Brothers sentenced for supplying cocaine in Harrogate

Two brothers from Leeds have been sentenced today for supplying cocaine in Harrogate.

Habeeb Mohammed, 21, and Adheel Mohammed, 19, both of Amberton Street in Leeds, had both pleaded guilty to possessing class A drugs with intent to supply.

The brothers were stopped in their car on the A61 at Burn Bridge on September 12, 2021, by officers from North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Expedite team.

A search of the vehicle and the two men uncovered a total of 21 bags of cocaine.

The brothers were arrested, interviewed and released under investigation.

In May last year, police became suspicious that one of them was dealing drugs again in Harrogate.

A man matching Habeeb’s description was seen getting into a taxi, which was then stopped on Sutton Grange Close in Harrogate.

Habeeb, who was confirmed as the passenger, was seen trying to discard a black plastic bag containing 36 individual bags of cocaine. He was arrested again on suspicion of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, and was charged and remanded in custody.

Drugs recovered by police from the Mohammed brothersDrugs recovered by police from the Mohammed brothers

Habeeb pleaded guilty in November 2022, and Adheel also entered a guilty plea last month.

The brothers appeared at York Crown Court today. Habeeb was sentenced to five years in prison, while Adheel received a two-year sentence suspended for 18 months.

PC Michael Haydock, from North Yorkshire Police’s Operation Expedite team in Harrogate, said:

“The impact that drug related crime has on people in North Yorkshire is severe and we see it as our duty to target those who sell drugs.

“People who supply drugs have no place in our communities, they will be pursued, investigated and punished.

“They look to exploit the vulnerable for their own selfish financial gain, with zero regard given to the knock-on effects of their criminality.

“We will never give up on our fight to combat criminal exploitation and the supply of drugs in North Yorkshire.

“Today’s result sends a clear message to the likes of Mohammed Habeeb, Mohammed Ahdeel and anyone else who believes that they can come to North Yorkshire and commit this sort of crime – it will not be tolerated, and you will be pursued.”

North Yorkshire Police has urged anyone with information about suspected drug-related crime to report it by calling 101 or via the force website.

To report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or visit the organisation’s website.

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Morning delays at Harrogate’s Prince of Wales Roundabout

There were delays at the Prince of Wales roundabout in the centre of Harrogate this morning.

Cones were placed around the roundabout reducing traffic to one lane – Leeds Road and Otley Road were also reduced to one lane approaching the roundabout.

The roadworks were not listed on North Yorkshire County Council’s roadworks map and were removed by lunchtime.

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Smoke inhalation killed woman in Harrogate house fire, inquest hears

A woman who lost her life in a Harrogate house fire died because of carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation, an inquest has heard.

Jayne Addyman, 54, died on January 7 last year at her home on Craven Street, which is close to King’s Road.

The inquest also heard alcohol intoxication was found to be a significant factor contributing to her death.

John Broadbridge, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire and York, concluded Ms Addyman died because of an accident.

The inquest was held on January 20 in Northallerton and Mr Broadbridge confirmed the details today to the Stray Ferret.

Firefighters from Harrogate and Knaresborough were called to Craven Street at 6.20am on Friday, January 7 last year.

Paramedics performed CPR but Ms Addyman was certified dead at the scene.

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Stray Ferret Business Awards: Sustainable Business

The Sustainable Business award is sponsored by York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub aims to provide businesses of all sizes and sectors effective and impartial business support.

As a local organisation, the service provided is tailored to the needs of individuals and their particular region.

This award recognises those businesses that have put sustainability at the top of their agenda by reducing their impact on the environment.

Finalists

Full Circle Funerals

Full Circle Funerals aims to improve the standards and expectations of funeral services.

Full Circle is the first funeral director in the UK to achieve B Corp status – an international measure of sustainability and business for good.

The company led a crowdfunding campaign in 2022, raising over £20,000 to fund research into the environmental impact of certain funeral choices.

It was also named UK Green Funeral Director of the Year in 2021 and 2022.

Sarah Jones, Founder and Director of Full Circle Funerals, said:

“The environment is important to us and to many of the bereaved people we support, which is why it is important to us that we have a sustainable business and share knowledge with others on how to make planet friendly choices.

“Our business was established to be a force for good and it is such an honour to have been recognised locally and nationally as an organisation that puts purpose before profit in everything we do”.

JOT’s Gallery:

JOT’s Gallery in Pateley Bridge is an art gallery dedicated to using recycled materials to showcase the environment.

James Owen Thomas, founder of the gallery, is an ambassador for the Young Tree Champion programme.

James has an artist residency in Fishpond Wood, Bewerley. He leads monthly workshops where he shares his techniques and offers ideas on how to become more creative with recycled materials.

James has also made multiple television and radio appearances discussing his passion for artwork and the environment.

James Owen Thomas said:

“We are all surrounded by the beauty of nature, and this has always been the deepest source of inspiration for me. In my efforts to protect the environment, I always choose to incorporate used materials into my art.

“I hope that my business values will encourage others to creatively recycle and reuse, so we can all do our part to save the planet”.

Number Thirteen

Number Thirteen is an eco-friendly coffee house in Knaresborough.

Everything at Number Thirteen is pre-loved, up-cycled or handmade. From teaspoons to wallpaper – it’s all been sourced from charity shops, auctions and boot fairs.

Supplies are kept local and any spare parts from deliveries, like milk bottles, are washed and reused or recycled, meaning a cup of coffee uses 0% single-use plastic.

The electricity used to power Number Thirteen is 100% renewable, generated from a combination of wind, solar and hydro energy.

Sarah Ward, owner of Number Thirteen, said:

“I wanted to try and create a business that strives to buck the single-use trend, using eco-friendly products that can be recycled or reused. I think we are living in a time where it would be irresponsible to not be aware of the impact we make on the environment.

“I strive to live a sustainable life at home, so why wouldn’t I do it at work too? Creating a business that puts sustainability at the forefront of its values, simply makes me feel better about my business and its overall impact on the environment”.

NEOM Organics London

NEOM Organics is an aromatherapy wellness brand based in Harrogate that has become a national brand.

NEOM is a certified B Corp organisation, an accolade that recognises UK businesses that place sustainability at the forefront of their values.

NEOM measures its significant environmental impacts, include packaging, water usage and ingredient sustainability, in order to establish an entirely green future.

The company has also calculated its carbon footprint and is actively developing a reduction plan.

Oliver Mennell, Co-Founder of NEOM, said:

“The NEOM team are delighted to be shortlisted as a finalist in the Sustainable Business Award. I want to credit the hard work and passion that everyone here has for building a business that doesn’t just look after the welfare of people, but also the wellbeing of our precious planet.

“As we say at Neom: “Let’s build a business we can all be super proud of”.

Source Climate Change Coffee

Source Climate Change Coffee is a conservation coffee company in Harrogate.

Source Climate Change Coffee sources its coffee globally. The company rewards farmers by buying their carbon offsets and then invests these into reforestation activities.

The company recently created a range of coffee capsules, made from entirely plant-based materials that are 100% compostable.

Source Climate Change also supports the Lorna Young Foundation to train farmers on their markets, climate change and sustainable land management practices.

Cristina Tales, Managing Director of Source Climate Change Coffee, said:

“This award recognises the work we have done in our supply chains for coffee.  Source is the only conservation-led coffee company buying coffees from reforestation projects in ecological hotspots.

“Each coffee protects a tropical forest and supports a local conservation project, where farmers are encouraged to focus on organic and sustainable land management practices, as well as plant trees to ensure they have a sustainable source of firewood and building materials. The aim is to reduce their dependency on forests as a resource”.

Resurrected Bites

Resurrected Bites is a food waste organisation, with cafés in Harrogate and Knaresborough.

The business collects short shelf-life and excess food from local producers and distributes it via the pay as you feel community cafes.

Any food not fit for human consumption is passed onto livestock and peelings are gifted to allotments to make compost.

Resurrected Bites also uses the café and social media to educate people on climate change. In 2022, the business dedicated a week of its social media posts to educating people on how to reduce food waste at home.

Michelle Hayes, CEO of Resurrected Bites, said:

“Resurrected Bites is passionate about doing all we can to protect the environment.

“The reason I started the organisation is because food waste is such a massive environmental issue and, therefore, sustainability is always at the forefront of our minds when we are deciding how we operate in all areas of our organisation.”

EnviroVent

EnviroVent is a designer and manufacturer of sustainable ventilation systems.

The company has recently moved from two separate sites into one zero-carbon building in Harrogate. The building benefits from low carbon heating and energy sources, as well as solar panels.

EnviroVent has committed to planting 5,000 trees a year in partnership with MoreTrees.

EnviroVent also works with a waste management company to prioritise recycling.

Andy Makin, Managing Director of EnvrioVent, said:

“At EnviroVent, the “enviro” in our name is not just about improving the environment of our customers, but also in improving our environmental impact for the world we live in. We take responsibility to proactively tackle climate change and are committed to achieve Net-Zero targets by 2030!

“The first major milestone for the next stage in our sustainable journey was relocating to our carbon neutral head office. This new self-sustaining building, reduces our environmental impact, utilising greater energy efficient initiatives, including solar panels, the use of additional renewable energy sources e.g. heat recovery units”.

