CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Dear Member,
The trip to the Gate House at Harlaxton was attended by some 30 members and guests. The bare bones of the building were still visible and the detail of the restoration given by architect Graham Cook was fascinating. The walk back up to the Gregory Arms for coffee was lovely on a fine winter morning.
A few days prior to this our Christmas Social and talk on trees by the Woodland Trust was also a most enjoyable evening with similar numbers attending.
You are invited to two visits in this spring; Grantham Museum on 16th March and Ellys Manor House on 28th April (see p.4 for details).
Please support AGM at the Guildhall on 26th March and meanwhile let us have your ideas and suggestions for the GCS bi-annual Award Scheme. The Award Scheme is an important event in raising the importance of good design, detailing and sustainable methods for new build, refurbishment and environmental schemes in the town. If you know of any project completed in the years 2007 or 2008 that should be included let us know.
Our web site is now ready. Members and potential members will be able to contact us by email and view our newsletters and search for events. The launch of this will coincide with some press releases and distribution of our new brochures.
The website is not static and if you have any ideas for inclusion or improvements – please contact us.
The blue plaque scheme for the town and the tourist information board schemes are moving forward. Suggestions for the blue plaque scheme were sought from the public via the Journal. We have sourced a manufacturer, identified the buildings, written to the owners for permission and we are now very pleased to learn that six plaques and also two information boards are to be funded via Grantham Futures. The boards we hope will be part of a series; and again we have identified a couple of sites and the information to go on these.
Finally we were very lucky to secure the interest of English Heritage in the town – they have been to see us and the town and were very impressed with the buildings we have here. Let’s ensure we continue to “preserve the good in the old and encourage the good the new”!
Louise Mumford
Chairman@granthamcivicsociety.co.uk
ENGLISH HERITAGE VISIT GRANTHAM
On 19 January six members of the East Midlands team from English Heritage visited the town to assess the implications of the Grantham Growth Point proposals. After walking around the town they met with four of our Civic Society Committee.
The team leader, James Edgar, stressed the importance of having a clear idea of the archaeological and topographical features of the town and of what is special and what is important.
He suggested that the Society could be instrumental in collating and documenting past archaeological information and then go on to make a survey of buildings and areas of significance, and make recommendations for further Listings and possible extension to the Conservation Area.
Clive Fletcher, whose main concern is with historical areas, gave his impressions of the town: “There is much ‘good stuff’ but the disasters of the 60s and 70s are all too apparent. The buildings, new and old, walkways and car parks, all need knitting together to create a coherent town. Pedestrian links and traffic calming measure are needed. Paving and street clutter are appalling.”
He thought that a radical, long-term vision is needed in the form of an Area Action Plan such as that produced, with help from EMDA, at Lincoln.
The general feeling was that the Growth Point Plan might be acceptable in broad outline but in the meanwhile much small-scale work could be done such as the renovation and improvement of numerous buildings, possibly with the aid of Lottery Heritage funding.
Following the meeting, the guests were shown The Conduit and told of the Society’s hopes for this site.
GRITTY BUSINESS
During the period of snow and ice, the Journal having reported that the local councils considered that the Civic Society was responsible for gritting pavements, our Chairman had deal with calls from members of the public.
We have no idea how this misconception arose!
After some correspondence, and in the absence of any actual evidence being produced to confirm that we have anything to do with gritting, Brian Thompson of the County Development Directorate for Highwaysfollowing issued this statement :
"Lincolnshire County Council can confirm that Grantham Civic Society
have no responsibility for gritting footways in the town.
Members of the public can use the salt in grit bins for spreading on public roads and footways and can inform the County Council on 01522 782070 when bins need refilling.“
RIVERCARE
ACTION STATIONS!
Now that all the snow and ice has gone and the rain stopped for a while we need to do some work on cleaning up our adopted stretch of the River Witham.
Recently I walked the whole length and I can tell you that it is badly in need of some tlc.
The plan is to go out on Saturday 7 March meeting at Harrowby Mill footbridge (off Belton Lane) at 10.00. We can then work our way upstream through Queen Elizabeth Park, Wyndham Park and beyond.
You will pleased to hear that there are a few interesting challenges along the way, particularly at Harrowby Mill weir where there was a shopping trolley, a wheelie bin and half a telegraph pole amongst all the other debris.
John Knowles
rivercare@granthamcivicsociety.co.uk
PROJECT PRETTY
Project Pretty is an initiative which the Grantham Business Club launched towards the end of last year. The Civic Society was invited to hear the presentation on the Project given by Richard Davis of the GBC to councillors and officials of SKDC .
Basically the Project proposes simple, low-cost measures that will enhance the townscape. Two of the examples given were: the replacement of the plethora of signs at the entrance to Watergate Car Park with a single board;
and improvement in the appearance of empty shops (such as the former Adams) by simple decoration of the windows, fully painting out the old shop sign and placing the ‘To Let’ sign flush with the building.
The Civic Society wholeheartedly supports such initiatives, but the Council had various reservations and did not wish to see the Project’s logo on official signs in town.
New members are always welcome
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