Ripon City Council has issued new covid guidance in the run-up to staging another large public event in the Market Square this weekend.

The guidance follows measures brought in by the government this week to combat the Omicron variant of the disease.

The first of two artisan Christmas markets will be held on Sunday, alongside free fairground rides for children and a festive grotto with Santa (pictured below).

The city council said in a statement:

“Anyone who is planning on attending our events is encouraged to take a lateral flow test beforehand to help to stop the spread of covid.

“Please help us by following the guidance below if you are visiting our grotto, fairground and Christmas market on December 5 and 12.”

The guidance is as follows:

• People going to events are strongly advised to take a lateral flow test at home before attending
• Anyone with a positive test result must stay at home, and household members should follow national guidance for close contacts
• Face coverings should be worn indoors and in crowded spaces
• Keep a respectful social distance between yourselves and people who are not in your group
• Do not travel to the event if you are feeling unwell. If you start to feel unwell whilst at an event, you should leave the site immediately
• Follow all covid-19 measures in place at events, including regular hand hygiene

A record £25,000 was raised at Ripon Cathedral’s Christmas Gift and Food Fair, as 2,500 visitors braved Storm Arwen to attend the two-day event.

Proceeds from the fair (pictured above), held last Friday and Saturday, exceeded pre-pandemic levels and will help fund the cathedral’s development plans for the future.

As a covid safety measure, pre-bookable time slots were made available online.

Visitors, who came from Yorkshire and further afield, enjoyed a festive atmosphere, with 100 stalls selling seasonal gifts and food.

Aysgarth School Choir, The Yorkshire Decibelles, Knot Another Choir and Emily and Adrian Roberts were among those providing entertainment.

The pop-up cafe’s offerings included hot turkey sandwiches and homemade cakes, along with tea, coffee and mulled wine, all served by cathedral volunteers. Children’s craft activities, a chocolate tombola and a raffle were also available.

The cathedral’s development campaign manager, Margaret Hammond, said:

“The fair marks the start of the Christmas celebrations for the local community. It was wonderful to see so many people back enjoying the spectacular setting of Ripon Cathedral.

“There are so many individuals to thank for helping to make this year’s Christmas Fair such a truly special event: Freda Bottomley, one of our volunteers, along with Dean John and his team of clergy, raised a record £1,600 selling raffle tickets; 70 volunteers manned the door, served refreshments and baked wonderful Christmas Cakes which were sold on the fundraising stall.

“Ripon businesses including Morrisons supermarket provided raffle prizes and provided the mince pies. Soldiers from Claro Barracks helped set up the event and everyone worked incredibly hard and helped in so many different ways to make sure it was a huge success.

“The event completely relies on the generosity of volunteers giving up their time to help raise funds.”

Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) has said it is unable to reopen the Spa Baths while Ripon residents wait for the delayed opening of the new pool.

The reopening request came from Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, following Friday’s news from HBC that its multi-million pound scheme won’t be opening next week.

A fault found in the lining of the six-lane pool (pictured below) means that its opening will be delayed to an unspecified date in January.

In the meantime, Spa Baths, which was closed by HBC on 7 November, won’t be reopening as a stop-gap.

In response to an email that Cllr Williams sent to Councillor Stanley Lumley, HBC’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said:

“The swimming pool at Ripon Spa Baths is currently being emptied and the utilities that serve the pool have been turned off.

“We have also transferred staff from the baths to Ripon Leisure Centre for training at the new pool or to other facilities across the Harrogate district to ensure leisure provision can continue to be provided.

“Therefore, we are unable to re-open the Spa Baths, residents will be most welcome in the short term at one of our other district pools.”

Earlier this week HBC said the fault with the new pool is not related to sinkhole issues. Cllr Lumley, pointed out:

“Every large building project has snagging issues to resolve when nearing completion and this project is no different, it is very important we address any defects before opening so we can hand over this superb facility for the people of Ripon.”

Cllr Williams, told the Stray Ferret:

“Surely, it would have been sensible to have kept Spa Baths open until all necessary testing at the new pool had been carried out, but Ripon residents now have to wait until an unknown date when they can go swimming once more in the city.

“For many, having to travel to Harrogate, Pateley Bridge or Knaresborough for a swim is not a practical proposition.”

He added:

“We have had delays, alongside substantial increases in the cost of the project and there is still uncertainty about the opening date.”

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Campaigners in Kirkby Malzeard, seeking to purchase and restore a now-derelict village pub (pictured below) have suffered a major setback.

The Henry Jenkins Community Pub group (HJCP) has failed for a third time to have part of the building re-listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

The campaigners – some of whom are pictured above – raised a petition of more than 500 signatures in support of their bid.

They were advised of the decision by Harrogate Borough Council, which said:

“The nomination for part of the Henry Jenkins site (the eastern part) is unsuccessful and does not meet the definition of community value as detailed in the Localism Act 2011 Section 88 (2).”

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Chair of the HJCP group, Richard Sadler, said:

“We are very disappointed that despite all the evidence, the council has chosen once again to side with private developers from outside the area – rather than supporting local grass roots community groups.

“The council cut our feet from under us by delisting part of the pub – simply because the developer sold this part to his business associate. Now they have turned their backs on us again by refusing to relist this part of the pub – when the council has a clear duty to help communities in rural areas fighting to save community facilities.

“This is despite overwhelming support of local residents, local businesses, the parish council and our local ward councillor for our plans to bring back this much-loved facility as a revitalised pub, bistro and coffee shop.

“With more people working from home and greater appreciation of the importance of community hubs, there’s a crying need for a great range of facilities in this fast-expanding village. “

Mr Sadler pointed out that the group has secured more than £230,000 in share pledges from nearly 200 residents in support of plans for a community buyout.

The Henry Jenkins closed its doors in 2011 and was purchased out of administration by pub company Fielder Holdings.

In 2017 a nomination made by campaigners for an ACV listing was successful, but the eastern annex was subsequently sold by David Fielder to his business associate Justin Claybourn, who applied for and was granted planning permission to convert his part of the building into a single dwelling.

This led to removal of the CVA covering the eastern portion – a decision the campaigners have fought to overturn ever since.

When announcing its decision on the third attempt to secure CVA listing for the whole building, HBC referred to the HJCP petition, which was received by the council at its full meeting on 6 October and pointed out:

“There is nothing in the Assets of Community Value legislation or council constitution to enable the consideration of petitions, therefore this does not form part of the assessment process.

“However, it is noted that only 25 of the names on the petition are from Kirkby Malzeard itself and almost two-thirds of the signatories do not live in the Harrogate district.”

Mr Claybourn, said:

“I’m pleased that the council has made this correct and sensible decision and I now look forward to progressing plans to convert my part of the building into a holiday home for my family.”

The sole Conservative councillor who spoke out against the choice of Dallamires Lane for Ripon’s new pool, says the project is a poor use of public money.

Originally scheduled to open in May, the scheme, which includes refurbishment of the adjoining leisure centre, is already more than £3 million over budget at £13.5 million with the costs set to rise even further.

Cllr Nigel Simms, who represents the Kirkby Malzeard and Masham Ward, told the Stray Ferret:

“Nothing has happened to change my mind, the geology of the site with its sinkhole issues, means it’s the wrong place.

“I’m all in favour of new leisure facilities for Ripon, but a more stable area should have been selected.”

At the June 2019 planning meeting where the application for the pool and leisure centre refurbishment was approved, Cllr Simms, said:

“I do not believe that you can build this thing and that in 50 years time it will still be there for the use of the people of Ripon.

“I don’t think it’s an economic use of public funds.”

Earlier this month Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet approved further investigation of the unstable ground conditions under the 26-year-old leisure centre building, ahead of remedial works in the New Year.

In the meantime, the long-awaited new pool for Ripon is scheduled to open on 8 December.

The Stray Ferret asked HBC about the final costs for the leisure centre work and a council spokesperson, said:

“As outlined during the cabinet meeting, the costs for the investigation works are not as yet known. Following the investigation works, there will then be assessment of the proposed remediation strategies, together with an assessment of the estimated cost.

