Thoroton Society Response Group

The Thoroton Response Group is a sub-group of the Thoroton Society Standing Committee and was established in 2008. Its aim is to strengthen the Society's activities in supporting the preservation of Nottinghamshire's historic settlements, buildings, monuments and landscapes.

The Group coordinates responses relating to or affecting Nottinghamshire on:

A summary of the Response Group's activities since 2008 is available below.

Activities of Response Group since inception

General statement on such representations “I write on behalf of the Thoroton Society, which you may be aware is the County History Society for Nottinghamshire and has a key interest in the history and archaeology of the county. One of our activities is to make representations on concerns relating to historic buildings and sites.”

Re DRAFT HERITAGE PROTECTION BILL – (to Department of Culture, Media and Sport - 24th June 2008)
“Please find attached the comments of the Thoroton Society on the draft Heritage Protection Bill.”

ODEON CINEMA SITE, ANGEL ROW – APPLICATION 08/02237/PFUL3 – (Comments to City Council on the application for the re-development of the Odeon Cinema - 7th September 2008) A massive development proposed on the former Odeon Cinema site which, most worryingly, overlooked the historic Bromley House Library and its unique garden – January 2009

MUSEUMS AND HERITAGE IN NOTTINGHAM
Correspondence to and from Cllr Jon Taylor. Leader of Nottingham City Council, re conservation in the City and determination to ensure Nottingham’s historic areas protected and also on proposal to close Industrial Museum at Wollaton  - July 2009

Re NATIONAL LOTTERY DISTRIBUTION consultation – (to Department of Media, Sport and Culture - 27th July 2010)

CLG CONSULTATION ON DRAFT PPS15: PLANNING AND THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT - Historic-Environment@communities – Comments made 30th October 2009

CORE STRATEGY OPTIONS REPORT – NSDC - response to consultation 3rd December 2009

NEWSTEAD ABBEY - City Council intention to restrict public access to Newstead Abbey. Not pursued by City Council. 23rd January 2011

NEWSTEAD ABBEY - City Council intention to restrict public access to Newstead Abbey. Not pursued by City Council. 23rd January 2011 – also 26th May 2013 re new body to be formed by World Monuments Fund

LAND WEST OF CUNDY HILL, WESTHORPE, SOUTHWELL – re application for natural burial ground on ancient sunken lane - 1st December 2010. Application refused.

FORMER MINSTER SCHOOL SITE, CHURCH STREET, SOUTHWELL – PROPOSED DEVELOPMNET ON SITE OF ROMAN VILLA – August 2010. Letter to Leader of NSDC 19th July 2015 re 5 dwellings approved and the state of the site. Response from NSDC Planning to Thoroton – 17th September 2015, informing Thoroton that Historic England now involved with strict conditions applied to developer, including tidying land. Application then refused and subsequently became public open space. Response Group pursued this matter on behalf of Thoroton as the proposed development was held open for some time before the land was made public space. Thoroton expressed its delight in hearing that the site had been given to the Minster and the society offered support in the future. 5th January 2016. Response from Dean of the Minster thanking Thoroton for support 14th January 2016.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL, Letter to Leader – 20th January 2011 - Re cuts in services including libraries, archives, rights of way and loss of experienced, knowledgeable and accessible staff.

THE OLD MAGNUS BUILDINGS CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT REPORT – NSDC – support for conservation works and the development of new uses at the Old Magnus Buildings.    30th July 2011

DRAFT NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK – to Department for Communities and Local Government  - Thoroton call that “effective planning processes should not be seen as an impediment but as a check and balance against inappropriate development” and “need for strong, clear and efficient planning policies and systems, not the uncertainty and unfairness that this framework promotes”. 13th October 2011

BLYTH CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL – comment to Bassetlaw’s Conservation Officer on excellent appraisal document. 19th July 2012

LANGAR CHAPEL IN FIELDS AT THE PRIORY IN LANGAR – request for support, notes made.

LEAD AND OTHER METAL THEFTS – PRIVATE MEMBER BILL – supporting private member’s bill to regulate the scrap metal industry. 26th June 2012

TRENT LANE DEPOT – notes re closure of this historic feature – correspondence including English Heritage and City Council - 11th September 2012

VAT AND LISTED BUILDINGS concern re removal of the zero rate for alterations to listed buildings to HMRC - 17th May 2012

KIRKBY HARDWICK – ANCIENT MANOR – to County Council re keeping site in NCC ownership due to importance of site - 23rd January 2013. Further comments when revealed that CC planned to sell site. 8th May 2015. Further letter to Cllr Kirkham stating that “the proposed sale of part of the land to a private purchaser will hamper further investigations into what is certainly a very important site”. 1st October 2015

SAFEGUARDING ARCHAEOLOGY IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE – to County Council re “archaeology section weakened and downgraded over recent years” - 18th May 2013

ENGLISH HERITAGE NEW MODEL – consultation on dividing EH into two parts – Historic England as charity = Thoroton submission.

”It will be a serious management challenge for the proposed charity to plan for the future and be self-sufficient, raising sufficient, regular, reliable funds for all it will be required to do when government funding ceases in eight years’ time.

There may be a negative impact on other heritage organisations such as the National Trust, Landmark Trust etc, in access to grants and other support.

What will happen after the eight year period to buildings or archaeological sites identified by the proposed Historic England arm as being at such risk for it to be appropriate for them to be taken into public care i.e. the national collection?

And what will happen to the NHC if, after the eight year period, the charity fails? Will it come back into public control?

Is Historic England the most appropriate title for the other proposed arm of EH? Will this firmly include prehistory in the perception of the public? - prehistory is a major part of England’s Heritage. Also, as this half of the organisation will remain dependent upon government funding, it is crucial that a real commitment to maintaining appropriate funding levels is made - there is certainly no scope for cutting real levels of grant aid without impacting negatively upon EH's activities beyond the National Heritage Collection. If appropriate funding levels can be maintained, the proposed creation of a body focused wholly upon the NHPP and other matters related to heritage management could give greater focus and purpose (and hence possibly a more responsive and effective service) as well as helping to clarify in the public's mind the two very distinctive services that are currently offered under the umbrella of 'English Heritage'. 

There is a need for the government to ensure a secure ongoing heritage collection, (and wider heritage in the form of landscape, ancient woodland, traditional rural buildings etc) by robust protective legislation which will ensure restraint by landowners and developers from destroying or radically changing sites under their control.

It could be argued that tourism being the fifth most profitable industry, the nation’s heritage should be kept in governmental hands in order to ensure a totally sustainable future. After a century of state control and protection and a period of success and growth for English Heritage, could it not be also argued that the status quo is the best way to ensure the future of the tangible evidence of this country’s great wealth of history which people, British and foreign, so love and wish to see cherished.“ – 14th February 2014

SITE AT BRACKENHURST COLLEGE - Application for the Erection of Two Wind Turbine Generators and Associated Crane Pads and Access Track on Land at Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst College (site overlooking the ancient town of Southwell) – refused by NSDC, appeal made but dismissed - 9th May 2014

ST MARY’S, NOTTINGHAM – concern re ironwork railings surrounding the church – in particular that the circle of ironwork above the gate, dated 1807, designed to carry a glass bowl of whale oil as part of Nottingham's first public lighting system, introduced in 1762. - 3rd December 2015

FORMER ROBIN HOOD HOTEL, LOMBARD STREET, NEWARK – representation to NSDC re application for demolition of the remaining parts of the former Robin Hood Hotel and its replacement with a Travelodge – an application opposed by Historic England, Georgian Soc and NBPT, a compromise was reached. - 21st September 2016. Further representation on amendments to plans which also opposed by the above and further organisations – 27th January 2017.  Appeal against refusal withdrawn – 24th July 2018

CENTRAL LIBRARY NOTTINGHAM – concern re sale of Central Library with a replacement out of centre of the city. “As our membership consists in the main of local historians, both professional and amateur, we have viewed the prospect of the central library with its wealth of resources moving from its city centre location with consternation. It is not yet clear what the final proposals are to be but we have to ask what city has such an excellent position for its main library – right in the centre of the city and accessible to most people in being so near to the hub of public transport.” 20th Feb 2017 – Further representation on decision to site in Broadmarsh re accessibility - 14th September 2018

HEART OF NOTTINGHAM HERITAGE ACTION ZONE - “The Thoroton Society wish to congratulate the City on the award of Heritage Action Zone status and the investment to be received to improve, enhance, interpret and promote Nottingham’s heritage. We are aware that plans are being made as to how to take forward the opportunities provided by this status and, as the principal history organisation for Nottinghamshire, we wish every success in this momentous venture.” 9th July 2017

BEESTON TOWN HALL – representation to Broxtowe Borough Council stating concern the proposed sale of the town hall – statement in Thoroton letter “urge you to ensure the retention of Beeston Town Hall, an interesting and attractive building of the 1930s and a splendid example of mid-wars municipal premises”. 24th January 2018 – Further letter to BBC Ch Exec stating Thoroton’s “continued interest in this matter and we support the suggestions put forward by Beeston Town Hall Community Project and Beeston History Society” – 16th October 2018

LAXTON VILLAGE – concern re proposed sale of the village by Crown Estate – Thoroton to watch the situation and, if necessary, make sure that the terms and conditions ensure the survival of the historic features of the village and its farming system. No actual representation. - 9th November 2018

MAJESTIC CINEMA – concern re proposal to demolish the Majestic Cinema on Woodborough Road, it being considered a rare survival of popular culture from the early 20th century, the cinema dating from 1929, built by an eminent Nottingham cinema architect, Alfred Thraves, the greater part of the original interior features surviving – 29th April 2019. Comment that this building, now listed, that “the Society feels that the proposals may resolve the future of a neglected area of this part of Nottingham and would not therefore make objection” - 8th April 2022

CHARGING FOR MUSEUM RESEARCH ACCESS – requesting explanation from Director of Museums – 2nd May 2019

33 CASTLE GATE, NOTTINGHAM – following concern of member re state of listed building. Assured by officer in charge that work was scheduled and would shortly be undertaken after archaeological investigation – 15th July 2019

HALLOUGHTON VILLAGE – SOLAR FARM APPLICATION – comments of concern from local resident re inaccuracies in planning application - 30th July 2020. Representation made by Thoroton to NSDC re this inappropriate proposal in a small, historic conservation village with major listed buildings near the attractive entrance to the village – 26th September 2020. Further representation re adjustments to proposal 4th November 2020. Further representations - 10th January 2021. Further reps on amended plans - 29th August 2021. Application refused; appeal made. Statement for appeal hearing - 6th December 2021.

Amendments requested by developer - The Society forwarded its strong objections to this proposal previously. Now, two years into the process, the applicants are requesting several conditions be varied. “Despite the Inspector’s report setting out a number of reasons by which he was of the opinion that an industrial imposition on a precious rural area, rich with trees and wildlife and with well-used public rights of way, was not likely to be damaged by forty years of spoilation - unfortunately it will be. But people will continue to walk the public rights of way through this valued piece of our countryside, although marred by the ugliness of the panels and other infrastructure. The proposal for “re-wilding” by planting mixed scrub is obscure and apparently insensitive within the already green landscape, as would be the unnecessary “native hedgerow with trees” – both with implications for leisure walking for which Halloughton paths are very important. In relation to the historic buildings and conservation area itself, there has been no real understanding of their importance – the Inspector put more stress on Manor Farm’s past association with the Prebend than to its unique importance within the county and this, of course, has directed the tenor of this application to vary. The environment of the church, the only public building in the village, the peace of which must surely be compromised by apparent extra works nearby. The conclusion of the applicants, and apparently by the inspector, that the entrance to Halloughton is not of particular charm or interest is not the opinion of local people, it has great charm as a tree-lined gateway to a once quiet and rural village.” The Thoroton Society is most concerned about the implication of varying conditions some of which would further damage a special Nottinghamshire village - 8th November 2023

RADFORD SCHOOL – enquiry re notice on school re demolition – 26th October 2020

CASTLE COACH DROP-OFF POINTS – to City Council - welcome re reopening of Nottingham Castle – concern re adequacy of coach-parking - 29th October 2020

BROAD MARSH – preliminary consideration of ideas for Broad Marsh – 3rd November 2020. Thoroton vision for Broad Marsh – 14th December 2020. Comments and suggestions for Broad Marsh – 19th December 2020. Letter to consultants for Broad Marsh – concern at the deterioration of the area, especially the cave -  “The opportunity now should be taken to promote the City’s cultural history and make this a modern area yes, but which celebrates its historic past.” - 13th December 2023

NORTON DISNEY – information on Thoroton’s involvement in this archaeological investigation – 15th March 2021 Note on background of villa site. Comprehensive outline of history of this site activity – 10th April 2021. Representation to Lincolnshire County Council re importance of site in view of inappropriate proposal stating that “the imposition of an industrial structure which would include the movement of heavy machinery, floodlit lighting, and the likelihood of a toxic atmosphere.” 19th April 2021

ROLLESTON AND KATE GREENAWAY – support for parish in opposing development on land associated with the poet Kate Greenaway – representation to NSDC - 15th December 2021

NEW FOODSTORE AT SOUTHWELL – to NSDC - Sainsbury’s proposal to site a foodstore outside the town on a narrow rising country lane and on an elevated site, the land in question having the likelihood of archaeology - 16th October 2021. Amendments to proposals, further representation to NSDC – “The Society’s objections as set out in the letter of 16th October remain completely unchanged” 29th November 2021. Further amendment – further representation - 7th February 2022. Further amendment – further representation citing Southwell’s Neighbourhood Plan and the fact that this store would be on the same eye level as the towers of the Minster 17th March 2022. Outstanding issues of applicant addressed to NSDC - 17th October 2022. Further matters regarding issues of this application addressed to NSDC - 19th December 2022 – application refused.

FORMER ELMS SCHOOL – to City Council – re concern at proposal to site a number of four-storey buildings at the top of Elm Avenue, thus blocking the well-known “best views” of Nottingham including the castle - 9th January 2022

OBAN HOUSE, BEESTON – to Broxtowe Borough Council re application to demolish - 14th April 2022 – Thoroton members considered demolition would disrupt the harmony of the St John’s Grove Conservation Area - 14th April 2022

COSSALL WILLOUGHBY ALMSHOUSES – to Broxtowe Borough Council - 5th March 2023 – urging BBC to refuse application “urging Broxtowe Borough Council to reconsider its position in view of its responsibilities to this rare survival and important Nottinghamshire heritage asset and that it should now determine that this damaging application be refused”. “The Thoroton Society continues to be greatly concerned regarding the above renewed planning application for extensive proposals to alter the Grade 2* listed 17th century Willoughby Almshouses” 24th September 2023 – this application was opposed by all the heritage bodies but agreed by BBC.

Also comments, invited by NSDC, on CONSERVATION AREA DRAFT APPRAISALS relating to Thurgarton. Southwell, Winthorpe – 2008

Barbara Cast