Harrogate wellness centre celebrates 20 years on Duchy Road

The Yorkshire Centre for Wellbeing is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month.

The business is the longest-standing yoga and pilates studio in Harrogate, having opened on Duchy Road in 2003.

The owners said opening the studio was a “big financial risk at the time”.

However, founder Anne-Marie Burford believes “post-covid anxieties” caused a surge in prioritising health and boosted the credibility of yoga and pilates, as well as causing a shift in attitudes towards them.

She said:

“Yoga in the West can often be about images, especially now a lot of celebrities do it.

“That isn’t the true form of yoga – we just want to support health and wellbeing”.

Ms Burford also said social media has “probably caused the most significant change” in attitudes towards wellbeing.

The studio centres on being entirely holistic and focusses on incorporating Ayurveda, a traditional Indian healing therapy, into the yoga, pilates and tai chi classes.

The centre also “places focus on the spiritual aspect of wellbeing”, including soul coaching, reiki, and various Eastern-style massages.

Staff members have extensive spiritual and physical training, including one-to-one training with Deepak Chopra, as well as a South Asian spiritual pilgrimage. The business also offers yoga retreats to members, both nationally and abroad.

James Burford, one of the teachers at the wellness centre, said:

“I feel very encouraged by the support we already receive form our students, many of whom I consider friends, and the increase in number of students joining and connecting with our centre over the last few years“.

Yorkshire Centre for Wellbeing is holding an anniversary celebration on Saturday, April 16, with pop-up classes, afternoon tea and live music. Full details are on its Instagram feed.

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Dashcam footage appeal after serious crash on Leathley Lane

Police are appealing for dashcam footage of a serious collision on the edge of the Harrogate district.

A woman in a green 12-reg Mazda broke several bones and was hospitalised for five days.

The crash happened at 9.20am on Tuesday, March 14 at Leathley Lane near Castley Lane.

According to North Yorkshire Police, three other vehicles were involved: a white 21-reg Ford Transit van, a grey 21-reg Hyundai Ioniq and a grey 10-reg Skoda Roomster.

The stretch of road was closed for several hours while officers investigated and vehicles were recovered.

A police statement said:

“We’re appealing for witnesses to the collision or anyone who recalls seeing the vehicles involved prior to the collision, to get in touch as soon as possible to assist the investigation.

“In particular, we’re appealing for motorists in the area at the time who may have relevant dashcam footage of the collision itself or of any of the vehicles involved prior to the incident.”

You can email Megan.Smith1@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Megan Smith.

Quote reference number 12230046167.

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Harrogate hospital reports improved A&E waiting times

People attending A&E at Harrogate District Hospital are experiencing much shorter waiting times than earlier in the year when some patients were forced to stay at the hospital for 12 hours or more.

The department has been under-pressure throughout the winter due to a higher average number of admissions as well as a fresh wave of covid and flu inpatients that has saw the hospital almost completely full every day.

Harrogate has also been a high number of patients aged over 70 attending A&E compared to nationally.

While attendance figures have returned to near pre-covid levels, many patients have experienced longer-than-usual stays due to the high bed occupancy.

It meant some A&E patients had to stay overnight, which has put further strain on staff who have had to conduct medicine rounds, serve meals, wash patients and conduct ward rounds.

Industrial action by paramedics, nurses and junior doctors has also put pressure on the hospital.

To improve the situation in A&E, the hospital introduced a new streaming model for minor injuries so staff can focus on patients with more serious conditions.

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Speaking at a public board meeting of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust last week, chief executive Russell Nightingale said the changes have worked.

Mr Nightingale said the number of people waiting for 12 hours was down to the single figures in March.

He said:

“It’s come down hugely and we’re aiming for zero by August. It’s been driven by improvements in the streaming model. That’s been the primary driver.

“We’re working through some of those sticky admittance issues plus the industrial action.”

As the hospital moves out of its most challenging winter period, next week’s junior doctors strike means there is likely to be some disruption for patients.

The strike is set to take place from 7am on Tuesday, April 11, until 7am on Saturday, April 15.

Jonathan Coulter, chief executive of HDFT, told the meeting the hospital has a “robust plan” in place to deal with any disruption should the strike goes ahead as planned. 

He said:

“The strike is obviously concerning but I’m confident we’ll have safe services. There’s a cost of people covering the work and planning it and the cost to the patients who have work delayed. Services will be safe and let’s hope theres a solution relatively quickly.”

Harrogate Youth Council ‘actively recruiting new voices’

Harrogate Youth Council is actively seeking new recruits from across the constituency.

The council consists of young people aged 11 to 18 aiming to positively shape the dynamic of society.

