Carlsson-Hyslop, Dan Good Afternoon I Have Tried a Dozen Times To
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Carlsson-Hyslop, Dan From: Jan Tapp Sent: 19 October 2017 13:11 To: reviews Subject: Consultation Attachments: Consultation on Garden Quarter ward Jan.doc Good afternoon I have tried a dozen times to upload my views in a Word document to the consultation re the Garden Quarter ward in Chester, Cheshire. The website keeps repeating to reload the document but doesn't explain why. I enclose my submission here. Please tell me if my submission is acceptable in this format or what to do next. Thank you Regards Janet Tapp Member of the public 1 Consultation on Garden Quarter ward 'The pattern of wards should reflect the interests and identities of local communities as well as promoting effective local government' I submit my views as a resident of the Garden Quarter since 2002, with professional involvement in the University and local school for many years before that, an active member of the Garden Quarter Association, and as a governor of Bluecoat CE Primary School. The Garden Quarter is a vibrant, diverse and inclusive community, which must under no circumstances be divided. It is the focus of most student housing in Chester and thus has a unique character. The GQA was set up to bring together all residents, temporary or permanent, and we are proud to say that it is an overwhelming success. People check on their neighbours, young or elderly, and we have now achieved our aim of bringing together every strand of the area - the churches, pubs, businesses, students and the union, school and PTA, scouts, elderly care homes, Bridge Foyer - the list is endless. The whole area is like a giant spider's web, interlinked and mutually supportive. As Chair of Teaching and Learning Committee, Early Years, and Community Governor, I suggest that the proposals will impact negatively on our school. I was involved originally in the set up of the new school, and our drive was always to be at the heart of the community. The original job advert for our new Head Teacher set out to attract candidates who would appreciate this uniqueness. The school is now involved in every aspect of local life, and every child who attends our school is part of the Garden Quarter. Parents choose to enrol their children, and many to move into the area, because of the local community spirit. The direct access to our own local councillor has proved very effective in solving problems, and the parents and children see him frequently in school. The Garden Quarter works - as simple as that. People who move here don't want to leave, most who visit envy the community spirit, and the local government via our councillor is hugely effective. So much work by so many people will be thrown away if we are divided and our identity lost. GARDEN QUARTER WARD: CONSULTATION I make this submission as a resident of the Garden Quarter for 15 years, an active member of the community and Treasurer of the Garden Quarter Association. A lot of hard work, by many people, has gone in to making the GQ a marvellous place to live. We have a diverse population and, over the years, the various strands have been pulled together to make this a unique and vibrant community that is self-supporting. What has helped to bring the community together are the various events/festivals that have been held over the years. If the GQ lost its identity then it would be very difficult to attract grants from the likes of the National Lottery to fund these activities. As an example, 3 years ago, we received a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to commemorate the start of the First World War and this enabled us to put on a 10 day festival which involved all parts of the community. This funding would not be received if the GQ was split. With no funding to stage these cohesive events the community and the spirit that is now so evident would disappear. Our needs are specific and unique to Chester and warrant a ward to reflect them. By all means add to the existing ward on the basis of 'the more the merrier' but don't destroy our identity that is cherished, valued and envied far wider than the existing ward boundary. In a democracy any changes should serve the community and not be administratively convenient. Roy Tapp Tel: Mob Email: 23 October 2017 Submission re Garden Ward Chester The Garden Ward that embraces the community of the Garden Quarter is unique. It has a recognisable quality in that comprises an eclectic mix of residents that have a common purpose. The residents of all ages have, over several years, become a self-supporting body that provides cultural and social benefits, not only for itself but also for the wider community of Chester. The Quarter community has a taken on initiatives to extend the hand