Local Democracy Reporting Service

Scaled-back plans for an oil and gas drilling site in East Yorkshire are set to be lodged by the end of the year after councillors blocked earlier proposals.

Rathlin Energy says new plans for its West Newton A site in Holderness would cover a smaller area and feature fewer wells, after unsuccessfully applying for six more in September.

The company added it was still taking legal advice on whether to mount a bid to overturn East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s refusal of earlier plans with an appeal.

It comes as the Environment Agency has also called for people’s views on Rathlin’s bid to alter its permit for West Newton A, separate from its planning application.

The company is seeking to change conditions on its existing permit to build six more wells, move oil silos and install gas engines to make electricity for the National Grid.

The company first lodged its permit change application in July and councillors voted in September to refuse Rathlin’s application to build the new wells.

Rathlin’s director, John Hodgins, told the committee the plans would provide a secure, local source of oil and gas, create jobs and cement the Humber’s position as the "energy estuary".

But local residents and objectors, including ward councillors, claimed the plans were flawed, including because roads could not handle more lorry traffic.

Ex-Royal Navy sailor Geoffrey Rooney, who was jailed in 2015, admits more offences.

Richard Madden
BBC Radio Humberside

The operators of Hull's MKM Stadium have outlined plans to increase matchday stewarding and checks in a bid to stamp out a "sharp rise" in anti-social and violent behaviour.

The SuperStadium Management Company (SMC) says its worked alongside Humberside Police after seeing an increase in incidents among Hull City supporters since August 2021.

A trial scheme saw additional stewards deployed in areas of the East Stand and stadium bans handed to a number of individuals.

In a statement, SMC said: "The reality is that overcrowding and anti-social behaviour in certain home areas of the stadium had reached a point where we were facing the very real possibility of severe sanctions by the local authority and our regulatory body.

"It’s vital to us that everyone feels they can come to the MKM Stadium to support their team – especially those with young families.

"This is a practical solution to a very real problem that was starting to have a big impact on the stadium, staff, supporters and, ultimately, the football club."

PC Christopher Hudson, of Huddersfield, was suspended by North Yorkshire Police after the allegation.

Tim Daley
Journalist, BBC Radio Leeds

The owner of a chain of bars across the north of England says he doesn’t understand why vaccine passports are being introduced for nightclubs and large indoor venues, claiming there’s “already proof they don’t work”.

Image source, Getty Images

From Wednesday 15 December, people will be required to show Covid passports to enter nightclubs and other large venues.

The prime minister has described the changes as "proportionate and responsible" after the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Martin Greenhow, who owns the Mojo chain of five bars, told BBC Radio Leeds: “They’re an impractical measure. They don’t work.

“Scotland showed that. Wales showed that. Germany, Austria - they haven’t achieved their goals."

At the moment, bars and restaurants are exempt from the rule changes and the reintroduction of mask-wearing in most public places.

However, Mr Greenhow has also warned of hard times ahead for the hospitality sector.

“It won’t actually directly impact my businesses at the moment. It’s going to primarily hit the nightclub sector and I could weep for them," he said.

“These are businesses which have only just started to stagger back to their feet and they’re going to be crushed again.

“My concern is that this is only the first step."

Hear more from Martin Greenhow below:

From Friday 10 December, mask-wearing will be mandatory in most indoor venues, including places of worship, theatres and cinemas, as well as in shops and on public transport.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said the new restrictions would buy time against the Omicron variant amid a "credible risk" of a crisis in the NHS.

MPs will vote on the introduction of a requirement to show an NHS Covid Pass on 15 December.

A quad bike rider is in a critical condition in hospital after being involved in a collision with a car in South Yorkshire.

Image source, Google

The crash happened at about 21:05 on Wednesday on Broomhouse Lane in Edlington, according to police.

A group of quad bikes joined the road from a parking area opposite Lords Head Lane and one of them was involved in a collision with a car travelling towards Doncaster.

The quad bikes then travelled in the opposite direction on Broomhouse Lane towards Edlington, officers say.

The rider of the quad bike, who stopped further up the road, suffered serious head injuries and had to be taken to hospital for treatment. The car driver remained at the scene.

Officers are now appealing for anyone who saw what happened to get in touch.

Insp Jason Booth says: "We want to develop a complete picture of what happened here.

"If anyone witnessed the moments before the incident, the incident itself, or has dash cam footage which captured any of it which could help the investigation, please get in touch."

Local residents step in after thieves target a North Lincolnshire charity's warehouse.

Richard Madden
BBC Radio Humberside

Plans to build an Advanced Manufacturing Park in North Lincolnshire have moved a step closer after the local authority acquired 60 acres of land on the edge of Scunthorpe.

Image source, North Lincolnshire Council

The land has been bought using cash from the government's Town Fund "levelling up" scheme and is the latest national investment into the area which has also seen flood defence work on the River Trent and improvements to the Burringham Bypass.

Officials say the park could create 2,000 jobs when completed and will now go through the planning process.

Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, says: "This is a massively exciting project which will have profound effects on the area for generations and will be a globally significant hub for research, development and innovation.

"We are already leaders in advanced steel-making and this development will create the right environment for more world-leading businesses to join the North Lincolnshire stable, creating and developing innovative, leading-edge products."

Leeds Bradford Airport's plan includes renewable heating contracts and zero-emission vehicles.

A man is undergoing surgery after he and another man were both stabbed in Leeds in the early hours of this morning.

Image source, Google

The two men, aged 24 and 26, were found with knife wounds just before 04:00 on the Halton Moor estate, according to West Yorkshire Police.

Both victims were taken to hospital following the incident at the junction of Coronation Parade and Cartmell Drive.

The 24-year-old victim was found to have serious injuries and is undergoing surgery, officers said. The 26-year-old’s injuries are not thought to be serious.

A police cordon remains in place around Coronation Parade while an investigation takes place.

Two men, aged 21 and 34, have been arrested in connection with the incident, officers confirmed.

Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact police.

From Wednesday, clubbers will have to prove they have been vaccinated or show a negative test.

Craig Collier set mattresses on fire before fleeing a house in Huddersfield as the blaze took hold.

Part of a major road in North Yorkshire is expected to be closed for several more hours following a medical emergency, National Highways says.

Image source, Crown copyright

All three lanes are currently closed on the southbound carriageway of the A1(M) between junction 49 (Dishforth) and junction 48 (Minskip).

National Highways says normal traffic conditions are now expected between 16:45 and 17:00.

Image source, Crown copyright

The northbound carriageway between junction 48 and junction 49 was also closed for a time to allow the Air Ambulance to land.

This section has now re-opened, according to North Yorkshire Police., external

A crackdown on Christmas drink and drug-driving in West Yorkshire has caught 77 offenders since it began nine days ago, say police.

The campaign's seen an average of 11 drivers a day arrested for driving after taking alcohol or drugs since 1 December, according to West Yorkshire Police.

A total of 38 drivers were arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and 32 drivers on suspicion of drug-driving, officers said.

Seven drivers have also been arrested for failing to provide a specimen.

For the first time in West Yorkshire, there are court rooms at both Leeds and Bradford Magistrates' Courts specifically for motorists caught drink or drug-driving around Christmas, police said.

BBC Radio Humberside

New Covid restrictions to be introduced by the government over the next few days are a "nightmare", according to the owners of a major Hull shopping centre.

Last night, the Prime Minister announced new measures to tighten up restrictions in a bid, he said, to stop the spread of the new Omicron variant.

The new measures include masks in most public places, Covid passes for some venues and work from home guidance.

The move comes as a new event space at Hull's Princes Quay shopping centre is due to be launched on Friday, turning a disused part of the site into a club with international DJs.

Aaron Mellor, from Tokyo Industries, which owns the shopping centre, has told BBC Radio Humberside: "It's just a nightmare. We've been battling this for 18 months. It seems like we have u-turn after u-turn and the government is going back on everything it says.

"Since the announcement, we've see loads of cancellations with artists saying they're unsure about travelling to the UK to perform and customers unsure about when it's all coming in.

"It doesn't feel like there's a common sense approach to any of this."

The new Covid rules in England will buy time against the Omicron variant amid a "credible risk" of a crisis in the NHS, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said.

He said the evidence was that Omicron was doubling every 2.5 or three days, which could mean a million infections by the end of the month.

Harry Newman agrees a new three-year contract with Leeds Rhinos, keeping him at Headingley until 2024.

A major road has been closed in North Yorkshire following a medical emergency, National Highways says.

Image source, Crown copyright

All lanes are currently closed on the southbound carriageway of the A1(M) between junction 49 (Dishforth) and junction 48 (Minskip).

The northbound carriageway between junction 48 and junction 49 was also closed for a time to allow the Air Ambulance to land.

This section has now re-opened, according to North Yorkshire Police., external

Image source, Crown copyright

There are long delays in the area, with motorists being advised to find an alternative route if possible.

National Highways says normal traffic conditions are expected between 13:30 and 13:45.

A police cordon is in place after a report of an explosion at a house in Huddersfield.

A CCTV image has been released after a supermarket security guard was assaulted in York.

Image source, North Yorkshire Police

The guard was attacked by someone using a shopping basket, causing cuts to his face and ear in Morrisons, Acomb, just after 18:00 on 30 November, according to North Yorkshire Police.

Image source, Google

Officers believe the man in the image has information about the assault.

Anyone who recognises him is asked to contact police.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Covid vaccination site at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground looks set to remain open into the New Year as the booster programme is ramped up in response to the Omicron variant.

Image source, Reuters/Lee Smith

NHS officials are in talks with the Yorkshire Event Centre, which delivered around 1,300 jabs when it reopened as a vaccine site on Monday.

The site initially planned to close on 22 December, but it now looks set to remain open for longer after the government announced an extension to the booster programme with all over-18s due to be offered a third jab by the end of January.

Heather Parry, managing director of the Yorkshire Event Centre, said talks with the NHS had been positive and that it was now “finalising details” for an extension of the site.

She said: "We are proud to have worked with the NHS throughout the pandemic and we will continue to support them.

“We are finalising details with the NHS about continuing to offer a vaccination centre here in the New Year and will work with them to ensure the public are updated as soon as possible."

The showground was used as a vaccine site earlier in the pandemic and has set an aim of delivering 20,000 jabs before 22 December.But if an extension is agreed, it is likely to surpass that target by some distance as all adults are offered a third dose.