Harrogate charity seeking hosts for domestic abuse victims

Do you have a spare room in Harrogate that could host victims of domestic abuse?

The domestic abuse charity IDAS says too often people leaving an abusive relationship are unable to access emergency accommodation to help them plan for their future.

It runs a project called Safe Havens where hosts receive specialist training and provide accommodation for people who are escaping dangerous situations. They are also supported by a dedicated domestic abuse worker.

Pauline (not her real name), a survivor of domestic abuse, said:

“If I had known what help was out there when I was trying to leave, things would have turned out very differently for me. I was young and very scared of my then husband. My family not only did not recognise the abuse but wanted me to stay with my husband. It was only when he went on to remarry his second wife, who left him for the same reasons, that people began to realise what he was.

“I wish I could have taken my daughter and run, even just for a few days to get my head straight, but I had nowhere safe to go and he’d threaten me with awful things if I tried. I know now that IDAS would have helped, and I could have avoided 8 years of pain. Being offered a safe place, for a short time might have made all the difference to me and I’m sure it will make all the difference to people who are trapped with abusers now.”

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Anna Dinsdale, Local Area Manager IDAS, added:

“Escaping an abusive partner or family member is rarely straight forward, it takes tremendous bravery and courage. The IDAS Safe Havens hosted, emergency accomodation project aims to provide people with the option of short-term respite and relief in addition to our refuge accomodation.

“Safe Havens hosts will play a key role in assisting their guests by making them feel safe and welcome in their home, giving them time to consider their next steps.”

The charity is running a series of information sessions for members of the public who are interested in becoming hosts. For more information, please email Mel.Milner@idas.org.uk

County council publishes new plan to cut emissions

North Yorkshire County Council’s three-year plan to help the organisation become net carbon neutral by 2030 includes adding more solar panels to its buildings, cutting down on staff travel and reducing waste.

Senior councillors on the Conservative-led authority are expected to rubber-stamp a draft carbon reduction plan tomorrow that lays out how it plans to reduce emissions across its offices, libraries and care homes.

However, it has been criticised by local environmental group Zero Carbon Harrogate who says the measures don’t go far enough.

The council says it’s aiming for net carbon neutral by 2030, which means it won’t reduce carbon dioxide emissions entirely but will offset the remainder of any emissions through carbon sequestration programmes and tree planting. 

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The report says the authority currently spends £1.8m a year on energy bills but this figure does not include schools.

It also highlights a recent project to replace its 50,400 street lights with more environmentally friendly LED bulbs.

The report suggests that covid has forced the council’s hand in reducing emissions as around 40% of the estimated reduction is due to changes in working practices, such as working from home.

Zero Carbon Harrogate said the report contains many “appropriate and prudent” initiatives but questioned how they will be monitored and delivered.

It also said NYCC could go further than what it proposes in the report to tackle transport emissions:

“The plan, almost exclusively, discusses decarbonising the NYCC’s own estate, with no mention of the significant decarbonisation impact that the NYCC can leverage as a policy maker.

“This is a major omission from the action plan, as NYCC is the policy gatekeeper for many infrastructure changes that can unlock decarbonisation across the county, particularly for transport.”

Boroughbridge care home residents cheer on England heroes

Residents and staff at Boroughbridge Manor care home enjoyed watching last night’s Euro 2020 final, despite the heartbreaking result for England fans.

Throughout the tournament, the home has been decked out with flags and residents have been enjoying all the action.

The residents would remember the last time England reached a major final in 1966 and everyone at the home appreciated seeing Gareth Southgate’s men make their way through the tournament, especially after a tough year with covid restrictions.

Staff put on football-inspired snacks for the residents whilst they watched the games together.

Krzysztof Bialczyk, general manager, said:

“We have loved watching the Euros, we have watched pretty much all the matches – lots of our residents are footie fans.  It has been fantastic to be able to cheer on all the home sides and especially England, we did amazingly well to get to the final.”

Thomas, a resident at Boroughbridge Manor, said:

“Although we didn’t win tonight, it has been a brilliant few weeks of football.  The lads did us proud and made it all the way to the final, they played their hearts out.  At least we haven’t got long to wait until the World Cup next year!”

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1966 World Cup final memories: Tannoys at Birstwith Show and replays at the Odeon

The whole of the Harrogate district will be glued to a TV screen on Sunday night to hopefully watch Gareth Southgate’s men make history.

It’s only the second time England has reached a major final.

Fifty-five years ago, Wembley hosted the 1966 World Cup Final, when England beat West Germany 4-2.

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogatonians who were old enough to watch the match what their memories were, which included some surprises.

Did you know that the Odeon cinema on East Parade put on a replay of the game a week later so fans could see the action in full colour?

Gail De Pru said:

“I was 15 at the time and had my German penfriend, Heike Will, staying with us. As you can imagine the atmosphere was slightly strange and muted!”

Sean Beggs-Reid said:

“I was nine, watched in black and white at home in Harrogate! When it was all over, it seemed like everyone was out in the street singing and playing football. I think it was about a week later that my dad and I went to the Odeon cinema to watch in full colour!”

Christine Hemming said:

“I remember it well. I watched it at home with my mum and dad. Dad was a signalman on British Rail and was working at North Rigton. He should have been leaving home to go on shift when the game went into extra time.

“Dad thought that old Bill, the chap he was taking over from, wouldn’t mind if he was late. So Dad promptly sat down again to watch the rest of the match. No phone at home in those days to let old Bill know what was happening.”

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Jan Marble said:

“My gran and I were at Birstwith Show and they played the radio coverage over the Tannoy.”

James Prince said:

​​“My Saturday job was at Burtons on Market Place/Cambridge Street. My boss Mike Collins from Leeds wouldn’t let me go until bang on 5pm. So using my dad’s car (white Ford Consul Classic – for the enthusiasts) I almost flew home to Bilton Lane, 50 yards short of the level crossing, to catch extra time.

“I couldn’t speak after, my voice was so hoarse from cheering England on. My dad worked near Frankfurt at the time as a stovepipe welder, so he had loads of German mates and came in for a lot of ribbing when he came back!”

John Russell said:

“I was at the final in 1966, aged 19, behind the goal in which Geoff Hurst planted the fourth goal. I had bought a season ticket for England’s group and knockout games at Wembley and the White City, for the princely sum of £7.10s (including 12/6 for the final!).”

Sylvia Wilkinson said:

“We watched with our friends in Otley Road and their two little boys were frightened when we all jumped up and celebrated!”

Moira West said:

“Watched at home with my mum who was German but there was no issue with patriotism, she was very much for England. I still have my homemade World Cup Willie who will be watching the England vs Italy game on Sunday!”

 

World Cup Willie

Harrogate Town manager looks up to ‘principled and honest’ Gareth Southgate

Harrogate Town boss Simon Weaver has paid tribute to Gareth Southgate, who he said has paved the way for football managers to be “principled and honest”.

Weaver told the Stray Ferret that he first met at the England manager, who lives locally, at a gym and they have built up a friendship over the years.

Ahead of the National League play-off final at Wembley last summer, Weaver invited Southgate to give the Town players a motivational team-talk before the biggest game in their history.

Weaver said:

“His emotional intelligence is second to none.

“He’s obviously an outstanding communicator. His values show great honesty.”

The Town boss said that during his own playing career, managers wouldn’t always explain why he was left out of a game, which led to a loss of respect.

In a team full of superstars, he said it is a credit to Southgate’s man-management skills that the players are all firmly behind him, no matter who is chosen for the final 11.

He said:

“There’s no dissent in the squad. The buy-in from his players is second to none.”

But he said it’s a mistake to label Southgate as “just a nice guy”.

“He’s not controversial but has a steely edge.”

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Weaver said Harrogate should “cherish and be proud” of Southgate, and said that he tries to run Harrogate Town with similar values.

