North Yorkshire Police has appealed for help identifying three people who may have information about the theft of scratch cards in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

The force issued a statement today saying it was investigating ‘several incidents’ of stolen scratch cards in October, November and December.

The incidents involved two men and a woman and occurred in stores in Harrogate, Knaresborough, York and Northallerton. The statement added:

“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the people in the images as they believe they will have information that will help the investigation.”

Anyone with any information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Lucy Tate or email lucy.tate@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12200197512.

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Councillors look set to refuse St Aidan’s Church of England High School’s plans to build a new floodlit artificial pitch.

The 2,000-pupil school has said the pitch is “urgently required” but nearby residents have complained the 15-metre high floodlights would cause light pollution to their homes and the Stray.

St Aidan’s, on Oatlands Drive, withdrew a previous application in March last year following concerns by residents about light pollution, noise and traffic.

Now Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee has been recommended to refuse the school’s latest application when it meets on Tuesday.

In a report to councillors, case officer Jeremy Constable said noise and lights from the pitch would have a “significant adverse impact” on the surrounding area even though a new pitch would benefit the school and local football teams. He added:

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• St Aidan’s floodlights raises old concerns over light pollution

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The previous application said the facility would close at 10pm on Monday to Friday.

The latest plans reduced the closing time to 8pm but still received 40 objections, including one from the Stray Defence Association, which said the lighting would have an “immense and detrimental” impact on the Stray.

Robert Holmes, from project management firm MHB Partnerships, explained on behalf of St Aidan’s why the new facility is “urgently required”.

He said current facilities were “woefully inadequate” and prevented the school from hosting sports fixtures.

He added there was a shortage of 3G artificial pitches in Harrogate, made worse by Harrogate Town replacing their artificial surface with grass over the summer due to English Football League requirements.

He wrote that the floodlights would be directed onto the pitch and no lights would shine on neighbouring homes, adding:

“The school cares greatly about their relationship with their neighbours and make every effort to listen to any concerns raised by them. The comments published on the planning portal have been read and digested by the school and it is considered that the school has done as much as possible to address the concerns raised.”

A woman from Pannal has spoken of her flooding ordeal last night when Storm Bella wreaked havoc.

Suzanne Walker, who lives alone in a basement apartment on Leeds Road, had to call North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service when water levels rose to her bedroom window.

It was the second time in three months she has had to call the fire service to pump water away from her rear window and a meter cupboard.

Fortunately there was no major damage but the proximity of the water to an electric switchboard, along with the fact that this has happened before, has left her extremely anxious.

Ms Walker, who is a director of the apartment block management company, Fieldhurst Management Company, dialled 999 shortly after midnight when she noticed the water level rising. She said:

“It’s extremely annoying and frustrating, not to mention stressful, watching dirty water rise to such a level that you know your bed is on the other side of the wall, not to mention electrics too.”

The fire crew arrived to pump the water away. Water had entered the external meter cupboard, which houses the meters of all seven of the apartments in the block.

Similar high water levels were seen on October 3. Photograph: Suzanne Walker.

Since the first flooding incident after heavy rain on October 3, Ms Walker has contacted several organisations to try to find out where the water is coming from. It is thought the water is jetting out of pipes near to the apartment.

She added:

“No one is taking responsibility for the pipes or the land where the jetting company are telling me they think the issue is.

“It makes you anxious and worried every time it rains as we don’t know how high it would reach.

“I’ve lived in Pannal over 30 years and at this property for the last 10 years and I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”

Read more:

• Pateley Bridge residents tell us how they had to come together during the February floods.
• Hunsingore receives a red alert for flooding today. 

Ms Walker said she intends to contact Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as councillors at North Yorkshire County Council and Pannal and Burn Bridge Parish Council seeking help.

Flood warnings remain in place on the River Nidd and River Ure. The government’s flood information service is giving updates on its website.

A couple from Bilton have had the covid vaccine together — a week after their 60th wedding anniversary.

