Christmas tree disposal service provides vital funding for Ripon Walled GardenWith the time to take down Christmas decorations fast approaching, people living in the Ripon area are being urged to support a local charity and help the environment.
Once again, Ripon Walled Garden, operated by the Ripon Community Link charity, is running its popular and environmentally friendly tree collection and disposal scheme to raise funds to support the delivery and development of the services it provides for adults with learning disabilities.
The charity’s chief executive Victoria Ashley, said:
“Our Christmas fundraising campaigns are vital to the charity, every penny raised through our tree sales and tree collection service directly benefits local people with learning disabilities by helping to pay for staff costs and gas and electricity bills throughout the year to provide services, five days a week to over 55 individuals living with a learning disability.
“The monies raised from suggested donations for the tree collection and recycling service has never been more needed as we all feel the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
Ms Ashley, added:
“We are extremely proud to partner with Lightwater Quarries and Rudding Park Hotel who are both supporting the Tree Collection Campaign.
“In addition to volunteering to help us collect the Christmas Trees, Lightwater quarries over the last 3 years helped us purchase of a new minibus; supplied the concrete foundations for a new green house and a much needed toilet block, foundations and fundraising for a new classroom building as well as transform the look and feel of the charities main retail area, all of which ultimately help to provide much needed ongoing funds.
“Rudding Park has provided support in so many ways, on site, with events, teams helping us manage our woodland, providing golf sessions for our service users, and we are especially grateful for their donation of an overnight stay at Rudding Park as our Christmas Raffle prize which has helped us raise £2,430 this Christmas.“
Carolyn Sands, chair of the charity, pointed out:
“Ripon Walled Garden provides day care and learning opportunities for so many individuals and respite for their families.”
People living within a five mile radius of Ripon Walled Garden’s HG4 3HN postcode can book the service up until 5pm on Wednesday (January 4) via the Ripon Community Link website: www.riponcommunitylink.org or by calling 01765 609229.
The suggested donation is £7 for a tree up to 10 foot in height and £10 for a tree of 10 foot and above.
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Ripon set to welcome in the New Year with city eventRipon will welcome in 2023 in traditional style on Saturday evening, with residents and visitors invited to the city’s New Year’s Eve gathering on Market Square.
The celebrations begin at 9pm when a member of the hornblower team will signal the setting of the watch with blasts of their horn at the four corners of the obelisk.
The ceremonial event, dating back to 886 AD – the year in which when Alfred the Great became the first Anglo-Saxon King of England – will provide the prelude to a night of free entertainment.
The watch will be set by a member of the Ripon hornblower team prior to the start of the musical entertainment
Following the hornblower, three tribute acts will take centre stage for the final concert of the year organised by Ripon City Council.
The acts are Beyond Faith, performing the songs of George Michael and Wham, Xelle with the favourite numbers from the best-known girl bands and Parklife, singing Britpop hits of the 1990s.
Shortly before midnight a torchlit procession of civic dignitaries led by the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda, will make its way from Ripon Cathedral to Market Square, in time for the countdown that heralds in the New Year.
The procession will follow the Watchnight service at the cathedral which begins at 11.15.
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No.5: Concerns remain over spiralling costs of Ripon leisure schemeIn this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at the ongoing saga over Ripon leisure centre, its delays and increasing costs.
The end is in sight for Harrogate Borough Council — but will decisions it made about building a new Ripon swimming pool and refurbishing the existing leisure centre at Dallamires Lane come back to haunt council tax payers after the authority’s abolition in April?
Money already spent on the project stands at £14.5 million and still to be added is £3.5 million for extra ground stabilisation on site and a further £300,000 for a temporary gym due to open in the New Year.
The contract awarded to construction company Willmott Dixon in November 2019 was for delivery of the new pool and refurbished centre in May 2021 at a cost of £10.2 million. But the need for ground stabilisation works ahead of the pool’s construction added to the cost and caused delays.
The subsequent discovery in September 2020 of a ‘void’ close to the leisure centre entrance led to an investigation by engineering consultancy Stantec which identified ground stability issues under the leisure centre and a requirement for extensive remediation works to keep the building in use.
Opening of the temporary gym will enable the 27-year-old centre building to be vacated while work is carried out to shore up its foundations, but HBC has indicated that the need for more funding may be identified when this is underway.
The Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre, including a newly-constructed six lane swimming pool, opened in March – more than nine months behind the original schedule
A report to a meeting of council’s cabinet in August said the authority had made “every effort to provide an accurate estimate” of the costs of the remediation works but added these could rise further once the ground stability works begin.
Concerns raised by Ripon City Council
Ripon City Council raised concerns about the costs for the additional ground stabilisation and called for an end to the spending on the multi-million pound project and for HBC to fully investigate other options, including building a new leisure centre at a different location where ground conditions are stable.
At its full meeting in October, Independent city council leader Andrew Williams, said the works would take the total spending on the project at Dallamires Lane to £18 million – some £8 million above the original budget.
He added:
“They (HBC) 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.”
Response from Harrogate Borough Council
The call to search for an alternative location for the centre has been rejected by the borough council. A spokesperson for the council, said:
“Building a new leisure centre at another site in Ripon would cost a significant amount of money and would result in two separate facilities to maintain, two sets of running and staffing costs, for example.
“It would also involve purchasing land in a suitable location that we don’t currently have, going through the planning application process and disposing of the existing building safely, all of which would take time and a considerable amount of money. And there is no guarantee that a different site wouldn’t have similar ground conditions.
“Co-location of both wet and dry leisure facilities is also important for increasing and sustaining participation in exercise, as well as optimising revenue and cost recovery.
“The new gym combined with the pool on one site is proving to be extremely popular, and will be further complemented by two new activity studios, sports hall, a spin studio as well as meeting facilities.”
The spokesperson added:
“Our consulting engineer has advised that a do-nothing approach is not advised. And although there is no immediate change in the geological risk profile to the building – that was originally built in 1995 and has provided sport and leisure services for more than 25 years – it is recommended that ground stabilisation works are undertaken to ensure people in Ripon can keep fit and active for years to come.”
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Sun shines as hundreds of Ripon pilgrims walk to Fountains AbbeySt Stephen’s Day in this busiest of years for Ripon Cathedral started with a Eucharist service, followed by a leisurely four-mile walk to Fountains Abbey.
The annual Boxing Day pilgrimage linking the two internationally famous and historic religious sites has been taking place in all weathers since 1976.
Bright sunshine and clear skies saw hundreds of pilgrims participate in this morning’s walk, following a procession led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson and children, who took it in turns to carry a cross along the way.
The pilgrims on the start of their journey head up Kirkgate.
With celebrations during 2022 to mark the 1,350th anniversary of the cathedral’s foundation by Wilfrid, this year’s walk had an added significance. as the pilgrims again retraced the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks who were the original founders of the abbey in 1132.
A group of pilgrims arrive at Fountains Abbey
At the abbey, the hundreds who completed the walk from the cathedral were joined by hundreds more (pictured below) for a carol service held in the cellarium.
The service included readings, prayers and traditional carols, with musical accompaniment provided by the Stray Brass Ensemble.
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No. 3: A landmark anniversary year for Ripon Cathedral
In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at a historic year for Ripon Cathedral.
Throughout this milestone year for Ripon Cathedral the iconic building has been at the heart of the local and regional community, playing a central role in events of celebration and sadness.
Its landmark 1,350th anniversary coincided with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June and Her Majesty’s death and funeral in September.
The cathedral captured every emotion, from the joyous bells that rang out to mark the monarch’s history-making 70-year reign, to flags flown at half mast to signal her passing.
During 2022, it provided a fitting setting for activities ranging from the spectacular Rome to Ripon exhibition of artworks depicting the life of its founding father Wilfrid, the city’s patron saint, to the hosting of civic services for North Yorkshire in June to celebrate the jubilee and in September to mourn The Queen’s death.
The cathedral was a focal point for mourning following The Queen’s death in September
The ancient church, whose crypt dates back to 672 AD, is the foundation stone upon which Ripon has developed over the centuries and encapsulates many aspects of the city’s history through carvings, sculptures, stained glass and monuments.
For Wilfrid, a patron of the arts who studied at Lindisfarne, the Rome to Ripon exhibition, provided a modern twist in the telling of his story, including three centrepiece paintings by internationally-renowned Syrian artist Sara Shamma.
The 1,350 celebrations ran for six months from April until October and also included dancing in the nave, a beer festival in the cathedral grounds, a pilgrimage from Bradford Cathedral, a Son et Lumiere, lectures from historians, a series of tours taking visitors behind the scenes, and an organ festival.
