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13
Dec 2024
Former Archbishop of Canterbury withdraws Ripon Cathedral annexe objection
Former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has withdrawn his objection to Ripon Cathedral’s proposed £8 million annexe plan.
The Stray Ferret previously reported that Dr Williams had urged the cathedral to “think again” about plans to fell 11 trees, including a veteran beech, to make space for a two-storey annexe building on Minster Gardens.
His comments, which you can read here, were interpreted by some as opposition to the development, which would include a choir school, cafe, toilets and disabled access.
Dr Williams later said in correspondence with stakeholders shared by the Cathedral Support Group that it was “deeply troubling to see that comments I made in good faith have inadvertently contributed to a divisive atmosphere”.
Now, Dr Williams, who was archbishop from 2002 to 2012, has withdrawn his opposition to the controversial proposals.
In an email to Gerard Walsh, of North Yorkshire Council’s planning department, he said he “would not maintain my opposition in the light of adjustments more recently made”.
The correspondence, which has been published on the council’s planning portal, says:
I am writing in connection with the continuing debate over the cathedral's development plans.
A couple of months ago, I wrote to express my concerns about these plans, on the basis of the information then available to me. Since then, I have had a good deal of interaction with various parties in Ripon, and have seen the latest version of what is proposed.
This version seems to me to meet most of the concerns expressed earlier, and I would not want to maintain my opposition in the light of adjustments more recently made, and in the light of the advantage to both cathedral and city offered by the proposals.
I am content to withdraw my earlier objection.
The Ripon City Council meeting in December 2024.
The decision led the spokesperson of the Cathedral Support Group, Meg Munn, to accuse the councillors of “cowardice” and “shameful” behaviour.
Her comments provoked anger from some members of the council, two of whom served in the military.
Ms Munn today told the Stray Ferret that she stood by her comments.
North Yorkshire Council will determine whether to accept the planning application, probably in spring next year.
Its planning portal has so far received 208 expressions of support for the scheme and 195 objections. Almost 3,000 people have signed a petition opposing it, and calling for the trees to be saved in Minster Gardens.
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