Firefighters and an air ambulance rescued a man trapped beneath a vehicle in Boroughbridge last night.

The pedestrian was struck by the vehicle on Springfield Road at about 7pm, according to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

He was then flown to hospital in one of two local air ambulance call-outs last night — a person also required the service following a collision on the A61 Ripon Road.

The incident report said:

“One male was trapped under the vehicle and released by crews using stabilising gear and crew power.

“Crews provided first aid until arrival of air ambulance, who transported the male to hospital suffering a leg injury.”

Firefighters from Boroughbridge and Knaresborough attended the incident.

Read more:

• Plans resubmitted for children’s nursery at farm shop near Boroughbridge
• Road closed after serious crash near Harrogate

Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have criticised Home Secretary Suella Braverman after she proposed laws to restrict the use of tents by homeless people.

Ms Braverman posted on her social media that the government would introduce new penalties for those who are believed to have refused help from the authorities.

She argued that many see the move to live in a tent as a “lifestyle choice” and that help should be offered to those who are “genuinely homeless”.

Ms Braverman said:

“The British people are compassionate. We will always support those who are genuinely homeless.

“But, we cannot allow our streets to be taken over by rows of tents occupied by people, many of them from abroad, living on the streets as a lifestyle choice.”

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, described the proposal as “wrong on so many levels”.

He said:

“I can’t stay silent about the recent comments by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who called rough sleeping a “lifestyle choice” and wants to restrict the use of tents by homeless people.

“This just feels wrong on so many levels, and it certainly doesn’t represent the views of local people that I know.

“Our towns have always been known for their sense of community, compassion, and the way we rally around those in need.”

Read more:

• North Yorkshire Conservatives dismiss claims over residents’ questions ban
• County-wide zone has damaged taxi businesses, says Ripon councillor

Mr Gordon rejected the suggestion that living in a tent was a “lifestyle choice” and described it as “the most desperate of politics”.

He added:

“The majority of homeless individuals are often dealing with difficult circumstances beyond their control.

“We should be focused on addressing the root causes of homelessness, such as this governments chronic failure of housing policy, rather than penalising those who are trying to survive on the streets.”

Ms Braverman’s proposal is expected to be included in the King’s Speech tomorrow, which sets out the government’s legislative agenda.

Lifestyle choice comment is ‘not correct’

Meanwhile, Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said the Home Secretary’s comments on the reasons behind homelessness, rough sleeping and street begging showed “a limited understanding” of the issues.

However, he added that Mrs Braverman also spoke of investment in wrap-around care and greater support for those who face such issues.

Mr Jones said:

“The Home Secretary’s comments in respect of the reasons behind homelessness, rough sleeping and street begging showed limited understanding of these issues.

“To describe homelessness as ‘a lifestyle choice’ and the people who are in these situations as mainly ‘from abroad’ is not correct. It is not surprising that those comments have been seized upon as they are a simplistic description of what most know are complex issues with many dimensions.

“She went on to talk about the need to invest more in wrap-around care and for greater support for the problems faced by homeless people, rough sleepers and street beggars. I agree with that part of what she said and wish she had restricted herself to those sensible and positive comments.

“We have invested in this kind of support nationally and locally I did so as a Harrogate councillor with responsibility for the borough’s finances. This is support that tackles the problems that underlie homelessness and rough sleeping –addiction, family breakdown, mental health problems and many more beside.”

Harrogate Homeless Project

He added:

“We have an example of excellence in tackling homelessness in the Harrogate Homeless Project. The project supports people back in to stable lives by helping them deal with the problems that contributed to their homelessness or rough sleeping.

“They continue that support as their clients build new lives in permanent accommodation. They deal with the complex issues in a measured and practical way; their approach to these issues is the correct one. Sound-bites aside, more emphasis on that approach is what I want to see in the King’s Speech.”

This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district, kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare. 

Here’s a message from the Vida Healthcare team.

Vida Healthcare has provided specialist care for adults suffering with dementia since 2014. With over 300 beds across three state-of-the-art Harrogate homes, the team places people’s needs at the forefront of its values and ensures those living with this life-changing condition still have a voice in society.

