Councillors have clashed with officers at North Yorkshire Council over the approach to saving rare military huts at Ripon’s 1,300-home Clotherholme scheme.
The barracks site includes seven training huts believed to be some of the last remaining of their type in the country.
There is uncertainty about what will happen to them before the homes are developed.
Guy Wilson from Ripon Military Heritage Trust addressed councillors at the Skipton and Ripon area committee in Skipton this morning and pleaded with them to send a strong message that the huts should be saved.
He said they were of “outstanding significance” as what happened there during the Second World War helped play a part in the Allies’ victory.
Mr Wilson, who led efforts to build the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds during the 1990s, said the trust hopes to undertake fundraising to save the huts.
The trust believes there is space on the site for them to be re-erected away from the new homes and could become a tourist attraction.
But he said fundraising efforts have been hamstrung due to delays in drawing up a feasibility study that will look at potential options and if the huts can be saved.
As part of the planning approval for the housing, Homes England has agreed to pay £100,000 towards a heritage strategy.
Mr Wilson said:
“They are wooden demountable huts that can be taken down and put up again.
The longer we stick on feasibility, the less time we have to save the structures.”
Two planning committees have approved plans for housing at the site with both insisting that the heritage should be protected.
A petition signed by 925 people has also called for the huts to be saved.
Officers have been working with the developer on the strategy but Cllr Andrew Williams (Conservative & Independents Group, Ripon Minster & Moorside) suggested the council had been passive in efforts to save the huts.
Cllr Williams said:
“Elected members have given a strong message to officers that heritage should be preserved so it can become a potential visitor attraction.”
“There’s a logjam in the planning department with visionless officers who frankly don’t get what is potentially achievable.
“We should not simply allow it to be destroyed for the sake of 1,300 homes when both can be developed.
It needs more imagination and frankly support from our officer team.”
Ripon councillor Barbara Brodigan (Liberal Democrat, Ure Bank & Spa) also said she felt officers were not supporting the efforts of the heritage trust or the people of Ripon.
She said both she and Cllr Williams have had several meetings with Homes England and were left disappointed with their approach to respecting the city’s military heritage which has lasted for more than a century.
Cllr Brodigan said:
“They talk about naming roads on the site after military leaders. It’s theme park stuff paying lip service to our military history.”
The committee resolved to write to the Ministry of Defence and Homes England with a strong plea to save the huts.
North Yorkshire Council planning officer Nick Turpin offered a firm rebuke to suggestions that officers were sitting by.
Mr Turpin said:
“I’m not sure where the impression we have a lack of imagination has come from.
We support the strategy, we’ve had a delay in information coming forward, partly because Homes England has to do a tendering process.
“When this comes through we’ll know more about the nature of buildings.
This is going to take time, it won’t happen in a couple of months.”
However, Mr Turpin’s response failed to impress veteran councillor Robert Heseltine (Skipton East and South, Conservatives & Independents Group).
He remarked:
“Listening to the officer’s response I didn’t think it satisfied the reasonable definition of enthusiastic."
Harrogate-based Sporting Influence Foundation to tackle 24 climbs in 24 hours
Giant vegetables take centre stage at Harrogate Autumn Flower Show
Alpamare waterpark to be sold to 'protect its future' with private investment
Roadworks causing growing disruption in Harrogate and Knaresborough, officials admit
Yorkshire artist brings Harrogate's Old Market Hall back to life
Martin House hosts first children's palliative care conference
Judge appointed to lead inquiry into North Yorkshire mental health trust
Harrogate group raise more than £40,000 with cycle to Bordeaux
Scotton pub wins Tripadvisor award for seventh year running
Almost 2,000 people sign Knaresborough landslip petition
Police appeal after Range Rover damaged in Knaresborough
St Aidan's teacher recognised at national Teacher of the Year Awards
Bramham Park to host its first Christmas market
Harvest gown unveiled for flower show's 50th anniversary
Ripon's Mario's Restaurant named among Tripadvisor's top 10%
Harrogate Rugby Club reveals plans for clubhouse expansion and padel courts
Police appeal after Lister House minibus vandalised in Ripon
Council urged to "show me the money" and provide evidence of home-to-school policy change savings
Kate Mosse and Prue Leith among stars of Harrogate Literature Festival
Ripon among UK's top cities for missing parcels
