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A Message from Topcliffe Parish Council
This weekend every household in Topcliffe should receive a leaflet from Topcliffe Parish Council about the future of the Toll Booth. This is what it states:
There are decisions to be made about the future of the Toll Booth which have implications for the whole village. Topcliffe Parish Council believe you all need to be aware of the situation and that you may wish to voice your opinion.
Topcliffe Toll Booth has been owned by the village for many years. It is a Grade 2 listed building with some historical significance and the village/Parish Council is responsible for its upkeep. The ground floor is unused and in a poor state of repair while the upstairs for many years has been used by the snooker club, which pays the village a token annual rent.
The overall condition of the building is poor and getting worse. The Parish Council commissioned a full survey a month ago to understand the full extent of the issues and the estimated costs to restore the building. The detailed survey estimated a minimum cost of £70,000 to carry out the work but this is likely to rise significantly once work starts when further issues may be found.
The Grade 2 listing means that North Yorkshire Council could issue an improvement notice to us to restore the building. They used these powers last year in Sowerby, forcing a local farmer to restore a listed building. They have not approached us yet but the longer we leave it the more likely this becomes, so we believe we need to act now.
The Parish Council believes there are three options
1. Apply for a loan from the government
2. Fund raising and grants
3. Sell the building.
Government Loan
Long-term government loans are available to parish councils. However, they have to be repaid by the Parish Council which would require a significant rise in council tax to pay the interest and capital. We would also have to budget for further expenditure over the years for maintenance to keep the building up to standard which, again, would have to be reflected in the level of council tax.
Grants and Fund Raising
Potentially, there are grant funds available for us. Grant providers would expect us to fund raise at least 50% of the total and, by their nature, the process tends to be drawn out. The ongoing maintenance costs would also have to be funded.
Sell the Building to a Developer
We have spoken to two estate agents who both think the building could be developed within the grade 2 listing framework. This means externally the building would maintain its historical attributes They also believe it would be of interest to a small developer. This would probably mean relocating the snooker club if possible.
Preferred Option
Your Parish Council believes the most sensible way forward would be to try to sell the building. The other two options all come at a significant cost to council tax payers in Topcliffe, with an on going maintenance cost for a building that is hardly used by the vast majority of people in the village. If successful the funds generated would be available for village projects.
The Parish Council would welcome any comments or observations you may have before the 31 March. You can email the parish clerk parishclerk@topcliffe.org.uk via the contact tab on the website https://www.topcliffe.org.uk/ or, alternatively, meet your parish councillors at the Village Hall open day & buffet lunch on Sunday 23 March from 11am.
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