Harry Gration is on the hunt for local community heroes

Do you know someone in the Harrogate district who has gone above and beyond to help others in the past 18 months?

Former BBC Look North presenter Harry Gration has teamed up with the Stray Ferret and Harrogate Spring Water to celebrate exceptional individuals in the Harrogate district and needs your nominations.

Harry said:

“For the last two years it’s been pretty miserable, but I’m very excited indeed to be looking for local heroes – the kind of person who’s been inspirational and made a big impact on many people’s lives.

“With the help of Harrogate Spring Water, we hope to find one person who is the best of the best, via a public vote.”

If you know someone who you think deserves to be recognised, you can nominate them on the Stray Ferret website here. It doesn’t have to be covid related; it could be someone who volunteers in their community, helps others through their work, or has made a big difference to another individual.

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Nominations are open now on the Stray Ferret website.

Charlotte Holmes, External Communications & Community Engagement Manager from Harrogate Spring Water which sponsors the competition, said:

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Harry Gration and the Stray Ferret to find your heroes from across the Harrogate District. In these unprecedented times we have seen so many examples of people’s kindness and support within our community and we are delighted to be working with Harry to give them the recognition they deserve.”

Six shortlisted heroes will then have the chance to talk to Harry about their lives and work on his brand new podcast series, Harry’s Heroes, which will launch on the Stray Ferret in November.

The winner will receive an unforgettable trip to a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with travel and refreshments included.

 

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning, it’s Al bringing you all the updates on the roads and rail this morning. There is heavy traffic on the A658 between Follifoot and Calcutt, following an accident earlier this morning, with the traffic building on nearby Wetherby Road.

Give me a call on 01423 276197 or get in touch on social media if you spot anything on the roads or your bus or train is delayed.

The morning blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

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The A658 is still very busy, with traffic also building past the showground on Wetherby Road.

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8:30am – Full Update 

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There are a number of areas looking busy this morning, especially around the A658.

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8am – Full Update 

Roads

Things are starting to get busier on the roads this morning.

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7:30am – Full Update 

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There is heavy traffic on Skipton Road on the approach to the roundabout with Knaresborough Road.

Traffic is also moving slowly near Follifoot, on the A658 up to the roundabout with Wetherby Road.

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7am – Full Update 

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There’s heavy traffic on the A658 from Calcutt to Follifoot due to a minor accident. Traffic is moving slowly.

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6.30am – Full Update 

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It’s still early so as you’d expect, the roads are pretty quiet. There are a few hotspots that have caused issues this week though, so do plan ahead.

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Missing Ripon teen found following urgent appeal

Missing Ripon teenager Casie Ackerley has been found following a police appeal.

North Yorkshire Police issued an appeal after Casie, 17, was not seen at home for two weeks.

A police statement said it was thought she could be in the Leeds area and enquiries were being carried out there by West Yorkshire Police as well as in North Yorkshire.

However, North Yorkshire Police said this morning that the teenager had been found in Leeds.

It said in a tweet:

“Thanks to West Yorkshire Police and everyone who supported the appeal which has now been cancelled and should be removed from websites and social media.”

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Saint Michael’s urges Harrogate district to ‘go purple’

People in the Harrogate district are being urged to ‘go purple’ next month to support Saint Michael’s Hospice.

Saint Michael’s, which is based at Harrogate’s Hornbeam Park, has adopted the idea for Hospice Care Week from October 4 to 8.

Hospice UK, the national charity representing UK hospices, organises Hospice Care Week annually to raise awareness and funds.

It has suggested dressing purple, purple-themed bake sales and purple-themed work days as possible ideas to raise money during the week.

The Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate will be lit up purple for the event. Other businesses, schools and individuals are being encouraged to join in.

Saint Michael’s, which has 11 charity shops in the Harrogate district, spends £6 million on end-of-life services each year.

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Tony Collins

Tony Collins, chief executive of Saint Michael’s, said:

“This is a great opportunity to get creative and have fun whilst raising funds to ensure Saint Michael’s can continue to help local people living with terminal illness and bereavement.

“We hope that as many people as possible take part, spread the word and raise money for their local hospice.

It is hoped Go Purple will become an annual event if successful.

Further information is available here.

Ripon sinkhole site springs back to life as green space

A tidy-up is underway at a central Ripon location where a sinkhole prevented new homes from being built.

The Stray Ferret understands the area in Allhallowgate will remain as green open space for the public to enjoy. Further details are expected shortly.

Grey hoardings around the site were taken down yesterday as part of the proposed makeover.

Harrogate Borough Council was set to build 17 homes to replace a block of flats in poor condition on Allhallowgate.

However, serious ground stability issues came to light during demolition of the existing properties and the project was scrapped in 2019.

The proposed scheme was backed with funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government but the sinkhole made the development economically unviable.

photo of the Allhallowgate site

The site, pictured in February before the tidy-up began

The area remained dormant. Hoardings were erected and an entry gateway was chained and locked.

In February, Ripon councillor Mike Chambers, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and safer communities, told the Stray Ferret:

“The area is going to be tidied up, levelled, re-seeded and greened to improve its appearance.

“It has become overgrown and the hoardings are a bit the worse for wear.”

With the removal of the hoardings, the extent of the tidy-up operation has become evident.

Bushes and overgrown foliage have been cut back and grass is starting to grow.

Photo through the hoardings

Removal of the hoardings started yesterday

Residents of the demolished block were all permanently re-housed by Harrogate Borough Council and funding has been allocated for extensive refurbishment and improvement of the remaining Allhallowgate block, which is due to start shortly.

Ripon’s gypsum issue

Ground instability problems caused by the soluble nature of gypsum have been seen in many parts of Ripon.

The Stray Ferret reported in October about the evacuation of a residential block at Bedern Court, caused by subsidence in the area.

In February 2018, a sinkhole opened up on the car park of Ripon Leisure Centre, off Dallamires Lane. A further void discovered near the leisure centre entrance a year ago is under investigation.

In 2016, a dozen homes in Magdalen’s Road were evacuated after a 66-foot wide sinkhole opened up.

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Lidl store at Ripon retail park gets go-ahead

Plans for a new Lidl supermarket at St Michael’s Retail Park in Ripon have been given the go-ahead.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee today granted approval for the store, which the German retailer said will create up to 40 jobs and occupy three units at the £10m retail park.

Lidl also said the supermarket would represent a “multi-million-pound” investment into the Rotary Way site, which opened last year and is currently only occupied by Marks and Spencer.

Speaking at a meeting today, Liberal Democrat councillor Pat Marsh said she was happy to support the development because of the hundreds of homes set to be built in the area over the coming years, including plans for 1,300 homes at Ripon Barracks.

She said:

“This huge residential development is coming so there is a requirement to make sure that there is this kind of retail in Ripon.

“And what made me comfortable with this was the analysis of whether the store would impact on the city centre itself.

“Once that assured me it wouldn’t, I was very happy to support this to give the people of Ripon a choice in their shopping.”

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The Lidl plans were submitted to the council in May following a virtual consultation with the local community earlier in the year.

Today’s approval comes after separate plans for a Lidl store at the former Lookers car dealership on Harrogate’s Knaresborough Road were approved by the council last month.

Lidl previously said this store will also create up to 40 jobs once built.

Six months to save Ripon’s Spa Baths for community use

Ripon City Council is seeking a ‘constructive partnership’ with Harrogate Borough Council as it bids to keep Spa Baths as a community facility.

City councillors voted unanimously last night to adopt a two-pronged approach in their attempts to maintain the Grade II listed building for public use.

Their bid to prevent the site being sold for private development received a major boost last week.

Harrogate Borough Council confirmed the city council’s application to have the building listed as an Asset of Community Value had been successful.

This gives the local community six months to put together a bid to buy the building.

Councillor Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, will be invited to meet with the city council at the earliest opportunity to discuss matters.

In tandem with this, consultants will be invited to submit expressions of interest for drawing up a business plan and development brief looking at options for the building, which is part of the city’s Spa Quarter.

Photo of civic society plaque on Ripon Spa Baths

The Ripon Civic Society plaque underlines Spa Bath’s historic importance.

At last night’s meeting, city council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“Harrogate Borough Council was attempting to plough on with its plan to sell Spa Baths without any proper consultation.

“However, we now need to draw a line under this and move forward in a constructive partnership with them to decide what’s best for Ripon and the future of this city, with its growing population.

“Cllr Swift has indicated his willingness to meet with us and we welcome this and hope the meeting can be arranged as soon as possible.”

The 116-year-old Edwardian spa, whose use was converted to a public swimming pool in 1936, was put up for sale for an undisclosed price by Harrogate Borough Council in February.

It was deemed ‘surplus to requirements’ with a new swimming pool scheduled to open at Camp Close, off Dallamires Lane in November.

At last night’s meeting, Councillor Pauline McHardy, said:

“It’s sensible for us to have two strings to our bow — six months can quickly pass by and we need to act now.”

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A number of potential community uses for the building have already been put forward by members of the public and Councillor Stephen Craggs, added:

“Future use of the building should take into consideration the needs of young people in the city.”

 

‘The aim is to make Ripon a more attractive destination’

Ripon has a tremendous opportunity to enhance its reputation and attract more people from this country and abroad over the next five years.

That’s the view of Ripon Business Improvement District chairman Richard Compton.

In June, Ripon businesses voted in favour of creating a BID, which aims to increase footfall in the city.

Ripon BID will have an annual budget of £160,000 over the next five years to spend on projects that encourage visitors. A BID manager is being recruited.

In the meantime, Mr Compton points to a number of positive developments already taking place, including the refurbishment of the Spa Hotel, the reopening of The Old Deanery Hotel under new operators and the imminent opening of the Claro Lounge, on a high street where voids are steadily finding new occupiers.

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Longer-term he sees even greater opportunities.

He said next year’s 1,350th anniversary of St Wilfrid’s founding of the city’s cathedral could provide a springboard to future growth.

Mr Compton, the owner of Newby Hall, whose own family roots in the area go back centuries, sees heritage, history and tradition as cornerstones to build on.

Photo of Ripon Cathedral

Ripon Cathedral celebrates its 1,350th anniversary next year.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“If our magnificent cathedral was in the Cotswolds, it would attract wide international recognition.

“Next year’s landmark anniversary gives us the opportunity to put Ripon on the national and international map.”

Improve the appearance of the city

Mr Compton said the cathedral, combined with the city’s museums, the ancient Market Square, Fountains Abbey and Newby Hall, provided a package of heritage and visitor attractions that would benefit the wider local economy.

He said:

“The aim is to promote and make Ripon more attractive as a retail and tourism destination and the BID can help in a number of ways.

“These range from improving the appearance of the city and making better use of Market Square as a public space, to enhancing car parking and lobbying for better wayfinding and signage.

“The signs are looking good and I’m feeling confident about the future.”

Ripon man left alone in bed for 12 hours a night due to care staff crisis

Acute staff shortages in the care sector are forcing a disabled Ripon man to miss meals and stay in bed for up to 12 hours a day.

Daniel Abel, 37, has cerebral palsy and requires full-time care to live independently.

Mr Abel was discharged by a private sector care provider recently due to staff shortages, which brought him under the care of North Yorkshire County Council‘s emergency reablement service.

Mr Abel said the county council told him he would be under its care for up to three weeks but almost four weeks have passed and there is still no sign of being moved to a new provider.

Under his current care plan, he has a carer for one hour in the morning, 45 minutes at lunch time and another hour at bed time. By contrast, he received four hours of care in the morning and four hours at night with his previous provider.

Because Mr Abel no longer receives care at teatime he goes without an evening meal because he is too scared he may hurt himself.

Can’t eat, drink or go to toilet

His final carer arrives at 8pm to put him to bed, where he remains for almost 12 hours unable to eat, drink or go to the toilet.

He said being in bed for this much time also contributed to skin problems. Mr Abel added:

“I am someone who wishes I didn’t need care but unfortunately I do. I feel like with my current care I can’t have a life.

“The bigger care crisis is not my problem. I have to rely on my dad, who is 60-odd, to come and change the bed at night. When I’m having to get friends and dad to come over to me it’s uncomfortable for them and for me.

“I just want care to get me up, washed and dressed and then left to get on with my life.”

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He said he has spoken with another Harrogate care provider, which said it can offer him care but it may take three more weeks because of recruitment problems.

1,000 job vacancies

Richard Webb, corporate director for health and adult services at North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“Adult social care is vitally important and we are pulling out all the stops to support the sector in every way possible during current challenges.

“On any given day across the county there are at least 1,000 jobs available. Never has the need for people to work in care been so great yet we are receiving 70% less applications for care jobs now then we were only a few months ago.

“These acute staffing shortages mean providers are handing back packages of care to us and our staff are going above and beyond to meet people’s needs.

“Reablement is a service we provide which is free of charge at the point of need and can last for up to six weeks and is aimed at supporting people to maximise their independence.

“In some circumstances our reablement service can continue to provide care at home until a new provider can be found and new care arrangements are put in place – where this happens, it becomes a charged-for service.”

 

A day to remember at Hickstead for Kirkby Malzeard schoolgirl

It took six-and-a-half hours to drive 10-year-old Tegan Ford and her pony from North Yorkshire to West Sussex for a one-minute ride, but it was well worth it.

The long journey was to Hickstead – home of the famous derby that attracts the world’s elite showjumpers – and mother, Sarah, didn’t want her daughter to miss the experience of taking part in the National Schools Equestrian Association event.

Tegan and her 18-year-old pony, called Lilly Hill Make My Day, had earned their place by winning a qualifying competition at Northallerton Equestrian Centre.

They represented Grewelthorpe Primary School in the county showjumping class over fences measuring 70-75cm.

Photo of Sarah Ford and her daughter Tegan

Tegan and her mother Sarah, with ponies Sox and Leo in the background

The event, for riders up to the age of 12, attracted 30 entries and Tegan was the only representative from the north.

She and her bright bay pony with four nimble white feet, completed a clear round over 12 fences, but her left foot slipped out of the stirrup at the sixth obstacle and the lost seconds meant they finished a very creditable fourth.

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Tegan said:

“That was really annoying, but Sox [the stable name for her pony] kept balanced and her experience meant we cleared all of the fences.

“I was so proud of her, she is a lovely horse.”

As well as the journey down to Hickstead, there was another six and a half hour drive back to Yorkshire after an overnight stay down south.

Ms Ford, who drove the hired horsebox, told the Stray Ferret:

“When I discovered that Tegan and Sox had qualified for an event at Hickstead, I wanted to ensure that she could take part.

“It’s a long way to go to see a ride of only 60 seconds, but its something we will both remember for all our lives.”

Tegan has won more than 50 rosettes since she started riding at the age of six and last year collected a prize of £100 for winning a Show Cross competition at Richmond Equestrian Centre,

She was due to take part in the same event this weekend and her bright bay Sox, looks fit and raring to go.