The managing director of Brimhams Active, which operates Harrogate Borough Council’s leisure centres, has defended the company’s stance on a proposed £8,000 price increase for one of its users.

This has, however, led to a clash with Ripon City Council leader, Andrew Williams.

Volunteer-run Ripon City Swimming Club (RCSC), which has been teaching children to swim for more than 100 years, said it had been priced out of using Ripon’s new swimming pool.

The club, which had previously held weekly sessions at now-closed Spa Baths at an annual cost of £4,500, told the Stray Ferret it was ‘mortified’ by a price hike to £12,500 per annum for use of the city’s newly-constructed facility, when it opens later this year,

Cllr Williams described the increase as ‘disgusting.’

This, in turn, prompted Brimhams Active managing director Mark Tweedie to contact the council leader by email, in which he said:

“For commercial, safety and quality assurance reasons we are mandated to be the sole provider of swimming lessons in the facilities we operate on behalf of the local authority.

“In this regard we have had numerous meetings and correspondence with RCSC over a significant period of time to try and come to an arrangement that would allow the club to continue to hire the pool with an adjusted offer that meets set standards and does not duplicate the Brimhams Active Learn to Swim programme.”

Read more:

• Swimming club ‘mortified’after Harrogate council hikes fee for new pool
• Ripon council leader calls swimming club price hike ‘disgusting’

In the email exchange, which has been seen by the Stray Ferret, Mr Tweedie added:

“The Brimhams Active Learn to Swim programme is accredited by Swim England (the governing body for swimming). It teaches swimmers how to be competent and confident in the water through a recognised quality assured framework.

“Young people joining the scheme have the added value benefit of free access to Brimhams Active operated pools during any general swim sessions providing more opportunities to develop their swimming and love for swimming.”

‘We need to operate commercially’

He added:

“We have offered to work with and directly support the club to enable them to adjust their offer so they can continue to help young people develop their swimming without duplicating the Brimhams Active Learn to Swim programme.”

“Working with us to adjust their offer would enable the club to continue to hire the pool at the same rate they were previously paying. However, should the club want to maintain their current offer we have provided the option for them to hire the pool at a commercial rate recognising the club would be in effect competing with the Brimhams Active Learn to Swim programme.

“The club would also need to adhere to the same rigorous safety and quality standards as Brimhams Active. The commercial rate is an exclusive rate offered to the club and is based on the true costs of hiring the facility.

“We need to operate commercially in order to cover the operating costs of the facility as well as generate vital funds for the local authority to continue to be able to provide efficient and effective public services.”

‘You need to rethink’

In his response to Mr Tweedie, Cllr Williams, said:

“You state ‘for commercial’ as your first words and that is exactly the problem, you are seeking to use your position to have a monopoly on the way in which children are taught to swim by using only your lessons.

“The Ripon (City) Swimming Club have taught many children how to swim and in a way which is affordable for many hard-pressed families.

“You conclude again with the need to operate commercially. Might I remind you that the land upon which the yet to be opened pool sits was gifted to the children of Ripon for recreational use not for the commercial benefit of a soon to be defunct local authority.

“You need to urgently rethink your approach on this matter.”

A Ripon company is set to supply gritters to keep London’s roads safe during winter.

For the next seven years, 33 Econ Engineering vehicles will be located at different points in London ready to mobilise when temperatures plummet.

Econ, which has its main manufacturing base in Ripon, has been negotiating with three companies that have been awarded contracts to keep the capital’s roads ice and snow free.

Ringways, Tarmac and Kier Joint Venture and FM Conway were all awarded contracts by Transport for London to maintain the capital’s roads.

Read more:

• Minimum gritting will not affect service, say council bosses

• Andrew Lupton, sales director of Ripon firm Econ, dies suddenly

• Gritting to be reduced to minimum on North Yorkshire roads

All three companies have turned to Econ to purchase vehicles for winter maintenance.

Ringways has purchased 11 gritters, Tarmac and Kier joint Venture 13 and FM Conway has bought nine from Econ.

Jonathan Lupton, from Econ, said: 

“We are delighted to have been chosen by all three TfL contractors as their winter maintenance vehicle partner of choice.

“This is a significant contract award for us and demonstrates our standing within the highways and transports sector.

“For more than 50 years, Econ has become an industry leader in the manufacturing of gritters, and our vehicles are used by councils, highways agencies, and road contractors the length and breadth of the UK.”

TfL said in a statement:

“For the next seven years the three contractors will be ensuring our roads are kept open whatever the weather conditions. And for their part, they have chosen Econ Engineering to supply them with the necessary vehicles to ensure they fulfil their contractual obligations.”

Temporary traffic lights in the centre of Killinghall brought “chaos” to the village’s roads this morning.

Northern Powergrid began work today excavating a trench to install cables beneath the pavement outside the Tesco Express, which is being built on Ripon Road in the centre of the village.

Three-way traffic lights have been installed at the junction with Otley Road and buses and lorries have been prevented from turning in and out of Otley Road from Ripon Road while work is carried out.

The area is always busy at peak times because it is the main route between Ripon and Harrogate. But this morning the works led to particularly heavy traffic and delays to the 36 bus run by Harrogate Bus Company.

The situation had calmed down by mid-morning but long delays at rush hour are expected for the next 10 days while work is carried out.

‘Avoid Killinghall at all costs’

One resident in Killinghall described the situation as “chaos” at rush hour.

They told the Stray Ferret:

“Bus stop outside new Tesco shut. Northern Powergrid have three-way traffic lights on junction and the other contractors are here doing the footpath work as well. Avoid Killinghall at all costs.”

Another resident, who was driving between Ripley and Harrogate, said the journey which would normally take a couple of minutes was now “taking more than half an hour” due to the temporary lights and traffic. They said traffic was particularly bad heading into Harrogate.

Read more:

• Traffic disruption expected in Killinghall next week
• Killinghall resident looks into ways to reopen village pub

Traffic problems caused delays and cancellations to Harrogate Bus Company’s 36 service.

The company said its service would continue to run as normal, but passengers should expect delays at peak times due to the heavy traffic on Ripon Road.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Bus Company said:

“Planned work by Northern Powergrid is taking place in the Otley Road/Ripon Road area of Harrogate, from today. This means our service 24 between Harrogate and Pateley Bridge will be diverted in the Killinghall area, and will be unable to reach stops between Redfearn’s Garage and Grainbeck Lane. This diversion is expected to remain in place until Friday, February 4.

“Full details of alternative arrangements are being advertised to keep our customers informed, including on our Twitter feed ‘@harrogatebus’ and on our free to download Transdev Go mobile app.”

Northern Powergrid wrote to residents last week. It said:

“There will be a certain amount of disruption during the implementation of this work but every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum.”

A man is recovering in hospital after being struck by a van driven by thieves at a Ripon supermarket.

The incident happened at 6.40pm last night at Morrisons.

According to North Yorkshire Police, a white utility van failed to stop after striking the unnamed man, who is in his 40s.

The extent of his injuries us now known.

A police statement said:

“The van did not stop at the scene and so we are appealing for information to help identify the vehicle and its occupants.

“Anyone who was in the area of Morrisons between 6.20pm and 6.50pm and has any dashcam or video footage, is asked to contact police.

“Dial 101, press 1 and pass information to the force control room, quoting reference number 12220012344.”

Read more:

• Ripon aims to take control of its markets from Harrogate\
• Ripon pool opening delayed again

Ripon City Council has launched a bid to take control of the city’s Thursday and Saturday markets.

The ancient markets have been operated by Harrogate Borough Council since local government reorganisation in 1974.

But with Harrogate Borough Council set to be abolished in 15 months, Ripon city councillors have decided to act.

Independent council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“In recent years stall numbers have reduced and we firmly believe that the market needs an overhaul that will revitalise it.

“We are looking to work in partnerships with other like-minded market towns, such as Knaresborough, as we feel that we can build new working relationships with our neighbours, to deliver better services.”

Read more: 

• Ripon’s Old Deanery to reopen
• Objections raised over work at Ripon nature reserve

Ripon City Council has already called for other key assets, including the city’s town hall, Hugh Ripley Hall, Spa Gardens and Spa Park to return to local ownership from Harrogate Borough Council.

It says provisions in the Localism Act, designed to protect assets of community value (ACV), should be used to achieve this prior to the formation of the new North Yorkshire unitary authority next year.

Moves are already underway to retain community use at Spa Baths, after the city council successfully applied in September to have the historic building listed as an ACV.

Harrogate Borough Council has delayed the opening of a new pool in Ripon — again.

The pool was due to be completed in May 2021 at a cost of £10.2 million but it is now eight months overdue and £4 million over-budget.

At the end of November, the council said workers had identified an issue with the lining of the pool and that it would open in January.

But an update by the council today revealed further delays and no opening date.

Read more:

• Ripon leisure scheme racks up additional £1m cost
• Ripon’s delayed leisure scheme more than £3m over budget

It said:

“The pool manufacturer has been carrying out additional work to resolve this issue, at no cost to us, and are continuing to do so.

“We were hopeful the pool would open this month but due to the complexity of the work involved it is taking longer than first anticipated.

“We’d like to reassure you that this has nothing to do with ground conditions and relates to the overflow drainage channel and the membrane around the edge of the pool.

“Once this work has been completed – which we hope won’t be too much longer – we will need to carry out some final testing ahead of opening.

“We are as disappointed as you, but carrying out this remedial work and rigorous testing now will allow you all to enjoy the pool for many years to come.”

The council added that it hopes to have a further update “in the coming days”.

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has submitted plans for 390 homes in Ripon.

Government housing agency Homes England commissioned the company to build the scheme off West Lane as part of an £89.5 million contract.

The proposal, which already has outline permission, would see a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom homes built on the site.

Most of the houses will be for market sale, but 156 properties will be designated as affordable housing.

Sarah Armstrong, land director for Taylor Wimpey North Yorkshire, said: 

“We’re delighted to have been selected as preferred developer to deliver this site in partnership with Homes England.

“We’ve taken a landscape-led design approach to develop a residential masterplan that will enhance the character and identity of the site.

“The development will include locally-equipped play facilities and attractive biodiverse landscape features, and we are providing significant areas of open space to allow new residents and visitors to enjoy a high-quality living environment with an attractive outlook.”

Read more:

• Homes England ‘frustrated’ by delays to 200-home scheme at Police Training Centre
• Taylor Wimpey gets £89.5m contract to build 390 Ripon homes

Should planning permission be approved, Taylor Wimpey expects work to start in spring this year.

Homes England intervened to buy the site after Barrett Homes pulled out of the scheme in July 2020.

Marie Kiddell, head of planning and enabling north at Homes England said:

‘We intervened to buy West Lane in Ripon to unlock this stalled housing site. 

“We’ve since appointed Taylor Wimpey, as our preferred developer, to take on the mantle of providing quality new homes, including 40% affordable provision – that’s 156 affordable homes in an area where they are most needed.

“Submitting the reserved matters application marks another step forward in bringing these vital new homes one step closer to reality.”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

Fire crews from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were called to a kitchen fire in Ripon last night.

Crews were called to a house on Sandy Lane in Ripon just after 6pm last night. The residents reported a cooker fire which is thought to have started in a chip pan.

Two breathing apparatus, one hose reel jet, a positive pressure ventilation fan and small tools were used to extinguish the fire.

The fire caused damage to the kitchen, floor, cooker and ventilation unit.

In the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service incident log it said:

“Two fire engines from Ripon responded to reports of a cooker fire, all persons were out of the property on arrival of crews. The oven was removed to open air and the property ventilated.”

Read more:

• Firefighters called to kitchen fire at Harrogate house
• ‘God help us!’ — fears over need for £31m to fund North Yorks fire service

The leader of Ripon City Council has said it’s “appalling and disgusting” that a volunteer-run children’s swimming club won’t be able to use the city’s new £15m pool after Harrogate Borough Council tripled its fee.

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that Ripon City Swimming Club has been offered space at the Jack Laugher Leisure Centre, but only if it stumped up £12,500 a year — almost three times what it was previously paying. This has effectively out-priced them.

The pool will be run by Brimhams Active, the arms-length leisure company set up by Harrogate Borough Council last year.

The club said it was ‘absolutely gutted” it won’t be able to afford to use the pool, which is due to open this month although no date has yet been set.

Ripon council leader, Cllr Andrew Williams, told the Stray Ferret that the move by Brimhams Active sent a negative message to young families in Ripon. He said;

“I couldn’t believe what I was reading in the Stray Ferret article.

“The idea they want to charge a commercial rate to local volunteers who are trying to provide something to local children. They should be given the pool free of charge. It’s disgusting and appalling.”

Read more:

• Swimming club ‘mortified’ after Harrogate council hikes fee for new pool
• Ripon pool delay not linked to sinkhole issues, says council

Brimhams Active had wanted to amalgamate the club, which taught children to swim at the now-closed Spa Baths as far back as the 1930s, with its own swimming lessons. However, the club declined because it wanted to remain separate from the council.

Cllr Williams accused Brimhams of “exerting its commercial position unfairly”. He said he plans to raise the issue at the next Ripon City Council meeting in February.

“They didn’t come under the council’s umbrella with Spa Baths, so why now? It doesn’t wash at all. Brimhams wants to monopolise swimming lessons in the district.

“The situation has been badly handled by Brimhams and Harrogate Borough Council.”

The council’s response

A spokesperson for Brimhams Active said:

“Our Learn to Swim programme that is accredited by Swim England – the governing body for swimming – teaches swimmers how to be competent and confident in the water, and follows a recognised framework that provides a love for swimming and the skills and motivation required to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. It also provides reassurance to our customers that they will receive the highest level of coaching and safety standards.

“We have offered to work with Ripon City Swimming Club, enable them to fit into this district-wide development pathway and become a Swim England accredited recreational swimming club for children who have completed the fundamentals of our Learn to Swim programme.

“The club have also been offered the use of the pool at the same rate they were previously paying, should they wish to work with us and accept this offer.

“Should the club not wish to accept this offer, they are welcome to explore the hire of the pool at the commercial rate.”