Masham woman sets up fundraiser for bus driver involved in fatal A61 collision

A woman from Masham has set up a fundraising page for the bus driver seriously injured in a fatal collision on the A61 Ripon Road this month.

Daria Bartienieva, 35, her son, Ihor Bartienieva, aged 6, and Daria’s step-daughter, Anastasiia Bartienieva, 15, died after a three-vehicle crash that involved a double decker 36 bus on the road near South Stainley on September 3.

It was the second fatal collision on the road on consecutive weekends.

Katie Sills, 23, told the Stray Ferret she had followed the fundraiser for 15-year-old Liza Bartienieva, who was orphaned following the accident.

It has so far raised more than £41,000 and Ms Sills decided to launch a similar appeal for the driver of the 36 bus known as ‘Bob’ because she had not seen anything being done on his behalf.

Ms Sills said she does not know Bob but wanted to help in any capacity she could:

“I just thought to myself ‘he’s a man with a family, bills and probably rent or a mortgage’.

“I’m not entirely sure what the money will be used for, but I imagine just everyday living if he’s not working.

“What he saw would’ve been absolutely horrendous and now he’s left with physical and mental trauma.”

After setting up the GoFundMe page on Sunday, which has now raised over £2,000, a friend of the bus driver reached out to Ms Sills.

“His friend said he’d seen my post about the fundraiser and that the man does not have social media, so he passed on my phone number and he text me not long after.”

The man told Ms Sills “I cannot thank you enough for your kindness and consideration”. She said:

“He told me in the text that the only reason he was working that Sunday was so he could take a day off to drive his son to university the following week.

“He also said he’d always be indebted to me.”

The initial target was £1,000 but now that has been surpassed, Ms Sills said she’d like to keep the page up to raise as much as she can.

A fun day will also be held at Ripon Bowling Club this Sunday to continue raising money for those affected by the collision – including the bus driver and Liza.

It will include cake stalls, a raffle, a live DJ and a magician.

The event will run from 1pm to 5pm.

It is free to attend but asks people to donate what they can.

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Concern about inflation on £68.8m Kex Gill road scheme

Concerns have been raised about what impact inflation might have on the overall cost of the A59 Kex Gill new road scheme between Harrogate and Skipton.

Council officials first said the Department for Transport-funded scheme would cost £61.6 million but this rose to £68.8m last year due to inflationary costs, with the council covering the £7.2m shortfall from its reserves.

Since last summer, inflation has remained high and at a meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon area constituency committee last week, Andrew Murday, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale,  asked Julian Smith, the Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon, who would pick up the bill should costs increase again.

Cllr Murday said:

“One can assume a fair amount of overspend on that project due to cost of raw materials.

“Can we have an explanation on how that overspend might be met?”

In response, Mr Smith said he had not heard about any overspend.

He added:

“I was focused on getting that money locked down which it was earlier in the year.

“I haven’t had representation from the council that more money is required.”

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service after the meeting, Cllr Murday said inflation should be a “worry” as construction on the new road progresses.

He said:

“Projects do overrun. There is wage inflation for the people who work there, the cost of raw materials, stone and energy requirements.

“I don’t know how much of that was taken into account when the money was awarded.

“It’s worth worrying about the increase in costs and how they are going to be met.”

A North Yorkshire Council spokesperson said the project is not currently running over budget.

Last month, contractors completed clearing an area next to the A59 between Harrogate and Skipton ahead of building a new three-mile stretch of road.

The A59 is a key link for North Yorkshire but the section that includes Kex Gill has had a long history of landslips which has caused lenghty diversions for motorists and extra costs for the council.

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Andrew Jones MP urges Prime Minister to ease ‘strain’ on access to Harrogate NHS dentists

Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones today urged the Prime Minister to tackle the “immediate strain” facing local people trying to access NHS dentists.

Concerns about a shortage of NHS dentists in Harrogate were heightened last week when Chatsworth House Dental Clinic, on King’s Road, said it will stop treating NHS patients at the end of the year.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions today, Mr Jones said he and fellow North Yorkshire MPs met with the local integrated care board last week to discuss ways of improving dentistry provision. He added:

“But when surgeries suddenly close to NHS patients without notice as one in Harrogate did very recently, an immediate strain is put on local provision.

“Will the Prime Minister look at what can be done in these circumstances to ensure that no one is left without access to an NHS dentist?”

Mr Sunak pledged to “look into this issue” and said Mr Jones would be “reassured” to know the government was investing £3 billion a year into dentistry. He added there were no geographical restrictions on which dentists people could attend.

‘Sitting on the sidelines’

Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, discussing healthcare issues with Tom Gordon, the party's parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Tom Gordon with Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrats’ health spokesperson.

The man who hopes to succeed Mr Jones as Harrogate and Knaresborough MP at the next election accused his rival of “sitting on the sidelines” over dentistry.

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate, said he was “pleased that after 13 years Andrew Jones has finally bowed to pressure and asked a question in Parliament about the dentist crisis affecting local residents”, adding:

“In the last six months, the Lib Dems have been increasing the pressure on him to do this. We have set up a dentists survey, arranged a meeting with the Lib Dem shadow health minister and made sure that questions were asked in Parliament about this issue.

“We’ve heard awful stories about how local people have been putting up with pain as they can’t afford to see a dentist. It shouldn’t have required a concerted campaign to make our MP act.”

“We’re determined to keep on fighting for the cash that will re-establish NHS dentistry in our area. We hope Andrew Jones will join us in this fight rather than sitting on the sidelines as he has done over this and many other issues for the last 13 years.”

Following his meeting with Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board last week, Mr Jones said:

“Dental services have been recovering but there is much more progress to be made.

“It is important that action is taken swiftly to expand the NHS dental provision in our area.”

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Motorbike stolen from Harrogate’s James Street

A motorcycle has been stolen from one of Harrogate’s busiest shopping streets.

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for information about the theft, which occurred on James Street between 6pm on August 26 and 12.15am on August 27.

The 22-reg black and orange KTM 125 Duke was taken and then found abandoned on Byron Walk Mews at about 6am on 27 August.

Police urged anyone with information to email katie.bell@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101, select option 2, and ask for Katie Bell.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230161540.

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Harrogate woman with incurable cancer raises charity funds with crystal art

A Harrogate woman has been creating crystal art to raise funds for a local cancer charity after being diagnosed with the disease.

Paula Grainger, 79, discovered she had ovarian cancer in 2019. Since then she has been “giving something back” to Harrogate-based Yorkshire Cancer Research by selling her artwork at community events.

She said:

“I came across Yorkshire Cancer Research, and I didn’t realise that there was a regional cancer charity, so I thought ‘right, what can I do to help?’. I’ve always liked crafts, so I started producing some artwork to sell and donating the profits to the charity.”

Paula creates crystal art by placing crystals onto a canvas and sells it at events such as Bilton Cricket Club’s party of the pitch. She said:

“I’ve always made cards and other bits, but when I started doing crystal art, I just loved it. It’s really satisfying and once it’s finished it shimmers and shines.

“I live with my eldest daughter and her family, and I’ve almost taken over with all my craft supplies and artwork. They’ve given me half of the garage to store everything.”

Paula first visited her doctor after she noticed that she’d lost weight and was having trouble eating.

She was referred for further tests at St James’s Hospital in Leeds and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, Paula was told that her cancer was incurable.

Paula Grainger

She said:

“I didn’t go to the doctors immediately when I started feeling unwell. I meet up with a group of friends once a week and they gave me a push to make the appointment to speak to my doctor. It was such a shock when the diagnosis came through.

“That’s something I’d want to get across to people, it feels daunting but it’s so important to go and speak to your doctor if you have anything you’re concerned about so you can catch the cancer early.”

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Paula had chemotherapy and after two years of monitoring, was given a second round in 2021. She now takes medication to prevent the cancer from spreading.  She said:

“It’s been a difficult journey, especially when your mind is constantly thinking about the cancer, but I’m pleased with where I am now.”

Yorkshire Cancer Research funds research to tackle cancer in the region.

Mum-of-three Paula said:

“It was important to me to raise funds for a local charity. Yorkshire Cancer Research funds research in Leeds, where I was treated, so it felt like the perfect opportunity to help support the people who had supported me.

“I’m not doing it for people like me, I’m doing it for people like my daughters and my grandchildren, and everybody else who may be affected by cancer in the future and can benefit from developments in cancer research.

“When you think about the developments that have been made even in the past 10 years, it’s incredible. My mum and grandmother both passed away from cancer, and it was a very different prognosis then than it is now.”

Conservatives to head to Harrogate for 2024 spring conference?

The Conservative Party could be heading to Harrogate in six months for its spring conference.

The Stray Ferret understands the party has chosen Harrogate Convention Centre to host its second biggest gathering of the year.

The spring conference brings party members, officials and ministers together to discuss policy, host fringe events and hear speeches from senior figures, such as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

This year’s event was held in Birmingham in May.

Harrogate was due to host the Conservatives’ spring forum in April 2020 but it was cancelled due to covid.

Next year’s event is likely to be held during a general election year — and could even be staged very close to polling day.

It could mean Mr Sunak’s last major party event as Prime Minister would be in Harrogate — if the Conservatives fail to hang on to power.

Harrogate Convention Centre last hosted a political party conference in October 2022, when the Green Party autumn conference was held.

The Stray Ferret approached the Conservative Party for comment, but did not receive a response.

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North Yorkshire’s poor broadband making it harder to support domestic abuse victims

Poor broadband and mobile coverage in parts of North Yorkshire is making it more difficult to tackle domestic abuse, according to a charity.

IDAS has offices in Harrogate and Skipton and is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Olivia King and Kerry Rose from IDAS gave a presentation to councillors at a meeting of Skipton and Ripon area constituency committee last Thursday where they gave details about the services it provides, including safe accommodation, one-to-one support for survivors and a confidential helpline.

The charity received 25,000 calls to their helpline last year which is a figure they said is increasing every year.

But reaching people is made more difficult due to poor broadband or mobile phone connections in the Dales and other rural parts of North Yorkshire.

Ms Rose said: 

“It’s something rural communities really struggle with. We’re saying to people, if you’re in trouble, call the police, and they’re saying to us, we can’t because we’ve got no service and the broadband is rubbish — what can I do?

“So we have to be quite creative in trying to keep them safe when they can’t even call the police. That becomes a worry.”

Ms King said the issue of poor broadband is one that older clients struggle with in particular.

She said: 

“Some of these people have additional needs such as dementia which prevents them from accessing the internet, or they just don’t want to. They like their phone and they don’t have internet access because they don’t want it.

“That does make it more difficult in those further out communities where there are worse transport links. Some people have nothing for miles. Signal and broadband is one of the main things that crops up as feedback from survivors.”

North Yorkshire Council is aiming to complete the fourth phase of its Superfast Broadband programme by March next year, with 200,000 premises, many of which in rural areas, benefitting from vastly improved internet connections since the project was launched in 2012.

The IDAS helpline is 0300 0110 110.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate care provider opens new training centre

Harrogate-based Vida Healthcare has opened a new training centre.

The 2,500 square foot centre, which is on Starbeck High Street, will be used to help train staff at the dementia care provider.

The site will form part of the company’s Vida Healthcare Academy, which will host training and recruitment fairs.

It will offer a range of courses, from the induction programme for new starters to specialist training courses and apprenticeships.

James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare, said:  

“Our team is our greatest asset and the new centre will ensure we can provide significant professional growth and development opportunities throughout their time with us.

“This will also ensure we can continue to provide residents with the highest  quality of compassionate care.”

Harrogate estate agent sponsors local hockey club

A Harrogate estate agent has agreed to extend its sponsorship Harrogate Hockey Club.

Verity Frearson, which is based on Albert Street, has agreed the deal which will run until 2026.

Matt Stamford, director at Verity Frearson, pictured with Josh Lyon of Harrogate Hockey Club.

Matt Stamford, director at Verity Frearson, pictured with Josh Lyon of Harrogate Hockey Club.

The agreement covers sponsorship of all home and away senior shirts and signage around the club facility, as well as weekly coverage on social media.

Matt Stamford, director at Verity Frearson, said:

“Having been main club sponsor since 2017, we know what a fantastic, inclusive, family-friendly organisation Harrogate Hockey Club are, and their core values align very well with our own.

“We look forward to continuing our positive partnership and here’s to a successful season ahead.”

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Harrogate Mojo plans bar extension

Mojo in Harrogate has submitted plans to extend its bar area.

Voodoo Doll Limited, which trades as Mojo, has tabled the proposal to North Yorkshire Council which would see additional seating downstairs and upstairs.

The plan includes converting current commercial office space on the first floor into additional seating space.

In documents submitted to the council, the company said the move would help to cope with demand at the bar.

It said:

“The proposed extended customer floor space seeks to address demand and reflects the success of the business in Harrogate and as such will positively contribute to the character and vitality of the town centre.”

Drawings of the first floor extension, as coloured in red.

Drawings of the first floor extension, as coloured in red.

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

The move comes after Mojo was granted an extension to its opening hours at its Parliament Street bar until 6.30am. A council licensing committee approved the move in March.

At the time, Martin Greenhow, managing director of Mojo, told councillors that part of the reason for extending the hours was so the business can recover from the covid pandemic.

He said:

“One of the reasons that we’re here asking for these extra hours is that the business has found challenges since we have returned.

“We have accrued an awful lot of debt in just getting through lockdowns.”

The Mojo chain also has bars in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Nottingham.

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Harrogate’s Rudding Park expansion approved

Councillors have approved plans by Rudding Park Hotel and Spa near Harrogate to a build a new golf clubhouse, family hub and four tennis courts and reinstate a walled garden.

North Yorkshire Council’s strategic planning committee met in Northallerton this morning to consider the application, which the resort said will result in an additional 75 full-time jobs and lead to an extra £14.3 million being spent in the local area every year.

Planning documents said the current clubhouse was originally built as a temporary facility but had outgrown its useful life and “considerably discredits the course”.

The new two-storey building will include swimming pools, restaurants, a gym and changing rooms.

How the new clubhouse will look.

Another visual of the new clubhouse.

Simon Mackaness, owner of Rudding Park, told councillors the scheme would secure the future of the business.

He said:

“As owners, this application presents our family’s commitment to securing the long-term future of the site. The plans have been subject to much discussion with officers and consultees. It presents a unique opportunity to build on our past successes and provide high-quality facilities.”

The buildings will be constructed to the BREEAM ‘excellent’ environmental standard to put them in the top 10% of new buildings in the country.

Andy Brown, the Green Party councillor for Aire Valley, praised the scheme’s eco credentials.

He said:

“All too often we see developers pay lip service to biodiversity, sustainability and good design. I looked at this with a critical eye on those issues and was happy with what I saw.”

Green belt concerns

Rudding Park is a sprawling 300-acre estate three miles south of Harrogate. But because it sits on green belt land, planning policy only permits development in “very special circumstances”.

Neil Swannick, the Labour councillor for Whitby Streonshalh, said the positives did not outweigh the harm of building on the green belt.

He said:

“The economic benefits for the area are substantial, I recognise that, but will I support the building of a county club on the green belt? No, I won’t.”

However, Andrew Lee, the Conservatives and Independents group councillor for Appleton Roebuck and Church Fenton,  argued the strict tests for building on green belt had been met.

He said:

“Yes, it’s in the green built but Rudding Park is an important local site and they’ve demonstrated a commitment to sustainable development.

“The economic benefits mean more jobs for the local area, a £14m additional boost to local economy and securing the site for future generations and users. Taking all those things into account, I’m comfortable that the impact on the green built has been sufficiently mitigated.”

Councillors voted to approve the application with conditions by 12 votes to 1.

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