PRESS RELEASE The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Chester

At the end of 2014 members of Chester Civic Trust were invited to nominate something or someone for their ninth New Year Honours (also known as the Good, the Bad and the Ugly).

This scheme aims to recognise the best of recent changes in the local environment and draws attention to those which fall short of the standards which Chester deserves. “We aim to encourage high standards of design and maintenance particularly in the public realm” said David Evans, Chairman of the Trust. “Buildings, shop fronts, lighting, open spaces, street furniture, play areas and people are all eligible. There were lots of entries in particular in the Good category and the Judges were impressed with the quality of the nominated schemes”.

A presentation lunch attended by Councillors, Cheshire West and Chester Council Officers, and many other Award winners was recently held at Bishop Lloyd’s Palace to congratulate all those involved. The Chairman’s Special Award was presented to Hale Estates for their small infill housing development in Becketts Lane. The Judges liked the way this redevelopment of a former retail site respects the local character and creates an interesting inner courtyard. Other awards went to the Lodge Café in Grosvenor Park, Grosvenor House on the University Parkgate Road campus, the Bluecoat (now the Centre for Charities and Voluntary Organisations) and the ‘Cathedral at Height’ visitor attraction.

There were also a number of schemes which we considered worthy of commendation. These were the Countess of Chester Country Park, Abbott’s Wood Retirement Living on Northgate Avenue, Chester Health Store on Bridge Street Row and Trinity Hall student housing on George Street.

The Delamere Street development was nominated in both the Bad and Ugly categories; members thought the new building too tall and overbearing for a location so close to the canal and City Walls. The dirty and unpleasant staircase at the rear of the Market and the lack of progress with repairs to the balustrade to the Watergate were also highlighted in the Bad category. In the Ugly category the truly ghastly E-Cigs shop display in Bridge Street Row and the late collection of commercial waste in the City Centre which creates a bad impression for residents and visitors, were both included. The Trust hopes that by drawing attention to the Bad and Ugly that improvements can be made in 2015.

CLICK HERE FOR THE BROCHURE SHOWING THE WINNERS