SPRA

St Peter's Residents' Association, Hammersmith, W6

SPRA Committee Minutes


SPRA Committee meeting

7.30pm, 7 February 2023

27 St Peter's Square



Present: Steve Askins (Chair), Lou Devonshire (Secretary), Phil Back (Treasurer), Joanna Edmunds, Oliver Leigh Wood, Charlotte Reed, Elizabeth Ryland.


Also in attendance: Phil Pritchard, Coronation Day events lead


1 Apologies: none – all committee members present  


2 Minutes of last meeting, 10/11/23

Signed off ready for Spraweb.net


3 Matters Arising

Reclining Lady – Before Christmas, the statue was finally wrapped in Tyvec (a breathable but waterproof material) so that she can dry out in readiness for restoration works.  Sadly this happened a little too late for the first cold and wet spells of autumn that it was intended to avoid.  The Council is now leading the project and communications have slowed whilst their report and plans for the project are completed. It is likely to focus on restoration and preservation due to the costs and feasibility issues around moving the statue.  SA is awaiting an update from them.  


HFC Climate Carnival – SA confirmed that at long last the Council has paid the £250 grant for planting in the Square awarded in Autumn 2021 with thanks to LD and PB for following up on this.


Webmaster – SA put out another plea for support as Mark Levesley continues to support SPRA from his new home in Spain.


Bulb planting days – Both planting events in Autumn 2022 were very successful with good turnouts for both days.  The 1000s of bulbs planted should ensure a sustained flower display until at least May 2023. CR said that she would include a thankyou in the next PTA letter which will also encourage students to go and look at the beautiful results of their efforts.


Hammersmith Cycleway – Our local councillor Patrick Walsh was unable to attend the SPRA Winter Party so no update is available.  There have been reports in the local and national press of a sharp rise in collisions and injuries along King Street.  SA said he would follow up with PW for an update.


Entwistle Terrace shopfront – Since the last meeting, impressive glass panels have been installed around both street-facing sides, but SA said this was likely to comply with Planning issues (their planning permission is due to expire) and that no new shop was believed to be imminently opening for business.


4 Events

Coronation Preparations – Phil Pritchard reported that he'd already hired benches to seat 200 for the coronation weekend (6-8 May) but that he would also need access to church and school seating and tables too.  OLW and CR confirmed they would liaise and follow-up.  CR said that there are only 4 good school tables but that at least 8 children's dinner bench/tables on wheels (each seating up to 12) could be borrowed.  There will be no school caretaker to help on the day but CR volunteered to oversee the transporting them back and forth assuming there will be other volunteers. The toilet block in the Square and the accessible toilet in the church would be available on the day. The hired benches will be stored at SA's house.  

The date for a community picnic celebration in the Square was confirmed to be Sunday 7th May 2023.  King Charles' Coronation Day itself is on Saturday whilst there is also a Bank Holiday Monday on the 8th May, billed as “the big help out”, when the work of volunteering and community work will be in the spotlight.   OLW said that Charles Clapham was hoping to have a big screen live showing of the Coronation in the church on the Saturday.  

PP asked what lessons could be drawn from the Platinum Jubilee lunch experience.   It was agreed that a seating plan did not work but that table marshaling would ensure both a good mix and no antisocial gaps.  If possible, parties should be encouraged to arrive together.  In the event of wet weather OLW suggested the church could take everyone, with eating in the pews.  

The Committee agreed that there would be a charge per ticket, but that SPRA would give a bottle of prosecco for each table of 4 booked.  The profits from sales would be given back to the community and charities of choice, perhaps split between church, school and SPRA.  CR volunteered the PTA's help to set up a Paypal payment link for buying tickets and keeping a list of attendees.

PP said that his wife Penny would be happy to design the poster as before.  OLW said he would hoist flags around the Square.

SA said he would write to Karen Frazer to confirm help with the tables, and send out an email advertising the event with a link.  LD said she was due to write another physical newsletter in Spring.  


Winter Party Review – SA reported that 41 people were in attendance at Haweli Indian restaurant, including 2 guests, for a total subsidised cost of around £500 to SPRA.  The Committee agreed that this was a nearly perfect number of attendees for the available space.  Previous years have seen more members but there would not have been the room to seat more this year.  He said that the feedback had been very positive, both on the night and after the event, with particular glowing reviews for the tasty and abundant food.  It was also a night for recruiting new members including a couple of Ukrainians who have recently settled in the area.  


Shakespeare 2023 – LD confirmed that the Shakespeare in the Squares team would be bringing Twelfth Night to the Square on Saturday 24th June this year.  The Council has agreed to hire the Square for £155 and will waive their usual admin fee.  SPRA will undertake to secure the wet weather venue (if needed).  She said that as a commercial sponsor - Savills – has been secured by SITS this year, she was confident that there would be no toilet hire cost to SPRA.  She also undertook to secure the usual TEN and hire booking contract from the Council.  


5 Planning

Applications previously discussed:

1 - 9B SPS – front and rear steps, window & door replacement, solar panels. SPRA commented. Decision overdue since 12 June 2020.

2 - 67 Black Lion Lane. Erection of a rear extension at second floor level, on top of the existing back addition. SPRA commented. Refused 25 April 2022. Appeal launched 18 July 22.

3 - 45 St Peters Square. Single story rear basement extension to side of existing; excavation of part of the front garden to enlarge and provide steps down into the existing front lightwell; and associated external and internal alterations. Decision due 25 April 2022. Approved 23 Dec 22

4 - 19SPS – details submitted to comply with previous permission. Approved 3 Oct 2022

5 - 40SPR – application to vary 2013 consent to allow top floor flat to apply for a parking permit. Refused 25 Nov 22


New applications

1 - 4SPV – application following on from LBHF enforcement. Multiple interior and exterior changes/ updates, including to garden. Decision overdue since 20 Jan 2023

2 - 20SPG – 1st floor extn and conversion into 1 bed and 2 bed flats. Decision overdue since 31 Jan 23

3 - 45SPS – details of roofing and facing materials required by consent granted.

4 - 60 BLL – Installation of an internal stair lift. Comments due 1 March 23


6 AOB

Ward Panel – SA reported that he'd been approached by the Chair of the police Ward Panel which is a community interface between police and residents, as the next meeting is on 28th March.  The new Borough Commander is keen to increase engagement, so is reaching out to various local wards and would like local representation.  SA undertook to advertise for interest in the next SPRA mailing.


SPRA succession plans – SA and LD will be standing down in the summer from their positions on the committee, after long spells in their roles.  Meanwhile LD said she would write a piece for the Spring newsletter.


St Peter's School auction – CR said this event would be taking place on 3rd March at the new Chiswick Auction House offices at the Barley Mow centre.  The fundraiser is crucial to help fund the shortfall in the school catering budget.  ER and OLW made suggestions about potential local business donors to the cause.  SA undertook to advertise the event to members via email.


St Peter's Garden Fund -  Historically, residents of the Square have received a letter (from OLW) requesting extra donations to keep the gardens looking so well cared for and planted.   He reported that due to Covid restrictions he had not made such a request for three years and that one was long overdue.  He said that since the Square is enjoyed by many more people than those who live closest, it was important to spread the word and find ways for more people to donate.  CR said that the school had a QR donation system set up that worked very well for them as a basic fund-raising model.  OLW, CR and PB agreed to discuss further.  


7 Date and time of next meeting: tbc but sometime in mid April




SPRA Committee meeting

7.30pm, 11 October 2022

47 Black Lion Lane




Present: Steve Askins (Chair), Lou Devonshire (Secretary), Elizabeth Ryland, Oliver Leigh Wood, Joanna Edmunds.



1 Apologies: Charlotte Reed and Phillip Back.  


Before moving onto the agenda, SA welcomed JE to the SPRA team – now comprising 7 committee members.


2 Minutes of last meeting, 25/04/2022

Signed off with a few typos, and ready for Spraweb.net


3 Matters Arising

Reclining Lady – Over the summer, various parties (HFC, Heritage of London Trust, local architectural advisors, Hammersmith and Fulham Historic Buildings Group, Historic England, SPRA and others) met to progress the restoration project. It has been discovered that the statue is more solid than expected, but more fragile structurally, and that key utilities run down and under the A4 in line with the construction.  Following the meeting in late September, the Council estimated that the cost of the original plan to restore, revolve 180 degrees and move her nearer to the church would be closer to £60k (the earlier estimate was around £20k).  Given the fragility of the statue the strategy is being reconsidered.  It was agreed to improve the environment in which the statue sits (cutting back trees that shed leaves), in a bid to make any further restoration sustainable.  SA and OLW agreed in the interim to wrap the statue in Tyvec (a breathable but waterproof material and depending on council confirmation) so that she can dry out in readiness for restoration works.


HFC Climate Carnival – SA said that it has so far proven difficult to get payment as agreed from the Council scheme for bulb-planting in the Square.  He said he would talk to PB about escalating this with HFC.


Superbloom – OLW and SA reported that despite various efforts the entire wildflower seed-planted area in the Square failed to bloom all summer.  Even several wildflower plants, dug in later on in the summer, failed to take off.  OLW added that the Historic Royal Palace project was always vulnerable to the random nature of wildflowers… and that it may take months, maybe years, for the right conditions to encourage the seeds to sprout.  


Webmaster - Mark Levesley continues to support SPRA from his new home in Spain.  No new leads for a replacement Webmaster were forthcoming at the SPRA AGM.


Defibrillator – Over the summer, SPRA donated £700 to the defibrillator fund started by Mick Pearson, landlord of the Cross Keys, and the new kit has now been installed ready for emergency use onsite at the pub.  SA added that we should advertise its existence annually in the SPRA newsletter.


Solar Panels – Earlier in the year, Hammersmith residents were approached by the Mayor of London and HFC-backed solar panel scheme, Solar Together London, offering reduced-cost solar panels and installation.  Various SPRA area residents were tempted.  LD reported that she is about to have solar panels installed on her roof, but that the process has been quite chaotic. Despite HFC's involvement, key departments (Planning and Building Control) do not appear to be fully up to speed with the scheme.  She agreed it is wise to check whether residents are permitted to install panels within the Conservation area; it is indeed possible in some cases, and the HFC Duty Planning Officers will advise.  Fortunately, the normal charges to Duty Planning have been dropped for solar panel enquiries.


4 Events

St Peter's Square Bulb Planting Events – OLW reported that he and CR had signed off two dates this Autumn: 12th and 19th November. He added that he would now place orders for bulbs, around 1000 or more given the demand last year.  CR had emailed to say that St Peter's school backed the dates.  She would help to publicise the events along with SA.  JE suggested parents and children could be encouraged to bring their own bulbs to add into the mix.


Winter Party – The last Winter Party was in pre-Covid January 2019.  The Committee discussed various options for venues this year.  SA undertook to talk to the manager of Haweli to see if they would cater a buffet party for the community this year; LD would identify suitable dates in the New Year  (Action – SA/LD)


Event Reviews – The Committee agreed that the Platinum Jubilee picnic in the Square had been a great success, despite the gloomy weather.  It was agreed that any future events would work better without a table plan, which would also encourage greater mingling.  With thoughts turning to King Charles' coronation in May 2023, the Committee discussed possible plans, including a post-coronation tea party in the Square.  LD said she would ask CR to find out the school's interest in joining forces.  


This July, Shakespeare in the Square sold out all 250 tickets for The Tempest.  LD said she would liaise with the SITS producers for 2023, agreeing that SPRA's future involvement relies on the right production.  This year had been slightly cheaper for SPRA as host than previous years, but HFC's Events team have a new location hire card, which may involve higher outlay next year.


In June, the SPRA AGM 2022 took place in the Cross Keys with just over 30 members turning up to review 2 years of activity and accounts.  LD wondered how more members and new faces could be encouraged to attend in future. SA added that subscriptions are holding up.  JE said that in her experience it's hard to attend SPRA events if you don't know many members; she added that her street WhatsApp group set up during the first lockdown had introduced her to many neighbours she hadn't previously known.  LD reflected that as the front-facing role of SPRA street reps had diminished over the years (thanks to Covid and the Standing Order system of collecting subs), the WhatsApp groups had strengthened links between neighbours at street level.  She undertook to revise the street rep list and spot gaps, and investigate the various WhatsApp groups in the area.  JE suggested that SPRA host a “new faces” drinks event for those who had moved into the area within the last 3 years.  SA added that the street reps should also be invited to attend.  OLW suggested that SPRA should give a copy of Jilly Paver's local history book to all attendees as a welcome gift.  SA undertook to talk to Jilly before drawing up plans.


5 Planning

Applications previously discussed:

1. 9B SPS – front and rear steps, window & door replacement, solar panels. SPRA commented. Decision overdue since 12 June 2020.

2. Standish House – change of flammable UPVC framed windows to the central core to inflammable aluminum framed windows. Approved 23 August 2022.

3. 67 Black Lion Lane. Erection of a rear extension at second floor level, on top of the existing back addition. SPRA commented. Refused 25 April 2022. Appeal launched 18 July 22.

4. 45 St Peters Square. Single story rear basement extension to side of existing; excavation of part of the front garden to enlarge and provide steps down into the existing front lightwell; and associated external and internal alterations. Decision due 25 April 2022. Overdue

5. 12 Standish Road – new door to replace window at rear GF. Approved 1 June 22

6. 42 BLL Changes to rear fenestration; removal of water tank from roof of back addition; changes to single story back inc solar heat panels; new windows and French doors at GF; internal include loft conversion. Refused 29 Sept 2022


New applications

1. 16BER (GF) - Single story timber clad outbuilding following demolition of prefab garage in rear garden. Approved 15 July 22

2. 4SPV – possible works undertaken without listed building or planning consent. LBHF have informed SPRA that they are undertaking potential enforcement action and that works have been halted. 3 August 2022. Ongoing.

3. 19SPS – details submitted to comply with previously granted permission. Approved 3 Oct 2022

4. 40SPR – application to vary 2013 consent to allow top floor flat to apply for a parking permit. Comments due 2 Nov 2022


6 AOB

Bob Marley/ Island studios Blue Plaque event, 8/10/2022 – OLW reported that the event on the corner of St Peter's Square previously occupied by Island Records was quite chaotic and not well-advertised.  It was also not (as rumoured) commemorating Bob Marley specifically, but Island Records and founder Chris Blackwell in particular.  He said about 80 people were in attendance, including a choir from Wendell Park School and a musician from the Island records band Aswad.  Nonetheless it is good to report that a proud corner of St Peter's Square history has been publicly commemorated.


Cycleway – LD reported she had heard about an incident where a young adult had suffered a broken leg crossing the cycleway this summer.  The Committee agreed that driving (and walking!) in and out of the conservation area across the two-way cycle lanes continues to be hair-raising.  The flat section near the Goldhawk Road traffic lights is especially worrying as it is barely differentiated from the pedestrian pavement, with its partial kerb.  SA undertook to follow up with Cllr Patrick Walsh, who attended the SPRA AGM in June, to ask about the planned user consultation and safety monitoring.


Entwistle Terrace shop front – SA reported that building work appears to be moving the shop unit towards eventual opening.  The Committee agreed to watch this space.


7 Date and time of next meeting/Winter Party: tbc