The Epsom Protection Society Newsletter 99 - Spring 2004

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The Chairman's Commentary

Geoffrey Stone

       

This is devoted to an appeal for help from members. On the brink of an historic 100th Newsletter, we are setting out this year to continue to expand our membership - hopefully to include more younger members. A report by English Heritage reveals that volunteers are the key to the preservation of Britain's historic environment; I would add, also to the built environment.

As Malcolm Boyd records later in this Newsletter, the Civic Trust has nearly 1000 voluntary Civic Societies representing more than 330,000 individual members - all concerned to improve the built environment in which they live and work. This Society is one of those, dependent on the support of its members to maintain/increase its vitality, and at this time needing your help.

Apart from strengthening the Committee in a number of ways to which I have referred in the report for last year, individuals can do much to help. Ishbel Kenward, our Membership Secretary, is seeking volunteers to help in the recruitment drive. Can you please offer and play your part in this endeavour ? these occasions.

Planning

Alan Baker

Heather Lodge, 1 Chalk Lane: My hopes that there were no further prospects of development were ill-founded, and yet another application was made, this time for two old peoples bungalows. We have again objected on grounds of over-development and the applications for demolition and for the bungalows have been refused.

31 High Street, Epsom: I now understand that the application for a new 3-storey building at the rear and adjoining the footpath to the Town Hall car park has been withdrawn. There was no serious prospect of permission for such a badly imagined scheme.

25 Alexandra Road: The latest application - for a 2-story block of ten flats - was refused at the December Planning Committee, contrary to the officers' recommendation. There was very considerable opposition from the public and from members to the loss of this house and to the building of more flats.

Danehurst Court, 29-33 Alexandra Road: The appeal against refusal of planning permission for a further 2-storey block of four flats was successful and permission was granted by the Inspector. We had objected, but the Inspector found that the effects on living conditions, character and appearance of the area and traffic were insufficient to justify refusal.

Site of Epsom Downs School, Grosvenor Road: The new developer's scheme was a considerable improvement on the earlier proposal, but we felt there was still over-development. The January Planning Committee refused permission on grounds of over-development, design, interference with trees and being out of character with the area. The site undoubtedly needs to be developed soon and it is to be hoped that the problems can be quickly sorted out.

40-52 Upper High Street: A revised scheme for this land at Allams and Iceland, intended to resolve the reasons for refusing the earlier design, came before the January Planning Committee. We had objected on a number of grounds, including taking part of the public car park, height of five storeys, poor design for a building in this prominent position and loss of two important trees, including one donated by this Society. It was refused, and has since been the subject of appeal at a Public Inquiry. Mike Ford appeared at the Inquiry and spoke on the Society's behalf, with particular reference to the trees. The Inspector's decision is now awaited.

West Park: The Planning Brief, on which we submitted comments, has been approved by the Environment Committee and now forms the basis for considering any planning application. The Conservation Area has also been extended. It is understood that an outline application conforming with the Brief is in preparation, but has not yet surfaced. 38-40 South Street: These are the two detached houses set back from South Street on rising ground opposite Rosebery Park and adjoining Mounthill Gardens; they are within the Woodcote Conservation Area. The application was to demolish the houses and erect a block of 12 flats. We objected on grounds of height and total unsuitability. The application has been withdrawn. Craig Elan, Ashdown Road: This proposal was to demolish the existing bungalow at the Alexandra Road end of Ashdown Road, and build two linked detached houses. We thought this was over-development and unsuitable. The application has been refused. 43 Albert Road: There have been several applications to extend this house, or to build on the adjoining land which at present provides a pleasant green area. We objected to a proposal for two semi-detached dwellings, and this has been refused. At the time of writing, yet another one is reported and will receive our attention in the same way.

Mr. Trees reports

Mike Ford

Remember "Plant a Tree in '73", just over 30 years ago? It was important to plant trees at that time as the country had lost 25 million elms through Dutch Elm Disease and national concern triggered this initiative. In 1974, the Tree Council was formed to bring together all the different organisations that were working for trees and the Government chipped in with some money. 1975 saw the first National Tree Week which was held in March. The then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, planted a holm oak at Chequers which started a tradition that each Prime Minister continues. Margaret Thatcher, Leader of the Opposition at the time, planted a lime. Millions of trees were needed and a National Tree Survey was started.

In 1976, during National Tree Week, many celebrities - including Sir Ralph Richardson and Lord Lichfield - planted trees. In 1977, National Tree Week moved from March to November because, as I have said many times before, trees survive better when they can overwinter and get established during the dormant period.

In 1978, the BBC raised £15,000 from viewers for National Tree Week and all three political leaders planted trees. National Tree Week has continued every week since then with different theme and plans and in 1999 over four million trees were planted all over the country to mark the millennium. The year 2000 saw a world record attempt to plant as many trees as possible on 515 sites over three days. 107,781 trees were planted by 10,000 adults and 20,000 children. The result was a new Guinness World Record. In 2003, the theme was 'Trees Matter'. This linked all Tree Council campaigns and projects together to celebrate 30 years since "Plant a Tree in '73".

Ten reasons why trees matter
1 They look lovely in town and countryside;
2 They make places attractive to live, work and relax in;
3 They regenerate neglected land thereby attracting more wildlife to an area;
4 They screen eyesores and lessen noise transmission;
5 Sustainable planting in forests etc. creates jobs;
6 They make the climate locally, nationally and globally;
7 They provide shade in summer and shelter in winter;
8 They reduce air pollution, soil erosion and flooding;
9 They are a source of renewable fuel and useful home grown products;
10 Insects, birds and wildlife depend on trees for food and shelter.


Locally, January 2004 brought two more major tree losses. As you know from my article in last year's Newsletter, the two holly trees in the Upper High Street were under threat from developers. Both were healthy protected trees but planning permission overrode the protection orders and both trees have now gone to make way for development which comes right to the pavement line with no scope for replanting. Now is the time for this Society to stand firm and resolute over the development along the road at Allam Motors. Although the present application has been turned down, it will return in some form and the two semi-mature trees on the site will again be under threat, namely the Norway maple outside Iceland and the lime at the entrance to the Upper High Street car park. Remember that it was your fund that provided for the lime tree to be planted in 1984!

Tree Painter: On a lighter note, John Constable's reputation is centred on a handful of works, most famously 'The Haywain'. Many of his rarely seen works are beautiful studies of trees which he loved intensely. Michael Glover wrote in The Independent ".....he was besotted by trees and he rendered them with more passion than he ever rendered a young woman". Some of his notable works on trees are: 'Study of the trunk of an Elm Tree' c.1821, 'Elm Tree in Old Hall Park, East Bergholt' 1817, 'Study of Ash Trees' c.1821, 'An Oak in Dedham Meadows' 1827 and 'The Root of a Tree in Hampstead' 1831. These were recently unearthed in the Victoria and Albert Museum's archive by Tree News magazine. Constable once referred to a tall and elegant ash (his favourite tree) as "this young lady". I personally have many favourite trees from the sweet chestnut to snake bark maple and I refer to them all as the love of my life.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: RECRUITMENT DRIVE

Ishbel Kenward

Our membership is very healthy at around 1500 but five years ago it was 1800. Therefore the Committee has decided that we should instigate a Recruitment Drive and as part of that we are going to put a copy of our new leaflet through the doors of all the new houses so far built in the estates off Horton Lane. If you would be prepared to help with this please give me a ring. Every little will help - 30 minutes will cover a good number of houses. And if anyone has any suggestions of places where we could put our brochures to attract interest, for example, in your Office if you work locally, local shops, local restaurants etc. please let me know. They should already be in all the local libraries - if you don't see them there, again, please let me know. (ISHBEL KENWARD - Membership secretary Tel. 01372 728570

THE ROLE OF CIVIC SOCIETIES WITHIN THE CIVIC TRUST

Malcolm Boyd

Civic Societies are our grassroots. The Civic Trust is the national umbrella body for nearly 1000 Civic Societies. Representing 330,000 people, Civic Societies are voluntary organisations promoting high standards of planning, conservation and regeneration for the benefit of their local community. They also undertake practical projects, including restoring old buildings, improving the quality of public places and finding solutions to traffic problems. Civic Societies have a formal role as community watchdogs commenting on planning applications for new buildings and developments and guarding against unsympathetic changes to Conservation Areas and historic buildings. By pooling the resources of Civic Societies the Trust has campaigned successfully on issues such as reusing derelict land, reducing the damage done by heavy lorries and safeguarding the vitality of our towns and villages.

