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10
Dec
Was last night's 7-1 vote a fatal blow to Ripon Cathedral’s annexe?
Ripon Cathedral’s plans to build an £8 million annexe in Minster Gardens suffered a major blow last night when the city council overwhelmingly rejected the scheme.
Councillors voted 7-1 in favour of a motion saying they supported the cathedral’s ambitions, but the current proposals do not fully address concerns. You can read our live coverage of the packed meeting here.
The margin was wider than when the city council voted 4-3 to withdraw its support in principle for the scheme almost a year ago to the day.
That decision, along with a concerted campaign to save the trees under threat in Minster Gardens, prompted the cathedral to pause, consult and revise its plans for the annexe, which would include a cathedral choir school, café, toilets and disabled access.
Despite this, council support for the scheme has gone backwards. So is this the end of the road for the current plans?
The city council at the start of the meeting.
Historic England support
North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon planning committee will make the final decision on the scheme, probably in spring.
Ripon city councillors Andrew Williams and Barbara Brodigan sit on the committee, which is why they didn’t take part in last night’s discussion or vote.
The city council is one of many statutory consultees whose views will be considered by planning officers before they formulate an opinion.
A cathedral spokesperson pointed out today that other statutory consultees, including the non-departmental public body Historic England, had reached a different conclusion. They said:
The city council is a consultee, and the planning officers and committee will need to take their view into account.
Other consultees and regulators are very clear that this project should go ahead. These include Historic England, who have said: '...the opportunity to place Ripon Cathedral on a sustainable financial footing is a significant public benefit… this should be considered alongside other public benefits such as the sustaining of the Ripon choral tradition, the attraction of visitors to the cathedral and city, and the provision of community facilities.’
The cathedral’s plans have narrowly attracted more expressions of support than objections from members of the public on the council’s planning portal. As of today, there were 201 supporters and 190 objectors.
Things seemed to be going well for the pro-cathedral lobby last night when numerous heavyweight speakers during the one-hour public session extolled the benefits.
Richard Compton addresses the meeting.
Dean John Dobson, cathedral treasurer Andrew Kitchingman, Newby Hall owner Richard Compton and Guy Wilson, chair of Ripon Cathedral's fabric advisory committee, were among them.
Dean John said the scheme presented an opportunity to place Ripon Cathedral on a stable financial footing, provide more community facilities and and yield other significant public benefits to the city, such as more visitors.
The cathedral has previously warned it may have to introduce an entrance fee if the project doesn’t go ahead and Dean John concluded:
The cathedral belongs to us all and the church has made it clear it will not bale out insolvent cathedrals.
Rebecca Layton speaking at the meeting.
Old Deanery concerns
But the debate, well controlled by mayor Sid Hawke, who cut off everyone after their allotted two minutes, also heard impassioned pleas from objectors.
They included Old Deanery owner Rebecca Layton, who said the new development would be within metres of the venue and require the boundary wall to be rebuilt.
This will affect us. Who here wants to book a wedding, have a relaxing stay, or a fine dining meal next to a building site?
Once built, we will be overshadowed by a building over twice our size and as tall, if not taller, than us. The lovely views from our walled gardens will be replaced with a concrete block. There is also the uncertainty of what business might occupy the 'refectory', as we have heard the phrase 'soup and sandwiches café', yet also an events space needing an alcohol licence. Now, a rooftop terrace has been snuck into the plans.
If this does go ahead this could end the Old Deanery, and another cathedral asset will sit empty and degrading.
Jenni Holman, whose petition to save trees on Minster Gardens has attracted almost 3,000 signatures, said the scheme was not morally or ethical acceptable, adding:
We want you to have the facilities, but the church should not feel entitled to take form the community.
Cllr McHardy
After the public debate, the first councillor to speak — Pauline McHardy — backed the cathedral. But Cllr Peter Horton’s motion rejecting the current plans was then backed by seven votes to one, bringing the issue to an abrupt ends and drawing gasps, applause and groans among the 200-strong crowd.
'A powerful statement'
Afterwards, Ms Layton said people were overwhelmingly opposed to the loss of the trees and the “land grab” of the public space on Minster Gardens, and concerned about the impact on the Old Deanery.
A Save the Trees spokesperson hailed the decision as “a powerful statement from the council that the developer has failed to provide them with the information that they asked for almost a year ago”. They added:
Ripon City Council objected to the original plans and by sticking to this decision, they are demonstrating that they will not be bullied or intimidated by a large developer, which is a promising sign for the city.
It is also powerful that this decision protects Kirkgate Park — a designated listed Asset of Community Value. This well-used and well loved community space can continue to be a place of peace and thrive.
Kirkgate Park — a traditional name for Minster Gardens — is used by some campaigners. Even the language is contested.
The failure to attract the support of the parish council — which represents members of the public — was a devastating blow to the cathedral's current plans. Whether it proves fatal should be apparent by early next year.
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