Vicky Carr, Author at The Stray Ferret

How to get around Harrogate during the Great Yorkshire Show

This story is sponsored by Harrogate BID.

Anyone needing to get around Harrogate and the surrounding areas is being advised to plan ahead this week.

Tens of thousands of visitors are expected at the Great Yorkshire Show across its four days, and there will be changes on some routes to accommodate the additional traffic.

North Yorkshire Council’s highways area manager, Melisa Burnham, said:

“We work closely with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, its traffic management company and National Highways to agree a traffic management plan.

“We always ensure that roadworks on the main routes are kept to a minimum, with only emergency work permitted. Highways officers will monitor traffic on the routes and are available should they need to support the traffic management company.

“Whilst every effort is made to ensure that traffic flows efficiently, visitors to Harrogate should expect delays at peak times and plan their journeys accordingly.”

Here is your handy guide to the key points to remember from Tuesday, July 11 to Friday, July 15 – whether or not you’re going to the show.

Roads

A661 Wetherby Road: one way westbound from the Kestrel roundabout to Rudding Lane from 6.30am on each day of the show. This reverses in the afternoon from 2pm until 8pm, taking traffic away from the showground. If traffic eases earlier, the one-way system may be taken down before then.

A658: One way inbound towards the showground from Thistle Hill near Knaresborough to the Kestrel roundabout, from 6.30am for the mornings only. No one-way system during the afternoon.

B6164: Traffic arriving from the north via the A1(M) will be directed off at junction 46, before going through Kirk Deighton and on to North Deighton on the B6164. It will then turn right onto the A661 near Spofforth and follow the road to the showground.

A59 Skipton Road: Show visitors will be directed from the Curious Cow roundabout onto the B6161 to Beckwithshaw, where they will turn onto the B6162 Otley Road.

Parking

Traffic approaching from the west and north will follow the ‘blue zone’ directions to the car parks via Hookstone Drive.

Those coming from the east via the A661 will be directed down Rudding Lane into the ‘green zone’ car parks.

Traffic arriving from the south will follow ‘brown zone’ directions along the A658 towards Rudding Lane and into the car parks from there.

Public transport

A free shuttle bus operates every 10 minutes from the bus station in central Harrogate to the white gate at the showground. It begins at 7.20am and runs until 7pm.

Passengers arriving in Harrogate by train will be able to catch the shuttle bus. Those arriving at Hornbeam Park can follow a signposted walking route to the showground gates.

Walking and cycling

Pedestrians can follow signs from Hornbeam Park to the showground.

There is secure cycle parking at the blue and white gates for people arriving on two wheels.

Nurse retires after 50 years of service to Harrogate hospital

A nurse in Harrogate has retired after more than five decades of service to the NHS.

Lynne Henwood spent 50 years working for Harrogate hospital, 37 of them in the operating theatre.

She then transferred to the outpatients department where she worked until she finally retired after 54 years in the NHS, which this week marked its 75th anniversary.

She told the Stray Ferret things had changed considerably during her career:

“When I first started, we didn’t have the instrumentation, the knowledge, the technology. Things changed and evolved into a completely different world.

“The skill base is completely different. You just evolved. As they say, you never stop learning and I would say every day was a school day.

“Working within the team changed. When I trained, doctors were doctors and nurses were nurses. Then it became that doctors and nurses were part of the team.

“We supported the doctors and our knowledge was respected by the doctors.”

Mrs Henwood trained as a nurse in her home city of Liverpool at the age of 18, in January 1969. She said the training in those days was on the wards, with the 42-hour weeks over six days preparing her and the other student nurses for the hard work their first jobs would entail.

Training on the wards in Liverpool

However, she didn’t get off to the smoothest start.

“My first day on a ward, I fainted. I remember thinking, ‘that’s me done, I’m out now’. I had seen nothing in life, I was quite naive.

“But the sister said, ‘that’s quite normal, you’ll be fine’. And I was – it never happened again.”

After working in Liverpool for three years, Mrs Henwood took a job in Wakefield for just a few months before relocating to Harrogate in 1973, where she remained for the rest of her career.

She was quickly promoted to sister the following year and was based at Harrogate General Hospital until it closed.

