Dore to Door internet edition

News & Comment - Autumn 2002

A Village Design Statement - Did you know - King Ecgbert School

A Village Design Statement

Advice on the preparation of a Village Design Statement is taken from the Countryside Agency publication; Village Design: making local character count in new development (1996). To answer the question, 'Would our village benefit from a Village Design Statement?' the following indicators are provided for consideration;

• Are there changes in the landscape around the village, its features and the pattern of agriculture and other land uses?
• Are there proposals in the Local Plan for new development in your village?
• Are there continuing pressures for development, including small-scale extensions and alterations?
• Are there changes in village facilities including job opportunities, shops, services or schooling?
• Are there changes in village population,
  e.g. young families or older people moving in or out of the village?
• Are there changes in the pattern of the village, loss of open space, development in gardens, felling of trees, parking problems?
• Is the character of the older village 'core' different to the rest of the village?
• Is a particular kind of development needed in the village?

The preparation of a Village Design Statement requires three things; a focus on local people identifying and clearly defining the particular or special character of the village and its surroundings, it depends on local people adopting a mature approach to accepting new development based on approved planning policy and it needs the fullest possible participation of the residents of the Village.

The Sheffield City Council and The Peak District National Park Authority have agreed to support the preparation of a Village Design Statement in order that it may be incorporated into planning policy as supplementary design guidance.

A full programme of consultation is proposed over the next twelve months including a Design Workshop Day. Information will be published in 'DORE to DOOR' and other opportunities to participate will be arranged by the Design Team comprising members of the Dore Village Society Committee and other interested members of the community.

If anyone is interested in joining the Design Team or who has any comments on the proposal to prepare a Village Design Statement for Dore, would you please contact David Crosby. Tel; 262 1127, e-mail; david @crosbyd.freeserve.co.uk

Did you know

Will we ever get a crossing outside the shops on Causeway Head Road? Can it really take so long for such a small project to be completed. I cannot imagine our Victorian forefathers dragging it out for this long or spending so much time and money on just reaching a decision. If this project is anything to go by it will be the next millennium before the proposed traffic scheme for all of Dore is completed.

Come to think of it, that may well be the case now we have a Labour council. They are not exactly renowned for their love of Dore, but only too glad to take the council tax we contribute. This prejudice is not helped by the press using Dore as the prime example of the relative prosperity of the Hallam parliamentary constituency. (Daily Telegraph & ITV news in mid August). I cannot imagine a better invite to burglars etc. Anyway, what about Whirlow, Ecclesall & Fulwood?

And still the new houses keep coming, with the prospect of crowding more onto the Hinchcliffe estate off Newfield Lane. Then flats at Abbeydale Garden centre where we ought to have a park and ride (another obvious need about which nothing has been done). If it is not houses then it is mobile phone masts, some even masquerading as trees. Just imagine the shock some poor bird might get when attempting to build a nest!

Doremouse

King Ecgbert School

A presentation of plans for the future of King Ecgberts was held at the school on July 12. The proposals are down to a shortlist of two companies, Focus Education and Priorgate Consortium. The winner of the contract will design, build and manage the building for a period of 25 years. The £25 million capital cost will be raised by the company. It will recover the money over the management period by rental charges to the City Council.

The Priorgate proposal involves building a new school on the playing fields below the existing Wessex Building, that's the lower building off Totley Brook Rd. When the new building is completed the existing building will be demolished. The ideal site for the new building would be on the site of the existing building, but this would mean providing temporary accommodation for the school which would add another £2 million to the cost. It is felt that sort of money can be better spent elsewhere. The new building is to be 3 storeys high with a monopitch roof.

The Focus Education proposal is for a swastika shaped building built around the existing Wessex building. One arm of the cross is to run up to Totley Brook Rd over the tennis courts and grassland. The main block will be immediately in front of the existing building. This will also be a three storey building, with a metal monopitch roof. Again, on completion the Wessex building will be demolished.

Both schemes are for pretty ordinary looking modern schools, brick walls with plenty of glass and almost flat roofs. Of the two, Focus Education will probably look better, and is better positioned. Which will be better for staff and pupils is for the school and LEA to decide.

The timetable of events is for the selection of preferred bidder to be made by Sept 6 2002. Construction to begin Feb 2003, and completion Sept 2004.

The Council are inviting comments on the scheme from any one who's interested. Send them to Angela Bateman, Project Officer, Corporate Contracts Consultancy, 4th Floor,Town Hall, Pinstone St, S1 2HH.

What's going to happen to the Mercia building and surrounding land isn't made clear.

Richard Farnsworth