Archived press release

Date Published: 04/12/07

Aylesbury Vale District Council is inviting residents to give their views on an important review of the conservation areas in Dinton, Westlington and Gibraltar. The appraisal is designed to identify if any changes need to be made to the present c...

Aylesbury Vale District Council is inviting residents to give their views on an important review of the conservation areas in Dinton, Westlington and Gibraltar.

The appraisal is designed to identify if any changes need to be made to the present conservation area boundaries and sets out the historical context of the areas, identifying the buildings, places and features that make it special and, most importantly, how these important historic areas can best be preserved and enhanced.

The conservation areas were originally designated in 1989 in recognition of the special architectural and historic character of the villages. Local authorities have a statutory duty to review their areas of special interest and AVDC is proposing to include 25 hectares of land which was previously omitted from the conservation areas.

Proposed changes to the conservation area boundaries include minor alterations to the existing areas, as well as two larger extensions to include Westlington House and an area of archaeological importance between Dinton and Upton.

Conservation areas are designated to cover the most historically, architecturally important and interesting parts of towns and villages and factors such as the quality of buildings, the historic layout of roads, paths and boundaries and the characteristic building and paving materials all contribute to the special character of a conservation area. Planning consents within the areas face more stringent evaluation than standard applications.

The proposals for the conservation areas will be available for public consultation until 4 January 2008. After this council officers will look at the comments received and make any changes to the document arising from the consultation before the appraisal is formally approved.

As part of the review, the council will be holding a public exhibition to give the wider community the opportunity to comment. The exhibition will take place on 6 December between 4pm and 8pm at Dinton Village Hall, where residents will be able to talk to council officers and examine copies of the appraisal document.

Councillor Sue Polhill, Cabinet Member for Planned Development, said: “Regularly reviewing our conservation areas and their boundaries is part of our positive commitment to preserving and enhancing the quality of our natural environment and to ensuring that all planning decisions are based on the most accurate and up-to-date information. I would encourage local residents to comment on the latest appraisal as it is an excellent opportunity to learn about how the villages of Dinton, Westlington, Upton and Gibraltar have developed and to recognise ways of ensuring that any changes maintain the character and appearance of the conservation areas.”

The draft appraisal document is available for inspection at the district council’s 66 High Street offices in Aylesbury during the consultation period. Anyone who wants to respond to the plans should write to Emilia Hands at Aylesbury Vale District Council, 4 Great Western Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 2TW, or email ehands@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk