A ‘green’ car club has launched in Harrogate where you can hire low-emission vehicles by the hour.

Motorists sign up to a membership and can then book the cars online with as little as 30 minutes notice.

The scheme is backed by Harrogate Borough Council and the first ten hybrid cars are parked around Harrogate at HBC’s on-street parking spots including Montpellier, Commercial Street and Franklin Road.

The hourly rate for a hybrid Toyota Yaris is £5.50 an hour and the daily rate is £38.50.

Durham-based social enterprise Co-Wheels runs similar car clubs around the country. Rebecca Townend from Co-Wheels told the Stray Ferret that she hopes Harrogate’s environmentally-minded public will get on board.

Read more:

• Council receives £389,000 grant to transport key workers

• Harrogate to London rail service resumes

Co-Wheels has a special introductory offer for people in Harrogate available on its website.

She said:

“It’s the first car club there’s ever been in Harrogate so it’s about educating people so they can give it a go.”

Hybrid cars combine petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor. Electric power can be activated in urban areas to reduce air pollution.

Ms Townend said they hope to introduce fully electric models at some point in the future.

According to the Department for Transport, Harrogate currently has 42 public electric vehicle charging points, which is above the national average.

A hairdresser from Harrogate has fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning her own hair salon after her travel plans were put on hold.

Kate Borgen was due to travel to Australia and New Zealand to experience a new life. However, as lockdown struck and her travel plans were suspended, Kate decided to pursue a new venture in her home town instead.

The hairdresser, who has more than thirteen years of experience, opened Ikonik Hair on Kings Road last weekend. After opening just a few days ago, Kate is now fully booked until the middle of August.

Read more: 

• Queue forms outside Ripon barber shop 
• What to expect when you visit the hairdressers 

Kate told The Stray Ferret:

“My family thought I was crazy when I said I would open up a business. But what I figured was that the good clientele that I have had for the last twelve years will all be waiting to get their hair done… At least I can have people walking through my door as soon as I open.”

Kate Borgen outside her new salon on Kings Road.

Despite having a good first few days, Kate is aware that some people are still worried about visiting and is doing all she can to reassure clients. She said:

“A lot of my customers who are coming in at the minute haven’t seen anyone and I am one of the first people they have seen. It’s quite an honour for me, but then I know how nervous they are as well.”

The hairdresser, who has lived in Harrogate since she was born, hopes that her business might provide opportunities to other hairdressers who have lost their jobs because of coronavirus. She has already been joined by another stylist whose salon closed down when the pandemic struck, and she aims to expand the team further in the future.

The principal of Harrogate College says a government scheme to pay companies who take on new apprentices will help address the “skills gap” in Harrogate.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Danny Wild said he was “very pleased” at today’s announcement from the Chancellor — but the college is waiting for more details on how the scheme will operate.

In his summer statement Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that from August to January, any company that hires an apprentice aged 16 to 24 will receive £2,000 from the government, while those that hire apprentices over 25 will be paid £1,500.

The government will also inject £100m into further education colleges to create more places on level 2 and 3 courses.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Sunak said:

“Over 700,000 people are leaving education this year and many more are just starting out in their careers. Coronavirus has hit them hard. We cannot lose this generation.”

Harrogate College offers a number of apprenticeships in a range of sectors including hospitality, beauty and engineering.

They currently have 120 apprentices which they had hoped to double in 2021 before Covid-19 struck.

Read more:

• Student aims for dream job as astronaut

• “I was bored at home” – a Harrogate 6 year old’s verdict of being back at school

Mr Wild said the scheme will encourage employers in the district to take on apprentices.

He said:

“18 – 19-year-olds are a real vulnerable group at the moment. We’re really pleased with this announcement and it supports what Harrogate College is trying to do in the district and some of the labour market needs that Harrogate has.”

Covid-19 has brought about a new way of working for many businesses and Mr Wild hopes some of them will take advantage of the scheme to re-skill staff.

He added:

“We’re not going back to be our offices from 9-5. A lot of businesses are looking at how they operate and pulling out of office spaces. This scheme will help businesses who have employees looking to move up or change their way of working.

“Apprenticeships are for all age groups and for all organisations. This money will help all businesses re-map how they are going to operate or bring new skills to their operation.

“The positive is it will address the skills gap within all businesses in the district.”

A Costa drive-thru will open next month near Pannal after coronavirus delayed construction works.

The coffee company has not yet pinned down a specific date but will open the Leeds Road drive-thru in August.

It’s the first time Costa has announced an opening date with much of the external works already complete.

Read more

• Why some Harrogate businesses will not survive
• Andrew Jones gives cautious welcome to Stray FM news
• Leeds Bradford Airport prepares to cut more than 100 jobs

Harrogate Borough Council approved the demolition of a petrol station and shops for the development despite concerns over traffic.

A Costa Coffee spokesperson, told The Stray Ferret:

“We’re delighted to be safely opening new stores across our estate, aswell as reopening existing stores in line with government guidelines – returning the Nation’s Favourite to customers by serving them a perfectly handcrafted cup of coffee.”

Diners will be able to get 50% off their bill from Mondays to Wednesdays at certain restaurants during August, but how do people in Harrogate feel about this?

This comes as the government announced its new scheme “Eat Out To Help Out” earlier today. The scheme aims to encourage more people to eat out at restaurants as lockdown measurers ease.

Read more: 

• WATCH: What can you expect in restaurants and bars now? 
• Will the governments new scheme increase demand? 

The Stray Ferret asked the general public in Harrogate whether they will be running out to get their discounted meal.

There was a mix of emotion with some people more inclined to go out and others not.

Restaurants in the district had a mixed response to the Chancellor’s announcements today to help the hospitality sector. One restaurant owner said she was “very pleased” but others were cautious.

Rishi Sunak’s announcements included a 6 month reduction in VAT to 5%. The ‘eat out to help out’ scheme was also introduced to give diners a 50% discount on Monday and Wednesday in participating restaurants and cafes.

Restaurants were grateful for the additional help but wanted to see how the measures would be introduced. These announcements are hoped to encourage people to return to eating out.

Sarah Hinchliff, owner of Drum and Monkey restaurant in Harrogate said:

“I am very pleased with what has been announced. It’s increased my confidence. We are still going to be here but it’s been difficult, anything that helps to bring people back in is great. It’s been a difficult week but it’s bolstered how I am feeling it just going to take time for people to return. It will help us immensely.”

Nicole Mangan, general manager at Farmhouse restaurant Harrogate:

“The devil is in the detail, the reduction in VAT is fantastic. We expected that as a way to help businesses stay open. The discount is great but we’re closed Monday and Tuesday normally so it may be something we look at to see if we open. It could really help us on quieter days, £20 is essentially a main and dessert which could encourage people to come to us if they know they can get all of that for £10. We need to see more details before we get our hopes up I think.”

The Chancellor’s announcements are in an effort to encourage people to return to eating out.

Read more:

• Boroughbridge was busy with visitors as pubs and hotels reopened over the weekend.
• Top Harrogate hotelier believes Sunak’s announcements will generate demand. 

Margaret Ninness, owner of The Willow Restaurant in Pateley Bridge:

“I’ve recently changed my business to make it smaller so I no longer pay VAT, but for those still registered this would be fantastic. The ‘eat in’ scheme would be fine for me but if you’re waiting to get the money back with a tight budget it could be difficult. But I do think they’re doing their best and they are helping everyone.”

Harrogate was busy over the weekend as restaurants and pubs reopened for the first time in three months. Sandra Doherty, Chief Executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said:

“The Chancellor’s statement will be welcomed by many businesses in Harrogate, in particular those in the hospitality sector. Whilst the cut in VAT for food, accommodation and attractions, coupled with the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme are only temporary, I’m sure they will make it more attractive for businesses in the hospitality sector to reopen their doors.”

No deaths of patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital today, according to NHS figures.

It means that the death toll at the hospital remains at 81.

Yesterday saw the first coronavirus death in 16 consecutive days at the hospital and care home deaths near 100 in Harrogate.

Meanwhile, a further 42 people who tested positive for covid-19 have died in England’s hospitals.

Read more

• Harrogate hospital reports first coronavirus death in more than two weeks
• Council Leader: Some Harrogate businesses will not survive
• Harrogate care homes near 100 deaths

Of that number, six were recorded in the North East and Yorkshire.

NHS England said the patients who died were aged between 22 and 100 years old and six, between the ages of 60 and 94, had no known underlying health conditions.

It means the national total number of deaths in hospitals has increased to 28,969.

A top Harrogate hotelier has said he hopes that a cut in VAT for the sector and a discount on sit down meals will help to generate demand.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today that VAT for the sector will be cut by 15% for six months and a 50% discount for sit down meals from Monday to Wednesday for the whole of August.

The sector is worth a reported £200 million to Harrogate and employs around 9,500 people across the district.

Peter Banks, managing director of Rudding Park Hotel and Spa and chairman of Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Association, said the measures were good news for the sector which has bore the brunt of lockdown.

Read more:

• Harrogate estate agent relieved at stamp duty holiday
• Last Harrogate street to be pedestrianised to help bars
• Hospitality reopening crucial for Harrogate after tough lockdown

He said:

“It’s great news if it generates demand for us.

“The discount was very creative and I’m going to have to get my head around the announcement and come up with marketing strategies.

“So far the response has been very good to reopening our pub.”

The move comes as restaurants, bars and cafes reopened across the Harrogate District this past weekend after three months of lockdown.

The measures by Mr Sunak are the latest effort to get the sector, which saw 80% of businesses across the UK temporarily stop trading during lockdown, back up and running.

Local authorities in the Harrogate District have already moved to create more space outside bars and restaurants to increase capacity.

But industry owners have already warned that businesses will have to take advantage of the remaining summer months in order to survive a “tough winter” period.

Harrogate Borough Council leader, Richard Cooper, warned earlier this week that some businesses will not survive the impending economic downturn.

Harrogate Theatre has been on its knees in recent months but has welcomed a £395,000 grant from Arts Council England to help it survive until September.

The money is part of a £90 million fund separate to the government’s £1.5 billion arts rescue package – there are no details for that yet.

David Bown, Harrogate Theatre’s chief executive, told The Stray Ferret that he was “very grateful” for the money but he added that they still needed more support:

“This is a good amount of money and it will help us to survive to the end of September but we still need more support. We have had a fantastic response from Harrogate so far. We understand that a lot of businesses are struggling financially but we are important to the town’s economy.”

Read more

• Harrogate Theatre raises £40,000 in emergency appeal
• Sponsor a seat to save Harrogate theatre from closure
• Harrogate Theatre relief on government arts rescue package

So far more than 1,200 people have donated over £60,000 to keep Harrogate Theatre going. Donate by clicking or tapping here.

The theatre has been losing £1 million every three months since coronavirus forced it to close its doors.

Mr Bown also estimated Harrogate Theatre brings in around £25 million a year to Harrogate’s local economy which is leaving a “huge hole” the longer it remains closed.

Harrogate Theatre relies on the panto season which Mr Bown said they may have to cancel due to social distancing guidelines.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, has given a cautious welcome to assurances from Bauer Media over the future of Stray FM.

Mr Jones wrote to the owners of the local radio station following its decision to come off air and become Greatest Hits Radio.

Since then, more than 3,000 people have signed a petition set up by the local Liberal Democrats to save Stray FM with hundreds submitting stories of what the station means to them.

Read more:

• Andrew Jones MP writes to Bauer Media for assurance over the station he calls a “winning formula”.
• Thousands sign petition to save Stray FM

In response to Mr Jones, Dee Ford, group director of Bauer Radio, said:

“Our plan at this stage is to deliver local news much as it is currently delivered by Stray FM. 

In fact, we expect access to the size and scope of the wider Bauer news team will enable the local team to better cover major local stories and issues. 

“With respect to your question concerning the retention of a Harrogate-based news team, while we are yet to make any final decisions on specific staffing requirements, we expect to retain these roles.”

Ms Ford added that Greatest Hits Radio will still have locally based journalists and businesses will have “improved options” for targeting their advertising.

She said any money raised locally for its charity, Cash for Kids, would also go towards supporting local children.

Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Mr Jones said he welcomed the assurances from Ms Ford, but added that the “devil will be in the detail”.

He said:

“This is positive movement on the issues local people have been raising and, frankly, a much more optimistic position than I expected we would be in.  Any new arrangements for our local radio have huge shoes to fill and it is good to hear that several key principles about keeping it local, supporting local organisations and prioritising local advertising are understood and will be kept.

“However, we now need to see what those principles will mean in reality; how they will manifest themselves in what we hear when we tune in.”

“So, alongside local businesses and our community, I want to meet with senior management at Bauer Media to hear exactly how the promised local news will be delivered, practical examples of the community support they expect to do and the kinds of packages they will offer to local advertisers.

“It would be great too if we could retain some sort of local branding so that, if we can confirm the news content and the community and business support, the station doesn’t feel like a one-size-fits all operation even when it is still very much grounded in the community.

“In conclusion, this is progress and I am pleased certain principles about being a locally-based community-grounded radio station are confirmed.  As ever, the devil will be in the detail and that is what we need to look at next.”