Ripon Civic Society is urging Harrogate Borough Council not to rush the sale of Ripon’s Spa Baths.

The society believes serious consideration should be given to using the grade II listed building to increase health provision.

RCS chair Christopher Hughes told the Stray Ferret:

“Ripon Civic Society urges that disposal of Ripon Spa Baths must not happen without transparent evidence that its potential contribution to health provision in our growing city and wider value to the community have been thoroughly addressed.”

The Ripon Neighbourhood Plan identified the baths as an important and accessible location for Ripon’s NHS facilities.

It set out how it could enhance health facilities for the city in coordination with the nearby Ripon Community Hospital and general practices.

Read more:

• Council’s concerns over proposed sale of Ripon Spa Baths
• Ripon Hospital patients moved out after covid outbreak

The plan, which involved input from HBC, Ripon City Council, RCS and other partners, states:

“The Spa Quarter provides the largest area of protected open space for the city centre, the enhancement of which through integration of currently separated Spa Park and Spa Gardens,  (it) is significant for the city centre’s atmosphere and amenity.”

Mr Hughes said RCS was surprised to learn that Harrogate Borough Council is selling the Spa Baths:

He added:

“What is important is that the Ripon Neighbourhood Plan acknowledges the eventual disposal of the Baths if and when they should become redundant. They are a principal part of the Spa Quarter and part of the big picture for Ripon city centre.”

The society believes the new Ripon Renewal project provides an immediate opportunity to explore how the Spa  Baths can best contribute to the city’s regeneration.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman said:

“Ripon Spa Baths has served the community well over the years and is now being replaced by a modern, state-of-the-art pool at Ripon Leisure Centre, following significant investment by the borough council.

“This new six-lane 25-metre pool will offer 70 per cent more water space, extensive changing facilities, bicycle and car parking and complements the extensively improved leisure centre.

“Once the project is complete, it will provide much needed state-of-the-art facilities that will encourage a healthier and more active lifestyle for our residents, and provide one of the most modern leisure facilities in the region.

“The future sale, and redevelopment of the listed building, would allow this local asset to be redeveloped (subject to planning approval), retain key features and remain as a city landmark.”

Despite covid and “mountains of paperwork” caused by Brexit, Ripon Engineering Supplies is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary with further expansion.

Established in 1981 by Richard Lawrence, the company supplies engineering products to the trade and public.

It employs 13 staff at its new Camp Hill Close premises and plans to add to that number – despite the huge recent challenges.

Mr Lawrence, the managing director, told the Stray Ferret:

“Brexit has had a bigger negative effect on the business than covid.

“We’re just hoping it’s teething problems, as the UK adjusts to being out of Europe.

“It’s not looking too promising at present – and I’m sure we’re not alone in facing these issues, including the frustration of dealing with mountains of time-consuming paperwork.”

China-made products subject to tariffs 

Many products are manufactured in China and are subject to tariffs when they are transported through the channel ports.

Besides increasing costs, the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union is also causing delays.

Daniel Smith, the company’s sales and marketing manger, said:

“Some items that we were able to order and receive the next day are now held up for weeks at the docks.”

However, the company, which stocks over 50,000 items ranging from a 4 mm nut costing a penny to large welding equipment costing £5,000, remains focused on the future.

Storemen Zac Garrington (left) and Joel Francis are among the locally recruited staff.

Healthy year-on-year growth of between 10 to 12 percent means Ripon Engineering Supplies is now operating from its fifth location in the city.

Each move to larger premises has been prompted by increased demand.

Read more:

• Better deal sought on Ripon Town Hall lease
• Another Ripon shop closes its doors

Mobile shop launched

As part of its strategic plan, the company has launched a mobile shop serving North Yorkshire.

Its one-stop shop on wheels takes essential components and tools to customers, including food factories, famers, engineers, mechanics and local government departments.

As well as providing a rapid response service, the covid-secure Mercedes Sprinter van reduces the need for people to visit the Camp Hill Close premises while social distancing requirements remain in place.

Mr Lawrence started as a sole trader with a second-hand Transit van and three children to feed, selling nuts, bolts, tools and a myriad of other products.

Two of those children, Mark and Sam, now work for the business and provide a ready-made route to succession for the day when Mr Lawrence and his wife and fellow director Paula, decide to take life a little easier.

Ripon councillors have rejected new lease terms being offered for the city’s historic town hall.

The hall and other heritage assets were transferred into the ownership of Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) in 1974.

However, there has been no lease in place on the building for many years.

Elected members want to secure the council’s long-term tenure ahead of devolution- the biggest shake-up in local government for more than 45 years.

In addition, they are seeking to negotiate a long-term lease for Market Square South, which they say is an under-utilised public space.

Councillors say Market Square South will remain an under-utilised city asset if restrictive lease terms are applied to its use.

HBC is proposing that, as part of the service charge element of a two-year lease, Ripon City Council accepts part responsibility for the maintenance of the building.

City council leader Andrew Williams told a virtual full-council meeting

“Accepting such terms would land us with an open-ended liability.

“The Council is not in a position to accept financial responsibility for maintenance that could include large-scale works, such as repair or even replacement of the town hall roof.

“No commercial business tenant would accept such a liability and we will not accept it because of the potential financial ramifications for council precept payers.”

The meeting was also told that the current draft lease includes a clause which says HBC only has to give two week’s notice, if it wishes to stage an event on Market Square South.

This space is approximately half of the total area of Market Square and Cllr Williams, said:

“If Harrogate Borough Council has this preferential use, the city will be unable to do long-term planning for events on this half of the square.”

Read more:

• Councillors determined to save Ripon heritage asset
• Force ‘took its eye of the ball’ on Ripon policing

An HBC spokesman said:

“The lease of Ripon Town Hall is still being discussed between the tenant (Ripon City Council) and the landlord (Harrogate Borough Council). Therefore we have nothing to add.”

Councillors voted unanimously to set up a working group to handle negotiations with HBC officers.

Ripon will see one of its value retailers close on Sunday.

Fultons Foods, which has operated in The Arcade for many years, is shutting up shop.

It joins a list of retailers to close in Ripon since the first covid lockdown last March.

A Stray Ferret reader, who asked not to be named, said:

“This is very sad news. Many people with limited income have been shopping there.”

This week store staff were busy clearing shelves and emptying freezers ahead of the weekend closure.

The Yorkshire retailer has more than 100 stores in the north of England, including two in Harrogate and one in Knaresborough.

It is understood that only the Ripon Fultons store in the Harrogate district is closing.

Over the 50 years since the business was established, Fultons has sold branded goods, including frozen foods, groceries and chilled foods at bargain basement prices.

Wren’s department store, which was home to more than 50 small independent retailers, closed at the end of November.

The Stray Ferret asked Frozen Value Ltd – which trades as Fultons Foods – what prompted its closure decision and what would happen to existing staff.

No response had been received at the time of going to press.

Read more:

• Lidl seeks approval for Ripon store
• See who has been selected as Ripon’s Community Diamond

Fultons’ soon-to-be vacant unit in The Arcade was previously occupied by a small Marks and Spencer food store.

M&S opened a purpose-built store in Rotary Way, Ripon last summer and could soon have Lidl as one of its neighbours at St Michael’s Retail Park.

If Lidl receives planning permission, it will bolster Ripon’s value retailer offering, alongside the Aldi in Stonebridgegate.

Fultons’ impending closure is the latest retail loss in Ripon city centre.

Other businesses to shut recently include Wrens, the city’s only department store, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Ponden Home and Jon Barrie menswear.

Parents worried about rising crime in Ripon are to start a petition calling for more full-time police on the city’s streets.

Last weekend, there was a more visible police presence in Ripon after weeks of rising tension about crime.

A spokesperson for the parents, who wished to remain anonymous, said:

“While we welcome this, we want to ensure that it is not simply a cosmetic exercise.

