A silent vigil was held on Ripon Market Square this morning at which a group of campaigners called for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

The situation in Palestine has deteriorated since October 7, when Hamas invaded Israeli villages over the border from Gaza and killed an estimated 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages. It is estimated that more than 12,000 Palestinians – the majority of them women and children – have died in Israeli attacks since then.

Vigil organiser Andy Croft (pictured centre in our photograph) told the Stray Ferret:

“We are not taking sides and are carrying the flags of both Israel and Palestine, as we call on the UK government and opposition to support the growing call for an immediate ceasefire.

“Too many people have already died and it is heartbreaking to hear about the civilian casualties and see television pictures of tiny babies having to be moved from intensive care incubators because the hospital that they were in no longer has the electricity to power them.”

Mr Croft added:

“We have decided to hold a weekly half hour silent vigil by the obelisk at 10am each Monday until there is a ceasefire and are holding it in Ripon so that local residents who want to join the ceasefire call don’t need to travel to Leeds or York.

“Before organising the event, we sought and received approval from North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Council and also liaised with Ripon City Council.”

Read more:

• Rocky Ripon roads to undergo £630,000 resurfacing works
• Unstable riverside footpath in Ripon is closed

Showers didn’t take the sparkle off Ripon’s Christmas lights switch on, with Santa, reindeer, free fairground rides for children and tribute acts all adding to  yesterday afternoon’s family entertainment organised by Ripon City Council.

With rain relenting, a gathering  of residents and visitors, mostly made up of family groups, poured onto Market Square and by the time the lights were switched on at 5pm, more than 2,000 people were present to welcome in the 2023 festive season.

Illuminating the city centre

The Christmas tree and lit up sleigh decoration on Market Place South

The Merry Christmas decoration on the entry to Kirkgate

Kirkgate lights on the approach to the cathedral

The display on Westgate

Fishergate

North Street

Entertainment for children

The three children’s fairground rides were in full swing all afternoon and into the evening

Santa took Christmas present orders from the children, while his reindeer took a rest

Musical entertainment

These children were full of early Christmas joy as they danced to girl band songs performed by the tribute act Xelle

The tribute act Boyz Beyond had the crowd rocking with classic songs from chart-topping boy bands

A riverside footpath in Ripon has been closed  for public safety after sections of supporting stonework collapsed into the fast-running Skell.

The stretch of path between Iron Bridge on Bondgate and the bridge at Bondgate Green, was deemed unsafe by North Yorkshire Council highways engineers, who assessed the damage this morning.

Part of the collapsed section of footpath

They were alerted to the collapse by Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, who told the Stray Ferret:

“This is a popular riverside route for walkers and people exercising their dogs.

“With parts of the path in a perilous condition, the decision to close was taken until necessary repair works can be carried out. In the meantime, I would urge that members of the public obey the closure signs and do not put themselves at risk, particularly at this time when the River Skell is running so high and fast.”

A member of the highways team who assessed photographs taken at a number of locations along the path, said:

“Looking at the images it is the right decision to close the unstable footway until the stone can be retrieved from the river when levels are lower and the repairs can be undertaken.”

The path will be under regular monitoring and remain closed until the extent of repair work required has been established.

Main picture: Stonework that was supporting the footpath can be seen in the water

Ripon’s festive season gets into full swing on Saturday, with the switch on of the city’s Christmas lights, combined with an afternoon of family entertainment.

The illuminations will come on at 5pm and before then, Market Square will be a hive of activity from 1pm onwards with Santa and his reindeer, free fairground rides and live music between 3pm and 6pm.

The event is being organised by the city council, with support from Ripon Business Improvement District.

Festive lights on Fishergate are ready for Saturday evening’s city-wide switch on

Enhancements have been made to the city council’s decorative displays thanks to £4,000 of funding from the BID and the £7,000 raised through the Christmas Lights Appeal, run by Councillor Eamon Parkin during his three consecutive years in office as Mayor of Ripon between May 2019 and May 2022

The year-on-year improvements ensure that the city centre and adjoining streets will be lit with festive lights throughout the season.

For the second year running, the BID has paid for the production and distribution of 25,000 brochures, promoting Ripon as an attractive retail destination for both residents and  visitors.

The brochure, which is being delivered to homes in the city and surrounding areas, highlights a strong mix of independent traders, while providing details about the events that will be happening in Ripon, between now and New Year’s Eve.

Main picture: Santa and his reindeer are due to arrive at 1pm

---

Read more:

• Guide to Christmas markets in the Harrogate district
• Kirkby Malzeard accident victim launches Christmas appeal for Leeds hospital

---

 

Residents of a Ripon street that is a favourite destination for driving instructors have raised concerns about vehicle emissions affecting their health.

Marjorie Sanderson and Geoff Haldenby (pictured), who are neighbours  on South Grange Road, took their plea for assistance to Ripon City Council and councillors agreed to take action, in a bid to stop drivers parking near their houses and those of other residents with car engines running.

Mr Haldenby, who suffers from the lung condition pleural plaques, told the Stray Ferret:

“In the three years that I have lived here, I’ve had five bouts of pneumonia and that made me think that there may be a correlation between my worsening health and  exposure to exhaust fumes.”

He added:

“Having spoken with Marjorie and other neighbours who are also concerned about the impact that emissions have on health, we decided to seek support from the city council and we were very encouraged by the response that we received.”

At Monday’s full council meeting,  Ms Sanderson, pointed out:

“We have instances of driving instructors teaching other instructors, who park up on the road for long periods with their engines running, either to keep their cars cool in summer or warm in winter.

“This is a regular occurrence and with engine idling an offence under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, we want to see the law enforced.”

After approaches were made to North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe and North Yorkshire Council, Ms Sanderson and Mr Haldenby, contacted  the city council and both spoke at Monday’s meeting.

Council leader Andrew Williams, said he was aware that many driving instructors use  South Grange Road and other neighbouring streets on their training routes.

It was unanimously agreed that he would raise the issue of engine idling with both North Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Police and request that enforcement action is taken when an offence is committed.

The Royal College of Physicians estimate that 40,000 deaths per year in the UK are linked to air pollution, and engine idling contributes to this, because vehicles give off higher emissions when stationary than when they are moving.

Ripon will discover later this week if a £630,000 road resurfacing scheme will be included in North Yorkshire Council’s capital funding programme for delivery next year.

City councillors have been calling for many years for the sets of paving blocks on Market Place East and Market Place West, which have become damaged and uneven, to be removed and replaced with a tarmac surface.

At last night’s full city council meeting, leader Andrew Williams, told members:

“The North Yorkshire highways team is preparing designs in anticipation of allocated funds to resurface areas of the road network surrounding Market Square.

“It is being considered for funding as part of the wider capital funding programme and if approved will see a scheme delivered next October.”

Tarmac patches have been put in place on some of the worst affected areas of the city centre roads.

Cllr Williams, who represents the Minster and Moorside division on North Yorkshire Council and is a member of the the Conservative and Independent Group, added:

“I’ve been in regular communication with the highways team about the proposed scheme and the process is going to take a little longer than hoped for and will cost more than initially anticipated.

“This is due to the fact that site investigations carried out by highways engineers, showed that the sub core under Market Place East is sand and every time it rains the road surface moves.”

The need to put new foundations in place before the new tarmac surface can be laid has seen the projected cost for the scheme rise from £500,000 to £630.000.

North Yorkshire Council has confirmed that in preparation for the proposed scheme, necessary site investigations have already started and will commence further later this month.

This will involve road closures on separate days of Market Place East and Market Place West and a traffic management plan associated with the works will be communicated to the local stakeholders and the public, once dates are finalised with the contractors.

Both Market Place East (main picture) and Market Place West will be resurfaced next autumn if the scheme receives the go-ahead.

The search for Cocker Spaniel Ella is being stepped up across Ripon and the surrounding area, a month after she went missing in woodland off Clotherholme Road.

For her distraught owners Andy and Jo Coombs, the round-the-clock search, which began on Friday October 13, has been extensive, with hundreds of people lending a hand.

Banners featuring Ella have been put in place at a number of key locations. Picture: Jo Coombs

Now, with thousands of leaflets printed for delivery by friends and volunteers to homes in Ripon and remote farms in outlying rural areas, the couple are hopeful that someone will come forward with a confirmed sighting that can be followed up.

Mr Coombs, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are not giving up hope, because there have been instances of dogs being found weeks, sometimes months, after they went missing.”

He added:

“Ella, received gun dog training when she was younger and is fully used to the countryside and capable of surviving on her own instincts.”

Still searching – Andy Coombs with Ella’s three-year-old sister Holly

The search,  which is being Co-ordinated by Mandy Butler of the Lost Dog Trapping Team Search & Rescue Network, has involved the use of tracker dogs, drones with thermal imaging equipment, monitoring of live cameras, checking cctv footage, the production and installation of hundreds of ‘missing’ posters and an appeal for assistance on social media

Anybody with information that may help in the search is asked to contact Ms Butler on 07947 866 582 or via Ella’s Facebook page that can be accessed by clicking here.

Eight-year-old Ella has been missing since October 13. Picture: Andy Coombs

Read more:

• Ripon pays its respects to the fallen
• Three independents take space in Halls of Ripon

An estimated 3,000 people gathered at the War Memorial in Spa Gardens and along Ripon’s ancient streets and Market Place, as the city paid its respects this morning to the fallen of two world wars and other conflicts

Wreaths were laid as Andrew Cowie, president of the Ripon Branch of the Royal British Legion (pictured below, left), read out almost 400 local names from Akers to Young, who gave their lives in the service of this country.

Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Richard Compton, representing King Charles III and Mayor Councillor Sid Hawke representing the city, were among the first to put wreaths in place.

Later, they took the salute outside the town hall (pictured above) as Ripon City Band led the march past along Market Place South and down Kirkgate to the cathedral, where a civic service of remembrance, attended by members of the city council and other dignitaries, was held.

The service was led by the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Revd. Anna Eltringham, who had earlier been with the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson and Canon Matthew Pollard, for the Remembrance Sunday prayers and hymns in Spa Gardens.

Ripon’s Royal Engineers (pictured above) who have had the Freedom of the City since 1949, were among the service personnel, Air Cadets, Army Cadets and members of uniformed organisations who took part in the parade.

Main picture: The Mayor of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke, laid a wreath on behalf of the city at this morning’s Remembrance Service at Ripon War Memorial.

Read more:

• Bike track could replace pitch and putt course in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens
• Valley Gardens bike track — further details revealed

Ripon’s St Cecilia Orchestra opens its 2023/24 season on Saturday (November 11) with a programme, featuring the work of three major composers.

Beginning with Grieg’s ever-popular Holberg Suite and culminating in Tchaikovsky’s virtuosic tour-de-force for strings: Souvenir de Florence, the concert at Holy Trinity Church will also include Benjamin Britten’s atmospheric song cycle exploring the calm and sinister aspects of night: Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings.

The Holberg Suite  harks back to the music of the 1700s but with a distinctly Romantic twist. It is one of most readily recognisable pieces of the string orchestra repertoire, with its rhythmic and driving opening Prelude, lyrical Sarabande and boisterous Rigaudon (featuring sparkling solos from the first violin and viola).

Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings was composed for his partner, Peter Pears and horn player Dennis Brain, who premiered the work together in 1943.

The 6 sung movements draw on poetry from across the ages, from an anonymous writer in the 1400s through to Blake, Keats and Tennyson, framed at the opening and close by two movements played by the horn alone.

St Cecilia Orchestra will accompany soloist performances from Yorkshire tenor, Nicholas Watts, known to local audiences for his work with Opera North and French horn player, Catherine Hewitt, who enjoys a busy freelance career across the north of England.

After the interval the orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence. Originally composed for string sextet, but often played by full string orchestra, this is a hugely challenging work, which reflects the composer’s delight in writing for string instruments.

A real virtuosic tour-de-force, promises to send the audience away musically fulfilled and uplifted

Tickets for the concert priced at £20 for adults and free for under 18s can be obtained online from Ticket Source (www.ticketsource.co.uk/st-cecilia), They can also be purchased in person from Harrogate Theatre and the Little Ripon Bookshop, or can be bought on the door from 7pm on Saturday.

The choice of music signals a busy Saturday evening for the string section of the orchestra (pictured above) Picture: St Cecelia Orchestra

Read more:

• Ripon hornblower makes historic London debut
• Three independent retailers take space at Halls of Ripon

Ripon Civic Society has welcomed plans to rejuvenate the city’s historic Spa Baths, which have fallen into disrepair since being closed two years ago.

Ripon-based investment and development company Sterne Properties Limited has proposed creating a hospitality-led development, which would see the spa building retained and refurbished.

The new-build element of the scheme would include four residential flats and a single-storey glazed extension, with a landscaped courtyard area linked to the adjacent Spa Gardens, providing a new public access to the parkland area.

This would replace the swimming pool building introduced before the Second World War, when the spa was converted into a public baths.

In response to the planning application, the civic society said:

“We give this scheme our strong support as being the best chance of allowing the site to survive.”

Mindful of the dilapidated and vandalised state of the grade two listed building, the society added:

“We would urge a speedy grant of planning permission and listed building consent to allow work to begin as soon as possible.”

Spa Baths closed two years ago and the building is in a state of disrepair.

Regarding the new-build element of the scheme,  the society said:

“Overall, it is a sensitive approach with historic structures cleansed of later inferior additions (including the 1936 pool) and with new-build done in an unashamedly modern but complementary style and materials.”

The society’s response, which can be seen along with other documents on the North Yorkshire Council planning portal, added:

“The society very much welcomes this scheme which proposes to conserve and provide new uses for an important historic building in the city.”

The civic society, which accepts the need for a residential element in the scheme to make the development viable, said it supports the application in principle, subject to clarification on a number of points of detail, largely relating to the retention of decorative features dating back to 1905 when the spa opened.

The main picture is an architectural perspective viewed from Park Street, which shows how the spa building will look after renovation. Image: Architecture:ab

Read more

• Planning application submitted for Ripon Spa Baths regeneration
• Ripon Inn opens after multi-million pound refurbishment