Ripon leisure centre halts price increase due to ongoing workA price increase at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon has been halted after complaints from customers prompted a councillor to intervene.
Brimhams Active, the company that runs leisure centres in the Harrogate district on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, recently increased its monthly membership fees.
The council has spent £45 million on upgrading facilities in the district and this week re-opened the former Hydro under the new name Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre.
But the decision to increase the monthly membership fee at Ripon by £6.50 led to a backlash because customers are still using a temporary gym in the car park due to the delayed completion of ground stabilisation work on the old part of the building.
Group exercise classes are being provided offsite at Hugh Ripley Hall.
Work remains ongoing at Ripon leisure centre.
Mark Tweedie, managing director at Brimhams Active, said recent upgrades meant it now offered “significantly improved swim, gym and group exercise opportunities” but membership fees had increased.
He added:
“Although significant investment has been made to deliver a new state of the art leisure facility in Ripon comprising of a new swimming pool, sauna/steam experience and new gym equipment, following customer feedback we have acknowledged that the membership offer remains comparatively limited due to the delayed works to refurbish the ground floor facilities which will include upgraded group exercise studios.
“Therefore, we have committed to holding back on increasing the price of our all-inclusive membership for Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre customers until we are confident the offer is comparable to our other facilities.”
Cllr Andrew Williams
Cllr Andrew Williams, a member of the Conservative and Independents group on North Yorkshire Council who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside, raised residents’ concerns with the council.
Cllr Williams said the council had agreed not to proceed with the £6.50 monthly price hike in Ripon. He said:
“I welcome following my intervention the decision to withdraw plans to increase the fees in September and to revisit the whole situation when the facilities in Ripon are comparable with those elsewhere in the area.
“This is a clear example of the council listening to the concerns raised by residents and seeking to respond positively and swiftly to address their concerns.”
Cllr Williams added:
“Any future decision on the fees at Ripon leisure centre will have to be subject of appropriate consultation.”
‘Fantastic value’
Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre opened this week.
Mr Tweedie said Brimhams Active’s all-inclusive monthly membership fee, which allows unlimited swim, gym and group exercise at all of its facilities, “represents fantastic value which we have been able to achieve despite significantly increased operational costs”. It costs £44.95 a month or £35.95 for concessions at non-Ripon sites.
Besides new facilities in Ripon and Harrogate, the gym at Nidderdale Leisure and Wellness Centre in Pateley Bridge has been refurbished and the new Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre is due to open this year.
Mr Tweedie added:
“We also bringing a new leading edge customer offer for people who take out a Brimhams Active membership. This involves a range of new, more personalised, services designed to support members with a holistic approach to help them achieve their health and wellbeing goals to be their best selves.”
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Firefighters rescue baby locked in car in RiponFirefighters from Ripon rescued a baby that was locked inside a car in the city yesterday.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report for last night said firefighters were called to Rotary Way at 6pm.
Rotary Way is a short distance from Ripon Fire Station’s site on Stonebridgegate and is the location of St Michael’s Retail Park, which includes M&S Simply Food.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are not revealed in detail.
The incident log added:
“Crews used small tools also with the assistance of a civilian mechanic at the scene.
“The baby was left in the hands of parents, advice given.”
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Ripon Canal to celebrate 250th anniversary with open day on Saturday
Ripon Canal, one of the city’s hidden historic gems, will celebrate its 250th anniversary on Saturday with a day of festivities, including displays and live music.
The festival is part of the Heritage Open Days programme running from tomorrow (September 8) until Sunday September 17, which will see dozens of venues across the Harrogate district take part, offering free entry to anyone wishing to visit.
Saturday’s open day at the canal basin runs from 11am until 3pm and at 1pm the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke, will unveil a plaque to mark the waterway’s landmark anniversary.
The day, which has been organised by Richard Willis , owner of Ripon Scenic Cruises with support from Ripon Civic Society, will be attended by representatives from organisations including the Canal & River Trust, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the RSPB and civic dignitaries.
The picturesque approach to the canal basin
The history of Ripon Canal
The canal opened in September 1773, principally to bring coal by boat from the mines of West Yorkshire for domestic use in Ripon and to carry cargos of wool and lead ingots from the Dales for use in Yorkshire’s cloth and heavy manufacturing industries.
However, 75 years after its opening, the canal became virtually redundant overnight with the arrival in Ripon of the railway and the opening in June 1848 of a station to the north of the city centre.
Barges could not compete with the new rapid delivery service and with the loss of trade, the canal’s fate as a commercial enterprise was sealed.
Operators of the new mode of transport that caused the canal’s demise soon became its owner, as the waterway was purchased by the Leeds and Thirsk Railway in 1844, which subsequently became part of the North Eastern Railway in 1855.
Decades of dereliction followed and at one stage Ripon City Council mooted the idea of filling in the canal to create an extension for the Dallamires Lane Industrial estate.
Prior to this suggestion, the British Transport Commission had obtained Royal Assent for the abandonment of Ripon Canal in 1956.
Regeneration and conservation
Calls to regenerate the canal to realise its potential as a leisure and tourist asset for local residents and visitors proved successful, gaining momentum through the formation of the Ripon Canal Society, of which Mr Willis was appointed secretary in 1982.
The waterway reopened for navigation as far as Littlethorpe Road Bridge in 1986 and was officially reopened right into the centre of Ripon in September 1996, with the assistance of the society and local authorities and with funding from English Partnerships.
Further improvements have been brought about through work carried out by Ripon Motor Boat Club, which has its marina and clubhouse on a section of the canal at Littlethorpe.
The waterway is now managed by the Canal & River Trust, which is the charity that succeeded British Waterways. It was awarded a Green Flag for its water quality in July 2018 and the improvements brought about by conservation volunteers and the Environment Agency have attracted more wildlife to its banks, while otters are regularly spotted hunting for fish.
Mr Willis told the Stray Ferret:
“The festival provides the opportunity for people to find out more about Ripon Canal and the role it has played, first as an industrial transport route and now as a leisure and recreational asset that attracts both visitors and wildlife into the heart of the city.”
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Ripon school ‘heartbroken’ over death of six-year-old pupilA Ripon school has said it is “heartbroken” over the death of six-year-old pupil Ihor Bartienieva in a three-vehicle crash last weekend.
Ihor and his mother Daria Bartienieva, 35, and Daria’s step-daughter, Anastasiia Bartienieva, 15, were killed in a collision that involved a double decker bus.
All three were from Ukraine and living in Ripon.
Police are still appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened on the A61 between South Stainley and Ripley at about 2.20pm on Sunday.
The Federation of Holy Trinity Schools has issued a statement which said staff and pupils “were heartbroken to learn of the tragic death” of infant school pupil Ihor on their return to school this week. It added:
“Ihor joined our year 1 class after arriving from Ukraine with his mum and sister and he soon became a popular member of the Trinity community.
“Ihor had boundless energy and enthusiasm; pupils were drawn to his chatty, charismatic character.”
Tracey Calland-Booke, Ihor’s year 1 class teacher, said:
“Ihor will be remembered by his classmates as a funny, chatty little boy who was loved by us all. We were all in awe of this little spark of joy who really brought something special to our class.”
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Executive headteacher Sue Sanderson said:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Ihor’s family and friends. This devastating event has affected everyone within our community, and we are all now attempting to come to terms with our loss together.
“Staff and pupils have visited the poignant reflection space created by Holy Trinity Church to light a candle, say a prayer and share our happy memories of such a special little boy and his family. We will continue to seek support and comfort in our church and school community.”
£20,000 raised for surviving Liza
A fundraising appeal has now raised more than £20,000 for Daria’s sole remaining daughter, Liza, who was not involved in the collision.
Business have been rallying round to support the cause, with the city’s Black Swan pub on Westgate holding a fundraising event on Saturday.
The event, which starts at 2.30pm, will include live music by Freddie Clearly and a raffle. Further details are here.
Councillors delay decision on staff accommodation plan for Ripon Chinese restaurantCouncillors have deferred making a decision on a plan to create living accommodation for staff above a Chinese restaurant in Ripon.
North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton & Ripon planning committee met yesterday afternoon at Ripon Town Hall to consider an application from Mr Wang who took over The Dragon Inn in 2021.
The restaurant is part of a five-storey Grade II listed building that sits on the city’s market square.
According to planning documents, the first, second and attic levels are bedrooms for staff with a communal kitchen and bathrooms.
However, planning permission was never obtained to use the building as a house in multiple occupation (HMO) so the application was part-retrospective.
But councillors raised concerns about access to the building, the fire escape and bin collection with a request for more information before it’s brought back to committee.
Access to the residential upper floors is through the restaurant which led to fears that bins could potentially be dumped in the street.
There is also no public right of way to the rear of the building, which is on council-owned land, and the applicant has not yet received permission from North Yorkshire Council to use it.
HMO’s require a higher level of fire safety than a normal privately rented property and a condition was proposed so that a fire safety risk assessment of the building would take place but this still left councillors uneasy about fire safety in the building.
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Conservative and Independents Group councillor for Ripon Minster & Moorside, Andrew Williams, said he had reservations about the application.
He said:
“I think as elected members we should ensure applications are water-tight before we give approval. I can’t support the application today as it would not be appropriate when there are clearly significant issues to be addressed.”
However, Liberal Democrat councillor for Ripon Ure Bank & Spa Barbara Brodigan said she was in favour of the plan as it would help to reinvigorate the city.
Cllr Brodigan said:
“Look around Ripon market square and a lot of buildings are underused and we’re short of suitable affordable housing.
“If buildings are not in use they fall into decay. If we bring people into the city centre then it’s a vibrant place, they spend money and it’s a safer environment.”
Councillors voted by four to three to defer the application and asked for more information on access and refuse collection.
Major water leak delays opening of Ripon junior schoolRipon’s Holy Trinity Junior School was unable to open today for the start of the new academic year because it had no water supply.
The Church Lane school was without water from Friday, when a major leak was discovered but will be back open tomorrow morning (Wednesday) after water engineers and plumbers completed repair works this afternoon.
Executive headteacher Sue Sanderson, who confirmed that the water is now back on, told the Stray Ferret:
“We were forced to close the site to children as there was no water for toilet, hygiene, cleaning etc. The caretaker’s bungalow has also been without water since Friday.”
The water pipe junction
Ms Sanderson added:
“We discovered a major water leak on the junior site which involved the water supply being turned off on Friday afternoon for essential repairs – a junction on the main supply pipe urgently needed replacing.
“The replacement part arrived on Monday and was fitted. However, we were informed later in the afternoon that the supply could not be turned on for a further 24 hours. I’m pleased to say that the water is all back on now.”
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Police name victims of fatal A61 crash near RiponThe victims of a fatal crash on the A61 near Ripon have been named by police.
Daria Bartienieva, 35, her son, Ihor Bartienieva, aged 6, and Daria’s step-daughter, Anastasiia Bartienieva, 15, died after a three-vehicle crash that involved a double decker bus on Ripon Road near South Stainley at 2.20pm on Sunday (September 3).
It was the second fatal collision on the road between Ripon and Harrogate on consecutive weekends.
A North Yorkshire Police statement this afternoon added:
“All three were from Ukraine and living in Ripon, North Yorkshire, at the time of the collision.
“Our thoughts are with their family members in the UK and Ukraine at this time.”
Holy Trinity Church in Ripon was open this afternoon for people to say prayers and light candles for the victims of the crash.
The church said in a post online:
“A space has been created where people can sit quietly, light a candle and write in a condolence book.
“There will be someone available to pray with you if you would like this.
“If you do come please keep quiet at this sensitive time.”
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Candles to be lit in Ripon for children and mother killed in crashA Ripon church will open today to let people say prayers and light candles for a mother and her two children killed in a car crash on Sunday.
Holy Trinity Church will welcome staff, parents and children from nearby Holy Trinity School and anyone else who knew those who died.
The church said in a post online:
“A space has been created where people can sit quietly, light a candle and write in a condolence book.
“There will be someone available to pray with you if you would like this.
“If you do come please keep quiet at this sensitive time.”
Police said yesterday three people died in a three-vehicle crash that involved a double decker bus on the A61 Ripon Road near South Stainley at 2.20pm on Sunday.
It was the second fatal collision on the road between Ripon and Harrogate on consecutive weekends.
The church said the victims, who have not been named yet by police, were three members of a Ukrainian family living in Ripon.
It said the mother was aged 35 and had lost her husband in February this year.
Her 15-year-old daughter, who had only been in the country for five weeks, and her six-year-old son also died, the church added.
It urged people to pray for the sole remaining daughter and her family abroad.
A fundraising page for the girl has already raised more than £5,000. You can donate here.
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Ripon’s YMCA charity shop closes suddenlyThe YMCA’s charity shop at the Marshall Way retail park in Ripon has closed at short notice less than seven months after it opened.
The closure was announced on Friday in a brief message posted on the shop’s Facebook page. It said:
“It is with great sadness to announce the closure of our shop. Unfortunately, we had no notice to inform our customers and we ceased trading at 5.30pm today.
“Thank you to all our staff, volunteers, customers and to everyone who donated.”
The Stray Ferret visited the retail park this morning and discovered that all but a handful of items had been removed from the premises, while a handwritten sign on the door thanked customers and pointed out that the closest YMCA shop is in Boroughbridge.
The shop, part of a portfolio of 100 plus YMCA stores in England and Wales managed by the charity’s national retail team in London, opened in February in the unit formerly occupied by Argos.
Staffed by a manager and two assistant managers, with assistance from volunteers, it sold a range of items, including furniture and electrical goods.
The Stray Ferret contacted the YMCA’s London office to ask why the shop had closed so suddenly, what was going to happen to the staff and what was happening with goods that had been donated by members of the public. No reply has been received so far.
Man wanted after woman’s purse stolen in local supermarketPolice have issued a photo of a man they want to talk to after a purse was stolen from a woman in her 80s.
In a statement issued today, North Yorkshire Police said the theft happened at Morrisons supermarket on Harrogate Road in Ripon.
The incident happened at 3.30pm on Thursday, August 3. However, the images have only been released today.
Do you recognise this man?
The statement said:
“Officers are asking members of the public to get in touch if they recognise the man in the CCTV images, as he may have information that will help the investigation.”
Morrisons in Ripon
Anyone with information is urged to email richard.coulthard@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Richard Coulthard.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote reference number 12230144835.
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