Upwards of 1,500 New Year’s eve revellers were on Ripon’s Market Square as the hands on the town hall clock reached midnight.

The only major public gathering to be held in the Harrogate district, went ahead  last night, in spite of a couple of eleventh-hour issues.

While other events across the UK and the world, from Edinburgh to New York, were cancelled because of coronavirus concerns, the city’s residents came out in force to let their hair down at the end of a covid-restricted year.

Because of circumstances beyond the city council’s control, the planned fireworks finale was called off and there was also a late change to the concert performers, with the Movie Night Show singing duo (pictured below) taking over from the Big Boyband Reunion.

Oasis tribute act Definitely Mightbe  (Pictured below) were the headline act on a night of free music, which saw crowd numbers steadily climb as people headed to Market Square after dining or drinking in Ripon’s restaurants and pubs.

Concerns raised on Thursday about the level of emergency medical cover for the event were overcome and two ambulance crews were on duty throughout the night.

A team of six from the OSR Medical Ambulance Service (pictured below) which works in partnership with the NHS to cover large public events, was on hand to deal with any incidents or injuries and reported just one – a young woman who cut her foot on broken glass.

In his New Year address from the town hall balcony, the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, had special praise for volunteers, who have been involved in the roll out of the covid vaccination programme throughout 2021.

He said:

“It has been a challenging 12 months and I, as mayor of this great city, would like to pay thanks to the many volunteers who have worked incredibly hard this year at the vaccination site.

“I also thank those who have helped the vulnerable, neighbours and elderly in these difficult times”

Cllr Parkin, pictured below with the Bishop of Ripon The Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley – who gave the final blessing, added:

“The city council is also indebted to the many people, from doctors and nurses, to delivery drivers and retail staff, who have worked so tirelessly to support all of us over the past year.”

Prior to his address and the bishop’s blessing, the mayor and Dean of Ripon The Very Revd. John Dobson led a candle-lit procession (pictured below) from Ripon Cathedral to Market Square.

The procession, symbolising the bringing of light and hope to the New Year, followed an end of year service of carols and prayers at the cathedral.

Three hours before the clocks struck midnight, the evening of entertainment began in traditional style, as Richard Midgley (pictured below) one of Ripon’s four hornblowers carried out the setting of the watch ceremony at the four corners of the obelisk.

From March 2020 until the lifting of lockdown on 19 July 2021, covid regulations saw Richard and his colleagues confined to performing the 9pm nightly ceremony behind closed doors at their own homes.

The tradition dating back to 886 AD and the much newer New Year’s Eve celebration, which has been in place since 1986, are part of the fabric of a proud and ancient city.

Read More:

• Covid cases across the Harrogate district rise to new high
• Lateral flow tests in short supply in Ripon

The Harrogate district has reported 330 positive covid cases, according to the latest daily government figures.

Nationally, the number of infections also remains high. Figures show 189,846 cases have been recorded as the Omicron variant continues to spread.

The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate has reached a record high and stands at 1094 per 100,000 people.

Across the county, the rate stands at 879 and the England average is 1,305.

Read more:

• Excitement builds for Ripon’s New Year Eve celebrations tonight

• Harrogate Town game tomorrow postponed due to covid outbreak

As the number of infections continues to rise, many residents have reported difficulties obtaining lateral flow tests in the Harrogate district.

Yesterday, our reporter visited pharmacies across Ripon and found they were in short supply, with pharmacies currently out of stock and awaiting deliveries.

Harrogate Town’s home game against Port Vale on New Year’s Day has been postponed due to a covid outbreak in the Harrogate squad.

The club told the EFL that it would be unable to fulfill the fixture at the EnviroVent Stadium due to “a number” of positive COVID-19 cases in their squad.

A rearranged date for the fixture will be confirmed in due course.

Manager Simon Weaver said:

“We’ve been waiting in the wings ready to get back playing after matches had been called off due to Covid in the opposition camps. Unfortunately, we’ve now got a couple of positive cases in the group which adds to our extensive injury list and it means we’re depleted. It’s heavily frustrating as we’re all desperate to play for the supporters and we’re hoping a return to action isn’t too far away.”

It’s the third game in a week to be postponed due to covid.

Town’s away clash with Bradford City which was scheduled for Boxing Day was postponed due to coronavirus cases in Bradford’s squad.

Harrogate Town were also due to welcome in-form Mansfield Town to the EnviroVent Stadium on December 29.

Read more:

• Harrogate Town’s Boxing Day clash with Bradford postponed
• Pilgrims brave the elements for Ripon’s Boxing Day walk

Covid rapid lateral flow test kits are in short supply in Ripon, with pharmacies currently out of stock and awaiting deliveries.

Supplies of lateral flow tests are patchy at best in most of the country. Our reporter visited pharmacies across Ripon to find out what the situation is like on the ground locally.

Being unable to take tests poses problems for people requiring a negative result to be able go to work. People have also been urged to check they are negative before attending busy New Year’s Eve events.

