Ferret Unlocked: what you missed in news last week

Last week, the Stray Ferret reported on the impact of the closure of a young carers “safe place” in the Harrogate district.

Run by Yorkshire charity Carers’ Resource, the groups provided a chance for young carers from across the district to come together to share a break from their home environment once a fortnight.

However, at the end of summer, those same carers were given just one weeks’ notice that the clubs would be closing due to a lack of funds. Our reporter John Grainger took a closer look at the impact that this has had on them.

What should be done to revitalise Harrogate’s high street? That’s one question we delved into this past week.

The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, put the issue over a decline in town centres front and centre of his election campaign this year. He wants to help bring businesses back on their feet with his £10 million High Street Fund. But will it work? Read our feature length report here.

We also took a trip to Harrogate Magistrates Court to report on a typical morning in the courtrooms on Victoria Avenue.

The courts are open to the public, but often only journalists and prospective magistrates frequent the public gallery. With that in mind, the Stray Ferret spent a morning in courtroom one to report on the cases before magistrates.

This past week has also seen a lot of environmental related stories, namely pollution incidents in the district’s rivers.

It’s easy to get the impression that the outlook for our rivers is bleak — but one angling group is looking to improve things. We spent a morning with Nidd Angling Group, which has introduced new methods in recent years to improve the river habitat and increase the number of fish. And the signs are it is working.

Finally, subscribers to the Stray Ferret can take advantage of a range of fantastic exclusive offers, discounts and giveaways from local businesses, which we regularly update.

Don’t miss out on quality local news in the district - by subscribing for just £4.99 a month or £49.99 annually, you will be able to access all daily news, in-depth features and lifestyle content as well as a whole range of fantastic exclusive discounts and offers.