It might seem that the area is extremely vulnerable to inappropriate development despite its conservation status - without any appraisal or subsequent plan to manage the area within the framework of a formal conservation plan, the name 'Conservation Area' seems little more than an empty title used to ensure that the cottages all stay pretty. The character of everything else may have no protection at all.
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Conservation Area?
Talbot Village was designated a 'Conservation Area' as long ago as 1975, updated in 1991 yet still the Council has not yet produced a character appraisal. Without an appraisal no schemes to manage or enhance the designated area are implemented.
A Different Approach?
There are many things that could be done to develope Talbot Village that would be of benefit to the residents. Not all development is necessarily bad or undesirable. It is the selling off of the land for private housing that seems to be so unpopular and at odds with the principles of the Trusts founders.
Student accommodation within a short walk of the University has to be viewed as a priority that will be of benefit to local residents. The blight of student car parking can be greatly alleviated by the provision of accommodation close to campus and the proposals to include student accommodation in plans to develope the land south of Wallisdown Road make good sense.
There is even some talk of increasing the area available for parking at the medical centre in Gillett Road. A possible Community Centre has also been hinted at, providing an acceptable organisation to run the place is formed. Both of these proposals sound good.
Affordable Housing has been mentioned. If this means some kind of 'shared ownership' scheme is going to be available to assist hard-working local families to get a place on the property ladder then that too can only be a good thing.
If, however, 'affordable housing' means tiny 2 bedroomed flats for rent it might be easier to understand the opposition. Bournemouth has suffered an explosion of this type of 'housing', all over the borough fine family homes have been pulled down for identikit developments of small flats. We really dont need any more.
What seems to be the real problem is the building of private homes for sale.
Short term gain by the sale of land for housing will probably be a source of regret for the Trust in later years. The Trust is in an enviable position to create a new model for socially responsible development that not only fully agrees with the Talbot Sisters principles but actively expands upon them.
A development that offered high quality family sized accommodation under a shared ownership with the Trust at an affordable rate, a viable, lively and inclusive student village, a 'village green' centrepiece with community arts and education centre and affordable shop and work units for small local businesses, a place where people can sit, have a coffee or a light meal, browse a gallery, watch a film or a play, see a band, meet friends and family or just read a book. Development should at least attempt to improve the lives of those who will live there.
I see little evidence of any attempt to create anything to improve the area - just schemes to turn fields into executive homes for a few rich people.
Once the money from the sale of land has been spent its gone forever. Those that live here will have to live with the consequences of over development with no supporting improvement of infrastructure long after the Estate Agents, developers, solicitors and surveyors have banked their juicy fees and moved to somewhere less blighted.
Strong opposition to the current proposals is expected
A bit premature?
Details are sketchy, but I know of no new dwellings in the Conservation Area that have received full planning permission. Perhaps this refers to the proposed plans to build houses in Alton Road in the rear gardens of 2 of the Trusts cottages?
Update: 12th June 2010 - Apparently the 2 horse paddocks fronting Wallisdown Road are the target for the placing of these houses. One house to be placed in the vacant plot opposite the University bus stop on Wallisdown Road, previously an original Talbot Cottage burnt down a number of years ago, and 3 in the paddock off White Farm Close, previously an allotment area.
I'll post further when I know more details.........
below: Site of cottage burnt down several years ago currently used as a horse paddock
Savills
The Talbot Village Trust has long used Savills as its agents. This has not been without controversy. They were implicated in participating in the defrauding of the Trust as per the attached link from the Serious Fraud Office.
Also this link to an Evening Standard article is of some interest
Rumours are currently circulating that Savills agents have implied that tenants of properties owned by the Trust who voice opposition to current plans to develope their gardens for housing may face repercussions when their leases come up for renewal!
Friday, 28 May 2010
Who Benefits?
Whenever a good thing is changed forever for the sake of a dubious short term gain numerous people stand bewildered and amazed that such a thing has been allowed to happen. We all look at the wreckage and demand some kind of investigation - but its already way too late. The damage has been done.
It appears that Talbot Village is going to be subject to a swathe of developments that will change the entire area for ever. Whilst few can deny that something needs to be done about the traffic problems that blight the area many are mystified as to how the building of even more houses with no improvement of infrastructure will benefit anyone apart from those who stand to earn juicy, but short term, contracts from the development and sale of this land.
But the residents of the Village?
The residents of the surrounding area, already creaking under the weight of astonishingly dense infill?
Why is the Talbot Village Trust so determined to build houses all over the woods surrounding the Historic Talbot Village?
Apparently the 'Council' approached the Trust indicating that they had identified a number of sites that 'should' be developed.
A tree survey commissioned, presumably to include all potential sites for new housing, includes at least 3 horse paddocks as well as the gardens of existing cottages. If any part of these developments are allowed to proceed then it is made more likely that all will eventually succeed.
The character and even the purpose of the village will be changed forever.
It is worth remembering that the cottages were built and endowed to be sufficient in enough land to feed a family.
The Trust is not strapped for funds - nearly £28M in the bank and in profit every year, even after some very generous charity work. It doesnt seem to need the money and the eagerness to develope land for private housing seems at odds with everything the Trust seems to be supposed to stand for. Indeed it was probably set up to prevent exactly this kind of exploitation of a place enjoyed by so many to the short term financial benefit of a very few.
So who benefits?
What is driving this strange desire to build houses all over the Conservation Area?
It appears that Talbot Village is going to be subject to a swathe of developments that will change the entire area for ever. Whilst few can deny that something needs to be done about the traffic problems that blight the area many are mystified as to how the building of even more houses with no improvement of infrastructure will benefit anyone apart from those who stand to earn juicy, but short term, contracts from the development and sale of this land.
But the residents of the Village?
The residents of the surrounding area, already creaking under the weight of astonishingly dense infill?
Why is the Talbot Village Trust so determined to build houses all over the woods surrounding the Historic Talbot Village?
Apparently the 'Council' approached the Trust indicating that they had identified a number of sites that 'should' be developed.
A tree survey commissioned, presumably to include all potential sites for new housing, includes at least 3 horse paddocks as well as the gardens of existing cottages. If any part of these developments are allowed to proceed then it is made more likely that all will eventually succeed.
The character and even the purpose of the village will be changed forever.
It is worth remembering that the cottages were built and endowed to be sufficient in enough land to feed a family.
The Trust is not strapped for funds - nearly £28M in the bank and in profit every year, even after some very generous charity work. It doesnt seem to need the money and the eagerness to develope land for private housing seems at odds with everything the Trust seems to be supposed to stand for. Indeed it was probably set up to prevent exactly this kind of exploitation of a place enjoyed by so many to the short term financial benefit of a very few.
So who benefits?
What is driving this strange desire to build houses all over the Conservation Area?
These articles may be of some interest....
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Whats this all about then?
We live next to the conservation area of Historic Talbot Village, our children go to school there, we go to Church there and we walk our dog there every day.
A Talbot Cottage
Old, or historic Talbot Village is a few pretty cottages, St Marks Church and School, a row of almshouses and several acres of oak woodland, some horse paddocks and an allotment.
The Almshouses
St Marks' School
New Talbot Village is actually in Poole on the other side of Wallisdown Road and consists of a load of modern houses in small, narrow cul-de-sacs, it has a doctors surgery, a dentist and a Londis shop that seem pretty stable. A further three shop units have generally opened and then fairly swiftly closed again, but usually a takeaway and a hairdresser of some description seem to be featured.
Bournemouth University and the College of Art and Design share the site and many of the students live within the parish in rental accommodation or in the student village on campus.
The rapid expansion and rise in popularity of Bournemouth Uni has created a few tensions as far as car parking is concerned and the councils response has been to restrict parking for a radius of a mile or so wherever students may park. The residents are just as likely to get a ticket.
So, basically this is a nice place to live with a few minor gripes which I plan to whinge about at great length on this blog :)
Bournemouth University and the College of Art and Design share the site and many of the students live within the parish in rental accommodation or in the student village on campus.
The rapid expansion and rise in popularity of Bournemouth Uni has created a few tensions as far as car parking is concerned and the councils response has been to restrict parking for a radius of a mile or so wherever students may park. The residents are just as likely to get a ticket.
So, basically this is a nice place to live with a few minor gripes which I plan to whinge about at great length on this blog :)
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