The Newsletter of Civic Society Issue 16 | September 2019

Your regular update on how we are working to keep CHELTENHAM a great place to thrive

Heritage Open Days guided walk Ten days of heritage to explore 13 –22 September

For the first time this year Heritage has played an integral part in the town’s generations of residents and visitors alike. Open Days is running for ten days in history. Marvel at the architecture, learn Walks – join our expert guides on Cheltenham. We have a fantastic array of about their history, and what’s happening a walking tour of various aspects of open buildings, walks, talks and events today. Cheltenham. As a first this year, one is for you to enjoy. And it’s all for free. Spa town – Cheltenham Playhouse gives being led by a colourful character from New this year – we are delighted to an insight into the importance of water the past! These tours are sure to be in welcome the world-famous Cheltenham to Cheltenham which is continuing to heavy demand, so get your ticket booked! this day at the ‘Lido’, a perfect example Racecourse and two more classic Events – there are other events: organ of Art Deco style. Cheltenham business premises, recitals at Cambray Baptist Church, Queens Hotel and Lloyds Bank. Around and about – there is plenty ringing of bells at The Minster and a play, Regency heritage – visit Pump going on away from the town centre: Rotten Luck , being performed at Chapel Room and The New Club, or Normandy the Church of St Michael and All Angels Arts. Note this is a chargeable partner House, a former gentleman’s residence in Bishop’s Cleeve, Rendcomb College event. and St Peter’s Church, St Christopher’s that has had many fascinating uses. Church, Warden Hill and the renowned Pick up your brochure at the Tourist The Municipal Offices, with its splendid Sue Ryder Court Hospice Information Centre in , façade, will be open with information are all open. libraries and other outlets. As you won’t and a talk on ‘Twin Towns’. read this until September, it may be a bit The past and the future – visit The Education – Cheltenham schools are Wilson, full of history and art, with late to book a place on some of the walks known far and wide with great buildings, activities for both children and adults. but try nevertheless! Enjoy exploring our artefacts and stories. Parmoor House is home to the wonderful town. Churches, chapels and synagogues – Cheltenham Civic Society, working to Mike Bottomley, Chair, from the medieval to the modern, religion promote and improve the town for future Cheltenham Heritage Open Days

What’s in this time Climate emergency and biodiversity gain page 7 Green space, flood risk, energy conservation, Visit Cheltenham The Festival Town page 2 trees and shrubs page 8 Diary Dates – upcoming events page 3 In despair page 9 Continuing war on ‘grot spots’ page 4 Complaints corner: Still no answer! page 10 Improving enforcement in Cheltenham page 5 Urban myths: It is not a baseball bat, but it is! page 11 A new look Planning Forum page 6 Come aboard page 12 Visit Cheltenham The Festival Town Fiona Clarke, Editor Cheltenham scrapbooks popular Parmoor House open for HODs 2018 during HODs at Parmoor House The town’s new brand the visit of the then-reigning monarch, which, it is hoped, George III. Drop into Holst Birthplace will help put Museum to see how our famous Cheltenham ‘back Cheltenham-born composer lived as a on the map’ and boy or explore The Wilson Museum and boost the visitor Art Gallery [sic] to find out more about economy, was Cheltenham’s history or view some of launched on 10 July the amazing collections around the Arts Boots Corner planning notice at . & Crafts movement or Chinese pottery”. A key feature of Cheltenham is ‘the While it is encouraging to see a range of offerings, it is instructive not to find These boots striking Regency architecture’, described Great War Cross and booklet Holst Birthplace Museum at 4 Clarence Road Steve Wood in the following words: “As the UK’s most cited as a major complete Regency town, Cheltenham is tourist attraction, perhaps for some were made brimming with history. So, as you stroll of the reasons spelt out on page 9. along the Promenade, it’s easy to see You can certainly learn more about for walking Everyone is welcome to attend our talks and lectures. why it became the hip 18th century the Holst Birthplace Museum at our talk Diary dates hang out for holidaying Brits, after the on 1 October (see page 3) and see a When I moved to Cheltenham enterprising Henry Skillicorne unearthed rather charming letter from workaholic from a more rural location, my its health-giving spa waters – even Free to members; £10 to non-members. Register or book online unless otherwise indicated. George III in the Open Archive at The car mileage plummeted by over gaining the Royal Seal Of Approval after Wilson (found on an online auction site 5000 miles a year. I found myself Saturday 14, Sunday 15, by local historian Neela Mann . Please go to the Events page on by one of our members). And you can walking far more, due to the Talks: Cheltenham’s Battlefield Crosses, our website for booking details also explore many mineral well sites convenience of urban living Saturday 21 and Sunday during Heritage Open Days by getting and the desire to walk within it. 22 September, 10am-5pm by Neela Mann, Sunday 22 September, Tuesday 5 November hold of the self-guided walk Mineral Extensive research has shown 2pm and 3pm Wells of Central Cheltenham produced that walkable towns are more Heritage Open Days Parmoor House Annual update from by our Commemorative Plaques Officer economically productive, at Parmoor House 13 Lypiatt Terrace GL50 2SX Cheltenham Development Neela Mann (wearing a different hat). healthier, greener (in vegetation), It will be available, for free, at the Tourist Cheltenham Civic Society exists to make Task Force more sustainable and happier. Cheltenham more attractive, enjoyable Tuesday 1 October Information Centre in The Wilson during Cheltenham is far from perfect Jeremy Williamson, Heritage Open Days. and distinctive, and to promote pride in The Holst Victorian House 7.30pm | Parmoor House as a walkable town, but I’m sure our town. If you care about Cheltenham, Steve Wood , Chairman, Holst Birthplace 13 Lypiatt Terrace GL50 2SX more could be done to improve come and see what we do, from town walkability. Pedestrianisation is planning and architecture to care and Trust, will talk about the history of Please go to the Events page on all very well, but what other ideas conservation, to shaping our town’s 4 Clarence Road, touching on the our website for booking details do we have? future. challenges of running a small museum out of the town centre and the Trust’s Wednesday 4 December Flowers – Andrew Booton ’s exhibition Cheltenham Cemetery Great War Crosses will be ambitious plans for the future. Paterson Memorial Lecture out and about one of the displays at our HQ, Parmoor 7.30pm | Parmoor House This is still being finalised. Please check House, with the excellent booklet edited 13 Lypiatt Terrace GL50 2SX our website for details nearer the time. Michele Beint’s article in the December 2017 issue of Our Town asked the Welcome Borough Council to ‘value our flowers, not bin them’ and it’s great to see several beds planted with more sustainable to new Consultation corner (and less prissy) plants. The ‘green corridor’ near John Lewis is filling out members There is still a little time to comment on www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/highways nicely, while Sandford Park’s display the waste and recycling consultation: /major-