Harrogate to get second Christmas market

A second Christmas market is to be staged in Harrogate on the first weekend of December.

Harrogate Borough Council said in a statement today it had agreed a partnership with Little Bird Made to hold a festive artisan market in Valley Gardens on December 4 and 5.

The statement added that subject to an acceptable event management plan, the artisan market will feature around 60 local traders and producers.

The stalls will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware, jewellery, as well as locally produced food and drink.

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It will accompany the new Harrogate Christmas Fayre, organised across town by Market Place Europe, which will run from December 3 until December 12.

The fayre will see 50 stalls erected in Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.

Harrogate Borough Council is also working with Harrogate BID and North Yorkshire County Council on the fayre, which will take the place of the one traditionally held on Montpellier Hill.

‘Festive cheer’

Little Bird Made’s website says its markets offer a “diverse, quality, shopping experience that celebrates independent producers”.

Ripon resident Jackie Crozier, who set up Little Bird Made in 2018, said:

“I am delighted to be working with Harrogate Borough Council to bring an additional Christmas market to Harrogate this year.

“Our markets showcase some of Yorkshire’s finest small businesses and are a great opportunity to bring some festive cheer and buy that special gift for the holidays.

“We are always looking for new traders to join our growing portfolio of markets, so anyone looking for a stall should get in touch.”

Cllr Andy Paraskos, cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:

“We’ve said for some time that we want to ensure festive cheer returns to Harrogate town centre this year and I’m delighted that Little Bird Made will complement Market Place Europe’s offering.

“They provide fantastic artisan markets that showcase the best home-grown traders and producers and I’m confident there will be something for everyone. I’m eager to see what will be on offer.

“Hopefully this leads to a longer-term relationship with Little Bird to deliver a monthly artisan market in the Valley Gardens in the future.”

Fuel Watch: Which pumps are working across Harrogate district

Despite warnings from the government that there is no fuel shortage, drivers have been struggling to fill up cars across the Harrogate district.

As tankers arrive to refill stock at forecourts, the Stray Ferret has created this live blog to help people find petrol and diesel.

Have you just been to fill up? Help other drivers in need by letting us know what the situation is like at your local petrol station.

Send an email to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk with your reports and we will add them to this rolling coverage throughout the day.

6.40pm – Queues look to be calming down at petrol stations in Harrogate

Queues are short at the Esso garage on Skipton Road.

6.10pm – Update on Harrogate’s petrol stations

The BP filling station on Leeds Road in Pannal has shut all its pumps.

6pm – Queues building at Morrisons in Boroughbridge 

After a delivery of fuel earlier today, the queues have been continuous at Morrisons in Boroughbridge.

One of our Stray Ferret readers James has gone in touch to say queues are now five cars deep for the pumps.

5.20pm – Esso garage on Knaresborough Road receiving a fuel delivery tonight

A local taxi driver has got in touch with the Stray Ferret to say the Esso garage on Knaresborough Road, heading out of Starbeck, is without fuel.

The station, which also has a Tesco Express store, is expecting a fuel delivery this evening at 7pm.

Please keep getting in touch with your updates.

3.30pm – The fuel station picture across the district

Harrogate

Knaresborough

Boroughbridge

Pateley Bridge

Ripon

2.52pm – Tanker arrives in Boroughbridge

A tanker is replenishing fuel supplies at Morrisons in Boroughbridge. Traffic is already queueing to get in.

2.15pm – Fuel station situation across Harrogate

Our reporter has been out and about in Harrogate check on fuel stations across Harrogate.

2.05pm – Esso on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road serving fuel

The Esso station on Wetherby Road has fuel and our latest update says there is no queueing.

1.50pm – One pump only at Knaresborough forecourt

The Co-Op petrol station on Wetherby Road in Knaresborough currently has just one pump serving fuel at the moment.

1.30pm – Morrisons at Boroughbridge out of fuel

Morrisons at Boroughbridge is out of fuel. Let us know if it reopens and what the situation is like on forecourts elsewhere in the district.

12.15am – Fuel storage warning

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has warned drivers of the hazards of storing fuel in cars and at home.

