Call for modern slavery investigation into Harrogate car wash

A local resident has called for an investigation into a Harrogate car wash after a court found the owner guilty of modern slavery offences.

Harrogate Hand Carwash and Valeting’s sole director is Defrim Paci, who was found guilty this week of committing modern slavery crimes against workers at a car wash in Carlisle.

The court heard how several staff worked long hours for little pay and were denied breaks when it was busy.

Workers also reported rat and insect infestation sightings in their “very dirty” multi-occupancy accommodation after paying for transport from their native Romania.

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The Harrogate car wash on Sykes Grove was not implicated in the hearing but a resident who lives near it, and requested anonymity, called for an investigation in light of the court verdict. They said:

“I really never suspected anything like this.

“They really have to do some sort of investigation now. If Paci has done this at one of his businesses then they all need to be looked into.”

We passed on the resident’s concerns to North Yorkshire Police and asked if officers would carry out an investigation. The force did not reply.

The Stray Ferret also spoke to one of the workers at Harrogate Hand Carwash & Valeting, who wanted to remain anonymous. They said:

“I have not been working here long but I think all the workers here are fine and have no complaints.

“Friends of mine brought me here. I have not heard anything about that court case.

“I think it is a good place to work, it pays well. Paci is here sometimes and gives us food and drink.”

Second sex attack in a month on Harrogate’s King’s Road

Police are investigating a second sexual assault of a teenage girl on Harrogate’s King’s Road in less than a month.

North Yorkshire Police said today a 17-year-old was approached from behind by the man, who touched her bum and chest on the corner of King’s Road and Coppice Drive.

The incident happened at about 3.50pm on Monday.

The 17-year-old victim told police the man then walked back in the direction he had come from, towards the A61 junction.

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Police described the suspect as white, aged in his 20s, of thin build and with a long, clean shaven face. They also said he has long, light brown and slightly curly hair that was tied back.

Police believe he was wearing a red and grey backpack.

The victim and her family are being supported by police while enquiries continue.

Second attack in a month

An 11-year-old girl was sexually assaulted on the corner of Chatsworth Grove and King’s Road on May 25.

The young girl was walking home from school at around 3.15pm when the attack happened.

Harrogate High School and Willow Tree Community Primary School subsequently revealed they had alerted police to men harassing pupils.

Witnesses or anyone with information that could assist the latest investigation are urged to call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 1, and speak to the Force Control Room.

Quote reference number 12210139452 when providing details.

Dramatic pictures show firefighters tackling Follifoot blaze

These dramatic pictures show six crews from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue battling a blaze near Follifoot yesterday.

Firefighters were called to the former property of a well-known fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Ken Horner, on Haggs Road at 2.15pm.

When the crews arrived they found a skip and a large outbuilding on fire.

Firefighters from stations in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Ripon, Tadcaster and Acomb attended.

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Russell Jenkinson, crew manager at Knaresborough Fire Station, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are still carrying out investigations but we believe it started with some controlled burning in some old oil drums.

“It was confined and safe but obviously something happened to cause the fire to spread, that it was we are still trying to determine.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said yesterday:

“Crews from Harrogate, Knaresborough Ripon, Acomb, Wetherby, Moortown and the water bowser from Tadcaster responded to a report of an outbuilding on fire, which had spread to a rubbish pile and a garden shed.

“Fire involving an out building and a large pile of rubbish is now extinguished. Will be revisited this evening by Harrogate crews.”

Picture: Russell Jenkinson

Injury ends Harrogate man’s World’s Strongest Man dream

Harrogate behemoth Luke Richardson’s bid to become the youngest ever World’s Strongest Man has been ended by injury.

Luke, who weighs 330 lbs and will be 24 years old on Sunday, tore his biceps on the first day of heats yesterday in Sacramento, America.

He finished ninth last year and had high hopes of improving after good preparation.

But he was injured in the first event, a loading medley, which involved lifting and loading numerous heavy items.

He told his 71,000 Instagram followers:

“Unfortunately my World’s Strongest Man appearance this year was pretty much over before it even started with what seems to be a distal bicep tendon rupture.