Weaver added:

“He’s the perfect fit for an England manager, no job is too small. I look up to him and I can’t help but admire him.

“He’s paved the way to be principled and not have a big front.”

He also has an amusing anecdote. A couple of years ago, Weaver bumped into Southgate in a clothes shop in Harrogate and they had a long chat. Afterwards, the shop owner nudged the Town boss, not knowing who he was, and asked:

“Was that really Gareth Southgate?”

Motorists warned of major delays on A1M near Knaresborough

Motorists using the A1M near Knaresborough have been warned of a 60-minute delay following a collision this afternoon.

Highways England tweeted that the collision occurred southbound between junction 47 for Knaresborough and junction 46 for Wetherby.

Two lanes were closed, but North Yorkshire Police traffic officers have since removed the vehicles and reopened the lanes.

Highways England said that speeds on approach to the incident are less than 10mph.

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Knaresborough’s grass verge vigilante fed up with council

A Knaresborough man is so frustrated at Harrogate Borough Council not cutting grass verges in the town that he’s picked up his shears and done it himself.

Daniel Perkins, who is 26 and works as a landscaper, has been tidying up his hometown for the last two weeks and estimates he’s spent around 20 unpaid hours scything down the tall grass, weeds and nettles.

He said:

“It’s so overgrown. It’s a nightmare for children or wheelchairs.

“People shouldn’t have to walk through a jungle.”

The Harrogate district’s wild new look continues to divide opinion, as swathes of land are left to grow several feet high. Now that some areas have been cut the contrast is really starting to show.

Mr Perkins has so far taken his shears and pitchfork to areas in Knaresborough including by the allotments, the corner of the Spinney field down to Hay a Park bridge, Charlton ginnel, Aspin Lane and from the railway track to Hambleton Grove.

HBC has previously defended its rewilding strategy, saying they have left areas uncut to improve biodiversity and attract bees and other insects.

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Mr Perkins said rewilding is the right approach for large fields or meadows, but to suggest leaving verges or ginnels uncut would make a difference to biodiversity is a “bogus” argument. He believes it’s off-putting to visitors and could damage Knaresborough’s image to tourists.

He also says when the council does cut grass they do it with a motorised strimmer or mower, which he thinks can damage wildlife and animals.

Before and after. A ginnel near Hambleton Grove.

The proud Knaresborough resident also accused the Harrogate-based council of “neglecting” the town ahead of its “crown jewel” of Harrogate.

Many passers-by have offered him the same advice:

“Everyone says invoice the council, it would be great if I could.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman was unable to confirm whether the areas cut by Mr Perkins are owned by the council or privately. Although the spokesman believes some of the verges are owned by Network Rail.

He said:

“We are cutting verges and green spaces in Knaresborough that we manage and have a programme of works.”

Green Party stands down in Knaresborough by-election to support Lib Dems

Harrogate & District Green Party is to ask supporters in Knaresborough Scriven Park to vote for the Liberal Democrats in the upcoming by-election.

The by-election was called following the resignation of Conservative councillor Samantha Mearns, who said she was moving to Wales for family reasons.

She will resign from Harrogate Borough Council and Knaresborough Town Council.

The full list of candidates for the by-election, which will take place on July 29, was revealed last week and did not include a Green.

At the last election in 2018, Mearns defeated Liberal Democrat candidate Matt Walker by just 16 votes in the borough council vote.

A spokesperson for the Harrogate & District Green Party said it had met with Lib Dem candidates Hannah Gostlow and Andy Bell and it “supports their attitudes on crucial issues” and would therefore not put forward a candidate “for the greater good”.

The spokesperson said:

“The Green Party welcomes the opportunity to support the excellent Liberal Democrat candidates Hannah Gostlow and Andy Bell in the elections for Knaresborough Town Council. The Green Party has met with and support the candidates’ attitudes on crucial issues.

