Cars drive over Stray to avoid Harrogate road closure

Harrogate motorists have been avoiding the closure of Beech Grove by driving over the Stray.

The road closed to through traffic yesterday but already some vehicles have taken the law into their own hands by mounting the kerb and cutting across the Stray, leaving behind mud and tyre tracks.

A chaotic first night saw most motorists, confronted by road blocks for the first time, performing u-turns. But the Stray Ferret has photographic evidence, as well as verbal reports by witnesses, that some engaged in illegal manoeuvres.

Besides driving on the Stray, motorists also drove through the car parks attached to the residential apartment blocks on Beech Grove. They also drove the wrong way along the one-way street that connects Beech Grove and Victoria Road to avoid a detour.

North Yorkshire County Council, the highways authority, is now considering ways to prevent motorists taking the law into their own hands.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, told the Stray Ferret:

“I am very sorry that motorists have decided to drive across the Stray to avoid the road closure on Beech Grove.

“That is extremely poor behaviour. They are also committing a driving offence.”

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Judy D’Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, told the Stray Ferret:

“It is outrageous that cars are being driven onto the Stray. We understand drivers’ frustrations as they are probably unaware of the closure until they have actually entered Beech Grove.

“However, this does not excuse angry and potentially dangerous driving.

“The hideously ugly planters appear to have been placed well into the route to avoid the increased flooding which now occurs on West Park Stray, spreading as it does across the road.

“As always our concern is for the protection of the Stray and we are engaged in conversation with both North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council about this.”

Beech Grove will be closed to through traffic for six months before North Yorkshire County Council, which is consulting on the scheme, decides whether to make it permanent.

It is hoped the move will encourage pedestrians and cyclists. It will link to the new Otley Road cycle path, work on which is due to begin in spring.

Residents, refuse collections and emergency services will still have access to the area.

Plan to convert Windsor House into 94 flats refused

A plan to convert the Harrogate office block Windsor House into 94 flats has been refused.

A Harrogate Borough Council report said not all of the flats would benefit from adequate natural light.

Owner of the building, Boultbee Brooks, wanted to turn the seven-storey building on Cornwall Road into 94 flats consisting of 14 one-bedroom and 80 two-bedroom properties.

There have been two previous applications to convert Windsor House into flats, in 2014 and 2017, which were both approved under permitted development rights.

However, a condition was attached to both applications that said the conversion must be completed within three years.

First introduced in 2013 as a way to mitigate the UK’s housing shortage, office-to-residential permitted development rights make it easier for owners of office blocks to convert them into homes.

With the building still being used by local businesses, a fresh application was submitted in 2020, which would have given the owner another three years to complete the conversion.

But this time, the council’s chief planner, John Worthington, deemed it not applicable for permitted development due to what he said was a lack of natural light in some of the rooms.

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The Windsor House application received an objection from a tenant of the building, who said the conversion would “drive businesses out of Harrogate”.

The objection said:

“It took us months to find office space in Harrogate within a reasonable walking distance of town. Please think of business in Harrogate, it can’t all be about residential. We need places to work too, Harrogate needs commercial business.”

Windsor House, which is located in the Duchy estate area, is one of the most distinctive landmarks in Harrogate.

Built in 1900 overlooking Valley Gardens, it was originally the Grand Hotel until it became offices in the 1980s.

The Stray Ferret contacted Boultbee Brooks for a response but did not receive one at the time of publication.

Harrogate District Hospital reveals rainbow tunnel

Harrogate District Hospital has unveiled a rainbow tunnel to celebrate diversity and bring smiles to people walking through it.

The decorated tunnel connects the main hospital building to the Briary Wing and was revamped in time for LGBT+ History Month, which runs throughout February.

Rainbow symbols put in windows to show support for the NHS at the start of the coronavirus pandemic inspired hospital staff to add some colour to the tunnel.

https://twitter.com/harrogatehcc/status/1361695147243810823

Last year the hospital created a rainbow crossing to welcome LGBTQ+ patients, visitors and staff.

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Steve Russell, chief executive at Harrogate District Hospital, said:

“We love our new rainbow-styled tunnel linking the main Harrogate District Hospital building to our Briary Wing.

“The idea for having a rainbow in the tunnel came about at the time when members of the public were painting and drawing fantastic rainbows to put in their windows at home to show support for the NHS.

“Walking through the arches of the tunnel, we thought it would make a great location to bring those rainbows from the community into the hospital.

“The rainbow is a lasting landmark within the hospital, a symbol for equality and diversity, and as a space to walk through when you need some colour in your day.

“Most importantly – We hope it brings a smile to faces that walk through it!”

Live: Traffic and travel updates in Harrogate district

Good morning and welcome once again to our traffic and travel service for the Harrogate district.

Whether you travel by car, bus or train we will keep an eye out for any possible disruption to your journey.

It’s Connor again back on the travel desk from 6.30am. Spotted an accident or a road closure? Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

If traffic is moving well or it’s at a standstill then we will let you know with our updates every 15 minutes.

Full update – 9am

Thanks to everyone who has been getting involved in this traffic and travel blog. I am switching over to the news desk now but will be back from 6.30am tomorrow.

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Harrogate theatre boss hopes for covid clarity on Monday

Harrogate Theatre’s chief executive has said he hopes Monday’s government announcement on the route out of lockdown will bring some clarity on the way forward.

David Bown has worked at Harrogate Theatre for 17 years but the last 12 months have been brought unprecedented challenges.

The theatre has been closed for almost a year now but hopes to put on a show, in some form, in the months ahead.

Mr Bown is eagerly awaiting the Prime Minister’s briefing on Monday but acknowledged there was still a lot of uncertainty. He said:

“The government is talking about live venues reopening, which is good but I think it will of course be problematic. We aren’t looking to test the water until the summer in terms of live events.”

During the first lockdown the theatre launched an emergency fundraising appeal and, besides receiving individual donations, it has also received grants from external funders, which he says have “stabilised” finances.

The sudden loss of income due to covid forced the theatre to make some difficult decisions last year and it let go of 59% of its workforce. With no confirmed opening date, production and front of house staff were released.

Mr Bown said it now felt like groundhog day, with the remaining staff waiting for the green light to reopen. He added:

“We’re quite stable in terms of finance right now but we’ll have to see how that plays out in the coming months.

“I can’t see them relaxing the entertainment sector too soon. We closed last year because we could see theatre wasn’t viable until the pandemic is over.”

Harrogate-Theatre

Harrogate Theatre with stands empty in the town centre.

Many theatres, including Harrogate, have streamed shows online to reach a wider audience and Mr Bown thinks this will continue.

He hopes indoor theatre productions can return soon but acknowledges they are unlikely to be the same as before the pandemic. Mr Bown believes masks will continue to be mandatory, as will some form of social distancing.

He also raised concerns about the older demographic of the theatre’s audience, adding that some regulars may be hesitant to return.

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The theatre has plans to put on an immersive, outdoor performance in Harrogate this summer, starring local performers and producers.

The town will be the focus of the storyline. He said:

“It’s us reaching out to the community instead of asking them to come inside the building. Hopefully it’ll bring a little buoyancy to the town centre too.”

He thanked people for contributing to the appeal, which he said has raised “well over £100,000” for the theatre.

Now he is hoping Monday will bring some road map forward for the theatre and other organisations across the Harrogate district.

Hopes dashed for Harrogate care home visits despite vaccine

A health leader in North Yorkshire has dashed hopes that face-to-face care home visits could resume soon.

Despite all Harrogate district care home residents now being offered a covid vaccine, North Yorkshire County Council still advises visits only take place behind screens and windows or in visiting pods.

Many family members and friends have not been able to have face-to-face visits for almost a year, including Harrogate resident Judy Bass, who said it has been “horrible” not being able to visit her 99-year old father.

Position remains the same

North Yorkshire County Council‘s corporate director of health and adult services, Richard Webb said the position remained the same on care home visits, despite the success of the vaccination programme.

Speaking at a press briefing of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum this morning, Mr Webb said there is still a risk of vaccinated people spreading the virus.

“Our position remains the same. We need to make sure we don’t have a false sense of security. The vaccine is incredibly good news, however the virus can still be caught and transmitted by people with the vaccine.

“The vaccine stops people dying and stops people needing very acute hospital treatment.”

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Ms Bass told the Stray Ferret this afternoon that she expected face-to-face visits to be possible after care home staff and residents had been vaccinated.

She now thinks she might not be able to visit her dad before his 100th birthday in August.

She added:

“It’s the false hope, they just keep moving the goalposts.”

Impact on transmission

Covid case numbers in the Harrogate district have fallen since January but the impact of the vaccine on the transmission of the virus is yet to be fully understood.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Monday that early data suggests the vaccines are having a “really encouraging” impact on transmission, but the full data will not be published until next month.

It was revealed at this morning’s press briefing that 422,000 people in North Yorkshire, York, East Riding and the Humber have had their first vaccine. 17,000 have had their second dose.

Harrogate butchers named best in the north

A Harrogate butchers shop at the Great Yorkshire Showground has scooped an award for being the best in the north of England.

Fodder was named North of England Butcher’s Shop of the Year at the Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards 2020 on Monday.

The shop, which opened in 2009 and is run by the Yorkshire Agriculture Society, was described by judges as “an excellent business, showing innovation and community as well as charitable support”.

Fodder opened in response to the foot and mouth crisis that devastated farming. The shop now works with 430 local farmers and producers.

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Heather Parry, managing director of Fodder, said:

“We are thrilled that our butchery has been recognised as the North of England’s finest and one of the very best in the whole of the UK.

“This award is a great endorsement of the quality of our meat, which has been reared to perfection on the very best local farms, as well as the skills of our talented and knowledgeable butchery team who are able to advise customers on how best to cook our products when they get home. 

“Our team works incredibly hard to create a beautiful counter every day and offer outstanding service too.”

The Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards, which is organised by Meat Trades Journal, includes 12 categories and is judged by a panel of butchery experts, including a “mystery shopper” visit to the 35 finalists.

Among the other awards include Butcher’s Shop of the Year, Online Butchery Business of the Year and Farm Shop of the Year.

The awards ceremony was held online amid the coronavirus pandemic.

£3,000 worth of tools stolen from Harrogate garage

Police are appealing for witnesses after £3,000 worth of tools were stolen from a garage in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police said the garage, on St Catherine’s Road in Harrogate, was burgled on February 3 between 10am and 7.30pm.

Power tools and garden equipment were among the items taken.

North Yorkshire Police is asking anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour or unusual vehicle movements on the street that day to get in touch.

Officers are also appealing for anyone with private CCTV to come forward.

You can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Chloe Kinnear. Or email chloe.kinnear@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and quote reference number 12210052754.

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‘We were told the vaccine was the way out’

A Harrogate man has spoken of his despair at being one of 1.7 million people told to shield again for another five weeks.

Scott Lambert, 35, has a rare autoimmune disease called behçets syndrome and is classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.

He received an email from the government yesterday advising him to extend shielding from February 21 to March 31.

Mr Lambert told the Stray Ferret he was vaccinated three weeks ago at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground and, after spending much of last year shielding and all of this year, thought the end was in sight.

So to receive the news out of the blue yesterday was “beyond unfair”, he said, adding:

“We were told the vaccine was the way out of this. Yet a week before the review date we have been told it’s a further five weeks minimum.

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He said shielders were “the forgotten people in the pandemic” and he wanted to highlight their situation. He added:

“We have been locked away far more than many people over the coronavirus pandemic. It’s taking a huge strain on each and every one of us.

“Being a shielder isn’t lockdown. It’s next level lockdown. You’re constantly thinking of how transmission could occur and make you seriously ill. Yet an email is all the government felt was enough to put us through this for a further five weeks.

“We thought the vaccine was the way out. The government achieved the target of vaccinating all of the clinically extremely vulnerable and we thought we would be able to rejoin society in the new normal.”

Mr Lambert, who lives in Jennyfields, said the showground vaccination programme was well run. He added a Facebook group called Shielders Support had been extremely helpful to local shielders. But yesterday’s news came as a “shock to all”.

The email urged him to “stay at home as much as possible”, adding:

“Whilst the national lockdown has been effective and cases of covid are now falling, the levels of infection in the community remain high and the virus continues to pose a high risk to people across the country.

“The risk remains particularly high for those considered clinically extremely vulnerable. Therefore, the government strongly advises you to continue to follow the shielding measures that were introduced in January to help you protect yourself.”

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel updates

Good morning everyone and welcome back to our traffic and travel service for the Harrogate district.

Whether you travel by car, bus or train we will keep an eye out for any possible disruption to your journey.

It’s Connor again back on the travel desk from 6.30am. Spotted an accident or a road closure? Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

If traffic is moving well or it’s at a standstill then we will let you know with our updates every 15 minutes.

Full update – 9am

Thanks to everyone who has been getting involved with this new traffic and travel service. Good to read that people are finding it helpful. I am moving over to the news desk now but will be back with renewed vigour tomorrow morning at 6.30am. Connor.

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