More than 400 protective visors and 200 pairs of safety goggles have been delivered to key workers thanks to schools in Harrogate.

Harrogate Grammar School’s design department has created the visors in less than a week, delivering first to Mowbray Square Medical Centre and then to Harrogate District Hospital.

Meanwhile, Ashville College has raided the store cupboard in its science department and handed over goggles to be used on the front line.

Richard Marshall, Headmaster of Ashville College, said: “I’d much sooner they were being used, now, by staff in our local hospital, rather than being sat in a cupboard for the foreseeable future.

“Whilst Ashville may be physically closed, it doesn’t stop us from supporting the community that we have been proud to be a part of for over 140 years.”

At Harrogate Grammar School, production on the visors will continue at a rate of 200 per day for as long as they are needed. It has received requests from Yorkshire Ambulance Service, care homes and a consultant in Leeds.

To increase production, the school has now shared the 2D cutting file with Leeds-based schools in the Red Kite Learning Trust. Support has also been offered by the fire service to get as many visors out to where they are needed as possible, while staff at Harrogate District Hospital have sent a message of appreciation, pictured.

A spokesman for Harrogate Grammar School said: “The added benefit of these visors is that they are 100% plastic so can be cleaned and reused whereas others are disposable. They are also fully adjustable, allowing for no gaps around the head therefore heightening safety.

“Harrogate Grammar School are delighted to be able to support local critical workers and help save lives.”

Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital will have up to 500 beds available to care for coronavirus patients, it has been announced.

NHS England has now confirmed the plans for the hospital at Harrogate Convention Centre for the first time, after increasing activity on the site this week.

It was announced alongside a new Nightingale hospital in Bristol, which will accommodate up to 1,500 patients at a time. Other Nightingale hospitals in Manchester and Birmingham are already being created and one at London’s Excel centre will open for patients from today.

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said it was “nothing short of extraordinary” that the new hospital in London had been set up in less than a fortnight, with support from the Ministry of Defence.

“The NHS, working with the military, has done in a matter of days what usually takes years,” he said. “Now we are gearing up to repeat that feat at another four sites across the country to add to the surge capacity in current NHS hospitals.

“We’re giving the go ahead to these additional sites, hoping they may not be needed but preparing in case they are. But that will partly depend on continuing public support for measures to reduce growth in the infection rate by staying at home to save lives.”

A university student is making good use of her time in lockdown by providing free concerts for her Harrogate neighbours. 

Lucy Crocker, 22, played songs from her front garden in Mallinson Oval last Friday, hoping to lift spirits. 

So many of them came outside to listen from their doorsteps and driveways that she is planning to make it a weekly concert. 

She said: “I saw videos of people giving concerts on their balconies and I thought, ‘I could do that’.  

“When I’m at university, we have informal student recitals every Monday and I miss that when I’m away.” 

Former Harrogate Grammar School student Lucy plays viola and sings, and says she can play a few chords on the ukulele. Her first performance consisted mostly of music she already knows, but she has been taking requests from her neighbours and practising their suggestions. 

“I don’t know that much modern music – I’m more used to playing in orchestras,” she said. “But I’m OK at playing by ear, so if I know the song I can usually play it.” 

Lucy plans to continue her concerts for as long as people are at home to hear them. She is preparing to sit the final exams for her earth sciences degree at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, from home, where her parents and younger brother are also in lockdown. 

There are other families living nearby, as well as elderly people, and Lucy said she was keen to bring people together, even if from a distance. 

“I wanted to have a little bit of interaction with the neighbours that isn’t just on a messenger basis,” she said. “They all came out and seemed to enjoy not just the music, but all being out at the same time and chatting to each other across the road.” 

Among those who appreciated the performance was Margaret Willis, who has family living in Harrogate and helping out with food supplies but is missing seeing people every day. 

“All us oldies were out in the road,” she said. “We all kept our distance but it was nice to get out and chat to neighbours.  

“I think it did us all good. Everybody said how lovely it was. Even people who hadn’t been out for ages brought a chair out and sat down to listen – it was really good.” 

A draft petition asking for widespread testing of the public for coronavirus has been rejected by the government, which claims decisions over medical testing are not in its remit. 

A proposal by the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Harrogate, Coun Pat Marsh, was submitted to the government’s petitions site on 17th March calling for more testing of the population. Six days later, it was rejected on the grounds that medical testing was not in the government’s remit. The response said: 

“We can’t accept your petition because the UK Government and Parliament aren’t responsible for the issue you raise. The conduct of tests is a clinical decision for the NHS, not the UK Government or Parliament.”

Coun Pat Marsh said: “I was absolutely outraged when I received the response. I understand who has to physically do the tests, but the government must have some responsibility for purchasing tests and having them distributed to the right places.”

She believes testing of frontline workers – including NHS staff, carers, supermarket employees and other key workers – at an earlier stage could have made a significant difference to the spread of the virus, as well as preventing any needless 14-day isolation periods which kept vital staff away from work. 

Security guards, the Army and others have been seen at Harrogate Convention Centre this week as it is converted into a ‘Nightingale’ hospital

Coun Marsh has accused the government of dereliction of duty in its failure to roll out widespread testing at an early stage, and its claim that it has no responsibility for deciding who is tested. She has also criticised the way the news about the ‘Nightingale’ hospital came out, with no official confirmation despite intense activity at Harrogate Convention Centre which, she said, could have caused alarm.

“I don’t feel comfortable with the government’s approach,” she said. “Of course, you might think I’d say that, but it doesn’t matter what colour the government is. I want us to be safe and for them to do everything within their power to make sure we’re kept safe and well.”

The Stray Ferret has contacted Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, about the government’s position on testing but has not yet received a response.

Residents living near a proposed motorway service area are preparing to fight a fifth application to develop the site.

Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services (RAMS) say they will protest at developer Applegreen’s AGM in Dublin, if current travel restrictions are lifted.

The company’s application for the site along the A1(M) was rejected by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in November last year, but an appeal was lodged in February. Now, the residents’ group is urging Applegreen to drop the plans rather than waste further money in pursuing the project.

Coun Nick Brown, who represents the ward on Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“As a former main board director of a company quoted on the London Stock Exchange, I would like to ask CEO Bob Etchingham and the directors of Applegreen to take a really close look at what they are doing here.

Speculatively ‘having a go’ at getting planning permission is one thing, but the Local Planning Authority has given six good reasons for refusal, on the back of four previous projects at this site that have gone the same way, three of them after Public Inquiry. Given the current business climate, I don’t understand why Applegreen is continuing to invest in such a controversial project, with so little prospect of success, contrary to the social and environmental credentials they claim for their brand.

If ever there was a time for management to cut their losses on this project, it is now.”

Kirby Hill RAMS has been fighting against applications for motorway services on the site for almost a quarter of a century, after the first plans were put forward in 1996. HBC said the current application would cause substantial harm to the surrounding countryside and environment of the village, as well as to the economy of neighbouring Boroughbridge.

Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services protested against the proposals by Applegreen, which was rejected in 2019

RAMS chairman Gareth Owens said:

“Kirby Hill is Britain’s most controversial proposed MSA site for a good reason: it is a completely inappropriate location for this type of development, which would cause substantial harm.For 24 years, decision-makers in the planning system and in the courts have agreed with us… We feel very strongly that the company should now respect Harrogate Borough Council’s decision.”

Eugene Moore, Applegreen’s chief development director, said:

“Applegreen has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate to consider the planning decision for the Vale of York motorway service area proposals. We don’t believe it is appropriate to comment on the process further until the appeal has been heard.”

The Ministry of Defence is in the process of converting Harrogate Convention Centre into a ‘Nightingale’ hospital to fight the coronavirus crisis.

A source told The Stray Ferret that one hall is being turned into a ‘field hospital’ to help the NHS deal with the expected high pressure created by the growing number of cases.

Although full details have yet to be confirmed, an announcement is expected imminently by the government as part of its continuing escalation of measures against the coronavirus outbreak. Three temporary ‘Nightingale’ hospitals have already been announced – in London, Manchester and Birmingham – with more understood to be in the planning stages.

It is understood that the hospital at the convention centre could be up and running within a week.

The social care system is playing its part in fighting the coronavirus outbreak – and needs the whole community to continue to do so too. 

That is the message from Richard Webb, Director of Health and Adult Services at North Yorkshire County Council, who praised the efforts of local people to support each other. 

“I think that’s fantastic, the way people are offering their support,” he said. “It’s not only practical stuff, it’s things to keep people well. Mental health is really important.

“That’s where particularly volunteers and community support will help. If you know some people are isolated, ring them every day and keep in touch. Help arrange their shopping or just have a chat.”

Mr Webb, pictured, said he had been impressed by organisations doing their bit to keep families busy and individuals’ spirits high. This week, Harrogate Theatre has been showing its pantomime online for free, while Harrogate International Festivals – of which he is a trustee – has plans to do more too. 

While neighbours can look out for each other, Mr Webb is working with care providers and other organisations to look after 70,000 people in the community across North Yorkshire, many of whom are vulnerable to coronavirus because of their age or health conditions. 

As has been widely reported with the NHS, there is huge strain on social care too, with personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer in high demand around the world. Social care providers and supporting organisations across the Harrogate district are working harder than ever to ensure they meet the needs of their service users. 

“It’s a time of huge challenge for everyone,” said Mr Webb. “We’re working really closely with them, trying to make sure we have enough availability of care.  

“They will have people going off sick and self-isolating as so many are, so we need to make sure there are enough people to go around. We’re using mutual aid, so if people haven’t got enough staff for one service, we can help by moving them across from elsewhere.” 

With so much strain already on social care, as well as the NHS, Mr Webb said he does not expect the situation to be quickly resolved. 

“I think it’s too early to say [how long it will last],” he said. “Boris Johnson said we will review it in three weeks, but the NHS is cancelling routine operations for 12 weeks.  

“The worst might be over by then, but we need to be prepared for it to last for some time yet. In other countries, it’s taking some time. That’s why it’s really important people stay in and help prevent it spreading.” 

As a resident of Harrogate, Mr Webb said residents are fortunate to have outdoor spaces to exercise and still be able to keep their distance from each other. He said it was vital for people to remember the basic advice, including continuing to wash hands thoroughly and regularly. 

“I want to say thank you to everyone, for all they’re doing to support each other and to work with us. If there are changes to health and social care because we’re dealing with this, please bear with us.  

“And please stay home, stay safe and keep your distance.” 

Across the country, recently retired doctors, nurses and other NHS staff are being invited to return to work. 

The government has vowed to relax restrictions for such workers to enable them to help out as medical services face growing demand, and as current staff fall ill themselves.

While they won’t be invited as part of the current scheme, there are also NHS staff who have been on career breaks for other reasons now preparing to offer their services again. 

GP Joanne Gregson, who has been off work since having daughter Edie in October 2018, has contacted the Local Medical Committee to find out where she is most needed. For her, work will be very different when she returns than it was when she left.

“We’re all subject to the self-isolation rules too,” she said. “If Edie gets a temperature, I’m out of action for a couple of weeks. 

“A lot of practices are doing video and telephone consultations now, trying to limit face-to-face contact. That should help to keep as many of us working as possible.” 

Support after career break

Dr Gregson had already been considering a soft return to work through the GP retainer scheme, which offers mentoring to doctors coming back to practice after a break. However, with practices now in need of help to cope with high demand, she may return to work in one of the most difficult periods in the history of the NHS. 

“It is anxiety-provoking because I was planning to go back in a very controlled manner,” she said. “As doctors, we’re very conscientious. We don’t want to make mistakes, we’re human and we want to do our best. 

“I wanted to do some courses and get back up to speed. Going back as a retainer meant after each appointment I could speak to a mentor and go through things. Now, I know everyone is going to be working at their capacity and as much as people will try to help, they may not be able to find that extra time.” 

With colleagues and friends working in front-line NHS care, Dr Gregson said she is hearing stories about their experiences:

“There’s a bit of disgruntlement about social distancing. We aren’t really seeing people doing it. I can understand that, because it seems unreal still, but we’re seeing what’s happening in Italy and it is worrying. The message coming from my colleagues is, ‘do your bit. This is coming and we all have to act responsibly’.” 

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in North Yorkshire has risen by almost 40 per cent in one day, according to Public Health England.

The organisation reported there were 69 cases in the county on Friday, compared to 50 the day before.

At present, most patients are only tested if they are admitted to hospital with severe symptoms, so figures do not include people who have symptoms but are able to stay at home. There are no specific figures for the Harrogate district, but two people have died at Harrogate District Hospital after testing positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, local authorities, police and other landowners including Yorkshire Water have asked the public to stay at home and not travel to popular tourism destinations and beauty spots this weekend.

It follows large crowds seen at locations including Swinsty, Fewston and Thruscross reservoirs last weekend. Good weather on Mother’s Day is believed to have contributed to people looking for places to meet family outdoors, leading to further curbs on activities by the government from last Monday evening.

North Yorkshire Police have now set up check-points to ensure anyone travelling is only doing so for essential reasons, such as key workers going to work or individuals going to buy food. They say they will be issuing fines of up to £1,000 for anyone caught flouting the rules.

Access to support promised by the government is proving difficult for residents in the Harrogate district as people across the country attempt to get advice. 

From business rates relief to mortgage holidays, phone lines for government organisations and financial providers have been jammed by people trying to speak to someone about how they can access the promised support. 

And in some cases, even when they finally get through, people are finding the help is not available. 

Kate Curtis, a self-employed inventory clerk in Harrogate, spent seven hours on the phone to Santander only to be told she was not eligible for a mortgage holiday because she had money in her current and business accounts. 

She said: “I told them that money was to pay my tax bill, but they wanted to see last year’s tax bill to prove how much it would be. 

“I’m fortunate that I’ve earned more this year because I’ve been really busy so my tax bill will be much higher. They want to see this year’s accounts, which I can’t do until April, and I’ve just had an email from my accountant saying she’s unwell and having to self-isolate.” 

What concerns Kate is that the announcements from the government seem to be open to interpretation, so there is no consistency. Other people have reported that getting a mortgage holiday from their provider has been more straightforward, with few or no checks on their finances. 

Business as usual

That inconsistency is also affecting Kate’s work with lettings and estate agents, checking rental properties after tenancies end. There has been no clear instruction to property firms to stop working, so many of them are continuing to arrange viewings – albeit some online – and request her services. 

“There’s pressure on from a couple of my clients to still carry out some of the appointments,” she said. “I’ve said I’ve got a moral and social responsibility and I’m not going to work. 

“Even if the property is empty, I’m often asked to go to blocks of flats with communal areas – one yesterday was a retirement block. They’re not fulfilling their duty of care to people like me or to their staff.” 

For Kate, who is now home-schooling two children, the only solution is for the government to be much more stringent in the restrictions, so they are not open to interpretation by businesses, whether that is employers or banks. 

Meanwhile, she is anxiously waiting to hear what support will be on offer for the self-employed, with an announcement expected imminently from the Chancellor. However, the rapid growth of her business in the last year may again leave her with little support if long-term earnings have to be proved. 

With her pilot husband unsure whether he will be paid for the coming months, the family is in a precarious position. 

“We went through redundancy five years ago,” she said. “It’s only in the last six or nine months we have got back on our feet and cleared the debt and started to be able to put some money aside again.”