Ripon Archives - Page 140 of 200

Ripon pool and playgrounds will not be open for half-term

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.

Photo of the closed Quarry Moor Playground

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.

Ripon meeting to hear concerns about Hell Wath nature reserve

The organiser of a public meeting on the future of Hell Wath Nature Reserve has said he hopes for a “calm and constructive discussion”.

There has been heated online discussion recently about changes to the Ripon beauty spot.

Trees and bushes have been removed, a pond has been drained and saplings planted as part of the £2.5 million Skell Valley Project,

The four-year National Lottery-funded project, which is supported by Harrogate Borough Council, The National Trust, Friends of Hell Wath and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, involves work on a 12-mile stretch of the River Skell between Dallowgill Moor and Hell Wath.

The project aims to create a sustainable future for the Skell Valley but some local people are upset about the extent of the clearance work at Hell Wath and feel they haven’t been adequately consulted.

A meeting at 7pm on Wednesday next week will give them an opportunity to raise their concerns.

‘Common ground’

Brian Don, of the Keep Hell Wath Natural group, which called the meeting, told the Stray Ferret:

“Our aim is to bring together people with differing views about this much-loved and visited area of Ripon, with the objective of finding a mutually acceptable way forward.

“We hope for a calm and constructive discussion, which can find common ground between those, who like ourselves, want to keep Hell Wath as we have known it for decades and those who have a different longer-term view.”

The meeting, which will take place at Ripon Bowling Club on Bondgate Green, will be chaired by Peter Horton, deputy mayor of Ripon and a former Harrogate district and North Yorkshire county councillor, who has served as an independent on the city council for 19 years.

He said:

“I’m looking for an even-tempered meeting, at which all sides can air their views.

“What they have to say will be collated and we can see where we go from there — perhaps a follow-up meeting at which the issues raised can be addressed in detail.”

Today’s Ripon Market cancelled due to storms

Today’s Ripon Market has fallen victim to the weather.

The market normally opens at 7.30am and runs until 3pm but our photo shows the scene on Market Square early this morning, with no stalls or traders in sight.

A number of traders posted on Facebook yesterday evening to say that the market was cancelled due to the weather.

Storm Dudley brought winds of around 50mph to the Harrogate district yesterday and Storm Eunice is due to arrive tomorrow.

£1.4m Georgian house owner threatens legal action over Ripon homes

The owner of a £1.4 million Georgian house in Ripon has warned Harrogate Borough Council it could face legal action as the authority passed plans for 30 homes nearby.

James Mortimer said “significant harm” would be caused to his Grade II-listed Prospect House as a result of the housing plans for land off Springfield Close.

He also criticised the designs from developers Newett Homes and said he believed there was an “error of law” in a council report that could lead to a judicial review.

Mr Mortimer told a council planning meeting on Tuesday:

“We contest the officer’s report which indicates that harm was mitigated to less than significant.

“We have also taken legal advice and believe there is an error of law on sufficient grounds in the officer’s report to request a judicial review.”

Prospect House is listed for its special architectural or historic interest, which includes its use as an officers’ mess for soldiers en route to the Somme during the First World War.

Mr Mortimer complained that the housing development would be in “full view” from the rear of the five-bedroom property which dates back to 1835 and sits around 120 metres away from the site.

Screening concerns

His complaints were backed up by Ripon councillor Sid Hawke who said trees between the two sites would provide little screening.

Cllr Hawke said:

“When you go into Prospect House and stand in his bedroom you can see that site completely.”

An agent for Newett Homes told councillors that several changes had been made to the plans since they were refused in June 2020.

This included a reduction in the number of homes from 38 to 30 and design changes such as imitation chimneys to try to make the development in keeping with the area.

The agent also said the homes were repositioned to reduce the impact on Prospect House “as much as feasibly possible”.

The plans were approved by councillors with nine votes for and one against.

390 homes approved in Ripon despite concerns over impact on Fountains Abbey

Plans for 390 homes in Ripon have been granted final approval despite repeated concerns over the impact on nearby Fountains Abbey.

Harrogate Borough Council initially rejected the proposals for land off West Lane in 2017 over the impact on the countryside and Fountains Abbey which is home to the largest monastic ruins in the country.

But the decision was later overturned at appeal by the Planning Inspectorate which said the impacts would be “extremely limited”.

The council’s planning committee has now granted final approval at a meeting today, although some councillors said their concerns also including highways and parking remained.

Councillor Pat Marsh, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, described the plans as being “forced upon” the area following the appeal.

She said:

“The impact on these particular areas which include a World Heritage Site that we must protect are going to be there whether we like it or not.

