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Sept 2022

Last Updated: 30/09/2022

Community

Progress in Knaresborough museum plan after lease dispute with council

by Vicky Carr

| 30 Sept, 2022

Knaresborough Museum Association has been offered a year-long rent-free period on the ground floor of the former Castle Girls' School building as it bids to open the museum next year.

Progress could finally be made in plans for a Knaresborough museum next month after "protracted" negotiations with Harrogate Borough Council.

Knaresborough Museum Association (KMA) said it had been offered a year-long rent-free period on the ground floor of the former Castle Girls' School building, while it spent money refurbishing the rooms and setting up the museum.

However, when the proposed lease was delivered in the spring, the rent-free period was set begin on April 1, even though the rest of the details had yet to be agreed and there were several more months of negotiation ahead.

KMA chair Kathy Allday said:

"They set the start date at April 1. They just made that decision, we had no forewarning.

"We were really upset, because we thought it was going to be a genuine rent-free period. We're going to have to start paying rent before the museum is open and bringing in money."

Harrogate Borough Council argued it had been "completely supportive" of the plans for a long period. A spokesperson said:

“Despite a successful Knaresborough castle and museum already existing in the town, we have been completely supportive of the museum group and have worked tirelessly to help accommodate their endeavours.

“A rent commencement date was agreed at the start of the negotiations, something the group were fully aware of. We have also kept the building vacant for them for more than two years while they finalise their plans – at a time when another community group or organisation could have rented the building – as well as agreeing to a concessionary rent over the first five years of the lease."

Knaresborough Museum plan given go-ahead

Greggs to open shop in Knaresborough

The group said it had disputed a clause which obliged it to pay £12,000 to the council in order to take up a single parking space to install a lift to create an accessible entrance. After negotiation, the fee was reduced to £6,000.

Ms Allday added:

"Elsewhere, when parking spaces have been used, for example for bicycle racks by the town council, they didn't have to pay a fee.

"The entrance is actually a fire escape route and there's a fire escape used by the tenant above, the Scouts. [The council] have plonked two car parking spaces right underneath it."

The council spokesperson said the fire escape was fully compliant with regulations. He also said the charge for the parking space was £6,000 over 10 years, equating to less than £2 per day.

He added:

“We have a responsibility to look after and maintain our assets to generate funds and help support the delivery or frontline services, while also supporting community groups.

"And sadly, despite working extensively with this group and offering them a significant number of incentives to use this building – that could otherwise be occupied by another group for the benefit of the town – they continue to be dissatisfied with what has already been agreed.”

Despite the disagreements, more than six months on from its official start date, the lease should be agreed in the next few weeks.

Fundraising has been slower than expected because of the covid pandemic. Costs have also risen, meaning the association is still fundraising to ensure the project will be completed.

Staff from Succession Wealth in Harrogate have volunteered to help with the preparatory work for the project and KMA is keen to hear from anyone else who can help.

An artist's impression of how the museum's exhibits could look

Planning permission has already been granted to improve the building and work is expected to begin in the new year.

The museum will feature a replica Marigold boat, a 3D model of Nidd Gorge in prehistoric times, a wartime Knaresborough display featuring part of a Nissan hut, and plenty of interactive elements.

Ms Allday said:

"Knaresborough has been hiding much of its geology, archaeology and social history under a bushel resulting in much of the town’s history not being told.

"By showcasing the amazing geology and archaeology of the town along with its fascinating social history, Knaresborough Town Museum will complement and dovetail with what is displayed at the Court House Museum.

"It is a really exciting opportunity for the two museums to complement each other and we hope by continuing to engage with HBC’s museum service that the benefits of a new heritage quarter for Knaresborough can be realised."

KMA hopes the Knaresborough Town Museum will open in late summer 2023.

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Progress in Knaresborough museum plan after lease dispute with council

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