Maintenance work planned at Marple Wharf

Maintenance work is due to commence at Marple Wharf on Wednesday 17th October.
Work will concentrate on the Warehouse, outbuildings and immediate environment.

The warehouse canopy is part of the listings therefore a timber survey is necessary to determine its condition before work can commence on this part of the warehouse.

Work to the cottages is due to start within the next couple of weeks.

Civic Voice Awayday Report October 2012

The report on the Civic Voice "Strategy Awayday" held in August has been published.  

The Awayday aimed:

• to set the vision for the next three years
• to identify the organisational values which will guide the work of Civic Voice
• to revisit existing priorities and identify strategic objectives for the next three years

It was agreed that the current vision statement is still good: "Our vision is for everyone to live somewhere they can be proud of" 

The key values which should guide Civic Voice in its work were identified as follows.

•  Campaigning – strong in our advocacy and promotion of the cause.
•  Independent – unfettered in our views.
•  Grassroots - with a bottom-up approach to everything we do.
•  Responsive - accessible, inclusive and transparent to members, offering them the chance to   participate and recognising that they do it for fun. 

The full report can be read  here

Marple Wharf - Meeting with CRT 8th October 2012

Representatives from Marple Civic Society (MCS) met with the Canal & River Trust (CRT) Development Manager and Architect on 8th October 2012 for a briefing on Marple Wharf.

CRT reported that:

• Pre planning application discussions have been held with Stockport MBC
• CRT preference is for a housing led development
• No planning application has been submitted
• No final decision has been taken
• Maintenance work is planned to the wharf site

MCS responded that:

• MCS prefer a community led development
• It is difficult to progress with a community led scheme because CRT own the site
• MCS has put a team together consisting of MCS members, a local councillor, other volunteers and professional support to prepare a community led scheme based on the "Vision for Marple"
• MCS would like to form a multi-disciplinary partnership between members of the Community and CRT to develop a community led scheme

CRT will now consider the MCS response to the briefing.

PlaceCheck Workshop with Civic Voice & Urban Design Skills

Ian Harvey from Civic Voice and David Chapman from Urban Design Skills came to Marple yesterday to run a pilot "Placecheck" Workshop.

"Placecheck" is a simple tool to help civic groups improve their place by asking three questions:

What do we like about this place?
What do we dislike about it?
What do we need to work on?

Two teams surveyed the town centre including Market Street, Chadwick Street car park, Marple Wharf and Marple Memorial Park.  The teams later compared notes in a discussion led by Ian and David.

All agreed that should Chadwick Street car park be developed with a foodstore it is important that the development be integrated with the wider shopping areas and civic amenities and not create a "One Stop Shop" in the town centre.

 Ian Harvey and David Chapman with members of the  
 Civic Society taking part in Marple Placecheck

         

 Thanks to Arthur Procter for the photos          

Chadwick Street Foodstore Proposal

Kirkland Developments Ltd have released proposals for a foodstore on Chadwick street car park in Marple town centre.

They will be holding a public exhibition on Friday 19th October between 2pm and 7pm and Saturday 20th October between 11am and 3pm at Marple Library in the Memorial Park.

Further details of the proposal can be viewed here

Newsletter - October 2012

The Civic Society's October newsletter is now available, see all our latest news here