A new scheme to encourage residents to explore the beauty and heritage in their local area is heading to Ripon.

North Yorkshire County Council is expanding ‘Discoveries on Your Doorstep’ after the success of its walks in Scarborough and Selby.

They range from castle the canal towpaths and give local residents a glimpse at areas they might otherwise overlook.

Wetland walks is the title of the new scheme, which is due to be launched soon at Ripon City Wetlands.

It will focus on nature rather than the heritage theme of the two existing options elsewhere in the county.

Read more:

• Ripon nature reserve gets £132,000 government boost
• Impromptu concert at Brimham Rocks highlights nature and arts

The county council has said it is trying to help areas which have been struggling with exercise since coronavirus struck.

A co-ordinator for the project, Josh Wood, said:

“Research suggests that for some people motivation for wanting to be outside and exercising was driven by discovering the local area, rather than wanting to be outdoors for health.

“Since the coronavirus pandemic struck, data suggests some communities are more affected than others by a lack of physical activity.

“So we think it is most appropriate to target the communities which have missed out most.”

“We want to leave people with fond memories of being outdoors while exercising and being active without that being the main reason for being outdoors.”

It is another boost for nature reserves near Ripon after the Nosterfield Nature Reserve won a £132,000 government grant to enhance wildlife.

A traffic marshal at the 2019 UCI Road World Championships in Harrogate has been jailed after she was caught selling cocaine and ketamine on the side.

Ripon woman Monique Shiels, 25, was marshalling at the world championships when police responded to a tip-off and caught her red-handed.

When confronted by officers, Shiels said: “Who was it who dobbed me in?”

Prosecutor Matthew Collins told York Crown Court:

“Information had been received by police…that this defendant was dealing drugs whilst working as a traffic marshal for (the) UCI Cycling World Championships in Harrogate.

“Police (turned up at) the location where she was reported to be and found her standing near her vehicle. Her first response to officers was, ‘Who was it who dobbed me in?’”.

Officers found £333 cash on Shiels, as well as a “quantity of orange tablets and some powdered substance” in a black bag she was carrying.

They searched her car – which she used for traffic marshalling during the event – and found digital weighing scales and a mobile phone with text messages sent between Shiels and her customers discussing deals and amounts.

The drugs stash found inside the vehicle included about 8g of cocaine and 10g of ketamine, but Mr Collins said this was just a snapshot of Shiels’s drug-dealing activities, which text messages proved had been going on “for some length of time”.

Selling drugs as crowds gathered

The court heard that Shiels had been selling drugs as crowds gathered for the 92nd UCI World Championships, whose elite competitors vying for the champion’s jersey included Denmark’s Mads Pedersen, time-trial world champion Rohan Dennis and Holland’s Annemiek van Vleuten.

Shiels was arrested on the fourth day of the week-long event.

Mr Collins said Shiels had only been charged in relation to the drugs found on her at the time, which judge Sean Morris, the Recorder of York, described as “bad prosecuting by the CPS”.

Shiels, of Water Skellgate, Ripon, was taken in for questioning following her arrest on September 25, 2019, but refused to answer police questions.She was charged with possessing cocaine, a Class A drug, and Class B ketamine, with intent to supply. She admitted both charges and appeared for sentence on Thursday.

Read more:

• Arrests soar as ‘county lines’ investigations continue
• UCI Championship organisers to pay £35,500 towards Stray repair costs

The court heard that Shiels had nine previous convictions for offences including violence, breaching court orders and possessing MDMA, an Ecstasy-type drug.
During conversations with the Probation Service following her arrest for the drug-supply offences in Harrogate, Shiels said she didn’t see anything wrong with dealing drugs.

Self-confessed drug user

Andrew Petterson, mitigating, said that Shiels, who worked as a sales adviser for a TV dealership, was a self-confessed drug user.

“Clearly, she is one of the misguided individuals in society that doesn’t see (drug-dealing) as a problem,” he added.

Judge Mr Morris told Shiels: “These courts hear stories of (drug-related) robberies and muggings and fights, burglaries, all to pay people like you…and that’s why you are going to prison.”

He said her offences were so serious and her previous breaches of community orders so many that anything other than an immediate prison sentence was out of the question.

Shiels was jailed for two years – a much-reduced sentence due to the delay in the case reaching the courts and the current covid pandemic that had affected living conditions in prisons.

The judge also ordered the confiscation of Shiels’s vehicle and made her pay a statutory surcharge.

Ripon will see one of its value retailers close on Sunday.

Fultons Foods, which has operated in The Arcade for many years, is shutting up shop.

It joins a list of retailers to close in Ripon since the first covid lockdown last March.

A Stray Ferret reader, who asked not to be named, said:

“This is very sad news. Many people with limited income have been shopping there.”

This week store staff were busy clearing shelves and emptying freezers ahead of the weekend closure.

The Yorkshire retailer has more than 100 stores in the north of England, including two in Harrogate and one in Knaresborough.

It is understood that only the Ripon Fultons store in the Harrogate district is closing.

Over the 50 years since the business was established, Fultons has sold branded goods, including frozen foods, groceries and chilled foods at bargain basement prices.

Wren’s department store, which was home to more than 50 small independent retailers, closed at the end of November.

The Stray Ferret asked Frozen Value Ltd – which trades as Fultons Foods – what prompted its closure decision and what would happen to existing staff.

No response had been received at the time of going to press.

Read more:

• Lidl seeks approval for Ripon store
• See who has been selected as Ripon’s Community Diamond

Fultons’ soon-to-be vacant unit in The Arcade was previously occupied by a small Marks and Spencer food store.

M&S opened a purpose-built store in Rotary Way, Ripon last summer and could soon have Lidl as one of its neighbours at St Michael’s Retail Park.

If Lidl receives planning permission, it will bolster Ripon’s value retailer offering, alongside the Aldi in Stonebridgegate.

Fultons’ impending closure is the latest retail loss in Ripon city centre.

Other businesses to shut recently include Wrens, the city’s only department store, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Ponden Home and Jon Barrie menswear.

Patients at Ripon Community Hospital have been transferred to Harrogate District Hospital after an outbreak of covid.

The Ripon hospital, which is part of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, has one 16-bed ward, called Trinity Ward.

A Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said:

“We can confirm that following positive covid tests for some patients on the ward at Ripon Community Hospital, the ward has been closed for cleaning and covid-positive patients moved to Harrogate District Hospital to continue receiving care on dedicated covid wards.

“As we always do, appropriate actions have been taken and we are carrying out an investigation into the root cause.”

Harrogate District Hospital has also suffered from an increase in covid transmissions acquired in the hospital since Christmas.

Read more:

• Harrogate district covid rate below 100 for first time since Christmas
• Four covid deaths at Harrogate hospital

The trust has instigated extra measures, including more regular testing and ensuring windows are open for 10 minutes every hour, in response to the increase.

Harrogate hospital covid levels remain stubbornly high: North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which represents the agencies leading the fight against the pandemic, revealed at a press briefing yesterday it currently has 65 patients with the virus.

This is as high as at any point during the pandemic, even though the average rate of infection in the Harrogate district has been falling since January 8.

North Yorkshire Police has said a ‘crackdown’ on crime and antisocial behaviour in Ripon is already paying off.

Ripon has been blighted by crime for months, with five incidents in one three-hour spree earlier in February, including a robbery, thefts and reports of a man carrying a machete.

Since last week, North Yorkshire Police has begun to increase its presence in the city following complaints from residents about the number of officers on the streets.

Inspector Alex Langley, from North Yorkshire Police, said it had already achieved a “significant reduction” in incidents. He said:

“We also saw a reduction in the number of young people out on the streets across the weekend and would like to thank those parents and guardians who continue to support their young people and reinforce that stay home, stay safe message.

“We are actively patrolling. The dedicated operation has seen an increased police presence in and around the city, some more visible than others, and extra teams drafted in to help deter offenders, prevent crime and we continue to enforce where necessary.”

Read more:

• Man rescued from Ripon attack thought thugs would kill him
• Commission says force ‘took its eye off the ball on Ripon policing

Cllr Andrew Williams from Ripon City Council told the Stray Ferret the increased police presence was working.

He said:

“I will credit the police, as their profile is more visible. But Rome wasn’t built in a day and it will take a while to get on top of it.”

Earlier this week, a parents group called on the police to ensure the changes are permanent:

“While we welcome this, we want to ensure that it is not simply a cosmetic exercise.

“We need a long-term solution, not a short-term fix.”

A £280,000 upgrade of Harrogate Borough Council-owned Phoenix Business Park in Ripon has begun.

The funding will help to create more space, refurbish the three units and install new electric vehicle charging points.

The council awarded Dalebuild Limited, a Harrogate-based construction firm, the contract for the work after a tender process.

This project follows a similar £500,000 investment at the council-owned Conyngham Hall business centre in Knaresborough, which was completed in October last year.

Read more:

• Ripon construction worker died from head injuries, inquest told
• Parents launch petition for more police in Ripon

The council believes, even with the shift to more home working, there continue to be demand for office spaces in the Harrogate district.

Councillor Graham Swift, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said:

“We want to ensure Harrogate district businesses have the space around them to grow and expand as their business does.

“This investment at Phoenix Business Park will do just that, by creating flexible spaces with leases designed around their needs. As well as providing them with modern, energy efficient accommodation with high-speed digital connectivity.”

Good morning everyone and welcome back to our traffic and travel service for the Harrogate district.

Whether you travel by car, bus or train we will keep an eye out for any possible disruption to your journey.

It’s Connor again back on the travel desk from 6.30am. Spotted an accident or a road closure? Send your updates to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

If traffic is moving well or it’s at a standstill then we will let you know with our updates every 15 minutes.

Full update – 9am

Thanks to everyone who has been getting involved with this new traffic and travel service. Good to read that people are finding it helpful. I am moving over to the news desk now but will be back with renewed vigour tomorrow morning at 6.30am. Connor.

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate:
• New: Ripon Road at the junction with Jennyfield Drive works causing delays.
• Skipton Road, Harrogate. Delays of four minutes.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout. Delays of four minutes from Starbeck.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.
• New: Crash on the A59 at New Road on the way to York causing delays .

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations or delays. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time after the earlier cancellations.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 8.45am

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate. Delays of four minutes.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout. Delays of four minutes from Starbeck.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations or delays. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time after the earlier cancellations.
• The 8.09am Knaresborough to Leeds service which was delayed to 8.56am has been cancelled.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 8.30am

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate. Delays of four minutes.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout. Delays of four minutes from Starbeck.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations or delays. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time after the earlier cancellations.
• The 8.09am Knaresborough to Leeds service which was delayed to 8.56am has been cancelled.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 8.15am

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate. Delays of seven minutes.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout. Delays of four minutes from Starbeck.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The 8.18am service Harrogate to Leeds is cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.
• All other services are expected on time.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 8am

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate. Delays of seven minutes.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout. Delays of four minutes from Starbeck.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The 8.18am service Harrogate to Leeds is cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.
• All other services are expected on time.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 7.45am

Roads

• The roads are starting to slow this morning as more cars get on the road. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and St George’s Roundabout.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The 7.41am service Harrogate to Knaresborough has now been cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.
• The 8.18am service Harrogate to Leeds has now been cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.
• All other services are expected on time.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 7.30am

Roads

• The roads are still looking fairly clear this morning. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and Leeds Road Roundabout, near to St Mark’s Church.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations. Harrogate to York services are on time.
• The 7.41am service Harrogate to Knaresborough has now been cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.
• The 8.18am service Harrogate to Leeds has now been cancelled. Due to a broken down train earlier.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 7.15am

Roads

• The roads are still looking fairly clear this morning. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and Leeds Road Roundabout, near to St Mark’s Church.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations. Harrogate to York services are on time.
• The 7.41am service Harrogate to Knaresborough is currently expected at 7.55am. Delays have been increasing since 6.30am.
• The 8.18am service Harrogate to Leeds is currently expected at 8.22am.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 7am

Roads

• The roads are still looking clear this morning. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and Leeds Road Roundabout, near to St Mark’s Church.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time.
• The 7.41am service Harrogate to Knaresborough is currently expected at 7.53am. Delays have been increasing since 6.30am.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 6.45am

Roads

• The roads are looking clear this morning. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and Leeds Road Roundabout, near to St Mark’s Church.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time.
• The 7.41am service Harrogate to Knaresborough is currently expected at 7.43am.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

Full update – 6.30am

Roads

• The roads are looking clear bright and early this morning. There are some construction sites likely to cause delays, particularly in Harrogate, but congestion has not yet built up in those areas:
• Skipton Road, Harrogate.
• Knaresborough Road, near to the Empress Roundabout.
• Leeds Road, near to Crimple Hall and Leeds Road Roundabout, near to St Mark’s Church.
• High Street in Knaresborough.

Trains

• The trains are running well this morning with no cancellations or delays. Harrogate to Leeds, York and Knaresborough services are on time.

Buses

• Buses also appear to be running well in the Harrogate district with no delays or cancellations.

A construction worker who died on a building site in Ripon has been named at the opening of an inquest today.

Dean Christopher Myers, 56, died on January 13 at the site on the corner of Whitcliffe Avenue and Harrogate Road.

The inquest at Northallerton heard that Mr Myers, from Scotton, is suspected to have died from a severe head injury.

John Broadbridge, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire and York, said:

“While in the course of his work as a ground worker for a construction company, he was struck by a moving bucket on a digger.

“The cause of death, which is yet to be fully determined, was provisionally found to be a severe head injury and blunt force trauma.”

Read more:

• Man dies on Ripon building site
• Parents launch petition for more police in Ripon

The inquest, which will determine the cause of death, was adjourned until a later date.

North Yorkshire Police issued a brief statement the day after the incident saying:

“Police were called to a report of an industrial incident in Ripon at about 10.30am on Wednesday.

“A man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries are ongoing jointly with the Health and Safety Executive.”

Parents worried about rising crime in Ripon are to start a petition calling for more full-time police on the city’s streets.

Last weekend, there was a more visible police presence in Ripon after weeks of rising tension about crime.

A spokesperson for the parents, who wished to remain anonymous, said:

“While we welcome this, we want to ensure that it is not simply a cosmetic exercise.

“We need a long-term solution, not a short-term fix.”

The spokesperson stressed parents were not criticising police but attempting to help them by getting more full-time officers. They added:

“In addition, we want them to have adequate facilities to do their job, including an interview room in the city.

“This would mean that officers don’t have to take people they have arrested for interview in Harrogate, reducing their numbers in Ripon every time this happens.”

Parents say facilities for police in Ripon are inadequate

Parents raised concerns about increasing violence and anti-social behaviour four months ago.

In October, one mother told the Stray Ferret:

“The impression that I and other mothers I meet have is that there is a growing gang culture. We believe it links into drug taking and dealing.

“It can be intimidating seeing groups of youths, some on bikes, congregating in parts of the city late at night.

“We are concerned that some might be carrying knives. We fear that somebody is going to be hurt.”

Inspector Steve Breen, who previously had responsibility for neighbourhood policing in Ripon, said at the time:

“We have essentially eradicated knife crime in Ripon through proactive use of stop and search tactics and intelligence-led disruption activity, leading to the imprisonment of some key individuals.”

But Ripon has been blighted by crime since, with five incidents in one three-hour spree this month, including a robbery, thefts and reports of a man carrying a machete.

Insp Breen’s successor, Insp Alex Langley has vowed to tackle the problem.

Read more:

• Man rescued from Ripon attack thought thugs would kill him
• Commission says force ‘took its eye off the ball on Ripon policing

In a statement, he said:

“Groups of youths have been breaching covid regulations by congregating in the Market Square, the bus station, and Bondgate to name a few.

“A new operation to tackle these issues was put in place at the end of last month, which means our communities will see an increase in patrols from various policing teams over the next few weeks and longer if required.

“This operation is not a long-term solution and we are working in the background with key partners on longer term plans to safeguard those most vulnerable in Ripon and prevent the most harm from offenders.

“Whilst we cannot always inform the public of some of the positive results we see due to ongoing investigations and court processes, please rest assured this operation has already seen results.”

North Yorkshire Police has said it will be “clamping down” on the troublemakers after a series of incidents in Ripon.

The force said “antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated” following a spike in criminality in recent weeks.

Crimes have included street robberies, assaults on the public and emergency workers, with reports of knives and machetes being used.

Groups of youths are reported to have been breaching lockdown rules and congregating in the market square and bus station.

The police has said a new operation has been introduced to tackle the rise in crime which includes an increase in officers in the city.

The force added this is not a long-term solution and it will continue working with key partners on long term plans to safeguard Ripon residents.

Inspector Alex Langley has spoken out about the increase in criminality in the city. He said:

“Groups of youths have been breaching Covid regulations by congregating in in the Market Square, the bus station, and Bondgate to name a few.

“Whilst we cannot always inform the public of some of the positive results we see due to ongoing investigations and court processes, please rest assured this operation has already seen results.”

Read more:

• Police and Crime Commissioner accepted the force had taken its “eye off the ball”.
• Man attacked in broad daylight in Ripon saved by local shopkeeper.

Insp Langley went on to assure residents it is only a small handful of people responsible and the force will continue to patrol and take action to prevent crime.

Addressing young people directly, he said:

“If you commit anti-social behaviour and mindless act of theft and criminal damage we will take every opportunity to investigate and prosecute you.

“As a young person you may not realise that throwing that stone or stealing some alcohol may result in a criminal record. Please stop and think about the consequences of your actions and how your decisions today could impact on your future.”

People can continue to report crime via 101 and 999 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous.