Increased Harrogate district police patrols to get people home safe

Police in the Harrogate district have increased patrols to help people get home safe over the festive period.

North Yorkshire Police has partnered with Harrogate Borough Council as part of an annual Get Home Safely from bars, nightclubs and restaurants campaign.

The key message of the campaign is for people to plan their journeys home in advance, look-out for one another, and look after their drinks and possessions.

Statistics show that domestic abuse incidents increase during bank holiday periods, and the campaign also aims to highlight emotional and practical support available through the charity IDAS.

Revellers will notice posters and digital boards with advice across the district. They will also notice more police on the streets.

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Cllr Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, said:

“The festive period is often a time when people catch-up with friends and enjoy themselves in pubs and restaurants, and we want them to be able to do so safely.

“For many, this will be the first festive period since before the pandemic, that they have celebrated the festivities and we want them to remember it for all the right reasons by staying safe, and following the latest vovid guidance and advice.”

Chief Inspector Andy Colbourne, from North Yorkshire Police, said:

“The police and council continue to work in partnership to make the Harrogate district a safe place for all to enjoy the Christmas and New Year festivities.

“The support of licensed premises in the Get Home Safely annual campaign is particularly prevalent this year and we hope that everyone enjoys a safe night out.”

Lauren Doherty, from Road Safety Talks was left paralysed during a night out with friends. She said:

“A moment of distraction during a night out can change your life forever. Have fun, enjoy yourselves and get home safely.”

Knaresborough’s Dower House sold for undisclosed fee

The Dower House and Spa in Knaresborough has been acquired by The Inn Collection Group for an undisclosed figure.

The 15th century, Grade II listed building on Bond End has 38 bedrooms, a spa and swimming pool along with several bars, lounges and function areas.

It becomes the seventh site in Yorkshire owned by the expanding pubco, whose portfolio also includes Ripon Spa Hotel, Dean Court Hotel in York and the Black Swan in Helmsley.

The group owns 26 estates in total across the north of England and plans to begin refurbishing Dower House next year.

It said this would include a sympathetic restoration and remodelling in order to “enhance its environment, improve accessibility and align the site with The Inn Collection Group’s quality, food-driven pubs with rooms offer”.

The Inn Collection Group’s managing director Sean Donkin said:

“We are excited to be growing our foothold in Yorkshire with the addition of The Dower House and Spa. It is a tremendous site, steeped in character and history in a stunning destination location.

“We’re looking forward to investing in the team and site and realising Dower House’s full potential while preserving the heritage and charm it holds.”

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Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning, it’s Al with you to start off the week with your road and public transport updates.

If there’s anything I’ve missed, and it is safe to do so, give me a call on 01423 276197.

These blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

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Traffic is moving slower than usual in these areas:

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8:30am – Full Update 

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Traffic is moving slower than usual in these areas:

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8am – Full Update 

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Some traffic hotspots are starting to appear:

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7:30am – Full Update 

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Traffic looks to be running smoothly so far this morning.

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7am – Full Update 

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Everything still looks quiet on the roads this morning, but if I’ve missed anything do get in touch.

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6.30am – Full Update 

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The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

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Image Gallery: Christmas markets bring festive cheer to the district

A bumper weekend of Christmas markets in the Harrogate district got underway today.

The smell of mulled wine and hot dogs filled the air in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Masham today as visitors flocked to each town’s festive stalls.

In Harrogate, stalls lined the streets in the town centre for day two of Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which opened yesterday. It lasts for 10 days.

Today was also the start of a two-day event in Valley Gardens that featured about 50 local, artisan stalls in the Sun Colonnade.

Festive markets also returned to Knaresborough, as stalls selling sweets, crafts, clothes and food and drink filled the market square.

Father Christmas made a trip to Masham today to visit the town’s Christmas market and craft fayre.

In Knaresborough …

Kirsty Riddell and Leanne Wilkie from The Fat Birds Bakery

Knaresborough Christmas Market weekend got underway today

Chris Wilson has been selling chestnuts at the market for 20 years.

Nemo from clothing company Making My Grass Greener

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In Harrogate’s Valley Gardens …

Stalls opened in Valley Gardens this morning under the Sun Colonnade

Colin and Emma Hall were there from Box Prints

Visitors enjoy a wander through the market

In Harrogate Town Centre …

Diana Macbeth-Case from Dipple Tipple & Co

The Pick & Mix stall was a hit

Oliver Edhouse from The Crusty Pie Company

Were you at Harrogate’s Christmas Markets today?

In Masham …

Thank you to Cllr Ian Johnson for sending over some photos of today’s events in Masham.

Numerous stalls pitched up on Market Square today

Santa was there to hear the children’s wishes for this year

The craft fayre was enjoyed by many

Harrogate district prepares for bumper festive market weekend

The Harrogate district is preparing for a bumper weekend of festive events with numerous Christmas markets and fayres over the next few says.

We’ve pulled together a handy guide to the festive markets and events from Harrogate to Masham.

Yesterday, Harrogate’s Christmas market kicked off with people arriving from 10am to walk around the stalls and enjoy a mulled wine or two.

Here’s some information on the events this weekend:

Harrogate Christmas Fayre

Around 50 local stalls will be in place on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent until December 12.

It is open 10am and 7pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am and 9pm Thursday to Saturday, and 10am and 4.30pm on Sunday.

There is also a carousel and ferris wheel at Crescent Garden and a helter skelter at the war memorial to add to the festive offering. All rides cost £3 for a ticket.

Harrogate Christmas Artisan Market

This is the first for the town, a market for 60 local, small traders based in Valley Gardens.

Organised by Little Bird Made, the market will be open from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5.

The festive road train will also pass by the entrance and stops on nearby Crescent Road.

Knaresborough Christmas Market 

Based on the town’s Market Square across weekend, Knaresborough Christmas Market is making its comeback.

There will be almost 50 stalls selling Christmas decorations, gifts and locally sourced produce. There will also be live entertainment from local dancers, choirs and brass bands.

Although a lot of the stalls accept cards, market organisers have urged visitors to bring cash with them in case the town’s two remaining cash machines run out.

It will come to a close with a fireworks display over Knaresborough’s iconic viaduct at 4.30pm on Sunday, December 5.

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Masham Christmas Market

Similar to the one held last month, this weekend the town’s Market Place will host numerous stalls plus a visit from Santa himself.

Many of the usual monthly stallholders will be in attendance, plus others, so visitors can expect hand bell ringing and folk music as well as a wide variety of craft and food and drink stalls.

There is also a craft fayre in the town hall, both are open on Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Ripon Christmas Market

This year the festivities are back.. On Sunday, artisan markets will be held on the square and free children’s fairground rides will be in operation on those dates.

There will be a selection of stalls from local traders, arts, crafts, food, an outdoor bar and live music.

Knaresborough Xmas Market visitors urged to bring cash

Visitors to Knaresborough Christmas Market are being urged to bring cash with them amid concerns the town’s two cash machines could run out of money.

Chair of the organising committee, Hazel Haas, has said the availability of cash in the town is an ongoing issue. But due to the closure of the Halifax bank this year the situation has become more concerning.

With just two cash machines remaining at Tesco and Sainsburys, there is real concern they will run out of money due to the number of visitors.

Ms Haas said the committee had contacted both supermarkets who said they had filled the machines to their maximum in preparation. However, she said even in previous years, even with four cash machines, there had still been a shortage.

Ms Haas said:

“It’s an ongoing problem. The reality is we’ve been running out of cash for years, some bank should really take it up and sort out the problem. We’ve done all we can and spoken to the two supermarkets. We can’t do anymore other than ask people to bring cash with them.”

Around 50 stalls will be in place on the town’s Market Square this weekend. Most will take card payments but some of the smaller traders would still prefer cash.

Ms Haas has urged visitors to come with cash rather than relying on local ATM’s.

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The loss of the Halifax bank, on Market Square, has left businesses having to bank in other nearby towns or queuing at the Post Office.

Talking about the Christmas markets returning after last year’s cancellation, due to covid, Hazel Haas said:

“I’m really looking forward to it, there’s a real buzz about the town already. People need something to their spirts and I think the market and the fireworks will add to the festive spirit, definitely.”

The market is open 10am to 5pm Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5.

It will culminate with a fireworks display over Knaresborough’s iconic viaduct at 4.30pm on Sunday, December 5.

Starbeck mum hoping to grow Solo Mamas support network

A single mother from Starbeck set up a Solo Mamas group seven years ago to meet other mothers who understood how difficult parenting alone can be.

Georgina Newsham felt alone and wanted to create an inclusive, supportive network of likeminded single mothers.

Since then Ms Newsham, who moved to the Harrogate district from West Yorkshire three years ago, has seen the group expand to the point where it now has 155 members in north and west Yorkshire.

The group provides advice and support as well as hosting monthly meetings and annual holidays.

Ms Newsham said:

“Being a single mother can often have a lot of negativity around it and I wanted to turn it into a positive. We started with just three of us meeting once a month at soft-play. Now there’s 155 of us.

“Everything is on you and it can be really draining so having this network has become a lifeline for a lot of us.”

Solo Mamas camping trip to Kettlewell in June this year.

Ms Newsham moved to Knaresborough three years ago but now lives in Starbeck after her relationship broke down. She said the group was “amazing” with offers of spare rooms and help to pay rent.

Following a surprise, large donation Ms Newsham was able to set up a crisis fund to help members who are struggling financially. She said she plans to apply for charitable status next year.

“There’s always someone out there that understands. The focus is for us to support each other through anything.

“Just having that network there, you can’t put it into words how it feels. It’s the difference between being completely alone and knowing you have someone.”

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Ms Newsham runs the group in her spare time alongside working as an adult social worker and an end-of-life doula.

As well as meet-ups and holidays, the group also has a private Facebook group for mums and organises regular workshops. Ms Newsham recently held a workshop with a solicitor to discuss writing a will and advance planning after one member took her own life.

Looking ahead, she wants to grow the membership, organise more meet-ups and maybe even hold a small wellbeing festival.

“I’m really hopeful that going into next year we can build our membership and start being there for more mums and their kids.”

Harrogate district churches urge people to light up their windows for Christmas

Harrogate district churches are urging people to light their windows to spread a message of love and hope at Christmas.

Harrogate Hub, which represents churches across the town, started the initiative, called The Light Shines, last Christmas.

It encourages people to decorate one of their windows and display it during the dark Advent nights, and include the the words ’The Light Shines John 1:5′ somewhere in it.

The displays are plotted onto a Google map and shared online so people can see them as they walk around different neighbourhoods, such as Jennyfields, Oatlands and Bilton. There were also displays in Ripon and Spofforth last year.

The trails will be lit up from December 12 to 19 between 5pm and 8pm.

More than 140 homes took part in the initiative last year.

The Light Shines

Anyone can get involved with #thelightshines by decorating a window or walking a trail. To register visit www.theharrogatehub.org/thelightshines.

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The Revd Alan Garrow, vicar of St Peter’s Church in Harrogate, said:

“In the past couple of years we have been reminded that many of the things we take for granted as permanent and normal are in fact temporary and provisional.

“The Light Shines is about focusing on something that doesn’t change: God calls us home.”

The project was developed by trustees of Harrogate Hub, who are mainly church leaders. They include; Alan Garrow, St Peter’s Church; Ben Askew, Kairos Network Church; Adam Price, Hope Church; Wynn James, Life Destiny Church; Ben Clowes, Nidd Valley Methodist Circuit; Nick Gee, Harrogate Vineyard Church and Michelle Hayes, Resurrected Bites.

 

Self-combusting carpets cause fire in Farnham

Knaresborough firefighters were called out last night after a collection of carpet cut-offs self-combusted in Farnham.

Three pallets containing the cut-offs caught fire outside industrial premises at about midnight.

It is believed hot glue within the pieces of carpet caused the fire.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log said:

“The pallets, which were holding carpet cut-offs were extinguished using one hose reel jet, two breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera.

“The cause is believed to have been self-combustion from glue within the carpet cut-offs.”

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MPs watch: Extra jobs, adult social care and HS2

Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In November, MPs and their second jobs came under close scrutiny as Conservative MP Owen Paterson resigned after coming under fire for breaching parliamentary standards.

Meanwhile, all Harrogate district MPs voted for a controversial new Health and Social Care bill, which saw some Conservative backbenchers rebel against the government.

We asked our three Conservative MPs, Harrogate & Knaresborough’s Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon’s Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular that they have been doing this month, but, as usual, we did not receive a response from any of them.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

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Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon.

In Skipton and Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

In rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Adams: