Harrogate Council is seeking permission to convert the Grade II listed frontage and laundry tower into three apartments and demolish the swimming pool building at the rear to allow five townhouses to be built.

Sale of the site with the new planning consent would allow the council to build a new £3.3m swimming pool next to its existing leisure centre at Camp Close.

But the proposals to turn the much-loved Spa Baths into housing has angered many in the city, who want to see it preserved for public use.

Ripon Civic Society believes it should be restored as a permanent record of the city's spa heritage – becoming a tourist attraction in its own right.

Frustration

Chairman of the society, David Winpenny said: "Since the Civic Society first learned of Harrogate Council's plans for the Spa Baths and the new swimming pool we've been largely engaged in a dialogue of the deaf with them. The original 'consultation' they undertook was feeble, and the latest efforts not a lot better."

The society is part of the Ripon Spa Partnership, an umbrella group which brings together different interests. Its petition to save the Spa Baths and to oppose the building of the new swimming pool on Camp Close raised over 3,000 signatures.

Mr Winpenny said: "The council says that building houses behind the Art Nouveau buildings at the Spa Baths and converting the wings of them into maisonettes is a last resort.

"We believe that, on the contrary, it has always been their first choice and that, unless the health authorities can find a plan to take over the site as part of Ripon Hospital, the council will push this scheme through."

'Public asset'

Mr Winpenny added: "Even if planning permission is granted for the new pool, the campaign will go on. The society will fight to retain access to the spectacular foyer of the baths and for the retention of decorative tile-work in the wings, and seek to keep the site as a public asset rather than a private housing scheme.

"This was a building constructed with pride by and for the citizens of Ripon – we shall not let it be alienated from the care of the city."
Ripon City Council also opposes the Spa Baths scheme. It wants a referendum before the site is sold.

Recommending approval

Planning officer Andy Hough will recommend approval of the Spa Baths redevelopment and the new 25-metre pool at Ripon Community Centre to a planning meeting on Tuesday.

He said: "The concerns of the parish council (Ripon City Council) and Ripon Civic Society have been noted, however English Heritage consider the architectural treatment to be acceptable."