Traditional wooden signs that welcome visitors to Ripon and invite them to ‘stay awhile amid its ancient charms’ are in need of replacement.
At last week’s full city council meeting, former Mayor Councillor Eamon Parkin, said:
“The signs have been dropping to bits and I first asked for them to be replaced six years ago, but they remain in place and in a poor condition.”
Parts of the sign on North Bridge have fallen victim to the elements and vandalism
Last month, as part of Ripon BID’s commitment to improve wayfinding it announced it had partnered with North Yorkshire highways to put new metal boundary marker signs in place on Ripon bypass, Boroughbridge Road, Kirkby Road and Studley Road.
One of the metal boundary signs that is now in place
The project was supported by city and North Yorkshire councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams through donations from their locality budgets.
The welcome sign on Rotary Way
However, at the city council meeting, Cllr Williams said:
“These were never intended to replace the wooden welcome to Ripon signs, which are part of the city’s heritage.”
Councillors agreed for costings to be sought for wooden replacement signs and, once obtained, for these to be considered at a future meeting.
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Ripon councillors call for safety measure at ‘dangerous’ city centre junction
Ripon councillors are calling for new safety measures to be put in place near a city centre junction where four accidents have occurred in two years.
Concerns were raised at Monday night’s full city council meeting about the junction of Fishergate and Old Market Place, where a pedestrian was involved in an accident on the morning of September 1.
Councillor Eamon Parkin said:
“There have been four accidents here in two years and something needs to be done.”
A number of measures to make crossing the road safer for pedestrians were discussed, after Cllr Pauline McHardy proposed a zebra crossing be installed by North Yorkshire Council.
She said:
“This is a dangerous place for people to cross, but we could make it safer at little expense by putting white paint on the road.”
Councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams, who represent Ripon on North Yorkshire Council, said the council doesn’t install zebra crossings any more.
Cllr Williams also said:
“The installation of a Pelican (light controlled) crossing would cost thousands of pounds and be unlikely to be approved.
“We do, however, need to ensure that people can cross the road safely and I recommend that we ask North Yorkshire to put signs on posts at the approaches to the junction that say ‘Beware Pedestrians Crossing’.”
Councillors agreed to write to North Yorkshire Council requesting that new measures be put in place to make the junction safer.
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Bid to make motorists reduce their speed in Ripon residential area
A vehicle activated sign has been installed on Clotherhome Road in Ripon In a bid to make drivers reduce their speed.
It has been located between the junctions for Ash Bank Road and Doublegates Avenue after residents raised concerns about the dangers posed by speeding drivers.
Lib Dem councillor Barbara Brodigan, who represents the Ripon Ure Bank and Spa Division on North Yorkshire County Council and is also a city councillor, told the Stray Ferret:
“I approached the county’s highways team after being contacted by residents who said that speeding motorists on Clotherholme Road have been putting lives at risk.
“Family pets have been killed after being hit by vehicles and some people believe it’s only a matter of time before there is a human fatality.”
Cllr Brodigan added:
“This is a growing residential area with new homes under construction and the prospect of more housing in the future with the barracks development.
“Clotherholme Road is also the location for the city’s two secondary schools and we must do all that we can to raise awareness of speed limits and the need for motorists to drive safely.”
The VAS sign has been funded through the Section 106 monies paid by Harran Homes as part of the planning agreement drawn up for its Bishop’s Glade development, in the Doublegates area.
The sign, installed by TWM Traffic Control Systems Ltd, working in liaison with traffic engineers from the county counil, employs the latest technology and is solar powered.
It has a range of 200 metres and is activated by any vehicle being driven at 27 mph or above. The display also includes a ‘slow down’ message for vehicles exceeding the 30 mph speed limit.
Ripon plans some light relief this Christmas
Ripon councillors are determined to ensure festive cheer for retailers, residents and visitors to the city centre this Christmas.
While some towns and cities in the UK are putting plans for seasonal lighting on hold because of concerns over rising energy costs, Ripon will be going ahead with its civic display and switch on event.
However, concerns have been expressed. At Monday night’s full meeting of the council, Liberal Democrat councillor Barbara Brodigan asked:
“With the increasing cost of electricity, could we be seen as being profligate or frivolous at a time when people are having to cut back on their use of power?”
Last year’s Christmas lights switch on in Ripon.
Independent council leader Andrew Williams, said:
“These are indeed difficult times and there there will be more ahead, but we want to ensure that the civic lights are in place to bring some degree of Christmas spirit to the city to benefit our independent retailers and give a lift to residents and visitors.”
This year, the festive programme in Ripon is being supported by Ripon Business Improvement District, which is paying for the production and distribution of a Christmas brochure, setting out the events that will be happening in the city.
Cllr Williams said:
“The council has been paying for the brochure for a number of years and we welcome this support from the BID.”
The Christmas lights are paid for from the parish precept and in 2020, the display was extended following a £65,000 injection of funding from the city council’s events budget, made possible because of the money that became available after a number of planned public events had to be cancelled because of the covid pandemic.
In 2021 there was further investment in the display, designed to boost the Ripon economy by attracting more visitors.
Last year’s switch-on event on November 19 saw a large crowd gather on Market Square.