The play area at Quarry Moor Park, which was closed in September because of rat infestation, could reopen in time for the Easter holidays.

The Ripon City Council-owned and operated playground shut after discarded food items attracted rodents.

Since then the council has tried to eradicate the rats. It has also removed a waste bin and put up a sign at the entrance to the adjacent Quarry Moor Nature Reserve, and park, asking visitors to take rubbish home.

City council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“Earlier this week, we appointed contractors to carry out the necessary refurbishment work and cleaning ahead of reopening.

“It is our hope that this can be achieved in time for the Easter holiday, but that will be reliant upon all equipment passing rigorous hygiene and safety checks, as the wellbeing of children playing there is of paramount importance.”

This sign was put in place after rat infestation caused the closure of the playground.

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Longer-term plans for the playground include replacement of the play equipment and erection of new fencing.

A total of £70,000 from the Ripon parish precept has been set aside for this work and the city council is seeking additional sources of funding, before it proceeds with the refurbishment programme.

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Quarry Moor Park

The park, just off the A61 on the southern approach to Ripon, was created on land donated to the city by Alderman Thomas Fowler Spence in 1945.

He served as the mayor of Ripon between 1927 and 1929 and was managing director of varnish manufacturer T and R Williamson — a prominent employer in the city since the 18th century.

Alderman Spence donated the 24-acre site on the understanding that it would “be kept for Ripon children for all time”.

It has been held in trust ever since, becoming one of the city’s most valued attractions.

In recognition of its unique geology and rare species-rich magnesian limestone grassland, Quarry Moor was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1986 and is now managed for both nature conservation and recreation.

 

Ripon’s multi-million pound swimming pool will not be open on time for next week’s half-term school holidays.

It and the new Dallamires children’s play area, created on site as part of the £15 million leisure development, are now expected to open next month, according to staff on site.

The play area, which can be accessed from a public footpath off Knaresborough Road, remains fenced off. A sign on the fencing says it ‘will open as soon as possible in the new year’.

The pool was due to be ready nine months ago and the project is currently £4m over budget.

In a further setback for parents and grandparents looking for places to take children next week, the Ripon City Council-owned Quarry Moor playground will not be reopening for the time being.

Long-term delay

The six-lane pool was originally due to be completed in May last year for an opening in the summer.

But ground stability issues on site that required remediation caused the initial delay and saw Harrogate Borough Council announce that the opening was going to be in November.

A weather-beaten sign at the Dallamires Play Area says it would open in ‘as soon as possible in the new year’.

A planned opening date of December 8 was subsequently announced but a fault discovered during testing of the pool’s lining, saw the council say that the opening would take place in January.

When asked if the pool would be open during the half-term holidays, a Harrogate Borough Council spokesman replied:

“A date hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

However, a woman who was hoping to take her grandchildren there next week contacted the Stray Ferret and said:

“I went to the leisure centre this week and was told by two members of staff that the pool would be opening at the start of next month.

“This is frustrating, because I had also visited the leisure centre in January to check if the pool would be open for half-term and was told by staff that it would open either later that month or the beginning of February.”

The grandmother, who asked to remain anonymous, added:

“I don’t want to make a fuss, the staff at the centre were very helpful, but it was disappointing when I also asked about the new children’s playground and was told it would be opening at the same time as the pool.”

Quarry Moor playground still closed

Half a mile from the pool, the Quarry Moor playground, which closed in September because of rat infestation, still remains shut.

The Quarry Moor playground will also be closed next week

Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“We apologise for the fact that the playground won’t be open.

“With the vermin issue under control, we had hoped that it could be back in use for the half-term holiday, but the condition of the play equipment has deteriorated.

“We need to carry out further inspection to assess if it is economical to carry out repairs, or go for a complete refurbishment with the installation of new equipment and aim to reopen in time for the Easter holidays.”

Last year, the city council set aside £70,000 for refurbishment of the playground and Cllr Williams said that additional sources of grant funding were also being explored.

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Schools, organisations and individuals in Ripon are being urged to help develop plans for a second summer of free sports and activities for children.

Ripon Together, which organised last year’s Summer of Play to support families during the summer holidays, has launched a city-wide survey to build on that experience.

Last year’s events ranged from formal team sports such as cricket and football to karate and croquet, dance, yoga, mindfulness and orienteering, as well as nature hunts at Fountains Abbey.

There were also activities for disabled people, including wheelchair bowls at Hugh Ripley Hall.

Ripon Together, a not-for-profit partnership organisation, has circulated a letter about this year’s activities. It says:

“We want to offer things that are relevant, useful and fun for children, young people and families, connecting organisations and showing what is available for them around Ripon.

“We are now formulating plans for 2022 and if there is anyone in your organisation who could give us their ideas, then please ask them to complete the survey. The more information we have the better that we can prepare.”

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The Summer of Play 2021 was designed to help children and their families after the lifting of the covid lockdown restrictions ln July, which had seen sporting, cultural and other group activities put on hold.

Any questions or queries can be emailed to info@ripontogether.com or you can call David Ingham on 07775 731276.

Clubs and organisations in Ripon are to provide a programme of free summer activities for the city’s children.

Community interest company Ripon Together has organised a wide range of events, starting on Saturday.

Summer of Play aims to get children out together again, trying new sports and activities.

It will also help local organisations encourage young people to join up.

A spokesperson for Ripon Together said.

“The children of the city have been especially brave and resilient over the last 18 months.

“They’ve seen huge upheaval with schools and their usual activities have been cancelled and adapted during the pandemic.

“Now, as the restrictions lift, amazing organisations across the city have joined in with the initiative. The result is a programme of free events giving kids of all school ages the opportunity to try sports or other activities over the summer.”

Hugh Ripley Hall is the venue for wheelchair bowls (Boccia) and yoga on Sunday

Events range from formal team sports such as cricket and football, through to karate and croquet, dance, yoga, mindfulness and orienteering, as well as nature hunts at Fountains Abbey.

First up on Saturday is a free taster session at Karate Dojo, the chance to have fun with the whole family at a free play day at Ripon Tennis Centre and an opportunity to get moving in a fun dance class hosted by Ripon Dance Studio.

On Sunday, fun with tennis and karate continues and children will also be able to try their hands at boccia and yoga at the Hugh Ripley Hall.

There are sessions for people with disabilities too, including wheelchair bowls.

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Karate coach Ady Gray, who was named UK’s Children’s Coach of the Year in 2018, said:

“It’s great to welcome our children and young people back into the social community of sport and recreation.

“This initiative will promote the great clubs and groups to all the local people of Ripon, offering benefits to fitness, health and mental wellbeing after what has been a hard year both physically and mentally for our children.”

Diane Hutchinson, from Ripon Tennis Centre, said:

“Health and fitness should be fun and tennis is a fantastic game that is not only fun to play but also offers great social opportunities also. We have classes to suit all levels of player so if you want to get involved we would love to see you!”

Activities have been arranged throughout July and August. The full programme can be viewed at www.ripontogether.com

Ripon city councillors have voted unanimously to put portable toilets next to the paddling pool on Borrage Green Lane this summer.

The large pool, in its neatly-kept park setting just off Harrogate Road, is a popular venue on warm days.

But the Harrogate Borough Council-controlled pool and adjacent playground hasn’t had toilets for many years, which can deter people staying for long.

The safety sign at Ripon paddling pool.

City council leader Andrew Williams told Ripon City Council this week:

“I contacted the borough council and am pleased to report that they have agreed to us installing portable toilets for the duration of the summer holidays.

“Of necessity, many families will be staying in Ripon this summer because of the impact of covid and we want to ensure that they can get the most out of the public facilities that we have around the city.”

The search is now on for a suitable supplier, who can install the facility in time for the school summer holidays and keep it clean and safe.

Payment for the temporary toilets will come from Ripon City Council’s strategic investment fund.

Councillor Pauline McHardy, said:

“We need to do all that we can to help people with young children.

“It has been a very difficult time for them and many are priced out of being able to go on holiday this year.”

Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, raised concern about insurance, as liability will rest with the city council.

Cllr Parkin said:

“I’m fully in support of providing facilities for families, but remember that the last time we considered providing portable toilets here, the insurance cost alone was astronomical.”

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It was agreed that the toilets will be temporarily added to the council’s insurance policy.

Councillor Stuart Martin added:

“I think we should have no problem in finding a local supplier who can provide what we need.”

The community interest company Ripon Together is organising free events for children to encourage a summer of play in the city.

The not-for-profit organisation was established in 2016 to bring people together to make Ripon a better place.

As the country edges towards the lifting of social distancing requirements, the city is springing back to life.

The artisan market was the first of Ripon City Council’s programme of public events for 2021

Monday’s artisan market on Market Square, was Ripon City Council’s first public event for 18 months. Many more are planned.

In conjunction with the council’s programme, Ripon Together is organising a series of community events.

These can be seen at www.ripontogether.com/whats-on/

The aim is to get children out together again, to take part in coordinated, free events. This will enable them to trying new sports or activities.

Local sports and other groups are being encouraged to become involved.

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson, who is on the Ripon Together board, said:

“Ripon is a brilliant and vibrant place with lots going on, but people find they miss out on things they would have liked to get to.

“If all local groups put their events on the community calendar they will get more people there.

“They, the city and its people will all benefit.

“Lockdown has been very difficult for many members of our community, including children. “

Fellow board member David Ingham has been in contact with a broad spectrum of local organisations and was pleased with their very positive response.

The objective is to get all interested parties together and agree as full a programme of activities as possible.

Simon Hewitt, a director on the Ripon Together board said:

“We are excited by the response we have had.

“If we can get local organisations and clubs along to that meeting we think we can get a great programme together for our youngsters”.

Any group, organisation or individual wanting to become involved, is invited to join a Zoom meeting at 7pm on May 12.

If anyone wants to attend, or cannot do so but still wishes to be involved, they can e-mail info@ripontogether.com or message the organisation through its Ripon Together Facebook page.

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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.”

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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.”

One of Ripon’s favourite play areas is to be refurbished in time for summer.

New equipment will be installed in Quarry Moor park, funded by the 2021-2022 parish precept.

The park, just off the A61 on the southern approach to Ripon, was donated to the city in 1945 by Alderman Thomas Fowler Spence.

It currently includes an activities centre for children as well as outdoor play equipment.

Ripon City Council leader, councillor Andrew Williams, told the Stray Ferret:

“The play equipment, that adds to the park’s attraction for families with young children, has been in need of replacement for some time.

“With the prospect of the covid lockdown being lifted later this year, we want to ensure that the work is completed in readiness for the summer months.”

The land, which includes woodland walks, was left in trust by the former mayor on the understanding that it would be:

“Kept for Ripon children for all time.”

The 24-acre site was a limestone quarry for hundreds of years until the 1950s. It was also used for military training during the Second World War.

In 1986, after extensive conservation work by volunteers, it was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Quarry Moor Activities Centre

The area includes species-rich calcareous grassland and a protected wildflower meadow.

A woodland path was added in 2019.

Ripon prides itself on being child-friendly and for many years the city council has supported free family events.

These include the St Wilfrid’s Day procession in August, the switch-on of Christmas lights and New Year’s Eve entertainment on Market Square.

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The coronavirus crisis and social distancing requirements, in place since last March, caused the cancellation of mass participation activities.

For the upcoming financial year, £100,000 is being allocated for public events from summer onwards.

It is hoped that covid will be under sufficient control to allow them to go ahead.

Ripon’s parish precept for 2021-2022 will generate £400,000. Council taxpayers in the city will pay £70 towards it, in addition to council tax paid to North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council.