Chairman's Message - TrustNews Spring 2001
Administration of the Trust
The Post Office , Middle Brook St
1960, the site soon to be redeveloped
At an Extraordinary General Meeting held after the Annual General Meeting in November last year, the proposal to change the name of the Trust to "The City of Winchester Trust" was adopted by the membership. I know that a number of people were unhappy about the proposed change and several well reasoned arguments were deployed and fears expressed. When it was put to the vote there was a clear majority for the proposed change that was then formally adopted.
At the same meeting the draft of the revised Memorandum and Articles of Association was also adopted. The revised document had been approved by The Charity Commissioners prior to the meeting and has since been lodged with Companies House.
The Council of the Trust
We are pleased to welcome Huw Thomas to the Trust's Council. He is a well known local architect and amongst his many achievements, he was responsible for the sensitive and successful development of a major part of Peninsula Barracks.
The Post Office , Middle Brook St
2000, the site soon to be redeveloped
I also have to report that David Atwell has resigned from the Council on his appointment as chairman of the City Council's Planning and Transportation Policy Review Committee. He has been an invaluable member of the Trust's Council and it is hoped he will offer himself for re-election when his other duties permit.
It is with sadness and regret that I have to report the death of our former Treasurer, William Winterton. He served the Trust from 1996 to 1998. As a chartered accountant he was able to prepare the Trust's accounts and balance sheet without recourse to outside help. He did not charge for this service, for which we are all very grateful. We send his family our sincere condolences and our sympathy at this sad and difficult time.
New Developments
A new trend in development is becoming apparent. Developers are seeking significant areas of land in the suburbs and within the boundary of the built area of the City. In some respects this is to be welcomed as this policy will help to take some of the pressure off greenfield sites on the perimeter. The downside is that these sites will often lack a proper infrastructure, particularly when it comes to provision for access to and egress from sites surrounded by older, mature developments. A case in point is the proposed development at 'Salters', just off Salters Lane and adjacent to Harestock Corner crossroads on the busy Stockbridge Road. The increase in traffic generated by the proposed development will have a big impact on traffic in the area and on the narrow tree-lined Salters Lane, which here so emphatically marks the western limit of the built area of the City. At present the capacity of the lane is inadequate to serve this development and any 'improvements' will be detrimental to the environment.
If the only development in this area was to be that at 'Salters', the situation might be containable. However the site occupied by the Wyke Mark Senior Citizens Home, adjacent to the junction of Salters Lane and Old Dean Lane is also to be developed and no doubt other sites will appear as time goes on. This will exert even more pressure on an inadequate road system. The other issue which may exacerbate the lack of a road infrastructure is the need to ensure high density development and the best use of the available capacity of these sites.
Millennium Plaque - Winchester College Community Service
and St Bede Primary School, Design Awards
The Trust is very concerned at the policy implications of developments of this nature in areas with an infrastructure that in its present form cannot sustain them without damage to the environment. The Planning Authority must take the lead here and formulate policies to cope with these new pressures. The Trust has asked the Chief Planning Officer for a meeting to discuss the matter with himself and other officers.
With all the other pressures on our City it promises to be an interesting year. We will keep you informed as other issues arise. My best wishes for the year ahead.