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15
Mar 2022
Proceeds from the sale of Ripon's Spa Baths 'must not go to Harrogate'
Ripon city councillors are determined that proceeds from the sale of Ripon Spa Baths must not go to the soon-to-be-defunct Harrogate Borough Council.
A 'for sale' sign remains in place at the baths, a listed building that was once the centrepiece of Ripon's Edwardian spa quarter.
The baths permanently closed on November 7, four months before the delayed opening of Ripon's new multi-million pound pool at Dallamires Lane.
The building was put on the market by Harrogate Borough Council after being deemed to be 'surplus to requirements'.
Ripon councillors are adamant that money from the sale of Spa Baths should not go to Harrogate Borough Council.
Ripon City Council successfully applied for the building to be listed as an asset of community value — which means the community has six months to formulate a bid to buy it.
At the same time, Harrogate Borough Council, which will be abolished in 13 months, has selected an unnamed preferred bidder to take on the building.
The city council has continued to meet with the preferred developer to discuss the site's future use.
It said the two parties have held 'constructive discussions' designed to maintain community use at the site as part of wider redevelopment proposals.
Independent Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams received unanimous support from members at last week's full council meeting for a proposal to appoint consultants, who will advise the council on progressing the ACV application.
He said:
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The return of assets
Ripon, along with other parish and town councils that became part of the Harrogate district in 1974, have been seeking the transfer back of assets ranging from halls to market squares.
However, a notice of motion to this effect presented at February's full Harrogate Borough Council meeting by Ripon independent councillor Pauline McHardy was defeated after a stormy debate by the Conservative-controlled authority.
At that meeting, Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper said the motion “simply isn’t legal'”.
He said that the borough council itself can not produce takeover plans for its own buildings to be run by local councils.
At the meeting, Cllr Cooper expressed doubts about the ability of town and parish councils to manage and operate assets, but added Harrogate Borough Council was:
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