#NormanKing Here is a copy of the letter that I included with the petition and comments, sent to my owner Mr Martyn G. Murphy Old Palace Lodge Church Street Dunstable Beds LU5 4RT Ref: - The Norman King, Church Street, Dunstable. Save the Norman king Petition 3,288 signatures Dear Sir, With reference to the above and further to the public meeting held 30/09/2014 and the Development, Planning Committee Meeting at Chicksands 27/08/2014 where applications CB/14/02263/RDCA and CB/14/ 01924/FULL were considered and approved. I am writing to request a meeting to discuss the future of a much beloved and iconic building in our town. The Norman King has been part of this town for much longer than the time it has stood as a public house. The arson attack was a tragedy both for you, your business and for the local people of this town. There has been a barn on that site for hundreds of years. You are the custodian of a much beloved local landmark, a building that has provided a gateway to our town for as long as anyone can remember. We would like an opportunity to discuss a possible offer that you may wish to consider. We have been trying to find a solution that might retain the heritage while at the same time providing a sound business plan and have been in communication with ‘The Princes Regeneration Trust’ who are based at Hereford College and are interested in pursuing external conservation projects such as The Norman King. It offers them an opportunity for their skilled craftsmen and women to train apprentices who will then gain their qualifications upon completion of the work. The Trust believes in bringing old or ruined buildings back to life and making them useful once more. For the Old Palace Lodge Hotel this may mean turning the barn into a venue for weddings, something I believe you had originally intended before the arson attack. People would come to see the barn, of that I am sure. It would be done to the highest specification and because the Trust is part of the Duchy of Cornwall, it would receive the prestige of Royal Patronage while also providing a wonderful legacy for The Old Palace Lodge Hotel and our town. I have been heading a local petition to try and put pressure on the local authority to recommend the restoration of the barn but they made their decision instead to approve the application. Can I ask you to give our plan your consideration? The local people feel passionately about this iconic building in their town. Please find enclosed a copy of the petition which currently stands at 3,288 signatures both online and hand written, from local residents who have made their feelings known in their many comments and emails. The petition total is now representative of 10% of the population of this town. The Town Mayor Terry Stock and local Councillors Carole Hegley, Julian Murray, Pat Staples, Terry Noble, Local Dunstable History Society Chairman John Buckledee, Dunstable Operatic Society and the Dunstable Conservative Association, all attended the recent public meeting. They were very interested in the possibility of meeting with you to discuss the above option. If this could happen I am sure it would help to assuage the deep anxiety we all feel that it may have been an opportunity missed. The building has been repaired, restored and rebuilt many times over the centuries as is the destiny of a barn. It was such a terrible crime to see the old Norman King destroyed but it would be a much worse one if we failed to even consider rebuilding it. Ultimately the decision is yours as you are the private owner of the site. Surely it would be beneficial to you as a local business man to consult and engage with the people in your community and for you to be remembered for having discussed the Princes Regeneration Trust option for the restoration of the Kingsbury Barn, a wonderful legacy for the town. As it is I fear that you may be remembered as the person who briefly owned the Norman King, lost it in a fire and then failed to restore it. Please consider the heritage and value of this site and I hope you will feel able to meet with us in the very near future. I await your responses. Yours faithfully Andrea Tompkins Save the Norman King Petition/Campaign
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 17:16:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015