Harrogate district taxi driver shortage revealed due to covid

There has been a drop in the number of taxis on the Harrogate district’s roads in what drivers have blamed on the pandemic forcing them to abandon the trade.

Several cabbies quit during the lockdowns and many have now found new jobs with little desire to return as figures suggest around 60 fewer drivers are operating in the district.

Richard Fieldman, who runs A1 Cars Ripon, said his business only survived the pandemic by the “skin of its teeth” and that it has now continued to struggle.

He said:

“Times are still difficult for the trade.

“We are not back where we were before covid by any stretch of the imagination and we are not going to get there any time soon.

“As a driver for 29 years, I thought about packing it in myself during the lockdowns as this period highlighted to me how vulnerable we are.

“I personally managed to ride through this period, although I did end up in debt because of it.

“A lot of drivers have now realised there is very little reward in this trade.”

With fewer drivers on the roads, it has also had an impact on customers who could be left waiting on taxi ranks or unable to book journeys during busy periods.

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Kevin O’Boyle, owner of Central Taxis and the longest holder of a taxi licence in the district, said he believes the lengthy process that it takes to become a driver could be a reason why he is now finding it “impossible” to recruit them.

He said:

“I’m offering £600 for five shifts with tips and I don’t even get people coming through the door.

“Trade is still slow and the only reason people are making a living now is because the number of taxis on the roads have been diluted.

“We are involved with services for the NHS and if it had not been for these contracts we would have gone under during the pandemic, I have no doubt about that.”

Taxi licence fees frozen

The figures that around 60 fewer taxis are on the roads was revealed in a Harrogate Borough Council report, which has proposed no increase for taxi licence fees for the second year running.

Prior to this period, the council increased fees by 10% during 2020/21.

Mr O’Boyle said the proposed freeze for the next financial year would be “greatly appreciated” if approved by the council’s licensing committee on Wednesday, but added it only went so far to support the trade.

The report to the committee said: 

“Every year the licensing committee reviews the fees and charges for these licences. However, as a consequence of the impact of covid in 2020 there are now 60 fewer private hire vehicles.

“The proposed fees are set on a cost recovery basis and are not at a level that would discourage the trade investing in quality standard and accessible vehicles.”

Ramblers urged to stay safe to avoid Harrogate district cow attacks

A Harrogate district rambler has urged walkers to follow safety advice amid ongoing problems with cows on public rights of way.

The district is popular with walkers and also has a lot of cattle. Many walkers are nervous about passing the animals, particularly if dogs and calves are also involved.

A blog called Killer Cows, which includes accounts of livestock attacks, recently featured a post from hikers in Little Ribston, between Knaresborough and Wetherby.

It describes how a man and a woman walking a dog were “surrounded” by 50 cows on a public footpath. It says the cows tried to trample the dog and head-butted the man in the shoulder. The post concludes:

“We were both terrified. We are lucky to still be alive.”

It is not an isolated incident and sometimes the issue has tragic consequences,

An inquest in Harrogate in July found that Dave Clark, a deputy headteacher at Richmond School, died after suffering a blow to the chest from a cow which ran at him on a public right of way in a field in Richmond last year.

‘It is a problem’

Andrew Willoughby, who is part of the Harrogate Group of the Ramblers, said clashes on public rights of way between hikers and cattle continued to be an issue.

Farmers are entitled to graze cattle on public rights of way.

However, the number of incidents has prompted both the National Farmers Union and the Ramblers Association to issue advice to walkers and farmers.

Mr Willoughby urged walkers to follow the guidance when cattle start grazing again after winter.

He said:

“Yes, it is a problem.

“The main thing is when you go into a field, you just do not know if there may be some aggressive cattle.”

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What walkers should do

The NFU and Ramblers Association both urge walkers to be “mindful” that the countryside is a “working environment” where cattle graze.

The NFU says walkers should be “vigilant” and “try to stay away from animals and to be aware of their movement”.

Dogs should be kept under close control, but owners are advised not to hang on to them if threatened by cattle. Instead, they should let go of the lead and let the dog run to safety.

The advice says:

“This offers the best chance of a safe outcome to both you and your dog. If you feel threatened by animals protecting their territory or young, do not run. Move to the edge of the field and, if possible, find another way round.”

Further guidance urges walkers not to get close to cattle. Walkers should also avoid getting between cows and their calves, the advice says.