of friendship to the burgeoning student population with "Welcome Weekend", involving them in cleanup operations, and generally encouraging them to feel part of the community. The Ward community has promoted and helped deliver new play facilities at Water Tower Gardens and developed a Natural Play Area and Pocket Park on Cheyney Road. In collaboration with The Uniting Church in Garden Lane, popular film nights, Screen on the Lane, are part of the cultural scene. Christmas sees the residents organising Christmas in The Quarter, at the local Anglican Church, St Thomas’. The scope and range of activities is extensive. We have enjoyed the support and service of dedicated local councillors and the benefits of this show in the way small projects have been funded, thanks to their Community Budgets. To break up the Ward and include it in Blacon would destroy this unique and working bond. Blacon is a significantly different area with its own needs and to have part of the Garden Ward allocated to Blacon would actually leave that section feeling disenfranchised, as the focus of political activity would be Blacon. The Garden Ward is strong because of its community spirit and its political representation, irrespective of political persuasion. Boundary lines can be drawn to "balance" electorates, but new boundary lines will break up the cohesion of a strong community. The Garden Ward is more than a name; it is a living, active, vital community that serves its residents well. Cheshire West and Chester Personal Details: Name: Robert Taylor E-mail: Postcode: Organisation Name: Feature Annotations 5: Little Sutton Railway Stn 1: Little Sutton shopping area 2: Extent of Little Sutton addresses in ward 4: Rivacre Valley 9: Great Sutton3: shops Extent of Great Sutton addresses in ward Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database rights 2013. Map Features: Annotation 1: Little Sutton shopping area Annotation 2: Extent of Little Sutton addresses in ward Annotation 3: Extent of Great Sutton addresses in ward Annotation 4: Rivacre Valley Annotation 5: Little Sutton Railway Stn Annotation 9: Great Sutton shops Comment text: I've sketched some key features of the proposed 'Great Sutton' ward on the map. The northwest section of the ward (north of Parklands) has Little Sutton post addresses and includes a sizable part of the Little Sutton shopping area. The south of the ward has Great Sutton addresses and includes the much smaller shopping area and hall in the centre of Great Sutton. So I think neither Great Sutton or Little Sutton describe the whole ward well. An possible alternative would be to name the ward Rivacre after the Rivacre Valley - a sizable portion of which runs through the heart of the ward. Before 2008 the Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough Council ward in this area was also called Rivacre. (The main downside to this is that the Rivacre Valley also extends further north into the proposed Netherpool Ward where it gives its name to Rivacre Road). Uploaded Documents: None Uploaded Cheshire West and Chester Personal Details: Name: Robert Taylor E-mail: Postcode: Organisation Name: Feature Annotations 11: 6: Proposed ward: Parkgate and Neston North 2: Proposed ward: Neston and Little Neston 7: 10: 9: 1: Proposed ward: Riverside and Burton Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database rights 2013. Map Features: Annotation 1: Proposed ward: Riverside and Burton Annotation 2: Proposed ward: Neston and Little Neston Annotation 6: Proposed ward: Parkgate and Neston North Annotation 7: Annotation 9: Annotation 10: Annotation 11: Comment text: There's a lot of different places and communities lumped together in the draft Neston and Parkgate Ward - so the 3 single-seat ward scheme I've mapped here intends to give them more localised representation. Parkgate and Neston North would have 4,415 electors in 2023 (variance +9.6%). Neston and Little Neston would have 4,408 electors in 2023 (variance +9.5%). Riverside and Burton would have 4,386 electors (variance +8.9%). Each of the 3 CWAC wards would be subdivided into Neston Town Council wards (indicated by lines drawn on the map). Parkgate and Neston North would include a Parkgate TC ward and a Neston North TC ward. Neston and Little Neston would include a Neston TC ward and a Little Neston TC ward. Riverside and Burton would include a Riverside TC ward, a Ness TC ward and the unparished area of Burton. Town council wards would have the following 2023 electorates and town councillors: Parkgate 2,846 (4 town councillors). Neston North 1,569 (2 town councillors) Neston 2,051 (3 town councillors) Little Neston 2,357 (3 town councillors) Riverside 3,045 (4 town councillors) Ness 765 (1 town councillor) Making a total of 17 town councillors - the same number as at the moment.