Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm to offer free e-commerce legal advice

Harrogate businesses that sell products and services online are being offered free legal advice.

LCF Law, which is based on Station Parade, is offering the advice as part of an online event during Leeds Digital Festival.

The event will be held on September 21 and aims to offer insights into e-commerce regulations and compliance.

James Sarjanston, head of commercial and digital at LCF Law, said:

“We will explore key topics, including consumer rights, marketing to clients, data protection and upcoming legislation, shedding light on the complexities and challenges faced by e-commerce entrepreneurs.

“Through practical guidance, we will provide invaluable knowledge on implementing effective strategies that ensure compliance, safeguard a business and help to foster long-term growth.”

For more information and to register for the event, visit the Eventbrite page here.

Northern appoints new recruitment head

Northern has appointed a new head of talent acquisition.

The rail operator, which runs services through Harrogate and Knaresborough, has appointed Matthew Moxton to the role.

Matthew Moxton, new head of talent acquisition at Northern.

Matthew Moxton, new head of talent acquisition at Northern.

Mr Moxton, who is from Boston Spa and was the company’s legal and general executive, will now be responsible for recrutiment.

Lisa Leighton, people director at Northern, said: 

“Matthew brings with him a wealth of experience from multiple sectors including engineering, construction, logistics and other support functions.

“He has an impressive track record in employee mentoring and coaching as well as developing a high-performance culture and we’re thrilled to add him to Northern’s first class HR team.”

Mr Moxton added:

“I am delighted to be joining the team at Northern. I see a wonderful opportunity to build on the great work that has already started and to enhance the talent attraction and on-boarding within the business.”

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‘High value’ items stolen in Harrogate shop burglary

Cash, high-value clothing and accessories have been stolen in a shop burglary in Harrogate town centre.

North Yorkshire Police said today the theft occurred after 5pm on Thursday, August 24 and before 10am on Friday, August 25 at an address on Montpellier Parade.

Criminals entered the property through a fire door.

Officers are now appealing for witnesses and information.

The force said in a statement:

“We are now requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

“In particular, we are appealing for information about anyone acting suspiciously in the area, or anyone seen with branded denim-coloured clothing and leather handbags.

“If you have been offered anything of this nature for sale, officers would be keen to speak with you.”

Anyone with CCTV footage of anything suspicious between the times stated that covers Montpellier Parade/Mews/Street/Hill/Square is urged to get in touch.

You can email kirsty.greenbank@northyorkshire.police.uk or dial 101 and ask for PC Greenbank 1188.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass on information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote reference number 12230161091.

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Former Harrogate offices to be converted to care accommodation

North Yorkshire Council has approved plans for a former office block in Harrogate to be converted into care accommodation.

UBU Northern Life Care Limited, which is based in Harrogate, tabled the proposal for the offices on Haywra Street near to the town centre.

The plan will see the building converted into six flats for community care purposes.

A two-storey extension at the rear of the property will be converted into a facility for staff to use in order to provide 24 hour support to residents.

In documents submitted to the council, the developer said the accommodation was require because of rising demand for care.

It said:

“The current office facilities have evolved during the covid crisis with reduced requirement for fixed base offices to run the company, but with an increased demand and lack of supply of care accommodation in the area due to the general cost of properties suitable for use.”

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Harrogate hospital to increase visitor parking charges under new system

Visitor parking charges at Harrogate District Hospital are set to increase from next week.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust will introduce a new car parking system at the hospital on Wednesday.

Automatic number plate recognition will replace the current parking barriers, which the trust says will improve traffic flow. The first 20 minutes will be free then it will cost £4 for up to two hours.

It comes as patients and visitors complained of long queues on Lancaster Park Road, particularly during visiting times in the afternoon.

The new system, which will be managed by Lancashire-based Parkingeye, will identify cars on entry and exit using automatic number plate recognition.

Queues outside Harrogate District Hospital

Queues outside Harrogate District Hospital on Lancaster Park Road.

Visitors will then be able to pay when they leave by entering their car’s registration number into the parking validation machines in the front entrance of the hospital or via a dedicated app.

A spokesperson for the trust said:

“The new barrier less system will provide a better experience for our patients and visitors as it will improve the flow into and out of our hospital car park and reduce the queues on Lancaster Park Road.

“This will help improve road safety, ambulance access, reduce noise pollution that can affect local residents, and remove paper waste produced by our current ticketing system as the new system will be paperless.

“Working with Parkingeye we believe we have developed a system of fair parking for all, which is both clear and transparent and allows our trust to concentrate on our patients, whilst Parkingeye supports us by managing our car parks.”

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Increased charges

Currently, visitors have 30 minutes free parking. Drivers then are charged £2.60 for up to 90 minutes, £3.80 for up to two-and-a-half hours and £6.10 for up to four-and-a-half hours.

Those staying for six-and-a-half hours or more are charged £9.10.

Under the new arrangement, parking will be free for the first twenty minutes, then will cost £4 for up to two hours, £6.50 for up to four hours, £8.50 for up to six hours and £11 for up to 24 hours.

Parking terminals will be available across the hospital and at main reception for those who are eligible for concession or free parking, for example blue badge holders, patients receiving cancer treatment and parents visiting the paediatric ward or special care baby unit.

A trust spokesperson added:

“With the introduction of the new car parking system we will also be increasing our car parking charges for visitors. 

“Increasing charges is always a difficult decision, but we need to do this to ensure our car parks can continue to be well maintained. It will also allow the trust to re-invest the revenue from the car parks back into supporting the delivery of patient care.”

Grammy-winning DJ Calvin Harris spotted by fans at Wetherby Services

One of the biggest names in music, Calvin Harris, was spotted by fans in a motorway service station near Harrogate this week.

Livvy Elder and her friends had stopped at Wetherby Services on their way back to Newcastle following a weekend of raving at Creamfields festival.

Her boyfriend claimed he saw someone ‘in a red flannel shirt that resembled Calvin Harris’ in the male toilets, according to Livvy, but the group agreed ‘the world’s biggest DJ would never be in Wetherby’.

Much to their surprise, Calvin Harris appeared in front of them moments later after buying a coffee at Pret A Manger.

Livvy told the Stray Ferret:

“We were laughing away and ended up sitting down outside of Pret, expecting to be proven right that it wasn’t him, but other people started to talk and chatter away and we noticed that it actually was him!

“The biggest Dj in the world was just a metre away from us.

The group had watched the Scottish DJ headline the festival just two nights prior to meeting him.

Livvy continued:

“My friend was the one to ask him for a photo and told him we were sorry for disturbing him for a photo, but he was the kindest man so humble – he said it was no problem at all.”

“He even said I looked super cosy  —  I was totally wiped out from the festival and was in my pyjamas and Newcastle football shirt for the drive home.

“I was absolutely mortified to meet the biggest DJ looking like that.

“It totally topped off our weekend and was a moment we will never forget!”

Calvin Harris boasts an impressive 11 million followers on Instagram and 65.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

He now has an annual residency at one of the largest clubs in the world, Ushuaia, Ibiza, and has had 11 UK No.1 songs.

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Rare blue supermoon seen over local skies

A rare blue supermoon, which will not be seen again for another 14 years, lit up local skies last night.

A blue moon happens when there are 13 full moons instead of the usual 12 in a year.

Also known as a supermoon, it appeared larger and brighter than usual because the moon was near the closest point in its orbit around Earth.

Photographer Mark Doherty took this image at the top of Harlow Hill in Harrogate using a Sony mirrorless camera, telephoto lens, set up on a tripod.

© Caught Light Photography Limited

In the picture below, Joyce Liggins caught the moon looking radiant over Pateley Bridge while her 16-year-old granddaughter Phoebe, a keen photographer,  took the stunning picture of the moon with a golden glow.

Our Ripon reporter Tim Flanagan was out in the centre of Ripon to photograph it over the city’s town hall.

Although the full moon has passed, it will still appear much brighter than usual again tonight.

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Police warn of spate of sneak-in burglaries in Ripon

People living in the Harrogate district, particularly in Ripon, have been urged to keep doors and ground floor windows locked following a spate of sneak-in burglaries.

A message on North Yorkshire Community Messaging said three incidents had been reported in Ripon over the last few days.

A sneak-in burglary occurs when a door or window has not been locked and an offender chances their luck by trying handles or windows to gain entry.

If they find something to be unlocked, they sneak in and steal items.

Alison Swan, of North Yorkshire Police, said:

“Please be sure to secure doors and ground floor windows particularly at night, also consider locking doors during the day especially if you are in rear gardens where you are not able to monitor your front door.”

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Business Breakfast: Boroughbridge holiday park raises £32,000 for charity

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is an after work drinks event tonight (Thursday, August 31) at The West Park Hotel in Harrogate between 5-7pm. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A holiday park in Boroughbridge has raised £32,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Old Hall Holiday Park has raised money for the charity for more than 13 years through a range of events including an annual hog roast, live bands, discos, children’s parties and games, raffles and Halloween parties.

In recognition of Old Hall’s fundraising efforts, Wendy Whittle, park manager, and her husband Denis were invited to the charity’s unveiling of two new state-of-the-art helicopters at Nostell Airbase near Wakefield.

Mrs Whittle said:

“The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is such a fantastic cause and one which everyone at the Old Hall supports. 

“We are lucky to have such a wonderful community at the park, with all our holiday home owners joining in our fundraising activities and giving generously.”

Linda Stead, Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s regional fundraising manager for the North and East, said: 

“We are extremely thankful to everyone at the Old Hall Holiday Park for their continuous and unwavering dedication over the last 13 years.

“This remarkable donation is a testament to their commitment to our mission of saving lives across Yorkshire and from the whole team at YAA I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for their invaluable support.”

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Firefighters rescue 16-year-old dog in Harrogate

Harrogate firefighters rescued a 16-year-old dog that had got stuck on a path yesterday.

A crew from Skipton Road were summoned to nearby Dene Park in Bilton at 9.43pm last night.

According to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report, the dog was too frail to stand.

It said:

“Fire control received a call from a resident who was concerned for the safety of a 16-year-old dog who was unable to get up and was laid in the middle of the path.

“The caller stated the dog was very old and his owner was also an elderly gent.

“Other residents were unable to lift the dog and take him back home. A fire crew from Harrogate attended whilst still maintaining their availability and assisted by lifting and carrying the dog back home to his owner.”

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Rachel Daly and Erling Haaland win player of year awards

Harrogate-born Rachel Daly was named PFA women’s Players’ Player of the Year last night.

The Aston Villa and England player was chosen from a shortlist of six at a ceremony at the Lowry Theatre in Salford. Chelsea’s Lauren James was named Young Player of the Year.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland took the men’s award at the same event. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka was named Young Player of the Year.

In a tweet last night, Daly said she was “feeling beyond grateful” to have won the award, which was voted for by her peers.

https://twitter.com/RachelDaly3/status/1696619128289644693?s=20

It is the latest success for the former Rossett School student, who in just over a year has won Euro 2022 with England, won the Golden Boot for being the Women’s Super League top scorer and played in the World Cup final.

Daly’s achievements have, however, been completely overlooked by North Yorkshire Council, which still has no plans for a civic honour.

The Stray Ferret is backing Killinghall Nomads‘ campaign for this to change. Daly started her career with the club. You can sign a petition supporting this here.

Rossett School, which has said it will rename its sports pitches in honour of its former pupil, has also joined calls for the council to recognise Daly.

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