Monday, October 09, 2006
17/06/2006 Sample asks Prince Charles to intervene to stop Monstrous Carbuncle
17th June 2006
A former Mayor of Salisbury Cllr Paul Sample, has written to HRH The Prince of Wales, asking Prince Charles to visit Bourne Hill to see the plans for the Council’s £14 million extension.
Cllr Sample wants the Prince to meet local residents who are opposed to the new extension. He says the Council’s plans are a monstrous carbuncle.
“Highgrove is an hour’s drive from Salisbury. I have asked the Prince of Wales to come and see these plans for himself.
“I am sure he will agree that the new building will be a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much loved and elegant friend.”
The text of the letter to the Prince is below.
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His Royal Highness
The Prince of Wales
Clarence House
London
SW1A 1BA
17th June 2006
Sir,
Ref: Bourne Hill Council House, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Please find time to read this letter personally because it concerns the fate that awaits an important Georgian building as a result of unsympathetic development.
I write as a former Mayor of the City of New Sarum (1997/1998), a Wiltshire County Councillor and member of Wiltshire Police Authority of 12 years standing and a member of Salisbury District Council for over 16 years.
Sir, may I draw the attention of Your Royal Highness to a speech which you delivered on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Royal Institute of British Architects Royal Gala Evening at Hampton Court Palace on 30th May, 1984?
For your reference, I enclose a copy of the speech. It has become famous for your criticism of plans for a new extension at the National Gallery as “like a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend.”
I too have much-loved and elegant friend in the form of a Grade 2* listed building in the grounds of Bourne Hill gardens at Salisbury, in Wiltshire. The building, which currently houses the local council, is very special and of great importance.
Surrounded by many mature trees, it was formerly a theological college, and has a unique “Secret Garden” in the grounds. There is an ancient scheduled monument close by.
In 1984, Sir, you said: “For far too long, it seems to me, some planners and architects have consistently ignored the feelings and wishes of the mass of ordinary people in this country.”
This is happening at Salisbury, where the District Council now proposes a £14 million council office development which will destroy the “Secret Garden”, remove 14 mature trees – including a Sweet Chestnut, and add a monstrous glass and stone Civic Centre extension. The new building will entirely dwarf the present Georgian building, the nearby St Edmunds Church, and the surrounding area.
Sir, the designs for the extension are generally regarded by local residents - and a majority of the City’s District Councillors - to be wholly at odds with the old building and the surrounding architecture. I have yet to meet one local resident who supports the plans.
The scheme has been condemned by the Georgian Society, and while English Heritage started by opposing the development, they changed their mind at about the time that negotiations re-started with Salisbury District Council over the Stonehenge visitors centre.
A petition against the development has been signed by over 2,200 of your most loyal subjects and not a week goes by without some mention of the opposition to the scheme in the local newspaper, The Salisbury Journal, and on local radio. Another petition is doing the rounds as we speak and local people are lobbying the local government planning minister to call the decision in.
Sir, when the Council recently applied for planning permission, the City’s Area Committee voted by a majority to throw out the scheme. They felt it was out of character with the Georgian building. They felt the extension was too large, the destruction of the 14 trees was unacceptable and that there would be an adverse impact on parking and traffic flows in the surrounding residential streets.
A week later, the Council’s ruling Group, composed primarily of Councillors who do not live in the City, overturned the decision and they are now pressing ahead with the plans.
The cost of the scheme has doubled in three years and, with local elections and local government re-organisation planned by the Government, this hasty decision could spoil the character of an important building forever, and for no good reason.
Your Royal Highness, I have been on the Council for over 16 years and I cannot remember local residents being angrier about a planning issue. There is a widespread feeling that the Council are acting against the wishes of local people by giving themselves planning permission for a development which they would not have approved if it had been proposed by a private developer.
Given the refusal of the Council to listen to local people, I am petitioning Your Royal Highness to make an official or unofficial visit to the site and to meet the local residents and see the plans for yourself.
I know that you are an exceedingly busy man, with many important engagements to attend to. I am confident, Sir, that when you see Bourne Hill for yourself you will see parallels with the National Gallery extension all those years ago. Like then, some important heads need to banged together on this matter, Sir, and you are the man to do it!
It is only an hour and fifteen minutes’ drive from Highgrove to Salisbury. I am sure that you could find a few hours for this important mission. I am confident that you would be given a most welcome reception in Salisbury and your presence would give great heart to your most loyal subjects - who love this fine old Georgian building, the wonderful trees and exciting Secret Garden.
At the very least, Sir, I am praying that you will find the time – if only a few minutes – to raise this matter with the Prime Minister and his Government. Someone, somewhere, needs to step in and draw this madness to a swift conclusion
I have the honour to remain, Sir, Your Royal Highness's most humble and obedient servant.