The Stray Ferret Business Award event sponsor is Prosperis. To find more and to purchase tickets for the big night, click here.

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Four crews deal with barn fire in village near Harrogate

A dramatic photo released by Harrogate Fire Station shows the extent of the damage done in a barn fire near Huby yesterday.

Fire crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough joined two more appliances from West Yorkshire to tackle the fire at about 2pm.

It took place in a barn measuring around 25 metres by 25 metres, containing straw. Firefighters used hose reel jets to put the fire out.

Once the scene was safe, they also took the opportunity to meet a few of the farm’s occupants.

A firefighter meets a cow after putting out a nearby barn fire.A firefighter makes friends with a cow after putting out a nearby barn fire. Photo: Harrogate Fire Station.

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Weather warning for wind issued for Harrogate district on Friday

A weather warning for strong wind has been issued for the Harrogate district.

The Met Office has put the yellow warning in place for Friday (February 17) between 6am and 6pm.

The organisation has said strong winds through the day “may bring disruption to traffic”.

It has also warned that there is a “slight chance” of power cuts and cancellations to public transport services.

Meanwhile, Northern Powergrid has assured people that it is aware of the warning and has measures in place to tackle any disruption to its network.

A statement from the company said:

“Teams are ready to mobilise colleagues and support as this situation develops.

“This weather front does have the potential to have an impact and cause damage to the network, so there is a possibility that there could be disruption to power supplies in at least some parts of the region.

“Relevant teams are on standby and ready to be diverted onto the storm response should this materialise.”

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County council to set up new estates company

North Yorkshire County Council looks set to establish a new property company to look after its estate.

Under plans outlined in a report due before the council’s executive, the new firm would be established with £200,000 working capital backed by a loan.

It would also see the authority’s current estates company, Align Property Partners Limited, operate on a commercial basis.

The new firm would be wholly owned by the council and would transfer to North Yorkshire Council from April 1.

As part of the plan, the company would adhere to “teckal” exemptions – meaning the council could directly award it contracts without open procurement.

Vicki Dixon, assistant director for strategic resources, said in a report that the current firm, Align Property, was “well-placed” to operate commercially.

She said:

“A substantial market exists for the services provided by Align, with the company well placed to capitalise on its existing reputation in the commercial space.

“The growth is being driven by non-NYCC externally generated income and indicates that Company trading aspirations have outgrown the initial Teckal-based operating model.”

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Ms Dixon added that the new company’s function would be to “continue providing high quality property, highways and estates services to the council and associated bodies, while being Teckal compliant”.

Senior councillors will discuss the plans at a meeting on Tuesday, February 21.

The move comes as the new North Yorkshire Council is set to take control over a host of district-council run companies.

Brimhams Active, the arms-length leisure firm, and Bracewell Homes – both of which are owned by Harrogate Borough Council – will transfer over to the new authority on April 1.

The county council has previously been criticised for the performance of its own companies after its Brierley Group of firms reported losses in recent years.

Business Breakfast: Award for Harrogate carer 

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club!

The second in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is an After Work Drinks event on February 23 from 5.30pm. Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district, get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.

Karen Crampton, a live-in carer at Carefound Home Care in Harrogate, has received the home’s PLATO award for her work with dementia sufferers.

The PLATO award is named after the company’s values – personalised, local, accountable, together and outstanding.

Karen earned the award for helping people living with dementia to live safely at home.

Carla Hainsworth, registered brand manager at Carefound Home Care, said:

“Some of the examples of [Karen] going above and beyond as a live-in carer are amazing and her efforts have directly helped prevent her clients being admitted to hospital …”

“She’s taken clients on day trips to the seaside and to see their loved ones who live further away, held tea party celebrations and even applied for a platinum wedding anniversary surprise message from the King.”

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Bill Plant Driving School wins national awards

Bill Plant Driving School, based in Ripon, has won two awards at the 2023 Intelligent Instructor Awards.

The organisation was named training provider of the year, as well as national driving school of the year at the UK-wide award-ceremony.

Bill Plant also took home the same awards in 2019 and 2020.

CEO Adam Pumfrey said:

“We are humbled to be recognised as not only the best national driving school for learner drivers, but also the best driving instructor training provider in the UK. For us, both of these awards go hand-in-hand”.

In the national driving school of the year category, Bill Plant overcame two of the biggest names in industry, Red and AA Driving School.

The company now has more than 820 instructors who have access to continuing professional development courses and a dedicated support team.

Mr Pumfrey said:

“Our driving instructor training academy, operated by a team of highly experienced trainers with a relentless focus on quality, has led to the development of a nationwide network of world-class driving instructors”.

 

Breakaway conservative Christians start meetings in Harrogate

A breakaway Anglican group that rejects premarital sex and gay marriage has started holding meetings in Harrogate. 

