Temple Gardens, a small garden off Allhallowgate, is set to receive repairs and upgrades to improve security and open up its views.

The proposals submitted by North Yorkshire Council were unanimously accepted by the Skipton and Ripon planning committee at a meeting on Monday (September 2).

The council, which owns the site, applied to itself for permission to undertake the work.

The site was once the home of a church that was erected in 1818 by the West Riding Home Missionary Society, which relocated in 1871 to North Street. In 1986 to celebrate 1,100 years since the city received its charter from King Alfred, the graveyard was laid out as a garden, though several graves still remain.

Described as a “green oasis of open space” by the Ripon Conservation Area, the garden has been a site of anti-social behaviour.

To increase security and make the garden more visible from the street, six Leylandii trees will be felled. When questioned about further planting to compensate for the loss of the trees, the committee drew attention to the existing trees that will remain untouched and the limited space due to the gravestones.

Further security improvements include the installation of two CCTV cameras at the north and south entrances.

The ivy up the side of the neighbouring buildings is also set to be cut back to improve visibility.

Also included in the proposal is the removal of broken benches, gates and timber fencing. These are set to be replaced by iron fencing and installing recycled plastic boarding to replace broken benches but retaining any existing metal bases.

Several objections were raised over the removal of trees as they screen surrounding buildings and the need to lock the access to the gardens as it is considered a public space.

 A further objection was raised over the proposed plastic benches as they can be easily vandalised and affected by the weather.