Local Harrogate News & Views around the district - Page 379 of 1104

Business Breakfast: Harrogate hotel group recognised in national workplace guide

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is after-work drinks at Manahatta, on May 25th at 5:30.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A hotel company which runs three hotels in the Harrogate district has been listed in a Sunday Times workplace guide.

The Inn Collection Group has been recognised as one of the best places to work in the national guide for 2023.

The firm, which operates the Harrogate Inn, Knaresborough Inn and Ripon Inn, was included alongside organisations such as the Alzheimer’s Society Bella Italia, and Octopus Energy.

The inns were previously known as the St George Hotel, the Dower House and Ripon Spa Hotel.

Local companies CloudNine and LCF Law were also recognised.

Liz Robertson, people director at the Inn Collection Group, said:

“We’re delighted that our people are enjoying their time with ICG and that we have been officially recognised as a great place to work as a result.

“Supporting our teams is incredibly important for us, be that with our exciting development programmes, our Inn Safe Hands initiative or even just our excellent benefits package.

“Making people happy is what we are about and that extends to our own too.”

Ripon retailers organise bank holiday buskers

Retailers in Ripon have organised for buskers to perform in the city centre this coming bank holiday weekend.

Organised by Ripon Business Improvement District and independent businesses, performers will be situated around the streets to draw in more people to the centre on Monday, May 29.

Visitors will be invited to follow a route around the city, taking in Kirkgate, North Street and Westgate.

Little Bird Artisan Market will be on the marketplace. From there, visitors can find maps showing the streets where buskers will perform and where shops are hosting fun activities and special offers.

Busking is throughout the city all afternoon, with music from Ripon and visiting guests from Teeside, York and Leeds.

For more information on the event, visit the Ripon BID website here.

Harrogate man jailed for perverting course of justice

A Harrogate man has been jailed for six months after he tried to get his ex-partner to drop assault charges against him.

Daniel Berisha, 33, contacted the victim through a third party demanding she withdrew the complaint she had made to police, York Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Michael Cahill said Berisha and the named victim started a relationship when she came to live in the UK in 2019.

She moved into his then home in Pendragon Way, Harrogate, but by the summer of 2020 the relationship began to break down due to Berisha’s cocaine use.

On November 4 last year, an argument broke out as Berisha pestered her for money to buy drugs.

The victim refused to give him the £80 but Berisha “followed her around the house, saying: “Give me the money’”.

Berisha told her that if she didn’t give him the money, he would personally transfer the cash from her account into his.

Mr Cahill said:

“He pushed her a few times (and) she fell to the floor.”

She managed to push Berisha away, but he grabbed her phone and began using it. Knowing that he knew the passcode for her account, she transferred the money into his account and locked the door. Berisha by this stage had moved out of the house.

The following day, in the early hours of the morning, Berisha bombarded her with text messages telling her he had “nowhere to go”.

She blocked him on WhatsApp and blocked his calls, but then received over 20 calls from an unknown number.

Shortly after the phone calls, Berisha, who was high on cocaine, got into the house. The victim “screamed for help” and warned him she would call police.

Furious, Berisha shoved her and put his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. He then took her phone and told her not to call police.

The victim, who worked in the care industry, eventually managed to call police when Berisha went downstairs. When officers arrived, they found the victim with scratches to her hand and grazes on the bridge of her nose.

Berisha was arrested and bailed pending further enquiries. In the meantime, police requested a domestic-violence protection order from magistrates to stop Berisha pestering the victim. The order was granted.

However, on November 12, a week after the second assault, Berisha sent messages to a named third party asking her to tell the victim to drop the charges.

Furthermore, he told the victim through the intermediary that he had a “video of the (victim) at work” and would send it to her employer if she didn’t withdraw her complaint, warning her that she would “never get a job in the UK again”.

Berisha told her through the third party that the video was of “(the victim) with a male she cared for”.

However, the victim, whose work record was impeccable and knowing she had “nothing to hide”, knew that Berisha was bluffing and refused to drop the charges.

‘I’ve lost everything’

Berisha, lately of Redfern Mews, Harrogate, was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and two counts of assault. He ultimately admitted the offences and appeared for sentence today.

In a statement read out in court, the victim, who had since moved out of the area, said she had moved to the UK for a fresh start after a previous abusive relationship.

The mother-of-two said she had “endured a nightmare” at the hands of Berisha who had initially helped her settle into her adoptive country.

She added:

“I later found out this was too good to be true.

“I’ve lost everything, all my belongings, so he could get money for his drug use.”

Defence barrister Ismael Uddin said that despite the “unsavoury” episode, Berisha was a hard-working man whose employers thought highly of him.

Judge Sean Morris told Berisha:

“Trying to get (victims) not to turn up in court strikes at the very heart of the criminal justice system and civilised society.

“If these kinds of offences don’t (attract) custodial sentences, then they will become rife. As a matter of policy and as a matter of making sure others are deterred (from trying to pervert the course of justice), only an immediate prison sentence is appropriate.”

Berisha received a six-month jail sentence and was given a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting the victim and going to her home or workplace.

Prime Minister’s Harrogate agent urged to apologise over ‘distressing’ leaflet

A Green councillor has called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Harrogate agent to apologise for sending a “misleading and distressing” letter to voters.

Sam Gibbs is the Conservative councillor for Valley Gardens and Central Harrogate on North Yorkshire Council. He is also the political agent for Richmond — the seat held by Mr Sunak.

The Mirror revealed voters in Stockton-on-Tees received letters in the run-up to this month’s local elections with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council‘s name and address at the top alongside the words ‘your council tax bill 2023 is up 38% since 2016’.

Labour is the largest party on the council.

Some of the wording was in red to appear similar to a final payment demand. But it was actually a Conservative campaign leaflet produced at Richmond constituency office.

The bottom of the letter says ‘this is not a bill and no payment is required’.

The Mirror wrote:

“Sam Gibbs was responsible for the scam leaflet that scared people into thinking they owed money.”

Arnold Warneken, a Green councillor who represents Ouseburn on North Yorkshire Council, described the letter as “misleading and distressing”. Cllr Warneken said:

“It makes people think they owe money. Without doubt, it’s made to appear like an official document.

“The people of Stockton-on-Tees are due an apology for this misleading leaflet. It’s disgraceful behaviour by the Conservatives.”

Cllr Pat Marsh, who represents Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone on North Yorkshire Council and is leader of the Harrogate and Knaresborough Liberal Democrats, said it was “outrageous behaviour from the Conservatives”. She added:

“Sending out literature which would have been very frightening for many is so, so wrong. You have to ask the question ‘why?’

“To frighten people into voting against the opposition councillors on Stockton council in this way is totally unacceptable and should be investigated.”

The Stray Ferret contacted Cllr Gibbs and the Conservative Party but has not had a response.

Exhibition to honour Harrogate’s 1,163 war dead

A free exhibition will honour the 1,163 men and women whose names are inscribed on Harrogate war memorial.

The exhibition will open in West Park United Reformed Church on September 1, 100 years to the day after the memorial was unveiled in Prospect Square.

It will run until Remembrance Sunday on November 12.

The memorial bears the names of local men and women who lost their lives in two world wars.

Twenty died on the same day; the youngest was just 15 and one person died after being kicked by a mule.

The multi-media exhibition, called More than a name on a Memorial, will bring their stories to life.

The stories will draw heavily on research conducted by local historian and former army reservist Graham Roberts, who has been researching the names for years.

Local resident Terry Williams, who was responsible for a recent exhibition telling the story of Harrogate’s railways, is curating the exhibition, which is being organised by the newly-formed Harrogate War Memorial Project Group.

The group includes members of various local voluntary organisations, including Harrogate Civic Society, the Royal Hall Restoration Trust and Harrogate and District Improvement Trust.

Nigel McClea, chair of the project group, said:

“Thanks to herculean efforts over many years by local historian Graham Roberts, all 1163 names have been researched and much has been discovered and recorded including military units, war records, photographs, cause of death, date of death and place of burial, although more than 300 of the First World War names inscribed have no known grave.

