Snow affects schools and travel in the Harrogate district

The Harrogate district woke up this morning to a heavy covering of snow, causing travel disruption and school closures.

Gritters were out across the district last night and early this morning to help any drivers with essential travel.

Snow started before dawn this morning and the Met Office predicts that it will continue until 12pm.

From 2pm forecasters predict heavy rain, which should help clear away the snow.

Keep refreshing this page throughout the day for the latest on the snow disruption.

2.05pm – Meet St George’s snow dragon

A 10-year-old girl called Alice has been rather creative in the snow today.

She sculpted her own version of St George’s dragon out of the snow by Ripon Cathedral.

Great job, Alice!

Well done to 10 year old Alice for her fabulous snow creation of St George’s dragon! @engcathedrals @RiponDean @LeedsCofE @AilsaNewby pic.twitter.com/IFxoI2b6cB

— Ripon Cathedral (@riponcathedral) February 2, 2021

2pm – Household waste recycling centres reopen

North Yorkshire County Council has reopened its household waste recycling centres in the Harrogate district.

Ripon, Harrogate and West Harrogate sites are now open after closing for the snow this morning.

#Ripon, #Harrogate and West Harrogate household waste recycling centres are open.#Leyburn and #Skipton remain closed.

Find more information about household waste recycling centres here. ⬇️https://t.co/llRAH0z30s pic.twitter.com/sPxWsS8DOn

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) February 2, 2021

1.50pm – More bus services running

We have just received another update from the Harrogate Bus Company.

The 8 between Harrogate, Knaresborough and Wetherby is now running again.

https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1356594194840748034

1pm – Harrogate district buses update

The Harrogate Bus Company has just tweeted an update for its routes today.

It is also hoping to have an update on the 1B soon.

12pm – Harrogate district covered by two weather warnings

The Met Office currently has two yellow weather warnings in place for the Harrogate district.

The amber warning for snow has now passed on the forecaster’s map.

However, a yellow warning for rain and a yellow warning for snow and ice both remain in place.

11.30am – Otley Road at Harlow Hill ‘impassable’

North Yorkshire Police has warned that the snow has made Otley Road, Harrogate at Harlow Hill impassable for motorists.

The police have tweeted that people should avoid the road until further notice.

***SNOW DISRUPTION***

Otley Road in #Harrogate at Harlow Hill is currently impassable due to snow.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area until further notice.

Listen to local radio for the latest traffic and travel information. pic.twitter.com/8WfknkK9Iz

— North Yorkshire Police (@NYorksPolice) February 2, 2021

11.15am – More buses running in Harrogate district

The Harrogate Bus Company has said that more of its services are running again, with some serving a reduced route.

However the 24 to Pateley Bridge and the 8 between Harrogate, Knaresborough and Wetherby are still unable to run.

11am – Recap on how snow hit Harrogate district

Schools, roads, vaccine sites and household waste recycling centres all closed today in the Harrogate district due to the snow.

Police closed the A61 in Bishop Monkton this morning after a serious crash. Officers are currently waiting for recovery.

The vaccine centres in Harrogate and Ripon closed this morning, with jabs rescheduled for another time.

As the snow eases across the district the CCG which runs the centres hopes to continue with the vaccines scheduled for the afternoon.

North Yorkshire County Council has closed the household waste recycling centres in Harrogate, West Harrogate and Ripon.

Here is the county council’s full list of school closures:

10.45am – Bishop Monkton road set to reopen

North Yorkshire Police is set to reopen the A61 in Bishop Monkton.

The force closed the road at around 8am after a serious crash. Currently officers are waiting for recovery.

It’s still unclear how many vehicles were involved or if there were any injuries.

We will now be looking to reopen the road #A61#BishopMonkton once recovery is complete. Thank you for your patience

— NorthYorksPolice RPG (@NYorksRPG) February 2, 2021

10.30am – Cedar Court in the snow

Thanks to Pam for sending in this picture of the cedar at Cedar Court Hotel in the snow this morning.

Send in your snaps of snow from across the Harrogate district to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

10.10am – Harrogate bus 36 running again

The Harrogate Bus Company is running the 36 route again after a morning of disruption.

There had been issues because of the snow between Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds.

✅ We're now able to run #The36 between Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds. Thanks for bearing with us. pic.twitter.com/8r1tBIDows

— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) February 2, 2021

9.50am – Household waste recycling centres close

North Yorkshire County Council has closed its household waste recycling centres today.

Sites in Harrogate, West Harrogate and Ripon have shut their gates due to the snow.

The following household waste recycling centres are currently closed due to #snow.

•#Catterick Bridge
•#Harrogate
•West Harrogate
•#Ripon
•#Leyburn
•#Settle
•#Skipton pic.twitter.com/szFQkSQ9Wh

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) February 2, 2021

9.40am – Even more school closures

North Yorkshire County Council has released its full list of school closures after a morning of heavy snow.

9.30am – Pictures of Harrogate district in snow

Send in your snaps of snow from across the Harrogate district to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Blubberhouses in the snow. Photo: Deborah P

Keith and Annette Stainthorpe taking their morning exercise on Ripon Market Square with their 5-year-old Cockerpoo, Coco, who they say, ‘absolutely adores this snowy weather’.

Harrogate snowman with binmen collecting this morning.

The Stray in Harrogate in the snow this morning.

Bishop Monkton in the snow. Photo: Cathie Hague

Kex Gill in the snow.

Ripon Cathedral sitting pretty in the white stuff.

A great early snowman. Photo: Craig Wraight

9am – Bin and recycling collections still going ahead

Harrogate Borough Council has said its recycling and bin collections are going ahead as planned today.

The crews hope to complete all their rounds today weather permitting. Last month, the council stood down its crews due to heavy snow.

Hello. Crews are out as usual this morning. We will complete all rounds weather conditions permitting. ^Andy

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) February 2, 2021

8.50am – Fountains Abbey closes due to snow

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is closed today due to the heavy snow.

The National Trust site tweeted this morning to say the surrounding roads are dangerous in the snow and ice.

Anyone who has a ticket for today will receive a cancellation email.

8.30am – Serious crash closes Bishop Monkton road

North Yorkshire Police has closed the A61 in Bishop Monkton to deal with a serious crash.

The police have not said how many vehicles are involved or how long the road is likely to stay closed.

Road currently closed #A61 #BishopMonkton due to serious RTC . Hopefully we can update you soon how long it is likely to be closed #donttravelunlessneeded

— NorthYorksPolice RPG (@NYorksRPG) February 2, 2021

8.20am – Bus cancellations across Harrogate district

The Harrogate Bus Company has stopped some of its buses across the district this morning due to snow.

8.15am – More school closures

As the snow continues to fall in the Harrogate district more schools are announcing closures. Here’s our list so far:

8.10am – Send in your pictures of the snow

There may be plenty of disruption this morning as a result of the weather but it does bring some opportunities for great pictures.

Send in your snaps of snow from across the Harrogate district to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

We will share them on our social media and on this live blog throughout the day.

8am – Drive safely on roads, say police

North Yorkshire Police has warned drivers across the Harrogate district to drive safely in the snow.

The force’s traffic bureau tweeted this morning asking people to leave plenty of distance between their cars.

There is heavy snowfall across the county this morning. Please leave plenty of distance from the vehicle in front, clear your vehicle completely of snow if your travel is essential. A19 from Thirsk and York is passable but completely covered with snow at the moment.

— N Yorks Police Traffic Bureau & Road Safety Team (@NYTrafficBureau) February 2, 2021

7.30am – Snow forces Harlow Carr to close

RHS Garden Harlow Carr and Garden Centre is closed today due to the heavy snow.

Anyone who has booked tickets should send an email to harlowcarr@rhs.org.uk to request a refund.

Unfortunately due to this evenings forecast of heavy snow, RHS Garden Harlow Carr and Garden Centre will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday 2nd February.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused. If you have paid for tickets, please contact harlowcarr@rhs.org.uk to arrange a refund. pic.twitter.com/TnfHG2KTPn

— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) February 1, 2021

7am – School closures due to snow

The heavy snow has forced headteachers to shut schools, which are open to key worker children and vulnerable learners.

Here’s the list we have so far of school closures:

6.50am – Coronavirus vaccine centres closed

The vaccination centres at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon racecourse are closed.

Only those with appoinments between 8am and 12.45pm will have to go another time.

Appointments for the afternoon are still due to go ahead as planned.

 

Can you drive to Swinsty reservoir for a walk?

It is a simple question: can I drive to beauty spots like Swinsty reservoir in the Harrogate district for exercise? But a clear answer appears elusive.

Harrogate Borough Council’s newsletter last week said:

“Driving to the other side of the district, into the Nidderdale AONB or to either of the national parks is not acceptable.  If you do, you run the risk of a fine.”

Swinsty, Fewston and Lindley Wood reservoirs — popular spots with walkers and dog owners — are all located within Nidderdale AONB and the council’s comments prompted a fierce debate on Twitter.

Some questioned whether legally people could in fact be fined.

Another person tweeted it was ‘bizarre’ that you could join ‘droves of people in Valley Gardens but a quick hop up to deserted Nidderdale is risky and the coppers might fine you’.

But others said there had been a huge increase in local walkers and supported fines.

Today the Stray Ferret attempted to get clarity.

We approached the council, which said it was simply “amplifying North Yorkshire Police’s messaging about what local means”.

Read more:

North Yorkshire Police sent us two links when we asked for clarification.

The first was a quote from Superintendent Mike Walker, who leads the force’s response to covid:

“If the officer finds that the individual has travelled multiple miles to exercise and it’s outside of their local area, where there is plenty of provision and open spaces to exercise close to home, the officer has the option to encourage adherence or enforce the regulations dependant on the circumstances.”

There is no further explanation on how far “multiple miles” is. But Superintendent Walker adds that getting “embroiled in detail” can mean we “lose focus of the real reason we are being asked to limit movement”.

The second link referred to a reply by chief inspector Charlotte Bloxham to a resident’s question about what was classed as local travel.

“In relation to travelling for exercise it’s really clear that the message is to stay local in order to do that.

“You can exercise once a day and with one person from another household but the guidance is to stay local to reduce the spread of the virus.

“Local is defined as in your village, your town, your city or locality.

“We are not trying to be the fun police and try spoil people’s activities but it is for a really important reason.”

Some Twitter comments referred to recent guidance on the stay local message from the National Police Chiefs Council, which represents police chiefs.

“UK government guidance strongly requests that people do not leave their local area. However, the covid regulations which officers enforce and which enables them to issue fixed penalty notices for breaches, do not restrict the distance travelled for exercise.”

Government’s coronavirus guidance states:

“Outdoor exercise should be done locally where possible. But you can travel a short distance within your area to do so if necessary.

“For example, to access an open space.”

‘Snow by dawn’ – Met Office warns of travel disruption

After one of the coldest Januarys of recent years in the Harrogate district, February is set to usher in more snow.

A Met Office weather warning for snow and ice is in force from 10pm tonight until 23.59pm tomorrow.

Snow is due to start falling in the Harrogate district at about 4am and is expected to last until afternoon, when it turns to rain.

The Met Office says the conditions are likely to lead to ‘difficult travelling conditions’.

The Stray Ferret will keep readers up to date with the latest weather and travel news tomorrow.

The covid vaccination sites in Harrogate and Ripon have already postponed morning appointments in anticipation of difficult travel conditions.

Read more:

Some schools have also warned parents their plans to open on time may be affected.

The temperature did not rise into double figures at all in Harrogate during January.

Judging by the two-week forecast, that may not change for the first half of February at least.

Send us your weather updates and images tomorrow to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Man charged with murder of 22-year-old Harrogate woman

A man has been charged with the murder of former Ashville College student Anna Reed.

Ms Reed, 22, was found strangled in her bed in a Swiss hotel in April 2019.

The Sunday Times reported last weekend that Marc Schatzle, a German traveller, has been accused of murder, fraud and theft.

It is believed Mr Schatzle met Ms Reed when she was travelling around the world as a 21st birthday present from her father, Clive, a Harrogate racehorse breeder.

They are thought to have been dating for several months.

A spokesman for the Swiss prosecutors office said:

“He is accused of intentional homicide, theft, fraud and drug offences.

“Covid permitting, he will go on trial later this year.”

A spokeswoman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said:

“Our consular staff are assisting the family of a British woman following her death in Switzerland, and are in contact with the Swiss and UK police.”

Read more:

 

Car crashes into parked cars on Harrogate street

Police are appealing for witnesses after a car crashed into two parked vehicles in Harrogate and then drove off.

The incident happened at 7.25pm yesterday on Roseville Avenue.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement a light metallic blue hatchback turned right off Roseville Road onto Roseville Avenue.

The driver of the hatchback then crashed into the two parked cars, causing “significant damage” to one of them.

Read more:

The hatchback then drove off without stopping to exchange details and was last seen heading towards Granby Road, police said.

Police said the hatchback involved is likely to have damage to its front nearside.

Anyone with information can contact the police on 101, quoting reference 12210049523.

Harrogate delivery drivers in turf war with rival outsiders

Self-employed delivery drivers in Harrogate say tensions are rising with rival drivers coming into the area to make money during lockdown, despite the risk of spreading covid.

The Stray Ferret has spoken to four Harrogate delivery drivers about the issue. One said the situation has led to drivers coming to blows.

The local drivers say about 30 drivers from areas such as Leeds and Bradford are coming to Harrogate each day for work. They added this didn’t occur before lockdown.

Delivery drivers are able to travel during lockdown but the ones we spoke to in Harrogate said this posed covid risks, as well as threatening the earnings of locals.

The drivers are self-employed and work on apps to find takeaway deliveries near to them. Whoever responds first to the notifications on the app gets to deliver the order.

They are paid per job and Harrogate is regarded as a better location to make money than many larger nearby places.

The drivers have reported their grievances to Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire Police. Both told the Stray Ferret it wasn’t a matter for them.

‘Spreading the virus’

One local driver, Christian Mihailpo, said:

“I am afraid for Harrogate because they could be spreading the virus.

“I have spoken to some of the drivers and they have just said they don’t understand the issue. We can travel for our jobs but they shouldn’t be doing this in the lockdown.”

Another of the drivers, who wished to remain anonymous, said:

“I have health issues myself so it is a worry. We just want to work safely. I would say I’ve lost between 60-70 per cent of earnings because there’s not enough to cover everyone that is working here now.”

He added it was causing tension and a clear divide was emerging between local and outside drivers.

All the drivers said this issue has worsened during the current lockdown and that they were losing income because of it.

Read more:

Losing money

They added some of the drivers from outside Harrogate often call family or friends to work here.

Local driver Ali Mahyrt said:

“We aren’t happy about what is happening and we want to try and stop it. We are losing money but our health is impacted too.

“I understand they need to make money but they should take into account local people’s health.”

Victor Foca, who is also based locally, added:

“The regulations should mean they stay in their home city. The risk is when they go to houses to deliver food.”

WATCH: Harrogate vaccine team ‘deserve big round of applause’

Two Harrogate district residents who have recently been vaccinated have heaped praise on the team behind the local vaccination centre.

David Ridgway and David Hill got their coronavirus jabs at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate this month.

Both residents contacted the Stray Ferret with the hope that their experiences will encourage anyone who is apprehensive.

Mr Ridgway, who lives in Pateley Bridge with his wife, said over a video call (above):

“They deserve a big round of applause. For anybody who is maybe a little bit apprehensive about going, don’t worry at all.

“It’s a very easy and relaxed experience with plenty of happy, smiling faces.”

Read more:

Mr Hill, who lives in Harrogate, also told the Stray Ferret:

“Other than a sore arm for a couple of days I had no side effects other than mentally feeling ‘over the moon’!

“The whole process was brilliantly organised so much so I told our MP Andrew Jones it had made me feel proud to be British.

“I also rang my GP surgery telling them the same story and they were pleased to receive the call.”

Snow and ice warning for Harrogate district

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice in the Harrogate district next week.

Weather forecasters predict the snow and ice will hit on Monday and continue until Wednesday.

There is also a yellow warning for ice in the north of the district, covering the likes of Ripon today and tomorrow.

The snow and ice warning is in place from 9pm on Monday until 11.45pm on Wednesday.

Read more:

Forecasters have said that snow, with a risk of widespread ice, is likely to push slowly northeast from late Monday.

If the snow and ice does hit on Monday evening then expect travel delays, rural communities being cut off and power cuts.

This latest weather warning for the district comes just over a week after flooding and two weeks after heavy snow.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said this morning:

“A band of rain, locally heavy in places, is likely to push slowly northeast across Wales and England late Monday.

“As this rain comes into contact with cold air in place, it is likely to readily turn to snow across parts of Wales, the Midlands, and later parts of northern England.

“1-4 cm of snow is quite likely away from coasts, with 5-10 cm possible above about 150 metres.”

Harrogate cub scout leader jailed for stalking

A former scout leader and rugby player from Harrogate who stalked a woman and sent her bloodstained letters has been jailed for over three years.

Ian Binns, 46, followed his ex-partner in the street, drove past her home “shouting and screaming”, bombarded her with phone calls and text messages, and posted her “begging” letters smeared with his own blood, York Crown Court heard.

On one occasion, the former Harrogate Pythons and Harrogate RUFC player doused himself in fuel — thought to be petrol — and tried to set himself alight in front of the petrified woman, said prosecutor Michael Bosomworth.

In another incident, he threw a bloodstained letter at her in the street.

Binns, who was once a cub leader in the 3rd Harrogate Scout Group, was “obsessed” with the woman and couldn’t accept the end of their on-off, six-year relationship, added Mr Bosomworth.

The victim, who was named in court, ultimately ended the relationship just before going on holiday in September last year because she had “had enough” of his obsessiveness and aggression towards her. Mr Bosomworth said:

“When she returned from holiday, he was waiting for her in his car at the end of the road.

“He walked towards her; she told him to go away. There was a physical altercation.”

Bloodstained letters

Binns, of Woodfield Road, Harrogate, returned to the victim’s home in Harrogate the following day, on the pretext of collecting his belongings, and when she tried to close the door on him, he forced his way in, resulting in another “altercation”. Mr Bosomworth added:

“There then followed a series of (phone) calls and letters.”

Read more:

In the letters, Binns would “express his love” for the woman and wrote offensive things about another man with whom she had been in an on-off relationship, saying he “wanted him dead”.

In the stained letters, Binns told the victim, “I’m not worth anything. You know I can’t cope”.

Binns, a grandfather who worked as a self-employed electrical engineer, started bombarding her with Facebook messages and unanswered phone calls. He made 53 calls alone while she was on holiday. Mr Bosomworth said:

“When she (asked) him not to send her any more letters or contact her on Facebook…he took to putting notes through her letterbox.

“A number of (the letters) were bloodstained. The defendant was effectively threatening to kill himself.”

Followed in street

He said the rugby forward would follow the victim in the street — in some cases right up to her door.

In one incident, he cut his arm with a knife and grabbed her arm, trying to smear blood all over her. The victim cut her finger during the struggle. Mr Bosomworth said:

“He said, ‘My blood is on your hands.’

“In one incident in the street, (Binns) had a bottle of petrol or some kind of fuel.

“He drank some then poured it over his stomach and set it alight. She tried to put it out.

“He said, ‘What does it matter? It doesn’t matter anymore.’”

In a separate incident, Binns — whom the victim described as “reckless, irrational, dangerous and unstable” — walked up to her and pushed her to the ground. She suffered a scraped elbow.

She eventually reported Binns to police and he was duly arrested. He was charged with harassment, or stalking, which caused fear of violence.

He admitted the charge and appeared for sentence via video link on Thursday after being remanded in custody.

Hid in gardens

The court heard that the victim, who had ended the relationship once before, in 2017, only for it to be rekindled, had kept a typed diary of the harrowing events and the “self-pitying” letters sent to her. Mr Bosomworth said:

“He was threatening to harm himself or even to commit suicide and (was) making her feel she was responsible for that.

“The worrying feature is the repetitive nature of (the letters) and the number of times he is driving past her, following her and (he is) clearly, completely obsessed with her.”

The victim said she was still terrified and “hyper aware” when out in public despite Binns having been remanded in jail.

She said she used to “hide in people’s gardens so he couldn’t see me”, adding:

“He used to wait at the end of my street for me; he used to frighten me.

“He would get out of his van and shout at me. He was so angry.”

She said she was “very distressed” and had had “nightmares… about being chased, attacked, murdered”. She added:

“I’ve sadly come to terms with the fact that this is now my life; it will always be there.”

‘Outside normal behaviour’

Defence barrister Robert Mochrie said Binns had “certain” mental health issues and was taking tranquilizers at the time of the offences, but his stalking campaign was “so extreme that it is (outside) normal human behaviour”.

Recorder Alex Menary described Binns’ offending between September and December last year as “disturbing, inexplicable (and) extreme” for a man who had previously led a relatively blame-free life and volunteered for the Scouts.

He said the stalking campaign had had a “devastating” effect on the victim.

Binns was jailed for three years and four months and made subject to a lifetime restraining order, which bans him contacting the victim or going anywhere near her home.

Harrogate Gift Card enjoys record month

Harrogate Gift Card enjoyed its best-ever month in December, as 392 cards were bought with a combined value of £17,200.

The cards, which can be pre-loaded with any value up to £500, are redeemable at more than 90 town centre shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, businesses and attractions.

Participating businesses include Bettys, Crown Jewellers, Dizzy Duck, Harrogate Theatre, Yorkshire Farmers Meat Co, Rhodes Wood and Blamey’s Florists.

The initiative, which is free for businesses to sign up to, ensures that every £1 pre-loaded onto a card stays within the local economy.

Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate Business Improvement District, said many people regarded its card as an ideal Christmas present. She added:

“It was also particularly pleasing to note that a number of businesses and organisations bought cards as gifts for employees and clients.

“The biggest single transaction recoded at the beginning of the month was for 50 cards!

“The BID’s remit is to increase footfall, spend and dwell time within Harrogate town centre, and the Harrogate Gift Card is one such initiative helping us support our high street.

More information on the Harrogate Gift Card, which during lockdown can only be purchased online, is available here.

Read more:

Have you seen our Shop Local section? You can shop online and continue to support Harrogate businesses during lockdown. Click here to find out more.