New guidance on ways to preserve and improve Wisbech’s Conservation Area goes out for public consultation on Monday (November 23).
The details are contained in two documents that will be available for inspection at the town’s Fenland @ your service shop and online. Some information panels will also be on display there throughout the consultation period, which will run until January 11.
Next Thursday (November 26) members of Fenland District Council’s conservation team will be present in the shop from 10am to 4pm to answer questions directly.
The two new documents – a Conservation Area Appraisal and a Management Plan – provide a general history of the area, describing the particular elements that contribute to its special character and setting out a series of potential actions for improving it.
They have been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) as part of the development phase of the Wisbech High Street Project’s bid for £2 million from the HLF.
The High Street bid gained a first-round pass from the HLF earlier this year. The new appraisal and management plan have to be agreed by Fenland District Council as the local planning authority before the second round bid is submitted.
Councillor David Oliver, Fenland District Council’s Cabinet member responsible for conservation, said: “Previous consultation exercises linked to the High Street bid have generated a lot of interest and helped raise people’s awareness of the town’s great architectural history and the importance of preserving and enhancing it. This is another opportunity for people to give us their views on our future plans.”
In addition to the High Street, Wisbech’s Conservation Area covers the whole historic core of the town, including the medieval parish church, North and South Brinks, Norfolk Street, former dock sides, former and existing market places and some residential areas.
The documents can viewed and comments made online at www.fenland.gov.uk/wisbechconservationconsultation . Comments can also be emailed to WisbechCAAConsultation@beaconplanning.co.uk.
