A home care provider has opened a new regional office in Boroughbridge.

Vermuyden Care, which employs about 50 staff, has made the grade two listed Ornhams Hall its base for North Yorkshire.

The company, which provides domiciliary care, is recruiting local staff after moving into the area.

Gary Stapleton, co-founder and managing director of Vermuyden Care, said the company aimed to be the ‘M&S of care’ by employing local staff on high wages rather than relying on agency staff.

He said:

“Most care companies pay peanuts. Our starting salary is £15 an hour, which works out at £31,000 on a 40-hour week.”

The Boroughbridge office will handle home care services in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Ripon, Thirsk and Easingwold area.

We have just about finished moving into Ornhams Hall nr #Boroughbridge in #NorthYorkshire. The portrait of Cornelius Vermuyden has arrived, just the Grandfather clock left. We have now recruited a fantastically talented individual to become our Registered Manager. (Details Soon). pic.twitter.com/ZywrqNECu8

— Vermuyden Care (@VermuydenCare) May 16, 2023

Emma Barnes has been appointed care director by the company, which was founded four years ago and is named after Cornelius Vermuyden, the Dutch engineer who drained the Fens.

Read more:

• Critical report finds ‘significant shortfalls’ at Harrogate care home
• Council refuses plans for children’s nursery near Boroughbridge

Some 1,267 Ukrainians have made North Yorkshire their home since the start of the Russian invasion last year, according to figures.

Ukrainian families fleeing war have found places to live through the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme with UK sponsors agreeing to house refugees for a minimum of six months.

North Yorkshire Council’s Conservative executive member for corporate services, Cllr David Chance, revealed how many Ukrainians have been supported through the scheme in an update to councillors this week.

Cllr Chance said that at the end of March 2023, the number of Ukrainians residing in North Yorkshire was 733.

In addition, 554 people who initially arrived in North Yorkshire have either moved on to live in independent accommodation, relocated to another council area or have returned to Ukraine, making up 1,287 arrivals since the scheme began in March 2022.

Over the winter, the council increased the ‘thank you’ payments for sponsors from £350 to £500 a month and this will be extended until October 2023 when it will again be reviewed.

To help new arrivals settle in, the council also has two dedicated employment advisors who work with Ukrainian residents to help them find training and apply for jobs.

Nationally, over 117,000 Ukrainians have moved to the UK through the resettlement scheme.

New housing in Harrogate

In March, it was confirmed that the council will spend £2m buying 19 homes for Ukrainians in the Harrogate district.

A report said: 

“Harrogate has a long and proud history of welcoming those fleeing violence and oppression in their home countries. In the past, this has included Belgium victims of the First World War and Jewish people escaping the Nazis.”

The money will come from the Local Authority Housing Fund, which is a £500m grant fund launched by the government so English councils can provide housing for those unable to find accommodation.

In recent months, there have been increasing reports of Ukrainians families struggling to find their own accommodation after leaving the sponsorship programme.

Read more:

• Support for plans to twin Knaresborough with town in Ukraine
• ‘Just one more trip’ for Knaresborough’s Ukraine aid hero

The Harrogate district is to take part in Yorkshire’s first Rewilding Festival to encourage debate about the value of allowing green spaces to grow naturally.

The festival has been organised by the Yorkshire Rewilding Network, a charity that aims to ‘connect, inspire and enable rewilding across Yorkshire’.

Beginning on June 13 there will be a variety of events across the summer which include a day of learning and connection for rewilders, well-being walks and workshops in some of Yorkshire’s most inspiring rewilding sites.  

In the Harrogate district there are activities in High Birstwith, Kirk Hammerton and Summerbridge.

The charity said the idea of a festival was born out of a belief that more is achieved with a message of hope and that bringing people together creates a ‘buzz’ that builds positive momentum.

Samantha Mennell, Yorkshire Rewilding Festival director, said:

“We’re so excited to be launching our first festival, and for us, it’s all about connection.

“Rewilding is always at it strongest when links are being made, whether that’s within landscapes or between people.

“This festival is only possible because of the  new partnerships we’ve made around the region and we’re excited about the amazing chance it gives us to reach out to more diverse audiences and get more people rewilding.”

Read More:

• Harrogate council to repeat Stray rewilding experiment
• Stray Views: is this rewilding eyesore acceptable for Harrogate?
• Wildflowers to be planted on Stray

‘Rewilding’ The Stray 

In 2021, Harrogate Borough Council sparked a local debate about rewilding when it allowed parts of the Stray to grow naturally.

The council’s parks team left grass verges close to the roadside uncut until late autumn. Some residents welcomed the move, others thought it made the Stray look untidy.

The council then worked with local conservation groups to plant thousands of wildflower plugs between the Empress Roundabout and the Prince of Wales roundabout and down by the railway line.

We are currently in #NoMowMay – a movement started by the charity Plantlife  which calls on all garden owners and green space managers not to mow during May – ‘liberating your lawns and providing a space for nature’.

North Yorkshire Council, which now has responsibility for the Stray’s maintenance, has not gone as far as to stop mowing all public green spaces for a month.

Samatha Mennell said NYC could do more:

“We whole-heartedly agree that the North Yorkshire council should allow public areas to grow wilder as it has a myriad of benefits for biodiversity, carbon draw down and creates cleaner air and water

systems.

“In a setting like Harrogate it can be done in a way that is sensitive to the formal nature of the city centre by mowing borders and paths that complement the aesthetic of the town whilst still increasing the flowers, pollinators and birds that bring so much pleasure to its residents.”

Have you tried to rewild your garden? Or taken part in #NoMowMay? Send us your images and tell us how you’ve found the experience. contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Harrogate retailers showed off their collections today in a fashion show designed to celebrate what the town has to offer.

Hundreds of shoppers watched in glorious weather as models walked an open-air catwalk as part of The Harrogate Fashion Show. 

The event was organised by the Harrogate BID and sponsored by The Victoria Shopping Centre. The Stray Ferret has been the media partner.

The day was divided up into different fashion themes – the summer season, upcycling, wedding wear, Harrogate on the high street, activewear and children’s celebration.

Behind the scenes in the shopping centre, dozens of models both professional and volunteers were changing outfits, having their hair styled by Baroque and their make up touched up to make sure they looked absolutely fabulous.

On stage, personal stylist, Anna Spreckley, who works with Hoopers, (below in the red dress) provided the audience with fashion insights and tips.

The catwalk, chairs and big screen were outside the Victoria Shopping Centre

BID manager, Matthew Chapman said he was pleased so many retailers had taken part:

“I think it’s been really, really positive. It’s been twelve weeks in the planning so we’ve delivered it in quite a short space of time. You can see by the numbers today it’s been very positive. There’s lots to celebrate in retail even though the high street is changing.

“It is tough with the cost of living. We at the BID need to support businesses and I feel today’s done that.”

Behind the scenes -Selina and Darcy Skinner get ready to model for Elite Bridal UK

Independent stores such as Hoopers, Bias, Morgan Clare, Infinity & Co and Sophie Likes were joined by high street stores such as M&S, Specsavers, Lush, Sweaty Betty and LK Bennett.

Nick Hubbert, general manager of Hoopers said the store was keen to take part:

“We want to be involved in the community and work with the other retailers to promote the town. Commercially, I want to show all the fabulous products we have in the store and bring in new customers.

“Events like this show people what we’re good at. I think we need to work with our competitors and if people visit Harrogate, see great stores and great customer service, then it will bring them back.”

The Upcycling models above all wore outfits found in Harrogate charity stores. Hannah Shackleton from Estate Agents Nicholls Tyreman, wearing the long, gold, sequin dress won the prize for finding the most fabulous outfit.      

Today marks 4,762 days since Andrew Jones was elected Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Mr Jones wrestled the seat off the Liberal Democrats with a slim 1,039 majority in May 2010.

