Latest news with #CivicSociety
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Hawks to deter birds ahead of Grimsby car park demolition
Hawks are being used to discourage seagulls and pigeons from nesting in a multi-storey car park which is set to be demolished. Abbey Walk car park, in Grimsby, has been closed since May 2024 because of structural issues caused by water penetrating some of the have been approved to demolish the car park, which was built in 1969. However, should any habitable nests be found, the plans would have to be postponed until the chicks were able to leave the East Lincolnshire Council said trained hawks Mavric and Chief were being deployed to fly at low levels throughout the car park twice a week to provide a deterrent against birds wanting to nest there. The hawks were also being employed around vacant units on Osborne Street, which are also due to be demolished, the council added.A town centre improvement plan for the area includes a new transport hub and a 120-space surface car park. A spokesperson said the hawks were well trained, would not attack other birds and were purely used as a pillars of the Abbey Walk car park feature modernist reliefs by artist and sculptor Harold Gosney, which a conservation team has scanned using 3D technology so they can be reprinted in the future. It followed a campaign to preserve the artworks by the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic council said the demolition work would start in the coming months. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Restoration of Market Harborough Victorian council HQ approved
Plans to restore the historical Symington Building in Market Harborough have been former corset factory, built in 1889, currently serves as the headquarters of Harborough District authority has given the green light for a 39-week project costing £784,000 to repair the building's ageing the issues facing the property in Adam and Eve Street are a roof that lets water through during heavy rainfall, the authority said. The building also houses the Harborough Museum, a library, job centre, shops, a banking hub, and Citizens Advice council said work would start in will be put up at the property as brickwork is repaired and windows are replaced. John Tillotson, chairman of Market Harborough Civic Society, said: "It is great to see the council taking its custodianship of a prized heritage asset seriously. "The Symington Building is Grade II listed and an important building which should be cared for and looked after."The council previously said it also planned to repair faults at the market hall in Northampton Road over the summer.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
New frog mascot for revamped Victoria Embankment padding pool
Council bosses say a new frog-shaped litter bin will honour a previously-loved statue at Nottingham's new-look Victoria Embankment paddling popular summer attraction closed in 2021 because of ongoing maintenance problems but will re-open later this decades, a concrete frog had been the centrepiece of the pool until it was vandalised beyond repair in City Council said the new bin, which it has named Victor, will "take pride of place" at the revamped site. A spokesperson for the authority said it had conducted an oral history project with local care homes and local families who had childhood memories at the said: "The stories of the frog were very much prominent in people's minds."Children now don't remember him, but certainly the older generation, and the generation of the paddling pool users through the fifties and sixties, they very much remember him."The council said it could not bring back the concrete frog so the re-opened pool would refer to the creature in its "artwork and signage", as well as the new bin. The spokesperson continued: "We've actually been taking Victor [the bin] out and about for different photo shoots, gradually making his way to the pool."Victor's name was selected to pay homage to the name of the park in which he would reside, the Victoria a spokesperson for the Nottingham Civic Society said they had no objections about the replacement frog."I would take the view that if the kids like them, who am I to say otherwise," they told the BBC."As it wasn't Grade II listed then it ought to be alright."
BBC News
29-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Listed building in Worcester to be converted into flats
Part of a listed building in Worcester city centre is to be converted into flats - a project drawing a mixed response from special interest conservationists. The upper floors of 2 The Cross in Worcester, as well as the back part of the ground floor, will be turned into seven one-bedroom apartments, although the existing interior layout will front of the ground floor of the building, which according to Historic England dates from the early 18th century, is currently home to the Skipton Building City Council, which has approved plans for the conversion, said most of the building had been empty for between three and 10 years. The plans say the development will provide "much-needed housing" in the Civic Society welcomed plans to leave the external appearance of the building unchanged."It is accepted minor repair and redecoration work to the windows will be required to bring the building up to standard," the society Hopmarket Charity, which owns similar properties in The Foregate, said it had no objection if the flats were "of a high quality and presumably privately managed".But the Georgian Group, which promotes the conservation of Georgian buildings, said it had "serious concerns" about the plans. A spokesperson for the Georgian Group said: "These works are likely to cause a considerable degree of harm to the historic fabric and significance of the grade II* listed building."Council planners said the proposals were "of a sensitive design" and would complement the character of the owners of nearby nightclub Bushwhackers had also expressed concern that future occupants of the proposed flats would be affected by noise from the planners said concerns over noise had been considered and the plans "would not result in unacceptable living conditions".The council said no car parking spaces would be provided as the site was in a "sustainable location" in the city there will be space for seven bicycles, in line with planning rules. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
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."
