Uttoxeter Blog

The banned old Duke of Pork . . .

2009-07-27T20:09:00.002+01:00

Best headline award? Burton Mail's story on Andrew Duke of York's cancelled visit to JCB over Swine Flu fears....

Development in Stone Road

2009-06-16T17:11:00.001+01:00

Watch out folks - looks like this one is boiling up - add your cooments below!

Action now please

2009-06-16T06:57:00.002+01:00

Mr Morrison comments (in the Post & Times 12/06/2009) on the state of Trinity Square and its 'trip hazards' and 'tawdry state'. That's a bit rich! What about the trip hazards and tawdry appearance of the rest of the town, in particular around the High Street and Market place following all that expensive cobblestone work that he was so keen about? And where are the promised cigarette butt bins?

And how about a decent town 'notice board' that was promised some 5 years ago, but put onto the back burner pending the developement behind the town hall? Incidently, are we likely to see any progress with that development within the next 5 years, or are we to be left with a desolate scrubland for the foreseeable future? After all, our Town Council, on which Morrison claims to be such an influence, has sold off (at a stupidly low price) both the land at the rear of the town hall - and indeed a part of the town hall itself - apparently with no undertaking as to the timing of any future development!

As to the rest of the town hall's redevelopment - well, our local council continues to bicker and argue while we wait for some positive progress.

And then we have the continuing saga of traffic congestion in the High Street between the library and the old Heath post office; Morrison has, repeatedly, assured us that the County Council will be dealing with this by putting roadside parking restraints (double yellow lines) in place - but we still wait!

A further point - take a look at the union flag that flies above our town hall. Better to fly no flag than the sad and sorry duster like rag that is currently used - time to buy a new flag!

So, a message for you Mr Morrison - assidious as you are in seeking self publicity at every opportunity, anxious as you are to seek to justify your position on town, borough and county councils, it's time to actually fulfil your roles by securing some positive action on the many outstanding issues. Time to actually fulfil your often expressed, but so far sadly lacking, promises to represent Uttoxeter by more than seeking every 'photo-opportunity' and making empty gestures. Let's see some positive action!

Uttoxeter Town Council - doesn't provide any information online at all

2009-05-26T18:46:00.005+01:00

There are 591 town Councils in England - the vast majority have a web page (you can find them here - Index of English Parish Council Pages. I can find out about Tockwith with Wilstrop, Uffculme in Devon and Uffington in Lincolnshire. But Uttoxeter remains without a web presence for its 14,000 citizens.

Some of these councillors (predominantly one) perform, preen and posture, bully and cajole usually in private, with few observers - and even then any information has to be wrung out of them by the likes of the Audit Commitee or the interested few.

It's quite shocking and shameful - there is nowhere in cyberspace where I can find out who my town councillor is, what my council are up to, who turns up to council meetings, the minutes of the full council or any sub commitees, the decisions taken by the council - which impact us all. Why is there no effort to do this? Why do they not consider it of vital importance in a democracy - why are they there at all?

After all its not expensive - in fact it's free. I can find out what dozens of parish councils are doing across the country and across the world but as for Uttoxeter nothing, zilch de nada.

Perhaps for our councillors and clerk that tribute to scrutiny, openess and the apex of the democratic voice which is the glass panel of the left hand side door to the town hall is enough - it is our guardian and watchdog - every citizen can sleep safely knowing that an A5 slip of paper once a month taped to that special place - 'the glass panel of the left hand side door to the town hall' is our window, our forum, our democracy in action.

Here is some information about the responsibilities of councils -

Parish Councils have a variety of responsibilities, powers and duties. All these are laid down in different Acts of Parliament. There are few things that a Parish Council must do, but there are many that a Parish Council may do. However Parish Councils do not have a power of general competence and can only do what they ave been given a specific power to do by statute.

A list of powers and duties is shown below. In addition, in certain situations not covered by one of the specific powers described a council may spend money on any purpose which in its opinion is of direct benefit to its area or to the inhabitants provided that the benefit derived is commensurate with the expenditure involved. The total expenditure by the council under this general power must not in any financial year exceed an amount set by the Local Government Act 2003. It was set to £5 per local government elector in the parish with effect from 1 April 2003, indexed annually inline with the RPI.

The following tables indicates the general powers and responsibilities of a Town or Parish Council in England. This is not an exhaustive list. If you wish to read the Act itself many of them are available to be read on the Internet from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office just perform a search using the name of the Act, e.g.. “Small Holding & Allotments Act 1908″. Acts of Parliament are being repealed and amended all the time so be aware that if you read something in one Act that it has not been added to or deleted since the date of publication.

Town and Parish Councils

Function	Powers and Duties	Statutory Provisions
Allotments	Duty to provide allotments. Power to improve and adapt land for allotments, and to let grazing rights	Small Holding & Allotments Act 1908, ss. 23, 26, and 42
Baths and washhouses	Power to provide public baths and washhouses	Public Health Act 1936, ss. 221, 222, 223 and 227
Burial grounds, cemeteries and crematoria	Power to acquire and maintain Power to provide Power to agree to maintain monuments and memorials Power to contribute towards expenses of cemeteries	Open Spaces Act 1906, Ss 9 and 10; Local Government Act 1972, s. 214; Parish Councils and Burial Authorities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1970, s. 1 Local Government Act 1972, s. 214(6)
Bus shelters	Power to provide and maintain shelters	Local Government (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 1953, s. 4
Bye-laws	Power to make bye-laws in regard to pleasure grounds Cycle parks Baths and washhouses Open spaces and burial grounds Mortuaries and post-mortem rooms	Public Health Act 1875, s. 164 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s.57(7) Public Health Act 1936, s.223 Open Spaces Act 1906, s.15 Public Health Act 1936, s.198
Clocks	Power to provide public clocks	Parish Councils Act 1957, s.2
Closed churchyards	Powers as to maintenance	Local Government Act 1972, s.215
Common pastures	Powers in relation to providing common pasture	Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908, s.34
Conference facilities	Power to provide and encourage the use of facilities	Local Government Act 1972, s.144
Community centres	Power to provide and equip buildings for use of clubs having athletic, social or recreational objectives	Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 s.19
Crime prevention	Powers to install and maintain equipment and establish and maintain a scheme for detection or prevention of crime	Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s.31
Drainage	Power to deal with ponds and ditches	Public Health Act 1936, s.260
Entertainment and the arts	Provision of entertainment and support of the arts	Local Government Act 1972, s.145
Gifts	Power to accept	Local Government Act 1972, s.139
Highways	Power to maintain footpaths and bridle-ways Power to light roads and public places Provision of litter bins Powers to provide parking places for bicycles and motor-cycles, and other vehicles Power to enter into agreement as to dedication and widening Power to provide roadside seats and shelters Consent of parish council required for ending maintenance of highway at public expense, or for stopping up or diversion of highway Power to complain to highway authority as to unlawful stopping up or obstruction of highway or unlawful encroachment on roadside wastes Power to provide traffic signs and other objects or devices warning of danger Power to plant trees and lay out grass verges etc. and to maintain them	Highways Act 1980, ss.43,50 Parish Councils Act 1957, s.3; Highways Act 1980, s.301 Litter Act 1983, ss.5,6 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, ss.57,63 Highways Act 1980, ss.30,72 Parish Councils Act 1957, s.1 Highways Act 1980, ss.47,116 Highways Act 1980, s.130 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s.72 Highways Act 1980, s.96
Investments	Power to participate in schemes of collective investment	Trustee Investments Act 1961, s.11
Land	Power to acquire by agreement, to appropriate, to dispose of Power to accept gifts of land	Local Government Act 1972, ss.124, 126, 127 Local Government Act 1972, s.139
Litter	Provision of receptacles	Litter Act 1983, ss.5,6
Lotteries	Powers to promote	Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976, s.7
Mortuaries and post mortem rooms	Powers to provide mortuaries and post mortem rooms	Public Health Act 1936, s.198
Open spaces	Power to acquire land and maintain	Public Health Act 1875, s.164 Open Spaces Act 1906, ss.9 and 10
Parish documents	Powers to direct as to their custody	Local Government Act 1972, s.226
Telecommunications facilities	Power to pay public telecommunications operators any loss sustained providing telecommunication facilities	Telecommunications Act 1984, s.97
Public buildings and village hall	Power to provide buildings for public meetings and assemblies	Local Government Act 1972, s.133
Public conveniences	Power to provide	Public Health Act 1936, s.87
Town and country planning	Right to be notified of planning applications	Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Sched.1, para. 8
Tourism	Power to encourage visitors and provide conference and other facilities	Local Government Act 1972, s.144
Traffic calming	Powers to contribute financially to traffic calming schemes	Highways Act 1980, s.274A
Transport	Powers in relation to car-sharing schemes, taxi fare concessions and information about transport Powers to make grants for bus services	Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s.26, 28 and 29 Transport Act 1985, s.106A
War memorials	Power to maintain, repair, protect and alter war memorials	War Memorials (Local Authorities’ Powers) Act 1923, s.1; as extended by Local Government Act 1948, s.133
Water supply	Power to utilise well, spring or stream and to provide facilities for obtaining water from them	Public Health Act 1936, s.125

2009-04-21T23:00:00.003+01:00

Some fantastic images from the McDowell Benedetti Architects masterplan for the redevelopment of the JCB 9ha industrial site
to include a new 'town green' public park, a health complex, a 5,000sq m engineering innovation centre, 5,000sq m of retail, and 257 homes.

The images are reproduced from BD the Architects Website at http://www.bdonline.co.uk originally from the great submission by the Architects

Audit Commission draft report on Uttoxeter Town Council

2009-04-13T07:30:00.003+01:00

So at last this long awaited report has arrived, albeit in draft form as yet. The full report will follow when our Town Council pulls it's finger out and answers many outstanding questions.
Despite our jittery council hoping to keep the initial findings to themselves within hours of the report arriving at the town hall it was in the hands of the press!

Among many questions the AC ask is why the accounts for 2007/2008 have still not been submiyyed for audit, more than a year after the end of that fiscal year - "despite many requests"! The AC points out that the balance in the council's coffers has fallen from £133,044 at the end of March 2007 to just £13,000 a year later. And in the past year overdrafts had to be hastily arranged to meet ongoing expenses! Both last year's and this year's budgets appear to take no account of known expenses and the AC comments that the current budget "appears to have been produced by Councillors rather than the Responsible Financial Officer!

The Audit Commission is a body that is there to look after the interests of the taxpayer and electorate; their draft report raises issues about the way our town council has behaved that should concern everyone in Uttoxeter. But what is the response so far? Well Councillor Brookes, 'a senior member of the controlling group on the council' dismisses the report by saying: "What a waste of time and effort - while we will look at the advice, we are not obliged to follow it". What arrogance! What contempt for the electorate!

If and when our council condescends to respond to the concerns raised by the AC then the final report will make interesting reading - but don't hold your breath! One cannot but think that our council hopes that they can keep this under wraps until after the June County Council elections when the ubiquitous Geoff Morrison will be desperate to hang onto his seat: perhaps he would like to comment, before then, on the miserable performance of our town council.

Campaign to Keep the Heritage Centre Open- once its gone its gone for good

2009-03-06T20:52:00.004Z

Once its gone its gone for good.....

Councillor David Brookes - the democratically elected nemesis of culture and history in Uttoxeter is proposing to sell off the Heritage Centre to fill the financial void left by his own daft Tory plans and the alleged maladministration of his incumbent council (awaiting further news about this). This might get Brookes out of his self made hole, but it sacrifices two gems - (1) it destroys the rich heritage of the centre itself, which then goes to pay for retail outlets covering the whole of the ground floor of the 'public space' of (2) the Town Hall, which can then proudly boast its closed shops and to-let signs. You see- the only way they can afford to refurb the Town Hall - is by selling off the Heritage Centre.

How do we hold our councillors to account? Where is the online presence of the council, for scrutiny and debate? Just try searching for council minutes or even a full list of your councillors. Local democracy isn't a mystery - why do these people hide or has the internet not collided with their world yet? Come on people we can do better than this.
Here is the article from the Post & Times where our star councillor and Dairy Farmer talks about the Black Hole of Calcutta!!?
Does he know his history at all? His approach is - as you'll see insensitive, and just a little bit ignorant...Over to you Councillor..the rope is yours...

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/uttoxeter/news/Bring-life-town-hall-black-hole-Calcutta/article-734595-detail/article.html

Councillor David Brookes, chairman of the town hall committee, said: "Having the shops at the back of the building would have been the equivalent of the black hole of Calcutta.

"The current plans do not maximise the potential of the building and we are exploring an alternative scheme with retail entering on to the High Street. We need to bring life and footfall back to the town centre.

"It is a listed building but that shouldn't necessarily be a problem if the architect draws up sympathetic plans."

And town clerk Barry Holland revealed there had already been interest from independent retailers for the two proposed units.

Nigel Senior, economic development manager on Staffordshire County Council, added his support, saying: "The inclusion of further additional retail space at the front of the town hall building will help to give the project a greater high street presence, and therefore be a more attractive proposition to tenants."

The changes would involve extending the windows on the front of the building to create new doorways while retaining the arched entrance.

The first retail unit, on the right hand side as people approach the building from the High Street, will extend from the front to the back, covering 1,500sq ft with 500sq ft storage.

A second unit, on the left side, will have a floor space of 650sq ft.

The combined yearly rent for the two shops is expected to bring cash-strapped Uttoxeter Town Council around £65,000 – £35,000 more than if they remain at the rear of the building.

Plans to divide the main hall remain in place with the upstairs being available for hire and the ground floor housing a customer service centre and the relocated heritage centre.

A new tenant for the Carter Street premises, a restored 17th century timber framed building, will then be sought.

Mr Brookes said: "In this economic climate it is not feasible to keep the heritage centre where it is now. It would be best if we sold the building but that decision is one the whole council would make."

The town clerk has already met ESBC planning officer, Joanne Roebuck, to discuss the alterations. Before a revised application is submitted, the full council would have to vote on the updated plans.

But Mr Holland is confident it won't be too long before work gets under way.

He said: "I would expect builders to move in by late summer."

History of the town of Uttoxeter By Francis Redfern

2009-02-24T22:55:00.003Z

Francis Redfern's History of the town of Uttoxeter . The Full Text of this fantastic book is available online having been digitised by Google as part of its Google Books programme - I've reproduced the contents here, but see and search the full text here

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=O68HAAAAQAAJ&printsec=titlepage&dq=uttoxeter&lr=#PPP10,M1

CONTENTS.

Chapter I.

Introductory Remarks—Natural Scenery—Interesting Geologi-
cal Notice—Etymology of Uttoxeter.

Chapter II.

The Celtic, Romano-British, and Anglo-Saxon perie.1 ,

Chapter III.

Doomsday Survey of Uttoxeter—Its Feudal Tenure, &«.

Chapter IV.

Uttoxeter during the Civil War, and Rebellion—Dr. Samuel

Johnson's Penance—Peace of 1802—Royal Visits—BirtU

of W. J. Fox, Esq.—Peace Rejoicings.

Chapter V.

Lord Shrewsbury's Peerage—Trial for Alton Estates—Festiyi-

ties at Uttoxeter on Lord Shrewsbury taking possession

of Alton Towers.

Chapter VI.

History of Uttoxeter Church — Early period of a Church in

Uttoxeter—Instance of Martyrdom in Uttoxeter, &e.—

Altar-tombs—Church Inscriptions—Cemetery.

Chapter VII.

History of Dissent in Uttoxeter—Quakers—Catholics—Inde-

C dents—Wesleyan Methodists—Primitives—Plymouth
thern.

Chapter VIII.

Distinguished Persons :—Thomas Alleyn—Dr. Lightfoot—Sir
Syiuon Degge—Lord Gardner—Mary Howitt—Samuel
Bsntley—Captain Astle—Edward Rudyard, &c.

Chapter IX.

Extent of Uttoxeter—Its quaint appearance—Noted Buildings

of Antiquity—Court Leet—I' ires which have happened—

Population since 1662—Persons noted for their longevity.

Chapter X.

Ancient Families :—The Mynors—The Degges—Flayers—Nor-

mans—The Lightfoot Family—The Milwards.

Chapter XL

Ancient Customs—Sacred Wells—Omens and Superstitions—

Sports and Pastimes—Civil Usages.

Chapter XII.

Antiquity of Uttoxeter Markets—Curious particulars of butter

pots—Trial about tolls, &c.—Manufactures and trade—

Printers and Books—Tradesmen's tokens.

Chapter XIII.

Libraries—Mechanics' Institute—Town Hall.

Chapter XIV.

Public Schools—Alleyne's Grammar School—Alleyne's will,

&c.—National School—New Day School.

Chapter XV.

Uttoxeter Charities.

Chapter XVI.

Notices Of Places In The Neighbourhood Of

Uttoxeter.

Loxley—Stramshall—Leigh—Feelde—Chartley Castle--Abbotts

Bromley— Ely thfield—Woodford—Woodlands—March-

ington—Houndhill—Draycott—Newborough—Handbury

— Faulde — Tutbury — Sudbury — Poveridge — West

Broughton — Marston — Somersall — Eaton—Norbury—

Alton—Tean—Croxden—Checkley—Toot Hill and Beam-

hurst—Rocester—Uenston—Crakemarsh—Blount's Hall

Kingston—Needwood Forest.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

(The whole of the Illustrations are by Mr. Llewellyun Jewitt, I'.S. A.)

Plan Of Uttoxeter, From " Lightfoot's Survey."

Lord Gardner's House.

Birth-p'lace Op Maby Howitt.

Samuel Bentley's House.

Uttoxeter Church.

Uttoxeter Old Church, Now Taken Down.

Altar Tombs, Uttoxeter Church.

Remains Found At Sudbury.

Portrait Of Thomas Allen.

Norman Pitcher, With Arms Of Ferrars.

Seal Of Robert De Ferrars.

Ancient Butter-pots.

Traders' Token, William Cartwrigut.

, Eobekt Gilbert.

, William Lathrop.

, Jeffrey Power.

, William Wakelin.

The White Bear Inn.
Dr. Johnson And Captain Astlz.
Autograph Of Samuel Bentlky.
Celtic Cinerary Urn, Toot Hill.
Roman Urn, Toot Hill.

Vessel, High Wood .

Checkley, " Danish Monuments."
Checkley Font.
Kingston Old Church.
Roce8ter, Incised Slab.
Rocester " Frame Yard." , Spear Head.

TORljUE, FROM NEEDWOOD FOREST.
TISSINGTON—THE " HALL WELL."

TISS1NGTON— THE " TOWN WKLL."

ANCIENT HUNTING HORN.

1871-2008 JCB

2008-12-10T19:47:00.002Z

End of a production era for company

From The Express and Star
http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/12/09/end-of-a-production-era-for-company/

The curtain has fallen on almost 140 years of manufacturing history in Uttoxeter with the final machine made at JCB’s Heavy Products factory rolling off the production line.

The site on the edge of the town has been linked to manufacturing since 1871 when the agricultural machinery makers Bamfords Ltd opened for business.

Bamfords Ltd went into liquidation in 1980 and in 1989 JCB bought the site in Pinfold Street and began production of its famous machines.

Last week the last JCB machine to be made there – a 26 tonne JS260 tracked excavator – was produced. The manufacture of tracked and wheeled excavators is now being transferred to the new purpose-built £40 million JCB Heavy Products factory next to the A50 in Uttoxeter.

JCB chairman Sir Anthony Bamford said: “This is the end of an era because my family has been linked to this site since the 19th century when Bamfords Ltd started manufacturing agricultural machinery.

“But this is also the start of a new and exciting era not only for JCB’s excavator business but also for Uttoxeter because the relocation offers the opportunity to redevelop and enhance an important area of the town.”

Among those joining Sir Anthony and employees to mark the event were Colin Bond and his wife Delia , of Uttoxeter, who both worked for Bamfords Ltd.

Mrs Bond was an office clerk and Mr Bond a machinist. Both eventually left to work for JCB. Mrs Bond retired as company archivist three years ago but her husband still works for the company after 39 years.

Labour call to halt 'illegal' land deal - News - Burton Mail

2008-09-15T13:40:00.000+01:00

More revelations in the Burton Mail -

Tory candidate Andrew Grithis has laid in with what appears to be ungentlemanly comments about two councillors who have resigned the tory whip over the debacle

Labour call to halt 'illegal' land deal - News - Burton Mail

Meanwhile over in Burton...Council is criticised over wind farm cash - News - Uttoxeter Advertiser

2008-09-11T19:27:00.001+01:00

Council is criticised over wind farm cash - News - Uttoxeter Advertiser: "Council is criticised over wind farm cash
by KEITH BULL
COUNCIL bosses have defended using thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money to employ outside consultants to evaluate a planning application for a wind farm in the ward represented by the authority's leader.

East Staffordshire Borough Council has already set aside £5,000 as a 'contingency' against plans to build a wind farm at Bagots Park, near Abbots Bromley."

LAND ROW ROCKS TORIES - News - Burton Mail

2008-09-11T19:07:00.000+01:00

From the Burton Mail today

Are the Tories on a collision greater than that taking place at the Large Hadron Collider

LAND ROW ROCKS TORIES - News - Burton Mail: "BURTON Town Hall's ruling Conservative group was today embroiled in a 'possibly illegal' land sale row.

News - Uttoxeter town hall Controversy erupted after a Government watchdog completed a probe into the sale of publicly owned land in Uttoxeter town centre.

The Audit Commission declared that an 'unofficial agreement' between Uttoxeter Town Council and developer Taylor Wimpey 'could be illegal'."

Town in Crisis - Fall Outs - Financial Mismangement or Reckless Bravado!iasco

2008-09-07T13:44:00.004+01:00

Just as the town faces mass unemployment with the two biggest employers JCB and Fox's threatening hundreds, possibly thousands of job losses, the Tories are playing a very strange game. They are falling out with each other in an increasingly messy spat over incompetence, recklessness and financial mismangement.Never a happy bunch, it's getting increasingly dirty. The Burton Mail yesterday reports that Kathy Graham - former Mayor and Town Ward Councillor has quit the ruling Tory group and will now represent as an independent. She has quit over the actions of Geoff Morrison, Howard Grigg, David Brookes and Malcolm Barrett. Councillor Graham says that this 'Gang of Four' had behaved 'disgracefully' "by failing to keep others informed of alternatives to a proposed £115,000 deal with a developer." The Gang have been accused of being less than open over the sale of the Town Hall.

The Town Hall is subject to an 'unofficial agreement' of sale to Taylor Wimpey.
But critiscisms have been levelled that the sale is grossly underpriced and that all is not what it seems with the sale.

Councillor Graham feels she has been bullied and cajoled to support the Taylor Wimpey deal. Her colleagues have resorted to less than gentlemanly comments.

As Ali Choudry writes in his blog the council appear to be either reckless or incompetent "This is a serious and systematic case of financial mismanagement." he writes

"A quarter of the town councillors - councillors Barrett, Geoff Morrison and David Brookes - are also borough councillors holding important portfolios, as they are part of the Tory controlling group. We are nervous, suspicious and uneasy that the Tories' shambolic and inept financial management at Uttoxeter Town Council might lead to a similar financial calamity at the borough council.

What is going on?

Saving our heritage requires action, not just words | Art & architecture | guardian.co.uk

2008-06-17T13:14:00.001+01:00

New Heritage at Risk Register launched next month - which buildings, features, landscapes would you list from Uttoxeter and the surrounding areas?

Saving our heritage requires action, not just words. The new Heritage at Risk register, to be launched next month by English Heritage, is one of the first visible signs of years of anguished government and private debate

Source: Saving our heritage requires action, not just words | Art & architecture | guardian.co.uk

A Downturn = record profits and job losses

2008-06-04T11:22:00.003+01:00

Downturn = A negative change in the economy, such as from expansion to recession or
Downturn = record profits and job losses

BREAKING NEWS: JCB WARNS OF SQUEEZE DESPITE RECORD RESULTS
www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk - Stoke-on-Trent,England,UK
... the impact of the credit crunch and soaring commodity prices when it announced up to 90 jobs would go at its plants in Cheadle, Uttoxeter and Rugeley. ...
See all stories on this topic

JCB announces record profits for 2007
Materials Handling World Magazine - Leeds,England,UK
... with the construction of the £40 million JCB Heavy Products factory in Uttoxeter; the new £7 million JCB Attachments factory in Uttoxeter, a £36 million ...

Pugin - God's Architect and his first church

2007-10-22T12:41:00.000+01:00

"IN THE SUMMER OF 1852 A 40-year-old man was in a secure room in Bethlem Hospital for the Insane; he recognised no one, not even his wife; his head had been shaved, and he had become what was described as “very dirty in his habits”. This was the man who, six months before, had designed the clock tower now known as Big Ben. His name was Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin."

In 1839 Pugin finished his first Church - St Marys- in Uttoxeter. Not a masterpiece and now very much altered, with the addition of aisles, a narthex and changes to the chancel in 1879. His stunning west rose window and the sedilia remain. It is not a patch on his 'gem'- St Giles in Cheadle - which he started just a year later.
By the time he was 21 Pugin had been widowed, bankrupted and shipwrecked. He had built 22 churches, 3 cathedrals, a monastery and half a dozen grand houses before the age of 30. Pugin wanted to create a fantastic medieval world of his imagination - in stark contrast to the industrial revolution which raged around him.
He died, aged 40, incarcerated in an asylum - a wild psychotic, driven mad by syphilis.

Clone Town Britain - a rebellion

2007-10-08T20:35:00.000+01:00

Clone-town Britain faces a rebellion on the high street

The Work Foundation think-tank have discovered a growing backlash against uniform housing estates and unimaginative architecture which are destroying the unique features of our towns. In , "Distinctiveness and Cities – Beyond 'Find and Replace' Economic Development" the think tank reports that people are beginning to realise that local identity matters.

Towns which have embraced their idiosyncrasies (and Uttoxeter has some) have realised economic advantages. The report states that towns must innovate themselves using their own distinctive qualities.

"Distinctiveness becomes a conscious, explicit strategy of redevelopment."

Councillors/planners/developers - pay heed

Uttoxeter MAYFEST

2007-04-11T14:57:00.000+01:00

Bank Holiday Monday - May 7th 2007

Celebrate at the Uttoxeter May Festival - meet the Green Man, see traditional maypole dancing, folk bands and a strett arts and crafts market, food stalls and more

For details ring 07999 807 067
or 01889 569867

Visit http://www.uttoxetermayfest.moonfruit.com/

Planning Disaster

2007-02-06T19:26:00.001Z

Barking Mad - planning disaster

2007-02-06T19:02:00.001Z

The Civic Trust has joined the RSPB, CPRE, Friends of the Earth,
Woodlands Trust, Ramblers Association, Wildlife Trust, Transport 2000
and the RTPI to form a coalition to campaign against the
recommendations of the Barker Review. A website http://www.planningdisaster.co.uk/

has been launched to allow the public to email their concern to Gordon Brown or their local MP.

January 2007 - The Barker Review of Land Use Planning was commissioned
by the Treasury as a review of the UK's planning system, primarily
focusing on the link between planning and economic growth. The Civic
Trust has greeted many of the recommendations with great concern, as
the majority of these focus on reforming the planning system for the
benefit of businesses and developers. This may have implications for
the protection of the built and natural environments and for local
communities. To read more about the Review and the Civic Trust's views,
please click here.

Barker Review of Land Use Planning: Final Report - Recommendations
- On
  5 December 2006 the Barker Review issued this final report. The
  Government is interested to hear your views. Comments should be sent no
  later than 5 March 2007.

UTTOXETER BEER FESTIVAL

2007-01-23T22:29:00.001Z

Date: 2nd June 2007

tickets@uttoxeterbeerfestival.org.uk

A lighter and brighter town -mixed pallet -greys,greens and mottled pink?

2007-01-03T22:48:00.000Z

From the Advertiser

EXACTLY a year ago plans for the new-look Uttoxeter High Street were unveiled.

Today, the work has almost finished, the town has been transformed and now scheme bosses have thanked Uttoxeter shoppers and traders for their support during a year of disruption.

The £1.6 million revamp has been in the pipeline for two years. In autumn last year, residents had the chance to vote on the colour and quality of the street materials to be used. The final decision was to use a mixed pallet of greys, greens, yellows and mottled pink

The colour scheme was aimed at creating a lighter and brighter look to the town and funded by Staffordshire County Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council and Uttoxeter Plus.

Materials used include granite flagstones and kerbs, seats and paving. The plans aimed to achieve a harmonious mix of the traditional and modern, anchored firmly through quality design and carefully crafted features.

Worth noting that when ESBC councillors come a knocking at your door don't let them take all the credit for this coalition of councils
Now wouldn't it be nice if they could work together more..............

New Uttoxeter Housing as seen from the air

2006-11-21T19:12:00.000Z

New Uttoxeter Housing as seen from the air - planners cleverly spell out to Burton just where the town actually is for the next Mayoral fly over

2006-11-12T16:09:00.000Z

Johnson's Penance for only visiting the Town once..

Recruitment for Tesco expansion

2006-10-28T14:11:00.001+01:00

Taylor Woodrow are advertising for a quantity surveyor for the new build on the Tesco store: complete with extra floors - TW has the contract for just about everything in town - new conservatory, garden sheds..

Senior Quantity Surveyor
Involved in the major expansion of Tesco stores (including the creation of
additional floors), you will enjoy involvement in a new project
approximately every nine months. If you prefer, the vast majority of
these projects can be close to home, giving you an excellent work/life
balance as well as considerable responsibility and challenge.
£32-47,500 + Car Allowance (Where will they park?)

Cattle market - Why are we waiting?

2006-10-11T13:12:00.000+01:00

Still no start by Taylor Woodrow on Uttoxeter's supposed £20 million-plus town centre redevelopment schemes
No explanation from Taylor Woodrow -no explanation from any of the local councillors
Taylor Woodrow were named as the company to regenerate the town in 2004, building due to start October 2005..... As taxpayers we are investing a considerable amount who is accountable who will explain?

Save the Wellington Public House

2006-10-02T20:28:00.000+01:00

We are very concerned about the state of the Wellington Public House and the recent fire on the premises.
The Borough Council may need to take action under s215 of the 1990 Planning Act to tidy up this public eyesore (in this case to make good any fire damage and make the building safe against trespass); or serve a S54 urgent works notice (giving the owner 7 days notice of the LPA's intent to carry out the urgent works to make the building safe and weathertight and to reclaim the costs from the owner); or a s48 Repairs Notice as a prelude to compulsory purchase.
We have been advised by English Heritage that they may be instructed to exercise these powers by the Secretary of State in default of action by the local authority.

ESBC is currently without a Conservation Officer - this is appalling.

The owner of the Wellington is currently the newly elected Town Ward Councillor for the Tories

Planning applications

2006-09-25T21:01:00.000+01:00

Dont forget you can view and comment on Planning applications online from ESBC

Domesday Book Online - but you have to pay to see it

2006-08-04T18:28:00.000+01:00

Place name:
Uttoxeter, Staffordshire
Folio:
246v Great Domesday Book
Domesday place name:
Wotocheshede
People mentioned:
Aelfgeat; Aki; Almaer; Alweard; Alwine; Arnketil; Burgesses of Tamworth; Dunning; Earl Aelfgar; Gruffydd; Iwar; Ketil; King William as landholder; Oda; Rafwin; Swein; Thorbiorn; Uhtraed; Wudia; Wulfgeat; Wulfheah; Wulfhere; Wulfmaer; Wulfric; Ylving
Date
1086

Here is what the entry says in English

Wotoschede
The King holds Uttoxeter. Earl Aelfgar held it. There is half a hide. There is land for 10 Ploughs. In demesne are 2 ploughs with 1 slave; and 24 villans and eleven bordars with 11 ploughs. There are 16 acres of meadow and woodland 2 leagues long and as many broad. TRE it was worth £6 now £7.
TRE tempora regis Eduardis In the time of King Edward the Confessor

Hide was 120 acres, although this could vary, and sometimes was around 240 acres. Domesday hide values were not real measurements of land, but figures on which tax (geld) was based (used in English areas, equivalent to a carucate).
Plough caruca, carruca
In Domesday the word implies a plough team with its eight oxen and the plough itself. The measure of a carucate was originally the amount of land which such a team could plough in one day.
Slave: A man or woman who owed personal service to another, and who was un-free, and unable to move home or work or change allegiance, to buy or to sell, without permission.
TRE tempora regis Eduardis In the time of King Edward the Confessor; by implication,
DOM= assessment
In essence, there were two Domesday surveys: the first raised a royal Geld to pay for war with the Danes; and the second dealt with matters of land tenure arising from the first and the billeting of so many troops on English land.
Algar (Lady Godiva’s Son!) died seven years before the conquest, though he is mentioned as the land belonging to him. Even though it had passed onto his sons Edwin earl of Mercia. Edwin took up arms against William on behalf of his oppressed countrymen. Thuis was obviously still freash when it came to writing up the book that his name was struck from the book despite being the most important landowner in country. This is because his son and his sons Edwin and Morcar, (Earls of Mercia and Northumberland), ..took up arms on behalf of their enslaved countrymen in the year 1071, and Edwin being betrayed into the hands of the Normans, met an untimely fate; when his estates were, of course confiscated and most of those in Staffordshire remained in the King's hands at the Domesday survey.
The devastating vengeance which William inflicted on the English revolters, may probably account for the immense tract of waste lands in Staffordshire,
William was a Bastard in every sense!
Demesne – private land of the manor
League 3 miles

Date set for Town Ward Election

2006-07-23T15:19:00.000+01:00

If the election is contested, a poll will take place on THURSDAY, 31 AUGUST 2006 -
We will probably not get cards again - For recent elections ESBC have not sent voting cards to households - this is possibly a contributing factor for the appalling turn out in local elections along woth all the other myriad factors which turn the franchised off politics. A card acts as a flyer and aide memoire and is sorely missed.

Archaeology Society and Wood Farm

2006-02-25T17:38:00.000Z

CROXDEN Abbey has long been a very visible sign that Uttoxeter is rich in history.
And with the abbey so close to Wood Farm, it is no surprise that Cistercian artefacts have been found on its land, including a little bell, which could have come from a monk’s robe, horse’s bridle or a falconer.
These items, along with a second century Roman coin, signify that the site has been occupied for 2,000 years.
But finding flints, stone pounders, arrow heads, neolithic pottery, mace heads, axes, burial mounds and stone structures is evidence that the Uttoxeter area has history going back even further — by thousands and thousands of years.
Nick Brandrick has lived at the 224-acre dairy farm since 1964.
He has 30 acres of woodland and one of the more ancient wooded areas houses some unusual animals.
As Nick, 49, shakes some food pellets, the trees start rustling and the sense of history that pervades the farm is heightened by the sight of a small herd of wild boar, which comes snuffling out the wood.
It is partly because of the boar that Nick first found an interest in investigating the history of his land.
While building the boar pen, he and his son found a spear point — identified as coming from a fishing spear because of its serrated edges.
"That was the first real clue that anything had happened here," says Nick.
Those first finds in the 1990s spurred the farmer on to learn about archaeology from books and carry out his own investigations.
Sadly the wild boar, the dairy cows and even Nick himself have accidentally destroyed some of the evidence over the years, but much still remains.
"I started doing a few experimental digs over the years, but a lot of my finds have come with help from other people.
"I find things by going into the structures and digging on those structures."
Some of the eeriest places on Nick’s farms are the wooded hollows which become bogs in winter, but dry out in summer.
These creepy bogs are dotted with cairns — piles of stones which are thought to mark bog burials.
One expert from Derby University said he thought there was evidence of Bronze Age burial mounds in the wooded areas.
However, any trace of human remains would unfortunately be long gone.
"A dog bone would disappear in two months in this ground, because of the acidity," says Nick.
More baffling is the stone alignments which can be seen when the bogs are dry. Lines of sandstones have been placed across the bog like the spokes of a wheel.
Scattered here and there, Nick has found a good deal of quartz too which has been "napped", where part of the stone is struck off, making a sharp edge to use as a tool.
Other small pieces of quartz have signs of being used as a "pot boiler" — where the stone has been placed in a fire and then dropped into water to heat the liquid.
Curiously, not all of the stones Nick has been examining are local. Small white pebbles have been found purposefully placed at the end of stone lines, or in between larger stones, and are thought to come from places like the Chilterns or East Anglia.
A long grassy mound crosses one of the fields on Wood Farm. Bits of stone can be seen here and there and at first Nick thought it was a stone wall which had collapsed, but careful examination has since revealed that stones had been carefully placed at intervals and not in one long continuous line.
Following the stones leads you to what Nick calls the "Altar" and another big mound, where many of the artefacts have been found on digs, which reveal the careful layers of the structure and its elements of human construction.
Dotted here and there around the farm you can also see stones which bear signs of having been used to sharpen flints and make arrowheads.
The flints have been officially dated as neolithic by the county, but so far experts refuse to accept that the artefacts were found on digs focusing on the farm’s curious stone structures.
One expert from Hanley has even dated one of Nick’s flints at 40,000 BC to 60,000 BC.
However, he is still sceptical that it is quite so ancient, believing it more likely to be between seven to 10 thousand BC.
Most of his finds and the stone structures are believed to be neolithic, which dates them from 2,000 BC to 8,000 BC.
However, some may be even older, with markings on them hinting at the mesolithic age, which is from 8,000 BC up to 20,000 BC.
Stonehenge is probably one of the most well-known structures built by neolithic man and historians believe neolithic people had a huge sense of awe for nature and the changing seasons, which is reflected in structures such as stone circles.
Up at Greatgate there is evidence of this too. Just off Nick’s land there is rock face, which from the side looks like the profile of a person.
With permission from his neighbour, Nick explored the area and found intriguing bowl shapes cut into the rock at the very base of the cliff, with markings in the rock face just above the bowls.
The escarpment faces sunset and Nick believe the "cups" had a ritualistic purpose.
Just looking at the barrows and strange stone alignments conjures up images of prehistoric men and women carrying out rituals and burials.
It is obvious that Nick has a love for his land and a boundless enthusiasm in finding out about its history.
And he’s not the only one.
Members of Uttoxeter Archaeology Society are just as excited about the mysterious stone features to be found at the farm.
The society is hoping to start excavating some of the sites when the frosts have ebbed away and the more clement weather arrives in March.
Dave Parkes, a member of the society, says: "Part of it is making sure it’s recorded for future generations, but it’s also about encouraging other archaeologists to get on the land to investigate more about these kinds of finds.
"There are not many people in the UK who are experts in this area because it’s so hard to quantify and assess the finds."
Dave’s interest and amateur specialism in neolithic archaeology stems from his degree in ancient history.
He says: "It’s an incredible place. It’s got a real magic about it.
"It’s on a hill looking out over the valley and it just makes you think, what were they doing and why were they there? It’s like trying to piece together a jigsaw.
"It creates scenarios in your mind, to think about what these people were doing. Were they wearing furs or were they naked or painted?
"It needs more study, more approaches and opinions from other archaeologists and more debate about what it could be."
Nick’s artefacts and more information about his farm is currently on display at Uttoxeter Heritage Centre, as part of the centre’s new exhibitions of local collectors and their collections.

Gambling with Our Future

2005-11-02T22:40:00.000Z

More from the Advertiser

UTTOXETER needs to hold out for the best deal possible for the Cattle Market site, says the town's Mayor Malcolm Barrett.
However, Uttoxeter’s Labour MP Janet Dean and East Staffordshire Borough Council Labour group leader Julian Mott have slammed the delay, claiming it is a waste of tax payers’ money.
The decision by the borough council to pull out of the deal with developers Taylor Woodrow has sparked strong reactions from Independent Councillor Barrett, who had not officially been told of the set-back until The Advertiser informed him yesterday.
He praised the borough council for refusing to be 'bullied' by Taylor Woodrow, and said all parties now need to work together to find the best solution for Uttoxeter.
He said: "I am aware of a press release from ESBC which basically implies that during the past few months Taylor Woodrow has been trying to move the goal posts.
"Based on this, I can only agree with Councillor Fox’s statement that we should not be bullied into accepting a scheme which was not agreed, especially if this is to the detriment of Uttoxeter.
"I would say that the most important thing that we must do now is to keep up momentum in respect of the regeneration of the old cattle market site.
"We must all work together for the future of our town."
Mrs Dean told The Advertiser: "I said that this was a gamble when the council first announced the purchase of the Cattle Market, and the question now is that is this gamble going to cost the tax payers of East Staffordshire?
"While it is right that the local authority should not bow to pressure from Taylor Woodrow, I am surprised that it should have reached this stage without a legal agreement.
"Also, if the council was aware that the development would not go ahead this week, I am surprised that it did not try to agree the continuation of the Cattle Market."
She said that she hoped the borough council would now ensure that the public’s concerns over parking in the town were addressed in future plans.
Mr Mott said: "Many times we have been assured that the purchase of Uttoxeter Cattle Market would have 'zero impact' on the council tax payers, and were promised several times by Councillor Fox that work would begin on November 1.
"Now the deal has fallen through, the council is already paying interest on the cost of purchase.
"The fact that this deal has fallen through gives the council the opportunity to reconsider its position on lack of affordable housing and the loss of car parking, and come up with plans that meet the aspirations of local people."

Taylor Woodrun

2005-11-02T20:30:00.000Z

Housebuilder Taylor Woodrow is the subject of rumors of a takeover from rival Persimmon.
Perhaps Taylor Woodrow were trying to make money while they could by pushing a desperate council further and further down the road to selling off Uttoxeter as a bargain basement housing estate.

Profit at Taylor Woodrow falls 18% in six months to June

Housebuilder feels effects of the tougher housing market

Greed of Developers 'surprises' council

2005-11-02T19:56:00.000Z

From the Uttoxeter Advertiser today

THE redevelopment of Uttoxeter cattle market has been put on hold after council bosses pulled out of a deal with developers at the last minute.
Days before bulldozers were due to move in to begin demolishing the site, East Staffordshire Borough Council has halted the deal over a row with developers Taylor Woodrow.
The move came after the firm changed its original proposals saying it wanted to halve the number of retail units and replace them with more housing
However, the council has pushed ahead with its purchase of the Carter Street site from Bagshaws and says if things cannot be resolved with Taylor Woodrow it will look for another developer.
The redevelopment of this site in the heart of Uttoxeter could now be delayed by as much as six months.
The council said today it was unhappy with the developer for delaying the signing of the legal agreement and making frequent attempts to change the terms on which the company had been selected last year.
The developer refused to guarantee the build quality and finish of the development, despite the council dropping the price of the site by £1million to ensure a high quality.
The last straw was when the company told the council last week it would only sign if the price tag of the site was slashed further.
Councillor Alex Fox, leader of the borough council, said: "The last few months have demonstrated that Taylor Woodrow is not willing to honour the promises made when the company was selected last year.
"We have been very patient with the company but I have decided that enough is enough.
"Even within the last week, Taylor Woodrow again tried to change the terms and we have come to the point where we are not prepared to compromise any further.
"We want Uttoxeter to be right. If it takes another three to six months then so be it. Last time round there were five developers who showed an interest in the site.
"It is actually a much more attractive site than when we signed this deal in that we now have planning permission and own all of it.
"The designs drawn up by Taylor Woodrow originally were excellent but we have been taken down a track where they won’t guarantee these designs at the finish.
“We have got to stand our ground on these things because this is a big project.
“We are not going to just roll over on this multi-million pound deal and be taken to the cleaners.
“My gut feeling is that they will come back to us and if it sticks to the agreement we will be happy to proceed, if it doesn’t we will be happy to look elsewhere.”
The decision to halt the deal received unaminous cross-party support at a cabinet meeting of the council last Friday.
The council has also brought in professional advisors to prepare a report outlining the current options for site.
The report will go before the cabinet at the end of the month when a decision will be taken on whether to stay with Taylor Woodrow or find a new buyer.
East Staffordshire Borough Council’s new chief executive Marie Ainsworth, who had only been in her post for nine hours when the decision was publicly announced, said: “The advice we have had is that there is likely to be significant interest in the scheme.”
She said that although planning permission has been granted for the site, if a new developer was appointed it would be most likely that variations to the scheme would mean new permission would need to be sought.
Councillor Fox added that “every cloud has a silver lining” and that this gave the council an opportunity to review the plans for the site.
He said: “This gives us another opportunity to look at the retail for the site and the type of retail coming in, to review the designs again and see if 12 months on they are exactly what we finally want.”
Taylor Woodrow’s director of strategic development, Jamie Gibbins, said: “Taylor Woodrow remains committed to delivering a high quality mixed-use development on the cattle market site.
“We are still in negotiation and while discussions continue with all interested parties, from prospective retailers to the council, we are not in a position to comment any further.”

