In the wake of criticism levelled at Harrogate Borough Council for allowing markets to go ahead, traders setting up in Ripon this morning urged customers to act sensibly and adhere to distancing guidance given by the government.

Two fruit and vegetable stalls and Carricks fishmongers – occupying pitches yards apart – were open for business today as the only traders on Market Place.

Martin Carrick, whose family has traded at the market for 90 years, set up a hand sanitiser station for customers, while Brian Murphy, whose family has been selling fruit and vegetables on the market for more than 100 years, has put up signage and taken other measures to protect the safety of his customers.

Martin Carrick at his stall

Mr Murphy, who represents the Ripon Market Stallholders, told The Stray Ferret – “This is a crucial day and whether or not we are allowed to trade in Ripon beyond this Thursday, will depend upon how people behave.

“I, along with the other traders here today, urge customers to act sensibly, be patient and ensure that they keep their distance in the queues as they wait to be served.”

Mr Murphy and his colleagues will also stand yards apart as they serve customers.

Mr Carrick said:

“The safety of people buying goods from our van and our own safety, is uppermost in our minds. We are wearing protective gloves and we are asking customers to use the hand sanitiser station that we have set up.”

Carricks, which operates from Bedale and Snape, has seen a huge increase in demand for home delivery of its fresh fish and other seafood items. In the past week alone a team of five has delivered 250 plus orders in Ripon, Northallerton and throughout Wensleydale and Swaledale. There is no physical contact with customers as orders are made and paid for online or over the phone and deliveries are left at the door.

Police Community Support Officer. Alison Swan ensures people stick to the guidelines

Yesterday, Harrogate Borough Council defended its decision to allow scaled-down markets to go ahead, pointing out that they are open air events and the few fresh food traders allowed to trade are spaced a safe distance from each other.

A council spokesperson said: “While keeping people two metres apart can be a challenge, we believe our residents can be trusted to be mindful of the current advice and respect each other and our valued independent traders.”

Harrogate Borough Council has defended its decision to allow today’s scaled down market in Knaresborough and tomorrow’s in Ripon to go ahead.

It comes after criticism on social media and from Knaresborough Chamber of Trade. The Chamber, a stalwart supporter of the historic market, said it was incredulous at the councils decision.  Bill Taylor, secretary and treasurer of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, said:

“In normal circumstances we support the market, but these are not normal circumstances. From our reading of the government’s advice on COVID-19, what is happening is flying in the face of everything the government is telling us to do, with the coronavirus crisis deepening.”

Yellow lines on the ground marked where shoppers were to stand

The market in Knaresborough today was small and only sold food today. A supervisor from the council had worked with the police to ensure government guidelines were followed as they set the stalls out this morning. A number of different social distancing measures had been set up  — at one set of stalls, yellow lines had been drawn in chalk on the ground 2 metres back from the stand. At another, tables had been set back from the stalls themselves (main picture) with traders bring bags of fruit and vegetables around to the shoppers who stood well back as they did so.

In a statement issued by the council explaining its decision, a spokesperson said:

“Knaresborough and Ripon Markets are open air, not enclosed spaces like supermarkets. While keeping people two metres apart can be a challenge, we believe our residents can be trusted to be mindful of the current advice and respect each other and our valued independent traders.”

When the Stray Ferret arrived at around 11.30am it did seem as though shoppers were keeping their distance. Two police officers were watching to ensure people kept to the guidelines. The Chamber of Trade has argued that there are other ways people can get access to fresh food such as  the umbrella group Knaresborough Connections but Sergeant Andy Graham, from the Safer Neighbourhoods Team in Knaresborough, said:

“The market is only selling food and following government guidelines. The people who come to the market tend to be older- they can’t get to supermarkets, haven’t got the facilities to shop online and may be alone with no family. It’s vital they get fresh food”

Sgt Andy Graham in the foreground watching todays trading

Traders and shoppers were pleased it had opened. Judy Matlocks, who runs a vegetable stall, said she was surprised it opened but she was operating within the guidelines. Shoppers too said they appreciated the market opening as it provides quality, affordable fresh fruit and vegetables.

Judy Matlocks serves a customer at her vegetable stall

Harrogate Borough Council said it was not the only council in North Yorkshire currently permitting open air markets to continue but would continue to “review these arrangements on a daily basis, in line with the advice we receive from government”.

The government’s “stay at home” message appears to have worked in Ripon with very few people out and about today.

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, whose own business – The Magdalens pub in Princess Road – is closed because of the coronavirus crisis, told the Stray Ferret:

“I think the message has finally hit home and people have realised the gravity of the situation we are all in. This particularly applies to the young people I have spoken with, who were thinking up until now that they are invincible.”

The Mayor of Ripon Cllr Eamon Parkin

Cllr Parkin, who has lived in Ripon all his life and been landlord of The Magdalens for four years, added:

“The community spirit in Ripon has been magnificent and I am very proud of how people have responded by helping one another.”

Though he doesn’t know when he will be able to pull the next pint in his pub, the Mayor has turned it into a temporary community hub supporting local people, including the elderly who live in the nearby Almshouses of The Hospital of St Mary Magdalene. They can call for fresh fruit, vegetables and milk to be delivered and also have prescriptions collected on their behalf.

Very few people were on the streets of Ripon this morning and those who were, were either heading to or from the handful of food shops that remain open, or going to chemists, banks and building societies.The centre will see more activity on Thursday, as the market will be open to sell fresh food items only.

One business unsure of when it will be back again is Oliver’s Pantry café in North Street, which has been closed for a couple of days. There is a poignant message in its window from owner Louise Grant, reading:

From 7.30 to 8am, there was a steady and orderly stream of health sector employees and care workers going into the Sainsbury’s in Ripon, arriving through its car park entrance at the rear. To gain access they were asked, by a member of the security team, to show badges proving their eligibility.

Among them was North Yorkshire County Council care and support worker, Jackie Harrison, who looks after elderly and vulnerable people living in extra care housing.

Mrs Harrison, (pictured above), who had just finished a night shift, said:

“This is a great help to me, because of my shift pattern I have only been able to get to the shops at times when the shelves have been cleared of the items that I need.”

Her shop included a large tin of coffee, oranges and two packs of self-bake baguettes.

While NHS employees and care workers had the store to themselves from 7.30am until 8am, between 8am and 9am elderly and vulnerable people had the opportunity to buy.

Widower Ian Hepburn (below), who is 77 and volunteers two days a week to help people with learning difficulties at the charity Ripon Community Link, was delighted to be able to buy pasta and pizza.

He told The Stray Ferret:

“I live on my own and don’t need to buy a large number of things, but with the panic buying that has been going on across many shops, I’ve recently found that the odd item I’m looking for is already gone from the shelves. At least this gives me and others like me a chance.”

Dan Richardson, who is manager of the Ripon store, was on-hand to greet the priority early-morning shoppers. He said:

“It’s only right that society as a whole pulls together and ensures that key workers from the NHS and care sector, along with older and vulnerable people, are given a fair chance to buy what they need and in that respect, we are happy to do our bit.”

Priority Opening Hours for NHS staff and care workers:

• Sainsburys:  7.30am to 8am opening for NHS and care workers every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
•  ASDA: 8am to 9am Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
• The Co-Op:8am to 9am Monday to Saturday and 10am to 11am on Sundays
• M&S: 8am to 9am Tuesdays and Fridays
• Morrisons: 7am to 8am Monday to Saturday

Priority opening for elderly, disabled people and their carers :

• The Co-Op:  providing a dedicated hour for those at higher risk -times vary from store to store
• M&S: 8am to 9am Mondays and Thursdays
• Sainsburys: 8am to 9am priority opening for elderly and vulnerable people.
• Morrisons: 9am to 10am Monday to Saturday
• Waitrose: 8am to 9am Monday to Saturday

It’s 9pm and no virus in the world is going to stop the Ripon Hornblower.  It’s a sound that has been heard every night on Ripon Market Place for 1134 years, marking the setting of the watch and a guard against unwelcome invaders. 

The 9pm ceremony has been performed continuously, without fail, since Ripon was granted its first charter in 886 by Alfred the Great, King of the Saxons. It has survived the Norman Conquest, the Black Death, the English Civil War and two world wars. And now, as the city faces a very different threat, undeterred, the Hornblower stands and blows the horn. 

There are 3 Hornblowers in Ripon at this time who share the nightly ritual of standing in the market place and blowing the horn. Each Hornblower has their own instrument from a collection of five, that still includes the ancient horn given to the city by King Alfred – a prized and priceless item, only on display at civic occasions. 

Allison Clark became the first woman Hornblower in 2017

 “I think I speak for fellow Hornblowers Wayne Cobbett, Richard Midgley and also Jim Vauvert, who retired recently, when I express the wish that we can play our part in blowing coronavirus away.”  

Allison Clark earlier this week

The Hornblower heritage began after King Alfred presented the city with its first ceremonial horn as a gift of gratitude for the way in which Riponians fought ferociously to repel a Viking attack. 

Richard Midgley points out:  

“Over the centuries, Ripon has had to fight off many threats, from war to plague and the sounding of the horn and setting of the watch reminds us that we can and will overcome adversity – as we have done for centuries.”

Every night there is usually a small crowd that gathers to witness the historic event.  Usually, the Hornblower gives a short talk to the visitors after the horn is sounded, telling them about the tradition and about Ripon – not in these days though as the market place empties.  

Despite a lack of audience, nothing will stop the Hornblower from doing his or her task. 

Wayne Cobbett pointed out:  

“The role of Hornblower is part of the fabric of Ripon. It has stood the test of time and will not be defeated by coronavirus. In the light of government advice about the need to limit social contact, we will not be giving our usual talk on the city’s history, but can confidently say that the ceremony is here to stay in perpetuity.” 

Coronavirus won’t be the last crisis to hit Ripon. In the centuries to come, it’s likely future residents will face as many challenges as their ancestors. The Hornblower will be there, every night, a sound of hope in such troubling times.  

The rural community of Kirkby Malzeard has a population of 872, three shops, a church, a pub and a primary school.

Around a third of its population are aged over 60 and most have followed government guidance and are self-isolating. The younger ones have speedily made arrangements for the continuing education of their children and finding the best way to support their parents. Kirkby Malzeard’s nearest town is Masham and the city of Ripon is more than 6 miles south.

St Andrew’s Church Kirkby Malzeard

Amanda and her partner Gianni, run Kirkby Fisheries, have five children and moved to the village from Middlesbrough three years ago.The practicalities of shopping, filling the car up with fuel, budgeting to run a business and a family and the question of who looks after their children have dominated their thoughts.

Amanda, who looks after the books for the business as well as her pre-school children, Louka,11 months, and  3 year old twins, Georgio and Georgia, now has another child to think about:

“I will have Amelia  (aged 6) at home from Monday and will be teaching her, using the teaching pack that the school has provided.”

A worry for Amanda and Gianni is the fall off in custom among village regulars, a number of whom have self-isolated and have stopped coming to the fisheries for the time being. They have taken the financial gamble of launching a free home delivery service and hiring local drivers, in the hope that self-isolaters and other customers further afield, will continue to buy fish and chips and other hot food.

On the Kirkby Fisheries’ FaceBook they posted. ‘We helped feed the nation through two World Wars, we’ll do our best to feed you through this.’

Amanda Parry (left) and Donna Crouch with their children

Donna Crouch moved to Kirkby a couple of years ago from Ripon. She has three children and is a care worker. The private company Donna works for looks after elderly people across Ripon and its surrounding rural communities. She is due to return to work on Monday after an operation.

“I’m waiting to see if my job classes me as a key worker. If it does, my older children who go to Nidderdale High School and Outwood Academy will be looked after, but I’m concerned about who can look after my three-year-old daughter, Madison.”

For Donna and Amanda and many other like them living in the district the dilemma of how to juggle all these many aspects of life is something that will dominate their lives in the weeks to come.

A new online service for people who have self-isolated because of coronavirus, has already attracted customers in Knaresborough.

Those who log on to knaresboroughdelivers.com can order an at-cost bag of items, including meat, vegetables, eggs, milk and bread and have it delivered free to their home.

Launched by Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, the service has been organised by Ashleigh Lambert and Ian Gill, owners of the Six Poor Folk restaurant in Kirkgate, whose team of employees are handling the online orders and packing the bags ready for delivery.

The team from the Six Poor Folk

Items included in the bags, which cost £20, are being supplied by Hurst’s Bakery, Hutton’s Butchers, Wilkinson’s Butchers and Farm Dairy – all based in Knaresborough, while the fresh fruit and vegetables are being provided by H&P Fine Foods of Thorp Arch.

Ashleigh said:

“We, like other traders in Knaresborough, have lost business to the coronavirus crisis and some of the customers that we would regularly serve are stuck at home, but still need to get food items, but do not want to risk going out to shop. Through knaresboroughdelivers.com we are hopefully creating a win-win situation, helping to sustain businesses in the town and people in their homes. We have only just launched, but are already attracting customers.”

The service is being supported by six volunteer drivers, each of them regular customers of Six Poor Folk, who are carrying out deliveries.

Bill Taylor, secretary and treasurer of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, says:

“We are delighted to have played a part in bringing together some of the ingredients for this excellent initiative, which benefits our members at this difficult time and assists people in our community who need a helping hand.”

Commuters in Harrogate have reacted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s pledge to ‘build better railways’. 

Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, in his first Budget announcement, made the pledge to spend billions of pounds on road and rail projects as part of a proposed £600 billion infrastructure programme. 

Although there was no specific announcement yesterday as to where the money will be spent, long-suffering passengers at Harrogate Railway Station were clear about where they feel the government should prioritise.

Jerome Morrow (pictured above) who regularly travels between Harrogate and Leeds, said

 “The trains themselves have improved, but too few carriages are put on and at peak times that leads to overcrowding and an uncomfortable journey.  

“Compared with London, we have a lot of catching up to do in the north. We are paying the same fares for an inferior service and investment should be made in the provision of more carriages.” 

York University sociology student Kate McWhirter

For York University sociology student, Kate McWhirter, who was in Harrogate to meet friends, the issue is lack of communication:

 “On four separate occasions recently, I was waiting for trains that were suddenly cancelled with no reason given for the cancellation and left wondering if the ticket I had was valid on another train. They need to spend the money on better communications.” 

The Harrogate line has recently had national attention with the Sunday Times reporting at the weekend that the 07:13 Harrogate to Leeds service being “the most cancelled in the UK”.  Northern Rail, which had operated the line, lost its franchise at the beginning of this month and the service is now in government control.  

Ripon City Council unanimously supports a petition, calling on Harrogate Borough Council to take urgent action and provide more parking in the city to help it cope with the building of 2,000 new homes. 

Among those supporting the petition, raised by City Councillor Peter Horton, is City, district and county councillor Mike Chambers, who is the Borough Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities. 

The petition, which has already been signed by more than 2,100 people, including residents, retailers and visitors, was unanimously endorsed by councillors in a recorded vote taken at last night’s Ripon City Council meeting. 

Cllr Horton, says: “There is an urgent need for more car parking in Ripon and action is required before massive house building creates even more demand. We implore Harrogate Borough Council to address this matter without delay.

“Current house building, proposed new sites and redevelopment of the military estate, means that Ripon is heading towards an additional 2,000 homes over the next few years. Many of these will be two-car households, potentially adding around 3,500 extra vehicles to local traffic.”

Cllr Horton points out that provision of on-street and off-street parking in Ripon has not increased for more than 50 years and in that time, car ownership and use has vastly increased, resulting in more congestion and competition for spaces available.

“Inconvenience and congestion”

Parish and district councillor Pauline McHardy, says: “I have been working with Councillor Horton to gather signatures from residents, retailers and visitors, who are concerned about the extra pressure on parking spaces that new housing developments bring.”

She adds: “You only need to come into the city centre on market days, to discover how on-street and car park spaces are at a premium. As well as causing inconvenience and congestion, people, including tourists who are vital to the economy of our fine city, who can’t find a parking space, will go to other places where they can. That’s bad news for Ripon.”

Councillor Chambers says: “As a democratic principle I support a petition going to Harrogate Borough Council for consideration. 

“There are parking issues that have existed in Ripon for many years and we need to look at all options, including the government’s move towards more sustainable transport and reduction of emissions through electric vehicles, encouraging more cycling and walking in city centres and also community transport initiatives that serve rural areas.”  

 Photograph courtesy Mike Wells/Yan, Hear & Now

The Stray Ferret can exclusively reveal that stallholders in Knaresborough and Ripon are launching a joint petition, as they fight for their future at the two ancient markets. 

With Harrogate Borough Council (HBC), proposing rent increases of up to 32.4 percent, both say it will lead to the loss of traders at each centre and they will be asking the public to sign a petition, calling on the council to rethink its plans.  

Steve Teggin, a member of Knaresborough Market Working Group and president of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, says: “We are going to fight this all the way to protect our heritage asset. The town was granted its charter by Edward II in 1310 and we have the oldest continuous market in England.” 

He adds: “We have suffered enough blows with high shop vacancy rates and our market – an important footfall driver on Wednesdays and particularly Christmas – must be protected, or the town centre will find itself under water.”  

Knaresborough is anticipating the loss of up to six stallholders if the rent rise proposed by HBC goes ahead from April 1, while Brian Murphy, the stallholders’ representative for Ripon market – whose charter was granted by James I in 1604 – anticipates the loss of up to five traders from its Thursday market.   

Mr Murphy, whose family has sold fruit and vegetables at the market for more than 100 years, points out: “This is the biggest increase in rent that any of us can remember and news of it was greeted with absolute shock and dismay” 

He adds: “With some of our stallholders considering packing up because the rent rise will make them unviable, Harrogate Borough Council is about to shoot itself in both feet, because the market will be less attractive, fewer people will come into the city on Thursdays and all businesses who rely on footfall, including cafes, pubs and restaurants, will all be hit – it’s a lose-lose situation.” 

The Stray Ferret asked HBC questions, ranging from how the council justifies the increase in rent to possible effects on footfall in Knaresborough and Ripon, if some stallholders decide to withdraw from the markets. We received the following reply from an HBC spokesperson:

“The increase (£5 per week) is to cover the cost of erecting a stall on behalf of the trader (the percentage changes because the charge is lower during winter months). Currently, it costs the local taxpayer £15 each time we erect a stall on behalf of a trader. For both self-assembly and provided-stalls, our rates remains competitive with nearby markets.

“We have never distinguished between HBC-erected and self-erect stalls before but felt it would be unfair to increase the price across all traders when the cost is actually only associated with only some of them (many traders in Knaresborough and Ripon use self-assembly stalls at these other markets they sell at). As previously mentioned, the cost of putting the stalls up is heavily subsidised by the tax payer.

“It is great to hear that traders feel they are seeing more footfall through the markets in Knaresborough and Ripon. This is the reason we want to introduce more diversity and flexibility in the way the market is run and the traders we can attract. It would be a shame if some of the regular traders missed the opportunity on offer to invest in their own equipment which would actually increase their trading scope to include other towns where council erected stalls are no longer an option.

“The budget was agreed on 12 February including the fees and charges for the 2020/21 financial year. This included the incentivised offer of a £5 reduction per week for traders to switch to self-erect for 2020/21 (if signed up between April and June). We look forward to seeing how many traders choose to take this offer and help ensure our town markets continue to thrive.”