Lockdown will come at the “worst possible time for retail”, according to the owner of an independent bookshop in Harrogate.
Georgia Eckert, of Imagined Things Bookshop in Westminster Arcade, said she usually took a third of her annual takings in the eight-week run-up to Christmas.
Ms Eckert said she understood the government’s need to act but questioned how little time businesses had to prepare for the change.
“It’s come at the the worst time for retail. I know there is a lot of uncertainty but we didn’t have any time to plan for it.
“The government had said for ages there wouldn’t be another national lockdown.”
Ms Eckert is due to give birth in March and had recently extended her staff team from one to three. She said:
“I’m relieved the furlough scheme will continue. I just hope we can reopen in December but even if we can there is a limit to how many people we can have in the shop due to social distancing.”
Ms Eckert said her business would “do everything it can” to survive, by providing click and collect, home deliveries and developing its website.
Being a former NHS employee, Ms Eckert said she understood action had to be taken to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed. She added:
“Let’s hope business will bounce back strongly but we have to get through this first.”
Harrogate district golf clubs fight month-long closureHarrogate district golf clubs will fight the government’s enforced one-month closure.
Clubs in Harrogate and Ripon believe golfers have been able to play safely in recent months and should be allowed to continue to do so.
They have the backing of England Golf, the governing body for amateur golf, which is in talks with the government.
Catherine Grant, who is responsible for marketing and events at Oakdale Golf Club in Harrogate, told the Stray Ferret:
“We could keep the clubhouse closed and just have two golfers playing together to make it even more safe. This has been a difficult year and another month of closure would be tough for us financially.”
Paul Spence, who works in administration at Ripon City Golf Club, said:
“I can see the arguments either way but I think that golf courses are quite safe. A lot of our golfers are in the older age group and this is one of the few places where they can see their friends in a safe way.”
Jeremy Tomlinson, chief executive of England Golf, has written an open letter to the government saying it will “respectfully challenge the government’s rationale”. It says:
“It is our sincere belief that it is counter-productive to shut down a healthy pursuit. Golf naturally lends itself to social distancing in the open air.”
Golf returned on May 13 after the first coronavirus lockdown but this new lockdown will stop play again on Thursday.
Sixty three new covid cases in Harrogate district over the past 24 hoursToday’s official UK Government figures of 63 new cases in the district brings the total number of people who have tested positive for covid since the start of the pandemic to 2,502.
There were no recorded deaths of patients who tested positive for coronavirus at Harrogate District Hospital today. According to NHS England figures, the total number of deaths at the hospital stands at 88.
The England wide lockdown announced over the weekend means all non-essential shops, hospitality and beauty salons will once again have to close until December 2 causing dismay amongst many of the districts retailers. Garden centres though and RHS Harlow Carr are to remain open.
The Prime Minister has said he hoped these restrictions would curb the infection rate to allow people to see their families in time for Christmas.
People in Harrogate are rushing to get hairdressing appointments before lockdown begins on Thursday.
Some salons are extending their hours to fit in as many clients as possible before non-essential businesses are forced to close on Thursday.
Joseph Ferraro, owner of Joseph Ferraro hair salon in Harrogate, said:
“The phone just hasn’t stoped since the weekend. I’ve had to bring staff in for extra hours to fit all of our clients in.
“I’m feeling more angry than nervous. It is dangerous for businesses to have another lockdown. My business will be able to get through this but some will be struggling.
“The furlough system is great for paying my staff but it won’t cover the other bills.”
Hairdressers were among the last to reopen after the first lockdown. Salons had to introduce safety measures, such as mask wearing for clients and staff, sanitising stations and perspex screens.
Olivia Mitchell, the owner of BeBaBo on Cold Bath Road, is usually closed on Monday but opened today to meet demand.
“I think the lockdown may be longer than December 2. But I feel calmer this time: we have a blueprint to follow from the first lockdown, which will help us.
“All we can do is look to the government for additional help. I just hope that if it is a longer lockdown that they can keep that support going.”
Terry Sowerby, who co-owns the Baroque salons in Harrogate and Ripon, said:
Gardens centres and RHS Harlow Carr will stay open“It’s been challenging trying to fit everyone in over the coming days. I am not happy at all, I understand we are within a pandemic but we’ve spent thousands making our salons safe so it is frustrating. But we have to do it to reduce the virus.”
Garden centres in the Harrogate district and RHS Harlow Carr will remain open during the second national coronavirus lockdown.
The lockdown will start on Thursday and last until at least December 2, with non essential shops and restaurants forced to close.
However, RHS Harlow Carr, which has its own garden centre, says it has reviewed government guidance and that it can stay open.
The RHS has said it is monitoring the situation closely and is awaiting the publication of the new lockdown regulations
To effectively manage social distancing measure the RHS has asked all visitors to pre-book a time slot in advance.
The National Trust meanwhile has tweeted that it is still awaiting for national guidance as to whether Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal can stay open.
Please note that there will be very limited access to the abbey on 3&4 Nov. The water garden, cafe, shop, play area & deer park are still open and can be accessed from the visitor centre.
Beyond Wednesday, we're awaiting national guidance on opening. Please bear with us for now. pic.twitter.com/hogCOkqMVi— Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust (@fountainsabbey) November 2, 2020
Garden centres across the district will also remain open.
Crimple Hall Garden Centre, on Leeds Road in Harrogate, told the Stray Ferret it will remain open. While the cafe will be closed it will serve takeaway hot drinks, sandwiches and cakes.
F. Tate and Sons, a garden centre in Ripon, also told the Stray Ferret that it will stay open. It will need to close its new cafe but is looking into providing takeaway food and drink as well.
Daleside Nurseries Ltd, in Killinghall, has also confirmed that it will remain open and said it is continuing to work in coronavirus safe ways. It will run a takeaway service.
Andrew Jones MP criticised for lockdown U-turnLocal Liberal Democrats have asked how Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones could support the national lockdown “with a straight face” after recently speaking out against the move.
Mr Jones said on October 20 “a blanket national lockdown is wrong and local interventions are what we need now to tackle this crisis”.
Two days later he said businesses in his constituency were worried about the impact of the district being moved into tier two.
But on Wednesday he is set to vote with the government on introducing a national lockdown from Thursday.
Geoff Webber, the Liberal Democrat group leader on North Yorkshire County Council, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge, said:
“How can he roll back from that so soon with a straight face? Foresight is in his job description; seven months on he and his party shouldn’t be waiting until breaking point to respond to the crisis.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to tell MPs today that covid deaths over the winter could be twice as bad as those in spring if the lockdown isn’t implemented.
The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones if he still supported a blanket ban and which way he intended to vote.
Mr Jones once again chose not to respond to the Stray Ferret, although we are aware he has spoken to other publications on this issue.
Closing Harrogate teepee after three days a ‘devastating blow’
A Harrogate hotel has said it has been dealt a devastating blow by being forced to close, just days after investing in a new Winter Wonderland Teepee.
The Majestic Hotel on Ripon Road hoped to offer a family-friendly dining experience with Christmas market-style food.
It had taken more that 400 bookings in the last week alone but will now need to close its doors for at least a month.
Andy Barnsdale, DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa general manager, said:
“Going into a second lockdown is a devastating blow for the hospitality industry, particularly as we are entering our busiest period.
“In the three days that it was open it was a great success. The majority of those visited were Harrogate residents. It offered a bit of winter cheer in these difficult times and the atmosphere was great.”
The hotel had brought back all its staff from furlough in August and has said it will now put the majority back on the furlough scheme.
It will now look at options such as providing rooms for key workers and those who need to work away from home.
Woman, 72, in court today on cannabis production chargesA 72-year-old woman from Harrogate will appear in court this morning charged with three counts of cannabis production.
Yoko Banks, of Scargill Road, will be at York Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing this morning.
Should she plead not guilty, a trial date will be set. If she pleads guilty, sentencing will also happen at a future hearing.
Ms Banks was charged following a police incident in central Harrogate on Saturday, September 26.
Officers were called to Alexandra Road, where they said they found “cannabis littering the entire street”. They then investigated a house on the road and discovered a “large quantity” of cannabis plants inside.
Not long after, police also discovered two other cannabis grows on Somerset Road and on Woodlands Road.
A 72-year-old woman was arrested at the scene. Six other suspects travelling in two vehicles left the scene of the original incident on Alexandra Road, but were later stopped and arrested by Hertfordshire Police.
The six people were charged with possession of class B drugs with intent to supply. They were sent to court, which remanded them in custody.
A man in his 20s was also arrested on September 28 and released on bail, taking the total number of arrests up to eight.
Harrogate Christmas Eve Doorstep Jingle goes globalA simple idea to create festive spirit in Harrogate has gone global in just a few days.
Wanting to bring people together at the end of a difficult year, Mary Beggs-Reid came up with the idea for a Christmas Eve Doorstep Jingle last week.
She set up a Facebook group, supported by the Harrogate Mumbler network, to invite local people to ring bells on their doorstep at 6pm on Christmas Eve and even sing a few carols if they wanted.
Within hours, the group was attracting interest from around the world. Less than a week later, it had 160,000 members – and an event sent up on Facebook had 570,000 people interested in taking part.
More groups have also been set up for people in other countries, including Canada, America and Australia, all linking back to Mary’s original idea. She told the Stray Ferret:
“It just blew up over night and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. It’s all from one hub, but there are people around the world doing it at 6pm their time, in their country.
“It’s going to be like a wave across the world – everybody is getting involved. If we pull it off, it will sound fantastic.”
Mary’s inspiration for the event came from the film Elf, where residents of New York sing together to power Santa’s sleigh with their Christmas spirit. Mary added:
“I thought people might be too embarrassed to sing, so I thought of bell-ringing. All the kids will love it, thinking they are going to fly Santa’s sleigh.”
The Facebook group has become so busy that Mary has enlisted the help of friends to help her organise it. People are sharing their own Christmas traditions and ideas from around the world and discussing how they can make this year special, even if they can’t do what they normally would.
The Facebook group has also become a hub for people to support each other. A buddying system will see anyone feeling lonely receive a message from someone else on Christmas Day, while one group member is working on a Christmas Day quiz to run on Zoom.
Mary and her family will be ringing bells on their doorsteps at 6pm on Christmas Eve.
As well as setting up the event, Mary is working with Sally Haslewood at Harrogate Mumbler to create a sheet of carols which people will be able to download nearer Christmas so they can sing with their neighbours if they want to. There will also be a poster for people to put in their windows, spreading the word about the plans.
Mary hopes people who don’t use social media will find out from their friends and neighbours and will be able to join in – especially those who live alone and may feel particularly isolated at Christmas.
Another late night queue at Harrogate Tesco“It’s lovely everyone wants to get involved in it. It’s free, it’s going to make everyone feel much better – it’s giving everyone an escape from the doom and gloom.
“There’s two months to go yet, but whatever tier you’re in, this can’t be cancelled and that’s why people are enjoying it so much.”
Just three hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced another national lockdown yesterday, a large queue had formed outside the Tesco Express in the centre of Harrogate.
This video was taken minutes after 10pm — when pubs closed — and shows little sign of people conforming to social distancing guidelines.
The same situation arose last weekend at pub closing time.
But with all pubs forced to close from Thursday, further instances are unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.
Harrogate town centre was busy last night, with Halloween many people making the most of a final weekend of the pubs being open.
The Harrogate district’s seven-day rolling average infection rate is 251 people per 100,000 people, which is the highest of the seven district and borough council regions in North Yorkshire.
It is also higher than the England average of 223 per 100,000 people.
According to government figures, Harrogate west and Pannal has recorded the most new infections in the district in the last seven days, with 43.
The next highest is Harrogate central with 36 followed by Killinghall and Hampsthwaite with 31.
Ripon north and west recorded the fewest new cases, with just four.