Nurses at Harrogate District Hospital have gone on strike today for the first time ever.

A picket line is in place outside the hospital on Lancaster Park Road for the first of two 12-hour strikes called by the Royal College of Nursing.

Surgical nurses, paediatric nurses and accident and emergency nurses were among those taking part in this morning’s industrial action. Some passing vehicles sounded their horns in support of the strikers.

Amanda Brown and Andy Law, RCN officers from Leeds who joined Harrogate nurses on the picket line this morning, told the Stray Ferret the action was necessary because the NHS is “broken”.

Mr Law added the NHS was short of 47,000 nurses — up by 7,000 on a year ago.

Although the strike will disrupt some services for patients, Ms Brown said people requiring urgent care would not be affected:

“We’ve ensured staffing levels are safe.”

Today’s action is the latest wave of industrial action in the Harrogate district. Ambulance workers, rail workers and postal workers have all been on strike this winter.

Pat Cullen, the RCN’s general secretary and chief executive, has warned the strikes could escalate in the weeks ahead if a settlement isn’t reached.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay has said “unaffordable” pay rises for nurses would prevent investment in the NHS.

Read more:

• Why are nurses going on strike in Harrogate?
• Ambulance workers in Harrogate district begin strike

A Harrogate district police inspector has revealed the district’s crime hotspots — and what police are doing to tackle them.

Inspector Ed Rogerson addressed members of Harrogate Borough Council’s overview and scrutiny committee last night.

Insp. Rogerson, who works for North Yorkshire Police’s Harrogate outer area, identified five areas as causes for concern.

1 Around McDonald’s in Harrogate

Insp. Rogerson said the area around McDonald’s and Oxford Street in Harrogate had “always been an issue” and attracted “lots of anti-social behaviour reports”. He attributed this to it being a meeting point for young people plus the fact the restaurant is open 24 hours and includes free WiFi. He said police were working with businesses to take a ‘more active role’ to address problems.

2 Strawberry Dale, Mayfield Grove and Nydd Vale Terrace in Harrogate

Insp. Rogerson said “some particular residential streets” had issues, and named Strawberry Dale, Mayfield Grove and Nydd Vale Terrace. But he said these streets had “seen a considerable reduction” after the main problematic property in that area was subject to a closure order obtained by the multi-agency community safety hub, which works collectively to address crime. He said police continued to liaise with the landlord and would continue to hold ‘community surgeries’ at which local people could talk to officers and “pass on concerns”. Insp. Rogerson also said there had been an increase in tackling traffic offences on Strawberry Dale and the nearby Asda as part of the police’s Operation Chrome operation.

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3 Bower Street in Harrogate

Insp. Rogerson said Bower Street was the only location reported more than once as making people feel unsafe. Police experts on long-term crime solving were considering what to do. He added:

“It’s still an open case with the community safety hub who are seeking funding for environmental improvements in the area to reduce reports of anti-social behaviour.”

4 Boroughbridge

Insp. Rogerson said “a small group of young people in Boroughbridge are causing anti-social behaviour and crime problems at the moment”. He said police were working with social care and schools and there were likely to be “some charges coming in the future” which would enable the perpetrators to get support from youth offending teams. He added:

“We don’t want it to escalate. We want to help the children so it protects them and the community as well.”

Councillor Robert Windass, a Conservative who represents Boroughbridge, told the meeting he had received “numerous reports” of drug taking in the Back Lane car park and urged police to “up patrols and get rid of drug dealers”. Insp. Rogerson said two new police community support officers were joining his team and he would ensure everyone was aware of the problem.

5 Knaresborough housing sites

Insp. Rogerson said there had been a spate of burglaries from new build housing developments in Knaresborough and surrounding areas. Boilers and new white goods were particularly targeted, he said.

“There’s a lot of new build sites in and around Knaresborough and these locations are vulnerable. It’s hard to keep an eye on everything even with 24-hour security.”

He said the force was “updating its problem solving plan and will be working with housing developers to reduce” such incidents.

Inspector Ed Rogerson and chief constable Lisa Winward at last night’s meeting.

‘Still one of the safest places’

North Yorkshire chief constable Lisa Winward, who also attended the meeting, said overall crime levels were “fairly consistent” in the Harrogate district but reports of anti-social behaviour were down by 43% and the number of fatal road traffic collisions had fallen by 50%.

The chief constable said North Yorkshire remained “one of the safest places in the country” and some 200 extra officers were being recruited as part of the UK government’s bid to get 20,000 more police.

