A £35,000 fundraising campaign is underway to install a lift for people with disabilities at the Pateley Playhouse.

Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society, which is based at the theatre, is coordinating efforts to raise the sum.

The society said it is eligible for a £15,000 grant and hopes to raise the additional £20,000 via a crowdfunding page.

Renovating the historic 1930s Playhouse will be a complex project but the society has said the character of the building will remain intact.

Currently the first floor auditorium is only accessible via two steep staircases and a lift is required to comply with building regulations regarding disabled access.

The lower floor, which includes the bar, foyer and actors’ changing rooms will be re-arranged to accommodate the lift. Depending on funding, work is scheduled to start early 2021.

The Playhouse can seat up to 73 spectators but is currently closed due to the pandemic.

Read more:

• Pateley Bridge pubs are remaining closed despite very few covid cases. 
• Image gallery of Pateley Bridge lit up for Christmas.

The society said it hoped that undertaking renovations during this period of covid-enforced closure would enable it to hit the ground running when it reopens next year.

Eileen Burgess, one of the founding members of The Playhouse in 1968, said:

“The Playhouse is such an important part of the community in Nidderdale and these renovations will make it even more inclusive for all members of the public.

“I can think of no better time to make these upgrades in the current circumstances and I hope the public will be enthused to pull together and raise the funds needed to start the process as soon as possible.”

To support the fundraising effort, click here.

The Harrogate district is set to end the second lockdown with a far lower rate of covid than when it started.

Government figures today reveal the district has an average seven-day rate of infection of 92 people per 100,000, compared with 277 people per 100,000 on November 5.

This means the rate has fallen by about two-thirds since lockdown began.

The England average is currently 154 and the North Yorkshire average is 107.

The R number has fallen from a peak of 1.6 last month to 0.6 today. This means every 10 people with covid will infect another six.

Public Health England recorded another 18 positive test results today, which is well below the 95 on November 9.

Read more:

• All 285 year 11 pupils at Harrogate Grammar sent home due to covid
• Pateley Bridge: no covid cases for 10 days but pubs stay shut

There were no further deaths reported today at either Harrogate District Hospital or in the district’s care homes.

Killinghall and Hampsthwaite remains the district’s covid hotspot, with 26 infections in the last seven days.

The next highest is Ouseburn, Hammerton and Tockwith with 18.

Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley, Masham, Kirkby Malzeard and North Stainley and Ripon North and West have not recorded a single new infection for at least seven days.

According to government statistics, there has not been a single new covid infection for at least 10 days in Pateley Bridge and nearby Nidd Valley.

Yet it seems many pubs in the Nidderdale town, which were hoping for a pre-Christmas boost after a dire year, are set to stay shut on Wednesday when lockdown ends.

Dan Elliot, general manager of the Royal Oak, sums up the frustration:

“Unless we go into tier 1 we will stay shut.

“The rules don’t suit small businesses like us. It seems they are making it viable for big chain pubs but the rules absolutely don’t work for your little country pub like us.”

The Royal Oak, which has four staff, serves meals so could open. But social distancing guidelines make it pointless, says Mr Elliot.

“There’s no way whatsoever to make it profitable.

“We’ve always had a good food trade but it’s more of a drinkers’ pub. For a pub that relies predominantly on locals and drinkers you have no hope.

“Unless you have space for loads of tables, or try and cheat the rules by doing cheap substantial meals, it’s just not viable.”

Read more:

• Just 23 covid infections today as R number falls to 0.8
• Pateley Bridge maintains Christingle tradition for charity

The pub, which spent £300 putting up plastic screens in the bar and also erected sheltering to encourage customers to go outdoors, is a key part of the community.

Takeaway meals served at weekends during lockdown have been a lifeline to many older people.

It plans to continue selling weekend takeaways as well as providing £8 oven-ready Christmas Day meals.