The Trust has moved and can now be contacted at:
Winchester House, 259-269 Old Marylebone Road, London NW1 5RA
Tel 020 7170 4299,  :  :  :Fax 020 7170 4298,  :  :  : Email info@civictrust.org.uk

Recent changes at the Civic Trust Nigel Burton, Director of Development and Services from Waitrose, has been appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Civic Trust to provide strategic guidance and help develop and strengthen existing relationships with local authorities, government and the private sector.

Following the departure of its Chief Executive, the Trust will be managed by a board of senior staff, including Ben Bergonzi, Head of Programmes, Paul Davies, Head of Policy Development, and Diane Smith, Head of Corporate Affairs. Saskia Hallam will continue in her valuable role as manager of the Civic Societies.

Dame Jennifer Jenkins, Interim Chairman of the Civic Trust said, "This is an exciting time of change for the Civic Trust. The Civic Society movement continues to grow and gain in influence and achievement and there are plans to strengthen its membership base. We are also undertaking leading-edge research into the impact of the evening economy and continuing our regeneration activities. The Civic Trust Awards Scheme, the Green Flag Awards and Heritage Open Days are all making an impact on the importance of the public realm, architecture and environment to the lives of us all." Newly appointed Deputy Chairman, Nigel Burton, added, "I am delighted to be appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Civic Trust. I have been involved with the Trust's work for several years and I am keen to harness the skills and knowledge of the Civic Societies to create more liveable, more sustainable, town centres throughout the country."

Events

Joy Furness

Talks: The first and second talks in the series 'The Architecture and Countryside of Epsom' have been held; both speakers were excellent and the Myers Studio was full on each occasion.

FUTURE EVENTS

Third talk: The third in our series of talks under the general heading 'The Architecture and Countryside of Epsom' will be on Thursday, 1st April 2004 at 8 pm in the Myers Studio, Epsom Playhouse. The speaker will be Dr. Nigel Barker, Historic Areas Advisor, English Heritage SE Region, who gave the first talk. His subject will be 'The Arts and Crafts Architecture in Surrey and its influence'. Please apply for tickets (£3 each) on the form enclosed, including your cheque made payable to the Epsom Protection Society and SAE, to Mrs. J Furness, 37 Woodcote Hurst, Epsom KT18 7DS.

Future Dates for your diary
Sunday, 4th July 2004: Ian West's Annual Walk.
Friday 8th October 2004: Buffet Supper.

Social Outings

Brian Gee

Next Outing - The Waterloo Experience - Saturday 27th March 2004
We shall start at 8.30 am from the car park opposite the Fire Station in Church Street, Epsom.

The first stop will be at "The Albert Tavern" in Victoria Street for coffee where we meet our Guide and then on to Apsley House - the best known address in town - "Number One London", the home of the Dukes of Wellington and still occupied by the Eighth Duke and his family. We shall tour the recently refurbished interior and see the extensive art collection that includes works by Goya, Landseer, Rubens and others.

We break for lunch and then visit the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner, last used to house the smallest Police Station in London. Lift to the top and see the magnificent views of the Royal Parks including over the wall into the grounds of Buckingham Palace. We will have the chance to get a close up view of the Quadriga - the largest bronze sculpture in England - four rearing horses driven by a small boy pulling the winged figure of peace in a chariot.

The day ends with a visit to The National Army Museum and a chance to see a model of the battle of Waterloo and other memorabilia of that era. There is time for a short tea break before the journey home.

The cost is £22 to include coach, coffee in morning, experienced guide and all tips. It does not include any other food or drink. We aim to be back in Epsom about 6 pm. Please complete and return the enclosed application form as soon as possible not forgetting a stamped addressed envelope.

FUTURE EVENTS

Thursday, 1st July 2004: Visit to Shakespeare's Globe for Theatre Tour and Exhibition in the morning. Weather permitting, an opportunity to lunch outdoors on the Embankment (plenty of eating places) and then in the afternoon visit to Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Full details and application forms with next Newsletter.

Epsom Protection Society Website: www.epsomprotectionsociety.co.uk

Editor: Paul Fifoot Zebrato, Lynwood Avenue Epsom KT18 7LR

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