Missing dog Molly: new poster released on two-month anniversary

The owners of missing dog Molly have released a new poster today on the two-month anniversary of her disappearance.

Molly, a white bichon frise, was spooked by another dog and ran away in Nidd Gorge on June 23.

Her disappearance sparked a huge search involving search parties, drones and thermal imaging cameras.

A Facebook group devoted to finding Molly has 2,600 members.

Emily Watson, who lives in Starbeck, continues to oversee the hunt on behalf of her devastated family.

But so far the mystery remains unsolved.

The family hopes the poster will keep the search fresh in people’s minds. Emily said:

“We are now at the point where we have to hope for sightings, hope for good news.

Hundreds of people have given their time for free to help the Watsons. Emily said:

“I don’t know how I can ever repay everybody enough. The support we have had has been overwhelming.”

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Stray Views: Starbeck should support KFC expansion

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Starbeck should support KFC expansion

Thank you for your recent coverage of the KFC expansion. I’m saddened by the responses of Starbeck residents to the expansion of a successful business, and the demonisation of the industry as a whole.

Starbeck has rightly or wrongly become a refuge for the care system, the homeless, and people needing supported and sheltered accommodation. These people don’t have the incomes to support lovely deli’s and independent retail units that some residents loudly protest we should have. The businesses in Starbeck need to survive in a tough local environment. However, they can use the strategic location between Harrogate and Knaresborough to reach a massive local market and we should support them in doing so.

Empty shops bring disasters like McColl’s burnt out shell and feed a vicious cycle of crime and poverty. On an evening, our high street is a hive of activity and there is a real hustle and bustle thanks to our takeaways and food outlets. We should be leaning into this to create a real foodie destination to bring more jobs and improve Starbeck’s reputation.

Any one of us could take over these empty shops and start a business. If they believe there is a genuine demand for smaller retail shops, then I would challenge them to put their money where their mouth is.

William Powell, Starbeck

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Stonefall Cemetery deserves more care

Stonefall Cemetery has traditionally been kept beautifully and was always cared for. However it seems this year the grass cutting is rough, careless and damaging. 

I have noted now that the last five cuts have been made with heavy machines which aren’t really suitable for delicate areas. The cut grass is being left and is now preventing new growth, leaving the plots looking awful. I’m sure the council realises this is a graveyard and not a roadside verge. Our families deserve more care and respect.

I contacted Stonefall and they were sorry to hear my complaint but told me that the council had changed the garden team before Christmas.

I also frequent Harrogate Valley Gardens in Harrogate, which is beautifully cared for. Shouldn’t we provide the same care for our dearly departed?

Mark Anthony Taylor, Harrogate

Gateway correspondence response

In response to last week’s Stray Views letter regarding Station Gateway being “long overdue”, I note that the correspondent lives in Knaresborough.

Gillian Long, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

County council home care service in Starbeck ‘requires improvement’

A home care service provided by North Yorkshire County Council in Harrogate has been rated as ‘requires improvement’ by the industry regulator.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found Harrogate Home Support only met the standards for a ‘good’ rating in one of the five areas of judgement during its inspection in June.

The report, published this month, said the service – based at NYCC’s premises at 68a High Street – did not always give people enough choice over their lives and that record-keeping was not always thorough enough.

The report said:

“We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

“Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

“The service was not able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

“Records were not always up to date and decisions made on behalf of people under the Mental Health Act 2005 were inconsistently applied or reviewed to ensure they continued to be the least restrictive option and in the persons [sic] best interest.

“The registered manager was responsive to our feedback and acted immediately. Associated health professionals were contacted to review all outstanding decision making and review records to ensure they included up to date person centred information.”

The report said staff followed infection control procedures with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). It said they also issued medication safely, which was acknowledged by service users and their families.

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However, the assessments of whether the service was well-led, effective, responsive and safe all concluded it ‘requires improvement’. The report highlighted areas of concern such as:

“Information including risk assessments had not been completed to keep people and staff safe when navigating in and around people’s homes.

“An incident was recorded where staff had been attacked by a domestic animal owned by a person in receipt of a service. There was no evidence to demonstrate the actions taken to ensure everyone was aware of the risks and to keep others safe as part of lessons learnt.”

Inspectors found service users were encouraged in their hobbies and supported to take part in activities relating to these.

They were also given help to keep in touch with friends and family, such as learning to use video calling.

The service supports 15 people, of whom 11 receive care which is regulated by the CQC, and employs 32 staff.

‘Very happy’

Assessing whether the service was caring, the CQC report rated this area ‘good’ and said:

“People and their relatives told us they were actively involved in the planning of their care and were supported to express their views.