“We need a long-term solution, not a short-term fix.”

The spokesperson stressed parents were not criticising police but attempting to help them by getting more full-time officers. They added:

“In addition, we want them to have adequate facilities to do their job, including an interview room in the city.

“This would mean that officers don’t have to take people they have arrested for interview in Harrogate, reducing their numbers in Ripon every time this happens.”

Parents say facilities for police in Ripon are inadequate

Parents raised concerns about increasing violence and anti-social behaviour four months ago.

In October, one mother told the Stray Ferret:

“The impression that I and other mothers I meet have is that there is a growing gang culture. We believe it links into drug taking and dealing.

“It can be intimidating seeing groups of youths, some on bikes, congregating in parts of the city late at night.

“We are concerned that some might be carrying knives. We fear that somebody is going to be hurt.”

Inspector Steve Breen, who previously had responsibility for neighbourhood policing in Ripon, said at the time:

“We have essentially eradicated knife crime in Ripon through proactive use of stop and search tactics and intelligence-led disruption activity, leading to the imprisonment of some key individuals.”

But Ripon has been blighted by crime since, with five incidents in one three-hour spree this month, including a robbery, thefts and reports of a man carrying a machete.

Insp Breen’s successor, Insp Alex Langley has vowed to tackle the problem.

Read more:

• Man rescued from Ripon attack thought thugs would kill him
• Commission says force ‘took its eye off the ball on Ripon policing

In a statement, he said:

“Groups of youths have been breaching covid regulations by congregating in the Market Square, the bus station, and Bondgate to name a few.

“A new operation to tackle these issues was put in place at the end of last month, which means our communities will see an increase in patrols from various policing teams over the next few weeks and longer if required.

“This operation is not a long-term solution and we are working in the background with key partners on longer term plans to safeguard those most vulnerable in Ripon and prevent the most harm from offenders.

“Whilst we cannot always inform the public of some of the positive results we see due to ongoing investigations and court processes, please rest assured this operation has already seen results.”

Today, we reveal the name of the winner of the Ripon Community Diamond award.

Independent judges, the Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin and the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Revd. Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, had a socially-distanced meeting over the weekend to consider the nominations.

They decided the award would go to Suzanne Bowyer, who works at Community House in Allhallowgate, Ripon.

Since the first lockdown in March, Suzanne and a colleague have been focusing on the crucial role of keeping families and individuals fed.

Caroline Bentham, who nominated her, said:

“Suzanne and a colleague took over the food banks in March, when those who were running them had to give up and shield.

“They have had to deal with calls from the public who are trying to access the services that normally use Community House.

“Suzanne has helped mums at the end of their tether, who can’t get hold of a health visitor. She and her colleague do their work quietly, with no ‘look at me, aren’t we great attitude.”

Cllr Parkin told the Stray Ferret:

“It was heart-warming to read all the nominations and see the way in which people have gone the extra mile to help others in these difficult times.

“We read about the kindness shown to children, the elderly and disabled, hungry families and people just needing a helping hand.”

Dr Hartley added:

“It was a difficult task because of the very high standard of nominee that we had to select from.

“We congratulate all nominees and thank those who nominated them.”

Read more:

• The start of the search for Ripon’s Community Diamond
• Former Ripon Grammar School student is a natural for poetry

Throughout January, readers of the Stray Ferret were able to nominate a person who lives or works in the Ripon area, saying why they thought their nominee deserved the title of community diamond.

As well as the honour of being named as the city’s community diamond, Suzanne will receive a fabulous prize worth up to £1,000, donated by Red Buttons Jewellers and Hedley Hall.

Red Buttons, which shares The Vintage Room premises in Queen Street, Ripon, with Mr Hall and his antiques, collectables and vintage models business, will create, for the winner, a customised piece of jewellery, featuring the diamond in a gold or white gold setting.

The presentation to Suzanne will be arranged when The Vintage Room is back open after the current Covid lockdown is lifted.

A former Ripon Grammar School student has published a book of illustrated poetry in aid of a wildlife conservation charity.

