August Newsletter
August 2011
Timperley
Civic Society newsletter
Dear Member
Welcome to your first newsletter of 2011. Very sorry for the delay, and I hope you've been able to keep up with some of the news. This is a bumper edition to make up the news since January.
The AGM of the Society is coming up on Wednesday October 5th followed by a talk by Brian Hallworth. (See details on back page.) Our current Chairman Geoff Flood has told us that he is willing to stand as Chairman for the next year only, then we will need a new person to take over. We are always looking for more people to join the committee and represent their part of Timperley. It is a wide area and there are several residents' or area groups, but little contact between them and the Civic Society, so we need reps from all over Timperley. Come and have your say about Timperley matters.
We will be looking at a revised Constitution for the Society ( See the proposed changes on page 2) And also be increasing the subscriptions, due from 1 st September. No, do not gasp - it has been the same amount for about 20 years. The fee will be £8, with a Junior subscription at £l, and a corporate subscription of £12.
Timperley Country Fair is coming soon on Sat 10th Sept and the Society will again have a stall there. Also Hazel has booked a stall at the Local and Family History Fair at Sale Waterside on Saturday Sept 17th (mostly for herself, but will also represent Timperley Civic Society.)
Altrincham in Bloom - We're awaiting the results from the ‘In Bloom' competition, judging was on 25th July. The route this year took in Moss Park Gardens and the 'wildlife garden' at Newton Park along with Broomwood Park. At Moss Park Gardens (corner of Moss Lane and Park Road) the canopy on the electricity sub-station has been taken down and made safe, and the planting is looking good. In the village, a few volunteers have been weeding the planters, keeping down the duckweed.
Committee doings
The Committee agreed that the Society should join Civic Voice, an organisation that has partly replaced Civic Trust for the North West, and take up their insurance scheme.
A small group of the committee have been looking at whether we should produce a Timperley Information leaflet and what form this should take. The aim is to inform newcomers to the area that the Civic Society exists, and we would ask estate agents if they would be willing to display a leaflet or just a contact 'business1 card Mark Wilkinson has designed a card and we are costing up the printing a contact 'business' card. Mark Wilkinson has designed a card and we are costing up the printing.
Subscriptions are due on the 1 September 2011
CONSTITUTION
It has been found necessary to amend the Constitution of the Society this year - the old one dates back to 1992, so perhaps it's not before time!
The main reason for the change is that in the original membership fees were fixed at £5 and because of additional costs of insurance to cover the Society and its officers and also to take out membership of Civic Voice, which replaces the Civic Trust as the voice of Civic Societies.
From September 1st 2011 Full Membership will cost £8, Junior Membership will remain at £1 and Corporate Membership will be £12 Shortly copies of the new constitution will be sent out to you but the main changes to it are as follows:
SUBSCRIPTIONS
WAS: Full Member £5, Junior Member £1, Corporate Membership £10
NOW: Membership, Junior Membership and Corporate membership to be determined by the Committee. Junior defined as aged 16 and under.
MEETINGS
Financial year defined as 1st September until the following 31st August.
COMMITTEE
Delete reference to "President and Vice Presidents" - we don't have them!
INVESTMENT
Delete; ...but so that such monies subject or representing property subject to the jurisdiction of the
Charity Commissioners or the Ministry of Education shall only be invested in such securities as may
for the time being be prescribed by law.
We do not have any investments, Society money is kept in Banks or Building Societies, neither are
we a registered charity.
WINDING UP
The words "Winding Up" be replaced by "Closure"
Delete: ... .and approved by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales.
Replace with: .. ...and members at a special General Meeting
All of a sudden there seems to be a lot happening that needs some consideration, and possibly a response.
We have been receiving newsletters from Civic Voice and a small group of the committee has commented on the 'Save our High Streets' campaign, Having gone through various reports about the 'cloning' of town centres (where they all have the same shop chains) we have sent in a response mainly based on what could be done for Altrincham, as Timperley doesn't count as a 'town'.
Davenport Green area - Trafford's Core Strategy Plan is being revised (used to be the UDP) and concern for Davenport Green has cropped up again after a gap of seven years. As the major business park development in the fields there never went ahead, the latest Trafford CSP proposed returning the area to Green Belt. However that has now been changed and the proposal is that the land should not have Green Belt status, but would be restricted to use for 'special development'.
The designation of a new Enterprise Zone near the airport could mean development spreading across the motorway onto Davenport Green 'green field' (literally green fields) site. The Society has not yet commented on this, although individual members have done so. Examination of the CSP by an inspector resumes in September.
There is a new Planning Document from the government that has implications for local planning. This also needs looking at. This is where Civic Voice is very useful in sending out information on government plans and initiatives.
Trafford have just announced funding available via the Community Initiatives Fund and the Volunteer Initiatives Fund. Local groups can apply to be considered to received up to £5,000 for a project. But - we have only until the end of September to get it all together, and of course, there are specific requirements about community inclusion, continuity etc.
The committee was contacted about the possible closing of a footpath between the end of Claremont Drive and Attenbury's Lane. There have been instances of nuisance caused by people passing through. Claremont Drive is a 'private road', but has been used as a public right of way for many years, and it gives access to both Claremont Avenue and Arley Close. New signs have been erected, but when Hazel walked down, there were other poeple using the route and taking no notice of the signs. We sent a letter to Trafford legal department asking about the present position, but have yet to hear back.
Hazel attended a Public Inquiry held at Altrincham Town Hall about a footpath between Hawthorn Ave and Brookfield Ave. The Inspector heard representations from proposers and objectors to the footpath being made a 'definitive right of way'. It is only a short path from one road to the next, and in 2000 it was obstructed by a pile of soil and then by a fence. It was interesting to see the way such an inquiry worked and the procedure to be followed. The Inspector will consider the evidence presented and report back his decision.
Watling Gate - Listed Building.
Geoff Flood, Judie Collins and Hazel Pryor
attended several committee meetings with the Friends of Newton Park regarding the future of Watling Gate house. Heritage Trust for the North West is to have a 5 year lease of the house from Trafford, when details are sorted out. Geoff Flood prepared an item for 'Timperley View' magazine and the Civic Society had a stall at the History Open Day on June 26th at Timperley
Taverners, with a display about Watling Gate and one of Hazel's photo quizzes. Thanks to Geoff and Naomi and other members of the committee for supporting this. Names were collected with the intention of forming a Friends of Watling Gate group, but we are still waiting to hear about the lease. It was clear on the day that people are concerned with their 'comer' of
Timperley, but don't realise that the Civic Society covers their area.
The rumours about the shops in Paul House on Stockport Road started in March. Two of the occupiers had been given notice to quit and these, together with another two empty shop units were to be combined into one for 'one of the supermarket chains'. A Public Meeting on 11th April at Timperley Library called by Cncllr. Matt Colledge was packed out, with people crowding in the hallway. Petitions had been signed by about 2000 people, but Cncllr. Colledge pointed out that individual letters of objection carried more weight than petitions. Some of the traders had mixed feelings about whether it would bring more custom to the village, but this was set against problems of parking, vehicle access, early morning noise to the retirement flats, etc. As far as I can see there has not yet been a planning application.
Heyes Lane School Calendar. Some of you will have seen and indeed got a copy of the Calendar produced by Heyes Lane School with the Kindling Trust - highlighting the history of food production in the area - i.e. the market gardening. The children interviewed several people from the old market gardening families and looked at historic sources and did a super job producing a very interesting calendar.
Meetings Report since January.
The talk by Paul Huxley about G-Force in February was very illuminating. The group is doing good work in the Broomwood area and if you missed the meeting you missed a treat. Check out their website, and the cafe on Mainwood Road (lunch is highly recommended). (Naomi and her friend say that the cafe at Newhaven Extra Care Home is also well worth a visit for afternoon tea.)
The March meeting saw Simon Castle head of planning for Traffbrd council talk about Town Planning. A very interesting evening and he got away without too many awkward questions! He mentioned as well as Timperley's four Listed Buildings, that Trafford are to assemble a 'Local List' of structures of interest that are not quite 'good enough' for Listed Building status. The committee are putting together a list to pass on to Trafford. He had a query whether there are any 'Cheshire semi' houses in the area (where each half of a pair are L-shaped, with the back of one lying behind the front of the other. Do you know of any? Check out the Timperley Listed Buildings/structures on page 5.
The Science of Detection was Alan Hayhurst's topic for the April meeting - the beginnings of forensic science in identifying criminals, including the use of mug-shots and early finger-printing. It all started earlier than you would think.
Our visit to STAG in May included a tour of the area around Timperley Old Hall, the farm buildings and the site of the dig, plus slides and a talk by Derek Pierce. The excavations have now finished on the main moated site and there are interpretation boards in place. Groups can book a visit/tour. (See website http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bryan.burtonbj/ )
Planning Applications -
These are now sent out by email to three of the committee, so we get the lists earlier, but that doesn't mean the paperwork is ready to inspect. Often the documents have not been up-loaded to the Trafford website planning page when we come to check them, and with the larger developments this can take a couple of weeks.
We have kept an eye on any planning affecting Timperley. It has been a fairly quiet time for applications recently, although we now have major changes in Altrincham with the Bus/Rail Interchange refurbishment, and the approved site for the new hospital on Railway Street where the single storey shops are, to replace Altrincham General.
St John's Church Thorley Lane.
The next major residential development is the site at St John the Baptist RC Church and Presbytery house on Thorley Lane. Although the church was only built in the 1960s, it is now to be demolished, along with the house 'Glendaruel’. The plan by Churchill Retirement Living is for a block of 50 sheltered apartments including a communal lounge and laundry, with space and charging points for electric buggies. Shaped like a T with a wing at the rear it would be mostly 3 storey with some 2 storey to vary the roofline.
Many people attended the exhibition at Holy Cross Church hall in June to look at the designs. Most of the neighbours agree that if the church has to go, then this is going to be a suitable use of the land. The planning application has now been sent to Trafford. [Ref 77288/FULL/2011]
Wellington School's appeal against refusal of a plan for floodlights and high fencing around a sports pitch has failed, and revised plans have been put in, without the tights, and with proposed planting along the line of the new fence to soften the visual impact of the fence. No more news yet.
New Walks leaflet
Timperley Walk No.5: 'Bombs and Boggarts' will be available soon. Watch out for Naomi and Hazel checking it out. Copies should be ready in time for the Country Fair, along with the previous four walks, leaflets, and greetings cards.
Titbits.
Residents of Thorley Lane (and people held up in traffic) have been keeping an eye on the problems caused by lorries delivering to Iceland. The wall at Thorley Lane car park has again been damaged recently, and workmen have had to re-seat the black bollard, again.
Have you noticed we now have raised kerb areas at some of the bus stops? What a pity we don't have the right bus routes. (PS It cost me £2.00 to come back from Altrincham on a Go-
Goodwins bus. I remember when it used to be eight-pence - 8d and 4d for children - mind you it is a good few years ago! ) -.
More Timperley news is available from Broomwood Community Association website -
www.broomwoodvoice.com
G-Force website is www.g-force.org.uk
Timperley has Four Listed Buildings/Structures:
Watting Gate, Leys Road off Park Road
Christ Church, Thorley Lane
Timperley Hall
Stockport Road
Gateposts at Claremont Drive
Manchester Road
Don't forget Timperley Trekkers walk out on Wednesdays, starting from the Broomwood -check posters for dates.
Society Website - The society has a new website address - much easier to remember -www.timperleycivicsociety.org.uk
Alan is trying to add details of forthcoming events or recent news anywhere in Timperley, so if you know of anything please pass it along.
Have you seen the Messenger's 'Timperley District' page on its website? Mark is in charge of adding stories regularly. Have a look and add a comment: http://www.messengemewspapers.cx3.uk/news/timperteydistrict/
For info about the individual Wards covering Timperley - have a look at the Trafford council website: www.trafford.gov.uk/mytrafford Put in your postcode and then you can download a ward profile.
FUTURE EVENTS - Please watch out for the location of events
Tues 6 September Francis House Children's Hospice Talk by Alan Shillaker at The Village Club, Stockport Road 7.30pm
Sat 10 September Timperley Country Fair at Larkhill, Thorley Lane, 10am - 3pm, and Timperley Horticultural Society Show 12.00 to 3.15pm
Sat 17th September Local and Family History Fair run by Trafford Local Studies at Sale Waterside 10am - 4pm Twenty stalls with books, advice and info
Sat 24th September Apple Day at Timperley Community Orchard 10.30am - 2pm Access from Langham Grove or Beech Avenue Come and see (and taste) the bumper crop of old varieties of apple.
Weds 5th October Timperley Civic Society AGM at Larkhill Centre, Thorley Lane at
7.30pm followed by 'Bird Life' by Brian Hallworth
Fri 11th November Quiz Night at Larkhill Centre, Thorley Lane watch out for the posters with more details.
Tues 6 December Fire Safety in the Home with Michael Alston 7.30pm. at The Village Club (Watch out for those candles and the brandy on the pudding)
Please note revised EMAIL ADDRESS. You can now only send us an email via the website. http://www.timperleycivicsociety.org.uk
Data Protection - Members' details are kept on computer, for use of the Society only.
Hazel Pryor
CIVIC VOICE
During the year your Committee decided to join Civic Voice, an independent national body representing civic societies. This organization was founded in 2010 and is the successor to the Civic Trust. It is the new voice of civic societies and has Gryff Rhys Jones as its President.
Civic Voice is a much smaller, leaner and cost effective organization than its predecessor which had become top heavy and went into administration.
Resulting from membership Timperley Civic Society will receive information from the organization on a variety of issues which affect not only Timperley but communities around the country.
Through Civic Voice, we will be able to make an input into lobbying or campaigning on national policies and issues and obviously an organization representing thousands of people up and down the country will have much more impact than a single civic society. The upcoming changes proposed to the planning laws, which are intended to speed up planning applications but reduce the opportunities to object or modify, is a case in point.
As another example, along with other civic societies, we are currently formulating views on factors affecting the "high street" and what can be done to improve matters. These thoughts will be gathered together by Civic Voice and submitted to Mary Portas, who has been asked by the Government to lead a "High Street Review".
A direct benefit of joining Civic Voice is that members of Timperley Civic Society will be able to access free Day Passes for the National Trust and English Heritage.
Civic Voice has an arrangement for low cost insurance for its member societies which covers things like Public Liability, Personal Accident, Stock and Money loss. The Committee decided that it would be prudent to take advantage of this.
All of which comes at a price, with membership of Civic Voice and Insurance cover currently costing £320 the result of which is that we will make a loss on the year.
Membership fees, which have not changed since 1991, clearly cannot cover these extra costs and as a result it has been found necessary to increase them. From September 1st the new charge for individual membership will be £8, corporate membership £12 and junior (under 16) membership £1.
We hope that you will appreciate these necessary changes which will be of benefit to our Society.
The web site for Civic Voice is www.civicvoice.org.uk |
