Readers’ Letters 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.  

This letter comes after a Harrogate GP practice moved the majority of its requests process online. It has since been accused of discriminating against older people.

Reading about the surgery wanting patients to submit letters and prescriptions mainly online made me annoyed.

Although elderly myself, I am computer literate and not at all bad! But my husband’s claim to fame is that he has never touched a computer and has no interest in technology.

Without me, he’d be stumped.

Fortunately, our great surgery prints out the prescriptions for your next month of medication.

It is totally unfair that so many things must be done online when there are probably thousands of people, like my husband, who have no idea how to use a computer.

Sandra Goldberg, Harrogate

Is it a coincidence Knaresborough’s drains are now being cleared?

This letter comes after some of Knaresborough’s gullies were reportedly cleared this week. It follows severe flooding in the town earlier this month, which forced some people to evacuate their homes.

How strange; we are told the drains weren’t to blame for the Knaresborough flooding, yet suddenly jetting equipment is seen all over the town this week.

Coincidence? I don’t think so.

I have reported blocked drains in the town for several years and I always receive the same reply: “we are looking into it”.

Nothing ever gets done until a tragedy ensues.

Ralph Thrower, Knaresborough

How much more money will be ‘wasted’ on Ripon Leisure Centre?

This letter responds to news of an additional £2m being poured into stabilisation works at Ripon Leisure Centre. The total spent on the remedial work is now nearing the original budget for the actual project.

How much more money is going to be wasted on underpinning Ripon Leisure Centre?

Anyone with any knowledge of Ripon could have informed the shower of a council that the ground was not suitable.

When is this total waste of money going to stop? Yet another folly in Ripon’s long list of botched projects.

Tony Sidwell, Ripon

Re-wilding on Harrogate street looks ‘awful’

This letter comes after strips of the Stray have been re-wilded in line with a council policy. 

I do not object to re-wilding as such – but not in a residential area.

I live on Westminster Drive and there is a small semi-circular area on the corner of Burn Bridge Oval and my road, which belongs to the council and has been left to re-wild as of last year.

It looks awful. It’s now full of dandelions and buttercups that are getting bigger every day. The seeds from these plants have blown into nearby gardens and dog walkers allow their dogs to “perform” in the long grass.

This is definitely not a suitable place to allow re-wilding and the council should mow it regularly and thoroughly – not just around the edge.

I’m sure I am not the only one to dislike this way of reducing council expenses and causing residents lots of extra work!

Alison Roscoe, Harrogate

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.

Read more:

• Readers’ Letters: River Nidd still ‘not fit to bathe in’
• Readers’ Letters: Does North Yorkshire Council not know how a drain works?
• Readers’ Letters: Harrogate’s cycleway extension is an ‘extraordinary waste of public funds’

A mourner has been left heartbroken after finding Harrogate‘s Stonefall Cemetery in a “neglected state”.

Shirley Askew often goes to the cemetery to visit her late husband’s grave and has been left upset after seeing the ‘disrespectful’ state of the site.

Ms Askew went to the cemetery over the weekend and found weeds surrounding headstones and overflowing bins.

She said:

“I was very upset to find the area totally neglected with overflowing rubbish bins a few meters from where ashes are scattered. What was once a gentle flowing stream has been covered over by overgrown grass since last summer and has left a stagnant pool.

“The areas in front of the benches are full of weeds. But the really upsetting sight was all the headstones surrounded by 2-3 foot high weeds. No part of the cemetery should look like this, but these are all fairly recent graves. Have the council considered the feelings of grieving loved ones seeing such neglect and disrespect.”

Weeds surrounding headstones and benches at Stonefall Cemetery. Image: Shirley Askew

She added:

“I’m so relieved I visited alone as I would have been so ashamed for other family members to have seen my husbands resting place treated with such disrespect.”

This is not the first time mourners have been left distressed by the state of Stonefall Cemetery.

Two years ago, Trish Stephenson, who goes to the cemetery to visit the grave of her cousin, described the state of the site as “disgraceful”. At the time, the former Harrogate Borough Council said it would make the site a priority.

Graves are barely noticeable due to the overgrown weeds at Stonefall Cemetery. Image: Shirley Askew

At the time, a spokesperson for the council said:

“Demand on our teams has understandably been high over the last two years but these works will now be prioritised.

“The team will visit Stonefall Cemetery in the coming weeks and address any concerns that have been raised. Some areas are being left to grow and not mown as we want to encourage biodiversity, attract pollinators and create habitats. We will of course continue to mow the grass along pathways and around gravestones so that mourners can pay their respects to their loved ones.”

Immaculate war graves

The war graves are decorated with flower and maintained at Stonefall Cemetery

Ms Askew added that the Wetherby Road entrance up to and around the crematorium is completely free of weeds.

She added:

“Presumably because this is the area seen by funeral attendees. All of the rubbish bins should be placed behind fencing or hedges, not just the ones near the crematorium.”

The clean white headstones of the war graves at Stonefall Cemetery

The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire Council who said they would look into the issue but did not give any further details at this time.

Read more:

• Are these the worst pothole roads in the Harrogate district? 
• Harrogate surgery accused of discriminating against older people

It’s been 5,134 days since Andrew Jones and Julian Smith were elected Conservative MPs for Harrogate and Knaresborough and Skipton and Ripon respectively in 2010.

Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a general election on July 4 means they could have just 40 days left in Westminster.

The national polls don’t look good for the Tories but unlike some of their colleagues, who have chosen to stand down, Messrs Jones and Smith are preparing to fight.

Mr Jones will be up against two men in their 20s from the main opposition parties: Liberal Democrat Tom Gordon and Labour’s Conrad Whitcroft.

The latter, whose candidature was announced just hours before Mr Sunak called the election, informed me he was too young to vote in the Brexit referendum when we met on Friday. Look out for the interview on Bank Holiday Monday.

While Mr Gordon has been attacking the Tories’ record, Mr Jones has been questioning his youthful opponents’ local credentials.

Having two twenty-somethings in the race is a step forward for better representation of young people in politics but so far just one of the five candidates declared — Shan Oakes of the Green Party — is female.

Reform UK has actually had two parliamentary candidates so far. It emerged this week that original selection Richard Brown had been replaced by John Swales after a dispute that resulted in Mr Brown saying of Mr Swales that he “didn’t want to see the bugger again”.

The website Electoral Calculus gives Mr Gordon a 62% chance of winning but UK Polling Report has Mr Jones slight favourite, giving him a 36.72% likelihood of success against Mr Gordon’s 35.4%. These regularly updated forecasts will be compulsive but perhaps not wholly reliable viewing in the weeks ahead given the disparities.

Electoral Calculus says Labour has a 59% chance of winning in Skipton and Ripon, but at the time of writing Keir Starmer’s team hadn’t even named a candidate. With an autumn election expected, the announcement of a July election caught many people on the hop — expect a busy week ahead of more candidates being announced. Will the Official Monster Raving Loony Party detect enough local lunacy to throw its hat in the ring?

It will be particularly interesting to see the outcome in the new Wetherby and Easingwold constituency, which includes Boroughbridge and numerous villages in the former Harrogate district.

The Stray Ferret will be in Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough, Ripon, and Harrogate this week speaking to readers, local groups and businesses to find out what matters to you.

We also have several articles this weekend setting the scene for the campaign ahead. Stay tuned, as Election ’24 hots up.

Read more:

• Harrogate district set to become election battleground
• Could Labour target Harrogate and Knaresborough at the next election?
• Who will be standing in the Harrogate district at the general election?

Over the next six weeks, politicians will be vying for votes and clashing over what they see as the key issues in the Harrogate district.

From the state of the NHS to the quality of water in our rivers, candidates of all party colours will be having their say on topics as they head into a six-week election campaign.

With this in mind, the Stray Ferret has looked at what could be the key election issues in the Harrogate district.

Water quality

Perhaps the most pertinent issue over the last six months is the quality of water in the district’s rivers.

Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, led the campaign for bathing water status at Knaresborough Lido.

Mr Jones is likely to use the success of the Nidd being granted bathing water status as part of his election pitch to emphasise his record as the town’s MP.

Robbie Moore, Defra Minister, and Andrew Jones at the Nidd.

But, Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat candidate, will likely point to the amount of sewage dumped into the district’s rivers as a counter narrative.

As recently as Thursday, Mr Gordon highlighted river pollution as one of the key issues in the area. Labour candidate Conrad Whitcroft also cites the state of the Nidd as one of his key issues.

Health service

Much like the rest of the nation, the Harrogate district is not immune to pressures on the NHS.

The area particularly struggles with GP appointments and dentists, with Harrogate in particular acutely lacking NHS provision for dentistry.

It’s a topic that has not escaped the attention of some of the candidates on July 4.

Tom Gordon pictured with Daisy Cooper, Lib Dem health spokesperson.

Both Mr Jones and Mr Gordon have raised the issue in their own way.

The Conservative MP brought up the topic of dentistry in the House of Commons in September while Mr Gordon met with the Liberal Democrat health spokesperson to raise the issue in March last year.

Expect the lack of dentistry in Harrogate to raise its head again at some point in the next six weeks.

Housing

Whether it be new estate off Kingsley Drive or 3,000 homes in the west of Harrogate, or the Manse Farm development in Knaresbrough, housing is a major issue.

The Stray Ferret has covered the extensive housebuilding in the area and its knock on effect onto local residents extensively.

Given its prominency in Harrogate and Knaresborough, the topic is expected to be debated extensively by candidates.

Mr Jones raised the issue over new build estates in the House of Commons as recently as April, where he pointed out he had run a ‘fair deal for new estates’ campaign for over a year.

Meanwhile, Mr Gordon is no stranger to criticising the government’s record on housing.

In April, he told the Stray Ferret that new homeowners should be protected from “dodgy developers” by strengthening the law on leaseholds and freeholds.

Education

The provision of education is always a hot topic at elections.

Both Mr Gordon and Mr Jones have clashed before over the issue of funding for schools.

But, in the Harrogate district, perhaps a more pressing issue is the provision for those with special educational needs and disabilities.

Read more:

• Who will be standing in the Harrogate district at the general election?
• Opposition parties prepare for chance to end Tory stranglehold in Harrogate and Knaresborough

The Stray Ferret reported recently on a significant increase in demand for SEND places.

A report before councillors on Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee on March 14 showed a significant increase in the number of education health and care plans submitted to the council.

The plans detail a child’s needs and are given to schools to consider ahead of a potential admission.

The matter has even seen parents from Harrogate go to Leeds to demonstrate over provision for SEND pupils.

Transport

The need for people to get around is another issue frequently raised in Harrogate.

Mr Jones, who is a former rail minister, has campaigned for better rail services and championed the town’s electric bus fleet.

Some of this has led to noticeable improvements in the town, such as more direct services to London. But other areas remain questionable.

Take for instance the pledge by government to divert millions of pounds of HS2 money towards potholes and road repairs.

While some roads in the Harrogate district have benefited from resurfacing, others still await repair.

Readers of the Stray Ferret this week shared with us pictures of some roads in the district which they feel are in need of some attention.

It’s a topic which election candidates in Harrogate may face at some point this campaign.

The man who brought the revolutionary hairdressing techniques of Vidal Sassoon to the north of England in the 1960s will be the guest of honour next month, when the salon he co-founded celebrates 60 years in business. 

Peter Harman opened Peter Gotthard Hairdressing at 36 Parliament Street in Harrogate in June 1964, with business partner Gotthard Passager, a Swiss stylist he had met in London. 

Speaking exclusively to the Stray Ferret, Peter said: 

“In those days, it was fashionable to combine the first names of business partners, so that’s what we did, and Peter Gotthard was born. 

“Sadly, Gotthard only stayed a couple of years. He went to Canada and opened an academy in Vancouver – and I was left holding the baby.” 

Peter worked hard to build up the business, sometimes doing four or five hair shows a week, “anywhere we could get an audience”, to spread the word.

Peter Harman at work in the 1960s.

It was in the mid-sixties when Peter learned the skills that would put his salon at the forefront of hairdressing innovation and make Peter Gotthard a by-word for cutting-edge style. He said: 

“I was inspired by Vidal Sassoon – he changed my life, and I attribute a lot of my success in hairdressing to him. He was a dear friend and completely changed hairdressing with his new ethos.  

“I spent a lot of time at his salon in Mayfair in the 1960s, doing advanced courses under his supervision. He threw out the old-fashioned hairdryers and rollers and suddenly it was all about the scissors and the hand-held hairdryer. When I started, it was 100% shampoo-and-sets, but by the ’70s, it was 85% cut-and-blowdrys.

“I was bowled over by Vidal’s way of hairdressing – it was pure artistry. That’s what I was inspired by, and that’s what I wanted to bring to the north of England, which I did.” 

In 1966, Peter put on a two-hour show at the Royal Hall in Harrogate, putting the salon’s name in lights: ‘Peter Gotthard Hair Show’. It attracted 950 people, who came just to see his demonstration of the new techniques. 

The hard work paid off, and the three-storey Parliament Street premises grew to accommodate 35 stations, with separate men’s and ladies’ salons and a beauty salon. 

He opened a second salon on Leeds Road in the 1970s and another on Westgate in Ripon in the ’80s, followed by a fourth on Coppergate in York in the 1990s, and there were as many as “70 or 80” people working in the business. 

Peter Gotthard was even invited to become a member of Intercoiffure Mondial, the Paris-based global network of elite salons. Peter said: 

“It called its logo ‘the sign of the best hairdressing salons in the world’ and only admitted one member per town. 

“When people came to Harrogate from overseas, they recognised the Intercoiffure sign. It was a real mark of excellence.” 

In fact, it was one that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher perhaps recognised when she came to Harrogate to give a speech at the conference centre in 1982. She asked Peter Gotthard to supply a hairdresser to style her hair, and Peter still has her handwritten letter of thanks. 

A letter sent to Peter Harman by Margaret Thatcher to thank him for Peter Gotthard’s services when she was in Harrogate.

But later, in the nineties and naughties, the hairdressing industry was revolutionised again, this time by technology, when everything became digitised. Peter said: 

“I’m a technophobe and I was way out of my depth – it was time to go!” 

So in February 2008, Peter Gotthard embarked on a new chapter when Peter sold it to one of his longest-serving employees, Cheryl Byrne. Cheryl had joined the business as a 16-year-old, straight from school, in May 1981 and even met her husband, Patrick, through a Peter Gotthard colleague. 

Cheryl said:

“Back in the ’80s, Peter was cutting hair most days. He was quite a perfectionist with extremely high standards, and that become the norm for us all. He was a great role model to follow in business, too.”

Peter Harman (back row, centre) and Peter Gotthard’s staff in the late 1970s. Note the Intercoiffure logo on the window.

She added:

“The 80s was an exciting time to become a young hairdresser. Styles were moving on from setting to blow-drying and perming, and then colouring hair took over.

“I watched the salon’s hooded hairdryers disappear one by one as blow-drying became so much more popular. But we still have one that we wheel out of the cupboard for our regular weekly clients who have supported the business for so long. 

“Cutting skills came to the forefront of hairdressing as we stopped relying on dressing the hair so much. Short shapes and bobs of all descriptions were popular, and creative colouring was exciting through into the 90s and 2000s, when straightening hair became huge in the industry. Some of the styles, such as the wolf, the mullet and the shag, just keep coming around.”

Patrick and Cheryl, who have been married now for 37 years, are carrying on Peter’s legacy from the Parliament Street premises he opened six decades ago. They have nine stylists, three receptionists and an apprentice, and there are an independent beauty business and a tattoo business under the same roof. 

Despite the longevity of the business – unparallelled in its sector locally – Peter Gotthard still counts some old friends among its customers. 

Patrick said: 

“We’ve got some clients who were coming right at the start and still come now – 60 years later. We’ve got at least 20 who have been coming for 40 years or more. 

“And we’ve still got some very long-serving stylists. Chris has been with us for 46 years, Cheryl for 43 years, and Linda for 40 years. The average length of service among our stylists is about 15 years. That’s very unusual in this industry.” 

Nevertheless, there have been scores of other employees who have gone on to work elsewhere – Patrick says that Peter Gotthard has “probably trained half of Harrogate” – and many of them have set up their own businesses.

Cheryl Byrne (back row, far right) and her staff.

Cheryl and Patrick are hoping that as many of them and Peter Gotthard’s long-standing clients as possible will join them at the salon for the ‘Diamond Jubilee’ celebrations from noon till 4pm on Monday, June 10.

Two guests who are certain to be there are Peter and his wife Brenda, whom he met in 1965, within months of arriving in Harrogate. 

Peter, who moved with Brenda back to his home county of Surrey a few years ago after 50 years in Yorkshire, said: 

“I loved all my staff, and I love Yorkshire – I like to think I’m an adopted Yorkshireman! But my main reason for coming back up here is to congratulate Cheryl and Patrick and to thank them. 

“Harrogate was always the number-one salon and my original ‘baby’, and I’m so thrilled that the Peter Gotthard name is still over the door.

Cheryl and Patrick have kept it up-to-date and modern and it’s still going strong. It’s a fantastic achievement on their part – they’ve done an amazing job.” 

The Peter Gotthard salon on Parliament Street in Harrogate today.

After the party, Patrick says it will be business as usual – he and Cheryl have no plans to turn off the lights just yet. 

He said: 

“Peter was 72 when he retired. I’m 61, so I’ve still got a few years left in me. 

“We’re the current custodians of a name that’s been in this town for a very long time and which most people here above a certain age know. Our job is to make sure the next generation know about it too. 

“Our ultimate aim is to pass the business on in good shape, hopefully to a current employee, just as Peter did.”

Read more:

• Peter Banks: the man withdrawing from Rudding Park
• Geoff Brown steps down as chief executive of Ripon Farm Services
• Harrogate’s Rachel Daly retires from England football

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An array of new attractions are set to take place at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show.

The show will run from Tuesday, July 9, to Friday, July 12. Last year tickets sold out a week before the event started.

This year is set to see a craft beer bar, a Battle of the Butchers, Theakston’s Great Yorkshire Inn and Main Ring performances from Forever Tenors and the Paul Hannam Quad Bike Stunt Show for the 165th edition of the show.

It will also be the first time the show hosts the World Ayrshire Federation Annual Conference when around 100 farmers from countries including Kenya, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and America attend as part of a UK Tour.

Meanwhile, the People’s Choice competition will return for the first time since 2019.

People’s Choice traditionally took place in the cattle classes, with exhibitors generally in fancy dress and a light-hearted approach to the whole business of describing and judging the cattle. Its return this year has seen it extended to goats and pigs.

Charles Mills, show director said:

“We are thrilled to announce an exciting programme of events throughout the show, from a world conference for farmers from across the globe, to a Battle of the Butchers competition in the Food Hall, there’s so much for everyone to enjoy.

“There’s also the old favourites which traditionally draw huge crowds with the Cock O the North and the Grand Cattle Parades and I’m delighted to announce the return of People’s Choice which is a lot of fun and gets the public involved.”

Elsewhere, there will be newcomers to the Vertu Motors GYS Stage with Helen Skelton (Tuesday) and Rob and Dave Nicholson, of Cannon Hall Farm, (Friday) along with returning stars Peter Wright of Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet (Thursday) and Adam Henson (Wednesday).

The President’s Lawn will showcase a Grimme four row self-propelled potato harvester on display, set up in honour of the YAS President this year, Martin Cockerill, who’s a potato farmer.

There will also be a photography exhibition by British Life Photographer of the Year, Amy Bateman, who will reflect her on a yearlong journey to record the stories of forty farms across Cumbria.

Amy and husband Colin’s 900-acre cattle and sheep farm Croft Foot is also nominated for a Tye Trophy award, a YAS award highlighting some of the best farms in the north of England and recognising the contribution of farmers to conservation and environmental improvement.

For the first time at the GYS, a craft beer bar will be open in the Food Hall.

There will be over ten beer choices from four brewers within a three-mile radius of the Showground, including award-winning beers from Harrogate Brewing Company, Roosters, Turning Point and Daleside breweries. These local businesses are all members of SIBA – Society for Independent Brewers – the UK body that represents independent breweries.

Tickets are: Adults £35, Children £13 and Families £86 click here to find out more. 

Read more:

• Opposition parties prepare for chance to end Tory stranglehold in Harrogate and Knaresborough
• Harrogate Cat Rescue unable to take in any more pets 

As the door to 10 Downing Street slammed on Wednesday evening, it effectively signalled the starting bell for a six-week election campaign.

The Prime Minister’s announcement that an election will be held on July 4 created political battlegrounds across the country’s 650 constituencies.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, the outlook is no different.

The constituency has been held by the Conservatives for 14 years. In that time, Andrew Jones, the incumbent MP, has won four elections.