She added 101 and 999 response rates were “still not where we want to be” but added she had recently signed an agreement with the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for an additional budget of £1.9m to increase staffing in the force control room.

All hackney carriage vehicles in North Yorkshire look set to be allowed to charge a maximum of £7.40 for a standard two-mile journey.

Currently Harrogate Borough Council and the other six district councils in the county set their own fares for hackney carriages.

But the new North Yorkshire Council, which will become the sole licensing authority on April 1, will align the maximum fares when senior councillors meet next week. A report to the councillors is here.

The proposed new county-wide fare structure is based on what customers currently pay in both Harrogate and Selby districts.

Out of 350 local authorities Harrogate and Selby currently stand at number 76 in the national hackney carriage fare table — meaning the taxis will be more expensive than in almost 80% of other places.

Under the proposed tariff, a two-mile journey within North Yorkshire would cost a maximum of £7.40 between 6am and midnight. The price will go up after midnight and at Christmas and new year.

A maximum soiling charge of £100 – should a vehicle need to be cleaned – has also been set to align with the current charges in Richmondshire, Craven and Ryedale. The rate in the Harrogate district is currently £80.

Cllr Derek Bastiman

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for open to business, Cllr Derek Bastiman, said:

“We need to ensure all businesses, residents and visitors across North Yorkshire are subject to the same maximum fare, regardless of where they live, work or visit.

“The setting of taxi fares is a statutory duty for the licensing authority and our aim is to strike a balance between setting a fare that is acceptable to the customer and to the taxi driver, and not create confusion by varied fares in the licensed area.

“The proposed fares are the maximum hackney carriage drivers can charge. They can, of course, charge a lower fare, should they wish to do so.”

If approved by North Yorkshire County Council’s executive on Tuesday next week, the proposed fares will be subject to a statutory 14-day consultation period.

Once a tariff of fares has been set, a driver cannot charge more to passengers than the charge shown on the meter apart from in certain exceptional circumstance, such as where a journey ends outside of the council area and a fee has been agreed in advance.

Private hire vehicles set their own fares and cannot be regulated by the licensing authority, so customers should agree the fare before the journey commences.

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A trade union has opened a dispute with Harrogate Borough Council after five staff at the local authority were told they will not transfer to the new North Yorkshire Council after all.

Harrogate Borough Council will be abolished on April 1 and it was thought all staff except chief executive Wallace Sampson would transfer to the successor authority under TUPE terms.

But Unison said it was “dismayed” to discover five audit services staff had recently discovered they would transfer to Veritau, a shared service group owned by local authorities in Yorkshire and north-east England.

Unison Harrogate branch secretary Dave Houlgate said the staff would switch to Veritau on “detrimental” terms to those who will transfer to North Yorkshire Council.

Mr Houlgate said:

“Staff and Unison have engaged with the TUPE process for well over a year now and our expectation and the expectation of all staff is that they will transfer to the new North Yorkshire Council on April 1 on their existing terms and conditions but with the opportunity to move on to new terms and conditions at the new council, which Unison has negotiated.

“It would seem, however, that the current county council has decided at this very late stage it does not want Harrogate Borough Council staff who work in the area associated with audit services to transfer to the new council but instead has decided that they should transfer to a separate company, Veritau.  Unison opposes this move.”

Our #Harrogate branch has lodged a formal dispute with Harrogate Borough Council after it emerges not all staff will be offered the opportunity to transfer to the new #NorthYorkshire council when the councils come together on 1 April#LocalGov @unisonyh https://t.co/gQt7z5SHxJ

— North Yorkshire UNISON (@NYUnison) January 16, 2023

Mr Houlgate said the option of staff not being offered the chance to TUPE to North Yorkshire Council “has never been on the agenda, even though we had raised it as a concern early in the process” and the union was “dismayed by this development”.

He said although North Yorkshire County Council and Veritau wanted staff to transfer directly to Veritau, it was ultimately Harrogate Borough Council’s decision.

“We object in the strongest terms to this late change of plan which shows total disregard for the staff involved, denies them the opportunity to move on to new terms and conditions negotiated and agreed by Unison and ignores established procedures and protocols that are in place.

“Staff in audit services at Harrogate should, as they expect to do, transfer to the new authority and then if there is a need to review how audit services are delivered for the new council then the proper processes should be followed after the transfer.

“Our expectation was that Harrogate Borough Council would stand by its staff and should resist this late change rather than give it the ‘green light’. Our dispute is intended to ensure this happens.”

The Stray Ferret has approached Harrogate Borough Council for comment.

