Around 100 protesters and campaigners marched in protest through the Yorkshire city of Ripon yesterday to highlight the need to save the 11 healthy, urban trees in Minster Gardens. They gathered at midday near Ripon Cathedral, before marching through town, holding placards and handing out leaflets.
This campaign has been ongoing for 15 months now, following the submission of the application in December 2022. There are now over 2,300 objections to the plans against approximately 180 comments in support.
In this application, Ripon Cathedral outlined their desire to build an £8mn annex on the council-owned land of Minster Gardens, or Kirkgate Park, as it is becoming more commonly known. This annex would include a large refectory of 141 square metres, toilets, storage space, a shop and a song school for choristers of 59 square metres. The prominence of the refectory has drawn criticism over the last few months on local social media groups.
A public appeal is necessary to fund development
In a leaflet produced by Ripon Cathedral last month, they specified that a public appeal would be needed to raise the necessary funds. “The total cost was last estimated at £8mn which needs to be raised through a public appeal”. The last time the cost was estimated was in 2021, so it is also likely that with the three-year delay, the cost will now be even higher.
National context of tree-felling for development
Channel 4 recently reported on the annex development, highlighting the impact of tree-felling and linking this issue to other high impact tree-felling stories around the country, such as in Plymouth, Sheffield, Devon and the tree at Sycamore Gap.
Channel 4 also filmed near the location of the ‘off-site’ planting location and informed viewers that the site was not visible to the public, nor was it easily accessible, especially to disabled people with mobility issues, raising the issue of equal public benefit.
The National Trust was approached for comment, as the applicant has repeatedly said that there would be “300 native trees planted near Studley”, but the National Trust was adamant that this planting would not be on land owned by them.
“We can confirm that the trees are not being planted at Studley Royal, or on land owned by the National Trust. The Skell Valley Project works with many community groups in Ripon, including Ripon Cathedral. However, this is a private agreement with another land owner.”
Ripon Cathedral campaigners hope for compromise
Jenni Holman, who started the public petition against the annex, told Yorkshire Bylines,
“It is over a year since the start of the save our trees campaign, which is as resolute as it ever was.
“I am heartened to know that there is so much support amongst the people of Ripon, demonstrated not only by the over 2300 signatures on the petition, but also by the amazing support for the protests we have held.
“My hope is that the Dean and Chapter can come to the table with a viable compromise, as this needless destruction must not be allowed to happen.”
Tree campaigner, Pat Waterfall, also told Yorkshire Bylines,
“The real necessities for Ripon Cathedral are better toilets, storage and a song school. All of these could be built on the land east of the path to the Stonemason’s Yard in a single building which could project into the Yard.
“This could be achieved quickly, relatively easily and without the need for a lengthy fundraising campaign for the £8-10mn needed. Surely this would be welcomed by the Dean and Chapter given how crucial the three of these essentials are?
“This would save most of the trees and the publicly owned green space, wouldn’t damage the Remembrance Garden, be much cheaper, and would take very much less time to build while giving Ripon Cathedral what it urgently needs.
“I would commend this as a reasonable compromise. Let’s hope Ripon Cathedral agrees.”
Historic England supports demolition of listed walls
While attention has been focused on saving the green public space in the city, campaigners have also been left dismayed and confused by Historic England’s support of the demolition of the listed boundary walls, to allow for the modern annex building to fit into the space. A linked application to the annex proposal is also on the council planning portal and is awaiting a decision.
There are two Grade II listed boundary walls which are of particular interest named ‘D5’ and ‘C16’, which Historic England has described as having “considerable significance” and “moderate significance” respectively. Historic England itself acknowledges in the planning documents that:
“[T]here would be a degree of harm through reduced legibility, the loss of the historic boundary lines and the re-ordering of space within this part of the Cathedral precinct.”
As these comments were from March 2023, Yorkshire Bylines asked Historic England for an updated position and was told:
“We consider that although the demolition works to some of the listed boundary walls would represent a degree of heritage harm, the scheme overall would deliver considerable heritage and wider public benefits.
“In addition, although construction work is clearly going to be close to other listed boundary walls, experience elsewhere suggests that it is perfectly possible for this to proceed in a way which avoids damage to these structures.”
When asked to further define these “wider public benefits”, Historic England did not respond.
North Yorkshire Council’s own principal conservation officer did not agree with Historic England’s position and stated in April of last year that:
“In summary, the works to the Old Deanery wall have the potential to cause harm. There are insufficient details to determine the true impact.
“Loss of part of the listed wall to the east of the Courthouse results in harm that is not outweighed by public benefit (NPPF, 202) and loss of the boundary wall between the stonemason yard building and the Old Deanery results in loss of historic boundaries and erodes the character and appearance of the Ripon Conservation Area.”
Decision lies with North Yorkshire Council
This annex application expires towards the start of May and campaigners hope that the planning committee will be mindful of North Yorkshire’s declaration of a climate emergency and reject the application completely to ensure the protection of the veteran beech tree and the other healthy urban trees. As global average temperatures rise, the benefits of urban trees will be crucial in climate management in the coming years.
Cathedral response
Ripon Cathedral was asked for comment and response, but none was forthcoming by the given deadline.
