Vandalism causes extended closure of Ripon playgroundA children’s playground at Quarry Moor Park in Ripon will remain closed for the foreseeable future because of ongoing vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
The decision to maintain the closure was taken by councillors in private session at Monday evening’s Ripon City Council meeting and confirmed in a statement on the council’s Facebook page.
It said that the council “regretfully resolved not to reinstate the playground at Quarry Moor at the present time”.
It added:
“Unfortunately the site is being vandalised almost daily. We are working with North Yorkshire Police who are responding to the regular reports of anti-social behaviour when they occur.
“Until we can plan a way forward with our partners that includes measures that impact on the behaviour at the site we are unable to commit funds to the playground.”
The statement added:
“We appreciate that this is caused by a small minority and that it is affecting our residents using the site. We are actively seeking solutions to the issue (and) will provide a further update as soon as possible.”
Quarry Moor is funded by an annual grant from the city council and the budget for 2023-24 is £15,000.
The playground has remained closed since a vandal attack In March and this followed a six-month closure from September 2021 due to a rat infestation which was eradicated after rubbish bins were removed from the site.
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Councillors call for ‘comprehensive resurfacing’ of Ripon city centre roadsCouncillors are calling for damaged roads in Ripon city centre to be resurfaced with tarmac as a matter of urgency.
The principal areas of concern are the four roads around Market Square where block paving has lifted and cracked because of the volume of traffic.
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.
Roads around the market are the main concern.
On Friday, city council leader Andrew Williams will tour Ripon with North Yorkshire highways officials to show them where problems exist with cracked and uneven roads and pavements.
At Monday evening’s full council meeting, he said:
“There are many parts of Ripon where repair and renewal is required, but the dangerous state of the roads around Market Square is totally unacceptable for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists and the temporary fixes just don’t work.
“These are the busiest roads in the city centre and comprehensive resurfacing works need to be included in North Yorkshire Highways capital programme as a matter of urgency.”
Cllr Williams’ proposal, which calls on North Yorkshire to make the work a priority, was unanimously supported by fellow councillors.
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New organisation could shape future growth of RiponRipon has been chosen to be one of five areas in North Yorkshire to pilot new community networks.
The networks will aim to bring together public, private and voluntary sector organisations to “unleash energy and ambition” and drive change.
North Yorkshire Council‘s decision to create the networks has generated controversy because members won’t be elected, leading to fears they are undemocratic and could duplicate the work of existing councils.
One Conservative councillor even branded them “crackers”.
But Ripon’s two councillors on North Yorkshire Council welcomed the move to make Ripon one the first areas in the county to trial the networks. Easingwold, Leyburn and Middleham, Sherburn-in-Elmet and Thornton-le-Dale have also been selected.
Cllr Andrew Williams, an Independent who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside and is also leader of Ripon City Council, said he and Cllr Barbara Brodigan, a Liberal Democrat who represents Ripon Ure Bank and Spa, both recognised the networks’ potential for improving the city.
He said:
“They will bring together groups across the city and create an opportunity to explore ideas and issues.”
Cllr Williams added the networks would “not replace any level of local government” but would allow people to talk more broadly about improving their local area in ways in which the constraints of formal council meetings did not allow.
Asked to give examples, he said the networks might develop a 10-year masterplan for Ripon or consider ways to get neighbouring parishes more involved in the city.
North Yorkshire Council isn’t providing any funding for the networks but Cllr Williams said this wasn’t an issue:
“It’s about considering what Ripon would look like in an ideal world if there was a magic wand and then going off and seeking funding for various schemes.”
He said he expected organisations such as Ripon City Council, Ripon Business Improvement District, Ripon Together and Ripon Museums to be involved.
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North Yorkshire Council’s ruling executive will meet on Tuesday next week to ratify the pilot areas, with a view to later rolling out 30 networks across the county.
Carl Les
North Yorkshire Council’s Conservative leader, Cllr Carl Les, said:
“The networks will mobilise communities, unleashing energy and ambition and giving people a stronger voice to tackle those issues that mean the most to them.”
Cllr David Chance, the council’s executive member for stronger communities, Cllr David Chance, said the pilot areas would “help us shape the model for the community networks as they are set to be introduced across the county”.
Freedom march caps a day of civic celebrations in RiponIt was a day of tradition, ceremony and civic pride in Ripon, with the Royal Engineers’ freedom march and the installation at the cathedral of councillor Sid Hawke as city mayor.
Among those in attendance for both of yesterday’s events was Major-General Eldon Millar who, as Defence Services Secretary, played a key role in the organisation and delivery of this month’s coronation celebrations for King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Involving more than 6,000 armed forces members, it was the UK’s largest military ceremonial operation in 70 years.
Major-General Eldon Millar, Defence Services Secretary, in Ripon yesterday
Although the freedom march was on a much smaller scale, hundreds of soldiers from 21 Engineer Regiment accompanied by the British Army Band from Catterick ensured a spectacular display as they marched to the beat of a drum with bayonets fixed.
The regiment was awarded Freedom of the City status in 1949 and Major-General Millar, who earlier in his army career served as adjutant at Claro Barracks, said:
“I’m delighted to be back in Ripon to share in this wonderful and significant tradition.”
The Royal Engineers and musicians marched to the cathedral for the sung Eucharist service, which included the installation of Cllr Hawke as mayor.
The mayor and mayoress on their way to the cathedral with sergeant at mace David Coates and hornblower Allison Clark.
The service, led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson, was also attended by members of Ripon City Council (pictured below) and other invited civic dignitaries.
On Saturday, the Royal Engineers staged a display on Market Square designed to give members of the public a close-up view of equipment, engineering techniques and construction skills, including bridge building, bricklaying, concreting and plumbing, employed by the regiment, at many different locations.
In recent years, 21 Engineer Regiment’s main focus has been on providing support to UN peacekeeping operations and has included deployments to Afghanistan, Cyprus, Poland, Somalia and South Sudan.
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Council orders deep clean for Ripon War MemorialNorth Yorkshire Council is arranging for Ripon’s War Memorial to have a deep clean to rid it of dirt and algae.
Since it was unveiled in October 1921, the memorial in Spa Gardens has been the focal point of the city’s Services of Remembrance, commemorating those who served and died for their country in the conflicts of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945.
Each year hundreds of people, ranging from scouts and guides to former servicemen and women and civic dignitaries, gather in the gardens to pay respect to the fallen.
In recent years, some of the 339 names of Ripon men who died in the two world wars have become obscured by green algae.
This led Ripon City Council to call on the former Harrogate Borough Council to carry out a thorough clean.
City council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:
“We raised the issue of the condition of the memorial on at least two separate occasions with officers at Harrogate council and were told 18 months ago that the memorial was on annual spring cleaning programme, but nothing happened.
“I’m pleased to say that we have had an immediate and positive response from the North Yorkshire parks and environmental services team.
“We have been advised that they have inspected the memorial and have instructed a specialist contractor to undertake cleaning in the coming weeks to bring it back up to the standard required.”
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Dignitaries gather for Ripon’s mayor making ceremony
Local dignitaries, alongside representatives from the Royal Engineers, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and North Yorkshire Police, gathered at Ripon Town Hall to see Councillor Sid Hawke elected as the city’s mayor for a third term in office.
Ripon City Council’s annual meeting and mayor making ceremony was held last week and this coming Sunday Cllr Hawke will be installed as mayor at a civic service to be held in Ripon Cathedral.
He will be accompanied by his wife Linda, who will be mayoress during his mayoral year.
Local dignitaries pictured during the mayor making Ceremony
Speaking following his election, Cllr Hawke, said:
“I am proud to be elected as the mayor of this wonderful city for a third time and thank my fellow councillors for their continuing confidence in me.
“I would also like to thank the many people who supported me throughout the past year, particularly in helping to raise thousands of pounds for my chosen charities Ripon Dementia Forward and Harrogate and District Mind.”
Born and bred in the city, Cllr Hawke is semi-retired and has previously served in the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in Ripon.
He was elected to represent the Ure Bank ward on Ripon City Council in 2002 and became mayor for the first time in 2008-2009.
His recently completed second mayoral year proved a busy one, including the Queen’s platinum jubilee in June, the mourning of Her Majesty’s death in September, the subsequent proclamation of King Charles III and coronation celebrations – all of which involved major civic events in Ripon.
On being elected as mayor for the third time, Cllr Hawke matches fellow Independent councillors Eamon Parkin and Pauline McHardy, both of whom served three terms in mayoral office.
At the mayor making event Cllr Parkin was elected to serve as Cllr Hawke’s deputy.
Main picture: The Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda (middle row, centre) with Serjeant at Mace, David Coates, councillors and the Dean of Ripon the very Revd. John Dobson, following the mayor making ceremony.
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Delay in police plan to move into Ripon Town HallNorth Yorkshire Police’s planned move into Ripon Town Hall has been delayed with no date in place for when it might happen.
In February, the office for Zoe Metcalfe, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC), said refurbishment of space in the town hall was already under way to give officers more of a presence in the city centre.
However, this was questioned by Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams who told the Local Democracy Reporting Service in April that work was yet to begin.
The works will cost North Yorkshire Police £91,000 and will see a public consultation room, an office and a break out room added for officers to use.
A spokesman for the PFCC confirmed that work at the town hall had not started and blamed the changes in local government for the delay.
Harrogate Borough Council owned the building until April 1 when it was handed to the new unitary authority North Yorkshire Council. The spokesman said:
“I can confirm that there has been a slight delay in the schedule for the local policing team moving into Ripon Town Hall.
“This has been due to the change in local government structure where the local agreement to occupy space in Ripon Town Hall made with Harrogate Borough Council, now needs to be signed off by the new North Yorkshire Council.”
North Yorkshire Council was also unable to say when works will begin. The council’s corporate director of resources, Gary Fielding, said:
“We are continuing to work with North Yorkshire Police and Ripon City Council regarding the future of Ripon Town Hall over how to best serve the needs of local residents.”
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Rockets and rock bring rousing end to Ripon coronation concertFlash:Queen and a fireworks display fit for a king provided a sparkling end to two days of coronation celebrations on Ripon Market Square last night.
The accomplished tribute act entertained a crowd of more than 1,500, with a selection of favourite hits from the songbook of Mercury, May and Taylor.
The 90-minute top of the bill performance, featuring Radio Ga Ga, We are the Champions, Under Pressure and Don’t Stop Me Now, among others, engaged the audience and saw many join in the Queen classics that have become rock anthems.
The band was still performing on stage when Ripon Town Hall clock clicked onto 10.50pm, and a fireworks display lit up the sky above buildings in Market Square East, providing a double crescendo that brought the night of entertainment to an end.
Celebrations to mark the coronation of their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla, were organised by Ripon City Council and funded from the parish precept,
They included more than 12 hours of musical entertainment provided by tribute acts and Tamsin (pictured above) who performed under her own name,
In addition to the coronation concerts held over two days ,free fairground rides were provided yesterday and proved popular with children of all ages.
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Fireworks finale will end Ripon’s coronation day celebrationsA fireworks display will provide a spectacular end to coronation day celebrations in Ripon’s Market Square on Saturday night.
North Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have given the go-ahead to a 10-minute display starting at 10.50pm.
The return of pyrotechnics to the city centre follows the cancellation in 2021 and 2022 of Ripon’s traditional New Year’s Eve displays, because of safety concerns about the launch area for the fireworks at the rear of the town hall.
This issue has now been resolved with approval given to a new launch area on The Arcade Car Park.
The Market Square, which has been decked in bunting created by Ripon Community Poppy Project, will be a focal point for the free-to-attend event organised by Ripon City Council to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Today (Saturday) from 11am until 8pm, there will be free fairground rides and from 3pm onwards there will be performances on stage from Cilla & Friends; Katherine Jenkins tribute, Midnight Soul Sisters, and an 80s Pop tribute band.
The Flash: Queen tribute band takes centre stage at 9.30pm to give a rousing build up to the fireworks finale.
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‘We want our learner swimming pool’, say Ripon councillorsCouncillors in Ripon have called on the new North Yorkshire Council to build a learner pool so children aged under four can learn to swim in the city.
Last year, Harrogate Borough Council opened the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre on Dallamires Lane to replace the city’s 116-year-old Spa Baths.
However, the project has been dogged by controversy due to spiralling costs related to concerns about sinkholes.
The current cost of the project is estimated to be £18m — which is £8m over-budget.
The now-abolished council was also criticised for not building a smaller pool alongside the main pool.
It does offer swimming lessons through arms-length council leisure company Brimhams Active but they take place in the six-lane, 25-metre pool that is designed for adults and older children.
This means families have to take young children to Knaresborough, Harrogate or even further afield for swimming lessons.
At a meeting of Ripon City Council on Monday night, council leader Andrew Williams, who also sits on North Yorkshire Council as an independent, said the city council would be writing to the new authority asking it to commit to building a learner pool in Ripon.
He said:
”It’s a very sad fact that Harrogate Borough Council when considering building a new pool couldn’t find the £630,000 that was needed to provide Ripon with a learner pool, the same as children in Knaresborough and Harrogate have.
”Instead, we were told that this was unaffordable but they could find £8m to fund incompetence and overspend. I find that incredible. It’s just a sad record of Harrogate council’s inability to deliver anything properly.”
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Parents who formed Ripon Pool Action Group have campaigned for a learner pool in the city for several years and last year published a survey that found there are over 1,000 children of pre-school age living in the Ripon area.
The survey suggested there was a demand for a learner pool with 63% of parents saying they would swim with their children once a week if Ripon had one.
Cllr Pauline McHardy, who on Harrogate Borough Council was an outspoken critic of the leisure centre project in Ripon, said she backed the bid to build a learner pool.
She said:
”I raised this at Harrogate council and said it was disgusting they couldn’t find money for the learner pool.”
North Yorkshire Council has been approached for comment.