Mrs Henwood transferred to the district hospital and worked at several satellite units around the district over the years.

Right, in scrubs, meeting the Queen when she visited Harrogate District Hospital

After almost four decades in the operating theatre, she moved downstairs to the outpatients department, working in clinical investigations as a staff nurse.

She reduced her hours 13 years ago with a plan to retire in summer 2020 – but everything changed with the arrival of the pandemic in March that year.

“I stayed in the outpatients setting, where we were still face-to-face with patients. I just decided I should stay.

“Some people said, ‘why aren’t you leaving like you planned?’ but I felt I should be there.”

In PPE during the covid pandemic

Three years on, Mrs Henwood decided it was finally time to retire. She said:

“I just thought I would like to do pilates on a Wednesday! I thought the only way I could do that was by fully retiring.”

Also awaiting her in retirement is more time with her husband and two daughters, as well as the opportunity to go walking, enjoy her garden at home in Boroughbridge, and read more books.

Her final week of work, however, was reminiscent of her first day as a trainee. A fall on a day off left her with a broken elbow and bruising on her face, meaning she missed her last shifts.

But her colleagues in outpatients ensured she had a good send-off, with a lunch in the department followed by drinks in Harrogate on the Friday evening, and a fitting collection of gifts and flowers.

Reflecting on her career, Mrs Henwood said:

“It was just a train journey I didn’t get off. I didn’t regret any of it and I wouldn’t tell anyone not to be a nurse, but I would say it’s not easy.

“I would like to thank everyone who I have worked with over the years for all their support and kindness.”

Sainsbury’s to close Harrogate store all next week for refurb

Sainsbury’s supermarket on Wetherby Road in Harrogate will close its doors all next week to make improvements to the store.

It traditionally closes for the duration of the Great Yorkshire Show, which this year runs from Tuesday, July 11 to Friday, July 14.

However, it is going to be closed from Monday to Friday, to allow more time for changes inside and to its petrol station.

The work will include updating the signage and fixtures, improving the fresh food and produce areas, relocating the sushi bar, and extending the clothing department.

Behind the scenes, staff areas are also being improved “to help foster a more interactive and inspiring workplace”.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said:

“We hope our customers in Harrogate enjoy their new look store once the works are complete. We’d like to thank everyone for bearing with us while we complete this extensive project and we look forward to hearing what our customers think.”

After closing as usual at 4pm tomorrow, the store will reopen at 7am on Saturday, July 15.

Flash flood warning for Harrogate district as heavy rain forecast

A yellow weather warning has been issued for the Harrogate district this weekend.

The weather forecast includes thunder storms and heavy rain tomorrow, and the weather warning lasts from 9am until midnight.

Issued by the Met Office, it warns of possible dangers caused by flash-flooding resulting from heavy downpours.

It says:

“Flooding of homes and businesses could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

“Fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life.

“Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services. Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.

“Some communities might become cut off if roads flood. Power cuts might occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.”

UPDATE: Two missing Harrogate teenage girls found safe

Police have found two teenage girls reported missing from home in Harrogate last night.

An urgent search was launched for the pair on Thursday night.

Police called on the public to look out for the pair, who were believed to be missing together and also have links to Boroughbridge.

Police requested that any possible sightings were reported immediately by calling 999, quoting reference NYP-06072023-0603 for Leah and NYP-06072023-0601 for Grace.

Midnight licence request for new Knaresborough bar in former bank

A new bar and restaurant could be opened in Knaresborough if a licence is granted by North Yorkshire Council next week.

An application has been made for an alcohol licence at the former Natwest bank premises at 42 High Street.

Planning permission was granted last year to convert the ground floor into a cafe and sports therapy rooms.

Now, owner Jaime Wilkinson is seeking a licence to sell alcohol until midnight seven days a week, under the business name 1858 Bar and Restaurant Ltd.

Mr Wilkinson has requested extended opening hours until 2am on bank holidays, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The application also states there will be live music until 11pm.

As part of the application, Mr Wilkinson said there will be a “higher retail price for alcohol than other venues in Knaresborough to restrict over drinking and commotion”.

He also committed to install CCTV at the premises, as one of a number of conditions suggested by North Yorkshire Police’s licensing officer.

However, there have been five objections to the plans submitted to the council.

