Shaftesbury Civic Society – AGM & National Civic Day
Bob Walter MP was the guest speaker at the Shaftesbury Civic Society (SCS) AGM held on Friday 20th June at Shaftesbury Arts Centre. SCS is a founder member of the national Civic Voice movement that originated in 1840 to provide a focus for voluntary and community action to improve the places where people live, work and relax. They champion the importance of these places to decision makers and opinion formers in business, politics, government, the media, the voluntary sector and elsewhere. Civic societies promote and celebrate the best of what is inherited from the past and what is developed for the future. SCS has a growing membership and plays an active role in commenting and proposing options on local plans and developments to maintain the special characteristics of Shaftesbury and the local area.
Over 25 members attended the event and voted in two new committee members, ex-Mayor of Shaftesbury, Cllr Simon Pritchard and Mrs Louise Madgwick.
Bob Walter spoke knowledgeably to members about the important role that community groups and partnerships play in providing local voices and feedback in local government and decision making, reaffirming his commitment to support local campaigns such as the successful one in St James to address the street lighting changes which in their original form would have had a detrimental effect on that local environment, a campaign that SCS also supported. Bob kindly stayed to socialise with members after his talk which was much appreciated as members were able to seek his views on a wide range of matters from renewable energy to more local matters. As a Shaftesbury resident himself, Bob was very much in tune with SCS member interests.
Addressing the AGM, the Chairman of the trustees, Mike Madgwick spoke of the very good health the Society is in financially and through a growing membership, the vital role that the members play in commenting on local planning as well as the improvements made in the last 12 months in member communications via a regular e-mailed newsletter. Looking to the future he raised the need to provide more member events such as the highly successful film evening which showed the original version of Far From the Madding Crowd, and embrace a vision for Shaftesbury High Street which has in many places become the victim of many utility companies and agencies all applying their own differing standards – he pointed out simple examples such as the unnecessary line of double bollards outside the Town Hall, the differing and inconsistent street lighting solutions implemented in the same street, and, the creeping onslaught of ever more road signs, which in some cases are duplicated and often point in the wrong direction – all serving to create street clutter and confusion for visitors.
SCS held its Civic Day opening the following day (Saturday 21st June) in the Town Hall when over 60 people visited the displays and had the opportunity to meet members of the committee and officers of the charity to discuss local matters. 4 new members were also signed up pushing the Society to its highest membership for many years. Possibly the most telling comment was from one visitor who wrote; “Thank you for taking the time to protect this lovely town.”