Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.
How many people are late for their Harrogate District Hospital appointments or simply go home due to the ridiculous difficulty parking? I was there this afternoon and an elderly woman said she had been driving around for an hour looking for a space.
You now have to arrive a good 45 minutes early and even then you may not be parked in time. It took numerous circuits last week before I found a space.
The parking fee has been hiked to £4 for a couple of hours, it’s daylight robbery, particularly when all you are doing is driving around aimlessly, competing with other drivers for non existent spaces. Using two buses to get there isn’t an option for most people.
It’s time to reinstate the barrier so that people only enter the hospital car park when there is actually a space.
Liz Carnell, Harrogate
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Leeds Bradford Airport needs covered walkway
I note your report on Leeds Bradford Airport upgrading the terminal at cost of £100 million.
It would be great if they could spare a few pounds and construct a covered walkway for the drop-off point to the terminal so passengers can arrive dry into the booking in departure area.
Paul Smith, Knaresborough
Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.
Community fitness group runs for Harrogate Homeless ProjectA community fitness group has raised money for Harrogate Homeless Project.
Community Fit took part in the charity’s initiative which invited people to run either 5km or 10km in September.
The group decided to complete the run together and were joined by some of the Harrogate Homeless staff on the night.
They raised £275 for the charity which will go towards providing vital day-to-day care, emergency housing and support programmes.
Read more:
Members of Community Fit meet every Wednesday and either run, walk or cycle to their chosen charity. Its aim is to connect activity and community.
It is a collaborative project between North Yorkshire Sport and Harrogate & District Community Action, supported by an NHS grant received via Community First Yorkshire.
The group have recently helped to clear and tidy the garden at the Harrogate Homeless Project, as well as prepare the Cenotaph Exhibition at West Park Church.
Photo of the Week: Hookstone WoodThis week’s photograph was taken by John Lorimer, capturing the light breaking through the trees in Hookstone Woods.
John Lorimer
Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.
Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.
Air ambulance rescues horse rider in Bishop ThorntonAir ambulance and mountain rescuers came to the aid of a woman who fell off a horse in Bishop Thornton.
Volunteers from Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association were called to the village, which is between Harrogate and Ripon, early on Friday evening.
According to its incident report. Yorkshire Air Ambulance was also on the scene and providing care.
Its report added:
“Once stable, the team assisted in lifting the rider on to a stretcher and in to an ambulance for onward travel to hospital.”
No further details, including the extent of the injuries, were provided.
Read more:
- Harrogate community organisations win funding in photography competition
- Speed limit could be reduced on A61 Harrogate to Ripon Road
Knaresborough pharmacy urges people to come forward for covid vaccine
A Knaresborough pharmacy director has urged people to come forward for a covid vaccine and warned that the virus is “still out there”.
Homecare Pharmacy Services took over the Harrogate Masonic Hall in October to offer covid vaccines to those eligible.
Despite a busy beginning, managing director Jason Baskind said the number of people using the service quickly “died down”.
He added:
“We were really busy for the first two weeks – it was good initially — but people need to be reminded that covid is still out there.”
The pharmacy played a key role in the pandemic after the NHS requested its help to roll-out the vaccine.
It moved to Chain Lane Community Hub and the former Lidl site in Knaresborough to administer more than 200,000 vaccinations.
Mr Baskind feels a change in attitude towards the virus has contributed to the slow uptake. He said:
“I think people have learned to live with it. There was a sense of panic when it was first rolled out and a stipulation to get it – which people did.
“Now, there’s potentially a sense of apathy in terms of the vaccine, but why not take the opportunity to get it?”
Appointments for a covid vaccine can be made on the NHS national booking website.
Those currently eligible for the covid vaccine include people aged 65 and over, frontline healthcare workers, and high-risk individuals living with health conditions.
Read more:
- Major elements of £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme to be scrapped
- Harrogate district man arrested over ‘Manchester Arena bomber’ costume
Children in North Yorkshire waiting ‘too long’ for autism assessments
North Yorkshire Council says it wants to improve waiting times for autism assessments after being told by parents that delays of more than three months are harming the mental health of children.
