Bereaved families have accused dog owners who let their pets off the leash at a Ripon cemetery of being disrespectful and causing distress.
Jeanette Behan has visited the grave her husband Brian in Ripon’s Kirby Road Cemetery twice a week since 2014.
Mrs Behan, told the Stray Ferret:
“I’ve had to remove dog dirt from my husband’s grave on a number of occasions and I’m getting sick of it.
“It is disrespectful as well as distressing, but Harrogate Borough Council, who I contacted weeks ago, don’t appear want to know.
“I’m sorry to say that over the years, this place has gone to wrack and ruin, while Stonefall in Harrogate where I have family and friends buried, is kept neat and tidy by a team of gardeners.”
In the same section of the cemetery, the last resting place of Michael Hogan, who died in 2012, is looked after by his partner Tracey Bland.
Ms Bland said:
“The thought that some people are so disrespectful that they are happy to let their dogs run free in a cemetery, is beyond belief.
“When they are challenged, the say that they haven’t seen any signs to say dogs are not allowed, but why would anybody need to see a sign, when it’s a matter of common decency.
“I’ve got a dog and there is no way that I would let it run free across people’s graves.”
Some owners are ignoring this sign at the main entrance to the cemetery and letting their dogs run free
Ms Bland at her partner Michael’s grave
Read more:
- Harrogate Borough Council accused of being disrespectful of Ripon’s dead
- Ripon Cemetery headstones daubed with graffiti
Seeking action from Harrogate Borough Council
With a lack of response from HBC, Mrs Behan called for intervention from independent councillor, Pauline McHardy, who also has relatives buried at the cemetery and has voiced concerns about the management and maintenance of the site.
Cllr McHardy, said:
“I raised the matter with council officers, saying that there was a need for signage on all entrances to the cemetery to be improved and positioned where it can be seen by everybody.
“I also asked for the appropriate action to be taken to enforce the rule, which only allows people with assistance dogs to enter the cemetery.”
In an email response seen by the Stray Ferret, Alison Wilson, HBC’s head of parks and environmental services, said she has asked a colleague:
“to look at the signage options for the site to advise that only support dogs are allowed and also raised the issue with the dog warden service in Safer Communities requesting they undertake some patrols of the site. “
Cllr McHardy, added:
“I will be monitoring the situation.”
Ripon Spa Croquet club offers free sessions at new home
Ripon Spa Croquet Club is enjoying a renaissance in its new surroundings of Studley Royal Cricket Club.
Covid lockdown from March 2020 and the subsequent sale of Spa Hotel, where the croquet players had been based for almost 30 years, signalled the need for relocation.
The move to SRCC is now complete, with hoops in place to play on a lovingly-tended surface adjacent to the cricket pitch.
The aim is to build on the club’s heritage, which saw international matches and world-class players do battle on the lawns of the hotel’s gardens.
The club’s international pedigree
Formed in the early 1990s as Ripon Spa Hotel Croquet Club, It was founded by Croquet Association Federation officer Keith Smith, hotel owner Andrew Hutchinson and managing director Samantha Currie.
It soon attracted players from across the district, including Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge and Pateley Bridge.
By 1997, Ms Currie, Mr Hutchinson and clubmate Syd Jones all achieved world rankings and took part in the GC World Championships in Cairo.
While the club’s historic achievements provide many happy memories for its older members, the emphasis now is on the future.
Chair and chief coach Ted Flexman told the Stray Ferret:
“With the fabulous facilities that we have at the Studley Royal ground, there is the potential to create one of the best croquet clubs in the north.”
One man went to mow – Studley Royal Cricket Club groundsman Trevor Rose.
The club is offering two free introductory taster sessions on April 25 and 27 to attract new members. The sessions are open to people of all ages and anybody wishing to attend should contact the club in advance. Further details are available by clicking on this link.
Club secretary Sue I’Anson said:
“This is a great game for people of all ages and abilities, with the more seasoned players helping newcomers to master the technique of swinging the mallet and making good contact with the ball.”
This has certainly been the experience of member Rod Grant, who added:
“I’d never played croquet before and then Ted invited me have a game and I have enjoyed taking part ever since.”
Sue I’Anson is pictured with, from the left Ted Flexman, Roger I’Anson and Rod Grant
Top facilities
SRCC, with teams in the York & District Senior League Premier Division and 3 more in the Nidderdale League divisions 2, 5 and 7, has one of the best clubhouses of any amateur cricket club in Yorkshire and its pitch among the biggest in the county.
Mr Flexman said:
“We have been made very welcome here and look forward to a long and happy relationship as we play our complementary sports side by side.
“Both require good hand/eye coordination and we hope that some of the bowlers and batsmen try their hand at swinging a mallet.”
Roger I’Anson, who is in the process of obtaining his coaching qualifications, added:
“As well as the joy of taking part in the sport, whether a beginner or experienced player, it’s a tremendous way of making friends, with the clubhouse providing an excellent venue for pre and post-match socialising.”
Harry Whitaker, the owner of Mastachoice Fencing and Fabrication and apprentice Charlie Lister, constructing a storage shed that will be used to store croquet equipment
Roger I’Anson, who is in the process of obtaining his coaching qualifications, added:
“As well as the joy of taking part in the sport, whether a beginner or experienced player, it’s a tremendous way of making friends, with the clubhouse providing an excellent venue for pre and post-match socialising.”
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Covid outbreak set back council’s grass cutting in Ripon
A covid outbreak that affected employees of Harrogate Borough Council meant grass cutting at Ripon Cemetery and other maintenance work fell behind, a councillor has said.
At a full Ripon City Council meeting, Cllr Mike Chambers – HBC’s cabinet member for homes and safer communities – said:
“Following a covid outbreak, a lot of staff were redeployed from their usual duties, especially to work on refuse collection.
“That meant that some tasks fell behind, but we are now getting back on track with grass cutting and other maintenance work.”
A major tidy-up has taken place at the Kirkby Road cemetery and there is also evidence of grass cutting, tree and hedge trimming in other parts of the city.
The activity, which is ongoing, follows a Stray Ferret story in which mourners spoke out about the poor condition of the cemetery.
Grass surrounding the rosebed feature on Newton Gardens had grown to two feet, but the area has now been mowed by council employees
There are also lingering concerns about residential areas of Ripon where public spaces have became overgrown.
Cllr Chris Hardisty said:
“I think the problem is that the council just don’t have the staff to manage the amount of work that they have on.”
Fellow independent city councillor Sid Hawke, who is also a district councillor, pointed out:
“I have relatives buried in the cemetery and it was in an appalling condition.
“The city is untidy everywhere you look, with overgrown verges, long grass and weeds.”
Councillors agreed to write to HBC seeking assurances that work on the cemetery and other parts of the Ripon will be maintained throughout the growing season.
Should there be staffing issues, the council says outside contractors should be employed to carry out the works.
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In response to criticism levelled at it about the cemetery, last month HBC issued a statement, which said:
“Visitors to several of the cemeteries across the district may start to notice that some areas are being left to grow and not mown.
“We want to encourage biodiversity so are working with parish councils to leave specific areas to grow, attract pollinators and create habitats
“We have a regular programme of work, across all of the district’s cemeteries that we manage, and when specific issues are raised we will work to address these and carry out any required maintenance.
“We will of course continue to mow the grass along pathways and around gravestones so that mourners can pay their respects to their loved ones.”