As decision day for the controversial Ripon Cathedral annexe planning application approaches, more than 40 ‘Save our Trees’ campaigners held a peaceful protest march through the city today (Saturday)
The march, attended by some of the 2,300 people who have signed the petition raised by Ripon resident and campaigner Jenni Holman, started at 12 noon on Minster Gardens, where 11 mature trees, including a 200-year-old beech of veteran status, are threatened by the proposed development on the green open space.
The park, which is within the Ripon Conservation area, is currently owned and maintained by North Yorkshire Council.
The cathedral’s £8 million plan is for a two-storey standalone building, that would include an 80-seat refectory, gift shop, song school, accessible toilets and additional storage space.
Ms Holman, told the Stray Ferret:
“We reiterate, as we have done throughout our year-long campaign, that we want the cathedral to thrive and have the facilities that it needs.
“However, the proposed location of the annexe on a precious green open space that has been enjoyed by the people of Ripon and visitors to the city for two centuries, is not acceptable and we cannot support an application that involves cutting down healthy trees and the loss of green space.”
This computer generated image shows the proposed annexe located on the gardens to the north of the cathedral. Picture Ripon Cathedral Renewed
The dean and chapter have previously said that in compensation for the lost trees, it will plant 21 in the vicinity of the cathedral and a further 300 on land ‘near Studley’ but campaigner Brian McHugh, who has raised concerns about this aspect of the proposed development, said:
“The mitigation strategy of the off site planting 4 miles outside Ripon, is a central pillar to the Cathedral’s argument. And it needs to be a strategy that can be scrutinised and evaluated by the planning committee in making their decision. Despite publicly repeating 300 trees in their literature, the Cathedral now say that this ‘is a private matter between the Cathedral and the landowner.
“How can the planning committee ensure that the mitigation strategy meets the objectives, if they are being denied access to the agreement between the parties?”
The protestors handed out leaflets to shoppers and visitors, as they marched from Minster Gardens along Kirkgate and on to Market Square
Mr McHugh, added:
“We do not want Ripon to become a city synonymous with tree-felling. We do not want Ripon to join the list of Sheffield, Plymouth, Devon, Windermere or Sycamore Gap, where the destruction of nature has hit national news headlines.”
Woodland Trust Supports campaign
Statutory consultee The Woodland Trust has formally objected to the planning application, along with other consultees Ripon City Council and Ripon Civic Society.
,Jack Taylor, the trust’s lead campaigner for woods under threat, said in a statement:
“The proposed loss of trees within Ripon Cathedral’s Minster Gardens is of grave concern to the Woodland Trust. An irreplaceable veteran beech tree and a number of mature and notable trees would be lost to development on this site.
“Such trees play a vital role in the urban environment, enhancing aesthetic appeal, acting as carbon sinks, providing shade, improving air quality, and supporting local biodiversity. Their loss not only alters the landscape but also has far-reaching environmental and social implications.”
He added:
“The loss of veteran, notable and mature trees is entirely unacceptable and contrary to national planning policies designed to protect these important habitats. We ask that the developers work with North Yorkshire Council and the local community to safeguard these magnificent urban trees and ensure that Ripon’s Minster Gardens remain vibrant, resilient, and ecologically rich.”
The campaigners stood outside the town hall to draw attention to the fact that Ripon City Council objects to the annexe plan.
The cathedral’s consultation
On Thursday, the cathedral, whose plans are supported by Historic England, the cathedral’s independent fabric advisory committee, the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England and Ripon Together, held the last of 22 drop-in sessions as part of a public consultation programme which began in February.
The programme was launched after the Cathedral announced that it had sought and received permission from North Yorkshire Council to pause the annexe planning application for three months.
Prior to the first drop-in session, a spokesperson for Dean John Dobson and the cathedral chapter, said:
“It is hoped that a pause in the planning application to allow for additional consultation will prompt a genuine exchange of views, the sharing of informed ideas and the constructive discussion of concerns raised.”