The fire service released the advice after people were pictured over the weekend filling up containers across the UK.

“We would like to remind people to take extreme care when handling and storing fuels and to be aware of the risks associated with the incorrect use and storage.

“In homes fuel containers must not be stored in living accommodation such as kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms or under staircases.

“Any storage place should be well away from living areas and be secured to protect against the possibility of vandalism or arson.”

11.30am – Pateley Bridge low on fuel but set for delivery

The Dales Market Corner in Pateley Bridge has reported that it no longer selling diesel and only has a small amount of petrol left.

It has created a £30 petrol limit which the staff have said they will try to keep for local people after some “came from miles around in a panic over the weekend”.

Stacey Brookes, manager at the Dales Market Corner, posted on Facebook about the situation this morning.

After a “very difficult weekend” the petrol station is expecting delivery of diesel and petrol at 6am tomorrow. It should be ready for customers 30 minutes later.

10.30am – Ripon petrol stations open and ready for busy week

As dawn broke in Ripon this morning, the city’s three main petrol stations were open in readiness for the working week ahead.

There was a steady flow of motorists filling up their vehicles at the two Morrisons Esso stations on Harrogate Road and within the supermarket’s site.

Across Ripon, on North Street, the BP station at the Spar store was also busy from early on.

As motorists rushed to the pumps over the weekend, the Morrisons Supermarket station was temporarily closed on Sunday.

Tim Flanagan

 

Full Fibre broadband is coming to Harrogate, what does this mean?

This article is sponsored by CityFibre

Kim Johnston, Regional Partnership Manager for CityFibre in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, answers some of the frequently asked questions regarding the full fibre roll out across the region.

What is CityFibre and what is it doing in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon?

CityFibre is on a mission to future-proof the UK’s connectivity from the ground up – literally! We’re building brand new digital communications infrastructure across the region, bringing the best available technology (full fibre) within reach of nearly every home and business.

This is a game-changer for the region as it will last for generations and help to drive the region’s growth now, enabling residents and businesses to benefit from ultra-fast internet speeds, while also unlocking a world of opportunities in the future.

This is all part of our up to £4 billion Gigabit City Investment Programme, which will see us bring full fibre within reach of up to 8 million homes and businesses across the UK by 2025.

What’s your role at CityFibre?

As a commercial lead in the region, I’m the main point of contact for local stakeholders and a key advocate of the many benefits that a full fibre network will bring to Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon.

Right at the heart of what we are trying to achieve are the local communities we will serve. It’s also very important in my role to ensure the build progresses smoothly and that residents and businesses are kept updated every step of the way.

Why is full fibre different to what I’ve got already? 

The difference between full fibre and ‘regular’ fibre is significant, and even if you think you have ‘fibre broadband’ today, the chances are there’s copper in there somewhere holding you back. In fact, if your router connects to a normal telephone socket, then that’s what you’ve got.

Around 80% of UK homes still connect to the internet via networks built for telephones – copper networks designed to carry sound, not data. Our networks are designed specifically for the digital age and take 100% fibre optic technology all the way from the home to the point of connection.

Full fibre enables Gigabit speeds, reliable services and bandwidth that can grow as we need it. No more buffering when you’re trying to watch the latest Netflix series, a stable, reliable connection on Zoom calls and the family able to play on their consoles and computers simultaneously without any groans of ‘the broadband is down’.

What does Gigabit mean?

A standard broadband connection has an average download speed of around 6Mbps and ‘superfast broadband’ averages speeds of around 30Mbps.

Internet service providers (ISPs) that are offering broadband connections on our full fibre network can deliver colossal ‘Gigabit speeds’ of up to 1,000Mbps for both download and upload.

That’s over 30 times faster than a superfast connection!

Where are you working at the moment?

We are currently working in Knaresborough and Harrogate, with our build starting in Ripon in 2022.

You’ll be able to spot our teams in action in Knaresborough and Pannal in Harrogate and, before too long, we’ll have reached nearly every home and business locally.

How will I know when it’s coming to my area?

We use digital advertising and door knocking, where applicable, to inform residents of our plans, and we will post a letter through your door before construction is due to start in your street to let you know we are coming.

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What do the works entail?

Most of the new full fibre network will be laid underground. This requires construction crews to dig trenches which can cause some disruption. However, the teams work quickly and should only be working outside each individual property for a couple of days, during which you may be asked to move your car or manoeuvre around barriers.

In some locations, existing telephone poles will be used to feed the cable to properties overhead, resulting in minimised disruption.

If you have any issues regarding access to your property or any questions regarding the build, please do speak to the build teams on-site who will be able to answer any questions.

How do I get it?

CityFibre doesn’t provide the end service to the customer, we only lay the fibre cable. Our networks are open access; currently in the area residents can purchase full fibre connections on our network via TalkTalk. A number of other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will be coming on board in the next month or two.

The easiest way to check if you can connect is to use the postcode checker on the CityFibre website. If it’s not available yet, you can register your interest and once works are complete, CityFibre will email you a list of available full fibre providers.

 

To be one of the first to get access to one of the fastest and most reliable broadband
services in the region, register your interest here!  

Harrogate dementia group reopens doors to new members

A wellbeing group offering support for people with dementia and their families is looking for new members as it reopens post-covid.

The group, based at St Luke’s Church in Harrogate, has been open for nearly five years and offers a space for anyone in the local community to come and meet friends and take part in activities.

Initially set up for families affected by dementia, the weekly group now hosts sessions for anyone wanting to make new friends.

The group had to stop during the pandemic for 17 months but reopened three weeks ago.

Before the pandemic around 35 people came each Thursday between 1-3pm but now it is only 15.

Group leaders Lizzy Turner and Victoria Amella are determined to get more people involved. They say the benefits to someone who may feel isolated can be huge.

Ms Turner said:

“The group look forward to coming each week, especially after the pandemic. A lot of our members are older so had to isolate so the group has been great to come back to.

“We want to grow it so more people can benefit from what we offer. We’re a great little group and have built some great friendships over the years.”

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The sessions are £2 and visitors will get soup and a cup of tea as well as the chance to take part in different activities.

As well as the usual domino games and arts and crafts, Ms Turner said visiting teachers also come to teach members music and chair yoga.

The Works reveals opening date for bigger Harrogate store

The Works has revealed that it is set to open in a much larger unit in Harrogate next month, where it will be able to stock its full range of products.

The discount books and stationery store is moving across the road from its current spot on Oxford Street into the former Edinburgh Woollen Mill on October 7.

Edinburgh Woollen Mill closed in October last year, which has meant a large retail space in Harrogate has been empty for a long time until this move by The Works.

The store was also home to Austin Reed, Country Casuals and Ponden Home Interiors.

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The Stray Ferret reported that the move was incoming at the start of the month but The Works has now unveiled the opening date.

The former Edinburgh Woollen Mill unit.

A spokesperson for The Works said:

“We are delighted to announce our relocation in Oxford Street Harrogate and we look forward to welcoming customers into our brand new store.

“The new store gives 3,885 sqft of trading space, which will provide all our customers access to every department and our full range of products.

“The new relocated store shows our long-term commitment to Harrogate’s town centre.”

The Works has been holding a sale at its current premises on Oxford Street in preparation for the move.

New state-of-the-art cosmetic surgery hidden in Harrogate village

Forget nipping to the village shop for a pint of milk, you can now pop for a facelift at a new cosmetic surgery clinic near Bishop Thornton.

Nestled in the rolling hills of the Harrogate countryside, Kliniken, Swedish for “the clinic”, is aimed at moving away from a clinical hospital environment.

Instead it wants patients to feel like they have just checked into a luxury hotel, rather than a cold, sterile hospital environment.

I was intrigued when I heard about this new rural clinic, which boasts its own state-of-the-art operating theatre.

Firstly, due to its quirky location in the middle of nowhere, miles away – literally – from the typical urban setting, such as Leeds, Manchester or London’s  famous plastic surgery hub, Harley Street.

And secondly, when I heard two of the owners had sold their old house to fund the venture, as well as remortgaging their current home. In the current climate, this takes guts.

