Proposal to close NHS dentist in Harrogate

An NHS dentist in Harrogate could close and move its patients to Starbeck if planned changes go ahead.

Chatsworth House Dental Centre, based on Kings Road, sent out letters to its patients to tell them about the plans to merge with Starbeck Dental Centre.

Under the proposals, patients would need to travel 1.7 miles to the practice on Starbeck High Street – a six-minute drive or more than 30-minute walk.

The service provider, Target Dental Group, has not formally approached the NHS with its proposal and it is unclear what the timescale is for the closure.

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In the letter to patients, the provider said the merger would create a hub of dental services and “create an even greater patient experience”.

“Starbeck Dental Centre is situated in a modern spacious building. It is able to offer a broad range of services alongside full disabled access, modern facilities and easy access via public transport.”

The Stray Ferret approached the provider for a comment but received no response by the time of publication.

How easy is it to get an NHS dentist in Harrogate?

The proposed closure of Chatsworth House Dental Centre will likely prompt fears about NHS dentist spaces in Harrogate.

Of the 11 NHS dentists in the town, only the Harrogate Dental Centre on Hookstone Park is advertising for new adult NHS patients. South Park Dental Practice is also advertising for child places up to the age of 18.

Currently, NHS dentists are not taking on any new patients because of the coronavirus pandemic. That could change by October, depending on guidance at the time.

Exclusive: Harrogate MP aide and councillor at centre of £1 million Porsche investigation

The Stray Ferret can reveal that a councillor in the Harrogate district and case worker for Andrew Jones MP is at the centre of a police investigation into missing Porsches where victims lost out on a total of more than £1 million.

Gmund Cars Ltd, which was based at the Nidd Valley Business Park, has since gone into dissolution. Andrew Mearns was the owner. Conservative Cllr Samantha Mearns had “significant control” which she gave up in December 2018.

The company started in 2006 and built up a strong reputation as a place which bought and sold classic Porsche cars. The six alleged victims the Stray Ferret spoke to said it started to unravel in 2018.

Andrew Jones MP endorsed the shop as an “amazing business” on December 1, 2018 at the time when Gmund Cars Ltd allegedly started to transfer ownership of cars without the owners’ permission. There is no suggestion that Andrew Jones MP was aware of the allegations when the above picture was taken. Mrs Mearns remains as his case officer.

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The administrator’s report from June 2020 found more than £1 million in claims stacked up against the business with only £15,000 in assets.

North Yorkshire Police is investigating the allegations and arrested a man in his fifties in July last year. He has not been charged and the force released him under investigation.

The Stray Ferret has spoken to six alleged Gmund Cars Ltd victims. Some said they lost out on medical treatment, time away from work to see terminally ill parents or their entire pension pot as a result of not receiving money from the sale of their cars.

Six alleged Gmund Cars Ltd victims speak out

Matt Saphier believes that he is the earliest victim. He took his Porsche 911 valued at more than £80,000 to Gmund Cars Ltd back in May 2017.

After many months of waiting, Mr Saphier received a DVLA notice to say that his car had changed ownership in November 2018. He claims he did not give permission for the sale and Gmund Cars Ltd never sent him the money. Mrs Mearns still held her position of “significant control” in the company in that period.

Anthony Place also claims he lost out on more than £52,000. He took his Porsche 924 Carrera GT to Gmund Cars in August 2018 to be sold on a ‘Sale Or Return’ basis.

Anthony Place’s simple message: Where’s my money?

The DVLA sent Mr Place a notice in March 2019 to say his car had changed ownership but he also never received any money from the sale. After a couple months of pestering Mr Place lost his patience.

Mr Place decided to head down to Gmund Cars Ltd for an open day where more than 200 people were in attendance. He printed t-shirts, painted on the side of one of his other cars and even paid for a plane to carry a banner. The message was simple: “Where’s my £52,495 Gmund?”

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I personally feel quite battered and bruised by this. I may be able to bounce back from this loss and some of the other victims were left devastated. This car sale was supposed to fund my time off work. My plan was to go part time so I could spend some time with my terminally ill parents.”

All alleged six victims were critical of the police’s handling of the case and urged the force not to drop its investigation.

The Stray Ferret has approached both Samantha Mearns and Andrew Jones MP for a comment. Andrew Jones MP did not reply by the time of publication.

Samantha Mearns told the Stray Ferret:

“I was a shareholder in my husband’s business until December 2018.  When the business was put into administration in June 2019, allegations were made which resulted in a police investigation.  As far as I am aware the investigation has concluded with no further action being taken.  I was never interviewed in relation to any of the allegations.”

