This Harrogate district charity has offered support to local people since war times and says it will continue to be there for the next 100 years.

Vision Support Harrogate District (VSHD), a sight loss charity, is celebrating is 100th anniversary this month.

It was set up in 1921 to help soldiers blinded during the First World War. Over the century it says it has diversified to meet peoples needs.

It now has a drop-in centre in Harrogate for regular eye clinics and classes. It also organises satellite meetings in Ripon and Pateley Bridge for those living rurally to still feel supported.

Members of the charity getting involved in a chair caning class.

The charity’s staff and volunteers work with anyone who has recently been diagnosed with an eye condition, is registered as sight impaired or needs help for someone they know who is experiencing sight loss.

During the pandemic, the day centre had to close and instead the team have been ringing members as often as they can and kept them up to date with newsletters.

The charity’s director Tanya Stimpson knows first-hand the impact of sight loss after becoming a member 24 years ago. She said:

“It’s been a difficult year but we’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of local people. We are so grateful to everyone involved in helping our organisation, not just at this challenging time, but over the last 100 years.

From our volunteers and trustees to all the local people and businesses who raise vital funds for us, we couldn’t have reached this amazing milestone without you.”

The charity works with Harrogate District Hospital’s eye clinic and low vision clinic patients through a referral service.

Charity members after their line dancing class – even the guide dog joined in!

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Founded on February 4 1921, a year after Parliament passed The Blind Persons Act, the charity began the Harrogate Blind Association. With Ripon being affiliated in 1922.

Ms Stimpson added:

“In some ways, what visually impaired people need and what we are doing now has not changed much in a century. We understand how frightening and lonely it can be for people experiencing sight loss, and we are here to help, support and advise them and their families as much as we can.”

In the 1930’s the members would sell what they had made in the charity shop.

It changed its name to Vision Support Harrogate District in 2016. It now has regular contact with over 300 visually impaired people, is a point of contact for 400 more and makes around 1,000 outreach visits each year.

Membership and most services are free to join.

Plans for new footpaths and signposts on the Conyngham Hall grounds in Knaresborough have been approved by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee.

A retrospective planning application was put before the committee this week to allow councillors to vote on the works done on the popular walking spot.

The works included the resurfacing of existing footpaths as well as the construction of a new footpath on the banks of the River Nidd. Timber steps were also put into a steep section of Collins Banks.

These renovations were done alongside local environmental groups and the parks department.

A retrospective application means most of the works have already been completed. They were carried out throughout last year using government funding from the Pocket Park Grant Funding. The total cost has been £27,000.

The plans include new footpaths and signposts. Photograph: Harrogate Borough Council

The application was approved with 10 councillors voting for and two abstaining.

However, one Liberal Democrat councillor and a member of the public raised their concerns during the meeting.

Both said the size of the stones was too large. The member of the public added that the new footpath had created muddy and flooded surfaces.

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Cllr Pat Marsh said she had fallen on the new footpath twice and had heard other walkers had fallen too. She voted for the application but wanted to ensure smaller stones were used to cover these footpaths in the future.

She said:

“Initially they had to have signs put up to ask people to take care walking on the new footpaths. The bigger stone made it difficult to walk it some areas especially the steep sections. We need to ensure it’s safe for everyone.”

The council’s parks department added that further works are planned to “top up” some of the current works to improve the walkways.

A Harrogate-based digital company has launched a 3D interactive website of the high street to boost online sales.

Xpansive Digital has set up a website offering customers a 3D virtual tour and the option to make a purchase all from their favourite shops from the comfort of their couch.

The website, HighStreet Revolution, will include high street retailers, large and small, and eventually larger names too.

Unlike other online platforms, Justyn Shea, director of Xpansive Digital, says his website takes people into the shops they love without leaving home with a 3D tour.

Mr Shea is launching the pilot scheme with Harrogate businesses only but has hopes to take it national.

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Mr Shea said:

“Lockdown instigated the project, so many traders have gone online purely to keep themselves going. For those businesses local to us we are happy to do it free of charge. Hopefully it’ll give them a little stepping stone for more online sales.”

The website is reaching out to Harrogate businesses to get involved and have their shops incorporated into the 3D model.

Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre has been awarded the first of 12 donations made by a commercial nursery in the Harrogate district.

Johnsons of Whixley has donated £150 worth of winter interest plants to the charity’s sensory garden in Knaresborough.

Henshaws provides vocational training, including art and horticulture workshops, for people with a wide range of both learning and physical disabilities.

The nursery hopes its donation will bring a splash of colour to anyone using the centre during the pandemic.

Johnsons is giving away 12 donations to Yorkshire charities this year as part of its centenary celebrations. Henshaws is the first recipient.

The plants donated include hamamelis, skimmia, sarcococca and helleborus.

Gemma Young, fundraising manager at Henshaws, said:

“We were so pleased to hear Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre were the first winners and can’t wait to see the blooms in their new home.

“Lorna and her team at Johnsons of Whixley were instrumental in the creation of the beautiful sensory garden at the centre a couple of years ago, and their continued support means such a lot to the community here.”

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Eleanor Richardson, marketing manager of Johnsons, said:

“2020 was a challenging year for many charities, including Henshaws, who rely heavily on donations to survive.

“It’s great to support Henshaws once again, we hope our plants spread cheer amongst staff, students and visitors for many years to come.”

At the start of the pandemic, Johnsons donated hundreds of plants to local villages and spent £5,000 in Whixley, the village where it is based, to restore a stained glass window in the church.

Harrogate Theatre’s chief executive has said he hopes Monday’s government announcement on the route out of lockdown will bring some clarity on the way forward.

David Bown has worked at Harrogate Theatre for 17 years but the last 12 months have been brought unprecedented challenges.

The theatre has been closed for almost a year now but hopes to put on a show, in some form, in the months ahead.

Mr Bown is eagerly awaiting the Prime Minister’s briefing on Monday but acknowledged there was still a lot of uncertainty. He said:

“The government is talking about live venues reopening, which is good but I think it will of course be problematic. We aren’t looking to test the water until the summer in terms of live events.”

During the first lockdown the theatre launched an emergency fundraising appeal and, besides receiving individual donations, it has also received grants from external funders, which he says have “stabilised” finances.

The sudden loss of income due to covid forced the theatre to make some difficult decisions last year and it let go of 59% of its workforce. With no confirmed opening date, production and front of house staff were released.

Mr Bown said it now felt like groundhog day, with the remaining staff waiting for the green light to reopen. He added:

“We’re quite stable in terms of finance right now but we’ll have to see how that plays out in the coming months.

“I can’t see them relaxing the entertainment sector too soon. We closed last year because we could see theatre wasn’t viable until the pandemic is over.”

Harrogate Theatre with stands empty in the town centre.

Many theatres, including Harrogate, have streamed shows online to reach a wider audience and Mr Bown thinks this will continue.

He hopes indoor theatre productions can return soon but acknowledges they are unlikely to be the same as before the pandemic. Mr Bown believes masks will continue to be mandatory, as will some form of social distancing.

He also raised concerns about the older demographic of the theatre’s audience, adding that some regulars may be hesitant to return.

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The theatre has plans to put on an immersive, outdoor performance in Harrogate this summer, starring local performers and producers.

The town will be the focus of the storyline. He said:

“It’s us reaching out to the community instead of asking them to come inside the building. Hopefully it’ll bring a little buoyancy to the town centre too.”

He thanked people for contributing to the appeal, which he said has raised “well over £100,000” for the theatre.

Now he is hoping Monday will bring some road map forward for the theatre and other organisations across the Harrogate district.

Work to install a lift at Pateley Playhouse is underway as part of a £35,000 renovation project.

The theatre began a fundraising campaign in December to raise £20,000. It hopes to be eligible for grants to cover the remaining £15,000.

Donations to a crowdfunding page are now approaching £3,000 while further donations directly to the theatre have brought in £14,000.

Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society has begun the work before the appeal has finished so the renovations can be completed while the theatre is closed due to covid.

The lift will make the 1930s building fully accessible to disabled people. Currently the first floor auditorium is only accessible via two steep staircases.

So far, the bulk of work has been done on the lower level to knock down the walls separating the changing rooms and the foyer area to create the required space for the lift.

Works are continuing at Pateley Playhouse.

The work is scheduled to be completed by autumn when, it is hoped, covid restrictions will be lifted in time for performances to be staged before the end of the year.

The theatre has received two large donations from West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd and the Vale of Nidd Masonic Lodge, totalling £2,500.

Jerry Anderson, charity steward for the Vale of Nidd Masonic Lodge, said:

“The lodge have supported many good local causes, as well as national charities, and the Pateley Bridge Playhouse certainly holds a special place in the hearts of many in Nidderdale.

“We are incredibly proud to make a sizeable contribution to the continuing building works.”

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The dramatic society said the theatre is a social hub for the community and hoped to have it back up and running as soon as it is allowed. Members thanked all of those who have supported the renovations so far.

Ruth Dodsworth, president of the dramatic society, said:

“The community in the dale has pulled together and we have been humbled by the efforts of so many people to make contributions in these difficult economic times. We are grateful for all donations, whatever the amount.”

Smarties Day Nursery and Pre-School in Ripley is to close next month after operating for more than 30 years.

The nursery currently looks after children aged up to four and also works alongside Ripley Endowed Church of England Primary School to offer a before and after-school club.

The nursery, next to Ripley Store, opened in 1987 and can cater for up to 52 children. It has been under the current management since 2004.

The building itself is part of the Ripley estate and is owned by Sir Thomas and Lady Emma Ingilby.

The nursery has said it is having to close after the owners decided not to renew the lease and use the building for another purpose instead.

Ripley school is in the early stages of planning to provide alternative provision. It has asked parents for their opinions, and hopes to have something in place after the Easter holidays.

Police are appealing for witnesses after £3,000 worth of tools were stolen from a garage in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police said the garage, on St Catherine’s Road in Harrogate, was burgled on February 3 between 10am and 7.30pm.

Power tools and garden equipment were among the items taken.

North Yorkshire Police is asking anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour or unusual vehicle movements on the street that day to get in touch.

Officers are also appealing for anyone with private CCTV to come forward.

You can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Chloe Kinnear. Or email chloe.kinnear@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and quote reference number 12210052754.

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The CEO of Harrogate and District Chamber of Commerce is to stand down in spring after five years in the post.

Sandra Doherty took on the role in May 2016, but has decided to step down after selling her guest house on Ripon Road and making plans to retire to Northumberland.

The chamber is now asking anyone interested in taking on the role, which comes with a small remuneration package, to email Ms Doherty on ceo@harrogatechamber.co.uk.

The chamber says those interested need to care about the Harrogate district and the businesses within it, and be able to comment on issues facing them.

Ms Doherty spoke highly of her time in the role, thanking the people she has worked with during the five years. She said:

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as Harrogate and District Chamber of Commerce’s CEO, and when I depart, I will miss all that this position brings.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for someone with a bit of time and an enjoyment of working with people in many walks of life. Like me, they will be supported by a superb management committee.”

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Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce president Martin Gerrard said:

“We will be very sorry to see Sandra not only depart from the chamber, but from Harrogate too.

“Being chamber CEO is by no means an easy job, and the last 11 months have proved to be incredibly challenging. It needs an understanding of Harrogate’s business scene, great organisational skills, and the ability to comment on a wide range of issues facing the town and the wider district.

“Above all, it needs someone who cares about the town and the businesses that make Harrogate such a popular place to live and work.”

Ms Doherty took on the role at the chamber after Brian Dunsby stepped down in 2016, after 14 years at the helm.

The chamber’s history in Harrogate dates back to 1896 and it was responsible for the creation of Yorkshire Business Market and Harrogate Christmas Market, now both run separately.

In normal times, Harrogate and District Chamber of Commerce offers a monthly meeting to all its members, including regular ‘speed networking’ sessions and topics to support business growth. It has been offering online meetings since mid-2020.

It is run by a management group of volunteers drawn from member businesses, led by the CEO, which meets quarterly.

A new training centre opened in Harrogate yesterday to help businesses and staff better equip themselves for the economy post-Brexit and post-covid.

The Yorkshire education provider, Luminate Education Group, set up The Yorkshire Centre for Training and Development to help businesses navigate the upcoming economic challenges.

Operating out of Harrogate College on Hornbeam Park, as well as at sites in Leeds and Keighley, the centre will work with businesses to offer bespoke training packages.

The team of teachers will offer a range of compliance, professional development and redundancy support courses.

Luminate Education Group includes, amongst others, Harrogate College , Leeds City College and Keighley College.

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The director, Lee Pryor, said:

“With the ever-changing economic climate, we recognise businesses’ need to adapt their employees’ skills, to ensure a successful post-Brexit and post-covid transition.

“Our service will start with a complimentary skills planning session to understand the business, so that we can effectively identify its training needs, and match these to a budget.

“We will be offering in-person as well as virtual sessions that fit around the organisation’s schedule. We will then develop a bespoke training solution that meets those needs.”

He added businesses from a range of sectors, including social care and hospitality, could come to the centre for support.