Prize-winning vegetables and cakes to be sold in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

Visitors to Harrogate’s Valley Gardens on Sunday will be able to view and buy produce grown in allotments across the Harrogate district.

The Harrogate and District Allotment Federation is holding its 60th annual allotment show in the Sun Pavilion from 11am until 4pm.

Stalls displaying produce will also be open on the nearby Sun Colonnade. Entrance to all areas is free.

Harrogate district mayor Trevor Chapman will formally open what will be the federation’s 60th show at noon.

The federation, which brings together members of 16 allotment sites in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough, was due to celebrate its diamond jubilee show last year until covid forced its cancellation.

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Vegetables, plants and cakes will be judged and sold and any outstanding items donated to Resurrected Bites, the Harrogate and Knaresborough community organisation that gives food that would have been thrown out to the needy.

The event will also include a miniature bug hotel, a raffle and stalls by Harrogate Civic Society and The Woodland Trust as well as craft and coffee stalls. Musicians will play in the bandstand between 2pm and 3.30pm.

Profits from this year’s event will be donated to Ripon Museum Trust, which owns the Workhouse Museum, Prison and Police Museum and Courthouse Museum in Ripon.

More road changes around Beech Grove and Otley Road

Vehicles will be stopped from entering Otley Road from Victoria Road from September in an 18-month trial to boost active travel.

North Yorkshire County Council, which is behind the proposal, hopes the intervention will encourage walking and cycling and improve safety for cyclists using the Otley Road cycle route, which could be completed by early 2022.

A barrier will be placed at the junction, and one-way only and no entry signs will be installed.

The council wants the Victoria Road scheme to join up with other active travel schemes in the town, including the Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood, the new cycle path on Victoria Avenue, and the Harrogate Station Gateway project.

A consultation on the Beech Grove LTR closes tomorrow. The move to give car space to pedestrians and cyclists was welcomed by green groups in Harrogate but some residents have argued it pushed traffic to other roads in the town, including Victoria Road.

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Conservative county councillor Don Mackenzie and NYCC’s executive member for access said:

“This addition to the existing active travel schemes in Harrogate demonstrates our commitment encouraging sustainable transport to ease congestion and to improve air quality.

“Like the trial on Beech Grove, we look forward to receiving the views of residents during the course of this experimental order. Those views will be taken into account as part of an ongoing review of the scheme.”

Harrogate Borough Council leader, Conservative councillor Richard Cooper, added:

“Residents’ feedback must be listened to, alongside that from Beech Grove, and I look forward to seeing the effect of the proposals on traffic levels in conjunction with the new cycleway on Otley Road. That feedback needs to be taken over a sensible period once motorists have had chance to get used to the new road priorities.”

Victoria Road will continue to be accessible to residents, their visitors, deliveries, emergency vehicles, refuse collections and taxi / private hire vehicles.

A consultation with residents has started today (August 13), with a view to the trial beginning in September.

Ripon Men’s Shed opens door to new friendships

Ripon Men’s Shed opened its doors this week, bringing an enormous collaborative effort to fruition.

Following a June 2019 meeting at Community House in Allhallowgate to gauge interest in the project, the charity’s trustees – Andrew Makey, Caroline Bentham, Ed Moore and Tony Johnson – made great strides, in spite of the intervening limitations brought by covid.

The Men’s Shed movement, which addresses issues of loneliness and social isolation, has a specific focus on the older male population, but women are welcome too.

Photo of woodworking at Ripon Men's Shed

Getting to know the drill – Catherine Limbert joins in woodworking activities with fellow members

There are also Sheds in Harrogate, Starbeck and Pateley Bridge, offering weekly activities ranging from joinery to the restoration of bicycles.

Mr Makey, who is responsible for publicity for Ripon Men’s Shed, told the Stray Ferret:

“Our initial focus is on woodworking, but there are opportunities to look at other areas as well, such as computers.

“The activities, which the members will decide upon themselves, provide a focus and we hope that through their attendance, they will get to know each other and enjoy the social interaction.”

For John Hayson, a retired master plumber living in Boroughbridge, the Men’s Shed will be something to look forward to.

He said:

“I’ve been in hospital recently and after I was discharged, I was bedridden for a few weeks.

“That left me feeling hopeless, particularly as I have a disabled wife that I am caring for.

“I heard about the men’s shed and thought that attending it would be a way of rebuilding my confidence and making friends, by being with like-minded people for a few hours a week, while my wife is looked after by some lovely neighbours we have.”

Catherine Limbert is currently the only female member, but is not phased by being in an all-male environment.

Photo of Catherine Limbert

Catherine Limbert — looking forward to learning new skills and making friends at the Men’s Shed

The NHS nurse said:

“I’m happy to speak with anybody and to learn from the expertise they have in areas that I’ve never tried before, such as using an electric drill.

“I have a couple of free days a week and this is a great way of getting out of the house, learning DIY skills and meeting new people.”

While the social aspect of the shed is good for members, it is also beneficial for the people involved in delivering the sessions.

Photo of the Ripon Men's Shed premises

The Ripon Men’s Shed premises, to the rear of the New Life Church in Water Skellgate

Barry Sutton, who was formerly secretary of Selkirk Community Shed, has brought the knowledge he gained in Scotland back to his native country.

The retired forester and now community volunteer, said:

“I believe it’s important for people to stay as active as possible, use their skills and have a sense of purpose.

“Being involved in an organisation like this is a win-win situation for all involved.”

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With a chair lift provided from monies secured by Ripon’s North Yorkshire county councillors Stuart Martin and Mike Chambers, the Tuesday sessions between 10am and 4pm are being made as accessible as possible.

Anybody wishing to become a member, or get involved in other ways, such as making a donation or providing practical assistance with provision of tools that can be used in woodworking sessions, can find out more on the Ripon Men’s Shed Facebook page.

 

 

Transport leader expects Harrogate’s Beech Grove road closure to be made permanent

A public consultation on the controversial Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme in Harrogate closes on Saturday.

The sudden decision to close the road to through traffic in February provoked anger, with some cars cutting across the Stray to avoid the newly-installed bollards.

North Yorkshire County Council initially said the move would be reviewed after six months but later extended the trial to 18 months until August 2022. But the consultation ends this weekend.

Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret the intervention had successfully freed up road space for cyclists and pedestrians and there was a good chance of it becoming permanent.

Beech Grove will link up with the upcoming Otley Road cycle route, work on which is due to begin on September 6.

Cllr Mackenzie said:

“Its been successful. There’s been views in both directions but most residents have accepted it as a positive.

“I see it continuing after 18 months. It’s a part of town where we are making changes to sustainable travel. I can see the Low Traffic Neighbourhood remaining in place formally.”

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Kevin Douglas, of Harrogate District Cycle Action, said early teething problems, such as motorists driving on the Stray, had been overcome and the scheme was now working well.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“We think it’s been a good thing. It’s working well.

“The problem is they haven’t done the Otley Road cycle route yet.

“We need to keep the Low Traffic Neighbourhood. It’s a key link into town.

“There’s been a noticeable number of cyclists and pedestrians using it. That’s a good reason to keep it and it will only improve.”

‘Just pushes traffic elsewhere’

The Conservative government has set aside funding for active travel schemes that aim to reduce car usage. Over the past couple of years, many other Low Traffic Neighbourhood have cropped up across the country.

Harrogate resident Anna McIntee, co-founder of the group Harrogate Residents Association, launched a petition calling on North Yorkshire County Council to scrap the scheme. It has over 400 signatures.

She told the Stray Ferret she believed all the scheme had achieved was to push traffic elsewhere in the town.

She said:

“The general feedback from speaking to residents is that access is a lot harder for them, especially the elderly who rely on their vehicles but also delivery vehicles and emergency services.

“The traffic has been pushed onto Victoria Road which is narrower and double parked, which is dangerous, as well as the surrounding roads, two of which have schools. This is causing more standing traffic and congestion leading to an increase CO2 emissions.

“There is no denying Harrogate is congested and we all need to work together to reduce our carbon emissions by easing congestion but blocking off random roads isn’t necessarily the solution.”

If you have a view about the Beech Grove and would like to contribute to the consultation, email North Yorkshire County Council here: area6.boroughbridge@northyorks.gov.uk

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning, I hope you’re good this morning. It is Leah here with you today. The roads have been a little quieter this week in terms of traffic but numerous roadworks are adding time to people’s journeys.

This blog, brought to you by the HACS Group, brings you live travel updates until 9am.

Please give me a call on 01423 276197 or join our Facebook group ‘Harrogate district traffic and travel’ to give any updates.

9am – Full Update 

That is it from me this morning, I will be back with you on Monday morning with regular updates from 06.30. Have a lovely weekend.

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.

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.45am – Full Update 

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.

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update 

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.

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.15am – Full Update 

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.

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

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.

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7:45am – Full Update 

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.

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

7:30am – Full Update 

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.

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7:15am – Full Update 

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

 

7am – Full Update 

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

 

6.45am – Full Update 

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

6.30am – Full Update 

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

 

Watchdog report: Just one NHS dentist per 10,000 people in Harrogate district

A health watchdog has laid bare the shocking lack of provision of NHS dentists in the Harrogate district in a new report published today.

NHS Dentistry in North Yorkshire: A Review of Public Feedback 2020-2021 found there was just one NHS dentist practice per 10,000 people in the district.

The report, published by Healthwatch North Yorkshire, also revealed that no Harrogate district dental practices were currently taking on new patients.

With so few dentists and so many patients, the report said many patients faced either long waits or high bills through private treatment.

Healthwatch North Yorkshire also highlighted how confusing it can be for someone attempting to find an NHS dentist.

In most areas across the county there are dentists listed on the NHS Choices website which do not actually provide an NHS service.

Volunteers from Healthwatch North Yorkshire called all of the practices listed on the NHS website in the county to ask if they were taking on new patients.

Three of the 19 in the Harrogate district said they were not NHS practices.

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This means there are 16 NHS dentist practices in the Harrogate district for an estimated 160,500 people. None are taking on new patients.

Healthwatch North Yorkshire received 176 calls from the public in the last year about NHS dentists. The vast majority — 84% — were negative.

Some of the complaints from Harrogate residents:

Anonymous email, December 2020, Harrogate:

“I needed an emergency filling at the beginning of the first lockdown. I was offered a temporary DIY kit which worked for all of two days.

“Weeks go by. I finally got my appointment, only to find that they still can’t fix it because they can’t use all equipment without the correct PPE.

“God knows how many months later and I’ve still only got a temporary fix.”

Anonymous website feedback, April 2021, Harrogate:

“I have been trying to obtain an NHS dentist for my 10-year-old daughter, myself and my husband.

“One dentist in Knaresborough said they could add us to a list that had a three year wait for an appointment.

“Another told me that the only way that my daughter could be seen would be if myself and my husband took a private place at a cost of £75 for an initial consultation each.

“This is disgraceful and holding people ransom for their children to be able to access basic dental treatment.”

Anonymous telephone call, April 2021, Harrogate:

“Caller rang about their partner. They have a hole in their tooth. Rang 111 to arrange an emergency appointment because of the pain – it took a week and a half to get an appointment.

“The dentist charged £90, and gave antibiotics. Told them to come back two days later for further treatment, bill to be £1,600.

“I tried finding NHS dentists elsewhere, none anywhere. Partner can’t pay that as they have been unemployed for the past six months.”

What can be done to fix the problem?

Ashley Green, chief executive of Healthwatch North Yorkshire, said:

“The lack of access to and availability of NHS dentists has severely affected the health and wellbeing of people across North Yorkshire, from Scarborough to Selby, from Craven to Harrogate.

“The impact of coronavirus has only acted to exemplify a dental system already under enormous strain and challenge.

“We feel it is now time to act – and to use upcoming changes to NHS and social care reforms, specifically the emergence of integrated care systems to fuel this change.

“We hear on a weekly basis the struggles of people and families unable to be seen by an NHS dentist, but also the desire by NHS dentists to see and treat their patients more effectively.”

More bus lanes needed to boost Harrogate public transport, says council

More bus lanes and a smart ticketing system are some of the suggestions being put forward by Harrogate Borough Council to boost use of public transport.

The council’s overview and scrutiny commission will meet on Monday to discuss the ideas, which also include more frequent services in rural areas and more electric buses as part of a bid to reduce car travel.

The ideas will form part of a multi-million pound bid for government cash, which is being prepared by North Yorkshire County Council – the area’s public transport authority.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at the county council, said he believes bus services in Harrogate are among “the best in the country” but he added there was still room for improvement.

He said: 

“Where we face challenges is in our rural areas where passenger numbers have not been sufficient enough to allow bus operators to run a commercially-viable service. That is why the county council has had to step in.

“Currently, we subsidise bus services to the tune of £1.5 million a year and we are committed to keeping that figure in place for years to come.

“We also provide 127,000 bus passes to the elderly and disabled, as well as their carers, and that costs us around £7 million a year.

“But with inflation the £1.5 million buys less and less each year so we are looking at other options.

“I welcome the fact that this issue has gone to the overview and scrutiny commission – I would like to hear their views.”

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Under the government’s new bus strategy, £3 billion is to be made available to make buses across the country cheaper and easier to use.

It is hoped these targets will be met through so-called enhanced partnerships, where councils agree to infrastructure improvements in return for better services from bus companies.

The county council agreed to this in June and is now drawing up proposals through a Bus Service Improvement Plan which will be published by the end of October.

Smart ticketing

In a report to Monday’s meeting, David Stannard, strategic transport planner at Harrogate Borough Council, said the authority would like to see the introduction of a smart ticketing system where passes can be used on different modes of transport.

He said: 

“Simple and easy fare systems should be encouraged across operators and integration with other transport modes needs to be considered.

“In the Harrogate district context, this could include linking bus travel with the existing car club and rail services as well as active mode provision.”

Another suggestion was more bus lanes, which Mr Stannard said would “improve journey times and reliability – making buses more attractive than the private car”.

There is also strong support for a Harrogate park and ride scheme, which county council officials are currently looking into. There are two potential sites for this: land near Pannal Golf Club and another site near Buttersyke Bar roundabout south of the village.

£20 million bid

It comes as the county council has submitted an expression of interest bid to the government to make all of Harrogate Bus Company’s fleet zero-emissions.

If successful, the £20 million bid will fund 39 new buses and other infrastructure works.

The county council is also currently piloting its on-demand bus service, YorBus, which allows app users to book and track services on-demand in the Ripon, Bedale and Masham areas.

Since its launch in July, 726 journeys have been completed with an average customer rating of 4.9 out of 5.

Cllr Mackenzie said:

“We are delighted with the success of YorBus in the short time it has been running – the statistics speak for themselves. It has been very well-received and enhances our existing public transport network.”

New pop-up shop offers small businesses chance to trade in Harrogate

Harrogate businesses are being given the opportunity to rent a new pop-up town centre shop for £400 a week.

Property consultants Barker Proudlove have teamed up with The Victoria Centre in Harrogate for the new venture.

Businesses can rent the space for between one and six weeks and the £400 weekly cost includes rent, business rates, water, electricity and furniture.

The rentable pop-up space is in the former phone shop on Cambridge Street on the outside of The Victoria Centre, opposite Cafe Nero.

It gives businesses the chance to showcase their products and find new customers alongside household brands without incurring high long-term fixed costs.

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James White, centre manager at The Victoria Centre, said

“The pop-up shop provides an opportunity for small businesses to showcase their brands, ideas and test the market place on Cambridge Street.

“It offers a short-term commitment which makes trying new business ideas more attractive.”

Barker Proudlove said the site would be suitable for anyone from florists to bakers and artists.

Jess Swain, from Barker Proudlove, said:

“Harrogate has always been a town that we feel has an incredible support system for small businesses.

“Small businesses bring something incredibly exciting to the typical high street and it is great to see many online-based businesses move into a physical space, even if it is for a short period of time.”

The two organisations hope the space, which will be available in September, will attract a stream of independent businesses.

Police say missing girl, 14, may be in Harrogate

Police searching for a missing Halifax teenager have said she might be in Harrogate.

Officers are asking for the public’s help to trace Monika Molnar, 14, who was last seen leaving her home on Monday at about 8.40pm.

Police describe her disappearance as out of character.

A West Yorkshire Police statement today said:

“Extensive enquiries have been made since Monika was reported missing and she is known to have links to the North Yorkshire area and Harrogate in particular.

“It is believed she may have travelled to that area.”

Monika was last seen wearing black trousers and trainers and a cream coat. She was carrying a large dark blue rucksack.

Detective Inspector Simon Archer, of Calderdale District Safeguarding, said:

“It is now been nearly three days since Monika went missing and we are becoming increasingly concerned for her.

“I want to appeal directly to Monika or anyone who sees her or who has information about her to get in contact.”

If you have any information about Monika contact Calderdale CID via 101.

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End of an era: Harrogate working men’s club folds after 108 years

A Harrogate working men’s club has closed after more than 100 years.

The National Reserve Club, on East Parade near the town centre, formally dissolved with the Financial Conduct Authority at the end of July, according to recently published documents.

According to the FCA, the organisation had been registered as a working men’s club since July 11, 1913, when it was known as the Harrogate Battalion National Reserve of the West Riding of York Club.

However, a formal resolution was passed by members in October last year to dissolve the club.

The special resolution said:

“It is with a heavy heart I inform all members that the proposal to dissolve the club was a 93% unanimous decision in favour of the committee’s recommendation from October 1, 2020.”

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The club, which had 28 members at the time of closing, donated its remaining cash to charity.

Although the closure of the National Reserve Club represents the end of an era, the district is still served by working men’s clubs.

Clubs are registered with the Club and Institute Union, which represents more than 1,600 societies across the country.

According to the CIU website, nine clubs are affiliated with the union in the Harrogate district.

In Harrogate itself, punters can find clubs in Oatlands, Starbeck, High Harrogate and Bilton.

The town also has the Londesborough Club on Bower Road and Harrogate Traders Hall on Westmoreland Street.

Knaresborough has two social clubs and Boroughbridge also has its own members’ club.

Meanwhile, Ripon has a Conservative club and Pateley Bridge has its own club on the High Street but these two are not affiliated with the CIU.

Look for an in-depth history of working men’s clubs in Harrogate written by historian Malcolm Neesam this weekend on the Stray Ferret .