The Dean of Ripon the Very Revd John Dobson
In a subsequent interview with the dean published by the Stray Ferret on March 3, he said:
“The purpose of the pause — and it may be a vain attempt — is an attempt on our part to enable people to hear the facts as we in the cathedral perceive them, i.e. these are the actual proposals, this is where we are proposing to build, these are the trees that would be affected by it, this would be the mitigation plan.
“Many people think this is a fantastic scheme that would enhance the cathedral, that would enhance what could be a cathedral quarter and would enhance the city. It would have economic benefits and it would have an aesthetic benefit. Many people believe that.”
Dean John, added:
“We genuinely want to hear what people think. If people of Ripon are really against this, well, say so. But actually, are they? I’m not convinced we know whether they are or not. Many haven’t engaged with the precise proposal.”
“But we haven’t fallen out. It’s perfectly reasonable for people to take a contrary view. What isn’t reasonable is for people to just make things up to create an alternative narrative. That I think is hugely disappointing and detrimental.”
“Well, I’m hopeful. It seems to me the arguments are compelling; the benefits are overwhelming. But I do accept some people are very unhappy about it. The question is: how many, and why, and how we address that. But we cannot carry on just looking at more and more options.”
The Stray Ferret approached the cathedral regarding views expressed by Mr McHugh about the tree mitigation strategy, but no response was received at the time of publication.
Main image: ‘Save our trees’ campaigners pictured on Minster Gardens at lunchtime today, before marching to the city centre.
Campaigners fighting to save a veteran beech and 10 other mature trees from being felled on a public open green space in Ripon have received support from the Woodland Trust — the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.
Between 12 noon and 1pm today, more than 60 men, women and children gathered with placards on Minster Gardens for a peaceful protest to raise awareness of the threat facing the trees.
They will be felled if North Yorkshire Council approves Ripon Cathedral’s application to build a two-storey annex on the gardens.
The proposed £6m development, on land which passed into North Yorkshire Council’s ownership in April when Harrogate Borough Council was abolished, would include a song school, community space, toilets, a refectory and shop, which the cathedral says will attract more than 30,000 extra visitors a year to the city.
The veteran beech tree that is under threat of being felled, with ten other trees
To coincide with today’s protest, the Woodland Trust, which has the veteran beech listed on its inventory of ancient trees, reiterated its strong opposition to the removal of the trees.
Jack Taylor, the trust’s lead campaigner for woods under threat, said in the statement:
“The proposed loss of trees within Ripon Cathedral’s Minster Gardens is of grave concern to the Woodland Trust. An irreplaceable veteran beech tree and a number of mature and notable trees would be lost to development on this site.
“Such trees play a vital role in the urban environment, enhancing aesthetic appeal, acting as carbon sinks, providing shade, improving air quality, and supporting local biodiversity. Their loss not only alters the landscape but also has far-reaching environmental and social implications.”
He added:
“The loss of veteran, notable and mature trees is entirely unacceptable and contrary to national planning policies designed to protect these important habitats. We ask that the developers work with North Yorkshire County Council and the local community to safeguard these magnificent urban trees and ensure that Ripon’s Minster Gardens remain vibrant, resilient, and ecologically rich.”
The trust lodged a formal objection to the felling of the tree with North Yorkshire Council this year, as did the planning authority’s own ecologist Dan McAndrew and arboriculturist Alan Gilleard.
Valerie Sheldon, who is one of the 1,800 people who have signed a petition objecting to the felling of the trees, said:
“In the 31 years that I have lived in Ripon I have enjoyed visiting this peaceful green lung. There is no other place like it in the city centre.
“The trees have been here for a very long time and must be protected.”
Simone Hurst added:
“We can’t just stand by and allow the destruction of mature trees that are important to the environment and provide a habitat for hundreds of different wildlife species.”
Steve Ellis said:
“The beech is 200 years old and according to the experts, still has plenty of life in it, Why would anybody want to cut it and other trees down to replace them with an environmentally unfriendly concrete structure.?”
The Stray Ferret approached Ripon Cathedral for comment on today’s protest, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
However, a statement from the Dean and Chapter was released in May, after a smaller protest was held on Minster Gardens. It said:
“The planning application is going through its due process, as such we don’t respond to individual comments or objections during this process.
“What I can say is that we have investigated all available options within the cathedral estate, and none of the sites were suitable for the new building. This was the opinion of a range of external experts who specialise in heritage buildings and conservation as well as architects and project management experts. The needs of all internal and external users of the proposed new building cannot be met by using any other existing chapter property and all cathedral property is currently being used to its maximum capacity.
“As we’ve previously said, the building will be an asset to the people of the city, providing much needed facilities, including a safe space for our choristers to rehearse that is fully accessible, along with public toilet facilities (including a new Changing Places toilet, suitable for those who struggle to use standard accessible toilets).
“While we understand that some people may see the loss of eleven trees as too heavy a price to pay, the development will tidy up an unloved part of the city, increase the amount of public open space and enhance the existing much-valued memorial garden. The plans we’ve submitted also include the planting of 14 new trees around the cathedral, along with a further 300 trees on land made available by a supporter of the project and will see an overall increase in biodiversity across the area.”
The planning application which was submitted to Harrogate Borough Council last December, is due to be considered by the Skipton and Ripon area constituency planning committee of North Yorkshire Council at a date and venue yet to be confirmed.
Tree campaigners to hold protest against Ripon Cathedral’s £6m annex plans
Campaigners fighting the proposed felling of a veteran beech and 10 other mature trees to make way for Ripon Cathedral’s planned £6m annex will hold a peaceful protest at Minster Gardens on Saturday.
The proposed development would include a song school, community space, toilets, a refectory and shop, which it says will attract more visitors to the city.
But the potential loss of trees has attracted opposition, and protestors will make their feelings known between 12 noon and 1pm on Saturday.
Ripon resident Jenni Holman, who has raised a petition containing almost 1,800 names, which has been submitted to planners at North Yorkshire Council, told the Stray Ferret:
“Over the past eight months we have been raising awareness of the cathedral’s plans, which involve the loss of the trees on what is currently public green open space in the ownership of North Yorkshire Council.
“We do not object to the cathedral having the additional facilities that it needs to prosper, but there are more suitable and less sensitive locations, including land and buildings owned by the church, which could be developed to meet its needs.”
She added:
“North Yorkshire Police have been informed that we will be holding our peaceful protest on Minster Gardens from 12 noon and we will be happy to speak to anybody, whether for or against the annex development , to explain why we have raised the petition.”
Jenni Holman (front, centre) pictured at the May protest on Minster Gardens
A previous protest was held at the gardens in May, when the number of people who signed the petition was approaching 500.
At that time, the Stray Ferret asked the cathedral for comment about the objection being made and received this response:
“The planning application is going through its due process, as such we don’t respond to individual comments or objections during this process.
“What I can say is that we have investigated all available options within the cathedral estate, and none of the sites were suitable for the new building. This was the opinion of a range of external experts who specialise in heritage buildings and conservation as well as architects and project management experts. The needs of all internal and external users of the proposed new building cannot be met by using any other existing chapter property and all cathedral property is currently being used to its maximum capacity.
“As we’ve previously said, the building will be an asset to the people of the city, providing much needed facilities, including a safe space for our choristers to rehearse that is fully accessible, along with public toilet facilities (including a new Changing Places toilet, suitable for those who struggle to use standard accessible toilets).
“While we understand that some people may see the loss of 11 trees as too heavy a price to pay, the development will tidy up an unloved part of the city, increase the amount of public open space and enhance the existing much-valued memorial garden. The plans we’ve submitted also include the planting of 14 new trees around the cathedral, along with a further 300 trees on land made available by a supporter of the project and will see an overall increase in biodiversity across the area.”
Main picture: Campaigners are fighting to save this veteran beech and ten other mature trees
Felling trees for Ripon Cathedral expansion presents ‘moral dilemma’, says DeanThe Dean of Ripon has said plans to remove trees from Minster Gardens to make way for a new £6 million cathedral building presented a “moral dilemma”.
The Very Revd. John Dobson presented the cathedral’s annual review on Saturday.
It addressed plans to fell 11 trees, including a beech listed by the Woodland Trust as having veteran status, to create space for a two-storey building on the gardens to the north of the ancient building.
The proposed annex development, which includes a song school, refectory, accessible toilets, shop and additional storage space, is part of the Ripon Cathedral Renewed project which aims to safeguard the future of the cathedral.
The Dean said all possible options for the location of the annex had been considered.
In a leaflet given to parishioners and members of the public who attended on Saturday, Dean John said:
“We regret the need to fell 11 trees and are sympathetic to public concern. There is a moral dilemma though which requires balancing this with urgent needs and undeniable benefits.”
“Providing 21st century facilities is not only essential, but will help to attract more visitors to the cathedral and thereby to the city.”
He added:
“Ripon Cathedral attracts 100,000 visitors per year, in addition to pilgrims, worshippers and concert goers. Experts predict that this project will result in an increase in numbers of between 30% and 50% — good news for the local economy and local businesses.”
The Dean acknowledged not everybody was in favour of the development and said:
“Some people here today will disagree with us about the felling of trees. We respect those people, but we disagree with them.”
Jenni Holman, who has raised a petition signed by 1,400 people opposing the removal of trees to make way for the annex, said:
“The loss of mature trees and impact on the wildlife that depend upon them for habitat is totally unacceptable.
“This is not about a difference of opinions, it’s something that we say is just wrong.”
As part of its mitigation strategy, the cathedral proposes to plant 300 native trees on land near Studley, but fellow objector Pat Waterfall questioned:
“How will the planting of trees outside the city mitigate for the huge carbon footprint of the new building?
Councillors on North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon planning committee are expected to adjudicate on the application this year.
People will get the chance to ask senior clergy at Ripon Cathedral about the proposed £6 million expansion tomorrow.
The cathedral applied in December to build a two-storey annex on nearby Minster Gardens. It would include toilets, a song school, shop and cafe.
The project. known as Ripon Cathedral Renewed would involve felling 11 trees, including a veteran beech tree.
How the scheme would look.
The planning application, which can be viewed here, contains 406 documents and has received 242 comments.
North Yorkshire Council has yet to decide whether to accept the scheme.
The cathedral is launching its annual review at 10am tomorrow. In a Facebook post, it said:
“Dean John and members of chapter will give a presentation on how the cathedral has been delivering its strategy of growing God’s kingdom and progress made on Ripon Cathedral Renewed, together with time for questions.”
The veteran beech tree is pictured in the foreground.
According to the cathedral’s website, the expansion would “provide key facilities” and “enable it to host more events, exhibitions, and concerts, which will attract increased numbers of people to the city, to the benefit of all”.
Pat Waterfall, who has campaigned against the loss of trees, said:
“I will be going and, if I get the chance, will ask for clarification on the proposed tree planting. Is it 300 or as more recently reported about 60?
“Much of the planting seems to be shrubs or short-lived small trees which will in no way compensate for the loss of the existing trees let alone mitigate the huge carbon footprint of the new building.”
Ripon remains in party mode for Bank Holiday fiesta
The focus turned to Kirkgate and Minster Gardens yesterday, as Ripon’s extended weekend of Bank Holiday entertainment continued with a fiesta of food and live music.
Saturday had seen fairground rides and a concert featuring tribute acts on Market Square, in the last large-scale public event of the summer staged by Ripon City Council and paid for from the parish precept.
Sunday and Monday brought a Little Bird Artisan market to the square and yesterday, independent businesses in the city, with administrative support from Ripon BID, joined forces for the second Bank Holiday street party of the year.
The Little Bird Artisan Market
Kirkgate closed to traffic and an al fresco dining and entertainment from the junction with Duck Hill to Minster Road.
In the evening the party moved to Minster Gardens, where there was a paella picnic, including performances from violin virtuoso Nadia and guitar duo Bailey Brown (pictured below).
Richard Hughes, owner of the Manchega Tapas Restaurant, who was one of the organisers of yesterday’s event told the Stray Ferret:
“This shows what can be achieved when independent businesses come together and stage events that are designed to attract more visitors and local residents onto the city’s streets.”
Richard Hughes
He added:
“Working alongside Ripon BID, the council and all other interested parties in Ripon, we are looking to build on this success, with the aim of doing even more next year, with the objective of making the city a must-visit destination.”
Hundreds of people gathered on Ripon Market Square yesterday for the last large-scale public event of the summer organised by the city council.
Families with children from tots to teenagers came early in the afternoon to ride the Ferris wheel and roundabout, both of which proved a constant draw until dusk, when tribute acts took centre stage in front of the town hall.
The queue for the Ferris wheel stretched the length of Market Square
Evening entertainment was provided by tribute acts playing the hits of Neil Diamond, Elton John and Robbie Williams, while the Big Boyband Reunion, played a selection of the chart-topping songs made famous by leading boy bands.
The crowd on Market Square steadily grew throughout the evening.
One of the concert highlights came when the Neil Diamond lookalike and soundalike sang Sweet Caroline, the adopted anthem of the England women’s football team.
Sweet Caroline struck a chord with the Ripon crowd
The Robbie Williams tribute act
Elton John’s Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me rang out before sunset arrived and at 9pm Allison Clark, a member of the Ripon hornblower team (pictured below) provided a reminder of the city’s ancient roots, by performing the nightly setting of the watch ceremony, which has reputedly been carried out without break for more than eleven hundred years.
You can watch a live video from last night on our Facebook page.
The free family-focused entertainment continues in Ripon on Monday, with a street party in Kirkgate from 11am until 4pm and a Spanish-themed fiesta on Minster Gardens from 5pm until 9.30pm.
Organised by independent businesses in the city as part of the Totally Locally initiative developed with Ripon BID, the Bank Holiday event will see the closure of Kirkgate from 9am.
Ripon prepares for a Bank Holiday weekend of free family entertainmentRipon is preparing for another bank holiday weekend of free family-focused entertainment, featuring live music, fairground rides and a Spanish-flavoured fiesta.
Tomorrow (Saturday) a ferris wheel and Mini Miami ride will be among the attractions on Market Square from 12 noon until 8pm, as part of the last public event of the summer organised by Ripon City Council and financed through the parish precept.
From 7pm until 11pm music will take centre stage, with tribute acts performing the hits of Neil Diamond, Elton John and Robbie Williams, before the Big Boyband Reunion provides a rousing end to the entertainment.
Popular tunes and ancient tradition will come together at 8.55pm when a member of the Ripon hornblower team sets the city watch with blasts of their horn at the four corners of the obelisk.
The Easter street party in Kirkgate brought hundreds of visitors to the city
As a follow-up to the highly-successful Easter Bank Holiday Monday street party held in Kirkgate, Ripon’s independent businesses have joined forces once more to arrange an event designed to draw visitors into the city and entertain local residents.
Kirkgate will close to traffic from 9am, for a day of entertainment running from 11am until 4pm and including buskers and on-street food and drink offers.
Between 5pm and 9.30pm, Minster Gardens will be transformed into a musical fiesta venue, with decorative lighting for a paella picnic among the trees.
The entertainment will be provided by Knaresborough Vista Social Club, Bailey Brown and virtuoso Ukrainian violinist Nadia.
There will be a horsebox bar and a pop-up paella restaurant supplied by Manchega Tapas Restauarant, whose owner, Richard Hughes, said:
“Ripon should be the destination for anyone visiting the north of England! It has everything to offer.”
