Craven District Council has been accused of selling off the family silver.

Redevelopment plans for the council-owned 9 High Street could be approved by the council’s planning committee as early as Monday December 13.

But opponents of the mixed cafe and shop scheme say it is badly-designed and are calling for it to be withdrawn.

They also believe that the planning application, submitted by Maple Grove Developments, is being hurried through without adequate consultation.

The district council is keen to see the sale of the site – subject to planning consent – ahead of its move next year to new offices at Belle Vue Mills, on Broughton Road. Maple Grove Developments is also keen to secure planning permission because it is under pressure from potential buyer Argos to start work.

But Skipton Civic Society has accused the council of failing in its duty of safeguarding the town and managing its assets.

“This application suggests that they are truly unsuitable in managing a sustainable future for the town,” said civic society member Geoffrey Randell.

“Elected members too are not blameless. They have not acted effectively in pursuing the people’s wishes and instructing senior officers to act in ways that best served the community.”

Mr Randell described the application, which will see the replacement of 9 High Street and shops to the rear of the town hall, as “outrageous”.

“The proposal destroys the viability of the town hall and harms the listed frontage buildings which form such an important part of the High Street,” he said.

“It is easy to be seduced by new development and the possibility of the arrival of one’s favourite shop, but shops come and go as do council employees and elected members. The destruction of the town’s framework and the sale of its land, once sold, lost forever, will be a serious blow to Skipton’s future.”

Skipton Town Council has also come down strongly against the plan, raising concerns about the loss of more than 100 car parking spaces and a debatable need for more shops.

The town council’s planning committee said that the town hall was in danger of losing its viability, with meetings, concerts and markets put at jeopardy because of access.

“The hall is going to be lost in a plethora of retail buildings and some access is going to be a danger to public safety,” said committee chairman Coun Audrey Thornton.

She said the committee felt that fire safety and escape provisions for the town hall might not be adequate.

Councillors further objected to the provision of more shops.

“The proposed retail provisions are not necessary in this area, which is not in the core retail area and would transfer commercialism into what is essentially a heritage area,” said Coun Thornton.

And they also objected to the loss of car parking spaces.

“With increased retail footfall that these buildings would induce goes a lot of parking spaces.

“The committee wonders if this is a sensible situation, and many of the public definitely think not,” said Coun Thornton.

Last week, concerns were raised about the council’s valuation of the site – believed to be £850,000.

Craven resident John Weatherill called on the council to make sure it had followed the correct procedure for the disposal of council-owned land and warned it against making similar mistakes as with the sale of land off Gargrave Road to Homeloan Management Ltd.

A spokesman for Craven District Council confirmed the High Street plan was due to go before the council’s planning committee on Monday December 13.

“As the current landowner, the council has no direct input into the planning application, which must be considered on its own merits by the planning committee,” said the spokesman.

“The council, as the landowner, has a general site specification which was developed as part of the original tender process.

“This outlines certain requirements which are conditions of the sale of the land. The planning application will be determined in accordance with the council’s adopted planning procedures.”