Ripon Archives - Page 77 of 203

Row over Ripon ‘Tory puppet’ councillor continues

The row over Ripon independent councillor Andrew Williams’ decision to align himself with the Conservatives on North Yorkshire Council continued at a meeting last night.

North Yorkshire’s Conservatives recently revealed that three independent councillors have formed a new Conservatives and Independents group to avoid the risk of the party losing overall control.

One of the councillors to join the alliance is Ripon Minster & Moorside councillor Andrew Williams, who was elected as a Ripon Independent in May 2022 with 1,453 votes.

Cllr Williams told the Local Democracy Reporting Service last week that he made the decision in the best interests of the city and to ensure stability on the council.

But the move has not been popular with everyone in the city as Liberal Democrat councillor for Ripon Ure Bank & Spa, Barbara Brodigan, then accused Cllr Williams of being a “Tory puppet” and under the control of council leader Carl Les.

Both councillors also sit on Ripon City Council and at the town hall yesterday evening Cllr Brodigan argued that opposition parties already offer a stable alternative to the Conservatives before taking a veiled swipe at Cllr Williams’ decision.

Cllr Brodigan said:

“All opposition groups — Lib Dems, Labour, Greens — on North Yorkshire work together regularly. That’s stability.

“On a personal level I was elected as a Liberal Democrat by my residents and I remain so. I sit in my group and I vote with my Liberal Democrat colleagues.”

In response, Cllr Williams referred to the recent resignations of Harrogate councillor Michael Schofield from the Liberal Democrats and Scarborough councillor Tony Randerson from Labour and said opposition parties “seem unable to put together an alternative, constructive administration”.

He added:

“I was born here, educated here and have resided here all my life. The decision I took to join the Independents and Conservative group is to ensure a stable administration for North Yorkshire and to get a fair deal in Ripon.

“I remain independent and can vote on every issue that comes before North Yorkshire Council according to my conscience and will always do so. I have not and never will be a Tory puppet.

“Cllr Brodigan, I can assure you that nobody has their hand up my backside, the least of all the leader of the council.”

Road closed after collision in central Ripon

A main road through Ripon is closed this morning as emergency services deal with a collision.

North Yorkshire Police, along with ambulance crews and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services, are at the scene of the two-car collision on Bondgate Green between Ripon Bowling Club and Ripon Builders Merchants.

The road is currently blocked and vehicles are being diverted onto other routes while the scene is cleared.

There is not yet any information about whether anyone has been injured.

The Stray Ferret will post further updates as they become available.

Woman gets trapped up tree after escaping cows near Ripon

Firefighters were called to help a woman last night who got trapped up a tree near Ripon after escaping cows.

The woman climbed the tree “to escape a herd of cows that had surrounded her while walking through a field”, according to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report.

The female, who has not been named, was with her dog at the time.

The incident report said Ripon firefighters were summoned to Ure Bank Terrace at Sharow at 6.38pm.

It added:

“Crews moved the cows away from the tree allowing the walker and her dog to leave the field uninjured.”

But that wasn’t the end of the firefighters’ mission. The incident report added:

“On returning to the fire engine crews discovered a vehicle that had gone into a ditch whilst turning round.

“Crews assisted in removing the vehicle from the ditch using crew power and vehicle wedges.”

Business Breakfast: Grantley Hall appoints new general manager

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am.

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

Grantley Hall near Ripon has appointed a new general manager.

Nuno César de Sá, who previously worked for the Mandarin Oriental group, has joined the hotel after previous manager Andrew McPherson stepped down.

On his appointment, he said:

“I am honoured to become part of the Grantley Hall family. I have been fascinated by what has been achieved at Grantley Hall over the last six years.

“Now that I have been appointed as general manager, it is incredible that I will become an integral part of its future.”

Richard Sykes, managing director at Grantley Hall, added:

“We are thrilled to have Nuno on board as our new general manager.

“As a family-owned business, we understand that out people are the most important element of the hotel as they implement the magic of Grantley Hall to our guests and as Nuno shares many of the Grantley values, we know that he will be a perfect fit.”

Women’s co-working event to be held in Harrogate

A women’s business group is set to host a coffee and co-working event in Harrogate this month.

Women’s Business Club UK will be hosting the session at Manahatta off Parliament Street on July 21 from 11am until 2pm.

The group described the event as a chance for women to “have a natter and settle in for a morning of co-working”.

The co-working session is free, but pre-booking is essential.

For more information on the event and to book a place, visit the Eventbrite page here.

Ripon on track to run local assets previously controlled in Harrogate

Ripon appears to be in a strong position to take control of local assets, such as the town hall and market, which were previously run by Harrogate Borough Council.

North Yorkshire Council, which succeeded Harrogate Borough Council on April 1, has invited town and parish councils to submit expressions of interest to run local services.

It is part of the Conservative-controlled council’s double devolution agenda in which more assets and services are run locally.

The approach has sparked interest in Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Masham, where some were aggrieved for years about decisions being made in Harrogate.

Ironically Harrogate does not yet have a town council so is excluded from the process and will continue to have its assets, such as Valley Gardens and Harrogate Convention Centre, run from Northallerton.

Ripon Town Hall

North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les has revealed 12 expressions of interest have been received from town and parish councils so far.

Up to six will be chosen this autumn to put forward full business cases. Final decisions are expected in spring next year before assets are transferred to successful bidders later in the year.

A list of town and parish councils to have submitted expressions of interest has not been published but Ripon in known to be among them.

Cllr Les told the Stray Ferret he would be amazed if Ripon wasn’t selected to be one of the pilot areas. He told the Stray Ferret:

“Ripon was one of the first out of the blocks on double devolution. It is one of the keenest parts of the county. I’ll be amazed if Ripon isn’t in there.”

Tory alliance

The relationship between the ruling Conservatives on North Yorkshire Council and Cllr Andrew Williams, an independent who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside on North Yorkshire Council has been in sharp focus this month.

Last week Cllr Williams became one of three independents who joined a political alliance with the Conservatives.

The alliance strengthens the Conservatives’ grip on the council, after a recent defection meant it had precisely half of the 90 councillors.

It followed North Yorkshire Council’s decision to select Ripon as one of five pilot areas for new community networks.

The developments have sparked concerns from independent and Liberal Democrat councillors about whether the Tories promised taxpayer-funded favours, including double devolution deals, in return for political support from the independents who joined the new Conservatives and Independents Group.

Cllr Les and Cllr Williams both denied the allegation. Cllr Les said double devolution talks had taken place for months before the new group was formed last week.

Has Ripon been undermined by Harrogate?

Cllr Williams said there had been “no seedy back room arrangements” and he remained an independent who would vote as his conscience allowed, rather than a Tory puppet.

He said he joined the alliance because there was no prospect of the 45 non-Conservative councillors of different political groups on North Yorkshire Council being able to agree a budget and form an administration. He added:

“Ripon’s best interests will be served by having an alliance with the majority group. I stand for the benefit of Ripon rather than any political party.

“There can be a perception of whatever, I don’t care quite frankly, as long as Ripon gets a double devolution deal.

“There has been woeful neglect of the city for years by Harrogate Borough Council and I’m determined Ripon will fare better under the new local government arrangements.

“I stood on a pro-Ripon ticket. That’s my job — to stand up and fight for Ripon.”

Edinburgh Fringe debut for Ripon singer-songwriter

Next month’s Edinburgh Fringe will provide a high profile platform for Ripon singer-songwriter Alannah Creed to unveil a newly-created repertoire of original songs.

Her Fringe debut will see the 20-year-old classically-trained singer perform 12 songs written in collaboration with her mother and co-lyricist Kathryn Creed, a counsellor and hypnotherapist, who is also a Reiki master teacher and practitioner.

The duo have combined their musical and therapeutic skills to compose pieces designed to be in harmony with the healing power of nature.

Living close to the Studley Royal Deer Park, where they regularly walk Yorkshire terrier Katie, there is plenty in the natural environment to inspire them.

Alannah and Kathryn Creed with Yorkshire Terrier Katie

Alannah told the Stray Ferret:

“The songs, which I describe as classically inspired pop infused with electronica, draw on many different uplifting personal experiences, such as seeing the sun shining through trees and hearing the sound of birds singing.”

She added:

“I believe that music is a superpower for stress relief, enjoyment and healing and I want those who come to my concerts to feel happy, empowered, energised and renewed. “

Pianist Alannah, who also plays acoustic guitar, is currently an unsigned artist but has been working with producer Grant Henderson at Loom Studios in Birstall near Leeds, with the aim of releasing her work this autumn or in the spring of 2024.

