Is Ripon MP set for a role in Rishi Sunak’s government?Julian Smith could be in line for a role in Rishi Sunak’s government, according to reports.
The Skipton and Ripon MP supported the new Prime Minister during the last two Conservative leadership contests.
According to an article on Bloomberg, the former Northern Ireland secretary could now be in line for a role in Mr Sunak’s government.
Bloomberg journalist Alex Whickham tweeted that ‘dark arts specialists’ Mr Smith and Gavin Williamson were set for jobs.
Mr Sunak was confirmed as Prime Minister this morning and is in the process of forming his first cabinet.
If appointed, it would be Mr Smith’s first job in government since Boris Johnson was in 10 Downing Street.
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He served as Northern Ireland secretary from 2019 until 2020 and was a chief whip under Theresa May.
Yesterday, after Mr Sunak was confirmed as the Conservative party’s choice for leader, he tweeted that he was the “best possible person to deal with the current challenges we face”.
Plans to extend drinking hours at village pub near RiponAn application to extend drinking hours at the Sawley Arms near Ripon will be decided by the council next week.
The gastro pub has applied for a licence for late-night drinking until 1am, seven days a week.
As part of the application, the pub said it will ensure accompanied children are seated away from other guests, and that staff will be on site at all times. It also said there are 16 CCTV cameras recording constantly in order to prevent crime and disorder.
The application had originally requested the licence for both the bar and the gardens, but environmental health officer Gemma Demaline said that was likely to cause disturbance to nearby residents in Sawley.
Responding for the Sawley Arms, Steve Harryman said:
“This will be predominantly to allow us to serve our guests for a bit longer.
“We are a quiet country pub with the gardens only usable in the summer months and our current licence allows us to use them up until 11pm.
“No noise complaints in our nine-year trading period.”
Mr Harryman then offered to keep the licence for the gardens until 11pm and extend the hours inside only. He said staff would ask guests to move inside at 11pm and signs would be put up asking them to leave the pub “quickly and quietly”.
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He added:
“This is most likely to be hotel guests walking to the rear of the pub to their hotel rooms, no traffic movements.
“We also have night porters on site to ensure noise levels are kept to a minimum, for the benefit of our neighbours and our other hotel guests.”
An objection to the proposal was submitted by David Taylor, clerk to Grantley and Sawley Parish Council, saying the council had “grave concerns”. He said:
“The residents of the village are very likely to be disturbed by vehicles leaving the site at times that would extend beyond 1am.
“Although 1am is the requested extended time, there would be ‘drinking up time’ and staff leaving the premises, therefore it would be nearer to 2am when the last cars leave the site.
“this would present a very real disturbance to the many residents leaving in close proximity to the Sawley Arms.”
The application will be considered by Harrogate Borough Council’s licensing committee next Friday, October 28.
Firefighters and paramedics called to Pateley Bridge crashFirefighters and paramedics were called to a single vehicle collision at Pateley Bridge today.
Fire crews from Harrogate and Ripon responded to an ambulance report of an incident on Old Church Lane at 11.45am.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log said:
“On arrival, driver was out of vehicle and in care of paramedics. Fire crew made the vehicle safe.”
About an hour later, Harrogate firefighters helped to remove two rings from a woman who turned up at the station unable to get them off.
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Photo of the Week: Stunning deer stand proud at Studley RoyalThe Stray Ferret has launched our new Photo of the Week feature to highlight the beauty of the Harrogate district captured by talented local photographers.
Send your photos to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to feature here. We are interested in amateur and professional pictures.
This week we are featuring a stunning shot of a herd of deer highlighted beautifully by the autumnal sun at Studley Royal Deer Park. Taken by Ripon based Mike Smith Photography.
Bishop of Ripon set to move to new post in NewcastleThe Bishop of Ripon is to leave her post to take up a new role next year.
The Right Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley has been in Ripon since 2017, but has now been announced by Downing Street as Bishop of Newcastle, with her installation set to take place in early 2023.
The appointment was approved by Her Late Majesty the Queen this year following the retirement of the last Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Rev Christine Hardman. Since then, the Bishop of Berwick, the Rt Rev Mark Wroe, has been acting diocesan Bishop of Newcastle.
Bishop Helen-Ann, who grew up in the North-East, said:
“I am delighted to have been called to be the Bishop of Newcastle, and pleased that this move means we will be staying in the north!
“At the same time, I will miss the Diocese of Leeds and the diverse peoples and communities of the region I have served and worked with over the past four and a half years.
“There are so many thank yous to be shared, for so many people who have helped, encouraged and challenged me along the way — a very special thank you is due however to the remarkable running community, particularly Ripon Runners who have in so many ways kept me grounded and mostly fit!
“It has been an absolute joy to have been Bishop of Ripon, and I wish the region and diocese all the very best for the new season that lies ahead.”
Bishop Helen-Ann was born in Edinburgh and grew up in the Scottish borders, where her father was a Church of Scotland minister.
At a young age, she and her family moved to Sunderland, where she was educated, while her father became a priest in the Church of England.
Her own ordination was in 2005 as deacon of the Diocese of Oxford, becoming a priest a year later.
A relocation to New Zealand in 2010 was followed three years later by her election as Bishop of Waikato on the North Island.
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Her five years in Ripon have seen her engage extensively with the community and in support of the city’s residents.
In 2020, she received death threats after publicly criticising Dominic Cummings for breaking the government’s lockdown rules. The Bishop said she and her family had missed her father’s birthday as he recovered from cancer treatment in order to keep to the restrictions.
After Bishop Helen-Ann’s move from Ripon was announced, the Bishop of Leeds, the Right Reverend Nick Baines, said:
“It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve with Bishop Helen-Ann for the last four years. Our loss is Newcastle’s gain, where she will bring many gifts and broad experience to her new responsibilities.
“She will move on with my gratitude, prayers and blessing.”
The Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell, added:
“I am delighted that Helen-Ann has agreed to become the next Bishop of Newcastle. Helen-Ann brings rich experience and a tremendous passion for communicating the gospel, as well as a deep commitment to championing those often under-represented in our society.
“Newcastle Diocese is truly blessed to have Helen-Ann as its new Bishop.”
Ripon man charged with attempted murderA Ripon man has been charged with attempted murder, assaulting emergency workers and carrying a weapon in a public place.
Kyle Harpin, 33, of North Street in the city, appeared before York Magistrates Court yesterday.
He was charged with attempting to murder another man, who was named in court, on North Street on Sunday.
Mr Harpin was also charged with assaulting two police constables at Harrogate District Hospital on the same date.
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He also allegedly used threatening, abusive or insulting words with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress towards another police officer at Harrogate Police Station.
Mr Harpin faced a further charge of carrying a knife in a public place on North Street in Ripon.
He was remanded in custody to appear before Leeds Crown Court on November 7.
Business Breakfast: Ripon IT company purchases Skipton computer firmA Ripon IT company has announced it has bought Skipton-based Verus Solutions.
Fresh Mango Technologies, which is based on Barker Business Park, acquired the company, which specialises in IT support, computer systems and server supply and installation.
Officials at Fresh Mango said the purchase was an ideal fit due to Verus’ location and customer base.
Guy Phoenix, managing director at Fresh Mango, said:
“Their offering and ethos is almost identical to ours with a customer reach beyond Yorkshire’s borders.
“The Fresh Mango mission is to bring much-needed first-class IT support to even more SMEs. Verus Solutions will help us to continue to fulfil that mission and we’re delighted that they’re now part of the Fresh Mango family.”
Paul Roach, director of Verus Solutions, said:
“Due to our close and long-standing relationships with our clients it was crucial for us to find an organisation that shared the same values as us, while at the same time having sufficient scale to provide the highest levels of customer service.
“Fresh Mango demonstrated this throughout our discussions with them.”
Harrogate estate agents comes top at industry awards
A Harrogate estate agents picked up four awards at an industry awards ceremony.
Myrings Estate Agents came top in three categories and won silver in a fourth at the Estate Agent of the Year Awards.
The firm won Regional Sales Award for North Yorkshire, Lettings Agent Landlords Award, Estate Agents Sales Award and silver for Lettings Agent Tenants Award.
A post on the company’s social media said:
“We are truly grateful and our sincere thanks go out to all our wonderful customers for your reviews and support. We would not be where we are without you, combined with our amazing team that made this happen.
“It is all thanks to their hard work, positivity, and outstanding customer service we are where we are.”
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Harrogate district MPs silent on emergency statementThe three Conservative MPs whose constituencies include the Harrogate district have declined to comment on today’s emergency statement.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt reversed almost all of Prime Minister Liz Truss’s tax cuts, which were announced in the government’s mini-budget three weeks ago.
Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, welcomed last month’s growth plan, saying on his Community News website:
“There are a huge number of measures, many focused on our productivity and investment which are the platforms for future growth. So, plenty to be positive about here in Harrogate and Knaresborough.”
Today we asked Mr Jones, along with Julian Smith, who represents Skipton and Ripon, and Nigel Adams, who represents Selby and Ainsty, to comment on today’s announcement by Mr Hunt.
We also asked them whether the Prime Minister should resign, after three Conservative MPs called for her to do so.
Neither Mr Jones nor Mr Smith had replied by the time of publication.
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Mr Smith was critical of the tax cutting agenda in last month’s mini-budget. He said at the time:
“In a statement with many positive enterprise measures this huge tax cut for the very rich at a time of national crisis and real fear and anxiety amongst low income workers and citizens is wrong.”
Maire Crosse, Mr Adams’ senior parliamentary assistant, did reply but only to say:
“Nigel is away today and not contactable. Therefore, he will not be providing a comment.”
Plan approved to convert former Ripon City Club into house
A plan to convert the former Ripon City Club into a house has been approved.
The club was initially built as the Jepson’s Hospital, a ‘Blue Coat’ school for poor boys in the city, before it closed in 1927.
It was then taken over by Ripon City Club, which occupied the building on Water Skellgate before it closed due to a dwindling membership in December 2019.
According to documents submitted to the council, the number of members at the club 20 years ago stood at 300. However, the figure dropped to just 11 by the start of 2019.
Now, Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans to convert the building into a three-bedroom house.
The proposal was tabled in January by Joplings Property Consultants on behalf of applicant Mr Jeet Sahi.
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The developer said in its documents:
“The proposed change of use to a single residential dwelling is required by the applicant for him and his family to occupy.
“The previous use of the building is redundant, the proposed change of use to residential is in line with planning policies to meet the demand for new residential housing.”
The club will become the latest in the Harrogate district to be earmarked for housing following the demise of its membership.
Last month, the government rejected an appeal to convert the former National Reserve Club in Harrogate into flats.
Spooky castles, pumpkins and haunted houses: Halloween fun in the districtHalloween is creeping up, with the celebrations and events across the district becoming bigger, better and more ghoulish each year.
This year it falls just after October half-term, so there is plenty going on for little witches and wizards – and big ones too!
So whether you fancy some pumpkin picking on a farm, spooky trails, or haunted houses, we’ve put together a list of five places to enjoy some Halloween fun.
Birchfield Farm Pumpkin Festival – Summerbridge
Birchfield Farm’s Pumpkin Festival is a firm favourite amongst families in the Harrogate district. Is it even Halloween if you haven’t taken a selfie with a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins at the picturesque Summerbridge farm?
You don’t need to book for this one and there are plenty of pumpkins of all shapes, sizes and colours to go around and you can visit everyday until October 31.
There are also lots of activities to do on the farm so you can make a morning or afternoon of it.
After you have picked your pumpkin from the patch – and there really is a huge selection of all shapes and sizes – you then have the option of visiting the farm for £5.95 per person. Then take your kids for a homemade ice cream at the farm’s café.
