Melsonby Parish Council

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who took part and made this event such a great success.

F1 St James the Great Church Melsonby      1st prize Rachel Vart    

2nd Phil Martin           3rd Jess Fleming

F2 The Sky                                                      1st Prize Trevor Lane  

2nd Phil Martin           3rd Anne Powis

F3 A Melsonby Village Scene/ Event              1st Phil Martin            

 2nd Sue Lee Stokoe   3rd Richard Vart

F4 In Motion                                                  1st Terry Sutton          

2nd Trevor Lane         3rd Rachael Vart

F5 Black and White                                      1st Phil Martin                

2nd Paul Elliott           3rd Julie Vickerman

Junior Class 8 years and under                                 

F6 Melsonby                                                    1st Phoebe Parkinson  

2nd Amelie Grundy     3rd Evie Parkinson

F7 Toys/games                                                 1st Evie Parkinson and Freddie Parkinson  

2nd Phoebe Parkinson  3rd Amelie Grundy

Junior Class 9 years and Over                         

F8 Melsonby                                                    1st Tillie Jackson and Charlie Vart    

2nd Aiden Jackson   3rd Melody Henderson

F9 Toys/games                                                1st Lily Ryan  

2nd Charlie Vart  3rd Chad Denten   

Over all Adult winner trophy      Phil Martin

Over all Childrens winner          Phoebe Parkinson

Most voted photo Phoebe Parkinson    

The Parish Council have been asked to promote this consultation with the community and stakeholders:

We are inviting residents and stakeholders to share their views on North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s proposed priorities (areas of focus) and changes, as part of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) for 2025–2029. Consultation feedback will help shape how the Service keeps our communities safe over the next four years.

START THE SURVEY: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/NYFRS_CRMP/

Every fire and rescue service in the UK is required to produce a Community Risk Management Plan, which outlines how it will assess and respond to risks in its area using its people, vehicles and equipment. Before finalising the plan, the Service is seeking public input on its proposed areas of focus and two specific changes.

Over the next four years, the Service aims to:

Strengthen partnership working to help those most at risk and vulnerable
Enhance training for its teams
Review fire stations and specialist vehicles (appliances) to ensure they continue to meet community needs effectively and efficiently.
Work to extend the lifespan of its buildings with a focus on Northallerton, Malton and Scarborough stations.
In addition, the Service is consulting on two key proposals:

Automatic Fire Alarm Attendance
The Service is also proposing to extend its current policy of not attending automatic fire alarms at commercial buildings where no one sleeps from 12 hours to 24 hours a day. The majority of these are false alarms and divert crews from more critical work such as prevention, training and community safety activities.
Water Bowser Replacement
After detailed analysis, the Service is proposing to replace only one of our two water bowsers when they’re due for renewal in 2026/2027. This would save an estimated £500,000, which could be reinvested back into the Service. Water bowsers have limitations and the Service is looking at more modern and effective ways of dealing with wildfires. The second bowser would remain in use until the end of its operational life.
Chief Fire Officer Jonathan Dyson said:

“We’re committed to making sure our plans reflect the needs and priorities of the communities we serve. This consultation is a great chance for you to help shape how we “manage risk and deliver services over the next four years.

“I warmly encourage everyone to take a few minutes to share their views through the survey.”

Jo Coles, York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing Fire and Crime said:

“The Mayor David Skaith and I are committed to ensuring our fire and rescue service meets the needs of our communities now and into the future. We’re working with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service on their delivery plans for the next 4 years.

“As with any consultation it’s really important we hear from as many people as possible across our region with their views on the proposed changes, before any decisions are made. Please take a few moments to share your views to help shape the future of our fire service in York and North Yorkshire.”

The consultation is open until 11:59pm on Sunday, 7th September 2025. All responses are anonymous.

START THE SURVEY: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/NYFRS_CRMP/

To read the full consultation document and complete the consultation survey, visit the fire service website: Community Risk Management Plan 2025-2029 – North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

After the consultation closes, responses will be reviewed and a report with recommendations will be prepared for the Mayor/Deputy Mayor. The final Community Risk Management Plan will be published on the Service’s website following their decision.

Download

Download the questions, Print out and Post your answers – FREEPOST
Thank you for your help with this.

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority – Policing, Fire and Crime Team

I would like to update you on the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine (NTP) project. Following the Spending Review, the Government confirmed on 8 July that the project is a priority and forms part of the £24 billion Spending Review settlement, underlining its strategic and economic importance.

We are delighted that the A66 NTP project has been committed for delivery in full, with the 8 July announcement marking an important milestone.

Over the next 12 months, we will:

• Continue utility diversions, archaeological surveys, and ecological work, which are essential to prepare for main construction.

• Undertake tree clearance and site preparation, managed sensitively with ecology experts to protect wildlife and maintain a strong environmental approach.

• Work with the Department for Transport to finalise the delivery programme, with further detail to be shared as part of the Road Investment Strategy (RIS3) in March 2026.

We will continue to share regular updates with councils and stakeholders, as well as invite input on community engagement opportunities.

Thank you for your continued support as we move forward with this vital scheme.

Kind regards,

Tim Gamon

Project Director, A66 Northern Trans-Pennine

This update was emailed and asked to be read out at the July Parish Council meeting in Councillor Thompson’s absence.

A brief report for your 3 PCs follows below. (dated 1st July 2025)

1. We are hopeful that we will hear of the decision regarding the A66 upgrade in the next 2 months or so. We had hoped that the decision would have been announced by the chancellor in her recent financial statement. It has now been passed to the DfT so I presume this means that the minister will decide. I am not optimistic that we will win through, but we can only wait and see.

      2) I have been informed that an announcement is to be made in the next week regarding      the recommencement of work on the Designer Outlet with a view to opening in the spring of 2027. This will be coupled with various upgrades to the roundabout which I am most anxious to hear the details of. Anyone who uses the roundabout on Friday afternoon will more than understand why!

      We’ll see what the announcement is and I have to say I have heard all this before.

    3) Home to School Transport. I had a very productive meeting with the head of Richmond School and 3 governors 2 weeks ago. There were various concerns which I have and expressed. The most important one being the fact that the school is full which means students from my constituency may not be able to get a place at the school. This has happened already and the school went to great lengths to stress that this would be avoided at all costs.

If however it does happen then there is the right of appeal. The reason Richmond School is full appears to be the fact that it takes in many students from outside catchment like Northallerton, Leyburn and Catterick. Parents pay over £1100 per annum for transport.

An excellent school and that is reflected in the demand for places.

In respect of the new transport policy, I don’t like it any more than anyone else. I won’t trawl through past debates and arguments. Had the motion before full council on 19th May succeeded and we reverted to the catchment system, and which I voted against, then we would almost certainly have had to put forward cuts in frontline services. SEND or special educational needs could have been one. Is that what people want? Of course not. We all want more funding from central government. But it has been made absolutely clear that that won’t be forthcoming. Indeed, sadly the vibes are that even more cuts to funding for councils like North Yorkshire are forthcoming.

Please understand that without further funding, by year 28/29 it is very unlikely that anyone in North Yorkshire will get free school transport.

I am working on a new initiative brought forwards by Sharon Diamond, a resident of Eppleby, 

where with some tweaking of the timetable for Hodgsons, students from villages like Stapleton, Manfield, Eppleby, Aldbrough and Melsonby will be able to travel to Richmond School for £1 per journey which, with full attendance throughout the academic year would be about £390. No one likes to pay for something which they have been used to having free, but this is less than half of the cost of using the county system.

Finally on this subject, the savings in the section 115 officer’s (chief accountant) Medium Term Financial Strategy savings from the new policy are £2.56 million in the 3 years commencing Sept 25, but are now projected to be nearer £3 million. 

If you don’t believe or accept these figures so be it. But they are based on signed contracts at now fixed prices with transport providers. No matter where the taxi or bus comes from it is on a fixed price contract. 

4) The future of Richmond Swimmimg Pool is in doubt due to the vast expenditure required to bring it up to standard. This is to be subject to a public consultation which I encourage everyone to take part in.

Best wishes,

Angus Thompson.

Location:  Moor Road, Melsonby CP, Melsonby

Description of works:  Road closure for O2 to allow safe access and installation of trackway into private land     

The Restriction will be in place for a period of 1 day on the 7th August 2025, between the hours of 08:00 and 12:00 only.

The Road Restriction and any associated traffic management can be viewed using this URL link https://one.network/?tm=144549619

Regards

North Yorkshire Council

The Results are in! They are included at the bottom of this page.

Melsonby Parish Village Show has, sadly, had to be cancelled this year. However, the Village Show Committee are going ahead with a new style Photography Class for 2025.

Entries will be displayed in St James the Great Church, from Saturday 12th to Friday 25th July, and everyone in the village, plus anyone from Melsonby School or any other village organisation, can enter.
You will see some amazing photos during this time, you will also be able to judge the different Categories by voting for your favourite in each one. Yes, that’s right – you’re the Judges! Votes can be made in the Church, until 11 a.m. on Friday 25th July and the results will be announced at the end of the Coffee Morning on that day.
Entries will be free for everyone this year! Entry Forms and photographs just need to be handed to Lynda Watts at 16 East Rd, Melsonby by 9 p.m. on Thursday 10th July. Digital copies are also being requested, as we intend to produce a 2026 Village Calendar – more details later.

Should you have questions please speak to any of our committee members.
The winners of the Adult and Children’s Classes will each be presented with a Trophy. There will also be a Trophy for the photograph that gets the most votes overall.

There is a category for everyone. Please view and download the attached for more information.

The results are in:

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone for taking part in what was a very successful event.

Adult Class

F1 St James the Great Church Melsonby      1st prize Rachel Vart    

2nd Phil Martin           3rd Jess Fleming

F2 The Sky                                                      1st Prize Trevor Lane  

2nd Phil Martin           3rd Anne Powis

F3 A Melsonby Village Scene/ Event              1st Phil Martin            

 2nd Sue Lee Stokoe   3rd Richard Vart

F4 In Motion                                                  1st Terry Sutton          

2nd Trevor Lane         3rd Rachael Vart

F5 Black and White                                      1st Phil Martin                

2nd Paul Elliott           3rd Julie Vickerman

Junior Class 8 years and under                                 

F6 Melsonby                                                    1st Phoebe Parkinson  

2nd Amelie Grundy     3rd Evie Parkinson

F7 Toys/games                                                 1st Evie Parkinson and Freddie Parkinson  

2nd Phoebe Parkinson  3rd Amelie Grundy

Junior Class 9 years and Over                         

F8 Melsonby                                                    1st Tillie Jackson and Charlie Vart    

2nd Aiden Jackson   3rd Melody Henderson

F9 Toys/games                                                1st Lily Ryan  

2nd Charlie Vart  3rd Chad Denten   

Over all Adult winner trophy      Phil Martin

Over all Childrens winner          Phoebe Parkinson

Most voted photo Phoebe Parkinson                                            

The village has been entered into the Rotary Club of Richmond’s annual “Best Kept Village” competition. The judging will take place between 28th June and 13th July 2025. We would encourage residents to join in and support this competition. The judging criteria is available to view and download below.