Conyngham Hall plans ‘cultural vandalism’ as petition passes 1000

Knaresborough Civic Society has labelled the potential redevelopment of Conyngham Hall as “cultural vandalism”.

Harrogate Borough Council has identified the hall as one of four proposed options in the town for a new leisure centre.

Other options include the current leisure centre site, Hay-a-Park and Knaresborough House.

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The hall itself is an office space but its grounds are popular for leisure activities. Its potential redevelopment has been met with fierce opposition.

James Monaghan, chair of Knaresborough Civic Society, said:

“This is a proposed act of cultural vandalism by Harrogate Borough Council. Conyngham Hall is a grade two star listed building. Any development in the grounds will have a negative impact on the hall itself. Let alone the damage to the beautiful grounds and green space.”

The society is contacting regional and national heritage bodies urging them to oppose the proposal.

In a letter to the council’s chief executive, Wallace Sampson, the society calls on the local authority to remove Conyngham Hall from the list of sites under consideration.

It comes as Harrogate & Knaresborough Liberal Democrats’ Hands Off Conyngham Hall Grounds petition passes 1000 signatures.

Matt Walker, the campaign’s spokesperson, said:

“We should be investing in our cherished green space, not needlessly building on it. There are far better alternatives which ought to be explored, with Conyngham Hall grounds taken off the table entirely.”

The council this month approved plans to overhaul its leisure centres by handing control to a new council-owned company.

A council spokesman said:

“We are just at the start of the process to build a new combined leisure centre for Knaresborough. It follows the decision to invest more than £26 million improving leisure facilities in Harrogate and Knaresborough. No decision has been taken.”

Hundreds back campaign against leisure centre at Conyngham Hall

Hundreds of local residents have joined a Facebook group to campaign against Conyngham Hall being used as the site for Knaresborough’s new leisure centre.

The campaigners support Harrogate Borough Council’s plans to build a new swimming pool and gym in the town but would prefer to see the current leisure centre site on King James Road redeveloped.

Conyngham Hall is one of four proposed options for development. The current leisure centre site, Hay-a-Park and Knaresborough House are also under consideration.

Almost 600 people have joined a ‘Hands off Conyngham Hall’ Facebook page. Local resident Craig Arditto set up the page to share information and demonstrate to the council the strength of feeling against developing the historic hall.

He said:

“I didn’t expect it to grow as it has. Our aim is to protect Conyngham Hall from development, it’s an open space and brings in a lot of tourism. I think it would be a waste of the space if it was developed. I agree Knaresborough needs the facilities as a growing town and I am very supportive of the leisure centre plans but a redevelopment of the current site works better.

“The hall is outlined in plans which offer four options in Knaresborough. No site has been confirmed but ideally we want this site taken off the table.”

Outside green space at Conyngham Hall

Campaigners want to protect Conyngham Hall’s green spaces.

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The hall is currently used as office space but its grounds are popular for leisure activities.

Hannah Gostlow, Knaresborough town councillor, said:

“I, along with many other residents in our town very much welcome the proposal of a new leisure centre for Knaresborough. However, I object to the proposal of building on this green space. I feel it would spoil the Conyngham Hall grounds and put too much pressure on already congested roads. I would prefer to see a new leisure centre developed on the footprint of the existing site.”

Harrogate Borough Council this month approved plans to overhaul its leisure centres by handing control to a new council-owned company called Brimham Active.

A council spokesman said:

“We are just at the start of the process to build a new combined leisure centre for Knaresborough following the decision to invest more than £26 million improving leisure facilities in Harrogate and Knaresborough. No decision has been taken on where the new leisure centre in Knaresborough would be, or what activities it would be offering.”

Police investigate racism reports after Knaresborough parking dispute

North Yorkshire Police is investigating reports of an older couple in Knaresborough making racist comments towards a Polish family.

The incident reportedly happened in Conyngham Hall car park at around midday on Sunday, June 21.

It came after a dispute in the car park over a parking space. Later that day the Polish family found their car damaged.

Police say the Polish family was in a black BMW 5 series estate and the older couple was in a silver BMW 3 series.

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They have described the male suspect as a white man, 177cm tall, of thin build and grey hair. He was wearing a blue polo shirt and grey shorts.

While the female suspect is a white woman, shorter and stocky, wearing a pink, blue and white vest top with a large flower motif on the front.

Anyone with information on the incident should call 101 or pass on information anonymously through Crimestoppers.

Starbeck Baths under threat in district pools shake-up

Harrogate’s oldest swimming pool could be closed as the council looks to cut costs in a major overhaul of its leisure services.

In a report set to be considered by Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet next week, officers say the future of Starbeck Baths – built in 1870 – would need to be considered following the redevelopment of its other pools and gyms.

The council is proposing to build a new Knaresborough leisure centre at Conyngham Hall, replacing the existing pool on King James Road. It will also refurbish the Hydro in Harrogate, with more gym space added, and complete the rebuilding of Ripon Spa Baths, with an opening date currently set for September 2021.

The plans form part of a proposal to transfer the running of leisure services to a local authority controlled company (LACC), which HBC believes would save £284,000 of taxpayers’ money. With investment in new and existing pools, and the closure of Starbeck Baths, the council projects savings to be more than double that figure.

In a report to be seen by HBC’s cabinet next week, head of culture, tourism and sport Michael Constantine says:

“With the closure of Ripon Spa Baths and Knaresborough Swimming Pool and new facilities at Knaresborough, Ripon and Harrogate the future of Starbeck Baths would need to be considered. Analysis indicates that without Starbeck continuing to be operational the cost to the council would be £2.790 million, a saving of £0.191m pa.

“Delivering the service by a LACC, following investment in new facilities, will result in an estimated saving of £585k per annum compared to the delivery in-house, with Starbeck no longer operational.

“This demonstrates that under the operational management of the LACC, the schemes have the potential to be entirely self-funded through prudential borrowing depending on future decision regarding Starbeck Baths’ continued operation.”

Meanwhile, Conyngham Hall has been identified as the best site for Knaresborough’s new leisure centre, after considering sites at Hay-a-Park and Knaresborough House, as well as building a new facility on the existing site.

The report recommends leaving the existing pool open until after the new one is built. Both would remain operational while the Hydro was refurbished, giving capacity for residents to use them and somewhere for staff to work, before the older pool was closed.

With the new Ripon pool set to open next September, building work on the new Knaresborough Pool could begin in summer 2022 and be completed in December 2023. At that point, the Hydro would be closed for work to begin, and would reopen in March 2025. The old Knaresborough pool would then be closed, and plans for the site have not been announced.