Writer, artist, photographer and film-maker Alicia Hayden has launched ‘Rain before Rainbows’, a collection of illustrated poems written over the past ten years.

Sales of her book will help to raise money for the Tiggywinkles wild animal hospital.

She said:

“These poems are about wildlife and the natural world, its beauty and its fragility – and why it’s essential we protect it.”

The 21-year-old, who is now in her third year studying biological sciences at the University of Oxford, also makes films.

The wood mouse that features in one of Alicia’s short nature films

One of Alicia’s recent films, which featured a wood mouse, was broadcast on Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin’s Self-Isolating Bird Club on YouTube:

Alicia commented:

“That was really exciting. They said some lovely things about it too, which was very encouraging.”

Alicia won the RSPCA Young Photographer of the Year award, when she was ten years old, with a stunning picture of a hoverfly mid-air.

She was inspired to publish her poems after watching Sir David Attenborough’s 2020 documentary, Extinction: The Facts, about the devastation humans have wreaked on the natural world.

She said:

“I knew I wanted to raise awareness about the environment, and also donate money to a conservation charity.

“It was a lot of work, as well as a lot of fun.

“I really liked the fact Tiggywinkles works with British wildlife, which is what I like photographing and drawing.”

Read more:

• Councillors unite to save Ripon heritage asset
• See who was the first covid vaccine recipient at Ripon racecourse

Alicia hopes to pursue a career in wildlife conservation and communications, to help inspire others to protect the natural world.

Having been encouraged by her parents, who are also wildlife enthusiasts, and her teachers at RGS, Alicia said:

“All of my work is inspired by the natural world in some way, as I think there is so much intricacy and incredible behaviour to observe in nature.”

*Rain Before Rainbows, £10.99 (with 50 per cent of profits going to Tiggywinkles) is available from Little Ripon Bookshop and aliciahaydenshop.bigcartel.com.

Some say it with flowers, others express it in verse and it is a central theme of popular music and hymns.

The theme of love will take centre stage today – and it’s a special occasion for Ripon Cathedral, too.

Valentine’s Day comes a week before the first Sunday of Lent and Ripon Cathedral will feature in a special edition of Songs of Praise on BBC One at 1.15pm today. The pre-recorded programme focuses on the theme of Love and Lent.

Love and Lent will be in focus at Ripon Cathedral in a special edition of Songs of Praise

It includes a discussion between presenter Sean Fletcher and the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, who told the Stray Ferret:

“I reflected that often in Lent it’s popular to give something up.

“This Lent, because we have all lost so much in the past year, it’s an opportunity to take something up, to put on, as it were, the mantle of love

“We can be mindful of our neighbours and loved ones near and far.”

Dr Hartley said she reflected on the connections between Lent and lockdown. Although the former lasts just 40 days, it recalls Jesus’s 40 days in the wilderness.

Similarly, though lockdown leaves many people feeling isolated, Dr Hartley reflected that nobody is alone, even if it can feel that way.

Asked why Ripon Cathedral is so special, having been chosen as the venue for tomorrow’s programme, Dr Hartley said:

“Cathedrals have a profound sense of place and identity and are buildings where people can come and find God and be found by God.

“What makes Ripon special is its 7th century crypt, and that sense of people over hundreds of years coming to this place, making pilgrimage and praying.

“There’s a real strength in that for us today.”

Read more:

• Lidl plans to open a store in Ripon
• Ripon councillors united in bid to protect heritage asset

On a personal Valentine’s Day note, Dr Hartley is anticipating the continuation of a much-loved tradition with her husband Myles.

She said:

“He always declares Valentine’s Day ‘a season’!

“We will exchange home-made cards and enjoy a meal at home.”

The Environment Agency is now carrying out two separate investigations following an oil spill in Sharow, near Ripon.

Last week, the agency announced that it would investigate the way in which soil and debris contaminated with heating oil was dumped on Back Lane.

Now, the clean-up operation is also being investigated, a week after 100 cubic metres of material was removed from the ancient thoroughfare.

