Portable cabin removal restores Ripon festive cheer
A portable cabin parked near Ripon’s Christmas tree on Market Square has been removed.
The cabin appeared two days after the city’s biggest ever display of Christmas lights was switched on and somewhat spoiled the view.
Councillor Stuart Martin told Monday’s virtual meeting of Ripon City Council the cabin had been moved following a request to Yorkshire Water, which ordered the cabin as part of sewer repair works at the junction of Market Square East and Kirkgate.
Cllr Martin, who is also a district and county councillor, said:
“If, as expected, the lockdown is lifted on December 2, the works will be halted until the New Year.”
Ripon spent an extra £65,000 on Christmas lights this year, with the tree in the market place the centrepiece of the attraction.
The Market Square has been a major focal point in Ripon since the 12th century and is one of the most famous landmarks in the Harrogate district.
When the sewer works began, cllr Martin told the Stray Ferret:
“It is not right to put this slap bang in front of a Grade II* listed building, next to the Christmas tree. This has obviously caused a lot of upset.
“The positioning could have been better.”
Work on the sewer repairs at the junction of Market Place East and Kirkgate
Following Cllr Martin’s intervention, Harrogate Borough Council asked Yorkshire Water to find a more appropriate place for the cabins.
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In the spirit of making the best of a bad situation, people on an online Ripon community group suggested decorating the cabins as giant presents or as Santa’s sleigh.
Another wrote:
“We have so little to look forward to this year. Surely it’s not too much to ask to be able to take a photo of our beautiful square!”
Swinsty reservoir footpath diversion ‘too muddy to walk’A visitor to Swinsty reservoir last weekend has complained that the new temporary footpath is already too muddy to walk.
Yorkshire Water announced last week the footpath would close for 18 months to allow it to undertake £6 million safety works.
The company warned the route was uneven and “sometimes wet” and therefore unsuitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.
It added walkers should wear “suitable footwear” but it seems even those with sturdy boots and wellies may need to find a new walk for the time being.
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A Stray Ferret reader, who asked to remain anonymous, contacted us on Sunday to say his family walk deteriorated into a quagmire. The reader said:
“This diversion is really not well thought out. We will not be doing it again as the ground is only going to get worse over the coming months.
“I am surprised that Yorkshire Water has suggested the route. It needs reassessing as it is not fit for purpose.”
‘Swinsty is the busiest it has ever been’
The reservoir, in the Washburn Valley, is a popular location for families and dog walkers in the Harrogate district.
Graham Hebblethwaite, the chairman of Washburn Parish Council, today told the Stray Ferret it had never been busier – and this was causing problems.
“I have lived here for all my life and this is the busiest that it has ever been. Lots of people are parking on the verges and wrecking them.
“That leads to issues with the emergency services trying to get through. It also means that locals have been clashing with visitors.”
Mr Hebblethwaite even said some locals were planning to move to escape the issues.
Yorkshire Water is diverting excess water from the reservoir to Lindley Wood reservoir to protect the embankment from flood erosion.
A spokesperson for the company told the Stray Ferret:
“We’re aware that the diversion footpath at Swinsty reservoir has become slightly difficult to navigate – with some areas very muddy.
“We are speaking to the North Yorkshire County Council about ways they may be able to improve the public right of way.”
Yorkshire Water also encouraged anyone worried about the diversion route to visit other reservoirs, such as Fewston and Thruscross.
Fears solar panel farm in Harrogate could dazzle pilotsPlans for a five-acre solar panel farm in Harrogate have attracted concern from the aviation industry that it could dazzle pilots flying to and from Leeds Bradford Airport.
Yorkshire Water has submitted initial plans to Harrogate Borough Council to erect panels at its Bachelor Gardens sewage works in Bilton.
George Graham, airside operations unit supervisor at Leeds Bradford Airport, said in a written consultation response on behalf of the airport it would like to review the scheme against aviation safeguarding criteria. He added:
“Specifically we’d review the application with a view to understanding the potential glint and glare risk and its impact on aviation activity.
“Harrogate is a published visual reference point for aircraft operating into and out of Leeds Bradford Airport using ‘out of the window’ navigation and as such we’d like to safeguard against any potential threat to airline safety.”
Mr Graham added the airline would need to conduct an initial review before deciding if a formal glint, glare assessment was necessary.
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Yorkshire Water, which is the second largest landowner in the county, plans to develop energy at 150 of its sites as part of its bid to become carbon net zero by 2030.
A spokesman for the company said the sewage farm would continue to operate alongside the solar panels.
Yorkshire Water has applied to the council for an environmental impact assessment screening opinion to determine whether the project would be likely to have significant effects on the environment. It has yet to submit formal a formal planning application.
A spokesman said:
“Many of Yorkshire Water’s treatment works include land that could be used for different purposes, such as ground mounted solar arrays.
“These allow us to maximise the value of otherwise un-used land, while providing renewable energy to offset the consumption of existing on-site assets.”
Swinsty Reservoir footpath to close for 18 monthsYorkshire Water it to close a footpath at Swinsty reservoir and introduce diversions over the next 18 months as part of £6m safety works.
The reservoir, in the Washburn Valley, is a popular location for families and dog walkers in the Harrogate district.
Work on the reservoir’s east bank spillway is due to start on Monday next week and be completed by summer 2022.
The project will divert excess water from the reservoir to Lindley Wood reservoir to protect the embankment from flood erosion.
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Yorkshire Water said in a statement:
“As the route is on uneven and sometimes wet ground, it is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs – walkers are advised to wear suitable footwear and keep dogs on leads.”
Mark Allsop, customer liaison advisor at Yorkshire Water, said:
“This ensures that the reservoir can continue to play its part in supplying drinking water to the homes of millions of customers in Yorkshire.
“The investment will reinforce the structure and protect the area in the face of extreme weather.”
The water company worked with local landowners and North Yorkshire County Council to map out the footpath diversion.
Fatberg of wet wipes blocks sewer in GrewelthorpeYorkshire Water spent an hour jet washing more than 1,000 litres of water through a sewer in Grewelthorpe to remove a fatberg of wet wipes.
The underground blockage between Ripon and Masham prompted the water company to issue a plea today to only flush the three Ps — pee, poo and (toilet) paper — down the loo.
Wet wipes are the most common cause of blockages and can lead to flooding.
Mark Hammond, head of customer field services at Yorkshire Water, said:
“We are regularly called out to remove blockages caused by wet wipes in our region. That’s despite our warnings and information on packets not to flush them.
“We spend millions of pounds every year on clearing these blockages. It’s money which could be spent on improving our network and investing in technologies.”
Yorkshire Water also revealed its blockages team removed four large buckets of wet wipes from its sewer network in York this month.
A recent survey by the company found 21% of people flushed wet wipes down the toilet.
The Oxford English Dictionary added the word ‘fatberg’ in 2015. It is defined as a large mass of solid waste in a sewage system made up of fat and personal hygiene products.
Hydraulic loader stolen from sewage works near SpofforthNorth Yorkshire Police is appealing for witnesses after a hydraulic loader was stolen from a sewage works between Spofforth and Little Ribston.
The burglary happened between Friday and Monday at the Yorkshire Water sewage site.
The suspect or suspects cut a fence to get on to the site, having travelled through fields from the Plompton direction.
They then stole the loader and escaped in a vehicle in an unknown direction.
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A police spokesperson said:
“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and if they have witnessed anything or anyone acting suspiciously in that area.”
Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for PC Thornborrow. Alternatively, email jackie.thornborrow@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200188204.
Traditional paving to be reinstated after burst pipe repaired in HarrogateA section of Cambridge Street in Harrogate has been replaced with tarmac after emergency repairs to a burst water main earlier this week.
Yorkshire Water said the pipes burst in the early hours of Tuesday morning and repairs were finished by Tuesday lunchtime with “minimal disruption” to customers.
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson told the Stray Ferret that the street will return to its normal state soon.
“We have repaired the surface on a temporary basis, in order to allow it to reopen for access. We are liaising with NYCC Highways and will be returning to site to reinstate fully once the correct materials are available.”
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Engineers tackle major pipe burst on Otley Road in HarrogateWater was gushing down Otley Road in Harrogate this morning after a pipe burst near the junction with Pannal Ash Drive.
Flowing downhill, the water reached past Harrogate Grammar School, as well as down Cold Bath Road where it was running into driveways and towards garages.
On Otley Road, sandbags had been placed at the door to a flat above So! Bar and Eats to stop the water running into the property.
Sandbags outside So! Bar and Eats on Otley Road to prevent water entering the property
Engineers from Yorkshire Water were on the scene before 8am to repair the leak. A stop-go traffic control system was put in place and there was no sign of queuing.
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Yorkshire Water engineers on site to repair a leak on Otley Road in Harrogate
Some households nearby have been warned to expect low water pressure until the problem is fixed. A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said:
“A burst pipe on Otley Road was reported to us shortly after 6am, which caused some disruption to water supply for nearby properties. Our teams currently on site have isolated the leak, are restoring supply to customers and will be working to repair the burst pipe as soon as possible.”
Yorkshire Water launches affordable scheme for young farmersYorkshire Water has announced a starter scheme to get young farm workers renting land.
The project is titled Beyond Nature. Plots will be rented out to young farmers and anyone under 40 with an interest in farm ownership.
In the European Union, only 11% of farms are run by those under 40. The largest barriers for young farmers who want to run their own farm is expense and how often land becomes available.
The first farm announced in the scheme is Scow Hall Farm, located behind Swinsty reservoir in Washburn Valley.
Lisa Harrowsmith, lead surveyor at Yorkshire Water, said:
“After the first five-year lease, we will let the farm to another young farmer, therefore creating a cycle of opportunity for the next generation of farmers. Once the tenancy is up, we will assist that farmer with finding new opportunities on a permanent holding or elsewhere within the agricultural industry.”
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Yorkshire Water’s intention is to give young farmers the tools to create sustainable farms on their 70,000 acres of land. Mentorship, training and business advice will be provided.
Ellie Britton, 22, who was brought up on her parents farm in Ripon, said:
“My dad has a farm with his brother and they both have sons. Their options are to either continue working together or split up into pairs to buy a farm. Farmers often keep farms and hand them down for generations. If they do come up they are unattainably expensive or need a lot of renovation work. I think the Yorkshire Water scheme is a good idea to get people going with experience.”
Applications for Scow Hall Farm will open in late August. More information can be found on the Yorkshire Water website or via their social media pages.
Heatwave prompts safety warnings for Harrogate districtAuthorities in North Yorkshire have issued warnings to people hoping to take advantage of the hot weather and easing of lockdown restrictions this weekend.
With temperatures forecast to rise beyond 30 degrees centigrade, concerns have been raised about safety as residents enjoy the good weather for the first time since coronavirus guidelines changed.
Yorkshire Water is urging people to plan to ensure they are safe when visiting its sites across the Harrogate district. Alastair Harvey, lead countryside and woodland advisor at Yorkshire Water, said:
“The warm weather this weekend is the perfect opportunity for people to get out and enjoy some of Yorkshire’s scenic beauty spots, including reservoirs and woodland.
“It is important those enjoying the summer weather ensure they are doing so safely and that they are not having a negative impact on the environment.
“In the warm weather reservoirs can seem appealing for a quick swim, but they pose a huge risk which could lead to loss of life. They are often colder than rivers and this can result in cold water shock that can lead to hyperventilation, increased blood pressure and breathing difficulties and ultimately death, so it is important people visiting reservoirs are not tempted to swim.
Mr Harvey also warned about the dangers of wildfires during hot weather:
“We have seen in recent months the danger of barbecues on open land with a number of wildfires. These can cause a danger to life, as well as devastating local ecosystems by damaging peat soils and impacting valuable habitat and wildlife such as birds, reptiles and insects.
“We would encourage anyone visiting Yorkshire’s beauty spots to respect their surroundings and take measures to protect themselves and the environment by not lighting fires or barbecues, taking their litter home, respecting residents and local communities, parking considerately and following the Countryside Code at all times.”
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North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service echoed his comments about disposable barbecues, urging people to use them safely at home, away from sheds, trees and hedges. The fire service also asked people not to take barbecues out onto grassland or moors and to dispose of cigarettes and litter safely. A spokesman added:
“Open water may look like a tempting place to cool off, but it can be full of hidden dangers including vegetation and objects you can get tangled up in.”
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