Letters about the Chester Amphitheatre 3

Chester: A Virtual Stroll Around the Walls

The Chester Amphitheatre

Letters to this site and the local press regarding the current development proposals part III. On to pages IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX

4/4/00 Copy of a letter to the Lord Chancellor:
Sir, I am writing to you personally to object in the strongest terms to the decision to erect a County court building over the unexcavated half of the Chester amphitheatre- the largest and most sophisticated such structure yet discovered in Britain.
Without the involvement of the court service, this outrageous development may well have failed due to lack of prospective tenants and sanity thus been allowed to prevail.
Planning permission was originally granted for the construction of an office block. This was changed to a hotel and changed again to a court house- all without the apparent need to adjust the required planning permission or adequately inform the community. Many people here in Chester, myself included, feel that the court service's involvement in the series of 'secret meetings' with the developers and Chester City Council which has led to this extremely unpopular decision, and the absolute lack of public consultation in the matter, does the reputation of the court service no good at all.
Even city councillors say they were not consulted.
The level of public outrage at the proposals has led to a series of public meetings being scheduled. We are determined that the court house should not be built, at least not in this poorly-considered location (an already traffic-choked corner of the city, far from public transport links) and that this unique ancient monument should be eventually fully uncovered and displayed, resulting in an attraction that does credit not just to our city, but to our country as a whole.
You may find it useful to read the material pertaining to this matter on the Chester Virtual Stroll website: www.chesterwalls.info/amphitheatre.html - which describes and illustrates the history of the site, the discovery of the amphitheatre in 1929, details the City Council's unsuccessful attempt to destroy it back in the 1930s, the remarkable efforts made over decades to ensure the excavation of the northern half and ongoing coverage of the current distressing situation.
In addition, a rapidly-growing collection of letters of objection may be found at: www.chesterwalls.info/amphletters.html
Thank you,
Steve Howe, 25 Lime Grove Hoole Chester

6/4/00 Back in the late 1960s and early 70s, some 30-odd years ago, Chester witnessed wholesale demolition, buildings were razed to the ground, an inner ring road cut a big swathe through the heart of Chester; it was devastation on a grand scale. Architectural blunders were made in many parts of the city, and today if you know where to look, they stand out like the proverbial eyesore. That devastation would have continued, had not a few brave people stood up and said: "hang on a minute, if we continue like this, we will have nothing left".
Thirty or so years on, nobody has learned the lesson- The amphitheatre was built by the Romans, yet it takes only a handful of halfwitted people, most probably driven by financial greed, to bury once and for all Chester's heritage. No consideration has been given to future generations to see what is, most probably, the only remaining amphitheatre in the UK.
There are plenty more suitable places to build the new courts, and certainly in better accessible areas. One only has to go not very far off the tourist track, and one will find areas of Chester that have been more of less derelict for a great number of years. I would suggest most emphatically that the people of Chester voice their protest, to ensure that what bits we have left, are not erased for ever, but will remain intact for the enjoyment of many future generations to come.
R. H. Gowen 29 Sedum Close, Huntington Chester

6/4/00 Chester's "Golden Egg" is to be found in its name- Roman Clty and it is because of this that it is one of Britain's chief tourist attractions. The walls, the grid pattern of streets, the Roman remains, these are the things that draw visitors here.
A special jewel in this cluster of attractive features is the amphitheatre, almost unique in Britain. What a degree of pride the city could and should have in this remarkable legacy of the past. Yet see what the City Fathers are about to do with this treasure- build over part of it. Instead of revealing more of it, they propose hiding for "goodness knows" how long a part of it, and for what do they do this? To build a new court of Law.
Is this the sort of thing visitors wish to stare at when they visit the amphitheatre? Do they wish to see the inevitable court car park and legal gentlemen to enhance their romantic view of Roman remains?
If any development is to proceed on any part of this important site, either on part of the amphitheatre or on the adjacent ground, should it not be solely to the benefit of the better display of the amphitheatre, together wtth an adequate explanatory sympathetically designed visitor centre by the site? Surely the present simple explanatory display hoardings on a post that the visitor meets are just not good enough for such a nationally important site. Have we no regard for or appreciation of what the city possesses? Wake up City Fathers and people of Chester to see what is about to happen to this piece of your history!
And as for Dee House, there are umpteen similar properties all over Britain and several in Chester. But there is no other equivalent amphitheatre.
Stanley Holliday, Netherleigh House, Eaton Road, Chester

6/4/00 Standing on the green grass beside the amphitheatre with interesting, and some beautiful, buildings all around and an extremely busy road in front, I cannot help thinking that the 1960-ish square concrete block of the new courthouse, with its ill-proportioned windows and its attached litter of vehicles, would be more suitably accomodated in a remote corner of Chester Business Park.
When one talks to town councillors of any party, they generally seem fairly sensible and reasonable people. Why, then, are they collectively at the mercy of builders like Mr McLean or, come to that, 'advisors' like Scottish Widows or possibly London and Amsterdam Developments?
If the council can afford £40 million for a useless and unwanted busway... they certainly have enough money to look after the Dee House area properly.
Perhaps it is as well that the amphitheatre should never be properly excavated. The council would certainly think it their duty to sell it to an American businessman to make a Roman Disneyland complete with stuffed lions and Christians tied to stakes. What a treat that would be for the children!
Concerned Cestrian

6/4/00 Several weeks ago I called for a rising from the 'cloak of anonymity' and to take up the cudgel of democracy. I've been deafened by the silence of our city council! I suppose my views on the excavation of the Roman Amphitheatre are considered beneath contempt, as I suppose are my views on an alternative council.
If this lot of councillors (no matter which national party they support) cannot, or will not, defend the wishes of the majority of the voters, then next election, coming soon, vote them out. Replace them with new faces, perhaps younger faces but above all with people with vision. I feel people who sit in seats of power too long occasionally need their cages shaken.
Planning permission for offices on the site of Dee House was passed very quietly in 1995. So now in 2000 the builders start work converting and extending the old building into a courthouse. Now we find that the Court service is not the owner but only a tenant. The owner, surprise, surprise, is our very own County Council. Now anyone who has had any dealings with any of these councils will realise how they are intertwined. Up until recently there were councillors who sat on both councils. Is there any wonder at the silence and secrecy but what can they do about the smell?
William Crawford, 16 Tegid Way, Saltney

13/4/00 Dear members of Chester City Council, tourism literally brings in thousands of pounds annually to Chester. It is wanton vandalism to develop the Dee House site. Once it has been, you all know full well the amphitheatre will never be revealed.
Bath, Cirencester, Arles, Nimes just to mention a few, go to town to make the best of ancient remains to tourists. Are you not proud to live in Chester? Are you not proud to know that we are the caretakers of a past civilisation and have to protect it for the future?
In any event your traffic censuses- if any have been done accurately- must have revealed that Vicars Lane and Little St John Street are not capable of taking more traffic.
Law courts are necessary- even if they are situated a mile out of Chester people would find them or otherwise... Why cannot you tunnel under Nicholas Street and take over the police headquarters when it becomes vacant?
I am quite certain if you were democratic enough to give the people- the council tax payers a vote- we would win and you the city council would lose.
C. G. Howland 10 Beech Grove, Hoole, Chester

14/4/00 And still the saga of Chester's Roman amphitheatre rumbles on. Last week's gathering at the Town Hall was strongly attended despite being poorly advertised and called at the last minute.
As to the more substantive debate about the developers' planning permission, there are rumours this week about who in the Town Hall corridors knew what and, if they did know, when did they get to know about it?
Although the news about the developers having permission to build a courthouse broke just before Christmas 1999, it seems in fact this was information known about by at least some people in the city council as long ago as November 1998.
Now we have the sight of the city council Labour Group being photographed at the amphitheatre itself, displaying long, sage-like looks of concern about this great national treasure and the tourists and trade that could come with it being allowed to go down the tubes.
By the way, there is no truth whatever in the story being put about by some wag that many of the councillors needed a map to locate the amphitheatre.
But the way they have suddenly realised the importance of this Roman gem, you would think there were local elections about to take place.
Bob Clough-Parker, Chester Chronicle

20/4/00 Millennium events, particularly the lecture series arranged by the Chester Civic Trust, city council and others, have amply demonstrated the tremendous interest there is in the city's glorious past. It is sad to find at the same time the apparently unforeseen entry of builders to erect a county court and large car park over the still buried part of the amphitheatre.
Seemingly the developer and authorities involved are not doing anything legally wrong, but must stand accused of lacking foresight. Apart from the interest of residents, it needs to be stressed that estimates show that six million visitors spend £150 million a year and one third of jobs in the city are tourist-related. These figures are growing and the area from the excavated amphitheatre to the river is not only vital to those who live in Chester but is a site of national importance.
When the builders suddenly arrived it appeared to most people that nothing could be done. However, along come Dr Liane Smith and Mr A Williams and, at two days notice, with minimum publicity, call a meeting in the Town Hall. Approximately 150 people packed into the Council Chamber and heard that something might be achieved if there is sufficient public support. Within a week they then formed a charitable trust, the Chester Amphitheatre Trust, to try to ensure that the whole amphitheatre remains available for full excavation. They deserve maximum support from all who appreciate what we have in Chester and the need now is to act quickly.
Good immediate action would be for a few hundred letters to be sent to the Lord Chancellor, Houses of Parliament, London SW1A OPW and to the Development Control Manager, Town Hall, Chester CH1 2HS. These letters need not go into detail but merely support the aims of the Chester Amphitheatre Trust to prevent building on the buried part of the Amphitheatre so that full excavation can proceed.
There is ample scope for the county court to be built elsewhere. Of course money will be required fairly quickly to compensate the developer, but the main cost of excavation and redevelopment will not harm if spread over 20-40 years. Surely funds can be found for such an important project.
D McAllister, Chester

20/4/00 In Waverton on 4th May we will be having our polling day to elect a councillor to represent us upon the City Council to assist in the administration of government and to contribute on our behalf towards the process of legislation and advice.
In previous letters to the Standard I have expressed my dismay about the decision-making process of Chester City Council particularly with regard to the proposed guided bus system and huge car park on the southern side of our city and my arguments about it have been detailed and are a matter of record.
I have also expressed considerable dismay over the time taken by the elected representatives concerning their somewhat covert or concealed way in which they went about our business of the amphitheatre. The first the majority of us knew about it was after the decision had been made.
It is a rare event for these Councillors to express their own views in the local press or on BBC TV, who have a reporter based in our city. What we want, however is someone who has been there, done that, and maybe even bought the team cap. We want a modern day Sextus Marcianus who will help to support our arguments about the excavation of the complete amphitheatre and our arguments against the guided bus system and the building of the huge car park.
The Chester City Council elections are important and we need to be certain we get someone who lives in the locality and who will defend the issues we care about.
Recently I became aware that the city council is including under the sphere of influence of the curvature of the wall of the amphitheatre the remains of the West Tower of the church of St. John the Baptist. Although the West Tower is peripheral to the centre of the amphitheatre it is beyond the periphery of the arc of the wall of the amphitheatre. The West Tower is a scheduled monument and any excavations near to it would be controlled in the same manner as for example the foundation excavations at York Minster.
Old Wavertonian

20/4/00 In commenting last week about the continuing tragic comedy of Chester's Roman amphitheatre coupled with the impending local elections, I forgot to report the view of the Chester Community/Ratepayers Party.
They have but one candidate this time round, Miss Dora Taylor, who is standing in the City & St Anne's Ward.
According to her manifesto leaflet: "Plans to dig up the amphitheatre are stupid. It would cost millions in costs and compensation and at the end of the day all there would be to show would be an extension of the present 'dip' in the land. Remember the Romans were no friends of ours, they took us as slaves and some were sent to the galleys to row till they died."
I apologise for my sin of omission last week.
Bob Clough-Parker, Chester Chronicle

