Harrogate district covid rates fall by two-thirds during lockdown

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.

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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.

 

Cannabis driver disqualified after skidding into skid risk sign

A drug driver who skidded into a skid risk road sign has been handed a year-long driving ban.

Harry Franklin Waudby, 20, of Wetherby, lost control of his car and crashed in front of a police vehicle in Tockwith in June.

The officers just happened to be passing when they saw the crash and stopped to help.

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Nobody was seriously hurt in the incident but Waudby tested positive for cannabis.

At a hearing at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to drug driving .

As well as the 12 month driving disqualification, the magistrates fined Waudby £233 and told him to pay £85 in court costs.

Speaking after the sentencing, traffic constable Michael Rowan said:

“As traffic officers we frequently deal with drug drivers and it’s an incredibly selfish and dangerous offence. Anyone who does it is a hazard to themselves as well as innocent road users, and we endeavour to catch as many as possible.”

Blow for Tockwith as firework display cancelled

Firework displays will be in short supply this year after social distancing regulations prevented many of them from going ahead. 

This comes as a double blow for Tockwith and District Agricultural Society, which organises the event.

The annual agricultural show was cancelled in August, and this is the second year in a row the fireworks display has not gone ahead, thanks to poor weather conditions in 2019. 

Norman Waller, who represents Marston Moor on Harrogate Borough Council, said: 

“Unfortunately because of safety issues and our inability to organise refreshments or catering, there will be no bonfire and firework display. Obviously we are devastated, as in normal times it is a key fundraiser to help with cash flow for the staging of the show.

This combined with the cancellation of other fundraising events this year [means] we forecast that potentially we have lost income in the region of £8,000.” 

Meanwhile, the annual Harrogate Charity Stray Bonfire has already postponed its 50th anniversary bonfire until 2021. Now many other organisers in the district are following suit. 

The Stray Ferret spoke to groups that have previously organised an annual fireworks display, and nine organisers have confirmed that due to coronavirus they have cancelled this year’s display. We could not find any which were still expecting to go ahead.

Among the firework displays to be cancelled are those at Bilton Cricket Club, Lightwater Valley, Scotton Cricket Club and Stockeld Park. 

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Community groups to carry out speed checks in district villages

Community groups will be out in Hampsthwaite, Scotton and Tockwith tomorrow to check for speeding motorists.

The groups will be supported by North Yorkshire Police, using equipment to monitor speeds and pass information to officers.

The county-wide initiative could result in drivers being prosecuted based on the information supplied by the community groups. Jamie Smith, of North Yorkshire Police’s Traffic Bureau, said:

“Speeds of 60mph-plus through 30mph communities are unbelievably irresponsible, and clearly highlight that we need to continue doing everything we can to prevent them.

“If a child was to run into the road or a vehicle was to unexpectedly pull out of junction, the outcome would be unthinkable.

“Like us, residents are all too aware of these dangers and are fed up of motorists tearing through their communities and putting lives at risk.

“Community Speed Watch group do a very important job and we’re extremely grateful to everyone who gives up their time to support this valued work. We bring together police resources, tactics and teams along side these groups to pack a real punch against speeding and other dangerous road use.”

At the same time, officers from North Yorkshire Police will be on key routes through the county to check for unroadworthy vehicles. They will also be looking for other hazards, such as driving while using a mobile or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not wearing a seatbelt, tailgating, and uninsured vehicles.

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Fears over Tockwith explosives facility

Residents in Tockwith have said they are worried about the safety of an explosives storage facility that will be built in the village.

Explosives firm Brexco were granted planning permission for a storage site at the former Tockwith Airfield last year.

Six metal storage buildings will be built to house explosives and detonators for use in mines and quarries. The facility can hold up to 85 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which is the chemical blamed for the blast in Lebanon this week.

The initial application faced fierce opposition from residents, with more than 600 people signing a petition objecting to the plans.

Former Green Party parliamentary candidate and Tockwith resident Arnold Warneken told the Stray Ferret that businesses and residents fears were heightened after witnessing the explosion on TV.

He said:

“The community is very concerned about what might happen once it’s built.”

The Beirut explosion this week involved 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate – a much larger quantity than the amount planned for Tockwith. There have been allegations of criminal negligence in Lebanon around how safely the chemical was stored.

Brexco told the Stray Ferret that it follows strict UK government regulations for the handling of ammonium nitrate to ensure the safety and security of the chemical.

A Brexco spokesperson said:

“The Health & Safety Executive are the UK statutory regulator and as such provide detailed information regarding general duties imposed on employers by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 with regard to the safe storage and handling of ammonium nitrate.

“This is the point of reference for manufacturers, blenders, ports and harbours, importers, warehouse keepers and farmers.

“FIAS (Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme) has been developed to assist industry manage the safety, security and traceability of all fertilisers.

“The scheme is supported by the British Government and requires companies to demonstrate that they comply fully with all relevant EU & GB legislation, security, traceability, and product safety.”

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Councillors back plans for 64 homes in Tockwith

Councillors have given the green light for 64 homes to be built at Church Farm in Tockwith, despite passionate pleas from objectors.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee met this afternoon via Zoom and voted by seven to four for the application to be deferred to the chief planner for approval, subject to a Section 106 agreement and an ecology report.

The development was brought before the planning committee in January but was deferred after concerns were raised around the density of housing. Since then, York-based developer Mulgrave Developments reduced the number of homes from 68 to 64.

Cllr Norman Waller, ward member for Marston Moor, said the strength of feeling against the development from Tockwith residents was so strong that to approve it would “show local democracy at its worst”.

The site is allocated within HBC’s Local Plan for 53 homes and Cllr Waller said the extra 11 homes were a “stab in the back” to the local community.

He also criticised the design of the homes, suggesting the development could become the “slums of tomorrow”.

He said:

“The design is totally bog-standard, unimaginative and doesn’t represent housing styles in Tockwith conservation area.”

Another objector, Mr Pozman, pleaded with councillors to reject the application, saying it “rides roughshod over the principle of conservation.”

He said:

“The development would obliterate the landscape setting of our village. Please don’t let the developers destroy the character of Tockwith forever.”

Mark Blaine, speaking on behalf of the developer, said the updated plans are “more spacious and have reduced density”. He also said the houses are built to the “highest standard of materials and design”.

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Cllr Pat Marsh asked why no energy statement had been submitted as part of the application. She said she was “very unhappy” with the way the council is currently dealing with environmental and sustainability issues surrounding housing.

In response, Mr Blane confirmed that no energy statement was submitted as there was no requirement to do so.

Nicholas Turpin, planning officer at HBC, added that until the council has a supplementary planning document in place regarding greener housing, it doesn’t have the ability to refuse an application on that basis.

A Section 106 agreement includes what the developer will pay towards local infrastructure such as roads or schools.