Knaresborough’s Remembrance Sunday parade saved

Knaresborough’s Remembrance Sunday parade has been saved after the police decided to stop providing traffic management.

Elliot Foskett, assistant chief constable at North Yorkshire Police, wrote to 32 smaller Royal British Legions in July informing them of what he described as the “difficult but lawful decision” to no longer provide the service.

Larger parades have utilised traffic management companies for many years to ensure public safety.

David Houlgate, vice-chair of Knaresborough Royal British Legion, said the news had left its annual parade in jeopardy.

But today Mr Houlgate said Knaresborough Town Council had agreed to find a traffic management company to oversee the road closure on Sunday, November 12.

This will allow the parade from St John’s Church to the war memorial in the castle grounds to take place as usual.

Mr Houlgate said:

“This is wonderful news for the town and the Royal British Legion but most importantly it enables us all to commemorate in the traditional way and thank those who have lost their lives in the service of their country as well as those who have served and continue to serve to this day.

“It would seem that the sense of community is still very much alive and kicking and we wish to place on record our thanks to Knaresborough Town Council for their intervention.  We are extremely grateful to them for this.”

The legion said in a statement it “remained extremely disappointed by the decision taken by North Yorkshire Police”.

Mr Foskett said the decision to no longer provide the service would ensure “police resources remain focused on tackling crime and anti-social behaviour”.

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Knaresborough Crag Rat Run set to return

Up to 300 people will experience the beauty of Knaresborough on foot in a fortnight’s time in the town’s biggest running event of the year.

Knaresborough Crag Rat Run has been staged annually since 2016 by Knaresborough Striders.

The event is suitable for all abilities and attracts a combination of serious club runners and people who just enjoy the challenge of completing the five-mile course.

The mixed terrain route starts at Knaresborough Cricket Club at 11am on Sunday, September 24 and includes sections on tarmac, woodland and the town’s crags. No road closures are required.

Tom Calvert, who won the race last year.

The course takes in some of the finest parts of Knaresborough, including Birkham Woods, Abbey Road and back along the crag top back to the cricket club.

Guy Close, chairman of Knaresborough Striders, said:

“In my view it has to be one of the best local races around. It’s family-friendly, suitable for all running abilities and cheap as chips to enter!

“Runners will also get the benefit of being cheered on by a fantastic group of Knaresborough Striders who are hosting the event.”

Tea, coffee and cakes will be served for cash donations. All money raised will go to local charities.

Further details, including how to enter, are available here.

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Local politicians raise concern over lack of Harrogate and Knaresborough NHS dentistry

Local politicians have raised concern over a lack of access to NHS dentistry in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Both Conservative MP, Andrew Jones, and Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said the issue had been raised with them multiple times.

It comes as this week, the Stray Ferret reported that another dentist on Harrogate’s King’s Road will go “membership only” once its NHS contract runs out in December.

Chatsworth House Dental Clinic told patients it will now only take appointments from those as part of its membership scheme.

In a letter seen by the Stray Ferret, it said it planned to cut its patient list by 70% as part of the plan — which it said would “reduce appointment waiting times” and “improve prevention of dental disease and decay”.

Chatsworth House Dental Clinic on King’s Road.

Gail Hindson, a patient who received a letter from the dentist, questioned why patients would require longer appointments.

She said:

“Why do patents need longer appointment? In the 40 years I have been a patient I have never felt my appointment time did not meet my needs.

“What support are they providing to those patients they are rejecting either due to lack of finance or understanding of the process?”

Concerns over lack of access

The decision by Chatsworth House Dental Clinic raised concern over the the lack of access to NHS dentistry in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, which replaced North Yorkshire CCG in April, is responsible for the commissioning of dental care in the district.

A review of NHS dentistry published in August 2021 found there was just one NHS dentist practice per 10,000 people in the Harrogate district.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, has taken concerns over the lack of NHS dentists to the ICB.

He said the organisation should begin expanding NHS dental provision in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Mr Jones said:

“It is positive that dental provision has moved from being controlled nationally to a more local approach. I want to see this local management produce results for our area quickly.

“Recently a small number of constituents have contacted me having had problems getting access to an NHS dentist. Anecdotally this is a wider problem. I am also concerned that residents moving into the new estates in our area will be left without dental cover.

