Parking restrictions have been introduced across the Harrogate district, with signs suggesting they could be applied for more than four months.

James Street, Commercial Street and parts of Albert Street in Harrogate town centre have been roped off, along with parking bays on Knaresborough High Street. Pateley Bridge’s High Street and Ripon’s High Skellgate and Westgate have been reduced in width to a single lane.

North Yorkshire County Council’s signs say the restrictions are designed to enable social distancing and are in place until the end of September. However, the authority confirmed on Twitter the parking bays will be closed this weekend, with monitoring in place to determine how effective the measures are.

While shops, cafes, bars and restaurants are not currently allowed to open, the government has said the restrictions could be eased in the coming weeks. NYCC has not confirmed whether the weekend’s restrictions will be extended, though the signs suggest they could be in place until the end of September.

The notices on James Street suggest restrictions could be in place until the end of September

Richard Flinton, chief executive of NYCC, said in a message to residents:

“We are doing our best to limit crowds in those places where lack of space is particularly concerning such as Whitby, Filey, Scarborough and Harrogate.

“We are closing a number of streets, shutting certain car parks and suspending parking in a number of areas. We will also have highways crews looking out for any issues of concern over the weekend and ready to take the action open to us, to respond.”

If restrictions on town centre parking remain in place after shops are allowed to re-open, they are likely to cause concern for businesses already affected by declining footfall before lockdown began. Independent Harrogate, which represents small businesses in the town, has been campaigning for free parking to encourage more shoppers to visit and bolster the local economy.

Environmental campaigners argue the quiet roads and increase in cycling and walking over recent weeks should be part of the Harrogate district’s plans for the future. Zero Carbon Harrogate has said now is the ideal time to improve infrastructure for low-carbon transport and encourage people to choose options other than cars.

More visitors were seen in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens today

Visitor attractions

Fears had been raised that, over the first weekend since changes to lockdown advice from the government, crowds could descend on town centres and attractions, making it very difficult for people to keep their distance.

Harrogate’s Valley Gardens today appeared much busier than it has been over recent weeks, with no parking restrictions nearby. Organisations including Yorkshire Water and the Yorkshire Dales National Park issued advice against travelling to potentially busy places.

Mr Flinton added:

“We hope this is reassuring, but you all have a part to play in this, too. Of course, enjoy the outdoors; there is no finer place than our county in my, perhaps biased, view.

“But, please, access open countryside rather than paths, narrow lanes or town and village centres. If you can do so close to your home all the better, and be prepared to change your mind if where you are heading looks busy. Protect yourselves and your family by avoiding crowds and encourage anyone you know who is thinking of coming – to wait until we can offer them a real North Yorkshire welcome in the future.”

What are your experiences of the new restrictions and social distancing across the Harrogate district this weekend? Email us with your views.

A man from Pateley Bridge who has suffered for seven years with kidney cancer survived coronavirus in time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe day.

Roger Jefferson, 64, a retired police constable in the town, tested positive for covid-19 in April after coming down with a persistent cough and a tight chest.

In 2013, Mr Jefferson was diagnosed with cancer after a tumour was found on his left kidney and later in his lungs.

Since February, he’s been on two sets of medicines, Ipilumab and Nivolumab, aiming to reduce the cancer.

Roger Jefferson pictured with his wife, Hilary, outside their home in Pateley Bridge on VE Day.

But it was in early April after being furloughed from his part-time job when he started to shake, cough, feel constantly tired and had no taste or smell.

“It took me three stops to get up the stairs,” said Mr Jefferson. “I felt absolutely dreadful and had a cough that you would not believe.”

At first, Mr Jefferson thought it was the cancer treatment. But he later tested positive for coronavirus in Leeds and was told to recover at home. He said:

“One of the main things is that you can’t lie down, because you cough. I spent three weeks in a chair sleeping. It was horrendous.”

Meanwhile, Mr Jefferson lost 18 pounds in 10 days while suffering with the virus.

“I was not eating and not wanting to eat,” he said. “It was very debilitating.”

After six weeks of recovery, Mr Jefferson was given the all clear last week from COVID-19. Despite still having a mild cough and a husky voice, he feels he is one of the lucky ones.

When asked if he was scared when he was tested positive, Mr Jefferson said there was no fear:

“When you’re a cancer patient, the fear goes. There’s an acceptance of the inevitable but a determination to carry on.”

Now, he’s trying to get his strength back and walked five miles as part of his recovery on Friday morning. After lockdown, he’s looking forward to being able to get out in his Autograss car and start racing again.

“It’s frustrating,” said Mr Jefferson. “I just want to play with my toys.”

Streets across the borough have turned red, white and blue today, as people celebrate VE day.

The Stray Ferret has been speaking to residents across the district about what VE day means for them and their families.

As lockdown continues many people have spent time turning their gardens into a colourful tribute to war veterans who liberated Europe from Nazism 75 years ago today.

‘Nobody in Nidderdale or the Washburn Valley should go unnoticed’ – that’s the mission for the army of 600 volunteers, who are helping self-isolated people whose homes are located in far-flung rural communities within the two valleys.

In geographical terms, the neighbouring valleys take up almost half the land area of the Harrogate district, but the population is around 12,000 and the number of households approximately 6,000 – highlighting the logistical challenge that volunteers face in ensuring that nobody is missed out.

The coloured areas are in Nidderdale and the Washburn Valley and are divided into 13 areas where the volunteer networks are operating.

The response to the coronavirus crisis is being co-ordinated by the Nidderdale Plus Community Hub in Pateley Bridge, which is providing the umbrella organisation, advice and support, to 13 volunteer networks, whose volunteers are working on a daily basis to deliver food, prescriptions and other vital items to people who are self-isolated in their homes.

Helen Flynn, who co-chairs Nidderdale Plus, with Paula Newson-Smith, told The Stray Ferret:

“We have a very wide area to cover, but are determined to ensure that nobody in Nidderdale or the Washburn Valley should go unnoticed, or be out of reach of the help that the volunteers are providing.”

Working with parish councils, churches, GP practices, the Pateley Bridge Pharmacy, local shops, pubs that are providing takeaway services and the teachers from Bewerley Park Centre for Outdoor Education, Nidderdale Plus has established links with trusted organisations, who themselves marshal the volunteer activities in their own area.

Mrs Flynn (pictured above, outside the Nidderdale Plus Community Hub) pointed out:

“Our aim is to make the home delivery service as local as possible, with zones served by volunteers that typically include no more than 20 homes. This, as well as encouraging the use of local shops and a prescription delivery service that reduces the number of people going to their GP practice, is designed to limit social contact and help people to keep safe.”

Nidderdale Plus is providing the  volunteer networks with a crucial single point of reference on issues ranging from safeguarding policies to ensuring the safety of the volunteers who make the deliveries – which now include library books as well as food, medicines and pet supplies.

The huge team effort across Nidderdale and the Washburn Valley is being carefully coordinated to keep coronavirus at bay and Mrs Flynn expressed a collective wish when she said:

“We don’t want to see blue lights in our area.”

Churches across the district held virtual Easter Sunday services this morning to ensure that the key day in the Christian calendar could still be shared by parishioners and other viewers, in their own homes.

Ripon cathedral has been streaming services daily. Over the last month, 10,000 people have tuned in to the youtube broadcasts.

The Dean of Ripon, The Very Reverend John Dobson, held a live youtube broadcast this morning so people could still connect on this special day. He told the Stray Ferret:

“The wonderful thing is that we are finding daily more people are joining us in this time of need. I think there is little doubt that we will continue to stream services regularly when we are worshipping once again in the cathedral.

On this festal day, I wish everyone in the Harrogate district a very happy Easter at a time when we certainly need the hope that the resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us.”

Ripon Cathedral

Reverend Darryl Christopher Hall, Vicar at The United Parish of Upper Nidderdale pre-recorded their Easter day communion from Gillfield Lead Mines, Greenhow. He told the Stray Ferret.

“In these unusual times we find ourselves connected but dispersed. We live in the cathedral of Gods creation and while churches are closed we are so lucky to have these landmarks to conduct our services.”

The service was posted on The United Parish of Upper Nidderdale Facebook page and on youtube so people were able to watch the service this morning.

Reverend Darryl Hall also rang the church bells at St Cuthbert’s Church, Pateley Bridge at 10:30 am this morning. The service was then broadcast on a loudspeaker so people in the village could come out into their gardens to listen.

Revd Darryl Hall, Service from Gillfield Mines, Greenhow.