A scenic 42-mile walk between Bradford and Ripon has been created that takes in Saltaire, Fountains Abbey and Brimham Rocks.

The Burley Bridge Association and Ramblers Lower Wharfedale, who devised the route, have invited ramblers to join them for the inaugural walk on Friday April 29. There will also be several guided walks spread out over the bank holiday weekend.

It will begin at Bradford Cathedral between 9am and 10am and will continue to Saltaire (4.5 miles) then to Burley (8 miles).

The third stage to Thruscross Reservoir (10 miles) will take place on Saturday April 30, starting at 10am from Burley Station, with mini-bus transport provided back to Burley. There will be a small charge to cover costs.

The fourth stage from Thruscross to Brimham Rocks (8.5 miles) will take place on Sunday May 1 and the fifth stage from Brimham Rocks to Ripon (11 miles) will take place on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2.

David Asher, secretary of the BBA said:

“It links the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Saltaire and Fountains Abbey and goes through some of the best scenery that West and North Yorkshire has to offer.

“From a hidden green corridor starting near the centre of Bradford, to upland moor landscapes with extensive views, stunning wooded valleys, and past dramatic geological formations such as Brimham Rocks.”

“There are also loads of bridges to cross including the 13th century Butterton Bridge which features on the waymarks along the route. The Wharfe can be crossed either by the stepping stones or by Denton Bridge depending on the water level.”

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The walk finishes at Ripon Cathedral and all walkers are invited to the Ripon Beer Festival that takes place that day. It is being hosted by the Cathedral as part of its 1350th birthday celebrations.

If you want to book, send names and phone numbers to burleybridge@gmail.com

Ripon’s new swimming pool and partly-refurbished leisure centre, officially opened its doors early this morning.

The reaction of the first swimmers through the door at 6.30 was unanimously positive.

Comments included, ‘superb’ ‘fabulous’ ‘absolutely great’ and ‘It’s really exciting.’

Named in honour of a history-making Olympic diving champion and local hero, who learnt to swim in Ripon’s Spa Baths at the age of 3, the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre is designed to be a facility fit for the 21st century.

Jack Laugher MBE , is on the sign that greets swimmers and gym users when they enter the centre

The pool contains almost half a million litres of water

The centre, along with other swimming and leisure facilities across the district, is being operated on behalf of the council by Brimhams Active.

The people of Ripon have been waiting for this day – the project to build the pool ran nine months behind schedule and cost approximately £5 million more than its original £10.2 million budget.

The Changing Places toilet at the new Ripon pool

The charges for members of the public to use the new pool, have not increased from the entry fees charged at Spa Baths.

A swimming session for an adult costs £5.10 with children aged 3 to 16 paying £2.70 and complimentary entry for children under 3. The adult concession rate also remains at £3.70.

Centre operations manager Ben Cutting, was on duty with his Brimhams Active team to welcome the early-bird swimmers

Containing almost half a million litres of water, the six-lane pool can accommodate 108 swimmers at a time and leading-edge AngelEye technology has been installed as an added safety measure, should anybody get into difficulty during a swim.

Accessibility features are an integral part of the design, from the inclusion of wider doors, steps for entry at the shallow end of the pool and the provision of Changing Places toilets in both the pool and at the leisure centre.

The gym area 

The ground floor of the centre remains closed, awaiting the remediation measures required before the whole of the building can be used, but the upper floor is equipped with an array of top-of-the-range health and fitness equipment – from treadmills to cycling machines that can link into  digital media.

There is also a sauna room that can be used by swimmers and gym goers and outside, the well-equipped Dallamires Children’s Play area, which opened on Monday, is already proving popular.

Read more:

• Stray Ferret banned from today’s Ripon pool media opening

• Ripon pool opening delayed again

• Thumbs up for new Ripon playground

The sole Conservative councillor who spoke out against the choice of Dallamires Lane for Ripon’s new pool, says the project is a poor use of public money.

Originally scheduled to open in May, the scheme, which includes refurbishment of the adjoining leisure centre, is already more than £3 million over budget at £13.5 million with the costs set to rise even further.

Cllr Nigel Simms, who represents the Kirkby Malzeard and Masham Ward, told the Stray Ferret:

“Nothing has happened to change my mind, the geology of the site with its sinkhole issues, means it’s the wrong place.

