THE civic society's new chairman has promised to guide the city through its continuing battle to preserve its character and architectural heritage.

Peter Trevelyan, whose lives in the city centre near the cathedral, says he will strive to ensure the updated planning guidance, which has a heavy influence on future planning applications, will reflect the society's ideals and vision for St Albans.

He said: "The distinctive character of the city, its beauty and its history, together with the surrounding Green Belt, are matters of great personal concern to me.

"It therefore gives me great pleasure to be elected chairman of St Albans Civic Society. I aim to continue its work, which has proved most valuable for the past 46 years. The fabric of the city is constantly changing.

"High standards of architecture and town planning are of great importance - hence the society is currently campaigning to promote a place-making scheme for the proposed city centre cinema instead of a soul-destroying block of high-rise flats.

"The economic heart of the city lies in St Peter's Street, so the society will continue to support the campaign against an out-of-centre superstore - it happens to be Tesco - in Alma Road.

"Perhaps the most important forthcoming issue is the snappily-titled local development framework which the Council will be rolling out over the next two or three years."

Mr Trevelyan has taken over from former chairman Eric Roberts, who has stepped down after nearly four years at the helm.