The Ascot community has been invited by RBWM, to several events aimed at shaping Ascot’s future development and High Street improvements. A Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), once agreed, will provide more detail to guide developers in shaping planning applications and the Council in deciding them, as well as setting out proposals to improve the High Street. It will also set out how development, and the infrastructure needed to support it, can happen in a coordinated way.
The first workshop took place at Ascot Racecourse on Thursday 22nd February and was well attended. After introductions, attendees were reminded how we have arrived at this point. Foundation work was done with the Princes Foundation and the Neighbourhood Plan - a decade ago. Now, new issues have emerged and it is felt that a Supplementary Planning Document is needed, in order to deal with planning applications for sites in the High Street.
The SPD will focus on five areas - namely the Station & Station Hill, the High Street, Sustainability & Connectivity, Ascot Green & Ascot Village. With this in mind, a 'Reference Group' has been holding meetings since last summer. This group has identified common themes and came up with a 'shopping list' . These headings include Safe Connections, Green and Leafy, Pride in Ascot, Sociable Spaces in the High Street, Ascot - more than a a Racecourse - sense of place?. The second half of the Workshop was devoted to residents brainstorming on Ascot's future in relation to these themes. Attendees worked in table groups, guided by a facilitator . This facilitator will distill the group's thoughts, along with the online survey results, and feed them into material for the next Workshop....
The next COMMUNITY Workshop will be on Tuesday 26th March - again at Ascot Racecourse, from 7pm to 9pm. The two workshops cover different material so to book a place at the second session, visit www.rbwm.gov.uk/ascot-placemaking-spd email planning.policy@RBWM.gov.uk or call 01628 796187.
For those unable to attend, you can visit one of the drop-in sessions in the Ascot Durning Library (on Monday 26th February, 11am to 1.30pm and Thursday 29th February, 2pm to 7pm) or visit the online survey and continue giving feedback. This survey is now live on the RBWM Together and main Council websites and can be accessed as follows:
Ascot Supplementary Planning Document and Public Realm Improvements | RBWM Together
WHAT NEXT
The timeline features the next Community Workshop on March 26th (which will consider design priorities), the SPD will then be prepared April to July, after which a draft SPD will appear in the Summer, Between Summer & Autumn there will be public consultation on the SPD with a view to Adopting it in the Autumn. It was noted that the SPD cannot change the basic land allocations made in the Local and Neighbourhood Plans.
www.papplewick.org.uk For further information, please contact the Registrar, Mrs Rebecca Lindley , on 01344-621488 or e-mail registrar@papplewick.org.uk
Boys at Papplewick addressed Climate Change Eco Week recently with The Green Stag kicking off the week with a Headmaster’s assembly on the devastating impact of climate change and litter affecting animals. The boys had written to and received a response from Windsor MP Adam Afriyie. The concerns were the amount of litter left at Ascot Racecourse Heath (having litter picked twice last year) and with further plans to do more this year the boys asked for more bins to be put around so that people could get rid of their rubbish and keep the racecourse tidy !
Throughout the week, the boys covered below in their various subjects
In PSHE, Year 2 studied caring for the environment. Year 3 - The problem with plastic. Year 4 - Tackling Plastic Pollution. Year 5 and Year 6- Challenging Transport: Air Pollution.
Read more: Papplewick Pupils Address Climate Change in Eco Week 2024
Pictured Above: Collective Organiser and Artist Jonathan Greenyer With Some of His Work
Windsor Artists Collective held a superb exhibition at Northcote House, on Saturday February 10th and Sunday February 11th. The Collective was founded in 2012 - to meet the needs of accomplished artists, working in the Windsor, Ascot and Bracknell area. Their regular exhibitions are very welcome occasions to browse and buy exciting art.
Artists exhibiting at Northcote House were Aurora Spain, Carol Benton, Debra Kasaka, Essie Keywood, Gabi Doering, Genine Rainsborough, Hania Westcott, Jane Pilcher, Jenny Ainsley, Jonathan Greenyer, Katherine Loudon, Klaudia Zabek, Liz Robertson, Mansoureh Fazli, Mark Burden, Noel Hannan, Paul Barfoot, Paul Tomlins, and Sophie Redpath
Pictured Above: Mansoureh Fazli , With a Piece of her Protest Art - In Memory of Mahsa Amini
Read more: Superb Art Exhibition at Northcote House | Windsor Artists Collectivewww.savenph.org https://www.facebook.com/facebook.comSaveTheNovello
The ePetition - Save the Sunninghill Picture House / Novello Theatre (moderngov.co.uk) - Petition Now Closed and Successful Social Media and Website tech on team contact@savenph.org
A huge crowd (in excess of 225 people), packed the Cordes Hall, Sunninghill in January 2024, to hear that the Novello Theatre - The Picture House, donated to the community in 1920 by local resident, Stuart McNair's grandparents - is in danger of being sold to developers by RBWM, thereby depriving the local residents of a much-needed community facility . There was a very strong feeling that it could complement the Cordes Hall facilities and managed in a similar way. Great improvements have been achieved at the CordesHall - thanks to Jane Richardson and her team. The Novello is currently in a bad state of repair - asbestos-clad, with no seating and a dodgy roof - as the long-time lessee has not maintained it and owners, RBWM ,- have failed to ensure it was properly maintained.
