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.
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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.
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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.”
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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”.
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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.
Great Yorkshire Show to go ahead
The organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate have confirmed the event will go ahead next month after all.
The event appeared in doubt after the government announced on Monday that existing social distancing restrictions will continue until July 19.
The extended period included the show, which is scheduled to take place from July 13 to 16.
This led to two days of uncertainty before this afternoon’s statement from the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which organises the event. It said:
“We are delighted to announce that the Great Yorkshire Show will take place as planned despite the delay to ending coronavirus restrictions.
“The Great Yorkshire Show was planned under social distancing measures and we are continuing to work closely with North Yorkshire County Council public health to deliver a covid-safe show.
“We are discussing some of the details which may require additional measures to be put in place.
“We have already adapted the show so that most of it is held outdoors this year and it’s been extended to run over four days for the first time in its history.”
Read more:
- Great Yorkshire Show still waiting to hear if it can go ahead
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Injury ends Harrogate man’s World’s Strongest Man dream
Harrogate behemoth Luke Richardson’s bid to become the youngest ever World’s Strongest Man has been ended by injury.
Luke, who weighs 330 lbs and will be 24 years old on Sunday, tore his biceps on the first day of heats yesterday in Sacramento, America.
He finished ninth last year and had high hopes of improving after good preparation.
But he was injured in the first event, a loading medley, which involved lifting and loading numerous heavy items.
He told his 71,000 Instagram followers:
“Unfortunately my World’s Strongest Man appearance this year was pretty much over before it even started with what seems to be a distal bicep tendon rupture.
“Obviously gutted as I felt in a really good position to improve on last year’s performance but it was not to be this time.
“Just a bump in what is going to be a long road but excited to test myself against a new challenge and grow closer to the athlete and person I am destined to be.
“Thank you all for your show of support and especially my loved ones and the guys here at WSM, you’re proper gents.”
Luke, a former lifeguard at Starbeck Baths, was crowned Europe’s Strongest Man last year and he will be hoping to defend his title in Leeds on September 4.
He has also been invited to compete at the first strongman event at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 120 years on July 24.
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Great Yorkshire Show still waiting to hear if it can go ahead
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The organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show have issued a statement saying it is still awaiting confirmation that the event can go ahead.
The event is scheduled to take place in Harrogate from July 13 to 16.
All social distancing measures were due to be lifted next week but Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last night current restrictions would remain until July 19.
Twenty-four hours after Mr Johnson’s announcement, the impact of this on the show remains unclear.
The Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the agricultural charity that organises the event, has already included various social distancing measures into this year’s planning.
They include holding the show over four days, rather than three, capping daily visitor numbers to 25,000, reducing the grandstand capacity to 30% and adapting the show to use as much outdoor space as possible.
In a statement today, the society said:
“Further to the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday night, we continue to await confirmation from North Yorkshire County Council public health that we can deliver this year’s Great Yorkshire Show as planned.
“What we can say is that the Great Yorkshire Show has been fully adapted to be covid-safe and we have been working with the relevant agencies every step of the way.
“The show has also been endorsed by Visit England as part of its Good to Go campaign.
“Measures include adapting the show so most of it is held outdoors this year and extending it to run over four days for the first time in its history.
“A full list of measures are here and these were always going to be in place whether lockdown was extended or not.
“Please bear with us while we await news, and a statement will go out as soon as we have a definitive answer.”
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Harrogate district covid rate creeps up again
The Harrogate district seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 58 cases per 100,000 — up from 52 yesterday.
The latest figure is above the North Yorkshire rate of 45 but below the figure for England of 74.
Ten more infections in the district were confirmed today by Public Health England.
The district’s worst affected area is Ousebourn, Hammerton and Tockwith, which has recorded 11 infections in the last seven days. Bilton is next, with nine.
Tadcaster, which has recorded 12, has had the most cases in the whole of North Yorkshire.
However, another day has passed without any deaths at Harrogate District Hospital.
Seventy-eight per cent of adults in the district have received first vaccines; 65 per cent have had second jabs.
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Wedding limit easing boosts hairdressers and beauticians
A beautician in the Harrogate district has welcomed tonight’s government announcement lifting the 30-person cap on weddings.
Deborah Chalmers, who owns Love Hair & Beauty in Ripon, said earlier today she was “hoping and praying” the cap would be lifted amid reports it might remain.
Ms Chalmers said three-quarters of her wedding bookings were for events of 100-plus guests and maintaining the 30-person limit would ruin many couples’ big days — and have financial repercussions for the bridal sector.
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson said tonight the cap on the number of people attending weddings and wakes would be lifted, even though other social distancing measures will be extended by four weeks until July 19.
Ms Chalmers said:
“I’m sure that many different providers of services to people getting married will be relieved at this evening’s announcement from the Prime Minister that weddings with more than 30 attendees can go ahead.
“Social distancing measures will remain in place but brides-to-be can now look forward to their big day.
“At the same time, the wedding sector can start getting back on its feet and hopefully make up for lost time and lost revenue.”
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