Seas of mud and wine

As the Developers, councillors etc pat themselves on the back at the early completion of the link road to the west of market place we should bear in mind that it has still taken a year and a half to complete. This has had a hugely detrimental effect on many businesses in the town, none more so than Mark Ryan’s Great Northern Wine whose trade has been decimated as approach roads became an impassable sea of mud for months on end. Small, independent traders such as this are what makes shopping in Ripon an interesting and rewarding experience and we must appreciate and support them as best we can.

Of course many businesses are suffering at the moment due to the economic downturn but this is of a different order and magnitude and has a clearly definable cause – it has been obvious to all of us that the development has had a devastating impact on Mr Ryan’s trade and I cannot believe that the developers or indeed Booths directors would wish to be the cause of the demise of such an asset to Ripon.

As everything returns to normal it is easy for us to forget quite what a mess the area has been for such a long period; not so easy for one who may lose his hard fought for business, livelihood and possibly home, through no fault of his own.

I hope that a compensation package commensurate with Mr Ryan’s substantial losses can be worked out, and worked out soon before we lose one of Ripon’s jewels – a great independent wine retailer and an important social meeting place.