Issue - meetings

Biggin Hill Ward

Report DRR17/032

The development of the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum project was now complete with all funding secure. Members were recommended to approve the delivery of the project and also to approve the award of the works contract and the investment of the endowment.

A petition addressed to the Secretary of State for the Department for Culture Media and Sport had been received from Rita Radford objecting to the current plans for the Biggin Hill Memorial Museum -

“To: The Secretary of State for the Department for Culture Media and Sport

Stop the part demolition of this iconic Grade II Listed Chapel, built by Sir Winston Churchill in 1951 as a permanent memorial to the 454 fallen airmen from Great Britain, the Dominions and Allied Countries - 'His Boys' - who won the Battle of Britain and flew from Biggin Hill and associated airfields throughout World War 2.”

The petition was signed online by 7,399 people; based on analysis of the postcodes provided, it appeared that about 2,500 petitioners lived within the borough.

The Leader invited Rita Radford to address the Executive in support of her petition. She criticised the design of the current proposals as ugly, stark and unsympathetic, with no RAF or aviation references and involving the demolition of the grade II listed vestry extension; this scheme had only just received planning permission with the Sub-Committee divided on its merits. She stated that many residents were unaware of the proposals, that consultation had been poor and that there had been confusion about the need for site notices relating to the planning application, with inaccurate information about this being supplied to her MP. The Supporters Club scheme from 2014, which still had planning permission, was much superior in approach, and the costs were not higher than the proposed scheme. She requested that she be allowed to address councillors again at the special Council meeting on 25^th July. 

Councillor Peter Morgan, Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation, responded to the petition. He emphasised that the Council had been trying to establish a museum for thirty years. With funding now secured from the Government and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), a sustainable project was in place that would secure both the Chapel and its memorial garden and provide a new museum. The extension to the Chapel was indeed listed, but it was a more recent addition, and included in the listing only as it was attached to the original listed building. The issue of design was subjective, but Historic England approved of the current design.

Councillor Richard Scoates addressed the Executive and although he praised the work done by officers to reach this stage he urged that the design be reviewed – he considered that moving the building could alleviate some of the concerns without jeopardising the funding that had been secured. These comments were supported by Councillor Simon Fawthrop. Officers confirmed that if any further changes were made the HLF would review and likely withdraw their funding. Councillor Nicholas  ...  view the full minutes text for item 280