The planned commemorations may not be possible, but across the Harrogate district, communities are preparing to ensure that the 75th anniversary of VE Day is marked.

Bunting, music and afternoon tea will be the order of the day on Friday – all carried out in line with social distancing guidance.

Nationally, the Royal British Legion is encouraging people to join with a two-minute silence at 11am and a UK-wide sing-along of Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again at 9pm.

Locally, towns and villages are organising acts of remembrance to be carried out together from a distance. Groups of neighbours are also planning socially-distanced street parties through the day.

Residents are being encouraged to decorate their homes to mark VE Day

North Yorkshire County Council chairman Jim Clark, who represents Harrogate Harlow division, said: “This anniversary was never just about looking back at something that happened 75 years ago, and the situation in which we find ourselves today makes that even more pertinent. 

“Then, as now, it is about community spirit. The theme of Holocaust Day this year was Stand Together. While we can’t do that physically, we can in spirit. We can stand together in remembrance and thanksgiving, against hatred and prejudice and for building stronger communities. 

“I encourage people in towns and villages across North Yorkshire to take time to reflect and to remember in their own way.” 

Harrogate

In the town centre, displays of vintage vehicles, a parade by the Army Foundation College and a Spitfire on show by the war memorial have all had to be cancelled, along with a concert at the Royal Hall. Instead, community groups are helping to make the day special for people at home.

Oatlands Community Group is encouraging people to raise a cup of tea at their doors or windows at 4pm to mark VE Day together. Other events and commemorations include:

• a photographic slideshow trail on Harrogate Library’s Facebook page
• afternoon tea for one being delivered to vulnerable people supported by Oatlands Community Centre, along with a postcard reproduction of a wartime scene drawn by schoolboy Will Robinson, printed on the back with the lyrics of We’ll Meet Again
• activity packs available to be downloaded free or can be delivered by post at a cost of £1.75 from MyLifePool community enterprise
• Yarn Etc on Knaresborough Road is encouraging people to make and keep knitted or crocheted bunting ready for a community project at a later date
• HG Community Lockdown Festival will be a weekend of events to bring people together virtually for activities and entertainment

Knaresborough

The Knaresborough Royal British Legion is encouraging people to mark the occasion from home. As well as joining local and national activities, they want people to share photographs on social media of how they have marked the day.

Branch vice-chair Dave Houlgate said: “As we face some of the most challenging times since the end of the Second World War, now more than ever it is important to unite in recognition of service to the nation, just as communities did 75 years ago.

“There are many parallels between the struggles of the Second World War and what we are going through today. We look to our Second World War generation to learn from their experiences.  The Legion continues its work to protect them from the threat we currently face.”

The branch’s planned refurbishment and re-dedication of the VE/VJ seat in the castle grounds will be rescheduled for VJ Day in August. Meanwhile, on Friday:

• Knaresborough Delivers will be bringing afternoon tea to households in the morning, supplied by local businesses including Six Poor Folk, McQueen’s Cafe, Number Thirteen and Hirst’s Bakery. (Pre-order by 2pm on Thursday.)
• 11am – two minutes’ silence 
• 4pm – town-wide clap for veterans  
• 4pm – sing-along to We’ll Meet Again

Ripon

Ripon Cathedral was preparing to host the county’s official commemorative service. Social distancing may have stopped the service from going ahead in the building, but it will proceed online.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson, will lead the service. The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu, will speak, while the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Mrs Jo Ropner, and Coun Jim Clark will also give readings. Dishforth Military Wives Choir and the Black Dyke Band will also take part, and assistant organist Tom Coxhead will conclude the service with William Walton’s Spitfire Prelude. Watch online via the cathedral’s website. 

Ripon library will showcase Newby Hall Archive on its Facebook page, in partnership with West Yorkshire Archive Service, along with newspaper articles from the time. Residents are also being encouraged to decorate their windows in red, white and blue, while Union flag bunting has been strung across Princess Road.

