All Harrogate district social distancing planters and cones up for review

All street planters and cones used to promote social distancing in the Harrogate district are set to be reviewed next month.

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) has confirmed that the measures will remain in place until the review, which is due to be held at the end of June.

It comes amid growing calls for their removal in the form of a petition and a group of businesses in Knaresborough.

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Those people believe that Harrogate and Knaresborough need parking spaces more than the social distancing enforcements as the lockdown eases.

The county council closed off parking bays in the towns at the start of the pandemic to give pedestrians more room to spread out.

Under the Government’s roadmap, all social distancing measures are set to be dropped on June 21. That is around the time NYCC will hold its review.

A council spokesperson said:

“We can confirm all social distancing measures will be in place until the review at the end of June.

“We have met regularly with local councillors and representatives from the town council and chamber of trade over the past 12 months to ensure that the social distancing measures in place are appropriate.

“No businesses have sent us a request to remove them.”

Harrogate Pubwatch relaunches to keep out town’s troublemakers

Harrogate Pubwatch has relaunched with a new app to help keep out the town’s troublemakers as coronavirus restrictions ease.

It means that if anyone causes problems in one of Harrogate’s venues, they will be banned from all venues taking part in the scheme.

Currently there are 32 people who are banned under Harrogate Pubwatch and 10 of those are banned for life.

The bans range from three months to life bans, depending on the severity of the issue.

Most exclusions were enforced after drug use, drug dealing, assault, nuisance and abuse, but they could be for carrying weapons or for more serious assaults.

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Harrogate BID has supported the local Pubwatch group in the relaunch by helping to fund the creation of the app.

Harrogate Pubwatch secretary Alan Huddart said:

“I’d like to thank both Harrogate BID and North Yorkshire Police for their support in helping Harrogate Pubwatch relaunch after the third national covid lockdown.

“With the hospitality industry once again being able to serve customers inside, we will see more businesses reopening, which is to be welcomed.

“By working together to exclude troublemakers, Harrogate venues can offer a safe and secure experience to those who simply want to enjoy the huge range of hospitality on offer in our town.”

Matthew Chapman, manager of Harrogate BID, said:

“Aims of the BIDs are to make Harrogate safe and welcoming, and to support the town’s night-time economy. Harrogate Pubwatch does both, and that’s why we are happy to support them in funding the app.

“Harrogate’s hospitality offering is incredibly diverse, and while serving customers indoors is back on the menu, al fresco dining and drinking is here to stay, and our café culture will go from strength to strength.

“Ensuring visitors feel safe visiting town centre venues and walking around at night is of paramount importance to us.”

Parkrun delays restarting 5k runs by three weeks

Runners in the Harrogate district will have to wait a little longer to get back to parkrun after the charity announced it is delaying its resumption of the weekly free 5k runs by another three weeks.

Although Harrogate Borough Council has given permission for the Saturday morning events to start on June 5 on the Stray, in Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough and the National Trust greenlit its return to Fountains Abbey, not all landowners across the country have agreed.

Parkrun organisers confirmed that more than 250 permissions have been granted but this was below the “critical mass” it wanted to reach to avoid overwhelming the smaller number of events that could go ahead.

Pre-covid there were 589 locations hosting parkruns in England. All events are run by volunteers.

The charity has set June 26 as the new date to resume all its 5k events across the country collectively and hopes many more landowners will grant permission by that time.

It will make another decision regarding the go-ahead for this new date on Friday June 11.

Nick Pearson, parkrun’s global CEO, said:

“We will continue to work hard with landowners over the coming weeks to secure the permissions needed to return at the end of June.

“We are incredibly grateful to all of the landowners who have granted events permission to return so far, and for the groundswell of support for parkrun over recent days.

“Although it is disappointing not to be able to return on 5 June, we are still optimistic that we can return parkrun events to nearly 600 communities across England very soon. We will do everything we can to ensure events restart on 26 June.”

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Harrogate junior parkrun, a 2k run for children aged four to 14, resumed on the Stray on April 12.

