Stray Views: Ditch the Station Gateway scheme

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. See below for details on how to contribute.

Ditch the Station Gateway scheme!

Harrogate Civic Society’s comments on the proposed Station Gateway are correct. There is no overall traffic scheme for Harrogate, which has congestion problems, and this scheme will result in more traffic on the A59 as people try and park elsewhere because of this ill-thought-out scheme.

We do not need any changes on the pretext of more people cycling and walking, as most will need to drive in and park somewhere first before doing either. The population of Harrogate includes a lot of older people who cannot walk or cycle into town and this ‘scheme’ does not cater for this at all and should be ditched.

John Holder, Harrogate

Time to get life back to normal

I read with interest your article on the ‘rocketing’ Covid infection rate in the Harrogate district.

Can we not just accept that this whole charade is over and get back to normal? Even the never-used Nightingale Hospital has disappeared.

I personally have been vaccinated twice. What more do I need to do, for heaven’s sake?

I say this with genuine sympathies to anyone who has suffered with, or who has lost a loved one to this virus.

James Colin Harrison, Knaresborough

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Police need to check car number plates

Regarding your article on police taking action against noisy cars.
It is not only the noise these cars make but they are normally driven without a front number plate too. The police need to address this issue too.
Adrian Day, Harrogate
Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.
Harrogate council forecasts £6.5m income losses despite covid restrictions easing

Harrogate Borough Council has predicted that covid will wipe millions of pounds off its finances this year despite the hopeful end of all lockdown restrictions.

Finance bosses at the authority have forecast income losses of around £6.5million from areas including Harrogate Convention Centre, leisure centres and planning in 2021/22 after what they described as an already “incredibly challenging” year during the first 12 months of the pandemic.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, Paul Foster, head of finance, said out-turning on budget in February was an “incredible achievement” and that the council would now need to generate around £18.8million in income to do the same this financial term.

He said: 

“I can report that in line with monitoring through the year, we will out-turn on budget. This is despite a net cost of circa £10million that the council faced last financial year as a result of the pandemic.

“To out-turn on budget is an incredible achievement, particularly as we have managed to maintain performance in a number of critical areas – and this is in addition to the council’s response to the coronavirus pandemic itself.

“Key to achieving a balanced budget in 2021/22 is income recovery. We have budgeted for ongoing income losses of £6.5million as a result of covid, but income generation of £18.8million is still required to balance the budget.

“There is a lot to play this year to see how successful we are in keeping to budget.”

Council budgets across the UK have been stretched for some time as a result of years of government cuts, but for many covid has only compounded the problem.

At a time when local authorities have had to spend more on supporting their communities, income streams have been hit hard with little cash coming in and a lot going out.

Some councils have struggled to carry out statutory duties, been at risk of bankruptcy and have had to ask the government to borrow emergency money in order to keep services running.

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In Harrogate, the situation has not been quite as alarming but serious all the same.

At the start of the pandemic, the council scaled back spending to essential areas only before introducing a recruitment freeze and shedding around 60 jobs.

The council has also redeployed many staff into under pressure areas such as bin collections and business support grants, with chief executive Wallace Sampson himself lending a hand to waste collection crews.

The authority has received around £7.8million in emergency government grants, but this has still meant £2.7million of reserve cash has had to be used in to plug funding gaps.

Meanwhile, North Yorkshire County Council – which looks after the vast majority of services including social care, education and highways – is facing a much starker picture with a projected funding shortfall of £59million over the next three years.

Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting, Mr Foster said detailed reports of how Harrogate Borough Council is plotting its way out of the financial pressures of the pandemic will be brought to a cabinet meeting later this month.

He said:

“This report will be finalised this week and published next.

“The out-turn position reflects the support across the council in adhering to the spending controls we put in place, including the recruitment freeze, in response to the financial challenges of the pandemic.

“The delivered savings would not have been achieved without a successful staff redeployment scheme. However, as we move towards business as usual, it is clear that the vacancy freeze is not sustainable and the filling of essential posts is key to our continued success.”

Delta variant cases in Harrogate district rise to 465

A total of 465 cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to the latest government data.

The number, which represents cases up to July 7, is an increase on the 331 recorded in the district up to June 30.

Meanwhile, a further 90 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district according to Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases in the district since last March to 9,225.

The district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has increased to 377 people per 100,000 – the highest in North Yorkshire.

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The North Yorkshire average is 294 and the England rate is 295.

However, the number of patients being treated for covid at Harrogate District Hospital has fallen to two.

No covid-related deaths have been reported at the hospital since April 11.

A total of 216,710 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 119,378 people receiving a first dose and 97,332 second doses.

Travel concerns over Indian-made AstraZeneca jabs given in Harrogate district

Travel concerns have been raised over Indian-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine batches which have been given out in the Harrogate district.

The Indian version of the jab, known as Covishield and made by the Serum Institute of India, is not currently recognised by the European Union’s passport scheme.

The vaccine conforms to medical standards but did not get the right paperwork for Europe so has thrown into doubt travel plans for millions of people across the UK.

Tim Stokes, a caterer from Harrogate, is one of those who received the a vaccine from the Indian-manufactured batch.

He said he received his vaccine at the Yorkshire Showground site.

While he has not yet booked a holiday, Mr Stokes said he would think twice before looking to take a break abroad.

He said:

“I think we will wait and if something comes up then we will take it.”

Mr Stokes added he was concerned that if the vaccine was not recognised then it would require him to isolate upon arrival.

Around five million British people have had the vaccine, which has not yet been authorised by the European Medicines Agency for use on the EU Digital covid certificate.

Some of the batches of the vaccine have been given at the Yorkshire Showground vaccination site.

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.However, the Department of Health said vaccines given in the UK would appear as “Vaxzevria” on the NHS covid pass.

It said:

“The government has confirmed that no Covishield vaccines have been administered in the UK and that all AstraZeneca vaccines given in the UK appear on the NHS COVID Pass as Vaxzevria.”

Meanwhile, other countries such as Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Ireland and Spain have already approved the Covishield vaccine for travel.

Estonia, Switzerland and Iceland have also said they will recognise the vaccine.

North Yorkshire covid patients doubles — but Harrogate falls to just two

The amount of covid patients in North Yorkshire hospitals has more than doubled in the last week — but the number in Harrogate hospital has fallen to just two.

A covid press briefing today heard 47 people are being treated in hospitals in the county, up from 22 seven days ago, with six people in intensive care.

Just two are in Harrogate District Hospital, compared with four last week.

Fifteen patients are in York Hospital and 30 are in South Tees.

Senior health managers say hospitalisations around the county remain down on the numbers seen earlier this year.

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Amanda Bloor, NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s accountable officer told North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum that in January more than 400 coronavirus patients were in hospital in the region.

She said: 

“The number of positive cases in North Yorkshire and York is rising.

“However, the number of patients in hospital with covid has remained relatively low at 47.

“If we compare previous months, the last time that the infection rates across North Yorkshire and York was at 300 per 100,000 population was in late January of this year and at the same point in time there were over 400 patients in hospital beds in North Yorkshire, so you can see the difference.

“This does give us confidence that the vaccination program is having the anticipated impact around reducing the risk of death and reducing serious illness, especially where those people have received both doses of the vaccine.”

Ms Bloor encouraged anyone who has not yet received a dose of the coronavirus vaccine to get one.

She added that a pop-up vaccination centre would be open in Scarborough’s Brunswick Shopping Centre on Saturday between 9am and 3pm.

North Yorkshire’s coronavirus rate has risen to 259 infections per 100,000 people with 1,600 new cases in the last week.

The Harrogate district’s figure of 321 is the highest in the county.

Harrogate district divided over wearing face masks after July 19

The Harrogate district is divided over whether to wear a face mask once the legal requirement is lifted on July 19.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that wearing a face covering in shops and businesses would become a personal choice in a few weeks’ time.

But people will still be encouraged to wear them in certain circumstances.

The lifting of the requirement will come alongside the scrapping of other restrictions, including the one metre social distancing rule and the reopening of nightclubs and mass events.

The Stray Ferret asked readers on our Facebook page whether they would still continue to wear a face covering after July 19.

About 150 replied and opinion was sharply divided.

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Some said they would continue to wear masks in crowded spaces and public transport.

Danni Wilson said:

“Yes, in certain circumstances. I’ve not had a cold in nearly two years.”

Robert Schofield said:

“Out of respect for the safety of others, I will wear a mask on public transport and in enclosed public spaces and commercial spaces.”

Alex Hero added:

“Yes on public transport, busy shops and crowded areas.”

However, others said it should be up to individuals to choose whether or not to wear a face covering.

Bradley Syril said:

“Everyone’s own choice, if they want to they can but I don’t think they should judge or discriminate anyone who doesn’t. We’re all old enough and grown up enough to make our own decisions.”

Philippa Graham said:

“In some circumstances, yes. Small busy shops, crowds and public transport. It needs to be up to the individual to risk assess their own circumstances.”

Others were adamant they would not wear a face covering.

Stephen Bellamy said:

“No I won’t be wearing a mask after 19 July. That is my choice.”

Map shows second covid vaccine rate in Harrogate district

Central Harrogate has the lowest second covid vaccine uptake in the Harrogate district, according to government figures.

An interactive map created by Public Health England shows the vaccination rate in all areas of the district.

Central Harrogate, which also has the lowest first dose rate, has a second vaccine uptake of 55%.

Dishforth, Baldersby and Markington currently has a second lowest uptake with 57%.

Knaresborough North and Knaresborough South and Follifoot have the highest uptakes. Both areas have a second dose rate of 76%.

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Spofforth, Burn Bridge and Huby also have a high uptake at 76%.

Latest figures show 118,142 people have had first doses and 97,104 have had second vaccines across the district.

It means a total of 215,246 vaccinations have been given so far.

Public Heath England statistics show the district currently has a first dose uptake of 83%, while the second dose rate is 68%.

Covid outbreak set back council’s grass cutting in Ripon

A covid outbreak that affected employees of Harrogate Borough Council meant grass cutting at Ripon Cemetery and other maintenance work fell behind, a councillor has said.

At a full Ripon City Council meeting, Cllr Mike Chambers – HBC’s cabinet member for homes and safer communities – said:

“Following a covid outbreak, a lot of staff were redeployed from their usual duties, especially to work on refuse collection.

“That meant that some tasks fell behind, but we are now getting back on track with grass cutting and other maintenance work.”

A major tidy-up has taken place at the Kirkby Road cemetery and there is also evidence of grass cutting, tree and hedge trimming in other parts of the city.

The activity, which is ongoing, follows a Stray Ferret story in which mourners spoke out about the poor condition of the cemetery.

Photo of grass on Newton Gardens

Grass surrounding the rosebed feature on Newton Gardens had grown to two feet, but the area has now been mowed by council employees

There are also lingering concerns about residential areas of Ripon where public spaces have became overgrown.

Cllr Chris Hardisty said:

“I think the problem is that the council just don’t have the staff to manage the amount of work that they have on.”

Fellow independent city councillor Sid Hawke, who is also a district councillor, pointed out:

“I have relatives buried in the cemetery and it was in an appalling condition.

“The city is untidy everywhere you look, with overgrown verges, long grass and weeds.”

Councillors agreed to write to HBC seeking assurances that work on the cemetery and other parts of the Ripon will be maintained throughout the growing season.

Should there be staffing issues, the council says outside contractors should be employed to carry out the works.

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In response to criticism levelled at it about the cemetery, last month HBC issued a statement, which said:

“Visitors to several of the cemeteries across the district may start to notice that some areas are being left to grow and not mown.

“We want to encourage biodiversity so are working with parish councils to leave specific areas to grow, attract pollinators and create habitats

“We have a regular programme of work, across all of the district’s cemeteries that we manage, and when specific issues are raised we will work to address these and carry out any required maintenance.

“We will of course continue to mow the grass along pathways and around gravestones so that mourners can pay their respects to their loved ones.”

Harrogate district records 331 cases of Delta variant

A total of 331 cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to latest government figures.

The number represents cases up to June 30 – and is a 42% increase from the 233 that were reported for the seven days up to June 23.

In separate data, a further 70 covid infections were recorded in today’s daily figures.

According to Public Health England, the total number of cases in the district since last March stands at 8,615.

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However, no covid-related deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital since April 11.

The covid death toll at the hospital remains at 179.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day rate has reached 200 per 100,000 people for the first time since January.

Elsewhere, the North Yorkshire average is 184 and the England rate is 191.

Central Harrogate has lowest first covid vaccine uptake in district

Central Harrogate has the lowest uptake of a first covid vaccine in the district, according to government figures.

Public Health England has created an interactive map showing the percentage of adults who have had a vaccine by area.

According to the map, Central Harrogate had a first dose uptake of 68% by the end of yesterday.

Dishforth, Baldersby and Markington had the next lowest figure, at 76%.

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Knaresborough South and Follifoot had the highest uptake with 88% of adults receiving a first dose.

Spofforth, Burn Bridge and Huby also had a high percentage with 87%.

Overall, the Harrogate district has a first vaccination uptake of 81%.

Latest figures show 115,907 people have had a first jab and 95,768 have had a second.

Five highest first dose uptake areas:

Five lowest first dose areas: