After 16 years outside English football’s top flight, Leeds United fans in Harrogate are preparing for a return to the Premier League and a first piece of silverware in 28 years.

The Whites confirmed promotion last Friday after an Emile Smith Rowe goal in the 86th minute for Huddersfield Town defeated West Bromwich Albion 2-1.

Less than 24 hours later, United clinched the title without kicking a ball as third-placed Brentford lost to Stoke City.

For Lai Lam, branch member and publicity officer at Harrogate and District Leeds United Supporters group, the moment on Friday night was special.

“I got loads of messages about going down to Elland Road but I’m trying to be responsible so stayed away.

“I saw the footage of the ones who did though, then saw the team on the steps of the East Stand on Facebook. It was brilliant.”

The supporters group, which was formerly Knaresborough branch until 1996, has around 150 paid members and usually follows the club home and away.

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Miss Lam, a season ticket holder for 30 years, joined the branch for the 1995/96 season and saw United relegated to the Championship at Bolton in 2004. She said:

“Most of us realised we were going down but we didn’t realise it was only the start of the rot that took us even lower.”

After a play-off final defeat to Watford in 2006, United dropped into the third tier for the first time in the club’s history the following season.

https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1284470294263083008

Promotion back to the second division in 2010 was a ray of hope in dark times. But the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as head coach in 2018 proved to be the catalyst for a return to the Premier League.

Now, Miss Lam and fellow branch members are itching to get back into the ground to see the team for the first time since March. She said:

“We play some of the best football I’ve have seen in years. I’m looking forward to seeing how Bielsa’s ways work in the Premier League. 

“The man is a genius. He’s completely transformed football in two short years.

“When we can get into the grounds it’ll be great to see the atmosphere that our fans generate.”

Before that though, there is a small matter of lifting the Championship trophy, which United will be presented with following the Charlton game tonight.

Amid the pandemic, football fans have been forced to watch their teams away from the stadiums. Instead, Miss Lam will celebrate the Whites’ first piece of silverware since 1992 at home with friends. 

“It has ruined what should have been a fantastic end to the season. This is the first year the players and the club have been so approachable and we could really have enjoyed it with them.

“But we’re promoted with the best points tally for ages.”

Rudding Park has confirmed it will reopen its spa this weekend.

The hotel welcomed back visitors for overnight stays on July 13 but the spa has remained closed.

However, from Saturday guests will finally be able to enjoy a pamper day.

The spa will be operating at reduced capacity. The steam rooms and saunas will remain closed until further notice and face treatments, including waxing and makeup will also not be allowed.

However, the hydrotherapy pool, spa bath, sunlight therapy, foot spa and indoor swimming pool will be open for use.

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Peter Jones, managing director of Rudding Park, told The Stray Ferret:

“We are delighted Rudding Park spa will re-open on Saturday 25 July. We have put measures in place so guests can spa with confidence and are very much looking forward to welcoming guests back to relax and unwind on the rooftop spa.”

The spa will have reduced capacity, with 20 people allowed in the pool at once.

Guest are encouraged to arrive as prepared as possible for their spa experience to reduce time in the changing rooms. Visitors are also requested to shower at home after their visit.

Enhanced cleaning will be in place and face coverings will be available for guests on arrival. Magazines and newspapers will be removed to limit touch points.

Details will be taken from guests when booking as part of the test and trace initiative and all guests will need to book online before visiting.

This week’s launch of a second community radio station for Harrogate, and the forthcoming rebrand of Stray FM, has reshaped the local radio landscape.

HG1 Radio, which employs 17 staff, began broadcasting on Monday.

The station, which is available online, as an app or on smart speakers, is owned by YO1 Enterprises, which also runs YO1 Radio, a community radio station for York.

Chris Marsden, programmes director at Y01 Enterprises, said the growth of community radio in Harrogate reflected the national picture as more and more independent local radio stations were bought by large companies. He said:

“The big guys are swooping in and taking over independent stations.”

He said people were “incredibly sad” about the changes to Stray FM, which was bought by Bauer Media last year and will become Greatest Hits Radio in September.

Bauer Media announced in May that Stray FM would become Greatest Hits Radio.

More than 3,000 people have signed a petition set up by the local Liberal Democrats to save Stray FM. Marsden said changes to Stray FM created opportunities for community radio stations.

Marsden, who presented the Stray FM breakfast show 15 years ago, said HG1 Radio would attempt to emulate Stray FM’s traditional role by supporting community events and having high profile local presenters.

“It will be polished, commercially viable and easy to listen to,” said Marsden, who said Y01 Radio currently had “tens of thousands” of listeners.

He added the station would apply for an FM licence.

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The arrival of HG1 Radio provides an alternative to Harrogate Community Radio, which will celebrate its first birthday on 1 August.

Andrew Backhouse, one of three co-founders of Harrogate Community Radio, said he wished HG1 Radio “the best of luck”.

He added:

“We all cater for different audiences. We are run by volunteers and don’t have adverts. We try to be as democratic as possible. We are a not-for-profit organisation that is run by the community, for the community.”

Backhouse said the number of listeners had increased on average by 20 per cent each since the station launched. He said:

“We don’t want to make any money out of it. We just want to let people who don’t have a voice, have a voice.”

Harrogate shop owners have voiced frustration over the Leeds Road roundabout works as cars queued all the way back to Marks & Spencer today.

The roadworks will be in place until September 1 to allow for cable overlay works by Northern Powergrid.

Two of the roundabout’s six exits on Langcliffe Avenue and Park Drive have been closed and traffic lights are in place on the others.

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That roundabout is a key route into the town centre and is also home to a variety of shops, including butchers and hairdressers.

They told The Stray Ferret they expect to be adversely affected, adding it was particularly painful after the coronavirus lockdown.

The traffic backs up to Marks & Spencer on Leeds Road.

Michaela and Ben Stothard, the brother and sister team behind Posh Paws, said it was heartbreaking to see the roadworks.

“We are a bit stuck really because nobody wants to come near the shop. We have just come out of the hardship of coronavirus to see this. If people can’t come to us we will deliver to them.”

The owner of Ake and Humphries.

Paul Auty, the owner of beer and wine specialists Ake and Humphris, will be trying to push a delivery service as well:

“This is now the third time in two years that this road has been dug up. Each time it happens it causes a lot of traffic and great inconvenience to the people around here. The last time we had two weeks of roadworks we lost 40% of business. It would have been better to close the doors.”

Tony Colbeck, the owner of Country Butchers, said it was “unbelievable” to see the roadworks again:

“It should have been done in the coronavirus lockdown when there weren’t as many cars. We found today that because it is quiet, people stay away. I don’t know what it is about Harrogate at the moment but they seem to be ripping up every road.”

The owner of Country Butchers.

Jasmine Pinchin, the manager at Harrogate Hair Studio, described the situation as a “nightmare.”

“We are only allowed a few people in at the moment anyway. So we are at half capacity working 9am to 10pm every day for half the money. Then we have this disruption which is making our timings run back.”

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Northern Powergrid is refurbishing and replacing the electricity network at this location. To reduce waiting times and queue lengths, a closure has been implemented at Langcliffe Avenue and Park Drive. The alternative would have been to temporarily signalise each approach to the roundabout.”

Harrogate police have warned of an increase in fraudulent door to door sellers.

The force said it had received several reports of incidents this week. Some involved offers to clean driveways and gutters for payment in advance by people who did not then carry out the work. Others claimed to be part of an ex-offenders rehabilitation scheme.

The police urged people to check whether doorstep sellers held a pedlar’s certificate, which can be inspected to prove identity and nature of business.

The police are warning residents of a rise in incidents of fraudulent door to door sellers.

Andy Fox, financial abuse safeguarding officer, said:

“Don’t open the door without verifying their identity and don’t be afraid to ask them to leave or shut the door if you don’t want to engage. Call the police if you’re at all concerned. Be wary of anyone using high pressure sales techniques too.

“We often see a rise in these type of doorstep sellers at different times but there has definitely been an increase in reports of them across North Yorkshire recently.”

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The police have also suggested installing a door chair or peephole so residents can safely see outside without having to open their door.

To report suspicious doorstop sellers to the police call 101 or Trading Standards.

Harrogate Borough Council is considering a major £46.8 million investment in the Harrogate Convention Centre.

The council will ask the cabinet next week to spend £1 million on detailed design and project work. The majority of that £1 million will be borrowed. It is unclear how the council will fund the full refurbishment.

Harrogate Convention Centre is now over 40 years old and the council has acknowledged that the infrastructure and equipment are both reaching the end of their useful life.

Council documents estimate that without investment, it would cost £19 million in long term maintenance costs and the “venue will not survive.”

It is also unclear when the project would start as the NHS has extended the Nightingale Hospital contract over the past few months.

The Prime Minister recently confirmed it could stay until March 2021, though no agreement has been reached with the NHS.

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The council is proposing to refurbish the conference centre, auditorium and two of the main halls. They also plan to divide the space known as Studio 2 to create “breakout facilities” for up to 1,850 delegates.

Plans also include “refreshing the look” of the outside of the building and improving access between internal spaces. To improve the centre’s energy costs the council also plans to improve the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

The second phase of the plans also proposes demolishing a part of the site to make way for a new 5,000 square metre events space. The report assumes a three year delay between the first and second phases.

The centre’s managers said they are moving away from focusing purely on exhibitions to include large national association conferences, attracting more than 500 delegates. They said this will increase the £35 million economic impact brought to the town by the venue.

Paula Lorimer, the director of Harrogate Convention Centre, said:

“Our exciting plans will reinvigorate and re-establish the convention centre. My ambition is for us to return to the top tier of conference and exhibition centres in the UK as we attract new – and bigger – events in the future. This will have a significant, positive, impact on the local economy.”

The number of people who donated organs after they died at Harrogate District Hospital fell from six in 2018/19 to four in 2019/20.

The figures were included in the NHS’ annual Transplant Activity Report and show that those who died donated eight kidneys, three livers and one pancreas to the hospital.

Organ donation law changed in May this year to an “opt out” system.

This means that if you are not in an excluded group, and have not confirmed whether you want to be an organ donor – it will be considered that you agree to donate your organs when you die.

Nationally 1,580 people donated at least one organ after they died, a fall of 1% from last year, which the NHS attributed to the coronavirus pandemic.

Across the UK, the number of people whose lives have been improved or saved by organ and tissue donation this year is 3,760.

There are currently 3,108 people in the UK awaiting an organ transplant.

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To coincide with the release of the report, staff at Harrogate District Hospital have shared their own organ donation experiences and encouraged family members to talk to each other about donating organs.

Sarah Whitton, project manager for the programme management office and digital delivery team at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT), lost her younger brother in 2017.

She said:

“Gavin was one of the kindest people I know, so it seemed fitting that his final act of kindness after a tragic accident was to improve, if not save, the lives of five others.

“He had shared his organ donation wishes with his wife which made the family decision so much easier. Losing him has been life changing for our family but we take great comfort in knowing that he lives on in others.”

Beverley Harrison, complementary therapies co-ordinator at HDFT, received an organ donation in 2012 when her liver deteriorated due to auto-immune hepatitis.

After being told she had days to live, the donation saved her life.

She said:

“When it comes down to it and you have 48 hours left to live, you have to hope that people have already had that conversation with their relatives. It can happen to anyone, so it is vital we all have these conversations now.”

Zero Carbon Harrogate is screening an award-winning climate documentary online tomorrow.

2040, which is directed by and stars Australian Damon Gameau, explores what the world might look like if measures are taken to protect the environment by reducing carbon emissions.

The screening will take place at 7pm and will be followed by a short Q&A session via zoom.

The panel will include the chair of the Harrogate Climate Coalition, Cllr Phil Ireland, the chair of Zero Carbon Harrogate, Jemima Parker, and the chair of Zero Carbon Harrogate Natural Climate Solutions, Ian Fraser.

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The film explores a number of themes, including female empowerment, regenerative agriculture and renewable energy.

2040 aims to encourage people to take responsibility for the world to “secure it for generations.”

The event is free but donations are welcome. To book tickets visit their website.

Andrew Jones and Julian Smith both voted against protecting the NHS from any future trade deal with the United States or other country.

Last night’s amendment to the Trade Bill, which failed by 251 votes to 340, also included a provision to ensure the NHS principle of being “free at the point of delivery” was not compromised by any future trade deal.

The Trade Bill lays out what trading relationship UK will have with other countries post-Brexit. The amendment was submitted by Green MP Caroline Lucas and was backed by Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer.

Included in the failed amendment were attempts to protect NHS staff from having their wages or rights cut as the result of a trade deal, protections around the pricing of medicines, and stopping confidential patient data being sold off to private companies.

Trade minister Greg Hands told the Commons that the NHS “remains protected and will never be on the table at any trade deal”.

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The campaign group We Own It said the MPs who voted against the amendment have “handed the NHS to Donald Trump on a silver platter”.

During the 2019 General Election, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn produced a leaked document which claimed that the NHS was ‘on the table’ in future trade talks with the United States. This was denied by prime minister Boris Johnson.

When he visited the UK in June 2019, President Trump said that the NHS could form part of trade negotiations between the two countries.

Earlier this week, Andrew Jones, the Harrogate & Knaresborough MP, praised the new rainbow tribute in Harrogate to key workers.

The Stray Ferret contacted both Andrew Jones and Julian Smith to ask why they voted against the amendment last night but neither had responded at the time of publication.

North Yorkshire Police has called for a Harrogate pub’s licence to be removed after it came under fire for breaching lockdown rules.

The Coach and Horses was told by Harrogate Borough Council that its licence was under review after people gathered outside the pub on West Park drinking which breached coronavirus guidelines.

The pub was issued a prohibition notice by the council on May 31 for “repeatedly breaking the rules”. Officials said around 75 customers were in the area drinking at one point.

People gathered outside the Coach and Horses back in May.

Now, police have called for the pub to be stripped of its licence in the interests of public safety.

Councillors on the borough council’s licensing committee will decide on the future of the pub’s licence on Wednesday.

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In a letter to the council’s licensing committee, Jackie Allen, police licensing officer, said the Coach and Horses did not comply with coronavirus regulations.

It said:

“It is believed that if the premises are allowed to retain a premise licence this will have an adverse effect on the local community…

“It is the view of North Yorkshire Police that the premises licence should be revoked and would respectfully direct members to Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 ‘it shall be the duty of each authority to which the section applies to do all it reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder in its area.’”

The force said it received 14 separate reports from members of the public between May 30 and June 2 over customers drinking from open containers outside. Police say this also breaches the pub’s licence.