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Oct 2023

Last Updated: 17/10/2023

Politics

Historic deal will see Ripon end years of neglect from Harrogate, says councillor

by John Plummer

| 17 Oct, 2023

A "historic" deal is set to unshackle Ripon from years of neglect by councillors in Harrogate, it was claimed today.

North Yorkshire Council's ruling executive agreed to set up a project team to oversee Ripon people taking control of Ripon Town Hall, the market place and car park, public toilets and the Wakeman’s House.

The assets were controlled by Harrogate Borough Council until it was abolished in April.

North Yorkshire Council agreed to trial local management as part of its commitment to what its Conservative leadership calls "double devolution".

Councillor Andrew Williams, a member of the Conservative and Independents group who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside, praised the move at today's meeting and launched an eviscerating attack on Harrogate Borough Council.

He said:

"This is for Ripon potentially a historic day in the building of a more constructive relationship with the unitary authority than it had previously with a rather fractured relationship that existed with Harrogate Borough Council."

'More grass on market than centre court at Wimbledon'

Cllr Williams said Ripon's poor relationship with Harrogate led the city council to formulate "ambitious and complex" plans to take control of assets. He added:

"They all interlink to develop the central area of Ripon, which has sadly been neglected for some time.

"If you look at the Wakeman’s House that we are hoping to take ownership of, no work has been undertaken on that for over 10 years. The lease income from the business in there has been spent elsewhere.

"Ripon Town Hall last had maintenance carried out on it in 2004 when the queen visited."

Laughter was heard when Cllr Williams added:

"The market place will soon have more grass growing on it than the centre court at Wimbledon."

He then criticised the decision to close public toilets at 9pm when the city encouraged visitors to watch the nightly hornblower ceremony. He added:

"We firmly believe Ripon people know Ripon better than anybody else and know best how to make it a success rather than it currently is, which is underachieving its potential.

"The people of Ripon and the council are firmly behind the principle of double devolution."

Cllr Barbara Brodigan, a Liberal Democrat who represents Ripon Ure Bank and Spa, told the meeting she endorsed Cllr Williams' comments.

The executive agreed unanimously to proceed with the proposals.

Knaresborough also set for more local control

North Yorkshire Council invited town and parish councils to submit expressions of interest to run local assets in November last year.

Harrogate was excluded from the process because it doesn't have a town council and moves to set one up have been delayed by local Conservatives.

Twelve parish councils submitted expressions of interest.

Knaresborough Town Council and Ripon City Council were among those selected to advance their proposals, with a view to formally taking over on April 1 next year.

Knaresborough bid to manage the markets and assets associated with managing the market, such as road closure signs and tables.

But Little Ouseburn’s proposal to take charge of grass cutting of the green area outside Broomfield Cottages.was rejected because it "did not evidence legal competence".

The Ripon Inn opens today after multi-million pound refurbishment

14 Harrogate town centre flats to go on market

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Historic deal will see Ripon end years of neglect from Harrogate, says councillor

'More grass on market than centre court at Wimbledon'

Knaresborough also set for more local control

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