A decision on controversial plans for Ripon Cathedral’s proposed annexe could be made within weeks as the war of words between campaigners for and against the scheme continues.
North Yorkshire Council is preparing to hold a special meeting of Skipton and Ripon area planning committee to decide on the £8m scheme which has split opinion in the city.
North Yorkshire Council had pencilled in March 4 for the meeting, although officers said this week that the reports may not be ready in time for this date.
The cathedral has submitted plans for a cafe, gift shop, song school, additional storage space and new toilets in the Minster Gardens, near the cathedral.
The initial plan proposed the felling of 11 trees in the gardens to make way for the construction.
Under revised plans, 12 trees would be removed but a heritage beech tree would be saved and 23 trees would be planted in mitigation.
Hundreds of comments those in favour or against the scheme have been submitted to the council.
A petition containing the signatures of people who oppose the scheme has also been handed in by the Save Our Trees group.
A statement issued this week by the Cathedral Support Group, which backs the annexe plans, however questioned the validity of the petition, saying there were around 350 fewer signatures than the 3,000 claimed on the petition, and more than 500 of the signatures do not include a surname, a postcode or both.
The group added that a “significant proportion” of the signatures were collected before the plans were revised.
The support group also took issue with the Save Our Trees description of the trees set to be felled as ‘ancient’, saying there are no ancient trees at risk.
Cathedral Support Group spokesperson Meg Munn said:
“This is yet another attempt by this campaign group to suggest that the annexe is not supported, when it will be of great benefit not only to the cathedral but to the whole of Ripon and the region.
“The annexe will enhance the cathedral’s role as a centre for worship, culture, and community, bringing lasting advantages to the city.”
In response, Save Our Trees accused the rival group of “pettiness” and “desperation” over the statement.
The group said it had counted 2,812 signatures on the petition which has been published on the council’s planning portal, with this figure not including two batches of the paper petition which were not uploaded.
A spokesperson said the numbers on the petition had not been questioned previously over the last two years.
They added:
“At the eleventh hour, for suddenly the petition’s validity to be questioned smacks of pettiness from the objectors and they should fully evidence their claims as supporters are called on to do every time.
“This claim is a deliberate attempt to taint the validity of those people who have made objections in good faith.
“It is disrespectful to try and dismiss the significant number of objectors to these plans, as not being worthy of being counted.
“As can be seen from the council portal, objections now outweigh supporting comments and clearly these comments from the Cathedral Support Group smack of desperation, as they realise that public opinion does not support their annexe.”
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