Tim Flanagan, Author at The Stray Ferret

Salvation Army ready to help Ripon families in need

As another lockdown looms, organisations in Ripon are preparing to support those most in need.

Major Christine McCutcheon, the officer in charge of the Salvation Army’s headquarters and church in Lead Lane, is anticipating a surge in demand for the services provided by foodbanks as Christmas approaches.

Major McCutcheon says the organisation locally is ready to respond.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“My particular concern is for those people who are under the radar and struggling to make ends meet through no fault of their own. When coronavirus first impacted on Ripon, there was a sudden ten-fold increase in the demand for food parcels that we were providing.”

Donated bags of pasta will help some people in need to feed their families.

As the crisis deepened, The Salvation Army linked up with the Food Support foodbank, based at Community House in Allhallowgate, which provides a lifeline for people in Ripon, Boroughbridge and surrounding villages.

Christine and her colleague Alison Hewitt are now gearing up to fill parcels with Christmas food items and toys for families living in the area.

She said:

“In previous years, as part of our Christmas appeal supported by Morrisons supermarkets, we have prepared 200 bags of food and included between 300 and 400 toys, which parents can wrap up themselves to give to their children.

“This year there is likely to be a demand for more and we are again seeking help from the people of Ripon, who have always been extremely generous in providing new toys, food and cash donations.”

For those who haven’t previously called on assistance from The Salvation Army, Christine has a message:

“We handle all enquiries and referrals on a confidential basis. For some, that help might be over a short crisis period, between the loss of a job and the start of Universal Credit payments.

“There is nothing to be ashamed of – we are here to help and not to judge.”

Anybody in need of help or advice can contact the Salvation Army by calling 01765 692657

Councillors seek solution for Ripon eyesore site

The look of one of the principal gateways to Ripon is being spoilt because of an abandoned redevelopment site, according to a local councillor.

In its untidy over-grown state, with fencing that has blown down, the area on Skellgarths has been described as, a ‘mess’ and an ‘eyesore’.

The site was formerly the location for Ripon’s first purpose-built library, which opened in 1937. The building stood there until its demolition in 2014.

Councillor Mike Chambers, who is a city, district and county councillor and Harrogate Borough Council’s (HBC) cabinet member for housing and safer communities, told the Stray Ferret:

“I have raised the issue of this derelict site on a number of occasions with HBC enforcement officers to seek guidance and ask what can be done. The area is a mess and an eyesore.”

The site is in a prime tourist area in close proximity to Ripon Cathedral and on the route to Fountains Abbey in one direction and Newby Hall in the other. It is also one of the main thoroughfares leading to the city centre.

Cllr Chambers added:

“At one stage we managed to get some fencing put in place, but it subsequently blew down. I will continue to push for the area to be blocked off, particularly as the blown-down fence could pose a public safety issue, with footings on the site filling with water after rainfall.”

At last week’s virtual full council meeting, councillors heard that attempts to take enforcement action were complicated because the developer who planned to build on the site had gone bust.

The council leader, Councillor Andrew Williams, suggested that the look of the area could be improved if schoolchildren were invited to do designs that could be incorporated into new hoardings made for the site.

Cllr Sid Hawke felt that the site should be tidied up and used as additional car parking space to serve the city centre.

Ripon pie company lends its weight to food charity

Yorkshire Handmade Pies, a company based on the outskirts of Ripon, has formed a partnership to support the charity FoodCycle.

The environmentally-focused charity runs community projects across the country serving meals made from surplus food which would otherwise have gone to waste.

Fresh, raw ingredients donated by local supermarkets and food outlets are collected by FoodCycle volunteers who then use the surplus food to cook three-course meals.

Prior to the covid-19 pandemic, the meals were produced to help address issues of loneliness for people living in food poverty, by creating spaces for them to meet and have a meal together.

Since the coronavirus crisis, FoodCycle, which has produced more that 270,000 meals since its formation ten years ago, has diversified to provide take-aways still helping to improve nutrition and reducing hunger by cooking healthy meals for those in need.

Now,Yorkshire Handmade Pies is adding its weight to the charity’s efforts. For every box of pies purchased, Yorkshire Handmade Pies will donate 30p of the sale price to FoodCycle to help them to expand their work in local communities and fund more projects in more regions.

FoodCycle also aims to change attitudes to food by cooking with surplus ingredients, spreading their passion for food and the environment, which Yorkshire Handmade Pies fully supports too.

Its pies are delivered frozen because frozen food generates 47% less wastage than chilled food.

Company founder James Sturdy said:

“We wanted to support a charity which aligns with our ethos around food wastage, environmental responsibilities and wellbeing beliefs.

“FoodCycle supports a wide variety of people from low-income families, people affected by homelessness to those experiencing physical and mental health problems. They exist to ensure communities have access to healthy food and they need our support now, more than ever.”

Yorkshire Handmade Pies, which has premises in Melmerby, is a member of the Living Wage Foundation and the Good Business Charter – a voluntary accreditation scheme which recognises responsible business practices.

End in sight for Kirkby Malzeard closure

The £19,000 reconstruction and repair of the church wall at St Andrew’s Kirkby Malzeard will move a step closer today.

A 10-metre section of wall collapsed onto Church Street on February 19, causing the closure of the principal route between Kirkby Malzeard and Masham.

A diversion has been in place for more than eight months.

Planning permission is required for reconstruction of the collapsed section and repair of a further 30-metre length of the wall.

Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) has responsibility for the structure bordering the graveyard of the 12th century church, which was registered as a Grade I Listed Building in March 1967.

At a planning committee meeting today councillors will be asked to approve an application for reconstruction and repair of the stone wall.

Approval by members of the committee would be subject to conditions and if supported, final consent will be deferred to the executive officer for development management and building control.

HBC had initially hoped to have the wall reconstructed and repaired and the carriageway reopened to through traffic by the end of June.

However, timescales had to be reviewed because of the impact of the covid-19 pandemic.

St Andrew’s Church

Before work can proceed, further discussions need to be completed with Historic England, which has raised concerns about the proposed method of reconstructing the wall.

In a letter to HBC, the heritage watchdog, said:

“The church complex, including the churchyard and wall is considered to have exceptional heritage significance which derives from its architectural styles, legible plan-form, good surviving historical fabric and its continued focal point for rural community life.”

A report to councillors, says:

“Negotiations are ongoing with regards to the technical details, but the scheme is considered to be acceptable in principle.

“The principle of rebuilding the wall is accepted and whilst any stabilisation works will lead to ‘less than substantial harm’ to the structure it is considered that subject to agreeing a suitable method of construction and stabilisation, the public benefits of rebuilding the wall outweigh this harm.”

Ripon council seeks to resolve uneven roads around market square

Roads running around the four quarters of Ripon’s ancient Market Square have been branded a ‘disgrace’ and ‘not fit for purpose.’

The problem lies in block paving, which replaced a tarmac surface that previously surrounded the square.

Traffic, including heavy goods vehicles and Transdev’s double deck 36 bus service, have to use the circulatory route.

Photo of patched up Market Place East in Ripon

A patched-up section of Market Place East

Weight of traffic, which is increasing as new housing schemes bring more vehicles into the city centre, is adding to the problem, as the blocks are regularly coming out of place or being damaged.

With Market Place East – now resembling a patchwork quilt, as sections of tarmac fill gaps where the surface has sunk – Ripon City Council is calling for an end to the Ripon’s bumpy ride and a return of tarmac, which councillors considered a more suitable and serviceable surface.

Councillors Stuart Martin and Mike Chambers, who are Ripon’s representatives on North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) agreed that the time is right to call for the highway authority to act.

Cllr Martin, said:

“I have raised the matter with the highways department. The Market Place East and West roads are a disgrace and not fit for purpose.”

At Ripon City Council’s virtual full council meeting, members voted unanimously to call on NYCC to replace the block paving with tarmac.

Council leader, Councillor Andrew Williams, said:

“When the work is done, we can ask for the contractors to work in the evening, to minimise disruption to the city centre.”

To avoid disruption to Christmas trade, it was agreed that tarmac patches on affected areas, would be an acceptable temporary solution.

Nidderdale aims to welcome a refugee family

Hopes are high that community collaboration in Nidderdale can see welcoming hands extended to a refugee family.

Organisations created in towns, villages and cities across the UK have successfully taken part in a government-backed scheme to re-settle refugees.

Now Nidderdale Community Welcome is following in their footsteps and learning from their experiences.

Catholic Care Leeds has agreed to be the principal backer of the initiative, which involves churches of different denominations in Nidderdale.

However, the Rev Alastair Ferneley, vicar of Dacre with Hartwith and Darley with Thornthwaite, told the Stray Ferret:

“The churches have a role to play, but Nidderdale Community Welcome wants to engage with people of all religions and those of no religion at all.

“Our aim is to bring together all of the necessary skills and talents in this area for the initiative to take off.”

Photograph of a scenic view in Nidderdale

Nidderdale, with its rolling hills, could become home for a refugee family

Rev Alastair is part of a group working alongside Peter Wright, a long-time supporter of causes that help refugees.

Peter, who lives in Ramsgill, is organising a public meeting via Zoom on November 18, which will be open to anybody who wishes to become involved in Nidderdale Community Welcome.

At the meeting, Sue Parsons, community sponsorship coordinator for Catholic Care, will explain how community sponsorship works and there will be opportunities for questions.

Peter said:

“There are currently approximately 80 million displaced people around the world, of which 26 million are refugees. The government initially agreed for up to 10,000 to be resettled in the UK through integration into local communities and this is Nidderdale’s opportunity to support the programme.”

He added:

“We are at the stage of creating the infrastructure required to move forward.”

Community sponsorship organisations have to prepare everything that might be needed for families to become self-sufficient members of their new community, as required in detailed plans set out by the Home Office.

This includes safeguarding, learning English, applying for relevant benefits, accessing medical help, schools, transport, finding work, and having support from translators.

To obtain refugee status the families have already been closely vetted, entitling them to the same help and welfare as anyone else living in the UK. The community group needs to raise at least £9,000 to ensure additional needs are met.

The group has to have either charitable status or a partnership with an existing charity, such as Catholic Care Leeds, which takes ultimate responsibility for the agreement with the Home Office and provides experience, governance and safeguarding training and support.

Anybody wanting to take part in the November 18 meeting is asked to contact wrightpandh@gmail.com or ring 01423 755619 for further details.

Call for urgent repairs to Ripon’s uneven pavements

A severely sight impaired man, who lives in the Bondgate area of Ripon, says that poorly maintained pavements have virtually made him a ‘prisoner in his own home.’

Graham Wilkey, has suffered progressively deteriorating eyesight since childhood and uses a white stick when he goes out.

However, following the coronarvirus lockdown, that kept him at home for months, his ventures onto the street have been limited and he told the Stray Ferret:

“The first time I went out on my own, my stick kept getting stuck in the gaps on the pavement near my home.”

Mr Wilkey, added:

“Rather than going for a walk, it felt like I was having to tackle an obstacle course and that affected my confidence, because of the danger of falling and hurting myself.

“I daren’t go out on my own and feel that I am virtually a prisoner in my own home.”

One of the many cracked and uneven paving slabs on Bondgate

On the rare occasions that he does go out for an exercise walk, or into Ripon city centre, he needs to have his wife Julie with him as he cannot rely solely on his white stick as an aid to enable safe movement.

Ripon City Council leader, Councillor Andrew Williams, pointed out:

“Mr Wilkey is not the only person with a disability or mobility issues to have raised concerns about the state of our pavements and kerbs in both the Bondgate and Bondgate Bridge area, which seem to be particularly bad.

“It’s not just the poor maintenance, but the adverse camber in some parts, which also poses difficulties for people with electric wheelchairs, or other mobility aids.”

Because of the concerns raised, Ripon City Council has agreed to call for remedial action from North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).

Councillors, who attended a virtual full council meeting, voted unanimously to contact NYCC asking the highways department to make repairs to the pavement and adjustments to the camber in the Bondgate and Bondgate Bridge area.

Councillor Pauline McHardy, told the meeting that one of her elderly relatives had fallen and injured herself on Bondgate Bridge because of its uneven surface.

She added:

“The situation is getting worse and worse and urgent action is required.”

Date set for Ripon lights switch-on

Ripon’s largest-ever display of Christmas lights and decorations will be turned on on the evening of Saturday November 14.

Ripon City Council agreed to the switch-on arrangements this week after an update from council leader Andrew Williams.

Cllr Williams said North Yorkshire County Council had carried out the necessary adjustments to street lighting around the city to accommodate three miles of decorations.

This will take in Ripon’s main retail core and extend as far north as the Victoria clock tower on North Street – a principal route into Ripon.

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin at the Victoria Clock Tower junction, where Christmas lights will welcome visitors

Cllr Williams, told the Stray Ferret:

“For the benefit of traders and residents, we would like to have the extended display turned on as soon as possible after Remembrance Sunday (November 8).

“This will give time for the superb displays put in place by the Ripon Community Poppy Project to be taken down.”

The council has approved £65,000 of additional spending on the Christmas decorations.

The major extension, which now takes in side streets including Allhallowgate, Bedern Bank and Skellbank, ensures lights are in place on all gateways into the city centre, while also providing a circuit around a mixture of retail and residential streets.

Funding for the scheme is coming from the council’s events budget, which had originally been intended to support a programme of community events throughout the year in Ripon.

These included the 75th anniversary celebrations for VE and VJ Day, and the St Wilfrid’s Day procession, that had to be either cancelled or scaled back because of the coronavirus crisis and social distancing restrictions.

Councillors, who unanimously supported the switch on plans, hope that the extended lights will provide an end of year boost for retailers, by attracting greater footfall.

The Mayor of Ripon, councillor Eamon Parkin, said:

“The covid pandemic has made this a very gloomy year for many people and we hope that the lights display will give everybody a lift by adding to the attraction of the city over the festive period.”

Subsidence causes evacuation of four Ripon homes

Extensive subsidence has caused the evacuation of four properties in a Ripon housing development.

The problem is believed to be caused by sinkholes in the area.

It was deemed so severe that owners of two of the properties in Bedern Court were advised by tenancy management company Joplings to tell tenants they had to leave for their own safety.

Mat Pritchard, whose 81-year-old father Norman was living in 5 Bedern Court, had to rapidly make arrangements for him to move out.

Tenants at the other properties, 1 and 3 Bedern Court and 17 Skellgarths, which is within the scheme, have also had to move out at very short notice.

Mr Pritchard is chairperson for Bedern Court Ltd, which is a non-profit company controlled by leaseholders and owners.

It manages the leaseholds and freeholds for the 29-unit brick-built block, which was built in 1986.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“The block has now been in effect, partially condemned for human habitation, with numbers 3 and 5 worst affected and issues also affecting the neighbouring properties at 1 Bedern Court and 17 Skellgarths.”

Mr Pritchard said:

“Joplings told BCL that a recent geo-technical and building site investigation had returned very concerning results and they believed that flats 3 and 5 were no longer safely habitable.”

Photograph of Mat and Jane Pritchard at Bedern Court

Jane and Mat Pritchard are pictured at Bedern Court, where their flat is deemed unsafe because of major subsidence issues.

He added:

“Our priority was the safety of the tenants after large internal and external cracks opened up. Because of the visible shift of the building it was also necessary to evacuate the two adjoining properties.”

The block is within the shadow of Ripon Cathedral and alongside one of the main routes into the city centre.

An adjacent block of flats built after the Bedern Court development was subsequently demolished and Peacock’s Passage, which runs between the two sites, has clear signs of subsidence.

BCL believe that sinkholes in the area are the likely cause of the subsidence, but claims dating back to 2009 lodged with underwriters Aviva and subsequently QBE, have been turned down by both insurers.

Mr Pritchard said:

“In the urgent situation we find ourselves, we have lodged a further claim with QBE.

“We have also contacted our MP Julian Smith and Ripon City Council seeking any help or advice they can give us and we will continue to ask for cooperation from the owners of neighbouring sites.”

Ripon councillors reject ‘flawed’ transport report on barracks development

Ripon City Council has unanimously rejected a transport report commissioned by Homes England for the proposed 1,300-home Ripon Barracks development.

The report in support of the development came under heavy fire at Monday’s virtual full council meeting.

In the longest debate of Monday evening, the consultants’ findings were described as ‘flawed’

Council leader Andrew Williams said:

“The report fails to address core issues that local residents and the city council have raised.”

Cllr Williams said the council supported the principle of developing the former army bases, but added:

“A great deal more needs to be done, especially with regard to addressing the questions about the capacity of major junctions in the city.

“With such a flawed report, it is impossible for us to support the outline planning application for this huge scheme.”

The Ripon Barracks site

Councillor Mike Chambers, who is also a district and county councillor, agreed a number of key transport matters needed to be addressed.

He seconded Cllr Williams’ motion for a letter to be sent to Harrogate Borough Council planners, calling for resolution of outstanding issues before outline planning can be approved.

Both he and Cllr Williams met last week with David Walpole, a traffic consultant appointed by the city council to look at the impact of the Clotherholme scheme on the the feeder road network and the city as a whole.

One issue that featured in the Walpole report was the amount of traffic generated by a new primary school in the development.

Cllr Williams said the report for Homes England had not taken account of the fact that 132 places at the school will be provided for children living ‘off-site’ in other parts of Ripon, creating traffic movements that had not been accounted for in the overall assessment of mitigation measures that would need to be taken to alleviate pressure on the road network.

Councillor Pauline McHardy told the meeting:

“This is the biggest single development ever seen in Ripon and its size has consequences, not just for the immediate area, but the whole of the city for years to come.

“Traffic movements to and from the site will impact on everybody and we have a duty to ensure that the developers provide the required road infrastructure and don’t cut corners.”

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