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22
Jan
Ripon Cathedral: Annexe supporters accuse objectors of ‘despicable’ tactics over safeguarding
Comments made by Ripon Civic Society objecting to the proposed annexe to Ripon Cathedral are “deeply regrettable”, “misleading” and “inappropriate”, according to members of a group set up to support the plans.
In a statement on behalf of the Cathedral Support Group, Meg Munn and Dennis Tarter expressed their “concern” over Ripon Civic Society’s submission opposing the annexe planning application, and said that using safeguarding as a "tool" to undermine the application was "despicable".
Ripon Civic Society has objected to plans for an annexe to the cathedral, pointing out that the new building would perform a variety of functions, one of which is a song school for a choir that includes 60 children and 12 teenagers.
It says that public access would be “uncontrolled”, with public toilets, a refectory and a shop sharing a single access with the song school.
It says:
We do not consider that it is acceptable from a safeguarding perspective to have a facility for a large number of children and young people within a mixed-use, publicly accessible building without a separated access.
For this reason alone, the design and location of the annexe requires a rethink.
An architect's impression of how the scheme would look.
But today's Cathedral Support Group statement gave a robust response. It said:
It is particularly disheartening to see safeguarding, a matter of utmost seriousness, being misused in this context.
It states that safeguarding is “not a matter for consideration within the framework of a planning application” and says that, since Ripon Civic Society is a body ‘dedicated to protecting and enhancing the historic buildings and environment of the cathedral city of Ripon’, “Safeguarding is not part of their remit”.
It continues:
Equally troubling is the conduct of some campaigners against the annexe who have also chosen to question safeguarding at Ripon Cathedral. These insinuations, based on uninformed views, are deeply regrettable and do a disservice to the hard work and commitment of those who uphold the highest safeguarding standards within the cathedral community.
To use safeguarding as a tool to undermine a planning application is not only misleading but undermines genuine efforts to protect children and vulnerable individuals.
Resorting to inappropriate tactics such as these is despicable and does nothing but sow mistrust and damage reputations unfairly.
As the Stray Ferret reported last week, the North Yorkshire Council consultation appears to show that public opinion on the proposed cathedral annexe is evenly split. Of more than 500 submissions made to the council about the development, 262 are in support and 260 are opposed.
Ripon City Council voted 7-1 against the current plans at a meeting last month, but North Yorkshire Council will have the final say.
Much of the controversy centres on the fact that about a dozen trees, including a veteran beech, would have to be cut down to make way for the new building.
Some 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for the trees to be saved.
Supporters of the plans have argued that the trees are of no historic importance and their loss would be offset by the planting of many more saplings.
The planning application, which was lodged by the Chapter of Ripon Cathedral in December 2022, is due to be decided upon by February 28.
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