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11
Dec
‘Shameful cowards’ — pro-cathedral group’s comments spark unholy row in Ripon
Ripon councillors have hit back after a group that supports the cathedral's £8 million annexe plans accused them of “cowardice” and “shameful” behaviour.
Ripon City Council rejected the cathedral’s latest plans to build the annexe by seven votes to one on Monday night.
After an hour-long public debate, councillors quickly voted for a motion put forward by Cllr Peter Horton saying they supported the cathedral’s ambitions, but the current proposals did not fully address concerns.
The Stray Ferret published a live blog at the packed meeting — you can read that here and a reaction to the decision here.
The apparently pre-prepared motion, plus the fact that many of the councillors did not give their views for supporting it, prompted a stinging attack by the Cathedral Support Group, which was set up to back the Minster Gardens scheme.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Meg Munn said:
This is a major and important planning application for Ripon. It is astonishing that most of the councillors had nothing to say and did not explain the reasons for their vote. It was a display of cowardice, not worthy of those in elected office.
It appears that seven councillors had decided ahead of the meeting on this course of action. They did not come to listen to the public or debate the merits or otherwise of the application — a shameful way to treat the public, both supporters and opponents.
The Stray Ferret contacted the cathedral this afternoon (December 11) to ask whether it and Dean John Dobson endorsed the views of the group, which claims to be independent of the cathedral. We have not yet had a response.
Minster Gardens
'We tried to be even-handed'
The council includes two former Royal Engineers and a former firefighter.
Cllr Horton, who served in the Royal Engineers, said he resented the cowardice allegation, and added any decision was bound to upset people given the strong views for and against the scheme.
He said:
Of course I listened to the public at the open meeting, but we have a responsibility to act in the interests of Ripon at large and not simply in the interests of the cathedral, albeit a significant part of the city. I know that my fellow councillors have had the opportunity to study the latest proposals in detail from a massive planning brief supplied and have broadly come to the same conclusions.
In appreciating that the cathedral and their advisers have put substantial effort into producing the latest design it was felt that it still did not meet the objections. The brief still contained proposals to trim the canopy of the veteran beech tree and there are concerns about the construction process and the effect that possible pile-driving will have on this tree and others in Minster Gardens.
Cllr Horton added the council “would be happy to offer our support to suitably revised plans”, adding: “The council has tried to be even-handed on this issue, taking into account all the views expressed, and I would ask all these people who cast aspersions to think how they might perform better in the difficult role of councillor.”
Historic England has requested further 'realistic architectural representation' so it can give definitive advice on the proposed annexe
Council leader Andrew Williams and Cllr Barbara Brodigan did not take part in the debate or vote as they are also North Yorkshire councillors, who will have the final say on the scheme, probably in spring next year.
But speaking about the Cathedral Support Group’s comments, Cllr Williams said:
I find the remarks deeply saddening, very unchristian and wholly inappropriate for the season we are supposed to be in. Christmas is supposed to be about goodwill to all.
I suspect the dean would like to distance himself from such remarks. They are a personal attack on members of the council who give freely of their time to represent the local community. It’s a democracy and people have the right to exercise their free will and judgment.
Asked whether councillors should have told the audience why they opposed the schemes, Cllr Williams said Cllrs Horton and Jackie Crozier had commented and the decision was based on the facts that had been presented during what had been a “civilised” hour-long public debate.
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