He added:
“This whole event is an example of the local business community promoting a can-do attitude. It has been funded almost entirely by donations from local businesses and also by sponsorship from Voneus Broadband, along with ongoing administrative support from the Ripon BID, as part of the excellent Totally Locally initiative.”
Petition protesting Ripon Cathedral’s plans to fell trees for £6m expansion delivered to council
A petition signed by more than 800 people against the felling of trees in Ripon Cathedral’s £6 million expansion plans has been delivered to North Yorkshire Council.
The cathedral submitted plans in December for a two-storey structure on part of the public open space known as Minster Gardens.
It says the building is much-needed and will provide a new song school for its choir, a cafe, toilet facilities and disabled access.
But the plans also include the loss of a veteran beech tree as well as 10 other trees on the gardens which has proved controversial.
The cathedral has argued that 14 trees would be planted round the development as well as a further 300 at Studley Royal.
However to Jenni Holman, who set up the petition, this fails to compensate for the loss of the mature trees as well as part of the green space that would be built on.
The petition is still available to be signed in Karma on Kirkgate in Ripon and Ms Holman hopes more than 1,000 people will have put their names to it soon.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service:
“I organised it, with the help of many others, because I fundamentally disagree with the plans to build an annexe for the Cathedral’s use on Minster Gardens. Firstly and most importantly because it would mean felling eleven mature trees, one of which is a beech tree which has been awarded ‘veteran’ status. I shouldn’t need to explain the importance of trees now!
“Secondly, the area in question, Minster Gardens is a beautiful green space in a built up area, again climatically it is not good to create more hard surface areas. This park is used by people to sit and quietly enjoy, it contains a beautiful memorial garden too.
“It has been used for entertainment, for example when the theatre festival was on and many enjoyed the recent musical entertainment which rounded off St Wilfrid’s day.”
Ripon Cathedral’s plans have been backed by the public body Historic England as well as the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England.
The catherdral currently welcomes 100,000 visitors a year, which it argues could increase by 33% if the expansion went ahead.
The Dean of Ripon the Very Rev John Dobson said the tree campaigners were risking undermining a development which he believes will “hugely enhance” both the city and its cathedral.
He said:
“We are really disappointed with how this petition has been positioned as we feel that it is not representative of the plans submitted.
“It’s disingenuous to suggest that this development would take away green space from the city, in fact it is adding to the usable green space in the area and landscaping will flow into the memorial garden. No one takes a decision to cut down a tree lightly but we believe this new development will bring a wide range of benefits to the city.
“We are planting 14 trees around the development and a further 300 on land which has been made available to us at Studley, as well as increasing the biodiversity of the green space created.”
Councillors on North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon planning committee are expected to consider the application later this year.
More live music events to be held at Ripon’s Minster Gardens
The success of Ripon’s Rock for St Wilfrid Concert in Minster Gardens has prompted organisers to call for an encore.
An estimated 500 people turned up on Saturday evening to hear four acts, including rock band Time Machine in which Kevin Hill is a vocalist and plays bass guitar.
Mr Hill, who owns the Karma clothing and gift boutique in Kirkgate with his wife Liz, told the Stray Ferret:
“It was the ideal location for a summer concert and we’re now considering a follow-up for the August Bank Holiday and have ideas for further musical and cultural events to be staged here next spring.”
Concert-goers gather at Minster Gardens
The event arranged at short notice in liaison with the St Wilfrid’s Procession Committee and Ripon Business Improvement District, was supported with a grant of £829 from North Yorkshire Council which also gave permission for use of the public open space.
Harpist Lucinda Taylor
Mr Hill said:
“Thanks to cooperation from all parties, we were able to hold a family-focused evening of entertainment in this lovely setting.
“It attracted a large crowd and those who attended showed great respect by leaving the gardens litter free.”
In addition to Time Machine (pictured above) the evening also featured local singer-songwriter Alannah Creed, harp player Lucinda Taylor and Knaresborough Vista Social Club.