Two Harrogate primary schools plan to merge

Two Harrogate primary schools could merge, under new proposals revealed today.

The governors of Woodfield Community Primary School and Grove Road Community Primary School have requested North Yorkshire County Council begin a consultation on amalgamation

According to a council press release, Woodfield would become part of Grove Road from September 1, 2022 but both sites would stay open.

The release added:

“As part of the amalgamation there would be a “technical closure” of Woodfield.

“Governors appreciate this may cause some initial uncertainty but see it as a very positive step for both schools.”

Woodfield, which has 56 pupils, was rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted in an inspection report last year and placed into special measures. However, a monitoring visit in June this year concluded “leaders and managers are taking effective action towards the removal of special measures”.

In its latest Ofsted inspection in 2018, Grove Road was rated ‘good’.

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‘Exciting opportunity’

In a joint message to parents, the chairs of governors and headteachers at both schools said: 

“We see this as an exciting opportunity and look forward to being able to share our plans in greater detail with you, and in the meantime, we appreciate your patience and understanding. 

“We would also hope to reassure you that we will not be asking any existing pupils who are already attending school at Grove Road to relocate to the Woodfield site.”

The county council will consider the request on November 23 and, if agreed, a consultation would run through December and January.

The consultation process would include public meetings where parents and the local community will have the opportunity to hear more about the proposals and share their views.

Are you a parent of a child at either school? If so, what do you think of the proposed merger? Let us know at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Great Yorkshire Showground vaccine site to reopen for just two weeks

Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground will reopen as a coronavirus vaccination centre for two weeks in December, it has been announced.

The venue – which was used as a vaccination site for most of the year before closing in August – will reopen at the beginning of December for an expected busy period of booster jabs, the NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said.

A CCG spokesperson said: 

“Plans are in place to run pop-up covid vaccination clinics at the Yorkshire Showground at the beginning of December for two weeks, as this is when we are anticipating a peak in the number of patients eligible to receive their booster jabs.

“In the meantime, patients over 50 and those in other priority groups who are now eligible for their booster dose, who would prefer not to wait until December, have a number of additional options they may wish to consider, including booking an appointment at an alternative vaccination centre via the NHS National Booking Service or 119.

“Patients can also use this service to book a first or second dose of the vaccine if they’ve not yet taken up the opportunity to be vaccinated.”

The announcement comes after an NHS official last week told a press briefing that the showground would reopen as a vaccination centre, but did not say for how long.

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More than half of all over-50s across the UK have now received a booster jab and the government is urging greater take up to ease pressure on the NHS ahead of a difficult winter due to covid pressures and long backlogs.

There is also a focus on getting more 12 to 15-year-olds vaccinated after the recent record levels of infections in Harrogate was linked to young people.

High infections rates

The high case rates led to health officials urging schools in the district to reintroduce face masks and postpone some activities to try keep infections under control.

Every headteacher was also contacted with the offer of extra support and advice.

Staff at the Great Yorkshire Showground site helping with the vaccination effort.

The Great Yorkshire Showground operating as a vaccine site in February.

Latest Public Health England figures show just over 16% of 12 to 15-year-olds in the Harrogate district have received their single vaccine dose.

An NHS North Yorkshire CCG spokesperson said: 

“We continue to encourage people to get vaccinated. The coronavirus vaccines are safe and effective.

“They offer the best protection against covid.”

Figures also show a total of 130,232 people in the Harrogate district have received their first vaccine dose and 121,915 people their second.

That equates to 83% and 77% of the population respectively.

No figures are available for booster jabs.

Jenni Newberry set to be Philip Allott’s interim successor

A staff member from the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is set to be appointed interim head of the organisation.

Jenni Newberry, head of commissioning and partnerships, will succeed Philip Allott, who resigned after his comments on the murder of Sarah Everard.

The move will be formalised at the next meeting of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel on November 4.

Ms Newberry is likely to be in post for just three weeks until a full-time successor is elected on November 25.

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So far only Conservative candidate Zoe Metcalfe and independent candidate Keith Tordoff have been nominated for the PFCC election.

Simon Dennis, chief executive of the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“The panel will be asked to consider a proposal that the commissioner’s office be run by Jenni Newberry as part of a team approach.

