Councillors have backed proposed improvements to Ripon Market Place to encourage visitors to stay longer and make the area better for holding events.
The plans are being drawn up by North Yorkshire Council as part of the county-wide Town Investment Plan (TIP) programme to boost economic growth.
Members of North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon area committee heard this week that the Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Combined Authority had allocated £2.7m to support early initiatives from the TIP programme.
In Ripon, a council report has suggested funding could be used to “enhance the Market Place as a vibrant outdoor civic venue, creating an attractive setting for events and encouraging residents and visitors to spend more time in the city centre”.
Work could include upgrading street furniture such as bins, benches, signage, bollards, and planters.
Installing infrastructure to support events, refurbishing the existing telephone boxes and incorporating public art installations is also proposed.
Councillor Andrew Williams, Minster and Moorside division member, said he had a meeting planned with Highways bosses over the need to resurface the Market Square.
He added:
“In places you’re capable of breaking your neck on if you’re not looking where you’re going so I think that is an issue which needs to be worked in with any proposed works to the square, which I broadly support.”
Cllr Williams said he would also like the committee to support work looking at the pedestrianisation of both Kirkgate and the south end of the Market Place.
Councillor Barbara Brodigan, who represents the Ure Bank and Spa division, also welcomed the proposals.
She said:
“Ripon has got great potential, but it is underperforming and it would be wonderful to actually see this project come to fruition. It’s been a long time coming.
“Ripon does have a bit of a chip on its shoulder. It feels it has been neglected in the past so thank you for putting this forward.”
Cllr Brodigan said she would like to see more greenery incorporated in the improvements.
Lilla Bathurst, manager for the Ripon Business Improvement District (BID), said businesses in the city would welcome improvements to the Market Place.
She added:
“The majority of our visitors into Ripon are day visitors, about 88 per cent, and the majority of visits are fairly short at this stage.
“Our view is that increasing dwell time in the Market Square with provision of better seating, more thought-out curved seating for example. There’s been a lot of research that shows that this increases dwell time. It means that people who don’t know each other are happy to sit in the same area.”
Other suggestions made by the BID include flexible seating and power points for use by the market stallholders and for events.
A letter was read out at the meeting from a resident, Stanley Macintosh, which called for the agenda item to be deferred due to ongoing upheaval at Ripon City Council and criticism of the consultation process.
However, councillors agreed to discuss the report amid concerns any delay could mean the city missing out on funding from the combined authority.
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