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28
Jul 2020
The Mayor of Ripon has denounced a £46.8 million investment in Harrogate Convention Centre as a waste of money which will not benefit people elsewhere in the district.
It comes as senior councillors on the borough council will decide on Wednesday whether to spend £1 million to develop plans for the upgrade and spend £155,000 over three years to appoint a project manager.
A confidential cabinet report leaked to the Stray Ferret warns the HCC “will not survive” unless councillors approve a £46.8 million project, which includes full renovation of the venue.
Cllr Eamon Parkin, independent mayor of Ripon, said the city and its residents will not benefit from the investment. He added that few visit the convention centre.
Cllr Parkin said:
He added that the HCC suffered from better events and entertainment being held at Leeds Arena.
Meanwhile, opposition Liberal Democrat councillors said years of underinvestment has damaged the HCC and council officials need to “bite the bullet” and invest in the venue.
Pat Marsh, leader of the Lib Dems and board member at the HCC, said the future of the centre was a stark decision between spending money on the centre and walking away from it.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Cllr Marsh said people will still want to meet at events in person and attend conferences which the HCC needed to be prepared for.
But, she added that any move to spend money on the centre needed to be value for money for taxpayers.
Cllr Marsh said:
Harrogate Borough Council was approached for comment to respond to the concerns of those in the wider district, but did not respond.
However, the authority has always maintained that the venue has a benefit to the district and that the renovation will help to improve the economy.
Cllr Graham Swift, cabinet member for economic development, said last week:
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