Since then has successfully defended it three times, achieving more than 50% of the vote on each occasion and securing a 9,675 majority in 2019.

But this month’s local elections, in which the Conservatives lost more than 1,000 councillors, and Labour’s lead in the opinion polls suggest the next election could be closer.

In his first interview with the Stray Ferret, Mr Jones gives his thoughts on the looming general election, which is likely to happen next year, as well as key local issues including the Harrogate Station Gateway and devolution.

Mr Jones, who has been a transport and Treasury minister, says he had “no hesitation whatsoever” in putting forward his name for re-selection in the Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency. He says:

“The opportunity to speak up for my home area at the highest possible level is absolutely fantastic.”

The constituency, and the previous Harrogate constituency that included Knaresborough, has been held by Conservatives continuously since 1950 except when the Liberal Democrat Phil Willis was MP from 1997 to 2010.

But Mr Jones insists he’s never regarded it as “anything other than a marginal”, adding no seat has been safe for a decade. He says:

“The election is about who offers the best future  – will it be Rishi or Keir Starmer. The answer is Rishi. Who will be the best local champion? Me.”

Asked how many marks out of 10 he’d give so far for Rishi Sunak’s performance as Prime Minister, he says ’11’.

His Lib Dem opponent

Mr Jones, who turns 60 in November, will be up against Liberal Democrat Tom Gordon, who at 29 is half his age.

Both men were born in West Yorkshire but while Mr Jones has lived in Harrogate for almost 25 years, Mr Gordon has just moved in.

Mr Gordon portrays himself as a fresh and energetic alternative but Mr Jones says he has “plenty of fuel in the tank” and points out he had a career in business before becoming a Harrogate borough councillor in 2003, representing High Harrogate for two terms before becoming an MP.

By contrast, Mr Gordon, who has twice stood as a prospective parliamentary candidate as well as a councillor in Wakefield and Newcastle has “done an enormous amount of politics” for a 29-year-old, says Mr Jones, who adds:

“I had 25 years in business. I had done two terms as a local councillor in this area before being elected. I haven’t stood anywhere else.

“I have not sought to represent anything other than the seat I live in. I don’t think this is just a notch on someone’s political bedpost and I hope this constituency isn’t being used in this way.”

Supporting the Station Gateway

Few issues have divided Harrogate more in Mr Jones’ time as an MP than the £11.2 million Station Gateway, which looks set to go ahead after all five Conservative councillors and five of eight Liberal Democrat councillors on North Yorkshire Council’s area constituency committee supported it.

Mr Jones supports the scheme but has reservations, which include the positioning of taxi ranks, unloading outside shops and disabled parking spaces.

He says town centres are changing, with less retail and more hospitality and homes.

“They’ve got to be more attractive places to go to where the quality of life is very high. That’s the big picture in which the gateway ought to be considered.”

He insists the town centre is “vibrant” despite pro-gateway supporters presenting the scheme as a way to regenerate a run-down area blighted by shop closures.

Read more:

• Harrogate business survey reveals opposition to Station Gateway
• £11.2m Station Gateway set to go ahead after crucial Harrogate area vote

He also accused Conswrvative-run North Yorkshire Council of not defending the scheme rigorously enough. He says:

“There have been all kinds of concerns and indeed some misinformation about it and, quite frankly, the council hasn’t done a great job at countering some of the misinformation.”

Andrew Jones in Harrogate

What misinformation? He mentions claims traffic will back-up to Ripley and that the scheme is a form of back-door Big Brother by increasing CCTV. He says:

“If I look at the scheme, as a whole, I think improvements to the street scene in the area are welcome. The focus on integrated public transport is also welcome. And the cycle paths are properly segregated, providing more safety for cyclists, which is probably a good thing too.”

Does he cycle?

“No. I live right in the town centre, I walk everywhere.”

He adds he “much prefers the train” to driving but this has been compromised by recent train strikes.

Many businesses oppose the gateway and a recent Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce survey generated three times more responses opposed to the scheme than in favour. Are they wrong?

“I’ve had comments from businesses that have been both for and against.”

Sewage and the River Nidd

With the owner of Knaresborough Lido

Mr Jones is leading a high profile campaign alongside the Nidd Action. Group to achieve designated bathing water status on the River Nidd at Knaresborough Lido, which would oblige agencies to clean-up the river.

The Lib Dems have criticised the government’s record on tackling the state of rivers. Mr Jones says:

“This is the first government in British history which has sought to improve and tackle the sewage overflows so I don’t think the political blame game improves water quality. Positive action does.”

Two hundred people have volunteered to help monitor Nidd usage at the Lido. Mr Jones says:

“This weekend sees the start of the bathing water season and also sees start of surveying at the Lido.”

How confident is he the campaign will achieve bathing water status and will it happen this year?

“I am always confident and always travel hopefully. It’s too early to say about timings. All I can say is this will have full energy from me.”

Harrogate town council concerns

North Yorkshire is undergoing its biggest political upheaval for half a century.

Harrogate Borough Council was abolished at the end of March and a mayor for York and North Yorkshire is likely to be elected next year.

Mr Jones supported devolution but preferred the east-west model that lost out. Was he sorry to see Conservative-controlled Harrogate Borough Council, whose council leader Richard Cooper is his office manager, disappear?

“I did have a bit of a pang when the council finished. I spent two terms as a councillor in Harrogate and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought we got a lot done.”

He says the big issue now is ensuring local voices are heard at Northallerton, where North Yorkshire Council is based.

Read more:

• Second consultation to be held on whether to form Harrogate town council
• Zoë Metcalfe confirms bid to become North Yorkshire’s first mayor

He sounds far from convinced about a Harrogate town council, which looks set to be created next year, adding another layer of council tax.

Mr Jones again seems unimpressed by North Yorkshire Council’s approach, which has involved consulting on whether people support a town council without specifying what its powers will be. He says:

“Creating a public body and then worrying about what it will have responsibility for is the wrong way to approach the question.

“Those supporting it need to articulate a vision of what it will do, how much it will cost and why it should be supported and why it’s different to the area constituency committee.”

Won’t stand for mayor

Mr Jones flatly ruled himself out of the race to become mayor. “I am not putting my name forward,” he says.

Zoe Metcalfe, the Conservative North Yorkshire Police Fire and Crime Commissioner has put her name forward — will he support her?

“It’s early days so we’ll see. I don’t doubt there will be a lot of interest in the position.”

What about Richard Cooper, who he was worked alongside effectively since the 1990s? Mr Jones says Mr Cooper understands how the political systems and structures work and how to get things done, adding:

“If he wants to put his name forward he was a very effective leader at the council but I think he has already said he has retired from seeking elected office. I think he’s ruled himself out.”

1,000 items of correspondence a week

Mr Jones receives 1,000 items of correspondence each week.

Mr Jones, who employs six staff at his constituency office on East Parade in Harrogate, receives about 1,000 pieces of correspondence a week.

He travels to London late on Sunday or early Monday and returns for constituency work on Thursday evening.

Mr Jones, who opposed Brexit, is regarded as being more on the centre ground of the Conservatives than some. Does he agree with the strong language used by Home Secretary Suella Braverman on immigration? He says:

“Immigration is something that brings out very strong feelings but not in a good way. Some of the language used on all sides of this debate is regrettable.”

One of Mr Jones’ pre-local election newsletters didn’t mention he was a Conservative. Why?

“There was no plan behind that. I think everybody knows I am the Conservative MP.”

Cricket and classical music

Born in Ilkley, Mr Jones father worked in the textile industry in Bradford, and he attended the town’s grammar school.

A party loyalist, he is sometimes described as amiable but bland. Is this fair?

“People should just look at what we’ve actually got done. I think there is merit in civilised discussion and debate. Those who shout loudest aren’t always shouting wisely.

“I don’t think it’s bland in the slightest. I’ve been hugely enthusiastic about what I’ve been doing and managed to get enormous amounts done locally and also on a national basis.”

