Ripon Cathedral annexe: big turnout expected at key meeting tonight

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A large turnout is expected tonight when Ripon City Council discusses one of the city’s most important and divisive planning applications for years.

Ripon Cathedral submitted plans in 2022 to build an annexe on Minster Gardens.

It says the building, which would include a cathedral choir school, café, toilets and disabled access and cost an estimated £8 million, is long overdue.

But the plans have proved controversial, particularly because they would involve the loss of trees, including a veteran beech.

The cathedral submitted revised plans last month. The decision on whether to approve them will be taken by North Yorkshire Council but the city council’s view could prove influential, which is why tonight’s meeting is so keenly anticipated.

The city council has moved the venue from the town hall to Holy Trinity Church on Kirkby Road to accommodate the anticipated extra interest from members of the public. It has written a note, which you can read here, for anyone wishing to attend.

North Yorkshire Council has so far received 374 public comments, of which 199 approve and 164 object to the scheme.

But more than 2,800 people have signed a petition organised by the Save the Trees campaign group opposing the development. The group has also managed to get Minster Gardens listed as an asset of community value by North Yorkshire Council, which currently owns the public open space.

The Stray Ferret will attend tonight’s meeting and plans to run a live blog providing updates as they happen. To follow the blog, make sure you subscribe here.