journey times also expected on diversion routes. Please allow extra time for your journey if travelling in the area or consider alternative routes.”

Update 10.10am – Highways England have confirmed the road is now open.

Bilton in Ainsty Cricket Club will get a brand new state-of-the-art pavilion after planning approval was granted.

Harrogate Borough Council has approved the application, which the club submitted after it said the old pavilion was on its last legs.

The club, which plays at the Bilton Estate near York, could only get funding from the England Cricket Board to build a new pavilion if they owned the land. So the Lloyd family, which owns the estate, stepped in to offer to pay for it.

The family is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound refurbishment of Bilton Hall.

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Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Phil Atkinson said the new structure will cost six figures and will also include new changing rooms, a kitchen and a club room.

He added that the club had become important to the local area.

Mr Atkinson said:

“This is great news for Bilton In Ainsty Cricket Club – it makes us the dominant force in local cricket.”

Residents in Kirby Hill have pledged that they “will not stop” opposing a motorway service station on the A1 following the closure of a fourth public inquiry into the plans.

Gareth Owens, chair of the Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Service Station (RAMS), said the group was prepared to continue “robust opposition” to the proposals.

It follows the closure of a fourth inquiry in 25 years into the plan to build a service station off the A1(M) northbound near the village.

The hearings lasted two weeks and included multiple testimonies from residents, councillors and representatives from Applegreen, the developer.

Read more:

• Villagers battle weary as fourth inquiry into A1 service station starts

• ‘There is a need’ for A1 service station near Kirby Hill, inquiry told

Mr Owens said the inquiry was like a “soap opera” for the village, with local people tuning into the hearings which were streamed live on YouTube.

He added that residents felt the service station was a threat to their community and came together to oppose the plan.

Mr Owens said:

“The people who live here are the people who want to live an open life in the countryside.

“If you put a motorway service station there, we will feel like we are a different community. There are an awful lot of people who feel that way.

“Our experience of living here will be changed.”

David Rose (top right), the government’s planning inspector, opened the public inquiry into the A1 service station in February.

Mr Owens gave evidence at the inquiry, which was scheduled for 11 days but ended up lasting for two weeks. Some of the hearings ran for as long as eight hours.

The government’s Planning Inspectorate, which handles planning appeals, told the Stray Ferret that a decision on the service station was expected “in the coming weeks”.

Mr Owens said he felt residents gave a good account of themselves at the inquiry.

However, he added that the group would continue to oppose the application whatever the outcome.

“We’re not going to stop.”

The Stray Ferret approached Applegreen for comment, but did not receive a response.

Rhodri Price Lewis, who represented Applegreen at the public inquiry, told the inquiry there was an “established need” for a new motorway service area between Wetherby services and Leeming Bar.

Kirby Hill RAMS have maintained there is no need for the service station on the A1(M).

Four culture organisations in the Harrogate district have been awarded further funding as part of the government’s culture recovery fund.

Arts Council England granted the funding as part of a further £300 million worth of financial support for culture and art organisations.

The government announced a £1.57 billion fund last year which aimed to support cultural and heritage sectors from the economic impact of covid.

Read more: 

• Ripon cultural organisations receive £170,000 lifeline
• Harewood House awarded funding boost
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Among those to be awarded a grant is Cause UK, which has secured £35,000 in funding.

The agency hosted Ken Loach and Brian Blessed in Harrogate on behalf of the Harrogate Film Festival, as well as family events at the Royal Hall with Steve Backshall and Chris Packham

Clair Challenor-Chadwick, managing director of Cause UK, said:

“As a vibrant agency for 10 years, Cause UK had strong growth pre-covid, thanks to our growing cultural portfolio. Obviously, that was all put on hold with covid.

“A significant part of our work is also as a support agency to arts, public sector and charities. We’ve supported organisations as diverse as Besbrode Pianos, Ilkley Literature Festival, The Barnsley Civic, Harrogate Convention Centre, the Wesley Centre in Malton and the Himalayan Sculpture Park.

“We’re proud our work has had significant impact, helping clients to win awards, increase visitor and audience reach, engage sponsors, and attract investment.”

Harrogate Theatre with stands empty in the town centre.

Meanwhile, Harrogate International Festivals has been awarded £80,000 and Harrogate Theatre secured £91,078.

Ripon Museum Trust has also been granted £69,350.

The chief executive of Harrogate Theatre Trust, David Bown, gave his reaction to the grant:

“We are thrilled to receive this funding from the Cultural Recovery Fund. It will allow us to move forward with increasing confidence as we launch our Raise the Roof season by bringing drama, comedy and music to community venues throughout the district in what will be challenging times as restrictions are relaxed.”

The cultural recovery fund is targeted at organisations which work in music, theatre, dance, combined arts, visual arts, museums or literature.

The funding has been awarded by Arts Council England, Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute

Oliver Dowden, culture secretary, said: 

“Our record-breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced. 

“Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”

Just two cases of covid have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,583.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen to 21 per 100,000 people.

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The North Yorkshire average is 39 and the England rate is 49.

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

No first doses of a covid vaccine will be given to the under-50s at the Great Yorkshire Showground in April.

The Spa Surgery in Harrogate posted on its Facebook page there was “reduced vaccine available nationally” and that no first doses will be given.

However, it added that those under-50 would start to be invited for appointments from May onwards depending on supply.

Meanwhile, all second doses will go ahead as normal at the showground.

Read more:

• More than half of Harrogate district population receive covid vaccine
• Great Yorkshire Showground can give 1,800 vaccines in a day
• North Yorkshire to focus on 47,000 over-50s yet to be vaccinated

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire CCG said:

“In North Yorkshire, a number of practices have now worked through all of their patients who are in the first nine priority groups, as identified by the JCVI.