“So I want the ICB to begin expanding the NHS dental provision in Harrogate and Knaresborough and to keep the level of service under review as the new estates become fully occupied.”

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said the issue was one that “kept coming up on the doorstep”.

He added people had also told the local party about their concerns at accessing an NHS dentist appointment.

Mr Gordon said:

“Access to NHS dentistry is one of the biggest issues that keeps coming up on the doorstep time an time again.

“That’s why we have been campaigning on this issue since I was selected earlier this year, and I have met with Daisy Cooper MP, the Lib Dem health spokesperson, and she raised it in Parliament, when our current MP has failed to do so at any point in the last 13 years.

“Over the summer we launched our local dental survey. The results made for a shocking read.

“43% of people who responded to our dental survey are not currently registered with a dentist, with more than 60% of those people having not seen a dentist in years.

“Just 30% of people we spoke with told us they were currently registered with an NHS dentist, with just under half travelling outside the district to see them. The rest pay for private care.

“More than half of the people we spoke with told us that they have delayed seeing a dentist because of the associated cost.”

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Police appeal after man bitten by dog in Knaresborough

A man has been injured after being bitten by a dog in Knaresborough.

The incident happened on Mill Lane at around 9.30pm on Saturday, August 26.

North Yorkshire Police is now appealing for witnesses and information.

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The force said in a statement:

“The dog’s owner had four or five dogs of different breeds, which were black and light colours.

“He was described as a man in his 50s wearing a plaid grey/white jacket.

“If you have any information, call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and provide reference number 12230163476.”

Scriven Park Pre-school ‘requires improvement’, says Ofsted

Scriven Park Pre-school, near Knaresborough, has received a ‘requires improvement’ rating following a recent Ofsted inspection.

Inspectors visited the school in July and published their findings in a report last week.

It was the school’s first inspection since 2018.

The report rated the pre-school as “requires improvement” in four areas including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.

It said that “children do not make the best possible progress” at the school and that “during spontaneous play staff do not consistently provide sufficient challenge to children to fully engage them and extend their learning”.

The report added:

“Staff carry out risk assessments to help provide a safe place for children to play and learn.

“Staff are able to recognise risks to children during play.

“However, during the inspection, there was some broken equipment in the outdoor area. When this was identified staff took immediate action, removed the hazard, and discussed how ongoing procedures would improve.”

The inspector also noted:

“There has been a change to the manager of the pre-school in the last year. The new manager has a clear vision and plans for the continuous improvement of the setting.

“These plans are starting to have an impact, meaning that staff morale is high, and staff feel valued. However, supervision of staff, including the manager, is not targeted enough to support ongoing professional development.

“Additionally, coaching of staff is not yet effective to support them to consistently promote good quality education.”

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In order to improve, the report said the pre-school must “enhance the quality of teaching, so that staff’s interactions consistently respond to the spontaneous opportunities that arise during children’s play to challenge their thinking and learning”.

In addition, it must “extend opportunities for children to access a range of mark-making resources to support their early writing skills”.

However, the inspector did note that staff “provide a very nurturing environment, where children’s care and well-being are given priority”.

They also added:

“Staff know children well, meaning they can identify when children may need some extra help to support their development.

“The manager and staff have good links with other professionals.

“This means that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive good care, support, and development opportunities.”

This year’s inspection saw the pre-school downgraded from a previous ‘good’ rating.

Scriven Park Preschool registered in 2011 and admits children aged two to four-years-old.

The Stray Ferret approached the school for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Knaresborough community organisation launches youth bus

A community organisation based in Knaresborough has launched a community bus to provide a safe mode of transport that keeps young people educated and engaged.

Knaresborough Revolution’s SPACE Community Youth Bus offers study areas, games consoles, a music system and arts and crafts materials to be enjoyed while riding.

It is fitted with high-speed Wi-Fi for passengers to access educational resources and engage with the wider community.

Trained youth workers will also be on hand to provide guidance and mentorship to the young people.

The bus, which has been funded by sponsors and community partners, will travel to local parks, neighbourhoods and community centres throughout Knaresborough and hopes to “remove barriers to participating and foster a sense of belonging”.

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James Pickard, chair of Knaresborough Revolution, said:

“We are thrilled to launch the Community Youth Bus, as it represents a significant step forward in our commitment to empowering Knaresborough’s youth.

“By bringing our services directly to their neighbourhoods, we are breaking down geographical and social barriers, ensuring every young person has access to opportunities for growth, personal development, and positive engagement.”

The bus is suitable for children aged 11 upwards and will be free to ride.

It currently runs every Tuesday from 7 – 9pm and will begin its journey opposite Gracious Street Car Park.

Lib Dems criticise Yorkshire Water river health team project

Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats have criticised a Yorkshire Water plan to set up a river health team.

The company announced this week it was setting up the department as part of a “joined-up, region-wide approach to river health” across Yorkshire.

Part of the remit of the department is to work with community groups to understand what is important to them and develop a way of working together to improve river health.

Yorkshire Water said it would be recruiting 16 new staff to the team, including an environmental investigation lead, river health improvement manager, river health partnership and community engagement advisor. 

However, local Liberal Democrats have questioned whether it is something the company should have been pursuing anyway.

Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:

“Is this not something Yorkshire Water should have already been doing anyway?

“It’s hardly surprising that Yorkshire is faced with polluted rivers when the water company responsible for them has not even had a dedicated team to deal with them – all because the water regulator and the Conservatives have let them off the hook. This sewage scandal must end.

“Yorkshire Water must guarantee that the cost of the new team comes from the company’s eye-watering profits, rather than simply making consumers pay to clean up their mess in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

“I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues are calling for urgent reform of all water companies and a new regulator to hold them to account.”

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Andrew Jones (left) and Tom Gordon

However, Andrew Jones, Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, described the initiative as a “positive move”.

He said:

“Most of the focus has been on the operation of storm overflows and household waste and these aspects are incredibly important.

“But I hope in addition to addressing this the team will go further and look at rainwater run-off from agricultural land which is often the largest component of river pollution containing animal waste and pesticides.

“I also would like to see the Yorkshire Water’s community engagement team really educating people about what can be put down drains and toilets safely.  One of the reasons we see discharges from the storm overflows is because the sewers become blocked by sanitary products and cooking fat which have been disposed of incorrectly.

“It’s a big job and it looks like Yorkshire Water are assembling a big team. This is good news for Yorkshire’s rivers.”

Kevin Reardon, head of river heath at Yorkshire Water, said:

“We are committed as a business to playing our part to further improve river and coastal water quality around the region. The health of our rivers is a key national conversation, and we all have a lot to do to deliver investment in the areas that will make improvements to water quality.

“We know river and coastal water quality is a key priority for our customers and this new department illustrates our commitment to doing the right thing and working hard, alongside other stakeholders, as we begin our largest programme of environmental investment since privatisation.

“Yorkshire Water colleagues are passionate about the environment and we’re currently recruiting for 16 additional roles to help complete our team, which we believe will make further improvements to river health in the next two years and prepare ourselves for the next investment period 2025-2030.”

The Stray Ferret Business Awards to make its return in 2024

Not even an amber weather warning could stop the Stray Ferret Business Awards in March, with a turnout of nearly 400 people and many smiling faces, we’re looking forward to doing it all again in 2024.

Following the success of our inaugural event, the Stray Ferret Business Awards will be making its return next year – and we’re ready to receive your entries!

Sponsored by local financial advisers Prosperis, the Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024 will take place in the Pavilions of Harrogate on Thursday, March 14.

The awards ceremony will recognise businesses of all sectors and sizes to highlight the best and brightest in the Harrogate district’s business community – including Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Masham and Nidderdale.

The black-tie event will include our all-important awards ceremony, a special Winner’s Lounge sponsored by LCF Law and entertainment throughout the evening

Whether you’ve seen significant business growth, place sustainability at the centre of your core values, or provide great progression for your employees, our awards will shine a light on excellent organisations and individuals.

There are 10 award categories to enter:

Emma Harris, Commercial Manager of the Stray Ferret, said:

“We were blown away by the success of our inaugural Business Awards ceremony earlier this year and hope the 2024 event will not disappoint.

“The Stray Ferret Business Awards highlights businesses that are making a difference in the community, as well as those who have overcome adversity and are going strong.

“We can’t wait to see the entries.

“It is entirely free to enter and the Stray Ferret will showcase the fantastic work of all finalists and winners, so we encourage you to put your business forward today.

“The Harrogate district may be a small part of the world, but includes hugely successful businesses with talented individuals who we believe deserve to be recognised.”

Entries are now open.

*There are still a small number of sponsorship opportunities available, so don’t miss out on showcasing your business to the district ahead of and on the night of the awards ceremony.

For more information on the Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024, contact advertising@thestrayferret.co.uk .

Home care provider brings high standards to Harrogate district

This story is sponsored by Vermuyden Care.

One of the region’s foremost home care providers is now bringing its flexible, client-centred approach to the Harrogate district after opening a new base at Boroughbridge. 

Vermuyden Care already has an excellent reputation for its elderly and dementia services in its home area of Doncaster, and now aims to provide the same high standard of home care in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Ripon, Thirsk and Easingwold, from its new premises at Ornhams Hall. 

Director Gary Stapleton said: 

“The difference with Vermuyden is that we are endlessly flexible and willing to go to great lengths to accommodate clients’ wishes. 

“Clients can often feel they’re not very involved in their own care – they feel that things are being done to them, not for them – but we’ve never been like that. 

“For example, some home care companies won’t come out to clients before 8am, but a lot of people who are used to getting up early don’t want to suddenly start having a lie-in just to please their carer. Whatever time you want to get up, we’ll be there.

“Similarly, other companies won’t come out after 8pm, but we think that’s treating clients like children, making them go to bed early. However late you want to go to bed, we’ll be there too.

“At Vermuyden, we are totally flexible. Whatever it is you want, we can do.” 

Vermuyden – pronounced ‘Ver-moy-den’ – specialises in dementia care, but also works with clients with physical and learning disabilities, and offers mental health support. The company provides long-term home care services as well as short-term respite care, and aims to make sure people living in rural areas are not cut off from the help they need.

Vermuyden employs over 100 people, including 15 from its Boroughbridge office. It recruits locally and takes on permanent, experienced staff on high wages, ensuring it only employs the very best carers in the sector. This is important, said Gary, because employees need to be able to provide more than just personal care. He said: 

“The care is the easy part – it’s all the other stuff that’s harder to get right, and we put a huge amount of effort into making sure that we do. 

“We want clients to feel they’re getting the service they deserve.” 

If you’re interested in receiving the very best in personal home care – or you know someone who might be – call us on 01423 800674, or take a look at our website, www.vermuyden.co.uk. 

 

Abba and Queen tribute gig tonight begins new outdoor concerts in Knaresborough

Abba and Queen tribute bands will perform in Knaresborough tonight in the first of two outdoor concerts this weekend.

North Yorkshire Council is staging the events with partners in the grounds of Conyngham Hall.

The venue is not believed to have staged large outdoor live music events previously.

The council, which took control of the venue in April, agreed to trial live music as part of its outdoor programme of events.

Michael Leah, the council’s assistant director for environment, said:

“Friday night sees the 21st Century Abba and Queen tribute concerts come to our area for the first time produced by Chapterhouse who we have successfully worked with on previous outdoor theatre events.

“And on Sunday the space will be used to host the Paradox Orchestra performing 50 Years of Pink Floyd.

“We had hoped to host a further event on Saturday but unfortunately the organiser was unable to go ahead due to unforeseen circumstances.”

Electronic band N-Trance were due to headline Saturday’s cancelled 90s music festival.

Tickets are still available for both remaining events.

People are urged to bring their own seating on chairs or blankets and a picnic but alcohol is not allowed to be brought onsite. Food and drinks can be bought onsite.

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Theatre company Chapterhouse, which is organising tonight’s event, promised “hit after hit of arguably the greatest artists of all time” at “one of the most wonderful gardens in the UK”.

A spokesperson for Sunday’s Pink Floyd event said:

“We hope on the back of the success of our concert this Sunday that we are able to book orchestra events at Knaresborough Castle, Valley Gardens and other council-owned properties in the near future.”