54 more positive covid cases in Harrogate district

Public Health England figures show that the Harrogate district has recorded another 54 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day rate is now at 280 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire rate stands at 262 and the England average is 291.5.

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However, Harrogate District Hospital has not reported a covid-related death in nearly four months. The last time a death was recorded was on April 11.

It means the covid death toll at the hospital since March 2020 remains at 179.

123,253 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 106,664 have had a second dose.

Harrogate Town removes ticket sales from website for tomorrow’s match

Harrogate Town have taken down a link to purchase tickets for their Carabao Cup first round game against Rochdale AFC tomorrow night.

The move has led to speculation that the club has again run into problems with North Yorkshire County Council around ground safety.

Fans had been able to purchase tickets for tomorrow’s match through the club website until the option was removed. Rochdale fans are also unable to buy tickets through their website.

Some fans have reported online that they were able to purchase tickets at the club’s shop on Commercial Street today.

The Stray Ferret approached Harrogate Town for comment several times this afternoon but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

We also asked the county council if it has issued the club with a safety certificate for the game but did not receive a response.

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It is the latest twist in the safety saga, which it appeared had been resolved.

North Yorkshire County Council banned fans from attending a friendly against Sunderland on July 24 after identifying 17 “unacceptable risks” for fan safety at the club’s EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road.

These included problems with the CCTV system, the ground’s control room and stewarding.

With less than three days to go until the club’s first league game of the season on Saturday, which coincidentally was also against Rochdale, the county council issued a safety certificate and fans from both clubs were able to attend.

Supporters had hoped this was the end of the matter but the situation appears confused again now.

Starbeck all set for community day on August bank holiday

Starbeck Community Day will return this month after being cancelled last year due to covid.

The free bank holiday event on Monday August 30 will be held at Harrogate Railway’s Station View ground and will offer stalls, live music and a bouncy castle.

Chrissie Holmes, who organises the event as well as the Starbeck Christmas Lights appeal, said she has been inundated with messages from local residents excited about the family get-together taking place again.

She added she wanted the event, which is in its fifth year, to be about thanking people for their efforts during the last 18 months.

She said:

“It’s our way of paying people back for the pandemic.”

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There will be stalls selling craft and homemade goods as well as a bungee trampoline and bouncy castle for children. Barbecue food will be served and there will be a bar selling drinks.

There will also be performances from Harrogate Spa Town Ukes and Summerbell Dance Academy and a new Starbeck King and Queen as well as Prince and Princess will be crowned.

The event will take place from 12pm to 4pm.

Ferrari towed away in Harrogate in police supercar clampdown

Police ordered a Ferrari sports car to be towed away outside Harrogate Convention Centre over the weekend as part of a supercar crackdown.

Operation Chrome, which North Yorkshire Police launched this summer, targets speeding, illegally modified vehicles and vehicles that shouldn’t be on the road.

The Ferrari driver was reported on suspicion of driving without insurance and failing to display a front number plate.

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Operation Chrome launched this summer with a police pledge to keep up on “the irresponsible behaviour of some drivers which is not only unsafe but also highly disruptive”.

Harrogate often attracts drivers, sometimes in modified vehicles, racing around the main roads, particularly during summer.

Superintendent Steve Thomas said:

“Residents and visitors should not have to fear for their safety or have their days blighted by this excessive noise.

“We are taking a zero tolerance approach to this dangerous behaviour.”

 

Plans to convert former Smarties nursery in Ripley into home

The aristocratic owner of the building that housed Smarties Day Nursery and Pre-School in Ripley for over 30 years has applied to turn it into a three bedroom home for his son and family.

Smarties opened in 1987 and catered for 52 children. The building, which is called Wood Close, is part of the Ripley estate and is owned by Sir Thomas and Lady Emma Ingilby. They served notice to the owners of the nursery earlier this year.

Its closure promoted an emotional response from many parents on the Stray Ferret’s Facebook page, with one saying she was “absolutely gutted” and another calling it “really sad news”.

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A planning application submitted to Harrogate Borough Council by Sir Thomas asks to change Wood Close’s use from a children’s nursery to a home as the Ingelby’s son and family plans to move there from Ripley Castle.

Meanwhile, the management of Smarties recently applied to HBC to convert the former Spotty Dog Boarding Kennels in Brearton, which closed in April, into a new nursery.

As part of the application, a letter was sent to the council by Smarties’ management, which called the site in Brearton “a perfect setting for a children’s nursery” with indoor and secure outdoor play.

Coronation Street actor’s pride at inspecting Harrogate’s graduating soldiers

Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton said yesterday was one of the “proudest days of his life” as he inspected graduating soldiers at the Army Foundation College.

The college on Pennypot Lane recruits about 1,500 men and women each year. It’s the only British Army establishment that delivers military training to junior soldiers aged 16 and 17.

Around 750 soldiers graduated yesterday and the accompanying parade, which is the largest of its kind in Europe, featured a flypast from an RAF Typhoon.

The actor, who is gay and a LGBT campaigner, was invited to the event by the British Army and tweeted his pride at being asked:

“To think that 20 years ago a man like me wasn’t even allowed to serve, let alone officially inspect a pass off on the parade square. I’m incredibly proud to be part of the British Army’s tribe.”

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It was the first graduation to take place where soldiers walked under a memorial walkway dedicated to Captain Sir Tom Moore.

Lieutenant Colonel Farebrother MC, commanding officer at the AFC, praised the graduating soldiers.

He said:

“They have had an extremely tough year, coping with long periods away from their families and loved ones whilst becoming the trained soldiers you see before you today.”

Harrogate Town: What to look out for in the new season

Harrogate Town will be looking forward to focusing on football after what has been a difficult summer off the pitch.

With concerns over fan safety at Wetherby Road seemingly concluded, Simon Weaver’s men host Rochdale AFC tomorrow afternoon in what will be many supporters’ first chance to watch Town play league football in the flesh.

The club finished last season in 17th, which was their first-ever campaign in League Two, and the bookmakers are predicting them to finish in the same position this season.

But tempting odds of 7/1 to gain promotion reflects the unpredictability of the division and fans will expect the team to steer well clear of the relegation positions.

New signings

Last season’s new signings were more miss than hit and Weaver will be hoping more of his new arrivals can make an impact during this campaign.

Town averaged just over a goal a game last season and striker Luke Armstrong has joined from Salford to complement Aaron Martin and offer a more clinical goal threat. Armstrong spent last season on loan at Hartlepool in the National League, scoring a commendable 13 goals in 28 appearances, which included a goal at Wembley in their play-off final that saw them promoted.

Talismanic forward Jack Muldoon has been handed a new contract but fringe strikers Jon Stead and Mark Beck have left the club, retiring and joining York City on loan respectively.

Seven new signings have joined the squad so far, including the highly-rated Lewis Page who is West Ham United academy graduate.

The new signings are:

Mark Oxley (goalkeeper), Rory McArdle (defender), Luke Armstrong (striker), Danilo Orsi (striker), Alex Pattison (midfielder), Lewis Page (defender), Nathan Sheron (midfielder).

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Number 1

Manager Simon Weaver has shown a ruthlessness as he begins to dismantle the core of his squad that saw them rise up from the National League North.

Many Town fans were surprised when popular goalkeeper James Belshaw left the club to join Bristol Rovers who play in the same division.

He’s been replaced with Mark Oxley, an experienced stopper who’s played in the EFL for Southend United. However, he had a debut to forget in a pre-season friendly against Rotherham, which led some fans to cast envious glances towards what they’ve lost in Bristol.

The twelfth man

Town fans were of course robbed of the experience of visiting Wembley stadium for the National League play-off final, which coincidentally was a year ago this weekend.

They then had to contend with watching the majority of the season on laptop screens and mobile phones via the EFL’s streaming service while coronavirus restrictions continued.

The club have announced they have already sold a record amount of season tickets for the new season — and thousands of fans cheering on the team each week should make a difference to the club’s home form, after a season of empty stands.

Details of Town’s 46 league games are available to view here.

Leeds cocktail bar Roland’s set to open late night Harrogate venue

The owners of Leeds-based cocktail bar Roland’s look set to open a late night venue on Parliament Street in Harrogate.

An application has been submitted to Harrogate Borough Council for a licence to sell alcohol at the new bar, which it says will be open from Monday to Sunday from 10am until 2.30am.

The unit, at 23 Parliament Street, was most recently home to menswear store Moss Bros and is currently empty.

Roland’s website says it serves up “exceptional drinks, great music and a good time”. The Leeds bar opened in 2014 and is situated on 39 Call Lane, one of the most popular streets in the city for nightlife.

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The new bar would be the latest addition to Parliament Street’s nightlife scene, which includes the Harrogate Arms, Revolución de Cuba, Mojo, Wetherspoons and the Viper Rooms.

The Ginnel hosts bars Montey’s and Major Tom’s Social.

Some venues on Parliament Street have struggled to survive in recent years including Jamie’s Italian, Wagyu Bar and Grill and The Restaurant Bar and Grill, which all closed.

Fewston church to rekindle wartime memories

Fewston Church is to host an afternoon of poetry, prose and song telling the story of World War Two.

Margaret Jowett and Kathy White will give a performance called Serendipity on Saturday August 14 at 3.30pm, which is being organised to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion.

The experienced performers will dress in World War Two-era costumes and sing renditions of wartime favourites, such as We’ll Meet Again and The White Cliffs of Dover. Audience participation is encouraged.

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Ms Jowett said:

“We perform words and music that kept the spirit of Britain alive from 1939-45. We will tell the story of the war with an emphasis on the British Legion.”

Tickets cost £10, which includes tea and cakes. To buy a ticket contact Pat Anderson on 01943 880284 or anderson@delvesridge.plus.com 

All proceeds will be shared between the British Legion and Fewston and Blubberhouses churches.

Bilton garages could be demolished for social housing

Harrogate Borough Council is proposing to demolish seven garages in Bilton to make way for social housing.

The garages are on Woodfield Close, close to the iron bridge in the Harrogate suburb.

A report presented this week to the council’s cabinet member for housing, the Conservative councillor Mike Chambers says two one-bedroom homes could be built on the site, and more homes might be possible subject to planning permission.

The report says there are 24 garages but only 12 are occupied. Of these, four are used by local residents. It proposes demolishing seven to allow for the development.

The council also plans to build a two-bed property for social rented housing on grassland it maintains on the corner of Poplar Crescent and Poplar Grove.

According to the report, the grassland “is not used for any particular purpose and has no amenity value”.

If the council goes ahead with the plan, it would apply for funding from the government’s £433 million Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme, which aims to get up to 6,000 rough sleepers into longer term accommodation.

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The council owns and rents out garages across the district and has increasingly looked at the pockets of land as a way to build social housing.

There are currently over 1,700 people on the council’s social housing waiting list.

Last month, the council approved a plan from its own housing team to build three council houses at the sites of two disused garage blocks in Ripon.