St Peter's Association
News

updated:April 2008

St Peters Association AGM 2008 The St Peters Association AGM was held at The Dominican Priory on Thursday 24th April at 7pm. Our Guest Speaker was Jim Ratchford from Licensing. There were three changes to the committee. Hilary McKernan was Secretary, now Entertainment Secretary. Joanne Holmes was Membership Secretary now Secretary. Lucy Boutwood has taken over as Membership Secretary

Christmas Party This was held as usual at The Dominican Priory in December 2007

Barbeque 2007 Our 2007 BBQ was held in the grounds of the Dominican Priory. It was well attended by about 60 members and guests. A very pleasant evening was enjoyed by all. Our Chairman, Penny Francis was complimented for her excellent organisation. Especial thanks to Polly for food preparation, Bridget for the barbequeing and Hilary for serving.

Green Lane destroyed in King Street update Feb 08 from July 07 A Member had brought to our attention the threatened destruction of an ancient green lane running from the Quaker's premises in The Friars into King Street. Click HERE to read their information. Here are photos of the lane as was. The end result is shown in the last two pictures

Marlowe Centre Development May 2007 A revised design brief was submitted to the May Council Planning Meeting on 29th May 2007 regarding the proposed new houses in St Peters Lane. Read it HERE. Our chairman attended this meeting. Click HERE for her report.

Solly's Orchard The sycamore trees have been cleared together with some in the Dominican Priory grounds. The long awaited fruit trees have been planted, with protective metal cages.

St Peters Association AGM 2007 The St Peters Association AGM was held at The Dominican Priory on Thursday 30th March at 7pm. Click HERE for a copy of the minutes of the meeting. Our guest speaker was Chief Inspector Ian McKenzie.

Secretary and Chairman General view

NEWSLETTER A newsletter was delivered to each member in March 2007. Click HERE to read it.

CHAIRMANS REVIEW Click HERE for our Chairman's review of the first quarter of 2007

CARRIAGE MEWS The 42 members of the Carriage Mews Residents Association joined our Association last year. Their area includes Carriage Mews, Kirbys Lane and North Lane.

ORANGE STREET LE BOUDOIR This opened in early May. It had been granted an alcohol licence which exceeded the planning permission hours that had been granted. They then made application for a variation to their planning permission to extend the hours to correspond and this was duly granted. The closing hours are 11.30pm Monday to Thursday and 12.30am Friday and Saturday and 11.30pm Sundays and Bank Holidays.

SCRIBES There was a lengthy hearing on 18th October 2006. Scribes were not granted any alteration to their hours or regulated activities. They also now have to submit their Lap Dancing Club rules for approval by the Council Licensing Department. They were granted permission to extend their licensed area to include the disused kitchen area.

SCRIBES Oct 8th 2006. A revision application has been submitted which asks for extended hours, conversion of the downstairs kitchen area to a licensed area and the addition of a bar upstairs. The hearing date will be 18th October at 10am. If you were one of those who wrote please try to attend the hearing and preferably to speak. There have been 76 letters of objection! Scribes have now varied their application. They have now asked for only one evening a week of live or recorded music and only until 11pm. SCRIBES September 2006. .

CANTERBURY LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

A non-technical summary has been released. This document is the non-technical summary of the scoping report for the sustainability appraisal of Canterbury Districts' Local Development Framework. It describes the major issues for sustainable development in the District and describes how the appraisal will be undertaken.Click HERE to read the summary.

BARBEQUE 2006

Our 2006 BBQ was held in the grounds of the Dominican Priory. It was well attended by about 70 members and guests. A very pleasant evening was enjoyed by all. Our Chairman, Penny Francis was complimented for her excellent organisation. Click HERE for some photos

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

New signs have been erected in various streets in our area. Click HERE to go to the Neighbourhood Watch page for more details and photo. We are issuing newsletters to each household each month (subject to there being sufficient news).

AGM 30th March 2006

The St Peters Association AGM was held at The Dominican Priory on Thursday 30th March at 7pm. Click Minutes for minutes of the meeting.

Graham Jackson spoke about Neighbourhood Watch. Notice plates were ordered for installing in 10 streets in our area.

Mark Everett, the Marlowe Theatre Director, spoke about the proposed redevelopment of the Marlowe Theatre. He said that plans for a river walk were a prelimary suggestion by the initial consultants and that they were not part of any specific scheme for the re-development.

Questions were asked afterwards.

The annual subscription was unchanged at £2 for one person and £3 for a household. Membership cards were issued to the members present.

A free glass of wine was available for each member.

Newsletter

A newsletter was delivered to each member in March 2006. Click HERE to read it

Thomas Beckett pub

Punch Taverns, the owners, applied for an extension of licenced hours until 01:00 am Monday to Saturday with a further 1/2 hour drinking up time. This was opposed by the Association and several individual members. At the hearing on 21 April 2006 at the Guildhall in April the following was agreed. Application for recorded music licence was withdrawn. New licenced hours: Monday to Thursday 9am until 00:00 am. Friday and Saturday and the Sunday preceding a Bank Holiday, 9am until 00:30 am. Sunday 9 am until midnight. 1/2 hour drinking up time in addition to these hours. Doors to be closed after 10pm each evening. No open glass containers or open bottles to be taken outside.

Butterfly Garden

Update March 2006. New gate now fitted and should be locked at night by the end of March. Railing now fitted round the central flower bed.

The beautiful Butterfly Garden in Pound Lane was being persistantly vandalised by graffiti and plants rooted up and damaged. It was used as a venue for drinking and much anti-social behaviour, which was obviously affecting residents' lives. Many residents' letters went unheeded over a period of time until our Chairman, Penny Francis, was asked if she could help. She wrote asking if the garden could be closed at night, as sadly other gardens in the City have to do as well. As a result of her letter she is pleased to have been told that the Council will be installing a 6' high gate which will be locked at night. Click HERE to read letter from Rebecca Booth.

Dominican Priory Roof Problem

2007 Roof now repaired and all buiulding open as usual.

2006 We have received a press release re the roof problem. Click HERE for text There has now been a detailed survey of the roof and remedial works have been recommended. Quotations will have to be obtained etc and it is unlikely that the upstairs will be open before September 2006.

Christmas Party

The Christmas party this year was at the Dominican Priory on 19th December.

Mince pies and mulled wine were served and carols were sung round the piano. There was a good attendance and a pleasant evening was held by all. Click here for some photos.

Neighbourhood Watch Nov 2005

A scheme has now been set up in several of the streets in the St Peters Association area. We incorporated the existing Broad Street Neighbourhood Watch Association with their Gillian Rushton as our deputy co-ordinator. It is hoped that the existing members from Broad Street will join the St Peters Association as from the 2006 AGM. A newsletter was sent out to give members details of the scheme. Click HERE to read it. See the Neighbourhood Watch page for further news. Click HERE

Marlow Theatre

Funds now available and work proceeding. Currently, May 2008, trial borings are being carried out.

A meeting of the Council Executive in September agreed to proceed with the redevelopment of the Marlowe Theatre on its present site, subject to the availability of sufficient funds. There is a new web site www.marlowerecast.com which will provide a continuing source of information regarding the progress of the development. The following is an extract from the site.

Artists impression

Licensing

A statement was issued by The Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell on 23 Sept which puts a significantly different emphasis on the objectives of the Licensing Act. Click HERE to read it. Our Chairman wrote to the Council seeking clarification and received this reply. Click HERE to read it.

Look at our INFORMATION page for links to the Council web site re licensing policy etc.

Click the Underlined blue names below for the licensing decisions for those pubs etc which our members had expressed concern about. (Decisions will be added as and when available).

Local Heros The application for Local Heros was strongly resisted and their hours were substantially curtailed to little more than that which they have at present. They have now double glazed their rear windows which has removed the noise problem to residents at their rear.

Orange St Music Club (formally Local Heros)

Scribes The application for Scribes had 69 written objections and the licensing hours remained unaltered.

Seven Stars

Simple Simons

The Millers Arms

The Canterbury Tales

The Bell and Crown

The Dolphin

The Hobgoblin

Jolly Sailor

Penny Theatre

Pilgrims Hotel

The Cricketers

The Thomas Becket

River Stour

Penny Francis wrote to Mr. Ted Edwards, the Engineering Manager for the Canterbury City Council and the Flood Defence Manager of the Environment Agency. She expressed our concern at the silting up of the river which is leading to formation of islands. These impede the natural flow of the river which could add to a potential flooding threat at times of heavy rainfall. Mr Edwards has agreed that there is a potential problem. A meeting is to be held on site at the river to decide what action should be taken.

King Street traffic management

King Street bollards

AGM Thursday 28 April 2005 at 7pm at the Dominican Priory

Our guest speakers were the Council's Commercial Manager, Roger Vick and the Licensing Manager, Jim Ratchford.

Neighbourhood Watch (see above for update)

The Association is currently arranging to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in our area. There are obvious benefits to residents. Explanatory leaflets were distributed in the area. There was almost 100% agreement in all the roads canvassed. Pam Martin of 32 King Street has agreed to be the link person for King Street. Andrew Kerrin agreed to be the area coordinator. He attended a committee meeting on 4th October and explained how the scheme is to be set up.

Scribes Public House King St

Scribes replaced their wood cellar flap in June with a metal one without any planning permission. They were instructed by the conservation enforcement officer to replace it with a wooden one, which they did in July.

Our complaint on behalf of local residents re the the Sky dish, lights, advertisement boards and banner reached a successful conclusion. They were removed on 21 April.

We received complaints in February from some King St residents concerning the illegal siting of a Sky dish on the street elevation and the display of unapproved advertisements. The Secretary wrote to the Canterbury City Council planning department on their behalf.

The planning department inspector visited site. He then wrote to Scribes and Enterprise Inns as follows:

I have today (23 March) written to both the PH landlord and Enterprise Inns plc, requesting the following actions within 28 days of receipt of my letter:

a) complete removal of: three sets of 'fairy lights', two inwardly pointing wall lights, two additional wall mounted advertisements, one additional above-door advertisement, one additional, large temporary banner - all of which I pinpointed on enclosed photographs.

b) re-positioning of the satellite dish to a rear wall, or in the garden behind the property.

I will write again as this case progresses. Richard Adkins, Planning Inspector, Canterbury City Council

Pedestrianisation of Palace Street

There was a vote regarding the future of the scheme at the 19th July meeting of the JTB. Option 3 was agreed.

• No Pedestrianisation of Palace St, with everything reverting back to the way it was before the trial was initiated. The signs came down at the end of September.
  However, additional measures are proposed. Palace St traders and adjoining residents were sent a note of the details. The proposals were approved by the Council Executive on 1st September subject to available finance. Costs of the proposals are estimated to be about £280,000.
  As a temporary measure sleepers have been bolted to the road in Palace St and the signs were removed at the end of September. Work on any permanent improvements cannot take place until next Summer at the earliest due to the prior gas main replacement works. It will also be subject to the availability of funds. Click HERE for the note.
  The temporary arrangement is an unsightly mess. The arrangement is discouraging vehicles from the road and they are diverting to King St as a preferred alternative route. The increased traffic flow in King St is creating problems and traffic jams.



palace street exp ped This is the document we sent in September 2004 to all the JTB (Joint Transport Board) members, the Kentish Gazette and the three Westgate Ward Councilors regarding the Palace Street Pedestrianisation Trial.




pedletter This is the letter we sent to local residents and traders regarding the meeting at the Old Synagogue in King St on 25 October to discuss the Palace Street Pedestrianisation.

Palace Street newsletter This newsletter sets out our views concerning the Palace Street pedestrianisation trial.


The meeting of the JTB to decide the future of the Pedestrianisation of Palace Street was held on 25th January at 7:30 pm at the Guildhall. There were 16 people who addressed the meeting, of which 9 were from residents and traders who were opposed to the scheme. The Councilors voted that the trial should continue for a year from the original start date. They noted the concern of local residents regarding King Street and agreed that a solution to the King Street traffic problem had to be found if the scheme was to be made permanent.

The complete JTB document from 25th Jan meeting can be found on the Council Web Site. Relevant extracts are linked below.

Report from Highways Dept to JTB Committee

Analysis of questionnaires

Comments from letters to Highways Dept

JTB meeting 25 Jan minutes

 

Coach Park, St John's

At the committee meeting on 10 January it was discussed: "There are already some coaches being parked there but probably not officially. Denis Atkinson went to a meeting before Christmas. He reported that it may be that there will be fewer coaches at St. John’s car park with drop off places in other places in the city. Janet Scott reported that there is a move to beautify the city car parks generally. No road will be allowed through to St. John’s Place. However shortly afterwards planning application CA/05/00012 was made by the Council. "Change of use from public car park to coach park with temporary attendant's office, six 10 metre high lighting columns and formation of gateway in wall". Hilary McKernan inspected the plans at the Council Offices on 1st February but the layout drawing was missing. Anyone wanting to see what a coach park looks like should visit the existing one opposite Sainsburys. The Council planning meeting was held on 8th March and the coach park plans were approved by a majority vote.

Following the change to a Conservative majority Council the decision to relocate the Coach Park has been put on hold. Our latest information is that the whole matter is being re-examined by consultants. A coach dropping off point in the road by the Whitefriars bus station has being trialled since September and appears to be working well.


Westgate Towers

The trial pedestrianisation of roads around the Westgate Towers on Sundays for a six-month trial period started in August. Click link below for details. At the end of the period the experiment was abandoned.

Westgate proposed pedestrianisation scheme News item from CCC web site 10 February - Westgate Towers area pedestrianisation consultation

 

New Licensing Laws

See Licensing (click to jump) above for update re progress of the various application.

The St Peters Association objected to most of the licensing applications in our area due to the lengthy opening hours asked for. In addition there were the associated entertainment licences which would lead to additional and later noise throughout the area.

In particular we objected to the applications from Scribes and The Seven Stars. Scribes applied for a Lap Dancing club upstairs plus opening to 1:30am every day. The Seven Stars applied for an alcohol licence until 3am and to be open from 6am until 5am. They applied for entertainment including: plays, films, indoor sporting events, live music, recorded music and strippograms and erotic dancing.

They also applied to have their licensed area extended onto the pavement in front of their premises. This was to replace their present permission to put out tables and chairs which they can do until 4pm each day as part of the, shortly to terminate, pedestrianisation trial.

26 April 2005. The Council had Judicial Review in the High Court over its licensing policy. The Judge found that the Council's Licensing Policy was unlawful. In practice the Licensing Policy can only be regarded as suggestions from the Council - not anything that must be followed. The Council issued a short amendment to its Licensing Policy.

This was the Associations response to the City Council's consultation document regarding the new licensing laws.

Response to draft licensing policy

This is the City Council's new Licensing Policy Document

City Council's Licensing Policy

News item from CCC web site 7th February 2005:

"Licensees have six months from today (7 August) to apply to either simply convert their licence (so it is identical to their current one) or change aspects of their current licence. However, under the terms of the Act, the new licence will not come into force until a date later this year, which is yet to be revealed by the government but is expected to be in November.

Any licensee who fails to apply to either convert or vary their licence by 7 August will have to apply to the City Council for a completely new licence. This will need to be approved by the Council by the expected date in November. If, by then, a premises does not have a licence granted under the new Act, it will not be allowed to open.

Canterbury City Council's Commercial Health Manager, Roger Vick, said: "It appears there have been some misleading adverts placed in the press regarding the new Act, so it's important the information going out to the public is accurate.

"The Council must have given approval to the licence by the November deadline, or premises cannot open. Some adverts have appeared saying the deadline is actually 7 August, but this is incorrect. If you miss this date, it just means you must apply for a whole new licence. The November date is the crucial one.

"We're expecting a stream of applications from licensees over the next few months. The Council has a team standing by to deal with them and answer any enquiries."

Anybody requiring clarification on aspects of the Act, or a copy of an application form for any of the licences (alcohol, music and dance, theatre/cinema and late night refreshment) should contact the Council on 01227 862 206."


There is a web site which gives details of all licensing applications in the country.

New Licensing Web Site

 

Kingsmead development brief Nov 2004

This gives detail of the proposals concerning the Kingsmead Site. The tenders for the first housing phase from five property companies have been submitted to the Council.

Kingsmead Development brief (4.8mb Adobe Acrobat PDF)


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