Historic England, the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment, has said it supports Ripon Cathedral’s £6 million plans to build a two-storey annex on Minster Gardens.

However, the national heritage watchdog’s views about the suitability of the proposed development site to the north of the cathedral are not shared by Ripon Civic Society.

The cathedral chapter submitted a planning application to Harrogate Borough Council in January, seeking permission to construct a standalone two-storey annex on Minster Gardens.

It would include a song school, cafe, shop and the city centre’s first Changing Places toilet for disabled people.

The development has divided opinion, with concerns about the impact on retailers and the removal of 11 trees, including a beech categorised as a veteran tree by the Woodland Trust.

In a letter to Harrogate Borough Council planners, Historic England said:

“Historic England supports the location and design of this proposal, which will make a positive 21st century contribution to Ripon’s wonderful historic environment.”

The letter, which can be viewed on the council’s planning website also states:

“This application is highly sensitive due to the wonderful historic townscape of Ripon, its proximity and relationship to Ripon Cathedral, and from the heritage value of the site itself.

“The proposal would make a positive contribution to the historic environment of Ripon, sitting appropriately in location and design terms with the townscape and cathedral, and beginning to rearticulate the original cathedral precinct. However, the loss of open space and trees would have a minor impact on heritage significance.

“We consider that many elements of the proposal are in line with those parts of the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) within our statutory remit.

“However, the NPPF also advises a need for an appropriate understanding of all heritage impacts before decisions are taken on applications. In this case, the archaeological impact of the proposal is unclear, and this issue needs to be resolved in advance of any planning decision.”

‘Unacceptable’

But Ripon Civic Society took a different view in its submission to the council. It said:

“While we do not disagree with the cathedral’s view that a new annex on the north side of the cathedral will contribute to the sustainable future of the cathedral and enhance the city of Ripon, we consider that siting an annex on Minster Gardens is unacceptable.”

The society added:

“The proposals in the application are unaltered from those we commented on in 2022.

“Ripon Civic Society wrote to the cathedral authorities in July 2022 supporting development on the north side of the Cathedral.

“We did not consider, however, that the proposed siting recognised the significance of Minster Gardens as an open space for the city, as set out in the Ripon Neighbourhood Plan that was agreed by referendum and adopted by Harrogate Borough Council as part of the Harrogate Local Plan.

“We therefore suggested the proper examination of the stone yard land for a redesigned building.”

To create space for the annex, the existing toilet block, outbuildings and a wall would need to be demolished and trees removed.

The civic society said:

“The trees that are proposed to be removed are an important part of the character of the conservation area, which would be severely lessened by their removal and replacement with a large building.

“We consider that a redesigned building in the stone yard would be an acceptable alternative.”

Read more:

• Dean says Ripon Cathedral quarter will bring more visitors to the city
• Ripon Civic Society calls for re-think on cathedral plan

The demolition of a block of four empty Ripon homes stricken by subsidence issues has been completed by a team of experts.

The properties at 1, 3 and 5 Bedern Court and 17 Skellgarths were evacuated in October 2020 after being declared unsafe for habitation.

The block was fenced off ready for the start of demolition in early February

Planning permission for their demolition was granted by Harrogate Borough Council in November and Dewsbury-based Hutchinson Demolition & Dismantling Ltd carried out a fortnight of preparatory work before starting to take the block down in early February.

Following successful completion of the task, site manager Ashley Hutchinson, told the Stray Ferret:

“Apart from a couple of days when we couldn’t work because of Storm Otto, everything has run smoothly and to schedule.”

A cherry picker was used so that the demolition team could remove the roof tiles and timbers and demolish the chimney stacks.

Mr Hutchinson added:

“The work was carried out by our team using hand-held tools for the majority of the demolition tasks, with a rubber tracked excavator brought in for the latter stages.”

With the demolition works complete, the final clear up of the site will be carried out over the next couple of days.

Roof tiles, bricks, timber and other materials have been removed for recycling.

Read more:

• Ripon Theatre Festival organisers reveal plans for this year’s event
• Plans approved to convert Ripon office block into flats

The Ripon Theatre festival is set to return in 2023 after a successful first year.

The event will run for five nights and  four days between June 7 and 11 and will feature both indoor and outdoor performances at venues across the city.

Festival director Katie Scott, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are aiming to build on the incredible first year response, which saw audiences of more than 2,500 people across four days.

