Nine flood alerts and warnings are in force this morning across the Harrogate district as persistent rain causes river levels to rise to dangerous levels.

Notorious flooding location Knaresborough caravan park and Goldsborough mill farm were put on the more severe ‘warning’ level during the night.

The warning says “flooding of property, roads and land in Knaresborough is possible today” as Nidd river levels are expected to continue to rise. It adds:

“Areas most at risk are riverside land at Knaresborough caravan park. Please activate any property flood protection products you may have, such as flood barriers and air brick covers, and stay away from fast moving water.”

Roecliffe caravan park, near Boroughbridge, is identified as the most vulnerable location in an overnight warning for the River Ure, which says:

“Flooding of property/roads and farmland is expected imminently. Please put your flood plan into action, and plan driving routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded and stay away from fast moving water.”

Ure near Ripon

An alert was put in place for the lower Ure, just east of Ripon city centre, overnight. An update just before 4am this morning says:

“Flooding of low-lying land and roads is possible today,”

An alert was also activated overnight for the River Crimple, near Follifoot, and its tributaries including Horn Beck, Clark Beck, Hookstone Beck, Rud Beck, Toad Hole Beck and Park Beck.

It warns flooding of low-lying land and roads is possible.

Nidd risk

There is widespread risk along the River Nidd.

Alerts were issued yesterday afternoon for the river just above and below Pateley Bridge. Last night a warning was put in place for around Hunsingsore and Cattal.

Alerts for the lower and middle catchment areas of the Nidd also remain in force.

More heavy rain is expected today and tomorrow morning.

If you are affected by flooding, contact us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Knaresborough could get scuba diving pool

A bespoke scuba diving training pool could be built in Knaresborough.

Tim Yarrow, owner of Harrogate-based DiveShack UK, is behind the plans. He told the Stray Ferret the facility would be something “unique” for the district.

Mr Yarrow, who has been a scuba instructor around the world for 30 years, wants to build a three to four-metre pool near Knaresborough Celtic FC in the south of the town.

Before covid, his company organised diving trips off Malta in the Mediterranean but says a local pool would enable divers to learn closer to home.

He also hopes to work with charities so people with disabilities can use the pool.

Mr Yarrow submitted plans for a pool in September but withdrew them last week following an objection from Knaresborough Town Council, which objected to the size of the building and said there was “no proven supporting need for this facility”.

A revised plan is expected to be submitted soon.

Read more:

• Third lockdown threatens Knaresborough retail revival

• Knaresborough dog groomers finds new high street home

Mr Yarrow told the Stray Ferret the covid pandemic had hit his business hard:

“We were getting a really good momentum going then covid hit and knocked us back.

“We’re very much reliant on taking people abroad and they want to learnt to dive as they are going on holiday, but people aren’t going on holidays so the diving industry has had a massive kick between the eyes.”

Despite the UK’s cold water, Mr Yarrow said it is still a fantastic place to dive.

“Yes it’s cold but we’re kitted out for it.

“Marine life around the coast is fantastic and I don’t think people realise how good it is. We have seals in the Farne Islands, Scotland’s marine protected areas and spectacular shipwrecks.”

There have been 633 covid infections recorded in the Harrogate district in the last seven days, according to government statistics.

The infection rate has rocketed over the last month and the current seven-day average rate is now 494 people per 100,000.

But there are considerable variations within the district.

The government breaks each district into smaller areas known as middle super output areas, each with a population of about 7,200 people.

According to the latest figures, the middle super output areas with the most current infections are central Harrogate and central Knaresborough.

The more rural Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley, which has been consistently less affected throughout the pandemic, has the fewest current infections.

Most infections

1 Central Harrogate 76

2 Knaresborough Central 61

3 Harrogate West and Pannal 59

4 Killinghall and Hampsthwaite 53

5 Starbeck 47

Read more:

• All over 80s in Harrogate district to be offered vaccine by end of month
• Three Harrogate Town players test positive for covid

Fewest Infections

1 Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley 13

2 Hookstone 17

3= Dishthorpe, Baldersby and Markington

3= Spofforth, Burn Bridge and Huby 19

5 Masham, Kirkby Malzeard and North Stainley 21

Work is set to begin this month to build 120 homes in Knaresborough after Yorkshire Housing purchased the site from Gladman Developments.

The 18-acre site on Boroughbridge Road is allocated for development in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan and planning permission was granted in August last year, despite objections.

Yorkshire Housing, which is a housing association, hopes the two, three, and four-bedroom homes will begin to be ready in January next year.

Andy Gamble, director of development at Yorkshire Housing, said:

“The 120 new homes will be mixed tenure and will provide homes for shared ownership, affordable rent, rent-to-buy and market sale.

“We want to continue creating new communities that bring more, much-needed homes to Yorkshire where our customers are proud to live and call home.”

Read more:

• Ripon housing development on old industrial site refused

• Housing Investigation: land the size of 700 football pitches lost to new housing

Scriven Parish Council said the homes would result in “saturation” for Knaresborough and its facilities when the plans were submitted.

The objection said:

“Knaresborough is under tremendous pressure and the historic market town, which all the residents recognise and enjoy, is being destroyed by over development.”

The prospect of a lengthy third lockdown with no firm end date in sight is causing serious concern among Knaresborough retailers.

Knaresborough has seen a boom in new businesses lately but the current uncertainty is putting new and old shops in jeopardy.

The town’s streets have been eerily quiet this week after non-essential shops were forced to close again. Many are moving online to try to reduce financial losses.

Additional financial support has been offered by the government but shops say this isn’t enough to cover the money they would have made by staying open.

Country 2 Western, on Castlegate, sells a wide range of American-themed items from cowboy boots to belt buckles. One of its owners, Christine McLeod, said it relies on venues and music festivals to sell its niche products.

She added:

“We’ve been struggling since the first lockdown in March. We had to change what we were selling, we are keeping the American feel but a little different to normal.

“This lockdown is worrying for the future of our business. If music events are still cancelled this year we’d seriously have to re-think what we sell, it’s having a massive effect.”

Ms McLeod said she will focus her efforts on online sales but added it was vital music events were able to continue in summer.

Read more:

• Knaresborough’s Two Brothers restaurant has sights set on new venue on the high street.
• Knaresborough dog groomers finds new home on the high street.

On the high street, The Clothing Store of Knaresborough only opened a few months before lockdown hit.

Its owner, Rebecca Lombardi, was left “devastated” by the announcement and is worried that the short amount of time she has had to establish the business will impact online sales.

She said:

“There is so much to think about so quickly. It’s scary and there are so many mixed emotions. In the other lockdown we didn’t make much from online sales so this time may not be successful but I’m going to try to build our online presence.

“I’m remaining hopeful for when we do eventually reopen.”

Bill Taylor, treasurer of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, said:

“Many businesses in Knaresborough adapted to survive where they could during the previous lockdowns and it is great to see a similar desire this time round. The town really came together to ensure everyone kept safe.

“Knaresborough chamber will continue to support all of the local businesses however it can, and continue engagement with local authorities to ensure businesses are aware of all of the support that is available.”

Libraries in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough will continue to provide books during lockdown through the select and collect service.

The select and collect service, which was introduced last year in response to the pandemic, enables customers to phone or email their library to request books and collect them from the entrance of the building.

North Yorkshire County Council, which manages the libraries, is also continuing to operate its home library service, which sees volunteers deliver books, DVDs and CDs to customers who are unable to visit a library.

The council is also allowing pre-booked library computer sessions for essential use, such as accessing services and benefits. But they must be booked in advance by phone or email.

County councillor Greg White, executive member for libraries, said:

“We know how beneficial a connection to their library can be to people’s wellbeing and how many people rely on free library computers to access services and benefits and to apply for jobs.

“I am pleased that we are able to continue to provide that connection to some degree through our select and collect service and to support the most vulnerable with the home library service and computer access.”

To use the select and collect service or to book a computer session, contact your library or visit here.

A Knaresborough dog groomers is relocating along the high street at the end of the month — but has assured customers its much-loved dog window will remain a feature.

Carol’s Bonnie Dogs is known locally as the “one with dogs in the window”.

The owner, Carol Scanlan, doesn’t put the dogs in cages after being groomed but instead allows the animals to sit by the window as they wait to be collected.

She says the owners, as well as passers-by, like to see the dogs relaxing after pamper sessions.

The groomers is currently at 63 High Street but has been granted approval to relocate to the more spacious 44 High Street.

Ms Scanlan has been based in Knaresborough for three years and said business is going from strength to strength:

“A couple of local groomers closed down and we were being recommended. I’d say it’s tripled in the past three years.

“We needed more space and with the new place being next door to the pet shop it was a perfect match.”

Ms Scanlan hopes to move into the new shop, 44 High Street, at the end of the month.

Ms Scanlan currently employs two groomers, including one who started doing work experience from Askham Bryan College, as well as a part-time weekend member of staff.

She hopes to grow her team this year if business continues to get busier.

Read more:

• Knaresborough’s Two Brothers restaurant hopes to move onto the high street if planning is approved.
• Harrogate businesses could receive grants of £9,000 after government announces further support.

Dog groomers are allowed to stay open during this lockdown. Ms Scanlan said:

“After the first lockdown I was appalled at the condition of some of the dogs. I even sent an email to the Prime Minister. It was a massive relief to hear we can stay open.”

She hopes the groomers can move at the end of this month, with minimal disruption to the business.

An Italian restaurant in Knaresborough has put forward a planning application to move into prime high street premises.

Two Brothers Grill and Pizzeria is currently based in Castle Courtyard but the growing restaurant has its sights set on a new space.

The restaurant has been open almost three years and proved to be a popular spot for locals. It is hopeful its new spot will “shake things up” for them.

The Ravasz brothers, Nandor and Szilard, opened the restaurant with their wives Vivien Kovacs and Eniko Szenasi in March 2018.

The team said the current unit will not be left empty, but instead they plan to turn it into a high-end bar.

The new space is said to be better suited to a restaurant and will give the owners more storage space. The owners said it will be “cosy and elegant, and still family friendly”.

The owners hope plans will be approved to allow them to start works on the new site, 69 High Street, straight away.

Nandor said:

“It will be the same people and menu, just a new space. We needed a bigger space and being on the high street is ideal.”

If the planning application is approved by Harrogate Borough Council, work will start immediately on the new building.

Mr Ravasz said plans are constantly changing due to restrictions but if everything stays on track he hopes to have the new place open at the end of spring.

Read more:

• Sneak Peek at new Italian restaurant in Harrogate. 
• Plans for a new business park in Knaresborough could lead to thousands of new jobs.

Following last night’s lockdown announcement, the restaurant will continue to run as a takeaway. Mrs Ravasz added:

“We prefer the restaurant of course, but we are grateful to have an option B and the town is behind us. So many businesses haven’t got an option B so I can’t complain – we’re lucky to have business through the takeaway.”

The Harrogate district appeared to be much quieter today as people seemed to embrace the national lockdown rules.

With schools, shops and hospitality businesses closed, residents have been instructed only to leave home for a few essential reasons, including shopping for food and medicine, and to exercise outside.

The measures are designed to reduce the coronavirus case rates, which have spiked in North Yorkshire as well as elsewhere in the country, by significantly reducing contact between people.

It is unclear when the lockdown will end, but it will be reviewed again in mid-February.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the new restrictions yesterday evening in response to an “alarming” rise in coronavirus cases.

Police have issued photos of a man they want to trace after a report that a man performed a sex act on himself near the River Nidd in Knaresborough.

The incident happened in view of members of the public in a wooded area near the river in Nidd Gorge while a number of people, including children, were nearby.

It took place on the afternoon of August 10 last year, but North Yorkshire Police has only today issued the photos.

The man is described as white and aged between 50 and 60. He was naked apart from dark-coloured hiking boots, a baseball cap and a black watch. Police said he had noticeable tan lines around his legs and was carrying clothing in his left hand.

Read more:

• Do you recognise these people? Police issue plea for help
• Police recover stolen jewellery and medals

Officers now want to speak to the man in the photos as they believe he will have information to help with the investigation. A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“The incident is one of a number of similar incidents reported over the past year and officers are looking into whether or not the incidents are connected.”

Anyone who can help to identify the man in the photos is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for Alex Langley, or email alex.langley@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively, to report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 and quote reference number 12200150877.