TES News No 171 • Autumn 2008 The newsletter of The Enfield Society Heritage strategy – preserving and enhancing Enfield The position regarding possible new picking up the scale of the varied residential use of the current site had conservation areas is exactly as in the last frontages along Silver Street. We are been granted. We argued that it it was News – we have the names of them as fortunate to have obtained a slide clear at the Chase Farm Inquiry that the provided by Leader Mike Rye, but no showing the previous buildings before option of rebuilding the home on the further information. Meanwhile the they were pulled down in the 1960s. Chase Farm site had not been properly Council has brought out another paper for Possibly the building nearest to consultation, a Heritage Strategy. the present restaurant was Unfortunately, though much of it has already partly demolished. been written by consultant Paul Drury, Modest, in scale, an example of always good for informative and unselfconscious infilling that is pertinent comment, the document also exactly right. takes many pages to make the basic point We were also shown detailed that heritage is about culture and shared plans for the new flats on the experience as well as the built corner of Shirley Road and environment. Local authority policy Windmill Hill with samples of documents are useful when they lead to the materials, red facing brick positive results but not as an end in and stone dressings to match the themselves, which is what seems more adjoining former court house. and more to be the result of central Otherwise these plans were government pressures. unfortunately less informative We have been shown revised sketch and satisfactory than the plans for the Evangelical Free Church on approved indicative designs, so “Mandeville”, 50 Village Road the temporary car park site off Cecil it is a case of back to the Road, more compact and a step in the drawing board. explored and quoted the Inspector's right direction, though difficult to The Archers Wood planning application report. The Arnold House application had evaluate without a site plan. We still have (See last TES News) was withdrawn by made clear that in looking for an no information about the possible layout the applicants. alternative site it was necessary to of the rest of the site, though it appears maintain existing relationships (their In May we received the result of the that prospective developers of the bold type) with Enfield Hospitals etc., so Chase Farm Hospital appeal against residential element have been provided where better than on the hospital campus? Enfield Council’s refusal of permission with a development brief. for the Barnet and Hospitals Our attention has been drawn to a NHS Trust to redevelop the possible intention to redevelop former nurses and staff Mandeville, No. 50 Village Road, the housing for private housing, former home of Ross McWhirter, one of with some affordable key the last interesting houses remaining in worker flats to the east of the road and a good example of 1920s Hunters Way. The Inspector architecture. We have written to the dismissed the appeal because Council's Conservation Team for their of uncertainty about the future views on listing it as a building of configuration of NHS character and of literary interest. provision in Enfield. In no Chris Jephcott uncertain terms the Inspector made clear his views on the The London Borough of Enfield : Enfield state of dilapidation and heritage strategy – ‘A Living Landscape’ disrepair of much of the whole Silver Street in 1968 (Consultation draft) / The Paul Drury Chase Farm site. We supported Partnership, Stuart Davies Associates. – the Council on planning Together with members of the June 2008. – 36 pages. Available for grounds. Conservation Advisory Group we were consultation at local libraries and for given a preview of preliminary designs In view of this result I was able to argue download from put forward for flats over shops in the at the recent appeal against refusal to <http://www.enfield.gov.uk/heritage>. vacant car park site next to Lloyds Bank rebuild Arnold House Care Home on Comments on the heritage strategy are in Silver Street - too high, the mansard Green Belt land to the rear of the present invited, and may be sent by email to roof too steep, too regular and not building after planning permission for <[email protected]>. 1 Civic environment Conservation and planning Oakwood Station lift The Conservation Advisory Group agreed with the Twentieth Century Oakwood Station is one of the most Society, but English Heritage complete and least altered of all the listed supported the scheme. Piccadilly line stations, and the planning application to provide for a lift between The overbridge does seem overwide platform and street level was opposed by and overhigh, but views of it from the the Twentieth Century Society, who platform are restricted. The lift shaft reported in May 2006 as follows: does break through the concrete canopy but has little impact on the “Oakwood Station is a case that presents symmetry at platform level. a real challenge – the platforms are at lower level, covered by an elegant John Davies concrete canopy with built-in timber benches, and the ticket hall sailing above. The aims of the Twentieth Century Currently access is from the ticket hall Society state: “The Twentieth Century onto the platform via a staircase. Tube Society exists to safeguard the heritage Lines who manage the station, have of architecture and design in Britain applied for a bridge link on stilts with a from 1914 onwards. One of the Society’s lift at platform end to create stepless prime objectives is education, with The last edition of the Newsletter access. This could be an important education comes appreciation. With reported on the ‘pollarding’ of old and precedent of how to deal with access and conservation, another prime objective, unsafe lampposts. At the time we we are keen to see it done right. So far comes the continued opportunity for suspected that the story was not the design, heavy handed and extending our knowledge about those complete and so it has proved. The overstructured, falls short of the buildings or artifacts, whether important example shown was cut down in mid exemplary solution that is needed, and we or humble, rare or commonplace as the March, a replacement was erected in mid hope that we can negotiate a better red telephone kiosk, that characterise the May, but not connected. In mid July the design.” Twentieth Century in Britain.” More replacement was connected but the <http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/case information about the society is given on stump left in place. It would be nice if work/2006_tubes_pools_etc.html> its web site at the stump were removed and the <http://www.c20society.org.uk/> pavement reinstated, perhaps by September! Tony Langston Enjoying the outdoors A group of members take a rest during a Footpaths Group walk on the Ashridge Estate, Berkhamsted, on 14th June . In our newsletter two years ago, we expressed concern that the council were cutting back greenery in order to improve visibility. The Highways Services department then said “The street is opened up by reduction in . while other local height of the shrubs and pruning of the residents preferred to trees. The street will become safer for take a guided tour by everyone.” That seems strangely at odds water on the New River with the decision now to allow large new Loop on 23rd July. advertising and telephone panels which obstruct the pavement. This one, in Chase Side, causes a blind corner by blocking the view to the right for vehicles emerging from Manor Road. Leonard Will 2 Green Belt Diary dates Spurs Further threats to the Until 2nd November We have now received a substantial Green Belt The Shell Guides: surrealism, payment from Spurs, as directed by modernism, tourism an exhibition at the Secretary of State, to Rupert Murdoch’s News the Museum of Domestic Design & compensate the Society for costs we International has applied to Architecture , Middlesex University, incurred as a result of the late Broxbourne Council for consent for Cat Hill, EN4 8HT. Open Tuesday withdrawal by Spurs of their a proposed new 3 storey high to Saturday 10 am. to 5 pm., Sunday planning appeal. The Council lease storage facility on their Park Plaza 2 to 5 pm. Admission free. to Spurs has not yet been signed, site just north of the M25, on what partly since the appeal against the was formerly Green Belt land. The 3rd-28th September Council’s refusal to confirm a right newspaper publisher claims that the Annual Exhibition, Enfield of way across the land at Bulls Cross new building has been designed to Camera Club, at Forty Hall. Open has not yet been decided. We have “act as a visual shield to the mass of Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m to 4 also been told that the draft lease is the large scale print-works beyond”. p.m., Admission free. being referred back to Cabinet. We The revised plans will generate a pointed out that the original Cabinet third more vehicle movements with 6th-7th September decision in January 2005 was to more than 2 vehicle movements a Autumn Show. Town Park, 10 am grant a lease to Spurs for 75 years, minute in the peak one hour period to 6 pm. Visit the Enfield Society to be non-assignable with no sub- before midnight! stall. lettings allowed, and was tied in with Spurs’ agreement to provide a Large areas of existing Green Belt 20th-21st September community sports complex on Bulls land in Broxbourne are also under Open House.