People in the Harrogate district have been advised to avoid household recycling centres this weekend because of expected queues.

North Yorkshire County Council’s 20 recycling centres remain open during lockdown but queueing systems to comply with social distance guidelines have caused tailbacks.

The Harrogate district has three centres: Wetherby Road and Penny Pot Lane in Harrogate and Dallamires Crescent in Ripon.

Queues at the recycling centre on Wetherby Road. Photo: Mark Westerman

Councillor Andrew Lee, executive member for open to business, said:

“We expect the household waste recycling centres to be extremely busy over the holiday weekend, as Easter is always a busy time.

“Given the rules in place to ensure the sites can operate safely, this will inevitably lead to queues.

“We’re asking people to consider whether they really need to visit their household waste recycling centre this weekend. Could you keep the waste at home for another week or so and take it at a less busy time?”

The centres moved to summer opening hours today, meaning they are now open from 8.30am to 5pm every day except Wednesdays.

Hannah Corlett, spokesperson for the Harrogate and District Green Party said the location of the centres was the main issue. She said:

“I know people from Ripon who have travelled all the way to Bedale recycling centres because the queues are so large so we should be asking why the centres are where they are.

“These high traffic areas are a bad place for them if they’re causing such big queues.

“Asking people to avoid them this weekend also sends a bad message about accessibility. Lots of people don’t have time to travel to their local recycling centre and so more and smaller recycling centres would probably be a better option.”

A plaque in Stonefall park has been shattered with what police describe as “considerable force”.

The vandalism took place on the night of March 20 or March 21.

The plaque, which gives visitors information on the history of the park, including Queen Victoria passing on the former train line that ran alongside it, is thought to have been smashed with a rock.

It’s thought repairing the plaque could cost Harrogate Borough Council about £300.

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Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh, whose Harrogate Hookstone ward includes Stonefall, said:

“It’s concerning that there are people who will inflict this kind of force on a public board. This history plaque is for the community to read and damaging it is just mindless.

“However, this mindless vandalism has been overbalanced by the community spirit, lots of people have already said they will donate to fix the plaque. That gives you faith back in the community.”

The local police community support officer has begun to patrol the park more frequently to keep an eye on the area.

The council and police have urged anybody who may have seen anything or have any information to come forward.

A man has appeared before magistrates charged with attempted robbery at Summerbridge Stores.

Munashe Chikomba, 22, is accused of attempting to carry out the robbery at the village shop near Pateley Bridge on Saturday.

Chikomba, of Cardigan Road, Headingley, is also accused of possessing offensive weapons, namely a knife and a hammer, without reasonable excuse in a public place.

He appeared at York Magistrates’ Court in Monday where he was sent for trial at York Crown Court on April 26. He was denied bail.

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A photograph of a nurse found on the Stray has prompted a search to find the owner of the image — and discover who the mystery woman is.

Harrogate resident Dawn King found the black and white image, which she thinks could date back as far as the 1950s, lying in the grass at about 2pm on Monday.

Ms King said she found it on the West park Stray near to Beech Grove.

Ms King, who trained as a nurse in the 1980s, said:

“When I trained we had exactly the same uniform but the pinafore had gone, which makes me think the image must be dated either in the 1970s or before.”

The photograph was quite damaged when Ms King found it lying in the grass.

But there was no water damage, which suggests it hadn’t been on the ground for long.

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Ms King has posted her appeal on various Facebook groups in the hope it will solve the mystery and reunite the image with its owner. She said:

“It’s obviously precious to someone.”

If you are the owner of the photo or have any information, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will forward the information to Dawn.

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A project to help young people overcome sleeping difficulties has been extended to cover the Harrogate district.

NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group initially commissioned The Sleep Charity to run pilot projects in Whitby, Scarborough and Ryedale.

The scheme has now been extended to families across North Yorkshire for 12 months, starting on April 1.

The free scheme uses behavioural therapy, sleep clinics and workshops rather than medication to aid sleep.

It also provides professional training to GP practice staff, health visitors and school nurses.

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Research by The Sleep Charity, The Sleep Council and Sleepstation found that since the pandemic began, 70% of children are going to bed significantly later than usual.

Vicki Dawson, chief executive of The Sleep Charity, which is based in Doncaster, said:

“Quality sleep is absolutely essential for a child’s growth and development.

“It helps children to concentrate on learning, allows them to react more quickly to situations, have a more developed memory and solve problems.

“Plus, it makes them less susceptible to colds and other minor ailments, less irritable and better behaved.”

Dr Charles Parker, NHS North Yorkshire CCG clinical chair, said:

“We know how debilitating, disruptive and distressing it can be for families when a child is struggling to sleep, and we see first-hand how it can lead to a number of physical and mental health issues which require treatment.

“It’s heartening to hear that The Sleep Charity’s work has already made a huge difference to many families in Whitby, Scarborough and Ryedale and I’m delighted these services are now available across North Yorkshire.”

Families participating in the project gain access to the Teen Sleep Hub, which contains links to twice-weekly live chats with professional sleep practitioners.

The service is available for people aged 12 months to 18 years.

For children and young people with a special education need or disability and/or education health care plan, the service is available from ages 12 months to 25 years.

Access to the scheme is available by self referral. Email support@thesleepcharity.org.uk for details.

This year marks 100 years of The Rotary Club of Harrogate. The organisation hit its centennial on January 8 and has multiple celebratory events planned this year.

Since 1921, The Rotary Club of Harrogate has raised money for hundreds of causes, from tackling environmental issues to providing affordable accommodation.

To celebrate, the club will be planting a Centenary Garden flower bed at Valley Gardens in the colours of its logo.  Members say they will dress in 1921 style for its unveiling in June. A date is not yet confirmed due to covid.

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March 22 had been set as the date for a sold out centenary concert at the Royal Hall, Harrogate.

Lockdown restrictions meant this couldn’t go through, so Mervyn Darby, chair of the International Committee encouraged ticket holders to donate the refunded money to the Royal Hall to support it through the pandemic.

School Competition

The Rotarians are also running a competition with the 35 schools in Harrogate. This will be for 4-8 year olds and will involve a colouring competition and an essay about their favourite locations in Harrogate.

The winner’s school will be awarded £750, second place £500 and third place £250. This competition is hoped to begin in Autumn term.

The club also said that an additional sum of money will be gifted to schools across Harrogate to fund art and sports.

Chair of the Youth Services Committee, Malcolm Campbell, wants to encourage more young people to become a Rotarian with concerns that current membership tends to be the older community of Harrogate. Malcolm said:

“We are optimistic in working and growing with younger people and are always looking for new, younger members.

We should focus more on children, the 4-8 year olds now will be the students in 5 years, apprentices in 10 years and world changers in 20 years. We must put more effort in for them.

The Youth Services Committee has also been involved with projects to inspire children. With help from PC world, the club donated 10 laptops to Rossett Acre Primary School.

Yorkshire firm Clad Safety has donated 125 hi-vis vests to volunteers at local vaccination centres.

The jackets have gone to Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP) volunteers who are currently working at the Harrogate and Ripon centres.

HELP support those in the local area who are elderly, disabled or suffer from mental illness. Since the pandemic began, HELP volunteers have supported locals who are shielding or isolating on more than 6,000 occasions.

HELP volunteer Phil directs the traffic at the Ripon vaccination centre.

Clad Safety makes workwear and PPE and is Yorkshire based.

Neil Trevvett, Managing Director at CLAD Safety said they wanted to showed their support to the local charity.

“We have seen how HELP’s volunteers have been providing the local community with vital support including shopping, running errands and phone befriending over the pandemic. When they approached us for support to supply branded hi-vis vests for their volunteer marshals we were delighted to provide them with these items.”

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Frances Elliot, CEO of HELP’s parent charity, Harrogate and District Community Action, said:

“One thing we have seen shine through over the past 12 months is how the local community has come together to support one another. This generous donation from CLAD Safety epitomises this amazing community spirit. We are extremely grateful to them for supporting our work.”

Restoration of the Birk Crag Centre for Girlguiding on the edge of Harrogate has been halted due to a lack of funds.

Girlguiding North Yorkshire West began rebuilding the centre in 2018 thanks to grants and crowdfunding.

The group raised £1.1 million for the exterior of the building, which was completed last year.

The Birk Crag Centre for Girlguiding in Harrogate.

Now, county commissioner for Girlguiding North Yorkshire West, Jean Tennant, hopes to raise a further £400,000 to complete the interior.

The guides have applied for more grants but many grantmakers have diverted funds to organisations affected by covid.

Girlguiding fundraising activity has also been affected by covid. Jean said:

“Covid has hit charity work hard, we can’t do bake sales or active fundraising.

“Most grants are given to covid relief charities, which is more than understandable but we do need more money to finish this project.”

The new centre will include a residential area for girl guides and community groups, including cyclists, church goers and orienteering groups.

The building will also provide an activity arena with a capacity of 120 people and a large commercial kitchen.

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The guides will be able to meet at temporary centres from March 29 but there is no date for the opening of the restored Birk Crag Centre until funds are found to fit out the interior.

Jean said Girlguiding North Yorkshire West was grateful for the funding it has received from organisations, such as the Bramall Foundation, the Rotary Club of Harrogate and everyone who had helped to fundraise.

Crowdfunding on its JustGiving page continues.

Stump Cross Caverns near Pateley Bridge has set a new fundraising target as it prepares to re-open on May 17.

Lisa Bowerman and Nicholas Markham, who own the limestone caves, set an original crowdfunding target of £50,000.

But this has been raised to £65,000 after the public rallied to save the attraction, which has been open to visitors since 1863.

The total currently stands at almost £61,000.

The extra money will enable the site’s 3D virtual tour to be upgraded, which the couple hope will engage schools and improve inclusivity:

Lisa said:

“It’s all about education. The 3D tour will allow children to interact from their classrooms and learn about something new.

“You have to adapt and evolve to survive in this new world and this technology is not restrictive, even people who can’t physically go in caves can now see them, so it’s inclusive.”

Enjoy a taste of the 3D Virtual Tour of the caves thanks to @apollothreed – we are only 7 days away from the end of our crowdfunder and your chance to #savethecave and win our #campervan https://t.co/9leEu32Fm5#virtualtour pic.twitter.com/L9xMhe26Wy

— Stump Cross Caverns (@stumpcrosscaves) March 23, 2021

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Lisa and Nicholas were denied money from the covid Culture Recovery Fund and said they have lost almost £400,000 since the beginning of the pandemic.

If the fundraising campaign hadn’t been so successful, the caves wouldn’t have been able to reopen.

Lisa hopes the new £65,000 target will be reached but said the last push has “definitely been tougher, we seem to have lost momentum”.

The couple’s beloved camper van has been put in a prize draw for anybody who donates £10 to the cause.

Lisa added:

“I am so grateful and so thankful for everyone that’s helped. Nearly 4,000 people have donated, which is unbelievable. Mentally, it’s been very hard but I’m feeling positive about the final week of fundraising.”