EXCLUSIVE: Ripon leisure scheme racks up additional £1m cost

The Stray Ferret can reveal that Ripon’s new swimming pool and leisure centre has racked up another £1 million in cost.

According to a freedom of information request obtained by Ripon resident and chartered civil engineer Stanley Mackintosh, the council agreed a budget of £14.5 million for the scheme back in September.

The Stray Ferret previously reported that the scheme was already £3.3 million over budget.

The new figure was revealed after Mr Mackintosh successfully appealed a decision by Harrogate Borough Council to refuse disclosing the information on commercial grounds.

Following an internal review, the council overturned its previous refusal and disclosed the total sum of its budget in September.

In its full FOI response to Mr Mackintosh HBC said that:

This means that the authority’s budget is £4 million more than a previous contract agreed for construction.

The original 17-month contract signed with construction company and principal contractor Willmott Dixon was for £10.2 million, with a completion date of May this year.

However, the move was delayed and the pool is expected to open on December 8.

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Mr Mackintosh told the Stray Ferret that he felt the site is unstable and that “things were bound to go wrong” with the site.

He said:

“I do not think it [the site] has long term stability. Nobody can know how long it will last.”

The morning, Conservative Cllr Nigel Simms said he stood by his view that the choice of Dallamires Lane for the new pool was a poor use of public money.

Cllr Simms told the Stray Ferret:

“Nothing has happened to change my mind, the geology of the site with its sinkhole issues, means it’s the wrong place.

“I’m all in favour of new leisure facilities for Ripon, but a more stable area should have been selected.”

Further concern of the pool site was raised earlier this month after a council-commissioned report by engineering company Stantec outlined measures to mitigate the effects of a void that was detected last year.

Dr Alan Thompson, a geologist and director of Cuesta Consulting in Somerset, called for the council to postpone a decision on the measures and give greater consideration to finding an alternative site.

However, senior councillors voted to press ahead with its plan to carry out further work while opening most of the site.

Police officers visit Ripon school kids to talk dangers of knife crime

Students from a Ripon primary school kids were visited by police officers to talking about the dangers of knife crime and taking drugs.

North Yorkshire Police‘s school liaison team and author Christina Gabbitas visited Holy Trinity Junior School last week to show children the dangers of getting involved in crime and how to avoid it.

Visits were also make to other schools across the county, including Scarborough and York.

Concerns about crime in Ripon have grown in recent months with some residents “scared to go out”. The police has promised more visibility in the city in an attempt to crackdown on crime.

Ripon has seen incidents in recent months involving knives; one in August left a boy in tears when he was told at knifepoint to take off his trainers and hand over his phone and jewellery.

The visits were in conjunction with a national campaign to tackle knife crime, Op Spectre. The students watched a video which showed young people getting drawn into the world of drug dealing which resulted in one of them being stabbed.

They were also given a ‘No more knives or county lines’ work booklet at the end of the session.

Sergeant Heidi Lewis of the schools liaison team said officers were there to build relationships with the children and answer any questions:

“Education at an early stage is crucial to steer children away from falling into a criminal lifestyle and becoming exploited.

“Some young people think it’s safe to carry a knife in case they need it for self-defence – but this could not be further from the truth. Any knife in the hands of anyone can cost lives and that’s what we hope the children we have engaged with this week have learned”.

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Christina Gabbitas said:

“I can’t emphasise enough how important it is for us to educate children at a young age about these issues and dangers. If we can get children to recognise the signs at an early age, we have a better chance to prevent them coming to harm.

“I am always so impressed with how engaged the children I speak to are. They are so keen to learn about these issues and because it’s done in a safe environment amongst peers, the children are very open and always ask a lot of questions.”

To reports concerns for the safety of a child, contact the police on 101.

Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning, it’s Al with you this morning, here to update you with any travel alerts to keep your journey moving.

I’ll let you know about roadworks, delayed trains and any traffic hotspots that could cause you delays.

If you spot anything, and it is safe to do so, give me a call on 01423 276197 and we can help other commuters too.

These blogs are brought to you by The HACS Group.

9am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is slow in these areas:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8:30am – Full Update 

Roads

Traffic is moving more slowly in these areas:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

8am – Full Update 

Roads

There are a number of new road closures and temporary lights today, so do check the list below as delays will likely increase as more people get out and about.

Some traffic is starting to build in some areas:

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7:30am – Full Update 

Roads

Most roads seem to be clear so far this morning. There are a number of new road closures and temporary lights today though, so do check the list below as delays will likely increase as more people get out and about.

Some traffic is starting to build around the Flaxby junction of the A1(M), and on Otley Road around Killinghall.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

7am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

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Buses

6.30am – Full Update 

Roads

The roads are looking quiet so far this morning, with no build ups of traffic yet.

Road closures:

Temporary lights:

Trains

Buses

Ripon’s tractor boss celebrates 60 years in agriculture

Ripon Farm Services managing director Geoff Brown has seen huge changes in farming machinery over the past 60 years.

Mr Brown began his career in 1961, back when tractors still ran on petrol and were not even four-wheeled drive.

This year the company showed the world’s largest combine harvester at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Mr Brown started as a 16-year-old apprentice at car and agricultural machinery dealers Glovers of Ripon.

He worked for the Appleyard Group as its John Deere demonstrator before forming Ripon Farm Services in 1982 alongside local businessmen Maurice Hymas and Bill Houseman.

World’s largest combine harvester at this year’s GYS.

The company has grown to become one of the biggest in Ripon, employing 260 employees people and having a turnover of over £100m.

It is now the UK’s largest John Deere dealership with 11 depots and groundscare machinery departments.

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Mr Brown said:

“I’ve seen many changes, both in the world in general and in farming in particular, but the values that I’ve followed throughout my career – hard work and an unwavering commitment to the very best customer service – have remained the same. Many of our customers are also long-standing friends.

“I’ve taken great pride in the success of Ripon Farm Services, which I founded with friends and fellow businessmen in 1982. I’ve watched the company grow from a small concern to one of the biggest employers in the Ripon area, with some 260 staff and a turnover of more than £100m.

“This gives me tremendous pleasure, but I would stress that the success of Ripon Farm Services is down to the loyal and committed staff we have employed over the years. They have been the bedrock of this company and their dedication and expertise is second to none.”

Stray Views: Let’s get behind the Station Gateway

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Station Gateway is best thing to happen to Harrogate for years

The Station Gateway plans are the first glimmer of hope I have felt in my seven years of living in Harrogate town (aka ‘my car’s bigger than your car’ Town).

A glimmer of hope that we just might have a lovely, friendly, safe, human, caring, bustling, fun town buried somewhere here. Buried beneath the surging, charging, horrific madness that is currently ‘our town’.

We have dual carriageways with parking down both sides. The humans lurk, unwanted, forgotten, ignored, often frightened, on a little strip of tarmac potentially a mere few metres from where they want to be. As for cycling. You’d have to be mad.

Nowhere have I seen a town so well-suited to walking, running, cycling and generally playing out, that instead chooses to destroy itself in deference to its rich, entitled, car-addicted populous.

The Station Gateway is just the start…

Ruth, Walker, runner, cyclist, mother and musician of Harrogate

Ripon needs a First World War walking tour

I read with interest your article about the installation of the memorial at Hell Wath nature reserve, which was the site of the WW1 army camp in Ripon.

I was born and grew up in Ripon and have spent a lot of my adult life there, but I had to ask a fellow walker for help to point me in the right direction to find it when we went to have a look at it. It would have been far easier if you had included directions on how to find it in your article.

It would also have been useful to have had more information there about the camp at Hellwath and its significance to WW1 history.

A walking route pointing out points of interest would be both interesting and educational to all age groups. Perhaps some of those metal figures could be placed in key areas of interest. Considering the great lose of life in WW1, it would be a fitting tribute to those that served and were billeted there. Most families were touched in some way by the war at the time, mine included.

Geoff Fletcher, North Stainley

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Time to deal with these dangerous gases

It’s been common practice for some time now to vent to the surface gases from land that has previously been a landfill site.

The gas that is emitted is typically methane (CH4), which we know to be significantly more dangerous to the climate than carbon dioxide (CO2). Some studies rate it as 100 times more powerful a climate change gas.

There are sites in Harrogate that currently vent this gas to the atmosphere: Stonefall Park and parts of the Great Yorkshire Showground, amongst others.

Has the time come to deal with this harmful gas in a more environmentally friendly way?

Robert Newton, Pannal

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Christmas markets 2021: The best festive events around the district

This article is sponsored by Berwins

A less-than-ideal Christmas in 2020, many of us want to mark the festive season as early as possible this year.

And what better way to get into the festive spirit than to wrap-up warm and wander around a Christmas market with a cup of mulled wine.

While some events have been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns, there are still plenty going ahead across the district.

And just like buses, three events have come all at once in Harrogate following the cancellation of the town’s original Christmas market.

Knaresborough’s popular Christmas market is also back!

Here is our guide to the festive markets taking place across the district this year:

Christmas Market Weekend at Crimple, Harrogate

We kick off with the Christmas Market Weekend, which will feature more than 20 food and craft stalls at the brand spanking new Crimple food hall and restaurant.

It comes after Brian Dunsby, co-organiser of the original Harrogate Christmas Market, has worked with some of the stallholders to get them a new venue.

There will be music all day, including performances from the Chris White Jazz Trio, Tewit Youth Band and local busker Freddie Cleary.

There will also be plenty of children’s activities, including a festive animal farm, face painting and Christmas treasure trails, as well as wreath-making demonstrations.

November 27 and 28, Crimple, Leeds Road, from 8am to 7pm on the Saturday and 10am to 4pm on the Sunday

Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity’s (HHCC) Outdoor Pop-up Christmas Market

In the true spirit of Christmas, this NHS charity event is being held at Harrogate Railway Athletic Football Club for an extremely good cause.

Visitors are invited to “soak up the festive atmosphere” at the outdoor market, while browsing a selection of stalls. The big man himself will also be making an appearance, with a chance to visit Santa.

There will also be a licensed bar, “merry donkeys” and live music.

Tickets are available for a donation of £5 per adult (aged 14 and over), £2 for children over the age of 3 and under 3s are free.

Tickets include and entry drink on arrival, a mince pie and a visit with Father Christmas – an absolute bargain! And what’s even better, is the proceeds from the event will go towards making life changing differences in the town’s hospital and wider community.

November 28, Harrogate Railway Athletic FC, Station View, Harrogate, 1pm to 7pm.

Harrogate Christmas Fayre 

Market Place Europe is taking on the main event in Harrogate, but instead of Montpellier Hill, this new market will take place across the town centre over 10 days.

There will be a mixture of local and European stallholders on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.

The Harrogate Christmas Fayre will feature around 50 traders, which will spaced out wider than usual to encourage social distancing.

December 3 until December 12, Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent, Monday to Wednesday – 10am to 7pm, Thursday to Saturday – 10am to 9pm, and Sundays from 10am to 5pm

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Harrogate Christmas Artisan Market

Little Bird Made, which has carved out a name for itself across North Yorkshire with its artisan markets, is set to hold a special two-day Christmas event in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.

More than 60 local traders and producers will sell a variety of festive arts and crafts, clothing, homeware and jewellery, as well as locally-produced food and drink.

This is a new addition Harrogate, set to complement the town centre’s Christmas Fayre, with organisers working with Harrogate Borough Council.

December 4 and 5, Valley Gardens, Harrogate, 10am to 3pm

Market Square, Knaresborough at Christmas

Photograph: Charlotte Gale Photography

Knaresborough Christmas Market 

Knaresborough Christmas Market is back with an actual bang – yes there are fireworks – after last year’s cancellation.

With the organising committee promising a “Yorkshire experience to remember”, there will be over 50 stalls selling decorations, gifts and locally-sourced produce.

While visitors sip their mulled wine, they can also enjoy live entertainment from local dancers, choirs and brass bands.

As in previous years, the market will culminate with a fireworks display over the town’s iconic viaduct at 4.30pm on Sunday, December 5.

December 4 and 5, Market Square

Boroughbridge Christmas Market

This is another festive artisan market by Little Bird Made, which is being held the same weekend as the event in Harrogate.

This one is taking place at Langthorpe Farm Shop and promises “a Christmas shopping bonanza, mulled wine and some special surprises”.

There will be an assortment of handmade gifts and stalls will include arts, crafts, plants, clothes, jewellery, candles, soaps, coffee and gin. For the foodies, there will be cheese, pies, flapjack, biscuits, preserves, cakes and street food.

December 4, Langthorpe Farm Shop, Leeming Lane, from 10am to 3pm

Ripon Christmas lights

Ripon Christmas Market

Last year the covid lockdown meant that the city and its traders were unable to capitalise fully on the £65,000 spent on a major expansion of Christmas lights and displays.

However, this year the festivities are back! And so is Little Bird Made, with another Christmas market in the district, this time in partnership with Ripon City Council.

On December 5 and 12, artisan markets will be held on the square and free children’s fairground rides will be in operation on those dates.

There will be a selection of stalls from local traders, arts, crafts, food, an outdoor bar and live music.

