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03
Oct
Ripley Town Hall named asset of community value
Ripley's grade two-listed town hall has been registered as an asset of community value by North Yorkshire Council.
The town hall, also known as the Hôtel de Ville, has been in community use since it was built in 1854.
It is currently used by more than 20 groups, including Ripley Live, which runs a live music programme at the venue, and Ripley Endowed Church of England Primary School, which serves school dinners there.
The Ripley Castle Estate is in the process of selling the town hall to Ripley Star Club, the social club that manages it.
The club, which was formed in 1948 for soldiers coming back from the war, was given the opportunity by Sir Thomas Ingilby to purchase the building for £400,000.
It aims to raise £55,000 towards the purchase and secure grants to make up the difference.
The club nominated the building to be considered for the council's assets of community value register.
The Localism Act 2011 introduced provisions for land or property of significant local importance to be protected from development by being listed as assets of community value.
The council's assessment of the Ripley application said three supporting letters were submitted by local residents, as well as a letter on behalf of the school, community, and a letter from Ripley Parish Council.
The parish council letter said:
The community use of the building is wider that just the Ripley parish and serves residents within the neighbouring parish areas including Nidd, Clint, Birstwith and Killinghall.
The letter from Ripley Endowed Church of England Primary School said that “the school would not be able to run operationally without the provision of the Hôtel de Ville.”
The council's assessment report stated that nominating the building was part of a scheme 'intended to give communities the opportunity to identify assets of community value and have them listed and, when they are put up for sale, have more time to raise finance and prepare a bid for them'.
The report concluded:
The information provided demonstrates significant actual uses of the Hôtel de Ville, Ripley, that are non-ancillary, and further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community.
The Stray Ferret contacted Ripley Star Club to ask what the decision meant for the sale.
Club secretary Andy Herrington said:
We hope it will help us with our grant applications. We could see that it was a community asset so we were quite confident that it would be accepted.
He added that the fundraiser has now reached £40,000, which means another £15,000 is needed to reach the target.
We asked Mr Herrington when the group could reasonably expect to purchase the town hall.
He replied:
Things are moving in the right direction, but it is best no to commit ourselves to a time frame.
To follow the progress of the sale or donate click here.
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