Two covid cases reported in Harrogate district

Two further covid cases 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 7,790.

The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results.

However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.

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

According to NHS England figures, the most recent death of a patient who tested positive for covid was recorded on April 11.

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

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 21 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 18 and the England rate is 34.

‘Crammed’ housing plans for Boroughbridge rejected

Developers wanting to build 260 homes in Boroughbridge have had their plans thrown out by councillors concerned that the houses would be “crammed in” together.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes already has outline approval as part of the first phase of a larger 450-home development at Stump Cross but was denied final permission at a meeting of Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee yesterday (3 June).

The concerns from councillors were that too many terraced properties had been concentrated in a small area, and that residents would also not get enough garden or storage space.

Cllr Nigel Simms described the plans as “like a sink development from Lancashire, not something that we should be having in North Yorkshire”.

He said:

“We have got terraced properties with no access to the back for their own cycle storage, and we have got huge car parks in the middle of residential developments.

“All the layout is wrong to me and alien to what I would expect to see on the outskirts of Boroughbridge.”

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Cllr Andrew Paraskos added:

“It looks like they have crammed as many houses in as possible.”

There were also concerns that no cycling and walking links to the town centre would mean busier roads, as well as worries over drainage and flooding at the site which was described as “like a river” during wet weather.

Site layout for the proposed 200 homes in Boroughbridge.

Site layout for the proposed 260 homes in Boroughbridge.

Cllr John Goss, a member of Boroughbridge Town Council, told the committee the site was prone to becoming waterlogged and that the town suffers with raw sewage spilling out of drains because of added pressure from the hundreds of new homes already built in the area.

He said:

“The current infrastructure for the sewerage and drainage is inadequate.

“When we have heavy rainfall the town suffers with sewage coming through street manholes, across the school playing field and into our local car park.”

He added: 

“The site at Stump Cross floods very frequently. Many years ago we used to have the Aldborough Show in that field and it got so waterlogged that we had to move it elsewhere.

“We have absorbed around 1,000 new houses in and around the town of Boroughbridge and we would now like to call a halt to further development.”

Although flooding officials at North Yorkshire County Council did not previously object to the plans, they did conclude the site was at “high risk” of surface water flooding.

Yorkshire Water also did not raise any concerns at outline stage but did lodge an objection against the latest plans. It said an underground pipe that runs diagonally through the site would “seriously jeopardise” its ability to maintain the public water supply.

When yesterday’s decision of refusal was made, the council had yet to receive further representations from the water company but an agent for the developers did defend the plans.

Liam Tate, planning manager at Barratt and David Wilson Homes, said development of the site would in fact improve drainage and that Yorkshire Water had confirmed to them that there was enough capacity in the system to cope with added pressure.

He said: 

“As part of this scheme, drainage, in particular surface water drainage, will be improved as at the moment there is no infrastructure in place to accommodate surface water other than limited field drains.”

Asking councillors to vote for approval, he added: 

“The site is allocated by the council for residential development. It is fully compliant with national and local policy, and will deliver much-needed affordable housing.”

Councillors voted seven votes for and one against to reject the application on the grounds of design and layout.

The developers now have the options to appeal the decision or bring forward revised plans.

Councillors on the committee later rejected a proposal for up to 200 homes in Pannal Ash, which council officers had recommended for approval.

TGI Fridays granted late night alcohol licence for Harrogate venue

TGI Fridays has been granted a late night alcohol licence for its planned Harrogate venue in the former Ask Italian restaurant on Albert Street.

The American restaurant chain submitted plans for a licence to Harrogate Borough Council back in March.

It was lodged under the company’s new cocktail bar 63rd+1st, which opened its first UK venue last month in Cobham, Surrey.

The licensing application for Harrogate includes films, live music, recorded music, late night refreshment and the supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 9am to 0030am Monday to Sunday.

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A TGI Fridays and 63rd+1st spokesperson said:

“We are excited to be opening 63rd+1st in Harrogate and will release further details on timings later this year.”

