Saving The Working Boys Home *UPDATE*

[dippyhippy]

Tee Hee!

 

There's no way P. Morgan, H.Bramer, T. Johnson or J. Jarvis will ever make it onto my Christmas card list!

 

Never! They'll not get one of my fairly traded cards!

[Cambo]

5 min by my map but they'd probably have an exit coming out by widemarsh common so maybe then it might be down to between 4 & 3 mins?

[Cambo]

Just thinking about response times to the medieval core the fire in high town occurred 21st of October 2010 & the feasibility report is dated April 2010! So has there response time changed, since the fire happened?

[megilleland]

Not sure whether this was posted

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority 

DECISION LIST 

POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE – 26 March 2014.  

 

Report Title

Asset Management Strategy : Hereford Fire Station  

 

Resolution

Resolved that: 

(i) the Policy and Resources Committee approve the proposed arrangement 

between Herefordshire Council and the Fire Authority to provide a new 

fire station in Hereford; and 

 

(ii) that the Policy and Resources Committee authorise the Chief Fire Officer 

to proceed with the project to completion on terms to be agreed with the 

Treasurer  and  Head  of  Legal  Services  and  in  consultation  with  the 

Chairman of the Fire Authority. 

 

 

 

Agendas, meetings and minutes - Monthly calendar

 

Calendar Events

 

Hereford and Worcester Fire & Rescue Authority

Policy & Resources Committee

Date: Monday 2 June 2014 Time: 10.30 am - 12.30 pm

Location: Worcester HQ

 

 

Hereford and Worcester Fire & Rescue Authority

Date: Monday 9 June 2014 Time: 10.30 am - 12.30 pm

Location: County Hall, Worcester

 

 

Herefordshire Council Planning Committee meetings

Wednesday 4 June 2014 10.00 am and

Wednesday 25 June 2014 10.00 am

 

Looks like there will be a lot of scurrying around in June to make sure that they are all singing from the same song sheet.

[Aylestone Voice]

The Faraday Road site is not owned by the Council and there is/was planning permission for housing on it.

But no matter how many times people talk about alternative sites these will only be looked at if they do not get planning permission in Bath Street

[Denise Lloyd]

Good letter in HT from JB of HCS

[Cambo]

The Faraday Road site is not owned by the Council and there is/was planning permission for housing on it.

But no matter how many times people talk about alternative sites these will only be looked at if they do not get planning permission in Bath Street

This is true Aylestone voice but it's a murky deal so we must keep digging to get to the source of it & reasons as it just doesn't add up?!

As for planning we need some good valid reasons for objecting so maybe we should also be talking about those reason & why it should be objected? As I for one have never done this or even looked @ a planning applicant before so it would be good to know wot to do in objecting? So I'm all ears for anyone wanting to give some advice in this area?!

[Cambo]

Megilleland can you tell me plz are members of the public allowed to attend these meetings?

[megilleland]

Megilleland can you tell me plz are members of the public allowed to attend these meetings?

 

Automatic right to attend all H&WFR Authority and Committee meetings unless the business if transacted would disclose “confidential information†or “exempt informationâ€. 

 

Read the first four pages of this Agenda

[Cambo]

Thanks again megilleland your like a genie in a bottle!…magic!

I have to say I did laugh when I read the fire drill as you'd think, if they'd did have a fire @ there gaff? they'd know wot to do? so you couldn't be in safer hands!

Where it says use appliances surely they mean fire extinguisher? I know there having to make cuts backs but they can't be really expecting visiting members of the public to man there engines?

[dippyhippy]

With regard to planning objections - if you lived nearby, surely the three storey tower they have planned would have a detrimental impact? Both visually, and given the training scenarios, environmentally if they are setting fire to it on a regular basis at the end of someone's garden!

The actual design of this building does not fit the bill of "enhancing a conservation area."

[Ubique]

Item 14 on page 6 of the same Agenda

 

14. Asset Management Strategy : Hereford Fire Station

To advise the Policy and Resources Committee of a proposed arrangement to provide the new fire Station in Hereford and seek approval to proceed with this project through to completion.

The appendix to this report includes exempt information. If there is to be a discussion of the details in the appendix the Committee will be asked first to make the following resolution:

 

Exclusion of the Press and Public

In the opinion of the Clerk to the Authority the meeting will not be, or is not likely to be open to the public at the time item 14 is considered for the following reason:

Item 14 is likely to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of the Authorit

[dippyhippy]

That closed door remains firmly shut then.

[Cambo]

Has anyone seen this weeks journal? Cllr Lloyd-Hayes has a piece in it to do with the fire service! I was told today but I've not got this weeks!!

[dippyhippy]

Yup!

I've seen it. Its about the petition against the cuts to the fire service.

 

Interesting to note, "Seven petitions with over 9,500 signatures objecting to either budget reductions or the removal of pumps from local stations were submitted to the consultation, but the brigade only counted these as seven responses because they were 'organised outside the main consultation, and were either concerned in general about the overall funding reduction or were concerned specifically about reductions in fire cover in certain fire areas."

 

So the legitimate concerns of 9,500 folks, just swept aside.

 

What a brilliant consultation excersise.........

[dippyhippy]

Right then!

 

I have just read through this entire thread, to refresh my memory, and at this stage in the proceedings, I think its well worth rereading a couple of excellent posts.

 

Page 12. Megilleland's post number 321.

 

Page 15. Megilleland's post number 370, followed by Two Wheels post, number 371.

 

There is a lot of relevant information from the National Planning Policy.

[megilleland]

Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority 

Policy and Resources Committee 

2 June 2014 

Agenda 

 

Nothing on this upcoming agenda concerning the re-siting of Hereford Fire Station. Must be discussing this again behind closed doors.

[megilleland]

The Architect's Heritage Statement for Robert Owen Vocational School. Sounds as if the highlighted comments could easily be duplicated for the Working Boys Home in Bath Street. Who's paying for all this work?

 

 

Robert Owen Vocational School | Heritage Statement

This statement forms part of the application for proposed works at Robert Owen Vocational School, Blackfriars Street, Hereford, HR4 9HS and should be read in conjunction with the relevant Design and Access Statement. 

 

The Heritage Concerns: 

 

* The site falls within Herefordshire Counci's Central Conservation Area, this forms the principal concern of the Heritage Statement. 

 

* The 1940's timber clad hutted building is said to be of no significant architectural value, is currently in a poor state of repair and unfit for purpose with regard to the schools current and future requirements. 

 

* Confirmation has been received by the archeological officer that only a watching brief is required and that no requirement for intrusive investigation will be required prior to commencement. 

 

Heritage Listing: 

* Neither building on site is listed yet the council recognises the late Victorian / early Edwardian School House as a non-designated heritage asset and to be of architectural and community value. 

 

Historical Context: 

Herefordshire County Council historical records hold details of the land purchases on the Blackfriars site in both 1909 and 1937. These coincide with the construction of both the original school house and the later addition of the hutted timber buildings. 

 

The original Victorian School House was constructed in 1912 using traditional materials which were predominantly red brick with contrasting stone banding which complimented the traditional Victorian details of pitched roofs covered with a slate finish. 

 

The building was originally used by the Hereford High School for Boys and in 1940 the hutted timber buildings were constructed providing additional classrooms and kitchen facilities. 

 

During the 1980's and 1990's the building was occupied by Herefordshire Council's Education Department in addition to there being evidence of a shared accommodation agreement between the council and Herefordshire College of Technology. Before the buildings closure and transferal to Robert Owen Vocational School, the building was home to the council's Legal Services department. 

 

The Proposed Works: 

The late Victorian / early Edwardian School House is recognised by the local planning authority as a 'non-designated heritage asset'. Although it is not a listed structure it does lie within the cities central conservation area and is a building of significant value both in architectural terms and importance to the local community. The school house is in a current state of disrepair and requires significant restoration work to enable the building to be used once again as a place of education. 

 

Due to the recognised status of the existing school house a great deal of care will be taken with the historic fabrics repair and restoration. The key details are as follows: 

 

• Internally the suspended ceilings installed in the 1970's which feature in many of the classrooms will be removed to reveal the original lath and plaster and associated details. 

 

• In the hall the later addition of the mezzanine floor will be removed to reveal the full extent of the barrel roof. 

 

• The scheme will retain all of the original glazed panelled doors and their linings and will be repaired where necessary. 

 

• The main thoroughfares of the school will be repaired and returned to their original state, with the associated details either repaired or replaced to match exiting. 

 

• Existing wood block flooring which was previously covered up will be exposed and renovated. 

 

• Externally all of the original timber framed windows will be retained and restored. 

 

• All gutters and down pipes will be replaced to match existing. 

 

• Any new openings either internally or externally have been designed to not be to the detriment of the existing structure. 

 

The proposed new build education facility has been carefully designed alongside the existing Victorian School House to balance the needs of the school whilst respecting the existing aesthetic qualities of the built form. Design cues from the material and colour palettes to varying the heights of the punch hole glazing seek to connect the proposed and existing. 

 

Respecting the quality of the existing school house has meant the retention of the size and scale of its internal spaces as much as possible and this has ultimately meant that many of the larger spaces required by the school have been located within the newly proposed building. For example the vocational nature of the school requires specialist science labs along with a shop front design to cater for the schools retail and management courses. These could not be accommodated within the existing school house without significant internal alteration which would be detrimental to the character of the building. 

 

The key exterior design details of the proposed new build are as follows: 

 

• The red brick base of the proposed new build in addition to a contrasting cream brick banding at ground floor level seeks to ground the design and visually link the new to the old. 

 

• The punched hole window design has been specifically chosen with variations in size and proportion to relate to the existing glazing ofthe school house. 

 

• The grey cladding on the proposed first floor has been chosen to provide a similar contrast to that of the slate roof of the existing school. 

 

• Due to the space requirements of the school the proposed new build requires a third floor. The design has carefully considered floor to ceiling heights to reduce the overall size of the proposed form, in addition to using a lighter grey cladding and stepping the floor away from the street to further reduce its visual impact and relationship to the existing. 

 

• The proposed canopy to the ground floor assists in reducing the potential solar gains on the builds south facade as well as being a principle element in breaking to the form and scale of the proposed building. The canopy also wraps around the courtyard element of the building providing a degree of protection for the users during periods of inclement weather. 

 

Summary: 

The importance of restoring the school house for the long term benefit ofthe local community and city as a whole is seen as a principal goal of the proposed works. In order for this to be achieved it will inherently impact the design and financial constraints towards the new build. 

 

National Planning Policy Framework 2012, Section 12 Page 30 Para 126 refers to heritage assets as an 'irreplaceable resource' and that they should be put to 'viable uses consistent with their conservation'. The proposals seek to revive and restore the building as a centre of education once more whilst respecting the existing school house's historic importance.

 

A great deal of effort has been placed on designing a purpose built education facility that respects the existing school house whilst for filling the clients brief and financial situation. The wider context has also been carefully assessed with the close proximity of several large scale commercial and industrial units and how the new build sits within this environment. 

 

The design of the scheme is a careful balance of the resources of the client which ultimately focuses on the restoration of the existing school house. The proposed new build sits within the footprint of the previous 1940's hutted addition and when viewed from Widemarsh Street the vast majority of the scheme will be hidden behind the school house. 

 

[megilleland]

I have posted the letter which appeared in the Hereford Times 22nd May 2014 from John Bothamley, Chairman, Hereford Civic Society with his latest comments. 

 

See post 58 under Fire Station Public Meeting.

[Cambo]

Yep that's a fine building & the restoration work being done there is a good thing.but your so right megilleland there's no reason why that couldn't be applied to the old boys home even if the council don't want to do it then why not let a private developer have a go? The building has so much potential & in doing so it will look a thousand times more superior than that eyesore there purposing putting in its place!

[dippyhippy]

Thanks for posting this info, Megilleland. I posted my thoughts on the Black friars redevelopment earlier, on the Weekly Planning/ Public Notices thread, after walking past it, and seeing the artists impression of the finished look.

There is no reason why The Boys Home shouldn't be shown the same sympathetic restoration as Blackfriars.

 

Thanks also for hearing my plea,and posting a link to John Bothamleys letter!

You are a star!

[twowheelsgood]

Given that the council are now indicating that the present fire station will be used as university accommodation, the land swap makes even less sense. The Bath Street site is twice the size, and much less constrained, thus twice as many flats or whatever for the university, without all the legal and other costs. It doesn't make sense. But then, very little of Hereford Future's legacy does.

[Cambo]

Yea it's an interesting one that twowheels the fire station being on the list for buildings to be used by NUH?

[dippyhippy]

Very disappointed to hear that Cllr. Alan Seldon and Cllr. Liz Harvey have lost the positions of chair and vice chair of the Overview and Scrutiny committee.

 

To be replaced by Sebastian Bowen and Barry Durkin.

 

Seldon and Harvey made for quite a team. They bought credibility to this committee. I fear this may now be lost......

[Cambo]

Hi dippy I left a question for cllr Liz Harvey as why they never looked @ the land swap deal? on the HT website no answer as yet!

[dippyhippy]

I've asked lots of questions via HT in the past, and if they were directed to Liz Harvey, I always got a response......so give her a little time, I'm sure she will reply!

 

Totally off topic - but what a bloody dreadful day! Makes me feel really glum, all this rain!

[Cambo]

I will!

I know, I've been out working in it all day!!…bloody soaked I was!!!

[dippyhippy]

Oh, poor you!!

 

Never mind - hopefully bank holiday Monday will make up for it!

[Cambo]

I'm working then too & tomorrow…I think I must have been a rotten sod in a previous life as it feels like I'm being punished for it right now?! Lol

[dippyhippy]

Preparation is key, Cambo!

 

Pacamac and wellies! Tried and tested!