Heavy rain over the last six weeks has caused water levels in local reservoirs to rise by almost a fifth, but the region is still officially classed as being in drought, according to Yorkshire Water. 

Environment Agency data shows that Yorkshire had the same amount of rainfall in September and October as it did over the whole summer, but even at 19% higher, reservoir levels are still below the level expected for this time of year, according to the water company. 

Yorkshire Water has been working closely with the Environment Agency to obtain additional drought measures, which the company said when paired with the additional rainfall, has helped raise the levels of some reservoirs.

Thruscross Reservoir, pictured in July

Granville Davies, manager of water and catchment strategy at Yorkshire Water, said:

“Reservoir levels are moving in the right direction – we’re seeing some significant increases week on week as the rainfall, drought permits, additional leakage activity, and support from our customers to save water, help them to top up.” 

Yorkshire Water has 11 reservoirs in the Harrogate district. In the Washburn Valley, Thruscross, Fewston and Swinsty all supply water to Leeds, and Lindley Wood, which dried up almost completely this summer, is a compensation reservoir designed to ensure steady water flow in the River Wharfe.

In Nidderdale, Angram and Scar House both supply water via underground aqueducts to Bradford, and Gouthwaite is a compensation reservoir that regulates the flow of water in the River Nidd.

Elsewhere, Beaver Dyke and Scargill in Haverah Park, to the west of Harrogate, supply water to the town, and in Colsterdale, west of Masham, Roundhill also supplies water to Harrogate, and Leighton is a compensation reservoir for the River Burn, which runs into Wensleydale as a tributary of the River Ure. 

Mr Davies added:

“We have had more rain recently than the previous summer months, but that rain doesn’t always fall evenly across the whole region – meaning that in some areas reservoir levels are still much lower than we would hope. We’re using our extensive network of pipes to move what we can around the region, but we have applied to the Environment Agency for additional measures to help us balance stocks in that area too. 

“It’s really important that we all continue to save water where we can – small changes in habits will help give reservoirs the best chance possible to top up this winter, ahead of the warmer months in spring and summer next year. We’re constantly reviewing the situation and as soon as we meet the requirements needed to remove the hosepipe ban, we will let our customers know.” 

Work began today to put up the ice rink which will be one of the main features of Harrogate’s Christmas attractions this year.

Crews from Events by Cynosure were on Crescent Gardens this morning setting up the rink, which will open on Friday, December 2 and has been organised by Harrogate BID and Harrogate Borough Council‘s Destination Harrogate marketing team.

The rink will run until Tuesday, January 3, opening every day except Christmas Day, and will be accompanied by an après-ski bar.

It is part of a scheme of attractions around the town which will also see a carousel, a ferris wheel and the Candy Cane Express road train return after a successful first appearance last year. They will all run until January 8.

Harrogate Christmas Fayre, running from Friday, December 2 to Sunday, December 11, will have 50 stalls put up around the town centre featuring a range of traders, including local charities. Installation will begin on Monday, November 28 and the fayre will be open from 10am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.

Meanwhile, the Christmas lights have been switched on across the town centre, with just over five weeks to go until Christmas Day.

For full information on the ice rink click here.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Christmas ice rink opens for bookings
• York Ferris wheel coming to Harrogate for Christmas

A young Harrogate politician has spoken for his constituents in the House of Commons on the need for better mental health support.

Fourteen-year-old Brando Halloum is the Member of Youth Parliament for Harrogate and Craven.

Now a Year 10 student at Harrogate Grammar School, he moved to the UK in Year 5 having previously attended school in the United Arab Emirates.

He was one of more than 200 MYPs aged 11-18 who attended the meeting on November 4 in the House of Commons, the first of its kind since 2019.

Speaking of the experience, Brando said:

“To be elected as MYP and have the chance to represent my constituents in Westminster was a surreal experience – debating issues that matter most to my generation at the heart of our democracy, Parliament.

“It is now for decision makers, local and national, to ensure action is taken to address these issues. Ensuring no decision about my generation is made without us and that we remain at the heart of these integral conversations.”

Brando was invited to speak by the speaker of the house, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. He spoke of the need for improved mental health services across the UK for young people, telling the house of the racial abuse he had received and the lack of support he was given afterwards.

In the House of Commons, he said:

“I was unfortunately the victim of racial and Islamophobic abuse… When I reported this experience, people doubted me and I was given a plaster response, just put a quick band aid over the problem. It didn’t help.

“I spent months waiting for counselling which never came. I am calling for young people to be given adequate treatment and adequate response to racism and all forms of discrimination across this country and give mental health support to those who need it.”

Read more:

• Uncertainty over Harrogate district investment zones after government ‘refocuses’ scheme
• Businesses across Harrogate district to face ‘tough winter’ after autumn statement

Brando was elected by more than 9,000 young people to be the MYP of Harrogate and Craven this March, voted on through the Make Your Mark initiative for young people. Members of Youth Parliament are elected every two years.

He regularly campaigns with his fellow MYPs throughout the country to represent his constituent’s voice and debate issues and policies.

The primary campaign issue for Members of Youth Parliament this year is the cost of living crisis.

He said:

“The cost of living crisis is at the fore of my generation’s minds, and I am concerned about the clear and disproportionate impact this is having on my constituents’ mental health and wellbeing.”

Brando is also a member of the North Yorkshire Youth Council, in addition to being an RAF cadet.

The full morning session in which Brando spoke is below. He began speaking around 37 minutes into the session.

Harrogate hospital bosses have given assurances that a ‘robust plan’ is in place for winter as it faces increased demand.

The hospital says it expects to face further pressures from seasonal flu, covid and staff absences.

It also faces long waiting lists for operations and high demand at accident and emergency.

However, a spokesperson for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the organisation has put a plan in place to cope with demand.

It comes as NHS chiefs wrote to health bosses across the country this week conceding that some hospitals may struggle to cope this winter.

‘Robust winter plan’

In Harrogate, the hospital is currently dealing with a 90% bed occupancy rate, high demand at A&E and a long waiting list for operations.

A spokesperson for HDFT said despite some of the winter pressures, a plan was in place to help maintain services for patients.

They said:

“We have faced and dealt with significant challenges over the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our recovery from it – in particular, reducing our waiting lists and waiting times for treatment.

“We will undoubtedly face further challenges in the months ahead as winter is always a busy time of the year as we deal with a variety of seasonal infections such as flu, in addition to all other regular activity.

“The trust has a robust winter plan in place to ensure we are able to maintain our services so that our patients’ care is not disrupted and all areas are staffed to safe levels and monitored throughout all shifts.

“During the winter period, staff absences at the trust can create pressure for our teams; for instance, fewer nursing and medical staff means that whilst we are still able to treat our patients for their illness or condition and ensure their safety, we are sometimes not able to provide the level of holistic support that we would like.

“Currently, bed occupancy at our hospitals is around 90%. Due to the increased number of planned operations that are being performed we have more patients occupying beds following their surgery.

“However, bed occupancy is also impacted by patients who no longer require hospital care, but are unable to be discharged as they do not have a suitable location where they can continue their recovery, such as a residential care home, or appropriate home care to support them in their own homes.”

Read more:

• Harrogate hospital plans new £14m operating theatres
• Hospital ‘not anticipating’ service cuts due to energy price surge
• Harrogate hospital staff selling days off to cope with cost of living crisis

The trust has already sought to introduce a home care service to free up beds and has trialled an emergency department streaming service for less serious injuries and illnesses at A&E.

The hospital also continues to urge people to call 111 for non-urgent illnesses.

It comes as NHS chiefs, regulators and Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, wrote to hospital bosses this week reassuring them that staff would not face disciplinary action if care standards fell due to “significantly increased national pressure”.

The letter said:

“In such challenging times, when you may need to depart from established procedures to care for people, we understand some could be fearful that they will be referred to your regulator. 

“Please be assured that your professional code and principles of practice are there to guide and support your judgments and decision-making in all circumstances. 

“This includes taking into account local realities and the need at times to adapt practice at times of significantly increased national pressure.”

There is uncertainty over the future of planned investment zones in the Harrogate district after the government announced it will “change its approach” on the policy.

Three sites were earmarked in the district for the zones, which were a key policy under former Prime Minister Liz Truss’s administration.

The sites include junction 47 of the A1 near Knaresborough, business park Potter Space Ripon at junction 50 of the A1, and Harrogate Convention Centre.

The government said previously that the zones, which would have received liberalised planning laws and tax incentives for businesses, would support economic growth.

However, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt yesterday announced in his autumn statement that the scheme would be focused towards research.

He said:

“I will also change our approach to investment zones which will now focus on leveraging our research strengths, to help build clusters for our new growth industries.

