Ripon Archives - Page 148 of 208

£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.”

‘Golden opportunity’ for local councils to take back public buildings and services

Local councils across the Harrogate district are to be given the chance to take back control of public buildings and services under what has been described as a “golden opportunity” for communities.

When Harrogate Borough Council was created in 1974 it took over ownership of several key assets, including Ripon Town Hall and Knaresborough House.

But almost half a century later the borough council is now coming to an end as it will be scrapped and replaced with a new unitary authority covering the whole of North Yorkshire from April next year.

These major reorganisation plans have stoked widely-raised concerns over the future of many buildings which are key meeting places for communities and also play a crucial role in delivering local services and supporting the visitor economy.

‘Rightful owners’

Ripon Independents Cllr Pauline McHardy last night made calls for the borough council to kick-start the process by offering support to local councils that may want to submit any takeover plans.

She told a full council meeting this would be a “golden opportunity for assets across the district to be transferred back to their rightful owners”.

She said:

“In 1974, the people of Ripon and its council had no say in their assets being transferred at no cost to Harrogate Borough Council.

“Now we want them given back to parish, city and town councils for the same as Harrogate Borough Council paid – nothing.”

Cllr McHardy put forward a motion outlining her requests and was supported by the Liberal Democrats, including Knaresborough mayor Cllr Christine Willoughby who said it “can not be right” for local councils to pay for buildings which they once owned.

However, after a stormy debate both parties ended up voting against the motion, which was amended by Conservative council leader Richard Cooper, who said local councils would be able to “procure” the assets.

Ripon Town Hall.

This sparked questions over whether local councils would have to pay, but Cllr Cooper said this “does not necessarily mean cash changing hands”.

He also said the motion first put forward “simply isn’t legal” as the borough council itself can not produce takeover plans for its own buildings to be run by local councils.

Cllr Cooper said:

“Seeking to get better services for residents run from these assets is where we should be focusing.

“If parishes can do it better and put together a delivery plan – great.

“I wish them all well and good luck in managing those services from parish, city and town councils. But what I am seeking to do is make sure they get control of assets and run great services from them legally, quickly and sensibly.

“The original motion I’m afraid just won’t do that.”

What will happen in Harrogate?

The prospect of a new town council for Harrogate is highly likely under the reorganisation plans and something which has been supported by all political parties.

Among the key assets which the town council could take over include the likes of the Stray, the Royal Hall, Royal Baths, the Pump Room Museum, the Sun Pavilion and more.

There are also questions over what will happen to council offices, not least to mention Harrogate Borough Council’s new civic centre headquarters.

At the moment, Harrogate and Scarborough are the only major towns in North Yorkshire not served by a parish or town council.

North Yorkshire County Council has previously said services such as parks and markets could be run by a town council, while areas including planning and highways may be handled by a Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee on the new unitary authority.

It has also said it is supportive of the idea of a Harrogate Town Council, although this would require a community governance review and could lead to a local referendum with a vote from residents.

Ripon Cathedral to hold memorial service for famous TV dramatist

A memorial service will be held at Ripon Cathedral at 3pm on Tuesday for playwright and TV dramatist Ian Curteis, whose play about the 1982 Falklands conflict was at the centre of a BBC controversy.

Mr Curteis, who in 2001 married Lady Deirdre Hare, widow of the 7th Baron Grantley of Markenfield Hall, spent the latter years of his life focused on the conservation and restoration of the medieval building, which has been the Grantley family seat since the 13th Century. He died in November.

In 2008, he and Lady Deirdre, who described the moated hall as ‘the loveliest place you’ve never heard of’ won the first annual restoration award sponsored by Sotheby’s and the Historic Houses Association.

Better known to people who followed Mr Curteis’ writing rather than restoration activities, was his work on the BBC blockbuster drama series, The Onedin Line, for which he was commissioned to write a number of episodes.

Markenfield Hall.

His innovative approach saw him pioneer a new drama-documentary format for his play on the 1956 Suez crisis, broadcast by the BBC in 1979.

Mr Curteis used the same drama-documentary approach for a play about the Falklands War commissioned by the then BBC director-general Alasdair Milne in April 1983 — just a year after the conflict had started.

However, The Falklands Play, which was for many years at the centre of a controversy involving claims of political bias and attempted censorship, was finally broadcast on BBC Four after a number of re-writes in April 2002.

In a less controversial arena, Mr Curteis wrote an adaptation of JB Priestley’s last novel Lost Empires for ITV and also adapted for broadcast by the BBC The Choir , a novel written by Joanna Trollope.

Ripon’s 10k Muddy Boots race returns after two years

Ripon’s annual Muddy Boots 10k and Fun Run returned at the weekend after being cancelled for the past two years.

The run raises funds for St Wilfrid’s Primary School in Ripon. The two races take runners over a multi-terrain course finishing at the primary school.

Held this past weekend, the event saw almost 350 runners turn up for the mud run and a further 83 for the fun run.

The run had been cancelled in 2019 and 2020 due to bad weather and coronavirus but parent volunteers from the St Wilfrid’s Association wanted to make sure they didn’t miss another year.

Race director, Yvonne Parkes, said:

“It’s great that we can host the Muddy Boots 10k and Fun Run again after a two-year hiatus.

“Muddy Boots is a well-established feature of the local running calendar and a great community event that raises much needed funds to offer children who attend St Wilfrid’s Primary school a full range of activities, including extra-curricular opportunities.”

Race Results

Ladies:

1. Helen Cross (40:25) (York Knavesmire Harriers)
2. Nik Tarrega (43:35) (York Knavesmire Harries)
3. Stephanie Breckon (47:40) (Unaffiliated)

Men:

1. Jack Mudd-Bowes (39:17) (Unaffiliated)
2. Ted Leahy (39:48) (Ripon Runners)
3. Marc Ellis (40:20) (Quakers Running Club)

Teams:

Mens Team Prize: Ripon Runners
Ladies Team Prize: York Knavesmire Harriers

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Screening concerns

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Boom in popularity

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‘Rightful owners’

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What will happen in Harrogate?

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Race Results