Coronavirus vaccine centre to open in Pateley Bridge

A coronavirus vaccine centre is to open in Pateley Bridge next month with the capacity to provide up to 400 inoculations a day.

It will be the fourth vaccination site in the Harrogate district, following in the footsteps of the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, the racecourse at Ripon and the former Lidl in Knaresborough.

Pateley Bridge Pharmacy is behind the plans to open at Pateley Bridge and Bewerley Memorial Hall on Park Road.

The pharmacy led site will use the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine because it is easy to store and transport.

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Samina Khan, who runs Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, told the Stray Ferret that she hopes to be getting jabs in arms by April 6:

“We know that there is a need in rural areas. It took a bit of convincing but NHS England has now given us the go ahead.

“The hall is quite large. When we are up and running we will be able to vaccinate around 400 people a day.

“Pateley Bridge is a real community and it has taken a real community effort to organise.

“The church provided screens, the school provided a car park on weekends and the trustees of the hall has provided space.”

The pharmacy already has a team of medical professionals and volunteers on standby.

However, she asked for retired nurses and doctors who are interested in helping to reach out to Pateley Bridge Pharmacy. Call 01423 711329 if you are able to help.

Ms Khan said some people had complained to her pharmacy ab out having to pay up to £60 for travel to the other vaccine sites.

Chris Henderson, chairman of Pateley Bridge and Bewerley Memorial Hall trustees, said:

“We are delighted that the hall will be put to good use while it is closed for its usual activities.

“Thanks to generous government support, the hall is financially secure and essential maintenance and safety inspections had been carried out.

“It will enable the hall to open safely when allowed to do so.”

Hope that Nidderdale Show will go ahead this year

Organisers of the Nidderdale Show are “cautiously optimistic” that the event will go ahead this year.

The show, which is held by the Nidderdale Agricultural Society, attracts crowds of 15,000 and aims to celebrate agricultural traditions.

Held in September, the event closes the traditional agricultural show season.

Last year, the show fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic and was cancelled.

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But organisers say they are now “cautiously optimistic” that it will go ahead this year on September 20.

A post on the Nidderdale Show Facebook page said:

“We are cautiously optimistic that the Nidderdale Show may be able to go ahead on Monday 20th September and plans are underway.  

“We will keep reviewing this as government guidelines change and updating with more details as they become available. Keep watching this page and our website for more announcements as we move forwards. In the meantime stay safe.”

Mike Holt, Mayor of Pateley Bridge, told the Stray Ferret that he was hopeful that the show would return later this year.

He said:

“It brings a massive amount to the area and it was a crying shame that it did not go ahead last year.

“If the road map works as the government hopes it will, I’m certainly hoping everything will be okay.”

It comes as organisers of shows and events across the district have made decisions in light of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown as whether to go ahead or not.

The Great Yorkshire Show intends to go ahead in July, with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and NHS bosses in discussions over how to hold the show while continuing vaccinations.

Birstwith Show announced last month that it will return in July.

However, Masham Steam Rally has postponed its event until next year and Tockwith Show has sent out an urgent SOS for volunteers to enable this year’s event to go ahead.

Knaresborough man buys famous Pateley Bridge sweet shop

A 24-year-old man who grew up in Knaresborough has taken over one of the Harrogate district’s most famous businesses.

Ben Howie has bought the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World in Pateley Bridge from Keith Tordoff, who owned the business for about 25 years.

It has been trading continuously since 1827 and is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest sweet shop.

Mr Tordoff is standing as an independent candidate in North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections in May.

He described Mr Howie as “the most capable young man I have known” and said he was sure he would preserve the shop’s traditions while developing new opportunities. Mr Tordoff said:

“He loves the history and heritage but, being younger, sees opportunities to develop in areas such as mail order.”

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Mr Howie, who was born in Ireland but grew up in Knaresborough, previously worked for a large corporate company but said:

“I was only seeing one aspect of the business and taking on my own business means covering all aspects, which appeals much more.

“The shop is an icon. I want to keep it just as it is because it is a living museum while growing the brand.”

‘Use your conscience’ warning as sun brings visitors to Nidderdale

Locals are bracing themselves for an influx of visitors in Nidderdale as a weekend of sunny weather is forecast.

There have already been reports of large numbers of walkers, cyclists and bikers in Pateley Bridge and surrounding villages today.

Now, with the easing of lockdown restrictions in sight, fears have been raised that even more people will breach lockdown rules and descend on local communities this weekend.

Cllr Mike Holt, Mayor of Pateley Bridge, said:

“I am aware of [the number of visitors in the area today] and I am concerned about it. I have asked people to stay away if at all possible, because we aren’t out of the woods yet.”

Cllr Holt said Pateley Bridge Town Council had spoken to local police, but they had limited powers to enforce government guidance. A request for additional signage, similar to that put up along Nidderdale Greenway, had also been unsuccessful.

Even in his home village of Glasshouses, Cllr Holt said there had been a rise in the number of people visiting. He said the numbers across the area could rise further over the first weekend since the Prime Minister outlined cautious plans for easing restrictions.

Cllr Hold added:

“Why can’t we wait just a few more weeks? It’s a bit frustrating.

“Speaking personally, I’ve done all I felt I could and people are just going to have to do what feels right for their own conscience.”

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The area’s busiest walking areas, including Fewston, Swinsty and Thruscross reservoirs, are also preparing for a busy weekend. A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said:

“Getting out in the open and enjoying some exercise is really important for everyone at the moment. We know that our reservoirs have provided a great recreational space for lots of people during lockdown and with warmer weather on the way, our sites may start to get even busier.

“We’d ask that, as always, any visitors to our sites respect covid guidelines and social distancing wherever possible. Our carparks can get very busy during popular periods, so please make sure you park in a dedicated spot, as parking elsewhere may cause obstruction for local residents, the emergency services and our reservoir engineers.”

North Yorkshire Police said it continues to issue fixed penalty notices to people found to be outside without good reason, and having travelled away from their local area.

Chief Inspector Charlotte Bloxham, deputy lead for North Yorkshire Police’s covid-19 response, said:

“It’s really important that we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves and through irresponsible actions, jeopardise the progress we have made and need to keep making, to enable us all to move forward.

“Until the Government indicates that it is safe to move to the next stage of the road map on March 29, the current lockdown rules and regulations will stay in place and North Yorkshire Police will continue to police them. We will take the necessary enforcement action required to protect the green shoots of recovery we are starting to see and to protect all our chances of getting out of lockdown.

“So I would ask the public to keep going. We are on the right path and we are doing the right things, but we must remain vigilant to the threat of the virus. Covid-19 has not gone away, please carry on sticking to the rules, so we can continue to move towards better times ahead.”

Police move into new Pateley Bridge station

North Yorkshire Police today officially moved out of its station in Pateley Bridge and into a new home across the road.

Officers from Harrogate outer neighbourhood policing team will now share space with Harrogate Borough Council on King Street.

North Yorkshire Police said there will be no change to its counter service at the Nidderdale Plus Hub on Station Square.

The counter service is open to the public on Mondays 10am – 6pm, Tuesdays to Fridays 10am – 4pm, and at weekends from 10am – 1pm.

According to the police, the move is expected to save £19,000 per year.

The former police building on King Street will go on the market next month, at an asking price of £142,000.

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Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, agreed to sell the former site after consulting with Lisa Winward, the chief constable, before Christmas.

North Yorkshire Police said Pateley Bridge would copy the “successful principles of co-location” that already exist in Ripon, Thirsk, Selby, Bedale and Masham.

The current Pateley Bridge police station on King Street in the town. Picture: Nidderdale AONB.

The current Pateley Bridge police station on King Street in the town. Picture: Nidderdale AONB.

Inspector Alex Langley said today the proximity of the new and old buildings would make it easy for people to adjust. He added:

“Importantly, we are also continuing to run our front counter services at the Nidderdale Plus office as before.

“Our new facilities ensure an effective, efficient and sustainable neighbourhood policing service is provided to Pateley Bridge.”

Ms Mulligan added:

“By co-locating North Yorkshire Police with Harrogate Borough Council in Pateley Bridge we will achieve value for money for the taxpayer.

“There will be no change to the access available for Nidderdale residents to our policing teams in the area.

“Selling the police station will also reduce the amount we have to spend on upkeep of a large and underused property and the proceeds will be reinvested in frontline, visible policing which I know is the priority of most people in and around Pateley Bridge and across North Yorkshire.”

Building works underway at Pateley Playhouse

Work to install a lift at Pateley Playhouse is underway as part of a £35,000 renovation project.

The theatre began a fundraising campaign in December to raise £20,000. It hopes to be eligible for grants to cover the remaining £15,000.

Donations to a crowdfunding page are now approaching £3,000 while further donations directly to the theatre have brought in £14,000.

Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society has begun the work before the appeal has finished so the renovations can be completed while the theatre is closed due to covid.

The lift will make the 1930s building fully accessible to disabled people. Currently the first floor auditorium is only accessible via two steep staircases.

So far, the bulk of work has been done on the lower level to knock down the walls separating the changing rooms and the foyer area to create the required space for the lift.

Work underway at Pateley Playhouse

Works are continuing at Pateley Playhouse.

The work is scheduled to be completed by autumn when, it is hoped, covid restrictions will be lifted in time for performances to be staged before the end of the year.

The theatre has received two large donations from West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd and the Vale of Nidd Masonic Lodge, totalling £2,500.

Jerry Anderson, charity steward for the Vale of Nidd Masonic Lodge, said:

“The lodge have supported many good local causes, as well as national charities, and the Pateley Bridge Playhouse certainly holds a special place in the hearts of many in Nidderdale.

“We are incredibly proud to make a sizeable contribution to the continuing building works.”

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The dramatic society said the theatre is a social hub for the community and hoped to have it back up and running as soon as it is allowed. Members thanked all of those who have supported the renovations so far.

Ruth Dodsworth, president of the dramatic society, said:

“The community in the dale has pulled together and we have been humbled by the efforts of so many people to make contributions in these difficult economic times. We are grateful for all donations, whatever the amount.”

New snow warning issued for Harrogate district

Residents across the district are bracing for another spell of wintry weather, with warnings in place for snow and ice in North Yorkshire until the middle of next week.

The Met Office has today issued new yellow weather warnings for snow and ice from first thing on Monday until Wednesday lunchtime.

It had already issued warnings of snow and ice from Saturday afternoon until Monday night, saying there may be disruption to travel and icy patches on pavements.

However, the Harrogate district looks set to escape the worst of the conditions, with amber warnings having been issued for the south-east of England and parts of Scotland. In North Yorkshire, snow showers are expected from Saturday evening until Monday afternoon, with the forecast currently showing significant breaks between them.

However, the weather is expected to remain cold for at least another week, with more snow forecast for the district from Thursday onwards.

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Meanwhile, Pateley Bridge Town Council has issued a reminder to residents about gritting and ploughing in the area after a number of queries were raised during bad weather over recent weeks.

Chairman Mike Holt said roads were gritted on a priority basis by North Yorkshire County Council, with tier one roads such as bus routes treated first, followed by tier two, including the B6165 from Ripley to Pateley Bridge. He said:

“Once these roads are clear the third tier is tackled. These are the minor roads and side streets that make up the remainder of the road network.

“Bearing in mind that the county has over 5000 miles of roads I do believe it is understandable that more often than not, the snow clears before they can get to tier three, or sometimes even the second tier.

“NYCC also employ local sub-contractors to plough and grit their local area. Unfortunately this costs extra money which NYCC does not have, so this facility is not used as often as it possibly should be.

