BT Sport to show Harrogate Town’s Wembley final for free

Harrogate Town’s FA Trophy final against Concord Rangers is to be broadcast live for free by BT Sport.

The match will be played behind closed doors at Wembley on Monday.

BT Sport usually charges to watch matches but has decided to show Harrogate’s game for free across all its platforms.

It will be available via BTSport.com, the BT Sport App, BT TV, the Sky Digital Satellite Platform and Virgin Media channel 100.

After the game, the channel will also show Proud To Be Town, its documentary on the rise of Harrogate Town that gives a unique insight into a football club during the first coronavirus lockdown.

The schedule for the day is as follows:

12.45pm – Live – FA Vase Final – Consett v Hebburn Town
3.30pm – The Grassroots Football Show
4.30pm – Live – FA Trophy Final – Harrogate Town v Concord Rangers
7.30pm – BT Sport Films – Proud To Be Town

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said:

“Following a period when many lower league football fans have been unable to watch their sides, we hope our coverage will provide them with an opportunity to watch an exciting non-league finals day live from Wembley Stadium.”

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A fan campaign supported by Harrogate & Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones attempted to persuade the Football Association to let fans watch the match live.

But the FA confirmed this month it wouldn’t allow this, which means Town fans will be cruelly denied a trip to the home of English football for the second time in 12 months.

The Stray Ferret will be at the Cedar Court Hotel on Monday to watch the game with the fans and will be reporting throughout the day.

The club and the hotel have got together to show the game on a big screen to 42 supporters and are offering food and drink as part of the package. Click here to purchase a ticket.

Andrew Jones urges care minister to ease ‘restrictive’ outdoor guidance

Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones has urged care minister Helen Whately to review care home guidance on outdoor trips.

The guidance says residents that leave homes must isolate for 14 day except for medical appointments or exceptional circumstances.

It has been widely criticised nationally and locally, including by care home residents, the Bishop of Ripon and the director of health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council.

Nick Moxon, 32, who has cerebral palsy and is a resident at Disability Action Yorkshire‘s care home on Claro Road, Harrogate last week told the Stray Ferret he feels “trapped” and “treated like a lesser being” because of the guidance.

Now Mr Jones has described it as “too restrictive and not in the best interests of the health and wellbeing of our care home residents” and urged Whately to act.

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Mr Jones revealed the news not on his official website but on Community News, a website he runs featuring local Conservatives.

He said “slow but positive improvements” meant care home residents could now receive two nominated visitors and hold hands with them

But he added the same could not be said for outdoors visits, which particularly impacted younger care home residents:

“New guidance says that when they leave their homes for any reason, as they often do to exercise in the fresh air, they must self-isolate for 14 days thereafter. This is said to be necessary to keep other residents safe.

“Whilst I support the government’s motive, this is undoubtedly too restrictive and not in the best interests of the health and wellbeing of our care home residents.

“I have written to the Minister for Care, Helen Whately, to ask for the guidance to be reassessed and reconsidered and I hope this will be acted upon quickly.”

 

 

Video highlights issue of motorists parking on Oatlands cycle lane

A social media video has highlighted the long-running issue of motorists parking on Oatlands Drive in Harrogate and blocking a cycle lane.

Frequent parking in the lane has become a major frustration for cyclists, many of whom lament what they consider to be inadequate cycling infrastructure in the district.

Advisory cycle lanes run down both sides of Oatlands Drive. One side of the road has double yellow lines, which makes it an offence to park there.

But the other side doesn’t have any yellow lines, which means there are no parking restrictions. Cars often park on this side of the road, particularly at weekends when football matches take place on the Stray.

The video was shared with the Stray Ferret by a person who asked to remain anonymous. You can watch it below:

‘It really upsets me’

Several Harrogate residents criticised motorists for parking in the cycle lane when asked by the Stray Ferret.

Ruth Ker said:

“I cycle down there regularly and it really upsets me that people park over the cycle lane and onto the Stray.”

Zoe Oxley said:

“There’s not enough cycle lanes in Harrogate as it is without drivers parking over the few we have.”

