Irish firm revives name of collapsed Flaxby housebuilder Ilke Homes

Collapsed local modular housebuilding firm Ilke Homes‘ name has been brought back to life.

The company, based alongside the A1(M) at Flaxby near Knaresborough, ceased trading and entered administration last June with the loss of more than 1,000 job losses and debts of £320 million.

Government housing agency Homes England, which was owed an estimated £68.7 million, was among the substantial list of creditors. Employee claims were reported to be more than £720,000, while HMRC was owed £2.1 million and unsecured creditors’ debt at the company totalled £249.3 million.

However, Irish company Homespace Residential Limited is now using the Ilke Homes name.

The Stray Ferret understands Homespace bought some of Ilke Homes’ assets in October last year, including some inventory items and the intellectual property, which gives it the right to use the firm’s name and logo.

 

The home page of the Ilke Homes website how contains information about Homespace.

It says:

“Homespace was born through the completion of a strategic asset purchase agreement, taking ownership of Ilke’s trademarks, design IP, modular stock and technology patents.”

It goes on to say Ilke Homes “delivered over 1,000 high-quality energy-efficient homes” during its six-year lifespan and that Homespace has “proven built designs available for nine core house types”.

AlixPartners UK, which was appointed liquidator last year, said Ilke Homes faced “challenges of unprecedented inflation and a lack of land supply linked to planning processes”.

The firm told the Stray Ferret today it was still acting as liquidators for Ilke Homes, but declined to comment further.

The Stray Ferret reported in August that more than 600 former employees of the company were to take legal action over the handling of the redundancy process.

We contacted Homespace to find out more about the acquisition but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

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Former Harrogate vet died after injecting animal euthanasia drug, inquest hears

A former Harrogate vet took her life by taking drugs used to euthanise animals after reactivating her licence, an inquest heard.

Sarah Jane Bromiley, 49, was found dead at a house on Red Hills Road, Ripon, on May 22, 2023.

Coroner Catherine Cundy said the death raised questions about how registered vets can acquire controlled drugs without an official premises inspection.

Ms Bromiley first registered as a veterinary surgeon in 1988 but stopped practising in 2006 following the birth of her first child.

The inquest heard during that time she had “non-practising status”, and instead began working as a practice manager at her husband’s dental surgery in Ripon.

But the coroners court in Northallerton heard yesterday Ms Bromiley later registered to re-activate her licence with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in October 2020, and was able to order a quantity of a controlled drug to her home address without an official premises inspection.

Ms Cundy said Ms Bromiley’s application was accepted by the RCVS just a month later, when she registered her family’s second residential home as her practice premises.

In May 2021, Ms Bromiley indicated to the RCVS she was “not sure” when she would officially begin practising as a vet but outlined her business plan to offer euthanasia services to small animals and horses through home visits.

The coroner said, based on evidence supplied by the RCVS, which is responsible for regulating individual vets and sole practitioners, and the Veterinary Medications Directorate (VMD), which is responsible for inspecting veterinary practices, she was satisfied that this method of veterinary practicing was “not uncommon, particularly in rural areas”.

No inspection of premises

Although originally registered in Ripon, the court heard Ms Bromiley changed the address of her registered veterinary practice to that of her family home on Rutland Drive, in Harrogate, on July 1, 2021.

The VMD was notified of the change, the coroner said, and offered Ms Bromiley an official inspection of the new address.

The coroner said:

“I accept that the VMD emailed Sarah and offered to carry out an inspection of the updated premises on February 2, 2022.

“Sarah replied to the email a week later, on February 9, to say she had ‘not yet started operating as a practice’, and asked what the inspection would involve.

“Sarah was then sent the inspection criteria by the VMD and was told she would be contacted again in six months’ time. But by then, she would sadly already be deceased.”

The coroner attributed the VMD’s delay in carrying out inspections to a “considerable backlog following the pandemic”.

In January 2022, Ms Bromiley told the RCVS she was planning to use both the Harrogate and formerly registered Ripon addresses as her practices, but just over a year later, added she “still had not begun work on animals”.

Neither property was ever inspected, the court heard.

Ordering the controlled drugs

The court heard, although a formal premises inspection never took place, as a registered veterinary surgeon, Ms Bromiley was able to order controlled drugs.

She placed the first of two orders with wholesaler National Veterinary Services in July 2021 and said the substance would be “for use on small animals”.

The coroner said the wholesaler undertook the relevant checks “as required” when a vet places an order of restricted substances, adding Ms Bromiley filled in the relevant forms before the drugs were delivered to her home address in Ripon.

The coroner said there was “no evidence” to suggest the first order was ever used on animals.

Ms Bromiley then ordered a larger quantity of the same controlled substance in April 2023. However, this time, she noted the order was “urgent” and was, again, required for use on small animals.

Instead of home delivery, Ms Bromiley made a 200-mile round trip from Harrogate to Stoke-on-Trent to collect the drugs, where she was required to show her drivers’ licence and provide a signature.

At the time, she also collected other veterinary paraphernalia, which the coroner concluded was used to assist her death a little more than a month later.

Coroner’s conclusion

Ms Cundy said from the spring of 2020 until her death, Ms Bromiley attended regular medical consultations. She complained of “chest pains, fatigue and low blood pressure”, but the only diagnosis ever given was that of a cyst on her jaw, the court heard.

She was also told she may be suffering from long covid, the coroner said, adding Ms Bromiley grew “frustrated” at the absence of an official diagnosis.

However, Ms Cundy cited Ms Bromiley’s medical records, which stated she was showing signs of “low mood” in April 2022 – more than a year prior to her death – but had declined a referral to mental health services.

The coroner then concluded the journey to obtain the euthanasia drug, instead of home delivery, was done to “conceal” the order from others, adding:

“I find collecting the drugs was indicative of Sarah’s mind and I suspect her growing intent to take her own life.”

On Sunday, May 21, 2023, Ms Bromiley told her husband, Roger, she would be staying at their second property in Ripon, which the court heard was “normal” for the couple.

The coroner said the couple exchanged messages that evening until 10pm.

However, concerns grew after Ms Bromiley did not turn up for work at the dental practice the following day (Monday, May 22).

The court heard Mr Bromiley visited the property at lunch time to check on his wife, but found the door was “locked with the key on the inside”.

Ms Cundy then said Mr Bromiley returned to the house at around 6pm with a screwdriver to unlock the door, adding:

“Inside, Mr Bromiley found an envelope on the landing outside one of the upstairs bedroom doors. It said, ‘do not come in – call the police or 999’.”

Ms Cundy concluded, according to notes left by Ms Bromiley addressed to her husband, children, family and even the coroner, she was “adamant she was not mentally ill” and instead said she was suffering from “grief”.

The coroner also said:

“I find along with the police investigation there was no third party involved or any suspicious circumstances surrounding Sarah’s death.

“I believe she acted alone and intravenously self-administered the drug, which was found at a level associated with fatality in the toxicology report.

“I conclude a cause of death of suicide and find Sarah, sadly, took steps to meticulously end her own life.”

Ms Cundy noted she would send a “letter of concern” to the Veterinary Medications Directorate and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons expressing concern over the means by which registered vets, who are in the “same regime someone like Sarah was in”, can acquire controlled drugs without an official premises inspection.

She did, however, recognise it would not be “practical or realistic” to request a second signature upon delivery of controlled drugs to sole practitioner vets as a means of preventing similar acts, when they “don’t work alongside other vets”.

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LNER to offer free period products on Harrogate trains

LNER has become the UK’s first train operator to offer free sanitary products onboard its trains.

The firm, which operates services between Harrogate and London King’s Cross, said in a statement today it will introduce the scheme across its entire fleet.

Passengers can request a ‘package for a friend’ directly from an LNER team member onboard, or by scanning the catering service QR code next to their seat. A team member will then “discreetly” deliver the products to seats, LNER added.

The move comes after a survey, carried out by YouGov on behalf of LNER, found 22% of people have experienced a time when they, or someone they are with, needed sanitary products but could not access them.

LNER said it first introduced the scheme at London King’s Cross station after recognising “everyone should have access to period care products when they need them”, and has now partnered with organic period product company TOTM to expand the delivery.

Gill McKay, an on-train delivery manager at LNER, said:

“Customer feedback, supported by research, highlighted the upset that can be experienced by not having access to period products.

“We believe everyone should be able to travel with confidence and in comfort and providing free, environmentally friendly products to anyone who needs them is just one way we can provide support, help the planet and break down barriers and stigma.”

Kiley Yale, head of sales at TOTM, added:

“We are really excited to be working with LNER to champion period comfort, wellbeing and dignity across their trains, stations and offices.”

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Bon Jovi and Blondie tributes among headliners for Harrogate’s Fake Festival

Harrogate Fake Festival will make a comeback this summer – with somewhat familiar faces along the way.

Six professional tribute bands will take to the stage on the Stray to perform renditions of some much-loved rock and pop classics.

Among the fake band headliners are Blondie tribute Blondied, Vicky Jackson as P!NK, Ultimate Green Day, Bon Jovi Experience and Fore Fighters – a Foo Fighters duplicate.

Ultimate Green Day. Pic: Fake Festivals.

Organisers said:

“Fake Fest in Harrogate is always special, but last year was a whole new level.

“This year will be a full day of non-stop adrenaline-pumping anthems that are just screaming to be rocked. If last year is anything to go by, it’s going to be straight up heaven.”

Fake Festival, which was first held in Harrogate in 2015, is a family-friendly event and welcomes people of all ages.

As well as the music, there will also be rides, stalls and entertainment to keep children happy.

Food traders and a bar will also be on offer.

Fake Festival Harrogate will take place on Saturday, July 13, from 11.45am to 11pm.

Tickets start at £27.50 and are on sale now.

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Three arrested following police chase between Harrogate and Ripon

Three people have been arrested following a police chase involving dogs and a helicopter through several villages near Harrogate this afternoon.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement officers attempted to stop a VW Golf on the A61 at Ripley at about 1.45pm.

The statement added the vehicle raced off and was pursued through Bedlam, Bishop Thornton and Shaw Mills before coming to a stop on a country lane in Markington.

Police and dogs searching for the suspects

It added:

“The occupants ran from the vehicle and a significant amount of resource was sent to the area.

“A police dog was involved in the search and a police helicopter was scrambled to assist with checking on a vast open area.

“A 17-year-old boy, an 18-year-old man and a 20-year-old man were arrested in connection with the incident.”

In an updated statement, the force said searches carried out by police drug dogs found a quantity of “what is suspected to be a class-A drug” was forensically recovered from the side of the road.

Police added the teenager and two men were arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, failing to stop for the police and intent to supply a class-A drug.

All three were interviewed and released on conditional bail.

The Stray Ferret received reports of a large police presence on the verge of the A61 at South Stainley, which runs between Harrogate and Ripon, just after 2.40pm today.

A witness, who was a passenger on a passing bus, said the police appeared to be carrying out a “manhunt”.

Another witness on the same bus added:

“I saw police officers searching along a hedge line and in a field. There were two cars parked and a lady was talking to the police. I’m guessing the other car belonged to whoever they were looking for.

“There were two police vans and four police cars. One of them drove of at speed towards Nidd, behind South Stainley.”

The VW Golf 

A member of Markington Village Facebook group also said a car went “racing through” the village followed by “six police cars after it”.

Someone commented on the post to add the police had been “looking for someone on foot who has gone through the fields”.

The Stray Ferret was also alerted to a large police presence in Killinghall.

Reports say the A61 Ripon Road between Killinghall and Ripley is also closed.

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Knaresborough school celebrates 50 years of foreign exchange programme

A Knaresborough secondary school is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its foreign exchange programme.

King James’s School launched the exchange programme with its German partner school, Bruder Grimm Gesamtschul in Bebra, in 1974.

It came after Knaresborough was twinned with the town, based in Hesse, back in 1969.

Over the last five decades, both schools have held annual exchange programmes, whereby pupils visit each other at their neighbouring schools to develop friendships and improve language skills.

However, former languages teacher and UK founder of the school’s programme, Alan Hemsworth, said the programme “nearly didn’t happen at all”, adding:

“We had serious difficulties in finding accommodation for all the pupils and only a last-minute appeal in the local paper saved the day.”

Two pupils even stayed in a caravan at the bottom of someone’s garden, Mr Hemsworth added.

This year’s cohort of pupils will visit Bebra this month to commemorate the anniversary, as well as attending a special event in aid of the big birthday.

Pupils will sport hoodies made for the occasion.

Mrs Allison, one of the school’s languages teachers, said:

“Every year, I come across students participating in the exchange whose parents have fond memories themselves of spending time with their German friends.

“The school’s original aims in promoting the exchange were simple but important, and still hold good today: to promote tolerance, understanding and friendship, and a desire for pupils of all ages to learn a foreign language.”

Staff also recounted the days when English and German students would contact each by pen and paper. They said students now maintain friendships over social media and many meet each other virtually before meeting face-to-face.

Headteacher Mrs Martin also said:

“It is a great privilege to take part in these historic celebrations. Good international relationships are as important today as it they were in 1974 and I hope this exchange continues to go from strength to strength, bringing cherished memories and long-lasting friendships for years to come.”

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Tanker operation raises sewage concerns on River Ure

A three-week tanker operation on the River Ure near Boroughbridge has raised concerns about how well a treatment plant can cope with sewage.

Boorughbridge resident Caroline Slater contacted the Stray Ferret saying she had noticed a “raw sewage” smell when walking her dog near the river.

She attributed the smell, which she believes is due to excess sewage flowing from a wastewater treatment plant in Aldborough into the river, to recent periods of heavy rainfall, as well as “the large number of new houses built in the area”.

Ms Slater said:

“The pumping station at Boroughbridge sewage works cannot cope with the amount of sewage.

“The Ure is really polluted. Sometimes there are huge banks of foam which do not dissipate, greasy films and a smell of sewage.

“I have witnessed contractors cleaning up the riverbank areas after floods and using the river as a dumping ground for waste.

“It was really smelly down there on Saturday when there was no pumping going on. It just smelt like raw sewage.”

Ms Slater also said “tankers have been pumping sewage out from Aldborough road for the past three weeks — maybe more — and taking it away”.

She added:

“I have contacted Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency. I really am despairing. I would ideally like to get some momentum going to try to clean up the River Ure.

“Young people bathe in it at the salmon ladders in the summer, also at Ripon and Masham, further up and downstream. It isn’t safe. Nature is suffering. Nobody seems to be accountable.

“I am also extremely concerned about the continuation of house building in the area and what effect this will have on infrastructure that cannot cope. “

Town council also ‘doubts’ treatment plan can cope

The Stray Ferret contacted Cllr Robert Windass, a Conservative who represents Boroughbridge and Claro on North Yorkshire Council, about the matter.

Cllr Windass said Boroughbridge Town Council shared Ms Slater’s concerns.

He added:

“I am aware that tankers are pumping out sewage from the Aldborough treatment plant and taking it to other plants. This happens when the River Ure is in flood as it has been for the past few weeks with all the rain we have had.
“Certainly, the town council and many residents have expressed concern about whether the Aldborough treatment plant can cope with the increased sewage because of the number of new homes built in and around Boroughbridge. They always say that it can but when situations like this occur, we have our doubts.
“Personally, I have not been downstream of the treatment plant recently, but I will make a point of doing so in the next few days.”

Yorkshire Water’s response

The Stray Ferret put Ms Slater’s concerns to Yorkshire Water and asked for confirmation on whether excess sewage is being released into the River Ure.

A spokesperson said “diluted wastewater from storm overflow” is released into the river during periods of heavy rainfall. If more rainwater is pumped into the treatment works than it is designed to handle, an excess is released into nearby rivers.

The spokesperson added:

“The storm overflow at Boroughbridge wastewater treatment works is in operation currently due to the amount of rainfall in the area recently and possible groundwater infiltration into the sewer network.

“Storm overflows are permitted by the Environment Agency and act as a relief valve during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall to prevent wastewater backing up and flooding homes and businesses.”

Yorkshire Water said the tankers were in place due to groundwater potentially infiltrating a sewer. The firm said this was also as a result of heavy rainfall and could result in wastewater escaping the network from manholes if left unmanaged.

The spokesperson added:

“Our teams are currently tankering in the area to relieve pressure on the sewer network and will be carrying out a thorough investigation of the network in the coming days to identify any possible sources of infiltration.”

The firm added the tanker was also removing some wastewater, groundwater and sewage flow from within the network and taking it to the treatment works. It said this was “taking the pressure off the sewers to prevent pollutions”.

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Jobs lost at Black Sheep Brewery in Masham

The new owners of Black Sheep Brewery have made redundancies at the Masham firm.

Keystone Brewing Group, which acquired the brewery from administration in May last year for £5 million said a “strategic restructuring” resulted in the “reduction of a small number of roles” within Black Sheep.

The company attributed the redundancies to “enormous challenges” faced by the hospitality sector and said “efficiency measures are essential” to secure the future of the brewery.

Chief executive Mark Williams said the organisation was “forced to consider all options available”, adding:

“This is an incredibly difficult time for all, and we are saddened the impact of this decision will have on our valued colleagues.

“Making redundancies is always the last resort, but unfortunately we have been forced to consider all options available to us.

“This is about making the brewery as efficient as possible, and securing its legacy for years to come.”

The Stray Ferret asked Black Sheep Brewery to confirm whether those made redundant had been paid. The team responded:

“The Black Sheep Brewery team can confirm that all staff who’ve since left the business as a result of this restructuring have been paid as agreed within the terms of their redundancy.”

We also asked the company to confirm exactly how many redundancies were made, but did not receive a response.

The news comes just weeks after the firm announced former chief executive Charlene Lyons had stepped down after nine years in post.

In a press release issued last month, the company said Ms Lyons had left “to pursue other interests”.

Ms Lyons was kept on following last year’s sale of Black Sheep, which also resulted in a “small number” of staff losing their jobs at the time.

Administrators Teneo Financial Advisory revealed sales fell from £19 million in 2019 to £14 million in 2022 – resulting in a £1.6 million loss.

Creditors, including HMRC, were owed nearly £3 million.

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New bookshop to open in Pateley Bridge

A new book shop is set to open in Pateley Bridge.

Paper People Books, which will take over the former JOT Gallery site on the High Street, will stock books and literature for different age groups.

Owner Kerry Thorpe, who moved to Pateley Bridge six months ago, said the shop will offer adult fiction, children’s literature, books on the local area and more.

There will also be a large children’s room with games and puzzles to encourage young ones to read and play.

Ms Thorpe told the Stray Ferret:

“Reading should be fun, not a chore and we want people to feel happy and spread a bit of joy when coming into the shop.

“I’m a former art teacher and always loved books and people, using your imagination and being creative. I’m dyslexic myself and wanted to show books are for everyone.

“I work with children who say they can’t do certain things because they find reading, spelling and traditional work difficult.

“If you have an idea and really believe in something you can do it with hard work. This is something I wanted to show my children too.”

Ms Thorpe added the book shop will be a “good addition to the town”. She hopes to run various in-store initiatives to help people in the wider community.

These include a ’till round-up scheme’, whereby people round up their payment and the extra money is donated to local schools to fund new books for children.

Ms Thorpe also said the team are working with Bark and Read, a Kennel-club owned foundation, which invites children to read with their support dogs. She said the charity will hopefully visit the Pateley Bridge shop once a month to run sessions.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“We are super excited to be opening, we hope to bring a bit of fun to reading, inspire others and work with local schools and people to really make this a success.

“We feel everyone needs a book in their lives, we are all so busy and sometimes it’s just great to switch off, read a book and really escape.”

Paper People Books will have two official opening weekends: March 23 and 24, and March 30 and 31.

The shop will then open Tuesday to Friday, as well as weekends during the summer.

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Cold callers arrested after Harrogate woman in 80s hands over bank card

Three men have been arrested after a Harrogate woman in her 80s handed over her credit card in a door-to-door cold call.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today one of the three men, who are from Middlesbrough, entered the woman’s home on the pretence of selling household items after being released from prison on March 6.

The statement adding:

“He pressurised the victim into handing over her bank card and pin number and withdrew the maximum amount he could.

“He fled from the property when he saw a friend of the victim arrive on the drive.”

Police investigations identified a vehicle connected to the incident.

The car was intercepted when it re-entered Harrogate a few days later and officers arrested the three men inside.

The statement added:

“The suspects were taken into custody for questioning. The driver, 51, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle and drug driving after testing positive for cocaine at the roadside.

“The passengers, one aged 37, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle and a 31-year-old was arrested on suspicion of burglary with intent to steal.”

The statement said the men have been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

‘Check before you open the door’

Police warned people to be on their guard against door-to-door sellers, who they said can be “pushy” and “threatening” and may charge inflated prices.

It urged people to:

Police added:

“If anyone who cold calls tries to enter your home without your permission, is threatening or refuses to leave your property, call 999.

“Older people are targeted due to their trusting nature, so if you have older parents, relatives or friends, please share this message with them and check they know how to stay safe if cold callers knock on their door.”

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