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The possibility of
acquiring the garden was discussed. One idea was applying for grants;
another that shares could be offered as had been very successfully done
at Ford Hall Farm, Staffordshire.
In his report,
Peter Harrington, Chairman, said that at the end of 2008 he had met with
the Dowhills group to discuss purchasing the walled garden. Their asking
price was around £600,000 which was felt to be too much especially as we
had had a much lower valuation.
In February 2009,
Dowhills group had submitted a further planning application. A letter of
support from Edward Timpson MP, a submission from local traders and
letters from members of the society were also sent to the Development
Control Committee of the former Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council.
In March, the
council accepted Dowhills' proposal and granted them planning
permission. No councillor objected. The society was particularly
disappointed that the agreement was made that the restoration of the
walls need not begin until the last three houses of the development have
been sold.
Our legal counsel
felt we had a good enough case to issue a legal challenge against the
decision and an Extraordinary General Meeting was held in April to
discuss the move. Members voted to go ahead if we could raise the
necessary funds (estimated to be between £9,000 and 18,000). The
challenge had to be withdrawn due to lack of funds.
At the EGM it was
suggested we ask the Secretary of State to intervene as they could
overrule planning decisions on certain occasions. Edward Timpson MP did
this on our behalf and Hazel Blears (the then relevant minister)
declined to help, saying she felt that this was purely a local matter.
Other
disappointments reported at December’s AGM were:
-
English Heritage declined to become
involved in our project. They had previously declined to list the
garden as being of historic interest, saying there is no plan of the
garden or traces of its layout on the ground.
-
Cheshire East Council – who took
three months to reply to Edward Timpson’s request for help – gave a
similar reply to those given previously, that they felt that
development was the only viable way forward.
The Council was
negotiating with the developers to sign a 106 Agreement to ensure the
walls are reinstated and a fund established for their maintenance once
the development is completed. Currently, there has been no action on the
site and the council is still discussing the 106 agreement with the
developer. The Chairman said he felt the council had been negligent on
health and safety grounds in view of the state of the walls.
Legal advice is
being sought on this point. [Nantwich Civic Society is also pressing for
some progress on the walls.]
No subscriptions
THE Committee decided that
while the Society is carrying on the fight to save the walled garden, no
more subscriptions from members will be collected unless or until the Society look
like being given the go-ahead to restore the walled garden.
This was because of the
uncertainties following the granting of planning approval to the
developers, Dowhills, that will result in the destruction of the
historic garden area.
This will also apply to anyone
wishing to join the society at this time.
Join Us
Officials' contributions
THE contribution of
Peter Greene (Treasurer) and Pat Fulford (Founding Secretary) to the
society - both of whom had been on the committee since the society began
and who had both died during the last year – was noted by the Chairman.
Officers
Peter Harrington
is to continue as Chairman, and Faith Cartlidge was elected Treasurer.
Nicola Booth has resigned as Secretary because of personal commitments,
but remains on the committee.
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