Pontefract Voice - 2016 February

8/18/2019 Pontefract Voice - 2016 February

1/5

Registered charity number 513509

Pontefract VoiceThe newslet ter of

Pontefract Civic Society

February 2016

Design Awards and Annual GeneralMeeting Special Edition

2015 Design Awards

The 2015 Design Awards were presented prior to the Annual General Meeting on 16 th February2016.

Introducing the nominees’ Paul Cartwright said. "What we've observed through 2015 is anincrease in businesses coming into Pontefract town centre, which can't be bad, on top ofexisting shops and businesses improving their properties, all of which makes Pontefract a

vibrant market town with a great shopping experience.

Beyond the main town centre, we noted two significantly sized buildings of a different naturebeing enhanced, which were Pontefract Squash & Leisure Club and Wakefield DistrictHousing's Halberg House in Churchbalk.

Overall, Suzi's Boutique was the one which triumphed, in our opinion, gaining the Countess ofRosse Façade of the Year Award, by bringing a business onto the high street, taking care of abuilding, whilst presenting its product range in a creative way".


2/5


The winners were:

Improvement Award - Winner: 1 Market Place

It was particularly important that this corner property, with significant frontage to two mainstreets (Gillygate amd Market Place), was recognised for returning the main display window to atraditional-style frame, as well as opening up the side windows, creating more visual appeal. Adedicated doorway to the right has maintained access for upper floor occupancy.

A dark heritage colour was used for the woodwork, and a more sympathetic and contrasting pale green for whole building façade (1st & 2nd floor). The heritage colour scheme isstrategically important to the Society, as we intend to refer to this building as a catalyst for other property owners to follow suit (whether THI projects or not); we want people to see individual properties in their own right, highlighting relevant architectural features. This approach wouldreduce the magnolia streetscape in Pontefract.

Presented to Bill Heaney and Team

Other nominees were: Gillygate Fisheries, 5-9 Gillygate, Tap & Barrell, and Anthony J. Blaza & Associates.

Residential Award – Winner: Halberg House, Wakefield and District Housing

Significant refurbishment inside and out has allowed for external seating areas, car parking,fencing, as well as individual gardens for ground floor flats, and juliet balconies upstairs. Newflats and a new foyer have been added, as well as improvements to the original flats, plus highspecification furnishings, a spa, hair salon, lounge, and an enlarged scooter room.

Presented to Martin Symons, Katrina Backhouse and David Thorpe


3/5


Regeneration Award – Winner: Reeds Rains, Beastfair

This significantly remodelled estate agents practice has turned three properties into one,maintaining a traditional exterior, complimented with a contemporary open plan interior. Theupper floors have been remodelled to increase employment opportunities.

Presented to Vicky McDonnell, Lee Carratt and Stephanie Stuart

Other nominee: 1 Market Place.

Special Commendation – Winner: Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens

The site continues to see an ongoing transformation thanks to a small, yet dedicated bunch ofvolunteers. One of the main features is the Rose Garden, which has been completed through

sponsorship for all 31 rose beds. Others work undertaken by the group has included a TreeTrail, enhancing the Sensory Garden, and two new trees have been planted with connections toPontefract as a garrison-town. Additional features now include a children’s Playground, somebenches were repainted and additional benches acquired, trainee gardeners have come into thegardens to undergo gardening skills training, and the exterior of the Aviary has been improvedthanks to Wakefield District Housing. Events also create a buzz in the gardens.

Presented to Christine Cartwright, Liz Clayden, Dr Colin White, Shirley Guy

Other nominee: Our aspirational vision for Monkhill Station remains incomplete.


4/5


Commercial/Civic Award - Winner: Pontefract Squash & Leisure Club, StuartRoad

Complete new façade and extension to the front includes a contemporary glazed foyer & coffeeshop, with external decorative string course to brickwork and logo incorporating PontefractCastle. The whole scheme is complimented by landscaping, steps and retaining walls to StuartRoad footpath, all of which fits with its prominent location. This is a well-used community leisure

hub open to incorporating numerous activities for all generations in the Pontefract area.

Presented to Giles Choyce and Mick Todd

Countess of Rosse Façade of the Year Award - Winner: Suzi’s Boutique,Beastfair

We were very pleased in the transformation of this Beastfair property, with both brickwork andwoodwork receiving attention, as well as relevant creative treatment of the interior. The previousheavy black paintwork was banished in favour of subtle and tasteful cream gloss paint, includingupper window lintels. Suzi's Boutique went one step further than merely dressing the shopwindow, as the family put care and passion into the building, which culminates in the windowdisplay and interior fixtures.

Suzi's Boutique also took part in our Christmas Display Competition, and wel look forward totheir creativity shining at key events in years to come.

Presented to Andrew and Susan Ayre


5/5


Annual General Meeting

The Constitution

A number of changes to the constitution were approved at the Annual General Meeting. Mostlythese were minor or procedural in nature with the exception of the Executive recommendationfor a change to the election of Trustees to follow guidance from the Charity Commission on the

Trust Deed:

Section 9 of the Constitution now readsOfficers of the Society will each be appointed for a period of two years and shall be eligible forre-election at the Annual General Meeting.

To ensure continuity of the business of the Society, elections for Officers will be staggered overa rolling two-year cycle: Year 1 Chairman and Treasurer will be elected; Year 2 Vice Chairmanand Treasurer will be elected and so forth.

Following a question from the floor, the Executive undertook to review the relationship betweenTrustees and the Executive to ensure appropriate checks and balances were in place.

New Executive (Trustees)

Members at the AGM unanimously supported the election of the new executive (Trustees):

Paul Cartwright Chairman Elected to 2018

Martin Lodge Vice Chairman Elected to 2017

Karl Gilbert Honorary Secretary Elected to 2017

Ian F Wood Honorary Treasurer Elected to 2018

Peter Taylor Conservation Environment & Planning (CEP)Committee Chairman Elected to 2017

Peter Cookson Land Use &Transport (LUT) CommitteeChairman

Elected to 2017

Mike Skidmore Publicity, Events & Administration (PEA)Committee Chairman

Elected to 2017

Co-opted Members

Dr. Colin White Co-opted Member

Dr. Claire MacDonald Co-opted Member

Subscriptions

From 2017, annual subscription rates will be:

Individual Membership £15.00

Individual Second Membership (at the same address) £5.00

Corporate Membership (Bronze) Unchanged

Corporate Membership (Silver) Unchanged

Honorary Member No charge

Junior Civic Society Membership No charge

Documents

Pontefract Voice - 2016 February