Bring on the historic wall
A STONE wall around a historic common near Cheltenham is to be rebuilt – at a cost of more than £680,000.
European cash is being ploughed into the project to recreate the 1,300-metre boundary wall that stretches around Charlton Kings Common.
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HISTORIC: (l-r) Councillor Roger Whyborn, Peter Holmes, Julius Marstrand and Jenny Phelps by a section of wall that is to be replaced
Conservation bosses are still trying to secure £70,000 from other sources to reach the total needed to restore the 14th Century Cotswold dry stone wall.
It will be up to four metres high in places, to the east of the main road stretching up Leckhampton Hill.
Julius Marstrand, chairman of the Friends of Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common, said: "We are delighted to have secured this funding.
"It is fantastic for everyone associated with the common."
He added: "The wall is important from a historical point of view because it has been here since medieval times.
"It was last restored around 200 years ago and parts of it currently resemble a pile of rubble. Having it fully restored will be a huge improvement."
The £618,000 cash pot has been pledged by Natural England, via a European agricultural grant.
The remaining cash is hoped to be made up through grants from funding bodies or from donations.
It is expected to take about six months to build the wall, with work due to start soon, creating 20 new temporary jobs for quarry workers and dry stone wallers.
The site is designated as an area of special scientific interest and an outstanding area of natural beauty.
The wall will be built of 2,320 tonnes of Cotswold stone and will run along the top of Leckhampton Hill's escarpment, following the line of the Cotswold Way.
Mr Marstrand said the wall would be used to foster sustainable grazing on the common, which is home to diverse species of animals, insects and wildflowers.
He said: "The idea is aimed at improving the management of the site for the thousands of visitors who go there each year."
The scheme to build the wall has been led by the Gloucestershire Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, supported the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust, Natural England, the Cotswolds Way National Trail and Cheltenham Borough Council.
Councillor Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainability, said: "This is great for Cheltenham.
"The project will not only rebuild an historic boundary wall that can be appreciated by everyone for years to come, but will provide job opportunities as well."
Joe Watson, managing director of Cotswold Estates and Gardens, which has won the contract to build the wall, said: "It's a great project because it is of such high local interest.
"As well as building the wall to a high standard, one of our aims is to provide valuable experience for apprentice wallers and youngsters who are looking to get into the trade."
Wayne Sedgwick, community parks officer for the council, called on people to contribute more funds to help complete the landmark.
He said: "It's vital we find the additional funding of around £70,000 to complete the wall. We would welcome donations from members of the public.
"It's a mammoth task. The ground will have to be cleared of all vegetation and trees that will verge on the wall. Foundations will also have to be dug.
"But when finished, the wall will improve grazing for cattle, which will in turn help to improve the condition of the limestone grassland."
To make a donation to the project, go to www.fwag.org.uk/pledge. For more information, contact Wayne Sedgwick on 01242 250019.
OPINION, P8
27 Comments
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by Jimbo2, Cheltenham
Monday, March 01 2010, 4:45PM
“Why not spend the money on building low cost homes in Cheltenham. Why not let the wall fall down and use the money on something that would help the communities. The only reason I can see that this has got funding is because a large majority of councilors live in Charlton Kings. Coincidence...?”
by Julius Marstrand, Charlton Kings
Sunday, February 28 2010, 1:21AM
“Whilst even I might prefer the money to be spent on other projects in Cheltenham - like saving one or two beds in Gloucestershire hospitals - the fact is that the money was not available for them. If it wasn't spent here, it would go back to be spent elsewhere in Europe. As money coming back INTO to the UK economy from Europe it will have an 'economic multiplier' effect. The money is being spent locally and will help boost the local economy. Unless the drystone wallers are all 'middle-class', the most direct beneficiaries will be the 'workers' employed and trained on the project! The wall is also part of an overall plan to create a more sustainable grazing regime on the Common, to help preserve the limestone flora on this Site of Special Scientific Interest. All the scrub clearance along the line of the wall is being completed before the breeding season starts, to minimise disruption to wildlife on the site.
Thousands of Cheltenham residents visit the site every year, many of them walk their dogs there nearly every day. At weekends the car parks are often packed. Many thousands more tourists, who bring large amounts of money into the town, also visit the site - and the flora on the site has helped Cheltenham win some of its 'Cheltenham in Bloom' awards that also help boost tourism.
If anyone wants to know more, they can contact FOLK (the Friends of Leckhampton Hill & Charlton Kings Common), or better still join us and have your say in future developments on the Hill.
Chairman of FOLK”
by Got a life, Chelt
Friday, February 26 2010, 4:05PM
“Is Phil C just a narrow minded moaner?....yup.”
by Phil C, Cheltenham
Friday, February 26 2010, 2:53PM
“£680,000 of EU cash. That will have cost us at least £1,000,000 of EU contribution.
Why not make the wall safe, put a sign up explaining its history and put in a good fence. I'm sure the money could be spent for environmental/agricultural benefit in ways which will actually benefit far more local people than the tiny minority who may see the wall.
I wonder how many local people who are 'associated with the common it will be fantastic for' as a percentage of the local population?!! 1%? The thousands of visitors aren't there to see the wall.
Medieval? The original was. Historical? True - well 200 years old - but that doesn't mean it has be kept that way. Sometimes we have to move on!
What about the upheaval to the existing wildlife? And what about the 2320 tonnes of Cotswold Stone being carted into an AOSB. What damage is that going to do? Even for somebody like me in Climate Change denial the wall will certainly have a high carbon footprint!
Is the wall going to 'foster sustainable grazing' in a way a fence wouldn't? Isn't the area already a home to 'diverse species of animals, insects and wildflowers'?
Do I think it will be done on budget? Unlikely. Do I think it will be great for Cheltenham? No. Do I think it is of high local interest? No.
Will I be making a donation? I think you might know the answer to that one!
Do I think it's another waste of EU money like the rest of our contribution is? Yup.”
by You Can't Handle The Truth, Gloucester City
Friday, February 26 2010, 2:32PM
“The Khazi of Kalabar, (you have the right name i see)
I like your idea about the use of the wall but would change its purpose to keeping your Town of Chav's in Chavenham and out of our historic CITY of Gloucester.
You must remember my jealous friend:
My City is on the up whilst your Town is going down.”
by arnold, The Spa
Friday, February 26 2010, 2:18PM
“i'd rather we didn't get this money, it's a waste of public money.
Better spend on something more worthwhile anywhere in Europe. The people who raised this money should have a guilty conscience and are deluded.
The wall will forever be a monument to waste and incompetence.
Arnold”
by Roger, Cheltenham
Friday, February 26 2010, 1:19PM
“anon, Glos
Do you know how long it takes just to build a small section of Cotswold stone walling? Thought not. This is 1.3km long!!!”
by Alfredo, Cheltenham
Friday, February 26 2010, 10:48AM
“There is no way that this is worth £700,000. What, precisely, will the benefit be? It will still just be a wall - nothing more, nothing less. In some places it'll be like Trigger's broom.
The only benefit I can see is that we'll be getting some of our EU contribution back. Wahoo.”
by anon, Glos
Thursday, February 25 2010, 11:43PM
“Roger.. you seem to have missed the point, its not the cause its the cost..however you wrap it up .. its overpriced and could have been at a much more affordable price?”
by john read, battledown
Thursday, February 25 2010, 7:37PM
“it would be cheaper and more benefitial to normal cheltonians to build a wall around hestersway”