Hotel lobby

Consultant plastic surgeon Mallappa Kolar, who runs the practice with his wife, Karuna Kolar, and business partner Dr Senthil Kumar, said:

“The reception area has been designed with the thought process that we wanted it to feel professional and welcoming.

“We have tried to keep things discreet, so there is only ever two sets of patients who can be here at any one time. It is meant to feel more like a hotel lobby.

“When you walk in, the ladies greet you as a patient and you get a drinks menu to choose from.”

One of the receptionists who welcomes patients to Kliniken.

I’ve driven past Oakwood Park Business Centre, on Fountains Road, many times, but I had no idea here was a whole  business community there out in the sticks. With amazing views stretching for miles around, it really did feel calm and serene.

Different feel

When I walked in, it definitely had a different feel to the usual clinical environment you often get in a hospital or GP surgery. I was expecting someone to hand me a key and show me to my room.

Talking of rooms, it’s actually quite a big place, a bit like a tardis. It features two consultation rooms designed around patient comfort which boast flat screen TVs, reclining seats and shiny black desks to match the shiny black Apple Macs.

It is essentially as far removed from a typical cluttered GP’s room as it gets.

One of the consultation rooms at Kliniken.

There is also a therapy room, with colourful art on the walls, where you can pop in for some botox, fillers or laser treatments.

Mr Kolar said:

“This is designed to feel more like an experience. It is meant to feel comfortable, not cramped. If there is someone with you, they can sit down and have a drink.”

Split into two parts, the other area of the building is known as “the surgery hub”, which features two private recovery rooms.

Mr Kolar said:

“Patients will be greeted on the day of surgery by their own nurse, they will have their own patient care coordinator, their own surgeon and their own anesthetist. Those people are available throughout the entire patient journey.

“They will also get the receptionist’s number and the surgeon’s number.”

Hi-tech operating theatre

But perhaps most impressive is the high-tech operating theatre, which boasts fancy intelligent lighting and the best surgical equipment you can buy, according to Mr Kolar.

You would never expect to find a full working operating theatre just down the road from Fountains Abbey.

The operating theatre at Kliniken.

Mr Kolar, who is believed to be the only full-time plastic surgeon based in Harrogate, said:

“I didn’t want it to be in the city centre. You should see it in the winter when there is snow, it is literally picture postcard Yorkshire.

“We want it to be the equivalent to Harley Street, but here.”

” I have two brothers who both live in London and for them it’s inconceivable to see something like this.

“We have a son and I want him to appreciate the countryside and the clean air and the rehab and things like that. I feel if I want that for my family, I want that for my patients.”

The clinic has been six years in the planning and the trio have thrown everything they have into it.

Investment

Mr and Mrs Kolar sold their student house and have remortgaged their current property to fund the business venture. Mr Kolar also decided not to go for an NHS consultant job so he could concentrate fully on the clinic.

Dr Kumar, who met Mr Kolar three years ago when he was a registrar completing his training, has also invested heavily.

He flew back to England just a day after his wife gave birth in India as he had an important meeting with the Care Quality Commission.

Mr Kolar said:

It’s unusual to do what I’ve done, finish training and leave and set up a private practice. There are not many people who do that. A lot of people weren’t happy that I was doing that and a lot of people doubted us.

“You get so emotionally invested into this, you don’t have any spare time.  It sounds cheesy, but because you’re putting so much into this everything else is paled into insignificance.

“At the end of the day patients are trusting us with their body and it is a privilege.”

However, the determined trio are confident their goal of “redefining the healthcare experience” in natural surroundings will make the clinic a success.

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Innovation

Innovative treatments at the clinic include a “one-stop shop” for procedures such as hand surgery. This can be done in a day, rather than the patient having to keep coming back for consultations and the surgery itself.

Fat grafting is also available, which involves using a very thin needle to harvest cells from an area of your body. These cells are then injected into the area being enhanced.

