Tricorn House demo today

Lunchtime today I joined the protest picnic against the Government's decision to refuse a compulsory purchase order which would have seen derelict Tricorn House transformed by energy company Ecotricity into their HQ.

Photos: sent to me by other protestors and the group shot taken by Stroud Life reporter on my camera

There were some 20 of us there including at least one protestor on the roof. Here's some of what I said at the picnic: "Over 4 years ago I interviewed over a 100 people in the area for Cainscross Parish and time and time again in the interviews Tricorn House was raised unprompted. Without exception thoughts about Tricorn House were negative and it was repeatedly mentioned as what people would most like to change about the area. Virtually everyone I speak to still wants action. For over 10 years this building has lain empty with no attempts by the owners to engage with local people. I joined this demo to show my support again for a deal that will enable local wind-energy company Ecotricity to build a new HQ, where more than 300 people will work. This could have a huge positive impact on local businesses in this area. It is time we had a better deal for Cainscross."

The CPO has overwhelming public support. Many have been outraged at the decision of John Denham, Minister at the Department for Community and Local Government, to block the purchase of Tricorn House which has long been a vandalised eyesore on a prominent a Stroud gateway site. Denham has indicated that he has no commitment to either local communities or local government. He has ruled bizarrely that the CPO did not strike a fair balance between the public interest and the human rights of the owner, and that the HQ could be located on another site.

Here is what Martin Large said: "Millville Ltd (owned by Wellfair Holdings) the offshore, Guernsey based owner, has kept Tricorn House mostly empty since 1996 for ‘property investment’. It is now derelict, vandalised, with broken windows. Stroud civil society would like to see the site brought back into productive use, by SDC vigorously continuing its CPO bid to secure the site for Ecotricity. A letter to John Denham has been signed at this picnic, inviting Mr Denham to come and see Tricorn House for himself, and to personally help SDC remove the blockages to reclaiming the site for business and the community."

“Tricorn house is an abomination, that ranks even worse than Stroud Police Station, as the most ugly lump of concrete in the district. The graffitti on it says it all: ‘Please Knock Me Down.’”
Local resident

Anyhow I brought donuts along for the picnic and proceeded to bite into a jam one that shot the jam up my sleeve where it remained when I went to work - agh well it was still tasty. Here is how the SNJ already describe the demo with picks on their website (How dare they beat this blog with the news!):

Concerned residents gathered outside the derelict building in Cainscross to show their support for Stroud District Council's CPO. One protester climbed onto the roof with a banner proclaiming 'Power to the People' will others, who gathered for a picnic, held banners including 'Tri Harder', 'Land 4 People' and 'Reclaim Tricorn'. After a three-day public inquiry into the CPO in July, John Denham, Secretary of State for Community and Local Government, said this month that he did not think there was not a compelling case for a CPO in the public interest. At the picnic, a letter to Mr Denham was signed by protesters, inviting him to come and see Tricorn House, and to personally help SDC remove the blockages to reclaiming the site for business and community. Martin Large, a member of Stroud Common Wealth, said: "Organisations and members of the community now have the chance to make a renewed CPO bid. This could be a community buy out plan with much needed housing, community facilities, offices and a green gateway to Stroud on the Tricorn House site."

As a last note I think it is very unlikely that the community would have the chance of putting in a bid - Ecotricity are already refining their previous bid. I am hopeful that this time they can provide all the info needed to ensure a successful bid. As I said above it is time that local people had a better deal.

Tricorn House; bid for improvement

Tricorn mock-up by Inside Out team

Over last year I was in touch with Dan Martyr about a possible project with Tricorn House - sadly Tricorn owners or their agents didn't respond and it looks like it wont go ahead. However Dan gave me permission to add the photos of the project to share on this blog - click on them to enlarge.

As this blog has noted all agree that something must be done about Tricorn House. Sadly there looks like there will be a long wait before we see any action....hence this project proposal to address the community perception of the building....it is even more sad this project hasn't gone ahead.

As Dan writes: "Stroud is very much a community town and an artistic one and I believe would respond well to the Tricorn being the centre of a community art project – one that is part of a greater international art movement. The proposal is to be a part of an ongong project created by French artist JR for which he won the TED 2011 prize http://www.insideoutproject.net/

Tricorn mock-up by Inside Out team

"To put it simply the process would be to put up large black & white images of people in the windows of the building thus repopulating the empty space.....The images would be of local people, people who could be using this space in positive ways. It’d be nice to reignite a positive attitude toward this Stroud icon."

Maybe someone from Tricorn will read this and the project can still live??

Tricorn House news

In the last post I talked of the Rodborough Fort sale - sadly Tricorn House is still not happening - Dale Vince from Ecotricity wants to tear down the eyesore and replace it with an iconic headquarters for the world's first green electricity company. He is prepared to plough around £10 million into creating new offices for his growing company on the site at Cainscross.

Photos: Grafitti says 'Knock Me Down Please' - and bottom photo showing Tricorn at the end of the road almost makes it look OK

The Citizen reports: "Mr Vince, who was awarded the OBE for his services to the environment, said his dream was to develop an architect-designed landmark with the impact of the "Gherkin" in London but at the same time as zero-carbon as possible. But the snag is that Mr Vince said he had been trying unsuccessfully to buy Tricorn House for the past two years."

They quote him saying: "Our frustrations have reached such a level now we've decided to bring this into the public domain. We need space to grow into. Staff numbers now stand at 130 and will more than double in the next few years. We are looking for a chance to do something really 'out there' in terms of technology and design - something stunning. We are talking probably £10 million."

The four-storey Tricorn House was built in the 1970s and for years served as offices for the Department of Health and Social Security and as locals will know is on a gateway to Stroud - but has been empty for many years - and been vandalised and fallen into disrepair.

I've known of Ecotricity's interest in the site for a long time and find it hard to understand why developers wont sell the site. Is it greed? Can they really get a better offer by holding on? House prices are starting to fall....certainly when I helped with the Cainscross Parish Plan Tricorn House was the issue that was raised most by locals - they want it down or radically improved - it is an horrendous blot on the landscape. Good luck to Dale - and if those developers are reading this please act to help us improve our community.

Local news bits: Whitestock, toilets, recycling and Tricorn

Whitestock - The Friends of Whiteshill School hope to repeat the huge success of their first music festival - gates open at school at 6pm on Saturday 4th July with the Whiteshill Samba band then a mix of various other acts including the Johnson and Kempner Partnership teachers jazz band and the Reservoir Hogs - ring Angie Mason on 753461 for details.

Photo: Standish Woods

Our Wonderful World exhibition - Randwick School's exhibition 9am to 5pm in the church until the end of June - pride of place is the Tree of Life.

Randwick Hall Toilet block success - the Glos Environmental Trust have come up trumps with £8,000 for the toilet block - this means the £40,000 phase II of the hall development is now set to go-ahead this year - an incredible achievement to raise all that money since September - special thanks to Val Flack for masterminding it all.

Recycle Week - yes it's recycle week this week - see more here and here - it is good to have these reminders about what we can recycle but none of this goes far enough - we need Councils and the Government to wake up - we are still years behind countries like Germany. Oh and another website that is good is that Love Food Hate Waste site: www.lovefoodhatewaste.com

On street recycling bins launched - lots of hard work by Stroud District Youth Council (SDYC) means that innovative litter recycling bins will be unveiled this week at locations across the local area. Recognised as the active voice for 11 - 18 year olds for the district, the youth council formed a litter recycling pilot project team. They decided to introduce recycling bins around Stroud, concentrating on routes most commonly used by young people such as the paths to and from school. Following extensive design work and consultation with officers at Stroud District Council, bespoke multi compartment recycling bins were sourced, customized artwork produced and locations known to have a high density of litter were identified. Well done indeed to them all.

Tricorn House - Objections to the compulsory purchase of the eyesore Tricorn House will be heard at a public inquiry to start on 14th July. The building's owner Wellfair Holdings will argue against Stroud District Council's plan to buy the derelict office block and hand it straight on to the company Ecotricity - who want to redevelop the site on the Cainscross roundabout as its new HQ. It will be before a government inspector, whose final recommendation will probably go before the Secretary of State for approval. As many will know I have long argued along with most of the local population that this site urgently needs redevelopment - indeed I raised the issue when I was first elected 3 years ago - so I have given a warm welcome to this move at last of compulsory purshase - Tricorn was built in the 1970s and was originally Stroud's Department of Social Security building. In the last 10 years it has not been used and has looked worse each year. See a photoshop of someone elses' view of Tricorn House here.

Cashes Green Hospital - site has got the go-ahead for Outline Planning permission - see previous blog here.

Tricorn House - at last a future?

Stroud District Council wants to use a compulsory purchase order to seize Tricorn House from its present owners - yippie!

Photo: Tricorn with trees recently cut down

As diligent blog readers will know a long while back I raised the issue of compulsory purshase of Tricorn House (see various previous blogs) - this was in response to work I had been doing on Cainscross Parish Plan - it was overwhelmingly one of the most important things that could be tackled to improve the area. Time and time again in the interviews I was conducting for the Parish Plan this issue was raised unprompted.

Now of course I'd like to say have the Council listened to me - but then again they may have just come to the same conclusion? After all it is pretty obvious and as many have said why has it taken so long?

Anyhow an emergency motion was tabled at a cabinet meeting last Thursday to seek possession of the former Department of Social Security building - known as one of the region's ugliest - via a compulsory purchase order. The building was last occupied 10 years ago by the DSS and has been empty ever since despite a relatively buoyant commercial market in recent years.

Updated: Photo below from guy who left comment - see comment to understand!

Here's some of what the Council papers said: The decline in the physical appearance and fabric of the building has accelerated over the past year. The Council has been obliged to address issues created by the vacant building. The Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Officer has liaised with the owner and local residents over a range of community safety and anti-social behaviour issues. Apart from the growing community safety concerns, there are important environmental and economic considerations. The property is prominent on one of the ‘gateway’ routes into Stroud. As such, it has an impact not only locally but also to the District, in the eyes of investors, tourists, developers and residents. Whilst the site is not protected for employment purposes under policy EM5 of the adopted Local Plan it is generally protected under policy EM4 that sets out a series of criteria which have to be met before permission is granted. The Regional Spatial Strategy Examination in Public report has re-emphasised the need to generate local employment opportunities in the District, as part of reducing out-commuting and creating sustainable communities.

Wellfair Property Investment Holdings Ltd. is the owner of Tricorn House. According to its agents, offers were made by 3 prospective purchasers in July 2006. None of these were taken forward. The Council has sought the District Valuer’s assessment of current market value. As at December 2007, the valuation is in the region of £1.3 million.

Ecotricity, a national renewable energy company with headquarters in the District, has approached the owner and the Council. Its interest in acquiring the site has since been reported in the local media. It is understood that the company wishes to expand and create new jobs. Ward councillors have expressed interest in the company’s plans and the prospect of employment opportunities. Ecotricity has indicated that it would be willing to negotiate with Wellfair Property Investment Holdings Ltd. The Chief Executive offered to introduce the parties to one another but Wellfair Property Investment Holdings Ltd considered this inappropriate. Instead, separate meetings have been held with both companies.

It is increasingly evident that, without the Council’s intervention, the property will continue to deteriorate and the employment potential of the site will remain unrealised. In the circumstances, it is proposed that the Council acquire the site and building, using its Compulsory Purchase powers and subject to a ‘back to back’ agreement with a party willing to purchase from the Council. This will minimise the Council’s risk and financial exposure.

The Council used such an approach with 15 High Street, Stroud. This building was having a detrimental impact on the town’s investment potential and creating environmental and community safety concerns. Following the Council’s decision to use its compulsory purchase powers, a commercial solution was identified and the building is currently being redeveloped.

The motion will now go before the Full Council on April 17.

Updates: Tricorn House, Standish Hospital, Purton Hulks and A46 lorries

Updates on these topics which have been discussed at length previously in this blog (use search engine for items):

Photo: Fungi in Standish woods

Tricorn House - Stroud Life report that owners of Tricorn have been accused of trying to block a rival bid to re-develop it. Wellfair Holdings Ltd has put forward two different ideas for Tricorn House to Stroud District Council – but Dale Vince of Ecotricity, who wants to buy it, says they're not serious and the "building needs knocking down." Stroud District Council (SDC) is still trying to secure a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the site - a move I fully support. The earliest these new planning applications will be decided is expected to be December.

Standish Hospital - Junior health minister Ben Bradshaw has approved the handover of the Standish Hospital site near Stonehouse, to Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust. It closed in 2004 when the new Gloucestershire Royal Hospital buildings opened. Many of us have been fighting to save it from closure for a long time. In July of this year, the PCT outlined various uses for the site including providing health and social care services, accommodation for older people with a range of disabilities, as well as services for people of all ages. Short term health and social care treatment could be made available, plus care for people between hospital and home.

Purton Hulk's - Paul Barnett has made a one man's crusade to save the ship graveyard on the eastern bank of the River Severn. This collection of ships beached has now been covered by the BBC and will appear in the Spring of 2009 with anchor presenter, Neil Oliver. As regular blog readers will know I have backed Mr Barnett's petition to make the site a listed ancient monument. From 1910, the canal authority beached old vessels to form breakwaters and so save the canal from river erosion. The last vessels to be beached were the motorised barge Severn Falcon and seven ferrous concrete barges in the late 1960s. The Friends of Purton are currently recruiting like-minded people to act as site guides, to conduct an ongoing programme of archaeological surveys and participate in forthcoming research programmed for 2009. For details on this or the petition call Mr Barnett on 07833 143 231 or email barnadillo@aol.com

Lorries and A46 - Heavy lorries are set to be banned from using some Cotswold villages as shortcuts as reported before in this blog. Gloucestershire County Council now looks set to approve a measure designed to stop lorries weighing more than 7.5 tonnes from being driven through many villages, except for deliveries. The lorry management zone is set to be brought in at the end of the year and lorries over 7.5t will be banned from using the A46 between Stroud and Brockworth, the A4173 between Pitchcombe and Brookthorpe, the B4008 between Stonehouse and Hardwicke, and the A435 between Seven Springs and Cirencester, as short cuts. This means an extra 34 lorries a day are expected to use the Air Balloon junction and Nettleton Bottom on the A417, with 162 more on the A419 at Stonehouse and an extra 68 at Stroud. The report to the committee stated the maximum increase in CO2 emissions would be 0.5% - however a point I made before is that if you reduce lorries you can increase cycling and walking which will hopefully even out any rises in CO2 that are forecast.

Tricorn trees chopped but not Vicarage trees yet

I was disappointed to see the loss of trees at Tricorn House just before Christmas and followed up with the Parish as to why...

Photo: Above - Tricorn House with the trees in front of it cut down and below with trees helping to conceal the monster

...the Parish presume the owners cut them down and that the trees were not protected - very sad as they hid and softened part of the building - but perhaps it is a good sign that things are moving on that site - scroll down to blog entry on 21st December re the hopes of Ecotricity to purshase the site?

For all too long local residents have seen this empty building as a blight - most I met when I was interviewing residents for their Parish Plan wanted it torn down and removed - others were happy to see it occupied and the facade to be changed. Recently however I met someone who was a 'fan' of the building and its architecture - in mentioning this to someone else I found they too were a fan - are there others out there? Does this building really have any merit?

Vicarage trees

Anyhow while on trees I also followed up on a resident who reports trees cut down at Vicarage - however it seems from my look and words with the Parish that they have not been chopped - scroll down to my blog on 17th December 2007 for background info on this.

There has apparently been a second application regarding the Vicarage trees, which include replanting with silver birches - the Parish have opposed - It's on the SDC website S.07/2516 - see it here.

Tricorn House - still a way to go

Latest news is that plans to compulsory purchase Tricorn House by Stroud District Council appear to have got a hitch - the inspector has laid out more evidence required - personally it appears to be a straight forward case - there are no other suitable sites for Ecotricity within a community - and we must sort this monstrosity out - there are few within the community who don't want to see this site developed - indeed when I was interviewing residents as part of a local Parish Plan it was overwhelmingly the main issue that came up. Let's hope this does not delay what surely must be the inevitable?

Photo: Clover the busker in Stroud courtesy of Stroud artist Simon aka Vietnamthemovie - although I had intended to use his great image of 'Save Tricorn House' but it appears to have been removed from the web - anyhow catch Simon at Stroud Farmer Market.

Update 1st Nov

A blog reader sent this pic in they found on the web - a thumbnail of original from Vietnamthemovie - big thanks.

Tricorn House development approved

Well a very busy weekend with Wap, family, trip to London and more after the election and meetings today with Green councillors to plan the next moves - but will try and get the blog back on track more.....first up must mention news that most will have now heard re Tricorn House.

Photos: Stroud Life print Tricorn plans and below the demo last November at which I spoke re this building

Well on 27th April, the Development Control Committee approved a scheme for a new head quarters for the local green energy company, EcoTricity. The scheme involves a living wall and passive ventilation, all designed to make the building as efficient as possible. Whilst EcoTricity is still not currently the owner of the land, I understand that there are on-going discussions between them and the agents for the owner. Let's hope for some good news soon.

The drawings are available on the planning website at www.stroud.gov.uk/plans-online using reference number S.10/0499/FUL.

New cafe in Cainscross and 20 mph on Ebley Road?

The new cafe near the roundabout with Tricorn House is an exciting new development.

A while back I blogged about this development and some of the background to it - see here. Well this last week I manage to visit it for the first time - and it is worth a visit - hope to go back for a breakfast.

Photos: inside the cafe with Daniel serving plus an old shot of the inn as it used to be

They have their own website here - and 'ethical' coffee and chocolate cake was good!! It is also a wonderfully spacious area - and much lighter inside than I had imagined. There are plans for conference facilities and more. If only Tricorn House could be sorted then this area would really be taking off - certainly when that gets going either as a nursing home or Ecotricity's HQ then that will bring in a sustainable customer base.

While I was there I also had the chance to talk about the book Tamathiel which is a sort of Lord of the Rings meets Harry Potter?? Well that is me guessing a little - five school children who, after a series of strange events at school, are swept away into a fantasy world of elves, dwarves, eagles and dark forces. It is written by Daniel who works at the cafe - now 18 but he wrote it when he was 14 and has nearly completed two more in the series. There are parts of the book on some of the tables and I did read a couple of pages - great fun.

But hey I'm getting off topic here I wanted to mention that I had had a meeting and correspondence with a couple of residents in Ebley Road who would like to see traffic calming. I do agree traffic moves too fast along that road - a 20 mph would be great and possible on-street parking to slow traffic - and encourage it onto the bypass? This road looks set to get worse with Foxes Field and the 100 houses there plus Tricorn House whatever happens there....

The residents have already discussed with Cainscross Parish Council and have support for tackling speeds - while they have had lots of positive feedback about their thoughts they are now considering a petition to see what level of support the measures will have amongst other residents - and to use with Highways to tackle the issue. Although with cuts, cuts, cuts we will have to be creative - hence having the whole area with a 20 mph would cut the need for many Traffic Orders......hopefully we will hear more on this soon...

Join the Tricorn Picnic demo

A picnic is being planned to be held at Tricorn House on Tuesday 17th November at 12 noon. This is to draw attention to the misguided decision to allow the rights of a Guernsey-based property company to prevail over those of a local business. See more here. It was also good to see that Ecotricity are still game to go for the Compulsory Purshase Order - see Citizen here. Join us for the picnic!

Pic: 'Godzilla' courtesy of Stroud artist Simon aka Vietnamthemovie - this time the full-size image!

Wap, Shop, Archway, Tricorn and more

Here's another handful of local news:

Stan to be Mayor: Stan Giles will take over from Sheila Bliss as Mayor of Randwick - not an official Council Mayor but one voted on by local folk who register with the Wap. He will step down after 12 years as chair of the Wap committee to take over the post. Good luck to him!

Photo: Great photo of Stan in Stroud Life

Whiteshill Village Shop: Whiteshill Primary School children have raised £166.00 towards the £3,000 needed to replace the burnt toilet - they produced a great picture in the playground made from pennies. The Playgroup had earlier raised £400.00 from a welly walk and local Shop volunteer Damian is hoping to encourage support from local builders to help with the rebuilding of the loo.

Photo: View of Vine Tree, Randwick from Laggers last night

Bread Street Street party: Last night more residents met in the Vine Tree to make further plans - we have at least one band sorted and a road closure has been submitted. More coming soon.

Archway revamp: A further £1.5 million is going to Archway School for a new accommodation unit for the school's Learning Support Department and Inclusion Centre, further new teaching spaces and increased music, office and admin - this all comes on top of the much needed £5 million first phase which included a new technology block, new student entrance area and biomass boiler.

Tricorn House: Stroud district councillors voted unanimously to approve a move to wrest the building from its owners - they would then sell it on to wind power market leader Dale Vince of Ecotricity. About time too - as regular blog readers will know this is something I asked for some years ago - the building has been empty for 10 years. However I don't expect the fight is over - Wellfair Property Investment Holdings Ltd say SDC's attempt to force it to sell for £1.3 million is not enough - and a fence has gone up around the former DHSS building in Cainscross Road. But as Councillor John Marjoram (Green, Trinity) said at the meeting: "People have put in offers for this building and every time the price goes up. To my mind this is the only route we can follow, if we are not bullied by the person who has put the fence round. It's a prime site." Dale Vince said to the press: "We'd like to build something special here. It would probably involve knocking down the old building but we haven't written off yet using what's here. What we would like to end up with is something special, a zero carbon building that's somewhere great for our people to work and something that looks beautiful as well."

Whiteshill Plant Sale: 17th May at the Village Shop 9am to 1pm.

Wap stalls wanted: Book your stall now for Saturday 10th May - call Steve on 752478.

Updates: Tricorn, MSA, 20mph, Turn Back Time, Street-lighting and more

Well here is all sorts of bits of news that I've been meaning to update...

Tricorn House - well I spoke with planning at SDC a couple of weeks ago and I guess a Compulsory Purshase Order by the Council to then sell to Ecotricity will have to wait maybe up to 2 years. In the meantime the developer will have to show that they are serious about developing the site as a care home. It does seem wholly inappropriate for 96 people so close to all those roads. Dale Vince, MD of Ecotricity, said at the time: "We think it's a crazy idea. "Who'd want their relatives living in a brutalist building on a roundabout at the edge of town? We think it's just another stalling tactic by the owners, we'll be amazed if it actually goes ahead." Of course this delay may mean that Ecotricity develop elsewhere and that means yet again no progress for this eyesore. Outrageous.

Dog doos - a particular problem area is the field behind Whiteshill Church. I have had emails from two residents on this. The Parish Council and local PCSO’s have been in contact with the land owner before Christmas and PCSO's are already patrolling the field to try and improve the problem. Amazingly the notices put up warning to get owners to be more responsible have been pulled down on several occasions. The WaRbler newsletter has also had an article and I hear things are slightly improved in the area.

Motorway Services Area - well as reported on this blog it got the go-ahead - well now a Judicial Review has called it in - we await to hear the decision by one person and see whether they overturn the elected bodies decision?

20 mph - well the speed measures (see left) have now been taken in Whiteshill and Ruscombe to see if a mandatory 20 mph might be allowed....Randwick Parish has also reapplied to have the 20 is Plenty signs reinstalled. See recent success with inquiry here - although we are waiting to hear from Cabinet now.

Randwick Parish Lighting - yonks ago I supported the switching off of Parish lights late at night - see also here re Essex. Whiteshill and Ruscombe have already had a load switched off - well now at last Randwick is set to be part of the scheme.

Grit bins - well they have all recently been refilled - there is still one missing along Bread Street that I have reported. I also noted as these pics show the vandalism earlier in the year. They do need to be set lower in the ground like the one on the corner at Humphreys End - that was set lower and hasn't been pushed over despite a history of being pushed several times each year.

New road surface in Randwick - Well the missing patch of new tarmac near Ocker Hill was a mystery. Why the bit missed? Well apparently it was over concern that the heavy machinery would lead to the collapse of nearby Cotswold stone walls. The area is likely to be done by hand now.Meanwhile part of the new surface has already come loose - I have photographed it and sent it in - but having said that the team were very friendly and considerate - well done to them.

BBC programme Turn Back Time - did you folks get to see it? A 1930s drapers shop was recreated in the Merrywalks Centre where we could see authentic local cloth saved from an actual drapers in Minchinhampton when it closed in 1939.It was a sort of museum with over 400 people visiting each day and over 700 on teh Saturdays.

Local historian Ian Mackintosh, from the Stroudwater Textile Trust, was there (see left) - he is reported saying to local papers: “The BBC contacted the Museum in the Park to see if Stroud would be interested in hosting an event and they contacted us to see if we could help. It’s a very interesting way to introduce Stroud’s history to those who don’t know a lot about the town’s past, and we’ve been working closely with Stroud’s Chamber of Commerce to get businesses involved to make sure the event is a success.”See more at www.stroud-textile.org.uk.

Tricorn House

A while back I raised the issue of compulsory purshase of Tricorn House - this was in response to work I had been doing on Cainscross Parish Plan - it was overwhelmingly one of the most important things that could be tackled to improve the area. Time and time again in the interviews I was conducting for the Parish Plan this issue was raised unprompted.

Anyhow just to keep you up to date the Council have not ruled out the option of compulsory purshase but are waiting to see how the canal developments impact on the area - there are rapid changes occuring and despite this being a monstrosity at one of Stroud's key gateways it does not make sense to go down that route at this point. Apparently the building is on the market again for what many are saying is a ridiculously high price - its certainly a difficult corner site with no good access for vehicles - and it is ceratinly much in need of improvement.

Drama, Community, Action

Friday 25^th October  'An Evening with Dementia' A play written and performed by Trevor T. Smith at 8.00 pm at the Cotswold Playhouse. Discover the highs and lows of living with dementia - from the sufferers point of view. This play gives a portrait of an ageing actor living in a care home who 'accepts' rather than 'suffers' from his condition. The wryly intelligent text allows the audience to empathise with the state of being called dementia. When it was played in London Trevor T. Smith was nominated as the Best Male Performance in the The Off West End Theatre Awards and the British Medical Journal stated, "The play enlightens, inspires and, most importantly, teaches what the individual with advanced dementia might want others to understand if he could be the teacher." The Daily Express called it, "A love-letter to a life well-lived.....Insightful and undercut with a surprisingly upbeat sense of humour"

Tickets £10 For more information visit www.cotswoldplayhouse.co.uk  (Check before you go, this may well sell out)

 

Sunday 27th October – Stratford Park, Stroud - free Pumpkins and Apples in the Park – run by Stroud Five Valleys Project

Another opportunity to try apple pressing to make your own juice. There will be workshops from 11-12.30pm and between 2-3pm. Apple cake and warm apple juice will also be on sale.

