Rescue dog Cheeky Pekey finds forever home in Harrogate

A Stray Ferret appeal to find a forever home for a rescue Chihuahua has ended in success.

Cheeky Pekey, 13, was brought over from Romania by Harrogate dog charity Miss Mollie’s Rescue.

Older dogs can be harder to re-home and with Cheeky also being blind in one eye, Miss Mollie’s had their work cut out to find the right person.

However, Jean Davison said Cheeky was “exactly what she was looking for” after losing her rescue Chihuahua Boo last year. Her previous experience with rescues and the amount of time she had to look after a dog meant she was perfect.

Ms Davison said she was looking for another dog to fill the hole Boo left behind and when she saw Cheeky she knew she would fit in.

Last week, Cheeky moved in with Jean and her new sister 10-year-old Chihuahua Pixie. She said:

“Boo had a life with me and I wanted to do that for another dog. Cheeky is absolutely fantastic and has fit in really well.

“The two of them will be great companions, Pixie has been a little jealous but she is always looking behind her to check on Cheeky when we’re out walking.”

Cheeky’s lack of vision means she follows Jean by the sound of her voice, but doing that has meant she’s walked into a few walls! But Jean expects this will become less frequent when Cheeky learns the layout of the house.

Jean said she is looking forward to introducing Cheeky to her friends and family and ensuring she is properly settled in her new home.

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Police and army officers amongst Harrogate district residents honoured by Queen

A Boroughbridge police officer and an army officer based at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate are amongst the local residents recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

In this jubilee year, the Queen has recognised the service of four Harrogate district residents.

Knighthood

Martyn Oliver, chief executive of Outwood Grange Academies Trust, has been knighted for services to education.

The trust sponsors 40 schools in northern England, including Outwood Primary Academy Greystone and Outwood Academy in Ripon.

MBE

Barry Appleton, at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, has been made an MBE for his military service.

The warrant officer’s role at the college is to take care of the welfare of the 300 military staff and their families.

The college provides basic training to 1,300 under 18s. The honours list describes how he uses his imagination to “engage with and support his community, providing constant oversight and support in excess of what seemed possible”.

He has worked at the college for more than a decade and in that time looked after hundreds of military and civilian families.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Ellen Hughes, from Harrogate, has been made an MBE for services to sport during covid.

Ms Hughes is currently director of special projects at Sport England after starting her career in grassroots sport as a project manager at North Yorkshire County Sports Partnership.

She has been responsible for delivering the government’s £600million sports survival package to support spectator sports during covid when fans weren’t allowed in venues.

She has given funding to more than 1,200 organisations through this scheme and was also responsible for giving £32.7million worth of covid funding to rugby league teams.

Colin William Rodham, from Knaresborough, has been made an MBE for services to flood risk management in the Yorkshire region.

Mr Rodham currently works as a senior officer in the Environment Agency.

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BEM

Sharron Moverley-Homes, from Boroughbridge, has been made an BEM for services to policing.

Ms Moverley-Holmes is a special chief officer in the North Yorkshire Police Special Constabulary. Since joining the police in 1984 she has remained in the North Yorkshire force calling it “the family I could never leave”.

Over the three decades, she said she has worked in a number of departments but being out in the community remains the most rewarding part:

“The bread and butter of policing is being visible and speaking to members of the public. That could be walking the streets or it could be when they need us the most and are at the worst point in their lives.”

Ms Moverley-Holmes manages the special constabulary which is a collection of part-time volunteer officers. She said working with those willing to give up their free time is “truly rewarding” and dedicated her award to their hard work.

She said another passion of her’s is to ensure the force is as open and inclusive as it can be, she said to serve the community we must represent it, adding:

“Policing was very different when I started and so was the world. I hope my legacy is that we are open to everyone and inclusive.”

Talking about receiving the award, she said:

“I was shocked, surprised, I had to hide it away for a few hours and go back and check I hadn’t read it wrong. It’s a huge privilege to be recognised for a job I love.”

This weekend, on June 5, a group of special constables and Ms Moverely-Holmes will be walking 30 miles from York to Tadcaster to mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Special Constable Glenn Goodman who was fatally shot whilst on patrol in Tadcaster.

Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service

Lisa Winward, the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire, has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

Ms Winward joined Humberside Police as a regular officer in 1994, before transferring to North Yorkshire in 2008, and took the position of Chief Constable in April 2018.

