The look of one of the principal gateways to Ripon is being spoilt because of an abandoned redevelopment site, according to a local councillor.
In its untidy over-grown state, with fencing that has blown down, the area on Skellgarths has been described as, a ‘mess’ and an ‘eyesore’.
The site was formerly the location for Ripon’s first purpose-built library, which opened in 1937. The building stood there until its demolition in 2014.
Councillor Mike Chambers, who is a city, district and county councillor and Harrogate Borough Council’s (HBC) cabinet member for housing and safer communities, told the Stray Ferret:
“I have raised the issue of this derelict site on a number of occasions with HBC enforcement officers to seek guidance and ask what can be done. The area is a mess and an eyesore.”
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The site is in a prime tourist area in close proximity to Ripon Cathedral and on the route to Fountains Abbey in one direction and Newby Hall in the other. It is also one of the main thoroughfares leading to the city centre.
Cllr Chambers added:
“At one stage we managed to get some fencing put in place, but it subsequently blew down. I will continue to push for the area to be blocked off, particularly as the blown-down fence could pose a public safety issue, with footings on the site filling with water after rainfall.”
At last week’s virtual full council meeting, councillors heard that attempts to take enforcement action were complicated because the developer who planned to build on the site had gone bust.
The council leader, Councillor Andrew Williams, suggested that the look of the area could be improved if schoolchildren were invited to do designs that could be incorporated into new hoardings made for the site.
Cllr Sid Hawke felt that the site should be tidied up and used as additional car parking space to serve the city centre.