Social media campaign to defy lockdown raises concern

Harrogate district businesses will be fined if they defy the national lockdown to take part in the ‘Great Reopening’.

Those leading North Yorkshire’s coronavirus response have picked up on a growing movement on social media. Organisers encourage people to approach shops and restaurants in their area with posters.

They are concerned of the impact on coronavirus infection rates and the NHS if people take part this Saturday.

Ten thousand people have joined the national group called the ‘Great Reopening’ on messaging app Telegram.

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Richard Webb, director of adult care at North Yorkshire County Council, told a North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum meeting that the council, police and other agencies would not hesitate to take action.

He said:

“Yesterday we were made aware of a campaign doing the rounds across the north of England which urges business to have what they’ve called a great reopening on January 30.

“First of all, can I thank all North Yorkshire businesses for complying with the closure requirements during lockdown. I know how tough it is for so many businesses both economically and on your health and wellbeing.

“My plea to all businesses is to ignore this campaign. There will be no great reopening on January 30. I would ask that you continue to act as you have been doing throughout this lockdown and before that and that we fight together this deadly virus.

“My warning to those who choose to take part in this campaign, the enforcement authorities the police, trading standards, environmental health and others will have no choice but to take enforcement action against you.”

Drivers ‘dice with death’ at Starbeck level crossing

Drivers who try to beat the level crossing on Starbeck’s High Street have been told they are “dicing with death” and can expect to be fined.

British Transport Police said yesterday it has recorded 12 incidents at the crossing this month, so has put out a warning to anyone thinking of trying it.

Shocking video from the dash cam of a police car captured the moment a 4×4 driver ignored the signals and lowering barriers.

There are cameras at the crossing and BTP said it will increase patrols. It recorded two incidents in one day on both January 8 and January 14.

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Officers are investigating each incident and have said drivers can get points on their licence and a hefty fine as a result.

Inspector Andy Roberts said:

“Level crossing safety procedures are there for a reason.

“By trying to beat the system you risk your own lives and potentially the lives of passengers and the driver of the oncoming train.

“A fine and a few points on your licence is a lucky escape considering what the outcome can be if you dice with death on a level crossing.

“Have a little patience and wait until it’s safe to cross, it really isn’t worth risking your life in order to save a few minutes.”

Darren Lord, the route level crossing manager for Network Rail, said:

“There is simply no excuse to ignore the warning signs, lights and barriers at level crossings. Doing so is incredibly selfish and puts other people’s lives at risk, as well as your own.

“We’re working closely with the British Transport Police to investigate these incidents and we encourage anyone to report any instances of misuse at a level crossing to them.”

Harrogate elderly women ‘thought they would die’ in police crash

Two elderly Harrogate women thought they were going to die when an undercover police officer crashed into their car on the Otley Road.

Detective Constable Quita Passmore was responding to reports of officers in distress at 10pm on May 5, 2018.

The officer was driving an undercover car with blue lights and sirens on. She had been travelling at around 50 miles per hour before she collided with the elderly women.

She had gone through the red lights at the junction with Cold Bath Road, a jury at Bradford Crown Court heard today.

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The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) carried out an investigation into the crash and passed its findings onto the Crown Prosecution Service ahead of the case.

Mr Dunn, the prosecuting barrister, told the court:

“The officer was going too fast at 50 miles per hour in the circumstances. The red light was showing for nine seconds to safely negotiate that junction at that speed.

“It was too fast in all the circumstances, say the prosecution. She was going too fast to stop on her side of the road and failed to yield for a red traffic light.

“Officers are entitled to disregard those traffic signals when responding to an emergency. There is no issue with the exemptions but it must be done safely.

“This was dangerous, say the prosecution.”

Victim statements

Both of the victims were retired elderly women. They suffered serious injuries, with the court hearing a list of broken bones and a punctured lung.

Patricia Bulmer, who was driving a red Vauxhall Corsa, told police in hospital after the crash:

“We had spent the day at a friend’s house and left around 10pm. I had driven up Cold Bath Road and turned onto the junction with Otley Road.

“Then there was an almighty smash and bang. The airbag flew into me. My friend was then making moaning noises at the side of me.

“After that, two ladies poked their heads through and said they would get us out of the car.”

Janet Roberton, who was the passenger in the car, also told police:

“I heard a loud siren type noise and saw lights to the right of the car. I just remember one of us shouting ‘oh my God, oh my God.’

“Then there was a loud bang, it was the most awful noise I have ever heard. My first thought was the we were going to die, it felt terrible.”

Detective Constable Quita Passmore has pleaded not guilt to two counts of dangerous driving.

The case continues.

Harrogate M&S faces complaints about non-essential sales

Harrogate’s central Marks and Spencer store is facing complaints from residents and traders about its non-essential sales.

The store has closed off a large section of the store and the upper floor. But it still has some clothing, beauty and homeware on sale.

Parts of the menswear section is now on the Cambridge Street floor, which has traditionally been solely for womenswear.

The store only has parts of the store open which customers need to use to get down to the food section on the lower floor.

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This has been a national debate during the three lockdowns. Supermarkets can sell non-essential goods alongside food.

Welsh supermarkets came under scrutiny after some sectioned off parts they deemed non-essential, including women’s sanitary products.

Some residents and sole-traders believe it is unfair for any stores to sell non-essential goods while small independent stores cannot – especially a store in the town centre.

Local David Andrews wrote a letter to the chief executive of M&S and shared the letter with the Stray Ferret. He said:

“I believe this [is] contrary to the guidelines and has given [M&S] an unfair advantage over competitors.

“It was permitted to open because of the food hall on the lower ground floor, served by its primary access from Oxford Street.

“Why does M&S need to open the Cambridge Street entrance at all when the Oxford Street entrance accesses the food hall directly?

“One might say it wants to continue trading in clothes and this loophole about secondary access allows them to do so.”

A sole trader based in Harrogate, who wanted to remain anonymous, also told the Stray Ferret:

“Somebody must be able to as this is so unfair. I am sole trader and this inconsistency is driving me mad.

“Why can you not get them to follow the guidance which suits this store to a tee as it’s actually states non-essential floors should be closed.

“What’s the point of having guidance if it can’t be used. I’m sure it was written for a reason.”

M&S disputes any allegations that it is not following the rules. A spokesperson said in response:

“Our M&S Foodhalls remain open to provide our customers with the essential items they require during this time.

“In line with Government guidelines, we’ve closed our non-food floors except where they provide access to our Foodhalls.”

Harrogate cafe a ‘hidden gem’ for locals and hospital staff

Tucked away on a residential street just off the Stray, this Harrogate cafe has become a lifeline for the local community and nearby hospital staff.

Simon Somerville-Frost has the bright smile and bubbly personality that draws people into No 43 Brew Bar, on St Winifred’s Avenue.

While the cafe cannot be the hub it wants to be right now, owner Simon and manager Becky Gilmour have made a difference for many by simply staying open.

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No 43 Brew Bar opened in May 2018 after Simon realised that, after nearly a decade of living in the Saints area of Harrogate, he didn’t know any of his neighbours.

Wanting to set that right, he took on a shop unit opposite his home and soon expanded next door.

Some tried to dissuade Simon from opening a cafe outside the town centre but he was confident that it could become the heart of the local community.

It serves a range of tray bakes, coffees, teas, milkshakes and hot chocolates that can normally bring in people from not only Harrogate, but also Leeds and Bradford.

In reaction to the third national lockdown, Simon is also taking part of the business online, launching a new delivery box of its sweet treats called Brew Bar Bakes.

Simon told the Stray Ferret;

“We knew that within two or three months we had something unique as a business. It was clear to our customers that we were not just in it for the money.

“The cafe has always been a place for people to stay as long as they like and meet new people. Yes, the coffee needs to be very good, but it’s about the experience as well.

“During the first lockdown we really shone. We know our customers who lived alone so we were able to contact them, ask if they were OK, do some shopping for them.”

Not only do people visit No 43 Brew Bar on their walks – and yes dogs are allowed – but it has also been an escape for hospital staff over the last couple of years.

The cafe offers a 10% NHS discount and, drawing on his previous experience of working in the hospital, Simon knows some of the pressures the hospital staff are facing and how to put them at ease.

This is part of the Stray Ferret’s ‘hidden gem’ series, highlighting small, independent businesses. They need to be tucked away but growing in popularity with an eye-catching and unique product or approach. Send us an email with your nominations.

Heavy rain raises flooding fears at new Boroughbridge housing estate

A few days of heavy rain and snowmelt has exposed a flooding issue at a new housing estate in Boroughbridge.

Residents on Hockley Croft noticed flood water creeping onto the north side of the estate earlier this week, which soon turned into a small river.

Yesterday morning some woke up to a wider problem. What had been driveways and a park for children to play had become a lake of water.

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Residents claim the developers, Harron Homes, had not mentioned the possibility of flooding and also claim council surveys failed to raise the issue.

This week saw some very heavy rain but some Boroughbridge residents fear their homes could be flooded if the weather is more severe in future.

We spoke to some of the residents on the estate who wanted to raise the issue anonymously.

Some had spent around £300,000 to more than £600,000 for a brand new house. They told the Stray Ferret:

“When the searches were done this wasn’t listed as a floodplain, there were no flooding issues raised. I guess that water is from the excess rain and maybe a lack of drainage.

“The flood water is quite close to the house. We don’t want these problems every time it rains.

“The weather has not really been much worse than normal so the drainage needs to be sorted out.”

A second person, who has lived on the estate for 18 months, also told the Stray Ferret:

“The flood water is running like the river near our house. Last night we were really scared, we thought the water was going to come up to our house.

“We weren’t warned about the flooding issues so it was a bit of a shock really.

“Funnily enough we have had to gravel our garden because it is so wet. It was like a flood in our garden last winter, so we had to dig it all up and re-do it all again.”

A spokespers​on for Harron Homes Yorkshire said:

“There has been unprecedented rainfall from Storm Christoph that has impacted many previously unaffected parts of the country.

“The adjacent open land at our Hockley Croft development in Boroughbridge has passed water on to the site which we are investigating with the land owner.

“We have helped our customers affected by the water from the fields by deploying a pump that has reduced the water levels and the situation is now under control with very little consequence and inconvenience to our customers.”

In the planning application from a couple of years ago Harrogate Borough Council said it had concerns about the surface water discharge rates.

“The applicant has stated that surface water from the proposed development is to be discharged directly to the River Ure via an attenuation pond.

“However they have not indicated how this will be achieved.

“Nevertheless the Environment Agency is responsible for administering surface water discharge from the new development to Milby Cut.”

A spokesperson for the council also told the Stray Ferret:

“Proposed development sites may need to carry out a flood risk assessment.

“A risk assessment, carried out by specialists, was considered as part of the planning process for this site.

“Relevant consultees raised no objections to its conclusions or proposed mitigation measures it contained.”

 

Boroughbridge care home, garage and homeowners fight floods

A Boroughbridge care home, garage and homeowners have been fighting against the floods with pumps and mops today.

Persistent rain from Storm Christoph caused water levels to rise, which caused particular problems for people living near the River Ure and Milby Cut Canal.

The level of the Ure peaked last night at about 15 metres as concerned residents watched on powerlessly.

Stephen Jenkins (pictured above), who owns the Riverside Court care home, has had water pumped out of the basement today. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I’ve been here since 1989. When Boroughbridge flooded in 1991 the care home was protected. But in 2000 the Environment Agency opened up this third arch of the bridge.

“Ever since then the water starts seeping out underneath the patio. If they don’t put that pump in it starts to flood. Unfortunately I can’t do anything about it now.

“My main concern is the boilers. Obviously being a care home we need to keep the central heating running at all times. We also have all of our fridges and freezers on pallets permanently.”

Malcolm Angus, who owns Canal Garage in Boroughbridge.

Flooding is also a long-running source of frustration for Malcolm Angus, owner of Canal Garage in Boroughbridge.

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Mr Angus and staff have been mopping the floor today. He told the Stray Ferret:

“We have been lucky this time, the water has come up further before. There’s a burst water main up the road, which is bringing the water down.

“It pools at that junction and then comes across to the garage, that’s causing the problem at the moment, not the canal.

“Cars go through the water on the road and it flows down to us. We get no help. In terms of the canal I have lived here since 1995 and it has not been dredged once.”

Pumps have been out in force today.

On the nearby Milby Cut Canal, Nigel Crowther owns a home looking over the water. He remains calm about the situation:

“I have been keeping track on the Environment Agency website. It doesn’t matter what is happening in Boroughbridge, it’s about what is happening further up the catchment.

“So when you know it is going to be heavy rain for a sustained period you have to get ready so we have put up gates and we have a flood wall around our house.

“The levels peaked at about 10pm last night and it sustained that level for four hours before it started to drop off slowly.”

Live: Met Office yellow warning for ice as storm subsides

Residents in the Harrogate district woke today to more flood warnings after days of heavy rain.

Keep refreshing this page to get the latest updates on weather and travel.

Help to keep our live blog up to date by sending pictures and information about flooding to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

4.30pm – Boroughbridge residents fight the flood

People in Boroughbridge have been fighting hard to keep their homes and businesses dry as the river and canal spill over.

We sent a reporter to the town to see how people were coping with the floods.

