Read more:
Councillors 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.
Read more:
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.”
Read more:
Police name victims of fatal A61 crash near Ripon
The 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.”
Read more:
- Two children and woman killed in collision between Ripon and Harrogate
- Candles to be lit in Ripon for children and mother killed in crash
Candles to be lit in Ripon for children and mother killed in crash
A 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.
Read more:
- Two children and woman killed in collision between Ripon and Harrogate
- Ripon boys aged 6 and 8 climb Ben Nevis for air ambulance
Ripon’s YMCA charity shop closes suddenly
The 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.
Police 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.
Read more:
- Two children and woman killed in collision between Ripon and Harrogate
- Police warn of spate of sneak-in burglaries in Ripon
Two children and woman killed in collision between Ripon and Harrogate
Three people, including two children, were killed in a collision on the main road between Harrogate and Ripon yesterday.
A silver Vauxhall Meriva, a blue Toyota Aygo and a double-decker bus were involved in the incident near South Stainley at 2.20pm yesterday.
It was the second fatal collision on the A61 Ripon Road between Ripon and Harrogate on consecutive weekends.
North Yorkshire Police today said a woman and two children from the same vehicle died and appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage. Their names have not yet been revealed.
The force said in a statement:
“The Vauxhall and Toyota were travelling south towards Ripley and the bus was travelling in the opposite direction.
“Sadly, all three occupants of the Vauxhall Meriva, a woman in her 30s, a teenage girl and a six-year-old boy, died following the collision. Their next of kin have been informed and are receiving specialist support.
“The driver of the bus was taken to hospital with leg injuries, some of the bus passengers sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital, and the two people in the Toyota were not injured.”
The road was closed to allow all emergency services to attend to the collision and for investigators to examine the scene. It reopened at around 11.30pm.
Officers are appealing to anyone who saw any of the vehicles prior to the collision or witnessed the collision to get in touch if they have not already spoken to officers.
They are also appealing to anyone who may have dashcam footage of the vehicles travelling along the A61 prior to the collision or of the collision itself, to get in touch.
You can email Julie.brown@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and pass information for incident 12230166439.
Read more:
- Man dies after crash between Harrogate and Ripon
- Dashcam appeal after runner injured in collision with car in Harrogate
Ripon woman denies sexually assaulting boy under 13
A Ripon woman has pleaded not guilty to five charges relating to sexual offences against a child.
Denise Povall, 60, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (September 1).
She denied four counts of inciting a boy under 13 to engage in sexual activity with her and a further charge of sexually assaulting a boy under 13 by touching him.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between September 1, 2007, and August 30, 2008.
Magistrates resolved to refer the case to the crown court.
Ms Povall, of Bongate Green in Ripon, was ordered to appear before York Crown Court for a further hearing on October 9.
Read more:
- Man pleads not guilty to seriously injuring teens in collision outside Harrogate school
- Police warn of spate of sneak-in burglaries in Ripon
- North Yorkshire Police improve 999 answer times
Ripon boys aged 6 and 8 climb Ben Nevis for air ambulance
Two young brothers from Ripon have climbed the highest mountain in the UK to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Tommy and Sid Terry tackled Ben Nevis this month with their father, Stewart — raising £1,100 in total.
According to grandmother, Dianne, the boys initially chose to climb the mountain as they ‘wanted a challenge’, but their mother decided to set up a charity fundraiser while they were climbing.
The boys’ mother, Emma, set up a donation post on Facebook to raise money for the air ambulance.
It was chosen following a collision at Fountains C of E Primary school, where a classmate of the boys was airlifted to hospital in June this year.
The six-year-old suffered serious leg injuries in the incident.
Dianne said:
“I know a lot of people climb Ben Nevis, but not many six and eight-year-olds can say they have.
“Our goal was to raise £1,000 and we’ve done over that – we’re so proud of them.”
The trio completed the hike in nine hours and were cheered on by groups at the summit.
The brothers were invited to RAF Topcliffe, where the air ambulance in based, last Saturday to look at the helicopters in return for their efforts.
Dianne said:
“The pilot who airlifted their friend after the collision actually came to RAF Topcliffe on his day off to personally speak to the boys and show them the inside of the helicopter.
“The air ambulance was then called out, so also they also got to see it take off.”
The child involved in the collision also joined the Terry brothers at RAF Topcliffe.
Read more:
- War veteran to launch Harrogate war memorial centenary commemorations
- Green light expected soon on £15m plan to transform historic Harrogate building
Ripon man charged with making 807 indecent images of children
A Ripon man has been charged with making 807 indecent images of children.
Antal Racz, 49, of Alma Gardens, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday (September 1).
Mr Racz was charged with making 431 category C images, 208 category B images and 168 category A images of a child on June 1, 2018.
He was also charged with making nine videos of indecent material of a child on the same date.
Mr Racz spoke in court only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
The 49-year-old was ordered by magistrates to appear before York Crown Court for a further hearing on October 9.
Read more:
- Police criticised over delays to Ripon Town Hall move
- ‘High value’ items stolen in Harrogate shop burglary