Hoopers store warns: ‘Harrogate is not bulletproof anymore’

Hoopers has warned that the store is not sustainable in its current form and that Harrogate’s retail sector is “not bulletproof anymore”.

The department store’s general manager, Nick Hubbert, has spoken openly about its financial difficulties as a result of the coronavirus pandemic for the first time.

He said that the way they have to operate under social distancing rules means that it is not able to make enough sales.

Hoopers’ struggle in numbers

Mr Hubbert told the Stray Ferret that he has concerns about the furlough scheme coming to an end:

“We are preparing for the worst. How long can businesses survive when they are losing money. Hoopers has been in Harrogate for a long time but this has been by far the most difficult time. Some people think that Harrogate is bulletproof but it isn’t anymore. It’s not sustainable, we cannot afford to fully open and we cannot afford to trade the full week. That is not ideal.”

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Mr Hubbert has also weighed into the pedestrianisation debate on James Street with the general manager writing a strongly worded letter to Harrogate Borough Council.

James Street could be temporarily closed to traffic as early as next month after Harrogate Borough Council requested the measures.

Hoopers is based on James Steet which has been full with traffic cones for months.

Mr Hubbert does not believe that the temporary pedestrianisation of James Street will help businesses and said he is basing that on years of experience:

He added that he is not against pedestrianisation long term but he does not think that the middle of a pandemic is the right time to change things:

“Customers want to park up and jump into the shops. It’s easy for young families and it’s easier for older people. That’s what increases footfall. We just need to leave things as is and concentrate on the basics. When someone pulled the cones away it was half full in half an hour and people were getting straight into the shops.”

Search for ‘hero’ who rescued child from Ripon river

The search is on for a young man who earned the title of hero after he rescued a child from a river in Ripon.

A witness told the Stray Ferret that a girl slipped into the River Skell around 4pm yesterday afternoon.

The high water soon took the girl downstream – but, at that moment, a young man rushed out of the pub towards the water. He waded through the strong currents and managed to reach the girl before he pulled her out and saved her life.

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Sara Peirson was at The Water Rat pub watching the River Skell at about 4pm yesterday when she noticed the girl slip into the water.

Mrs Peirson told the Stray Ferret:

“I think that he is a hero, he was completely selfless. The river was very full yesterday, it was a surging current. But he didn’t think about that. He just jumped straight in and grabbed her. I spoke to him afterwards but he brushed it off.”

The search is now on for the man who rescued the girl. Mrs Peirson described him as no older than 20.

She would like the nameless hero to get recognition for his efforts in saving the young girl’s life. Anyone who knows the young man should get in touch and send an email to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Second river rescue near Ripon

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue issued a water warning today after a second river rescue in North Stainley at about 6.45pm yesterday.

In the separate incident, a passer-by rescued a teenager who got stuck on a rock by the high currents after playing in the water. Her rescuer used life jackets to bring the teenager to safety.

A spokesman for the service said:

“Whilst open water can look tempting on warm days, it can be full of hidden dangers including strong currents and vegetation or objects that you can get caught up in. If you see someone in difficulty in open water you should call 999.”

No coronavirus deaths at Harrogate hospital for a month

Today is the first time that Harrogate District Hospital has gone a full month without reporting a single coronavirus death.

It has been a long road to this point. The hospital reported its first covid-19 death on March 20 and the most recent – the 82nd – on July 19. That patient died four days earlier on July 15.

The district hospital said at the end of July that it had no coronavirus positive patients for the first time since the start of the pandemic. It has not revealed since whether it has taken on any new patients.

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This is the longest time that the hospital has gone without reporting a coronavirus death. The second longest time was for 16 days at the start of July.

Now Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust faces a different challenge. The trust is trying to get as many people as possible to sign up to the local coronavirus vaccine trial.

Despite there being no coronavirus deaths for a month the NHS has extended its contract to keep NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber as a hospital until March 2021.

That move may not have gone down well with those in the events and hospitality sector locally but the NHS wants to stay prepared in case a second wave hits in winter.

Knaresborough woman steps up for asylum seekers on doorstep

A teacher from Knaresborough says she needs more support to help those seeking asylum settle into the Harrogate district.

Anne Morley has spent her free time in recent months taking supplies like shoes and mobile phones to asylum seekers in Leeds.

There are currently around 130 asylum seekers living in a hotel in Leeds. The coronavirus pandemic has meant that they are not able to go into detention centres.

Ms Morley has won the support of some people in Knaresborough but she needs more help. Asylum seekers are not entitled to any benefits before they have gone through a legal process and gained refugee status.

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She says it is a life in limbo for the asylum seekers after a treacherous journey from war-torn countries like Syria, Iraq and Sudan. Many are not able to tell their families that they have arrived safely in the UK because they have no working phones.

That is something that Ms Morley and charity Care4Calais has tried to change. Ms Morley told the Stray Ferret that asylum seekers want to come to the UK and contribute:

“Some people have this view that asylum seekers want to come here and claim benefits but it is simply untrue. They all want to work and build better lives for themselves. I know people who have gone onto work in Harrogate’s hospital or as carers or even as mechanics.”

Her plea for people to donate to the Care4Calais emergency appeal comes as the body of 16-year-old Sudanese boy attempting to cross the English Channel was found earlier today.

Big take-up for coronavirus vaccine trial in Harrogate district

Nearly 1,400 people have signed up to the coronavirus vaccine trial – forcing local NHS trusts to increase capacity.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust originally said that there was room for 2,250 people and said that it could increase capacity to 6,000.

So far, more than 6,600 people have signed up to the trial across Leeds, Harrogate and York.

The biggest uptake has been in Leeds where close to 4,000 people have signed up. It is the highest uptake for local authorities in the UK.

Dr Jacqueline Andrews, the executive medical director at Harrogate NHS FT, said:

“I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has signed up to the campaign so far. So many people from the Harrogate district have signed up already. We really appreciate your support.”

Dr Phil Wood, Chief Medical Officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust added:

“An effective vaccine against the coronavirus is key. It’s important for large-scale vaccine studies that we get as many people as possible from our community to sign up to take part.”

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The trusts are considering different locations throughout Leeds, Harrogate, and York for the trial. They are keen to use spaces like sports halls, away from hospitals.

Around 70 staff will spend three days in each location, aiming to give 250 vaccines with each person having a 90-minute consultation. The trial will start at the end of September.

To register interest in the vaccine trial visit the NHS vaccine research website by clicking or tapping here.

How does a vaccine study work?

The NHS may give those who have signed up for the trial a vaccine or a placebo. Either way, participants will need to visit the research site a few times over the next six to 12 months.

At each of those visits, the staff will talk about the research study, take blood tests and answer any questions.

Between visits, participants will need to tell staff about any symptoms and may need to take a throat or nose swab every week while keeping a diary.

Cars return as cones come down on James Street

The cones which blocked off car parking spaces are no longer in place on James Street and cars have returned to the street in their numbers.

A reporter for the Stray Ferret found the cones stacked up on the side of the road this morning.

It is unclear who is responsible for removing the cones. It comes in the same week that the district and county councils both moved to support partial closure.

This move also comes the day after shop owners on James Street said they were open-minded to pedestrianisation.

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A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said its officers have not removed the cones. He added that the council will put them back in place.

These traffic cones have been on James Street for around four months now. North Yorkshire County Council said it put them there to widen pavements and make social distancing easier.

North Yorkshire County Council removed the cones from West Park after shopkeepers vented their frustrations to the Stray Ferret.

It remains to be seen whether the county council will abandon its plans on James Street like it did on West Park.

Turkish Baths Harrogate to reopen after five months

Turkish Baths Harrogate will reopen this week five months after the coronavirus pandemic forced its closure.

For now the baths will only be able to open for treatments on Friday. It is unclear when the sessions will get the green light.

A spokesperson for Turkish Baths Harrogate said that the sessions will remain closed for a “little while longer”.

The baths used the time to renovate its 123-year-old flooring. The council said it could have become dangerous.

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A report seeking retrospective approval for the work detailed how Harrogate Borough Council needed to spend close to £30,000.

In the report, the council said that the floor is showing signs of water egress, wear in grouted joints, and cracks in the terrazzo.

Harrogate Borough Council also launched a consultation into dropping single-sex sessions. Moving to mixed-sessions only would reflect “equality and balance,” according to the council.

Meanwhile, the historic venue is set to become part of a new local authority controlled company (LACC), along with the district’s pools and gyms, as part of an overhaul of leisure services.

Harrogate sports centre deep clean after coronavirus case

Harrogate Sport and Fitness Centre has reopened today after one of its members tested positive for coronavirus.

The centre on Hookstone Wood Road was forced to close this morning for a deep clean. The council and department of health gave it the green light to open at 12pm.

James Gaston, general manager at the centre, said:

“Thank you for your understanding and apologies for any inconvenience. We want to keep your club as safe as we possibly can.”

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He urged people who went to the gym on Friday to get a test and inform them of the results.

The fitness centre has a gym, four squash courts, a dance and fitness studio, two boules courts and a bar with balcony available for hire.

It follows the news that The Navigation Inn in Ripon closed after one of its customers reported a positive coronavirus test.