Her 11 shows at Edinburgh Fringe will be staged in venue six at the Lauriston Halls complex and before heading to the Scottish capital, she will provide a sneak preview of her original works in the Harrogate Theatre Studio on the evening of July 21.

Alannah will also perform her repertoire in Ripon Arts Hub on Allhallowgate all 8pm on August 4, where tickets will be available on the door.

Those who go to see her in Edinburgh, Harrogate or Ripon, can expect dramatic performances as she is also an actor and dancer who trained in Contemporary Performance at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, before studying acting at the Stella Adler Academy in New York.

£250,000 awarded to restore habitat at Nosterfield Nature Reserve

A conservation trust which runs Nosterfield Nature Reserve has been awarded £250,000 to help restore threatened natural habitats.

The 150-acre nature reserve is situated between the Rivers Ure and Swale at West Tanfield, between Ripon and Masham.

It is regarded as North Yorkshire’s premier wetland grassland. However, rare remnant areas of fen and magnesian limestone are in urgent need of attention.

The National Lottery’s Heritage Fund grant will enable Lower Ure Conservation Trust to tackle this by employing three staff and embarking on a project to restore natural habitats at Nosterfield,

The scheme will also improve other areas along the Ure.

Nosterfield is regarded as North Yorkshire’s premier wetland grassland.

Simon Warwick, director of the trust, said it was the biggest grant it had ever received. He added:

“Our animals, plants and invertebrate life have been poorly served by us humans in recent years. We are one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe.

“In our small way, let’s hope this is the start of a fightback in this part of North Yorkshire. We are extremely grateful to the National Lottery players to have received this support.”

The habitat restoration work will focus on wetland and magnesian limestone, including working alongside English Heritage on the neighbouring neolithic monument, Thornborough Henges.

There will be opportunities for local people to get involved through community planting days, which will be held in autumn 2024 and 2025.

Work at Nosterfield will include includes a range of priority habitats which will be restored, conserved and re-created as part of the project.

Lapwing are among the species that will benefit. Pic: Whitfield Benson

Species such as Bittern, Lapwing, Reed Bunting, Dingy Skipper and Tubular Water-dropwort will benefit from these habitat improvements.

The project, which starts on Monday (July 10) and will last for two-and-a-half years, also aims to connect people with nature by creating a community engagement officer role.

Emma Higgs, project officer at Nosterfield, said:

“One of the most exciting things about the project for me is getting more people involved in securing a future for our wildlife.

“We have some great volunteers but with more work to be done now we need more and better trained ones.

“We will be able to employ three new people and one of those roles will be to encourage school children to become involved.”

Simon Warwick and Emma Higgs. Pic: Frank Dwyer

CrossFit gym in Ripon to host official opening tomorrow

A new CrossFit gym in Ripon is set to host its official open day tomorrow under the ownership of a local military man and his wife.

CrossFit Ripon’s opening will provide an opportunity to see the space, meet the team, watch live weightlifting demos, and even take part in fitness challenges.

There will also be several local vendors and businesses at the opening offering food and drinks, as well as skincare and nutritional advice.

The gym has already achieved 90% of its membership capacity in the weeks leading up to the official opening and is welcoming more potential customers at the new facility tomorrow.

Owners Mick and Sarah Meegan, who already run a smaller training studio in the city, faced a nine-month planning battle to secure the CrossFit Ripon unit.

They hope the new gym will tackle obesity and improve physical and mental wellbeing.

CrossFit involves various high-intensity strength and conditioning exercises and has risen to popularity over the past two decades.

Mr Meegan, who is serving his final year of 21 years of military service, posted on social media:

“Our long-awaited open day is almost here, lots of hard graft has been going in at CFR HQ to make our training space pretty special.

“You guys won’t be disappointed.

“We look forward to meeting you all and getting you starting on your fitness journeys.”

The gym will be open every day and membership prices begin at £80 per month.

The open day will take place tomorrow at the unit on Ripon Business Park. It will run from noon until 4pm.

Petition launched to reopen Ripon cinema

A petition has been launched calling for Ripon’s only cinema to be reopened.

The Curzon closed on July 1 after the company said the venue had “specific challenges” and was “not suited to the long-term direction we have taken”.

Sterne Properties, which owns the site on North Street, has suggested the venue could be run as a community project with one cinema screen remaining.

However, a petition has been launched calling for the cinema to be reopened.

Adam Cordiner, who launched the campaign called Save Ripon Cinema, said he was “deeply disappointed” by Curzon’s decision to cease operating the venue.

He added he hoped the petition would help to highlight the community’s love for the site and that an operator would step in to reopen it as a cinema.

Mr Cordiner said:

“The Ripon cinema is treasured by its local community.

“Adored not only by film lovers, but by writers and artists who regularly came to open-mic nights at the cinema to share ideas, discuss topical artistic ideas and to encourage the next generation of thinkers and creators in this important and historic area.”

At the time of publication, the petition had attracted 48 signatures.

Mr Cordiner added that although there were proposals from Sterne Properties to turn the venue into a community project, he felt there was “no guarantee of this happening”.

He said:

“We love the cinema and want it to be saved. Perhaps another operator may step in if we get some publicity.”

For more information on the petition, visit the iPetition page here.

Ripon councillor rejects ‘Tory puppet’ accusations

Ripon independent councillor Andrew Williams has defended his decision to align himself with the Conservatives on North Yorkshire Council.

Last week, North Yorkshire’s Conservatives revealed that three independent councillors will form a Conservatives and Independents group to avoid the risk of the party losing overall control of the authority.

This is because the balance of power was finely poised with the Tories having 45 councillors — the same number as the opposition parties and independents when combined.

One of the councillors to join the alliance is Ripon Minster & Moorside councillor Andrew Williams, who was elected as a Ripon Independent in May 2022 with 1,453 votes.

But his decision was criticised by the Liberal Democrat councillor for Ripon Ure Bank & Spa, Barbara Brodigan, who told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Cllr Williams had put party politics before the residents of Ripon and will now be a “Tory puppet” on the authority.

During last year’s election the Conservative candidate in Cllr Williams’ division registered only 334 votes and Cllr Brodigan said the the move was a “betrayal of the residents” who voted for him as an independent.

However, Cllr Williams defended his decision in an interview with the LDRS this morning and said the move was necessary to maintain stability on the council.

He argued his independence will be maintained and that residents voted for him to put the interests of Ripon first.

Cllr Williams said:

“There needs to be stability and governance on the council. With a £30 million budget shortfall to resolve and local government reorganisation in its infancy, the last thing that’s needed is complete chaos in the council chamber.

“That would suit the the Lib Dems fine, but it doesn’t do anything for local residents. I haven’t agreed to do anything else. The only commitment I’ve made is to join a group for the stable governance of North Yorkshire.

“Residents knew by voting independent I wouldn’t run the council, I would work to secure the best deal for Ripon.

“I will take each issue as it comes to council, my views of the world haven’t altered. I remain independent and not a member of any political party. I believe there’s an opportunity to influence the decision-making process in Ripon’s favour and I’ll press Ripon’s case as a consequence.“

Cllr Williams is also the leader of Ripon City Council which has put in a bid to run the city’s market square and town hall under North Yorkshire Council’s “double-devolution” pilot scheme. A decision on which bids are successful is expected next year.

Cllr Brodigan accused Cllr Williams of “taking the Tory shilling” but he denied that any formal deal had been agreed that would see Ripon City Council’s bid being chosen in return for supporting the Conservatives in Northallerton.

He added:

“It’s in Ripon’s best interests to have a councillor that can influence in Ripon’s favour. We have any number of issues that need addressing. I believe this is the best way of doing that rather than in isolation.“

Cllr Williams, who was a Liberal Democrat councillor on Harrogate Borough Council during the 1990s, described Cllr Brodigan’s criticism as “hypocrisy“.

He said:

“The hypocrisy of the Lib Dems to complain about somebody seeking to work with others to deliver for the local community is astounding as they are a party that believes in PR [proportional representation] and the inevitable necessity for a coalition of different political views for the benefit of local residents.

“I won’t take lectures off any Lib Dem. They sacrificed every principle they had in 2010 to enter the coalition. I have not sacrificed one single commitment to residents by joining the group.“

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Tory alliance

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