The Proposal of the meeting was to restore the Novello Theatre, (The Picture House) as a venue to be used for the benefit of the local community. Linking The Picture House and Cordes Hall, creating a community hub/venue in Sunninghill. Offering a vibrant and varied programme of Live Performance, Cinema, Clubs, Classes, and other community services.
The Aims of Meeting were to inform the local community of the current situation and to recruit a working group to move the project forward. Organisers were overwhelmed with offers of support.
Much progress has been made since this meeting: To list but a few of these achievements; .....
Pictured Above: Rotary Ascot | Young Musicians 2024
The Ascot Rotary Club once again held its Local Heat of the Young Musician Competition on Monday January 29th at Heathfield School, Ascot. The competition was split into two events i.e. Young Instrumentalist and Young Vocalist. Because of numerous entrants the competition started at 18.30 and was very well attended. Heathfield School put on a very welcome initial tea and coffee for supporters and Ms Sarah Wilson, Headteacher welcomed everyone attending . The panel of judges comprised Geoff Horton (Head Judge), Linda Hannah-Anderson and Graham Smith.
Schools taking part were: Papplewick, Licensed Victuallers School, Luckley House, Heathfield and St, Mary's Convent
There were six competitors for the Instrumentalist category with four pianists, one clarinetist and one trumpeter. This competition was hard- fought and after a long debate on the part of the judges, Imogen Horrocks, Clarinetist, won the category. She played brilliantly and in particular, excelled in the Allegro Molto by Witthold Lutoslawski - which received special mention. Thomas Haywood, Trumpeter, came second with a spirited rendition of the Hummel Concerto, first movement.
Pictured Above | Winning Vocalist - Archie Wooldridge
Pictured Above| Winning Instrumentalist was Imogen Horrocks (clarinet)
Read more: Young Musician Competition 2024 | Rotary AscotRoyal Borough thanks community for feedback in response to challenging parking proposals | The Royal Borough would like to thank everyone who took part in the recent public consultation on changes to Parking fees and charges.
The council is facing serious financial challenges, driven by a number of factors, including historic decisions which have resulted in low levels of Council Tax, high levels of debt, and low levels of reserves. This is coupled with rising demand, and rising costs of providing services across Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and housing.
Achieving financial stability is the council’s top priority and intensive work continues to put the organisation on to a surer financial footing. Cabinet and Full Council agreed an Action Plan to address the financial challenges in September. This includes transforming the way in which we deliver services, maximising value from our assets and increasing income from fees and charges. It is in this difficult context, that parking charges have been considered.
Read more: RBWM Parking Charges | Changes from February 5thThe ePetition - Save the Sunninghill Picture House / Novello Theatre (moderngov.co.uk) - Now Closed and Successful
Social Media and Website tech on team contact@savenph.org
Website| www.savenph.org Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/facebook.comSaveTheNovello
A huge crowd packed the Cordes Hall, Sunninghill in January 2024, to hear that the Novello Theatre - The Picture House, donated to the community in 1920 by local resident, Stuart McNair's grandparents - is in danger of being sold to developers by RBWM, thereby depriving the local residents of a much-needed community facility . There was a very strong feeling that it could complement the Cordes Hall facilities and managed in a similar way. Great improvements have been achieved at the CordesHall - thanks to Jane Richardson and her team. The Novello is currently in a bad state of repair - asbestos-clad, with no seating and a dodgy roof - as the long-time lessee has not maintained it and owners, RBWM ,- have failed to ensure it was properly maintained. A huge effort by the community is needed now to create CHANT - Community Hub at Novello Theatre !
The Proposal of the meeting was to restore the Novello Theatre, (The Picture House) as a venue to be used for the benefit of the local community. Linking The Picture House and Cordes Hall, creating a community hub/venue in Sunninghill. Offering a vibrant and varied programme of Live Performance, Cinema, Clubs, Classes, and other community services.
The Aims of Meeting were to inform the local community of the current situation and to recruit a working group to move the project forward. Organisers were overwhelmed with offers of support.
Those present were encouraged, as a matter of urgency to write to local councillors, MD of the RBWM- owned Property Company, Ian.Brazier-Dubber@rbwm.gov.uk and to SIGN the petition - which had already reached the required 1,000 signatures by the end of the meeting. Another progress meeting will be convened shortly . Watch this space!
Organisers of the meeting made it plain that an alternative community plan needs to be in place by late March, if it is to head off a sale to developers. The meeting was told there has been very little time to pull this together so far, as the community, and even our own Councillors, have been very much kept in the dark about plans for the site. This was described as inexplicable, given that community organisations have been alerting the Borough to the desirability of adopting the Theatre for community/school/church use, for at least a decade.
The meeting was angry at times - having heard that interested parties and the public have not been kept informed and that the Novello has been allowed deteriorate so far , with delapidations still not being required from the lessees. Quite how far plans for redevelopment of the site have progressed, is not known!
Local resident, entomolygist and TV personality, Prof George McGavin, said it was vital that the Novello was secured for the community, regardless of what facilities may be planned for Ascot, and he pledged 'a grand' to the cause, on the spot !
Chairman, Alan Everett will be setting up a Facebook page to help co-ordinate the Community Novello Plan and anyone who has any relevant skills, is urged to help.
If you awere unable to attend the meeting but would like to sign a petition supporting a proposal to keep the Novello (Picture House) as a community resource, please sign the petition by following this link:
ePetition - Save the Sunninghill Picture House / Novello Theatre (moderngov.co.uk)
Future of Novello Theatre Sunninghill | Public Meeting | January 24t