‘Nerve wracking’ decisions for Harrogate International Festivals

Harrogate International Festivals has said the lack of certainty around the roadmap has dampened its confidence and raised questions about future events.

The four-week delay to the roadmap means Harrogate International Festivals (HIF) is having to decide whether to gamble or play it safe.

The charity’s headline event, Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, is set to go ahead from July 22 which is three days after the new date for the end of restrictions.

So the HIF faces a dilemma – does it stay with a smaller event in line with current restrictions or does it gamble on all restrictions being over by then and sell more tickets.

But without insurance to cover any losses another change to the roadmap could mean HIF loses its investment.

With a “significantly lower” number of tickets sold and the extra costs to make it covid-safe, the event is already expensive for the charity.

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Sharon Canavar, chief executive said:

“I’ve been nervous since we went back into lockdown in December. We didn’t really trust the June 21st date so we’ve set up the festival in line with restrictions from May 17th. But now we have to decide whether to stick with what we have or expand capacity. It’s nerve wracking making these decisions.”

HIF isn’t alone with many event companies, across the country, having to make difficult decisions.

Ms Canavar said it will wait for government assurances before adjusting its tiered ticket structure to increase capacity.

Man arrested after four-hour police incident in Bilton

A man has been arrested on Woodfield Road in Bilton after reports of knives being thrown out of a window.

North Yorkshire Police, including armed officers, were been to the scene at around 6am this morning.

A cordon was put in place to allow emergency services and a negotiator to speak to the man.

Seven police vehicles were called to the street this morning and officers had to divert residents and traffic down Elm Road. The road remains closed between Elm Road and Skipton Road.

Local residents told the Stray Ferret they are “shocked” by the incident.

North Yorkshire Police has released a statement, earlier this morning, saying:

“We’re currently at the scene of an ongoing incident on Woodfield Road in Bilton. A cordon is in place to allow emergency services, including a police negotiator, to respond.

“Please avoid area until further notice, the wider public are not believed to be at risk. We will provide an update when the cordon has been lifted.”

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Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning and happy Thursday, I’m back this morning with updates every 15 minutes on the road and rail links you rely on in the morning.

It’s Suzannah with you today.

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Some Harrogate district care workers could quit over compulsory vaccines

Compulsory covid vaccines for care home staff could cause some care workers in the Harrogate district to quit their jobs, a local carer has warned.

But another described it as a positive move that would protect care home residents who were unable to be vaccinated for health reasons.

It was reported today that all care home staff in England will be given 16 weeks to be vaccinated or potentially lose their jobs.

A third of North Yorkshire’s 235 care homes are in the Harrogate district so many staff could be affected.

Alison Morgan, a carer from The Manor House Knaresborough, said she was pro-vaccination but opposed making it compulsory. She said:

“I disagree with it being compulsory because it could result in a loss of jobs.

“I do see both sides but it’s a choice at the end of the day. Some people pre-empted it and changed their minds and got the jab, others have already left the job.”

Ms Morgan said there were mixed feelings among the home’s 65 staff, and that she knew a few workers at other care homes that were likely to leave if vaccines became mandatory. She added:

“It’s almost like the government is making up for the mistakes they made at the beginning and saying ‘we’ll look after you now’. But making it compulsory messes with people’s human rights.”

Alison Morgan

Alison Morgan from The Manor House, Knaresborough

But Sue Cawthray chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, which operates care homes as part of its mission to help older people, described it as a positive move.She said:

“We’ve been lucky at Harrogate Neighbours that all staff have been vaccinated. From a recruitment perspective, all new staff will need to have the vaccine, which is positive.

“We have a few residents who can’t be vaccinated for health reasons so we have to protect them and this is another way of doing that.”

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The government is expected to announce the move in the coming days following a Department of Health and Social Care consultation.

‘Persuasion better than coercion’

Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, which represents care providers in York and North Yorkshire, said on Radio 4’s Today programme this morning he was pro-vaccination but had doubts about making it mandatory for care home staff. He said:

“I do believe people should take up the vaccine but it should be by persuasion rather than coercion.

“There is already a recruitment crisis in social care, we’re already short of staff. I’m worried people looking to come in the sector might not come in now and the staff working here now may choose to leave.

“We just need a bit more help and time.”

Elderly woman waits two hours for ambulance after James Street fall

An elderly woman had to wait two hours with a broken shoulder for an ambulance after tripping over the kerb on James Street, Harrogate.

The woman, in her 70s, told nearby shop staff that she fell after not seeing the kerb because of the planters.

The incident happened at about 11am on Tuesday, June 8.

Local shop assistant, Clare Nelson, who came to help the woman, said Yorkshire Ambulance Service said because she wasn’t in a critical condition there would be a two-hour wait.

Ms Nelson told the Stray Ferret the woman’s shoulder was broken and she was very shaken:

“She was very distressed and shaken, she’d only come for the day and wasn’t aware of the layout. Luckily there were people around to help her but it was still uncomfortable for her.”

She said she watched three other people tripped over the kerb during the two-hour wait. Working in Porters Ms Nelson says she sees several people a day trip over the kerb due to confusion.

The street has planters in the car parking bays to allow for social distancing but, she says,  this makes it seem as it is all one level.

She said things need to change:

“I’ve seen plenty of people do it, it’s confusing. Either they move the planters or they do it properly – it’s not practical as it is.”

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The planters have not been popular with many traders on James Street who argue that the loss of car parking bays has affected trade.

‘Reviewing social distance measures’

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said:

“The safety of all road users is our main consideration when implementing new measures. If anybody experiences a problem we encourage them to contact us via the website here.

“Our highways teams have not received any reports of the public tripping on the kerb in James Street since the measures were introduced last summer. Emergency vehicles still have access to the area and planters can be moved should vehicles need to park against the kerb.

“We will be reviewing all social distancing measures in conjunction with Harrogate Borough Council after July 19 in line with lockdown easing. I would like to reassure the public that all social distancing measures on James Street and Albert Street will be removed if government restrictions are lifted.”

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said:

“During the last few weeks the urgent and emergency care system has come under increasing pressure.  We can confirm that this emergency call was received during a particularly busy period on Tuesday 8 June.

“All calls are categorised according to the nature of the patient’s illness or injury and those in a life-threatening condition are always prioritised.”

Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning, it’s Suzannah here with you again today bringing you updates every 15 minutes on the travel conditions near you.

Temporary traffic lights, train delays and traffic hotspots are all included in our blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group.

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Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning, it’s Suzannah back with you this morning giving you the travel updates for the roads near you this morning.

Our live blog, brought to you by The HACS Group, will give you up-to-date information on traffic hotspots and roadworks which could be causing delays today. I’ll also let you know about any bus or train delays.

If it is safe, please get in touch on our social media channels or call me on 01423 276197 if you experience any delays.

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That’s it from me today, I’ll beck again tomorrow morning from 6.30am.

Have a lovely day and enjoy the sun.

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77% women have been sexually harassed in a pub, says Harrogate-based survey

A survey organised by a Harrogate company shows 77% of women and 27% of men have experienced sexual harassment whilst visiting a pub.

The survey received 741 responses and was set up by Women on Tap, a Harrogate community interest company which hosts an annual festival to remove stigma around women drinking beer.

It said the respondents were mainly local to the Harrogate district but also included a proportion from the North West and London.

The results were “shocking and worrying”, according to the event co-ordinator Nichola Bottomley, who said more needs to be done locally to tackle the issue.

The survey also found that only 9% of respondents who witnessed harassment had reported it to the police. Also, whilst working in a bar, 73% of women and 38% of men said they have been harassed.

Ms Bottomley said:

“One of the quotes we received on the survey was ‘you just become numb to it’ and that really stuck with me. But it is true for so many women. It’s awful. We really need to do something about this.”

Ms Bottomley, who has been harassed in Harrogate, says the results will be discussed with local bar owners, licensing organisations and North Yorkshire Police in hopes of finding solutions.

She is also hoping to build an education tool from the results to be used in schools for teenagers to teach them how to be safe.

She said:

“I do think hard stats are the only way to get through to people sometimes. I really hope the results will help people open their eyes in hopes of making change.

“As someone who works in a bar it’s important for me to talk to bar owners and staff to make sure they can and are comfortable handling a situation if someone reported something to them.”

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The survey was in collaboration with Chalk Back, an international movement, using chalk drawing to raise awareness for harassment. The festival has hosted two chalk events this weekend with quotes from the story written on Harrogate’s streets.

The survey’s respondents were mainly local to the Harrogate district but also included a proportion from the North West and London.

Eight new covid cases in the Harrogate district today

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

The total since the start of the pandemic is 7,899.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate has dropped slightly to 51.6 per 100,000 people. It stands above North Yorkshire’s average which is 41.1.

The England average is 69.5.

No covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital today. The death toll remains at 179.

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Charity Corner: Harrogate charity says ‘it’s all about inclusivity’

Pride In Diversity is a Harrogate-based charity doing all it can to give everyone from all sexualities, genders and races a safe space to talk and feel supported.

During Pride Month the Stray Ferret wanted to feature a charity doing all it can to celebrate the diversity in Harrogate.

The charity was set up by founder Leonora Wassall following the Orlando shooting in 2016 to accept and include everyone across all groups.

Leonora said as a lesbian she was “fed up of not feeling accepted” and wanted to set up a charity to raise awareness of issues concerning identity and diversity.

The charity’s tagline is ‘dignity, respect and inclusion’.

Leonora is a Methodist minister in Pool-in-Wharfed-ale.

She said:

“I kept my identity quiet for 25 years but now I want to offer a safe space for anyone that needs it in Harrogate. We want to do lots more as we come out of covid, we have lots of ideas but it’s just about waiting until it is safe.”

Harrogate Pride parade

The charity’s pride parade in 2019.

Prior to the pandemic the charity would host a pride parade setting off from the top of Montpellier Parade to Valley Gardens. Hundreds of people would walk together with representatives from various schools, groups and emergency services.

The trustees are currently working on a local campaign to coincide with Hate Crime Awareness Week in October. For two days of that month the charity will be based in Victoria Shopping Centre as well as holding other events in the town across the month.

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It also works with Harrogate library to increase its accessibility and offer events suited to children of all abilities.

She said:

“Our pride is not just an event on the day we work through the year to support the community.”

Harrogate pride parade 2019

People of all genders, sexualities, ages and races came together for the celebration in 2019.

The charity is setting up monthly socials to begin in August. They will be based in a Harrogate bar and give people the space to chat and share experiences.

Leonora and the other trustees are looking forward to events later this year and the pride parade on June 19, 2022.

To find out more about the charity, click here.