Harrogate porter’s hands feature on new NHS coronavirus pin

A porter at Harrogate District Hospital has had his hands honoured as part of a new NHS pin to thank staff for their efforts during the pandemic.

Faisal Yousaf, known as Faz, is one of just six people who have taken part in the project to support NHS charities.

TMB Art Metal has developed an initial run of 5,000 of the special fundraising pins. A total of £10 from the sale of each £25 pin will go to NHS Charities Together.

The pins, which are cast in metal from a 1939 Spitfire that flew in the Battle of Britain, are available exclusively by clicking or tapping here.

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Colleagues of Faisal put him forward for the project. He was on the frontline in the emergency department and the admissions unit taking patients to and from the intensive care unit.

He works all around the hospital transporting patients, blood supply and equipment, as well collecting items from nearby villages and Leeds.

Faisal said:

“I feel overwhelmed to be a part of this project. I’ve been here for around two years, and to me, my colleagues are not colleagues but friends and family.

“I was seeing first-hand the doctors and nurses who’d been in full PPE for 12, 13 hours coming out of intensive care, their expressions, body language and the scars the equipment made.

“Then in the days and weeks that followed it became a really proud achievement to have all my colleagues around me and to be a part of that team.”

Sammy Lambert, business development, charity and volunteer manager said:

“I am delighted that we are involved in such a monumental project. Faz is an incredible colleague and a real asset to #teamHDFT.

“All of our colleagues across the trust are so grateful to be part of such a lovely initiative to thank the NHS.

“I see first-hand the difference the monies raised through donations from projects such as this can make – thank you.”

Gallery: sun shines on Harrogate food and drink festival

Harrogate’s food and drink festival returned to the Stray today to become the town’s first major event since the coronavirus pandemic.

The event dodged the bad weather of the last week, as the sun shone on the Oatlands Drive part of the Stray that hosted the event.

The festival will be open again tomorrow to offer people the chance to enjoy international cuisine, independent bars, artisan stalls, live music and a fun fair.

The organisers have once again partnered with the mental health charity Mind, with the Harrogate district team stationed on the exit.

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Mike Gibbs, chair of Harrogate district Mind, told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s fantastic. We are so grateful to the event organisers who have helped over the years to raise money for Mind.

“Like other charities we are having a tough time with coronavirus. Events like this are going to help save lives.”

Amy Griffin, who is working on the Doe Harrogate stall, told the Stray Ferret:

“It feels amazing, Harrogate is such a great place to be. It feels a bit more normal doesn’t it? Everyone is here.

“We’ve got party rings, rainbows, Victoria sponge cake, the crowd favourite Biscoff and plenty more.”

Adele Wrightson, on the Fire and Dough stall, told the Stray Ferret:

“This is the first time we have been down here, we are from Northumberland. It’s great weather so lovely to have it outdoors.

“It’s odd to have so many people in one place. This is the biggest event we have done in recent times, they have gradually been getting more busy over the summer.”

If you miss the Stray event, it will be back at Ripley Castle on August 28 to 30.

More pictures:

Wetherby Road expected to reopen on Tuesday

Wetherby Road in Harrogate is expected to reopen on Tuesday after a water pipe burst yesterday.

The part closure of such a busy road caused long delays yesterday as drivers sought alternative routes. This looks set to continue all weekend and Monday.

Wetherby Road remains closed from Masham Close to the junction with Hookstone Road.

Yorkshire Water has confirmed that its engineers have now fixed the broken pipe.

North Yorkshire County Council previously said the aim was to reopen the road this weekend.

However, that has been pushed back. The road has suffered “significant damage” so workers need more time to fix it.

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It’s unclear at this time whether Wetherby Road will be open for the morning commute on Tuesday at this time.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“The burst pipe on Wetherby Road has now been repaired. It caused significant damage to the road surface in the area and our teams will be working throughout the weekend to reinstate the road and reduce disruption to a minimum.”

An eyewitness told the Stray Ferret:

“They were working on it on Friday morning and they said they might have to close the road, I think they left it as late as they could.

“But it was the worst timing really, on a Friday afternoon.”

Wetherby Road in Harrogate closed in both directions

Wetherby Road in Harrogate has been closed in both directions just as the evening rush hour begins, due to a broken water pipe.

Heavy traffic is already starting to build up around the area.

The busy commuter route could be closed for more than a day between Masham Close and the junction with Hookstone Road, according to North Yorkshire County Council.

The council said on Yorkshire Water‘s engineers “were on scene and aim to reinstate the road over the weekend”. It apologised for any inconvenience.

