NEWS

Church of St Thomas – tower at risk

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS                    Marion Coupe

The Town Hall

At the Lowther Pavilion on Wednesday, 28th April, the Development Control Committee of the Council discussed the demolition of the Town Hall and replacement by a block of sixty FLATS, shaped like an upturned gherkin. This, the most prestigious site in the town, with the best of the historic Porritt buildings on it, may be destined to become suddenly – ordinary - like so many towns which have allowed themselves to be given over to developers. If the building is not suitable for the Council’s needs in the 21^st century, then they should take the responsibility for finding an alternative user.

They also discussed the Public Offices on Clifton Drive (listed Grade II), which may be gutted and converted into flats. One of the reasons that this building was listed in December 2003 was that it is a landmark building in the development of the town – a purpose-built community building. The embryonic St Annes Parish Council needs somewhere to meet, and the Council intends to have a ‘one-stop shop’ to meet the public, and this building is ideally suited. It means something to the town. Only insensitive bureaucrats could even consider the loss of this building. The adjacent building (ex-Tourist Office) may be demolished and flats of a particularly boring design built. They are not suitable in close proximity to the listed building.

      There are also plans to demolish and build flats for affordable housing at the Council Offices, Wesham, despite the building being recently renovated and made suitable for the disabled.

      The argument for affordable housing is the ploy to avoid the moratorium on new expensive housing, by having a mix of 50/50 affordable to expensive, which is acceptable to the Government edict.

      Many Councillors expressed disquiet about the applications, which were then deferred; this means they must receive further consideration. Councillors Thompson and Fulford Brown voted for them to be accepted.

      In the meantime, as a matter of urgency, please write to the Chief Executive, Town Hall, St Annes, with a copy to your councillor, if you wish to object to the demolition of the Town Hall. (Application No 5/03/0443.)

The Tower of St Thomas’s church

      There is a listed building application to demolish this tower. The stonework at the top has fallen into disrepair but the drastic step of proposing demolition cannot be justified.

      The church is an important work of Austin and Paley, architects, of Lancaster. The tower, added later, is an important landmark in the town of considerable historical interest and should not be lost. It does not appear that it is structurally unsound.

      We have objected strongly to this application - as has the Victorian Society. These are some of their reasons:

·         “The architectural significance of the tower.  We note that the church was built between 1899-1905. The architects were Austin and Paley, a Lancaster based practice of high repute. Indeed, it is often considered by architectural historians that their importance is seriously undervalued.  Nikolaus Pevsner, who was often critical of Victorian architects, describes them as being “of the highest European Standard of their years” in his South Lancashire volume of Buildings of England.  James Price, in his book Sharpe, Paley and Austin: A Lancaster Architectural Practice 1836-1942, highlights the importance of the firm in terms of the quality, range and influence of their designs.

·         The red brick tower at St Anne’s, built in the late perpendicular style, was the final part of the church ‘complex’ to be constructed and could be considered the crowning glory of the whole composition. It is its height which gives the church its streetscape and townscape value. The way in which it sits almost separately from the church, yet is so clearer integral to the overall composition, gives it further prominence.  The upper stage is the most finely detailed element and its demolition would, without doubt, be to the severe detriment of the character and integrity of the listed building.

·         The inadequacy of efforts to find funding for repairs.  The statement supporting the application suggests that the church is not eligible for National Lottery Funding because it is a Grade II, rather than Grade I or II*, listed building.  This is factually incorrect since Grade II buildings are eligible for funding under the Repair Grants for Places of Worship Scheme in England 2002-5, operated under the Joint Scheme between English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.  On this basis we would contend that there has not been a thorough exploration of funding channels for the necessary repair works.”   

Trial by Jury

      We are delighted to present Marton Operatic Society in a performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial by Jury in the entirely appropriate Edwardian surroundings of Lytham Magistrates Court on Saturday, 19^th June 2004 at 7.30pm.

      Wine will be available from 7.00pm in the Hewitt Room (behind the library and opposite the entrance to the court). Ticket price includes a 3-course buffet supper with coffee there after the show.

      We are grateful to the police for allowing us to present this unique event in the court, a grade II listed building, which has been closed for several years. The Lytham police station building, which contains the court, is shortly to close and the building will be sold. We do not know what will happen to it then.

      Tickets are £25.00, with numbers limited to 50 and sorry, no disabled access, steep stairs.

      All ticket enquiries for this unique event to:

Marion Coupe 23 Commonside, Ansdell FY8 4EX,  tel. 01253 733563

Courts - Our heritage at risk

      Local court buildings have been closing down all over the country and SAVE Britain’s Heritage has published a report which discusses the problem. (www.savebritainsheritage.org). Indeed, in the past half century more than 800 British courts have closed. The report says that with enough determination and imagination most of the court buildings could be kept doing the job for which they were built. The report is scathing about the quality of most of the new buildings, describing them as dull, heavy-handed, even brutal.

      Locally, many of the magistrates who served on the Lytham bench resigned when the court closed, rather than make the trek into Blackpool. The Edwardian court in Keswick has stood empty for four years, and its future is uncertain. All over the country there is a huge range of styles, from the ornate Victorian to the 12^th century castle at Leicester.

      With the police about to vacate the police-station building, itself listed and having so far protected the Lytham court, the future of the whole site is unknown. We hope that we shall see a sensitive conversion, but such that the court itself can be ‘mothballed’ and made available to the public to see it in its original form. It can also be used for teaching schoolchildren about the workings of the law.

Preston Road/Dock Road, Lytham

      Kensington developments intend to submit their application for 3000 apartments on the Dock Road/Cookson’s bakery site (Lytham Quays), in October. An architectural competition has been held to decide on the basic principles of the design. A good deal of the land has already been bought by the developer even though some of it is zoned at present for industrial use. We have supported the retention of that use; Kensington have now bought land near the M55 to compensate for the possible loss of this land for housing. Remaining businesses are campaigning to keep employment in the area.

      In the meantime, an outline application for housing development comprising 686 units (inc. 40% affordable) has been submitted.

The layout of the site is reminiscent of the early 1960s with all the attendant problems of ‘rat-running’ and lengthy cul-de-sacs.

      There appears to be little open space within the housing areas, particularly usable space for the families who will be attracted by the affordable housing element of the scheme. The application appears to be an exercise in cramming as many units as possible into the space. Perhaps this is a design alternative.

Ashton Gardens, St Annes

Part of the plan in its old form involved the sale of a large area to developers, including the Safeway supermarket, the two multi-storey car parks and land/property up to and including part of the gardens. The proposed demolition of the Ashton Institute, which forms a backdrop to one of the bowling greens, has been fought strongly.  Developers said that they could not proceed without taking a chunk of Ashton Gardens, at first quite a large chunk. As time has gone on, and Safeway is destined to become another brand, resistance to the loss of any of the park has hardened, yet our council still seem keen to sell, to whom we know not.  The will of local people is clear here – they do not wish to lose part of the park.

      A legal opinion has been obtained which argues that since Lord Ashton gave money for the gardens to be purchased, by the council, for the use of the town, this is de facto charitable land and should not be sold. The intention of the council at present is to sell a piece of the land and the Ashton Institute, in order to provide the required extra funding to accompany a Heritage Lottery bid to restore the gardens.   

      Supporters of the gardens are opposing this strategy, and we do not see how a grant can be made on the basis of a partial destruction of the historic asset which the application claims it is protecting.

Open Space

      The value of open spaces becomes more and more important in our towns as the pressure to build on brown-field sites increases. We have received a document from CABE Space (the government’s champion for parks and gardens) which explains the value of public space very clearly indeed. It describes the benefits to children and young people, the social and health benefits, the economic value in lifting the value of areas of housing, the way parks can link urban spaces, their importance in terms of biodiversity and nature – and much more. The Green Flag award scheme for parks is administered by the Civic Trust, together with the Green Pennant Award for other community spaces. Lowther Gardens last year achieved a Green Flag Award.

      But, says the report, “having access to public space is not all that matters – just as important are the planning, design and management of that space”. So we are back at the seemingly knotty problem of Ashton Gardens. There is also concern at the lack of usable open space on some of our major housing developments, including Cypress Point. Fenced-off green areas and water features may look wonderful but cannot be used for exercise as a park should be. As any new developments in the next few years seem to be aiming at 40% ‘affordable’ housing, this problem will become more acute as young families move in.

      The Civic Society’s careful management of Witch Wood over the years has created a much loved and extremely well-used green space. Green Drive is undergoing some regeneration with the efforts of the Friends of Green Drive. St Annes is still suffering from attempts to destroy its character and amenities.

WITCH WOOD          Bill Thompson

Green Partnership Award.

      The cost of the operation was largely covered by the award, which is funded by a partnership of Lancashire County Council, United Utilities and all the Borough Councils of Lancashire. We were presented with a Certificate at a ceremony in Preston, along with many more recipients of similar awards. We are indebted to the fund for this welcome support.

New work in Witch Wood

      As mentioned in the last Newsletter, we applied for a grant from the Lancashire Environmental Fund to fund new work on paths, fencing, and information boards, etc. We are pleased to record that we were awarded the maximum amount of £7,500, which covers most of the planned work and enables us to go ahead with these major improvements. Work should start on 17^th May and is to be carried out by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust Environmental Task Force, which resurfaced the path west of Middle Bridge last autumn.

      We have decided to add to the project the resurfacing of the path on the Lytham side of Middle Bridge, which will be particularly beneficial in winter. The charge on Society funds, over and above the grant, will be about £4000, but the improvement to the wood can be expected to be appreciated by many people.

      With the construction of locked gates, we hope that we shall see a reduction in the amount of garden rubbish dumped in the wood, which appears to be coming from a rogue van, rather than adjacent house-owners.

Tools in Witch Wood

      The operations in the wood need tools as well as labour, and we have been given tools by members in the past, when the tools have become surplus to their requirements. If any member has a surplus spade, bow saw or loppers, we would be willing to give them a good home.

      Future dates for the working party are:    May - Sat. 15, Fri 21, Fri 28   June – Fri 4, Sat 12, Fri 18, Fri 25. There will then be a break for the summer.

Contacts: Bill Thompson on 737795 or Rob Wilkinson on 727611.

DEFEND THE DUNES               Don Moore

      The AGM was held in April and about 45 people attended. Seven of the outgoing committee stood again and together with three more volunteers were elected en bloc for the next year.     

      A resolution was passed enabling the incoming committee to examine and possibly put in place changes such as association with the LSA CS to aid the functioning of the group.

      The Group made a very small financial gain over the year and the meeting itself was also self-financing.

      The meeting was linked to an open meeting and we heard David McAleavy, Sefton Coast & Countryside Service talk about coastal management.

Coastal Management

      We have continued to hold discussions with Fylde and with Blackpool Borough Councils on coastal management. Both Councils have been developing a coastal management plan; a draft is available in the Town Hall.

Sand Extraction from the Beach

      We are pleased to see that both English Nature and FBC have accepted that operations at the top of the beach are damaging the front of the dunes and that the Draft Coastal Management Plan takes account of this. The Council has been in negotiation with the contractors for over a year now to try to stop the damaging operations, but without any meaningful response.

      The sand-winning contract is due for renewal in October this year. The conditions will have to be reviewed by LCC, and we will seek to have the matter called in and be subject to a public inquiry.

Gravel Extraction from the Irish Sea.

      An application is now with the Deputy Prime Minister for gravel extraction to start in the Irish Sea. It is well established that the Irish Sea is the source of sand that builds up on the Fylde beaches. We need that sand to help build up the sand dunes. Those dunes are not only our natural flood defences, but the bigger and broader they are the better they trap wind-blown sand and so reduce that problem. We wrote two letters to the ODPM opposing the application.

Flood Risk

      The coastal engineering report, produced for both Councils in preparation for the Dune Management Plan, concludes that the flood risks along our coasts are more severe than officially stated by the Environment Agency. This confirms our assessment.

VISIT - 24th April 2004                John Wayland

Victoria Baths, Manchester and Lyme Park, Cheshire                                    

      A packed coach, a lovely spring morning and we set off in high spirits for an absorbing and enjoyable day of contrasting pleasures.  Our first destination was the Victoria Baths, south Manchester, the acclaimed winner of the 2003 BBC 2 television series, Restoration. The building owes its pre-eminence to the desire of Manchester Corporation, somewhat late in the drive by cities to provide this kind of civic amenity, to make a resounding statement of its wealth and prestige. Thus, largely owing to the use of high quality interior fittings, which were justified on the grounds of incurring lower maintenance costs, the eventual cost of the whole enterprise was £59,000, £20,000 more than the revised estimate accepted by the corporation in 1903, but only £2,000 more than the original estimate.

      After refreshments we split into two groups for a guided tour. Our guide, who had helped in the promotion of the baths for the TV series, was a member of the voluntary trust set up to manage the baths and was as enthusiastic as she was knowledgeable. We learnt much about the construction, history and use of the baths, and were also given insights into their social background.

      The Victoria Baths was built with three distinct sections: Males 1st Class (right), Males 2nd Class and Females. Each class of users had their own entrance, swimming pool and slipper baths. Mixed bathing was introduced in Manchester with great caution in 1914, and by the 1920's mixed bathing sessions were held every Sunday morning in the 1st Class Pool, enabling families to swim together for the first time.

      When first built the pools had no filtration or purification system and had to be emptied twice weekly. We were charmed to learn that on the days before emptying, when the water was at its dirtiest, the admission charge was reduced.

      It was particularly interesting that Phyllis Walters, one of our members, had joined us for the morning, for she had been an accomplished and regular user of Victoria Baths and could add her own reminiscences to the account given by our guide. Many illustrious swimmers had trained at Victoria Baths, including Sunny Lowry, the first Englishwoman to swim the Channel, and John Besford, whose victory in the European 100 metres backstroke of 1934 in Germany infuriated Hitler, who had presented an enormous trophy for the event in the confident belief that the German favourite would win.

      The baths, not unnaturally after eleven years of disuse, are now looking rather forlorn. They are structurally safe, but there is considerable erosion and decay of ironwork and masonry. The trust reckons that the total cost of repair and refurbishment will be in the order of £16 million.

      The trust faces the daunting task of turning the complex into a viable commercial enterprise, but hopes to return one of the three pools (first class males!) to its original use.

We wish them well.

      From Manchester to Lyme Park, the ancestral home of the Legh family, one of whom had performed stirring service at Crécy and had been suitably rewarded by a grateful monarch. Since 1976 the property has been owned by the National Trust, and we were lucky enough to see it in perfect spring weather.

      We were given a short introduction to the estate while still in the coach at the entrance to the courtyard and were intrigued to learn that visitor numbers had increased by 170% since Lyme Park featured (as Mr Darcy's pied a terre) in the 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice.

      The popularity of the estate was much in evidence on the day of our visit, with most of the visitors taking advantage of the warm sunshine to explore the grounds and gardens. The elevated situation of the house is magnificent, and the hills of the Peak District provide an impressive backdrop. Like so many English stately homes the house itself is full of virtually priceless artefacts.

      One of the most notable features is the sheer extravagance of the wood panelling throughout, together with monumental, but at the same time incredibly detailed and elaborate, wood carvings by Grinling Gibbons.

      There is the customary long gallery, mainly used for the display of portraits of the family forebears or now forgotten worthies. The steward on duty there told us, however, that the children of the house at the beginning of the last century decided that a more exciting use would be to flood it during one particularly cold spell, open all the windows and convert it into a skating rink. This imaginative scheme was unfortunately forestalled, and, as punishment, the boys were packed off to school and the girls sent to Italy to learn Italian.

      Another impressive attraction is a room devoted to a fine collection of antique clocks, all in wonderful condition and extremely well presented.

      This day, however, was one meant to be spent outdoors, and it was a joy to wander through the extensive gardens, bursting with spring flowers, and to glance admiringly at the wonderful stretch of the south elevation. It was a contented group of travellers who assembled at the coach when the time came for our departure, and once again we are indebted to Hilda for organising this memorable programme so capably.

Brian Eugene Smith OBE               Graeme Fallows

      We are sad to record the death of Brian Smith at the end of March. A stalwart of the Society, he was born in Mitcham in 1925 and after wartime service in the Navy joined the Civil Service. He came to Lytham St Annes in 1961 and for his work in the early days of ERNIE was awarded the OBE.

      Very much a community-minded person he joined the Society and then the Committee in the 1980s, taking on the role of Minute Secretary for 5 years until 1992. In the latter part of this period he was a leader of the ‘Save our Shoreline’ Group, which was the forerunner to the ‘Defend the Dunes’ group.

      Not content with these activities he became active in St Annes Parish Church and associated Heyhouses School affairs, being a church warden for five years and a governor and Vice Chairman of the school for thirteen years.

      A quiet, unassuming man, always with a common-sense approach he could always ‘see the best in other persons’. He was sorely missed when he had to relinquish some of his interests. He leaves a widow, Enid, who was one of the team making the fantastic St Annes Heritage Mural hanging in the Parish Church, and two children.

The Listed Buildings of Lytham St Annes

      The book, which we published in December 2003, is still selling well. It is available to members at the reduced price of £10.00. It can be bought at this price only at Civic Society meetings or at the offices of Coupe Bradbury in Bath St, Lytham. It is for sale to the general public (for £11.99) at bookshops in Lytham (Plackitt & Booth) and Kirkham (Silverdell), libraries in Lytham, St Annes and Ansdell and at Lytham Heritage Centre.

Coffee Morning                                                           Barbara Salter

      On Saturday, 1^st May we held our Annual Coffee Morning; the bad weather had abated, and we were blessed with a fine day, which encouraged a good attendance. We pass on a big thank you to all who set up some very attractive stalls and helped to make a very successful morning; Society funds benefited by £400.

COMING EVENTS             

North West Association of Civic Trust Societies - AGM

      All members of Civic Societies are welcome to attend although we have only one vote as a civic society in the election of the committee. There will be guest speakers and a chance to discuss the development and influence of the group in the North West. This is, of course, in the context of the probable arrival of regional government.

Saturday, 19^th June 2004, 7.30pm                            Lytham Magistrates Court

Trial by Jury (see Page 3)

Thursday, 10^th September 2004                                            Assembly Rooms

Annual General Meeting with cheese and apple pie.

Friday to Monday, 10^th -13^th September

Heritage Open Days, 2004

      Various local properties have been included over the years. Most are not normally open to the public, and entry is free. The full list for this year has not yet been published, but so far we know about:

·         Lytham Heritage Group archive room, Lytham library (10^th, 11^th and 13^th).

·         Lytham Magistrates Court (11^th and 12^th)

·         St Annes on the Sea Land and Building Company Board Room,
St Annes pier (11^th)

·         Lytham Hall (12^th)

The times are usually 11am to 4pm, but may vary.

Volunteers needed

      We are including a specific request for help at the end of this newsletter to encourage members to help at events. The experience is enjoyable; times are flexible, and it helps us to get to know one another. Even if you cannot help on the day, help is needed in advance to set up exhibitions and prepare rooms. Can we look forward to seeing you?

Save Ashton Gardens Group                                 www.ashtongardens.org.uk.

St Annes Parish Council Steering Group                www.stannes-web.co.uk.

The Friends of Lytham Hall                                  www.lythamhall.org      

The Civic Trust                                                    www.civictrust.org.uk

If you would like to comment on a planning application write to:

The Manager for the Built Environment

Fylde Borough Council

Derby Road

Wesham

PR4 3AJ

Lytham St Annes Civic Society - A Registered Charity - No. 24362

Volunteers’ sheet

      There are a number of events this year where help is needed to enable money to be raised or to manage access to buildings which are not usually open; on Heritage Open Days.

      We should be very pleased to know whether you could help on any of the following days.

Please call Terry Dalton, on 01253 728318
or e-mail: terry.dalton@tiscali.co.uk

help needed on:

o        Saturday, June 19th for Trial by Jury at Lytham Magistrates Court.

o        Saturday, 11th September at the Magistrates Court 
(open 11am – 4pm, shift of two hours with tea break)

o        Sunday, 12th September at the Magistrates Court 
(open 11am – 4pm, shift of two hours with tea break.)

o        Sunday, 12th September at Lytham Hall, helping with refreshments, sales or in the grounds
(open 11am – 5pm, shift of two hours with tea break)