Chairman's Miscellany - TrustNews March 09
Just before Christmas, I felt that Trust life might be entering a calm period. Pure wishful thinking, of course. The future of Barton Farm, which seemed to have been pushed back, sprang to life with reports of the City Council returning to housing numbers there as it worked on the Local Development Framework. I can offer no enlightenment - it may be that the position has not changed but is appearing in a different context. Possibly more worrying is the suggestion that the site of Bushfield Camp could become some sort of “Science Park”. The sense of that escapes me but the impact of building on that small but prominent part of Winchester’s setting would be disastrous. It would also lead, inevitably, to infilling between there and Badger Farm. Let us hope that reason will prevail.
Better news of this winter’s evening talks at the Heritage Centre. At the first, Professor Christopher Mulvey brought us up to date on progress with the English Project. It is shaping up well and gaining momentum. We also heard of the development of our language and especially of dialects, of which Professor Mulvey is a polished performer. The second talk, “Winchester’s Historic Environment”, was a joint presentation by Councillor Patricia Stallard, Porfolio holder for and Champion for the Historic Environment and Alison Davidson, Historic Environment Manager. They gave us a most encouraging view of the City Council’s drive to strengthen its activities in this field. No one in the large audience could have left without feeling that this difficult field is in positive and enthusiastic hands. I look forward to the two remaining talks and encourage you to attend. Details elsewhere.
Lastly, the ill-fated tree in Sparkford Close. As so often, the facts are not as simple as the first news may have seemed. Surprisingly, this is the only tree in its immediate locality which was excluded from earlier Tree Preservation Orders and it can hardly have been overlooked by the surveyors. The 11th hour decision to make it subject of an Order was undermined by unimaginable problems with service of the Order, involving both the City and the Post Office, so the Order did not reach the owners until after the “girdling” was done. So, however one may judge that action, no criminal offence was committed. “A wanton act” said members of the Planning Committee. “An unavoidable act” say the owners, with some justification. So what follows? The owners very much regret the concerns caused to many (and themselves) and intend to plant a mature and substantial tree on the site. The Council has tightened p its procedures of internal information and for service of notices. Can the Trust do anything? We are endeavouring to update and print the comprehensive tree survey carried out by the late Gillian Bauer which would reduce the possibility of this sort of problem. This has been welcomed by the City and by developers. It is a considerable task. Could you help?