Harrogate Borough Council’s impending demise following last week’s devolution decision has prompted Ripon councillors to secure the future of two city assets.

A ‘for sale’ sign remains in place outside Spa Baths, but city councillors at their July full meeting agreed to progress an application to nominate the Edwardian building for listing as an Asset of Community Value.

At the same time, they agreed to renew calls for Harrogate Borough Council to transfer the freehold of Hugh Ripley Hall — a building named in honour of Ripon’s last wakeman and first mayor.

Council leader Andrew Williams said:

“We have been told by Harrogate Borough Council that the freehold on the hall is not available and they have no plans to sell the building.

Ripon City Council wants to have full control of Hugh Ripley Hall.

“With our lease still having 30 years to run and changes coming about through devolution on the horizon, it would seem sensible for the city council to take over the freehold.

“Under the terms of the lease, we have responsibility for maintaining the building, but have to apply for permission from the landlord (Harrogate Borough Council) for any work we need to carry out on it.

“That’s just a complete waste of everybody’s time.”

Ripon’s Spa Baths reopened in May, after being closed for more than a year by the covid lockdown.

Weeks before the reopening, Harrogate Borough Council put the 116-year-old listed building up for sale, despite protests that it could lose its community use if bought by a private developer.

Groups including, Ripon Civic Society and Ripon Together have supported the city council’s call for the sale to be suspended, to allow more time for proposals to be brought forward.

With the call to put the sales process on hold rejected by Harrogate Borough Council, Ripon councillors are pursuing the asset of community value route.

If successful, it would secure the baths — a key element of the city’s spa quarter — for community purposes.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council previously said:

“We have no plans to withdraw the sale of Ripon Spa Baths.

“The building will soon become surplus to our requirements and we do not have the resources to maintain it.

“Selling the baths for redevelopment, subject to planning permission and listed building consents, would allow this local asset to be given a new lease of life, retain its key features and remain as a city landmark.

“Ripon City Council, or another interested party, is welcome to submit a bid.”

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The spokesperson added that the building will no longer be needed when construction of Ripon’s new pool and refurbishment of the leisure centre is completed by November.

Campaigners wanting to refurbish and reopen the Henry Jenkins Inn in Kirkby Malzeard have received a glimmer of hope.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a new £150m Community Ownership Fund in this month’s Budget.

The fund lets community groups apply for £250,000 matched-funding to help them buy or take over local community assets at risk of being lost.

This fund, which will save some pubs from permanent closure, has been welcomed by the Henry Jenkins Community Pub Ltd.

Its 190 members have pledged £236,000 in a bid to turn the derelict building between Ripon and Masham back into use as a pub and community facility.

HJCPL chair David Robinson told the Stray Ferret:

“The government has decided to recognise the importance of protecting community assets.

“This fund acknowledges the difficulties faced by volunteer groups, particularly in rural areas, in raising the necessary funds for projects that could provide essential support for the lonely and vulnerable.”

Part of the building is still on the market.

“HJCP will need to examine the detail, but cautiously hope that the newly-available funding can be added to the toolkit.

“In the near future we will place another purchase bid with the owners and open discussions with Harrogate Borough Council about a compulsory purchase order.”

Read more:

• Hammer blow to Kirkby Malzeard pub campaign
• Will historic Ripon building ‘flake in vain?’

David Fielder, who purchased the closed-down pub out of receivership in 2012, is willing to talk to the campaign group.

He said:

“The western portion of the building belongs to me and remains on the market for sale or rent.

“Offers must be fully unconditional and any potential purchaser will be required to prove funds are available.

“This will need to be by way of a copy bank statement or an unconditional letter of credit from a UK-based recognised lender.”

Last year, the pub campaigners suffered a bitter blow at a planning appeal.

The Planning Inspectorate, which deals with planning appeals, overturned Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for conversion of the eastern part of the Henry Jenkins site into a single dwelling.

HJCPL had been confident that the council’s decision would be upheld, but planning inspector Helen Hockenhull was not persuaded by their argument.

In her report she concluded:

“There is no reasonable prospect of the public house reopening.”