Cyclist Ian Hallett on Oatlands Drive.

Ian Hallett, a keen cyclist who lives in the nearby Saints area, said:

“When occasional cars are parked in the cycle lane, it is very dangerous as cyclists have to move out into the flow of traffic to avoid them. This is all very frustrating as the road could form a good cycling link from a popular residential area into the town centre.”

Stuart Macintosh said:

“I’d strongly support double yellow lines along there. It would stop the cars parking half on the Stray as well.”

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Active travel scheme

As part of four active travel schemes in the county, North Yorkshire County Council has proposed various measures for the Oatlands Drive area, including painting double yellow lines on both sides of the road to stop people parking there.

However, NYCC scrapped one element of the proposals, a one-way system for Oatlands Drive, after receiving “overwhelming” opposition in its initial consultation.

The scheme has now entered its second consultation phase, but a one-way system around the Saints has proved unpopular with residents, which could throw the whole scheme into doubt.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at NYCC, told the Stray Ferret a decision on whether the plans go ahead will be made next month.

He said:

“We have sought to resolve this problem through the development of the Active Travel Fund scheme for Oatlands Drive, first by proposing one-way traffic management which would create sufficient road width for fully compliant cycle paths, then by proposing double yellow lines along Oatlands Drive as part of a later package of measures for the scheme, which excluded the one-way option.

“In the meantime, it is regrettable that drivers are deciding to block the eastern cycle path by inconsiderate parking.”

Harrogate Borough Council enforces parking restrictions but said it has no power to stop people parking on the Oatlands Drive cycle lane.

A council spokesperson said:

“We can only enforce if there are parking restrictions when a cycle lane is advisory, like they are in Oatlands Drive.

“Unless NYCC puts a double yellow line down both sides of the road, we can only enforce the restrictions on the one side.”

‘Quirky’ Starbeck mural could see Marc Almond floating on a teabag

A “quirky” mural has been proposed for a wall in Starbeck that could see famous former residents, such as the 14th-century Duke of Lancaster John of Gaunt and Soft Cell singer Marc Almond, painted as if they are floating on teabags.

Mark Leicester, who owns a block of buildings on Starbeck High Street, said such a mural would liven up a wall that was formerly the side of a launderette and joins Camwal Road.

Mr Leicester told the Stray Ferret his vision for the mural includes making the windows look like car windscreens and underneath depicting famous ex-residents flying on teabags as if they are magic carpets.

He said he wants the artwork to offer something different from the norm.

“We’re proud of Starbeck. A lot of unsung heroes have lived here.”

“We’re trying to do something that isn’t just a landscape, we want it to be quirky and interesting too.”

The mural would be painted on this wall.

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Mr Leicester has asked local residents to suggest famous people who lived in Starbeck that could be included on the mural.

Suggestions so far include John of Gaunt, William Slingsby, pub owner Sam Smith, Marc Almond and Henry Peacock.

Colourful murals have become increasingly popular in the area.

Local artist Sam Porter recently finished working on a nature mural at Cheapside in Knaresborough and a fox-themed mural was painted on the iron bridge at Bilton this month.

Mr Leicester said his son, who is an animator, has volunteered to help with the design and he is in discussions with local mural artists that might be able to do the work.

He added:

“I want it to make people smile when they see it. And for them to see Starbeck as a nice place.”

Work could begin on the mural this summer.

Harrogate man jailed for 10 years for child sex offences

A Harrogate man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to 17 child sex offences.

Dale Tyson’s crimes included sexual communication with a child and distributing indecent images of a child.

Tyson, of Christina Street, used an alter ego online to talk to children and get them to send sexual images of themselves.

York Crown Court heard he would pretend to be a young North American man to build stronger relationships with his victims in order to obtain more graphic images.

The 17 offences related to 10 children in the UK and USA. However, North Yorkshire Police said in a statement it believes there are many more.

Tyson pleaded guilty to seven counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, six counts of making indecent photographs of a child, three counts of intentionally encouraging an offence and sexual communication with a child.

North Yorkshire Police Detective Sergeant Steven Alderson said:

“This case really highlights the fact that it is almost impossible to know if the person you are speaking to online is who they claim to be.

“The young victims who came forward showed incredible bravery in speaking to the police about what happened to them and in speaking out they have helped protect many more young people from Tyson’s deplorable behaviour.

“The investigation spanned the UK and USA, with fantastic work from our investigators at North Yorkshire Police who managed to locate a number of these victims, without whom the case would not have been so strong.”

Tyson, whose trial was heard on Friday, is also subject to a sexual harm prevention order for an indefinite period.

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North Yorkshire Police added that anyone who thinks they or their child may have been a victim of online abuse should report it to the police.

If you are worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online and you would prefer not to speak to the police, you can report confidentially online through the child exploitation and online protection command centre here.

The NSPCC also has a range of resources for parents to help them keep children safe online.

Harrogate council publishes heavily redacted Turkish Baths responses

Harrogate Borough Council has today published heavily redacted responses to its consultation on single-sex sessions at the town’s Turkish Baths, after previously saying the information was restricted.

The council considered banning single-sex sessions at the 124-year-old council-owned baths but changed its mind after the consultation revealed 92% opposed the move.

A summary of the consultation’s 325 responses was published this month. But the council took the unusual step of not revealing individual responses on the grounds that they contained personal information.

After being questioned about this, the council today released a statement saying that because of its commitment to being “open and transparent”, it had decided to disclose the information after all.

But many of the responses are heavily redacted in black type.

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One person said:

“Single sex sessions are invaluable and help women feel that they can fully relax and enjoy the experience. It would be a huge loss for women if those sessions were removed.”

Another said:

“Don’t let down the majority by slavishly following a trend that may be short-lived. Harrogate has had the courage of its convictions for centuries.”

A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“When someone takes part in one of our consultations, they do so on the basis that the information they provide will be kept secure and treated in accordance with data protection laws.

“We also owe them a duty of care to treat their responses as private and confidential.

“In the case of this consultation, responses included highly sensitive information including stories from victims of violent crimes.

“However, in recognition of our commitment to be an open and transparent council, a redacted version of the responses has been published in the Have Your Say section of our website.

“All personal data, identifying or confidential information has been removed to maintain respondents’ anonymity.”

Harrogate transparency campaigner Peter Lilley, a long-time critic of the council, called the number of redactions in the document “ludicrous”.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“Harrogate Borough Council makes itself look more and more ridiculous every day.

“Considering council officers have had seven or eight months to process the information it received from the consultation on proposed changes at Harrogate’s Turkish Baths, it’s hard to imagine how the responses could have been presented more unattractively; with so many comments ‘blacked out’ that, in places, the document is totally unintelligible and unreadable.

“The sheer number of redactions is ludicrous. They must amount to several hundred – and on what grounds? The council has even blacked out answers to the question: how often do you visit the baths? How can that possibly be considered sensitive information?”

Record number of Oxbridge offers at Harrogate Grammar School

Harrogate Grammar School is celebrating a record nine offers from Oxford and Cambridge Universities to its sixth form students.

It is the highest number of Oxbridge offers in the school’s recent history and follows considerable disruption to schools caused by covid.

Headteacher Neil Renton said:

“We are incredibly proud of our students in securing offers at such world leading educational institutions.

“In the context of such difficult circumstances, students have shown resilience, independence and determination.”

“Much of their preparation and support took place remotely and this created different opportunities to support students in their application.”

The students participated in the school’s sixth form scholars’ programme, which helps to develop confidence, curiosity and independent thought to help succeed at top universities.

The programme includes presentations by academics, discussion groups, interview workshops, mock interview sessions and support for aptitude tests.

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Among those receiving offers are year 13 students Ruby Johnson and Lucy Bowman.

Lucy, who has an offer to study natural sciences at the Cambridge University, said:

“I can’t wait to start the next chapter of my life there. It has made all my hard work worth it and I finally have something special to look forward to at the end of these strange times.”

Ruby, who has received an offer to study philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University, said:

“I am very grateful to the school for the support they provided throughout the application process.”

The nine students that received offers from Oxbridge were for the following courses and colleges: mathematics at Downing College, Cambridge; natural sciences at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge; philosophy, politics and economics at St Peter’s College, Oxford; music at Keble College, Oxford; linguistics at Downing College, Cambridge; engineering at Emmanuel College, Cambridge; engineering at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge; psychology and behavioural sciences at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and geography at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

New Harrogate to Skipton bus service on Saturdays

The Harrogate Bus Company is to introduce a new service connecting Harrogate and Skipton.

The 59 service will run four times each way on Saturdays, starting on May 22.

Buses will depart from Harrogate bus station at 0945, 1145, 1445, and 1645, and from Skipton bus station at 1040, 1240, 1540, and 1740.

The bus will stop at The Millstones, Blubberhouses for Fewston reservoir, the Devonshire Arms for Bolton Abbey, Bolton Abbey station for the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway, and terminate at Skipton bus station.

The journey will take just less than 50 minutes in both directions.

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This is the first bus to link Harrogate and Skipton since the X59 service was cancelled in 2013. There has been no direct public transport link between the two towns in the eight years since.

The price of a single or return ticket is not known yet, but a daytripper ticket to allow further connections with other Transdev services costs £10.

The news comes as local councils are considering plans to reduce car dependency and encourage active travel and use of public transport in the Harrogate district.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning everyone and welcome back. Traffic is getting busier on the district’s roads now so make sure to keep and eye on our morning blogs.

It’s Connor here with you bright and early this morning, please get in touch with me via social media or email me at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This blog, brought to you by The HACS Group, brings you updates every 15 minutes on the road and rail links near you.

9am – Full Update

That’s all from me this morning. The roads are definitely much more busy than they were a few weeks ago. So stay on top of the delays by following this live blog and help keep us updated by sending any news to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Roads

The roads are becoming quite busy this morning with traffic hot spots on these roads across the Harrogate district:

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.45am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are becoming quite busy this morning with traffic hot spots on these roads across the Harrogate district:

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.30am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are becoming quite busy this morning with traffic hot spots on these roads across the Harrogate district:

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

Trains

Buses

8.15am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are becoming quite busy this morning with traffic hot spots on these roads across the Harrogate district:

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are becoming quite busy this morning with traffic hot spots on these roads across the Harrogate district:

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

Trains

Buses

7.45am – Full Update

Roads

The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

Trains

Buses

7.30am – Full Update

Roads

The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

Trains

Buses

7.15am – Full Update

Roads

The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update

Roads

The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

Trains

Buses

6.45am – Full Update

Roads

The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Road closures in place here:

Trains

Buses

6.30am – Full Update

Roads

The roads look to be clear so far this morning. No traffic hotspots to report just yet.

Temporary traffic lights are in place:

Trains

Buses

Otley Road cycle lane: work to start in next ‘two to three months’

Work will not begin on the new Otley Road cycle lane in Harrogate for at least another two or three months.

Cyclists who use the busy road have already waited a long time for the scheme. A total of £3.2 million funding was set aside in 2018.

The final remaining barrier, after delays caused by coronavirus and negotiations over Stray land, is the ongoing utility works.

An 11-week programme of works by Northern Powergrid is due to finish on May 17. But there will be some other smaller works taking place then.

Once all utility works are complete North Yorkshire County Council has said it can start the cycle route. The local authority will also make improvements to the junction with Harlow Moor Road.

Read more:

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are planning to start work on the Otley Road cycle route in the next two to three months.

“The main set of works has been those by Northern Powergrid. They should be finished soon and there will be some more minor works after that.

“Once all of those utility works are out of the way then we can start work.”

Melisa Burnham, the highways area manager at the county council, added:

“A number of utility works are required to facilitate both the junction works and the cycle route. All necessary parties have been identified and programmes are planned in.

“If there are any further changes, we will provide an update on our web page. Affected residents will also be notified by advanced notification boards on site.”