St Albans Civic Society

10 August 2010  -  Members of the Society attended the emergency Cabinet meeting on 10 August.  David Gilroy of PoolTooSmall spoke, followed by Peter Trevelyan (a copy of his submission can be seen here).  Cabinet voted to reject the recommendation of the Scrutiny Committee.  Full details of the Cabinet meeting, and the webcast, can be seen on the Council's website.

19 July 2010  -  a Society representative has been invited to attend the meeting of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  We will be make submissions on the process and probity of the planning decision making process.  It is understood that submissions on the size of the pool will be made by others.

28 April 2010  -  after a three-hour long meeting of the Planning and referrals Committee, approval was granted for the Westminster Lodge scheme on the casting vote of the Chairman (Cllr C Brazier).  The meeting was addressed by Mr Gilroy (of the Pool Too Small group), by the Society's chairman Peter Trevelyan, and local resident Mrs Newton.  The Review carried a report of the meeting which can be seen here.

25 April 2010  -  Following the publication of an election leaflet by the Liberal Democrats which states that work has started on the Westminster Lodge development, the Society has written with further comments on the procedural aspects, and requesting that the Council withdraw its applications.  The letter can be downloaded here.

23 April 2010  -  The Society has written to the Chief Executive of the Council expressing its concerns about both the procedure for determination of the planning applications, and the assessment of planning policy in the officer report to the planning committee.  The letter can be downloaded here.

24 March 2010 - The Society understands that the leaflet with the misleading title ‘New Westminster Lodge Gets Go-Ahead’ has been maintained on prominent display in the Civic Centre, both in the reception area and at the desk where visitors may ask about inspecting the planning application. 


11 March 2010  !! PRESS RELEASE !!

The Society issued a press release on 11 March 2010, objecting to the planning applications because it felt that the 25 metre swimming pool would be too small. 

The Society also questions the wisdom of the Council issuing a leaflet with the headline blatantly proclaiming ‘New Westminster Lodge Gets Go-Ahead’.

The Press Release can be downloaded here.

Backstory.  The Council is seeking to replace the existing Westminster Lodge swimming pool, together with the Bricket Wood leisure centre, with one new building at Westminster Lodge.  The Society's objection can be downloaded here.