Council tax: How much is your precept and what is it spent on?Review into Masham’s Long Course Weekend launchedHousing demand survey launched for Masham residentsExpected numbers for Masham sports tourism event revealedRevamped Masham play area to open today

A Masham play area will reopen today following a refurb.

Westholme Court play area, near Leyburn Road, underwent the makeover after the previous equipment was found to be unfit for purpose.

Councillor Flo Grainger, who has overseen the project on behalf of Masham Parish Council, told the Stray Ferret the play area was left “unequipped” after the developer of a nearby housing estate “claimed bankruptcy in the face of providing the play equipment”.

The parish council applied for the Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund, provided by Derbyshire Environmental Trust, to breathe new life into the playground.

Cllr Grainger said the trust’s response was “very positive” and the council secured a £33,995 grant.

Councillors then handed a £3,782 contract to Streetscape, a Selby-based outdoor play equipment firm, to revamp the Westholme Court play area.

The refurb took nine days to complete, Cllr Grainger added.

The new playground includes two animal-themed springers, a roundabout, a large play fort, a seesaw and a new swing-set suitable for toddlers and children.

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Masham Parish Council agrees to plans for up to 60 homes

Masham parish councillors have said they have no objections to plans to build up to 60 homes on Foxholme Lane.

The application would involve the demolition of existing buildings on the site and the construction of houses, small commercial units and a public green space.

Developers Stonebridge Homes have yet to be granted planning approval from Harrogate Borough Council. But Masham Parish Council’s agreement gives the scheme a boost.

The site between The Oaks and W E Jameson & Son would include various sized houses.

Minutes to the latest Masham Parish Council meeting said councillors had no objections to the application and voted in favour.

The plans will now go before Harrogate Borough Council.

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Woman speaks of ‘life-changing injuries’ after Masham cow attack

A woman has spoken about being left with “life-changing injuries” after she was attacked by a herd of cows in Masham.

Janicke Tvedt had to be air-lifted to hospital for emergency surgery after the ordeal, which occurred when she was walking her dog on a footpath off Foxholme Lane in July.

As Ms Tvedt, her partner and dog headed to leave the field they were approached by a herd of around 30 cows and two calves.

A lone cow with two calves attacked the dog, which was on a lead, and as the couple attempted to escape the field three cows blocked their exit and trapped them against a hedge. Cows with calves sometimes instinctively attack dogs.

After sniffing them for some time, the cows attacked the dog, which pulled Ms Tvedke to the ground. A cow then stamped on her abdomen, chest and throat before another fell onto her leg and rolled on top of her.

Her partner managed to get her up and to a tree where they were surrounded for about 20 minutes until the cows left them alone. They were then able to leave the field and Ms Tvedt was put in the recovery position by her partner whilst the police, ambulance and air ambulance came to her aid.

She was left with seven broken ribs, other ribs partially fractured and a broken thumb. The trampling also destroyed part of her colon and after two days of sedation she had a colostomy bag fitted.

Ms Tvedt spoke of her “traumatising” experience:

“I know I’m very lucky to still be here. It’s had a huge impact on my life, I’m now having to take time to come to terms with what’s happened to me and how it’s changed my life.”

Hoof prints of chest

Nearly six months on from the ordeal, Ms Tvedt is waiting for her colostomy bag to be removed, which is likely to be in March next year. She still has two large hoof prints on her chest.

She is also waiting for two hernias to be removed from her chest and to be given the go-ahead from an ear, nose and throat specialist to return to singing in her local choir.

Ms Tvedt has been attending regular counselling since the attack and says she is very wary of where she walks her dog now.

She had been due to go into surgery for cancer a few days prior to the incident but it was delayed.

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Ms Tvedt’s ordeal was discussed at a recent Masham Parish Council meeting where a police community support officer Alison Swan said officers were hearing of more cow attacks, especially among tourists, and more warning signs were required.

The parish council heard that the farmer of the field had put up additional warning signs since the incident but these had been pulled down. The farmer had requested to have the path re-routed to the adjacent arable field but this had been refused.

Cllr Atkinson recommended the parish council write to the county council in support of moving the footpath to try to add weight to the application.

The council added it would speak to the farmer again to try and find way to prevent a similar incident happening again, for instance by putting up sturdier signs.

The incident is set to be included in the TV series Helicopter ER next year.

Masham council explores measures to prevent traveller camps

Masham Parish Council has said it is exploring measures to stop travellers camping on the town’s village green.

Travellers have pitched up on the green, alongside The Avenue, for many years but after a group arrived last month the council has said it is time to explore tougher measures.

Currently there is a height barrier at the entrance and an industrial lock.

However, when the travellers arrived before Appleby Horse Fair last month the lock was cut off, allowing access to the patch of land. They stayed for about 10 days.

According to the council, litter and human excrement was left behind and a lifebelt, kept on the river bank for emergencies, had been thrown into the River Ure. It was found in the water by fire crews with the rope cut.

Masham Parish Council said discussion were underway to see what could be done, with CCTV cameras among the options being discussed.

Cllr Ian Johnson said:

“It happens each year but this is the first time they’ve cut the lock. It’s an industrial one so it won’t have been easy to remove. We are looking into what we can do ahead of next year.”

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The council will now spend about £100 on a new rope for the lifebelt and look into replacing a missing picnic bench.

The area, known to locals as Shooting Holme, is often used for picnics and exercise.

Increase in day trippers means good business for Masham

The car park at Masham was full yesterday as the town saw an increase in walkers and day trippers as people were allowed to travel afield for a day out.

Market stall holders said business picked up this week and they are expecting it to get much busier still after April 12th when camp sites and caravan parks can re-open.

Masham’s car park filled up

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Raymond Worsdale who runs a food stall told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s been very busy today -we’ve done alright. People are starting to get going after their injections.”

Alison Hope who owns No12 Greengrocer said the support from local people has been fantastic and trade was starting to pick up:

“We’re looking forward to having more stalls after the 12th April. It’s Easter weekend and people are feeling a bit more confident to come out. We have been really lucky”

The Sunday Times recently included the market town in its annual Best Places to Live guide.

Masham was one of nine runners-up behind Ilkley in the north-east of England category. No other town or city in the Harrogate district was selected.

 

 

Masham councillor awarded for ‘raising a smile’ at town market

A Masham town councillor has been given an award for his efforts to keep the town’s market going during the pandemic.

Cllr Ian Johnson is a well-known resident of Masham and has been volunteering at the town’s two weekly markets to make sure they run smoothly during lockdown.

Most locals will also recognise Cllr Johnson’s alter ego Miss Yvette Nightingale who often attends the Saturday market to “raise a smile”.

Cllr Johnson said he was happy to step in after Masham’s long-running market superintendent, Mr John Todd, 87, was forced to self-isolate.

He has been in charge of arranging the layout of the market, providing PPE and dealing with all the stall holders and collecting rents during the three lockdowns.

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His hard work has been commended by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) with a Friends of the Market award.

Cllr Johnson said:

“It was all a bit of surprise, it was the council clerk that put my name forward. It was very nice but it’s more of an achievement of the town, our stallholders kept going and our residents supported them.”

The award was given to Cllr Johnson during a virtual ceremony alongside a dozen other winners.

The NABMA market heroes awards were to recognise the service that markets and their workers have offered despite the challenges of the pandemic.