Starbeck Mums founder urges more parents to join in 2022

A Starbeck resident hopes to welcome more people into a community group she has set up for parents.

Elena Leeming moved to the area in May and enjoyed meeting other mums but felt there needed to be a hub for them to chat.

So she decided to set up Starbeck Mums, which has 90 members, including two dads.

While Ms Leeming is pleased with the progress she hopes to be able to double those numbers in the new year.

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Starbeck Mums is a Facebook group for mums who like chatting, making new friends and sharing information. Ms Leeming told the Stray Ferret:

“I am Russian-born and have been living in the UK with my husband for more than four years now after meeting him in Ireland.

“We found Starbeck and realised it had everything we needed like school, sports clubs, coffee shops, a train station and post office.

“But one thing it did not have was a group for mums. So far we have met up once in the park but we are hoping to organise more meetings next year.”

Still no omicron infections in Harrogate district as rate drops

There have still been no confirmed cases of the omicron covid variant, as the figure nationally reached 246 today.

There is widespread concern about the potential impact of omicron but so far most cases have been in the south of England and Scotland.

Another 96 covid infections were confirmed today in the Harrogate district.

The district’s seven-day rate has fallen slightly in recent days and now stands at 438 cases per 100,00 people. The England average is 478 and the North Yorkshire average is 404.

The district’s current covid hotspot is Starbeck, which has recorded 64 infections in the last seven days.

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Starbeck mum hoping to grow Solo Mamas support network

A single mother from Starbeck set up a Solo Mamas group seven years ago to meet other mothers who understood how difficult parenting alone can be.

Georgina Newsham felt alone and wanted to create an inclusive, supportive network of likeminded single mothers.

Since then Ms Newsham, who moved to the Harrogate district from West Yorkshire three years ago, has seen the group expand to the point where it now has 155 members in north and west Yorkshire.

The group provides advice and support as well as hosting monthly meetings and annual holidays.

Ms Newsham said:

“Being a single mother can often have a lot of negativity around it and I wanted to turn it into a positive. We started with just three of us meeting once a month at soft-play. Now there’s 155 of us.

“Everything is on you and it can be really draining so having this network has become a lifeline for a lot of us.”

Solo Mamas camping trip to Kettlewell in June this year.

Ms Newsham moved to Knaresborough three years ago but now lives in Starbeck after her relationship broke down. She said the group was “amazing” with offers of spare rooms and help to pay rent.

Following a surprise, large donation Ms Newsham was able to set up a crisis fund to help members who are struggling financially. She said she plans to apply for charitable status next year.

“There’s always someone out there that understands. The focus is for us to support each other through anything.

“Just having that network there, you can’t put it into words how it feels. It’s the difference between being completely alone and knowing you have someone.”

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Ms Newsham runs the group in her spare time alongside working as an adult social worker and an end-of-life doula.

As well as meet-ups and holidays, the group also has a private Facebook group for mums and organises regular workshops. Ms Newsham recently held a workshop with a solicitor to discuss writing a will and advance planning after one member took her own life.

Looking ahead, she wants to grow the membership, organise more meet-ups and maybe even hold a small wellbeing festival.

“I’m really hopeful that going into next year we can build our membership and start being there for more mums and their kids.”

Plans submitted to demolish burned-out Starbeck building

An application has been submitted to demolish the former McColl’s building on Starbeck High Street.

A fire ripped through the supermarket in July 2018, but more than three years later, the Victorian-era building is still a burned-out shell with much of its roof missing.

In recent months discussions have taken place between owner Bates & Hemingborough and Harrogate Borough Council over the future of the building. Planning officers have focused on whether the existing building, which is not listed, can be retained and refurbished.

However, the owner is moving forward with plans to demolish it ahead of a full planning application that will include new retail and housing units.

The application to demolish the building has been submitted to HBC under Permitted Development rules, which allows the demolition of a building if it is a safety risk or uninhabitable.

Liberal Democrat Starbeck councillor Philip Broadbank welcomed the proposal. He said:

“I’m glad the application has gone in. I’m hoping the developer will put an exhibition of their plans in St Andrew’s Church so people can see what they want to do. They need to get on with it.”

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Starbeck railway signaller carries on centuries old tradition

Network Rail signaller Ian Roberton is carrying on a Starbeck tradition that dates back to when Queen Victoria was on the throne.

The railway first came to Starbeck in 1848 and its signal box plays a crucial role in the safe and efficient running of each train on the York to Leeds via Harrogate line.

Signalling is a complex traffic light system for the railway. The levers at Starbeck operate a mix of mechanical and electrical colour light signals which tell the train driver when it’s safe to proceed and what route their train will take.

Mr Roberton communicates with neighbouring boxes at Harrogate and Knaresborough to make sure trains remain a safe distance apart.

He also controls the barriers that stop cars from crossing whilst trains leave and enter the station.

The signaller uses a wide array of mechanical levers to communicate.

A traditional signal box

The Starbeck box is as traditional as a signal box can come. Mr Roberton pulls cast-iron levers that connect through a cable to the track.

With as many as nine trains passing through the station each hour, he’s busier than you might think.

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Mr Roberton, who is 40, began working for Network Rail at Starbeck in February this year after working in aviation. He is one of three signallers that work in the box and he works a combination of mornings and afternoons.

He was surprised at how complex and technical the job is.

“I had a wake-up call. You’re marrying technology that’s 100 years’ old with newer innovations.”

Whilst the Starbeck crossing can be the bane of motorists who are hurrying up and down Knaresborough Road, Mr Roberton emphasised its importance in keeping people safe.

He said he’s seen a few frustrated car drivers beep their horns at him but “it’s part of the job.”

Emergency situation

There was a recent emergency when a tree had fallen on the track towards York.

Mr Roberton was forced to stop the whole line until the tree was safely removed. He said seeing a situation to a safe conclusion is one of the most satisfying parts of the job.

“It emphasised whilst efficiency is important, safety is absolutely critical. It’s not just corporate spiel, safety is the number one mantra for Network Rail.”

The signaller’s view of Starbeck.

Being a signaller might be a dream job for a trainspotter, but Mr Roberton said he enjoys the technical aspect of it most of all.

“My dad used to work for the railways. He has a train set at home! And there are some diehards with a traditional veiwpoint about the railway.

“Most people either love trains or think they are always late. The truth is the railway has been the backbone of our country for two centuries.”

Despite technology replacing the need for some signal boxes, Mr Roberton believes there will always be a need for a signaller at the Starbeck crossing to think quickly in times of emergency.

Meet the Starbeck thrill-seeker, 86, who loves to fly Spitfires

Starbeck thrill-seeker Roy Slim, 86, says flying 4,000 feet in the sky in World War Two Spitfires makes him feel young again.

The fearless octogenarian fulfilled a lifetime ambition to fly one of the planes for the first time well into his 80s and hopes to go again in early 2022. Spitfires were used by the RAF throughout the war, most famously in the Battle of Britain against the Luftwaffe.

Mr Slim has lived in Harrogate for over 60 years after working as a radio engineer at RAF Dishforth in the 1950s. However, his love of the Spitfire was forged as a boy, as he was brought up a stone’s throw from where they were built at Castle Bromwich in the Midlands.

He said:

“I used to dream that one day I’ll fly one of those things.”

When he flew the Spitfire, he had full control of the plane and even performed barrel rolls. He followed the same route pilots took during the war down the English Channel and over the white cliffs of Dover.

Roy Slim in the sky.

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Mr Slim said he has a deep respect for the brave men who flew the planes during the war.

“I am thinking, somebody has sat in this seat coming back from France having shot down a German plane, and I’m sitting in that seat!”

He said the experience is “tremendous”.

“I felt like my lifetime ambition was coming true.”

Mr Slim turned 86 today and has no intention of slowing down. As well as Spitfires, he’s learned to fly helicopters, Tiger Moths and performed skydives — all after he turned 80.

All Harrogate trains delayed due to fallen tree

Update: National Rail staff have now cleared the tree but there are still some delays on all Harrogate lines this afternoon.

All trains in the Harrogate area are facing delays and cancellations this afternoon after a tree fell in the Starbeck area.

National Rail said it first received reports of an incident at around 2.15pm and expects the disruption to continue until at least 4pm.

Staff from National Rail are on their way to remove the tree but it is unclear how easy the process will be at this time.

Those travelling between Leeds and York will be able to find another route through Micklefield but others may need to wait for road replacement services.

Rail replacement buses are in operation between Harrogate and York:

This is a breaking news story. We will update this page when we get more information. Have you been affected? Send an email to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate council fines landlords more than £100,000 over safety issues

Harrogate Borough Council revealed today that it has fined seven landlords a total of £109,000 since 2018 for failing to comply with private sector housing requirements.

The council said in a press release it most recently took action against landlord Mr Jamshid Jalali-Ghazaani, who failed to comply with an improvement notice on his property on the High Street in Starbeck.

According to the release, the council found several hazards including excess cold, structural issues and kitchen safety issues. He was fined £25,000.

Mr Jalali-Ghazaani appealed the penalty in September but a property tribunal dismissed it.

The council said it had successfully defended every appeal made by private landlords, including a fine of £15,000 for Stephen Archer’s Providence Terrace property, a fine of £13,500 for Andrew Norman’s Dragon Road property and Kingspark Limited’s £15,000 fine for its property on Electric Avenue.

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In addition, the council has also issued financial penalties totalling £40,589 against landlords of other properties did not appeal the penalty.

The release was published days after the council was criticised by residents for not taking firmer action against to prevent trouble at the privately-let 38 Mayfield Grove, Harrogate, which has been the subject of 255 police reports since 2008.

Trevor Watson, Harrogate Borough Council’s director of economy, environment and housing, said:

“While there are no doubt many landlords who provide excellent residential accommodation, there will sadly always be those who put the financial gain ahead of the safety of their tenants.

“This is an important reminder for landlords that as the housing authority we have the powers, and where necessary, will use them to protect tenants and residents. And hopefully encourage landlords to improve housing standards in the private rental sector.”

Starbeck residents raise anti-social behaviour concerns

Starbeck residents have raised concerns about the level of anti-social behaviour, particularly around the level crossing.

Local councillors and community leaders have received reports of various activities, ranging from late night gatherings to illegal parking.

They are keen for North Yorkshire Police to send more officers to patrol the area to combat the issue.

However, Cllr Tim Myatt, the Conservative representative for High Harrogate, urged anyone with concerns to report them to the police so officers are aware of the scale of the problem. He said:

“Cllr Nigel Middlemass and I are aware of residents’ concerns and we would encourage residents to contact the local police team to log incidents.

“We would like to see an increased police presence in the area to deter unwelcome activity.

“So we encourage residents to report any concerns to the police on the 101 number or via the police website.”

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Charlotte Barker, vice-chair of the Starbeck Residents’ Association, said:

“The Starbeck Residents’ Association recognises that local people are rightly concerned about anti-social behaviour in our area.

“That’s why we have shared residents’ concerns with relevant local organisations and are regularly in touch with the police about these issues on behalf of local people.”

Andrew Hart, who owns the Red Box Post Office on Starbeck High Street, added:

“Policing is a major issue as the local team clock-off at 7pm and are rarely seen during the day. Starbeck continues to be used as a dumping ground.

“Left alone, the homeless hostel residents would be fine but they are not left alone. Improved policing in other parts of the region now means that Starbeck is seen as a soft touch.

“We need some action.”

Starbeck and Bilton post offices raise almost £2,000 for local boy

The Red Box post offices in Starbeck and Bilton have raised £1,980 for a five-year-old Harrogate boy with an incurable blood condition.

Archie Flintoft has Diamond-Blackfan anemia, which means his bone marrow doesn’t create the red blood cells he needs to survive.

Only 1,000 people worldwide have the condition and Archie needs to go to Leeds General Infirmary for blood transfusions every three weeks just to stay alive. He also has to travel to London for a special check-up two or three times a year.

Two years ago mum Vicky set up a Facebook group called Archie’s Army, where followers can keep up with what Archie’s doing and support fundraising projects that pay for his specialist care. But since covid it’s been difficult to raise money.

The Red Box launched an appeal for funds this year and visitors to the two post offices have donated £760, which was matched by The Red Box. Post Office Ltd also donated £200.

Andrew Hart, who owns The Red Box, said:

“Archie is a bright and vibrant child who, when feeling well, does not let life get him down. He is a huge fan of super heroes, and would love to become one when he grows up! To those who know and love him, he already is.”

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The Red Box has now started a grand Christmas raffle in conjunction with Doors Direct, which hopes to raise a further £5,000 for Archie. First prize is a 50” Smart TV.

Tickets are available from tomorrow at both post offices and online.