Latest news with #Kirkby
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Drivers aged 21 take control of Wensleydale Railway's trains
A heritage railway now has three men who are qualified to drive its trains at the age of just Kirkby is one of the staff who began driving as soon as he reached the minimum age for operating the Wensleydale Railway's Pacer diesel units."It's pretty amazing. I turn up and basically do my hobby. It's all good fun," he said. Mr Kirkby, from Harrogate, followed in the footsteps of George Stephens, who qualified as a driver in April.A small staff of 10 work at the North Yorkshire heritage railway alongside a team of line was originally closed to passengers in 1954, though parts of it remained opened for military traffic serving Catterick Garrison. It has been a preserved railway since and fundraising manager Nick Keegan said it was "unusual" to attract young recruits to a pastime more often associated with elderly men."The heritage railway sector has always been very much retired people, driven by passion."They're people who have gone into this environment to preserve the railways so that future generations can enjoy them."Mr Keegan added that the three young drivers had been at the Wensleydale Railway for three years and progressed through various roles."It's a credit to the people in the key positions, like our operations and engineering manager who oversaw the driver training and supervision and things." Mr Kirkby said: "There was some people on the other week and they were discussing whether I was actually the driver or not because they didn't think I was old enough!"He currently drives the Class 143 Pacers - 1980s diesels which were often used on commuter routes in Yorkshire until their retirement - and shunting engines."I'm doing various jobs around the railway here, not just driving trains all day."Hopefully I'll progress onto different loco types, build up my knowledge - maybe in the engineering side as well," he added."Anybody can do it if you've got the right mindset and are willing to put the time and effort in."When you're sat here you always see different scenery."It's different every day you do it, and even on a trip-by-trip basis there's always different things going on." There are 350 volunteers at the railway, which trains them from the age of Keegan said: "There's an awful lot of roles that volunteers can fill, not just potentially to become drivers in the future."The younger volunteers are the future of our railway and the future of society as well." At 20 miles (32km) in length, the route is one of the longest heritage lines in the UK, running between Leeming Bar and Leyburn. The stations are themed around different time first train ran on the preserved route 11 months before Mr Kirkby was born, following the formation of the Wensleydale Railway Company. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Kirkby: £1m 'down the drain' as danger flats set to close
Up to £1m of tenants' and taxpayers' money has been spent trying to stop two dangerous blocks of flats from closing down, the BBC can Rise and Willow Rise in Kirkby, Merseyside, were due to be shut on Monday - and all their residents become homeless - because of serious fire safety owners said they had been through "years of hell" spending extra money on repairs, asbestos removal and other costs while the value of their properties MP Anneliese Midgley said they had been victims of a "broken leasehold system", but the buildings' landlord said residents were responsible for their upkeep and management. The 160-flat former council blocks were refurbished as "luxury living" apartments in 2007 and sold for up to £100,000 said that as fire safety issues were identified by the fire service, it had fallen on them to pay to try to fix Council has had to spend close to £400,000 on safety patrols, which "ensured residents did not need to leave their homes". Dave Hemmings, 72, told the BBC that when he moved into Beech House, his "only thought was how they would get my coffin out in the lift", because he expected to live there for the rest of his said: "It was fantastic when I moved in. Loads of space, nice views. But there have been four management companies in the seven years I've been here and obviously they've not used the money the way they were supposed to. "The lifts don't work, it stinks, the building's gone down while my service charges have gone from £1,100 a year when I moved in to over £4,000 now, and I'm getting evicted." In 2011, the original developer sold the "head lease" of the buildings to a firm run by businessman Michael Gubbay, who has a portfolio of hundreds of freeholds and leaseholds around the UK registered to several firms based in the British Virgin firms, or firms linked to relatives or business associates, were appointed to manage the blocks on behalf of the residents' management owner Mike Jones, 42, said when £330,000 was raised to pay towards fire doors and other fire safety works, thousands of pounds in professional management fees were added he said, the works were to a poor standard and not completed and the building deteriorated. In 2019, the head leases for the buildings were transferred from one of Mr Gubbay's offshore-registered companies to one now owned by high-profile London-based multi-millionaire investors Robert and Vincent Tchenguiz, who at one time were reported to own about 250,000 Gubbay ceased to have anything to do with the buildings in 2021, and the BBC has learned that a subsequent 10-month delay installing a fire alarm system paid for with a £40,000 government grant meant Knowsley Council had to step in to pay for 24-hour safety patrols at a cost of £380, Jones said he and fellow leaseholder Elaine Shaw had joined the board of the residents' management committee in 2023 in an attempt to bring in new managing agents and to get things back on track, but said trying to fix the buildings' problems had become an impossible resigned in April when, he said, it became clear the fire service was not going to allow any extra time to try to sort out the building's fire safety problems. "While these companies have been making money out of these buildings, they have become more and more unsafe," said Mr Jones, who paid about £95,000 for his flat."There was an elderly, vulnerable leaseholder with health problems who had to sleep in his car because the lifts didn't work, and he could not get up the stairs."He was still being chased for money and begging me to help him go bankrupt due to the stress, but passed away before we could help.""We've been dragged through hell and have contacted anyone and everyone for help, but it all falls on deaf ears."Mr Gubbay told the BBC he was "on holiday" and has not responded to requests for comment. Although the Tchenguiz brothers' firm Rockwell FC100 is the landlord of the buildings and charges ground rents to the leaseholders, it does not own the buildings are owned as part of the freehold, which was still held by housing association Livv Housing until 2022, when it sold it to a company called T R dormant, Salford-based micro-company – which the BBC has not been able to contact - paid £5, Housing said it sold the land after a "formal valuation" and that it did so because its long-term strategy "did not include plans to build or manage any more high-rise blocks, therefore retention of the land was not necessary".Elaine Shaw, 68, bought her flat in Willow Rise in 2007 for £66,000 plus said she had hoped the rental income would give her a more comfortable retirement after being widowed, but now was on antidepressants and suffering from acute with the building about to close, she feared her investment was now Shaw said she had no idea what the sale of the freehold meant for her or the other leaseholders who had between them paid millions of pounds for flats on the added: "I have a whole gamut of feelings - anger, outrage, and disgust at the systems and bodies which have allowed this situation to develop."But the most difficult feeling is helplessness. This whole thing has blighted my life."She said flat owners' and taxpayers' money had gone "down the drain", adding: "We've been totally drained for years." Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said it had no choice but to order the closure of the buildings "in the absence of any suitable plans to remediate the fire safety shortfalls".The fire service has not specified exactly what problems were forcing the closure of the buildings, and original developer LPC Living told the BBC it had received "all required approvals and certification".Speaking after it emerged the flats would have to be abandoned after Knowsley Council's most recent £3,000-a-day safety patrols ended, MP Midgley said "historical owners and management companies have walked away from their responsibilities", adding they had "failed to carry out essential fire safety work, failed to repair broken lifts, and failed to maintain these homes to even a basic standard"."Despite recent directors and a new management company's best efforts to remediate, the failures that have been exposed are far too great," she described the situation as a "failure of the broken leasehold system". 'Real risks' The government has described the wider leasehold system in England and Wales as "feudal", and that it had "fallen woefully short of the dreams of homeowners".But it currently faces a High Court battle against its plans to abolish the leasehold system altogether, with major freeholders arguing the changes could cost them millions of pounds.A spokesman for Rockwell FC100 told the BBC the residents' management company had "sole responsibility for managing the buildings and collecting and spending service charge money".The spokesman said Rockwell FC100 was investigating "what has led to the current situation".And he added: "The situation at these buildings demonstrates the real risks and consequences which will increasingly face residents up and down the country if the government introduces reforms which force professional freeholders to exit the market and instead impose responsibilities for overseeing buildings onto leaseholders, regardless of whether or not they wish to or are able to discharge these responsibilities."Leaseholders Mr Hemmings, Mr Jones and Ms Shaw said the changes that might stop the imposition of for-profit professional management companies by landlords could not come soon Shaw said: "We will fight on to the bitter end, although the odds are stacked against us."There is no such thing as a level playing field for 'ordinary working people', and no justice unless you are stinking rich." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
New York Times
20-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Darwin Nunez scores hat-trick in Liverpool's five-goal friendly win against Stoke
Darwin Nunez scored a hat-trick as Liverpool beat Stoke City 5-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Kirkby. The Uruguayan striker, whose future at Anfield is uncertain amid interest from clubs in both Europe and Saudi Arabia, continued his impressive start to pre-season having also netted in last weekend's 3-1 win at Preston & North End. Advertisement Nunez's treble and a goal from teenage winger Rio Ngumoha helped Arne Slot's side race into a 4-0 half-time lead against the Championship outfit on Sunday. Liverpool record signing Florian Wirtz started the game, making his first appearance since completing a £116million move from Bayer Leverkusen. The Germany international operated behind a front three of Mohamed Salah, Nunez and Ngumoha. Federico Chiesa was among the players introduced in the second half and he completed the scoring with Liverpool's fifth goal. Slot's squad fly off on their pre-season of Asia on Sunday evening, their first stop is Hong Kong where they will face AC Milan next Saturday at the new 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium. Liverpool will then head for Tokyo as the club visit Japan for the first time since the 2005 Club World Championship final when Rafael Benitez's side lost 1-0 against Sao Paolo. Local team Yokohama F Marinos, who are bottom of the 20-team J1 League, will provide the opposition at the 72,000-capacity Nissan Stadium on July 30. ()
BBC News
18-07-2025
- BBC News
Man charged with murder of dad shot on doorstep
A man has been charged with murder 12 months after a dad was shot yards from his children in Berry, known by his nickname Nuggy, was struck by four bullets fired by 27-year-old Michael Smith on 17 July 2024. Mr Berry, 36, was in the open doorway of his partner's home on Quarryside Drive and collapsed inside where his then 13-year-old son and four-year-old daughter were present. Three men have already been jailed for life over the killing but Merseyside Police has now charged Ryan Walsh-Westhead, 24, with murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Mr Walsh-Westhead, from Burscough Street in Ormskirk, was arrested on Thursday exactly one year on from Mr Berry's murder. A 45-year-old woman from Kirkby, who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released under investigation. In February this year Smith, 27 and from Kirkby, was convicted of murder alongside Adam Williams, 26 and from St Helens, and Connor Walsh, 26 and from Kirkby. Smith and Williams were given life sentences with minimum terms of 31 years while Walsh was handed a 30-year minimum term. The jury had heard Smith had opened fire from the back of an electric bike with a handgun at 18:30 BST after pulling up on the kerb outside the house. Det Insp Graeme Osborne said: "We have charged a man in connection with the murder of Rikki Berry and I would like to remind people that this is a live investigation."Please be mindful that anything posted or shared on social media could jeopardise proceedings, so please support us as we move forward with the case. The best way to help is to pass information on through official channels." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- BBC News
New arrests made after dad shot dead at home near his children
Two people have been arrested a year on from the murder of a young dad shot dead close to his terrified children. Three men have already been jailed for life for the murder of 36-year-old Rikki Berry in Kirkby on 17 July 2024. But Merseyside Police said the investigation remained ongoing and exactly 12 months later have arrested a man on suspicion of murder and a woman on suspicion of assisting an offender. Mr Berry was standing in the front doorway of his partner's house on Quarryside Drive when 27-year-old Michael Smith pulled up on an electric bike at 18:30 BST and fired four shots. His 13-year-old son and four-year-old daughter were playing inside the property when Mr Berry, nicknamed Nuggy, was hit. The court heard one bullet passed through the house and lodged in one of his son's football trophies. In a victim impact statement read in court the boy asked Smith and his accomplices, 26-year-old Adam Williams and Connor Walsh, 27, how it felt to know "I had to watch my dad die". They were convicted of murder and related offences at Liverpool Crown Court in February. Smith and Williams received life sentences with a minimum term of 31 years, while Walsh received a 30-year minimum term. Merseyside Police said on Thursday that the new suspects, a 24-year-old man from Ormskirk and a 45-year-old woman from Kirkby, remain in custody for questioningDet Insp Graeme Osborne said: "Offenders should be assured that we will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to take their weapons off them and that time is no barrier in our efforts to bring people to justice."Information from the public is an absolutely crucial part of our work to protect our communities from the fear and harm weapons can bring and we appeal to anyone who has information on where weapons are being stored, carried and used to come forward." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
