Tree planting has begun across the Harrogate district to mark the queen’s platinum jubilee next year.
About 100 elm, oak, hornbeam, sycamore and lime trees will be planted in the district as part of a nationwide initiative called The Queen’s Green Canopy, which invites people from across the United Kingdom to ‘plant a tree for the jubilee’.
The trees will be planted on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road, Jacob Smiths Park in Knaresborough, High Cleugh in Ripon, Pateley Bridge recreation ground and Boroughbridge recreation ground.
One tree from each location will be saved to plant on February 6, the queen’s accession day.
Harrogate Borough Council is organising the project and hopes the initiative will also help it achieve its carbon reduction initiatives. It is encouraging everyone, including individuals, community groups, businesses and landowners to also plant a tree.
Councillor Andy Paraskos, the council’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:
“The Queen’s Green Canopy is a wonderful opportunity for us to not only honour Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee but also help address the climate situation and deliver carbon reduction initiatives throughout the Harrogate district.”
The Queen’s Green Canopy will coincide with the borough council’s plans to plant thousands of trees in Bilton Beck Wood and Willow Wood, Harrogate and Upper Horse Shoe Fields, Knaresborough as part of the White Rose Forest partnership.
To get involved and plant a tree, people can pin it to the Queen’s Green Canopy map. It will then count towards Harrogate’s total.
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Heavy traffic on A1(M) at Boroughbridge eight hours after crash
Update at 4.20pm
The A1(M) has now fully reopened following a serious crash between Ripon and Boroughbridge.
Highways England said there is four and a half miles of congestion following the closure.
Update: The #A1M in #NorthYorkshire has reopened fully following an earlier incident between J49 #Ripon and J48 #Boroughbridge. There is 4.5 miles of congestion following this closure so please allow time for these delays to clear. Safe journey. pic.twitter.com/ImHpv6HZrI
— National Highways: Yorkshire (@HighwaysYORKS) December 9, 2021
Update at 2.35pm
North Yorkshire Police has said the southbound A1(M) has finally reopened but traffic remains heavy.
https://twitter.com/NYorksPolice/status/1468950384135716865
Update at 12.40pm
Drivers have been turned around on the A1(M) southbound carriageway to get them off the motorway while the emergency services deal with a serious crash between Ripon and Boroughbridge.
North Yorkshire Police said it received reports of a single vehicle crash just before 9am. The road has not yet reopened.
It is unclear at this time the extent of any injuries suffered in the crash or when the closure will be lifted.
A Thirsk resident Charles Allen told the Stray Ferret that he had been sat in traffic for more than three hours. He added:
“I was planning to go to Oxford this morning on business to see a client. I left Thirsk around 9.15am so was stuck in traffic for hours.
“The A1(M) was absolute carnage. We were turned around, so we were driving north on the southbound carriage. The surrounding roads are also heavily congested.”
Police have closed the A1(M) southbound carriageway between Ripon and Boroughbridge due to a serious accident just before 9am today.
The air ambulance is on the scene along with all of the other emergency services this morning.
Currently there are delays of 30 minutes but they are expected to increase. Allow extra time for your journey or avoid the area if possible.
North Yorkshire Police has tweeted some details about the incident.
https://twitter.com/NYorksPolice/status/1468890383602098192
National Highways has also tweeted about the incident.
The #A1M is closed southbound between J49 (#Ripon) and J48 (#Boroughbridge) following a single vehicle collision. All emergency services including the air ambulance are working at the scene. Please allow extra time for your journey as delays of 30 minutes on the approach. pic.twitter.com/wwMg2Tz2ZB
— National Highways: Yorkshire (@HighwaysYORKS) December 9, 2021
This is a breaking news story which we will update as we get more information.
Increased Harrogate district police patrols to get people home safePolice in the Harrogate district have increased patrols to help people get home safe over the festive period.
North Yorkshire Police has partnered with Harrogate Borough Council as part of an annual Get Home Safely from bars, nightclubs and restaurants campaign.
The key message of the campaign is for people to plan their journeys home in advance, look-out for one another, and look after their drinks and possessions.
Statistics show that domestic abuse incidents increase during bank holiday periods, and the campaign also aims to highlight emotional and practical support available through the charity IDAS.
Revellers will notice posters and digital boards with advice across the district. They will also notice more police on the streets.
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Cllr Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said:
“The festive period is often a time when people catch-up with friends and enjoy themselves in pubs and restaurants, and we want them to be able to do so safely.
“For many, this will be the first festive period since before the pandemic, that they have celebrated the festivities and we want them to remember it for all the right reasons by staying safe, and following the latest vovid guidance and advice.”
Chief Inspector Andy Colbourne, from North Yorkshire Police, said:
“The police and council continue to work in partnership to make the Harrogate district a safe place for all to enjoy the Christmas and New Year festivities.
“The support of licensed premises in the Get Home Safely annual campaign is particularly prevalent this year and we hope that everyone enjoys a safe night out.”
Lauren Doherty, from Road Safety Talks was left paralysed during a night out with friends. She said:
Boroughbridge’s impromptu Christmas market proves a hit“A moment of distraction during a night out can change your life forever. Have fun, enjoy yourselves and get home safely.”
A Boroughbridge woman has vowed to do something “bigger and better” next year after organising an impromptu Christmas market in the town.
Laura Hutton thought some stalls would complement the town’s annual late night Christmas shopping by boosting trade.
So with help from Boroughbridge Hardware shop and little more than a fortnight’s planning she arranged for about 13 stalls to go up at the back of Horsefair on Wednesday.
The stalls proved popular and Ms Hutton, a local dog groomer who runs the Boroughbridge Chatter Facebook page, has now set her sights on organising more events in the town next year.
“The late night shopping mainly benefits the high street. I had the idea to tie-in the other shops with some market stalls and raise money for some homeless as well.
“I’m going to go bigger and better next year. I’m thinking of doing a summer fayre. As for Christmas next year – watch this space. I like a challenge.
“We did this in two-and-a-half weeks so it could have been better if we had more time. Still it was a really good night. Everyone came together and I’d like to thank everyone who helped.”
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Ms Hutton said she spoke with Boroughbridge and District Chamber of Trade and Harrogate Borough Council in advance and made sure “everyone had the right certificates”.
One of the stalls generated £200 for a homelessness charity she works for.
A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:
“We have been actively supporting all Christmas markets across the Harrogate district and have provided food, health and covid safety advice to ensure people can enjoy the festivities.”
Police appeal for help finding men with Harrogate links
Police have appealed for information about the whereabouts of three men with links to Harrogate.
Eighteen-year-old Harrogate man Luke Gibson and 20-year-old Leeds man, Ainsley West, who has strong links with Harrogate, are wanted in connection with a serious assault in Boroughbridge this month.
William Smythe, 19, from Harrogate, is wanted for failing to attend court for drug offences.
North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today it believed the three men could be in the Harrogate area, although West could be in Leeds.
It added:
“Significant enquiries have been ongoing to locate the trio and so we are now issuing an appeal to anyone who has seen them or know where they are to come forward with information.”
The police asked people to report sightings or information about their whereabouts by calling 101 and quoting reference number 12210245826 for West and Gibson or 12210248895 for Smythe.
Alternatively, you can pass on information anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.
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New energy plant to be built at major Harrogate district employer
A new heat and power plant is to be built at a major Boroughbridge company in an effort to create “cost-effective” energy after plans were approved.
Reed Boardall, which stores and delivers frozen food to UK supermarkets, employs 800 staff at its site off Bar Lane and operates a fleet of 196 vehicles 24 hours a day.
The company submitted plans for a combined heat and power plant, which would be built on its site and generate electricity.
Now, Harrogate Borough Council has given permission for the plant to go-ahead.
According to documents lodged with the borough council, the plant would work by “igniting air and natural gas to produce hot, high-pressure gases”.
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The gas would then be fed through a turbine to drive an electrical generator and produce electricity.
Andrew Baldwin, managing director of Reed Boardall’s cold storage division, told the Stray Ferret previously:
“We’re investing in a new combined heat and power system as a way of protecting the energy needs of our business for the future.
“It is more cost-effective than buying power from the National Grid and is generally considered to be a greener alternative. We expect it to be fully operational by the end of the year.”
A drawing of the energy plant at Reed Boardall as submitted to Harrogate Borough Council.
The company added that the energy would be used to power its headquarters in Boroughbridge. Any excess energy would be exported back to the local electricity network.
Construction of the plant is expected to take place over three months.
Once up and running, the plant would run for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, it would be unmanned and operated remotely.
This article is sponsored by Berwins
A less-than-ideal Christmas in 2020, many of us want to mark the festive season as early as possible this year.
And what better way to get into the festive spirit than to wrap-up warm and wander around a Christmas market with a cup of mulled wine.
While some events have been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns, there are still plenty going ahead across the district.
And just like buses, three events have come all at once in Harrogate following the cancellation of the town’s original Christmas market.
Knaresborough’s popular Christmas market is also back!
Here is our guide to the festive markets taking place across the district this year:
Christmas Market Weekend at Crimple, Harrogate
We kick off with the Christmas Market Weekend, which will feature more than 20 food and craft stalls at the brand spanking new Crimple food hall and restaurant.
It comes after Brian Dunsby, co-organiser of the original Harrogate Christmas Market, has worked with some of the stallholders to get them a new venue.
There will be music all day, including performances from the Chris White Jazz Trio, Tewit Youth Band and local busker Freddie Cleary.
There will also be plenty of children’s activities, including a festive animal farm, face painting and Christmas treasure trails, as well as wreath-making demonstrations.
November 27 and 28, Crimple, Leeds Road, from 8am to 7pm on the Saturday and 10am to 4pm on the Sunday
Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity’s (HHCC) Outdoor Pop-up Christmas Market
In the true spirit of Christmas, this NHS charity event is being held at Harrogate Railway Athletic Football Club for an extremely good cause.
Visitors are invited to “soak up the festive atmosphere” at the outdoor market, while browsing a selection of stalls. The big man himself will also be making an appearance, with a chance to visit Santa.
There will also be a licensed bar, “merry donkeys” and live music.
Tickets are available for a donation of £5 per adult (aged 14 and over), £2 for children over the age of 3 and under 3s are free.
Tickets include and entry drink on arrival, a mince pie and a visit with Father Christmas – an absolute bargain! And what’s even better, is the proceeds from the event will go towards making life changing differences in the town’s hospital and wider community.
November 28, Harrogate Railway Athletic FC, Station View, Harrogate, 1pm to 7pm.
Harrogate Christmas Fayre
Market Place Europe is taking on the main event in Harrogate, but instead of Montpellier Hill, this new market will take place across the town centre over 10 days.
There will be a mixture of local and European stallholders on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.
The Harrogate Christmas Fayre will feature around 50 traders, which will spaced out wider than usual to encourage social distancing.
December 3 until December 12, Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent, Monday to Wednesday – 10am to 7pm, Thursday to Saturday – 10am to 9pm, and Sundays from 10am to 5pm
Read more:
- Harrogate Christmas lights switched on by ‘Harry’s Heroes’
- Your guide to Harrogate’s three Christmas markets
- Knaresborough Christmas Market returns in two weeks
Harrogate Christmas Artisan Market
Little Bird Made, which has carved out a name for itself across North Yorkshire with its artisan markets, is set to hold a special two-day Christmas event in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.
More than 60 local traders and producers will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware and jewellery, as well as locally-produced food and drink.
This is a new addition Harrogate, set to complement the town centre’s Christmas Fayre, with organisers working with Harrogate Borough Council.
December 4 and 5, Valley Gardens, Harrogate, 10am to 3pm
Photograph: Charlotte Gale Photography
Knaresborough Christmas Market
Knaresborough Christmas Market is back with an actual bang – yes there are fireworks – after last year’s cancellation.
With the organising committee promising a “Yorkshire experience to remember”, there will be over 50 stalls selling decorations, gifts and locally-sourced produce.
While visitors sip their mulled wine, they can also enjoy live entertainment from local dancers, choirs and brass bands.
As in previous years, the market will culminate with a fireworks display over the town’s iconic viaduct at 4.30pm on Sunday, December 5.
December 4 and 5, Market Square
Boroughbridge Christmas Market
This is another festive artisan market by Little Bird Made, which is being held the same weekend as the event in Harrogate.
This one is taking place at Langthorpe Farm Shop and promises “a Christmas shopping bonanza, mulled wine and some special surprises”.
There will be an assortment of handmade gifts and stalls will include arts, crafts, plants, clothes, jewellery, candles, soaps, coffee and gin. For the foodies, there will be cheese, pies, flapjack, biscuits, preserves, cakes and street food.
December 4, Langthorpe Farm Shop, Leeming Lane, from 10am to 3pm
Ripon Christmas lights
Ripon Christmas Market
Last year the covid lockdown meant that the city and its traders were unable to capitalise fully on the £65,000 spent on a major expansion of Christmas lights and displays.
However, this year the festivities are back! And so is Little Bird Made, with another Christmas market in the district, this time in partnership with Ripon City Council.
On December 5 and 12, artisan markets will be held on the square and free children’s fairground rides will be in operation on those dates.
There will be a selection of stalls from local traders, arts, crafts, food, an outdoor bar and live music.
December 5 and 12, Ripon Market Square, 10am to 3pm
A total of 22 affordable homes have been proposed to be built in Staveley by developer Jack Lunn Properties.
The company hopes to build three one-bedroom, 13 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom homes in the village, which has a population of 430 and is between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough,
The rural site is not allocated for development in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where planning will take place.
But the application has been brought forward through a rural exception scheme, which allows councils to grant planning permission for affordable housing in the open countryside if a developer can prove there is a need for it.
A planning document lodged with Harrogate Borough Council cites affordable housing figures that show a shortfall in the number of new affordable houses built over the last five years.
It says:
“The only sustainable way of making housing more affordable in the long term is to build more homes in the right places. High house prices can prevent people from living near the best job opportunities for them, limiting the productivity of companies that might have employed them.”
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More than 500 excess deaths in North Yorkshire during coronavirus
There have been 559 excess deaths in North Yorkshire during the coronavirus pandemic, new figures have revealed.
Excess deaths are a measure of how many more people are dying than would be expected when compared to previous years and can be used to show the overall impact of the pandemic.
Figures presented to a meeting of North Yorkshire’s Outbreak Management Advisory Board showed 11,347 deaths from all causes were expected during the weeks of the pandemic based on the five-year average.
A total of 11,906 deaths from all causes were recorded up until 1 October – giving an excess of 559.
Dr Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, told today’s meeting that these figures were “largely reflective of the national position”. She said:
“The largest peaks of excess deaths, unsurprisingly, were during covid’s first and second wave.
“This was followed by periods where deaths were actually a bit below the expected number, however, those periods were not enough to offset the very high numbers of excess deaths that we saw during both wave one and two.”
According to Public Health England figures, there have been a total of 1,227 deaths in North Yorkshire where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
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The recent rate of Covid deaths and hospital admissions has increased slightly since the end of summer, however, the figures are lower than previous waves.
20 patients still in intensive care
Despite this, Sue Peckitt, chief nurse at NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said the heath service was still facing “unprecedented” demand with 171 Covid patients currently in the county’s hospitals.
She told today’s meeting that the majority of these patients were over-65 and that 20 were in intensive care:
“We continue to see high demand into our primary and emergency care departments.
“Whilst we are seeing high numbers of Covid infections in our younger population, it is the older population that is presenting into hospital.”
Ms Peckitt also said the vaccine rollout was continuing with a focus on booster jabs for over 50s and increasing uptake for 12 to 15-year-olds who will be offered their single dose by the end of November. She added:
Major Harrogate district employer bids to build energy plant“The schools programme for 12 to 15-year-olds is now rolling out through our provider Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, but we have also opened up three sites on the national booking system.
“These are the pharmacy site at Knaresborough, the Askham Bar site at York and the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough.”
A Boroughbridge company plans to build a heat and power plant to produce “greener” and “cost-effective” energy at its headquarters.
Reed Boardall, which stores and delivers frozen food to UK supermarkets, employs 800 staff at its site off Bar Lane and operates a fleet of 196 vehicles 24 hours a day.
The company has submitted plans for a combined heat and power plant, which would be built on its site and generate electricity.
According to documents lodged with Harrogate Borough Council, the plant would work by “igniting air and natural gas to produce hot, high-pressure gases”.
The gas would then be fed through a turbine to drive an electrical generator and produce electricity.
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The company added that the energy would be used to power its headquarters in Boroughbridge. Any excess energy would be exported back to the local electricity network.
Greener alternative
Andrew Baldwin, managing director of Reed Boardall’s cold storage division, told the Stray Ferret:
“We’re investing in a new combined heat and power system as a way of protecting the energy needs of our business for the future.
“It is more cost-effective than buying power from the National Grid and is generally considered to be a greener alternative. We expect it to be fully operational by the end of the year.”
If approved, construction of the plant is expected to take place over three months.
Once up and running, the plant would run for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, it would be unmanned and operated remotely.
Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
The plan follows a multi-million expansion of Reed Boardall’s Boroughbridge site.
In May, the company announced it had finished a 110,000 square foot expansion to one of its cold storage units at its 55-acre site in Boroughbridge, which will help it meet increased customer demand.