Film enthusiasts in Ripon remain in the dark about the future of the city’s Curzon cinema after the company released contradictory statements about its plans for the North Street site.

The cinema chain has said it gave ‘misleading information’ to the Stray Ferret when we got in touch in May about its reopening plans.

As the government moved towards the easing of covid lockdown restrictions, the company said in a statement on May 18:

“Curzon Ripon is planning on reopening June 4, 2021.”

Not coming soon… advertising for one of the films that was due to be shown at Curzon Ripon before it closed in March last year.

However, less than 24 hours later, on 19 May, it said:

“Unfortunately, due to Curzon Ripon’s venue being so small, with only 20 seats, they are unable to open safely at present with the government guidelines for social distancing.

“As soon as they can safely reopen there will be updates on the website.

“We apologise for the disappointment this may cause but we want to be able to reopen safely whilst following guidelines.”

Now, after a Curzon customer raised fresh concerns about reopening with the Stray Ferret, the London-headquartered company said this week it would like to ‘apologise for the misleading information’ given and for ‘the delayed reopening of our Ripon venue’.

But the question marks over its reopening remain.

The company said in a statement:

“As soon as we open the venue it will be shown on our website.

“We haven’t lifted our covid restrictions in any of our venues, due to this we can’t re-open Ripon until we lift our social distancing measures.”

Ripon not on Curzon website

The two-screen Ripon cinema, which opened in November 2013, is not currently featured on the company’s website, where 13 venues are listed.

Seven of the Curzon cinemas are in London, while in the north the company has locations in Sheffield and Knutsford, both of which have three screens.

Annual memberships range in price from £65 for a package that provides five credits for tickets or home cinema streams, to Curzon Cult + costing £850 per annum for 10 weekly credits.

A film lover, who was bought the basic £65 package in March 2020 as a birthday gift and asked to remain anonymous, told the Stray Ferret:

“More than a year after I received the gift from my family, I contacted Curzon’s national number in May to ask when I could watch films in Ripon again.

“I was advised go to the cinema on June 4 and it would all be sorted out.

“Then I saw the story on the Stray Ferret saying that the cinema would not be opening on 4 June.

“I was annoyed and rang Curzon to ask why they had given out wrong information, but gave up after being on the phone for more than an hour listening to a repeat message saying that they were dealing with a high volume of calls.

“This is a very unsatisfactory situation and Curzon is doing itself no favours by treating its customers like this.”

Read more:

• Cinema-lovers pray that Curzon Ripon will reopen
• Ripon Olympic hero’s TV kiss from Tokyo 

In its statement on Tuesday, Curzon said:

“For our Ripon members who brought an annual membership there will be a full extension for the time they missed out on their membership due to us closing our venues.

“If anyone missed out on a screening due to our venue closure, we do offer a full refund for this, if they could contact us with a booking reference.”

Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon Julian Smith will be paid £3,000 an hour to advise a green energy company for another 12 months.

Mr Smith was first appointed to the advisory position at Ryze Hydrogen in August last year when it was announced he would be paid £60,000 for 20 hours work.

The MP’s register of interests reveals he will have the same arrangement with the company from August 1 until July 31 2022.

Ryze Hydrogen produces and distributes the low-carbon fuel hydrogen. Its chief executive Jo Bamford also owns Wrightbus, a Northern Irish bus manufacturer. Mr Bamford is also a board member of the family-owned JCB company.

As Mr Smith was the Northern Ireland secretary until February 2020, he was warned by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments about a “perceived conflict of interest” in taking on the role.

‘Very lucrative remuneration’

Mr Smith has been an MP since 2010 and is paid £81,932 a year for the position.

Alongside his MP’s salary, he earns an additional £130,000 for being an external advisor to three private companies.

Brian McDaid, who stood for the Labour Party against Mr Smith in Skipton and Ripon in 2019, previously told the Stray Ferret that the MP should focus more on his constituents.

He said:

“During these times of austerity and the impact of the pandemic on us all, Mr Smith must be struggling on his MP’s salary to have to seek additional work with very lucrative remuneration.

“His constituents deserve so much better, especially during these very difficult and uncertain times.”

Mr Smith’s three jobs

Ryze Hydrogen: £60,000 for 12 months. He is expected to work 20 hours.

In August last year, Mr Smith took an advisory role with Ryze Hydrogen. Its chief executive Jo Bamford also owns Wrightbus, a Northern Ireland bus production company that has a relationship with the Northern Ireland Office in government.

Simply Blue Management: £2,000 a month for one or two hours a month over 12 months.

In January this year, Mr Smith began advising Cork-based firm Simply Blue Management. Its website describes itself as ‘the leading early stage developer of sustainable and transformative marine projects’.

MJM Marine: £60,000 for 12 months. He is expected to work 30 to 40 hours.

From March 2020, Mr Smith began advising MJM Marine on ‘business development’. The company calls itself a ‘leading international specialist in cruise ship refurbishment’. It’s based in County Down, Northern Ireland.

The Stray Ferret contacted both Julian Smith and Ryze Hydrogen about the appointment but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

A 68-year-old man has been jailed for over six years for historic child abuse in Harrogate.

Malcolm Peter Barwick, who now lives in Ripon, was sentenced to six and a half years in jail today after pleading guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with a child.

The abuse occurred at Woodfield Drive in Harrogate where the victim was sexually abused by Barwick between April 2014 and April 2015.

The victim, now in her early 20’s, reported the abuse to North Yorkshire Police in June last year. An investigation was then launched by Harrogate CID.

Barwick appeared at York Crown Court today. As well as the jail sentence he is subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and he will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Detective Constable Matthew Reeve said:

“The effect this case has had on the victim has caused a lifetime of trauma and has deeply affected her.

“She showed true bravery in reporting the matter to the police and seeing the case through. I really hope this outcome will give her the strength to move on from this horrendous experience.”

“Barwick is a predator who targets vulnerable youths and grooms them for his own sexual gratification. Dangerous and manipulative offenders like him deserve to be behind bars.”

Read more:

• Police arrest two men after damage to properties in Bilton
• A decade worth of monthly police visits to Mayfield Grove house

To seek advice and further support, or report child abuse, you can contact one of these organisations:

• North Yorkshire Police on 101. If you are in immediate danger, always dial 999 for an emergency response
• Victims who would prefer not to go direct to the police, and are not in immediate danger, can contact Bridge House, North Yorkshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), on 0330 223 0362, email sarc@nhs.net or go to www.bridgehousesarc.org/
• Supporting Victims at supportingvictims.org or call 01609 643100
• NSPCC Helplines: Adults concerned about a child should call 0808 800 5000; Children and young people should call Childline on 0800 1111. Or go to www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse

A summer programme of exhibitions and activities has been launched by Ripon’s museums.

The Workhouse Museum on Allhallowgate is one of three heritage attractions operated by Ripon Museum Trust.

On Saturday August 14, from 11am to 2pm, it will be the venue for Hazel Waite’s counted threads workshop.

Using motifs from features of the workhouse building, participants will be able to create a stitched sample, which could be used as a small picture, bookmark or greetings card.

For more details see the Ripon Museums website.

The Lives Unravelled exhibition is on display at the Workhouse Museum until Sunday 5 September.

Featuring five textile installations, located throughout the museum, the exhibition was inspired by the lives of women who lived and worked in Ripon’s former union workhouse.

Based on their research into the workhouse, textiles group 6-Ply has created crafted and unique textile pieces, which reflect the real experiences and imagined emotions of impoverished women.

Children will be able to explore the newly-created den in the Workhouse Museum garden

Over the school summer holidays, family-focused activities will be staged from Tuesday to Friday each week.

On Friday and from August 10 to 13, the theme is Make Your Mark.

Visitors can join in with the creation of a giant wall hanging depicting feelings and life during lockdown, as well as following a museum trail.

This includes the opportunity to bake in the Workhouse Museum’s Victorian kitchen and have a go at Rag Rugging.

During the second half of the school holidays, the theme for activities will be garden camp.

From August 17 to 20, 24 to 27 & 30 and September 1 to 3 , visitors can explore the Workhouse Museum garden and make and decorate a recycled plant pot holder to take home.

The trust will also be offering a museum trail, plus bird and bird call identification activities and a bird search game.

Children will also be able to play in a new garden den, with family activities included in the cost of museum entry.

Read more:

• Ripon’s weekend of free family entertainment
• What free activities are available for Ripon’s children this summer?

During the summer, the Prison and Police Museum is offering a creative walk through the criminal justice system with the My Path exhibition.

It showcases artworks from across Yorkshire, which were submitted to the 2020 Koestler Awards for arts in the criminal justice system.

Every work shown was made by someone in a prison, secure hospital, young offender institution or on probation. The exhibition runs until September 26.

Entrance to the exhibition is included in the cost of museum entry.

Developers have lodged an appeal against Harrogate Borough Council over a “failure to determine” a planning application for new apartments and townhouses in Ripon.

Spinksburn Ltd had tabled a plan to build four apartments and four townhouses on land off North Street in the city.

The site, which used to be retail units, was demolished to make way for Marshall Way and has remained undeveloped since.

The company tabled a revised plan back in November 2019, but says it has yet to receive a decision on the proposal.

Now, the developer has taken the matter to the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

Read more:

• Housebuilder awarded £63m contract to build 200 homes in Pannal Ash
• Company awarded £277,000 ground investigations contract for Ripon barracks site

In a letter outlining its grounds for appeal, the developer said it had requested a delay to the decision due to the covid pandemic back in April 2020.

A further extension was then agreed until July 15, 2021.

However, the developer said that since then the borough council has yet to determine the application.

The letter written by the developer’s lawyer said:

“Our client has therefore instructed us to submit the appeals for non-determination because the council does not appear to have the resources to be able to determine the applications and there appears to be no end in sight.

“My client is extremely concerned that determination of the applications is being allowed to drift and there are no means by which to secure the determination of the applications besides the appeal process if the council does not have the necessary resources.”

A government planning inspector will make a decision on the appeal at a later date.

Jack Laugher is bidding for further Olympic glory this morning.

A superb series of six dives took him into the men’s individual three-metre springboard final, which can be seen live on BBC TV from 7am.

The former Ripon Grammar School student, whose family home is in Littlethorpe, finished in third position behind China’s XIE Siyi and Wang Zongyuan in today’s semi-final.

Early-bird television viewers, who tuned in a 2am UK time, saw Laugher score 514.75 points in a stylish and controlled performance at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

It all started here – Spa Baths, Ripon where Jack Laugher was taught to swim at the age of 3 by Sylvia Grice MBE

If he can repeat the highly-disciplined display of diving excellence that he achieved in the semi-final, he has an outstanding opportunity to add to the Gold and Silver medals that saw him make history five years ago.

He and then partner Chris Mears, became the first-ever GB diving medallists, when they fought off a challenge from China to claim Olympic Gold at the Rio 2016 games.

Six days later, Laugher added Silver in the men’s individual springboard event, finishing behind China’s Yuan Cao.

The challenge from the Chinese pair of XIE Siyi and Wang Zongyuan, cannot be under-estimated, but it’s all to play for when the 12 finalists take to the springboard in Tokyo.

Read more:

• Littlethorpe’s local hero
• Ripon families revel in a weekend of free entertainment

A Darlington-based company has been awarded a £277,000 contract to undertake ground investigations on land earmarked for a potential 1,300-home development in Ripon.

Homes England has commissioned Dunelm Geotechnical and Environmental, a ground investigations firm, to carry out the work at the former Ripon barracks site.

The government housing agency has tabled a plan to build 1,300 homes on the site.

Ripon has a history of ground instability and sinkholes caused by the soluble of nature gypsum, the rock that lies under much of the area.

The brief for the contract, which is worth £277,108.77,  says the work is to:

“Complete an intrusive ground investigation as Principal Contractor under the CDM Regulations 2015 at a site in Ripon, including factual report on ground investigation.”

The proposal for the barracks site has caused controversy in the city with councillors opposing the development and residents signing a petition objecting to the plan.

Harrogate Borough Council is currently considering the proposal and will make a decision at a later date.

History of Ripon barracks plan

When the Ripon Neighbourhood Plan was being drawn up, it was envisaged that the barracks site would provide space for 800 new homes.

The site, encompassing Claro Barracks, Deverell Barracks and Laver Banks, initially included 11 hectares earmarked for employment uses.

After the allocation of land for employment uses was reduced, Homes England sought outline planning approval for a 1,300-home scheme.

A transport assessment, prepared in support of the development, was described as ‘flawed’ by Ripon City Council.

Read more:

• Call to reduce Ripon barracks development by 500 homes
• Housebuilder awarded £63m contract to build 200 homes in Pannal Ash
• Highways England puts handbrake on 1,300-home Ripon development

Harrogate Borough Council validated a planning application for the site back in September 2020 in a move which developers saw as a “major step forward”.

However, in May this year, Highways England called for further assessment of the transport and traffic impact of the proposed development.

The planned homes will include a significant number of two- and three-bedroom mid-range houses and will include apartments in the centre.

It also includes a community centre, employment space, shops, parkland, a new primary school and sports facilities.

It means Homes England now has a major presence in the Harrogate district.

The developer already has plans submitted with the council for 200 homes at a former police training centre on Yew Tree Lane, Harrogate.

Last week, the Stray Ferret reported that Countryside Properties had been awarded a £63 million contract to construct the scheme.

The housing agency also has plans lodged for 390 homes on land off West Lane, Littlethorpe.

Ripon rocked last night, as a large crowd massed on Market Square for an evening of music and entertainment.

The finale was a spectacular fireworks display that lit-up the night sky above the city’s elegant town hall.

A five-hour programme started with talented local singer-songwriter Freddie Cleary and ended with a convincing Freddie Mercury sound-alike.

Tribute acts had the audience singing along to Elton John’s ‘I’m Still Standing’ Amy Winehouse’s ‘Rehab’ and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody‘ among many other iconic British pop songs.

In a county where Tykes are known for their care when it comes to money — the icing on the Yorkshire Day Weekend cake, was the fact that it was all for free.

With the covid lockdown lifted, hundreds came to let their hair down on Market Square.

The day of fun for all the family, organised by Ripon City Council, was the first large-scale event to be held in the city since the coronavirus pandemic brought an abrupt end to all public gatherings.

From 2pm until 8pm, children with their parents and grandparents had Market Square North to themselves, as two free fairground rides and a climbing wall ensured enjoyment for all families, without the need to reach into purses and pockets.

The rides were still spinning as the music started on the stage in front of Ripon Town Hall.

Ripon-based singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist Freddie Cleary was the opening act.

Freddie Cleary, singing some of his own songs and a selection of favourite tunes, was followed by the Elton John tribute act, with white piano in what was a fitting celebration of one of Britain’s best-known musical Knights.

The tribute performed hit after hit from Sir Elton’s songbook.

Before the Elton John tribute did his second set, an Amy Winehouse look and sound-alike sang in the distinctive style of the late legend.

Then came the finale and a scintillating rendition of the songs made famous by rock legend Freddie Mercury.

An emotional and power-packed tribute to Amy Winehouse, who died ten years ago

The Queen tribute act front man had the audience wrapped in the palm of his hands, as he sang ‘Don’t Stop Me Now.’

For the citizens of Ripon, the free entertainment continues today as the fairground rides and climbing wall will be open from 10am until 4pm.

Rock and rockets around the Ripon Town Hall Clock

And parents who saved money on the free rides may be spending some of it at the Little Bird Artisan Market, that will be open on Market Square South from 10am until 3pm.

Read more:

• Ripon’s free fairground attraction
• Ripon’s Walled Garden seeks to grow with £22,000 fundraiser

Two Harrogate district taxi drivers have spoken out against a new £5 charge at Leeds Bradford Airport to pick up and drop off passengers.

The airport introduced the new charge on May 28 but with flights only slowly beginning to return, some taxi drivers are only just discovering the increase.

Leeds Bradford Airport has said the charge is necessary to help it recover financially from covid. It previously cost £3 to wait for up to 10 minutes.

But Richard Fieldman, owner of Ripon and Harrogate firm A1 Cars, told the Stray Ferret he took an older couple from Ripon to LBA for a flight to Dublin on Sunday and was shocked to discover the charge had increased to £5, which he called “extortionate” and “scandalous”.

The charges apply to anyone picking up or dropping off at the airport but taxi drivers are particularly affected because they make regular airport trips.

Mr Fieldman said:

“I have no sympathies whatsoever.

“Joe Public and taxi drivers are getting a raw deal. We’ve suffered enough.”

Read more:

• Harrogate district’s mixed reaction to Leeds Bradford Airport expansion
• Harrogate council lifts cap on wheelchair taxi licences

The Stray Ferret also spoke to John Higgins, owner of Harrogate firm Spa Taxis, who called the charges a “nightmare”.

He said taxi drivers could stop in the free car park but that was a 15-minute walk to the terminal — not ideal for people carrying luggage.

The pick-up and drop-off charges increase to £7 for a 10 to 20-minute stay, £9 for a 30 to 60-minute stay and £11 for longer than an hour.

It means if a customer has pre-booked a taxi but is held up at the airport, it could end up costing them over £50 for a journey to Harrogate.

Mr Higgins said the price increases will put him off doing airport runs in the future.

He added:

“These increased charges have snuck in over covid. I do have sympathies for the airport but we have to work together.”

‘Competitive prices’

An LBA spokesperson said the airport “continues to be impacted by the global pandemic” and the changes will “help us recover to a firm financial footing”.

They said the pick up and drop off tariffs were “very low” compared to other major and regional airports.

The spokesperson added:

“LBA continues to provide competitive prices on parking. We look forward to welcoming back travellers in ever increasing numbers and providing improved accessibility options in the pick up and drop off area.”

The charity that runs Ripon Walled Garden has launched a £22,000 fundraising campaign to buy new facilities for the disabled people it helps.

Ripon Community Link, which provides day support services for people with learning difficulties, operates from two sites in the city area — St Wilfrid’s Bungalow and Ripon Walled Garden.

Many of the people it helps work at the walled garden. The fundraising campaign will help to finish and furnish a new building on the site which they will use.

The building, which includes four classrooms, a reception and toilets, has already been paid for by grants and donations.

Victoria Ashley, Ripon Community Link chief executive, said:

“The new building is the next phase of our improvements for the walled garden to benefit members, customers, staff and volunteers.

“The opening of the toilet block was a major step for us, and now we are setting our sights on this new building, specifically aimed at benefitting our members. Our aim is to have this new facility fully opened in autumn”

Read more:

• Scotton girls run 24 hours to raise funds after vandals strike
• Charity launches community grocery shops for Harrogate and Knaresborough

A charity gold day at Rudding Park on August 19 is among the events planned to support the fundraising campaign.

To donate, click here.