‘Disgraceful’ state of properties on Ripon street prompts call for compulsory purchaseRipon Men’s Shed looks forward to a home of its ownRipon Men’s Shed seeks funding to secure futureRipon Men’s Shed, which has tripled its membership since it was launched in the summer of 2021, is looking to raise funds to secure its long-term future.
The group has set up a gofundme page and is selling hand-made goods created by members at craft fairs as it bids to raise £45,000.
Shed manager Barry Sutton told the Stray Ferret:
“With the growth we have achieved in less than three years we have the potential to increase our numbers to 100, but to do this at our present location, we need to raise £45,000.”
The charitable incorporated organisation currently rents premises that belong to New Life Church on Water Skellgate. Now the adjacent church building itself has become available, providing an opportunity for expansion the shed’s management would dearly love to take.
Mr Sutton (pictured on the left in the main image) pointed out:
“Our initial membership in 2021 was around 12 and we now have 36 regular active members who come here over three days each week – Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“However, with our current size and restricted space we are unable to recruit further at present, but that would change immediately if we were able to secure the necessary funds to purchase the premises that we currently rent and the church building “
Workshop space is limited, but would increase dramatically with expansion into the adjacent church building
The men’s shed movement, which addresses issues of loneliness and social isolation, has a specific focus on the older male population, but women are welcome too.
Its aim is to improve physical and mental health by providing a safe space in the form of a welcoming friendly workshop where members can make friends and share life skills and experiences.
Since its launch the shed has been involved in numerous community-based projects, among them the creation, in collaboration with the knitters of Ripon Community Poppy Project, of a life-size replica Churchill AVRE bunker-buster tank, which is the stunning central feature of Ripon’s D-Day commemoration and celebration events.
Members Gordon Woods and Richard Thomson who were respectively in the Royal Engineers and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers before retiring from their service careers, built the wooden frame of the tank.
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Abandoned Ripon redevelopment site is up for auction
New life could be breathed into an abandoned Ripon redevelopment site, which formerly housed the city’s first public library.
The site at Skellgarths/Water Skellgate has planning approval for six terraced houses and is up for sale by auction, with a guide price of £500,000.
Harrogate-based estate agents FSS has described the plot as:
“An ideal opportunity to acquire a site with planning approval for six terraced houses, in two blocks of three, together with the freehold of 18 Water Skellgate, which comprises of a recently converted detached building containing five apartments.”
The online auction is due to take place at 3pm on September 14.
The site is in Ripon’s conservation area, in close proximity to Ripon Cathedral and on the route to prime tourist attractions — Fountains Abbey in one direction and Newby Hall in the other. It is also one of the main thoroughfares leading to the city centre.
Following demolition of the library nine years ago, a start was made on the proposed residential redevelopment of the plot, but this came to a halt and the site became an overgrown eyesore that was initially fenced off with steel barriers.
After a call for action by Ripon councillors, more permanent hoardings were erected in 2020 by Harrogate Borough Council workmen.
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Plan approved to convert former Ripon City Club into houseA plan to convert the former Ripon City Club into a house has been approved.
The club was initially built as the Jepson’s Hospital, a ‘Blue Coat’ school for poor boys in the city, before it closed in 1927.
It was then taken over by Ripon City Club, which occupied the building on Water Skellgate before it closed due to a dwindling membership in December 2019.
According to documents submitted to the council, the number of members at the club 20 years ago stood at 300. However, the figure dropped to just 11 by the start of 2019.
Now, Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans to convert the building into a three-bedroom house.
The proposal was tabled in January by Joplings Property Consultants on behalf of applicant Mr Jeet Sahi.
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The developer said in its documents:
“The proposed change of use to a single residential dwelling is required by the applicant for him and his family to occupy.
“The previous use of the building is redundant, the proposed change of use to residential is in line with planning policies to meet the demand for new residential housing.”
The club will become the latest in the Harrogate district to be earmarked for housing following the demise of its membership.
Last month, the government rejected an appeal to convert the former National Reserve Club in Harrogate into flats.
