Ripon Leisure Centre will only be partially open when the city’s new swimming pool comes on stream in seven weeks’ time.

Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) has confirmed that the leisure centre’s ground floor will remain closed while ‘further ground investigatory work and any remedial action required is considered.’

The multi-million pound project, due to include a six-lane pool, fully-refurbished leisure centre and outside play areas, was initially scheduled for completion in May, but ground stabilisation work known as grouting, contributed to a six-month hold up.

Last week HBC announced a revised date of 8 December for the opening of the pool.

Now, however, there is a further delay in delivery of the complete scheme, which is already more than £3 million over budget.

Opening on 8 December – Ripon’s new swimming pool

A spokesperson for HBC, said:

“The first floor of the leisure centre will remain open and will continue to be available for use when the new pool opens on the 8th December.

“The ground floor of the leisure centre will remain closed whilst further ground investigatory work and any remedial action required is considered.

“Once any further investigations and any necessary mitigations are concluded, the full suite of facilities at the Leisure Centre will be ready to be opened.”

The leisure centre gym has been moved and can now be accessed via a temporary first floor entrance, but a spin studio and other facilities that would have been on the ground floor, will not be available when the pool opens.

The original £10.2 million contract awarded to construction company and principal contractor Willmott Dixon in November 2019, stipulated a completion date of May 2021.

Following the extension of the contract, known costs for the scheme currently stand at £13,555,662.

A sinkhole caused the closure of the leisure centre car park in February 2018 and a new void discovered during construction work in September 2020 near the former entrance to the centre, is the subject of an investigation costing £110,000.

The long arm of the law is reaching out from Ripon Museum Trust, in a bid to capture the imagination of visitors over the autumn half term holiday.

The trust, which operates the Workhouse, Prison & Police and Old Courthouse museums, is offering the opportunity to explore the nature of crime and punishment in the Victorian era, through a series of themed activities both online and in person.

Whodunnit at the Workhouse? will run from Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 October from 12pm to 3pm.

Visitors can try out their investigative skills at Ripon’s Workhouse Museum

This family-friendly activity will take visitors on an interactive trail across the sites of the museums as they try to solve a murder at the workhouse.

Visitors will learn about how policing worked in the Victorian era, about plants and poisons in the Workhouse Museum Garden, before discovering forensic science at the Prison & Police Museum.

Those who solve the crime could be in with a chance of winning a small prize. Activities are included in the cost of museum entry.

On Thursday 28 October at 7pm, Ripon museums will host an online exploration of Victorian criminality with Shocking Murder! Investigating Suspicious Death in Victorian Ripon.

In 1874, two savage murders rocked the city. In both cases, the formal murder investigation began with an inquest.

In a talk given by postgraduate student Sophie Michell, she will discuss how Victorian coroners worked, and how inquests formed the basis of a murder trial. Tickets cost £5 per person. The talk will be hosted on Zoom

Read more:

• December opening date for Ripon’s new swimming pool
• Former Ripon pub to be converted into apartments

Visitors can also explore the darker side of the city’s history with a Ripon Ghost Walk, where they will hear tales of ghouls and ghostly goings on. Two Halloween special ghost walks take place on Sunday 31 October, at 5pm and 7pm. Tickets cost £3 for adults and £2 for under 16s.

Further information about all of our events and activities is available at riponmuseums.co.uk, and tickets for the talk and ghost walks can be booked online. Contact the museum team by emailing info@riponmuseums.co.uk or call 01765 690799.

In a first media interview since their youngest daughter Lucie suffered catastrophic injuries in a roadside accident, parents Sue and Rocky Maguire have told the Stray Ferret how they and all their family are focused on the future.

The accident on 27 January, saw the nursery school assistant lose her right leg, hip and pelvis.

Lucie, who had her 20th birthday last month, has undergone extensive surgery, with more operations to follow.

In a FaceTime call from her bed at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) she said:

“I’d like to thank all the people who have helped me over the past nine months and also those who have sent such lovely messages of support.”

Back home in Kirkby Malzeard, regulars at the Queen’s Head, have a constant reminder of the ongoing effort, that will help her to rebuild her life when she gets out of hospital.

A pale ale called Our Girl Lucie, produced by Wensleydale Brewery, raises money with every pint that is pulled, while a GoFundMe page set up by close family friend Helen Walford, has already raised almost £40,000.

Sue and Rocky Maguire at the bar in the Queen’s Head, where the Our Girl Lucie pale ale is on sale

Sue, who runs the village pub with her husband, has constantly been at their daughter’s side at both the LGI and St James’s Hospital, Leeds.

She said:

“Lucie is a remarkable person and her fighting spirit helped her to pull through when we were fearing the worst.

“She has undergone numerous operations and has more to follow and has shown incredible courage.”

After the accident, she was initially taken to the LGI before being transferred to St James’s and is now back at the LGI.

Rocky said:

“The care that she has received at both hospitals has been world-class and we thank everybody, not only for the way that they have looked after Lucie, but also the kindness they have shown to us.”

There has been daily contact via FaceTime, while he and eldest daughter Zanne have handled the day to day running of the pub and Sue has been in Leeds.

At a challenging time for the hospitality sector, with covid lockdowns and lost income, the Maguires have had other misfortune.

Rocky suffered a mini stroke in August and had to be rushed into hospital and before that, Sue was in pain for weeks on her visits to Lucie, after breaking her right foot in an accident while staying overnight at a Leeds hotel.

Both are now recovered, but Sue pointed out:

“We have all been under a lot of stress, but are staying positive.

“There’s no point in looking back, so we are planning for the future, thinking about fundraising activities that will enable us to provide a living space and facilities adapted for Lucie’s needs.”

Lucie is also looking ahead, with plans to write a book.

She said:

“I would like to share my experiences and hope it will help others on their way to recovery.”

A year after four Ripon homes had to be evacuated because of subsidence, the owners are continuing to press for settlement of a long-standing insurance claim.

Fears of a building collapse at the 35-year-old Bedern Court scheme on Skellgarths have increased following a new report by a monitoring engineer.

Leaseholders and owners feel they have been put in a desperate situation caused by circumstances beyond their control.

The claim is currently with global insurance company Arch, and while owners and tenants of the four affected properties hope for good news, the engineer’s report has highlighted a worsening situation exacerbated by sinkhole activity in the area.

Four homes at Bedern Court have remained empty after being evacuated a year ago

Mat Pritchard, chairperson of Bedern Court Ltd (BCL) – a non-profit company controlled by owners and leaseholders with houses and apartments in the 29-unit development – told the Stray Ferret:

“The report from our monitoring engineer indicates that the ground movement is still ongoing, and appears to be speeding up.

“The risk of catastrophic collapse has ratcheted upwards and we are now seriously worried that the block could be very close to some kind of tipping point.

“We greatly fear a situation where it does collapse or partially collapse, and someone gets killed or injured.”

In addition to the monitoring report, BCL commissioned a separate investigation from a geotechnical engineering practice.

This looked at the history of the site and concluded that the subsidence issues experienced there do constitute an insurable risk that should be covered by insurance.

The report was sent to Arch in June and Mr Pritchard, who owns one of the affected properties with his wife Jane, said:

“We have been in very regular contact with the insurers in an attempt to get this matter resolved as swiftly as possible, but we are still waiting.

“All authorities, including the parish, district and county councils, have been contacted by us and kept updated.

“We have taken all of the measures that we can, but feel that we are rapidly running out of time.”

A Norse legend involving dragons and a Viking warrior will be brought to life in Ripon by actors next month.

They will tell the story of Sigurd, the dragon slayer, who has a link to the city through a stone dating back to the 10th century.

Known as the Sigurd Stone, It is widely thought to be part of the grave of a Norse settler, who died in Ripon.

The prized and unusual artefact, which is kept in the cathedral’s library and treasury, combines Christian imagery in the cross-shape and Norse mythology, with its image of the Viking warrior.

Sigurd’s story will be told in words and song on November 4 and 6 when performers from Hazelsong Theatre, with their six-metre long dragon puppet, parade around Ripon before performing a new piece of theatre in locations across the city.

Part of the Sigurd Stone at Ripon Cathedral. Picture: The Megalithic Portal

The theatre group is offering music workshops, sock puppet making and free performances to encourage families.

The team is also looking to collaborate with folk musicians to perform new pieces of music about the story during a free lunchtime concert. More details can be found on the cathedral events page here.

The performers in action. Picture: Hazelsong Theatre

Plans to make Ripon a focal point for the festive season are underway.

Last year the covid lockdown meant that the city and its traders were unable to capitalise fully on the £65,000 spent on a major expansion of Christmas lights and displays.

The decorations, paid for out of the parish precept, are designed to make the city’s streets more attractive for local residents and help increase footfall to benefit businesses.

This year extension, will see a tree lit up to the side of Ripon Cathedral and lighting from Bedern Bank to the Canal Basin, along Park Street, Church Street and Coltsgate Hill.

Ripon Town Hall will be one of the focal points for Christmas lighting

The lighting will be in place before the switch on event on the evening of 20 November, when a free to attend tribute act concert will be held on Market Square.

On 5 and 12 December, artisan markets will be held on the square and free children’s fairground rides will be in operation on those dates.

At the full city council meeting on Monday, members approved the production of a brochure for distribution in Ripon and surrounding areas, which will publicise Christmas activities in the city.

The brochure has been produced in previous years, but the pandemic put paid to its publication last year.

Council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“We want to reach as many people as possible living in the broad hinterland of Ripon and invite them to join in the city’s Christmas celebrations.”

Councillor Chris Davis pointed out that posters for placement in shop windows have previously been produced alongside the brochure and he hoped the same would happen this year.

Read more:

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• Ripon care home to close before Christmas

Sharow Church of England Primary School is playing its part in marking the Queen’s platinum jubilee by planting a tree.

The Queen, who is already the UK’s longest-serving monarch, will celebrate 70 years on the throne in June.

The Queen’s Green Canopy tree planting initiative is inviting everyone across the UK, from individuals and organisations to schools and businesses, to get involved

With October seeing the start of the tree planting season, the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt. Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, invited children at St John’s Sharow, to plant a hazel sapling in the school’s grounds.

Sharow CE Primary School

Executive head teacher Jacqui Palmer and the Revd. Ruth Newton, parish priest at St John’s Sharow, joined Dr Hartley at the planting ceremony, which was also attended by pupils who are members of the school council.

Before the planting, the children impressed the bishop with their knowledge of the importance of trees to the environment and prayers were said after the sapling had been put in place.

Dr Hartley told the Stray Ferret:

“The school grounds provide such a fitting setting for this special tree and I hope that the children, their parents and staff enjoy seeing it grow and flourish.

“It will be a reminder to them and future generations, of the service that the Queen has given to this country.”

The Woodland Trust, one of the organisations involved in the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, said:

“The Queen’s Green Canopy will create a network of individual trees, avenues, copses and whole woodlands in honour of the Queen’s service and the legacy she has built.

“This will create a green legacy of its own, with every tree planted bringing benefits for people, wildlife and climate, now and for the future.”

The photo shows members of the Sharow CE School Council at the planting with, from left: The Revd Ruth Newton, headteacher Jacqui Palmer and Bishop Dr Helen-Ann Hartley

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The acrimonious struggle over the former Henry Jenkins Inn in Kirkby Malzeard has taken a new twist.

Last week campaigners handed a 500-plus name petition to Harrogate Borough Council calling for part of the closed-down and derelict premises to be re-listed as an asset of community value (ACV).

But now Justin Claybourn has taken the property off the market and informed the Henry Jenkins Community Pub campaign group (HJCP) he will not sell to them ‘at any time or any price’.

Mr Claybourn, whose successful planning appeal in December 2020 gives him permission to create a single dwelling in the part of the building that he owns, is now going to press ahead with plans to convert it to residential use and create a family holiday home.

Campaigners collecting names for their petition in Harrogate.

His business associate and agent David Fielder, who owns the pub group Fielder Holdings, told the Stray Ferret:

“Since 2018 Mr Claybourn has owned the old joiner’s shop, previously known as the eastern annex of the Henry Jenkins.

“The pub closed more than 10 years ago and Mr Claybourn has become increasingly annoyed with the campaign group’s actions, in particular their third attempt to have his property listed as an ACV even after his successful planning appeal.

“He directly holds HJCP responsible for the cost of defending the three ACV applications but further in his opinion the cost of his planning appeal. These costs exceed £25,000.”

Mr Fielder added:

“Over the past 10 years, nobody, including HJCP, has made a bid meeting the criteria that the property was on offer for — i.e. backed by hard cash, not pledges.

“With this in mind, following the latest move by HJCP, my client asked me to formally instruct them that his property has been removed from sale and will not return to the market.

“I was also instructed to advise them that due to their actions and costs they have made Mr Claybourn incur he would never consider a sale of his property at any time or at any price to HJCP.”

Read more:

• December opening date for Ripon’s new swimming pool
• Former Ripon pub to be converted into apartments

Richard Sadler, press spokesman for the Henry Jenkins Community Pub group, said:

“This statement comes as no surprise to us and changes nothing:  The only reason the Henry Jenkins has stood empty for the last 10 years is that Mr Fielder — and latterly his associate Mr Claybourn — have refused to sell it to anyone.

“We have submitted to the council statements from three prospective private buyers who wanted to buy and refurbish it as a pub and restaurant — including a Michelin two-star trained chef —  but they were told either that the asking price had been vastly inflated or that the pub had been sold.

“The Henry Jenkins Community Pub group has since made five offers to buy the pub at or above the price set by an independent valuer – but all these offers have been refused.”

“Despite this – and despite previous statements by Mr Fielder saying he would never sell the pub to us – we remain open and willing to discuss terms for a purchase of the Henry Jenkins as a community facility.”

A Ripon Grammar School student with ambitions of flying Apache helicopters has earned a place at a leading military school.

Marcus Bartlem, 17, has won an army scholarship worth up to £18,000, which will help fund him through university and guarantee a place to train as an officer at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

He was chosen out of thousands of young men and women from all over the country to get one of the 100 annual scholarships available.

Sandhurst’s alumni includes Winston Churchill and both Prince William and Prince Harry. Foreign monarchs, such as King Hussein of Jordan and the Sultan of Brunei, were also trained there.

Marcus said:

“I was extremely happy but also relieved when I heard that I had obtained the scholarship, as it was a long and tough process.

“I am very grateful to have been selected.”

Studying history, economics and chemistry at A-level, he will now benefit from army funding of £3,000 through his final school year and £2,000 for each year he is at university, where he will also be eligible for further army bursaries.

The Year 13 student added that he was looking forward to the leadership opportunities, alongside the prospects of adventure training and travel which army life offers.

Read more:

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• Poet Laureate stars at Ripon festival

The application process took place over nine months. Following medical assessments, virtual interviews and cognitive tests, Marcus, whose father served as an RAF fighter pilot, was invited to the final army officer selection board, which took place over two days.

Fascinated by flying

Marcus completed a series of demanding interviews, planning exercises, cognitive and written tasks, leadership challenges and fitness tests including an obstacle course.

But it was all worth it when he was informed, three weeks later, that he had been successful:

He said:

“I’ve always been interested in the military, most likely as a result of my dad’s involvement in the RAF. I hope to join the Army Air Corps as an Apache pilot as flying has fascinated me for a long time.” 

Planning to study history at university, his sporting achievements helped in the selection process.

As well as representing his school and local club in rugby, he enjoys biking and walking expeditions and is completing his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

Ripon City Council is to consider bidding to buy the city’s Spa Baths as part of the campaign to keep the building in community use.

Harrogate Borough Council plans to sell the Grade II listed building when Ripon’s new pool opens at the end of the year.

It has identified an unnamed preferred buyer but last month’s decision to list the 116-year-old building as an asset of community value has put any sale on hold to give the community chance to raise funds to launch a bid.

Ripon City Council is now taking the first steps towards pursuing that option after taking part in an initial meeting with the preferred bidder.

At Monday’s full city council meeting, leader Andrew Williams said:

“We had a constructive discussion with the bidder and will continue to work with them and look at any proposals they have for community uses as part of redevelopment of the site.

“However, to ensure that we keep our options open, following Harrogate Borough Council’s agreement to list the building as an asset of community value, we need to take the process to the next stage.”

Ripon City Council is to request to be treated as a potential bidder.

Councillors agreed to a motion put forward by Cllr Williams to “submit a written request to Harrogate Borough Council to request to be treated as a potential bidder under the provisions of the Localism Act”.

Councillor Stuart Martin, who seconded the motion, was among the councillors who attended the meeting with the preferred bidder. He said:

“We will continue to talk with the bidder, but must take every step to secure Ripon City Council’s position, without putting unnecessary obstacles to further discussions in the way.”

Housing fears

The future of the Edwardian building has been uncertain since owner Harrogate Borough Council put it on the market in February, saying it would be surplus to requirements when Ripon’s new multi-million swimming pool opens.

This sparked fears the baths could be sold for housing.

The campaign to retain it for community use, led by Ripon City Council and Ripon Civic Society, received a boost last month when the building was designated an asset of community value.

The baths were converted from a spa to a public swimming pool in 1936 and has the distinction of being the only English spa to be opened by a member of the royal family.

Read more:

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• Questions asked over opening date for Ripon’s new swimming pool