Harrogate College welcomes government skills boost

The principal of Harrogate College has welcomed the government’s announcement that it will pay for adults to retrain and study at further education colleges.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced this morning the government will fund adults who do not have Level 3, or equivalent qualifications such as A-Levels, to study at a college course in England from April 2021. It will be funded via the £2.5bn national skills fund.

Harrogate College at Hornbeam Park offers a range of Level 3 qualifications in subjects including construction and healthcare. Principal Danny Wild told the Stray Ferret that the measures will help boost the local labour market post-covid.

He said:

“It’s really, really positive news thats going to allow the workforce to keep pace with the changing labour market. That’s only going to help productivity and employment opportunities across North Yorkshire.”

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Currently, the government will only pay adults up to the age of 23 to study what they deem to be essential courses, such as English and Maths.

However, the Prime Minister said this morning he wants to see a “radical change” in how the country trains people as it recovers from coronavirus. The Labour Party said the funding would not reverse the impact of “a decade of cuts”.

Mr Wild said sectors in Harrogate including construction, digital, science, and healthcare will all benefit from the increased skills funding.

He added:

“The skillset people need to work in these sectors they didn’t need 10 years ago. People need an opportunity to upskill or retrain and this is what these measures will help with.”

First covid death at Harrogate hospital in two months

The first death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus has been reported at Harrogate District Hospital in 72 days.

The last time a death was recorded at the hospital was July 19th.

It takes the total number of deaths at Harrogate hospital from coronavirus up to 83, according to NHS England figures.

It comes as the number of positive tests for covid in the district since the start of the pandemic passed 1,000 yesterday.

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Allow care home visits, says Andrew Jones MP

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has told Parliament visits to care homes should be allowed.

Speaking in a Covid debate yesterday, Mr Jones said several constituents “desperate to see their loved ones” had raised concerns about current restrictions with him.

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that Harrogate woman Judy Bass had joined a group called Rights for Residents that campaigns against restrictions.

Mr Jones said Ms Bass, along with Dr Joanne Ridpath, Helen Owens, Anna McIntee and others had raised the matter.

Mr Jones said:

“These families are just desperate to see their loved ones and have truly heartbreaking stories.

“Balancing wellbeing and isolation is very difficult but the emotional consequences of no visits are absolutely profound.”

North Yorkshire County Council this week advised care homes in the county to end routine visits in October. Thousands more care homes nationally are also forbidding visits.

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The Conservative MP suggested visits could be allowed through glass or windows.

“While this is impersonal, it is clearly better for people to see their loved ones than not.

“Perhaps designated very close family members in limited numbers could be given staff status, which would allow them access to testing and could then allow a degree of home access.

“Nobody is suggesting an open-door policy, but right now, the restrictions are profound.

“The capacity for residents to understand what is going on and why they cannot see their loved ones is almost inevitably limited, yet the need to see their loved ones is so important.’

Mr Jones also said told the debate that civil liberties were being compromised during Covid and decisions needed parliamentary scrutiny. Some backbench Tory MPs have expressed similar concerns. He said:

“A transparent approach to the science and decision making is necessary to ensure that we take people with us. If we do, and if they understand why a decision has been taken, I think we will see greater compliance, allowing people to resume their lives safely.”

 

Harrogate charity Frank’s Fund moves comedy night online

A comedy night, which raised £13,000 last year for a fund set up in memory of a 14-year-old Harrogate schoolboy, will be staged online this year.

Frank Ashton’s family set up Frank’s Fund to raise awareness and funds for Ewing’s sarcoma, which is a rare form of bone cancer,

A comedy night at St Aidan’s school in Harrogate last year raised over £13,000 for the fund, which has achieved total donations of £158,000 so far.

The comedian Maisie Adam, who like Frank attended St Aidan’s, performed at the event and is a patron of the charity. This year’s online event is set to go ahead before the end of the year although a date has yet to be confirmed.

The charity has missed several fundraising events this year due to Covid.

Supporters have found other ways to raise funds, such as running a marathon throughout the month of September.

Maisie Adam, who is among those running marathons, said:

“It’s all about keeping Frank at the forefront of people’s minds. I am devastated the plan isn’t going ahead in Harrogate.”

Maisie Adam

Maisie is one of several people running a marathon this month to raise money for Frank’s Fund.

She added:

“What shocked me in particular is just how underfunded Ewing’s sarcoma is. Everyone assumes when money is donated to big charities it is distributed evenly but it definitely isn’t.

With Frank’s Fund, all of the money goes to research for this disease.”

To support Maisie’s marathon, click here.

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Cash reward after Triumph motorbikes stolen in Harrogate

A “substantial” cash reward is being offered by the owner of two motorbikes stolen from a home in Harrogate last month.

The two Triumph motorbikes were taken from Firs Drive between 10pm and midnight on August 19.

Police believe the bikes were ridden away towards the Leeds area. They had the number plates AV52 KWS and WX56 EKY, but these are likely to have been changed since the theft.

The 52-plate bike had damage to its front right fairing and a messy fibreglass weld running through it, as well as a crack to the rear left seat fairing.

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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, we are appealing for information about a Ford Focus seen in the area around the time and any sightings or adverts of the bikes for sale.

“The owner of the bikes is offering a substantial cash reward for information given to the police which results in the safe return of both bikes.”

Anyone with information that could help the investigation should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for James Skaith. You can also email James.Skaith@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200144624.

Nidec SR Drives relocates to Hornbeam Park

Nidec SR Drives will relocate across Harrogate from its current premises on Otley Road to Hornbeam Park.

The company, which is part of the Japanese electric motors firm Nidec, has signed a long-term lease on an 8,184 square foot unit at Hornbeam Park.

It will be adding additional offices, lab space and upgrading the power supply.

The company employs 18 people in Harrogate. It has been at its Otley Road site since 1996 after relocating from Leeds.

Paul Rawlins, financial director at Nidec, said:

“It’s a perfect location for the business to relocate to due to its close proximity to our existing workforce.”

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Puppy scammers target Harrogate mum and disabled daughter

A Harrogate mum lost £100 on a deposit for a Labrador puppy that she later discovered didn’t actually exist.

Jade Lockyer initially wanted a mobility support dog for her daughter Lacey, seven, who has spina bifida.

However, after struggling to find one she decided to get her daughter a puppy that could then be trained.

Ms Lockyer found an advert on the website Pets4Homes for puppies for £1,000, which she thought was a good price.

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A picture Jade received from the seller over WhatsApp

The seller said she was in Wakefield and when Ms Lockyer inquired she was told there was only one puppy left –  a golden female. She agreed to buy it, subject to viewing. She added:

“She said that I had to pay a deposit otherwise the puppy would go, as they are in such high demand at the moment.

“I didn’t feel too happy about this but my daughter had fallen in love with the photos and the woman really reassured me on the phone. She wanted £250 but we agreed on £100. I paid it and then asked for some more videos as we were so excited. She went very quiet on me and then when she did send a video, I just sensed something fishy.

“My daughter looked on YouTube and the same video was on there from 13 years ago. As soon as I asked her about it she blocked me.”

Lacey was “devastated” when she was given the news, said Ms Lockyer:

“She had named her and everything. Thinking back I actually think the scammer played up to the fact that my daughter was disabled, as I had told her all about what we wanted the puppy for and she knew how badly we wanted one.”

Miss Mollies Rescue charity said puppy scams were increasing due to covid.

Jeanne Thompson owner of the Harrogate dog rescue charity Miss Mollies Rescue, said covid had caused an increase in puppy scams. She added:

“It has risen because people are at home with more time on their hands, decide to get a puppy and there are not enough puppies to match the demand, so scammers are trying to profit on this.”

Ms Thompson advised potential owners:

She added:

 “Most of the puppy scammers don’t actually have the puppies but the ones that do actually exist are being brought over from Ireland and abroad, so make sure the mother is there.”

With coronavirus cases set to rise this winter, the charity is urging puppy buyers to be vigilant.

A Pets4Homes spokesperson said more than seven million users looked for a pet on its website each month and it had the most rigorous systems in place of any comparable marketplace in the UK.

The spokesperson added:

“Pets4Homes has a zero tolerance approach to the unethical sale of animals and to any individuals behaving inappropriately.

“More than 225,000 animals were rehomed through Pets4Homes between June and August, and of the 0.1% of issues (concerning various matters) that were raised with its trust and safety team during this time, following investigation, there has not been a single confirmed report of puppy farming.”

West Park Stray — 12 months of mud, repair and debate

This week marks one year since the end of the UCI World Championships and the serious damage to West Park Stray.

It has taken almost a year for it to turn green again. Harrogate Borough Council said as the repair works began that West Park Stray would “return to its former glory” – however the Stray Defence Association (SDA) has said it believes the work has not fully repaired the damage and said it remains “dangerous” with surface stones and ruts.

West Park Stray: A year at a glance

A year to forget on West Park Stray.

When restrictions were lifted for the UCI Championships to be held, the council was given a legal duty to return the Stray to how it was before the event.

The council said it would spend £130,000 on the restoration and outsourced the work to Lancashire-based contractors Glendale Services.

Yorkshire 2019, the organisers of the UCI World Cycling Championships, agreed to pay £35,500 to help restore the Stray.

Arrests after heroin and crack cocaine seized in Harrogate

A 20-year-old man and 16-year-old boy were arrested in Harrogate on Saturday after being found carrying large quantities of class A drugs.

North Yorkshire Police said the pair were seen acting suspiciously in the Library Gardens area of town.

Officers from the force’s Operation Expedite team, which tackles drug crime, stopped the males.

A large quantity of suspected heroin and crack cocaine was seized and the pair were arrested on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

The 20-year-old was later released on bail and the 16-year-old released while under investigation. The police said enquiries are continuing.

This arrest was part of North Yorkshire Police’s attempts to disrupt county lines drug dealing.

The drugs found on the pair were suspected class A drugs.

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County lines dealing is when dealers travel from outside the county to bring drugs into its towns. Vulnerable and young people are often forced to sell the drugs.

To report information of drug dealing in the area, call North Yorkshire Police on 101. To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact them online here.

Harrogate care homes urged to end routine visits in October

Care homes in Harrogate have been advised to halt routine visits throughout October to protect residents from covid.

North Yorkshire County Council director of health and adult services Richard Webb has written to every care provider in the county asking them to introduce the restriction from Thursday due to rising coronavirus infection rates.

Mr Webb recommended that families and friends visiting residents at the end of their lives should still be allowed to do so.

A similar restriction was brought in earlier this month for seven days.

Mr Webb tweeted:

“This is a step I was very reluctant to take but against a backdrop of rising community infection rates, we need to act now.”

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Mr Webb said in future he would like care homes to operate a nominated visitor scheme whereby a named visitor gets tested regularly so they can continue visiting.

However, he said national problems with testing availability “make that unrealistic at the moment”.

Mr Webb added on Twitter:

“We will look at alternative options to see what we can do to help providers find a better way forward. Balancing #Covid protection versus residents’ #mentalhealth is one of the toughest dilemmas.”

Mike Padgham, chair of the provider organisation The Independent Care Group, said:

“It is regrettable that home visits have to stop but we have to do everything we can, with North Yorkshire County Council, to prevent the spread of coronavirus to the older and vulnerable people we care for.”