“My right honourable friend the Levelling Up Secretary will work with mayors, devolved administrations and local partners to achieve that with the first decisions announced ahead of the spring budget.”

According to Treasury documents, the government intends to “refocus the investment zones programme” and use it to “catalyse a limited number of the highest potential knowledge-intensive growth clusters”.

The document added that, as a result, the expressions of interests submitted by councils “will therefore not be taken forward”.

The news comes after Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, admitted on Wednesday that he did not expect the zones to progress.

Read more:

• Harrogate district planning rules could be ‘radically streamlined’
• Harrogate Convention Centre ‘could lose £250 million without investment’
• Revealed: the three Harrogate district sites that could become investment zones

The county council was named as one of 38 local authorities in talks with the government over creating investment zones back in September.

The authority then earmarked 12 commercial sites as part of an expression of interest for the scheme.

However, Cllr Les told councillors at a meeting on Wednesday that he did not expect the initiative to go any further.

He said:

“I have to say I don’t think that investment zones are going to proceed.

“The Secretary of State is reviewing them and they will not go forward.”

A 3G sports pitch has opened for community use in Harrogate.

St Aidan’s Church of England High School applied to create the pitch more than two years ago and is now inviting people to use it.

it was completed in the summer and officially launched at the school’s new Family Fest day. However, it was only in use for PE lessons and school football clubs until this week.

St Aidan’s chair of governors Jo Wicks said:

“We are delighted to finally be able to share this long-awaited and much-needed facility with the local community.

“Our pupils and PE staff are already enjoying their new dry and safe pitch, and we look forward to welcoming local clubs to St Aidan’s. Thanks to everyone involved for your hard work and resilience.”

When the original planning application was submitted in spring 2020, the school said the pitches would mainly be used by its own pupils, as well as those from primary schools in the area who did not have access to their own playing spaces.

Read more:

• St Aidan’s in Harrogate appoints interim head
• St Aidan’s new 3G pitch set to be open until 8pm

St Aidan’s plans to open the facility to the community from 6pm to 8pm on weeknights as well as Saturdays from 9am to 5pm and Sundays from 10am to 2pm. It would also be open from 9am to 4pm during school holidays.

The associated floodlights drew some concern from neighbours, who also raised objections to the potential for light pollution on the Stray.

However, there were also many supportive comments, including from other football clubs which said there was a demonstrable lack of year-round playing pitches in the Harrogate district.

Planning officers had recommended the proposal be refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee because of the impact on the surrounding area.

Councillors instead approved the plans in January 2021, saying they would be “letting our young people down” if they did not allow the pitches to be created.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

County council-owned technology firm NYnet has announced that Hornbeam Park is set to become the district’s biggest full fibre business park.

The expansion aims to support the local economy with reliable fibre broadband and guaranteed bandwidth.

The company already delivers full fibre to Saint Michael’s Hospice, which is located at the end of the business park.

The project is supported by the Digital Enterprise Grant which plans to match investments made by businesses at the park.

The CEO of Nynet, Alastair Taylor, said:

“The expansion of our network at Hornbeam Park will mean every business on the site can have access to fast and reliable fibre to the premises, at a price not dissimilar to current non-fibre services.

“The investment we are putting into Hornbeam Park and the service levels businesses will be able to access is excellent news for our region and will help to put Harrogate at the forefront of the UK’s digital economy.”

Nynet Limited was established by the North Yorkshire County Council in 2007. All profits from the company are returned to the council to fund frontline services.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Harrogate home care company wins at regional awards
• Business Breakfast: New business networking group set up in Harrogate
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate Christmas window competition set to return

Free breakfast seminars to review agricultural prospects coming to Harrogate

Rural land surveying firm GSC Grays will be hosting a free breakfast seminar to aid farmers this December.

The seminar will take place on December 6 at Pavillions of Harrogate at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

The company will be reviewing the prospects and options for farmers in the area, as well as advising them.

GSC Grays will give advice and support the agricultural industry in the free seminar 

The session comes at a time of need for farmers with basic payment scheme payments ending and inflation rising.

The Harrogate seminar is one of four scheduled across the North of England as part of GSC Grays’ farm business advice service.

The service has been funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the Future Farming Resilience Fund Scale Up Project. This gives organisations like GSC Grays grants allowing them to offer free business advice.

Farmers can register their interest by email or by calling 03333 059059.

During the current climate, we all need a bit of sparkle in our lives.