He cites improved rail services first when asked to name what he’s most proud of.

“If we just look at the rail services we had in our area when I became a MP. Now we have more services, later services, faster services, newer services, new rolling stock, London trains – direct services I’m talking about there – these refurbished stations. These are significant changes.

“We have electric buses in the area and more on the way.”

And his biggest regret or disappointment?

“Interesting question. If I look at our area I look around and I see high performing public services both in education and in health. What would be a disappointment? I’m not sure really.”

Away from politics, he has been a member of Yorkshire County Cricket Club since his Leeds University student days 40 years ago.

He hopes to attend a couple of days of the Ashes Headingley Test and “get to a couple of county matches as well”. He enjoys classical music and says Beethoven and Mahler are “high on the list” but describes himself as a musical “omnivore”.

He also likes reading and walking in the Yorkshire Dales. But with the election approaching, his spare time is likely to be in short supply.

Harrogate is to hold its first Polish Heritage Day tomorrow.

The free event, which is open to everyone, aims to encourage people from different backgrounds to integrate.

It will take place at Harrogate High School from 10am to 2pm, beginning with a Poland vs England football match.

There will also be children’s activities, food, music and numerous stalls.

Aleksandra Timberlake, a teacher at the Polish Saturday School based in Harrogate High School, said this would be the first major Polish event in Harrogate, although smaller events have taken place previously.

Ms Timberlake said:

“The event is for everyone, not just for Polish-speaking people. We would love people in Harrogate to realise how big the Polish community is in this town.

“Our aim is to make sure we all integrate in a community spirit, no matter our national background.

“We want to show that we can all live together and we all can learn something from each other.”

The Polish school meets every other Saturday

There will be violinists, guitarists and pianists as well as singers, along with Polish folk dance, a health check corner and classic cars, including the iconic Fiat 126p — a symbol of communist era Poland.

Polish-born Ms Timberlake, who has lived in Harrogate for about 15 years, said there are four Polish shops in Harrogate and some 60 students.

Read more:

• Rossett School to meet parents to discuss sixth form merger concerns
• Wellbeing ‘at the heart’ of village pre-school near Ripon, says Ofsted

Two potential witnesses have come forward after police issued an appeal last night.

North Yorkshire Police said it had arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with a rape at a Harrogate bar and restaurant.

The incident occurred in the downstairs female toilets at Revolucion de Cuba on Parliament Street during the early hours of Saturday, April 8, 2023.

The victim is receiving specialist support.

Officers issued CCTV images of two women who entered the female toilets at around the time of the incident and asked anyone who knew them to get in touch.

A police update said:

“Following an earlier appeal on Friday evening to trace two potential witnesses in support of an investigation into the rape of a woman in Harrogate, we can confirm that both women have now come forward.”

The Stray Ferret has consequently removed the images from its website and social media accounts.

Read more:

• Police warning amid increase in reports of empty laughing gas canisters
• Ex-teacher jailed for raping girl at Harrogate district school

Administrators have revealed the state of failed Harrogate firm Amvoc’s finances.

The telemarketing company, which was based at Cardale Park, collapsed and was placed into administration in March this year.

Staff were left shocked on March 17 when they received a late night email from chief executive Damian Brockway saying “all our offices are closed with effect from tonight”. It went on to blame “covid debts”.

A statement of affairs published by administrators Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency showed the company owes £546,534.71 to preferential creditors against assets of £302,802.63.

This includes wage arrears, holiday pay and pension contribution arrears.

The company also owes £1.2 million to HMRC, which is classed as a “second preferential creditor”.

It also has £868,267 worth of unsecured creditors.

Hemel Hempstead-based data marketing firm, Aura Media Group, is owed £154,467.38 and is among the highest creditors on the list.

Founded in 2010

Mr Brockway set up Amvoc, the trading name of A Marketing Vocation Ltd, from a small office in Dacre in 2010. It sold telemarketing services, initially in the legal sector, and grew rapidly, moving first to Pateley Bridge and then to large offices at New York Mills near Summerbridge.

