Student’s floral design becomes reality in Ripon Spa GardensA Ripon student’s floral design has been turned into reality at the city’s Spa Gardens.
Evie Wood, 17, won a competition open to schools across the Harrogate district to design a floral tribute to King Charles III.
It was organised by the now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council in conjunction with local In Bloom groups.
The winning Ripon entry was assessed by the council parks team and Ripon in Bloom.
Evie’s design in Spa Gardens
Ripon Grammar School pupil Evie has now seen her winning entry translated from paper to flowerbed by the council’s parks team.
Evie, who plans to take a degree in fine art, said:
“I am very interested in the design side of gardening.
“I knew the flowers that I wanted to incorporate and the colours I wanted to use and so I just went from there really. It was so nice to see the flower bed I designed come to life as I didn’t expect it to, so it was a really nice surprise!”
Read more:
£3.5 million remediation work underway at Ripon leisure centre
Remediation works costing £3.5 million are underway at the Ripon leisure centre building which closed in late April.
North Yorkshire Council’s assistant director for culture, leisure, archives and libraries, Jo Ireland, said:
“We can confirm the ground stabilisation works at the former Ripon Leisure Centre have now started.”
Hoardings and fencing have been put in place around the 28 year old leisure centre building.
He added:
“These works came about following the discovery of a void underneath part of the original leisure centre.
“The void is understood to have been present for a number of years and was discovered when the reinforced concrete slab, which provides the foundation for the new swimming pool, was cast.
“By addressing these historic issues, it allows us the opportunity to ensure future generations will be able to access modern sport and leisure facilities in their city for many years to come.
“Once the works have been completed the original leisure centre facility can be refurbished as planned – which includes an extended gym, two new activity studios, a spin studio as well as meeting facilities – and complement the 25 metre, six-lane swimming pool that opened last year.”
Work is scheduled to go on until spring 2024 and in the meantime a temporary gym will remain in use on the car park near the entrance to the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre.
The £300,000 facility, operated by Brimhams Active on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, includes Technogym equipment.
Customers are able to use the changing and shower facilities at the swimming pool as well as the sauna and steam suite. Group exercise classes continue to be provided at Hugh Ripley Hall.
Read more:
After 18 months, still no progress on Ripon LidlEighteen months on since planning permission was ratified for a Ripon Lidl, there is still no sign of work starting.
Lidl submitted a planning application in May 2021 and it was approved on Christmas Eve of the same year.
The company ran a public consultation on the scheme, which involves opening a 1,250 square metre store at St Michael’s Park, Rotary Way.
It would be located near the existing M&S Foodhall and create up to 40 jobs
In its planning application, Lidl said the site was ideal:
“Lidl has a commitment to secure representation in Ripon and has been searching for suitable premises for a number of years. The nearest Lidl food stores are located some distance away in Knaresborough, Thirsk and Northallerton.”
However, there is no sign of the store opening. This is despite the planning documents saying Lidl hoped that 2022 would be the “first full and settled trading year for the new store”.
The Stray Ferret is regularly asked by readers for an update on what would be the town’s first Lidl.
As today marks 18 months since the plans were signed off, we contacted the company to find out more about its plans.
But as with our previous request for an update in April, did not receive a response.
Read more:
Ripon car rally set for 9am start from Market PlaceRipon Motorsport Club is inviting the public to join them on a drive, with the chance to view some classic cars.
The club is best known for the Riponian Stages Rally and the St Wilfrid’s Road Rally.
The stages has been running since 1986 on February 12 and consist of several timed stages. St Wilfrid’s is held on August 6 and runs for almost 150 miles stretching across the Vale of York and the Yorkshire Moors.
The historic cars will start in Ripon Market Place tomorrow at 9am. Among the cars expected to attend are classic Ford Escorts, Minis and Mercedes.
Club members plan to drive through the Vale of York before reaching the NY500 motoring cafe near Pickering around 11:30am.
The club has encouraged the public to join them either on the drive or at the start and end destinations. There will be opportunities for members of the public to be shown round the cars.
Read more:
Spiralling costs force closure of award-winning Ripon cafeThe cost of living crisis, increased energy bills and spiralling inflation are forcing an award-winning Ripon cafe to close its doors in a month’s time.
Caffe Tempo, based at The Arcade since the summer of 2017, has won the Restaurant Guru Best Coffeehouse in Ripon title for six consecutive years, along with Tripadvisor awards last year and in 2020.
But it said numerous financial challenges outside of its control have made the business unviable.
Owner Tina Whincup (pictured above) told the Stray Ferret:
“Our annual turnover has grown to around £220,000, but we haven’t been able to make a profit because all of our bills have gone up.”
Office for National Statistics figures released this week showed year-on-year inflation remaining at 8.7%, but Ms Whincup said:
“The reality is that many of the raw products that we use for the items that we bake, have increased between 100% and 300%.
“To transfer this to the items that we sell makes them so expensive that they go from every day purchases made by our customers, to a once in a while treat.”
She added:
“Although we have remained busy every day, the average spend per person has reduced significantly and it is with great sadness that we are calling time on Caffe Tempo. Our last day of trading will Saturday July 22.
“This has not been an easy decision for us, but unfortunately the challenges the hospitality industry has faced and continued to face have reached the point of no return.
“Our industry has had the worst three years in modern history, with two years of on-off closures, a cost of living crisis and also a shortage of staff.
“When we add in the increase in minimum wage, energy costs at over £900 per month, which could increase to £1,800 per month, when our current contract comes to an end, we find ourselves in a situation that is no longer viable.”
Staffing shortages have seen Ms Whincup working 70 hour weeks since the years of covid closures to keep the business going, but she is now looking elsewhere for employment, along with her two members of staff, including her daughter Elise.
Read more:
Business Breakfast: Grantley Hall opens Nordic Spa GardenStaff well-being and culture have rapidly risen up the priority list for many employers. At the next Stray Ferret Business Club we’ll hear from award winning employer, LCF Law, on how organisations can ensure their teams are productive and happy.
The lunch event is lunch at Manahatta, on June 29th at 12.30pm. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
Luxury hotel Grantley Hall has opened a Nordic Spa Garden, which has ice baths and an outdoor steam sauna.
The garden has two ice baths where guests at the 47-bed hotel near Ripon can try cold-water immersion therapy.
The sauna, on the other hand, allows people to enjoy warmth in a picturesque outdoor setting.
Gillian McGraffin, spa and wellness manager at Grantley Hall, said:
“We have worked hard to create a relaxing outdoor area that not only looks beautiful but also provides guests with a range of health benefits.”
Dental practice takes oral hygiene message to schools
Oral health educators from Coppice View Dentalcare have been handing out free toothbrushes, tooth paste and brushing charts in local schools in support of National Smile Month.
The dental practice, on Kings Road in Harrogate, visits schools each year during the awareness-raising month to educate children on the importance of looking after their teeth and gums. We ensure every child at each presentation received a goody bag containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and brushing charts.
Staff visited Rossett Acre Primary School, Oatlands Infant School and Darley Community Primary School during the latest initiative.
Read more:
Vandals ground canal boats in RiponCanal boats in Ripon were grounded when vandals drained the water between two lock gates.
Ripon Scenic Cruises skipper Jon Eyles discovered the company’s boats and all other vessels were “stuck in the mud” early on Sunday.
It appeared someone had drained the area overnight leaving the boats stuck and unable to be moved until the canal was refilled.
It took until late into the evening to refill the affected area on the canal. This meant all booked trips on the river that day had to be cancelled.
Canal boats were hampered last year when water shortages prompted the Canal and River Trust to close the locks to conserve water.
Ripon Scenic Cruises said in a statement:
“There’s been no word of whom may have done this from the police or Canal and River Trust.
“We hope that this was an isolated incident. As a small local business we struggled through last year and we don’t need it to be made more difficult by action of unthinking vandals.”
The company runs afternoon tea cruises and also has narrowboats available for private hire.
The canal will also be celebrating it’s 250th anniversary this September.
Read more:
Ripon cafe owner retains humour despite break-inIt was business as usual this morning for one of Ripon’s most popular cafe bistros following a break-in in the early hours.
The entrance door to Oliver’s Pantry was extensively damaged by criminals when they forced their way in.
Tim Grant, who jointly owns Oliver’s Pantry with his wife Lou, told the Stray Ferret:
“Words fail me, we could have done with this like a hole in the head.
“Things are hard enough for the hospitality sector, but we’ve just had to get on with sorting things out.
“We’ve been in contact with the police and our insurers, have carried out a clean up and we are open.”
The couple managed to retain their sense of humour by putting up a sign telling people they were still open — and had cake.
The Grants have run the business on North Street for 12 years and Mr Grant added:
“Fortunately whoever did this didn’t steal anything, but they smashed the door in and caused a mess.”
Read more:
Ripon Curzon set to be turned into community cinemaThe closure of the Curzon cinema in Ripon will not signal the end of big screen entertainment for city film lovers.
The Stray Ferret revealed last week the city’s only cinema will close on July 1 having failed to recover from covid.
But Sterne Properties Ltd, which owns the North Street premises that have been home to Curzon since 2013, has big plans for the building.
They include retaining one of the cinema screens to be run as a volunteer-led community project, following similar ventures across the UK.
In addition, the Ripon-based property development and investment company also wants to create new family-friendly facilities on site, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.
Director Robert Sterne told the Stray Ferret:
“It was disappointing to learn that Curzon have taken the decision to close their Ripon branch after operating the city’s cinema for the last decade.
“It has unquestionably been a valued asset to the community and it is sad to hear from many regular cinema goers to whom it’s a great loss.
“We have worked closely with Curzon to ensure the cinema’s success and when the pandemic struck we reduced the rent by half during and post-covid, which was conditional on them being open and serving the community.
“However in spite of our support and due to increasing economic pressures it has now become unviable for Curzon to remain open.
“We are now endeavouring to agree terms in order to take back possession of the premises – they are 10 years into a 25-year lease. Only then can we move forward with exciting new plans for our building.”
Looking to the future, Mr Sterne added:
“Film lovers can take comfort that one cinema screen will be retained to be run as a community project. That way overheads, and therefore ticket prices, can be reduced whilst continuing to show a range of great films and streaming of live events.
“In addition we are proposing to create a hub for the benefit of local and visiting families with a play centre, baby sensory activities, café/restaurant and retail unit. This is something that has been under-provided locally and for which we see a strong demand.”
Jake Garriock, head of distribution strategy and group publicity at Curzon, explained the reason behind the company’s plans to close its Ripon cinema last week.
He said:
“The cinema has specific challenges that have meant it has not recovered as we hoped after the pandemic.
“In recent years, with several new purpose-built cinemas opening in the area, the local audience has been spread too thinly for Ripon to thrive.”
Sterne Properties, which is also planning a community regeneration of Ripon Spa Baths, hopes to have the Curzon building back open to the public next year.
Read more:
Local MPs vote in favour of Privileges Committee reportThe two local Conservative MPs voted in support of a report last night that found Boris Johnson deliberately misled MPs over lockdown parties.
The Commons backed the report by 354 votes to seven — however 225 MPs either abstained or did not turn up to vote, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Andrew Jones, who represents Harrogate and Knaresborough, and Julian Smith, who represents Skipton and Ripon, were among the 118 Tories who supported the report by parliament’s Privileges Committee.
Mr Smith tweeted afterwards “upholding the rules of parliament is key to our democracy”.
Mr Jones indicated his intentions last week when he said:
“I called for the Privileges Committee investigation into this issue and I have supported its work. I will be voting on Monday to accept their recommendations in full.”
The cross-party committee’s report found Mr Johnson committed repeated offences when he said covid rules had been followed at No 10 at all times.
The Selby and Ainsty constituency, which covers part of the Harrogate district, does not currently have an MP following Nigel Adams’ resignation.
A by-election will take place on July 20.
Read more: