The Herbert Collins Estates Residents Association Newsletters

How will you be spending the extra bank holiday when Prince William and Kate get married on Friday 29th April? Why not organise a party with your neighbours?
The Committee of HCERA decided they would not be organising anything but may be able to offer help to those who are planning an event. Send us an email or contact your street rep if you think we can help.

The Swaythling Lawn Tennis Club is a small and friendly LTA-affiliated tennis club with two well maintained grass courts, located in the corner of the lower green in Ethelburt Avenue. We welcome beginners and juniors as well as more experienced players. Fees for first time members are £40 for adults, £20 for under 18’s and £80 for families. The new season will start on Sat 30th April. Please come along to one of our mix-ins on Monday and Wednesday evenings, or on Saturday afternoon, for a chat about the club. Further information can be obtained by visiting our website www.swaythlingtennis.org.uk

Annual Plant, Cake and Book Sale / Open Day
The tennis club welcomes you to our annual sale of plants, homemade cakes and books on Saturday 14th May at the club, starting at 1.30p.m. The courts will also be open for the afternoon giving non-members the chance to see the club, pick up information and have a game for free.

I was motivated to write my article in the previous newsletter, by seeing that a resident had made planning applications for things I thought did not require them: like-for-like replacement of widows, front gates and a gravel parking area. Chris Lyons, the City Council’s Planning and Development Manager, has now clarified this.

On replacement windows:
We have discussed this matter within the Planning Department and have agreed that where windows are replaced that are not discernibly different to the existing windows (i.e, like-for-like) then no development will have taken place and therefore consent is not needed. Obviously if the windows are different in any way, even where the glazing bars are thicker, then I would advise any resident to check with the Historic Environment Team before purchase or installation. We try to be pragmatic but we are also aware that small cumulative changes can have a significant impact on a Conservation Area.

On gates and gravel driveway
I have looked into this matter and agree that it does not appear that the proposal required planning permission as the permitted development rights do not appear to have been removed either by the article 4 notice or by conditions on the planning permission. When we receive a planning application we proceed to determine it in good faith that permission was required and unfortunately do not have the resources to check every application submitted to see if permission was needed. As I’m sure you are aware, determining if permission is needed is not as simple a task as it sounds and would take considerable time. The team that process the applications initially are not qualified planning officers and so they would not be expected to check this.

While reading the above explanation, bear in mind that this was a retrospective application.

Open Gardens Day will be on Sunday 15th May. This is three weeks earlier than last year when some flowering shrubs should be at their best. Don’t delay in offering to open your garden. Send an email or contact your street rep.

The City Council is undertaking an appraisal of this Conservation Area. It will result in a new document “Character Appraisal and Management Plan” which will replace the present “Design Guidance” and be used when determining planning applications. The Article 4 Direction will be revised. It is hoped that a draft version of the new Article 4 Direction will be available for a public meeting following the Association’s AGM.

At the meeting of the North Southampton Community Forum on 24th February there was a presentation to Dawn Jones who recently retired from the City Council. Dawn was part of the community involvement team. We all held her in great affection and esteem when she was the North Neighbourhood Coordinator.

There is a vacancy in the Herbert Collins Estate Book Club. We meet on the last Thursday of the month at 19.30 (except August and December). No money is involved because we use the Public Library facility of free sets of books. Members of the group choose the books in advance. It is simple and free and often fun (depending on the book!). If you are interested in more details ring Peter Martin 8032 2332.

What has now become a major event in the calendar will be on Saturday 25th June. We would like to hear from anyone prepared to lend us a gas barbecue or offer to cook.
Are you happy with the current format of the party or would you like something different? Tell us your ideas.

Plumber and heating engineer, Matthew Celeghin, phone number 07812382330. He has been in the trade for over 20 years.