As a further lasting reminder of the patron saint’s work in Ripon a ledger stone at the entrance to the quire, was dedicated to Wilfrid at a service attended by the Archbishop of York, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell and Bishop of Leeds, The Rt Revd Nick Baines.
The ledger stone dedicated to Wilfrid
Who was St Wilfrid?
Wilfrid – one of the greatest and most controversial English saints – was born into a noble Northumbrian family. He studied at Lindisfarne before embracing the Roman ways, was deposed on more than one occasion, and yet helped unite England behind a single Christian tradition.
It is said he was born in flames, survived shipwrecks and exile, and his jailers could not keep him chained. He was a healer, he kept people from hunger by teaching them to fish, and it is said that the moon and stars shone so bright for him, that a lunar rainbow appeared on the anniversary of his death.
In his early twenties, he made a pilgrimage to Rome and was much inspired by the lives of the saints there, and the great basilica churches. He brought some of the beauty of Rome back to England with him.
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Ripon BID announces Christmas windows competition winnersThe winners of the Ripon Business Improvement District Christmas windows competition have been announced.
In the online public vote, the silver salver and first prize went to the Wakeman’s House Cafe in Market Place South, while the window display created by young people at Ripon YMCA in Water Skellgate (pictured below) received the judges’ award and silver cup.
Both of the winning entries caught the eye of the independent judging panel, which included the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda and the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson.
BID manager Lilla Bathurst, said:
“This is the first year that we have run the competition and we were pleased to receive 23 entries from across the city.
“The theme that we set was peace and sanctuary and the judges and online voters were asked to bear this in mind when assessing the window displays.”
The Wakeman’s House Cafe entry with its doves, crib, and small, cosy Christmas houses captured the theme perfectly with a window design created by Jenny MacNair.
Ms MacNair, who works at the cafe, told the Stray Ferret:
“We are absolutely delighted to win the public vote. All members of our team contributed to the display by bringing in ornaments and other decorations.”
Devolution could end ‘half a century of under investment’ in RiponThe leader of Ripon City Council has said he hopes devolution in April will end “almost half a century of under investment” in Ripon by leaders in Harrogate.
The new North Yorkshire Council unitary authority will come into effect on April 1, when Harrogate Borough Council will be abolished.
At the city council’s full meeting this month, members resolved unanimously to submit an expression of interest in taking over the running of key assets that have been under the control of Harrogate Borough Council since 1974.
The assets range from the town hall to public toilets and the list also includes Market Square (pictured below) the Wakeman’s House and Hugh Ripley Hall.
Independent City Council leader Andrew Williams, who was elected to North Yorkshire County Council in May, said:
“As part of the Harrogate district we have suffered from almost half a century of under investment that has held Ripon back, but I am convinced that we can emerge from the doldrums by having greater involvement in running assets and ensuring that their potential is fully realised.”
He added:
“You only need to look at Ripon Town Hall, which has been left largely empty under Harrogate’s control, when it could have been providing valuable space for businesses and earning money for the city.
“By contrast, the city council has successfully managed Hugh Ripley Hall under a long lease from Harrogate and following our investment in upgrading the building it has become a very well used and profitable facility.”
Hugh Ripley Hall has been operating profitably under the management of Ripon City Council.
The route to greater involvement in running Ripon’s assets lies in the the double devolution proposals announced earlier this year by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).
NYCC has said:
“The new council will work with any town and parish council that wants to do more, for example, to deliver or commission services; providing they are able to demonstrate value for money and the ability to deliver.
“If these conditions are met then the new council will be open to funding the arrangements. The council would work with a first wave of forerunner town and parish councils to develop the concept.
“Other town and parish councils could then follow. Representatives from parish and town councils have worked with us to identify the types of service that could potentially be devolved from the new council if your local parish or town council would like to take them on.”
Ripon is aiming to be one of the forerunner councils to be selected to pilot the double devolution scheme.
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Pateley Bridge Christingle service returns to St Cuthbert’sThe popular Pateley Bridge Christingle service that has raised money for charity for more than 30 years is returning to the Parish Church of St Cuthbert after a two-year break.
Organiser Joyce Liggin told the Stray Ferret:
“We couldn’t hold our usual Christmas Eve service in 2020 or 2021 because of covid restrictions, but we are back once more on Saturday at 6pm and we hope that as many people as possible attend to help raise more money for The Children’s Society.”
She added:
“The service at St Cuthbert’s, which also includes the blessing of the crib, has been held on Christmas Eve for more than 30 years and is viewed by many local people as the perfect start to the festive season.
“As in previous years, a collection will be taken and all proceeds will go to the society which believes that every young person deserves a good childhood.”
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Since 1968, Christingle services have been held across the UK to raise money for the charity, which helps vulnerable young people.
The Christingle tradition, like the bringing of an evergreen tree into a house, has its roots in Germany and dates back to the 18th century, when it was introduced by Moravian Bishop Johannes de Watteville.
No end in sight to Sharow’s pothole plightWork to repair potholes in Sharow has not been included in the North Yorkshire County Council programme for next year.
Villagers are set to face continuing bumpy rides after discovering the capital programme for the 2023/24 financial year does not include the repairs, estimated to cost around £200,000.
Village campaigner James Thornborough told the Stray Ferret:
“As well as being bad news for anybody who drives, cycles or walks along New Road or Sharow Lane, this has wider implications for people across the county waiting for work to be carried out on potholed and uneven roads.”
His disappointment follows an email response seen by the Stray Ferret in which Barrie Mason, NYCC’s assistant director of highways and transportation, said:
“The delivery programme for the 2023/24 capital programme has been determined and cost pressures in the budget due to construction price inflation means that a number of schemes that were already programmed have had to be put back and consequently a scheme for Sharow Lane and New Road will not be delivered in 2023/24, but will be considered again against priorities across the county network for the 2024/25 programme.”
He added:
“I can assure you that the team will in the meantime ensure that these roads are inspected and maintained in line with our Highways Safety Inspection Manual and responsibilities as the local highway authority to ensure that any safety defects are repaired.”
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The Stray Ferret approached Mr Mason to ask what other schemes in the the Harrogate district have been removed from the capital programme for 2023/24, but no response had been received at the time of publication.
In February, after raising Sharow’s pothole plight with NYCC’s chief executive Richard Flinton, Mr Thornborough felt reassured after receiving a rapid email response from the county’s head of highways operations Nigel Smith, who said:
“Sharow Lane and New Road are at a stage where preventative maintenance is not an option and a more substantial maintenance scheme will be considered for inclusion in our Forward Capital Programme, which presently means that the earliest a planned maintenance scheme could be delivered would be during the 2023/24 financial year.
“By way of further information, it is anticipated that a full ‘plane out and resurface’ scheme is required at this location, which will require funding of up to £200,000.
“In the meantime we will continue to do the annual safety inspections and reactive inspections to keep these carriageways in as safe a condition as possible and keep the matter under regular review.”
Within days of the email, NYCC workmen identified 38 potholes in Sharow and a temporary tarmac fix was applied.
Now, with the full plane out and resurfacing works ruled out for the coming financial year, Mr Thornborough, said:
“The council itself accepts that preventative maintenance is no longer an option for the affected roads in the village, but if they can’t find the £200,000 to do this job, it sends a worrying message about their ability to keep all roads across the county in an acceptable condition.”
Caffe Nero doubles the size of its Ripon premisesCoffee shop Caffe Nero has doubled the size of its premises on Market Place North in what is described as “vote of confidence” in Ripon.
The expansion was made possible after Sterne Properties Limited acquired the lease of the existing Caffe Nero and the adjacent property, which had been vacant since Leeds Building Society closed its Ripon branch in November 2020.
Tom Limbert, director of property consultants Central Retail, who acted on behalf of the international coffeehouse company, said:
“This is a prime corner site location and it’s a very positive move by Caffe Nero to double its size.”
Robert Sterne, director of Sterne Properties, told the Stray Ferret:
“We are delighted to have negotiated a ten year lease covering the newly-expanded premises and see this as a vote of confidence in Ripon from Caffe Nero.”
He added:
“This adds to our portfolio of investments in Ripon, where we have injected new life into empty properties by introducing leisure and hospitality uses.”
The company’s portfolio includes The Claro Lounge on Market Place South, Curzon Cinema on North Street and Coffee at Number 10 on Queen Street.
Sterne Properties, which has been investing in Ripon for 30 years, also owns the Halls of Ripon premises on Fishergate – where The Hive Cafe is located – and Appleton’s butchers on Market Place East.
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