A bride-to-be has expressed disappointment after discovering Harrogate Register Office is still imposing covid restrictions on the number of wedding guests.

Deanna Contreras and Sean Wilkinson are due to tie the knot at the register office on May 27.

They have been told the maximum amount of guests permitted remains 32 rather than 55 — which was the number pre-covid.

Ms Contreras, who got engaged shortly before covid struck two years ago, said:

“We were supposed to get married last year but postponed it because we wanted all our family there.

“It never entered my head that the limit would still be 32 people.”

It means the couple have had to restrict family invitations as well as partners of guests.

The register office on Park Parade.

Ms Contreras, who lives in Starbeck, said:

“We thought ‘let’s wait and have a happy time in 2022’ — and it will be a happy time but this has put a dampener on it.

“I’m not going to get stressed about it. I’m 56 and have been married before but I do feel sorry for young brides.

“I think this is a bit over the top. We can’t keep putting everything on hold for covid.”

Read more:

• Covid rate falls from 1,300 to 344 in Harrogate district over last month
• Coming soon! New pothole machine to improve Harrogate district roads

Last month Ms Contreras wrote to Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper about the matter.

Cllr Cooper replied to say:

“From my point of view I cannot see what possible justification there can be for restrictions in numbers to be given when all national restrictions have been lifted and the event is three months away.”

He added he would contact the leader of North Yorkshire County Council, which is responsible for the register office, urging it to think again.

‘Reviewing arrangements’

Neil Irving, assistant director for policy, partnerships and communities at the county council, told the Stray Ferret:

“Until April 1 we are required by law explicitly to consider covid transmission risks around public events.

“Government continues to advise that space and ventilation are important factors in minimising covid transmission.

“We are currently reviewing all our arrangements for events such as weddings and to bring in changes from the beginning of April, but for the present we continue to take steps to minimise covid transmission as rates, though falling, continue to be relatively high.”

A councillor has compared Harrogate Borough Council‘s headquarters at Knapping Mount to the abandoned ghost ship the Mary Celeste, due to the number of staff still working from home.

The multi-million-pound Civic Centre opened in 2017 and can accommodate up to 500 council workers. However, the council is still encouraging many staff to work from home despite lockdown restrictions being removed.

Nick Brown, the Conservative councillor for Bishop Monkton and Newby, told the Stray Ferret yesterday that he was unsatisfied with the response of Conservative council leader Richard Cooper to a question he asked at a council meeting last week.

Cllr Cooper said decisions about working practices should be made by senior officers rather than councillors.

Cllr Brown told the Stray Ferret:

“We councillors agreed to spend £13m on a new Civic Centre, opened in 2017, for officers to work in. Yet the leader now tells us that it is not members’ business to require council officers to work there.

“Prior to the covid pandemic, the Civic Centre was a busy place where I as a councillor could find the officers that I wished to speak to. Now it is like the Mary Celeste!”.

Cllr Brown believes ending the work from home policy would “benefit the local economy”.

He added:

“Our Conservative Prime Minister has given a clear message to end working from home in the public sector, in order to boost the economy.

“As a Conservative-led council, I believe we should get officers back at their desks and using the Civic Centre.”

Read more:

• Harrogate council still expecting staff to work from home
• Harrogate council staff still working from home – despite change of guidance

The public sector workers union Unison said it “broadly supports” the council’s decision to allow staff to work from home.

David Houlgate, branch secretary for the Harrogate district, told the Stray Ferret council staff proved during the pandemic they can work from home effectively.

He added:

“We believe the government’s Living with Covid strategy to scrap all remaining covid rules in England was reckless.

“So we broadly support this cautious approach taken by Harrogate Borough Council about returning to the Civic Centre at this time.

“Staff have demonstrated over a two-year period that they can deliver vital public services whether or not they are in the office or working from home.

“We’re confident that that can continue, though poor pay does present an ever increasing risk.”

‘Agile working’

The Stray Ferret has asked the council for the number of staff currently working from home who would normally be in the Civic Centre.

A council spokesperson said:

“Following the updated guidance in relation to the end of Plan B measures, staff are permitted to work from the office should they wish to or are required to do so.

“The number of staff using said office(s) differs day-by-day so it would be difficult to provide a comprehensive figure. Staff also come and go from the office depending on their job role; housing and planning officers for example.

“And while covid has seen a significant increase in staff working from home – and rightly so – many staff were already doing so. The civic centre was designed in such a way that staff could hybrid work or ‘hot desk’ if they so wished.

“Agile working is something adopted by many local authorities and companies long before covid and is one of the many benefits of working for Harrogate Borough Council.”

North Yorkshire County Council has said it will use two new state-of-the-art machines to blitz potholes across the county this month.

The machines are able to fix the potholes through a technique called spray injection patching.

With this method, the machines clean and dry the holes then fill them with a cold bitumen compound to seal cracks. Finally, an aggregate is used to fill the hole.

The county council said in a press release yesterday that acquiring the machines would enable it to undertake “an extended programme of pothole repairs across many North Yorkshire neighbourhoods during March”.

It added “local communities will be informed of locations and anticipated dates for the work very shortly”.

The council was encouraged by a recent trial of the machines and believes they are a cheaper and quicker way to fill in potholes. It also said repairs can last longer.

Read more:

• Swift action to tackle Sharow’s pothole plight
• Stray Views: More houses in Harrogate district should mean lower council tax

Conservative councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for highways, said:

“The trials carried out were very successful and this is a great opportunity to repair more roads.

“This is good news for residents of North Yorkshire, spray injection patching is a much quicker process of repairing potholes and the repairs tend to last a lot longer.

“It offers a cost-effective way of repairing potholes whilst reducing the inconvenience to the travelling public. We have also secured the services of this specialist equipment later in the year.”

Berwins Salon North, a series of evenings featuring speakers on different topics, is returning to Harrogate this month after a two-year absence.

The events, run by Harrogate International Festivals, will return to the Crown Hotel on March 17.

Three evenings are arranged for the coming months, each exploring a different topic in a way that organisers said will “change lives for the better”.

The series will begin with ‘Out Of Your Head… Out Of Your Mind…’ in which a trio of award-winning speakers will explore the human brain.

Scientist and historian Professor Matthew Cobb will speak first on how to create artificial memories in mice and other artificial intelligence programmes.

Dr Pragya Agarwal will then open the audience’s eyes to their own unconscious bias and explains how it impacts their jobs, futures and even their romantic relationships.

Finally, David Robson will look at how expectations can shape experience — for example, those who believe that ageing brings wisdom may in fact live longer.

Read more:

• Knaresborough artist presents lockdown portraits to key workers
• Harrogate conductor Andrew Padmore to return for farewell choral concert

The event is sponsored by Harrogate law firm, Berwins and organised by Harrogate International Festivals.

Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals’ chief executive, said:

“After two years away, we are thrilled that Berwins Salon North is back – and back in style.

“Before covid, these evenings of TED-style talks – where the speakers really do make the audience sit up, take notice and even question their own lifestyles – were a staple of the northern cultural scene.

“We are once again able to stage these fantastic evenings, ones that firmly establish Harrogate’s position on the cultural map, and ones that often change lives for the better.”

The next two Berwins Salon North events will be held on April 21 and May 19.

Ilkley-based property developer Opus North and Bridges Fund Management have been granted planning permission from Harrogate Borough Council to build a 600,000 square feet business park near Flaxby.

The business park will be called ‘Harrogate 47’ as it will be built close to junction 47 of the A1 (M). The developer believes it could support 2,000 jobs.

It’s allocated as the main strategic employment site in the council’s Harrogate district Local Plan and already has existing planning permission for more than half a million square feet of employment space.

The new plans include up to 130,000 sq ft of office accommodation, about 75,000 sq ft of tech starter units and approximately 430,000 sq ft for logistics and warehouses.

Ryan Unsworth, development director of Opus North, said:

“This development is key for the Harrogate and wider North Yorkshire economy due to its capacity to transform vacant land into office and industrial space for local, regional and national occupiers, and the vast job-creating potential it has.

“The delivery of Harrogate 47 will allow local companies to expand and grow within the region in addition to attracting inward investment into the district and we are delighted that its potential has been recognised through the positive planning outcome.”

Electric vehicle show comes to Harrogate

A global event that promotes clean energy and electric vehicles will come to Harrogate’s Yorkshire Event Centre in May 2023.

The event is called Fully Charged, the World’s no.1 Electric Vehicle and Clean Energy Show, and is expected to attract 10,000 visitors from May 19 to May 21.

The event will be hosted by Red Dwarf actor and YouTuber Robert Llewellyn.

There will be 120 exhibitors and visitors will be able to test drive some of the latest electric vehicles on sale in the UK.

Dan Caesar, joint chief executive of Fully Charged Live, said:

“Fully Charged Live has been a huge global success, and we are delighted to be bringing the show to the north of England at last. Harrogate is a great location, and the Yorkshire Event Centre, with its indoor and outdoor space, and its sustainability credentials, is a natural partner.”

(L to R) presenter Robert Llewellyn, Richard Moorhouse operations manager at the YEC, Dan Caesar, joint CEO of Fully Charged Live and Ben Chatburn sales manager at the YEC.

Grants of up to £100,000 available for Yorkshire social enterprises

The Social Enterprise Support Fund is now open for the second round of funding and will provide grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 for social enterprises that have been impacted by covid.

This follows the first round of applications in December that saw over 800 applications from enterprises across England, requesting grants worth over £37m.

The fund is available to social enterprises if most of their beneficiaries are in England, and their annual income has been between £20,000 and £1.8m in either of the last two financial years.

Sheffield-based Key Fund supports social enterprises across Yorkshire. Its chief executive, Matt Smith, said:

“The UK’s social enterprises have been at the heart of community survival and recovery during the pandemic. In a post-covid world, where the inequalities within society are even starker, the work of these organisations will be needed more than ever.

“This grant funding has already proven to be a lifeline to many social enterprises and the communities they work in, and so we welcome this second round of financial support.”

Matt Smith, CEO of Key Fund

Retired Harrogate firefighter Bruce Reid has aborted his mercy mission to help the people in Ukraine.

Mr Reid decided to put his skills, learned over 30 years as a firefighter, to use as part of the humanitarian response.

He booked his own flights to Poland and got to the Ukraine border last night.

But after reassuring his family he would only carry out his duty as a firefighter, he decided the situation was too dangerous to proceed this morning.

He said on social media:

“Bit of an anti climax following all of the furore getting here.

“I eventually got to the rendezvous point on the border late last night, and after spending the night on an hotel foyer floor i was this told this afternoon i would have to sign a disclaimer and make my own way 30 miles into Ukraine to Yavoriv military base were i would be taught to fight.

“That was never what I came for. On the flip side, my family are very relieved especially my 10-year-old granddaughter that I will be coming back in one piece

“I’m looking at other things I could help with but will back sooner than I thought. Thanks to everyone for all your messages of support I’ve been humbled by them.”

Read more:

• Retired Harrogate firefighter flies out to volunteer in Ukraine
• OPINION: What people in the Harrogate district can do to help Ukraine

A three-car crash on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road was “always going to happen” because drivers use the street as a racetrack, according to a local resident.

A Volkswagen Golf heading towards Otley Road crashed into two parked cars at the junction with West Cliffe Road at 3.10am on Sunday morning, leaving one passenger unconscious. No other injuries were reported.

One local resident contacted the Stray Ferret to say the road “becomes a racetrack” after 10.30pm and called on the authorities to do more to tackle the issue.

He claimed those involved bragged they were doing more than 100mph and said it was time for speed cameras or traffic calming measures.

‘No one does anything about it’

The road includes a 20mph stretch, which was implemented outside Western Primary School in February last year.

But a resident in the Cold Bath Road area, who asked not to be named, said this was not observed despite the speed indicator being shown throughout the day.

They said they had written to North Yorkshire County Council to call for further measures as drivers “never slow down”. The crash on Sunday morning prompted them to write to the authority again.

“They do it all the time.

“After 10.30pm, it becomes a racetrack and no one does anything about it. It [the crash] was always going to happen.

“Just put speed cameras up. I’m a driver and when I see a speed camera, then I adjust my speed.”

Read more:

• Is Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road getting busier?
• Harrogate headteacher ‘concerned’ by Cold Bath Road pollution data
• Police investigate serious crash on Cold Bath Road

North Yorkshire Police continues to investigate the Cold Bath Road crash and has appealed for witnesses and CCTV footage.

No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

A police statement added:

“It is only by sheer luck that the collision didn’t result in a fatality.

“As part of the investigation we would like to appeal to local residents and businesses to check their CCTV systems and ring doorbells around the time of the collision as it may have captured the vehicle, the collision, and anyone making off from the scene shortly afterwards.

“Additionally, if anyone has any other information about the incident which may assist our enquiries please contact us quoting reference 12220038835.”

John Harris writes in a personal capacity. He is chair of Harrogate District of Sanctuary.

How can we as individuals respond to yet another terrible humanitarian crisis?

In the scale of horrors visited on fellow human beings, few things compare with having to abandon everything and flee your home and country to escape death or persecution or the complete destruction of your settled life.

Here in Harrogate, as in towns across the country, we have refugee families adjusting as best they can to a new life — the result of humanitarian disasters in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.

Now the horror of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is unfolding. It includes wanton destruction of towns, indiscriminate killing of civilians, untold numbers sheltering underground and the creation of 1.5 million refugees in a week.

What can we do? Certainly our government needs to focus on deeds not words. Please spare us the overseas photo ops and forget the stupid populist boasts (‘leading the world’). Just get on with sorting out what needs to be done.

Read more:

• Ripon man helping Ukraine says ambulances are being shot by Russians
• What role is the US spy base at Menwith Hill playing in the war in Ukraine?

Amid our feeling of helplessness and despair, let’s think of some things we can do:

Lobby our MPs, sign the petitions, join the protest marches and urge the government to:
• Reduce further the refugee visa requirements immediately (the minister suggesting applying for a temporary work visa as a fruit picker and turning back Ukrainians in Calais where there is no Home Office processing is shameful). The requirements are far from as generous as will be needed if, as has been suggested, up to 200,000 Ukrainians are to be given sanctuary here
• Drop the restrictive elements of the Nationality and Borders Bill by accepting the many amendments proposed by the House of Lords e.g. so that refugees are not criminalised by arriving in the UK by an ‘irregular’ route.
• Introduce (not just talk about it with false promises/claims) sanctions against the Russian state, banks, companies and individuals. Action on Russian ‘dirty’ money is glacial. Reports suggest that a minimal number of people and companies have actually been sanctioned yet in the UK while other governments act.
• Support the Ukrainian government with requested supplies as they resist the invasion of their country.
• Introduce a settlement scheme of some kind for the Refugee Council and associated City of Sanctuary charities to operate.

Individuals can also:

• Support NGO charitable organisations working with refugees that are appealing for funds. When in doubt which one, support the Disaster Emergency Fund appeal.
• Support local community efforts, for example by joining as members and volunteers of a local City of Sanctuary charity when it appeals for help. Keep an eye on social media for details of what is needed.

It is tragic that there are still 12,000 Afghan refugees in hotels, months after their arrival in UK. What is even more terrible for Ukraine is that we are warned that, unbelievably, the devastation and killing can only get worse and the 1.5 million who have fled to date are only a start.

Bilton and Woodfield Community Library will be closed for two weeks due to flooding.

A burst pipe in the nearby children’s centre caused water to enter the library (pictured above). Volunteers that operate the library noticed the problem when they arrived this morning.

Contractors are already on site to assess the damage and work to clean up the leak could start as soon as tomorrow.

However, the library will be closed for two weeks while work is carried out.

People who were due to return library books during the closure will not face fines.

Read more:

• Anger as vandals uproot 20 trees in Starbeck
• Harrogate Convention Centre to hold board gaming festival

This article is sponsored by Kliniken. 

What is Lipoedema? 

Lipoedema is an abnormal buildup of fat, usually in the legs and affects up to 1 in 10 of all women. It cannot be helped by traditional weight loss techniques. Lipoedema can have a really negative impact on the patient’s life, both physically and mentally. 

Lipoedema is a progressive, chronic condition – which means it cannot be cured and gradually continues to worsen. The most extreme cases see large growths of nodular fat cause severe deformity around the thighs and knees. Kliniken is one of the leading clinics in the country helping people with this condition.

People with lipoedema can often feel frustrated, and can struggle with their body confidence. There is poor awareness of lipoedema amongst doctors and the general public, leaving patients feeling they are not doing enough to deal with the fat. 

Lipoedema Liposuction 

Because lipoedema cannot be cured, the fat itself needs to be managed through liposuction. 

The procedure can typically be performed in less than two hours, using either local anaesthetic and sedation or general anaesthetic.

At Kliniken, the patient will be seen by their surgeon for a consultation. The clinic also has a psychiatrist who is on hand to help with the emotional and mental effects that sufferers of lipoedema can experience. From consultation to post-operative care, the patient will see the same surgeon, receive a direct number for them for any questions or concerns and a full care plan to ensure they are healing from the inside out. 

What are the results? 

Susannah is one of Kliniken’s clients, and talks about her experiences with the procedure and how it has changed her life for the better:

“As a gym instructor I could never understand why I couldn’t lose weight on my thighs, and no matter what I ate, or how much I moved, the weight would not shift. Speaking with the Kliniken team and learning about Lipoedema was such a revelation, and knowing that there was something I could do to make myself feel better made all the difference.

The procedure itself was fantastic and Mallappa was extremely professional and put my mind to rest and was very understanding. The recovery was quick and for the first time in a long time I felt like myself again.”

How long does the surgery and recovery take? 

Kliniken’s clinic is situated in picturesque Bishop Thornton near Ripley. The setting is part of the therapy the clinic offers, and the rest and relaxation helps patients recuperate.

Patients can usually go home the same day, although in some cases an overnight stay may be necessary. 

Following lipoedema liposuction, there is an immediately noticeable reduction in the volume of the limbs. The skin takes around two weeks to heal, and the swelling should settle over a few months. 

It’s suggested that patients take two weeks off work. 

Who performs the procedure? 

Kliniken’s co-owner and consultant plastic surgeon, Mr Mallappa Kolar is the lead surgeon for lipoedema liposuction. He has nearly 20 years’ experience in cosmetic surgery, in addition to an MD and PhD in the use of fat cells. Mallappa has helped patients transform their lives with this surgery. Prices for the procedure start at £5,000. 

To find out more about the procedures offered at Kliniken, visit their website or call 01423 206 388