Ripon Archives - Page 188 of 202

‘Drivers treat our road like a racetrack’, say Ripon residents

Ripon residents have raised safety fears about a section of unmarked road used “like a racetrack” by speeding motorists.

A 300 metre length of Kirkby Road did not have white lines replaced when resurfacing work was completed in August.

Ten nearby residents met the Stray Ferret to discuss their concerns.

Helen Mars, a teacher at Ripon Grammar School who has two young children, said:

“With the speed that some drivers come along this stretch, it’s like a racetrack – particularly at the weekends.

“As this is a road that it also used by very large lorries, we believe that it is dangerous without the white lines and an accident waiting to happen.”

Photo of a section of Kirkby Road with no white lines

Part of the 300-metre section of Kirkby Road that has no white lines. Many of the concerned residents live in homes on the left.

Residents are particularly concerned about the lack of a crossing patrol for Ripon Grammar School students, who use a path alongside the Kirkby Road allotments on their way to school.

Barbara Brodigan said:

“At least 100 children cross the road in the mornings and evenings on their way to and from school.

“Our previous requests for localised speed restrictions, a crossing and other traffic calming measures have fallen on deaf ears at North Yorkshire County Council.

“We’ve been told that a crossing can’t be introduced because the path alongside the allotments is not an officially recognised route to the grammar school.

“In effect, that means the students cross at their own peril – which is clearly unacceptable.”

Christina Thomson Jones added:

“I have lived on Kirkby Road for 29 years and the traffic issues appear to get worse and worse.

“One of my neighbours was killed while crossing the road in 1996 and nobody wants to see another fatality.”

County Councillor Mike Chambers, who represents Ripon North, said he was aware of the issues and sympathetic to calls for safety measures. He said:

“I have spoken with the county council’s traffic department about the need for a crossing, introduction of a 20 mph speed limit and even the possibility of having a one way system.

“I have another meeting with the department on January 6 and will raise these issues again and ask about replacement of the white lines, but at the end of the day, it’s down to budget availability.

“Installing a lights-controlled crossing costs up to £50,000.”

Although that money may not currently be available, Cllr Chambers is hopeful that safety measures could be funded as part of highway works to accommodate the Ripon Barracks housing development.

He said:

“The developer will have to make payments through a Section 106 agreement for works associated with the scheme and we may be able to get some of that money to address the safety issues on Kirkby Road.”

New Year search for Ripon’s Community Diamond

In the New Year, the Stray Ferret will begin the search for an outstanding individual who has gone the extra mile to help others during the coronavirus crisis, with an incredible prize from The Vintage Room in Ripon.

The winner will receive a 25 point diamond that they can have put in a gold or white gold setting to create their own customised piece of jewellery, a prize worth up to £1,000.

The Ripon Community Diamond Award was the idea of Mike and Liz Cooper, who run Red Buttons jewellers in Queen Street, Ripon, and supported by Hedley Hall, whose antiques and collectables business is run from the same Vintage Room premises.

Liz said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with the Stray Ferret in the search for the man or woman, living or working in Ripon, who has really made a difference through their selfless service to the community. Because of the community spirit that we know exists in Ripon, we are sure that there will be numerous suitable candidates who can be nominated for the award.”

Hedley pointed out:

“Since March, we have been reading, on a regular basis, stories on the Stray Ferret website about acts of kindness and compassion from people in the Ripon area who have come to the aid of those stuck in isolation, or in need of other kinds of assistance.”

Mike said:

“In the eight years that we have been in business in Ripon, we have seen its community spirit. We wanted to find a way to recognise those who are the beating heart of this city.”

Nominations for the Ripon Community Diamond Award will open in January.

Mum and daughter team behind floral Ripon ‘hidden gem’

A strong mum and daughter team with a keen eye for detail and flair for showstopping centrepieces are behind this hidden gem of florist.

Barbara Yates opened Flower Design on North Street in Ripon 35 years ago with the help of her young daughter, now Sarah Moore.

The pair may have been in the same spot for all those years but people are still stumbling across their shop, whether in person or online.

Over the years the business has changed. Since leaving the Interflora florist scheme, they say they have been able to design bouquets that are unique.

Weddings have been a big part of Flower Design in recent years. The florist, in an ordinary year, would supply flowers for around 70 weddings.

That side of the business has been decimated in 2020, but the sales of house plants and wreaths have flourished.

Sarah Moore told the Stray Ferret what has kept her happy in the shop after more than three decades:

“It is the look on people’s faces actually. The feedback you get from people when they see the flowers, that’s a really big thing.

“You will find us on wedding days working as early 3am , it is a lot of work. We have to do a lot of prep work and we have to make the arches in situ.

“It can difficult living up to the expectations of brides but we enjoy it because it makes everything different.

“We have our differences as a mum and daughter team but we are lucky because we do gel quite well and we have our separate areas.”

While Sarah’s mum Barbara started the business 35 years ago she has another 25 years of experience under her belt. She added:

“It always need to be cold in here but people always come in and say how lovely the flowers smell. We can’t smell much because we’re used to it though.

“People say they can smell it down the road when we have the doors open in the summer. That’s how some find our shop.”

This is part of the Stray Ferret’s ‘hidden gem’ series, highlighting small, independent businesses. They need to be tucked away but growing in popularity with an eye-catching and unique product or approach. Send us an email with your nominations.

Ripon fish and chip shop could be turned into flats

The Jolly Fryer fish and chip shop in Ripon could be turned into flats after becoming a victim of coronavirus restrictions.

The business has been run by the same family for over 35 years, but has remained closed since the covid pandemic began in March.

A planning application submitted to Harrogate Borough Council said the restaurant “cannot viably” re-open due to its narrow size and social distancing guidelines.

The owner of the building wants to convert it into one one-bedroom and two two-bedroom flats.

Several businesses have announced closures in Ripon this year, blaming the pandemic, including Wrens department store, Leeds Building Society, and the Old Deanery hotel.

Read more:

The Jolly Fryer building dates back to the early 18th century and is situated on Allhallowgate, which is one of the oldest streets in the town centre.

The street dates back even further to the earliest known pre-medieval urban settlements in Ripon, when the city was centred on a north-south thoroughfare connecting the minster with the now-demolished Celtic monastery.

‘Independent shops will lead Ripon’s revival’, says ex-Wrens owner

Philly Butler firmly believes there is a bright future for independent retailers in Ripon.

For eight years, she and husband Mark provided a base at Wrens department store for fledgling businesses — more than a dozen of which grew and set up their own shops in the city.

‘The house of independent retailers’, as Wrens was known, closed this month after the cumulative effects of lockdown lost trade in the crucial summer and pre-Christmas periods took its toll.

Among 52 Wrens’ occupiers that had to look for a new location to sell their goods was Philly’s own fashion and accessories business Daisy Clover Boutique.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“Mark and I hoped above hope that we could continue with Wrens, but lost business along with the shut down of our tea room because of social distancing requirements were killer blows.”

But despite the disastrous impact of covid on retailers large and small, Philly remains confident of a post-coronavirus comeback for the high street in Ripon. She said:

“I think that the ‘shop local’ message has finally resonated with people who realise that independents are an important part of the community and you are being served by your friends and sometimes neighbours.”

Photo of winter hats at Daisy Clover boutique

A selection of winter hats at the Daisy Clover boutique

She added:

“Before I could find new premises, I received dozens of calls from customers asking where they were going to be able to get their winter hats.

“These are people who ask and care about my children and the family pets and these type of relationships have been built by retailers right across Ripon.”

Ripon’s vacant shops are smaller than those in bigger retail centres, such as Harrogate and Leeds.

Smaller units are likely be much easier to fill than large units vacated by the likes of Debenhams, which could be to Ripon’s advantage.

Philly said:

“Units of this size don’t remain empty for long in Ripon, because in normal times, small businesses with something special to offer can rely on footfall all year round, from summer tourists, to market day visitors and loyal local customers.”

Her niche is an ever-changing display of one-off hand-selected womenswear made mostly from cotton, silk or cashmere and imported from Europe.

Philly also has another string to her bow as a perfume designer who helps people create customised aromas for themselves or as personalised gifts. She said:

“At times like these, it’s amazing how the smell of a lovely scent can raise your spirits.”

Ripon critical care worker urges people to take the vaccine

A Ripon woman who works in a critical care unit has become one of the first people in North Yorkshire to receive the covid vaccine — and has urged others to do the same when their time comes.

Physiotherapist Laura Terry’s job at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough brings her into daily contact with covid patients.

Having seen first hand the impact of the virus, she had little hesitation when the chance to be vaccinated emerged at the hospital on Sunday. She said:

“It was a no-brainer. The emotional impact of what I’ve seen at work has really affected me. I don’t usually bring my job home but a lot of things have stayed with me a long time.

“I’ve never seen so many people so sick. People are essentially dying alone because nobody is allowed in. The last time some see their families is on FaceTime.”

Ms Terry, who went to Ripon Grammar School and lives near Fountains Abbey, studied at Teesside University.

Her regular contact with covid patients made her eligible for the vaccine. It was over in minutes and she has had no side effects besides a sore arm the next day.

“I’m a perfectly healthy person but I have a duty of care to my patients and colleagues, as well as my family and friends.

“Hopefully having the vaccine provides them with some reassurance that they are not going to get covid from me.”

She said it was frustrating to hear people who have never seen for themselves the impact of covid in “denial” about its impact.

“I’ve seen what it does to families. I’ve seen them in distress. If you can take that distress away from a family by having the vaccine then I would do that.”

Christmas meals for older people in Harrogate district

About 85 meals will be delivered to the doors of older and vulnerable people in the Harrogate district on Christmas Day.

Harrogate and Ripon Food Angels has been providing meals since 2012 but this is the first time it is providing the service on December 25.

Staff and volunteers dressed festively will cook, pack and deliver a traditional Christmas dinner, Christmas pudding, mince pie and a cracker for those in need of a meal and some cheer.

Harrogate and Ripon Food Angels is part of Harrogate Neighbours, a charity that cares for older people.

It cooks 100 to 150 meals daily at its Starbeck base for beneficiaries, whose needs have been assessed.

In previous years, the food angels have delivered double their daily quota of meals on Christmas Eve to prepare people for Christmas Day.

But Sue Cawthray, chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, told the Stray Ferret this year’s long Christmas bank holiday weekend meant some people would be alone for long periods, hence the decision to venture out on the 25th.

She added:

“Our priority is to tackle social isolation and to support those most in need in our community all year around, but particularly on special occasions.

“When we received the requests for our meals on wheels service to run on Christmas Day, we quickly reached out to some volunteers who agreed without hesitation to deliver meals on the day.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have such dedicated and supportive volunteers and we look forward to feeding the community and spreading some Christmas joy to those who may be on their own for the first time this Christmas.”

To volunteer to deliver meals, or to support Harrogate Neighbours through donating, fundraising, sponsoring an event or to join the team, visit www.hnha.co.uk or call 01423 888777.

Ripon housing development on old industrial site refused

Harrogate Borough Council has refused a 13-home development in Ripon city centre due to its impact on local heritage.

Red Tree Developments wanted to demolish buildings at the site of the former NY Timber yard to build the homes.

The site on Trinity Lane was home to a timber yard from 1860 to 2018.

Red Tree bought the 0.64-acre plot, which is adjacent to the listed buildings, Holy Trinity Church of England Junior School and St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, from Cairngorm Capital for an undisclosed sum this year.

In the planning application, the developer said the timber yard, which is not listed, must be replaced due to its “poor state of repair”:

“In order to create a high-quality residential scheme which achieves all of the required standards it is essential that the building is replaced.”

The building in 1929.

However, Christopher Hughes, chairman of the Ripon Civic Society objected to the plans and said the structure should be retained due to its historical importance.

He said:

“It’s an important survival of Ripon’s industrial heritage and its importance is underestimated and in this application totally overlooked.”

The council’s chief planner John Worthington refused the plans which he said would cause “unacceptable harm” to the Ripon Conservation Area. He also criticised the plans for offering no affordable homes.

The Stray Ferret asked Red Tree Developments for a response but we did not receive one at the time of publication.

Vaccine to be given at Great Yorkshire Showground next week

The Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate is to be used for the vaccine rollout from next week.

The first vaccination is due to be given on Tuesday and the programme is expected to last for several months.

The government has asked the 17 GP practices in Harrogate and the surrounding district, including Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham to oversee the rollout.

The practices are appealing for volunteers to marshal the car park and signpost patients through the vaccination site at the showground, which is owned by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

No details have been given to the media about the rollout but a post on the Harrogate covid co-operation Facebook group yesterday on behalf of the GP practices revealed the news. It said:

“Harrogate and rural district are working together in order to plan for delivering a mass vaccination programme and we need to ask primary care staff and volunteers to help.

“We will need staff and volunteers to undertake a variety of roles and we need to plan for vaccinations to be carried out seven days a week, 8am-8pm, including bank holidays.

“This is a huge ask, but we would like volunteers to indicate if they would be willing to help in some capacity.”

The 250-acre showground has ample car parking and is used to staging large events, most notably the three-day Great Yorkshire Show, which was cancelled this year.

But nothing in the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s 183-year history compares with the task in hand.

The GPs’ post today said it required 18 volunteers a day. Morning sessions will start with an 8am briefing and the first jabs will be given at 8.30am.

Morning sessions will end at 1.15pm and afternoon vaccinations will take place from 2.30pm to 6.15pm.

The GPs’ post said:

“Unfortunately we aren’t able to offer vaccinations to volunteers at this stage as we have to prioritise certain patient groups.

“Next week is the first stage of the vaccination programme and we are going to need volunteers from the New Year onwards to fulfil the same types of roles for probably a number of months.”

Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to register their interest and complete the questionnaire here.

Teens arrested after another weekend of disturbances in Ripon

Police in Ripon have arrested two teenagers and said they will step-up patrols after another weekend of anti-social behaviour.

One teen has been charged with being drunk and disorderly; the other remains “under investigation”, the police said.

The force said Ripon suffered ‘several incidents of anti-social behaviour’ over the weekend, including teenagers throwing objects in the road and walking in front of cars.

A statement on Ripon City Police’s Facebook page said teenagers were not only committing anti-social behaviour but also ignoring covid warnings. The statement added:

“They do not register the risk and have stated it’s their choice.”

The statement urged parents in Ripon to ask their children about their whereabouts last weekend. It added:

“We have increased officer presence and are proactively patrolling areas whilst responding to calls but we can’t be everywhere.

“Parents have the biggest role to ensure that children are not causing trouble, committing crimes, not distressing our community or putting themselves at risk.”

Last weekend’s incidents were the latest in a series of anti-social incidents.

On the previous weekend vandals smashed windows at Ripon’s town hall and cathedral office.

North Yorkshire Police declined to comment on those incidents when approached by the Stray Ferret last week.