THE multi-millionaire philanthropist behind the regeneration of Bishop Auckland is threatening to ‘turn off his tap’ that pours £50,000-a-day into the town after a high-profile row with Durham County Council that’s left him “angry and frustrated”.
Jonathan Ruffer, who arrived in Bishop Auckland in 2012, is said to be ‘mulling over’ the funding of The Auckland Project (TAP) because he feels the council is not collaborating in spending £53m from the Government’s special levelling up funds.
The council said it was disappointed that Mr Ruffer was considering withdrawing his support and stressed they were keen to work with him to improve the town.
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Mr Ruffer has written to the Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove, calling on him to help resolve the situation.
In his letter, Mr Ruffer says he is being forced “to a decision which I never thought I would face: to suspend all future payments from the Auckland Project until the situation is resolved. If it is not resolved, then the Project will end”.
Council leader, Cllr Amanda Hopgood, said while they wanted to work with Mr Ruffer over the regeneration of the town, the council can’t guarantee more direct control over the public money handed to Bishop Auckland.
She said: “We are disappointed to hear that Mr Ruffer is considering his future in County Durham.
“We know we have an exceptional opportunity for Bishop Auckland, and we have achieved the scale of investment we have received so far together. The government’s funding in our area reflects a belief in Bishop Auckland and County Durham’s potential.
“We cannot always comply with specific demands that are made in respect of public money. We understand that Mr Ruffer is requesting more direct control of central government funding that is allocated to the county council for investment in Bishop Auckland in consultation with communities.”
Cllr Hopgood added: “The funding that has been awarded is based on specific programmes that we are expected to deliver under the government’s guidance and grant terms and the council, therefore, has a legal duty to be responsible for these funds.
“We have reflected on wider feedback from the town relating to the plans for the area and recognise that we need to build on our work through the Towns Board to ensure wider involvement going forward.
“Therefore, while we are incredibly grateful for the support that the Towns Board has given regarding the submissions of the Town Fund, we have this week written to wider groups to establish a broader forum of local stakeholders to ensure the community has an increased opportunity to have its say, and we very much hope Mr Ruffer will be part of this wider, inclusive group.
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“We remain keen to work with Mr Ruffer and his team, and hope that we can find a collaborative solution of working together for the benefit of our communities.”
Mr Ruffer is 12 years into what he believes is a 25-year project which is centred on Auckland Castle.
The row between Mr Ruffer and Durham County Council became public a few weeks ago at a heated public meeting in the Town Hall, attended by 190 people.
It revolves around the £53m Bishop Auckland is to receive from the Government’s Future High Street Fund (FHSF) and Stronger Towns Fund (STF).
The STF was intending on giving towns a maximum of £25m but decided Bishop’s application was “exceptional” and gave it £33.9m.
He said: “Stopping funding will be like cutting off my right arm. Everything within me wants to go on paying. It feels like the most unnatural act.
“My hope is that it will be seen as an act of extreme dismay at what is going on at the moment in the council. The corrective is for the council to work with TAP for the benefit of the town.
“We did better than any other town in the country, and that’s because TAP has put in the foundations over the last 10 years.
“But I fear the opportunity that the Government has given Bishop Auckland is slipping through our fingers.”
Within the multi-million-pound investment secured in Bishop Auckland, much of the money is to go on an eastern access road from the A688 near Coundon which will take the anticipated 1.5m visitors a year into the heart of the tourist attraction, which includes the Kynren nightshow, as well as the Binchester Roman fort, the Weardale Railway, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery and the castle.
The Town Deal Board, whose members include local councillors and businesspeople including Mr Ruffer, the Bishop of Durham, and the Bishop Auckland MP, was set up to put forward ideas that would be worked on with the council. The board wished to build a £6.1m canopy over the north end of Newgate Street but on council advice that plan was dropped.
“The road will really take the gridlock out of Bishop Auckland,” said Mr Ruffer, “but we have been kept in the dark about it – we were working on it going from one place and then we find out after six months, the council has been working on it going from another place. It is that attitude that is not appropriate, particularly when they talk of openness and partnership.”
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“I have no problem with that, that’s exactly the way the relationship should work, but now the council is making it clear that it will do what it wants with that money and not the board,” said Mr Ruffer. “The board is being squeezed out.”
He feels the council is focussing on its priorities rather than on the town’s.
“I am angry and frustrated,” he said. “TAP hasn’t missed a beat in doing everything it can for the town, and therefore for DCC not to regard us as the partner with whom they should co-operate is quite wrong.
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“I am not turning my back on the town. I am doing exactly the reverse. I am bringing DCC into partnership for the benefit of the town.”
Mr Ruffer isn’t certain what will happen to TAP, which employs 80 people, if he turns his tap off. “I will still be here weeping over the ashes,” he said.
Tory MP for Bishop Auckland, Dehenna Davison said it was vital to work together to spend the multi-million-pound award.
She said: “Since I got elected, one of my key priorities has been attracting investment to the constituency.
“I have lobbied the Government incessantly and am delighted to have played a key role in Bishop Auckland receiving over £70m so far from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, Stronger Towns Fund, and Levelling Up Fund.
“The priority now is on ensuring the different pots of money are spent wisely and in complement with each other to deliver real change for our area so that we can move into the future and thrive.
“To do that, all stakeholders need to be at the table working together, so I am really pleased the Council have set up a new Bishop Auckland Advisory Board and look forward to attending the first meeting later in the month to continue to fight for the best for Bishop. The Town has a bright future, and I can’t wait for the works to begin.”
David Land, who is the chair of the town board, said Mr Ruffer pulling the plug on £50,000 per day would be “unthinkable”.
He said: “We’ve got a millionaire that wants to pump money into the town, and I think the council must be careful and needs to be more open and transparent with how they’re going about the investment.
“The county council are kicking discussion into the long grass a little. We need clarity and if Jonathan does pull investment, we need to realise this will be detrimental – you can’t just replace the money from Mr Ruffer.
“We have a great opportunity to bring Bishop Auckland up, but we need everyone on the same page.”
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