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A main road through Ripon is closed this morning as emergency services deal with a collision.
North Yorkshire Police, along with ambulance crews and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services, are at the scene of the two-car collision on Bondgate Green between Ripon Bowling Club and Ripon Builders Merchants.
The road is currently blocked and vehicles are being diverted onto other routes while the scene is cleared.
There is not yet any information about whether anyone has been injured.
The Stray Ferret will post further updates as they become available.
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Ripon Toy Library to celebrate 30 years of service
Ripon Community Toy Library is hosting a special anniversary celebration to mark its 30th birthday.
The party on Thursday August 3 is open to all users, past and present, along with volunteer helpers.
The library, based at Community House on Allhallowgate, is a volunteer-run charity and has a vast array of toys, play equipment, ride-ons, books, games, puzzles and other items available on loan to families at an affordable price.
Toy Library chair Sarah Sharp, told the Stray Ferret:
“We started out in 1993 at the YMCA on Water Skellgate and moved to Community House more than a decade ago, which was great, because it gave us increased safe and secure storage space.
“We offer items that are suitable for children aged from babies to eight years and in addition to the lending service that we provide, we also hold occasional story time sessions run by Ripon Library.”
Ripon Community Toy Library chair Sarah Sharp (second from right) is pictured with volunteers: (from left) Gemma James, her daughter Abi and Ruth Rymer.
Each Thursday, parents, grandparents and other carers can bring children to try out the toys, which can be taken home at a cost of 50p per item for a two-week loan.
The subscription for using the library is £2 for six months and Sarah pointed out:
“Our aim is to keep the costs as low as possible so that the lending service is affordable to as many people as possible.
“We have been able to do this with support from volunteers, plus financial assistance from North Yorkshire Council, Ripon City Council, Morrisons, the Rotary Club of Ripon Rowels and Ripon Recycling and help from Jennyruth Workshops, which has made toys for us.”
Ahead of its August 3 party the library would like to hear from anybody who has been involved with it in any way over the past 30 years.
More information is available by clicking here or by calling 01677 470014.
Best-selling author launches ghost ship novel in Sharow
Kate Mosse, the Sunday Times bestselling author, will launch The Ghost Ship at St John’s Church in Sharow on Monday (July 17).
Her book, described as ‘a sweeping historical story about love in a time of war, a tale of secrets and treachery’ is the third in the trilogy of the Joubert Family Chronicles
Ms Mosse (pictured) who will be giving a talk about her latest work and answering audience questions at the evening event hosted by The Little Ripon Bookshop, said:
“It’s about piracy, revenge, women struggling to survive in a man’s world and also a story of forbidden love.
“Though it’s the final part of the trilogy, it can be read as a stand-alone novel.”
Tickets for the event, which starts at 7pm, cost £20 (including a hardback copy of The Ghost Ship) or £7 for entrance only.
Further details are available here or in The Little Ripon Bookshop.
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Edinburgh Fringe debut for Ripon singer-songwriter
Next month’s Edinburgh Fringe will provide a high profile platform for Ripon singer-songwriter Alannah Creed to unveil a newly-created repertoire of original songs.
Her Fringe debut will see the 20-year-old classically-trained singer perform 12 songs written in collaboration with her mother and co-lyricist Kathryn Creed, a counsellor and hypnotherapist, who is also a Reiki master teacher and practitioner.
The duo have combined their musical and therapeutic skills to compose pieces designed to be in harmony with the healing power of nature.
Living close to the Studley Royal Deer Park, where they regularly walk Yorkshire terrier Katie, there is plenty in the natural environment to inspire them.
Alannah and Kathryn Creed with Yorkshire Terrier Katie
Alannah told the Stray Ferret:
“The songs, which I describe as classically inspired pop infused with electronica, draw on many different uplifting personal experiences, such as seeing the sun shining through trees and hearing the sound of birds singing.”
She added:
“I believe that music is a superpower for stress relief, enjoyment and healing and I want those who come to my concerts to feel happy, empowered, energised and renewed. “
Pianist Alannah, who also plays acoustic guitar, is currently an unsigned artist but has been working with producer Grant Henderson at Loom Studios in Birstall near Leeds, with the aim of releasing her work this autumn or in the spring of 2024.
Her 11 shows at Edinburgh Fringe will be staged in venue six at the Lauriston Halls complex and before heading to the Scottish capital, she will provide a sneak preview of her original works in the Harrogate Theatre Studio on the evening of July 21.
Alannah will also perform her repertoire in Ripon Arts Hub on Allhallowgate all 8pm on August 4, where tickets will be available on the door.
Those who go to see her in Edinburgh, Harrogate or Ripon, can expect dramatic performances as she is also an actor and dancer who trained in Contemporary Performance at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, before studying acting at the Stella Adler Academy in New York.
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Learn how to save a life with free training in Ripon
Defibrillators can be found at an increasing number of locations across Ripon and surrounding areas, but would you know how to use one to save somebody’s life?
The Defibs-Ripon group has organised a free CPR and defibrillator familiarisation lesson to ensure the vital skills are shared with as many people as possible.
The 90-minute lesson is being provided by Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) and attendees will have the opportunity to practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the service’s training dummy, as well as being taught how to use a defibrillator.
Alec Lutton of Defibs-Ripon said:
“Handling the defibrillator and trying out CPR helps take away the fear of having to do this for the first time in an emergency and may help save the life of a loved one, or a complete stranger, some day.”
The training session will be held at Ripon Bowling Club on Tuesday, August 22. Places are free but must be booked in advance by emailing ripondefibs@gmail.com.
Mr Lutton added:
Closing date approaches for Ripon Poetry Festival competition“Over the last seven years we have tried to encourage as many people as possible to attend these lessons. However, some think it will never happen to them or their friends.
“The important thing to remember is that it can happen to anyone at any time, and anywhere.”
The closing date for the sixth Ripon Poetry Festival competition is fast approaching.
The competition is at the heart of the festival and poets of all ages are being invited to submit their creative work by July 31 for consideration by a panel of judges.
There are three age categories — under-11s, 12 to 18 year-olds and adults — and those judged to be the best will be published in anthologies covering each of the three age ranges.
Those whose entries are included in the anthologies will be invited to read them at Ripon Arts Hub (pictured below) on the evening of Saturday September 23.
Headlining this year’s festival is internationally-famous children’s writer Michael Rosen, who helped to launch the first Ripon Poetry Festival in 2017.
The author, whose works include We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, features in a packed programme that also includes theatre legend Barrie Rutter, the actor and director who founded Northern Broadsides to champion acting talent from the north.
Running from September 21 until October 1, the festival has grown year on year to become the biggest of its kind in Yorkshire and among this year’s highlights will be performances from poets Hadley-James Hoyles, Alison Carr, Robert Powell and Sarah Wimbush.
In addition to workshops and an open mic event, Tim Harrison, former director of music at Middlesbrough Cathedral is joining forces with author, poet and festival curator Andy Croft for the world premiere of a chamber oratorio.
More details about the festival and how to enter can be found by clicking here.
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Hopes for Ripon pub to reopen after sudden closure
One of Ripon’s largest and most prominently located pubs is seeking a new long-term tenant after being shut since early May.
South Lodge’s sudden closure prompted speculation on social media about its future.
A spokesperson for the Heineken-owned pub business Star Pubs & Bars, which is marketing the premises on Harrogate Road at an annual rent of £29,775, told the Stray Ferret:
“We have had to close South Lodge on a temporary basis. We hope to open it again in the next few weeks with the same temporary licensees.
“Longer term, we are seeking a suitable person to take on the lease.”
The spokesperson added:
“South Lodge is in a great location half a mile south of the (city) centre in a desirable, residential area. It is a stunning building and, in addition to serving food and drink, can host live entertainment, pub games and pool. “
The pub, which stands in its own grounds and has a beer garden, is located by the busy A61 on the route of the 36 bus service between Ripon and Harrogate.
In its search for somebody to take on the lease, Star Pubs & Bars said it was looking for a person with extensive experience in the hospitality business.
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Playground to close at Ripon’s Quarry Moor Park
The playground at Ripon’s Quarry Moor Park is to close following repeated vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
Ripon City Council agreed the measure at an extraordinary meeting last night.
An arson attack this month became the latest in a long list of damage and destruction wrought by vandals at the park.
Edward Brandie, who lives close to the site, told councillors:
“I called the fire brigade after seeing youths deliberately setting fire to an area of woodland and fortunately, the firefighters came quickly and put it out, otherwise It could have been disastrous.”
Last night’s meeting was held to enable councillors to agree actions required to address ongoing concerns about vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the playground.
Members of the public at last night’s meeting.
It was attended by members of the public, who heard councillors approve a radical plan involving the closure of the the playground, removal of the hut on site and development of a longer-term programme of improvements for the park.
All playground equipment and broken fencing is to be removed and trees and bushes trimmed back with the aim of creating an enlarged open picnic and recreation area, that can be safely used by families and other people who visit the site for legitimate reasons.
City councillors voted unanimously for the measures after Cllr Julie Ann Martin-Long, chair of the Alderman Spence Quarry Moor Trust Committee, said she and deputy chair Cllr Tony Duncan had been regularly monitoring the park and appalled at what they had seen.
Cllr Martin-Long said:
“In addition to graffiti on the play equipment that is lewd, crude and racist, the equipment has been vandalised and is no longer safe for children to use.
“Fences have been broken down, signs damaged and dens created on the site by youths. We have also had a problem of rats on the site because of discarded rubbish.”
City council leader Andrew Williams said he believed an area of the site was being used as a drop-off point for people handing over ‘substances’. His recommendation that the gate to the site car park be locked at 5pm each day from October onward, to prevent vehicular access, was agreed.
Councillors also agreed to a proposal by Cllr Barbara Brodigan, for Ripon residents to be invited to attend a public meeting later this year to discuss longer-term improvement plans for Quarry Moor Park.
Cllr Martin-Long said:
“We have been working closely with the police and taking their advice on how to tackle the issues we are facing. There’s no quick fix, but this area used to be one of Ripon’s crowing glories and we want to get it back to that once more.”
Remediation works costing £3.5 million are underway at the Ripon leisure centre building which closed in late April.
North Yorkshire Council’s assistant director for culture, leisure, archives and libraries, Jo Ireland, said:
“We can confirm the ground stabilisation works at the former Ripon Leisure Centre have now started.”
Hoardings and fencing have been put in place around the 28 year old leisure centre building.
He added:
“These works came about following the discovery of a void underneath part of the original leisure centre.
“The void is understood to have been present for a number of years and was discovered when the reinforced concrete slab, which provides the foundation for the new swimming pool, was cast.
“By addressing these historic issues, it allows us the opportunity to ensure future generations will be able to access modern sport and leisure facilities in their city for many years to come.
“Once the works have been completed the original leisure centre facility can be refurbished as planned – which includes an extended gym, two new activity studios, a spin studio as well as meeting facilities – and complement the 25 metre, six-lane swimming pool that opened last year.”
Work is scheduled to go on until spring 2024 and in the meantime a temporary gym will remain in use on the car park near the entrance to the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre.
The £300,000 facility, operated by Brimhams Active on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, includes Technogym equipment.
Customers are able to use the changing and shower facilities at the swimming pool as well as the sauna and steam suite. Group exercise classes continue to be provided at Hugh Ripley Hall.
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An extraordinary meeting of Ripon City Council will be held this evening (Monday) to ‘consider the urgent matters on the site at Quarry Moor and to agree appropriate action.’
The children’s playground at the park has been closed since March after being attacked by vandals. It has suffered vandalism and anti-social behaviour on a regular basis.
The meeting, which starts at 7pm, will be held in the council chamber at Ripon Town Hall and is open to the public, who can question, seek clarification, or make
representation to members of the council.
On June 12, councillors attending a full council voted for the playground to remain closed for the foreseeable future.
The extraordinary meeting will be held in the council chamber at Ripon Town Hall.
The decision was taken in private session and confirmed in a statement on the council’s Facebook page, which said that the council:
“regretfully resolved not to reinstate the playground at Quarry Moor at the present time”.
It added:
“Unfortunately the site is being vandalised almost daily. We are working with North Yorkshire Police who are responding to the regular reports of anti-social behaviour when they occur.
“Until we can plan a way forward with our partners that includes measures that impact on the behaviour at the site we are unable to commit funds to the playground.
“We appreciate that this is caused by a small minority and that it is affecting our residents using the site. We are actively seeking solutions to the issue (and) will provide a further update as soon as possible.”
Quarry Moor is funded with an annual grant from the city council and the budget for 2023-24 financial year is £15,000.
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