Those with additional needs can also join the group up to the age of 25.

The members aim to echo the views of young people in Harrogate, as well as campaigning for change and have even attended national events.

Members can work on a range of societal campaigns, from mental health awareness and harassment, to climate and transport.

Pictured: The Youth Council discussing a campaign.

The members campaigned for mental health resources with The Go-To, as well as structure resources for safeguarding and child protection with Be-Aware.

Sixteen-year-old Lulu Halloum, chair of Harrogate Youth Council, said:

“We can’t keep making decisions about young people without young people.

“By failing to support youth in making positive change, our communities suffer. Now, more than ever, we must see young people as not just the leaders of tomorrow, but today.

“We have the energy, talent, and ideas to make a positive difference now”.

The council welcomes anyone that may be interested to attend its next meeting on Thursday April 13, from 3pm – 6.30pm.

Prospective members can stay for as little, or as long, as they like. The meeting will be held at the Civic Centre, on St Luke’s Avenue in Harrogate.

During term time, the council meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month, from 5 – 6.30pm.

Contact chloe.thwaites@northyorks.gov.uk for further information.

Harrogate couple run 127 miles in aid of Motor Neurone Disease charity

A Harrogate couple have run 127 miles in aid of a Motor Neurone Disease charity.

Georgina Hubbert and Robert Hamilton took on the challenge last week in an effort to raise money and awareness of the condition.

The couple ran between 20 and 23 miles a day for six days along the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Both were raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, a charity which funds research and provides support to people with MND.

Ms Hubbert said the couple took on the challenge in memory of her nana, who lived with the condition.

She said:

“She was like a mum to me. She died quite young with it.”

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The couple aimed to raise £2,500 as part of the challenge.

Ms Hubbert, whose family had raised money for the charity before, said this was the first time she had taken on the fundraiser.

The challenge saw the couple start in Liverpool and make their way down the canal over six days before finishing in Leeds.

While the the fundraiser proved to be tough, Ms Hubbert said she enjoyed the experience.

You can donate to the couple’s fundraising effort on their JustGiving page here.

Julian Lloyd Webber among big names set for Harrogate Music Festival

Harrogate International Festivals has announced early programme highlights for this year’s music festival, including a performance from Julian Lloyd Webber.

The festival, which is now in its 58th year, will host a variety of names in the industry across three weekends this summer, with an opening concert at The Royal Hall.

It celebrates music of all kinds and showcases a range of talent from young musicians to globally acclaimed artists.

British orchestra Chineke! will launch the festival, making their Harrogate debut. Chineke have performed at the Proms, as well as accompanying world-renowned rapper Stormzy on stage at the Brit Awards.

That weekend, Julian Llloyd Webber will be making a post-pandemic homecoming, while “festival legends” Oddsocks return to the event with an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

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

“I can’t begin to tell you how excited we are about this year’s Music Festival.

“It is our first full programme post-pandemic with a host of international names performing in some of Harrogate’s most beautiful buildings.

“We look forward to welcoming our audiences back to one of our flagship festivals this summer”.

Pianist Robin Green

Pianist Robin Green will be this year’s guest curator, and will head a weekend residency featuring 12 musicians in ten concerts.

The third and final weekend will feature trumpeter Mike Lovatt, premiering his brand-new project, the Brass Pack. There will also be a silent disco for children and a family festival.

The opening concert will take place on Thursday, June 29.

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‘The council have destroyed 99 years of model boats in Harrogate’

A new fountain in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens has effectively ended a century of model boating, according to the club that has used it for decades.

Claro Marine model boating club pleaded with Harrogate Borough Council to halt the £6,000 installation of the fountain in the boating pond near the cafe.

It said water from the fountain would damage the boats’ engines and jeopardise their hobby.

But the council, which was abolished a week ago, pressed ahead and the fountain was switched on a few days ago.

model boat pond boating lake

The pond has been used for model boating for 99 years.

Cub secretary Dave Finnegan, 69, told the Stray Ferret he was “very sad” because it spelled the end of a pastime he had pursued since childhood.

Mr Finnegan said:

“The council have destroyed 99 years of model boats in Harrogate. They will not listen.”

The club, he said, had been told the fountain would be situated in the deep end but it was actually in the middle of the pond, creating more of an obstacle.

The fountain is expected to operate from 9.30am to 6pm each day.

Mr Finnegan said:

“Even if switched off, the fountain is an underwater object to hit or go aground on.

“How do you get a boat back if it’s in the middle of the pond? I will not be sailing in Valley Gardens.

“I would like to thank all the visitors to the pond while I have been sailing for their kind comments and questions.”

fountain Valley Gardens model boats boating

The fountain has created an obstacle in the middle of the pond.

Mr Finnegan said the club was now trying to find another pond in the Harrogate area.

Alison Wilson, head of parks and environment services at Harrogate Borough Council, previously told the club:

“As the body [of the fountain] consists of a base and jets there is little infrastructure involved. Once in place, we will consider any protection required to ensure there is no damage to the jets from boats and vice versa.

“We do not wish to curtail your clubs activities, simply make the area more attractive and usable at other times of the week”.

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Harrogate’s Finlay Bean scores first century of county cricket season

Harrogate-born Finlay Bean has scored the first century of the county cricket season while playing for Yorkshire.

Bean, 20, made headlines last year when he scored 441 for Yorkshire second XI — the highest score in second X1 championship history.

At the time he didn’t have a professional contract and played for York Cricket Club but he was subsequently signed by Yorkshire and made his first class debut against Lancashire in September.

Bean, who studied at Ripon Grammar School and Queen Ethelburga’s, scored 118 off 149 balls against Leicestershire in the opening day of the first fixture of the year at Headingley.

The four-day match is still ongoing.

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Harrogate village cricket pavilion destroyed in suspected arson attack

Arsonists are believed to have destroyed a cricket pavilion in a village near Harrogate.

Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were called to Weeton Lane in Weeton at 8.40pm last night to reports of a shed fire.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log added:

“On arrival this was found to be a wooden cricket pavilion which was completely destroyed. Crews used one hose reel to extinguish the fire.”

The incident log did not give a cause of fire but villagers have reported seeing youths fleeing from the scene.

The cricket club in Weeton folded years ago and the pavilion had fallen into a state of disrepair.

Some frustrated villagers are keen to mount a campaign to restore the site to community use.

Weeton cricket pavilion arson

Man’s hand burned

In a separate incident later last night, Harrogate firefighters responded at 10.30pm to a smoke alarm going off in a house on Olive Grove in Harrogate.

The incident log said:

“This involved a candle which is believed to have been left unattended, causing smouldering to surrounding surface.

“One male suffered burns to his hand, received treatment from fire crew and will make his own way to hospital. Crew also ventilated property. Burn pack used.”

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Renewed call to move Harrogate ‘little temple’ to Starbeck

A Starbeck community group has made a renewed call to bring Harrogate’s “little temple” to the area.

An application was tabled by North Yorkshire County Council in November last year to remove the tempietto in Station Square to make way for the £11.2 million Station Gateway scheme.

The proposal was approved by Harrogate Borough Council prior to its abolition on Friday.

The new North Yorkshire Council has said no work on the tempietto will take place until a decision has been made on the gateway project.

However, Andrew Hart, a postmaster, has reiterated a call to bring the structure to Starbeck in order to “rejuvenate” the area.

Mr Hart, who also founded the Starbeck Community Group,  wrote to the borough council in November last year requesting that the tempietto be moved to Belmont Field.

He told the Stray Ferret that any move to demolish the structure would be “shameful”.

Mr Hart said:

“When I formally contacted HBC last November I was assured in writing that the Starbeck Community Groups request for the tempietto to be moved to Belmont Field, Starbeck would be taken seriously and discussed with the councillors.

“To demolish it would be shameful. To dismantle and rebuild it in Starbeck would give the community a focal point of pride. The cost would be negligible against the budget for the Harrogate Gateway.

“It would also add to the rejuvenation of Starbeck and reward the whole community for the fantastic effort it makes in carrying out its own projects such as flowers, Christmas lights, street cleaning, and street decorations.”

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The tempietto, which is inside Harrogate Conservation Area, was built between 1988 and 1992 as part of the redevelopment of the area to create the Victoria Shopping Centre.

Made of Jedburgh sandstone, its classical design was based on the work of 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio’s basilica at Vicenza in Italy.

The government-funded gateway scheme would see major changes to the public realm opposite the train station to make the gateway to Harrogate more attractive to visitors and more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians.

It would also see part of Station Parade reduced to single lane traffic to accommodate cycle routes and James Street partly pedestrianised. Business groups and residents have voiced concerns about the impact on trade and traffic.

In an email seen by the Stray Ferret, North Yorkshire Council officials said the relocation of the tempietto had been raised with council contractors. However, the move would need to be costed and require planning permission.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive councillor for highways at North Yorkshire Council, said the authority was aware of requests to move the tempietto.

He said:

“We are aware that there is some interest from other organisations in relocating the tempietto and we are looking to understand if this could be achieved should the decision be taken to implement the Harrogate Station Gateway project.”