Strikes cost Harrogate hospital £1.5m this year

Industrial action has cost the trust which runs Harrogate District Hospital £1.5 million in 2023.

The hospital has been hit by numerous strikes in the last 12 months, with consultants and junior doctors staging walkouts in disputes over pay.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the figure was an “unavoidable cost” as a result of the strikes.

The move comes as NHS England has told hospital trusts to reduce targets for routine care in order to pay for the industrial action.

National health officials have estimated that the 40 days worth of strike action has cost NHS trusts £1 billion.

In a letter signed by Julian Kelly, the chief financial officer for NHS England, and Steve Powis, the national medical director for NHS England, local trusts were told that elective surgery targets would be scaled back.

It said:

“For the remainder of the financial year our agreed priorities are to achieve financial balance, protect patient safety and prioritise emergency performance and capacity, while protecting urgent care, high priority elective and cancer care.”

Currently, Harrogate hospital has 822 people waiting more than 65 weeks for surgery. No patients are waiting longer than 78 weeks.

However, a spokesperson for Harrogate and District NHS Trust, told the Stray Ferret that it does not expect NHS England’s target adjustment to affect its plans to tackle waiting lists.

They said:

“NHS England’s decision to reduce the elective activity target for 2023/24 is not expected to have a significant impact at HDFT.

“At the start of 2023, we had 2,918 patients awaiting surgical treatment who would have waited 65 weeks or longer by the end of March 2024. This number had reduced to 822 patients by November 2023 and we are currently on track to ensure no patient will be waiting beyond 65 weeks by the end of March 2024.

“We will continue to focus on cancer pathways to ensure we are able to get to a diagnosis within 28 days from referral and provide treatment within 62 days.

“HDFT is committed to providing the best possible healthcare for our patients and to ensure they can be seen at the earliest opportunity.”

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North Pole Post Office returns to Harrogate for Christmas

Children can once again send their letters to Father Christmas this year, thanks to the return of the North Pole Post Office in Harrogate.

The seasonal initiative, which is back for its fourth year, is produced by Harrogate International Festivals and funded by Harrogate BID.

Located at the Harrogate International Festivals office on Cheltenham Parade, the North Pole Post Office – Harrogate branch – has been a key festive feature in the town since 2020, with bright lights, snow flurries, Christmas music and the all-important postbox, which receives thousands of letters every year.

Visitors can download a special letter and message from Father Christmas via the Harrogate International Festivals website or by scanning the QR code located next to the post box.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:

“Harrogate BID are thrilled to be sponsoring the North Pole Post Office again in 2023.

“It is a superb attraction that adds to the Christmas offer in Harrogate. It brings so many families into the town during the festive season and has become an annual tradition for many.

“Harrogate is sure set for another great Christmas period with so many great things to do and see, thanks to a host of different organisations all working together.”

The North Pole Post Office is one of the key features in the town’s Christmas campaign this year, alongside the Christmas lights, the Christmas Fayre, the Candy Cane Express, the ice-skating rink, the Father Christmas Experience, and the open-top bus, which is a new addition this year.

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said:

“Originally conceived during lockdown, the North Pole Post Office continues to be one of our favourite community events. A free-for-all-the-family opportunity, and perfect for the festive pictures, the lights, snow and festive music all surrounding this very special post office bring lots of footfall to this side of town at all times of day.”

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GALLERY: Harrogate’s Christmas lights are switched on

The festive season got underway in Harrogate town centre today when the Christmas lights were switched on.

The lights are organised by Harrogate Business Improvement District, which is funded by a levy paid by town centre traders. The levy pays for initiatives that encourage more people to visit the town, such as the lights.

As with recent years, today’s switch-on was a low-key ‘soft’ event rather than a public occasion.

The BID said previously it decided to go down this route based on feedback from members, which suggested they would prefer the organisation to spend its budget in “more impactful ways”.

Below is a selection of images taken today.

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New vision for ‘scruffy’ Harrogate calls for bypass and park and ride

A blueprint for Harrogate has called for a rethink on a bypass and the introduction of a park and ride scheme.

Retired architect Barry Adams devised the document A Vision for Harrogate with support from business group Independent Harrogate in May as an alternative to the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway.

With new gateway proposals due imminently, Mr Adams has updated the document and says it presents a more joined-up approach to the town’s future than the gateway.

It highlights four fundamental issues. They are: introducing a park and ride; considering a bypass to reduce congestion; smartening up the town’s appearance and the creation of a new masterplan with a coordinated approach to town planning.

The vision says the gateway fails to tackle congestion, adding:

“Despite previous so-called consultations as recently as 2019, the problem of congestion will not be addressed until a bypass or relief road is considered to the west and north of the town linking up at both ends with the existing bypass.

“Even with the increasing number of electric cars and hopefully in the not too distant future the use of hydrogen power this will not automatically reduce the ever increasing levels of congestion.”

To complement this, the document calls for a park and ride “without any further delay”. It adds:

“A high quality sustainable transport system using electric powered buses is a key element to deal with congestion. It is an inclusive vision that would appeal to more people and not discriminate against the majority who cannot or who do not wish to cycle or walk.”

‘No fancy gimmicks needed’

The document goes on to describe Harrogate as “scruffy” and says it needs to be cleaned and tidied better if it is to reclaim its title of ‘the jewel in Yorkshire’s crown’. It says:

“No fancy gimmicks are needed. Harrogate is Harrogate. It has a unique character and ambience of its own.”

East Parade

The document, which uses East Parade as a town centre cycle route rather than Station Parade, also calls for an end to one-off “pocket planning’ projects like the gateway and the creation of a joined-up masterplan, adding the last one from 2016 is out-of-date. It says:

“Input is essential from the business community with all their knowledge, vast expertise and experience of the town. We may then have some joined up writing when addressing issues and when funding becomes available for identified projects.”

Barry Adams

Mr Adams drew up his vision this year as an alternative to the gateway after consulting with Independent Harrogate, Harrogate Residents Association and a residents group in the Granville Road area.

It described the gateway as the ‘wrong scheme at the wrong time”, adding:

“It is not inclusive but purely a highway engineer’s solution with a ‘tinkering’ of urban design as the current proposals demonstrate.

“One that is obsessed with the business of “changing travel patterns and behaviours” to the detriment of much broader concerns such as the visual appeal in the public realm.

“As a result of this lack of design control, we are getting nothing more than a ‘desktop’ design, from consultants with little or no understanding of Harrogate.”

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New Dene Park council houses the most energy efficient in North Yorkshire

Five new homes in Harrogate are the most energy efficient properties ever developed by North Yorkshire Council, the local authority said today.

The three houses and two flats, which have been built on the site of a former car park in Dene Park, in the Woodfield area of Bilton, have air source heat pumps, solar panels, triple glazing and insulation.

The homes, which were developed for £1 million as part of a council scheme to turn redundant land into social housing, will be let to local people.

The scheme sees the council in-house development team obtain unused land, dilapidated garages and anti-social behaviour hotspots, then build properties and let them as social housing.

The Harrogate homes are the latest in more than 50 to be built on  in the former Harrogate and Craven district areas over the last eight years.

The largest house will produce 0.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, compared to an average home creating six tonnes.

Cllr Simon Myers, the council’s Conservative executive member for housing, said:

“This scheme is delivering new social rented affordable homes which make a big difference to the lives and well-being of local families. It is a scheme that has been running in Harrogate and Craven for many years and we hope to expand it across the county.

“Added to that these new homes in Harrogate are the most energy efficient we have developed, reducing fuel and lighting costs for the tenants, making them truly affordable homes.”

Cllr Simon Myers (centre) outside the new Harrogate homes with the council’s assistant director of housing, Andrew Rowe (left) and corporate director for community development, Nic Harne.

Kirsty Birbeck, manager for provider management at government housing agency Homes England, which contributed a £225,000 grant, said:

“As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, increasing the supply of quality affordable homes remains one of our key objectives and we are committed to supporting ambitious housebuilders of all sizes to build those homes and communities.

“This investment through the affordable homes programme does just that, enabling North Yorkshire Council to build five much needed new homes the people of Harrogate can be proud of.”

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Harrogate Town tickets selling fast due to ‘Hollywood factor’

Harrogate Town’s match against Wrexham at the end of the month is already the Wetherby Road side’s fastest-selling game – thanks to what a club spokesman called the “Hollywood factor”. 

Wrexham AFC is owned by A-list movie star Ryan Reynolds and his business partner and friend, fellow actor Rob McElhenney.

The pair bought Wrexham in 2020, and their investment in the club helped it to win promotion from the National League to League Two at the end of last season.

Their involvement with the club has been charted by Welcome to Wrexham, a Disney+ documentary series that will enter its third season next year.

Tickets for the Harrogate-Wrexham game went on sale a month ago – on October 16 – to home supporters who have been to at least one home match this season. Most of them have already been sold, leaving just a few still up for grabs.

Hal Boxhall-Dockree, media manager at Harrogate Town, told the Stray Ferret: 

“It’s the Hollywood factor. People are just more excited about this one – not necessarily our regular fans, but we’ve certainly had more interest from a lot of people who come less often. 

“Some of them will have watched Welcome to Wrexham, which has generated a lot of media hype.” 

All 450 tickets allocated to travelling Wrexham fans have already been sold. According to Colin Henrys, Wrexham’s head of media and communications, this is not unusual following the club’s acquisition by Reynolds and McElhenney. He said:

“This is very much the ‘new normal’. We’ve sold out all of our away league games this season, and you can see from looking through the attendances this season that every team we’ve visited has posted either their highest – or at the very least one of their highest – crowds of the season. This is a continuation of the trend we noticed last season too.”

But asked if Wrexham’s star owners were expected at the EnviroVent Stadium on November 28, Harrogate Town’s spokesman said: 

“I would think it’s very unlikely. I’m not aware of Ryan Reynolds having been to any other away games – but you never know.” 

Whether he makes an appearance or not, the match is unlikely to be a dull affair. Despite a 15-year absence from league football, Wrexham haven’t lost a match in their last 10 league outings and currently stand second in League Two, just behind Stockport County. By contrast, Harrogate are in 14th place, having won half of their last 10 league games. 

Tickets for the League Two clash are scheduled to go on general sale after the weekend, but Hal said: 

“We’ll wait till Monday and then see how sales are going. At this rate, we may not need to release tickets for general sale at all.

“We are down to our last few tickets, so I would recommend people get them now to avoid disappointment.” 

Harrogate Town have two matches to play before they meet Wrexham: a home tie against Swindon Town this Saturday (November 18), and an away fixture against Crawley Town on Saturday, November 25. 

Tickets for all matches are available online only at the club’s e-ticketing webpage.

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Tree campaigner accuses Harrogate Spring Water of ‘greenwash’

Tree campaigner Sarah Gibbs has described Harrogate Spring Water‘s plans to plant 1,200 trees to offset the loss of 450 others as “greenwash”.

The company revealed yesterday it will create a two-acre community woodland if it is granted permission to expand its bottling plant on Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.

Expanding the plant would involve felling 450 trees in adjoining Rotary Wood, including some planted by schoolchildren in the 2000s.

But Ms Gibbs, who frequently dons a tree costume as part of her campaign to save Rotary Wood, said “the idea that you can offset this destruction is ludicrous”.

Harrogate Spring Water said its plans, which would create 50 jobs, would see three trees replace each one lost and “deliver a 10% increase in biodiversity levels in the area”. It is also identifying other locations in Harrogate to plant an extra 1,500 trees.

How the site would look.

But Ms Gibbs said:

“A sapling is not adequate compensation for the loss of a mature tree.

“It’s a misconception to say they can be replaced like this. It’s incorrect in terms of the wider impact on ecology.

“Clearly they have not listened to the public. They should leave the trees alone. They were planted by children to avert a climate crisis. This is ludicrous greenwash and I hope North Yorkshire Council steps in and says ‘no’.”

Harrogate Spring Water, which is part of French multinational Danone, secured outline planning permission in 2017, which means the principle of development has been established.

But it still requires North Yorkshire Council to approve a reserved matters application that agrees the details of the scheme.

A previous application by Harrogate Spring Water was rejected by councillors in January 2021.

Managing director Richard Hall said yesterday the company had listened to concerns because the proposed new woodland would, unlike previous plans, be open to the public.

But Ms Gibbs said:

“26,000 single-use plastic bottles an hour, shipped globally. That’s what they produce now. If this development goes ahead this number will increase. Global shipment means lorries, planes will increase, CO2 will increase, water extraction will increase. The only thing that will increase that they care about, is profit margins.

“Who’s to say years down the line they won’t want to expand again and destroy more of our beautiful pinewoods, and planet.

“We need less plastic. We need to protect our existing woodland.”

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Masterchef star Owen Diaram to have stall at Harrogate Christmas Fayre

Owen Diaram, a quarter-finalist on BBC MasterChef UK 2023, has won a competition to have a stall at this year’s Harrogate Christmas Fayre.

He was named as the winner of a competition organised by the market operators to give free trading opportunities at the town centre festive market, which begins on December 1.

