Harrogate district lit up in Christmas lights displays

While the pandemic means the festive season will be different this year, it has not stopped the traditional Christmas lights switch on in the Harrogate district.

Although there was no host or crowds to mark the occasion and the shops are closed, Harrogate and Ripon were still lit up ahead of Christmas.

In Harrogate, custom lights have been strung between buildings, around lampposts and in trees, including those in front of the war memorial at the top of Parliament Street.

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Ripon Christmas lights were switched on last night.

Ripon Christmas lights were switched on last night.

Meanwhile, Ripon has spent £65,000 on its decorations and lights which has been dubbed the city’s largest ever display.

Despite the lack of a traditional switch on with celebrity guests, we have been out filming so you can enjoy them.

If you want to support Harrogate retailers and buy your Xmas gifts locally go to our new Shop Local section

Two further coronavirus deaths at Harrogate hospital

Two coronavirus deaths have been confirmed on the same day at Harrogate District Hospital, according to latest NHS England figures.

Both deaths were recorded on November 11. It takes the total number confirmed at the hospital since the start of the pandemic to 93.

It comes as a further 53 coronavirus cases have been tested positive in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England data.

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The figure takes the total case number since March up to 3,300.

Meanwhile, the district’s weekly rate stands at 294 per 100,000 people.

It is the second highest in the county behind Scarborough, which stands at 580.

North Yorkshire is still tracking above the national average. The county has a rate of 311 compared with the England average of 267.

Villagers left devastated after fire at Coneythorpe pub

Neighbours have been left devastated after a fire at a much-loved community pub in Coneythorpe last night.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were called to the Tiger Inn at 5.04pm after a fire broke out in the pub’s kitchen, which had only been fitted in January.

Crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Acomb were called out to the blaze which lasted for six-hours. Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform, main jets, breathing apparatus and hose reels to tackle the incident.

Owners said the fire was accidental and that they will be aim to reopen the pub “as soon as we possibly can”.

But neighbours say they are devastated as the pub is a pillar of the community in the village.

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One resident, Carole Topham said she saw smoke coming from the building before calling the fire service.

She said:

“We saw billowing smoke at first and called the fire bridge who spent hours at the site.

“We are devastated for the owners, this is our community pub and we were looking forward to a Christmas get together.”

The damage after the fire, which broke out in the pub’s new kitchen.

Meanwhile, Karin Terry, another neighbour, said:

“The flames got bigger and bigger.

“We were very worried about a gas tank that was at the back of the building.”

The fire is a blow for the pub, which traditionally hosts a village Christmas party.

A member of the Gill family, which owns the pub, said they were “gutted” and had been looking forward to celebrating Christmas with the villagers.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“Obviously the family is devastated about it. We had 15 weeks of closed down and reopened on July 2 and was almost as busy before we went into lockdown.

“We will reopen as soon as we possibly can do. We have just been speaking to the fire fighters today, it was an accidental fire and we just want to get back to where we have been.

“We are a bit gutted this year because we do a village Christmas party where all the villagers get together. We were struggling with the lockdown and social distancing and how we were going to fit everyone in.

“There’s about 70 odd people who live in the village and they all tend to get in here, but that’s gone out of the window now. We will just see when we can get reopen better and stronger than ever.”

Crews called to blaze at Coneythorpe pub

Fire crews from across North Yorkshire were called to a fire at a pub in Coneythorpe yesterday.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were called to the incident at the Tiger Inn at 5.04pm.

Crews from Knaresborough, Harrogate, Acomb and appliances from Wetherby and Moortown were called out to the fire.

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Firefighters used an aerial ladder platform, main jets, breathing apparatus and hose reels to tackle the fire.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue will investigate the cause today (November 14).

If you witnessed the fire please get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.couk

Keeping busy: caring for grandparents as well as the regulars

While lockdown has left some housebound and with little to do, the owners of one Harrogate bar have not stopped.

For Hannah and Jack Woodruff, who run the Disappearing Chin, Beulah Street, keeping themselves occupied has been the main way to handle the second lockdown.

Whether its delivering beer, looking after Hannah’s grandparents or playing with their new puppy, the shutdown has been anything but quiet.

Hannah said:

“I do not feel like we have too much time off.