“The council would not be able to disclose details of costs until the agreed remedial works are contracted as we view that providing this information may prejudice future commercial negotiations with supply partners.”

Two Freedom of Information (FOI) requests made to HBC by the Stray Ferret about the cost of ground remediation work at the site, which caused the initial six-month delay to the swimming pool opening, received similar responses.

However, in September, the council provided details of additional costs incurred for the project in response to an FOI request submitted by Ripon resident and chartered civil engineer Stanley Mackintosh.

In its  FOI response to him, HBC said that:

• Money already paid for construction and associated works stood at £12,936,235.55.
• A further £619,427.06, had been allocated for payment.

This running tally of £13,555,662 in September compares with the original 17-month contract signed with construction company and principal contractor Willmott Dixon for £10.2 million.

Mr Mackintosh told the Stray Ferret:

“I have always been in favour of a new swimming pool and leisure centre for Ripon, but along with others, have argued over many years that the Camp Close site, with its known history of ground instability, was not the right place for it.”

Dog owners (pictured above) who visit Hell Wath nature reserve in Ripon on a regular basis, fear a potential future clash with cyclists.

The area, with its wooded and riverside walks and wildlife, is popular with people who take their dogs there for daily exercise.

Currently, signage at an entry near the football pitches (pictured below) states ‘no pushbikes’ but there are concerns that this could change, if a cycle route was created on the site, following an approach from the community.

Dog owners Janet Anderson and Brian Don, who attended a Friends of Hell Wath committee meeting earlier this month, made their feelings known.

Ms Anderson, told the Stray Ferret:

“Dogs and cyclists just don’t mix in a setting like this and we are very worried that we will not be able to let our dogs off the lead, to get the exercise they need, for fear of them being involved in an accident with a bicycle.”

Mr Don, added:

“We have absolutely no issue with paths being made more accessible to people in wheelchairs, but a cycle route is a completely different proposition.”

Discussions about a possible route for cyclists were initiated following a community event held at the nature reserve in September by the Skell Valley Project, headed by the National Trust and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Working with volunteers, the project aims to bring about environmental and other improvements to a 12-mile stretch of the river valley – part of which runs through Hell Wath.

The minutes of the Friends of Hell Wath meeting of 1 November meeting, state:

“The committee confirmed that it had been approached about a cycle route and that it also had reservations.

“It also noted that Hell Wath is secured for community use and the committee is not the arbiter for who can use it and should therefore explore whether safe access for cycling could be facilitated.”

Committee chair, Councillor Stuart Martin, who was not present at the 1 November meeting, pointed out:

“Friends of Hell Wath are consultees and should there be any plan for a cycle route, or improved access for people with limited mobility, we will be consulted alongside all statutory bodies and the public.”

Mr Don welcomed the opportunity for wider consultation and said:

“Hundreds of local people take their dogs to Hell Wath each week and some of them have been going there for up to 50 years. It is important for our voices to be heard

“We just ask that any consultation that takes place is publicised in a way that can be accessed by everybody – particularly older people who are not familiar with the use of social media.”

Additional safety measures have been taken at a Ripon residential block in danger of collapse through subsidence caused by sinkhole activity.

Ripon City Council is in the process of writing to North Yorkshire County Council, calling for the four properties at Bedern Court to be demolished.

In the meantime, Bedern Court Ltd (BCL) – a not-for-profit company controlled by owners and leaseholders with houses and apartments in the 29-unit development – has installed the steel fence (pictured above) inside the courtyard to keep people away from the affected block.

The new fencing is in addition to the continuing closure of Peacock’s Passage, at the side of Bedern Court on Skellgarths (pictured below).

BCL chair Mat Pritchard, told the Stray Ferret:

“With its worsening state and the risk of collapse or falling masonry and tiles, we have concerns about use of parking spaces close to the property. The fence also prevents access to the block.”

BCL has set up a wardens group to keep an eye on the block, which was has remained empty since its evacuation more than a year ago.

Mr Pritchard pointed out:

“They will advise of any further deterioration that they witness and we will continue to liaise with all relevant authorities.”

At its full meeting earlier this month, Ripon City Council agreed to write to NYCC, calling for it to demolish the stricken block on the grounds of public safety.

