Good morning and welcome back. It’s Connor with you this morning bringing you all your latest traffic and travel news.
The aim of these blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group, is to make sure your journey is as smooth as possible.
I’ll include all the latest roadworks, traffic hotspots and any delays to public transport.
If you spot anything or get stuck in a jam, give me a call on 01423 276197.
Thank you for checking in with the traffic and travel blog this morning. We do hope you find the service useful. I am heading over to the news desk now but I will be back from 6.30am tomorrow.
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning except for a few spots around the Harrogate district:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Jack Laugher is bidding for further Olympic glory this morning.
A superb series of six dives took him into the men’s individual three-metre springboard final, which can be seen live on BBC TV from 7am.
The former Ripon Grammar School student, whose family home is in Littlethorpe, finished in third position behind China’s XIE Siyi and Wang Zongyuan in today’s semi-final.
Early-bird television viewers, who tuned in a 2am UK time, saw Laugher score 514.75 points in a stylish and controlled performance at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
It all started here – Spa Baths, Ripon where Jack Laugher was taught to swim at the age of 3 by Sylvia Grice MBE
If he can repeat the highly-disciplined display of diving excellence that he achieved in the semi-final, he has an outstanding opportunity to add to the Gold and Silver medals that saw him make history five years ago.
He and then partner Chris Mears, became the first-ever GB diving medallists, when they fought off a challenge from China to claim Olympic Gold at the Rio 2016 games.
Six days later, Laugher added Silver in the men’s individual springboard event, finishing behind China’s Yuan Cao.
The challenge from the Chinese pair of XIE Siyi and Wang Zongyuan, cannot be under-estimated, but it’s all to play for when the 12 finalists take to the springboard in Tokyo.
Second tap terminal in Harrogate to help homeless people
Harrogate District Street Aid has launched a second contactless tap terminal to help homeless people.
The second terminal is at the Victoria Shopping Centre and follows in the footsteps of the first at Marks and Spencers on Oxford Street.
With each tap of a bank card, £3 goes to Harrogate District Street Aid. Since the launch in October 2019, people have donated more than £14,000 to the project.
Harrogate Borough Council is behind the project which provides financial support for those in need. Homeless people can apply for grants up to £500.
To date the Harrogate District Street Aid has given out 16 grants for training courses, clothing for job interviews and wellbeing support.
Cllr Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said:
Harrogate Christmas Market traders slam decision to cancel event“Harrogate District Street Aid is about making a real change to people who find themselves on the street and I am delighted that we have been able to provide a second tap terminal in Harrogate town centre.
“Some people assume that giving a few pounds to a beggar is helping them. Sadly, in some instances it may actually keep them on the street.
“Through Harrogate District Street Aid, we can work with our partner organisations to make best use of the money that has been kindly donated, work with homeless people and make a real difference to their lives.”
Two local stallholders at the Harrogate Christmas Market have expressed their frustrations after the event was cancelled for a second year in a row.
Harrogate Borough Council blamed the move on the event organiser’s event management plan when it released a statement on Thursday evening.
The council said the plan did not take the “risk of overcrowding and necessary evacuation procedures, counter-terrorism measures and the ongoing risk of covid” into account.
It is a decision which not only took the organiser Brian Dunsby by surprise but also some of the local stallholders.
Steve Green, co-founder of Harrogate Tipple, told the Stray Ferret:
“This is just horrific and pathetic. It is a disgrace, I feel really strongly about the way the council announced this as well on Twitter.
“The council did not give us any heads up. It took us a little while to become a stallholder but ever since it has been great for us.
“It has been great for local businesses and for the other stallholders too so I am absolutely dumbfounded.”
Rob Whitehead, managing director of The Serious Sweet Company, also the Stray Ferret:
“Harrogate’s Christmas market works extremely well, it is a good demonstration of local businesses.
“It all seems very unfair really, I just do not understand. Our business normally just supplies supermarkets.
“But we like to do the local Christmas market as well and we have built up quite a loyal following over the years.”
The event organisers hope to hold urgent talks with Harrogate Borough Council soon to try and save the three-day event.
Vandals seriously damage Stray cherry trees againEight cherry trees on the Stray has been vandalised over the weekend.
Some of the trees line the footpath known as Cherry Tree Walk, opposite the Kwik Fit garage, where branches have been deliberately broken or snapped off.
Vandalism to the trees has become a persistent problem with regular incidents over the past year.
In October last year, local police officer, Sgt Paul Cording tweeted about a number of trees “destroyed and killed” on York Place Stray.
Last summer there were reports of vandalism affecting young trees when local police officers were attempting to crack down on large groups congregating illegally on the Stray.
“What a sad and sorry sight to see these beautiful trees subjected to mindless vandalism once again.
Many have been planted in memory of loved ones and many for victims of the thalidomide tragedy. In every case love and consideration has gone into the planting of these trees which bring so much pleasure to so many In Harrogate and beyond.
As I said only recently when another tree was vandalised, this is utterly appalling and disgraceful behaviour. There is no polite way of describing the perpetrators of these abysmal acts. Devastating in every way and for everyone. Despicable behaviour, just despicable.”
A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said its parks team would assess the damage to the trees and remove broken branches.
Council’s new leisure company to focus on health and wellbeing
Harrogate Borough Council said the aim of its new leisure company will be to create more active, longer, and independent lives.
It has pledged that Brimhams Active, the new authority controlled company, will be more focussed on overall health and wellbeing.
Some 200 Harrogate Borough Council employees transferred over to Brimhams Active yesterday. It’ll run 11 leisure venues, including The Hydro in Harrogate, Knaresborough Pool, Ripon Leisure Centre and Nidderdale Pool and is projected to save the council £400,000 a year.
Residents can use the new website to find out more about the services provided by Brimham’s Active as well booking sessions at leisure centres and facilities across the Harrogate district.
Leisure facilities in the district are undergoing something of a transformation with not all of it going according to plan. There’s to be a £26 million investment in the Harrogate Hydro and a new leisure centre at Knaresborough, which is expected to be financed by borrowing from the government. Ripon’s new £10.2 million pool and leisure centre is due to open in November. However the project has recently been the subject of serious safety concerns after a report into a hole in the ground which appeared on the site.
Mark Tweedie, managing director of Brimhams Active, said:
“The scale of the challenge set for us is more than matched by the scale of the opportunities we have in our grasp. Launching Brimhams Active with a new strategy and investment programme will allow us to transform a conventional leisure service into a leading community focussed health and wellbeing service.
“There is clear evidence that people need to be more active to combat rising obesity levels and prevent ill health due to poor lifestyle choice.
“Our vision and strategy has some clear and achievable objectives. We will help Harrogate district residents of all ages, from all walks of life, live a healthy lifestyle and stay active for longer. We know we can’t do this alone and nor should we. We will work with partner organisations and stakeholders to develop partnerships and facilities to provide a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.”
Firefighters rescue teens from Harrogate school roof
Firefighters rescued four teenagers who had climbed onto the roof of a school in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service took a call for help at a building on Wetherby Road just after 6pm yesterday.
The group had made their way up to the roof of the school but when it came to climbing back down, the teenagers got into some difficulty.
When the crews arrived they used a ladder to get them to safety.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said after the incident:
“Crews assisted four teenagers that had climbed onto the roof of a school and then were unable to get down. Crew used a ladder.”
Ripon sporting hero Jack Laugher reaches Olympic diving semi-finals
Ripon’s history-making Olympic diver Jack Laugher, has earned his place in tomorrow’s semi-final of the individual three-metre springboard event.
He finished sixth in this morning’s preliminary competition at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, with a points tally of 445.05, raising hopes that he can add to the gold and silver medals that he won at the Rio 2016 games.
This morning’s improved performance follows last week’s disappointment when Laugher – a former student of Ripon Grammar School, who was born and bred in Littlethorpe – finished seventh in the synchronised three-metre springboard final with new partner Daniel Goodwill.
In the synchronised event, Laugher and Goodwill showed mental toughness to achieve their highest points in their sixth and last dive.
With a tariff of 3.9, it is classed as the world’s most difficult dive.
Jack Laugher in action at this year’s European Aquatics Championships where he won silver Picture: British Swimming.
The hint of better to come for Laugher in the men’s individual springboard, was realised in this morning’s preliminary competition, where he competed against 28 of the world’s elite.
This morning, the 26-year-old got off to an excellent start, with his first dive of six – carrying a tariff of 3.4, giving him an early lead.
By the half way stage, with three rounds behind him, Laugher was placed 11 on 198.90 points, with the dominant Wang Zongyuan and XIE Siyi placed first and second – the ranking the China pair finished in at the end of the preliminaries.
At the Rio games, he and then partner Chis Mears became the first GB divers to win a gold Olympic medal when a world-beating performance saw them crowned champions.
This prevented China from making a clean sweep of gold in the overall diving competition.
Six days later in the Rio Aquatics Centre, City of Leeds club member Laugher – who was taught to swim at Ripon’s Spa Baths and took up diving at the Harrogate Hydro Pool – won silver in the men’s individual three-metre springboard event.
Tomorrow, followers of Littlethorpe and Ripon’s local hero, can watch the semi-final on the BBC starting at 2am UK time. The final will be broadcast live at 7am UK time.
A total of 18 divers will take part in the semi-final and from this, 12 go on to the final.
Live: Harrogate district traffic and travelGood morning, it’s the start of another week! It’s Leah with you this morning to try help prevent any Monday blues due to any traffic and travel disruption. As usual, I’ll be bringing you all the latest traffic news.
The aim of these blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group, is to make sure your journey is as smooth as possible.
I’ll include all the latest roadworks, traffic hotspots and any delays to public transport.
If you spot anything or get stuck in a jam, give me a call on 01423 276197.
That is it from me this morning, Connor will be back with you tomorrow morning with updates every 15 minutes starting from 06.30. Have a lovely day!
Roads
The roads are starting to look busier this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Traffic is building here:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are starting to look busier this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Traffic is building here:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are starting to look busier this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Traffic is building here:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are starting to look busier this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Traffic is building here:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are starting to look busier this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Traffic is building here:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are starting to look busier this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Traffic is building here:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are starting to look busier this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Traffic is building here:
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Roads
The roads are looking clear so far this morning, today’s traffic hotspots are likely to show up a little later. Keep checking in.
Temporary traffic lights are in place here:
Trains
Buses
Stray Views: Starbeck is worse than Bradford and Birmingham
Stray Views 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. See below for details on how to contribute.
I can only say what I see. I am originally from Birmingham and still have my business there. We lived in Cottingley, near Bradford for 11 years before moving to Starbeck in 2018 to be near our daughter and grandkids.
Since living here, I don’t see any difference between Harrogate, Bradford or Birmingham. In fact, Starbeck is a lot worse. It’s certainly the worst place we have lived in for over 40 years and most of that time was around Birmingham, including Erdington, Longbridge and Bournville — where my business is.
The drug problem here is horrific (like everywhere), and almost everywhere I can smell pot smoking. Harrogate is overcrowded, and the roads into the town are ridiculously busy, as bad as the big cities, mainly due to the poor planning of the town over the decades.
I lived in Redditch in 1989-1990 and Harrogate compares to that time, but probably worse. Prospect Road area is now renowned for drugs, antisocial behaviour, supermarket trolleys everywhere daily, and broken glass and litter strewn everywhere, and if it is cleared up it’s back the same within days.
Harrogate town centre is just like any other which is struggling, and no one is doing anything about it other than seemingly making things worse with wrong decision after wrong decision. Don’t get me wrong, it is still nice, but the spiral is seemingly downwards and it needs radical common sense thinking to turn the town around.
Is Harrogate in decline? It seems it’s been in decline for a long time, and the town needs to wake up because as an outsider if this is my experience of it then the town is already in trouble.
Martin Morris, Starbeck
I read some of the comments about “is Harrogate in decline”? I recently moved to Harrogate after spending over 20 years living and working in Northampton. To me Harrogate is a lovely place to live.
It is clean, tidy, mostly well organised and has beautiful buildings and parklands. The hospitality industry is excellent. I am so happy I moved here and the locals are genuinely so friendly.
A note of caution: I went back recently to Northampton for a few days. They are one of the towns / cities trialling e-scooter hire schemes. They should be avoided at all costs until proper well informed regulations are in place and enforced. Scooter riders are a law unto themselves, riding on pavements with no helmets and multiple riders. They are then just abandoned on pavements until they’re next hired, causing blockages and generally look a mess and tacky.
I hope Harrogate resists such schemes until proper regulations are in place and enforced. You have a lovely town and i am very happy to be part of it now.
Peter Hannon, Harrogate
Any councillors expressing regret over the government’s decision to choose to have a super-council for North Yorkshire should focus instead on their own faults for backing the present arrangements, which have never worked very well anyway.
Now we have a proposed local authority, which will be even more unaccountable to the public and which will only consult on its own terms.
Experience shows that there are no savings with large unitary bodies, only more waste and incompetence in handling larger revenues. You only have to listen to the regular facts uncovered by the TaxPayers’ Alliance and similar to see what we are in for now.
Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has overruled many public concerns and is going the wrong way here too. It’s up to councillors and MPs to make him realise there are no advantages to Joe Public — only poor control of costs
John Holder, Harrogate