Day Lewis Pharmacy, which has shops on North Street (pictured below) and Westgate, ran out of kits yesterday, but was hoping to receive a delivery later today.

The free kits are available on a first-come-first-served basis, but those wanting them have to provide a code, which they obtain online.

Boots, which is based in Market Place West, has a sign on its door which reads:

“Due to a surge in demand, unfortunately lateral flow tests are temporarily unavailable.”

And across the city at the Morrisons supermarket pharmacy, a supply of tests kits received yesterday was soon gone and no further delivery was expected today.

A member of staff at the pharmacy said:

“They went almost as quickly as they arrived. We are hoping that more of the test kits come in tomorrow.”

Lucy Kitching, who works for NHS England, had a frustrating evening trying to order test kits online via the government website, which states:

Leeds has been chosen ahead of Harrogate to provide a Nightingale surge hub for Yorkshire and the north-east of England.

NHS England announced today it was on a “war footing” and had chosen eight hospitals in different English regions to deal with a potential wave of Omicron patients.

St James’ University Hospital in Leeds has been selected in our region to provide a temporary structure capable of housing about 100 patients.

Harrogate Convention Centre was one of eight Nightingale hospitals set up in spring last year in England to treat covid patients.

It had 500 beds but closed this year without treating a single patient.

However, the huge increase in infections caused by Omicron has prompted health managers to devise plans for extra capacity. All eight regional sites chosen this time to be Nightingale surge hubs are within existing hospitals.

Read more:

• Harrogate council billed NHS £3 million for Nightingale costs
• Harrogate and Ripon hospitals restrict visitors due to Omicron

An NHS press release said placing the new Nightingale facilities in hospital grounds would make it easier to flex staff and equipment if there is a surge in admissions.

Other hospital sites could follow — NHS trusts have been asked to identify areas such as gyms and education centres that can be converted to accommodate patients.

4,000 beds

The plan is to create up to 4,000 ‘super surge’ beds across the country.

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said:

“Given the high level of covid infections and increasing hospital admissions, the NHS is now on a war footing.

“We do not yet know exactly how many of those who catch the virus will need hospital treatment, but given the number of infections we cannot wait to find out before we act and so work is beginning from today to ensure these facilities are in place.”

Professor Powis urged the public to “play their part” by getting booster jabs. He said:

“The science is clear. Two doses of vaccine do not provide enough protection against Omicron so if you have not yet had a life-saving booster do not delay any longer.”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said:

“We hope the Nightingale surge hubs at hospitals will not have to be used but it is absolutely right that we prepare for all scenarios and increase capacity.”

The first eight of the Nightingale surge hubs will be at the following hospitals:

North East and Yorkshire – St James’ University Hospital, Leeds
North West – Royal Preston Hospital
Midlands – Solihull Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham and University Hospitals Leicester
East of England – Lister Hospital, Stevenage
London – St George’s Hospital
South East – William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
South West – North Bristol Hospital

Daily figures from the UK Health Security Agency show that a further 369 infections have been recorded in the Harrogate district.

The number represents another record high for covid cases. It’s the third day in a row that record cases have been reported in the district.

Meanwhile, home PCR and lateral flow test kits have been unavailable on the government website all day.

The lack of availability has posed a problem for those wishing to test of New Year’s Eve celebrations at a time of surging Omicron cases.

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However, slots are still available at local test sites.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show 13 covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital.

Ripon’s New Year’s Eve free concert and fireworks display on Market Square is set to go ahead.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid’s announcement this week that no additional covid restrictions will be put in place in England before the New Year effectively gave Friday’s event the green light.

However, with the Omicron variant bringing a surge in the number of recorded covid cases in the Harrogate district, Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams is urging caution for the large public event.

He said:

“We ask anyone planning to attend to take a lateral flow test and only venture onto Market Square if it gives a negative result.

“We already had the licence for the event from Harrogate Borough Council and had been keeping a close eye on announcements from the government regarding covid measures.

“Now that we have the go-ahead, we hope that people will come and enjoy the night of free entertainment and ensure their own safety and that of others by taking sensible precautions.”

Fireworks display

Safety concerns about holding a fireworks display in Market Square to herald in 2022 have also been resolved. An alternative area of land to the rear of Ripon Town Hall will be used to discharge the display.

Entertainment will begin with the Ripon Hornblower ceremony at the obelisk at 9pm and will be followed by performances from an Oasis tribute act and the Big Boyband Reunion.

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, will address the audience at 11.55pm and, following a blessing by the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, the fireworks display will start as the town hall clock strikes 12.

New Year’s Eve celebrations have been held on Ripon Market Square since 1986 but covid caused the cancellation of the 2020 event.

Each month the Stray Ferret tracks what the three MPs in the Harrogate district have been up to in Parliament and their constituencies.

As this is the last month of the year, this time we have provided a round-up of the activities of Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon MP Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams throughout 2021.

