Ripon City Council rejected the cathedral's revised plans to build an £8 million annexe building on Minster Gardens at its monthly meeting tonight. Although the final decision rests with North Yorkshire Council, the city council's verdict tonight is a major blow to the cathedral's plans. 

Here's what happened.

7.53pm: Big blow to cathedral - but final decision rests on North Yorkshire Council

Tonight's vote was a major blow to the cathedral's hopes. The final decision will reside with North Yorkshire Council, the local planning authority, next year, but the scheme's failure to attract the support of the city council will be noticed.

The 7-1 vote was even more emphatic than a year ago, when the city council withdrew its support for the then application by a single vote.

Look for further coverage soon.

7.41pm: Council votes 7-1 to reject plans

Cllr Peter Horton proposes the council writes to North Yorkshire Council supporting the cathedral's ambition but saying the proposed building does not fully meet concerns and therefore a further redesign, perhaps utilising more space in the stonemason’s yard, should be considered by the cathedral.

"In effect I am saying we cannot support it as it stands this time."

The motion is passed by seven votes to one. This is a more emphatic rejection than last time.

7.34pm: First councillor to speak supports cathedral

Cllr Pauline McHardy says councillors are in a very difficult position but says she is in favour:

"I support the cathedral in this because we do need the facilities being offered. The cathedral have bent over backwards trying to appease everybody and it’s never going to work. A lot of people don’t ever want it to happen."

7.25pm: Closing comments from public

Final points are raised about a climate emergency and safeguarding, and a former chorister says choristers need better facilities but he opposes these plans.

Here are photos of some of tonight's speakers.

7.20pm: 'Ripon's 'little treasures of green'

Clare Humphries, who has lived in Ripon for over 40 years, says the city has "little treasures of green that have a beautiful impact on us all" and she would be very sad to see that go in Minster Gardens.

Georgina Heaton, the next speaker, adds:

"The cathedral can have everything it needs. It doesn’t need to be on Minster Park."

7.12pm: Cathedral 'vulnerable' to potential catastrophic fire

Guy Wilson, chair of Ripon Cathedral's fabric advisory committee, says the building is  "vulnerable to a potential catstrophic fire" and cannot properly exhibit its treasures because it is so crammed. 

He says this imposes "real restraints on the work of the cathedral" and the present proposal is the the only practical way to meet the cathedral's needs and deliver tangible public benefits.

7pm: Petition organiser Jenni Holman: "Objections remain"

Jenni Holman, whose petition to save the trees has attracted nearly 3,000 signatures, says Kirkgate Park "belongs to the people of Ripon, not the cathedral, and I think they forget that".

Ms Holman adds the scheme would primarily benefit the cathedral and would be certain to cause permanent damage to the veteran beech as well as other historic trees in the park.

Planting new trees won't be adequate compensate, she adds, and says the 300 trees being planted in mitigation won't be planted at Studley, as has been suggested.

The scheme, she says, is not morally or ethically acceptable, adding:

"We want you to have the facilities but the church should not feel entitled to take form the community."

6.50pm: Dean John speaks

Cathedral treasurer Andrew Kitchingman extolls the economic benefits to the city, and concludes: "These are real numbers and very significant in the context of the city."

Dean John, standing at the back, then has his say. He says there would be more green space and the veteran beech will remain. "Only 16% of its roots would be affected," he says, adding:

"The opportunity to place Ripon Cathedral on a stable financial footing is a significant public benefit alongside other significant public benefits, eg attracting more visitors to the city and more community facilities."

He concludes:

"The cathedral belongs to us all and the church has made it clear it will not bale out insolvent cathedrals."

6.45pm: Old Deanery owner's concerns

Old Deanery owner Rebecca Layton says it pays rent to the cathedral yet the annexe would extend right up to its boundary and require the demolition of a wall. Who wants to book a wedding or meal next to a building site, she asks. Ms Layton adds if the scheme goes ahead it could end the Old Deanery but if it doesn't it won't end the cathedral. She concludes: "Tourists mainly come to the cathedral for the architecture and they will continue to come."

6.41pm: Newby Hall owner supports cathedral

Richard Compton, owner of Newby Hall and chair of Ripon BID, extolls the commercial benefits of the scheme on the wider Ripon economy. He says: "Now is the time for Ripon to play its trump card and use it’s cathedral for the benefit of the city. It’s time we unleash the pulling power of the cathedral." 

A volunteer guide at the cathedral echoes his support for the development.

6.38pm: 'We are not anti-cathedral but we are pro-Ripon.'

Nick Heaton says everyone agrees with the cathedral's need for new facilities but not at the expense of Minster Gardens. He adds the economic impact still isn’t truly known and there is no timeframe for reaching targets. The planned café has got larger, he says, adding: "We are not anti-cathedral but we are pro-Ripon."

6.32pm: Toilets issue raised

Retired John Mellor says at least six coach companies have regular weekly visits to Ripon and the lack of toilets is a "major factor in persuading coach companies to only spend a modest time in Ripon". He adds: "It’s a tragedy if this council stands in the way of a plan which if adopted will lead to visitors spending more time here to the benefit of residents and traders." 

6.25pm: Cathedral debate begins

After some other council business, the debate turns to the annexe, which will be discussed for one hour.

Mayor Sid Hawke introduces the item by saying: "This is the one you've been waiting for."

Cllrs Williams and Brodigan step down from the debate.

6.10pm: Council leader appeals for 'respectful discussion'

Council leader Andrew Williams said he had received some messages urging him to persuade fellow councillors to vote one way or another. He said this would be "wholly inappropriate" and councillors will be "voting on their own conscience".

Neither he nor Cllr Barbara Brodigan will vote as they also sit on North Yorkshire Council, which will ajudicate on the proposals. But he said:

"Cleary this is an item that has caused much division and what the city would benefit most from is a respectful discussion and not a heated argument."

6.06pm: Meeting begins

Somebody in the audience joked it's like being at a wedding, with the two sides sitting on opposite sides of the building. 

5.56pm: What's at stake?

For a reminder of why so many people are here on this winter's evening, read this recent article.

5.46pm: Venue filling up

There's getting on for 100 people here, with 15 minutes to go before the meeting is due to begin. A note on seats says members of the public will be given up to two minutes to express their views. They are asked to 'remain courteous and respectful'.

Let us know in the comments section below your views on the proposal and tonight's meeting.