posted 27 Feb 2012 12:45 by The Baldock Society
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updated 27 Feb 2012 12:52
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The March edition of The Baldock Society's newsletter has just been published.
Members who have previously received the newsletter as an email attachment will now be sent a link to the online version. In addition to freeing email boxes of potentially large files, we hope that members will also choose to explore the website during their visit. If you have any thoughts on how we could improve your website and make it more useful and informative, then please contact us.
In this issue, we give updates on:
- recent and forthcoming members' meetings
- planning issues
- Avenue Park
Back issues of the newsletter are available on our newsletter page.
Just click the pdf link below to download:
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posted 5 Feb 2012 13:15 by The Baldock Society
Our latest newsletter is now online!
In this issue, Janet Hammond takes a look back at 2011's meetings, Carol Anne Brown gives an update on the latest developments at Baldock Cemetery and we also have an update on what's happening with Baldock Town Hall.
As noted in the newsletter, the Society would like to express sincere thanks to Hertfordshire County Councillor Michael Muir, who has committed £250 from his locality budget so that we may continue to meet the cost of holding eleven meetings per year. Please do show your support by coming along to members' meetings. These take place on the third Thursday of each month (January - November) and feature a wide range of interesting talks alongside usual Society business. Full details can be found on our meetings and events page.
We'd also like to say a very sincere thanks and fond farewell to Arthur Thame, who has had to stand down after 14 years of exemplary service as our Treasurer. His incredibly efficient running of our accounts will be a hard act to follow. We will be welcoming Neil Brown as our new Treasurer within the next few weeks.
The February newsletter can be accessed on our Newsletters page. |
posted 22 Jan 2012 09:33 by The Baldock Society
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updated 24 Jan 2012 09:42
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New for 2012... to keep members up to date with the actions of their elected committee, we're now publishing the minutes of our monthly committee meetings, which take place on the first Thursday of each month.
A significant amount of committee meeting time is devoted to reviewing planning applications submitted to North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) during the month since the previous committee meeting. This is in line with the Society's main objectives to:
- Encourage high standards of planning and architecture;
- Promote the preservation and protection of the local historical environment;
- Stimulate interest in issues that affect the town.
Our committee meeting minutes include the planning reference numbers reviewed, along with any actions the committee intends to take in response, on behalf of the membership. You'll be able to find the planning documents referred to in the minutes by entering the planning application number into NHDC's planning application search web page [external link].
In addition to planning matters, the minutes include details of other business discussed, such as members' events, how we spend members' subscriptions, correspondence, other local government consultations and other groups and events in Baldock.
Committee meeting minutes are available in PDF format on our new committee meeting minutes page, which you'll find under documents on the left hand navigation. |
posted 4 Dec 2011 14:49 by The Baldock Society
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updated 13 Jan 2012 10:26
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We are starting to organise the AGM, which will be held in the community centre on Thursday 19 January 2012 at 8.00pm. There will be a buffet, refreshments (including wine), a quiz, the AGM and other things to make it another memorable evening. Entry for this event will be £2 for members and £3 for non-members.
This will be your chance to show us your support. We do need you as members and we do need you at the monthly meetings whenever you can make it. Full details with membership renewal forms and AGM tickets will be sent out during December to all members.
With the AGM in January, there will be the opportunity for you to elect the Committee; this could be the re-election of current Committee Members or to replace them with new members. This is your choice, so please make sure you exercise your rights to elect the Committee you want.
We will be losing one Committee member this year due to him moving out of Baldock. So we would like to thank John White for all of his good work over last few years and to wish him and his family every happiness in their new home.
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posted 18 Apr 2011 15:25 by The Baldock Society
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updated 18 Apr 2011 15:40
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The Society has just released its latest newsletter, which is now available on our Newsletter page.
In this edition:
- Chairman's thoughts
- Help us solve a mystery - where was this photo taken?
- Snowy Baldock
- Members' meetings update
- Planning update
- Book your place for the Baldock quiz at May's meeting (19th)
- Competition - The Baldock Society would like a slogan!
- Baldock Town Hall
- St Mary's Infant school 60th anniversary
- Avenue Park
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posted 2 Apr 2011 07:13 by The Baldock Society
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updated 2 Apr 2011 07:30
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As recently reported in local press, The Baldock Town Hall group, of which The Baldock Society is a member, has been successful in delaying the disposal of Baldock Town Hall by North Hertfordshire District Council.
The group has been granted until the end of March 2012 to build a viable business case for the town hall's use as a community asset.
More information will be posted in due course. |
posted 20 Feb 2011 06:55 by The Baldock Society
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updated 22 Jan 2012 09:56
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On 22 March 2011, a meeting of NHDC's full Council will decide which of their properties are to be considered for disposal. Baldock Town Hall is on the disposals list.
A new Town Hall Group has been formed from representatives of various organisations, to try to save the Town Hall for the town. We believe that:
- There is a demand for more halls/meeting space in the town. The Town Hall Group has investigated possible uses for the building which will not conflict with bookings at either the Community Centre or any other halls in the town. The intention is for it to be very broadly ‘arts-based’, to allow a variety of uses such as performances (plays, concerts, shows, films), exhibitions (painting, photography, craft), general interest (writing workshops, book groups, singing groups), dances (ballroom, ceilidhs, salsa), etc.
- There is a viable case for an arts/theatre/film centre which will include the museum.
- The Town Hall was once a handsome building and could be restored to be an enhancement to the town.
- The Council should abide by the terms of the gift by which the land on which the Town Hall stands was given to the town.
The Town Hall Group has petitioned the Baldock and District Area Committee of NHDC for a postponement of any decision about disposal to give us time to present a viable alternative plan.
The Baldock Area Committee (Steve Jarvis, Marilyn Kirkland, Ian Knighton, Michael Muir, Michael Weeks and Andrew Young) has agreed to recommend this and has suggested we receive as much support from their officers, as Hitchin received.
- This recommendation has to go to the Council’s Cabinet for approval.
- We need to apply as much public pressure as possible to ensure that NHDC can see we have a wide base of support.
If you would like to give the group your support, please complete and send the form attached below or email enquiries@baldockmail.org.uk by 14 March 2011, saying that you support the Town Hall Group and tell us if you would like to be contacted further.
Thank you in advance,
Chris Gomm, Chairman of The Baldock Society and Town Hall Group |
posted 2 Dec 2010 08:55 by The Baldock Society
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updated 2 Dec 2010 09:17
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The Society's latest newsletter has been published. Please select 'Newsletter' on the left hand navigation, where you'll find it in PDF or Google docs viewing format.
In this issue:
- 2011 member subscriptions
- Meetings and speakers
- Remembrance Sunday
- Website update
- What's a busy person like you doing on a committee like this?
- Town monitoring
- Living in Baldock
- Bulb planting in Avenue Park
- AGM bookings and membership renewal form
Important: if you would like to attend the AGM on 20 January 2011, please complete and return the booking form in the December newsletter, to arrive no later than 3 January 2011. Thank you. |
posted 21 Nov 2010 11:15 by The Baldock Society
The Baldock Society is in the process of making a Lottery Fund application for improvements to the Avenue Park main entrance, located off Letchworth Road.
The proposals have been developed by public consultation over the last couple of years and this application is part of that process. We have passed the Stage I application and are now at Stage II.
The plans attached below show the work to be carried out. In essence, the proposed work will improve the appearance, add a ramp for accessibility reasons (wheelchair users, pushchairs etc) and improve the planting at this main entrance to the park.
There are plans for other areas in the park as part of a master plan, and this is the first stage of that overall plan.
To aid our application, we require letters of support for this application from users and other interested parties. The letter need only be brief and it may be hand written or typed. It simply needs to offer support to the planned improvements and must be an original copy (i.e. signed letters, not emails).
So that they may count, letters from groups (e.g. clubs, societies, community groups) should be printed on letter headed paper. Letters from individuals are also an essential part of the application.
All letters of support should be sent by Friday 3rd December 2010 to:
Chris Gomm
Chairman
The Baldock Society
c/o 1 Norton Road
Baldock
SG7 5AP
Thank you in advance for your help.
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posted 13 Nov 2010 04:24 by The Baldock Society
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updated 13 Nov 2010 07:15
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The Baldock Society has been online for several years now, during which time our website has helped us provide information to our members and the people of Baldock in an efficient and cost effective way.
Technology has moved on of course, so when our web hosting came up for renewal in October, the Committee took a look at what else was out there. As a result, we've now moved the website over to 'Google Sites', which has simplified the editing process when compared to our older technology. Being free of charge, we're now also saving about £25 a year on 'hosting', which is good news in the current financial climate.
The website is there for our members and prospective members, so please let us know if there's anything you'd like to see and we can think about including it. The site's future is what you wish to make of it and we welcome your input. |
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