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.
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But, the decision has raised concern among those in the wider district who feel that the investment is centred on what economic benefit can be increased in Harrogate and not in the surrounding areas.
Cllr Eamon Parkin, Mayor of Ripon.
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:
“It’s an obscene amount of money.
“We never benefit from it here in Ripon. In my opinion, there is never anything worth going to.
“My background is in entertainment and a building like that should be attracting big names, but there is never anything on. I think it is shambolic.”
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:
“It is a stark decision between investing in the centre or selling it and walking away.
“It is valuable to the local economy. We have to bite the bullet and unless someone can come forward with another way, I cannot see any other way than investing for our people.
“What we need to do is make sure that there is value for money. We have got to make sure that this investment is key for the taxpayer.”
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:
“Harrogate Convention Centre makes such an important contribution to the district’s economy.
“It is central to the viability of many hundreds of businesses and our recent experience of lockdown shows just what a positive difference it makes locally.
“Redeveloping the centre will make it a much more flexible space that can attract a broader customer base and will have the potential to substantially increase its economic contribution.
“It will also enable us to create a unique facility we can all be proud of which also attracts new events to Harrogate, the district and North Yorkshire.
“I hope my fellow councillors will support this initial investment that will enable us to get the ball rolling on design and construction plans.”
