A Ripon organisation is able to reflect on a remarkable response to the coronavirus crisis.

With the anniversary of the UK’s first covid lockdown looming, Food Support has been able to measure the weight of the city’s reaction.

The service, located at Community House in Allhallowgate, has received more than 50 tonnes of donations since last March.

This has enabled Suzanne Bowyer, her colleague Caroline King and an army of volunteers, to help families and individuals.

Assistance is provided to people living in Ripon, Boroughbridge and surrounding areas.

Suzanne Bowyer, who says support from the Ripon community has been incredible

Suzanne, told the Stray Ferret:

“The response from individuals, supermarkets, other shops and businesses, has been incredible.

“We have received donations of fresh, packaged and tinned food, beverages and items such as nappies.

“Volunteers have also donated their time.

“This has provided a lifeline for people affected by the pandemic.”

Food Support, works with partner organisations ranging from the NHS and Harrogate Borough Council to doctors’ surgeries and the Salvation Army, who make referrals.

For some, the help will be temporary as they wait for Universal Credit, while others may have a longer-term need.

Suzanne, pointed out:

“We provide a totally discreet and confidential service designed for anybody needing a helping hand.

“People should feel no shame in seeking help to feed themselves or their family in these difficult times, caused by circumstances outside their control.”

Numerous churches, groups, individuals, businesses and organisations continue to rally to the call by providing practical assistance.

Read more:

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• Ripon plans major celebration for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Food Support has continued throughout the crisis. Donations that arrive at Community House in Allhallowgate are weighed on industrial scales.

More crunch times lie ahead, with school summer holidays, the end of furlough, mortgage holidays and emergency rights preventing tenants from being evicted.

Further details are available at:  www.riponcommunityhouse.co.uk

Ripon City Council is determined to ensure that its headquarters is not allowed to ‘flake in vain’

In a nod to the wording “Waketh in Vain” on the Grade II* Listed Building, city council leader Andrew Williams, flagged up the deteriorating state of the decor.

He told a virtual meeting of the council:

“The exterior is flaking down to the stonework in places and is in need of a lick of paint.”

Cllr Williams, added:

“One concerned Ripon resident contacted me and asked ‘are we going to let this historic building flake in vain!.'”

As well as the poor condition of the paintwork, the council leader added that a Tourist Information Centre window vandalised in December, has not been repaired.

Ripon’s Tourist Information Centre is located in the town hall building and a window smashed by vandals in December has not been repaired

Cllr Williams said:

“It’s not a great advertisement for the city when this famous focal building and location for all key civic events, is in this condition.”

The city council is currently negotiating a new lease with Harrogate Borough Council (HBC), which has owned the building  and other heritage assets in the city since local government reorganisation in 1974.

With lease discussions on-going, members agreed to approach HBC to seek redecoration of the town hall exterior.

When approached by the Stray Ferret about the negotiations, a spokesperson for HBC, said:

“The lease of Ripon Town Hall is still being discussed between the tenant (Ripon City Council) and the landlord (Harrogate Borough Council). Therefore we have nothing to add.”

The history of Ripon Town Hall

Dating back to the early 1800s, the building was originally a town house for Elizabeth Allanson, the daughter of William Aislabie, whose family lived at Studley Royal and developed the world-famous water garden.

Members of the then municipality of Ripon, used a room in the building for meetings.

In 1897 Mrs Allanson’s heir, the First Marquess of Ripon, donated the building to the municipality to commemorate his mayoralty of the city.

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A stand-out feature of the building is a frieze of golden letters on a red background that reads: ‘Except Ye Lord Keep Ye Cittie Ye Wakeman Waketh in Vain.’

The words relate to Hugh Ripley who was the last wakeman of Ripon in 1604 with responsibility for the safety of the city.

He subsequently went on become Ripon’s first mayor in 1605.

Another of Ripon’s eyesores is going to be tidied up.

The site of the former Express petrol station and convenience store on Skellbank, has been left derelict for years.

It is in a largely residential area of the city, diagonally across the road from Hugh Ripley Hall, named in honour of Ripon’s first mayor.

Now, following intervention from Councillor Mike Chambers, the fenced off and overgrown area will be smartened up.

Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for homes and safer communities, told the Stray Ferret:

“The owner has been instructed to tidy the site, cut back vegetation etc to ensure it is left in an acceptable manner prior to any further development.”

He added:

“It has been in its current state for a number of years.”

Cllr Chambers, who is a parish, district and county councillor has worked with HBC planning enforcement officers, to bring about the tidy up demand.

The former Ripon Library site at Skellgarths has been tidied up and hoarded off

Last year, he was successful in getting hoardings erected on the former Ripon Library site on Skellgarths.

That area was left derelict for more than five years, after the developer who planned an in-fill residential development there went bust.

The clean-up of the former petrol station will mark a tidy ‘hat-trick’ for Cllr Chambers, who has also liaised with HBC over plans to level and ‘green’ a site in Allhallowgate.

The city centre site has been hoarded off for a couple of years, after a proposed social housing development for HBC had to be abandoned because a sinkhole opened up on the land.

Read more:

• Makeover planned for Ripon sinkhole site
• Hoardings erected at Ripon eyesore

As Ripon looks forward to emerging from the covid lockdown city leaders want to see it back in business, and attracting visitors and tourists.

With both the former library site at Skellgarths and the petrol station at Skellbank on a key tourist route in and out of Ripon, city councillors have welcomed the tidy-up proposals.

In its bid to attract more visitors to boost post-pandemic trade, the council is planning  to put seasonal lighting in the trees on the five Ripon bypass roundabouts.

This proposal is subject to approval from the highways department of North Yorkshire County Council and follows a extension of the city’s Christmas decorations.

An additional £65,000 was spent last year and money has been set aside for further improvements this year.

Ripon is planning for a right royal celebration next year.

In June 2022, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking her milestone of 70 years as monarch, will be celebrated with four days of events across the UK.

To enable Ripon to plan well in advance, the city council has set aside £105,000 from its reserve fund.

City council leader Andrew Williams received unanimous support for proposals to roll over monies that were not spent in the current financial year.

He pointed out:

“From our experience of hosting the UCI cycling event in 2019, we know that we need to put money aside now.

“That will enable us to put all arrangements in hand for a programme of events, which will require the booking of a variety of equipment and facilities.

“We want to do a proper job to mark the queen’s incredible service to this country.”

The government has unveiled plans for a long weekend of celebrations, which has seen the late May Bank holiday moved to Thursday June 3 and an additional Bank holiday added on Friday June 3, creating a four-day weekend.

Ripon has a long and proud royal heritage, having been awarded a ceremonial horn in AD 886 by King Alfred the Great after townspeople fought off a Viking attack,

During the English Civil War, the city was on the royalist side of Charles I and the cavaliers who battled against Oliver Cromwell’s troops on Market Square.

The clock tower erected for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee was commemorated in 1897 with the erection of a clock tower at the junction of Palace Road, North Street and Princess Road.

In 1985, the queen visited Ripon Cathedral and the town hall for Royal Maundy, when the monarch gives silver coins to older people on Maundy Thursday.

All her milestone anniversaries, from the Silver Jubilee in 1977 to the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, have been celebrated in the city.

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Besides planning for next year, Ripon City Council is also looking ahead to this summer.

Councillors voted an additional £30,000 of funding for the refurbishment of play equipment and fencing at Quarry Moor Park.

This brings total funding to £60,000, which will enable the swings and roundabouts to be replaced in time for the lessening of lockdown restrictions.

Two mobile CCTV cameras are to be employed in the fight against crime in Ripon.

Additional police patrols in city crime hotspots have reduced tension in recent weeks after a spate of anti-social behaviour and violence.

But Ripon City Council is mindful that the recent high visible police presence is not likely to be maintained.

Councillors at last night’s virtual full council meeting agreed that cameras could play a role in helping tackle the problem.

City council leader Andrew Williams told the meeting that Harrogate Borough Council has mobile CCTV facilities that can be used in Ripon. The cameras can be attached to items such as lampposts and moved around as necessary. He said:

“We very much appreciate the stepping up of police patrols in the city, which have proved effective.

“However, in the longer-term maintaining the same level of policing on the streets is not sustainable and we need to provide the police with additional resources.”

Stuart Martin, who is also a district and county councillor, added he has approached North Yorkshire County Council to discuss the use of a mobile camera owned by the authority.

The devices would be additional to the fixed CCTV cameras used to watch over parts of the city, such as Market Square.

Bondgate in Ripon is one of the crime hotspots that may soon be covered by mobile CCTV.

Cllr Martin said:

“I have also spoken with the county highways team about the need to keep street lighting on in the areas where the mobile cameras are deployed, so that clear images can be captured.”

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It was agreed that the city council will liaise with North Yorkshire Police and Harrogate Borough Council for advice on the best locations in Ripon for the mobile cameras.

This will enable them to be employed as both a deterrent and a means of identifying, arresting and prosecuting those involved in violent and anti-social behaviour.

Last year, Ripon councillors voted unanimously to join forces with the police to tackle crime in the city.

In February, North Yorkshire’s police, fire and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan told a virtual meeting with councillors that the force had ‘taken its eye off the ball’ on policing in Ripon.

Earlier in the month, the Stray Ferret reported that residents were scared to go out on the city’s streets following a spate of violent and criminal activity in the Bondgate area.

Ripon City Council has vowed to do everything within its power to keep Ripon Spa Baths as a community asset for public use.

Councillors agreed unanimously last night on the need for urgent action to prevent the Grade II listed building from being sold for residential development.

They rallied to a call from council leader Andrew Williams, who said:

“We cannot let Harrogate Borough Council sell the spa baths from under our noses.”

Councillor Mike Chambers, who sits on both Ripon City Council and Harrogate Borough Council, representing Ripon Spa, said:

“We need to get this sorted now.”

Cllr Chambers, who is Harrogate Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities, added:

“It is clear that Harrogate Borough Council wants a capital receipt for this building and we must approach them and find out exactly what they have planned.”

On the market – Ripon Spa Baths.

Councillor Pauline McHardy said:

“Harrogate is trying to rush a sale through. We need to have detailed consultation and time to consider the future use of this asset that belongs to the city.”

A motion put forward by Cllr Williams, calling on Harrogate Borough Council to ensure the spa complex remains in public use as a community facility, was supported by all members.

It was also agreed to arrange a meeting with Ripon Civic Society and all other interested parties to investigate options.

If deemed necessary, after that meeting, the city council will look to appoint specialist consultants to advise on the development of heritage assets for community use.

Cllr Williams said:

“This is important in a growing city, which will see more than 1,700 new homes being built in future years.

“We can’t afford to see the loss of community facilities, with developments such as Clotherholme coming on stream.”

Ripon Civic Society has already stated that it favours development Spa complex for the NHS – in line with the neighbourhood plan for the city.

Councillor Stephen Craggs believes that the building should be developed as a facility for young people in Ripon. He said:

“This is a once in a generation opportunity and we must get it right.”

Read more:

• For sale sign in place at Ripon Spa Baths
• Councillors unite in fight for Ripon heritage asset

For sale signs are already in place at the spa baths.

A statement issued by Harrogate Borough Council said the building is being replaced with a new six-lane swimming pool as part of an extended and refurbished Ripon Leisure Centre.

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“Ripon Spa Baths has served the community well over the years.

“The future sale, and redevelopment of the listed building, would allow this local asset to be redeveloped (subject to planning approval), retain key features and remain as a city landmark.”

The ‘for sale’ sign has been put in place outside Ripon’s Spa Baths.

The move comes despite calls from councillors and Ripon Civic Society for detailed consultation to decide the future of the Grade II listed building.

Sanderson Weatherall, the property agents appointed by Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) is marketing the property under the heading ‘residential’.

But under a separate heading of ‘development proposals’ says:

“The property could potentially be suitable for a variety of alternative uses subject to planning.”

It then adds that HBC’s planning department has provided the following statement:

“Subject to planning permission and listed building consent, the re-development could include low density residential use, community uses and other uses appropriate to town centre locations having regard to the amenity considerations and constraints of the locality.”

A long road back from lockdown and lost trade lies ahead for Ripon hairdressers Deborah Chalmers and Sharon Bielby.

The friends own and run hair and beauty businesses less than 100 yards apart on North Street, Ripon.

Deborah’s Love Hair & Beauty Boutique depends heavily on the wedding market.

Sharon, whose shop bears her name, is a barber who cuts men’s and boys’ hair.

For both, the priority following the stop-start year of 2020 and the closed-down first quarter of 2021, has been to keep their heads above water.

Now they are buoyant at the prospect of reopening in six weeks time on 12 April and finally earning some money again.

Their loyal and now long-haired customers have kept in touch and they are looking forward to a busy post-lockdown period.

Deborah, who ensures brides and their bridesmaids look beautiful for the big day, told the Stray Ferret:

“It has been a very difficult time.

“The shop was shut for long periods and just about every wedding booking I had for last summer was cancelled because of the pandemic.”

She used a government small business grant to pay for overheads while living off the crumbs that came from the dramatically scaled-down wedding table.

Sharon Bielby reflects on a difficult year, as she gets ready for the many customers in desperate need of a hair cut.

The same applies for Sharon, who said:

“It has been a case of surviving on the barest minimum, while staying positive and thinking about the many customers who just can’t wait to get their hair cut again.”

Her shop will have an appointment-only policy in place from reopening day. She joked:

“I will probably have to allow extra time for each customer, because they will have a lot more hair to cut!”

Deborah, who has created her own brand of lip balm as a reopening thank-you gift for her customers, is looking forward to a very busy summer.

She said:

“From mid-June, the government is easing the restrictions on the size of gatherings and that’s good news.

“Couples who postponed their plans, still want to get married and share their celebration with family and friends.”

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An additional factor gives Deborah hope that she can make up for some of the lost business she has experienced over the last year.

She said:

“With Saturdays like gold-dust in the wedding calendar, people are now arranging their weddings for other days of the week.

“That means I will be handling hair and beauty for up to four events a week, compared with a maximum of two Saturday weddings a week in a normal year.”

North Yorkshire County Council has performed another u-turn to avoid travel problems for people going for vaccinations in Ripon.

For the second time in seven weeks, the council’s highways department has had to hit the brakes on plans to close a bridge on a key diversion route.

The bridge over the River Ure on Boroughbridge Road was due to close for inspection all day tomorrow.

But alert resident Paul Stockburn pointed out that such a move would have caused problems because Boroughbridge Road is already serving as a diversion for a section of the nearby Dishforth Road that is closed for road works.

Had the closure gone ahead, it would have created difficulties for people driving along Boroughbridge Road in and out of Ripon.

The bridge, which is half a mile from Ripon racecourse vaccination centre, was first due to close for inspection on 19 January.

But six days earlier part of Dishforth Road closed for eight weeks for work by Yorkshire Water. It remains closed.

Conflicting closure signs on the Dishforth and Boroughbridge roads. But the bridge over the River Ure will be open tomorrow

When Mr Stockburn pointed this out, the highways department said it would re-schedule the bridge closure when Yorkshire Water’s pipe renewal work was complete.

So Mr Stockburn, who lives in Copt Hewick, was surprised to see road closure signs appear again this week. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I couldn’t believe my eyes because I know that the Dishforth Road is still going to be closed tomorrow.

“The county council appear incapable of working out that eight weeks from 13 January gives a finish date of 10 March.

“Unbelievably, they were about to make exactly the same mistake.

“You wonder, did they ask Yorkshire Water first, before deciding they were going to close the bridge on 5 March?”

After receiving a call from Mr Stockburn, the Stray Ferret contacted NYCC to let it know the Dishforth Road closure was ongoing.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at the council, apologised and said:

“Yorkshire Water has been undertaking an eight-week programme of works on Dishforth Road therefore our contractors scheduled the one-day bridge inspection for this Friday when the work was due to be complete.

“Unfortunately Yorkshire Water need to extend their works until March 14 so we are in the process of rearranging the bridge inspection and have removed the advance notice signs.”

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• Stunning starlings bombard Ripon streets

Prior to the start of its work, Yorkshire Water sent a letter to all households in Copt Hewick. It said:

“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 importance of the Boroughbridge Road diversion route, increased on February 2 when the covid vaccination centre opened at Ripon racecourse.

Bird spotting has taken on a whole new meaning recently for some Ripon residents.

During early evenings, local people with their eyes on the skies can currently witness thousands of starlings swoop and switch in stunning synchronised movements.

The murmuration provides a delightful display for those looking on in amazement.

But for people living beneath the flight path, it’s a different story as the starlings leave their mark.

Following each performance, residents of Newby Street, Vyner Street and the adjacent roads, face a clean-up operation.

The aerial bombardment of the Bondgate area sees cars, rooves, pavements, gardens and back yards coated.

A murmuration of starlings in acrobatic flight over Ripon.

One resident, who lives in the Bondgate area but asked not to be named, told the Stray Ferret:

“There is no doubting that it is a magnificent spectacle, but they do leave a deposit.

“Some people who live around here are having to wash their cars every day.

“The worst hit have to scrape the stuff off windscreens or they wouldn’t be able to see where they are going.”

Spectators can also find themselves in a spot of bother if they don’t have an umbrella as they watch the winged wonders in full flow.

According to the wildlife charity RSPB, flocks of starlings – some native to the UK and others from Europe – come together to roost through the winter months.

Their beating of wings in flight is said to sound like a murmur, which gives the mass gathering its murmuration description.

The starlings stay safe from predators by sticking together in large numbers, making sure they are not easy prey.

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