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January 2011 update 1. The Pittville Gates Restoration Project sub-committee met in December, January and meets again at the beginning of February. 2. The sub-committee is looking for help from those with experience of fundraising and also anyone who could help with the educational aspects of the project (good plans for 'learning', together with 'participation', are an important element of successful Lottery bids). 3. We have had further meetings with officers from Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) and with a Gloucestershire County Council Highways (GCC) representative. 4. We have outline costs for the ironwork restoration and replacement and for the landscaping work. Most of this was provided by or through CBC and GCC but, in addition, an architect provided indicative costings for the landscaping work. The latter were somewhat lower than those provided by CBC but based on the use of different materials. We have still to finalise the design for the landscaping work, particularly the paved area to the south of the Gates. This will determine what goes into the tender documents and the ultimate cost. 5. The overall Restoration Project has two distinct parts - the Gates themselves, including new railings along Prestbury Road, and the landscaping of the area around the Gates. We will be applying to different organisations for funding for each. It seems that the Gates restoration will cost in the region of £250,000 and the landscaping at least £100,000. This is working to the highest specification. 6. We have sent in a first stage application to Community Spaces (managed by Groundwork on behalf of the Big Lottery Fund). This is for funding for some of the landscaping work. 7. We have made initial contact with the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust who may also be able to provide funding for the landscaping. There is the possibility of some help from GCC Highways sometime in the future, finances permitting. 8. We have sent a pre-application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the restoration of the Gates. 9. Other applications to local and national charities/funds will be done in due course. 10. The Public Fundraising Appeal will be launched at an event at the Townhouse Hotel, in Pittville Lawn, on 7 April. There will be appeals to local businesses (and national ones with a presence in Cheltenham) following this. 11. Research into the history of the Gates has led to an article being prepared for publication in the next Cheltenham Local History Society Journal www.cheltlocalhist.btik.com in March. This could be turned into a booklet with some additional text and lots of pictures for sale for fundraising.12. The Gloucestershire Echo has published another article (about the repairs to the Gates ironwork in 1965/6) http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/localnews/cheltenham/163-350-000-appeal-restore-park-gates-grand-ironwork/article-3044958-detail/article.html which led to contact with the apprentice who did most of the work (he now has his own company). Unfortunately the wrong photo of the Gates was put in, as was that of the Friends of Pittville spokesman. Cllr Diane Hibbert (who is on our Executive Committee) was depicted instead of Judie Hodsdon (who is Chair of the Gates sub-committee).13. The public meeting, when people will have the opportunity to see initial plans and drawings and will be able to comment, will be held on 26 February at Pittville Gates themselves. If the weather is bad we will go to a local cafe. More details will be published about this later. Judie Hodsdon and Fiona Clark eJanuary 2011 |
