No Harrogate to London trains over next two weekends

There will be no trains running between Harrogate and London King’s Cross over the next two weekends.

It comes after Northern Rail announced four days of engineering work on the billion-pound East Coast Digital Programme.

LNER, which runs between London King’s Cross and the north east, is among the lines affected.

It will be operating a reduced service starting and terminating at Grantham, with hourly trains running between Leeds and Grantham over the two weekends.

From Grantham, people can get a rail replacement bus to Corby, where they will connect with other operators’ services to and from London St Pancras.

The disruption will be in place from Saturday, January 6 to Sunday, January 7, and Saturday, January 13, to Sunday, January 14.

LNER said there are no planned changes to the regular weekday schedule.

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New law firm opens in Ripon

A new family law firm has opened in Ripon.

Wildblood Legal, which is based at Ripon Community House, offers support on divorce and finances, children, nuptial agreements and mediation services.

Owner Amanda de Winter, who is from Ripon, qualified as barrister in 1998 and will be on hand to offer services alongside a family solicitor.

She said:

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge.

“We have had a great response since we opened last month.”

The firm offers free initial consultations, as well as help with documents such as wills, lasting power of attorney and partnership agreements.

Wildblood Legal, which launched in December, is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

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Missing Harrogate teenager found

North Yorkshire Police has said a missing Harrogate teenager has been found.

A police statement today said the girl, who was reported missing this morning, was found “safe and well”.

We have updated this article to anonymise the details of the girl.

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Ripon woman to climb Yorkshire three peaks to mark one-year ‘cancerversary’

A Ripon woman is set to climb the Yorkshire three peaks this year to mark one year since her cancer diagnosis.

Loren Fidler, 31, was diagnosed with grade 3, stage 2, ER+HER2- breast cancer in May 2023.

Since that “world-shattering” day, Ms Fidler has undergone four surgeries on one breast, which ultimately led to a full mastectomy, and 14 rounds of chemotherapy.

She still requires another two more rounds of chemotherapy, as well as a bi-lateral mastectomy on her other breast.

However, she recently decided to make her “come back” exactly a year after her diagnosis by climbing the Yorkshire three peaks:

“It was a world-shattering day. I want this to be my come back a year later – a way of turning my cancer-versary around.”

Ms Fidler hopes to complete the 38.6km challenge in one day, but says she will “see how her body copes” during her training climbs.

She will be joined by her partner, who has carried her through this time, as well as her sister and her 10-year-old niece.

The mother-of-two told the Stray Ferret:

“Other than cancer (obviously), this will be the biggest challenge I have ever done.

“I’m nervous but I’m excited to see what my body can do.”

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Ms Fidler said she coped relatively well for the first six months, but added she “crashed and burned mentally” following her fourth surgery and has since faced an “uphill struggle”.

“I was quite naïve at first.

“I found the lump when I was in the shower, but I was ignorant about young cancer and had never checked my breast.

“I’d given birth a year before, so I was very lucky the doctor didn’t just attribute it to a blocked milk duct.

“After that, I sort of thought I’d just be able to have my surgery and go through chemo and that would be it – but it’s been a real mental struggle.”

Ms Fidler will tackle the three peaks in May and hopes to raise £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

She also hopes to host a raffle to boost the funds and invites any businesses that may be interested in donating prizes to contact her via her Instagram page.

She also issued a plea to Stray Ferret readers:

“Please check your breasts. Be your own hero – your own advocate.

“The sooner you find something the better, but these things don’t just go away because you’re scared.”

Call for council to improve ‘poor’ Boroughbridge road conditions

A Boroughbridge resident has called on North Yorkshire Council to make “urgent” improvements to a local road.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, lives on Roecliffe Lane and told the Stray Ferret he has spent the last year campaigning to have the road resurfaced.

He said he and other local residents have issued “over a decade of complaints” to the council to resurface the road, as well as requested traffic-calming measures to make it safer, but are yet to see anything come to fruition.

Following a recent petition organised by the man and signed by Roecliffe Lane residents, he said the same recurring issues became “abundantly clear”:

“Several residents’ houses along the road shake whenever HGVs, buses, and often even cars, drive over the potholes next to them.

“This is our personal number-one issue and has at times caused deep regret moving to the street.

“We have had to endure over a year of it so far since moving in, our bed shaking most mornings when HGVs start driving the road in the early hours, doors juddering in frames, our baby’s rooms’ wardrobe rattling, the timber frame of the house creaking and more.

“Even people that visit notice, because the kitchen floor vibrates and the glasses in the cupboard clink. The council have been made aware of this multiple times.

“Several residents also commented about needing to repair their vehicles and bicycles from broken suspension and burst tyres. An elderly lady I spoke to had also fallen off her bike from a pothole.”

The noise from traffic can also be alarmingly loud and frequent, and speeding is a big issue along the road, he added.

The road was in ‘poor’ condition back in 2013. Pic: fixmystreet.

Now, he is proposing a “resident-first rethink”. He said:

“What worked for it when it was originally built is clearly not working for its residents now with increased housing, traffic and HGVs.

“It needs resurfacing urgently. It needs traffic-calming measures putting in place to reduce the thousands of noisy vehicles per day, and mitigations for the frequent HGVs.”

He also suggested the council implement new speeding enforcements to “protect the residents and their children from the up-to-81mph speeding vehicles.”

Roecliffe Lane in 2023.

‘Resurfacing is in our programme’

In response to the concerns raised, Melissa Burnham, highways area manager for North Yorkshire Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“Resurfacing of Roecliffe Lane is included in our programme for 2024/25. Once dates are confirmed, we will ensure the local community are aware.

“The local Highways team are also aware of the concerns raised and are liaising with North Yorkshire Police regarding enforcement.”

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Lidl scraps plan to open Ripon retail park store

Discount retailer Lidl will no longer be opening a supermarket on St Michael’s Retail Park in Ripon, the Stray Ferret understands.

The news comes more than two years after the company was granted planning permission for the site in September 2021.

The Stray Ferret understands the German retailer’s contract expired following ongoing delays in the project. However, it remains keen to open a store in the city.

At the time of approval, Lidl said the Ripon supermarket would create up to 40 jobs and have a sales area of 1,100 sqm.

The store would have taken over the three empty units at the Rotary Way retail park.

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However, Lidl is searching for new site locations across the UK, with Harrogate and Ripon both featuring in its list of priority locations published last autumn.

The company said it requires “prominent locations with easy access” and “strong pedestrian or traffic flow”. Town centres, the edge of town centres or retail parks are also a site requirement, it added.

On the subject of opening more stores, Ryan McDonnell, Lidl GB CEO, said in April last year: 

“The last few years have been challenging for everyone, but we’ve made it clear that we’re more committed than ever to ensuring that every single household has access to a Lidl store. 

“That’s why our focus is firmly on the future as we continue to grow and invest in our infrastructure, while keeping a lookout for more sites and locations across the country.”

The search for sites comes as part of Lidl’s plan to open more than 1,100 new stores across the UK.

The supermarket chain already operates store in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Person suffers leg injury following Bishop Thornton crash

A person was injured following a crash near Bishop Thornton this morning.

A witness told the Stray Ferret the collision happened at a crossroads on Fountains Road near the village.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue incident log said the collision happened at 10:12am. It said:

“Both Harrogate crews responded to a road traffic collision involving two vehicles.

“All casualties were out on arrival when fire crews arrived.”

The service added that crews helped with “scene safety” and causalities were transported to hospital in an ambulance.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said the injured person suffered a “possible broken leg”.

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Sisters to open oxygen therapy and skincare clinics in Harrogate

Two East Yorkshire sisters are set to open a hyperbaric oxygen therapy clinic and a skincare clinic on the same site in Harrogate.

The Heal-Air and Pure Skin Clinic will both be located in the former Dangerfield & Keane salon on Cold Bath Road but operate as two separate businesses.

The Heal-Air will operate hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers, which will allow customers to breathe in almost pure pressurised oxygen.

Owner Tara Hickson told the Stray Ferret this increased the level of oxygen the body can absorb, meaning more oxygenated blood flows through the body.

She said:

“Although it is not a guaranteed fix for anyone, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help increase blood flow, reduce pain, improve sleep and increase stem cell activation.

“It has also been found to help with conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, long covid and Parkinson’s disease.”

Ms Hickson set up The Heal-Air with her partner in 2021 after struggling with long covid.

She said she suffered with fatigue, headaches and brain fog and was recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers:

“I did my research into it; I looked on forums and websites and found lots of people saying it helped with long covid.

“It helped me so much – I’m pretty much cleared of symptoms now.

“I want people to have the same experience as I did.”

The pair previously had a clinic in Hull but decided to relocate to Harrogate after “falling in love with the area”.

Ms Hickson added:

“We’re really excited about opening and we feel Cold Bath Road is a great spot for the clinic.

“We’re also just looking forward to welcoming people and for them to feel the benefits of this service – I know I certainly did.”

The Heal-Air hopes to be open by mid-January. Appointment-only services will be available Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am to 7pm.

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Skin Clinic

Pure Skin Clinic, situated just across the hall from The Heal-Air, will offer a range of skin treatments.

Owner Jade Hickson said people can expect “state-of-the-art laser treatments and the newest advancements in bio-chemical cellular renewal”, adding:

“Our treatments slow down the ageing process whilst having the cutting-edge technology to turn the clock back altogether.

“We pride ourselves in undertaking sympathetic but effective treatments that deliver results, whilst helping people love the skin they are in, assisting them as they learn to care for it.

“We also offer facials, consultations for skin conditions, general advice, massage therapy and so much more.”

After leaving a career in the army to have her daughter, Ms Hickson said she struggled to find a job that offered the flexibility she required as a new parent.

That was when she looked into laser technology and became captivated by human physiology, she added.

“I decided to re-enter part time education and gained a diploma in anatomy and physiology. In the years since I progressed to senior technician and continued to study and advance my education in the science behind the skin.

“I knew that I wanted to continue to invest into myself and so in 2018 I opened the first Pure Skin Clinic in East Yorkshire.”

Ms Hickson said the “time is right” to bring her business to Harrogate.

She said:

“As a little girl I would visit Harrogate with my mother and grandmother and I remember the huge Stray, the quaint side streets, and of course visits to Betty’s tea rooms!

“The pace of life felt tranquil, the people friendly, and the town has a style and elegance which makes it a perfect setting for an aesthetics clinic.

“When I met my fiancé, who also happened to live in Harrogate, it felt the stars had aligned and Harrogate was the natural choice for Pure.”

Pure Skin Clinic Harrogate will open on January 15. It will be open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm, and Thursdays from 10am – 8pm.

Harrogate Ice Rink organiser says it has ‘no plans’ to return this year

The company operating the Harrogate Ice Rink has revealed it won’t be returning to the town this year.

York-based Events by Cynosure is running the rink in collaboration with Destination Harrogate, North Yorkshire Council’s tourism body, in Crescent Gardens.

The venture is in the second of a three-year deal between the two organisations.

However, John Lowery, chief operating officer at Events by Cynosure, told the Stray Ferret the ice rink will not be returning for the next festive season. He said:

“We have no plans to return for 2024 due to the losses sustained this year from the weather and lack of footfall in the area.”

The news comes after the company faced criticism from customers about the condition of the ice and poor customer service.

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday on complaints from some unhappy customers, one of whom described the surface as “extremely dangerous” and said the “rusty blades” had not been maintained.

One customer described the rink as “wet and rippled”.

Mr Lowery said the company had “suffered like all outdoor ice rinks” following adverse weather conditions throughout December, which led it to close eight times in just over a month.

The rink opened on December 1 and will run until Sunday, January 7.

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council to respond to the complaints made by readers and also whether it would comment on Events by Cynosure’s announcement that its deal would end a year early. But it declined to comment.

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Free Saturday parking returns to Harrogate multi-storey

People visiting Harrogate on a Saturday will be able to park for free in the multi-storey Victoria Car Park over the next few weeks.

Harrogate Business Improvement District announced the move today to boost town centre trade for retailers.

The BID implemented a similar scheme in October last year and hopes the latest venture, which applies every Saturday from January 6 to February 10, will increase footfall during what can be a quiet period for businesses.

Matthew Chapman, manager of the BID, said:

“Free car parking is something we regularly hear described as a positive incentive from both our members and the general public, so it’s great to again work in collaboration with the car parking team at North Yorkshire Council to deliver this scheme at a key time of year.”

Victoria car park

With eight hours of free parking available, the BID hopes the plan will give shoppers sufficient time to explore the town centre, shop and visit local bars and restaurants.

It will only be available in the Victoria Car Park, which can be accessed from East Parade, between 10am and 6pm.

To redeem the free parking, drivers must enter the automatic barriers between the designated timeframe. Vehicles that enter outside of the specified times will be charged regular parking prices.

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