A warning has been issued over cold callers targeting households as lockdown restrictions ease.

North Yorkshire Trading Standards and North Yorkshire Police have united to remind residents to be wary of people offering property repairs and gardening work.

It is the latest in a series of warnings issued over scams being carried out during the Covid-19 lockdown. Previously, Trading Standards have warned about scams involving supplies of PPE and hand sanitiser, and false testing and cures for the virus.

However, the authority said reports of crime had been “starkly absent” as people’s movements were restricted from March onwards. Cllr Andrew Lee, executive member for trading standards, said:

“We know these offenders are always on the lookout opportunities to defraud the elderly and vulnerable, but their ability to do so has been curtailed in recent weeks due to the lockdown provisions.

“We are very concerned that they will soon be back out and about cold calling vulnerable residents and trying to persuade them to have roofing, driveway, pressure washing, gardening and other work undertaken.

“Our message is very clear. Residents should not deal with doorstep callers.”

Police and trading standards officers said doorstep scams often include extreme overcharging for work, claiming work is required when it is not, poor quality work or damage to properties, and not providing any contact details for the person carrying out the work. In some cases, elderly and vulnerable residents are driven to the bank by the offender, to withdraw cash to pay for the work.

Police have warned residents to be wary of doorstep scams

Officers have advised residents considering having work done to get three quotations from local traders – ideally recommended by friends or family – and to take their time before making a decision. Anyone having work done has a statutory right to cancel the contract within 14 days.

Where that is not possible, they should approach traders for quotations through a trusted website, such as the County Council’s North Yorkshire Buy Local.

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DI Jon Hodgeon of North Yorkshire Police said:

“We’ve seen a number of scammers taking advantage of coronavirus and lockdown to target individuals but there are ways everyone can protect themselves.

We advise never to open the door to anyone you don’t know and certainly never invite a stranger into your home without verifying their identity first. An individual claiming to be a representative of an organisation should be more than happy to show you their ID card and even for you to ring their company to double check.

“High-pressure techniques or requests for money should raise immediate alarm bells. Remember, you do not have to open the door to cold callers and you have every right to ask them to leave.”

Doorstep traders can be reported to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133, or to the Police on 101, or 999 in emergency situations.

Ripon Cathedral will open its doors to the public tomorrow for the first time since lockdown began.

Having been closed for more than 10 weeks under coronavirus legislation, the cathedral is among just a few places of worship in the Harrogate district which have decided to open for private prayer.

Government guidance has changed to allow places of worship to open for individuals. Nationally, leaders of different denominations have all issued advice, with each individual church to make its own decision over whether it is safe to open.

In the Harrogate district, Ripon Cathedral is one of those set to welcome people for prayer. Dean John Dobson said:

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St Peter’s Church in the centre of Harrogate will be open daily, except Sundays, from Monday, June 22. The church supports homeless and vulnerable individuals and families routinely, and this service has not stopped while the church building was closed to visitors. The vicar, Rev Alan Garrow said:

“We want to be open. We have been in a curious situation because we have been active all the time, with 2,500 takeaway hot meals served since lockdown.

“We will only be open for prayer between 12pm and 2pm because the food service takes a chunk out of our day.”

While many of the district’s church leaders will keep their buildings closed until they feel it is safe to open, they are continuing to make good use of technology to deliver online services. The Nidd Valley Methodist Circuit in Harrogate has also opened a dial-a-thought phone line, which people can ring to hear a message each morning if they are unable to access the churches’ online morning prayer.

More fines were issued for breaching coronavirus regulations by North Yorkshire Police than by any other force in England.

With 1,082 fines issued from the start of lockdown until Monday, June 8, the force handed out 19 more fines than the Metropolitan Police.

West Yorkshire Police issued 826 fines in the same period, South Yorkshire gave 377, and Lincolnshire 231.

The North Yorkshire force said more than half of its fines were issued to visitors to the county. Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said:

“The police’s overarching aim in the response to Covid-19 has been to keep people safe, to protect the NHS and save lives. We took that responsibility seriously.

“Although we planned for the worst case scenario, we have seen a much lower than expected absence rate among our officers and staff, enabling us to provide increased patrols in our communities.

“We are thankful that out of thousands of interactions with the public, we rarely had to enforce the regulations. The vast majority of people understood and supported the role of the police in this public health emergency and we are grateful for all of the support and positive engagement we have had from members of the public.

“There was a minority who didn’t understand or believed the rules did not apply to them. And where people have not responded to our engagement approach, when we have explained the regulations and encouraged them to follow them, but they have still refused, we have resorted to enforcement – as the public would expect us to.”

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Mr Walker said the attractions of North Yorkshire had drawn people to the county even when regulations told them not to travel, resulting in the large number of fines and the high percentage issued to people from outside the area.

He said the fines issued have been scrutinised by the criminal records office and by a panel led by North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), Julia Mulligan. She said:

“I want to place on record my thanks to the officers and staff who have worked so hard to protect us, and thank the majority across North Yorkshire who have followed the law and stayed at home as much as possible.

“We may be over the peak, but this crisis is not over and as we move towards having to take more personal responsibility as we stay alert to the threat of the virus, I encourage everyone to continue to follow the restrictions and guidelines.”

A community group has vowed to step up and fight if to protect Starbeck Baths from any planned closure over the coming years.

It follows news this week that the council is preparing to invest in a new leisure centre in Knaresborough and improving the Hydro in Harrogate.

As part of a report to be considered by Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet next week, officers said that with new facilities in nearby towns, “the future of Starbeck Baths would need to be considered”. Reacting to the news, Starbeck Residents’ Association Chairman Geoff Foxhall said:

“It would be a tragedy if the council decided to let go of it, especially as they have invested a quite considerable amount in it in the last few years.

“About ten years ago (when it was under threat), we had resident meetings and committees were formed. It was quite a struggle but we saved it then. Hopefully, we could mobilise the same support again if needed.”

Although the report for HBC’s cabinet looked at the money that could be saved by closing Starbeck Baths, the cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport told The Stray Ferret that closure was not an immediate plan. Cllr Stan Lumley said:

“We can’t commit to it forever and ever, but in the short term there are no intentions of closing Starbeck at all. Once we’ve got everything up and running, a much bigger Hydro and a new facility in Knaresborough – clearly that’s many years down the line – we would have to look at that and how we operate in the future.”

‘Best of both worlds’

The report to the cabinet forms part of a recommendation to transfer the running of leisure centres, along with community centres and the council’s day nursery, to a local authority controlled company (LACC). HBC says it can make significant savings on running costs by doing so, with additional money to be saved and made through investments in the facilities.

Cllr Lumley added:

“We thought it was the best way forward because it keeps us with control but it frees us up and allows us to do things more efficiently and gives us more flexibility with management.

“This is like a partial privatisation. It allows us to benefit from some things that a private company would, but by keeping control of the business. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Read:

• Leisure centres, community centres and day nursery could be run by a local authority controlled company
• Unions say concerns remain after meeting with council on LACC plans
• Which shops are reopening next week?

Meanwhile, as well as a major refurbishment of the Hydro, HBC is set to look at creating a new gym and swimming pool for Knaresborough. Although it is considering rebuilding on the existing site, the report to the cabinet indicates that a new facility could be built at Conyngham Hall, after considering a site at Hay-a-Park and the grounds of Knaresborough House.

Building at Conyngham Hall would allow both Knaresborough sites to remain open while the Hydro was refurbished, before the old pool on King James’s Road was closed. However, the report acknowledges that rebuilding on the same site would be less expensive than relocating, which it estimates would cost in the region of £13million.

The existing Knaresborough Pool could be replaced with a new leisure centre, either on the same site or somewhere else

Knaresborough Civic Society said it will be looking at any plans for relocation with interest. Secretary Ian Wright said:

“We would certainly be interested in where they are planning to put it. Conyngham Hall is one of our prominent public buildings – Harrogate were refurbishing some of that. We will be keeping a watching brief on it.

“The swimming pool isn’t a historic building. We wouldn’t be too concerned about doing something else with that site. Any concerns would be relating to the Conyngham Hall site and where it would go on there.”

Whichever location is chosen, work on Knaresborough’s new leisure centre would not begin until the completion of the new Ripon pool, replacing the old spa baths. After a short delay because of the coronavirus lockdown, Cllr Lumley said he expects it to open autumn 2021.

Extinction Rebellion’s Harrogate branch is planning a bike ride in the town centre to highlight the need for change as the coronavirus lockdown eases.

The group, which only formed in Harrogate in January, says its aim is to highlight the issues facing the town, under the title No Going Back.

The bike ride will set off from Library Gardens on Station Parade at 10.30am on Sunday and complete two laps of the town centre, finishing at the war memorial. Organisers have asked participants to ride in groups of no more than six from the same household, and keep their distance from others who are not in their family group.

Anyone not able to cycle is encouraged to show their support with banners, bells and whistles, and to take photographs of the event. Organiser Vicky Wild said:

“During lockdown, an awful lot more people are cycling and walking. We don’t want to go back to the way it was.

“I’m someone who goes to work and the ships on a bike. I’ve lost count of the number of people who say, ‘I would love to do that, but I don’t feel safe’.

“It’s just trying to change the conversation a bit around public transport in Harrogate. Personally, I have certain routes I go on that I know are fairly safe. For some people, there are certain roads you just don’t want to go on.

“When I was cycling round during the lockdown at the beginning, it was heaven – it was lovely. I went twice round the Prince of Wales roundabout just because I could, because there were no cars on it. I don’t think I’ve ever been round it before.”

With traffic already heading back towards pre-lockdown levels, the group is keen to draw people’s attention to how different things have been and urge them to consider what can be done to make long-term changes.

It is also holding an online meeting tonight to discuss setting up a citizens’ assembly for Harrogate. That body would be made up of members of the public, rather than political party representatives, to look at facts and make decisions about the future of the town.

The group had held one event – a stall on Cambridge Street highlighting climate change, pictured above – before the coronavirus lockdown put paid to its plans for the year. Now, members are looking at action they can take safely in the coming months. Vicky added:

“The idea of Extinction Rebellion is things should be fun and inclusive and family-friendly. We’re trying to do things that won’t alienate people but will get people on board and asking questions.”

Full details about the citizen’s assembly meeting and the bike ride can be found on the Extinction Rebellion Harrogate Facebook page.

Harrogate’s oldest swimming pool could be closed as the council looks to cut costs in a major overhaul of its leisure services.

In a report set to be considered by Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet next week, officers say the future of Starbeck Baths – built in 1870 – would need to be considered following the redevelopment of its other pools and gyms.

The council is proposing to build a new Knaresborough leisure centre at Conyngham Hall, replacing the existing pool on King James Road. It will also refurbish the Hydro in Harrogate, with more gym space added, and complete the rebuilding of Ripon Spa Baths, with an opening date currently set for September 2021.

The plans form part of a proposal to transfer the running of leisure services to a local authority controlled company (LACC), which HBC believes would save £284,000 of taxpayers’ money. With investment in new and existing pools, and the closure of Starbeck Baths, the council projects savings to be more than double that figure.

In a report to be seen by HBC’s cabinet next week, head of culture, tourism and sport Michael Constantine says:

“With the closure of Ripon Spa Baths and Knaresborough Swimming Pool and new facilities at Knaresborough, Ripon and Harrogate the future of Starbeck Baths would need to be considered. Analysis indicates that without Starbeck continuing to be operational the cost to the council would be £2.790 million, a saving of £0.191m pa.

“Delivering the service by a LACC, following investment in new facilities, will result in an estimated saving of £585k per annum compared to the delivery in-house, with Starbeck no longer operational.

“This demonstrates that under the operational management of the LACC, the schemes have the potential to be entirely self-funded through prudential borrowing depending on future decision regarding Starbeck Baths’ continued operation.”

Meanwhile, Conyngham Hall has been identified as the best site for Knaresborough’s new leisure centre, after considering sites at Hay-a-Park and Knaresborough House, as well as building a new facility on the existing site.

The report recommends leaving the existing pool open until after the new one is built. Both would remain operational while the Hydro was refurbished, giving capacity for residents to use them and somewhere for staff to work, before the older pool was closed.

With the new Ripon pool set to open next September, building work on the new Knaresborough Pool could begin in summer 2022 and be completed in December 2023. At that point, the Hydro would be closed for work to begin, and would reopen in March 2025. The old Knaresborough pool would then be closed, and plans for the site have not been announced.

Discussions have been held between the council and trade unions over plans to transfer sport and leisure services to a private company.

Unison has this morning confirmed that it has met with Harrogate Borough Council representatives to discuss the proposal to form a Local Authority Controlled Company (LACC) to run its leisure facilities.

Unison branch secretary David Houlgate said:

“We are thankful that the Council is now talking to us and the meeting yesterday was helpful.  We are also pleased that the Council has let us have some written detail too.  We need to take a good look at that but already we can make the following observations:

“Clearly the council has ambitious plans for new and upgraded facilities and we cautiously welcome this but it has to be remembered that sport and leisure is a discretionary service so we would not wish to see high spending in this area impact on other, more critical, services elsewhere which could put jobs at risk.”

As well as the council’s six six leisure centres and its Active Health service, the plans could include transferring Little Explorers Day Nursery, the Turkish Baths, and community centres in Jennyfield, Fairfax and Knaresborough to the LACC.

According to a report set to be considered by HBC’s cabinet next week, transferring services stands to save £222,000 in business rates and £76,000 in VAT, with improved financial performance of £130,000 per year. There would be additional costs of £144,000, leaving savings of £284,000 per year, in the council’s figures.

The council has projected an increase in revenue of around £500,000 – equivalent to 10 percent of its current income – as a result of being run by a single-focus company.

The report also states that the council commissioned four studies into its leisure services in and alternative ways of delivering them, in 2018. It adds:

“SLL’s final report was presented to Cabinet on December 16, 2019 and as a result cabinet agreed in principle to progress the creation of a Company to run its sport and leisure facilities and services.”

Discussions between HBC and unions this week follow a public disagreement between them. Unison said on Monday it was disappointed that the council had failed to make any contact with its members – a claim which HBC branded “ridiculous”.

More on this story:

• Unions speak out about the lack of communication on plans which have “no overwhelming public support”
• HBC tells unions: “To expect a running commentary… is unrealistic”

The council consulted with residents last month about the proposals. In the report to cabinet, the results show 46 percent of the 433 people who responded either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the plans. Twenty-seven percent agreed or strongly agreed, while 27 percent neither agreed nor disagreed.

“We have seen the council report and it would appear that this decision was actually taken last year, so we do wonder what the point of the recent resident’s survey was.  Having now seen the survey responses it does seem to confirm our view that there is not much support from the 433 residents who responded, for sport and leisure to be run by a LACC.”

The union has welcomed measures to protect employees, including keeping them in the local government pension scheme. However, it raised concerns about changing terms and conditions after the LACC is formed, and the possibility that an outside provider will be found to run services in future.

The proposals to create the LACC will be put before the council’s cabinet when it meets online next Wednesday, June 17.

Members of the community showed their solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement this afternoon in Harrogate.

Unlike other protests seen around the world, in Harrogate it took the form of a five-minute silence, maintaining social distancing.

Individuals and families gathered near Harrogate’s war memorial at 3pm this afternoon. Once gathered, each took a knee and fell silent for five minutes from 3.15pm. The protest ended with applause at 3.30pm.

Organisers Bill Rigby and Shan Oakes said:

“We, the residents of the Harrogate district, want to express our great sadness at the murder of George Floyd, and our solidarity with black and other oppressed groups in communities worldwide.”

Dozens of home-made posters and banners were on display

Protestors spread along West Park after the area around the war memorial became full

Individuals and groups of family members joined the protests

People of all ages gathered to protest, kneeling in silence for five minutes

A charity which offers counselling to people across the Harrogate district has launched a fundraising appeal so it can help more people struggling with their mental health through the coronavirus crisis.

With its One-Day Lockdown Challenge, Wellspring Therapy & Training is hoping to fund more professional counselling for people going through mental ill health and emotional distress.

The charity, which is based in Starbeck’s High Street, has been offering remote counselling throughout the crisis and said demand has begun to increase. Executive director Emily Fullarton said:

“It has started to creep up. We’re definitely getting more referrals now and I think it will pick up further.

“People are starting to realise this is going to go on for longer than they realised. Normal life isn’t going to happen. Schools reopening and people having a bit more time to think – when you’re in a crisis, you don’t tend to process it. It’s only when you are out of it you start to think about how it has affected you.”

The urgent fundraising appeal was kicked off by young supporter Joe Lepine, 13, who decided to stay awake for 24 hours. Aiming to raise £200, with support from friends and family he achieved ten times that sum.

Now Wellspring is inviting others to follow his example and challenge themselves to do something for 24 hours – always within social distancing guidelines. From giving up TV to doing star-jumps every hour, the charity says there is something suitable for anyone who wants to show their support.

A new group has been established in Harrogate to support the protests being held around the world following the death of George Floyd in the USA.

Black Lives Matter Harrogate has more than 400 members on Facebook after being established at the beginning of the week.

While organisers say they will not be setting up marches like those seen elsewhere – such as London, pictured above – because of the risks during the Covid-19 pandemic, they wanted to give people in Harrogate a place to discuss racial equality and show their support.

Dianna-Roxanne Kananowitz, who set up the group, said:

“This group isn’t a knee jerk reaction to current events, although that was the initial catalyst.

“Black lives should matter every day, so it’s an on-going thing. I’ve emailed the local MP and I’m awaiting a reply. I’m in design talks about a logo that can be shown in cars or shops to show solidarity – I still need to figure production costs as a non-profit organisation. I’ve tons of ideas. I’m hoping people will have a few of their own.”

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For Pajwa Mo, who has volunteered as an admin on the group, marches are less important than educating people and helping to make the next generation more aware of institutional racism.

Pajwa, who ran Spoilt Gelato in Starbeck until last year, lives in Bradford but still works in the Harrogate area and keeps in touch with friends he made. He says he experienced racism in Harrogate a number of times, but he has also seen it in Bradford, despite a more multicultural population.

However, he believes it is everyone’s responsibility to stand up against racism and challenge problems they see. He said:

“The problem we have got with the younger generation is, if it’s something that concerns us directly, we will get involved, but if it’s happening in London, America or Syria, we aren’t interested. Whether it’s in Asia, Africa, England – if it’s wrong, we should all speak up and say it’s wrong.

“Today it’s America. Tomorrow it could be Harrogate. Then what? When will we speak up? We don’t want to lose someone before we realise we have to do something.”

A former teacher, Pajwa strongly believes educating and setting good examples to children is vital in giving them the confidence to stand up for equality. Showing love and care for people, he said, will generate more of the same and make a better society for everyone.

He likened the Black Lives Matter movement to the support shown for the NHS and key workers from the beginning of the coronavirus crisis.

“With the rainbows in windows and coming out to clap, people made an effort in their own homes first.

“You can’t fix the world without fixing your own house first. The only way we can take a step forward is if we all take a step in our own homes first.”