Landscape - TrustNews Summer 1992
The Landscape Committee has commented on several schemes submitted for planning approval in the past few months including the YMCA sports field where we felt the concentration of buildings at opposite ends of the site leaves only a small wedge of open space in the middle. We would prefer to see the buildings at the western end, leaving an open area with frontages onto Dean Lane and Stockbridge Road with much greater potential landscape value to the public. The dominance of car parking spaces has concerned us in several schemes, and is mentioned under Development Control, above; another is 75-79 Eastgate Street where the very pleasant river frontage has been ignored and car parking using the available space. We asked that trees be included to 'soften' this area.
The Community Support Centre in Upper Brook Street is another scheme where much of the space on the western side has been given over to vehicle movements and parking. We felt this could be an attractive paved and planted forecourt and cars use the adjacent car park. Again the opportunity to plant trees does not appear to have been taken.
We welcome the revised scheme for offices at the Pickfords Depository where more planting between the car parking spaces on St Paul's Hill frontage has been included this time and arrangements agreed for combined use of car parking with the adjacent St Paul's Church. We hope that arrangements such as this will happen more often and so reduce open spaces given over to cars.
We looked at the car parks for the pilot scheme for Park and Ride. One site at St Catherine's View and the other at Barfield Close. At the former we are concerned that 2 Dawyck Beech and 1 Copper Beech on the Bar End Road entrance were not indicated on the plans and have asked that these prominent, good trees be safeguarded. Both sites are already level, fenced areas and new planting is proposed within the sites but we suggested that ivy, old-man's-beard, Russian vine and similar creepers be planted on the high perimeter fences to screen the cars as you approach Winchester from the east.
We were invited to comment on the Cathedral Tree Programme which is a five year phased programme of tree care and new planting in the Close. A detailed tree survey has been carried out to assess the need for tree felling and surgery and a replanting schedule. We had a meeting with the Receiver General, Keith Bamber and Leslie Lipscombe of R.P.S.Watson, the landscape architect in charge, and mentioned our preference for trees of stature and presence to reflect the quality of the Cathedral building. We feel that small flowering trees are better kept to the private gardens within the Close and that there should not necessarily be a collection of too many species. The Close should primarily be for peaceful enjoyment of the surrounds to the Cathedral and the trees complement this grand building.
The Ramp in St Georges Street
Two members of the Landscape Committee went to a very well attended Guildhall seminar on Paving Design in Sensitive Areas arranged by the City Planning Department and the subjects covered were: History and development of pavements, Appropriate materials in sensitive locations, English Heritage's subject was Philosophy and use of materials. Their contribution in fact made many of the points which the Trust had made when commenting on proposals for Upper Brook Street and the Square, particularly the need for a thorough survey and appraisal to be carried out. The City Chief Engineer covered The Winchester Approach, and Hampshire County Council's Ap¬proach was also included. The discussion which followed brought up several differing views and we felt it was a useful meeting. We will continue to press for best quality materials to be used, and good features retained, where streets and pavements are being paved in the City.
We were horrified to see the ramp in St George's Street cutting through the well designed granite sett paving between the street and the building designed by Sir Hugh Casson. The work was undertaken without prior notice and although we acknowledge the need to have easy access for the disabled, the ramp could have been far more sensitively incorporated. Perhaps by altering the shallow steps and disgracefully neglected pool at the east end and so linking the ramp to the pedestrian crossing to the Brooks.
We continue to look at the weekly applications for tree work. We objected to the removal of a yew and holly in the rear garden of 5 Newburgh Street (the front garden to this house is mentioned under Development Control) as these trees are the only green in this street. The silver maple had to be removed from the front garden at Carlisle House, St Thomas' Street and we asked that a suitable replacement be planted as the tree was an asset to this street.
Many people are unaware of the advantages of tree surgery and the accompanying photographs of trees, both within a few 100 yards of each other indicate a good and unfortunately a bad case. The chestnut tree had dead and broken branches and an overcrowded crown. It can depend on the specie and condition of individual trees as to how much thinning is required but removing a proportion of branches and creating a well balanced crown not only enhances the visual appearance but allows wind to be filtered through and so greatly reduces damage to branches or, as in the recent hurricanes, the risk of trees being blown down. Ivy growing on trees can be extremely heavy and causes extra strain on the tree especially in winds and there is the increased chance of the tree blowing down. With good tree surgery a tangled headed tree can often be made into a well balanced tree and prolong it's life. The photograph of the stump (below) is all that remains of an excellent sycamore tree which could have been a similar shape to the chestnut. We reported the contractor to the City Arboriculturist.
This Chestnut Tree is the result of good tree surgery
Bad tree surgery: all that remains of an excellent Sycamore
We are also taking up the matter of the plethora of signs which have appeared in recent months. Cycle signs have been duplicated (some now removed) as well as cycles painted on the road. Some streets have a sign on every lamp post. We consider all street furniture should be considered as a whole and if possible at the design stage, eg The Square, to avoid this ad hoc superfluity of notices.