20/4/00 Last week my wife and I visited Chester on an educational trip dedicated to English language and culture. In our opinion, Chester is a magnificent city, where more than 2,000 years of history can be noted from buildings and architecture.
And just as we were struck the most, we were informed by an official city guide about plans to situate an office building partly on top of the remains of the Roman amphitheatre. Awful! And that in the UK, where respect for history is so deeply rooted and part of so many traditions.
Unbelievable! And that regarding something to be considered as not only part of British but also of European heritage. In the latter respect we feel we have the right to protest. Once destroyed means destroyed for ever. Economic reasons are not valid here. And besides that, even from an economic point of view, does the responsible authority have any idea of the value of such a monument? Tourists, for instance, come and visit your city from abroad where no Roman amphitheatre can be seen.
Please inform your readers in order to let them stop these plans in time.
Elly and Peter Wouters, Hendrik van Boeijenlaan 22, 2273 DB Voorburg, The Netherlands

20/4/00 I wish to make it known that I support the campaign to save the Chester amphitheatre. It is part of our European heritage and should be guarded with care.
Mary Gorsen, Obrechtrode 20, 2717 DD Zoetermeer, The Netherlands

27/4/00 Congraulations to Liane Smith and the newly formed Chester Amphitheatre Trust for their efforts to preserve the amphitheatre from concrete.
But your report last week that Cllr John Price, Labour's leader of the council, was "concerned about the views of local people" and that Christine Russell MP would be consulted made me smile sadly. Planning permission was, I understand, given as long ago as April 1995- five years ago! I cannot recollect any attempt before the event or afterwards, to obtain the views of local people or to generate any publicity for such a contentious matter.
And as for consulting Christine Russell MP, she was then the chairman of the Planning Committee who agreed the proposal!
Whatever the outcome of the current fire fighting exercise, it would be far better if the council always issued a news release whenever a proposal of considerable importance and possible contention is to be put to a committee for approval. It is then up to you, as an editor, to make a story of it and it is also up to our elected councillors to make their opinions known and further publicise the issue. Only in this way can real public interest be generated when it matters. Yes, I know that I should have read some small-print list of planning applications on the wall of the Town Hall or under the 'classified' in the newspaper. But in real life it is only publicity of the sort stimulated so well by Liane Smith that involves people and makes them express their opinion.
I will be interested to hear if anyone on the council, an elected member or official, supports my suggested procedure.
S. J. Cooper, 7 Hough Green, Chester

Press Release 29/4/00: GUMMER JOINS AMPHITHEATRE FRAY
Former Conservative Environment Secretary, John Gummer, has joined the chorus of opposition to the building of a courthouse on the remains of Chester's Amphitheatre.
Writing in the current issue of Construction News, Mr Gummer criticises the development as 'a second-rate building, despoiling a first-class archaeological site, in a city of world renown'. In the article, Mr Gummer blames the Lord Chancellor's Department for the development, accusing it of commissioning a succession of poor quality buildings since as long ago as the 1960's. He continues: 'Now they've surpassed themselves in Chester by threatening to build a really mediocre building on the site of the Roman amphitheatre in one of the great cities of Europe. As a result, we shall lose the last chance to excavate the Roman remains that have yet to been seen in modern times. 'There is no doubt whose responsibility this is. It is the client- Her Majesty's Government.... This is not a proposal which should ever have been mooted. How can he (the Lord Chancellor) allow this scheme to continue? A second-rate building, despoiling a first-class archaeological site, in a city of world renown. The verdict must be "guilty as charged".'
Commenting, Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, David Jones, who briefed Mr Gummer on the background to the development, said: 'John Gummer is yet another figure of national standing who is outraged by the Amphitheatre development. He finds it incredible that, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, a Government department should be so irresponsible in its treatment of Chester's unique archaeological heritage. Everyone must join in the call to the Lord Chancellor to stop this act of wanton vandalism before we lose the site for generations.'

Mr Gummer's article:
Once upon a time it was a real feather in the cap of a builder when he was chosen to work on a new courthouse. Until relatively recently, our courts were among the best buildings in England. From London's Law Courts, designed by the remarkable G E Street, to the humblest of magistrates' court, we strove to enhance the majesty of the law by a fitting architectural setting.
Since the '60s, that has all changed and you'd be hard put to find a worthy building put up by the Lord Chancellor's Department. When I was Secretary of State, it was recognised this would be the last arm of government to take seriously my department's campaign for better design.
Now they've surpassed themselves in Chester by threatening to build a really mediocre building on the site of the Roman amphitheatre in one of the great cities of Europe. As a result, we shall lose the last chance to excavate the Roman remains that have yet to been seen in modern times. There is no doubt whose responsibility this is. It is the client- Her Majesty's Government.
So it's hard luck on the construction company. It must be a real embarrassment to David McLean Developments to have to operate in such a situation- a high-quality construction business, building to a sadly deficient design on an important site. They have made a good reputation for themselves in the North-West and North Wales and yet, through no fault of their own, they are likely to get the brickbats when it's the bureaucrats who are the villains of this piece. This is not a proposal which should ever have been mooted.
To make matters worse, the present Lord Chancellor, the immediate client, is a man of taste. Whatever may be the complaints about him, his refurbishment of his lodgings in the House of Lords was a welcome attempt to live up to the quality of Pugin's original design. How can he allow this scheme to continue? A second-rate building, despoiling a first-class archaeological site, in a city of world renown. The verdict must be 'guilty as charged'.

28/4/00 If our so-called representatives had directed their effort of digging holes for themselves into the excavation of the amphitheatre the issue would bave been resolved years ago.
Let's analyse the efforts of the latest establishment big gun, English Heritage's Henry Owen John and his facts.
Fact one is assumption based on experience. Fact two is also assumption because if excavation doesn't take place he won't know. But let's get to fact three- the wonderful Dee House, or is it? Many years ago I prepared plans of this building. In its time as a convent plans did not exist. These plans reveal that Dee House is built round or on an existing L-shaped structure. Dee House inside is anything but a Georgian house. So perhaps Dee House isn't really so significant after all.
And let's assume Dee House is of significance. Mr Owen-John, how many Georgian houses have you got listed? How many amphitheatres?
| You say we may not find what we expect- with that thinking would we ever find or learn anything?
Your letter is such a red herring it should be in the angling section. Dee House doesn't deserve to stay!
Alex Woods, Long Looms, Creat Barrow, Chester

28/4/00 With reference to the amphitheatre, can someone explain to me why Dee House is so important to Chester and to the council of this city? It's an ugly building, it has no merit, it wants knocking down. Let's have this no-go area returned to us by full excavation.
Could not some august body like the Chronicle open an account to fund excavation? If everyone in Chester gave a pound, surely this would raise the amount needed?
Joe Parkinson, Lache Lane, Chester

28/4/00 Copy of a letter to the Lord Chancellor
The citizens of Chester have since the wholesale distribution (??) of the city's treasures in the 1960s battled to prevent further destruction. We are not winning. Over half the city has been demolished to make room for the motor car.
At present, the Chester Amphitheatre Trust are working desperately to prevent the still covered section of the Roman amphitheatre from being built over to make yet another car park. Builders have already started on the site.
There are plenty of more suitable sites for this court house. Do please help us poor down-trodden Cestrians.
Anne Stewart, Saughall

28/4/00 As was revealed in Parliament on April 19, the Lord Chancellor's Department spent an extra £106m last year on advisers. If these advisers are any use, they will advise the Lord Chancellor that if his department wishes to retain public respect he would do better to spend the money relocating the County court and car park being constructed on Chester's Roman amphitheatre.
The county court is the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor's Department and its construction on this site is causing outrage. When we are told that it would cost too much to relocate the county court, we must remember that it is not money that is in short supply but the desire to listen to Chester.
Cllr Eveleigh Moore Dutton, Tushingham Hall, Tushingham

28/4/00 It has been brought to my attention that there are plans to build a new court in Chester on the remains of the amphitheatre.
These plans must be stopped, as the amphitheatre is an archaeological site of major value. The construction of a new building on such a site visually eradicates 2000 years of history in one go.
The plans are thus an insult to history, culture and research. I am shocked that the plans were developed in such a magnificent city.
I sincerely hope that the plans will be dismissed as soon as possible.
Nicole De Bree, The Netherlands

5/5/00 I am writing to add my voice to the current debate about the amphitheatre in Chester.
I am neither an expert in archaeology or heritage, nor am I a councillor, but merely a resident of Chester confused by the priorities apparently held concerning this city. Are we a tourist city or a shopping city?
We hear often that we rely on tourists, but what do they come to see? As every major city has C&A, BHS, M&S and Debenhams, surely it cannot be these. Is it possible they come to witness Chester's heritage? How strange, then, that as a tourist attraction we seem so lukewarm in showing them all we have to offer!
I know of Cestrians, let alone tourists, who do not know that a trip through Spud-U-Like will reveal Roman archaeology.
Sue Proctor, in her letter seemed to castigate us for only concentrating on our Roman heritage. This being the case, I question the comments made by Cllrs John Price, Brian Bailey and Graham Proctor concerning the extension to the Debenhams store. This will involve the removal of the entire post-medieval sequence where archaeological remains survive from the earliest times to the present day.
Giving approval for this scheme to go ahead, Cllr Price said: 'This development is crucially important economically to this city.' Cllr Bailey said: 'I give credit to Debenhams for expanding in what anyone who has seen it can only describe as a slum area'. ClIr Proctor apparently believes it to be vital, despite the possibility of there being valuable finds on the site.
What I deduce from all this is that commerce is the city's god, and that archaeology is only important if it is in a nice area. This I find incongrous, given that Dee House appears to be a mish-mash of styles and has been allowed to decay since its listing.
I am a little short of confidence in the experts that Sue Proctor and others speak of when you consider the apparent vandalism that was condoned during the 1960s by the city council. It saw the destruction of the unique 'Elliptical Building' to make way for the Forum and multi-storey car park.
Surely the city council should have learned from this?
Sue Proctor also made the comment that archaeological methods may be much better in the future. But it does not mean the opportunity for excavating the amphitheatre site will come up in the future. It is a good job this attitude was not adopted hundreds of years ago by the pioneers of archaeology because Chester would have no history to attract tourists.
I, as a resident of this city am fascinated by its history and believe that only a small part is known and understood. Given all the rumours, claims and counter claims, we as residents and shareholders of this city should have an opportunity to receive all the facts and voice our opinions in a full and open meeting. After all, we have public meetings to discuss flag poles and planters. Surely the overall vision of Chester is of far greater importance.
K N Pickering, Chester

5/5/00 I refer to the article 'We made a mistake' (Chester Chronicle, April 28th).
Cllr Brian Bailey states that there were 13 city councillors on the planning committee which considered the application by McLeans to build on the amphitheatre on March 28,1995.
One person is recorded as voting against the proposal. Two people say they can't remember how they voted. Do any of the other 10 councillors remember how they voted?
Can any of them remember voting for this proposal?
If not, do we have a valid planning permission, or is it a 'clerical error'?
Steve Howe, Lime Grove, Hoole

5/5/00 I do not want the amphitheatre to have offices built because people like walking in the amphitheatre. People like looking at where the Romans lived. People like to read the writing that is in the amphitheatre and people like Iying down on the grass and looking at the amphitheatre.
Gemma Mayled (aged seven) Marlow Avenue, Upton