Losing your memory robs of you of your former life, but Vida Healthcare wants those people to know they still have a purpose.

James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare, said:

“We’re delighted to be supporting the Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal in aid of Dementia Forward.

“It is such an amazing local charity supporting people living with dementia.

“Our vision aligns with Dementia Forward; dementia is such a widespread national – even global – issue, but Vida and Dementia Forward are focused on improving the lifestyle and well-being of those living with dementia at all stages of that journey.

“We both hold out a helping hand.”

The team designs and develops the homes to offer the highest quality of dementia care. All three homes are rated ‘outstanding’ and Vida provides constant support for those people who need more care than they can give themselves.

It support residents with activities outside of the home including access to local groups and events, meeting family and friends and catering to spiritual needs.

Vida Hall in Starbeck was the first of Vida’s care homes.

Bernadette Mossman, healthcare director at Vida Healthcare, added:

“It’s very close to our hearts to be able to help support Dementia Forward.

“We have the exact same approach and attitudes towards someone living with dementia – we look at the person first.

“People living with dementia can experience such significant loneliness and their families also need someone to hold their hand during their journey to know they’re not alone.

“What Dementia Forward does so well is support people to live well in the community and they do it absolutely beautifully.”

Both Vida Healthcare and Dementia Forward work tirelessly to improve the lives of those living with this progressive condition and support those watching their loved one slip away.

Vida Hall.

Bernadette added:

“Dementia Forward allows that person to stay with their family, be involved in the community and, when or if the time comes that they need additional support, they help them begin that journey too – Vida also plays a part in that.

“Some may need to come here for a period of respite – maybe longer — but want to be there to reach out to that person and say ‘come and see us’ so we can be a part of the decision-making process.

“If we can help in any way to make that journey as easy as possible, then it is our honour to be a part of it.”

Every donation to our campaign will go directly to Dementia Forward, helping us hit our £30,000 target to buy the charity a new minibus and bettering the lives of those living with dementia and the people around them.

Dementia Forward’s current bus is old and tired and urgently needs to be replaced. The charity would seriously struggle to afford a new one, which is why they need your help to keep this vital service going. Without it, many people living with dementia wouldn’t be able to access the help and support they need. 

Click here to donate whatever you can – you never know when you, a family member or a friend may be in need of Dementia Forward or Vida Healthcare’s help too.

Let’s not forget those who need our help this Christmas.

The skies above the Harrogate district turned green and red last night as the Northern Lights made another appearance.

The aurora borealis was visible across the country for a second night running.

Photographer Paul Oldham took this stunning image over Grantley Hall, near Ripon, at about 6.30pm.

It was not the first time Mr Oldham has captured the natural light display, which appears during geomagnetic storms.

In September, he took this shot above How Hill in Ripon.

Paul Oldham’s Northern Lights photo in September.

Read more:

• Speed limit could be reduced on A61 Harrogate to Ripon Road
• Historic Harrogate chapel up for auction

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

How many people are late for their Harrogate District Hospital appointments or simply go home due to the ridiculous difficulty parking? I was there this afternoon and an elderly woman said she had been driving around for an hour looking for a space.

You now have to arrive a good 45 minutes early and even then you may not be parked in time. It took numerous circuits last week before I found a space. 

The parking fee has been hiked to £4 for a couple of hours, it’s daylight robbery, particularly when all you are doing is driving around aimlessly, competing with other drivers for non existent spaces. Using two buses to get there isn’t an option for most people.

It’s time to reinstate the barrier so that people only enter the hospital car park when there is actually a space.

Liz Carnell, Harrogate

Read More: 

• Stray Views: Valley Drive parking fines a ‘money spinner’
• Stray Views: Does big Harrogate Xmas light switch on help businesses? Perhaps not

Leeds Bradford Airport needs covered walkway

I note your report on Leeds Bradford Airport upgrading the terminal at cost of £100 million.

It would be great if they could spare a few pounds and construct a covered walkway for the drop-off point to the terminal so passengers can arrive dry into the booking in departure area.

