There has been praise for Harrogate Borough Council over its handling of emergency business grants to keep firms afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

A few weeks after the Government told Harrogate’s council to distribute £50 million to its 4,200 eligible businesses it has handed out £40 million, or 80%.

So far, the council has sent cash payments of £10,000 or £25,000 to 3,000 businesses.

The government released figures on Sunday to show councils across the country have been handling the business grants, with Harrogate Borough Council rated quite highly.

Of the 314 councils named in the document, Harrogate was in 88th place for the percentage of eligible businesses it had sent loans.

At that time, it had sent out £32,820,000 to 2697 businesses, which works out at 64%. That has now risen to £40 million and 80%.

Some councils had already handed out 100% of their business grants by that point but well over a hundred had only handed out 50%, which has attracted some criticism.

One of those businesses is run by photographer Paula Beaumont, who applied for a £10,000 grant after the coronavirus lockdown meant her work dried up:

“My last wedding was on the March 20. There was meant to be 100 people there and there ended up being six. The process of applying for a grant was absolutely fantastic. I applied on March 27, I had an email on April 3 to say my application had been accepted and the money was in my bank by the April 8. You have no idea how helpful this is, I can now breathe a bit.”

Photographer Paula Beaumont.

Stuart Wright, Business Growth Specialist, who has been working with a number of Harrogate businesses during the crisis said:

“I think they have done a fantastic job. My Harrogate based clients would all agree, I’m sure. Very efficient and prompt which has been brilliant for helping to create a really positive mood amongst folk who were quite panicked. Business was stressful enough with the uncertainty without the added pressure of having to jump through hoops and red tape to access the grant, so dealing with this in the way that they have has given my clients the headspace to steady their ships and create plans to come out of lockdown even stronger than they were before.”

Business Growth Specialist Stuart Wright.

Harrogate Borough Council’s leader Richard Cooper said they’re now focusing on the complex cases:

 We suspect there may be one or two companies or organisations who are eligible for the support but that haven’t come forward.  If you are a business owner in the retail, leisure or hospitality trade, please make sure you have a look at our grants information page. Our focus now is on the more complicated claims which we are working through.”

North Yorkshire Police has reported an increase in the number of day-trippers making unnecessary journeys into and around the region. As the good weather is expected to continue this weekend, the force is stressing the importance of staying home.

Over 350 fixed penalty notices have been issued since the lockdown rules came into action in March. Nearly half of these have been issued to non-residents who are coming to North Yorkshire to visit a beauty spot.

” We’ve seen a massive increase in cyclists on the road and also recently a definite increase in the number of cars on the road passing through. I don’t believe they are all locals”.

Speaking about the recent influx of day-trippers to North Yorkshire, Assistant Chief Constable Mike Walker said:

I do not believe a group of friends travelling from West Yorkshire to climb the Yorkshire Three Peaks is essential nor do I believe a group of people travelling into the Yorkshire Dales from Bradford for a day out is essential. Exercise can be and should be taken locally following the Government guidelines, which have not changed since the day they were issued.”

North Yorkshire Police will be increasing their patrols and key routes will be monitored for signs of increased traffic and visitors to the area.

Chair of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, Richard Flinton, said:

“Because the sun is up it doesn’t mean the virus is not every bit as deadly.  Anyone can carry it, anyone can spread it and it is indiscriminate in who it hits hardest. Please stay at home and exercise if possible from your doorsteps, because a fine is not the only thing you risk if you don’t follow the guidance.”

Armed forces brought senior NHS to Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital after landing a Chinook helicopter on the Stray this afternoon.

It landed at around 1pm between Wetherby Road and Knaresborough Road, drawing onlookers as the occupants disembarked.

The Stray Ferret understands the helicopter was used to transport senior NHS staff to the temporary Nightingale hospital, which was officially opened on Tuesday via video link. At present, it is not being used to treat patients, but will remain available until needed.

Eyewitnesses reported that the visitors were taken by van towards Harrogate Convention Centre, before returning two hours later. After a number of people gathered to watch proceedings, officers from North Yorkshire Police arrived to ask them to move back and disperse.

The chinook helicopter left the Stray at around 3.30pm. The NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber had not responded to our request for more information about the visit at the time of publication.

Two more patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died at Harrogate District Hospital.

The latest two deaths from Monday and Tuesday takes the hospital’s coronavirus deaths total up to 36 so far.

103 coronavirus patients were today confirmed to have died in the North East and Yorkshire region.

Hospitals in England reported that a further 665 patients have died, taking the country’s total up 16,272.

Patients were aged between 26 and 102 years old. 26 of the 665 patients, who were aged between 48 and 95 years old had no known underlying health conditions.

Their families have been informed.

Scotland reported 77 deaths, Wales recorded 15 but Northern Ireland has not yet released its numbers.

These figures do not account for deaths outside the hospital of people who were not tested but died of suspected coronavirus.

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust will release figures for the number of people who have been treated and discharged on a weekly basis. As of last Thursday, 51 people who had been admitted to the hospital have gone home.

Signs have been put up in the Valley Gardens telling people not to sit on benches in order to protect themselves from coronavirus.

They have been placed on benches in the gardens by Harrogate Borough Council, asking people not to rest while taking their daily exercise.

Richard Meyrick, who spotted the first signs going up yesterday, said he was concerned about the impact on elderly people living nearby.

“I am in my 70s and have certain medical conditions which prevent me walking too far without a short sit down before I can carry on,” he said.

“There are many other people in my situation and we love our exercise in the gardens. The council’s action will have the effect of stopping older people taking exercise if there is nowhere to sit.

“All the benches are in the open air and you can sit at least two metres from anyone on the next bench, so I do not see the problem.”

The new signs have been placed on every bench in the Valley Gardens

The sign says:

“You are much safer resting at home after exercising. To protect yourself and others from the coronavirus please don’t sit down and rest on the benches or in the park. Help keep everyone safe.”

Mr Meyrick said he walks daily in the Valley Gardens and has never seen anyone failing to follow the social distancing guidelines. Most of those using benches are older, while younger couples and dog walkers tend not to stop, he said.

“I’m not sure if it’s somebody being heavy-handed and not thinking it through,” he said. “I spoke to a few older people who also had to sit down. When you get older, you do have to sit more often. I can’t see what the problem is.”

A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council said:

“We chose to put up signs rather than – as has happened in other places – tape up the benches and physically prevent people from using them. We recognise there may be a legitimate reason why someone might need sit down for a few minutes, but we have a duty to discourage people from gathering or using our parks and open spaces for anything other than exercise as per the government’s clear instructions.”

However, Mr Meyrick said people were likely to feel self-conscious sitting on a bench with a sign on it, even if there was a legitimate reason. He added:

“The notice says don’t sit on this bench or any other place in the park. If you sit on one of those, it’s going to be like if you weren’t socially distancing. People are going to feel guilty.”

Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital will officially open today with the help of guest of honour Captain Tom Moore.

The NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber has been set up at Harrogate Convention Centre in less than three weeks.

NHS and army staff have been working alongside BAM Construction “around the clock” to get the 500-bed facility up and running. Eight of the convention centre’s halls will be used to accommodate level three critical care beds for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Tributes have been paid to those behind the project in two videos – one featuring a host of celebrities, the other people with links to the town.

Captain Tom Moore will be guest of honour at the official opening of Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital.

Originally from Keighley, war veteran Captain Tom Moore – who hit headlines after walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday to raise more than £27m for NHS Charities Together – will be part of the ceremony via video link from his home.

The seven Nightingale hospitals around the country offer extra capacity on top of the 33,000 additional beds freed up across NHS hospitals – the equivalent of building 50 district general hospitals – and up to 8,000 beds made available through an unprecedented deal with the independent sector.

In a statement released on the eve of the opening, Harrogate’s Liberal Democrat spokesperson Judith Rogerson said: “I know everyone in Harrogate will be honoured to welcome Captain Tom Moore to town for the opening of our local Nightingale Hospital tomorrow. His outstanding achievement raising so much money for the NHS has been a real morale boost for the whole country at this difficult time.

“However, we can’t ignore the fact that significant fundraising is taking place to meet funding shortfalls in our much loved NHS. I don’t for a second want to detract from Captain Tom’s achievement. But as well as recognising his heroic efforts, politicians everywhere should be considering how we can all work together to secure a better future for health and care services, so that our key workers will always have the resources that they need to look after us.”

Cllr Pat Marsh, leader of the Lib Dems on Harrogate Borough Council, added: “Captain Tom Moore’s heroic, epic fundraising efforts have shown that we all do value the NHS. Just valuing is really not enough, we must take a lead from Captain Moore and raise money for this precious, irreplaceable service.

“These horrific times have shown what an irreplaceable service the NHS is, staffed by people who are fantastic. We do need to ensure that all frontline/key workers can do their job safely with the right tools for the job. Just as Captain Tom would not have been sent to the frontline without at least a helmet and a gun then our frontline staff have to be given the right tools in their fight against coronavirus.”

The Stray Ferret has tried to establish what role locally the district’s two MPs have played in the weeks since lockdown began – with little success.   

The House of Commons has been in recess since March 25th and is due to resume tomorrow, so neither has been required to be in Westminster.

A month ago at the start of lockdown the Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP, Andrew Jones, announced he was launching a scheme to match people who were self-isolating with someone who could help them. He sent out 9,000 emails to constituents asking them if they needed support or if they could provide help – saying his team would help match them.  

Andrew Jones MP

Mr Jones has since kept a low profile about this work– with no detail on how his scheme is progressing or how he is supporting his constituency. Last week the Stray Ferret reported on how care homes are crying out for support from their local MPs to help them source PPE. We asked Mr Jones at the time if he wished to make a comment but he declined.  

In the absence of information, The Stray Ferret today contacted a number of the local volunteer networks and business organisations.  They told us Mr Jones has had no involvement in their work which some said had disappointed them. 

It’s a similar picture in Ripon:

Julian Smith MP

Julian Smith, conservative MP for Ripon and Skipton too has remained silent about his work locally. The Stray Ferret has tried to contact him on the telephone and has sent four emails to his office since March 18th, in which  we have sought his views on issues affecting his largely rural community.  Mr Smith has not responded. We have contacted coronavirus volunteer groups in the area and they said he has not been in touch. 

The Stray Ferret has looked into the work of other conservative MPs in Yorkshire by way of a comparison- a number have communicated more often and appear to be more openly involved in the issues their constituents are facing.

The Stray Ferret asked the district’s MPs these questions again earlier today:  

To Mr Jones:

• How has your volunteer scheme progressed?  How many isolated vulnerable people has your team connected with support?  
• What role have you played or support have you offered in the creation of the Nightingale Hospital at the HCC?

To both MPs:

• What role have you played in helping care homes and other medical facilities source PPE?  
• How many constituents have been in touch with you concerned about how they are going to financially survive the crisis and what have you been able to do for them?  
• How can you support local businesses as an economic recession looms?

Neither MP has responded to our questions.

When the Nightingale Hospital opens tomorrow at the HCC, it’s likely Mr Jones will be present to thank those involved. What’s less clear is what work our elected MPs have done to support their constituents in the past month.  

Harrogate District Hospital has not reported any new coronavirus-related deaths and the nationwide figure is the lowest it has been for a fortnight.

The hospital has so far reported 32 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Whereas, there have been 1,870 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the North East and Yorkshire region.

It comes as Harrogate hospital announced that its first patient had been discharged after treatment for coronavirus on a ventilator.

Patient Karl then shared a video from home and used the opportunity to thank the staff at the hospital. He said that they saved his life and urged them to stay safe.

https://www.facebook.com/HarrogateDistrictNHS/videos/231823624719693/?__xts__[0]=68.ARBZG6TV3jYQ5jXumIB3zG14zYuzuSYVrnQ3XdK15Ci_YuUmTs3Sovi7BD5GDwROZLY1q176-GBESyWGJT_gh7gfBfZ4X2avSulD7xQKBn9dLLjU3NHzSCMJDCc-b-fFPShQ9Shl4d1-6G5bcavKeCMtT-aXK3T0as26I-ZQCUPGNRkmlNvgrgF69Z_B6fulLPo7L00Io9mTUCDIx9ndfOinG28IhnB2FZMRmUmaCfCyrkUemyYFtwjmZnpVx0RB7s9rCb–qKJ67kiDkph58lbANwwONzwDk835yGsgcMjDRc6rSCvExS_EQx50tGKVm1gP-I1mLUnGq1vX6nbMHmzNz8nYkQ5TVhocGTpE&__tn__=-R

Another 450 people have died in hospitals in the UK after contracting coronavirus. English hospitals made up 429 of those deaths but it is the lowest nationwide figure for two weeks.

Scotland reported 12 deaths and Wales reported nine deaths but Northern Ireland has not yet reported its deaths for today.

The UK has reported 16,552 deaths so far. These figures do not account for deaths outside the hospital of people who were not tested but died of suspected coronavirus.

Harrogate Scrubbers gained 200 Facebook followers and raised more than £4,500 in its first 24 hours of existence. The group was formed in response a the nation wide shortage of scrubs and has committed to make 700 scrubs for staff working in the Harrogate area to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The project is being organised by Fran Taylor (above) , a teacher at St John Fisher Catholic High School in Harrogate, in conjunction with the Foundation Trust that runs Harrogate District Hospital. Fran is coordinating fabric orders, pattern printing and delivery of the finished items from home.

“‘The community response has been genuinely humbling, with offers of help from people stuck at home, community groups, local companies and professional sewing groups. It has created a team atmosphere and real community spirit, actually giving people a purpose and the ability to feel that they are supporting the NHS both through staying at home, but also doing something productive while they are there”

Some of the scrubs sewn by volunteers ready to be delivered to the hospital

Yesterday Harrogate District Hospital made an appeal for community help in sourcing gowns after a national shortage- saying it needed to plan ahead to ensure supply and particularly needed long sleeve, water proof gowns. 

A fundraiser was set up online  with support coming from individuals as well as organisations including guesthouse association Accommodation Harrogate, and estate agents, Verity Frearson.

Earlier this week, Fran found herself borrowing the keys to her church in order to have the floor space to roll out, measure and cut the fabric. Once cut, it was parcelled up with patterns – printed by Enid Taylor on Cold Bath Road – and sent out to the volunteers.

“There’s really fantastic community support,” she said. “Any enthusiastic beginner can come and help us. We’re always looking for people to come and sew and support us with organising and getting supplies to our drop-off point.”

As well as blue scrubs, spare fabric is being used to create laundry bags

Local businesses are involved too in supplying fabric.  Harrogate interior design firm Furnish & Fettle are providing over 800m of fabric and getting the team to join in with sewing and deliveries.

Owner Eleanor Goddard said, ‘We are delighted to be able to do something to support the NHS and utilise the supplies we have in stock. This is a brilliant way for us to give something back and thank all those on the frontline.’

White Rose Sewing in Harrogate are also supporting the scheme and have offered to help with supplying some of the materials as has M&M Fabrics in Leeds’s Kirkgate market.

The volunteers will make scrubs, laundry bags, scrub caps and waterproof gowns.

“There’s lots of people who are at home more than they would like to be and maybe who have got extra time on their hands because of being furloughed and that’s a real worry for them,” Fran said. “Being able to keep busy is good for their mental health and it also helps people to feel connected.”

Can you help?

The good news is you can help even if you can’t sew..Roles and items The Harrogate Scrubbers need:

• People who can sew both scrubs and bags to put them in
• People able to deliver and collect the fabric and scrubs
• Donations of money to help buy the fabric and accessories
• Donations of plain lightweight polycotton fabric or new sheets
• Volunteers to cut the fabric into packs and prepare them
• Printers to print the patterns to go in the packs

To donate, visit: https://tinyurl.com/harrogatescrubbers Join the Facebook group  www.facebook.com/groups/harrogatescrubbers    Alternatively, contact Fran Taylor directly harrogatescrubbers@gmail.com

The war veteran who has raised almost £25m for the NHS is set to be the guest of honour at the official opening of Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital next week.

Originally from Keighley, Captain Tom Moore – who hit headlines after walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday – will be part of the ceremony via video link from his home on Tuesday.

Money continues to pour in to his fundraising page, and Captain Moore – who served in India and the Burma campaign during the Second World War – is still walking after hitting his target of 100 laps earlier this week.

He said: “I am still amazed by the amount of kindness and generosity from the UK public who continue to give despite it being an uncertain time for many.

“I think the amount raised demonstrates just how much we all value the dedication and sacrifices made by our NHS workers. I have fought during a war and they are now fighting in a war too.

“I’m honoured to be opening the NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and Humber and to get to thank many of the NHS workers directly. I know that having extra beds available for the sick, if needed will be reassuring to those workers, as it would have been to me when I was on the frontline.”

NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber, Harrogate

The NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and the Humber has been set up at Harrogate Convention Centre in less than three weeks. Staff from the centre worked alongside the Army, NHS and private businesses to complete the transformation, and tributes have been paid to their work in two videos – one featuring a host of celebrities, the other people with links to the town.

Sir Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, added: “Inviting Captain Moore to be our guest of honour at the opening of NHS Nightingale Yorkshire and Humber is the least we can do to thank him for his inspiring service and example, and no doubt there will be further ways in which we will be able to express our gratitude.

“Just like the amazing campaign Captain Moore has inspired, the Nightingales are a symbol of how people have come together as part of a nationwide effort to prepare – should they be needed now or in the months to come – for the greatest global health emergency in more than a century.”

The seven Nightingale hospitals around the country offer extra capacity on top of the 33,000 additional beds freed up across NHS hospitals – the equivalent of building 50 district general hospitals – and up to 8,000 beds made available through an unprecedented deal with the independent sector.

Sir Simon said he hoped the temporary hospitals could be used as little as possible, but would be standing by if other services reached capacity.