Halls of Ripon department store has welcomed three new independent retailers to its Fishergate premises, while two other businesses have doubled their size.
Operations manager Barry Cooper told the Stray Ferret:
“We now have 16 independents under one roof selling goods ranging from clothing to customised works of art.”
Mr Cooper, (pictured below) added:
“This is the strongest mix of retailers that we have had since we opened in the summer of 2021 and we are looking forward with confidence to our third Christmas of trading here.”
The new entrants include Crazywood, which sells the original works of contemporary pyrography artist Simon Wright, whose wife Tricia (main picture) said:
“The art and craft of burning images into wood is an ancient practice of skill and patience.
“With these skills, along with modern styles and the use of watercolours, stains, textures and oils, amazing reproductions of literally anything can be created.”
Also new to Halls is Janey Mays, a business run by Jane and Mark Coombes, which specialises in steampunk, goth and fantasy goods, including giftware made from upcycled materials.
Jane Coombes, pictured at the Janey Mays stall she runs with husband Mark.
Neighbouring the Janey Mays stall is third new entrant Kimmy Gowland, an artist whose original patterns are printed onto fabric, wallpaper and other materials.
In addition to the businesses taking space for the first time at Halls, Red Buttons Jewellers, run by Mr Cooper and his father Mike, has doubled the size of its presence, as has Robin Gifts, which sells ladies fashion and accessories
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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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Witness appeal after person hit by car in Ripon
A person has been injured after being struck by a car in Ripon city centre.
The incident happened on Fishergate this morning and the extent of the injuries is not yet known.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:
“Shortly after 11.30am today, police received a call from the ambulance service reporting that a person has been hit by a vehicle on Fishergate in Ripon.
“Officers are currently at the scene of the incident.”
North Yorkshire Police urged anyone with information to get in touch. The incident number is NYP-01092023-0161.
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Fashion retailer Peacocks recruiting staff for new Ripon store
Value fashion retailer Peacocks looks set to come to Ripon after advertising for staff on a number of websites.
The company, which sells men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, has advertised vacancies for a Ripon store manager, assistant store manager and sales assistant, on the Indeed recruitment site.
The store manager advert, which can also be found on the SimplyHired and Retail Human Resources) sites said:
“Here at Peacocks we have a fantastic opportunity for a store manager based in our new store in Ripon.
“If you would like to be part of a forward-thinking business and have a job with excellent career prospects, we would love to hear from you.”
When approached today by the Stray Ferret, Peacocks’ head office in Cardiff would not say when they will be opening in the city, how many people they will employ and which vacant unit they will be taking.
However, a hint towards a possible Ripon location came last month when the retailer opened a store at premises in Market Place, Driffield, previously occupied by M&Co, which went into administration in December.
The former M&Co unit on Fishergate closed in April and later that month specialist retail publication Drapers Online reported that Peacocks was aiming to take 20 stores from the M&Co estate.
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