At times the task with which we are confronted seems overwhelming. No sooner have we succeeded in placing a finger in a particular hole in the dam that holds back the total destruction of the town we love, than another one appears requiring us to stretch at full length to make a further digital insertion. Whilst many of the leaks are in themselves minor breaches, there is no doubt that the whole structure sometimes appears in danger of imminent and complete collapse.
Bedford College and Lansdowne Road
Two of the applications that may one day still cause major damage to the metaphorical dam are those to develop the Bedford College site and the Lansdowne Road neighbourhood. Happily there has been at least a temporary respite - the first of these is in abeyance and the second has been refused in its present form, although the developers, Storey Property Services, has made an appeal which was heard on the 19th of January. We are particularly concerned that the developers intend to build on the site of the old tennis courts in Dynevor Road. This has been an open space for seventy years, although a building, known as The Plantation, which was destroyed in the Second World War, had previously occupied the northern end of the site. We maintain that the site should be maintained as an open space – if development is to be permitted it should not be allowed on the southern (i.e. Bromham Road) end. Additionally we consider the type of houses and the nature of their detailing to be inappropriate and out of keeping with the existing Victorian housing stock, which mainly comprises single detached buildings standing in large gardens. Needless to say we are keeping an eye on both and have expressed specific concerns relating to each.
Plastic Windows
With extraordinary disregard of the character and merit of no.s 2 and 4 Grove Place, designed by John Usher, (1822 – 1904) for his own use and that of the lace buyer Thomas Lester, the occupiers have installed ‘off the peg’ plastic windows. This building is in a Conservation Area and planning consent was not sought. The occupiers are jewellers and it amazes me that anyone engaged in the decorative arts should so patently lack a visual sense. Anyway, we reported this breach to the planners who have retrospectively refused planning consent – the windows will have to go!
Unsightly Signs and Shop Fronts
We are particularly concerned that the rash of unsightly signs being erected willy-nilly all over the town continues to spread. These are inevitably ugly but not always illegal. Whatever their status it is arguable that two of the perpetrators should have more respect for the town in which their businesses have flourished over a great number of years. Where they are illegal we will continue our efforts to have them removed.
Making even more of an impact upon the townscape of Bedford is the trashy fascia that Tesco came up with for its new ‘metro’ store at 63, High Street. With the invaluable support of Ian Johnson of the Planning Department we at least succeeded in getting the original scheme watered down, but ‘the brand’ is all that matters to the omnipresent Tesco and the revised design remains totally inappropriate to the late Georgian building it ‘adorns’ and represents a wasted opportunity to improve Bedford’s beleaguered High Street. I for one will be boycotting this store!
Talking of the High Street, we welcome an application by the Borough Council for ‘Townscape Heritage Initiative’ funding to refurbish the High Street. Plans are in their very early stages but I am pleased to report that the Council is keen to involve The Conservation Sub Committee in the ‘consultation process’.
Bedford Prison and the (former) Dame Alice Street Almshouses
Applications have been made to restore both the former Almshouses in Dame Alice Street and Bedford Prison – work on the latter is now under way.
St Bede’s School, Bromham Road
Three of our members recently met representatives of Orbit Homes, the new owners of St. Bede’s School which intends to provide ‘low cost homes for ownership’ on the site. We are particularly concerned that the pair of houses (no.s 112 and 114), built in 1889 as part of the Crescent House Ladies’ College, and no. 116, a smaller villa of the mid 19th century, should be preserved. Happily the developers already intend to retain each of these houses.
Unlike my colleague Richard Wildman who taught here in the 1970s, I have not visited this site before, and was particularly impressed the 1930s block which houses the school hall. This plain and functional building, which has a vaguely classical form, complete with ‘grand orders’ and an applied stone porch of mannerist design, would surely lend itself to conversion into flats. Although this is not currently part of their plans, the owners did not rule this out - surely the porch at least could be retained!
Cardington Airship Sheds
Although outside our geographical remit, we have welcomed proposals to renovate Shed One at Cardington. The correct description is Shed, not Hangar!
‘Chinese Bungalow’ (Electricity Sub-station), The Broadway
The ‘Chinese Bungalow’ problems have not been resolved. We are certain that in removing the seating the Borough Council is in breach of its own planning rules and continue to do battle with it.
Goldington Hall, Goldington Green
We are pleased to at last see some activity after the hall has been unoccupied for so long.
It would appear that the hall, which is a listed building, now has a new owner who has started to clear the site of rubbish
and make the building watertight. We await further developments with interest.
