By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
The campaign to protect part of Cheltenham’s iconic Promenade being tarmacked has been boosted with support from another conservation group.
British charity The Georgian Group, the national authority on architecture built between 1700 and 1837 in England and Wales, is opposed to plans to rip up the York stone flags and lay a strip of tarmac down the corridor of trees outside Cavendish House.
Cheltenham Civic Society are calling on Gloucestershire highways chiefs to drop the plans and have blasted the scheme as “fixing Cheltenham on the cheap”.
And now the national amenity society, The Georgian Group, has thrown its weight behind Cheltenham Civic Society.
Georgian Group spokesperson said: “The Georgian Group are concerned to learn of plans to resurface part of Cheltenham’s historic Promenade, replacing existing characterful York stone slab paving with asphalt tarmac.
“The Promenade is a highly important historic thoroughfare in Cheltenham’s excellent Regency townscape, and the traditional stone slab paving contributes strongly to its historic character as part of the Cheltenham Central Conservation Area and to the setting of several listed buildings.
“Replacing the flagstones with tarmac will consequently dilute and erode the historic character and significance of both the Promenade and the wider conservation area.
“We hope that Gloucestershire County Council and Cheltenham Borough Council will work positively with Cheltenham Civic Society and other stakeholders to review the scheme and develop a sustainable solution to maintaining the Promenade, giving due regard to the local authorities’ legal duty to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Promenade as part of the Cheltenham Central Conservation Area.”
Civic Society Chair, Andrew Booton, said The Georgian Group reinforces the duty the council has to preserve and enhance the conservation area. “It is a legal duty, not guidance or a recommendation,” he said.
“It is a must not may direction. Gloucestershire County Council cannot pretend their plan is just a maintenance issue.
“They think they can act without due regard to the law and without consultation. Put simply, GCC cannot just rip up the York stone and replace it with tarmac.
“To do so would fundamentally change the character and appearance of this part of the Central Conservation Area.
“That would amount to damage to the conservation area instead of preserving or improving it. The only lawful response is for GCC to repair and reinstate the stone flags.”
Shire Hall chief Stephen Davies (C, Hardwicke and Severn) said improvements to the surface of the Promenade are essential to maintain the vibrant market town centre.
He said the option chosen by the council provides an attractive, hard-wearing surface that is smoother and more accessible to visitors.
“Despite considerable efforts over a number of years to relay slabs and to reinforce the substructure below them, regular damage has still been caused by vehicular access,” he said.
“Improvements to the surface of the Promenade are therefore essential to enable access for vehicles and maintain a vibrant market town centre with events such as the Christmas market.
“The option that we have chosen provides an attractive, hard-wearing surface that’s smoother and more accessible to visitors.
“The materials and repairs will be easier to source, so utility companies will be able to provide an instant repair following their work and this will also be more cost-effective in the long-term.
“The use of the new material has a much lower carbon footprint compared to the stone slabs which has the added benefit of reducing the environmental impact.
“Alongside these enhancements we are also planning to install new flowerbeds around the base of the trees with the intention of planting spring bulbs and wildflowers to elevate the appearance of the Promenade.
“We would be very happy to meet with the Civic Society to discuss alternatives that achieve a better outcome for all.”