Wetherby Road in #Harrogate is closed in both directions from Masham Close to the junction with Hookstone Road.

This is due to a collapsed @YorkshireWater pipe.

Their engineers are on scene & aim to reinstate the road over the weekend.

Apologies for any inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/3LzLPmoFeI

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) June 25, 2021

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“Due to a burst water pipe, we’ve had to close Wetherby Road from Masham Close to the junction with Hookstone Road.

“Our contractors are on with fixing the pipe and assessing the work that needs to be done to get the road open safely again. We’re sorry about any disruption this causes.”

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Police take man into custody after rooftop standoff in Harrogate

Police have taken a man into custody after a two-hour rooftop standoff in Harrogate this afternoon.

The incident forced police to close off Belmont Road and nearby Belmont Close and Cold Bath Road while a negotiator talked the man down.

Residents reported a heavy prescence from the emergency services just before 1pm. There were multiple fire engines, police cars and ambulances in the area.

It was around 3pm when officers handcuffed the suspect and took him away in a police van. All three roads are now open again.

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A police spokesperson said:

“The incident in Belmont Road has now been brought to a safe conclusion and the roads have reopened.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding. The man has been taken into police custody.”

An eyewitness on Cold Bath Road told the Stray Ferret:

“I came to pick up my child from school and saw lots of police cars, a few fire engines and ambulances.

“Just then I saw a man being taken into the back of a police van in handcuffs. He was up on the roof.

“So the incident seems to be over now and Cold Bath Road is open to traffic, nice and busy again.”

The incident in pictures:

Harrogate Hospital Radio wins three-year fight for FM licence

Harrogate Hospital Radio is preparing to go on to the FM airwaves after earning a licence on its third attempt in three years.

It will be a major step for the station when it starts to broadcast for the first time on 95.3FM from 9am on September 1.

The charity radio station, which has been keeping hospital staff and patients entertained since October 1977, has had a long journey to get to this point.

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Mark Oldfield, Harrogate Hospital Radio’s chairman, was knocked back by regulator Ofcom twice, but took the loss of Stray FM as a reason to take up the fight again.

He started a petition to drum up support, which was signed by nearly 400 people, and said:

“I can’t begin to tell you what this means to Harrogate Hospital Radio. An awful lot of hard work has gone into our submission.

“I’d like to thank MP Andrew Jones and Harrogate Hospital Radio NHS Trust chair Angela Schofield, and its chief executive, Steve Russell, for their support.

“Early this year, I was invited to resubmit my application and, finally, at the end of May, I got a call from Ofcom to inform me my application had been successful.

Harrogate District Hospital now has 300 FM radios so even more patients will be able to listen to Harrogate Hospital Radio.

The chairman hopes that it will become the dedicated radio station for not only the hospital, but the surrounding area as well.

Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning and welcome back, it’s Leah with you this morning with updates every 15 minutes on the road and rail links.

Temporary traffic lights, train delays and traffic hotspots are all included in our blogs, brought to you by The HACS Group.

If you are experiencing delays, and it is safe to do so, please let us know or social media or call 01423 276197.

9am – Full Update

That is it from me today, Suzannah will be back with you on Monday morning from 06:30 with updates every 15 minutes. Have a lovely weekend.

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

8.45am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

 

8.30am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

 

8.15am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

 

8am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic Hotspots:

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

 

7.45am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

 

7.30am – Full Update

Roads

Traffic is starting to build in the Harrogate and Knaresborough centres this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Traffic is building in these areas:

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

 

7.15am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

 

7am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

 

6.45am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

 

6.30am – Full Update

Roads

The roads are looking clear so far this morning, keep checking back for today’s traffic hotpots.

Temporary traffic lights are in place here:

A charity cycle ride covering 50 miles of North Yorkshire will cause numerous road closures in Nidderdale on Today.

The race, called On Yer Bike, will snake from Kettlewell to Pool-in-Wharfedale and will mean rolling road closures throughout the day.

Trains

Buses

 

Jennyfields assault: police arrest third man

North Yorkshire Police has arrested a third man in connection with a late night assault on two men in the Jennyfields area of Harrogate.

The 47-year-old from Harrogate was arrested yesterday evening and has since been released on bail.

Officers were called to the Grantley Drive area by the ambulance service at 11.20pm on Tuesday after two men were found with head injuries and cuts to their bodies.

Two other men were arrested on suspicion of wounding in the early hours of the following morning and have been released while under investigation.

A police helicopter was used to search the area to find the two men.

Read more:

 

120 marathons in 120 days: Harrogate man set for Herculean challenge

A retired Harrogate police officer is set to take on the Herculean feat of completing 120 marathons in 120 days.

Graham Wilson, 54, intends to walk and run 26.5 miles a day every day for four months, starting in his hometown of Harrogate on Saturday.

The 120 marathons challenge, which is the equivalent of 3,180 miles, is back on track after a 15-month delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

His wife Marion and dog Tilly will support him from the sidelines for the next four months and will also join in at times.

After starting in Harrogate, Graham will complete three marathons in North Yorkshire before heading off in a van across 48 counties in England.

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He also plans to cover the marathon distance in parts of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of the Republic of Ireland, if covid travel rules permit.

The last marathon will be in Harrogate on October 23. So far, Graham has raised more than £40,000 for 15 charities. He said:

“I’ve always been into long-distance hiking. Now that I’ve retired from the police I want to do something to raise money for charities which I’ve come across.

“This includes the British Heart Foundation, which I’ve got a personal connection to after my dad experienced a heart attack when he was just 39.

“He sadly later passed away from a cardiac arrest, and I’ve also lost grandparents to heart disease too.

“I know the devastating impact these conditions can have and how important the BHF’s research is in finding better treatments and preventions to save more lives.”

The marathon challenge will also support Macmillan Cancer Support, Tiny Life, Saint Michael’s Hospice, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Living with CAH, Harrogate Homeless Project, Disability Sports Yorkshire, and numerous art groups.

You can donate here.

Harrogate council staff review highlights bullying and harassment claims

Staff have made allegations of bullying, harassment and undermining at Harrogate Borough Council.

As part of an ongoing review into pay at the authority, some staff responded to a survey with claims that their bosses “work together to threaten” and “get what they want” from more junior colleagues.

One member of staff said in a report that the council “bullies and harasses its staff regularly,” adding:

“I have been on the receiving end of this – the lies, being made to feel incompetent, being bullied and harassed on returning to work.

“Harrogate Borough Council needs to take a long hard look at itself.”

Reacting to the allegations, David Houlgate, secretary of the trade union Unison Harrogate, which represents council workers, said the claims were “not a surprise”. But he added he did not believe there was a “culture” of bullying at the authority:

“The council is a large employer with over 1,000 staff. It is sadly inevitable that bullying behaviour will and does occur.

“The council has policies and procedures to deal with these. When our members come to us with complaints we fully expect the council to engage with us and fully respond and resolve the issues being raised.

“If we feel this is not happening, then we do involve our legal representatives but this does not happen very often.”

A spokesperson for the council said there had been two complaints of inappropriate behaviour and one grievance regarding bullying and harassment raised in 2021. These are currently under investigation.

In 2020, one grievance was raised regarding bullying and harassment with no further action taken at either stages one or two of the grievance procedure.

And in 2019, one complaint of bullying and harassment was investigated and an appropriate level of warning issued.

The spokesperson said: “Sadly, at some time or another, all employers will have to deal with bullying and/or harassment in their workplace.

“It is something we will not stand for and any incident is dealt with in accordance our behaviour policy. Thankfully, these reports are very few and far between.

“It is encouraging to see that the Local Government Association agree that our new pay and grading structure is consistent with the national position.”

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The allegations were made as part of a review into pay, which could see 17 of the council’s most senior staff next month get pay rises totalling around £133,000 between them.

Meanwhile, mainstream workers, who had their pay structure reviewed more recently two years ago, are currently in negotiations for a further rise.

This is after a study concluded the recruitment and retention of staff was challenging and that pay was a factor.

Out of the 553 employees who responded to the survey held in August, over 80% gave pay as one of the main reasons why they would consider quitting their jobs.

Mr Houlgate said staff have been offered a “derisory” 1.5% pay rise this year – an increase which he believes does not go far enough to recognise them as the “unsung heroes” of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Unison has been clear for a long time that levels of pay for council staff has been a major contributory factor in relation to recruitment and retention issues.

“We have seen a decade of staff being overworked and undervalued whilst enduring significant real term pay cuts, redundancies and increased workloads.

“The council now seems to be waking up to this and says it is putting things in place to tackle these issues but we have real concerns about the timeframe it has set and whether it will deliver on these.

“This needs to happen now otherwise people will leave.”

As well as the bullying and harassment allegations, and complaints over pay, several staff also responded to the survey with positive comments about working at the council.

Positive comments from the survey

Negative comments from the survey

Do you have experience of bullying at the council? Write to us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk