Tanker operation raises sewage concerns on River Ure

A three-week tanker operation on the River Ure near Boroughbridge has raised concerns about how well a treatment plant can cope with sewage.

Boorughbridge resident Caroline Slater contacted the Stray Ferret saying she had noticed a “raw sewage” smell when walking her dog near the river.

She attributed the smell, which she believes is due to excess sewage flowing from a wastewater treatment plant in Aldborough into the river, to recent periods of heavy rainfall, as well as “the large number of new houses built in the area”.

Ms Slater said:

“The pumping station at Boroughbridge sewage works cannot cope with the amount of sewage.

“The Ure is really polluted. Sometimes there are huge banks of foam which do not dissipate, greasy films and a smell of sewage.

“I have witnessed contractors cleaning up the riverbank areas after floods and using the river as a dumping ground for waste.

“It was really smelly down there on Saturday when there was no pumping going on. It just smelt like raw sewage.”

Ms Slater also said “tankers have been pumping sewage out from Aldborough road for the past three weeks — maybe more — and taking it away”.

She added:

“I have contacted Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency. I really am despairing. I would ideally like to get some momentum going to try to clean up the River Ure.

“Young people bathe in it at the salmon ladders in the summer, also at Ripon and Masham, further up and downstream. It isn’t safe. Nature is suffering. Nobody seems to be accountable.

“I am also extremely concerned about the continuation of house building in the area and what effect this will have on infrastructure that cannot cope. “

Town council also ‘doubts’ treatment plan can cope

The Stray Ferret contacted Cllr Robert Windass, a Conservative who represents Boroughbridge and Claro on North Yorkshire Council, about the matter.

Cllr Windass said Boroughbridge Town Council shared Ms Slater’s concerns.

He added:

“I am aware that tankers are pumping out sewage from the Aldborough treatment plant and taking it to other plants. This happens when the River Ure is in flood as it has been for the past few weeks with all the rain we have had.
“Certainly, the town council and many residents have expressed concern about whether the Aldborough treatment plant can cope with the increased sewage because of the number of new homes built in and around Boroughbridge. They always say that it can but when situations like this occur, we have our doubts.
“Personally, I have not been downstream of the treatment plant recently, but I will make a point of doing so in the next few days.”

Yorkshire Water’s response

The Stray Ferret put Ms Slater’s concerns to Yorkshire Water and asked for confirmation on whether excess sewage is being released into the River Ure.

A spokesperson said “diluted wastewater from storm overflow” is released into the river during periods of heavy rainfall. If more rainwater is pumped into the treatment works than it is designed to handle, an excess is released into nearby rivers.

The spokesperson added:

“The storm overflow at Boroughbridge wastewater treatment works is in operation currently due to the amount of rainfall in the area recently and possible groundwater infiltration into the sewer network.

“Storm overflows are permitted by the Environment Agency and act as a relief valve during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall to prevent wastewater backing up and flooding homes and businesses.”

Yorkshire Water said the tankers were in place due to groundwater potentially infiltrating a sewer. The firm said this was also as a result of heavy rainfall and could result in wastewater escaping the network from manholes if left unmanaged.

The spokesperson added:

“Our teams are currently tankering in the area to relieve pressure on the sewer network and will be carrying out a thorough investigation of the network in the coming days to identify any possible sources of infiltration.”

The firm added the tanker was also removing some wastewater, groundwater and sewage flow from within the network and taking it to the treatment works. It said this was “taking the pressure off the sewers to prevent pollutions”.

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Black Lion at Skelton saved after community takeover

The Black Lion at Skelton-on-Ure looks set to re-open after an 18-month battle by the local community to save it.

The pub between Ripon and Boroughbridge, closed in December 2019 after it was bought by Admiral Taverns.

A public meeting nearly two years ago discovered widespread support for reopening it as a community hub and pub.

In September 2022, the Black Lion was listed as an asset of community value, which gave villagers time to raise funds and bid to buy it.

The Black Lion pictured prior to its closure.

An asset of community value is defined by North Yorkshire Council as ‘a building or land having value to the community that furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community”.

By July last year, pledges accumulated by shareholder contribution had reached £240,000.

The campaign was then boosted by a £300,000 grant from the community ownership fund, which is a £150 million fund set up by the government in 2021 to help community groups take ownership of assets.

It meant the group, which received the backing of Skipton and Ripon Conservative MP Julian Smith, could bid to buy the pub from Admiral Taverns.

After legal delays, the community group announced today it now officially owned the pub.

Community pubs are owned and managed democratically by members of the community. They are leased to tenants who operate them with a community vision.

Rents are set at levels that allow tenants to make surpluses that can be used to maintain the upkeep of the building and pay interest to shareholders

The Black Lion, shuttered, closed, and up for sale

A spokesperson for the Black Lion pub community group said:

“We are pleased to announce that the community of Skelton-on-Ure have just taken ownership of the Black Lion pub. This has come after a huge amount of work by the Skelton-on-Ure Pub and Hub steering group. Thanks to all the people who have helped us achieve this result – it is now great news to finally have the keys.”

“The real work is only now about to commence as the fabric of the building has suffered during the years of closure and general lack of upkeep. The volunteer management team will now welcome any volunteer help, contributions and donations.”

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Hotel golf course near Boroughbridge to extend into fields

North Yorkshire Council has approved plans to extend Aldwark Manor Estate’s hotel golf course into two agricultural fields.

Aldwark Manor is a luxury four-star hotel between York and Harrogate and sits within 120 acres of parkland that is used as the golf course.

The 18-hole course spans across the River Ure and will now be lengthened to include six hectares (15 acres) of former farming land.

The hotel has committed to planting new areas for native and wild flowers and improve tree hedge planting across the site as part of the plans.

Planning documents state the hotel was bought in 2019 by a local family who are looking to “invest significantly” in the resort to improve its sporting, leisure and business facilities.

The buildings at the hotel date back to 1865 and were used as a private home and an RAF Base before being converted into a hotel.

The site covers both the former Harrogate and Hambleton council areas and in 2022 the now-defunct Hambleton District Council approved plans to convert and extend a building on the golf course into a new clubhouse that also features a small hotel.

Documents said: 

“The proposals seek to provide a defined golfing facility that enables smoother management and operations on a day to day basis of both the golfing and wider leisure offer provided within the existing hotel building.”

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A week of floods, facial recognition cameras and ice rink meltdown

Welcome to a new weekly feature rounding up some of my favourite articles on the Stray Ferret each week.

We often publish more than a dozen stories a day and it’s easy to miss things. Hopefully this digest will give you the chance to catch up.

The Harrogate ice rink saga has been one of our best read stories of the week. The rink has been criticised for slushy ice, rusty skates and slow refunds. It’s difficult not to feel some sympathy because — ironically — a winter wonderland attraction has been somewhat undone by the northern winter, which has forced its closure rather too regularly.

The company running it said this week it won’t be back for Christmas 2024.

As editor, one of the questions I’m asked most is ‘when is the new Lidl opening in Ripon?’. It was granted planning permission in September 2021 and we have an update on one of the slowest moving but most popular local retail stories here.

We also have news of a fascinating dual enterprise by two sisters in the former Dangerfield & Keane salon on Cold Bath Road in Harrogate. Ever used a hyperbaric chamber?

It’s been a week of rain and flood. The Ford car stuck in the ford over the River Skell in Ripon has caused a bit of a ripple. It was still there yesterday. The weather may be improving but Boroughbridge rarely looks prettier than when the River Ure floods, as happened this week.

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How do you feel about walking through Harrogate town centre and having facial recognition cameras matching your features to those of police suspects? It could happen if Conservative Keane Duncan is elected Mayor of York and North Yorkshire this year. Read more here.

Who remembers Knaresborough’s new primary school? You’d be forgiven if you didn’t given that it was pledged nearly four years ago and not a jot of progress appears to have happened. We got an update this week.

The week ahead should see Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones appear before the Liberal Democrat-controlled area constituency committee of North Yorkshire Council. It could be tetchy.

Enjoy the site. If you have a view on any of our articles, or indeed anything else that’s bugging you about life in Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, do email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will consider it for publication in our Stray Views letters page.

And if you don’t already, sign up to our new look daily bulletins for a round-up of the news every evening in your inbox. Click on the link below.

 

Thomas the Baker set to open new store in Boroughbridge

Thomas the Baker plans to open a store on Boroughbridge High Street, where the Cooplands bakery used to be.

Cooplands closed its Boroughbridge store last April following “an in-depth review of the business”, having opened it nearly three years ago in February 2021. The Scarborough-based chain’s closest store is now on Beulah Street, Harrogate.

Beulah Street Cooplands in Harrogate.

Thomas the Baker has submitted a planning application to North Yorkshire Council for a replacement shopfront including new non-illuminated fascia and projecting sign.