Mr Kolar, who has done both an MD and PhD in fat stem cells in Sweden, said:

“There is probably only a handful of places in the country that would do it. So it’s using it for simple things like acne scars, volume rejuvenations, so a natural alternative to fillers. For example it can be used on the décolletage area for women. As we get older the creasing starts to increase, so we can rejuvenate that using fat. It can be used for all these different things.”

Together with their team of surgeons, they are now ready to go “full steam ahead” after being hit by a string of delays due to the pandemic.

Dr Kumar said:

I look at it as an opportunity to basically redefine the healthcare experience. I think we have pretty much nailed it on the head in this particular place.”

The view from Kliniken, which is based at Oakwood Park Business Centre, near Bishop Thornton.

Stray Views: Anti-cycling attitudes have turned Harrogate into a car park

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.

Anti-cycling attitudes have turned Harrogate into a car park

As a Byron Walk Mews resident, I had no problem at all with the small numbers of school pupils and town centre workers and visitors who used this path, which is wide enough to safely accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists.

Councillor Sam Gibbs presumably prefers them to take their chances in the traffic on the A61 or Victoria Road.

A similar anti-cycling attitude, plus complete ignorance of our taxation system, is shown by county councillor Stuart Parsons in the separate report about cyclists annoying motorists by using our roads. Apparently he believes they are “not road taxpayers while using it for their cycles”.

Councillor:
1. There is no such thing as road tax. It was abolished in 1937.
2. Cyclists pay general taxation, which funds the roads, just like everyone else.
3. Motorists (who include most cyclists) pay vehicle excise duty, based on the level of pollution they generate, hence a zero rate for electric cars. It has nothing to do with road maintenance.

No doubt these councillors believe there are votes to be had in attacking cycling. Sadly, such attitudes have helped Harrogate town centre become a giant car park choked with traffic. They show no understanding of the town’s potential for a healthier, safer and quieter future.

Marwood Smith, Harrogate

We need more straight-talking MPs like Nigel Adams

Brilliant to see Nigel Adams, the Selby with Ainsty MP, use a bit of Anglo-Saxon language to the attention seeking London Brexit madman. We need far more straight-talking from our MPs.
Tim Emmott, Harrogate

Paddling pool closed too soon

It is a shame that the paddling pool in the children’s play area at Borrage Green in Ripon has been emptied of water.

Surely, the council could have maintained its use for a little longer, especially while the early evenings are still light and children can enjoy the outdoors.

Liz Jarvis, Low Grantley

Cycle count is a pointless publicity stunt

Mr Margolis is fooling no one with his publicity stunt on Beech Grove. He says his survey of a couple of hours of observation, picked by himself, ‘proves’ that Beech Grove low traffic neighbourhood is working well. The other day I observed Beech Grove low traffic neighbourhood and didn’t see a single cyclist.

By his logic that “proves” nobody is using it and therefore a complete failure! Did he, by any chance, find out how many of those he did observe would have been going along Beech Grove anyway?

I walk along Beech Grove and don’t see a ‘transformation’, other than many more U-turns.

There’s no change for pedestrians as we walked on the pavement before and still do. Like North Yorkshire County Council, which uses the results of un-scientific, self-appointed surveys filled in by a minority of enthusiasts to ‘prove’ what people want, once again we have misleading information trying to prove a point. Is that the best they can do?

Chris Dicken, Harrogate

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20 cars on Harrogate street scratched with key

About 20 cars parked on a street in Harrogate have been scratched by what appears to have been a key.

Marketing professional Charley Christopher noticed the paintwork damaged on vehicles on Dragon Parade when she was walking to Harrogate train station yesterday morning.

She said:

“It looks like someone keyed a huge number of cars.

“It was as if someone just walked along the whole street with something sharp.”

Dragon Parade

 

Ms Christopher, who lives nearby, suggested people check dash cam and CCTV footage to see if they could identify the culprit or culprits.

She noticed the incident at about 8.30am on Saturday. The Stray Ferret walked along the road at about midday on the same day and noticed several cars were marked.

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Harrogate man: ‘My whole life has been consumed by drugs’

Two weeks ago, Chris Hollowed left jail after serving six months for dealing heroin and crack cocaine on the streets of Harrogate.

