Latest news with #CheltenhamCivicSociety
BBC News
03-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cheltenham Promenade resurfacing plans paused after objections
Plans to resurface a historic high street have been paused after thousands of people objected to decision to pause the project to tarmac the Promenade in Cheltenham has been hailed as a victory by the town's civic County Council chiefs had planned to take up the York flagstones and lay a strip of asphalt instead, similar to what has happened at The Strand part of High StreetThe regional authority has said the civic society will be involved in any future decision making. The historic high street was first laid in 1818 during the Regency period and became a tree lined drive for has evolved into an important shopping street in the town and is used for activities like the Christmas market. In September 2024, Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson described the temporary repairs to the Promenade as 'tarmac cowpats'. He said the county council and utility companies had used cheaper material rather than replacing the original flagstones after carrying out work. In March the county council announced it was planning to take up the flagstones and lay asphalt instead, as early as a petition signed by more than 2,000 people and a campaign by Cheltenham's Civic Society has led to the plans to be paused. Cheltenham Civic Society said it has "won the battle" but the war to save the spa town's iconic Promenade may not yet be over, said the Local Democracy Reporting chairman Andrew Booton said: "We are concerned that the solution to be arrived at will fully respect the town's heritage, its beauty and the integrity of the Central Conservation Area."Shire Hall is now looking at other options which would allow vehicle access without breaking the stones. County council leader Stephen Davies said: "If we can find an alternative we will consider that, although installation may need to be phased if it is expensive."If we can't find an alternative we have agreed to meet again. I believe this is a common sense approach."
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cheltenham 131: Plans for permanent outdoor dining area approved
Plans for a permanent outdoor dining area at a Cheltenham hotel and bar have been and Superdry clothing co-founder, Julian Dunkerton, wanted to build either an iron pergola or glazed conservatory outside the Grade II listed No 131 on the Thursday night, borough councillors rejected the plan for a glass structure but approved a slim, metal pergola with a retractable roof, despite objections from groups including Historic England and the Cheltenham Civic structure will replace marquees put in place during the coronavirus pandemic that the business had previously been ordered to take down. Mr Dunkerton said the decision would save more than 100 jobs, having previously said that the business would not be viable without outdoor tables."It's a great day for Cheltenham," he said."I'm absolutely delighted that Cheltenham Borough Council has backed our vision. "This decision ensures we can continue to offer a world-class hospitality experience, attracting visitors from across the UK and beyond, while securing jobs and boosting the local economy."The approved design for the terrace features a slim, unobtrusive metal pergola with a retractable roof, aiming to complement the Regency architecture of the area." More than 2,000 people had signed a petition supporting Mr Dunkerton's plans, while dozens of people along with Cheltenham Civic Society, Historic England, the Georgian Group and Cheltenham's Architects Panel raised objections."The concern is that the buildings will not really be seen in future," said Adrian Philips from Cheltenham Civic Society."The views of them will be greatly minimised, diminished, by having these structures in front of them."We believe that there is an alternative to this, that it's possible to build permanent structures to the left and behind the buildings, without anything like the damage that's proposed in these schemes." Both plans put forward had been recommended for refusal by council officers who raised concerns over harm to the building and its historic and architecturally important setting, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Robert Maitland, a chartered town planner and member of Cheltenham Civic Society's planning forum, said: "There is overwhelming and unanimous expert advice that these proposals would be damaging to the buildings, the conservation area and the town."Liberal Democrat councillor Garth Barnes, chairman of the planning committee, said during the meeting: "We are in danger of losing our birthright and Cheltenham's credibility as a Georgian town of great repute."After the decision, he said: "My own personal view was that the buildings were very important to the area of Cheltenham that it stands in and should have been preserved."It [the decision] was based more on the economic factors than the loss of the views of the building."
