Accessorize in Harrogate is to reopen next week — but its sister shop Monsoon has permanently closed.
The two shops shared a unit at 20-22 James Street, where customers visited Monsoon, via the James Street entrance and Accessorize via a door at the back.
Both closed last month and although signs in the window said ‘sorry, we’re closed but this isn’t goodbye forever’ and ‘be right back’, the unit was described as ‘permanently closed’ on Google.
This prompted speculation neither business would return but as reported by the Stray Ferret, the site will reopen after the refit.
Gifts and homeware specialist Accessorize will welcome customers back on Friday, May 17 — but Monsoon will not return.
Accessorize storefront Harrogate
An Accessorize spokesperson told the Stray Ferret today:
“The Monsoon shop has now closed, and this is now only an Accessorize store with a homeware focus.”
Accessorize told the Stray Ferret the refurbished store will offer “a more diverse selection of gifting categories such as bridal, home and summer”, as well as self-care and men’s gifting products.
Paul Thomas, retail director at Accessorize said:
“We are excited to introduce our customers to our exciting new store concept of gifting and homeware.
“The new design store and gifting collection is just some of the many exciting features we have in store for our customers, and we can’t wait for them to experience everything the store has to offer.”
Accessorize will officially reopen May 17 at 9.30am. The closest Monsoon store will now be York.
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Firefighters rescue boy trapped in railings in Ripon
Firefighters were called to help a boy whose leg got trapped in railings at Ripon Market Place.
On-call firefighters from the city were summoned to the incident at 8.31am yesterday.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report did not say how the boy managed to get stuck.
It added firefighters “released the boy unharmed using hydraulic spreaders”.
Ripon firefighters were back in action at 2.05pm when they responded to reports of a hedge on fire on Dishforth Road in Sharow,
The incident report said:
“Crews extinguished the fire measuring 5m x 5m using one hose reel jet. The cause was accidental.”
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- Four fire crews tackle blaze at Pateley Bridge caravan site
Ripon solicitors appeals replacement roof refusal
A Ripon solicitors has appealed a refusal for a replacement roof and solar panels.
Newtons Solicitors relocated from Duck Hill to new, larger premises at 36 Market Place South last year.
It lodged plans for a replacement roof and solar panels to North Yorkshire Council. However, the proposals were refused in October.
The council said the move would cause “unjustified harm” to the Ripon Conservation Area due to the use of modern slate tiles over traditional stone slate.
The firm has since taken the decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which deals with planning disputes.
In a statement of case, CLB Heritage, which is handling the appeal, said:
“The change from stone to Welsh (or similar) slate roof tiles on the rear elevation will have a very minor visual impact.
“The impact is reduced because the Welsh slate is a key feature in Ripon Market Place as set out in the Conservation Area Appraisal and also because the solar panels are fit within the roof plane so do not protrude above the slope and will not be visible from public vantage points.
“The dark colour of the panels and dark slates will help assimilate them visually within the roof slope.”
Read more
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The law firm has also submitted revised plans for a replacement roof to North Yorkshire Council.
Under the proposal, the roof would be constructed from modern Brazilian slate to the front and rear elevations, with solar panels on the roof at the back of the property.
Historic England, which is the government’s statutory advisor on the historic environment, concurred with the council’s previous refusal and said the fresh plan would cause “unjustified harm” to the area.
A government planning inspector will make a decision on the appeal at a later date.