“I feel strongly that these reasons for refusal still stand.”

Councillor Richard Cooper, Conservative leader of the council, said raising objections over areas that have been dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate was “fighting battles that have already been lost”.

The proposals were initially brought forward by Britain’s largest housebuilder Barratt Homes before the developers pulled out of the scheme.

The government’s housing agency Homes England and developers Taylor Wimpey then struck an £89.5m deal to acquire the site in February 2021 and get the plans back on track.

The approved plans include 156 affordable homes, 42 bungalows, cycling and walking links, a new bus route and children’s play areas.

There will also be 40 modular homes provided by Flaxby-based company llke Homes.

All homes with parking will also have electric vehicle charging points.

Four objections against the plans were lodged with the council, including one from Littlethorpe Parish Council which flagged concerns over how the area’s roads, schools and health services will cope with another population increase.

The plans include a £455,000 contribution from the developers towards local bus services, £91,000 towards upgrades for nearby traffic signals and £50,000 towards cycling improvements.

Calls to relocate litter bins in Ripon

An audit of litter bins is being conducted in Ripon to ensure they are more evenly spread out.

Once the audit is complete, Harrogate Borough Council will be asked to relocate some of the city’s bins to areas of greater footfall.

Councillors at last week’s full Ripon City Council meeting said that while some areas are well served with bins for rubbish and dog waste, there is a dearth of them in other parts of Ripon.

Councillor Stephen Craggs, who is carrying out the city-wide audit to pinpoint the location of bins, said:

“If you look at Spa Park for example, there are six bins within close proximity to each other, but if you walk down to Clotherholme Road on the route that many Outwood and Ripon Grammar students use to go to school, they are in short supply.”

Clotherholme Road, one of the principal walking routes for students going to Outwood Academy and Ripon Grammar, has a shortage of litter bins

He added:

“At a time when we are encouraging children to walk to school, it makes sense to have litter bins that they can use along the way to avoid discarded rubbish ending up in hedgerows.

“It’s not a case of asking for new bins to be installed, but for a better distribution of them on the routes that are used by pedestrians and dog walkers.”

Council leader Andrew Williams, who has received complaints about the lack of litter bins from residents in his ward, agrees with Cllr Craggs.

He said:

“If you add the six bins at Spa Park to the nine at Spa Gardens and the one outside Spa Baths, we have a concentration of 16 in a relatively compact area and these need to be spread out, so that they are serving more people.”

Councillors have been asked to come forward with details of any lack of litter and dog waste bins in the areas of the city that they represent, so that recommendations for relocation of existing bins can be put forward to Harrogate Borough Council.

Ripon padel tennis courts given the go-ahead

Plans for two new padel tennis courts in Ripon have been given the go-ahead.

The proposal will see the new courts, plus canopies and flood lighting, built at Ripon Tennis Centre on Park Lane.

The centre will become the latest padel venue in the Harrogate district as the popularity of the sport increases.

Ripon Tennis Centre said in documents submitted to Harrogate Borough Council that the proposal would help to improve facilities.

It said:

“Ripon Tennis Centre are keen to provide these facilities as part of the ongoing improvement to the club which will be enjoyed by all age ranges and can be played on throughout the year.”

Boom in popularity

Padel tennis has seen a boom in popularity in recent years, including in the Harrogate district.

The sport is played between four players on reduced sized tennis courts. Competitors use paddle racquets and can bounce the ball off walls.

As well as the Ripon centre, a court is planned for Hornbeam Park which is earmarked for six dedicated courts.

Meanwhile, Harrogate Sports and Fitness Centre on Hookstone Wood Road saw an increase in demand for the sport during the first covid lockdown.

The local boom has been reflected across the country.

With more than 6.000 padel players in the UK, according to the Lawn Tennis Association, the sport is one of the fastest growing in the country.

Ripon to join in World Day of Prayer

A service to celebrate the World Day of Prayer, will take place in Ripon on Friday March 4.

The service, which is open to all, will be held at St Wilfrid’s Church Community Centre in Trinity Lane, starting at 10.30am.

It will be led by women and focus on prayers contributed by women from across the UK.

Pat Clark, a member of the Ripon committee for the World Day of Prayer movement, said:

“The service is held all round the world, so that at any moment in time on the first Friday in March there will be prayers raised to God on the topics selected by the preparation country. Young people’s and children’s activities are also provided.”

The service, at St Wilfrid’s Community Centre, is open to all

She added:

“It is an international ecumenical organisation, which enables women all over the world to share the ideas and concerns of the writing country (in which they live).

“The UK committee has chosen the Bible text ‘I know the plans I have for you’ from Jeremiah to reflect on some of the issues facing community today- poverty, domestic abuse and disability, finding hope in difficult situations and encouragement in the help people can give to each other.”

Preparation for the day takes several years, with an international committee, based in New York coordinating the work of national committees and facilitating the creation of the annual World Day of Prayer.

Initiated by Christian women in the USA and Canada in the 19th century, the World Day of Prayer has developed into a worldwide ecumenical movement of informed prayer and prayerful action.

Its first services in England were held in 1932.

Ripon cabbie with dreams of making it in the movies

Ripon cabbie Richard Fieldman has been a film and TV extra alongside Hollywood stars Samuel L Jackson, Judi Dench and Michael Gambon.

The A1 Cars owner got into the side hustle after a conversation with a passenger in the back of his cab a few years ago.

The man was an extra and passed on the details of his agent to the curious taxi driver, who now helps secure him non-speaking roles on the silver screen. He joked:

“But I always get picked out for the thug type character!

“It must be the way that I look. It doesn’t bother me, it’s all good work and I thoroughly enjoy it, it’s a break from taxi-ing and I get to meet a lot of stars.”

Most recently Richard was in the Marvel superhero series the Secret Invasion that was filmed at the Piece Hall in Halifax last month. He said he was in a protest scene “causing a bit of mayhem”.

He’s also had roles in Victoria and Abdul with Judi Dench and Mad to Be Normal, which starred David Tennant and Michael Gambon.

Many people will remember Ricky Gervais’ character in the BBC comedy Extras, who was disrespected by diva A-listers, including Samuel L Jackson. However, Richard said in real life Mr Jackson is much more friendly.

He said:

“The set was fantastic, it must have cost thousands, businesses around Piece Hall were paid to close for the weekend.

“A lot of stars keep themselves to themselves. Samuel L Jackson had his own security bloke but I spoke to him. He was normal and down to earth.

“Coming away from the Marvel set was really surreal. One minute you’re on a multi million pound set with top stars, the next you’re back at home cooking dinner in Harrogate.”

Richard drives his taxi around the Harrogate district for thousands of hours a year, so there’s one role that he wouldn’t require much method acting to play.

“I recently had to send a photograph of the car to my agent, it might be used, but I’ll have to take off the Harrogate Borough Council sticker off!”

On the rank, he says most are pleased and proud of what he’s been doing.

Next up, Richard says his agent has contacted him about being in the hit TV show Peaky Blinders, which will be filmed in Yorkshire later this year.

He hopes to transition into speaking roles and develop his career as an actor.

“I would love to do some speaking roles, that’s the whole idea, to see where it leads. You never know who’s watching.”

Swift action to tackle Sharow’s pothole plight

Village campaigner James Thornborough, who highlighted the “shocking state” of roads in Sharow, has had a swift response from North Yorkshire County Council.

Mr Thornborough contacted council chief executive Richard Flinton on January 30 to raise concerns about the uneven and dangerous road surfaces in the village, near Ripon.

He said fear of damage to wheels and tyres was preventing motorists from ‘going green’ by swapping sturdy SUVs for smaller vehicles with less environmental impact.

Mr Flinton promised the condition of the roads would be investigated by the council’s highways team and within a matter of days, council workmen identified 38 potholes and a temporary tarmac fix was applied.

Before … Some of the 38 potholes in Sharow and after … with temporary tarmac patches in place (pictured below)

Following a site visit by members of the council highways team, Nigel Smith, the county’s head of highway operations, sent Mr Thornborough a detailed email. It said:

“Sharow Lane and New Road are at a stage where preventative maintenance is not an option and a more substantial maintenance scheme will be considered for inclusion in our Forward Capital Programme, which presently means that the earliest a planned maintenance scheme could be delivered would be during the 2023/24 financial year.

“By way of further information, it is anticipated that a full ‘plane out and resurface’ scheme is required at this location, which will require funding of up to £200,000.

“In the meantime we will continue to do the annual safety inspections and reactive inspections to keep these carriageways in as safe a condition as possible and keep the matter under regular review.

“To that end I have asked the local area team to keep you apprised of matters with a further update at the end of March 2022 when we are reviewing our delivery programme for 2022/23.”

Mr Thornborough told the Stray Ferret:

“It was refreshing to receive such rapid and positive responses from senior county council officers and I just hope for the sake of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, that we will eventually see a more permanent fix for our patched-up roads.”

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‘Common ground’

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Screening concerns

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Boom in popularity

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