People can comment on the application concerning the new store at 33 High Street until this Sunday, January 7. The store would add to the current number of bakeries in the market tow, which include Gilchrist’s and Havenhands.

The family-owned bakery chain headquartered in Helmsley was established in 1981. The company has 30 shops across Yorkshire and the North-East, including: Ripon, Knaresborough, Thirsk, Acomb, Easingwold, Haxby, Kirbymoorside, Malton, Pickering, Scarborough, Selby and four in York.

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Call for council to improve ‘poor’ Boroughbridge road conditions

A Boroughbridge resident has called on North Yorkshire Council to make “urgent” improvements to a local road.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, lives on Roecliffe Lane and told the Stray Ferret he has spent the last year campaigning to have the road resurfaced.

He said he and other local residents have issued “over a decade of complaints” to the council to resurface the road, as well as requested traffic-calming measures to make it safer, but are yet to see anything come to fruition.

Following a recent petition organised by the man and signed by Roecliffe Lane residents, he said the same recurring issues became “abundantly clear”:

“Several residents’ houses along the road shake whenever HGVs, buses, and often even cars, drive over the potholes next to them.

“This is our personal number-one issue and has at times caused deep regret moving to the street.

“We have had to endure over a year of it so far since moving in, our bed shaking most mornings when HGVs start driving the road in the early hours, doors juddering in frames, our baby’s rooms’ wardrobe rattling, the timber frame of the house creaking and more.

“Even people that visit notice, because the kitchen floor vibrates and the glasses in the cupboard clink. The council have been made aware of this multiple times.

“Several residents also commented about needing to repair their vehicles and bicycles from broken suspension and burst tyres. An elderly lady I spoke to had also fallen off her bike from a pothole.”

The noise from traffic can also be alarmingly loud and frequent, and speeding is a big issue along the road, he added.

The road was in ‘poor’ condition back in 2013. Pic: fixmystreet.

Now, he is proposing a “resident-first rethink”. He said:

“What worked for it when it was originally built is clearly not working for its residents now with increased housing, traffic and HGVs.

“It needs resurfacing urgently. It needs traffic-calming measures putting in place to reduce the thousands of noisy vehicles per day, and mitigations for the frequent HGVs.”

He also suggested the council implement new speeding enforcements to “protect the residents and their children from the up-to-81mph speeding vehicles.”

Roecliffe Lane in 2023.

‘Resurfacing is in our programme’

In response to the concerns raised, Melissa Burnham, highways area manager for North Yorkshire Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“Resurfacing of Roecliffe Lane is included in our programme for 2024/25. Once dates are confirmed, we will ensure the local community are aware.

“The local Highways team are also aware of the concerns raised and are liaising with North Yorkshire Police regarding enforcement.”

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The Stray Ferret’s daily newsletter gets a fresh new look

As the Stray Ferret enters its fourth year of providing the best media coverage of the Harrogate district, we have given our daily newsletter a makeover.

The newsletter provides a round-up of what our journalists have been up to. The new look makes it easier than ever to get a snapshot of what is happening, with links to all the articles.

It includes a nightly introduction from Stray Ferret editor John Plummer as well as a round up of our daily news content, plus Photo of the Week, lifestyle features and in-depth topics.

Mr Plummer said:

“We hope the fresh new look appeals to readers. We are very grateful to everyone who reads the Stray Ferret and hope you continue to support independent local journalism in 2024.”

You can sign up here to the newsletter to keep up to date and get the latest news straight to your inbox.

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Christmas Markets: a guide to the Harrogate district

The festive season is fast approaching, so we’ve collated a list of all the Christmas markets taking place across the Harrogate district.

If you know of one that we have missed, please email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we can add it.

Harrogate

Harrogate Christmas Fayre

The 17-day Christmas market will return to Cambridge Street this year.

There will be a variety of traders, selling festive foods and gifts, as well as live music and entertainment.

It will run from December 1 to December 17 and will be open daily.

The market will take place from 10am – 7pm from Monday to Saturday, and 11am – 4pm on Sundays.

Harrogate Ice Rink at Crescent Gardens

The fairground and ice rink will return to Crescent Gardens this year.

There will be a carousel and a collection of small rides for children to enjoy, as well as some market stalls.

It will run from December 1, 2023, to January 7, 2024.

The ice rink and attractions will open from 11am to 7.30pm on weekdays and 11am to 8.45pm on weekends.

Harrogate Festive Artisan Market

The Valley Gardens will also host a Christmas market again this December.

