Save Roman Southwell - Plan for Roman site opposed

Town councillors have objected to fresh plans for housing on the former Church Street site of The Minster School, Southwell.

Southwell Heritage Trust wants the site, where archaeologists have found a Roman villa said to be of national importance, to become a heritage park.

There were calls, at a meeting of Southwell Town Council planning committee, for Newark and Sherwood District Council to deal with the park proposal at the same time as the homes application.

The application is for nine homes, and proposes that the key archaeology be preserved in situ and not built on.

A Saxon burial ground has also been found at the site and could provide a link between the Roman occupation of Southwell and the minster cathedral.

The Southwell committee, whose comments are forwarded to the district council, objected to the homes for five main reasons.

These were the prematurity of the application, the proposed design and layout, the impact on the archaeology, the impact on views of the minster, and the absence of lower-cost housing.

The committee chairman for the night, Mrs Beryl Prentice, said the heritage trust application should be dealt with by the district council at the same time as the homes plan.

She said, and colleagues agreed, the homes plan was premature, because allocations mapping development in the district were being assessed by a planning inspector and the outcome wasn’t known.

Mr Peter Harris said it wasn’t a consideration as to whether the applicant made money from the sale of the homes or not.

He said that what branded the application a joke was the fact it was being suggested the homes would sell for £600,000 when he thought they would achieve seven figures.

Mr Harris said: “I am opposed to this application because I fundamentally don’t think it is appropriate to have this level of development in what is essentially now an open space.

“Any other town with an adjacent cathedral wouldn’t get significant development. Having said that district council planners seem keen for this site to be developed.”

A member of the public, Katie Todd, of Church Street, feared the application could bring flooding.

She said in 2007 30-40 properties were affected and recent deluges had led to worry of a repeat.

Another resident, Mr Peter Kent, said at 21/2 storeys high, the houses would be massive and views of the minster would be affected.

 

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Plan-for-Roman-site-opposed

News - Diggers move on to site (Southwell)

Further archaeological investigation is taking place at a site in Southwell that is believed to contain Roman remains of national significance.


Work taking place on the Church Street site.There had been no activity on the former Minster School site on Church Street since a planning application for 29 homes was rejected.

But concerns were raised when heavy machinery, including JCBs, were spotted carrying out work.

The site is believed to contain the remains of a Roman villa and archaeologists hope it could provide the link between the Roman occupation of Southwell and the building of the minster.

Town councillor Mrs Sue Rodgers, a former member of Nottinghamshire County Council’s archaeology team, said the county council’s archaeologist Ursilla Spence was aware of the investigations taking place.

Mrs Rodgers said: “There are no worries about the archaeology on site. The work is further archaeological work being carried out, not building work.”

Mrs Rodgers said she had been liaising with the landowner, Caunton Properties Limited, and heritage groups to try to reach a compromise over the future of the site.

She said: “No one has come forward to say they are interested in a compromise so for the time being it is all on hold.”

Mr Peter Kent, a member of the Roman Heritage Park campaign group, which wants to see the site turned into a heritage park, said the group had concerns about the work taking place.

He said: “I have been approached by several people enquiring about what is happening.

“Ursilla Spence has assured me that it is all under control and the work is being carried out by Preconstruct Archaeology, which is a reputable firm.

“There have been a lot of rumours going around about the site.”

Mr Kent, also a member of Southwell Archaeology, said the group would like there to be more information available about work taking place.

He said: “Some of the treatment looks pretty brutal but it looks as if it is quite an extensive archaeological investigation.

“There is so much speculation there and that would be much better if the groups were involved.”
  From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Diggers-move-on-to-site

News - Stepping up campaign to save Roman heritage (Southwell)

A toga-clad campaigner helped to inspire about 400 people to sign a petition to protect Roman remains in Southwell, where home-owners are being asked to let archaeologists dig in their gardens.

 

The Save Roman Southwell campaign wants to see the former Church Street site of The Minster School, which is earmarked for 29 homes, protected against development and transformed into a heritage area.

Campaign member Mr John Lock dressed in a toga to encourage people to sign the petition in the Market Square on Saturday.

Mr Lock said he bought the material for his costume from Boyes of Newark and Roman-style jewellery from Primark to complete the look.

Residents are also being asked to consider letting archaeologists excavate their gardens to look for Roman remains.

Nottingham University’s archaeology department is hoping to find out more about the nature of the Roman settlement in Southwell by undertaking the excavations.

They believe the town was a thriving centre of Roman activity and was possibly one of the most important locations of its age.

From Saturday, June 4, to Saturday, June 18, archaeologists from the university will be working in the area, carrying out surveys and small-scale excavations.

They are looking for volunteers to have test-pits dug in their gardens.

In a location agreed with the home-owner the team will excavate a one-metre by one-metre pit that will be completed in a day unless something interesting is found and the home-owner is happy for work to continue.

After the excavation, the area will be returned to its previous state.

In return for allowing access to their garden residents will be invited to participate in the excavation and learn more about what the archaeologists find.

They will also be invited to the end-of-excavation party.

Anyone wishing to be involved should contact Dr Naomi Sykes on 01636 813460 or email Naomi.sykes@nottingham.ac.uk with their contact details and possible dates when the excavation could take place.

To sign the petition or find out more about the Save Roman Southwell campaign visit www.facebook.com/SaveRomanSouthwell

 

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Stepping-up-campaign-to-save-Roman-heritage

News - Excavation calls for homes site (Southwell)

Calls have been made for an archaeological investigation on a site earmarked for housing in case it contains Roman remains. 

A planning application has been submitted for three houses at Platts Orchard, Southwell. It is near the former Church Street site of the Minster School, which contains the remains of a Roman villa.

The plans were approved on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate about three years ago but permission must be renewed because work has not started within the allotted time.

Mr Roger Dobson, of the town council’s planning committee, said Roman remains had been found in the area.

He said: “It is very close to the Roman villa across the road and in 2002 Severn Trent were working on the road just outside Normanton Prebend and discovered the north wing of the villa so we do know the villa buildings go across the road.

“We should insist that if development goes ahead we must have a preliminary investigation because of the proximity to the villa.”

The council will object to the application on the grounds that the site originally had one house and so should be replaced with only one, the increase in traffic on Church Street, and the impact on views.

A letter will also be sent to the district council asking for an archaeological assessment to take place before development starts and for a mitigation strategy to be implemented if remains were discovered.

The district council will decide the application.

For more on this and other stories buy the Southwell Advertiser every Thursday.

 

From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Excavation-calls-for-homes-site

News - Campaign launched to save remains (Southwell)

A campaign has been launched to try to protect the site of Southwell’s Roman remains from development.



Save Roman Southwell, run by local heritage groups with the support of the Chapter of Southwell Minster, wants the Church Street site turned into a Roman heritage park.


Campaigners hope the land could be brought back into public ownership and form part of an outstanding heritage area including the neighbouring Bishop’s Palace, prebendal houses, Saracen’s Head Hotel and Southwell Minster.

Caunton Properties Ltd is looking to build 29 homes on the former Minster School site.


However, some experts claim the site is of national importance, believing the archaeological remains could provide a link between Roman Southwell, a Saxon church build on the site and the creation of Southwell Minster.


Professor Warwick Rodwell, archaeologist and architectural historian to Westminster Abbey said the development would be an act of cultural vandalism.


Mr Peter Kent, of Save Roman Southwell, said: “The emergence of an Anglo-Saxon church and the later Norman Minster from a high-status Roman complex presents a unique tourism, heritage and educational opportunity.

“There is considerable scope to develop the unique story of Southwell’s growth through the ages by incorporating the components of the historic core into an Outstanding Heritage Area.”


The group aims to acquire and landscape the site together with the adjoining Orchard site — recently bought by the town council.


Further development of the Roman Heritage Park would include interpretation boards, a facility for community investigation, digs, educational projects and visits.


The groups hope as many people as possible will join them to campaign for Newark and Sherwood District Council to reject Caunton Properties’ Limited application.


Petitions will be held online and in the town. People are also being encouraged to write to the district council opposing the development.


The groups leading the campaign are Southwell Community Archaeology Group, Southwell Civic Society, Southwell Heritage Trust and Southwell Local History Society.


People can support the campaign online through a Facebook site, which should be online within days at www.facebook.com/SaveRomanSouthwell


Links to the online petition will be available at www.southwellacrchaeology.org.uk www.southwellcivicsociety.com or www.southwellhistorysociety.co.uk


From: http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Campaign-launched-to-save-remains