Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 1035 of 1153

Andrew Jones MP criticised for lockdown U-turn

Local 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 charges

A 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 global

A 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.

“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.”

Another late night queue at Harrogate Tesco

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.

10pm queues

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.

Second lockdown could mean some Harrogate businesses ‘won’t reopen’

The impact of the second lockdown on local businesses could mean some “won’t reopen” warns Harrogate’s Business Investment District (BID) .

The lockdown will come into place on Thursday and forces all non-essential shops and hospitality to close.

Many of Harrogate’s businesses have been using recent months to recover from the previous lockdown and have now been left uncertain of their futures.

Harrogate BID has said the main aim of its members is to protect their businesses and the local economy but has made it clear the long-term impact of this could mean some businesses can’t reopen.

Harrogate BID Acting Chair Sara Ferguson said:

“Every business that I know of has been dreading the prospect of another lockdown, as there’s a real chance many won’t reopen if they are forced into a long period of enforced closure.

“Over the last few weeks there has been a rising level of optimism, half term has brought plenty of people into town. If this ‘circuit-breaker’ doesn’t bring the R rate down then what? Is it extended for another month?”

The lockdown is expected to end on December 2 in the hope many can still enjoy Christmas with friends and family.

The festive season brings an annual boost to trade for the hospitality sector.

Anthony Blundell, assistant general manager at the West Park Hotel in Harrogate, is hopeful this year will bring the same.

He said:

“Hospitality needs to be up and running for December. It is the biggest month of the year for the whole sector. We can flex and adapt to whatever is thrown at us but not all businesses are as resilient and it could be really devastating.”

Virtual Christmas market created to boost Harrogate’s small businesses

A Facebook group has been created as a platform for small local businesses to sell or promote their products after the cancellation of festive events across the Harrogate district this year.

Called the Harrogate Virtual Christmas Market 2020, the group gained 1,000 members in its first 72 hours, and has a growing list of 39 virtual stallholders. They are offering everything from handcrafted Christmas decorations to bespoke art to online photography lessons.

Tiffany Snowden, who created the group, said:

“I own a crafts business myself, and normally this time of year my weekends are filled November to December, but of course this hasn’t happened thanks to covid. There are national virtual markets that you had to pay £20 to join and there was lots of spam in them, but I did a quick check and there wasn’t a Harrogate one, so I decided to set one up.

“It is a way of showcasing those one-man bands that don’t have marketing potential, or don’t have enough time as they work full time too, and giving them a platform. It’s also a place to keep the money in the local community, so it’s not going to big shops or other parts of the country.”

Ms Snowden has a filter on the group that automatically allows those that live within forty miles of the Harrogate area to join, and after a consensus from stallholders, decided not to accept representatives or consultants attached to larger companies.

She explained:

“It’s not in the spirit of the market. People are putting their heart and soul into their products, and everything is all either hand-made or locally sourced. At a time when Christmas is so hard, people want handcrafted things and to feel like they’re supporting each other in buying their Christmas gifts.”

Sellers have also agreed to give each other 10% discount on purchases that they make from each other, aiming to keep as much money as possible within the local community.

The online market will continue until Christmas Eve. If you’re a small business owner and interested in getting involved, visit the Facebook group or contact Tiffany on the platform.

Harrogate retailer says second lockdown would be ‘devastating’

A Harrogate retailer has raised their concerns saying “there will be casualties for sure” if another national lockdown is introduced for England.

The Prime Minister is reported to be considering a month-long lockdown for England in an attempt to curb the rising number of coronavirus cases.

The lockdown is expected to keep schools, colleges and universities open but the retail industry could be hit once again.

Bob Kennedy, owner of G23 and Porters has said another national lockdown would be “devastating” for the sector. Without customers being allowed into shops he is worried about the long-term impact on his own business and others.

He said:

“We are in for a long, hard winter. It will have a devastating impact on businesses. There will be some casualties for sure.”