• 11am – broadcast on YouTube of virtual service from Ripon Cathedral
• 3pm – city-wide clap to mark the time when Winston Churchill announced the end of the war in Europe

Boroughbridge

A planned town-centre celebration, including a ceremony at the war memorial followed by community activities, has had to be called off. However, the united parish of Aldborough, Boroughbridge, Dunsforth, Minskip and Roecliffe are at the heart of the newly-planned commemorations.

• 10.30am – community singing in gardens (lyrics on the churches’ website)
• 10.50am – online prayers led by the Rev Karen Gardiner
• 11am – national anthem and blessing

Pateley Bridge

Residents are being encouraged to dress their windows in red, white and blue, while bunting is going up in Greenwood Avenue ready for the commemorations.

• 11am – The Last Post played through loud speakers across town, followed by a two-minute silence and Reveille
• 11.02am – playing of I Vow to Thee, My Country (lyrics on the St Cuthbert’s Church Facebook page)
• after – everyone is encouraged to enjoy picnics in their gardens

Harrogate Convention Centre is not being paid any rent by the NHS for its use of halls as a temporary Nightingale hospital.

Since construction began in late March, and until the end of June, rent is not payable to the convention centre or its owner, Harrogate Borough Council.

Staff from the convention centre, as well as HBC’s property services, estates and ICT departments, have supported the transformation of the centre into the Nightingale hospital ready to be handed over and officially opened on April 21st. Documents due to be discussed by the council’s cabinet tomorrow say:

“The contract is initially in place until the end of June 2020 and work is underway to understand whether that may be extended.

“The contract does not provide for rent to be paid during the NHS occupation up to the end of June, as no planned events were being held during this period. However, should the agreement be extended there is provision for compensation in the event of the cancellation of future events.”

Harrogate Convention Centre has not commented on whether its staffing, utility and other costs are being covered, or on arrangements from July onwards. Harrogate Borough Council has also declined to comment.

The Nightingale hospital is not currently in use, but is on stand-by in case existing hospitals in Yorkshire and the Humber are unable to cope with the number of Covid-19 cases.

It has 500 beds and has occupied eight of the centre’s halls. Staff who were trained on site during April have since returned to their usual workplaces elsewhere in Yorkshire.

A mobile coronavirus testing site has been set up in the car park at the Hydro in Harrogate.

The Jenny Field Drive drive-through site will offer testing to key workers by appointment only and is one of four being run by the military in North Yorkshire.

A mobile coronavirus testing centre has opened at the Hydro, Harrogate

Permanent sites have been set up at Poppleton park and ride near York and at Temple Green in Leeds. North Yorkshire County Council said the mobile testing unit was for “key worker and priority testing”.

Signs ask visitors to keep their windows closed

On arrival, people are being asked to keep their car windows closed except when prompted to do otherwise. Following guided lanes, they pull up to be passed a swab test which they then drop into a box to be sent away for testing.

Military personnel are running the mobile testing site

The new site at the Hydro is the latest option made available to key workers after the government promised to ramp up testing drastically. As well as ordering home testing kits, people can go online to book an appointment at one of the permanent sites or mobile testing units.

Vehicles are guided through the mobile testing site

Used swabs are deposited in a box to be sent off for testing

Last week, care homes told The Stray Ferret that there was a mixed picture with testing availability. Some had been able to access home tests and appointments, while one was quoted a three-week wait for an appointment in Leeds.

Further questions have been raised about the role of councils on Harrogate BID after outgoing board members said their plans were thwarted by local authorities.

After four board members including the chairman resigned last week, two of those behind the critical resignation letter have spoken out further.

Rob Spencer, who runs Townhouse Design, said he grew frustrated that the hard work of board members came to nothing when they tried to get the council to act or agree to their plans. He said:

“One of the things I’m passionate about is having our town looking great to welcome visitors and it certainly doesn’t look as good at the moment as it has done previously. Nobody can afford to be complacent.

“The town hasn’t been looked after to the standard it has been previously, yet council tax has gone up. When we presented that to the council members they were very defensive and very keen to get the BID to spend money from doing additional things to embellish the town or attract people but it shouldn’t be having to undertake basic duties to keep it to a reasonable level.

