News
Meeting tonight over Spa future
Monday 02 June 2008
THE campaign group opposed to the sale of Ripon Spa Baths to private developers is hosting a public meeting tonight.
The meeting was called after Harrogate Borough Council submitted a planning application to turn the baths into three private apartments and demolish the swimming pool to make way for five townhouses.
A second application seeks to build a new swimming on public land at Camp Close.
With the deadline for objections to the applications looming on June 6, the Save Our Spa group is meeting to discuss ways to fund a rescue for the historic building.
Karyn Fleeting, of Save Our Spa, said: "The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the applications which have been submitted by Harrogate Borough Council.
"It will be to discuss the implications, to talk about how the Spa Baths can be converted to a facility for Ripon which is fit for the 21st century."
Mrs Fleeting is also hopeful the meeting will see a decision on how to go about raising cash to save the baths from the hands of developers and see it remain a public amenity.
The group hopes to see a fundraising campaign similar to the one which resulted in the restoration and re-opening recently of Harrogate's Royal Hall.
"We will be discussing some hard business issues," she said. "We think there is the momentum and the means to raise this money."
Save Our Spa recently submitted a petition to Harrogate Borough Council containing more than 3,000 signatures from residents of Ripon calling for a full public consultation on the site.
The public meeting takes place at 7.30pm at Allhallowgate Methodist Church
