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The rapidly-deteriorating condition of many Ripon roads came under the spotlight at a virtual meeting yesterday.
Officers from North Yorkshire County Council were invited by Ripon City Council to explain the reason for extended delays to repair and renewal work for roads, including those surrounding the Market Square, Minister Road and Dallamires Lane.
The city council had wanted NYCC to make the meeting, which was held on Teams, open to the media, but in an email exchange yesterday .Karl Battersby, NYCC’s corporate director for business and environmental services, said:
“My position remains that I am not prepared to have the discussion with the media present.”
Minster Road, which runs past Ripon Cathedral, is in need of repairs
In an earlier email, Mr Battersby said:
“Our understanding was that this would be a frank and open discussion in private to try and reach a better understanding together of the possibilities and restrictions. At no point was this to be a press conference.”
After the meeting, city council leader Andrew Williams, who was involved in the email exchange and made the unsuccessful attempt to have it open to journalists and the public, told the Stray Ferret plans to improve Market Place East were agreed. He said:
“I can’t understand why North Yorkshire County Council didn’t want the press and public to be involved. It was cordial and constructive and would have given the officers a means to explain to the wider population the situation they face in Ripon and other parts of the county.
“With the government settlement meaning a loss of £4million from the highways budget, they are strapped for cash, but the officers did understand the concerns raised by myself and other councillors involved in the call.
“We were pleased to hear that a scheme for Market Place East will be drawn up and other areas are being looked at.”
Councillor Williams added:
“While roads in an around the city are in need of repair, we will continue to bang the drum on Ripon’s behalf.”
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Ripon BID appoints management team
The Ripon Business Improvement District board has appointed a management team to deliver events and projects aimed at helping local businesses thrive.
Eighty per cent of Ripon traders voted in favour of creating a BID in June. BIDs, which are funded by a levy on local firms, come up with ideas to increase visitor numbers to towns and cities.
Elizabeth Faulkner, former manager of Altrincham BID, has been appointed Ripon BID manager and Lilla Bathurst, who previously worked for Hull BID, has been named assistant Ripon BID manager.
Ms Faulkner worked for tourism organisation Visit Manchester for 12 years. Her experience as a destination marketing specialist was put to good use in Altrincham, where she led the submission that saw the town win the Great British High Street Award in 2018.
Ms Bathurst worked as a stockbroker in the City of London prior to her move north to Hull and change of career. Her initiatives included the award-winning Hull Street Food Nights, which supported the city’s evening economy by increasing footfall.
The two women are excited by the prospect of working alongside businesses to promote Ripon as a destination locally, regionally and nationally.
Ms Faulkner said:
“This is a wonderful city with a rich history and so much more and it’s our job to make as many people as possible aware of what Ripon has to offer.”
Promoting what the city has to offer and increasing footfall are two of the objectives of the Ripon BID
Ms Bathurst added:
“I relocated to the area and soon discovered that it has a great community spirit, with people who work together and have a positive attitude.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with businesses of all sizes who make Ripon such a special place.”
Deep clean
Projects to be delivered over the next few weeks include a deep clean for city streets, the first stage of a way-finding strategy looking at signage and evaluation of Ripon’s destination and social media platforms, material and websites.
In addition, at a time of rising fuel and power costs, businesses will be offered free consultations on ways to save money.
Rick Jones, who owns Valentino’s restaurant and the Water Rat in Ripon, and is a member of BID board, said:
“We are all looking forward to moving things forward through initiatives that focus on many aspects of the Ripon economy, from heritage to hospitality to the city’s retail offer and major visitor attractions, such as Fountains Abbey and Newby Hall.
“There is a collective benefit – If they do well, we all do well and the city thrives.”
“In the first instance, we are getting the foundations right and in the appointment of Elizabeth and Lilla, we have made a great start.”
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Halloween in Ripon — heavy showers and a helter skelter
On a day of heavy rain mixed with bright sunny intervals, Ripon residents and visitors braved the elements to visit Market Square for a mini Halloween funfair.
The event included children’s rides, a helter skelter and an artisan market.
Children and their parents queued up to take a turn on the helter skelter
While the weather limited the time for enjoyment of the free rides, they were in demand when the sun finally broke through in early afternoon.
The playground occupied the southern half of the square and the Little Bird Artisan Market, was on the northern section.
In spite of pouring rain and windy conditions, 40 stallholders set up their pitches from early morning.
The market, designed to give local traders the opportunity to showcase and sell their handmade goods – ranging from food to home decorations – have been a constant feature of the public events in 2021 staged by Ripon City Council and paid for out of the parish precept.
Between the showers shoppers browsed the stalls at the artisan market
Council leader Andrew Williams, said:
“With all of the effort that goes into organising these activities, particularly by our town clerk, Paula Benson, we are pleased that the rain didn’t ruin the day.”
The next free public entertainment that will be staged on Market Square is on November 20, when a tribute band concert will be held to mark the switch on of Ripon’s Christmas lights.
Helter skelter twist for Halloween in Ripon
A Halloween helter skelter for people of all ages, will add to the family-focused fun in Ripon on Sunday.
In the latest in a series of free events organised by Ripon City Council, the ride will take its place alongside two roundabouts for younger children.
While the mini-fairground is in operation on Market Square South, in front of the town hall, a Little Bird artisan market will be held on the northern portion of the square.
The event runs from 10am until 4pm.
City council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:
“During the summer, in addition to the artisan markets, we have had the roundabouts and a climbing wall to cater for children of all ages.
“This time, the wall is replaced with a helter skelter so that adults can also take their turn.”
Flashback to the summer and a children’s roundabout on Ripon’s Market Square
As the city has emerged from the covid lockdowns, which prevented large-scale public gatherings from taking place, Ripon has used money from the parish precept to pay for free concerts featuring tribute acts, a Last Night at The Proms event, firework displays and the children’s rides.
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The aim has been to provide entertainment for local residents and bring visitors to the city centre, for the benefit of retailers, hospitality businesses and Ripon’s heritage attractions.
There are more events to follow before the year is out, with the switch on of the festive lights on the evening of November 20, Christmas markets on December 5 and 12 and a New Year’s Eve tribute act concert on Market Square.
Ripon building owners apologise for “eyesore” as redevelopment plans progress
Owners of a historic Ripon site, which fell into a state of disrepair, have apologised to neighbours as the area is prepared for residential redevelopment.
Leeds-based Graycliffe Homes bought the former Girls’ High School Old Lecture Building, on College Road, as a development opportunity ten years ago.
Over the past decade, the two storey red brick Edwardian building has had windows broken and slates stolen while its grounds became overgrown.
Graycliffe’s managing director, Wayne Butterfield, who has been involved in a major tidy up of the area, told the Stray Ferret:
“It has become something of an eyesore and for that I would like to apologise to our neighbours.
“The new homes development here will see a transformation, that I hope is to the liking of people who live nearby.”
Planning permission was granted by Harrogate Borough Council for the former high school to be refurbished and converted to create eight townhouses.
An architect’s drawing showing how the refurbished building will look. Picture: Graycliffe Homes
There will also be five new-build homes on the site, which will be landscaped, with green spaces retained.
Graycliffe will not carry out the conversion and new build, but it is in discussions with developers who will carry forward the scheme.
Christopher Hughes, chair of Ripon Civic Society, welcomed the activity on site.
He said:
“This is an historically important building dating back to 1908 and we are pleased to see that is is being retained for conversion within the overall redevelopment plans.
“The society has taken a great interest in this site over the years and, at long last and many hold ups and frustrations, we are pleased to see it being tidied up in readiness for disposal to a developer, who will convert the former school building and carry out the other works.”
The building as it currently looks
The former school provided secondary education for girls, until its amalgamation with Ripon Grammar School in the early 1960’s.
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Afterwards, the building was used as part of the Ripon Teacher Training College and later the College of Ripon & York St John.
Following the closure of the training college, it was let to Leeds Metropolitan University whose lease on the building ended in 2012.
Artworks honour Ripon’s military pastSoldiers from Ripon were involved in an art installation yesterday that provides an echo of the city’s military past going back 107 years.
Members of 21 Engineer Regiment helped with ground preparation before three metal silhouettes, depicting soldiers of World War I, were put in place at Hell Wath.
The works, created by artists Dan Metcalfe and Jeanne Mundy, in collaboration with Ripon Cathedral’s visual media artist and photographer Joe Priestley, replicate pieces from previous installations produced by the trio for the project ‘Fields of Mud, Seeds of Hope’
Members of the 21 Engineer Regiment did the spade work
Figures from that project can be seen near the cathedral and around the city as part of the Wilfred Owen memorial walk, created in honour the famous war poet who was based briefly at Ripon Army Camp from March 1918 and died in action in northern France just seven days before peace was declared.
Mr Metcalfe told the Stray Ferret:
“During World War I, this area was the southern half of a huge camp that at any time was providing temporary accommodation for upwards of 30,000 troops.
“When you consider that the population of the city was around 8,000 before the camp arrived, it makes you realise how dominant it was and the impact it would have had.
“I hope that these works serve as a permanent reminder for generations to come of the part that Ripon played in the war and those who never returned.”
The logistics of the installation have been led by Ripon Community Poppy Project, which is also involved in producing the annual remembrance displays in the city centre.
Councillor Stuart Martin, who was one of the founders of the project, said:
“This has happened thanks to a massive collaborative effort, with support from Econ Engineering, Ripon Farm Services, Harrogate Borough Council, the Royal Engineers and Tarmac, which owns the land.
“Thanks to their assistance, combined with donations of materials, time and labour, they have enabled the creation of this stunning installation that underlines the historical significance of Ripon’s military roots, which go back many years.”
The photograph shows artist Dan Metcalfe (front, left) with Councillor Stuart Martin, of Ripon Community Poppy Project, and soldiers from the 21 Engineer Regiment.
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Ripon remembers with 75,000 hand-made poppies
Ripon is being wrapped in a cloak of red as the city prepares for next month’s Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.
This year, with no covid restrictions in place, Ripon Community Poppy Project is installing its largest display to date, involving 75,000 hand-made woollen flowers, alongside banners and flags.
These reminders of those who lost their lives in two world wars and other conflicts, can be seen throughout the city centre, from Spa Gardens to the cathedral, on roundabouts on the bypass and at other locations.
Ripon Town Hall, decked in Remembrance poppies
Hazel Barker, who along with Councillor Stuart Martin and Carol Dunkley, runs the project, with support from an army of volunteers, told the Stray Ferret:
“We decided to do something special to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I in 2018 and it captured people’s imagination.
“The initial plan was to produce a poppy trail from Spa Gardens, where the war memorial is located, to the cathedral and it has grown from there.”
The display outside Ripon Cathedral.
Cllr Martin, who represents Ripon at city, district and county council level, added:
“We started off with no funding and put out an appeal on Facebook asking if people could help us by knitting poppies and the response was phenomenal.
“As well as getting strong support from the local community, Hazel started receiving deliveries of poppies made by people living in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Malta and other countries.”
The community poppy project continues to thrive, with knitters – both female and male – in the city and further afield providing their assistance.
At its core is the Knit and Natter group that meets between 9.30am and 11am each Monday morning in the Sun Pavilion Cafe in Spa Gardens.
Ms Barker said:
“They are knitting all year round and as well as making the poppies, they are producing decorative items for other events, such as next year’s celebration of the queen’s platinum jubilee.”
One of the specially produced banners attached to railings in the city centre
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion and the messages ‘RBL 100’ and ‘Lest We Forget’ have been included on poppy wreaths.
The legion’s Ripon branch and the community poppy project, will benefit from the proceeds of a fundraising concert of remembrance being held at Ripon Cathedral on the evening of November 11. Tickets costing £15 are available from Stuff 4 Offices on Fishergate.
A centrepiece of the event, which will include performances from Ripon City Band and the Dishforth Military Wives Choir, will be a replay of a video first shown in November 2018, when it was projected onto the front of the cathedral.
Cllr Martin said:
“It was produced, with the support of sponsors, to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and is both spectacular and moving. This time, we will be showing it inside the cathedral.”
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Major archaeological discovery at Ripon’s Fountains Abbey
The largest tannery ever discovered at a monastic site in Britain has been identified at Fountains Abbey.
Tanning was a vital part of the abbey economy. Animal hides would be de-haired and cured to make leather for purposes such as clothing, belts, bedding, book bindings and to make vellum or parchment for reproducing religious texts by the monastic scribes.
The find, made using ground penetrating radar, backed up with other geophysical survey methods, underlines the fact that Fountains was a hive of industry up to its dissolution in 1539.
It had always been a puzzle what a long ‘bowling alley’ type extension of the east side of the abbey precinct, close to the River Skell, could have been used for.
Investigations carried out in partnership with the National Trust, which owns the site, by the University of Bradford, Mala UK, Geoscan Research and Magnitude Surveys, found previously unknown monastic buildings filling the whole width of the valley floor of the World Heritage Site.
The proximity to the River Skell of the newly-discovered buildings, ties in with their use as a tannery
The find reveals two substantial stone buildings, 16 metres wide, one of them at least 32m long and more than a single storey in height, with lined pits, tanks and other structures around them.
These, along with the proximity to the river for water – a key requirement in the tanning process – has led to the conclusion that this was the tannery serving the community of Fountains Abbey.
Mark Newman, National Trust archaeologist explained:
“A tannery of this size, spanning such a large area of the site, reveals an operation on an industrial scale, meeting the needs for leather and other processed animal skins for the community of hundreds of people in the growing monastic community.
“Its scale also reflects an aspect of the productivity of the huge herds the abbey acquired and managed.
“Also, given the noise, activity and stench that emanated from a tannery, we previously thought that it would have been sited further away from the monks and their worship. We see now that the tannery was much closer and a far cry from the idea of a quiet, tranquil abbey community.”
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Mr Newman added that the abbey’s wealth:
“Was originally based on wool, but later diversified into cattle-raising too, while the need for processed animal skins was constant throughout the abbey’s life.
“In later years, when the herds were mainly managed by lay tenants as part of their rent, even the skins of any fallen stock had to be brought to the abbey for curing, so that as much as possible was put to practical use”.
Vandals attack rare Ripon building for third time this year
Ripon’s rare cabmen’s shelter on Market Square has been vandalised for the third time in seven months.
City police were informed yesterday evening after it was discovered that the locked door of the shelter had been forced open.
This caused damage to the door frame of the Grade II listed building.
The Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin, who visited the scene yesterday evening, told the Stray Ferret:
“This is the third time that I have been called out to see the wilful and mindless damage that has been caused to the shelter by vandals.
“They clearly have no consideration for anybody else’s property and I just hope that with the CCTV we have in place in the city centre, the police will look through the footage, identify those involved and make arrests.”
The shelter, which dates back to 1911 and is the only moveable listed building in the country, also had windows broken by vandals in March and June.
The Ripon Civic Society plaque on the shelter’s door.
The shelter, which is owned by Ripon City Council, underwent a major refurbishment costing £22,000 before being returned to Market Square in September 2020.
Alcohol problems
Ripon has suffered from recurring incidents of violent and anti-social behaviour ranging from assaults to attacks on property.
Last week, North Yorkshire Police launched a survey designed to call on the views of local people into the issues affecting the city.
The survey asks residents for their views on alcohol-related litter, young people drinking in public places, young people being rowdy and asking for adults to buy alcohol for them.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:
“We’re keen to hear your thoughts on the issues around young people and alcohol in your community.
“We’re working with the organisation Community Alcohol Partnerships to bring local partners together to discuss, tackle and protect our community from anti-social behaviour often caused by underage drinking
“The first step in this process is to find out local residents’ views and thoughts on the issue so it’s really important we get as many people to take part in the survey as possible.”
People can have their say by clicking or tapping here.
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Ripon leisure centre won’t fully open with new pool
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.
Before granting itself permission for the new pool and leisure centre refurbishment at a June 2019 planning meeting, the committee heard concerns raised about development on land with a known history of ground instability.
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.