How do we decide what we get involved in?

At the AGM we were asked why we got involved in a wide range of topics when we should just scrutinise local planning decisions. I hope this article explains this wider scope for our work. 

Our charitable purpose is to pro-actively engage with the community to: 

  1. stimulate public interest in and appreciation of townscape and landscape
  2. promote high standards of town planning, architecture and landscaping – including leisure and recreational spaces
  3. secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest
  4. undertake, promote and support such public realm, sustainability and environmental activities that may enhance community wellbeing  

We want to do this by collaborating, co-operating and co-ordinating activity with partners in the private, public and 3rd sectors. We recognise we cannot do all we want by ourselves

The foundation of our work is still to proactively and objectively function as a scrutineer of land and transport planning proposals and developments locally. Examples are lobbying against Oban House demolition and for well-designed and appropriate development of the space next to the ARC cinema; support for controls on Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO); suggested improvement of the sustainability of various new buildings and refits.

However we also want to Inform and engage people locally on a wide range civic activity and issues – hence our talks and walks programmes, news sheets, heritage open day co-ordination, networking and social media activities.

We also recognise that local authorities have had funding reduced immensely over many years, so we want be supportive of them in helping develop our town and its suburbs. This takes the form of 

  1. managing or sponsoring projects through our committee which improve the environment of Beeston and its surrounds, increase our attraction to visitors and increase local pride in our community e.g. Civic Awards, *alight night, Street Art, and Blue Plaques. N.B. The latter two reputedly exhibit more visual displays per head of population than any others in the country. 
  2. having a proactive and positive long-term influence on the environment locally. This is why we lead on encouraging long term development of vision with Vision 2020/Our Beeston and promote the development of a better protected Local Heritage List of properties and spaces which aren’t Listed Nationally or aren’t in Conservation areas ( many other development authorities have these lists).

Finally, we want to be trusted by all our partners by being an ethical and professionally run organisation for our members. 

I hope this explains what, why and how we are doing to make a positive difference in our community but we’d be happy to take and questions or comments you have at beestoncivicsociety@gmail.com.  

Gary Smerdon-White (Treasurer)