Two men have been arrested today after a man was robbed at knifepoint in Ripon yesterday.
North Yorkshire Police said the victim was walking on Bondgate at about 5.30pm yesterday when four men approached and threatened him with a knife.
They stole his belongings and then followed him home and forced him to let them in. Once inside, the four robbers stole a number of other items then escaped down Aismunderby Road.
Police said a 20-year-old man from Ripon and a 19-year-old from Harrogate were arrested by police at about 10am today in connection with the robbery.
Both men are currently in police custody.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could help with the investigation to call 101 and quote reference number 12210027815.
Read more:
- Ripon police received several reports in one day last week after numerous young people broke lockdown to attack residents.
- Man left with broken nose after being assaulted on Ripon street.
Ripon couple saved as tree falls in heavy snow
Two couples from Ripon were caught up in unexpected drama yesterday when a tree fell under the weight of snow.
Nicole Bond and her partner Ben Crewe were walking near College Lawns, just off Palace Road, yesterday lunchtime when they heard a cracking noise.
Assuming it was pallets being broken up on the nearby business park, they thought nothing of it – but seconds later realised what was happening. Nicole said:
“Ben looked up and shouted ‘run!’. I froze, but he ran out of the way. Luckily, I was right by where the tree fell, but I didn’t have to move.
“There was a couple that didn’t have time to move. As the tree was falling, there was a massive plume of snow that came up and covered everybody.”
As soon as the snow settled again, Nicole realised how big the tree was – and the damage it could have done.
“I thought the worst had happened. We were screaming, ‘are you OK? Are you hurt?’ Ben went into complete action mode and started pulling branches to get to them and I called for an ambulance.”
The huge tree fell under the weight of snow in Ripon. Photo: Nicole Bond
Very quickly, Ben managed to reach the couple. The woman was shaken but didn’t seem badly hurt, but her husband had a head injury that was bleeding.
Ben and Nicole used their clothes to apply pressure and stop the bleeding, following instructions from the call handlers on the phone.
They were warned that, thanks to the road conditions, it could take 40 minutes for an ambulance to arrive – but it only took around five minutes before paramedics were on the scene. They treated the injured couple before taking them to hospital for further assessment.
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Nicole has since been contacted by the woman to say they are both recovering, her husband having been treated for concussion, and to thank her and Ben for their help on the scene.
It was only chance they were all in the wrong place at the wrong time: Nicole and Ben took a different route for their usual dog walk because of flooding. Having spent the morning helping drivers make their way along snowy roads near home, they had just paused to take a video of the road conditions in the area – and a few seconds more or less could have made all the difference to how the incident played out.
Nicole added:
“It’s just crazy. It was all over within 10 minutes, including the ambulance getting there. We barely even had time to think at all.
“I was quite glad I took Ben out for a walk with me, and for the ambulance staff keeping everybody calm. It could have been a lot worse.”
The fallen tree in Ripon has already been broken up and made safe. Photo: Nicole Bond
Youths in Ripon are breaking the national lockdown rules to attack residents, with police receiving a string of “distressing” reports in one day.
Police believe the incidents are linked with similar descriptions of small groups of teenagers between 14 and 18 years old.
Some of the reports include the youths throwing eggs and glass, spitting and punching people who challenged them and kicking at the heels of a postman.
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All of the incidents happened on Wednesday afternoon between 2pm and 3.30pm, according to the police reports.
Ripon City Police has released a statement to say that while there has been a “considerable reduction in incidents” as a result of lockdown:
“However, sadly, there appears to be a very small cohort of individuals intent on causing harm in our community and we are asking for your help and support in identifying those involved in several distressing incidents.
“Not only have these individuals caused distress, harm and injury to victims but they are breaking the lockdown rules, putting themselves and others at risk in the midst of a pandemic.
“These unprovoked attacks are distressing. It is likely that they are linked and we are doing all we can to identify those responsible to bring some justice for the victims affected.”
- 2.19pm, January 13 – Member of the public on Wakeman Road encountered 2 males aged between 15 and 18 years old who were throwing eggs. The males were abusive when challenged and then threw glass at the member of the public. Descriptions are; male one: approx. 5ft 9in tall, dark hair, medium build with a burgundy coat and Male 2: approx. 5ft 5in tall, dark jacket and dark trousers.
- 2.40pm, January 13 – Occured on Minster Road on the path near the Cathedral and Sainsburys in which 3 males aged between 14 and 16 years old threw stones at a member of the public. When challenged, one of the youths spat at and assaulted by punching the member of the public. Descriptions are male one: approx. 5ft 10in tall, wearing a red puffa jacket with a pale complexion and whispy moustache. Male 2: approx. 5ft 7in tall, wearing a grey hoodie and blue mask. Male 3 – no description available.
- 3.25pm, January 13 – Occured on Minster Road involving three youths who were kicking the heels of a postman. The descriptions match those of those given in the above incident.
A man has died after an incident at a building site in Ripon.
North Yorkshire Police issued a brief statement this afternoon confirming the news. It said:
“Police were called to a report of an industrial incident in Ripon at about 10.30am on Wednesday.
“A man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries are ongoing jointly with the Health and Safety Executive.”
A member of the public contacted the Stray Ferret on Wednesday saying Harrogate Road in Ripon was closed and a large number of police, fire engines and ambulances were in attendance.
The police initially declined to reveal any information but today confirmed a man, who has not been named, had died.
No further details about the incident have been released.
Read more:
- No suspicious circumstances in Pateley Bridge couple’s death
- Four covid deaths in three days at Harrogate hospital
Parts of Harrogate district miss out on vaccine centre pledge
Those north of Ripon and living in large parts of Nidderdale are missing out on the government’s vaccine centre pledge.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised that everyone will be within 10 miles of a vaccine centre, but there is still work to do in North Yorkshire.
A map released as part of the UK Covid-19 vaccines delivery plan shows that, while there are two centres in Harrogate, there are no places to get a jab in Ripon or Nidderdale.
Residents in Masham currently have to travel to Leyburn or Northallerton if the NHS calls upon them to be vaccinated.
With the elderly and vulnerable first in line for a vaccine, the government believes that it is important they do not have to travel far.
96% of England’s population currently has a vaccine centre within 10 miles but the government hopes to increase that to 100% by the end of January.
Read more:
- Can you help deliver hot meals to vulnerable people?
- No plans to close Valley Gardens amid concern over gatherings
Its vaccine delivery plan outlines how 206 hospital hubs, 1,200 local vaccination sites and 50 large vaccination centres should be able to make that a reality.
The plan also reveals how in “highly rural areas,” where public transport is an issue, the local vaccination centre will be a mobile unit.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a government press conference yesterday:
“The third part of the plan is expanding where you can get vaccinated. As of Friday, 96% of the population in England lived within 10 miles of a vaccination site and we’re expanding the number of vaccination sites further, right across the whole of the UK.
“This expansion will include community pharmacy and roving vaccination centre on top of the hospitals and GP practices and the seven mass vaccination sites that we’ve opened.
“This huge expansion means that by the end of January, everyone will live within 10 miles of a vaccination centre either fixed or roving.”
Have you or a relative struggled to get to the vaccination centre? We’d like to hear from you. Get in touch on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk
Ripon City Council freezes parish preceptRipon City Council will not be increasing its parish precept for the 2021-2022 financial year.
In 2020-2021 council taxpayers in the city were charged £71.89, on top of the tax paid to North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council.
The precept in Ripon provided a total fund of £400,000 last year.
A total of £100,000 from next year’s budget is being allocated for public events from summer onwards in the hope that coronavirus will be under sufficient control by then to allow them to go ahead.
Money is also being set aside for the renewal of children’s play equipment at Quarry Moor Park and external decoration of Hugh Ripley Hall – the building on Skellbank named in honour of the city’s first mayor.
City council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:
“With the current covid crisis and the impact it is having, we decided to keep the precept at the same level as last year.
“It has been a difficult time for everybody with three lockdowns, causing disruption to, among other things, the city’s retailers and the education of children.
“In addition, public events that have been a feature of life in Ripon over many generations had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus.
“However, we must look to the future and make plans and allocate prudent funding that enables us to move forward safely when the lifting of restrictions allow.”
Ripon’s 2020 Christmas lights were extended after an additional £65,000 from the parish precept was spent on them last year.
During 2020, the council set aside £65,000 for a number of public and civic events, including the 75th anniversary celebration of VE Day, Saint Wilfrid’s Day procession, summer bank holiday entertainment, Remembrance Sunday and Christmas and New Year festivities — all of which had to be cancelled.
Read more:
- Council tax hike for Harrogate district
- Oliver’s army fights on in lockdown Ripon
- More weeks of traffic disruption ahead in Ripon city centre
The parish precept money, that would have been spent on these events and others, was subsequently diverted to pay for Ripon’s Christmas lights to be extended to help retailers and make city streets more attractive.
That move attracted criticism from some people who thought the money could have been better spent by providing direct financial support for retailers and other businesses affected by the pandemic.
Gallery: Full day of heavy snow hits Harrogate district hard
Heavy snow has hit Harrogate hard today. Some will have cursed the weather, but others have certainly embraced it.
Some drivers were forced to abandon their vehicles today on their way to work. Schools closed, even to the children of key workers.
As the snow fell, though, there were some who looked to take advantage and headed out for snow ball fights and sledging.
We sent out our photographer to capture the day and received photos from readers too. Here are just some of the highlights:
“Everyone recognises a good read when they see one!” Photo: Reed and Townsend
“Snowy view from Sharow, Ripon across the fields to Ripon Cathedral, lost in the mist!” Photo: Jill Warwick
Thirty-seven houses look set to be built on the site of former warehouses in Ripon after Harrogate Borough Council granted outline planning permission this week.
Prime Talent Ltd submitted plans to demolish vacant buildings at the Old Goods Yard, 2 Hutton Bank, which were previously used by companies such as Millennium Windows and Power Plastics, and build the homes.
Originally, 43 homes were mooted but the number was reduced after concerns were raised about the loss of the site for employment use.
An updated scheme was put forward with fewer homes and six units, which can be used by local businesses.
In August 2019, the council’s planning committee deferred approval to the chief planner subject to conditions, which included the completion of a legal agreement that dealt with the number of affordable homes.
Councillors also asked for a study on how the homes would be protected against subsidence.
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Because the development involves bringing a vacant brownfield site back into use, the developer was able to apply a vacant building credit.
The government introduced vacant building credits to encourage developers to bring back into use previously developed sites containing vacant buildings by reducing the number of affordable homes they are obliged to build.
This reduced the number of affordable homes for this development to six, which is 16% of the development.
Normally on brownfield sites, the council asks developers to include 30% affordable housing.
As the site is in an area that may be subject to gypsum-related subsidence, developers undertook a study that recommends using rafting foundations on the buildings to mitigate any potential subsidence issues.
The developer is now set to submit a reserved matters application, which deals with the site’s appearance and types of homes.
Library books still available during lockdownLibraries in Harrogate, Ripon and Knaresborough will continue to provide books during lockdown through the select and collect service.
The select and collect service, which was introduced last year in response to the pandemic, enables customers to phone or email their library to request books and collect them from the entrance of the building.
North Yorkshire County Council, which manages the libraries, is also continuing to operate its home library service, which sees volunteers deliver books, DVDs and CDs to customers who are unable to visit a library.
The council is also allowing pre-booked library computer sessions for essential use, such as accessing services and benefits. But they must be booked in advance by phone or email.
County councillor Greg White, executive member for libraries, said:
“We know how beneficial a connection to their library can be to people’s wellbeing and how many people rely on free library computers to access services and benefits and to apply for jobs.
“I am pleased that we are able to continue to provide that connection to some degree through our select and collect service and to support the most vulnerable with the home library service and computer access.”
To use the select and collect service or to book a computer session, contact your library or visit here.
Ripon road closure to last six weeksA six-week road closure affecting the circulation of traffic around Ripon city centre is now in place after being delayed over Christmas.
Workers are back on site just a month after an initial closure of the junction of Market Place East with Kirkgate, lasting two weeks.
Sewer repairs being carried out by contractors on behalf of Yorkshire Water were suspended in early December to minimise disruption to Christmas trade in the city.
The suspension also followed complaints from members of the public on social media, saying that a temporary building site with fencing and cabins on it had blocked the view of the Christmas tree in front of Ripon Town Hall.
The unfamiliar sight of a 36 bus heading in this direction out of Ripon Bus Station on its diverted route to Harrogate.
Complainants also said at the time that the placement of temporary buildings on Market Square detracted from the look of the city’s festive lights, which had been extended at an additional cost of £65,000.
The new six-week road closure is required so that urgent sewer repair and renewal works can be carried out.
With the road closure preventing traffic from turning right from Market Place East onto Market Place South, the circulatory route around Market Square is affected and a number of diversions are in place.
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Among traffic movements impacted by the closure is Transdev’s regular double decker 36 bus service to Harrogate.
To ensure that all bus stops in Ripon are served, drivers are using a circuitous route that takes in Allhallowgate, Stonebridgegate, Rotary Way and the Ripon bypass, with a right turn at the Wolseley building roundabout seeing the bus head back towards the city centre before the onward journey to Harrogate.
As Market Place West is not affected by road closures, the route into Ripon Bus Station up High Skellgate and along by the Obelisk currently remains unchanged.