Coronavirus cancels 1,000 driving tests in Harrogate district

The coronavirus pandemic forced examiners to cancel nearly 1,000 driving tests in the Harrogate district over the last year.

Figures released by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) this week show the true scale of backlog faced by learner drivers.

Nearly half a million tests were cancelled across the country. The testing centre in Knaresborough, which serves the Harrogate district, cancelled 982.

A further 68 tests were cancelled between April 2020 and March 2021 in Knaresborough.

11 tests were cancelled for medical reasons, 34 because the examiner took leave. Acts of nature, like bad weather, also forced 23 cancellations and they were all in December.

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There was a major drop off in tests at the Knaresborough centre over the last year as a result.

Between April 2019 and March 2020 there were 3,649 tests compared to 1,265 tests between April 2020 and March 2021.

Of those that took place, 685 people were successful and that gave the test centre a pass rate of 54% which is above the national average of 50%.

The AA has called for the government to make more test slots available to cope with the pent-up demand.

Robert Cowell, AA Driving School interim managing director, said:

“Young people have faced several hurdles with starting their adult life in the last year.

“Many have faced disruption to education due to Covid outbreaks, frustration with securing employment and delays to learning to drive.

“Because of lockdowns thousands of would-be learners have also missed months of lessons and missed driving tests.”

Harrogate indoor play centre aims to raise £3,500 before reopening

A Harrogate indoor play centre is hoping to raise £3,500 with a raffle before it opens its doors on May 17 as lockdown restrictions ease.

World of their Own, which is based at Hornbeam Park, has been hit particularly hard over the past year: since March 2020 it has only been able to open for 10 weeks.

Although its owners have no intention of closing down and are determined to find the cash somehow, they hope the raffle will cover the costs.

Both Winkies Harrogate, which was based in Starbeck, and Goose, which was based at Hornbeam Park, have permanently closed as a result of the pandemic.

It means that Harrogate now only has two indoor play centres in World of their Own and Little Bees Harrogate, formerly Kidzplay.

Christa and Lee Webber, of World of their Own, have said that while they have made full use of government grants and have a supportive landlord, they still have a funding gap.

To plug that gap they are raffling off a year’s unlimited play pass, afternoon tea in the fairytale parlour for four and a wild west birthday party for 20 children.

There are 700 tickets available at £5.50 per ticket. So far they have sold 185 tickets and the deadline to buy a ticket is at 5pm on May 1. Raffall, the platform they are using, takes a 10% cut.

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Crista Webber told the Stray Ferret how this funding gap is their final hurdle:

“Every ticket sold is a massive help. We have been very frugal over the last year. When we needed to develop more space upstairs Lee built it by hand.

“We will reopen no matter what happens. If we cannot reach the £3,500 then we will need to find the money another way.

“We opened a World of their Own and it was just two months before the pandemic hit. Since then it has been an incredible struggle, which we hope we are coming to the end of.”

Arrest warrant for former Coach and Horses landlord

A court in Harrogate has issued an arrest warrant for the former landlord of the Coach and Horses pub.

John Nelson, who held the pub’s licence for 33 years until last summer, was due for a hearing at the Harrogate Justice Centre today.

Police arrested Mr Nelson on October 30, the day after the council gave his daughter the licence, on Leeds Road and tested him for drugs.

The test found that he had 30 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood in his system. Officers also found three bottles of methadone in his car.

As a result, officers charged him with drug driving and with possession of a class A drug.

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Mr Nelson, 65, was due to enter a plea at court today but failed to show. So the court has now put out a warrant for his arrest.

If he does not hand himself in at a police station then officers will attempt to find and arrest him.

He lost his licence after North Yorkshire Police found customers drinking outside the Coach and Horses and not observing social distancing over the weekend of May 30.

Customers of the pub launched a petition to grant the licence to his daughter Samantha Nelson, which the council did in October last year.

She said she would refurbish and reopen but there has been no movement at the pub ever since. The Stray Ferret has made several enquiries but has received no reply.

‘We feel like prisoners’: Harrogate care home resident on isolation rule

A Harrogate man who lives in a care home has spoken out against rules telling residents not to go outside and to self isolate for two weeks if they do.

Nick Moxon, 32, has cerebral palsy and is a resident at Disability Action Yorkshire‘s care home on Claro Road. He was shocked, like others in the home, to learn of the new guidance.

Residents like Mr Moxon have the backing of Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, the Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Ripon, and Richard Webb, director of health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council. All three have spoken out against the guidance.

While the debate continues, care home residents like Mr Moxon see others enjoying the more relaxed lockdown rules and are left feeling bewildered.

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Mr Moxon, like all residents at his care home, has had both doses of the coronavirus vaccine. He told the Stray Ferret:

“When I first found out what the rules were I shared it with my family and friends, they cannot understand it either.

“If you fly to the UK you just have to isolate for 10 days. If you live in supported living these rules don’t apply. It is crazy. We just want to be treated like everyone else.

“But we are being treated like lesser beings. We are trapped in here like prisoners. Better than most, we understand the risks of coronavirus.

“Before the pandemic we were all extremely sociable. We understood over the last year but now we have had the vaccine and lockdown is easing, we just want to get our lives back.”

The more restrictive guidance for care homes was issued shortly after restrictions eased on the hospitality sector last week and non-essential shops were allowed to reopen.

Ms Snape, who has written to Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones about the issue, previously said:

“For the people that live at 34 Claro Road this is devastating. They are young people who just want to have the same freedoms as everyone else.

“They are seeing pictures of groups enjoying a beer outside the pub and they are being told they can’t even go for a walk around the block.”

Car chase and five arrests in driving crackdown in Harrogate district

North Yorkshire Police said today a recent crackdown on dangerous driving had achieved “strong results” after just two weeks.

Operation Boundary involves high numbers of traffic officers targeting accident hotspots on key routes.

It began over the Easter bank holiday weekend when police targeted the Dales and Craven.

So far 163 traffic offence reports have been issued for offences ranging from using handheld mobiles while driving, dangerous overtaking and speeding.

When police blitzed the Harrogate district on Tuesday last week, they arrested five people, seized two vehicles and set off on a car chase after a driver failed to stop.

Operation Boundary ‘will continue to run at various locations throughout the summer’, according to a police statement.

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Traffic sergeant Pete Stringer, who is leading the operation, said:

“The strong results we’ve seen over the past couple of weeks show how our roads are being used, and occasionally abused, as lockdown restrictions ease.

“We’re seeing much more traffic, particularly in scenic rural areas and a small minority of road users who seem to think the rules don’t apply to them.”

Bishop of Ripon has ‘grave concerns’ over care home isolation

The Bishop of Ripon has written to five MPs asking for the removal of a requirement for care home residents to isolate for 14 days if they leave their homes.

The Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley’s intervention comes after Richard Webb, director of health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council, also expressed concerns about the issue.

The more restrictive guidance for care homes was issued shortly after restrictions eased on the hospitality sector last week and non-essential shops were allowed to reopen.

The five MPs who received the letter included local Conservatives Andrew Jones, Nigel Adams and Julian Smith. It says:

“I am very concerned indeed about the impact on the physical and mental well-being, and indeed the human rights of individuals of diverse ages and vulnerabilities.

“I note that John’s Campaign for example focuses on principles and attitudes rather than procedures and protocols.

“With that in mind, I ask what sort of society we wish to be as we emerge from the pandemic crisis?

“Given that it is further likely we will be living with covid for a long time, it is of grave concern that our most vulnerable citizens will be treated in such a restrictive way.

“That has, in my opinion, a corrosive impact on our society and has implications that far outlast our own lives.”

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Last week a care home run by Disability Action Yorkshire on Claro Road, Harrogate, said it would defy the guidance because it was a “clear breach” of human rights.

Jackie Snape, chief executive of the charity, has written to Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, warning he will receive furious e-mails as a result of the guidance.

She said:

“For the people that live at 34 Claro Road this is devastating. They are young people who just want to have the same freedoms as everyone else.

“They are seeing pictures of groups enjoying a beer outside the pub and they are being told they can’t even go for a walk around the block.”

Does this story affect you or your loved ones? Write to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk to tell us about your experience.

Ripon grandma ‘rattling and crackling’ on charity 30km run

A Ripon grandma with no running experience and severe health conditions has embarked on a mission to run 30 kilometres to raise money for a children’s charity.

Joy Kalus, 75, suffers from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which causes breathing difficulties, disabling osteoarthritis and is recovering from viral heart failure.

Despite all these ailments, the former British Rail worker is determined to complete her challenge within 30 days.

She aims to do so by running laps of Ripon rugby field. Money raised will go to the NSPCC.

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In just one day, Joy has already beaten her £120 target. So far she has raised £245. Click or tap here to donate on JustGiving.

The cause is close to Joy’s heart. Ten years ago she flew to Brazil to help children on the streets and orphanages.

Joy, who has two daughters and is a grandmother to three boys, said:

“I am just an old lady rattling on to do her best. I can only trot about 25 steps at a time at a time before I start flapping my arms so I look like I am taking off.

“Osteoarthritis has made most of my joints swell. So everything is rattling and crackling as I move.

“I’ve never run before but that isn’t going to stop me. It’s more of a trot because I can’t breathe well.

“But I always tell my daughters they can do anything if they are determined enough. So can I.

“I don’t care how old I am, or what illnesses I am suffering from. Even if it takes me all year I’ll get there.”

Daughter Lisa Bradley, 43, said:

”Both my sister Suzanne and I are so unbelievably proud. Our mum has always been a force to be reckoned with.

“When she first told me I thought she was mad, but she laced up her trainers and off she went. She really is our inspiration.”

Criminals targeting motorhomes in North Yorkshire

Police are warning motorhome and campervan owners in North Yorkshire to take extra precautions, after numerous reports of suspicious activity.

The force said today there had been a spate of incidents across the county involving cold callers approaching vehicle owners and asking to buy them – even though they are not for sale.

In each case, a man or two men knock on the door and ask the homeowner if they can buy the campervan or motorhome and look inside.

Most incidents have been in the Selby area but police fear it could be happening across North Yorkshire.

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Inspector Clive Turner, of North Yorkshire Police’s rural task force, said:

“Please remember, you aren’t obliged to buy anything from or sell anything to doorstep callers.

“Rogue traders often try to take advantage of householders by using high-pressure sales techniques, or may even be looking for opportunities to steal vehicles or property.

“It’s clear that a group of people are deliberately visiting homes in North Yorkshire with campervans parked outside.

“We have been able to respond to reports of suspicious activity by increasing patrols and visiting homes to gather evidence and provide advice.”

Police also released the following advice to prevent the theft of motorhomes:

First glimpse at ‘exciting’ plans for Boroughbridge community centre

Plans for a new community centre in Boroughbridge have been unveiled as the town looks to serve its growing population.

Boroughbridge Town Council is behind the proposals for near the car park on Back Lane. It has asked residents to fill in a survey before May 14 to determine demand.

Such a project has been debated for many years. The council has said that it is now starting to become more of a reality.

While there is no timescale or cost just yet, the council hopes that government will help to fund it.

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The plans include a small sports hall, community event room, kitchen, public toilets, a new home for the council and tourist information point.

Boroughbridge Town Council has promised to build it in an eco-friendly, energy efficient way and also to not lose car parking spaces.

Cllr Peter Phillips, who has been working on the plans for the past year, told the Stray Ferret:

“Boroughbridge is a rapidly expanding community due to the accelerated home building programme in our area.

“Our population is expected to almost double over the next few years and we have no central community facility to cater for this.

“We need to ensure that these proposals are indeed what our community wishes to have.

“There are some fears and concerns which are fully understandable, but overall the feedback so far looking at around 80% in favour.”

Harrogate hospital staff walk, run and bike to New Zealand for charity

Staff at Harrogate District Hospital have raised money for charity by walking, running and cycling the distance from Harrogate to Wellington in New Zealand.

They started the challenge in February and walked 22,866 kilometres by Easter, raising £1,600 in the process. That is £400 more than the original target.

45 staff from the pharmacy department took part. They all tracked how far they had ran, walked and cycled each week and added up the total.

The money will go to Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity. It supports staff, services and patients at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

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Elizabeth Gill, pharmacy support worker and organiser, said:

“At a time when we are all stretched thin and covid has meant we can’t get together outside of work, we wanted to come together to challenge ourselves while raising money for our hospital charity.

“We decided to do the ultimate challenge and get to Wellington in New Zealand as this is the furthest capital from Harrogate and also a country which is covid-free!

“I’m so proud of everyone and how hard we’ve all worked. Our fundraising total is over £1600 which is incredible!”

Yvonne Campbell, head of charity and business development project manager, said:

“Everyone at Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity is blown away by the amount raised by our pharmacy team and the effort they’ve put in to supporting us.

“Recently, money raised by our supporters funded some portable DVD players for inpatients to use to watch films on while they’re in hospital, so the money they raise will go a long way to supporting services, patients and fellow colleagues at the trust.”