An amusement arcade looks set to open on the site of a former building society in Knaresborough.

The High Street gaming centre will be open to over-18s between 9am and 10pm.

North Yorkshire Council planning officer Sam Witham has recommended councillors approve the scheme when they meet next week — despite objections from Knaresborough Town Council and three residents.

They were concerned about noise, the impact on the High Street appearance and anti-social behaviour.

Carl Bearman, director of a company formed in January called Spectacular Bid, applied to change the use of vacant premises at 30 High Street.

The site, which is on the corner of Knaresborough High Street and Park Place in Knaresborough Conservation Area, was home to Yorkshire Building Society until March 2018.

Mr Whitham’s report to councillors says the location is within the primary shopping area of Knaresborough, complies with the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which outlines where development can take place, and would not harm the character and appearance of the conservation area. It says:

“Subject to conditions, the proposal is acceptable with regards to its impact on neighbouring amenity, and in particular the impact of noise on the residential flats above the ground floor unit subject to this proposal.”

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The report adds:

“The proposed use would bring about the re-use of the property and it is not considered that the use would be incompatible with the town centre location.”

One of the conditions attached to approving the scheme is that machines must not to operate at more than 25% volume.

Councillors on the Liberal Democrat-controlled 13-person Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee will decide whether to accept the recommendation to approve the scheme when they meet on Tuesday next week.

A former building society in Knaresborough could become a gaming centre if plans are approved.

Carl Bearman of Spectacular Bid Ltd – a company founded in January – has applied to change the use of the premises at 30 High Street, home to Yorkshire Building Society until March 2018.

Mr Bearman is a director of several other companies, including UK Gaming Solutions, Gaming Solutions Group, and Dubai Dynamo.

If given permission to become an adult gaming centre, the unit, which is 60m sq, could have arcade machines and would only be open to people aged 18 or over.

The application was submitted in late March and North Yorkshire Council is accepting comments until Sunday, April 23.

The environmental health department has already raised concerns about the impact on neighbours, saying:

“There are flats above the existing commercial unit but whereas the office use and the opening hours of the building society would not interfere with the flats above there may be noise including music associated with the use of the gaming centre and the opening hours, which are not stated, could interfere with the residents above.

“It would be useful to get some indication of the proposed hours of operation.”

Environmental health officer Mary Jones recommended the applicant should invest in sound proofing and provide an acoustic report to the council about the impact of the proposed change.

To view or comment on the application, visit the planning pages of North Yorkshire Council’s website and use reference 23/01169/FUL.

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Ripon Business Improvement District launched its Easter windows competition today as it seeks to attract more visitors to the city centre over the upcoming holiday period.

BID manager Lilla Bathurst told the Stray Ferret:

“Our aim is to encourage visitor movement around BID businesses and we have been working in partnership with the wonderful team at Jennyruth Workshops, who have created 40 decorated Easter eggs for businesses to display and build their themed windows around.”

Jennyruth Workshops is a social enterprise in Ripon where adults who have learning disabilities are trained in a wide variety of skills.

Ms Bathurst added:

“We already have 35 businesses involved and the five eggs that we have remaining are available to any BID member wishing to participate.

“Any trader who would like to be part of this year’s competition can email manager@riponbid.co.uk”

Yorkshire Building Society has already received its decorative egg produced by Jennyruth and branch manager Rosanna Ferrazzano, said:

“It is beautifully made and stylishly decorated and will take pride of place in the window display that we create.”

There is anger and dismay in Ripon this week, following the announcement by Barclays that it will close its city branch in August.

Barclays has been present on Market Square East for generations and there has been a bank under various names at this prime location since 1785.

The anger is further fuelled by a Barclays report outlining the reasons for closure, which revealed that counter transactions went up in the two years to March 2020.

This week and last the Stray Ferret has been gauging reaction to the planned closure and among those to speak with us was 81-year-old Richard Tite, who has been a regular user of the bank’s counter services for 42 years. He told us:

“When they made their corporate decision to close Ripon and a number of other branches, Barclays showed that they just don’t care about people of my age, who don’t know how to use online banking and rely on the personal service.

“Having a human being that you can speak with and have your questions answered, is very reassuring and I must say that the staff here in Ripon are very good.

“I have no complaint about them, it’s the people above them that show that they simply look on people like me, who have been customers for more than 40 years, as if we don’t count.”

The decision to close Barclays’ long-established Ripon branch has brought an angry reaction.

“This is an absolute disgrace, I have been banking with Barclays for years, but I won’t be for much longer.

“I’m going to close all the accounts I have with them and put my money elsewhere.”

There was a similar response from another person, who also wished to remain anonymous. They said:

“I read in the Stray Ferret that the decision to close has been taken in spite of the fact the the Ripon branch has an increasing number of customers and that just doesn’t make any sense to me.

“Barclays sent me a round robin letter saying there are other branches, such as in Harrogate, that I can use,  but that is not a proper option, because, on top of the inconvenience, there is the increased costs of fuel if you drive over, then you have to pay through the nose to park, simply to get your hands on your own cash.

“The sooner I can transfer my money elsewhere, the better.”

Banking choices in Ripon

Banking choices in Ripon are limited. Besides Barclays, there is HSBC, the Halifax, The Yorkshire and Skipton building societies.

Banking services are also available at the Post Office in The Arcade.

The cash machine currently at Barclays will no longer be available after August 25, meaning that people wanting to make a withdrawal in the city centre will have to go to HSBC, the Halifax or Sainsbury’s.