Search for missing Harrogate woman focuses on North Rigton

The search for missing Harrogate woman Judith Holliday is once again focusing on North Rigton after a possible sighting on a bus to Ripon was ruled out.

Judith, 73, was last seen on Saturday, August 27, when she left her care home in Harrogate and walked to the bus station and Library Gardens.

A further sighting the same day in North Rigton has been confirmed by North Yorkshire Police.

Another sighting was reported on September 1 by a passenger on a bus to Ripon but this was ruled out today.

Judith Holliday

Judith Holliday

Judith’s family had been anxiously awaiting CCTV footage from the Harrogate Bus Company to confirm whether or not it was her.

Lucinda Edwards, Judith’s niece, appealed to the company on social media over the weekend to speed up the process of checking the CCTV images.

Lucinda told the Stray Ferret it was frustrating to have to wait until after the weekend for the footage to be assessed.

Ms Edwards, a charity fundraiser from Harrogate, said:

“There’s a vulnerable woman out there. I just feel let down that it’s taken days and days to check the footage.

“We are not looking for a stuffed bunny that’s been lost on a bus, we are looking for a 73-year-old lady and it’s not good enough.”

Read more:

A spokesman for the Harrogate Bus Company said:

“We are co-operating fully with the police investigation, as we have done throughout, including provision of CCTV footage.”

Pub sighting

Lucinda, who has been back in North Rigton today searching, said Judith was spotted at the Square and Compass pub in the village early in the afternoon on the day of her disappearance.

She appealed to anyone who may have seen her, or who may have offered her a lift, to come forward.

Relatives spent the weekend giving out flyers in Otley, Ilkley, North Rigton and Wetherby.

In addition, hundreds of posters have gone up across the Harrogate district appealing for information.

Judith Holliday

Posters have gone up across the district.

Judith is described as being of thin build, approximately 5ft in height with medium length grey hair.

She has a condition which presents like vascular dementia, meaning she can get a bit confused, but often comes across as being as sharp as a tack.

Lucinda said:

“The kindness of people helping us to find her has been astonishing.”

North Yorkshire Police said anyone with any information that could assist with the search should call 101 and quote reference number 12220153505.

Any immediate sightings should be reported via 999.

 

 

 

YorBus: On-demand service’s running costs are twice as much as regular buses

More questions have been raised over whether North Yorkshire’s on-demand bus scheme is value for taxpayers’ money after it was revealed it costs twice as much to run than regular services.

A North Yorkshire County Council meeting heard YorBus costs the authority around £18 per passenger journey, while normal timetabled services cost £9 on average.

The pilot scheme was recently extended for another year in the Ripon, Masham and Bedale areas, and allows passengers to book services via an app.

In total, YorBus cost the council £229,000 last year, and another £230,000 has been set aside for the remainder of the trial until June 2023.

At Thursday’s meeting of the Skipton and Ripon Area Constituency Committee, Settle councillor David Staveley said he was concerned about the costs and that taxpayers outside the trial area were not seeing any benefits.

He said:

“There are 850 active riders for YorBus in a population of several hundred thousand and I’m sure the rest of us who aren’t benefiting from this service might not think it is the best use of taxpayers’ money.

“I’m just a bit worried that it sounds like a blank cheque.”

The council launched YorBus to provide public transport in poorly-served areas and has repeatedly stated its ambition to roll-out the scheme across the county.

YorBus

A total of 13,426 passenger journeys were completed in the first year which transport officer Andy Clarke said went “beyond our hopes”.

However, campaigners have previously argued that the council should be setting much higher ambitions.

Mr Clarke told Thursday’s meeting that passenger numbers were increasing and that the costs of running the service were “coming down all the time”.

He added:

“YorBus is attracting a different customer base. This is not just people transferring off existing local bus services – it seems to be new customers coming along as it definitely offers something different.

“What we will be looking to do is reduce the cost figure for YorBus and then make some more detailed comparisons with other lower density rural services.

“We very much need to understand what we can get out of YorBus and how well it can perform.”

YorBus uses two 14-seater buses which are wheelchair accessible.

Its fares were recently increased in August with a single journey costing £2 for adults and £1 for a child, while under-fives travel free and concessionary bus passes can also be used.

Read more:

 

Fountains Abbey tops survey of UK’s best historic attractions

Fountains Abbey near Ripon and the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh have tied in first place in a survey of the best historic attractions in the UK.

The two sites were the joint favourite attractions of 63 that were ranked in a survey of almost 3,000 members of consumer organisation Which?.

The survey looked at nine criteria including overall value for money, helpfulness of staff and lack of crowds.

Both achieved an overall score of 88 per cent, beating well-known attractions including York Minster, Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London to the top spot.

Fountains Abbey, which is a World Heritage Site managed by the National Trust, is one of the largest Cistercian abbey ruins in Europe. It was a thriving monastic community for 400 years until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539.

Fountains Abbey

Light shines through the cellarium at Fountains Abbey.

Those who rated the attraction highly praised the ‘calm atmosphere’ and ‘leisurely walks’ on offer in over 800 acres of grounds, with the attraction scoring a full five stars for lack of crowds, as well as how accurately the description matched reality.

The Royal Yacht Britannia, which served the Royal Family for more than 44 years, is now docked permanently on the Firth of Forth in Leith.

Durham Cathedral was the highest scoring free attraction, with a customer score of 86 per cent. It ranked joint fifth in the table overall, tying with Stirling Castle.

Read more:

At the other end of the table was Shakespeare’s birthplace, the playwright’s childhood home in Stratford-Upon-Avon, with a score of 63 per cent. While respondents praised the building’s cultural significance, it scored just two out of five stars for value for money and facilities, and rated no more than three stars in any category.

Guy Hobbs, acting editor of Which? Travel, said:

“This year two very different but equally impressive historic attractions topped our survey, and it’s easy to see why. Both Fountains Abbey and the Royal Yacht Britannia offer a unique day out with visitors telling us they enjoyed the opportunity to immerse themselves in a slice of history for the day.

Which? surveyed 2,944 members between April and May 2022.

 

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic roundup

Drivers in Harrogate should be aware of an upcoming road closure next week.

It forms part of ongoing works in the town, which are set to last for 10 weeks.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

As previously reported, Northern Gas Networks is carrying out work in the Harrogate area which is expected to last for 10 weeks.

As part of the work, a lane closure will be introduced on Crescent Road between Montpellier Road and Parliament Street along with four-way lights on Crescent Road, Parliament Street, Ripon Road and Kings Road from Monday September 5 for two weeks

Further gas works will see road closures and temporary traffic lights on many of the main routes into town, including Ripon Road and Kings Road just as children return to school.

Temporary lights remain on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road as the company carries out replacement work to gas pipes.

The lights will remain in place until Monday.

This Sunday, temporary lights are expected to be in place on Ripon Road, Harrogate, near to the Oak Beck roundabout as Virgin Media carries out maintenance work.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting cancellations on its 1, 1D, 7 and 36 services this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

Read more

 

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Traffic is moving as normal during rush hour this morning, with the usual queues on Wetherby Road, Knaresborough Road and Skipton Road.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update

Roads

As previously reported, Northern Gas Networks is carrying out the work to replace ageing pipework. Work has started with temporary lights on Cold Bath Road.

Further gas works will see road closures and temporary traffic lights on many of the main routes into town, including Ripon Road and Kings Road just as children return to school.

As part of the work, a lane closure will be introduced on Crescent Road between Montpellier Road and Parliament Street along with four-way lights on Crescent Road, Parliament Street, Ripon Road and Kings Road from Monday September 5 for two weeks

Meanwhile, a road closure is in place on Oakdale in Harrogate until September 5 as Northern Gasworks carries out work in the area.

Temporary lights remain on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road as the company carries out replacement work to gas pipes.

The lights will remain in place until Monday.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting no cancellations on its services this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

Read more

 

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Drivers should expect the usual traffic in the Harrogate district during rush hour this morning.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Traffic is moving as normal during rush hour this morning, with the usual queues on Wetherby Road, Knaresborough Road and Skipton Road.

However, motorists should be aware of 10 weeks of roadworks in Harrogate which started yesterday.

As previously reported, Northern Gas Networks is carrying out the work to replace ageing pipework. Work has started with temporary lights on Cold Bath Road.

Further gas works will see road closures and temporary traffic lights on many of the main routes into town, including Ripon Road and Kings Road just as children return to school.

A road closure is in place on Oakdale in Harrogate until September 5 as Northern Gasworks carries out work in the area.

Meanwhile, temporary lights remain on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road as the company carries out replacement work to gas pipes.

The lights will remain in place until Monday.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting cancellations on its 1A, 1B, 1C and 36 services this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

Read more:

 

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic roundup

Work is due to start today on gas works in the Harrogate area which will cause delays for drivers.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

As previously reported, drivers in the Harrogate area should be aware of planned roadworks which will last for 10 weeks from today (August 30).

Northern Gas Networks is carrying out the work to replace ageing pipework. Work is due to start on Cold Bath Road today.

Further gas works will see road closures and temporary traffic lights on many of the main routes into town, including Ripon Road and Kings Road just as children return to school.

A road closure is in place on Oakdale in Harrogate until September 5 as Northern Gasworks carries out work in the area.

Meanwhile, temporary lights remain on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road as the company carries out replacement work to gas pipes.

The lights will remain in place until September 5.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting no cancellations on its services this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

Read more:

 

Don’t call 999 to report hosepipe ban breaches, say police

Police have urged people not to call 999 to report breaches of the hosepipe ban in the Harrogate district.

Yorkshire Water announced the ban this month following days of dry weather and high temperatures.

It comes into force today and is the first hosepipe ban in the area since 1995.

Now, North Yorkshire Police has urged the public not to report any breaches to the force.

Police said in a statement that any flouting of the ban was a civil matter not a criminal one and any calls would divert handlers away from “real emergencies”.

The force said:

“In other parts of the county, we’ve already seen colleagues receiving hundreds of 999 calls about the hosepipe bans, even before restrictions come into place.

“But the hosepipe ban is a civil matter, not a criminal one, and should not be reported to the police.

“And crucially, every call made to the police about the hosepipe ban is diverting our call handlers away from dealing with real emergencies.”

Police have urged people to follow advice on the Yorkshire Water website if they suspect potential breaches of the ban.

It comes as the Harrogate district is officially in drought following long spells of dry weather this summer.

Read more:

The Environment Agency declared the drought status last week. The last drought in Yorkshire was declared in autumn 2018.

On the hosepipe ban, Neil Dewis, director of water at Yorkshire Water, said:

“Parts of Yorkshire have seen the lowest rainfall since our records began more than 130 years ago.

“The hot, dry, weather means that Yorkshire’s rivers are running low and our reservoirs are around 20% lower than we would expect for this time of year.

“We’ve been doing everything we can to avoid putting in restrictions but unfortunately, they’re now necessary as part of our drought planning.”

The hosepipe ban includes:

Watering a garden using a hosepipe
Cleaning vehicles or boats using a hosepipe
Watering plants with a hosepipe
Filling or maintaining a domestic swimming or paddling pool
Drawing water, using a hosepipe, for domestic recreational use
Cleaning walls or windows of domestic premises using a hosepipe
Cleaning paths or patios using a hosepipe
Cleaning other artificial outdoor surfaces using a hosepipe

People can still undertake these activities without using a hosepipe if they use tap water from a bucket or watering can; or use water that is not sourced from taps such as grey water, rainwater from a water butt, or a private borehole, for example.

Businesses will be allowed to use a hosepipe if it is directly related to a commercial purpose.

There are restrictions on using a hosepipe if not for those essential commercial needs – so using a hosepipe to clean a path outside a business property, for example, would not be allowed.

Blue badge holders, those on Yorkshire Water’s Priority Services register or WaterSure tariff for medical reasons, are also excluded from the ban.

More information is available here.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Drivers should be aware of the usual rush hour traffic on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road, Knaresborough Road and Skipton Road this morning.

Meanwhile, many motorists in the Harrogate are set to face roadworks for 10 weeks after the bank holiday weekend.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

As previously reported, drivers in the Harrogate area should be aware of planned roadworks which will last for 10 weeks from Tuesday (August 30).

It will see road closures and temporary traffic lights on many of the main routes into town, including Ripon Road, Kings Road and Cold Bath Road just as children return to school.

Meanwhile, a road closure is in place on Oakdale in Harrogate until September 5 as Northern Gasworks carries out work in the area.

Temporary lights remain on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road as Northern Gas Networks carries out replacement work to gas pipes.

The lights will remain in place until September 5.

Those using the A1(M) towards Wetherby should be aware of traffic due to Leeds Festival at Bramham Park starting this weekend.

Trains and buses

Northern services between Harrogate and Knaresborough going to York and Leeds are scheduled to run as normal this morning.

Meanwhile, the Harrogate Bus Company is reporting cancellations its 36 service this morning.

You can find out more on the disruption to services here.

Read more:

 

Considering divorce? Before you do anything, read this…

This article is sponsored by Harrogate Family Law.

If the prospect of divorce has crossed your mind, you’ll know it’s one of the biggest decisions you could ever make.

Whether you have been married for many years or only a short time, considering ending the relationship can be daunting: from finances to children, there are many aspects which make the situation feel complicated.

Before you make a decision, here are some suggestions which could make the process easier for everyone involved.

Speak to a solicitor

This may feel like a big step, and one which should come much further down the line, but it’s actually something many people do in the early stages – even before speaking to their spouse.

Andrew Meehan, director of Harrogate Family Law, said:

“A lot of people come to us when they haven’t even decided it’s finally over.

“It’s the biggest decision you will ever make in your life, but most people have never been through it before.

“Knowledge is power: people want to know what they are in for and what they would potentially come out with.”

Choose the right law firm

It’s important to do your research and be confident in your choice. Your solicitor will need to know everything about your life, including your finances, so make sure it’s someone you feel comfortable with.

Solicitors are not just there to resolve disputes, but are an essential part of ensuring any agreement is legally sound.

Mr Meehan said:

“Even if you have agreed a settlement with your ex-partner, it still needs to be put into a court order so it’s binding.

“People sometimes think that the introduction of no-fault divorces means they don’t need to have everything done through solicitors, but that’s not the case.

“Whether it’s an amicable settlement or things are more contentious, it is really important to get the right advice to ensure your settlement is fair from the outset and will be fair to you in the future too.”

Do your research

In many divorces, there is an imbalance of assets between the two parties. While one person having a higher income than another can be obvious, it’s often also the case that pensions, trusts, business ownership and other factors need to be considered to ensure the settlement is fair.

Getting all the information together will help your solicitor to ensure you get what is fair and that your needs for the future will be protected.

Mr Meehan said:

“We deal with a lot of cases where there is a family business to consider, or where one partner has focused on their career to earn money for the family while the other has taken a step back to raise the children and look after things at home.

“Not only does that mean their current incomes are vastly different, but it also means their future earning potential, their pension provision and their other assets can be affected quite significantly.

“Knowing all of these details helps us to get the full picture of the finances and ensure they are split fairly, so one partner is not disadvantaged because of the role they played while the family was together.”

Don’t panic

Facing divorce at the outset can be a worrying time, even if it is likely to be amicable.

When you add in potential challenges, such as one partner making the situation more difficult or displaying narcissistic tendencies, it can feel insurmountable.

However, your solicitor should be there to guide you through it and ensure the end result is right for you, said Mr Meehan.

“Our strapline is ‘on your side’ and that’s what a good solicitor should be. They should understand your worries and help to put your mind at ease.

“We know that people are often concerned about the necessities: keeping a roof over their heads, having money to pay bills and cover their legal fees, and managing their finances before the settlement is agreed.

“Having the right solicitor who understands this is absolutely essential for your peace of mind, now and in the future.”