North Yorkshire County Council looks poised to dismiss moves by Green and Liberal Democrat councillors to accelerate the response to thr climate change and biodiversity crises, claiming they could be counter-productive.

The council’s Conservative-run executive will consider two environmental notices of motion that councillors were prevented from debating at a full council meeting in July, with the authority’s chairman instead opting to refer the proposals to its cabinet members.

Both motions propose the establishment of a new committee specifically to scrutinise the council’s progress and leadership in tackling climate change and establishing biodiversity plans to ensure oversight of the collective ambition of the council.

Since losing its overwhelming majority at the May elections, the Tory-led council has been facing mounting pressure, particularly from the Liberal Democrat and Green groups, to redouble its climate change and biodiversity efforts and allow opposition councillors to play a greater role in shaping such policies.

An officers’ report to the executive states the creation of a new scrutiny committee would take the number of such forums at the council to seven.

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• Meeting called to hear concerns about state of River Nidd

It adds the council’s scrutiny function is under review as part of the establishment of a new unitary authority and recommendations would be brought before all elected members later this year.

One of the motions also calls for the creation of a new executive member to reflect the scale of the job, but the officers’ report highlights the executive already has the maximum number of members allowed under the county council’s constitution.

Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Bryn Griffiths, who represents Stokesley, said the officers’ report failed to fully address the high priority and action needed to effectively deal with climate change and the ecological emergency in North Yorkshire.

He said: 

“I think the points we put forward to deal with that are still valid and worthwhile objectives that the council should be taking on board and should be fully debated by the full council.”

The council’s Conservative leader, Cllr Carl Les said the executive’s debate and recommendations to the next full meeting of the authority in November would focus on how the authority could best manage the impacts of climate change.

He said: 

“It is a hugely important issue to us. It seems to me that the Greens and Lib Dems are suggesting we have to have a special executive member and a special scrutiny committee, but we believe the climate change and biodiversity issues cut across everything that we do.

“The approach that we are taking by embedding it into everything we are doing, so every report we produce now examines the climate change impact, is better.”

When asked if the decision to reject specialist climate change roles and groups at the council was politically-fuelled, Cllr Les said: 

“Not at all. All our scrutiny committees have the ability to look at climate change implications.

“If anything they have more influence and control over what we are doing than what is being proposed.”

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

The district’s hospitality businesses are deciding whether or not to open on Monday 19 – the day of Her Majesty The Queen’s funeral.

Alyson Griffiths the manager of the  Prince of Wales in Starbeck told the Stray Ferret that the pub would stay open. The decision was taken by its operators the Craft Union Pub Company yesterday. Ms Griffiths said the idea was to be somewhere for people who lived alone to congregate and watch the service.

The Queen’s Head in Kettlesing said it would close during day but open again at 6pm.

Bettys of Harrogate has said its cafe tearooms will be shut on Monday 19.

The government has designated the day of the funeral as a Bank Holiday but left organisations to decide for themselves if they’ll stay open and give employees a day off . It has said

“The government cannot interfere in existing contractual arrangements between employers and workers. However, we would expect that many workers will be able to take the day off on the bank holiday.

“We also expect employers to respond sensitively to requests from workers who wish to take the day of the funeral off work.”

Read More:

• Rural Harrogate has worst internet connections in county
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate business announces first Chinese Board of Directors

Beauty therapists, The Treatment Rooms in Harrogate are celebrating after winning an award.

The salon on Mayfield Grove won Best Beauty Treatments in the Yorkshire category of the  England’s Business Awards. They now go through to the finals in Birmingham in November.

Celebrating on their Instagram account Alex Smith said:

We couldn’t all be there last night…however I am so proud of my fabulous, talented & hard working team!!

Every one of my team shows so much care & attention to detail with every customer who walks through our door & this goes to show!!

The developer behind a proposed new Harrogate district town of up to 10,000 people are proceeding with a consultation event today despite calls for it to be deferred.

Caddick Group is holding a public drop-in event at Green Hammerton Village Hall from 3pm to 7pm.

The proposed new town, called Maltkiln, will be built in the Hammerton and Cattal area and include up to 4,000 homes, as well as two primary schools, shops and a GP surgery.

But some councillors and residents feel the event should be postponed until after the Queen’s mourning period ends.

Cattal train station would be at the heart of the new development.

North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council have postponed meetings this week.

Paul Townsend, a member of Kirk Hammerton Parish Council, questioned whether it was appropriate for the event to proceed. He said:

“The guidance we have been given as parish councils is that it is expected that non-urgent business should be deferred until after the period of national mourning.

“I have therefore informed the scheme promoters that Kirk Hammerton parish councillors will not be attending the event in their official capacity.”

Read more:

• Council faces calls to hold in-person Maltkiln consultation events
• New Harrogate district town could have up to 4,000 homes

Today’s event is not part of any official consultation process. Harrogate Borough Council, the planning authority, is expected to open an official consultation next month.

Local resident Alex Smith said:

“It feels unseemly right now even to be drawn in to a debate about whether or not this event should go ahead. I think many residents were just assuming Caddick would postpone it out of respect — and also out of a professional concern to have an effective consultation, with residents’ full attention.

“Volume developers aren’t renowned for their sensitivity, and if Caddick have pressing commercial reasons to hold this event right now, however compromised it might be and whatever the optics — they’re within their rights to do.”

‘Cancelling now would cause confusion’

A spokesman for Caddick said it was “shocked and saddened” to hear of the Queen’s death, adding:

“In line with government guidance on the period of national mourning, which was published on Friday, we decided that the correct course of action is to continue with our consultation event.

 

“To cancel this at very late notice would risk causing confusion amongst the 1,250 residents and businesses we have written to in the local area, and it is important that we conclude this specific consultation process well before Harrogate Borough Council consults on their draft development plan document in October.

 

“However, we can confirm that we will extend the duration of the consultation period by two days, to midnight on September 21. In addition, as part of our ongoing application and engagement with the local community we are always ready to discuss our proposals and receive comments regarding these.

 

“We updated politicians and stakeholders advising them as to our decision to proceed with the consultation, on Friday 9th September. We have been absolutely committed to consulting fully on our proposals throughout this process and are constantly reappraising what we need to do as a business to ensure the widest variety of views can be heard.

 

“If we receive any requests to meet separately with stakeholders, then we will of course consider those and seek to arrive at a suitable outcome. It is of course a difficult time for many and we will further review our approach as the consultation progresses.”

Rural areas in Harrogate have been revealed as the worst in North Yorkshire for internet connections.

Ofcom figures show parts of the district are lagging behind Ryedale, Craven, Hambleton, Richmondshire, Scarborough, Selby and York for superfast broadband, with 69% connectivity in rural Harrogate compared with 96% in urban areas.

Slow internet speeds can hinder economic growth and leave thousands of businesses and households plunged into “technology blackspots”.

That is according to North Yorkshire County Council, which launched its broadband company NYnet in 2007 and said the rollout of superfast internet in rural communities has involved one of the most challenging projects of its kind nationally.

It said it has invested £85 million in broadband services, although it admitted improving connectivity remains a “significant challenge”.

Alastair Taylor, chief executive of NYnet, said:

“We remain committed to providing broadband coverage across all parts of North Yorkshire, from the county’s major urban areas to the remotest communities.

“NYnet has been working for more than a decade on a programme to bring superfast broadband throughout North Yorkshire.

“More than 190,000 premises have been upgraded on Openreach’s digital network to provide faster and more reliable broadband connections.

“More than 80% of premises have now taken advantage of the dramatically improved broadband speeds which have been made available to them.”

Mr Taylor also argued that the Ofcom figures date from 2019 and since then there has been “a great deal of work conducted in both the Harrogate district as well as the whole county”.

Read more:

• Beckwithshaw has worst superfast broadband coverage in North Yorkshire
• Free public Wi-Fi rolled out on in Harrogate

Across the whole of the Harrogate district, overall connectivity is now 93% – just above the county’s average of 92%, Mr Taylor said.

The latest figures come after research by the independent North Yorkshire Rural Commission – which was established by the county council and launched in 2019 – revealed that a fifth of all rural areas in the county had no broadband connection.

The council said engineering challenges have “intensified” in the past four years as its Superfast North Yorkshire project has extended into some of the most remote rural communities.

It added more than 190,000 premises have been upgraded over the past decade and that the digital network is now available to the majority of people in the county’s two national parks covering the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.

Council leader Carl Les said:

“The issue of poor broadband connectivity has been a long-standing problem for many parts of North Yorkshire, especially in communities in deeply rural areas.

“The chance to introduce these improved broadband connections is vital for businesses in the 21st century, whether they are based in the biggest town or city or in the smallest village or hamlet.

“But they are also a necessity to ensure our rural communities have a future, helping to attract families and younger people to live in the countryside to ensure services and facilities such as schools, village stores and pubs can continue to operate.

“We have made huge improvements for tens of thousands of businesses and households, but the work does not stop here and we will continue to look at how we can introduce better connections for the remaining parts of the county.”

Here is your traffic and travel update for Monday September 12 – sponsored by HACs.

Road :

Ripon Road – multi-way lights in the New Park area of Harrogate as Yorkshire Water carries out essential work this week.

Oakdale and Kent Road in the Duchy – road closures and diversions in this area from today until September 23 for gas main replacement work.

Just outside the district Sutton Bank on the A170 between Helmsley and Thirsk is set to undergo an extensive maintenance programme.

Due to the scale of the scheme, a full road closure will be in place from until 7pm on Sunday, 2 October.

Bus Cancellations

The following bus services are cancelled today – go to the transdev website for updates

The 1A
Aspin to Harrogate 8.06am

The 1C
Carmires to Starbeck 9.16am
Carimires to Harrogate 6.59am
Harrogate to Carmires 8.51am

#The 7
Weatherby to Harrogate 6.50am
Harrogate to Leeds 7.25am
Leeds to Harrogate 9.25am

#The36
Starbeck to Leeds 6.23am
Leeds to Harrogate 7.40am, 8.55am, 9.55am, 10.25am, 11.55am
Harrogate to Leeds 7.35am, 9am, 9.25am, 10.55am

Rail 

Rail services are running to time this morning on the Harrogate line. Check for further updates with Northern Rail. 

Planned strike action for the 15 and 17 September has been suspended due to the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

The district’s churches have been open with books of condolence for people to sign. Tomorrow prayers for Her Majesty The Queen, the new King and the Royal Family will be held across the district. Some parishes have changed their normal orders of service.

Sunday 11th September 

Ripon Cathedral

The cathedral will be open throughout the day for people to sign the book of condolences and pray.

8am – Holy Communion

9.30am – Morning Prayer

10.30am – Eucharist with the Bishop of Ripon. The service will include prayers for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III

3.30pm – Choral Evensong to mark the death of the sovereign Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Cathedral open until 7pm

A book of condolences has been opened at St Peter’s Church in Harrogate

Harrogate

St Peter’s Church  

A book of condolences has been opened at St Peter’s Church on Cambridge Street in the town centre.

8.30am Holy Communion

9.30am Family Communion

11.00am Choral Matins

4.15pm Stepping Stones Service

6.30pm Choral Evensong

St John’s Church on Bilton Lane is open between 9am and 5pm today for “people to be quiet, reflect and pray as they remember and give thanks for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

Knaresborough 

Read more

• LIVE: Bells to toll at midday across the district to mark the Queen’s death

Pateley Bridge

A book of condolences has been open at St Cuthbert’s Church in Pateley Bridge.

Vicar Darryl Hall invited people to “feel free to light a candle and say a prayer.”

Prayer stations in Holy Trinity Dacre Banks, St Jude’s Hartwith, Christ Church Darley and St Saviour’s Thornthwaite have been set up where people can light a candle reflect, remember and pray.

Sunday Services:

9:30am Holy Communion at Holy Trinity, Dacre Banks

11am Holy Communion at St Saviour’s, Thornthwaite

6:30pm Holy Communion at Christ Church, Darley

Boroughbridge

St Andrew’s

A parish-wide service of commemoration and thanksgiving for the Queen will be held at St Andrew’s on Sunday, September 18 at 10am.

Roecliffe Church and St James’s 

Both churches, as well as St Mary’s in Dunsforth and St Andrew’s in Aldborough, will remain open as much as possible during the week for people to visit and to sign books of condolence.

Masham

Healey, Masham North Stainley, Well with Snape and West Tanfield 

There are changes to the services for 11 September to enable communities to pray and reflect on her life, reign and contribution to our nation and to pray for the new monarch, King Charles III and all the family.

8.00am         Masham                        BCP Holy Communion
9.30am         West Tanfield               Simple service of Prayer and Reflection remembering her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
10.45am       Masham                         Baptism
11.30am       Masham                        Simple service of Prayer and Reflection remembering her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
10.45pm       Snape                             Holy Communion
4.00pm                                                 Telephone Service
6.30pm        Healey                           Evensong

In special Evensong and Vigil services last night led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson, the congregation joined in one voice to remember the late monarch and offer sympathy and support for the new king – a Freeeman of the City for 20 years.

From the opening of the doors at Ripon Cathedral to the setting of the watch on Market Square events in the city underlined its deep royal roots.

It began with private prayers at the cathedral from 8am until 9pm and throughout the day people wrote  messages in the books of condolence for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Books of condolence were signed throughout the day and will remain in place in the north transept of the cathedral for people to leave their messages.

The Bishop of Ripon the Rt Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley gave blessings at the end of the Vigil Service in the cathedral and the setting of the watch ceremony

After the service the senior clergy and mayor of Ripon walked to the market square for the setting of the watch.

A plaque by the front door of the town hall, says that the honour bestowed on King Charles III in October 2002, when he was the Prince of Wales, was ‘In deep appreciation of his unique contribution to the regeneration of Ripon.’

Standing on the same steps that The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh stood on in May 2004, when Ripon celebrated the 400th anniversary of its Royal Charter, Mayor Councillor Sid Hawke was joined by the bishop and dean, canons Ailsa Newby, Michael Gisbourne and Richard Cooper and head verger Charlie Brown, as hornblower Allison Clark, announced that the watch had been set. (see main image)

Today there will be hourly prayers at the cathedral from 8am and a special choral Evensong at 5.30pm, to mark the proclamation of the King.

Tomorrow at 10.30am there will be a sung Eucharist service led by the Bishop of Ripon, followed by a choral Evensong at 3.30pm.

Read More:

• Watch: Bells toll across district to mark the Queen’s death
• Ripon Cathedral to play a central role in mourning The Queen

Churches have opened their doors and put out books of condolence; flags across the Harrogate district were lowered to half mast and flowers laid as the district begins to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The 96-year-old Queen, who was the country’s longest-serving monarch, died yesterday at Balmoral.

This blog has followed the days events as they unfolded across the district:

4.00pm: Mourners lay flowers by Harrogate’s War Memorial

Around ten bouquets have been laid by mourners by the War Memorial in Harrogate.

3.15pm: Historic Harrogate hotel remembers Queen’s visit

DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa has posted a photo from the time Princess Elizabeth visited the hotel, four years before she became Queen.

Elizabeth and her husband Philip visited The Majestic for a banquet in 1949 on the same day they visited the Great Yorkshire Show.

They couple was greeted at the hotel by Mayor Mary Fisher. Following the event, the Princess and Duke made a balcony appearance, waving to the crowds on the Majestic grounds

Credit: DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa

2.30pm: Stonefall Cemetery tours cancelled

Commonwealth War Graves Commission has cancelled free Stonefall Cemetery tours that were set to take place tomorrow as well as on September 15, 17 and 18.

Around 200 people were booked on tours to learn about the men and women of the Commonwealth forces who are buried there.

However, as a mark of respect for Her Majesty, the events have been cancelled.

1.45pm: Businesses pay unique tributes to Queen

Harrogate district businesses are paying their unique tributes to Elizabeth II.

Everyman cinema on Station Parade has replaced its usual notices that tell cinemagoers what films it is showing with a single somber quote. It says:

“Every thank you will never be enough 1926 – 2022”

The Harrogate Tea Rooms in Westminster Arcade has baked some special cupcakes inspired by the former monarch.

https://twitter.com/HarrogateTeaRms/status/1568218656818987010?s=20&t=noSrMM1VvqgwIEwubizUIQ

1.00pm: Boroughbridge

St James church in Boroughbridge has joined other Anglican churches in the district in setting up a book of condolence for mourners to sign.