Paul Smith, Knaresborough

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

North Yorkshire Council says it wants to improve waiting times for autism assessments after being told by parents that delays of more than three months are harming the mental health of children.

The council is set to ask the public for views on its draft autism strategy for 2024-2027 that has an aim of helping autistic children, young people and adults to live full, happy, and healthy lives.

Autism is lifelong neuro-development condition that affects how people perceive the world, communicate and interact with others.

Approximately 1% of the UK population is autistic, meaning around 6,155 autistic people live in North Yorkshire based on the 2021 Census.

The new draft document builds on the previous local strategy and joins up areas including education, employment, housing and the NHS in a bid to improve how adults and children with autism access services.

However, according to the report, 9% of children under 10 in North Yorkshire are forced to wait more than 13 weeks for assessments — above the recommended NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidance.

For children between 10 and 17, the proportion waiting increases to 11%.

Read more:

• Increasing number of adults need drug support in North Yorkshire
• County-wide zone has damaged taxi businesses, says Ripon councillor

The draft strategy says children and parents have highlighted a “lack of support” during and after the assessment and diagnosis process, which they say has had a negative impact on their mental health.

They also said that mental health can worsen while waiting for an assessment because an autism diagnosis is often needed to access some types of specialist support.

A 2021 study found that that between 1998 and 2018 there was a 787% increase in the incidence of autism diagnosis across the UK.

Experts say the increase is due to a greater public awareness of autism and earlier recognition and diagnosis of the condition.

North Yorkshire Council has been under significant pressure to deliver SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) provision in recent years.

There are currently eight council-maintained special schools and two special academies in North Yorkshire, including Springwater School in Starbeck and Mowbray School in Ripon.

But since 2016, the number of children and young people in North Yorkshire with identified SEND and an EHCP (education, health and care plan) has increased by over 110%.

There are now over 4,500 children in the county with an EHCP but there is not enough places at council-maintained special schools to accommodate them all.

Almost 600 children are forced to go to schools outside of the county or to independent and non-maintained schools which costs the council millions of pounds every year.

The council has proposed to build a new special school for autistic children at the former Woodfield school site in Harrogate.

Bonfire Night is approaching. From torch-lit processions and alpacas to live music and traditional bonfires, we’ve collated a list of bonfires in the Harrogate district.

If you know of an event we haven’t included, email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will add it.

Friday, November 3

Ripon City Bonfire

Ripon City Bonfire will take place at Ripon Racecourse.

The bonfire will be lit at 7pm and fireworks will begin at 7.30pm

Gates open at 5.30pm.

Advance tickets start at £2 and can be bought at various venues in the city.

No own fireworks other than sparklers are permitted for safety reasons.

There will be no parking available at the racecourse due to the poor weather conditions.

Spofforth village fireworks

The event will be held at Spofforth Cricket Club.

There will be hot food, a bar and live music to enjoy ahead of the fireworks display.

Gates open at 5pm.

Family tickets cost £12.50 and can be bought at the village deli or post office.

Knaresborough Cricket Club and Aspin Park Academy PTA Fireworks Night

The event will be held at Knaresborough Cricket Club.

As well as a firework display, guests can expect food and drink, music and light-up toys for sale.

Gates open at 6pm and fireworks will be lit at 7pm.

Tickets start at £3 and can be bought at the gate.

Belmont Grosvenor School Bonfire Party

Belmont Grosvenor School will host a bonfire party in the school grounds.

There will be a bonfire, fireworks, food and drinks stalls, children’s activities, and music.

Gates open at 6pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm and the firework display will begin at 7.20pm.

Tickets are free for U18s and cost £10 for adults. They can be bought at the gate or by contacting the PTA on pta@belmontgrosvenor.co.uk or 07525 907156.

Anyone is welcome to attend.

Stray Bonfire. Pic: Mark Dimmock.

Saturday, November 4

Stray Bonfire, Harrogate

The bonfire will be lit on the Oatlands Stray near to St Aidan’s Church of England High School.

It will take place from 5pm until 8.30pm and include fireworks, food and drink, and live music.

The event is free to attend but Harrogate Round Table, which is a charity, encourages donations. Proceeds will go towards Harrogate Homeless Project.

Yolk Farm, Minskip

Yolk Farm, near Boroughbridge, is hosting a dog and baby-friendly event without fireworks.

There will still be a bonfire and tickets include entry to the yard where visitors can see the animals, including goats and alpacas, as well as the opportunity to feed the pigs.

Hot food will also be on offer.

Gates open at 5.30pm and the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm

Tickets can be bought online for £5.

Upper Nidderdale Scouts Group Pateley Bonfire

The event will be held at Pateley Bridge Showground.

Guests can expect a torchlit procession and bonfire, which begin at 6.30pm, and fireworks at 7pm.

There will also be hot food and a best Guy competition.

Entry is by donation and doors open at 6pm.

No sparklers are allowed.

Masham Bonfire

Masham Bonfire will be held on The Holme.

Food will be served from 5.30pm, followed by the bonfire at 6.15pm.

There will also be a firework display at 7pm.

The event is free to attend.

Kirkby Malzeard Community Bonfire

The event will be held at North Close Farm.

There will be a bonfire, fireworks and food and drink on offer.

Gates open at 6pm and the bonfire will be lit at 6.30pm.

It is free to attend but organisers have asked for donations to continue running the events.

Sparklers are not permitted.

Birstwith Community Bonfire

Birstwith bonfire will be held on the field behind West House on Nidd Lane.

As well as the bonfire, which will be lit at 5.30pm, visitors can enjoy a bar, hot dogs and a children’s stall.

Organisers will be raising money for a vehicle-activated speed sign near Birstwith School.

No dogs or sparklers are permitted.

Gates open at 5pm.

Wath & Melmerby Community Bonfire

The event will be held Roger Clarke Motor Engines in Melmerby.

Visitors can expect a bonfire, fireworks, a BBQ and a bar.

It begins at 6pm and tickets cost £5 per family.

Sunday, November 5

Lightwater Valley, Ripon

Lightwater Valley will put on a firework display accompanied by the music of Swan Lake.

Admission is included in a day entry ticket.

The display will begin at 5.15pm.

The Queen’s Head, Kettlesing

The Queen’s Head will have a bonfire and fireworks on offer.

There will also be pizzas, sparklers and a charity cake to stand available.

The event will be fundraising for Felliscliffe School.

It begins at 5pm and the bonfire will be lit at 6pm.

Entry is £5 for adults and £2 for children under 16.

Scotton Cricket Club

The event will be held at the cricket club on Lower Moor Lane.

Gates open at 6pm, the bonfire will be lit at 6.45pm and the firework display will begin at 7.30pm.

Visitors can look forward to a bar, a BBQ and a cake stall.

Car parking is limited, so organisers have recommended people walk or car share to the event.

Donations are welcome on entry.

Harrogate Railway Football Club 

A firework display will be held at the club, which is on Station View in Starbeck.

There will be a DJ, fairground rides, a bar and a BBQ on offer.

The event is in association with Friends of Starbeck School and entry is £2.

Gates open at 4pm, followed by fireworks at 6.30pm.

There is no parking available at the venue.

Read more:

• Details of Stray bonfire and fireworks revealed
• Rock stars rave over ‘nectar of paradise’ in Harrogate

The votes have been cast, the totals tallied, and we can now reveal whose photos will feature each month in our first ever Stray Ferret Charity Calendar. 

Every Sunday, we publish a Photo of the Week taken by a reader, and the subject matter is as varied as the life and landscapes found in our district: furry and feathered friends, fields and fells, ferris wheels and fireworks. 

Back in August, we invited you to vote for the best images from last year’s Photos of the Week, and hundreds of you chose your favourite pictures. 

The 12 winners will each feature on a different month in our 2024 calendar, which we are selling to raise funds for Dementia Forward, our chosen charity this Christmas. 

Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate has generously offered to cover the printing costs, which means the money raised by calendar sales will help to support people living with dementia and their families across North Yorkshire. 

James White, Centre Manager of Victoria Shopping Centre, said: 

“We are thrilled to be supporting such an important cause this Christmas, funding the printing of the calendars so that 100% of the profits can go to Dementia Forward. 

“Giving back to the community is of extreme importance to us at Victoria Shopping Centre, so we feel proud to partner with such a worthy charity.” 

The Stray Ferret’s Christmas charity campaign this year aims to raise £30,000 for Dementia Forward, a local charity dedicated to supporting people living with dementia, as well as their families and carers. The money will be used to buy a new minibus, so that Dementia Forward can continue offering client’s lifts, trips and excursions around the region.

Emma Harris, commercial manager at the Stray Ferret, said:

“The Stray Ferret was founded as a local news organisation serving the community, so we’re very pleased to be raising funds for a local charity that serves the same community.

“Most of us know someone affected by dementia, and those who do also know how devastating it can be. Dementia Forward does so much to bring positivity into people’s lives at a time when they need it most.

“But this charity calendar also serves another purpose. We receive so many fantastic submissions for Photo of the Week over the year, and it always seems a shame that the ones we feature only get one outing. So it’s wonderful that we’ll be able to see some of the very best images again throughout the coming year in the 2024 Stray Ferret Charity Calendar.

Congratulations – and thank you – to all our winners!”

The winning photographers are: 

The 2024 Stray Ferret Charity Calendar in aid of Dementia Forward is now available to order online for delivery. Click or tap here to pre-order your copy now. 

The calendar will also be available for collection at the Victoria Shopping Centre on select dates to be announced in December.

The number of adults with substance abuse problems is increasing in North Yorkshire, according to a report.

It comes as North Yorkshire Council is set to extend the contract for its specialist drug and alcohol support service North Yorkshire Horizons for another five years.

North Yorkshire Horizons was launched in October 2014 with a £3.6m annual contract awarded to charity Humankind to deliver the service, which is rated outstanding by regulator the Care Quality Commission.

It has specialist hubs in Harrogate, Skipton, Selby, Scarborough and Northallerton where people can get advice on drugs or alcohol, receive health treatment and take part in therapy sessions.

Since it was set up, the report says North Yorkshire Horizons has “significantly increased” the numbers of people engaging with the service. As of June 2023, there are 2,500 people taking part in treatment.

The number of people seeking support for drugs other than opiates has also increased by 50%.

North Yorkshire Horizons is largely funded through a government grant but the report warns that drug and alcohol services are more expensive to deliver than they were before the covid pandemic, due to cost-of-living rises and inflation.

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It also says there is an “unmet need” and “increasing profile” of people who experience substance use in the county.

An independent review of drugs led by Dame Carol Black in 2021 warned that investment in drug and alcohol services has reduced significantly over the last decade nationally.

In response, central government has increased spending for local authority-led treatment with North Yorkshire Council receiving an additional £1.4m funding. Another £1m is expected in 2024/25.

The contract with Humankind is set to be extended by Cllr Michael Harrison, Conservative executive member for health and adult services, at a meeting tomorrow.

The report says: 

“Evidence shows that drug and alcohol substance use treatment services are cost effective to the public purse, and clinically effective in terms of outcome for the individual.

“Investing in substance use services not only helps to save lives, but also substantially reduces the economic and social costs of harms associated with harmful patterns of substance use.”

The Environment Agency has issued two flood alerts in the Harrogate district.

The alerts have been put in place overnight for the Lower River Nidd catchment near Kirk Hammerton and the lower River Ure, which affects Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton.

It affects low-lying land including agricultural land and local road on the Lower River Ure and land around the Lower River Nidd and its tributaries including Sand Beck, Sike Beck, Pool Beck and Great Gutter.

The alerts said:

“Flooding is possible in this area.

“Monitor local water levels and weather conditions. Avoid using low lying footpaths or entering areas prone to flooding. Start acting on your flood plan if you have one.”

The move comes as a yellow weather warning is in place in the Harrogate district until 6am on November 3 amid forecast heavy rain due to Storm Ciarán.

The Met Office said rain could cause disruption in the north of England, including flooding and delays and cancellations to public transport.

Read more:

• Met Office issues another heavy rain warning for Harrogate district
• High levels of faecal bacteria in River Nidd confirmed