Market Place East
“Fury at plans to dig up stones of historic market square”
“A beautiful market town is being ruined with the council ripping up the historic square to lay tarmac.”
“It’s unfortunate that the two papers appear to have got hold of the wrong end of the stick and given their readers a mistaken impression of what is actually planned.“The resurfacing with tarmac, which is going to take place next October, is designed to ensure a uniformly smooth surface for the roads on either side of the square, making them safe for use by pedestrians, drivers and cyclists.”
“Part of Ripon City Council’s double devolution bid is to take control of Market Square, so that we can ensure that the block sets on the square, which were put in place 20 years ago, are properly maintained at this historic location.”
A road in Harrogate had to be dug up last week to fix a gas leak – which was caused by council resurfacing work just days earlier.
North Yorkshire Council had just completed work near the Stray, giving the top end of North Park Road a pristine new surface at a cost it estimated at £144,350.
But the tarmac was barely set when gas was smelt and remedial work ordered.
Northern Gas Networks, the company responsible for piping gas across most of the north of England, was called in and the leak was fixed the next day, with repairs reducing traffic to a single lane for the day.
But NGN claimed the leak had been caused by the council’s machinery.
The pristine new surface of North Park Road already has a repair patch.
Dominic Nevison, site manager for NGN, told the Stray Ferret:
“We recently attended a gas escape on North Road, Harrogate. We were able to successfully repair the affected standpipe.
“The cause of the gas escape was due to disruptions during the resurfacing of the road. Although this does not happen frequently it is something that can occur on occasions.
“I am pleased to say that we were able to swiftly resolve the issue and reinstatement was carried out and completed at the end of last week.”
“Our priority was to repair the escape as an urgent priority and ensure the road could be re-opened when safe to do so.”
Read more:
- A61 reopens after gas leak at Ripley
- Road closure continues after gas pipe problem found in Knaresborough
- North Yorkshire Council urged to fine utility firms over roadworks
£500,000 scheme in prospect to improve Ripon city centre roads
The long-awaited renewal of damaged and uneven roads that run alongside Ripon Market Square is finally in sight.
A scheme costing an estimated £500,000 is being drawn up by North Yorkshire Council’s highways department in readiness for public consultation this autumn, with the aim of being included in the capital programme for 2024-25.
City councillors have been calling for many years for the sets of paving blocks on Market Place East and Market Place West to be removed and replaced with a tarmac surface.
At last week’s meeting of the full city council, leader and North Yorkshire councillor for the Minster and Moorside division Andrew Williams, said:
“I’m pleased to report, following a visit to Ripon by North Yorkshire highways officials on June 16, they have confirmed that a scheme involving the lifting of sets and replacement with tarmac will be designed and then put out to consultation.
“I understand that the work will cost about £500,000 and will be included in next year’s capital programme.
“If all goes to schedule, work could start after next year’s Easter holiday.”
In recent years North Yorkshire Council has carried out temporary repairs by putting tarmac over the worst-affected sections, leaving the surface looking like a patchwork quilt.
Read more:
- Councillors call for urgent resurfacing of Ripon Market Place roads
- Plans refused for 80-bed Ripon care home