Stamford Civic Society
  • Home
  • Who we are
    • About the Society
    • Join us
    • Renew subscription
  • What we do
    • Projects >
      • The Sundial Project
      • School Projects
    • Stamford Urban Group
    • Information boards
    • Newsletters
    • Other publications >
      • Annual review >
        • Annual Review 2018 >
          • Highlights of 2018
          • Mallory Lane
          • Eventful times
          • Off the wall
          • Town centre issues
          • Nelson Dawson
          • In my time
          • Recognising the best
          • First impressions
          • National civic issues
          • Bland or inspiring
          • Arrivals and departures
          • Finances 2017-18
        • Annual Review 2017 >
          • Highlights of 2017
          • Open for tours
          • Eventful times
          • Keeping a watching brief
          • Town centre issues
          • Stamford: a celebration
          • Worth their weight in bronze
          • Getting the best advice
          • The Albert Bridge
          • From the Mercury
          • National civic issues
          • To bypass or not to bypass
          • Arrivals and a departure
          • Finances
        • Annual Review 2016 >
          • Highlights of the Year
          • Magical Metropolis
          • Eventful times
          • Keeping a Watching Brief
          • Tackling Town Centre Issues
          • My Favourite Building
          • An Arts & Crafts Treasure
          • Big, Bigger, Better?
          • What Do Young People Think?
          • Apethorpe Palace
          • National Civic Issues
          • Recognising the Best
          • Arrivals and Departures
        • Annual Review 2015
        • Annual Review 2014
      • Stones of Stamford Revisited
      • Articles
      • Archives
    • Awards >
      • 2018 Awards
      • 2014 Awards
      • 2011 Awards
      • 2009 Awards
  • Events
    • Coming events
    • Past events >
      • Stamford in Bloom 2018
      • 50th anniversary 2017 >
        • Press release
        • Competition winner
  • Stamford Heritage
    • Introduction to Stamford
    • First Conservation Area
    • St Leonard's Priory
    • Browne's Hospital >
      • Visit Browne's
      • Common room
      • Chapel
      • Staircase
      • Audit room
      • Confrator's room
      • 50 years ago
      • Brownes in pictures
    • The Priest's House
    • Other buildings >
      • Truesdale
      • Stamford School Chapel
      • The Institution
      • Stamford Houses
      • Railway Station
    • Other sites >
      • The Bastion
      • The Conduit
      • Recreation Ground
      • Daniel Lambert
    • Points of interest >
      • Plaques in Stamford
      • William Stukeley
    • Georgian Transport
    • 1960s pictures
    • 1900s pictures
    • 1870s pictures
  • Sponsors & partners
  • Contact us

Tackling town centre issues

The Urban Group review of 2017 concluded with the expectation that the Group would be disbanded and the hope that the Civic Society would take on responsibility for continuing the good work. I am delighted to report that in fact the Urban Group has been given a new lease of life with a combination of old and new members full of enthusiasm and commitment to maintain, enhance and improve our marvellous town centre.

I have recently taken on the role of Chairman of the group following the excellent start given by David Taylor. We are joined by previous members Graddon Rowlands and Paddy Jelen together with new members Steve Marsh, Tim Lee and Duncan Lingard with two further new members currently poised to join the team. The Group has been very active during the year with a combination of projects, researching and lobbying with varying degrees of success.
Andy Moore
High Street St Martin’s
Over a long period of time we have been in dialogue with Lincolnshire County Council Highways, Burghley Estate and others to resolve the problem of parking on grass verges and pavements and the extensive damage caused. Our group fixed temporary notices in the verges and leafletted vehicles to discourage inconsiderate parking. Recently LCC has at last painted double yellow lines on the East side and we anticipate the imminent fixing by Burghley of permanent timber bollards in the West verge.

Water Street
The Group was keen to create a “flagship” project for the year and saw the green riverside area along Water Street as an ideal location for a landscape enhancement project. Extensive preliminary research and discussions with the relevant authorities and experts took place and an initial design idea formulated in readiness for public consultation. Unfortunately our ideas were not deemed acceptable by sufficient local residents and the project was cancelled. Hopefully this area may be re-visited in the future.

Red Lion Square
Members will have noticed that the carriageway across Red Lion Square is in need of attention. The Yorkstone setts were laid in 2007 but the lack of simple and inexpensive maintenance by periodic brushing of fine sand into the joints has resulted in lateral movement and fracture of a number of setts. This is the sole reason for the problem, not the design which is more than adequate and appropriate for the location. The situation is easily remedied by removal and re-laying of setts, replacement of broken setts and regular sanding of joints. Despite this we understand that LCC are considering removing and disposing of all of the Yorkstone setts and re-surfacing the carriageway with black tarmac. This would be very costly and wholly inappropriate on safety, aesthetic and conservation grounds. The Civic Society is determined that this should not happen and the Urban Group is actively lobbying all appropriate groups and individuals accordingly.


Picture
Verges destroyed by parking.
Picture
Now protected by yellow lines.
Church floodlighting
We are in the process of arranging permissions and funds to floodlight the East elevation of St Michael’s Church building and are in discussion with the Town Council and other churches about similar floodlighting possibilities.

High Street Olive Tree
With help from Urban Group members and in particular Duncan Lingard carrying water by bicycle from the river the olive tree seems to be making a strong recovery! We are grateful for the help and advice given by John Parrott of the Olive Grove at Oundle.

Other projects
These include: new street lighting in Horseshoe Lane to complement new lights in Red Lion Square; new and improved visitor signage throughout the town centre; a new survey of cracked, broken and dangerous paving which is now widespread and needs urgent attention; and the enhancement of the southern paved area of Sheepmarket together with attractive permanent bollards to prevent parking.
About the Society
Join us
Coming events
​Projects
Stamford Urban Group
Publications
​​Newsletters
Annual Review
Archives
Stamford heritage
Plaques in Stamford
William Stukeley
Browne's Hospital
The Priest's House
Stamford Mercury Archive

Contact us
Acknowledgements
Privacy policy

This website is archived in the
Internet Archive WayBackMachine
Copyright © 1962-2021 Stamford Civic Society
Registered charity no. 242571
Picture

a member of 
Civic Voice

Find us elsewhere:
Picture
Picture
Twitter
Picture
Facebook