Police seek man after ‘sexual gestures’ made at Ripon bus stationVandalism forces closure of Ripon public toilets — againResurfacing works move in Ripon as city centre roads reopenRipon toilet block re-opens after nine-day closure‘Use public toilets responsibly’, urges council after Ripon conveniences re-openContract awarded for Ripon’s first city centre Changing Places ToiletRipon city centre is to get its first Changing Places toilet following the award of a £162,000 contract to Killinghall company Dalebuild Ltd.
The facility will be built on the site of the existing toilet block at the back of Sainsbury’s supermarket.
The toilets are larger and more accessible for people with disabilities and restricted mobility who cannot use standard accessible toilets. They include equipment such as hoists, curtains, adult-sized changing benches and space for carers.
News of the contract awarded by North Yorkshire Council was announced at last night’s full meeting of Ripon City Council by Councillor Andrew Williams.
The new toilet will be built on the site of the existing block near the bus station
The city council leader and North Yorkshire Council member for the Minster and Moorside division that includes the city centre, said:
“Now that the contract has been confirmed, we look forward to seeing it built and in use as soon as possible.”
“With its proximity to the bus station, it is a great addition to Ripon, making the city centre more accessible for local residents and visitors.”
After a successful bid by the now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council and Ripon Disability Forum, £40,000 was granted through the government’s Changing Places Fund towards the cost of the new facility.
Jeremy Dunford, a trustee of RDF which, through its Access Ambassadors initiative, is working alongside businesses and other organisations in the city to make Ripon more access aware and accessible, told the Stray Ferret:
“Changing Places toilets allow families greater freedom when caring for a family member with specific needs.
“They allow whole families to shop, visit and travel with more confidence and security. For independent people with greater need it means their independence is supported by the facilities they need.
“This is great news for businesses, residents and visitors to the city of Ripon.”
Changing Places toilets at other Ripon locations
Ripon already has a Changing Places toilet at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre but not one in the city centre,
However, Ripon Cathedral has plans to include one as part of its proposed £8 million annexe development on Minster Gardens, These would be in replacement for the current public toilets on the site.
Main image: The Changing Places toilet design ensures that they are fully accessible.
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Ripon’s new city-wide bus service launches with guaranteed fundingRipon’s new city-wide bus service, which launched today, has guaranteed funding for the next four years and the prospect of more to follow.
From today, the current Ripon services – RS1 Lark Lane, RS2 Lead Lane and RS3 Gallows Lane – will increase in frequency and see routes extended, as well as operating on Saturdays.
A new route, numbered RS4, will serve North Bridge.
Andrew Williams, Independent city council leader and the North Yorkshire Council member for Minster and Moorside, told the Stray Ferret:
“We have been able to make this happen with the support of the new unitary authority, in addition to section 106 monies from retail and residential developments in Ripon and money from the city council’s contingency fund.
“Looking beyond the first four years, we will be seeking further section 106 contributions to support the service as more residential schemes, such as West Lane, come on stream.”
The new service will be run using buses from Dales & District Travel and North Yorkshire Council.
Fellow Independent councillor Peter Horton, who chairs the city council’s transport committee, said:
“Ripon’s residents have been telling us for years that they want an improved inner-city bus service and after a great deal of detailed discussions, first with North Yorkshire County Council and now the new authority, it has come to fruition.
“We hope that people will become regular users of this sustainable means of transport.”
Today’s changes
RS1 has a new timetable and route via Bishopton Lane, Ash Bank Road and Lark Lane which extends via the bus station to St Michael’s Retail Park for the M&S Food Store. It will depart hourly from 7.15am to 6.15pm with additional journeys between the bus station and St Michael’s Park twice hourly.
RS2 and RS3 have a new timetable with an earlier bus at 7.40am and a later bus at 5.35pm Monday to Friday. The daytime service has new times and will run Monday to Saturday.
RS4 is a new route from the bus station to North Bridge via North Street returning via Magdalen’s Road. There are three journeys per day Monday to Saturday.
The services will be run with buses from Dales & District Travel and North Yorkshire Council, with a single journey costing no more than £2 and pensioners with bus passes travelling free. More details are available from www.northyorks.gov.uk/businfo
Pic shows: Cllr Andrew Williams (centre) with his daughter Lilly-May, with Cllr Peter Horton (left) and Paul McMillan, one of the team of drivers providing the new service.
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Storm Otto leaves Ripon building owners counting the costTwo well-known and well-used Ripon locations are awaiting repairs after sustaining damage in last week’s Storm Otto.
At the Workhouse Museum in Allhallowgate, part of a chimney stack was brought down by Friday’s high winds and at the nearby bus station, four perspex panels from the roof of a shelter were dislodged by the gale.
Both locations have been made safe and remain open for museum visitors and the travelling public.
The bus station shelter pictured before firefighters removed the damaged perspex roof panels
Helen Thornton, director of Ripon Museum Trust, told the Stray Ferret:
“Storm Otto damaged a lot of property in the district and part of a chimney stack on the west wing of the main workhouse building came down and made two holes in our roof, which have been covered with tarpaulin to minimise any rainwater damage.”
“We are in close touch with our insurers to get an appropriate and timely repair and, as a listed building, we will ensure that this is carried out sensitively, including re-using as much of the stonework as we can, getting the right chimney pot design and so on.”
The cordoned-off area at the Workhouse Museum
Ms Thornton added:
“We have cordoned off the area below the damaged roof and spoken to the other users of the site. Thankfully, we can remain open as usual to museum visitors, groups and schools.”
Following the damage to the roof panels in the bus station shelter, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue issued a statement saying:
“Ripon crews attended the bus station to make a bus shelter safe for the public. Large pieces of perspex had fallen off the roof. Crews removed all perspex using a ladder and small tools.”