“If approved, Mrs Newberry would take up the position, working alongside myself and assistant chief executives Tom Thorp and Caroline Blackburn, until the newly elected commissioner assumes the role following their election.”

Mr Allott, who lives in Knaresborough and was elected in May, said Ms Everard should not have “submitted” to arrest by the police officer who murdered her and that women needed to be more “streetwise”.

Bake Off star Helena Garcia brings the witching hour to Bettys

Harrogate’s famous Bettys tearoom had a witch peeking in its windows this week when Great British Bake Off contestant Helena Garcia dropped by.

Helena, who appeared on the Channel 4 cooking programme in 2019, swooped by Bettys to admire its Halloween windows and pick up some ghoulish treats and to promote her new book.

She published a book called The Wicked Baker in 2020 and has now brought out The Witch-Crafting Handbook.

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Eight commercial units approved at Dunlopillo site in Pannal

Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans for eight new commercial units at the former Dunlopillo factory site in Pannal.

York-based Echo Green Developments has lodged the application, which will see the units based to the northern part of the site on Thirkill Drive.

It will also include 28 car parking spaces, 10 cycle spaces and two motorcycle spaces.

The developer said in planning documents that the scheme would “deliver much needed economic development” and that the site was earmarked as employment land by the council.

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The former Dunlopillo site has undergone considerable redevelopment already.

Councillors gave permission to change the site into a mixed-use development back in 2015. Much of the site has already been demolished and replaced by housing as well as the Vida Grange care home.

Approval has also been granted to demolish the former Dunlopillo office block and build 48 apartments.

Leeds company handed £270,000 Sun Pavilion refurb contract

Harrogate Borough Council has awarded a £270,846 contract to Claywood Construction Ltd to refurbish Harrogate’s Sun Pavilion.

The pavilion, which has an art deco glass dome and overlooks Valley Gardens, hosts weddings and can accommodate up to 200 guests. But it has been run down for some time.

The Leeds-based company will be tasked with reconstructing the floor, installing underfloor heating. replacing the heating system, refurbishing the toilets and repairing the leaky roof.

In a report, the council said refurbishment and maintenance of the building would protect “the value and prolonging the life of the asset” and ensure “the health and safety of building users”.

Completed in the 1930s, the venue on Cornwall Road was restored to its original state in 1998 and reopened by the queen.

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Knaresborough’s singing train conductor earns debut art show

A train conductor from Knaresborough has earned a debut art show after picking up his paintbrushes for the first time during lockdown.

Paul Mirfin, who has worked for Northern for 19 years, decided that he needed a new therapeutic hobby just a few months ago.

His colourful pieces, which are often inspired by the scenes he sees on the railway, have been a big hit with his colleagues with some asking for commissions.

Mr Mirfin, who is also a singer, said:

“Painting is really new for me. I had never painted in my life but earlier this year I picked up a brush, bought a load of oils and just started painting.

“I was diagnosed with anxiety a little while ago. My mum had passed away, I moved house, got married and had a lot going on. Painting just focused me in a way nothing else did and really helped.”

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The oil paintings will be on display in Harrogate station’s waiting room on platform one between 9am and 5pm on October 30. He added:

“Obviously, being a railway man, that’s what most of my paintings are of so far. One will be put into the staff room at Leeds, which I’m very proud of.

“I’d recommend giving painting a go to anyone. It’s so relaxing and absorbing – it helps you take time off in your mind of other things that are going on, or it does for me at least.”

The paintings are inspired by the railway.

Tony Baxter, regional director at Northern said:

“It is very exciting to be featuring Paul’s work at Harrogate station for both our customers and colleagues to enjoy.

At Northern, we are dedicated to making the railway environment better for the whole community and to encourage everyone to ‘go do your thing’ – whatever that may be.”

Knaresborough vaccine centre welcomes first 12 to 15-year-olds

Knaresborough’s vaccination site today welcomed the first 12 to 15 year olds through its doors amid concern about high coronavirus cases in the Harrogate district.

The government initially said that all children in that age group would be offered jabs on school premises by half-term.

However, the roll-out in schools locally has been delayed due to staffing issues at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

So the NHS has asked Homecare Pharmacy Services, which recently moved to the Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough, to help out with the roll-out.