Read more:

• Nurses at Harrogate hospital set for first strike
• Ambulance workers form picket line in Harrogate today

An MP whose constituency includes parts of the Harrogate district received free tickets and hospitality to the FIFA World Cup from the Qatar government.

The latest MPs’ register of financial interests reveals Conservative Nigel Adams received match tickets, flights and accommodation for the World Cup valued at £2,880.

Mr Adams, whose Selby and Ainsty constituency includes southern parts of the district including Spofforth and Follifoot, was part of a parliamentary delegation attending the World Cup from November 29 to December 1.

He attended a dinner with UK and Welsh government ministers hosted by the British Embassy to mark the participation of England and Wales in the tournament.

England played Wales on November 29 although Mr Adams’ entry on the register of interests does not specify which match he attended.

Read more:

• Harrogate district MP Nigel Adams to step down at next election
• Local MP accepted £6,000 worth of free Euro 2020 tickets

Mr Adams, a former Cabinet Office minister who will step down as an MP at the next general election, declared the trip in accordance with parliamentary rules.

Eighteen months ago, he received £6,000 worth of free hospitality tickets to three England Euro 2020 matches at Wembley Stadium

Human rights 

The Qatar government was criticised for its human rights record during the World Cup.

Asked by the Stray Ferret about Mr Adams’ trip, Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s chief executive, said:

“It would be deeply worrying if any MP accepting hospitality from a foreign government were to feel compromised when it came to raising human rights issues.

“As we saw with the debate around the World Cup, the Qatari authorities sought to downplay some of the very serious human right issues in the country and it’s entirely likely they saw these trips as a means to win over MPs.

“Amid Qatar’s unprecedented World Cup building boom, hundreds of thousands of migrant workers were systematically exploited, and the tournament took place in a country where LGBTQ+ people run the risk of arrest and imprisonment, and where freedom of speech and women’s rights are unacceptably curtailed.”

Mr Deshmukh added:

“There is obviously an important place for parliamentary fact-finding trips, including as a means of raising human rights issues through private channels, but MPs receiving expenses from any government should ask themselves what might be expected of them in return.

“MPs’ own constituents and the wider public will expect politicians to continue to raise important human rights issues without fear or favour, regardless of whether they’ve been the recipient of a paid trip to Doha or anywhere else.”

The Stray Ferret has contacted Mr Adams about the trip but has not had a response.

Several restaurants and bars will be offering cut-price deals next month as part of the Harrogate district’s first Restaurant Week.

The offers include three courses for £20 at Harrogate’s West Park Hotel and lunch and a drink for £10 at The Inn at Cheltenham Parade in Harrogate. Other venues taking part include Manahatta and Cosy Club in Harrogate and The Inn South Stainley, which is offering two cocktails for £10.

Restaurant Week, organised by tourism organisation Destination Harrogate, will take place from February 6 to 10.

Manahatta is among those taking part. Photo credit: Think Harrogate

Businesses that sign up will offer set-price menus to customers who quote the offer. It is hoped the initiative will enable them to attract new customers and get a publicity boost.

John McGivern, destination events manager for Destination Harrogate, which is part of Harrogate Borough Council, urged people to “book in and tuck in”, adding:

“Excellent food and drink is a firm offer within the Harrogate district’s visitor experience, and through focusing on our tourism strengths, we’re showcasing our best stories to attract more visitors and to set us apart from our competitors.

“The initiative also supports our commitment to sustainable tourism, encouraging visits during times of the year when, traditionally, visitor numbers have been lower. Spreading visitor footfall across the year lowers impact to the environment, and offers new opportunities to our local businesses, along with great deals for our visitors and residents alike.”

A list of restaurants taking part is available here.

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A missing girl from Ripon has been found, police have confirmed.

North Yorkshire Police has issued an urgent appeal to find the girl this morning.

However, the force confirmed she had since been found.

Officers thanked those who had shared the appeal on social media this morning.

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People with new year’s resolutions to improve their fitness are being sought by Saint Michaels Hospice to set themselves a new challenge.

The Harrogate charity is looking for 60 runners to take part in this year’s Great North Run and raise money to support its work.

Last year, runners at the event raised £30,000 for the hospice, which works with families living with terminal illness and bereavement.

Saint Michael’s chief executive Tony Collins said:

“New year is the ideal time to take up a personal fitness and wellbeing challenge. What better way to stay motivated than by knowing that your running challenge will bring care and comfort to local families at the most difficult of times.

“As an independent local charity, we rely on our community to help raise the majority of the funds we need to provide our vital care.”

“By taking part in the Great North Run for Saint Michael’s, you’ll be helping us to care for patients and their families in their own homes as well as at our hospice, and providing much-needed support for children, young people, and adults living with bereavement.”

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The hospice offers participants tips to prepare for the half marathon, and has a marquee in the charity village with drinks and goody bags after runners cross the finishing line.

However, a spokesperson said there was usually a “flurry” of interest and sign-ups after the ballot places were announced in February, so anyone hoping to take part should sign up soon to avoid disappointment.

Entries are £30 each and there is a discount for people signing up in teams. Supporter David Brigham was one of those taking part with his daughter Charlotte Simpson last year.

He said:

“The atmosphere was amazing with a feeling of great achievement as runners collected their medals and had photographs taken to remember the occasion. Personally, I will never forget the experience and the pride in what we achieved.”

The Great North Run will take place on Sunday, September 10, starting in Newcastle and finishing in South Shields. To find out more about taking part for Saint Michael’s Hospice, click here.

Killinghall Cricket Club has submitted plans to demolish its pavilion and construct a two-storey replacement on the same site.

Planning documents sent to Harrogate Borough Council describe the current 1970s structure as “deteriorating and neglected” and would cost more to refurbish than it is worth.

It is poorly insulated with ageing communal showers and the changing rooms lack privacy, the documents say. They add:

“Umpires and female cricketers currently have nowhere designated to get changed, so have to use communal areas, the toilets or come already changed. The facilities for the scorers on matchdays are currently a wooden hut situated next to the clubhouse, which is neither attractive nor very comfortable to sit in.”

Killinghall CC has been on the rise in recent years, Last year the team were crowned first division champions in the Nidderdale and District Cricket League.

The club has opened up its facilities to the public during summer.

Since the demolition of the Three Horseshoes pub and long-term closure of The Greyhounds Inn, the club has also used its pavilion and bar to provide a social centre for the village at weekends.

It hopes a new pavilion would help it fulfil this and encourage the creation of a junior team. The documents say:

“The proposal will provide exceptional changing and hosting facilities for visiting teams, which would be of the best in the current Killinghall teams’ leagues.

“There is a hope to introduce junior cricket back to the cricket club, that used to be a vibrant and engaging part of the local community. The introduction of these new facilities will help facilitate the introduction of this and hopefully attract them to the club.”

“This development is very much needed to the club and the village community. We feel that the scale of the pavilion is appropriate for the size of the site and has been carefully considered. The chosen materials and design compliment and contribute positively to the overall character of the pavilion, cricket ground and the surrounding village.”

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A Nidderdale off-road running group formed just over six months ago has become affiliated to England Athletics.

Nidderdale Fell and Trail holds three organised runs a week and a club training night on Tuesday evenings at Nidderdale Showground.

Many of the runs are around Pateley Bridge and allow members to enjoy safe and social running in some of the most beautiful routes in the Harrogate district. Some runners also compete in events.

The club, which was originally called Pateley Runners, has now become the fifth in the Harrogate district to be formally recognised by England Athletics, which is the governing body for athletics.

It joins Harrogate Harriers, Ripon Runners, Nidd Valley Road Runners and Knaresborough Striders as official affiliates.

Running in the dark with head torches.

Si Lawson, chairman and co-founder of the group, said:

“England Athletics affiliation is an amazing achievement for a club that is only six months old.

“We’re all excited about running and racing for our club and proudly wearing our new eye catching running tops.

“We live in a rural part of the Harrogate district and as well as being an off-road running club, we are providing a safe and secure environment for our members, and are making a significant impact on our members mental and physical health.”

Mr Lawson said he expected the club’s 200-strong membership to dip because affiliation meant the introduction of an annual fee of either £36 or £20, depending on the type of membership.

Fees are necessary for insurance and coaching purposes.

Experiencing Nidderdale’s beauty close up.

The club plans to train up to 16 club members as UK Athletics-qualified run leaders to cater for the wide range of runs and distances the club offers. They range from gentle five kilometre jogs to long off-road runs of up to 40 kilometres.

Now it is affiliated, it aims to offer at least seven weekly sessions.

The club is also applying for grants on the grounds that it supports health and wellbeing as well as combating loneliness and social isolation.

Some female runners did not feel safe running alone through woods and on footpaths before the group came along. Mr Lawson said:

“Running has such a positive impact on physical and mental health. However, running solo in a rural area is isolating and motivation is difficult, particularly in winter months.

“Nidderdale Fell and Trail has forged a community where everyone is welcomed and encouraged, and a safe running environment created. This has already had such a positive benefit on mental health, and has helped numerous members with anxiety, low mood, loneliness and confidence. “