Live: Harrogate district traffic and travel

Good morning everyone and welcome to our traffic and travel live blog, the last one before the weekend.

Whether you travel by car, bus or train we will keep an eye out for any possible disruption to your journey. All brought to you by The HACS Group.

It’s Connor again back on the travel desk from 6.30am. Spotted an accident or a road closure? Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

If traffic is moving well or it’s at a standstill then we will let you know with our updates every 15 minutes.

Full update – 9am

Thanks for reading our traffic and travel blog. There have been a few police incidents this morning as well as increasing numbers of construction sites around the Harrogate district. That’s all from me for this week. I am heading over to the newsdesk now. My colleague Suzannah will be back on Monday morning.

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Full update – 8.45am

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Full update – 8.30am

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Full update – 8.15am

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Full update – 8am

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Full update – 7.45am

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Full update – 7.30am

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Full update – 7.15am

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Full update – 7am

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Full update – 6.45am

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Full update – 6.30am

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Alert resident averts Ripon travel chaos again

North Yorkshire County Council has performed another u-turn to avoid travel problems for people going for vaccinations in Ripon.

For the second time in seven weeks, the council’s highways department has had to hit the brakes on plans to close a bridge on a key diversion route.

The bridge over the River Ure on Boroughbridge Road was due to close for inspection all day tomorrow.

But alert resident Paul Stockburn pointed out that such a move would have caused problems because Boroughbridge Road is already serving as a diversion for a section of the nearby Dishforth Road that is closed for road works.

Had the closure gone ahead, it would have created difficulties for people driving along Boroughbridge Road in and out of Ripon.

The bridge, which is half a mile from Ripon racecourse vaccination centre, was first due to close for inspection on 19 January.

But six days earlier part of Dishforth Road closed for eight weeks for work by Yorkshire Water. It remains closed.

Photo of conflicting closure signs

Conflicting closure signs on the Dishforth and Boroughbridge roads. But the bridge over the River Ure will be open tomorrow

When Mr Stockburn pointed this out, the highways department said it would re-schedule the bridge closure when Yorkshire Water’s pipe renewal work was complete.

So Mr Stockburn, who lives in Copt Hewick, was surprised to see road closure signs appear again this week. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I couldn’t believe my eyes because I know that the Dishforth Road is still going to be closed tomorrow.

“The county council appear incapable of working out that eight weeks from 13 January gives a finish date of 10 March.

“Unbelievably, they were about to make exactly the same mistake.

“You wonder, did they ask Yorkshire Water first, before deciding they were going to close the bridge on 5 March?”

After receiving a call from Mr Stockburn, the Stray Ferret contacted NYCC to let it know the Dishforth Road closure was ongoing.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager at the council, apologised and said:

“Yorkshire Water has been undertaking an eight-week programme of works on Dishforth Road therefore our contractors scheduled the one-day bridge inspection for this Friday when the work was due to be complete.

“Unfortunately Yorkshire Water need to extend their works until March 14 so we are in the process of rearranging the bridge inspection and have removed the advance notice signs.”

Read more:

Prior to the start of its work, Yorkshire Water sent a letter to all households in Copt Hewick. It said:

“We understand that these works will be inconvenient, which is why we’ve liaised closely with North Yorkshire County Council highways department regarding every aspect of this essential scheme.’”

The importance of the Boroughbridge Road diversion route, increased on February 2 when the covid vaccination centre opened at Ripon racecourse.

Starlings leave their mark in Ripon

Bird spotting has taken on a whole new meaning recently for some Ripon residents.

During early evenings, local people with their eyes on the skies can currently witness thousands of starlings swoop and switch in stunning synchronised movements.

The murmuration provides a delightful display for those looking on in amazement.

But for people living beneath the flight path, it’s a different story as the starlings leave their mark.

Following each performance, residents of Newby Street, Vyner Street and the adjacent roads, face a clean-up operation.

The aerial bombardment of the Bondgate area sees cars, rooves, pavements, gardens and back yards coated.

A murmuration over Ripon

A murmuration of starlings in acrobatic flight over Ripon.