Join the Pumpkin Lantern Trail. Get busy at home carving your home grown pumpkins – there will be carving). Entries should be dropped off in the museum courtyard no later than 3.30pm on Sunday 27th October. From 5.30 the twilight Pumpkin Lantern Trail starts and this is when judging will take place.

Good luck everyone.

 

Tuesday 29^th October

Making Morsbags at Fresh Ground, Cainscross (opposite Tricorn House), starting at about 6.30 and going on till 9pm. These are fabric shopping bags, as part of Stroud’s move away from disposable plastic bags. There will be a charge of £2.00 for tea/coffee.

Anyone who can bring suitable fabric (fairly heavy cotton is best) which is clean and ironed is encouraged to do so.  Also, anyone who can bring dressmaking scissors, thread, pins... There will be three sewing machines and a couple of irons and ironing boards - a few extra would be welcome but obviously if everyone brings them we'll have too many, so common sense would suggest people make contact beforehand to arrange details, on 077 066 19295.

 

4th November 9.30–12, 11th November 9.30-2.30 How to Make A Wildlife Garden Adult Education Course Severnview School, Bisley Old Road

Would you like to know how to make your garden more wildlife friendly?  Subsidised cost £25 (total)

Concessions are available. The course will be very practical and we will hold your hand in each step of this process. It will cover:- Wildflowers. Planting three different seed mixes that are suitable for this area and how to care for them afterwards. Ponds and safe water in a garden How to measure for a pond liner and exploring options for safe water in a garden. Compost (if time allows).  Do feel free to pass this information on to your contacts.

To register to take part, contact Julie at Stroud Valleys Project on 01453 753358 or email julie@stroudvalleysproject.org.

 

Stroud Community TV's first newsletter

Last week I sent out SCTV's first newsletter - copied below but you can sign up free from the Stroud Community TV website - leave email in box in right hand column.

Welcome to our first newsletter. We have already had 547 unique visitors in March and over 8,200 page views!! If you 'tweet' and 'facebook' then please encourage even more folk to find our site. You can also 'like' our Stroud Community TV page at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stroud-Community-TV/235077549899959

STROUD COMMUNITY TV APPEAL FOR FILMS AND HELP

Since the beginning of March we have started publicising our website. We already have over 200 films on the site but we after many more YouTube or Vimeo videos about Stroud or by Stroud people that can be linked to our site. We have everything from Big Cats and Lily Allen to Tricorn House and Stroud VE Day in 1945 to skateboarding and Shamanic Dance to the Cotswold Care Hospice and a Chicken-keeping workshop. Local bands, local events, local people and more. Help us build the site - help us keep the site fresh with new films.

In short we seek:

    • to publicise and promote Stroud to local people and visitors,
    • to support our local economy,
    • to create a space for voices who are less often heard,
    • to inspire audiences into actions
    • to develop the already amazing creative talent in Stroud.

We hope to also support and encourage specific projects to help develop video-making skills. Our website lists ways we would love your help. Do please get involved; http://stroudcommunity.tv

FEATURED FILM: DAD DANCING

Dad Dancing includes Five Valleys resident and Dynasty soap star Emma Samms and youngsters from Centre Stage theatre school in Ebley. Domonic White presents a SUSCITO zero budget production to help raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity as part of Movember 2011. See it at: http://stroudcommunity.tv/dad-dancing/

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS ON SCTV

It is hard to pick but here are a few of the highlights:

A totally inspiring open and honest film made by the young residents from Ark House, supported housing in Stroud:
http://stroudcommunity.tv/ark-house/

Carers Gloucestershire’s 1 in 10 music video highlighting the role of carers:
http://stroudcommunity.tv/1-in-10-carers-gloucestershire/

Third in the series of Magnus and Granny animation/story:
http://stroudcommunity.tv/magnus-and-granny-granny-on-holiday/

Wonderful Chalford takeaway chef Tayef takes it away!
http://stroudcommunity.tv/chalford-takeaway-chef-tayef-takes-it-away/

Just uploaded: NHS Glos court case and more:
http://stroudcommunity.tv/keep-glos-nhs-public-4-min-taster/

YOUTH GRANT SUCCESS

Stroud Community TV have been part of the YES! (Youth Exploring Sustainability) Big Lottery FUTURE NOW bid. YES is a project with all 10 secondary schools in the District, Transition Stroud, Wood U Waste and Stroud District Youth Council. A whole host of other local organisations including Glos Naturalists Society, Down To Earth, the Bee Guardian Foundation and Glos Orchard Group are involved in helping youth explore what it means to be sustainable and to influence their own future. Well the great news is that the bid was one of the 30 proposals that has been accepted and has received a grant of £10,000 to develop a proposal during the next three months for one of the 10 available pots of £1m!

