Society working hard for the town.
The unsightly fascia of the new 99p shop in our Conservation Area in Petersfield town centre, rightly criticised in a letter published on September 9, has also prompted The Petersfield Society to alert East Hampshire Distrcit Council.
The activity of their Conservation, Planning and Enforcement Teams has now resulted in an agreement for a new fascia due to be constructed and installed this week, which will be unilluminated, simpler and less garish.
Similarly they have recently negotiated the removal of an obtrusive poster in Lavant Street.
A major objective of The Petersfield Society is to defend our town and its surroundings from developments that would threaten its pleasant ambience, particularly as we look forward to National Park status.
As well as unsympathetic signage and advertisements, our concerns range from small flyposters to large commercial hoardings.
We feel that residents tolerate the many notices posted on the highway, which (while usually illegal) are usefully informative. However, they should be neat and restricted to those advertising non-commercial local events for a few weks only, being removed by those responsible within a few days of the date displayed.
While some hoardings were erected more than 10 years ago and are therefore not subject to planning control, we recently alerted the county council to a large advertiusing trailer 'parked' beside the A3 in the countryside near Blendworth. Their action ensured its speedy removal.
We are the local civic society, scrutinising plans affecting our town and acting as a conduit for local people to comment on issues of concern, including advertising and property development.
We monitor planning applications and, when appropriate, have made considered formal comments and official objections. We welcome information and views about specific current concerns as well as general support via our chairman, David Jeffrey, on 01730-263889.