“The Green Party looks forward to reciprocal support from the Liberal Democrats in future elections as both parties recognise the fundamental problem of a first-past-the-post electoral system which negates the vote of the majority of people in this country. The Green Party will always seek out opportunities to work collaboratively for the greater good.”

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The move by the Greens could be a sign that local parties are more willing than in previous years to work together to defeat the Conservatives, whose councillors currently dominate Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

In the recent county council by-election in Bilton, parties to the left of the Conservatives won more collective votes but Cllr Matt Scott took the seat.

Harrogate Liberal Democrats county councillor David Goode told the Stray Ferret that he welcomed the Greens stepping aside.

He said:

“We appreciate what the Greens have done. There’s an understanding that opposition to the Tories splits the vote. We’ve agreed to work together on a local level but it will still be a close call.”

Sharon-Theresa Calvert will stand for the Labour Party in the by-election.

Chris Watt, a spokesman for the local Labour Party, described on Twitter the Greens and Liberal Democrat electoral pact as a “dodgy backroom deal”.

However, in a statement, Labour said it would be “happy to work with people of all parties”.

“Labour has a strong and positive vision for our area, exemplified by our candidate, Sharon Calvert, who is a well known community champion in Knaresborough.

“If that’s something that supporters and members of other parties want to get behind, we would welcome their backing.

“We are happy to work with people of all parties and none on issues of common concern for the good our local area and do so on many subjects, from our local environment to leisure facilities to education, among numerous others.”

The Conservatives have announced Jacqui Renton, a former landlady of The Union pub in Knaresborough, as its candidate. Harvey Alexander will stand for UKIP.

Crime commissioner defends local MP for voting against dog theft law

North Yorkshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner Philip Allott has defended fellow Conservative, Harrogate & Knaresborough’s Andrew Jones MP, after he voted in Parliament against making dog theft a specific offence.

Mr Allott repeatedly called for the crime to be put into law during his recent campaign to become the new commissioner.

As part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that is currently going through the Commons, the Labour Party put forward an amendment that would have for the first time made dog theft a crime.

Currently, the law doesn’t distinguish the theft of a dog from that of an inanimate object.

MPs voted the amendment down on Monday with a majority of 113. Four Tory MPs rebelled against the government.

Mr Allott told the Stray Ferret that he wouldn’t have voted for the amendment if he was an MP.  He said this was because the government is currently consulting on its own law which he believes will be tougher on criminals than the one Labour suggested.

He said:

“I strongly support a law for pet theft, but I want to wait for the consultation”.

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Mr Allott, who lives in Knaresborough, previously highlighted a survey showing dog thefts increased by 250% last year due to gangs cashing in on the demand for puppies during lockdown.

Sought-after breeds, such as French bulldogs, can sell for more than £5,000 and a litter can fetch £35,000.

Mr Allott accused Labour of “mischief-making” and said the offence could include cats as well as dogs.

He added:

“I’ll be interested to see Andrew Jones’s understanding on this but he does care about pets. He did the right thing waiting”.

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones to comment but did not receive a response.

Captain Tom memorial walkway opens at Army Foundation College

A memorial walkway dedicated to Captain Sir Tom Moore was opened yesterday at Harrogate’s Army Foundation College by members of his family.

Captain Sir Tom’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore, her husband and children, visited the college on Pennypot Lane to cut a ribbon and unveil a plaque that includes details of his life.

Junior soldiers marched under the walkway on their way to the graduation parade. The college said the dedication was a “fantastic way” to mark the Captain’s legacy.

The Captain Tom plaque.

The college posted on its Facebook page:

“We think it is a fantastic way to mark the legacy of Capt Sir Tom and the future of our junior soldiers”.

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Captain Sir Tom was made an honorary colonel of the Army Foundation College in Harrogate last spring.

He later visited the college to speak to junior soldiers and was invited back for their graduation in September.

He raised almost £33m for NHS Charities Together by walking lengths of his garden in Bedfordshire, hitting the headlines in the process. He died aged 100 in February this year.