She is a national ambassador for volunteering, taking the National Police Chief Council lead for Citizens in Policing for a number of years and is national lead for women’s health and the intelligence portfolio.

Ms Winward, said:

“I simply wouldn’t be where I am today without all of the people who have helped me, taught me, inspired and motivated me and worked alongside me in the wonderful team that is policing. It is a privilege to be a public servant and a police officer.”

 

 

28 Harrogate district street parties planned as jubilee nears

This article is sponsored by Boundless Networks

Jubilee excitement is increasing across the district ahead of the start of four days of celebration tomorrow,

This weekend will see street parties galore as neighbours and friends come together to commemorate the Queen’s 70-year reign.

Keep us updated on what you’re doing via contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

4.40pm: 28 street parties in Harrogate district

North Yorkshire County Council has issued orders preventing traffic from entering 28 streets in the Harrogate district over the jubilee weekend.

Most orders are for Sunday, which is the main day for street parties, but there are some for Friday and Saturday.

Remember, many of these events are for residents living on the streets to enjoy so if you don’t live on the street check with the organisers before you attend.

3.56pm: Motorway works in Yorkshire paused for jubilee

Good news if you’re planning to head out on the motorways, including the A1(M) in the Harrogate district, over the next four days.

National Highways, the government-owned company that maintains the motorways, has halted most roadworks.

We’re lifting almost 1000 miles of roadworks ahead of the #Jubilee bank holiday weekend, meaning that 98% of our network will be roadwork free.
Information on the planned closures that are still going ahead can be found here:https://t.co/ytYaVU0s8b#WeAreWorkingForYou pic.twitter.com/UR06U0JHOP

— National Highways: Yorkshire (@HighwaysYORKS) June 1, 2022

1.30pm: Jubilee celebrations begin in Bilton

Jubilee Woodfield

A jubilee celebration took place this morning at the weekly coffee morning Thirst, held at Dene Park Community Centre in Woodfield and organised by St John’s Church in Bilton.

12.09pm: Weather forecast good – except for Sunday

There won’t be too much sunbathing but at least it will be mainly dry, although the forecast for Sunday doesn’t look great for the street parties.

10.15am: Preparations in place in Ripon

Preparations are also in place in Ripon ahead of the platinum jubilee celebrations tomorrow.

A road closure will be in place around Market Square in readiness for the stage where 24 acts will be performing.

Meanwhile, red, white and blue flags are flying in Kirkgate and across the city centre.

Ripon Cathedral is decked out in finery for tomorrow’s civic service. It will also host jubilee tea party on Friday afternoon with people born in every year of the Queen’s reign in attendance.

Dean John Dobson told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s going to be very busy few days, but everybody is looking forward to this special celebration.”

10am – Fresh bunting on West Park Stray

Fresh bunting has been put up this morning on West Park Stray as excitement builds up for the jubilee.

Preparations for Jubilee Square on the Stray are expected to continue throughout today.

9am: Harrogate Borough Council issues street party bins plea

Waste and recycling collections are happening as usual over the four-day weekend, prompting Harrogate Borough Council to say:

“If you’ve put bunting up in your village or across your street please ensure it is high enough for our vehicles – and emergency vehicles – to get past.”

We're operating a business-as-usual waste and recycling collection service this week.

If you're unsure you can check your collection day on the In My Area section of our website at: https://t.co/dkWa0QqOBn pic.twitter.com/yLvllUHmSY

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) May 30, 2022

Kirkby Overblow crafts its own jubilee beacon

People in Kirkby Overblow have come together to make a jubilee beacon.

The beacon has been designed, made and engineered by locals ahead of it being lit on Thursday night.

The groundwork and engineering plans were done by the Moortown group, ran by the McManus family from Kearby. The Oak Pole was made by Yorkshire Oak Frames.

The  horse shoe basket was made from old horseshoes from the Great Yorkshire Shoe by farrier Adam Fox, from Netherby, as a nod to the Queen’s love of horses.

The final step to get it in place was the job of local farmer Rob Parkes.

The village will also host a BBQ on Thursday ahead of the beacon being lit. Organisers say the beacon will be able to be seen as far away as Almscliffe Crag and the White Horse near Thirsk.

Windsor House rebrands as The House of Windsor

The Windsor House in Harrogate has rebranded itself to The House of Windsor ahead of the jubilee.

The period office building, near Valley Gardens, has also been decorated. Passers-by will now see the Queen, in cardboard form, stood alongside the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Karen Winspear, property manager at Windsor House said:

“We wanted to create something to celebrate the jubilee that the businesses in our building could enjoy, as well as those who will be visiting the number of events planned at Valley Gardens. With a name like ours, we couldn’t resist a royal makeover to mark such a fantastic occasion!”

Queen Mary’s jubilee hat parade

Students at Queen Mary’s School at Topcliffe wore straw hats when they took part in a jubilee hat parade.

Judged by hat maker Jonny Beardsall, the parade also included a performance of the platinum jubilee song.

There was also a picnic and a summer fete.

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Belmont Grosvenor School hosts jubilee garden party

Pupils, parents and staff at Belmont Grosvenor School held a platinum jubilee garden party.
The children enjoyed corgi-themed crazy golf, pony rides, bouncy castles, face painting and hook-a-duck. There was entertainment from a local brass band and there were Best in Show competitions for the children and parents to enter, including a Junk Model Castle competition, Design a Royal Crown, and bake a royal Showstopper.
Acting headteacher Emma Shea said:
“Our BGS Jubilee Garden Party was an afternoon to remember with all our school community, from the youngest in nursery, to our oldest pupils in Year 6, joining in and enjoying all the fun of the fair.
“There was some wonderful baking, and some most impressive artistic creations – thanks to our PTA for staging such a fabulous event.”
Harrogate district’s leisure and housing companies ‘will transfer’ to North Yorkshire Council

Harrogate Borough Council has confirmed its leisure and housing companies will be transferred to the new North Yorkshire Council, but questions remain over what will happen thereafter.

Brimhams Active and Bracewell Homes were launched in the last three years with the backing of just under £11 million from taxpayers.

The borough council said in a statement this week that “there are no plans to change how they’re currently run, albeit they will transfer” when the authority is abolished next April.

This comes as council officers from across North Yorkshire are working together on county-wide plans for how all services will work when they come under the control of the new North Yorkshire Council.

Currently, housing and leisure services across the seven districts are run in different ways through arm’s-length companies, management firms, charity trusts and by the local councils themselves.

Councillor Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said the correct decision-making process would be followed for the future of services and that he would not be drawn on whether it would be better to scrap the current set-ups.

He said:

“Leisure and housing are two of our work streams going forward for the next 10 months and it would be wrong to try and prejudge what recommendations are going to be made for the new council to adopt.

“These are two important issues and we recognise that Harrogate has companies doing these pieces of work.

“But this has to be fed into our ongoing work which will then give recommendations to the executive and wider council.”

Brimhams Active launched last August when it took over control of leisure centres and swimming pools in Harrogate, Starbeck, Ripon, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge.

‘New vision’

Harrogate Borough Council hailed the move as a “new vision for the future” of services and said it would save around £400,000 a year through business rates relief and VAT benefits.

Councillor Pat Marsh, leader of the council’s opposition Liberal Democrat group and Brimhams Active board member, said the company has so far been a success despite challenges with covid closures and staffing shortages:

“Several local authorities have stopped even providing leisure services, it is not a compulsory service.

“Setting up Brimhams Active has meant the council continues to offer and develop the service for the benefit of our residents.”

However, Cllr Marsh was less praiseworthy of Bracewell Homes which launched in 2019 with the aims of turning the council a profit and delivering much-needed affordable homes.

She said:

“I had hoped that Bracewell Homes would deliver social housing, but that has not happened. It was never the kind of housing company that I was arguing for.”

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Confirming both companies will be transferred to the new council, a Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“We are working collectively with the county council and neighbouring district councils to ensure a smooth transition to the new authority on 1 April.

“Part of this work involves looking at local authority controlled companies such as Brimhams Active and Bracewell Homes.

“Decisions on what they might look like in the future will be made by North Yorkshire Council.”

Woman dies following car crash in Harrogate district

A 92-year-old woman has died after being involved in a serious car crash in the Harrogate district at the weekend.

The crash happened just after 8pm on Saturday at the crossroads of Spring Road, Moor Lane and Wharf Lane in Netherby, which is near Harewood, on the fringes of the Harrogate district.

