Saturday 18 September 2010

2010 Civic Society Awards

In the Spring 2010 Newsletter members were invited to draw attention to possible candidates for Awards completed since the middle of 2007. Thanks are extended to members who responded to that request. Suggestions included the ‘new’ Hertford Museum, the refurbishment of the clock at Chauncy Court, Ben's Garden at Balls Park and the re-painting of the Health Centre in Bull Plain.

All these would have been good candidates within a longer list including the traditional type of contender for Awards - new buildings and refurbishment or redevelopment of existing buildings. Not surprisingly, given the context of the worst recession for many decades, during the first half of 2010 there were almost no such schemes that could be highlighted. It is only in the last couple of months that possible examples for consideration by an Awards Panel are being completed - examples being the refurbishment of Bircherley Court and the Old Rectory site in North Road.

In these circumstances the Committee has decided to postpone the next cycle of the Civic Awards process until 2011, by which time a number of other interesting schemes will have been completed - not least the Dolphin Yard development including the new Hertford Library.

Terry Betts