INTERVIEW
By the Dart INTERVIEW KATHY STANSFIELD
seCReTARY OF THe DARTMOuTH & KINGsWeAR sOCIeTY, DARTMOuTH GReeN PARTNeRsHIPs AND THe COMMuNITY BOOKsHOP COMMITTee.
by Kate Cotton
ormer town planner and environmental journalist Kathy Stansfield is now found helping in the town’s community bookshop and planting seasonal blooms around the town. Kathy is secretary of Dartmouth and Kingswear Society,
F
Dartmouth Green Partnerships and the Community Book- shop committee. She said: “It hasn’t all been by intent but just evolved
and I’m loving it. I never dreamt of being involved in a community bookshop but I love being part of the Dartmouth community. “A group of us were at the Dartmouth Arms a few years
ago, when we heard the Harbour Bookshop was closing. It had been open since the 1950s and was the only book- shop selling new books in town at the time. The owner was approaching retirement, the building was being refurbished and he decided to concentrate on his other shop in St Ives. “We found a way to set up as a
community co-operative, under legislation used to save village shops, so we could trade. We became a committee of five. I became the secretary and we opened in December 2011. “We bought shelves, fixtures and the
She said: “Our main function is to look at planning
applications - to see if they are appropriate to the town and fit in with the local plan and Conservation Area. With such strong local knowledge we can keep check on things such as windows and design changes along the river frontage. If we have any objections then we send them in to the district council. “We are a committee of six, predominantly retired
engineers, town planners and journalists. We also organise talks on planning issues and travel links. For example, a recent talk focused on a feasibility study looking at reconnecting Kingswear to the Paddington train line.” Kathy’s other role in the town is as secretary with
“I’ve travelled in
Dartmouth Green Partnerships – previously Dartmouth in Bloom. The group creates and looks after floral
Europe and further afield including
Egypt, Nepal, China, Burma, Peru and Bolivia while I was
computer system from the Harbour Book- shop helped with money from the Dart- mouth and Kingswear Society and were offered premises at 12 Higher Street rent free for 6 months by the Dartmouth Trust, which became the community bookshop.” The group employs Andrea Saunders as manager, who
working and have to say the townscape of Dartmouth is pretty special.”
had worked at the Harbour Bookshop for 26 years, assisted by a team of volunteers. Kathy added: “Despite competition from the internet
there are still lots of people who want to browse in a good bookshop. We’ve got a loyal following and it’s wonderful how people have supported us, including families and holidaymakers and past Harbour Bookshop customers. Our new extension has been built with funds raised from the community.” Kathy is also secretary of the Dartmouth and Kingswear
Society – set up by AA Milne’s famous son Christopher Milne, aka Christopher Robin. Christopher also set up the Harbour Bookshop. It’s in this civic society role that Kathy draws on her extensive professional experience.
displays along the riverfront, boat float and at the top of town and plants more than 100 hanging baskets for Dartmouth every summer. They recently negotiated a new pyramid shaped community greenhouse from South Hams District Council which they plan to create as a centre of excellence and demonstration area on the old depot site. At the moment they use a member’s private nursery to raise and store the planting. Kathy added: “We’re hoping this year SHDC will water the high baskets and
the Dartmouth BID has bought us two small bowsers to help with the rest. It can be hard work carrying the water around in a dry summer!” The group has entered the Royal Horticultural Society
Britain in Bloom competition again this year. “We are in both the local and national competitions this
year,” explained Kathy. “We can’t enter the national event every year and the last time we entered, two years ago, we won. “The whole idea is to make Dartmouth look beautiful
for residents and holidaymakers. And it gives the town a huge profile when we win.” “The Royal Horticultural Society has in recent years changed its remit from floral display and bedding plants to environmental sustainability, community involvement
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