Activities include:
- A huge carving barn where you can create your pumpkin masterpieces
- Bouncy castles
- Play equipment
- A 6-acre maize maze
- A spooky woodland walk
- Animals
- A giant bale mountain
When: Everyday until October 31 from 10am until 4pm
Where: Birchfield Farm, Summerbridge, Harrogate, HG3 4JS
Price and booking: No booking is required for this event and the pumpkin patch is free to enter. Pumpkins are priced by size from £1 up to £12.The farmyard area is £5.95 per person, however this is optional. Under twos are free.
Creepy Castle: The Spooktastic Halloween Trail – Knaresborough
Soak up the spooky atmosphere at Knaresborough Castle – the setting of the new Creepy Castle Spooktastic Halloween trail.
Set in the grounds of the ancient monument, expect to see see wizard magic shows and spooky characters along the way. There will also be face painting, stories in the castle, cookie decorating and more scary surprises.
When: October 27 – 29
Where: Knaresborough Castle, Castle Yard, Knaresborough, HG5 8AS
Price and booking: Tickets are £3.75 for both children and adults (under 2s are free) with time slots available from 3pm – 7.20pm on Thursday, October 27 to Saturday October, 29. Book your trail tickets for a specific event day and time
here.
Stockeld Park Halloween Adventure – Wetherby
Stockeld Park is another firm family favourite and the Halloween festivities are always magical.
This year The Enchanted Forest will be transformed into an explosion of colour for a Day of the Dead Fiesta. Interact with the enchanting ancestors as you venture round the forest and look out for friendly skeletons.
Little ones will love exploring the pumpkin patch and will be able to pick their very own pumpkin to take home. Every paying child will get to choose a free pumpkin.
The Playhive will be open to explore and you can salso ee the family-friendly Monster Mash show.
There’s something suitably scary for all ages.
When: October 22 – October 30 from 9.30am until 5.30pm
Where: Stockeld Park, Wetherby, LS22 4AN
Price and booking: Prices vary. Online pre-booking is essential – click
here to book
Halloween Trail – Swinton Bivouac, Masham
Are you brave enough to follow the spooky Halloween trail?
Head up to Swinton Bivouac, part of the 20,000 acre Swinton Estate, and follow the ghoulish clues to help you find your way through the eerie woodland.
Dogs are welcome and fancy dress is encouraged!
When: October 22 – October 31
Where: Bivouac at Druid’s Temple, Masham, Ripon, HG4 4JZ
Price and booking: £5 per trail sheet with prize upon completion. Trail sheets are available from the Bivouac Café from 10am daily.
Stately Superstitions: Eerie Encounters at the Castle – Castle Howard, York
An experience for adults, venture a little further outside the Harrogate district and explore the uncanny on this behind-the-scenes tour of the house where not all is as it seems.
If you were to venture beyond the visitor route, below stairs, you’d encounter a labyrinth of dark cellars and never-ending corridors.
Long since servants walked the halls and a fire ripped through the now empty wings, these parts of Castle Howard have remained largely unchanged.
Those interested in the history of the house may revel at the chance to explore these quarters, but a stay longer than necessary provokes a sense of unnerving discomfort causing the imagination to try and make sense of the darkness.
Flickers of light, footsteps, and the unexpected sounds of a servant’s bell can pierce the silent eeriness of these spaces, making this grand house feel somewhat awry.
You are encouraged to stay close to your guide as they lead you through these ghostly cellars, dark passages, and fire-damaged rooms, revealing stories and surprises that will make those childhood beliefs you thought you’d grown out of suddenly seem very real…
Calm your fears with hotdogs and refreshments at the Fitzroy Café before your experience begins.
When: October 21 -23, 28-31.Tours will depart at 6pm, 6:45pm, 7:45pm and 8:30pm.
Where: Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA
Price and booking: Adults from £20. Book tickets
here. Unfortunately, this experience uses narrow staircases and so is unsuitable for wheelchair users.
