Conversion plans for former grammar school
Richmond Grammar School, which was founded in the 14th Century, taught pupils including the author Lewis Carroll but closed in 2011.
The Grade II listed building has been vacant since then, despite previous efforts to bring it back into community use.
A proposal, drawn up by the Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust, would see it become a centre for "cultural activities and digital enterprise".
It would also focus on providing opportunities for young people, allowing them to access activities in their local area.
North Yorkshire Council's executive will discuss a report on 6 May, which sets out plans to transfer the council-owned site to the preservation trust.
Deputy council leader Gareth Dadd said: "This is an exciting opportunity to bring opportunities and experiences for local communities and visitors to Richmond that would normally only be seen in large towns and cities.
"The proposals do have a strong focus on young people which would allow them to take up a host of new opportunities, bringing digital to the Dales.
"It is a major ambition for us as a council to ensure that we can bring vitality and enterprise to our market towns."
If approved, the preservation trust would launch a fundraising campaign to finance the development.
However, Dadd added they were in the "last chance saloon" because the building would have to be sold if this project did not progress.
The former grammar school site has a current market value of about £370,000.
Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
North Yorkshire Council
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Oil refinery workers 'devastated' over closure
More than a hundred people have gathered at a protest demanding the government take more action to save the Lindsey Oil Refinery from closure. The demonstration outside Grimsby Town Hall comes after Energy Minister Michael Shanks announced the plant near Immingham, in North East Lincolnshire, was to shut because a buyer could not be found. The Official Receiver took over the site last month after its owner, Prax, went into administration, putting 420 jobs at risk. Shane Tomlinson, 45, has worked the refinery for 20 years and said: "It's devastating for everyone". "Where is the work in Grimsby and Cleethorpes for people like this," he said. "There isn't any." His views were echoed by his colleague Greg Codling. "All the young lads have got mortgages, they've all got young children," he said. "There's going to be a lot of people all at once looking for the jobs that are not there." Simone Barker, whose dad works at the refinery, attended the demonstration with her son. She said: "It's his future, it's his brother's future, it's all the children [who are] leaving school, it's not right." Employee Pete Spencer, 52, said: "It's going to have a massive effect on the area. "I've been there 22 years. I've been a good servant, loyal servant to the place and it's going to hit everybody in this town hard all across the board. So it's a massive loss to the town, a massive loss to the area." Harriet Eisner, from Unite union, said: "They [employees at Lindsey Oil Refinery] shouldn't be made redundant, that place is viable. "It's not just the people directly employed by Lindsey Oil Refinery it's the contractors, all the people in the supply chain the local businesses who rely on their patronage. It's going to be devastating." "The government need to work a lot harder in getting a business to take over Lindsey Oil Refinery so there is a future for the people in this community". Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: "The government will immediately fund a comprehensive Training Guarantee for these refinery workers to ensure they have the skills they need and are supported to find jobs in the growing clean energy workforce." Lindsey is the smallest of the UK's oil refineries, according to the government. It is located next to the larger Phillips 66 Humber refinery, which continues to operate. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices More on this story Calls for government to save refinery from closure Oil refinery to shut after no buyer found Oil refinery owners urged to support workers Government supporting refinery as 420 jobs at risk Related internet links Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Pavement seating fee for cafes set to treble
Pubs and cafes in North Yorkshire will have to pay three times as much for outdoor seating in front of their premises under new council plans. At present, businesses are charged between £0 and £100 for the cost of a pavement licence, with the fee set to rise to £397.41 for new licences and £301.28 for renewals. A report by North Yorkshire Council officers said the increase was needed to ensure the council covered the cost of issuing the licences. If approved, the new fees would be introduced from 1 August with the council able to issue licences for up to two years. The report detailed how prior to the local government reorganisation in North Yorkshire, the seven district licensing authorities operated different pavement licensing regimes. It said the cost of the licences were based on the district authority calculations, with some not charging a fee at all. The report said: "Now, North Yorkshire has one licensing team, it is important to harmonise the pavement licence fee throughout the council area." Officers said the increased fees had been calculated based on the costs incurred by the licensing service, which were determined by several factors including staffing, accommodation and legal costs. The report said the authority could consider retaining the existing fees but said that would mean "the service would be running at a loss, and recovered unfairly elsewhere." "Any failure to recover costs permitted by statute would require an unnecessary subsidisation of the licensing regime at the expense of the council's taxpayers," the report stated. Senior councillors have been recommended to approve the increase at a meeting on Friday. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Amazon begins search for warehouse workers
An event has been held to recruit up to 2,000 workers for Amazon's new warehouse near Hull. The retailer teamed up with Hull and East Riding councils to stage the event at the city's Central Library in Albion Street. The facility at Melton West Business Park is expected to open later this year as part of Amazon's £40bn UK expansion plan. Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council's portfolio holder for economic renewal, said: "Amazon's investment demonstrates the confidence that global companies have in the region's economy." Information was provided about warehouse operative roles. Beth Dawson, who attended the event, said: "I thought this would be a great opportunity for me because I keep getting rejected from jobs. I hope I'll be able to get a job and start as soon as possible." She said it was "really hard" to find employment and welcomed the opportunity to meet with Amazon representatives. "I've always thought somewhere like Amazon would be a great opportunity," she said. Another jobseeker, Hussain, who did not want to give his surname, added: "I'm looking for a job and I heard about it through the employment hub. I'd like an administrative job but at the end of the day any kind of job because I really badly need a job." Amazon spokesman Neil Williams said: "There's a range of jobs and a wide variety of roles ranging from IT through to robotics engineers and HR professionals. There's a huge range of skills we will be looking for in recruitment and we're looking for people who want to develop a career." Drake-Davis said the decision by Amazon to invest is "a real shot in the arm for the area's employment opportunities". Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices Amazon Hull City Council Amazon to recruit staff for new Melton warehouse New Amazon centre to create up to 2,000 jobs Jobs boost as Amazon announces plan for new site