“But we’ve got to do whatever it takes to combat this virus. We didn’t qualify for grants due to our rateable value. My business rates are high because of my location but I am still a small independent so I think that is something that needs looking into.”

The chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, Sandra Doherty, has also raised her concerns for the impact on local businesses.

Sandra said:

“The economic crisis which is looming, not just on the high street, but more worryingly the self-employed who have not been identified in any of the government’s grants, will be further exacerbated.

“Balancing the nation’s physical health with its economic health is a difficult choice to make with nothing to measure against. I’m sure the trial and error approach which we seem to be using at the moment will see us steering a very wobbly path forward.”

In Knaresborough there has been a number of new shops opening in the town in recent months. Steve Teggin, president of the Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, has said the timing of this lockdown could be “disastrous”.

He said:

“Knaresborough’s businesses were down in takings but we were doing ok but this is going to be a bit of a blow for new businesses.

“Businesses will have to adapt and keep that momentum going to survive. It is important for the public to support the local businesses as much as they can to make sure they are here next year.”

The district’s seven-day case rate up to October 27 has dropped to 239 per 100,000 people. However this remains above the national average of 225.

The Prime Minister is due to make an announcement at 4pm this afternoon.

MPs watch: Free school meals, food safety and lockdowns

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

October saw a key vote on the government’s Agriculture Bill and a motion on free school meals following a high-profile campaign by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford.

We asked Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, Ripon MP Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular that they have been doing this month, but we did not receive a response from any of them.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

On October 5, Mr Jones voted with the government on the second reading of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill. The bill looks to provide the power for covert intelligence sources to commit a criminal offence in their duty if necessary, according to the government website.
At Prime Minister’s Questions on October 7, Mr Jones urged Boris Johnson to give a support package to the conference sector. Jones said the the exhibition industry was “really important in Harrogate and Knaresborough”. However, the Prime Minister did not commit to any firm support.
On October 12, Mr Jones voted against an amendment to the Agriculture Bill which would have forced any future trade deal to meet UK food safety and animal welfare requirements. The vote came after demonstrators gathered outside his office in Harrogate urging him and other MPs to agree the amendment.
Mr Jones posted a plea on his website for people to wear a face mask when travelling on buses run by the Harrogate Bus Company. It was his only post throughout October.
On October 20, Mr Jones asked Secretary of State, Matt Hancock, whether a blanket national lockdown was wrong. Mr Hancock agreed that it was.
Mr Jones voted against an opposition motion to extend the provision of £15-a-week school meal vouchers throughout the October half term through to the Easter 2021 holidays. Following a backlash, Mr Jones responded in the local press and in a local Conservative news bulletin email. The email, which the Stray Ferret has seen, said: “I know that many of you will have seen the coverage about free school meals during the holidays in the news lately. I hope that people who know me, or who have been helped by me, would realise that I would not vote to increase child hunger or ensure children starve.”
Mr Jones’s Twitter account now been set to “retweets only”.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Mr Smith voted in line with the government on the second reading of the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill on October 5.
Mr Smith posted a response on his website from Harrogate Borough Council on concerns over transport on October 16. It was his only post on the site throughout the month.
Mr Smith tweeted 11 times in October. He published two Facebook posts, one of which was a response from North Yorkshire CCG to the proposed 1,300-home Ripon Barracks scheme. Last night Mr Smith tweeted his support for the county council’s solution to care home visits.
On October 12, Mr Smith voted against the amendment to the Agriculture Bill.
Mr Smith spoke just twice in the House of Commons in October. His last contribution was on October 12 when he urged the Prime Minister to come up with “creative solutions” for loved ones to see relatives in care homes.
Mr Smith voted against the opposition motion on free school meals on October 21.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

In rural south Harrogate, he is what we found on Mr Adams:

On October 5, Mr Adams tweeted that as Minister of State at the Foreign Office he spoke with Indonesia Deputy Foreign Minister, Mahendra Siregar, about how the two countries could work more closely together.
Mr Adams has tweeted 21 times in October.
Mr Adams voted against the amendment to the Agriculture Bill. In a post on his website, he defended his decision. He said: “Several people have been in touch who appear to have been misled into thinking that Tuesday’s vote on the Agriculture Bill was somehow a vote against our high food standards. This is not the case. In fact, the amendment to the bill which was defeated was well meaning but I believe unnecessary as well as having some negative unintended consequences.”
On October 15, Mr Adams tweeted that the UK would continue to support the Rohingya people who have “faced systemic brutality” and been forced to leave their homes.
Since the start of the month, Mr Adams has posted five times on his website. Posts include further funding for his constituency and coronavirus tier advice.
Mr Adams appeared in the House of Commons seven times in October to answer questions and make statements on such topics as Hong Kong National Security Law and the South China Sea.
Mr Adams voted against the opposition motion on free school meals on October 21.

Stray Foodie: The Wild Plum, Harrogate

Stray Foodie is a monthly food review written by Michelin-starred chef, Frances Atkins. In 1997, Frances opened the Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, where she was the owner for 20 years. During her ownership, she held her Michelin-star status for 16 of those years.

The Wild Plum, Hookstone Road, Harrogate, HG2 8BW

Frances’ Lunch: Crazy A-Bao You for £13.50 and a cup of coffee for £3.25

Looking up at the pink neon ‘Wild’ sign I thought to myself, am I in the Hardrock Café or is this a dream?

I was in fact in a restaurant located above a very popular ladies’ couture venue, The Snooty Frox, in Harrogate.

The Wild Plum Café is busy, modern, clean and bright and I’ve been told customers queue to enter such a hallowed space. It certainly is the place to be; it’s a vibrant and trendy space. A great contrast to the entrance, where I was met by the Lady of the House who was most charming. I was shown upstairs and found Girl Power at its best.

Head Chef, Bethany, daughter of the Snooty Frox owners, rules with her two female colleagues dressed in great ‘modern Chef’ gear.

The three chefs, including the head chef, Bethany (middle).

They were dishing out bags of style from an open kitchen with fabulous bottles of fermented fruit and vegetables. This immediately says, ‘serious kitchen’.

This is clever food; artistic, creative and hot (in every sense of the word). The Menu included the sort of food you can eat at any time of the day, assuming the seasoning is taken care of.

I was spoilt for choice but had the home-made Crazy A-Bao You with Carrot Kimchi, Sesame Soy Crispy Egg and Sriracha Mayo with the Crispy Cornflake Chicken. It arrived as Bao Buns – which were as pink as the Neon sign – in a bamboo steamer.

Would you like Frances to review your restaurant or café?

From pop-up to fine dining, Frances would like to hear from you. If you’d like her to write a review on your food, send her an email to: foodie@thestrayferret.co.uk.

The Carrot Kimchi was on its base with Cornflake Chicken-style burgers and Crispy Eggs topped with a wonderful array of culinary flora. It had a syringe of Mayo at its side and some sweet jam. This was a very generous portion.

There were plenty of other choices and I was very tempted to have the Butternut Squash Fritter (GF) which was Mexican-style with smashed avocado, poached egg, rocket, sweet chilli jam, roasted garlic yoghurt and homemade salsa.

The indoor seating area of The Wild Plum. Above (and featured) image credit: Ben Bentley.

The Wild Plum Buddha Bowl sounded so exciting but with so much going on. Maybe – for a slightly reserved palate – a little confusing?

This food was exciting, tasty and young and I was told everything is made fresh on the premises. Looking around the Café, the other dishes were colourful and lovely.

Knowledge of flavour and ingredients comes with experience and perhaps not always so exciting but leaves a longer lasting impression.

These are exciting times in the culinary world, as it is all changing. It is young dedicated female chefs, like Bethany, who will shortly be leading the way in our industry, certainly in Harrogate.

To find out more about The Wild Plum click here. To read more about Frances’ fantastic career click here.

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The Wild Plum, Hookstone Road, Harrogate, HG2 8BW

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