Conservation Area - advice and bodies required!

[tom.harrigan]

Quite some time ago I posted about the efforts to get my village designated a Conservation Area. The draft appraisal is at last available from Cherwell DC's website here: http://www.cherwell-dc.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3708

If you take a little time to read the document, you might be surprised that the village isn't a conservation area already. The reason it isn't is because of lobbying by landowners, much disinformation, and a fair degree of intimidation. In recent months we've had a stone through someone's window, the most foul verbal abuse of several villagers (the sort of language usually heard only at parish council meetings), and even a physical assault. There has also been the vandalism of an historic stone wall (by the owner).

The battle is far from won however. I have heard that a great deal of underhand lobbying has been going on, to the extent that the district council may change their mind. It seems unbelievable that they should do this at this point, particularly as the document they have produced makes such a strong case for designation. There is to be a public meeting on 2/10, and I know that after recent events, many people are afraid to go.

If anyone has any experience and/or advice in these matters, and agrees that Shenington with Alkerton merits conservation area status, I'd be very interested in what in what they have to say. I'm particularly interested in any legal or conservation arguments I could put forward in the meeting or in writing during the 4 week consultation period. Also, might there be some body, like the CPRE that might be sufficiently interested to make representation to the council?

Oh, if anyone is interested in attending the public meeting, they are more than welcome!

 

[middi]

Heavy handed intimidation ?. It sounds as if the village you live in should fit nicely somewhere in Sicily or Naples. :wink:

Talking about Naples, I saw a coffee machine outside a two pumps petrol station off the beaten track near Naples which read " coffee 60 cents, machine accepts 1 euro coins only", at the opening on the bottom of the machine a small typewritten note read " no change given" .

 

[Penners]

We used to live in Swerford, just south of Hook Norton, and we have family near Warwick. We used to meet up for a pub lunch at Shenington, from time to time. I can't remember the name of the pub, but it faced over a triangle of grass, in the corner of the village green.

I'm amazed that the village is not a conservation area - it's charming.

 

[tom.harrigan]

The pub's called "The Bell" and the food is still very good. There can't be many small villages that contain a Grade I listed building, a scheduled ancient monument, 31 other listed buildings (several II*) and a few other listed structures that have not yet been deemed worthy of conservation area designation. There are many prominent buildings and structures that currently have no protection at the moment even from demolition. There is nothing stopping me from paining my house purple!

T

 

[Penners]

The pub's called "The Bell" and the food is still very good.

That's the one.

But I didn't know there's a Grade 1 in the village - I must have been too interested in my stomach. Tell us more.

 

[tom.harrigan]

The Alkerton half of the village has a Grade 1 listed church - St Micheal's. Details on p23 of the document.

 

[DaveBrigg]

we've had a stone through someone's window, the most foul verbal abuse of several villagers (the sort of language usually heard only at parish council meetings), and even a physical assault.

That'll be Midsomer Shenington then :twisted:
The council appraisal is a fantastic document. Excellent pictures and descriptions of the historic buildings, research back to the Norman Conquest, perceptive observations about the occasional use of inappropriate materials and a great section at the end showing pictures of the villages in the past, with the modern equivalent. So little has changed. Page 55 has features to drool over.
Good luck with the meeting. I can't get there, but have made a comment on the District Council website, which maybe others can do too if they wish.

 

[Moo]

Why has this story not appeared (copiously illustrated) in any of the national newspapers? Have you approached any of the broadsheets or prominent columnists like Marcus Binney?
The abuse and violence would make a good story for, eg, The Mail.

 

[tom.harrigan]

Thanks for making a comment on the CDC website. All support is much appreciated!

As for press coverage, well there is a whole can of worms associated with that. The anti-conservationists have connections, so much so that a few months ago Shenington made national news stating that the upcomming parish council bye election was effectively off, and not to bother turning up. I mean there were two articles in the Telegraph, and it was on the News at 10, and BBC News, Oxford Mail, Banbury Guardian, and probably elsewhere. Everyone thought the election was off, and thus needn't bother to turn up to vote for a particular extremely reasonable, intelligent and capable candidate. If it weren't for a great deal of effort to explain to people that the election was still going ahead, the small number who voted for the other candidate would have won. There are some further subtleties to the story, but I won't bore you with them.

I actually threatened to take the Banbury Guardian to the Press Complaints Commission over their article stating that the election was off. I was assured that an article would appear putting matters straight in time for the election, and gave my word I would take matters no further. Of course nothing appeared, and I felt a bit of a fool!

T

 

[skier-hughes]

Good luck with the meeting. I can't get there, but have made a comment on the District Council website, which maybe others can do too if they wish.

As have I.

An interesting document to read.

My concern would be that no mention is made of perhaps increased visitor numbers, coming to see such a beautiful place. Indeed, when I next come down to visit my friends who are fairly local, I will vote for a trip down to your local pub.

Graham