THE SECOND phase of a major revamp of Ripon market place, costed at more than £1.5m, is nearing completion.

With a grant of more than £1.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and more than £400,000 committed by North Yorkshire County and Harrogate Borough Councils, the revitalisation of the market place has been assured.

The new taxi rank in Market Place East was handed over to the drivers last week, releasing the last section on the market square to contractors. Work on the market square and Market Place South should be completed well before Ripon Christmas shopping festival starts on November 23.

It has been decided, however, not to carry out the last section of the work, involving the reconstruction of Market Place West, at this stage.

Forward planning officer with NYCC, Mr Elwyn Williams, said: "The council is conscious of the need to keep disruption in the city centre in the run-up to Christmas to an absolute minimum.

"We didn't want to start the work and run the risk of not completing it before the start of the Christmas shopping festival. We have decided instead to concentrate our efforts on completing all the work under way and leave the market place in a clean and tidy condition before November 23, when Christmas tree lights will be switched on marking the start of the festival.