Latest news

Gravesham Borough Council Regulatory Board resolves to give Heritage Quarter Scheme planning permission (posted 01/05/13)

At a meeting last night (30/04/13) GBC's Regulatory Board resolved to grant planning permission to the Edinburgh House Heritage Quarter proposals. It was, however, a controversial decision- three Councillors voted for it, three against, and three abstained, thus leaving the casting vote to the Chair, Councillor Jane Cribbon- hardly a ringing endorsement. This permission is subject to notification to the Government, and to agreeing financial contributions for health, highways and other matters.

The meeting was a farce- hundreds of people, the vast majority against the scheme, turned up to attend and observe (as is their right) democracy in action. They were denied access to the Council Chamber where the meeting was taking place, and had to make do instead with a televised link to the Woodville Halls. The meeting was delayed when the television link went down and eventually ended at 10:45pm-  by which time many concerned citizens, who stand to have thier flats thrown into darkness by the scheme, had had enough of this particular brand of local democacy, and had gone home.   

Watch this space- Urban Gravsham will continue its fight on behalf of the riverside residents whose lives will be blighted by the scheme and on behalf of 1000's of Gravesham residents. There were many aspects of the meeting which were odd and unsaisfactory which we will investigate fully and there are various ways in which our fight against this development can be continued.

Please support us by joining us or by making a financial contribution to our funds- only together can we defeat this scheme.

To read more
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-22366300
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend_messenger/news/2013/may/1/heritage_quarter_verdict.aspx
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/10393011.Reaction_as_Gravesend_Heritage_Quarter_plans_pass_by_just_one_vote/?ref=rss
The Dossier: True Horror of Heritage Quarter Proposals outlined in report to Council. (posted 20/03/13)

Urban Gravesham has delivered its objection on the Heritage Quarter proposals in a detailed, closely argued and authoritative 'Dossier' to Gravesham Borough Councillors. The dossier reveals that the proposals will completely overwhelm the Heritage Quarter, blocking out daylight for existing residents and businesses and destroying the historic character of the area. 

The dossier reveals that the proposed flats fail modern space standards and will be small and cramped. It argues that the development may well become the slums of tomorrow and suggests that 'Poky-Hontas Court' would be an appropriate name for the Eastern Quarter of the development.

By concentrating large new shops (including a large Tesco store) at the extreme western edge of the town centre, the scheme may well be good for the owners of the St Georges Centre but it will not regenerate or help the central and eastern parts of the town centre. In this context, claims over job creation are exaggerated. The best way of securing a prosperous and desirable future for Gravesend is to nurture what is unique about it- its historic character and riverside location. To develop the town centre in the same way as Dartford or Chatham is not a good regeneration strategy.  

'Overall, the  scheme is an old fashioned, out-of-date ‘any-where-ville’ regeneration scheme that fails to grasp present day challenges of changing retail trends and changes in the housing market. It is a ruthless exercise in packing as much cheap development onto the sites as possible. In any context the scheme would be pedestrian and disappointing, but in this context it is outrageous in its clumsy disregard for the
precious townscape that it will so seriously damage and for the interests of the local community who will have to live with it.'

To download Urban Gravesham's Letter of Objection, click here
Urban Gravesham AGM- residents and businesses unite to condemn Heritage Quarter Scheme

Urban Gravesham's recent AGM (28/01/13) was very well attended. The meeting included several local business people and representives of residents' associations. All those present voted unanimously that the Edinburgh House proposals were unacceptable. They pledged to continue to seek to persuade councillors that Gravesend could do better than an out-of-date plan which offers very little future for the town except the creation of large blocks of poky flats which might swiftly become slums. To read more click here.

Its official- Heritage Quarter scheme not good enough (posted 01/02/13)

Urban Gravesham have recently seen an official report by the South East Regional Design Panel on the Heritage Quarter Scheme. This body of design experts  were employed by Gravesham Council to give completely indpendant, without prejudice, design advice. Unfortunately for  the developers Edinburgh House the report was far from glowing. To read more click here.

New Heritage Quarter planning application (reference 120931) (posted 30/12/12)
Out of scale and out of character!

Picture
Developers Edinburgh House have (November 2012) submitted a new planning application for the development of the Heritage Quarter.

The application shows that the
proposals for the area round St Georges Church have been revised from the scheme that was refused for being out of scale by the Council in September 2010.  The proposals for the area round the Market are, however, very similar to the previous proposals. Overall, the scale of the development is still huge and out of scale for the 'heritage quarter' of a historic town- NINE STOREYS along parts of Bath Street  and FIVE/SIX STOREYS along parts of West Street and around the Market Square.

Gardens of interational importance rediscovered on development site
(posted 14/12/12)
Urban Gravesham has recently become involved with the disused factory site that was once the location of Rosherville Gardens- dating from the 1830's and at its hieght in the 1870's visited by 1 million visitors per year- many of whom travelled by paddle steamer from London.  Frequent visitors included DIckens, Lillie Langtry, and Gaiety Girls.

A very recent archaeological investigation on the old AEI factory site has  come across the well preserved remains of a bear pit- the one time home of 'Rosie the Bear' who along with other exotic creatures entertained the crowds.  Parts of of the old Italian Gardens  on the site have also been excavated.

We are seeking to persuade the Government's Homes and Communities Agency, along with Gravesham Borough Council, to drop plans to deposit 1000's of tons of landfill from the London Crossrail project over the remains of the gardens. Instead we think important features should be preserved and opened up for the community as the centrepiece of new development. 

To read the text of our e-mail to the Homes and Communites Agency, click here.   
To view pictures of the Gardens as they were and as the site is now, click here

To see an very interesting ITV television report click the link below. 
http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/story/2012-12-12/bear-pit-in-kent/ 
To read a BBC report click the link below
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-20804566

Volunteers wanted for local history project

Clay Architects have been working in Gravesend since 1904 when George Clay opened his office in King Street. The practice worked on many civic buildings over the 20th century- banks, churches, schools, as well as industrial buildings. A project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, has been launched to document and record the practice's fascinating collection of drawings and photographs. The memories of local people and their stories about the changes that have taken place will be recorded, along with the memories of some of architects who designed the buildings. The project will culminate in a local history exhibition, workshops with schools and colleges, and a website.

Volunteers are being sought to help organise the archives, and to record and conduct interviews. Proper training will be given. If you are interested, please email secretary@urbangravesham.org or phone 01474 566701. This is an excellent training opportunity for anyone who is interested in carrying out research on their own history projects.  
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Urban Gravesham - the Civic Society for Gravesend and Northfleet

We are an ordinary group of citizens who care about the character and environment of the urban areas of Gravesham.

We aim to support positive changes to the town centre but we will, where necessary, campaign against changes that we think would damage the character of area.

We have been involved in major campaigns to save the Heritage Quarter (round St Georges Church and the Market Square) and the Transport Quarter (round the Railway Station) from mass development.


Contact us:
mailto:
secretary@urbangravesham.org
or phone 01474 566701


Join us:
Membership is £5 per year.
Download the membership form and return it with your membership fee to the address shown.

Continue supporting us!
To be a strong group which everyone listens to we need as many members as possible. We also need funds to continue our campaigns to preserve Gravesend from overdevelopment. If you think we are doing a good job then send a cheque to 'Urban Gravesham' at the address on the form above   

Download January 2013 Heritage Quarter Bulletin

Download January 2013 Newsletter  (lots of news on Transport Quarter, Rosherville Gardens and other matters)