One resident, who lives in the Bondgate area but asked not to be named, told the Stray Ferret:

“There is no doubting that it is a magnificent spectacle, but they do leave a deposit.

“Some people who live around here are having to wash their cars every day.

“The worst hit have to scrape the stuff off windscreens or they wouldn’t be able to see where they are going.”

Spectators can also find themselves in a spot of bother if they don’t have an umbrella as they watch the winged wonders in full flow.

According to the wildlife charity RSPB, flocks of starlings – some native to the UK and others from Europe – come together to roost through the winter months.

Their beating of wings in flight is said to sound like a murmur, which gives the mass gathering its murmuration description.

The starlings stay safe from predators by sticking together in large numbers, making sure they are not easy prey.

Read more:

In colder months, by acting in unison, they generate collective body heat.

With thousands in close flight, this gives them the essential extra warmth they need to survive bitterly cold days.

For people engaged in car washing, window scraping, roof, path, garden and yard cleaning, who are not necessarily as thrilled as others by the natural phenomenon, there is good news.

Spring has sprung and later this month, with warmer weather on its way, the murmuration will be grounded until the autumn.

Ripon’s Quarry Moor play area to be upgraded for summer

One of Ripon’s favourite play areas is to be refurbished in time for summer.

New equipment will be installed in Quarry Moor park, funded by the 2021-2022 parish precept.

The park, just off the A61 on the southern approach to Ripon, was donated to the city in 1945 by Alderman Thomas Fowler Spence.

It currently includes an activities centre for children as well as outdoor play equipment.

Ripon City Council leader, councillor Andrew Williams, told the Stray Ferret:

“The play equipment, that adds to the park’s attraction for families with young children, has been in need of replacement for some time.

“With the prospect of the covid lockdown being lifted later this year, we want to ensure that the work is completed in readiness for the summer months.”

The land, which includes woodland walks, was left in trust by the former mayor on the understanding that it would be:

“Kept for Ripon children for all time.”

The 24-acre site was a limestone quarry for hundreds of years until the 1950s. It was also used for military training during the Second World War.

In 1986, after extensive conservation work by volunteers, it was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Photo of the Quarry Moor Activities Centre

Quarry Moor Activities Centre

The area includes species-rich calcareous grassland and a protected wildflower meadow.

A woodland path was added in 2019.

Ripon prides itself on being child-friendly and for many years the city council has supported free family events.

These include the St Wilfrid’s Day procession in August, the switch-on of Christmas lights and New Year’s Eve entertainment on Market Square.

Read more:

The coronavirus crisis and social distancing requirements, in place since last March, caused the cancellation of mass participation activities.

For the upcoming financial year, £100,000 is being allocated for public events from summer onwards.

It is hoped that covid will be under sufficient control to allow them to go ahead.

Ripon’s parish precept for 2021-2022 will generate £400,000. Council taxpayers in the city will pay £70 towards it, in addition to council tax paid to North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council.

 

Two men use pram to steal alcohol and crisps in Ripon

North Yorkshire Police has published images of two men they would like to speak to regarding the theft of 30 bottles of alcohol and some packets of crisps in two Ripon stores.

According to police, the men entered a local convenience store together on Elm Road. One man distracted staff at the till while the other stole eight bottles of gin and put them in a shopping bag.

Neither man made any attempt to pay before leaving.

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Shortly after on the same afternoon, at about 4.30pm, the same men went to a supermarket on Marshall Way.

Again, one man distracted staff while the other stuffed a pram full with 22 bottles of alcohol and some packets of crisps.

Both thefts happened on January 13.

Police have not named the stores but the locations suggest the incidents occurred in Costcutter and Booths.

North Yorkshire Police has released CCTV images in connection with its investigation and asked anyone who recognises the men pictured to get in touch.

Quote reference numbers 12210019882 and 12210035275 if you pass on information.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sat nav failure sees Leeds man stuck in ‘god-forsaken’ Ripon

A Leeds man suffered an embarrassing sat nav failure when his car got stuck on a tiny footpath on the outskirts of Ripon.

The driver, who told his rescuers he was an ex-army man trying to cross the River Skell to get to work, was marooned for an hour.

He went down Borrage Green Lane, which turns into a narrow footpath that leads to a tiny footbridge.

Although the route is clearly unsuitable for vehicles, and barely wide enough to navigate in his Citroen, he soldiered on until he somehow managed to reach the bridge.

Finally accepting it was impossible to cross, he attempted to turn only for the back end of his vehicle to get wedged in the banking.

Luckily mum Jo Allenby, who was feeding her alpacas at the time of the incident early on Saturday morning, saw the mayhem and called a local farmer to help.

The farmer’s vehicle was too wide to get down the footpath so he drove a farm vehicle across the field and, with the help of another passer-by, was eventually able to release the vehicle.

Read more:

The sheepish driver then reversed to a slightly wider area, did a three-point turn and drove off without saying a word. Ms Allenby said:

“There was no ‘thank you’ or ‘sorry to bother you’, he was off. He was probably too embarrassed.

“When I first saw him I said, ‘what on earth are you doing?’. He said, ‘I don’t know what I’m doing. My sat nav took me down here. I’m never coming to this god-forsaken place again’.

“But anyone with half a brain cell could see it was a footpath. Nobody has ever gone down there in the 10 years I’ve had my animals in the field. I didn’t realise there were people as stupid as that.”

 

Ripon Spa Baths up for sale amid housing fears

Harrogate Borough Council has officially put 116-year-old Ripon Spa Baths up for sale despite fears it could be turned into housing.

The Grade II listed building has gone on the market in advance of a new £10.2 million Ripon Leisure Centre opening this year.

Commercial property agents Sanderson Weatherall has advertised the baths for an undisclosed price.

The sale document includes a quote from the council’s planning department saying the property could be suitable for “low density residential use” or “community uses”.

Read more:

Ripon City Council passed a motion this month to prevent Harrogate Borough Council selling the baths to a private developer for residential or other redevelopment.

The sale has angered city councillors, who say the borough council did not consult with them.

Ripon Civic Society also called on the borough council to consider how the building could be used to improve health provision in the city.

Harrogate Borough Council declined to comment when the Stray Ferret asked how much it hoped to raise from the sale.

A spokesman previously said:

“Ripon Spa Baths has served the community well over the years and is now being replaced by a modern, state-of-the-art pool at Ripon Leisure Centre, following significant investment by the borough council.

“This new six-lane 25-metre pool will offer 70 per cent more water space, extensive changing facilities, bicycle and car parking and complements the extensively improved leisure centre.

“The future sale, and redevelopment of the listed building, would allow this local asset to be redeveloped (subject to planning approval), retain key features and remain as a city landmark.”

History of Ripon Spa Baths 

The original complex, located next to the Spa Gardens, has the distinction of being the last spa to open in England.

It also became the only spa granted a royal opening when Princess Henry of Battenberg carried out the ceremony in October 1905.

A reconfiguration of the building in 1936, saw the complex converted into the city’s first public swimming pool.

Ornate stained glass windows and other architectural features remain to this day.

Staycation bookings ‘piling in’ for Harrogate district campsites

Bookings have surged at Harrogate district campsites since the government’s ‘roadmap’ announcement, raising hopes of a staycation summer.

After almost 12 months of opening and closing, the campsites welcomed the clarity provided on Monday about when they could welcome holidaymakers once again.

When restrictions were lifted last summer, there was a staycation boom locally, with several campsites saying there had been an influx of people wishing to holiday closer to home.

They now hope for a repeat this year.

Marie Laverick manager of Woodhouse Farm caravan park, said the phone “has been ringing off the hook” since the announcement. She said:

“The phone hasn’t stopped, so many people are either booking their pitch or rearranging dates for the new restrictions.

“We are gutted about Easter; we lost it last year too and we’ll lose the first May bank holiday but it looks good going forward. We had 50 bookings overnight!”

Phil Brierley director of York House Leisure, which owns four holiday parks in North Yorkshire including sites in Boroughbridge and Ripon, said it was important for the industry to continue to be supported by government.

He said:

“We are very happy that there’s a plan in place and there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

“It’s great news but it’s bittersweet because the parks industry was originally shut down in March so this year will be the second Easter in a row that we have missed. We have effectively experienced a year-long winter so there’s an awful lot of ground to make up.

“We have certainly seen an increase in enquiries at our parks since the announcement. We would hope as an industry to see continued aid from the government, such as 5% VAT, extended business rate relief and the furlough scheme.”

Woodhouse Farm Caravan Park

Woodhouse Farm Caravan Park. Photograph: Facebook

The roadmap allows caravan parks to open on April 12 but without any facilities such as toilet blocks. On May 17 the sites can fully reopen.

Similarly in Great Ouseburn, Burrows Park has seen an increase in bookings. Co-owner Richard Kay said:

“Assuming the government roadmap targets for easing covid measures are met we will have a full opening on May 17. We look forward to welcoming back all our regular site users and to a very busy summer. We hope that the weather is with us and all our guests enjoy their time!”

Read more:

Richard Flinton, chair of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, said at the county’s weekly media briefing yesterday:

“We are optimistic in terms of what the future is for our hospitality sector. People can start booking and should enquire about refunds should they not be able to go ahead.

“This is a real opportunity for us. We do look forward to welcoming people back to our beautiful county.”

Ripon Workhouse Museum provides illuminating experience

The Workhouse Museum in Ripon is providing another illuminating experience.

The Allhallowgate building is being lit up shortly after dark each evening with displays celebrating the city’s past.

The images are being projected onto the museum, which is currently closed due to lockdown.

Organised by Ripon Museum Trust, the idea follows the successful Christmas lighting display, which used the building as a backdrop.

Night time photo of Ripon Market Square

Ripon’s proud history of community service is captured in a photographic display projected onto the Workhouse Museum shortly after dark.

Called Serving Our Community – Images from Ripon’s Past, the light show features historic photographs from the Ripon Re-Viewed collection.

It includes images of civic leaders, emergency services, voluntary groups and others who have provided community service in the city.

The message taken from the past applies to current times, making the point that ‘together we are stronger’.

Helen Thornton, director of Ripon Museum Trust said:

“We had some fantastic feedback from the community on our Christmas lighting display and we wanted to keep it running.

“After talking with Ripon Re-Viewed, we came up with the idea to display some brilliant historic photos of Ripon in days gone by,

“It’s a way to bring the community together through our shared past, at what is a difficult time for many. Hopefully the display will intrigue and inspire anyone passing by the museum.”

Designed and created by locally-based audio-visual and lighting specialists Fusion LX, the light show runs for two hours each evening.

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Mandy Whitehead, project lead at Ripon Re-Viewed, said:

“A big thank you to the Workhouse Museum and Fusion LX for the opportunity at this time to share some of the fabulous images from Ripon’s past, of local people serving our community.

“We hope it will give the local community an insight into life in Ripon across the years.”

The display can be viewed for two hours just after dark.

Ripon’s three museums are currently closed due to the national lockdown.

Full details of the museums’ reopening will be published online at riponmuseums.co.uk as soon as they are available.

 

 

Harrogate district vaccine boost as over 50s prepare for jab

The Harrogate district is to receive a vaccine boost this week, as inoculations are set to be rolled out to the over 50s.

A vaccination site in Knaresborough, which will be able to administer jabs to 1,000 people a week, is due to open in the town’s former Lidl on Saturday.

It means the district, which now has vaccination sites in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough, is on track to achieve the government target of offering all over 50s the jab by April 15.

The Knaresborough site is run by Homecare Pharmacy Services, which is based in the town.

Amanda Bloor, accountable officer for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said today it was likely other community pharmacies could start offering the vaccine in North Yorkshire as the rollout filters down to everyone over the age of 18 by the end of July.

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Speaking at a media briefing today. Ms Bloor said the Knaresborough site would administer 800 vaccines next week and had the capacity to give up to 1,000 jabs per week. She added:

“This is just part of the wider rollout across the country. I think it is likely other community pharmacies will start to come on stream.

“As of yesterday, North Yorkshire and York reached 249,000 first doses of the vaccines. So it’s significant progress and the teams are doing a fantastic job.

“We have moved further down the priority list, so we are working on the over 65s. There’s no need to contact your GP. You will be contacted directly.”