Harrogate hospital records another covid death but infection rate falls

Harrogate District Hospital has reported another death from a patient who tested positive for coronavirus.

The death toll from covid at the hospital since March last year now stands at 193.

According to NHS England figures, the latest death was recorded on October 22.

Meanwhile, a further 97 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district according to latest Public Health England figures.

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The district’s seven-day covid rate has dropped to 612 per 100,000 people and is no longer the highest average in the county.

The North Yorkshire average is 548 and the England rate stands at 484.

A total of 130,232 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 121,915 have had a second dose.

Today, Knaresborough’s vaccine centre welcomed its first 12 to 15-year-olds for covid vaccine appointments.

Stray Views: Station Gateway project a ‘haphazard whim’

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. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

£11 million Station Gateway a ‘haphazard whim’

Despite all the consultations undertaken by North Yorkshire County Council and others, it seems as though Councillor Don Mackenzie’s scheme is to be implemented whether we like it, or not.

Buoyed by the cycling fraternity that requires cycle lanes everywhere, we are to spend £11million on what is essentially resurfacing of two streets. Oh and a hundred yards of cycle lane that links up to nothing and finishes nowhere.

NYCC spent big in Ripon city centre 20 years ago, it was an utter disaster from the start and still looks dreadful. The poor people of Ripon will, I’m sure testify as to what an ungodly mess NYCC has perpetrated upon them so the chances of getting an impressive out turn in Harrogate isn’t that promising.

But wait, if we are serious about cycling provision the thinking and implementation needs to be joined up, not just a haphazard whim of our local councillor and a couple of cycling pressure groups.

The Stray Act is outdated and needs reform to meet the modern world, the act needs amending to allow cycling on the Stray. We need to stop replacing every square inch of grass with a similar area near the Woodlands pub

Then install a cycleway from Knaresborough Road at the back of the hospital over Wetherby Road, Oatlands Drive, Stray Rein, the railway, and Leeds Road terminating at the Otley Road cycleway that is about to start.

Provide raised plateaus at each road crossing to give cyclists priority.

This arrangement will provide mega cycle route infrastructure through town from east to west and north to south, much safer than on road schemes, cause very little disruption during construction and will give a lasting legacy.

But do we have the bottle to even consider it?

David Howarth, Harrogate

Traffic evidence based on ‘flawed modelling’

Having watched and listened to the Station Gateway presentation on Thursday evening, the reason for the loss of the major A61 route through Harrogate is now clear.

It seems that all the modelling for this project was made using flow numbers taken during lockdown. No wonder pedestrian and vehicle numbers were so low and unrealistic, and the road had been made so narrow!

Before all this costly and wide-ranging change is passed and thrust upon us, please can we have a re-run using typical A61 working day traffic?

Living on this north/south A61 national highway, we are fully aware of the normal use of this main road, which became unusually quiet during pandemic restrictions and road renovations.

There is often heavy traffic in both directions and a real need for the central crossing bollards erected at needful places between the wide traffic lanes.

Half of this traffic will pass down Parliament Street, but the equivalent southbound traffic has to join the shoppers and bus/train users in Station Parade. The video seemed not to show any of this.

The question raised about access to the A61 from the conference centre car-park was scarcely addressed, except to infer that there was no need to cater for it.

It will certainly be a dangerous place for cyclists on either side of the road, let alone pedestrians.

So serious re-run, please, with realism. There is so much new building going on in and around our town that all numbers will surely soon outgrow this dream.

Beryl Dunsby, Harrogate

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Packed school buses explain Harrogate’s soaring covid rate

I’m not surprised the covid rate is rising. I accompanied my grandson on the school bus Harrogate to Knaresborough a few days ago and it was rammed. Children about 11-15/16 stood and sat shoulder to shoulder. Not one more person could have got on.

No windows were open and not one person except me had a mask on, not even the driver.

My friend in Brighton is suffering a bad dose of covid following an informal singing session. Out of the 70 there at least 30 have tested positive. They had ventilation and and all are double vaccinated.

I’ve read of a new variant, highly contagious, which is suspected in a few cases including a friend’s wife who is currently very ill in hospital down south. It’s been reported in Japan, six cases last I read a few days ago, and Australia, one case, similarly a few days ago, maybe a week.

I’ve heard nothing apart from that. I don’t follow news closely, it’s too depressing.

Teresa Liddell Shepherd, Harrogate

Double standards by cyclists

The Stray Ferret reported Harrogate District Cycle Action group commenting on Tesco’s arguments concerning sustainability:  “That is greenwash, and based on nothing more than a far-fetched hope” and that there should be “segregated, protected cycle tracks on either side of Skipton Road”.

This is the organisation who is actively supporting the Otley Road cycle way also based on nothing more than a far-fetched hope. They have never provided any evidence that it will see motorists on Otley Road forsaking their cars. Or that those motorists are happy to have a narrow pavement, become a shared non-segregated cycle path for Otley Road residents and pedestrians to negotiate.

Double standards?

Chris Dicken, Harrogate

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.

 

Harrogate district covid rate continues to decline

A further 127 coronavirus cases have been reported in the Harrogate district today, amid signs the infection rate may have peaked.

The district’s seven-day rate remains at 667 cases per 100,000, which remains the highest in the county but is below the 739 of a week ago.

The district with the second highest rate in North Yorkshire is Ryedale, at 607.

