UPDATE – SUMMER 2019
Welcome to our second edition of Update!
We have a great issue lined up – with lots of news and
items of interest about our area!
See below for more details:
NEWS, NEWS, NEWS! – page 2.
Coming Soon – our first Forum meeting
planned – page 6.
First Flixton Beavers – Fun, Friends and
Zip-Wires – page 8.
Saving the George H. Carnall – page 9.
The Flixton Fisher - a flash of Azure – page
11.
The William Wroe – latest position – page
12.
The Disappearance of Shaw Town & Shaw
Hall – page 14.
NEWS, NEWS, NEWS!
To recap - where
we left off last time…
You might recall that we told
you that detailed draft documents making the case for the proposed Neighbourhood
Boundary and for the Forum had been prepared. These were put together by the
team with comments from our advisers. We sent these documents to Trafford
Planners for them to look at informally before submitting them to the Council
for consideration.
Latest news:
Informal feedback from
Trafford Planners is that, aside from two important considerations, (see below)
once submitted they will be happy for proposals for the Flixton Neighbourhood
Plan Boundary, and Neighbourhood Forum to proceed to the next stage.
This is great progress!!!!
This confirms that Trafford
Planners recognise the work we have all done and are supportive of this
proceeding further. This adds further weight to our campaign for the community
to have greater say in decisions affecting their area.
So - the considerations. Two
points have been raised by Trafford Planners for us to think about before
making our formal submission. Point one - concerns the boundary we proposed and
Point two relates to one of the Neighbourhood Forum’s proposed objectives.
Firstly
- the point about the boundary:
You
might recall that we made a strong case for the inclusion of the site of
Trafford General Hospital (TGH) within the boundary of Flixton. This is
because, during several public engagement sessions, TGH was identified as being
of great importance to people, and also, because of the site’s significance
given its close proximity to Flixton.
The
boundary we proposed included the Trafford General Hospital site - but excluded
Davyhulme Golf Course. We had originally considered including Davyhulme Golf
Course - but didn’t know how Trafford Planners would feel about this.
However,
informal feedback from Trafford Planners is that including Davyhulme Golf
Course would be logical for our plan boundary. We asked our advisers for their
comments on this and they consider it appropriate to include Davyhulme Golf
Course within the Flixton Neighbourhood Boundary.
Including
Davyhulme Golf Course within the plan boundary enhances the interests of
Flixton Neighbourhood Plan, giving this greater influence on any changes
affecting TGH or Davyhulme Golf Course in the future.
We
have therefore revised the boundary to include Davyhulme Golf Course. On the
Davyhulme side, the revised boundary now runs along Davyhulme Road and down
Bowers Avenue where it re-joins Moorside Road.
A map
showing the revised boundary is shown below:
You can see a more detailed view of the map by clicking on this link:
Our view:
We are happy to revise the
proposed neighbourhood boundary to include Davyhulme Golf Course as we agree
this is in the best interests of the planned Flixton Neighbourhood.
We would like to hear from any
Forum Member who has any comments, queries, or objections to revising the
proposed boundary in this way.
Secondly
- the point about the Neighbourhood Plan objective:
Trafford
Planners raised a query regarding the how the Neighbourhood Plan would deal
with housing issues. They asked about this in the light of the Vision and
Objectives Statement for the Flixton Neighbourhood Plan.
The
first objective of the Plan concerns: “Meeting Housing Needs Appropriately and
Sustainably”, and within this says that the Plan will seek: “To provide a
variety and mix of housing sites which sustainably meet local needs.”
Trafford
Planners asked for some clarification of how this objective might be achieved.
We
sought the views of our advisers regarding the best way to proceed at this
stage.
Our
advisers highlighted the importance of the Forum and Plan having a role in
housing issues within the area. However, our advisers also stressed that the
exact nature of this role can only be determined once the Forum is operating
and further evidence has been obtained regarding the issues involved and the
Forum has decided how this should be taken forward in the light of local
circumstances.
Our
advisers suggested that the objective should be revised to reflect that we are
at an early stage and that we have yet to undertake a detailed assessment of
the area. Discussion with Trafford Planners confirms that revising the Plan
objective along these lines would be acceptable.
Our view:
We accept the work of the
Group is at a relatively early stage, and that more needs to be done to decide
on key issues such as housing needs, and exactly how this is reflected in the
final objectives of the Flixton Neighbourhood Plan.
We also recognise the critical
importance of dealing with housing issues within the Plan – this is where we
all started on this journey - it is essential for the Neighbourhood Plan to
have meaningful role in influencing and determining issues of such importance
to the locality!
We are therefore happy to
revise the existing objective to highlight that the Plan will explore housing
needs and how these might be addressed within the context of the neighbourhood
plan.
Revising the objectives in
this way will ensure the importance of local housing issues within the
Neighbourhood Plan is maintained, whilst allowing the Forum time to consider
this further, in the light of evidence concerning local needs.
What happens
next?
Over the next few weeks we
will review all the documents relating to our submission, in the light of
comments from our advisers and Trafford Planners.
We will then circulate these
to all Forum Members – with an explanation of what has been changed and the
rationale for this – to make sure you are all on board!
We will then submit the Plan
Boundary and Forum designation request to the Council for formal consideration.
This will probably take place during August 2019.
Council Officers explained
that once the Group’s submission is received this will be considered under delegated
powers, and subject to approval, will be published on the Council’s website as
part of the statutory consultations they are required to undertake - before a
Neighbourhood Plan Boundary or Forum can be formally designated.
The Council has up to 13 weeks
to consider and consult on the proposals, including with statutory consultees.
The Council will then consider
the outcome of the consultation process. This means that the Council will need
to consider any comments received before a final decision can be taken to
designate the Neighbourhood Plan Boundary and Form.
Discussions with Council
Officers suggested this process is unlikely to be concluded until the end of
2019.
Conclusion
Whilst this is a lengthy
process it shows that by the start of 2020, we should have both the Plan
Boundary and Forum formally designated by Trafford Council.
We feel this represents a
major step forward for all our community in taking greater control of local
issues affecting our area.
So
- keep watching this space and tell your family and friends about what we are
doing – so they can get involved if they wish.
Coming Soon – First meeting of the Neighbourhood Forum
– September 2019.
By Barbara and Stephen
Harper
Now we have made positive progress with
Trafford Planners, moving towards the formal designation of our boundary and
Forum later this year we want to arrange the first forum meeting
This is likely to involve an evening
session at the John Alker Hall in September (date and time to be advised). The purpose
of the session will be for Forum Members to get to know each other and to learn
more about the Forum’s role and work.
Forum
Members will be notified of details of the meeting via email. Additionally,
details will be published on the My Flixton Neighbourhood Planning Group
website and Facebook pages.
In addition to the Forum’s first meeting,
Planning Aid (part of the Royal Town Planning Institute which helps
neighbourhood planning groups at local level) has invited My Flixton
Neighbourhood Planning Group to take part in a joint session with another
neighbourhood planning group in our region specifically aimed at how to assess
your area.
This will take place in October (details to
be confirmed). This will be a great opportunity for Forum Members to learn more
about how to carry out area-based assessments, which will help widen knowledge
of our area and enhance contributions to our Neighbourhood Planning work.
We also plan to engage with partner
organisations to help us to work with the Forum to develop the way it operates
and to explore further how to utilise the skills we all have for the benefit of
our group.
We will also consider how we can best bid
for funding available to support Neighbourhood Planning.
So
– there is going to be a lot going on in the Autumn – look out for
notifications!
First Flixton Beavers – Fun, Friends and Zip-Wires!
About our group:
1st
Flixton Scout Group is one of many scout groups in the District of Urmston and
cover ages from 6-18 years of age.
I
am very proud to say that we are the oldest scout group in the area and have
been active since 1907 along with the scouting movement itself as founded by
Robert Baden Powell.
Our
group covers Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Loki Explorers unit
The
Beaver section was set up in 1982 allowing a younger age group to enjoy
scouting.
The
age group for Beavers is 6-8 whereby they would then swim up from Beavers &
join cubs for more active roles in scouting.
Where to find us:
1st
Flixton Scout Group itself is situated at the bottom of Ambleside Rd, near
Duttons pond. A great place to explore the local area which we do on many
occasions and have enjoyed the trips organised by “Steve the birdman” who has
pointed out all our local feathered friends and managed to keep us quiet, if
only for a short time!! 😊
What we do:
Our
Motto is “Fun & Friends” and that’s exactly what we encourage them to do,
make friends that they may well have forever, have fun with silly games &
most importantly to not take themselves so seriously by joining in with some
silly songs and dances.
We
give them the opportunities to enjoy many activities that they may not get the
chance to do such as camping, shooting, archery, exploring, axe throwing,
zip-wires, wall-climbing and many more - all done under appropriate
supervision!
We
teach them teamwork & how it is important to help & support each other
even if that means losing to the better team giving the winning side a big
“BRAVO”!
As
a leader I see the Beavers achieve great things and I am always proud to see
them out and about in the local area.
Yours in Scouting
Angela Hart
Assistant Beaver Leader 1st
Flixton.
Saving the George H. Carnall
By – Keith
Evans
The Campaign:
The Campaign to Save the George H Carnall (GHC) as
a Council-run leisure centre has benefitted greatly in recent weeks from
massive public support.
The Leader of Trafford Council, Councillor Andrew
Western has actively supported our campaign for over 2 years.
Public consultation Events:
After the strong win for Labour in the Council
elections in May 2019, one of his first actions was to arrange public
consultations, the same month, over the future development of the GHC.
Our local
campaign group printed promotional leaflets to highlight the Council-run event
and the issues raised. We are deeply grateful to those volunteers who were kind
enough to rush out leaflets, to tell friends and to share on social media.
Great Show of Local Support:
As a result,
the meetings at GHC and Urmston Library were a great show of local support. In
addition to the 5,500 people who have signed our petition, we believe that
around 400 people took time to respond to the Council's request for
suggestions. Andrew Western gave freely of his personal time at both meetings and
15 other councillors were also kind enough to attend the debate.
We were pleased to receive support from the Liberal
Democrat Party and (new-found) support from the Conservative Party.
Next Stage Now Awaited:
The Council still awaits detailed results of the
public consultations but given that the centre breaks even financially and
improves local health - then it seems that the strength of local opinion ought
to win.
Thanks
to everyone for your continued support!
The Flixton Fisher
by Steve Scrimgeour
The Kingfisher, to some a mystical bird rarely seen or if
seen its a flash of Azure disappearing up or down stream away from prying eyes.
Mile Road bridge is one of the best view points to watch them
whizzing along the Mersey, but if you want to get closer looks of these
majestic little birds then you don’t have to wander far.
Duttons Pond has had one frequenting the island for a few
years now, I got tipped off about it earlier this year and spent many a cold,
wet and windy Winter / Spring day watching its behaviour.
It frequents the Willow along the edge of the island and if
lucky enough he sits and preens at the back edge.
Some Anglers have shown me snaps of him perching on the
ends of their rods.
Now its greener around the island he is harder to see, but
well worth the close-up views he affords.
Urmston Meadows has many viewpoints to see this little
fisherman going about his business.
Not sure of exact numbers - as when I have been down looking,
I am either very lucky and have multiple sightings - or maybe there are many
Kingfishers here.
If you are walking along the meadows’ main public footpath
from Riverside Drive, turn left at the first gate and follow that path look
along any of the many ditches.
If you’re lucky he will be sat on one of the many perches
he seems to have!! 😊
The William Wroe – latest position.
By Paul Ashworth
TRAFFORD COUNCIL CONSULTATION ON WILLIAM WROE HOSTED BY ARUP
March saw further progress over the long-term
future of the William Wroe by way of a consultation drop in event hosted by
Trafford Council and Civil Engineering Consultants Arup at Flixton House.
The event was well attended by residents and
councillors alike during its 3hr duration, with table top input of ideas and
comments enthusiastically given - with many children also giving their thoughts
over the future of the site as a public open space available to all.
The next steps involve ARUP presenting their
findings from the event to the Council Executive and then work to protect the
land permanently from development will then be sought with the community
actively involved.
The latest communication from Trafford Planners
(July 26th) is that ARUP have presented their initial findings, which are now
subject to internal scrutiny - with the full report to follow. Once this has
passed through ‘the Councils internal approval systems’ we will be then
informed of the next steps. No time frame has presently been given, though
sought, so therefore we expect no movement till after the summer holidays.
We will continue to press the Council to inform us
of their proposals.
We
will keep everyone informed of how this is progressing.
TRAFFORD HOUSING TRUST DEVELOPMENT
PROPOSAL FOR SHAWE HOUSE NURSING HOME
Trafford Housing Trust have purchased the former
Shawe House Nursing Home on Pennybridge Lane and invited the community to a
drop-in event hosted by jointly by My Flixton Neighbourhood Planning and Save
Flixton Green Belt Groups in May at St. Johns Church Hall on Irlam Road to
present their proposals for the site to gain public feedback.
This
is an image of the site overlayed on to Google maps which will give you some
perspective of its enormity. The proposed take of Green Belt and additional
land (4090 m2) equates to 61.5% of the total size of the proposed development
site!!!
Trafford Housing Trust originally
planned to demolish the existing buildings and create a three-storey extra care
facility. They also planned to develop some of the Green Belt to accommodate the
new facility.
While we support the intention of developing the site for such purposes,
we cannot accept the invasive nature of the development and its encroachment on
to the Green Belt which we have spent the last two and a half years defending.
After public outcry over the plans Trafford Housing
Trust are presently reconsidering the development so watch this space.
We
will keep everyone updated as and when any new proposals are put forward by
Trafford Housing Trust!
The Disappearance of Shaw Town & Shaw
Hall.
By Matt Goddard
Shaw Town & current day location
There are not many current
reference points left of the area once known as Shaw(e) Town. Located half way
down Church Road the Town covered around 25 Ha, its centre focussed on the Buck
Hotel (now the Roebuck), the Shaw Tithe Barn which sat opposite Chassen Road,
and the Shaw Lodge. It stretched as far West as Flixton Golf Course where Shaw
Hall the seat of the town was located, north as far as the railway line with
Bremen Lodge (now replaced by Warbrick Drive) defining its eastern boundary. The area was defined by farming and the area
was divided up into several farms managed by a single farm manager.
Bremen Lodge Shaw Town Eastern Boundary (Now Warbrick
Drive)
Court documents point out that
180 people lived in Shawtown by which time it would appear to have been
self-sufficient with 1846 John Stott was letting a Provision Shop there which
had been established for many years. Frederick Tame ran a grocery and bakery
store there in 1906. The town had its own well for a water supply, a Malt Kiln
and records in 1765 describe a clearing called Shaw Green as a gathering point.
Asshaw Family Crest
The Valentine and the Asshaw
families have a huge story to tell regarding their Flixton Connection. William
Valentine’s arrival in 1292 heralded the first purchasing of lands in Flixton,
Richard Valentine witnessed an Urmston deed in 1305. But it wasn’t until
Thomas, Ralph, and John Valentine, created a small dynasty which included the
creation of what would become Shaw Hall. Ralph Valentine went on to fight and
die in the Battle of Bosworth Field (1485) and his ghost is purported to
frequent the area today as he vowed to return ‘dead or alive’ to the family.
Thomas Valentine is on record as holding the Lordship of Flixton in 1473 and
his son John, was ultimately the last Valentine Lord of Flixton. John’s only
daughter Joan married Lawrence Asshaw of Shaw in 1476 who made him a grant of
her lands which he then bequeathed to his nephew Leonard. The Asshaw reign
lasted until the death of Leonard in 1633.
Peter Egerton was the next
notable occupier to become lord of Shaw and Flixton. He was one of the most
prominent men in the county during the Civil War period and was made High Sheriff
of Lancashire in 1641. On the outbreak of the war he embraced the side of the
Parliament, taking part in the defence of Manchester in 1642 and the sieges of
Lathom House; as General Egerton he received the surrender of this place in
December 1645. He died in 1656 by the accidental administration of poison!
Shaw Hall viewed from The Mersey
The Hall was a two-story
building with its frontage facing the Mersey opposed to Church Road. Gabled
brick in style it was later rough-cast as a finish, with a blue slated roof and
cupola where a bell was once housed but lost over time (first noted as removed
in 1863). This cupola now resides on the barn roof at Flixton House.
Shaw Hall cupola at Flixton House
The estate in 1774 comprised
of 149 acres with a ring of fencing. The house is said formerly to have had a moat, but
this had partially disappeared in 1847 and was planted over. The
next era c.1870 had it divided into two dwellings which managed to retain much
of the fine woodwork including a Jacobean staircase. Before new windows were
installed, they were made up of 17th century heraldic glass. One of the finer
windows was saved during the demolition and presented to St. Michael’s Church,
the whereabouts of which are now unknown.
Alfred Rimmer sketched the
interior of Shaw Hall during one of his walks & an interior shot of one of
the Halls rooms
The interior was decorated
with tapestry work and many paintings making its grandeur amenable and superior
to the outside. For the farm section there were the usual barns and a small
shippon with the actual Hall sitting on eight acres. A dove cote and malt house
were to be found with the rights to a fishery on the Irwell River. There would
be five bedrooms one with dressing room, lounge, hall, three living rooms and
back staircase with separate entry. Considering this only to be half of the
Hall, it gives an idea of size in general. It is shown that by 1928-39 the Hall
and the Farm were to be separate entities.
Shaw Hall demise
The hall was eventually
demolished to extend Shaw Hall housing estate in 1956 even after the public
opposed the scheme. This was carried out by Maunders Construction. It was
cleared of all and anything that could be removed before being put to the
torch. This was deemed the easiest way of finishing the job and the most cost
effective.
The story of a tunnel joining
St. Michael’s Church and the Hall has been banded around for longer than can be
remembered. It is a wonderful tale, but just that. It is known that a causeway
or footpath was laid to allow passage from the hall to the church, this created
the myth of a tunnel. There was a small passage from the cellar out into the
garden. However, when the building was brought down, the demolition crew,
Maunders, reported to the local press, that no ‘tunnel’ was ever found.
Sources:
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/lancs/vol5/pp46-50
David Smith’s A-Z Urmston:
https://www.urmston.net/Urmston_A-Z.pdf
A History of Flixton Urmston & Davyhulme
B. G Blackwood, The Lancashire Gentry and the Great Rebellion 1640 – 1660 (Manchester: Chetham Society, 1978).
Steve Bull, ‘A General Plague of Madness’: The Civil Wars in Lancashire 1640 – 1660 (Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing, 2009).