12.30pm: Church bells ring out for the Queen

The Stray Ferret had reporters at St Peter’s Church in Harrogate, St John’s Church in Knaresborough and Ripon Cathedral from 12pm.

Most of the country’s 16,000 churches haven’t rang bells muffled since the death of the Queen’s father in 1952.

Watch videos below of the bells ringing below:

Leather mufflers were attached to the bells at St John’s Church in Knaresborough so they can make the muffled sound

12.10pm: Earl of Harewood issues personal tribute

The Earl of Harewood David Lascelles has issued a personal statement that remembers his relative Elizabeth II.

His father, the late George Lascelles, was the Queen’s first cousin.

David Lascelles

The Earl’s tribute includes an anecdote of when the Queen visited Harewood in 2002 and watched Emmerdale being filmed.

The statement also highlight’s the Queen’s appreciation of Yorkshire’s different faiths and communities.

Mr Lascelles said:

“Queen Elizabeth was my first cousin once removed, Cousin Lilibet, the name she was called by all her family. Though we were related, I only really met her on formal occasions during my adult life, so have less personal memories of this remarkable woman. But I do remember the last time she was at Harewood, in July 2002 for her Golden Jubilee. 

“It was a gloriously sunny day and the first stop was at the long-running TV soap opera Emmerdale, the village set for which is on the southern edge of Harewood Estate, where my wife Diane and I greeted her. The Queen met and shook hands with the cast and crew and watched the Post Office being set on fire, a stunt staged in her honour and not part of their regular storyline.

“The main event of the day was in front of Harewood House, where, accompanied by my father and step-mother, an hour long pageant was staged for her and for Prince Philip and an enthusiastic crowd. This was Yorkshire at it most culturally diverse: on a smaller scale, but not unlike the parades along the Mall for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, still fresh in everyone’s memory. 

“There was music from many different traditions and performers representing all Yorkshire’s different communities. There were spectacular costumes from Leeds’ West Indian Carnival, brass bands from the mining villages of South Yorkshire, Indian dancers from Bradford, operatic arias from Lesley Garrett and guest appearances from Mel B, Brian Close and Terry Venables (who had just been appointed as Leeds United’s new manager) on the steps of Harewood House.

“The Queen’s enjoyment was clear for all to see. These were the rich, mixed, varied, sometimes contradictory cultures of 21st century Britain, a Britain very different from the country she knew when she came to the throne in 1953 but one with which she continued to identify and one which she continued to represent with grace and with great dignity.

“The length of her reign and the many changes she witnessed during those years are unprecedented in our history. Her death is truly the end of an era, the end of the Second Elizabethan Age.”

11.45am: Harrogate’s Muslim community pays its respects

Whilst the district’s Anglican churches have led the tributes to Elizabeth II, Harrogate’s Muslim community has also paid its own respects.

Harrogate Islamic Association said:

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (“To God we belong and to Him we return”)

We are united in sorrow for, by all measures, a remarkable woman https://t.co/rfL8HrYXIa

— Harrogate Islamic Association (@HarrogateIA) September 9, 2022

11.30am: Harrogate Town game called off

Harrogate Town’s game against Carlisle United tomorrow has been called off. It was due to kick off at 3pm at the EnviroVent Stadium but the English Football League has decided to postpone all fixtures as a mark of respect to Elizabeth II.

Leeds United’s game against Nottingham Forest on Monday night has also been postponed by the Premier League.

Saturday 10th September's fixture against Carlisle has been postponed as a mark of respect by the National Sport to the passing of HRH Queen Elizabeth II https://t.co/KP3Cuyy5C8

— Harrogate Town AFC (@HarrogateTown) September 9, 2022

11.00am: Harry’s tours to focus on the Queen

Tour guide Harry Satloka will continue with his free Harrogate walking tours today with a special focus on Harrogate’s connection with Elizabeth II.

He said he will be wearing black as a mark of respect until after the funeral.

Harry Satloka this morning by the War Memorial

10.30am: St Peter’s Church plans special services

St Peter’s Church on Cambridge Road will be holding special services to remember the former Queen over the weekend.

The church’s bells will ring today from 12pm for one hour.

Vicar Alan Garrow said:

“The church will be open as a focal point for people to express their grief. For flowers we recommend people leave them at the garden of remembrance, which is on the Cambridge Street side of St Peter’s. 

“We have eight bell ringers and they are going to ring all of the bells for the full one hour from 12pm.”

Mourners signing the book of remembrance at St Peter’s

10.15am: Flags at half-mast in Knaresborough

Knaresborough House. Credit: Charlotte Gale

The Union Flag is flying at half-mast outside Knaresborough House.

The town has proud links to the Royal family dating back centuries.

Knaresborough Castle is still owned by the Duchy of Lancaster Estate (although currently leased to Harrogate Borough Council).

It’s a former Royal summer residence and was also the administrative centre for the  Forest of Knaresborough, an administrative area and royal hunting ground that covered 45 square miles.

The Mayor of Knaresborough Kathryn Davies said:

“For a lot of people in Knaresborough Queen Elizabeth II will be the only monarch they have known. The loss of her calm and constant presence in their lives will be felt keenly. They are not alone in their grief. As well as the rest of the United Kingdom, many across the world will also miss her greatly.

“When the news of her death was announced, I was with a party of Americans, Canadians, New Zealanders and Australians. Without exception they had been following her progress in the last few days and were immediate in their expressions of condolence and their own sense of loss.

“She was a great monarch who steered us through some exceptional times in the 20th and early 21st centuries. Good luck and best wishes to our new King Charles II. God save the King.”

10.00am: Betty’s closed until 11am

Betty’s Cafe Tea Rooms on Parliament Street is closed until 11am. A notice has been posted on the window that includes its own tribute to the former Queen.

9.30am: Yorkshire Agricultural Society pays tribute

Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the organisation that runs the Great Yorkshire Show, has issued its own tribute to Elizabeth II. She had long standing links to the show and visited four times as Queen (1949, 1957, 1977 and 2008).

The Queen at the Great Yorkshire Show in 1957. Credit: YAS

The statement said:

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Her Majesty The Queen and send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family at this sad time.

“The Royal Family and Her Majesty The Queen have been an integral part of the Society’s heritage since it first formed in 1837.

“The Queen was the first female Patron of the Society and remained so for 45 years from 1952 to 1997. TRH Prince of Wales has been the Society’s Patron since 1998.

“Her Majesty first visited the Great Yorkshire Show in 1949, before becoming Queen, and went on to visit a number of times over the years before a final visit in 2008 with The Duke of Edinburgh. During the visit, The Queen unveiled a plaque to mark the start of the construction of Fodder and the adjoining Yorkshire Agricultural Society offices.

“The Society is honoured to have had the privilege of The Queen supporting the work it does for agriculture as both our Patron and as our guest.”

9am: RHS Harlow Carr remaining open today

The Royal Horticultural Society will be opening RHS Harlow Carr today but it will close on the day of the funeral, which has not yet been announced, as a mark of respect.

The RHS said in a statement:

“Her Majesty became Patron of the Society on accession to the throne in 1952. From an early age, The Queen regularly accompanied her parents to RHS Chelsea Flower Show, visiting the show more than 50 times during her reign, and always took great pleasure in touring the gardens and plant displays and speaking with exhibitors.

“We were extremely grateful and proud to have Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as our Patron and we are immensely saddened by yesterday’s news.”

8.45am: Bilton church opens book of condolence

St John’s Church on Bilton Lane is open until 5pm for people to pray and give thanks for the life of the former Queen. There will be candles to light and a book of condolence to sign.

8.25am: Pateley Bridge

We’ve been in Pateley Bridge this morning to see how the town has responded to the death of the Queen. Below is a picture of St Cuthbert Church with the St George’s flag flying at half-mast.

The police station and council offices:

8.10am: Ripon pays its respects

Reporter Tim Flanagan is in Ripon this morning where the Union Flag is flying at half mast over Ripon Town Hall.

The building is still decked in the banners put in place to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year. Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the historic building in May 2004 when the city celebrated the 400th anniversary of the granting by James I of its Royal Charter.

Some 19 years earlier in April 1985, The Queen was at Ripon Cathedral for the Royal Maundy Service.

8am: Harrogate district MPs issue statements

Our three Conservative MPs, Andrew Jones, Julian Smith and Nigel Adams have all issued statements following the death of the Queen.

pic.twitter.com/fNmbbYhiuW

— Andrew Jones MP (@AJonesMP) September 8, 2022

pic.twitter.com/JjRwMrt3Tn

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) September 8, 2022

Such heartbreaking news.

HM Queen Elizabeth II served our nation and the Commonwealth selflessly for 70 years.

May she rest in peace.

God Save The King. https://t.co/rGHlhY8DZw

— Nigel Adams (@nadams) September 8, 2022

Church Bells will toll

Church bells across the district will toll at noon today to mark the Queen’s death. The bells will be muffled and toll for one hour.

The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe has issued a statement:

“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been the figurehead of our nation for over 70 years, a loyal servant who has provided stability and support to so many for so long. It is impossible to imagine life without her, and I know many will find the fact we now have to face that reality very difficult.

“Our emergency services will play a key role in the coming days in supporting our communities, and their commemorations and celebrations of Her Majesty’s life.

“My thoughts today are particularly with the Royal Family who have not just lost a leader but a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. No matter who you are or when it happens, the death of a loved one is incredibly hard, and my respects and condolences go to them.”

The Royal Hall this morning with the flag lowered at half mast

Read More: 

• Lord Lieutenant pays tribute to the Queen from North Yorkshire
• Mayor leads Harrogate tributes to Queen’s ‘constant source of courage’

At midday today, bells at several of the Harrogate district’s churches rung out to mourn the Queen.

Churches including Ripon Cathedral, St Peter’s in Harrogate and St John’s in Knaresborough rung throughout the hour.

They joined with churches across the country such as Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral to pay their respects to the Monarch.

Janet Hurst was one of the bellringers in Hampsthwaite. She explained the process of ‘muffling’ the bells as part of the tribute.

“The bells are fully muffled, which only happens for the Monarch, normally it’s half-muffled… so that people can pause and pay their respects to Her Majesty.”

Read more:

• LIVE: Harrogate district church bells ring out to mark the Queen’s death
• Ripon Cathedral to play a central role in mourning The Queen

Just 13 weeks ago, the bells at Ripon Cathedral rang out in joyous celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but today the bells were muffled as they rang out for an hour at midday to mark the passing of the UK’s most enduring monarch.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson, led the jubilee civic service for North Yorkshire held at the cathedral on June 2, which was attended by the great and the good of the county.

From today and over the period of national mourning, the doors of the iconic church, founded 1,350 years ago by St Wilfrid, will be open to all, who wish to pay their respects to Her Majesty.

This can be done by signing the book of condolence in the north transept, through private prayer, by attending a service or leaving flowers.

Dean John, told the Stray Ferret:

“Back in June, we marked 70 years of The Queen’s magnificent service, now we come to celebrate her life and pray for her family.”

In a message on the cathedral’s website, he said The Queen was:

“One of the world’s greatest figures of our time, one who dedicated her life as monarch to the wellbeing of the people of this nation, the commonwealth and the wider world.

“She was a faithful Christian who drew on her faith to serve God and the common good in the role that God had given her.

“She wasn’t pious and didn’t let her exalted status unduly affect her. She reigned with great integrity, as seen in the images of her sitting alone at the funeral of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. She was a great servant of her people and an unequalled example of public service over the last century.”

The cathedral, which the Queen visited in 1985 for the Royal Maundy Service, has been the focus of celebration for its 1,350th anniversary since April, attracting visitors from across the region as well as overseas.

Over the coming days it is ready to welcome visitors, who wish to make their own tribute and reflect on Her Majesty’s remarkable reign.

Today, there will be an Evensong Service at 5.30 and a Vigil Service at 8.15.

The Cathedral will be open daily from 8am.

The Great North Art Show, which was due to begin at the cathedral tomorrow, is being postponed.