Little Bird Market has arranged for vendors to sell a range of food and drinks, as well as Christmas gifts.

Market days are Saturday (10am – 5pm) and Sunday (10am – 4pm) between December 2 – 17.

Christmas Market at Harrogate Horticultural Nursery

The Harrogate Horticultural Nursery will run a two-day Christmas market in November.

On Saturday, November 25 and Sunday, November 26, there will be a range of Christmas plants, gifts and Christmas trees on offer.

It will be open 9.30am – 3.30pm and entry is free.

St Wilfrid’s Church Christmas Fair

St Wilfrid’s Church, on Duchy Road, will host a Christmas fair.

Gifts, art, clothing and food and drink will be on offer.

There will also be a free film screening for families from 4pm, with a welcome drink and snack for children.

It will run on Sunday, December 10 from 11am – 4pm.

Entry is free.

Email bookings@stwilfrid.org to reserve a place at the film screening.

St Wilfrid’s Church – Christingle-making

St Wilfrid’s Church is also hosting a christingle-making session.

The event will be held in the Parish Hall and will be followed by a crib service at 5pm.

It will begin at 4pm on Sunday, December 24.

Email bookings@stwilfrid.org to reserve a place at the christingle-making session.

North Bar Christmas Market

 North Bar is hosting a “keep it local” Christmas Market.

Stalls will be inside the bar with 20 traders selling a range of art, knitted and crocheted good, jewellery and more.

There will also be charity stalls to raise money for Harrogate Cat Rescue.

The event will include a table ran by Artventurers of Harrogate and Knaresborough for children to enjoy.

Mulled wine and food will be served accompanied by live music.

The event is free and will take place on Sunday, December 3 from 11am – 6pm.

Country Living Christmas Fair Harrogate

Country Living is holding a Christmas Fair at Harrogate Convention Centre.

The fair will include gift stalls which will include artisan designers, independent producers and small businesses.

There will also be workshops and a food hall.

The event will be held from November 30 to December 3.

Ripley Christmas Market

A Christmas market run by Real Markets will be held in the grounds of Ripley Castle.

The event will take place on Sunday, December 10, from 10am until 3pm.

It will include 40 independent and artisan traders, as well as festive carols from local school children and craft activities.

The market is free to attend.

Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity — Outdoor Pop up Christmas Market at Harrogate Railway AFC

The Christmas market will offer a range of stalls offering arts, crafts and handmade jewellery, as well as food and drink vendors.

There will be live music, donkeys and even a Father Christmas grotto to enjoy.

The event will be held on Sunday, November 26 from 10am – 3pm at Harrogate Railway AFC.

All proceeds will go towards supporting staff, patients and families at Harrogate District Hospital.

Tickets are available now for a donation of £5 per adult and £2 for children over three — U3’s go free.

Tickets include a drink and a mince pie on arrival.

Starbeck Christmas Fair

Starbeck Christmas Fair, which will be held at St Andrew’s Church, will offer more than 30 stalls selling festive goods.

St Andrew’s Choir will be singing, followed by a performance from the Summerbell Dance Academy.

The Starbeck Christmas lights will be switched on just before 6pm, where mince pies will be handed out.

Harrogate Theatre Choir will then lead a festive sing-along.

It will take place on Saturday, November 25 from 2pm – 6pm.

St John’s & St Luke’s Churches Christmas Fair

St Luke’s Church, in Franklin Square is hosting a Christmas fair this December.

There will be a range of stalls selling jams, plants, jewellery, books, gifts and more.

Light refreshments will also be on offer.

The fair will take place on Saturday, December 2 from 10:30am – 1pm.

Admission is £3 and includes coffee and cake. Accompanied children go free.

Bilton Area Methodist Church Christmas Fayre

The church will host 16 craft stalls for its Christmas fayre.

Coffee, cake, festive sandwiches and soup will all be on offer.

There will also be a Christmas hamper raffle and a lucky dip for children.

The event will take place on Saturday, November 25, from 10am – 3pm.

West Park & St Paul’s Churches Community Carol Service

A community carol service will take place at the West Park United Reform Church, on Victoria Avenue, in December.

There will be plenty of carols to sing followed by coffee and mince pies.

Anyone is welcome.

The service will be held on Friday, December 22 at 5pm.

Ripon

Ripon Cathedral Christmas Food and Gift Fair

The cathedral will host more than 100 stalls during its Christmas fair.

There will be hot turkey sandwiches, mulled wine and Christmas gifts on offer.

The event will take place on Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25, from 9.30am – 4.30pm.

Tickets cost £5 for adults and U16s go free.

There is also a free park and ride available.

Little Bird Christmas Artisan Market

Little Bird will offer a variety of stalls in the Market Square.

There will be homewares, personalised gifts, toys and food and drinks on offer.

It will take place on Sunday, November 26 from 10am – 3pm.

Ripon Community Christmas Craft Fair

 A Christmas market will be on offer at Ripon Community House.

There will be handmade gifts, local produce and arts and crafts.

There will also be a visit from Father Christmas for young ones to enjoy.

All proceeds from the tombola and refreshment area will go towards the Community House.

Entry is 50p and the event will take place from 10am – 3pm on Sunday, November 19.

Late night Christmas shopping

There will also be a late night shopping event around Ripon.

Traders will stay open until 8pm.

It will take place on Thursday, November 30.

Festive Winter Warmer Cruises & Local Makers Market at Canal Basin

The Pride of Ripon will be running festive cruises on the canal this Christmas.

The boat ride, which will be 30 minutes in total, will also include mulled wine, hot chocolate and nibbles – including brownies and mince pies from The Secret Garden.

Local traders will also have stalls running alongside the boat rides.

It will take place on Saturday, December 16 and Sunday, December 17 from 11am — 3pm.

Tickets start at £8.95.

Knaresborough

Knaresborough Christmas Market and fireworks

 Knaresborough Christmas Markets will take place around the town’s Market Place.

There will be almost 60 stalls, including festive food, clothing and Christmas gifts.

Live music and entertainment will also be on offer, with performances from a Ukrainian Dance Group, Knaresborough Choral Society and Harrogate Spa St John’s Church Choir.

There will also be a free park and ride for the weekend from the GSPK car park (postcode HG5 8LF) on Manse Lane to Chapel Street, close to the market square. Buses will run from 8am to 5.30pm throughout the weekend.

A firework display at the Castle grounds will bring the market weekend to a close.

The markets will run on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3.

Nidderdale

Pateley Bridge Late Night Shopping

Pateley Bridge will hold a late-night shopping evening on Friday, December 8.

Local shops will be involved and hand out samples, while children can enjoy the santa’s grotto.

It will begin at 6pm.

St Nicholas Fair at St Cuthbert’s Church, Pateley Bridge

A Christmas fair will be held in Pateley Bridge on Sunday December 2.

There will be a range of stalls selling jewellery, cakes and gifts, as well as a festive tombola and a raffle.

The Summerbridge and Dacre Silver Prize Band will also be performing from noon until 1.30pm.

Admission is £3 and includes a hot drink and a mince pie.

Soup and a roll will be available from noon.

The event starts at 10.30am.

Christmas Big Sing at St Cuthbert’s Church, Pateley Bridge

To continue the festivities, a “big sing” will be held at the church later in the evening  on December 2.

Tickets cost £5 on the door and there will also be a raffle.

Tables of 4 or more can be booked in advance by emailing me.mitch@btinternet.com

The bar opens from 6.30pm and the event will run from 7pm – 9pm.

Masham

Masham Christmas Fayre

A traditional Christmas fayre will be held in Masham Town Hall this year.

There will be a variety of gifts available to buy.

The event will take place on Saturday, December 2, from 10am .

SYD Christmas Craft, Vintage and Collectables Fayre

 An eclectic Christmas Fayre will be held in Masham Town Hall this year.

There will be two floors of handmade craft, vintage and collectables stalls.

It will take place on Sunday, December 3 from 10am.

Boroughbridge 

Late night Christmas shopping

A late-night Christmas shopping event will be held across Boroughbridge.

Shops will stay open late and will compete in a window display competition.

There will also be festive street stalls, a hog roast, choir performances and children’s rides.

Children can also expect a visit from Father Christmas.

The event, which will take place on Wednesday December 6, will be kicked off by the official light switch-on at 5.30pm.

Christmas Fayre — Minskip Village Hall

A Christmas Gift Fayre will be held in Minskip, near Boroughbridge, this month.

The event, which will be held in Minskip Village Hall, will run from 1pm – 4pm.

It will feature a wide range of local traders selling festive gifts, food and homeware, as well as a tombola and refreshments.

All proceeds will go to the local church.

The fayre will be held on Saturday, December 9.

Entry is free.

Villages

Lovingly Made in the Dales — Hampsthwaite

An artisan Christmas market will be held in Hampsthwaite village hall.

There will be more than 20 vendors selling locally-crafted gifts.

Tickets cost £10, which includes a glass of wine and a raffle ticket, and money raised will go towards the Roddy Scott Foundation.

It will take place on Thursday, December 7, from 6pm – 9pm.

Artisan Christmas Market — The Inn at South Stainley

The Inn at South Stainley will host three-days of Christmas markets in November and December.

It will host a range of local sellers.

There will be mulled wine and bratwurst on offer while shopping.

The event is free to attend and will take place on Wednesday, November 29 from 4pm, and December 6 and 13 from 8pm.

The Christmas Kitchen — The Washburn Heritage Centre

The Washburn Heritage Centre will be hosting a Christmas market in December.

There will be a range of stalls selling homemade seasonal goods, including jams, alcohol and sweet treats, baked by the centre’s volunteers.

The Tea Room will also be serving a seasonal menu with hot soup, turkey rolls, mince pies and Christmas cake to enjoy.

The Fewston Musick singers will be performing at the event.

It will take place on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3 from 11am – 4pm.

Copt Hewick Christmas Fair

A festive market will be held in Copt Hewick village church and hall on Saturday, December 2.

There will be craft stalls, a tombola and raffle, food and drinks, and even a visit from Father Christmas on a horse-drawn sleigh.

The event will run from 11am – 3pm.

Admission is free.

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Boroughbridge out-of-school club receives glowing Ofsted report

A Boroughbridge breakfast and after-school club has received a glowing Ofsted report.

Roboodles, which operates at Roecliffe Church of England Primary School, was described as “wonderful” by inspectors.

An inspection was carried out at the club in November this year.

Ofsted inspector Jan Batchelor said in a report just published:

“Leaders create a wonderful out-of-school club.

“[Children] chat together as they make jewellery, they concentrate as they paint Diwali pictures, and they use their imagination as they create imaginary worlds with dinosaurs.”

The inspection report found Roboodles consulted a nutritionist in providing healthy food for club members.

Ms Batchelor said:

“Children confidently explain to the inspector that they are allowed a drizzle of honey on their toast, not a river.”

Meanwhile, the report found that children were well behaved.

Ms Batchelor said:

“They know they must not run around outside ‘like headless chickens’, but they also know that the most important club rule is to have fun.”

Claire Bennett and Lianne Conroy, Roboodles business partners, said in a statement:

“Our recent Ofsted visit was our first.

“We are delighted with the inspectors report, which captures perfectly how Roboodles operates everyday.

We love what we do and feel very privileged to be able to share our time with the children in our care.”

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Roboodles is based in Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, and accepts children from reception to year 6.

The breakfast club runs weekday mornings between 7.30am to 8.50am.

The afterschool club runs Monday-Thursday between 3.30pm and 5.30pm, and on Fridays between 3.30pm and 5pm.

Ripon tinsel tractor run raises £1,500 for Yorkshire Cancer Research

The Nidderdale Charity Tinsel Tractor Run, which took place around Ripon last weekend, raised more than £1,500 for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

17 tinsel-covered tractors departed from F Tate & Sons Garden Centre.

In sub-zero degree temperatures, drivers followed a 21-mile route which passed through Bishop Monkton, Roecliffe, Boroughbridge and Skelton-on-Ure before returning to Ripon Market Place at around 6pm.

Simon Dickinson, who founded the tractor run, said he “couldn’t have wished for it to go any better”, adding:

“It was just absolutely fantastic.

“People were stood in the middle of nowhere to watch and cheer.

“I was really nervous in the morning, thinking ‘will my tractor get stuck’ but it was great.”

Entry cost £15 per tractor and donations were collected at different points along the route, including Morrisons in Ripon and Boroughbridge.

Caffè Nero, in Ripon, also stayed open late to serve the drivers free hot drinks upon their return.

Mr Dickinson, who is from Ripon but now lives in Northallerton, founded the Nidderdale Charity Tractor Run last year.

It attracted more than 55 vehicles and raised more than £2,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance service in June this year.

Mr Dickinson, who is a member of the West Yorkshire Vintage Tractor & Engine Club, told the Stray Ferret he chose to raise money for Yorkshire Cancer Research this time after his brother-in-law had bladder cancer.

“Luckily, he’s in remission now, but so many of my customers have prostate cancer too.

“It’s just everywhere.”

Mr Dickinson said the event was a great success and he will “definitely do it again” next year.

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