Issues

Members of the Executive of the Civic Society and the Beverley Renaissance partnership have been part of a group including East Riding street scene officers, inspecting the town centre and adjacent areas for excessive clutter. There has been some progress but the Council has continued to provide traffic management signs which are only advisory and not mandatory and therefore not a legal requirement.  This is particularly noticeable where the original ‘Belisha” beacons at pedestrian crossings have been damaged by the provision of extended poles and lighting totally destroying the original historic design.

During a period of severe restraint in public expenditure it seems illogical to continue with this policy and it is evident that the Council is coming to realize that the continuing maintenance liability of this policy is not sustainable so we look forward to less road painting, and signage only where there is a legal requirement.  Many local authorities are more urban design conscious insensitive areas.

Adding to the clutter are advertising signs which sometimes require planning approval and have slipped through the net, particularly noticeable detracting from listed buildings in the Centre.

The Civic Society will keep these street scene matters in the Conservation Area and elsewhere as a high priority.

The Civic society has been involved with the Developers since day one of the proposals.  Such early consultation has proved invaluable and involved positive working relationships.  The Civic Society is also a member of Beverley Renaissance Partnership, the organisation created to promote the Town and involve stakeholders and which has also been intimately

involved with the development and has commented on the effects of the proposals on the viability of the Town Centre retail.

Development by Liveseys

Another development where the developer sought very early discussions with the Civic Society. A successful development of private housing incorporating the rehabilitation of a magnificent former workhouse overlooking Westwood, the former nurses home and the former master’s house. Not without problems of access and overlooking, the developers eventually were granted planning permission for a comprehensive scheme. Continuing with the principle of collaboration, the Civic Society has been invited to revisit progress on the site during the Study Day on 6th November.

The Civic Society were not initially consulted on the proposals for a maintenance scheme for Saturday Market which resulted in the Council proposing to remove all the granite setts and replacing them with concrete blocks. Public outrage caused the Council to change the scheme and relay the setts.

The Civic Society still expressed their concern about some of the content of the proposals, particularly the setting of the Market Cross and the loss of the alignment of the setts at the junction with Toll Gavel. The lack of professional urban design input at all stages of the scheme, rather than the engineering solution as implemented is to be regretted because the street scene which gave the area its unique character has been lost. On a practical level there have been problems with some areas, both through people tripping and also with the stones over the drainage channel lifting. The photo shows work in progress in renewing the drainage channel and clearly illustrates the loss of the subtle curve of the old road alignment and its replacement with an improvised series of straights.

Proposals by ERYC to provide a cycle track across Westwood Common have caused concern because the proposal involves using part of the common which legislation requires an equivalent amount of land to be added to the common in lieu of any taken. The latest proposal involves an area of land which has effectively been used as common for at least a hundred and fifty years and the Civic Society say there is no actual benefit in kind. This is a very emotive issue because the common is held dear and although there is no objection to cycle tracks per se, the real debate is about taking land out of common use. A Hearing is to be held in October 2015 by the Planning Inspectorate to pass judgement on the proposals.

Red House and its curtilage, owned by ERYC, has an interesting collection of outbuildings and has the 2nd highest grade of a 2*listing by Historic England. It is understood there are longstanding tenancy agreements and most of the outbuildings have been empty for many years. The Civic Society is keen to see the buildings renovated.  There is a number of different parts, as illustrated, and a scheme to provide housing accommodation would add to the housing stock and rehabilitate an important property in this Conservation Area and one of the main entries into the Town.

Renovation work on the Market Cross was carried out in full consultation with the Civic Society and expert paint specialists were brought in by the Council particularly in relation to the sandstone pillars, which need to be coated with special paint to allow the stone to breathe. The painting has not yet been completed. The shields have been renovated and the cartouche brought back to its former glory. Part of the proposals was to provide lighting and the Civic Society has a preference for a white light.

The Civic Society is not a statutory consultee but nevertheless keeps an eye on applications which affect listed buildings and proposals in the Conservation Area and on other major applications having an impact on the town. We will publish our responses to major

applications on the website.