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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Traffic is starting to build slowly this morning, no traffic hotspots yet.

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7:15am – Full Update

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

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7am – Full Update

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

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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.

Harrogate empty shops to reveal town’s links to famous faces

Empty shops in Harrogate are to get a new lease of life by telling the story of the town’s links to famous people.

Harrogate Business Improvement District , which aims to drive footfall into the town centre, has collaborated with Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam on the project.

It has already installed the first window vinyl in the former Hotter store on Cambridge Street.

The window features Sir Edward Elgar, The Beatles and Louis Armstrong, who all have connections with Harrogate.

The Beatles played at the Royal Hall in March 1963 and Louis Armstrong performed at the same venue in October 1933.

Elgar was a regular visitor to the town. He would often stay at the Crown Hotel and the Majestic Hotel. A walk in Valley Gardens is named after him.

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Over the coming weeks Debenhams on Parliament Street and Swarovski on James Street will also be transformed.

These will tell the stories of Harrogate’s connections to Agatha Christie, Sir Winston Churchill and Charles Dickens.

Creative agency The Lift Agency, and signs and graphic experts De-signs are also involved in the project.

Harrogate BID chair Sara Ferguson said:

“I think the first window looks absolutely fantastic, and will help instil pride in our town, and also give people another reason to visit.

“There is nothing worse than seeing empty shops and what we are doing is helping to create a town that is a fabulous place to shop, eat and drink, one that is interesting, and one that is proud of its history and heritage.

“I would like to thank Malcolm Neesam for penning the words, and our two other partners in this project, De-signs, and The Lift Agency for creating these superb vinyl graphics.”

Coughed at and facing aggression – being a Harrogate traffic cop during covid

After a year of intense challenges, we spent a morning with the Harrogate traffic cops to learn about the year they’ve had and to get a glimpse of the job as we re-emerge from lockdown.

Whilst patrolling the town’s roads in an unmarked car with TC Tim Healey, he told the Stray Ferret that changing covid rules has meant catching offenders has been like “trying to catch water in a sieve instead of a bucket” and why he doesn’t mind being unpopular.

Covid challenges

The three covid lockdowns have presented multiple new challenges to the police and the government’s guidelines for travel have frequently been tested.

TC Healey said they’ve received many excuses for people on the road when they shouldn’t have been.

He said:

“Travelling for mental health reasons can be the first thing that someone throws at you.”

The officer said the government’s guidelines could have been clearer, which has resulted in people making up the rules to fit what they want to do.

He added that officers have been “pulled in many different directions” due to the changing rules.

“Sometimes it’s been like trying to catch water in a sieve instead of a bucket.”

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Covid has also meant police officers have had to deal with some unsavoury and potentially dangerous incidents in the line of duty.

In Ripon earlier this year, TC Healey stopped a car suspected of drink driving. The passenger wasn’t happy and decided to blow and cough in his face saying “coronavirus” over and over.

Another new phenomenon due to covid was neighbours reporting on other neighbours for suspected covid breaches, which TC Healey said he did not agree with.

Criminality

As the roads in Harrogate become busier as lockdown restrictions ease, we are out with TC Healey as part of Operation Boundary, a campaign to clamp down on criminality and traffic offences.

Whilst observing traffic on Skipton Road, TC Healey spotted a man using his mobile phone whilst driving a white van.

After being pulled over, the man was rude and aggressive to the officer and said, “Do you also want to know what my mum had for breakfast? Why so many questions?”

TC Healey said they regularly face hostility from the public for doing their job.

He added:

“They say you should be catching real criminals like rapists and sex offenders. Or they say have you got nothing better to do than pick on decent people going about their life?

“Were you bullied at school is another classic.

“But road policing is important and until you’ve dealt with a serious collision you look at what we do in different light.”

Criticism

NYP says Operation Boundary has been successful in targeting road offences across the county.

But the force recently received criticism from some residents in Harrogate for the speeds its police cars travel from Harrogate Police Station off Otley Road into the town during lockdown.

In February, a Harrogate police officer who drove through a red light in Harrogate at 50 miles per hour and then crashed into a car carrying two elderly women was found guilty of dangerous driving.

On the balance between driving fast through our urban areas and catching criminals, TC Healey said officers are trained to drive at high speeds as the extra few seconds can make all the difference.

He added:

“It’s not about going fast and flying around. You’re a professional and take your job seriously. You don’t want to put anybody’s life at risk.”

Spring into life

As our three hours in the police car draws to a close without much incident, a message comes through the radio that sees TC Healey’s expensive, high-powered vehicle spring into life.

The blue lights come on and its sirens ring out down Skipton Road as he attempts to catch a vehicle failing to stop reported by other officers near Ripon.

We approach the Little Wonder roundabout at a high speed and my adrenaline threatens to go into overdrive, but TC Healey’s colleagues radio to say the culprits have been apprehended.

The two men are arrested and held in custody on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and the driver on suspicion of drug driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop for police — which to TC Healey means a job well done, even if he wasn’t the one to catch them.

Calls to refuse plans to build 95 homes at Granby Farm in Harrogate

A residents’ group has called on councillors to refuse plans to build 95 homes at Granby Farm in Harrogate and create a ‘green legacy’ instead.

Redrow Homes and Richborough Estates have submitted proposals for the development, which would be built on land designated for development in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan.

A council officer has recommended the plans be approved, subject to conditions, but the planning committee will make the final decision on Tuesday.

In a site assessment produced when creating the Local Plan, the council described the site as ‘an important part of the green infrastructure network’ of Harrogate and said any development should maintain 50% open fields — yet the plans propose only 25% be kept green.

The application has attracted over 150 objections from local residents, as well as from Harrogate Civic Society.

One objection, by Granby Residents Group, said developers should go back to the drawing board and retain a ‘green corridor’ so people can walk from the Stray to Nidd Gorge and to Longlands Common.

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Harrogate Civic Society said in its objection letter:

“An open corridor into the countryside is lost, giving pedestrians and cyclists only a narrow passageway through a housing estate to reach open country and the green belt.”

Gary Walker, whose house borders the field, said:

“The council has a unique opportunity to create a green corridor from the centre of Harrogate to Nidd Gorge. In order to ensure this is delivered the planning application must be rejected and modified.”

A design and access statement prepared on behalf of the developers said the site would include ‘significant green infrastructure’.

Redrow Yorkshire managing director John Handley said:

“Redrow is committed to strong placemaking and the creation of thriving communities. A key element of this involves designing in green spaces, enhancing or replacing existing wildlife habitats and better connecting people to them through thoughtful design of the public areas.

“In his report to councillors for the Harrogate site, the planning officer has confirmed that the amount of green space meets the requirements of the Local Plan.  We have also made revisions to landscaping, tree retention and supplementary planting which ensure that the finished site will offer a biodiversity net gain.

“Our plans include a large area of green space of just under a hectare which, in turn, connects to the existing open space created as part of our neighbouring Devonshire Gardens development. This creates a conjoined area of larger open space.  We are also incorporating a new footpath and cycle greenway, which will connect our development and other housing allocations in the area with both Harrogate town centre and The Stray.”

Outdoor dining forcing Harrogate wheelchair users on to roads

A disability charity in Harrogate has said the sudden increase in outdoor dining has caused safety concerns for wheelchair users and visually impaired people.

Hospitality businesses have taken advantage of new pavement licences this week.

Many have been busy but the extra tables and chairs on pavements has prompted Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, to urge venues to consider people with disabilities.

She said:

“We have heard some concerns already, not only from wheelchair users but also from people with other mobility issues and people with visual impairments.

“It can be difficult if there are tables and chairs on streets where they don’t expect them.”

Ms Snape said tables and chairs on narrow pavements with no segregated pedestrian area were the main problems. She said it encouraged people to spread out on their chairs and take up the whole pavement, adding:

“It forces passers-by to go on the road, which isn’t easy if you are a wheelchair user, especially if there isn’t a dropped kerb.”

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The new outdoor cafe culture has caused other problems, with one wheelchair user telling the charity they had been unable to get a coffee because an outdoors area wasn’t able to accommodate their wheelchair.

Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire

Ms Snape said badly managed queues were also a concern because they forced wheelchair users into roads.

She said:

“It’s great to see everywhere so busy and nobody wants to see restrictions. I suspect most businesses just haven’t thought about these issues. Be kind. Be respectful. These problems could be easily solved.

“But if it becomes a massive issue something will have to be done and some controls put in place.”