A school between Boroughbridge and Ripon that closed last year could reopen as a nursery.

Skelton Newby Hall Church of England Primary School in Skelton-on-Ure struggled with falling numbers of pupils and was eventually forced to close after having just one student enrolled. It has been vacant since.

Baldersby Park Nursery, formally Chrysalis Montessori Nursery, has now submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council to change the use of the building

The nursery is currently located next to Queen Mary’s School in Topcliffe, Thirsk, It has been established for over 20 years and currently has a ‘good’ Ofsted rating.

According to planning documents, Skelton Parish Council and Newby Hall Estate approached the nursery in the hope that it could utilise the school site.

A document submitted on behalf of the applicant said:

“Following discussions and a review of the viability of the proposed move it was decided that the school site offered an ideal location for a children’s nursery.

 

“Baldersby Park Nursery are currently experiencing a high demand for places and the proposed move would secure a long-term future for the nursery supported by a long-term agreement with the Newby Hall Estate.”

The school was founded in 1856 by Lady Mary Vyner, the former owner of Newby Hall, and maintained a close relationship with the estate.

If the planning application is successful, the nursery will begin providing early years learning at Skelton Newby Hall from September.

The nursery’s need to expand and the intention of Queen Mary’s School to expand into the nursery building signifies a good opportunity to move.

Headteacher and owner Victoria Pollitt said:

 “We are delighted to have been able to reach an agreement with the parish council to lease Skelton Newby Hall and we are looking forward to providing early years learning there from September 2024. The new building is only around ten minutes away from our current nursery and will enable us to increase the physical size of the nursery without increasing numbers. It will also mean we can extend learning with the immediate surroundings such as Newby Hall, which will be of even further benefit to the children on their early years learning journey. We have had a fantastic five years at our current location and would like to thank Queen Mary’s School for all their support.”

Guy Critchlow, chair of Skelton cum Newby Parish Council said:

“We are delighted to welcome Victoria and her team to Skelton on Ure, and to see this truly amazing site return to education use from September 2024. We are grateful for the support of Richard & Lucinda Compton at Newby Hall who are continuing the long family tradition of ensuring space is available in our village for a nursery. Every thriving community needs a good nursery, like the Baldersby Park Montessori Nursery, to support the growing number of young families choosing Skelton and the surrounding area as their home.”

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The Black Lion at Skelton-on-Ure looks set to re-open after an 18-month battle by the local community to save it.

The pub between Ripon and Boroughbridge, closed in December 2019 after it was bought by Admiral Taverns.

A public meeting nearly two years ago discovered widespread support for reopening it as a community hub and pub.

In September 2022, the Black Lion was listed as an asset of community value, which gave villagers time to raise funds and bid to buy it.

The Black Lion pictured prior to its closure.

An asset of community value is defined by North Yorkshire Council as ‘a building or land having value to the community that furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community”.

By July last year, pledges accumulated by shareholder contribution had reached £240,000.

The campaign was then boosted by a £300,000 grant from the community ownership fund, which is a £150 million fund set up by the government in 2021 to help community groups take ownership of assets.

It meant the group, which received the backing of Skipton and Ripon Conservative MP Julian Smith, could bid to buy the pub from Admiral Taverns.

After legal delays, the community group announced today it now officially owned the pub.

Community pubs are owned and managed democratically by members of the community. They are leased to tenants who operate them with a community vision.

Rents are set at levels that allow tenants to make surpluses that can be used to maintain the upkeep of the building and pay interest to shareholders

The Black Lion, shuttered, closed, and up for sale

A spokesperson for the Black Lion pub community group said:

“We are pleased to announce that the community of Skelton-on-Ure have just taken ownership of the Black Lion pub. This has come after a huge amount of work by the Skelton-on-Ure Pub and Hub steering group. Thanks to all the people who have helped us achieve this result – it is now great news to finally have the keys.”

“The real work is only now about to commence as the fabric of the building has suffered during the years of closure and general lack of upkeep. The volunteer management team will now welcome any volunteer help, contributions and donations.”

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The MP for Ripon has backed a campaign to raise £250,000 for villagers to buy a Skelton-on-Ure pub.

The Black Lion, on Skelton Lane close to Newby Hall, between Boroughbridge and Ripon, was bought in December 2019 by Admiral Taverns.

However since then it has stood derelict, leaving locals questioning its future.

After the pub was put up for sale, residents called on people to pledge to buy a share in the pub in order to raise funds to buy it and revitalise it.

Now, Julian Smith, Ripon and Skipon MP, has backed the campaign after meeting with villagers aiming to buy the pub.

Sandy Delf, one of the residents involved in the Black Lion Community Hub and Pub group, said:

“Potential is fantastic for this venue. The village is shared with Newby Hall and is in an ideal position between the Dales, York and North Yorkshire Moors. The pub is on an ideal cycling route and so the opportunities are endless.

“The target is within sight and so the group are wanting to attract new pledgees and also ask existing pledgees to think about increasing their pledge amount.”

Great to visit Skelton-on-Ure and meet the Community Benefit Team trying to save the @blacklionpubhub– an Asset of Community Value. The group is collecting pledges to be able to re-open the pub, more info here, https://t.co/ECPKsoFeae pic.twitter.com/Z3iouStHq6

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) April 3, 2023

The group has currently raised £160,000 towards its £250,000 target.

The group, which has received support from rural community charity the Plunkett Foundation, aims to reach the goal in order to access government match funding as part of the community ownership fund.

Shares in the pub cost £250 each and are open to people and businesses to submit an expression of interest.

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The pub was recently listed as an asset of community value by Harrogate Borough Council, which gives the group a six-month window to raise cash.

For more information on how to pledge a share in the pub, visit the Black Lion Community Hub and Pub website here.

Calls have been made to retain a village school near Boroughbridge that faces closure as a forest school.

Under plans put forward by North Yorkshire County Council, Skelton Newby Hall Church of England Primary School will shut in August 2023.

But, Cllr Guy Critchlow, chair of Skelton cum Newby Parish Council, told county councillors today the site was a “ready-made forest school” with a large amenity space and playground.

Forest schools teach pupils in an outdoor learning environment and focus on play and exploration for education.

A council report said numbers at the school had been “falling over the past few years” and there were concerns about the impact on pupils’ education.

As of this year, nine children and one nursery pupil were on the school roll. It has capacity for 52.

Senior county councillors voted today to publish notices of the school’s closure with a final decision to be taken on May 30.

At the meeting, Cllr Critchlow argued that the school could be viable as a forest school. He said:

“We deserve the opportunity to rebuild our school and demonstrate its viability.

“We cannot do this alone. We want to work with and not against the council.”

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Meanwhile, Cllr Nick Brown, a Conservative who represents the Skelton-on-Ure village on the county council, told councillors he was disappointed discussions had not taken place with the community and the parish council prior to the proposal being published in December 2022.

He added the process should be delayed in order to consider whether to use the site for a forest school.

He said:

“In light of the recent budget and the proposed increase in childcare provision, to enable much more employment opportunities surely a one-and-a-half acre school site would lend itself perfectly to nursery provision in a rural, safe environment.”

However, Cllr Annabelle Wilkinson, the executive councillor for education, said the site and its outdoor learning area alone had not been “sufficient enough” to attract parents.

She added:

“The school building and site is not owned by the county council. 

“The owners will take decisions about the future use of the school site and building after the closure proposal has been determined.”

The council has proposed that, should the school close, then the catchment area will be taken in by Kirby Hill Church of England Primary School.

Representations on the closure can still be made to the council by April 27.