And what better way to inject some festive cheer than switching on the Christmas lights.

Here are the dates for your diary for switch-on events across the district:

Harrogate – Thursday, November 17

The countdown to Christmas in Harrogate will officially get underway this evening, with Harrogate BID flicking the festive switch.

There will be no official switch-on event this year, however Christmas lights around the town centre will start to dazzle for the first time this evening.

The whole town will be illuminated by the weekend.

Ripon – Saturday, November 19

Ripon’s festive season gets into full swing this weekend, with the switch-on of the city’s Christmas lights on Saturday.

The city’s Market Square will be a hive of activity from 1pm, ahead of the lights switch-on, which takes place at 5pm.

The reindeer, which proved popular when they visited Ripon for last year’s event, will be returning with Santa and once again there will be free fairground rides and a climbing wall for children to enjoy.

The Ripon City Council event will also provide free musical entertainment from 2pm.

Knaresborough – Friday, November 25

Boroughbridge – Wednesday, December 7

Santa’s sleigh out and about in Boroughbridge in 2018.

The annual late night Christmas Shopping and lights switch-on event, organised by the town’s Chamber of Trade, will take place on Wednesday, December 7.

The event kicks-off with the official switch-on of the Christmas tree lights in Hall Square at 5.30pm, followed by short performances by school choirs.

Boroughbridge Lions will have Santa and his sleigh on display and there will be children’s rides, along with the Scouts’ roast chestnuts and Brighter Boroughbridge with a mulled wine and mince pies stall. There will also be a hog roast.

The shop window display competition theme this year is “A Christmas Panto”.

The lights on the Christmas tree will be switched on by BBC Radio York’s Georgey Spanswick and the Mayor, Sean Hynes.

Local organisations are in unison with their reaction to the autumn statement, warning there will be a ‘tough winter’ ahead of us.

Small businesses are expected to struggle as result of this morning’s autumn statement, with consumers predicted to cut disposable spending.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce chief executive David Simister said the statement was “exactly as previewed”:

“Whilst it will no doubt have reassured the markets, there seems very little to support businesses when they need it most.

“The cost of running business will continue to rise and these increases will have to be passed on to the customers, who in turn are worse off with soaring inflation and eye watering energy prices…

“I’m afraid to say many businesses are looking at a very bleak future.”

David Simister

Harrogate BID chair Sara Ferguson echoed the chamber’s projection:

“There was little in today’s autumn statement to boost our high street economy… Everyone is going to have less disposal income, this will mean consumers pairing back on their spending, which will shrink the economy further.”

Mr Simister and Ms Ferguson also agreed that the £13.6 billion business rates relief package would help soften the blow of April’s expected rise.

Sara Ferguson

Read more:

• Government grants needed to help finances, says county council leader
• ‘It’s still too high’ – Harrogate residents on the government’s energy announcement

Ripon BID welcomed some elements of the statement, such as the increase to pensions and benefits in line with September’s inflation rate as well as the early news of the rising national living wage for over-23s.

In a statement, the organisation said:

“The UK falling into recession was expected and Ripon BID hopes that the chancellor’s measures to reduce inflation will be in his words ‘as short and shallow as possible’, however we would welcome any help available to businesses from the government and urge them to come up with non-inflationary measures which would aid them.

“Now more than ever it is important that we try and support our local businesses by shopping locally and giving support to our Ripon city region independents.

“Ripon BID is here to help BID businesses and would urge those businesses to get in touch with us to enable us to help promote their business and any promotions over the festive season and into the new year.”

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered the autumn statement earlier today. Millions across the country will face rising taxes and Mr Hunt spending cuts have been made to “tackle the cost of living crisis and rebuild our economy”.

A tree has fallen along the main path between Valley Gardens and Hallow Moor Road.

The tree was spotted this morning by the Pinewoods Conservation Group who subsequently tweeted to alert the public.

The tweet read:

“Please take care in the very wet woods. Tree down over the main path from Valley Gardens to Harlow Moor Rd that should hopefully be cleared soon.”

The path connects Valley Gardens to RHS Garden Harlow Carr and lies deep within the Pinewoods.

Read more:

• Met Office issues weather warning for rain in Harrogate district
• Pinewoods charity to meet Harrogate Spring Water to discuss expansion

Weather warnings have been issued across North Yorkshire with Harrogate in particular being affected by the rain and flooding.

Please let us know if the rain is causing problems where you are, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk