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

Decision to let Walkers Passage grow wild divides opinion

Harrogate Borough Council has stopped mowing the grass around Walkers Passage to reduce anti-social behaviour and improve biodiversity.

Walkers Passage is a popular cut through between the Stray and Harcourt Drive.

Geoff Davy, a local resident, told the Stray Ferret the grass was previously mown “about a dozen times a year.”

But this year only narrow strips near the path have been mown. The rest of the small park is being allowed to grow long, a decision that Mr Davy criticised:

“It’s unpleasant to look at and it’s unpleasant to be in. Families and people with small children won’t come here to play.”

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A council spokesperson told the Stray Ferret the decision to stop mowing the grass had been taken for two reasons: to reduce anti-social behaviour, and to increase biodiversity.

Mr Davy said:

“It’s not working, letting that place go derelict. It’s not stopping anti-social behaviour and drug-dealing.”

 

Harrogate hospital: ‘Worrying’ drop in early cancer diagnoses

A fall in the number of people being diagnosed with early cancer at Harrogate District Hospital during the pandemic has sparked fears many may get treatment too late.

Official figures seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service show a 13.7% reduction in cancer cases detected at stage one – when the chances of survival are highest – during the first 12 months of the covid outbreak compared with the same period a year before.

Cancer charities fear this means many people may unknowingly have the disease and are missing out on potentially life-saving treatment – and they have urged anyone with possible symptoms to get checked as a matter of urgency.

Lisa Spivey, Macmillan Cancer Support partnership manager for West Yorkshire and Harrogate, said the “worrying” drop in diagnoses was down to patients being too scared to visit GPs in case they became infected with covid.

She said:

“Covid has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds while cancer and other long term conditions have been forgotten.

“The last 12 months have had a massive impact on the number of people coming forward with any sign or symptoms. During the first wave especially, there were huge fears about covid and GPs being busy.

“It’s vital that we do catch cancer at the early stages because it gives us the best chance of treatment and recovery.

“It’s a massive worry that more people may have been missed this year so we need anyone who has any symptoms – or anyone who just needs advice – to please come forward.”

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Dr Kathryn Scott, chief executive of Harrogate-based charity Yorkshire Cancer Research, added:

“We’ve estimated that there could be more than 3,500 missing cancers in Yorkshire. These cancers are less likely to be found at an early stage, when there are more treatment options and the likelihood of survival is higher.

“The good news is that we have seen a surge in referrals recently, and we strongly urge people experiencing possible symptoms of cancer, or any unusual changes to their body, to contact their GP as soon as possible.”

The NHS has worked hard to maintain cancer care during the pandemic, with services at Harrogate hospital remaining open throughout.

While 509 patients at the hospital were diagnosed with stage one cancer between March 2019 and February 2020, this dropped by 13.7% to 439 in the same following period – a fall of around five people a month.

The number of people being diagnosed during the later stages – where the cancer spreads and becomes progressively harder to treat – has also fallen in all categories.

Emma Radcliffe, lead cancer manager at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said while the hospital is not facing the challenge of backlogs because services have continued, there are uncertainties ahead around how many patients could come forward with late stage cancer.

She said:

“The team has worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic to continue providing vital cancer care – that hasn’t stopped. We’ve introduced new measures to keep our most vulnerable patients out of the hospital environment.

“In terms of the impact the pandemic will have had on cancer services going forward, because we have kept services going we don’t have a backlog so will continue to care for patients in a timely manner.

“However, there is a potential challenge because we don’t know about those patients who’ve not come forward to us, and the impact for them and us. It may be that their cancer is more challenging to treat – that’s why it’s so important that if someone is concerned, they see their GP as soon as possible.”

She added:

“Our really important message to people is that if you’ve had unexplained blood that doesn’t come from an obvious injury (such as blood in your poo or pee), an unexplained lump, weight loss which feels significant to you or an unexplained pain that lasts three weeks or more, it could be a sign of cancer.

“It’s probably nothing serious, but finding cancer early makes it more treatable, so just speak to your GP. We can’t stress that enough.”

Harrogate social distancing measures to be reviewed next month

The use of planters on James Street in Harrogate for social distancing purposes is set to be reviewed as lockdown restrictions ease.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, North Yorkshire County Council‘s executive member for access, told the Stray Ferret the issue would be reviewed next month.

June 21 is the date in the roadmap when the government is due to lift all limits on social contact.

At the start of the pandemic North Yorkshire County Council closed off parking bays to give pedestrians more room to spread out, in a move that upset some businesses.

A year later, planters and traffic cones remain on several streets in Harrogate and Knaresborough and it’s unclear how long they will stay.

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The measures continue to be a bone of contention. Harrogate Residents Association has set up a petition calling for their removal. So far, 561 people have signed.

Anna McIntee, one of the association’s founders, said:

“Please remove the planters that are blocking parking for customers on James Street and Albert Street in Harrogate town centre.

“It’s vital customers have convenient access to our shops as they try to recover from the pandemic.”

 

Harrogate strip club drops legal challenge as new licence agreed

A legal challenge between Harrogate’s only strip club and the council has been dropped after the owners warned a ban on dancers drinking alcohol would “simply finish the business”.

The Kings Club, on Oxford Street, had its sexual entertainment licence renewed by Harrogate Borough Council’s sub-licensing committee in September.

But conditions that dancers do not drink alcohol and must be paid by bank transfer led to the owners lodging an appeal with York Magistrates Court.

An appeal hearing was due to take place on Friday next week but will not go ahead after committee members agreed to new licensing rules at a meeting today.

Speaking at the meeting, Paul Kinsey, the owner of Kings Club, told councillors that he and dancers themselves ensured they do not drink excessively “because drunk girls don’t earn money”.

He said:

“The dancers are all there to earn money and they themselves realise that actually they are not there to drink.

“They are very self aware they don’t want to be drunk because drunk girls don’t earn money.”

Mr Kinsey also gave reassurances that dancers are escorted to a safe mode of transport at the end of their shifts, as his legal representative Paddy Whur argued an alcohol ban would “simply finish the business” due to dancers not wanting to work.

Mr Whur said:

“We do want dancers to have the opportunity to have a drink with the customers. That is something that has always happened here. It happens in every venue nationally of this type.

“Quite often customers will go into the premises and they don’t even want to be dancing. They will buy a drink for a dancer and sit and talk to them.

“You wouldn’t get dancers coming to work here if they weren’t allowed to socialise.”

Mr Whur also said the venue “wouldn’t get the quality of girls that we want” if payments to dancers had to be made through bank transfer.

He added:

“A lot of dancers will not work here if they have to be paid in BACS – they want the money when they finish their shift and that is for a variety of reasons.

“We do keep a very clear audit trail of who has paid what and when. Everything is done properly.”

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In September, councillors raised concerns over the safety of dancers after they heard how council officers inspected the venue in 2019 and found some panic alarms in dancing booths were not working correctly, although they were repaired the same day.

Councillors were also told the venue had been in “cahoots” with two former dancers over payments, although this was dismissed by legal representatives at the time.

It was agreed by councillors today that the venue’s new sexual entertainment licence would be renewed with the ban on dancers drinking alcohol and need for them to be paid by bank transfer removed.

The new conditions will be added to existing licensing rules, which include no physical contact between dancers and customers, no photography, no throwing of money and no use of sex toys.

The sexual entertainment licence covers topless pole dancing, topless stage striptease and full nudity lap dancing, and is separate to the venue’s alcohol and premises licence.

Marriage proposal mystery solved: She said yes!

The mystery surrounding an aircraft flying over Harrogate trailing the message “Chloe will you marry me? Luke” has had a happy ending.

Luke Stocking contacted the Stray Ferret after reading our story to let us know that it was he who proposed and his girlfriend Chloe had accepted. He wrote to us in an email:

“Luke here! We loved this article, you’ll be pleased to hear she said yes.”

He also sent some photos taken when he popped the question at Castle Howard near York.

Luke arranged a romantic picnic to watch the flyover with Chloe.

The message brightened an overcast day in the district, generating lots of warm comments on social media — as well as generating intrigue about the identity of Chloe and whether she said yes.

The couple live in the south of England.

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Starbeck Baths: frustration grows over re-opening uncertainty

It doesn’t look like anyone will be jumping into Starbeck Baths anytime soon, as there is still no news of a reopening date.

Starbeck Baths is one of five pools run by Harrogate Borough Council.

Harrogate Hydro and Nidderdale Pool reopened when government guidelines permitted on April 12.

Ripon Spa Baths opened last Friday but Starbeck Baths and Knaresborough Pool remain closed.

Last month Stanley Lumley, the council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said he hoped both Ripon and Starbeck pools would reopen in May, with Starbeck “very soon after”.

But with less than a fortnight of May remaining, there have been no further updates.

When the Stray Ferret asked the council for an update on Starbeck yesterday, a spokesman said there was no further news.

The uncertainty is frustrating for local residents, including Chris Watt, who said:

“After being told in April, following pressure from local residents, that our pool would re-open this month, it’s really disappointing that no date has yet been confirmed.

“It feels like the council are backtracking and in the meantime children are missing out on their swimming lessons and adults losing the physical and mental health benefits of a swim.

With Knaresborough pool also closed, there is nowhere with easy access via public transport for Starbeck people to use.”

The Starbeck Residents Association previously told the Stray Ferret the pool “should be kept open at all costs” and that it feared covid was being used as an “excuse” to keep it closed.

The 150-year-old building is often used by local schools and residents.

Maintenance work at Knaresborough Pool, due to be carried out by specialist engineers from Spain, has been halted by travel restrictions.

However, the council has said it was trying to find a UK-based firm to fix the problem. No date for its reopening has been announced.

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Free tours of Harrogate’s Stonefall cemetery as covid puts focus on British war graves

Harrogate’s Stonefall Cemetery is holding free tours on Friday next week as part of a bid to encourage more visitors to British war graves.

With covid preventing people travelling to pay their respects to fallen soldiers in France and Belgium, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is highlighting alternatives in this country.

Stonefall is one of the largest war grave sites in northern England and one of only five directly maintained by the commission.

It therefore looks very similar to sites abroad, with rows of immaculately maintained white graves of even size.

Junior soldiers at Harrogate’s Army Foundation College, who usually travel to war graves in Normandy, recently visited Stonefall and the commission hopes the covid travel restrictions will encourage others to do likewise.

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Stonefall will be the focus of the final day of the commission’s first War Graves Week from May 21 to 28.

Tours limited to 10 people will take place throughout the day at the cemetery off Wetherby Road, which is open 24 hours a day to visitors.

Tours are free but places must be booked in advance.

Stonefall Cemetry

Elizabeth Smith, public engagement coordinator for the commission in the north-east, said:

“We are trying to draw people’s attention to the fact that we have a lot of war graves in this country,. People are aware of them abroad but less so here.

“Harrogate is a really special site for us.”

Stonefall’s Canadian connection

Stonefall has more than 1,000 graves, mostly of soldiers from the Second World War.

About two-thirds are Canadian, as its air force was based in North Yorkshire. But there are also also almost 100 Australian graves, five Caribbean graves and also the grave of the only Fijian who flew with the British Royal Air Force.

Stories of those who gave their lives will feature prominently in the tours.

A private closing ceremony for the week will take place at Stonefall on the 28th. It will be broadcast live on a Facebook as part of the commission’s digital festival.

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, the mayor of Harrogate and the Lord-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire are expected to visit Stonefall that day.

 

‘Make traffic two-way on Parliament Street and West Park’

Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam has called on North Yorkshire County Council to explore making West Park and Parliament Street open to traffic from both directions.

The two adjoining roads have been one-way for 50 years since the layout changed in 1970.

Mr Neesam, who has written several books on the town, believes returning the roads to how they used to be could be a solution to the town’s congestion problems.

Station Gateway

Traffic flow in Harrogate has been under the spotlight in recent months due to the £7.9m Station Gateway proposals, which could reduce Station Parade to one lane and pedestrianise part of James Street under plans yet to be decided

Some fear that it would have implications for the rest of Harrogate town centre and would exacerbate tailbacks on Station Parade, Cheltenham Parade, King’s Road and back to Parliament Street and West Park.

Mr Neesam believes that changing the road layout would “free up” traffic to flow more easily through town.

He also said it could benefit delegates visiting Harrogate Convention Centre, who would have better access to the town centre.

He said North Yorkshire County Council had long opposed reintroducing two-way traffic but called on the highways authority to reconsider.

He said:

“I’m very much in favour of making the roads two-way. It already works on Leeds Road and Ripon Road.

“They were built as a two-way system in the 18th century.

“It’s quite logical and would free up Station Parade and Cheltenham Parade.”

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In response, Don Mackenzie, the county council’s executive member for access and the Conservative councillor for Harrogate Saltergate, said he “wouldn’t rule it out forever” but was lukewarm on the idea.

He said:

“Many people will recall that in the 50s and 60s there was two-way traffic on West Park and Parliament Street. But this was when vehicle numbers were far less than today.

“Look at West Park and Parliament Street today — it’s difficult to imagine it being two-way with the amount of traffic the two lanes get.”

Cllr Mackenzie also rejected suggestions the Station Gateway proposals would significantly increase congestion in the town. He said:

“It’s likely to happen to a small extent, but the numbers suggested are very small.”

A radical history

Plans to make West Park and Parliament Street one-way were first drawn up in the 1960s by the former West Riding and Harrogate councils.

It was intended to be the first of a five-phase plan to radically alter the road network and would have involved the creation of dual carriageways and flyovers in Harrogate town centre.

However, the rest of the plan was scrapped following massive public opposition.

County council set to buy Cardale Park land for £1.8 million

North Yorkshire County Council looks set to buy land at Cardale Park previously earmarked for a mental health facility for £1.8 million.

Senior county councillors on the authority’s executive will be recommended to approve the purchase at a meeting next week.

The three acres of land on Beckwith Head Road, Harrogate, will be used to build an extra care facility and will be bought from Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.

A report due before councillors says the land will be used for the “purposes of progressing the scheme to assist with social care market development in the Harrogate area”.

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The land had previously been given approval for a 36-bed mental health facility, following the closure of Harrogate District Hospital’s Briary Unit, which helped adults with mental illness.

However, those plans were dropped in 2019 and inpatients on the unit were sent to Foss Park Hospital in York instead.

Cllr Jim Clark, a Conservative councillor who sits on the West Yorkshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel to represent North Yorkshire, told the Stray Ferret previously that he was pleased the site was going to be used.

He said:

“It is important that this site is used for the benefit of local people.

“I would have preferred it to be a mental health facility, but I am glad that it is going to be used for assisted housing for people instead.”

The trust, which runs mental health services in Harrogate, has relocated services following the closure of the Briary Wing.

The unit’s mental health crisis team moved to The Orchards in Ripon last year.