Police close road near Green Hammerton after serious crash

North Yorkshire Police closed the A59 near Green Hammerton after a serious crash this evening.

The force reported the crash, which led to long delays, at about 7pm this evening.

At this stage it is unclear how many vehicles were involved and the extent of any injuries.

Motorists have been warned to avoid the area while the emergency services deal with the incident.

A spokesperson for the police said:

“We’re currently at the scene of a serious collision on the A59 at Green Hammerton.

“The road is currently closed and diversions are in progress.

“There is likely to be some disruption for some time. Please avoid the area whilst emergency services respond.”

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Travellers set up camp at Harrogate’s Ashville College – and demand £5,000 to leave

Travellers have set up an illegal camp on the sports field at Harrogate’s Ashville College — and demanded £5,000 to leave immediately.

The school has said their presence raises safeguarding concerns that could delay the return to school on September 8.

Cars and caravans drove onto the rugby pitches behind the fee-paying school’s Mallinson boarding house on Yew Tree Lane last night.

According to a college spokesman, they told school staff they were on their way to a wedding in Ireland after attending the annual Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria.

However, the travellers said if the school paid them £5,000 they were prepared to leave immediately without causing any damage.

But if no money was forthcoming, they said they would increase the length of their stay and implied they would invite other members of the travelling community to join them, the spokesman added.

This week, the college is staging a series of summer sports activities for boys and girls. These have now had to be brought indoors as the college is concerned about the safety of the children.

Despite the camp’s presence being a safeguarding issue, the college is worried that the only route it can now take to remove the travellers is to apply for a court order, which could take up to 10 days, and interrupt the start of term.

The spokesman said:

“Despite the travellers illegally camping on our grounds, which is private property, and their presence being a child safeguarding issue, the police state they are powerless to take action.

“This has already impacted on our summer sports camps and there’s a possibility the start of the new term may have to be delayed.

“We are now having to engage the services of a solicitor to help us apply for a court order, and in the meantime we are powerless to do anything, which is incredibly frustrating and worrying.”

Harrogate hospital reports second coronavirus death in a week

Harrogate District Hospital has reported a second coronavirus death in a week — after going more than four months without any covid fatalities.

One patient died on Wednesday last week and the hospital reported today that another person had succumbed to the virus.

It takes the total number of coronavirus deaths at the hospital to 181.

Since lockdown restrictions were fully lifted in July, daily coronavirus cases have remained at about the 70 mark. Today’s figure is 82 and brings the total number of cases to 12,908.

The seven-day infection rate for the Harrogate district has increased to 315 people per 100,000. That is just above the North Yorkshire average of 311 and just below the England average of 330.

It was reported today that the number of patients at Harrogate District Hospital being treated for covid had risen to 10.

Elsewhere, 123,979 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 111,861 have had a second dose.

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‘Moving breakdown truck drops car into fence’ in Harrogate

An eyewitness has described the moment a moving breakdown truck dropped a car, which then rolled into a fence in Harrogate near where children play.

The incident happened at about 9.20pm last night on Roberts Crescent.

A police cordon remains in place today on the street, which is just off Skipton Road, and there is also a broken fence.

The eyewitness, who asked not to be named, told the Stray Ferret:

“I walked past the field last night when a white tow truck was offloading a car as it was still driving off.

“As a result the car smashed through the fence of the field, causing a really loud noise. It’s a blessing it wasn’t an hour before because I saw kids playing there.

“The police soon turned up and taped off the smashed fence. I’m not sure of the outcome but there were lots of people out when officers investigated with torches.”

We approached North Yorkshire Police to confirm the account but received no reply by the time of publication.

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The police cordon on Roberts Crescent.

‘Dispose batteries safely’ warning after bin wagon catches fire in Knaresborough

Harrogate Borough Council has warned people to be careful disposing their household waste after a bin wagon caught fire in Knaresborough.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue responded to reports of smoke coming from the refuse collection vehicle on Manse Lane at 9.24am yesterday.

Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough rushed to the scene where they worked with the binmen to tip out the waste in a safe location and extinguish the fire. Nobody is believed to have been hurt.

An investigation by the fire crews determined the cause was likely to be a chemical reaction.

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A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“Our crew responded effectively to the event and our thanks go to them and the fire crews for their quick actions to ensure the fire was safely contained.

“Can we remind businesses and residents to think carefully about what they are disposing of in their general waste.

“Please ensure substances and in particular batteries are disposed of safely, not in with their general waste.”

Lib Dems ‘angry about loss of Harrogate funfair and Christmas market’

The leader of the Liberal Democrats on Harrogate Borough Council has expressed anger at the loss of the Harrogate Christmas Market and the annual funfair on the Stray.

In a statement sent to the Stray Ferret, Cllr Pat Marsh asked why the council couldn’t have been more supportive of the events and pro-active in making them happen.

She also said there was a danger of the Harrogate district acquiring a “reputation of not welcoming and not being supportive of special events”.

She said:

“The Lib Dems on Harrogate Borough Council are very angry at the way that annual events are being cancelled.

“First it was the local Christmas market. That meant local artisans won’t be able to sell their products to residents.

“Now we have the annual funfair being cancelled. That is something thousands of young people have enjoyed over many, many years.

“Why has this been allowed to happen? Why couldn’t the council be more supportive?”

Cllr Marsh also said the decision to prevent the events from going ahead was not one made by all councillors. She was not allowed to attend talks between council officers and the former Christmas market organisers. She said:

“We need to ensure that all councillors are kept informed and have a chance to have an input, we are all elected by the residents to act on their behalf.”

We sent Cllr Marsh’s statement to Harrogate Borough Council for a response but did not receive a reply by the time of publication.

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What happened to the annual Harrogate funfair?

The family that stages the funfair told the Stray Ferret the event would not go ahead because Harrogate Borough Council hiked the charge for using Stray land.

Ruby Wilson, who has taken over organising the fair on behalf of her dad John Jameson, said the council had doubled the price from £5,000 to £10,000.

With additional costs on top, including VAT and a £2,000 deposit in case the Stray is damaged, Ms Wilson said the event was no longer viable. The council disputes the claims.

What happened to Harrogate Christmas Market?

Harrogate Borough Council refused a licence for the Harrogate Christmas Market due to concerns about coronavirus, overcrowding and terrorism.

After three weeks of wrangling with the council, co-organiser Brian Dunsby admitted defeat in his battle to hold the event on Montpellier Hill.

It later emerged the council had been engaged in talks with Manchester-based organisers Market Place Europe in March and has now ramped up those discussions about staging an alternative Christmas market in December.

Council blames covid for barring group from Knaresborough House

Harrogate Borough Council has blamed government advice on coronavirus for preventing a community group from meeting at Knaresborough House.

Knaresborough & District Men’s Forum has used Knaresborough House since 1970, so members consider it to be their home.

However, with just under a month to go until they plan to meet again the group has nowhere to go.

Even though the government dropped all legal social distancing measures in July, the council still considers coronavirus restrictions as part of its risk assessment.

With such restrictions in place the Knaresborough & District Men’s Forum, which attracts around 80 people, would not be able to use the council-owned Knaresborough House.

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The forum offers entertainment and company during winter for retired and semi-retired men in the Knaresborough area.

It usually meets every Tuesday morning and hosts speakers on all kinds of subjects except politics and religion. The £2 entry fee includes a hot drink and a biscuit.

Peter Cresswell, press officer for the forum, told the Stray Ferret:

“If we have to adhere by social distancing measures then we would not be able to use Knaresborough House.

“We do not want to find a new place to meet. The forum has met there every year for the past 50 years.

“It is just hard to understand when thousands of people can mix in football stadiums and at music festivals.”

Knaresborough House is the home of the group. Photo: Habiloid/Geograph

A council spokesman said:

“Whilst we appreciate the law governing social distancing may have changed, our risk assessment still contains certain measures in line with government advice.”

The guidance the council refers to states people “should limit the close contact with those you do not usually live with, and increase close contact gradually.”

The council spokesman added:

“The virus is still in circulation, and with public meetings often involving a number of different people who don’t normally come into contact with each other, particularly as it’s indoors, we’re continuing to apply a degree of caution to help keep everyone safe.

“To be clear on the social distancing point, we recognise that two metres isn’t always possible so have advised “one metre plus mitigating measures” under those circumstances.

“This is our current position, but we will of course continue to review our risk assessment and make changes as and when we deem it necessary.”

Historic Harrogate funfair cancelled after ‘council price hike’

The annual August Bank Holiday funfair on the Stray in Harrogate, which dates back to 1953, will not take place this weekend following a row over fees.

The family that stages the event told the Stray Ferret the event would not go ahead because Harrogate Borough Council had hiked the charge for using Stray land.

Ruby Wilson, who has taken over organising the fair on behalf of her dad John Jameson, said the council had doubled the price from £5,000 to £10,000.

With additional costs on top, including VAT and a £2,000 deposit in case the Stray is damaged, Ms Wilson said the event was no longer viable.

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Mr Jameson was at the first fair when the Corrigan family ran it. The Shaw family later took it on before the Jameson family stepped up. He told the Stray Ferret:

“The council did not provide any reason for such a big price hike. We just cannot afford to pay that, the fair does not make that much money.

“Our family has strong connections with Harrogate so it is sad for us to not be able to put the fun fair on. We will try again next year.

“Over the years we have been forced to give up the number of days we use the Stray and now we are facing a big price hike. It just does not feel fair.”

But the council disputed the claims. A spokesman said:

“The council have not had any contact from the organisers concerning the funfair since April this year, meaning it is now too late for them to submit an event plan for the coming weekend.

“If they contact us directly we are more than happy to discuss arrangements for future years”.

Fallen tree blocks busy Harrogate road

A large tree has fallen in Harrogate and partly blocked a busy road, causing problems for traffic this afternoon.

The tree fell at around 2pm on Forest Lane near Hookstone Chase Primary School.

Nobody is believed to have been hurt even though the road attracts heavy traffic.

Our traffic system is showing congestion on nearby Wetherby Road and Hookstone Chase as a result.

It is unclear at this time how long it will take to clear the blockage or whether anybody was injured in the incident.

The Stray Ferret has asked North Yorkshire Police for further details but has yet to receive a reply.

Lesley Thompson told the Stray Ferret:

“I was just travelling down the road when I saw the road was blocked. It looks like a massive bough has fallen off of the tree.

“When I saw it I went to make sure that nobody was hurt and I could not see anyone or any cars in there.”

 

Homeless people blocked off from Harrogate Debenhams

The owner of the former Debenhams building in Harrogate has blocked off the entrance after business owners raised concerns about homeless people in the area.

In recent days workers have built and painted a wooden structure to block off any shelter at the building on Parliament Street.

It comes a couple of weeks after Lucy Gardiner, a local business owner, posted pictures of homeless people in the entrance on the Harrogate Residents Association Facebook group.

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Homeless people took shelter in the entrance. Photo: Lucy Gardiner

She told the Stray Ferret at the time:

“There is no shame in having standards and wanting the best for the town you love. This post was about awareness and having the conversation and wanting the best vision and future for Harrogate.

“I don’t have all the answers obviously but all I will say is that no-one can possibly walk past a homeless person sleeping in the street and think that this is okay.”

The Stray Ferret approached Harrogate Homeless Project for comment at the time but did not receive a reply.

Wetherby-based property firm Stirling Prescient, which owns the former Debenhams building, confirmed today it had “dealt with the issue” when approached by the Stray Ferret but declined to comment further.

Stirling Prescient  has recently unveiled it plans to demolish the site, which closed in January, and replace it with a brand new building with apartments and space for businesses on the ground floor.

The application warned that if the site cannot be brought back into use the empty building could become an “eyesore” and “blight the high street”.