As always, we asked all three if they would like to highlight anything in particular. Once again, we did not receive a response from any of them.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here are some of the key moments from Mr Jones’s year:

• Writing on his website in early January, he called the third national lockdown the one “nobody wanted”. However, he said the vaccines now provide “light at the end of the tunnel”.
• On January 13, Mr Jones revealed on his website that he had visited the Great Yorkshire Showground to check on progress with the vaccination programme. At that point, he said the site had vaccinated over 3,000 people at a rate between 125 and 135 people per hour.
• At PMQs on March 24, the MP urged the Prime Minister to support Harrogate Town’s bid to rearrange the date of its trip to Wembley so fans can attend. He even told a Harrogate Town supporter that he’d be on the train to Wembley with the fans if date is changed.
• In April, on his website, the MP spoke out against rumoured plans for vaccine passports, describing them as “extremely problematic”.
• In June, the Harrogate & Knaresborough MP was spotted campaigning for the Conservatives ahead of the Batley & Spen by-election on five different occasions. He was photographed eating fish and chips with Tory candidate Ryan Stevenson.
• On July 5, Mr Jones voted for the Police, Crime and Sentencing Bill on its third reading in the House of Commons. The bill has been criticised for giving more powers to police over protests.
• In November he congratulated Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition for hosting its first climate action festival ahead of COP26.
• In December, Mr Jones told a constituent that the findings of an investigation into an alleged Christmas party at 10 Downing Street last year should be published as soon as possible.

Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon.

In Ripon, here are some of the key moments from Mr Smith’s year:

• At PMQs on February 10, Mr Smith asked prime minister Boris Johnson how the UK’s vaccine supply chain will cope if the virus mutates. In his response, Mr Johnson said the UK is going to have to get used to the idea of vaccinating and then revaccinating in the autumn as it faces new variants.
• Mr Smith announced on Twitter that his father-in-law has gifted him and his wife an ‘aphrodisiac themed’ takeaway meal to be delivered on Valentine’s Day.
• Mr Smith began a third lucrative advisory job, this time to MJM Marine Ltd, a cruise ship refurbishment company based in County Down, Northern Ireland. These roles earned Mr Smith an extra £144,000 a year.
• In July, Mr Smith voted for mandatory covid vaccines for care home staff.
• In September he told constituents he was “really sorry” if they were affected by TV disruption following the Bilsdale mast fire.
• Following the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal, he resigned from all three advisory roles in November.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural parts of the Harrogate district.

• In February, Mr Adams paid tribute to Captain Tom Moore following his death at the age of 100. He wrote: “RIP. A true British hero”.
• At an HBC planning committee on March 9, it was revealed Mr Adams personally wrote to committee members with his concerns about an 80-home development in Green Hammerton.
• In June, The Boundary Commission proposed changes to Mr Adams’ constituency that would see him lose all areas within the Harrogate district.
• According to MPs register of interests as of August 23, Mr Adams had received £6,000 worth of free hospitality tickets to England’s Euro 2020 games.
• Mr Adams was appointed minister without portfolio in the Cabinet Office on September 16 as part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle.
• On September 10, Mr Adams was filmed telling anti-Brexit campaigner Steve Bray to “f*** off”. He defended his outburst and said his words reflected the views of many MPs.

Harrogate Borough Council has revealed a significant drop in car parking income during the covid pandemic.

Recently published figures show the council made £1,412,579 this past year in Harrogate from off-street parking.

The figure is in stark contrast with the previous 12 months when the authority made £3,284,221

The borough council is responsible for setting charges for off-street parking. Included in the figures are income from pay and display parking and fines.

Council officials said previously that part of its drop in income during the pandemic was due to car parking.

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During the national lockdowns, the nation was instructed to stay at home and retail, leisure and hospitality were all forced to close.

It left fewer people needing to pay to park in the district.

A range of ‘lost revenues’

The loss in car parking income was among a range of areas which contributed to the council’s £10 million shortfall due to covid.

Cllr Graham Swift, cabinet member for resources, told the council during the first lockdown that car parking would be just one area of “lost revenues” for the authority.

He said:

“We are going to be impacted by a variety of lost revenues in car parks, pools and other things that generate money for us.”

The borough council has since benefited from a range of government grants aimed at supporting local authorities with deficits due to the covid pandemic.

Council taxpayers also saw a hike in their bills by £5 last year – something which looks set to happen again in 2022/23.

The Harrogate district has reported a record 236 covid cases, according to the latest daily government figures.

The number is the highest recorded in the district since the UK Health Security Agency started reporting figures in March 2020.

Nationally, the UK has also reported a record number of infections. Figures show 122,186 cases have been recorded as the Omicron variant continues to surge.

Read more:

• Harrogate and Ripon hospitals restrict visitors due to Omicron
• Disabled Harrogate woman threatened with Christmas eviction from care home
• North Yorkshire is week behind London’s covid surge, health official warns

Meanwhile, UK Health Security Agency figures show that a total of 100,026 booster and third vaccines have been given in the Harrogate district so far.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England.

Latest available figures show 13 covid patients are being treated at Harrogate District Hospital – an increase from eight last week.