Have Your say About Saving Your Heritage - Stoke Poges and Wexham

Residents of Stoke Poges are being urged to have their say on a plan to save part of the village’s heritage. South Bucks District Council is consulting the public on its proposal to designate part of the village around Rogers Lane as a conservation area. The buildings covered by this area would include Stoke Court and its grounds, the Edwardian public house the Dog and Pot, which survives remarkably unaltered, the village schools new and old, St Andrews Church, Uplands on the other side of the lane, and its grounds, and the old brick pit beside Uplands, where houses have been built in the dip. Stoke Court, known in the 18th century as West End House, has important associations with the poet Thomas Gray.

The other proposed conservation area centres around the leafy Framewood Road and would include Framewood Manor itself and its grounds, and Wexham Springs, formerly the headquarters of the Concrete and Cement Association, with grounds landscaped by Geoffrey Jellicoe. The Association also owned Fulmer Grange, now the home of Teikyo School, which would also be included. Around half of the proposed conservation area is in Wexham parish, which will also be consulted.

A conservation area is defined as an “area of special architectural or historic interest the character of appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.” South Bucks currently has 19 conservation areas. Stoke Poges is one of the most important, and largest parishes in the District, with two existing conservation areas – Stoke Park and Stoke Green, are also being reviewed. Some buildings in the proposed new conservation areas, such as Stoke Court and Framewood Manor, are already protected by being listed. Conservation area designation means that consent is required for demolition of unlisted buildings. Householders are also more restricted in the alterations they can make without obtaining planning permission and notice must be given to the Council before trees can be removed or pruned.

The Council will be holding a public exhibition at Stoke Poges Village Centre on Saturday 8th January 2011 between 10am and 4pm where there will be displays about the proposals and the history of Stoke Poges. The Council’s Conservation and Design Officer will be on hand to answer questions.

Councillor Roger Reed, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development and Deputy Leader of the Council said: “This proposal is part of our programme of reviewing conservation areas in South Bucks. By adopting these new conservation areas the council can ensure that those buildings and streets which contribute significantly to the character of Stoke Poges and Wexham can be protected where necessary, and any new developments will have to be designed in a way that enhances that distinctive character. It also provides for greater opportunity to engage with the local community in managing the historic environment that they value.”

The Council will be writing to owners of properties which will be directly affected. The public consultation ends on Friday 28th January 2011 and comments must be made in writing to the Council by that date. For more information contact John Brushe, Conservation and Design Officer, on 01895 837375 or see the " Have Your Say"
section of the Council’s website.