National Trust venues in the Harrogate district will remain closed to the public this weekend.

It means that Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon, will not be open for people to travel to as the trust plans a gradual reopening of its attractions in the coming weeks.

People are able to travel anywhere in the country to find a park or beach as the lockdown has been eased, but the trust said its decisions to open its venues will be guided by local judgement.

As part of the easing of lockdown restrictions, the trust plans to reopen some of its larger car parks for its attractions from May 21 to those who have pre-booked places.

People will be able to book parking spaces for venues on the National Trust website from Monday (May 18). Members will be able to book for free, but non-members will have to pay.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Water confirmed that car parks at reservoirs across the district will still be closed this weekend.

Earler this week, the company warned that people should not travel to its reservoirs, such as Fewston and Scar House, until it has a plan to adapt to government guidance.

It comes as the head of Yorkshire Dales National Park hit out at the government after it gave the green light for people to travel to beauty spots.

Union bosses fear jobs could be under threat at leisure centres across the Harrogate district as the council plans to create a new company to run the services.

Harrogate Borough Council has proposed to create a new company, which it would own, to run leisure and community centres in the district.

The authority said the plan would help to save around £400,000 a year by bringing in more income and making savings.

It comes as the council has estimated a £15 million shortfall as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

If given the go-ahead, it would mean facilities such as Harrogate Hydro, the Turkish Baths and Ripon Leisure Centre would be run by the new company.

The Turkish Baths, Harrogate.

Known as a Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC), staff who currently work in leisure and sport would be transferred over from the council to the new company.

Some 200 workers would fall under the LACC, but Unison said it feared those staff would not necessarily be on the originally agreed terms and conditions as with the council.

It added that a number of staff have already been redeployed to support other services during the coronavirus pandemic, such as waste and recycling, and now have concern over their original roles because of the council’s plan.

A spokesperson for Unison Harrogate Local Government Branch said:

“Unison are aware that Harrogate Council is currently consulting with residents about its proposal to convert its sport and leisure service into a Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC), which it will own.

“Whilst the council says that by doing so it could do more with sport and leisure and innovate the way it works, there should be no doubt that the aim will be to reduce costs and save money.

“Staff who move over to the new company would not necessarily be on the nationally agreed terms and conditions as those in the council they leave behind and our experience of other LACC’s tells us that cuts to terms and conditions but also to real term pay, often occurs soon after.

“Currently, there are a number of sport and leisure staff who, due to the coronavirus lockdown, have been redeployed in to other services, such as refuse and recycling, who are continuing to give their all for the community.  

“They now see their real jobs under threat and this is a big concern for them.

Harrogate Borough Council declined to comment.

The authority is currently consulting with residents on the new leisure company. You can fill out the survey here.

Flaxby Park Ltd has launched a judicial review into the controversial decision to build a major extension to Green Hammerton.

After a bitter debate over where to build thousands of new homes in the east of the district, Harrogate Borough Council formally adopted its local plan in March and took the decision to build at Green Hammerton.

The local plan was backed by the government’s Planning Inspector, Richard Schofield, despite a long fought battle from residents in Green Hammerton who argued strongly that it was not required.

It will see up to 3,000 new homes built and extended into nearby Kirk Hammerton and Cattal.

But residents of Green Hammerton said the better option was to build the homes in Flaxby, while land owners in Flaxby agreed that the village’s disused golf course would be a good site for new houses.

But the council went ahead and adopted its plan and now faces a review over whether its decision was lawful or not.

Flaxby Park Ltd, the developer behind the Flaxby site, confirmed it has launched a judicial review into the decision but could not comment further at this time.

Chris Eaton, co-chair of the Keep The Hammertons Green Action Group (KTHG), said residents will get behind the review. He said:

“KTHG produced evidence-based and persuasive arguments that demonstrate that a new settlement is not required and, if even if it were, there are better locations, such as at Flaxby Park.

“We were most disappointed with the inspector’s report on the examination of the Harrogate District Plan that was published in January 2020.

“KTHG said at the time that we do not agree with or accept those parts of the Inspector’s report which relate to the requirement for a new settlement and the selection of its location in the broad location of Green Hammerton and Cattal.

“We are not surprised to hear that the potential developers of the Flaxby site are mounting a legal challenge and we shall follow the matter with great interest.”

What is a judicial review?

A judicial review is when a claimant asks for a review of a decision made by a government body or local authority.

The review looks at whether or not the decision made was lawful and followed the right procedure.

If it is found to be unlawful, it could mean the decision has to be made again.

A man from Pateley Bridge who has suffered for seven years with kidney cancer survived coronavirus in time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe day.

Roger Jefferson, 64, a retired police constable in the town, tested positive for covid-19 in April after coming down with a persistent cough and a tight chest.

In 2013, Mr Jefferson was diagnosed with cancer after a tumour was found on his left kidney and later in his lungs.

Since February, he’s been on two sets of medicines, Ipilumab and Nivolumab, aiming to reduce the cancer.

Roger Jefferson pictured with his wife, Hilary, outside their home in Pateley Bridge on VE Day.

But it was in early April after being furloughed from his part-time job when he started to shake, cough, feel constantly tired and had no taste or smell.

“It took me three stops to get up the stairs,” said Mr Jefferson. “I felt absolutely dreadful and had a cough that you would not believe.”

At first, Mr Jefferson thought it was the cancer treatment. But he later tested positive for coronavirus in Leeds and was told to recover at home. He said:

“One of the main things is that you can’t lie down, because you cough. I spent three weeks in a chair sleeping. It was horrendous.”

Meanwhile, Mr Jefferson lost 18 pounds in 10 days while suffering with the virus.

“I was not eating and not wanting to eat,” he said. “It was very debilitating.”

After six weeks of recovery, Mr Jefferson was given the all clear last week from COVID-19. Despite still having a mild cough and a husky voice, he feels he is one of the lucky ones.

When asked if he was scared when he was tested positive, Mr Jefferson said there was no fear:

“When you’re a cancer patient, the fear goes. There’s an acceptance of the inevitable but a determination to carry on.”

Now, he’s trying to get his strength back and walked five miles as part of his recovery on Friday morning. After lockdown, he’s looking forward to being able to get out in his Autograss car and start racing again.

“It’s frustrating,” said Mr Jefferson. “I just want to play with my toys.”

Residents in Pateley Bridge did not let lockdown dampen their spirits as the town celebrated the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe.

While social distancing meant people had to stay in their gardens, communities still came together to hold picnics, tea and coffee and colour their homes in red, white and blue.

The town fell silent at 11am, while residents in Greenwood Avenue played the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s speech to the nation at 3pm to mark the anniversary.

Despite being largely empty as people abided by social distancing as part of the response to the coronavirus pandemic, the town still found ways to celebrate.

In Greenwood Avenue, residents set their front gardens up ready for afternoon tea before listening in to Churchill’s speech. From there, the community came together to celebrate with cake, scones and drinks well into the afternoon.

Meanwhile, on New Church Street, Joanne Mayben played the Last Post and I Vow To Thee My Country on speakers in her garden while her windows and front gates were adorned with VE Day stickers and colourful decorations.

Hilary and Roger Jefferson made sure their home just off the High Street was adorned in bunting and the Union flag for both residents and all those passing through the town to see.

Pateley Bridge came together with colour, music and bunting as it celebrated 75 years since Victory in Europe.

The town fell silent at 11am this morning before people began to set up in their front gardens for afternoon tea.

Residents in the town said it was important to come together as a community for VE Day while still abiding by the government’s social distancing guidance.

Some landlords in the Harrogate district have criticised the borough council’s plan to give commercial tenants free rent during the coronavirus pandemic.

The authority made the decision back in March as part of its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Businesses which rent from the council were given three months free rent and could also apply for emergency grants from the government.

While other authorities offered local companies in their area rent deferrals, the borough council decided to give businesses in the district a period of rent for free.

At the time, a joint statement from chief executive Wallace Sampson and council leader Richard Cooper said the council wanted to encourage others to offer support.

It said: “Our commercial tenants will be offered three months’ rent free and we’ll be doing all that we can to encourage other landlords in the district to consider what support they can offer their tenants.”

But some landlords in the district have described the decision as “unnecessary” and pointed to the fact that the authority has estimated a £15 million shortfall in its budget.

John Warren, a housing landlord in Ripon, said while some business will need help, the cost is going to eventually have an impact on the taxpayer. He said:

“My concern is as a council taxpayer.

“We have a council which is giving money away perhaps unnecessarily and no doubt in 12 months time council tax will be put up.

“I am sure they have done it for the best of reasons, but when times are hard you have to think of the greater good which is the council taxpayer.”

Mr Warren contacted The Stray Ferret and said he was unhappy after it was revealed that the borough council is expecting a shortfall of £15 million and may have to furlough some staff to address the funding gap.

Another landlord, who did not wish to be named, said: “It does not seem fair, it will screw the market.”

In response to an e-mail from Mr Warren, Councillor Margaret Atkinson, member for Fountains and Ripley, said the authority was doing all it can to support local business.

“The council has to do everything it can to help these businesses on the instructions of the government,” she said.

“The government has given Harrogate council over £40 million to issue grants of £10,000 to small businesses that meet – 1) They are in the Harrogate district, 2) They qualify for small business rate relief or rural rate relief and 3) the business occupies the property.

“They have already had over 2,000 applications.”

However, Mr Warren described Councillor Atkinson’s response to his concerns as “very unsatisfactory”.

Meanwhile, Councillor Pat Marsh, Leader of the Liberal Democrats group on the borough council, said she thought the decision was rushed.

“I think in hindsight it was maybe a decision which should have been tempered,” she said.

“For me, I think it was a bit of a rushed decision that I wish I had given more thought.”

Harrogate Borough Council has been approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.

Harrogate Borough Council has estimated a budget shortfall of £15 million as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wallace Sampson, chief executive of the borough council, told the first virtual meeting of the authority’s Cabinet that the shortfall was largely down to a loss of income during the lockdown period.

Mr Sampson said the authority may have to look to furlough some council staff in the future in order to address the shortfall.

It comes less than a fortnight since the authority predicted a gap of £10 million due to the outbreak.

As a result of the estimated funding gap, council officials have written to each department at the authority to ensure that any spending is only in essential areas until a recovery plan is produced.

Harrogate Borough Council offices.

Council bosses said the shortfall was largely down to a loss in income in areas such as car parking, leisure and the Harrogate Convention Centre.

Mr Sampson said the authority will have to look closely at how it recovers financially.

“The impact is quite significant,” he said.

“There is a need to look at how we are going to address that in the medium term.

“Whatever we do, we will have to make sure it is in accordance with government guidance.”

The authority has received £1.6 million in emergency financial support from government to help cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Paul Foster, head of finance at the council, said the authority would continue to lobby government for further financial support.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council estimated last month that tackling coronavirus will leave the authority with a £65 million shortfall.

The amount of people who used Harrogate’s food bank more than doubled when lockdown was introduced and volunteers fear another spike could be on the way when measures are lifted.

Figures from The Trussell Trust show that from March 13 until March 31 this year, the facility at Mowbray Community Church, West Moreland Street, saw 224 people collect food – a 146% increase on the same period last year.

The food bank also saw its busiest ever session on the first Friday of lockdown as 90 people came to collect within two hours.

Jan Bathurst, who has been team leader at the facility for the past seven years, said she feared there will be more who need support after lockdown as the economy struggles.

Donations which have been made to the food bank at Mowbray Community Church on Westmoreland Street.

“I think demand will go up after lockdown and we will see another spike,” she said.

Among those who needed support were people on zero hours contracts and families with children on free school meals.

Others included the self-employed, people with mental health problems and those struggling with debt.

Meanwhile, social distancing measures have been put in place at the facility to keep both volunteers and those who need the food bank safe.

The food bank now pre-packs food for people who have been referred to them by bodies such as Citizens’ Advice to collect.

Jan Bathurst, Team Leader at the Harrogate District Food Bank.

Those referred to the facility are also no longer allowed into the church to collect their packages or have a coffee with volunteers.

Instead, a table is placed in front of the entrance where food is handed over to them on collection.

Helen Ketteringham, who has volunteered at the food bank since it was opened in 2013, said the lockdown has been tough to deal with.

“It was a shock for everybody,” she said. 

“A lot of the volunteers at the food bank are elderly and they had to stay at home to be shielded.”

Currently, the food bank operates on a team of 12 who help to prepare packages and distribute them.

Donations have also continued to come into the facility, with the majority of food being offered by the public.