“I’m all in favour of new leisure facilities for Ripon, but a more stable area should have been selected.”

At the June 2019 planning meeting where the application for the pool and leisure centre refurbishment was approved, Cllr Simms, said:

“I do not believe that you can build this thing and that in 50 years time it will still be there for the use of the people of Ripon.

“I don’t think it’s an economic use of public funds.”

Earlier this month Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet approved further investigation of the unstable ground conditions under the 26-year-old leisure centre building, ahead of remedial works in the New Year.

In the meantime, the long-awaited new pool for Ripon is scheduled to open on 8 December.

The Stray Ferret asked HBC about the final costs for the leisure centre work and a council spokesperson, said:

“As outlined during the cabinet meeting, the costs for the investigation works are not as yet known. Following the investigation works, there will then be assessment of the proposed remediation strategies, together with an assessment of the estimated cost.

“The council would not be able to disclose details of costs until the agreed remedial works are contracted as we view that providing this information may prejudice future commercial negotiations with supply partners.”

Two Freedom of Information (FOI) requests made to HBC by the Stray Ferret about the cost of ground remediation work at the site, which caused the initial six-month delay to the swimming pool opening, received similar responses.

However, in September, the council provided details of additional costs incurred for the project in response to an FOI request submitted by Ripon resident and chartered civil engineer Stanley Mackintosh.

In its  FOI response to him, HBC said that:

• Money already paid for construction and associated works stood at £12,936,235.55.
• A further £619,427.06, had been allocated for payment.

This running tally of £13,555,662 in September compares with the original 17-month contract signed with construction company and principal contractor Willmott Dixon for £10.2 million.

Mr Mackintosh told the Stray Ferret:

“I have always been in favour of a new swimming pool and leisure centre for Ripon, but along with others, have argued over many years that the Camp Close site, with its known history of ground instability, was not the right place for it.”

Dog owners (pictured above) who visit Hell Wath nature reserve in Ripon on a regular basis, fear a potential future clash with cyclists.

The area, with its wooded and riverside walks and wildlife, is popular with people who take their dogs there for daily exercise.

Currently, signage at an entry near the football pitches (pictured below) states ‘no pushbikes’ but there are concerns that this could change, if a cycle route was created on the site, following an approach from the community.

Dog owners Janet Anderson and Brian Don, who attended a Friends of Hell Wath committee meeting earlier this month, made their feelings known.

Ms Anderson, told the Stray Ferret:

“Dogs and cyclists just don’t mix in a setting like this and we are very worried that we will not be able to let our dogs off the lead, to get the exercise they need, for fear of them being involved in an accident with a bicycle.”

Mr Don, added:

“We have absolutely no issue with paths being made more accessible to people in wheelchairs, but a cycle route is a completely different proposition.”

Discussions about a possible route for cyclists were initiated following a community event held at the nature reserve in September by the Skell Valley Project, headed by the National Trust and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Working with volunteers, the project aims to bring about environmental and other improvements to a 12-mile stretch of the river valley – part of which runs through Hell Wath.

The minutes of the Friends of Hell Wath meeting of 1 November meeting, state:

“The committee confirmed that it had been approached about a cycle route and that it also had reservations.

“It also noted that Hell Wath is secured for community use and the committee is not the arbiter for who can use it and should therefore explore whether safe access for cycling could be facilitated.”

Committee chair, Councillor Stuart Martin, who was not present at the 1 November meeting, pointed out:

“Friends of Hell Wath are consultees and should there be any plan for a cycle route, or improved access for people with limited mobility, we will be consulted alongside all statutory bodies and the public.”

Mr Don welcomed the opportunity for wider consultation and said:

“Hundreds of local people take their dogs to Hell Wath each week and some of them have been going there for up to 50 years. It is important for our voices to be heard

“We just ask that any consultation that takes place is publicised in a way that can be accessed by everybody – particularly older people who are not familiar with the use of social media.”

Ripon Leisure Centre will only be partially open when the city’s new swimming pool comes on stream in seven weeks’ time.

Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) has confirmed that the leisure centre’s ground floor will remain closed while ‘further ground investigatory work and any remedial action required is considered.’

The multi-million pound project, due to include a six-lane pool, fully-refurbished leisure centre and outside play areas, was initially scheduled for completion in May, but ground stabilisation work known as grouting, contributed to a six-month hold up.

Last week HBC announced a revised date of 8 December for the opening of the pool.

Now, however, there is a further delay in delivery of the complete scheme, which is already more than £3 million over budget.

Opening on 8 December – Ripon’s new swimming pool

A spokesperson for HBC, said:

“The first floor of the leisure centre will remain open and will continue to be available for use when the new pool opens on the 8th December.

“The ground floor of the leisure centre will remain closed whilst further ground investigatory work and any remedial action required is considered.

“Once any further investigations and any necessary mitigations are concluded, the full suite of facilities at the Leisure Centre will be ready to be opened.”

The leisure centre gym has been moved and can now be accessed via a temporary first floor entrance, but a spin studio and other facilities that would have been on the ground floor, will not be available when the pool opens.

The original £10.2 million contract awarded to construction company and principal contractor Willmott Dixon in November 2019, stipulated a completion date of May 2021.

Following the extension of the contract, known costs for the scheme currently stand at £13,555,662.

A sinkhole caused the closure of the leisure centre car park in February 2018 and a new void discovered during construction work in September 2020 near the former entrance to the centre, is the subject of an investigation costing £110,000.

The delayed ending of coronavirus restrictions has forced organisers of Parkrun in the Harrogate district to push back its return by a month.

It has been a difficult few months for the organisers, who have tentatively scheduled the return of the free, weekly 5 km runs time and time again, only to then have to disappoint runners.

Outdoor events are permitted under the current government rules. However, many of the landowners that host the runs have granted permission for them to take place on the condition that all lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Now the government has delayed the roadmap easing until July 19, Parkrun is looking to return on July 24.

There are three Parkruns in the Harrogate district: on the Stray in Harrogate, Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough and Fountains Abbey, near Ripon.

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A spokesperson for Parkrun said today:

“A huge amount of work has been done in recent weeks to ensure we have permission to return from the large majority of landowners.

“While this delay is disappointing, we respect the fact that a significant number of these permissions were contingent on the country moving into Step 4.

“We will therefore target a new reopening date of July 24.”

The Mayor of Ripon and city council leader are demanding the reopening of Spa Baths.

With the completion date for Ripon’s new swimming pool delayed until November, councillors Eamon Parkin and Andrew Williams, are leading the call.

They visited the Grade II listed building with members of Ripon Civic Society on Friday and discovered the pool full of warm water and the heating on.

Councillor Parkin told the Stray Ferret:

“Though the building has been closed for more than a year because of the covid pandemic, it appeared to be in good shape.

“I can see no reason why it shouldn’t be back open from 12 April, along with other pools in the Harrogate district.”

Ripon is set to be without a swimming pool until November.

He added:

“Heaven knows how much it has cost to keep the heating on while the baths have been closed to the public.

“It is clear from what we saw, that council tax payers have been paying for a facility they have been unable to use.

“The pool needs to be back open from the moment that the lockdown on leisure facilities lifts.”

They were shown around by an agent from Sanderson Weatherall, which has been appointed by Harrogate Borough Council to handle the disposal of the property.

The fact-finding visit was arranged after Ripon City Council voted unanimously to keep the building in public ownership for community use.

Cllr Williams said:

“We turned up wearing our coats expecting to see the pool drained, but were surprised to find it in an operational condition.

“In some respects it was quite shocking – the heat was stifling.

“We were also surprised to discover from the agent that there is no set asking price or a guide price for the building.”

Asked about a potential reopening of Spa Baths, Councillor Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, said:

“That has still to be decided.”

Cllr Lumley confirmed the Hydro swimming pool in Harrogate and Nidderdale Pool in Pateley Bridge will be reopening in April.

To comply with social distancing requirements, both will have a limited number of users.

He added:

“We are getting to a position with the roadmap, that enables us to reopen facilities, but we are limited to what we can open.”

Read more:

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The initial focus will be on the reopening of the Hydro and Nidderdale pools.

Cllr Lumley said:

“We have to look on the other pools with more consideration and we can’t give a yes or no on Spa Baths at the moment.

“Decisions are being made on a weekly, if not daily basis.”

A personal trainer from Harrogate has decided to end his classes after more than 30 years due to coronavirus restrictions.

Ray Thomson started Pulse Beats circuit training in 1989. He has taught thousands over the years and has done most of his classes in recent years at Harrogate Grammar School.

But with tough requirements on indoor exercise Mr Thomson does not believe that his classes are viable anymore. He will still continue with his sports and posture massages.

When Ray Thomson made the announcement he was inundated with messages of support and memories from his former students.

A fancy dress picture from the archives in the 1990s.

Mr Thomson said:

“I wanted to leave a legacy where people fondly remember the classes as a place where they had fun.

“Exercise should never be a chore, it should be something you enjoy.

“One of my favourite memories was when we had a noise complaint from one of our neighbours. We were whooping and hollering when he was watching Coronation Street.”

When the Stray Ferret asked Mr Thomson if he would ever start the classes again, he said “never say never” but added that now was not the time.

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Mr Thomson also raised fears about Harrogate’s exercise industry after the news that one of his former colleagues was forced to put Gambaru fitness into liquidation.

He added that the exercise industry has been hit by coronavirus and there will be more closures to come but he believes that a resurgance will follow.

A health and fitness centre in Harrogate has had plans approved to build more padel courts and changing facilities due to increased demand for the sport.

Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre on Hookstone Wood Road offers a range of different facilities including a gym, squash courts, studios and therapy rooms. However, its padel courts are seeing particularly high demand.

The only courts of their kind in the region, they see people travel from Hull, Liverpool and Manchester to play. Padel, a racket sport described as being a mix between squash and tennis, is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK.

Since reopening the courts on July 4, the Harrogate centre has seen an increased demand from people wanting to use the facilities. The courts are currently booked from 7am until 10pm, seven days a week, until the end of August.

Planning approval has been granted for a new glass-enclosed padel court.

Plans to build another glass-enclosed court along with changing rooms and toilets have recently been approved. The addition will be funded by the centre, the Lawn Tennis Association and Sport England.

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James Gaston, general manager at Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre, told the Stray Ferret that people of all ages come down to exercise:

“The whole point is to try and encourage people to play sports and make exercising cheap for communities. We try and make it so there’s something for everybody here from young people to older people. It’s like a big family.”

The sports centre also has a cafe which serves healthy food and drink.

Leo Campagna, a member at the club who is nearly 80 and plays squash most days of the week, told the Stray Ferret:

“I am nearly 80 and people my age have difficulty keeping fit. When you stop exercising you start to stiffen up and so you have to keep going. I am so glad to be able to play squash again. I come nearly every day of the week.”

Personal trainers in Harrogate have had to adapt to new ways of training to continue earning an income during lockdown.

The pandemic has left many of them with fewer clients and needing to adapt to outdoor and online classes.

But with many people currently making their health a top priority, trainers are hoping this could encourage more people to seek their help following lockdown.

The current rules allow for five people to attend an outdoor class with one trainer meaning many are using the Stray as their new workout space. As well as this Harrogate’s trainers are finding their online classes to be popular, with some deciding to continue them after gyms reopen due to public demand.

Gabby Glasby is a personal trainer in Harrogate, she said:

“I started sessions for five people doing three a week in park areas and I’m doing 1-2-1’s in gardens and its just starting to get busier. Its working well, I’ve had to buy some new equipment to make sure its still a full body workout without the gym equipment. I’ve had a few new people start on zoom, some I worked with before and others from elsewhere such as London.”

“I’d hope that many people will realise that your general health can improve your body’s immunity so you need to look after it, that could be a positive for us as PTs.”

Outdoor workouts are allowing trainers to continue earning over lockdown.

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In the coming weeks a further easing of lockdown could mean personal trainers have more freedom to increase their groups or slowly return to indoor training.

Craig Heard another personal trainer in Harrogate is hopeful, he said:

“It has really pushed me to grow my business in a very quick and reactive manner, it is something I always wanted to do but was forced into a corner and with all the time at home and loss of some clients I had the time and urgency to be able to work on things I had only ever planned for in my head before.

“Currently I am delivering one to one online PT, zoom fitness classes and my Train 8 programme. I will remain hopeful, it’s the best way to be. If PTs don’t adapt in this time they will struggle.”