Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In June, a planned covid ‘freedom day’ was delayed and the district was gripped by Euro 2020 fever.

We asked our three Conservative MPs, Harrogate & Knaresborough’s Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon’s Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular that they have been doing this month, but we did not receive a response from any of them.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Conservative Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

• The Harrogate & Knaresborough MP was spotted campaigning for the Conservatives ahead of the Batley & Spen by-election on five different occasions. He was photographed eating fish and chips with Tory candidate Ryan Stevenson.
• On June 16 he voted to extend coronavirus restrictions until July 19. There were 23 Tory rebels.
• On the same day in the House of Commons, he asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Steve Barclay, about the continuation of business support grants with the delay in easing restrictions.
• The MP told the BBC’s Local Democracy Service that he would be “very sad” to lose around 1,500 voters in a proposed boundary shake-up.
• On June 17 he chaired a Department for International Trade meeting that offered advice to Yorkshire businesses on trading internationally.
• Mr Jones was quoted on his community “news” website discussing the improving retail occupancy rates in the Harrogate district. He said: “These have been difficult times and we are still not through them. Retail and hospitality are going to face ongoing challenges but these figures are positive and an improving position on much of the last few years”.
• Mr Jones did not update his website in June.
• The MP attended Harrogate Grammar School with Conservative councillors to meet pupils and celebrate Walk to School Day.

Julian Smith, Conservative MP for Ripon and Skipton.

• Mr Smith posted on Twitter that he had also been campaigning in Batley & Spen for the Conservatives. “Great feedback on the doorstep”, he tweeted.
• He tweeted that he has given talks at 15 schools in his constituency over the past few months. Schools included Beckwithshaw and Kirkby Malzard primary schools.
• The MP posted on Facebook that it was “great to be back” in Pateley Bridge, as he was photographed inspecting a David Bowie film poster at Tordoff Gallery.
• He also visited Stump Cross Caverns, which raised over £70,000 in a successful crowdfunding campaign that gave pledgers the chance to win a camper van.
• The Boundary Commission proposed changes to Mr Smiths’ constituency that would see him lose Bishop Monkton and Burton Leonard.
• During a Commons debate about the Northern Ireland protocol, the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland called for “compromise on both sides” following months of unrest in Belfast. Mr Smith has spoken in Parliament on six occasions this year, with five of them being about Northern Ireland.

Nigel Adams, Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

In rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Adams:

• The Minister for Asia condemned the closure of Hong Kong pro-democracy news outlet Apple Daily. He tweeted that it was “another chilling step towards silencing opposition voices.”
• The MP sarcastically praised former speaker John Bercow after he defected to the Labour Party from the Conservatives. He tweeted: “I’m sure he will be a great asset to them given his popularity with the great British public.”
• In the Commons, Mr Adams said the UK government “does not shy from taking action” against China over human rights abuses.
• The Boundary Commission proposed changes to Mr Adams’ constituency that would see him lose all areas within the Harrogate district.

Read more:

• MPs watch: Timid flowers, Eurovision and Knaresborough banks
• MPs watch: third jobs, dining on the Stray and vaccination passports

Another 75 covid infections have been recorded in the Harrogate district in the past 24 hours, according to Public Health England.

It is almost double yesterday’s figure of 42 and is the highest daily figure since January 13, when there were 86 infections.

However, separate figures released today by NHS England show the spike in infections is not leading to an increase in hospitalisations. There are currently two covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital – down from three last week, which suggests the vaccination programme is working.

The Harrogate district data reflects the national picture where cases have risen by almost 70% in a week but deaths have increased by just 11% and hospitalisations by 6%.

Read More: 

• Harrogate dad died skydiving in parachute with holes patched over 
• Delta variant cases in Harrogate district quadruple in two weeks

The current seven-day rate of infection in the district is 173, slightly above the England rate of 172.

There have been no further covid-related deaths at Harrogate District Hospital. It means the death toll remains at 179.

Coroner’s officers in North Yorkshire are searching for the next of kin of a man who died recently in Harrogate.

Malcolm Miles, 70, was found dead at his home in Dene Park. It’s believed he lived in the Harrogate area for at least a few years.

North Yorkshire Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Anyone who believes they are Mr Miles’ next of kin or has information that could assist the coroner, can email coroner@northyorkshire.police.uk

Read More:

• Harrogate primary school wins £260,000 to improve safeguarding
• RSPCA dashes hopes of Peter the Peacock returning to Bilton

The rumours are true — Peter the Peacock will spend the rest of his days away from Harrogate and will not be returning to Bilton.

The beloved bird had not been spotted at his usual haunts around Tennyson Avenue over the past week.

Bilton resident Claire Hamer said on Monday an RSPCA inspector told her Peter had injured his foot and the charity had taken him to an animal sanctuary to recuperate.

Responding to questions by the Stray Ferret, An RSPCA spokesperson confirmed Peter was taken in after members of the public alerted it to the bird’s injury.

After taking Peter to a vet for immediate care, the charity then took him to a “specialist boarding establishment”, believed to be across the Pennines in Lancashire.

The spokesperson added that Peter will soon be placed in a new permanent location where there are other birds, including peacocks, to keep him company.

 An RSPCA spokesperson said:

“We were called to reports from concerned members of the public about a peacock in Tennyson Avenue, Harrogate, earlier this month.

“It was reported to us that he was injured and unable to bear weight on his right foot and because of this he was also unable to roost in his usual tree.

“The RSPCA sent an animal rescuer to the area and the peacock was taken for immediate veterinary care.

“Peter lived for many years on his own but he has now been taken on by a specialist boarding establishment and he will be found a new home on an estate with many other birds, including peacocks, for company where he will be able to spend the rest of his days.”

Read More:

• ‘We want him home’: Bilton bids to bring back Peter the Peacock
• Has Peter the Peacock left Bilton for good?

However, Peter may not be flying off into the sunset just yet.

Bilton residents who have cherished Peter’s presence over the past 12 years are mobilising and could launch a campaign to persuade the RSPCA to bring Peter back to where they consider to be his rightful home.

Andrew Hart, who owns the local post office, said the plight of Peter has been the talk of Bilton over the past week and he might start a petition for his return.

He said:

“He’s an attraction. He belongs to Bilton and we want him back”

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, the RSPCA spokesperson said it would be illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to release back into Bilton because peacocks are classed as a non-native species.

The spokesperson did give residents’ some hope, though, by suggesting that Peter may be able to return if someone with the correct accommodation to house a peacock offered to adopt him.

The number of covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital has fallen to two, despite a sharp rise in infections in the district.

In a sign that the vaccination programme is working, Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group told North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum today there are now fewer covid patients at the hospital than last week, when there were three.

The number of cases of the Delta variant in the Harrogate district has nearly quadrupled in the last two weeks. The district’s seven-day rate of infection is now 155 per 100,000, just below the England average of 159.

Despite the steep rise, the hospital has not faced the same pressures as in previous waves. At the peak in February, there were 68 covid patients at Harrogate hospital.

According to the latest NHS England figures, the hospital’s last covid-related death was reported on April 11.

Read more:

• Harrogate hospital chief executive racially abused by England fan
• TV star Nick Knowles hails jailing of Harrogate hospital bike thieves

Ms Bloor also said today that Ripon racecourse vaccination site, which opened in February, is due to close in August.

The closure of the Great Yorkshire Showground vaccination centre in Harrogate this month has seen many people travel to Leeds, York or Bradford for jabs, although there are pharmacy sites in Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge.

Ms Bloor said pop-up vaccination sites could open in the district this year.

She said:

“We want to be able to flex the programme as sites and vaccines allow.”

Residents in Bilton are considering launching a campaign to bring Peter the Peacock back from exile in Lancashire.

Peter has wandered around the Harrogate suburb for years and is part of the community. Facebook and Twitter accounts have been set up about him.

But Bilton resident Claire Hamer said yesterday an RSPCA inspector had told her the enigmatic bird had injured his foot and the charity had taken him to an animal sanctuary in Lancashire to recuperate.

According to Ms Hamer, when Peter is back on his feet he will be re-homed and will not be returning to Bilton.

The Stray Ferret has asked the RSPCA whether it is treating Peter but has not yet had a response.

Ben Rothery, who set up the Bilton Community Group Facebook page, told the Stray Ferret he was considering rallying residents behind a campaign to return Peter to the streets around Tennyson Avenue.

It could involve the community adopting Peter if it can persuade the RSPCA he’s well looked after.

He said:

“I don’t see why he can’t be returned. He’s lived here for 12 years, which is more than half my life.

“He’s like a pet for a lot of residents.

“He’s a well known figure in Bilton. It’s a shame to have him taken away and I’m going to try to bring him back.”

Read more:

• Has Peter the Peacock left Bilton for good?
• Up to nine cars vandalised in minutes on same Bilton street

Andrew Hart, who owns Bilton’s Red Box card shop and post office, said “everybody is talking about Peter” this week.

Mr Hart said the RSCPA had taken Peter away previously a few weeks ago and returned him, so he saw no reason why he couldn’t come back again.

He suspects there may have been a complaint to the charity from someone in Bilton who does not like Peter.

Mr Hart is considering setting up a petition to put pressure on the RSPCA and may even ask Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones to back a campaign.

He said:

“He’s an attraction. He belongs to Bilton and we want him back”

There are still no firm dates for the re-opening of Knaresborough Pool and Starbeck Baths.

Lockdown restrictions eased to permit swimming pools to re-open on April 12. However, 11 weeks on neither council-run pool has reopened since.

A problem with the pool filters at Knaresborough forced it to remain closed.

The manufacturer, based in Spain, was unable to send engineers to fix the equipment due to covid travel bans.

Harrogate Borough Council eventually decided to replace the filters, rather than delay the opening further, at a cost of £27,000.

In its latest monthly newsletter to residents, the council said Knaresborough Pool was “set to open in July ahead of the school summer holidays” although no precise date was given.

The council recently advertised for a new duty manager at the pool as well as new lifeguards.

Read more:

• Knaresborough pool stays closed with engineers stuck in Spain
• Calls to reopen Starbeck Baths heat up as restrictions ease

Meanwhile, there has been no update on when Starbeck Baths will reopen.

The council previously said the baths would open “shortly” after Ripon Spa Baths. The Ripon pool reopened in May and there has been no update on Starbeck since.

The Stray Ferret understands staffing may be an issue at Starbeck as a number of employees have either left or been seconded to new roles.

A peacock that has strutted around Bilton for years and nested in people’s gardens appears to have left the area for good.

The streets of Bilton have been curiously quiet in recent days without the distinctive squark of Peter the Peacock, and there are murmurings on social media that the bird has flown the nest.

Concerned Bilton resident Claire Hamer told the Stray Ferret that an RSCPA inspector called her this afternoon to say Peter had injured his foot and the charity had taken him to an animal sanctuary in Lancashire to recuperate. 

According to Ms Hamer, when Peter is back on his feet he will be re-homed and will not be returning to Bilton.

Read More:

• Up to nine cars vandalised in minutes on same Bilton street
• ‘Feral’ peacocks causing damage in Killinghall

Bilton has been Peter’s home for 12 years and one superfan even set up his own Facebook page for the peacock that has amassed over 500 followers.

Its last post was on June 5.

He told the Stray Ferret today that Peter had not been seen for weeks and that rumours of his departure could be true.

Ms Harmer said Peter would be “greatly missed.”

“I enjoyed seeing him, he was very tame, I used to give him seeds, so beautiful.

“He could make a big noise but I got used to it. He would roost in our tree.

“I will miss him, bless him.”

Anti-trans graffiti has been written on a public toilet near Knaresborough Castle.

The message was spotted yesterday afternoon in the Castle Yard car park toilets by a woman who was visiting the town with friends.

The use of single-sex toilets has become a battleground for trans rights issues in recent years.

Trans rights campaigners believe that trans people should be able to use the toilet in whichever gender they identify as, however there has been pushback against this by some women who say it makes them feel uncomfortable.

The message read:

“Single-sex spaces matter. Trans women are men. Male pattern violence doesn’t decrease if a man ‘feels’ like a woman.”

Jess, who asked us not to use her surname, tweeted her disappointment at the message:

“What kind of hatred do you have to feel in your soul to write this…in the car park toilet of Knaresborough Castle?”

“Trans women are women and if your issue with trans women is male pattern violence then your issue is not with trans women your issue is with predatory men who would do anything to take advantage of or harm women.”

Read more:

• Charity Corner: Harrogate charity says ‘it’s all about inclusivity’

• Harrogate hospital unveils LGBTQ+ rainbow crossings

Jess told the Stray Ferret that she found graffiti at about 2pm and it looked like someone had tried unsuccessfully to wipe the word ‘men’ from the message.

She described the sentiment of the message as “very vitriolic”, adding:

“And in such a strange place, it was really shocking to sit down and see it.”

Leanora Wassel, chair of local LGBT charity Pride In Diversity Harrogate said there was some anti-trans feeling in the area but graffiti was rare.

She said:

“We as a community find anti-trans abuse abhorrent. It’s important we stand together.”

Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the car park, said today the graffiti had been removed.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses after at least 15 sheds and storage units were broken into at allotments in Ripon.

Thieves struck at Fisher Green allotments, which has 80 plots close to the city’s racecourse, overnight between Friday night and Saturday morning.

Tools were stolen although not all the buildings suffered losses.

A police statement said the culprits also caused “considerable damage” to windows and doors when breaking in.

They are asking for anyone who might have witnessed the incident or has been offered tools for sale to get in touch by dialling 101 and quoting reference number 12210147470.

You can also email James.Skaith@northyorkshire.police.uk.

Read more:

• Delays expected for motorists as work starts on Ripon bypass

• Harrogate porter’s hands feature on new NHS coronavirus pin