Ripon defibrillator donation made in memory of paramedic

A defibrillator installed this week at the newly-opened Ripon Inn will provide a fitting reminder of the work of former paramedic Martin Faulkner.

Mr Faulkner, who worked for Yorkshire Ambulance Service and was one of its first personnel to serve as a paramedic, died in October 2022 after a long illness.

On Monday, the defibrillator purchased in his memory, was unveiled by his widow Patricia and son Chris at a ceremony also attended by Ripon Inn general manager Dan Chrisp, Eleanor Hartas and Alec Lutton of Defibs Ripon, Joanne Watson of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Roger Fay of Zion Baptist Church and Cllr Pauline McHardy.

Martin Faulkner was one of Yorkshire's first paramedics.

Martin Faulkner was one of Yorkshire’s first paramedics.

The life-saving device, was paid for with money raised by the Faulkner family and a donation from the Zion Baptist Church in Blossomgate, where Ms Faulkner is a member.

She said:

“Martin was a quiet man who didn’t seek recognition, but he would be proud of what has been achieved today.

“Our hope, as his family, is that this defibrillator placed outside the Ripon Inn, will help save the life of someone’s loved one, perhaps over the years, many lives.”

Mr Lutton, pointed out:

“This is the 23rd defibrillator to be installed in the Ripon area and I thank the Faulkner family and Zion Baptist Church for this wonderful gesture.”

Three-times Mayor Of Ripon, Cllr Pauline McHardy, added:

“I was delighted to be invited to today’s unveiling and it’s reassuring to know that the number of defibrillators we have in the city makes it one of the safest places to be if you have a heart attack.

“Having worked for more than 40 years as a nurse in the NHS, I know that swift action is essential and does save lives. With this in mind, it is also important for people to  go on the training courses provided by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service to learn how they can use a defibrillator.”

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The Ripon Inn opens today after multi-million pound refurbishment

The Ripon Inn re-opened today after a multi-million-pound refurbishment.

The venue, previously known as the Spa Hotel, had been closed for three years.

It now has 58 bedrooms, as opposed to 40 previously, which will significantly boost the city’s accommodation offering. The inn, which also has two bars, will employee 78 staff.

Olympic gold medal-winning diver Jack Laugher joined VIPs at a preview event on Thursday, ahead of today’s official opening date.

It was the third and final local historic hotel to be re-opened this year by The Inn Collection Group, after the St George Hotel in Harrogate and the Dower House in Knaresborough were unveiled under new names The Harrogate Inn and The Knaresborough Inn.

Like the other two venues, the Ripon Inn has undergone a major overhaul inside and out.

Jack Laugher pulls a pint at the VIP preview event last week.

Undertaken in partnership with Silverstone Building Consultancy and STP Construction, the new look adopts The Inn Collection Group’s bid to create ‘inns with rooms’ rather than hotels.

It means The Ripon Inn, which is situated in six acres of gardens, will attempt to attract local people for food and drink as well as provide accommodation for tourists.

Formerly referred to as the Turf Tavern, The Ale House is a real ale hub within the inn with six pumps serving a range of beers including those produced locally by Black Sheep, Rooster’s Brewing Company and Theakston’s.

Sean Donkin, group chief executive of The Inn Collection Group, said:

“The Ripon Inn is a fantastic addition to our estate. It has huge potential and I think our teams and our partners have realised the exciting vision that we had for the property when we bought it back in 2021.

“Following on from the well-received re-openings of The Harrogate Inn and The Knaresborough Inn, I am excited for Ripon to open and for the revitalisation of this classic, landmark site to start in earnest.

“We’ve created what we hope is a welcoming place to enjoy food, drinks and company whilst at the same time, taking care to retain the unique, historic character of the building.

“Adding 18 new bedrooms, we now have 58 on site which is a significant boost to the city’s overall occupancy, and I am excited for our teams giving our guests a warm welcome to our latest inn.”

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Stand in memory of Ripon Rugby Club stalwart backed by councillors

Ripon Rugby Club’s plan to build a 100-seater stand at its Mallorie Park ground has moved a step closer.

If approved by North Yorkshire Council, the new spectator facility will be paid for from a legacy left to the club by former first team captain and president Tim Wray, who died in 2018.

At its full Ripon City Council meeting on Monday, members gave their support to a planning application, which also includes a request to build pitch-side shelters/dugouts for coaches, players and disabled supporters.

Other planned improvements are a new shed for ground maintenance equipment,  a security fence and creation of a new entry route into the site.

Should planning consent be granted, the stand, alongside the club’s first team pitch, will be named The Tim Wray Stand as a lasting tribute to the club’s benefactor.

Ripon Rugby Union Football Club, is approaching its 140th anniversary, having been founded in 1886.

The club, which has 800 members and its own clubhouse, has two men’s and one women’s teams, along with one of the largest junior sections in the north of England.

In addition to its focus on rugby, it hosts Ripon Runners and provides facilities that are used by community groups and organisations.

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Homes England earmarks £10m for major Ripon housing site contributions

A total of £10 million has been budgeted to cover items in a Section 106 agreement being drawn up by Homes England for the 1,300-home Clotherholme development at the Ripon Barracks site.

The money will fund a number of areas, including off-site highway adjustments and contributions towards primary and secondary education provision and primary healthcare.

In addition, under the legally-binding agreement, the government’s housing and regeneration agency, is required to put a strategy in place to “secure military heritage within the site”.

On Monday, Homes England project manager Martin Wilks and senior planning and enabling manager David Rowlinson, met with city councillors to provide a progress report on the major scheme, that will eventually increase  Ripon’s population by 20%.

In February, Harrogate Borough Council planning committee said it was minded to grant planning consent for the Clotherholme scheme and Mr Wilks, pointed out:

“The next stage on the planning process is to present the Section 106 agreement to North Yorkshire Council for approval.”

He added:

“The Section 106 monies have been set at £10 million to cover areas including off-site traffic interventions and contributions to education provision,”

The 21 Regiment of the Royal Engineers is scheduled to vacate the site by March 2026 and enabling works for the homes development will start in 2025.

In the meantime, Homes England is drawing up a sustainable drainage plan for the scheme with Yorkshire Water and working on a design guide for the development with Ripon Civic Society.

Meetings have been held with Ripon Military Heritage Trust regarding the protection and preservation of historically-important buildings and bridges on the site and a further meeting with them is planned for November 7.

Matters raised by councillors included the significance of the site’s rich military Heritage, increased traffic generation and the impact it will have on the city’s roads infrastructure and the additional strain that an increase in population will put on healthcare provision.

In view of the number of issues put forward, it was agreed that Mr Wilks and Mr Rowlinson will hold  further meetings with councillors to focus on specific concerns that they have in relation to the development.

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Little Bird markets to light up Christmas across the Harrogate district

This article is sponsored by Little Bird Made.

From the garden of the Magdalens Pub in Ripon to the stately splendour of the Harewood estate, it has been a remarkable journey for Jackie Crozier and the Little Bird Made venture that she launched five years ago in her home city.

In 2018, Jackie’s first artisan market was held just a stone’s throw from Ripon’s magnificent cathedral, providing a platform for 20 local traders to showcase and sell their hand-crafted goods.

Since then, Little Bird has spread its wings, increasing year on year the number of historic Yorkshire towns and cities where its markets are held.

As Christmas approaches, a very busy period lies ahead, beginning with their biggest event of the season on the North Park Walk at Harewood House.

Visitors flocked to the 2022 Winter Market curated by Little Bird at Harewood House

Over five days between November 8 and 12, the home to Earls and Countesses since the 18th century, will be the exquisite backdrop for a very special winter market, curated for the second successive year by Jackie and her 14-strong team of professional event managers.

It will feature 130 local makers, crafters and producers and with pre-booked entry available at the reduced price of £5, those visiting the market will also be able to explore Harewood’s 150 acres of stunning grounds, including the Terrace Garden, Himalayan Garden, Walled Garden, Farm Experience and Adventure Playground.

For the energetic, there’s a three-mile walking trail across the North Park, South Park and Lakeside.

Little Bird will also be back by popular demand for the third year running to curate the Christmas Markets being held in the elegant setting of the Sun Colonnade at Harrogate’s glorious Valley Gardens. These will take place over three consecutive weekends on December 2,3, 9,10 and 16, 17.

The Christmas markets in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens will be held over three consecutive weekends

On November 25 and 26, Harrogate Horticultural Nursery is the venue for a Christmas market staged by Little Bird and further festive markets will also be held in Northallerton, Easingwold, Richmond, Leyburn, Thirsk, Wetherby and, of course, Ripon.

A birthday celebration

Before the festive season gets into full swing, Sunday October 22 will see Little Bird’s fifth birthday celebrated with an artisan market on Ripon’s Market Square.

The day will be dedicated to Jackie’s late parents David and Marilyn, who ran the former Fleece Pub on St Mary’s Gate for ten years.

Jackie, said:

“I think about them every day and know that they would be proud of what I have achieved since returning to the city where I was born and bred and am now an Independent member of the city council.

“I had been away for more than 20 years, working as the Director of the Manchester Pride Festival and later working on high-profile events including the London 2012 Olympics, Manchester’s Parklife Festival and the Download Festival at Donnington Park.”

Jackie, added:

“Dad’s nickname was Crow and I was known as Little Crow – so that’s how the Little Bird name came about, though sadly he didn’t live to see my fledgling venture get off the ground,

“Mum was in the intensive treatment unit at Harrogate Hospital  for much of the time when I was setting up the business. I visited her every day and though she was very poorly, she never failed to take an interest and offer me words of advice and encouragement.

“That meant so much to me and has made me determined to use the expertise that I have gained through 25 years in event management, to make the Harrogate district and neighbouring areas a Mecca for artisan markets which support independent traders, while bringing increased footfall and economic benefits to the communities where they are staged.”

Visiting a Little Bird Made market is a great way to support local businesses and find unique Christmas gifts.

Here’s when you can visit a market near you:

Ripon 5th Birthday Artisan Market on October 22

Harewood House Artisan Winter Market from November 8 to 12

Council reiterates call for police base at Ripon Town Hall

Councillors have reiterated the call for North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoe Metcalfe to fulfil her promise to establish a police presence in Ripon Town Hall.

Members at last night’s full Ripon City Council meeting said the need for visible and accessible policing in the city centre had increased because of recurring issues of antisocial behaviour and vandalism.

The problems range from vandal attacks on cars parked in the the city centre to stones being thrown through house windows — one of which injured the occupants.

Councillor Pauline McHardy said:

“Youths are making people’s lives a misery and blighting this city and residents need somewhere convenient to go to to report these incidents when they occur.”

City Council leader Andrew Williams received unanimous support in his call to approach Ms Metcalfe, whose time in office will end in May when her office’s duties are transferred to the new York and North Yorkshire mayor’s office. He reminded fellow councillors:

“In February, the commissioner issued a press release to say that a £91,000 refurbishment of space in the town hall was already underway and would be completed by June, but this wasn’t correct.

“Since then, nothing has materialised and we need to write to the commissioner in the strongest terms calling on her to keep the promise that she made.”

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At the time of the February announcement, councillors were hopeful the move to create a public consultation room, an office and a room for officers would help tackle crime in the city, providing an additional site to Ripon’s main Police and Fire Station at Stonebridgegate.

In August, a spokesperson for the crime commissioner said following the decision to approve funding for the move into the town hall, the ground floor space originally offered by Harrogate Borough Council was changed by the new North Yorkshire Council, in conjunction with Ripon City Council.

Alternative space was then offered on the second floor which it said will need to be assessed for “public accessibility and operational use”.

The spokesperson said:

“Commissioner Zoë is committed to ensuring that the residents of Ripon are provided with consistent, visible policing, and it is understood that North Yorkshire Police are currently in the process of assessing a number of additional sites in the heart of the city to ensure the local policing team are accessible to the public.”

Ms Metcalfe added:

“When elected as police, fire and crime commissioner I made a commitment to the people of North Yorkshire that I would strive to ensure that they would always be safe and feel safe, with efficient use of public resources being one of my five key priorities.”

Land at Ripon City Golf Club up for sale at £375,000

The board of Ripon City Golf Club is looking into the possibility of buying land it currently leases at the Palace Road course, after half of the site was put up for sale.

The land, where nine of the holes at the 18-hole course are located, is owned by the Church Commissioners.

It is being marketed by property agents Savills, which described the land as:

“Part of the Ripon City Golf Club course, strategically positioned on the northern fringe of Ripon and adjacent to Palace Road, sold subject to lease expiring in 2048.”

A guide price of £375,000 has been given for those interested in purchasing the freehold and in response to this, the club board has issued a brief statement, which said:

“The board are actively investigating the possibilities of purchasing the land, further details will be made available to the press in due course.”

Ripon City Golf Club, was founded in 1908, when it had a nine-hole course on the 53.7 acres owned by the Church Commissioners.

The club celebrated its centenary in 2008, 10 years after signing a new 50-year lease for the land, which restricts its use to ‘golf course and ancillary uses associated thereof’.

In the late 1980s, the club purchased adjacent farmland, which enabled the creation of the additional nine holes that made it an 18-hole course.

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Long-standing Ripon eyesore finally tidied

The site of a former Ripon petrol station and convenience store that has been derelict for decades, has been tidied up 11 months after city councillors called for enforcement action.

The defunct Express petrol station on Skellbank, which has been empty for more than 20 years, is located on the tourist route to Fountains Abbey and diagonally across the road from Hugh Ripley Hall — named in honour of Ripon’s first mayor.

In early 2021 Harrogate Borough Council planning enforcement officers instructed the owner to tidy the site, cut back vegetation and leave it in an acceptable manner prior to any further development.

Last November, Ripon councillors called for further action to smarten up the area, which remained in an overgrown state.

The overgrown site pictured in November 2022.

At a full city council meeting last November, Cllr Stuart Flatley’s request for the now abolished Harrogate Borough Council to serve a Section 215 enforcement notice on the site owner was unanimously supported, after he said:

“This area is on the route to the Fountains Abbey world heritage site and has been in this unacceptable condition for many years and we can’t let this continue.”

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Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 gives local planning authorities the power to take steps requiring land be tidied up when its condition adversely affects the amenity of the area.

If it appears that the amenity of part of their area is being adversely affected by the condition of neighbouring land and buildings, they may serve a notice on the owner requiring the situation be remedied.

Ripon businesses given free help to be more disability-friendly

Ripon Disability Forum is arranging free training for local businesses, voluntary organisations and councils aimed at making the city more accessible.

The training, at Community House on Allhallowgate, is being provided by disability consultants Nimbus Disability. It will take place from 9.30am to 2pm on October 26.

Nimbus created The Access Card, which is an ID card for disabled people that indicates what their legal rights might be and gives businesses an indication of the support they need to provide.

RDF trustee Jeremy Dunford, who is a wheelchair user, said:

“The Purple Pound, which refers to the spending power of people with a disability, is estimated to be worth £274 billion per year to the UK economy, so it is in the interests of businesses to ensure that their premises are as accessible as possible for those with limited mobility.

“However, it’s not just about clients and customers, it’s is also about employment opportunities, information sharing/presentation and technology.

“It is also about developing the best accessible practise by overcoming barriers that can be overcome and sharing open information when a barrier cannot be overcome for example, when it is not possible to provide ramped access to a listed building.”

With 25 places available at Community House, the training is being offered on a first come, first served basis to businesses or organisations that operate in, or serve Ripon and its surrounding area. Attendance via Zoom can also be arranged.

Bookings should be made via ripondisabilityforum@gmail.com or the forum’s facebook page.

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Ripon leisure centre work halted after ground movement detected

A £3.5 million scheme to stabilise the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon has been halted because of new suspected land movement.

Groundwork began in June following the discovery of a “void” beneath the former leisure centre building in the sinkhole-prone area.

Members have had to use a temporary gym in the car park and attend group classes at Hugh Ripley Hall in the city centre while remediation work takes place at the old building.

The new building, which includes a swimming pool, sauna and steam room has remained open.

Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre.

The new building on the site remains open.

Work was due to finish in spring next year but the latest discovery may jeopardise that — and spark fresh questions about the wisdom of choosing the site and continuing to spend money stabilising the land despite sinkhole fears.

The Stray Ferret asked North Yorkshire Council if work had been halted after noticing a lack of activity in recent weeks.

Jo Ireland, the council’s assistant director for culture and leisure, said:

“Our contractors have temporarily paused groundworks at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre as a precautionary measure while they investigate and assess signs of movement that have appeared in the internal blockwork of the existing building.

“A specialist engineer has advised the movement is predominantly aesthetic with no grounds for concern over the safety of the building.

“We will be installing a monitoring system on site in the next few days to detect any further movement that may occur. This system will give us the data we need to allow us to restart work later this month.

“We would only need to pause work again should the monitoring system detect additional significant movement, at which point further assessment of the situation would take place.”

‘Throwing good money after bad’

In October last year Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, who also represents Ripon Minster and Moorside on North Yorkshire Council, said it was time to stop “throwing good money after bad” and and “look for a suitable location for a new leisure centre to be built on sound land”.

He accused the now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council, which took the decision to build on the site, of “blindly and belligerently pouring money into propping up a centre that is nearly 30 years old and there is no guarantee that more funding won’t be needed after remediation works begin”.

Cllr Williams added:

“These works would take the total spending on this project to £18 million – some £8 million above the original budget – and they can’t continue ploughing money into this site, with its known history of ground stability issues, including a sinkhole that opened up on the leisure centre car park in 2018.”

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