One coronavirus death at Harrogate hospital with six more in care homes

Harrogate District Hospital has reported one coronavirus death and care homes have recorded six more deaths in a week.

The death at the hospital happened yesterday and was reported with a total of 88 in England’s hospitals.

Patients were aged between 43 and 102 years old. Three patients, who were aged between 53 and 87, had no known underlying health conditions.

Up to May 29, care homes have recorded 78 coronavirus deaths. It’s an increase of six deaths from the previous week’s figures in care homes.

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Up to June 10, the hospital has reported 72 deaths. So, even with the lag in data of ten days, care homes have reported more deaths.

On Thursday, the hospital reported that it had discharged 118 patients who tested positive for coronavirus – an increase of nine on the previous week.

Nidderdale Llamas living it up in lockdown

Nidderdale Llamas has adapted to lockdown with virtual treks and birthday llama greetings.

The animal centre will not be able to open along with zoos and safari parks next week and the owners are still looking at July 4 as the earliest date possible.

Suzanne Benson, the owner of Nidderdale Llamas, told the Stray Ferret that she will be reducing its visitors, rotating llamas regularly for natural sanitation, and putting up more signage.

She added that her business has been hit hard by the lockdown but said she was hopeful that customers will return when they open.

Nidderdale Llamas is preparing to open.

Stall numbers double as Knaresborough market re-opens today

Knaresborough market re-opened with more stalls this morning. Coronavirus meant only essential stalls such as food stalls opened during the pandemic, but from today a further range of stalls opened.

The market has clear safety measures in place and encourages socially distanced queues in front of all of its stalls. Visitors were keen to resume their regular shopping habits and supporting the local traders.

In previous weeks, 12 essentials stalls opened on average but today saw that number more than double. This was due to extra stalls being allowed to return such as those selling clothing and electronics.

John Alexander, runs a card and gift wrap stall on the market, he said:

“From today, I’ve got about a third less space, so that equates to a third of the takings. But I still have the same overheads, so I’ll see what happens. But there’s a lot [of other traders] here that are the same and we have to find a way to make the business viable. So I hope it works. I’ve been here 25 years so its a big change but I understand. People will return once they get the hang of it. I would say the majority of our customers are elderly ladies so we just have to be careful, but the market has made a real effort to keep everyone safe.”

Visitors were keen to return to the market this morning, but the traders are aware safety has to be a priority.

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Another market trader Andrew Sutcliffe, runs a women’s clothes stall and is pleased to have returned this morning. He told The Stray Ferret:

“I mean I’m normally always here, my family have been here for 80 years. But I had to move slightly so there’s enough room between the stall and the shop door. I’m hopeful for sales, I’ve had a few already this morning but its still early. I’ve found its actually a bit busier than I thought it would be and I think people are more likely to shop outside anyway. We could do alright from this or we may not, its just a waiting game. “

Many in district still fearful of shopping for clothes

Will shoppers return to the high street on Monday?

Since the lockdown easing was revealed by the Prime Minister, a number of major and independent outlets have already announced that their doors will be open on June 15.

But once shops are open and the store lights are on, the focus will shift to how customers react after 10 weeks of closure and increasingly more people shopping online.

The Stray Ferret went around the district and asked people in town centres whether they were uneasy about returning to shops.

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In our video above, people raised concerns over changing rooms in clothes stores and shops reopening too early.

Melanie Lancaster, from Ripon, said it was not necessary for the city’s high street to reopen yet.

“I’m not going to shop when the shops open.

“I know that they are saying that they are going to quarantine clothes, but I would still not feel comfortable doing that.”

Sandra Watkins, from Harrogate, said she was concerned with younger people and whether they would be mindful when shops reopen.

She said: “I’m more concerned perhaps with my teenage daughter still being quite young, are they going to be mindful going back into places like Primark?”

Some smaller traders do not expect customers to be stepping through their doors immediately, but bigger retailers have a challenge.

Shop space which once saw customers move freely around will be altered by one way systems, two metre distances and limited customers.

Esther Pugh, a retail expert at Leeds Beckett University, said the experience of shopping will be changed by social distancing, but added that she remained optimistic about customers returning to the high street.

She said: “Stores use their layout to help navigate the space and move around.

“But it will be a challenge because the guidelines will effect the experience.

“I am optimistic and I think people need to feel positive. I think the shops need to be innovative and turn this into something new for shoppers.”

Tomorrow, we will report on what is being done to entice shoppers back onto Harrogate’s high street and into retail stores.

Henshaws art centre to close “for the foreseeable future”

Henshaws has announced its Arts and Crafts centre in Knaresborough will remain closed for the foreseeable future. The centre has been hit hard financially during the current coronavirus crisis which has lead it to make this decision.

The centre was closed before lockdown, in line with safety measures. The centre had previously been running a fundraising appeal ‘Art is the Start’ to update the centre to suit the people who use it. But have now concluded the centre is no longer economically viable.

The charity is now considering options for the future in order to find a sustainable future.

Henshaws Chief Executive Nick Marr said:

“We are now consulting Centre staff about the future of their roles within the organisation. We also know that the Centre and its work are valued hugely by both the Art Makers and the local community. This decision will undoubtedly cause a great deal of distress to our Art Makers and their families and all of our loyal volunteers, as well as to our staff, and we will do everything we can to help during these sad times but we find ourselves unable to continue to provide this service. The financial situation was stretched before lockdown but COVID 19 has had a huge financial impact on us.”

Henshaws is concerned about its income during the coronavirus outbreak

The closure of the Arts and Crafts Centre will likely sadden some of its visitors, but the charity is hopeful for the future.

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Henshaws Specialist College has remained open to students throughout the crisis. It is hopeful that numbers will be maintained into the new academic year starting in September.

Nick Marr added:

“This is an extremely difficult decision being taken in exceptional circumstances and our team has done, and is doing, some fantastic work supporting hundreds of people across Yorkshire.”

One more coronavirus death at Harrogate hospital

Harrogate District Hospital has reported one more coronavirus death, taking the trust’s total up to 71.

The person died yesterday and was recorded with 129 in total across England’s hospitals.

Patients were aged between 26 and 100 years old.

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Three patients, who were aged between 78 and 93, had no known underlying health conditions.

On Thursday, the hospital reported that it had discharged 118 patients who tested positive for coronavirus – an increase of nine on the previous week.

District farm shops see rise in customers during lockdown

More of us shopped in farm stores during lockdown – that’s according to the Farm Retail Association.

The FRA, which is managed by the Yorkshire Agriculture Society,  said 92% of farm retailers it surveyed reported a “significant” rise in new customers. It said the success of the stores had secured jobs and helped food suppliers.

One Harrogate farm shop owner said she’d seen unprecedented orders during lockdown. Julia Corbett, from Roots and Fruits, said:

“We have definitely seen an increase, we’ve had so many people come to us who have never used independent shops before. When lockdown happened we moved to delivery only to protect our staff and customers in our small shop. We had 30 deliveries per week before lockdown but after three weeks we’d hit 550. I think people love how fresh and quick their order is and we offer a really personal service that you can’t get at the big supermarkets.”

Packages of fresh produce have become popular over lockdown

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Heather Parry, managing director of Fodder, which is based at the Yorkshire Showground said:

“We have worked hard to adapt quickly to ensure our customers continue to have access to quality, fresh locally-produced food without disruption.

“The feedback we have received from new and returning customers has been hugely rewarding and gives me enormous hope that they will keep shopping with us, long after the coronavirus pandemic ends.”

As lockdown measures ease, independent shops in the district are hopeful new customers will remain loyal to them. .

 

Harrogate retail prepares to fight for survival

As nearly 10% of Harrogate town centre’s retail spaces sit empty, traders prepare to fight to survive as lockdown is eased.

After 10 weeks of closure, retailers and independent boutiques now face the task of making up lost ground, earning a living and protecting their customers at the same time.

Non-essential shops, such as clothing outlets, can reopen from Monday. But the aim for some is to see if they can survive the challenge that comes with social distancing measures and the cost of the crisis.

As an economic downturn looms, Harrogate’s outlets face an uphill task in surviving. During lockdown, among those retailers to leave the town’s prestigious James Street is Jack Wills.

Among traders’ concerns ahead of Monday include:

Despite support from government and the local authority, it may not be enough as traders face the difficult decision of whether to open up or not on Monday.

Sophie Hartley, who owns Sophie Likes boutique on Beulah Street in Harrogate.

One of the shops reopening is lifestyle boutique Sophie Likes, which has been operating on Beulah Street for the past six years.

Sophie Hartley is the owner and sole employee in the store and has prepared for social distancing. But she said it will be difficult for local traders to make a living after lockdown.

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The closure of the shop left Sophie’s family without some of their income. She received a government grant but still hopes to have discussions with her landlord to help make it through until the end of the year.

She said: “It’s been pretty scary.

“All of a sudden you have the close the shop and you have no income.

“We are still not sure of our opening hours because we do not know how busy it is going to be.”

Another store owner, who did not wish to be named, said she had been “stung” financially by the lockdown and may have to close the store in future due to a lack of customers.

She said she had to seek advice after discussions about rent support with her landlord broke down and that Harrogate was a “ghost town” and the financial situation may lead her to reconsider the future of the store.

She said: “I cannot just keep going for face value.

“The high street is suffering and Harrogate is already a ghost town.”

Despite these difficult times, there is no place for small businesses to turn to for support when negotiations with landlords prove to be difficult.

Retail in Crisis

This week we report on Retail In Crisis as stores prepare to reopen after lockdown.

Over the coming days, we will look at the fear of shoppers returning to the High Street, how trade associations are working to entice customers into Harrogate and the long view of the future of retail in the town.

Tomorrow, we look at shoppers anxieties over returning to shopping in town.

No coronavirus deaths as Harrogate total cases pass 300 mark

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any new coronavirus deaths but the number of cases in the district is at over 300 since the start of the pandemic.

Statistics from the government’s coronavirus tracker show that there have been 308 confirmed cases of the virus in the Harrogate district. North Yorkshire as a whole has confirmed 1,320 cases of coronavirus.

The hospital has, so far, recorded 70 deaths where the patient has tested positive for COVID-19.

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On Thursday, the hospital reported that it had discharged 118 patients who tested positive for coronavirus – an increase of nine on the previous week.

The number of deaths and discharges as well as a further 72 who have died in care homes accounts for the majority of cases in the area.

Less than a half of Yorkshire dental practices re-open today

Less than a half of dentist practices in the region will open today despite the lifting of restrictions- many only providing a skeleton service.

However the British Dental Association (BDA) have conducted a poll which reported that only 42% of Yorkshire’s dentists will re-open.

Amongst those opening is Swan Dental Practice in Harrogate, their principal dentist Richard Bannister said:

“We won’t be running a full service straight away as we will only have one surgery open at a time. We will be focusing on the people who have had problems in the last three months, but right now we will be unable to do big procedures such as root canals as anything that uses aerosol sprays has been severely limited under the guidelines.”

Further data from the BDA has said that 54% of practices in Yorkshire don’t have the necessary PPE to resume face-to-face care. At the Swan Dental Practise, Mr Bannister said:

“We were very slow in receiving guidance from the government about PPE, but we have adequate supply for now unless the guidance changes. It has been challenging for us as there have been increases in the price of equipments, masks for example have gone up approximately 500% in price”.

Dental practices in the district have opened today, with a limited capacity for appointments.

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The BDA Chair Mick Armstrong warned:

“Those expecting dentistry to magically return on Monday will find only a skeleton service. Practices reopening across Yorkshire and the Humber now face fewer patients and higher costs and will struggle to meet demand. Dentists returning to work still lack the support offered to our neighbours on the high street, and even clarity on key worker status when it comes to childcare. Ministers must change tack if dentistry is going to survive the new normal.”