Laura Ashley in Harrogate to have closing down sale

Laura Ashley is set to reopen its branch in Harrogate this weekend for a closing down sale as administrators keep the company’s stores under review.

The outlet on James Street in the town centre will open its doors on June 20 as part of a reopening of stores across the country.

Social distancing measures will be in place, including floor markings, and fitting rooms will be closed.

The company’s stores are expected to trade until further notice.

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It will be the latest retailer to reopen since lockdown restrictions were relaxed on non-essential shops earlier this week.

It comes as Laura Ashley brought in administrators PwC back in March after trading concerns due to coronavirus. PwC sold part of the company to Gordon Brothers, but it did not include any of the 147 stores in the sale.

A spokesperson for PwC said:

“The administrators continue to review the position of Laura Ashley stores and will provide further updates in due course. Laura Ashley stores in the UK started to reopen from June 15 in line with government guidance. 

“The administrators continue to trade the e-commerce business and prepare for all stores to reopen once permitted to do so, to sell through the stock on hand.”

The company announced earlier this week that a further 56 redundancies will be made at the business in head office and back office positions.

It follows 268 roles which were scrapped back in April.

Harrogate Convention Centre ready to re-open in September

Major events could return to Harrogate Convention Centre in the autumn, according to the council, bringing a much-needed boost to the local economy.

The centre is currently occupied by the NHS Nightingale hospital, but with the current contract set to run out at the end of July, discussions are being held with event holders to enable visitors to be welcomed safely..

Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the convention centre, said it is awaiting confirmation from the NHS about whether the contract will continue, but in the meantime is working to ready itself for events to return when government guidance allows.

The convention centre is offering additional space for free, including its landmark auditorium, in order to enable social distancing. A spokesman for the council said:

“Much work will need to be done to return the convention centre back to normal from its role as a Nightingale hospital supporting the national response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“That will involve more than just cleaning.  We will be putting measures in place to ensure future events can go ahead safely and in line with social distancing rules.
“We look forward to welcoming back clients as soon as we are able to.”
A convention centre document shows that measures being planned include social distancing signs and markers, checking the temperature of everyone entering the building, and working with organisers to implement one-way systems around the venue. Male and female toilets could be opened to all visitors at events where there is a heavier attendance by one gender, and a holding area could be introduced outside the venue for queuing.
The venue is also looking at introducing cameras which allow visitor density to be checked to help organisers and convention centre staff to identify any areas where social distancing needs to be enforced. Longer days and extra dates are also being offered to organiser to help spread visitors over a longer period of time.

Harrogate Convention Centre, currently home to a Nightingale hospital, could be opened for events from September

Sandra Doherty, Chief Executive of Harrogate District Chamber Commerce, said events returning to the convention centre would be “fantastic news for Harrogate’s hospitality industry and the town itself”. She added:

“Some accommodation providers had feared the convention centre and exhibition halls might have been out of commission until next spring, which would have been a disaster for many of them.

“Those who rely on the conference and exhibition trade can now look ahead to the rest of the year with a little more certainty. October and November are particular busy months, with the halls hosting a number of major shows, including Country Living and Knitting and Stitching.

“The creation of the Nightingale Hospital in the Convention Centre put Harrogate centre stage in the fight against Covid-19. Being able to host a 500-bed emergency hospital demonstrates its capabilities. We now need to capitalise on this and use it as a powerful selling tool to win new conferences, event and fairs.”

Among those preparing to go ahead are the Knitting & Stitching Show in November and the Country Living Christmas Fair in December, both run by Upper Street Events, which has been liaising with the convention centre. A spokesman said:

“The venue advised us some time back that they would be contracted with the NHS until the end of July. They then plan a deep clean and to complete some development work, they will be operational for ‘normal’ business from September.

“For this reason, we are continuing to plan the events. We are expecting some detail in the next few weeks on how the events industry should unlock and we will then be able to give guidance on visitor and exhibitors expectation, as you will have seen from other industries such as retail.”

Meanwhile, the Homebuilding and Renovating Show, has been postponed from November to February next year, with organisers also planning to return to their normal November dates at the end of 2021.

Comic convention Thought Bubble has also announced that this year’s event will be virtual and it plans to return to the convention centre in 2021.

Lack of Harrogate toilets could force shoppers to ‘go behind a bush’

A Harrogate retailer has criticised the number of open public toilets in the town since shops reopened on Monday, saying shoppers could be forced “to go behind a bush”.

Bob Kennedy, who owns G23 and Porters in Harrogate, said his stores have had several customers this week who have travelled from outside Harrogate and cannot find anywhere to go when they need the toilet.

Harrogate Borough Council reopened its Valley Gardens and Library Gardens toilets on June 13. However, the toilets at Victoria Shopping Centre, which are not owned by the council, are currently closed until further notice.

Currently, the nearest public toilet to the town centre is Library Gardens, which Mr Kennedy said is ‘not good enough’ as it’s too far away for shoppers.

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With toilets in cafes and restaurants still unavailable, he suggested it could force people into some uncomfortable situations.

Mr Kennedy said:

“How can you say to people, ‘come to shop in Harrogate, but you better not drink anything because if you want to go to the loo you’re absolutely knackered unless you want to go behind a bush?’

“What about people who have small children? Where will they go? They’ll go up a back alley.”

Mr Kennedy, who was the chairman of the Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) until March when he resigned, also criticised Harrogate Borough Council and the BID for not providing alternatives to shoppers such as portaloos.

Harrogate BID declined to make a comment.

A spokesperson for the Victoria Shopping Centre told the Stray Ferret that its toilets will not reopen until they believe it is safe to do so.

They said:

“Initially when we open and until we are happy our plans around social distancing are working, we don’t intend to open the public toilets. It is important that we get a feel for how busy the shopping centre and town are before further reviewing. We are reviewing our risk assessments on a continuous basis and due to the narrow entrances to the toilets, we have concluded that for the time being, the public toilets will not be open.

“Our primary concern is opening the centre in a safe way and also considering the welfare of both customers, tenants and staff at all times.”

Harrogate taxi firms hoping demand will start to increase

Two taxi firms in Harrogate that have run an essential service during the pandemic, are hoping that demand will increase as we ease out of lockdown.

The firms have offered extra services over lockdown including 24/7 phone lines and a shopping service for the elderly and shielding.

They have put safety measures in place including drivers and clients wearing masks and customers are asked to sit in the back seat.

Tracie Geelan who works for Elite Taxis told The Stray Ferret  that the firm has continued to run during lockdown:

“We are doing more to support our older clients, our drivers are even taking shopping orders over the phone and doing that for them too. We also have one of our directors Paul who rings all of our shielding customers weekly to check in and say hello to give them someone to talk to.

“We’ve had different requests during the pandemic, for example, driving to Heathrow airport to pick up customers after they’ve been stranded abroad or we had one client who was stuck on a cruise boat and wasn’t sure where it would dock. So we put one driver on standby who left as soon as we knew where the boat had docked.”

One of the directors of Elite Taxis, Paul Cox, has been ringing his shielding clients weekly to give them someone to talk to.

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Another taxi firm in Harrogate, Blue Line taxis, has

“We are still fulfilling contracts with some schools, especially those with parents that are key workers. We have kept our offices open 24/7 so customers hear a human voice rather than an automatic message when they ring us, its normally hospital staff that ring us overnight and we want to make sure we’re maintaining a high level of service.

“Things are getting back to normal but people are still frightened to come out. It won’t happen in a month or two but we’re optimistic business will pick up again.”

 

Councils could pave the way for pop up beer gardens in Harrogate

Councils in the Harrogate district could soon pave the way for pop up beer gardens and outdoor cafes to help boost hospitality businesses.

There are plans to allow pubs, restaurants, and cafes with space outdoors to reopen on July 4 with special safety measures in place.

Many in Harrogate’s hospitality sector do not have those spaces and would, under the current rules, need to stay closed or continue with takeaways.

Harrogate BID has urged both local authorities to help speed up the application process for businesses to open up on pavements.

Richard Cooper, the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said at the cabinet:

“Even if it’s at a one metre distance but, as it stands, it’s a two-metre distance it is going to be very difficult for those businesses to survive. I believe we should give businesses space where there is currently tarmac. I think that is something absolutely mission critical.”

What Mr Cooper means exactly by “space where there is currently tarmac” will be closely scrutinised – any proposal that would cut on street car parking spaces or lead to permanent changes such as pedestrianisation will be fiercely opposed by retail group Independent Harrogate.

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Harrogate Borough Council is responsible for granting the premises licence and North Yorkshire County Council licenses the use of pavements, so they will need to work together.

The BID board is concerned that if the hospitality industry isn’t supported, Harrogate’s economy could be irreparably damaged.

Harrogate Borough Council is now in talks with North Yorkshire County Council.

David Bowe, Corporate Director for Business and Environmental Services, said:

“We are working with the Harrogate BID, Harrogate Borough Council and retailers at a local level to create as much space within the public highway as is practicable to support safe social distancing, café culture and safe access. It is important to understand that there are inevitably differing demands on the public highway and these have to be safely balanced.”

Robert Ogden, on behalf of Independent Harrogate, said:

“It is extremely important that Harrogate’s businesses are able to thrive in the current crisis, and Independent Harrogate supports measures that will enable smaller cafés or restaurants to open while respecting social distancing guidelines. We know the councils will do their best to balance the commercial imperative with reserving sufficient space for the public to walk on, without resorting to road closures.”

One more coronavirus death as Harrogate hospital discharges 135 patients

Harrogate District Hospital recorded one more coronavirus death today as it revealed that it has now discharged 135 patients.

It is an increase from last week’s figures of 10 more patients who have recovered from the virus at Harrogate hospital.

With another patient dying yesterday, the hospital has recorded 79 coronavirus deaths since the start of the pandemic.

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That death was reported with a total of 62 across England’s hospitals in today’s NHS figures.

Patients were aged between 13 days and 96 years old. Three patients, aged between 13 days and 83, had no known underlying health conditions.

Harrogate Hospital delivery suites now open to visitors

Harrogate District Hospital has announced visitors will be allowed on maternity wards with immediate effect.

Previously, the coronavirus outbreak meant only birthing partners could be with women during the birth, with no other visitors allowed. However from this afternoon, delivery suites are allowing one birthing partner can stay during labour and delivery up until women are discharged or transferred from delivery suite.

Once the patient is transferred to the Pannal maternity ward, they will be allocated a time in the day for the birth partner to visit. This will be limited to one hour between either 11am-12pm or 3pm-4pm.

At present children are still not allowed on the wards.

Safety measures will remain in place, for example the 2 metre social distancing is expected during the visit and around the hospital. Anyone visiting the hospital can also expect to sanitise their hands on arrival and wear a mask, provided by the hospital.

The hospital is advising visitors to not touch their mask once applied or remove in the corridors, communal areas and when visiting on the ward.

The new visiting restrictions are likely to be greatly appreciated by patients and expectant parents in the district.

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There have been no changes to ultrasound appointments and women are still required to attend these alone – but this is under constant review by professionals.

 

Lib Dems criticise ‘abysmal’ communication over leisure company

Harrogate Liberal Democrats have criticised an “abysmal lack of communication” from the borough council on its decision to overhaul leisure services in the district.

Councillors on the opposition group said concerns raised about the shakeup “fell on deaf ears” and added that many were left unaware of the consultation.

The criticism comes after senior councillors last night voted to set up a new company, called Brimham’s Active, to run facilities such as the Harrogate Hydro, Ripon Leisure Centre and Nidderdale Leisure Centre.

Liberal Democrat councillors have set “red lines” for the company, including transparency, affordable prices and investing profits back into leisure.

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The group has also called for Starbeck Baths to be protected. Council leader, Richard Cooper, has vowed not to close the facility while he was in post.

Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said the communication from the authority gave her “no reassurance that this will be transparent and accountable”. She said:

“If this is to go ahead it must be done with very little day-to-day difference within the service.

“It must be about delivering a quality service, not a profit-hungry corporation. It must remain affordable, with prices not increasing beyond inflation. It must guarantee the protection of services, especially Starbeck Baths. 

“It must be transparent and accountable, with major decisions being made by full council. Current workers must be protected and new staff must receive the same pay and conditions.”

The council said it will save around £400,000 a year on leisure and sport, which last year was estimated to have cost taxpayers £3.5 million.

Council officials will also borrow £26 million from the government’s Public Works Loans Board to fund an investment strategy into the Harrogate Hydro and a new leisure centre in Knaresborough.

The new company is expected to be operating by August 2021 and will cost the council £300,000 to set up.

Harrogate Borough Council has been approached for comment.

Harrogate Town ‘delighted and relieved’ at play-off confirmation

Harrogate Town managing director Garry Plant said he is “delighted and relieved” after the National League confirmed last night that the club will enter the play-offs for the chance to win promotion.

The decision ends an agonising three-month wait for the club and its supporters who have been waiting to find out how the season will be concluded since the season was paused in March.

National League clubs agreed to send Barrow AFC up as champions with the second to seventh-placed teams competing for the final promotion place in a play-off competition in July.

It means Town, who finished in second place, will play for the chance to compete in the English Football League for the first time in its history. It’s estimated that promotion could be worth between £1million to £1.5million to the club.

Harrogate will play the winners of Boreham Wood vs Halifax at Wetherby Road in July, with the final played at a neutral venue later that month. All games will be played behind closed doors.

Mr Plant told the Stray Ferret that the club is especially pleased for the supporters who “have been anxiously awaiting the outcome” of the vote.

He added:

“We are advised that the semi-final will be broadcast by BT Sports and now we are firming up on all the contingency plans we have been working on over the last 10 weeks.”

Even though the club’s supporters would miss out on an unforgettable day out at Wembley if they reach the final, they still hope to be able to watch the play-off games together, albeit socially distanced.

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Jordan Ford from the Harrogate Town Supporters Club told us that a big screen could be put up on the Stray to allow fans to watch the televised games together two metres apart.

But another Town Fan, Rob Nixon, told the Stray Ferret that watching the play-off away from Wetherby Road will take some getting used to.

He said:

“It will be strange, especially if I can’t watch it with other people. The greatest thing about watching Town is the atmosphere at matches.”

Councils to unveil plans to tackle coronavirus shortfalls

Council officials are expected to reveal recovery plans to tackle a £57 million shortfall facing North Yorkshire amid the coronacvirus pandemic.

Both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council have been hit financially by the outbreak and racked up large deficits from tackling the virus.

The borough council faces an estimated shortfall of around £15 million due to loss of income from car parking and leisure during the lockdown.

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It had initially estimated a deficit of £10 million in April, but chief executive Wallace Sampson revealed the figure had increased just two weeks later.

In a report before cabinet last night, the council said it had received £1.65 million from government to support cash flow and had already put a freeze on non-essential spending and recruitment to tackle the deficit.

A financial recovery plan will be brought before senior councillors in July, which will outline how the council will address the shortfall further.

It comes as councils across the country have warned of job losses and cuts to services which will need to be made due to the cost of the pandemic.

In neighbouring Leeds, the city council has said it may need to cut 415 jobs and introduce an emergency budget in August as it faces an overspend of £200 million.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, told senior county councillors that the authority faces a £42 million deficit.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council is expected to face a deficit of £42 million by the end of the year due to fighting the outbreak.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of the county council, told senior councillors earlier this month that the authority will have to take measures to address its finances.

Mr Flinton said, while the county council had been given £26 million in government support and will recover around £7.7 million in clinical commissioning group costs, it will still have to do more to tackle the deficit. He said:

“We are hopeful that the government will recognise the need for further funding.

“We will need to take measures ourselves to protect our financial position and we are calling on the government to help on some of those future income streams, particularly around council tax.”

Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council and finance spokesperson for the County Council Network, said he had told Chancellor Rishi Sunak about the financial state of local government and called for the same support as has been given to businesses.