Stray Views: Vaccine protesting parents should grow up

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.

Vaccine protestors should grow up

These parents are stupid and putting their children’s lives at risk. We were all lined up at school in the 60’s for our BCGs and polio vaccines, which I am forever grateful for.

They should grow up and consider the more dangerous aspect of drug use in Harrogate than these vaccinations.

Susan Mitchell, Harrogate

Harrogate is a car park

I met someone recently who, upon discovering where I live, commented: “I went to Harrogate recently. It was a car park. The whole town was a car park. Is it always like that?!”

Perhaps Harrogatonians are so used to it that they see this as normal? It’s not. And it’s awful. There would be plenty of space for all – whether they wish to sit, walk, run, scoot, cycle or even drive – if we clear up the parking. For the brief period that James Street ceased being a car park it was a pleasure to negotiate. Yes there were still cars going down the middle however they were a minor inconvenience compared to the car park down both sides. At least we pedestrians could easily see the moving cars, and them us.

Cold Bath Road is horrendous because of the parking. Yes the moving cars aren’t great, but actually we’d all manage ok if the parking rights were removed. The street would buzz with life at the shops, bars, cafes and restaurants on both sides.
I cycle around Harrogate. I have been knocked off my bike once. Not by a moving car. By the driver of a parked car opening his door into my bicycle.

Living in a car park is no fun. I will move away when I can. To a town or city that isn’t a car park. Even in this country, they do exist.

Ruth Ker, Harrogate

Proportional Representation is a fairer system 

The government has now introduced a new clause into the Elections Bill to remove a form of Proportional Representation (PR) from Mayoral elections in England in favour of the archaic system of First Past the Post (FPTP). The reason commonly given is “it works well”. It works well for who? For their party! Under FPTP a “majority” can amount to one vote. If voter turnout is low, that “majority” can be as low as 16% (e.g. Harrogate Bilton by-election 2021). To my mind this is a “lose”. How can it be a win? What post are we talking about?

Under a fair voting system, seats equal votes. It is common sense. Each seat should broadly equal the same number of votes. I am shocked to see democracy in England slither down the drain like this. In North Yorkshire the Conservatives would still probably hold a majority, but debates on policy would be richer and better informed if the views of voters from all parties were heard. The new North Yorkshire mayoral elections in 2023 would benefit from a richer more inclusive discourse rather than one party’s ideas only. PR is shown to work well in Scotland, Wales, current mayoral elections and in most modern democratic nations. So what reason could possibly hold for not using a fair voting system in mayoral elections, including North Yorkshire’s? Cllr Les recently stated on your website that the new single council authority should be accountable, inclusive and locally representative. Perhaps he could make this point to his party.

Louise Mauborgne, Glasshouses 

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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.
‘No agreement’ on Greens and Lib Dem alliance at next elections

No agreement is in place for Green Party candidates to step aside for the Liberal Democrats in Harrogate district elections in 2022, say local party officials.

However, officials in the Harrogate and District Green Party say they will consider talks ahead of next May.

The party recently agreed with the Liberal Democrats to not stand a candidate in the Knaresborough Scriven Park by-election in an effort to unseat the Conservatives.

As a result, Lib Dem candidate Hannah Gostlow won the seat by 251 votes.

But, Tamsin Worrall, election campaign manager for the Harrogate and District Green Party, said the party had no agreement beyond next year.

She said:

“I must stress there is no agreement for 2022 or 2023. However, I am sure we will be talking about it.

“Whether or not we come to an agreement is another thing.”

Ms Worrall said the recent decision to stand down a candidate was reached after both parties found broad agreement on issues such as the environment.

She said the Greens and Liberal Democrats also agreed that the current voting system, first-past-the-post, did not work for them and gave the Conservatives an advantage.

The party said voters would be “better served” under a new system. However, in the meantime, the Greens may continue to use campaign tactics such as working with other parties to target seats.

Future talks 

The seismic decision to scrap North Yorkshire County Council and the seven districts will mean elections to a new unitary authority next year.

It also means that boundaries for council wards will be redrawn and raises questions over whether the alliance between the Greens and Liberal Democrats may continue under the new authority.

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Cllr David Goode, Liberal Democrat county councillor for Knaresborough, said the outcome in the Knaresborough Scriven Park by-election, which also included a Lib Dem elected to the town council, could not have been done without the cooperation between the two parties.

He said:

“The Liberal Democrat success in getting two councillors elected in the Knaresborough Scriven Park by-election was in part due to the help and support of the Green Party in not fielding a candidate.

“Clearly not splitting the opposition vote can make a difference particularly where the result of a hard fought campaign is likely to give a very close result.”

However, despite the result, the Green Party stood a candidate in the county council by-election for the Bilton and Nidd Gorge ward in May.

The election saw Conservative candidate Cllr Matt Scott win the seat.

Ms Worrall said the party could have stood down, but the turnaround for the by-election was too short and negotiations would not have been completed in time.

However, she said the elections in May 2022 and the new authority for North Yorkshire may open up another opportunity for cooperation.

“I would expect that we will talk at some point.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Goode said greater ties were also needed on a national level to help the parties in a future election.

He said:

“With regards to any future joint cooperation pacts locally between Lib Dems and Green there is still further discussions needed to see if common ground can be identified. 

“This process would be greatly helped if there was improved national cross party links leading to some form of agreement between our parties.”

Independent crime candidate: Commissioner’s role ‘should not be political’

The Independent candidate for North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has said politics needs to be taken out of the role in order to improve policing.

Keith Tordoff, a former West Yorkshire police officer and local businessman, has pledged to introduce policies, such as visible policing and measures to tackle county lines, within two years if elected.

Voters will go to the polls on May 6 to elect a new commissioner. Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour candidates will also be standing.

Mr Tordoff, who used to own the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World in Pateley Bridge, will be standing as an independent candidate.

‘Take the politics out of the commissioner role’

Mr Tordoff has spearheaded his campaign on the pledge to take “politics out of the role” of the police, fire and crime commissioner.

He said that the role of commissioners, which were introduced in 2012 under the coalition government, had strayed from its original purpose.

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Mr Tordoff said:

“It was not meant as a political appointment. Someone from a political party always has to toe the party line.

“That is not, in my opinion, good for the people.”

If elected, he said he would bring fresh ideas and leadership to the role in order to help the chief constable and the fire service.

Mr Tordoff added that he had already sold his business, the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World, in order to avoid any conflict of interest. 

He said he would also donate £20,000 of his commissioner salary to registered charities. The police, fire and crime commissioner is paid £74,400 a year.

Visible policing to tackle anti-social behaviour

Mr Tordoff said anti-social behaviour had become the “bane of people’s lives”.

The issue has blighted Ripon in recent months and police were forced to commit more resources to the city.

In February, five incidents were reported in one three-hour spree, including a robbery, thefts and reports of a man carrying a machete.

North Yorkshire Police in Ripon.

North Yorkshire Police in Ripon.

Mr Tordoff said part of the problem was down to a lack of engagement with young people.

He said:

“They start off life as good people, they are not bad. It is just because we are not working with them.”

One solution, he said, was to invest in visible policing, electric vehicles and bikes so officers can go around towns and villages and be more approachable.

He said this would help people feel safe, but also save money for the police service.

When asked why the county needed more police officers to solve issues like this, he said it was a common complaint among residents.

“Everyone I have spoken to over the past 12 months are saying they never see a police officer.

“My plan is to invest in electric infrastructure and bikes so that officers can go out and stop and speak to people.”

Lobbying government for fire funding

Mr Tordoff pledged to to lobby government for more funding for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

According to current commissioner, Julia Mulligan, the service is one of the worst funded in the country.

The government recently capped any precept increases for fire services to 1.99%, whereas police forces were allowed a £15 hike.

Mr Tordoff said he would take the issue to government ministers, if elected.

He said:

“It is a case that needs to be presented.

“I would put a case together to show that it is reasonable and legitimate.

“I would be working with government to justify better funding for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.”

The following candidates so far have announced they are standing for election as commissioner:

The final list of nominations will be published on April 9. The deadline to register to vote in the May elections is April 19. You can register to vote here.

Tory crime candidate: No plans to close more police stations

The Conservative candidate for North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has said he does not envisage closing more police stations if elected.

In the first of a series of candidate interviews with the Stray Ferret, Philip Allott said he would take the closure of stations on a case by case basis.

Voters will go to the polls on May 6 to elect a new commissioner. The Liberal Democrats, Labour Party and an independent candidate will also be fielding candidates.

Mr Allott, who lives in Knaresborough, is standing for the Conservative party. He is managing director of PR and marketing agency Allott and Associates Ltd.

No more station closures

Mr Allott said, if elected commissioner, he did not “envisage” closing anymore stations.

In the Harrogate district, Pateley Bridge police station became the latest to be closed in the county in an effort to save money.

The building on King Street has been put up for sale and officers relocated to save £19,000 per year.

It follows other station closures, such as Northallerton, which have been shut to relocate officers with other public sector workers.

Mr Allott said some of the stations had been closed due to a lack of people coming in to report crime. He said the Pateley Bridge station was among those that were underused.

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He added that the money has been used to invest in frontline policing, such as body cameras.

When asked if he intended to stick with the policy to close stations down in order to save money for taxpayers, Mr Allott said: 

“I don’t envisage anymore police stations closing, that has been worked through.

“If there is a special case, then I will do it on a case by case basis. But I think where we are is just about right.”

Harrogate ‘badly hit’ by county lines

In the last six months of 2020, police made 140 arrests related to county lines drugs across the Harrogate district.

Police launched Operation Expedite, based in the town, to deal with drug dealing and the exploitation of vulnerable people.

Mr Allott said Harrogate had been “badly hit” by county lines drugs gangs in recent years.

He said he would extend the automatic number plate recognition system and encourage stop and search “on reasonable grounds” to help the force tackle drug gangs.

Mr Allot said there were “some easy hits” to make on tackling the problem, but added there were longer term issues such as working to help vulnerable young people who may be encouraged into gangs.

He said:

“I’m a realist. The police, fire and crime commissioner on their own and with partners can’t stop the drugs trade.

“It would be fantastic if we could, but we can’t. We can simply control it.

“But what I want to do is to make it so hard for that trade in North Yorkshire.”

North Yorkshire Police in Ripon.

More police presence to tackle Ripon crime

In order to tackle the problems over anti-social behaviour in Ripon, Mr Allott said he wanted to double the number of police officers in the city.

The city has been blighted by crime in recent months with cannabis farms found on an industrial estate and five incidents in one three-hour spree earlier in February, including a robbery, thefts and reports of a man carrying a machete.

Mr Allott said part of the issue was a “lack of visibility” of police officers. He added that there should be a mobile unit patrolling communities, including Ripon.

When asked whether he really believed more police would work when officers had already pledged to tackle the problem in the city, he said the force needed to use the “record number” of resources that it will soon have at its disposal.

He said:

“We’re well on our way to a record number of officers. We’ve definitely got a record number of PCSOs.

“But we’ve got to utilise those people and police have got to have a greater community involvement. Other agencies and organisations need to support the police.”

Dog thefts and keeping women safe on Harrogate’s streets

One area where the Conservative candidate has focused a lot of his campaign is on dog thefts.

Mr Allott believes many frustrated dog owners feel some police forces treat the crime as low priority. He wants to lobby for stronger enforcement on dog thefts.

“There’s a lot of people out there who feel they are not been listened to about their pets. That needs to be addressed.”

He highlighted a survey showing dog thefts increased by 250% last year due to gangs cashing in on the demand for puppies during lockdown.

A Freedom of Information request by the Stray Ferret to North Yorkshire Police showed the number of incidents recorded in the district where a dog had been stolen was nine last year, four in 2019 and four in 2018.

When asked whether violence against women would be a better focus for his campaign, he pointed to £500,000 which has been allocated by government to North Yorkshire to spend on improving female safety.

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Mr Allott said he wanted the money spent on plain clothes police officers and to educate young men on the issue.

As part of his campaign, he has launched a survey to gather views on how the funding should be best spent.

He said:

“The hard knock is the plain clothes police to arrest men who are harassing women. But secondly we need a cultural change.

“The way we are going to do that cultural change is that we are going to educate men to behave better.”

Funding the fire service

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue also falls within the commissioners remit.

The service precept, which funds the fire service, is set by the commissioner’s office.

But, Julia Mulligan, who has held the role since 2012, said recently that the county’s fire service is among the worst funded in the country.

Asked how he would solve that problem, Mr Allott said there would need to be more funding for the service.

He said this could be done through running fire stations more effectively, increasing the precept and lobbying ministers for more funding.

The following candidates so far have announced they are standing for election as commissioner:

The final list of nominations will be published on April 9. The deadline to register to vote in the May elections is April 19. You can register to vote here.

Tomorrow, the Stray Ferret will feature an interview with Liberal Democrat candidate, James Barker.

Political parties confirm candidates for police commissioner elections

Political parties have revealed their candidates for this year’s North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections.

Voters will go to the polls on May 6 to elect a new commissioner.

Some of those standing had already announced their candidacies ahead of the polls, but today the Liberal Democrats confirmed their candidate.

Elections for the PCC were delayed last year due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Julia Mulligan, who currently holds the role, will not be standing for re-election.

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The main political parties have confirmed candidates as follows:

The full list of those nominated for commissioner will be published on April 9.

First introduced in 2012, police and crime commissioners are elected to represent the views of people on policing and crime in their area.

They appoint the chief constable, set the budget for the police force and commission local victim support services.

It comes as polls for the police and crime commissioner will be the only local elections held in North Yorkshire in May.

The government announced that elections for the county council will be postponed until 2022 amid a consultation over scrapping the two-tier local authority system.

The deadline to register to vote in the May elections is April 19. You can register to vote here.

New directors sought for Harrogate BID board

New directors are being sought to lead Harrogate Business Improvement District in the coming year.

The BID is preparing to hold its annual elections and is inviting BID members to put themselves forward.

Requirements include attending a BID board meeting each month as well as giving at least two hours each week to BID activities.

The board is currently planning Christmas lights displays for the town centre, new planters and hanging baskets for outside shops, and schemes to support businesses facing a tough retail climate in the run-up to Christmas.

Harrogate BID acting chair Sara Ferguson said:

“I’m incredibly passionate about Harrogate town centre, and last year, I put my name forward to join the BID board. I stood for election because I wanted to be a loud voice for the town’s independent businesses.

“I will be standing again as there is still plenty to do. The job is not finished yet. The last 10 months have not been without their challenges, However, in that time, we have achieved a number of objectives with plenty more in the pipeline.

“The qualities we are looking for in a board member include having the time to devote to the BID activities, totally committed to the aims of the BID, willing to make bold decisions and, above all, wanting to see Harrogate town centre thrive.”

Ms Ferguson became acting chair earlier this year when then-chair Bob Kennedy stepped down, along with three other board members. They cited undue council influence and a lack of progress on important projects in their joint resignation letter.

Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper also left the board in June and was replaced by the authority’s director of economy and culture, Trevor Watson.

Though nominations are limited to BID members, organisations can join the BID by filling in the application form on the BID website by Thursday, October 15. Applications will be presented to the BID board on October 19.

BID members will then be invited to express an interest in becoming a director of the BID. There can be up to 15 directors, with nine currently in post.

If more than 15 people put themselves forward, a ballot of members will be held.

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