Harrogate man denied entry to Europe to care for 98-year-old mum

Dominic Fazzone from Harrogate was refused entry to Europe to care for his 98-year-old mother who is recovering from covid.

Mr Fazzone drove to Folkstone last Wednesday to catch the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle service as he wanted to look after his mum Filomena who lives in the Benevento province of Italy.

Her two full-time carers have now also caught the virus, leaving her without the care she normally relies upon.

Mr Fazzone says he arrived at the port with proof of a negative covid test, a travel curfew exemption, a travel certificate, and a health declaration.

He ticked a box on the travel certificate that permits travel for “compelling family reasons”, which includes providing assistance to the elderly, sick or disabled who have no other support.

Before driving onto the train, passengers have to first show documents to a UK customs official before a French one.

After being given the green light to travel by the UK side, he said the French official was “rude and arrogant” and told him he could not travel, forcing him to turn around and drive back to Harrogate.

He said:

“He had no compassion. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the papers.”

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Mr Fazzone said his mum, who has signs of dementia, was confused and upset when he did not arrive in Italy.

“She was very upset and she was crying on the phone. She keeps asking my niece when I am coming.”

He said he will try to make the trip again this Friday when he hopes to be allowed into Europe to see his mum.

A spokesperson for Le Shuttle said:

“Any decision on whether to allow a person to enter France is the responsibility of the French authorities.”

Lib Dem leader resigns from Harrogate climate coalition

Pat Marsh, the leader of Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, has resigned from the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, accusing the group of being “plagued by inaction”.

HDCCC was set up by Harrogate Borough Council over a year ago to bring together local government, green groups and business.

HBC described the group as a “great leap forward” for the environment but the coalition has faced accusations from members over the past year that it is little more than a “talking shop”.

In a letter to Cllr Phil Ireland, HBC’s cabinet member for carbon reduction and sustainability, Cllr Marsh said the group had not done enough to tackle climate change locally.

She also criticised the group for its “neutral” response to Harrogate Spring Water’s controversial application in the Pinewoods. She said:

“A climate coalition’ was never our preferred option. We were always concerned that it would be plagued by inaction. Nevertheless, I and others joined the committee to push for positive change from the inside.

“However, our initial fears have been proven correct and it’s clear that only by engaging with residents across the district – bringing them into the process – do we have any hope of tackling this crisis.

“Liberal Democrat campaigners and I will continue working with local residents for a greener district, fighting to declare a local climate emergency and for bold solutions.”

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The Lib Dems have long called for the council to declare a “climate emergency”, which has been rejected.

HDCCC has four subgroups, which meet several times a year to discuss issues such as sustainable transport, tree planting, renewable energy, recycling and communications.

The Stray Ferret approached HBC and HDCCC for comment but did not receive one by the time of publication.

Government to build 800 homes in Harrogate and Ripon

The government’s housing agency, Homes England, announced today it will build over 800 homes in Harrogate and Ripon after the previous developers pulled out.

Homes England said it has bought the 450-home Bluecoat Park site off Otley Road in Harrogate and the 390-home West Lane site in Ripon.

It said the two developments had stalled for various reasons, including the “associated enabling costs” and that their planning permissions were due to lapse imminently.

Homes England now has a major presence in the district: it is already working on a 1,300 scheme at Ripon Barracks and 200 homes at the former Police Training Centre site on Yew Tree Lane, Harrogate.

Bluecoat Park, Harrogate – 450 homes

In February 2016, Harrogate Borough Council granted planning permission to HTH Harrogate LLP to build the homes.

It followed an earlier refusal of permission on the grounds of road safety and traffic flow problems.

The site is off Otley Road, opposite Cardale Business Park and Harrogate Police Station.

The proposals included retail units, a new primary school and a village green.

However, the developer since put the site up for sale to potential developers.

With planning permission due to lapse, Homes England said the homes would not be built unless it stepped in. It plans to submit a new planning application later this year.

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West Lane, Ripon – 390 homes

In 2018, Harrogate Borough Council granted permission to Barratt Homes on appeal for the development.

It was previously rejected in 2017 for being a “substantial intrusion into the open countryside” and its impact on nearby Studley Royal and Fountains Abbey.

However, last summer Barratt Homes pulled out of the scheme.

The developer told The Stray Ferret that the decision was not related to the lockdown but in a year-end trading update, the company announced its revenue had fallen by 30% due to the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Fantastic news for Harrogate’

Both schemes are set to include 40% affordable housing, which Harrogate Borough Council asks developers to include in most developments.

Housing Minister Christopher Pincher said the acquisitions were “fantastic news” for the district.

“This is fantastic news for Harrogate and a realisation of this government’s mission to deliver quality, affordable homes, that are fit for future generations.”

Trevor Watson, director of economy and culture, Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“We welcome Homes England’s involvement in seeking to bring forward and unlock these stalled sites.

“They are important in helping to deliver our strategic objective to provide new homes that meet the needs of the district.”

Harrogate builder left £30,000 conversion ‘in such a state’ it was demolished

Harrogate builder James Moss has been ordered to repay a customer after a court heard a £30,000 garage conversion was so poor it had to be partly demolished.

Karen Macgillivray-Fallis, from Burton Leonard, told a virtual hearing at Harrogate Justice Centre yesterday that in 2018 she paid Mr Moss to create a living space for her mother-in-law.

Unhappy with the quality of work, she asked Mr Moss to either reimburse the money or continue working. He then ended contact with her.

She said:

“We heard nothing from you. My elderly mother-in-law was very poorly at the time. The build took five months not four or five weeks like you had said. We just wanted the thing finished. Despite various attempts to communicate, you never responded.”

District Judge Helen Wood ordered Mr Moss to pay Ms Macgillivray-Fallis £9,586 plus costs. The small claims court has a £10,000 upper claims limit.

The judge accepted this would mean that Ms Macgillivray-Fallis “is going to be out of pocket”.

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Chartered quantity surveyor Peter Slater told Judge Wood that Mr Moss’ work on the extension did not comply with building regulations. Mr Moss disputed this.

The half-finished extension.

Mr Slater said there were problems with the plumbing, plastering, insulation and electrics and recommended that the extension was demolished.

He added.

“Works were in such a bad state that you would have to demolish the extension and rebuild it.”

Defending himself, Mr Moss said he was only an employee of Yorkshire Outdoor Design, the company contracted to do the work.

The sole director of the company, which has now been dissolved, was Mr Moss’ wife.

Judge Wood struck out this defence and said Mr Moss “had provided no evidence” that he wasn’t the frontman of the company.

The case was originally due to be held in December 2020 but was adjourned after Mr Moss told the court he was self-isolating.

Severe pruning of Harrogate hedgerow sparks wildlife fears

Harrogate Borough Council has been accused of jeopardising wildlife by severely pruning a hedgerow this morning.

Neil Hind, a local resident, told the Stray Ferret the council’s decision to “dramatically reduce” the height of the hedgerow on Nursery Lane, Harlow Hill could have a negative impact on wildlife.

Mr Hind, who said the hedges were previously well-managed by local charity Horticap, said it also raised questions about the council’s green credentials.

The RSPB recommends avoiding hedge cutting during the main breeding season for nesting birds, which usually runs from March to August each year.

But the depth of the reduction, so close to the breeding season, has caused concern.

Mr Hind said:

“Whilst appreciating this is the council’s prerogative it has an obvious negative impact on the biodiversity of the area adjacent to the Pinewoods.

“It is difficult to see how such decisions match the council’s ambitious to be a green authority as well as incurring unnecessary costs for the Harrogate taxpayer.”

The Harlow Hill Tower Twitter account also expressed concern.

Wow! More evidence of our green & conservation focused @Harrogatebc cutting a mature hedge.

Hedge a home to many birds and key to biodiversity?#Harrogate #conversation pic.twitter.com/SWEmdthue5

— Harlow Hill Tower (@HarlowHillTower) February 22, 2021

But one reply defended the council, saying severe hedge pruning at this time of year was common.

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A council spokesman said:

“We carry out maintenance like this to keep things looking smart across the borough during the winter period before the nesting season begins.

“As people on Twitter are saying – farmers do the same with their hedgerows but they use much bigger machinery.”

Stump Cross Caverns issues plea for survival

The family which owns Stump Cross Caverns near Pateley Bridge is raffling off its prized camper van in an effort to save the business from going under.

Stump Cross Caverns is a popular tourist attraction where visitors can walk around an ancient limestone cave system.

But it’s been hit hard by covid restrictions which have left owners Lisa Bowerman and Nicholas Markham in a precarious financial position.

Lisa took over the business 18 years ago and told the Stray Ferret that 2020 was “shaping up to be our best year yet”.

The couple had just invested £500,000 into the business including a 4k cinema and new cafe.

But covid has meant they have been unable to welcome visitors for much of the last year.

And although they managed to open during summer and autumn, it was with reduced numbers.

Lisa said:

“We’re looking down the barrel of a gun. It’s tough, and there’s a real danger we won’t make it.

“But I’ve put my heart and soul into this business and I cannot just sit and do nothing.”

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The business received a bounce-back loan from the government last year but the money has almost run out.

To fundraise during the first lockdown Lisa and Nicholas took part in an “Everest” challenge which saw them walking the steps to the cave 1000 times — the same distance as climbing Mount Everest twice.

This time they hope to raise £50,000 through raffling off their beloved VW camper van which they say will give the business a fighting chance of survival.

