Ripon’s new multi-million pound leisure development may not be ready to open in November, as previously indicated.

The scheme, for which known costs were in excess of £10.2 million before a six-month delay was announced last year, was originally scheduled to open this summer.

Last autumn, a press release by Harrogate Borough Council said the development at Camp Close, off Dallamires Lane, would open in November.

But in an update issued by the council a spokesperson, said:

“We can confirm the new swimming pool in Ripon is due to open towards the end of the year.

“An official opening date will be confirmed in the coming weeks once the facility has been handed-over by Willmott Dixon, our appointed contractor carrying out the works.”

An ‘opening in summer 2021’ sign was later replaced by one saying ‘opening in autumn 2021’.

The statement, added:

“Following this handover, we will carry out the necessary staff training and rigorous testing to prepare the new facility for opening.

“The addition of the new swimming pool is a major development for Ripon and the surrounding area and we’re delighted to announce that it will be officially opened later this autumn.”

£10.2m contract

A £10.2 million contract was awarded to Willmott Dixon before work started on site in November 2019.

The 17-month contact was for delivery of a six-lane pool, along with refurbishment of the existing Ripon Leisure Centre.

This specified a completion date of 21 May this year, but this was later amended to November.

Councillor Stanley Lumley, the council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport said, at the time, that the project had been ‘slightly delayed’ by covid.

In the release dated 13 November, he added:

“Ground work, known as grouting, is nearing completion.”

Ground stability issues

Cllr Lumley’s statement came two months after a ‘void’ was discovered near the entrance to the existing leisure centre building, which was constructed in the mid 1990s.

A previous sinkhole that opened up in February 2018 caused the closure of the leisure centre car park and despite concerns raised about the suitability of the Camp Close site for addition of a swimming pool, the scheme was granted approval at a council planning meeting in June 2019.

Following discovery of the second ‘void’  Stantec, an international engineering, design and consultancy practice, carried out an initial inspection and in a report, seen by the Stray Ferret, raised concerns about the load-bearing capacity of existing piles under the leisure centre, which would have been used to support the connection between it and the new pool.

Read more:

• Additional Ripon swimming pool cost ‘confidential’
• Final cost of Ripon leisure development ‘not yet known’

What will the final cost be?

The Stray Ferret has submitted two Freedom of Information requests to the council in an attempt to establish what additional costs have been incurred, on top of the original £10.2 million contract for the scheme.

In its response to the first request, the council said that the information it held was ‘confidential’. In its response to the second request, it said ‘the final costs are not yet known.’

Ripon Choral Society will perform Verdi’s Requiem in its first live performance for 20 months.

The music was chosen because it fits the theme of remembrance, which the concert has adopted to honour the victims of covid.

Musical director John Dunford said:

“In choosing music for our return to rehearsals, I was conscious of the great loss of life, nationally, across the world, and from within our own membership.”

“The Verdi Requiem is a monumental, moving and theatrical work and few choral works capture the imagination like it.”

The 140-member choir will make its return at Ripon Cathedral on Saturday, November 13.

Read More:

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• Music-loving Knaresborough couple nominated for choir award

The soloists include Samantha Hay (soprano), Anna Burford (mezzo-soprano), Gareth Daffyd Morris (tenor) and D’Arcy Bleiker (bass), accompanied by Orchestra D’Amici.

The choir welcomes anyone to its evening rehearsals at St John’s Church in Sharow, near Ripon, every Wednesday from 7.30pm to 9pm.

Dunford said:

“I am convinced there are a lot of people who think this is not for them and I am even more convinced they would love what we do if they gave us and themselves a chance to experience it.

“This requires time and is not instant, particularly if you have not done this sort of singing before, but it can all be learnt.”

The concert will start at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £23 for reserved seating or £20 for unreserved.

For more information click here.

When I overheard a mum saying she had set her alarm for 5.30am to book a Santa visit when tickets went on sale, I was pretty shocked.

Mainly because it’s September, but also because I didn’t realise this was now a thing.

Is the surge in popularity due to the pandemic and feeling like our kids missed out last year? Or is this now another “must-do” task to tick off on our ever-growing festive to-do lists? Don’t get me started on Elf on a Shelf and Christmas Eve boxes – cheers for that America.

Sally Haslewood, founder of Harrogate Mumbler, said:

“I think that September has always been a time that people start booking Christmas things – well people who are organised do anyway. I’ve never been that organised!

“I think particularly this year, parents want to give their kids a really good Christmas. They probably missed out last year so they want to book early to avoid disappointment.

“And to be honest I don’t necessarily see it as a bad thing, because I think it will help the businesses as well. If it helps them plan and staff properly and know where they are from a business point of view I think that can only be a good thing.”

Now I am all about making my children happy, I love seeing their little faces light up when they see Father Christmas. But is there now more pressure than ever to deliver the best experience for your little ones?

If you can’t afford a visit or, God forbid, you forget to book anything in time, do you feel like a bad parent?

Sally said:

The thing is around Harrogate there are always last minute things that crop up as well. So if like me you are not as organised and you haven’t booked something for Christmas, there are always things you can get in last minute.

I think this year is potentially a little bit worse than normal, but parents are pretty organised. As soon as the kids are back at school in September, the next big thing is Santa visits. So hopefully this year the kids will have the Christmas they missed out on last year.”

Read more:

• Festive lighting plan is unveiled for Ripon Town Hall
• What’s on?

Don’t panic if you haven’t got yours booked yet. Here are three ideas for you:

Mother Shipton’s – Knaresborough

Wander through the winter woodland to see the enchanted Christmas Village, festooned with festive delights and merry displays to marvel at along the way.

Chief Elf Chestnut will be delighted to meet little visitors and lead them to see Santa Claus.

Santa will be keeping warm in his cosy grotto, and visitors can say hello or take an ‘elfie with the big man himself.

To keep Santa safe, Mother Shipton’s will be adhering to social distancing, but visitors will be able to see and speak to him before he sets off on his long journey.

November 21 – December 24. Click here to buy tickets. 

Santa’s Grotto – Stockeld Park 

• Do you want to send us a review of your Santa visit? Email me at nina@thestrayferret.co.uk

A Ripon firm has warned people planning New Year’s Eve fireworks to stock up now because the supply chain crisis gripping the UK could lead to shortages.

Steve Raper, a consultant for Brightstar Fireworks in Melmerby, near Ripon, and chair of the British Fireworks Association told the Stray Ferret that a combination of factors, including driver shortages, high demand, extreme weather and even the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Chinese Communist Party were to blame.

Brightstar imports about 120 shipping containers of fireworks every year from China, which closed many factories over summer due to extreme heat.

The country’s leader Xi Jinping gave factory workers time off to celebrate the communist party’s anniversary, which has further squeezed the supply chain.

Mr Raper said the United States also lit more fireworks than usual for a bumper July 4th celebration this year.

He said:

“It’s not all doom and gloom but it’s bad. People will have to go out early and order their fireworks earlier from their supplier.

“We won’t see a major impact over bonfire season, it will be around New Year.”

Read more:

• Ripon Racecourse to reopen as vaccine centre
• Festive lighting plan is unveiled for Ripon Town Hall

Mr Raper said covid led to increased demand for fireworks last year, which had led to supply issues this year.

He said the cost of importing a shipping container had also increased from around £8,000 to over £30,000.

He added:

“Because of covid, everybody was locked down hacked off and depressed, so they let fireworks off in their garden. There was lots of knock on effects. The demand was immense.

“However I’d much prefer to see a shortage of fireworks than health or medical supplies.

“The industry is doing everything it can to meet that demand.”

A teenager and a 21-year-old man are to be sentenced after a robbery on Bondgate in Ripon.

John Paul Wilson, 21, pleaded guilty at York Crown Court. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also pleaded guilty.

Both men were charged with robbery and possessing an offensive weapon.

The two men will appear for sentencing on October 19.

Read More: 

• Call for police action against Harrogate Asda car park ‘boy racers’
• Police investigate spate of violence and anti-social behaviour in Ripon

Officers from North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today enquiries were ongoing into other suspects linked to the incident on Friday, August 13.

Police arrested five people after a teenager was robbed at knife point outside the former Ship Inn, Bondgate.

The force put out an appeal following a spate of anti-social behaviour in the city last month.

The main road into Ripon from Pateley Bridge has closed due to roadworks, forcing motorists to take a lengthy diversion into the city.

Work on the B6265 prompted the closure of the road from Eavestone to Bishopton, which is the main western approach to Ripon and includes traffic for Fountains Abbey and Studley Park.

Work started yesterday and is scheduled to continue until Friday next week.

One Stray Ferret reader got in touch to say he hadn’t seen any signs in advance warning of the work and was therefore forced to turn around near Sawley when he encountered it. This meant his usual seven-minute journey into the city took over 30 minutes.

Read more:

• Construction starts Monday on Otley Road cycle route
• £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway ‘must focus’ on cycling and walking

The Stray Ferret contacted North Yorkshire County Council, which is the highways authority, for further details of the work and to inquire whether warnings were issued in advance.

We did not receive a response by the time of publication but the council’s interactive roadworks map states.

“Highway resurfacing works along the B6265 between Ripon and Eavestone. Road closure in force however access for residential and businesses will be made available wherever possible.

“The works will be phased to allow a shorter diversion via Sawley/Ripley for the most part of the works.

“There are a number of other road closures around Ripon city centre this week. Including Luncarr Lanne in Copt Hewick for resurfacing works, this road will reopen Friday afternoon.”

Follow our morning Traffic and Travel blogs for live updates on roadworks and delays. 

With Christmas just over three months away, Ripon is gearing up for further expansion of the city’s seasonal lights.

Ripon City Council has unanimously agreed to support moves to create a new festive feature on the front of the town hall.

Costing £5,400, it would consist of a sequenced multi-coloured lights display that can be programmed to include seasonal and other messages.

Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the Grade II Listed building in the Market Place, needs to approve the proposal.

Last year, in a festive season affected by covid lockdown and restrictions, £65,000 set aside for public events that were subsequently cancelled, was used to enhance and extend Ripon’s Christmas lights.

The lights covered three miles of city centre and adjoining streets, including all major gateways and this year, in addition to the town hall plan, improvements will be made to light displays on High Skellgate and Westgate.

Kirkgate – the approach to Ripon Cathedral – was part of the three-mile display of lights last Christmas.

Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams said:

“A multi-coloured curtain of light across the town hall, which can incorporate messages, will have a wow factor and create a focal point for Ripon’s Christmas and New Year celebrations.”

Councillors were told that this would be be a temporary display and, if approval is received from Harrogate Borough Council, its installation will be timed to ensure that it does not clash with the Remembrance Day poppies display at the town hall.

The technology employed enables the lights to change colour and feature a range of pre-programmed messages.

A father to autistic children in the Harrogate district has started boxing lessons for people with the condition.

Dean Lund from Knaresborough has two young children who have been diagnosed with autism.  He decided he wanted to teach boxing to both children and adults with autism while studying Sport Coaching and Development at Harrogate College.

Mr Lund called his weekly classes ‘The Zone’ and feels that boxing is a great sport for autistic people to focus on as it helps develop fitness and confidence.

Autism is a disability that affects around 700,000 people in the UK.

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Mr Lund has a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) certified course in Autism, Sport and Physical Activity.

Dean said a qualification from the National Autistic Society was important:

“I needed to know the parameters of autism, how my own boys fall within that, and what to expect when it comes to teaching boxing outside of college.”

“I really want to expand the autism sessions. As its an area that isn’t provided enough, considering how many people have autism”

The Zone provides a safe spaces for people to take a break if their autism is triggered and also teaches boxing in lanes, allowing participants to have their own space.

Parents can come along to do the session with their autistic child.

For more information about ‘The Zone’ click here or email deano@fighting-fit-coaching.co.uk.

Ripon Motor Boat Club marked its 90th birthday at the weekend with celebrations involving members, friends and the local community.

Established eight years before the outbreak of World War II, it is one of the largest inland waterway private boat clubs in the UK.

Based at Canal Lane, Littlethorpe, it has 143 berths and continues to grow through new development and the hands-on involvement of members.

Since its foundation in 1931, the club’s aim has been to provide affordable family boating.

Ripon Motor Boat Club secretary Anne Foster (left) and vice-commodore Karen Riddiough at the open weekend

Among those who have helped with the development are Mike and Elsie Grainger, whose boat Mojo is moored at the club’s marina.

Mr Grainger told the Stray Ferret:

“We have had many hours of enjoyment at this club. It is very family-focused and friendly and everybody has joined in to bring about improvements to the facilities.”

The Grainger family has enjoyed many epic journeys from Ripon via the canal and river network on holidays and boating trips.

The moorings have expanded as the club’s popularity has grown.

Mr Grainger said:

“Over the years that we have been members, we have set off from here on journeys that have collectively taken us thousands of miles, including one trip down the Thames and under Tower Bridge.”

Karen Riddiough, the club’s vice-commodore, said:

“Our focus is on actively promoting the joys of boating, with a member-run, co-operative approach.”

This approach has enabled money to be raised to create a clubhouse and other on-going improvements.

Started with a barge called Enid

With events throughout the year, a shared investment by all club members in the maintenance of the marina and a continual commitment to its development, the club has come a long way from the days when its clubhouse was an old barge called Enid.

The club was established in 1931, when two boats – the Onaway and Vagabond – set off on their travels from the River Derwent.

Following an eventful journey that involved navigating a collapsed lock gate, they found themselves mooring in Ripon Canal.

While in the area, they met the Nicholson family, who have remained supporters of the club, playing a key role in its development by allowing the purchase of plots of land to facilitate the club’s improvements and expansion.

A collection of around 30 vintage tractors and engines will take over a Ripon garden centre next weekend.

The event organised by the West Yorkshire Vintage Tractor and Engine Club, based in Harrogate, is to encourage its members and the public to enjoy outdoor events once more.

In previous years the club has hosted a wealth of events but coronavirus put a stop to that. Members have frequently put their tractors on display at Newby Hall’s Tractor Fest.

However, next weekend chairman Mark Nicholson said members are travelling from across the area with their machinery.

Tractors and stationary engines will be running throughout the day for people to take a look.

The entry is free and he is encouraging people with an interest to come down and have a look. He said:

“Some of our members have worked with the machinery for decades so have hug amounts of knowledge. We are running it so people can get out again and just have a chat.”

Read more:

• 500-year-old misericord restored at Ripon Cathedral
• New Harrogate walking trail app launched

The event is free and will be open fro 9am to 4pm next Saturday, September 25 at Tate’s garden centre.

The club has been going for 51 years with some of the founding members still involved. The group meets once a month to talk about their shared interest in vintage machinery.