Introduction 1. History of Churston
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Churston Neighbourhood Plan notes Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 1. History of Churston ....................................................................................................... 1 2. Character of the Village ................................................................................................. 2 3. Environment and Conservation (review – mostly new) .................................................. 2 4. Transport ....................................................................................................................... 4 5. Housing ......................................................................................................................... 5 6. Economy ..................................................................................................................... 76 7. Health and Social Services .......................................................................................... 87 8. Leisure, Tourism and Sport ........................................................................................... 8 9. Education (Need to incorporate Judith’s document) ..................................................... 10 Appendix 1: Neighbourhood Plan Core Principles ............................................................... 12 Appendix 2: Neighbourhood Plan General Principles .......................................................... 13 Appendix 3: Land Use......................................................................................................... 15 Appendix 4: Churston Heritage ........................................................................................... 19 Appendix 5: Wind Turbines and Solar Arrays ..................................................................... 23 Introduction This document is the Churston Neighbourhood Plan. Each section focuses on a different topic and considers it as follows: 1. A description of the current characteristics; 2. Consultation evidence of community objectives; and 3. Resultant Neighbourhood Plan policies This version focuses on content. Work needs to be done on improving the text and layout and adding pictures. 1. History of Churston Current Characteristics 1. Take a close look at Old Churston Village and you will find traces of events and times that made our country what it is today. Early man was there, and so were Phoenician traders. The Romans were followed by the Viking raiders. The Saxons laid the foundations of the village we know today. This, in turn, was altered and expanded by the Normans. The streets of Old Churston saw the passage of William, Prince of Orange and his troops on their way to London after landing at near-by Brixham and Churston Cove. The effect of the Enclosure Act followed by the Agricultural Revolution can still be seen today. The Industrial Revolution has also left its mark. Two World Wars brought about social, environmental and economic changes that still affect the Village today. Old Churston can be thought of as a ‘micro-time’ capsule of the development of England. 01/03/201625/06/201321/06/2013 1 Churston Neighbourhood Plan notes Neighbourhood Plan Policies 2. What remains must be treated with utmost care and saved intact for future generations. 3. Development must not detract from the existing historic character of the village and must comply with the principles as set out in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2. 2. Character of the Village Current Characteristics 1. The old village of Churston displays clear evidence of its medieval heritage. The lay- out and adjacent medieval strip fields reflect this period while the village now contains many buildings from subsequent centuries. 2. The rest of Churston is characterised by openness and spaciousness, e.g: Public views into and across the open fairways of Churston Golf course The wide tree lined Warborough Road The green and rural appearance of Green Lane The large gardens of the properties surrounding the golf course The farmland and green spaces throughout the village Consultation Evidence 3. The residents of the village regard the green space with the resulting peaceful and tranquil nature as its most important characteristic. 4. They also appreciate the beauty of the semi-rural environment, the local sea and coastal views and the resulting wildlife (including the rare Cirl buntings and Greater Horseshoe Bats) that resides in the area. This combines to make this area the `jewel in the crown` of Torbay. Neighbourhood Plan Policies 5. TBD 3. Environment and Conservation (review – mostly new) Current Characteristics 01/03/201625/06/201321/06/2013 2 Churston Neighbourhood Plan notes 1. The Churston Conservation Zone was established in 1970 with the specific aim of protecting what remained of the old buildings that formed a ribbon development from Alston Farm to Churston Court Farm along the line of Alston Lane and Churston Road. This was the first conservation zone to be set up in Torbay. After the building of Ferrers Green the Churston Conservation Area was expanded to its present boundaries to give some protection to the medieval field systems that surround the Village. 2. Churston’s green spaces support a wide variety of flora and fauna including rare species that are protected by habitat regulations. 3. The area plays an important role in local food production and distribution. 4. The swathe of undeveloped land separating the Brixham parish boundary from the villages of Churston and Galmpton plays a vital role in defining the character of the area. This land, including the Lupton estate is deemed to be of "high landscape value and is of heritage significance, particularly the village of Churston and its surrounding countryside". On a negative note the old village of Churston is subject to flooding. The problem also effects Bascombe Road and the medieval fields bordering Elberry Lane. Consultation Evidence 5. The strongest and most frequently voiced opinion of residents is to: protect green space, food security, tranquillity, health and wellbeing for future generations remedy the flooding in an effective manner Neighbourhood Plan Policies 6. It is important the appropriate environment is maintained (including cattle grazing) for the preservation of the habitat for the Greater Horseshoe bat, cirl buntings and other protected species. 7. Green space including farmland, the Harry Colt designed golf course and common land should be maintained as a green buffer around the village of Churston. This approach is supported by the “The Torbay Green Infrastructure Plan”. (Adam to review) 8. In the absence of any other limiting factors and in order to offer safeguards to any residential dwellings within the vicinity, permission to erect wind turbines and solar arrays will only be supported where they are in accordance with the policies as set out in Appendix A comprehensive report on the environment issues and aspirations of the area are contained in “Neighbourhood Plan for Brixham with Broadsands, Churston and Galmpton - The Environment.docx”. This provides more detail in support of many of the points mentioned above. 9. To maintain the very special qualities that attract both people and abundant wildlife Formatted: Bullets and Numbering to the area. 01/03/201625/06/201321/06/2013 3 Churston Neighbourhood Plan notes No loud speaker / tannoy systems to be used / installed within ..........m of residential properties No floodlights or sports lighting to be used / installed within................m of residential properties No all weather courts/ G3 Pitches to be installed except existing site at Churston Grammar School, site C7 or within ..........................m of residential properties No commercial concern to create more than …… decibels 4. Transport Current Characteristics 1. The primary and secondary routes into Brixham both run through Churston. The only other road routes contain long stretches of narrow country lanes 2. The routes also serve a significant amount of traffic from the South Hams, particularly Kingswear and Dartmouth. This has increased as a result of the greatly enhanced capacity and efficiency of the new Dartmouth upper ferry. 3. This results in a great deal of through traffic on a highly constrained network of roads. This will increase as a result of any developments in Brixham and the South Hams. 4. This volume of traffic particularly stresses the existing road network when A3022 is closed for maintenance or accident and traffic is forced to use the secondary route through Churston through narrow country lanes not designed for the volume of traffic. Consultation Evidence 5. The volume of traffic is a major concern of local residents both from the viewpoint of road safety and the difficulty of moving around the neighbourhood (e.g. Alston to Churston, and Churston to Galmpton). Neighbourhood Plan Policies 6. For these reasons any development in Churston should be designed not to exacerbate this, in particular: Development should be spread out, avoiding any large concentrations of new houses New openings to the through routes should be avoided. 7. There needs to be an increased focus on Churston as a through route and the resulting problems. The process for approval of developments that require access through Churston should ensure allocation of funds to address the traffic problems (in a timely manner) including the allocation of S106 to this area. 01/03/201625/06/201321/06/2013 4 Churston Neighbourhood