“I am led to believe that the grit bins are each allocated two refills per season. Extra refills can be arranged but at a considerable cost and of course when the weather is poor, it is impossible to say when those top-ups might occur.”

If the snow causes disruption over the coming days, the Stray Ferret will provide live updates about road conditions, school closures and more. Keep checking our website and social media for the latest news.

Spate of falls at unlit corner of Pateley Bridge

An unlit corner of Pateley Bridge has become an ongoing cause of concern in the Nidderdale town.

The King Street junction at the bottom of the town’s high street has been under a cloak of darkness throughout the winter months due to a faulty street light.

Now, after a spate of falls by residents, the town’s mayor is calling for the light to be fixed.

The light shines in a popular area of town for residents. The area is also prone to flooding when the River Nidd bursts its banks.

The Stray Ferret first reported concerns about the faulty light in November when local man Roger Jefferson spoke out after hearing someone had slipped over. He said the light had been out “since summer”.

Since then it is believed two more older people have fallen and another person has been struck by a car wing mirror.

The Mayor, councillor Mike Holt, talked to a North Yorkshire County Council engineer in December about the problem.

The engineer told him the light needed to be re-wired with help from Northern Powergrid, which made the timeframe difficult to predict. But the matter remains unresolved.

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North Yorkshire County Council told the Strat Ferret the repair had been raised and would be carried out soon.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said it acted on complaints “as swiftly as possible”. She added:

“An order has been raised to replace the control box on the light before the electric company can carry out repairs.

“Our officers have been incredibly busy with their winter duties but please be assured the work will be carried out as soon as possible. We will update the public when we have a scheduled date for repair.”

Mr Jefferson and Mr Holt said they were pleased to hear repair work was in the pipeline and hoped for a speedy resolution.

‘Stop dumping waste in recycling bins’, says Pateley Bridge mayor

Pateley Bridge Town Council is urging people to stop dumping domestic rubbish in recycling bins.

Town Mayor, Councillor Mike Holt, told the Stray Ferret that Pateley’s recycling site was being used for fly-tipping, which is a criminal offence.

He said:

“I am asking everyone to help us in trying to stop this abuse so that we can retain and enjoy this facility, for which we all pay for through our rates.”

At a virtual meeting on Tuesday, the council discussed correspondence from a parishioner about the untidy state of the recycling area on Southlands, at the bottom of High Street.

It’s a complaint received by the council several times and from many different sources.

The recycling bins in Southlands are provided by Harrogate Borough Council for domestic use only (Photograph: Councillor Stanley Lumley)

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Cllr Holt said:

“Pateley Bridge retains this facility because we have some residents who do not receive the benefit of a street-side recycling collection service. The recycling facility is expensive, and Harrogate Borough Council have closed many similar centres throughout the district.

“We do not want to lose this benefit to our town, but it will happen if it continues to be abused.

“Residents can report fly tipping by calling 01423 500600, or by email to customerservices@harrogate.gov.uk. More information is available on the HBC website and I urge everyone to try and help reduce the abuse of this area in our town.”

Snow and ice warning for Harrogate district

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice in the Harrogate district next week.

Weather forecasters predict the snow and ice will hit on Monday and continue until Wednesday.

There is also a yellow warning for ice in the north of the district, covering the likes of Ripon today and tomorrow.

The snow and ice warning is in place from 9pm on Monday until 11.45pm on Wednesday.

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Forecasters have said that snow, with a risk of widespread ice, is likely to push slowly northeast from late Monday.

If the snow and ice does hit on Monday evening then expect travel delays, rural communities being cut off and power cuts.

This latest weather warning for the district comes just over a week after flooding and two weeks after heavy snow.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said this morning:

“A band of rain, locally heavy in places, is likely to push slowly northeast across Wales and England late Monday.

“As this rain comes into contact with cold air in place, it is likely to readily turn to snow across parts of Wales, the Midlands, and later parts of northern England.

“1-4 cm of snow is quite likely away from coasts, with 5-10 cm possible above about 150 metres.”