Ripon’s Holy Trinity Junior School was unable to open today for the start of the new academic year because it had no water supply.
The Church Lane school was without water from Friday, when a major leak was discovered but will be back open tomorrow morning (Wednesday) after water engineers and plumbers completed repair works this afternoon.
Executive headteacher Sue Sanderson, who confirmed that the water is now back on, told the Stray Ferret:
“We were forced to close the site to children as there was no water for toilet, hygiene, cleaning etc. The caretaker’s bungalow has also been without water since Friday.”
The water pipe junction
Ms Sanderson added:
“We discovered a major water leak on the junior site which involved the water supply being turned off on Friday afternoon for essential repairs – a junction on the main supply pipe urgently needed replacing.
“The replacement part arrived on Monday and was fitted. However, we were informed later in the afternoon that the supply could not be turned on for a further 24 hours. I’m pleased to say that the water is all back on now.”
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Children raise awareness of road safety issues affecting Ripon schools
Four pupils of Holy Trinity School in Ripon are working together to raise awareness of road safety issues on nearby roads.
Kofi, Seth, Arabella and Isla were so concerned about the potential risks posed by inconsiderate, careless and law-breaking motorists, using Church Lane and Trinity Lane, that they decided to take action.
The enterprising foursome, who have the support of their parents, teachers, governors and North Yorkshire Police, were appointed as the school’s first-ever road safety officers.
Illegal parking on Trinity Lane increases the risk for both children and parents. Picture: Adam Kitching
Through contact with the police, a meeting with Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams and use of the Holy Trinity newsletter, they have been sending out messages designed to make life safer for fellow pupils and parents who walk to and from the school each day.
Kofi said:
“Each week in the UK there is an average of one death and 37 people seriously injured while going to school in the mornings or on their way home.”
Seth and Arabella both believe that children and parents on foot are put in danger by people parking illegally or stopping in the middle of the road to drop children off or pick them up.
Isla said:
“We just want people to be aware that they are putting their own children at risk as well as others, by behaving in a selfish way.”
Sue Sanderson, executive head of the Holy Trinity Federation of Schools, which includes the junior school on Church Lane and nursery on Trinity Lane, said:
“In a meeting I had with children they told me that road safety was the issue at the top of their list of concerns and that led to the appointment of our road safety officers, who have shown a great deal of initiative.”
Adam Kitching, who is vice-chair of governors at Holy Trinity and has board responsibility for health and safety, pointed out:
“Currently there is just one patrol at the crossroad between Trinity Lane and Church Lane and he does a tremendous job in looking after children and parents, but beyond that crossing point, we have Holy Trinity and St Wilfrid’s Junior School on Church Lane.
“As it is also a route for students walking to and from Outwood Academy and Ripon Grammar, there are in excess of 600 children, plus parents and grandparents on this stretch of road on each school day and we are concerned about potential accidents.”
Holy Trinity believes that an extra crossing patrol on Trinity Lane, combined with more no parking hatched areas and the introduction of short stay drop-off and pick-up bays, would make the road safer, but in the meantime, the message to all pedestrians is to take care when crossing the road.
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Heavy rain floods some Harrogate district roads
Heavy rain has led to flooding on some Harrogate district roads today
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms this morning and warned some roads could be flooded.
It proved accurate as drivers across the district, which is still under drought, struggled in many of the usual highway trouble spots for flooding.
Pic: Lynne Hardcastle
Church Lane in Hampsthwaite, pictured here, remained open despite treacherous conditions.
Pot Bridge, where there is a sharp double bend, on the B6161 was also difficult due to the conditions.
The weather warning ended at 1pm but driving conditions are expected to remain difficult this afternoon due to spray and standing water.
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