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THE BALDOCK SOCIETY

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Our apologies for the delay in replying back to you on this one, but we had to come to your offices to purchase some of the plans as they were not all available on the web site and we wanted to consult our wider membership as well as the committee.

The committee have asked me to make the following points to you concerning the review of the documents at our recent Public and Committee meetings:

1. We are concerned about the loss of an employment zone within the town centre. We fully understand the short term view that there is no apparent demand at this present time, but with the Town Centre Enhancement programme about to commence, we expect this situation to change and Baldock to become a more active centre. One point we would make is that we had our accounts for 2006 audited at these premises in December 2006 but the Design statement states it has been empty for longer that that, this is an anomaly that needs to be clarified.

2. We are concerned that the historical elements of the old Quaker meeting House are protected and available should anyone wish to view them. As an office, this is achievable as entry can be arranged, but as a private dwelling, this option may not be available in the future. We are also concerned that any conversion protects the integrity of the Quaker building features and must rely upon your offices and English Heritage in this respect. There are serious concerns that as private dwellings, the paraphernalia that brings, such as satellite dishes, will damaged the otherwise well preserved exterior features of this unique building in Baldock.

3. The design of the new dwellings is a missed opportunity to add to architectural merit of the Quaker Meeting House and to integrate this development with the conservation area and the other historic buildings in Church Street. The design does not add merit or value. We are not sure if this is a deliberate attempt to understate the new buildings to contrast the Quaker Meeting House. This site demands the highest standards of sympathetic Architectural design to create something very special and something Baldock can be proud of. All we seem to have is a row of ordinary terraced houses, we see this as a missed opportunity.

4. We have serious concerns over the massing of dwellings on the site and the implications to car parking in the vicinity. The area is already clogged up with parking and this proposal is adding too many bedrooms to the area which will inevitably add to more congestion on the streets. We would see a reduction in massing and an increase of on-site car parking an essential element of any development of the site.

We have no objections in principal to development of the site, as long as it adds and protects to the very special Quaker Meeting House. In our opinion, there is till much work to be done in this respect.

Thank you.


Chairman
Baldock Society
 

This page last updated on 07/08/2008 21:34