Bid Launched for Heritage Centre in Welwyn Garden City

11.08.58pm GMT Sun 19th Mar 2006

Cowper cottages, historic buildings that formed part of the former Handside village.

"Since the 1920's most town planning around the world has been based on Welwyn Garden City. So why are we not celebrating that in the town where it all began?" Liberal Democrat Councillor Tony Skottowe asked himself. It all began when developers wanted to demolish 4 of the oldest buildings in the town.

"Residents in the area where appalled by what was being suggested", said Tony, "so a few of us got together to organise the opposition. When we started thinking about ways to prevent the vandalism to the town centre, the idea of the heritage centre emerged." The centre will show how important the town is to town planning worldwide.

Among the buildings threatened were the two Cowper Cottages, and one idea is to build the centre behind the cottages. The centre would show the history of the Garden City, and how it became important in town planning laws. The Garden City formed the model used by other towns around the world, and in Japan, for example there is a thriving Garden City Movement. Local people often notice groups of Japanese tourists visiting the town.

There is a website dedicated to the project, so please visit this at http://www.welwyngarden-heritage.org and send an email to register your interest in the project, or email Tony Skottowe at tony.skottowe@welhat.gov.uk.