Man charged with sex offences at Harrogate district care home

A Durham man has been charged with a string of sexual offences while working at a Harrogate district care home.

Carl McQuilliam-Jenkins, 48, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court this morning accused of six offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

He is accused of sexual activity with a mentally disordered female while working as a care worker.

The charges allege that Mr McQuilliam-Jenkins knew or could reasonably be expected to have known that the woman had such a disorder and he engaged in various sexual activities while involved in her care.

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The care home cannot be named for legal reasons.

Mr McQuilliam-Jenkins appeared before magistrates and spoke only to confirm his name before the case was referred to York Crown Court.

He was released on conditional bail and will appear before crown court on October 18.

Harrogate and Knaresborough would be most underrepresented under unitary council proposals

Harrogate and Knaresborough residents would be the most underrepresented in North Yorkshire under proposals to change councillor boundaries for the county’s new unitary authority.

The proposal, which will be submitted to the government by the leader of North Yorkshire County Council, would see the number of councillors in Harrogate and Knaresborough reduced to 13 with each representing an average of 6,194 residents.

This would be higher than all other constituency areas in the county.

There would be an average of 5,546 residents per councillor in Skipton and Ripon, 5,472 in Selby and Ainsty, 5,169 in Richmondshire, 5,099 in Thirsk and Malton, and 5,005 in Scarborough and Whitby.

It would also mean one councillor in Cayton, Scarborough would represent 3,680 residents, while another in Knaresborough Castle and Aspin would serve almost double that with 6,690.

The boundary changes were agreed for submission to the government by county council leader Carl Les at a meeting on Tuesday when concerns were raised that residents’ voices would be diluted and councillors’ workloads increased.

‘Unfair on people of Harrogate and Knaresborough’

Liberal Democrat Cllr Philip Broadbank, who represents the Starbeck area on both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council, said the proposals were “particularly unfair on the people of Harrogate and Knaresborough”.

He said: 

“It just doesn’t seem right that one particular area, for some unknown reason, should be at a disadvantage to the rest of them.

“I do accept that when we tell voters we are going to reduce the number of councillors, most of them will say ‘oh good’.

“But I get angry about this because it is such an important issue. Electoral balance is absolutely vital if we want this new council to work and people to accept it is going to be fair and balanced.

“I just don’t understand why such a large area of people should be underrepresented.”

Cllr Broadbank also put forward separate proposals to increase the number of Harrogate and Knaresborough members on the new authority to 14, which would reduce the average residents per councillor to below 6,000.

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However, this was shut down by Cllr John Weighell, who led a cross-party working which came up with the plans to be submitted to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government for a decision.

Cllr Weighell said while he accepted some residents would be underrepresented, it would be “completely wrong” to break up town centre boundaries in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

‘Only way to maintain identity’

He also argued many currently serving councillors who sit on both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council already manage their workloads for a similar amount of residents.

He said:

“I do accept underrepresentation, I always have, but I think this is absolutely the only way to maintain community identity.

“Of the 18 Harrogate and Knaresborough members currently in the borough council area, 16 are twin-hatted and that says everything really.

“Some people are saying ‘we can’t represent that number of residents’ – but they are doing it already.”

If approved by the government, the boundary changes would come into force when a shadow authority is elected to the new unitary council in March 2022.

The new arrangements would then stay in place until 2027 when the Boundary Commission will carry out a full review.

Across North Yorkshire, there would be 89 councillors serving the county’s 600,000 population.

This would be a higher proportion of representatives than the 99 that serve Leeds’ 800,000 residents, but a lower proportion than the 126 councillors who serve County Durham’s 425,000 population.

Wanted: Harrogate residents to appear on TV’s Yorkshire Auction House

A TV company is looking for Harrogate residents to take part in a new series of The Yorkshire Auction House.

The programme, which first aired on the Really channel, is fronted by Antiques Road Trip star Angus Ashworth.

Producers STV Studios are looking to talk to anyone who may have collections they would like to sell, or who are planning to downsize, emigrate or need to clear their house for any reason.

Those who take part could be invited to Ashworth’s auction in Ryedale where they could make money.

He said:

“I would urge anyone who needs help with a clearance to join me. It never fails to amaze me what can be found lurking in an attic or the depths of a garage. 

“It’s always a privilege being invited into people’s homes and hearing the stories behind their hidden treasures, so if you’d like help with your clearance – and the opportunity to make a bit of money – please get in touch with us.”

To take part in The Yorkshire Auction House, email takepart@yorkshireauctionhouse.tv.

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Harrogate district covid rate increases as 96 infections reported

The Harrogate district has reported 96 covid infections, according to today’s Pubic Health England figures.

The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 336 per 100,000 people, while the North Yorkshire rate is 287 and the England average stands at 275.

Today’s NHS England statistics show no further covid deaths were recorded at Harrogate District Hospital. 

The death toll at the hospital from covid since March 2020 stands at 186.

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Meanwhile, the hospital is currently treating 10 patients for covid according to the latest government figures.

Elsewhere, 127,844 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 119,653 have had a second dose.

Two males plead guilty to Ripon robbery

A teenager and a 21-year-old man are to be sentenced after a robbery on Bondgate in Ripon.

John Paul Wilson, 21, pleaded guilty at York Crown Court. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also pleaded guilty.

Both men were charged with robbery and possessing an offensive weapon.

The two men will appear for sentencing on October 19.

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Officers from North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today enquiries were ongoing into other suspects linked to the incident on Friday, August 13.

Police arrested five people after a teenager was robbed at knife point outside the former Ship Inn, Bondgate.

The force put out an appeal following a spate of anti-social behaviour in the city last month.

Construction starts today on Otley Road cycle route

Construction on Harrogate’s long-delayed Otley Road cycle route is set to get underway today.

Work on the North Yorkshire County Council scheme will be carried out from 7am to 5pm every weekday for 10 weeks.

Temporary traffic lights will also be used and there will be overnight road closures for resurfacing,

The Stray Ferret reported this month that Hull-based PBS Constructed Ltd has been commissioned to construct the first phase of the route as part of a £827,100 contract.

Contracts for the final two phases of the scheme would also be awarded via open tender.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, previously apologised for any disruption caused by the construction of the scheme.

He said:

“The work has been timed to start after the busy summer holiday period, but we realise there will be some disruption, so we apologise for that and thank people in anticipation for their patience.

“Most of the work will be carried out during the day, to minimise noise for residents at night, though some work, such as resurfacing, can be carried out only at night under a full road closure.”

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Work will include widening Otley Road on the approach to Harlow Moor Road as well as the creation of a designated left turn lane on the western approach to Harlow Moor Road and designated right turn lane on the eastern approach.

An off-road cycle route will also be created between Harlow Moor Road and Cold Bath Road as part of the first phase.

Work on the route has been beset by delays due to negotiations with the Duchy of Lancaster over the exchange of Stray land.

Harrogate Borough Council agreed in March to designate a plot of land on Wetherby Road as Stray land in exchange for the loss of grass verges on Otley Road for the new cycle path.

Harrogate ‘dry off-licence’ hopes to tackle non-alcoholic beer stigma

A Harrogate pop-up shop is hoping to “tackle the stigma” of non-alcoholic beer with a pop up shop.

Andy Mee, who runs the Alcohol Free Drinks Company, is set to operate a “dry off-licence” on the town’s Cambridge Street.

He set up the business after quitting drinking following this year’s covid lockdown, during which he said he drank “far too much” in order to cope with the shutdown of the family business.

The idea for the drinks company came when he visited a restaurant and was offered soft drinks, but no non-alcoholic beer with his meal.

Andy hopes the pop-up shop at the Victoria Shopping Centre, which is being held as part of Harrogate Beer Week, will encourage people to reach for a non-alcoholic option instead of feeling the pressure to drink.

He said:

“I’m not intending it to be a soapbox, but people have to stop sober shaming.

“I hope this can break that stigma.”

Initially online, the company offers a range of non-alcoholic beers to buy and deliver to people.

The pop-up shop will be open from 10am until 6pm this week, but will also offer free taster sessions from 1pm until 2pm.

Harrogate Beer Week

The “dry off-licence” comes as part of Harrogate Beer Week, which will run until September 26.

It intends to celebrate the town’s growing brewing culture as well as the bars, pubs and restaurants which support the breweries.

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A programme of special events and initiatives will be hosted at bars, brewery taps, and eateries across Harrogate. The event will culminate in a big beer weekend in the town centre. 

Other features on the programme will include an ‘Indie Beer Trail’, live local music, and a home brewing competition, with some big names in UK beer heading to Harrogate to host a range of talks and tastings.

New unitary councillor proposals leave Harrogate ‘short changed’

New proposals outlining the number of Harrogate district councillors for the new super authority leave voters “short changed”, says a county councillor.

Liberal Democrat cllr Philip Broadbank, who represents Harrogate Starbeck on North Yorkshire County Council, is to submit an alternative proposal to government so the borough is “better represented”.

Under current proposals, 89 councillors would sit on the new authority – of which 20 would be in Harrogate district.

This means that each councillor in Harrogate would represent on average 6,194 voters, compared with 5,329 across the county.

Cllr Broadbank said the plan was “not right” and that he will be submitting an alternative which will reduce the average number of people per ward.

He said:

“I’m proposing a new arrangement for Harrogate and Knaresborough. It will affect nowhere else.

“It feels like Harrogate is getting short changed. I’m just trying to get better representation for Harrogate and Knaresborough.”

Some of the wards proposed by North Yorkshire County Council for the new unitary authority.

Some of the wards proposed by North Yorkshire County Council for the new unitary authority.

Under his proposal, the number of councillors in Harrogate and Knaresborough would increase by one but reduce the average people in a ward to below 6,000.

It would also bring the total number of members on the unitary authority to the government’s maximum of 90.

Cllr Broadbank will put his proposal to senior county councillors on the executive on Tuesday. However, he said he intends to submit it to the government as well.

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Ministers at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government will have the final say on how many new councillors are elected to the new authority.

‘Tinkering too much’ with the proposal

Meanwhile, Conservative Cllr Gareth Dadd, executive county councillor for finance, agreed that the district was “slightly underrepresented”.

However, he warned against “tinkering too much” with the proposal.

Cllr Dadd told a meeting of the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency committee that he had been lobbied by other “interested groups in the county” to also change the number of councillors.

He said:

“If we succumb to the other two or three ‘lobby groups’, we could end up with 92 or 93 councillors. Where do you stop?

“It’s a debate to be had.”

Image gallery: Harrogate Autumn Flower Show blossoms at Newby Hall

Thousands flocked to this years Harrogate Autumn Flower Show.

The sun beamed down on the show this weekend, which was held at a new location at Newby Hall, near Ripon.

The event featured favourites like garden installations, plant nurseries, a world-famous giant veg competition, live theatre and Britain’s biggest display of autumn blooms.

It was also the first of its kind where ticket holders had access to the gardens at the stately home.

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Ahead of the show, Nick Smith, show director, said:

“It has been an incredibly tough year for everyone and there can be no better way to welcome our visitors and exhibitors back to the autumn flower show than re-opening at a spectacular new location like Newby Hall.”

Take a look at our image gallery from the show below.

Harrogate district records 77 covid infections

The Harrogate district has reported 77 covid infections, according to today’s Pubic Health England figures.

The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 274 per 100,000 people, while the North Yorkshire rate is 258 and the England average stands at 259.

NHS England statistics no longer report deaths from patients who tested positive for covid on a weekend.

The death toll at Harrogate District Hospital from covid since March 2020 stands at 186.

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Meanwhile, the hospital is currently treating eight patients for covid according to the latest government figures.

Elsewhere, 127,624 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 119,328 have had a second dose.