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Welcome to the Stratford Society
Your Local Civic Society charity registration No. 251182
The Stratford Society aims to protect the  heritage of our historic market town and its residents. Founded in 1966, it  offers non-political, professional expertise on the town's buildings and their  surroundings. It works with councils and other organisations locally and  nationally and promotes high quality design in keeping with the character of  this world famous and much visited town.
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THE STRATFORD SOCIETY

TOWN SQUARE SURVEY JANUARY 2012

The proposals for the re-development of Town Square will be considered on 8th February by the Stratford District Council Planning Committee.

The Stratford Society is supporting the Stratford Town Council's recent public meeting to establish residents views and asks you to complete a simple questionnaire to ensure your opinions are widely heard. A small display of the proposals can be seen at the District Council offices, Elizabeth House, Church Street.

THANKS FOR HAVING YOUR SAY

Click Here for the conclusions from the survey

Stratford Society members and their guests
have been invited
to visit
The Gurdwara Sahib (Sikh Temple)
in Leamington Spa at 10.30am on 8th March.


For anyone who might find it difficult to sit cross legged on the floor 
there are low benches at the back of the hall and seats in the Langar Hall.
 
Anyone wishing to attend should email
Jean Clymer (jeanclymer@hotmail.co.uk) or telephone her on 01789 269183 to reserve a place. 
 
There is no charge although a small donation is appreciated. 

If you require transport please let Jean know.

Before the visit It is most important that those attending acquaint themselves

With the agenda click here

and

The Gurdwara protocol for the visit click here

News Update

Click Here for Issue 16 December 2011

Featuring the latest news on Town Square

SOCIETY MEMBERS 2011/2012 PROGRAMME OF MEETING AND SOCIAL EVENTS

Click Here for the details
or
Click Here to download a copy to print

Society Christmas 2011 Members Party

Over 100 Society members and their guests attended the Stratford Society Christmas Party at the Town Hall on Friday, 2 December.Whilst enjoying mulled wine and mince pies they were entertained by festive readings given by actors Jeffrey Dench and Robert Lister; a marvellous piano recital by 14 year old Kenny Fu; and some rousing choral choices from the Warwickshire Boys Choir. In addition, the raffle for the evening raised £260 for the Shakespeare Hospice.



For the first time ever, people in Stratford are going to be able to write their own Plan for how they want the town to be over the next twenty years. The Plan will shape the future of housing, business, infrastructure and transport in their areas and will have a huge effect on everyone’s lives.

A team drawn from all parts of the community is working hard to develop the Plan which will be completed by the end of 2012. You will then be asked to approve it in a referendum.

The team working on the Plan need to know what you think so that they can make sure the Plan focuses on the things that are most important to you.

To give them your views please complete one of the reply paid postage survey forms in circulation round the town or alternatively you can do it online at

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/stratfordnp

If you want to know more about the Plan, please go to

www.ourstratford.org.uk

Society Parking and Transport Group

Click Here for the Group's Webpage

The Toll House Project

Click Here for Details
Society Schools Project

Click Here for details
Message from the Chairman

It seems to me that those of us who either live in the Town of Stratford upon Avon or who visit regularly take it for granted.  We are too comfortable with the quality environment, the wonderful mix of shops, restaurants and bars.  We assume that the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and its historic houses will always be here and available and that The Royal Shakespeare Theatres and their wonderful company of players just happen.  Of course, all of what goes into making Stratford hasn’t just happened.  Decisions have been made and plans implemented to result in the heritage we have. Not all of what is Stratford upon Avon now is of the same quality.  Design, construction, service and management of facilities is of variable quality.  Yet, The Town continues to attract huge numbers of visitors and there seems to always be sufficient demand by incomers to ensure that national housing dips pass us by.  Stratford is an economic wealth generator for a wide area around the Midlands.  Yet, are we protecting and enhancing this historic and economic prosperity centre adequately?   The Stratford Society is actively demanding greater attention to quality in design.  High quality development which recognizes that blending the historic with the new demands great attention to detail and development of a scale which recognize the importance of heritage and avoids the damage which has been already been caused; even in the more recent past.  We must avoid large monodesign developments so loved by national builders.  We demand mixed high quality design in proportion to the scale of the historic town.  Even in the more recent past, housing developments have simply been too large and of generally poor design; a national centre for our historic heritage deserves better.  It is important to avoid surrounding all the gateways to the town with concrete and tarmac.  Zoning must be sympathetic to the whole nature of a national heritage centre and there is surely a sufficiency of national retail outlets.  The Historic Spine of the town is only now being recognized for its vital role in preserving the link between the past, present and future.  Many shop fronts are ugly and signage is still behind the best that both the United Kingdom and Europe can show.  We must improve this now and ensure that freeholders, leaseholders and planners recognize the vital role that the aesthetic appearance of our town has in the prosperity of all.  We must deal with the nonsense of delivery vehicles blocking our town centre during the daytime peak pedestrian times;  no other heritage centre allow this.  Heavy vehicles must be kept outside the town centre; they damage building foundations; their emissions foul the air we breathe and our medieval street layout does not accommodate them. What is needed is a renaissance to the centre of the town recognizing the culture and heritage which Shakespeare has left as a legacy.  The modern English language is identified with William Shakespeare.  Stratford upon Avon is the custodian of this heritage.  We must ensure that the town continues in its development recognizing the special responsibilities this places on us to be sympathetic to this heritage which ensures the town prospers.  To ensure that this heritage is handed to our successors in a better state than we inherited we must take urgent steps to prevent the overdevelopment of the whole town.  The strategy of the local authority responsible for planning has ignored the heritage of the town for too long.   The relationship of the town and its surrounding villages must be considered as a whole  - without the town being given care the whole will suffer. 

The Stratford Society must now rise  to the challenge.  We must persuade our local and national decision makers that the town of Stratford upon Avon is a national treasure.  The language which unites all countries came out of the works of a Stratford man.  Peoples from all over the world come to our town to better understand the man in order to understand one another through a shared language.  We have a responsibility to the past, present and future to ensure that the town is a beacon to this heritage and future opportunity.  There is much to be done.

Dr Kevin Bond - Chairman of the Stratford Society

Affiliated Organisations
English Historic Towns Link
English Heritage Link
Corporate Sponsor Links
George Pragnell - Jewellers Link
CA Rookes Wine Merchants & Shippers Link

 

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