🥰🥰🥰🥰absolutely fantastic ♥️ https://t.co/McSuGEpB99

— Harrogate jnr prkrun (@Harrogatejnrpr) April 11, 2021

A parkrun spokesperson said:

“Operating under a government approved COVID-19 Framework, and with significant success restarting the junior 2k event series, as well as the vital need for people to be active and social outdoors, the time is now right for the return of Saturday morning 5k events.”

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and happy Friday. It’s Leah here this morning with 15-minute updates on the road and rail links near you.

There are a number of continuing temporary traffic lights this morning worth keeping an eye on.

These blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group, are to keep you updated as the district’s roads get busier.

If you see anything please get in touch, if it is safe to do so, on 01423 276197 or via social media.

9am – Full Update 

That is it from me today, II will be back with you on Monday from 6:300am with updates every 15 minutes. Have a lovely weekend!

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the district this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic hotspots:

Traffic is building in these area:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8:45am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the district this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic hotspots:

Traffic is building in these area:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8:30am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the district this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic hotspots:

Traffic is building in these area:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8:15am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the district this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic hotspots:

Traffic is building in these area:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the district this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building in these area:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7:45am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the district this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building in these area:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7:30am – Full Update 

Roads

The traffic is starting to build in the district this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Traffic is building in these area:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7:15am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking ok so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking ok so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

6.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking ok so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking ok so far this morning, keep checking in for today’s traffic hotspots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

Station Gateway scheme could increase greenhouse gas emissions

A report by consultants on the proposed £7.9 million Station Gateway project in Harrogate has found it could potentially increase greenhouse gas emissions.

The gateway project aims to improve town centre accessibility, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists, and help to achieve a net-zero carbon goal.

But net carbon emissions could increase because the reduced traffic flow in the area affected by the scheme would force some drivers to take longer alternative routes.

North Yorkshire County Council said this would represent a “worst-case” scenario, and it would refine the scheme to ensure it is environmentally friendly.

The report also highlighted the loss of up to 15 trees. They would be replaced by new trees within the scheme area at a ratio of at least one replacement for each tree lost.

In addition, there would be a net loss of parking spaces in Harrogate town centre. The scheme would, however, maintain or increase the number of disabled parking bays in the centre.

Under all versions of the scheme examined, the bandstand at the north end of Station Square would be removed, while the Jubilee memorial on the south side would remain in place. Other improvements include a proposed water fountain and ornamental planters.

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Environmental impact

The report is a preliminary study prepared by WSP, a consultancy firm.

It aims to provide information to North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council, which are developing the Station Gateway scheme, about the potential environmental impacts.

Council planners will use this information to determine whether a formal environmental impact assessment is needed.

The report assesses three different options:

The report forecasts that under the “do maximum” scenario improvements to pedestrian, cycling and public transport infrastructure will encourage a shift away from car use, with a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 1,113 tons over 60 years.

However, at the same time reductions in traffic capacity will force vehicles to take longer alternatives, which is predicted to lead to an increase in carbon emissions of 2,576 tons of CO2 over 60 years.

This suggests that the net impact of the scheme will therefore be an increase in emissions of CO2 of roughly 1,400 tons over 60 years. To put this into context, the average UK citizen produces roughly five tons of CO2 per year.

The report notes that:

“…the transformational change from the scheme has the potential to unlock further behavioural change and growth than modelled, in which case emissions reductions may be larger.”

There is no forecast of the change in carbon emissions under the “do something” or “do minimum” scenarios.

More detailed proposals to come

Karl Battersby, corporate director of business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“At this early stage of development, it is prudent to consider a worst case scenario. It is that modelling that informs the screening request. This worst case shows that at this stage there is potential for a slight adverse carbon emissions impact.

“However, further detailed design will focus on achieving a net-zero position and we will present a more refined carbon assessment when detailed proposals are recommended for implementation.”

Harrogate salon turns away woman despite face mask exemption

A Ripon woman has said she is being discriminated against after a hair salon turned her away even though she has a face mask exemption.

Jan Spence, 58, has chronic asthma and anxiety so she wears a lanyard around her neck to let other people know why she does not wear a face mask.

Ms Spence recently visited Moo Hair in Harrogate to use a voucher she bought before lockdown. However, when she arrived the hairdresser she was booked to see refused to let her in.

It is something Ms Spence has not experienced before and she told the Stray Ferret she did not want to experience it again so she decided to speak out to raise awareness. She said:

“I felt really degraded, I cannot help having a health condition. It can be quite debilitating at times.

“So it was upsetting when I was turned away. I have had both coronavirus jabs and I had a negative lateral flow test in the morning so what else can I do?”

When Ms Spence approached Groupon, which she bought the voucher through, the customer services team gave her credit to spend on something else.

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Caroline Allen, who owns the salon on Cheltenham Mount, operates a policy that everyone has to wear a face mask to be allowed inside.

Ms Allen told the Stray Ferret her rule was designed to keep staff and clients safe:

“We are all learning here. We have never lived through anything like this before. I go by the rules set out by the central body for hairdressers and barbers.

“I have to protect everybody in the salon, we get some very vulnerable clients in here so we all wear face masks.

“It can put me in a very difficult position but it is one I am going to stick by. I am sorry that Jan is so upset.”

Ill feeling lingers after decision to scrap Oatlands cycling scheme

Both sides of the cycling debate have criticised North Yorkshire County Council after it scrapped a controversial active travel scheme for the Oatlands Drive area of Harrogate.

The council received more than £1m from government to improve walking and cycling infrastructure.

It put forward four schemes in North Yorkshire, three of which were in Harrogate and one in Whitby.

But last week it dropped the Oatlands Drive proposals after fierce opposition from residents.

It initially proposed making the whole of Oatlands Drive one-way then revised this to make nearby St Winifred’s Road and St Hilda’s Road one-way.

Both schemes were abandoned, meaning the money will be spent on projects for Victoria Avenue in Harrogate and the A59 in Knaresborough, plus the one in Whitby.

Kevin Douglas, from Harrogate District Cycle Action, said he was disappointed with the way the council handled the Oatlands scheme.

He said:

“The Oatlands Drive one-way idea was dropped by the executive member, Don Mackenzie, at a very early stage.

“Hopefully future plans for the area will involve all agencies.

“On the initial plan, they didn’t even involve St Aidan’s School.

“As soon as there was some opposition they dropped the scheme. That’s disappointing. Hopefully, they learned their lessons and involve more people.”

Mr Douglas said the council had to accept active travel schemes inconvenienced some people and be stronger in the face of opposition if it was serious about improving walking and cycling infrastructure.

He asked:

“Is there a real commitment to dealing with any of this?”

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Anna McIntee, who lives on Oatlands Drive, campaigned vigorously against the proposals.

She launched petitions and posted on the Facebook group and website she co-founded, Harrogate Residents Association.

She said “everyone was up in arms” about the plans, which forced her to act.

“I couldn’t let go, it opened Pandora’s box”

“Number one for North Yorkshire County Council should have been to engage with residents.

“We want cycling and walking infrastructure but not at the expense of vehicles.”

The council has said the Oatlands consultation responses will feed into an Oatlands constituency feasibility study that will “reassess opportunities” for infrastructure improvements across the area.

But Ms McIntee warned the council could expect more strong opposition if it put forward similar proposals for Oatlands Drive.

“Yes, 100%. They would be wasting their time.”

 

Film about the Troubles to premiere in Harrogate next week

A documentary about an ex-British army intelligence officer in Northern Ireland during the Troubles will premiere in Harrogate next week.

The Man Who Knew Too Much is billed as an “in-depth look at the smoke and mirrors world of intelligence, psychological warfare and fake news through the eyes of a man who stood proudly at the centre of that world”.

Directed by Michael Oswald, It tells the story of Colin Wallace, who was a senior information officer in the British army.

Wallace worked in a psychological warfare and propaganda department in Northern Ireland called Information Policy. Its job was to spread fake news, scare people and smear politicians to divide and create conflict amongst communities.

After refusing to work in areas he believed undermined democracy he was accused of leaking classified documents and made to take voluntary redundancy.

He was later framed for murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison — although the sentence was quashed on appeal 15 years later after the Home Office coroner admitted his report had been influenced by a member of the intelligence community.

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Directed by Michael Oswald and run in association with Harrogate Film Festival, the film will be shown at the Odeon in Harrogate on May 27 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5.

The film won Best Investigation and Reporting Documentary in the Harrogate Film Society Festival Features competition and online programme.

Harrogate Film Festival founder Adam Chandler said the premiere was “great news for the town”, adding:

“It’s fantastic that Harrogate Film Society and Harrogate Film Festival have managed to collaborate to bring this premiere to Harrogate.
“It’s an intriguing documentary with bags of insight – I hope everyone enjoys it – it’s fantastic to be back in the cinema!”

The festival is usually a 10-day event but this year a series of mini-festivals between April and September are being held. This is one of the few events able to go ahead in person following the easing of restrictions.

 

 

Brackenfield School in Harrogate opens new adventure play area

A Harrogate independent school has opened a new outdoor play area for nursery children to encourage open-air learning.

Brackenfield School’s new facility includes a ‘garden centre’, mud kitchen and pebble pit complete with weighing scales and spades.

There is also a reading rainforest corner, where children can take their books outside with their friends and read while sitting on log stools.

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The area was designed to present children with challenges, adventures and opportunities for development, whilst interacting with the natural world around them.

Headmaster Joe Masterson said:

“Outdoor learning is one of the four areas of a powerful mission we use to focus our children’s achievements here at Brackenfield School.

“We strive to ensure that while revelling in technology as a means to excite, ignite and redefine learning, a strong sense of balance is also retained for our pupils towards human connection, nature and the outdoors.”

West Park car park to host Harrogate covid testing

Harrogate’s permanent coronavirus testing centre off Dragon Road will close this weekend and be replaced by a mobile unit in West Park car park.

In a sign that the emergency response to the pandemic is being scaled back, the permanent site in the Dragon Road car park near Asda will close on Sunday

The mobile units at the West Park car park will open several days a week although precise details are not yet known.

Speaking at a briefing on Wednesday, Matthew Robinson, head of resilience and emergencies at North Yorkshire County Council, said the move to mobile units was being done so tests could target hotspot areas.

He said:

“The advantages of mobile testing sites is that we can flex and strengthen as we go. We will make sure that if covid cases are increasing in a particular area we will continue to provide more frequent testing in that location.”

It was announced in March that the Dragon Road site would close due to the car park being needed by Harrogate Convention Centre, but health officials have now decided a permanent replacement site will not be needed.

The Coronavirus testing site on Dragon Road, Harrogate.

The site on Dragon Road.

Officials are instead urging residents to use the mobile sites, online ordering and local pharmacies where testing has become more widely available.

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The closure of the site follows an announcement that the vaccination centres at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon racecourse will also close in August – with local pharmacy sites set to play a larger part in the rollout.

Dr Ian Dilley, GP partner at East Parade Surgery in Harrogate and clinical director of the Mowbray Square Primary Care Network, said in a statement on Tuesday:

“With the huge number of people now vaccinated in the local area, we feel August is an appropriate end date.

“We need to be mindful of the other pressures that will be placed on doctors’ surgeries as we head towards autumn and winter, and the annual flu vaccine campaigns that GP practices need to provide.

“We also need to enable our kind hosts at the Yorkshire Events Centre and Ripon racecourse to provide their own events as restrictions continue to be eased and more public events are permitted.”

There are two types of coronavirus tests: rapid tests, known as lateral flow tests, and PCR tests, which are sent to labs for analysis.

Mr Robinson said anyone with symptoms should get a PCR test – and not a lateral flow test – because they are more accurate and can also better detect variants of concern.

He said:

“Now that lateral flows are more readily available it is easy to think you can just do one, especially if you have got them laying around your house, but the national testing policy is very clear and it is a PCR test that is needed for anyone with symptoms.

“The PCRs miss fewer positive cases and they can help us identify strains of variants as well which is really important at the moment.”

For more information on testing go to www.northyorks.gov.uk/book-coronavirus-covid-19-test-if-youve-got-symptoms