Since then, he has left his family in Harrogate to start a new life in Rotherham, away from old friends and haunts and, hopefully, old habits.

Drugs have scarred his life and after he was sentenced in March his daughter Mel Bowman got in touch to say her dad had never denied his guilt but she felt he had been let down by a lack of support.

She also wanted to convey that her dad was more than a ‘junkie’: he’s worked as a builder, decorator, plasterer and mechanic and has been a great support to many others.

Mr Hollowed agreed to talk frankly to the Stray Ferret about his experiences to give people an insight into how life can spiral out of control.

Harrogate council estate

He traces his problems back to growing up on the St Andrew’s council estate in Harrogate. His parents divorced at the age of six. He says:

“I’m the eldest of four children so I was allowed out a bit later and sent to the shops so I ended up knocking around with older boys. There was always a criminal element on the estate where I lived and I just fitted in.

“I started smoking cannabis when I was 12 or 13. At 16 I was sent to Borstal for stealing cars.

“When I went to Borstal I thought it was cool because there were older boys. I didn’t understand the lifestyle consequences.”

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Drugs have continued to scar Mr Hollowed, who has had several relationships and been homeless. He says it was a “natural progression” from cannabis to harder drugs.

“It doesn’t happen to everybody but when you smoke cannabis you can go from one drug to the next and they become more and more expensive. I’ve done everything you’d expect from an addict. Heroin is a completely different drug. It doesn’t just affect you mentally, it affects you physically.”

Clean from heroin

Mr Hollowed was jailed for a third time in March when he admitted two counts of supplying class A drugs last year. The court heard he had 105 offences on his record. His lawyer said he had an “entrenched” drug addiction dating back over 20 years, which had taken a heavy toll on his health. He was jailed in March and released on September 13.

He says he’s been clean from heroin for six months but was prescribed methadone in prison.

“I’m now on no drugs and no medication. Nothing.”

He’s living in a hostel in Rotherham with two other men. He says:

“I’ve had to leave my home town and family. If I go to Harrogate I will fail. I’m not saying I won’t fail here but I have a chance.

“I’m an older man now and can just walk my dog. I don’t need to be part of a clique anymore. My whole life has been consumed by drugs.

“I’m changing everything. I’m hoping to work for the local drug agency. I’m waiting to do exams. I’m 56. I’ve got 15 years of work I can give back. The lesson is it all starts with cannabis. But I need training.”

He makes no great promises about the future.

“I’ve talked to my daughter and ex-girlfriend and I have tried to get myself clean many times. In five years time I might be a success. Right now I’m not a success.”

He hopes to help others and that his story will help others view him and others with drug addictions in a more nuanced way.

Lack of support and compassion

His daughter, Mel Bowman, also wants people to know her dad’s situation is more complex than many people think and urges them to show compassion.

“He’s a great guy, he made bad choices and spent his life trying to make up for it.

“People will always overlook him as a person as just a junkie, it’s a lack of compassion and understanding that draws people to that conclusion.

“It’s easy to write people off under a stereotype, not so easy to offer help and support but he would be the first person to offer it if the shoe was on the other foot.”

Ms Bowman adds her dad got little response from employers when he was honest enough to admit he was a recovering addict.

“He eventually went and sought comfort from his past after getting no where with his future. Obviously drug users can’t be babysat and they don’t want that, they need to be reinstated into society with support and shown respect as you would give any other human.

“Also they can’t get the implant of the blocker anymore, which is key to supporting users through those first few months of recovery. You can get a tablet but that means you’re relying on willpower alone, which isn’t easy.

“It’s these types of things that would really help. On paper the support is there but in reality it’s not there quick enough and not easily accessible.”

Harrogate district has highest covid rate in North Yorkshire

The Harrogate district’s seven-day covid rate has increased to 457 per 100,000 people, which is the highest in North Yorkshire.

Selby is second highest in the county with a rate of 418 and the average rate for England is 310.

Meanwhile, a further 143 covid cases have been reported in the district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

This week Harrogate District Hospital recorded another death of a patient who tested positive for covid.

It takes the death toll from covid at the hospital since March 2020 to 188.

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