Harrogate community centre ‘not up for sale’, charity saysRipon public toilets closed againClosed road near Ripon scheduled to reopen later todayCountry pub announces closureHarrogate restaurant enters liquidationYoung carers in Harrogate left with nowhere to go after charity closes their ‘safe place’Morrisons petrol station to close for refittingKnaresborough’s Waterside to be closed for a weekRipon HSBC closed for nearly two weeks for ‘essential maintenance’

Ripon’s last remaining high street bank has closed until December 13 for “essential maintenance”.

Diane Whelan (pictured), 86, was one of many disgruntled customers who arrived at the branch on the corner of High Skellgate and Westgate today to find it closed. 

A sign in the window advises customers that the nearest branch is in Harrogate town centre. It adds that people can access remote banking online and on the HSBC mobile app.

The bank closed on Thursday (November 30) for essential maintenance.

Diane Whelan.

Diane Whelan.

Ms Whelan told the Stray Ferret: 

“This could not be more inconvenient, with Christmas just over three weeks away.

“Why couldn’t this work have been done at some other time?”

Ms Whelan has been an HSBC customer for more than 60 years and was calling to get a statement. 

She said: 

“I’m afraid I don’t do online and I’m sure other people like me will feel the same.”

The closure of Halifax in November 2022 left HSBC, which has no external cash machine, as the city’s only remaining bank.

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Overnight diversions as Harrogate level crossing closes for inspection

Belmont level crossing on Forest Lane in Harrogate is to close overnight twice this week, Network Rail has confirmed.

The crossing will be shut to allow maintenance teams to carry out a rail corrosion inspection from 11.20pm tomorrow (Tuesday, November 28) to 6.25am on Wednesday, November 29, and at the same times between November 29 and Thursday, November 30.

A spokesperson for Network Rail told the Stray Ferret:

“This means that there will be no disruption to train services, as the crossing will close and re-open between the last and first services.”

However, although rail services will not be affected, North Yorkshire Council has confirmed there will be signposted diversions overnight for road traffic using Hookstone Chase, Wetherby Road (A661) and the A59 between Starbeck and Harrogate.

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