The company launched the new cocktail-led bar and restaurant venture last year, which is named after the location of the original restaurant in Manhattan, and plans to open more in 2021.

The company has promised that it will be a “vibrant meeting place” and that it will have the feel of a New York loft in the 1960s.

When the new brand was announced last year, Robert Cook, chief executive of Fridays and 63rd+1st, said in a statement that “audiences are becoming increasingly discerning and their attitudes towards food and drink are evolving”. 

He added:

“We are in a strong position to cater to this audience and, as a result, we are securing other sought-after sites in prime locations.”

Harrogate BID launches new town centre app to help businesses

Harrogate BID has launched a new app in an effort to help town centre businesses increase footfall and sales.

The app comes in partnership with LoyalFree, which has partnered up with the BID from today.

Harrogate is the thirty-first town in the UK to adopt the digital platform, which provides information for locals and visitors alike such as a local guide, exclusive deals and loyalty schemes, fun local events and interesting trails.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, told the Stray Ferret previously that the idea behind the app was to “showcase the best in town”.

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BID levy payers will benefit from advertising opportunities, customer insights and social media support from the app. Businesses already signed up include Cafe M, The Crown Hotel and Nutrition Joe’s Urban Cafe

Mr Chapman said he knows “first-hand” the benefits of using an app for businesses.

He said: 

“From my previous role with Huddersfield BID, which introduced LoyalFree more than a year ago, I know first-hand the benefits it can help deliver.

“The LoyalFree app now provides Harrogate town centre with a great digital platform to showcase all the amazing businesses here. There is so much on offer in the town, and we hope it will encourage more people to support our local high street.

“Even before our launch, a number of businesses have already signed up to the LoyalFree, which is really encouraging news.”

Sophie Hainsworth, co-founder of LoyalFree, said: 

‘‘We are delighted to be working with Harrogate BID. 

“It’s more vital than ever for digital solutions to support the high street experience, and we hope businesses take advantage of everything the app has to offer.”

The LoyalFree app can be downloaded for free here or by searching ‘LoyalFree’ on the iOS and Google play store.

Richard Osman coming to Harrogate for Theakston Crime Writing Festival 2021

Richard Osman, Mick Herron and Elly Griffiths are among the novelists who will appear at this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

Hosted by programming chair, Ian Rankin, the event will return to Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel from July 22 to July 25.

Making an appearance at this year’s festival will be Richard Osman, presenter of the TV show Pointless and author of The Thursday Murder Club and espionage expert Mick Herron, author of the Slough House series.

Elly Griffiths, Ann Cleeves and Mark Billingham will also be special guests, as well as queen of crime Val McDermid.

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Ian Rankin, best-selling Rebus author, said: ‘

“After a year of once-in-a-lifetime challenges, I couldn’t be more excited to stage this celebration of all things crime! With the announcement of our special guests, the countdown is officially on to this year’s festival and I’m looking forward to unveiling what else we have in store.”

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of event organiser Harrogate International Festivals, said: 

“The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is a lynch-pin in the publishing calendar – an annual pilgrimage for crime fiction aficionados – and we are thrilled to reveal the first taste of this year’s unmissable programme. 

“Harrogate International Festivals has long pioneered innovative and unique cultural experiences, and over the course of the past year we have shown great flexibility and creativity to continue with this mission.”

The festival will include four days of talks and panels from crime writing specialists, including the queens of domestic noir Clare Mackintosh and CL Taylor in conversation.

Weekend packages for the festival will go on sale on Monday. 

For more information on the event and details of covid government regulations visit http://www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/.

More than 180,000 covid vaccinations given in Harrogate district

More than 180,000 covid vaccinations have been given in the Harrogate district so far.

A total of 107,899 people have received a first dose and 73,644 have had second doses, according to Public Health England figures.

It means 181,543 vaccinations have been given in total.

Meanwhile, seven further covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today.

According to Public Health England figures, it takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,788.

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The daily number of cases reported is based on PCR and lateral flow tests returning positive results.

However, if someone with a positive lateral flow test later has a negative result with a PCR test, the earlier result will be removed.

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

According to NHS England figures, the most recent death of a patient who tested positive for covid was recorded on April 11.

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

Elsewhere, the district’s seven-day covid rate stands at 21 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 17 and the England rate is 34.

Lidl submits plan for new Ripon store

German supermarket chain Lidl has submitted plans for a new supermarket in Ripon.

The company has tabled the proposal for St Michael’s Retail Park in the city following an online consultation.

Lidl has planned for a 1,100 square metre store, which it says will create up to 40 new full time and part time jobs.

The company announced its intention to expand into the city last year and earmarked the £10 million retail park as its preferred location.

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Now, plans for the supermarket have been lodged to Harrogate Borough Council which will make a decision on the development at a later date.

A spokesperson from Lidl GB said:

“Many people have welcomed the proposed Lidl store, which would bring competition, increasing choice and providing a boost to the local economy through job creation. 

“Many also mentioned that a store on this site would reduce the need to travel out of the city to shop and therefore keep expenditure in Ripon. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the local community for their support so far and we look forward to further sharing and discussing our plans with them.”

The plan for Ripon comes as Lidl has also tabled a proposal for its first Harrogate store on the on the site of the former Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road.

 

Questions raised over timing of Harrogate council’s UCI review

Questions have been raised over why Harrogate Borough Council has decided to hold a review on the UCI Road World Championships two years after the event.

The authority has launched a public survey of the competition, which was held in Harrogate back in September 2019.

The council’s overview and scrutiny committee set up the review to build on “its successes and identifying any areas for improvement to inform the organisation of future events”.

But both residents and businesses groups have said the council should listen to those who were directly affected by the nine-day event and raised questions over why the review is being held now.

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Anna McIntee, of Harrogate Residents’ Association, said the town was “exhausted” by the competition and traders let their feelings known at the time.

She added that she could not understand why a review was being held two years after the event.

Ms McIntee said:

“I do not really understand why it is two years on. It had such a large effect, businesses lost money.

“I just feel that they had a response from businesses at the event. So what has changed two years on?”

At the time, the event proved controversial due to road closures and £130,000 worth of damage to the West Park Stray.

It received a hostile reception from many local traders, who said they did not feel the benefits of the event coming to town, particularly as it led to many road closures that deterred people from coming into Harrogate.

David Simister, who has been named as the new chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce.

David Simister (left), chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce.

But a council-commissioned report by Ernst and Young claimed the championships brought in an estimated £17.8 million boost to the district economy.

David Simister, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said the event was a disaster for businesses and that the council should listen to those trader directly affected by it.

He said:

“For many town centre businesses, and in particular retailers, the UCI was a total disaster, and came at a heavy cost.

“The chamber held a meeting directly after the event and feelings were running very high. Two years on, and the same sentiments still stand.

“Because of the daily road closures, residents and visitors avoided the town centre. The ideal location for an event of this size, which caused so much disruption, should have been the Great Yorkshire Showground, with buses laid on to take spectators to and from the site.”

“The council says the aim of this review is to build on its successes and identify any areas for improvement to inform the organisation of future events. What it needs to do is to listen to those businesses who will be directly affected as a result.”

Meanwhile, Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate BID, said the UCI was “untenable” and the focus in future should be to bring smaller events to the town.

She said:

“While the Tour de France was hailed as great success, sadly the same could not be said of the UCI, and I have great sympathy for those businesses who lost money.

“It was a coup for Harrogate to host it – and the races were watched by cycling fans around the world – having the town centre closed for 15 days was simply untenable. Because of the disruption, people just stayed away from town, and this was evident, day after day, by the empty streets.

“The focus should be on attracting a wide range of smaller events to the town on a regular basis, which bring people in, which I know businesses would welcome.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“The overview and scrutiny commission has decided to look at the UCI Road World Championships with the aim of building on its successes and identifying any areas for improvement to help inform the organisation of future events.

“Following the consultation the task and finish group of the overview and scrutiny commission will produce a report.”

Those wishing to give their views have until June 16 to complete the survey.

Mixed reaction to proposed Harrogate wheelchair taxi licence changes

Plans to tackle a decline in disabled-friendly travel in the Harrogate district by introducing an unlimited number of taxi licences have been met with a mixed reaction from local cabbies and campaigners.

Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing committee will next Wednesday be asked to remove a limit on licences and make all new plates available only to wheelchair accessible vehicles after complaints that disabled people have been “cut off from society” because of a lack of travel options.

The move has been welcomed by campaigners who hope it will put an end to “the inequality that the current system imposes”.

But cabbies have warned unlimited licences would lead to “deregulation” in the taxi trade.

Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, said the charity has long campaigned for a solution to the problem which has caused “social isolation and frustration” for disabled people.

She said: 

“While in recent years many of our cities and towns have increased their numbers of wheelchair accessible vehicles, the exact opposite has been occurring across the Harrogate district.

“This is despite an increasing demand, which sadly has led to a real problem for local disabled people.

“Disabled people go to work, have medical appointments and go shopping just the same as non-disabled people, but with the difference being that many are reliant on others for their transport.

“The impact of not being able to get a taxi on the same basis as a non-disabled person should not be under-estimated.”

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But Richard Fieldman, who runs A1 Cars of Ripon and Harrogate, said going through with the proposal would be a “big mistake” as more licences would mean the supply of taxis would outstrip demand.

He said: 

“I’m rather surprised they want to introduce an unlimited number of licences – it will have a massive impact on the trade because it will mean every man and his dog can get one.

“This isn’t about throwing a load of plates out there, this is about what is fair to the existing trade which has planned a lot of money and time into this.”

No increase in licenses for 30 years

Harrogate Borough Council has restricted the number of taxi licences to 148 for about 30 years, which in effect has meant the only way to acquire a licence is to buy an existing vehicle from someone.

In September last year, the licensing committee agreed to double the number of licences designated for wheelchair-accessible taxis from 11 to 23 after a study concluded disabled people were suffering from a “great deal of anxiety” over worries they could not get around.

However, the council has since run into difficulties over creating a “fair and lawful” system to distribute just 12 additional licences.

Dean Richardson, head of safer communities at the council, said in a report to Wednesday’s meeting: 

“It became apparent to officers that it would not be straightforward to design a fair allocation system which would not be susceptible to legal challenge by disappointed applicants.

“In the Harrogate district, wheelchair users have been facing increasing difficulty obtaining wheelchair-accessible licensed vehicles’ services.

“Wheelchair accessible vehicles are vital in allowing users to access essential services and for them to live their lives as anyone else would.”

The recommendation to committee members next Wednesday is to remove the limit on licences with all future licences to be designated as wheelchair accessible vehicles plates.

If approved, the changes would be reviewed within five years.

Man died in Harrogate swallowing suspected drugs he was hiding from police

A man died in Harrogate after swallowing a suspected package of drugs that he was hiding from North Yorkshire Police officers.

According to an Independent Office for Police Conduct report, on February 23, 2019, officers from the county lines drugs team saw the unnamed man who they suspected was involved in supplying controlled drugs.

After they stopped him, he immediately swallowed what was believed to be a package of drugs.

Officers and paramedics tried to help after the man started to choke and managed to dislodge the package from his throat.

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He was transported to Harrogate District Hospital where he received medical treatment, but died.

The report, published last week, added:

“Our investigation concluded there was no indication the officers may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence. 

“The officers were treated as witnesses and cooperated fully with this investigation. The evidence also suggested that all reasonable attempts were made to provide the man with medical assistance at the scene. The officers continued this work until paramedics arrived. 

“Their actions in this regard demonstrated a commendable degree of diligence and professionalism.”

The IOPC said the investigation was completed in September 2019, but was published following the outcome of an inquest in March this year.

The inquest reached a conclusion of accidental death.