Autumn / Winter 2019

Issue No. 90 Autumn/Winter 2019 GUARDIAN ANGEL NEWS FROM BRADFORD ON AVON PRESERVATION TRUST Notes from the Chair was asked to join in the Extinction Rebellion protest, says: “…nature may stay the same, but human destiny is where thousands of people were getting up to all changeable.” The play was first performed in 454BC when sorts and getting arrested to get the message about the world population was about 300 million and the Iclimate change across. As someone with children and natural world would have seemed stable – but with 7.7 grandchildren, I am well aware of global warming and the billion of us now, we are changing nature rather quickly evidence which points to all sorts of changes. However, and it must be up to us to change too. I decided that I am too old to go climbing up things and Parliament declared a climate emergency this year, as gluing myself to bridges, but I do feel we should all do did BANES, Wiltshire Council, Bradford on Avon something – and start soon. Town Council and many other forward-looking towns After my stage debut last year with two tiny parts in and cities. Locally, people are looking at what can be Measure for Measure in Holt, the director told me he done, and a long list of ideas and actions emerged from a wanted me to be a member of the chorus in a Greek packed meeting in August. tragedy. “Oh, that will be fun”, I said. Simon looked The Preservation Trust supported the Town Council at me rather archly. “What part of ‘tragedy’ do you not with its proposal to place solar panels on St Margaret’s understand?” he asked. Nevertheless, I ended up agreeing Hall. The installation produced 114.5kWh in just one to be part of a production of Medea that was put on by day in March, saved more than 6 tons of carbon dioxide the Bradfordians on 21-23 November in Holy Trinity and made £600 for the town. We have contributed to the Church. three water fountains which will cut down on the use of How does this connect naughty behaviour and glue? plastic bottles. We have been developing a wild flower Well, just before she kills both the children, Medea meadow in the City Park and the apple harvest for Hens’ Contents Notes from the Chair 1 Tithe Barn graffiti: stories in stone 10 Planning matters 2 Architecture in the landscape 12 A fresh look at the Town Bridge 3 Obituary: John Carter 15 Lynchetts’ windows – a dramatic tale 5 A Bradford boyhood in the 1950s 16 The wonders of archaeology 7 Book Reviews 19 News in brief 8 Diary 20 How to help our local wildlife 9 Orchard is growing. We also recently helped with a well- on 25 January, starting a bit earlier than this year, at 4pm; attended talk about bats – which provide an important let’s hope it won’t be as icy. indication of general environmental well-being – and we Looking towards warmer days, the Community Garden hope to be involved in the town re-wilding project. Party will be on 12 July. We have been asked to be Can and should we do more? I have to say yes and yes. involved in a Barn Dance in the Tithe Barn in May, as BANES have just made changes to their local plan to part of the Green Man Festival. I have been to one in the allow on-shore wind turbines, which are a very efficient barn before and it was fantastic. way to produce electricity: just one can power 1,500 My friend who did go the Extinction Rebellion protest houses. Should we try to change the Wiltshire Local Plan in London was banged up for five hours at West End to allow turbines here? How about more solar panels, Central, charged with obstruction. A minor offence electric cars, electric bikes? What can we do? Please give compared to one of his ancestors, whose name is still me your thoughts and ideas: send them to mrjohnpotter@ scratched into a cell wall in the Tower of London. He hotmail.co.uk met a very unfortunate end in 1606 for being part of the And now on a lighter note, our first Elizabeth Gunpowder Plot. Cartwright-Hignett medal will be awarded to CLuB (Clean Up Bradford). Our annual ‘Sing Around the And on that note – I know it is a bit early, but have a Christmas Tree’ will be on 22 December from 4 – 5pm. Happy Christmas and a jolly New Year. Hopefully, it won’t rain this year. The Wassail will be held John Potter Planning matters: Encouraging renewable energy limate change is an emergency that is now upon In that instance, under Section G of Part 14 – us and drastic action is needed. Perhaps it’s a The installation, alteration or replacement of a symptom of global warming but recently we microgeneration air source heat pump is permitted on a have received a number of enquiries from people about dwelling house subject to meeting certain conditions / C criteria, such as the size of the unit and its location. whether they require planning permission for air- conditioning units (almost certainly) as well as complaints Further to this, in relation to domestic premises, Section about such units having been installed. A of Part 14 also permits the installation, alteration These units might cool your property, but at a price. I or replacement of solar equipment; Section B permits don’t mean the expense of the installation or even the stand-alone solar for microgeneration; Section C running costs of the electricity, but the cost to the microgeneration ground source heat pumps; Section environment. Added to which I have rarely seen any units D microgeneration water source heat pumps; Section that don’t look unsightly when installed in prominent E a flue forming part of a microgeneration biomass locations in the historic environment. Furthermore, there heating system; Part F permits a flue forming part may be complaints from neighbours about noise nuisance. of a microgeneration heat and power system; Part H I suggest opening windows to improve ventilation and a microgeneration wind turbine and Part I a stand- drawing curtains closed as a much simpler and more cost alone wind turbine for microgeneration. There are, of effective solution in hot weather! You might also consider course, caveats to all of these installations which is why improved insulation. it is important to seek advice from the local planning A member who had considered air-conditioning decided authority. against it after discovering the cost and disruption to their These systems should not be as noisy as air-conditioning property just for the benefit of a few weeks each year. units but in the unlikely instance that a noise nuisance A recent complaint turned out not to be an air- does occur then you should contact Environmental conditioning unit but the installation of an air source heat Health, not me and not the overworked planners! pump, which is an entirely different matter. Finally, if you own a Listed Building you will need Listed Current government legislation encourages the Building Consent if you intend to install any of the installation of certain types of renewable energy above. Consent is unlikely to be granted if the proposals equipment in response to climate change. The would harm the character or integrity of that building Town and Country Planning (General Permitted – especially if it involves damage to, or removal of, Development) (England) Order 2015 under Part 14 historic fabric. Even if you don’t live in a Listed Building – Renewable Energy – permits installation of certain think very carefully about the size and location of any types of renewable energy equipment. A formal separate renewable energy equipment. application for planning permission is not therefore Rosie MacGregor required for such proposals. Chair, Preservation Trust Planning Committee 2 A new look at an ancient bridge ver since I first came to Bradford on Avon 30 impossible. So could a footway be provided outside the years ago people have complained of the danger to parapet on the downstream side of the bridge? People pedestrians crossing the Town Bridge. Back then will immediately say that the bridge is a Scheduled there was still the promise of a by-pass to take away some Monument and far too precious for anything to be E attached to it. Certainly the upstream side, with its two of the traffic but, as we all know, that was withdrawn and the traffic has simply gone on increasing. Plans for the pointed arches and the pier on which a medieval chapel Kingston Mill development brought in the idea of a foot/ was later replaced by the lock-up, should not be touched. cycle bridge near the library, on the assumption that the The downstream side with its simple round arches is a town centre and shops would move to the area in front of basic 18th century bridge, dating from the widening in Kingston House. Many of us chased this expensive red 1769. Elsewhere one can see many examples of a modern herring, which would still have left dangerous conditions footway added to an old stone bridge (where Trowbridge for those for whom the Town Bridge remained the most Road crosses the canal, for example) – often in an ugly convenient crossing place. and insensitive way. But a simple modern footbridge need Various other ideas have been proposed. One traffic not be an eyesore. The drawing below gives only one idea consultant proposed a toll on vehicles using the bridge.

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