Listed buildings at risk
DOZENS of listed buildings in Gloucester have been marred over the last three years, according to new figures.
Planning officers are investigating a series of breaches in planning regulations.
They include unauthorised use of adverts and damage to listed buildings.
Since 2007, 28 listed buildings in Gloucester have been damaged. They include a satellite dish that was put up on a Grade II-listed building in the Eastgate Street and St Michael's Conservation Area – which has since been removed, unauthorised windows put on a listed building in Southgate Street – with planning permission since given, and UPVC windows put up in a Grade II listed building in Bristol Road – which is currently facing legal action.
A Gloucester City Council spokesperson said: "Keeping up with regular maintenance and minor repairs can help owners of listed buildings keep bills down and preserve the city's heritage.
"Gloucester has a huge range of historic buildings and monuments ranging from Roman to Victorian and it is important whilst we move to being a 21st-century city that we maintain our historic buildings which gives the city its unique appearance."
Barry Leach, chairman of the City Centre Community Partnership, said: "People are quite often well aware that their particular building is listed or in a conservation area and still proceed to do what is illegal work.
"They're not only damaging the building, but the history of the building as a whole."
No damage to listed buildings has yet been reported to the council in 2010.
Planning officers are currently investigating 116 cases where planning regulations might have been breached.
Of the 116 cases, 15 are unauthorised changes of use and 23 are of an unauthorised advertisements. Between January and March this year, the council has issued 14 notices and there have been two prosecutions.
2 Comments
by WML, Stroud
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 8:45PM
“I have never understood why good quality uPVC double glazed windows can't be used, provided they are have identical designs to the originals. This will also help the environment through reducing heat loss and eliminating the regular use of paint, which contains noxious chemicals.
Stroud District Council are very much against uPVC windows. A recently built development along the Slad Road here has mainly used uPVC, however SDC insisted that wood be used on properties near the main road. These now look a mess, where the paint is peeling and wooden frames/sills are already cracked!
Good quality uPVC can greatly enhance the appearance of properties, and they look good for years to come, with no expensive maintenance required.
As regards satellite dishes, 1 or 2 don¿t seem so bad, but listed buildings could look terrible with lots of them all along the street. Advertising placards can also make streets look very tatty.
I thoroughly agree with Geraint¿s comment ref the horrible shade of blue used in the docks; a nice Cotswold stone colour would have been much nicer.”
by geraint, gloucester
Tuesday, May 11 2010, 9:54AM
“While I share Barry Leach's concern for the heritage of our fair city, advertising placards and satellite dishes seem rather small beer when compared to blue flats in the docks!”