“That is what keeps us sane. If we stopped then we would be worrying if the bar would make it through.”

Life as a bar owner has been tough throughout the pandemic. If it is not closure, then they have had to reduce capacity and shut at 10pm.

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Both Hannah and Jack made an effort to be covid secure by putting a screen across the bar and creating enough space to keep customers safe.

Hannah remains hopeful that the bar will make it through. Despite the closure, they continue to deliver cask beers to regulars and other customers seven days a week.

Drinkers in the Disappearing Chin pre-covid.

Drinkers enjoy a night in the Disappearing Chin pre-covid.

But when they’re not dealing with online orders and sending crates of beer to drinkers, Hannah is caring for her grandparents.

The couple moved to Harrogate from Newcastle two years ago to be closer and care for them.

Hannah’s Grandma celebrated her 90th birthday during the first lockdown and the couple have tried to keep things normal for them.

Hannah said:

“It’s been tough on their mental health.

“It has been quite unsettling for them. I do find it sad that they have not been out for their walks.”

In three weeks’ time, bars and restaurants could be reopened in time for Christmas.

The pandemic has been tough on the bar, which has only been opened since April last year.

But, Hannah says she remains hopeful and is looking beyond December to when they can bring good times back to the bar.

She said:

“I’m hopeful we can make it through [the lockdown]. We are trying to do our best to stay afloat.

“I would just love to get the atmosphere back again.”

A further 69 coronavirus cases in Harrogate district

A further 69 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 3,247.

Meanwhile, the district’s weekly rate has dropped to 292 per 100,000 people but is still above the England average of 257.

Scarborough continues to have the highest rate of all the districts in the county at 576.

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It comes as Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital could become a vaccination centre when a coronavirus vaccine is ready to be rolled out.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said the country’s Nightingales were “one possible way” of offering the vaccine to significant numbers of people.

James Street social distancing cones to be replaced with planters

Cones used for social distancing on James Street in Harrogate will be replaced with planters in an effort to make the street more attractive.

Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council will introduce the planters as part of funding from both the European Regional Development Fund and government.

They will also replace the social distancing cones on parts of Albert Street.

It comes as a trial pedestrianisation of James Street was proposed in September, but county council bosses later postponed after pressure from local business owners.  It’s unlikely the planters will be welcomed by some shop owners on the street who have opposed the cones and want the return of on-street parking.

Cllr Graham Swift, deputy leader of the borough council and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said: 

“We recognise the majority of businesses and stores in Harrogate are currently closed. 

“But we hope in the run-up to Christmas, and the anticipation that the current lockdown will be lifted, people will be able to return to the high street and do so safely with the addition of these new eye-catching social distancing measures.”

As well as the planters, additional signs will be put up to reassure shoppers that it is safe to shop on the streets in the run up to Christmas.

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Parking suspensions will remain in place until the end of January to support social distancing measures, but the county council will continue to monitor and review the situation.

However, suspensions that are currently on Albert Street, between Princes Square and West Park, will be removed and parking will be available

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, said: 

“Our local highways team is working with Harrogate Borough Council’s parks team to install these planters alongside signage that will reinforce the message that it is safe to shop local.

“We are confident that the introduction of more attractive social distancing measures will offer reassurance to the public that they can shop safely and at the same time give much needed support to our local businesses.”

The county council will temporarily close both roads on November 18 and 19 to implement the planters.

It comes as the county council had initially planned a temporary pedestrianisation of James Street.

The measures were criticised by local business owners and landlords, including former Leeds United and England footballer Danny Mills.

After a meeting with local businesses in October, county council bosses decided to postpone the trial until after Christmas.

Yorkshire Ripper case ‘fundamentally changed’ policing, says former top cop

The case of the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe changed the way police forces tackle major incidents, says a former senior North Yorkshire police officer.

Dai Malyn, who this year retired from his position as detective superintendent, oversaw the homicide investigations team for North Yorkshire and Cleveland and said the Ripper case saw “fundamental” changes for police forces across the country.

Sutcliffe, who has died at the age of 74, murdered 13 women across West Yorkshire and the north west between 1975 and 1980.

He was interviewed nine times by West Yorkshire Police over the course of the investigation, but avoided arrest. He was eventually convicted in 1981.

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Amid public concern over the investigations into Sutcliffe, an inquiry was launched by Sir Lawrence Byford, the then chief inspector of constabulary, into how the case was handled.

At the time, officers said they were unable to connect vital pieces of information due to a backlog of paperwork.

Sir Lawrence Byford, who lived in Pannal, Harrogate, when he died in 2018.

Sir Lawrence Byford, who lived in Pannal, Harrogate, when he died in 2018.

Sir Lawrence , who died at his home in Pannal in 2018, recommended that major incident rooms across all police forces were standardised and that senior officers were trained for serious crimes, such as serial killers.

Mr Malyn said the most “fundamental” change was setting up the Home Office Large Major Enquiry System.

Known as “HOLMES”, the computerised system stores every piece of evidence and helps senior investigating officers link them together.

Mr Malyn said the changes helped to tackle serious incidents.

He said:

“It has changed the way we now operate major incidents, every scrap of information is put into the system.”

He pointed to the case of Mark Hobson as an example of the changes in action.

Hobson murdered four people in July 2004, including his 27-year-old girlfriend Claire Sanderson and her twin sister Diane in Camblesforth, near Selby.

An eight-day manhunt involving 500 police officers across 12 police forces was launched. He was arrested on July 25 and later sentenced to life imprisonment.

Mr Malyn said at the time it was the “biggest investigation” in North Yorkshire and was supported by the recommendations from the Byford report.

Harrogate Nightingale could be used as vaccination centre

Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital could become a vaccination centre when a coronavirus vaccine is ready to be rolled out.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said the country’s Nightingales were “one possible way” of offering the vaccine to significant numbers of people.

Set up in April at a cost of £27 million, the Harrogate Nightingale has so far not treated a single covid patient.

It comes as health bosses in North Yorkshire said earlier this week that they will be prepared to rollout the vaccine once it is ready.

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Amanda Bloor, accountable officer at North Yorkshire CCG, told a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Resilience Forum that health bosses were putting plans in place for the county

She said:

“Although there is some uncertainty on timescales, we will be ready in December to deploy a vaccine if it is available.

“But it is likely that wider vaccination will take place after Christmas and into the New Year. Any vaccination that happens before Christmas would be for very vulnerable groups.

“We are planning to be ready for this with our partners.

“Even when we do have a vaccine, we still need to observe any social distancing measures, lockdown measures and the guidance around hand washing and hygiene.”

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council. also welcomed the results of the vaccine but warned that “long term behavioural change” was needed to tackle the virus.

The Pfizer and BioMTech vaccine was revealed to be 90% effective after being tested on 43,500.

A rollout of the vaccine is expected to target older and vulnerable people first.

Government awards North Yorkshire £1 million for walking and cycling

The government has awarded North Yorkshire more than £1 million as part of plans to encourage more walking and cycling.

The funding is part of a five-year, £2 billion programme by the Department for Transport.

It has awarded £19 million of that sum to councils in Yorkshire. North Yorkshire County Council will be given £1,011,750 as part of the deal.

In the Harrogate district, Oatlands Drive, Victoria Avenue and the A59 connecting Starbeck to Knaresborough by Maple Close could benefit from the funding.

The government said the funding was aimed at creating measures to support walking and cycling, such as segregated cycle lanes, closing off streets around schools and improvements for pedestrians.

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Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, said:

 “It has been great to see so many people build cycling and walking into their daily travel habits. To support them, we know it’s vital to have the right infrastructure in place so everyone – cyclists, pedestrians and motorists – can use our roads.”

The county council made a second bid for £1 million worth of funding in August amid criticism it was not ambitious enough in the first phase.

In the first wave of emergency funding, the authority received £133,000 from government – half the potential amount available.

As part of the second bid, the county council outlined five roads it intended to improve with walkways and segregated cycle lanes.

Three roads in Harrogate were put forward, including Oatlands Drive, Victoria Avenue and the A59 connecting Starbeck to Knaresborough by Maple Close.

‘Excellent news’

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access at the county council, welcomed the further funding.

He said:

“We are committed to improving active, sustainable modes of travel for people across the county wherever possible.

“Following public engagement in the summer, we submitted a strong bid to the government’s Active Travel Fund, so it’s excellent news that we have been successful in gaining this funding.

“We now await confirmation of the details of the funding from the Department for Transport.”