“The NHS is continuing to support primary care networks to ensure available vaccine is deployed where it is needed in North Yorkshire so that by 15 April, everyone in cohorts 1-9 will have had the opportunity to have had the vaccine. We have been assured by Government there will be enough supply to meet this deadline.

“Anyone aged 50 and over and those with underlying health conditions who has previously turned down the offer of a vaccine but has now changed their mind, can still get vaccinated – they can book online or call 119.

“Supplies of second doses have been secured and will be available at the appropriate time for those who have previously received a first dose. It’s important people attend for their second dose, so they can get the maximum protection offered by the vaccine.”

Some GPs in North Yorkshire have said they will vaccinate people under-50 if there were any spare vaccines.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire CCG, said it would focus on as “maximum coverage as possible” for those who have not been vaccinated in the first nine priority groups.

Ms Bloor said the CCG wanted to improve the uptake for the first nine groups before moving onto the under-50s.

She added that the government had assured the CCG there would be enough supply to vaccinate those aged 18 to 49 by the end of July.

But, a letter from NHS England to GPs in March said there would be a “significant reduction in weekly supply” from March 29.

The letter said:

“The government’s Vaccines Task Force have now notified us that there will be a significant reduction in weekly supply available from manufacturers beginning in the week commencing 29 March, meaning volumes for first doses will be significantly constrained.

“They now currently predict this will continue for a four-week period, as a result of reductions in national inbound vaccines supply.”

It comes as 92,293 first doses have been carried out in the Harrogate district, according to latest NHS England figures.

The figure represents more than half of the district’s overall population.

Across North Yorkshire, 410,000 people have had a first dose and 48,000 have had a second dose.

North Yorkshire Police has faced a Twitter backlash after it announced restrictions on officers’ social media accounts.

The move will see people encourage to follow centralised accounts rather than those of individual officers.

As part of the changes, Harrogate traffic sergeant Paul Cording and Harrogate traffic constable David Minto, who between them have more than 20,000 Twitter followers, expect to be asked to close their accounts and post on one of eight area accounts run by North Yorkshire Police.

The area accounts will post updates on appeals, safety information and court results rather than the current blend of personal and professional updates from life on the frontline.

A police question and answer session today about the changes under the hashtag #AskNYorksPolice saw criticism of the move.

Some said tweets from a corporate account would be less personal while others asked whether officers would require approval to share posts.

Read more:

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One poster, Gary Silvester, said:

“I’m sorry I just don’t see how it can be as personal as individual accounts as that’s what I and many others enjoy. I’m a big supporter of the police. 

“Will individuals tweets have to be approved? This whole policy strikes me that you don’t trust the officers completely.”

Social media posts will not need to be approved, the accts will still be run by local teams. We absolutely trust our officers, this is about improving service & responsiveness to the public through social media & giving people a place to find content more easily #AskNYorksPolice https://t.co/veJTO3yFqX

— North Yorkshire Police (@NYorksPolice) March 31, 2021

Another person, Jacqui Stephenson tweeted:

“Given the amount of stations being closed, surely it’s better that individual officers build up the rapport with their local communities using social media. 

“A lot of your officers use social media responsibly and engage with the public.

“I’ve often learned a lot from reading the Twitter feed of individual officers. It gives a real insight as to what they are facing as well as showing that they are human beings as well. Using the bland corporate accounts takes that away.”

But police defended the decision and said officers would continue to build a rapport with the public.

The force added officers’ social media content would not require approval and that the move was about “improving the service and responsiveness” to the public.

Sergeant Cording shared two videos explaining his views on the change.

He said while personal accounts have not been asked to be deleted yet, they will be “sometime in the future”.

Morning everyone, on leave at the moment but just wanted to give you my take on the changes to the @NYorksPolice social media policy 1/2 pic.twitter.com/lFXPqinmb1

— Sgt Paul Cording BEM (@OscarRomeo1268) March 31, 2021

Sergeant Cording added that he understood the decision the police had made, but was “disappointed”.

The new measures have also been met with concern from candidates to be North Yorkshire’s next police, fire and crime commissioner.

James Barker, Liberal Democrat candidate for the role, said the police needed to “rethink” its decision. He said:

“Residents value the localised information that is made available via these social media channels and I really can’t understand the thinking that has led to these being scrapped.”

He also expressed concerns about North Yorkshire Police’s recent introduction of a service-level statement setting out how it responds to media requests.

The statement says it will not respond to media requests for information relating to incidents on which an article has been posted on its website.

Mr Barker said:

“The local media plays a crucial role in sharing trusted information of genuine interest to residents. They could be a real asset to the police in getting important information to local communities who already get their news through established print, online, radio and TV channels. It seems like an own goal by the police that could see them distance themselves from local communities.

“If elected, I will review the operation of the current ‘service-level statement’ and will start by engaging with the local media to explore how we can work together better for the benefit of our communities.”

Independent candidate Keith Tordoff said:

“The closure of individual police officers’ official social media accounts is, I believe, bad for public relations.

“The new accounts until we see how they operate at this point sound rather corporate. I also recognise that the officers’ accounts as they had operated could lead to security breaches, Officer safety and possible promotion of businesses which had needed addressing.

“The officers’ official accounts with directives and supervision of them would have continued to be great for police, public relations and community engagement. The accounts were clearly very popular with the public going by the people commenting against the closure of them.

“If elected, I would look to review the decision.”

The Stray Ferret has approached the Conservative and Labour candidates for comment.

North Yorkshire’s Police Fire and Crime Commissioner election will take place on May 6.