NEWSLETTER EXTRA - December '05 Editor: Richard Hare Your concept for Whisstocks AT its AGM, held at the British Legion on December 7, WAMRAG launched a concept plan for the Whisstocks site in Woodbridge. It draws together several aspirations, some from the local authority but also, importantly, from all of you who completed questionnaires after the group's public exhibition and consultation earlier in the year. Well over 500 visitors turned out for that event - a figure representing more than 5% of Woodbridge's entire population - and over 400 questionnaires were completed. The idea, described below, takes into account: 1)SCDC's Planning Statement for the Riverside, 2)The Local Plan 3)Mike Munt's Woodbridge Riverside Characterisation Study, and 4)The results of Linda Jones's professional analysis of your questionnaires. Firstly though, it cannot be overstressed that we do not own the site, Mr Van Treen does and of course he is under no obligation to take on board anything that we propose. However we have communicated this concept to him in an attempt to provide him with a viable alternative. The proposal overcomes the traffic concerns of Network Rail and reflects, we believe, the consensus delivered by the most thorough and extensive public consultation process for the site to date. The Plan: The plan comprises three distinct elements, 'maritime', 'community' and the Woodbridge Ferry, with the whole site being owned by a not-for-profit but self-funding trust. The maritime part centres on historic boat restoration, maintenance, and skills training. This can be housed in both the existing and a new boatshed to the rear of the site, adjacent to the railway, with the visitor centre, workshops and offices between them. The background to this idea is that there are about 1400 registered and another 2500 unregistered historic vessels in the UK in private and public ownership. Many are from the East Coast, such as barges, bawleys and smacks. All need regular maintenance to keep them in good condition while some need complete restoration. Many of these are eligible for public funding. The new community building alongside the river wall replaces the existing small corrugated iron chandlery within which a permanent museum might be located on the first floor with a café/restaurant with river views, shop and a multi-purpose exhibition/community showcase on the ground floor. A third upper floor might house offices, meeting rooms etc to generate revenue.  "Horizontality" and "Lasting impermanence" are two key characteristics of riverside buildings identified by Mike Munt in his characterisation study. These important concepts are what John Roberts has tried to convey in his drawings of the museum building, hence its jumbled, layered and multi-material nature that attempts to capture the appeal of a genuine waterfront development that has evolved over a period of time. The Woodbridge/Sutton ferry might be reinstated from this location with restored low water hards, access ways, and a new ferryboat to provide a 'green' route from the railway or car parks to Sutton Hoo and the surrounding countryside. Woodbridge provides a perfect venue for this function. In an ideal world this could form part of a mix that includes the tide mill, the marina, Sutton Hoo, and rejuvenated ferry - and all this against the backdrop of a more attractive and pedestrian-friendly Quayside and historic Woodbridge itself. Why Whisstocks? The Whisstocks site is perfect for this use. Three key features combine to make it a valuable asset: (1) A rare deep water slipway capable of slipping vessels in excess of 100ft and 100 tonnes; (2) A state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled boat shed with its own electricity sub-station which means that boats made of steel, aluminium, wood or fibreglass can be accommodated all year round and, (3) Road access. Because of this access it's important that the turning circle is retained so that large vessels can be transferred between the road network and the river. The site has the potential to provide local employment (we still have locals with the skills), significant secondary and support employment, and regeneration through tourism. Only a first tentative step..! 'You'll never get the funding!" "How will it pay for itself?" These are good questions and they need to be answered with many others, but at the next stage. Plainly, the Heritage Lottery Fund is a major source of potential funding and we've already had preliminary dialogue, and there are many other possible sources. We will no doubt have to find funds of our own too, not forgetting that this all hinges on whether or not the owner of the site is prepared to sell it to a local trust. Either way, it will be a very steep uphill slog. This concept is by no means cast in stone at this early stage, yet hopefully it reflects what those of you who participated in the consultation process aspire to. What we need now is your feed-back so please fill in and return the attached feed-back/endorsement form and let us know what you think and how it might be improved. If you have not already paid your £10 subscription for June '05 to May '06, please enclose it with the completed form. Please contact us - we've changed! A new executive was voted in at the AGM. Many thanks to Martin Whitaker, Peter Clay, Neil Montgomery and John Roberts for their tremendous contribution. The committee now comprises Martin Wenyon (acting chairman), John Chapman (retired barrister), Richard Hare (PR and journalism background), David Poole (architect) Dorothy Woods (multi-skilled and, importantly, our secretary). Co-opted onto the committee, specifically to help us on planning issues is the highly experienced 'planning veteran', Penny Austen-Brown. Our contact details are as follows: ·Martin Wenyon, (martinwenyon@hotmail.com), 07734 051305 ·John Chapman, 01394 384676 ·Richard Hare, (richard.hare@talk21.com), 01394 382270 ·David Poole, (debendesign@topletter.com), 01394 386315 ·Dorothy Woods , (wdobbindot@aol.com), 01394 388295 ·Penny Austen-Brown, 01394 385973 In addition to the executive: ·Prof. Ted Evans, (Hon.treasurer) and membership (e.f.evans@cns.keele.ac.uk) 01394 388295. Many thanks to Ted for his great work We do need your subs! Out of our membership of 259 only 74 of you have paid your £10 subscriptions (June to May). Without your subscription we will have insufficient funds to continue sending you newsletters and other communication. So, please help us here and send a cheque payable to WAMRAG to Prof. Ted Evans, Flat 1,The Granary Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge IP12 1BY