Harrogate 16-year-old girl missing for five days

A 16-year-old girl has been missing from Harrogate for five days and is believed to be in the Leeds area moving around hotels.

Casey Ackerley has been described as white, approximately 5ft 6in tall and of slim build.

She has very long, light, brown hair and was last seen wearing a salmon pink tracksuit and white trainers.

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North Yorkshire Police has passed the case onto West Yorkshire Police and has urged the public to share any information with the neighbouring force.

To share information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 – quoting 12200132258 as the police reference number.

Council could spend £4.5m on 52 homes in Harrogate

Harrogate Borough Council is planning to buy 52 homes at the Castle Hill Farm development on Whinney Lane.

In a report due to be discussed by the council’s cabinet next week, the council says the homes would cost £4.5m in total.

Sixteen homes would be transferred to HBC’s housing company, Bracewell Homes, to be sold under shared ownership, and the rest would be made available for social rent.

Developer Stonebridge Homes has planning permission to build 130 homes at the site. Work is currently under way and the first homes are scheduled for completion in November.

HBC says it could recoup between £1.18m and £2.37m from the 16 shared ownership properties, with the council turning a profit on the purchase after at least 13 years thanks to the rental income.

The council said the shared ownership homes will support first-time buyers in the district.

“The acquisition of 16 shared ownership homes by the council or its housing company will provide a great opportunity to meet high demand from potential first-time buyers in the district and will generate a revenue stream to support council services.”

The council also believes the purchase would help ease demand for socially rented homes as there are currently 1,249 households on the waiting list.

However, the council warned there is “uncertainty” over the medium- to long-term future of the housing market as estate agents in the district report a “pent up” demand for housing following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

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The Stray Ferret asked Stonebridge Homes about HBC’s involvement in the scheme but the company had not responded by the time of publication.

There have been signs locally that, since lockdown, housebuilders are being more cautious with developments. Last month, the UK’s largest housebuilder, Barratt Homes, pulled out of a 390-home development in Littlethorpe, Ripon.

Meanwhile, Banks Group submitted plans for 270 homes and a primary school on the opposite side of the Castle Hill Farm site on Whinney Lane.

Whinney Lane is now closed for seven months due to the construction of two site access points for the Castle Hill Farm housing development as well as a new roundabout.

The manager of the Squinting Cat pub told the Stray Ferret that the closure “could kill” the business.

Gallery aims to ‘put Harrogate on the map’ for art

A contemporary art gallery has relocated from Kirbymoorside to Harrogate.

Bils & Rye on John Street specialise in 3D works such as sculptures and ceramics, as well as abstract paintings. The owner said there’s room in the market and he hopes the move will add to Harrogate’s rich culture scene.

The owner, Nick Bentley, decided to move his gallery to Harrogate as a result of taking part in an arts festival in 2015. He told the Stray Ferret that Harrogate has great competition for art galleries and he would much rather position himself among his idols in the business.

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He said:

“Harrogate has always been a top destination and the strength of the competition here is brilliant. I think there’s room in the market. We have a very different offering to other galleries, yet I think we can work quite well together and put Harrogate on the map as an art destination.

owner inside gallery

The gallery will be selling sculptures by Simon Gudgen, as well as internationally acclaimed contemporary British painter Dion Salvador Lloyd.

Despite opening up during a pandemic, Nick told the Stray Ferret that covid has given him more opportunities. He said:

“For me, corona was like a gift of time – it really gave me time to think and realise that this is what I want to do. Because I am relocating the business it gave me chance to say ‘lets do it, but let’s do it right’.”

The gallery will open its doors for the first time in Harrogate this weekend and visitors are advised to pre book an appointment.

Harrogate chippy surviving despite major roadworks

Despite major roadworks happening outside a fish and chip shop in Harrogate, the owner said it is still surviving.

Harrogate Fisheries on Skipton Road remained open throughout lockdown. However, major roadworks lasting 14 weeks have now started right outside the shop.

Despite parking issues during the day affecting lunch time service, owner Tim Phillips told the Stray Ferret that it “could have been a lot worse.” He said:

“Parking is difficult here at the best of times so people are just not coming during the day, its chaos. In the evenings though the traffic dies down so business becomes much better.”

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inside takeaway shop

The fish and chip shop is open Tuesday to Saturday, 11:30am – 8pm.

Tim said that they were given a warning a week before, but it didn’t highlight the extent of the work taking place. During lockdown, the fish and chip shop has been delivering meals to the elderly and care homes. He is optimistic the shop will survive

“We are heading in the right direction; we just aren’t there yet. We are surviving, the team are getting paid and the elderly are getting their food. We have a very loyal customer base and it’s great to see people coming back to the shop again.”

Despite Harrogate welcoming the Eat Out to Help Out scheme this week, Tim says it has not had an impact on his takeaway business. He told the Stray Ferret that he has seen record numbers this week from Monday to Wednesday.

Blow for Harrogate hospitality as major exhibition called off

A major event in the Harrogate Convention Centre calendar has been called off for January 2021.

BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) has been taking place at the venue for more than 30 years.

However, with HCC’s future still unknown until the NHS confirms whether the Nightingale hospital is needed over winter, and with social distancing measures making the busy international event difficult, the organisers have cancelled it for the first time since 1989.

Instead, they will hold a “festival of turf” in the summer, which they hope will be outside. A spokesman for BIGGA (the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association) said:

“The Harrogate Convention Centre, home to BTME since its inauguration as the European Turf Management Exhibition (ETME) in 1989, has been utilised as an NHS Nightingale Hospital since the peak of the outbreak in April and BIGGA is incredibly proud to be associated with a venue that has been transformed to enable the treatment of covid 19 patients, should the need arise.

“However, the alteration of dates will require a new venue to be found and discussions are underway with potential event hosts. Details will be released in due course.

“It is anticipated that BTME will return to the Harrogate Convention Centre in January 2022.”

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The news will come as a blow to the hospitality industry, which benefits from delegates staying in local hotels and guesthouses, eating out at restaurants and visiting other venues in the town. Kimberly Wilson, chair of guesthouse association Accommodation Harrogate, told the Stray Ferret:

“This is an important event for Harrogate. After December 15, Harrogate is very quiet until the Christmas and Gift Fair, which is mostly day trippers, and BIGGA is the first big show of the year.

“It’s a big deal for the town. They take a lot of beds – there are three main days and they do a lot of life-long learning around it, so some people stay for five days. It’s a longer event and they spend a lot of money in restaurants and bars.”

The organisers said they would move their education programme, Continue to Learn, online in January next year. Organisers said they expected the event to return to Harrogate Convention Centre in 2022.

However, with other events also taking place online, fears have been raised about the future of the conference industry, especially if social distancing measures remain in place for many months or even years. Ms Wilson said she was concerned about the potential long-term impact if event organisers decided not to resume in person in future.

Harrogate Convention Centre is currently in use by the NHS as a Nightingale hospital

The announcement about BIGGA follows the news that the Flooring Show is moving from its usual home at Harrogate Convention Centre in September to the Yorkshire Event Centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground in late February. Its organisers are putting on shuttle buses to help attendees get to and from the town centre.

Meanwhile, the Bridal Show has also moved from HCC to the Yorkshire Event Centre and is set for early October this year.

No announcement has been made about whether the Nightingale hospital will remain in Harrogate. The NHS’s contract to use the site expired last Friday, but a two-week extension was announced to enable negotiations to continue.

The Prime Minister has announced £3 billion of funding to enable the Nightingale hospitals around the UK to be maintained if needed. However, the one housed at Birmingham NEC has since been scaled back and the venue is preparing to host events from October 1, when covid guidelines change.

Care home residents see health benefits of stretching classes

Residents in two specialist dementia care homes in Harrogate have seen improvements in their health and wellbeing thanks to a new programme of stretching classes.

The initiative was launched by Vida Healthcare in its two Harrogate homes, Vida Hall and Vida Grange, and has proven successful since it began in June.

Research shows that staying active and incorporating movement into daily routines can significantly improve the wellbeing of people living with dementia. Charlotte Gibbs, wellbeing lead at Vida Hall, has seen the positive impact the classes have had on those involved. She said:

“Residents are keen to take part and they remember the time of the stretching classes and are able to memorise and maintain basic stretching routines. This is a significant milestone for many of our residents, especially those living in the later stages of dementia.”

headshot of Emma

Emma is currently a tutor in acting and movement at the Drama Studio London.

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One resident who broke their shoulder three years ago has also increased their range of movement since taking part in the classes.

The classes are taught virtually by ex-West End star Emma Flett, who has appeared in shows including West Side Story and Goodnight Mr Tom. She said:

“Residents really enjoy the sessions and I can see improvements each week. This time gives both staff and residents the opportunity to do something different and strengthen their bond, which has been especially important during lockdown when loved ones haven’t been able to visit.”

Fears over Tockwith explosives facility

Residents in Tockwith have said they are worried about the safety of an explosives storage facility that will be built in the village.

Explosives firm Brexco were granted planning permission for a storage site at the former Tockwith Airfield last year.

Six metal storage buildings will be built to house explosives and detonators for use in mines and quarries. The facility can hold up to 85 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which is the chemical blamed for the blast in Lebanon this week.

The initial application faced fierce opposition from residents, with more than 600 people signing a petition objecting to the plans.

Former Green Party parliamentary candidate and Tockwith resident Arnold Warneken told the Stray Ferret that businesses and residents fears were heightened after witnessing the explosion on TV.

He said:

“The community is very concerned about what might happen once it’s built.”

The Beirut explosion this week involved 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate – a much larger quantity than the amount planned for Tockwith. There have been allegations of criminal negligence in Lebanon around how safely the chemical was stored.

Brexco told the Stray Ferret that it follows strict UK government regulations for the handling of ammonium nitrate to ensure the safety and security of the chemical.

A Brexco spokesperson said:

“The Health & Safety Executive are the UK statutory regulator and as such provide detailed information regarding general duties imposed on employers by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 with regard to the safe storage and handling of ammonium nitrate.

“This is the point of reference for manufacturers, blenders, ports and harbours, importers, warehouse keepers and farmers.

“FIAS (Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme) has been developed to assist industry manage the safety, security and traceability of all fertilisers.

“The scheme is supported by the British Government and requires companies to demonstrate that they comply fully with all relevant EU & GB legislation, security, traceability, and product safety.”

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District’s market traders receive urgent payments this week

Market stallholders in Ripon and Knaresborough who were unable to trade for 11 weeks because of coronavirus, will receive discretionary grant payments from Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) this week.

Weeks after other local authorities in Yorkshire made the urgent payments to traders, HBC has still to make payment of the £2,000 grants it agreed to pay to qualifying applicants.

In response to the question about the delay in payments of the grants compared with other local authorities, a Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson, said:

“Payments to successful applicants will be made this week.”

The spokesperson went on to point out that evidence is required from the applicant to ensure they meet the national eligibility criteria, as well as an assessment and pre-payment assurance check. The grant is primarily to support businesses with high ongoing fixed property costs, such as rent.

Traders who were classed as selling ‘non-essential’ goods were not allowed a stand for almost three months and many lost tens of thousands of pounds.

In a bid to assist them and other businesses, the government introduced the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund on May 29, saying that grants up to £10,000 could be made – with the discretion on what applicants could receive, being in the hands of local authorities across the country.

Photo of Peter and Pat Yates who signed the petition at Ripon Market

Peter and Pat Yates who signed the petition at Ripon Market

 

The closing date for applications from market traders was June 28 and Andrew Sutcliffe, who sells women’s clothing on both Knaresborough and Ripon markets, told the Stray Ferret:

“We have been told that we are going to receive £2,000 apiece, which is smaller than grants paid to market stallholders in East Yorkshire who have received £7,500 and Hambleton, who have received £5,000 apiece.”

Mr Sutcliffe pointed out:

“If you stand at markets in two council areas, you could only apply for assistance from one local authority and those of us who applied to Harrogate, have not only received what appears to be the barest minimum grants, but they are even dragging their heels on paying them out.”

Sonya Johnson, who sells handbags, scarves and other women’s accessories, said:

“I’ve had an email  from the council saying that I will receive payment shortly, but feel that we always come last.”

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The wait for the government grants that the council is administering, comes days after it increased the cost for market stall provision and assembly, adding more than 25 percent to the cost of renting a stall.

A joint ‘Save our Markets Petition’ calling upon the council to reverse its decision, has already attracted hundreds of signatures at Ripon and Knaresborough markets and online.

 

Six cases of coronavirus confirmed in Harrogate district

Six cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate District this past week, according to Public Health England figures.

The data has been released by government on a localised map which shows the number of cases at a neighbourhood level across the country.

Between July 27 and August 4, six cases tested positive in the Spofforth, Burn Bridge and Huby area.

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However, data for areas where fewer than two positive cases have been reported is not included.

So far, 733 cases have tested positive in the Harrogate district from the start of the pandemic with 2,591 in the wider county.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week that the prevalence of the virus is “likely to be rising” in England and delayed some lockdown easing measures.

Meanwhile, fears of a second spike in areas such as Greater Manchester, Kirklees, Calderdale and Bradford led to Secretary of State, Matt Hancock, imposing a local lockdowns.

Harrogate Town open top bus tour route this weekend

Harrogate Town has released the timings for its open top bus tour route this weekend to celebrate the club’s promotion to the football league.

The 35-minute tour around Harrogate will start at the CNG Stadium on Wetherby Road at 12.05pm, with the trophy on display.

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Here are the full timings for Saturday’s celebration:

https://twitter.com/HarrogateTown/status/1291314137025458176?cxt=HHwWgMC97bXX1esjAAAA

Irving Weaver, Harrogate Town’s chairman, mentioned the tour at last night’s Harrogate Borough Council meeting, before the official announcement. He told the councillors that he hoped promotion would bring a boost to Harrogate’s economy – something badly needed after the coronavirus lockdown.

“Let’s hope together that Harrogate Town can be promoted ever further. It is in the best interests of Harrogate. I hope that bigger away crowds will start to spend money in the town and let’s all hope that we can keep putting Harrogate on the map. We have got a parade organised for this Saturday and we will have the trophy on display then.”

A 3-1 win over Notts County at Wembley last weekend saw the club win their second promotion in three seasons.

Fans flocked to pubs across Harrogate to watch their side make history but the open top bus tour will be the first big opportunity to celebrate.

The Harrogate Bus Company CEO Alex Hornby added:

“We at The Harrogate Bus Company are delighted to be able to offer a bus to Harrogate Town Football Club so the players can have a fitting celebration for their tremendous achievement. It’s going to be a three mile moving tour running right around Harrogate, with the bus decorated in celebration of the team, and will give everyone the chance to enjoy seeing the players lift their trophy in and around the town.”