One nearby resident said an alcohol licence until midnight and reference to the premises as a bar is not in line with the planning approval given last year. They said:

“Harrogate Borough Council conducted a public hearing for a former license (sic) application and the resulting decision limited operation and licensing hours to strict terms and much earlier hours than those being applied for again here.

“We kindly ask the team and [North Yorkshire] Council to review the former hearing outcome and consider this in review of this latest application, where all points we believe are relevant, as are the views of those objecting and as such the restrictions should adhere again here to this license (sic) at the least, if indeed permitted at all.”

The application will be decided by North Yorkshire Council’s licensing committee at a meeting next Thursday.

‘Two in three chance’ Conservatives will lose Selby & Ainsty

The upcoming by-election in Selby and Ainsty is the most likely of three in the UK to see a win for the Conservatives, according to bookmakers’ odds.

Parliamentary seats in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, and Somerton and Frome, will also be contested on Thursday, July 20.

Statistics from bookmakers’ odds, analysed by the Telegraph, reveal the Selby and Ainsty seat is the most likely of the three to remain in Tory hands.

However, it still has a 66% likelihood of being lost to another party or independent candidate.

By comparison, Boris Johnson’s former seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip has a 92% likelihood of being lost, and Somerton and Frome – previously held by David Warburton until his resignation after having the whip removed by the party – is rated at 71%.

In Selby and Ainsty, the by-election was triggered by the resignation of Nigel Adams, a close ally of the former prime minister.

He had held the seat since 2010, when it was first formed, and won a majority of just over 20,000 at the last election in 2019.

This time, the Conservative candidate will be Claire Holmes. She will stand against 12 other candidates, including two who have stood in the constituency before: Arnold Warneken for the Green Party and Mike Jordan for the Yorkshire Party.

The full list of candidates is:

Andrew Philip Gray, Independent
Claire Holmes, The Conservative Party
Mike Jordan, Yorkshire Party
Dave Kent, Reform UK
Keir Alexander Mather, Labour Party
Nick Palmer, Independent
Guy Phoenix, Heritage Party
Sir Archibald Stanton, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Matt Walker, Liberal Democrats
Arnold Francis Ignatius Warneken, The Green Party
John William Waterston, Social Democratic Party
Luke John Wellock, Climate Party
Tyler Callum Wilson-Kerr, Independent

Any constituents who have not yet registered to vote have until midnight tonight to do so on the government’s website.

It will be the first time voter ID will be required for an election in North Yorkshire. Acceptable forms of ID include photocard driving licences, UK passports, and bus passes for older or disabled people.

‘Do it for David’: Harrogate Festivals boss set for Great North Run

A well-known figure in Harrogate’s cultural life has set herself a new challenge to support a cause close to her heart.

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, is aiming to complete the Great North Run to raise money for the Stroke Association.

She has chosen the charity after leading Harrogate businessman David Simister suffered a life-changing stroke in early March.

Having set a target of £1,500, she is already more than a third of the way there, just 24 hours after setting up her fundraising page – and said she hopes to raise even more before the event in September.

Sharon said:

“David is so well-loved. He was involved in so much and really cared about everything he worked on. Particularly over the pandemic, he was great with keeping the show on the road.

“I don’t think I’ve met anyone with a bad word to say about him.”

After growing up in Harrogate and attending Ashville College, Mr Simister trained as a journalist before founding Different PR with former schoolmate Richard Chew.

As well as working with a number of high-profile clients, he was heavily involved with Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and became its chief executive in 2021. He has stepped back from his current roles as a result of his illness.

Sharon Canavar in green next to David Simister and the HIF team

Having done the Great North Run three times previously, Sharon said it will be emotional running for a close business connection and personal friend.

She has not run regularly since suffering an injury during the covid pandemic, and credits the Harrogate Town Running Group with getting her back to training to be ready for the Great North Run.

However, she has the small matter of HIF’s busiest few weeks of the year to get through first.

The summer season was launched at the weekend, with the flagship Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival scheduled for two weeks’ time.

This year’s events also include a children’s festival on July 15 and 16, and the Harrogate Carnival on July 30, which falls just six weeks before the run.

