The organisation behind plans to build the Harrogate district’s first community-owned woodland has just 10 days left to raise the final £50,000.

The Long Lands Common Community Benefit Society, which aims to buy open farmland between Harrogate and Knaresborough, has so far secured £252,400 of its £300,000 target.

It has set a deadline of November 20 to reach the target.

The society recently delivered 48,000 leaflets to local homes encouraging people to buy shares in the scheme.

It now plans to take news of the appeal national and offer people “their own piece of Yorkshire land”.

The greenbelt section of land sits between the Bilton Triangle and The Avenue in Starbeck.

A duck pond and a sensory garden are just some of the ideas for the land. Photograph: Gary Lawson.

It consists of 30 acres of farmland that was previously looked at by North Yorkshire County Council as a location for a bypass.

The society hopes buying the land will prevent another bid for a bypass, create a green space local people can enjoy and increase the biodiversity in the area.

Chris Kitson, one of the organisers, said:

“We want to be part of the solution. Habitats are being lost by local developments and we want to address that imbalance.

“We are very hopeful about reaching our target. We just need more people to buy shares and help make a positive change.”

Read more:

• WATCH as we look at the land hoped to be used for the community woodland. 
• The local green party has began a petition against Harrogate Spring Water’s plans to expand its site. 

One of the first items on the society’s agenda is to improve access to the woodland by creating an accessible entrance suitable for wheelchairs and prams.

Once the money is raised the Long Lands Common team will consider other plans, including creating a duck pond, wildflower meadow and a sensory garden.

The volunteers hope that through further social media campaigning and word of mouth the target will be reached and plans can get underway.

To learn more and buy shares, head to the website here.

Three soldiers in Ripon will take part in a 700-mile barefoot relay this weekend to raise money for a girl with a rare genetic disease.

The soldiers have been inspired by Major Chris Brannigan, who walked the distance barefoot solo in August this year.

He did so to raise funds for Hope for Hasti, a charity set up to develop a treatment for his daughter Hasti, who has Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Major Brannigan raised £375,000 and since then others have boosted the total to £670,000 of the £1m target,

This weekend’s 700 miles, which will be completed in five-mile stages, will add to the tally.

Read more:

• Plans submitted for 1,300 homes at Ripon Barracks
• Ripon councillors reject transport report on barracks development

The three members of Ripon’s 21 Engineer Regiment stepping up to help are Sergeant Max McGoon, Corporal Lee Connolly and Private Matty Haigh, who will complete the 94th, 95th and 96th legs of the route on Sunday.

They will walk from Hessay, York to Langthorpe. Hasti’s favourite soft toy, Obama the llama, is being used as the baton by all those taking part.

Private Haigh explained why the soldiers wanted to support fellow soldier Major Brannigan.

“In January 2015 until August 2016 Major Brannigan was my boss in Catterick and Cyprus. He was a very supportive and family-orientated man.

“My fiancée Chloe and I are expecting a little girl at the end of this year. Major Brannigan has shown me that no matter what life throws at you, you always fight back and most importantly that you can do anything when it is for your children.

“I hope we can raise a massive amount of money for Hope for Hasti by doing the barefoot relay.”

To support the Ripon soldiers in their efforts, click here.

Dishforth Military Wives Choir members will take on the 98th leg of the relay.

Seven members of the Dishforth Military Wives Choir are also taking part. They will cover the 98th leg of the relay from Ripon Cathedral to North Stainley. The choir also supported Major Brannigan during his original march in August.

Choir member Sue Bell said:

“Chris said to us he would walk to the ends of the earth for his children and we thought five miles barefoot is nothing in comparison and the least we could do for all the children with rare diseases.”

Read more:

• WATCH as the barefoot soldier, Major Chris Brannigan, arrives at Ripon Cathedral. 
• This year residents were encouraged to hold their two minutes silence on Remembrance Sunday at home. 

Hope for Hasti 

Major Brannigan and his wife Hengameh have been fundraising for over a year for their daughter, Hasti, who was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.

There is currently no treatment for the disease. The Hope For Hasti charity was set up this year to raise money to start the research and a clinical trial into a gene therapy treatment for CdLS.

Chris’ barefoot march raised £500,000 but their final goal is £2.5million to fund a treatment. It is hoped this relay will raise further vital funds for the charity.

Police have made 88 drug arrests in the Harrogate district in a targeted operation against county lines activity since January 2018.

The figures, revealed after a request under the Freedom of Information Act by the Stray Ferret, show the number of arrests grew as officers sought to reduce drug dealing and protect vulnerable people in the district.

In 2018, there were only seven drug arrests relating to county lines activity in the Harrogate district, but in 2019 this increased to 51. Up to the end of September 2020, the force reported 30 drug arrests relating to county lines activity.

County lines crime sees drug dealers from more urban areas exploit vulnerable people, including children, and force them to deal drugs in smaller towns and cities. It is a serious and growing issue for the police in Harrogate, with a dedicated team convened under Operation Expedite in April 2018 to tackle it.

Chief Inspector Andrew Colbourne of Harrogate and County Command said:

“There are a whole range of complex issues that have intensified over the past few years as the issue of ‘county lines’ has infiltrated our local communities. We work with numerous partner agencies to provide an all-round approach to disrupting county lines and safeguarding vulnerable people.

“We have dedicated teams that target the supply of drugs and work alongside partners to protect vulnerable people on a daily basis. All our staff are committed to the safety of vulnerable people and victims of crime as well as carrying out focused disruption of those intent on causing harm.”

North Yorkshire Police said county lines is not a recorded crime type so the link in the records is down to human interpretation. The figures only include drug arrests, rather than those for other related crimes such as assault.

Read more:

• Harrogate county lines drug suspect arrested
• Two arrested over county lines drug dealing in Ripon

The force said it is proactively working to protect victims of cuckooing, where drug dealers target vulnerable residents and use their home as a base for selling and storing drugs. Victims of cuckooing are often subjected to violence and intimidation.

Children are also common victims of county lines activity and police are also working to safeguard them from grooming by dealers pushing them to help sell and transport drugs. If children try to refuse, police said they can be subject to physical and psychological abused.

Chief Inspector Colbourne added:

“Members of the public can help us by looking beyond the obvious, someone you might associate with antisocial behaviour and troublesome visitors, might just be very scared and exploited. Or, on the surface, a young person might appear to be a trouble-maker, but they could be a scared victim of abuse and be trapped in a criminal world that they can’t escape from.”

The police said the public can offer vital information that results in arrests. To report suspected drug dealing, call the force on 101, or speak anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has begun talks with Harrogate Borough Council to take over the management of the town’s market.

Relations between the chamber and council have deteriorated in the wake of disputes over issues such as rent increases, upholding the town’s traditions and the management of the market over lockdown. 

The council has always defended itself, saying it works “tirelessly” to support the traders and promote the market to residents and visitors.

But the chamber said it no longer feels the council is running the market in the town’s best interest and matters have reached the “final straw”.

It now hopes to take over the market’s day-to-day running in conjunction with the Knaresborough Town Council.

‘We need to take a stand’

Chamber representatives told the Stray Ferret discussions were in the early stages and no official proposal has been sent to Harrogate Borough Council yet.

Steve Teggin president of Knaresborough Chamber, said:

“It is being run in a style that could lead to its eventual demise, which we don’t want. The people of Knaresborough won’t want that either.

“We need to take a stand, we’ve had enough. It could be destroyed if we don’t look at it properly. We want to take it over.”

Councillor Andrew Paraskos, Harrogate’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, who is responsible for the management of markets, said:

“Running a weekly market in both Knaresborough and Ripon is not an easy task and requires a lot of council resources to make it happen safely each week. This is on top of the pitch bookings, licences, publicity, waste removal, etc. that is also required.

“But if Knaresborough Chamber of Trade believe they can run the market more successfully, then I welcome them getting in touch.”

Read more:

• An initiative by one Knaresborough carer is bringing the outside in for care home residents forced to stay indoors during the pandemic.
• The petition was set up by Knaresborough and Ripon stallholders and gained 4,000 signatures. 

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“To suggest we are running Knaresborough market into the ground is simply not true whatsoever.

“Our vibrant and popular historic markets in both Knaresborough and Ripon are an important and integral part of our district.

“That’s why we have worked tirelessly to make sure they can operate safely every week, even during lockdown and will continue to promote them on our social media channels regularly.”

Lockdown today has left shop owners and stallholders in Knaresborough fearful for the future of their businesses.

Shop owners and a market stallholder agree that it couldn’t have come at a worse time. November and December are their busiest months.

Many are choosing to go online, as they did during the first lockdown, in an attempt to make some of the money they would if they were to stay open.

Michael Baker-Kilburn, co owner of Little Darlings Gifts and Toys on Knaresborough high street, said:

“It’s the busiest time of the year for a toy shop so it’s really disappointing. We have so much stock coming next week, we’ve spent thousands on it. I need to think of our financial stability and I’m having to dip into our savings. I understand why we have to shut but who’s looking after us? This is when I take 50% of my cash for the whole year and I have nothing, who’s going to pay my bills and my rent?”

Similarly, Sonya Johnson who runs a ladies accessories stall on Knaresborough and Ripon markets said:

“It’s not good obviously because it’s the busiest time of the year. We just need to grin and bear it and hope we can reopen for December. It’s come at the worse time ever as November and December are always really busy. We normally have the Christmas trade to tide us over through January and February but if we come back then it could be difficult.”

Read more:

• A Harrogate shop owner says this lockdown has come at the “worst possible time for retail”.
• The second lockdown could mean some businesses “won’t reopen”.

Independent businesses owner, Martin Sturdy of Zigzag in Knaresborough , said business had only just recovered from the first lockdown and another one was likely to bring a new set worries.

He said:

“This couldn’t have come at a worse time. I just hope we can reopen soon and we can recover from it when we do. I think people will continue to support us so we will be fine. We do need to be able to open beginning of December because if we miss that run up to December it’s going to be a killer. We have all the stock and we need to make money from it.”

The lockdown is expected to end on December, 2 but business owners suspect, like the previous lockdown, the reopening of different industries will be staggered.

The organisers of the Harrogate Flower Shows have said the spring event will go ahead in April but with visitor numbers reduced by two thirds.

The spring show usually attracts 60,000 visitors over four days and provides a major boost to the district’s hotels, bars and restaurants.

However, numbers will be limited to 5,000 people a day over the four days, which means the event will only attract about a third of its usual footfall.

The North of England Horticultural Society usually stages spring and autumn flower shows at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate but this year’s autumn event was cancelled.

But it has introduced measures that it says will adapt the spring show to covid-safe guidelines.

This means visitor numbers have been limited and all tickets have to be bought online in advance.

Read more:

• Yorkshire Showground cancelled events worth over £70 million
• Harrogate events company folds after 46 years

A spokesperson for the North of England Horticultural Society, said the many acres of space at the showground meant the event could be adapted to meet covid requirements. The spokesperson added:

“If the situation improves in the New Year, as many top advisers have indicated they expect, then we can adapt again to take advantage of any improvements.”

Visitors will be allowed to attend in two timed sessions each day.

The event is due to take place from April 22 to April 25.

The society said it was aware government policies may change, forcing the event to be cancelled, and that it would work with partners to adapt to any changes.

The pring event — called Spring Essentials — will showcase gardens and nurseries and include live theatre.

People in Harrogate are rushing to get hairdressing appointments before lockdown begins on Thursday.

Some salons are extending their hours to fit in as many clients as possible before non-essential businesses are forced to close on Thursday.

Joseph Ferraro, owner of Joseph Ferraro hair salon in Harrogate, said:

“The phone just hasn’t stoped since the weekend. I’ve had to bring staff in for extra hours to fit all of our clients in.

“I’m feeling more angry than nervous. It is dangerous for businesses to have another lockdown. My business will be able to get through this but some will be struggling.

“The furlough system is great for paying my staff but it won’t cover the other bills.”

Hairdressers were among the last to reopen after the first lockdown. Salons had to introduce safety measures, such as mask wearing for clients and staff, sanitising stations and perspex screens.

Olivia Mitchell, the owner of BeBaBo on Cold Bath Road, is usually closed on Monday but opened today to meet demand.

“I think the lockdown may be longer than December 2. But I feel calmer this time: we have a blueprint to follow from the first lockdown, which will help us.

“All we can do is look to the government for additional help. I just hope that if it is a longer lockdown that they can keep that support going.”

Read more:

• A financial impact of a second lockdown could mean some businesses “won’t reopen”. 
• This initiative is helping independent businesses continue to earn money after Christmas events were cancelled. 

Terry Sowerby, who co-owns the Baroque salons in Harrogate and Ripon, said:

“It’s been challenging trying to fit everyone in over the coming days. I am not happy at all, I understand we are within a pandemic but we’ve spent thousands making our salons safe so it is frustrating. But we have to do it to reduce the virus.”

Harrogate District Hospital has announced another death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

According to NHS England figures, it takes the total number of deaths at the hospital to 88.

Meanwhile, a further 68 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed across the Harrogate district today.

This daily increase comes a day after Boris Johnson announced the country would go into a second national lockdown from Thursday, November 5.

Today’s figures take the total number of cases in the district since the start of the pandemic to 2,439.

Read more:

• Yesterday, 71 people in the Harrogate district tested positive for covid. 
• The retail industry will be hit hard by the second lockdown, one Harrogate retailer said it would be “devastating”.

The lockdown means all non-essential shops, hospitality and beauty salons will once again have to close until December 2.

In his announcement yesterday evening the Prime Minister said he hoped these restrictions would curb the infection rate to allow people to see their families in time for Christmas.

The Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) warned that the impact of this second lockdown could mean some businesses “won’t reopen”.

The impact of the second lockdown on local businesses could mean some “won’t reopen” warns Harrogate’s Business Investment District (BID) .

The lockdown will come into place on Thursday and forces all non-essential shops and hospitality to close.

Many of Harrogate’s businesses have been using recent months to recover from the previous lockdown and have now been left uncertain of their futures.

Harrogate BID has said the main aim of its members is to protect their businesses and the local economy but has made it clear the long-term impact of this could mean some businesses can’t reopen.

Harrogate BID Acting Chair Sara Ferguson said:

“Every business that I know of has been dreading the prospect of another lockdown, as there’s a real chance many won’t reopen if they are forced into a long period of enforced closure.

“Over the last few weeks there has been a rising level of optimism, half term has brought plenty of people into town. If this ‘circuit-breaker’ doesn’t bring the R rate down then what? Is it extended for another month?”

Read More:

• 71 more positive covid cases in the past 24 hours in Harrogate district
• Harrogate retailer says second lockdown could be devastating 

The lockdown is expected to end on December 2 in the hope many can still enjoy Christmas with friends and family.

The festive season brings an annual boost to trade for the hospitality sector.

Anthony Blundell, assistant general manager at the West Park Hotel in Harrogate, is hopeful this year will bring the same.

He said:

“Hospitality needs to be up and running for December. It is the biggest month of the year for the whole sector. We can flex and adapt to whatever is thrown at us but not all businesses are as resilient and it could be really devastating.”

A further 71 cases of coronavirus have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to Public Health England figures.

The total for the district since the start of the pandemic stands at 2,371.

This afternoon, Boris Johnson is holding a conference where he is expected to announce further restrictions for England. It is reported he could be putting the country into a second national lockdown.

The district’s seven-day case rate up to October 27 has dropped to 239 per 100,000 people. However this remains above the national average of 225.

North Yorkshire remains in tier one restrictions, it is now the only county in the region not to have moved up to a higher tier.

Read more:

• A second lockdown would be “devastating” for the local retail industry says Harrogate retailer. 
• Some of Harrogate’s popular venues have said further restrictions could be “catastrophic”.