Championing the best

Ken Cook wrote that the Portsmouth Society officers were not elected by the people of Portsmouth, nor are they representative of views of people like him in Portsea (and elsewhere in the city).

He suggests we were the only group sad to see the Tricorn demolished - not true.

The Tricorn was always a Marmite development and we are probably for and against it in the same proportions as the rest of the city. Personally I hated it - however, keeping it would have been preferable to the urban wasteland we have had since.

For the record, we are not a group that wants to preserve everything, or to take us back to the ‘good old days’.

The group’s strength lies in its ability to champion the best, from every era.

The Portsmouth Society has a massively strong record and has made a big difference to the city over the past 50 years.

The fact that it is unelected adds to this strength, it is difficult to see any politicians in the city at the moment who have anything to say about design quality or urban pride. So if we do not champion it, who will?

Ken called the proposed university building in the corner of Victoria Park a ‘massive carbuncle’ - it is considerably smaller than the former proposal that we did object to and much, much better designed.

If they build it as originally presented, it could be the most sustainable property in the city and the overall design is of a very high standard.

Apart from all the Blue Plaques around the city where we have encouraged and rewarded good design, in Portsea specifically we campaigned to save the Beneficial School, now

The fact that we are unelected adds to our strength

the Groundlings Theatre, (pictured) including fighting proposals to convert it to a rag picking factory. Our very first campaign in 1973 was to save the pub on the corner of the Hard and Queen Street, the Ship & Castle, from being demolished for road widening, as an essential ‘bookend’ to the Hard. We did this to save the surprise as you turn the corner from Queen Street and see the harbour spread out before you.

We also campaigned to save the Cell Block to the left of the Dockyard entrance, now housing small businesses, and the former Army and

Navy Recruitment office, then Tourist Information Centre, now housing offices, in front of the Cell

Block.

We also saved No.4 Boathouse from demolition - with help from SAVE Britain’s Heritage – and the George pub in Queen Street.

We also opposed the insertion of a garage replacing the ground floor of a listed building next door to the former Eagle pub in St George’s Square, and have taken a long-term interest in St George’s Church.

We gave a Best New Building award to council housing blocks in north Portsea and to the Admiralty Quarter which includes social housing.

We created children’s trails of Portsmouth and the dockyard with local children. We opposed a 49-storey block on the site of Brunel House, now converted into flats.

We also hold our monthly meetings in Portsea, and everyone is welcome - so if you think we are wrong, or could do better, we would love to hear your view.

Or, better still, if you can help make us even more representative of the views of the people of Portsmouth, we would really welcome your involvement - there is still so much to be achieved.

Martin Silman

Portsmouth Society Planning Group