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Owners of properties in Bedern Court in Ripon face a demolition bill of at least £75,000 as arguments over a long-standing insurance claim continue.
Three apartments and a house in a block at the 29-unit residential complex were evacuated in October 2020 as sinkhole activity raised fears of a catastrophic collapse.
Bedern Court Ltd (BCL) – a not-for-profit company controlled by owners and leaseholders – is preparing a complaint to send to the insurance ombudsman, but, with the continuing deterioration of the stricken block, is faced with having to find the money to take the building down.
BCL chair, Mat Pritchard, told the Stray Ferret:
“We are already doing everything we can to mitigate the risk and, with time running out, have obtained quotes from four demolition contractors.
“These have come in at £75,000 and upwards and, unfortunately, in the absence of settlement from the insurers, the bill will have to be paid by the owners of the 29 properties.”
In pursuit of its claim, BCL has supplied insurers Aviva and QBE with detailed reports from geologists and a monitoring engineer. But Mr Pritchard pointed out:
“As we have been getting nowhere with the insurance companies, we have sought legal advice and decided to make a formal complaint to the ombudsman.”
He added:
“In addition to our protracted discussions with the insurers, we have kept all authorities updated and have used fencing to shutter off part of the courtyard area as a safety measure.”
Fencing also remains in place to block entry from Skellgaths into Peacock’s Passage, which runs alongside the affected block.
Ripon City Council wrote to North Yorkshire County Council in November calling on it to demolish the block, after city council leader Andrew Williams said:
“If the perilous state of the building means it’s not safe to walk along Peacock’s Passage, it can’t be safe to walk or drive past it on Skellgarths. It needs to be demolished as quickly and safely as possible.”
However, NYCC has said that this matter is not its responsibility and now the city council has written to Harrogate Borough Council asking it to carry out a detailed risk assessment at Bedern Court.
Additional safety measures have been taken at a Ripon residential block in danger of collapse through subsidence caused by sinkhole activity.
Ripon City Council is in the process of writing to North Yorkshire County Council, calling for the four properties at Bedern Court to be demolished.
In the meantime, Bedern Court Ltd (BCL) – a not-for-profit company controlled by owners and leaseholders with houses and apartments in the 29-unit development – has installed the steel fence (pictured above) inside the courtyard to keep people away from the affected block.
The new fencing is in addition to the continuing closure of Peacock’s Passage, at the side of Bedern Court on Skellgarths (pictured below).
BCL chair Mat Pritchard, told the Stray Ferret:
“With its worsening state and the risk of collapse or falling masonry and tiles, we have concerns about use of parking spaces close to the property. The fence also prevents access to the block.”
BCL has set up a wardens group to keep an eye on the block, which was has remained empty since its evacuation more than a year ago.
Mr Pritchard pointed out:
“They will advise of any further deterioration that they witness and we will continue to liaise with all relevant authorities.”
At its full meeting earlier this month, Ripon City Council agreed to write to NYCC, calling for it to demolish the stricken block on the grounds of public safety.
At the meeting, council leader Andrew Williams, said:
“The movement of the affected block caused by sinkhole activity in the area is gaining speed and the implications for public safety are enormous.
“The block fronts onto the public highway and pavement and the potential impact of collapse and possibility of opening up of more damaging sinkholes in neighbouring areas cannot be ignored.
“If the perilous state of the building means it’s not safe to walk along Peacock’s Passage, it can’t be safe to walk or drive past it on Skelgarths. It needs to be demolished as quickly and safely as possible.”
BCL, which is still awaiting settlement of a long-standing insurance claim relating to the affected block, has provided its insurers with reports from a monitoring engineer and geologist in support of the claim.
Ripon City Council has called for the urgent demolition of four homes in the city that are in danger of collapse because of sinkholes.
A council meeting last night heard the properties at Bedern Court were in a “perilous” state and “the implications for public safety are enormous”.
The homes, which have remained empty since they were evacuated in October last year, border Skelgarths, one of the arterial routes through and into the city.
Peacock’s Passage, a footpath that runs alongside Bedern Court, was blocked off with permission from North Yorkshire County Council a year ago, after the owners of the stricken block raised concerns about public safety.
Peacock’s Passage has been barriered off since the evacuation of four properties at Bedern Court
Last night’s meeting saw councillors vote unanimously to support the call to contact the county council and request urgent action.
City council leader Andrew Williams, told the meeting:
“The movement of the affected block caused by sinkhole activity in the area is gaining speed and the implications for public safety are enormous.
“The block fronts onto the public highway and pavement and the potential impact of collapse and possibility of opening up of more damaging sinkholes in neighbouring areas cannot be ignored.
“If the perilous state of the building means it’s not safe to walk along Peacock’s Passage, it can’t be safe to walk or drive past it on Skelgarths. It needs to be demolished as quickly and safely as possible.”
Skelgarths borders the affected block
Mat Pritchard, chairperson of Bedern Court Ltd, a not-for-profit company controlled by owners and leaseholders with houses and apartments in the 29-unit development. told the Stray Ferret:
“All authorities, including the parish, district and county councils, have been contacted by us and kept updated on the increasingly desperate situation that we are facing and we welcome this news from Ripon City Council.
“We have taken all of the measures that we can, but feel that we are rapidly running out of time.”
Reports from a monitoring engineer employed by Bedern Court Ltd indicated that ground movement is ongoing and appears to be speeding up.
While monitoring the signs of movement, Bedern Court Ltd continues to await the outcome of a long-standing insurance claim relating to the affected properties.
Plans have been submitted to demolish a building that has been blighting a historic area of Ripon.
The proposal is to replace the derelict property in Moss’s Arcade with three two-bedroom townhouses.
An overview of the proposed development submitted to Harrogate Borough Council says:
“This is an important part of Ripon steeped with heritage.
“However the building on the site is very much a left-over redundant building, which blights the surrounding area.”
Pigeons inhabit the derelict building
The existing building, has been left un-used for many years.
Planning consultant James Robinson said in an overview in support of the planning application.
“This is an important part of Ripon’s inner city and is right in the middle of the conservation area.
“The location benefits from all essential shops, facilities and transport ( Ripon Bus Station over the road )
“This is the ultimate sustainable inner-city location.”
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Demolition starts as former Harrogate college makes way for flats
Demolition work has started at a former Harrogate college, which will make way for eight apartments in the St George’s area of town.
The late Victorian building on The Oval was home to Harrogate Tutorial College between 1981 and 2004.
Since it closed it has fallen into a state of disrepair and has also been subject to vandalism. But diggers moved in today and made quick work of the site.
After a number of applications and appeals, including to the planning inspectorate, Harrogate Borough Council approved developers Oakdale Estates’ plans for the building in 2019.
The plans
Harrogate Borough Council refused the original application to build flats on the site on the basis that it was a non-designated heritage asset in a conservation area.
The amended, approved planning application was for a five-storey building similar in structure and design to the former tutorial college.
Harrogate Tutorial College in 2012. Photo: Google
Plans for the development said conversion of the old site would result in a less energy efficient building than a full replacement.
Harrogate Tutorial College specialised in preparing students for university and was particularly popular with oversees students hoping to get into a UK university. Keith Pollard was the headmaster.
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