St Peter's Residents' Association
News

updated 16:20 13 August 2011

SPA BBQ 2011

City centre spruced up for Summer

The 2011 Big Clean event saw hundreds of people working together in partnership with CCP to clean, sweep and clear litter from the city’s streets and open spaces. Shop fronts, bus stops, phone boxes, pavements and pedestrian subways were spruced up, stickers and fly posters were removed and a major river clean took place, as well as many smaller scale cleaning projects.

More than a dozen community groups and businesses, including our team from the SPA, joined in The Big Clean, which was organised by the City Centre Partnership.

The SPA concentrated on clearing a lot of the overhanging bushes and weeds at the former Christchurch Art Centre in St Peter’s Lane. It took more than six hours of hard work to make it look a bit more presentable for the summer.

Serco removed the graffiti, gave a coat of paint to parts of the building, and provided us with high visibility jackets, gloves and rubbish sacks.

The blitz on Friday and Saturday was co-coordinated by city centre manager Philippe Esclasse who said it had been a big success. He said: "It really is an example of community spirit at its best and I was very pleased so many people took part.

Thanks to Janet Scott, Gillian Rushton and Clive Bowley for giving up their Saturday and working extremely hard to make our area look a bit smarter.

Park Gates

May 2011. Buried deep in the Council's cost cutting budget proposals was a supplementary appendix 6 - New savings and additional income. "End park gate locking service". It was intended that this would take effect as from 1st April. This item was discovered last Month. A vigorous response was made to all interested parties, including the chief of police and our local newspaper. As a result our chairman received an email from Colin Carmichael stating: "...Given the concern, we have agreed to defer our decision for 2-3 months to see whether there are alternatives which would work as well"

CROMWELLS/ G-BarKing Street. The Premises was been purchased by a private buyer and has been shut as from 4 November 2010.

The St Peters Association took part in the big clean up of the City on Saturday 9th October 2010 in conjunction with The Canterbury Society. The river and the footpaths on either side, between The Millers Arms and Sainsburys had large amounts of rubbish and litter removed.

G Bar in King Street is no more since about 18th October. The premises have been sold and closed until further notice.

THE ST PETERS ASSOCIATION BBQ took place as usual on 22 June 2010 at the Dominican Priory.

THE ST PETERS ASSOCIATION AGM 2010 The AGM took place at The Dominican Priory on Thursday 22 April at 7pm. A new constitution was adopted which you will find on this site. There were various changes to the Officers and committee. Hilary McKernan was elected as Chairman, Andrew Barnes as Vice Chairman and Lucy Boutwood as Secretary. Barry Clarke was re-elected as Treasurer. Polly Coburn, Margaret Hagan, Margaret Keeler and Gillian Rushton were re-elected as the other committee members.

Lady Luck St Peter's Street has been granted a music licence. One live and one recorded event per month both to end by 11pm. Noise supressor to be fitted to the music system. Back door to garden to be kept closed.

Licence Reviews: See Archives

BEANEY The SPA will be participating in a Forum (made up of local residents) to have regular meetings with the Council’s Project Manager. At the first meeting we insisted that serious problems should be resolved as and when they arise, in the construction of the Beaney and Marlowe Theatre. The initial proposed construction vehicle routes, for both large and small vehicles entering this compact area, must be organised so that as little disruption as possible is caused to residents and also to avoid damaging precious properties. The Council, so far, are taking this matter very seriously.  We have put forward a suggestion for a one-way traffic flow system while construction vehicles enter and leave the sites.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS Apart from the Beaney and Marlowe Theatre we have been very active in scrutinising many other planning applications and, when necessary, making sensible comments; plus voicing our disquiet over the “shabbiness” in parts of the city.  We have serious graffiti problems which are getting worse and poor maintenance of many buildings and roads.  Where is our city pride!

CANTERBURY CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CCAC) We have a representative on the CCAC, which is of tremendous help in keeping us up to date with all the Planning Applications in the City and enables us to give our views on matters which concern this area.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH We have a very successful Neighbourhood Watch scheme in our area.  When space is available in their monthly newsletter they are including updates from the SPA Committee.

P.A.C.T We continue to plod on attending the Partners and Community Together meetings. After two years we have just acquired a Chairman! At last a little action… when the SPA suggested that the police van (which is used by the Special Constables during the day) be used at night with a paramedic, licensing officer etc. on hand, the Police thought this was a very good idea. This van can be parked anywhere in Canterbury to act as an effective deterrent and will be able to take immediate action when necessary. We await feedback. More good news… in the past the police could only give a warning to people caught urinating in public, now however, police can hand out an “on the spot” £80 fine!

King Street traffic management

King Street bollards

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