James Thornborough, an international expert on oil spillages on land and water who lives in Sharow, told the Stray Ferret:

“Just about anything that could go wrong, did go wrong.”

He pointed out:

“People may look on this as an isolated incident in a small North Yorkshire village, but the ramifications are potentially enormous.”

Oil traces in standing water on Back Lane, Sharow (Photo: James Thornborough)

Mr Thornborough has advised some of the world’s largest oil companies on spills and incident management.

He, and environmental expert Simon Warwick who also lives in the village, witnessed and took photographs of contractors carrying out last Friday’s clean-up.

Mr Warwick, director of the Lower Ure Conservation Trust, who was awarded an MBE for his outstanding work in nature conservation, said a branch from an ancient oak was damaged in the process. He added:

“We will discover over time what longer-term damage may have been caused to natural habitats by the oil that seeped into the lane and the hedgerow.”

Read more:

• Dumping of contaminated soil in Sharow is under investigation
• Force ‘took its eye off the ball’ on Ripon policing

The contaminated soil and debris was originally dumped in Back Lane after being cleared from an adjacent property, where domestic heating oil had leaked from a large plastic tank.

Mr Thornborough said:

“It was not the fault of the property owners, who did all of the right things as soon as the leak was discovered.

“They were subsequently the victims of a botched clear-up.”

The Environment Agency previously told the Stray Ferret it was investigating the dumping of the contaminated soil to see whether any offences had been committed. It said it was seeking assurances from the company responsible that the situation would be put right as quickly as possible.

However, after further damage was done while the material was removed from Back Lane, Mr Thornborough said he had brought the situation to the attention of the Environment Agency’s chief executive, Sir James Bevan, adding:

“I believe that there are lessons to be learned all around – particularly the need for people with outside oil tanks for domestic heating to have them checked on a regular basis.

“If you consider the potential for a spillage like this to occur many times across the Harrogate district, the incident and the way it was handled takes on a different perspective.”

Oliver Harmar, EA area director for Yorkshire, responded to Mr Thornborough and said:

“I have asked Martin Christmas (area environment manager) to lead on this investigation and you will hear from him shortly.

“Be assured that we are taking this seriously.”   

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, faced a barrage of questions from Ripon city councillors last night.

In a virtual meeting that was not open to the public, Ms Mulligan said there are a number of issues impacting on policing in the city.

Council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“The commissioner accepted that there had been a time when the force had taken its eye off the ball on policing in Ripon.”

He added:

“I appreciate her frankness and also the way she listened to what we had to say.

“She didn’t duck councillors’ questions and provided both answers and potential solutions.”

The 90-minute online meeting was attended by the majority of city councillors.

Also attending virtually, were North Yorkshire Police Chief Inspector Andrew Colbourne and Inspector Alex Langley.

Insp Langley, has recently been appointed as the officer with responsibility for neighbourhood policing in Ripon.

Read more:

• Man attacked by thugs in Ripon thought they would kill him
• Ripon hit by three-hour crime spree

Last week, following a three-hour crime spree in the Bondgate area of the city, he asked local residents to report anything they had seen by calling 101.

However, the response time to people calling 101, was brought into question last night and has been at previous city council meetings.

Commissioner Mulligan agreed the need to improve on response time and said that North Yorkshire would shortly be rolling out an online 101 service, offering a more rapid response.

Police in Ripon have to share space with the fire brigade and there is no room for interview on the site

She also reported that police numbers had ‘significantly increased’ and further officers would be added to tackle the city’s ongoing issues of violent and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Williams pointed out:

“There can be no doubt that the commissioner and senior officers are taking our concerns seriously and acting upon them.

“We stated last year and do so again, that we will do all that we can to work with the police to address the city’s crime problems.”

One issue that will be more difficult to resolve, is the fact that police have to share space at Ripon fire station, where there is no interview room.

People who are arrested have to be taken to Harrogate Police Station for interview, resulting in a consequential temporary loss of officers on the city patch.