September 9, 2011
Summer Newsletter - Out now.
FREE to HCS members it is packed with comment and report on Hexham’s economic, social and townscape issues. The Summer issue focuses on the future of the Market Place and the role of public space, traffic and streets in the town.
Also, the results of our Photo Competition, bus station news and lots more.
To receive a copy join HCS via our contacts page or email Secretary at – hcs@hexhamcivicsociety.co.uk
August 25, 2011
Hexham Civic Society is vitally concerned with the future of Hexham as a successful commercial, social and residential community. Hexham must develop and change to adapt to present and future needs. We seek to encourage and influence developments while protecting those characteristics of the town that are valued by residents and visitors alike and which will continue to be essential to its attractiveness, vitality and viability.
In order to fully represent the people of Hexham and to add strength to our arguments, the more people that we can say we represent the better.
Our current membership is 230. A few years ago it was well over 300. We are currently losing members at the rate of about 10 % a year. This is mainly because our membership is aging – however, we seek new members of all ages.
We therefore urge our current members to support our membership drive in a small way by talking to friends and neighbours about the work that we do and trying to persuade them to join so that we can continue to say that we represent a large proportion of the population of Hexham.
For those members who currently pay subscriptions annually, it would be a tremendous help to us, and to our hard working membership secretary, if you could pay standing order.
A membership application form and a Standing Order form are in each issue of our newsletter. You can also apply by email to: hcs@hexhamcivicsociety.co.uk
If you are not happy with what we are doing or would like us to do more, please speak to a committee member.
Best wishes,
Colin Dallison
Membership Secretary
May 11, 2011
The 2011 Heritage Skills Training and Events Programme for the North East is now available! This year the North of England Civic Trust has all the usual events, as well as some new additions.
HSI Programme 2011
It can be found online at:
http://www.nect.org.uk/heritage-skills-initiative/hsi-projects/hsi-north-east-programme
If you would like some paper copies to distribute to people who may be interested, please let NECT know how many you would like and your address and we will gladly send you some.
To book onto any of the HSI events please email skills@nect.org.uk, or use the form on our website at www.nect.org.uk.
Best Wishes
The Skills Team
North of England Civic Trust
April 11, 2011
Free Talk
Wednesday 13th April, 7:30pm
“Adapting Market Towns to the Needs of the 21st Century”
by Ben Hamilton Baillie at the Beaumont Hotel
Free Event, All welcome!
Ben Hamilton-Baillie is one of the leading exponents of integrated street design in the UK. He worked with the late Hans Monderman, former Head of Road Safety in the north of The Netherlands, to steer the European Union’s four-year research project on shared space. His consultancy practice in Bristol continues to research, monitor and develop innovative approaches to traffic in towns, addressing issues of speed, road safety, accessibility, walking & cycling and economic vitality. Ben is working with Northumberland County Council in Bamburgh, Hexham and Morpeth. He also advised CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, on street design, and helped English Heritage produce the regional “Streets for All” guides.
March 18, 2011
The HCS Spring Newsletter is out now – free to members. 
FREE to HCS members it is packed with comment and report on Hexham’s economic, social and townscape issues.
To receive a copy join HCS via our contacts page or email Secretary at – hcs@hexhamcivicsociety.co.uk
Big news this spring is announcement of our Free Talk 13th April by Ben Hamilton Baillie at the Beaumont Hotel, 7.30pm.
“Adapting Market Towns to the Needs of the 21st Century”
All welcome!
October 28, 2010
The Autumn 2010 Hexham Civic Society newsletter is out now.
Autumn 2010 Newsletter
FREE to HCS members it is packed with comment and report on Hexham’s economic, social and townscape issues.
The autumn issue includes:
‘The Editors Rant’, AGM report, latest on Hexham bus station redevelopment, tackling street clutter, planning applications and reports on issues affecting our town.
To receive a copy join HCS via our contacts page or email Secretary at – hcs@hexhamcivicsociety.co.uk
August 11, 2010
FREE Heritage Event: 09.30 – 17.00 Thursday 16th September 2010 Demand the Right Skills for the Repair & Maintenance of Traditional Buildings
Demos: 09.30 – 5.00 pm (Seminar: 2.30pm – 5.00pm) Venue: Main Hall, Town Hall, High Street, Skipton BD23 1AH THERE IS A PUBLIC CAR PARK BEHIND THE TOWN HALL (CHARGEABLE) Meet Organisations involved in the Heritage Construction Sector. See demonstrations of Stone Masonry, Pole Lathes and Stained Glass Repairs etc. Learn about the expertise and skills required for the Repair and Maintenance of Traditional Buildings.
This event is aimed at professionals who deal with the pre-1919 building stock and will cover the need for client demand for skills and how the right expertise in the repair & maintenance project from building professionals to contractors/craftspeople is essential to quality of work. It will also provide details of Heritage Construction training available in the Region and provide an opportunity to sign up for subsidised, short & longer term training courses.
Programme – Opening Remarks Alan Blackwell, Principal Craven College Introduction Seamus Hanna, Heritage & Construction Manager, Constructionskills Why Having the Right Expertise is Crucial to the Repair & Maintenance of Traditional Buildings John Edwards, Conservation Architecture Team, English Heritage Skills & Competency – CSCS Cards in the Built Heritage Sector Simon Holmes, Heritage Training Adviser, ConstructionSkills The Owner’s Perspective Rosi Lister, Regional Manager, North, The Churches Conservation Trust The Contractor’s Perspective Henry Rumbold, National Heritage Training Group Regional Information, Advice and Guidance Sophie Norton, Hamlyn Feilden Regional Heritage Skills Co-ordinator – Yorkshire & the Humber Heritage Construction Training Available in the Region Bess Martin, Project Co-ordinator Heritage Construction Training, Craven College Question & Answer Session Facilitated by Seamus Hanna, Heritage & Conservation Manager, ConstructionSkills
Book your place with: Vanessa Benson 01756 708932 or e-mail: vbenson@craven-college.ac.uk Also visit our website: www.getyourheritagetraining.co.uk
Should you be unable to attend, please suggest someone to replace you, or forward this e-mail to others in your network who might be interested in attending.
July 8, 2010
Dear all,
HSI (Heritage Skills Initiative) are delighted to be able to offer another chance for people to try their hand at Lime Pointing on a taster day at Belsay Hall. It will take place on Saturday 17th July from 10am until 4pm. Spaces are limited so if you would like to attend please email skills@nect.org.uk with details of your: name, email address, occupation and employer, mobile telephone number, home and work postcodes, and date of birth, or ring us on 01912329279.
Kathryn Banfield BA (Hons)
Heritage Skills Assistant
kathryn.banfield@nect.org.uk
North of England Civic Trust
Blackfriars, Monk Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4XN
Tel: 0191 232 9279
Mobile: 07787699158
Main office email: admin@nect.org.uk
Website: www.nect.org.uk
The Trust is a company registered in England, number 1654806, and a registered charity.
July 2, 2010
Hexham Civic Society has lodged an objection to the planning application recently placed for change of use of the former wine shop on the Market Place. Our objection is as below but what are your views? Will it bring a much needed use to an empty shop? Or is it inappropriate as a use in such a key building? Let us, and just as importantly, Northumberland County Council know. You can write with your views to: The Case Officer, Planning Application 20100388, Planning Department, Northumberland County Council, Hadrian House, Market Street, Hexham, NE46 3NH
Our Letter of Objection is as follows:
Planning Application 20100388, 32-34 Market Place, Hexham
Change of use from class A1 (retail) to class A2 (financial and professional services
This application is for a betting shop. The inclusion of an option for retail in no.34 must be ignored because it is dependent upon the granting of permission for a betting shop and is then only as a possibility.
Hexham Civic Society objects strongly to this application for change of use. An additional betting shop would
Location
The importance of Hexham’s outstanding Market Place, arguably one of the most attractive in England, and of the buildings forming its boundary is demonstrated by these buildings being designated:
a) Primary Shopping Frontages,
b) Within the Primary Shopping Area,
c) Within Hexham’s Historic Core,
d) Within Hexham’s Conservation Area, and
e) No 32 along with several of these buildings is a listed building.
There is therefore an overwhelming obligation upon Northumberland County Council to ensure that any development protects or enhances the character of this Market Place.
A betting shop is a totally inappropriate business for this sensitive historic environment whose current character is essential to the vitality and viability of Hexham, particularly to its tourism businesses. In addition, it is adjacent to the cinema much visited by children. It can be expected that the smokers and their resultant litter evident outside the adjacent Wetherspoons public house would extend to include the area outside the proposed betting shop.
While the shopfront, signage, advertisements etc. for the proposed betting shop would be the subject of a separate planning application, we take this opportunity to comment that a change to A2 is likely to create a relatively dead frontage, especially inappropriate given this building’s key location and prominence. Frontages typical of betting establishments, i.e. largely concealed from outside view by posters and other measures, would exacerbate this inappropriateness. Such premises would degrade the character of this sensitive, historic environment.
National and local planning policies
The Applicant’s Planning Support Statement purports to address relevant planning policies interpreting them to show that they allow or even encourage an additional betting shop in Hexham’s town centre. This is totally specious. The statement obfuscates the issue by seeking to show in a verbose manner that the introduction of the proposed betting shop would make a beneficial contribution to the town while ignoring the existence of two betting shops within the designated Primary Shopping Area. These already provide both betting shop facilities and competition within that business sector. The Support Statement ignores those parts of planning policies that are incompatible with the application.
Please see the detailed review below.
No benefit to Hexham
The Support Statement fails to show any incremental benefit to Hexham. Its conclusion that the proposal brings significant benefits is spurious. In particular the statements that this proposal would add to the diversity, vitality and viability of Hexham’s town centre are totally wrong. Since two betting shops already exist within the designated Primary Shopping Area of the town centre, no “diversity” would be introduced and any contributions betting shops make to the town centre’s “viability and vitality” have already been made by these existing betting shops.
On the contrary, the introduction of such an activity into the sensitive environment of Hexham’s historic Market Place would only cause harm.
Detailed review of planning policies
A review of the national and local policies referred to in the Applicant’s Planning Support Statement shows that they do not allow the proposed change of use.
PPS1: Delivering sustainable development
A betting shop would be contrary to PPS1 statements that the Government is committed to protecting and enhancing the quality of the natural and historic environment and requires planning policies to protect and enhance the quality, character and amenity value of urban areas. (paras. 17 and 18)
The Applicant’s Statement quotes extracts at length but these are in the most part irrelevant to the proposed change of use and an obfuscation, e.g. references to making land available, to the creation of sustainable communities and new homes, and to reducing social inequalities.
PPS4: Planning for sustainable economic growth
PPS4 is to promote the vitality and viability of town centres as important places for communities. An additional betting shop would not contribute in any way to promoting the “vitality and viability” of Hexham.
PPS4 requires that the historic, archaeological and architectural heritage of centres be conserved and, where appropriate, enhanced to provide a sense of place and a focus for the community and for civic activity. The growing number of events and other activities in the Market Place already meet this requirement. A betting shop is incompatible with these events and would negate or detract from the benefits conferred by them.
EC1 refers to an evidence base for development and states (1.4) when assessing the need for retail and leisure development local planning authorities should take account of both the quantitative and qualitative need for additional types of retail and leisure development. Betting shops already exist and there is no evidence of the need for an additional such shop.
EC4 quoted in the Statement refers to diversity. As betting shops already exist, the proposal does not add to diversity. It could be argued that, on the contrary, it would reduce diversity by removing the opportunity for a new type of business to set up on this site.
PPS5: Planning for the historic environment
The Government’s overarching aim is that the historic environment and its heritage assets should be conserved and enjoyed for the quality of life they bring to this and future generations (para.7). To achieve this the Government’s objectives for planning the historic environment include taking account of the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits of heritage conservation. When these factors are taken into account, it is clear that a betting shop does not fit and will only harm the character of the Market Place’s historic environment.
The following local development policies, some of which are referred to in the Planning Support Statement, are also relevant.
Core Strategy Policy BE1
This policy states as principle (a) to “Conserve and where appropriate enhance the quality and integrity of Tynedale’s built environment and its historic features including archeology, giving particular protection to listed buildings, scheduled monuments and conservation areas.” The addition of a betting shop will neither conserve nor enhance the Market Place.
Policy BE22
Proposals for development which would adversely affect the assembled character or setting of a listed building will not be permitted.
While it seems that BE22 is concerned with detailed design, materials etc., about which there is no information in the Application, it is clear that the presence of a betting shop in the subject listed building and adjacent to other listed buildings will adversely affect their character and should not be permitted. Although referred to in the applicant’s Statement, this policy does not support a change of use
Core Strategy Policy RT1a
This policy is to maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of Primary Shopping Areas. The placing of a betting shop will degrade these aspects of the Market Place.
Core Strategy Policy RT3
This policy seeks to maximise the proportion of retail uses for Primary Shopping Frontages. Specifically it sets a minimum proportion of 85% of ground floor frontage for Hexham’s Primary Shopping Frontage. The applicant states that his proposal would reduce the existing proportion to 85.2%, i.e. above the minimum. It is however the applicant’s assessment and is so close to the acceptable minimum that its impact must be included in consideration of the application.
The Market Place is the principal focus of the town. As such it is highly important in social and economic terms and continues to accommodate long held traditions of trade, administration and culture in the town. A betting shop in this location would be contrary to national and local planning policies and we urge Northumberland County Council’s officers and members to refuse permission.
March 10, 2010
DATE: Friday 14th May
VENUE: Scott’s Cafe, Forum Cinema, Hexham
FREE EVENT
Following on from the 2009 work by MA Urban Design Students from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, we have undertaken a similar event this year.
From autumn 2009 MA urban design students have been engaged in a theoretical project to come up with solutions to the bus station site on Priestpopple. While we understand that things may have shifted slightly since we helped set their brief – e.g. possible retention of a bus station within the Priestpopple area rather than the original relocation to Loosing Hill – the students have now completed their work and have generated some fabulous ideas about how to make best use of this key Hexham site.
The exhibition of student’s work and their models will commence 14th May and run until the 21st. On Friday 14th May we will be hosting our AGM at 1:30, to be followed by a presentation of student’s work by Georgia Giannopoulou, Newcastle University’s Degree Programme Director at 2:30. FREE EVENT – ALL WELCOME
The exhibition will continue to be available to view in the cafe until the 21st May.
Please come to this week-long event and engage in debate about the future of our town.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/apl/about/news/item/hexham-exhibition
