Harrogate Borough Council is organising three summer events in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon for the whole family to enjoy.

The events are all free and are a chance for young people to enjoy juggling and circus shows, magicians, character meet and greets, and mini discos.

Details about each event are available below:

Valley Gardens, Harrogate on Thursday August 11 and Friday August 12 between 11am and 4pm

• 11am – Juggling/circus tricks show
• 11.45am – Magic show
• 12.30pm – Character mini disco
• 1.30pm – Juggling/circus tricks show
• 2.15pm – Magic show
• 3pm – Character mini disco

Knaresborough Castle on Friday August 26 between 11am and 4pm

• 11am – Bubble circus tricks show
• 11.45am – Magic show
• 12.30pm – Character mini disco
• 1.30pm – Juggling/circus tricks show
• 2.15pm – Magic show

• 3pm – Character mini disco

Ripon Spa Gardens on Saturday August 27 between 11am and 3pm

• 11am – Circus tricks workshop
• 11.45am – Magic show
• 12.30pm – Character mini disco
• 1.30pm – Circus tricks workshop
• 2.15pm – Magic show
• 3pm – Character mini disco

Conservative councillor Sam Gibbs, HBC’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“Following the success of our free events to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we’re back with four events across the summer for all the family to enjoy.

“We know it can be difficult, and sometimes costly, to entertain the family during the six-week holidays, that’s why we’ve decided to provide free events once again to help keep children entertained. And what better setting than Valley Gardens, Knaresborough Castle and Ripon Spa Gardens?

“So why not bring a picnic and enjoy our parks this summer?”

Read More:

• Mixed picture for Harrogate town centre as jubilee celebrations end
• How the Harrogate district celebrated the jubilee

The Harrogate district is slowly cooling down from its hottest day ever.

Here’s how the heatwave impacted on life in the district today.

5.39pm – Temperatures start to fall

Temperatures are finally beginning to fall from their afternoon peak. It is forecast to still be 26 degrees at 10pm and not drop below 17 degrees all night. Tomorrow is set to be much milder, with some rain later on, and a maximum temperature of 23 degrees.

4.10pm – Met Office storm warning

A Met Office yellow weather warning is in place in Yorkshire and Humberside from 4pm until 8pm.

The Met Office says:

“Thunderstorms could bring disruption this afternoon from lightning strikes and strong, gusty winds.”

4.06pm – Yorkshire Water reports record water use

Yorkshire Water has said it provided more than 1.56 billion litres of water on Monday – which is around 260 million litres more than usual.

The increase is enough to supply the equivalent of the whole of York and Leeds and is the highest the water company has seen since 2006.

Yorkshire has seen a particularly dry spring and summer, with only 52% of rainfall expected in June actually falling on the region.

Neil Dewis, director of water at the company, said:

“Our reservoirs are still feeling the impact and levels do continue to decrease. As the ground incredibly dry, we would need a few weeks of wet weather to help them return to their usual levels, so it’s really important that people keep taking steps to save water throughout the summer.”

3.38pm – Temperatures touching 40 degrees as peak heat hits

We are now hitting the hottest part of the hottest day. According to local weather stations, which post their details online, most places are at about 38 degrees but Staveley is at 39 degrees. In old money, 39 degrees is 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.50pm – Bystanders smash car window to rescue four dogs in Harrogate

Bystanders in Harrogate had to smash a car window today to free four dogs who were trapped for 40 minutes without even a window open.

Ruth Watson and her partner had been shopping at Aldi on Oak Beck Road at around midday when they spotted the labradors who were visibly distressed and barking in the sweltering heat, which has topped 38 degrees today.

Read the full story.

1.25pm – Lunchtime meltdown in Valley Gardens

Harrogate is unusually quiet at lunchtime as most people avoid the approaching hottest part of the day.

Daniella Kerr and Albie Kerr staying cool in Valley Gardens paddling pool.

Staying in the shade

Brollies up to shield from the sun.

12.31pm – Major Tom’s closes for the day

Major Tom’s Social on The Ginnel has succumbed to the heat for the day.

A post on its Facebook page says:

“Hey all, we’re taking the day off today. It’s already pretty warm in here and the kitchen feels like the centre of the earth at the best of the times! Back to normal from tomorrow.”

12.22pm – Free ice cream in Harrogate

A cafe on Beulah Street in Harrogate is offering free ice cream to help shoppers stay cool.

Cafe Lago Di Como posted on Facebook that it was going to place an ice cooler filled with free water bottles outside its cafe today. It added:

“We are also offering for free ice cream all day.”

11.54am – Burst main causing low or no water in HG2

On a day when we are being urged to keep hydrated, this isn’t great news for people in HG2,

#HG2 #RedfearnMews

⚠️ We are currently doing some work on a burst on a main in the area which may be causing low pressure or no water. We aim to get your supplies back to normal as soon as possible. -Tarna pic.twitter.com/AbgWXwZFHt

— Yorkshire Water Help (@YWHelp) July 19, 2022

11.05am – Harrogate chip shops closed for the day

The Wharfe of Harrogate has confirmed it will be closed today.

In a post on its Facebook page, the restaurant said it will be shut due to extreme heat but be open as usual tomorrow.

10.45am – Heatwave impacts on River Nidd

The heat is having an impact on the Harrogate district’s rivers.

Compare and contrast the two pictures from the River Nidd at Birstwith above. Pictured right is the river in February and left is its current level.

10am – 30 degree morning heat in Killinghall

Local weather stations are reporting 30 degree heat in Killinghall at 10am.

Meanwhile, its 29 degrees in Knaresborough and 28 degrees in Ripon.

9.50am – Businesses close during the heat

Some businesses in Harrogate are either closed today or closing early because of the extreme heat.

KD Fruiters, which is based at Harrogate District Hospital, will be closed today as its stall is outside.

Meanwhile, Imagined Things Bookshop, which is based on Montpellier Parade, has asked customers to check its social media in case it makes the decision to close early.

Resurrected Bites has also asked people to keep an eye on its social pages for information on whether its grocery outlets will be open. It has, however, said its Gracious Street cafe will be closed.

9.20am – County council warning over tourist hotspots

North Yorkshire County Council has issued advise over tourist hotpots during the extreme heat.

It has urged people to plan journeys in advance and take water with them.

Popular tourist destinations are expected to be very busy during the hot weather.

If you're planning a trip out please:
– Plan your journey in advance
– Take water with you
– Be kind to others around you
– Park considerately

Get #heatwave advice ⬇️https://t.co/LvFJHsibGi pic.twitter.com/rAYqnilVAs

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) July 19, 2022

8.45am – Yorkshire Water issues reservoir plea

Yorkshire Water has urged people to act responsibly around its reservoirs today as temperatures soar.

It has also asked people not to use the reservoirs to cool off.

https://twitter.com/YorkshireWater/status/1549295368994783233

8.35am – Bin crews out early in Ripon

Harrogate Borough Council’s refuse crews across the district are ensuring that homes are clear of rubbish as temperatures soar. In Ripon, the sack crew who collect black bags left outside thousands of city homes, started two hours early at 5am today in a bid to beat the heat, while maintaining hygiene for householders.

Simon and Danny (pictured) were out in the city this morning.

8.20am – Northern: Do not travel

Northern is urging people not to travel today amid the extreme heat.

Those who have to travel are advised to carry water and find a safe spot in the shade while waiting for their train.

https://twitter.com/northernassist/status/1549287296825966594

8am – Amber weather warning in place

The Met Office has an amber weather warning in place for the Harrogate district until midnight.

7.45am – Dog walkers out early in Ripon to beat the heat

Dozens of early to awake men and women were out before dawn in Ripon today to walk their dogs before the scorching sun makes being outdoors too hot to handle.

Later today, there will be nowhere hotter than Hell Wath’s wide open spaces, so many regular dog walkers wanting to find cool paths to protect the paws of their pets, were up before the dawn and walking in the shade of the nature reserve’s trees and shrubs.

Kathy and her dogs Mile and Max.

Among them was Kathy, with her rescue dogs Mila aged 12 and six-year-old Max, who told the Stray Ferret:

“I wouldn’t normally be here this early, but with the forecast weather, I decided to take the dogs out before the heat arrives to keep them safe.”

Paula with her fox red labrador at Hell Wath.

