Tim Flanagan, Author at The Stray Ferret

House and treasure hunt to help refugee family in Nidderdale

Hopes 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.

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 Ripon

A 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.

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 summer

Ripon 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.”

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.”

Safety fears about proposed Ripon bypass roundabout sculpture

Councillors have expressed concern that plans to erect a sculptural montage of ancient buildings of Rome on a Ripon bypass roundabout could cause traffic accidents.

The five-metre high cast resin sculpture, with information plaque and lighting, is planned to celebrate Ripon Cathedral’s 1,350th anniversary.

But there are concerns it may distract motorists and cause accidents.

The cathedral plans to commission five major art works over a four-year period.

The proposed location for a boat sculpture depicting St Wilfrid’s sea travels.

Three of the works require approval from Harrogate Borough Council and a planning application has been submitted.

Under the theme of From Rome to Ripon, they will tell the story of the city’s patron saint and cathedral founder St Wilfrid.

The concept is supported by Ripon City Council, but at a meeting on Monday evening, they agreed to seek a meeting with the cathedral’s project team to discuss concerns.

City council leader Andrew Williams said:

“In principal, I fully support the artwork proposal, but I feel that we need to look again at the sculpture proposed for the roundabout.

“The bypass is a very busy road and I am concerned that the artwork with lights on could be a distraction to road users and lead to accidents.

“I also question how sensible it would be to have an information plaque on the sculpture – we wouldn’t want pedestrians to walk on to the roundabout to read it.

“Surely there must be a better location than this for the artwork.”

Fellow councillors agreed there was a need for further discussion with the applicant.

The council will write to Harrogate planners calling for the application to be deferred until this aspect of the plan is resolved.

The other two sculptures requiring planning permission are, firstly, of a boat containing figures that represent St Wilfrid on his sea travels. He made several visits to and from Rome during his time in Ripon.

This would be the first of the installations in June of next year.

The second installation, cast in bronze and standing five metres high, would depict St Wilfrid and a follower, which is planned for the corner of the Market Square that looks down onto Kirkgate.

It is proposed that this will be in place by June 2024.

The artwork currently earmarked for the Ripon bypass roundabout would initially be installed from June 2025 in the narthex at the the western end of the cathedral, before being relocated.

Ripon student wins coveted National Youth Theatre place

Carys Peedell is following in the footsteps of leading British actors by winning a place on the National Youth Theatre summer course.

The Ripon Grammar School sixth form student will be treading the boards where the likes of Dame Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig and Orlando Bloom developed their acting talent.

Carys, 17, won the highly-prized place following a two-stage virtual audition.

As well as entitling her to become a member of the National Youth Theatre company until she is 25, attendance on the course will open the door to casting auditions and opportunities for productions up and down the country.

Carys Peedell plans a career in acting

Carys has dreamt of being a star of stage and screen from an early age.

She said:

“I’ve loved acting for as long as I can remember – when I was little, I would constantly dress up and make films with my sister.”

Being a quiet child, she was only offered minor parts in primary school productions but she confesses she wrote her own version of a play at nine years old to guarantee a leading role.

Through performing, Carys has conquered her shyness. She said:

“I found I could be loud and confident when playing someone else. People saw me in a different light and that’s when I decided I wanted to be an actor.”

The National Youth Theatre now beckons. She said:

“It’s an amazing opportunity and has been the launch pad for many successful acting careers.”

Carys, who studied acting, dance, singing and musical theatre with Upstage Academy in Ripon, achieved distinctions in all her London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art exams, including grade eights in solo acting, duo devising drama and group acting.

One of the highlights of her acting career so far has been, along with acting partner Alfie Davies, winning at the Harrogate Competitive Festival for Music, Speech and Drama last year.

A regular in Upstage Academy’s Harrogate theatre summer musicals, Carys most recently played the part of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde and is now preparing to film High School Musical, in which she is to play Sharpay Evans.

She is also working on a production of Two by Jim Cartwright with a cast of keen Ripon Grammar School actors, to be performed at Ripon Grammar School on July 19.

Previous school roles include parts in Toy Story, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Oliver and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for which she also won awards.

‘The roads around Ripon’s Market Square are unfit and unsafe’

Pressure is growing for urgent work to take place to improve the state of some of Ripon’s busiest roads.

Ripon City Council voted unanimously last night to write to North Yorkshire County Council calling for resurfacing work to be carried out as a matter of urgency.

The principal areas of concern are parts of the Market Place roads where block paving has lifted and cracked because of the volume of traffic.

North Yorkshire County Council has carried out temporary repairs by putting tarmac over the worst-affected sections, leaving the surface looking like a patchwork quilt.

Councillors want to see comprehensive repairs to the city centre roads, as Market Square is the focal point of entertainment and activities, including the weekly Thursday and Saturday markets.

At last night’s meeting, two Conservative county councillors joined independent city councillors to call for urgent repairs.

Councillor Stuart Martin, who is chairman of North Yorkshire County Council, and Cllr Mike Chambers, are also Ripon city and Harrogate district councillors.

They said they have been pushing for repairs to the Market Place East and West roads and other roads in the city.

Councillors say roads around Ripon Market Square are unfit and unsafe

Speaking about the long-term calls for repairs, Cllr Martin, who represents Ripon South on North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“You can’t defend the indefensible. We have been consulting about the east and west carriageways for some time and they need to be sorted out.”

Cllr Chambers, who represents Ripon North at County Hall, added

“We have been pushing for repairs to the road surfaces and will continue to do so.”

The county councillors were responding to a call from city council leader Andrew Williams for North Yorkshire County Council to use reserve funds to pay for work.

Last week, in response to Stray Ferret questions about the state of city centre roads, Barrie Mason, North Yorkshire County Council’s assistant director for highways and transportation, said:

“Ripon Market Place is being considered for future funding within our forward programme for 2022/23.

“A number of the areas of most concern are associated with poorly performing utility reinstatements and we are seeking urgent action on these from the companies concerned.”

But Cllr Williams told last night’s meeting:

“We can’t wait until next year. The roads around Market Square are unfit, unsafe for motorists, cyclist and pedestrians and unacceptable.”

The square will also be a key venue for next year’s events celebrating the queen’s platinum jubilee.

Harrogate district youth service seeks trustees

An independent youth service that supports young people across the Harrogate district is to become a charitable incorporated organisation.

To help it make the transition to CIO status, Inspire Youth is looking to recruit a number of trustees.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 4 July and an application pack and trustee jigsaw is available on www.inspireyouth.uk

Chief executive Jess Ward said:

“The successful individuals will take part in shaping and directing the organisation and ensuring that it operates legally, within the regulations set by the Charity Commission.”

Inspire Youth chief executive Jess Ward

The organisation, which is also changing its name to Inspire Yorkshire, works with young people aged 8 to 18 across.

Regarding its search for trustees, Ms Ward said:

“We are particularly looking for people with an experience of, and a compassion for, working with young people.

“The skills we are seeking include digital transformation and digital delivery, fundraising, social media/marketing/PR/campaigning, financial and accounting, human resources and employment law.”

Among the organisations that Inspire Youth works with is Ripon YMCA .

Through this and other connections in the city, it is contributing ideas and experiences designed to shape the future of services to young people in Ripon.

Its work in the community also extends to Harrogate and Knaresborough, and includes engagement with young people on health, wellbeing, lifestyle and career aspirations.

Ms Ward said:

“We offer a service, which is adaptive and responsive that meets the needs of the ever-changing world.

“Services are based on listening to young people and working with them to make sure they get the best out of all activities.”

Inspire Youth has been able to extend its services through the launch of its mobile youth base, which has helped to engage young people in the community.

The mobile unit features a smart television screen, speaker, whiteboard and sensory lighting, laptop, kitchen facilities, table, and seating area inside.

Delays expected for motorists as work starts on Ripon bypass

Motorists can expect lengthy delays on the Ripon bypass for the next two weeks from today.

Maintenance work on the Duchess of Kent Bridge is due to start at 6pm. The work is scheduled for completion by July 10.

North Yorkshire County Council has said the works will take place overnight and finish daily at 6am, to minimise disruption to road users.

During the work, four-way traffic lights will be in operation at the northern-most roundabout on the bypass, which has exits to Ripon, Masham, Leyburn, Sharow and Copt Hewick.

Photo of approach to Duchess of Kent Bridge

Four-way traffic lights will operate at the roundabout between 6pm and 6am.

