Fencing

The local residents association ran a campaign to improve security around Bishops' House from 2007. Most local concerns were about what a fence would look like, whether it would work, and how this would affect access to Meersbrook Park. There are very strict planning rules around listed buildings. Hence the proposed fence would look rather more like "period railings enclosing a generous garden around Bishops' House". If you look at this section of a postcard, you'll see that historically there WAS a fence around Bishops' House, and this would be very significant to any planning application.

Consultations with South Yorkshire Police were supportive. By creating a generous 'no-mans-land' around the house people would be unlikely to cross the barrier in to this area. Even if they did it would be a clear breach, and the Police would respond quickly. There would still be Meersbrook Park access adjacent to Bishops' House, just on the other side of the building. This would require an opening to be created in the park wall, and a new path to be created alongside the fence to meet up with the existing path behind the house.

Everyone who has seen the proposals thought they added to the park and the setting of Bishops' House. Photographs though the railings would be possible even when the new gates were closed. Enclosing the garden areas around the house also means they could be planted out much more than at present. The possibilities are inspiring when you consider what has been achieved in the nearby walled garden. The reason this is on hold (but still actively sought) is financial.

The plans described would cost in excess of £60,000. Although some money was available, even with the section 106, it was nowhere near enough. A more affordable CCTV system was also proposed for the money immediately available. There was some reluctance about this, but everyone I have spoken to now agrees that the system is working well and there have been very few incidents.

The fence proposals are still available and will hopefully become part a future bid for improvement and renovation to the House. As the existing
section 106 money wouldn't go far toward the scheme cost I suspect it will instead be used for other very worthwhile community projects. Security lighting has been tried at Bishops' House on a couple of occasions. It was ineffective as simply lighting up youth presence still requires passers by and neighbours to observe and report undesirable activities. It did not put off the 'hard-core', quite the opposite.

A night-time activated Mosquito device was installed for one summer. It didn't always seem to be in operation (I'm too old to hear it so can't tell you exactly when), and its effectiveness was open to debate. Along with the security lighting I believe it was removed when the CCTV was installed in 2009.

Well that's the story so far. It's up to you what happens next, particularly whether the significant funding required can be found.

Dave Holt

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