ord
Irving
scrupulously "avoided
personal
comment" on
the
increasingly
contentious
issue
of
the
courthouse, preferring
to
leave
his
junior
minister, Jane
Kennedy (Labour
MP
for
Wavertree,
Liverpool)
to
fight
a
losing
battle
against
the
rising
barrage
of
public
and
press
criticism.
However,
in
the
House
of
Lords
on June
28th
2000,
he
condescended to
break
his
silence
in
the
course
of
responding
to
a
question
by The
Lord
Roberts
of
Conwy.
The
text
of
the
Parliamentary
question
and
answer
was
as
follows:
Question: The
Lord
Roberts
of
Conwy: "To
ask
Her
Majesty's
Government
whether
they
propose
to
proceed
with
the
building
of
a
new
county
court
house
at
Chester
on
the
site
of
the
Roman
amphitheatre
and
have
appropriate
planning
consents
to
do
so".
Answer: The
Lord
Chancellor
(Lord
Irvine
of
Lairg): "The
site
is
owned
by
a
developer
David
McLean
Developments
Ltd
with
whom
the
Court
Service
entered
into
a
legally
binding
contract
on
20th
December
1999
under
which
the
Court
Service
is
legally
bound
to
occupy
the
building
within
twenty-one
days
of
the
completion
of
its
construction.
Following
demolition
of
the
BritishTelecommunications
building
which
occupied
the
same
footprint
as
the
new
building,
David
McLean
Developments
Ltd
funded
an
intensive
series
of
archaeological
excavations
in
consultation
with
the
City
archaeologist
and
English
Heritage.
These
excavations
impacted
upon
the
design
of
the
building
and
as
a
result
it
has
been
possible
to
avoid
disturbing
the
remains
of
the
amphitheatre
beneath.
In
fact,
the
foundations
of
the
new
building
have
been
carefully
designed
to
avoid
any
remains
and
to
preserve
them
in
situ,
for
posterity.
The
Court
Service
were
aware
of
the
location
of
the
site
and
of
its
archaeological
significance,
but
all
appropriate
approval
in
relation
to
both
planning
and
preservation
had
been
obtained
by
the
developers".
Shadow Culture Secretary, Peter Ainsworth MP, commented
upon the words of the Great One thus,
"Following
my
visit
to
Chester
last
month
I
wrote
a
personal
letter
to
Lord
Irvine,
urging
him
to
think
again
about
the
amphitheatre.
I
eventually
received
an
unsympathetic
reply
from
a
junior
minister".
Him,
us
and
everyone
else.
Now Lord Irvine has been forced to express his own opinion. I had hoped
that he would have had the sense to listen to local, national and international
public opinion. However, the Lord Chancellor has lived up to his reputation
for arrogance. He appears hell bent on denying Chester the opportunity to
unveil the centrepiece of its Roman heritage with all the economic and cultural
benefits that would have followed. Instead of an architectural jewel, it seems
that Chester is destined to get a monument to Lord Irvine's pride".
"We call our cat Lord Irvine
because he lives rent-free in the lap of luxury and is no bloody use to anyone"
Ronnie Corbett: Royal Variety Performance, December 17th 2000
A
Price
worth
paying?
On
July
4th 2000,
the
local
press
informed
us
that
"by
a
narrow
vote"
councillors
had
opted
to
recommend retaining 'Invine's
Folly'
but
allowing
Dee
House
to
be
demolished
"with
a
view
to
the
long
term
excavation
of
the
amphitheatre".
The
other
option
of
restoring
Dee
House
"to
house
a
heritage
centre,
bars
and
restaurants"
(as
opposed
to
a
lot
of
speculative
offices,
as
outlined
previously)
was
actually
voted
down,
to
the
annoyance
of
Council
Leader
Councillor John
Price,
who
actually
put
forward
the heritage
centre
plans
in
the
first
place,
and
who
described
his
fellow
councillor's
decision
as
"the
worst
possible
one. It
takes
no
account
of
reality and
is
likely
to
be
hugely
expensive".
His
heritage
centre-
housed,
presumably,
in
whatever
back
room
McLean's
couldn't
manage
to
let
out
as
offices-
would,
he
claimed,
"Give
the
people
of
Chester
a
first-class
facility
and
would
revitalise
the
area
as
well
as
preserving
the
archaeology
in
place
(i.e.
under
the
courthouse)".
How
interesting,
then,
to
recall
his
words
of
3rd
November
1998-
a
mere
19
months
earlier-
when
the
possibility
of
demolishing
Dee
House
in
order
to
expose
the
amphitheatre
had
previously
been
debated:
"It
is
a
once
in
a
lifetime
opportunity
to
unveil
the
most
significant
archaeological
monument
in
Chester.
It
could
be
a
massive
tourist
attraction
and
a
majot
fillip
for
Chester
against
a
background
of
increased
competition
from
Trafford
Park
and
Cheshire
Oaks".
(For
the
benefit
of
readers
outside
the
Chester
area,
these
latter
are
both
huge out-of-town
shopping
developments).
Right and below: the people of Chester marching en masse from a rally in Town Hall Square to the amphitheatre.
Ten
days
later, on 13th
November 1998,
Cllr
Price
had
again
been
quoted
as
saying "we
have
been
given
the
gift
of
another
opportunity
to
uncover
the
amphitheatre.
Losing
a
Grade
II
listed
building
would
be
a
price
worth
paying...
This
is
one
of
the
most
important
things
to
be
debated
by
this
council,
certainly
in
my
time...
this
is
the
council's
moment
of
history.
We
must
go
for
it...
But
the
people
who
really
matter
are
the
people
of
Chester
and
the
sooner
they
know
all
about
this
the
better".
Curiously,
back
in January
2000,
Cllr
Price
had
been
a
co-signatory,
together
with
the
three
other
party
leaders,
to
a
City
Council press
release accusing
the
author
of these pages of
"betraying
the
city,
putting
jobs
and
livelihoods
at
risk
and
undermining
the
tremendous
work
being
done
to
maintain
Chester's
reputation
as
the
jewel
of
the
north"-
for ensuring that
'the
sooner
the
people
of
Chester-
and
the
world-
knew
all
about
this
the
better'...
Councillors
Price,
Proctor,
Bailey
and
Haynes-
and
smalltown
politicians
everywhere-
would
have
been
wise
to
ponder
the
words
of E
M
Forster (1879-1970),
"Democracy
has
another
merit,
it
allows criticism,
and
if
there
isn't
public
criticism,
there
are
bound
to
be
hushed-up
scandals"...
Nevertheless,
we
admire
a
man
of
unwavering
conviction,
and
with
a
strong
grip
on reality...
Interestingly,
in
early
November,
Cllr
Price
had
been
the
the
subject
of
an
unsuccessful
vote
of
no
confidence,
moved
by
Tory
councillor Michael
Poole.
Referring
to
Cllr
Price's
chairmanship
of
the
District
Economy
Board,
he
accused
him
of
responsibility
for
numerous
problems
connected
with
the
city's
transport
and
financial
policies-
for
example
car
parking
charges,
empty
shops
and
out-of-town
competition: "There
are
1,252
shops
in
Chester
and
115
are
empty...
Basically,
you
don't
have
a
clue.
You
should
apologise
to
the
public,
take
responsibility
and
fall
on
your
sword".
He
added,
"the
arrogance
and
defiance
shown
by
Cllr
Price
makes
my
blood
boil".
And
here's
another
'Price-less'
quote
from
the
great
one,
dating
from
the
end
of
November
2000
and
somewhat
of
an
eyebrow-raiser
for
those
of
us
that
have
made
it
this
far
through
the
sorry
saga
of
the
Chester
Amphitheatre: "Chester
is
partnership
in
practice.
Working
with
the
community
is
the
way
we
do
things
now
and
in
the
future.
Increasingly
Chester
is
being
recognised
at
a
national
level
for
all
the
good
things
that
are
going
on
here".
