A Harrogate retailer has raised their concerns saying “there will be casualties for sure” if another national lockdown is introduced for England.

The Prime Minister is reported to be considering a month-long lockdown for England in an attempt to curb the rising number of coronavirus cases.

The lockdown is expected to keep schools, colleges and universities open but the retail industry could be hit once again.

Bob Kennedy, owner of G23 and Porters has said another national lockdown would be “devastating” for the sector. Without customers being allowed into shops he is worried about the long-term impact on his own business and others.

He said:

“We are in for a long, hard winter. It will have a devastating impact on businesses. There will be some casualties for sure.”

“But we’ve got to do whatever it takes to combat this virus. We didn’t qualify for grants due to our rateable value. My business rates are high because of my location but I am still a small independent so I think that is something that needs looking into.”

The chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, Sandra Doherty, has also raised her concerns for the impact on local businesses.

Sandra said:

“The economic crisis which is looming, not just on the high street, but more worryingly the self-employed who have not been identified in any of the government’s grants, will be further exacerbated.

“Balancing the nation’s physical health with its economic health is a difficult choice to make with nothing to measure against. I’m sure the trial and error approach which we seem to be using at the moment will see us steering a very wobbly path forward.”

Read more:

• Yesterday, the Harrogate district recorded 53 new cases of coronavirus. 
• Impact of further restrictions on Harrogate venues has been described as “catastrophic”.

In Knaresborough there has been a number of new shops opening in the town in recent months. Steve Teggin, president of the Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, has said the timing of this lockdown could be “disastrous”.

He said:

“Knaresborough’s businesses were down in takings but we were doing ok but this is going to be a bit of a blow for new businesses.

“Businesses will have to adapt and keep that momentum going to survive. It is important for the public to support the local businesses as much as they can to make sure they are here next year.”

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.

The Prime Minister is due to make an announcement at 4pm this afternoon.

Harrogate District Diving Club is now back in the water after six months, but with reduced hours and coaches.

Since the reopening of pools in July the club has been eager to be allowed back to training at The Hydro. The club said its six months out of training had a “detrimental effect”.

Members’ hours in the water have been restricted. The club now only has one 2.5 hours session a week, while pre-covid it had 20 hours in the water each week.

The divers have been placed in smaller groups, with each group given 30 minutes of coaching each week. To keep it covid-safe each squad returned week by week and is now back to full capacity.

The number of club coaches has also been reduced. Two were redeployed during the pandemic: as council employees, they were sent to work in other areas in need of extra staff.

Graeme Cairns, who previously coached the council’s learn to dive scheme, has been brought in to train all of the divers on their return. Mike Gill, who is still deployed elsewhere, is returning to coach on a voluntary basis.

Read more:

• Harrogate Diving Club is eager to return to the water. 
• With changing covid rules, indoor sports clubs are facing an uncertain future. 

Club chair Leanne Jalland said:

“It is great to see the divers back training in the pool. Seeing the joy and smiles of the divers each week, as a new squad enters the water and takes that first dive back into the water, makes all the hard work to get them back in the pool worthwhile.

“We have seen across the country many diving clubs have not been so fortunate, any amount of pool time is better than no pool time at all. We have seen first hand how good it is for their mental wellbeing during these uncertain times.”

Over lockdown the divers had a weekly zoom workout focusing on dryland training. The club said the main aim of this was to encourage the divers development even without the water.

The club has trained in Harrogate for more than 20 years with sporting stars including Olympic gold medallist Jack Laugher learning to dive at the club.

The annual late night shopping event in Boroughbridge has had to be cancelled this year leaving shops without the festive boost in sales.

The popular event normally attracts hundreds of eager shoppers wanting to support local businesses. Community groups and shops also get involved by dressing up and decorating shop windows.

However, this year the Boroughbridge Chamber of Trade has had to cancel the event in order to discourage huge crowds.

During the evening the Christmas tree lights are usually switched on but this year there will be a low-key switch on with the mayor and chamber president, Derek Hufton.

The chamber will still organise the town’s Christmas lights which is match funded by local councils. The budget for the lights this year is £5500.

Derek said:

“It is such a shame, it is one of the highlights for the town. It’s possibly one of the best days of trading for shops in the year. It won’t stop anyone trading throughout the festive season but it is a little extra that they will miss out on.

“We still want people to shop in the town. I think people feel safer here and they know they’re supporting local businesses.”

Read more:

• Boroughbridge farm shop hosts artisan market this weekend to boost its trading. 
• No Christmas market hasn’t stopped Knaresborough, it is finding new ways to bring festive cheer to the town.

The chamber is still encouraging shops to decorate their windows and dress-up for its annual competitions and encourage shoppers.

The Boroughbridge Lions are still hoping to have their annual Santa sleigh fundraiser. Usually it travels through the town at night but the group is currently discussing how it can go ahead safely this year.

People in the Harrogate district are being asked to thank the NHS and local volunteers in contrasting ways this weekend.

Harrogate and District Community Action is encouraging people to raise a glass this evening to volunteers who continue to work during the pandemic.

HADCA, which had to cancel its annual Volunteering Oscars awards because of covid, is asking people to raise their glass or mug at 7pm and then post images of themselves saying ‘cheers’ on social media, tagging the Volunteering Oscars on Twitter using #nevermoreneeded.

The Volunteering Oscars celebrates volunteers in the district who help the elderly, children or terminally ill, or whose efforts ensure venues such as museums stay open.

John Fox, chair of HADCA, said:

“We clapped hands for the NHS – why don’t we all lift a glass to say thanks to all the volunteers across the Harrogate district for what they’ve done?”

Read more:

• A group committed to offering meals to those in need is to continue its efforts into the colder months. 
• A Knaresborough carer called on local photographers to bring the outside in for care home residents. 

Jonathan Sanderson and his two children practising their howls.

A Harrogate businessman has come up with an altogether different way to celebrate the NHS in a fun way that also appeals to children at Halloween.

Jonathan Sanderson, managing director of IT recruitment company Corecom Consulting, is asking people to Howl for Heroes on their doorsteps at 7pm on Saturday.

Mr Sanderson said:

“My children, along with so many others, are disappointed that the traditional evening of our local community in Harrogate coming together trick or treating will not be able to happen due to covid.

“Howl for Heroes is a socially distanced, fun and noisy alternative to coming together on the evening and recognising the hard work of the NHS who are continuing to support those suffering with the illness.”

The Knaresborough Museum Association (KMA) has put plans for a heritage hub about the town’s history to Harrogate Borough Council.

The Association is hoping the council will approve its business plan during a meeting next week.

The plan explains how the hub will be used to hold historical exhibitions, bring in revenue and become an education space for the local community.

The KMA has identified a largely vacant building on Castle Yard as the perfect spot to open its hub. The building was previously used as a dance school but is now used by local scout groups.

The group has its hopes set high for the future with plans to open a town museum.

The KMA chair Kathy Allday described the “big dream” would take a lot of funding but it would allow the group to display constant exhibitions and artefacts tracking the town from its humble beginnings to present day.

Visitors to an exhibition hosted by the KMA last year.

The group has run several successful exhibitions about the town. Last year its exhibition tracking the town from pre-historic times to present day had over 1500 visitors over its two weekends.

Kathy said:

“We have the support of local so I am hoping our plan is accepted. We need to celebrate the town’s history, there is so much of it and there are so many exhibitions and stories to be told.

“If the plans were approved the building would need refurbishing and we would have to start fundraising straight away but we have some ideas for that already.”

Read more:

• Knaresborough British Legion is asking people to hold their own two-minute silences at home for Remembrance Day. 
• Local historian, Malcolm Neesam, writes about the local history of VE Day. 

It is hoped the group can build the hub’s reputation over time for educational and enjoyable exhibitions about the town and work with local community groups and schools.

The group is hoping that it can have the space open for May 2021 but has said the pandemic could delay that.

Kathy has written a guidebook ‘Our Knaresborough, Our Stories’ to fundraise for the KMA. It tells all of Knaresborough’s history including its archaeology and geology.

Some of Harrogate’s most popular venues have spoken of their concerns for the future of their staff and businesses if North Yorkshire moves to tier two.

North Yorkshire County Council warned yesterday the county could move from tier one to tier two by the end of the week amid rising covid infection rates.

Martin Greenhow, managing director of the Mojo group, said covid restrictions had already been “catastrophic” for the hospitality sector. He added:

“Moving through the tiers is like squeezing hard on the trigger of the executioner’s gun.

“We’ve already seen a reduction in trade of about 70% between pre-covid levels and the introduction of the curfew. Moving into tier two we’re expecting an 80% drop-off in trade, going by other sites’ progress.” 

North Bar in Harrogate is also concerned about the likely impact. Assistant manager Jessica Parkinson said:

“We’re worried for the staff, what it means for them, as we’ve already had to cut hours and seen less footfall, which is very sad.” 

However, Simon Cotton, managing director of the HRH Group, whose properties include the Fat Badger, the White Hart Hotel and the Yorkshire Hotel, said the main difference between tier one and tier two for venues was policing. He added:

“Do you look at groups of people and assume that they’re not a family or one household when they actually might be? There are lots of exceptions to the rule, such as meetings. For work reasons you’re exempt, so the rules are open to abuse so easily.

“Staff can politely ask the question but can’t be expected to strictly enforce this as we’re not the police.

“It does rely on the public doing what they should in terms of the government guidelines. It is not up to hospitality to police this.”

Two students from Harrogate have left their hall of residence in Sheffield and returned home to protect their mental health from the impact of isolation. 

Alex Hamshaw and his girlfriend, both 18, are first year students at Sheffield Hallam University.

Alex’s girlfriend had to isolate for two weeks at the start of term when a flatmate not following covid guidelines came into contact with someone that had tested positive.

Both have struggled with the impact that following covid guidelines has had on their ability to make new friends, and decided to leave after three weeks, before Sheffield moved into tier three restrictions. 

Speaking about why they left Sheffield, Alex said:

“We decided to come home after my girlfriend finished isolating, as if that had happened again for her or for me, it would have really negatively impacted our mental wellbeing. Coming home means that we were in a different tier to Sheffield, we could go out and see friends and see each other, and that was better for our general wellbeing than being in Sheffield.” 

They’re not planning to move back to university until case numbers decrease, with the expectation that this won’t happen until after Christmas. 

Despite moving home, they are still paying rent for their Sheffield accommodation and Alex estimates that he will have lost about £1500 by the time that he returns. 

Read More:

• North Yorkshire could be placed in tier two this week
• Police drugs bust near Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

While at home, the pair have decided to set up their own online business, Personal Paws Co, selling customisable dog collars and leads out of Paracord, a lightweight nylon rope originally used in the suspension lines of parachutes. 

Alex’s dog Molly, modelling a collar.

With hopes to sell 500 collars or leads by Christmas, the teenagers are also hoping to do some good with their profits. Up until the 25th December, Personal Paws Co will donate 5% of its revenue to the Harrogate District foodbank.

Alex said:

“As we approach winter and it gets colder, it is even more challenging for children at this time of year, and so we have decided to donate 5% of all sales to Harrogate foodbank so that more children can enjoy a free meal as days get shorter and nights get longer. In our opinion, it’s the little things that help.

“We choose to start the business because we both have an interest in dogs and we wanted to create a product which was durable, comfortable and customisable in size and length which all dogs and dog owners could use. The profits not given to the food bank are going to be saved as a way to financially support us after graduating from uni.”

Do you have a similar story to tell us or are worried for your son and daughter isolated at University? Get in touch on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk 

North Yorkshire County Council has extended its support to local groups after recognising the ongoing need of those struggling.

A total of 23 organisations in the county have received an additional £453,000 in funding from the county council to continue supporting vulnerable people in their communities until March 2021.

Six of these are in the Harrogate district:

• Harrogate and District Community Action
• Knaresborough Connectors
• Ripon Community House
• Boroughbridge Community Care
• Nidderdale Plus
• Masham Community Office

This initiative was set up in April to support those self-isolating and ensure volunteers were in place within communities to offer deliveries of food and essential items.

The county council has chosen to extend this throughout the winter as tougher restrictions come into place.

Helen Flynn, executive director of Nidderdale Plus, said:

“We are an organisation reliant on volunteers but currently we are unable to get many of them together. With this funding we have been able to increase the hours of a member of staff to cover this.

