Issue No. 13 January 2009

Transport are in hand for well-sited bus stops to serve the new Medical Centre in Restoration South Bar. Transport Update Unicorn gates restored Morrisons pedestrian crossing – a new Because the Civic Society is • pedestrian crossing involving changes The Civic Society was delighted to see represented on the Traffic to the phasing of the traffic lights at the the reappearance of the restored Advisory Committee, we are able to junction of Swan Close Road and Upper gates of the Unicorn Public House in take our concerns about traffic and Windsor Street will improve access to Market Place. The restoration came transport direct to the appropriate Morrisons from the Gatteridge Street about through an initiative by Banbury authorities. The Civic Society area. This will be welcomed by nearby Town Council’s Built Heritage Working Management Committee recently residents, particularly those in the Party. resolved that more might be done to nearby sheltered housing. stop cyclists riding on pavements and in pedestrian areas of the town; that Readers of this newsletter are invited to matter was taken up and is being contact the Civic Society secretary if referred to the Police. The thoughtless they have comments, suggestions or and often illegal parking of cars in complaints that they wish to be brought certain roads is another matter that the to the attention of the Traffic Advisory Traffic Advisory Committee is trying to Committee. address. It is hoped to extend the Residents’ Parking Schemes that Strategic planning already exist in some roads. The most recent Traffic Advisory Committee Options for growth meeting looked at a number of locations in Banbury where minor alterations “Options for Growth” is might improve the safety of motorists Council’s public consultation on where and pedestrians and enable traffic to new residential development should be flow more freely. Other issues being situated in the period up to 2026. discussed are as follows: Following publication of the consultation document, the Society established a • Car parking facilities at Banbury working group to co-ordinate its railway station – the matter is being response. In its first week, the working treated as a matter of high priority and group held a preliminary meeting, major improvements are highly likely. revisited all the proposed sites and • Speed limits – reductions from 40 mph made initial contact with the Parish to 30 mph along the Warwick and Councils of all Banbury’s neighbouring Stratford roads are proposed, largely to communities. At a second meeting of improve the safety of school pupils. the working group, it was decided which sites appeared unacceptable and which • Grimsbury traffic scheme – the were more acceptable, subject to experimental traffic scheme in caveats. figure of 485 homes, as the area’s Grimsbury is being continually sensitive regeneration would be of great monitored, as are the problems caused On grounds of landscape, traffic and benefit to the town. Grave reservations by greatly increased volumes of traffic sustainability, it was felt that further were expressed about advice received where Merton Street joins Middleton development on the periphery of the from the Council’s partners, English Road. town was generally undesirable, with Partnerships, however. This indicates development beyond the Salt Way being • Buses – the needs and convenience that, in order to make the Canalside particularly so. The Canalside site was of bus users are a significant concern of redevelopment financially viable, 1200 approved on the basis of the published the Traffic Advisory Committee. Plans dwellings would be required and that community facilities such as a school crossing that the town desperately conceal St Hugh’s church, which is would be unaffordable. needs. The findings of a recent audit currently prominent in views down that Banbury has over 1,000,000 square Horton View. The application is As detailed in the Chairman’s letter to feet of unused industrial space appears recommended for approval by CDC the Banbury Cake (published in our last to add further weight to the argument planners, but faces considerable newsletter – available online at (Banbury Cake, 08.01.09). We shall opposition from the elected members, banburycivicsociety.org), the working continue to lobby Council officers and most notably Cllr Kieron Mallon. The group also concluded that the Council’s elected members on this ongoing issue application will be determined following a apparent rejection of the South and would encourage our members to do site visit by the CDC Planning Committee Grimsbury site (Site D – Thorpe Way / the same. on Thursday 29th January. Spittal Farm waterworks / Grundon) was premature. It was felt that the allocation Subdivision of this site could potentially eliminate the Planning Applications Banbury has a long tradition of private need for development on the Council’s landlords dividing family homes into bed- preferred greenfield sites around the Springfield Avenue sits. More recently the property boom town and that it presents much the best Whilst the Society’s scrutiny is normally and popularity of ‘buy-to-let’ has led to a opportunity for the sustainable focussed on Banbury’s historic core, it trend of landlords and speculative expansion of Banbury over the next also keeps track of developments in the developers buying small properties to twenty years. town’s suburbs. One application we are divide into self-contained apartments. To generate a coordinated response, currently objecting to is the proposed The immediate attractions for the further discussions were subsequently demolition of 34 Springfield Avenue and speculators are obvious, as the held with representatives of the parishes its replacement with five two-bedroom combined rental or sales value of the and Banbury Town Council. The Society flats. new properties created is greater than presented its proposals to a well- The building is situated on a key corner that of the original house. Such attended public meeting of Hanwell site and served as a newsagent’s shop subdivision is also attractive to the Parish Council, chaired by CDC’s former until recently. The existing building and Council, as it increases Council Tax Head of Planning, Alan Jones. Another its counterpart shop on the opposite revenues, increases the supply of small meeting of the working group was held to side of the Ruskin Road were built as ‘starter homes’ and reduces the land finalise our response to the consultation integral elements of a model ‘homes for they need to allocate for new house before the timely submission of the heroes’ housing estate, developed from building. Society’s response to CDC. 1919 on the ‘garden suburb’ philosophy. Whilst sub-divided houses and bed-sits Following submission “Options for The existing building is fondly viewed by fill a social need, they can have a Growth” was discussed in detail at the the local community as a local landmark detrimental effect on areas where the Society’s December meeting with CDC and as a cherished element of the local mix between family homes and rented Planners. At this meeting CDC’s street scene. It could be sensitively accommodation becomes unbalanced, Planners dismissed the South reused, subject if necessary to limited as is the case in Grimsbury and parts of Grimsbury option, stating that its extension. Newlands. In these areas parking is a allocation could be challenged by The proposed replacement building is major problem, whilst longer-term developers as being not financially felt to be a poor design that takes residents complain that landlords and viable and therefore ‘undeliverable’. inadequate opportunity of its landmark transient tenants show low commitment Despite government requirements that site. Five flats is argued to be over- to both local community life and the new housing should be on pre-developed development of the site, not least maintenance of houses and gardens. sites wherever possible, it was because the new building would entirely Noise between upper-floor flats and explained that Banbury could not afford to lose its industrial land and that the housebuilders require more easily- developed sites. The Council would thus be obliged to provide the housebuilders with some large greenfield sites. The Society continues to contend that a coordinated mixed-use masterplan for the regeneration of Canalside and South Grimsbury together represent the best option for Banbury’s sustainable growth and that only the regeneration of the two sites together could deliver the riverside 34, Springfield Avenue, on the crossroads with Ruskin Avenue park, public transport hub and third river bedrooms in neighbouring homes can being opposed by neighbours and Ward Town Hall and also be a significant problem. members, led by Cllr Ann Bonner. We are supportive and, should the application People’s Park The physical effects on the housing be approved, we have requested that The Society wishes to congratulate stock are also often negative. Once a conditions be imposed about satellite Banbury Town Council on its successful house has been subdivided and sold off dishes and requiring the retention of the restoration of the previously walled-in as separate apartments it is impossible historic timber sash windows and ‘minstrel’s gallery’ in the Town Hall. We to return it to a single house. Also, chimneys. The application will be hope to be able to report on the Town internal walls, floors, chimney-breasts decided by Committee, following a site Council’s plans for the further restoration and staircases, as well as historic visit on Thursday 29th January. of the Town Hall and for regeneration of architectural features are normally the People’s Park in a future issue. removed. Chimney stacks are often lost The Society is objecting to the proposed and historic windows and front doors are subdivision of 19 Marlborough Road into replaced in upvc. Exterior elevations four apartments. This is part of a very Conservation often sprout external stairs, vents, foul- attractive locally-listed terrace adjacent water pipes and multiple satellite dishes, to the Library. The terrace was recently Gorton Monastery: whilst front gardens become choked with proposed for full Listing by CDC, leading by example multiple wheelie bins. unfortunately refused by English “Good urban design interprets and builds Heritage. The proposal follows a series In the case of Listed Buildings, the upon the historic character, the existing of unsuccessful applications involving a Listing affords protection to all historic landscape and the aspirations of the large extension and significant external internal and external fabric. Proposals local communities, and arrives at a alteration. The current application will need to demonstrate that they are vision of what a place might become”. entail the gutting of the building sympathetic to the historic and internally. It is claimed the exterior will be This quote was taken from ‘Where We architectural interest of a building, both unharmed, but the small front garden will Live’, a recent urban design guide inside and out. If a building is un-Listed have to accommodate four sets of sponsored by the South East but falls within a Conservation Area, wheelie bins, contrary to CDC policy. The Development Agency amongst others, there is no primary legislation to prevent application is to be decided under but it could well have been the sub-title subdivision, although it should be officer’s powers on Tues 27th January. If of a two-day conference sponsored by a demonstrated that the subdivision has approved, we have asked that no adverse effect on the character or conditions be imposed regarding appearance of the Conservation Area. satellite dishes and retention of historic Notwithstanding the obvious ill effects of timber sash windows and chimneys. This additional noise, bins and cars, this is is a result of similar applications (most interpreted locally as meaning that notably 27 Gatteridge Street) where subdivision is acceptable so long as the promises to leave exteriors unharmed front of the building is left unchanged. have been instantly reneged upon by In some cases we have asked that the developers. adverse effects of subdivision be mitigated by the removal of existing Another application we are objecting to intrusive features (upvc windows, involves the subdivision of 8 Calthorpe satellite dishes, etc) in line with Council Road, a Regency-style Grade II Listed policy, although so far we have been Building, currently in multiple unsuccessful in our arguments. occupation. The proposal, the third in recent months, is to demolish and Subdivisions in Grimsbury are becoming rebuild the back service wing as a a major local political issue, with number of heritage agencies including garden flat and to subdivide the increasingly bitter local opposition. the Civic Trust which was held at the remainder of the house into three Following hot on the heels of approvals Monastery of St Francis, Gorton apartments. The front elevation would be for the subdivision of nos. 60 and 78 (Manchester) in November: at which marred by external gas meter boxes, West Street is an application to divide BCS was represented thanks to David whist internal walls would be moved and no.22A. The house has already been Luckham Consultants Ltd. doors blocked up or removed. We divided into a ground-floor flat and a understand that there is little support for The Place, Space and Conservation – maisonette and the current application the proposals within the CDC Planning The Regeneration Game conference was seeks to further subdivide the Department, who have recently organised to explore “the impact of maisonette into two flats. This will successfully withstood appeals on two heritage-led regeneration on crime involve internal alteration and the similar proposals for Listed Buildings on reduction, health and social and replacement of the traditional sash Oxford Road. community cohesion”, and the delegates windows with upvc. The application is came from a wide variety of organisations including preservation Conservation and Heritage Manager of they received a grant towards the cost trusts, English Heritage, civic societies, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council. of converting the much-loved buildings local government, architectural The wide nature and the tangible, and into a successful conference centre with practices, community groups, the intangible, consequences of a separate community centre. Council for British Archaeology and the regeneration were illustrated by a This conference offered an inspiring Institute of Historic Buildings number of inspiring examples of catalogue of achievements across Conservation. successful projects, not the least of Britain by determined small groups of which was the building in which the Speakers included Jenny Abramsky individuals with vision, who were able to conference was held. The Gorton friary, (Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund) and harness the opportunities that exist to built between 1863 and 1872 by the Ian Lush (Chief Executive of the create better environments and friars and local community to a design by Architectural Heritage Fund) who offered communities, through the regeneration Edwin Pugin, had become derelict during financial advice and support for future of their built heritage. Speaker after the 1970s as had the suburb of Gorton, projects. Other speakers were leaders speaker emphasised the role of the Third when locally based but major railway of successful regeneration/restoration Sector in the regeneration of towns and engineering companies closed. The projects and heritage organisations, who villages in the current financial climate of friary continued to deteriorate until ten illustrated the variety of Third Sector uncertainty, and the opportunities that it years ago when a handful of local (voluntary) involvement in this area. An has created. Breaks between sessions people, with the friars, decided to rescue example of regeneration thinking which offered opportunities for discussion with the buildings and, after the third seemed particularly relevant to Banbury a wide variety of enthusiastic and application to the Heritage Lottery fund, was presented by Paul Hartley, the experienced individuals. At the final, excellent dinner, Kevin McCloud spoke Public House (sadly demolished), The Derick Ingram with humour about his commitment to General Foods Sports and Social Club, Derick Ingram, who died shortly before building conservation and to the built the Bradley Arcade on Bretch Hill, the publication of out last Newsletter, heritage. Badgers Farm in Swerford and Town was a founder member of the Civic Wood House in Wroxton, where the Where We Live was written by Deer Park Society and for many years our family lived for a period. Alpha (www.deerparkalpha.org) and treasurer. He had a distinguished published by the Solent Centre for career as an architect both in Banbury The Society was always grateful for Architecture + Design and beyond. the experience he brought to bear on (www.solentcentre.org.uk). many of the Society’s issues, He was born in East London in 1927 particularly with regard to planning and The website of The Monastery is and made an auspicious entry into urban design. www.gortonmonastery.co.uk. architecture during the Second World

War, when he was articled at the age of Please send your letters via e-mail to 16 to the distinguished architect E. [email protected] .co.uk Vincent Harris. After 2 years National Banbury Civic Society Membership Service as a gunner, he studied The committee is seeking your help. architecture at the Northern Do you have friends, family or Polytechnic in London. colleagues who share your interest in In the Sixties he moved to Banbury Banbury’s well-being? Help us recruit and worked with the architect Peter new members with the recently Lewis. Later he set up his own practice updated membership form, a copy of in Oxford. Locally, his buildings which is included with this newsletter. included the rear annexe at the More members = more action. More Whately Hall Hotel, The Oast House members = a louder voice. Help us help Banbury. And don’t forget to fill in your own details in the box on their form before it is sent so we can thank you. Please write to: Chris Seddon, BCS Membership Secretary 34 Wodhams Drive, Northamptonshire NN13 6NB Left: The Oast House Public House, Top right: Bradley Arcade, Bretch Hill, m. 07747 884770 t.01280 706240 Lower right: General Foods Sports and Social Club, Spiceball Park mailto:[email protected]