Harrogate district pubs fear closure as tier announcement looms

Pubs in the Harrogate district have said they are being “demonised” and fear some will not survive if tier two restrictions are announced tomorrow.

Tier two and tier three restrictions stipulate pubs that do not serve “substantial” meals will be unable to reopen when lockdown ends next week.

North Yorkshire public health officials suggested today the county could be placed in tier two, although the national government will decide.

But unless the county is in tier one, there will be no end in sight for the enforced closures of many bars and pubs.

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Harrogate and Ripon CAMRA fears more than 70% of pubs will close in the district under tier two or tier three.

Rural pubs and those in smaller towns will be the ones to suffer most, it added.

Megan Fairweather, social media secretary of Harrogate and Ripon CAMRA, said:

“After the hardest year that pubs have ever faced, the uncertainty of the new tier system does not bring much hope.

“One Harrogate pub informed us just last week that in the first lockdown, they threw away £7,000 worth of alcohol.

“If we are lucky enough to be in tier one, pubs then face the uncertainty of changing tiers. Beer cannot just be served as soon as it arrives in a pub.”

The group has written to Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones asking him to support its campaign against further restrictions on pubs.

‘Safer than shops’

Richard Park, owner of The Little Ale House in Harrogate, said:

“Pubs should not be demonised like this. We are not aware of any infections in our pub, we think it’s much safe here than the shops.

“We are not going to go under but I fear what will happen to other pubs in the area. Pubs try hard to be safe and then we are closed down.”

Alan Huddart, club treasurer of Bilton Working Men’s Club, said:

“We are ready to open but it all hinges on us being in tier one. We don’t serve substantial meals so would be unable to open if we were in tier two.”

Jack Woodruff, co-owner of Harrogate’s Disappearing Chin, echoed his sentiments:

“If we are in tier one it would be tough but it would be okay. But if we are in tier two then we would have to close.

“This has been quite frustrating. We have worked hard and invested a lot in keeping the pub safe.”

£20,000 costs a month

Paul Kinsey, who owns the Viper Rooms, said:

“We can get £3,000 a month from November. My rent, insurance, maintenance and finances cost £20,000 a month.

“So I am not sure what bill that is meant to pay. We still don’t know what a ‘substantial meal’ means and night clubs are still ignored.”

 

Ripon coronavirus testing site opens

A mobile coronavirus testing site opened in Ripon today for the first time.

The small-scale site will be open at the coach park near the bus station on a weekly basis. The Stray Ferret understands it will be there every Wednesday.

Ripon has some of the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the district, but this will prevent people travelling out of the city for a test.

Tests must be booked in advance on the government website. Those who do so then must arrive in a vehicle, which will protect staff from infection.

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Victoria Turner, public health consultant at North Yorkshire County Council, revealed the news at a press briefing today.

The county council said last week it had been scoping a location for the mobile testing unit.

If you have coronavirus symptoms, you can book a test on the government website.

Harrogate district’s tier 1 hopes boosted

Harrogate and North Yorkshire’s hopes of being placed in tier one restrictions when lockdown ends next week received a boost today as daily covid infections continued to fall sharply.

The Harrogate district recorded just 11 new positive cases — the lowest daily number since October 1, according to Public Health England figures today.

It takes total cases since the pandemic began to 3,420.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire as a whole recorded just a further 115 cases.

The county is expected to learn which tier it will come under in the coming days as part of the government’s new restrictions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined the new system to MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon.

It will see the first tier toughened up with people encouraged to work from home, while pubs and bars in tier two areas will be asked to close unless they serve substantial meals.

Last orders at pubs will now be called at 10pm, with drinkers allowed until 11pm to finish their drinks.

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Tier three, the highest restrictions, will see hospitality closed and no mixing of households both indoors and outdoors.

The county’s public health bosses had called for stronger restrictions on the lowest tier after the last system “did not really work”.

Regions across the country are due to learn which restrictions they fall under on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate district’s seven-day rate has also fallen below 200 for the first time in a month to 190 per 100,000 people.

A further two coronavirus deaths have also been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital in the latest NHS England figures.

One death was recorded on November 21, while another happened on November 17. It takes the total number of deaths at the hospital up to 95.

Harrogate district sports clubs and gyms celebrate return

Sport and leisure clubs in the Harrogate district have reacted with delight to this afternoon’s government announcement that they can reopen next week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed lockdown will end on December 2 and the country will return to a tier system.

Gyms, sports clubs and non-essential shops will all be able to re-open.

Chris McVey, chair of Pannal Ash Junior Football Club, which has 400 boys and girls, said it hoped to resume training on the weekend of December 5 and 6.

“It’s good news but to be honest I’m still bemused by it all. I don’t know why the boys and girls couldn’t train. I don’t know what their fitness levels will be like after a month off but it will be great to be back.”

Harrogate Gymnastics Club tweeted it was ‘brilliant news’.

Phillip McKay, owner of independent Ripon gym Intrim, agreed. He told the Stray Ferret:

“When you see people queueing for McDonald’s and gyms closed, it doesn’t make sense. Gyms have so many health benefits.”

Mike Barnett, coach of Harrogate Ladies rugby club, said:

“The announcements are really positive for the players physically and also mentally as they are doing something they love with their friends again. We are still not at a place to do matches but they will be pleased to get back together.

“We just need to wait for the official line from the RFU and what tier Harrogate is placed in.”

There was good news for Harrogate Town fans too, with the government also raising the prospect of some fans possibly being allowed to return to outdoor events. Harrogate Town celebrated the news on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/HarrogateTown/status/1330915072407957504

 

Government guidance today said adult sport would be permitted outdoors in tier one areas but must follow the rule of six indoors.

Outdoor sports can also take place in tier two areas but only one household can take part in indoor activities.

Tier three also permits outdoor sports but limits household mixing and encourages people to avoid contact sport.

‘Vital’ that Harrogate hospitality reopens next week

Hospitality bosses in Harrogate have said it is vital that the sector is able to reopen after the second national lockdown.

The country is expected to return to some form of tier restrictions on Thursday, December 3.

The Prime Minister is to make an announcement today on restrictions over Christmas and, before then, a tougher three-tiered system- although the 10pm closing time for pubs and restaurants could be relaxed.

It comes as public health bosses in North Yorkshire said the lowest tier under the last system “did not work” and that they expected it to be “somewhat stronger” after lockdown.

But owners of restaurants and pubs have said they need clarity in order to plan ahead for their businesses.

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Peter Banks, managing director of Rudding Park Hotel and Spa, which includes the Deer House pub, said it has been an “immensely frustrating” time for the sector.

He added that he wanted Prime Minister Boris Johnson to give clarity on what restrictions will be in place after the lockdown.

Mr Banks said:

“All I wish is that he would get a move on and tell me what I am supposed to be doing, because at the moment we are sitting and waiting and cannot plan.

“If I can’t reopen, then I can’t reopen. But if I can reopen then at least I can plan for it. Being stuck in limbo is just rubbish.”

Mr Banks added that, while it is “absolutely vital” for the sector to reopen, he could not see pubs and restaurants being open in two weeks’ time.

Meanwhile, Andy Barnsdale, general manager at the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel and Spa, said, while the hotel has lost Christmas parties, he was still hopeful ahead of the announcement.

He said:

“We are optimistic about being able to reopen on December 3, but to what level depends on what tier we are put in.

“This in turn will determine how many staff members we will bring back from furlough.

“Whilst we have cancelled Christmas parties, we are hopeful that we can still offer Christmas lunches and afternoon teas, as well as having our Majestic Winter Tepee open at weekends.”

Simon Cotton, managing director of the HRH Group which runs the Yorkshire Hotel, said it was important that hotels and bars could trade in December to see them through the start of next year.

He said:

“We are hoping to be open after December 2.

“I hope we open up in tier one. My fear is that we open up in tier two or three or another version of that.”

Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, said the lowest tier, which the county was under before lockdown, “did not work” and had “no teeth”. He added that he expected it to be toughened up under the new system.

Harrogate district covid infections hit five-week low

The Harrogate district’s hopes of being in the lowest tier of restrictions when lockdown ends in 10 days time received a boost today when just 28 covid infections were reported.

The figure, from Public Health England, is the lowest since the 26 positive cases on October 18.

Infections soared after then and were well above the national average this month until a considerable recent slowdown.

Just 31 were reported yesterday.

The R number, which refers to the virus’ reproduction rate, was 1.6 a fortnight ago but is now down to 1.1.

The seven-day rolling average rate of positive cases has declined significantly from over 300 to 190.

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In more good news today, no hospital deaths were reported.

North Yorkshire was in the lowest tier of restrictions pre-lockdown and the recent trend has raised hopes it may be classified the same when the government announces new measures later this week.

Boroughbridge and Marton-cum-Grafton has become the district’s current covid hotspot, with 29 infections in the last seven day — one more than Killinghall and Hampsthwaite.

Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley has recorded the fewest positive test results in the last seven days, with just seven.

 

 

A further 37 cases of coronavirus in Harrogate district

A further 37 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to Public Health England figures today.

It takes the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic up to 3,350.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day rate continues to track below the national average.

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Currently, it stands at 221 per 100,000 people compared with the England average of 248.

The weekly covid rate fell below the England average this week for the first time since October.

Harrogate district covid rate falls below England average

The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate has fallen below the national average for the first time since October.

The weekly average for the district now stands at 245 infections per 100,000 people, compared with 263 for England.

The rate has fallen from a record high of 307 last week, which was the second highest rate in North Yorkshire.

It’s the first time the rate has been below the national average since October 25.

But Dr Lincoln Sargeant, director of public health at North Yorkshire County Council, warned that some figures could have been affected by recent changes in how cases are recorded.

Public Health England now reports cases based on where the test was carried out, instead of where a person is registered with the NHS.

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The change has seen Harrogate’s total cases drop by 201.

It comes as a further 59 positive tests were confirmed in the district in the last 24 hours, according to Public Health England.

The number takes the total amount of cases since the start of the pandemic to 3,313.

Meanwhile, Dr Sargeant told a North Yorkshire Outbreak Management Advisory Board meeting today the lowest level of restrictions could be “somewhat stronger” after lockdown.

The country is set to exit the second shutdown on December 2, but ministers have yet to decide what the tier system will look like in two weeks time.

Dr Sargeant said previously that the first tier, which North Yorkshire was under before lockdown, “did not work” and “had no teeth”.

He added that officials at the council expected an announcement on the new restrictions at the end of next week.

Simon Weaver tests positive

Elsewhere, Simon Weaver, Harrogate Town manager, is expected to miss his team’s trip to Leyton Orient this weekend after testing positive for coronavirus.

He tested positive earlier this week after going into precautionary self-isolation before the Crawley Town game on November 14.

Paul Thirwell, assistant manager, will take charge this weekend while Weaver continues to isolate.

Harrogate’s mixed reaction to James Street planters

Few topics, it seems, generate more debate in Harrogate than the planters on James Street.

The Stray Ferret put a picture of the new car parking blockers on our social media feeds late last night and more than 150 people have already posted comments.

The council had promised to provide “eye-catching” planters to replace the cones it had installed as part of covid social distancing measures on the popular shopping street.

But the reaction, it has to be said, was distinctly mixed. Some approved, albeit with caveats:

“I like them, better than seeing those orange cones everywhere.”

“Better than cones but a bit small, look dwarfed by the space around them.”

But there were concerns about everything ranging from the impact on parking to whether they might be trip hazards or even attract the attention of thieves. Here’s a sample:

“I have just walked through town and I am utterly shocked at how many streets these complete waste of money have been put on. Surely it is not beyond the common sense of the council to realise there are many businesses in town that are not shops and are reliant on this parking for staff and customers?”

“These stupid pots of weeds (well they will be weeds in a couple of weeks) are another nail in the coffin of retail.”

“I’m sure they’ll drag thousands in and increase footfall.
The shop owners must feel so thankful that they have such a far sighted council.”

The social distancing cones on James Street, Harrogate.

The social distancing cones on James Street, Harrogate.

“Trip hazard, hope the council’s insurance policy is up to date.”

“Hazard, someone is going to end up running into them. Are they even visible at night?”

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One person suggested the road should be cobbled like York and parking restricted to maintain the character and encourage social distancing.

Some people have been having fun with the planters and photoshopped Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men, into the picture.

Some people have been having fun with the planters and photoshopped Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men into the picture.

The issue of cost inevitably was raised.

“Were the cones not working? Shame the money wasn’t spent helping the other streets in Harrogate that have independent businesses all trying to survive.”

It has to be said the majority of comments were not of approval. But some did acknowledge that flowers were better than cones.

“It’s better to have some natural cheer than the typical plastic misery.”

Covid forces Harrogate and Knaresborough libraries to close

Harrogate and Knaresborough libraries have fully closed after staff at each building contracted covid.

The libraries closed for browsing during the second lockdown but people could still order books and collect them at the entrance.

Library members could also book computers for emergency use.

But it was announced yesterday that both sites have totally closed for an unspecified length of time.

Chrys Mellor, North Yorkshire County Council’s general manager of libraries, said:

“Harrogate is one of two libraries that have closed because a member of library staff in each has tested positive for covid. The second library is Knaresborough.

“The libraries have therefore been closed on a temporary basis while the building is cleaned and staff self-isolate.

“No members of the public have been put at risk of infection.”

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