Past campaigns and consultations
For reference, here’s a selection of items and issues from our archive.
The Arena: retain, refurbish or replace?
Many of you will have seen the Council’s announcement (details here) that they are thinking of demolishing the Arena and building a new purpose built theatre in its place as part of the redevelopment of the area around the Arena, Civic Centre and multi storey car park (called City Centre Opportunity Site North and Culture, CCOSN). Contrary to reports you may have seen the Civic Society was not consulted on this proposal and we have written to the Council expressing our disappointment and asking for some more information about the rationale for the recommendation. We have also requested a meeting to discuss this further and will update members on progress.
Until we have more information the Civic Society cannot form an informed view on whether or not it should support this proposal and in the meantime we would be very glad to hear your views. Is the current Arena, designed originally by eminent architect Sir Frederick Gibberd, an important structure which should be retained and adapted or should it be demolished to make way for a modern purpose built theatre? What do you think? Email us at stalbanscivicsociety@gmail.com
February 2022
Luton Airport Consultation
Another application has been made by Luton Airport to increase their annual passenger numbers and amend the day and night noise limitations to accommodate this. The consultation is on the Luton Council website and comments must be made by 17 February 2021. If you would like to respond there is a lot of useful information available on the LADACAN website here.
The Society submitted an objection the expansion of Luton Airport in 2018 and you can read the response here.
Save Symondshyde
The Society supports the Save Symondshyde campaign and made a donation to their funds. They produced a very detailed response to Welwyn Hatfield Council’s proposal to build 1130 houses in the Green Belt close to the John Bunyan next to Symondshyde Wood. The Plan was submitted for public examination by an independent inspector to determine whether it meets the test of soundness. After almost four years of campaigning Welwyn Hatfield Council have agreed to remove the Symondshyde development proposals from their draft Local Plan. Congratulations to the save Symondshyde campaign, read more here.
Strategic Railfreight Interchange (SRFI)
St Albans Council’s decision to throw in the towel in opposing the Strategic Railfreight Interchange (SRFI) is disappointing but not entirely unexpected. The SRFI became embroiled in the problems over the Local Plan obtaining approval and earlier threats of legal action from the developer, Helioslough. But all is not yet lost?
The Railfreight saga has rumbled on since 2006 with the Civic Society joining in with STRIFE and the Council in opposing the plan. It gave evidence at the two Public Inquiries. ‘The Green Belt is safe in our hands’ former Minister Eric Pickles once declared. That turned out to not be the case in 2014 when he gave the go ahead for the land to be used for the SRFI.