5 January, 2020

Save Avery Hill campaign update

The following email was sent to campaign supporters in early January. The campaign is a project supported by the Friends of Avery Hill Park.

January 2020

1. Latest on the Harris Academy plans
2. Campaign applies for Conservation area status
3. Protecting valuable trees
4. Winter Garden restoration

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Guided tours of historic Avery Hill Mansion on Saturday January 18 and 25 and February 2 and 9 at 2pm. University archivist Will Robley will show the interior of Col North’s ballroom, galleries and old pictures. Guided tours of Avery Hill. Event now ended.  Please find a summary of the tours.

If you’re able to give support to the campaign, please email averyhillpark@hotmail.co.uk
 
1.  HARRIS ACADEMY PLANS: We are expecting detailed proposals in the New Year from the DfE/Harris for a 1,100 all-boys Academy. The campaign’s concerns are about traffic, design, access to the park, landscape, boundaries and school-run congestion. We have suggested Avery Hill becomes a ‘conservation area’ to protect its special character.

2.  MANSION: The Academy is proposing to take over the listed Victorian parts of the Mansion. The campaign wants community use of these in conjunction with the Winter Garden.

To ensure Avery Hill’s historic legacy is saved for the local community, we need to show how much we care. In the next few weeks, we hope you can support the campaign.
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We will be in touch as events develop.
 
3.  WINTER GARDEN: The campaign is pleased that the council has secured a promise of substantial funds from the University from the sale price. This should allow its proper restoration but the campaign is concerned that there will be enough income to maintain it. The council has promised an ‘options’ consultation on this and a business plan.

4.  TREES: The campaign is asking for a substantial number of the mature trees on the University’s land to be subject to Tree Protection Orders.

 
3,744 names to date. Please circulate:
Google: 38 degrees: Save and renovate Avery Hill's Victorian Mansion and Winter Garden

Blog updated 05/03 (T Johnson)

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