Claims Harrogate McColl’s worker with covid symptoms was told to work

A Harrogate McColl’s store has been forced to close after the manager allegedly told a staff member who had coronavirus symptoms to work.

Peter Lythe booked a coronavirus test after experiencing symptoms and claims he told his boss at the King Edward’s Drive store on Saturday ahead of a shift.

In text messages, seen by the Stray Ferret, Mr Lythe said told his manager that he “might have to isolate from today [until] my tests comes back.”

The manager replied: “You don’t unless you’ve had a text message.”

After being unable to find cover for his Saturday or Sunday shifts Mr Lythe reluctantly went into work.

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On Sunday evening at around 7pm, Mr Lythe received a positive coronavirus test result which told him to self-isolate for 10 days.

The next day the McColl’s store closed and put a sign in the window to say that it would re-open as soon as possible.

We approached North Yorkshire Police, Harrogate Borough Council and McColl’s with a request for comment.

The police and council decline to comment but a spokesperson for McColl’s told the Stray Ferret:

“We can confirm that our store on King Edward’s Drive, Harrogate, has been closed since Monday after a colleague tested positive for coronavirus.

“Following the store’s closure, we conducted a deep clean in line with the latest health and safety standards, and all colleagues are following isolation guidelines.”

“The health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers remains our absolute priority during his time.

“We continue to proactively follow Public Health England guidelines and keep our protocols under constant review.”

The McColl’s store is due to reopen on today after a deep clean.

Western Primary School in Harrogate gets second speed sign

Western Primary School in Harrogate has secured a second speed sign as part of its ongoing campaign to improve road safety.

Headteacher Tim Broad has spoken of his fears a child could be killed crossing the busy Cold Bath Road outside the 500-pupil school.

A long-running campaign with parents bore fruit last month when funding was secured for a vehicle-activated sign that notifies drivers of their speed in the 20 miles per hour zone.

Now a second sign means traffic in both directions will be monitored — although as the signs are classed as temporary, they need to be rotated occasionally to meet this bureaucratic requirement.

John Mann, who represents Harrogate central on North Yorkshire County Council, has funded both signs from his locality budget, which councillors are allocated to spend on local issues. Each sign costs £3,200 plus VAT.

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Mr Broad said he was “delighted” the school would receive two signs but added the campaign would go on. He said:

“This will make a huge difference to the safety of our pupils and I am grateful to Councillor Mann for the additional funding which has made this possible.

“Whilst this is a very positive step, I still have significant concerns about the sheer volume of traffic, of all shapes and sizes, which uses Cold Bath Road each day, producing significant pollution which makes its way into our classrooms.

“My long term aim is to work with residents, businesses and the local council to see what steps might be taken to address this additional concern.”

Councillor Mann did not respond to inquiries from the Stray Ferret.

Photographers proud to put Harrogate in snow on show

Two photographers won first and third place in a global photography competition by putting Harrogate in snow on show.

The website StormHour runs weekly weather photography competitions in conjunction with the Royal Meteorology Society.

The competition attracts about 1,000 entries monthly but Harrogate photographers dominated the top spots in the latest weekly awards.

The recent snowy landscape provided the inspiration for Richard Maude, who was first, and Rachel Auty, who was third.

Mr Maude went to Valley Gardens with his camera and tripod in hand waiting for the lights to illuminate the Harrogate 1571 statue.

Rachel Auty and Richard Maude.

It’s a subject he has captured a lot but he knew it would be extra special in the snow. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I have been a big fan of the statue since it arrived. It is quite unique and it works as a beacon to draw people in.

“The statue lights up at 5.30pm but not everyone knows that. So when people were in the vicinity and it lit up there was an audible ‘oooh.’

“This is also extra special because two Harrogate photos featured as winners in the competition.”

‘Harvey’s Place.’ Image subject to copyright: Rachel Auty (@marketrach)

Rachel Auty went to Hookstone Woods, which has a special place in her heart. She told the Stray Ferret:

“Over the various lockdowns I’ve gone there to find some escape and comfort. I find the woods meditative.

“The place in the photo is an opening to the water there where I always stopped on walks to let my dog have a swim.

“My dog became suddenly very ill and died in November, which left me absolutely heartbroken.

“His name was Harvey, so now I refer to the spot as ‘Harvey’s Place’ and I often go back there and think about him. It feels like something of a tribute to him.”

Starbeck couple celebrate 80 years of marriage

When Ron and Beryl Golightly married in 1941, the Second World War was raging and Winston Churchill was Prime Minister.

Eighty years on they are still together and have two daughters, six grandchildren and 11 great and great great grandchildren.

Ron and Beryl married at St Andrew’s Church in Starbeck on January 8 1941, during Ron’s active service as a member of the Grenadier Guards Armoured Division. They still live in Starbeck.

Mrs Golightly described the key to a long and happy marriage as “give and take”. She added:

“We fell in love very young and are still in love in our old age.”

Their big day didn’t go entirely to plan. Ron was forced to apply for a special marriage licence as his army leave was cancelled twice due to the war.

They were left with no best man, so a passer-by had to step in. Luckily he happened to be one of Ron’s friends.

The pair later welcomed two daughters, Margaret in 1942 and Sue in 1945.

Ron and Beryl Golightly with their daughters

Ron and Beryl with their daughters Margaret and Sue in the 1950s.

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The keen Harrogate Town fan spent his time working as an HGV driver when he wasn’t in the crowd at Wetherby Road on match days.

Ron celebrated his 100th birthday in March last year. Unfortunately, the pandemic meant the planned party had to be cancelled. Instead friends and neighbours stood in the street to sing Happy Birthday.

Ron Golightly aged 17 in uniform and on his 100th birthday.

Ron aged 17 in his uniform (left) and celebrating his 100th birthday indoors (right).

Beryl, 98, worked as a shop assistant in Harrogate and was an active volunteer for St John Ambulance. She was the first person in Harrogate to teach first aid in schools.

Beryl received a St John Ambulance award after saving a woman who had collapsed and stopped breathing in Harrogate Conference Centre.

Their celebration was marked by a card from the Queen, the pair’s fourth having already being sent cards for their 70th and 75th anniversaries and Ron’s 100th birthday.

The 80th year of marriage is traditionally marked by oak gifts. The couple received an oak heart crafted by one of their son-in-laws and a wooden bowl with a ha’penny bit dating from 1941.

American expats in Harrogate count down to Biden inauguration

American expats living in Harrogate are counting down the minutes to Joe Biden’s inauguration as US president today.

Mr Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States at 5pm UK time but due to covid the celebrations will be more subdued — not only in America but also Harrogate.

Harrogate has strong connections with the United States — many Americans have worked at nearby RAF Menwith Hill .

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said US armed forces and civil servants were apolitical and therefore no celebrations or marking of such occasions was conducted at military sites.

But some Americans will privately mark the moment when power passes from Donald Trump to Biden.

We spoke to two expats in Harrogate: one Democrat and one Republican, and both said they will be relieved to see the back of Mr Trump.

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Zahed Amanullah is a firm Democrat who proudly flies the flag for Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I am very hopeful. Being an expat, it’s hard to sit here and watch what is happening. But in 2021 there’s a lot that people can do to be involved.

“Democrats Abroad, which I am a member of, has had a huge surge in membership. It’s not just talking about politics but getting involved in phone banks and hosting conversations.

“Joe Biden has turned out to be the man of the moment. He turned out to be the kind of person to not just defeat Trump but to guide a steady ship throughout 2021 and beyond.”

Next stop: Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/oW0C4LQVBf

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 19, 2021

Harold Clemens is a Republican who could not bring himself to vote for Trump. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I hate to say this but it is embarrassing to be an American at the moment. I have been a Republican since university because of their stance on business but I did not vote for Trump.

“There are few times in your life when you remember where you are when an event happens. For me it is the Gulf War, 911 and the storming of the Capitol.

“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the right people for the job. They can mend bridges and heal the political divide in America right now.”

Young men set up Bilton group to encourage community spirit

Two young men from Bilton have set up a Facebook group for local residents to encourage community spirit and conversation.

Tyler Reeton, 19, and Ben Rothery, 21, both live in Bilton. They set up the ‘Bilton Community Group’ Facebook group in December.

It already has 1,300 members posting daily messages about local issues.

The pair felt Bilton lacked a platform focused solely on the area and hope their initiative brings back some of the spirit they say has been lost since the cancellation of the annual Bilton Gala and the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

Mr Reeton said he also hoped the group would encourage young people to come forward and play a more active part in the community.

The group’s plans include setting up a newsletter and arranging community events. Mr Reeton said:

“We wanted to bring the community together. We wanted to expand on the community spirit and give people somewhere to go during these dark times.”

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On Wednesdays and Fridays the page allows local businesses to advertise for free. The founders hope this will encourage people to support local enterprises.

Mr Reeton and Mr Rothery have also made contact with the borough and county councillors representing the Bilton ward. They hope the group can improve communications between residents and councillors.

Conspiracy theorists leave their mark in Harrogate

Coronavirus conspiracy theorists are leaving their mark in Harrogate, much to the frustration of those leading the response to the pandemic.

Vandals have scrawled ‘The Great Reset’ on hoardings surrounding buildings on Beulah Street.

‘The great reset’ is a phrase used by conspiracy theorists who believe a global elite started the pandemic to take control.

Google saw a spike in searches for the term when Joe Biden won the US election despite the baseless nature of the claims.

Conspiracy theorists adopted the idea from the World Economic Forum, which urged nations to cooperate on building back better and in a more sustainable way after covid.

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This is not the first time coronavirus conspiracy theories have struck locally.

Last week, North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which represents organisations in the county leading the fight against covid, condemned vandals who sprayed ‘LIES’ in red graffiti on ‘stay local’ signs and ripped them down.

A statement by the forum said those responsible “show contempt for people’s lives” and warned their actions would not be tolerated.

Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire’s director of public health, said:

“We would like to thank the majority of people who are sticking to the lockdown rules and respecting the measures we are putting in place to stop the spread.

“It’s very disappointing to hear such acts of vandalism are happening and that a minority of people aren’t taking seriously the great danger to life that the virus poses.”

Superintendent Mike Walker, North Yorkshire Police’s lead on the coronavirus response, said:

“I realise a minority of people may be feeling tired of seeing coronavirus messages, or feeling frustrated about being asked to stay at home.

“It’s not the way any of us would choose to live our life under normal circumstances.

“However, that does not give anyone the right to deface a sign which warns the wider community of the risk of catching a virus.”

Overnight closures planned for A1 junction 47 upgrade

A series of overnight closures, beginning this month, will affect motorists using junction 47 of the A1 (M).

A £7.7m North Yorkshire County Council project to upgrade the junction, near Flaxby, began in September and is due to continue until autumn.

Slip roads from the A1 (M) will be closed for four weeks from 8pm to 6am Mondays to Fridays, beginning on January 25.

The council, which gave the update today, said not all slip roads will be affected at the same time.

The upgrade will ease congestion, improve road safety and support the development of local towns, such as Harrogate and Knaresborough.

The council said the number of housing developments in the area also increased the need for these works to improve connections across the county.

Three of the roundabout’s four slip roads will be widened to increase capacity and traffic lights will be installed.

Following completion of this work, the upgrading of the A59/A168 slip road will necessitate a full closure of the slip road.

This could be in place for up to 16 weeks, but the council said “every effort will be made to minimise the duration of the work”.

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County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access and member for Harrogate Saltergate, said:

“At busy times, congestion is an issue at this junction, particularly for traffic coming off the southbound carriageway of the A1.

“We understand that the closures will cause inconvenience and necessitate significant diversions for some drivers. Our contractor will do everything they can to ensure closures are as short as possible.

“We apologise for the disruption and thank drivers in advance for their patience during what will be short-term inconvenience for long-term improvement to traffic flow.”

The £7.7 million project has received £2.47 million of funding from the governments’s Local Growth Fund, plus contributions from the county council, Highways England and Harrogate-based developer Forward Investment LLP.

Police arrest suspected cocaine dealers in Harrogate

Police arrested two suspected drug dealers in Harrogate on Friday.

According to North Yorkshire Police, plain clothes officers became suspicious when they saw two men travelling through the town at 5.30pm and stopped their car.

A search of the vehicle discovered what the police believe to be cocaine and cash. The officers then arrested the two men, aged 22 and 38. It is not known where the men live.

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Police then searched the suspects’ homes and seized a “large amount” of what they believe to be cocaine and a “large amount” of cash.

Officers also seized small bags, scales and a mobile phone.

Both men have been released under investigation on suspicion of possessing cocaine with intent to supply.

The police also arrested the 22-year-old on suspicion of possessing criminal property.

Harrogate hospital among 10 trusts at full critical care capacity

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust is one of 10 NHS trusts in England consistently reporting critical care beds at full capacity, according to the latest figures.

NHS data from December 31 until January 10 shows Harrogate District Hospital’s critical care ward is full.

The hospital’s base critical care capacity is seven beds but this can ‘flex’ to 10 and beyond, trust chief executive Steve Russell told the Stray Ferret in November.

It utilised 11 beds on January 6 and January 9 and although the number has fluctuated it has not dropped below eight this year.

The number of critical care beds in Harrogate is nowhere near as high as it is for many hospitals in larger towns and cities.

Nevertheless, the analysis by the BBC names it as one of 10 trusts out of 140 with consistently full critical care beds.

An NHS spokesperson told the Stray Ferret:

“Critical care services in the NHS are under unprecedented pressure, which is why we’ve increased capacity significantly to continue to provide care.

“Hospitals continue to work to increase their capacity to help patients with covid and other conditions but ultimately it is essential the public continues to follow the ‘hands, face, space’ guidance to prevent the spread of coronavirus, reduce the number of people who need hospital care and ultimately save lives.”

The total number of available critical care beds in England on January 10 was 5,503, with 4,632 occupied.

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Harrogate District Hospital reported it had 47 coronavirus patients on January 14.

The increase in coronavirus patients prompted the hospital to announce last week it had decided to postpone some non-emergency surgeries to free up space and staff.

Tim Gold, the chief operating officer at the trust, said:

“Clearly, this past week has seen a very significant increase of people needing inpatient care.

“This is placing a significant strain on services at the trust.

“In response to rising numbers we are increasing the number of beds available for patients with covid on wards and in critical care.

“We will be continuing to provide urgent and cancer care during this time.”