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12
Nov
Urgent motion seeks support to retain Ripon's military heritage
An urgent notice of motion seeking support for the retention of priceless military heritage assets at the Ripon barracks site will come before tomorrow's full meeting of North Yorkshire Council
Government housing agency Homes England, which has outline planning consent for the 1,300-home development known as Clotherholme, has failed to give any assurances it will preserve unique huts and other structures.
The huts, which are in danger of being bulldozed, are the last of their kind that could be preserved as a group. In the Second World War they housed the staff of the School of Military Engineering and those who came to Ripon to be trained in bomb disposal and other skills.
The notice of motion proposed by Ripon Minster and Moorside division councillor Andrew Williams and seconded by Cllr Nick Brown, who represents the Wathvale and Bishop Monkton division, says:
This council welcomes the efforts made by the Ripon Military Heritage Trust in seeking to protect the military heritage that exists on the land contained within (the) planning application
The council also notes the decision by the strategic planning committee on 14 May 2024 was to include a condition (namely an amended condition 47) which provides for a report to be submitted for approval identifying the investigation, feasibility and deliverability of a heritage strategy covering the potential retention of military heritage assets.
This report is to be brought to the committee for consideration at first reserved matters stage.
Whilst the ultimate decision on whether to approve the report pursuant to condition 47 will be for the strategic planning committee, the council supports the applicant and developers being encouraged to give consideration in the preparation of the report to addressing the military heritage across the whole of the site and to the allocation of land in recognition of military heritage that currently exists.
Huts at Ripon Barracks Pic: Ripon Military Heritage Trust
Cllr Williams said:
Currently, no area of land has been allocated within the site for the heritage assets and as time is of the essence, we have requested that the chairman consents to the motion being debated tomorrow.
This is a live matter and discussions are ongoing between the parties so delaying until our meeting in February to resolve on it would not assist the current process.
Ripon Military Heritage Trust launched a campaign in May, backed by the Stray Ferret, to save a group of army barracks buildings that are due to be removed as part of the 1,300-home Clotherholme development.
The buildings would be re-purposed for community use and used to interpret and commemorate Ripon’s rich military history.
As part of the campaign, the trust and the Stray Ferret organised a petition urging North Yorkshire Council to support the initiative and more than 1,000 signatures were gathered within a matter of weeks.
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