Chairman's Miscellany - TrustNews March 2006
To start the first newsletter of 2006 on a positive note, I wonder how many members have noticed the activity on the corner of Eastgate Street, adjacent to the Broadway? If so, you will be pleased to know that it results from a Trust initiative to restore the railings removed during WW 2. Thanks to the design work done by Huw Thomas and organisational skills contributed by Nick Bourne and Michael Carden, grant funding from Hampshire County Council, Winchester City Council and English Heritage plus a sum from the Trust, the project should soon be completed. All the houses involved belong to the City Council, except for one in private ownership.
About 30 members came to the meeting held on February 1st. It was a useful forum for the informal exchange of views and information. Starting with an explanation by Shione Carden of how the Trust’s Planning Appraisal panels operate, topics raised ranged over problems encountered in the planning system, the effects of high density development on the character of Winchester’s suburbs, and the need for a considered vision for the city backed up by a masterplan. The progress of Neighbourhood Design Statements for Fulflood and Teg Down and the need for a similar initiative to cover the area of Weeke that includes the development site at Chimneys and Stoney Lane were also discussed.
We have recently consulted the Hampshire and I.O.W. Wildlife Trust for advice on the feasibility of restoring the land at Bushfield to downland and how it might be managed in future. Once we have this information, we hope to discuss the possibilities with the landowners.
Both Thornfields and London & Henley have made presentations of their developing plans for Silver Hill. It is likely that they will both be submitting their plans to the City Council in April and the Trust has asked for copies of the plans to be sent to members so that you can see them at leisure and make your views known to the Trust Council as well as to the City Council thereafter. The exhibition will be in the Heritage Centre over the weekend of Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th April between 10am and 4 pm.