“Obviously gutted as I felt in a really good position to improve on last year’s performance but it was not to be this time.

“Just a bump in what is going to be a long road but excited to test myself against a new challenge and grow closer to the athlete and person I am destined to be.

“Thank you all for your show of support and especially my loved ones and the guys here at WSM, you’re proper gents.”

Luke, a former lifeguard at Starbeck Baths, was crowned Europe’s Strongest Man last year and he will be hoping to defend his title in Leeds on September 4.

He has also been invited to compete at the first strongman event at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 120 years on July 24.

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Elderly woman waits two hours for ambulance after James Street fall

An elderly woman had to wait two hours with a broken shoulder for an ambulance after tripping over the kerb on James Street, Harrogate.

The woman, in her 70s, told nearby shop staff that she fell after not seeing the kerb because of the planters.

The incident happened at about 11am on Tuesday, June 8.

Local shop assistant, Clare Nelson, who came to help the woman, said Yorkshire Ambulance Service said because she wasn’t in a critical condition there would be a two-hour wait.

Ms Nelson told the Stray Ferret the woman’s shoulder was broken and she was very shaken:

“She was very distressed and shaken, she’d only come for the day and wasn’t aware of the layout. Luckily there were people around to help her but it was still uncomfortable for her.”

She said she watched three other people tripped over the kerb during the two-hour wait. Working in Porters Ms Nelson says she sees several people a day trip over the kerb due to confusion.

The street has planters in the car parking bays to allow for social distancing but, she says,  this makes it seem as it is all one level.

She said things need to change:

“I’ve seen plenty of people do it, it’s confusing. Either they move the planters or they do it properly – it’s not practical as it is.”

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The planters have not been popular with many traders on James Street who argue that the loss of car parking bays has affected trade.

‘Reviewing social distance measures’

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said:

“The safety of all road users is our main consideration when implementing new measures. If anybody experiences a problem we encourage them to contact us via the website here.

“Our highways teams have not received any reports of the public tripping on the kerb in James Street since the measures were introduced last summer. Emergency vehicles still have access to the area and planters can be moved should vehicles need to park against the kerb.

“We will be reviewing all social distancing measures in conjunction with Harrogate Borough Council after July 19 in line with lockdown easing. I would like to reassure the public that all social distancing measures on James Street and Albert Street will be removed if government restrictions are lifted.”

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said:

“During the last few weeks the urgent and emergency care system has come under increasing pressure.  We can confirm that this emergency call was received during a particularly busy period on Tuesday 8 June.

“All calls are categorised according to the nature of the patient’s illness or injury and those in a life-threatening condition are always prioritised.”

Harrogate Fake Festival cancelled

Harrogate Fake Festival, which was set to be held on the Stray on July 17, has been cancelled.

Organisers said on its Facebook page that the easing of lockdown restrictions “was paramount” for the event to go ahead.

It has been held inside a marquee on the Stray every summer since 2015, except for 2019 when it was moved to Killinghall Moor Country Park, and last year, when it was cancelled.

This year’s edition was due to feature tribute acts for artists including Green Day, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queen.

The company Fake Festivals runs similar events across the country during the summer.

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A post on its Facebook page said:

“To all our loyal fans that have supported us, bought tickets and then had your festivals cancelled… Thank you for trying, we will be back next year and we can’t wait to see you then.”

The company added that ticket bookings will be automatically refunded within the next 14 days and tickets will not be carried over to 2022.

Firefighters battle outbuildings blaze near Follifoot

Firefighters battled a blaze at a group of outbuildings near Follifoot this afternoon.

Six crews were called out for the fire on Haggs Road at 2.15pm and had managed to put it out by around 6pm today.

The firefighters were from stations in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Ripon, Tadcaster and Acomb.

Fire investigators are still on scene trying to put the picture together of how the blaze took hold.

The crews found that a skip filled with cylinders had caught fire, which then spread to nearby buildings.

The Stray Ferret has asked North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue for more information, but we have received no reply by the time of writing.

It’s currently unclear what caused the fire or if anybody was injured.

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Great Yorkshire Show still waiting to hear if it can go ahead

The organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show have issued a statement saying it is still awaiting confirmation that the event can go ahead.

The event is scheduled to take place in Harrogate from July 13 to 16.

All social distancing measures were due to be lifted next week but Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last night current restrictions would remain until July 19.

Twenty-four hours after Mr Johnson’s announcement, the impact of this on the show remains unclear.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the agricultural charity that organises the event, has already included various social distancing measures into this year’s planning.

They include holding the show over four days, rather than three, capping daily visitor numbers to 25,000, reducing the grandstand capacity to 30% and adapting the show to use as much outdoor space as possible.

In a statement today, the society said:

“Further to the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday night, we continue to await confirmation from North Yorkshire County Council public health that we can deliver this year’s Great Yorkshire Show as planned.

“What we can say is that the Great Yorkshire Show has been fully adapted to be covid-safe and we have been working with the relevant agencies every step of the way.

“The show has also been endorsed by Visit England as part of its Good to Go campaign.

“Measures include adapting the show so most of it is held outdoors this year and extending it to run over four days for the first time in its history.

“A full list of measures are here and these were always going to be in place whether lockdown was extended or not.

“Please bear with us while we await news, and a statement will go out as soon as we have a definitive answer.”

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Police search for missing woman who may be in Harrogate

Police have appealed for information about a missing woman from Wetherby who they believe may be in Harrogate.

Judith Holliday, 72, was reported missing this morning.

West Yorkshire Police described her as 5ft 2ins tall and slim. She is believed to be wearing floral trousers, a blue-t-shirt and black shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and quote log 309.

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Harrogate congestion at ‘breaking point’ even without Starbucks, say residents

Congestion in Harrogate is already at “breaking point” even without a drive-thru Starbucks, a planning appeal hearing was told today.

Residents fighting a proposed Starbucks drive-thru on Wetherby Road told a government planning inspector that the road already had traffic problems without the development.

The hearing, which was held online, was opened by planning inspector Helen Hockenhull this morning.

Representatives from Euro Garages, which has proposed the development on the former 1st Dental surgery site, also appeared at the hearing

Harrogate Borough Council withdrew its objection to the proposal after council officers said the authority’s previous recommendation would “undermine” their case.

It means that residents on Wetherby Road have been left to defend the council’s refusal of the development at the hearing.

Congestion is at ‘breaking point’

Mark Hinchliffe, who has lived in Harrogate for 20 years, told the appeal hearing that the road was already dangerous without the development.

He added that the junction was the busiest in the town.

Mr Hinchliffe said:

“That junction is the busiest road into town, it is also the the busiest road out.

“You have the traffic from the conference centre, the showground and the petrol station.”

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Mr Hinchliffe described the traffic on the road as a “major issue” and at “breaking point” even without a new drive-thru coffee shop.

“Regardless of Starbucks arriving, it is already a major issue. It has got worse over the last 10 years. It’s at breaking point.”

Meanwhile, Joe Shields, who also lives on Wetherby Road, pointed out that the road has a number of different vehicles using it every day, including commercial lorries.

He added that cars also “hurtle” along the road when merging into one lane after the Woodlands junction.

The proposed layout of the Starbucks site on Wetherby Road as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council. Picture: Euro Garages.

The proposed layout of the Starbucks site on Wetherby Road as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council. Picture: Euro Garages.

Residents also raised concern over the proposed right turn into the site, which they said would also be a safety issue.

Meanwhile, Gavin Snowball, speaking on transport issues on behalf of Euro Garages, said any queuing caused by the development would be “negligible”.

When asked about the number of cars trying to merge after the Woodlands junction, Mr Snowball said the merge complied with highways standards.

He said:

“There is nothing in the data that would show that there is a pre-existing issue [with the merge].”

Mr Snowball added that the developer would improve access to the site as much as possible and make sure that the entrance to the site was away from the traffic lights.

He said:

“Throughout this process it remains consistent, we would seek to improve access to the site as much as possible by relocating the access away from the traffic control system.”

Ms Hockenhull said she intends to visit the site before making a decision, which will be made at a later date.