Thomas Barrett, Author at The Stray Ferret

Vandals target Bilton primary school

Police are appealing for information after vandals damaged Richard Taylor Church of England Primary School in Bilton yesterday.

A classroom window was smashed and the roof of a wooden pavilion damaged.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for anyone who may have seen people on the school premises since it closed last week to come forward.

The force said in a statement:

“The school has recently suffered a number of incidents of anti-social behaviour, all of which has caused alarm to the school community.”

A member of staff at the school told the Stray Ferret it had found empty vodka bottles on the premises.

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Geeta Maharjan. You can also email geeta.maharjan2@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12200241866.

Harrogate pub landlord calls £1,000 grant process an ‘absolute farce’

A pub landlord in Harrogate says the council should speed up paying a £1,000 grant to pubs that don’t serve food, calling the application process an “absolute farce”.

On December 1 prime minister Boris Johnson announced a £1,000 grant for “wet-led” pubs that do not serve substantial meals and have closed due to lockdown restrictions.

But almost three weeks later, pubs in Harrogate are still waiting for Harrogate Borough Council to accept applications for the fund.

Marik Scatchard, landlord of Christies Bar on King’s Road, told the Stray Ferret that despite being a relatively small amount the grant is “really needed at the moment”.

According to HBC’s website, applications for the grant will open “by the end of this month”, which Mr Scatchard says is not good enough:

“It’s an absolute farce that HBC is treating businesses like this, even with the grant being so little it’s still needed. Other councils have paid out or are paying out.”

Jack Woodruff runs the Disappearing Chin on Beulah Street with his wife Hannah. He said the council “really needs to speed up” the payment.

“We’ll be OK for a bit longer but there will be businesses that are desperate for the grant.”

After being forced to close for over a month, Christies Bar is now open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and is selling pie and peas as a substantial meal. The Disappearing Chin has decided to remain closed until restrictions are eased.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“We anticipate applications will open before the end of December. We know that this is a difficult time for many businesses in the district and we are working hard to pay grants to eligible businesses as soon as possible.”

15 more covid cases as Christmas rules tightened

There were 15 more positive covid cases in the daily figures for the Harrogate district today.

So far, the Public Health England figures for the district total 3,954 since early March.

There were no new deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

Prime minister Boris Johnson announced this afternoon that the planned relaxing of coronavirus restrictions over the Christmas period have been scrapped.

Up to three households can meet indoors but only on Christmas Day, rather than during December 23-27 as previously announced.

Speaking alongside the prime minister, chief medical officer Chris Witty urged people travelling to take short journeys. He said: “Keep it small, keep it short, keep it local”.

A new tier 4 with stricter restrictions has been created for people living in London and areas of the south-east.

We would like to hear how the new coronavirus Christmas rules have impacted your plans? Email us contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Cattal family disconnected from relatives due to station works

A family in Cattal says they are struggling to contact elderly relatives because their phone line has been disconnected for almost two weeks following works at Cattal railway station.

Network Rail recently completed a £9.8m upgrade of the Knaresborough to Poppleton route which includes changes to the track layout at Cattal station.

However, it is suspected a BT telephone line that runs underneath the station has been damaged due to the works, affecting households living nearby.

Val and Keith Welton live near Cattal Station and said their line has been disconnected since December 6.

Keith said the mobile signal in the house is not good enough to hold long conversations and Val has struggled to keep in contact with her mum, who is 80.

He said:

“We don’t know when the line will be back. From our point of view, we have a massive inconvenience.

“My wife likes to keep in touch with her 80 year old mother-in-law everyday and it’s problematic. We have kids and grandchildren too. One doesn’t know what’s going to happen during covid.”

Network Rail confirmed it is aware of the issue and is looking into it.

A spokesperson said:

“Our teams have completed a major project to upgrade the signalling system on the line between Knaresborough and Poppleton.

“Network Rail is aware of the issues that a resident near Cattal station is having with their phone line. We are investigating the cause of the problem and looking to help resolve it as soon as possible.”

Marshals at Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs over Christmas

Yorkshire Water will employ marshals at Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs over the Christmas period in the expectation of increased visitor numbers.

People seeking solace from lockdown restrictions have flocked to the two reservoirs during 2020, but it has put pressure on their three car parks, with reports of people parking on nearby verges instead.

Marshals will offer advice to visitors on safety issues, including parking, and will encourage people to head to nearby reservoirs Thruscross or Lindley Wood if the car parks become too full.

They are also able to escalate issues to the Yorkshire Water Control Centre, or the police, if necessary.

They will be present as Fewston (Blubberhouses) car park, Swinsty Moor car park, and Swinsty Stack Point car park.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“We know how important the outdoors and our reservoirs are to people at the moment. Over the Christmas period we know people will be looking for outdoor spaces to meet their loved ones safely.

“We expect a lot of visitors to Fewston and Swinsty, so there will be additional Yorkshire Water reps on site to remind people about social distancing, let them know about safety works taking place at Swinsty, and ensure people are parking responsibly.”

Yorkshire Water announced last month a section of footpath at Swinsty would close for 18 months to allow the company to undertake £6 million safety works.

A temporary footpath has been created but the Stray Ferret has been contacted by walkers who say the path is already “too muddy to walk”.

Mystical Ways shop brings the occult to Harrogate

A shop specialising in the mystical and spiritual has opened in Westminster Arcade, Harrogate.

Mystical Ways is owned by Harrogate-born Jay Clarke, who is also a full-time manager at The Crest care home on Rutland Drive.

He said his passion for the occult led him to opening his new business, which could be the only venue in Harrogate to have a pentagram on the window.

According to Jay, there’s a growing community of witches, druids and pagans in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

But rather than being something to fear, he says modern witchcraft, or Wicca, has more positive connotations in the 21st century.

For sale are dreamcatchers to “ward off nightmares”, crystals that can summon “good energy” and insense which can help cast spells that attract “money, love, protection or light”.

Jay said lockdown has led to more people turning to the occult and witchcraft to find answers and help them through a tough year.

And he doesn’t mind the skeptics who say it’s all made up.

“There is criticism, people find it funny but paganism is a real thing. People get comfort from looking at tarot cards or meditating. If that gives people good intentions then why not? It’s no different to going to church and praying.”

Once social distancing rules are relaxed, Mystical Ways will partner with Westminster Arcade neighbours, Harrogate Tea Rooms, to host tarot card readings.

Jay says a recent tarot reading told him that the covid crisis will begin to disappear by Easter.

“The cards say 2021 will begin by being a struggle, but by Easter things will be much better. They also told me to continue to be dedicated and strong and bring Wicca to Harrogate.”

Harrogate council billing NHS over £100,000 a month for Nightingale

Harrogate Borough Council is continuing to bill the NHS over £100,000 a month for gas, electricity and water at Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital.

Set up at the council-owned Harrogate Convention Centre in April at a cost of £27m, the Nightingale has so far not treated a single covid patient.

The council does not charge the NHS rent for the building. However, figures from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust show the venue, which opened in the early 1980s, incurs significant costs for utilities.

The payments for utilities have been ongoing throughout the year and were previously reported by the Stray Ferret in August.

The most recent published figures are below:

August: £144,583

September: £161,518

October: £124,449.

The NHS’ contract with the council to run the Nightingale is due to end in March 2021.

A council spokesman said:

“Any costs relating to the use of utilities at the convention centre are calculated on standard metered usage. These costs are then passed onto the client throughout the term of the contract.”

The Stray Ferret has requested interviews with the NHS about the Harrogate Nightingale on numerous occasions but so far has not received one.

Last month, Lord Newby, the Liberal Democrats leader in the House of Lords, said the time had come to let the council take back control of the building.

The first event listed on the convention centre’s website is the Assemblies of God conference from May 6-8.

Hospitality businesses that rely on trade from the convention centre have suffered this year from its closure.

The Stray Ferret reported earlier this month that the Kimberley Hotel on King’s Road has permanently closed.

Ripon fish and chip shop could be turned into flats

The Jolly Fryer fish and chip shop in Ripon could be turned into flats after becoming a victim of coronavirus restrictions.

The business has been run by the same family for over 35 years, but has remained closed since the covid pandemic began in March.

A planning application submitted to Harrogate Borough Council said the restaurant “cannot viably” re-open due to its narrow size and social distancing guidelines.

The owner of the building wants to convert it into one one-bedroom and two two-bedroom flats.

Several businesses have announced closures in Ripon this year, blaming the pandemic, including Wrens department store, Leeds Building Society, and the Old Deanery hotel.

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The Jolly Fryer building dates back to the early 18th century and is situated on Allhallowgate, which is one of the oldest streets in the town centre.

The street dates back even further to the earliest known pre-medieval urban settlements in Ripon, when the city was centred on a north-south thoroughfare connecting the minster with the now-demolished Celtic monastery.

One in five North Yorkshire charities have closed since March

Almost one in five charities have closed in North Yorkshire since March, according to a new report that highlights the impact of the pandemic on the voluntary sector.

Community First Yorkshire, which supports voluntary organisations, surveyed not-for-profit groups in North Yorkshire in October to find out how they’re coping with one of the toughest years for charities in memory.

The message was stark: 18% of charities in the county have closed and 28% say they will struggle to survive after March next year.

Charities have also been hit by a 43% decrease in volunteers, due to many older volunteers shielding.

Leah Swain, chief executive of Community First Yorkshire, said:

“Many voluntary sector organisations depend on volunteers to deliver critical services. Without them, many North Yorkshire organisations, and the people they support, are going to struggle.

“Many volunteers need to stay at home because of the coronavirus, but we want to encourage those that can to consider giving their support in any way they are able.”

The survey is based on 175 responses from North Yorkshire voluntary organisations.

Community First Yorkshire is running a #DonateLocal campaign encouraging people to support local charities by giving them their time, money or skills.

Meanwhile, charities in Harrogate are gearing up for Christmas.

About 85 meals will be delivered to the doors of older and vulnerable people in the Harrogate district on Christmas Day.

Harrogate and Ripon Food Angels staff and volunteers dressed festively will cook, pack and deliver a traditional Christmas dinner, Christmas pudding, mince pie and a cracker for those in need of a meal and some cheer.

£1,000 worth of jewellery stolen in Knaresborough

Police are appealing for information after £1,000 worth of jewellery was stolen from two homes in Knaresborough yesterday.

The burglaries took place at Hilton Lane and Park Row between 10.30am and 6pm.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information about any jewellery seen for sale on local social media sites or in shops. The items include a silver ring with gold love hearts and a Tiffany necklace with a silver heart attached.

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Mark Nursey. You can also email mark.nursey@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12200235413.