North Yorkshire Council is set to meet Harrogate Civic Society to discuss concerns about the condition of the town’s heritage.
The authority has confirmed that society chair Michael Newby has been contacted about a meeting date, following criticism over delays in arranging talks.
The society previously highlighted the condition of the Sun Parlours in Valley Gardens, St John’s Well and Tewit Well, reporting problems including missing roofs, rotten window frames and cracked masonry.
Michael said council officers had offered to meet him after he questioned whether the authority cared about Harrogate’s historic buildings and structures.
However, he said more than two weeks passed without any suggested dates, prompting him to contact the council again.
Michael said:
“The challenge seemed to get some sort of reaction with an offer that officers would meet with me to discuss the Civic Society’s concerns.
“Over two weeks later and with no suggested dates from the Council I got back in touch to find out what was happening. The subsequent replies suggest the answer is nothing.”
Responding to his comments, a North Yorkshire Council spokesperson said that Mr Newby has been contacted about a meeting date.
The council has not confirmed when the meeting will take place and did not address the society’s wider concerns about the condition of the heritage assets.
In his statement raising those concerns, Michael said:
“This is very disappointing to say the least. As North Yorkshire Council continues to fob off concerns about our heritage it continues to rot.
“A number of these assets, for example the Sun Parlours, St John’s Well and Tewit Well are listed buildings. Whilst their maintenance should be a priority we should not ignore structures like the West Park shelters or our historic serpent benches.
“Harrogate Civic Society is not prepared to let this matter rest.”
The society previously warned that deteriorating historic features could affect the town’s appeal to residents and visitors.
Its concerns also included a barely legible inscription on the Wetherby Road war memorial and the removal of serpent benches.
In his earlier statement, Michael said he had first contacted the council about the removed benches 18 months previously but had yet to receive an answer.
The society also asked what would happen to the 14 serpent benches in Station Gardens and the heritage lampposts at One Arch as part of the Station Gateway project.
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