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23
Aug
Ripon independents relish the prospect of extended pedestrianisation
A sun-drenched summer has given Ripon’s independent businesses a taste of what café culture can do to boost the city’s economy.
The fine weather, combined with a number of major events, including the annual theatre festival in July and St Wilfrid’s Day Procession in August, brought thousands of visitors to the city centre, where cafes, bars, restaurants and pubs provided outdoor seating for alfresco diners.
In March, the city council unanimously supported a new vision for Ripon which, if approved by North Yorkshire Council, would include an extension of pedestrian-only hours on the lower section of Kirkgate.
The hours would be increased from the current 10am to 5pm to 10am to 10pm between March 31 and September 30.
Tthe pedestrian-friendly hours would also apply to Market Place South.
Al Fresco dining on Kirkgate in 2023
A street party held in Kirkgate as part of Ripon Theatre Festival, attracted a large gathering.
City council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:
The proposals will be the subject of detailed public consultation and liaison with North Yorkshire Council, which, as the highways authority, will need to consult with all interested parties about the proposed extension of pedestrianisation.
At this stage, these are only proposals and it may be that through consultation we discover that people don't want them, but we have at least started the debate and I am due to attend a briefing with the highways team next month.
'Kirkgate is the flagship street'
A number of Ripon businesses and organisations have been gauging reaction to the pedestrianisation proposals and providing their findings to the city council.
Richard Hughes, who owns and manages Manchega tapas bar on Duck Hill, said:
With the tremendous support of Ripon BID, independent traders have now run several street parties and fiesta events on Kirkgate and Minster Gardens and the feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive.
This all points to the fact that Kirkgate is the flagship street of this fine historic city and the extension of cafe culture would make the most of all that Ripon has to offer.
With extended pedestrianisation, businesses would be able to present themselves at their best to ever more visitors.
Ripon Cathedral
David Ingham, a director of Ripon Together, said:
Kirkgate provides the link between Market Square and the city's biggest visitor attraction - Ripon Cathedral - and research that I carried out at the Easter Monday party on the street showed strong support for extended pedestrianisation.
A number of respondents said that delivery times for businesses could be managed and that full pedestrianisation would be good for Ripon.
It would create a cleaner, safer environment and provide the opportunity for more events to be held.
Fancy more of this on Kirkgate?
Artist David Stead, who opened his gallery on Kirkgate 25 years ago, said:
By removing the vehicles it would make Kirkgate a safer place to visit and increase dwell time as people wouldn't have to be constantly looking over their shoulders to see if a car is coming.
Customers enjoy an early-evening drink at the Portly Pig.
Stu Ross, who owns and runs the Portly Pig with his wife Katie, added:
We took over the business 10 months ago and believe that any improvements that can be made will be beneficial, not only to Kirkgate, but to the wider city economy, because enhancements to this key gateway will make Ripon a more attractive place to visit.
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