Cllr Mike Chambers, the county council’s member for Ripon North, said:

“The maintenance to this well-used bridge will involve replacing the expansion joints and surfacing works to remove the depressions at each end of the bridge.

“The work will be carried out overnight to minimise disruption as much as possible. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Ripon bypass is a major through route to and from the A1 and A1M.

The bridge crossing the River Ure was officially opened by the Yorkshire-born duchess in March 1996.

Mystery shrouds Coco Chanel-designed wedding dress at Ripon Cathedral

A veil of secrecy surrounds the Coco Chanel wedding dress now on display a Ripon Cathedral.

The velvet winter gown, created by the French fashion icon, was not for a princess or a duchess.

It was made in Paris by the famous designer as a wedding present for the daughter of a leading British industrialist.

Chanel’s close friend was due to marry a member of parliament, but the marriage at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, in late 1923 did not take place.

Photo of wedding gowns at the Ripon Cathedral exhibition

Some of the stylish gowns that will be on display at Ripon Cathedral until 19 September

Kevin Thornhill, who is curating the A Century of Wedding Gowns exhibition at the cathedral, told the Stray Ferret:

“The bride had other ideas from her parents and eloped with her father’s chauffeur three days before the wedding.”

Of the 200 gowns and accessories in a collection assembled by Mr Thornhill over 40 years, Chanel’s classic creation, with its intricate point d’Alençon needle lace and wax orange blossom headdress incorporates an air of mystery.

He said:

“It was provided for the collection by a private individual, with only limited information.”

Mr Thornhill has endeavoured to discover the name of the person for whom Chanel made the dress, but despite his extensive research on he has not yet been able to unearth the identity of the mystery woman or the jilted honourable gentleman.

Like the opening chapters of an Agatha Christie novel, this intriguing exhibit raises many questions, but other wedding gowns that can be seen at the cathedral until 19 September, have received wide media coverage.

County Durham-born designer Mr Thornhill, served his time with David and Elizabeth Emanuel in London’s Mayfair and worked on the famous dress that the late Princess Diana wore on her wedding day.

A copy of the gown with its show-stopping and style-setting long train, will be modelled on the catwalk at two cathedral fashion shows.

The shows, both on July 29, mark the 40th anniversary of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles’ wedding.

Also on display at next month’s fashion shows will be copies of the gowns from the royal collection, including those of the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Margaret and the Princess Royal, along with exact copies of the tiaras they wore at their weddings.

Tickets for the shows are now on sale via the Ripon Cathedral website.

The exhibition featuring 50 wedding gowns from 1885 to the present day is free to enter and open daily.

State of roads in Ripon comes under spotlight

Independent Ripon councillors have accused North Yorkshire County Council of getting its road repairs priorities wrong.

They have asked the highway authority to explain the rationale behind resurfacing rural lay-bys instead of repairing city centre roads.

Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“Along a 16-mile stretch of road between Hawes and Leyburn, lay-bys have been re-surfaced to a very high standard, while many roads in Ripon are in desperate need of major work.

Pictured above is one of the recently re-surfaced lay-bys on the A684 Hawes to Leyburn Road and below is a section of Market Place East in Ripon

Barrie Mason, North Yorkshire County Council’s assistant director for highways and transportation, said:

“The improvement work to lay-bys is funded by the government’s Safer Roads Fund, which has the aim of reducing the number of people killed and seriously injured on the county’s roads.

“The Safer Roads Fund can only be used on certain roads within the county which meet the strict government criteria and is not to be used for routine maintenance.

“We have a comprehensive programme of planned maintenance schemes based on annual surveys of the whole road network that has produced a long-term trend of improving road condition.

“Ripon Market Place is being considered for future funding within our forward programme for 2022/23.

“A number of the areas of most concern are associated with poorly performing utility reinstatements and we are seeking urgent action on these from the companies concerned.”

Cllr Pauline McHardy said:

“We want all roads in the county to be safe and it is my view that the four roads around Market Place and other parts of the city centre are a danger to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, because of the state they are in.”

Her fellow city and Harrogate district council colleague, Sid Hawke, added:

“We keep asking for proper repairs to be done and while we wait, the road surfaces get worse and worse by the day.”

For next year, Ripon is planning a major programme of events to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Mayor of Ripon, Cllr Eamon Parkin, said:

“I just hope that the roads in and around the city centre have been fixed by then.”

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