Top Harrogate hotelier hopes VAT cut will generate demand

A top Harrogate hotelier has said he hopes that a cut in VAT for the sector and a discount on sit down meals will help to generate demand.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today that VAT for the sector will be cut by 15% for six months and a 50% discount for sit down meals from Monday to Wednesday for the whole of August.

The sector is worth a reported £200 million to Harrogate and employs around 9,500 people across the district.

Peter Banks, managing director of Rudding Park Hotel and Spa and chairman of Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Association, said the measures were good news for the sector which has bore the brunt of lockdown.

Read more:

He said:

“It’s great news if it generates demand for us.

“The discount was very creative and I’m going to have to get my head around the announcement and come up with marketing strategies.

“So far the response has been very good to reopening our pub.”

The move comes as restaurants, bars and cafes reopened across the Harrogate District this past weekend after three months of lockdown.

The measures by Mr Sunak are the latest effort to get the sector, which saw 80% of businesses across the UK temporarily stop trading during lockdown, back up and running.

Local authorities in the Harrogate District have already moved to create more space outside bars and restaurants to increase capacity.

But industry owners have already warned that businesses will have to take advantage of the remaining summer months in order to survive a “tough winter” period.

Harrogate Borough Council leader, Richard Cooper, warned earlier this week that some businesses will not survive the impending economic downturn.

Harrogate Theatre gets £395,000 to survive until September

Harrogate Theatre has been on its knees in recent months but has welcomed a £395,000 grant from Arts Council England to help it survive until September.

The money is part of a £90 million fund separate to the government’s £1.5 billion arts rescue package – there are no details for that yet.

David Bown, Harrogate Theatre’s chief executive, told The Stray Ferret that he was “very grateful” for the money but he added that they still needed more support:

“This is a good amount of money and it will help us to survive to the end of September but we still need more support. We have had a fantastic response from Harrogate so far. We understand that a lot of businesses are struggling financially but we are important to the town’s economy.”

Read more

So far more than 1,200 people have donated over £60,000 to keep Harrogate Theatre going. Donate by clicking or tapping here.

The theatre has been losing £1 million every three months since coronavirus forced it to close its doors.

Mr Bown also estimated Harrogate Theatre brings in around £25 million a year to Harrogate’s local economy which is leaving a “huge hole” the longer it remains closed.

Harrogate Theatre relies on the panto season which Mr Bown said they may have to cancel due to social distancing guidelines.

Harrogate MP gives ‘cautious welcome’ to Stray FM assurances

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, has given a cautious welcome to assurances from Bauer Media over the future of Stray FM.

Mr Jones wrote to the owners of the local radio station following its decision to come off air and become Greatest Hits Radio.

Since then, more than 3,000 people have signed a petition set up by the local Liberal Democrats to save Stray FM with hundreds submitting stories of what the station means to them.

Read more:

In response to Mr Jones, Dee Ford, group director of Bauer Radio, said:

“Our plan at this stage is to deliver local news much as it is currently delivered by Stray FM. 

In fact, we expect access to the size and scope of the wider Bauer news team will enable the local team to better cover major local stories and issues. 

“With respect to your question concerning the retention of a Harrogate-based news team, while we are yet to make any final decisions on specific staffing requirements, we expect to retain these roles.”

Ms Ford added that Greatest Hits Radio will still have locally based journalists and businesses will have “improved options” for targeting their advertising.

She said any money raised locally for its charity, Cash for Kids, would also go towards supporting local children.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Mr Jones said he welcomed the assurances from Ms Ford, but added that the “devil will be in the detail”.

He said:

“This is positive movement on the issues local people have been raising and, frankly, a much more optimistic position than I expected we would be in.  Any new arrangements for our local radio have huge shoes to fill and it is good to hear that several key principles about keeping it local, supporting local organisations and prioritising local advertising are understood and will be kept.

“However, we now need to see what those principles will mean in reality; how they will manifest themselves in what we hear when we tune in.”

“So, alongside local businesses and our community, I want to meet with senior management at Bauer Media to hear exactly how the promised local news will be delivered, practical examples of the community support they expect to do and the kinds of packages they will offer to local advertisers.

“It would be great too if we could retain some sort of local branding so that, if we can confirm the news content and the community and business support, the station doesn’t feel like a one-size-fits all operation even when it is still very much grounded in the community.