At the meeting, council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“The movement of the affected block caused by sinkhole activity in the area is gaining speed and the implications for public safety are enormous.

“The block fronts onto the public highway and pavement and the potential impact of collapse and possibility of opening up of more damaging sinkholes in neighbouring areas cannot be ignored.

“If the perilous state of the building means it’s not safe to walk along Peacock’s Passage, it can’t  be safe to walk or drive past it on Skelgarths. It needs to be demolished as quickly and safely as possible.”

BCL, which is still awaiting settlement of a long-standing insurance claim relating to the affected block, has provided its insurers with reports from a monitoring engineer and geologist in support of the claim.

While Santa was busy all afternoon, his reindeer also attracted a great deal of attention.

After the switch on, the musical entertainment continued, with a tribute act (pictured below) signing the chart-topping hits of girl bands.

They were followed by a Beatles Tribute act, who provided a fab-four finale to the day’s festive fun.

Father Christmas and a reindeer will be in Ripon Market Square today.

They will be present from 1pm, as the city celebrates the start of the festive season with the switch on of its extensive Christmas lights.

The switch on takes place at 5pm and there will be free live music before and afterwards.

Freddie Cleary will be the first performer to take centre stage on Saturday afternoon

This starts at 2pm with a performance from Ripon-based singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist Freddie Cleary.

From 4.10pm a tribute act will sing Christmas songs, followed by hits made famous by girl bands.

The entertainment comes to a climax at 6pm, when a Beatles tribute act takes to the stage in front of Ripon Town Hall.

Adding to the festivities, free fairground rides for children will be operating throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

The event is being staged by the Ripon City Council and paid for out of the parish precept, with the aim of attracting more visitors to Ripon, while providing family-focused entertainment for local residents and those from further afield.

Last year £65,000 was spent by the council to upgrade and extend the city’s Christmas lights, which can be seen in the retail core of Ripon and adjoining streets.

Chris Sills and Cath Richmond, are two Ripon parents whose families have benefited from the support of Team Endeavour.

Now they hope that people will support a fundraising event for the charity that helped them at their time of need.

Team Endeavour provides assistance to the families of service personnel and veterans who are suffering through illness, poverty or hardship.

Chris and his wife Sara, were helped with funds towards the cost of a medical bed and the purchase of a specialist wheelchair, after their daughter Mabel was born prematurely with a number of complications.

Cath, whose partner Gavin had served in the Royal Corps of Signals, died three years ago.

She and her then five-year-old daughter Molly, received support through the heart-breaking time from the charity, which paid for them to take a short break at Flamingo Land.

Former Royal Engineer Chris and Cath, now hope that Team Endeavour will be able to raise more funds through a charity auction being held in partnership with Halls of Ripon.

The department store, with the support of its 20 independent retailers and other businesses in the city, is holding an online auction starting on Sunday (21 November) and running until 1 December.

Cath Richmond is pictured above with Chris Sills and Emma Crossland, Mike Cooper and Ben Butler from Halls.

People will be able to bid for a wide range of items, including a 40 point diamond white gold pendant, a unique hand-painted remembrance helmet, a voucher worth £500 to spend at Halls and a shirt autographed by the Manchester United team.

At 6pm on 2 December the ten lots that have attracted the highest bids online, will be on offer at a live auction held in the department store and conducted by the comedian and actor Freddie Davies. 

Chris Sills and his eight-year-old daughter Mabel (centre) raising money for Team Endeavour at a sponsored 5k run.

The event will include live music and refreshments.

Mike Cooper of Halls of Ripon, said:

“There are many amazing lots to bid for, some of them, one-off pieces that you won’t be able to get anywhere else. All proceeds will go directly to Team Endeavour to help them continue their vital work.”

Cath, who has the designer Yorkshire Feathers stall at Halls, said:

“The charity helped me and Molly at a very difficult time and I have supported them ever since.”

Chris, who has been a volunteer fundraiser for Team Endeavour for eight years, added:

“It’s a brilliant charity that has come to the aid of people when they were feeling hopeless and with nowhere else to go.”

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