Ferret Unlocked: what you missed in news last week

This past weekend, we sat down with the owner of the Ripley estate, Sir Thomas Ingilby, to discuss his decision to sell his ancestral home — which has been in his family for more than 700 years.

The announcement that the estate was up for sale caused shockwaves through the Harrogate district and speculation over who could buy it.

In our two-part interview, Sir Thomas tells us when and why he and Lady Emma Ingilby decided to sell their ancestral home, how he feels about it, what their children think of it, and what the move will entail. Subscribers can read both articles here and here.

Elsewhere this past week, North Yorkshire Council looks set to bid for £1.2 million worth of funding in order to draw up investment plans for 30 towns, including Harrogate.

The council wants to draw up the economic blueprints to “identify the investment needs and opportunities”.

However, much of the work will be contingent on the funding bid. You can read more on the plans here.

After a torrid four years, The Tiger Inn at Coneythorpe is under new ownership.

Following a fire in August 2023, the pub has remained closed until this past weekend when new owners Mark and Clare Oglesby reopened the village pub.

We caught up with the Oglesbys to find out what they had planned for their latest venture. Subscribers can get the full rundown here.

Finally, Yorkshire Water announced a price hike this past week with a £135 rise in average bills for the coming year.

Unsurprisingly, the decision caused outrage and saw Harrogate MP, Tom Gordon, weigh in on the matter. You can read the fallout from the decision here.

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