‘Impossible’ to enforce facemasks in Harrogate shops, says police federation

North Yorkshire’s Police (NYP) Federation has said that officers cannot force people to wear face coverings in shops.

The prime minister warned people yesterday that they could be fined up to £100 for failing to wear a covering or facemask from July 24.

Shopkeepers saw a visible increase in people wearing facemasks today following on from the announcement but worry that some may refuse.

If that happens it seems there may be problems with who will enforce the rules.

The Stray Ferret spoke to the local police federation and shopkeepers who said they will not be able to force people to wear face coverings.

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Rob Bowles, chair of the NYP Federation, said:

“I think it would be incredibly difficult for officers to police this. It is just impossible and impratical. North Yorkshire Police do not have the resources to make people wear face coverings in shops. When the lockdown fines came in place there was a lack of clarity back then. It just created tensions.”

Graham Jack, one of the owners at menswear shop G23, said:

“I can’t see it being an issue. If people come in the shop they will have to wear a face mask and if they don’t have one we will provide one. It will put some people off shopping, I am sure it will.”

Gavin Longreach, the manager at jewellers Hugh Rice, said:

“It’s interesting that it’s not for retail employees to enforce these measures. I don’t know why someone would come into the shop without a facemask when it’s there to protect you. We have lots of measures in place here to protect our customers and I think it gives them confidence.”

Clare Nelson, manager at menswear shop Porters, added:

“I would feel uncomfortable telling customers to wear a facecovering. If a big group of lads were to walk in without them I don’t think I would be able to tell them to wear one. It might put people off coming into the shop. I don’t think we would be able to enforce this.”

Bishop’s blessing for new Ripon M&S store

The Bishop of Ripon, The Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, has given her blessing to the new M&S Food store opening in Ripon tomorrow morning.

Dr Hartley, who joined the Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin for a preview visit, said a prayer of blessing as members of M&S staff gathered at a safe distance with their heads bowed.

The preview was arranged because tomorrow’s planned opening ceremony, due to be carried out by Cllr Parkin, had to be called off because of the coronavirus crisis – which itself saw the original April 29 opening rescheduled.

Cllr Parkin told The Stray Ferret:

“This is a fabulous development for Ripon and a vote of confidence in our city at this difficult time for the retail sector. It gives us hope and brings us very welcome new jobs.”

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The Mayor of Ripon and the Bishop of Ripon with M&S Food manager Paul Nicholl

Paul Nicoll, centre, showed Mayor Eamon Parkin and Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley around the new Ripon store

Before he showed them around the store, which is part of the £10 million St Michael’s Retail Park development, manager Paul Nicoll said almost 60 jobs had been created and 90% of the workforce has been recruited from the Ripon area.

As the Bishop and Mayor looked around, they saw a hive of activity among staff putting the finishing touches to the filling of shelves where thousands of items are already in place.

Mr Nicoll added:

“We’ve gauged from what we’ve seen on social media that local people have been looking forward to us opening.”

M&S is returning to the city years after it closed a small shop unit in The Arcade. It joins a line-up of supermarkets in the city including Aldi, Booths, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s, while Lidl has recently announced that it is also looking for a suitable site in Ripon.

Lack of Harrogate toilets could force shoppers to ‘go behind a bush’

A Harrogate retailer has criticised the number of open public toilets in the town since shops reopened on Monday, saying shoppers could be forced “to go behind a bush”.

Bob Kennedy, who owns G23 and Porters in Harrogate, said his stores have had several customers this week who have travelled from outside Harrogate and cannot find anywhere to go when they need the toilet.

Harrogate Borough Council reopened its Valley Gardens and Library Gardens toilets on June 13. However, the toilets at Victoria Shopping Centre, which are not owned by the council, are currently closed until further notice.

Currently, the nearest public toilet to the town centre is Library Gardens, which Mr Kennedy said is ‘not good enough’ as it’s too far away for shoppers.

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With toilets in cafes and restaurants still unavailable, he suggested it could force people into some uncomfortable situations.

Mr Kennedy said:

“How can you say to people, ‘come to shop in Harrogate, but you better not drink anything because if you want to go to the loo you’re absolutely knackered unless you want to go behind a bush?’

“What about people who have small children? Where will they go? They’ll go up a back alley.”

Mr Kennedy, who was the chairman of the Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) until March when he resigned, also criticised Harrogate Borough Council and the BID for not providing alternatives to shoppers such as portaloos.

Harrogate BID declined to make a comment.

A spokesperson for the Victoria Shopping Centre told the Stray Ferret that its toilets will not reopen until they believe it is safe to do so.

They said:

“Initially when we open and until we are happy our plans around social distancing are working, we don’t intend to open the public toilets. It is important that we get a feel for how busy the shopping centre and town are before further reviewing. We are reviewing our risk assessments on a continuous basis and due to the narrow entrances to the toilets, we have concluded that for the time being, the public toilets will not be open.

“Our primary concern is opening the centre in a safe way and also considering the welfare of both customers, tenants and staff at all times.”

WATCH: Shoppers feel like “we’ve been let out of prison”

Today, non-essential shops pulled up their shutters for the first time since lockdown began.

By mid-day, Harrogate town centre was filled with shoppers, many saying they were grateful to see the return of ‘some sort of normality.’

Queuing lanes have been erected outside stores to ensure customers are kept several metres apart, and customers are being asked to use the hand sanitisers provided when entering and leaving each shop.

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One shopper told the Stray Ferret:

I feel like I have been let out of prison, although I have never been in prison, it’s just absolutely lovely to be back. I have been shopping online but nothing compares to being able to see what your buying.

But not everyone feels the need to return to the shops just yet, one woman said:

 I feel no desire to go into the shops just yet, I possibly think it’s too soon, another couple of weeks then maybe.

It will be a welcome relief to those whose jobs and livelihoods rely on the retail sector as they look to start rebuilding their businesses once again.

 

 

 

Which shops across the district are opening next week?

As shops prepare to open their doors for the first time in three months, The Stray Ferret has created a list of those ready to welcome customers across the Harrogate district from Monday.

Those with an asterisk have either altered their normal opening hours or are opening later on in the week. Please visit individual shop websites for more details.

Harrogate Borough Council said it is prioritising the opening of public toilets for shoppers in the busiest areas, but a definitive list is not yet available.

Do you know of any more shops reopening? If so, email details to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate: 

Bek’s Electrical

Bijouled

Boho Chic

Bridal Rogue Gallery

Card Factory

Crown Jewellers*

Elegant era*

Furnish & Fettle

Georgie’s

G23

HMV

Hotel Chocolat

Imagined Things

India Mahon Jewellery

Inger & Rae

iStore

Lynx Menswear*

Morgan Clare

Number One Travel

Pandora*

Paper Chase

Porters Menswear

Primark

Rocca Fashion

Shine

Sophie Likes

Tiger Fifty 7

TK Maxx

Victoria Shopping Centre

27 West Park

Knaresborough: 

Chris Holmes Antiques

Country 2 Western*

Dragonfly Cards and Gifts

Harriets Ladies Clothing

Knaresborough Book Shop

Knitting pretty

Little Darlings Toys

Ruebury Flowers*

Sheer Bliss

Shoes@Knaresborough

Stomp

Wild Orchid

Ye Olde Chymist Shoppe

ZigZag Cards

Boroughbridge:

Issima

K.M & G Farrer

La tienda

K.M & G Farrer

Waltons Mill Shop

Ripon: 

Antiques & Collectables*

Hopscotch

Karma Clothing & Gift Shop

Kirkgate House

Memorable Moments

Oasis Florists

Ripon Bookshop*

Rosie and Clover*

The Original Factory Shop

Upstairs Downstairs

Wrens*

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