“This on-going research will form the core of the exhibition but thanks to support from North Yorkshire library service, through Harrogate Library, we are now in a position to seek out family stories and memories.”

Walter Ogden

The research has thrown up many fascinating questions. Mr McClea said:

“For example, would 2/Lt Walter Ogden have joined his family firm Ogden of Harrogate, the town’s historic jewellers still to be found on James Street? We’ll never know, he died in 1917 aged just 19 at the Battle of Cambrai.

“2/Lt Donald Bell VC, the first English professional footballer to join the army in World War I, had signed his first professional contract with Second Division Bradford Park Avenue in 1912 aged 22. Would he have ever played for a First Division club? We’ll never know. He died aged 25 in the Battle of the Somme.

“These are just two stories from 1163. We would love to hear from anyone with an ancestor named on the memorial who might have photographs, or recollections of their experiences which might have been passed on through the generations.

“We would also love copies of things such as letters home or letters they received from home, extracts from diaries, battle orders or telegrams and anything about what these brave people did before going to war.”

Copies of letters, extracts from diaries, written recollections and photographs can be emailed to Harrogate.Library@northyorks.gov.uk with the subject line ‘More than a name on a Memorial’ or taken into the library for copying.

Further details of the war memorial centenary programme of events will be available next month.

Controversial 53-home Harrogate scheme recommended for approval

Council officers have recommended a controversial plan to build 53 homes off Knox Lane in Harrogate is approved next week.

North-east property developer Jomast‘s planning application for the Bilton area was deferred for a second time in February this year.

At the time, councillors requested new reports and information about ground contamination and overhead power lines.

However, a report published today in advance of the Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency planning committee meeting on May 31 has recommended the plans are approved subject to conditions.

Among the conditions is that Jomast would be required to pay £64,000 for healthcare, £140,000 for education and £60,000 for open spaces in the form of a section 106 agreement to compensate for the impact of development on local infrastructure.

The homes would be built off Knox Lane.

The application in the quiet Knox area has proved controversial with residents.

Campaign group Keep Knox Natural has previously called on the council to remove the parcel of land from the Harrogate District Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place.

Cllr Robert Windass, a member of the council’s planning committee, previously called for an independent survey into contamination into the site.

Cllr Windass raised concern that a previous survey into the site was paid for by the developer and requested that an independent report was drawn up.

He told a committee in February:

“I will not vote for this scheme until I know that that land is safe.”

Councillors will vote on Wednesday next week whether to accept case officer Andy Hough’s recommendation to proceed with the scheme.

Police appeal after Transit van stolen in Harrogate

Police have issued an appeal after a Ford Transit T350 was stolen from Woodfield Road in Harrogate.

The van was taken between 10.30pm on Thursday, May 18, and 8am on Friday, May 19.

Officers said the vehicle has blacked out rear side panels on each side as well as red sun stickers on each rear side panel.

It also has an amber light fitted to the front of the roof on the driver’s side and the registration is BN63 WCJ.

A North Yorkshire Police statement added:

“If you see the stolen vehicle, or know where it is, please email ben.robinson-brockhill@northyorkshire.police.uk. You can also call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Ben Robinson-Brockhill

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230089644.”

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly on verge of winning golden boot

Harrogate-born Rachel Daly scored again yesterday to go three goals clear with one match to go in the race for the golden boot.

Daly scored just before half-time in Aston Villa Women’s 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the Women’s Super League.

It took her total to the year to 21 — three more than Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw, who failed to score for Manchester City Women in their 2-1 loss to Manchester United Women.

Whoever scores the most in a season is awarded the prestigious golden boot.

Erling Haaland looks certain to win the men’s award in the English Premier League, now Daley will be hoping to secure the women’s accolade when Villa face Arsenal Women on the final day of the season on Saturday.

Yesterday’s strike means Daly is now just one goal short of the all-time record for most goals in a season in the Women’s Super League, which was set by Vivianne Miedema in 2019.

Daly’s fantastic form since she left Houston Dash last summer to wear the claret and blue of Villa last week earned her a nomination for the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year award.

Fans have until Sunday to vote for their favourite and can do so here.

