The Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water are being called upon to investigate a foaming discharge into the River Ure in Ripon.

There are fears the discharge could be potentially harmful to humans, aquatic life and water fowl.

The Stray Ferret contacted the EA incident line after seeing the discharge yesterday and understands that the stretch of river near the Duchess of Kent Bridge on the A61 Ripon bypass has been affected since the weekend.

James Thornborough, an internationally-recognised authority on spillage on land and water, reported the incident to YW and said it would be normal practice for them to share the information with the EA.

The expert, who lives in nearby Sharow, told the Stray Ferret:

“I pass this part of river, which can be seen from the Dishforth Road, on a regular basis and on Sunday noticed the foaming on the water coming from a drainage outlet that feeds into the Ure.

“In my opinion this is not normal occurrence for this part of the river and that is why I reported it.

“It certainly warrants scrutiny by the EA to find out what exactly is being discharged and whether it is benign or potential harmful to people and animals.

“If it is discovered to be harmful, urgent remedial action will need to be taken.”

The drainage outlet (top right on the photograph) has been the source of the white foaming substance.

Mr Thornborough added:

“The EA, as the national competent authority for protecting the natural environment of the UK, is bound to assess any reported pollution incident and I would urge anybody who witnesses something like this, that looks out of place, to report it as soon as possible.

“Rivers collect water naturally from the atmosphere (rainfall), surface drainage (run off), ground waters, and underground aquifers.

“Unfortunately rivers must also cope with Industrial waste. Controlled industrial discharges are subject to license conditions. Uncontrolled industrial discharges occur due to operating controls failures, accidents or deliberate intention (criminal behaviour).”

What can the Environment Agency do?

Mr Thornborough said he expected the EA to analyse water samples. He added:

“Industrial pollution can reduce the concentration of bio dissolved oxygen in the water phase which can cause fish kills.

“At the very least, the biodiversity of the River Ure in the surrounds of this foaming event, has likely been impacted and microscopic marine organisms will have been killed upsetting the food chain.

“With this in mind, all stakeholders – from business operators, to  the public and compliance organisations such as the EA, have a role to play in ensuring that our precious water resources are safeguarded.”

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Covid lockdowns put a two-year hold on the outdoor activities of the Dales Canoe Club, but members of all ages will soon be taking to the water once more.

The multi-generational, family-focused club has 40 paddlers aged from 11-year-olds to people in their mid-70s, who come from across the Harrogate district..

They keenly await April 28, when they will head for the River Nidd in Knaresborough for their first meet of the season.

Between then and September, the Thursday evening gatherings will be held on rivers and canals throughout the Yorkshire Dales and further afield.

Winter practice at Starbeck Baths.

Fundraiser Jeremy Dunford has been involved with the club since 2015, when his son Reuben started as a novice.

He told the Stray Ferret:

“We had a boost with a successful application to the National Lottery, which brought nearly £10,000 and we have also received financial support from North Yorkshire County Council.

“The money has ensured that we are able to take all the new paddlers on the river at the same time over the summer.

“A key principle of the club is to ensure that paddling is affordable to all and the equipment can be expensive.

“We keep a certain amount of stock but this ages quickly as well as getting damaged. All our new paddlers have access to club kit for as long as they need (including kayaks and paddles).”

The club caters for people of all ages, from children to grandparents

Through the winter, members have been practicing at Starbeck Baths, but with the warmer weather and lighter nights they will be back on river banks across the region and ready to go immediately after the Easter holiday.

Educational and enjoyable

Mr Dunford said:

“Paddlers often use their involvement with the club as a springboard to academic progression elsewhere. One is currently studying outdoor adventure sports at uni having done, as my son did, a BTec in outdoor adventure sports at  Askham Bryan and this in turn has enabled them to get places on camp in Canada.

“Some members also use the club as part of BTec course evidence, GCSE Sports Science and D of E awards evidence.

“We welcome, paddlers with conditions such as epilepsy, autism and ADHD, all of whom have had their paddling experience adjusted to ensure their needs are met.”

Members enjoy the social, as well as the sporting activities of the club.

Long-term members

The club started in 1976. and Maurice Young, a retired GP now in his 80s who took his sons along from day one, has been chairperson since 1978..

Dave Titchmarsh, who is the second in command, is a paddler in his 70s and has been with the club for many years as well.

One of the club’s senior members, Ted Walton, started as a teenager and is now in his 50s and leads a lot of activities.

The club, which adheres to all safety standards, currently has a full complement of members but opportunities for more people to join in September will open up as some move on to university.

Further details are available by clicking here.

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Students at Ripon Grammar School are being taught vital skills that could help them save a life one day.

Nine sixth formers and five Year 11 students are working towards National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ), the most widely recognised lifeguard qualification in the UK & Ireland and a requirement for most lifeguarding jobs.

Trainee lifeguard Neive Zenner encourages others to consider the course:

She said:

“My advice would be, don’t be scared of throwing yourself into everything. You may feel embarrassed to shout across a pool, however the confidence you gain is worth it.”

Course tutor Myles Strudwick, who has been involved in lifeguarding and lifesaving for 20 years, both nationally and internationally, agrees:

He said:

“I am passionate about the development of skills in this area for anyone at any age, and nobody is too young or too old to start taking part.

“Even if it’s not something you use every day, the skills covered might just be enough to save a life one day. And it’s a strange – but thankful – feeling when that happens.”

Henry Grice-Holt, plans to work at Camp America during his gap year, where he hopes the qualification will help him get a lifeguard role.

The 17-year-old, who aims to study medicine after RGS,  inspired him to apply.

Henry, who plans a career in medicine after RGS, pointed out that the most important thing he had learnt was how to perform CPR with the use of a defibrillator:

“I have also been taught how to safely get someone who is unconscious out of the water and get them in the recovery position.”

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Neive, 17, said she was taking the course to help her get an interesting part-time job while at university. The accomplished swimmer added:

“Practical lessons allow you to have hands-on experience and basic first aid training, while theory provides you with the information you need to apply to lessons and even life situations.

“The most important skill I have learnt is communication, I found myself speaking out and answering questions in theory lessons, this then transferred to our pool sessions where we worked in teams relying on verbal skills.”

Henry and Neive use their Wednesday afternoon enrichment period – when sixth formers can take a break from studies to enjoy a range of other activities – to gain their qualification, which involves lessons for two hours a week at the school’s swimming pool, with additional home study.

Year 11 pupils have been taking their lifeguarding classes after school.

As well as being qualified in pool lifeguarding and supervision, with integrated defibrillation and anaphylaxis training, there is the option for the students to gain a First Aid at Work qualification and students, who began the course in November, will gain their qualifications at the beginning of April.

People are being urged to act now in low lying areas near Boroughbridge, where flooding is expected today.

Although the Harrogate district is ending the year with unseasonably mild temperatures of 12 degrees centigrade expected at midnight, recent wet weather is having an impact.

The government’s flood warning website has flagged up land near the caravan park at Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, as the local area in most imminent danger due to rising levels on the River Ure.

The warning says:

“River levels are rising on the River Ure due to rainfall. Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the River Ure, with low lying land expected to be most affected, particularly around Roecliffe Caravan Park.

“Flooding is affecting Roecliffe Caravan Park from 03:30 PM on 31/12/2021. The forecast is dry for throughout the afternoon and this evening, with some showers expected tomorrow. River levels will start to fall overnight.”

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It is one of only two flood warnings currently in place in England. The other is in Carlisle.

People are being advised to move vehicles to higher ground, move family and pets to safety, move important items upstairs and turn off gas, electricity and water supplies.

A less severe flood alert has been issued for the Lower River Ure, near Ripon.

It said prolonged overnight rainfall caused rising river levels this morning.

“Levels are now peaking in the upper reaches of the catchment, but levels in the lower reaches of the catchment are still rising and will continue to do so through today, Friday 31st December.

“Some further showers are expected at times today, with weather conditions remaining unsettled for the coming days.”

Firefighters rescued a flock of sheep which managed to get stranded in the middle of the swollen River Ure in Ripon.

A crew from the fire station in Ripon worked with water and animal rescue teams to save 12 sheep from the fast-flowing water yesterday. Heavy rain had caused river levels to rise, cutting off the sheep from land.

The firefighters got the call at around 9am and headed straight to the river.

They waded into the water and used their bodies to slow the current before shepherding the animals away from harm.

Tom Harrison, a firefighter who was part of the rescue effort, told the Stray Ferret:

“Once we had located the sheep we set up a team and made a safe passage for them to cross the river.

“We didn’t need to use any equipment, we just stood in the water and used our bodies to slow the flow of water.

“When we managed to get one to leave the island the rest soon followed.

“All of the sheep managed to get away so yes I would say it was a successful operation.”

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A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue added:

“Initial assessment from an officer to reports of approximately 12 sheep stranded on an island in the river.

“After confirming Fire and Rescue could assist in the rescue of the sheep, various water and animal rescue teams were sent to assist.”

This latest animal rescue comes almost a year after a similar incident with cows in the River Ure during the floods in November 2020.

The emergency services were summoned to help two teenagers who it is believed had been in the River Ure in Boroughbridge yesterday evening.

A passerby called Yorkshire Ambulance Service at around 6.20pm. The caller said they had seen a teenage boy drinking before going into the water.

When the ambulance crews arrived they realised that he had been with a teenage girl as well but she was no longer in the area.

So the paramedics requested help from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and four water rescue teams to look for the missing girl.

The crews soon found the girl and took her back to her parents. The paramedics then took the boy to hospital for treatment.

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A spokesperson for the fire and rescue service said:

“Ambulance responded to a believed intoxicated male youth by the river.

“Fire were then requested as there was some suspicion that a female youth who had been present due to items found there, may have gone into the river.

“Two level two water rescue and two level three water rescue teams mobilised from Boroughbridge, Ripon, and Richmond.

“Shortly after Boroughbridge attended, contact was made with the missing female – safely back with her parents.”

A spokesperson for the ambulance service added:

“We received an emergency call at 6.19pm on Wednesday to reports of a teenager by the River Ure in Boroughbridge who had been into the water.

“Two ambulances and a clinical supervisor were dispatched to the scene and one patient was conveyed to hospital.

“There were no additional patients requiring ambulance assistance at the scene.”

Planning permission has been granted for 14 new street lights to illuminate the River Ure bridge in time for the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Boroughbridge next year.

Boroughbridge Town Council is behind plans to light up the historic bridge at night to improve visibility for pedestrians and motorists. There has been a bridge on the site since at least the 12th century.

The scheme was awarded £13,000 from North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner following the sale of the force’s historic AJ1 number plate.

A planning statement submitted with the application said the visual impact of the street lights on the Grade II listed bridge will be “limited”.

“The only visual change will be the addition of the light units, which have been selected to complement the parapet walls with an honest approach and without imposing significant new elements on the structure.

“The low key design and hidden cabling aim to ensure that the installation will go largely unnoticed during daylight hours.”

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Battle of Boroughbridge

The Battle of Boroughbridge took place on March 16 1322. There was an encounter on the River Ure bridge between Edward II and his cousin, the Earl of Lancaster.

A small army of rebels under the Earl of Lancaster was held at the bridge itself by a larger group of men loyal to the king.

Attempts to negotiate a truce failed and the short, one-sided battle resulted in the surrender and subsequent execution of Lancaster.

The bridge has remained a key part of the transport network ever since.

A canoeing instructor working in Ripley has said deaths while canoeing, like the one in the Harrogate district on Friday, are rare.

North Yorkshire Police reported a man had died in the River Ure, near West Tanfield, after falling out of a canoe.

Dan Miller has 15 years’ experience as a paddler and works as a canoeing instructor in Ripley. He said he thought fatal accidents were uncommon, especially among experienced canoeists.

Mr Miller is one of the directors at Live For Today, based at Ripley Castle, which offers canoeing trips on the castle’s lake. He said safety is a top priority for all paddlers and these were the main things to consider:

Weather

Mr Miller said the weather on the day and the previous days can impact the water levels so it is best to check them, via the Environment Agency’s website, first.

Previous days of heavy rainfall can sweep flood debris down the river causing an obstruction or covering the banks making the conditions more difficult to navigate.

How well you know the area

Mr Miller said, despite his experience, he would not paddle anywhere that he did not already know. He added it is best to have background knowledge of the map of the river and be aware of where the banks are.

Experience 

He advised anyone with limited canoeing experience to check they feel comfortable before entering any waterway. Going with other people is also a good idea.

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Mr Miller said:

“I don’t think there are many accidents like the one this week especially round here. At work, we will only ever use sections of rivers we deem safe.

“With canoeing it’s all about risk assessment and how confident you feel in the canoe. Your safety is the priority.”

Mr Miller urged people to attend a workshop with a club or water activity company before going out on the water.

Data from the Water Incident Database show that there were 254 deaths in UK waters from accidental drownings in 2020 across inland and coastal locations.

There is a flood warning in place near Boroughbridge after several days of heavy rainfall and drivers are being urged to avoid low-lying roads.

The River Ure at Westwick Lock is expected to peak at around 1.5 metres this afternoon.

As a result, the flood information service has said flooding is “expected/possible” today in the Roecliffe Caravan park area.

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A spokesperson for the flood information service said:

“The flood warning for the River Ure at Roecliffe Caravan Park has been issued due to rising river levels following recent rainfall.

“The river level at Westwick Lock is currently 1.4m and is forecast to rise steadily, peaking at approximately 1.5m this afternoon.

“Consequently, flooding is expected/possible today in the Roecliffe Caravan Park area. Our incident response staff are closely monitoring the forecast.

“Please plan driving routes to avoid low-lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.”

It is currently the only place in the UK where a more serious flood warning is in place.

There are also six flood alerts in place, which means flooding is possible rather than expected.

Two of the alerts are in place at the Lower River Ure near Ripon and the Lower Dunsforth Access.

The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for a caravan park in Boroughbridge this evening.   The agency says it is watching levels of the River Ure carefully and warned the Roecliffe Caravan Park area is most at risk.

On its website the agency said drivers should avoid low lying roads close to river:

The flood warnings come after relentless rain.  A Met Office yellow weather warning for snow and ice continues to be in place for the Harrogate district tonight and tomorrow.

Temperatures are set to fall over the next 24 hours with heavy snow in parts of the UK as the country experiences some of the coldest weather since the “Beast from the East” in 2018.  The weather front which has been name Storm Darcy has been dubbed “The Beast from the East 2”.

It may be that the district avoids the worst of the beast which is forecast to be more severe in the south and east of England.

Temperatures though are not expected to rise above zero degrees celsius in the district for much of tomorrow with snow showers expected.

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Continuing snow showers over the next 48 hours and freezing temperatures may mean traffic disruption on Monday morning.

For full information on school closures and traffic disruption make sure you follow the Stray Ferret – we’ll have regular updates from early Monday morning if the storm affects us.