An old postcard view of Heathfield Square

Residents invited to inform conservation area review

Residents are invited to have their say on a review of two of the town’s conservation arears.

Conservation areas are designated places of ‘special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance’ and five of the 77 conservation areas in Cheshire East are in Knutsford: Cross Town (designated in 2006), Heathfield Square (2006), Legh Road (1976), Town Centre (1989) and St John’s (1994). Following the commitment made in the Knutsford Neighbourhood Plan, Knutsford Town Council is leading a review of the five conservation areas in the town.

A key part of conserving a conservation area is having an up-to-date appraisal and management plan which ensures their special qualities are understood and their character and appearance are not compromised by development proposals and small-scale incremental change.

Work on the Legh Road conservation area appraisal and management plan was completed in 2021 and is awaiting formal public consultation from Cheshire East Council.

The Town Council is currently working with Donald Insall Associates to undertake a review of the four remaining conservation areas, starting with Heathfield Square and St John’s.

The Heathfield Square conservation area was last appraised in 2006 when it was created, this small area comprises Knutsford’s first council houses, built as ‘homes for heroes’ after the first world war. The St John’s conservation area covers the Victorian housing along St John’s Road, St John’s Avenue and County Terrace, as well as some of the houses on Bexton Road. There is currently no appraisal or management plan for this conservation area.

Residents interested in these conservation areas are invited to share their views at engagement sessions taking place on Saturday 19th November at the Town Council Offices. Two drop-in sessions are running from 10:30-12:00 and 12:30-14:00.

Work on the Town Centre and Crosstown conservation areas will commence in early 2023.

The top of a statue of a saluting soldier

Memories of World War Two Wanted

Did you grow up in Knutsford during the second world war, or know someone who did? Your memories are needed for an exciting new project which aims to record the history of the Town in an engaging documentary film.

The Memories of World War II project will see trained oral history volunteers undertaking social history interviews with residents who lived or worked in Knutsford during the 1930s and 40s. A team of volunteers has already been trained and are ready to get interviewing.

The interviews will be filmed and used to create a 1-hour documentary film telling the story of Knutsford during the war alongside photos and archive footage. The film will be engaging with the aim of appealing to a wider range of viewers and introducing them to more of the town’s history.

The raw interviews will also form important historical records and be published as an online archive.

Town Clerk, Adam Keppel-Green said “Your memories will possibly be the only place that parts of Knutsford’s history are kept and we want to get this on film for future generations. No matter how minor you may think your recollections are, they will help paint a picture of Knutsford during the war and we would be delighted to hear them.”

More information is available at www.knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/memories-project.

Those wishing to participate in the project can contact the Town Council on 01565 653 929, in person at the Council Offices or by email at enquiries@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk.