Annual Trustees report for 2008 - 2009

This has been both a difficult year, but also a highly successful one for the civic society. Illness among the officers and their families has meant more work and commitment from the remaining committee members. So I start by saying a big thank you to the committee members for all their hard work and dedication and for their support to myself and Robin while we were both ill.

Andrew Milner has joined the committee as treasurer and he has proved to be a positive and welcome addition to our team.

Planning:

This continues to take up a lot of our time, although it would take up considerably more time without the sub committee, which continues to meet regularly and monitors all planning applications submitted to the council.  Still some of the major issues are old ones not yet not settled. These include Tesco, about which you have no doubt read in our Newsletter, Attenborough Flood Alleviation Scheme, with the proposed flood wall in the village still a highly contentious issue and NET, which moves along at a snail’s pace – let us hope that the finished article will be more speedy. We continue to be involved in all of these plans.

The Greater Nottingham Aligned Core Strategy (Issues & Options) is a new take on building more houses as required by the government and where those houses should be built.  Our response, by Howard Jackson and Peter Robinson , was made public in the last Newsletter and we shall continue to be closely involved in this and keep you informed.  In this as in other local issues we all need to be vigilant and make our voices heard by those in control.

Another such issue is the proposal, and hopefully soon to be submitted plan, for the area of Beeston Square .  We shall again endeavour to keep you informed, but much can happen between the quarterly issues of the Newsletter.   

Challenge House has not yet been transferred to a new owner and despite proposals and a consultation meeting attended by Robin and me nothing has yet been finalised.

Unusually this year we made comments on two plans outside of our area; the first one was on plans for the old Odeon cinema in Nottingham , where proposed development impinged upon Bromley House. The second was on plans for redevelopment of the Warren Arms in Stapleford, where we felt that part of the proposals for the front of the building were inappropriate.

The sub committee have commented on the increased applications for hard standing driveways and the fact that planning applications are currently fewer due to the present economic climate.

Conservation:

Following on our success with the Cottage Grove designation, we are currently looking at the possibility of another project, suggested to us by Jason Mordan, the County Conservation Officer. This is the conservation of The Maltings on Dovecote Lane , which he and others consider worth saving, but English Heritage does not! The area also includes Beeston Station and Station Villas.  We have another sub committee looking at this, which again includes representation from Beeston History Society and a member of the Nottingham Civic Society .

We were involved in the first of the assessments of conservation areas, which the local council is require to undertake.  Howard Jackson attended meetings and reported to the committee on the two Attenborough sites and Peter Robinson did sterling work for both the society and the County Conservation Office on the Chilwell area.

The question of Blue Plaques is ongoing, and served by yet another sub committee. We have also had some consultation with the History Society.  This is a long process because so much is involved, not least getting permission from the present owners/occupiers. Then there is the format of the plaques themselves and the funding. 

We are attempting to make sure that the restored memorial to Attenborough railway workers who died in the first world war is re-sited in an appropriate place.  It was formerly sited at Attenborough railway station and is presently languishing in the porch of Attenborough Parish Church .

Another project with which we are also presently involved is the ongoing plan to restore the arch and gateway at the Church Street entrance to Beeston Parish Church . This project has been allocated a “Building Better Communities” grant supported by County Councillor Steve Carr. Broxtowe Borough Council has agreed to fund the lighting.

Other matters:

The demise of the Civic Trust has been a blow to all organisations like ours and the Civic Trust Initiative, a newly formed body, is looking at new ways forward for us all.  Barbara Selwood is attending a meeting in Blackpool at the end of September and we hope there will be good news from that meeting. EMACS,the regional body to which we belong, has enough funds to carry on for another year, we hope by then to have a new “parent” body.

We have finally managed to secure a seat on the “Highfields User Committee”, with the help of Hilary Sylvester, Chair of the Nottingham Civic Society . This committee is looking at ways to improve the park and is organised by Nottingham City Council. I shall be attending my first meeting on September 30^th.

We successfully hosted the last quarterly meeting of EMACS and the day was rounded off by a visit to Hurts Shawl Factory where Mr. Hurt entertained us in his own inimitable way and quite a few of us did some early Christmas shopping!

To celebrate National Tree Week this year the society presented a tree of their choice to all local primary and junior schools and a society representative was present at all the plantings save one – again their choice. I thank all those who represented the society at these events; Leo and I attended at Eskdale Drive Primary School and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the children and being shown around their garden.

Three new postcards, of the Attenborough Nature Reserve, the University Trent Building and some interesting views of Beeston, have been introduced to our publications range and are selling well, as is the Heritage Trail booklet.  Our other publication, Tracks, Towpaths and Twitchells is now somewhat out of date, and when present stocks are finished we have no plans to re-produce it.

Heritage Open Days 2008 was again a hugely successful venture, thanks mostly to the Athertons for the organisation of the events and Barbara Selwood for securing the funding. Mick Atherton asked to be relieved of the organisation for this year, so, guess what – we have formed a sub committee!  Eileen continues to do the administration work.   My thanks to all three for all their work and to the sub committee for their work so far towards the 2009 event. 

Barbara Selwood and Peter Robinson continue to attend meetings of the Beeston Business Forum, which is growing in membership, and report back to the committee on plans and ideas for Beeston.  Once again we took part in the Beeston Carnival by having a stand on the park.

The Newsletter, we hope, keeps the members in touch with local issues and events and as well as our thanks to Robin Phillips , the editor for his continuing hard work, this year we have also to thank Peter Robinson , for producing the last copy, number 142, while Robin was indisposed, and Barbara Phillips for her contribution during what was a difficult time for her.

We are always looking for willing (or unwilling!) volunteers to help with any of our ventures. If you can help with anything – even an odd hour now and again would be most welcome – please contact any committee member.

And finally:

My thanks to Howard Jackson and Rosemary Silis, who due to family commitments have both decided not to stand for committee membership again. They have both made a valuable contribution to this organisation.  Now we have vacancies on the committee you may consider joining us.

Because of my health problems this is my last report as chairman, although I am standing for election to the executive committee. I have enjoyed my time as head of this worthwhile and necessary organisation which gives a great service to the community.  I give my heartfelt thanks to the committee members for their unfailing loyalty, help and support both to me and to the wider community and my thanks to the members for their continuing support. I have used to word “thanks” many times and I make no apologies for that – each use is sincerely meant.

This report has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Beeston & District Civic Society as Trustees of that society.