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HAVE YOU BEEN HERE BEFORE . . .? If this is not your first visit to the website you may wish to take another route into the website rather than follow the information route above. Returning visitors are invited to click here for news items. Meanwhile, the latest news appears below. |
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Disappointed at lost opportunity THE Development Control Committee of Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council approved the application by the Dowhills Group to build homes on the walled garden site at their meeting on Thursday, March 5. We called an Extraordinary General Meeting to ask members whether we should continue the fight. After that meeting, here is a message from the NWGS Committee.
THANK YOU to everyone for all their interest in, and support for, the fight to save the Walled Garden. Unfortunately, despite the generous pledges offered by so many of you, we were unable to raise enough money to mount a legal challenge to the planning committee's decision. This was especially disappointing as our legal counsel believed we had a strong case. We are very disappointed by this and remain disappointed that our town and borough council missed the opportunity to recreate an historic garden within our town, instead opting for yet more housing. Our only hope now is for Parliament to review the case. Our local MP, Edward Timpson, has raised the matter on our behalf and we are now waiting to see whether Hazel Blears, the Environment Secretary, will ask for a review of the issue.
[On April 1, Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council was absorbed with other borough councils into Cheshire East Council). |
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Our plan for the garden
FOR our ideas on the garden if it could have been bought for the town, see here. |
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Chairman hits out at Councillors FOLLOWING the decision of the Borough Council Development Control Committee to permit housing to go ahead on the walled garden site, our Chairman (Peter Harrington) hit out at local councillors. See his remarks here. |
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Pie in the sky? IN The Nantwich Chronicle of February 18, Cllr Bill McGinnis of Nantwich Town Council, described the Nantwich Walled Garden Society's ideas for the walled garden as "Pie in the Sky". Not surprisingly, we don't agree. A letter was sent to the Editor of The Nantwich Chronicle by our Secretary, Nicola Booth. Read it here. |
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MP supports our campaign to save the Walled Garden THE Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich, Edward Timpson, is supporting our efforts to save the Walled Garden. He visited the garden to see for himself what Nantwich could lose if the plans went ahead. Our Chairman, Peter Harrington, says Mr Timpson "has written to Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council to register his concern at the proposal to build six houses and two apartments on the walled garden site and to call for the garden's retention because of its architectural and historical significance." Mr Harrington added: "This is encouraging because his backing and the general support we have received from Nantwich residents - both for the petition against the planning application and with many letters of opposition - shows how much everyone values this part of our heritage and wants to keep it." Photo by courtesy of Edward Timpson MP |
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Member funds legal planning specialist THANKS have been expressed to Mr George Basnett who kindly funded a legal planning specialist when we made representations to Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council opposing the latest planning application for the Walled Garden. Retiring Secretary, Pat Fulford, said: "We were able to receive such good advice from them. Mr Basnett really came to our aid at a key time and I am sure that all members will wish to thank him." Read the representation made on our behalf by the legal planning specialist. |
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Support for our objection TWO members of Nantwich Town Council have backed our campaign with a letter to the Editor of the Nantwich Chronicle. This was after around 200 people signed our petition against the latest planning application for the garden site when he had a publicity stall on The Square on Saturday, September 6. See this page. |
This is a view of the walled garden in September 2008 - overgrown, with the Kingsley Fields housing development in the background. It was taken by Pat Fulford from a neighbouring property. For a larger view, click here. |
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Secretary retires PAT Fulford has retired as Secretary of the society because of illness. Excerpts from the letter she sent to all members before the Annual General Meeting appears on this page. |
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The story of the garden . . . so far From 1545 to the present . . .the story of the garden. Click here to read it. |
