Walls in Studley Royal lake risk collapse without repair

Work is needed to repair two walls in the lake at Studley Royal near Ripon that are at risk collapsing into the water.

Studley Royal is a water garden and has pools, canals and cascades fed from the River Skell.

The National Trust, which owns the site, has submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council to repair walls that form part of the weir on the north-east side of the lake. They would be fixed with re-used stone to maintain the historic appearance.

The park was laid out in the 18th century by John Aislabie and was extended later by his son to encompass the medieval Fountains Abbey ruin and other elements of the surrounding landscape.

The plans have been backed by Historic England but it said the works must be done in an “appropriately sensitive manner”.

Planning documents submitted by the National Trust said:

“Following construction of the scheme the flanking walls will be visually improved compared to present, although it will take time before the works weather in.

“The repair works will also serve to protect the weir and cascade outlet from future erosion damage.

“The works are considered to have a minor positive impact on the weir and cascade outlet and Studley Royal Park as a whole.”

One of the damaged walls.

In August, the National Trust revealed £3.5 million plans to improve the UNESCO World Heritage Site, including offering revamped visitor facilities.

The plan called Studley Revealed focuses on the water garden area of the estate and the canal gates area. It will remake landscape features that were at the heart of the original 18th century garden design.

The plans would also see the creation of new welcome and visitor facilities. They would include accessible toilets, a larger café and a space to bring the story of the Water Garden alive.

Justin Scully, general manager of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, said:

“The Studley Revealed project is an exciting part of the ongoing conservation of the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal World Heritage Site. It has long been our ambition to improve the appearance of this area of the site and how visitors experience it.

“Crucially, it means we can create a place for our visitors to learn more about the fascinating history of Studley Royal, its international significance and our role in caring for it, whilst simultaneously having a more enjoyable and accessible experience.”

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Ripon man to run four ultra-marathons in memory of father

A Ripon man will run 224 kilometres in November in memory of his father.

Former Ripon Grammar School pupil Harry Cleary, 25, will aim to complete four ultra-marathons, which are each 56km.

The first three will be in London and the fourth and final leg will begin in Ilkley and end inside Elland Road Stadium — which he described as “a lifelong dream for a Leeds United fan”.

Mr Cleary’s father died this year after a long-term struggle with alcoholism and mental health.

Harry said:

“As a young man, watching the male figurehead in your life pass away as a shell of the man he once was, is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I’m determined that won’t happen to me.

“My dad was a very proud man who struggled to accept and discuss his emotions, and instead, leaned on the vices of life.

“The distance represents the 56 years of my dad’s turbulent, but incredibly impactful life.”

Harry Cleary, pictured at the front, taking part in a race.

Following his father’s death, Mr Cleary took up running as a coping mechanism and found it has been “invaluable” to his own mental health.

“As someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety for several years, I have sought these physical outlets as healthy coping mechanisms.

“I want to show men the importance of talking and asking for help if they need it.”

He is raising money for men’s mental health charity Movember and has set a target of £5,000.

The charity hosts an annual event which involves growing a moustache for the month of November. It aims to raise awareness and de-stigmatise male health issues, including suicide, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

It won’t be the first time Mr Cleary has punished his body for the charity. Over the last three years, he has walked from the Scottish border to Newcastle in 32 hours and walked the 140km-length of Hadrian’s Wall — both on no sleep.

He added:

“I think about my dad every day, and I hope he’ll be looking down with pride as I complete these ultra-marathons to stop men like him dying far too young.

“I know I’ll be completing all my ultra-marathons with my dad.

“We’re marching on together, dad.”

Mr Cleary’s London runs will take place on Saturday, November 4, 11 and 18, and his Yorkshire leg will be on Sunday, November 26.

He told the Stray Ferret anyone is welcome to run with him and those interested should contact him on Facebook.

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Man arrested following Ripon burglary

A man has been arrested following a burglary in the Ripon area.

Matthew Segger, 35, from Darlington, was wanted in connection with an incident in August this year.

North Yorkshire Police had appealed for information about his whereabouts last week.

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Council hires West Yorkshire company to clean Ripon toilets amid staffing issues

North Yorkshire Council has hired a West Yorkshire company to clean toilets in Masham and Ripon amid staffing issues.

Cleaning at public toilets in both areas of the Harrogate district were previously carried out by the local authority.

However, council officials said the service had been “failing” due to a lack of staff and the toilets were at risk of closure if a contractor was not brought in.

As a result, a £32,760 contract has been directly awarded with no competitive tender to Marsden Contract Services.

According to the government’s contract portal, the company is based on Hollins Lane in Keighley although its website says it is based in Skipton.

Karl Battersby, corporate director for environmental services at the council, said the move was necessary as a recruitment process had found “no suitable applicants” to take on the cleaning roles.

When asked why the service was not put out to competitive tender, Mr Battersby added:

“Toilet cleaning has been undertaken in Ripon and Masham by staff from North Yorkshire Council, and previously the former Harrogate Borough Council, but the service had been falling behind due to staffing issues, and our recruitment process had found no suitable applicants to take on the roles.

“A direct award was made with a trusted contractor as the service needed immediate attention.

“Failure to act quickly would have resulted in a fall in cleaning standards or closure of sites and neither of these options would have been acceptable.

“This contract is for one year to help us maintain our services, after which, if needed, we will follow a competitive tender process.”

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Business Breakfast: Minskip bedding company secures £100,000 funding

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Minskip-based luxury bedding company has secured £100,000 worth of investment to help expand the brand.

Floks, which is based at Yolk Farm on Minskip Road, has been awarded the funding from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

The company was founded by Sophie Platts after she came up with the idea for a bedding brand during the covid lockdowns.

The fund is managed by Mercia Asset Management and aims to award companies funding to help with growth.

The investment will help Floks to step up its marketing campaign and develop new products to expand the range.

David Wright of Mercia said: 

“Sophie has a wealth of experience in designer homewares. Floks builds on Yorkshire’s wool trade heritage and fills a gap in the market for sustainable luxury bedding that promotes healthy sleep.

“The funding will help her to expand the business and establish the brand as a market leader in premium British wool bedding.”

Ripon Racecourse nominated for awards

Ripon Racecourse has been shortlisted as a finalist at an industry awards ceremony.

The Racecourse Association’s Showcase and Awards are set to be held on November 23 at Aintree Racecourse.

The event aims to celebrate excellence and innovation in racecourse operations and raceday experience.

Ripon has been shortlisted in both the marketing and racing foundation green categories at the ceremony.

Jonathan Mullin, operations and marketing manager at Ripon Racecourse, said: 

“It’s wonderful for us to be finalists in two categories. We’ve managed to win an award at the last two Showcase Awards, at Hamilton in 2019 and at Pontefract in 2022, which is fantastic for a small independent racecourse and it’s great to be in with a chance once more.”

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Stray Views: Valley Drive parking fines a ‘money spinner’

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Valley Drive parking fines are a council money spinner

It is little wonder the council makes so much money from parking fines on Valley Drive in Harrogate as one side of the road permits three hours of parking whilst the opposite side gives only one hour.

It’s fairly obvious that if someone who does not know the road parks on the one-hour side and looks across to the other and sees the three-hour parking sign, they may well think that applies to their side too without checking.

It has always seemed unfair to me that this anomaly could catch many people out. I daresay the council realises the anomaly too but are hardly likely to remedy it when it is such a money spinner.

Carol Trueman, Harrogate

Ripon councillors still dining out on anti-Harrogate rhetoric

Ripon city councillors have dined out on anti-Harrogate antics from 1974 to 2023 — almost 50 years of negative opposition instead of creative engagement — ensuring the continuous election of the same.

How long before they then turn their sights on the new North Yorkshire Council for failing to give them what they want, which is complete control of everything Ripon-related?

The ‘leader’ of Ripon City Council (actually a parish council) — is there even such a role in most parish council standing orders? — was elected as an ‘independent’ but has subsequently decided to support the Conservative councillors on North Yorkshire Council.

John Edmonstone

(Ex-parish councillor nearby to Ripon)    

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Why weren’t pedestrians consulted about Station Parade roadworks?

I was disappointed to see that pedestrians have been given little thought in the redevelopment of Copthall Towers on Station Parade. The footpath along one whole side of Station Bridge is now entirely blocked off.

I walk this way on the school run daily, coming from the direction of East Parade. This obstruction means we have to go clockwise around the roundabout in order to reach the far side of Station Bridge.

This may not seem like a significant detour to some, but try adding a pushchair and early walkers into the mix.

More significantly, it also necessitates crossing two roads which don’t have a pedestrian crossing, one of which has two lanes approaching the roundabout.

Was any thought given to adding temporary pelican crossings at Station Avenue and North Park Road? Or perhaps, giving pedestrians priority over Station Bridge, rather than drivers?

It would be refreshing to see our elected leaders and planning officials put pedestrians first for a change; prioritising greener, more sustainable travel choices and making it easier and safer for people to walk.

It’s already hard enough to navigate the piles of dog excrement, pot holes and parked cars which furnish our pavements so abundantly.

Jessica Eaton, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

 

Photo of the Week: Studley Royal Deer Park

This week’s photograph was taken by Heather Middleton, capturing a herd of deer at Studley Royal Deer Park.

Heather Middleton

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

Flooding expected on Skell, Ure and Nidd as river levels rise

Flood warnings are active on low-lying areas alongside the rivers Ure, Skell and Nidd in the Ripon, Boroughbridge and Harrogate areas this morning. The Environment Agency issues flood warnings when flooding is expected and immediate action is required. One was installed in Ripon last night due to rising river levels. The Environment Agency said:

“Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the River Laver, River Skell, with low lying land expected to be most affected, particularly around riverside properties including Firs Avenue and properties either side of Alma Weir.”

Another warning is active for Boroughbridge camping and caravan site along the Ure. It says the river level is expected to peak at around 2.2m at Westwick Weir this morning, A separate warning was issued at 12.48am this morning for the nearby River Tutt in Boroughbridge where properties next to the river are expected to flood. The only part of the River Nidd with a flood warning is at Birstwith, where the Environment Agency said at 4.48am this morning:

“Areas most at risk include properties situated along Wreaks Road, Clint Bank and Broomfield Road.”

Less severe flood alerts, which indicate flooding is possible but not likely, are in place for the upper, middle and lower Nidd catchment areas A flood warning for the Lower River Ure was issued at 1.48am last night but was downgraded to an alert at 8.31am, with the Environment Agency now saying:

“Flooding is possible on low-lying land including agricultural land and local roads in the areas around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton.”

The River Crimple, Lower Dunsforth Access and the Nidd at Hunsingore also have flood alerts in place. Lighter rain is expected this morning before a 48-hour dry period proceeds more rain.

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Final approval granted for 390 homes near Ripon

Council officers have given final approval to a major 390-house development near Ripon.

Housing developer Taylor Wimpey will oversee the scheme, which will be built on land off Whitcliffe Lane.

The former Harrogate Borough Council initially rejected the proposal in 2017, but the decision was overturned by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

Councillors deferred the scheme to officers for approval in February 2022.

Now, North Yorkshire Council has given the development the final go-ahead after discussions over internal access at the site.

A report by Andy Hough, planning officer at the authority, said “a lengthy negotiation” had taken place with the developer over the road network and consultation with the council’s highways department.

The site layout for the West Lane development, as submitted to

The site layout for the Ripon development.

Councillors had initially raised concern over the development and its impact on the countryside and the nearby Fountains Abbey.

At the time, Cllr Pat Marsh described the plans as being “forced upon” the area following the appeal.

She said:

“The impact on these particular areas which include a World Heritage Site that we must protect are going to be there whether we like it or not.

“I feel strongly that these reasons for refusal still stand.”

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The proposals were initially brought forward by Britain’s largest housebuilder Barratt Homes before the developers pulled out of the scheme.

The government’s housing agency Homes England and developers Taylor Wimpey then struck an £89.5m deal to acquire the site in February 2021 and get the plans back on track.

The approved plans include 156 affordable homes, 42 bungalows, cycling and walking links, a new bus route and children’s play areas.

Historic deal will see Ripon end years of neglect from Harrogate, says councillor

A “historic” deal is set to unshackle Ripon from years of neglect by councillors in Harrogate, it was claimed today.

North Yorkshire Council‘s ruling executive agreed to set up a project team to oversee Ripon people taking control of Ripon Town Hall, the market place and car park, public toilets and the Wakeman’s House.

The assets were controlled by Harrogate Borough Council until it was abolished in April.

North Yorkshire Council agreed to trial local management as part of its commitment to what its Conservative leadership calls “double devolution”.

Councillor Andrew Williams, a member of the Conservative and Independents group who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside, praised the move at today’s meeting and launched an eviscerating attack on Harrogate Borough Council.

He said:

“This is for Ripon potentially a historic day in the building of a more constructive relationship with the unitary authority than it had previously with a rather fractured relationship that existed with Harrogate Borough Council.”

‘More grass on market than centre court at Wimbledon’

Cllr Williams said Ripon’s poor relationship with Harrogate led the city council to formulate “ambitious and complex” plans to take control of assets. He added:

“They all interlink to develop the central area of Ripon, which has sadly been neglected for some time.

“If you look at the Wakeman’s House that we are hoping to take ownership of, no work has been undertaken on that for over 10 years. The lease income from the business in there has been spent elsewhere.

“Ripon Town Hall last had maintenance carried out on it in 2004 when the queen visited.”

The Wakeman’s House 

Laughter was heard when Cllr Williams added:

“The market place will soon have more grass growing on it than the centre court at Wimbledon.”

He then criticised the decision to close public toilets at 9pm when the city encouraged visitors to watch the nightly hornblower ceremony. He added:

“We firmly believe Ripon people know Ripon better than anybody else and know best how to make it a success rather than it currently is, which is underachieving its potential.

“The people of Ripon and the council are firmly behind the principle of double devolution.”

Cllr Barbara Brodigan, a Liberal Democrat who represents Ripon Ure Bank and Spa, told the meeting she endorsed Cllr Williams’ comments.

The executive agreed unanimously to proceed with the proposals.

Knaresborough also set for more local control

North Yorkshire Council invited town and parish councils to submit expressions of interest to run local assets in November last year.

Harrogate was excluded from the process because it doesn’t have a town council and moves to set one up have been delayed by local Conservatives.

Twelve parish councils submitted expressions of interest.

Knaresborough Town Council and Ripon City Council were among those selected to advance their proposals, with a view to formally taking over on April 1 next year.

Knaresborough bid to manage the markets and assets associated with managing the market, such as road closure signs and tables.

But Little Ouseburn’s proposal to take charge of grass cutting of the green area outside Broomfield Cottages.was rejected because it “did not evidence legal competence”.

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