A 200-year-old building on the Ripley estate is set to be converted to support outdoor pursuits.

The bothy, adjacent to the east pavilion in the walled garden, will be fitted out with changing rooms, storage and toilets if a planning application is approved.

The proposals are to provide better facilities for Live For Today, an outdoor activities business based in the grounds of Ripley Castle.

Last year, the bothy had structural work done to improve its condition, including a new roof and repointing with lime mortar.

Sir Thomas Ingilby of Ripley Castle told the Stray Ferret:

“Live For Today need extra storage, so part of it is for that. We have got plans for toilets and locker rooms shared by Life For Today visitors to the gardens and garden staff.

“We’re hoping to do more work with community groups coming into the gardens. We’re really keen to get it done – we have spent a lot of money doing up the bothy and it will be nice to see if back in use.”

Now a listed building, the bothy is originally believed to have been the home of a gardener on the Ripley estate.

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Live For Today runs activities including paddle boarding, axe throwing, body zorbing, kayaking, bushcraft and escape rooms at the Ripley estate.

It currently uses the east pavilion for storage, which the application said was causing damage to the fabric of the building because of poor ventilation. Moving storage to the bothy would allow the pavilion to be used by the public.

Life For Today’s current facilities include portable toilets and makeshift changing rooms in the woods, which the application described as “inadequate and unsatisfactory”. The application said the newly-converted bothy would be an asset both to the business and to the estate.

To view or comment on the application, visit the planning section of Harrogate Borough Council’s website and use reference 22/04111/LB.

A Harrogate woman has said she won’t return to Ripley for walks after receiving a £100 fine for parking.

Ripley car park, which is part of the estate owned by castle owner Sir Thomas Ingilby and his wife Lady Emma, began charging for parking on June 20.

Janet Adamowicz received a penalty charge for returning to her car two minutes late, after paying £1 for an hour’s parking.

She said the expiry time was displayed on the machine but no ticket was issued.

Ms Adamowicz, who has been a frequent visitor to Ripley, said

“I will not be attending Ripley again for walks, cafes or shops and it would appear I’m not the only one to feel like this.

“People don’t go on walks if they have to stress about getting back to their car in a limited time before being fined £100, people like leisurely strolls with no time limits.”

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Parking charges were introduced in Ripley after dialogue with businesses, the school, the church, the Friends of Ripley and Harrogate Borough Council.

It costs £1 an hour, which is redeemable in local outlets, £1.20 for two hours, £3.50 for six hours and £4 for eight hours.

Other organisations have recently announced parking charges, including the Inn at South Stainley and Yorkshire Water, which plans to introduce fees at its reservoirs, including Fewston and Swinsty.

The Ripley car park and the Inn at South Stainley, which redeems charges for customers, were often used as a free park and ride.

Mike Gosling, the Ripley estate’s business manager, said the system was working well and the estate had taken an extremely understanding view of appeals against fines, with several already overturned.

Ripley businesses, he said, liked the fact that the £1 charge for the first hour can be redeemed in local shops.

Automatic number plate recognition identifies how long vehicles stay in the car park.

Mr Gosling acknowledged there had been a problem with the software issuing tickets, which do not have to be displayed.

He said if anyone had received a fine for being just a few minutes late he would personally contact the company providing the system to have the fine cancelled.

Update: Ms Adamowicz has notified us her fine has been cancelled