Sharon said:

“Running is quite good for stress relief. It’s good to get out and go for a stomp and work things through in my mind.

“David has been such a key part of my personal and festivals life, it’s really giving me the motivation to keep going and raise as much as possible to support him and other people affected by strokes.”

To support Sharon’s fundraising for the Stroke Association, click here.

Lib Dems withdraw support for Harrogate’s Station Gateway

The Liberal Democrats have withdrawn their support for the Station Gateway proposal in central Harrogate.

The move was announced by Cllr Chris Aldred at North Yorkshire Council’s executive today, after several of the party members voted in favour of the scheme in May.

He said their support had been on condition that North Yorkshire Council engaged in a meaningful way with residents, businesses and the Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee over the plans.

Cllr Aldred, who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley division, said:

“It is with disappointment that I am speaking here today. Disappointment at the failure of this executive to engage with business and residents in a meaningful way.

“Disappointment at the failure of this executive to respect the recommendations of Harrogate’s democratically elected Councillors on Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee.

“And disappointment that those most closely affected are left feeling ignored, with their genuine concerns sidelined.”

The issue had already split the party, with area constituency committee chairman Cllr Pat Marsh voting against the plans, while several other Lib Dems supported them.

Cllr Marsh then went to a meeting of the executive to ask its members to drop the proposal, despite her committee having voted to ask the executive to proceed.

Cllr Aldred said the executive had failed to meet a deadline of June 30 to set up a working group of the area constituency committee and to arrange face-to-face meetings with concerned residents and businesses.

Calling for more engagement with the local councillors over the Station Gateway plans, he added:

“Liberal Democrat members will continue to monitor every aspect of this scheme, on behalf of our residents and hold the executive to account for every pound of public money spent on it.

“But we simply can not support a scheme that is being driven by an administration determined to ignore residents, businesses and councillors alike – an administration who constantly fall short of what is expected.

“This administration seems more focused on clinging to power and has prioritised its own political backroom conversations aimed at maintaining a majority in the chamber, above getting a grip on this controversial issue.

“We have given you enough opportunities to demonstrate you are sincere and competent. Sadly, you have clearly demonstrated that you are neither.”

The declaration prompted a row between the party’s councillors from across the Harrogate area and the ruling Conservatives on the executive.

In response, Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive councillor for highways, described the move as “playing politics” with the gateway scheme.

He accused Cllr Aldred of “rowing back” on his support to achieve “harmony within the Liberal Democrats” – which Cllr Aldred denied.

Cllr Duncan said:

“We are drawing up an engagement plan, that will determine who we are going to speak to in terms of businesses and residents throughout the construction period.

“A decision has been taken at this executive to support the gateway scheme. We are delivering on the support that you gave and that the majority of your colleagues gave.

“We will engage and we will ensure that we deliver this plan. We are very clear that the Conservative group on this council and this executive supports the gateway. The Liberal Democrats have now been clear that you do not.

“We will see in the long term how that plays out. I believe we have a fantastic scheme and I believe that this investment should be made in Harrogate for the long term and long lasting benefit of residents.”

A61 reopens after gas leak at Ripley

The A61 at Ripley has reopened this morning after a collision involving a lawn mower caused a gas leak last night.

As well as closing the road, emergency services advised nearby residents to close their windows.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said a crew was called to the scene just after 6.30pm.

Its incident log said:

“A crew from Harrogate and an officer from Ripon responded to reports of a grass cutting machine that had impacted a large gas main and caused it to rupture creating a significant leak.

“Crews stood by and assisted with traffic management whilst gas engineers excavated to locate the leak and worked to isolate the supply.”

Northern Gas Networks was on the scene soon after and firefighters issued advice on social media.

⁦@NorthYorksFire⁩ currently on scene at a large gas leak, A61 between the roundabouts at Ripley. Please avoid the area whilst we wait for specialist support. If you live in Ripley adjacent to the A61 then keep your doors and windows closed and avoid using naked flames. pic.twitter.com/4PIGNniTCu

— Ben Cairns 💙♥️💚 (@SierraZero4) July 3, 2023

Traffic between Harrogate and Ripon was diverted through the village as engineers worked to repair the rupture.

The road is open this morning.

Roads

Parking

Public transport

Walking and cycling

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