Tree campaigners protest against Ripon Cathedral development plans

Campaigners at Minster Gardens, Credit The Stray Ferret

Campaigners who have raised a petition, signed by about 500 people, seeking to save an 'irreplaceable' veteran beech tree from being felled, gathered at Ripon's Minster Gardens on 10 May. Their petition, which will be submitted to North Yorkshire Council, objects to Ripon Cathedral's Ripon Cathedral Renewed planning application.

The application proposes erecting a two-storey building on Minster Gardens, which would require the loss of the tree - described as T14 - and 10 other trees on site.

The petition states:

"We, the undersigned, do not approve of the felling of ancient trees on public land, to make way for the new build proposed by the cathedral. We believe there are alternative solutions, including the utilising of pre-existing buildings."

The petition reflects concerns raised by statutory consultees including Jack Taylor, the Woodland Trust's lead campaigner for woods under threat and North Yorkshire Council's principal ecologist, Dan McAndrew.

In his response to the planning application, which can be seen on the council planning portal, Mr Taylor said:

"This loss of a veteran tree is contrary to both local and national planning policy and this application should be refused in its current form. Veteran trees are irreplaceable habitats, once lost they are gone forever. Any development resulting in loss or deterioration of veteran trees should not be taken forward. The Woodland Trust objects to this application on the basis of loss of a veteran beech tree and the loss and potential deterioration of other notable trees that are also likely to hold considerable value now and in the future, ecologically and culturally. Therefore, we request that planning permission is not taken forward for this site unless the plans can be suitably altered to avoid the loss of the veteran tree and suitably protect both retained veteran and notable trees on site."

Mr McAndrew said in his response:

"I object to this application in its current form because I do not accept that there is no possible alternative location or configuration of the layout of the proposed building, which could avoid the loss of the veteran beech tree, T14, which I view as an unnecessary loss of 'irreplaceable habitat'. In my view, it ought to be possible for the applicant to devise a solution, involving the reconfiguration of the building or its location which would enable T14 to be retained."

The National Planning Policy Framework identifies ancient and veteran trees as 'irreplaceable habitat'. It states development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists.

Petition organiser Jenni Holman (pictured above, front middle) said:

"The petition has been signed by local residents and some visitors to Ripon, who are totally opposed to felling of the veteran beech and other mature trees that play an essential role in the biodiversity of this area of the city. This is a lovely, peaceful open space and many of those that have signed find it inconceivable that this is even being contemplated."

Fellow campaigner Pat Waterfall said: "The loss of trees and this green space when other alternatives are available, is unacceptable."

Response from Ripon Cathedral

A spokesperson for the Ripon Cathedral Renewed programme said:

"The planning application is going through its due process, and as such we don't respond to individual comments or objections during this process. What I can say is that we have investigated all available options within the cathedral estate, and none of the sites were suitable for the new building. This was the opinion of a range of external experts who specialise in heritage buildings and conservation as well as architects and project management experts. The needs of all internal and external users of the proposed new building cannot be met by using any other existing chapter property and all cathedral property is currently being used to its maximum capacity.

"As we've previously said, the building will be an asset to the people of the city, providing much needed facilities, including a safe space for our choristers to rehearse that is fully accessible, along with public toilet facilities (including a new Changing Places toilet, suitable for those who struggle to use standard accessible toilets).

"While we understand that some people may see the loss of 11 trees as too heavy a price to pay, the development will tidy up an unloved part of the city, increase the amount of public open space and enhance the existing much-valued memorial garden. The plans we've submitted also include the planting of 14 new trees around the cathedral, along with a further 300 trees on land made available by a supporter of the project and will see an overall increase in biodiversity across the area."

This article is printed with permission of 'The Stray Ferret', an independent online news service for the Harrogate district. See: https://thestrayferret.co.uk/tree-campaigners-protest-against-ripon-cathedral-development-plans/