Chairman's Miscellany - TrustNews Sept 2005
Following the exhibition in June of proposals for Friarsgate - now renamed Silver Hill - the Trust responded by commanding the thought and care that had been devoted to the task of understanding the development area and its relationship with the wider city and its setting. However, two major areas of concern were registered with the developers, Thornfield Plc:
1 The mass and height of the building fronting Middle Brook Street from Friarsgate to Silver Hill. Although the most recent version attempts to break up this frontage above third floor level, it is the requirement for increased car-parking and housing units over and above those of the original brief that seems to be dictating the still overbearing outcome. The Trust has consistently opposed increasing town centre parking provision, as it will only add to the existing problems of congestion and pollution. Indeed, at the Park & Ride enquiry the City Council agreed to reduce town centre parking capacity. As stated at the beginning of the master - planning exercise, the Trust believes that the traffic implications of this development have not been adequately addressed by the Local Authorities.
2 The threat that lack of variety in design will produce a monolithic result. Never before has such a large central area of this small city been developed as one scheme. The master - plan acknowledged that variety of form is an essential characteristic of Winchester and it was envisaged that diversity would be achieved by introducing other architects to design specific parts of the scheme. It now appears that this will not be the case and the Trust Council members who have been involved are not convinced that the problem has been addressed satisfactorily.
Consultation on the Housing Strategy for the South East Plan continues (see relevant notice of meeting) but, meanwhile, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has come up with yet another consultation paper on the subject. This suggests that the supply of housing should be linked to house prices and Local Authorities will be required to release development land when government set price targets are triggered. Such a policy could have serious consequences for Winchester. It was launched in mid July and responses are required by September 9th so it covers a period when Parliament is in recess and many people are on holiday. Other significant events to watch out for are the publishing of the lnspector's report on the Revised Local Plan and the enquiry into development proposals at Barton Farm - both due in October.
In 2007 the Trust will celebrate its Golden Jubilee - and it is not too early to consider how this anniversary should be marked. The Trustees would really appreciate the participation of members in making suggestions as to how we might acknowledge the past 50 years and anticipate the 50 years ahead. Allied to this exercise and encouraged by recent advice from the Charity Commission, the Trustees are re-examining the aims and objectives of the Trust and how these can be achieved. This is the opportunity for members to inform us of their aspirations for the work of the Trust and make suggestions too for implementing them.
This edition of TrustNews goes out with the notice of the Annual General Meeting on September 26th. We are very fortunate to have, as our speaker that evening Ben Hamilton Baillie, who from examples of his work elsewhere, we hope will inspire user friendly and clutter-free streets for both residents and visitors to enjoy in Winchester.
Communications
To improve our ability to keep you informed, it would be helpful to have e-mail addresses for those of you who can be contacted electronically. Please send to: secretary@cityofwinchestertrust.co.uk. We should also be pleased to receive you views on relevant subjects in this way.