The Harrogate district could be set for its first significant snowfall of the winter.
According to the BBC’s weather forecast, which is provided by MeteoGroup, light snow will fall on Monday followed by heavy snow showers on Tuesday. Further snow is possible later in the week.
But the Met Office forecast for next week does not include any snow for the district.
Both sites, however, agree there will be a return to icy conditions with some areas struggling to get above sub-zero temperatures until Thursday.
Despite today’s drier weather, some roads remain flooded.
Group manager Bob Hoskins, who works for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, tweeted about three cars getting stuck at Cattal.
Further flood related incidents today.
3 cars stuck in flood water at Cattal, who had followed each other into the water.Can I remind people the Fire Service DO NOT recover people’s cars
Whilst at the scene 3 further cars drove past appliance and into the water??????? pic.twitter.com/vXoFfX43ku
— Group Manager Bob Hoskins (@Golf_One4) January 12, 2023
Environment Agency flood alerts remain in place for the Lower River Nidd catchment area and the Lower River Ure, which burst its banks yesterday.
However, the flood warning for the caravan park at Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, has been removed.
Read more:
- Firefighters called to rescue horse in Ripon which turned out to be a sculpture
- GPs ‘extremely concerned’ about new housing in Harrogate
Three men charged with possessing gun in Harrogate district
Read more:
- Harrogate businessman spared jail for sexually assaulting woman in street
- Race to be Lib Dem candidate in Harrogate and Knaresborough down to final two
Fire service deals with stranded cars as Lower Nidd flood alert issued
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has this afternoon urged motorists to heed road closure signs after receiving reports of stranded vehicles.
The amount of water on roads is causing problems throughout the county. But some drivers are ignoring signs telling them to turn back due to flooding.
It has prompted the fire service to tweet:
“We have received reports of stranded cars due to standing water following heavy rain – even when signs are in place.
“Please remember the signs are there for a reason. Information about driving in these conditions can be found on our website.”
Three Environment Agency flood alerts are currently in place in the Harrogate district.
The government department says flooding is ‘possible’ in the Lower River Nidd catchment area and around the Lower River Ure and is ‘expected’ at the caravan park alongside the Ure at Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge.
Details of the alerts can be found here.
The River Ure has burst its banks around Ripon, which prompted one concerned passer-by to dial 999 when he mistakenly thought a statue of a horse was an animal in distress.
A flood alert for the Upper River Nidd catchment area, issued yesterday, has been removed.
Read more:
- Rain highlights concerns about state of Harrogate district drains and gullies
- Firefighters called to rescue horse in Ripon which turned out to be a sculpture
Ambulance workers form picket line in Harrogate today
Striking ambulance workers are operating a picket line in Harrogate today.
Members of the GMB union began their 24-hour action at Harrogate Ambulance Station, which is on Lancaster Park Road close to the hospital, at midnight.
They were joined by members of Unison at noon.
It is the second time staff at Yorkshire Ambulance Service have gone on strike in the last month, although they continue to respond to the most serious category one calls.
GMB rep and paramedic Neil Summers told the Stray Ferret the state of the NHS was the main reason for the industrial action. He said:
“We are literally sitting outside hospitals with patients in our ambulances for hours and hours because they have nowhere to go.
“The hospitals are full and it means we are not able to do our jobs. We hear calls for cardiac arrests and can’t do anything.”
Todays picket line
Mr Summers said York Hospital was particularly bad but paramedics could still be waiting at Harrogate District Hospital for “up to three or four hours”.
He said there needed to be greater investment in the NHS as well as social care to ease problems caused by bed-blocking.
He said pay was also a concern, as many staff had not had an increase in wages for years.
“My pay isn’t terrible but some people’s is appalling.”
Picket line Jan 2023
The pickets have been joined today by local campaigner Lindis Percy, a former nurse, midwife and health visitor. She said:
“What’s going on in the the health service is shocking and this government has caused it.”
Health Secretary Steve Barclay said this morning the NHS is under “very severe pressure”.
He added the government has announced further investment for emergency departments, as well as looking into ways of targeting how to get patients who are fit to leave into social care.
Read more:
- Ambulance workers in Harrogate district begin strike
- Picket line at Harrogate station as latest RMT strikes near end
Firefighters called to rescue horse in Ripon which turned out to be a sculpture
Firefighters called to rescue a horse trapped in floodwater discovered it was a metal sculpture in a field near Ripon.
Group manager Bob Hoskins, who works for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, tweeted about the incident today.
He said:
“An officer trotted off to check out the situation and discovered a statue of a horse in the middle of the field.
“There was ‘neigh’ further assistance required on this occasion.”
The silhouette sculpture is situated in a field close to the River Ure, which has burst it banks after heavy rain yesterday.
It has been there since 2018.
The ‘horse’ appears trapped in the distance. Pic: Bob Hoskins
Read more:
- Flooding ‘expected’ at caravan park in Harrogate district
- Charity shop to open in Ripon’s former Argos
Vandals damage Mercedes in Harrogate
Police are appealing for help after vandals damaged a Mercedes in Harrogate.
The incident happened on Alderson Road, off Leeds Road, shortly before 6.30am on Monday this week.
A North Yorkshire Police statement said two men in dark clothing approached the vehicle on foot from the Leeds Road junction. It added:
“One appears to have kept a look-out while the other damaged the windows of an unattended black Mercedes.
“North Yorkshire Police are requesting the public’s assistance to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
“In particular, officers are asking a female jogger to get in touch. She was wearing a high-vis harness, and may have run past the offenders on Leeds Road immediately prior to the junction of Alderson Road.”
Police also want to contact the driver of a white pick-up truck — possibly a milk delivery vehicle — that pulled into Alderson Road as the damage was taking place.
Anyone else with information or dash cam footage is also asked to email peter.henderson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC 1668 Henderson.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230004592.
Read more:
- Flooding ‘expected’ at caravan park in Harrogate district
- Harrogate businessman spared jail for sexually assaulting woman in street
Flooding ‘expected’ at caravan park in Harrogate district
The Environment Agency has warned that flooding is ‘expected’ at a caravan park in the Harrogate district.
The caravan park at Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, is situated alongside the River Ure.
At 12.29am this morning the Environment Agency urged people in the area to ‘act now’. It said:
“Flooding is expected in this area. This means properties are at risk of flooding. Please take action to protect yourself and your property and monitor local weather and river conditions.
“Avoid contact with, walking or driving through flood water. Consider activating any property flood protection products you may have.”
The government department also activated a less severe flood alert for the River Ure at 3.19am this morning.
It applies to low-lying land including agricultural land and local roads in the areas around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton. The alert said:
“Flooding is possible in this area. Monitor local water levels and weather conditions. Avoid using low lying footpaths or entering areas prone to flooding.”
Last night the Environment Agency issued a flood alert for the Upper River Nidd catchment area, which remains active.
A map showing where flood alerts and warnings are active.
Read more:
- Flood alert issued for Upper River Nidd catchment
- Rain highlights concerns about state of Harrogate district drains and gullies
Flood alert issued for Upper River Nidd catchment
The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert tonight for the Upper River Nidd catchment area.
The stretch of the river from its source in Great Whernside, down to Pateley Bridge and as far south as Birstwith is covered by the alert, which was introduced at 7.29pm.
It applies to land around the Upper Nidd and its tributaries including How Stean Beck, Blayshaw Gill, Ramsgill Beck, Lul Beck, Foster Beck, Fosse Gill, Fell Beck and Darley Beck.
The alert says:
“Flooding is possible in this area. Monitor local water levels and weather conditions. Avoid using low lying footpaths or entering areas prone to flooding. Start acting on your flood plan if you have one.”
There are currently 106 flood alerts and 29 more serious flood warnings active in England.
Many are in the west of the country, which experienced the worst of today’s persistent rain.
The unsettled weather is forecast to remain in the Harrogate district for the foreseeable future.
Read more:
- Rain highlights concerns about state of Harrogate district drains and gullies
- Talks to save 24 bus from Pateley to Harrogate as cull looms
Charity shop to open in Ripon’s former Argos
The YMCA has confirmed it will open a shop in the former Argos unit on the Marshall Way retail park in Ripon.
A spokeswoman for the YMCA, which helps young people, said the shop would sell furniture and electrical goods as well as the usual charity items and donations “would be hugely appreciated”.
She added the opening date had yet-to-be confirmed but it was “looking like early February”.
The spokeswoman said:
“The store will employ a manager and two assistant managers initially and we are looking for volunteers for a variety of roles.
“We will start shop set up work from next week so things will start to happen.”
Argos relocated to the Sainsbury’s site on Market Place East after the covid lockdown was lifted.
Read more:
- Harrogate YMCA shop to close after just two years
- Ripon Salvation Army appeal helped hundreds across the Harrogate district
Rain highlights concerns about state of Harrogate district drains and gullies
Heavy rain in recent days has heightened concerns about the state of drains and gullies in the Harrogate district.
The Stray Ferret has been contacted by residents in separate parts of the district frustrated about how quickly flooding occurs because of blockages in the drainage infrastructure.
Huby resident John Chadwick said flooding caused by blocked culverts, drains and ditches was a major problem in Huby and Weeton and concerns raised by the parish council had brought “minimal results”. He said:
“There is a particularly serious issue at the moment at the junction of Woodgate Lane, Crag Lane and the main A658.
“When there is even little rainfall, water cascades off the fields on the north side of the A658. Because the ditches are blocked, water flows down over the main road and then down onto Woodgate Lane. Recently this froze over causing a risk to life. This is not an exaggeration, a vehicle could easily have skidded.
“I walk my dog regularly in the area and even as a complete novice in the subject, I can see that the problem would be easy to solve by clearing ditches, gulleys and drains.”
A drain in Huby
Mr Chadwick urged North Yorkshire County Council, the highways authority, to do more to tackle the problem, particularly as a school bus stop is located at the junction.
Read more:
- Firefighters rescue horse trapped in floodwater in Harrogate district
- Sharow pub owner appeals housing plan refusal
Sharow resident James Thornborough sent photos of Sharow Lane, which he said flooded within an hour of heavy rain on Saturday.
“The blind bend road was flooded where the sewage operation is running 24/7. It took just one hour of torrential rain to achieve the pictured lake. The electric power packs for the traffic lights were submerged in water.
“Yorkshire Water jetted the drains about six weeks ago, which is not a sustainable solution because every other drain on Dishforth Road is blocked, offering a downhill runway.
Sharow Lane last weekend
North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways and transportation, Cllr Keane Duncan, said:
“Funding for the upkeep of drains and gullies is part of our annual highways maintenance budget of around £55 million which covers planned maintenance programmes as well as responding to problems as they arise.
“Over the last financial year we invested an additional £500,000 to improve how we maintain road drainage systems across the county.
“We have in-house high-pressure jetting capability on our gully cleansing machines which assist in unblocking drainage systems and ensuring they are operating effectively.”