“Another key aim is to make the festival as affordable and accessible as possible with a wide range of free entertainment popping up at locations across the city centre. Pop-up venues include the Market Place, Cathedral, Little Ripon Bookshop and Curzon Cinema as well as walkabout acts touring the streets of the city.”

Street performances proved popular at the 2022 festival

New this year is a dedicated family day in Ripon Spa Gardens on Sunday June 11, where everything will be free to watch. Events will include puppet shows, open-air theatre, community performances and hands-on activities.

Ms Scott, pointed out:

“As well as the weekend of pop up theatre and street entertainment, there will be a host of ticketed events at the wonderful studio space at Ripon Arts Hub, and a swashbuckling Robin Hood coming to Fountains Abbey with his merry men, courtesy of Illyria.

Fountains Abbey will provide a dramatic setting for Illyria’s performance of Robin Hood.

“The opening night, Wednesday June 7, will see young people leading the way as the festival works with the YMCA in promoting up-and-coming local theatre company Forget about the Dog with their intriguing show Happy Place.”

She added:

“The festival is also working with charity Ripon Dementia Forward to provide a sensory theatre show brought directly to two local and friendly community spaces.”

“Community performers are key to the weekend once again. Rehearsals start soon for the community cabaret event and Festival organisers also encourage any theatre groups, dance troupes, comedy acts or storytellers to get in touch if they’d like to take part in the pop-up events across the weekend.”

The festival is being supported by  businesses who are sponsoring and helping keep the it affordable. The main sponsor is Wolseley UK and other corporate sponsors include Specsavers, Elstob & Elstob, Econ Engineering, Valentino’s Ristorante and The Arcade Ripon.

Event details are available at www.ripontheatrefestival.org or follow on Facebook @ripontheatrefestival

Read more

• £1.2 million refurbishment announced for Ripon Police and fire station
• Plans approved for 1,300 homes at Ripon Barracks

A group that unsuccessfully lobbied Harrogate Borough Council in a bid to have a learner pool built in Ripon estimates that up to 1,000 of the city’s children have yet to be taught how to swim.

In 2018, before planning permission was granted  for construction of the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre, Ripon Pool Action Group (RPAG) called for a learner pool to be included in the multi-million pound development at Dallamires Lane.

Though that call was rejected, the group continues to highlight the need for families in Ripon to have public facilities available that are close at hand and affordable.

At the February meeting of Ripon City Council, RPAG secretary Tim Tribe and Andrea McAuslan presented the case for a learner pool to be included in any future plans that the new unitary authority North Yorkshire Council, may have for the development of leisure facilities in the city.

Mr Tribe said:

“We recognise that there are currently serious pressures on public finances. We are not asking for a learner pool to be built now, but we want to ensure that the new unitary authority is properly briefed on this situation.

“Ripon is the only place of its size in North Yorkshire with no learner pool. Thirsk, Tadcaster, Northallerton, Stokesley and Skipton all have separate pools and we ask how far do you think our children should travel to learn such an important life skill, when we live in an area surrounded by water?”

Mr Tribe added:

“We carried out a survey using Survey Monkey and this showed that there are circa 1,000 children in Ripon in need of swimming lessons.”

Because of the lack of a public learner pool in Ripon, Andrea and Ian McAuslan have been taking their five-year-old twins to Thirsk.

Ms McAuslan said:

“We have been making the 22-mile round trip and are fortunate that we can afford to do this, but many other families are not so lucky.

“Seeing how our children reacted when they realised that they could go in the little pool at Thirsk was a real eye opener. It has been great to see their confidence grow as they learn to swim while they play in the shallow water.”

Ms McAuslan, who is also chair of the junior section of the Ripon-based NYP TriStars, triathlon club, added:

“Quite apart from the need to teach children to swim in a city that has three rivers, a canal and other areas of water, it is a skill that is fundamental to opening up other avenues for them.”

Two well-known and well-used Ripon locations are awaiting repairs after sustaining damage in last week’s Storm Otto.

At the Workhouse Museum in Allhallowgate, part of a chimney stack was brought down by Friday’s high winds and at the nearby bus station, four perspex panels from the roof of a shelter were dislodged by the gale.

Both locations have been made safe and remain open for museum visitors and the travelling public.

The bus station shelter pictured before firefighters removed the damaged perspex roof panels

Helen Thornton, director of Ripon Museum Trust, told the Stray Ferret:

“Storm Otto damaged a lot of property in the district and part of a chimney stack on the west wing of the main workhouse building came down and made two holes in our roof, which have been covered with tarpaulin to minimise any rainwater damage.”

“We are in close touch with our insurers to get an appropriate and timely repair and, as a listed building, we will ensure that this is carried out sensitively, including re-using as much of the stonework as we can, getting the right chimney pot design and so on.”

The cordoned-off area at the Workhouse Museum

Ms Thornton added:

“We have cordoned off the area below the damaged roof and spoken to the other users of the site. Thankfully, we can remain open as usual to museum visitors, groups and schools.”

Following the damage to the roof panels in the bus station shelter, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue issued a statement saying:

“Ripon crews attended the bus station to make a bus shelter safe for the public. Large pieces of perspex had fallen off the roof. Crews removed all perspex using a ladder and small tools.”

A road linking Kirkby Malzeard and Masham has reopened three years after a collapsed section of wall caused its closure.

The reopening follows repair, reconstruction and reinforcement works costing almost £500,000 at the parish church of St Andrew in Kirkby Malzeard.

After heavy overnight rain in February 2020, part of the stone retaining wall for the churchyard fell onto Church Street, making it impassable.

The road, which runs past St Andrew’s and is part of a route from the village to Masham, remained closed up until last Thursday.

The reconstructed section of wall

Harrogate Borough Council initially earmarked £250,000 to fund the project, which was given planning approval in February 2022.

However, the final bill for the work was almost double that amount at £491,670 after council officials said the cost reflected the “volatile nature of the construction market at the moment”.

The increased cost  is being funded from the council’s investment reserves.

A report to the council urgency committee in May said:

“The work was not able to be contracted until the planning process was concluded and permissions put in place.”

The repair works which followed came after residents and parish councillors frustrated by the delays, urged the council to end the “farce” of the church wall.

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Read more:

• ‘End this farce’: Kirkby Malzeard wall to finally be rebuilt
• 1,300 home Ripon development looks set for approval

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The next step in an environmental initiative launched in late January by the community interest company Ripon Together will be taken on Monday (February 27).

The not-for-profit organisation, which has 150 members, brings people together on projects that improve Ripon.

A meeting starting at 7pm in Thorpe Prebend House, High St Agnesgate, is open to all who want to make Ripon a better place to live through the reduction of carbon impacts.

On the agenda will be plans for a Green Fair in the summer and discussion to agree how to take forward work in the areas of energy efficiency and renewables, waste, recycling and litter and nature, biodiversity and access.

Simon Hewitt, a Ripon Together director, said:

“The first meeting was great.  It was really well attended and lots of good ideas emerged.  We want to start real action to take those forward.

“That is what the second meeting is for and why we want as many people and bodies as possible to get there.  It would be great if people could spread the word and let us have their ideas on these issues either at the meeting or by emailing info@ripontogether.com”.

Mr Hewitt added:

“Lots of people are already doing their bit, whether it is litter-picking, recycling, path clearance or reducing their use of plastic or other packaging.  Ripon Together wants to bring groups together to make this even better, encourage more volunteering and tackle new challenges.”

Since the first meeting on January 30,  Ripon Together has bid for funding for a feasibility study into placing solar panels on many of the city’s schools and installing more charging points for electric vehicles.

Rubbish bins have been removed from Temple Gardens in Ripon in a bid to keep rats at bay.

Harrogate Borough Council has responsibility for the small, secluded gardens located off Allhallowgate and is following in the footsteps of Ripon City Council, which removed bins from the Quarry Moor car park after a rat infestation caused the temporary closure of the children’s playground on site.

After the vermin issue was eradicated the playground reopened in time for last year’s school holidays.

At the February full city council meeting, the council’s chief officer, Paula Benson said that there had been a problem with rats at Temple Gardens and pointed out:

“When the Quarry Moor bins were removed the rat population diminished.”

She added:

“If you have bins, you are going to have rats.”

Cllr Pauline McHardy said:

“The problem occurs when bins get full to overflowing with discarded bits of food and wrapping.

“We need to encourage people who go to Temple Gardens to have something to eat, to take their rubbish home with them or put it in more suitably-located bins.”

Councillors agreed to ask HBC to put improved signage in place asking users of the gardens to take their rubbish with them.

Read more:

• How rat infestation caused the temporary closure of a Ripon playground
• Lightwater Valley 10K to raise money for North Stainley school