05/09/2020
Wyesham News
Dear All, please see info below concerning the Vicarage. Also find attached the service for this Sunday and newsletter. Please feel free to pass on the information regarding the vicarage. Blessings, Penny
------ Original Message ------
From: "Sam Pratley"
To: "'[email protected]'" ; "'Stephen Borthwick'"
Cc: "Derek.Chedzey" ; "Mike Williams"
Sent: Friday, 4 Sep, 20 At 08:43
Subject: FW: Development at Hillcrest Road, Wyesham
Dear Penny and Stephen,
I have now had a fuller response from Monmouthshire Housing with regards to the vicarage situation in Wyesham. It seems that it isn’t just COVID that has slowed down the development of the site, the numerous ecological matters contained in the planning consent will also take time.
The expected completion date will now by Spring 2022 meaning that an alternative vicarage will need to be used for the successful Wye Reaches candidate.
Whilst the timeline is frustrating I am pleased to see the thorough approach being adopted by the housing association and having met a number of local residents and members of the PCC I hope that they are also pleased to note this.
Do feel free to share this information with any interested parties although I hope that Monmouthshire are also communicating with local residents.
Kind Regards
Sam Pratley
Diocesan Secretary
Hereford Diocese
[email protected]
01432 373312
Sam
Chris Kinsey has asked me to provide you with an update on the development programme.
Capsel has been appointed as the principal contractor for this development by MHA so the responsibility for the construction works passes to us under a design and build contract.
You are probably aware that the planning consent contained several conditions relating to ecological matters and we are currently working our way through these so that they can be discharged.
· Bat surveys have been carried out and we have installed bat boxes in the trees adjacent to the existing Vicarage to encourage them to relocate.
· The reptile migration measures are currently in hand, we have had to clear all of the undergrowth from the lower part of the site so that the Ecologist can check for reptiles. A holding area with a reptile-proof fence has been erected in the garden of the Vicarage and any reptiles that are discovered have been moved to this area so that they can then migrate into the adjacent woodland. There will have to be 10 clear checks with no reptiles uncovered before the Ecologist can declare that the site is free of reptiles.
· The Arboriculturalist has checked all of the trees both on the site and on the boundary. There will be no felling or tree surgery until the bird nesting season is over.
· Now that the vegetation has been cleared we need to undertake further site investigations into the ground conditions as there are several hidden installations on the lower part of the site. However, this cannot be carried out until the reptile migration is completed.
· The demolition of the Vicarage cannot take place until all of the above has completed and the Ecologist has confirmed that the bats are no longer roosting in the building. I estimate that it will be October or November before the Vicarage can be demolished.
I am currently programming the construction works to start in early 2021. I met up with Mike Williams recently to discuss the design and specification of the new Vicarage and we are now broadly in agreement. We also discussed the programme for completion and I explained that as the new road access is going to be adopted upon completion it will be very difficult to handover the new Vicarage in advance of the rest of the development as we will not be able to guarantee safe access. The forecast completion of the housing, roads and services is Spring 2022.
If there is any further information required at this stage please contact me.
Regards
Peter
New Business Director
