Your Comments

Comment on NYC Clearance of Snow 9/1/2025

"NYC couldn`t wait to tell us how much more efficient it would be to become a bigger entity and save money. Well, we know that didn`t work Mr Carl - it’s not snow clearing now Mr Carl - it’s ice-clearing !! Not only are the side roads treacherous, but also the pavements and your own car-parking facilities, such at the back of Sainsbury's in Ripon. You and your Council are an economic disgrace and disaster but guess what folks, there`ll be another Council Tax increase come April, to let them increase their salaries . Richard Houseman

"The bins may have sand in, but how do you get it onto the pavements? I have asked multiple times that hand push spreaders be bought. Am trying very hard to not be negative in the ' new era' " Bob Upton

Comment on Avant homes Public Meeting 30/10/2024

"Your report of yesterday's meeting with Avant gives excellent coverage of the developer's promises but its commitments on road safety fall short of encouraging necessary integration of the families arriving in Avant's sixty new houses seamlessly into our village community. 

Vitally important is that parents and children should cross Knaresborough Road without fear and have the shortest practical walk to the school and the village centre. Walking along the already too narrow footpath to the dangerous Moor Road crossroad and then down Hungate or, alternatively, over the blind summit and then along the even more inadequate footpath of St. John's Road, could not achieve the aims.

This argues for a proper pedestrian crossing at the entrance of Meadowcroft Drive leading onwards past the Masons Arms. A zebra crossing at this point would keep families safe from the busy, often speeding cars and lorries along Knaresborough Road and might also act as a traffic calming measure close to the crossroad." David and Lizzie Darbyshire

 

“There was a key point raised regarding the local plan by David Richold:

- applications need to be sustainable eg things should be no worse than they were before the development (with this plan, they will be)

- there needs to have been no significant alterations since the local plan was agreed, which there have been. David stated that there have been 14 houses built in the village since then (as I’m typing I’m wondering about Kebble numbers) and with the 28 approved on church farm he said it’s a 15% increase on the 300ish that existed at the time the local plan was agreed. A significant change. 
Will also mean 2 sites emptying their attenuation tanks at the same time; a worse situation than if was just from one site.
Bonnie Johnson

“Two minor issues to start with. Where will tradesmen park during the construction? The exit from from Moor Lane onto the A61 is already difficult. Add the extra traffic from this dormitory estate ( particularly at peak times) and there will be serious trouble ahead. Any more anyone?” Derek Coulson

"Thank you for the information The sewage will always be an issue But is there any reason why the beck can't be dredged out deeper?" Dave Molyneux

"No one so far has mentioned public transport via the route they take through the village and how this will be affected. It won't be great. and  they also need to know and in good time. They found it hard enough during Lamb and Flag build." [email protected]​

"Sir Alec needs to ensure that the Avant plan for 60 properties does not increase the probability of the beck overflowing during periods of persistent and/or heavy rain. Also, to establish from Yorkshire Water that the sewerage system which they state is "at near capacity" can accommodate the sewage from the extra properties when we already know that effluent emerges from the system (manhole covers) during persistent/heavy rain. Prior to the Church Farm approval of 25 properties, there were c.400 properties in the village. 25 + 60 increases the percentage by c. 22%. If a system is "at near capacity" at 400, does not another 22% bring it to over capacity? I think that the village needs Sir Alec's help re these two issues to ensure that beck and sewage overflows do not increase". Ken Barker​

"The irony meter well and truly exploded when I saw your article about Yorkshire Water finally objecting to the Avant Homes plan to build 60 homes in Bishop Monkton. When I read the headline, for a brief and glorious moment I thought that YW had finally woken up, then I read the rest of the story……. In objecting to the fact that trees were being planted too close to the planned new sewerage pipes on the site, they have completely ignored the fact that they will  feed directly into an archaic foul water system that Yorkshire Water themselves have already described as ‘close to capacity’. The irony is that in actually finally raising themselves to comment to the planners on Bishop Monkton’s foul drainage system they have actually missed the main point – that whilst new householders will enjoy an unfettered outlet to an entirely pristine top half of the system on site, when it rains heavily the bottom half of the village is probably going to have to deal with the fall out.Literally. Come on YW-urge the planners to delay approving any more large new building projects in our village until you have been able to properly assess and fix the problems with the drainage infrastructure that would support them". Exasperated (Name and address supplied)

Feedback on the New Website

11/10/24

"I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone involved in setting up and running the new village website." Heidi Ayliffe

"Loads better and easier to navigate" Stancey Coughlan

'Great job on the new website' Laura Johnson

'Looks great. Thank you.' Lucinda Peters

'Great job, Very easy to navigate.' Susan Whistler

'It's fab - thank you and well done' - Mandy Lumsdon

'Looks great - thank you for all your hard work' - Pam Brown

'Thank you' - Carol Wells

''The new website looks great - thank you to all involved' - Sue PeaTea

'Wowza!! Well done everyone' - Gerald Shervington

Comment on our story on the wooden fences at the Lamb and Flag 10/10/24

“Well done to the residents for raising this issue with North Yorkshire. The wooden fencing is not suitable for the centre of our village conservation area so let's hope it can be changed for 'a boundary wall to match the neighbouring properties'. Regards Wendy Hogan”

"I find the wooden fence in the front of the property degrading to the property. I understand the developers had planned a wall in keeping with the property, what happened to the plan? My neighbour on St John's Way has just had their front garden fenced and the result is far superior to the Lamb & Flag properties; I'm sure my neighbours would be pleased for interested parties, developers, to compare fences if a fence it must be. I would like to know what happened to the wall! Thanks, Kay Thorpe

Comment on our story about Avant Homes revised plans for sixty homes in the village 23/10/2024

"What worries us is 60 houses is a lot more sewage and the drains and pipes have never been updated as long as my wife has lived here(27 years. When it rains the drains will fill and not run away and flood the low lying homes up through there toilets. We no this at we do tanker work and it's happening in a few places. People cannot use there toilets showers sinks etc as it cannot flow away quick enough. 60 homes plus the other new homes will be too much and cause big problems with the drains. Feel sad for the low lying homes as it will happen Cheers Michele"

Comments on our story about the BBC Children's drama 'Jamie Johnson FC' being filmed in the Village Hall 22/10/2024

"I am fully in favour of the hall being hired out to the BBC. The VH has been very supportive of the tennis and pickleball club and the funds generated will allow the VH to continue to help all the affiliated clubs which play such an important role in village life. There is also the benefit to the non-sports players of having a social hub and facility which everyone can use and so the funds generated will be good for us all. The short-term inconvenience of clubs making alternative arrangements while the hall is being used by the BBC will be far outweighed by the long term gains." Jonathan Pimley, Chair, BM Tennis Club

"Fantastic for the village and heighten the profile BM and what a lovely village and area it is. We do have an Airbnb at the rear of Burngarth and would be happy to let the accommodation to those that might need it during filming . Well done to all those involved. Dave Molyneux

==============================================

 

The views and opinions expressed in these letters are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of 'Bishop Monkton Today', which is an impartial platform without its own editorial position. 

'Bishop Monkton Today' also reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity, brevity or for legal reasons and, if it deems a letter to be inappropriate, offensive or illegal, not to publish it.