Page 11 - April - 2018

Tel: 01485 540620 email: editor@townandaround.net Town & Around April 2018 11
Pride in our Neighbourhood 39

Andrew Murray
he first Conservation Area was created in Stamford,
Lincolnshire in 1967. The 50th anniversary of this has been a
Ttime to evaluate the impact of the more than 10,000 conserva-
tion areas that now exist. Many of these conservation areas are in the
historic centres of towns and it must be asked, how effective have they
been in protecting and promoting high quality appearances of town
centres and what has been their impact on the economic vitality of
those areas.
Research by English Heritage has demonstrated that house prices
within a conservation area are on average nine per cent higher than
elsewhere. Despite this, about 6% of the conservation areas in England
surveyed in 2016 were considered to be ‘at risk’. “Negative change can
have a real effect upon the way the community thrives or feels about
their area. When conservation areas become at risk, this can signify or
contribute to an area’s social or economic decline.”
Victoria Hunns, a consultant with TDR Heritage, writing in the
magazine of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation gives this
explanation. “Many of these at risk areas are in town centres with eco-
nomic and social issues that typically include high levels of social dep-
rivation, crime and a shortage of training and educational opportunities. policies and win hearts and minds.
For many such areas, these problems have been compounded by other The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has offered grants of £100k to
factors, including changes in retail provision driven not only by the £2m for heritage-based regeneration of areas in need of social and eco-
establishment of out of town shopping centres, but increasingly nomic regeneration. This scheme now known as Townscape Heritage
through attitudes to online shopping which are changing the face of the (TH) can help communities improve the built historic environment of
British high street.” conservation areas in need of investment. The grants can assist multi-
“In terms of their impact on the townscape, these problems fre- agency partnerships to regenerate economically disadvantaged historic
quently result in high vacancy rates and lack of investment arising from areas for the benefit of local residents, workers and visitors. Reviews
a diminished property market with reduced rental levels and poor of some of the 250 schemes that have been funded to date across the
investment yields. In these situations, the evidence from many such UK are now available and may give guidance on how to apply for these
towns shows that the conservation or refurbishment of historic proper- funds in a competitive environment. The funding has facilitated struc-
ties becomes increasingly difficult to implement as owners are unable tural and external repairs to buildings, the repair or re-instatement of
to recover the higher cost of ‘heritage’ repairs through increases in elements of architectural detail such as shop fronts or traditional win-
property value after completion of the work. This in turn has been dows and helped to bring vacant buildings back into use. Schemes also
shown to lead to poor quality or poorly designed shop front replace- include diverse activities such as training in traditional conservation
ments, distracting and oversized signage and significant problems with skills for contractors and trainees, maintenance days for property own-
repair and maintenance of the building stock.” ers and open days because engagement of the community with their
In 2016, Historic England launched Heritage Action Zones (HAZ) heritage is a fundamental aspect of the projects.
as a means of working with councils and communities to counter and There are 50 Conservation Areas in the Borough including 7 within
manage negative change in historic places and develop opportunities the town of King’s Lynn. Their boundaries and character statements
for growth based around the unique heritage offer in an area. are available on the Borough’s web site. As part of the featured village
Embracing heritage-led regeneration is a significant issue, not only in displayed each month in the Heritage Centre, it is intended that atten-
monetary terms, but also in terms of resources needed to change local tion will be drawn the village history, its church and conservation area.

Thornham Village Hall news

The Maker’s Mark moves
Spring is in the air at last! support of Scotty's Little Soldiers, FOR ALL LIVE SATELLITE to mid-summer
Hopefully the 'Beast from the a charity dedicated to supporting PRODUCTIONS BOOK YOUR
East' has done its worst and we children and young people who TICKETS NOW Online at
can all look forward to longer day have lost a parent whilst serving www.thornhamvillagehall.co.uk Thornham Village Hall, 23rd &
24th June 2018 10am – 4pm
light hours and the daffodils in in the British Armed Forces. or call 07787 255 597 Tickets The venue is the same but please
the hedgerows. Charity Night Tickets £10.00 £15.00 Children £10.00 note the change of date. Visit our
Thornham Village Hall is as busy Fabulous Raffle Prizes to be won. Soup and Sandwich Lunches 5th annual, high quality craft
as ever with our regular activities: To book call 0781 8028687 The final Soup and Sandwich event to celebrate summer with
pilates classes, table tennis, ball- Forthcoming films : lunch date for this season is over thirty makers showing the
room and latin dance class, and Paddington 2 - Wed 23rd May Tuesday 24th April To book call best of local craftsmanship.
our new Fabs fitness class. For That Good Night - Wed 27th June Carolyn Barret 01485 512033 Refreshments will be in the capa-
more information on all the activ- To book call 0781 8028687 - ble hands of The BagLadies of
ities visit our website at Tickets £5.00 We are again pleased to host the Thornham. Admission free
www.thornhamvillagehall.co.uk By Live Satellite from The Royal popular West Norfolk Artists
THORNHAM VILLAGE CINE- Opera House Covent Garden and Exhibition at Thornham Village
MA AND LIVE BY SATELLITE Glyndebourne Forthcoming Hall over the Easter holiday from
A reminder that our charity film Productions : 29th March - 2nd April, followed
night is on Wednesday 11th April Manon - Thursday 3rd May by an exhibition of work from
and we will be showing Swan Lake - Tuesday 12th June artist Eddie Goodridge 6th - 8th
DUNKIRK. The evening is in Madame Butterfly - 21st June April.