The annual August Bank Holiday funfair on the Stray in Harrogate, which dates back to 1953, will not take place this weekend following a row over fees.
The family that stages the event told the Stray Ferret the event would not go ahead because Harrogate Borough Council had hiked the charge for using Stray land.
Ruby Wilson, who has taken over organising the fair on behalf of her dad John Jameson, said the council had doubled the price from £5,000 to £10,000.
With additional costs on top, including VAT and a £2,000 deposit in case the Stray is damaged, Ms Wilson said the event was no longer viable.
Mr Jameson was at the first fair when the Corrigan family ran it. The Shaw family later took it on before the Jameson family stepped up. He told the Stray Ferret:
“The council did not provide any reason for such a big price hike. We just cannot afford to pay that, the fair does not make that much money.
“Our family has strong connections with Harrogate so it is sad for us to not be able to put the fun fair on. We will try again next year.
“Over the years we have been forced to give up the number of days we use the Stray and now we are facing a big price hike. It just does not feel fair.”
But the council disputed the claims. A spokesman said:
Birdwatcher chuffed to spot ‘very rare’ white bird in Harrogate“The council have not had any contact from the organisers concerning the funfair since April this year, meaning it is now too late for them to submit an event plan for the coming weekend.
“If they contact us directly we are more than happy to discuss arrangements for future years”.
An amateur birdwatcher has spotted what he believes is a rare white bird on the Stray in Harrogate.
David Johnson was walking with his dog and children when the bird caught his eye yesterday afternoon near Kwik Fit.
At first he thought it was a scrap of paper or a pigeon but was very happy to find something a little less common.
He thought that it could be white jackdaw but after asking a few questions he now believes that it could be a leucistic crow.
When Mr Johnson posted picture on a local Facebook group, one person replied to say there was a leucistic crow on the Stray around a decade ago nicknamed ‘Snowy’.
Birds with leucism are similar to those with albinism but they will have normally coloured eyes, legs, feet and bills.
Mr Johnson told the Stray Ferret that he was chuffed:
Vandals seriously damage Stray cherry trees again“I posted something on a Facebook group. A few people came back to me with some information. They said it could be a leucistic crow.
“It it nice to see, it is really unusual. I walk around the Oval and Stray most days and I have not seen it before.
“The kids seem interested but maybe they weren’t as keen as me. I am really chuffed, we were lucky to spot it and Harrogate is lucky to have it.
“I have been telling lots of people, I am sure I have already bored my neighbours with it! It’s certainly the rarest bird I have ever seen.”
Eight cherry trees on the Stray has been vandalised over the weekend.
Some of the trees line the footpath known as Cherry Tree Walk, opposite the Kwik Fit garage, where branches have been deliberately broken or snapped off.
Vandalism to the trees has become a persistent problem with regular incidents over the past year.
In October last year, local police officer, Sgt Paul Cording tweeted about a number of trees “destroyed and killed” on York Place Stray.
Last summer there were reports of vandalism affecting young trees when local police officers were attempting to crack down on large groups congregating illegally on the Stray.
“What a sad and sorry sight to see these beautiful trees subjected to mindless vandalism once again.
Many have been planted in memory of loved ones and many for victims of the thalidomide tragedy. In every case love and consideration has gone into the planting of these trees which bring so much pleasure to so many In Harrogate and beyond.
As I said only recently when another tree was vandalised, this is utterly appalling and disgraceful behaviour. There is no polite way of describing the perpetrators of these abysmal acts. Devastating in every way and for everyone. Despicable behaviour, just despicable.”
A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said its parks team would assess the damage to the trees and remove broken branches.
Delight as Harrogate Parkrun returns after more than a year away
Runners were left delighted this morning as the Harrogate Parkrun returned after more than a year away.
Parkrun, which has events held across the country, fell victim to the covid pandemic in March 2020.
It left runners without the free weekly 5k run on a Saturday morning for 16 months.
The event has seen numerous false starts in returning, including a delay last month after the government pushed back the lifting of remaining covid restrictions until July 19.
But, parkrun returned this morning with hundreds turning out on the Stray to take part.
Walkers, joggers and runners all turned out for the long-awaited comeback.
Ted Welton, event director volunteer at Harrogate Park Run.
Ted Welton, event director volunteer at Harrogate Park Run, told the Stray Ferret that he was delighted to have the run back.
He said:
“It’s just amazing. We had so many false starts where we thought we were going to come back and it didn’t.
“Now feels like the right time. Outdoor exercise is probably the safest thing people can be doing. We have put in a load of mitigation measures so people are staying apart.
“It’s just awesome to be back.”
No plans for big screen on Stray for Euro 2020 final, says council
Council officials have said they have no plans to hold a big screen on the Stray for England’s Euro 2020 final against Italy on Sunday.
The Three Lions reached their first major tournament final in 55 years on Wednesday after beating Denmark 2-1 after extra-time in front of 60,000 fans at Wembley.
Sunday is expected to see pubs and beer gardenpacked out to watch the match against Italy which will be broadcast on both ITV and BBC.
Despite being England’s first final since winning the World Cup in 1966, Harrogate Borough Council has said it has no plans to host a big screen for the occasion.
A spokesperson for the council said:
“We have no plans to organise a big screen, or the associated social distancing measures that would be required, on the Stray this weekend.”
The council added it also had no received any applications from other parties to host a big screen.
The Stray has been used in the past for people to watch major sporting events, such as the Wimbledon final in 2013.
Meanwhile, the government has announced that pubs will be allowed to stay open until 11.15pm on Sunday evening.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said the extension would allow people to watch the game in case it goes to extra time and penalties.
Gallery: sun shines on Harrogate food and drink festivalHarrogate’s food and drink festival returned to the Stray today to become the town’s first major event since the coronavirus pandemic.
The event dodged the bad weather of the last week, as the sun shone on the Oatlands Drive part of the Stray that hosted the event.
The festival will be open again tomorrow to offer people the chance to enjoy international cuisine, independent bars, artisan stalls, live music and a fun fair.
The organisers have once again partnered with the mental health charity Mind, with the Harrogate district team stationed on the exit.
Mike Gibbs, chair of Harrogate district Mind, told the Stray Ferret:
“It’s fantastic. We are so grateful to the event organisers who have helped over the years to raise money for Mind.
“Like other charities we are having a tough time with coronavirus. Events like this are going to help save lives.”
Amy Griffin, who is working on the Doe Harrogate stall, told the Stray Ferret:
“It feels amazing, Harrogate is such a great place to be. It feels a bit more normal doesn’t it? Everyone is here.
“We’ve got party rings, rainbows, Victoria sponge cake, the crowd favourite Biscoff and plenty more.”
Adele Wrightson, on the Fire and Dough stall, told the Stray Ferret:
“This is the first time we have been down here, we are from Northumberland. It’s great weather so lovely to have it outdoors.
“It’s odd to have so many people in one place. This is the biggest event we have done in recent times, they have gradually been getting more busy over the summer.”
If you miss the Stray event, it will be back at Ripley Castle on August 28 to 30.
The delayed ending of coronavirus restrictions has forced organisers of Parkrun in the Harrogate district to push back its return by a month.
It has been a difficult few months for the organisers, who have tentatively scheduled the return of the free, weekly 5 km runs time and time again, only to then have to disappoint runners.
Outdoor events are permitted under the current government rules. However, many of the landowners that host the runs have granted permission for them to take place on the condition that all lockdown restrictions are lifted.
Now the government has delayed the roadmap easing until July 19, Parkrun is looking to return on July 24.
There are three Parkruns in the Harrogate district: on the Stray in Harrogate, Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough and Fountains Abbey, near Ripon.
A spokesperson for Parkrun said today:
Brass band to give free live performance on Harrogate Stray tonight“A huge amount of work has been done in recent weeks to ensure we have permission to return from the large majority of landowners.
“While this delay is disappointing, we respect the fact that a significant number of these permissions were contingent on the country moving into Step 4.
“We will therefore target a new reopening date of July 24.”
A brass band will give a free live performance tonight on the Stray in Harrogate from 7pm.
Harrogate Band will play hymns and gentle music alongside the In Memoriam artwork that was installed last week on West Park Stray as a memorial to NHS workers who have died due to covid.
In Memoriam, which is the first of a series of art installations organised by Harrogate International Festivals this summer, will be available to see until June 7.
Harrogate International Festivals organised tonight’s live music.
Harrogate Band consists of 25-30 members and has been performing for 51 years.
Band chairman Ed Dennis said;
“The band are delighted to be back performing after 14 months of not seeing each other of being able to make music together.
“We’re so pleased to be working with Harrogate International Festivals once again on this very special project.”
Catch them tonight in front of the memorial on the Stray from 7pm to 7:40pm.
Stray art installation opens to help people reflect on covid deadA giant art installation has opened on the Stray today to help people reflect on those who have lost their lives through coronavirus.
The piece, called In Memoriam, measures 36 metres in diameter and features more than 100 flags made from hospital bed sheets.
As well as a memorial to those who have died, it is also a tribute to those who have been on the frontline trying to save lives.
It’s been designed by award-winning artist Luke Jerram and will be on West Park Stray until June 7. After that it will move to Edinburgh, Fleetwood and Weston-super-Mare.
There is no entry fee and Harrogate International Festivals has commissioned a reflective piece of music called ‘A Moment of Time’, which you can find here.
This is the first in a series of installations and events delivered in the months ahead by Harrogate International Festivals, which this year celebrates its 55th anniversary.
In Memoriam is being supported by Hornbeam Park Developments Ltd, Harrogate BID, and Swainsons Funeral Directors.
Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals chief executive, said
“Two years ago, we were lucky enough to bring Luke’s Museum of the Moon to St Wilfrid’s Church, which was one of the highlights of that summer’s international festival, and was visited by more than 10,000 people.
“As an arts charity delivering festivals and events, we were first to close and will be the last to open, but we can’t just open the doors on our venues and go straight back to normal.
“We wanted to create something unique in Harrogate that acknowledged the last year whilst allowing us to create a safe, outdoor event for the town.
“We don’t want people to just look at In Memoriam from afar, we want people to experience it; we want individuals, families and friends to walk into the heart of it; we want them to sit under the flags and quietly reflect the events of the last 15 months.”
North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott will address growing concerns about dog theft in a public meeting on the Stray tomorrow.
The session will be held between 1pm and 2pm on the section of the Stray near Harrogate District Hospital.
Dog owners will be able to air their feelings and find out more about what is being planned to tackle the problem.
Mr Allott, who lives in Knaresborough, said tackling dog theft would be one of his top priorities during his campaign to become the new commissioner.
He highlighted a survey showing dog thefts increased by 250% last year due to gangs cashing in on the demand for puppies during lockdown.
Sought-after breeds, such as French bulldogs, can sell for more than £5,000 and a litter can fetch £35,000.