Cllr Michael Graham, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Growth, said: “We’ve ambitious plans to invest in Knottingley and to deliver fantastic new facilities that residents have asked for. “We’re pleased that thanks to lots of input from residents and businesses we are pushing forward with these plans. Knottingley is a very important part of our district and we want to deliver the best outcomes for the local community.”
Plans for modern sport and recreational facility in Knottingley to be discussed
An update on the Knottingley Regeneration Programme is set to be discussed by Wakefield Council Cabinet members next week (16 July).
Phase one will see the demolition of the former Kellingley Social Club and existing pavilion, and the building of a new, purpose-built pavilion subject to approval.
The Council is looking at designs for the new, modern pavilion building. It would offer better facilities for the local football club, and other sporting groups that use it, with a bar and function room that will provide the community with a space for events, and gatherings.
There will also be new car parking and landscaping to complement the new facility and wider site.
In September, there will be a further report where Cabinet will be asked to approve the costs to complete phase one.
The majority of people who responded to a public consultation said they thought Knottingley would benefit from a new and modern sport and recreational facility. People also fed back that they supported demolition of the derelict Social Club which is unsafe and impractical to repair.
At their meeting Councillors will also be asked to approve funding for design and infrastructure works to support phase two of the project.
Phase two will look to design and build a new wellbeing hub, with recreational activities and landscaping.
Key stakeholders have fed back on initial designs, and these will be submitted for approval to Cabinet later in the year.
Landmark case result: Anglian Water fined for ignoring Environment Agency
Anglian Water Services Ltd has been ordered to pay more than £50,000 for failing to provide records required by the Environment Agency. The order includes a £25,000 fine, £190 victim surcharge and £25,000 in costs.
Sentencing took place today at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court after the water company was convicted on 24 May 2024.
This is the first conviction of its kind by the Environment Agency against a water company and sets a precedent for the regulation of non-compliant companies.
Since launching the investigation into Anglian Water Service Ltd’s compliance, the Environment Agency has served several statutory requirements for records on the company. Anglian Water Services Ltd has been convicted of failing, without reasonable excuse, to respond to one of these notices, served between dates in January 2022 and January 2023.
Anglian Water Services Ltd had entered a not guilty plea to the charge, claiming that they had a reasonable excuse for non-compliance. Having heard the evidence in the case, District Judge Kenneth Sheraton rejected the water company’s claim.
The case against Anglian Water Services Ltd arose out of a wider criminal investigation involving all ten English water companies looking into potential non-compliance with environmental permit conditions at over 2,000 wastewater treatment works.
The Environment Agency hopes that today’s sentence will help the regulator to bring all water companies into compliance and reduce environmental pollution.
Official Reciever plans to give £280m to Thomas Cook creditors
The Official Receiver has announced plans to return £280m to creditors of the Thomas Cook group of companies, the high-street travel chain which went into liquidation in 2019.
Following the collapse of the Thomas Cook group of companies, the Official Receiver has worked across a complex group of liquidations to realise all available assets for the benefit of creditors.
This has included a broad range of assets including the sale of airport slots, hotel investments and high street stores which were owned across the group of companies.
David Chapman, who was appointed by the Court as Official Receiver and Liquidator of the group, said: “I understand that a lot of people lost money following the collapse of Thomas Cook. My team has been working hard to finalise the liquidation, maximising funds which can now be distributed to creditors.
“I would encourage creditors to visit the dedicated Thomas Cook Claims Site to check the position regarding their claim as soon as possible, so we can consider whether they should receive any part of the funds being distributed.“
The Thomas Cook group is made up of 57 different companies in liquidation, not all of which will make payments to creditors and the payments made will be at different rates for each company.
It is expected that eligible creditors will be paid before the end of September 2024.Yorkshire businesses go wheel to wheel in endurance charity karting championship
Motor racing driver Rowan Campbell-Pilling has been uniting Yorkshire businesses on the racetrack to raise cash for charity and compete for a coveted trophy.
Sheffield-based Rowan, a 17-year-old Motorsport UK Academy driver, is a rising star of British motorsport and organised the inter-company karting event at Parkwood Karting in the city.
The two-day event at the outdoor track included teams from a range of businesses including law firms, motor dealerships, engineering businesses and an online retailer.
Gripple, Irwin Mitchell, Cobra Sport, WPA Healthcare, Veezu, H Harrold & Sons and Mattress Online completed the fastest laps and will now compete in the Steel City Cup Final in September.
These teams were joined by Burrows Motor Company, Widd Signs and Monaghans who also competed and contributed to the event and money raised.
Funds raised through the event will be donated to The Children’s Hospital Charity where Rowan is an Ambassador.
Rowan said: “It’s been great to host the first part of our second ever Steel City Cup. It’s been brilliant to bring so many businesses together whilst raising vital funds.
“My family and I know first-hand how important the services at The Children’s Hospital Charity are because I had to use the hospital as a child. Being able to boost the charity’s funds and introduce people to karting is brilliant.”
Rob Gurruchaga, Development Officer from The Children’s Hospital Charity, added: “The event was brilliant and we’re now looking forward to the final in September which will be a hotly contested event.
“Rowan is very supportive of the charity and plays an excellent role as an Ambassador. We’re delighted he’s in our team and the money raised from the event will make a huge difference to the lives of our patients, families and staff.”
Rowan is currently competing in his first Rokit British F4 certified by the FIA Season, driving for the Phinsys by Argenti team. This is seen as the first rung on the ladder towards Formula 1.
He joined the F4 grid following a successful karting career, where he competed in the Daniel Ricciardo Series and IAME X30 in both the junior and senior classes.
The Steel City Cup Final will be held at Parkwood Karting on 12 September. During this, all teams will be welcomed back for a BBQ and networking.
Another step forwards for North Hykeham Relief Road
Lincolnshire county council’s Executive has given officers the green light to pursue the necessary legal orders and land acquisitions for the North Hykeham Relief Road project.
The county council’s Executive voted to progress with publishing the legal orders during their meeting on Tuesday 2 July.
Cllr Richard Davies, Executive Member for Highways, said: “This is another huge milestone for the project that brings us one step closer to making the final piece of Lincoln’s ring road a reality.
“The next step is to publish the legal orders and wait while the consultation process is underway. Once the consultation period’s ended, we’ll have a clearer idea of whether a public inquiry will be needed.
“There’s an enormous about of legal paperwork to get through with a road of this size before we can actually start building, but we’re doing all we can to move things along so we can start works late next year.
“In the meantime, the team will also continue working on preparing a full business case for the DfT.”
Construction of the new relief road is expected to start in late 2025 and to be open by late 2028. The cost of the project is currently estimated to be between £180m and £208m.
The North Hykeham Relief Road project will see a new dual carriageway built, linking the A46 Pennells Roundabout to the newly constructed Lincoln Eastern Bypass, creating a complete ring road around the city.
As part of the project, new roundabouts would be built at South Hykeham Road, Brant Road and Grantham Road. A number of bridges would also be constructed, including at Station Road and over the River Witham.
Eight new recruits for G&H Group
G&H Group, the Leeds-based mechanical, electrical and public health service (MEP) provider, has made eight new appointments to its team following sustained growth.
To further expand its Projects division which delivers independent (MEP) services for schemes typically valued between £50,000 and £1 million, G&H Group has recruited James Hutchinson as head of solar to build its solar photovoltaic (PV) team. Previously operations director for Radius Charge where he was responsible for all project delivery and installation of renewable infrastructure, James has over 20 years’ experience in the electrical engineering sector with 12 years in renewables.
Joining James in G&H Group’s Projects division as mechanical supervisor is 40-year industry veteran, Nick Mundy. G&H Group’s Projects division has extensive experience delivering projects for education facilities such as schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts and Nick will support with work sequence strategy, materials management, and safe methods of working.
G&H Group’s Building Services division has made six new appointments to support the complex, large-scale new build and retrofit schemes in which it specialises. Daniel Gowland joins from JLM M&E as mechanical project manager, leading on projects including Harrogate College, Pudsey Sixth Form and Leeds City Town Hall.
With a career spanning 30 years, most recently at JLM M&E, Darren Hartley joins G&H Group Building Services as electrical estimator for project estimation and delivery. Mohammad Choudhary joins from Waites Mechanical Services as project engineer. In this integral role, Mohammad will be creating programme schedules, forecasting project costs, producing technical submittals, forecasting labour, and managing site labour as well as procuring materials.
Reporting to Building Services (South) operations manager, Paul Cuss, Gearoid McCool, Peter Violet, and Trevor Archer join as senior contracts manager, senior technical services manager, and project manager respectively.
Marc Ambler, group director at G&H Group, said: “With new schemes starting, and an increasing number of enquiries, it’s great to welcome Darren, Mohammad, Daniel, Nick, James, Gearoid, Peter and Trevor to G&H Group. We welcome their skills and expertise and look forward to them further developing their careers.”
More than 3,000 jobs saved as buyer found for Sheffield business
Over 3,000 jobs have been saved after a buyer was found for Sheffield’s IPM Group.
Danielle Shore and Ryan Holdsworth from the Sheffield office of insolvency and business turnaround specialists Leonard Curtis, were appointed joint administrators of the company.
Launched in 2006, Intelligent Protection Management Group is an award-winning multi-service security, facilities management and stadium management organisation, which employs over 200 staff in South Yorkshire along with a workforce of more than 3,000 casual workers throughout the country.
Its clients come from both the public and private sectors and include councils, football clubs, the NHS, high street retailers, the catering and hospitality industry, social housing schemes and the leisure industry.
The joint administrators have confirmed that a buyer has been found for the business and that all jobs have been secured.
Danielle Shore said: “This is a great result for the company and for the region’s economy and we are particularly delighted that jobs have been saved now that the company’s future has been assured.
“By recognising the warning signs and seeking professional advice, IPM safeguarded an extremely successful business and ensured its continued success despite some unexpected challenges.
“We are pleased that such a positive outcome has been reached and wish the new owners every success as they take the business forward.”
The administrators were supported by the legal team at Irwin Mitchell and the purchaser was represented by MD Law.
Community projects to benefit from Yorkshire Water employees’ help
Yorkshire Water has partnered with Bradford-based non-profit organisation Participate Projects, to encourage employees to get involved in community projects.
The partnership will see Yorkshire Water colleagues embarking on a range of volunteering projects from decorating community spaces to building outdoor play areas.
The programme is already under way – Yorkshire Water volunteers have visited Beckfoot Heaton Primary School in Bradford to build a welly shed and New Park Primary School in Harrogate to support indoor and outdoor renovations.
The visit to New Park Primary School comes as work continues on the £19m investment in nearby Killinghall wastewater treatment works to reduce the amount of Phosphorous entering the river Nidd via treated wastewater.
Anne Reed, social value and education advisor at Yorkshire Water, said: “Our colleagues are passionate about helping out in local communities and providing value beyond our water and wastewater services. Investment in our operational sites, such as our project at Killinghall, provides us with an opportunity to go beyond the engineering projects and make a difference to the wider community.
“By partnering with Participate Projects, we’re hoping to increase the frequency of our volunteering events and provide meaningful support to even more organisations and people across Yorkshire.”
Anthony Waddington, CEO at Participate Projects, added: “We are really excited to see Yorkshire Water colleagues’ time and skills make a real impact in the communities where they operate. The passion and enthusiasm we have seen from them in supporting the people and places around them is a great match to the values and mission of Participate.”
Law firm deepens commitment to Yorkshire with acquisition of Leeds solicitors
Yorkshire law firm Ison Harrison has acquired Cohen Cramer Solicitors, a firm with a presence in Leeds and a national clientele.
Ison Harrison says the move underscores its “commitment to growth, excellence, and its unique value of being an employee-owned business.”
Cohen Cramer has roots dating back to 1980 when Howard Cohen & Co was established. In 2009, the business merged with Cramer Richards, forming Cohen Cramer. It specialises in personal injury, regulatory and criminal law, as well as animal related cases, family law, dispute resolution and legal costs.
With a team of four directors and 27 employees, the firm achieved a turnover exceeding £3 million last year.
This acquisition significantly enhances Ison Harrison’s footprint in the region, bringing the total number of staff to over 300 and solidifying its position with 20 offices across Yorkshire.
Jonathan Wearing, Managing Director of Ison Harrison, says: “This acquisition is a testament to our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional and accessible legal services across Yorkshire.
“By linking up with Cohen Cramer’s specialist lawyers, we are not only expanding our team but also enhancing our ability to serve our clients with a broader and more robust range of legal services.
“Cohen Cramer’s strengths in regulatory and criminal law perfectly complement our existing capabilities, and their focus on military and animal-related injury claims will significantly enhance our personal injury practice. We are stronger and more versatile than ever before.”
Emma Mason, Managing Director of Cohen Cramer, says: “Joining forces with Ison Harrison is an incredible opportunity for us. The firm’s strong reputation and extensive regional presence will enhance our ability to deliver outstanding service to our clients.
“We are proud to become part of an innovative, employee-owned firm that shares our passion for client-centred legal practice. We are a great fit.”
Consultation launched on future opportunities for Keighley
Views are being sought on how up to £20m should be spent in Keighley, as part of a consultation.
Keighley was one of 75 places around the UK selected to share £1.1billion over the next ten years, as part of the Long-Term Plan for Towns scheme, from the Government’s Levelling Up programme.
The award is in addition to the £33.6m previously granted in 2021 through the Towns Fund. The Keighley Town Board has been set up to oversee both streams of funding and will develop a long-term plan for the Keighley and surrounding ‘Brontë Country’ area.
A consultation, both online and in person, is now under way, seeking local people’s views on:
- Improving transport and connections to make travel easier for residents and increase visitor numbers, to boost opportunities for small businesses and create jobs
- Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour
- Enhancing the town centre to make it more attractive and accessible, including re-purposing empty shops for new housing, improving green spaces and street cleaning
