03 July 2012

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: 03 JULY 2012.                           

1. CATHEDRAL GARDENS: A very constructive meeting was held at St. Martin’s House on Friday 15^th June. However there are still a number of contentious issues, particularly a future for the “Field Wall”.

2. UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER BUILT HERITAGE PROJECT: Conference on Saturday 16^th June. This was the University’s equivalent of the conference at DMU.

3. “TELLING THE STORY OF LEICESTER PLAN”: I had a meeting with Leicester Museums Service on Thursday 23^rd June at which we discussed the future development of Museums and Heritage Sites. We brainstormed on which was which (e.g. Jewry Wall Museum, Newarke Houses, and Abbey Pumping Station are clearly museums as they house major collections. Guildhall, The Roman Baths and Wygston’s House are clearly heritage sites as they do not) and ways in which they could all generate much needed income. The Council propose that Leicester Castle, Newarke Gateway, Wygston’s House and Belgrave Hall all function as heritage sites. (I suggested that Wygston’s house act as an overspill for the Guildhall weddings etc.) This was a one-off meeting in advance of a press release, as they were clearly worried about an adverse reaction from the Civic Society over proposals to classify Belgrave Hall as a heritage site rather than a museum when it ‘reopens’ next spring after the winter close-down. Although they do have money to spend on Belgrave Hall, this means that like The Castle, Newarke Gateway and Wygston’s House it will only open to the public for a guaranteed minimum of 10 days per year, except when they can successfully market its use for meetings, conferences, weddings and other special events etc. I have some sympathy with all of this. Visitors on routine opening last year only totalled 13,000 despite the Gimson furniture exhibition being in there. The Museums Service has six properties, the resources to manage about five but is suddenly being asked to cope with nine. A Civic Society strategy needs to promote all the heritage sites so that eventually they develop into museums with regular public opening.

For a start the Society needs to help form a “Friends of Belgrave Hall” and I will be attempting to organise this when I have time in the autumn. A friends organisation will need new blood. Neither I nor Jennifer, whose hands are full with Friends of Jewry Wall Museum, will be able to get personally involved, but I shall attempt to involve this Society, Friends of JW Museum, Leicester Museums Technology Association, Friends of Leicester & Leicestershire Museums and Leicester Museums Service in an attempt to generate that vital spark of life. It only needs volunteers for Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer! (Anyone fancying a go should let me know)

The Gimson furniture exhibition will move into permanent gallery space at NW Museum as they have won a large Arts Council grant for this. As the National Trust is to acquire the Gimson cottage in Charnwood Forest, they are keen on joint promotion with Leicester Museums, as they have a ‘black hole’ in Leicestershire membership, due to so few properties. However they were not interested in acquiring any heritage sites in Leicester as none “were up to their standard”.

The “Story of Leicester Plan” is holding an “1850 to 1940” discussion group meeting on Thursday 12^th July at the Town Hall, which I shall be attending.

4. ASSOCIATION OF PRESERVATION TRUSTS: The Association of (Building) Preservation Trusts is to hold a conference at the Guildhall on Friday 6^th July. We are going with our exhibition and I shall be giving a guided walk of (some) heritage buildings at risk.

5. CONSERVATION AREA SURVEYS: Next survey is Ashleigh Road on 14^th July. We’ll start at the corner of Harrow Road/Narborough Road at 14.00 to do the bit we missed on 12^th May.

6. LOVE ARCHITECTURE: Tim and I had a total of only ten walkers over the two walks. We have therefore put the following points to RIBA:

6.1. Not counting “Love Architecture” we have conducted 4 public and 4 private party walks in the last twelve months. These totalled 230-ish, an average of about 29 each. On this basis 2 walks averaging 5 each is a waste of our time and something is wrong.

6.2.It isn’t the subject matter. The walkers said they found it fascinating. It must therefore be timing, publicity etc. etc.

6.3.We recommend that future walks join our regular corpus and are therefore, a) programmed to ensure advertising in Leicester Citizen. (i.e. The Mid-February deadline for March Citizen in respect of June Walks, b) Same price as our other walks, (£3.50 at the moment) c) Same time as our other walks, (10.30 Saturday morning) d) Same booking arrangement with Tourist Info. (i.e. 7.5% commission as we are a registered charity) These should put the whole operation on a par with our existing successful programme.

6.4.Counting Western Park, which we haven’t done yet, we only have three walks, which cannot be repeated ad infinitum as the potential audience will wear away. Our main programme has 11 walks with 4 given per year. (i.e. over three years before a repeat) Next year we could give Western Park and £1Million Pound Street but after that a serious rethink would be required.