Council fail to deliver again - carpetbaggers flee

2005-11-02T13:17:00.000Z

From the Sentinel Today

MAJOR BLOW FOR PLANS TO REGENERATE TOWN CENTRE
GRAHAM TONG12:00 - 02 November 2005
Multi-million pound plans to transform Uttoxeter town centre have suffered a setback after talks between proposed developers and council officials broke down. Developer Taylor Woodrow told bosses at East Staffordshire Borough Council it was cutting its offer to buy the cattle market site in the town centre by a 'significant amount' before an agreement was due to be signed.Councillors have now decided unanimously to reject the offer.Taylor Woodrow was chosen a year ago to develop the site to form the main part of a 10-year masterplan for Uttoxeter. This included building 180 houses, a retail development, offices and improvements to town centre parking.A borough council statement says Taylor Woodrow has since delayed signing a contract to confirm the deal and has made 'frequent attempts to change the terms on which the company had been selected'.Talks will be opened with other developers if the firm does not increase its latest offer.Council leader Alex Fox insisted the authority was protecting the town's future interests by rejecting the offer.He said: "Taylor Woodrow was chosen 12 months ago because the designs were the best for Uttoxeter. They captured the ambience of the market town. They put a good mix together. We believed that would take the town forward for the next 100 years. They were supposed to sign a contract in March this year. As time has gone by we've been frustrated - they've always found another reason to delay putting a signature on that contract."First they came to us and said the amount they were paying was fine, but they wanted to spread it over two years."We gave ground on that on the basis that we wanted to make progress. Now we are faced with a problem where Taylor Woodrow want to reduce the price they were paying for the market site."We've told Taylor Woodrow we are not prepared to knock anything off the price. Taylor Woodrow may well want to review its position and talk to us again, which we would be happy to do."Mr Fox added that Taylor Woodrow's plan to halve the number of retail outlets initially proposed in order to develop more housing had also been rejected, and that the firm was no longer guaranteeing the scheme's quality.Councillor Julian Mott, leader of the opposition, said: "The Labour group representatives agreed that these would not represent the best solution for Uttoxeter and we support the council's decision."Taylor Woodrow's director of strategic development, Jamie Gibbins said: "We are still in negotiation and while discussions continue with all interested parties we are not in a position to comment any further."

Civic Society on the small screen....

2005-09-16T09:19:00.000+01:00

Civic Society Secretary David Denny appeared last night on the Heart of the Country on ITV. The town was featured in a mystery Midlands town montage with David revealing the idenity at the end. Some excellence shots and locations of our beautiful town were included and providentially some from the soon to be closed Cattle Market.

Uttoxeter by any other name

2005-09-14T20:29:00.000+01:00

Uttoxeter as it is now known, has had many different names and many different spellings. The List below is mostly based on phonetic spellings of the vernacular pronunciation. Below is the usual list although there are references to Uttoxeter as Hycestri, which could hint at a Roman origin.....

There are probably more but there are 76 versions below

Hottocsathere (1322)
Hottokesacre (Ed I)
Hutockshather (1208)
Huttokeshagh (1242)
Huttokkeshatre (H V)
Otoksather (H V)
Ottockeshat (Ed I)
Ottockeshater (Ed I)
Ottokeshathere (Ed I)
Ottokeshther (Ed I)
Ottokhathere (Ed I)
Utcester (Jas I)
Utcetor (Eliz)
Utcetter (Jas I)
Utcytor (Eliz)
Uthoxhaure (1212)
Utokeshather (1316-40)
Utoxator (Jas I)
Utoxeter (Jas I)
Utoxetur (E I & 1583)
Utoxitur (1640)
Uttaksather (H VI)
Uttaxather (1540)
Uttaxatour (H VII)
Uttaxceter (Ed)
Uttaxotor (H VII)
Uttcetour (1535)
Uttcettour (1544)
Uttcetur (1533)
Uttekasthre (Ed I)
Uttockeshather (1288)
Uttokesaker (Ed I)
Uttokesh (1360)
Uttokeshader (1199)
Uttokeshadere (E III)
Uttokeshal (1225)
Uttokeshale (1275)
Uttokeshather (E I & R II)
Uttokeshatre (R II)
Uttokhather (H VI)
Uttokhather (H VI)
Uttokishidere (1174)
Uttoksader (H V)
Uttoksater (H V)
Uttoksathe (H V)
Uttoksather (H V)
Uttoksatre (H VI)
Uttokshater (H V, 1366)
Uttoxater (H V)
Uttoxater (Jas I)
Uttoxather (Ed III)
Uttoxator (Eliz, 1551)
Uttoxatour (Eliz)
Uttoxatre (1349)
Uttoxatur (H VIII)
Uttoxature (Eliz)
Uttoxceter (Jas I)
Uttoxcetur (H VIII, 1553)
Uttoxeshather (1327)
Uttoxeter (1614)
Uttoxetor (Ed I)
Uttoxhader (H V)
Uttoxhater (R II)
Uttoxhatha (1327)
Uttoxhather (1331)
Uttoxhathour (H VIII)
Uttoxhathre (R II)
Uttoxhatre (Ed III, R III, H IV)
Uttoxhattour (H V)
Uttoxiter (1640)
Uttuckeshall (Ed I)
Uxcetur (H VIII)
Wettokesaker (1288)
Wittokeshather (1243)
Wotochesede (Domesday 1086)
Wytokeshather (Ed I)

Uttoxeter Advertiser report on campaign to save The Weaver Lodge

2005-07-26T22:24:00.000+01:00

Uttoxeter Civic Society has appealed against East Staffordshire Borough Council’s decision to grant planning permission for The Weaver Lodge public house to be knocked down and replaced by 15 houses and nine apartments.
Millwood’s development in Windsor Road looks like likely to see this former home of the Bamfords demolished, despite the Union Pub Company still listing it for tenancy on their web site.
"The Weaver Lodge comprises a large lounge with car park. Private accommodation, flat above the licensed premises consisting of 3 bedrooms. Guide Rent £25,000, Stock & Glassware
£2,000"
Be quick!

Photo of St Mary's from NSA Change Ringers

2005-07-26T18:54:00.000+01:00

Banality has taken root in clone town Britain

2005-06-06T19:23:00.000+01:00

Britain's town centres are rapidly becoming indistinguishable, losing all sense of local identity as they are taken over by global and national chain stores, economists warned today.
A report from the New Economics Foundation estimated how far the nation's high streets had been taken over by a phenomenon it called "clone town Britain". New Economics Foundation
"Banality has taken root like a relative from abroad invited to stay because their foreignness seemed interesting, before realising they were tiresome and refused to leave." Said a report in the Guardian today.
Both Stafford and Burton appeared in the top ten of clone towns-what hope then for Uttoxeter?
Uttoxeter is of course a bedroom town and unlikely to attract any retail anyway as its purpose will become a dormitory for the wage slaves of surrounding urban connurbations.
personally I like the way Louisville in the USA is fighting back against cloning with its "Keep Louisville Weird" campaign.

JCB gets approval despite protests

2005-05-25T18:45:00.000+01:00

JCB have had planning approved from ESBC to build a new factory at Beamhurst. The Environment Agency and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England have recommended that the application is turned down because of its impact on the environment, traffic, pollution, wildlife and landscape which is prone to flooding. There were 14 letters of objection in all.
The application is contrary to the Local Plan and will still have to be referred to the Secretary of State for final approval.
Anthony Bamford donated £1 Million to the Tory party over the last year. ESBC is Tory controlled.

Another One Bites the Dust

2005-05-23T08:25:00.000+01:00

Another Uttoxeter pub recently ceased trading and will never operate as a pub again. The ancient coaching inn the Wellington, a listed building, is rumored to have been sold to a well known local developer. The terms of the sale originally contained covenants to ensure the pub was never licesned again as a public house. The sale also included an option to purchase around half an acre of land in addition to the car park which creates a very useful housing estate space for even more profitable town houses - the current development trend int he town. The only glitch is that the entrance fromt he higt street is very restricting for large vehicles - but developers have ways of getting around such obstacles! Adjoining the Wellington arch is another listed building for sale.

Housing Estate in Town Centre

2005-05-19T20:38:00.000+01:00

The Town Centre plans involve cramming 86 houses into every hectare of land. That's a space of 100 meters by 100 meters. The whole development is 2 hectares, there will be very little room for any 'town redevelopment' or public space for the good citizens of Uttoxeter, or indeed anything which could attract the tourism and leisure industry market to the town.
The paltry allocation for retail (about half the size of a supermarket) was always a concern, but now Alex Fox ESBC leader has said that any empty retail will become even more housing. Have they considered Japanese Capsule Hotels?
It's clear that the only way ESBC can claw back the £3.5 million they spent is by using every scrap of the space for housing, allowing carpetbaggers to make their millions and leaving Uttoxeter with a town within a town.
Taylor Woodrow's CEO was once Chief Exec of Bass in Burton, he's a non exec Director of Imperial Tobacco too, I expect that the contacts he made in Burton were useful in securing the deal to get the contract for Uttoxeter. But we won't know because we don't know how Taylor Woodrow were selected in the first place.
Email your objections to : planning.control@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk
Or post them to:Mr A Wood, Head of Development Services, Midland Grain Warehouse, Derby St,Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire DE14 2JJ.
Let our Town Councillors know at
Town Hall, High Street, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 7HN, phone: 01889 564085
Once it's gone it's gone for good.

2005-05-18T21:21:00.000+01:00

Carter Street

Back blogging -after long break

2005-05-18T20:45:00.000+01:00

Back on line after a long break- sorry. This blog will now regularly update on the travails of the town and news, gossip and rumour which isn't fit to print.

DJP

Lidl -The Whitewash

2005-05-18T20:24:00.000+01:00

Lidl have decided to paint the exterior of their store on Town Meadows Way - white. The manager only became aware when the painters turned up and began to cover the building in white paint. Is this a livery change or a new canvas for graffiti artists to practice their art?
Does it contravene planning regulations?
The building was an ugly incongruous brick shed beforehand, it is now an ugly highly visible incongruous brick shed in a conservation area.
Lidl have been known to take very strange decisions in the past, last year, the chain demanded that women workers in its Czech Republic and Polish stores wear special headbands during their monthly periods. It said the move was to identify women who could take additional toilet breaks! The policy was abandoned after critical media coverage worldwide, perhaps we can then get them to do something about the white house too or get punters to don white headbands on entering the shop?

New Theory on Fauld Explosion -was it a V2?

2004-12-01T20:55:00.000Z

A new theory about the biggest explosion on the UK mainland-

4,000 tonnes of high explosive bombs and ammunition went up that day, creating a 100ft-deep crater which still remains. It is a poignant memorial to the 70 who died.
An official inquiry blamed one of the victims, an airman, who tried to chip away at a bomb with a brass chisel, causing a spark and an explosion.
But Alec Savidge, whose father survived the blast, has a new theory about what caused it.He says it was not an accident, but was caused by a German V2 rocket. Suzanne Harrop tells his story. ON the morning of November 27, 1944, electrician Tom Savidge was walking back to the offices at RAF Fauld when he heard an enormous blast and saw smoke billowing above the trees.The 66-year-old headed straight for an air raid shelter. There he heard a second bang.Some 4,000 tonnes of bombs and ammunitions had just exploded. An investigation into the incident concluded that an airman had tried to chip at a bomb with a brass chisel. This caused the spark which set off the explosion.But in the 60 years since many have refused to accept the official line. Instead they have suggested that the incident was the result of sabotage, lax security or inexperienced employees.Now Tom Savidge's son, who was 19 years old at the time, has put forward a new theory. He believes the two bangs heard by his father and many other witnesses hold the key.Alec Savidge had been serving in London at the time, when German V1 rockets were attacking the capital. He had moved back to serve in Nottinghamshire before the V2 attacks started. But he had friends there who experienced the horrors and recounted them to him.It was these tales that led Mr Savidge to believe that the ammunitions store explosion had been caused by a German V2 warhead. This would explain the two bangs, he says.He is convinced that the first was caused when the V2 hit the ground, and the second when the ammo exploded.It has taken him two-and-a-half years to find evidence to back up his theory."I think the RAF knew right from the start that it was caused by a German V2 rocket, but it was covered up because the RAF did not want to create a panic by revealing the Germans could accurately pinpoint military targets in Britain."I believe it was a very very carefully arranged operation by the Germans", Mr Savidge said.The spectacular theory is based on a photograph contained in the Official Findings of the December 1944 Court of Inquiry into the explosion. The findings had been kept under wraps until 1974, when the official secrets' 30-year rule expired.Mr Savidge, who is originally from Shobnall but now lives in Wodonga, Victoria, Australia, obtained copies of the documents two-and-a-half years ago. He has studied them since. The photograph is captioned "fragment of thick-case bomb" and the RAF says it is the remainder of an exploded bomb from the ammunitions store.But Mr Savidge is convinced this is a fragment of the V2's tail section, after comparing the photograph with V2 dimensions.But his dramatic theory does not stop there. He also believes the V2 was filled with an uranium warhead that did not explode. He says instead it went into meltdown causing an extreme heat that led to the devastating explosion. In short it was a Nazi attempt to create an atomic explosion."It is historically documented that Goering asked scientists how much explosive would be needed to set an atomic bomb off", the 79-year-old said."They said it would take thousands of tonnes of explosives, which could be why they wanted to target Fauld. The Germans hoped the explosion of all the bombs at Fauld would set off the atomic bomb."What I do think happened is that the V2 was filled with a uranium warhead that did not explode. Instead it went into meltdown releasing heat which in turn caused the bombs in Fauld to explode. This is very difficult to prove." But there is evidence to back up the sensational theory, according to Mr Savidge.The 1944 Court of Inquiry into the explosion heard of a terrific heat coming from the crater, which Mr Savidge believes was caused by the meltdown of the nuclear warhead.Claims have been made that radioactivity was found around the crater from John Bowley, an Anslow man who is also now living in Australia."In around 1949 or 1950 he bought what he thought was a metal detector which he attached to his tractor to find any unexploded bombs in the farmland soil he was ploughing", Mr Savidge said."As he went near the crater the metal detector was making so much noise that he thought it was faulty so he shut it off and put it away in his shed."A few days later a police officer went around and confiscated the metal detector, which turned out to be a Geiger counter." But could the V2 rocket be sophisticated enough to accurately pinpoint RAF Fauld and could it travel that far? The V2 rockets detonated over London were fired from Holland and Mr Savidge thinks the V2 rocket was fired off the coast near Skegness.He believes the accuracy of the bomb was due to a homing device smuggled in by a German parachutist.He said: "Weeks before the explosion a young schoolboy took a shortcut across the fields near Fauld and he saw a parachutist in a German uniform."He told his school friends and they told the teachers who told the police, but the police did not believe him."Was this German parachutist carrying a homing device which would have directed the V2 to Fauld?" Mr Savidge has contacted Burton and Uttoxeter MP Janet Dean about his theory, who wrote to Ivor Caplin MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans.He also contacted the deputy head of the RAF's Air History Branch, Group Captain Steve Lloyd who disputes the theory. He says the metal skin of the "fragment thick-case bomb" is too thick to be a German V2 and Fauld was beyond the V2's range at the time and could not have pinpointed Fauld with such accuracy.Mrs Dean said: "Ivor Caplin's reply to me basically maintains the findings of the official inquiry." Mr Savidge said: "They have tried to disprove my theory, but I believe that I am right and they are just continuing the cover-up."Sixty years later the Ministry of Defence still denies the fact a V2 rocket could have caused the Fauld explosion, even though confronted with photographic evidence from their own files." So Mr Savidge's theory just adds to the speculation and mystery.Joyce's 15-year-old brother was never foundThe people who experienced the Fauld explosion, or lost relatives in it, will remember that fateful day for the rest of their lives.Ken McLeod, who lives in Burton, was working in a large cavern, known as the old alabaster mine, at RAF Fauld, on the day and was aged just 21.He remembers that everything went pitch-black and the air was full of dust and grit. Luckily, he escaped with only a few grazes.He said: "I was very, very lucky. It'll be something I'll always remember for as long as I live." His wife, Joyce, who he met after the explosion, will also remember the day. She lost her brother, Lewis Frow (15), in the disaster.Mrs McLeod, who was 17 at the time, said: "I was working in a factory in Burton and it shook. We thought we were being bombed. It wasn't until later that we discovered it was the ammunition dump."My brother worked there. I went home and my mother said I should go to the dump and fetch Lewis."When I got to the main gate you could not see the devastation there because it looked normal."I spoke to a Ministry of Defence policeman, who said the dump had gone up but Lewis was OK and he would be home at the usual time."But he never came home. We waited for news, and it came three days later in a telegram which said he was missing and presumed dead."His body was never found." Explosion anniversary marked with memorial serviceThe 60th anniversary of the Fauld explosion will be marked today with a service at the gigantic crater.The service is held each year and is organised by Hanbury Parish Council in memory of the 70 people who lost their lives. They included workmen, members of the local community, RAF personnel and Italian prisoners-of-war.

2004-10-29T13:28:00.000+01:00

Taylor Woodrow has been chosen as preferred partner to regenerate Uttoxeter town centre. Selected by East Staffordshire Borough Council in partnership with Uttoxeter Plus and Staffordshire County Council, Taylor Woodrow is working with architects Brownhill Hayward Brown on the redevelopment of 4ha on two town centre sites. Details of the scheme will be shaped by public consultation but it could comprise civic and health facilities, up to 180 homes and 2,322m2 of shops.

Town Hall Meeting - A Fiasco

2004-08-31T22:17:00.000+01:00

The meeting turned out to be, after all the disinformation and subterfuge of council and press, a bit of a damp squib. No decisions were to be made this night, - the meeting seemed at times like the company of wolves if only the wolves were smug, satisfied, pompous, fatuous, conceited, condescending, rude and incompetent and that was just Mr Mayor.

Scoring and settling old scars, points of order, and obscufated historical deviations seemed to be the order of the night. About 12 representatives of the people viewed the proceedings, while the- for the most part, largely silent- board of councillors bored their barely invited public.

Mr Mayor abused his position of chair by introducing the recent Town Hall petition in a derisory manner, to the smirks of well fed councillors, but was later forced to apologise. It was pointed out that three times ther number of people had signed the petition than had voted for the newly elected Tory Councillor (who remained silent for the whole of the evening).

It was agreed, eventually, that consultation would take place between ESBC and Uttoxeter Council on the future of the Town Hall. Indications from the Tory side left the impression that their mind was set on selling off the grand old edifice.

The story isn't over yet!

Town Hall Debate Tonight

2004-08-31T18:05:00.000+01:00

There is a special meeting of the Town Council tonight Tues Aug 31st at 7PM to discuss to future of the Town Hall.
The Councillors have three options - to sell the building, to have a developer take over the building on the provison that it retains usage for the community, or the status quo.

Come along and make your voice heard, we'll post an update here tomorrow.

7PM Town Hall Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter Chosen as Beacon Town

2004-08-24T20:46:00.000+01:00

Uttoxeter has received the status of a Beacon T own as part of its plans to boost transportation in the town. The award is part of the Government's Rural White Paper, to recognise the crucial role that market towns play in rural life. It tasked the Countryside Agency with developing and promoting a market towns health-check, to identify good practice and identify and support a national beacon town network as part of an overall approach to revitalising market towns in partnership with the regional development agencies. Beacon towns will influence policy at regional, national and EU levels and encourage others follow their lead.

Cattle Market Contracts Exchanged

2004-08-24T20:42:00.000+01:00

East Staffordshire Borough Council has finally exchanged contracts with Bagshaws.
Redevelopment is likely to start by November 2005. The council is holding discussions with potential developers for a mixed project of homes and businesses. Let us hope that the Welbeck Land fiasco is not repeated and that the citizens of the town have full consultation on any development.

Shane Meadows New Film!

2004-08-15T21:33:00.000+01:00

Uttoxeter's famous film director Shane Meadows will premiere his new film, Dead Man's Shoes at the Edinburgh Film Festival on 20th August. it stars the brilliant local hero Paddy Considine, who was stunning in Jim Sheridan's in "In America". Its quite a change from Shane's criticially acclaimed previous films 24/7, A Room for Romeo Brass and Once upon a time in the Midlands. It's a nihilistic revenge movie............a Kill Bill for Uttoxeter?
It opens across the UK on 1 October.
Find out more at http://www.warpfilms.com/

Masterplan wins award - townspeople amazed!

2004-08-12T20:15:00.000+01:00

The Uttoxeter Masterplan has won an award for being one of the best in the Midlands.
The Masterplan scooped the first ever Midlands Market Towns Award.
A masterplan which includes rising bollards (not a misprint), new signs and paint for the railway station, more road signs and spruced up shop fronts has won-what did the runner up plans ask for?
More when we get it.

Public Meeting - Uttoxeter the people speak

2004-08-12T18:48:00.000+01:00

Sept 2nd at 7.30 in the Town Hall
There will an opportunitiy to voice your opinions and hear others speak about the future of Utooxeter. it's a chance for you to have your say and contribute. To tell politicians and uttoxeter Plus what you think should be happening in Uttoxeter.
Come along meet local groups and contribute to the evening. Come along at 7.30 on the 2nd Sept.

If you'd like to help organise the event and get involved then call Dave Parkes on 01889 569865

Town Hall Campaign Gathers Momentum

2004-08-10T23:11:00.000+01:00

The Campaign to save the town Hall in Uttoxeter has gathered almost 1,000 signatures.
The petition, organised by former town councillor Peter Edginton, has been gathering momentum since volunteers collected signatures from shoppers and residents in the town centre on Saturday, July 31, and earlier on Saturday, July 17.
The Civic Society have proposed an alternative solution for the future of the site members suggest the recently formed Uttoxeter Heritage Trust purchases the town hall for a token nominal fee.
Mr Edginton said the petition would remain open to signatures until the end of August. "Stalls will once again be set up in the High Street outside the town hall on Saturday and on Wednesday, August 18. "Anyone who would like to sign a petition should come along and see us then." A petition is also available for signing in the Uttoxeter Advertiser office in Market Place, Uttoxeter.
Citizens do your duty!

Public Monument and Sculpture Association

2004-08-09T20:50:00.000+01:00

The Public Monument and Sculpture Association National Recording Project has an excellent entry on the Kiosk/ Conduit/ Johnson Memorial in the Market Place with details of the architect and the status of the 1854 building.
Find it here at http://pmsa.courtauld.ac.uk/pmsa/BM/STesUTxx004.htm and a fine photograph of the Dr Johnson bas relief which was added in 1877 here http://pmsa.courtauld.ac.uk/../../images/nrpBM/BMFA10.jpg
Other recordings of architectural sculptures, carvings and monuments of the town also appear. See the full database here http://pmsa.courtauld.ac.uk/home/dtbfrm.html

Letter from concerned Uxonian-Uttoxeter blogspot salutes you

2004-08-01T21:02:00.000+01:00

Has anyone else noticed the spate of vandalism lately, aimed at our local buildings? In normal circumstances these could be reported to the appropriate authorities, but what does one do when both perpetrators and authorities seem to be in collusion? Perhaps whoever designed the signs which say: 'Welcome to Uttoxeter - an historic market town' should be pointed to the nearest opticians, as any evidence of history is quickly disappearing. The contractors who carry out this demolition and so-called 'restoration work' are not to blame as they are only following orders from architects and planners, who seem to have no concept of aesthetics or the vernacular. Kayjay's old shop (on the corner of High Street and Bradley Street) is a prime example. First of all, the rear of the building was flattened and the site cleared, including a vast number of old bricks, which could have been used for rebuilding both the gable-end and the front, but this was not to be as new bricks were used. These in my opinion now stand out a mile from the original rear elevation. This is not renovation, more like bastardisation, if you'll excuse the expletive. Work is about to start on Peter Pike's old shop in the Market Place and I wonder if this is also going to end up looking like a pig's ear? According to the plans, which I presume have been passed, a complete neo-Georgian front will supplant both the existing monstrosity of the ground floor facade and the present Georgian brickwork above it. As the roof of this building (so I'm told) is medieval and there are still timber-framed sections to the rear and side alleyway, I would have thought that a complete timber-framed front restoration could be achieved (not unlike Sergeant's butcher shop) using Green Oak and either brick or lime-mortar infill panels, thus bringing it back to its former glory, even if this involved incorporating stanchions or RSJs discreetly into the structure. Two great extensions are also planned for the rear, leaving a 30-yard long alleyway, destroying any future plans for a tastefully renovated paved area surrounded by small shops. As regards the Town Hall, I am not totally against a sale, or even some private sponsorship, as long as a stipulation for retention of usage by the community is adhered to. The acoustics of the building at the moment are ideal for choral music only, but unfortunately dire for any type of amplified music due to the height of the interior. One solution could be to put in a new ceiling and upper floor making the upper area ideal for concerts, meetings, banquets and wedding receptions etc and the lower area ideal for amplified music and theatre and art-related events, especially if a new bar and cafe were to be located at the rear of the building together with a new people-friendly entrance. This has happened with civic buildings in other towns and could happen here if only Uxonians would get off their backsides and pester to death the authorities in question. F Hopwood Colne Mount Uttoxeter

Changes in Management at Racecourse

2004-08-01T20:40:00.000+01:00

Stanley Clarke the knighted founder of Northern Racing,which includes Uttoxeter Racecourse,has moved over from Executive Chairman to make room for his son Simon. Clarke Snr will become the company's life president from August 9th.

Low turnout in election benefits Tories

2004-08-01T11:34:00.000+01:00

The results of the recent election in the Town Ward secured a victory for the Tories but with an appalling turnout, of just over 15% of the electorate. Of 4678 potential voters only 728 exercised their right to vote. Controversially no ballot papers were issued to voters, the usual town hall polling station was relocated to to the St John's Ambulance hall on Carter Street, no reminders appeared through letterboxes and voters just had to turn up on the day. Labour's James Russell lost out to the Tory Hermione Montgomery by 71 votes.

Uttoxeter ( Town Ward)
Hermione Esther Montgomery The Conservative Party Candidate 397 Elected
James Simon Russell The Labour Party Candidate 326

Ballot Papers 728
% Poll 15.56 Electorate 4678

2004-07-24T19:16:00.000+01:00

Weaver Lodge at risk- another landmark building about to be lost to the developers for bland housing. This is nothing short of carpetbagging by ESBC if this planning application is approved. The Civic Society have complained about the planning application and hopefully we'll make the council see sense.
Let us know your thoughts

Roman Villa in Uttoxeter?

2004-07-23T07:19:00.000+01:00

Where is the Roman Villa? The Uttoxeter Archaeology Society is planning an arial survey of the town's surrounding area to pinpoint what could be a major archaeological and historical find-A Roman Villa. It is unusual to find Roman Villa's in Staffordshire and this would change the way historians think about Roman Britain in this part of the country.
See more about Roman Villa's at http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/40903026a/Hales/hales1.htm

Welcome to Uttoxeter Blog!

2004-07-22T21:20:00.000+01:00

Welcome to the Uttoxeter Blog - a place for news and views of Uttoxeter. A virtual place for people to share news about plans for the town, developments and ideas. A forum for the people in the area to read about the town and contribute to it's development. If you've an event to share or news about anything of interest to the good citizens of the town then this is the place. We will post items of interest, highlight campaigns and beat the local newspapers to the stories which affect you.
Keep watching.....

Redfern's Third Edition?

2004-07-22T21:01:00.000+01:00

Did Uttoxeter's Historian Francis Redfern rewrite his "History and Antiquities of Uttoxeter"?
The preface to the facsimilie reprint of the 1886 edition printed in 1998 states that he produced a third edition which exists as a document in the William Salt Library in Stafford. Use the following link
http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/live/welcome.asp?id=3466
The William Salt library can't locate a copy there-so where is it? does it, did it exist? Who wrote the preface?
More on this as the story develops.