The North Yorkshire average is 535 and the England rate stands at 482.

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This week, schools in the district were encouraged to reintroduce face masks and postpone some activities after the district’s sharp rise in covid cases was linked to young people.

Harrogate district reports 150 covid cases as rate drops

The Harrogate district has reported another 150 covid cases as its seven-day rate has dropped, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day covid rate has dropped to 667 per 100,000 people, but remains the highest in the county.

The North Yorkshire average is 535 and the England rate stands at 482.

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This week, headteachers have been urged to bring back face masks and postpone after-school activities in an effort to bring down cases.

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

A total of 130,122 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 121,675 have had a second dose.

Harrogate district reports 147 covid infections

Another 147 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day covid rate now stands at 727 per 100,000 people and continues to be the highest in the county.

The North Yorkshire average is 532 and the England rate stands at 460.

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This week, headteachers have been urged to bring back face masks and postpone after-school activities in an effort to bring down cases.

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

A total of 130,034 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 121,598 have had a second dose.

Another 131 covid cases reported in Harrogate district

The Harrogate district has reported another 131 covid cases, according to latest Public Health England figures.

The district’s seven-day covid rate now stands at 727 per 100,000 people and continues to be the highest in the county.

The North Yorkshire average is 532 and the England rate stands at 460.

Yesterday, public health officials said school pupils were driving the rapid increase in infections in the Harrogate district.

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Headteachers have been urged to bring back face masks and postpone after-school activities.

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

A total of 129,841 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 121,469 have had a second dose.

Another 150 covid cases in Harrogate district as rate reaches 734

A further 150 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours, according to the latest Public Health England figures.

It brings Harrogate’s total number of cases to 19,271 since the start of the pandemic. The district has a seven-day infection rate of 734 per 100,000 people.

The rate in the Harrogate district is the highest in Yorkshire and the eleventh highest in England.

Public health officials said today school pupils were driving the rapid increase in infections in the Harrogate district.

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Headteachers have been urged to bring back face masks and postpone after-school activities.

Despite the rise in infections, deaths and hospitalisations remain lower than previous waves with 15 covid-positive patients at Harrogate District Hospital on Monday.

According to the latest NHS data, the hospital in Harrogate has not reported any new coronavirus deaths today.

No driver shortage for winter gritting in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire County Council reassured people today that it has enough drivers to operate a full complement of gritters this winter.

The council, which spends between £6m and £10m each winter on gritting, has spent £2.2m on 18 new vehicles to replace some of the 80 in its gritting fleet.

The fleet, which is on call 24 hours a day, is complemented by more than 100 farm contractors.

County Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said:

“People may recently have seen media reports suggesting the risk of a shortage of drivers in parts of the country. We can reassure people that in North Yorkshire we have sufficient drivers and robust systems in place to ensure we can operate our full complement of gritters.

“Our salt stores are well stocked, with 55,000 tonnes of salt – enough to fill 21 Olympic-size swimming pools – plus about 8,000 grit heaps and bins, and we have a strong relationship with a local supplier.”

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The council recently announced it would save up to £120,000 by improving the efficiency of its gritting operation, which led to concerns that the service would be cut back. But Cllr Mackenzie said:

“This change is in no way a reduction in our services and will not compromise the safety of our roads. It enables us to use our resources to maximum effect.

“We remain committed to maintaining the level of service that sees us routinely treat a greater proportion of our network than any other council in England.”

NY Highways formed

The new vehicles join NY Highways, which is one of numerous new companies formed by the council to bring back services in house. NY Highways took over the council’s £40 million a year contract with Ringway to maintain North Yorkshire’s roads.

Ross Bullerwell, managing director of NY Highways, said it was “well prepared” to “ensure we deliver a successful winter programme to keep the roads safe and clear for users”.

The council is also providing travel information to road users from 10 new weather stations on some of the highest and most exposed roads in the county.

Further information about when and where gritting takes place, grit bins and access to live road cameras images can be found here.

Urgent meeting to tackle Harrogate district’s soaring covid rate

Public health officials are to hold an urgent press conference tomorrow to discuss soaring coronavirus rates in the Harrogate district.

The district’s seven-day rate is currently 723 per 100,000 population, which is far higher than the current England average of 436.

North Yorkshire County Council will host the virtual meeting tomorrow from 10.30am until 11am, when health officials will brief the media on the situation.

Richard Webb, the corporate director for health and adult services at the council, has urged people in the Harrogate district to think about hygiene. He said:

“Harrogate currently has amongst the highest levels of coronavirus in England. Please keep safe.

“And yes, wash your hands. Wear your face mask to protect others. Think about space and ventilation.”

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Covid case rates in the Harrogate district have been rising since mid September, when the rate was 372.

However, although the number of cases has risen sharply the number of coronavirus patients at Harrogate District Hospital has not risen in the same manner.

As of last Thursday, the hospital was treating 14 covid patients – well below last winter’s peak of 67.

No further details of tomorrow’s meeting have been made available.

Harrogate district covid rate soars above 700

The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate of infection has risen above 700 per 100,000 for the first time.

Public Health England recorded another 174 cases today, which elevated the rate from 682 yesterday to 723 today.

The North Yorkshire rate is 528 and the England rate is 436.

Harrogate west and Pannal Ash is the current covid hotspot, with 97 infections in the last seven days.

Dishforth, Baldersby and Markington have recorded the fewest cases, with just 25.

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