Speaker Meeting Tuesday 28th July 2015 - All are Welcome

The Society's next speaker meeting will take place from 4.00pm - 5.00pm on Tuesday 28thth July in Marple Library - there is a lift available.
Judith Wilshaw, civic society member and local historian, is our speaker who will give an illustrated talk on:

                       The Story of the Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals

Peak Forest Canal

When the Industrial Revolution began, there was an increasing need to transport raw materials and products. Roads were poor, and the only vehicles small and inefficient. Canals developed as standardised waterways used by modular boats which could shift 10 times as much as a horse and cart. This talk tells the story of development of the Peak Forest Canal, and its later branch the Macclesfield Canal, remarkable early civil engineering projects.

This is an open meeting and all members of the public are welcome so bring your family, friends and neighbours - you will be most welcome - there is no charge for the meeting.

Do join us if you can at 3.40pm for light refreshments before the meeting starts at 4.00pm

Marple 150 Festival & Marple Locks Heritage Festival

The Marple 150 Festival celebrated 150 years of transport in Marple from the time of the  arrival of the first train to Marple Station in 1865. The organisers did a splendid job in arranging many events including exhibitions, talks, walks, music, the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at Marple Station and a                                  Retro Rail tour to Carlisle.

Chris Tayor (FoMS) & Gillian Postill (MCS)
welcome Matthew Pritchard to Marple

Congratulations to The Friends of Marple Station (FoMS) who arranged and hosted events at the station.  One such event, the brainchild of Chris Taylor, welcomed Matthew Pritchard, grandson of Dame Agatha Christie, to unveil a 'Miss Marple' plaque and briefly talk about his grandmother and the origins of 'Miss Marple'. From a hand written letter by Agatha Christie it is clear she took the name for her now famous detective from Marple Hall. The plaque, together with 10 huge book cover posters commissioned by HarperCollins Publishers, will be permanent features at the station and no doubt attract many visitors to Marple.

Marple Civic Society Stand
at Marple Locks Heritage Festival

The six day 150 Festival event culminated in the Locks Festival in Marple Memorial Park. The civic society were delighted to support this event and had a display tent there all day. Many members helped on the stand and explained the society's main current activities: Urban Design Study for Marple (work in progress) Marple Neighbourhood Plan (preparatory work ongoing) and listing of Assets of Community Value (ACV) to the many society members and members of the public who visited the stand. 

Allison and Malcom Allcard retired from the festival this year.
They were the driving force in setting up The Marple Locks Heritage Society and have organised the Marple Locks Heritage Festival since 2004. Marple Civic Society (MCS) is hugely grateful to them for their work and wish them a long and happy retirement. 

Report on Marple Area Committee 15th July 2015

A report on the Marple Area Committee that took place on 15th July 2015 can be viewed HERE

Committee chair Cllr. Ingham responded to a question from the Civic Society at the June meeting regarding greater involvement of residents by announcing an "extraordinary committee meeting" to take place in September/ October to identify key issues.  Local groups and Marple residents will be invited to attend and contribute ideas.

Future Marple Area Committee Meetings

12th August 2015
30th September 2015
11th November 2015
16th December 2015
10th February 2016
16th March 2016
20th April 2016 

Hollins Forecourt ACV nomination withdrawn

Three Assets of community Value were listed at the last Area Committee meeting: two allotments sites and the Oldknow Recreation Ground.

A fourth nomination was submitted, but subsequently withdrawn because the  Corporate Directors Report was of the opinion that the nomination did not meet the criteria although no reasons were given in the report. However, we believe it is because it is a public footpath/highway. We also understand that the council is considering making  a footpath/highway an automatic exclusion to ACV listing.

The Localism Act - Community Right to Bid, sets out the criteria and exclusions to listing ACV. It is the use of a building or open space, not its ownership, that determines whether a nomination should be successful and listed as an ACV. The status and ownership of the Hollins Forecourt, as a footpath/highway, does not automatically preclude it from being listed as an ACV as it is not one of the listed exclusions. The Hollins Forecourt is very much a people/community space valued and used by local people on a daily basis.

Following a Select Committee Review, a Government Review is due sometime this year. After talking to the Department of Communities and Local Government we have sent details of the Hollins nomination to support an amendment to the Localism Act to include A Right of Appeal for the nominatiing body. Should this be successful, and the Localism Act amended accordingly, we will re-submit the nomination and consider appealing against the decision should the nomination be refused.

See Corporate Directors Report HERE

See Hollins Forecourt nomination HERE

Report on Marple Area Committee Meeting 10th June 2015

A report on the Marple Area Committee Meeting that took place on 10th June 2015 can be viewed HERE

A question on behalf of the Civic Society asked the committee to invite submissions from residents suggesting measures that could be introduced to increase resident's participation.  The committee agreed to the request.

Suggestions should be forwarded to the Civic Society or to Cllr Ingham, chair of Marple Area Committee for formal submission to the committee.

Future Marple Area Committee Meetings

15th July 2015 
12th August 2015
30th September 2015
11th November 2015
16th December 2015
10th February 2016
16th March 2016
20th April 2016 

Bollington Civic Society Visits Marple

Bollington Civic Society visited Marple for a conducted heritage tour of the town led by local historian and civic society member Judith Wilshaw. The heavens opened, it poured down and gale-force winds blew umbrellas inside out but that didn't seem to matter. All 20 of our guests stayed the course and ended up in the Navigation for a drink, chat and to look at photos of old Marple.

Photos by Arthur Procter 

It was great to link with a neighbouring civic society to show them our town and exchange experiences.

Huge thanks go to Judith for conducting the tour with her usual enthusiasm and humour, despite the weather, and her generous donation to Marple Civic Society of £35.50 from the proceeds.