“In conclusion, this is progress and I am pleased certain principles about being a locally-based community-grounded radio station are confirmed.  As ever, the devil will be in the detail and that is what we need to look at next.”

Last Harrogate street to be pedestrianised to help bars

The last street in Harrogate will be partly pedestrianised this week. North Yorkshire County Council has said no further road closures are planned beyond that.

The authority has so far helped 11 businesses in the town to provide extra seating space outside premises and had said it would only close roads “if there is a clear demand”.

It comes as both the county council and Harrogate Borough Council promised to work with bars, restaurants and cafes to open up space in an effort to increase capacity.

From tonight, The Ginnel, which hosts Monty’s Rock Bar and Manahatta, will become the latest street to be closed to provide extra space.

Read more:

The road will be closed between 5pm until 11pm Wednesday to Saturday and 1pm until 11pm on Sundays.

https://www.facebook.com/134929643221066/posts/3127553957291938/?d=n

Gareth Bentley, food, licensing and occupational safety manager at the borough council, confirmed the pedestrianisation of The Ginnel area to the authority’s scrutiny committee.

Mr Bentley said the move was needed to help with more capacity.

He said:

“It’s not something that comes naturally to allow people to drink on the street, but the reality is that when licensed premises implement the covid-19 control guidance well their occupancy is 30% or 40% of what it used to be.

“We are working really hard to promote relaxations to allow them to use the outdoors more and more with an eye on making sure that it is done respectfully.”

Meanwhile, parking bays have already been suspended on Montpellier Hill and Royal Parade as part of the measures to create space.

But cones placed on West Park proved to be controversial with business owners and county council officials took them down.

The pedestrianisation of streets come as the hospitality sector looks to take full advantage of what remains of the summer months to increase capacity and raise income.

However owners in the sector have raised fears that some businesses will fall victim to the three month battering of lockdown and the upcoming winter.

Peter Banks, managing director of Rudding Park Hotel and Spa, said that bars, restaurants and hotels should expect a tough winter.

Meanwhile, last night, borough council leader, Richard Cooper, warned that some businesses will not survive the impending economic downturn.

Harrogate care homes near 100 deaths

Harrogate’s care homes have now recorded 99 deaths – five more compared with the week before.

The latest figure on care home deaths is from the ONS and only covers deaths that occurred up to June 26.

It comes as Harrogate District Hospital reports its first coronavirus death for the first time in more than two weeks.

Read more

The figures come on the day Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced fierce criticism from care home providers after he blamed them for the number of coronavirus deaths.

He said on a visit to Yorkshire yesterday that too many care homes did not “follow the procedures.”

And a government spokesman said he would not be apologising for the remarks, and said the government had “put in place rigorous testing and additional funding”.

Yorkshire estate agent fund helps district community groups

A Yorkshire-wide community fund set up by an estate agent has helped local organisations buy equipment that their budgets don’t cover.

Linley and Simpson has made £30,000 available to local schools, sports clubs and community clubs.

The 6th Ripon Cathedral Scout group were given £250 through the scheme, it helped them to buy equipment for their water activities.

Group Scout leader, Ian Bardon said:

“We used the funds to buy a stand-up paddle board as our scouts love water activities. It’ll be very beneficial as we can use it on future camps, it’s a bonus to us from the pandemic as funds are tight. Depending on when we can return we’ll be using it as soon as possible and the young people love it, it’ll definitely get some good use.”

Bishop Monkton Nursery school outdoor area

The nursery at Bishop Monkton Primary School will use the funds to develop their outside area with more facilities for the children.

Read more:

Bishop Monkton Primary School also applied for the fund and received £500 to put towards outdoor equipment. Headteacher Sally Cowling said:

“We applied for extra funding as school budgets are extremely tight. Budgets have to be managed carefully and can usually cover the essentials but do not stretch to ‘the extras’. As our nursery has expanded some of the school field has now been allocated for their use.  Nursery staff are keen to develop this area by putting a climbing frame, swings and slide on it and making it safe for the younger children.”

Will Linley, Chief Executive of Linley & Simpson added:

“We pride ourselves on playing an integral part in our local communities and this initiative is all about helping a range of good causes where support such as this can make a big difference. We are encouraging local businesses and community groups to continue applying for the grant so that we can help them to get back on track.”

