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05

Apr 2021

Last Updated: 01/04/2021
Community
Community

Ripon to fund free fairgrounds in city centre

by Tim Flanagan

| 05 Apr, 2021
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The lifting of lockdown and looming end of the UK furlough scheme signals hard times ahead for some, but Ripon is hoping the rides will increase footfall and offer a little light relief.

ripon-5th-january-2021-market-square-in-third-lockdown-scaled
Ripon Market Square with its towering obelisk

Free fairground rides for young children, will be a feature of events in Ripon for the rest of the year.

This will be subject to approvals from Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) in line with easing of covid lockdown restrictions.

Some families are facing a financially difficult summer and autumn.

The UK furlough scheme and safety nets, such as mortgage holidays, will be coming to an end. The rides are free to provide fun for families who cannot afford a holiday.

Ripon City Council also hopes the planned events will generate more footfall, which will be beneficial to retailers, cafes, restaurants, pubs and heritage attractions.





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The first are planned to be in place alongside artisan markets to be held in Ripon on the Bank Holidays of 3 May and 31 May.

At a virtual meeting of the city council's events committee, councillors agreed that three rides will be booked for Market Square on ten separate dates.

Councillor Pauline McHardy, said:

"I'm sorry to say that there is a lot of poverty in Ripon and more hard times lie ahead for many people, who are already finding it difficult to make ends meet.
"Some families will not be able to afford a holiday this year as they face financial uncertainty.
"We can help them by providing a means of entertaining their children, without the embarrassment of struggling to find the money for them to go on the rides."


Councillor Chris Davis, was among those members who voted unanimously to support the proposed programme of events.

He said:

"As we come out of lockdown, we want to ensure that we hit the ground running and let people know that we are open for business."


In addition to the spring and summer months, the fairground rides will operating on other key dates including Halloween, the switch on of the city's Christmas lights on 19 November and two Christmas markets in December.