FROM THE CHAIRMAN'S DESK
As I write we are having the coldest start to March for over 20 years. For several days now I have looked up to see the Malvern Hills dusted with a light covering of snow. I'd like to be up there but that chill east wind is a strong deterrent. Some days the skies are overcast; at other times we have winter sunshine with the promise of Spring and mid Summer.
'Soon will the high Midsummer pomps come on,
Soon will the must carnations break and swell,
Soon shall we have gold-dusted snap-dragon,
Sweet-William
with his homely cottage smell…'.
Matthew Arnold
I think that we deserve encouragement. Just look at the facts. As a Society we are making good progress. Our membership is increasing and by the time that you read this we shall have gone past our initial 250 target. This is largely to do with the fact that we have an active programme of visits and some outstanding speakers in prospect throughout 2006.
With our attendances at meetings on the increase we have felt the need for a larger hall and amplification. For both these reasons we have been growing out of Christchurch Hall in Avenue Road. We shall miss this cosy venue but I hope that you will approve of our new meeting place - Holy Trinity Church Hall at Link Top. This venue gives us the potential for an audience of up to 120 with everyone being able to hear the speaker!
In addition to our general programme our planning sub-committee under the leadership of Roger Sutton is doing an outstanding job monitoring planning applications and liaising with the planning officers with whom we have good relations. We are making progress with the creation of a local list of worthwhile properties that are at present unprotected. We have even brought together a listing of Malvern's gas lamps. Nor should we forget that the 'facelift' initiative is already having an effect across the town.
Just look around and see the number of business premises that have been redecorated in an appropriate colour.
Nor should we forget that the District Council's award of £1500 for the introduction of Blue Plaques into Great Malvern to mark historic
associations with certain buildings are going ahead. Tim Gunter, a new member of our committee, is working on this project. Progress will of necessity be slow because this is a project that must be accurate and it will be.
Things are happening in Malvern. Frankly, there is plenty of activity, but not all of it is good news! The replacement for the Community Hospital remains problematic. Will it ever be built? Do we lose the existing hospital in Lansdowne Crescent and end up with nothing? Notwithstanding messages of reassurance that this will not happen, it remains the most likely outcome. The idea of redeveloping the Post Office site holds out great promise but as I write it could be ominous that we have heard nothing further.
Looking for green shoots of encouragement we have the redesign of the frontage area of the library in Graham Road going forward. Eventually we shall at last see the library as the distinctive building it undoubtedly is. Another bright chink of light has been the development of Priors Croft opposite Malvern Theatres, a building that will surely attract theatregoers and visitors.
Yet just as our Town Guides are also getting ready for visitors to the town it has been announced that the Council has voted to close the public lavatories! Not content with this they have also voted to charge for using the car parks in the evening, just as we have selected an evening venue for our meetings near two car parks! Sometimes you get the feeling that we can't win in Malvern. The political will to move Malvern forward seems to be lacking. I hope I am wrong but the portents are not good.
Amidst the gloom there are a few promising signs. The Malvern Hills Conservators are seeking to consult our membership and others on their new management plan. It is evident that they would like to see the Hills offering greater benefit to Malvern and the surrounding towns. How can this be done? In Malvern there is the suggestion of a possible tractor train. This has its critics although its operation at the Eden Project in Cornwall has not led to the Blackpool style situation feared by some. My own preference would be to open up Rose Bank Gardens to make the gardens more attractive as originally intended by Dyson Perrins while in the process making the access to the hills more apparent to visitors.
John Handley