Trespass applies to open in former Ripon bankA new Trespass store looks set to open in the former Barclays bank in Ripon.
The bank closed its doors on Market Place in August last year.
Barclays made decision despite the number of counter transactions at the branch increasing in the two years to March 2020.
Now, Jacob and Turner Ltd, which trades under the name Trespass, has applied to North Yorkshire Council for advertising consent at the site.
It would see two signs implemented at the former bank site.
North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.
The Stray Ferret approached Trespass to ask why it had chosen the site in Ripon and if it had further details on an opening date, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
The outdoor clothing specialist currently has a store on Harrogate’s James Street.
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Ripon convenience store to be transformed into a Morrisons DailyThe McColl’s convenience store in Bondgate in Ripon, will close at midday today (Wednesday) and reopen on September 22 as a Morrisons Daily.
The Post Office counter within the shop closed yesterday and will also reopen on September 22.
The closure will enable changes to the internal layout of the shop and rebranding to take place as part of a national rolling programme of conversion works, following Morrisons’ acquisition of the retailer last year.
McColl’s had 1,164 shops when it was bought out of administration in May 2022. Of these, Morrisons said it would sell off 132 which were loss-making, while profitable outlets would be retained and rebranded as Morrisons Daily stores.
In a second-quarter trading update issued in June, Morrisons said the 400 stores it has converted so far had seen increased sales.
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Ripon fundraising tops £31,000 for orphaned Ukrainian teenagerFundraising for 15-year-old Liza Bartienieva, who was orphaned following a tragic accident that claimed the lives of her mother, brother and half sister, received a £4,000 boost at Ripon’s Black Swan over the weekend.
Regulars of the Westgate pub and members of the wider community dug deep to support the teenager, whose father also died earlier this year.
But there was disappointment when it was discovered that an anonymous donation of £10,000 to the GoFundMe page set up for her will not be added to the fund.
Donna Chilcott who set up the page, which has received more than 1,300 donations, told the Stray Ferret:
“I have been contacted by GoFundMe and told that the person who donated the £10,000 has retracted their donation.
“This is disappointing, but we have still raised more than £31,000, which is an incredible amount in less than a week and when you consider that the initial target set was £3,000.”
Saturday’s fundraiser at the Black Swan raised £4,000.
She added:
“Working alongside Sara and Kelly Hirst who run the Black Swan, we achieved this through the generosity of the Ripon community, businesses and regular pub customers and we cannot thank them enough for their kindness.”
Freddie Cleary
The money raised at the pub’s fundraiser will be added to the GoFundMe page which stood at £27,331 this morning.
Kelly Hirst, added:
“The situation that Liza faces has captured the hearts of the people of Ripon and everyone that we approached wanted to help by either donating prizes for the raffle that we held or by putting money in the donations bucket that we had on the bar.”
Live music was part of Saturday’s event and among the performers was Ripon singer-songwriter Freddie Cleary, who donated more than £600 to the GoFundMe page raised while busking in the city.
Liza has been looked after by a Ripon family since the accident occurred on Sunday September 3.
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Hazardous response team rescue person from Ripon CanalSpecialist paramedics and other emergency workers came to the rescue of a person on a boat on Ripon Canal last night.
Firefighters from Ripon were summoned to Boroughbridge Road, which runs alongside the canal basin, at 12.23am.
They were responding to a request from paramedics to help move a patient from a boat, according to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Its incident report said:
“Crews assisted to move the casualty into a seated position to allow paramedics to carry out an assessment.”
The report added firefighters then liaised with paramedics and staff from Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s hazardous area response team, which provides emergency treatment in precarious rescue operations.
The report said:
“Crews then assisted the casualty from the boat to the pontoon and left them in the care of ambulance crews.”
No further details have been released.
The canal held an open day yesterday to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
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Calls for action after four deaths on main Ripon to Harrogate roadResidents and councillors have called for action after the latest spate of deaths on the main road between Ripon and Harrogate.
A mother and two children were killed on the A61 Ripon Road last Sunday, eight days after a 59-year-old man died.
Both incidents occurred near South Stainley — prompting calls for safety measures around the village, including a reduction in the 60mph speed limit.
South Stainley resident Rebecca Brewins lost both parents when their vehicle was hit by a lorry on the A61 at South Stainley 11 years ago.
Ms Brewins and husband Carl have contacted North Yorkshire Council, which is the highways authority, Julian Smith, the Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon and South Stainley-with-Cayton Parish Council to enlist support following the latest deaths.
