Chairman's Message - TrustNews Spring 2000
It was good to see so many of you at the AGM in November. A report from our speaker, Robin Nicholson CBE, is included in this newsletter.
Photo from the Trust's Archive
Riverside Inn, October 1987, before conversion
Memorandum, and Articles of Association
The current document was drawn up in 1957 and does not reflect the Charity Commissioners guidance on best practice or reflect the times in which we live. Alan Langley has kindly re-written them, a considerable task, and for that we are most grateful to him. They are now at the 4th Draft stage and will be circulated to the members of your Council of Management in January for the endorsement at their February meeting. At the same time we will be obtaining a legal opinion and asking the Charity Commissioners for their comments.
The new document and a copy of the old one will then be circulated to all the members in time for the new proposed document to be voted on at an Extraordinary General Meeting. All members will be given the opportunity to vote on the adoption of the new document. We will inform you of the detailed arrangements nearer the time.
Photo from the Trust's Archive
The Old Monk, January 2000
Housing in Hampshire to the year 2016
Professor Crow's rejection of the SERPLAN figures and in their place imposing a 66% increase, has caused much alarm and despondency. The increase, if implemented, has grave implications for Hampshire and for Winchester District of which the City is a part. Crow recommends a build of 8,450 dwellings per year in the period 1996 - 2016, which translates into 179,000 dwellings in total. At the moment. We do not know what the government's responses to Professor Crow's recommendation will be. That is expected in the New Year.
Your Council has written to John Prescott voicing their concerns at the impact the revised numbers will have on the Region, the County and the City. We have also pointed out that this sort of development runs contrary to the Government's own policies. When we know which way the cat is going to jump, we will be writing again, with reasoned arguments, if we consider that the Government's stance is not good for the County and the City.
We are also concerned that the nomination by the County of a Major Development Area 'north of Winchester' will be an open invitation to a developer to apply for planning permission. Even if permission is refused and in spite of the most vehement local opposition, the developer would almost certainly go to appeal or even apply for a judicial review. The outcome of that process is impossible to forecast. It could result in the imposition of a large development on or near the City's northern boundary. Far better that the Local Authority allocates sites to absorb whatever housing figures are eventually decided upon. That is the best solution.
Broadway and Friarsgate Development
We have opened a dialogue with the City on this subject and have expressed the view that the build must be a mix of retail and housing, and that whatever is built must be of the highest quality in terms of design and materials. We hope that a proposal will come forward soon so that we have something tangible to comment on.
We have written to English Heritage and to the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (this latter body replaces The Royal Fine Arts Commission) so that they are aware of the proposal to develop the heart of our City.
The bottom line is that we do not want another disaster like the Brooks.
Bushfield Area
The County wishes to place another Park & Ride Car Park somewhere in the Bushfield area. The City also wishes to establish a sports facility on the site of the former Army camp. The City has carried out a study of the area, and the importance of the area as a landscape feature is confirmed by the joint study of 'Winchester City and its Setting. The Trust has now asked a landscape architect to examine the site and advise us on the effect of development on this land which is very much a part of the setting of the City. This study will be completed in the New Year.
No doubt other contentious issues will come forward in the year ahead and we will meet them as they appear. Once again I appeal for the help of the wider membership. If any of you feel that you have professional expertise which will help the Trust to form views and develop reasoned argument then do please let me know. I have mentioned above three issues in which we are currently involved. Perhaps you can help us with those.
Best wishes to you all for the year ahead.