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12
Feb 2024
Campaigners' fears as Ripon Cathedral begins £8 million annexe consultation
With additional public consultation on Ripon Cathedral's controversial planning application starting at 3pm today (Monday, February 12), a leading campaigner has criticised the way the issue is being handled.
The cathedral “paused” its planning application to North Yorkshire Council for an £8 million new development on Minster Gardens last month in the wake of opposition from campaigners and local businesses.
It is hosting drop-in events this month and in March to allow people to ask about the plans, which would involve felling trees.
But Kevin Hill who, with his wife Liz, owns and runs a retail business on Kirkgate, fears the cathedral is determined to press ahead. He said:
The 11,000 sq ft M&S Ripon Foodhall is smaller than the proposed cathedral annexe.
Mr Hill added:
Computer generated images of the proposed building. Picture Ripon Cathedral Renewed
The proposed building's footprint will cover the toilets, tarmac and an adjacent area of Minster Gardens to the right.
Ripon resident Jenni Holman, who has raised a petition signed by more than 2,100, people calling for the trees and green space to be saved from development, said:
As revealed by the Stray Ferret, prior to last month's announcement of the planning application pause, Andrew Williams, the leader of Ripon City Council met with the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson and the cathedral's communications manager Michele Gee.
Following that meeting, which took place on January 9, Cllr Williams, said he had "suggested to the Dean that such public consultation would be best undertaken away from the cathedral itself".
The Stray Ferret raised the concerns of campaigners with the cathedral but had not received a response by the time of publication.
Consultation events calendar
Apart from an event between 9am and 12 noon at Ripon Town Hall on Thursday March 7, the other 21 events will be held at the cathedral. at the dates and times set out below.
February
- Monday 12, 3-5pm
- Thursday 15, 10am-12pm
- Saturday 17, 1-2.30pm
- Tuesday 20, 5-7pm
- Thursday 22, 2-4pm
- Friday 23, 10.30am-12.30pm
- Monday 26, 10am-12pm
- Wednesday 28, 10am-12pm
March
- Saturday 2, 2-4pm
- Tuesday 5, 5-7pm
- Thursday 7, 2-4pm
- Friday 8, 10.30am-12.30pm
- Monday 11, 3-5pm
- Wednesday 13, 10am-12pm
- Friday 15, 10.30am-12.30pm
- Monday 18, 5-7pm
- Tuesday 19, 3-5pm
- Sunday 24, 1-3pm
- Monday 25, 3-5pm
- Wednesday 27, 12-2pm
- Thursday 28, 1-3pm
Main picture: Campaigner Kevin Hill is seen on part of the Minster Gardens that, along with the toilet block and tarmacked area will be cleared for the proposed annexe
Read more:
- Ripon Cathedral announces next steps in annexe plan
- Trees still stand in the way of annexe plan
- Cathedral pauses controversial planning application
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