Formal repairs notice for Folly Arch

I have received a copy of a letter sent by Welwyn Hatfield Council who wrote to a local resident on 7 March 2002.

They say that the owners of Folly Arch - a Listed Building - have 'not produced a commitment to begin repairs' and this will be put before the Planning Control Board on 11 April with a view to obtaining authority to serve formal repairs notice under the Town & Country Planning (Listed Buildings) Act 1990.

A close up of the cracks. - f2.jpg (15005 bytes)

A close up of the cracks taken September 2001. Digital camera on loan from Fujifilm

The Council will write again to confirm the decision of the Board, or in the event of any earlier commitment on the part of the owners to begin repairs, their proposed programme of works.

The North Mymms District Green Belt Society has written to the Council supporting their proposed action.

Discuss this issue in the Forum

A large crack first appeared in the Arch in November 1998. Ever since then we have been lobbying the District Council, and English Heritage who are providing a grant towards the cost of the work, for the repairs to be carried out.

A week or so before repair work was due to start in September 1999 the crack became larger, so the cause had to be found and a new schedule of works agreed with English Heritage.

North Mymms Parish Council received a letter from English Heritage in July 2001 which said that the work etc had been agreed with the owners and it was hoped the repairs would be completed before winter.

However in October 2001, the owners wrote to the Parish Council saying that 'repairs should begin in the early part of 2002 once the weather has improved and the risk of frost reduced, say early March'.

The letter concluded by saying 'we are all very keen that work is commenced and finished during 2002'.

Details are on our website www.greenbeltsociety.org.uk on the Actions 2000 page.

Bob Horrocks
Secretary, North Mymms District Green Belt Soc
greenbelt
Phone 01707 653713

March 20, 2002

Discuss this issue in the Forum

Related stories
Folly Arch repairs delayed until spring - November 6, 2001
Folly Arch crack widens - September 29, 2001
Folly Arch - repairs expected soon - March 10, 2001
Folly Arch cracks getting worse - November 12, 2000
Folly Arch - action demanded - June 28, 2000
Folly Arch continues to crack -April 23, 2000
English Heritage visits Folly Arch - Oct 13, 1999
English Heritage Letter - Oct 3, 1999
Folly Arch - supports in place - Sept 17, 1999
Folly Arch starts to crumble - Sept 12, 1999
Green Belt Society letter - Sept 12, 1999

More about Folly Arch on this site
History of Gobions Estate Chapter One
History of Gobions Estate – Chapter Four
A Modern History of Brookmans Park - Chapter Two
A Modern History of Brookmans Park - Chapter Four
A Modern History of Brookmans Park - Chapter Five
A Modern History of Brookmans Park – Photographs
North Mymms - Parish and People - Photographs Two
North Mymms - Parish and People - Chapter Thirteen
The History of Gobions – Chapter Two
Gobions history to be unearthed – Click Here
Gobions Woodland Trust - Annual Report for 1998
North Mymms - Place Names
Extracts from History Society Archives – 1911