Harrogate district Archives - Page 27 of 139

Boroughbridge girls savour day to remember at Euro 2022 final

A gamble that the England would get to the final of Euro 22 paid off on Sunday for 70 members of Boroughbridge Juniors Football Club.

Chris Fahy, the club’s chairman and coach, wanted his girls teams to see top level football.

So a year ago he applied for tickets to the Euro 2022 final — and it paid off as they got to see the Lionesses beat Germany 2-1.

He said:

“Seventy from the club went to Wembley for the final, including girls and parents.

“I applied for tickets a year ago. I gambled that England were going to get to the final. Luckily it paid off! Even if it didn’t, I wanted the girls to see top level football.

“It was absolutely fantastic. The atmosphere is different from men’s football – it’s more family orientated. You feel there’s going to be no trouble, no danger, at the women’s game.”

Mr Fahy said the girls had an amazing time at the game, which saw the Lionesses clinch victory in extra time.

He said:

“The girls loved it. We were all really excited going down. We had a fantastic view – we were behind the goal where England scored twice.

“We stayed until the celebrations were more or less finished, about half an hour afterwards.”

The club is holding free taster sessions throughout August for girls aged five to 15, with the first session at Boroughbridge Football Club, on Aldborough Road, starting at 10.15am this Saturday, August 6.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic update

Traffic is moving as normal in the Harrogate district this morning.

However, roadworks on Skipton Road and Grove Road appear to be causing disruption.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

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

Motorists should also be aware of ongoing resurfacing work on Claro Road in Harrogate.

As previously reported, work in the area is expected to continue until August 9. Resurfacing will also be carried out on Devonshire Place and Coach Road during that time.

Northern Gas is also continuing work on Harrogate’s Grove Road where temporary lights will be in place until Friday.

The work is causing queueing traffic on Skipton Road and drivers are urged to allow more time for their journeys.

Temporary lights are also on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road are still in place as Northern Gas Networks carries out replacement work to gas pipes in the area.

The lights will remain in place for seven weeks.

Meanwhile, long term roadworks are in place on Station Road in Goldsborough. The road will be closed until September 19, 2022, as Stonebridge Homes installs a foul water and surface water pipes to connect to the sewer system.

A diversion route is in place in the village.

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 the 1A and 1B morning services.

The 6 is also unable to reach its stop on Queen’s Road due to temporary lights in the area.

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

Birstwith and Weeton shows attract weekend crowds

Two of the Harrogate district’s premier village shows attracted sizeable crowds over the weekend.

Weeton Show drew its biggest attendance for 15 years on Sunday as early morning rain gave way to fine weather.

The event was one of the few country shows to defy covid last year and take place.

Here are some images from the day.

Weeton Show

Birstwith Show bounced back strongly with its first event in three years.

3SIXTY Bicycle Stunt Team (pictured below) were among the attractions at the Nidderdale event, which dates back to 1867.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Roadworks and bus cancellations in Harrogate district

Some roadworks remain in place throughout the Harrogate district this morning which may cause delays.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

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

Motorists should also be aware of ongoing resurfacing work on Claro Road in Harrogate.

As previously reported, work in the area is expected to continue until August 9. Resurfacing will also be carried out on Devonshire Place and Coach Road during that time.

Northern Gas is also continuing work on Harrogate’s Grove Road where temporary lights will be in place until Friday.

Meanwhile, a road closure will be in place on Sherwood Drive from Hookstone Chase in Harrogate today to allow BT to repair service in the area.

A diversion will be in place from Forest Lane onto the road. The closure is expected to remain in force until Thursday.

Temporary lights are also on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road are still in place as Northern Gas Networks carries out replacement work to gas pipes in the area.

The lights will remain in place for seven weeks.

A diversion route is in place in the village.

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 the 36, 7, 1C and 1 morning services.

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

Malnourished dogs found in Harrogate flat covered in faeces and urine

The RSPCA has revealed that two malnourished dogs rescued in Harrogate were living in a flat covered in faeces and with carpets soaked in urine.

Robbie Nelson, 24, of Woodfield View, was banned from keeping animals for five years last week.

The animal charity has revealed the mastiff called Rocco and the lurcher named Smudge were so underweight their ribs were protruding when RSPCA inspector Tom Hutton was called to a flat in High Street, Harrogate, on March 18 last year.

The inspector, who was called out by police executing a search warrant in relation to another matter, needed to squeeze through the living room door to reach the dogs because of the large amount of clutter, scrap bikes and household waste piled up.

The flat was full of clutter.

Areas of the flat were covered in faeces and the carpets were soaked in urine.

Nelson refused to sign over the dogs to the RSPCA so the animals were seized by the police.

They were taken to a vet for treatment and an examination showed Rocco had a body condition score of one out of nine, which is classed as a state of emaciation.

Rocco is back in good health after being emaciated.

The veterinary surgeon said in her witness statement:

“He (Rocco) weighed just 24.3kg and I would estimate a healthy weight would have been nearer 36kg,”

“The lurcher (Smudge) was also very thin. He weighed 17kg and his body condition score was two out of nine. I estimate a healthy weight for him would have been 23kg.”

The vet concluded that both dogs were malnourished and the “state of their accommodation had compromised their health”.

Robbie Nelson from Harrogate is wanted by police.

Robbie Nelson was banned from keeping animals for five years last week.

In mitigation, the court was told the defendant suffered from mental health issues and he felt his brother, Charlie Nelson, should have taken responsibility for the dogs as he was their “true owner”.

Smudge is waiting to be rehomed.

At an earlier hearing, a charge of failing to ensure the needs of the two dogs were met was also proven in absence against Charlie Nelson, 30, also of Woodfield View, Harrogate.

He has yet to be sentenced and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest.

The RSPCA said in a statement that both Rocco and Smudge had “returned to good health and remain in the care of the RSPCA”. They will be rehomed when the outstanding court matter is settled.

After the hearing, inspector Hutton said:

“Both these dogs were skinny and living in awful conditions. The house was full of rubbish and dog faeces.

“We thank North Yorkshire Police for alerting us to the situation the dogs were in, which means we will be able to find them new homes where they are loved and cared for.”

Another record month for the Stray Ferret as readership soars

The Stray Ferret has set new monthly records as it continues to reshape the face of local news in the Harrogate district.

Articles on our website attracted just over one million page views from 218,000 site users in July.

A further 574,000 page views were made by almost 4,500 people on the Stray Ferret app, which was launched at the end of last year.

The combined total of 1.6 million monthly page views is a new record, as is the number of people visiting the site.

Page views have more than doubled in the last year as increasing numbers of people tune in to our lively combination of rolling news, human interest stories and political analysis. Our social media engagement is also leading the way in the district.

Last month we ran live blogs at the Great Yorkshire Show and during the heatwave. We led on coverage of plans to reduce the number of fire engines in Harrogate at night time to one, reported on Harrogate-born England footballer Rachel Daly’s ascent to international superstar, showcased businesses such as the re-opened Coach and Horses pub in Harrogate, covered visits to the district by celebrities including Alan Carr and Helen Skelton, and provided live footage on our Facebook page of St Wilfrid’s Procession in Ripon.

We also published daily business news a well as traffic and travel bulletins, and provided unparalleled scrutiny of our local MPs, councils and courts.

Tamsin O’Brien, managing director of the Stray Ferret, said:

“The Stray Ferret has become an unmissable read for anyone interested in the Harrogate district.

“Thank you to all our readers in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge, Masham and all points in between.

“We will continue to strive to bring the best daily news and hold those in power to account.”

You can download the Stray Ferret app by clicking on the banner below.

Four teens arrested after burglary in Spofforth

Police have arrested four teenagers after a burglary in Spofforth.

Officers were called to the village after reports of a break-in at a house in the early hours of this morning.

Three 16-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of burglary and a 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary.

A North Yorkshire Police statement this afternoon confirmed that all four remain in custody and an investigation is ongoing.

MPs watch: PM resignation and a leadership contest

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In July, Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned and a leadership election was triggered in the Conservative party. Two of our MPs have backed Rishi Sunak, but Nigel Adams, who is a close ally of Boris Johnson, has yet to reveal his favoured candidate.

We asked our three Conservative MPs, Harrogate & Knaresborough’s Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon’s Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular that they have been doing this month, but, as usual, we did not receive a response from any of them.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found out on Mr Jones:

On July 6, Andrew Jones called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign. He said: “I think we have come to the end of the road with this Prime Minister”.
On July 11, Mr Jones was elected to the executive of the Conservative party’s 1922 committee, which can be influential in determining the fate of party leaders.
Mr Jones formally backed Rishi Sunak to be the new leader of the Conservative Party on July 13.
On July 20, he took part in voting on a series of amendments to the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.
Mr Jones spoke in the House of Commons to praise local agricultural shows on July 21.
Mr Jones held a surgery at Bilton Community Day on Saturday, July 30.

Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon.

In Skipton and Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

On July 7, Julian Smith heavily criticised Prime Minister Boris Johnson during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He said Mr Johnson was causing a “constitutional crisis” by refusing to resign amid a series on ministers quitting his cabinet.
Mr Smith tweeted the same day that the civil service had been “attacked and maligned” and had “held the country together” during the resignations of the cabinet.
On July 10, Mr Smith tweeted that the European Convention on Human Rights was “key” to the Good Friday Agreement. He warned against the Conservative leadership contest undermining the agreement.
On July 18, Mr Smith voted with the government on a confidence vote held in the House of Commons.
Mr Smith met with local farmers in Boroughbridge to discuss agricultural, as well as food security and production.
Following the resignation of Mr Johnson, Mr Smith declared his support for Rishi Sunak in the Conservative leadership contest on July 20.
On July 24, Mr Smith was in attendance for Mr Sunak’s visit to Black Sheep Brewery in Masham as part of his leadership campaign.
Mr Smith tweeted on July 29 that he had been to Ripon Tennis Club to try the facility’s new padel tennis courts.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

In rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Adams:

Instead of tweeting about resignations in the government, Mr Adams posted a tweet on July 5 congratulating the England cricket team on defeating India by seven wickets.
Mr Adams, who sits in Boris Johnson’s cabinet, has remained silent throughout the leadership election and has not yet revealed who has backed for leader.
Reports emerged in the Observer on July 18 that Mr Adams could face a by-election as he could be offered a peerage by Boris Johnson.
On the same day, he voted with the government on a confidence vote in the House of Commons.
Mr Adams tweeted on July 27 that he had met AstraZeneca in Tokyo to “discuss innovation and partnerships”. He tweeted again the following day that he had met the 2025 World Expo organisers in Japan.

Harrogate district councillors support York’s rail bid

Harrogate district councillors are supporting the campaign to make York the home of Britain’s railways.

York is among six short-listed locations chosen by the government as potential locations to be the headquarters of Great British Railways.

The other shortlisted locations include Birmingham, Crewe, Derby, Doncaster and Newcastle.

Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green party councillors from across the Harrogate district joined other North Yorkshire County Councillors in a cross-party show of support at County Hall in Northallerton for York’s bid.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, said York’s selection would “be of huge benefit not just for York, but for the whole of the region as well”. He added:

“The bid by York is ambitious and shows the intent in both the city and across North Yorkshire to bring real economic benefits and the prospect of hundreds of new jobs, and could prove to be a defining moment for the region.

“York has a long and proud heritage connected to the railways dating back to the Victorian era, and it would be fitting for the city to be at the forefront of attempts to reform the nation’s rail network in the 21^st century.

1,600 jobs created

Great British Railways will be a state-owned public body that oversees rail transport from next year.

Analysis has shown that the new headquarters would add an estimated £110 million to York’s economy, creating 1,600 new jobs with 320 of those roles in the 700 most deprived communities within an hour’s train journey of the city.

York is already one of the biggest rail centres in the country, with 5,000 employees linked to the industry and major train operators based in the city.

The city is also home to the National Railway Museum, and the York Central project, which is one of the largest brownfield sites in the country, is centred around the city’s railway station.

An artist’s impression of the proposed York Central development.

City of York Council leader Cllr Keith Aspden, said having Great British Railways’ headquarters in the city would open up opportunities across the whole of the region. He said:

“With 700 of the most deprived communities in the UK within an hour of York, the jobs created by locating Great British Railways in York could have a hugely positive impact on the levelling up agenda.

“Our rail heritage, expertise and skills from across the region and strength in innovation makes York the obvious home of rail.

People can vote to choose the town or city they would like to see host the new organisation but the final decision will be made by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps later this year.

Traffic and Travel Alert: Harrogate district traffic roundup

Traffic is moving as normal through the Harrogate district this morning.

However, a road closure will be in place in Harrogate today as resurfacing work continues.

Here is your Stray Ferret traffic update.

Roads

Motorists should be aware of a road closure on Claro Road in Harrogate today as North Yorkshire County Council continues resurfacing work in the area.

As previously reported, work in the area is expected to continue until August 9. Resurfacing will also be carried out on Devonshire Place and Coach Road during that time.

Northern Gas is also continuing work on Harrogate’s Grove Road where temporary lights will be in place until August 5.

Temporary lights are also on Ripon’s Clotherholme Road are still in place as Northern Gas Networks carries out replacement work to gas pipes in the area.

The lights will remain in place for seven weeks.

A diversion route is in place in the village.

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 morning services.

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1,600 jobs created

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