JUNE 4, 1974. The Crosfield Hall was packed with mire than 500 people, all responding to some graffiti and a leaflet headed ‘Can Romsey Survive’.
There was huge concern at the demolition of existing buildings in the town, and people felt bewildered as well as angry at what seemed to be happening all around them.
The meeting had been convened by Dr John White, a recent incomer to the town, who was surprised that there was no civic society to take up the cause. There soon was. The Society was born!
Committees were set up to address what could be done with regard to planning, the townscape, waterways, footpaths, trees and preservation. Dr White became its chairman, and many others brought their experience and energy.
This included architects, doctors and at least one town planner! Within a year the Building Preservation Trust was set up and bought up several houses (due for demolition) to renovate and modernise them, before selling them on. This was the start of a process which continues to this day.
In the 50 years since then, the Society has been an active participant in many of the changes that have taken place. Romsey is now a prosperous and attractive placed to live, and its attractions bring in both new residents and tourists. Many of the changes have come about as a result of the Society’s initiatives. The areas around the Abbey, the Corn Market, and the Square were inspired by the Society, who invited a renowned urban designer, Ben Hamilton Baillie to give us suggestions on how to make the town more people friendly.
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The Society then lobbied the Council and offered several imaginative suggestions, not all of them accepted, but enough have been taken up. Its planning committee regularly scrutinise planning applications and as well as objecting to some, often make constructive suggestions.
The Society ran a meeting for its members in April for TVBC’s planners to discuss their plans for the redevelopment of the south of the town (and the future for the Crosfield Hall). There were some robust comments from members and an alternative plan, produced by members of the Society’s planning committee was presented. It was very well received by members as it offered a much simpler approach with less new building and much more open space.
Its Natural Environment Committee has also been active over the years, and had a major role in establishing the nature reserve at Fishlake Meadows (and more recently at Abbotswood), as well as organising nature walks to observe bats, birds and moths, and undertake surveys for TVBC. It also scrutinises planning applications for their environmental impact and informs the Council of any concerns.
Over the years there have been many social occasions for members to get together – lunches, dinners, talks, poetry sessions, country walks, visits to other towns and places of interest. It publishes a monthly news sheet for its members and a full colour magazine in January, April and August. These are available to non-members on line on the Society’s website.
‘Conserving our heritage and protecting our future’ remain the two key objectives of the Society today, which has a reputation for making sensible, constructive and well thought out suggestions and objections, not to try to block all change but to challenge any which it feels are unjustifiable or ill thought out. As the pace of change accelerates, a quiet and sensible approach is needed more than ever to help Romsonians influence the future of their much loved market town.
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