Daly returned to Harrogate to a hero’s welcome eight days ago to open Nomads Daly Brew, the cafe named in her honour by her former club Killinghall Nomads Junior Football Club.

Managers appointed at Harrogate care home after ‘requires improvement’ rating

A care home in Harrogate has appointed a new registered manager and a regional manager following a recent “requires improvement” rating.

The Care Quality Commission found the leadership at Avon Lodge, on Harlow Moor Drive, to be “inadequate”, with “widespread and significant shortfalls” in a report published last week.

Following a two-day inspection in February, the care home was downgraded from its previous “good”. Three key areas were assessed, asking if the service was safe, effective, and well-led, but only safety and effect were found to be “good”.

The managers were appointed in response to the report.

A spokesperson for Milewood Healthcare, which runs Avon Lodge, said:

“We have taken prompt action to remedy the issues identified by the CQC at the February inspection, working closely with both North Yorkshire County Council and the regulator to address concerns raised.

“We are confident the required changes are now embedded into practice and all necessary improvements are demonstrably in place.

“Milewood Healthcare is committed to delivering the best positive outcomes for all our service users.”

North Yorkshire £176,000 robotics contract will not lead to job losses, says council

North Yorkshire Council managers have said a £176,000 robotics contract will not lead to job losses.

The authority has commissioned Reading-based company T-Impact Limited to come up with automative robotic processes to free up work for staff.

The company has been contracted to carry out the work at a cost of £176,116.

This would include tasks such as changing an address, which would be done through automation rather than manually.

Council officials say the contract, which will run to May 2026, would be “better value for money”.

Madeline Hoskin, assistant director technology at North Yorkshire Council, said the move would also help the new council with its financial challenges.

She said:

“It is anticipated the use of this technology will bring about efficiencies to help counter the financial challenges we are facing, and it will be used for some of repetitive work to free up staff to do other more rewarding aspects of their job.

“The system also enables us to deliver services more efficiently, achieving better value for money.

“There are no projected job losses as a result of this project.”

Harrogate knee surgeon’s breakthrough gains national interest

A digital report developed by a Harrogate surgeon is attracting national interest.

Patients undergoing knee surgery at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust are now able to benefit from a bespoke digital report, designed to improve understanding of their treatment and reduce any unnecessary outpatient appointments.

The creation of the report comes after nearly 25% of knee arthroscopy patients claimed they were not alert enough to discuss their surgery in the post-operation period.

Three quarters of those surveyed also claimed they were unable to recall post-operation instructions, such as weight bearing advice, meaning over half of the patients required further appointments to aid their understanding.

Dave Duffy, a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at HDFT, used the Arthrex Synergy Surgeon app to devise a video that walks patients through the procedure step-by-step, as well as an audio explanation to ensure full accessibility and understanding of the treatment.

The patient is also provided with an in-depth explanation of the next steps in their recovery, from bandaging wounds to appropriate exercises.

Since the introduction of Mr Duffy’s solution only 15% of patients that received the digital report felt they needed further appointments.

He said:

“The report puts patients’ minds at ease, provides answers to many of their questions, and in many cases removes the need for further appointments or written communications, allowing the clinician to spend additional time helping other patients.

Transforming outpatient services remains a key part of the NHS Long Term Plan, with Mr Duffy’s digital report playing an increasingly significant role in doing so.

He added:

“We have received lots of enquiries about the innovation from other partners in the NHS and we are keen to share our learning to scale up the innovation for the benefits of patients.”

Dr Jacqueline Andrews, medical director and executive lead for digital at HDFT said:

“Our trust’s strategy puts healthcare innovation at the heart of everything we do. Our purpose is to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients, children and communities, and digital transformation plays an important role in this.

“We want to invest in digital tools and services which makes it easier to provide the best quality, safest care and improves the experience for our patients. As a relatively small trust we have the ability to be agile when it comes to innovation, rapidly piloting new innovations and gaining feedback fast, for the benefits of healthcare innovation businesses and the NHS.”

Ripon retailers organise bank holiday buskers

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‘I’ve lost everything’

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