It opened a new head office on Cardale Park in Harrogate in 2015, a facility in Leeds in 2018 and an office in Manchester in 2022.  It also had plans to expand to London.

Amvoc’s clients included BP, Barclays, Virgin Media, Leeds Beckett University, and both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.

When the Stray Ferret tried to contact Mr Brockway following the collapse of the company, an immediate email response said:

“I regret to inform you that Amvoc has been forced to cease trading with immediate effect due to financial difficulties.

“We understand that this news may come as a shock to many of you, and we want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to manage the situation.

“We are in the process of contacting all our staff, clients and partners to inform them of the situation and provide any necessary information. We apologise for any inconvenience or disruption this may cause, and we are committed to minimising the impact on our stakeholders as much as possible.”

Read more:

• Law firm to represent about 100 staff at failed Harrogate firm
• Hundreds of job losses as Harrogate company goes under
• Collapsed Harrogate firm Amvoc set to enter administration

Its website said it employed 450 staff but the Stray Ferret believes the figure at the time the company collapsed was under 300.

Twenty-three former employees found work with Brighton-based One-Family, which was a former customer of Amvoc.

Meanwhile, Law firm Atticus said in the days after Amvoc’s collapse it had been contacted by 145 former employees.

The law firm said it was investigating the circumstances of the company’s collapse and concerns around how the redundancy process was managed, as well as whether ex-staff are eligible to claim for compensation. 

A councillor who owns Swinton Park Hotel near Masham has said a new tourism body for North Yorkshire is “not in the interests” of the hospitality sector.

Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Masham and Fountains, said an organisation should be created for the whole of Yorkshire instead.

Cllr Cunliffe-Lister was speaking at a full meeting of North Yorkshire Council on Wednesday.

The council is coordinating a new tourism strategy to boost the county’s £1.5 billion tourism industry, which is home to popular destinations like Castle Howard, Fountains Abbey and Bettys tea rooms.

A draft destination management plan is due to be finalised by the end of June before a bid is submitted to government to become a Local Visitor Economy Partnership, which would open the door for funding.

LVEPs are replacing destination management organisations, such as the former Harrogate Borough Council’s Destination Harrogate, following an independent review.

Read more:

• Harrogate council spends £2.2m on new tourism body in first year
• Harrogate council agreed £222,000 in exit packages due to tourism restructure
• Bid begins to create new North Yorkshire tourism body

Visit Hull and East Yorkshire was awarded LVEP status last month and Cllr Cunliffe-Lister said having more than one LVEP in Yorkshire risked wasting taxpayers’ money as LVEPs would compete against each other to attract tourists.

The councillor also referred to Welcome To Yorkshire, the tourism body for Yorkshire that entered administration in 2022 following a high-profile expenses scandal. It still exists but is no longer funded by public money and is now owned by private business Silicon Dales.

Cllr Cunliffe-Lister said:

“The Yorkshire brand is well-established and well-regarded nationally and internationally. It’s not in interests of the hospitality sector that this is fragmented.

“Should North Yorkshire achieve LVEP status it will not deliver value for money if it is then used to be pitched as a competitor destination against East Yorkshire or other regions in Yorkshire.

“What is being done to establish a generic county-wide brand that all regions will subscribe to and support and what steps are being taken to co-ordinate with other councils to achieve this?”

In response, Conservative executive member for open to business, Derek Bastiman, said “work is being carried out on that” but added it will take time as the council is still only in its second month of existence.

Cllr Bastiman added that workshops were taking place across North Yorkshire for people and councillors to add their input into the new tourism strategy. 

He added:

“It’s vitally important as much work is done on the coast as is done in the Craven area to Richmondshire or Selby.“

Speaking this month, Conservative council leader Carl Les called the development of the new tourism strategy a “major milestone“ for the authority. 

He said:

“We have such a breadth of tourism businesses and attractions which we can be rightly proud of, but we want to ensure that the sector can grow and flourish in the future and help support the region’s wider economy.“