Tim Flanagan, Author at The Stray Ferret

Argos returns to Ripon

A year after Argos closed its doors on the Marshall Way retail park in Ripon, it is to re-open in the city centre.

The former café in Sainsbury’s, which shut last year, is being transformed in readiness for the relocation.

Signs at the supermarket say Argos will be opening in March – 12 months after the first covid lockdown saw the last customers served in the Marshall Way premises.

Photo of Ripon's former standalone Argos store

The former Argos standalone store in Marshall Way, Ripon

Ripon is following a strategy adopted by the company in towns and cities across the UK, including Harrogate, where standalone stores have been closed and moved to share floorspace within Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

A spokesperson for Argos confirmed the company’s employees, who previously worked at Marshall Way and were temporarily redeployed to other parts of the business, will be employed at the new Ripon store.

The spokesperson added:

“We announced last year that any standalone Argos store which has not reopened since March will remain closed permanently.

“We have also shared plans to open 350 more Argos stores in Sainsbury’s and Argos collection points in supermarkets and convenience stores by March 2024.

Last June, following the first lockdown, the catalogue company re-opened 145 standalone stores across the UK – but Ripon was not among them.

In a statement at the time, Argos chief executive Simon Roberts said:

“Our business has changed enormously.

“We want to be very careful as we move to the next phase.”

Food Bank volunteer, councillor and Salvation Army officer all nominated for diamond prize

In the second of our stories about nominees for the Ripon Community Diamond Award, we look at a further three nominees, whose names were put forward by readers of the Stray Ferret.

The winner of the award will be selected by independent judges, the Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin and the Bishop of Ripon the Rt Revd Helen-Ann Hartley.

In addition to the title, the winner will receive an incredible prize worth up to £1,000, donated by Red Buttons Jewellers and Hedley Hall.

Red Buttons, which shares The Vintage Room premises in Queen Street, Ripon, with Mr Hall and his antiques, collectables and vintage models business, will create a customised piece of jewellery, featuring the diamond in a gold or white gold setting.

A high calibre of nominees have been put forward, reflecting Ripon’s reputation for being a city with a strong community spirit.

Here is what nominators have to say about the people they have nominated

Suzanne Bowyer

Suzanne Bowyer works at Community House in Allhallowgate. Since the first lockdown in March, she and a colleague have been focusing on the crucial role of keeping families and individuals fed.

Nominator Caroline Bentham said:

“Suzanne and a colleague took over the food banks in March, when those who were running them had to give up and shield. They have had to deal with calls from the public who are trying to access the services that normally use Community House.

“Suzanne has helped mums at the end of their tether, who can’t get hold of a health visitor. She and her colleague do their work quietly, with no ‘look at me, aren’t we great attitude.'”

Christine McCutcheon

Major Christine McCutcheon is the officer in charge of The Salvation Amy in Ripon, which has its headquarters in Lead Lane.

Christine was nominated by Kathryn Robinson, who said:

“Throughout the lockdowns, she has been amazing, working hard and being busier than ever, providing food parcels to those in need.

“At Christmas, Christine provided toys and gifts for families. She is always there for her neighbours, providing care for anyone who needs it.”

Councillor Pauline McHardy

Pauline is a city and Harrogate Borough councillor and three-times mayor of Ripon, where she was born and bred.

Her name was put forward by fellow Harrogate Borough Councillor Victoria Oldham, who said:

“Pauline never stops trying to help people, whatever their political bias. She always has time and stands up for what she believes in.”

As well as knowing her from Harrogate Borough Council, Cllr Oldham hears about Pauline’s campaigning work as a markets champion from speaking with market stallholders in Otley, who also trade in Ripon.

Nominations for the award close at midnight on January 31.

Nominations in for Ripon Community Diamond prize

The Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin and Bishop of Ripon the Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley will shortly have the difficult task of selecting the city’s community diamond.

Nominations close at the end of January and the independent judges already have a very high calibre list of 17 nominees to choose from.

Over the next few days we will look at some of those who have been nominated by readers of the Stray Ferret for their outstanding service to the Ripon community.

Each of the nominees that we will feature is the potential winner of the Ripon Community Diamond Award and an incredible prize worth up to £1,000, donated by Red Buttons Jewellers and Hedley Hall.

Red Buttons, which shares The Vintage Room premises in Queen Street, Ripon, with Mr Hall and his antiques, collectables and vintage models business, will create, for the winner, a customised piece of jewellery, featuring the diamond in a gold or white gold setting.

Sally Alcock

Sally is a cook at Ripon Cathedral C of E Primary School and has been nominated by her sister Tracey Harrison, who said:

“She goes out of her way to help anybody. For the children at the school she makes Christmas decorations, cards and provides gift bags with sweets in so that nobody misses out.

“I am disabled and so are my parents and since the first lockdown in March she has done our shopping and never missed a week.”

Lou Grant

Lou is co-owner. with her husband Tim of Oliver’s Pantry in Fishergate.

Nominator Diane Adkin said:

“Lou helps the homeless and YMCA in Ripon and her joy and vitality has helped many people to have the strength to go on each day.”

Known for being ‘amazingly positive,’ Lou has raised spirits and enabled many people cope throughout the Covid pandemic and lockdowns with upbeat messages, help and practical advice shared on social media.

Jade Kelly

Jade works at the Navigation Inn in Canal Road and was nominated for answering a long-distance call for help

Kate Hopwood, who now lives in Australia, made the nomination and said:

“Jade saw a post I put on FaceBook after my 82-year-old mother was conned into buying £300 worth of fish from scammers.

“Jade immediately said she wanted to help to make her feel better, offering a donation from the pub. My mother is proud and didn’t want money, but loved the flowers Jade gave her.”

Annette Kite

Annette’s Ripon-based cleaning business has been affected by the pandemic, but that hasn’t stopped her from helping others

Anthony Holdsworth, who put her name forward for the award, said:

“During the first lockdown and for many weeks afterwards, Annette prepared, cooked and delivered hundreds of meals for elderly and those in need.

“She also sourced and managed food donations from local businesses to aid her support programme. All this was done at her own home, with no expectation of reimbursement for her time or utility costs.”

More of your nominations will be revealed over the coming days, so keep following the Stray Ferret to find out who else has been put forward for this amazing prize.

‘Ripon needs more police,’ says council

North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan, is being called to act to solve chronic anti-social behaviour problems in Ripon.

Just weeks after the city council pledged to join forces with the neighbourhood policing team to tackle the on-going issue, it says the situation has worsened.

At Monday’s virtual full council meeting, elected members reported incidents of violence, nuisance and anti-social behaviour in the city centre.

Councillor Sid Hawke told the meeting:

“We are sick of these yobbos, who go around making trouble.”

Ripon Market Square – identified as a hot-spot of anti-social behaviour.

Council leader Andrew Williams said:

“I was in my car recently and a group of four thugs deliberately rode their bikes towards me on the wrong side of the road.

“Some elderly people have told me that they are frightened to go onto Market Square because they feel intimidated.

“The problem is getting worse by the week and it’s time for us to go to the top and call on Julia Mulligan to do something — she is responsible for policing in the county and the buck stops with her.”

These sentiments were echoed by many other councillors, who supported a motion to contact the commissioner, calling on her to provide more police officers for Ripon.

Concerns were also expressed about the efficiency of CCTV cameras in the city centre and the fact that there are only a limited number in use.

Councillor Pauline McHardy said:

“If there were more cameras in use, it would deter some of the youths who are causing trouble and police could concentrate their patrols on the areas that are not covered by CCTV.”

However, councillor Stephen Craggs said:

“All that CCTV does is to push the problems elsewhere. What we need are more police to keep the city streets safe and that’s what we should be asking Julia Mulligan for.”

The Stray Ferret approached the commissioner’s office for a response and was told by a spokesperson that the she is unable to comment until she has received correspondence from Ripon City Council.

Approximately 17 percent of Harrogate district council tax is used to pay for the police and fire service.

Urgent call for covid vaccination centre in Ripon

An urgent call has been made for Ripon to have its own covid vaccination centre to serve the city and surrounding areas.

Ripon City Council heard last night it was “unacceptable” for older people to have to travel to Harrogate or York, particularly as the government has pledged nobody should have to travel further than 10 miles for inoculations.

Councillors at last night’s virtual full council meeting said Ripon should not miss out and suggested Hugh Ripley Hall could become a vaccination centre.

They unanimously supported a motion by council leader Andrew Williams, who said:

“We currently have a situation in which elderly people are having to travel to the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate or the centre in York as the nearest places where they can be vaccinated.

“This is clearly unacceptable.

“The government told us that people would not have to travel more than 10 miles to receive their vaccine, so we need to take urgent action to ensure our citizens and the thousands more who live in areas to the north of Ripon do not have to make a long journey — which in itself adds to the risk of spreading the virus.”

At a Downing Street press briefing on January 7, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said people in the UK would not have to travel more than 10 miles to receive a vaccination.

Ripon is 12 miles from Harrogate and 26 miles from York.

During the same briefing, the PM unveiled plans for another 1,200 vaccination hubs to open across the country.

Covid testing takes place at Ripon coach park each Wednesday — but could this be a potential location for a vaccination centre if Hugh Ripley Hall is unsuitable?

It was agreed the council will contact Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, offering Hugh Ripley Hall on Skellbank as a possible location for a dedicated Ripon vaccination centre.

Councillor Pauline McHardy, who worked as an NHS nurse for 41 years, told the meeting:

“The hall is a good location, everybody knows where it is and there is sufficient space for social distancing.”

Councillor Stuart Martin, whose wife April was seriously ill and hospitalised with coronavirus last year, said:

“I’m not an expert on what the NHS requires to set up a vaccination centre, but I fully support offering Hugh Ripley Hall in the first instance.

“If the hall doesn’t meet their requirements, they should look at other options in Ripon, such as putting a temporary building on a car park.”

Councillor Stephen Craggs, whose business is located close to the coach park where the NHS has been carrying out Covid tests on Wednesdays, said:

“We need to ensure that Ripon is not overlooked again, when it comes to providing a place where people living in this area can receive their vaccination.”

Campaign to reopen Henry Jenkins Inn suffers hammer blow

The campaign to reopen the derelict Henry Jenkins Inn in Kirkby Malzeard as a community pub has been dealt a hammer blow.

The Planning inspectorate, a government agency that deals with planning appeals, has overturned Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for conversion of the eastern part of the site into a single dwelling.

The Henry Jenkins Community Pub Ltd sought to prevent redevelopment of the site by having the building registered as an asset of community value.

HJCPL’s 190 members raised £236,000 in pledges, with the intention of purchasing the whole Henry Jenkins site and refurbishing it.

The group was confident the council’s decision would be upheld – but Helen Hockenhull, of the Planning Inspectorate, was not persuaded by their argument.

Nine years after the last pint was pulled in the Henry Jenkins, she concluded:

“There is no reasonable prospect of the public house reopening.”

The Planning Inspectorate highlighted that Kirkby Malzeard already has the Queen’s Head pub.

In making her decision, Ms Hockenhull took into account that Kirkby Malzeard has an existing pub – The Queen’s Head – and also the fact that the Mechanics Institute, across the road from the appeal site, is licensed to sell alcohol.

The campaigners also had to overcome the hurdle that the western portion of the site, belonging to Fielder Holdings, remains available for sale or let.

The inspectorate accepted that allowing the application, made by developer Justin Claybourn, to convert the eastern annex into a dwelling, would be a disappointment, but concluded:

“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.”

The appeal decision has been welcomed by David Fielder, who bought the shut-down Henry Jenkins from receivership in 2012 and subsequently sold the eastern portion of the building to Mr Claybourn.

Mr Fielder, whose company David Fielder Inns owns and operates 16 pubs, mainly in Yorkshire and Hambleton, told the Stray Ferret:

“Of these, 10 were closed when I bought them and nine were successfully re-opened and traded prior to covid, the only exception being the Henry Jenkins. I simply could not attract a tenant.

“Kirkby Malzeard cannot sustain two pubs, this view has been echoed by everyone I have had to view or have approached with a view to taking the Henry Jenkins on.

“There are also six pubs within 3.6 miles of the village all offering different experiences. Two have been for sale in recent years and failed to attract buyers.”

HJCPL has no right of appeal against the inspector’s decision.

Its chairman, David Robinson, said:

“We must accept her conclusions and move on.

“It’s a blow and a big setback. We felt that we had a very strong case and we were supported at the online appeal hearing by an HBC planning officer.”

The western portion of the Henry Jenkins Inn is still available for sale or let.

HJCP’s management team must now decide whether making Mr Fielder an offer for his part of the site would enable it to create a viable community facility.

Alert motorist averts double road closure travel chaos

Road users in the Ripon and Boroughbridge areas have been spared potential travel mayhem today thanks to a sharp-eyed motorist.

Paul Stockburn, who lives with his wife Sandra in Copt Hewick, noticed both North Yorkshire County Council and Yorkshire Water were due to have diversions in place on the same day.

Copt Hewick is located on the outskirts of Ripon between the Dishforth and Boroughbridge roads.

Mr Stockburn told the Stray Ferret:

“Every household in the village received a letter from Yorkshire Water giving advance notice of an eight-week programme of pipe replacement work that would close a section of Dishforth Road between New Road and Strait Lane. That work started last week.

“Enclosed with the letter, was a diversion map showing Boroughbridge Road as the crucial alternative route for Copt Hewick road users to follow.

“Then I saw yellow signs put in place at both ends of the bridge on Boroughbridge Road that crosses the River Ure near Ripon Racecourse, saying that the bridge would be closed for a day on 19 January, so that inspection works could be carried out.

“I thought, does this mean that an extra one day diversion for diverted traffic would need to be put in place – and where would it be diverted to?”

Photos of the respective road closure signs

The Yorkshire Water road closure sign on Dishforth Road (above) and the North Yorkshire County Council sign, which has now been removed

“What made this confusing situation even more ridiculous was a paragraph in the Yorkshire Water letter about the Dishforth Road closure, which read: ‘We understand that these works will be inconvenient, which is why we’ve liaised closely with North Yorkshire County Council highways department regarding every aspect of this essential scheme.'”

The Stray Ferret raised Mr Stockburn’s concerns about the confusing and apparently contradictory advice on the Yorkshire Water and NYCC’s respective road closure signs.

Yorkshire Water said it would look into the matter — then diverted the Stray Ferret to NYCC.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, for North Yorkshire County Council, said:

“As Yorkshire Water is undertaking an eight week programme of works on Dishforth Road our contractors have agreed to reschedule the one-day bridge inspection. We will remove the advance warning sign as soon as possible. We apologise for the concerns this caused.”

When told the potential double diversion road closure chaos had been averted, Mr Stockburn, said:

“I have let as many people as possible in the village know the good news – including one gentleman in his 80s, who was wondering how he was going to get to Harrogate for his covid vaccination.”

Nidderdale minibus helps rural people get vaccines at showground

It’s nearly 16 miles from Pateley Bridge to the covid vaccination centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.

So for rural communities in the Nidderdale and Washburn valleys with limited public transport and a high proportion of older people, getting there can be difficult.

Nidderdale Plus community hub in Pateley Bridge is playing a key role in solving this and helping the government achieve its aim of vaccinating the over 80s as soon as possible.

Helen Flynn, the executive director of Nidderdale Plus, a charity that works in partnership with local authorities to provide services to the community, told the Stray Ferret:

“For some people, the prospect of travelling to and from Harrogate for their appointment could be daunting.

“There are those who live on their own; some have stopped driving and a number may not have a member of a family bubble to accompany them to and from the vaccination centre.”

Older people living in rural Nidderdale and the Washburn Valley can travel by mini-bus for vaccination in Harrogate.

With Nidderdale and the Washburn Valley covering half of the total land area of the Harrogate district, a logistical issue had to be addressed.

It was rapidly solved when Nidderdale Plus called on assistance from Jill Quinn, chief executive of Dementia Forward, to secure the use of a mini-bus that had not been used for some time because of covid restrictions. Ms Flynn said:

The vehicle, with its volunteer drivers, makes regular journeys from Nidderdale and the Washburn Valley to Harrogate, collecting people en-route.

To ensure social distancing is maintained, the minibus takes a maximum of three people at a time for vaccination, and a rigorous cleaning regime involving anti-bacterial ‘fogging’ of all surfaces is carried out after each use.

Ms Flynn added:

“Jill lives in Pateley Bridge and was happy to help.

“Our aim is to ensure that all people aged 80 and above living in this area have no reason to worry, either about getting to and from Harrogate or their vaccination.

“As the vaccination programme progresses to target different age groups, the minibus will remain in use to help those aged 70 and above in the Nidderdale and Washburn valleys and others seeking assistance.”

Bryan Ayers, who lives in Hampsthwaite, has already used the service. He said:

“The transport service for my covid vaccination was magnificent, I don’t know what I would do without the help as I do not drive myself and I have no relatives who can help me.

“When I got to the site it was really well organised both with clinic staff and the volunteers were very good, I hardly had to wait any time at all.”

Mr Ayers added:

“My driver was very friendly and just waited for me, I could not have asked for a better service. I have had no side effects of the vaccine at all so far.”

New Ripon developments could fund better bus service

New housing and commercial developments in Ripon could fund a better local bus service.

Ripon City Council’s transport group has been trying for several years to create a more integrated bus timetable for all parts of the city.

The current RS1 Ripon city service provided by North Yorkshire County Council operates to restricted hours during the week and doesn’t run at all on weekends.

But it is hoped that section 106 funds, which developers have to pay to fund infrastructure projects, could be used to improve matters.

Councillor Peter Horton, who chairs the transport group, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are well served by Transdev’s regular 36 double decker buses that provide journeys to and from Harrogate and onward to Leeds but our inner-city service is patchy.

“When commercial operators were no longer able to provide an internal Ripon service, we were grateful that North Yorkshire County Council stepped in to help but their mini-bus covers only around half of the city and we are looking for a more joined-up service.”

Councillor Peter Horton, who says section 106 funds from Ripon developments can help pay for a new bus service.

Some money to improve the service has been allocated from the parish precept.

Section 106 planning money from the retail development at Rotary Way, where a Marks & Spencer opened last year, is another possible source.

Longer-term, there are plans to build 1,300 homes at the Clotherholme development on the site of the former army barracks, which is another possible source of section 106 income.

Councillor Horton said:

“We will liaise with North Yorkshire County Council as the integrated passenger transport authority to discuss how the sources of funding can be drawn together.

“As a growing city, it makes sense to have a robust and regular bus service that reduces the need for cars to come into the centre, where parking is at a premium, while also providing a means for non-drivers to come into town.

“There are environmental benefits as well, as fewer car journeys into Ripon city centre will reduce the emissions that cause global warming.”

£2.5 million project to prevent flooding at Fountains Abbey

A £2.5 million scheme to revive the river valley that runs through Fountains Abbey has been given the green light today.

The abbey and its water garden near Ripon are a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the UK’s most significant cultural landmarks.

But flooding has deluged the abbey ruins and the adjacent water garden several times in recent years. Nearby homes and businesses have also been affected.

Wildlife is under threat from poor water quality because of increased sediment in the river.

Now the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded a £1.4 million grant to tackle the problem.

The sum, combined with funding from other sources, will enable the valley to be protected from the effects of climate change and flooding, which has threatened to cause irreparable damage to the abbey.

The Skell valley scheme aims to rejuvenate 12 miles of the River Skell by improving the landscape’s resilience to climate change.

Work on the scheme, led by the National Trust and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is due to begin in March.

Photo of the River Skell at Fountains Abbey

The River Skell, which runs through the Fountains Abbey UNESCO World Heritage site

In 2007, flooding devastated archaeology at Fountains Abbey, inundated the water garden of Studley Royal and caused damage downstream in Ripon.

Despite efforts to tackle the effects of extreme weather, flooding and silt-build up continue to threaten the valley’s heritage and ecology.

But now, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other funders, including the European Regional Development Fund, large-scale work to protect the landscape can begin.

The four-year scheme, which has been under development for several years, will involve local partners, landowners, farmers and volunteer groups.

Efforts to reduce flooding will include tree planting, meadow creation and new ponds, which will reduce soil run-off and slow the flow of water.

The project is designed to boost wildlife in the valley and it is hoped that populations of rare species such as curlew, white-clawed crayfish and golden plover will increase.

Communities will take an active role in the scheme with opportunities to learn conservation skills and undertake archive research.

Councillor Nigel Simms, who represents Masham and Kirkby Malzeard on Harrogate Borough Council and is chair of the Nidderdale AONB joint advisory committee, said:

“We will work closely with local farmers and landowners across the Skell valley to put in place nature-based solutions that will reduce flooding and improve biodiversity in and around the river.”

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