He has seen off three different Liberal Democrat candidates vying for the seat, as well as numerous other opposition parties.

(Left, clockwise) Andew Jones, Tom Gordon, Shan Oakes, John Swales and Conrad Whitcroft.

But the Lib Dems see the 2024 election as a different proposition. Tom Gordon, who will be contesting Mr Jones, has described it as a “once in a generation” election and a chance to kick out the Tories.

Mr Gordon’s challenge will be to overhaul the Conservative’s 9,675 majority – a required swing in the region of 8%.

The 29-year-old has framed the election in Harrogate as a choice between the Liberal Democrats and the Tories, a sign that the party is eyeing the seat as a major scalp.

Meanwhile, there are three other candidates so far in Conrad Whitcroft (Labour), Shan Oakes (Green Party) and John Swales (Reform UK) who are preparing to put a dent in the Tory dominance in the constituency.

But, despite the reported discontent within the Conservative backbenchers at the prospect of a summer election, Mr Jones has been defiant.

The day after Mr Sunak’s announcement, the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP issued a combative statement which he pledged to win voters trust.

He said:

“On 5 July we will wake up with Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister or Keir Starmer. No other outcome is possible. And there has only ever been a Labour Prime Minister when this constituency has elected anyone other than a Conservative.

“Choosing that local champion combined with choosing our next Prime Minister is the responsibility that lies with us all on 4 July. I hope that Harrogate and Knaresborough residents will choose me again and I will be working hard win that trust once more.”

Skipton and Ripon

In six weeks’ time, Julian Smith, the Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon, will be tasked with defending his 23,694 majority.

The former Northern Ireland secretary will be hoping to make 2024 his fifth election win in the constituency.

He will also be looking to continue a legacy for the Conservative Party in holding the seat at every election since it was created in 1983.

Standing in his way will be Green Party candidate Andy Brown, who will contest the constituency for a fourth time. Simon Garvey will be standing for Reform UK.

Wetherby and Easingwold

This election will see some voters in the Harrogate district fall under a new constituency.

Wetherby and Easingwold, which replaced the old Selby and Ainsty seat, will cover areas such as Spofforth, Follifoot and Boroughbridge.

The new seat offers all parties a chance to stake their claim to become the first to hold the constituency.

So far, the Tories have announced that current Elmet and Rothwell MP Alec Shelbrook will stand for the party. Meanwhile, Reform UK will field Mike Jordan on polling day.

The Liberal Democrats have chosen James Monaghan as its candidate for the new constituency.

Read more:

• Who will be standing in the Harrogate district at the general election?
• The MP aiming to win his fifth election in Harrogate and Knaresborough

Businesses in the centre of Harrogate have been affected once again by power cuts this week.

James Street, Princess Street, Prospect Crescent and parts of Cambridge Street have all suffered outages.

Some shops have had to temporarily close while others told the Stray Ferret they have had issues with their tills, shutters, phone lines, lighting and internet.

This is not the first time the Streets have been left without power. In March, James Street was left without power for a week when Northern Powergrid found “a fault on the underground low voltage cable, resulting in a blown fuse”.

Princess Street and one side of James Street were affected on Tuesday (May 21) with Halifax, FatFace, White Stuff, Hobbs and others all forced to close.

Northern Powergrid said in response to Tuesday’s outage:

“At 08:47 am on Tuesday, May 21 we were alerted to a power cut affecting the James Street and Princess Street areas of Harrogate. Our engineers attended the area at 9am and located an underground low voltage fault.

“This was resolved and power was restored at 2:45 am on Wednesday 22 May. We continue to closely monitor any previous interruptions in our areas and work quickly to resolve any faults on our network.

“We’d like to thank our customers for their patience while our engineers worked safely to repair the fault and re-connect power.”

Yesterday, (May 23) the opposite side to those shops affected earlier in the week on James Street and Prospect Crescent were affected from the early hours of the morning until 4.30pm.

Emergency dentist left unable to treat patients

Dr Shoreh Ghasmi owner of The Harrogate Clinic

Dr Shoreh Ghasmi, owner of The Harrogate Dentist, was once again badly affected by the loss of power. The clinic, which provides 24-hour emergency care, was without light, access to medical records and dental machinery all day, meaning it was unable to treat patients.

She began a root canal surgery at 6.30am and numbed the patient’s mouth. At 7.28am, mid-way through the procedure the power shut off, leaving Dr Ghasmi and her patient panicked in the dark when her tools stopped working.

In March, Dr Ghasmi experienced the same problem when she was left unable to treat an emergency patient with a fractured tooth. After the initial power cuts she was told a generator had been installed and she was highly unlikely to have another power cut.

Yet four months later the clinic was thrown into the same position and Northern Powergrid had acted “nonchalantly” about the issue, she claimed.

Dr Ghasmi said:

“I cannot emphasise how much pressure the power cuts put on the clinic. They (Northern Powergrid) don’t realise how serious this is. It can’t go on, not when it is seriously affecting people’s health.

“I understand mistakes are made but when healthcare is on the line something needs to be done. They just told me ‘no one else has reported an issue’, but we are open 24 hours and need to help our patients. When it happens, I just go numb, and I feel helpless because I can’t help my patients. We are an emergency dentist, so people come to us because they are in such pain.”

James Street

Yvonne Nightingale, general manager of jewellers Ogden of Harrogate, said the power cuts have had “a horrendous knock-on effect” on the business. The power outage meant that the shop was unable to open and the intruder alarm was activated as a result of intermittent power.

Ms Nightingale added that the alarm activated smoke detectors, which someone witnessed and called the emergency services.

The fire services outside Ogden on James Street on Thursday.

Their neighbours Cornish Bakery Harrogate were also badly affected, losing a day of trade and forced to waste pre-prepared food. Hotel Chocolat and Sainsbury’s Local were also affected, with no power to their fridges.

Emel Rasit, manager of Crew Clothing, said:

“This is now the fifth or sixth time it has happened, it is very frustrating at this point and it has now meant the figures for this week will be a struggle.”

Manager of Crew Clothing Harrogate, Emel Rasit (left) with colleague Jack.

Northern Powergrid told The Stray Ferret today:

“On Thursday 23 May, we were alerted to a power cut affecting the James Street area of Harrogate. I can confirm that we have had an ongoing intermittent low voltage fault in this area, which has now been located and repaired.

“This type of fault can cause long duration issues, however we had six members of staff on site within three hours to ensure work was completed and power was restored as quickly as possible. All local properties and businesses were visited by our onsite engineer at the time and provided updates.”

“We do have some follow up work to complete following the repair, however all properties potentially affected will receive prior notice of excavation and we do not expect that supply will be interrupted.

Cornish Bakery Harrogate and Ogden of Harrogate closed due to power cuts

Read more:

• Council backs down from legal battle with housebuilder over 53 homes in Harrogate
• Are these the worst pothole roads in the Harrogate district?

A land train, which is part of a funfair in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, pranged a lamppost on its first trip of the event today.

Fun in the Park, which opened at 11am today, offers family-friendly entertainment, rides and street food during this bank holiday weekend and half-term.

But the Magical Express, which takes people to-and-from the entrance of the gardens, ran into some bother when trying to negotiate a bend.

A witness, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Stray Ferret they suspected the driver “misjudged how big the front of the train was” when turning a corner, before hitting a lamppost. They added:

“Fortunately, no one was hurt.”

The source also said the event “got off to a rocky start” due to issues with the generator.

They continued:

“There were problems with the generator first thing, which meant all the rides opened late. Once they did open, this train incident happened on its first lap round!”

The event, which is running daily from today and throughout next week’s school half-term holiday, is operated by Northallerton-based Crow Leisure Group Ltd.

It is the first time the company has held an event in Harrogate.

The land train. Pic: Crow Leisure Ltd.

The Stray Ferret contacted founder and chief executive, Alex Crow, about the train mishap.

Mr Crow said it was the “first time” the driver had operated the train around the Valley Gardens with passengers, adding:

“The corner seemed tight.

“The driver reversed back and drove forward again. No one was injured and there’s no damage to the train.

“We have now put mats down on the left side to allow it to make a wider turn.”

Mr Crow also said the train was taken for two practice runs around Valley Gardens this morning and five practice runs yesterday without people onboard.

When asked about problems with the generator, Mr Crow added it “needed a filter change”, which he claims has now been sorted.

He said:

“Everything is running smoothly now. People have said they’re really enjoying the event.”

The event is free to enter but rides come with a charge.

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