A Kirkby Malzeard mother has raised concerns over the safety of a church wall near a school in the village.
Part of the wall on Church Bank, which is across from Kirkby Malzeard Church of England School, collapsed in February 2020 and is awaiting reconstruction.
Lynda English, who has children aged six and three attending the primary and pre-school, raised concern over the safety of a 30 metre section of the wall which she says is in need of repair.
She told the Stray Ferret:
“During the school term, I pass close to this wall six times a day.
“In addition to the section awaiting reconstruction, there’s a large part of it in a poor condition.
“It needs a long-term solution, that fully takes into account the safety concerns of local residents.”
Mrs English, who lives on Church Bank, added:
“I am nervous going past the wall, because I saw what happened in February 2020.
“Thank heavens, the collapse that occurred 15 months ago, came during the half-term holidays.
“I shudder to think what might have happened if the stone came crashing down while children and parents were passing by.”
The 30 metre section of wall on Church Bank in Kirkby Malzeard.
Mrs English pointed out that six families living on Church Bank have children at Kirkby Malzeard CE school and added:
“I just can’t bear the thought that the lives of children are being put at risk because of this wall and the deteriorating state it is in.”
The collapsed 10 metre section of the retaining wall for the churchyard of St Andrew’s Parish Church, is awaiting reconstruction by Harrogate Borough Council (HBC).
The stone fell onto the road below causing the closure of the principal route between Kirkby Malzeard and Masham. It has remained shut ever since.
Initially, HBC planned to reconstruct the collapsed section of wall and carry out repairs to an adjoining 30-metre section.
A spokesperson for HBC, said:
“The collapsed section needs rebuilding, which we are doing.
“We will then monitor the remaining section to see if there is any movement.
“If there is further movement we will then consider options for this area of wall.
“The section of the reconstructed wall and also the remaining wall will be regularly monitored through visual inspections, particularly during inclement weather to ensure that it remains in a stable condition.”
The spokesperson said reconstruction of the collapsed section will be completed by the end of autumn. The road will then reopen.
The cost for the work has not as yet been finalised.
HBC’s handling of this issue has been met with dismay by Cllr Jane Aksut, of Kirkby Malzeard Parish Council.
She said:
“We continue to call on Harrogate Borough Council to reconsider its approach.”
Cllr Aksut, pointed out:
“Their decisions have been made against the advice of the structural engineers, who consider that monitoring will not flag up a sudden collapse.”
Ripon student wins award for environmentally-friendly rail app
A Ripon Grammar School student has won an award for designing an app aimed at helping commuters reduce their carbon footprint.
David Fernandes, a 12-year-old Ripon Grammar School student, was awarded a Faraday Challenge prize for his idea, which also intends to help Network Rail minimise its impact on the environment.
The app shows commuters the total carbon produced for each journey, as well as monthly projections.
David said:
“This was a great opportunity to research and better understand how science can help us solve some of the biggest challenges we face.”
David, a boarder at Ripon Grammar School, is planning a career in medicine ,
David’s ZeroCO2 Train smart app uses three steps – travel, calculate and offset.
It automatically calculates a consumer’s train travel data and provides them with options to offset their carbon emission.
His presentation was made in the 11-15 years category in the Virtual Faraday Challenge. This encourages the development of young people’s problem-solving and communications skills.
David’s idea impressed expert judges at the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
The panel said:
“The idea of the app is so good and so well-researched it deserves to win a prize.”
His app allows commuters to use their e-train ticket (or scan their paper-based ticket) to be automatically validated at the start of each journey.
The app will show the customer the total carbon produced for each journey, also cumulative monthly journeys and annual projections based on their travel profile.
Travellers can then offset their carbon footprint by supporting a range of UK-based carbon offset projects, ranging from solar power to tree plantations that the app would recommend.
Entrants were asked to produce a design and demonstrate the engineering skills required to think of a solution.
This year’s task was: Helping Network Rail to sustainably manage the increasing numbers of passengers using their network.
David added:
“Like many of my friends, I am keen to do my bit to help the environment.
“While aware that train travel is the most environmentally-friendly way of travelling, I am concerned that having the technology to operate zero carbon trains is still decades away.”
David, who is planning a career in medicine, is keen to use technology that could have a direct impact on train travel.
He wants to play a part in helping the challenge of holding global temperature rise to no more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Ripon student is taking to the skies for charityA Ripon Grammar School student is planning to jump out of a plane at 10,000ft to raise money for a teenage suicide prevention charity.
Robyn Munday, who will complete the skydive on July 10, said:
“This is not something I would do without good reason.
“I have struggled with my mental health in my teenage years but have family and friends around me who are patient, compassionate, understanding, and loving – which has been just what I needed.
“However, not every young person is so lucky.”
The 17-year-old has set a fundraising target of £750 and is already more than half way there. She is covering the cost of the skydive herself.
The money will go to Papyrus, which is a national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.
It provides confidential support and advice to young people through its helpline – Hopeline UK – and runs training programmes to teach suicide prevention skills to staff at schools, healthcare providers and local councils.
In 2017, more than 338,000 young people were referred to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), but fewer than a third received treatment within a year, according to the Local Government Association.
Robyn is a sixth-form student at Ripon Grammar School
Robyn added:
“This can leave young people feeling despondent and lonely, and ultimately let down and not cared about. That’s why I would like to do something to help those young people who don’t get the help they need.
“I’ve chosen to support the charity Papyrus, and so I’m doing this crazy skydive to help raise much-needed funds for them.
“I want to help ensure that more young people are able to talk and receive the help they deserve.”
To donate, visit Robyn’s JustGiving page and for more information about the charity visit papyrus-uk.org.
Ripon Curzon won’t open on June 4 after all
The owners of the Curzon cinema in Ripon have said the venue won’t be reopening on June 4 after all.
On Tuesday, the London-headquartered cinema chain told the Stray Ferret:
“Curzon Ripon is planning on reopening June 4.”
Now the company has issued a new statement saying:
“Unfortunately, due to Curzon Ripon’s venue being so small, with only 20 seats, they are unable to open safely at present, with the government guidelines for social distancing.
“As soon as they can safely reopen there will be updates on the website.
“We apologise for the disappointment this may cause.
“But we want to be able to reopen safely whilst following guidelines. “
The North Street venue opened on 31 October 2013. It incorporates two screens seating 58 and 34 respectively.
The complex includes a bar, restaurant and VIP area. It was created following a £2 million refurbishment of a former furniture store.
The Stray Ferret contacted the company amid growing speculation on social media about whether or not the venue would reopen.
Cinemas across the country reopened this week but audience numbers are limited. But the Curzon in Ripon remained shut.
The cinema chain says Curzon Ripon is too small to open safely on June 4.
Ripon is no longer listed on the Curzon website page featuring its UK venues. In addition, the website for Curzon Ripon is currently coming up with the message ‘Page not found.’
The same applies to other web pages previously used to promote the Ripon offer.
The situation was further confused by apparently conflicting articles in national trade media.
An article in RadioTimes.com dated 4 May, said:
“Curzon is set to open in line with government guidance on May 17.
“Mayfair, Richmond, Wimbledon and Sheffield will open June 4. Tickets go on sale May 10. “
Ripon was not mentioned in that story.
There was also no reference to Ripon by name in an article published on Monday in screendaily.com .
Its 17 May story included the following:
“Eight Curzon cinemas are reopening from today (May 17), with a further five on June 4.”
That adds up to a total of 13 but there are only 12 Curzon cinemas listed on the company’s website.
Ripon isn’t among them.
The 12 UK venues currently featured on the company’s website – include six in London.
Other locations are Canterbury, Colchester, Oxford, Richmond and Sheffield.
Ripon cinema-lovers pray for Curzon reopeningConcerned film lovers in Ripon are worried that the Curzon cinema will not reopen.
Cinemas across the country reopened this week but the Curzon in Ripon remained shut, prompting questions about its future.
Ripon is no longer listed on the Curzon website page featuring its UK venues.
In addition, the website for Curzon Ripon is currently coming up with the message ‘Page not found.’
The same applies to other web pages previously used to promote the Ripon offer.
Freeze frame – this poster in the Curzon Cinema window for the film, The Truth, has been in place since March last year.
This has prompted posts on social media questioning if the cinema chain’s Ripon site will ever reopen.
The situation is further confused by apparently conflicting articles in national trade media.
An article in RadioTimes.com dated 4 May, said:
“Curzon is set to open in line with government guidance on May 17.
“Mayfair, Richmond, Wimbledon and Sheffield will open June 4. Tickets go on sale May 10. “
Ripon was not mentioned in that story and there was no reference to Ripon by name in an article published on Monday in screendaily.com .
Its 17 May story included the following:
“Eight Curzon cinemas are reopening from today (May 17), with a further five on June 4.”
That adds up to a total of 13 but there are only 12 Curzon cinemas listed on the company’s website and Ripon isn’t among them.
The Stray Ferret sought clarification from Curzon and received a brief response saying:
“Curzon Ripon is planning on reopening June 4, 2021.”
The London-headquartered cinema chain opened in North Street in November 2013.
It followed a £2m refurbishment project, involving the creation of two cinema screens, a restaurant, bar and a private VIP area.
The building also incorporates nine flats.
Cinemas were able to reopen across the UK on Monday and Curzon’s three-screen theatre in Knutsford, Cheshire opened on that day for film and food.
It is one of the 12 UK venues currently featured on the company’s website – six of which are in London.
Other locations are Canterbury, Colchester, Oxford, Richmond and Sheffield.
In 2013 Curzon was heralded for bringing the cinema-going experience back to Ripon for the first time in 31 years.
In 1982, the Palladium Picture House in Kirkgate closed.
The palladium opened in 1916 and was popular with the many troops stationed in the city during the First World War.
In 1936, the cinema was remodelled in art deco style.
The building was subsequently the location for Sly’s nightclub, a florists and now a second-hand shop.
Community groups in Ripon are being invited to apply for grants of up to £1,000.
Ripon City Council’s small grants scheme has £20,000 available for allocation in the 2021/2022 financial year.
The scheme is designed to be an easy way to access a source of funding for local organisations.
A council spokesperson said:
“The council recognises the disruption to our local groups and organisations caused by the covid pandemic.
“We aim to support as many different activities in the city as possible in the financial year.
“With this in mind, the scheme will not have a closing date in 2021/22 and will remain open until funds are exhausted.
“We will review the applications received at each meeting of the council.”
The Jennyruth Workshops charity provides training and work opportunities that help to build confidence (Photograph courtesy of Jennyruth Workshops)
Among those to receive an award last year was Jennyruth Workshops, which is a charity that provides work and life skills for adults with learning disabilities.
An award was also made to Ripon YMCA, which provides supported housing for young people aged 16-35.
Other grant recipients in the 2020/2021 financial year included Ripon Community Link, Ripon City AFC, Ripon City Photographic Society, Ripon City Panthers Junior Football Club Friends of Hell Wath and Abbeyfield Ripon and District Society Ltd.
If an applicant is not a wholly Ripon-based organisation it may be necessary to ringfence any grant from the council towards a Ripon-based event, project or activity.
Applications must clearly benefit Ripon people as the grants scheme has been funded by an increase in the precept – money collected through the council tax levied on Ripon residents.
The council will not consider applications from commercial organisations, individuals, political groups or for projects of a directly political nature.
All valid applications will be considered by full council. Further details are available here.
Full English in Ripon’s Wetherspoon back on the menu as indoor dining returns
A full English breakfast inside pubs was back on the menu this morning as England’s lockdown restrictions eased.
For Eddie and Shirlie Button it meant a welcome return to The Unicorn, Ripon’s largest pub and hotel.
The couple, who are regulars for full English breakfasts, as well as for coffee and curry nights at the Wetherspoon pub, were the first customers through the door today at 8am.
Like other pub-goers across the district, they were thrilled to be able to eat indoors after such a cold few weeks.
Mr Button told the Stray Ferret:
“Before the lockdown, we would normally come for breakfast on a Sunday. We will probably come a couple of times this week, as a bit of a treat.”
Mrs Button is pleased to be able to put the frying pan back in her kitchen cupboard. She said:
“I’ve been cooking breakfasts at home for more than four months.
“We created our own ‘Spoons-style service.”
Eddie and Shirlie Button, were the first customers for more than four months to eat inside the Wetherspoon-owned pub.
The Unicorn’s deputy manager, Jonny Mahoney, said:
“It’s great to be able to welcome people back.
“Because our beer garden is relatively small, we decided not to open an outdoor service in April and waited until today.”
The hotel, which has more than 30 rooms, will reopen for guests this evening and the pub will be open from 7am until 12noon Monday to Thursday and 7am until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Social distancing and hygiene measures are in place alongside online and paper-based track and trace.
Ripon museums reopen today with new exhibition
The death of Harriet Rodwell, who committed suicide in the city’s workhouse in 1855, features in a new exhibition opening in Ripon today.
Ms Rodwell’s hard life and sad demise is remembered in Fragments — one of five textile installations.
Created by 6-Ply — a group of North Yorkshire textile artists — it is part of the Lives Unravelled exhibition at Ripon’s Workhouse Museum.
The display, dedicated to Ms Rodwell and created by Eileen Sweeney, reflects the fact that only fragments of the former inmate’s life remain.
The Prison & Police Museum – one of Ripon’s three heritage attractions now reopened for visitors
The new exhibition marks the reopening of the city’s three heritage attractions.
The workhouse, along with the Prison & Police and Old Courthouse are operated by Ripon Museum Trust.
The custom-made Lives Unravelled exhibition is Inspired by historical research into the lives of workhouse women.
It will be on display until September 5.
Artists have used a variety of materials and techniques to convey the real experiences and imagined emotions of being a woman in the workhouse.
Pieces installed as part of the exhibition, also include Room for Mother and Infant, by Hazel Waite; Jane Button’s “Fancy Apron”, by Sarah Lowe; Veg, Glorious Veg, by Mary Exelby and Apron of Feelings, by Jenny Bradbury.
Helen Thornton, director of Ripon Museum Trust said:
“It’s so exciting to be able to reopen our museums with this very moving and powerful temporary exhibition by local textiles group 6-Ply.
“We’re delighted to share these works with visitors and I hope they encourage people to consider the lives of people who lived and died here.”
Following today’s reopening, the museums will be open Tuesday to Sunday and on selected Bank Holidays, including bank holiday Monday, May 31.
Entrance to the exhibition is included in the cost of museum entry. All tickets to Ripon museums are valid for repeat visits over a 12-month period.
Bookings can be made via the museum trust website or by calling 01765 690799.
Ripon Museums have covid safety measures in place and have been awarded the Visit Britain We’re Good to Go industry standard.
Ripon’s saint will still have his dayThe covid lockdown is gradually easing, but Ripon’s annual celebration of St Wilfrid and his legacy will be scaled back for a second year.
St Wilfrid’s Day is one of the city’s biggest occasions of the year, marked with events and a large procession pre-pandemic. Thousands of people would line the city streets and congregate on Market Square.
Organisers are planning for a smaller celebration this year while looking to use 2021 as a platform to promote activities next year and beyond.
As well as being the 1,350th anniversary of St Wilfrid founding a church on the site of Ripon Cathedral, 2022 marks the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
The St Wilfrid’s Procession committee is in discussions with Ripon City Council about having a presence on Market Square over the weekend of 31 July and 1 August.
Committee secretary Sue Simms told the Stray Ferret:
“We did not feel running a large-scale procession this year would be a responsible choice.
“The situation was complicated by the fact that we would have needed to start applying for road closures back in October.
“Because of the coronavirus crisis, we couldn’t plan ahead with any degree of confidence at that time.”
As part of last year’s scaled-back St Wilfrid’s Day celebrations, the Ripon Morris Band performed at social distance in Church Lane.
The procession committee is planning for actors dressed as St Wilfrid and monks to take the traditional walk around Ripon, along with a pony or donkey on Saturday July 31.
It will end on Market Square, where the council is planning to stage a weekend of activities and entertainment for residents and visitors.
Ms Simms said:
“We hope to have space on Market Square to promote and celebrate our saint’s day.
“The objective is to build interest in taking part as entrants and organisers of the procession in future years.”
Last year celebrations of the city’s patron saint were limited to the St Wilfrid trail, with Ms Simms’ husband Paul, dressed as St Wilfrid, walking the route normally taken by a St Wilfrid actor on horseback, along with floats, Ripon City Band and others.
Across the city, businesses and residents maintained the tradition by putting St Wilfrid displays in windows and gardens.
Looking forward, Ms Simms would like to hear from anybody wanting to become involved in the 2022 procession. She can be contacted on 07964854006.
In past years, pubs, schools, churches, friends, businesses, shops, streets, social, children’s and sports clubs have taken part.
Morrisons refuses to pay for repair after Ripon mother’s carwash ordeal
A mother and her young children had a frightening experience in the car wash at Morrisons in Ripon recently.
Seven-year-old Arthur and Hector, who has recently turned three, were in their child seats in the back of Helen Mars’ car.
She feared that the boys would be injured, when the rear windscreen wiper arm and blade was ripped off by a roller.
Mrs Mars told the Stray Ferret:
“With the metal arm entangled in the roller, it was crashing against the rear window.
“It was close to where Arthur and Hector were sitting and I was worried that it would smash the glass.”
Ripped off by car wash rollers – this photograph, showing the missing rear windscreen wiper, was taken by Mrs Mars after the incident at Morrisons
Before driving into the car wash in her Suzuki Alto, Mrs Mars put a long polythene sheath over the rear windscreen wiper arm and blade.
She said she received it when she paid for the car wash and followed the instructions given by a member of staff in the petrol station shop.
When problems occurred, Mrs Mars followed written instructions at the car wash by sounding her horn over and over again. But no member of staff came to her immediate aid.
With the car wash still part way through its cycle, Mrs Mars re-started the car’s engine and drove out.
It was only then that staff came forward.
Mrs Mars, who lives in Kirkby Road said:
“A manager at the store saw the damage that had been done.
“He apologised and said that Morrisons accepted liability for what had happened.
“I was assured by him and another manager I subsequently saw, that I would be reimbursed for the cost of the repair work.”
That cost £75, but Morrisons has refused to pay.
The Stray Ferret contacted the supermarket giant to seek the company’s response to what Mrs Mars said.
No response has been received at the time of going to press.
However, Mrs Mars has provided an email dated April 26 received from Morrisons’ insurance team.
The email said:
“Having investigated the matter no evidence was found to suggest that it was our car wash that caused the damage to your car.
“The car wash was in good working order with no problems or other incidents reported on the day of your visit.
“Stores are unable to advise customers we will pay them the costs to repair without a full investigation.”
It added the equipment was not faulty and the company was “unable to consider your claim further”.
The Stray Ferret visited Morrisons on May 3 and May 4 and discovered the car wash was closed, awaiting repair. It has since reopened.
Mrs Mars, who was initially offered £20 by Morrisons ‘as a gesture’ is still awaiting any form of payment.
She said:
“The incident caused the children distress and now, whenever we go out in the car, Hector says, ‘not the car wash mummy’.”