The council is set to ask the public for views on its draft autism strategy for 2024-2027 that has an aim of helping autistic children, young people and adults to live full, happy, and healthy lives.
Autism is lifelong neuro-development condition that affects how people perceive the world, communicate and interact with others.
Approximately 1% of the UK population is autistic, meaning around 6,155 autistic people live in North Yorkshire based on the 2021 Census.
The new draft document builds on the previous local strategy and joins up areas including education, employment, housing and the NHS in a bid to improve how adults and children with autism access services.
However, according to the report, 9% of children under 10 in North Yorkshire are forced to wait more than 13 weeks for assessments — above the recommended NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidance.
For children between 10 and 17, the proportion waiting increases to 11%.
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The draft strategy says children and parents have highlighted a “lack of support” during and after the assessment and diagnosis process, which they say has had a negative impact on their mental health.
They also said that mental health can worsen while waiting for an assessment because an autism diagnosis is often needed to access some types of specialist support.
A 2021 study found that that between 1998 and 2018 there was a 787% increase in the incidence of autism diagnosis across the UK.
Experts say the increase is due to a greater public awareness of autism and earlier recognition and diagnosis of the condition.
North Yorkshire Council has been under significant pressure to deliver SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) provision in recent years.
There are currently eight council-maintained special schools and two special academies in North Yorkshire, including Springwater School in Starbeck and Mowbray School in Ripon.
But since 2016, the number of children and young people in North Yorkshire with identified SEND and an EHCP (education, health and care plan) has increased by over 110%.
There are now over 4,500 children in the county with an EHCP but there is not enough places at council-maintained special schools to accommodate them all.
Almost 600 children are forced to go to schools outside of the county or to independent and non-maintained schools which costs the council millions of pounds every year.
The council has proposed to build a new special school for autistic children at the former Woodfield school site in Harrogate.
Harrogate community organisations win funding in photography competitionTwo Harrogate community organisations have received £3,000 in funding after winning a photography competition showcasing their work.
Artizan International won the Our People category and the 1st Pannal Scout Group the Our Place category of the amateur photography competition, which was run by the Two Ridings Community Foundation in conjunction with North Yorkshire’s High Sheriff Clare Granger.
Artizan International’s Harrogate cafe supports adults with learning disabilities by providing real-life working experience, a sense of confidence and self-esteem.
Liz Cluderay from Artizan said:
“We were delighted to win first place and the funding is very well timed as we need to replace key pieces of equipment such as a dishwasher and under counter fridges and freezer.”
The 1st Pannal Scout Group is planning to use their prize money to gain match funding for the refurbishment of the Scout Hall, which is used by their 80 children and young people as well as the whole community.
A number of other Harrogate groups were also highly commended in the competition and will receive a small amount of funding. They are Dancing for Wellbeing which runs ‘Keep Dancing’ sessions at Oatlands Community Centre, Harrogate Clothes Bank, New Beginnings Peer Support, and Open Country, which helps disabled people access and enjoy the countryside.
The Artizan Cafe in Harrogate
Two Ridings helps individuals and businesses across North and East Yorkshire to invest in and support small local charities and community groups by turning their donations into funding.
The winners of the competition were announced at a Photography Exhibition & Showcase in the ballroom of Allerton Castle. The event gave local business leaders, friends and supporters of Two Ridings the opportunity to view the impact of community organisations through 16 photographs, and to hear the stories behind the images.
Read more
- 23 Harrogate district community groups awarded £55,000
- Council to bid for government funding to progress Harrogate social housing schemes
Two Ridings chief executive Celia McKeon praised Two Ridings’ donors and supporters for enabling the foundation to channel resources direct to the front line, where it makes a difference.
She said:
“The work everyone here does is the humble, selfless work of people acting out of love. Some of the people supported by this work are often failed by our institutions. And yet they are centred in these images. And that is because they are centred in the work of the organisations.
“This work is transformational. It changes people’s lives. This everyday extraordinary work is the power of community action, and it enriches all our lives. We must not take it for granted.”
Sixteen cash prizes were handed out on the night, including to the photography competition runners-up Scarborough & Ryedale Mountain Rescue, Chopsticks in Northallerton that supports adults with disabilities to develop new skills in a workshop environment, the Walled Garden Whitby, and York-based Shine 21 which supports families who have a child with Down’s Syndrome.
Two Ridings recently launched a Cost of Living Crisis Fund appeal, to help support community organisations that offer a lifeline to people in need. Make a donation here.
Bonfire Night: guide to events in the Harrogate districtBonfire Night is approaching. From torch-lit processions and alpacas to live music and traditional bonfires, we’ve collated a list of bonfires in the Harrogate district.
If you know of an event we haven’t included, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will add it.
Friday, November 3
Ripon City Bonfire
Ripon City Bonfire will take place at Ripon Racecourse.
The bonfire will be lit at 7pm and fireworks will begin at 7.30pm
Gates open at 5.30pm.
Advance tickets start at £2 and can be bought at various venues in the city.
No own fireworks other than sparklers are permitted for safety reasons.
There will be no parking available at the racecourse due to the poor weather conditions.
Spofforth village fireworks
The event will be held at Spofforth Cricket Club.
There will be hot food, a bar and live music to enjoy ahead of the fireworks display.
Gates open at 5pm.
Family tickets cost £12.50 and can be bought at the village deli or post office.
Knaresborough Cricket Club and Aspin Park Academy PTA Fireworks Night
The event will be held at Knaresborough Cricket Club.
As well as a firework display, guests can expect food and drink, music and light-up toys for sale.
Gates open at 6pm and fireworks will be lit at 7pm.
Tickets start at £3 and can be bought at the gate.
Belmont Grosvenor School Bonfire Party
Belmont Grosvenor School will host a bonfire party in the school grounds.
There will be a bonfire, fireworks, food and drinks stalls, children’s activities, and music.
Gates open at 6pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm and the firework display will begin at 7.20pm.
Tickets are free for U18s and cost £10 for adults. They can be bought at the gate or by contacting the PTA on pta@belmontgrosvenor.co.uk or 07525 907156.
Anyone is welcome to attend.
Stray Bonfire. Pic: Mark Dimmock.
Saturday, November 4
Stray Bonfire, Harrogate
The bonfire will be lit on the Oatlands Stray near to St Aidan’s Church of England High School.
It will take place from 5pm until 8.30pm and include fireworks, food and drink, and live music.
The event is free to attend but Harrogate Round Table, which is a charity, encourages donations. Proceeds will go towards Harrogate Homeless Project.
Yolk Farm, Minskip
Yolk Farm, near Boroughbridge, is hosting a dog and baby-friendly event without fireworks.
There will still be a bonfire and tickets include entry to the yard where visitors can see the animals, including goats and alpacas, as well as the opportunity to feed the pigs.
Hot food will also be on offer.
Gates open at 5.30pm and the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm
Tickets can be bought online for £5.
Upper Nidderdale Scouts Group Pateley Bonfire
The event will be held at Pateley Bridge Showground.
Guests can expect a torchlit procession and bonfire, which begin at 6.30pm, and fireworks at 7pm.
There will also be hot food and a best Guy competition.
Entry is by donation and doors open at 6pm.
No sparklers are allowed.
Masham Bonfire
Masham Bonfire will be held on The Holme.
Food will be served from 5.30pm, followed by the bonfire at 6.15pm.
There will also be a firework display at 7pm.
The event is free to attend.
Kirkby Malzeard Community Bonfire
The event will be held at North Close Farm.
There will be a bonfire, fireworks and food and drink on offer.
Gates open at 6pm and the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm.
It is free to attend but organisers have asked for donations to continue running the events.
Sparklers are not permitted.
Birstwith Community Bonfire
Birstwith bonfire will be held on the field behind West House on Nidd Lane.
As well as the bonfire, which will be lit at 5.30pm, visitors can enjoy a bar, hot dogs and a children’s stall.
Organisers will be raising money for a vehicle-activated speed sign near Birstwith School.
No dogs or sparklers are permitted.
Gates open at 5pm.
Wath & Melmerby Community Bonfire
The event will be held Roger Clarke Motor Engines in Melmerby.