Right:
a
reconstruction
of
the
Chester amphitheatre
in
the
Grosvenor
Museum
The
full
meeting
of
the
city
council,
held
the
following
day- July
5th
2000- produced
a
few
surprises. Chester
Amphitheatre
Trust co-founder Dr Liane
Smith presented
the
meeting
with
a
6,000
name
petition,
calling
for
the
moving
of
the
courthouse
and
full
excavation
of
the
amphitheatre.
Nevertheless,
seemingly
unmoved
by
this
expression
of
the
public
will,
the
Labour
group,
led
by
(who
else?)
Cllr
Price,
were
whipped
into
voting en
masse for
McLean's
Dee
House
office
conversion
plan (we
assumed
by
now
that
the
chances
of
the
building
ever
becoming
a
gallery,
museum
or
suchlike
were
pretty
slim)- including those
councillors
who
also
happened
to
be
members
of
the
Chester
Amphitheatre
Trust!
The
Conservative
group
had
apparently
originally
intended
to
go
for
a
deferment
but
then
joined
with
the
Lib
Dems
to
produce
a
34-21
majority in
favour of
the
demolition
of
Dee
House
and
of
the
excavation
of
the
amphitheatre
"as
far
as
is
possible"...
This
vote
was
reported
as
"running
contrary
to
advice
from
officers".
No
surprises
there
then.
So
far
so
good.
Unfortunately,
the
councillors
seemed
rather
less
than
interested
in
pursuing
further
attempts
to
get
the
courthouse
construction
stopped
or
moved
elsewhere.
Which,
of
course,
would
mean,
at
best,
a
mere
40%
exposed
amphitheatre,
with
it
and
the
surrounding
townscape
dominated
and
thoroughly
spoiled
by
the
unshielded
presence
of
McLean's
ghastly
blockhouse
and
car
park.
We
suddenly
begin
to
sympathise
somewhat
with
Cllr
Price's
"worst
possible
decision"...
The full resolution passed by the meeting was as follows:
'This council resolves to determine a comprehensive conservation and development
strategy for the whole site in association with relevant local and national
organisations and in consultation with the people of Chester.
1. The objective of the strategy will be for the excavation of the whole or
part of the unexcavated amphitheatre in the short to medium term. The council
understands and accepts that this strategy will entail the demolition of Dee
House.
This council:
2 . Reasserts its long-term aim of achieving the fullest possible excavation
and public display of the amphitheatre site.
3. Notes its inability to prevent completion of the County Court building
on part of the site.
4. Instructs its officers to prepare, in partnership with other interested
bodies, detailed and costed proposals that will:
produce a viable scheme for the phased excavation and display of the
site, commencing with those areas of the site in council ownership, that may
form the basis of an application for consent to demolish the listed building
and excavate the scheduled ancient monument;
allow complete excavation of the site in the longer term;
ensure public ownership and control of as much of the site as is possible.
5. Will ensure that all proposals for the site are considered in accordance
with 'best value' principles'.
The
decision
to
demolish
Dee
House-
as
with
the
planned
destruction
of
any
listed
building-
must
be
dealt
with
by
the
Secretary
of
State, John
Prescott,
and
this
will
consequently
necessitate
the
holding
of
a
Public
Inquiry
into
the
matter-
a
move
that
will
doubtless
be
welcomed
by
many
members
of
a
community
exasperated
by
the
antics
of
their
local
representatives
and
council
officers.
One
of
whom,
incidentally,
Head
of
Planning Andrew
Farrall,
predictably
spoke
strongly
in
favour
of
the
Dee
House
development
proposals,
as,
tellingly,
did
a
representative
of
the Chester
Civic
Trust.
The
council
decision
will
doubtless
face
many
problems
in
the
near
future.
Indeed,
Cllr
Price
helpfully
produced
a
letter
from
Culture
Secretary, Chris
Smith,
who
wrote
that
he
"would
have
grave
reservations
about
destroying
one
part
of
our
heritage
in
order
to
reveal
another"...
It
was
also
stated
that
English
Heritage
were
almost
certain
to
oppose
the
demolition
plans.
In
addition,
there
was
concern
that
the
decision
to
charge
council
planning
officers-
who,
for
reasons
best
known
to
themselves,
were
clearly
opposed
to
the
latest
demolition/excavation
proposals-
with
the
task
of
"producing
a
viable
scheme
for
the
phased
excavation
and
display
of
the
site"
was
surely
asking
for
trouble-
or
as
one
local
wit
put
it,
could
be
compared
with
putting
Dracula
in
charge
of
the
blood
bank...
Here's
how your councillor
voted:
For
demolition
of
Dee
House
and
excavation
of
the
amphitheatre: Graham
Proctor,
Brian
Bailey,
Colin
Bain,
John
Boughton,
Brian
Crowe,
Hugo
Deynem,
John
Ebo,
David
Evans,
Jean
Evans,
Ann
Farrell,
Molly
Hale,
Richard
Hale,
Charles
Higgie,
David
Hull,
Eleanor
Johnson,
Mia
Jones,
Michael
Jones,
James
Latham,
Jim
McCabe,
Noel
McGlinchey,
Eveleigh
Moore
Dutton,
Stephen
Mosley,
Jean
Nuttall,
Margaret
Parker,
Eric
Plenderleath,
Terry
Ralph,
Neil
Ritchie,
Barbara
Roberts,
Paul
Roberts,
Richard
Short,
Andrew
Storrar,
Jeanne
Storrar,
Pauline
Tilley,
Ed
Whalley.
Against
the
scheme: Jenny
Baker,
David
Bennett,
Dave
Challen,
Gwyn
Cooper,
Barry
Cowper,
Ruth
Davidson,
Steve
Davies,
Steve
Duffus,
John
Fetherston,
Doug
Haynes,
David
Hughes,
Jane
Mercer,
Marie
Nelson,
John
Price,
Lilian
Price,
John
Randall,
Bob
Rudd,
Sandra
Rudd,
Jason
Stiles,
Richard
Taylor,
John
Vernon.
In
accordance
with
council
custom,
the
Lord
Mayor,
Reggie
Jones,
abstained,
as
did
three
other
councillors.
We
thought
you'd
be
interested
in
seeing
one
of
the
'artist's
impressions'
from
the
McLean's
Dee
House
renovation
proposals
thrown
out
by
the
city
council.
The
architects
were
Manchester-based Harrison
Ince
Partnership.
Note
the
unattractive
structures
which
have
sprouted
along
the
right
hand
side
of
the
site-
and
also
the
County
court
blockhouse
crouching
behind.
The
illustration
gives
the
misleading
impression
that
this
latter
is
considerably
less
tall
than
Dee
House,
which,
as
anyone
who's
visited
the
site
will
confirm,
is
actually
far
from
the
truth.
The
developers,
however,
predictably
enthused
about
the
more
positive
aspects
of
their
handiwork:
"Opening
a
new
heritage
and
leisure
'piazza'
for
the
City
of
Chester...
The Arena will
be
for
the
city,
its
workers,
tourists
and
residents.
It
will
provide
cafés
and
restaurants
beside
a
new
civic
space,
adjacent
to
the
exposed
part
of
the
amphitheatre.
It
will
unite
Roman
Chester
with
the
city
in
2001
AD"...
"The
project
will
bring
to
life
derelict
Georgian
and
Victorian
buildings,
whilst
preserving
Roman
and
medieval
archaeology
in
the
ground
below"...
They
also
pointed
out-
in
case
we
mere
residents
hadn't
noticed-
that, "the
amphitheatre
is
a
cherished
asset
in
Chester.
We
are
aware
of
the
sensitivity
of
any
proposals
for
change. These
proposals
will
be
controversial. We
will
consult
fully
with
all
relevant
parties.
The
project
will
require
their
support
and
that
of
English
Heritage,
for
its
realisation". We
were
also
told
that,
"Total
excavation
of
the
amphitheatre
is
not
a
viable
option
today,
for
many
reasons" (such
as
allowing
a
private
developer
to
build
smack
on
top
of
it,
for
example?) "We
have
created
for
future
generations
a
better
opportunity
to
excavate
than
is
available
to
us
today,
if
that
is
their
wish".
Much
is
made
in
the
proposals
for
those
cafés,
restaurants
and
other
leisure
facilities,
but
then
we
learn
that
the
roof
would
apparently
be
redesigned
"to
provide
an addition floor
of
office
space"-
an
asset
of
which
there
is
in
Chester,
to
say
the
least,
no
shortage.
As,
many
would
say,
is
the
case
with
cafés:
it
seems
that
whenever
a real business
in
the
city
centre
is
driven
out
due
to
excessively-high
rent
and
rates,
up
will
pop
a
smart,
new,
overcharging
'café-bar'
to
take
its
place.
Of
office
blocks
and
restaurants
we
have
enough-
more
than
enough.
Roman
amphitheatres
are
quite
another
matter,
however.
The
introduction
to
the
McLean
proposals
concludes, "We
invite
you
to
share
our
vision".
We
think
not,
thanks
for
asking.
Let us
attempt
a
small
conjecture...
The
Court
Service
has
confirmed
that
the
new
courthouse
would,
amazingly,
have
a smaller floor
area
than
their
former
building,
Centurion
House,
in
Northgate
Street.
When
space
starts
to
run
out
in
the
new
building,
as
it
inevitably
will,
where
could
they
expand
into,
given
that
no
further
new
buildings
could
surely
ever
be
allowed
here?
The
possibility
of
such
an
occurence
would,
to
say
the
least,
be
extremely
embarrassing
for
all
concerned.
Does
it
not
seem
logical
then,
that
the
Court
Service
would
find
a
conveniently-refurbished
Dee
House,
located
right
next
door, ideal for
their
overspill
offices,
extra
car
parking
and
the
like? Could
this,
in
fact,
have
been
the
plan
all
along? It
seems
to
fit
the
allusion
to
a
'Phase
II'
for
the
site
referred
to
by
McLean's
Mark
Thomas-
and
also
possibly
why
certain
of
Chester's
planning
officials
and
politicians
seemed
so
very
unhappy
about
the
demolition
vote.
As
previously
observed,
Chester
is
a
city
'blessed'
with
far
more
office
accomodation
than
it
needs.
That
McLean's
and
the
Labour
group
should
have
been
keen
to
sink
large
sums
of
money
into
even
more
speculative
commercial
premises,
situated
in
an
already
highly-congested
corner
of
the
city,
and
which
they
would
be
no
guarantee
of
letting,
seemed
rather
unlikely.
The
possibility
of
a
'done
deal'
with
the
Court
Service
and
city
council
would
make
much
more
financial
sense...
Idle
speculation
aside,
the
big
question
of
the
moment,
of
course,
was
what
would
become
of
the
'grand
plan'
now
that
a
bunch
of
fool
councillors
had
professed
their
intention, "contrary
to
advice
from
officers",
to
actually
go
ahead
and
demolish
Dee
House?
Here's
an
interesting,
and
not-unconnected,
story
that
appeared
in
the
National
press
back
in
late January
2000,
just
about
the
same
time
the
Chester
courthouse
proposals
were
made
public.
The
impoverished
parents
of
a
small
village
in
Sicily,
Santa
Maria
di
Licodia,
could
not
afford
materials
to
build
their
planned
children's
theatre,
but
were
delighted
when
an
offer
was
made
to
fund
the
construction,
in
marble,
of
a brand
new open-air
amphitheatre!
It
would
be
ready
in
early
Summer,
when
the
children
of
local
schools
would
perform
their
first
play
there.
The
scheme
had
the
unified
blessing
of
a
local
council
deeply
split
between
the
Communist
Refoundation
Party
and
the
far-right
National
Alliance-
as
well
as
the
Italian
Government.
Who
could
have
been
the
benefactor
that
financed
such
an
enlightened
scheme?
No
less
than
the-then
Iraqi
President, Saddam
Hussein.
A growing
collection
of letters about
the
amphitheatre- or
go
on
to Part
VI - or visit the ancient Church of St. John the Baptist instead...
|