John Plummer, Author at The Stray Ferret

Dutch firm awarded £1.1m design contract for Harrogate Convention Centre

Harrogate Borough Council has awarded a £1.1m contract to Dutch firm Arcadis to design the first phase of the £47 million redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre.

The firm was appointed following a procurement process using YORconsult2, which helps local authorities find consultants.

Arcadis employs 28,000 people in 70 countries, including the UK.

The council has been criticised previously for not working with local firms, including when it appointed Ipswich firm Jacob Bailey last year to redevelop its tourism website Visit Harrogate without a competitive tender process.

A council spokesman said:

“Arcadis will also work with a number of highly skilled, local and regional architects, engineers and specialists.”

The convention centre, which is due to return to council control next month after operating as a Nightingale hospital for a year, usually attracts 157,000 visitors a year. The council estimates its annual economic impact to be £35m.

But although the venue brings significant income to the district, the building itself makes a loss and requires a subsidy.

According to council documents, the building is now in ‘critical need of investment’.

The council has estimated that doing nothing would cost at least £19m in long-term maintenance.

It has therefore agreed to a £46.8m redevelopment delivered in two phases.

Arcadis will provide the design development and detailed feasibility of phase one, including an options appraisal into the district heating system. The council will then decide whether to proceed to phase two.

The council has also agreed to appoint a project manager for three years at a cost of £155,000, funded by borrowing.

Jewellery thieves strike in Jennyfields

Police have released a rather grainy image of two suspects they’d like to speak to after jewellery thieves broke into a Harrogate home.

The incident happened in the Norwich Drive area on Jennyfields between 5.30pm and 9.30pm on Wednesday.

The suspects broke the lock on the front door before stealing sentimental and valuable items, including wedding rings, necklaces, Gucci watches, a Givenchy bag and Dior Air Trainers.

North Yorkshire Police said today they would like to speak to the two people in the image, who were in the area at the time, and appealed for any information that could help to identify them.

Anyone with information can contact the force on 101. Select option two and ask for Elizabeth Estensen. You can also email elizabeth.estensen@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210070785.

Harrogate helicopter company expands

A Harrogate helicopter company has acquired another firm in a deal that will give it access to markets in London and the south-east.

The Helicopter Company, which was established in 2008, provides private helicopter charter services.

Its acquisition of Hampshire-based Atlas Helicopters includes a medical evacuation contract for the Isle of Man TT and other motorcycle races on the island.

The Helicopter Company already has bases in Scotland and the East Midlands as well as North Yorkshire.

Jason Schofield bought the interests of the other shareholders in 2016.

McCormicks Solicitors, of Harrogate, advised on the acquisition. Sagars advised on corporate finance.

Mr Schofield said:

“We are very pleased to have acquired Atlas, which enables us to grow our business in the south of England.”

James Towler, head of corporate and commercial at McCormicks, said:

“We were delighted to work with the Schofield family, with whom we have a long relationship, and it is great to have secured this acquisition which will allow them to grow their business and target the market in and around London from Atlas’s base in the south of England.

The Helicopter Company offers private charter for business and leisure, as well as aircraft management and a helicopter purchase service.

NHS confirms Harrogate Nightingale to close

The NHS has confirmed that the Harrogate Nightingale hospital is to return to being a convention centre.

NHS England said in a statement today all seven Nightingales “will transition back to local NHS services” from next month.

It added the Harrogate site would continue to provide diagnostic testing “for as long it takes to return the building to it previous purpose”.

So it is not clear precisely when the building will revert to its status as Harrogate Convention Centre and begin hosting events again.

The hospital has not treated a single covid patient but has provided CT scans to non-covid patients.

An NHS spokesperson said:

“Since the very early days of the pandemic the Nightingale hospitals have been on hand as the ultimate insurance policy in case existing hospital capacity was overwhelmed but, as we have learned more about coronavirus, and how to successfully treat covid, existing hospitals have adapted to significantly surge critical care capacity and even in the winter wave – which saw more than 100,000 patients with the virus admitted in a single month – there were beds available across the country.

“Thank you to the many NHS staff and partners who worked so hard to set the Nightingales up so swiftly and of course the public who followed the guidance on controlling the spread of the virus and helped to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed.”

Harrogate Nightingale hospital set to be ‘stood down’

Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital will be “stood down” at the end of the month, according to a leading health publication.

Health Service Journal reported today the seven Nightingale hospitals will either be closed or used for administering vaccines or providing non-covid services from 1 April.

Harrogate, along with Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester, will be among those permanently close, it added.

The Stray Ferret reported a fortnight ago that an announcement about the closure of the Nightingale, at Harrogate Convention Centre, was expected.

Now Health Service Journal, which is read by senior healthcare managers, has said it “understands” a decision has been made.

It says the London and Sunderland Nightingales will continue to be used for covid vaccines.

The Exeter Nightingale will continue to be used for diagnostic work and the four remaining sites, including Harrogate, will close.

Harrogate Nightingale has never treated covid patients although it has been used for scans.

The NHS has been paying utility bills of between £125,000 and £160,000 per month at the convention centre.

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Newby, who lives in Ripon, has described the Harrogate Nightingale as a “costly white elephant from the start and should be returned to the council without delay”.

Last month, Cllr Jim Clark, a Conservative who represents Harrogate Harlow division on Harrogate Borough Council, called for an inquiry into the use of the Nightingale hospital in Harrogate.

Cordings closes Harrogate store

Upmarket clothes store Cordings has permanently closed its Harrogate shop.

Cordings, whose only other store is in London’s Piccadilly, opened in Westminster Arcade in 2015.

Part owned by rock star Eric Clapton, the company dates back to 1839.

Its elegant outdoor clothes, including tweed jackets and moleskin trousers, appeared well suited to Harrogate’s clientele.

But Hillary Becque, marketing director of Cordings, told the Stray Ferret today that covid had been the Harrogate shop’s “death knell”.

She said “four or five” staff had lost their jobs, adding:

“We’ve loved being in Harrogate. It’s a brilliant town, with a lot of vibrant independents, so it was a great fit for us.

“This was not a decision we made lightly. The staff and customers have been absolutely brilliant.

“We just need to consolidate now.”

Ms Becque said Cordings had been particularly hard hit because its online trading operated from within its shops, which have been closed. She said:

“I don’t think many stores have not been affected by the pandemic but it’s been particularly tough for smaller stores like ourselves.”

Police appeal after Killinghall collision

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information about a collision that occurred on the Old Spring Well roundabout on the A59 near Killinghall.

It happened on February 16 at 2.30pm and involved a silver VW hatchback colliding with a black Ford Fiesta.

The driver of the silver VW didn’t stop following the collision and drove off towards Beckwithshaw.

A statement by North Yorkshire Police today said:

“Officers are seeking the identity of the VW driver to establish the circumstances surrounding the cause of the collision.”

Anyone who witnessed this incident or has dash-cam footage, can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Charles Lonsbrough.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210061537.

Suspected Harrogate murder: police forensics enter home

Police forensics officers entered a home in Harrogate this afternoon where a man is suspected to have been murdered.

A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in the street in Mayfield Grove just after 10pm last night.

A 48-year-old man was found with serious injuries inside a nearby flat and was certified dead at the scene by ambulance staff.

In an update at 1.14pm this afternoon, North Yorkshire Police said the suspect remained in custody and was being questioned by detectives.

There has been a heavy police presence on Mayfield Grove today. An officer has been posted at the door of the suspected crime scene and a procession of police vans have been coming and going. Shortly after midday a forensics team entered the flat.

The police update urged people not to be worried about the “noticeable police presence in and around the area”.

Detective Superintendent Fran Naughton, who is leading the investigation, said:

“Our investigation is well under way and we can confirm this was a contained incident.

“A man is now in police custody and we do not believe there is any wider risk to the public.

“However, many residents will be understandably anxious about what has happened. There will be a greater police presence in the area, which we hope residents will find reassuring, and officers will be working closely with the community.

“Our specially-trained officers are supporting the deceased man’s family at this difficult time.”

The police appealed to anyone who was in the Mayfield Grove area of Harrogate on Friday night who saw any suspicious activity to contact North Yorkshire Police by calling 101 and selecting option 1.

If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote incident number 12210072144 when sharing information.

Graveley’s fish and chip restaurant to be renamed Catch Harrogate

One of Harrogate’s most famous brands, Graveley’s, is to be renamed Catch Harrogate.

The fish and chips restaurant on Cheltenham Parade is currently being refurbished. It is still open for takeaways.

The restaurant is expected to reopen in May under its new name.

Graveley’s was sold to Catch, which is based in Harrogate and has four other seafood restaurants in Yorkshire, in 2019.

A spokeswoman for Catch confirmed it would reopen as Catch Harrogate, bringing it into line with the ‘Catch’ name used at the company’s other seafood restaurants in Leeds, Holmfirth and Halifax. She added:

“Graveley’s is an institution in Harrogate so we appreciate it is going to be a big thing to change the name.”

She added the new building will have more fresh seafood on the menu, an oyster bar, a licensed bar and more modern decor.

For decades, people have made the pilgrimage to Graveley’s to enjoy fish and chips.

Chat show host Michael Parkinson once said his favourite restaurant was a toss-up between Bettys and Graveley’s in Harrogate.

He described his perfect day as watching Joe Root score a century in an Ashes Test at Headingley followed by a big plate of fish and chips at Graveley’s.

Masham Steam Rally postponed due to covid

This year’s Masham Steam Engine and Fair Organ Rally has been postponed due to covid.

The event was not due to take place until July 17 and 18, after lockdown restrictions were lifted.

But the organisers said there were “still too many uncertainties to proceed”.

The two-day event, which raises money for Masham Town Hall, is one of the highlights of the summer not only in Masham but the wider Harrogate district. It attracts 4,000 to 6,000 visitors.

This will be the second year running that covid has forced its cancellation.

A statement by the rally committee and trustees of Masham Town Hall said:

“This has been a very difficult decision to make, especially as the next rally to take place will be the 55th anniversary event.

“However, as our planning for the 2021 event has now reached a critical stage and notwithstanding that the dates announced by the government are not set in stone, there is still a lack of detailed health and safety guidance and information on what restrictions will be in place for public outdoor events of the scale of the rally.”

The statement adds rally finances are in “a very strong position” and to commit to spending on an event that might not take place would be “foolhardy and not within keeping with charitable financial governance”.

https://twitter.com/VisitMasham/status/1367486013581516818

The next rally is now due to be staged on August 16 and 17 2022.

The rally committee is looking for “innovative ways to celebrate and focus on out fabulous industrial, agricultural and food heritage” on the weekend when this year’s event was due to take place, and has appealed for suggestions.

Masham Sheep Fair is still due to go ahead on September 25 and 26.

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