Ripon’s delayed leisure scheme more than £3m over budgetThe Stray Ferret can reveal that Ripon’s new swimming pool and leisure centre is more than £3 million pounds over budget.
The running total for the scheme is now in excess of £13.5 million and that figure is likely to increase.
Details of the spending so far and monies allocated for payment, were obtained by Ripon resident and chartered civil engineer Stanley Mackintosh, following Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to Harrogate Borough Council (HBC).
In its FOI response to Mr Mackintosh HBC said that:
- Money already paid for construction and associated works is £12,936,235.55.
- A further £619,427.06, is allocated for payment.
This means that at £13,555,662, the cost for delivery of the high-profile project is more than £3.3 million over budget.
The original 17-month contract signed with construction company and principal contractor Willmott Dixon was for £10.2 million, with a completion date of May this year – but a delay until November was announced last autumn and last week HBC said the new pool will open ‘towards the end of the year.’
There has been growing concern over the project after Mr Mackintosh along with leading geologist Dr Alan Thompson, an expert on Ripon’s gypsum deposit and sinkhole issues, voiced concerns about the suitability of the site and the costs of works to make it safe. A year ago a ‘void’ was discovered while digging foundations at the entrance of the leisure centre.
Councillor Pat Marsh, the lib-dem leader on HBC, has called for a safety investigation which was supported by independent cllr Sid Hawke, who was one of eight councillors on HBC’s planning committee that approved an application two years ago.
Stanley Mackintosh says his concerns about the swimming pool development ‘fell on deaf ears’
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An insight into the extent of ground stabilisation activity (known as grouting) already carried out on the site, was given in July when HBC reported:
“A total of 441 grouting sites received 3,043 tonnes of grout which, along with the casting of a reinforced concrete slab, provides the foundation for the new swimming pool building.”
Mr Mackintosh has endeavoured to find out the finished cost of the project from the council. However it is not revealing details of additional costs it is budgeting for its completion.
HBC said:
“Disclosure of allowances for works not yet agreed would likely put the Council in a commercial disadvantage in its ability to negotiate efficiently in the future.”
Mr Mackintosh told the Stray Ferret:
“I am totally in favour of a new swimming pool and leisure centre for Ripon, but along with others, including councillors and Dr Thompson, I have argued over many years that the Camp Close site, with its known history of ground instability, was not the right place for it.”
Mr Mackintosh, pointed out:
“I made my case as soon as Camp Close was identified as the location for the new pool and also before the planning meeting in June 2019 when it was approved and afterwards, but my words fell on deaf ears.”
Meanwhile, the council, which gave itself planning permission to proceed with the multi-million pound scheme, maintains that keeping the final costs under wraps, ‘outweighs the public interest in disclosing it.’
HBC said in its response to Mr Mackintosh:
“There is significant public interest in not prejudicing the commercial interests of the Council in ensuring that we can operate efficiently in our role by relying on the services of the businesses we have a relationship with.”
Bitter battle over former Kirkby Malzeard pub enters new phaseThe bitter battle between a community campaign group and the owner of a now-derelict pub in Kirkby Malzeard rages on.
More than 10 years after the last pint was pulled at the Henry Jenkins Inn, the fight has entered a new phase.
Campaigners want to refurbish and resurrect the centuries-old inn and see it return as a community-owned and run pub, restaurant and coffee shop.
To support their case, they have launched a petition calling on Harrogate Borough Council to restore Asset of Community Value listing, so it covers all of the building in Main Street.
They hope that the petition will contain 500 or more signatures when it is presented at the full council meeting next Wednesday.
Also preparing an approach to the council is David Fielder, owner of the western portion of the building, which was the original pub before an eastern annex was added.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“I am going to apply for a change of use from public house to residential.”
Flashback to how The Henry Jenkins Inn looked before it closed
Fielder Holdings, Mr Fielder’s pub company, sold the eastern part of the building to his business associate Justin Claybourn, who subsequently applied for a change of use to allow conversion to a single dwelling.
The council’s decision to refuse the application was overturned at a planning appeal in December.
At the online hearing, planning inspector Helen Hockenhull said:
“I am not persuaded that the loss of the annex would make the remaining pub unviable for an alternative community use.
“The scheme would therefore not result in the unnecessary loss of a community facility reducing the community’s ability to meet its day to day needs.”
‘No prospect of reopening’
In making her decision, Ms Hockenhull took into account the fact that Kirkby Malzeard already has a pub – The Queen’s Head, as well as Kirkby Malzeard Mechanics Institute, which is also licensed to sell alcohol.
In a hammer blow to campaigners, she concluded:
“There is no reasonable prospect of the public house reopening.”
However, the campaign group thinks differently, though its ambitions are reliant upon securing the purchase of the whole site from its two owners.
In May, they offered £200,001 for the entire Henry Jenkins building, saying it would use £237,000 of pledges made by supporters to fund the deal.
Richard Sadler, press spokesman for the Henry Jenkins Community Pub group, said:
“It’s vitally important that this pub is recognised for what it is: The Henry Jenkins has been an essential part of the fabric of this village for hundreds of years, the overwhelming majority of villagers want it back as a pub and community facility – and they’ve put their money where their mouth is.”
But Mr Fielder said:
“Both my part of the former pub and Mr Claybourn’s eastern annex remain for sale. For the whole site any purchaser would need around £500,000 to secure a deal.
“We’ve always been willing to speak with the campaigners, but there is a significant difference between their valuation and our own.”
Possible £250,000 support
If the campaigners, who have the support of Kirkby Malzeard Parish Council, district ward councillor Nigel Simms and former MP and now pub campaigner Greg Mulholland, are successful in their application to obtain ACV listing for all of the Henry Jenkins, Mr Sadler, claimed:
“The group would be well placed to qualify for up to £250,000 under the government’s new Community Ownership Fund.”
He does, however, admit:
“If the whole of the pub is not recognised as an ACV, that could sink our chances.”
“That’s why we’re calling on the council to do the right thing. It never made sense to delist half a pub just because it has changed hands – the council should be helping local communities rather than private developers.”
Talks planned in battle to save Ripon’s Spa BathsCouncillors in Ripon are hoping to meet soon with Harrogate Borough Council’s preferred bidder for the city’s Spa Baths.
The future of the Grade II listed 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 116-year-old 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 this month when the building was designated an asset of community value.
This gives communities a right to bid to buy the building before it is sold on the open market.
The identity of Harrogate Borough Council’s preferred bidder is being kept under wraps due to commercial confidentiality but city council leader Andrew Williams said he was looking forward to constructive discussions.
Replacing Spa Baths: Ripon’s new swimming pool, which will open this year.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“We met with the borough council last week following our successful application to have the baths listed as an asset of community value.”
“At that meeting, we were told that the preferred bidder intends to include an element of community use as part of wider redevelopment of the site.
“We are keen to find out what that community use would be and if there is a way forward that is acceptable to all involved.”
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The 116-year-old building was 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.
A civic society plaque near the entrance records the fact that Princess Henry of Battenburg performed the opening ceremony in 1905.
Curzon Ripon is back with a Bond blockbuster
The finishing touches are being put in place ahead of Thursday’s reopening of Ripon’s Curzon Cinema.
More than 18 months after the two-screen cinema closed its doors because of the coronavirus crisis, filmgoers will be able to take their seats for the much-anticipated James Bond blockbuster, No Time to Die.
Daniel Craig’s fifth and final appearance as 007 looks sure to attract large audiences.
The 8.30pm screening on Thursday is already sold out, but tickets are still available for the 5pm and 7pm showings of the film.
Ripon Curzon is set to reopen on Thursday.
Screening times, membership and bookings details for the Ripon venue are now available online.
With two screens, the premises on North Street are the smallest of Curzon’s 14 UK locations.
Initial plans to reopen on 4 June were put on hold due to social distancing issues caused by the venue’s size.
When announcing the reopening, Becky Tobin, regional manager for cinema chain, said the team was “very excited” to finally be back:
She told the Stray Ferret:
“We are thrilled that our customers will also be seeing some familiar faces as a lot of the team decided to return and are looking forward to seeing our regulars and members again.
“The returning team, along with the new recruits, have been getting into the swing of things with some onsite training of our revamped food and drink menu.”
The venue will welcome back its patrons with James Bond-inspired martinis.
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The cinema, which opened in Ripon in November 2013, is part of a BAFTA award-winning company that allows members to view films at home through its streaming service, as well as in Curzon venues across the UK.
As the covid lockdown restrictions on cinemas and live theatre were progressively eased by the government this year, the Curzon remained closed in Ripon, sparking fears the city’s only cinema would not reopen.
New Ripon pool may not be ready to open in NovemberRipon’s new multi-million pound leisure development may not be ready to open in November, as previously indicated.
The scheme, for which known costs were in excess of £10.2 million before a six-month delay was announced last year, was originally scheduled to open this summer.
Last autumn, a press release by Harrogate Borough Council said the development at Camp Close, off Dallamires Lane, would open in November.
But in an update issued by the council a spokesperson, said:
“We can confirm the new swimming pool in Ripon is due to open towards the end of the year.
“An official opening date will be confirmed in the coming weeks once the facility has been handed-over by Willmott Dixon, our appointed contractor carrying out the works.”
An ‘opening in summer 2021’ sign was later replaced by one saying ‘opening in autumn 2021’.
The statement, added:
“Following this handover, we will carry out the necessary staff training and rigorous testing to prepare the new facility for opening.
“The addition of the new swimming pool is a major development for Ripon and the surrounding area and we’re delighted to announce that it will be officially opened later this autumn.”
£10.2m contract
A £10.2 million contract was awarded to Willmott Dixon before work started on site in November 2019.
The 17-month contact was for delivery of a six-lane pool, along with refurbishment of the existing Ripon Leisure Centre.
This specified a completion date of 21 May this year, but this was later amended to November.
Councillor Stanley Lumley, the council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport said, at the time, that the project had been ‘slightly delayed’ by covid.
In the release dated 13 November, he added:
“Ground work, known as grouting, is nearing completion.”
Ground stability issues
Cllr Lumley’s statement came two months after a ‘void’ was discovered near the entrance to the existing leisure centre building, which was constructed in the mid 1990s.
A previous sinkhole that opened up in February 2018 caused the closure of the leisure centre car park and despite concerns raised about the suitability of the Camp Close site for addition of a swimming pool, the scheme was granted approval at a council planning meeting in June 2019.
Following discovery of the second ‘void’ Stantec, an international engineering, design and consultancy practice, carried out an initial inspection and in a report, seen by the Stray Ferret, raised concerns about the load-bearing capacity of existing piles under the leisure centre, which would have been used to support the connection between it and the new pool.
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What will the final cost be?
The Stray Ferret has submitted two Freedom of Information requests to the council in an attempt to establish what additional costs have been incurred, on top of the original £10.2 million contract for the scheme.
In its response to the first request, the council said that the information it held was ‘confidential’. In its response to the second request, it said ‘the final costs are not yet known.’
Ripon singer-songwriter takes centre stageAlongside the tribute acts who played at Ripon’s summer season of free concerts, an emerging home-grown talent took centre stage.
The first performer at the Yorkshire Day Weekend of musical entertainment, was singer-songwriter Freddie Cleary, who has a growing fan base in the city and further afield.
The 20-year-old acoustic guitarist, who lives in Ripon, hopes for a recording contract one day and his rapidly-rising career has already seen him perform at high profile events including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Tour de Yorkshire.
Freddie Cleary busking at The Arcade in Ripon
The former pupil of Grewelthorpe Primary School and Bedale High, started playing music at the age of ten after being bought a second-hand guitar by his mother Karen, who is now his manager, administrator and roadie.
Freddie said:
“I used to be addicted to Playstation, but once I received my guitar I never played PS3 again!”
His first gig came at the age of 15 when he was asked to play at the Crown Inn in Grewelthorpe and then he started busking on the streets of Masham, Harrogate, Ripon and Robin Hood’s Bay.
Freddie, who has written his own songs – Mercy, My Everything, Perfect and Talk To Me – has used facilities at the Homefire Recording Co studio in Harrogate, added:
“I take my inspiration from artists such as Oasis, Ed Sheeran, Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen and the Stone Roses and it is my ambition to get my own recording contract one day.”
In the meantime, the young artist has another string to his bow, as an actor and member of Ripon Amateur Operatic Society (RAOS) where he started his acting career by successfully auditioning for one of the lead roles in the musical Cats.
He is also in the cast for the RAOS upcoming performances of Jesus Christ Superstar, which run from 7 to 16 October at the society’s Allhallowgate headquarters.
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His acting ability was noticed by a talent spotter and led to him being offered a role in Amazon Prime’s Green Fingers where he plays the part of a busker!
Freddie pointed out:
“It’s great, I can just be myself and while I enjoy acting, I think that playing the guitar, writing and singing my own songs, offers the best opportunities for me.”
Curtain comes down on Ripon Races’ restricted seasonRipon Races holds its final meeting of a lockdown-affected season today.
In common with other horseracing venues across the UK, Yorkshire’s garden racecourse, with its paddock-side geraniums and lush lawns, can reflect on a reined-back and restricted year of business.
From February, the Boroughbridge Road course played an important role in the fight against the covid pandemic.
Over six months, more than 27,000 jabs were put in the arms of people from Ripon and surrounding areas, who attended the temporary vaccination centre set up in the Wakeman Bar.
With the 2021 horseracing season now at an end for the course, it will again be utilised as a centre for the delivery of booster jabs.
Ripon Races marketing manager, Jon Mullin, told the Stray Ferret:
“It was surprising to discover that for many local people, it was the first time they had been through our gates.
“We hope that some of them returned later in the year to enjoy a day at the races and they will be made most welcome if they come to join us on Saturday.”
For many years, Ripon has been known as Yorkshire’s garden racecourse
The seven-race card begins at 2.20 with a novice stakes and features the Class 2 Ripon Cathedral City of the Dales Handicap over six furlongs.
Ripon’s management is hoping for a good-sized crowd as the curtain comes down on a 17-day season.
It can look back on a difficult year, whose highlights were the William Hill-sponsored Great St Wilfrid Handicap and EBF Ripon Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy, both run in August.
Mr Mullin pointed out:
“We have been pleased to see racegoers of all ages back on course and with life steadily returning to normal, we will build on this year and plan ahead with more certainty for next season and another 17 days of racing.”
Ripon’s restricted season began in April and its first four meetings took place behind closed doors, with strict social distancing and hygiene measures in place.
As the vaccination programme picked up pace and the covid lockdown eased, crowds of up to 4,000 were allowed in the enclosures from 27 May and with the complete lifting of restrictions in July, the course began its return to business as usual.
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Ripon’s racing history
Meetings have been held at the racecourse for 121 years and the city has a rich horseracing heritage.
The first recorded races were held on nearby Bondgate Green in 1664 and over the next 236 years other venues hosted meetings.
In 1723, history was made when the first-ever race exclusively for lady riders was held in Ripon.
Festive lighting plan is unveiled for Ripon Town HallWith Christmas just over three months away, Ripon is gearing up for further expansion of the city’s seasonal lights.
Ripon City Council has unanimously agreed to support moves to create a new festive feature on the front of the town hall.
Costing £5,400, it would consist of a sequenced multi-coloured lights display that can be programmed to include seasonal and other messages.
Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the Grade II Listed building in the Market Place, needs to approve the proposal.
Last year, in a festive season affected by covid lockdown and restrictions, £65,000 set aside for public events that were subsequently cancelled, was used to enhance and extend Ripon’s Christmas lights.
The lights covered three miles of city centre and adjoining streets, including all major gateways and this year, in addition to the town hall plan, improvements will be made to light displays on High Skellgate and Westgate.
Kirkgate – the approach to Ripon Cathedral – was part of the three-mile display of lights last Christmas.
Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams said:
“A multi-coloured curtain of light across the town hall, which can incorporate messages, will have a wow factor and create a focal point for Ripon’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.”
Councillors were told that this would be be a temporary display and, if approval is received from Harrogate Borough Council, its installation will be timed to ensure that it does not clash with the Remembrance Day poppies display at the town hall.
The technology employed enables the lights to change colour and feature a range of pre-programmed messages.
Still motoring aged 90: Ripon Motor Boat Club celebrates milestone
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Starting off with linear moorings alongside the canal, the current marina was dug out over the course of the 1970s and 80s, and replaced again by members in 2000.
A new purpose-built clubhouse replaced its floating predecessor and in 2013, members took on another extensive project, extending the south end of the marina, giving space for around 140 plus berths for boats of up to 33ft.
Clergy reach out to Nidderdale Show flock through YouTubeClergy are going virtual to make up for the loss of a service that traditionally takes place on the eve of the Nidderdale Show.
The agricultural show, which was due to take place in Pateley Bridge tomorrow, was cancelled in June for the second year running due to covid.
An open air ecumenical service has been held at the Bewerley Park showground for many years on the Sunday before the show.
This prompted Nidderdale vicars the Rev. Alastair Ferneley and the Rev. Darryl Hall, along with Methodist minister the Rev. Mike Poole and Jean Marshall, a member of the congregation at Providence United Reformed Church in Dacre, to produce their ‘No Show Service’.
Rev Ferneley, Vicar of Dacre with Hartwith and Darley with Thornthwaite, told the Stray Ferret:
“This Sunday is when we would have held the open air service but in the absence of the show for the second year running, a number of members of The Church in the Dale decided to produce a video.
“We hope that as many people as possible will watch it.”
The Rev. Alastair Ferneley plays guitar and sings in the video.
The video, recorded at St Michael and All Angels in Wilsill, opens with a view of the Nidderdale countryside and the sound of a guitar being played by the Rev. Poole, who is then joined by fellow guitarist the Rev. Fernley
Rev Hall, Vicar of St Cuthbert, Pateley Bridge, which covers six parishes, said:
“Though this year we again sadly have no Show due to the pandemic, the churches of Church in the Dale are still very much praying for our local
area and farming community.”
The 15-minute ‘No Show Service’ can be seen on Youtube here.
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Launched in 2007, The Church in the Dale is an alliance of churches of different denominations across Nidderdale.
It includes the Pateley Bridge Methodist Circuit, the Anglican parish of Upper Nidderdale, the Anglican parish of Dacre with Hartwith and Darley with Thornthwaite, Providence United Reformed Church, the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady Immaculate, and Holy Family RC parish at RAF Menwith Hill.
The club was established in 1931, when two boats – the Onaway and Vagabond – set off on their travels from the River Derwent.