December 5 and 12, Ripon Market Square, 10am to 3pm

Santa and reindeer start Ripon’s festive season today

Father Christmas and a reindeer will be in Ripon Market Square today.

They will be present from 1pm, as the city celebrates the start of the festive season with the switch on of its extensive Christmas lights.

The switch on takes place at 5pm and there will be free live music before and afterwards.

Photo of Freddie Cleary

Freddie Cleary will be the first performer to take centre stage on Saturday afternoon

This starts at 2pm with a performance from Ripon-based singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist Freddie Cleary.

From 4.10pm a tribute act will sing Christmas songs, followed by hits made famous by girl bands.

The entertainment comes to a climax at 6pm, when a Beatles tribute act takes to the stage in front of Ripon Town Hall.

Adding to the festivities, free fairground rides for children will be operating throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

The event is being staged by the Ripon City Council and paid for out of the parish precept, with the aim of attracting more visitors to Ripon, while providing family-focused entertainment for local residents and those from further afield.

Last year £65,000 was spent by the council to upgrade and extend the city’s Christmas lights, which can be seen in the retail core of Ripon and adjoining streets.

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Brian Cox films new BBC show at Fountains Abbey and Brimham Rocks

Professor Brian Cox has filmed part of his new BBC series about the mysteries of the universe at Fountains Abbey and Brimham Rocks.

In the episode, which airs next week, the physicist explores the phenomenon of black holes whilst using the two National Trust sites as a visual backdrop.

Prof Cox walks around the ruined monastery of Fountains Abbey while discussing how black holes decay. Brimham Rocks and the Nidderdale landscape are used to emphasise the vastness of space.

The episode is due to broadcast on BBC2 next Wednesday (November 24) and is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer here.

Fountains Abbey tweeted that it was delighted to welcome the professor:

1/2 We were delighted to welcome @ProfBrianCox here on some very chilly days earlier this year to film for his new series 'Universe'. The upcoming episode The upcoming episode was filmed within the ancient abbey ruins and explores the amazing mysteries of black holes. pic.twitter.com/jOccODeO0l

— Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust (@fountainsabbey) November 17, 2021

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WATCH Ripon residents give their views on MP Julian Smith’s £144,000 consultancy work

We went out on the streets of Ripon today to ask people about the controversy surrounding their MP Julian Smith’s paid consultancy work.

Mr Smith, who has represented Skipton and Ripon since 2010, could lose £144,000 under proposals put forward by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Johnson wrote to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle yesterday proposing MPs are banned from acting as paid political consultants or lobbyists in order to maintain public confidence in Parliament.

Mr Smith, who earns £144,000 from three part-time consultancy roles, all of which were approved by the Advisory Committee of Business Appointments, would be one of the worst affected MPs if the new proposals come into force.

Mr Smith’s constituents in Ripon today expressed mixed views. Some said it was acceptable because the earnings had to be declared and it was healthy for MPs to have a wide range of skills. Others disagreed and questioned whether his consultancy commitments meant less time working for his constituents.

Watch our video to hear residents’ views.

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Ripon alleys rejuvenated with overnight deep clean

Four of Ripon’s busiest alleys have been given a deep clean.

The overnight operation on Monday, was organised by Ripon Business Improvement District in one of its first initiatives to attract more visitors to the city and help businesses to benefit from increased footfall.

The clean-up focused on the thoroughfares between Oliver’s Pantry and Halls department store, M&Co and Costa Coffee, Boots and Specsavers and also Lavender Alley.

Last week, the BID’s interim manager Elizabeth Faulkner said:

“We know these alleyways are key to the way visitors and residents use the city so we want to make them as attractive as possible.”

Photo of alleyway cleaning

The deep clean was carried out overnight.

“There has been lots of talk about what they could be used for, but first we will clean them up and then look at lighting.

“These are of course just a small part of Ripon and we have got a big destination to make an impact on so we will then start to move around the city for more deep cleaning.”

Photo of alley between Oliver's Pantry and Halls

The alley between Oliver’s Pantry and Halls department store links the Marshall Way retail park and car park with North Street.

The BID, which levies businesses to fund city centre improvements, came into being after 70 of the 87 who voted this summer, supported setting up the body.

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Following the vote, more than 280 firms within the Ripon BID area are now contributing to an annual budget of £160,000 for projects to create a safer, cleaner and better promoted city centre.

The first networking events for businesses will be held on January 17 and 24.

A Harrogate BID was created in 2019 but plans for a BID in Knaresborough were rejected in October.