Stray Views: Don’t blame dog mess on long grass

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. See below for details on how to contribute.

Don’t blame dog mess on long grass

May I respectfully suggest that long grass is not the reason for dog fouling. It is due to irresponsible dog owners breaking the law.

Nigel Heptinstall, Darley

Rossett School is fantastic!

So often the press around schools and education is negative. I just thought I’d like to highlight the fantastic reception my daughter has had at Rossett School since she started there in September 2020.

Written off by her previous school as not academic, she came to the school quite depressed about life. Life at Rossett has utterly changed her into a hard-working girl with an array of options ahead of her.

This is a remarkable turnaround and the school should be applauded for taking in a pupil who had such a low opinion of herself and turned it around inside an academic year. The teaching has been fantastic during a very challenging time for educators and pupils alike. Thank you, Rossett!

Nick Bentley, Harrogate

These bins are a menace

I read the letter from Mr Angus Turner ‘Do something about these awful bins’ on Princes Street with interest.
There is another location in Harrogate where planning permission for a bar was granted subject to the provision of refuse storage within the premises. The proprietor did not abide by this condition and locates his commercial refuse bins permanently on a public footpath. Harrogate Borough Council has stated quite clearly there is nothing it can do to stop this eyesore and danger to the public.
When questioned about the danger to the public by blocking a footpath the response was that there is another footpath on the other side of the road. When asked if the other footpath was similarly blocked what action they would take – to which, surprisingly, there was no reply.
North Yorkshire County Council highways department has also clearly stated this situation has nothing to do with it.
Graham Hope, Harrogate

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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.

Colourful celebrations for Harrogate Rotary Club centenary

The Rotary Club of Harrogate has celebrated its centenary by planting a colourful flowerbed in the Valley Gardens.

Coronavirus has meant the club has been forced to cancel and postpone its much bigger events this year.

March 22 had been set as the date for a sold-out centenary concert at the Royal Hall.

Lockdown restrictions meant this couldn’t go through, but they encouraged ticket holders to donate the refunded money to the upkeep of the Royal Hall.

The members dressed in 1920s clothing and even hired a 1920s Rolls Royce as a nod to the Rotary Club’s origins when they met for the dedication ceremony earlier this week.

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Since 1921, The Rotary Club of Harrogate has raised money for hundreds of causes, from tackling environmental issues to providing affordable accommodation.

Stephen Ellis, district governor for Rotary District 1040, the Mayor and Mayoress, and Rotary Club of Harrogate president John Fordyce

A spokesperson for the club said:

“Great plans to celebrate our centenary have been cancelled or suspended but the Rotary Club of Harrogate did manage to persuade Harrogate Borough Council to dedicate a flowerbed in the town’s famous Valley Gardens.

“The club has always paid a great deal of attention to the environment, having planted many thousands of trees, crocuses and daffodils in the area.

“Outgoing president Alistair Ratcliffe has worked tirelessly to ensure that the centenary bed does credit to the achievements of the club, particularly in what must have been one of the most challenging years for every club president.”

The incoming president John Fordyce hosted the event with the Mayor of Harrogate district, Trevor Chapman.

Joint contemporary art exhibition opens in Harrogate

Two titans of contemporary art, Peter King and Peter Wileman, are showing a collection of works in a joint exhibition at Walker Galleries starting this weekend.

The paintings draw on natural landscapes and still life, and while the artists’ approaches vary in degrees of abstraction, each piece is striking. All the art displayed will be on sale and priced individually.

A spokesperson for the Walker Galleries in Harrogate said:

“We felt that the two artists complimented one another. Both artists concentrate on traditional landscape subjects but give them a slightly abstract ‘edge’.

“Both of the artists are already well established at Walker Galleries and there has already been a lot of interest from regular and new clients.”

peter king

Peter King: ‘Winter Light, Arran’ £2,800

Contemporary Scottish artist Peter King takes inspiration from the light and landscape of his homeland, evoking nature through texture and free paint.

He was born in Glasgow in 1953 and studied art, specialising in drawing and painting, at the Glasgow Art School under the tutelage of David Donaldson RSA and Duncan Shanks RSA.

Walker Galleries described King’s style as “a range of motifs which he constantly returns to and reinterprets, focusing on aspects of changing moods of light, weather and season”.

Peter King

Peter King: ‘Autumn Reflections, Arran’ £2,800

On the other hand, Walker Galleries called Peter Wileman‘s more abstract work “vigorous and full of drama”.

He was born in Middlesex in 1946 and has spent 40 years developing his bold, vigorous style to evoke atmosphere and explore the effect of light, winning many awards along the way.

Peter King & Peter Wileman

Peter Wileman: ‘The Kiss of Dawn, Bamburgh’ £3,500

Wileman is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, the former president and a fellow of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the East Anglian Group of Marine Artists.

The exhibition will be open between 10am and 5.30pm until July 10, and entry is free.

Peter Wileman

Peter Wileman: ‘Castle Nick, Hadrian’s Wall’ £5,850

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Harrogate district covid cases rise by 87- but just four hospitalisations

The Harrogate district has recorded a further 87 coronavirus cases today.

With cases climbing locally, the Harrogate district’s seven day infection rate is now at 218 per 100,000, which is higher than the England rate of 206 per 100,000.

According to Public Health England, the total number of cases in the district since last March stands at 8,702.

A total of 331 cases of the Delta variant have been confirmed in the Harrogate district, according to latest government figures.

The number represents cases up to June 30 – and is a 42% increase from the 233 that were reported for the seven days up to June 23.

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Despite the high number of cases, Harrogate District Hospital is currently caring for just four coronavirus patients.

The hospital has not reported any coronavirus-related deaths since April 11. The covid death toll at the hospital remains at 179.

The high number of cases and relatively low number of coronavirus patients suggests the vaccine programme is working.

Daring abseil at Harrogate hotel raises £16,000 for cat charity

Around 70 volunteers took on a daring abseil down Harrogate’s Crowne Plaza Hotel today to raise money for Yorkshire Cat Rescue.

The event, which was delayed because of coronavirus, took place today between 10am and 4.30pm.

So far the abseil has raised more than £16,000 for the charity, which will use the money to rescue more cats, food, vet bills and shelter.

With so many people taking part and restrictions still in place, the fearless participants were spaced apart in groups of three.

It was a rather damp start to the morning but with little wind, the event could still go ahead.

Jo Beverley, one of the event organisers, told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s huge, that amount of money. Obviously with coronavirus we have been really hit hard in terms of getting cats out to new homes and fundraising.

“So it has been really, really difficult. This just means that we can help more. The more money we have coming in, the more cats we can help.

“This event has been a long time coming. We have had delays after delays but we are here and we are doing it, this is fabulous.”

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This isn’t the first daring exploit run by the charity; last year it held a ‘firewalk’ in Skipton where participants walked over burning coals.

Yorkshire Cat Rescue has been taking in unwanted cats and kittens and giving them homes for nearly 20 years. As an independent charity, it relies on fundraising to keep going.

Charlie Lovatt, who was dressed as Spiderman and the first to take on the challenge, told the Stray Ferret:

“If you are going to go down a building, you need to do it in style. It just felt necessary, I bought the Spiderman outfit for the occasion.

“It was alright, I have abseiled before. But it was quite high and it went really quick.”

Dan Howard, who has hosted pub quizzes for Yorkshire Cat Rescue over the last year was also roped in for the abseil. He told the Stray Ferret:

“It was really fun. The hardest thing was getting over the edge. Once you feel the rope has you it feels a bit more comfortable and you can have more fun with it.

“I started getting involved with the charity in the first lockdown. Through the quizzes alone we raised about £5,000.”

Councillor fails in bid to rehome Peter the Peacock on his farm

A Harrogate councillor has seen his offer to rehome the exiled Peter the Peacock back in Bilton rejected by the RSPCA.

Conservative councillor for Old Bilton, Paul Haslam, owns a farm in the area that includes chickens, sheep and horses.

He stepped in following reports in the Stray Ferret this week that the animal charity took Peter in after an injury to his foot. It was believed he was sent to Lancashire.

Cllr Haslam told the Stray Ferret he felt he’d be able to give Peter a good home and he had even offered to buy some peahens to keep him company.

However, the RSPCA told him that his offer was too late.

It said that Peter was rehomed yesterday at an undisclosed location, which has other peacocks.

Although if the bird doesn’t settle at his new home, the RSPCA has promised to give Cllr Haslam a ring.

Cllr Haslam added:

“They tell me he’s in a very good home and that’s good news. He may just have gone to peacock paradise!”

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Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning. It’s Leah with you this morning updating you every 15 minutes on how the transport links are near you.

These blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group, will show you where the traffic hotspots and temporary traffic lights are and tell you of any train and bus delays.

Let us know if you experience any delays on 01423 276197.

9am – Full Update 

That is it from me this morning, I will be back with you on Monday morning from 06.30 with updates every 15 minutes. Have a lovely weekend!

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier in the Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough centres this morning but keep checking in.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier in the Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough centres this morning but keep checking in.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier in the Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough centres this morning but keep checking in.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8.15am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier in the Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough centres this morning but keep checking in.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

8am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier in the Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough centres this morning but keep checking in.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier in the Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough centres this morning but keep checking in.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are starting to look busier in the Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough centres this morning but keep checking in.

Traffic is building here:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7.15am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning but keep checking in.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning but keep checking in.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

6.45am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning but keep checking in.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning but keep checking in.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

Trains

Buses

 

Harrogate man’s homophobic abuse after England game

A gay man has spoken of his shock at hearing homophobic abuse in a shop in Harrogate after England beat Germany 2-0.

England captain Harry Kane wore a rainbow armband during Tuesday’s match to show support for LGBT+ people during Pride month.

But the following morning the man, who asked not to be named, was visiting a shop close to the centre of town and heard staff laughing about the armband and talking about how gay people were “disgusting and weird”.

This prompted the openly gay man to tell them to think before they speak.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“While they did not direct these comments at me, they were aimed at people like me in a way. I was shocked that they would say such things so freely.

“People just seem to be missing kindness. I just worry if this is how gay people are treated today what it will be like for the next generation.

“I am young and have not been out for a long time but I have already endured so much homophobic abuse, we need to talk about it.

“Just in Harrogate I get so many funny looks if I wear more feminine clothes. People have called me a f***** and a freak. It needs to stop.”

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He was not alone in suffering abuse after the England game. Steve Russell, chief executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, was also abused in the town centre.

A woman told him she was “proud to be white and British because we’re better than people like you”.

‘Crazy’ rush to buy homes in Harrogate as stamp duty holiday ends

Estate agents in Harrogate experienced a “crazy rush” to complete home purchases this week before the end of the stamp duty holiday.

One estate agent told the Stray Ferret yesterday was their busiest day in the last two years while a property expert said the government should have never imposed the holiday.

Completion day is always fraught for prospective home buyers and sellers. However, many will have been particularly nervous this week with £15,000 in stamp duty savings on the line.

From today, the tax free threshold falls from £500,000 to £250,000 and will drop again to the usual rate of £125,000 on October 1.

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Richard Smailes, a partner at Feather Smailes Scales, told the Stray Ferret:

“There was a mad rush to get everything completed by the end of play yesterday. We are still seeing plenty of interest and demand.

“Just because the deadline has gone it does not mean that the reasons for moving have gone away. People want more from their homes because they are spending more time there.

“FSS was very busy yesterday, we had an awful lot of completions on the books. We were geared up for it but it was our busiest day in the last couple of years.”

Harrogate Borough Council has also experienced a surge in search requests in recent months.

The local authority has struggled to cope with the demand at times but the situation has improved and the average wait is currently three weeks.

Alex Goldstein, an independent property expert in Harrogate, told the Stray Ferret:

“I said from the outset that we did not need the stamp duty holiday. We already had a very strong market before the tax break came into play.

“So what we have seen over the last year is prices go up significantly in the area. It seems the stamp duty was just added as part of the price of the property.

“This is what happens when the government tries to intervene in the market, it just creates a bigger problem for people.”

What has been your experience? Reach out to tell us your story by sending an email to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Employee stole from Harrogate garden centre for more than a year

A former employee of a garden centre in Harrogate who stole cash from it for more than a year has been ordered to pay back a sum of money.

Michael Stuart, 64, of Swarcliffe Road, Harrogate, took cash from Crimple Hall on Leeds Road in Pannal between July 2019 and October 2020.

North Yorkshire Magistrates Court, sitting at Harrogate Justice Centre last week, ordered Stuart to pay £500 in compensation to Graham Watson, the managing director of Crimple Hall.

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The court also gave Stuart until June 2022 to complete 100 hours of supervised unpaid work.

Crimple Hall condemned its former employee in posts on its social media channels.

The posts said:

“Please meet a Mr Michael Stuart a once trusted and well-paid employee who repaid that benevolence by systematically stealing over a long period of time from Crimple Hall garden centre.”

The company also tweeted that it was taking action to reclaim money that had been stolen.