Firefighters were called to an address in Harrogate last night after a barbecue caused a petrol can to ignite.
Crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough were summoned to a home on Rosewood Crescent.
According to the incident summary, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was alerted at 9.14pm and used one hose reel to extinguish the fire, which spread to the back door of the property
The blaze caused 5% heat damage to the door. Firefighters gave the homeowners advice.
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Later that night, a Harrogate crew attended another fire when an armchair was set alight in a home on Cold Bath Road.
The incident, at 1223am, was caused by a dropped cigarette. The resident had already extinguished the fire before the crew arrived.
The officers ventilated the property and gave advice.
Two hours later, two Ripon crews responded a to a fire that spread to nearby trees and bushes after a car was set alight.
The car, on St Wilfrids Crescent, is believed to have been deliberately torched.
The crews used a 45m jet, two dry powder extinguisher and a thermal imaging camera.
Many happy returners at Ripon City Netball ClubIt was time for many happy returns at Ripon City Netball Club this week.
The spontaneous singing of ‘Happy Birthday to You’, signalled the arrival on court of Jackie Laugher.
For the mother of Olympic gold medal winning diver Jack, it was the sporting icing on the cake.
On a sunlit evening, she met with team mates she hadn’t seen face-to-face for seven months.
Jackie told the Stray Ferret:
“It’s lovely to be back among friends.”
Families and friends – Helen and Amy Mackenzie (left) are pictured with, from left: Jackie Laugher, Lindsi Baldwin and her sister Kirsteen Dixon
Jack, who won his diving gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, had rung his mother earlier to wish her a happy birthday.
She said:
“He is always encouraging me and was pleased to hear I was heading out for netball training and keeping myself fit.”
For Jack, the road to Olympic gold started at Ripon’s Spa Baths where he was taught to swim by Sylvia Grice.
His sporting prowess was developed further at Ripon Grammar School, where he was taught by Sylvia’s daughter and PE teacher Helen Mackenzie.
The connection between the families continues, as Helen is head coach at Ripon City Netball Club, where her daughter Amy is a rising star.
She said:
“The aim since we set off seven years ago has been to create a club based on three words – participate, enjoy, succeed.
“We are inclusive, welcoming all-comers.
“This sees mothers alongside their daughters and siblings enjoying training and playing together.”
Club secretary Kirsteen Dixon who was present with her sister Lindsi Baldwin, said:
“These times are so special, it’s like turning the clock back to school days, when we first learnt to play netball.
“Many lasting friendships developed from this.
“The social aspect is as important as the sporting activity.”
Covid lockdown saw the suspension of netball in September.
Ripon City, which plays in the Hambleton, Harrogate, York and North Yorkshire Ambassadors leagues is now preparing for games later this year.
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With teams named after birds of prey – Falcons, Kestrels, Ospreys, Eagles and Hawks – it’s time to spread their wings once more.
As lockdown lifts further, many more will be flocking back to their Ripon Grammar School base.
Three Ripon museums prepare for reopeningThree Ripon museums are preparing to reopen next month after receiving further government funding.
The Workhouse, Prison & Police and Old Courthouse museums plan to welcome visitors from May 17.
Before then, the Workhouse Museum gardens will be open until 3pm today.
Ripon Museum Trust, which maintains the attractions, has received two grants totalling £186,850 from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, which helps cultural organisations recover from covid,
The latest grant of £69,350, announced last week, will help the trust develop digital learning for schools and reconnect with tour groups, older learners and communities.
The Police & Prison Museum – one of the three heritage attractions run by Ripon Museum Trust
This additional funding comes as visitor attractions and tourism destinations aim to make the most of the relaxation of lockdown restrictions and boom in staycations.
Helen Thornton, director of Ripon Museum Trust, said:
“The Arts Council’s cultural recovery funding has been an absolute lifeline during a very challenging time.
“This grant puts us in a strong and positive position to reopen our museums again and welcome visitors back – which is what we love doing and what we are all about.
“It will be so wonderful having our doors open again on 17 May.”
The Workhouse Museum gardens will also be open between 11am and 3pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, plus Bank Holiday Monday 3 May.
To manage numbers and ensure social distancing, people should book timed ticket slots online for this and the ‘Inside Out’ Museum Trail. Visit riponmuseums.co.uk for bookings.
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- Ripon plans free fairground attractions for families
- Ripon racecourse ready to stage its first fixture of 2021
Sir Nicholas Serota, chairman of Arts Council England, said:
“Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic. These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.
“We are grateful to the Government for this support and for recognising the paramount importance of culture to our sense of belonging and identity as individuals and as a society.”
Last autumn, the trust was awarded £117,500 from the Culture Recovery Fund.
Newby Hall to feature on Sunday’s Antiques RoadshowNewby Hall near Ripon will feature in this weekend’s Antiques Roadshow programme on BBC One.
The programme, which will be broadcast at 7pm on Sunday, is the second of two that were filmed at Newby in August last year. The first programme came out on January 31.
Antiques Roadshow attracts about six million viewers, who will see footage of Newby’s house and gardens.
Filming took place in warm sunshine one day and rain and gales the next. Covid restrictions were enforced.
Newby Hall
Presenter Fiona Bruce, who was filming her 13th series of Antiques Roadshow, said after filming she had a “wonderful time at Newby Hall filming some stunning items in the blazing sunshine and pouring rain!”.
She added:
“Our experts have seen some really intriguing and valuable objects and I can’t wait to see the finished programmes.”
Read more:
- Dig out your treasures” Antiques Roadshow comes to Newby Hall
- BBC’s Fiona Bruce on unearthing treasures on the Antiques Road Show
Series editor Robert Murphy said Newby was selected because of its “incredible house, award-winning gardens and collection of stunning Roman statues”.
Richard Compton, Newby Hall’s owner said:
Transdev set to buy Yorkshire Tiger bus service“We are very much looking forward to showing off our beautiful corner of North Yorkshire to all the viewers of this flagship programme.”
Transdev has agreed to buy the West Yorkshire-based Yorkshire Tiger bus service from Arriva UK Bus.
The French company, which operates the 36 route between Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds, announced the preliminary agreement today. It did not return inquiries from the Stray Ferret about the cost of the deal.
The sale is expected to be completed in summer.
A Transdev statement said Arriva’s 163 employees will transfer to Transdev Blazefield, which employs over 1,200 people at eight operating centres across the north of England.
Local bus services would not be affected, it added.
The sale includes Arriva’s two depots at Elland, near Halifax and Waterloo in Huddersfield, as well as 61 buses.
As part of the deal, Arriva’s 163 drivers, engineers, cleaning and support staff at the two depots will join Transdev, which employs 1,200 people at eight centres in the region, including Starbeck.
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- Harrogate buses are the best, says Transport Secretary Grant Shapps
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Transdev Blazefield chief executive Alex Hornby said:
“We are thrilled to be growing our team and our company, and are really looking forward to serving this part of West Yorkshire for the first time.
“This demonstrates Transdev’s long-term commitment to develop our business here in the north of England, building on a clear track record of success.
“At this critical time for the bus, we believe it can play a key role in enabling our economic recovery, both locally and nationally.
Yorkshire Tiger’s day and season passes are expected to be integrated into Transdev’s range of travel tickets, and travel company West Yorkshire Metro’s range of tickets will continue to be valid on all its services.
The sole exceptions to the deal are the 231 and 232 Huddersfield to Wakefield routes, which are planned to remain within Arriva as part of its Yorkshire business.
£34,000: the cost of heating closed Ripon poolHarrogate Borough Council has spent £34,000 heating Ripon Spa Baths since it closed in March last year, the Stray Ferret has discovered.
The pool is one of three in the Harrogate district, along with Knaresborough and Starbeck, to remain closed after leisure facilities were allowed to reopen on Monday.
The council has now disclosed the cost of keeping the water warm and the plant in operational condition during the last year of closure to Andrew Williams, the leader of Ripon City Council.
Councillor Williams said it would be “council taxpayer money down the drain if the baths are not reopened” immediately.
Ripon’s new pool was due to open this summer but construction will not be complete until November.
He said:
“Construction of Ripon’s new pool will not be complete until November.
“The swimming pools at Knaresborough and Starbeck are closed and travel to Harrogate Hydro and the Nidderdale pool in Pateley Bridge is not advisable, as the government still urges us to stay as local as possible.
“Taking all of these factors into consideration, I find it hard to believe that Harrogate Borough Council cannot find the personnel needed for Spa Baths to reopen straight away.
“They must tell the citizens of Ripon – particularly young people who have had months of no leisure activity during lockdown – exactly when they can go swimming again.”
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- The heat is on to reopen Ripon baths
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The Grade II Listed Spa Baths was deemed ‘surplus to requirements’ in February and put on the market.
Cllr Williams, the Mayor of Ripon Councillor Eamon Parkin and representatives of Ripon Civic Society, found the pool in operational condition last month when they were shown around the building by selling agents Sanderson Weatherall.
This prompted the senior councillors, along with other city councillors, to call for reopening from 12 April, when lockdown restrictions were lifted.
But that date has passed and the pool remains closed.
A spokeswoman for Harrogate Borough Council said reopening Spa Baths when lockdown restrictions changed on Monday was not possible because sport and leisure staff have been redeployed to other services.
The spokeswoman added:
“We have kept the pool at Ripon Spa Baths heated because we have been using it for staff training while the building was closed to the public.
“All systems which keep the pool functioning have been set to the lowest level.
“It is far more cost-effective to maintain a minimum heat in the water than allow it to cool completely and then have to reheat it to the required temperature.
“Pool water which retains some heat and continues to circulate through the filtration system, albeit slowly, will also prevent damage to the infrastructure and algae build-up.
“Heating also protects the fabric of the building from condensation and decay.
“We look forward to welcoming back swimmers as soon as we can.”
Government approves A1 service station after fourth appeal in 25 years
The government has approved a motorway service station on the A1 near Kirby Hill after 25 years of public inquiries and planning battles.
The proposal from Dublin-based company Applegreen will see the service station built between junctions 48 and 49 of the A1(M) northbound, between Boroughbridge and Ripon.
A filling station, hot and cold food outlets, a drive-through coffee shop will be built and 364 car parking spaces created.
However, a separate appeal from Moto Hospitality Ltd for a motorway service station on the A1 near Ripon has been rejected.
In a saga which has spanned a quarter of a century, Applegreen’s application has been before multiple council planning committees, faced four public inquiries and been turned down twice by the Secretary of State and the High Court.
Councillors on Harrogate Borough Council initially rejected the latest plan in 2019, but Applegreen took the decision to an appeal hearing, which was held in February.
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Villagers battle weary as fourth inquiry into A1 service station starts
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The inquiry, which was held by planning inspector David Rose and streamed onto YouTube, lasted two weeks and included multiple testimonies from residents, campaigners and developer Applegreen.
The proposed motorway service station site on the A1 northbound near Kirby Hill.
In a decision notice today, Mr Rose said after considering the evidence that the benefits of a service station would outweigh the harm.
He said:
“In summary, considerable weight attaches to the less than substantial harm relative to the identified designated heritage assets.
“Loss of best and most versatile agricultural land is also a further negative factor of moderate weight.
“However, individually, and cumulatively, the wider public benefit in meeting the demonstrable need for a motorway service area, for the safety and welfare of motorists, would outweigh that harm.”
Speaking to the Stray Ferret earlier this month, Gareth Owens, chair of the Kirby Hill Residents Against Motorway Services, said the group was prepared to continue to oppose the plan whatever the outcome of the appeal.
Call to reduce Ripon barracks development by 500 homes
Ripon City Council is calling for a 500-homes reduction in the size of the barracks development.
The 1,300-dwelling Clotherholme scheme proposed by Homes England, has raised concerns about the impact of more vehicles on Ripon’s roads.
City council leader Andrew Williams, told the Stray Ferret:
“We support comprehensive redevelopment of the former barracks site and welcome the much-needed new and affordable homes it will bring.
“However, we believe that to avoid traffic gridlock in Ripon, numbers need to be scaled back to 800.”
Residents living on Kirkby Road are among those concerned about the traffic that the Clotherholme development will generate.
The call for reduced numbers was supported at a recent special meeting of the city council.
Councillors also approved spending on a further report from Ripon-based traffic, highways and transport engineering consultant David Walpole.
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.
It claimed it fails to address core issues local residents have raised.
City councillor Mike Chambers, who is also Harrogate Borough Council‘s cabinet member for homes and safer communities and a North Yorkshire county councillor, said:
“There are clearly traffic issues that need to be looked at.
“We want to work with Homes England and planners to achieve the best possible result for the people of Ripon.”
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Kirkby Road will be the principal route linking the Clotherholme development with the city centre.
Residents living there, including members of the Ripon Residents Action Group, have consistently lobbied for road improvements ahead of the construction of new housing.
Three of Harrogate district’s five council pools remain closed
Although the covers of some council-run swimming pool were rolled back yesterday, there is still no date when Knaresborough, Ripon and Starbeck pools will reopen.
Harrogate Borough Council has reopened The Hydro in Harrogate and Nidderdale Pool in Pateley Bridge.
But Knaresborough pool, which has been closed since the end of last year, remains shut as do pools in Ripon and Starbeck.
In its Residents’ News email sent yesterday, the council said Knaresborough pool required repairs and covid restrictions were still preventing Spanish engineers from travelling to fix the filtration equipment.
It said it was “highly unlikely the engineers will be given permission to travel any time soon” and added the council had been in talks with UK pool specialists and were “working up plans to completely replace the faulty equipment”. The newsletter said:
“This is likely to be a more costly solution, but we are keen to ensure our residents in the east of the district have easy access to a pool as soon as possible.”
Across the district in Ripon there is a similar story. The Spa Baths are currently up for sale and remain closed to the public.
A new Ripon pool and leisure centre development was scheduled for completion at the end of next month but has been delayed until November 2021.
The council told the Stray Ferret that further updates on the Ripon development would be released in the coming weeks.
There is also no news on the future of Starbeck Baths.
Read more:
- In response to a second FOI Harrogate Borough Council said the final costs of Ripon’s new leisure centre is not yet known.
- Ripon councillors begin a campaign to reopen the Spa Baths.
Hair cuts at last! 6.30am queue forms for Ripon barbers
Normal Monday opening hours at City Barbers in High Skellgate, Ripon are 8am to 5pm — but today was no normal Monday.
With no appointment necessary, nothing could be left to chance.
Brian Knowles, a regular at the shop for more than 20 years, was first in the queue at 6.30am.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“I’ve been waiting 24 weeks for this since November 8 and it feels great.”
Brian Knowles, first in the queue after a 24-week wait to have his hair professionally cut.
With a fine head of hair to look after, Mr Knowles admitted that he had bought a ‘do it yourself kit’ to keep those annoying straggling hairs off his ears during lockdown.
He said:
“I had to make sure the DIY kit was fully charged, as I didn’t want it cutting out on me while I was using it.”
Help was at hand when granddaughter Isobel stopped by to give Mr Knowles a trim.
But he admits:
“Nothing can beat having it done professionally'”
As they waited their turn in one of the three chairs working at full capacity, the Stray Ferret heard some bad DIY hair day stories.
With names withheld to protect relationships and avoid embarrassment, they included:
“My wife has been having a good hack at mine from time to time. I’m just lucky to still have ears!”
“I tried a do it yourself job and cut out a great clump of hair — I won’t be doing that again in a hurry!”
Read more:
City Barbers, in line with other barbers and hairdressers, faces a busy day as they operate with strict social distancing and hygiene measures in place.