Work restarts on £15m care home in Harrogate

Work has restarted on a new £15 million care home specialising in dementia care for Harrogate.

The original plan had been for a completion date of spring 2021 but the developers have pushed that date back to summer.

Vida Court, near RHS Harlow Carr, will be the third care home from Vida Healthcare following Vida Hall in Starbeck and Vida Grange in Pannal.

When it is complete it will house 100 residents in eight self-sufficient houses with en-suite bedrooms and communal areas – such as newsagents, cinemas, and sensory gardens.

Read more

They have provided full PPE across the site with temperature testing stations and social distancing signage to get work going again.

The next stages of the construction are already on track. They are currently installing the external brickwork and concrete floor slabs.

James Rycroft, Managing Director at Vida Healthcare, said:

“Vida Court is a culmination of everything we’ve learned. Our trademark features will be included, such as the self sufficient houses. It will enable us to offer care for residents who are at different stages with their dementia.”

Chris Allott, Senior Contract Manager at Caddick Construction, added:

“We’re very happy with the progress being made on site and the Caddick team has adapted very well to the challenging circumstances.”

District libraries reopen with limited services

Libraries in the district have reopened this week for people to return their books and request books. There are plans to reopen for browsing by the end of July.

As well as returning their books, people can also take part in the ‘select and collect’ scheme. The scheme allows people to ask for specific titles but also asks for the reader’s preferred genres, the authors they like in order to create a personalised bundle.

Harrogate library is in the first phase of reopening. From next week people can book computer slots and collect the books they have requested.

Jane Trigoso, Harrogate library supervisor, said:

“The select and collect system has been inundated with requests but I know a lot of people are keen to get back to browsing and physically be in here choosing their books. From next week people will be able to come in and collect their bundles and also sign up if they want to become a new member.”

Bookshelves in Harrogate library

It’s unlikely these bookshelves will have any visitors until the end of the month.

Read more:

Through this period the library has increased its online posting to try and offer the group activities regular visitors are used to. Jane added:

“People can also look on our facebook page to see competitions, online events and story times too. So staff and partners we’ve worked with in the past are reading the stories online.”

Visitors to the library today were pleased to see it had began to reopen. Tom Benson said:

“I used to come her pretty much every week to grab a book so I’m really happy its reopened. I’ve been told I can request books for next week so I need to have a think what book I want. All the systems are for safety and that makes me feel good about it.”

Philip Davies said:

“I’ve really missed it, I’m an avid reader and it’s important to use the libraries. I’ve missed having them open, I’m quite happy with the measures in place and feel at ease.

Harrogate MP votes against financial support for migrant abuse victims

Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones voted against offering financial support for migrant victims of domestic abuse.

Non-EU nationals with limited leave to enter or remain currently have “no recourse to public funds”, meaning they are not entitled to any financial support such as housing benefit, child benefit, tax credits or Universal Credit.

Charities say the condition is forcing some survivors to return to their abusive partners.

An amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill yesterday intended to change this to give migrant survivors of domestic abuse a safety net if they are escaping from their abuser or trying to start a new life.

Read more

The rule was introduced in 2012 and critics say it forms a key part of the government’s so-called “hostile environment” for migrants coming to the UK.

Last night’s vote in the House of Commons was met with dismay from local and national charities.

Carmel Ossard, spokesperson for the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS) which runs a women’s refuge in Harrogate, told the Stray Ferret they had written to Andrew Jones asking him not to support the amendment.

She said:

“For migrant women who are faced with a choice of destitution or to remain with their abusive partner, it is not an acceptable situation and we hoped our local MPs would have supported this amendment.”

The Joint Council for Welfare of Immigrants also spoke out against the vote.

It said:

“Extremely sad news. The government has chosen to continue creating a hostile environment for migrant survivors, instead of granting them the safety & protection they need.”

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones to explain why he voted against the amendment but he has not responded at the time of publication.

Harrogate hospital reports first coronavirus death in more than two weeks

Harrogate District Hospital has reported a coronavirus death for the first time in more than two weeks.

The hospital had not recorded any new deaths for 16 days in a row until today.

That person died on Friday, July 3 and it takes the hospital up to 81 deaths.

Read More

England’s hospitals reported that a further 36 people had died with coronavirus in today’s NHS figures.

Patients were aged between 53 and 98 years old. Two patients, aged 83 and 85, had no known underlying health conditions.