Remembering the Exeter Blitz - 6th of May
One of the worst effected areas of the city during the Exeter Blitz of 1942 was Newtown, and residents will have the opportunity to remember and learn how the area suffered during the war at a special event on Sunday 6th May. Newtown Community Association is hosting a special blitz themed event at The Hut in Belmont Park from 11am until 2pm. This will include an exhibition on the blitz of Newtown, former residents who lived in Newtown during the war will be on hand for a question and answer session, and there will also be a cafe.
After the event, at 2.15pm the association is leading a free 1940's themed guided tour of Newtown which is anticipated to take approximately 60-75 minutes. The walk will start at The Hut in the middle of Belmont Park.
Newtown Community Choir
The Newtown COmmunity Choir is in full swing. It's great fun. The warm ups are a laugh and we're looking at a diverse range of songs. Last night we start on the lovely Blur song "Tender".
We have been lucky enough to secure the services of Emma Welton. Emma is a professional musician who moved to Exeter a couple of years ago. She and her 4 year old son are regular visitors to Belmont Park. Emma plays violin and double bass as well as running choirs. She says you can't have too many community choirs (and already directs two others in Exeter).
The initial trial is for 8 sessions, at 7 – 9pm in the hut on the following Tuesdays:
8th , 15th , 22nd , 29th May
26th June, 3rd , 10th and 17th July.
And if people are interested (which I am sure you will be!) we’ve also got the option for another 4 sessions over the summer, whose dates we haven’t yet fixed.
The choir is intended to be completely inclusive, and children old enough to participate are welcome. It really does not matter what your singing ability is, we really want everyone who fancies a go to come along. It will be fun.
During the trial period we will charge £4 per adult per session; £1 for a child accompanied by an adult. Later, once we see how things are going and what our on-going attendance is likely to be, we can decide what the regular fee needs to be and whether or not we need to formally agree things like concessions. Of course, the more regular members we have, the lower the cost will be for each of us.
I know the choir is going to take off, so I am thinking beyond the trial period to our first performance. One idea is that we sing at this year’s Winter Warmer (in December)… and there are also various NCA cafes over the summer…
The choir has its own email address: choir@newtowncommuity.org.uk
It is really important that you spread the word! If you have interested friends or family, ask them to send an email to choir@newtowncommunity.org.uk and they will be added to the mailing list. I can also be contacted on 07946 637 782 if necessary.
Peter
Choir Posters Downloads
A4 PDF Version - everyone ought to be able to handle this one.
A3 PDF Version - for those with a big printer or who are deft with scissors and sellotape
A4 SVG Version or A3 SVG Version - for those who know what a .svg file is and can handle it.
Vision News
May Update
Technical problems issuing from the original planning consultations have delayed a decision on the planning application. However, a new position (see picture) and some external design modifications are now agreed and this allows the application to be presented to the Planning Committee in late June. A positive decision will hopefully prevail - all letters / e-mails of support to NCA's secretary or to City councillors messrs. Branston and Spackman will be really helpful.
It is hoped that the second half of the year will allow enough time to seek the balance of funding required for the construction of the building in 2013.
Association Targets New Community Fund.
Newtown Community Association are setting their sights on a new fund, administered by the City Council, called the New Homes Bonus reported Ian Harrison, chair of NCA.
The Association is actively planning a new building to replace the existing WWII Hut in Belmont Park with a new, versatile “eco” building. The project is called “The Vision” and on 23rd April 2012 the community group submitted an application for the new fund.
Mr Harrison went on to say the new fund, which promises to be a substantial boost to large and small projects throughout the City, is directly linked to the housing development in the City. A proportion of the total fund will be specifically ring fenced to address existing deficiencies in local facilities. He added “The Association is excited to be involved in the first wave of applications for funding. This is an important fund and should assist many communities in the future. If the Association is successful it will allow the Belmont Park Vision Project move forward to the detailed design stage. It will also, if match funding can be obtained, allow construction to proceed in 2013 subject to planning consent"
Cllr Branston, ward Cllr. for Newtown Ward, commented “ I am delighted the Association have made sufficient progress to be able to apply for a grant form this fund. The fund's establishment is a very welcome addition to community groups across the City. The application process is simple and I hope many organisations will be able to make full use of it."
The New Homes Bonus is a powerful, simple and transparent incentive originating from central government for housing growth. It is based on the council tax of additional homes built and those brought back into use, with a premium amount for affordable homes and paid for the following six years. It ensures that those local authorities which promote and welcome growth can share in the economic benefits, and build the communities in which people want to live and work."
