Plans unveiled for Lidl supermarket at Ripon retail park

A Lidl supermarket could be the latest addition to Ripon’s new St Michael’s Retail Park.

The German chain announced its intention to expand into the city last year and has now said its preferred location is the £10m retail park that opened its doors in July 2020.

The public has now been asked to comment on the plans, which would see the supermarket in a unit next door to Marks and Spencer Foodhall.

The new store has a planned sales area of 1,100 sqm and could create 40 new full and part-time jobs if it’s granted planning permission.

Lidl already has plans to open its first store in Harrogate on Knaresborough Road.

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As well as the M&S, Ripon is served by an Aldi, Booths, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s.

On a website for the proposals, Lidl argues its “offer is different” from other city centre supermarkets and would not compete directly with shops in the city centre.

A Lidl spokesperson said:

“We are delighted to announce plans to open a new store at St Michael’s Retail Park, creating new job opportunities and bringing more shopping choice to Ripon.

“We have a long-standing desire to open a store in the city and after many years of searching for an available site, St Michael’s Retail Park presents a fantastic opportunity for us to serve the local community and deliver our high quality products at low prices to Ripon.”

Lidl said a planning application will be submitted to Harrogate Borough Council in the coming weeks. Anyone wanting to view the plans and have their say should visit www.stmichaelsripon-lidl.co.uk.

Force ‘took its eye off the ball’ on Ripon policing

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, faced a barrage of questions from Ripon city councillors last night.

In a virtual meeting that was not open to the public, Ms Mulligan said there are a number of issues impacting on policing in the city.

Council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“The commissioner accepted that there had been a time when the force had taken its eye off the ball on policing in Ripon.”

He added:

“I appreciate her frankness and also the way she listened to what we had to say.

“She didn’t duck councillors’ questions and provided both answers and potential solutions.”

The 90-minute online meeting was attended by the majority of city councillors.

Also attending virtually, were North Yorkshire Police Chief Inspector Andrew Colbourne and Inspector Alex Langley.

Insp Langley, has recently been appointed as the officer with responsibility for neighbourhood policing in Ripon.

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Last week, following a three-hour crime spree in the Bondgate area of the city, he asked local residents to report anything they had seen by calling 101.

However, the response time to people calling 101, was brought into question last night and has been at previous city council meetings.

Commissioner Mulligan agreed the need to improve on response time and said that North Yorkshire would shortly be rolling out an online 101 service, offering a more rapid response.

Photo of Ripon Police and Fire Station

Police in Ripon have to share space with the fire brigade and there is no room for interview on the site

She also reported that police numbers had ‘significantly increased’ and further officers would be added to tackle the city’s ongoing issues of violent and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Williams pointed out:

“There can be no doubt that the commissioner and senior officers are taking our concerns seriously and acting upon them.

“We stated last year and do so again, that we will do all that we can to work with the police to address the city’s crime problems.”

One issue that will be more difficult to resolve, is the fact that police have to share space at Ripon fire station, where there is no interview room.

People who are arrested have to be taken to Harrogate Police Station for interview, resulting in a consequential temporary loss of officers on the city patch.

Ripon teen robber in balaclava steals moped

A group of teenage boys reportedly threatened a 17-year-old with weapons before taking his scooter in Ripon yesterday.

It is the latest robbery in the city, which is currently in the grip of an anti-social behaviour crisis which has led to demands for more police.

This robbery happened in the Hell Wath Grove area. The alleged victims told police a group of teenagers approached him just before 5pm.

He claimed that they threatened him with weapons before he handed over the keys for his moped, which was parked nearby.

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One of the teens rode off on the scooter after the incident and the others all made off on foot.

Police say the boy who rode off on the scooter is around 16 or 17 years old. He was also wearing a black jacket, grey trousers, black trainers and a black balaclava.

The other suspects have been described as 16 or 17 years old, all dressed in dark clothing.

Later that evening police say the scooter was found abandoned on Long Meadows, a short while away from the incident.

Inspector Alex Langley said patrols are increasing in areas described as hotspots for anti-social behaviour. He added:

“We believe these crimes and incidents of anti-social behaviour are being committed by local youths and we are conducting a number of enquires in order to identify these individuals.

“We would also ask parents of teenagers to pass on any information you think could assist. Do you know where your child was yesterday evening? Were they out in Ripon? Were they part of a bigger group? Do your children know anything?

“The information provided by the public is key to helping us target our patrols, identify those responsible and prevent this criminal activity in the future.”

Anyone with information should contact the police on 101 and quote reference number 12210054979.

Police appeal after man punched and spat at in Ripon

Police are appealing for help to trace a man following an assault in Ripon.

A man was punched and spat at by another man on Bondgate in the city, on Friday, November 27 last year, around 2.30am.

North Yorkshire Police has now issued an appeal for witnesses and information to help with its investigation, saying:

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and in particular we are appealing for anyone who can identify the man pictured as we believe he may have information which could help the investigation.”

Anyone with information should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for Katie Bell. You can also email katarina.bell@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively, to report information anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200211252.

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Ripon residents ‘scared to go out’ as crime fears grow

Ripon residents have said they are too scared to go out at night because of teenage gangs.

Fear of crime and anti-social behaviour in the city has escalated in recent months.

Matters came to a head on Sunday evening when police responded to five incidents in three hours.

They included reports of a man with a machete, a robbery, thefts and gang activity.

It is getting too much for some locals, prompting councillors to call for urgent police action.

North Yorkshire Police has said it will increase patrols following the latest incidents. But some believe there are not enough officers on the streets to cope.

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Pauline McHardy, a councillor on Ripon City Council and Harrogate Borough Council, told the Stray Ferret:

“This has got much worse. I have lived in Ripon all my life and we have never had this level of trouble before. They should be ashamed of themselves.

“Many residents are frightened to leave their homes. These people are terrorising the city, there is no other word for it.”

Stephen Craggs, owner of electrical firm G Craggs, which is based opposite the bus station where some of the young people gather, said:

“This is not like they are just scaring little old ladies. I had just parked at the shops when there was a group of teenagers drinking.

“They just brushed passed me but it was quite intimidating. You don’t know if they have a weapon or what they are going to do.”

Sid Hawke, who also sits on Ripon City Council and Harrogate Borough Council, echoed concerns, and said lockdown had exacerbated the problem:

“Ripon used to be a really quiet and lovely place to live. This is just not on. It is getting really violent now. I think the lockdown has made it worse.

“They are terrorising people. We have a lot of elderly people who live here and they are petrified to leave their homes.”

Ripon City Council is set to have a meeting with North Yorkshire’s police, fire and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan to discuss concerns and respond to pleas for more police.

Woman gets first covid vaccine at Ripon racecourse

A 73-year-old woman became the first person to be inoculated at Ripon’s new vaccination centre yesterday.

Snow delayed the opening until 1.30pm when a steady stream of people began to arrive.

The first was Maureen Lambden, from Ripon, who described the experience as “fantastic”. She said she was “very, very grateful” to receive the vaccine.

The centre is being staffed by doctors and nurses from local GP surgeries.

Volunteer marshals, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and the racecourse’s own team are also on site helping.

Ripon’s testing centre has the capacity to vaccinate between 500 and 600 people at the racecourse daily.

It is thought the centre will open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays but a press briefing today of North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, the organisation that represents agencies leading the county’s response to covid, heard opening times will depend on vaccine supply.

Dr Richard Fletcher, from Dr Ingram and Partners in Ripon and clinical director of Ripon and Masham Primary Care Network, said:

“We’re grateful to Ripon racecourse for stepping forward to offer their site for this, as it solves many of the problems presented by other locations.

“It is another significant step in increasing coverage in the region.”

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Robbery, thefts and man with machete in three-hour Ripon crimewave

Police are investigating a three-hour spate of crimes in Ripon on Sunday that included a man carrying a machete, a robbery, thefts and gangs gathering.

The incidents, which occurred from 6.30pm until 9.30pm, are the latest in a series of crimes and anti-social behaviour blighting the city.

A 23-year-old man became the first victim at 6.30pm on King Street when he was robbed by two or three males who had his phone and watch stolen and suffered facial injuries.

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Then at about 8.30pm, North Yorkshire Police said four teenage boys and one teenage girl stole alcohol from McColl’s on Bondgate.

At 9.10pm a group of some 15 teenagers on Southgate reportedly shouted at local residents who asked them to move away from parked cars.

Just 20 minutes later, police received two reports about Bondgate.

The first was of a “male with a machete.” The second was of a man “threatened by another male with a knife.”

Throughout the rest of the evening police received “a number of other reports” of large groups of “youths” in various places around Ripon.

A police statement said:

“There were also a number of other reports of large groups of youths at various locations received throughout the evening which police responded to.”

Last month Ripon City Council called for more support from police amid concerns of rising crime.

Alex Langley, neighbourhood policing inspector, said:

“I’d like to reassure the local community that we are investigating all of these reports, which we are taking very seriously.

“I can assure people that we will be taking robust action against those responsible.

“Our extensive enquiries are ongoing.

“It includes officers trawling through CCTV footage and speaking to local businesses and we have also stepped up our patrols.”

Anyone with information about the investigation can call the police on 101 or send an email to lucymills@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Please quote the following North Yorkshire Police reference numbers:

Police search for Ripon robbers who attacked young man

Police are searching for up to three robbers who reportedly attacked a young man for his phone and watch.

The robbery happened at about 6.30pm on Sunday on King Street in Ripon.

A 23-year-old man told police he had been attacked by two or three suspects. He described them as “young males”.

He reported that as well as stealing his phone and watch, they hit him in the face, leaving him with injuries.

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Officers are appealing for any information or CCTV footage relating to the incident.

You can email PC Lucy Mills by clicking or tapping here. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Ripon City Council called for additional police last month to tackle an increase in crime.

Plans to convert Half Moon pub in Sharow into a home

Plans have been submitted to convert the Half Moon pub in Sharow, near Ripon, into a four-bedroom home.

The village pub and restaurant, on Sharow Lane, opened in 1822 and closed four years ago.

Owner Mark Fitton was, until recently, advertising for a tenant to take on the pub.

He has now submitted plans to Harrogate Borough Council to convert the premises.

A planning statement attached to the application claims three separate couples have run the pub in recent years but all suffered insolvency due to “a lack of custom”.

It reads:

“For at least 20 years everyone who has tried to run the Half Moon as a hospitality venue has found it to be extremely difficult.

“Since 2009 various people have tried to run it as a village pub or a high-quality restaurant, but all have failed due to a lack of custom.

“Three separate couples have, over the past 12 years, suffered insolvency as a result of trying to run the Half Moon as a commercial venture; none has managed to last beyond two years.”

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Speaking to the Stray Ferret, Sharow Parish Council clerk Nick Reed said the planning application was unpopular with villagers, and the parish council would submit a formal objection letter in the coming days.

The parish council previously said it was hoping to register the building as an asset of community value in the hope that it could re-open as a pub.

However, Mr Reed said Harrogate Borough Council has asked for more evidence if its bid is to be successful.

He said:

“They told us it would be unlikely to be granted in its current state, so we have been going around the village asking people what the pub means to people, what it could be in the future and what we are missing by not having it.”

Villagers in Sharow were encouraged last year when residents in Kirkby Malzeard raised more than £200,000 in a bid to prevent residential redevelopment of a site occupied by The Henry Jenkins Inn.

However, the campaign was dealt a hammer blow last month when The Planning Inspectorate, a government agency that deals with planning appeals, overturned Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for conversion of the eastern part of the site into a single dwelling.

Ripon gets sneak peek of ‘magic roundabouts’ idea

People in Ripon are being given an early taste of how illuminated trees could help to attract more visitors to the city.

Ripon City Council announced plans last week to create five lit-up ‘magic roundabouts’ on the bypass.

The lights could turn red on Valentine’s Day, green on St Patrick’s Day and red, white and blue for national celebrations, such as the Queen’s birthday.

Roundabouts on the stretch of bypass from the McDonald’s restaurant on Harrogate Road to the junction with Dishforth Road have been targeted for the scheme.

With this in mind, the council has kept festive lights from Christmas in place at two locations on Bedern Bank.

Trees on one of the roundabouts, which is a key gateway to Ripon Cathedral, are lit with white lights.

Nearby, a tree outside Ripon Community Hospital has golden lights in it.

The seasonal lighting is similar to that which illuminates trees along sections of Harrogate’s Stray.

Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“This is a way of making Ripon more attractive for residents at this rather gloomy time.

“As the vaccination programme continues and the covid lockdown eventually lifts, we hope that lighting, both in the city and along the bypass, will help to attract the visitor and tourist trade that is essential to Ripon’s economy.”

The city council voted unanimously to support plans which, if approved by highways authority North Yorkshire County Council, will see lighting that can change colour according to the occasion, installed on trees on bypass roundabouts.

One of the Ripon bypass roundabouts that could be lit up.

The council, which has an underspend available from its 2020-2021 budget, agreed to allocate £10,000 towards the bypass scheme.

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Ripon City Council spent an additional £65,000 on the city’s Christmas lights – diverting money from its events budget to pay for the scheme.

That funding became available because the money could not be spent on a series of community and civic events — such as celebration of the 75th anniversary of VE Day — due to covid.