ST. MARY in the MARSH PARISH COUNCIL Clerk’S Office, Rear of Village Hall, Jefferstone Lane, St Mary’S Bay, Kent, TN29 0SW
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Appendix 4 ST. MARY IN THE MARSH PARISH COUNCIL Clerk’s Office, Rear of Village Hall, Jefferstone Lane, St Mary’s Bay, Kent, TN29 0SW [email protected] 01303 874341 www.stmarysbay.net 1st February 2016 SUBMISSION OF NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN ACCOMPANYING STATEMENT: 1.0 Introduction: 1.1 St. Mary in the Marsh Neighbourhood Plan is hereby submitted to Shepway District Council (SDC) for compliance, independent examination, referendum and adoption. 1.2 A map indicating St. Mary in the Marsh Parish Boundary and extent of the St. Mary in the Marsh Neighbourhood Plan has previously been submitted and is included at page three of the plan. 2.0 Consultation on draft neighbourhood plan: 2.1 Following the introduction of the Localism Act 2011, Saint Mary in the Marsh Parish Council (STMMPC) at its meeting on 2nd August, 2012, agreed to lead and produce a neighbourhood plan based on resident’s views and aspirations for the parish. The parish council has undertaken appropriate consultation that is outlined below:- August 2012 STMMPC agreed to lead on the production of a neighbourhood plan. October 2012 Advertisements placed in the local village directory (delivered to every household), web-site, 3 village notice boards, St. Mary in the Marsh newsletter` and hand delivered to every house in the parish explaining the decision and consultation process. (see appendix 1) Letters sent to adjoining parish/town councils: New Romney, Dymchurch, Ivychurch, Newchurch, Old Romney. Information was provided about STMMPC’s decision. The Page 213 process to take place and invited comments. This process formed a six week consultation period. December 2012 STMMPC submitted an application to SDC for approval to produce a Neighbourhood Plan. 2 & 3 February 2013 SDC publicised that STMMPC had made application to designate the civil parish of St. Mary in the Marsh as a neighbourhood planning area. 6 Feb – 20 March SDC consultation period. The proposed neighbourhood plan boundary was publicised on the district authority’s website and within Kent on Sunday 3rd February, no objections were raised or significant reasons provided why the proposed boundaries should not be adopted. (SDC Cabinet Report C\12\87). April 17th, 2013 SDC gave approval for the neighbourhood plan to be produced. June 2013 A letter and questionnaire was hand-delivered to every household in the parish to obtain residents views and aspirations for the village. Residents were given the opportunity to make comments and suggestions which have been used to formulate the plan. This formed an 8 week consultation process. (see appendix 2). 17th July & 26th July Workshops were held at the village hall for residents to attend and learn more about the neighbourhood planning process and formed participation and joint discussion. Suggestions and comments have been incorporated into the plan. September The results of the questionnaire together with other comments, were collated and made available on the web-site, hard copies available at the village hall and parish council offices and posted /sent to those residents who provided their address on the questionnaire (103 addresses were provided). See appendix 3. Sept – Dec Resident’s views and aspirations are collated and used to formulate the neighbourhood plan. A 10% return was received. The council took the view offered by MORI Poll, that a minimum of 3% return is required from any poll, to provide a solid foundation to work with. November 2013 Shepway District Council promoted the neighbourhood plan in the November issue of Shepway Today. Jan 2014 – March Better Places Limited was engaged to produce a draft neighbourhood plan. March – to date The neighbourhood plan has been available via the council’s web-site. March and May Two informal meetings with Shepway District Council to keep planning officers informed of the content of the neighbourhood plan and to iron out any issues at an early stage. May 2014 Letter hand delivered to all residents informing an exhibition of the draft neighbourhood plan will be held on 13th June and a six week consultation process commenced from this date. See appendix 4. Notification given that the plan is available on the web-site, together with hard copies at the parish council offices and a copy placed permanently on display in the foyer of the village hall. 13th June Exhibition held at the village hall and commencement of six week consultation process. Over 100 residents attended the exhibition. 