Chairman's Miscellany - TrustNews Jun 11
Aware of the risks of repetition, I have turned up my words in the last issue of TrustNews and see that I hoped for measurable signs of spring. It was a very short spring before summer arrived with great heat and almost total lack of rain. What a delight it has been. How much better we all feel in the warmth though the prolonged lack of rain is worrying to gardeners and, on a broader front, to farmers. The sunshine continues as I write but I will not risk any hopes for the future. Sunshine does not lessen the activities of the Trust.
The Barton Farm public enquiry having ended - though the Inspector's report is still some way off - we are now faced with an enquiry into the refusal of permission to build on the Pitt Manor fields. Our opposition to that is equally strong. Over such possible developments hang the yet unknown effects of "localism" on the planning structure. The Policy Group is engaged with these important issues. In April, a group from the Trust joined a WinACC visit to a small housing development in Andover. It is modelled on the BedZed scheme in South London which we heard about at the last Annual General Meeting. More of that visit elsewhere in this issue and we still hope to arrange a much larger visit to BedZed.
In the same month, through the generosity of the Headmaster, we again entertained new members in the pleasant surroundings of Winchester College Music School. Some fifty were able to attend and some of those had the added benefit of a guided tour of War Cloister, led by David Fellowes, Director of the Winchester College Society. Those who took the tour were reminded, in that peaceful place, of the huge sacrifices of two World Wars and subsequent conflicts. The event enabled new members to meet Trustees and many present offered help in Trust activities.
On a domestic note, it is a great pleasure that one of our Trustees, Barry Lipscomb, has been elected Mayor of Winchester. I wish him a successful year.
Finally, one of our members, Judith Rich, has generously offered to become Membership Secretary. This will be a tremendous help to our administration. Those who are members of the Winchester branch of the National Trust will know how effective Judith is. A great gain to us. I look forward to meeting you on forthcoming Trust walks and at the Annual General Meeting in September.