The Harrogate district is to receive a vaccine boost this week, as inoculations are set to be rolled out to the over 50s.

A vaccination site in Knaresborough, which will be able to administer jabs to 1,000 people a week, is due to open in the town’s former Lidl on Saturday.

It means the district, which now has vaccination sites in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough, is on track to achieve the government target of offering all over 50s the jab by April 15.

The Knaresborough site is run by Homecare Pharmacy Services, which is based in the town.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said today it was likely other community pharmacies could start offering the vaccine in North Yorkshire as the rollout filters down to everyone over the age of 18 by the end of July.

Read more:

• Great Yorkshire Showground can give 1,800 vaccines in a day
• Covid vaccination site to open in Knaresborough

Speaking at a media briefing today. Ms Bloor said the Knaresborough site would administer 800 vaccines next week and had the capacity to give up to 1,000 jabs per week. She added:

“This is just part of the wider rollout across the country. I think it is likely other community pharmacies will start to come on stream.

“As of yesterday, North Yorkshire and York reached 249,000 first doses of the vaccines. So it’s significant progress and the teams are doing a fantastic job.

“We have moved further down the priority list, so we are working on the over 65s. There’s no need to contact your GP. You will be contacted directly.”

Plans for new footpaths and signposts on the Conyngham Hall grounds in Knaresborough have been approved by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee.

A retrospective planning application was put before the committee this week to allow councillors to vote on the works done on the popular walking spot.

The works included the resurfacing of existing footpaths as well as the construction of a new footpath on the banks of the River Nidd. Timber steps were also put into a steep section of Collins Banks.

These renovations were done alongside local environmental groups and the parks department.

A retrospective application means most of the works have already been completed. They were carried out throughout last year using government funding from the Pocket Park Grant Funding. The total cost has been £27,000.

The plans include new footpaths and signposts. Photograph: Harrogate Borough Council

The application was approved with 10 councillors voting for and two abstaining.

However, one Liberal Democrat councillor and a member of the public raised their concerns during the meeting.

Both said the size of the stones was too large. The member of the public added that the new footpath had created muddy and flooded surfaces.

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• Vandals thought to be responsible for damage to memorial tree.
• Plans for 94 flats in Harrogate refused.

Cllr Pat Marsh said she had fallen on the new footpath twice and had heard other walkers had fallen too. She voted for the application but wanted to ensure smaller stones were used to cover these footpaths in the future.

She said:

“Initially they had to have signs put up to ask people to take care walking on the new footpaths. The bigger stone made it difficult to walk it some areas especially the steep sections. We need to ensure it’s safe for everyone.”

The council’s parks department added that further works are planned to “top up” some of the current works to improve the walkways.

A new covid vaccine site will open on Monday in Knaresborough on the site of the former Lidl supermarket on York Road.

The site will be run by Homecare Pharmacy Services, a Knaresborough-based pharmacist.

It will be the third vaccination site to open in the district so far.

Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground vaccine site opened on December 22 and can carry out up to 1,800 jabs a day.

A vaccine site at Ripon Races opened this month and has the capacity to vaccinate between 500 and 600 people each day.

Read more:

• ‘Really good progress’ as vaccine reaches 175,000 people

• EXCLUSIVE: Great Yorkshire Showground can give 1,800 vaccines in a day

It was revealed at this week’s North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum press briefing that 422,000 people in North Yorkshire, York, East Riding and the Humber have had their first vaccine.

A total of 17,000 have had their second dose.

Good morning everyone and welcome back to our traffic and travel service for the Harrogate district.

Whether you travel by car, bus or train we will keep an eye out for any possible disruption to your journey.

It’s Connor again back on the travel desk from 6.30am. Spotted an accident or a road closure? Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

If traffic is moving well or it’s at a standstill then we will let you know with our updates every 15 minutes.

Full update – 9am

Thanks to everyone who has been getting involved with this new traffic and travel service. Good to read that people are finding it helpful. I am moving over to the news desk now but will be back with renewed vigour tomorrow morning at 6.30am. Connor.

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate:
• New: Ripon Road at the junction with Jennyfield Drive works causing delays.
• Skipton Road, Harrogate. Delays of four minutes.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout. Delays of four minutes from Starbeck.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.
• New: Crash on the A59 at New Road on the way to York causing delays .

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations or delays. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time after the earlier cancellations.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 8.45am

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate. Delays of four minutes.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout. Delays of four minutes from Starbeck.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations or delays. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time after the earlier cancellations.
• The 8.09am Knaresborough to Leeds service which was delayed to 8.56am has been cancelled.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 8.30am

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate. Delays of four minutes.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout. Delays of four minutes from Starbeck.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations or delays. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time after the earlier cancellations.
• The 8.09am Knaresborough to Leeds service which was delayed to 8.56am has been cancelled.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 8.15am

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate. Delays of seven minutes.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout. Delays of four minutes from Starbeck.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The 8.18am service Harrogate to Leeds is cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.
• All other services are expected on time.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 8am

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate. Delays of seven minutes.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout. Delays of four minutes from Starbeck.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The 8.18am service Harrogate to Leeds is cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.
• All other services are expected on time.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 7.45am

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The 7.41am service Harrogate to Knaresborough has now been cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.
• The 8.18am service Harrogate to Leeds has now been cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.
• All other services are expected on time.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 7.30am

Roads

• The roads are still looking fairly clear this morning. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and Leeds Road Roundabout, near to St Mark’s Church.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations. Harrogate to York services are on time.
• The 7.41am service Harrogate to Knaresborough has now been cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.
• The 8.18am service Harrogate to Leeds has now been cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 7.15am

Roads

• The roads are still looking fairly clear this morning. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and Leeds Road Roundabout, near to St Mark’s Church.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations. Harrogate to York services are on time.
• The 7.41am service Harrogate to Knaresborough is currently expected at 7.55am. Delays have been increasing since 6.30am.
• The 8.18am service Harrogate to Leeds is currently expected at 8.22am.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 7am

Roads

• The roads are still looking clear this morning. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and Leeds Road Roundabout, near to St Mark’s Church.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time.
• The 7.41am service Harrogate to Knaresborough is currently expected at 7.53am. Delays have been increasing since 6.30am.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 6.45am

Roads

• The roads are looking clear this morning. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and Leeds Road Roundabout, near to St Mark’s Church.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time.
• The 7.41am service Harrogate to Knaresborough is currently expected at 7.43am.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 6.30am

Roads

• The roads are looking clear bright and early this morning. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and Leeds Road Roundabout, near to St Mark’s Church.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations or delays. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Garages in Harrogate have said they are experiencing a rise in demand for pothole-related repairs despite the national coronavirus lockdown.

It comes as the government announced today £51 million in funding to repair roads in the Yorkshire and Humber region over the next year.

This is the second instalment of a national £2.5 billion “potholes fund”, which Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed in last year’s Budget.

However, it seems there are plenty of holes for North Yorkshire County Council to fill locally.

The council currently has 781 potholes on its reporting system for Harrogate, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge. Ripon and Masham have 175.

Read more:

• Harrogate district traffic and travel updates – every weekday morning
• Controversial Harrogate road closure starts today

While not all the reports require action from the council, those numbers can be a good indicator of the demand it is currently facing.

The recent cold weather has also caused more potholes. When water enters the road and freezes, it expands and creates holes in the surface. Traffic then exacerbates the problem.

Harrogate’s garages then deal with the consequences of damage caused by vehicles driving over potholes.

Finlay Bunce, the manager at Universal Tyres Harrogate, told the Stray Ferret that it recently repaired 10 cars on one day due to potholes:

“People should not be travelling as much but we are still seeing quite a few cars with pothole-related damage.

“One woman last week had only driven 160 miles in her brand new car when she drove over a pothole. She needed two new tyres.”

Sam Burton, manager of Just Tyres in Harrogate, said it had seen a 15% increase in pothole repairs since early January when the country went into lockdown. He said:

“We have had quite a few people complain about Otley Road in Harrogate. I drive down it regularly and it looks as if someone has lost control of a jackhammer. It all needs to be resurfaced.

“Some cars are so badly damaged as a result that we cannot even do a repair. Wagons and cars are driving all over the roads to avoid the holes.”

The sister of adventurer Bear Grylls is taking on her own challenge – in the waters of the River Nidd at Knaresborough.

Lara Fawcett, 54, has set herself the challenge of swimming for five minutes, three times a week throughout February, aiming to raise £50,000 for charity.

She is supporting the Archbishop of York Youth Trust, which works in partnership with schools, churches and communities to support young people to develop their leadership skills, confidence and character-building. Through its Young Leaders Award, it has enabled more than 100,000 young people from 850 schools to learn and practise social action will help them transform their communities.

Lara said:

“This cause is very close to my heart as it empowers young people from across our communities. Plunging in icy water is a literal wake-up call.

“We can’t forget our young people. It’s been widely reported lockdown has a detrimental impact on their confidence and mental health, and yet we will be relying on them to demonstrate character and leadership to help rebuild communities.

“They are the answer to society’s most pressing problems by being the change they want to see in the world – from leading the green agenda, to becoming the next generation of teachers, business leaders and politicians.”

She said youth services across the UK are under severe strain following a decade of funding cuts, amounting to £1bn. A £500m Youth Investment Fund promised by the government has been delayed by the covid crisis.

Read more:

• Knaresborough M&S donates surplus food to new charity
• Knaresborough photographer hoping to change perceptions of autism

Recent National Youth Agency research has found that one in four youth charities are on the brink of collapse, unable to meet their costs beyond March. Dan Finn, chief executive of the Archbishop of York Youth Trust, said:

“The Covid-19 pandemic has left communities devastated and I urge the government to do as much as they can to support youth services like ours. By putting character education into practice through meaningful social action, young people are displaying acts of kindness and are petitioning for change all over the country. Lara’s fundraising efforts will help us support even more young people to become leaders now, and in the future.”

Wild swimmer Lara Fawcett in the River Nidd (Photo: Gary Lawson)

For her #FrostyFeb challenge, Lara, who lives in Wetherby, has chosen designated safe wild swimming areas of the River Nidd and River Ure in North Yorkshire and is encouraging other experienced cold-water swimmers to join her. Alternatively, anyone who can’t get out into open water is invited to take part by having an ice bath or lying in the snow for one minute and making a donation to the charity.

Lara added:

“Both Bear and I are passionate about supporting youth services: Bear is the Chief Scout and I am a Trustee for The Archbishop of York Youth Trust. We as a society need to do as much as we can to empower young people from all walks of life, to aim high, be the best they can be and become the next generation of leaders, which we need more than ever before.”

To donate to Lara’s fundraising challenge, click here.

A second charity has partnered with Knaresborough’s Marks and Spencer store to use its surplus food to provide meals for those in need.

The charity, Helping Hands UK, was suggested by local customers after the M&S store put an appeal out for charities on Facebook.

Helping Hands UK is an established charity with hubs across the country. The Yorkshire hub accepts donations from a number of retailers already, with M&S now joining the list.

The charity reuses surplus food and makes meals or food boxes to be delivered to those in need locally. It also takes hot meals and drinks into city centres to feed those living on the streets.

Its founder, Toni Mella, lives in Pudsey. She has worked with people and groups within the Harrogate district for years and wanted to thank them for their support and for suggesting her charity to M&S. She said:

“There’s some great food coming from M&S. I just feel privileged that we have been chosen. I am so proud of what me and the team are doing day by day.”

All of the people working for the charity are volunteers who come from all walks of life. Including NHS workers and some who have been homeless or experienced addiction.

Ms Mella said this partnership with M&S gives them the opportunity to support more people with the extra food and praised the work of her volunteers.

Some of the food collected last weekend went into family boxes and used to make hot meals for the elderly.

Read more:

• Harrogate Neighbours has launched “special boxes” to make sure no occasion is missed.
• Nidderdale community comes together to ensure no one will go hungry.

The Knaresborough store already supports Resurrected Bites, a charity based in the Harrogate district. The charity has changed what it offers during the pandemic to give boxes of food and toiletries to vulnerable families.

James Smithson, store manager at M&S Knaresborough, said:

“When we have surplus food, our absolute priority is for it to end up on someone’s plate. We already work with the brilliant Resurrected Bites to help those in need, and we’re delighted to now be partnered with Helping Hands UK as well.

“Both of these organisations do a brilliant job supporting the local community and we are pleased to be working with them to help feed those in need.”

Councillors will next week consider proposals for 69 retirement apartments with care near to St James Retail Park in Knaresborough — but concerns have been raised that it will worsen traffic on Grimbald Bridge.

Adlington, part of the Gladman group, is behind the development which would be built on land adjacent to the single-track Grimbald Bridge on Wetherby Road which passes the River Nidd.

Adlington has built similar developments for retirees across the north of England, including Adlington House on Bridge Street in Otley.

The company said the Knaresborough scheme will follow its ‘extra care’ model which tries to maintain the residents’ independence.

It said in its plans:

“Residents can live with as much independence as they wish, but have care support available to suit their needs with advancing age, without moving to more specialised accommodation.”

The developer wants to demolish a derelict bungalow and house that is currently on the site. The three-storey development includes 22 one-bedroom, 37 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom apartments.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee will meet a week on Tuesday (February 16) to consider the proposals, which have been recommended for approval by a council officer.

Read more:

• Bid to create 90-resident Harrogate care home

• Boroughbridge care home, garage and homeowners fight floods

Grimbald Bridge is a pressure point for congestion and the proposals include a new, single priority-controlled junction on Wetherby Road.

The development would be built to the left of Grimbald Bridge on Wetherby Road.

However, this has not been enough to allay concerns over traffic and pedestrian safety, with both Knaresborough Civic Society and Knaresborough Town Council objecting on transport grounds.

Knaresborough Town Council called the development “over-intense with poor access”.

It added:

“The scale of the development is overpowering, blocking natural daylight from adjacent properties.”

Knaresborough Chamber of Trade has received £3,000 sponsorship from engineering company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

MHI initially sponsored Party in the Castle, the chamber-organised family fun day in 2019.

Since then a director of the company, John Billson, has kept in touch with chamber president Steve Teggin to discuss further support.

Mr Billson, who works in the air conditioning side of the international business, met Mr Teggin, a hairdresser, when he was having his hair cut.

Being a local man, Mr Billson said he he was keen to support Knaresborough businesses while achieving brand awareness for the company.

The £3,000 award will support the chamber’s work over the next 12 months.

Mr Teggin said:

“We are very pleased to be able to work with John and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The money will help us to continue supporting our local businesses and charities.

“It also means there’s a little more available for the community so we can look into other projects, such as expanding what we do at Christmas.”

John Billson

Read more:

• Harrogate Borough Council set to offer £27,000 loan to set up a Knaresborough BID.
• Harrogate and Knaresborough MP calls for debate into collapsed conference sector.

Mr Billson, who is managing director of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Specifications, said.

“It’s all about brand awareness for us plus I’m local to the area so being able to support local trade and commerce is a bonus too.”

A bid to reinstate the Victoria jubilee fountain in Knaresborough has suffered a major blow, despite a successful fundraising campaign.

Knaresborough Civic Society hoped to restore the fountain, which was built in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s 50th anniversary.

The society raised £6,000 and held talks with the owner of the private land where the fountain currently lays about moving it.

Read more:

• Knaresborough Bed Race 2021 cancelled
• Designs for new Knaresborough museum revealed

But the land changed hands shortly before the fundraising campaign and the new owner has refused to release it.

James Monaghan, chair of Knaresborough Civic Society, confirmed the news in a letter to the town council. He wrote:

“It is with tremendous regret that we write to you to confirm we see no option but to return donations.

“Despite our best efforts, a strong desire and the generosity of Knaresborough residents it appears no progress can be made with the owner of the land.

“As such, we have decided to return the money raised to the donors. We also relinquish any request for funds reserved by Knaresborough Town Council.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we have reached this decision.

“Should the situation change we would be delighted to play our part restoring this key part of Knaresborough’s history.”

Mr Monaghan has delayed the return of the funds until February 28 in the hope that Knaresborough Town Council will be able to remedy the situation.

History of the fountain

Residents of Knaresborough bought the fountain in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee.

It was originally built on the High Bridge near the entrance to Mother Shipton’s cave and provided spa water from Bilton.

The fountain was later decommissioned and planted with flowers then in the latter half of the 20th century it was removed and deposited on private land.

In 2016 the previous owner of the land reached out to a local history group to try to put the fountain back in public hands.

The civic society planned to reinstate the fountain on Gracious Street, next to the Methodist church.

It aimed to raise the fountain with a plinth, replace the missing brass plaque and to replumb it as well.

But the fountain now faces an uncertain future.