The same applied to Paula and her Fox Red Labrador, who said:

“This is definitely the best time to come, before the paths get too hot.”

Hell Wath, which is one of the few places in Ripon  where it is safe to let a dog off its lead, has been popular with generations of owners, many of whom bring their pets for morning exercise.

7.23am – Bin collections to start earlier

Harrogate Borough Council has said bin crews will be out earlier this morning due to the soaring temperatures.

It has advised people to put their waste and recycling out early.

⚠️ Due to the expected high temperatures tomorrow (Tuesday) and possibly later in the week, our crews will be starting earlier than normal.

Please can you ensure your waste and recycling is presented the night before your scheduled collection. pic.twitter.com/ST4GQIWDIr

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) July 18, 2022

7.20am – School closures amid heatwave

Harrogate Grammar School, the largest school in the Harrogate district, is closed today due to the extreme weather.

Hampsthwaite Primary School has also told parents that although the school will be open, if parents are uncomfortable sending their children to school it will not be considered unauthorised absence.

Meanwhile, St Aidan’s Church of England High School has told parents that the school will be open. Those in year 7 to 10 can wear their school PE kit, while sixth form can wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.

7am – LNER cancellations

No trains will run from Harrogate to London Kings Cross today due to the extreme heat.

LNER has cancelled the direct trains and urged customers not to travel.

https://twitter.com/LNER/status/1548638466656931840?s=20&t=RqCt_XWfE1CyMZlgOOFXLQ

A £1 billion plan to dual one of the busiest roads in northern England has taken a step closer.

National Highways, formerly Highways England, wants to dual the remaining parts of the A66 between the M6 at Penrith and A1 at Scotch Corner.

The road is used by thousands of drivers in the north of England each day to travel between the north east and Cumbria and on to Scotland.

Now, proposals have taken a step further after the government’s Planning Inspectorate approved a development consent order from National Highways.

Lee Hillyard, National Highways’ A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project director, said:

“We are pleased that our DCO submission has been successful and accepted by the Planning Inspectorate and this marks another significant milestone for this important project.”

Should the Secretary of State for Transport give the final go-ahead for the scheme, construction will start in 2024.

Read more:

• £1billion bid launched to dual all of A66

• Concerns over traffic and environment as £1bn plan to dual A66 presses ahead

Bystanders in Harrogate had to smash a car window today to free four dogs who were trapped for 40 minutes without even a window open.

Ruth Watson and her partner had been shopping at Aldi on Oak Beck Road at around midday when they spotted the labradors who were visibly distressed and barking in the sweltering heat, which has topped 38 degrees today.

Dogs in hot cars can suffer from potentially fatal heat stroke in as little as 15 minutes.

Ms Watson told the Stray Ferret she went inside B&Q, which is next door to the supermarket, to ask staff to broadcast a message on the tannoy to try and find the owner but there was no response.

A group had congregated around the car with people bringing buckets of water ready to cool them down.

She said:

“It is upsetting. I got a little upset but I was more angry than anything else.”

Quick thinking staff at the DIY store used a hammer to smash open the window and set the animals free.

Read more:

• LIVE: Harrogate district businesses close as temperatures approach 39 degrees
• Harrogate blogger devastated after scammers blackmail her

Fortunately, there were vets working at the nearby Pets At Home who were able to give the animals immediate medical attention. However, one of the dogs had to be carried away and Ms Watson said it looked in poor health.

The owner eventually came out to the car but Ms Watson said “He seemed oblivious like he’d done nothing wrong.”

She added:

“He’s not a responsible dog owner. Questions should be asked if he’s competent enough to have animals”.

Abi Linden was also shopping at the time and spotted the incident take place. She said what she saw was “appalling” and called on the police to take action against the owner.

She said:

“The sheer stupidity in leaving the dogs in this heat without even windows open. It made me so angry”.

A North Yorkshire Police officer was believed to have attended the scene. The Stray Ferret has asked NYP for comment on the incident. We have also asked the vets for an update on the dogs.

North Yorkshire County Council has “no option” but to press ahead with plans to close Woodfield Community Primary School in Harrogate, local authority officials have said.

Senior county councillors on the executive today agreed to publish formal closure notices from September 2022 ahead of a final decision to close the school from December 31.

Stuart Carlson, director of children and young people’s services at the county council, said although it was “regrettable” that it had to close the school, the authority had no alternative.

He said:

“It is regrettable and with heavy hearts that we come to this decision.

“But there is no further options available to us now other than to move to the recommendations.”

Mr Carlson added that a “thorough consultation” was carried out into the closure and that it had exhausted all options available to it.

He denied that the executive of the council would be “ignoring” parents by going ahead with the closure plans.

Mr Carlson said:

“I don’t think we have done [ignored parents]. We have conducted a thorough consultation, we have looked at all the proposals that have been put forward and we have indeed tried our hardest working with the governing body and other schools to find a solution.

“But they are no longer available to us.”

Read more:

• Woodfield school parents ‘frustrated and upset’ after merger U-turn
• Woodfield school closure ‘an absolute disgrace’, says union

Liberal Democrat councillor Monika Slater, who represents the Bilton Grange and New Park division, said she believed pupils at Woodfield should have been given greater priority for places as she also urged the council to learn lessons for the future.

She said:

“Part of the issue comes down to the fact neighbouring schools have been allowed to become oversubscribed.“

“And I was disappointed to hear that children were going to be treated the same as any other child in the area who wished to move given their situation is somewhat different when we are potentially looking to close the school.

“I really feel these children should have been given a higher preference on their choices.”

Conservative councillor Paul Haslam, who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on the county council and is also a governor of the school, called for a “post-mortem” into the downfall of Woodfield school.

A motion from Harrogate Borough Council asking to keep the school open was also considered.

But councillors said they had no other option but to move ahead with the closure plan.

Failure to find academy

The school was rated inadequate by Ofsted in 2020 and placed into special measures.

The rating meant the school had to become a sponsored academy, but it failed to find a backer.

A proposed merger with Grove Road Community Primary School fell through this year, prompting the county council to open a consultation on closing the school in the next academic year.

The school is also faced with a cumulative deficit of £229,000 in 2023/24 due to low pupil numbers.

Union bosses in North Yorkshire previously described the move to close Woodfield as an “absolute disgrace”.

The publication of the statutory notices will include a four-week period for objections to be made to the council by October 6.

Should a final decision to close the school be approved in October 2022, it would include expanding the catchment area of Bilton Grange and Grove Road Primary Schools to cover the Woodfield area.

This story is sponsored by Stray Podiatry.

A new podiatry clinic has opened in Harrogate aimed at tackling a growing need for the service in the area.

Stray Podiatry, which is located on Wetherby Road, was opened by Maxine Wrightson and Katie Bradley earlier this year.

The pair, who are both fully qualified podiatrists and have a background in the NHS, set up the business after spotting a need for podiatry in the town.

Both Maxine and Katie had different routes into the industry, but share the same passion to offer patients a quality service.

For Katie, it was after suffering with plantar fasciitis and a painful crack on her heel. She went on to see a specialist podiatrist, who inspired her to enter the industry.

Meanwhile, for Maxine, a career in healthcare stemmed from watching her family receive great care while ill and realising “what a difference it can make”.

She said she settled on podiatry after seeing the “real improvement” she could make to a person. 

She said:

“I decided on podiatry because there is a lot of variety in the role and you can make a real improvement to a person’s comfort and mobility, often after just one appointment.”

Providing gold standard care

As a result, the pair came up with the idea to set up their own clinic and Stray Podiatry was born.

The clinic, which is just off the Woodlands junction on Wetherby Road, is newly renovated with modern facilities.

Katie Bradley and Maxine Wrightson, founders of Stray Podiatry in Harrogate.

There is free parking and new patients are being taken on daily.

Maxine and Katie said the goal of the clinic is to offer gold standard care, as well as excellent aftercare.

“We are a newly established, rapidly growing practice, who are continuously adding new services and committed to providing the gold standard of care for our patients.

“We both work as a team, bringing different strengths and complimenting each other. We are passionate about patient education and providing excellent aftercare for our patients.”

Stray Podiatry offers a range of services, including nailcare, corns, verruca treatment, ingrowing toenails, nail surgery, biomechanical assessments and orthotics.

Both Maxine and Katie also offer home and care home visits.

All are welcome to arrange an appointment. There is no waiting list and all new patients receive a free foot health check.

Book your appointment on the Stray Podiatry website. Alternatively you call them on 07874141634, message them on Facebook or send an email to straypodiatry@gmail.com.

Lucy Playford, who runs the Harrogate Mama blog and social media channels, has been left devastated after scammers tricked their way into her Instagram account and demanded money to hand it back.

Ms Playford provides updates on family life in the town and visits to local businesses to her 6,000 followers on Instagram.

After recently changing social media software, she received an email from what she thought was Meta, the owner of Instagram, asking to verify her account.

The blogger typed in her username and password and was then locked out the next day. This type of crime is known as phishing.

She then received a WhatsApp message from the scammers blackmailing her.

Ms Playford said:

“I was really shocked and upset, I was devastated really. It’s like a theft of anything but it’s a theft of my family’s memories over the last six years.”

After receiving the message she then blocked the number:

“I just thought don’t engage with them, it’s like all hostage takers, don’t negotiate”.

Messages from the scammers

Read more:

• M&S employee in Harrogate unfairly dismissed after face mask confrontation
• Therapist praises “beautiful energy” of new Knaresborough home

Ms Playford has reported the crime to North Yorkshire Police and Instagram, but so far has had no success in getting her account back, and she fears it may now be lost forever.

The blogger has set up a new account (instagram.com/HarrogateMamaLucy) where she hopes her old followers will find her.

She said:

“My main following was on Instagram, I like to champion local Harrogate businesses and lots of people followed me for a long time but they have been left wondering where I am. It’s hard”.

Ms Playford has urged social media users to be vigilant against scammers.

“My main advice would be to set up two-factor identification. Also have a password that is not easy to hack.”

An inquest into the death of prominent local solicitor Lynda Greenwood heard today that she died of smoke inhalation when her house caught fire.

Ms Greenwood, who founded Greenwoods Solicitors in Knaresborough in 1991, died on April 2 at her home in Brearton. She was 67.

Her home was severely damaged in the blaze, which occurred at about 10pm on a Saturday night.

Assistant coroner Jonathan Leach gave the cause of death at today’s brief opening inquest in Northallerton. He said she was divorced her maiden name was Nattress.

Me Leach added:

“She was at home on April 2 when a fire broke out, as a result of which she died at the scene.”

The inquest was adjourned until a later date.

Ms Greenwood was born in South Shields but grew up in Knaresborough where she attended King James’s School before completing a law degree at Kingston University and becoming a partner in a Surrey law firm.

Read more:

• ‘No suspicious circumstances’ surrounding Brearton house fire, say fire service
• Local solicitor identified as victim of fatal Brearton house fire

After having her daughter, she set up Greenwoods Solicitors in her home town.

A statement on the company’s website says:

“On Saturday 2 April 2022 our colleague, our friend, our Lynda, was taken from us in the most tragic of circumstances.

“Lynda touched the hearts of everyone who met her and we have been overwhelmed by the number of kind messages we have received.”

A Marks and Spencer employee in Harrogate was unfairly dismissed following an altercation with a customer over a face mask, a tribunal has found.

Deborah Daisy, who worked part-time at M&S Food on Leeds Road in Harrogate, went off work with anxiety in late January 2021.

She told her employer it was down to the covid pandemic in general, but was also caused by an incident in which she asked a customer to put on a face mask in the shop. The customer was then aggressive towards her, she said.

The report from an employment tribunal in Leeds said:

“Adjustments were discussed to facilitate a return to work. Specifically, they discuss the claimant not working on the door of the store as a store host which involved controlling the numbers of people entering the store and reminding them to wear a mask.

“[Marks and Spencer] was asked whether or not she could think of any other adjustments and replied that she could not.”

However, Ms Daisy then told her employer she would feel comfortable to return to work once she was fully vaccinated.

She was referred to occupational health and, during meetings with them, referred to a previous armed robbery and an incident when she confronted a shoplifter as making her feel unprotected in her workplace.

Following a meeting in early March, an occupational health officer said:

“This employee is not fit for work in any capacity at present and timescales for recovery are unclear, therefore it is unlikely that a return will be feasible in the reasonably foreseeable future.

“Should the business have exhausted all reasonable support and all reasonable adjustments have proven unsuccessful, I would recommend formal consideration for ill health retirement with submission of the relevant pension scheme documentation.”

Mrs Daisy had several further phone appointments with her employer over the following months, at each reiterating that she did not feel safe to return to work. Company representatives asked if any adjustments could be made to help her, but she said no.

Read more:

• Man sacked by Ripon garage for racism loses unfair dismissal claim
• Ex-Ripon Grammar School matron loses unfair dismissal claim

In a meeting in June 2021, Ms Daisy was told that she could not be given an update about what action had been taken against the abusive customer “due to GDPR”. She asked about the previous incidents which had made her feel unsafe and was told they had been discussed at previous meetings.

Off work for 24 weeks

At the end of the meeting, Ms Daisy was dismissed on the grounds that she had been off work for 24 weeks and was not able to return.

She submitted an appeal the following month, but another M&S employee concluded her dismissal had not been unfair. However, the tribunal held in Leeds in May found it had been.

The report published at the end of June said:

“Although the respondent [M&S] has produced a standard operating procedure for dealing with external crime, there was no evidence of specific training in this, or in handling abusive customers, in the claimant’s case. There is no evidence before of recording threats to staff or any specific processes for reporting abuse to staff.”

In the report, Employment Judge Knowles said M&S had said Ms Daisy had not submitted an official complaint about any of the incidents. However, the report said Ms Daisy had not been trained in making these and it was unclear why, when she reported them to her manager, they were not treated as official complaints.

The report added:

“Although the number of meetings is indicative of [Mrs Daisy] being adequately consulted from the interview notes it can be seen that they did not discuss the investigations due to vague reasoning concerning GDPR.

“Throughout the process, the claimant [Mrs Daisy] raises incidents, workplace violence, and the respondent [M&S] clearly failed to establish the facts and investigate those incidents which led to the absence and perpetuate the absence.

“This was not even close to a reasonable investigation. The respondent failed to consider reasonable adjustments, stopping shoplifters, locking the doors after hours, investigating her complaints, and there could have been a return to work.”

Judge Knowles found M&S could have engaged more with its employee over its investigation into the incidents and ways of overcoming her safety fears, saying the company could have been expected to wait longer before dismissing her if that process failed to enable her to return to work.

He said:

“It is not for me to comment upon how the respondent might have taken steps to address [Mrs Daisy]’s safety concerns.

“I am surprised that those matters were not explored with [Mrs Daisy] given that [M&S] is a well-resourced retailer in the UK and given that the plight of shopworkers and the abuse they suffer at work is generally well known.”

The compensation to be given to Ms Daisy will be decided at a future date, but will be reduced by 25% on the grounds that she could have been dismissed in future anyway.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Therapist praises “beautiful energy” of new Knaresborough home

A therapist from Harrogate has relocated to Knaresborough to join its “thriving” business scene.

Karen Smith of The Balance Smith has taken new treatment space at the Town House in Jockey Lane.

From there, she is offering advanced clinical massage, clinical reflexology and scar release, helping clients to reduce pain, improve function and relieve stress.

She said:

“There is a beautiful energy here in Knaresborough and a thriving independent business community.

“I want to create a space to empower those wanting to take action and invest in themselves on their journey out of chronic pain and stress.”

As well as the treatment space, the new venue has a courtyard garden for post-treatment relaxation.

Ms Smith also plans to offer a series of self-care workshops in future, helping people to take more control of their health and well-being.

Read more:

• Harrogate business backs trio’s 15,000-mile trek to India
• GC Motors owner completes £250,000 property refit

Belated celebration for gallery’s Harrogate opening

An art gallery has marked its opening with a celebration at its Harrogate premises — two years after it made the move.

Bils & Rye took on the premises on John Street at the rear of Hotel du vin in 2020, following eight years near the North York Moors.

Its opening was muted because of the pandemic and, after two years trading, owner Nick Bentley threw a party on Saturday afternoon.

It was an opportunity for customers old and new to discuss the work of artists from the Harrogate district and around the UK on show in the gallery. Among those represented were Erin Ward, Joanne Tinker, Jo York, Gary Canning and Robert J Wyatt.