“We are also expanding our current services and starting up new projects to better help the community. The funding also allows us to continue working with our 13 community groups across Nidderdale and Washburn to distribute information to those rural communities.”

A total of £930,000 will have been invested across the county by March 2021. The money has been made available through its North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund.

The government contributed £150,000 to the fund.

Read more:

• County Council health boss said the county is “hanging on by a thread” as a move to tier two looks more likely. 
• An announcement about care home visiting in North Yorkshire is expected this week.

County Council Leader Cllr Carl Les said:

“This Local Assistance Fund makes use of County Council resources and we also welcome Government money sent to us since the pandemic began.

“We have used the funds to support food banks, our local Community Support Organisations and the Citizens Advice network across the county as these are where residents go for advice and help.”

The county council has said it is constantly reviewing the need of its communities and will continue to adjust its interventions if necessary.

A competition to find a Christmas tree for Downing Street was held in Harrogate today.

Yorkshire shepherdess Amanda Owen, from Channel 5’s Our Yorkshire Farm, and Peter Wright from The Yorkshire Vet were joined by last year’s winners from Devon and Leicestershire to judge the entries.

The competition has been running since 1999 but this is the first time it has been held in Harrogate. It is also the first time celebrity judges have been invited.

Due to covid, the participants were unable to attend in person.

They sent their trees to the Great Yorkshire Showground where the judges selected the winners in various categories, including the prestigious ‘champion Christmas tree grower of the year’.

York Christmas Trees was crowned the winner of that category and one of its trees will have the distinction of standing outside 10 Downing Street over the festive period.

The winner of champion festive wreath category was Welford Christmas tree farm from Northampton. Its wreath will hang on the door of the Prime Minister’s residence.

Read more:

• Christmas attractions continue to appeal to visitors despite covid changes. 
• Our survey showed people in Harrogate plan to do a third of their Christmas shopping in the town centre. 

Oliver Combe of York Christmas Trees said:

“We are a small local family business who have been growing trees for over 20 years. We are overwhelmed to have won the title of champion grower for 2020, it is a huge accolade!”

The competition is run by the The British Christmas Tree Growers Association.

Heather Parry, who is the managing agent for BCTGA as well as the managing director of Yorkshire Event Centre said:

“The quality and the amazing scent of the trees on display was incredible; this is truly the Oscars for Christmas trees. It was heartening to hear also that many growers are selling more trees than normal, as consumers plan ahead to have a real Christmas tree as the centrepiece of their home this year”.

A Boroughbridge farm shop is hoping to raise its profile and promote other small businesses by hosting an artisan market this weekend.

When the pandemic put a stop to their events catering business, owners Linda and Andi Aikman had to adapt. They used their local suppliers to start delivering food boxes.

This took off and they opened The Langthorpe Farm Shop and cafe over the summer. The pair are determined to support other small, local businesses.

The market, being held this Saturday, October 31, will stand on the shop’s large car park and across two fields it has rented behind.

It is being organised by Little Bird Artisan Markets and will include 40 traders.

A range of small, local businesses will set up their stalls for visitors this weekend. Photos: Little Bird Artisan Markets.

To be covid-safe, a one-way system will be in place to direct visitors around the food, craft and art stalls. Visitors are also encouraged to wear a mask and only touch items they are going to buy.

The farm shop will also have its own stall to encourage visitors to come inside.

Linda said:

“Our events business came to a bit of a stop in March. So we took to crazy risk in July to buy the shop.

“It’s steady, but people still need to know we’re here. I’m hoping this market will raise our profile and support other small, local businesses too.”

Linda is passionate about supporting other local traders and also the community. Like many other food outlets, she is currently offering free takeaway lunches for those in need during half term.

Read more:

• Roecliffe pub to be restored to its “glory days” say new owners.
• An artisan market is set to return to Masham next year. 

Jackie Crozier, events coordinator at Little Bird Artisan Markets, said:

“We want to help serve local communities with the best artisan stalls, whilst giving traders the best opportunities to showcase and sell their handmade goods. When the opportunity came along to work with the team at Langthorpe Farm, it was the perfect match.”

Live music will be playing throughout and one of the stars of The Yorkshire Vet, Julian Norton, will be there to sign his book. A pumpkin competition will also be held in the afternoon.