Readers’ Letters: Ripon Cathedral should take over an empty shop instead of building an annexe

Readers’ Letters is a free weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

A week seldom goes by at the Stray Ferret without receiving a letter about Ripon Cathedral’s controversial annexe plans. This week is no exception. This reader suggests the cathedral could instead take on a vacant city-centre unit to bring its annexe plans to life.

Attached is a photo of an empty building in the centre of Ripon. It is within close walking distance of the cathedral. 

Ripon, as everyone who knows it will be aware, is a city steeped in history. One consequence of that is that it has, unfortunately, a large number of very old, empty buildings which nobody seems to know what to do with. This building (pictured below) is just one example.

As these buildings are old and in need of work, it makes them complicated and costly to redevelop. Would it not be a truly visionary initiative and a very foresighted scenario if one of these old buildings could be put to use by the cathedral to provide the space needed? Given that many of these old buildings have a huge square footage, there would seem to be ample opportunity for the cathedral to have much, if not all, of the space it says it needs.

I recognise that an element of compromise has been offered and the veteran oak tree would be retained under the most recent plans. Many of the other trees are still to be felled. There will still be a very significant impact to this beautiful area of peace and tranquility if the most recent plans go ahead. I recognise that certain things are very important to have near to or at the cathedral itself – like adequate toilet facilities. 

But couldn't the choir school and the required storage facilities be accommodated in one of these lovely, old buildings? It would make such a large extension adjacent to the cathedral unnecessary. 

Should the cathedral really be cutting down trees and losing a beautiful area of green space to provide storage? Likewise the proposed shop and café. There always seems to be empty shops and charity shops available for let in the arcade between the back of Sainsburys and the market square. I do not understand why an area so close to the cathedral cannot  - with some vision and imagination – be put to good use to accommodate the necessary shop and café. This would also have the very desirable effect of encouraging visitors to the cathedral and to walk into the city itself.

A plan of this sort may not be so exciting for the architects or for those who support the current plans, but it would be of enormous benefit to the city to put one of these buildings to good use. It would also revitalise the pedestrian arcade that continually seems to be struggling to survive. 

I would have thought such a plan would be well-supported without causing the upset and bad feeling currently present in the community. 

The other aspect of this situation which does not seem to be being discussed is the cost. An estimated cost of £8 million was anticipated two years ago. It will inevitably be more now. Much of this I understand is to be raised by fundraising. Can this really be justified in the current financial climate if there are more cost-effective solutions available? 

Does the most recent version of the scheme still represent good value for money? Presumably the church – like everyone else – has to look at making the best use of its resources and make savings where it can. 

Caroline Hatton, Birstwith

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