As yet, the group has only a handful of members, but its leader, Hugh Davis, believes more discontented conservative Anglicans will join as news of it spreads. 

He said:

“Since 2008, there have been progressively retrograde steps by the Church of England to accept more liberal interpretations of the Bible. We believe these behaviours and teachings are contrary to the traditional teachings of the Bible. As these ideas percolate down to the general congregation, more people will be discomfited and, like me, think ‘what do I do now?’.

“It’s not homophobic. I’ve worked for many years with people attracted to people of the same sex. I accept their views, but I also expect them to accept mine.” 

The issue of homosexuality has long been a contentious matter in the Anglican Church. In 2008, a group of conservative bishops, many from the global south, declined to attend the Lambeth Conference in protest at the consecration Gene Robinson, the openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire. They instead convened in Jerusalem for the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon). 

Just last week, the Church of England’s General Synod agreed not to change its stance on gay marriage – same-sex couples will still not be allowed to marry in church – but it backed proposals to allow prayers of blessing for same-sex couples.

The new Life Group in Harrogate is one of several under the auspices of Trinity Church Scarborough, which is part of the Anglican Mission in England (AMiE), which in turn is aligned with the Gafcon movement of Anglican orthodoxy. 

Mr Davis, who is retired, said:

“The latest teachings in the Church of England are very different from what I was taught as a boy. I wasn’t happy – I couldn’t make sense of it.

“Things moved on, so I decided I would move on too.” 

Having attended St Mark’s Church in Harrogate for 30 years, Mr Davis finally left, but stressed it was not an easy move to make. He said: 

“It was difficult, and took several months of talking to and confiding with friends. It was very painful – I’d even say that leaving the Church of England was a bigger decision than getting married.” 

The new midweek Life Group meets fortnightly in a member’s home. For more information, contact Mr Davis on 07802 833977, or email him at hughthewildfowler@btinternet.com. 

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Opposition North Yorkshire councillors criticise ‘community networks’ plan

The leaders of opposition political groups on North Yorkshire County Council have criticised plans to fill the void left by the abolition of seven district councils by launching 30 unelected and unfunded “community networks”.

A series of concerns have been raised ahead of the council’s executive next Tuesday, which will consider establishing community networks to act as the “engine rooms” for social and economic change.

The leaders of the Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green and Independent groups, which collectively secured 59% of the votes at last May’s election, said both they and some members of the ruling Conservative group, which has a two-seat majority, had significant reservations over the move.

A statement issued by the council on Tuesday, said the networks, which it is hoped will include representatives of organisations, such as parish councils, police and the NHS, were being seen as “a hugely important element of the new North Yorkshire Council”, which will be launched on April 1.

It is hoped the networks will build on existing relationships and partnerships between the public, private and community and voluntary sectors, including the close working arrangements that were developed during the covid pandemic.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council.

The statement highlighted how the networks would include councillors and receive support from senior council officers, but would be independent of the new authority and be responsible for driving forward action plans centred on a specific area’s priorities.

County council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: 

“While North Yorkshire Council will cover the largest geographical area of any local authority in the country, we are committed to being the most local too.

“The community networks will be invaluable to ensuring that the voices of communities across North Yorkshire are heard, and that local needs and priorities can be addressed.”

‘Don’t seem to make much sense’

Labour group leader Cllr Steve Shaw Wright said while the proposed organisations were “a start”, due to their lack of powers the networks would “end up like talking shops where people come and tub thump” and feature parishes with vastly different budgets and priorities.

He said: 

“They don’t seem to make much sense at the moment. My patch is so diverse, trying to get something that works for everybody is going to be difficult.”

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Cllr Andy Brown, leader of the Green group, said he did not understand how community networks would help and that there was a risk of confusion between the roles of parish and town councils, the county authority’s area constituency committees and the unitary council and mayoral combined authority.

He said: 

“I don’t understand when they were approved or how their geography was determined. My biggest concern is nobody consulted the local councillors about the geography of these networks.

“If you are going to have community networks they have to be communities.”

Independent group leader Cllr Stuart Parsons said the community networks would have “no power to make decisions or determine anything”.

He said: 

“How these organisations are supposed to have any impact is beyond me. 

“For example, if a Community Network was to make a recommendation to increase bus services the unitary council’s executive could just turn round and say it can’t afford it. There’s nothing for these networks to have any bite.”

Cllr Bryn Griffiths, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said although it was positive that members of communities would be working together to achieve a common goal, there were issues over the networks’ governance, accountability and how they would be financed.

He said: 

“There is potential for these networks to be hijacked by individuals for their own purposes and the role of elected members could be circumvented. I also have concerns they will go their own way and do their own thing.”