TV presenter Nick Knowles has hailed the news that thieves have been jailed for stealing bicycles belonging to NHS staff at Harrogate District Hospital.
Mr Knowles, who stars in DIY SOS, offered to buy a new bike for Naresh Gnanasekaran, a doctor at the hospital whose bike was stolen during the first wave of covid in April last year.
Halfords eventually agreed to give Dr Gnanasekaran a new electric bike for free.
Last week John Roddy, 24, from Headingley, Leeds and his partner-in-crime, who could be named for legal reasons, were jailed for stealing bikes worth almost £7,000 from 11 NHS workers in Harrogate and Leeds.
The court heard Roddy had battled drug addiction.
Most of the thefts occurred outside Harrogate District Hospital when staff were having to deal with huge workloads due to the pandemic, said prosecutor Chris Moran.
Mr Moran said one NHS worker in Harrogate had been so “damaged” by the theft of her £400 bike she no longer cycled to work.
Michael Smith, a consultant at the hospital, tagged Mr Knowles in a tweet that contained a link to the Stray Ferret article about the two men being jailed.
Mr Knowles replied that he was glad the men were caught and thankful to the NHS for their efforts over the last 18 months.
I do
Glad your guy got his bike replaced
Glad they were caught
Sad what drugs do to peoples lives and judgement
Thanks to all your colleagues for all you e done over the last 18 months— Nick Knowles (@MrNickKnowles) June 25, 2021
Read more:
- Thieves who stole NHS workers’ bikes at Harrogate hospital jailed
- Harrogate hospital emergency department treating ‘unsustainable’ patient numbers
Post-Brexit grants available for Nidderdale farmers
Farmers and landowners in Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty can apply for land management grants.
Farming in Protected Landscapes is a government-funded three-year programme to support those who manage land in AONBs and national parks across the UK.
The funding is part of the government’s agricultural transition plan after Brexit and the end of EU subsidies.
Iain Mann, manager at Nidderdale AONB, said:
“Projects will need to deliver a positive outcome in at least one of the four key areas.
“These are: climate, such as flood risk reduction or carbon storage; nature, with improved habitats for biodiversity; people, with better access or engagement with the land; and place, which includes enhancing the character of the land, its historic features, or increasing the business resilience of farms.”
Examples of suitable projects could be action to reduce carbon emissions or use of plastics on farms, enhancing habitat for wildlife, improving access on public footpaths, promoting a series of farm walks, conserving historical features on the land, or farm diversification to provide tourism activities, such as stargazing or dawn chorus walks.
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All farmers and landowners within the AONB can apply – including those from the private, public and charity sector. Other organisations and individuals are eligible too, as long as they are collaborating or supporting a farmer or land manager.
AONB staff will decide which applications under £5,000 to accept.
Grant requests for over £5,000 will be assessed by a local assessment panel, made up of representatives from Nidderdale AONB, Natural England and the farming and land management community.
Mr Mann said farming was “part and parcel of what makes Nidderdale AONB’s landscape so special”.
He added:
“These new grants will help us to collaborate even more with farmers and land managers to protect the AONB’s natural beauty, tackle climate change and safeguard our wildlife and heritage, while sustaining a vibrant working landscape.”
Up to nine cars vandalised in minutes on same Bilton street
Up to nine cars have been vandalised in the space of a few minutes on the same street in Bilton.
Three young people in hoodies are being blamed for the incident, which occurred at about 5am yesterday on Dene Park.
The Stray Ferret visited the area last night and saw several car windows smashed.
Residents said the youngsters were seen running up the street damaging the cars during the early morning spree and that police had subsequently been in the area taking statements.
The residents added there had been a spate of attacks on homes and cars lately but this was the worst so far.
One Dene Park resident, who asked not to be named, said:
“How do I know it won’t be my front window that gets smashed next?
“This has been going on for a while and we know who the culprits are. It’s very worrying.”
The resident said nine cars had been damaged but another person in the area said they believed the number was seven.
The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire Police about the incident yesterday but has not yet had a response.
Read more:
- Man arrested after four-hour police incident in Bilton
- Self-combusting linseed oil causes freak house fire in Bilton
The poppies blow in a field near Knaresborough
These colourful images of a field of poppies were shot recently by Knaresborough photographer Dick Lloyd.
Mr Lloyd, who is a keen landscape photographer, captured the wild flowers on land near Staveley, which is just north of Knaresborough.
The birth of his granddaughter Esme prompted Mr Lloyd to take up photography three years ago.
He now focuses on landscape photography in and around Knaresborough, as well as the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales.
Do you have any fabulous photos of the Harrogate district? We’d love to see them. Send them to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk
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Ripon school earns national recognition for supporting refugees
Moorside Primary School and Nursery has become a nationally recognised School of Sanctuary after demonstrating an understanding of refugees.
The Schools of Sanctuary programme is a network of over 300 primary and secondary schools committed to supporting refugees in the UK.
Schools join the network if they can prove over a period of time that children learn what it is like to be a refugee and this is embedded in the curriculum in subjects such as geography, history and religious education.
They are then reassessed on a three-year rolling basis.
Other schools in the Harrogate district to have achieved School of Sanctuary status include Grove Road Community Primary School, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Springwater School, and Outwood Primary Academy Greystone.
Moorside’s award certificate was presented during last week’s national Refugee Week.
Claire Rowett, headteacher at Moorside, said:
“At Moorside, we have established an inclusive and welcoming ethos, where the importance of safety is embedded across the curriculum.
“Learning about people across the world and their contrasting environments and experiences to our own in Ripon, has taught our children that our one rule, to be kind, is not just associated with school, but is a rule for life, and that nobody should feel alone.”
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Schools of Sanctuary is organised by City of Sanctuary UK, an organisation established in 2005 to promote the UK as a welcoming place of safety for all.
Yvonne Jefferies, the lead for Schools of Sanctuary at Ripon City of Sanctuary, which is part of City of Sanctuary UK, said:
Mayfield Grove: house at centre of crime concerns allowed to re-open“This award is not given lightly. Schools work very hard to demonstrate that they understand what it means to be a refugee and to arrive here in the UK, likely friendless and very anxious.”
A house at the centre of crime concerns on Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove is to be allowed to reopen.
North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council issued a three-month closure order on 38 Mayfield Grove in March.
The two organisations can apply to a court for a closure order if they have concerns about antisocial behaviour and criminal behaviour on premises.
At a community engagement session on Mayfield Grove last week, police and council officers revealed they do not intend to bid to extend the closure order, which expired yesterday.
Constable Kelvin Troughton, of North Yorkshire Police, told the Stray Ferret:
“Since the order has been in place there has been a reduction of incidents.
“There’s a dialogue now and we are working with the landlord to hold him to account and ask him what his intentions are for this property when the closure order ends.”
John Willis, the landlord, has divided 38 Mayfield Grove into bedsits. Constable Troughton said Mr Willis served eviction notices on all of the tenants after the closure order was issued.
He added:
“We hope we have illustrated we are not afraid to take action.”
Helen Richardson, community safety officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said:
“We are working closely with John Willis to look at the tenancies being put in place.”
Ms Richardson added prohibition orders had been served on two of the bedsits and the council was working with Harrogate Homeless Project to address concerns.
Julia Stack, community safety and CCTV manager at the council, said its private sector housing team had inspected 38 Mayfield Grove:
“There have been challenges regarding that property and the management of the property by that landlord. The closure order was a proportionate response.
“We have robustly challenged the landlord about his property and who he chooses as his tenants.
“It is a challenging property. He is responsible for his choice of tenants.”
A closure order was served on the same property in 2005, when it was dubbed the House from Hell by neighbours.
Read more:
- Mayfield Grove summit to be held on Tuesday
- Two men flee after crashing car on Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove
Residents on Mayfield Grove and nearby streets, including Mayfield Terrace, Strawberry Dale, Nydd Vale Road and Nydd Vale Terrace attended last week’s outdoor drop-in session.
Many had concerns not only about individual properties but also about crime in general in the area, with some saying they knew exactly who was responsible and where criminal activity took place yet nothing was done.
One woman told the Stray Ferret she was unable to sell her home because of the area’s reputation.
Mr Stack said the council was considering temporarily attaching a CCTV camera to a street light in the area as part of measures to tackle crime.
The Stray Ferret has attempted to contact Mr Willis for comment but has not received a response.
A man who lived in 38 Mayfield Grove died in March and another man has been charged with murder.
Do you live in the Mayfield Grove area and have concerns about crime? Email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk
Nidderdale Show in Pateley Bridge cancelled due to covid
Nidderdale Show in Pateley Bridge, the Harrogate district’s last agricultural show of the year, has been cancelled.
The event, which attracts about 15,000 people, was due to take place in Bewerley Park on September 20.
But Nidderdale Agricultural Society’s show committee announced on Saturday it had decided unanimously to cancel the event due to covid.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the committee said:
“This decision has not been taken lightly and is due to the many uncertainties and risks currently involved in the organisation of an event such as ours during the ongoing covid pandemic.
“The nature of our show and showground is such that implementing the rules and regulations involved in delivering a covid-secure event would be extremely difficult to achieve and would place a huge burden of responsibility on our members and many volunteers, as well as expose the society to unacceptable financial risks.
“Most importantly, the primary concern is the health and safety of everyone involved in organising the show, of all those who attend the show and of everyone in our local community.”
The statement added the committee intended to put on a “bigger and better show” on Monday, September 19 next year.
The announcement means the vast majority of agricultural shows, which are a major part of summer life in the Harrogate district, have been cancelled.
However, the Great Yorkshire Show and Weeton Show are due to go ahead on July 13 to 16 and July 18 respectively.
Read more:
Killinghall cricket club keeps pub-less village spirit alive
A cricket club is fostering community spirit after the last remaining pub in the heart of the village closed.
For years, Killinghall CC players enjoyed an after-match pint at the Three Horseshoes on Ripon Road.
But the pub has been razed to the ground to make way for a Tesco Express and The Greyhounds nearby has been closed for years, leaving one of the biggest villages in the Harrogate district bereft of pubs.
So the club, which is on a promotion charge in division two of Nidderdale and District Amateur Cricket League, has been opening its bar on match days and welcoming villagers along.
The move has proved popular as a steady stream of locals, not all of whom know the difference between a googly and a bouncer, enjoy the sun and a drink on Saturday afternoons.
Harvey Radcliffe, the club secretary, said:
“It’s important for us to be part of the village community. We used to support the Three Horseshoes and when it died we saw an opportunity for us to keep the community spirit going.
“We only open the bar when we are at home on Saturdays at the moment but we are hoping to open it on Fridays and Sundays too later in the year.
“We are trying to get a junior section going. If we can get more people down it might encourage more juniors to come along and play.”
After a nervy one-wicket win last weekend away to Alne, the club is back at its home ground on Otley Road today when the bar will be open for the match against Thornton Watlass.
A recent match in Killinghall
Killinghall are currently third in the division as they aim to return to division one after a five-year hiatus.
The team will be hoping for fair weather and a good crowd for this weekend’s event.
Mr Radcliffe said:
“A cricket club is the perfect place for an outside socially distanced event.”
“There’s an old fashioned village feel. Cricket is a massive social event. Sports clubs are important.”
Read more:
- Image Gallery: Demolition of historic Killinghall pub
- From Knaresborough’s Aspin estate to playing cricket for Yorkshire
Mayfield Grove: crime concerns to be aired this afternoon
Police and council officers are holding a drop-in session this afternoon to address concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour around Harrogate’s Mayfield Grove.
People on Mayfield Grove and nearby Mayfield Terrace, Strawberry Dale, Nydd Vale Road and Nydd Vale Terrace have long-term concerns about criminality in the area, which is just a short walk from the town centre.
North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council issued a three-month closure order on 38 Mayfield Grove in March.
The authorities can apply to a court for a closure order on a premises if they have concerns about antisocial behaviour and criminal behaviour.
With the order expiring this month, a letter sent to homes in the area said today’s outdoor community engagement drop-in session would enable police and council representatives to talk to residents “regarding 38 Mayfield Grove, the closure notice and future steps”.
Read more:
It is being held from 4pm to 6pm on the green triangle of land between Mayfield Grove and Mayfield Terrace.
A summit involving police, council officers and residents’ representatives was held in March.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said the area had been quieter since the closure order but they remained concerned about problems merely shifting from house to house in the area.
They added:
“I’ve felt safer over the last few months but am now worried for my safety and the safety of my children.”
Paul Ivison, who is setting up a Mayfield Grove and Mayfield Terrace residents association, said the main issues included drug dealing, speeding cars, parking and dog fouling.
A man died at 38 Mayfield Grove in March. Another man is awaiting trial for murder.
Bilton shocked after four-hour armed police incident
People in Bilton have spoken of their shock after the suburb became the scene of a four-hour armed police incident this morning.
Officers were called to Woodfield Road after being alerted to a disturbance in a council flat close to Woodfield Community Primary School.
A large stretch of the road was closed amid reports of a man behaving erratically in a first-floor window.
Crowds gathered to watch about half a dozen armed police officers, protected by a shield, stand in a garden outside the flat. An ambulance was also on hand.
Police were seen talking to the man, who was leaning out of the window.
A nearby resident on Woodfield Road, who asked not to be named, said they became aware of the commotion at about 6.30am and police arrived after it got louder. She said:
“There were loads of police. It was a worrying incident.”
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A workman in the area told the Stray Ferret he arrived in the area at 7.30am and was shocked to see about eight police vehicles and an ambulance.
“There was a guy throwing stuff from a window and shouting, and a lot of police cars moving about. It was shocking.”
A police cordon was erected as more and more people began to gather on the street to watch the drama unfold.
North Yorkshire Police issued a short statement saying a police negotiator was at the scene and the public were not thought to be at risk.
Eventually, at about 10.10am, a man was escorted by police into a van and the road reopened, bringing a tense and dramatic morning to a conclusion.
A man is led away by police on Woodfield Road.
Armed police outside the flat.
Police officer stands next to the cordon at Woodfield Road this morning.
Woodfield Road was closed by police.