East Boscombe and Pokesdown Characterisation Study
Firstly can I apologise for taking so long to come back to you following our meeting to discuss your work on this area.
As was said at the meeting the work undertaken by Dr Soane and yourself on behalf of the Civic Society was clearly a major undertaking which must have taken a considerable amount of your time. It is a very detailed analysis of this area which will prove a useful background document for the area covered as the Core Strategy, and more importantly the more detailed documents that will seek to show how it is to be delivered, are developed.
The emerging Core Strategy is envisaging dividing up the Borough into a number of ‘areas’ or ‘districts’ each with their own policy approach. This work is still at a very early stage and will only ever be at a ‘high level’ in the Core Strategy. I it is currently suggested that an area to be known as Boscombe East, covering an area wider than that which formed the Characterisation Study area, will be one such district. Clearly the detailed work undertaken within this study will greatly assist in this work.
At a more general level the principles identified within the Characterisation Study are also reflected in the emerging Core Strategy. The team are at present envisaging retaining the policy in the adopted Local Plan (policy 4.19) which seeks to resist further development out of character with that existing and are proposing to take this further by seeking to resist the demolition of small family houses (the existing policy merely seeks to resist their conversion) and preferring the development of houses rather than flats in the future. It is to be hoped that this will overcome the concerns raised by others in the past, and most recently by the Civic Society in this study, of the adverse effect that new development has been having on the character of Bournemouth.
My only concern is that whilst clearly this level of detailed investigation would prove a very useful factual background document for future policy development I would be hard pressed to find the resources to carry out this level of detailed survey for the whole Borough. The Conservation team do undertake this level of in depth survey and analysis in undertaking Conservation Area Appraisals but these are often smaller in size where the task is more manageable and the need, for example, to identify positive and negative contributing buildings, is more clearly defined. This task has, however, even here, been made more complex by the recent loss of staff members. To take on such a detailed level of survey for the whole Borough, however, would take this process to a whole new level. The Urban Design team have recently undertaken a Character Appraisal for the Town Centre area which seems to be a ‘half way’ point between the exhaustive survey and analysis that you undertook in East Boscombe and Pokesdown and the higher level work undertaken by Matrix back in 2007.
Clearly we in the Authority will need to balance up the staff resources that would be needed to undertake the Civic Society’s exemplar form of assessment for the whole Borough and the need to have documents in place before the Core Strategy is submitted to the Secretary of State.
Once again can I thank the Civic Society and particularly Dr Soane for your efforts in undertaking this piece of work.
Have your say on the future of Bournemouth Gardens
Residents and members of the business community are being invited to have their say on a proposed restoration scheme for Bournemouth’s historic Grade II* listed Lower Gardens .
This Friday (16 July 2010) will see draft proposals for a major restoration scheme unveiled in the Lower Gardens. Working with local residents, businesses, and English Heritage the plans are being developed as part of a Heritage Lottery bid, and if successful will see a £2.5million Heritage Lottery investment into Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens in addition to commercial sector and Council investment in the site.
The draft proposals include improved links with Westover Road and Pier Approach by opening up the views and creating a safer and welcoming environment; restoring historic features such as the pavilion rockery water cascade; creating a new arts and events space; as well as improving seating facilities, lighting and signage throughout the Gardens. Once the proposals are finalised they will be submitted as part of the Heritage Lottery funding bid, and if successful the works will get underway in 2012.
Councillor Anne Filer, Cabinet Member for Leisure & Tourism, said; “ Bournemouth Gardens are amongst our finest attractions, with the Bourne Stream giving our town its name. This restoration scheme will ensure that we enhance and preserve this historic open space for local people, visitors and future generations. I would urge residents to come along to the consultation sessions, see the proposals and give us your views.”
Residents and visitors are being invited to view the draft proposals which will be on display in the Lower Gardens in a temporary Gazebo near the bandstand / Bourne stream. Consultation times: 12.30pm – 3pm Friday 16th to Monday 19th July inclusive. Details will also available to view online from Friday at www.bournemouth.gov.uk/lowergardens
For further details on the restoration project or to join the ‘Friends of the Lower Gardens’ please contact Andrew Emery , Lower Gardens Project Officer, on 01202 451842 or email andrew.emery@bournemouth.gov.uk
Notes;
The Lower Gardens, together with the Central and Upper Gardens are of historic national importance – in particularly the wooded area behind the bandstand, known as Westover Gardens, were designed in the 1840’s and in 1859 became Bournemouth’s first public park.
The Gardens have secured the Green Flag park award every year since 1999
The Gardens attract 2.5 million visitors per year
Visitors can find out more about the history of the Gardens by discovering the 3 heritage interpretation boards recently erected within the site, located by the entrance to the Square, by the Aviary and by the Mini Golf.
A visitor survey questionnaire took place in June. Results from the survey identify the following priorities: improvements to lighting, safety and security, public seating provision, quality of toilets, range and quality of catering. High levels of satisfaction were recorded for rockery and floral displays 82%.
Residents and visitors to Bournemouth will see the Undercliff Drive transformed with the installation of 75 brand new beach huts.
Work is underway to install 75 brand new traditional-style beach huts, each painted in contemporary shades from sandy yellows, through greens, blues, pinks and purples. Together, they form a vibrant colour spectrum of beach huts extending along the Undercliff Drive.
The positions for the new beach huts have already been marked out and the first of the privately owned huts has been installed. The remainder will be installed between now and the end of the summer. The promenade remains fully accessible for pedestrians and the roadway in front of the huts for cyclists and land train.
Councillor Anne Filer, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism, said: “There is a great demand for beach huts in Bournemouth and so I am thrilled that we are able to install 75 brand new huts on Undercliff Drive. Beach huts provide a wonderful facility for local people, their families and friends and so it’s great that, in the year Bournemouth celebrates its bicentenary, we are able to give even more people the opportunity to enjoy them.”
Customers currently on the beach hut waiting lists have been given the first opportunity to lease a new hut site. Customers then purchase their hut from a commercial supplier. Typically, people on the waiting list have to wait anything between three and 20 years to reach the top of the list, depending on the area of the beach.
The cost of leasing a site within this development from the Council is currently £750 per year, plus beach hut rates.
Many thanks to those of you took part in our recent Waterfront Survey. The responses have now been analysed and the full report can be viewed on our website.
Yesterday the Prime Minister David Cameron launched a policy programme aimed at creating a climate that empowers local people and communities. The document sets out their “Big Society” policies as the first strand of a "comprehensive programme for government" being published over the coming days. Nick Hurd, the new Minister for Civil Society, will be responsible for putting the plans into place. I am delighted that the Government has put the “Big Society” at the forefront of the political agenda, and with it the crucial role that our organisations, who are key elements of civil society, play in helping to achieve a better and fairer society. We look forward to working with the new Government as they pursue this exciting agenda.
In the next few weeks we can expect to hear more about the new Government’s priorities. Of particular interest will be the Queen’s speech, on 25 May, and the emergency budget on 22 June. We will keep you informed with any implications for our sector. In the meantime, you can keep updated with information on our website.
As I have said before, we value your input into our policy and campaigning work. I particularly want to thank you for all your responses to my last email detailing your priorities for the first year of the new Government and the challenges you face as an organisation. I will be feeding these in to the sector leaders’ summit on 15 June. Please do continue to contact me directly via email on this issue.
We know that there are going to be tough times ahead. Cuts in public spending will affect us all. As part of our commitment to helping you through this, we have taken the decision to freeze most of our prices at 2008 rates.
With every best wish
Stuart Etherington
Chief Executive, NCVO
Also this week...
Bursaries available at Political Party Conferences
The 2010 Political Party Conferences in the autumn will undoubtedly prove to be a critical point in the political year ahead. Our party conference bursary scheme enables 21 small organisations to attend a party conference of their choosing and take part in a roundtable discussion with the relevant third sector minister or spokesperson. Apply by 28 May. Find out more and how to apply.
Are you thinking "needs"?
This article helps you think about how your organisation could benefit from improving its understanding of the needs of your beneficiaries so that you can make a convincing case to funders and ensure your work remains relevant. The article argues that building a richer, more accurate picture of your beneficiaries’ needs will enable you to develop effective solutions.
Our Needs of Tomorrow Conference on 24 June will give you the chance to consider these issues and improve your organisation’s ability to identify, demonstrate and respond to your beneficiaries’ needs. Early bird savings and half price bursaries are available. Find out more.
Pan-European e-mentoring scheme launched for voluntary groups
Charities and non-profits across Europe met last week to begin a new pan-European peer-to-peer support scheme. The project will allow up to 250 organisations from across five European countries to forge new relationships with similar groups, share learning and improve the way they work. Find out more on the European Network of National Civil Society Associations’ (ENNA) new website.
NCVO member benefits
Charity Forecast - your quarterly survey
How has your organisation fared over the past twelve months? Where do you think it will be in the next twelve months? We need to hear your opinions. NCVO’s Charity Forecast is a quarterly survey exclusively for NCVO members. Completing the survey helps us to represent your views and lobby on your behalf. Find out more about the survey and see the results of previous surveys.
In return for taking part, we will give you a £5 discount on any NCVO event or publication. Plus, we will give you a copy of the results before anyone else, which your organisation will find useful in thinking about how the sector is responding to change.
Optimising your charity's communications in a new political era
Fit for the Future Conference: Developing a Communications Strategy in a Changing World
24 June 2010, London
UK charities are now communicating in the midst of a radically changed political landscape. Charity communicators are in for a challenging and busy time and, one way or another, we'll all need to respond to the inevitable economic and social consequences of 'new politics'.
Attend this conference and get the insider intelligence you need to prepare effectively for change and make the most of emerging opportunities.
Hackney Council for Voluntary Service (HCVS) awarded the NAVCA Quality Award
For the borough’s leading voluntary and community sector support agency, this recognises the impact HCVS has in Hackney. HCVS is one of 11 of London’s Council for Voluntary Services to achieve this award. Find out more.
The full extent of plans to cut the Green Belt across large swathes of England can be revealed for the first time.
By Andrew Gilligan
Published: 10:00PM GMT 14 Nov 2009
Countryside activists are now hoping that they can hold up the three regions' plans until after the election
An analysis by The Sunday Telegraph has identified twenty-seven towns and cities which have been chosen by Whitehall planners as locations where parts of the Green Belt should be reviewed or sacrificed to make way for a massive programme of house building.
They include Nottingham, Oxford , Coventry and Bristol .
Ministers have expressed their determination to push ahead with the plans despite a series of successful court challenges which have delayed some of the most controversial proposals.
John Healey, the planning minister, told The Sunday Telegraph: "The Green Belt principle is unchanged. But we are determined to see the new homes we will need. What might have been the best thing for Rotherham or Reigate twenty years ago, when the Green Belt boundaries were set, may now be a case for reconsidering what those boundaries are."
The move comes despite a promise by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to "robustly protect" the Green Belt.
The changes to Green Belt, open countryside around urban areas on which development is strictly controlled, are contained in the final versions of Whitehall-imposed "regional plans," drawn up for each part of the country.
The towns or areas proposed for Green Belt cuts and reviews are: Bath , Bedworth, Bournemouth, Bristol , Bromsgrove, Broxbourne, Cheltenham, Chertsey, Coventry , Gloucester , Guildford, Harlow, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Maidenhead, Nottingham, Nuneaton, Oxford , Redditch, Redhill, Reigate, Rushcliffe, Stevenage, Solihull, Tunbridge Wells, Welwyn, and Woking .
There could also be cuts in Leeds, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Worcester and in West Yorkshire beyond Leeds . However, the list is not necessarily exhaustive.
The Tory planning spokesman, Bob Neill, described the move as a "shocking betrayal" by Mr Brown. Mr Neill said: "These top-down Whitehall plans will lead to urban sprawl, extra congestion and higher carbon emissions, ruining many communities' quality of life."
With the revival of the housing market, building in some areas could start soon. But three of the most important regional plans have been delayed after court actions by local councils and activists. Hertfordshire and St Albans councils successfully argued in the High Court that ministers failed to consider alternatives to building on the Green Belt when drawing up the plan for the East of England region. The South-East regional plan is on hold for the same reason. Publication of the South-West plan has been delayed.
Countryside activists are now hoping that they can hold up the three regions' plans until after the election. Any new Tory government would scrap all the regional plans, though the Conservatives have not said what they would put in their place.
However, the Government insisted last night that the plans were still on course.
A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "Every region has completed their plan following full public consultation. In only a few of those regions the plans have been challenged and it is right that specific elements are reconsidered so they suit the areas they apply to.
"The regional plans remain on track to give communities their own long term vision, joining up regeneration plans for new jobs, homes, transport and investment."
"Discovering DorsetPart 2 is an excellent 85-minute DVD just issued which covers in comprehensive detail the histories of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch. It is thought that this is the first time this has been achieved on DVD or video, certainly in such detail. The DVD retails at £14.95 but Civic Society Committee member John Walker, who was involved in the project, has arranged with the company concerned a special offer for Civic Society members. Those wishing to receive a copy for £12.95 post free should forward a cheque for this amount to 1st Take, PO Box 1840, Yate, Bristol BS 37 4WB quoting "Civic11091T", including of course theirdelivery address.
Conservation Areas at Risk
Thank you for your tremendous support for our campaign. We have had hundreds of people signing up and telling us about what is happening near them.
I hope you have all received your free copy of our campaign booklet. If you want more copies for distributing to your residents' group, just contact us at customers@english-heritage.org.uk
Four months on from the launch, we have several items of good news to report.
National Coverage
Firstly, the launch itself received coverage in almost all the national daily and weekend newspapers, in local papers and on national and regional tv and radio. It was also picked up by bloggers and web-based commentators and inspired debate in the House of Commons.
Meetings with Councils
After the launch, English Heritage held meetings in each region for local authority heads of planning and conservation officers to offer help and advice on protecting conservation areas. In conjunction with the Historic Towns Forum, we are now planning a series of seminars for elected members and policy makers at local authorities to persuade them of the broader social and economic benefits that result from taking good care of conservation areas.
New Advice on Article 4 Directions
We are also producing best practice guidance for councils on making Article 4 directions. This will be available for anyone to download from the HELM by the end of November.
2010 Conservation Areas Survey
In December we will be contacting all local authority conservation officers inviting them to update us on changes to the state of their conservation areas.
We hope that the quarter of councils who did not take part this year, will do so this time, and that all will provide a full rather than partial return. The results of this second annual survey will be published at our Heritage at Risk 2010 launch on 1 July.
Thanks Gerald,
I couldnt get on google last night as am in south africa for work till Saturday so thanks for the link.
I've also copied in Elaine as blackpool are coming on board.
Yes ldf is that, ill give you a call and chat about what weve been doing in bmth.
Will catch up when back.
Regards Ken
From: Gerald Mabb [geraldmabb@yahoo.co.uk] Sent: 02/03/2010 11:11 GMT To: pathandford <pathandford@talktalk.netpathandford>; RogerFoster <justroger@gmail.com>; Andrew Murray <andrew.murray1@virgin.net>; Peter Tapscott <peter@charlwoodroad.freeserve.co.uk>; Ken Mantock Cc: Ian Harvey <ian.harvey@civicsocietyinitiative.org.uk> Subject: Re: Coastal Towns Forum
UK Businesses use 2 million tonnes of paper each year.
THINK before you PRINT this e-mail.
Ken , I am sorry I forgot to give the Coastal Communities Alliance Website address .It is www.coastalcommunities.co.uk (I expect it came up under google) Perhaps you could give the locations of the other members of the group .It may assist our varying interests. In a previous e-mail you referred to LDF meetings- does this stand for Local Development Forum ? I would be interested how it came about-who are the members as I would like to replicate it here. Best wishes Gerald Mabb (Weymouth)
--- On Mon, 1/3/10, Ken Mantock <Ken.Mantock@mearsgroup.co.uk> wrote:
Thanks Gerald,
Have never heard of this before so its worth publicising. If it does what you say it does there hardly seems point of the duplication in setting up a civic voice version.
Ill google them and see what they offer.
Regards Ken From: Gerald Mabb [geraldmabb@yahoo.co.uk] Sent: 01/03/2010 17:22 GMT To: pathandford@talktalk.netpathandford; RogerFoster <justroger@gmail.com>; Andrew Murray <andrew.murray1@virgin.net>; Peter Tapscott <peter@charlwoodroad.freeserve.co.uk>; Ken Mantock Cc: ian harvey <ian.harvey@civicsocietyinitiative.org.uk> Subject: Re: Coastal Towns Forum
UK Businesses use 2 million tonnes of paper each year.
THINK before you PRINT this e-mail.
--- On Mon, 1/3/10, Gerald Mabb <geraldmabb@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Weymouth Civic Society has recently applied and been accepted as a member of the Coastal Communities Alliance .This organisation is convened by Lincolnshire County Council and they have just published "Coastal Regeneration in English Resorts - 2010." This is intended to maintain and extend the national debate on how to address the complex social and economic problems associated with English coastal resorts. One of our Executive Committee members who often needs to be in London has agreed to serve as our representive at Alliance meetings.The book has also been sent to 86 coastal authorities in England. Gerald Mabb Hon. Sec.
Please find below a brief news and events update. If you have any news
for
inclusion in next months enewsletter please email to: dorset.coast@dorsetcc.gov.uk.
Kind regards,
Matilda
Weymouth and Portland Economic and Tourism Development Strategy
A new draft of the Weymouth and Portland Economic and Tourism
Development
Strategy has been released, which provides an appraisal of the economic
situation in Weymouth and Portland, highlights development opportunities
and sets out the actions which the Borough Council and its partners plan
to
take over the next 5 years. The strategy and feedback from can be found
at
www.weymouth.gov.uk/strategyconsultation The deadline for feedback is
Wednesday 17th March 2010.
Marine Act Seminar
30 March 2010 > Sandy Park, Exeter
Tozers LLP, solicitors and Royal Haskoning have jointly organised a day
seminar on the implications of the Marine and Coastal Access Act for
those
involved in managing or developing the marine and coastal environment.
Topics will include:
marine spatial planning
marine licensing regime
coastal access provisions
marine conservation zones
implications for marine renewables
changes to fisheries management
coastal landowners rights and responsibilities
The conference programme and booking form can be downloaded at http://www.royalhaskoning.co.uk/en-gb/events/Pages/Marineactseminar.aspx
Beach Clean Network
The Beach Clean Network is a network of volunteers and organisers who
are
devoted to keeping our beaches free from litter. Their website enables
beach clean organisers to advertise beach cleans free of charge and
enables
volunteers to find out about beach cleans in their area for free. Find
out
more at www.beachclean.net
Matilda Bark
Policy Assistant
Dorset Coast Forum
Environment Services
Dorset County Council
01305 224833 m.bark@dorsetcc.gov.uk
www.dorsetcoast.com
Last year, English Heritage launched a campaign to improve Conservation Areas as part of its Heritage at Risk programme. We will be updating you on this in June, giving examples of improvements all over the country and the latest statistics on the numbers at risk.
This year we are turning our attention to Places of Worship at Risk. Please visit our new webpage to find out what we are doing www.english-heritage.org.uk/powar
You don’t need to re-register. We will send you newsletters on the campaign, a guide to looking after listed places of worship and full details of England’s national treasures at risk when we launch our Heritage at Risk Register 2010 on 30 June.
Share your story and help us with our research
If you are involved in looking after a church or other place of worship and would like to take part in our research, you can share your story with us and answer a few simple questions by clicking on the REGISTER button on the webpage above. This does mean you will have to give us your name and address again but we promise not to send you things twice!
In December we will be contacting all local authority conservation officers inviting them to update us on changes to the state of their conservation areas. 
