Harrogate Fashion Week is back this summer

Harrogate Fashion Week is back in the diary as its organisers have confirmed dates for summer 2021.

The event, which usually takes place twice a year, was last held in January 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic but is set to welcome guests on August 1 and 2.

Event director Wendy Adams said:

“We are delighted to confirm that Harrogate Fashion Week will be going ahead this August after such a disappointing 2020 and we are looking to ensure the event celebrates the endurance of the fashion industry.”

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The fashion week’s fifth edition will be held at the Harrogate Convention Centre, which was transformed into a 500-bed NHS Nightgale Hospital during 2020 but was not used for any covid patients.

The hospital facilities were dismantled earlier this month.

Although the summer show has previously had a July date, the organisers have chosen August to give the centre time to be fully ready for visitors.

Marble, Pomodoro, John Charles and Lily & Me are among the womenswear brands booked to attend, along with footwear labels Caprice, Legero and Lotus.

Sarah Moody, the show’s director, who is based in Harrogate said:

“It’s expected to be a busy selling season and many brands have already reserved their stands in the excitement of getting back to face-to-face selling.

“We have had more special occasion and promwear inquiries than ever before, so definitely see a growth in this area.”

 

Harrogate MP backs outdoor dining on the Stray campaign

Harrogate and Knaresborough’s MP has thrown his weight behind a campaign for outdoor dining to return to the Stray.

Andrew Jones MP met Sharon and Simon Colgan, owners of the Blues Bar and The Empress, as well Trish Campbell, bar manager at The Empress, today.

While Mr Jones refused to speak to the Stray Ferret during or after the meeting, the bar owners said that he supported their campaign.

Harrogate Borough Council recently told the Blues Bar, The Empress and Fashion House Bistro that they cannot use tables and chairs on the Stray this year.

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The council did approve the measure last year but said after consulting with land owners the Duchy of Lancaster that it “would not be appropriate at this stage.”

Part of the reason the council gave was that it could “potentially inhibit the open access and enjoyment for all.”

Simon Colgan, co owner of The Empress and Blues Bar, told the Stray Ferret after his meeting with Mr Jones:

“Mr Jones seemed dumbfounded that it wasn’t rolling out again.

“He told us he would look into the council’s response, consult the Duchy of Lancaster and its chancellor Michael Gove.

“That is very positive isn’t it? It is great he did not dismiss us. We just want exactly the same as we had last year, there’s no reason not to do it again.

“We did press him and said time was of the essence, we do not want to miss out on this sun. When you go into town you can see there’s an appetite for it.”

Fewston reservoir fly tipper ‘spoils it for everyone’

A fly tipper has dumped several bags of rubbish near Fewston reservoir as more people head out to enjoy the sun and easing of lockdown.

The rubbish was left on Meagill Lane between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. It is unclear who is responsible.

Harrogate Borough Council, which cleans up after fly tippers, is aware and should be sending out a team soon.

Graham Hebblethwaite, chairman of Washburn Parish Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“It is one of the worst fly tips I have seen in the area. We normally get around three or four bags worth, but this is a lot more.

“There are plenty of ways you can get rid of your rubbish, there’s a recycling centre not too far away so why dump it here?

“When people leave so much rubbish it spoils it for everyone. We try our best to keep the area clean, but people should clean up after themselves.”

Washburn Parish Council has organised a litter pick at 10am tomorrow, but will mainly focus on rubbish thrown out of car windows and dropped on walks.

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Council set to retain single-sex sessions at Turkish Baths

Harrogate Borough Council is set to retain single-sex sessions at the town’s Turkish Baths, but make swimwear compulsory.

Last year, the council considered scrapping single-sex sessions in order to reflect “equality and balance”.

The authority launched a consultation into the matter, which ran while the baths were closed.

In a report due before the Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Sport next week, council officers have recommended two weekly single-sex sessions for males and females under a new timetable.

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Currently, it offers three single-sex sessions for women and one for men.

The council has also recommended making it a requirement to wear suitable swimwear for these sessions.

The authority said the changes would promote inclusivity, enable male and female attendants to work at both sessions and help it comply with the Equality Act 2010.

In the report, it said:

“The proposed timetable changes will promote further inclusivity.

“Making the wearing of swimwear compulsory at all single-sex sessions will also promote inclusivity, allow the Council to meet its equality obligations under the Equality Act and alleviate staffing issues during single-sex sessions.”

The consultation received 325 responses – 89% of which said they booked single-sex sessions at the baths, while 90% believed a move to a fully mixed timetable would not allow for equal access to all customers.

The council said the new timetable for sessions would come into force when the Turkish Baths fully reopened.

It added that the timetable would be reviewed every six months to ensure it had “no negative commercial impact”.

Harrogate Town allowed capacity crowds once covid restrictions end

Harrogate Town has been awarded a general safety certificate to hold full capacity games next season once all coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

The club completed works to expand its 5,000-seater EnviroVent Stadium following promotion to League Two last year, but even without any Covid disruptions this many spectators could not have been allowed in until now.

This is because any Football League or Premier League ground in England with a capacity more than 5,000 must be granted permission by their local authority.

While coronavirus restrictions have kept Town’s gates closed since January, the club’s managing director Garry Plant was awarded a general safety certificate by North Yorkshire County Council on Tuesday.

It marks a major boost for fans as it means the club could hold full capacity games during the 2021/22 season if the Government’s roadmap out lockdown stays on schedule.

Mr Plant told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:

“The best day is match day and we haven’t had a single one with fans this year so we can’t wait to see the stands and terraces full once again.

“We have missed our supporters so much. It is the Bradford City game this weekend – can you imagine how much of a great atmosphere that would have been?

“The council have been extremely supportive of our plans – especially the safety advisory team – and we would like to give them a big thanks.”

Under the government’s roadmap, from May 17 larger outdoor sports venues will be allowed to operate at up to 25% capacity with a maximum of 10,000 spectators.

Restrictions will be eased further from June 21, but with all adults not expected to be offered at least their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine until the end of July, full venues at major sports events are understood to be unlikely until late summer at the earliest.

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With Harrogate Town’s season set to end just nine days before May 17, it means supporters will have to wait until August before they can return to the EnviroVent Stadium.

Restrictions mean players will be greeted by empty seats again when they walk out at Wembley to contest the 2019/20 FA Trophy final against Concord Rangers on May 3.

The club’s historic win over Notts County to secure promotion to league football was also played behind closed doors at the London stadium.

Elizabeth Fitzgerald, trading standards officer at the county council, said the club’s “massive success” in reaching League Two should be celebrated not just in Harrogate, but across North Yorkshire.

She said:

“They have done marvellously and we want to help them as much as we can with guidance and advice to get things back under way with people back through the doors once again.”

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back to the traffic and travel service. It’s Leah here with you this morning, with updates every 15 minutes as more people get onto the roads.

The live blogs, brought to you by The HACS Groups, aim to keep the Harrogate district moving.

Make sure to keep in touch via social media or email us on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

9am – Full Update

That is it from me today. I will be back bringing you updates every 15 minutes from 6.30 am on Monday.

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8.45am – Full Update

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8.30am – Full Update

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8.15am – Full Update

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8am – Full Update

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7:45am – Full Update

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7:30am – Full Update

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7:15am – Full Update

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7am – Full Update

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6.45am – Full Update

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The roads are looking clear so far this morning, no traffic hotspots yet.

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6.30am – Full Update

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The roads are looking clear so far this morning, no traffic hotspots yet.

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Harrogate soft play centre to close after five years

The owners of a soft play centre in Harrogate have revealed that it is closing after five years in business.

Winkies Harrogate, based in Starbeck, has only been able to open for a couple of months over the last year.

It has been closed since January under the third national lockdown and will not be reopening with other soft play centres on May 17.

With the doors shut for so many months, the owners of the small independent business said Winkies is no longer viable.

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A statement by Zoe and Victoria, who run Winkies Harrogate, said:

“To all of our lovely customers, one year ago we never envisaged what the year ahead held for us.

“It is with much sadness that we have to let you all know Winkies is no longer able to open its doors.

“We have loved meeting so many families who have enjoyed not only the soft play centre but have attended our wonderful classes and birthday parties.

“We have tried hard to keep winkies going but quite simply the business is no longer viable.”

The pair also thanked customers and added they will “miss the Winkies community very much”.

When Winkies shared the news on its Facebook page it received more than 200 comments from people sharing memories of the play centre.

It is the second children’s play centre to close recently. Goose, which was based on Hornbeam Park, went into liquidation in August last year.

Harrogate farmers’ market enjoys strong trade on today’s return

Traders at Harrogate Farmers’ Market reported good sales today when they returned after the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The market was held on Cambridge Street for the first time since January and featured 25 stalls selling everything from a hog roast to woollen blankets to vegetables.

The market, organised by Yorkshire Farmers’ Markets, is normally held on the second Thursday of each month but it moved this month to coincide with the reopening of shops.

The town centre was busy today, with people enjoying a walk around the shops and a coffee in the sun.

Ryan Jepson, who pitched his cheese stall at the top of the street, said sales were comparable with pre-covid levels:

“Today’s back to where it was before really. It’s good to be back here. Of course, the more markets that reopen the better for us.

“The town looks different with places closed now. As cafes open indoors it’ll get busier again. It’s interesting to see how different people are shopping, using card over cash, keeping away from the stall etc.”

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One of the outdoor market’s longest-serving traders, John Piercy, of Piercy’s Pork was also pleased with how it went:

“Yes it’s been really good today, a lot of our regulars are back. Every market we get fresh customers and I hope they all cotton on to our product and come back. People are wanting to support local now. It’s nice to be back out again.”

Fran Cawthorne, from Yorkshire Blankets, was happy to be outside again after moving to online sales over lockdown:

“It’s been quite busy — we’ve done alright, it’s been a good day. It’s nice to be back out and chatting to customers again.

“We love coming to Harrogate, people have been buying a lot of blankets from us today for when people are sat outside in beer gardens.”

No vaccinations at Great Yorkshire Showground for 19 days this summer

During 19 days this summer there will be no covid vaccinations at the Great Yorkshire Showground due to other events taking place at the site including the Great Yorkshire Show.

The Yorkshire Event Centre at the showground has been the district’s mass vaccination site since the inoculation programme began in December. The NHS has an agreement to use the site until August 13.

Yorkshire Agricultural Society revealed last week that the GYS will take place over four days from July 13 to 16.

A spokesperson for the NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said they will schedule vaccine delivery and appointments around the dates when the site is unavailable.

They added other sites such as the former Lidl in Knaresborough and Ripon Racecourse will still be available on these days, supply permitting.

A spokesperson said:

“We have a lease agreement in place for the Yorkshire Events Centre which retains the site until August 13. During this time we will schedule clinics at the YEC in line with available vaccine supply and demand as we have done so far in the programme and these will not necessarily take place every day, particularly as demand reduces as we move through the vaccination cohorts.

“Up until then there will be 19 days on which we will be unable to use the Hall for vaccination clinics and we will schedule our vaccine delivery and appointments to accommodate those dates. However other sites such as the Knaresborough Pharmacy site and Ripon Racecourse will still be available on these days (supply permitting) so there will continue to be flexibility of vaccine delivery across the Harrogate area.”

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Heather Parry, managing director of the Yorkshire Event Centre, added:

“We are very proud to serve the NHS during the pandemic by providing a safe and secure space for the vaccination centre at Yorkshire Event Centre.

“Our agreement with the NHS has always been based on the understanding that when it was safe for events to resume at the Showground, we would work together to find the best solution and I’m delighted that we have been able to do so.

“I’m full of admiration for the NHS staff whose efforts mean thousands of local people have benefited from the vaccination programme here so far.”

Transdev set to buy Yorkshire Tiger bus service

Transdev has agreed to buy the West Yorkshire-based Yorkshire Tiger bus service from Arriva UK Bus.

The French company, which operates the 36 route between Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds, announced the preliminary agreement today. It did not return inquiries from the Stray Ferret about the cost of the deal.

The sale is expected to be completed in summer.

A Transdev statement said  Arriva’s 163 employees will transfer to Transdev Blazefield, which employs over 1,200 people at eight operating centres across the north of England.

Local bus services would not be affected, it added.

The sale includes Arriva’s two depots at Elland, near Halifax and Waterloo in Huddersfield, as well as 61 buses.

As part of the deal, Arriva’s 163 drivers, engineers, cleaning and support staff at the two depots will join Transdev, which employs 1,200 people at eight centres in the region, including Starbeck.

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Transdev Blazefield chief executive Alex Hornby said:

“We are thrilled to be growing our team and our company, and are really looking forward to serving this part of West Yorkshire for the first time.

“This demonstrates Transdev’s long-term commitment to develop our business here in the north of England, building on a clear track record of success.

“At this critical time for the bus, we believe it can play a key role in enabling our economic recovery, both locally and nationally.

Yorkshire Tiger’s day and season passes are expected to be integrated into Transdev’s range of travel tickets, and travel company West Yorkshire Metro’s range of tickets will continue to be valid on all its services.

The sole exceptions to the deal are the 231 and 232 Huddersfield to Wakefield routes, which are planned to remain within Arriva as part of its Yorkshire business.