It adds that, if cattle do begin to follow, then hikers should walk on quietly.

Mr Willoughby added that people should avoid bright coloured clothing when walking in fields with cattle in them.

Menwith Hill submits new plans to expand

A 45-foot long ‘communications container compound’ could be built at RAF Menwith Hill.

A planning application submitted to Harrogate Borough Council by the Ministry of Defence, which owns the site, says the new building would cover 464 square metres and help ‘meet the operational output of the station’.

There are no other details about what work would take place within the new building. The plans also include provision for a large fuel tank.

Built in the 1950s on the edge of Nidderdale, Menwith Hill is the United States’ largest overseas surveillance base.

Giant radomes, or ‘golf balls’, are a distinctive feature of the site.

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Recent expansion

There have been several planning applications to expand the base in the past couple of years.

Last year the MoD was granted planning permission to build three more radomes.

In February, the council also approved plans for another radome as well as an electrical substation.

Separate plans were submitted to add a new visitor centre, vehicle canopy and changes to the road junction on Menwith Hill Road.

Last month, a new report alleged the base provided intelligence for American drone bombings campaigns in the Middle East, including the high-profile assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

Harrogate district covid rate rises as 134 cases reported

Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate has increased, as a further 134 covid cases were confirmed today.

Latest data shows that the rate has risen to 515 infections per 100,000 people, which is the second highest in North Yorkshire.

Across the county, the average stands at 481 and the England rate is 382.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England figures.

Since March 2020, 197 people have died with covid at the hospital.

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Meanwhile, the number of covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital remains stable with 22 currently receiving treatment – a slight fall from 25 this time last week.

Harrogate nursery currently closed due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’

A Harrogate nursery that has existed for more than 50 years has closed.

Oatlands Pre-School, which opened in 1968, was situated in the former Oatlands Methodist Church on Mount Street and was owned and managed by a voluntary committee.

According to its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2017, it catered for 25 children aged two to five.

Claire Temple, chair of the Oatlands Pre-School and community centre committee, told the Stray Ferret it had closed due to “unforeseen circumstances” and said she was unable to provide any further information at this time.

The pre-school, which it is believed closed in September, operated from 8.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday throughout term times and provided a lunch club.

Ofsted rated the nursery as ‘good’ in 2017 but its website now describes it as closed.

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Unemployment in Harrogate district falls despite end of furlough

The number of people receiving out-of-work benefits in the Harrogate district has continued to fall, despite the furlough scheme ending at the end of September.

Latest figures by the Office for National Statistics show 2,375 people in the district were claiming the benefits as of October 14.

This is 115 fewer than the 2,490 figure for September 12. The benefits include Universal Credit, which can also be claimed by people who are in work but on low incomes.

The furlough scheme ended on September 30 and supported around 28,600 jobs in the Harrogate district for 18 months.

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The figures appear to have calmed fears raised by the local Liberal Democrats that the scheme would result in up to 3,600 job losses in the district.

Speaking last month, Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the opposition group on Harrogate Borough Council, said the Liberal Democrats both locally and nationally were demanding the scheme be extended to protect jobs.

Harry’s Heroes: listen to inspiring stories and vote for your hero

Former BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration has met six inspirational people from the Harrogate district for his new podcast Harry’s Heroes.

Harry has recorded conversations with finalists Cath Wilson, Greta Knight, Helen Mackenzie, Lauren Doherty, Mark Oldfield and Susie Little who were all put forward by local people who feel their work is extraordinary. Each are doing exceptional things in different ways to help others in the community.

Harry has partnered with sponsor Harrogate Spring Water to champion the work of these exceptional individuals.

You can learn more about each hero and listen to the podcasts by clicking or tapping here and afterwards vote for your favourite. We hope you enjoy listening to their stories and about their work.

The hero who gets the most votes will win a trip to London for a fantastic concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

Voting closes on November 28 at 11.59pm. The winner will be announced by Harry Gration the following day on November 29.

Harry said on the launch of his new podcast:

“My final six local heroes have told me their stories, we’ve recorded them and they’re ready to listen to.

“It was an absolute pleasure to meet all of our heroes along with the people who put them forward in the first place.

“I encourage you to take the time to listen to all of their stories, they really are fantastic and very moving.

“I’m delighted to give these individuals the recognition they deserve and hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I did making them.

“You can vote in the form below but before you do, take the time to listen to all six stories.

“I look forward to announcing the lucky winner on 29 November with Harrogate Spring Water.”

Woodfield primary school set to close in September

Woodfield Community Primary School and nearby Grove Road Community Primary School look set to amalgamate next year.

Under plans to be discussed by councillors next week, Woodfield would be effectively swallowed up by the bigger Grove Road, which would operate as a split-site 280-pupil school.

The Woodfield site would initially operate as a nursery for children from both schools while Grove Road would cater for all children from reception to year six.

Then from September 2023, all nursery children and reception pupils would be based at the current Woodfield site, which would eventually accommodate all key stage 1 pupils. All key stage 2 children would be based at the current Grove Road site.

North Yorkshire County Council revealed plans last month to merge the two schools. A meeting on Tuesday next week will see councillors asked to approve putting the wheels in motion.

If approved, a six-week consultation will start on December 2 and a final decision taken on April 19.

The council says amalgamation is necessary because Woodfield has been unable to find an academy willing to take it on since it was rated inadequate by Ofsted in January last year.

But some parents have vowed to fight the move because they feel the school has made significant progress — a view supported by an Ofsted monitoring visit in June, which said ‘leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures’.

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Some parents with more than one child have also expressed concern about having to drop off and collect from both schools, which are 0.6 miles apart.

A report to councillors says:

“The intention is to have a walking bus, across the iron bridge to the back of the Woodfield playing field, that enables parents to drop their child at either school and then children who need to will be able to walk safely to the other site accompanied by school staff.

“We will look at the timings of the school day to ensure that parents who choose to drop off or collect children from both sites are able to do so.

“Grove Road school also have wrap around care provision that will continue to be available from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Other opportunities, including clubs, will be looked at closely across both sites.”

80 fewer primary school places

The report also says that if the proposals go ahead, there would be 350 primary school places available across the two sites compared with the current 280 at Grove Road and 150 at Woodfield — an overall reduction of 80 places.

However, Woodfield only currently has 49 pupils, compared with 92 in January 2019.

The report adds that forecasts suggested “there would appear to be sufficient primary places available in the local area” and cites as evidence declining birth rates in Harrogate district, from 1,425 in 2016/17 to 1,308 in 2018/19.

It says the financial position of schools is “dependent on both pupil numbers and the level of staffing”

Woodfield, it adds, has projected in-year budget deficits of £119,000 in the financial year 2021/22, £103,300 in 2022/23 and £128,400 in 2023/24, and a forecast cumulative budget deficit of £98,000 in 2021/22, £201,400 in 2022/23 and £329,900 in 2023/24.

Grove Road, by contrast, is predicted to make surpluses in the corresponding years.

The report says any deficit on the Woodfield school budget “would be absorbed by the county council”.

It adds:

“A separate HR consultation process for staff and their professional associations will commence in the spring term and the governing
bodies will most likely propose an internal transfer of staff from Woodfield to Grove Road, following Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) principles.”

Harrogate district covid cases rise by 109

The Harrogate district has reported 109 cases of covid, according to Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day average case rate is 480 per 100,000 people, which is the second-highest rate in North Yorkshire.

Across the county, the average rate is 444 and the England average is 363.

No further deaths from patients who tested positive for coronavirus have been recorded at Harrogate District Hospital, according to NHS England figures.

Since March 2020, 197 people have died with covid at the hospital.

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Meanwhile, the number of covid patients at Harrogate District Hospital remains stable with 22 currently receiving treatment – a slight fall from 25 this time last week.

The government announced today that third vaccine doses will now be offered to all over-40s in the UK after advice from the government scientists.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation also said 16 and 17-year-olds, initially offered only a single dose, should now receive a second.

It is hoped the move will top up protection and help limit the spread of the virus over winter which bosses at Harrogate District Hospital previously warned will be “more challenging than ever before”.

Hunt to find family of dead Harrogate man

Police are appealing for help tracing the family of a Harrogate man who was found dead at home last week.

Michael ingleton, 64, died at Harewood Road.

North Yorkshire Police said today it it had been asked by the coroner’s office to help locate his next of kin.

It said in a statement:

“His death is not thought to be suspicious.

“If you knew Mr Ingleton and have any information that would help the coroner to locate any members of Mr Ingleton’s family please email
coroner@northyorkshire.police.uk.”

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