Chris and Joan Jackson, aged 81 and 80, went to the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate shortly before Christmas to receive their vaccination “side by side”.

The couple said the entire process was easy.and they were pleased to see light at the end of the tunnel after months of isolation.

The pair wanted to offer thanks to the medical staff and volunteers at the vaccine centre and said they were doing a “smashing job”.

Chris said:

“It was a very easy process and we were done in 45 minutes. It was managed quite well.

“It was no different to the flu jab.”

Mr Jackson said there were about 40 people in the building and they were well looked after from start to finish.

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• 100-year-old from Pateley Bridge received her covid vaccine yesterday. 
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Mr and Mrs Jackson have three children and are sad to miss out on this festive season with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren too.

They planned to treat themselves to a takeaway Christmas dinner from a pub their son owns in Pateley Bridge.

He added:

“We have been isolating for months, not going into town and I’ve only been out to the library once. We’re keeping out of the way until the pandemic dies down.”

Mr Jackson said he hoped the couple would be able to get away in their beloved motorhome when the vaccination programme expands.

The couple already have their booster vaccination booked in January.

Waste and recycling centres in the Harrogate district will be open every day over the festive period except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, December 30 and New Year’s Day.

The North Yorkshire County Council household waste recycling centres on Wetherby Road and Pennypot Lane in Harrogate, and Dallamires Crescent in Ripon will be open from 8.30am to 4pm.

The centres accept discarded electrical goods, Christmas packaging, broken Christmas lights, household batteries and Christmas trees.

Good reusable toys can be donated to the Reuse Santa appeal within the reuse containers at the recycling centres. Toys will go to the No Wrong Door campaign and other charities.

Wrapping paper that passes the scrunch test (if you scrunch the paper in your hand and it stays in a ball) can be put in blue recycling bags for kerbside collection. Check collection dates over the holiday period.

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North Yorkshire County Council’s household waste recycling centres in the district are managed on the council’s behalf by private firm Yorwaste.

County Councillor Andrew Lee, executive member for business and environmental services, said:

“Working together, the county council and Yorwaste are continuing to give residents the opportunity to recycle as much as they can over this Christmas period.”

Hundreds of thousands of people from Britain and beyond stood on their doorsteps at 6pm tonight and rang bells as part of an idea that started in Harrogate

Bilton woman Mary Beggs-Reid came up with the idea of a doorstep jingle to “spread festive spirit and help Santa’s sleigh fly”.

More than 500,000 people pledged to take part and this week Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Ms Beggs-Reid pledging his support.

The Stray Ferret went to St John’s Grove, Bilton, where Ms Beggs-Reid lives, to witness the phenomenon.

Mary Beggs-Reid

TV crews from the BBC and Sky were due to be present but the signing of the Brexit trade deal prompted them to change plans.

But the Stray Ferret was there to capture the moment when Mary led the countdown. After two minutes of jingling, carols were sung.

Mary’s inspiration for the event came from the film Elf, where New York folk sing together to power Santa’s sleigh with their Christmas spirit.

Read more:

• Boris backs Harrogate Christmas Eve doorstep jingle
• Harrogate Christmas Eve Doorstep Jingle goes global

Harrogate Town are offering half season tickets to supporters for the remainder of the club’s fixtures.

Supporters can purchase a limited number of tickets for the remaining 14 home games, starting with the fixture against Carlisle United on December 29.

As the district is currently in tier two, fans can attend games at stadiums with reduced capacity. Town fans made the long awaited return to the Envirovent Stadium against Forest Green Rovers on December 5.

However, the club has said that if the tiers change, anyone who has bought a half season ticket will be entitled to a streaming pass for each home fixture.

Read more:

• Harrogate Town fans gear up for return to Envirovent Stadium
• Harrogate Town prepare for another trip to Wembley

Adult half season tickets cost £175. Concessions cost £125 and under 18s are charged £30.

This option is for anyone who has not already purchased a 2020/21 season ticket deposit.

Standing tickets are available in both the EnviroVent and Car Park Terrace, though availability is extremely limited.

Supporters who have purchased a season ticket deposit and have been attending games will continue to receive an e-ticket for the upcoming fixtures.

Harrogate Borough Council has defended its temporary homeless shelters after some people raised concerns about their use.

The four yellow container units will be in Tower Street car park in Harrogate for the next three months.

Every local authority is expected to adopt a severe weather emergency protocol, which describes measures to provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers during severe weather.

Cllr Mike Chambers, the cabinet member for housing and safer communities, told the Stray Ferret:

“I have not been inside but they are comfortable and appropriate for someone who needs some shelter for a couple of nights.

“Each of the shelters has windows, heaters and toilets. We have several hostels and we are an exemplar council for looking after homeless people.”

Read more:

• Harrogate council creates temporary homeless shelters
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New government guidance this year warned of the dangers of coronavirus in night shelters. It also asked local authorities to consider “self-contained accommodation options”.

According to council figures, 29 rough sleepers in the district were taken off the streets during the “Everyone’s In” measures in the first lockdown, of which 10 are still being supported by the authority.

When the Stray Ferret reported that the council had installed these shelters it prompted a diverse range of views from our readers.

Some said they were “excellent” and a “good stop gap”; others argued they “looked horrendous” and suggested using other solutions, such as hotels.

Harrogate Borough Council said at the start of December the containers will be in place for three months.

The Den bar on Cambridge Street will host a night of live music and food in Harrogate on Sunday December 27.

The bar, which recently reopened after refurbishment, has teamed up with Fashion House Bistro on Swan Road for the ticket-only venture.

Chefs from the bistro will cook food for the event, which will start at 6pm. Tickets are £60 per couple.

Singer and pianist Dan Burnett will perform a selection of blues and soul classics from 7pm. He will be followed at 8.30pm by Biz Denton on vocals and guitar and Jason Odle of “Ont’ Sofa” ont’ drums, who will play two sets.

The fixed menu consists of six tapas dishes.

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Rob Taylor, from The Den, said:

“The event is strictly limited to socially distanced tables of two, and will provide a relaxed and enjoyable evening of post-Christmas entertainment.

“2020 has been a very difficult year for everybody, and in particular for those in the hospitality trade. David and I are really looking forward to jointly hosting this event.”

Delays are expected on Otley Road in Harrogate next month, with two sets of roadworks set to take place at the same time.

The news comes shortly after it was revealed Skipton Road, which has been plagued by roadworks in 2020, will see more work carried out for two months from January 4.

The first set of newly announced roadworks, due to start on January 5 for five weeks, will allow Yorkshire Water to lay new pipes between Wharfedale Avenue and College Road.

Yorkshire Water said in a statement the works would accommodate new housing developments in Harrogate and address low pressure issues.

Northern Powergrid is then expected to begin 11 weeks of work on January 11. This scheme is part of a programme to relocate utilities so its highways team can carry out improvements at the Otley Road/Harlow Moor Road junction .

Once this work is completed, the highways team will commence phase one of the junction upgrade and cycleway from Harlow Moor Road to Arthurs Avenue.

North Yorkshire County Council, which is responsible for highways and approved the works, said those involved would try to keep disruption to a minimum.

Melisa Burnham, the council’s highways area manager, said:

“It is hoped that work can take place at the same time with co-ordinated traffic management, which will reduce the overall impact. If this does not prove feasible then the works will take place consecutively.

“The traffic management will be continuously monitored and manually controlled during peak times each day. We are committed to keeping disruption to a minimum.”

Read more:

• Skipton Road roadworks set to return next month.
• Housing plans for the district could see a further 26,500 cars on the roads. 

More roadworks are planned the other end of the town, on Knaresborough Road. They are due to begin on January 4 from the junction with Granby Road to Rydal Road, and continue until the end of February.

They are taking place to allow a new water pipe to be installed. Junctions along Knaresborough Road will be closed separately for short periods, with diversions put in place.