Another 48 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the Harrogate district in the last 24 hours.

The figure is double the daily rise of 24 reported yesterday.

Today’s figure from Public Health England takes the total amount of cases in the district since the start of the pandemic to 1,302.

A total of 133 cases have been confirmed county-wide today.

The weekly rate for North Yorkshire up to October 5 stands at 102.3 per 100,000 population.

North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which is a partnership of agencies that tackle emergencies, has warned the county is at a “tipping point” amid increased infections.

Richard Flinton, chief executive at North Yorkshire County Council and chair of the forum, said in a newsletter today the county was in a “more serious position” than last week.

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He said:

“Infections of covid continue to rise across the county – as they do in many areas – and specifically in the north of England. 

“We are by no means in the perilous position of some of our close neighbours, but, unfortunately, without an urgent, sustained and collective effort from everyone – we are heading that way.”

Meanwhile, the government announced £60 million funding for police and local councils today to step up enforcement of covid restrictions as a result of increased cases.

Harrogate Borough Council has been allocated nearly £58,000, while the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Crime and Fire Commissioner has been handed £291,987.

The Harrogate branch of the pregnancy crisis support charity Reflect is asking people to light candles next week to remember babies that died during pregnancy.

The candles will form a virtual wave of life during Baby Loss Awareness Week, which begins tomorrow.

The week raises awareness of pregnancy and baby death in the UK.

This year will focus on the isolation many people experience after pregnancy and baby loss – women, partners, other family members and friends, especially since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. 

To get involved, Reflect is asking people to light a candle at 7pm on October 15 and share a photo of it online, accompanied by the hashtag #WaveofLight.

Landmarks across the UK will light up blue and pink, and virtual services will be held as part of the week-long activities.

Tanya Allen, manager of Reflect Harrogate said: 

“We hope that Baby Loss Awareness Week will spark conversations about baby loss and give local bereaved parents and families an opportunity to talk about their precious babies.

“For some people Covid has meant that they have felt more isolated in their loss, and for others the slowdown has caused the past pain of loss to surface, which they may now need to process.”

Tanya Allen, manager of Reflect

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Reflect provides free and confidential support services for individuals and couples to help them cope with their bereavement. 

For further information about Baby Loss Awareness Week visit: www.babyloss-awareness.org

There appear to be no plans to reopen Las Iguanas in Harrogate, six months after the restaurant said it would close temporarily.

Las Iguanas, on John Street, remains closed with chairs stacked on tables. A notice in the window from staff still reads “we can’t wait to see you very soon”.

Big Table Group acquired Casual Dining Group in August and took on 150 of its restaurants trading as Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge.

But Las Iguanas in Harrogate was not included in the deal, which has left its future uncertain.

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The Stray Ferret asked Big Table Group whether the restaurant will reopen but a spokesperson said it would not comment on individual sites.

James Spragg, chief executive of The Big Table, said of the takeover in August:

“We inevitably emerge from this process as a leaner business, and one that is now equipped to navigate the challenges the industry faces, safeguarding thousands of jobs.”

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones today urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to commit to a support package for the conference and exhibition industry.

Speaking at Prime Minster’s Questions, Jones said Johnson had recognised the difficulties facing the industry last month when he revealed ministers were working urgently on a support package for sports clubs that rely on paying spectators.

Jones said the the exhibition industry was “really important in Harrogate and Knaresborough”, adding:

“Could he tell the House when that package will be coming forward, and will it include the conference and exhibition industry?”

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Johnson said the conference and exhibition industry was worth about £90 billion to this country and of “massive importance” but did not commit to any firm support.

He added:

“It was a very difficult decision to take to pause conferences and exhibitions. We want to get them open as fast as possible.

“Of course, they have had a lot of support, as I indicated earlier—the £190 billion package is there to help businesses of all kinds—but the best way forward is to get the kind of testing systems that will enable not just conferences and businesses of that kind but all types and even theatres to reopen and get back to normality. That is what we are aiming for.”

More than 300 people have signed a petition calling on Harrogate Borough Council to make the Stray more bee-friendly.

Harrogate and District Green Party wrote to the council last month urging it to plant native wildflowers rather than its stick to its current plan to plant 60,000 crocuses on West Park Stray.

Rebecca Maunder, chair of the Harrogate and District Green Party, has now set up a petition after the council wrote back to say it did not intend to change its plans.

A week later the online petition, which is on the 38 Degrees website, has reached 327 signatures.

Read more:

• Plant wildflowers on the Stray, says Green Party
• Call for volunteers to plant 60,000 crocuses on Harrogate Stray

Ms Maunder hopes that, with enough support, the petition will sway the council’s decision and lead to a more bee-friendly Stray,

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said it had nothing to add to its previous statement on the matter, which said:

“We are also looking at biodiversity as part of our wider horticultural plan for the future. We understand the need to encourage biodiversity and already manage a number of native wildflower meadows across the district. The thousands of plants and flowers in our numerous parks and gardens also support this.”

The council called for volunteers last month to dig 60,000 holes in the hope that the crocuses will bloom better than ever next spring.

Harrogate Bus Company is to plant more trees in Harrogate as part of its commitment to cutting carbon emissions.

The company introduced fume-free buses in 2018 after it won £2.25 million of government funding.

Last year it pledged to plant one tree for every 10,000 miles covered by its fleet of eight electric buses.

To celebrate Clean Air Day tomorrow, the company has announced its buses have together covered over 400,000 miles.

It has already planted an oak tree on West Park and has now revealed another 39 trees will be planted in three areas served by the buses – Nidd Gorge, close to Bilton, Jennyfield and in the pine woods near Pannal Ash.

Alex Hornby, chief executive of Harrogate Bus Company, said:

“Every year, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK so our Harrogate Electrics buses play a vitally important role in clearing the air and protecting our local environment.

“Alongside our electric buses, trees help by absorbing even more carbon dioxide emissions.”

Clean Air Day is normally held in June but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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The local campaign group, Zero Carbon Harrogate, welcomed the news. Chair Jemima Parker said:

“We are dedicated to making Harrogate a zero-carbon community by 2030 to secure a sustainable future, and The Harrogate Bus Company’s electric buses are making a vitally important contribution towards realising that ambition.

“As we begin rebuilding our local economy beyond the pandemic, we can’t just go back to congested streets and traffic jams.”

Harrogate’s Nightingale hospital could be used for routine operations, flu jabs and patient recuperation, a local councillor has suggested.

Cllr Jim Clark, who represents North Yorkshire on the West Yorkshire Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Panel, suggested the 500-bed hospital could be used to relieve pressure on other health services.

The contract for the Nightingale was extended in August until March 2021.

A report to the panel said the hospital is currently on stand-by for any patients that need to be admitted amid the second wave of coronavirus infections.

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The hospital has been used for outpatient CT scans since June but Cllr Clark suggested it could be used for wider purposes.

Cllr Jim Clark, North Yorkshire county councillor and Harrogate borough councillor.

The Conservative, who represents Harrogate Harlow on North Yorkshire County Council, told the Stray Ferret it was a pity the hospital could not be used for other medical purposes besides coronavirus:

“It could be used for other things, such as flu vaccinations, routine operations or to give opportunities for people to recuperate.”

Cllr Clark added he had been assured the Nightingale would be ready for any patients that needed care during the second wave of the pandemic.

A report before scrutiny councillors last week said the hospital “could be reactivated at short notice” if critical care was needed.

NHS England took over Harrogate’s Convention Centre in April but so far the hospital has not been used to treat coronavirus patients.

Government figures last month showed the Nightingale cost £27 million to set up, the third highest of the seven hospitals set up during the pandemic.

The total cost of the seven hospitals stands at £220 million.

Harrogate Borough Council has not charged the NHS any rent for the town’s Nightingale.

But, figures published in August showed the authority had billed £126,000 a month for gas, electric and water.

A woman has called for tighter cycling controls on the Stray after her dog was hit.

Sara Clark said her chihuahua Milo was lucky to be alive after being struck by a cyclist on part of the south Stray where cycling is prohibited.

Ms Clark, who was walking Milo on Friday evening, said:

“He went under his wheel and I heard his scream and he ran towards the road. The vet said he was surprised he wasn’t killed.”

Ms Clark said Milo was badly bruised and required a painkiller injection.

Cyclists are supposed to dismount on this stretch of the Stray but Ms Clark said they often ignored the rules. She added:

“There was a sign 10 metres from us saying cyclists aren’t allowed. I know of three dogs, including Milo, and two elderly people that have been hit.”

“The cyclist just said, ‘What could I have done he should’ve been on a lead?’ My dog should be able to be off a lead, we should feel safe, but now I feel like I can’t let him off a lead. They have ruined it now.”

All of these cyclists were pictured on the south Stray by Sara Clark within the same hour on Monday.

Ms Clark said Harrogate Borough Council should do more to tackle the problem:

“Accidents like this are happening but they are washing their hands of it rather than dealing with it. It is their responsibility to enforce it, even just by doing something to say they are taking it seriously, like using cameras or fines.”

A council spokesman said:

“Our staff will always challenge cyclists who ignore the rules if they witness it happening. Unfortunately, as the Stray covers 200 acres and is accessible 24/7 it is incredibly difficult to witness anyone breaching these rules. Thankfully, the vast majority of cyclists in Harrogate dismount when they should. ”

Ms Clark disputed the claim that the vast majority of cyclists dismounted.

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“There’s no excuse for a cyclist being on a footpath where it’s banned. I am of course sorry about the dog being knocked over and the upset to the owner. I don’t agree with cyclists ignoring the rules. I also don’t agree with drivers ignoring the rules, which they do more often and with far more serious consequences.”

A Harrogate woman found a sick pigeon on James Street and instead of walking by decided to rescue it and nuture it back to health.

Hayley Norman, who works for local charity Carers’ Resource, was moved when she saw a rather sad looking young bird on James Street.

At first she decided to leave the bird with the assumption that its parents would come back to care for it.

Three days and plenty of rain later Hayley decided to go back and see if the pigeon was still there. It was and looking in a worse state.

Armed with a shoe box Hayley managed to scoop up the young pigeon, who she has named James after the street where she found it, and took it home.

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With days of hand feeding and keeping James warm, Hayley managed to find him a professional in Pickering to help eventually release it. She told the Stray Ferret:

“I rang a vet for some advice. They said that I could bring it in and they would put it to sleep. That’s not what I wanted to do so I decided to take on its care myself. When I rescued it I am sure some people thought I looked crazy. Normally I would just walk past but I couldn’t this time.”

Would Hayley do it again? Absolutely. It might not be for everyone but there are plenty of groups online dedicated to pigeon rescue.

The RSPB’s advice tells people that it is rarely possible to catch injured birds and warns that careless handling may cause further injury.

A total of 1,035 homes in the Harrogate district have been empty for six months or more.

The Stray Ferret obtained the figure from Harrogate Borough Council using the Freedom of Information Act.

The list shows the postcode of each home and when, according to council tax records, it became empty.

The data reveals 444 of the homes became empty in the last 12 months.

A total of 222 are in Band A, the lowest council tax bracket. Sixteen are in Band G, which is the highest.

Harrogate Liberal Democrat county councillor Geoff Webber said it was “obscene” to have over 1,000 properties empty when there has been homelessness in the district.

He also said HBC’s social housing waiting list currently stood at 1,523.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I am very disappointed that Harrogate Borough Council, who are responsible for housing, has about 1,500 families on their housing waiting list when there are over 1,000 private properties are standing empty.

“Some of these properties, of course, will be unoccupied for a good reason, but it does seem obscene that pre-Covid we had people sleeping on the streets and currently have families in hostels and bed and breakfast accommodation when so many private properties are standing empty.”

The number of empty homes in the district is rising. According to government figures, there were 828 in November 2019.

Harrogate Borough Council has powers to encourage owners of empty properties to bring them back into use.

The council charges owners of properties that have been empty for two years or more a premium on their council tax. For example, for a property that has been empty between two and five years the council charges a 100% premium. This increases to 200% when a home has been empty for over five years.

The council can also take enforcement action against landlords, including compulsory purchase orders, enforced sales, and empty dwelling management orders.

A HBC council spokesman said:

“We work with property owners within the district to encourage and assist them to bring empty properties back into use as much-needed homes.

“Where this fails and homes remains empty we do not hesitate to take enforcement action including compulsory purchases.”

Read more:

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• Harrogate house sales fall by 50%, but ‘manic’ market now rebounding

According to national campaign group Action on Empty Homes, there are over 216,000 empty homes across the UK.

The group lobbies the government to give councils greater powers to put empty homes back into use.

When we showed the figures for the Harrogate district to Chris Bailey, campaign manager at Action On Empty Homes, he said homes were being “wasted”.

“This is despite the desirability of Harrogate and despite the increasing problems of housing need and homelessness amidst a wider national housing crisis, which coronavirus and its economic fallout can only worsen.”