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12
Feb
With additional public consultation on Ripon Cathedral's controversial planning application starting at 3pm today (Monday, February 12), a leading campaigner has criticised the way the issue is being handled.
The cathedral “paused” its planning application to North Yorkshire Council for an £8 million new development on Minster Gardens last month in the wake of opposition from campaigners and local businesses.
It is hosting drop-in events this month and in March to allow people to ask about the plans, which would involve felling trees.
But Kevin Hill who, with his wife Liz, owns and runs a retail business on Kirkgate, fears the cathedral is determined to press ahead. He said:
The 11,000 sq ft M&S Ripon Foodhall is smaller than the proposed cathedral annexe.
Mr Hill added:
Computer generated images of the proposed building. Picture Ripon Cathedral Renewed
The proposed building's footprint will cover the toilets, tarmac and an adjacent area of Minster Gardens to the right.
Ripon resident Jenni Holman, who has raised a petition signed by more than 2,100, people calling for the trees and green space to be saved from development, said:
As revealed by the Stray Ferret, prior to last month's announcement of the planning application pause, Andrew Williams, the leader of Ripon City Council met with the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson and the cathedral's communications manager Michele Gee.
Following that meeting, which took place on January 9, Cllr Williams, said he had "suggested to the Dean that such public consultation would be best undertaken away from the cathedral itself".
The Stray Ferret raised the concerns of campaigners with the cathedral but had not received a response by the time of publication.
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