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Aug 2021

Last Updated: 24/08/2021

Community

Council blames covid for barring group from Knaresborough House

by Connor Creaghan

| 25 Aug, 2021

Knaresborough & District Men's Forum can't meet at Knaresborough House because Harrogate Borough Council still requires social distancing measures — even though the government dropped all legal social distancing measures in July.

Harrogate Borough Council has blamed government advice on coronavirus for preventing a community group from meeting at Knaresborough House.

Knaresborough & District Men's Forum has used Knaresborough House since 1970, so members consider it to be their home.

However, with just under a month to go until they plan to meet again the group has nowhere to go.

Even though the government dropped all legal social distancing measures in July, the council still considers coronavirus restrictions as part of its risk assessment.

With such restrictions in place the Knaresborough & District Men's Forum, which attracts around 80 people, would not be able to use the council-owned Knaresborough House.

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The forum offers entertainment and company during winter for retired and semi-retired men in the Knaresborough area.

It usually meets every Tuesday morning and hosts speakers on all kinds of subjects except politics and religion. The £2 entry fee includes a hot drink and a biscuit.

Peter Cresswell, press officer for the forum, told the Stray Ferret:

"If we have to adhere by social distancing measures then we would not be able to use Knaresborough House.

"We do not want to find a new place to meet. The forum has met there every year for the past 50 years.

"It is just hard to understand when thousands of people can mix in football stadiums and at music festivals."

A council spokesman said:

“Whilst we appreciate the law governing social distancing may have changed, our risk assessment still contains certain measures in line with government advice."

The guidance the council refers to states people "should limit the close contact with those you do not usually live with, and increase close contact gradually."

The council spokesman added:

"The virus is still in circulation, and with public meetings often involving a number of different people who don’t normally come into contact with each other, particularly as it's indoors, we’re continuing to apply a degree of caution to help keep everyone safe.

"To be clear on the social distancing point, we recognise that two metres isn’t always possible so have advised “one metre plus mitigating measures” under those circumstances.

"This is our current position, but we will of course continue to review our risk assessment and make changes as and when we deem it necessary."

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Council blames covid for barring group from Knaresborough House

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