Plans for a sports village as part of a massive housing development near Ripon have got the backing of Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley.
She is urging council chiefs to support proposals for a sports village as part of the city’s 1,300-home Clotherholme development.
Bishop Helen-Ann, who is a keen runner, told the online local newspaper, the Stray Ferret, she “fully endorsed the proposal for a sports village on the barracks site”, adding:
“I feel very strongly about this as I believe there is a once in a generation opportunity to achieve something of excellence for Ripon and the surrounding area, and I urge a rethink on the current plans.”
Dr Hartley is a member of Ripon Runners, which is part of the Ripon Sports Consortium.
The consortium also includes Moonglu Cycling Club, Ripon Triathlon NYP, Ripon City AFC Ripon City Panthers JFC, and Ripon City Netball Club.
During consultation for the Harrogate Local Plan and Ripon City Plan, the consortium behind the sports village idea made submissions saying Claro Barracks, which is part of the Ripon Barracks site where the homes could be built, would be an ideal location to develop sports facilities that would serve the city, North Yorkshire, and the wider region.
Bishop Helen-Ann, who runs up to three times a week, hopes her intervention will help to change minds.
“The current plan would see scattered sites for playing fields with no sense of community centre or a coterminous sports facility,” she said.
The full article can be read here