Halls name proves a hit for Ripon department storeMore than a thousand customers visited Halls of Ripon when the department store opened on Saturday.
Hedley Hall, who, with Liz and Mike Cooper, has brought the former Wrens building in Fishergate back to life, told the Stray Ferret:
“It was fantastic and we were busy all day.”
He pointed out:
“The decision to use the Halls name proved a real winner, as it resonated with people.”
Mr Hall, added:
“The Hive coffee shop also proved very popular.”
Hedley Hall (left) with customers at his antiques and collectables stall
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Department stores of different names have been at 20, Fishergate since 1950 – most recently Wrens, which closed before Christmas.
Prior to that, the Philip Hall store occupied the site for 53 years. With its new look and mix of 22 retailers, Halls is building on the concept introduced by former Wrens owner Mark Butler.
He provided low-cost space to bring together independent retailers under one roof. For 15 of those now trading at Fishergate, it’s their first experience of running a retail unit in high street premises.
Among them was Emma Crossley of Bud Floral Design.
She said:
“The Halls of Ripon opening was highly-successful for me – I was selling all day and also took orders.”
As well as being a base for sales, the high street location has provided Ms Crossley with a showcase for her floral design skills.
David Ward of The Hive Coffee Shop, which he runs with partner Keeley Buller, added:
“We were serving people from the moment we opened and there was a steady flow of customers.”
Mayor of Ripon to continue in office until SeptemberThe Mayor of Ripon will continue his duties until September 15, when the city council will hold its civic annual meeting.
Cllr Eamon Parkin was elected to the mayoralty in May 2019 and his period in office has been extended because of the coronavirus crisis.
His deputy, Cllr Charlie Powell, will also remain in post for the next two months.
The city council’s first face to face meeting since March 2020, was preceded by its annual meeting.
Before the unanimous vote confirming his continuance in office, Cllr Parkin was thanked for his service.
Council leader Andrew Williams, said:
“In spite of a very difficult mayoral year, limited by covid, Cllr Parkin has continued to represent Ripon with great dignity.”
The mayor, who chairs council meetings, has been conducting them virtually via Teams, since social distancing requirements came into force.
The city council will hold its civic annual meeting at Ripon Town Hall on 15 September
The coronavirus crisis brought the cancellation of civic events that would have come within the mayoral year.
These include the celebration of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, Battle of Britain Day, Remembrance Sunday and the annual St Wilfrid procession.
As a publican operating in Ripon, Cllr Parkin has personally experienced the difficulties that lockdown brought for small businesses in the city.
However, he has remained optimistic about the future and in his New Year message, told the Stray Ferret:
“Against this backdrop of hardship and heartache, Ripon’s independent spirit has shone through
“Though the civic year has been severely curtailed by covid, I have either witnessed or been told of hundreds of acts of kindness across our proud and ancient city.”
A new mayor and deputy mayor will be elected to serve from September.
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Pyramid artforms at Fountains Abbey bring echoes of the pastStriking contemporary art, with echoes from the past, has been installed at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal water garden.
Visitors to the 800-acre UNESCO World Heritage site, will see a visual transformation, brought about through the work of Steve Messam.
His three thought-provoking installations titled These Passing Things, have been designed to prompt another way of looking at landscape and historic buildings.
Drifted – 12 Floating pyramids in the canal – takes its inspiration from a lost pyramid folly, designed as a memorial monument to honour John Aislabie, the original designer of the water garden.
Following Aislabie’s death, in June 1742, his son William commissioned a 16-metre-high funerary pyramid.
Bridged, reflected in the waters of the river Skell, stands out in the landscape with the abbey ruins providing a stunning backdrop.
However, despite archive records of scale drawings and detailed costings for the piece, no further mentions of it were ever made and no record or evidence exists of this mysterious pyramid ever being built
Mr Messam’s second artwork is Bridged – a scarlet contemporary bridge sitting across the river Skell, close to the site of a lost iron bridge from the 18th century.
The Drifted and Bridged installations will be on display throughout the summer, while Spiked – an inflatable artwork – will be making occasional appearances.
It bursts through the columns of The Temple of Piety, with a statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, looking on from the lake.
Steve Messam is pictured with Spiked, which provides the opportunity to reflect on the contrast between classic and contemporary artforms
The Aislabie family, created many follies to surprise and delight their 18th century guests and Mr Messam hopes his contemporary works will attract similar attention.
He said:
“I guess the overall thing is identifying with the whole concept of follies – architectural oddities of no specific function, other than their visual aesthetic.
“While, over time, we may invest them with meaning or stories, at their core they’re just there – large-scale artworks in the landscape. As an artist that’s what I’ve been interested in for the past 20 years.
“I’m also interested in the role that follies play in creating focal points in constructed views of the landscape.”
Justin Scully, general manager at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, said:
“Studley Royal water garden is a designed landscape; a living work of art.
“By working with artists, responding to this legacy, we’re helping to bring the water garden to life for our visitors today.
“We hope that These Passing Things will get our visitors thinking and start a conversation about the connection between the past and the present, whilst offering people a relevant, fresh experience of the Georgian garden.
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Through its Trust New Art programme, which is supported by Arts Council England and the Arts Council of Wales, the National Trust aims to connect more people to its places through contemporary arts.
More details can be found at nationaltrust.org.uk/fountainsabbey
Italian Ripon restaurant owner thinks England will winRipon restaurateur Franco Fantoni has got the blues when thinking about the Azzurri’s chances at Wembley on Sunday.
The owner of Prima Ristorante Italiano in Kirkgate is pessimistic as he prepares for the big match.
He believes that Roberto Mancini’s team will be beaten by Gareth Southgate’s golden boys.
Mr Fantoni told the Stray Ferret:
“Sadly, I think we’re going to lose.
“England have played better football than us and I predict they will win 2-0.”
Will Gareth Southgate’s team have the last laugh against Italy on Sunday?
The lifelong football fan comes from Bergamo in the Lombardy region of northern Italy and is a seasoned student of football in his native and adopted countries.
Back in the place of his birth, he supports Serie A team Atalanta BC, but he also enjoys the English version of the beautiful game and said:
“Since moving to England in 1973, I’ve followed Leeds United and have been a season ticket holder for more than 30 years.”
Mr Fantoni, who has owned the multi-award-winning Prima Ristorante for 36 years, is convinced that his countrymen will taste defeat, but the four-times Fifa World Cup winners go to Wembley with an unbeaten run of 33 games behind them.
They were also the 1968 Euro Champions.
In contrast, England have just the 1966 World Cup win to their name in major international tournaments and are attempting to bring 55 years of hurt, disappointment and under-achievement to an end.
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The Azzurri have been tactically astute when the heat has been on, most noticeably in the pressure-cooker atmosphere of quarter and semi-final games against Belgium and Spain respectively.
If Italy can serve up yet another winning Euro performance in the three lions’ den, Mr Fantoni will have to eat his words – but it’s a dish he will happily swallow.
Sneak peek: The return of Ripon’s department storeA new-look independent high street venture opens in a familiar Ripon setting at 9am tomorrow.
Halls of Ripon is in the Fishergate building that formerly housed the Philip Hall and Wrens department stores.
The coronavirus crisis signalled the end for some retailers in towns and city centres, but four former Wrens tenants kept their dream for independents alive.
Linda Liversidge at her Legs & Co stall, where she sells classic and vintage fashion for women and men
Mike and Liz Cooper, Hedley Hall and Lloyd Sheard devised a plan while selling their respective goods from a temporary location in Queen Street.
Tomorrow, their dream becomes reality.
Mr Cooper told the Stray Ferret:
“We are home to 22 small retailers – 15 of which are coming to open in high-street premises for the first time.
“The demand for space has been phenomenal and we have attracted a great mix of businesses, selling items ranging from hand-made gifts and home furnishings, to womenswear and jewellery.”
Keeley Buller and her partner David Ward will be selling cakes, beverages and other refreshments at The Hive coffee shop within Halls of Ripon
He added:
“Our aim is to take independent retailing in the city into a new era, while creating a department store experience with a level of service that is attractive to customers.
“Each retailer has their own facilities for debit and credit card transactions.”
Traders who also want sell online can call on Ben Butler, who is running his e-commerce sales and marketing business at Halls of Ripon.
Goods on sale include famous-name model vintage cars
Mr Hall’s antiques, collectables and vintage model business was in the former Wrens department store from the day it opened.
He said:
“Mark Butler’s highly innovative and award-winning concept sadly suffered because of the covid lockdowns at key trading periods last summer and pre-Christmas.
“We have taken his ideas forward and, by continuing to provide affordable space with no strings attached, have created a platform designed to help small businesses to succeed.”
A broad spectrum of retailers have joined the department store
Because of its long history, heritage and natural attractions, Ripon in non-covid times has benefited from year-round trade brought by tourists and the local population.
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Mr Sheard pointed out:
“There has always been the demand for a department store of this nature in Ripon.
“It is attractive to traders like myself, because it is in a fantastic location for footfall.”
Is it coming home? Ripon pub regulars give their verdictThe roars from Ripon’s Hornblower Tavern will be heard across Market Square if the men with three lions on their shirts beat Denmark tonight.
According to legend, Alfred the Great gave Riponians a ceremonial horn In 886 AD as thanks for seeing off a Viking foe.
Since then the Ripon hornblower’s nightly blasts have reassured generations of citizens that they are as safe and secure as the England defence.
Now, it’s up to Gareth Southgate’s well-marshalled team to defeat modern day Scandinavian invaders on Wembley’s hallowed turf .
Regular football fans at Ripon’s sports-mad pub will be behind England all the way as they battle to join Italy in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final.
For Shelly Burrell, who runs the pub with husband John, that would be a special birthday present, though she pointed out:
“I was going to take the day off, but there’s no way I could do that if we are in the final.”
Hornblower Tavern regulars Ian Dewsnap (left) and Steve Ambrose, predict the score in England’s favour.
But will England fall at the penultimate hurdle?
Mr Burrell points out:
“Denmark are a good side, they will be playing to win this for Christian Eriksen.
“It’s going to be a close game, but I think we’ll do it.”
Tonight’s attendance at Wembley will be 60,000, while the Hornblower Tavern’s will be limited to 70 to meet social distancing requirements.
To ensure regulars can find the space to safely watch, Mr and Ms Burrell have five televisions, plus two large projector screens strategically located throughout the premises.
Adding to the pre-match build-up, they will be playing Baddiel and Skinner’s Three Lions, along with Fat Les’s Vindaloo.
So far, for the white and red flag bearers, it has been a happy and glorious unbeaten route to the semi-finals.
The question is, can the winning run continue?
‘Yes’, say two Hornblower Tavern regulars.
Ian Dewsnap predicts England will repeat the 1966 World Cup winning score that saw Sir Alf Ramsey’s team beat West Germany.
He said:
“I think we will win 4-2, but Denmark will be playing for Eriksen, after what happened to him in their opening match of the tournament.”
Steve Ambrose believes there will be fewer goals and England will win 2-1.
He added:
“After that, all will be to play for in the final.”
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One thing can be predicted without the assistance of Freddie the Ferret or Mystic Meg. For regulars of the Hornblower Tavern, it’s going to be a game of more than two halves, as they cheer on their heroes.
Bid to open Lidl in Ripon wins support of city council
Plans for a Lidl supermarket in Ripon have won the support of the city council.
Council leader Andrew Williams described a planning application by the German supermarket chain as a ‘win, win, win, situation’.
He said:
“It will bring 40 new jobs, increase choice for Ripon’s residents and also serve our growing population, with the new homes that we have coming on stream.”
Cllr Williams was speaking at last week’s full city council meeting at which he and fellow members supported Lidl’s planning application.
Lidl will join M&S Food at St Michael’s Retail Park if its plans are approved.
Harrogate Borough Council will decide whether to accept Lidl’s application to open a 1,100 square metre store at the £10 million St Michael’s Retail Park.
But the backing of Ripon City Council suggests there is support locally for the plan.
The Rotary Way site, off the bypass, is already home to a Marks & Spencer Food outlet, which opened last July.
Ripon, with a population of 17,000-plus and growing, is well-served by supermarkets, with Aldi, Booths, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s also trading in the city.
Lidl put forward its Ripon proposal following an online consultation.
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Following the consultation, a spokesperson from Lidl GB said:
“Many people have welcomed the proposed Lidl store, which would bring competition, increasing choice and providing a boost to the local economy through job creation.
“Many also mentioned that a store on this site would reduce the need to travel out of the city to shop and therefore keep expenditure in Ripon.”
The supermarket has also submitted an application to open its first Harrogate store on the site of the former Lookers car dealership on Knaresborough Road.
House and treasure hunt to help refugee family in NidderdaleHopes are high that a refugee family will be safely relocated to Nidderdale by Christmas.
Nidderdale Community Welcome has, through donations and fundraising events, built up a fund of approximately £11,500.
Peter Wright, who is heading the initiative, told the Stray Ferret:
“This is a tremendous effort, when bearing in mind that a lot of our activities have been virtual because of the covid lockdowns.”
He added:
“It illustrates that the Nidderdale community is caring, compassionate and willing to help a family in desperate circumstances to re-build their lives here.”
Peter Wright and supporters of Nidderdale Community Welcome prepare to bring a refugee family to the dales
The aim is to hit an initial target of £13,000 to provide the financial support that the family will need.
Finding a three-bedroom house in or near Pateley Bridge is the top priority and the search is on for a landlord with a suitable property available to let by the end of the summer.
Mr Wright pointed out:
“If we can secure this, there is every chance that we can have a home ready for the family to move into before Christmas.
“It doesn’t have to be in perfect decorative order, because we have a team of volunteers ready to help out.”
With lockdown restrictions easing, Nidderdale Community Welcome has been able to organise ever-more ambitious fundraising events.
The latest one is a treasure hunt – called Le Mo-Tour for Refugees, involving a 60-mile tour of the local dales.
It runs between July 10 and August 20 and is open to anybody who wishes to take part in return for a £10 team donation.
Participants must register at nc-welome.org to receive a clue sheet for the hunt.
While the fundraising continues, the formal behind-the-scenes processes involved in progressing the community support programme is ongoing.
To be involved in the Home Office-backed scheme, Nidderdale Community Welcome has to prepare everything that will be needed to support the refugee family.
In obtaining refugee status families have to prove that they were forced to flee their country because of persecution, war or violence.
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Attaining the status means they are entitled to the same help and welfare as anyone else living in the UK.
Nidderdale Community Welcome is working in partnership with the charity Catholic Care Leeds, which will take ultimate responsibility for the agreement that is being drawn up with the Home Office.
Covid outbreak set back council’s grass cutting in RiponA covid outbreak that affected employees of Harrogate Borough Council meant grass cutting at Ripon Cemetery and other maintenance work fell behind, a councillor has said.
At a full Ripon City Council meeting, Cllr Mike Chambers – HBC’s cabinet member for homes and safer communities – said:
“Following a covid outbreak, a lot of staff were redeployed from their usual duties, especially to work on refuse collection.
“That meant that some tasks fell behind, but we are now getting back on track with grass cutting and other maintenance work.”
A major tidy-up has taken place at the Kirkby Road cemetery and there is also evidence of grass cutting, tree and hedge trimming in other parts of the city.
The activity, which is ongoing, follows a Stray Ferret story in which mourners spoke out about the poor condition of the cemetery.
Grass surrounding the rosebed feature on Newton Gardens had grown to two feet, but the area has now been mowed by council employees
There are also lingering concerns about residential areas of Ripon where public spaces have became overgrown.
Cllr Chris Hardisty said:
“I think the problem is that the council just don’t have the staff to manage the amount of work that they have on.”
Fellow independent city councillor Sid Hawke, who is also a district councillor, pointed out:
“I have relatives buried in the cemetery and it was in an appalling condition.
“The city is untidy everywhere you look, with overgrown verges, long grass and weeds.”
Councillors agreed to write to HBC seeking assurances that work on the cemetery and other parts of the Ripon will be maintained throughout the growing season.
Should there be staffing issues, the council says outside contractors should be employed to carry out the works.
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In response to criticism levelled at it about the cemetery, last month HBC issued a statement, which said:
“Visitors to several of the cemeteries across the district may start to notice that some areas are being left to grow and not mown.
“We want to encourage biodiversity so are working with parish councils to leave specific areas to grow, attract pollinators and create habitats
“We have a regular programme of work, across all of the district’s cemeteries that we manage, and when specific issues are raised we will work to address these and carry out any required maintenance.
“We will of course continue to mow the grass along pathways and around gravestones so that mourners can pay their respects to their loved ones.”
Ripon paddling pool to get toilets this summerRipon city councillors have voted unanimously to put portable toilets next to the paddling pool on Borrage Green Lane this summer.
The large pool, in its neatly-kept park setting just off Harrogate Road, is a popular venue on warm days.
But the Harrogate Borough Council-controlled pool and adjacent playground hasn’t had toilets for many years, which can deter people staying for long.
The safety sign at Ripon paddling pool.
City council leader Andrew Williams told Ripon City Council this week:
“I contacted the borough council and am pleased to report that they have agreed to us installing portable toilets for the duration of the summer holidays.
“Of necessity, many families will be staying in Ripon this summer because of the impact of covid and we want to ensure that they can get the most out of the public facilities that we have around the city.”
The search is now on for a suitable supplier, who can install the facility in time for the school summer holidays and keep it clean and safe.
Payment for the temporary toilets will come from Ripon City Council’s strategic investment fund.
Councillor Pauline McHardy, said:
“We need to do all that we can to help people with young children.
“It has been a very difficult time for them and many are priced out of being able to go on holiday this year.”
Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, raised concern about insurance, as liability will rest with the city council.
Cllr Parkin said:
“I’m fully in support of providing facilities for families, but remember that the last time we considered providing portable toilets here, the insurance cost alone was astronomical.”
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It was agreed that the toilets will be temporarily added to the council’s insurance policy.
Councillor Stuart Martin added:
“I think we should have no problem in finding a local supplier who can provide what we need.”