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    26

    May 2021

    Last Updated: 26/05/2021
    Community
    Community

    Harrogate council threatens vicar with criminal charges in planning row

    by Connor Creaghan

    | 26 May, 2021
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    The council says a stone plaque on the wall of a church that is a listed building must be removed. But Reverend Darryl Hall believes the wall is not part of the listed structure and the plaque, which has been widely praised for its design, should remain.

    plaque-row
    Reverend Darryl Hall is in a planning dispute with Harrogate Borough Council.

    Harrogate Borough Council has threatened a vicar with criminal charges in a planning row over a stone plaque at a church near Pateley Bridge.

    Reverend Darryl Hall became embroiled in the dispute after parishioner and builder Carl Foxton made the plaque, along with several others for sites across the Harrogate district.

    Mr Foxton, who is in his late 70s, made this latest plaque to welcome people to Bewerley Grange Chapel, which was built by Marmaduke Huby, the abbot of Fountains Abbey from 1495-1526

    Mr Foxton's work can be found attached to the wall outside the church, which is a listed building.

    Revd Hall believes the wall is not part of the listed structure of the church and therefore the plaque should stay but the council disagrees.



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    Andrew Lancashire, the council's planning enforcement officer, has written to Revd Hall requesting the plaque's removal. Mr Lancashire wrote:

    "The Local Planning Authority consider that this work is a criminal offence under section 9 of the Planning Act 1990.
    "I am requesting that the plaque is removed, including all stone work to construct it and that the wall is repaired and put back to how it was.
    "I have consulted with the Council Heritage Officers and there is no support to retain the plaque."


    The letter goes on to give the vicar until May 31 to respond, otherwise the council has said it will be forced to take formal action.

    Revd Hall, who is the Dales Vicar in Upper Nidderdale, told the Stray Ferret:

    "I was blown away by the plaque, it is stunning. We would like to have something that welcomes people here.
    "So it is frustrating. To think that I am going to have to go to Carl and tell him that it will have to come down.
    "When I read the letter I was absolutely shocked. A criminal offence? It's a beautiful piece of art, I have not heard anyone say anything bad about it. I have lost sleep over this row."


    A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

    "The stone plaque has been installed in a wall that forms part of a listed building.
    "This is an offence under the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Area) Act 1990 and must therefore be removed."