New vicar for Killinghall, Birstwith and Hampsthwaite

The Reverend Suzy McCarter has been appointed vicar of Hampsthwaite with Felliscliffe, Killinghall and Birstwith.

Revd McCarter, who lives in Birstwith vicarage, will be installed at an induction service with the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Rev Helen-Ann Hartley, on July 28 at 7pm in Killinghall.

Born in Northampton, Revd McCarter was ordained in Blackburn Diocese.

She said:

“I then served a curacy in Standish, Wigan and my first appointment as a clergyperson was in the benefice of Harden, Wilsden, Cullingworth and Denholme in West Yorkshire where I stayed for nearly 11 years before moving here.

“We hope to settle and remain here for a nice long time.”

Birstwith and Hampsthwaite churches reopened for worship during Holy Week and are now back to the normal pattern of worship.

Killinghall, however, is having work done to repair the chancel after some water damage to the foundations resulted in the floor sinking.

It is expected to open for worship on May 30.

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Just one covid case confirmed in Harrogate district

Just one covid case has been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the past 24 hours, according to Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of cases since last March to 7,644.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate has dropped to 19 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average stands at 28 and the England rate is 24.

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No further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

It means the death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic remains at 179.

The more recent covid-linked death at the hospital was reported on April 11, according to NHS England figures.

More than 95,000 receive first covid vaccine in Harrogate district

The number of people who have received the first dose of a covid vaccine in the Harrogate district has reached 95,000.

According to NHS England statistics, 95,137 have had a first vaccine.

The figure is an increase of 710 on last week.

It comes as Amanda Bloor, chief accountable officer at NHS North Yorkshire CCG, said 45 to 49-year-olds were being invited for their first jabs at the Great Yorkshire Showground site.

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However, she said the number invited was dependent on vaccine supply.

The CCG confirmed that 428,000 people have had a first dose across North Yorkshire and York, while 140,000 have had a second dose.

Meanwhile, health bosses confirmed the Yorkshire Showground site in Harrogate will not be open for vaccinations for 19 days this summer due to the Great Yorkshire Show and other events taking place.

The NHS has an agreement to use the site until August 13.

£2,000 grants available for Harrogate district sports clubs

Sports clubs affected by covid in the Harrogate district are being invited to apply for grants of up to £2,021.

Made by Sport, a charity that promotes the power of sport to tackle social issues, has made the unrestricted funding available to not-for-profit groups.

Organisations that work with young people aged five to 25, and have annual turnover of less than £75,000, are eligible to apply.

They need to be able to demonstrate they work in one of five key areas, which include improving mental health and developing life skills.

They must also show the pandemic has adversely affected them, either operationally or financially, and funding could save, resume or adapt their activity.

Two Ridings Community Foundation, the community foundation for north and east Yorkshire, is administering the grants programme on behalf of Made by Sport.

The deadline for applications is May 31.

The guidance notes for organisations interested in applying are here.

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Has Banksy painted a mural in Scotton?

The owners of the historic Guy Fawkes Arms in Scotton are trying to find out whether a mural, which appeared on their pub yesterday, is a genuine Banksy.

Danielle and Adam Vear were shocked to discover the image featuring Guy Fawkes, who lived in the village, when it appeared in broad daylight yesterday at about 3.30pm.

The spray paint and stencil mural, which bears a Banksy signature, shows covid passports dropping from a barrel held by Fawkes into a burning Houses of Parliament.

The quality of the mural, plus the fact it was done so quickly, suggests it is the work of a talented artist. But is it a Banksy? Ms Vear said:

“I really don’t know. Whoever did it is good and put a lot of thought into it. Everyone is intrigued by it.”

The couple think the artist appeared when they were in the pub. Remarkably, nobody seems to have spotted them even though the pub is situated in the heart of the village.

The Vears are now trying to verify the work by contacting the pest control website set up for such a purpose.

If it is a Banksy, it would be worth millions of pounds.

The pub, which dates back to the 1700s, reopens today for outdoor drinks only and Ms Vear insists the mural isn’t an elaborate publicity stunt.

“The whole thing is just bizarre.”

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Just two more covid cases in Harrogate district today

Just two more covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

It takes the total number of infections since last March to 7,640.

Meanwhile, the district’s seven-day covid rate has dropped to 24 per 100,000 people.

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The North Yorkshire average is also 24, while the England rate is 23.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for covid have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital.

It means the covid death toll at the hospital since the start of the pandemic remains at 179.

Slight increase in Harrogate district unemployment

The number of people on out-of-work benefits in the Harrogate district increased slightly after the third lockdown was imposed, according to latest figures.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics for February show 3,625 people were claiming out-of-work benefits — 3.8% of the population aged 16 to 64.

The number is a slight increase on 3,460 in January.

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This is in contrast to UK-wide figure of 6.5% claiming support.

Financial support for those out of work include Universal Credit and Job Seekers’ Allowance.

Figures in the district have remained stable throughout the pandemic, which suggests the government furlough scheme has protected many staff from redundancy.

First doses of covid vaccine near 95,000 in Harrogate district

The number of people who have received a first dose of a covid vaccine in the Harrogate district has reached nearly 95,000.

According to NHS England statistics, 94,427 have had a first vaccine.

The figure is an increase of just 809 on last week due to a national drop in supply.

However, earlier this week the NHS invited those aged between 45 and 49 to come forward for the jab.

It comes as health bosses confirmed the Yorkshire Showground site in Harrogate will not be open for vaccinations for 19 days this summer due to the Great Yorkshire Show and other events taking place.

Read more:

The NHS has an agreement to use the site until August 13.

Meanwhile, four covid cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district according to Public Health England statistics.

It takes the total number of infections since last March to 7,621.

No further covid deaths have been reported at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England figures.

The last death recorded at the hospital was April 11.

Elsewhere, the current seven-day covid rate in the district stands at 22 per 100,000 people.

The North Yorkshire average is 24 and the England rate stands at 27.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back to the traffic and travel service. We have updates every 15 minutes as more people get onto the roads.

The live blogs, brought to you by The HACS Groups, aim to keep the Harrogate district moving.

Make sure to keep in touch via social media or email us on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

9am – Full Update

That is all from me for this morning. We do hope you have found this helpful, especially as the roads become more busy around the Harrogate district.

Roads

Traffic hot spots:

Road Closures:

Temporary lights in place:

Trains

Buses

Back to bus time table

8.45am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic hot spots:

Road Closures:

Temporary lights in place:

Trains

Buses

Back to bus time table

8.30am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic hot spots:

Road Closures:

Temporary lights in place:

Trains

Buses

Back to bus time table

8.15am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic hot spots:

Road Closures:

Temporary lights in place:

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Buses

Back to bus time table

8am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic hot spots:

Road Closures:

Temporary lights in place:

Trains

Buses

Back to bus time table

7.45am – Full Update

Roads

The roads, especially Wetherby Road, are already starting to become busy this morning, but there are no traffic hot spots just yet.

Road Closures:

Temporary lights in place:

Trains

Buses

Back to bus time table

7.30am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are already starting to become busy this morning, but there are no traffic hot spots just yet.

Road Closures:

Temporary lights in place:

Trains

Buses

Back to bus time table

7.15am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are already starting to become busy this morning, but there are no traffic hot spots just yet.

Road Closures:

Temporary lights in place:

Trains

Buses

Back to bus time table

7am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are already starting to become busy this morning, but there are no traffic hot spots just yet.

Road Closures:

Temporary lights in place:

Trains

Buses

Back to bus time table

6.45am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning, no traffic hotspots yet.

Road Closures:

Temporary lights in place:

Trains

Buses

Back to bus time table

6.30am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning, no traffic hotspots yet.

Road Closures:

  • Harlow Moor Road at the junction with Otley Road
  • West End and Hall Lane Blubberhouses
  • From 6.30pm to 11.30pm Leeds Road will be closed for repairs

Temporary lights in place:

  • Otley Road from Cold Bath Road to Harlow Moor Road
  • Whinney Lane and Pannal Ash roundabout
  • Church Lane near the Grantham Arms pub, Boroughbridge
  • Ripon Road north of Killinghall
  • Clotherholme Road at the junction for Lark Lane, Ripon
  • Stonebridgegate near Paddys Park, Ripon

Trains

  • Services on the Harrogate, Knaresborough, York and Leeds routes look to be on time this morning.

Buses

  • Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations

Back to bus time table

  • The 36: Ripon – Harrogate – Leeds: Back to pre-lockdown timetable. Late Saturday night journeys to and from Leeds will return from Saturday 26 June, to support the reopening of evening venues.
  • The 1: Harrogate – Starbeck – Knaresborough: Back to pre-lockdown timetable, with weekday evening and Sunday journeys on the 1B serving Knaresborough Aldi and Nidderdale Lodge Park.
  • Harrogate Electrics 2A, 2B, 3 and 6: Harrogate to Bilton, New Park, Jennyfield and Pannal Ash: All services return to pre-lockdown timetables.
  • The 7: Harrogate – Wetherby – Leeds: Back to pre-lockdown timetable.
  • 8: Harrogate – Calcutt – Knaresborough – Wetherby: Current timetable continues.
  • 21: Knaresborough – Boroughbridge: Service continues to use current times.
  • 24: Harrogate – Pateley Bridge: Current timetable continues.
  • Flyer A2: Harrogate – Leeds Bradford Airport – Bradford: Current timetable continues.
Outdoor dining forcing Harrogate wheelchair users on to roads

A disability charity in Harrogate has said the sudden increase in outdoor dining has caused safety concerns for wheelchair users and visually impaired people.

Hospitality businesses have taken advantage of new pavement licences this week.

Many have been busy but the extra tables and chairs on pavements has prompted Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, to urge venues to consider people with disabilities.

She said:

“We have heard some concerns already, not only from wheelchair users but also from people with other mobility issues and people with visual impairments.

“It can be difficult if there are tables and chairs on streets where they don’t expect them.”

Ms Snape said tables and chairs on narrow pavements with no segregated pedestrian area were the main problems. She said it encouraged people to spread out on their chairs and take up the whole pavement, adding:

“It forces passers-by to go on the road, which isn’t easy if you are a wheelchair user, especially if there isn’t a dropped kerb.”

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The new outdoor cafe culture has caused other problems, with one wheelchair user telling the charity they had been unable to get a coffee because an outdoors area wasn’t able to accommodate their wheelchair.

Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire

Ms Snape said badly managed queues were also a concern because they forced wheelchair users into roads.

She said:

“It’s great to see everywhere so busy and nobody wants to see restrictions. I suspect most businesses just haven’t thought about these issues. Be kind. Be respectful. These problems could be easily solved.

“But if it becomes a massive issue something will have to be done and some controls put in place.”