Visible return of rough sleeping in Harrogate as lockdown eases

With more tents and sleeping bags on the streets, there has been a visible return of homeless people and rough sleepers around Harrogate.

Back at the start of the lockdown, the government rolled out the ‘Everyone’s in’ scheme to put people in hostels, hotels, and B&Bs.

Harrogate Borough Council housed its homeless community in hostels in the town as well as hostels and hotels in Leeds as part of that scheme.

Both the council and the Harrogate Homeless Project (HHP) worked with them to give them medication, food, laundry facilities, showers, and around 25 mobile phones.

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Neither the charity nor the local authority believes that there has been an actual rise in homeless numbers, just that some people in temporary accommodation are venturing out more.

Liz Hancock, the chief executive of HHP, told The Stray Ferret:

“We have been working hard to maintain our services during coronavirus while also keep our staff and clients safe. We do have worries about the mental health of those shielding when they are stuck inside for so long, we have distributed puzzles, books, and colouring activities to help.”

She added that she is worried about the homeless people it looks after venturing outside more and potentially bringing coronavirus back into its hostels.

But Liz Hancock also insisted that when the ‘Everyone’s in’ scheme comes to an end, homeless people will not just be turned out onto the streets. What happens next is up to the council.

What is the council’s homeless plan?

With the £3.2 billion ‘Everyone’s in’ scheme comes to an end soon, the council will work with those in temporary accommodation to find a more permanent place.

Part of the council’s plan is to get more people into Avondale Hostel, which it has just bought. It plans to renovate the building and make sure that it is only families living there.

This is the plan for the Spa Lane hostel.

Another key part is the council’s new hostel on Spa Lane. The construction works have been delayed and the expected completion date of October has been moved back to early next year.

Cllr Mike Chambers, the cabinet member for safer communities, told The Stray Ferret:

“It was a major challenge bringing in rough sleepers, we do not have that many but we do have some. We managed to make sure that all those who wanted to come inside could do. We will give everyone in temporary accommodation an opportunity to get more permanent accommodation.”

No new coronavirus deaths at Harrogate hospital

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any new coronavirus deaths in today’s NHS figures.

The hospital has so far recorded a total of 79 deaths and has also discharged 135 patients after coronavirus treatment.

Hospitals across the North East and Yorkshire recorded 7 more deaths today.

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It comes as a further 46 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in England’s hospitals, bringing the total to 28,221.

Patients were aged between 12 and 97 years old. Two patients, aged 65 and 85, had no known underlying health conditions.

M&S confirms opening date for Ripon food store

Marks and Spencer has announced that it will open the doors to its food store in Ripon next month.

The new shop will open for the first time at 10am on July 15 and has created around 60 jobs in the town. It will be open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm, and on Sunday from 11am to 5pm.

It was originally due to open at the end of April but it was delayed because of coronavirus.

The M&S Food Store is part of the £10 million Saint Michael’s Retail Park development which was also delayed.

Ripon is currently served by four supermarkets – Aldi, Booths, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.

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Store Manager, Paul Nicoll, has worked at M&S for 34 years and said he was looking forward to getting to know the local community:

“My team and I are really excited about our new store in Ripon. We’ll be working hard to provide outstanding service and help make every penny count for the community.”

What the food hall interior will look like.

As well as food, customers will also be able to shop for M&S’s full clothing and home collections through the click and collect service.

Mark Rothery, Managing Director of Rothstone Estates, said:

“Announcing the opening date is a really exciting milestone in the project. I would like to thank the Ripon community for their support and continued patience as we work hard with all parties to deliver this great investment in the city.”

Councils could pave the way for pop up beer gardens in Harrogate

Councils in the Harrogate district could soon pave the way for pop up beer gardens and outdoor cafes to help boost hospitality businesses.

There are plans to allow pubs, restaurants, and cafes with space outdoors to reopen on July 4 with special safety measures in place.

Many in Harrogate’s hospitality sector do not have those spaces and would, under the current rules, need to stay closed or continue with takeaways.

Harrogate BID has urged both local authorities to help speed up the application process for businesses to open up on pavements.

