Landscape - TrustNews Summer 1993
There have been a considerable number of planning applications for work to be carried out on trees and we have submitted comments, after looking at the trees, where we consider felling or drastic pruning to be inappropriate, such as the Yew in Avebury House car park and seen from St Peters Street where the request was to heavily reduce the spread. This is now to be lightly thinned and the lower branches removed, to which we have agreed.
At the Royal Hotel a Chestnut was diseased and had to be removed and we hope a replacement will be planted. The other large trees in this garden have had tree surgery carried out and the ivy removed and we welcome this work as the trees had been neglected and become too heavy for this location.
The application to carry out tree work to the extensive planting at Pitt Manor on the Kilham Lane frontage where trees had suffered in the storms was also welcomed as was the application to thin the crown and remove ivy from the large specimen beech tree in Christes Hospital, Symonds Street. This work can contribute to longevity of trees growing in city conditions.
Sycamore in Southgate Hotel car park
Appalling damage has occurred to the very large sycamore in the car park belonging to the Southgate Hotel which obscures the blank wall of the Law Courts, reaching roof height. Apparently a 'gardener' was told to remove the ivy and in his 'ignorance?' ringed barked the entire circumference of the trunk by chopping into the bark. We have discussed the matter with Winchester City arboricultural officer who agrees this could kill the tree. Ignorance in the treatment of trees, especially specimens of such importance to the city such as this, and which has survived unscathed from developments in the vicinity and storms, leaves us wondering how we can get across informed knowledge of tree care to everyone. Have members any suggestions as to how this could be tackled?
In Kingsgate Park a beech tree has had to be felled but we hope Winchester College will replant. An application for further car parking at the adjacent Physical Education Centre for about 45 cars was disappointing in that no planting at all was included. We consider the College could be an example by enhancing its environment to benefit everyone.
Two other carparking applications were commented on. One at Sarum Road Hospital for an extension into the field and we asked that better landscaping be included and possible improved use of the existing new car parking spaces. Nearby and also extending into field site for 80 carparking spaces was submitted by Hampshire County Council for the Central Division Education offices off Romsey Road. Our objection was based on the state of this large site where there is no overall landscaping and cars take up the majority of the spaces between buildings. We consider it one of the worst examples in Winchester of bad use of ground around buildings and suggested an overall scheme be prepared for landscaping/car parking.
We also liaise with the Trusts' Development Control Panel who alert us to developments where trees are involved, both existing and where new planting could be included. Comments were submitted on the development at North Hill Close, Andover Road, where car parking spaces seemed excessively intrusive into green spaces and we are concerned that insufficient attention had been given to retention of good trees on this site.
Another scheme was adjacent to 39, St Cross Road where new houses are proposed and we agreed with the removal of the Leylandii trees on the road frontage but suggested some of the pines damaged in the storms are also removed and large evergreen shrubs, a feature of this area, be planted instead.
An application for houses on the old football ground in Airlie Road did not include the landscape scheme but we will be commenting when this is available as we consider the retention of some open space is important for this district.
Land between Badger Farm Primary School and Whiteshute Lane was another housing scheme and included good buffer planting on the railway boundary and planting within the site but we asked that the thick mixed rural hedging along Whiteshute Lane which provides a division from open countryside to the East and the housing be retained.
Members will have noticed the completed Hampshire Records Office with car parking on the station approach side, and for a building of this size the small precast paving slabs, and incompatible colour on the Sussex Street frontage are out of scale. It is strange that Hampshire County Council, who finance Winchester City street schemes, have recently used good materials in the Hampshire town schemes, e.g. Ringwood, Fordingbridge, Stockbridge to mention a few, and Alresford where work is in progress and Purbeck paving and granite kerbs are being used, should in Winchester even in front of their own buildings such as Mottisfont Court and the Records Office we have these ill thought out schemes using utilitarian materials. Parchment Street has a mix of unrelated materials, 6 different types in as many yards.
There was public presentation for the Middle Brook Street scheme which we attended and many voiced opposition to the proposals and the scheme is now being reviewed.
City Bridge ramp
The City Engineers invited us to see the drawings for City Bridge ramp and we liked the ideas put forward but requested a more mellow brick be used and are pleased to see the satisfactory result which fits in with the old bridge and riverside walk and is accessible now for wheel chair users as well as pedestrians.
Winchester City Council has no money for capital expenditure at present so the High Street lighting is 'on hold' which we felt would improve the pedestrian precinct.
Little Minster Street keeps appearing on the Town Centre Management meetings, which we attend, but without improvements. Little Minstrels put in a request to have tables and chairs outside the restaurant which has been granted. Whilst we agree this can add to the street scene when on pavements we think it an undesirable precedent to rope off a section of the road.
Comments have been made on the revised Melbury Lodge acute mental illness unit, and some tree planting we suggested has now been included. Whereas many of the existing trees are in a very poor condition a few that could be retained are not included in the plans. We also asked that care be taken during construction work to protect as many trees as possible on the steep grades by the access road. A management plan has been prepared for the large areas of woodland which will be outside the hospital grounds and this is to be welcomed.
The Landscape Committee is concerned about the Bar End area as a whole. The Tesco development, park and ride car parking on a section of the By-Pass, and Garnier Road where 'up-grading' plus lighting has been suggested. We consider this section of the By-Pass which is to be grassed in the present M3 contract should remain as a green area and is an important section when approaching Winchester from the North or East with view to the Cathedral beyond, and should not be seen over large car parks. The Trust has sent its views on Bar End to the City Council, but it is not too late if members have ideas to contribute.
Members of the Landscape Committee are about to start on a tree survey for the area within the old city walls but if we achieve this we will extend and perhaps cover the Conservation Area. No tree survey exists, surprisingly, and it could easily be kept up to date once the information is recorded. The City Council are also keen on this survey.