“One person said, “I have a care plan and I had a review a few weeks back. I was very happy. Everything went smoothly so I feel very happy.'”

The CQC said it had highlighted the areas of concern to North Yorkshire County Council and requested a report back about the action to be taken.

Those areas will then be checked by the CQC to ensure progress has been made.

Cllr Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for health and adult services, said:

“We accept the findings of the Care Quality Commission inspection and although we are disappointed with the performance of Harrogate Home Support in some areas we are pleased the service was recognised as caring.

“Work has already started to address issues raised in the report and we believe those measures will help Harrogate Home Support receive a good CQC rating in future.

“In addition, we have also been in contact with families to make them aware of the outcome of this inspection and to invite any questions or concerns they may have about relatives in the care of Harrogate Home Support.”

Starbeck Tennis Club holds fun day

Starbeck Tennis Club is staging a fun day this weekend to celebrate its 65th anniversary.

A vintage tennis tournament, live music, barbecue and bouncy castle are among the planned activities.

The club, which has three all-weather artificial grass courts on Bogs Lane, offers competitive match tennis in the Harrogate and York tennis leagues as well as friendly tennis.

Founded in 1957, it currently has about 100 members.

Club secretary Abbé Steele said:

“We are a really social club and often get around 20 members on our weekly mix-in nights where anyone can come along of all standards and play.

“We are in desperate need of a clubhouse face lift so the money raised on the day will be going towards this.”

Everyone is welcome to attend Sunday’s event, which lasts from noon until 5pm and includes a tournament using vintage tennis rackets.

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Starbeck groups call truce and promise to work ‘positively together’

Two rival community groups in Starbeck have called a truce and are promising to work together.

Starbeck Residents Association, chaired by Chris Watt, was formed in the 1990s and awards grants and campaigns to safeguard local facilities in Starbeck.

Starbeck Community Group was launched by Starbeck Post Office owner Andrew Hart in 2020 and has been involved in several local campaigns including painting a giant Ukraine flag on the former McColl’s supermarket building.

But the group’s two leaders have history — there was public acrimony when Mr Watt was appointed chair last year at the residents association’s annual general meeting.

In May this year, Mr Hart then said it was “an insult to the community” that Labour Party member Mr Watt was standing for a political party in local elections and called on him to step down from his role as chair.

There have also been unpleasant comments on social media.

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Mr Watt, alongside SRA secretary Geoff Foxhall, met Mr Hart and SCG member Lucky Hubbard over the weekend and they agreed to put their differences aside and work together.

Mr Watt and Mr Hart issued a joint statement that said “public attacks and criticism of other local groups only create division and foster a negative impression of Starbeck”.

The statement said:

“Starbeck is a wonderful area, where we are proud to live and work. The Starbeck Residents’ Association and Starbeck Community Group have been working hard, in our respective ways, to support the area. We complement the many other groups and organisations who put so much into Starbeck and we are proud to support them as well.

“For the good of our area, it is important that we work together. Public attacks and criticism of other local groups only create division and foster a negative impression of Starbeck among people who live here and are considering moving to or investing in our area. It also discourages people from contributing their time and energy into local groups and organisations.

“For the good of Starbeck, we are promising to work constructively and positively together.”

Ripon man jailed for arranging to meet underage girls for sex

A Ripon man has been jailed for arranging to meet underage girls for sex and carrying a knife.

Mark David, 32, was sentenced at York Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to both offences.

David admitted carrying a lock knife in High Street, Starbeck, on December 15, 2019, which was the same day he had arranged to meet a 14-year-old girl for sexual purposes.

Prior to his guilty plea to the knife offence, David had already admitted two counts of attempted sexual communication with two girls under 16 years of age.

Those offences occurred in Harrogate between November 25 and December 16, 2019. The communication was via Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger.

David, of North Street, Ripon, also admitted the offence of arranging to meet an under-age girl for sex in Harrogate.

He was sentenced to 43 months in prison, placed on the sex offenders’ register and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £181.

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Starbeck KFC withdraws expansion plan

KFC has withdrawn plans to expand its premises in Starbeck.

Under proposals submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, the fast-food chain planned to take over and convert the former Age UK shop next door to create more space for seating.

An area for 14 seats would have been created and a new disabled and unisex toilet installed.

The conversion of the unit would also have seen a new main entrance built.

While the current KFC is mainly used as a takeaway, the fast-food chain said the plan would help it function as a restaurant.

