Tonight Stephanie and I met with the Victoria Embankment Conservation Area group - making a unique moment when two communities connected by one asset came together.
Our mutual interest is, of course, the River Skerne, and more particularly, its banks.
Darlington has 16 conservation areas, of which Victoria Embankment is one of the more recent, being created in 2007. The character appraisal makes fascinating reading, describing a journey of architecture from the 1890's through to present times.
When Esh Development first applied for planning permission on Feethams Football site, they promised to retain a wild-life corridor to the west side of the Skerne. This was an area historically protected by the east boundary of Darlington Cricket Club. The concept was to form a river-side walkway alongside the new access road.
Our recent survey of the river bank indicates that this idea has either been abandoned or alternatively given very little priority. Whilst the unsightly cracked concrete wall was removed, galvanised fences took its place where the walkway was supposed to pass, and behind, the development has impacted on the line of trees and river bank edge.
Together with the Victoria Embankment group, we propose to make a difference. I have volunteered on your behalf to join a joint residents steering committee (the Kingfisher group) to examine the options available to us as residents to protect and enhance the west bank, to spare it further environmental encroachment, and to ensure that the riverside character and tree-line is preserved.
Do get in touch with Stephanie or me if you have any ideas or thoughts about the riverside.
The 1st meeting of the Kingfisher committee took place at South Terrace on 21 January between 5.00 and 6.00pm.
ReplyDeleteAttending:
Michael (Victoria Embankment)
Jane (Victoria Embankment)
Stephen (South Terrace)
1. On 20 January, Michael emailed Roy Merrett concerning:
a) the provision of the wildlife corridor on the west bank of the Skerne;
b) tree protection measures for the trees on the west bank of the Skerne;
c) ground levels within the Church Homes development.
2. We agreed that we should await Roy's reply before taking further action, although if no reply is received within a reasonable time, we shall involve our councillors at a political level.
3. Stephen reported that Church Homes contractors were erecting a new fence between the service road and the west bank. The line from the Cricket Club Keepers house alongside the service road to the development appears appropriate, in that it follows the line of the previous concrete slab fence. It is not yet known how far this extends, and whether it is intended to continue through the development.
4. We considered that this issue was critically important to preserve a wildlife corridor. We would wish the fence line to continue through to Polam Lane. We seek to preclude an development or enclosure of the river bank within the curtilage of new homes.
5. Jane is to write to Church Homes/Persimmon to seek information concerning this point and to arrange a timely site meeting with Church Regional Director and site supervisor to explore and explain this and other development issues connected with the site. During Stephen's absence this will be attended by Jane and Michael.
6. Proposing that the wildlife corridor is maintained and protected, we seek assurance that it will be securely fenced, that a locked access point should be provided for Environment Agency maintenance and conservation access, that development has not impacted on trees, and that all debris on the river-side of the new fence is removed before the corridor is secured.
7. Stephen has offered to undertake/assist with any legal issues on a pro bono basis for the committee and the group, and to write to councillors.
Our next meeting will be arranged by email, the timing subject to a reply from or delay by Roy Merrett.