Comments

Introduction 

The Village Design Statement publication has now been circulated, hopefully to every house in the Parish and many compliments on the design style and content have been received. The document has been circulated quite widely following the official launch at the Cricket Club on Wednesday 30th December when we were pleased to welcome the Mayor of East Staffordshire, Councillor Tom Dawn and his consort. the Mayoress. This was the Mayor's first official visit to the village during his year of office and the Chairman of the Parish Council, Mr John Morris, accompanied by Joan, was present not only to welcome him but also to provide a very pleasant reception. The Parish Council and the Village Design Group are indebted to the Cricket Club for the use of their premises for this memorable occasion. Unfortunately some people were prevented from attending due to the date falling between Christmas and New Year but it was considered important that the Statement was circulated prior to the Parish Meeting about the College Site due to be held on January 7th.

Favourable comments on the Statement have been received from village residents and some have kindly put pen to paper which is an extra bonus.

Other letters from further afield include Janet Dean MP, numerous ones from Staffordshire County Council, including the leader, Terry Dix (who begged an extra copy following the theft of the first one!), Graham Jones, Eddie Smith (County Highways) and not forgetting Alan Taylor, Principal Building Conservation Officer, who wrote 'It is a very nicely produced document, clearly the product of a great deal of thought and effort - I am sure it will be helpful over the coming years in influencing future developments in Rolleston.'

Two extra commendations must be reported, firstly from the Countryside Commission who are negotiating for 500 copies to send as specimens to other villages and secondly from the Church who are using it to help recruit a new Rector. Such influence is too terrifying to contemplate.

I am indeed proud to have led the team that have produced this Village Design Statement.

Alan Woodbine (extract from Spring 1999 issue of the Rollestonian)

Some of the letters received

Dear Alan,

Thank you for your recent letter together with the copy of Rolleston's Village Design Statement. I think that you should all feel proud of yourselves for producing a wonderful document. I sincerely hope that it serves your community well.

With very best wishes

Andrew Holden (Chief Executive of the Community Council of Staffordshire)

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Dear Mr Woodbine,

It was so kind of you to send me your fascinating Village Design Statement. It is beautifully done and will really impress everyone who sees it, including all 'planners'. I wish every village had wonderful public-spirited people as Rolleston has. My husband would have been so happy to think the place he loved as a child is so well cared for now, a hundred years later.

I am sure that you know that the Mosley family crest is a spread eagle and I remember when we went there ages ago a feature of Rolleston was the Spread Eagle Pub and its sign with the crest.

How wise of Sir Tonman to insist that the railway must not run too near, strangely enough the Duke of Devonshire wanted a railway through Chatsworth Park, but fortunately it was not suitable. It would have ruined that lovely park.

Thank you again so very much for sending me 'Village Design', I will show it to my sons.

Diana Mosley

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Dear Mr Woodbine

It was kind of you to send me your Village Design Statement for Rolleston, which I was delighted to get. When I was writing my 'Rules of the Game' in 1981, I visited the village and was much struck by it and what remained of the Mosley connection in the Church, the Mews and so on. Indeed I regretted my father's hasty sale of the house and land in the 1920s - though I see that this was necessary if he was to pursue his chosen career. I have inherited some old photographs of the interior of the house which was remarkable and sumptuous. Sadly so little furniture seems to have survived - much of it was lost in the fire in my father's house in Ireland in the 1950s. But I am glad that the village is being looked after so well and that there are memories of the Mosley connection

with thanks again

Nicholas Mosley Ravensdale
(Lady Mosley's stepson)

The publication was also placed on the internet by RUDI to provide guidance to others considering developing their own statements.