Planning permission is being sought to demolish a block of four empty Ripon homes in a perilous condition caused by subsidence and sinkhole issues.

The properties at Bedern Court and Skellgarths were evacuated in October 2020, after being deemed unsafe for habitation.

A section of Peacock’s Passage, which is adjacent to the site, has been blocked off ever since.

In a document confirming his support for demolition of the block, Harrogate Borough Council’s principal building control officer Darren Sykes said:

“We have been involved with these buildings as a dangerous structure in recent months so we are aware of the concerns regarding their stability.”

The application also seeks demolition of these steps and walls, where the effects of subsidence can be seen

A report prepared by Architecture:AB on behalf of Bedern Court Ltd, which manages the 29-unit residential development, says:

“Bedern Court Ltd are seeking consent to demolish 1, 3 and 5 Bedern Court and 17 Skellgarths because of damage to the building’s structure caused by subsidence.”

The report adds that the buildings have been monitored by structural engineers for more than a decade after subsidence occurred on an adjacent site.

With movement in the structure continuing, residents had to vacate the properties, which have been deemed unfit for habitation.

Last November, councillors at a full Ripon City Council meeting called on North Yorkshire County Council as highways authority to intervene and bring about an urgent demolition of the stricken block.

At that time, city council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“The movement of the affected block caused by sinkhole activity in the area is gaining speed and the implications for public safety are enormous.

“The block fronts onto the public highway and pavement and the potential impact of collapse and possibility of opening up of more damaging sinkholes in neighbouring areas cannot be ignored.

“If the perilous state of the building means it’s not safe to walk along Peacock’s Passage, it can’t be safe to walk or drive past it on Skellgarths. It needs to be demolished as quickly and safely as possible.”

Harrogate Borough Council will decide whether to give permission for the demolition in the coming months, with the date for the decision yet to be confirmed.

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Town and parish councils in the Harrogate district are to be invited to propose taking on more powers when local government undergoes its biggest shake-up for almost 50 years.

North Yorkshire Council will take charge of all local government in the county on April 1. The seven district councils, including Harrogate Borough Council, and North Yorkshire County Council, will be abolished.

Under a pilot scheme, lower-tier authorities will be offered the chance to manage more local services as part of a “double devolution” approach designed to prevent too much power being centralised at Northallerton.

It could see Ripon City Council, Knaresborough Town Council, Pateley Bridge Town Council and others in North Yorkshire take on more powers over assets and services.

Harrogate currently does not have a town council.

As part of the plan, county council officials will write to parish authorities by the end of this month inviting them to submit expressions of interest.

From there, six councils will be picked to develop a business case.

In a report due before the county council’s executive on November 8, Neil Irving, assistant director of partnerships, said:

“Double devolution is entirely separate from the proposed devolution deal between the government and the local authorities in York and North Yorkshire.

“Double devolution has operated for over 10 years in some other parts of the country, including Cornwall and Wiltshire. 

“There is also significant experience of existing councils in North Yorkshire successfully transferring services and assets to community groups and to town and parish councils.”

Councils will be able to propose taking on a wide range of assets and services, rather than picking from a list.

However, the county council intends to make it clear that proposals to take on decision making powers, such as planning or traffic regulation, will not be considered.

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It would also not consider “expressions of interest with regard to services and assets that generate a significant net income for the new council”.

Once invited, local councils will have until March 2023 to express an interest in taking on more services.

‘More things done at a local level’

The move comes as county council officials proposed offering parish authorities more powers in August 2020.

Cllr Carl Les, leader of North Yorkshire County Council, pledged to offer more powers for people to “get more things done at a local level”.

He said at the time:

“We believe this double devolution which passports powers from Whitehall to the town hall and the town hall to the village hall is an exciting prospect.

“We are seeking more powers from the government, but we want more powers to be devolved to the very local area as well. We want to bring people together to get more things done at a local level.”

Ripon Business Improvement District (BID), has reflected on a busy first year, while looking forward to plans for the future.

Speaking at Monday evening’s annual review meeting in the Claro Lounge, BID manager Lilla Bathurst, said that the objective has been to generate increased footfall and profits for businesses in the Ripon city region, by raising its profile and making it more attractive to visitors and local residents.

She pointed out that initiatives undertaken since the BID came into being last autumn, have ranged from steam cleaning of more than 5,000 square metres of streets and ginnels, to supporting festivals and events and launching the Ripon Apprenticeship and Training Hub (RATH).

Other activities in the year include the installation of lighting in ginnels and alleyways, working alongside Ripon in Bloom to fund new floral displays and providing free, independent consultancy advice to businesses to help them identify savings that can be made on energy and other bills.

Ms Bathurst, said:

“It has been a busy first year and we thank all businesses that have worked with us to make Ripon and more vibrant place.”

She added:

“Looking ahead, we are planning further investment in home-grown events, a continuing programme of cleaning and greening, the full launch of RATH in schools and through employer networking events and progressing our wayfinding initiative.”

BID board member Rick Jones, owner of Valentino’s and the Water Rat gastro pub, said:

“Plans are in hand to introduce a walking map of Ripon, that will be available in all car parks and other locations, where there will be information boards.

“This will help to guide people and encourage them to explore all areas of the city.”

Fellow board member and leader of Ripon City Council, Andrew Williams, pointed out:

“The council is spending an additional £40,000 on Christmas lights this year, with the aim of attracting more visitors and increasing footfall, so that people with disposable income spend their money here.”

Chair of the BID board and owner of Newby Hall Richard Compton, who chaired the meeting, said:

“We are committed to creating an environment that will help businesses in Ripon and the outlying areas to succeed and a great deal has been achieved in a relatively short space of time.”

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A bequest of £20,000 for the benefit of Quarry Moor, could lead to new recreational facilities for young people living in Ripon.

Ripon City Council, which holds the site in trust, agreed to use the donation received from the estate of a local parishioner, as the seed funding to get a major project under way.

At Monday’s full council meeting, council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“We already have £70,000 set aside to upgrade play equipment at the site and I recommend that we use the bequest to employ consultants who can develop a plan and help us to apply for Lottery funding and other grants.”

He added:

“We need to think outside the box and look for something that is big, bold and imaginative for the young people of Ripon, such as a climbing centre or trampoline park.”

Councillor Julie Martin-Long, who chairs the Quarry Moor Committee, said:

“This is a great location, with a lot of potential and it will be extremely helpful to have professional consultants advising us.”

The Quarry Moor Activities Centre

The site, which includes a nature reserve, children’s playground, and a run-down activities centre in a poor condition, is located next to McDonald’s on the Harrogate Road,

Quarry Moor was donated to Ripon by Alderman Thomas F Spence in 1945 and has been held in trust by the city council for the use of local people ever since.

The nature reserve was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1986 in recognition of its unique geology and rare, species-rich magnesian limestone grassland.

Through careful management over the years, it has become a place of nature conservation and quiet recreation, while providing a habitat for a variety of wildlife species.

A six-acre portion of the site where the activities centre, playground, picnic area and parking facilities are located, does not come within the SSSI designation.

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Ripon councillors are calling on North Yorkshire County Council not to sanction spending £3.5 million on remediation works at the city’s leisure centre.

The city council believes that other options should be fully investigated, including building a new centre at a different location where there are stable ground conditions.

The ground floor of the leisure centre has stayed closed due to safety concerns and Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) is to install a temporary gym on the site.

The call from city councillors comes after a report by engineering firm Stantec into the ground stability issues affecting the existing centre’s foundations.

The report, supplied following a Freedom of Information Request made to HBC, ruled out a new location for the centre, but Independent city council leader Andrew Williams, who was elected to NYCC in May, said:

“They (HBC) are blindly and belligerently pouring money into propping up a centre that is nearly 30 years old and there is no guarantee that more funding won’t be needed after remediation works begin.”

He added:

“These works would take the total spending on this project to £18 million – some £8 million above the original budget – and they can’t continue ploughing money into this site, with its known history of ground stability issues, including a sinkhole that opened up on the leisure centre car park in 2018.

“Instead of throwing good money after bad, we need to call on North Yorkshire Council, who will take over responsibility from April, to put an end to this additional spending and look for a suitable location for a new leisure centre to be built on sound land.”

As part of the devolution process, any major financial decisions by HBC will need to be approved by NYCC’s executive. Permission needs to be given for capital projects costing £1 million and above.

A report to a meeting of HBC’s cabinet in August said the authority had made “every effort to provide an accurate estimate” of the costs of the remediation works but added these could rise further once the ground stability works begin.

Response from Harrogate Borough Council

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council, said:

“Building a new leisure centre at another site in Ripon would cost a significant amount of money and would result in two separate facilities to maintain, two sets of running and staffing costs, for example.

“It would also involve purchasing land in a suitable location that we don’t currently have, going through the planning application process and disposing of the existing building safely, all of which would take time and a considerable amount of money. And there is no guarantee that a different site wouldn’t have similar ground conditions.

“Co-location of both wet and dry leisure facilities is also important for increasing and sustaining participation in exercise, as well as optimising revenue and cost recovery.

“The new gym combined with the pool on one site is proving to be extremely popular, and will be further complimented by two new activity studios, sports hall, a spin studio as well as meeting facilities.”

The spokesperson, added:

“Our consulting engineer has advised that a do-nothing approach is not advised. And although there is no immediate change in the geological risk profile to the building – that was originally built in 1995 and has provided sport and leisure services for more than 25 years – it is recommended that ground stabilisation works are undertaken to ensure people in Ripon can keep fit and active for years to come.”

Diseased and damaged trees at Quarry Moor Nature Reserve in Ripon that pose a potential risk to public safety will be felled.

A total of 17 trees, some of which are affected by ash dieback disease, were identified as requiring removal in a report prepared for Ripon City Council by arboriculturists.

The felling will be carried out by specialist contractors in liaison with the council and Natural England.

City Council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“The trees that need to be felled to ensure the safety of the public, are in a number of different parts of the nature reserve.

“Some have been affected by ash dieback and others have become weakened through storms earlier in the year.”

Quarry Moor was donated to Ripon by Alderman Thomas F Spence in 1945 and has been held in trust for the benefit of local people ever since.

The nature reserve was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1986 in recognition of its unique geology and rare, species-rich magnesian limestone grassland.

Through careful management over the years, it has become a place of nature conservation and quiet recreation, while providing a habitat for a variety of wildlife species.

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Ripon councillors are determined to ensure festive cheer for retailers, residents and visitors to the city centre this Christmas.

While some towns and cities in the UK are putting plans for seasonal lighting on hold because of concerns over rising energy costs, Ripon will be going ahead with its civic display and switch on event.

However, concerns have been expressed. At Monday night’s full meeting of the council, Liberal Democrat councillor Barbara Brodigan asked:

“With the increasing cost of electricity, could we be seen as being profligate or frivolous at a time when people are having to cut back on their use of power?”

Last year’s Christmas lights switch on in Ripon.

Independent council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“These are indeed difficult times and there there will be more ahead, but we want to ensure that the civic lights are in place to bring some degree of Christmas spirit to the city to benefit our independent retailers and give a lift to residents and visitors.”

This year, the festive programme in Ripon is being supported by Ripon Business Improvement District, which is paying for the production and distribution of a Christmas brochure, setting out the events that will be happening in the city.

Cllr Williams said:

“The council has been paying for the brochure for a number of years and we welcome this support from the BID.”

The Christmas lights are paid for from the parish precept and in 2020, the display  was extended following a £65,000 injection of funding from the city council’s events budget, made possible because of the money that became available after a number of planned public events had to be cancelled because of the covid pandemic.

In 2021 there was further investment in the display, designed to boost the Ripon economy by attracting more visitors.

Last year’s switch-on event on November 19 saw a large crowd gather on Market Square.

There was a full complement of Ripon city councillors and a unanimous vote of thanks to Charlie Powell, when the council held a special meeting to recognise his long service.

Over 19 years the former councillor, who retired from local politics at the May elections, served both the Moorside and Minster wards.

In addition to being a parish councillor, he also represented Ripon for 10 years as an independent on Harrogate Borough Council.

The long service award was presented by the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon, Cllr Sid and Mrs Linda Hawke.

Speaking at Thursday’s meeting, council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“Charlie served diligently and played a key role in a number of developments, not least his work in encouraging Curzon to open a cinema in the city, more than 30 years after the Palladium Picture House closed its doors.”

He added:

“With Curzon’s opening in 2013, local residents no longer had to make the journey to Harrogate or Thirsk to see the latest film releases.”

Curzon’s cinema on North Street Ripon

Cllr Pauline McHardy, said:

“Charlie has provided wonderful service to help improve the lives of people in Ripon and we all wish him a long and happy retirement from local politics.”

Before seeking election, Mr Powell served for 15 years in the Royal Engineers, then became a firefighter in Ripon for two years before starting out on a business career that took him all around the world.

He spent 18 years in Saudi Arabia, where he worked for the military aircraft division of the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), then moved on to become a senior administrator with Waste Management International Ltd in Jeddah.

The business acumen that he gained over many years was put to good use in negotiations with Curzon  and in guiding the development of Quarry Moor Park and Nature Reserve as a place for public enjoyment.

A former deputy mayor, he has also been a stalwart supporter of Ripon in Bloom.

Ripon hornbowers, from the left: Allison Clark, Patricio Maglio, Richard Midgley, Wayne Cobbett have paid a moving tribute to George Pickles.

“George was hornblower on the two occasions that I served as mayor and I have many fond memories of the way in which he performed the setting of the watch with style and dignity.

“He was the last of the city’s solo hornblowers, before the decision was taken to appoint a team to work on a rota basis to carry out the nightly ceremony at the obelisk on Market Square.

“George was a man with a lovely sense of humour, who captivated audiences when he told them about Ripon’s rich history and traditions.

“The city council will mark George’s passing with a minute’s silence, when we return from recess in September.”

Thousands of people lined the streets of Ripon to watch the return of the historic St Wilfrid’s Procession.

It was a party atmosphere as the crowds clapped and cheered as the parade made its way around the city, which is celebrating its 1,350th anniversary.

Led by an actor on horseback playing the role of St Wilfrid, the parade was accompanied by the award-winning Ripon City Band.

An actor on horseback playing the role of St Wilfrid.

It featured a colourful assortment of decorated floats, with designs created by businesses and organisations, including Bishopton Vets, Ripon Farm Services and Winksley cum Grantley Young Farmers Club.

You can watch a video of the procession on the Stray Ferret Facebook page here.

The parade was unable to go ahead in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

Bishopton Vets’ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory float.

But it was back in force today, with a total of 16 floats taking part.

Antony Prince, chairman of the St Wilfrid’s Procession Committee, said:

“It has been a huge success. It’s fantastic that it is able to take place again.

“The community and public have really got behind it. There is no procession without all the people who put it together. They are all volunteers and all the money raised goes back into keeping it going.

“The weather has held off and it is just fabulous to get the community back together again.”

Ripon Farm Services’ Top Gun float.