Mental health

THIRSK MP Kevin Hollinrake has met with representatives of the mental health charity, Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Mind, and the local CCG to discuss funding difficulties. Since 2012, Mind’s funding has reduced from £400,000 to £200,000 which has led to a staff reduction from 23 to nine, whilst the number of volunteers have declined from 100 to 60. Despite this, referrals have increased. At the recent meeting, the CCG agreed to re-establish a stronger working relationship with Mind and to work together to produce financial models to help support the charity.

Better website

A COUNCIL website has improved its service to users according to an independent ranking system. Richmondshire District Council’s new website has risen up the quality ranks – jumping more than 200 places since it was launched nine months ago. It is now placed third in the Sitemorse ratings which look at quality, accessibility and coding. The previous site sat 205th out of the 409 authorities. The new website was launched as part of the council’s programme to increase access to digital services and make council services accessible 24/ 7.

Window broken

POLICE are appealing for information after a window was smashed at a property on Vicars Croft, Northallerton. It happened on Wednesday, August 22 between 5.30pm and 7.30pm and if anyone saw any suspicious activity in the area around that time they should contact police on 101.

Steaming car

FIRE crews from Richmond, Colburn and Darlington rushed to a report of a car on fire on the A1, only to find it was a false alarm. The crews were called to the motorway near Barton at 8.21pm on Wednesday night but when they got there they found that reports had been prompted by steam billowing from a vehicle’s overheating cooling system