Cllr Paul Sample
District Councillor for St Edmund & Milford
Mayor of New Sarum 1997/1998.
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A former Mayor of Salisbury Cllr Paul Sample, has written to HRH The Prince of Wales, asking Prince Charles to visit Bourne Hill to see the plans for the Council’s £14 million extension.
Cllr Sample wants the Prince to meet local residents who are opposed to the new extension. He says the Council’s plans are a monstrous carbuncle.
“Highgrove is an hour’s drive from Salisbury. I have asked the Prince of Wales to come and see these plans for himself.
“I am sure he will agree that the new building will be a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much loved and elegant friend.”
The text of the letter to the Prince is below.
--
His Royal Highness
The Prince of Wales
Clarence House
London
SW1A 1BA
17th June 2006
Sir,
Ref: Bourne Hill Council House, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Please find time to read this letter personally because it concerns the fate that awaits an important Georgian building as a result of unsympathetic development.
I write as a former Mayor of the City of New Sarum (1997/1998), a Wiltshire County Councillor and member of Wiltshire Police Authority of 12 years standing and a member of Salisbury District Council for over 16 years.
Sir, may I draw the attention of Your Royal Highness to a speech which you delivered on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Royal Institute of British Architects Royal Gala Evening at Hampton Court Palace on 30th May, 1984?
For your reference, I enclose a copy of the speech. It has become famous for your criticism of plans for a new extension at the National Gallery as “like a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend.”
I too have much-loved and elegant friend in the form of a Grade 2* listed building in the grounds of Bourne Hill gardens at Salisbury, in Wiltshire. The building, which currently houses the local council, is very special and of great importance.
Surrounded by many mature trees, it was formerly a theological college, and has a unique “Secret Garden” in the grounds. There is an ancient scheduled monument close by.
In 1984, Sir, you said: “For far too long, it seems to me, some planners and architects have consistently ignored the feelings and wishes of the mass of ordinary people in this country.”
This is happening at Salisbury, where the District Council now proposes a £14 million council office development which will destroy the “Secret Garden”, remove 14 mature trees – including a Sweet Chestnut, and add a monstrous glass and stone Civic Centre extension. The new building will entirely dwarf the present Georgian building, the nearby St Edmunds Church, and the surrounding area.
Sir, the designs for the extension are generally regarded by local residents - and a majority of the City’s District Councillors - to be wholly at odds with the old building and the surrounding architecture. I have yet to meet one local resident who supports the plans.
The scheme has been condemned by the Georgian Society, and while English Heritage started by opposing the development, they changed their mind at about the time that negotiations re-started with Salisbury District Council over the Stonehenge visitors centre.
A petition against the development has been signed by over 2,200 of your most loyal subjects and not a week goes by without some mention of the opposition to the scheme in the local newspaper, The Salisbury Journal, and on local radio. Another petition is doing the rounds as we speak and local people are lobbying the local government planning minister to call the decision in.
Sir, when the Council recently applied for planning permission, the City’s Area Committee voted by a majority to throw out the scheme. They felt it was out of character with the Georgian building. They felt the extension was too large, the destruction of the 14 trees was unacceptable and that there would be an adverse impact on parking and traffic flows in the surrounding residential streets.
A week later, the Council’s ruling Group, composed primarily of Councillors who do not live in the City, overturned the decision and they are now pressing ahead with the plans.
The cost of the scheme has doubled in three years and, with local elections and local government re-organisation planned by the Government, this hasty decision could spoil the character of an important building forever, and for no good reason.
Your Royal Highness, I have been on the Council for over 16 years and I cannot remember local residents being angrier about a planning issue. There is a widespread feeling that the Council are acting against the wishes of local people by giving themselves planning permission for a development which they would not have approved if it had been proposed by a private developer.
Given the refusal of the Council to listen to local people, I am petitioning Your Royal Highness to make an official or unofficial visit to the site and to meet the local residents and see the plans for yourself.
I know that you are an exceedingly busy man, with many important engagements to attend to. I am confident, Sir, that when you see Bourne Hill for yourself you will see parallels with the National Gallery extension all those years ago. Like then, some important heads need to banged together on this matter, Sir, and you are the man to do it!
It is only an hour and fifteen minutes’ drive from Highgrove to Salisbury. I am sure that you could find a few hours for this important mission. I am confident that you would be given a most welcome reception in Salisbury and your presence would give great heart to your most loyal subjects - who love this fine old Georgian building, the wonderful trees and exciting Secret Garden.
At the very least, Sir, I am praying that you will find the time – if only a few minutes – to raise this matter with the Prime Minister and his Government. Someone, somewhere, needs to step in and draw this madness to a swift conclusion
I have the honour to remain, Sir, Your Royal Highness's most humble and obedient servant.
Cllr Paul Sample
District Councillor for St Edmund & Milford
Mayor of New Sarum 1997/1998.
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