John Grainger, Author at The Stray Ferret

Lib Dem candidate calls on government to foot £20m Harrogate hospital concrete bill

The man who hopes to be Harrogate and Knaresborough‘s next Liberal Democrat MP has launched a campaign calling on the government to foot the bill for essential repairs at Harrogate District Hospital.

Tom Gordon, the Lib Dems’ parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Steve Barclay MP, to highlight his concerns about the construction panels at the hospital made of RAAC.

RAAC – reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete – made headlines nationally recently after it was found to be a substandard component of many schools and hospitals built between the 1950s and 1990s.

Health officials estimated in September it will cost £20 million to eradicate “crumbly concrete” from Harrogate District Hospital, which was built in the 1970s.

A survey of hospital properties found 2,500 RAAC panels, and added that remedial works have been completed on 12 “high-risk” panels, with some theatres and corridors in the hospital made safe with props. The report said that further propping might be needed of panels that were in danger of collapsing.

Mr Gordon said:

“Every member of our community relies upon our local hospital, or knows someone that does. It is simply not acceptable that people are receiving care, or trying to work, in an environment where temporary props are require to stop crumbling concrete collapsing above their heads. This is scandalous.

“It beggars belief, the local NHS trust are having to bid for this money from NHS England and there is no guarantee they will get it. Where does this leave our patients, doctors and nurses if the bid is unsuccessful?

“Ensuring that our local hospital is fit for the future is a priority to me and many residents I’ve spoken with. People are outraged.

“The government must act and release the funds to fix this crumbling concrete crisis at our local district hospital at once.”

Residents can add their name to Mr Gordon’s letter to the Secretary of State online.

Harrogate pub gets into Christmas spirit with festive name-change

A Harrogate pub will be undergoing a seasonal transformation for the next few weeks – and even changing its name.

The Coach and Horses on West Park will be renamed the Sleigh and Reindeers over the Christmas period.

The new signage at the pub, which is owned by Provenance Inns, is already up, but the official name change will apply from Friday, November 17, and last until the second week of January, when the school Christmas holidays end.

Anthony Blundell, head of business development at Provenance Inns, told the Stray Ferret:

“We’re turning the Coach and Horses into Harrogate’s most festive pub. At the Sleigh and Reindeers there’ll be festive ales, mulled wine, mulled cider, egg nog and a festive menu too, so you can have a turkey dinner every day of the week.

“Hopefully, we’ll create great times for guests and anyone wanting to get into the festive spirit. It’s not everywhere that you’ll be able to have Christmas dinner seven days a week.”

It’s not the first time the pub has had a temporary change of name. In 2014, it was renamed the Cavendish and Horses when the Tour de France came to Harrogate, in honour of rider Mark Cavendish, whose mother lived in the town.

Provenance Inns owns and runs eight pubs and hotels across North Yorkshire, including the Punch Bowl Inn at Marton cum Grafton, and the West Park Hotel, just a few doors along from the Coach and Horses.

Masham community hub wins £145,000 grant

A community hub in the heart of Masham has been awarded a £145,000 grant by North Yorkshire Council, but the purpose of the cash is as yet unclear.

According to the council’s website, the money, which comes from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, will go towards the “decarbonisation and purchase” of Mashamshire Community Office.

But MCO bought the building at the end of August, having successfully completed a year-long campaign to raise the £215,000 asking price.

Hayley Jackson, MCO manager, told the Stray Ferret:

“We haven’t got the money yet, and nothing’s been signed off, so I wouldn’t want to comment until we have the funding in place.”

She said she hoped to make an announcement publicly by the time of MCO’s annual general meeting on November 28.

Set up in 2003, the MCO is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving community life. The building it occupies and now owns, the Old Police Station, is also home to Masham Community Library, Acorns Preschool, Masham Parish Council clerk, tourist information and local art and craft shop Masham Flock.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is scheduled to provide £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025, of which £16.9 million has been allocated to North Yorkshire.

Business Breakfast: Growth Hub hires Harrogate district business advisers

Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?

The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.

Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.

The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub has taken on three new team members to support local businesses and entrepreneurs in the Harrogate area.

Faye Greer-Pickup, Jack Colding, and Adrian O’Neill will each bring different skillsets and experiences to bear in providing free and impartial support and access to a range of resources.

New delivery officer Faye Greer-Pickup has a background in economic development and will provide support to people looking to start businesses in North Yorkshire. Her work will involve finding and referring businesses to the Growth Hub’s range of support for start-ups, including the Strive Live Start-Up Incubator in the new year.

She said:

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with pre-start and early-stage start-ups full-time, helping them navigate the path to success.”

Jack Colding, the Growth Hub’s new environment and sustainability business relationship manager, will work with businesses to reduce costs and stay ahead of new regulations. He’ll also help businesses access North Yorkshire Council‘s £22.3 million of Shared Prosperity Funding to help them achieve net zero goals. He said:

“Net zero is a tremendous business opportunity. It can save costs and boost your brand while helping the environment.”

Adrian O’Neill, the new skills specialist business relationship manager, will help North Yorkshire businesses improve recruitment and retention with long-term skills development plans, and help them access skills bootcamps, with up to 90% of all training costs met by York & North Yorkshire LEP. He said:

“I believe that well-trained and motivated employees are the cornerstone of business success. I’m here to identify and address skills gaps, provide solutions, and connect businesses with the right training providers.”

Theakston’s hires new director

Masham brewery T&R Theakston has appointed a new finance director.

Chartered accountant Scott Everett previously worked for 17 years at drinks dispenser company Innserve, most recently as director of finance and supply chain. He said:

“The Theakston name is synonymous with a rich heritage, expert craftsmanship and, of course, great beers. I am extremely proud to be joining such a celebrated brewery and being part of the exciting future it has planned.”

Having recently celebrated 20 years since the brewery returned to independent family control, following a buyback from Scottish and Newcastle in 2003, Scott’s appointment forms part of a wider strategic change in the brewery’s structure to enable ambitious growth plans.

It follows the recent announcement that Simon Theakston will take on the role of chairman and Richard Bradbury will become sole managing director from 2024.

Simon Theakston, current joint managing director at Theakston’s, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Scott to the team at this significant time for the brewery. Alongside his finance responsibilities, his experience across supply chain, procurement and the technical services industry will further bolster the expertise within the business and we look forward to toasting his appointment with a pint in the Black Bull in Paradise.”

Knaresborough banking hub to officially open next week

Knaresborough’s new banking hub will officially open its doors to customers for the first time next week, the organisation behind it has revealed.

Cash Access UK, the not-for-profit company set up by 10 major high-street banking providers to protect the public’s access to cash, has confirmed the hub will be opened by Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, at 11am on Friday, November 17.

Gareth Oakley, chief executive of Cash Access UK, said:

“Access to cash services is vital to millions of people in the UK, therefore we are pleased to announce the opening of the banking hub in Knaresborough.

“Upon the opening of the banking hub, local businesses and residents will benefit from improved access to cash.”

The banking hub, at 15 Kirkgate, Bowling Green Yard, will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions, from Monday to Friday.

It will also offer a community banker service where customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues.

The banking hub will be open on weekdays between 9am and 5pm and the community bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week: NatWest on Mondays, Halifax on Tuesdays, Santander on Wednesdays, HSBC on Thursdays, and Barclays on Fridays.

Charlotte Gale, of Knaresborough & District Chamber, said:

“Improving banking and cash access for Knaresborough’s businesses and residents is something chamber are very passionate about.

“This is something we’ve long campaigned for and it’s been a pleasure to support the team at Cash Access UK in launching this exciting project.”

Banking hubs are being created across the UK and are funded and supported by nine major high-street banking providers: Bank of Ireland UK, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Danske Bank, HSBC UK Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest Group plc, Santander UK plc, TSB Bank plc and Virgin Money.

Knaresborough was chosen to receive a banking hub after LINK, the UK’s cash access and cash machine network, identified the need for enhanced cash deposit services following bank branch closures in the town.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:

“The banking hub will be invaluable to residents and businesses in Knaresborough and be welcomed by those who rely on cash and face-to-face banking.”

Harvey George donates £10,000 of cutting-edge equipment to school design department

This story is sponsored by Harvey George.

A Harrogate company that specialises in bespoke fitted furniture has donated £10,000 worth of equipment to a secondary school’s Design and Technology department.

Harvey George, which is the UK’s largest manufacturer of bespoke bathroom vanity units, presented the fibre laser marker machine to Harrogate Grammar School as a demonstration of its commitment to contributing to the community and investing in education.

Harvey George director Sophie Griffiths, whose son Harvey is a student at Harrogate Grammar School, said:

“We are thrilled to be able to contribute this machine to the school and hope that it will benefit a multitude of students, enhancing their educational journey.

“We hope it offers the students hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, potentially opening doors to various fields such as engineering, design, and manufacturing.”

Fibre laser marking machines are used to make permanent marks on metals and some plastics. A focused beam of light is sent through a fibre-optic cable and marks the surface of the material. The desktop machine donated by Harvey George has a maximum marking speed of 7,000mm per second.

Tom Williams, Leader of Harrogate Grammar School’s Design & Technology Department, said:

“Harvey George’s generosity lights the way for our students’ success! With their generous donation of a laser marker machine, Harvey George has provided an exciting path to innovation and excellence for the Design students at Harrogate Grammar School.

“We are immensely grateful for their support, as this cutting-edge technology will empower our young learners in using high-calibre industry-standard manufacturing techniques.”

In addition to bespoke painted and oak bathroom vanity units, Harvey George also makes kitchen cabinets and storage solutions of every kind – all made to measure by Yorkshire craftsmen. Its full range can be viewed at its 10,000 sq ft showroom on Hookstone Park in Harrogate.

Find out more:

Visit Harvey George’s Harrogate showroom to discuss your bespoke furniture needs over a complimentary drink at The Inspiration Centre, Unit 3, Hookstone Park, Harrogate HG2 7DB.

To make an appointment, call 01423 810070.

Do these two things to save lives, urges Harrogate teenage cancer patient

A Harrogate schoolboy receiving treatment for leukaemia is urging people to do two things that could save the lives of people like him.

Harry Brown, 17, says that donating blood and signing up to the Anthony Nolan Stem Cell Register could make the difference between life and death for hundreds of patients, and is calling on anyone eligible to volunteer.

Harry, a sixth former at St Aidan’s CE High School, was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in July this year, and has been receiving intense chemotherapy and immunotherapy at the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at St James’s Hospital in Leeds.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“Unfortunately, I still have some disease left, so will need a stem cell transplant to achieve a cure. This is providing we manage to find a suitable donor.

“I therefore feel it is incredibly important that the Anthony Nolan Stem Cell Register is promoted to as wide an audience as possible as signing up is something very simple that anyone aged 16 to 30 can do but might just save the life of someone with blood cancer like me.

“I also feel that the issue of blood donation requires increased awareness and promotion as I have received countless life-saving platelet and blood transfusions, which can only happen if people donate.

“My message is that you can do something extraordinary – you can save a life by doing two simple things which can make such a huge difference to people like me.”

Photo of Harrogate sixth-former Harry Brown, who is urging people to give blood and join the Anthony Nolan stem cell register.

Harry in the atrium of the Bexley Wing at St James’s Hospital in Leeds.

In the UK, there is a long-standing shortage of blood donors. According to NHS Blood and Transplant, 140,000 new donors are needed each year just to meet demand.

But the rewards are incalculable – in just one hour, a blood donor can save three lives.

Nine out of 10 people joining the Anthony Nolan Stem Cell Register who donate their stem cells do so through their blood within just a few hours; the other 10% donate by giving bone marrow.

Before his diagnosis, Harry played the tuba with Tewit Youth Band and volunteered as a Young Leader with 16th Harrogate Scouts, as well as studying for A levels in English language and literature, geography and politics. But he is now taking a break from school while he concentrates on dealing with leukaemia, with the support of his family, friends, and St Aidan’s.

He says that illnesses such as ALL are not just “something that happens to other people”. He said:

“I just felt a bit sick and off-colour, but within a week I’d been diagnosed with ALL.

“Unfortunately, it can happen to anyone when you least expect it. I went from climbing up volcanoes on a school trip to Iceland one week to having an emergency procedure to remove my white blood cells the next.

“Having a cancer diagnosis when you’re young is hard; it tips your life upside-down, and there’s no getting away from that. There were some days where I wondered whether I would have the energy to make it through the day, particularly when I was on daily chemotherapy. But it was people like my clinical nurse specialist and the youth support coordinator who picked me up and motivated me to keep fighting it, one cell at a time.

“It also puts a whole new perspective on life and what is important, and it makes me more determined to see a future where nobody, especially children, has to experience the gruelling treatment of cancer.”

To find out more about giving blood, visit the NHS Give Blood website, and for more information about how to donate stem cells, go to the Anthony Nolan website.

Business Breakfast: Family business event to feature spa hotel and chocolate-maker

Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?

The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.

Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.

The Institute of Directors and the Family Business Community have teamed up to hold an event around the theme of “the art of decision-making”.

Sponsored by Harrogate firm LCF Law, the evening event will feature speakers from two North Yorkshire family businesses: Rudding Park, in Harrogate, and Skipton-based Whitakers Chocolates.

Rudding Park director Matthew Mackaness will share insights into his family’s 50 years of ownership of the estate and some of the decisions that had to be made to sustain the growth and ambition of the business.

Rudding Park now has 90 bedrooms and suites, a spa, two restaurants, two golf courses, a private cinema, and conference and events space set in 300 acres of grounds. Earlier this year, it revealed plans to create Yorkshire’s first ever five-star country club at a cost of “between £30 million and £40 million”.

The Whitaker family has been in the chocolate business for over 135 years; they started with a small greengrocer’s shop and now have a factory making over 10 million chocolates per week.

In recent years, managing director William Whitaker had a key decision to make. At this event, he will play back his scenario to a team of business owners and gain their perspectives before revealing the decision he actually made.

‘When you run a family business don’t be afraid to make decisions’ will be held from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, November 16 at Rudding Park.

Tickets cost £25 and include drinks and canapés throughout the evening. Booking fees apply.

Roosters celebrates anniversary with new supermarket listing

Harrogate‘s Rooster’s Brewing Co is celebrating a decade of selling its flagship IPA with a new supermarket listing.

From today, Waitrose will stock 440ml cans of the international award-winning Baby-Faced Assassin, which is already available at Asda and Morrisons.

Baby-Faced Assassin was first brewed as a hobby homebrew recipe by Rooster’s commercial director, Tom Fozard, in 2011 while he was working at a local specialist beer shop in Leeds, and the 6.1% ABV brew gained some notoriety among fellow enthusiasts due to its strength. Later that year, Tom, alongside twin brother Oliver, now Rooster’s head brewer, joined Rooster’s as part of an eventual change of ownership spearheaded by their father, Ian.

The first commercial, cask-only batch of Baby-Faced Assassin was released in November 2013 and eventually added to Rooster’s core range in 2014. It went on to pick up awards at the International Brewing Awards in 2015, 2017 and 2021.

Tom Fozard said:

“Having first created Baby-Faced Assassin as a homebrew recipe back in 2011, I never could have imagined the success the beer would go on to enjoy in the years since. As a small, family-owned, independent brewery, we’re delighted to mark its 10th year of being a Rooster’s beer with the news of its continued success.”

MP rejects company’s offer of Knaresborough asphalt plant discussions

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has turned down an invitation to meet the company behind plans to build an asphalt plant near Knaresborough and discuss his concerns about the proposals.

Tynedale Roadstone wants to create the facility next door to the controversial incinerator at Allerton Waste Recovery Park (AWRP), but Mr Jones recently said the company had not done enough to allay worries about pollution, traffic movements, and the potential for ground water contamination.

He also flagged concerns regarding the plant’s long operating hours and said that it would represent “industrial creep” – the gradual expansion of industry at a formerly rural site.

Extending the invitation to Mr Jones, Lichfields, which is acting as planning consultant to Tynedale Roadstone, said the site was an appropriate location for the plant in part due to its proximity to the A1(M) and because it would deliver “sustainability advantages” by reusing one of the AWRP’s by-products.

In a statement, a spokesperson from parent company MGL Group said:

“We are aware of some concerns regarding pollution, traffic movements, operational hours, dust, odour and noise.”

They added:

“The installation of the proposed asphalt plant at Allerton Park will be a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility that will meet stringent environmental, noise and emission criteria in the asphalt production process.

“Modern asphalt plants have extensive process filtration systems used with clean fuels to constantly maintain and monitor all the emissions from the production processes and ensure that they are kept within the correct protocol.”

But Mr Jones replied to MGL, saying he was “not sure a meeting is necessary”. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I share residents’ concerns about this proposal. Legally, councillors and planning officers have to consider the planning application that has been submitted. So, a private meeting between the applicants and me when a planning application is already live cannot change what is before us. And I believe what is before us is wrong.

“The time to meet with me and local residents asking for our advice and views was before the application was submitted. That would have demonstrated a genuine interest in what we had to say.

“So my preference would be for the application to be withdrawn and the applicant to hold face-to-face meetings with residents about their plans. My team and I will be happy to join those meetings. This would allow residents to have real input in a genuine consultation rather than the ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ approach which is where we seem to be now.”

The MGL spokesperson said the technical material supporting the planning application concluded there would be no significant environmental effects as a result of traffic movements, dust, odour, and noise, “subject to best practice measures being employed at the site”.

They added:

“Both we and Lichfields continue to work with North Yorkshire Council and are committed to alleviating concerns and addressing any comments made on the application.”

Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023: Readers’ photos feature in new charity calendar

The votes have been cast, the totals tallied, and we can now reveal whose photos will feature each month in our first ever Stray Ferret Charity Calendar.

Every Sunday, we publish a Photo of the Week taken by a reader, and the subject matter is as varied as the life and landscapes found in our district: furry and feathered friends, fields and fells, ferris wheels and fireworks.

Back in August, we invited you to vote for the best images from last year’s Photos of the Week, and hundreds of you chose your favourite pictures.

The 12 winners will each feature on a different month in our 2024 calendar, which we are selling to raise funds for Dementia Forward, our chosen charity this Christmas.

Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate has generously offered to cover the printing costs, which means the money raised by calendar sales will help to support people living with dementia and their families across North Yorkshire.

James White, Centre Manager of Victoria Shopping Centre, said:

“We are thrilled to be supporting such an important cause this Christmas, funding the printing of the calendars so that 100% of the profits can go to Dementia Forward.

“Giving back to the community is of extreme importance to us at Victoria Shopping Centre, so we feel proud to partner with such a worthy charity.”

The Stray Ferret’s Christmas charity campaign this year aims to raise £30,000 for Dementia Forward, a local charity dedicated to supporting people living with dementia, as well as their families and carers. The money will be used to buy a new minibus, so that Dementia Forward can continue offering client’s lifts, trips and excursions around the region.

Emma Harris, commercial manager at the Stray Ferret, said:

“The Stray Ferret was founded as a local news organisation serving the community, so we’re very pleased to be raising funds for a local charity that serves the same community.

“Most of us know someone affected by dementia, and those who do also know how devastating it can be. Dementia Forward does so much to bring positivity into people’s lives at a time when they need it most.

“But this charity calendar also serves another purpose. We receive so many fantastic submissions for Photo of the Week over the year, and it always seems a shame that the ones we feature only get one outing. So it’s wonderful that we’ll be able to see some of the very best images again throughout the coming year in the 2024 Stray Ferret Charity Calendar.

Congratulations – and thank you – to all our winners!”

The winning photographers are: