Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 932 of 1035

Friends conquer the hills for Ripley charity

Karen Evans’ coast to coast cycle ride had its ups and its downs, but ended in triumph with £2,500 raised for charity.

Over three days, she and friend Judith Nickols rode from Whitehaven to Tynemouth in weather conditions ranging from bright sunshine to heavy rain and with the occasional hailstorm along the hilly route.

Karen told the Stray Ferret:

“The first day’s weather was gorgeous and we thought it was a breeze, but the second and third days were very challenging and I’m just pleased that we got through it because of the training we had put in.”

In addition to the hilly terrain, road closures and diversions added 17 miles to a journey that should have been 137 miles.

Home and dry – Karen Evans

There were other mishaps – as Karen pointed out:

“Judith and I had planned to have lunch at the top of the Hartside Pass but when we got there we discovered that the cafe we were planning to go to had burnt down.

“However, our spirits were lifted when we discovered that friends from All Saints, John and Jane Buckley and Joy and Nevill Rice, had waited there for hours in the pouring rain to cheer us on and give us a slice of cake.”

Karen, who lives near Fountains Abbey, announced her charity challenge after the Ripley Scarecrow Pigfest, which she has organised for 20 years, had to be cancelled.

The annual August Bank Holiday festival has, in previous years, raised money for the All Saints Ripley fabric fund and she was determined that the loss of the fundraiser would not prevent a donation being made this year.

In addition to the money raised for the village church where she worships, a donation will also be made to the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at Harrogate District Hospital.

For Karen and Judith, there was a little help on the steeper sections of their fundraising journey, as they had electrically-powered bicycles, though on occasions the batteries were perilously close to running out of charge.

MPs WATCH: Care home visits, the Brexit bill and a visit to Ripon Cathedral

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

September saw MPs return to Parliament after the summer recess. Several important votes took place on issues such as Brexit, the military, and fire safety in high-rise buildings.

We asked Harrogate & Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, Ripon MP Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular, but we did not receive a response from any of them.

So here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough here is what we found on Mr Jones:

On September 15 and September 29, Mr Jones voted in line with the government on the Internal Markets Bill. The legislation sparked controversy after Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, said it would break international law in a “specific and limited way”.
On his website, Mr Jones called on local politicians at Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council to “engage constructively” in the issue of devolution and “think beyond” party political rivalries. He called devolution a “moment of opportunity”.
The MP voted for the Overseas Operations Bill on September 23. The bill states that prosecutions against overseas military personnel should only take place “in exceptional circumstances”. The former chief of the defence staff, field marshal Lord Guthrie, co-signed a letter to Downing Street that called the bill “disturbing” and said it could lead to immunity from torture prosecutions.
Mr Jones published information on his website that in August 136,000 meals were sold in Harrogate and Knaresborough through the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
In the House of Commons on September 28, Mr Jones suggested that family visits at care homes could take place behind glass.
At Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy questions on September 29, Mr Jones raised concerns about Harrogate’s hospitality sector to business secretary Alok Sharma.
The MP hailed Harrogate Town’s start to life as an EFL club after they beat Southend United 4-0. He wrote on his website: “What a perfect start to the league battle – and away from home too!”
The parents’ group Ready Steady Mums made contact with Mr Jones who reassured them that they can resume their weekly walks after the government’s rule of six came into place.
On September 7, Mr Jones voted down recommendations from the first phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry as part of the Fire Safety Bill. It would have forced building owners to share information with fire services about building design and materials.
Mr Jones did not send a single tweet in September.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Ripon here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Mr Smith abstained on both Internal Markets Bill votes. He is a former Northern Ireland secretary and opponents of the bill said it could lead to a trade border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
Mr Smith tweeted 12 times in September.
On September 28 he tweeted that he has spoken to North Yorkshire County Council’s director of health and adult services Richard Webb about how safe visiting can begin again in care homes. The council has asked all care homes in the county to restrict visitors during October.
The MP visited Ripon Cathedral to view their £6m new design plans which include new toilets, a cafe and the creation of rehearsal space for Ripon Cathedral Choir.
On September 25, Mr Smith was a keynote speaker at The Centre for Cross Border Studies annual conference, which was held online. The organisation aims to “foster practical co-operation” across the Irish border.
Mr Smith tweeted that he had received an update from Harrogate Borough Council about their plans for “local place-making, transport and sustainability” in new developments in Ripon.
The MP voted for the Overseas Operations Bill on September 23.
On September 9, he voted against replacing the coronavirus support schemes for employees and the self-employed with more targeted income support.

Nigel Adams, MP For Selby and Ainsty

In rural south Harrogate here is what we found on Mr Adams.

On September 23, the minister for Asia met with the Cambodia ambassador Kan Pharidh to discuss how the two countries can work together on trade.
On September 14, he met the ambassador for South Korea, Enna Park, where they discussed collaborating on a coronavirus vaccine.
On Twitter, Mr Adams praised MPs for backing the government’s internal Markets Bill. He tweeted: “Not only have they backed the bill, they’ve backed #Brexit, backed @BorisJohnson and honoured the result of the #EUReferendum and #GE2019″.
Mr Adams hit out at environmental group Extinction Rebellion after they blocked vehicles from leaving a printing press in London, causing disruption to several national newspapers. He called the group “socialist anarchists masquerading as well-meaning hippies”.
On September 3, he met with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Rights of the Rohingya, which works to support the plight of the persecuted Rohingya population in Myanmar.
Mr Adams’ website was updated for the first time since April with two updates about Selby.
He tweeted 13 times in September.

Care home visits in district may be allowed after October

North Yorkshire County Council may allow visits to care homes after this month following a backlash from upset relatives.

Richard Webb, director of health and adult services at the council, wrote to care homes this week advising them to halt routine visits throughout October.

This prompted some members of the public, as well as Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, to say visits should be allowed to go ahead.

At a press briefing yesterday, Mr Webb said the council would set up a working group with relatives and care home providers to investigate ways that allowed people to visit homes after this month.

One possible solution, he said, would be to allow a nominated person to visit.

But Mr Webb added he “could not make any promises”.

One Harrogate resident, whose 99-year-old mother has dementia and is in a local home, contacted the Stray Ferret to say care home residents deserved better. She said:

“It is sheer cruelty and tragic to not address this problem and leave our loved ones to live out their last days alone and severely depressed, as is happening now.

“What we desperately need is adequate testing, which would enable one key visitor, who should be tested and treated in the same way as staff, to be allocated with unlimited access to each resident.’

The resident was critical of Mr Jones’ suggestion to Parliament that visits could take place behind glass screens or windows.

She said it would add to the confusion and frustration felt by residents with dementia, adding:

“It would most likely seriously distress them and add to the cruelty of this situation.”

16 more coronavirus cases in Harrogate district

16 further cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate District, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The daily increase takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 1,037.

The district saw its highest daily increase for three weeks yesterday as 19 cases were confirmed.

Meanwhile, the weekly rate for infections county-wide up to September 27 stands at 52.6 per 100,000 population according to NHS figures.

Health bosses at Harrogate District Hospital said yesterday that they were prepared for a second wave of coronavirus this winter.

Hospital officials have set aside 100 beds for infected patients. They added that the hospital currently has four coronavirus patients.

It comes as the first death of a patient who tested positive for covid for two months was reported at the hospital on Tuesday.

Harcourt Drive death ‘not suspicious’, say police

North Yorkshire Police has said it is not treating the death of a man on Harcourt Drive in Harrogate last month as suspicious.

Multiple police cars and ambulances attended the incident at around 7.15pm on Sunday, August 23.

One man was certified dead at the scene and another taken to hospital.

Police subsequently cautioned a 42-year-old man for distributing “distressing images” of the incident on social media.

Now officers have confirmed they are not treating the death as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner’s office.

Detective inspector Steve Menzies, senior investigating officer at North Yorkshire Police, said:

“The overarching circumstances will be for HM Coroner to rule upon but this is a very sad incident where the deceased has inflicted injuries on himself and caused injury to his relative who tried to help him.

“Despite valiant attempts by neighbours, police and ambulance staff to administer first aid in a traumatic situation, his injury proved to be fatal.

“This was an isolated and tragic incident and North Yorkshire Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with it. Thankfully the injured man is making a good recovery. The full circumstances will be heard at the inquest.

“Subsequently a Harrogate man was issued with a police caution for attending the area and posting live images of the incident on social media as first aiders were desperately trying to save the man’s life. Such actions show no compassion or thought for those involved, are distressing for extended friends and family and will not be tolerated.”

James Street pedestrianisation looms amid ’empty shops’ warning

Businesses debated pedestrianising a key Harrogate street with North Yorkshire County Council for the first time last night.

The plans to stop traffic from entering James Street could still come into force as early as October. It is expected to last up to six months but there is still no set date for the start.

Some raised concerns at the meeting about the look of traffic cones at the meeting last night. However, the council has mooted tree planters as a replacement.

The County Council met virtually with business managers, landlords, Harrogate BID and the Harrogate Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

Bob Kennedy, of Porters and G23, told the Stray Ferret that the meeting was “courteous” but still has reservations:

“There is a debate to be had about pedestrianisation in the long term. But I do not think it is the right time to hold a trial run. Christmas will be a crucial time for many businesses and this plan to temporarily pedestrianise James Street may be detrimental.”

David Steca, of Steca Barbering, posted a picture of James Street with barely a shopper in sight:

“The reputed busiest shopping street in the affluent up market town of Harrogate at 10am on Wednesday. Please now take the cones away they help nothing. People are not stupid they can distance. See the full picture or more vacant shops.”

The Stray Ferret approached North Yorkshire County Council for a comment. We received no reply by the time of publication.

Harrogate district MPs vote as Brexit bill clears Commons

Two Harrogate district MPs voted in favour of the government’s Internal Market Bill yesterday, helping to take it to the next legislative stage.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, and Nigel Adams, Selby and Ainsty MP, voted in line with the government but Julian Smith, Skipton and Ripon MP, abstained.

The legislation paves the way for the UK to override parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. MPs voted it through at the third reading last night by 340 to 256.

The Bill sparked controversy after Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, said it would break international law in a “specific and limited way”.

The Stray Ferret contacted Mr Jones, Mr Adams and Mr Smith asking why they voted the way they did. None had replied by the time of publication.

The Bill will now undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords.

What is the Internal Market Bill?

After the UK left the EU on January 31 it signed the Withdrawal Agreement.

The agreement included a Northern Ireland Protocol, which was designed to prevent a hard border returning to the island of Ireland.

The Internal Market Bill attempts to override parts of the agreement. It would allow the UK to modify or reinterpret state aid rules if the two sides do not strike a future trade deal.

Police charge Harrogate woman, 72, after major cannabis find

Police have charged a 72-year-old Harrogate woman with producing cannabis after a raid in the town at the weekend.

North Yorkshire Police attended reports of a disturbance on Saturday evening and found “cannabis littering the entire street” on Alexandra Road.

The officers investigated a house on the road and discovered a “large quantity” of cannabis plants inside.

Not long after the police also discovered two other cannabis grows on Somerset Road and on Woodlands Road.

1/3 *Last Night*
Attended a street in #Harrogate following the report of some vehicle disorder. At scene we have found a large quantity of cannabis littering the entire street. A nearby property was identified as insecure and evidence of a substantial Cannabis grow found.. pic.twitter.com/AVmpFtgw83

— Just Dave! (@PC_769) September 27, 2020

Six other suspects travelling in two vehicles left the scene of the original incident on Alexandra Road but Hertfordshire Police intercepted and arrested them.

The six people were charged with possession of class B drugs with intent to supply. They were sent to court, which remanded them in custody.

A man in his 20s was also arrested on Monday and has since been released on bail, taking the total number of arrests up to eight.

The 72-year-old woman was charged with three counts of cannabis production and awaits a trial at crown court on bail.

Harrogate hospital prepares for winter with 100 coronavirus beds

Harrogate District Hospital has prepared for a second wave of coronavirus this winter by setting aside up to 100 beds for infected patients.

The annual members meeting of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust last night heard the hospital currently has four coronavirus patients.

This is far below the 60 patients at the peak of the pandemic but the trend is heading back in the wrong direction – there were no coronavirus patients at the end of July.

Rising coronavirus cases locally – yesterday’s figure of 19 new infections was the highest daily increase for three weeks – has fuelled fears of a second peak.

But trust bosses are more confident of coping this time.

Tim Gold, chief operating officer at the trust, said at last night’s meeting:

“We are a long way short of the first peak. We know for winter we will need extra beds. We have a really clear plan to open up wards and create up to 100 coronavirus beds. The most important thing is that we know so much more about managing coronavirus than we did.”

Dr Jackie Andrews, medical director at the trust, added it prepared over summer for the “inevitable” next wave of the pandemic:

“It feels very different this time. That is not to say we are being complacent but with the first wave there will be a lot of confusion and chaos. We needed to learn on the go. But the NHS now has proven treatments which can manage the effect of coronavirus on the body.”

The meeting also revealed the trust is currently spending £1 million a month on staffing, testing and PPE to combat coronavirus.

The government has covered this cost retrospectively and has set aside £24 million for the region from October.

Missing Harrogate cat on lockdown adventure 20 miles from home

A cat from Harrogate has been found after four months in Poppleton, more than 20 miles from his home. One theory is that he caught the train..

Jasper, the black cat, lived with his owners in Harrogate, who adopted him from Harrogate Cat Rescue.

He was last seen on May 13 but was found again this weekend when his owners got a call from a York vet.

Jasper had found his way to Poppleton and was taken in by a family in June. The family mistook him for a pregnant female and took him to the vets this weekend.

When his microchip was scanned they learnt he had been reported missing.

His owner, Anna Whitehouse, said:

“It still feels so surreal having him back. It was heartbreaking at first when he didn’t remember me or his name. We never used to let him out at night but over lockdown it was so much quieter so we did.

When the Minster Vets in York rang us over the weekend it was amazing, we’d spoke the week before about stopping his insurance because he’d been gone so long.If only we had a camera to know what he’d been doing.”

Jasper had been missing for 19 weeks in total. His owners had searched for him for weeks during lockdown and put appeals on local social media groups. Only to find out he never was in Harrogate.

From being in his owner’s art studio to lounging in the sun in Poppleton, Jasper’s lockdown adventure will remain a mystery.

While many of us were having an uneventful lockdown. Jasper had gone on a summer getaway to Poppleton.

Phil Brierley found the cat in June and he became a part of his family. He said:

“He kept hanging round our door and he looked desperate and hungry – he really was on his last legs. I am a die hard Leeds football fan, so even though we thought he was a girl, we called him Bielsa. He was very skittish at the beginning but after a few weeks he was happy to come sit with you.

We were disappointed to send him back because he’s got a great character but I was delighted he had a family that had been missing him.”

Mr Brierley is certain Jasper jumped on the train near his home by Hornbeam Park station and “popped off at Poppleton”.

Neither family will ever know what happened to Jasper on his travels but both are happy he’s safe and sound, once again.

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What is the Internal Market Bill?

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