Stray FM licence should have been re-advertised, says Harrogate peer

Stray FM should have had its licence re-advertised rather than be allowed to lose its “special identity” to “out-of-town owners”, a Harrogate Conservative peer has said.

Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate said Ofcom, which regulates commercial radio, needed to do more to protect “well-loved” radio stations that were being “absorbed into the mega-conglomerates that now seem to control the sector”.

Speaking in a Lords debate about radio licenses, he added:

“In the region where I live in Yorkshire, a large number of local stations have lost their special identity as their out-of-town owners dispose of local staff and content, and simply hijack the licensed frequency to pump out centrally edited music that is obtainable in various other ways, either from national broadcasters or through web streaming services.

“That simply should not have been allowed.”

Lord Kirkhope, who is a lawyer and former MP for Leeds North East, has a long-standing interest in radio.

He helped set up a hospital station in Newcastle in the 1960s and subsequently applied unsuccessfully for for the Tyne and Wear franchise that went to Metro radio in 1973.

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He told the Stray Ferret he had Stray FM, which owners Bauer Media rebranded as Greatest Hits Radio in September, and other local radio stations in mind when he made his comments in Parliament.

He added licences should not have granted “without adequate local content”, adding:

“In those cases I consider there has been a breach of the spirit of the regulations if not the legality.

“In some of the obvious local cases like Stray FM those licences should instead have been re-advertised.

“After all, I might have been interested myself in maintaining the local spirit and I think there are others who might have joined me.”

Bauer Media has always maintained the station retains local content and services, as well as a presence in Harrogate.

 

County council plays down Brexit food stockpiling fears

North Yorkshire County Council has played down fears that food is being stockpiled at schools and care homes to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period.

The UK’s transition period to leave the EU will end on December 31. Many companies and public bodies are having to make plans, with transport firms expecting queues at the border.

Stella Perrott, a member of the campaign group North Yorkshire for Europe, sent a Freedom of Information request to North Yorkshire County Council, asking what preparations it was undertaking as the December 31 deadline approached.

NYCC released a Brexit risk assessment, published in September, which states that “there is significant risk of delays at ports that will impact supply chains” and that the authority is evaluating capacity for frozen food storage.

As the council has responsibility for education and public health in the Harrogate district, Ms Perrot suggested the council’s response meant it could be stockpiling food at schools and care homes.

The Stray Ferret asked the county council to update us on its plans for Brexit. In a statement, NYCC said it is “managing any adverse impact” that may arise from Brexit, but said this did not involve stockpiling food.

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Shaun Mancrief, head of traded service at NYCC said:

“These frozen food supplies are the regular supplies to our school catering service and elderly persons’ homes. This includes vegetables, bread, ice cream and fish. These products are sourced locally as far as possible, including all vegetables.

“Our aim is simply to manage any adverse impact that may arise from Brexit so that we can continue the regular service of providing meals to schools and elderly persons’ homes.

“We are working closely with our suppliers on this. At this stage, there are no issues with supply or storage of frozen food. Under normal circumstances, our suppliers hold high levels of stock as this allows them to manage pricing to give us the best possible value.

“We are not stockpiling food for our services, simply ensuring that business as usual can be maintained.”

Police quiz Harrogate diners over covid rules

Police questioned Harrogate diners on the first day after lockdown yesterday to ensure they were complying with tier two restrictions.

North Yorkshire Police, working alongside staff at Harrogate Borough Council, approached customers in pubs and restaurants.

The Stray Ferret is aware of at least three restaurants in Harrogate that were the subject of inspections.

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William and Victoria restaurant on Cold Bath Road was among those to receive visits.

David Straker, the owner, told the Stray Ferret he welcomed the patrols:

“I think that they have got to do it and be seen to be doing it.

“I know there are some places locally who say they are going to bend the rules.

“This has been a tough year for everyone. If some places bend the rules then it is not a level playing field.”

The Fat Badger was also visited, and the Stray Ferret is aware of one other that did not wish to be identified.

https://twitter.com/simoncotton69/status/1334213225525678081

Superintendent Mike Walker, the coronavirus lead for North Yorkshire Police, has warned police will step up patrols and use number place recognition cameras to track people coming into the Harrogate district from tier three places, such as Leeds and Bradford.

He also said the police would work with local businesses to ensure they understand the regulations:

“There will be a visible police presence in our day and nighttime economy areas.

“It is our job to engage with the public and sometimes find out the purpose of their journey — especially if we see groups coming into the area.

“We will also work with local businesses to ensure that they understand the tier two regulations and make sure they are operating in a safe way.”

The Stray Ferret approached both North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council for comment but did not receive a reply by the time of publication.

Harrogate Borough Council did, however, tweet that officers were in the district last night and will be out tonight and again tomorrow.

Last night, tonight and tomorrow night we will be out and about in the #Harrogate district offering advice and guidance to businesses to ensure customers have a safe and enjoyable visit. pic.twitter.com/B7tTwWaYuF

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) December 3, 2020

Just 20 new coronavirus cases in Harrogate district

The number of new coronavirus cases remains low in the Harrogate district, with just 20 infections reported today.

The figure, from Public Health England, brings the total number of positive tests to 3,635 since the start of the pandemic.

The seven-day average number of cases for the district is now 85 per 100,000 people.

The district no longer has the lowest rate in the county, but it is still below North Yorkshire’s average of 103 and England’s average of 146.

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Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any new coronavirus deaths today.

However, the hospital did reach a particularly grim milestone of 100 deaths yesterday after reporting one additional death.

 

‘Sneak peek’ at new bar and pizzeria in Harrogate

Hidden bar and pizzeria will take the place of Porco Rosso in The Ginnel when it opens its doors for the first time tomorrow.

The bar will only stock drinks from Yorkshire companies and the kitchen will serve hand-stretched, stone-baked pizzas.

It has been a tough year for the hospitality industry so the owners of Hidden have made a bold move opening now.

Tier two restrictions, which began yesterday, forced many wet bars to stay closed but Hidden is among those permitted to open because it serves ‘substantial’ meals.

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Hidden co-owner Jay Rennard said:

“I have always wanted to have a bar or a restaurant. This is both: very boutique, niche and classy. It brings a different vibe to Harrogate, very laid back and casual.

“I hope that people understand that we are trying to do something different. Something you don’t get in chains, a more unique and bespoke approach.”

Louise Robertson-Rennard, who is a joint business partner at Hidden, added:

“It has been a crying shame seeing businesses fold. We think people need hope so we are going to make the experience as normal as possible.

“I think that the hospitality industry has been through enough this year.”

Would you like to spread the word about your shop opening? No matter how small the shop get in touch with the Stray Ferret.

Leeds nearest hospital to get first vaccines

Leeds will be the nearest place to receive the first coronavirus vaccines, according to national media reports this morning,

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday 50 hospitals were ready to receive the vaccine within days.

The Department of Health has yet to publish an official list of hospitals or details of how the jab will be administered. But the names of the 50 hospitals appear to have been leaked to the national media, some of which have published them today.

According to the reports, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, whose hospitals include Leeds General Infirmary, is the nearest to the Harrogate district.

The Harrogate Nightingale is not included on the list.

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The vaccine must be kept at -70°C until it is used, which means sites chosen to administer it must have adequate storage facilities.

Hancock has also said there will be a community rollout of the vaccine, including GPs and pharmacists.

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust if it could confirm it was not on the list.

A spokesman replied:

“Any comment on decisions on which hospitals are on the list would be something for the NHS England regional communications team.”

Harrogate shoppers say Debenhams will be much missed

Shoppers in Harrogate have spoken of their disappointment that Debenhams is to close after the company announced it was entering administration.

A failed deal with another major retailer means the company is set to enter liquidation.

The Harrogate store reopened yesterday offering shoppers their usual products at discounted prices.

But staff face uncertain futures as they await news of a confirmed closure date.  The demise of Debenhams came a day after Ripon’s only department store Wrens, announced it would not be opening again after lockdown.  

Shopper Rose Dykes was among those sad to see Debenhams go. She said:

“Debenhams has been here for a long, long time.

“I think it will be really missed in Harrogate.”

Rose Dykes

Rose says the store will be ‘missed’ in Harrogate.

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Northern Antiques Fair leaves Harrogate in latest economic blow

The Northern Antiques Fair is to leave Harrogate Convention Centre next year, in another blow to the town’s economy.

The organisers announced yesterday the event would be held at Tennants Auctioneers’ salesroom in Leyburn, North Yorkshire from September 30 to October 3.

The event, which has been staged since the 1980s, was previously known as Harrogate Art and Antique Fair.

Ingrid Nilson, the fair director for organisers Northern Antique Dealers Fair Limited, said: “For reasons of clarity we felt it was sensible to relocate as the NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber has a contract with Harrogate Convention Centre until the end of March, which is too far into 2021 to plan securely for an event there in the autumn.”

The fair has been a major four-day event in Harrogate, with exhibitors and specialist dealers selling a wide range of items including paintings, furniture and jewellery.

The 2020 event was due to take place in Harrogate from October 1-4 but was cancelled due to covid.

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The NHS is set to continue using the Convention Centre as a Nightingale Hospital until March.

According to the convention centre’s website, the first event due to take place there in 2021 is the Assemblies of God Conference from May 6-8.

Hospitality businesses that rely on trade from the Convention Centre have suffered this year from its closure.

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that the Kimberley Hotel on King’s Road has permanently closed due to the impact of covid.

Harrogate district health bosses expect ‘long journey’ to tier one

Health bosses in the Harrogate district said today they expect it to be a “long journey” from tier two to tier one.

The government is due to review the tiers every two weeks, which means the first opportunity to change will be on December 16.

But with infection rates in North Yorkshire nearly double those in tier one areas, any hopes of change before Christmas appear slim.

Richard Webb, director of adult social care at the county council, said at a coronavirus media briefing today:

“We need to work really hard to stay at tier two and hopefully reduce in due course to tier one.

“I think the advice that we are getting is that it might be quite a long journey to get out of tier two and into tier one.

“I know there will be some parts of the county that are very anxious to see that change. So we are going to have to continue to work hard to drive infection rates down.”

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Infection rates have shrunk considerably since the second half of November.

The Harrogate district’s seven-day average rate of infection is now 90 people per 100,000. This is lower than both North Yorkshire and England, whose rates are 104 and 152 respectively.

The R number for the district, which refers to how rapidly the virus is spreading in the community, has fallen again this week from 0.6 to 0.5. This means every 10 people with covid will infect five.

Public Health England reported another 25 cases today.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite is by some distance the district’s covid hotspot. It has recorded 27 infections in the last seven days.

The next highest sub-districts are Harrogate West and Pannal and Ouseburn, Hammerton and Tockwith, both of which have had 14.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite actually has the fourth highest number of infections of all the sub-districts in North Yorkshire.

 

 

Masterchef finalist to open new cafe in Harrogate

A Masterchef finalist will open a new cafe in Harrogate this weekend after a successful trial in the town earlier this year.

Matt Healy’s third Scandinavian-inspired Gron Kafe will take over the site of the Quantro restaurant on Royal Parade when it opens on Saturday.

The cafe will serve up pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes. They could be for breakfast, brunch or an afternoon pick-me-up.

It is good timing for the cafe as the nation comes out of lockdown and the Harrogate district moves into tier two restrictions.

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Matt had opened a pop-up at the Cold Bath Clubhouse earlier this year, where Paradise Tap and Taco have recently taken over.

With the success of that trial, Gron Kafe has been able to move into its own dedicated site on Royal Parade.

When the cafe opens on Saturday it will serve pancakes, smoothie bowls, vegan mac and cheese, healthy smoothies, coffee, alcohol and more.

Chef Matt Healy, who rose to fame in 2016 as a Masterchef finalist, said:

“There’s something for everyone. Whether you’re after a post-workout refuel, grabbing snacks for the school run, or you’re craving pancakes and strong coffee after a few too many tipples last night.

“We couldn’t miss an opportunity to snap up an amazing spot in the heart of Harrogate.

“It’s been a lot of work transforming it into our new home but we’re looking forward to being a part of the thriving food and drink scene here.”

The new venture follows in the footsteps of Grön in Leeds and York, which have given the team the confidence to expand into Harrogate.