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Nov 2021

Last Updated: 17/11/2021

Business

Ripon alleys rejuvenated with overnight deep clean

by Tim Flanagan

| 17 Nov, 2021

An overnight deep clean has transformed busy city centre thoroughfares used by thousands of people each week. Ripon's new Business Improvement District, which funded the work, also plans to improve lighting in the alleys.

Four of Ripon's busiest alleys have been given a deep clean.

The overnight operation on Monday, was organised by Ripon Business Improvement District in one of its first initiatives to attract more visitors to the city and help businesses to benefit from increased footfall.

The clean-up focused on the thoroughfares between Oliver’s Pantry and Halls department store, M&Co and Costa Coffee, Boots and Specsavers and also Lavender Alley.

Last week, the BID's interim manager Elizabeth Faulkner said:

“We know these alleyways are key to the way visitors and residents use the city so we want to make them as attractive as possible."

“There has been lots of talk about what they could be used for, but first we will clean them up and then look at lighting.

“These are of course just a small part of Ripon and we have got a big destination to make an impact on so we will then start to move around the city for more deep cleaning.”

The BID, which levies businesses to fund city centre improvements, came into being after 70 of the 87 who voted this summer, supported setting up the body.

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Following the vote, more than 280 firms within the Ripon BID area are now contributing to an annual budget of £160,000 for projects to create a safer, cleaner and better promoted city centre.

The first networking events for businesses will be held on January 17 and 24.

A Harrogate BID was created in 2019 but plans for a BID in Knaresborough were rejected in October.

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Ripon alleys rejuvenated with overnight deep clean

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