13th June Electronic copy of the neighbourhood plan was sent to numerous officers at each of the following organisations for consultation/comment:- Ashford Borough Council Dover District Council Dymchurch Parish Council Canterbury City Council Ivychurch Parish Council Maidstone Borough Council English Heritage South East Region English Heritage Environment Agency, Kent Area Kent County Council Kent Highways Agency Marine Management Organisation Natural England Network Rail New Romney Town Council Newchurch Parish Council Old Romney Town Council Local doctor’s practices Local clubs and societies: Women’s Institute Citizen’s Advice Bureau Marshara Levin Club Age Concern Computer Club Short Mat Bowls Club Art Group Kick Boxing Group Flower Club Dance School Bingo Group Footpath Society Friends Group Dymchurch/Salbris Twinning Society 3.0 Consultation Responses: 3.1 From the consultation process with departments and government bodies, there were two responses received; Natural England and The Environment Agency. 3.2 Comment: Natural England: It is regrettable that the plan’s aims and objectives do not seek to protect and enhance designated habitats and protected species. 3.3 The Environment Agency It is assumed Shepway’s District Council’s Core Strategy has been adopted and compliance with the policies within the core strategy have to be adhered to in addition to those being proposed in the St. Mary in the Marsh Neighbourhood Plan. In particular, reference is made to Flood Risk, Groundwater Vulnerability, Contamination, Fisheries and Biodiversity. 3.4 At the parish council meeting on 7th August, 2014, the two comments from Government bodies were considered, but a unanimous decision was taken that the plan should not me amended, unless professional advice tells us otherwise, because the two issues raised are already addressed in Shepway District Council’s Core Strategy. Any planning and development is required to meet the strategies outlined in the core strategy and therefore are already a requirement under planning regulations. It was therefore considered superfluous to reiterate this requirement in another document. 4.0 Consideration of Public Responses: 4.1 Results of the public survey and indeed comments received at public sessions clearly focus on the need for additional recreational facilities and lack of smaller households for first time buyers. 4.2 Taking into consideration the size of population and that of the surrounding area on Romney Marsh, it is most unlikely that any commercial enterprise will invest in recreational activities in the area. The plan therefore takes the view that there needs to be encouragement within the neighbourhood plan area to offer those with the opportunity to provide recreational facilities an incentive to do so. 4.3 Recreational facilities such as equestrian, caravanning, field sports have all been identified by parishioners as required and acceptable pursuits. This neighbourhood plan therefore wishes to encourage those with available land to open and develop recreational facilities where possible. With this invitation, it also wishes to address the need for those making investments to be allowed to protect and secure their investments. 4.4 Rural crime is on the increase, it is widely known that Romney Marsh has one police constable and cannot patrol or respond to criminal activity and those already operating facilities such as livery stables are being targeted on a regular basis. If landowners are to be encouraged to invest and open facilities on their land, they must be allowed the opportunity to secure and protect it. 4.5 With this in mind, the neighbourhood plan supports mobile residencies such as long cabin/homes be permitted on land that is made available to the public, to offer security and protection to the facilities. The parish council wishes to engage the support of the local planning authority by approving this requirement whilst the land is used for recreational activities that are available to the public. Indeed, the parish council wishes to rely on the local planning authority to request removal of any mobile unit/log cabin once the land is no longer available to the public. 4.6 It has been identified that parishioners consider there is a lack of first-time buyer properties in the area and there appears to be a number of disused farm buildings that could be redeveloped for housing. The plan supports derelict buildings on farmsteads being developed for housing. 4.7 There are currently two major sites in the parish that will deliver a significant number of houses: Former Sands Motel Site, St Mary’s Bay the subject of a current planning application for 85 dwellings. The Potato Factory site at Hope Lane/Copthorne Lane is currently under construction with permission to develop 55 new homes. 4.8 The neighbourhood plan appreciates there are major development sites in the area that will go some considerable way to ensure the area helps with the housing issue nationwide. It also recognises and supports that there is still an opportunity to build smaller developments on disused farmsteads. 4.9 The above outlines how the plan has been developed and the attached appendices clarify the consultation process. 4.10 In August 2015 the draft Plan was sent for a Health Check, conducted by Independent Examiner Nigel McGurk, Erimax Land, Planning and Communities Associates. Following the examiner’s comments, work has been undertaken to incorporate his comments. 4.11In particular, it was recognized that residents outside the parish boundary should be included in the consultation process.