CALL FOR YOUNG FILMS MAKERS

Stroud Arts Festival and SVA are sponsoring The Third Annual Young Film Makers Showcase in 2012. The call is out for any film makers, under 25, to submit their short films - five minutes max - on any theme or genre they choose – drama, documentary, animated, even short clips made on mobile phones. Send or drop off the film you would like shown with a short bio to: Film Showcase SVA, John Street, Stroud, GL5 2HA  by April 30th. The films will be screened at SVA, John Street, Stroud as part of the 2012 Site Festival on Thursday May 24th @ 6.30. We hope then to be able to show a selection on Stroud Community TV.

OFF-SITE FILMS: films we can't embed on SCTV

1. 'Cyprus is an Island': a black and white documentary shot on location in 1946. The 34 minute film was scripted by the author and poet Laurie Lee: http://www.colonialfilm.org.uk/node/4511

2. Proud and Prejudiced: Painswick-based Darkfibre produced 'Proud and Prejudiced' for Channel4; the story of two of the most controversial men in Britain. Tommy Robinson, a tanning salon manager, is the leader of the English Defence League, the biggest far-right street protest movement for a generation. Sayful Islam, a former tax inspector, heads a small group of Muslim extremists, who have become notorious for abusing British soldiers and burning poppies on Remembrance Day. Both men enjoy a cult-like status with loyal followers, both are specialists in making highly inflammatory speeches and defying the authorities, and both are from the same town: Luton. Caught in the middle is Sarah Allen, the leader of Luton Borough Council's 'Luton in Harmony' initiative, the official fight back against the town's reputation as a hotbed of extremism. Filmed over the course of a year, this is an intimate portrait of the two men and how a dangerous local feud has become an alarming national drama. More about it can be read here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/marc-hawker/proud-and-prejudice-the-jihadist-and-hooligan_b_1302375.html?ref=uk

It was Pick Of The Day with The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, The Mirror and The Independent. "Violent and Disturbing" says the Times. But its got some funny bits in it too! It is available until 25th March at: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/proud-and-prejudiced/4od

ARTICLE OF INTEREST

'The Power of Film' - the price collapse of projectors, quality video cameras, and video editing software has enabled a wealth of all sorts of documentaries: http://www.transitionnetwork.org/stories/guest-blogger/2012-02/power-film

http://stroudcommunity.tv

Newsletter by Philip Booth, Director, Stroud Community TV

Catch up on local news: film nights, PO raid and Lawns

Several local news items

Photo: View across to Bread Street from Ruscombe this afternoon

Randwick Film nights: The SNJ this week carries a story about the recent Randwick film nights - I sadly missed them - several people have told me how good they were - included a look at the Wap 33 years ago when the festival was revived - the first Randwick Mayor, the late Jim Turner had three of his sons in the audience.

There was also a film about the Woodchester pavement from 1973 when it was uncovered - I saw the replica made of this - wasn't expecting much but have to say even the replica was amazing - it has been on show locally at the Prinknash Abbey - see also BBC report re Prinknash Abbey.

Paganhill Post Office raided: Police are still hunting raiders who made a hole in a wall in an attempt to burgle the Paganhill post office at the Maypole Community Centre, in Stratford Road. The culprits apparently broke into the hall before gaining entry to the post office, but while they did get into the Post office nothing was stolen from the premises. Anyone with information about the break-in is urged to contact Gloucestershire police on 0845 090 1234, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Some good news is that the Paganhill Post Office is now getting used more - there were serious worries as after it moved trade dropped off to an unsustainable level - I think nobody knew it was there - however trade has picked up and it is now a going concern. However like all small post offices it faces many threats and some have said already it could be one of the ones listed for closure if we are not careful. Readers of this Blog will know I have been deeply unhappy about the whole process - Greens campaigned vigourously to try and ensure Tesco kept the Post Office in their store like in Nailsworth - too readily people accepted their refusal - read previous blogs here (it will come up with previous blogs and this one) - and see letter to SNJ at the time here.

Lawns work: Many will have noticed that work has begun on the ambitious plans to transform the Lake at The Lawns, just off Cainscross roundabout. The Ruscombe Brook Action Group has campaigned long and hard to get reed beds put in to help improve water quality - the brook ends up in that lake before going into the canal - I've attended a fair few meetings and while I am not wholly happy with the outcome it is better than original proposals and does have reed beds.

Some £35,000 worth of funding will go into dredging the lake, building up banks and more. The Stroud Community Land Trust who now manage the area, plan to turn it into a new space for wildlife and the community. The area, as locals will know, has fallen into disrepair over more than a decade. The two-hectare site, which lies in the shadow of Tricorn House, was formerly the garden of a large house known as The Lawns. Boasting a large lake, a flowing brook and hundreds of mature trees, the site has been described by residents as an oasis in an urban jungle. The house was bought by the county council and then demolished to make way for the new road. The old gardens remain, but in recent years the amount of litter, dogs mess and vandalism, along with the poor condition of many of the trees and the silting up of the lake, has meant many local people have stopped using it.

Kevin McCloud opens Boardwalk in Hamwell Leaze

I'm hoping a video of the opening will be uploaded soon but here are the photos from 6pm this evening - the opening of the new Boardwalk in Hamwell Leaze.

Photos: taken this evening

This boardwalk - made from recycled plastic - is a significant improvement to the area and opens up the marshy area to explore - it then loops back round. A collection of Cainscross Parish Councillors were there (Jenny Miles, Jo Elliot and Ron Smith) plus Stroud Valleys Project (Director Clare Mahdiyone and Ivi Szaboova-Baxendale who has been involved with many of the Hamwell Leaze biodiversity projects (see for example here) - various others were there - including me - partly with my role in the Ruscombe Brook Action Group (RBAG) - it is the brook that the boards go over!

As regulars to this blog will know RBAG have long been tackling issues like the sewage in the brook and have tried (with some success) to get more work done in this and other areas upstream to reduce silting at The Lake at the Lawns.

Anyhow we started off with a couple of speaches - first Cainscross Parish Chair Barry Pierce (pictured with papers in photo and with Graham Barton and Kevin McCloud cutting the ivy ribbon) - he gave particular thanks to former chair Graham Barton for his involvement in getting the project to fruition - then came Kevin McCloud who is now involved with the Cashes Green Hospital site (Hopefully his speech on the video) - I did bend his ear on a few issues like more allotments please....

The press took several pics then we had the chance to explore the new boardwalks - the kids loved it! The next part of project I hope will be to open up a path under the railway arches and meet up with the road by the fire station.

It is great that this area is being opened up more - Cainscross Parish has the highest population and smallest amount of green spaces in the whole of Stroud District - also the more people use this site the less likely it is to face vandalism.

Anyway a nice evening - and well done indeed to Cainscross Parish Council for getting this project off the ground. The last photo if you are wondering is Ivi from Stroud valleys looking at the slow worms! Excuse the hurried blog but just a taster of the opening....

Update 24th August 2010: well I've added the link at top of this page to the movie of the opening and already had an email saying, where is Hamwell Leaze. Well go the end of Hyett Road (off Cashes Green Road just after the railway bridge coming from Tricorn House) and then around the corner to the Sheltered Accommodation and it is the large area of green behind that.

Sewage problems to be tackled, but when?

Don't read this article at meal times! This article below was sent to the Randwick Runner last week to update folk as we had a great meeting of the Stroud Valleys Water Forum where we were able to ask many questions of Severn Trent.

Photos: from RBAG meeting and Water Forum meeting with Severn Trent

The Ruscombe Brook Action Group also met the night before to pull together questions and issues (see photo). We are also looking at the next phase for Puckshole and plans for Hamwell Leaze and The Lawns - see previous blog on this.

Other issues I managed to raise with Severn Trent at that meeting include a request for:
- more info re planned works,
- issues around new developments in the area,
- Severn Trent to set up a Customer liaison panel like Wessex Water so that we can have input and feedback from the company,
- them to extend their tariffs to include an Assist tariff that is best for those in financial difficulties (they already have many measures incl their ST Trust Fund but this would be a step further).

Anyway to that article:

Many will know that about five years ago there were well over 20 incidents of raw sewage getting into the Ruscombe Brook including the Randwick tributary. This was mainly due to the sewers surcharging usually during heavy rain. Since then the Ruscombe Brook Action Group (RBAG) have been meeting monthly and incidents have been reduced to a couple a year.

There have been many successes and actions along the way including improvements along key sites of the brook, clear-ups of rubbish and furniture in the brook, work with schools, sorting out misconnections where for example a washing machine had been discharging directly into the brook, a replacement of a pipe bridge, distributing several hundred fat traps to raise awareness about blockages, working to develop a flood catchment strategy for the whole Five Valleys and this December the fitting of a 13k new grill and culvert at Puckshole to reduce flooding. When we met with Severn Trent all that long ago they originally denied there was a problem. Since then we have come along way and they have now done extensive CCTV, flow monitoring, a manhole survey, developed a hydraulic model and much more along the sewer system.

Last week we met again with Severn Trent at Ebley Mill and the year old Stroud Valleys Water Forum. John O' Leary (pictured second from right) from Severn Trent gave us a comprehensive presentation of plans for the area including the huge works at Slad and Cashes Green. At those sites vast pipes will store 180 cubic meters of sewage during heavy rain then discharge slowly into the sewers when flows have reduced. This will hopefully stop the handful of properties in the area from getting sewage in their homes.

John was also very honest about the problems and challenges. Severn Trent now admit there are large sections of our sewer networks that are inadequate. In recent years the water company has, each year, cut tree roots that grow into the sewer pipes in the Ruscombe Valley and Randwick and down the sewers to The Lake at The Lawns opposite Tricorn House. These roots cause blockages which can lead to the surcharges and blown manhole covers...and plenty of not very pleasant stuff in our fields and gardens. Indeed on one occasion we picked up two buckets of sanitary ware alone!

Relining does not appear to be an option as the pipes are not large enough, so a proposal is being submitted for specialised 'pipe bursting' that will lead to replacement of sewer sections. However this is an expensive option as much of the sewer network is inaccessible to the 40 tonne truck they usually use. There are also hydraulic issues and other challenges. So we need to now wait to hear whether the plans are accepted and what level of priority the capital works will get.

While I am delighted the problems have been clearly accepted and documented I am concerned that we will now have to wait a long time. Severn Trent's recent determination by OFWAT means they will have to cut staff. This is not good, but we will have to see what this will mean in practice. We understand priority must be given to people that face raw sewage in their homes but equally we need to address this issue which leaves us open to sewage incidents.

RBAG have a number of projects that we are working on and will continue to push for improvements. We would welcome new members or anyone interested in learning more.

Cllr Philip Booth, Ruscombe Brook Action Group