Here is what the new building will look like. This small version of the picture doesn't really do it justice. You can download a bigger version from the vision page, where you can also find a copy of the Sustainability Statement that formed part of the planning application.
Update 13th March
Responses to the planning application need to be with the City Council Planning Dept by the 21st March.
A report by the area planning officer will be submitted on the 29th
The planning committee meeting will be on the 16th of April. Members of the public can attend and a designated representative of the proposal can speak for 3 minutes.
The application will go to committee because a number of objections have received.
Planning Application Submitted
The planning application was registered on 16 February 2012 and given reference number 12/0246/03. This reference needs to be quoted on any correspondence with the council.
The council will advertise the application in the Express and Echo on 23 February 2012 and the end of the consultation period will therefore be 15 March 2012. The information we provided with the application will be made available on the Council's web site.
If the application is reported to the Planning Committee, individuals with a direct interest, applicants or their agents are allowed to speak at the Committee meeting. Details are available at the Civic Centre or on the council’s web site www.exeter.gov.uk/planning.
Update 15th February
- A final draft set of drawings was discussed by the management committee and trustees on 1st February
- A few alterations were made and some other possibilities to the design were considered.
- All attending were happy with the outcome of the meeting and NCA's architect has been instructed to amend the drawings and then submit the planning application on Friday 17th February.
- Whilst the application goes through the legal processes a business plan will be completed for the running of the new building and to demonstrate, particularly to funding bodies, that NCA is a competent organisation.
Update January
Ian Harrison, Newtown Community Association chair, is very pleased to report that good progress has been made since the community workshop in October 2011.
Here is a short summary:
- Close liaison between NCA and its architect, Living Space, between the end of October and early December has resulted in a very presentable draft design of the proposed new building.
- This design was ready for a meeting between City councillors, the City's Director of Planning and NCA on Dec. 5th.
- The above meeting went very well. NCA's proposals met with much support and approval.
- NCA was told that a new fund – The New Homes Bonus – will be available to bid for in 2012 and could be a real boost to NCA's funding requirements.
- A meeting was held with the City planners prior to Christmas which went well. The designs are presently with the City's conservation officer as the Park is in a designated conservation area.
- Living Space expects a formal response from the planners in very early February.
- Comments / advice from the planners, additional adjustments from NCA and Living Space will be merged into a final set of plans and design in February.
- 3D images will be added to the package to be presented as a planning application and an application will be submitted to the City Planning Department in late February.
- The application should take a maximum of 12 weeks to be considered and hopefully approved.
- In the meantime NCA's committee will prepare a business plan for the new building to meet the needs of possible funders.
As you will see there is a lot going on. If you wish to see the present plans they are up on the board in the Hut or you can contact me directly to discuss any aspect of the Project.
The planning process will give all residents a formal opportunity to make their views known to the Planning Authority. This process will be overseen by the City Council with notices posted locally and an advert in the local paper.
The planning application will be submitted on the 17th February and is expected to take between 8 and 12 weeks to be determined.
The Newtown Community Association
The Association exists to bring the wider Newtown community together by providing an affordable venue for activities and events.
We are based at The Hut in Belmont Park, Exeter, which we operate for groups, families and individuals to use as a venue for all kinds of activities and events.
We also organise or host events ourselves from time to time and take part in larger events in the park such as the Respect Festival.
How Can You Help?
We are ALWAYS looking for people to get involved in whichever capacity suits them from making cakes to editing the web site!
- Help in the cafe kitchen (every two months in the spring, summer and autumn).
- Bake cakes for the cafes.
- Join a sub-committee to organise an event.
- Help at events.
- Help with design of flyers ad posters.
- Help with hut maintenance.
- Come along to meetings and have your say (approximately every six weeks).
- Become an officer of the committee with special responsibility.
If you have skills to offer contact the Secretary (secretary@newtowncommunity.org.uk) or call 01392 677575
Forthcoming Events and Cafés
Check the Events page for a list of 2012 cafe dates.
Next association meeting
Tuesday 1st May at 8pm the hut in Belmont Park. Minutes of the last meeting are available here. Minutes of all previous meetings are available on the About Us page.
Here is a complete list of meeting dates for 2012. Get them into your diary now.
Meetings 2012
Saturday 18 February AGM
Tuesday 20 March
Tuesday 1 May
Tuesday 12 June
Tuesday 24 July
Tuesday 4 September
Tuesday 16 October
Tuesday 20 November
Click here for the minutes of the last AGM, the Chair and Secretary's Report.