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Knaresborough vaccine centre ramps up walk-in clinics this month

Knaresborough’s coronavirus vaccine centre is ramping up its walk-in clinics as it prepares to host a total of 21 in August.

The programme starts tomorrow, when the centre will be open between 8am and 3pm. From Wednesday to Saturday the centre will be open between 8am and 5pm.

That will be the same all month. The centre will be open most days in the week between 8am and 5pm except for Mondays and Sundays.

While appointments are still available, the option to “grab a jab” by just turning up has made a difference for the vaccine centre.

Jason Baskind, of Homecare Pharmacy Services which runs the site, told the Stray Ferre:

“We are getting a lot coming in for the walk-in sessions. I would say on average around 100 extra people turn up without an appointment.

“By around mid September we should have given everyone over 18 who wants a jab both doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

“Shortly after that we expect to be starting the booster programme. So that would make things easier.”

As of yesterday, the Harrogate district has given out 104,995 second doses and 123,009 first doses according to government figures.

Knaresborough Thai boxer returns to the ring with a win

A Muay Thai boxer from Knaresborough made a successful return to the ring in London on Saturday in his first fight for two years.

Nathaniel Kalogiannidis trains at Kao Loi Gym on Skipton Road in Harrogate under head coach Pierre Mahon. Fists, elbows, knees and shins can all be used during Muay Thai bouts.

The 23-year-old fighter competed in front of almost 2,000 fans at Fairfield Halls in Croydon against local fighter Luke Thompson in the Combat Fight Series promotion. Covid had halted his appearances in the ring.

Speaking after the fight, Mr Kalogiannidis said:

“I was really pleased but I’m my biggest critic so coming away from it I know there’s lots I need to work on.

“We’ve spent a lot of time on skills-based training and working on my mindset over the pandemic. It’s important for me to stay switched on. I’m excited to get back out there again.”

The Harrogate fighter was ahead by the third round and upped his pace in rounds four and five to achieve a points victory.

Kalogiannidis (right) in action during Saturday’s fight against Luke Thompson. Photo: Dean John Films

Kalogiannidis fell in love with Muay Thai when he was at King James’s School in Knaresborough. He said he knew from the beginning he’d found his passion.

He trains six days a week, twice a day in the Harrogate gym under the watchful eye of his coach.

He started at Kao Loi aged 13 but then trained full-time in Greece, where his dad lives, for two years before returning to Kao Loi in 2018.

He added:

“I want to mix with the top guys in the world. It’s not about the big titles for me. I just want to keep working hard. It’s what I love to do and I want to keep going.”

Kalogiannidis is already back in the gym training for his next fight in October.

Pierre Mahon, head coach at Kao Loi, said:

“I am very pleased with this performance after such a long time out of the ring. We have been working on lots of new things in the gym and he has implemented them all in a terrific fight against a tough and more experienced opponent.

“We have another three bouts this year and I can only see him going from strength to strength.”

‘I think government has got this wrong’: Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Ripon politicians react to devolution

Councillors in Knaresborough, Ripon and Nidderdale have shared their reaction to the government decision that North Yorkshire’s two-tier councils will be scrapped and replaced with a single unitary authority.

In a move which will mark the end of North Yorkshire County Council and seven district and borough councils including Harrogate, Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick last week announced his decision to opt for a new single council structure over a rival bid for two authorities split on an east/west basis.

It will mean all council services will come under the control of the new authority from April 2023 – and there could also be the opportunity for town and parish councils to take on new powers.

Harrogate is also likely to get a new town council.

The government decision comes after North Yorkshire County Council last year submitted plans for the single council bid, while the district and borough councils, except Hambleton which rejected all options on the table, were behind the east/west split.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked councillors in Knaresborough, Ripon and Nidderdale for their thoughts on the decision, as well as how they hope their areas will fit into the new local government picture.

Here is what they said.

Christine Willoughby, mayor of Knaresborough.

Cllr Christine Willoughby, the mayor of Knaresborough

“I hope that the new North Yorkshire council will be responsive to people’s needs and will realise that decades of budget cuts have left services in a poor state.

“I fear that we may get a distant uncaring council which will continue neglecting our town.

“I really hope the new council will listen to Knaresborough Town Council and take notice of its views.

“In the past, Knaresborough Town Council has often been frustrated by North Yorkshire County Council’s unwillingness to discuss and negotiate over certain key issues i.e. the insistence of gritting of roads in Knaresborough being restricted to bus routes and leaving Kirkgate ungritted with our railway station at the bottom of the hill.

“I’m sure the town council will be willing to discuss the possibility of taking over certain responsibilities from the new council, if the financial package is acceptable.

“Areas that the town council might be interested in looking to take over might include burial services including the cemetery, the use of and responsibility for the market place including car parking, and the weekly market and I’m sure there may be many others including possibly some buildings.”

Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of Ripon City Council.

Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of Ripon City Council

“I have no angst against North Yorkshire County Council but I do think the government minister has got this decision wrong.

“My fear is that we will have a very large authority with not as many elected members and as a result of that fewer voices standing up for local people.

“I also worry we are not going to see an improvement in services and I am sure there will be counterarguments to this but you only have to look at the state of the roads in Ripon to see the county council already does some things badly and other things really well, such as education.

“We have an aspiration to do more as a city council as we believe doing things locally and involving local people is the best way forward.

“We would certainly like to see Ripon Town Hall back in the control of people in the city, as well as Hugh Ripley Hall. We would also very much like to run the Thursday markets.

“We have already raised some of these issues with Harrogate Borough Council and some have had a more favourable response than others. We hope they will work with us to get the best possible outcome for our residents.

“I don’t think tears will be shed locally following the demise of the borough council.

“Ripon residents do not feel they have had a fair crack of the whip when it comes to provision of services but we hope that can be put aside over the next 20 months for us to finish working with the council on a positive note.”

Mike Holt, mayor of Pateley Bridge.

Cllr Mike Holt, the mayor of Pateley Bridge

“The first thing I have to say is that Pateley Bridge Town Council is an independent council and as such does not have to follow a party line on policy, so the town councillors have their own opinions on devolution and I believe that is how it should remain.

“My personal thoughts are that the single unitary authority is the correct route to take simply because it cuts out the seven current district tiers of management and supervision which must save money but will also end the double taxation situation that many parishes face.

“To give an example, some of our council tax is paid to Harrogate Borough Council which amongst other things pays for the upkeep and maintenance of the flower beds in Harrogate and the Stray, but we as a council are also charged by HBC for the maintenance of the flower beds and borders in and around Pateley Bridge.

“I believe this is a double tax and HBC acknowledged this several years ago and paid us a ‘maintenance grant’ to cover the difference.

“Over the last few years this grant has been reduced and is now not available, so reverting to a double taxation. The single authority should remove that type of anomaly.

“I really cannot see much change for Pateley Bridge or Nidderdale in general, as we do not have any boundary issues with the changes.

“To take on extra roles, for example cleaning gullies or planting and maintaining flower beds, costs more than just the labour and materials involved.

“The whole administration costs and insurances as well as extra staff have also to be budgeted for but in the future, with the money saved with the single authority, there may be more funds available to make that work effectively at our local level.”

Bid for 170 homes in Knaresborough set for refusal

Plans to build a major housing development at Water Lane in Knaresborough look set to be refused for a second time.

Harrogate Borough Council officers have recommended that councillors turn down a fresh application for 170 homes on the site at a planning meeting next week.

Landowner Geoffrey Holland previously had a plan for 218 homes rejected in October 2019.

The new proposal would see a mixture of one, two, three and four-bedroom houses built. A total of 68 homes would be allocated as affordable housing.

However, council officers have raised concern over inadequate access at the site, which they could cause “potential road safety issues”.

Officials also said the number of homes in the application was a “relatively significant uplift” on the 148 allocated under the council’s Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines planning in the district until 2035.

Although the site is earmarked for housing in the plan, council officials said the “resulting layout is not considered to reflect the edge of settlement location or the principles of good layout design”.

In a report due before councillors, the authority said:

“The application has failed to meet these requirements, as set out in detail in this report. The submitted details would not create a well-designed, carefully mitigated scheme.

“The application is therefore recommended for refusal.”

86 letters of objection

The proposal has received 86 letters of objection, with none submitted in support.

Among the concerns raised by residents were the loss of outdoor space and the lack of adequate access to the site.

Tracy May, a local resident, said in a letter to the council that the development would impact on a “peaceful area”.

She said:

“This is an area in Knaresborough that is used extensively by local residents for recreation and yet more our outdoor spaces are been given over to development.

“This will make this peaceful area very busy and impact on local leisure facilities.”

Councillors on the planning committee will make a decision on the plan at a meeting on Tuesday.

North Yorkshire highways boss ‘confident’ in bid for £1.5m active travel projects

The highways boss of North Yorkshire County Council has expressed confidence that the authority will win most of the £1.5m it is bidding for under the latest round of active travel projects.

Councillor Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, approved the bid to the government’s active travel fund at a meeting on Friday.

The application includes funding for four projects, two of which are in the Harrogate district. They include traffic calming measures in Ripon and a feasibility study into the creation of a 7km cycleway and footpath between Knaresborough and Flaxby Green Park.

The bid is being made to the third round of the active travel fund. The council only secured half of the £266,000 allocated to it by the Department for Transport in the first round but won almost all of the £1m it bid for in the second round.

Cllr Mackenzie said:

“We have been told to expect roughly around the same amount we received in tranche two and as soon as we know what this value is our bid will be submitted with the government.

“Clearly there are various sources of money for these kinds of projects in the future. The government has set aside £2bn as part of its active travel fund and I believe it has only allocated around a quarter of this so there will be plenty more to come.”

Under the latest plans, around £550,000 would be spent on the development of “sustainable travel corridors” in the west of Ripon. These could include footway widening, better crossing facilities and traffic calming measures.

The council also said feasibility work for the proposed 7km cyclepath between Knaresborough and Flaxby Green Park would cost £50,000 and that it would link with wider plans to improve connections to York.

There are also plans for schemes in Craven and Ryedale.

Under earlier rounds of the fund, cash has been earmarked for cycle lanes and junction upgrades on the A59 between Harrogate and Knaresborough, as well as similar improvements in the Victoria Avenue area of Harrogate town centre.

There were also plans for a one-way traffic system and junction filters on Oatlands Drive but these were scrapped after a fierce backlash from residents.

Instead, the council is carrying out a feasibility study this summer to look into what other improvements could be made not just on Oatlands Drive but also the surrounding area.

The aim for the A59 and Victoria Avenue schemes is for construction to start in November with completion in March 2022.

A government decision on the third round bid is expected in autumn and, if successful, the funds must be spent before March 2023.

Harrogate Cricket Club cruises to Addison Cup triumph in Knaresborough

Harrogate Cricket Club overcame Wetherby Carr Manor to win the Addison Cup in Knaresborough last night.

The Addison Cup, which is contested by the top 16 teams in the Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League, is one of the oldest cricket competitions in the world, dating back to 1922.

Harrogate scored 131 for 7 in their 20 overs then limited Wetherby Carr Manor to 99 all out.

Harrogate’s hero was captain Will Bates, who was named man of the match for scoring 59 in a game in which runs were hard to come by.

Will Bates collects his man of the match award.

Skilful, accurate bowling by Harrogate’s opening bowlers led to early wickets and the match was effectively over by the halfway stage of Wetherby Carr Manor’s innings.

Clive Addison, grandson of Harry Addison, who the cup is named after, presented the trophy at Knaresborough Cricket Club on Aspin Lane.

Next year the event will celebrate its 100th year.

Knaresborough FEVA set to return next month

Tickets for Knaresborough FEVA festival have gone on sale after the committee decided next month’s event will go ahead.

The festival of entertainment and visual arts, which is taking place for the 25th time, will feature the likes of poet Simon Armitage, singer-songwriter Jez Lowe and the musician Snake Davis.

Shops have begun decorating their windows in the pink theme in preparation for 10 days of arts at multiple Knaresborough venues.

Planning was delayed this year due to the uncertainty surrounding the lifting of covid restrictions but Gwen Lloyd, the FEVA chairperson, said the committee was now working hard on making it happen.

The event, from August 13 to 22, will feature indoor and outdoor events, including numerous workshops for all ages and hobbies, as well as the much-loved Picnic in the Park.

Picnic in the Park, which is being held on August 21, normally attracts about 450 people to the grounds of Knaresborough House for a free afternoon of music. DJ Trev is among this year’s acts.

To celebrate the 25th festival, a special event will be held in the grounds of Henshaws Arts and Craft Centre at which some 300 people will enjoy music.

Knaresborough FEVA dry land sync swimming

Yorkshire Life Aquatic, the dry land synchronised swimmers, will be performing.

The street performers on Market Place will include a Punch and Judy act, jesters and dry land synchronised swimmers will be performing.

Ms Lloyd said:

“It’s been months of planning, of course it’s nerve wracking because normally tickets are nearly sold out at this point but we have had to wait for lockdown announcements. I’m sure it’ll be a huge success.”

The festival programme is available here.

Harrogate and Knaresborough to get community grocery shops

Resurrected Bites is set to reopen its cafes for the first time in more than a year and launch what it calls community grocery shops.

The volunteer group, which specialises in turning food destined for the bin into nutritious meals, has delivered food to more than 15,000 people during coronavirus.

Michelle Hayes, the founder of Resurrected Bites, is proud of what her team has achieved but she feels that now is the right time to re-open its cafes.

While the group is well-known for turning food into meals, it is now preparing to launch its own shops at Harrogate’s New Park Primary Academy and at a yet-to-be-finalised location in central Knaresborough.

The shops are intended to help anyone struggling to buy food. For between £3 and £5, people who sign up as members of the shop will be able to pick up a large amount of fresh and frozen food.

If the shops, which will be opening around September to October, go well then Ms Hayes has plans to open a third in the Fairfax area of Harrogate. She told the Stray Ferret:

“Community groceries are different from food banks because people pay a small amount rather than relying on vouchers.

“Anyone who needs it can pay a small amount for quite a lot of food. That small costs also gives people dignity.”

To get the projects off the ground, the group has started a fundraising campaign with a target of £2,000. Click or tap here to donate.

Resurrected Bites’ cafes are expected to return in the second week of September.

The cafe at Gracious Street in Knaresborough will be open on Tuesday and Friday from 10am to 2pm. The group has also moved the Wednesday cafe in Harrogate from St Mark’s Church to West Park United Reformed Church.

Harrogate woman appeals ‘unfair’ disc zone parking fine

A Harrogate woman has sent an appeal to Harrogate Borough Council after a parking warden fined her for parking in a disc zone area.

Laura Vance took her son to King James’s School in Knaresborough for an induction session yesterday morning.

She had left her disc, which entitled her to park for free for two hours, in another car so wrote a note.

The note, which she left on her dashboard, stated that Laura had parked at 9am.

She headed to a shop to pick up another disc after dropping off her son but when she returned to her vehicle 40 minutes later she found she had received a penalty notice, which gave her 14 days to pay a reduced fine of £25 or £50 if she leaves it for up to 28 days.

Ms Vance, who is waiting for a reply from the council, told the Stray Ferret:

“I thought that because I left a note that would be enough for the parking warden. I do think it is quite unfair.

“What is the difference between my note and the disc? Both just say what time it was when you parked up.

“It is just a bit rubbish. It’s not going to put me off going to Knaresborough because I love it there but I can see how it might put some people off.”

Disc parking is common in the Harrogate district. The discs are free and entitle users to park for free for a period of time stated on the street.

The Stray Ferret contacted Harrogate Borough Council for a response. A council spokeswoman said:

“If a customer believes that have received a penalty charge notice in error then they should follow the appeal process provided.”

‘Good riddance’ to Knaresborough high street cones, say traders

Knaresborough traders have said they are overjoyed by the news that the town’s social distancing cones are due to be removed this evening.

Harrogate’s social distancing planters were taken away this morning and parking bays were restored.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, North Yorkshire County Council‘s executive member for access, told the Stray Ferret the cones would be removed by the end of today.

The cones were put up to give shoppers more space to spread out but the loss of prime parking spaces on High Street has upset some traders.

Carol Scanlan, the owner of Carol’s Bonnie Dogs on the high street, said:

“They should have been removed yesterday. Lockdown has finished, according to the government so why are they still there? I want them gone. It’s frustrating when my customers have nowhere else to park, we’ve had enough now.”

Martin Sturdy, the owner of card and gift shop ZigZag said:

“They have served their purpose now. People haven’t really been using the extra space recently. The high street has suffered because people can’t park up so they end up missing shops. Good riddance to them, I shall welcome their removal.”

The planters in Harrogate town centre were removed from about 9am this morning, prompting questions about where they will end up.

People have called on social media for the flowers not to go to waste and suggested they were planted elsewhere, such as in Valley Gardens, or given to local community groups.

Andrew Hart, a businessman from Bilton, suggested they could be donated to Starbeck in Bloom or other similar groups.

The Stray Ferret asked Harrogate Borough Council what had happened to the planters but has yet to receive a reply.

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Cllr Christine Willoughby, the mayor of Knaresborough

Cllr Andrew Williams, leader of Ripon City Council

Cllr Mike Holt, the mayor of Pateley Bridge

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86 letters of objection

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