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29
Dec 2024
6: Will North Yorkshire 'harmonisation' plans cause lasting harm to ancient markets?
In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 major stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2024, we look at the threat that hangs over the weekly markets in Ripon and Knaresborough as cash-strapped North Yorkshire Council bids to balance its books.
Ripon has a cathedral founded by Saint Wilfrid, one of the most influential religious figures in seventh century Britain, while Knaresborough's Norman castle was the location for the first-ever Royal Maundy Service - held in 1210 by King John, five years before he signed the Magna Carta.
The two communities, with their long, distinguished and deep histories are 11 miles apart, but united in common themes of heritage, custom and culture, dating back hundreds of years.
By Royal Charter, both are market towns whose traders have sold all manner of goods from livestock to leatherware and freshly-baked bread to Brussels sprouts, but now a significant number of current stallholders are faced with a changed regime, euphemistically described as a 'harmonisation' process designed to bring all seven outdoor markets operated by North Yorkshire Council into line.
Ripon and Knaresborough are the two outliers whose traders have, for decades, enjoyed the option of having stalls provided, set up and dismantled by council employees.
That was the status quo when the now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council became part of the new North Yorkshire unitary authority in 2023, but this summer, traders were informed by email that the service was no longer affordable and would be withdrawn by November, when all traders would have to provide and set up their own stalls.
With 'save our market' campaigns launched and petitions signed by thousands of people in Ripon and Knaresborough, the timescale for the proposed changes has been reviewed, following a specially-convened meeting in November of the Skiption and Ripon area committee, where members of all political colours, voted unanimously to seek a six-month reprieve to give time for new options to be considered.
North Yorkshire Council's position
This was approved by the North Yorkshire Council executive on December 6, where councillors considered an officers' report which said that the market operation for Knaresborough and Ripon is currently running at a significant and unsustainable subsidy, estimated at £35,000 per annum.
The reoort stated; 'The Council is therefore proposing to harmonise the operating model across the county and cease setting up market stalls for traders at Knaresborough and Ripon markets, bringing operations in line with how the other five outdoor markets run, to deliver a long-term, efficient and sustainable solution.'
Will the Murphys be leaving the market?
The Murphy family first set up their fruit and vegetable stalls in Ripon at the start of World War One, when the number of visitors to the markets were swelled by the arrival of two huge army camps that provided a temporary home for soldiers heading to or from the front line in northern France.
Brian Murphy, who is the fourth generation of his family to run the business, told the Stray Ferret:
If a sensible solution cannot be agreed with North Yorkshire Council, this will be our last Christmas in Ripon.
Between the Thursday and Saturday markets we are paying rent and a set-up fee to the council for six stalls and from a logistical and financial perspective, if we are required to bring and assemble our own stalls, we would no longer have a viable business here,
With the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables that we bring to Ripon, we would need to purcahse a seperate van for transporting the stalls and on that basis alone we would not be able to continue.
Brain Murphy is seeking a sensible solution
Mr Murphy added:
Other traders who attend the markets at Ripon and Knaresborough are facing the same predicament and if they find themselves forced to withdraw, it could ultimately signal the end for both markets.
Councillors Pauline McHardy (right) and Barbara Brodigan, raised paper and online petitions and are championing the cause of stallholders
At last month's North Yorkshire area committee meeting, Councillor Barbara Brodigan, a Liberal Democrat who represents Ripon's Ure Bank and Spa division and three-times mayor of the city Councillor Pauline McHardy, spoke passionately in support of the stallholders.
Following their own survey and armed with the 'Save Ripon Market' petition signed by 3,260 residents, traders and visitors to the city, they were well-placed to voice the concerns raised by traders and shoppers who fear for the future of the market.
Cllr Brodigan, said:
Withdrawing the market stall set-up service endangers the future viability of the market as 91 percent of traders who use it — 11 out of 12 — have said they will leave Ripon Market and go elsewhere.
Ripon City Council has bid to take over management of Ripon Market under double devolution and we feel that any decisions should be delayed until this process is finalised, enabling future options for the market to be considered by Ripon City Council.
We ask that this committee considers the aims of the petition and recommends to the executive that, before any decision is made, a full community and economic assessment is carried out, to measure the impact that withdrawing the market stall set-up service would have on the market's viability and the effect it would have on the wider Ripon economy.
With support for the six-month extension from the area committee and the executive, the clock ticks on towards 2025 for council officers as they are tasked with coming up with a plan to 'aggressively' promote and advertise available space at the respective markets to attract and accommodate new stallholders, who will add to the viability and vitality of the offer in Ripon and Knaresborough.
The two ancient markets have survived for centuries through war, plague, changes in government and the Covid pandemic, but will they both still be here this time next year?
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