Richard Cooper, the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said at the cabinet:

“Even if it’s at a one metre distance but, as it stands, it’s a two-metre distance it is going to be very difficult for those businesses to survive. I believe we should give businesses space where there is currently tarmac. I think that is something absolutely mission critical.”

What Mr Cooper means exactly by “space where there is currently tarmac” will be closely scrutinised – any proposal that would cut on street car parking spaces or lead to permanent changes such as pedestrianisation will be fiercely opposed by retail group Independent Harrogate.

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Harrogate Borough Council is responsible for granting the premises licence and North Yorkshire County Council licenses the use of pavements, so they will need to work together.

The BID board is concerned that if the hospitality industry isn’t supported, Harrogate’s economy could be irreparably damaged.

Harrogate Borough Council is now in talks with North Yorkshire County Council.

David Bowe, Corporate Director for Business and Environmental Services, said:

“We are working with the Harrogate BID, Harrogate Borough Council and retailers at a local level to create as much space within the public highway as is practicable to support safe social distancing, café culture and safe access. It is important to understand that there are inevitably differing demands on the public highway and these have to be safely balanced.”

Robert Ogden, on behalf of Independent Harrogate, said:

“It is extremely important that Harrogate’s businesses are able to thrive in the current crisis, and Independent Harrogate supports measures that will enable smaller cafés or restaurants to open while respecting social distancing guidelines. We know the councils will do their best to balance the commercial imperative with reserving sufficient space for the public to walk on, without resorting to road closures.”

One more coronavirus death as Harrogate hospital discharges 135 patients

Harrogate District Hospital recorded one more coronavirus death today as it revealed that it has now discharged 135 patients.

It is an increase from last week’s figures of 10 more patients who have recovered from the virus at Harrogate hospital.

With another patient dying yesterday, the hospital has recorded 79 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic.

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That death was reported with a total of 62 across England’s hospitals in today’s NHS figures.

Patients were aged between 13 days and 96 years old. Three patients, aged between 13 days and 83, had no known underlying health conditions.

Nearly 2500 sign petition to save Henshaws Arts and Crafts centre

Nearly 2500 people have signed a petition to try and save Henshaws Arts and Crafts centre from closure.

Henshaws said at the start of the month that it will need to make long term changes to ensure that its services have a future, including closing the community hub in Knaresborough for the foreseeable future.

That decision struck the people who rely on Henshaws Arts and Crafts hard, leading to the petition to save it.

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Caroline Dinsmore set it up and said that the centre has changed lives by transforming shy and unconfident disabled adults into confident and committed artists. She said:

“Let’s not lose staff skills and the most inspiring place to visit that Knaresborough and North Yorkshire have. My daughter has always wanted to work there, she says it’s her second family and when we visit everyone remembers her. It’s the one place we visit that she feels positive about being disabled.”

Alongside the closure of the Arts and Crafts Centre, the disability charity will also cut its supported living services in Harrogate. However, the charity said the college is not under threat.

Adrian Sudgen, Henshaws Specialist College principal, said:

“We understand the current closure of the Centre will undoubtedly cause a great deal of distress. We will do everything we can to help during these sad and uncertain times. These are extremely difficult decisions being taken in exceptional circumstances and our team will continue to support people across Yorkshire in every way we can.”

No plans to close Henshaws College as charity cuts services

There are no plans to close Henshaws College despite the charity cutting back some of its services to balance the books.

Henshaws has cut the Arts and Crafts Centre as well as its supported living services but the college is safe for the foreseeable future.

The charity told The Stray Ferret that the college is a regulated service with different contractual responsibilities and different funding.

It has been open during lockdown with just over half of its pupils attending. The rest are either off because their parents are keeping them away or because the college does not have enough room.

Whether preparing for employment, making friends, or learning to live more independently, the college offers flexible courses for disabled young people.

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Henshaws College is still accepting applications for the next academic year and is planning to hold a virtual open day in July.

The charity says it is proud of the work it has done in the lockdown and has also won praise from the Department for Education and the CQC.

Second Black Lives Matter demo in Harrogate hopes to gather momentum

Organisers are expecting a big crowd to turn up to a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Harrogate this weekend.

The demonstration starts on Saturday at 2pm on Montpellier Hill. They will advise people to keep their distance and speakers will talk about their experiences of racism.

Josephine Mary decided to set up the event in response to the death of George Floyd and because she felt like she had not done enough to stand up to racism.

It will be the second Black Lives Matter protest after people gathered to take a knee by the war memorial at the start of the month.

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Since setting up the demonstration Josephine has been subject to a backlash. She said people are worried that there will be clashes with the far-right.

That’s something she does not see happening in Harrogate. North Yorkshire Police are aware of the demonstration and will be attending.

Ahead of the demonstration, Josephine Mary told The Stray Ferret:

“I still see some racist comments from people in Harrogate, they struggle to understand institutional racism and that’s part of why we are doing this. We have ignored for too long the violence and abuse BAME people suffer. We can’t be quiet anymore, this isn’t going away until racism stops.”

Harrogate Stonefall recycling centre to open after traffic review

Harrogate Stonefall household waste recycling centre will reopen tomorrow after a council review into traffic and safety around the site.

North Yorkshire County Council closed all of its centres as part of the national lockdown back in March but did not open Stonefall along with others in May.

Stonefall will reopen tomorrow from 8.30am to 5pm and will be operating the usual six days a week – every day except for Wednesdays.

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Staff will be unable to help unload so only take items you can handle yourself and make sure you keep two metres apart.

They will not accept any hardcore, rubble, plasterboard, tyres and wastes from charities along with the other recycling centres.

Cllr Andrew Lee, North Yorkshire County Council’s Executive Member for Waste Management, said:

“We are really pleased to be able to re-open this very popular site. It is one of the busiest sites in the county, so it has taken a little bit longer to be able to open it safely. We have worked hard with our contractors, Yorwaste, to be able to reopen this site to ensure the safety of staff and the public.”

Hand sanitising facilities at sites are limited, so people are advised to wear gloves on-site and are reminded to wash their hands before and after attending.

Family feels ‘let down’ by Henshaws senior management

The family of a person with disabilities living in a Henshaws’ home said they felt let down and upset when they found out that the service will stop – four months after the original decision was made.

Henshaws announced publicly yesterday that it’s to close supported living services in October – affecting about 21 residents. The charity had told North Yorkshire County Council back in March that it was unable to continue the service.

The Stray Ferret spoke to two families today – one who currently has a family member in assisted living at Henshaws, the other whose child was previously a resident.

Both were deeply critical of the charity’s management of finances. They also said that upper management rarely met with the people who used the service.

The family member whose loved one is currently in care said they were kept in the dark about the decision to close the service and they are now very worried about what happens next.

“The impact of this is on vulnerable adults who don’t have a voice. I feel sorry for the service users and for the staff who work hard and they have been working even harder during coronavirus. We don’t know what will happen next but if there are big changes then it will be hugely traumatic for the disabled people living in Henshaws. The management should be ashamed for letting the finances get to this point.”

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The latest financial account for Henshaws details how in the year up to August 2018, the charity spent £12.3 million – a £1 million more than its income.

Another person who had their child in one of Henshaws’ homes for several years echoed those frustrations:

“I am not surprised that Henshaws has decided to stop its support living service. The staff in charge had tried their best to run a good service but they had not been supported adequately by the head office.”

The charity is also closing its Arts and Crafts service in Knaresborough, which caters to about 160 people.

Henshaws had previously been running a fundraising appeal ‘Art is the Start’ to update the centre to suit the people who use it. But has now concluded the centre is no longer economically viable.

The comments from family members follows a statement yesterday from the charity’s CEO Nick Marr:

“Henshaws Home Support service was on a knife edge financially and the pressure on local authorities funding these and other places has increased. We are not able to sustain these services so we intend to transition out of providing them, at the latest, in October, to ensure the best continuity can be arranged for the service users. We will be consulting with staff in the service about the future of their roles.”