Society's next talk is on listing

The next meeting sees Alison Clarke of English Heritage talking about how buildings are listed. The latest of Ripon's listed building is the Cabmen's Shelter, which was donated by the Civic Society to Ripon City Council more than 10 years ago. The City Council tried hard to get the listing overturned. Now they are using the fact of its listing to obtain a grant for the Shelter's repair for Harrogate Borough Council. The Shelter is due to leave the Market Square this month for work to be carried out.

WEBSITE RUNNER UP IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

Ripon Civic Society's website was runner up in a national competition organised by Civic Voice. The results were announced at the AGM of Civic Voice in Peterborough.

We were beaten by Brighton Civic Society - of course, Brighton is considerably bigger than Ripon! Wakefield (also bigger!) was the other Society in contention.

This is what the Civic Voice newsletter says:

The first Civic Voice Awards for best website and newsletter provided a stiff competition with nearly 20 entries in each category. After a vote among civic volunteers to provide two shortlists, Brighton saw off Ripon and Wakefield for the website award. Brighton was commended for the easy on the eye design, regular news updates, clear navigation, concise writing and its use of social media. In a closely fought contest Cambridge took the honours over Birmingham and Wakefield in the competition for best newsletter. It was praised for the variety of interesting articles, strong masthead and the use of personal stories. Both Brighton and Cambridge also provided easy ways for people to get involved and encouraged feedback.

You can see Brighton Society’s website here and view Cambridge Past Present and Future’s newsletter here

Ripon Civic Society Awards 2010

This is the complete list of winners in the Annual Awards 2010 - pictures are by Andrew Curtis

The Hazzard Silver Cup for Best New Building: Booth’s Supermarket and adjacent retail units

Highly Commended: new houses in Robinson Court, Little Studley Road

The Price Flagon for Best Restored Building: Ripon Workhouse Museum

Highly Commended: Hazel House Guide Headquarters

The Younge Rosebowl for Best Environmental Improvement: Ripon Workhouse Garden

The Craftsmanship Shield for Best Craftsmanship: Railings at Ripon Workhouse Museum – craftsman Tim Harrison

The Taylor Shop Front Award for the Best Shop Front: Tutto Bello, North Street and Talking Heads, Old Market Place (joint winners)

Highly Commended: Bernard Nicholson Funeral Directors, Water Skellgate

The Helen Whitehead Salver for the best project: Ripon Workhouse Museum for refurbishment, garden and railings

The John Whitehead Award: Ripon Spa Gardens

RIPON VISION 2015

The Society is facilitating a PUBLIC MEETING at Allhallowgate Methodist Church Hall on Thursday 28 October starting at 7.30pm, at which member Stanley Mackintosh will talk about his wide-ranging proposals for the city. His paper, RIPON VISION 2015, is available for download (it's a big file!) at http://www.sendspace.com/file/s3vn7g

Please come along to hear what Stanley has to say, and join in the debate.

WHAT ABOUT THE UNICORN?

We are told that the Unicorn Hotel, which is now closed and in the ownership of J D Wetherspoon, is not currently scheduled for refurbishment and reopening by the company. This appears to mean that it will stay cloed for the foreseeable future.

This probably makes sense to Wetherspoons, and in a large city might not matter too much. But in a place the size of Ripon, to have the main hotel on the Market Square empty - and in a prominent position on the main route from the Square to the Cathedral, is a major setback. We urge Wetherspoons to look again at the schedule and make Ripon a priority.