But nobody knows when it will welcome locals, cyclists and walkers back through its doors — and this isn’t easy to accept in a place where there has not been a single new infection for almost two weeks. Mr Elliot says:

“We’ve done test and trace and we have not had any cases yet. I believe only one pub or restaurant in Pateley has had a case and it shut straight away and did a deep clean.

“It does feel a little bit like the blanket restrictions just don’t seem to fit pubs like us.”

Mr Elliot says he isn’t aware of any Pateley pubs that are re-opening.

“Covid had already taken all the enjoyment out of running a pub because we spend more time telling customers off for doing wrong things rather than asking how their day is. Now it’s taken the profitability out of it.

“Eat Out to Help Out was really good but since then it’s just slowly dwindled.

“If we go to tier 1 we could be OK because we could have up to six people at a table so we could have 36 people inside and 36 outside.

“We are expecting a bit of a backlash for not opening when we could but I don’t think people realise it isn’t financially viable.”

The Stray Ferret asked Julian Smith, whose Skipton and Ripon constituency includes Pateley Bridge, what his message was for small businesses struggling in tier two and whether he supported the government approach. He had not replied by time of publication.

A young artist from Pateley Bridge has used lockdown to find new inspiration in the outdoors much closer to home .. his garden.

James Owen Thomas, who has autism, uses disused materials such as scratchcards and ring pulls to create art with a message.

He likes to express emotion in his pieces, whether it is through the beauty of the outdoors or the importance of recycling.

After finishing a two-year art course at the Bradford School of Art, James is now studying a business and computer course in Harrogate. He hopes his new skills will allow him to improve his art blog and use his social media for business use.

James uses household objects such as scratch cards to create art.

During lockdown, James wasn’t able to travel far to find his inspiration and found himself looking out of his window more often. He said:

“Looking out of my window at home at our cherry tree I knew that it would soon be in blossom as spring was on its way. I decided to create a collage involving the tree with materials I already had at home that could be recycled.

“I feel that the covid situation has led to more people appreciating nature whether in gardens, parks or the countryside.”

Read more:

• Nidderdale artist says lockdown has given her a new outlook on the nature around her. 
• An artist from Pateley Bridge has produced artwork for the Tour de Yorkshire.

His cherry tree in blossom project is part of a collaboration with Caudwell Children, a charity that helps disabled children.

James wanted to give back to the charity that helped him when he was first diagnosed with autism, aged three.

Art and pictures have played an important part in his life and more-so during this time of isolation. He added:

“As a small child I liked nothing more than being taken to art galleries. I also enjoyed collecting litter in parks and playgrounds and disposing of it correctly. Perhaps this is how my interest in recycling and collage art started.

“My artwork is also therapeutic and I include everything important to me in my ideas for collage – nature, places I have visited and special occasions.”

Another example of James’ work.

He says he will continue showing in a different light items that other people throw away.

“What I am proving is that art isn’t what it’s made from, but what it has become.  My art is making a positive statement about recycling.”

“People have said it’s amazing how something as disposable as scratchcards can be turned into such beautiful works of art.”

To visit James’ website, click here.

The R number has fallen below one in the Harrogate district for the first time since the second wave of the pandemic took off.

The number has fallen to 0.9 — anything below one means the spread of the virus is declining.

Infection rates have fallen dramatically in the second half of November and are now lower than they were at the start of lockdown.

Public Health England confirmed another 36 infections in the district today.

However, leading public health figures suggested at a media briefing today of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, a partnership of agencies that tackles emergencies, the county could be put in tier two or even tier three tomorrow.

However, the national government will decide.

Such a move would devastate many pubs that do not serve substantial meals, as they would be unable to open.

Read more:

• King James’s School spending £7,000 a week on covid
• Will falling covid rate save Harrogate district from tier 2?

Today’s briefing also revealed Harrogate District Hospital currently has 31 covid patients, which is four more than last week.

North Yorkshire as a whole has 272 covid patients. There were 302 at the peak of the first wave of the pandemic in spring.

No deaths were reported at Harrogate District Hospital today. However, there were four in the previous three days, bringing the total to 98.

A total of 54 care homes in the county currently have covid outbreaks.

Pupil attendance in schools is 87 per cent.

Central Harrogate has had the most positive cases in the Harrogate district in the last seven days, with 23.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley has had none.

The Harrogate district’s hopes of being in the lowest tier of restrictions when lockdown ends in 10 days time received a boost today when just 28 covid infections were reported.

The figure, from Public Health England, is the lowest since the 26 positive cases on October 18.

Infections soared after then and were well above the national average this month until a considerable recent slowdown.

Just 31 were reported yesterday.

The R number, which refers to the virus’ reproduction rate, was 1.6 a fortnight ago but is now down to 1.1.

The seven-day rolling average rate of positive cases has declined significantly from over 300 to 190.

Read more:

• Covid forces Harrogate and Knaresborough libraries to close
• Harrogate district covid rate falls below England average

In more good news today, no hospital deaths were reported.

North Yorkshire was in the lowest tier of restrictions pre-lockdown and the recent trend has raised hopes it may be classified the same when the government announces new measures later this week.

Boroughbridge and Marton-cum-Grafton has become the district’s current covid hotspot, with 29 infections in the last seven day — one more than Killinghall and Hampsthwaite.

Pateley Bridge and Nidd Valley has recorded the fewest positive test results in the last seven days, with just seven.

The search is on to find the best lit house in the Harrogate district this Christmas! With the help of Yorkshire Lighting and Electrical Services, the Stray Ferret is looking for those who’ve gone that extra mile to make Christmas 2020 more magical than ever.

The competition will launch on Facebook on Monday 23 November, and anyone can nominate themselves or a neighbour.

Glen Molloy from Yorkshire Lighting said:

“I’m delighted to be working alongside the Stray Ferret to try and bring some Christmas cheer in these hard times. It’s been a difficult year for everybody, and I’m hoping this will bring some joy to those neighbourhoods that get involved. I’m really looking forward to seeing all the hard work that goes into lighting up so many houses for Christmas 2020.”

Aside from the pride of the title of ‘Best Christmas Lights in the Harrogate District’, the winner will receive a £150 voucher from Harrogate company Lights4Fun – so they can go even further next year!

Simon Norton, Marketing and Customer Experience Director at Lights4fun said:

“This year more than ever before, the home is at the heart of Christmas. There are many ways in which lighting has lifted our spirits, from outdoor displays that brighten the evenings of those passing by to placing candles in windows in support of key workers. As a Harrogate business we are proud to partner with the Stray Ferret in their search for the best dressed Christmas house. We truly care about our community and are always so proud to support our local causes and businesses.”

Read More:

• Harrogate district lit up in Christmas lights displays
• IMAGE GALLERY: Pateley Bridge is lit up for Christmas

A busy junction in Pateley Bridge has been in darkness “since summer” after a delay in the repairs to nearby street lights.

Roger Jefferson, a local Pateley Bridge resident, reported his concerns to North Yorkshire County Council twice last month.

After hearing about an incident of someone slipping into the road and then slipping on a plastic bag himself, due to a lack of visibility, he felt he had to report the poor lighting.

But he wasn’t given a repair date by the county council. Now, the county council has said the repairs will be made as early as next week.

The area currently left unlit is at the King Street junction at the bottom of the town’s high street.

Mr Jefferson was concerned as daylight hours decreased it could be dangerous.

He said:

“It’s just nonsense, these basic amenities need to be maintained so hopefully it will be sorted soon. I work early mornings and it’s not easy to walk on the roads in the dark – it could be dangerous.

“There are people walking to the high street now it’s not as busy with cars especially the elderly people in the town and we don’t want any of them getting injured by tripping or slipping on something they couldn’t see.”

The town’s Christmas lights were put up this weekend adding some light to the area without working street lights.

The town’s Christmas lights were installed recently and Mr Jefferson said these had aided visibility but was still insistent the lamps need repairing.

The lighting attached to buildings on the high street is owned by Harrogate Borough Council and maintained by North Yorkshire County Council.

Read more:

• Image gallery: Pateley Bridge lights up for Christmas.
• Pateley Bridge artist creates artwork to celebrate the Tour de Yorkshire.

The Stray Ferret contacted the North Yorkshire County Council, it said the repairs would be done by early next week.

Melisa Burnham, Highways Area Manager, said:

“The light on the Bengal Cuisine was reported on October 22, and attended by our Street Lighting contractor on October 26 who concluded that it needs to be replaced. An order has been raised for a new, energy efficient, heritage style LED lantern to be installed and this work is scheduled for early next week.”

Mr Jefferson was pleased to hear the lighting would be replaced next week.

A Pateley Bridge artist has created six images of Yorkshire in collaboration with the organisers of the Tour de Yorkshire.

Claire Baxter’s images celebrate scenic views the riders have passed since the annual event began in 2015.

Ms Baxter, the official Tour de Yorkshire artist , said she wanted to capture the diversity of Yorkshire and the excitement of the race.

Her images have been released despite last week’s announcement that the Tour de Yorkshire has been postponed to 2022 due to covid.

The collection is called Tour Baht’at, which refers to the folk song Ilkley Moor Baht’at.

Ms Baxter, who works mainly with oils at her Pateley gallery, said:

“I was excited and honoured to be announced as the official artist for the Tour de Yorkshire 2020 and despite the difficulties we have faced this year and postponement of the race itself, I am so pleased to finally release the six images I have painted.

“To get inspiration I spent several days driving along different sections of the route which brought home to me how lucky I am to live in God’s Own County and how gruelling the Tour de Yorkshire is for the riders. I am thrilled with the end result.”

Read more:

• Three hamper, including donations from Pateley Bridge businesses, are going on sale to support the Mayor’s appeal.
• A new gallery in Harrogate is hoping to put the town “on the map” for art. 

According to Welcome to Yorkshire, the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire generated £98 million for the local economy.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive James Mason said:

“We had no choice but to postpone this year’s Tour de Yorkshire but we’re delighted to have Claire’s incredible artwork as a reminder of how fantastic this race is and how it showcases the county in a spectacular way.

“There has never been a more important time to support independent artists and businesses, whilst celebrating the arts and sport.”

To look at the art in more detail click here.

Remembrance Day was commemorated differently this year because of covid but residents across the Harrogate district still paid their respects to those who lost their lives in battle.

Although annual services and parades were unable to go ahead, people held two-minute silences at home and some paid their respects at war memorials.

In Harrogate …

After a two-minute silence and the playing of the Last Post by a single bugler, pupils and a small number of staff from Ashville College laid wreaths at the school’s on-site war memorial.

The rest of the college participated in the annual commemoration from their classrooms.

Upper sixth pupils and joint heads of school Niamh Boyle (left) and Massimiliano Ernesto Nobile (right) with year 6 pupil Taylor Henderson (centre).

Local people congregated at the Harrogate war memorial at 11am yesterday for the two-minute silence.

On Sunday members of the Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club gathered at Stonefall Cemetary. A small service was led by Rev. David Hoskins.

Photograph: Guy Wilson.

Rotarian Manuel Camacho laying a wreath. Photograph: Guy Wilson.

In Ripon …

On Sunday, the Ripon branch of the Royal British Legion and standard bearers representing the Royal Navy, Royal Engineers and Royal Air Force, stood at the war memorial in Spa Gardens.

Local MP Julian Smith and the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, laid wreaths in the mist.

Yesterday, about 40 people gathered at social distance outside Ripon Cathedral at 11am to observe the two-minute silence. Prayers after the silence were led by the Dean of Ripon, The Very Revd John Dobson.

In Pateley Bridge …

The chair of Nidderdale Chamber of Trade, Tim Ledbetter, laid a wreath on behalf of the chamber.

Elsewhere …

At the North Yorkshire County Council’s offices in Northallerton, Cllr Jim Clark laid a wreath.