The Brewins, whose house is directly off the A61, said they were aware of at least seven fatal crashes on the road around South Stainley in recent years and the “horrendous” death toll could no longer be ignored.
Mr Brewins said the volume of traffic and the wide range of A61 road users that include tractors, cyclists, lorries and cars created particular problems on the winding route.
The short overtaking lane on a bend.
The road is mainly single carriageway but a short overtaking lane on a bend near the Brewins’ home exacerbated problems by encouraging reckless manoeuvres and sudden bursts of speed, he added.
Mr Brewins said:
“The road is getting busier — we are getting more houses and more cars.
“If a strip of road a mile long outside your house has seven deaths, surely you have to do something.”
Ms Brewins said she was told after her parents died the accident statistics didn’t justify traffic calming measures.
But she said crashes were common on the A61, particularly between South Stainley and Ripley, where the speed limit is 60mph. The speed limit varies between 40mph and 60mph in the opposite direction towards Ripon.
Ms Brewins said the road was a constant source of worry:
“When my eldest daughter learned to drive I was a nervous wreck. She got an electric car so it wouldn’t stall when she pulled out on to the road.
“While the limit is 60mph it encourages people to constantly speed up and slam on their brakes.”
Traffic is allowed to drive at 60mph through the area.
Villagers ‘traumatised’ by fatal crashes
Jane Pickering, chairman of South Stainley-with-Cayton Parish Council, said villagers had been “traumatised” by the latest fatal accidents and frustrated by the lack of action.
She said villagers had tried to help victims while emergency services were on their way and were left overwhelmed by shock and grief.
Ms Pickering questioned why lower speeds were permitted in other villages along the route, such as Wormald Green, but South Stainley remained at 60mph. She said:
“We have been flagging this issue for years.
“I will be taking this up again on behalf of the parish until something is done about it.”
The 36 bus stop at South Stainley.
Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, a Liberal Democrat whose Masham and Fountains division includes South Stainley, pledged support.
She told the Stray Ferret on Tuesday:
“I have spoken to the chair of the parish council today, and assured her I will be doing all that I can at County Hall to support the introduction of as many traffic calming and speed control measures as are necessary to make the road safer and – I hope – to avoid any more tragic accidents.”
Speed review
The Stray Ferret asked the council for data on road accidents around South Stainley and what action it planned to take in light of the recent spate of deaths.
A council accident graph said there had been 10 fatal accidents on the A61 since 2007.
Barrie Mason, the council’s assistant director of highways and transformation, said road safety was a priority and his thoughts were with the families and friends of recent victims.
He said the council worked with road safety partners across the county to make the roads safer, adding:
“We recently committed to undertaking a series of speed limit reviews across the county and the A61, along with other routes, will be investigated to see whether existing speed limits are appropriate.
“We are liaising with North Yorkshire Police as investigations into the fatal accidents are carried out. We cannot comment further before these investigations are complete.”
A council spokesperson said signs indicating the number of casualties on the road were removed more than 10 years ago.
The spokesperson added:
“They quickly became out of date, and in that location deemed to be a potentially dangerous obstruction on the road.”
They added the council had received five complaints relating to road safety concerns on this stretch of road over the last year and “most” had been in the last week.
We also asked Julian Smith, the Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon, for his views on what should be done but did not receive a response.
Police are still appealing for witnesses to last weekend’s crash and dashcam footage.
You can email Julie.brown@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and pass on information for incident 12230166439.
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New hair salon opens in RiponA new hair salon has opened on Heckler Lane in Ripon.
Owners Kyra Dodsworth, 21, and Shannon McCarthy, 25, opened Salon Twenty Three last week after working together at a Northallerton salon for seven years.
Krya said Shannon spotted the unit and presented the idea of opening their own salon.
The pair got the keys on August 1 and opened to the public a month later when renovations were complete.
The salon offers traditional hairdressing services, including cuts, colours, styling and treatments for both men and women.
Hair extensions and wedding hair services are also available.
The women posted on social media:
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears has gone into making our dream become our reality!
“Such a “pinch me” moment for us both, I’m sure one day it will feel real but for now it’s still not sunk in that our dream is no longer just a dream.”
Kyra told the Stray Ferret an additional room in the salon that, once decorated, will hopefully be used to offer beauty services as well.
The salon is currently open Monday to Saturday.
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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.