North Yorkshire Police said after the incident that the woman had sustained serious injuries and today confirmed she had died in hospital. It said:

“Sadly the 92-year-old woman who was a passenger has passed away in hospital. Her family have been informed, our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.

“We are continuing to appeal for information following this collision.”

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The collision involved a navy-coloured Jeep Cherokee and a Blue Volkswagen T-Cross.

The Jeep Cherokee was travelling down Moor Lane towards Spring Road and the Volkswagen was heading east to west on Spring Road.

Police are asking for anyone who witnessed the accident, saw the vehicles prior to the incident or have dash cam footage that may be relevant to contact them.

You can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for 917 Jon Moss, of the major collision investigation team. Or email Jon.Moss@northyorkshire.police.uk.

The crime reference number is 12220091836.

Knaresborough couple’s Dower House wedding cancelled due to refurb

A couple from Knaresborough tried for months to contact their wedding venue only to be told their special day was no longer secure and they should look elsewhere.

Toni Kinder and Michael Shelton were due to get married at Dower House Hotel in Knaresborough this December after booking the venue in August 2021.

The hotel was bought by The Inn Collection Group (ICG) in December 2021 but the couple were assured it would not affect their wedding.

However, after months of not being able to get in touch with anyone the couple rang the St George, another ICG hotel in Harrogate. It was only then, eight months after they made the booking, they were told planned refurbishments meant their date was no longer secure.

Last week, the Stray Ferret revealed a multi-million pound expansion plan would lead to the closure of the gym and spa facilities and the hotel for some time as works got underway.

Ms Kinder said she had picked her food, booked entertainment and imagined her pictures at Knaresborough Castle but said this all had to be put on hold whilst they found an alternative venue.

Ms Kinder said:

“There was never much communication with the Dower House, I only found out because I got a number from a friend for someone at the St George.

“We were set on the Dower House but don’t want to wait any longer to be married, we just have to hope we like the St George.”

The couple, who have been together nearly five years, are due to visit the St George in Harrogate after it said it could offer them the same date and honour the price they paid.

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The couple have four children between them and were left feeling “disappointed and frustrated” by the lack of communication from Dower House.

The ICG has said:

“There is no date for closure of the hotel so they are correct in that there has been no formal cancellation as yet but guests have been advised of possible disruption. We have been offering guests the opportunity to move venues for certainty but at this stage we do not know when the hotel will close.”

Ms Kinder added:

“It’s a shame because we picked there, of course it’s not what we wanted but it’s not a disaster. We had friends who’s weddings were delayed loads over lockdown and we know we will get married on that day it just won’t be at Dower House.”

From corgis to bollard covers: Harrogate district is getting into jubilee spirit

With just a few days to go before the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations begin, signs of the festivities are already appearing across the Harrogate district.

Harrogate corgi Mr Bingley has been posing in front of famous landmarks across the town ahead of the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

With corgis being the Queen’s favourite breed of dog, Mr Bingley’s owner, Molly Fetherston, thought it would be a “bit of fun” ahead of the upcoming weekend of celebrations.

The pictures show the 10-year-old dog outside Bettys tea rooms, by the Sun Colonnade in Valley Gardens, on the Stray, and near the Harrogate picture frame and Slingsby Gin shop.

Photograph: Rozalia Szatanik Photography

Photograph: Rozalia Szatanik Photography

Ms Fetherston said:

“Shockingly, he doesn’t mind dressing up, especially when he gets extra cuddles from people passing by!

“Almost every day when we go on walks, I’m stopped by at least one person telling me they don’t see many corgis or that their grandmother had one, but that they haven’t seen one in years.

“He’s almost like a little nostalgic furball and I love seeing the smiles on their faces. We all had so much fun and Mr Bingley loved all of the special attention from both shop owners and residents alike.”

Photograph: Rozalia Szatanik Photography

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Meanwhile in Knaresborough, a group of knitters have been busy making bollard covers for the jubilee.

The bollards, on Market Place, are now adorned with colourful covers with toppers of the Queen, corgis and a crown or two.

The knitted covers were commissioned by Knaresborough Business Collective and made by a group of local knitters and crochet artists called KYM.

Photograph: Brian King

Photograph: Brian King

New Harrogate Pret criticised for lack of disability access

Pret a Manger has been criticised for opening a new shop in Harrogate that is currently inaccessible to wheelchair users.

Customers to the sandwich and coffee chain, which opened on Harrogate’s James Street on Friday, have to walk up two steps to enter.

Pret has said a permanent ramp cannot be fitted due “to the structure of the building”.

It added that a low-level bell has been fitted outside to alert staff to bring out a “purpose-designed portable ramp” when requested but it has not yet been delivered.

Local resident, Jeannine Fisher, contacted the Stray Ferret today after seeing a wheelchair user unable to get inside the shop. She said:

“It makes me very frustrated that we should exclude people from society.  It beggars belief that a multinational company, who must clearly be aware of the guidelines, have neglected to create inclusive access.

“With everything else that wheelchairs users have to navigate in the town it feels so unfair that they are unable to do simple things that others can do such as having a coffee with their friends.”

Harrogate charity Disability Action Yorkshire offers accessibility audits to help businesses do all they can to be fully accessible.

Chief executive Jackie Snape said:

“It is very disappointing that Pret had not consulted with disabled people, or a disability organisation, about accessibility to its new James Street outlet. We would be more than happy to speak with the local team as to what they can still do to aid disabled customers.

“We do note, however, that Pret has a digital accessibility policy on its website, it’s just a shame there isn’t a store accessibility policy to match!”

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A Pret spokesperson said:

“We know how it important it is for customers in wheelchairs to have easy access to our shop.

“Sadly, in Harrogate we’ve been unable to fit a permanent ramp due to the structure of the building and its listed status. That’s why we’ve had a bespoke portable ramp designed to give our customers step-free access into the shop.”

10 facts about Knaresborough’s new mayor Kathryn Davies

Kathryn Davies was elected Knaresborough’s new mayor last week.

Cllr Davies, a Conservative, had not been a town councillor before then and she said she was excited and ready to “jump in at the deep end” in her new role.

Green Party councillor Mark Flood will serve as her deputy.

Cllr Davies, who moved to Knaresborough 16 years ago, said she had got more involved in local campaigns over the last five years and felt the role of mayor would help her become more integrated in the local community.

Here are 10 facts about Knaresborough’s new mayor:

1 She has lived in Yorkshire all her life and used to visit Knaresborough for “a day out in the summer” as a child.

2 She met her husband, Rob, 25 years ago at a dinner in Nottingham and they married eight years later. She now has two step-daughters and two grandchildren.

3 Cllr Davies reached senior level in the civil service, working for the Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and finally the Food Standards Agency.

4 She has completed a year-long accountancy course with the army and leadership training with the SAS.

5 Her areas of focus for the town will be housing and, as a lover of the outdoors, she wants to help preserve the town’s green space.

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6 She is a keen supporter of the weekly market and independent shops and tries to do all her shopping locally instead of at supermarkets.

7 During her term, she will be fundraising for Cliff House Community Support Services, a charity that helps older people live independently. She is also looking for a mental health charity to support. During her A-levels, Cllr Davies was involved in a serious car accident that left her deaf in one ear. It took her 10 years to overcome the trauma and she wants to use her experiences to help others.

8 Over the past five years she has worked with other residents and Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones to raise the issue of flooding by the River Nidd and to get a tree preservation order on a section of woodland near Waterside.

9 Since retiring a decade ago, she has taken a number of two-year courses at York University including creative writing and Spanish.

10 She is a member of Harrogate and District Naturalists Society, the Royal Horticultural Society and English Heritage. She also supports a nature reserve at Farnham.

Traffic order to discourage cars on two Knaresborough streets begins today

A traffic order to reduce the number of cars and encourage other forms of transport has been brought in on two Knaresborough streets today.

North Yorkshire County Council has introduced the new traffic regulation order on Eastfield, a residential street off Chain Lane, and Cardinal Way, part of the new development near Aldi.

The stretch of roads affected is separated by Frogmire Dike and will now only be open to motorists who live in the area, emergency services vehicles, wedding or funeral party transport, or people carrying out building works.

In the statement of reasons released by the county council, it says the decision has been made to reduce danger and encourage the use of other means of travel, such as public transport and walking.

The order comes in today, under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. A map showing the road affected can be viewed at Harrogate Library until June 24 or online here.

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