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Norm’s ramblings for the year of 2008
Norm’s ramblings for the year of 2008
Column for February 2008
Citizens Association moves in mysterious ways
Citizens Association moves in mysterious ways
As many readers know, the Berkhamsted Citizens Association (BCA) originally supported the proposal to develop the Berkhamsted boat building site at the end of Bridge Street for housing.
Since that time, the permission has been refused and the developers have to appeal, which will have taken place by the time you read this. Also, a viable alternative scheme has been put forward and in the light of this, the BCA has written to the inspector in the following terms:
'We, as an Association, did not object to the above planning application as we were keen to bring this derelict site back into use and the plan for housing seemed a good solution. The new alternative proposal for the site, which includes conservation, services and skills training related to the canal and its boats, will be a valuable asset to the town, its community and economy and we support it.
It will maintain the link between the town and canal and visually enhance the canal side.'
Some time ago, I suggested the site would be suitable for the Dacorum museum, but obtaining funding together with the difficult access, seemed to rule it out. However, funding has been obtained from various sources to save the site for canal related activities which has to be a more suitable use, although I still have misgivings about the access along Bridge Street.
Also of concern to residents (well, those of use who care!), are the possible changes to the Water Lane car park. Once again, I did warn residents that it was possible that something might happen, when it became clear that the Tesco owned Stag Lane site was not to become a site with a supermarket and housing. Indeed, I was informed by the Borough Council that my suggestion was not even on the horizon. A year later, the horizon came into view and rumours started about how Tesco was going to build all over the car park in Water Lane with the Borough commissioning a study in what to do with the site.
Was it me, or was it Tesco? that suddenly inspired this sudden interest. Apparently we can blame the government as they instructed local authorities to investigate possible alternative uses for town centre sites and the Borough did exactly what they were told to do. They investigated one site and the result was the 'Concept Statement' which is not the same as a 'planning brief'. Now about the council yard at the end of Clarence Road......
A planning brief will provide guidance to possible developers of a site as to what may be acceptable to the planning authority. A concept statement is more of a possible vision for an area, without any real commitment even to change from the existing. The march issue of the BCA newsletter has a summary of the document and following the AGM and Environment Awards for 2007 on the 13th March, Cllr. Ian Reay, who is the Borough Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration, will be available to answer any questions from residents about the statement and possible alternative 'visions'.
Yet another sad month. Some readers may know that we have a number of animals, and our eldest spaniel had to be put to sleep on Wednesday 6th February.
If you are interested then a brief obituary is at here and a photo or two here
A couple of years ago, my ‘crystal’ ball worked overtime.
In my regular newsletter (if you ain’t in the Berkhamsted East (current) ward of the town, then tough (I will sell you a copy though as I need the money), I suggested that now Tescos’ will not be building a new supermarket on their own land at Stag Lane, do not be surprised if the Water Lane car park would end up with a supermaket being built on it.
Horror of horrors, a senior Borough Council source e-mailed me with the assertion that I was barking up the wrong tree and the Water Lane car park was safe.
This week, the very same Borough Council have set in motion a discussion project, complete with London based ‘consultants’ (no, not the same ones who thought Bourne End was part of Berkhamsted - so there!) to look into the feasibility of building a ‘large food retail unit’ together with other commercial facilities on land bounded by the High Street and Water Lane. The attached map covers the Water Lane car park, toilets, Tesco supermarket and Green Field Road, so now you know.
Since that time, the permission has been refused and the developers have to appeal, which will have taken place by the time you read this. Also, a viable alternative scheme has been put forward and in the light of this, the BCA has written to the inspector in the following terms:
'We, as an Association, did not object to the above planning application as we were keen to bring this derelict site back into use and the plan for housing seemed a good solution. The new alternative proposal for the site, which includes conservation, services and skills training related to the canal and its boats, will be a valuable asset to the town, its community and economy and we support it.
It will maintain the link between the town and canal and visually enhance the canal side.'
Some time ago, I suggested the site would be suitable for the Dacorum museum, but obtaining funding together with the difficult access, seemed to rule it out. However, funding has been obtained from various sources to save the site for canal related activities which has to be a more suitable use, although I still have misgivings about the access along Bridge Street.
Also of concern to residents (well, those of use who care!), are the possible changes to the Water Lane car park. Once again, I did warn residents that it was possible that something might happen, when it became clear that the Tesco owned Stag Lane site was not to become a site with a supermarket and housing. Indeed, I was informed by the Borough Council that my suggestion was not even on the horizon. A year later, the horizon came into view and rumours started about how Tesco was going to build all over the car park in Water Lane with the Borough commissioning a study in what to do with the site.
Was it me, or was it Tesco? that suddenly inspired this sudden interest. Apparently we can blame the government as they instructed local authorities to investigate possible alternative uses for town centre sites and the Borough did exactly what they were told to do. They investigated one site and the result was the 'Concept Statement' which is not the same as a 'planning brief'. Now about the council yard at the end of Clarence Road......
A planning brief will provide guidance to possible developers of a site as to what may be acceptable to the planning authority. A concept statement is more of a possible vision for an area, without any real commitment even to change from the existing. The march issue of the BCA newsletter has a summary of the document and following the AGM and Environment Awards for 2007 on the 13th March, Cllr. Ian Reay, who is the Borough Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration, will be available to answer any questions from residents about the statement and possible alternative 'visions'.
Yet another sad month. Some readers may know that we have a number of animals, and our eldest spaniel had to be put to sleep on Wednesday 6th February.
If you are interested then a brief obituary is at here and a photo or two here
A couple of years ago, my ‘crystal’ ball worked overtime.
In my regular newsletter (if you ain’t in the Berkhamsted East (current) ward of the town, then tough (I will sell you a copy though as I need the money), I suggested that now Tescos’ will not be building a new supermarket on their own land at Stag Lane, do not be surprised if the Water Lane car park would end up with a supermaket being built on it.
Horror of horrors, a senior Borough Council source e-
This week, the very same Borough Council have set in motion a discussion project, complete with London based ‘consultants’ (no, not the same ones who thought Bourne End was part of Berkhamsted -
I expect it’s the same person who identified the Hilltop childrens’ play area as ‘land at the foot of Robin’s Hill’, when it was actually at the end of Falcon Ridge.
Crystal Ball item below!!!
W/e 28th May 2005
The latest wheeze in the town is lottsa shopping, but no customers to do it.
OK, not quiet like that, but we have Waitrose looking to expand their supermarket and loose parking spaces then, not to be outdone, Tesco have been given the 'RED' light by the Borough planning mob about the land they own at Stag Lane, so why not re-develop the existing store?
The current idea is to build on the Water Lane car park – yes that's right! Good eh? I have heard that the Borough Council has no plans to allow this.
Two things the town has very little of, is open space and parking facilities.
Reality suggests that Waitrose will expand (loosing a few parking spaces) and Tesco will expand and loose a number of existing spaces. My money is on a multistory car-parking facilities being built on what remains of the Water Lane site, to replace those lost.
The fact that Berkhamsted is a historic market town with a very large conservation area seems to have by-passed the money men, after all, that is exactly what it is all about.
I still can't get my head around the '60s development that was allowed between Water Lane and the Town Hall, but that's another story!
Then:
W/E 25th Feb 2006
One or two readers may remember how at the end of the last century, I used to write a column trying to keep you all abreast with what goes on behind our backs in the town. Being one of the few who actually work in the town, I've been struck by the number of people who have remarked that they actually like living here and one lady, who moved to Hemel from 'up north' to be near her daughter, said she would have preferred Berkhamsted.
I can only suppose that those who know best must be doing something right, but it did start to remind me that when I was young we still went round complaining that there was nothing to do – but we did have a theatre and one and a half cinemas, a paddling pool, outdoor swimming pool in the centre of town, numerous garages selling petrol and cars, gas/electricity showrooms, Sainsburys, more pubs than you could imagine and the Co-Op sold just about everything.
On the other hand, the High Street didn't get electric light until the early 1950's, the trains took up to two hours to get to London (the station didn't even have electricity), we had a freight depot and gas works, the canal was busy with moving freight of all types up and down the country with the 'butty' being part living quarters. Oh, I forgot, we had parking problems even then, with Berkhamsted High Street being the widest part of the A41 between Kings Langley and Aylesbury. This is what reminded me that things don't actually change.
As I write this piece, the extension to the Waitrose shop will mean that about a third of the parking spaces will be lost for 3 months (at least). It is intended that it will be made up by the use of the Canal Fields car park which apparently has plenty of spare capacity (except when I want to use it, although I must admit, I usually can find a space). This cunning plan makes you wonder why most of the roads around the Town Centre are filled with vehicles during the day, when this 'under used' resource is available for free. Perhaps all will be revealed in due course.
This will be part of the study, I expect, into the re-use of the Water Lane car park for a large retail unit (can't imagine who/what!) and other commercial use currently being looked into by – yep, you guessed, consultants from London and paid for by the Borough Council. Now, if only they could actually repair the pavement along the High Street and resolve the blockage of footways by vehicles, I could believe that progress is being made.
The latest is that a few more parking spaces have been ‘nicked by Waitrose, the WaterLane ‘project’ is a ‘concept’ (oh, yeh?), developers are trying to fit more ‘high rise’ in the conservation area over existing parking areas and ‘parking wardens’ cannot shift cars/lorries from blocking/parking the footpath.
I can only suppose that those who know best must be doing something right, but it did start to remind me that when I was young we still went round complaining that there was nothing to do – but we did have a theatre and one and a half cinemas, a paddling pool, outdoor swimming pool in the centre of town, numerous garages selling petrol and cars, gas/electricity showrooms, Sainsburys, more pubs than you could imagine and the Co-
As I write this piece, the extension to the Waitrose shop will mean that about a third of the parking spaces will be lost for 3 months (at least). It is intended that it will be made up by the use of the Canal Fields car park which apparently has plenty of spare capacity (except when I want to use it, although I must admit, I usually can find a space). This cunning plan makes you wonder why most of the roads around the Town Centre are filled with vehicles during the day, when this 'under used' resource is available for free. Perhaps all will be revealed in due course.
This will be part of the study, I expect, into the re-
The latest is that a few more parking spaces have been ‘nicked by Waitrose, the WaterLane ‘project’ is a ‘concept’ (oh, yeh?), developers are trying to fit more ‘high rise’ in the conservation area over existing parking areas and ‘parking wardens’ cannot shift cars/lorries from blocking/parking the footpath.
It’s not me who has lost the plot, is it?