William Kean, 12, from Harrogate, was among the first of his cohort to get vaccinated today. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I was a little bit nervous but it was fine, it didn’t hurt very much. I thought it was going to be worse. Hopefully it means I don’t miss as much school now.”

The Homecare team at the launch of the new clinic today.

Local public health officials have linked the high rate of infection in the Harrogate district to children returning to school in September.

The director of public health for North Yorkshire, Louise Wallace, revealed last week that she had urged schools to bring back face masks and reduce after-school activities as a result.

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Jason Baskind, managing director of Homecare Pharmacy Services, told the Stray Ferret:

“Obviously the school teams have been struggling to get the children all done. The initial offer has got to be through schools.

“But the NHS has asked us and other vaccination centres to put on these clinics for children because it’s half-term and because of the situation in Harrogate.”

Sue Vasey, interim director at the Chain Lane Community Hub, added:

“It was really important for us to be able to offer this facility for such an important programme, particularly now when infection levels are so high in our area.

“We are always in need of volunteers but it’s a great atmosphere and a really good team. Everyone has really pulled together to make this work.”

Call to remove damaged Valley Garden statues

The chair of Harrogate International Partnerships has called for damaged statues in the town’s Valley Gardens to be removed.

Vandals ripped out chunks of wood from the Kiwi bird and the carved Maori bench in the New Zealand garden section of Valley Gardens last year.

Dennis Richards, chair of the HIP, a charity that supports twinning groups, told the Stray Ferret the sculptures needed to be removed in order for the charity to come up with proposals to replace them.

The section of Valley Gardens commemorates Harrogate’s twinning with Wellington and the country’s airmen being stationed in the town during World War Two.

However, Mr Richards said the council needed to remove the statues. It follows concern about the condition of them ahead of a visit to Wellington by the HIP.

He said:

“All we are asking for is the wooden statues to be removed forthwith. That is what is causing this disconnect.”

Mr Richard added that once the structures are removed, the HIP will put forward proposals with what could replace them.

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Last week, Kate Spencer, the HIP’s representative who has travelled to New Zealand as part of the twinning arrangement, raised concern that the conditions “dishonoured” the airmen commemorated in the gardens.

Valley Gardens development plan

Harrogate Borough Council said in a statement previously that the sculptures had “already started to rot independent of any vandalism that has taken place”.

It added:

“We would welcome any support or fundraising ideas from Harrogate International Partnership for the replacement of these with something more sustainable and robust for the location.

“Equally if there is anyone who would like to help with maintenance of the space we would be happy to arrange volunteering sessions in conjunctions with our own team or the Friends of Valley Gardens who provide fantastic support in maintaining this space.

“More widely we are in the process of agreeing a Valley Gardens development plan to continue to improve these spaces over the coming years.”

The garden dates back to 1954 and chainsaw sculptor Mick Burns carved the Marlin, Kiwi, and bench in 2010.

Starbeck residents raise anti-social behaviour concerns

Starbeck residents have raised concerns about the level of anti-social behaviour, particularly around the level crossing.

Local councillors and community leaders have received reports of various activities, ranging from late night gatherings to illegal parking.

They are keen for North Yorkshire Police to send more officers to patrol the area to combat the issue.

However, Cllr Tim Myatt, the Conservative representative for High Harrogate, urged anyone with concerns to report them to the police so officers are aware of the scale of the problem. He said:

“Cllr Nigel Middlemass and I are aware of residents’ concerns and we would encourage residents to contact the local police team to log incidents.

“We would like to see an increased police presence in the area to deter unwelcome activity.

“So we encourage residents to report any concerns to the police on the 101 number or via the police website.”

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Charlotte Barker, vice-chair of the Starbeck Residents’ Association, said:

“The Starbeck Residents’ Association recognises that local people are rightly concerned about anti-social behaviour in our area.

“That’s why we have shared residents’ concerns with relevant local organisations and are regularly in touch with the police about these issues on behalf of local people.”

Andrew Hart, who owns the Red Box Post Office on Starbeck High Street, added:

“Policing is a major issue as the local team clock-off at 7pm and are rarely seen during the day. Starbeck continues to be used as a dumping ground.

“Left alone, the homeless hostel residents would be fine but they are not left alone. Improved policing in other parts of the region now means that Starbeck is seen as a soft touch.

“We need some action.”