Lisa added:

“We can buy a camper van back but we won’t be able to get our cave back if it’s gone.”

Click here to buy a ticket to be put into a raffle. One ticket costs £10.

Harrogate district reports 17 more covid cases

17 more coronavirus cases have been reported today in the Harrogate district.

It takes the total number of reported cases to 7,178 since the start of the pandemic.

Yesterday the district reached a sombre milestone as the 150th person died in hospital after being diagnosed with covid.

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Tomorrow a new vaccination site will open up in Knaresborough, at the site of the former Lidl supermarket on York Road.

The site will be run by Homecare Pharmacy Services, a Knaresborough-based pharmacist.

Prime minister Boris Johnson is due to announce the UK’s roadmap out of lockdown tomorrow, with schools expected to reopen on March 8.

To bring home the human cost of the pandemic in our district, the Stray Ferret would like to publish tributes from those who have been hit hardest by covid and help to tell their story.

If you have lost someone close to you due to the virus and want to pay tribute to them, get in touch on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate has ‘much more to do on climate change’

International charity Friends of the Earth says the Harrogate district has much more to do to tackle climate change.

Using data from December 2020, the charity analysed how different local authority areas across England and Wales are taking action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

It found that Harrogate is falling behind other areas when it comes to green transport, renewable energy, and housing emissions.

‘Shocking waste of energy’

Friends of the Earth’s research found 31% of homes are well insulated in Harrogate which it said represents “a shocking and avoidable waste” of energy.

Currently, Harrogate produces 66,048 megawatt hours of renewable energy per year but the charity says at least seven times this amount is needed.

Regarding transport, it suggested that 23% of commuter journeys could be taken on a bicycle every day, yet only 2% are at the moment.

York performed much better where 12% of commuters cycle to work.

Rod Beardshall, transport lead for Zero Carbon Harrogate said the research shows that North Yorkshire County Council should “accept the scale” of climate change and invest in better cycling infrastructure for the district.

NYCC has been in the eye of the storm this week in over its six-month closure of Beech Grove, which provoked a fierce debate around the future of transport in Harrogate.

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Harrogate fared better with waste. The research found the district reuses, recycles and composts 41% of its household waste, slightly higher than Leeds on 39% and Scarborough on 36%.

However, the charity says the figure needs to be closer to 70% if it’s to make a meaningful difference.

Whilst the charity said Harrogate has made average progress in tackling climate change it said there is potential to create over 3,000 local green jobs in areas such as heat pumps, insulation, and renewable energy.

Kirsty Hallett from the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition welcomed the data and said it provides meaningful evidence on what needs to be prioritised in the district’s battle to improve the environment.

Climate breakdown

The government has a target for the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.

Friends of the Earth says to avoid “climate breakdown” we need to make deep cuts in emissions by 2030.

Researchers at the Tyndall Centre have published a detailed carbon report for every local authority and say that Harrogate should reduce its emissions by at least 13% per year.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said itself, North Yorkshire County Council, and individuals, all have a part to play in cutting emissions.

They said:

“The latest figures show the Harrogate district has had a 29% reduction per person in CO2 emissions over the past ten years which is positive news.

“However, we have ambitious targets and have agreed a package of measures that form part our climate reduction strategy. This strategy outlines an action plan for a number of priorities with an overall vision of having net-zero carbon emissions by 2038.

“The most effective projects for achieving our ambitious targets are not going to happen overnight but we are committed to working hard to we implement the right measures in the best way possible.”

Harrogate Railway FC raises £2,000 for school defibrillator

Harrogate Railway FC has generated almost £2,000 for a defibrillator at Starbeck Primary Academy and sports equipment at Hookstone Chase primary school.

To raise the money, the club spent two years organising events, including Halloween and Christmas parties.

In total, the club raised £950, which was match-funded by Barclays Bank, taking the amount raised to £1,900.

Railway’s juniors recently made Harrogate High School their new home base.

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Railway’s youth chairman Lee Holmes paid tribute to Rob Warren, Claire Hayden, and Jenny Vincent for their efforts organising fundraising events.

He said:

“We’re big on giving back to the community and we do as much as we can for our local schools.”

“Starbeck is a really close-knit, fantastic community.”

 

Appeal for witnesses after jewellery stolen from Harrogate home

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses and information after thieves stole jewellery from a house on Kirkstone Road in Harrogate.

It happened between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on Wednesday February 17.  Access was gained to the house through a back window.

The items stolen included a gold wedding ring, a gold engagement ring with platinum diamonds and an Armani watch.

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Police are appealing for information about any discarded items or suspicious behaviour in the area of Kirkstone Road and/or Coniston Road around the same time.

Officers would also like to hear from anyone who has any CCTV or dash-cam or doorbell camera footage that may have captured something.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Xavi Lopez or email xavi.lopez@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12210061627.