SWANBOURNE PARISH PLAN

Transcription

1 SWANBOURNE PARISH PLAN A FUTURE FOR THE PARISH OF SWANBOURNE November 2008

2 Index What is a Parish Plan? 3 How does Swanbourne benefit from a Parish Plan? 3 What do we think about Swanbourne? 4 New Housing 6 Affordable Housing 8 Car Parking 9 Footways 10 Footpaths and Bridleways 11 Recreation and Facilities 11 Traffic 14 Other Community and Economic Issues 16 Appendices 1 COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN 2 Statistics 3 Parish Footpath Map 4 Good Neighbourliness Code 5 Village Design Statement 2

3 What is a Parish Plan? A Parish Plan is a process through which the whole community has a say on what goes on in their village. The Local Government Act 2000 placed new powers on district and county councils to promote economic, social and environmental well being. A Parish Plan is the mechanism through which the village can have a real voice in this process, at the Parish Council level and at the District and County Council level. How does Swanbourne benefit from a Parish Plan? Swanbourne is a rural and unique village in largely unspoilt North Buckinghamshire countryside. But the growth of Milton Keynes and the urbanisation of this part of the county, and the corresponding traffic issues, mean that Swanbourne needs to be proactive in its own development and protection. Swanbourne Parish Council, through a steering committee, implemented a process of consultations through discussion, interview and questionnaires and annual review at the Parish Assembly, to hear the views of the whole community. Through this process, the plans for the future of Swanbourne are fully informed. The Parish Plan takes the views of the community on many aspects, so that how Swanbourne is protected and how the village changes can be driven by informed views and real opinions. This will help the community of Swanbourne to develop, allow for the protection of the local environment, and address the threats and challenges that are of concern to residents. The questionnaires that were circulated through the village and the discussions at the Parish Assembly are testament to the community s interest both in how Swanbourne may change in the future, and also in how current issues need to be addressed. The huge level of interest shows that the villagers are interested in enhancing their community. The Swanbourne Parish Plan is a way to protect and develop the community as a whole and to address economic, environmental and social issues that affect the village. 3

4 What do we think about Swanbourne? The factors most appreciated about living in Swanbourne: That Swanbourne is essentially still very rural Unspoilt by new houses or big developments An absence of the urban sprawl that has blighted many villages An active farming community Unspoilt countryside and wildlife and good walks Peace and tranquillity, the feeling of space The feeling of community Good neighbourliness Relative stability of population movement The mix of people The feeling of a community at ease with itself Good community spirit Church and church life The welcome to newcomers The local services and facilities Village Stores and Post Office The Betsey Wynne Tea Rooms Church of England School Large recreation ground Many village activities including quizzes, fete, sports etc Chapel and Church The sense of history and stability The Fremantle history and the feeling of one estate The character of the architecture, and the many generally attractive houses 4

5 The location Swanbourne is far enough from Milton Keynes and Aylesbury to remain rural, but close enough to use What is not liked about Swanbourne or village life: Traffic More than 30,000 vehicles a week through the village o Rat-running by commuters between Aylesbury and Milton Keynes, aggravated when traffic seeks to avoid bottlenecks and uses the village back roads o The speed of traffic the intrusiveness, noise and fumes, more than the safety aspect o The amount of heavy goods vehicles o Swanbourne House School traffic particularly at peak times New builds, if they are out of character with the village Usually the same faces on committees it would be good if more residents offered to help and become involved To some extent a feeling of two separate villages, Nearton End and Smithfield End Better bus service wanted Lack of affordable housing External factors o Encroaching Milton Keynes development and the threat to the Swanbourne rural way of life o Progressive loss of everyday shops in nearby Winslow 5

6 New Housing What Swanbourne can do to influence any development is limited, by the planning process. However, Aylesbury Vale District Council should be made aware of the views of the community when making planning decisions. This should include considerations based on other open space along the road frontage, important vistas and the need to preserve the rural feel. Consideration should be given to applying for the whole of the village, or at least increased parts of it, to be designated a Conservation Area. Scale of development The overwhelming view in the village is that development should be limited to the infill of gaps rather than larger scale development. Development should be in proportion with the amenities of the village, and should generally be small in nature. Development might help the survival of important village facilities but this is not necessarily so. Any development should be small in scale, and should avoid styles out of keeping with the local environment. The open nature of the village is inherently part of Swanbourne and a feature that sets the village apart. This should be protected, and careful consideration given to whether the development of any particular gap is appropriate. Brownfield sites could be developed, with less adverse impact on the village environment. In any development, the consequence for traffic movements and volume should be considered. 6

7 Possible development along the main roads through the village without too much effect on the neighbouring properties. Development should be considered only where it would enhance the already beautiful architecture of the village and ensure the rural feel of the village is maintained. Type of development Development should consist of a mix of large and small, traditional buildings. Where there is a plot suitable for an individual property then consideration should be given to the creation of, for instance a pair of semi-detached houses rather than one larger individual house. There is a shortage of smaller houses available to purchase for first time buyers. Affordable housing is dealt with elsewhere in the Plan, but developments should allow for terraced or semi-detached properties. Blend with existing; mix of traditional and modern; innovative design; good quality, energy efficient, environmentally friendly; small detached and traditional; use of local bricks; herringbone brick with oak frames etc Use of a street scene style of development should be encouraged, with mix of large and small, with emphasis on smaller houses and following traditional village features. 7

8 Architectural style Detailed designs and information on potential village designs are to be included in the Village Design Statement. The quality and type of development should draw on local architectural types, including overall architectural design, the use of materials, and the scale of houses including the ridge height. Of particular importance: The distinctiveness of communities around the village should not be lost Variety that there is a wide range of styles in the village helps to define Swanbourne; developments should have the appearance of a traditional lane with a variety of houses Materials bricks should tend towards handmade rather than machine made, and should where possible match those of nearby properties; some thatched roofs, where building regulations permit; timber framing; bay windows Shape of overall building and plot important as is roofing materials and roofing line. Garden walls; picket fences; cottage gardens Affordable Housing The housing needs survey indicated a need for Affordable Housing. The Parish Council should continue in its efforts to persuade AVDC to grant planning permission for affordable housing on an appropriate site. If affordable housing can be provided there should be a split of rented properties and those for sale with a shared ownership. 8

9 Car Parking Overnight parking is unsightly and/or is obstructing the highway: Smithfield End the Parish Council will discuss with the Swanbourne Estate to see if any land could be available for offroad parking for Smithfield End residents. Nearton End Responsibility should be emphasised to all residents to park on their property wherever possible. The Parish Council will discuss with the Swanbourne Estate the possibility of using part of the old allotment gardens in Nearton End, opposite Brises Farm, for residents parking. Ridgeway Cottages the permissive rear access and permissive parking granted to residents by the Playing Field Management Committee eases the problem, but congestion in Ridgeway is marked and no other solution is currently under consideration. The car parking area created by the Estate off Station Road has helped considerably. Parking along Mursley Road is generally helpful to traffic calming, but long stretches of parked cars can also cause significant problems: Church Corner the Estate kindly makes the Park available for major church services when possible. Village Stores and Village Hall enforced gaps could facilitate the flow of traffic and result in less over-running of the grass verge. 9

10 Parking outside the village school has been considerable but is not currently regarded as a problem, due to the measures implemented by the school, but with the expected growth of the school needs to be kept under active review. Parking outside Swanbourne House School on major events can cause difficulties but is not frequent. Footways The village footways are generally regarded as satisfactory but the following issues have been identified: Around the Church corner pedestrians, particularly with children, need to be protected from vehicles cutting the corner and mounting the footway. A footway down Cemetery Hill would be appreciated, though it is recognised that the speed of traffic and the narrowness of the verge make this problematic. The Parish Council should continue to investigate options including extending the footway running past Swanbourne House School or, in discussion with the Estate, making a footway on the opposite side of road. 10

11 Nearton End / Tattams Lane are in effect footways for a third of the village, but rat running traffic makes these lanes unsafe for pedestrians. Traffic calming is needed. It is thought that some footways could be better lit, but equally it is felt that that the present amount of lighting is more than appropriate for a rural village and maintaining the balance between safety and light pollution. Regular clearing of footways is important and the Parish Council should keep this under review. Footpaths & Bridleways The village s extensive network of public and permissive footpaths and bridleways is much used and highly valued. Working with the Estate and Buckinghamshire County Council s Parish Paths Partnership, these have been significantly improved in recent years and this programme is ongoing. Concentrating particularly on potential circular routes, the programme to replace stiles with kissing gates, and elsewhere to upgrade remaining stiles to incorporate dog-ways, is seen as important and should be progressed. Much of this has been done. Some signing could be improved, and the Parish Council should monitor this. The stiles and signing on Footpath 10 await upgrading and this should be progressed. The Parish Council should continue to monitor all public footpaths and bridleways and ensure high standards of ease of use. Recreation and Facilities Of the respondents, 34 said that they used the Village Hall, 26 the public Footpaths and Bridleways, 24 the Recreation ground and play area, and 18 each the Tennis Court/basket ball and the Millennium Wood. This shows a generally reasonable up-take of all these facilities, although only the Village Hall was over 50% usage. (It seems that many villagers use the majority of facilities whilst some use few.) 11

12 Village Hall The recent refurbishment has resulted in a first-class facility, and this is reflected in the hall s increased use. It is recognised that the hall is not large enough for bigger events such as dances. The need to maintain the village hall to this standard is recognised by the village hall management committee. Car parking outside the village hall causes a traffic flow problem at times of peak use, (see car parking section). Recreation Ground and Millennium Wood The Recreation Ground and Millennium Wood are great spaces for use by people of all ages (though some way from Smithfield End/Duck End). Some of the facilities need updating or repair. However a major refurbishment and replacement of the children s play equipment has now taken place following the initial consultation that took place during the Parish Plan process. The goal areas need upgrading and nets replacing. The tennis court and basket ball area need regular maintenance. In the Millennium Wood there is a need for regular pruning and maintenance to facilitate access while retaining a natural non-urban appearance. The Playing Field Management Committee keeps the Recreation Ground and Millennium Wood mown and tidied and the committee has recently been re-invigorated. The woodland walk needs regular maintenance and some upgrading. 12

13 Facilities and Clubs for Young People Outside of church/chapel activities, there is little for the 9 18 year olds, and more is felt to be needed. It is not clear whether this is coming from harassed parents or from bored young people and some further probing of this would be helpful. It can be difficult for children only in the village at weekends to get to know others. Cubs, Scouts and a gym have been suggested. Any additional activities would need the support of parents and dedicated people. Youth groups had been tried in recent years; previous efforts have come and gone, but there seems to be a feeling that it should be tried again, and that maybe paid leadership is required. After-school activities are being looked for, and it is possible that the village school, in its new role, may help to meet this need. There has been some evidence of drug abuse, possibly as a result of lack of activities. Neighbourhood Watch is alert to this. Educational and Social Activities The majority feel involved in village life and activities. Communication could be improved some people seem to be missing out on things which already exist. The various fund raising bodies in the village can be seen to compete for events. The Swanbourne Community Association has in the past been responsible for fund raising, and needs to work closely with the Village Hall and Playing Field Committees. The association would benefit from new volunteers who may enjoy organising events. Lack of time is cited as the main reason for not getting more involved in social activities, though a drinks licence at fund-raising events might encourage greater participation as well as raise more funds. The arrival of the new pub is seen as an opportunity for more social interaction and activities including darts matches. A variety of additional activities has been suggested an annual barn dance, more summer games, barbecues, a local history group, 13

14 bingo, more keep fit e.g. salsa, line dancing and even ballroom dancing, village hall courses. Educational farm visits have now been instituted, both for the village and for the village school. There is felt to be enough for the elderly, but tea dances, coach trips (F&N already organise these) and a lunch club (possibly at the Tea Rooms) have been suggested. At the start of the Parish Plan process the Betsey Wynne was still at the planning stage, and hence there were many comments concerning what might be included and how it could be made to feel like a local pub. Many suggestions have been actioned; some have not, where these do not fit in with the ethos planned. Traffic The volume and speed of through-traffic blights the village. The large development north of Aylesbury is expected to send more traffic through Swanbourne. All parts of the village are affected, in particular Mursley Road, Nearton End, Tattams Lane and Cemetery Hill, but also Winslow Road and Station Road. Traffic calming is a key long-term priority for the Parish Council. A number of initiatives should be explored: Community Speed Watch piloted Jun/July 2007 and in action Summer 2008 Vehicle Activated Signs usually quite effective, reasonably priced and Buckinghamshire County Council are becoming more supportive of their use. Removal of road markings research has shown that removal of road markings, and informal road layouts, can lead to a marked reduction in traffic speed. 14

15 Psychological traffic calming measures the new approach, less visually intrusive and less expensive. Parking of vehicles to create chicanes, but without too much grouping of vehicles which can lead to traffic flow problems. Special measures to deter rat-running through Nearton End and Tattams Lane. Horizontal traffic calming Bucks County Council favour horizontal traffic calming measures in preference to vertical. Local charter for villagers to sign up to, not to drive faster than 30mph and slower than this in the lanes and thereby slowing traffic down. Discussion with BCC could take place to investigate reducing the speed limit in Smithfield and Nearton End. A slower-driving campaign with Swanbourne House School parents. Hi Vis jackets to slow down traffic. 15

16 Other Community and Economic Issues Swanbourne House School provides much employment and helps the community in other ways, for example in providing free swimming instruction for children at the village school. The Betsey Wynne, and Home Farm Day Nursery, also provide employment. Although not part of the original questionnaire, the Parish Council hopes to encourage residents to sign up to a Good Neighbourliness Code. This was discussed and generally approved at the Parish Assembly in May A few suggestions for the code are included at Appendix 4. Additional thoughts and comments are always welcome. 16

17 Thanks to The Parish Plan Committee: Jennie Richards, Tom Finchett, Ken Harris, Chris Webb, Jacqui Page, Helen Goss & Karima Kingsley. Photographs courtesy of Tom Finchett, Marion Lowe & David Blunt. 17

18 Appendix 1 COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN 18

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21 Appendix 2 Statistics Swanbourne covers 2510 acres. The Electoral Register lists 300 electors. The most recent Census, 2001, reported the figures extracted below. While all the figures will have changed to some extent it is felt that they give a broadly accurate picture. Population 466 median age 37 male 252 female and over 35 Households 170 owner occupied 75 rented 95 Health health good 348 limiting long-term illness 63 Employment employed 226 registered unemployed economically inactive 76 average male hours worked 46 Transport households without a car 16 travel to work by public transport 6 travel to work by car

22 Appendix 3 Parish Footpath Map 22

23 Appendix 4 Good Neighbourliness Code It is suggested that everyone living in the village could join in following a voluntary Good Neighbourliness Code that reflects the little things that contribute to the quality of life of everyone in the village. Such subjects for inclusion could relate to the following: Noise those of us who can, try to do all our noisy gardening (such as lawn mowing) out of weekends, especially in the summer, and particularly not on Sundays, leaving those days quieter for everyone. Dogs those of us with dogs always pick up any faeces deposited on any footway or roadside verge in the village, or in the Playing Field or Millennium Wood, and always carry a plastic bag for this purpose. Litter we don t pass it by, we pick it up; and we ensure that our children know they are responsible for not dropping litter. Floodlights where floodlights really are necessary, we ensure they are of the lowest wattage possible, that they shine only on our own immediate area, and that they do not inconvenience neighbours. Parking the verges are parish property and we protect them by not parking on them. Bonfires consider effect on neighbours, timing, wind direction etc before lighting. 23

24 Appendix 5 Village Design Statement (In preparation) 24