Visitors can expect a bonfire, fireworks, a BBQ and a bar.
It begins at 6pm and tickets cost £5 per family.
Sunday, November 5
Lightwater Valley, Ripon
Lightwater Valley will put on a firework display accompanied by the music of Swan Lake.
Admission is included in a day entry ticket.
The display will begin at 5.15pm.
The Queen’s Head, Kettlesing
The Queen’s Head will have a bonfire and fireworks on offer.
There will also be pizzas, sparklers and a charity cake to stand available.
The event will be fundraising for Felliscliffe School.
It begins at 5pm and the bonfire will be lit at 6pm.
Entry is £5 for adults and £2 for children under 16.
Scotton Cricket Club
The event will be held at the cricket club on Lower Moor Lane.
Gates open at 6pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6.45pm and the firework display will begin at 7.30pm.
Visitors can look forward to a bar, a BBQ and a cake stall.
Car parking is limited, so organisers have recommended people walk or car share to the event.
Donations are welcome on entry.
Harrogate Railway Football Club
A firework display will be held at the club, which is on Station View in Starbeck.
There will be a DJ, fairground rides, a bar and a BBQ on offer.
The event is in association with Friends of Starbeck School and entry is £2.
Gates open at 4pm, followed by fireworks at 6.30pm.
There is no parking available at the venue.
Read more:
- Details of Stray bonfire and fireworks revealed
- Rock stars rave over ‘nectar of paradise’ in Harrogate
Historic Harrogate chapel up for auction
A converted chapel in Harrogate will go to auction next week.
The Chapel, on Grove Road, was built in 1896 and is a Grade-II listed building.
Mark Hinchcliffe, from Harrogate, bought the property in 2013. He originally lived in it before spending four years converting it into an eclectic bed and breakfast, which featured on Channel 4’s The Restoration Man.
However, Mr Hinchcliffe put The Chapel on the market for £1.5 million in 2020, but subsequently lowered the price to £1 million in April this year.
The empty building remains unsold and is now listed with Allsop — with a guide price of £850,000 plus.
The Chapel offers six bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, two separate bathrooms, two reception rooms, a vaulted drawing room, a dining room, an orangery and a library.
It also boasts a large entrance hall and a 50ft atrium, as well as a utility room and plant room.
The Chapel’s floor plan.
The listing states:
“The property may afford possible potential for change of use and/or redevelopment, subject to obtaining all necessary consents.”
The auction will be live-streamed on Tuesday, November 7 and Wednesday, November 8.
Read more:
Classical line-up for Harrogate’s Sunday Series revealed
This winter’s line-up for the Harrogate International Sunday Series of chamber and classical music has been revealed.
Five concerts will take place in what will be the 30th annual series at the Old Swan in Harrogate.
It will begin with the return of clarinettist Robert Plane, accompanied by pianist Tim Horton, on January 28 to give a programme featuring 20th century and contemporary composers, complemented by Brahms’ Sonata in F minor, Op.120, No. 1.
The two appearances by solo pianists will see Daniel Lebhardt play Brahms, Scriabin, Bartok and Ligeti and Clare Hammond perform a diverse programme featuring work by Hélène de Montgeroult, Clara Schumann, Ravel, Coleridge-Taylor, Spanish post-Romantic Isaac Albéniz, and contemporary composer Edmund Finnis.
The Astatine Trio will give a traditional recital comprising Haydn, Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Tailleferre.
Rounding off the series, violinist Hyeyoon Park and pianist Zlata Chochieva will perform Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, sonatas by Mozart, Debussy and Grieg, and Distance de fée by 20th century Japanese composer, Tōru Takemitsu.
Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said:
“We’re delighted to unveil the programme for Harrogate International Sunday Series 2024, which once again brings some of the world’s most talented classical and chamber musicians to Yorkshire.
“Whilst celebrating our 30th anniversary, this year’s programme is decidedly forward-looking, featuring award-winning young performers and platforming an exciting blend of both traditional and innovative works.
To encourage young people to attend, tickets for under-35s are priced at just £5.
Read more:
- International pianists heading to Harrogate for concert series
- Bike track could replace pitch and putt course in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens