Much of town’s heritage would have been lost without Janet...
Blue commemorative plaque now planned...
PLANS have been put forward to erect a blue plaque in the centre of Leek to remember a woman who fought to save part of the town’s heritage from being demolished.
Leek and District Civic Society is submitting a planning application for a blue plaque in memory of Janet Broome on The Red Lion and expects a positive response from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.
Thirty five years ago Janet Broome spearheaded a campaign to save Leek Town Centre.
Now Leek and District Civic Society would like to honour her memory by installing a blue plaque on The Red Lion in the Market Place.
A spokesman said: “In 1986 Staffordshire Moorlands District Council planned to sell the town centre to developers in exchange for new council offices.
“Janet from April 1986 wrote to and involved The Georgian Group, Save Britain’s Heritage, Private Eye, Lucinda Lambton, writer and TV broadcaster on architecture, HRH Prince Charles, The Guardian, The Times and many others, all letters written received sympathetic replies.
“Janet met Gavin Stamp, an architectural historian and Kenneth Powell the Secretary of Save Britain’s Heritage in the Red Lion on April 21. Gavin Stamp on April 26 in the Daily Telegraph and Kenneth Powell in Country Life July 1986, both wrote articles supporting her concerns.
“On September 2, 1987, Dixons put in a planning application to demolish the rear of the Red Lion Public House and Hotel and to convert the front into offices.
“The degradation of this Grade 11 listed building and many other listed buildings was a step too far for the public and for Janet whose involvement to organise a petition against the town centre redevelopment was launched.
“On november 4, 1987, Janet left Stoke Station for London to deliver a petition to the House of Commons, she represented the Moorlands Ratepayers Association and the Chamber of Trade. She met our MP David Knox and presented him with Leek’s petition for a Public Inquiry. There were 7,700 names on the petition to save the historic town centre. Whilst in London she met the Secretary of the Royal Fine Arts Commission who also pledged to support the call for a Public Inquiry.
“One month later the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, wrote to David Knox informing him of a call-in for the Decision by the Secretary of State of the application for development of Leek Town Centre by Dixon Commercial Properties.
“This is the letter which saved the redevelopment of the town centre. Dixon / seiferts withdrew and would not face a Public Inquiry.
“In 1987 our town centre was saved, so was The Butter Market, The Red Lion and fire station, also The Market Place in its original form, inclusive of Stockwell Street and Derby Street and many listed buildings in the vicinity.
“Without Janet’s intervention the outcome might have been very different and a significant part of Leek’s heritage would have been lost to future generations.”
Without Janet’s intervention, the outcome might have been very different
Society spokesman