26 LAW & PRACTICE SUCCESS FOLLOWING A FAILED BUILDING PRESERVATION NOTICE Although a Building Preservation Notice (BPN) placed on the Magistrates Court at Markee Harborough was not upheld by the Secretary of State, nevertheless the Notice saved part of the building from demolition and enabled acceptable additions and alterations to be built. The neo-renaissance building was built in 1910-11 and attached to the town police station of 1880. (Harborough District Council Planning Department has the original plans - on microfilm - of both these buildings.) It was not within the Conservation Area. In August 1992, I became aware chat a reorganisation of the Courts had taken place and that alterations to the building were likely. I contacted the Magistrates Clerk informing him of the quality of the building and requested him to discuss with me any proposals he might have. His response was merely that plans were being drawn up. Some plans were informally submitted on the day that a BPN was issued; these confirmed my apprehensions - the former police station was to be demolished and replaced by a plain addition. Furthermore, an awkward ramp was to be provided to an altered front entrance of the symmetrical 1911 building. The reasoning was to provide better access and facilities for the general public as well as wheelchair access to new cells! The superb oak courtroom and the Art Nouveau ceramic wall tiles were not to be affected. The BPN enabled the Local Planning Authority to have much stronger control over the demolitions and the alteration and additions to the Courthouse. Under pressure, it was realised chat the retention of the (structurally sound) former police station was actually less costly than its demoli cion and replacement, and that aesthetic considerations were important. A new scheme was drawn up and amended in consultation with the District Council which left the 1911 building intact (except at the rear where the new cell block was offset from the building rather than abutting it). The fine gable end of the former police station with its triple lancet windows was untouched. The proposed awkward and unattractive ramp to this main entrance was replaced by a ramp and steps to a new entrance building. The whole is now worthy of a public building but sadly the requirement for new cells with wheelchair access meant the loss of an attractive walled herb garden. The BPN ensured that well designed plans were drawn up and enabled the insertion of derails, date stones and choice of brick to be undisputedly determined by the local planning authority. The planning approvals were given before the BPN was quashed (although a BPN on the architecturally inferior Courthouse at Lutterworth was upheld). The works were carried out in 1994 in accordance with these plans and so an attractive Victorian police station still stands; the 1911 Courthouse is virtually intact and the new build blends in well. Now it is only the Market Harborough Magistrates who have no wheel-chair access to the court! Rosalind M Willatts is Conservation Officer at Harborough District Council. The views expressedare her own and not those of Harborough District Council. Market Harborough Magistrates Court. Former Police Station on the left. SERVICES OFFERED: * PRE CONTRACT SURVEY * INSTALLATION * DETAILING * CLEANING * SUPPLY * INSITU REPAIR All carried out by our highly skilled craftsmen who are fully sympathetic in the use of natural stone in restoration projects. Cleaning by all methods: nebulous water spray, chemical & grit blast (course down to super fine). fnsitu repairs using polymer based additives for a long fasting repair (an economical alternative when funds are restricted). Carving & sculpture catered for. All types of natural stone supplied & fixed. FDRMASONS (1992) LTD 398, FREELANDSROAD,BROMLEY,KENTBR13HZ TEL:0181-460 8216/466 6555 FAX: 0181-313 0575 New entrance with date stone. Ramp behind the new wall. CONTEXT 44
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