Ripon man jailed for persistently breaching animal welfare order

A Ripon man has been jailed after pleading guilty to a string of animal welfare offences.

Michael Andrew Hawkswell, 45, of Nunwick near Ripon, appeared at York Magistrates Court on Wednesday, accused of breaching the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which forbids him from keeping animals.

Hawkswell, who is disqualified from keeping or owning animals, was charged with possessing 76 birds and five other offences.

His five other offences included buying and transporting two goats, possessing seven sheep in his trailer, possessing a duck, unloading poultry from a vehicle into sale pens at Highgate auctions in Rotherham and buying and selling poultry.

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Hawkswell was jailed for four weeks to be served consecutively for all six offences and given a further eight weeks for breaching a suspended sentence which was imposed in 2019. 

He was handed a 32-week jail sentence in total.

The court also disqualified Hawkswell from owning or keeping goats, poultry, birds and sheep for a period of 10 years under the Animal Welfare Act.

Police after stopping Hawkswell with crates of poultry in July 2020. Picture: North Yorkshire Police.

Police examine crates of poultry after stopping Hawkswell in July last year. Picture: North Yorkshire Police.

Hawkswell was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 16 months.

Speaking after the sentencing, PC Mark Atkinson, of North Yorkshire Police’s rural task force, said:

“Michael Hawkswell knew full well that he wasn’t allowed to have anything to do with animals – with a court order in place to protect them from suffering at his hands.

“However, he has repeatedly shown a blatant disregard for that court order, and persistently breached it on a number of occasions.

“Members of the farming community were aware of Hawkswell’s illegal activity, and came forward with crucial information, allowing us to arrest him and put him before the court. I would like to thank everyone who has spoken to the police in relation to Hawkswell’s activities – your assistance has been so vital and helped our team to put the strongest case together.”

North Yorkshire Police said it would now distribute posters highlighting Hawkswell’s banning order at livestock marts and other rural businesses.

Animal welfare charity the RSPCA tweeted that the sentence showed breaches of court orders “will not be ignored or tolerated”.

Breaches of court ordered disqualification (breach of ban) will not be ignored or tolerated. #teamwork with @NYorksPolice & @RSPCA_official has seen a successful few days in court #AnimalWelfare #farming #livestock #poultry https://t.co/KxpmumFvws

— RSPCA Frontline (@RSPCA_Frontline) September 9, 2021

 

Harrogate Conservative peer under investigation over financial interest

A Harrogate Conservative peer is under investigation by the House of Lords standards commissioner over a financial interest.

Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate is alleged to be in breach of the Lords code of conduct because his register of interests did not make clear the nature of business of one of the companies of which he is a director.

First reported by Open Democracy, the allegation was made by UnlockDemocracy, a pressure group based in London, in a letter to Martin Jelley, the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards.

It says Lord Kirkhope did not make clear the nature of business of Reading-based Brass Trustees Limited, of which he has been a director since June last year.

The letter, which was sent by Tom Brake, director of the pressure group, says that under paragraph 53 of the House of Lords code of conduct a peer should “give a broad indication of the company’s business, where this is not self-evident from its name”.

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Mr Brake goes on to list 39 other peers, including Lord Sugar and Lord Pickles, who he alleges appear to have done the same. However, he adds that the alleged breach may be unintentional.

He said in the letter:

“I believe that the following peers, unintentionally I imagine, are in breach of this paragraph of the code of conduct and that greater clarity about the business of the companies listed below would be welcomed by the public. 

“I do not believe it could be claimed that the nature of their business is self-evident.”

The standards commissioner has since opened investigations into 24 peers over their register of interests, which includes Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate.

As Timothy Kirkhope, he was MP for Leeds North East and MEP for Yorkshire before being created a life peer in 2016. He has a keen interest in local radio.

Lord Sugar, the former Tottenham Hotspur chairman and founder of electronics company Amstrad, is also part of the probe over his interest as director of Harper Fox Partner Ltd.

The Stray Ferret approached Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate for comment on the investigation, but did not receive a response by time of publication.

Harrogate town centre offices to be converted into apartments

A plan to convert an office block in Harrogate town centre into new apartments has been given the go-ahead.

Harrogate Borough Council approved proposals to transform the building on Cambridge Road into eight apartments.

Developers Lake House Investments, which is based near Brighouse, submitted the plans for the three-storey building.

The plans would see the first and second floors converted for residential use. The ground floor is currently occupied by bakers Greggs and a YMCA charity shop.

In its proposals, Lake House said the site had “excellent transport links” and was just a few minutes walk from the train station.

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As a result, the developer said no parking would be necessary.

It said in its planning documents:

“Given the sustainable town centre location close to a range of services and amenities, no off street parking is considered necessary as any impact to any pre- existing problems of access, road safety or traffic flow would be minimal.

“Visitor parking will be provided by local pay and display on street spaces.”

A similar application to convert the offices to apartments was approved by the council in 2019.

Harrogate hospital bosses warn winter will be ‘more challenging than ever before’

Harrogate hospital bosses have warned this winter will be “more challenging than ever before” as staff continue to battle with covid backlogs and brace themselves for peak pressures.

Although covid patient numbers and deaths are much lower than this time last year, the hospital is now battling to clear a backlog of routine screenings, operations and other appointments delayed by the pandemic.

It is also preparing for a surge of seasonal illnesses.

Dr Matt Shepherd, deputy chief operating officer at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

“Winter is always a challenging time and this year it will be more challenging than ever before as we continue to be affected by the pandemic.

“Whilst there are concerns about other respiratory virus infections occurring in high numbers, campaigns like the one for flu vaccinations are designed to protect the most vulnerable.

“The pandemic has also effected waiting lists, and waiting times have grown as it was not possible to sustain planned admissions for operations, outpatients and tests.

“It is now a major priority to return these services to pre-pandemic levels.”

Winter flu resurgence

Last year saw hardly any winter flu, while other respiratory viruses were only circulating at very low levels.

This was put down to lockdowns and social distancing, meaning the normal winter viruses did not get the chance to spread.

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But Public Health England has now warned that immunity to these viruses will have diminished, and very young children will not have been able to develop any at all.

This expected resurgence of winter flu, combined with the risk of increased covid hospitalisations in the colder months, means hospitals locally and nationally are now making preparations for peak pressures from October when seasonal illnesses usually escalate.

At Harrogate hospital, covid patient numbers have remained steady over recent weeks but have climbed into double figures with 11 people needing treatment as of yesterday.

Five recent covid deaths

The hospital has also reported five covid deaths in the last three weeks after going more than four months without any fatalities.

Dr Shepherd said this has shown the risks of covid remain “very real” – even with the success of the vaccination programme.

He also said the virus was still having a knock-on effect on routine health services and causing delays for patients.

He said: 

“Whilst the latest covid admissions are significantly lower than the waves we experienced in the past, this virus has not gone away, it is still affecting how we operate, and we must be prepared if there is an increase in infections.

“We have been able to manage patients with covid by looking after them in dedicated areas, which prevents further transmission of the virus and keeps other patients and our colleagues safe.

“Whilst we do our utmost to see patients as soon as possible, these measures have on occasion led to longer waiting times in the emergency department than we would have seen before the pandemic.

“We know this is not ideal and we are grateful to our visitors for their patience and understanding.”

Another 119 covid infections in Harrogate district — but hospitalisations stable

Another 119 covid infections have been reported in the Harrogate district, according to today’s Public Health England figures.

The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 412 per 100,000 people, which is above the North Yorkshire rate of 362 and the England average of 337.

According to latest weekly figures released today at a North Yorkshire Resilience Forum covid media briefing, Harrogate District Hospital is treating 11 patients for covid — the same number as a week ago.

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The hospital has not recorded any covid deaths in the last 24 hours, according to NHS England statistics.

Elsewhere, 127,183 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 116,728 have had a second dose.

County council leader backs National Insurance hike to fund social care

The leader of North Yorkshire County Council has backed the government’s manifesto-breaking move to raise National Insurance to tackle NHS covid backlogs and reform the social care system.

Conservative Cllr Carl Les said the plan, which also includes capping care costs at £86,000, provided assurances that families won’t lose massive amounts of money due to relatives needing care and also showed the government was willing to tackle deep-rooted issues in the sectors.

However, some critics have said the plan, which would see National Insurance rise by 1.25%, does not go far enough. Social care leaders warned the money raised will be “too little, too late” as they struggle with staff shortages and surging demand for people needing care.

Cllr Les said: 

“We welcome the publication of the plan and I’m pleased that the government is tackling this issue.

“The measures announced will start to address the issue of uncertainty around care costs for individuals and families.

“However, we need to see more detailed proposals about the government’s plans for stabilising care provision and investing in the workforce.

“Adult social care is vitally important to our residents and to the council.

“The service accounts for nearly 50% of our budget, and we need to support the sector while it works through its numerous challenges.”

Announcing the plan on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the tax rise would raise £36 billion for the NHS and social care in the next three years, but accepted it broke a manifesto promise.

He described the plan as “reasonable and fair” and said the majority of the funds would go towards increasing hospital capacity to catch up on backlogs created by covid.

Some of the money – £5.4 billion over the next three years – will also go towards changes to the social care system.

But there has been anger from some care leaders who say more immediate support is needed to address the current crisis in the sector.

“Too little, too late”

Mike Padgham, chairman of the Independent Care Group, which represents independent care providers in North Yorkshire and York, said the plan failed to address the staffing situation and was a “huge opportunity missed for radical, once-in-a-generation reform of the social care system”.

He also said the amount promised “isn’t going to touch the crisis in the sector and will certainly not address the 120,000 vacancies in staffing, which is sending the sector into meltdown on a daily basis as care providers struggle to cover shifts.”

Mr Padgham said: 

“It will not fund the proper recruitment and training of the thousands of staff we need, nor will it allow the sector to properly reward those staff who have played such a vital, life-saving role during Covid-19.

“It is too little and, it looks like being, too late.”

The new tax will begin as a rise in National Insurance from next April, paid by both employers and workers, and will then become a separate tax on earned income from 2023.

It will cost an extra £130 a year for someone earning £20,000, £505 more for someone on £50,000, and £1,130 extra for someone earning £100,000, the government said.

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Under the plans to fix social care, people will no longer pay more than £86,000 in care costs – not including food and accommodation – over their lifetime, from October 2023.

Once people have reached this cap, ongoing costs for personal care will be paid for by local councils.

£1,055 a week for Harrogate district care homes

In North Yorkshire, the Harrogate district is the most expensive area to get care for loved ones with the average weekly cost of residential care this year reaching £1,055 and the same figure for nursing climbing to £1,061.

Over a one-year period, this can equate to more than £55,000.

The government’s announcement to cap these costs comes at a time when the social care sector is in the midst of a staffing crisis and battling with a long backlog of people needing to be assessed for care.

Richard Webb, director of health and adult services at the county council, last month said the sector was facing “unrelenting” pressures and that it had reached “tipping point” with a 70 per cent drop in applications for the around 1,000 jobs currently vacant.

He said the NHS had also not escaped the staffing problems which existed before the pandemic but have only been exacerbated by the virus outbreak.

The staffing situation looks set to worsen when compulsory vaccines for care workers come into force on November 11.

From this date, it will become a legal requirement for all staff working in care homes to be fully vaccinated against covid – unless they are exempt – in order to protect the elderly and vulnerable residents most at risk from the virus.

In North Yorkshire, it has been estimated that around 500 workers could be forced out of their jobs because of this unless more staff come forward for their vaccines.

Announcing the tax hike on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

“No Conservative government wants to raise taxes, but nor could we in good conscience meet the cost of this plan simply by borrowing the money.

“This new levy will break our manifesto commitment, but a global pandemic wasn’t in our manifesto either.

“After everything we’ve spent to protect people through that crisis, we cannot now shirk the challenge of putting the NHS back on its feet, which requires fixing the problem of social care, and investing the money needed.”

Plan to convert former Hampsthwaite surgery into a house

Plans have been submitted ti turn a former doctors surgery in Hampsthwaite into a house.

Dr Bannatyne and Partners, which was based at Winksey Cottage, High Street, in the village closed in March.

The surgery was part of Church Avenue Medical Group and shut down after practitioners felt the cottage was no longer a viable place for a medical practice.

A proposal to close the surgery submitted to North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said:

“The branch surgery is no longer fit for purpose and has limited possible use. Approximately 800 patients are registered as using the branch but the majority of these patients also use the main site at Church Avenue.

“The practice is not asking patients to re-register with another practice and will accommodate all clinical capacity provided in Hampsthwaite within the Church Avenue site so there is no loss of service delivery.”

Now, Mozaffar Mari, a developer who bought the property, has submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council to convert the former surgery into a house.

The developer said in an application to the council that the building had been previously used as a house before becoming a surgery and could be “readily converted back” into a home.

The borough council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.

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Otley Road cycle route work confirmed to start in 12 days

North Yorkshire County Council today published details of the forthcoming roadworks on Otley Road due to the construction of a cycle route.

The scheme, which has been beset by delays, will start on September 20, with work taking place between 7am and 5.30pm every weekday.

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

The council said it was liaising with Harrogate Grammar School to ensure pupils and vehicles travel safely to the school. Pedestrian access to homes and businesses will remain in place throughout the works.

Officials at the county council said they expected the work to be completed within 10 weeks, dependent on weather conditions.

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.

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Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive county councillor for access, said:

“These improvements are being delivered as part of the government’s £4.6 million award to the council from the National Productivity Investment Fund for sustainable transport in the west of Harrogate.

“The measures will help to improve safety and alleviate the congestion experienced along the Otley Road corridor. 

“They are essential to accommodating existing traffic and supporting future growth, as set out in Harrogate Borough Council’s Local Plan. The improvements will significantly benefit the community and help to create a better-connected and safer network for pedestrians and cyclists.”

Widening Otley Road

Cllr Mackenzie also apologised for any disruption caused as part of 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.”

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.

 

‘Deep shame and regret’ at former Harrogate vicar’s child sex offences

The Diocese of Leeds has spoken of its “deep shame and regret” after a former Harrogate vicar was jailed for child sex offences.

Gordon Newton, who was a team vicar at St Wilfrid’s Church on Duchy Road until 2016 when he moved to his recent position in Batley, pleaded guilty to 12 charges at Leeds Crown Court on Friday.

Six of the charges were for sexual assault of a child aged under 13, three were for engaging in sexual activity with a child aged under 13 and three were for making indecent photos of a child.

He was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison.

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The Diocese of Leeds oversees five episcopal areas, one of which is Ripon, which includes churches in Harrogate.

The Stray Ferret asked the diocese whether any investigation was being undertaken regarding Newton’s time in Harrogate, but it said it would not be offering any comment on St Wilfrid’s, which is an Anglican parish church.

However, the Stray Ferret understands there is no previous or ongoing North Yorkshire Police investigation into Newton.

In response to the sentencing, a spokesperson for the diocese said:

“It is a matter of deep shame and regret that Gordon Newton has been sentenced for offences of child sexual abuse.

“Child sexual abuse is a terrible crime and a grievous breach of trust, which has life-long effects.

“This is deeply shocking and of course, the victims of any such crimes must be foremost in our thoughts and prayers.

“The Anglican Diocese of Leeds safeguarding team has worked closely with all concerned since it was made aware of these allegations and has offered pastoral care and support.

“The Diocese of Leeds is committed to making the church a safer place for all and has clear safeguarding procedures in place, but we are aware we can never be complacent.”

The Stray Ferret has approached St Wilfrid’s Church for comment but has not received a response.

According to an annual report published by the church, which is on Duchy Road, Newton joined as assistant curate in May 2012 before being licensed as team vicar in April 2013.

He was also member of the management team at the Jennyfield Styan Community Centre and a chaplain with the Harrogate and District Sea Cadets.

Harrogate district records highest daily covid infections since July

The Harrogate district has reported its highest daily number of covid infections for two months.

According to today’s Pubic Health England figures, 132 cases have been confirmed in the district.

It’s the highest number of daily infections since July 16 when 138 were recorded.

The district’s weekly infection rate now stands at 386 per 100,000 people, which is above the North Yorkshire rate of 341 and the England average of 321.

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According to the latest figures, Harrogate District Hospital is treating 11 patients for covid.

The hospital has not recorded any covid deaths in the last 24 hours, according to NHS England statistics.

Elsewhere, 127,193 people have received a first covid vaccine in the Harrogate district and 116,681 have had a second dose.