Ripon received a surprise visitor when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived for an unannounced hour-long walkabout and meetings with local businesses and politicians.
Yesterday’s Totally Locally street party organised by the city’s independent traders and supported by Ripon Business Improvement District, provided a platform for Mr Sunak, along with Keane Duncan, the Conservative Party candidate for next month’s York and North Yorkshire mayoral election, to mingle with crowds on Market Square.
The Bank Holiday Monday event, which was launched last year, is designed to raise awareness of what the ancient city has to offer in a modern-day economy.
BID manager Lilla Bathurst, said:
“The Prime Minister was able to see for himself what the collaborative efforts of Ripon’s strong mix of independent retail and hospitality businesses can achieve.
“There are clear indicators, both in terms of the investment in new openings and refurbishments in the city centre and footfall analysis, that a post-pandemic revival is underway.”
City councillor and deputy mayor elect Jackie Crozier (pictured below) whose award-winning Little Bird Made artisan markets are held on Market Square and locations across Yorkshire, introduced Mr Sunak to coffee maker Tom Bolland of the Happy Barista — a regular attendee at the Little Bird events.
For 11-year-old Lilly, daughter of Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams, there was an opportunity for a photograph with Mr Sunak outside Ripon’s historic town hall.
Rishi Sunak, pictured with Cllr Andrew Williams and his daughter Lilly.
Cllr Williams said:
“There’s an interesting fact that links our current Prime Minster with one dating back to 1827, because the Marquess of Ripon, who donated the town hall building to the then borough council in 1897 after two terms as mayor of the city, was born at 10 Downing Street while his father Viscount Goderich was in office.”
Mayoral candidates
The election for the first mayor of the York and North Yorkshire combined authority will take place on Thursday May 2 and, in addition to the Conservative Keane Duncan, the other candidates are:
- Felicity Cunliffe-Lister (Lib Dem)
- Kevin Foster (Green Party)
- Paul Haslam (Independent)
- David Skaith (Labour),
- Keith Tordoff (Independent)
Live music, al fresco dining and entertainment will draw residents and visitors into central Ripon on Easter Monday.
The day of entertainment will see Kirkgate closed to traffic on April 10 from 10am to 4pm, allowing people to enjoy the party atmosphere and businesses to see the impact of pedestrianisation.
The street party will feature live music from Hyde Family Jam, as well as pop-up entertainers and street food from Jaflong Indian and Manchega’s tapas.
The event will be part of the new Totally Locally scheme being adopted by traders and Ripon Business Improvement District, designed to encourage people to spend with independent businesses in the city.
Promoting the event, the BID said:
“Totally Locally have calculated that if every adult in the population were to spend just £5 per week in local shops and businesses, that would contribute £13.5 billion per year to the local UK economy.
“If every adult in Ripon spent just £5 per week in their local independent shops that would result in an extra £3.1 million per year going into our local Ripon economy.
“Kirkgate is the heart of independent business. The street party on Easter Monday is a celebration of the ‘buy local’ movement.”
Independent businesses interested in getting involved in the event can contact Manchega.
Read more:
- Chainsaw sculpture completed at Ripon’s Himalayan Garden
- Jennyruth workers help launch Ripon Easter windows competition