A report has laid bare the stark health inequalities that separate men and women living in different parts of the Harrogate district.
Councillors in the Harrogate borough met this week to discuss an annual health report written by North Yorkshire County Council’s director of public health, Louise Wallace.
The report draws on government public health data that breaks down average life expectancy levels by council ward boundary.
These figures show that men in Bilton Woodfield live, on average, until 74 whereas just a few miles away in Oatlands they live to 87.
Bilton Woodfield is the most deprived ward in Harrogate whereas the Oatlands ward includes some of the most expensive streets in Yorkshire, including Fulwith Mill Lane.
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Ms Wallace said there is a higher prevalence of factors such as smoking in more deprived areas and that employment types and education can contribute to the differences in life expectancy.
The data also reveals that women live to 91 in Claro, which includes villages north of Knaresborough. However, in Knaresborough Eastfield the average life expectancy for females is far lower at 78.
The average life expectancy for men in England is 79 and for women it’s 83.
Improving lifestyles
The report also said the number of higher risk drinkers in England has increased since the pandemic, with the heaviest drinkers and those in lower socioeconomic groups increasing their consumption the most.
John Mann, Conservative councillor for Pannal, asked Ms Wallace what the council is doing to help people stop drinking and drug-taking in the Harrogate district.
He said:
“I’m interested in reducing excessive drinking, I mean we all like a drink, but some people go to excess which is not good for you.
“Drinking at home or socially is a bit addictive and does affect family life and career progression and health.”
Ms Wallace said the council is currently drafting a new alcohol strategy to replace the previous document from 2014-2019.
She added:
“When people need support around alcohol we have a commissioned service with Horizons but we need to get some whole population messages out there.
“You’re absolutely right for the potential of excessive drinking and what that might mean. We’re seeing an increase in alcohol-related admissions or illnesses as a result of excessive alcohol use.”
More roadworks coming to Harrogate’s Skipton Road
More roadworks will begin on Harrogate’s Skipton Road next week.
Highways authority North Yorkshire County Council will be carrying out improvements at the junctions with Bilton Lane and Woodfield Road.
At Bilton Lane, the pedestrian island will be removed and the island at the end of King’s Road will be widened.
The left turn from Woodfield Road on to Skipton Road will change from being controlled by traffic lights to being a give way to improve traffic flow and air quality.
The lights in the traffic lights at both junctions will be replaced with more energy-efficient LED lights.
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The work will begin on Monday and is due to complete on February 27, when half-term ends. However, temporary traffic lights are not expected to be required until February 19 as the initial work will take place off road.
Lights will initially be in place at the Bilton Lane junction before moving to the King’s Road and Woodfield junctions.
The Stray Ferret asked the council how much the work will cost.
Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said:
Five arrests amid ‘sharp rise’ in Harrogate burglaries“These works are included in our annual highways maintenance budget of around £55 million, which covers planned maintenance programmes as well as responding to problems as they arise.”
Police have arrested five people, including a 12-year-old boy, in connection with a spate of burglaries in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Police revealed how officers have seen a sharp rise in burglaries in the town. The force said many of the properties targeted were insecure.
Officers believe the incidents are linked and have arrested a 12-year-old boy, two 15-year-old boys, a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman in the last four days.
Since the start of the year there have been burglaries on Butterbur Way, Hartwith Drive, Gentian Glade, Saltergate Drive, Woodfield Road, Pennywort Grove, Tewit Well Road, Kenilworth Avenue, Strawberry Dale Avenue, Carlton Road, West End Avenue, St Anthans Walks and Hutton Gate.
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Police released the above list in the hope that anyone with information or CCTV footage will come forward. Anyone who can help with the investigation should quote reference 12220008323.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:
“Before you go to bed tonight, please take a few minutes to secure doors and windows to your property, including garages, sheds and outbuildings.
“Also remove all valuables from your car or van and lock it. Move keys away from the door and windows where they can be seen and potentially accessed.
“If possible, secure your vehicles in a garage or behind a gate.”
Two people are being treated in hospital after an incident involving armed police on Woodfield Road in the Bilton area of Harrogate today.
Officers were called to Woodfield Road after being alerted to a disturbance in a council flat close to Woodfield Community Primary School before 7am.
Police put a cordon in place and a long stretch of the road was closed until a man was led away at about 10.10am.
North Yorkshire Police has now said a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of affray.
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It tweeted this afternoon:
Bilton shocked after four-hour armed police incident“A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of affray and has been taken to hospital for treatment.
“A woman was also taken to hospital with an injury to her hand.
“The cordon has now been lifted and the road has reopened.”
People in Bilton have spoken of their shock after the suburb became the scene of a four-hour armed police incident this morning.
Officers were called to Woodfield Road after being alerted to a disturbance in a council flat close to Woodfield Community Primary School.
A large stretch of the road was closed amid reports of a man behaving erratically in a first-floor window.
Crowds gathered to watch about half a dozen armed police officers, protected by a shield, stand in a garden outside the flat. An ambulance was also on hand.
Police were seen talking to the man, who was leaning out of the window.
A nearby resident on Woodfield Road, who asked not to be named, said they became aware of the commotion at about 6.30am and police arrived after it got louder. She said:
“There were loads of police. It was a worrying incident.”
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A workman in the area told the Stray Ferret he arrived in the area at 7.30am and was shocked to see about eight police vehicles and an ambulance.
“There was a guy throwing stuff from a window and shouting, and a lot of police cars moving about. It was shocking.”
A police cordon was erected as more and more people began to gather on the street to watch the drama unfold.
North Yorkshire Police issued a short statement saying a police negotiator was at the scene and the public were not thought to be at risk.
Eventually, at about 10.10am, a man was escorted by police into a van and the road reopened, bringing a tense and dramatic morning to a conclusion.
A man is led away by police on Woodfield Road.
Armed police outside the flat.
Police officer stands next to the cordon at Woodfield Road this morning.
Woodfield Road was closed by police.
Man arrested after four-hour police incident in Bilton
A man has been arrested on Woodfield Road in Bilton after reports of knives being thrown out of a window.
North Yorkshire Police, including armed officers, were been to the scene at around 6am this morning.
A cordon was put in place to allow emergency services and a negotiator to speak to the man.
Seven police vehicles were called to the street this morning and officers had to divert residents and traffic down Elm Road. The road remains closed between Elm Road and Skipton Road.
Local residents told the Stray Ferret they are “shocked” by the incident.
North Yorkshire Police has released a statement, earlier this morning, saying:
“We’re currently at the scene of an ongoing incident on Woodfield Road in Bilton. A cordon is in place to allow emergency services, including a police negotiator, to respond.
“Please avoid area until further notice, the wider public are not believed to be at risk. We will provide an update when the cordon has been lifted.”
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Bilton car park could be converted into council houses
Plans to convert a car park in Bilton into council housing have been sent back to the drawing board.
Harrogate Borough Council’s housing team wants to build the two-bed properties near Dene Park and Woodfield Road to provide what it described as “much-needed” accommodation for some of the hundreds of people on the social housing waiting list.
Planning assistant Arthama Lakhanpall told a meeting on Tuesday that 1,700 households are currently in the queue for council homes, with 316 specifically requesting two-bed properties.
He asked councillors to approve the plans but was told to take another look at the layout and designs.
Conservative councillor Nigel Simms, who represents Masham and Kirkby Malzeard, said the proposals were “just not right yet” and “completely at odds” with existing properties in the area:
“I would like to see something that represents the vernacular that surrounds it, not something that looks as if it has just been brought out of a design brief.
“This needs to go away and come back with something that reflects the local distinctiveness.”
There were also questions over why seven car parking spaces – including three disabled bays – were needed in the plans, with councillors suggesting that more or larger homes could be built.
They also said eco-friendly methods of heating, such as air source heat pumps and solar panels, should be installed instead of gas.
Conservative councillor Andrew Paraskos, who represents Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale, said:
“We could make better use of the land that is there. Whether it is more houses or bigger houses I’m not sure, but it should be sent back for reworking for a scheme that we actually need and is more fitting.”
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A report to councillors said the homes would provide a “modest addition” to the council’s housing stock and that the loss of 12 ‘underused’ car parking spaces would not have a negative impact on the area.
It said:
“The design of the dwellings would respect local distinctiveness and there would be no significant harm to local residential amenity.
“The development would provide off-street parking and additional tree planting. It is considered that the housing development would provide a more efficient use of the site.”
Councillors unanimously voted to defer a decision on the plans at Tuesday’s meeting.