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26
Nov
Objectors reject revised Ripon Cathedral annexe plans
Ripon Civic Society has said that revised plans for the cathedral’s proposed £8 million annexe development "remain unacceptable".
It is one of various groups that have raised doubts about the new plans, which we reported on here.
David Winpenny and Richard Taylor, who are co-chairs of the city's heritage watchdog, provided a brief statement to the Stray Ferret, which said:
Ripon Civic Society has taken a preliminary look at the compromise design put forward by the cathedral.
The changes do not go near to addressing our concerns. Retaining the bulk of the building in Kirkgate Park (Minster Gardens) and damaging the setting of the historic buildings around it remains unacceptable.
We shall be looking further at these plans and will give our detailed response by the deadline of December 12. We encourage others to do the same.
On November 17, the Stray Ferret published an article in which the Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd John Dobson, said he hopes people will ‘unite around’ the new plans for the standalone two-storey building which, if granted planning permission, will include a refectory, song school, gift shop, a Changing Places toilet and storage space.
An architect's perspective of Minster Road and the proposed annexe building.
The revised scheme has been heavily criticised by the Save the Trees campaign group, which has raised a petition of more than 2,800 signatures and was successful earlier this month in its nomination to have Minster Gardens listed as an asset of community value by North Yorkshire Council, which currently owns the public open space.
A spokesperson for the group, said:
After the city waited patiently for a year, we have finally been presented with revised plans from the developer which are not fit for purpose.
These proposals simply cannot be described as a compromise when they include plans to fell even more healthy, urban trees than before.
As many as 14 trees are now threatened, which would be a 27% increase in the number of mature trees that face the axe when compared with the previous annexe plan.
It's a complete own goal from the cathedral and demonstrates their inability to listen to and engage with the approximately 3,000 people who have formally objected to these plans.
The new tree report included as part of the revised application, indicates that there would be up to 16% damage to the root system of the veteran beech. It also claims that the piling method to retain the tree will be successful, despite a previous consultant report describing this method as being ‘impractical and unfeasible'.
Save the Trees campaigners have held a number of peaceful protests at Minster Gardens
It is noticeable that all these new plans, which offer material changes, have simply been tacked onto the original planning application, leaving the community in a mass of confusion as to which ones should be regarded as accurate and part of the actual application.
It is imperative to know: exactly how many trees will now be felled, as the new plans are contradictory.
People also need to know the dimensions of the revised annexe building- just how close will it be to the veteran beech and how much damage will there be to this scheduled ancient monument?
The revised plans which have been passed on to our legal team and other independent professionals for forensic review and evaluation.
This will allow the campaign team focused on protecting this conservation area to provide an expert, rigorous and detailed report on the possible heritage and environmental harm to present to the planning committee.
The plans appear to take no account of the fact that North Yorkshire Council has listed this site as an asset of community value and therefore, these new plans remain a hypothetical dream from the developer.
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Remembrance Garden
The impact of the proposed development on Minster Gardens is also of concern to Jeet Bahadur Sahi.
The former chair of the Ripon branch of the Royal British Legion, who was responsible for the creation of the Remembrance Garden, which was inaugurated at the site in 2018, said:
Prior to the submission of the original planning application for the annexe, Dean John called a meeting with myself, the branch president and treasurer, where the garden was discussed.
We were told if it needed to be moved from its current location, it would be ‘bigger and better.’
That was the outcome of the meeting and no further discussion has taken place since.
It is imperative that the garden is saved, not only for the Royal British Legion, but as a lasting reminder of the respect that Riponians show to the heroes who died for this country.
Jeet Bahadur Sahi, pictured at the remembrance garden with his wife Pia,
Kevin Hill, who owns and runs the Karma clothing and gift boutique on Kirkgate with his wife, Liz, said:
In the spirit of compromise, I tried to work with the cathedral by submitting a plan that would have reduced the size of the cafe in the annexe building and enabled a number of the important trees to be saved.
Having looked at the revised plans on the planning portal, it's clear that my suggestions have not been taken on board and the annexe at its proposed size continues to pose a threat, not only to the trees, but also the local economy and especially hospitality businesses operating on Kirkgate.
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