The winners of Market Place Europe and Destination Harrogate’s  Jolly Big Business Boost competition also receive business mentoring and PR opportunities.

Mr Diaram, who was yesterday named as this year’s winner, uses his South African Indian heritage to create traditional spice packs that only need to be mixed with two ingredients to produce tasty bhajis.

Mr Diaram said he was “blown away” by being selected, adding::

‘’Harrogate has now been my home for the past eight years and I am so excited to trade at what is a truly fantastic event that will allow me to achieve my goal of bringing South African Indian cuisine to mass audiences.’’

Market manager Nick Rhodes said:

‘’The Jolly Big Business Boost is a fantastic way for local, ambitious entrepreneurs to get their foot in the door and has proven to be very successful.’’

The fayre’s opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 11:00am to 430pm.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm hires three new solicitors

Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?

The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.

Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.

A Harrogate law firm has hired three new solicitors to its team.

LCF Law, which is based on Station Parade, has appointed newly qualified Anisha Kaur, Ennah Hussain and Jemma Hobson to the company.

Ms Hussein completed her training at a high street law firm before joining LCF Law, while Ms Hobson and Ms Kaur completed in-house training contracts.

Neil Shaw, partner and head of personal law at LCF Law, said:

“We make things as straightforward as possible and achieve the best possible outcome for our clients. We also value our team and support them with their progression, so we are delighted that Anisha and Jemma have qualified as solicitors after completing their training with us.

“It’s also a pleasure to welcome Ennah to our 21 strong personal law team and we look forward to advising even more clients across Harrogate and beyond.”

Praise for Mobile Tornado after emergency storm response

Communications company Mobile Tornado have been praised for their role in the evacuation of vulnerable people and pets from their flooded homes. 

The Harrogate-based global company supplies push-to-talk over cellular solutions to organisations that depend on fast, robust and reliable communications between individuals and large groups.

It donated licences for its technologies to Search and Rescue Lincolnshire, helping efforts to locate people cut off by floods during last month’s Storm Babet. 

Paul Woodman, chief executive at Search and Rescue Lincolnshire, said:

“Mobile Tornado has been absolutely invaluable for emergency teams to stay in touch. We are able to see the location of our volunteers, communicate with them in an instant and record everything we do across a wide area.

“Previously, we relied on legacy radio systems which had a limited range and were restricted to line of sight. Mobile Tornado enables us to have county-wide communications without having to purchase very expensive radio equipment. For strategic, intergroup and long-distance communications, it is absolutely great.”

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Andrew Jones ‘embarrassed’ after car spotted without valid MOT

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has admitted failing to renew his car’s MOT on time.

The Stray Ferret received an email saying the former transport minister had been spotted outside Starbeck Library driving a diesel Jaguar XE which the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency website said had an expired MOT.

The sender — who called themself Mrs T Neale, Lady Blueberry Blower of Ripon Town — sent photos of the vehicle in Starbeck and the results of an online search revealing the MOT had expired on October 3.

The person said they had contacted North Yorkshire Police, adding:

“Should this DVLA information be accurate, I would presume Mr Jones is therefore driving without valid insurance.

“The police have got back to me, telling me they are forwarding my information to the relevant department.”

Mr Jones admitted he was “embarrassed” by the oversight.

He added it wasn’t the first time he had been “covertly photographed” and that he found the behaviour “odd and slightly disconcerting”.

He said:

“I am grateful to the anonymous individual who reminded me via the media that my car’s MOT has expired. It is currently in my garage as this week I took the train to London as I like to do when diary commitments allow.

“I’m quite embarrassed by my oversight. The car is booked in for its MOT and all the relevant authorities informed and reassured accordingly.”

Mr Jones’ Jaguar pictured in Starbeck.

He added:

“It is odd and slightly disconcerting to know that I am being covertly photographed by an anonymous individual who sends these photos to the media under a pseudonym.

“This is not the first correspondence I and others have received from a person using this pseudonym. Previously they have sent me information about a political opponent, whom I informed of the communication, and also sent my office insinuations about a councillor even going as far as including a photograph of their home.

“Despite this strange behaviour, I remain grateful that I have been reminded about my MOT.”

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Police if it was taking any action against Mr Jones.

A spokesperson replied:

“In line with the College of Policing national, authorised professional practice, we would not confirm the names of anyone who is or isn’t suspected of an offence, nor would we name anyone who may or may not have been issued with an out of court disposal such as a fixed penalty or caution.”

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