“It was met quite often with a lot of resistance when it was mentioned to council members on the BID. They would refer to other towns and say Harrogate was better and you would think, ‘that’s not relevant’.

“With our potential and history to encourage visitors, we do have a duty [to maintain a high standard] because Harrogate is a beautiful town and a spa town and quite unique. You can’t afford to think it’s going to stay successful because of that historic interest.”

His comments were echoed by fellow signatory Chris Bentley, of Hornbeam Park Developments, who said: “One of the board members volunteered to liaise with the council over street cleaning. They couldn’t get that any further forward. Now they’re trying to do it with third-party cleaners which brings another level of bureaucracy.”

Harrogate BID says it is working on initiatives to draw people back to town once the lockdown is lifted

The four board members who resigned last week were appointed after applying for the positions at the end of 2019, hoping to bring more positive action on behalf of local businesses. It followed after a difficult first year for the BID, which saw numerous board members step down and the first manager departing after less than four months in post. Mr Spencer said:

“I wanted to do some good and help the town. I had mixed reasons for wanting to come out. I run a small business and I’m involved in that day-to-day and that has to come first. Particularly at the moment, that’s more crucial than ever.”

‘Still a great town’

Last week, following their resignations, Harrogate BID issued a statement saying it was aware of the challenges facing the town and was dedicated to making improvements for the benefit of all its levy payers.

Both Mr Spencer and Mr Bentley praised the hard work of the remaining board members and some of the initiatives they had proposed, particularly to make the town centre as vibrant as possible during the run-up to Christmas, should social distancing allow.

But they said at a time when businesses were facing unprecedented challenges, they had to focus on areas where they could make the most difference, which meant spending time on their own businesses. Mr Spencer added:

“We’re still a great town and there are some great businesses. We’re in unprecedented times and I’m confident things will return and bounce back.

“Everybody in their businesses has to work very hard. When we’re investing in our businesses, we want to know that the council are doing the right things with people’s council tax and are not complacent about things.”

Harrogate Borough Council declined to comment on its involvement with the BID. The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire County Council for a comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.

Family members of people treated in Harrogate’s Briary Unit say they are deeply concerned about the impact of closing the town’s only mental health inpatient facilities. 

With inpatients now set to be sent to York, and other support moved into the community, people who have seen their closest relatives go through very distressing episodes of mental illness want to help others understand why having the hospital nearby can ease the pressure on them. 

Rachael, who asked us not to use her full name, said she worried about the additional stress placed on families by the closure of the mental health treatment centre after her daughter was treated in Middlesbrough over Christmas. 

Her daughter, who turns 25 in May, has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act four times in the last six years. Now diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she was last admitted to the Briary Wing in December. 

“I had gone to see her at home,” said Rachael.

“She was behaving very worryingly – I was so horrified. She had been so stridently adamant that she didn’t want to go to hospital again. I felt completely paralysed.” 

It was a Saturday night, making it harder for Rachael to access the usual support services. Fortunately, her daughter eventually called the police. 

Rachael said the two officers who arrived had never seen anyone going through a psychotic episode before and were shocked by the reality of it, but stayed with them until an ambulance arrived. Her daughter was admitted to the Briary Unit, but transferred to Middlesbrough where she was treated for the next three weeks. 

“Partly they said it was to put her in more intensive care where they have got a higher staff ratio, but really I think there were no beds in the Briary,” said Rachael. “I never saw a consultant in all the visits I made. They said she might get transferred back but it never happened.” 

‘Triple unfamiliarity’

Now the Briary Wing has been closed, patients from the Harrogate district requiring inpatient treatment will go to the new Foss Park Hospital in York. Tees, Esk and Wear Valley (TEWV) NHS Trust, which provides mental health services in the Harrogate district, says it will also step up community-based care to prevent people needing to stay in hospital and to cut down the length of time they are there.

The new Foss Park Hospital in York

 Rachael believes the extra travel to York – or further afield if beds are in high demand – will add unnecessary stress to very difficult situations for patients and families. 

“I was very lucky that it so happened the weather was amazingly calm. Doing that in the middle of the winter when you are stressed out and want to find your way around, it’s not great – being plunged into triple unfamiliarity.” 

For Jane, a combination of difficulties with travel and the current coronavirus limitations mean that she is unable to see her husband, who is currently being treated at Foss Park Hospital. Although it is a new hospital with modern facilities, Jane said the whole situation would be made much easier if he were still in Harrogate:

“I don’t drive, so even if I was allowed to visit him, I couldn’t get there. We’ve been together for 10 years and we haven’t left each other’s side. Not being able to visit is making him worse.” 

Structure and routine

Jane’s husband was sectioned for the first time last week, after six months of struggling with his mental health following difficulties with bullying at work. The coronavirus lockdown caused further strain, leaving him without the structure and routine that helps him to manage. 

After several days of treatment, he is now preparing to come back home and Jane is keen that he has enough support in place to stop him deteriorating again. He had been receiving outpatient treatment at the Briary Unit over the last six months, but it was when that support was removed that he became severely unwell. Jane added: 

“We really do need the Briary Unit. It’s so badly needed in Harrogate. Mental health is becoming more of a problem here.” 

For Rachael, the reducing level of care available is a constant worry too. Her daughter is inconsistent with taking medication and attending psychiatry appointments, so Rachael feels another episode of psychosis is inevitable – especially as she does not believe her daughter has yet accepted her diagnosis. 

Now, Rachael can only wait and see whether – or when – her daughter begins to show the warning signs again: 

“There’s nothing done. When you are afraid someone’s working themselves up into mania, there’s nothing to be done. You are sitting on the sidelines almost going mad yourself, waiting for it to become a crisis. 

“It’s incredibly distressing. Somebody who’s so talented and you try your best and it’s not enough. I can’t live her life for her.” 

The hard work of NHS staff is being recognised with a piece of community artwork on Otley Road in Harrogate.

Railings at the junction with Harlow Moor Road have been decorated with blue ribbons, a yellow heart and the letters NHS in tribute to those saving lives around the country.

Andrew High, who put the ribbons onto the railings, said he wants members of the community to add their own decorations too. He said:

“If you’ve got family who have been treated, or people you know who work for the NHS, it doesn’t matter. In your own little way, just attach your bit of string or ribbon – whatever you have to hand.

“It will be nice to see more ribbons attached to it so we feel part of something. There are a few more slowly appearing.”

New ribbons are already being added to the railings by members of the community

Andrew was also the mastermind behind the decorations put up on Otley Road for the UCI Road World Championships last year. A member of the congregation at Harlow Hill Methodist Church, which was open every day for the community to gather and watch the cycling, he wanted to draw attention to the stretch of road which was a prominent feature in the racing routes throughout the week.

As well as the UCi colours in ribbons around the trees and benches, Andrew put lettering on the railings at the junction spelling out “Harlow Hill”, “Welcome” and “Yorkshire”. He said:

“I had planned this year to do the Olympic rings and every time someone from Yorkshire got a medal, I was going to put a gold, silver or bronze medal on with their name on. Of course, that hasn’t happened.

I thought it would be nice for the NHS to go up and people to add their own little bits. After the UCI, there was a nice feeling among the hill that we had joined together. That was an enjoyable experience. This isn’t, but it is nice to know we’re a community and people are thinking of and looking out for each other.”

Another patient has died at Harrogate District Hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths under Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust to 48.

The hospital this week confirmed that it has treated and discharged 70 patients diagnosed with Covid-19.

The patient died yesterday, May 1st, according to details released today by NHS England, which confirmed 370 deaths across the country. It brings the total for England to 20,853.

Of those confirmed today to have died, 25 had no known underlying health conditions. All patients were aged between 38 and 100.

NHS England has this week begun releasing daily data for deaths where the patient did not have a confirmed diagnosis, but where Covid-19 was listed on the death certificate. The statistics are only available for deaths which have occurred since April 24th, and are only divided by region.

In the North East and Yorkshire, five patients have this week died with suspected Covid-19. The total number of deaths in the region since the outbreak is 2,839, but this does not include deaths outside hospitals, such as in care homes.

This week, for the first time, data was released to show the number of deaths in care homes and other areas of the community in patients with suspected Covid-19. In the Harrogate district, 22 people are reported to have died with symptoms of the virus up to April 17th.

Household waste recycling centres (HWRC) will remain closed in North Yorkshire, despite several around the country re-opening this weekend.

North Yorkshire County Council said it is still working on the safest way for its tips to re-open, including the two in Harrogate and one in Ripon, despite growing demand from the public and concerns that a lack of the facility may lead to fly-tipping.

The decision to keep the gates closed has been challenged by Coun Geoff Webber, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on NYCC. He said:

“I fail to understand how people are expected to calculate sufficiency of storage space when we can’t tell them when the tips will reopen. Furthermore it seems to me completely unreasonable to ask people who are mainly confined to home not to generate waste through DIY or gardening.

Compliance with current regulations relies on the public acceptance that the regulations are reasonable and I fear that the County Council’s current position is far from that.”

Around the UK, other local authorities including Greater Manchester have re-opened their waste and recycling centres, after the local government secretary, Robert Jenrick, told the House of Commons on Tuesday that he expected tips to be open “within weeks”.

‘Cut non-essential travel’

Ian Fielding, NYCC’s assistant director for waste management, said:

“As it stands our household waste recycling centres remain closed for public safety and to cut non-essential travel but we will open them as soon as we can. The government are indicating that sites can reopen where they can be operated safely, and are preparing guidance for local authorities on how this might work in practice.

“We are considering how and when we might be able to open our sites, and operate them without putting staff or the public at risk. Before making a decision, we want to ensure that we have addressed all potential challenges regarding social distancing and traffic management but it is probable that not all sites will open initially, and it is likely that there will be significant restrictions on their use.”

Mr Fielding said the decision to close was made alongside other local authorities in England and NYCC was working hard to get the HWRCs open again as soon as possible.

While the tips remain closed, he urged people not to create additional waste and reminded the public that fly tipping carries legal penalties:  

“During this lockdown period we are asking people to minimise their waste as much as possible. For instance, please do not begin DIY or gardening projects if you don’t have space to store that waste until the HWRCs are able to reopen.

“Do not be tempted to fly tip. It is an offence punishable by fines or imprisonment and offenders will be prosecuted.”

The chairman of Harrogate BID and three of its directors have sent a stinging letter of resignation to the board.

Citing undue council influence, a lack of openness and a business plan that does not reflect the reality of the state of the town centre, the four – more than a quarter of the board’s 15 members – have stepped down with immediate effect.

The letter highlights the desperate situation which chairman Bob Kennedy and directors Chris Bentley, Robert Ogden and Rob Spencer believe Harrogate is now facing. It refers to an accumulation of negative impacts from the UCI Road World Championships and the Covid-19 lockdown, as well as a more general crisis for retail.

It says:

“Without a consensus view on the board of the dire state of the town’s economy, particularly its retail heart, and its causes, addressing the key issues cannot be achieved.

“The strong influence of Borough and County Council on the board of an organisation that according to government guidance is supposed to be a ‘business-led’ partnership means that any initiative that addresses the councils’ input is endlessly debated, and sensible options resisted. It has not even been possible to garner cross-board agreement that the current aesthetic state of Harrogate town centre is not adequate, something that is self-evident to business leaders and residents alike but is constantly denied or excused by councils.”

Chairman Bob Kennedy is among four directors to have resigned from Harrogate BID

The letter then says the original business plan created by the BID will waste money on some areas and fail to fund others adequately. The plan should have been re-written and the budgets re-allocated to reflect the changing challenges of the last 18 months, according to the four signatories.

They also cite a lack of openness in the way the BID is being run:

“From the start, Harrogate BID was set up not to operate in the open or transparent way it should, with addended confidentiality provisions for directors that other BIDs, for instance York’s, do not have and which we are informed are incompatible with it performing a public function. Recent events reinforce this view, and BID is currently pursuing an approach that appears to be more about suppressing criticism and spinning positive messaging than acknowledging the hard realities of the situation.”

Strong council influence

Finally, the directors say they have lost confidence that the board is going to spend its money in ways which will benefit businesses, not least because of the influence of the two local authorities. Funded by a compulsory levy on rate-payers in the town centre, it has an annual income of around £500,000. They say:

“Such transformative commercial imperatives as free parking would be unlikely ever to be championed by Harrogate BID, as they have been by other BIDs across the country, while there is such a strong council influence on its board, and the business plan forces spending on areas that do not address the key issues.”

The resignations come just 10 days after the announcement of a new manager for the BID, Simon Kent. The four directors recognise his appointment and wish the remaining board members well, but say:

“Much as it pains us to state this, Harrogate was struggling before COVID-19. Now, the reality of the situation is becoming very serious indeed.”

More:

Read the resignation letter in full

Where does Harrogate BID go from here?

Harrogate BID was established in the course of 2018 with the aim of giving businesses a greater say in the way their town developed.

It was always supposed to be business-led – a fundamental rule of all BIDs is that they cannot be used to replace the work of local authorities. The blurring of the lines between the BID, Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, however, lies at the heart of today’s resignations.

Harrogate BID is a limited company and is funded through a levy that is paid by all the business rate payers within a designated BID area, in addition to the business rates bill.  The levy in Harrogate’s case earns the BID more than £500,000 a year.

Because its properties fall within the BID area, Harrogate Borough Council is a significant contributor to that income, and its leader, Coun Richard Cooper, sits on the BID board alongside NYCC’s corporate director for business and environmental services, David Bowe. With Sgt Alex Sellars of North Yorkshire Police, they fill the three public sector positions on the board of 15.

Local authority representation is recommended in the government’s best practice advice to BIDs. It says:

“It is essential that you establish a positive relationship with your Local Authority. It is important you identify a key contact at the authority and keep them informed of progress at every stage.

“An authority will have its own plans for the area and will need to appreciate the benefits to businesses and the community of having a BID. It will want to be assured that the BID arrangements complement and preferably enhance the local authority’s proposals.

“Ideally the local authority will have a seat on the BID Board. The authority and BID will need to agree the additional services the BID intends to deliver.”

According to the four who resigned today, however, that relationship has hampered Harrogate BID’s ability to progress its plans for the benefit of its levy payers. After today’s resignations, all three of the board’s positions for independent businesses are vacant.

Changes to the board

In the spring of 2019 in the BID’s first newsletter, the then chairman, John Fox, talked of “exciting projects” to help attract more footfall to Harrogate.

However, in the months that passed, the BID struggled to find a way of working: only three of the current 15 board members have been in place since this time last year. John Fox stepped down at the end of 2019 and a manager appointed last July left the post within four months.

Today’s letter of resignation by its new chairman – only appointed in March – and three other board members, all from the private sector, shows how frustrated and disempowered they felt at not being able to get things done – how BID proposals were either resisted or subject to “endless debate” about the local authorities’ work. There were arguments too over what was the council’s responsibility and what was the BID’s.

The Harrogate BID website says the aim of the BID is to “empower local businesses to tackle local issues…” Today’s letter makes clear that the Chairman and directors who resigned have no faith in the ability of the BID to tackle Harrogate’s issues – which, they say, run much deeper than its board is willing to admit.

Interim BID manager, Simon Kent

Earlier this week, the new interim BID manager, Simon Kent, told The Stray Ferret he wanted “to turn conversations and plans into real actions” and outlined its priorities. Mr Kent’s job to achieve those goals got a whole load more difficult today.

There are questions now for the two local authorities about how they have worked with the BID and how they can answer the criticism levied at them in the resignation letter.

Concluding their letter with a warning that Harrogate was struggling before the current lockdown, the chairman and directors say “the reality of the situation is becoming very serious indeed” for Harrogate town centre. There is huge pressure now on remaining board members to make levy payers feel their contribution was worth it and for the BID, despite the current circumstances, to deliver some meaningful results.