Read our report here: https://thestrayferret.co.uk/boroughbridge-care-home-garage-and-homeowners-fight-floods/

3.07pm – Met Office yellow warning for ice tonight

Storm Christoph may be abating but weather problems are likely to persist, according to the latest Met Office update. It says river levels could continue to rise “for a little longer” and colder weather is on its way.

A yellow warning for ice is in place for the Harrogate district tonight. Temperatures are forecast to fall as low as minus one degree centigrade tonight and sub-zero nighttime temperatures are forecast until Monday.

https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1352269742548115456

2.35pm – York-Leeds trains cancelled for today

The train operator has said the weather is causing some issues on its lines meaning services between York and Leeds will be withdrawn for the rest of the day.

Northern added it was working with Network Rail to recover the tracks following the bad weather.

Road transport will now replace trains until the end of the day between Leeds and York calling at all intermediate stations.

These will depart at the following times;

xx:30 Leeds to York
xx:15 York to Leeds

— NORTHERN 🚆 (@northernassist) January 21, 2021

1.35pm – Number of flood alerts and warnings reduces

Is the situation improving? There are now eight flood warning and alerts in place in the Harrogate district, compared with 11 last night. Areas near Boroughbridge seem to be experiencing the main threat now.

Flood warnings, which are more severe, remain active for:

Swinney Beck in Masham

River Ure at Roecliffe caravan park

River Ure at Milby Island

River Nidd at Hunsingore

Flood alerts are in place for:

Upper River Nidd catchment

Lower River Nidd catchment

Lower River Ure

Lower Dunsforth Access

12.39pm – Fountains Abbey affected by storm damage

Fountains Abbey has withstood some tumultuous times but Storm Christoph has left a scar.

1/2 The arrival of storm Christoph has caused some dramatic affects here this morning.
More frequently occurring extreme weather events are a direct result of climate change and are the single biggest threat to the precious landscapes cared for by the National Trust. pic.twitter.com/bHUGTeTBVj

— Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust (@fountainsabbey) January 21, 2021

11.36am – Warnings over travel on A59 at Whixley

North Yorkshire County Council has issued a warning to drivers travelling between Harrogate and York.

It says the A59 at Whixley is only ‘passable with care’ thanks to water on the carriageway.

Other roads affected are Tockwith Road in Long Marston and Spofforth Lane in North Deighton.

A full list of road closures and affected routes can be found on NYCC’s website.

10.53am – List of roads affected by weather

North Yorkshire County Council has just published seven tweets listing which roads in the county have been affected by weather.

Many are not in the Harrogate district but the east of the district, around Cattal and Bishop Monkton, features prominently.

New Row, between Darley and Birstwith, is also on the list.

(1/7)A number of roads in #NorthYorkshire are effected by #flooding or #snow.

Closed
•C32 Fleet Moss
•Unclassified Askrigg East and West Moor
•Unclassified Redmire Moor
•Kirby Wiske, Maunby
•Dalton lane at Cod beck Blenders
•Cowlands Lane, Holme-on-Swale pic.twitter.com/vHPQjNmeYc

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) January 21, 2021

10.20am – Homes may flood in Masham

The government’s flood information service has updated at 10am to say homes may flood in Masham today.

“River levels have risen as a result of heavy rainfall associated with Storm Christoph.

“Consequently, flooding of property is possible. Areas most at risk are properties along Westholme Road.

“No further significant rainfall is expected today. We are closely monitoring the situation.

“Our incident response staff are closely monitoring the forecast.

“Please put your flood plan into action and activate any property flood protection products you may have.”

10.15am – Firefighters pump water from flooded Harrogate home

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue pumped flood water from a basement in Harrogate this morning.

The incident summary for the night details how the crew used a light portable pump at the property on Lancaster Road at 8.30am.

A crew also attended a property in Nun Monkton surrounded by floodwater and gave advice to the homeowner.

10am – More than 100 flood warnings and alerts

There are currently 65 flood warnings and 52 flooding alerts across North Yorkshire and the surrounding area.

North Yorkshire County Council has warned people to only travel if the journey is essential and to not drive through flooded roads.

The government’s flood alert system is currently a sea of orange and red warnings across the UK and North Yorkshire.

https://twitter.com/KnaresPolice/status/1352194198800371712

9am – Close call for Knaresborough caravan park

Residents living at the Nidderdale Lodge Park in Knaresborough had a close call with the river Nidd’s water levels last night.

This picture below shows just how high the water is this morning. The resident said the blue bench (pictured) was submerged last night but it has not reached the same levels as in 2015.

Photograph: Margaret Pearson

8am – River Nidd flowing fast in aftermath of Storm Christoph

Our reporter captured this video of a fast-flowing river Nidd near Killinghall this morning.

Storm Christoph now appears to have passed but many residents in the district will have to keep a close eye on the rivers near them.

How the river Nidd is looking today in the aftermath of Storm Christoph. Follow our live blog here: https://t.co/Fc0lNqw4cb pic.twitter.com/I5H7GCgXd6

— The Stray Ferret (@thestrayferret) January 21, 2021

7.30am – Boroughbridge river levels peak at 15 metres

The river Ure in Boroughbridge reached 15 metres over night and appears to be on the way down.

According to the Gauge Map, the river levels topped off at around 2am last night.

While still high, the river lowered to 14.8 metres at around 7am this morning.

On 21/01/21 at 01:15 the river level was 14.93mAOD and above its typical range. pic.twitter.com/KlSi0455I8

— Boroughbridge (@riverlevel_1874) January 21, 2021

7am – Harrogate district through worst of heavy rain

The Met Office no longer has any weather warnings in place for the Harrogate district after days of heavy rain.

Forecasters are predicting some showers to hit around midday but only for around a couple of hours.

Friday and the weekend is set to be largely dry, providing relief for rivers running at high levels.

6.40am – Several flood warnings in place

The government’s flood information service added more flood warnings to the Harrogate district last night.

Swinney Beck in Masham and the Bishop Monkton Beck are the latest to be added to the list of places expected to flood.

Warnings also remain in place for Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Low Laithe.

Flood warnings are more sever than alerts and mean that “flooding is expected,” with “immediate action required.”

 

Claims Harrogate McColl’s worker with covid symptoms was told to work

A Harrogate McColl’s store has been forced to close after the manager allegedly told a staff member who had coronavirus symptoms to work.

Peter Lythe booked a coronavirus test after experiencing symptoms and claims he told his boss at the King Edward’s Drive store on Saturday ahead of a shift.

In text messages, seen by the Stray Ferret, Mr Lythe said told his manager that he “might have to isolate from today [until] my tests comes back.”

The manager replied: “You don’t unless you’ve had a text message.”

After being unable to find cover for his Saturday or Sunday shifts Mr Lythe reluctantly went into work.

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On Sunday evening at around 7pm, Mr Lythe received a positive coronavirus test result which told him to self-isolate for 10 days.

The next day the McColl’s store closed and put a sign in the window to say that it would re-open as soon as possible.

We approached North Yorkshire Police, Harrogate Borough Council and McColl’s with a request for comment.

The police and council decline to comment but a spokesperson for McColl’s told the Stray Ferret:

“We can confirm that our store on King Edward’s Drive, Harrogate, has been closed since Monday after a colleague tested positive for coronavirus.

“Following the store’s closure, we conducted a deep clean in line with the latest health and safety standards, and all colleagues are following isolation guidelines.”

“The health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers remains our absolute priority during his time.

“We continue to proactively follow Public Health England guidelines and keep our protocols under constant review.”

The McColl’s store is due to reopen on today after a deep clean.

Photographers proud to put Harrogate in snow on show

Two photographers won first and third place in a global photography competition by putting Harrogate in snow on show.

The website StormHour runs weekly weather photography competitions in conjunction with the Royal Meteorology Society.

The competition attracts about 1,000 entries monthly but Harrogate photographers dominated the top spots in the latest weekly awards.

The recent snowy landscape provided the inspiration for Richard Maude, who was first, and Rachel Auty, who was third.

Mr Maude went to Valley Gardens with his camera and tripod in hand waiting for the lights to illuminate the Harrogate 1571 statue.

Rachel Auty and Richard Maude.

It’s a subject he has captured a lot but he knew it would be extra special in the snow. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I have been a big fan of the statue since it arrived. It is quite unique and it works as a beacon to draw people in.

“The statue lights up at 5.30pm but not everyone knows that. So when people were in the vicinity and it lit up there was an audible ‘oooh.’

“This is also extra special because two Harrogate photos featured as winners in the competition.”

‘Harvey’s Place.’ Image subject to copyright: Rachel Auty (@marketrach)

Rachel Auty went to Hookstone Woods, which has a special place in her heart. She told the Stray Ferret:

“Over the various lockdowns I’ve gone there to find some escape and comfort. I find the woods meditative.

“The place in the photo is an opening to the water there where I always stopped on walks to let my dog have a swim.

“My dog became suddenly very ill and died in November, which left me absolutely heartbroken.

“His name was Harvey, so now I refer to the spot as ‘Harvey’s Place’ and I often go back there and think about him. It feels like something of a tribute to him.”