City councillors will renew efforts this autumn to secure a bus service designed for Ripon’s residential roads and streets.

The city is well-served by Transdev’s 36 service, which provides regular buses to and from Leeds, via Harrogate and last month an uber-style service linking Ripon, Bedale and Masham, was launched as a pilot.

However, in-city bus services in Ripon have been patchy for many years.

Council leader Andrew Williams, told the Stray Ferret:

“With the Section 106 monies from the Bishops Glade residential development and St Michael’s Retail Park, North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) as the integrated transport authority, has the financial means to fund a properly joined up city-wide bus service for Ripon.

“In addition to the contributions that developers are required to make towards the provision of bus services, the city council has funds ready to put into the pot.”

Cllr Williams pointed out:

“With a growing population, bringing increased traffic and more pressure on Ripon’s road network, it makes sense to encourage greater use of public transport for visiting the city centre, getting to work, school and for other travel needs.”

Section 106 monies from the developer of the Bishops Glade scheme could be used to improve city-wide bus services in Ripon

Harron Homes, which is building 145 dwellings at the Bishops Glade development in the Doublegates area of Ripon, is making payments totalling £500,000 over three years, towards the cost of providing a regular Monday to Saturday bus service between the development and the city centre.

At Rotary Way, where the St Michael’s Retail Park is home to a Marks & Spencer Food store, developer Commercial Projects Ltd, is required to make a  Section 106 payment of £475,000 towards the cost of a local bus service.

This is designed to provide a public transport means for customers to visit the edge-of-city scheme, where Lidl also has plans to open a supermarket.

Elected members have been seeking improved public transport provision for some time and Cllr Peter Horton, who chairs the city council transport group, said earlier this year:

“We will liaise with North Yorkshire County Council 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.”

Read More:

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• Townhouse plan for Ripon Choir School building

Discussions with NYCC have been delayed by the covid lockdowns, but the city council will seek meetings at county hall in the autumn, in the hope that the tendering process for a new, comprehensive inner Ripon service, can be held at the earliest opportunity.

Thousands of homes across the north of the Harrogate district remain without TV or radio freeview services, a week after a major fire at a transmitter mast.

The blackout was caused by the fire last Tuesday that put the 315-metre Bilsdale transmitter out of action.

The loss of the transmitter is affecting parts of Harrogate, Boroughbridge, Kirkby Malzeard, Knaresborough, Masham, Pateley Bridge, Ripon and other locations that rely on a signal that serves the Tyne Tees region.

An update issued on Friday by Arqiva, owners of the transmitter, estimated that the repair work will take up to 14 days.

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• Ripon’s retail revival
• Knaresborough’s Christmas Market to go ahead

As viewers and listeners ask questions about when they can tune in once more to freeview on TV and radio,  one resident has contacted Julian Smith MP requesting that the government look at the bigger picture, in relation to critical infrastructure that serves millions of people.

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

James Thornborough, who lives in Sharow and whose work saw him specialise in disaster planning, recovery and business continuity, told the Stray Ferret:

“I emailed Mr Smith to raise wider concerns about the potential ramifications of the loss of the service from the mast.

“There is clearly a need to have robust contingency plans in place that anticipate the potential for this kind of occurrence at the Bilsdale transmitter and how to resolve it. ..

In my email to Mr Smith, I said – I am sure you will concede that a TV service being lost to one million viewers qualifies as the loss of a critical national infrastructure service, not least because it deprives the broadcasting companies of the ability to share public safety communications (breaking safety news) by TV or Radio to the design scope audience.”

In an email response, Mr Smith said:

“I note the concerns you have raised in this respect, and have sent a copy of your email together with an email of my own, to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, to pass your points on to him.

“I will write to you again as soon as a reply is received.”

In its statement on Friday, Arqiva, provided an update on on-going reinstatement works at the existing site and efforts to bring a television signal back to thousands of properties.

It said:

“We have had some success during phase 1 of our recovery plan using the Eston Nab site to restore services for some areas.

“Eston Nab is unfortunately unable to reach all the areas served by the larger Bilsdale mast, as broadcast signals rely on line-of-sight between transmitter and receiver (your rooftop aerial).

“This is the reason why masts such as the one at Bilsdale need to be so tall, and why they are located where they are – to reach as many homes as possible.”

For many avid TV watchers and radio listeners, a two-week wait is too long and they are looking for other means of tuning in to their favourite programmes.

This can range from re-setting digital TV boxes, to calling in professionals to have their aerials turned to pick up the signal from the Emley Moor Transmitter, which serves the Yorkshire television area.

People can also tune in via the BBC iPlayer.

Ripon’s high street is bouncing back, as the city emerges from 18 months of covid lockdowns.

Independent retailers, regional and national chains, are taking over voids in readiness for the Christmas period.

The former Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Ponden Home stores on Market Place East Kirkgate are being prepared for new occupiers.

Both long-established brands closed in October, as owners Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group went into liquidation amid trading conditions that it described as a ‘brutal environment.’

The Kirkgate premises will be home to the family-run business Clayton’s Carpets, Home and Gifts, which also has a shop in Pateley Bridge High Street.

Mountain Warehouse is relocating to a unit previously occupied by The Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

Outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Mountain Warehouse, which currently has a small shop in Fishergate, is making the short move across Market Square.

Its relocation to larger premises is due to be completed within the next four weeks.

An autumn opening has been scheduled by Loungers Limited – the national café-bar chain – for its Claro Lounge on Market Place South.

Located next door to Ripon Town Hall, the building, which was formerly a Natwest bank branch, has been vacant since 2018.

The Claro Lounge is due to open this autumn

An autumn opening is also planned in The Arcade by Yorkshire Cancer Research in the 4,000 sq ft unit formerly occupied by a Fultons Foods store, which closed in February.

Along with new entrant  The Real Junk Food Project, which redistributes surplus food, The Arcade will be home to four of Ripon’s 12 charity outlets.

Halls of Ripon which opened last month

The mall underwent a £100,000 refurbishment after Bradford-based property development and investment company Frank Marshall Estates acquired it in 2019 from the Westcourt Group.

The imminent arrival of new names in the city centre, follows the opening in July of Halls of Ripon in Fishergate – where more than 20 retailers and The Hive coffee shop are located.

Read more:

• Plans for redevelopment of Ripon Choir School building
• Ripon Men’s Shed opens

Ripon Men’s Shed opened its doors this week, bringing an enormous collaborative effort to fruition.

Following a June 2019 meeting at Community House in Allhallowgate to gauge interest in the project, the charity’s trustees – Andrew Makey, Caroline Bentham, Ed Moore and Tony Johnson – made great strides, in spite of the intervening limitations brought by covid.

The Men’s Shed movement, which addresses issues of loneliness and social isolation, has a specific focus on the older male population, but women are welcome too.

Getting to know the drill – Catherine Limbert joins in woodworking activities with fellow members

There are also Sheds in Harrogate, Starbeck and Pateley Bridge, offering weekly activities ranging from joinery to the restoration of bicycles.

Mr Makey, who is responsible for publicity for Ripon Men’s Shed, told the Stray Ferret:

“Our initial focus is on woodworking, but there are opportunities to look at other areas as well, such as computers.

“The activities, which the members will decide upon themselves, provide a focus and we hope that through their attendance, they will get to know each other and enjoy the social interaction.”

For John Hayson, a retired master plumber living in Boroughbridge, the Men’s Shed will be something to look forward to.

He said:

“I’ve been in hospital recently and after I was discharged, I was bedridden for a few weeks.

“That left me feeling hopeless, particularly as I have a disabled wife that I am caring for.

“I heard about the men’s shed and thought that attending it would be a way of rebuilding my confidence and making friends, by being with like-minded people for a few hours a week, while my wife is looked after by some lovely neighbours we have.”

Catherine Limbert is currently the only female member, but is not phased by being in an all-male environment.

Catherine Limbert — looking forward to learning new skills and making friends at the Men’s Shed

The NHS nurse said:

“I’m happy to speak with anybody and to learn from the expertise they have in areas that I’ve never tried before, such as using an electric drill.

“I have a couple of free days a week and this is a great way of getting out of the house, learning DIY skills and meeting new people.”

While the social aspect of the shed is good for members, it is also beneficial for the people involved in delivering the sessions.

The Ripon Men’s Shed premises, to the rear of the New Life Church in Water Skellgate

Barry Sutton, who was formerly secretary of Selkirk Community Shed, has brought the knowledge he gained in Scotland back to his native country.

The retired forester and now community volunteer, said:

“I believe it’s important for people to stay as active as possible, use their skills and have a sense of purpose.

“Being involved in an organisation like this is a win-win situation for all involved.”

Read more:

• How is Ripon’s mayor making history?
• Ripon’s ancient crypt reopens at the cathedral

With a chair lift provided from monies secured by Ripon’s North Yorkshire county councillors Stuart Martin and Mike Chambers, the Tuesday sessions between 10am and 4pm are being made as accessible as possible.

Anybody wishing to become a member, or get involved in other ways, such as making a donation or providing practical assistance with provision of tools that can be used in woodworking sessions, can find out more on the Ripon Men’s Shed Facebook page.

The Mayor of Ripon is heading for the history books after being asked to stay in office until May.

Councillor Eamon Parkin, who became mayor in 2019, will be the first person to hold the title in the city for three consecutive years.

His term has been extended due to covid, which forced the cancellation of many of the civic events that normally take place in a mayoral year, including the fundraising mayor’s ball.

However, in its place,  he and his consort Nigel Guy will host a hog roast and afternoon of entertainment on September 4 at the Magdalens pub that they own and run.

Tickets are available from the pub and proceeds will be shared between Ripon Vision Support and the Ripon Christmas Lights Appeal.

The Mayor’s hog roast will raise money for Ripon Vision Support and the city’s Christmas Lights Appeal.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“I planned the fundraiser as the finale to my term, but then my city council colleagues asked me to stay on, giving me more time to raise money for both causes.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be mayor of this wonderful place.

“With its unique character, rich heritage and community-minded approach, Ripon has weathered storms for more than 1,300 years — the latest being the coronavirus crisis.”

Ripon’s resilience

Like other small businesses in the city, The Magdalens suffered the financial effects of lockdown, social distancing requirements and limitations on the number of customers able to visit.

But the hardship faced by the pub and so many other traders brought a collective response that underlined Ripon’s resilience.

Read more:

• Ripon police and fire station in line for £1.2 million upgrade
• What’s the difference between re-wilding and re-naturalising? 

Cllr Parkin said:

“During our enforced closure, Nigel and I decided to turn the pub into a community hub, where neighbours could call for help, or drop off donated goods and other items for delivery to people in self-isolation.

“But we were not the only ones providing this kind of support and it was replicated by individuals, groups and organisations, all spontaneously rallying to assist others in need.”

With the easing of lockdown seeing the city return to a more normal way of life, Cllr Parkin can look back on highlights that emerged in the darkest hours of the pandemic.

Among them, is his long-held desire to see the extension of area covered by Ripon’s Christmas lights, adding to the city’s festive attraction for residents and driving greater footfall to benefit local businesses.

The decision to extend Cllr Parkin’s term in office until May will ensure that the person selected to be the city’s first citizen next year will be able to look forward to a term in office back in sync with the normal civic calendar.

The not-for-profit group Ripon Together has organised a mass walk called the Yorkshire Pilgrimage from the the city’s cathedral to Fountains Abbey next month.

Like the Boxing Day pilgrimage between the iconic religious sites, which has been staged for 45 years, walkers will trace the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks who, in 1132 AD, were the original founders of the abbey.

The pilgrimage, which takes place on 4 September, is part of Walkshire series of walks organised this year by the tourism organisation Welcome to Yorkshire, which encourages people to discover the county’s great outdoors.

It is also part of  Ripon Together’s Healthy Journeying campaign to encourage people to walk in the Yorkshire countryside, following the lifting of covid restrictions.

The Ripon Together Yorkshire Pilgrimage will depart from the cathedral at 12.30pm on September 4.

The walk will be led by Canon Barry Pyke, of the cathedral, and will take approximately an hour at a leisurely pace.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Dobson, said:

“Ripon Together has been promoting walking and cycling for a couple of years now.  This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Ripon and across the region to walk together from the oldest cathedral in the country to Fountains Abbey, one of Yorkshire’s World Heritage Sites.

“Ripon Together is devoted to improving the wellbeing of people in Ripon and the area. I am delighted that people are uniting to encourage healthy journeying and urge people from across the area to join us in the pilgrimage.”  Further walks and cycle routes can be found at https://www.ripontogether.com/healthy-journeying/.”

Book in advance

Justin Scully, general manager at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal said:

“The past 18 months have been tumultuous to say the least, so we’re delighted that the long-running tradition of a pilgrimage between Ripon Cathedral and Fountains Abbey is taking place in September.

“We know that the pilgrimage, which normally takes place on Boxing Day, is much loved by our community and we were so disappointed that we couldn’t run the event in 2020.”

The Yorkshire Pilgrimage is free to take part in, but to ensure a safe journey Ripon Together needs to know the numbers attending in advance.

Tickets for the event are available through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pilgrimage-from-ripon-cathedral-to-fountains-abbey-tickets-158397195275.

For those who cannot access that link, paper numbered tickets are available from Ripon Cathedral and Fountains Abbey visitor centre.

There are three food outlets at Fountains Abbey.  Cakes and liquid refreshments will also be available on the Abbey Green.

Read more:

• Classic art meets contemporary at Fountains Abbey
• Ripon Together organises a summer of free play for children

Music will be provided at the abbey by Ripon City Band, which is one of the country’s leading brass bands.

They will perform two sessions, including Yorkshire pieces, finishing at about 3.30pm.

Philip Allott, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, has announced a £1,162,000 upgrade for the building shared by Ripon’s police and fire officers since 2018.

The spending will improve facilities deemed ‘no longer fit for purpose’ at the Stonebridgegate site.

Following a fact-finding visit to the city in June, Mr Allott (pictured below) said he would give police officers the resources they needed to tackle crime.

A statement, which has now been issued by his office, said plans for refurbishment had stalled due to ‘site complications’.

It added:

“This has now come to a head and the current accommodation is no longer fit for purpose for either service.”

Under the county’s previous crime commissioner, Julia Mulligan, the city’s former police station on North Street was sold to a private developer.

In 2014, a conditional agreement for the disposal was signed and North Yorkshire Police pledged to provide new ‘fit for purpose’ premises within 18 months.

But this did not materialise and in February 2018 the Ripon policing team moved to the fire station.

This subsequently raised concerns among city councillors and members of the public about the ability of the police, with its limited resources and cramped accommodation, to handle a spike in anti-social behaviour, vandalism and other crime.

The statement issued by Mr Allott’s office added:

“An options assessment has been conducted to develop a suitable solution in conjunction with key stakeholders across the two services.

“A modular build on the current site to provide accommodation, with continued use of the appliance bays and tower, has been determined as the most suitable option which delivers a good medium-term solution in a reasonable timescale, and which provides the best value for money to the public purse.”

Read more: 

• Ripon suffers further violent and anti-social behaviour
• North Yorkshire Police slow to answer non-emergency calls

This year has seen a lively debate about the merits of leaving grass to grow in public areas such as the Stray, cemeteries or on roadside verges to benefit bio-diversity.

For three decades, Simon Warwick, director and trustee of the Lower Ure Conservation Trust, has been involved in a programme of activity focused on the churchyard at St John’s Church in the village of Sharow, where he lives.

The long grass close to some graves is part of a planned re-naturalising regime.

Mr Warwick, who has been honoured with an MBE in recognition of his lifelong work as a conservationist, told the Stray Ferret how re-naturalising is different from re-wilding:

“Today’s landscape is very different from the one our ancestors would have known .

“It is now largely a ‘tidy’ and ‘ordered’ landscape, of arable monoculture and species-poor grass in which wildlife, in many cases, struggles to thrive

Graves among the grass – some long, some short, is part of a planned and managed programme of re-naturalising

“Much of our native wildlife is adapted to a richer mosaic of habitat; a tapestry, a varied environment.

In the case of species-rich grassland, this is often a result of active management, reflecting traditional farming methods.

“In the case of the churchyard at St John’s, Sharow, the management follows that of a traditional hay meadow.

“We will cut the area on the summer meadow until early April, then let it grow, flower and largely set seed; only cutting it for hay in mid-July.

“Essentially it is allowed its ‘head’ for about 14 weeks of the year and after that mown short, with all the cuttings removed (essential to lower nutrient levels); this practice follows the tradition of early spring grazing, a hay cut and an ‘aftermath’ graze.”

“The end result is spectacular, with a carpet of wildflowers in May and June. Mr Warwick said it is always a little painful to cut it for hay, when it is alive with butterflies, bees and beautiful burnet moths.

“However, despite what seems like a damaging act, the cut and remove process is central to maintaining a species-rich are”So why is long grass often species-poor?

“The simple answer is that many species of wildflowers and grasses are easily shaded out, dead vegetation increases fertility, which in turn encourages rank species to grow.

“Sharow churchyard is special, the principle reason being that when the land was consecrated in the 1800s, it was almost certainly an established hay meadow.

“Irregular cutting and perhaps grazing by the Dean’s sheep will have maintained many of the old meadow species.  Having managed the churchyard in a traditional manner now for 30 years, it has duly been recognised for its importance on a county and national level.

“Whilst the summer meadow is in many ways the gem of the churchyard, the spring meadow is managed similarly but left to flower from early-March to the cut in late June, followed by regular mowing.  Spring is a riot of wild daffodils, bluebells, violets and wood anemones.

“Other areas, accommodating more modern graves, are cut perhaps every week to six weeks; other bits only once a year, or even longer.

“So, you may ask ‘which way is the right way?’   and the answer is that they sort of all are!

“We have lost the connection with the traditional mosaic of our natural and managed landscape; no real surprise that we have lost so much of our native wildlife.  We need to re-welcome a tapestry back into our landscape and be less ‘tidy.!”

Read more:

• Council accused of cutting costs instead of the the grass in Ripon
• Mixed views on re-wilding in Harrogate

A Sharow resident has called for mains water leaks to be treated as an emergency.

James Thornborough, who is an international expert on oil spills on land and at sea, has turned his attention to water and raised concerns with Ripon MP Julian Smith.  The issue has now been escalated to the Cabinet Office at Westminster.

In the wake of a burst main in Sharow Lane, which was first reported to Yorkshire Water on the morning of Friday, July 30, and finally fixed on Wednesday afternoon (August 4) he told the Stray Ferret:

“When dealing with burst mains, I strongly believe that there is a need for water companies to act with urgency like the blue light services.”

Sharow Lane – a patchwork of repairs

Based on the number of homes in Sharow, Mr Thornborough estimates that 2,160,000 litres of water was lost over the five days before the main was repaired.

That’s almost the same volume needed to fill the Olympic swimming pool in Tokyo.

Mr Thornborough pointed out:

“Sharow has suffered significant mains water leaks over the last year. No sooner is one fixed when another manifests itself.

Flooded by water from a burst main. Picture: James Thornborough

“In view of the large amount of a precious resource that goes down the drains before problems are fixed, there is a need to have a robust emergency contingency and action plan in place, rather than treating the repair of mains as a project to be fixed as part of a day-time work schedule.”

In response to Mr Thornborough’s calls, Mr Smith, said:

“I note the concerns you have raised in this respect, and have sent a copy of your email together with an email of my own, to the Cabinet Office, to pass your points on to the minister concerned about your request, that they conduct a process review of the utility services to establish if they operate distinct emergency services as compared with project-based work hours repairs.”

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Mr Smith, added:

“As you will no doubt appreciate, the minister will not be able to reply about individual cases such as that in Sharow, but about the general point you make.

” I will write to you again as soon as a reply is received.”