Pegasus Group, which submitted the plans on behalf of KFC to the council, said in planning documents:

“The proposal seeks to utilise it as a seating area directly associated with the existing KFC premises next door. The existing KFC is a Sui Generis takeaway use.

“The proposal will allow for a seating area to be introduced meaning that the existing KFC could operate more as a restaurant.”

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Now, the fast-food chain has withdrawn the plan. No reason has been given in planning documents for the decision.

In a letter to the council, local resident Peter Walker said the High Street already had enough takeaways.

He said:

“Starbeck High Street has more than enough takeaways at this time. Expanding the current provision detracts further from the character of the area, increases the risks due to vermin and drives away other businesses who would suffer further from queues of delivery drivers. 

“We already have rubbish dumped in the area by customers of this business. The number of occasions I have had to clear away half eaten chicken from this shop is growing. 

“The waste attracts rats and we are seeing more of those in the area this summer. Chicken bones are a health risk to dogs and I have to exercise vigilance just to take my dog for a walk.”

The Stray Ferret has approached KFC for comment, but has not received a response by the time of publication.

Harrogate man charged with strangling and ABH

A Harrogate man has appeared in court charged with intentionally strangling a woman and causing her actual bodily harm.

Gavin McClure, 53, of Avenue Grove, Starbeck, is alleged to have assaulted the female on Saturday night.

He was also charged with threatening to kill the woman, who was named in court.

Mr McClure appeared at York Magistrates Court on Monday, when the case was adjourned for trial by jury at York Crown Court on August 30.

Mr McClure, who did not enter a plea to the charges, was denied bail and remanded in custody.

He did, however, plead guilty to a further charge of possession of cannabis at Harrogate police station on Sunday.

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Starbeck KFC submits plans to expand

KFC in Starbeck has tabled plans to expand its premises to offer more seating.

Under proposals submitted to Harrogate Borough Council, the fast-food chain would take over and convert the former Age UK shop next door to create more space for seating.

An area for 14 seats would be created and a new disabled and unisex toilet installed.

The conversion of the unit would also see a new main entrance built.

The current KFC is mainly used as a takeaway.

In documents submitted to the council, development consultants Pegasus Group, which has lodged the plan on behalf of KFC, said the proposal would mean the takeaway could operate as a restaurant.

It said:

“The proposal seeks to utilise it as a seating area directly associated with the existing KFC premises next door. The existing KFC is a Sui Generis takeaway use.

“The proposal will allow for a seating area to be introduced meaning that the existing KFC could operate more as a restaurant.”

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The proposal becomes the latest fast-food plan for Starbeck High Street.

A proposal to convert a former laundrette in the area was submitted to the council earlier this month.

The premises at 47 High Street had been a launderette since the 1980s before being used as an off licence and a clothes shop in recent years.

A new application by owner Mark Leicester could see it changed to a takeaway.

Do you recognise any of these Harrogate cricketers from 1922?

A newly discovered photo of a Harrogate cricket team from 100 years ago has sparked a quest to identify the players.

Eric Wainwright was clearing out his late elder brother’s house in Starbeck when he found a picture of the first ever winners of the Addison Cup.

The Addison Cup, which is contested by the top 16 teams in the Harrogate and District Amateur Evening Cricket League, is one of the oldest cricket competitions in the world, dating back to 1922.

The 100th final will be contested between Knaresborough and Burnt Yates at 6.15pm on Monday night at Follifoot Cricket Club.

The inaugural winners, seen here displaying the trophy, were a Harrogate team known as The Gas Company.

Mr Wainwright’s father William is the tall man in the middle of the back row.

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Keen to find out the names of the others players, Mr Wainwright contacted Peter Horsman, secretary and treasurer of the league, for help.

Mr Horsman has now asked if Stray Ferret readers can identify any of the men.

He added:

“Eric and myself would be very interested in hearing from anybody who has any old memorabilia associated with the Harrogate evening league and the associated cup competitions.

“Pictures, league handbooks before 1980, individual winner’s medal etc.”

Who will succeed Harrogate?

The winners of the cup on Monday night will be presented the trophy by the grandchildren of Harry Addison, who donated the trophy in 1922.

Harrogate Cricket Club wins Addison Cup 2021

Harrogate Cricket Club, after winning last year’s Addison Cup.

Mr Horsman has invited Mr Wainwright, who lives in York, to the final to present the runners-up trophy.

Harrogate Cricket Club beat Wetherby Carr Manor by 32 runs in last year’s final.

Burnt Yates defeated Harrogate in the quarter-finals this year.

If you have information about the photo you can call Mr Horsman on 07798 582792 or email him at peter_horsman@hotmail.co.uk.