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CHARDSTOCK PARISH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN A SUMMARY OF THE MAIN OUTPUT FROM THE ISSUES QUESTIONNAIRE
October 2014 page 2 of 31
OVERVIEW AND GENERAL COMMENTS
What age are we? How long have we lived here?
Comments 1 Comments 2 • Accept that Chardstock will grow over next 10-15 years but • I hope EDDC abide by results of survey. They haven’t taken would like it to do so sympathetically and not just because into account our interests regarding planning. developers can make lots of money. Do not want to become • I hope Chardstock will not become a town, that is NOT why I suburbs of Axminster or Chard. moved here. From what I have seen of DMC decisions, that • The NP is about how we want the Parish to be. That includes body is unfit for purpose, especially the Conservation Officer, how we do not want it to be, To plan for change whilst who can turn on a sixpence to serve his masters. “Garden actively looking after what is good now. Neither Central grabbing” is supposedly unacceptable but is being accepted. Government nor Local Authority can be trusted on this. • Keep the village peaceful and natural. More homes, more • If the powers that be insist on expanding Chardstock then I
people. But to keep Chardstock lovely and natural as it is. Don’t think more facilities should be available, such as a Doctors turn it into a town! surgery and Public Transport. • Let’s hope this plan will finally force EDDC to listen and not • We love the parish and the lovely people in it! ignore local opinion as has happened recently, and left the • Thank you all for the time and effort you’ve put into this
village with some unnecessary development questionnaire.
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Comments 3 Comments 4
• Use the space [field opposite Westcombes] as a Community • Planning - this seems very inconsistent. For example Pear Tree field for fetes, football for teenagers, gathering point, for the use Cottage being granted permission despite the majority of of the village. Although the Street Fair is small, some day you the village objecting and Early’s Garage being denied permission will have to enlarge it. and villagers were in favour! • Any building project of any size must include reasonable • This is a very good community which would lose some of its access/visibility for emerging vehicles or those passing through charm if it grew any bigger. Most people moved here for the the village. The permission for the Pear Tree Cottage addition tranquility it offers. completely disregarded this and other factors - conservation area, drainage etc. • Chardstock is a typical Devon village, in a beautiful area of countryside, with a strong community ethos developed over • The plan needs to balance maintaining and preserving the many years. These are the prime reasons for living here. Change village’s environment with encouraging sympathetic is inevitable but massive change has to be avoided. The current developments to enable young people to stay and work in the infrastructure is already stretched and cannot sustain much more parish and allowing older residents to continue to live in the growth without radical changes which would transform the very parish for as long as they wish. essence of the village and village life.
Comments 5 Comments 6
• If St. Andrew’s Church is to maintain its role in community life • Construction of a safe footpath (not on the road) that connects then the Church Authorities must take its commitment the A358 with the village school and shop. It also connects the village to the bus stop on the A358. It could also include a cycle seriously and provide suitable off road parking which it currently path. does not. Any developments in the area [of the church] will exacerbate the current situation. They should reconsider how • The only way to provide truly ‘Affordable Housing’ is to provide they wish to utilise the Glebe Land. the land for self-build (in conjunction with a Housing Association if necessary). Land with agricultural ties that can’t find tenants • Parking at church is now at crisis point and will become worse should be offered up. with planned development of Old School site which will entail additional access onto C road and more road parking likely. • Surveys have shown that poorer households spend 30%+ of their incomes on Transport. Chardstock is not suitable for one • All the questions/topics covered in this questionnaire are all bed houses/flats without LOCAL work. Neighbours commute to crucial to the traditional quality of life within the community of Southampton, Exeter and London. Get the jobs first and then which we are proud. Chardstock is a very special place and expand the housing - or cater for wealthy retirees. future plans must not jeopardise this. • Glebe land certainly SHOULDN’T be built on. Very unusual area so close to a church.
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Comments 7 Comments 8 • If they want more housing, the roads shouldn’t be improved’. • Broadband pathetic. Focus is on village centre not outlying Nothing needs ‘improving’ even if there were more housing. It areas - much does not apply - services nearer in local towns than wouldn’t be an improvement. village centre.
• No more ugly housing. • The key issues document highlights the attraction of the village to retirees and their “income”. This seems somewhat parochial, • To keep young people engaged and active - sports and sports to “survive” the village needs to attract a broad range of facilities - tennis court and small pool by School. Great for residents. St. Andrew’s School continues to grow and its success families and community life. should encourage families to move to the area. • Set in a charming location, Chardstock today is full of • As a relative newcomer to Chardstock and owner of one of the character and is important historically, environmentally and new build houses, it was not easy to answer some of the aesthetically. It’s much more than just a name or number to questions. The reason that we moved to Chardstock is that we planners/developers. Let’s keep it unique, not just like so many love it as it is - hence the conservative views expressed in the other faceless villages in the countryside. So what if there’s a questionnaire. This may appear to be hypocritical! high proportion of retirees - they’ve usually worked hard all their lives and surely now deserve somewhere special to live.
Comments 9 Comments 10 • Some public transport in the parish between Chardstock and • If we keep adding new houses, we will need more road Axminster/Bewley Down might discourage so much car use. capacity, which would continue the urbanisation of Chardstock. That’s one reason not to build significantly more houses. It • Need for more bungalows. would destroy the ‘village’ character of Chardstock. • Q3 should include the option of open market housing. These • I do not think the roads should be improved as I do not are not only 2nd homes or holiday lets. I think this major approve of lots more development. We should conserve the omission biases the results of the survey. I think that there existing lanes & discourage more cars etc. should be scope in the plan for limited good quality developments outside the BUAB - especially at the eastern edge • Cars parked on junctions in the middle of the village severely of the parish where there is access to bus services/transport is restrict view of other users. not as much of a problem as it is within the AONB area. • Building sites should be sited on “brown” sites where possible. • My view’s just a “snapshot”, not set in stone. Changes in future Retain “Green Belt” boundaries of existing village should not must be judged case by case - the occasional exception to the really be extended into Green Belt. On road parking should be rule may be acceptable without being precedent for a free for all. discouraged on existing recent builds i.e. to ease traffic flow.
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UILT ND ISTORIC NVIRONMENT B A H E
How important to you is preserving Chardstock’s In the next 10 to 15 years, how many new houses do Conservation Area and the Parish’s Listed Buildings? you think are necessary for the Parish’s needs ? 20+
None
10-20
up to 10
Level of Support 95.3% “Don’t allow more than 10 new houses”
“We have enough houses” “Possibly [more] but not that many and only appropriate housing where concerns re parking and drainage etc. have been addressed” “The number of houses should be restricted” “Already 10 new houses in last two years!”
Should it be permissible to build modern houses in Should it be permissible to build modern houses in the gardens of: Houses IN the Chardstock the gardens of: Houses OUTSIDE the Chardstock
Conservation Area? Conservation Area?
NO 73.7% NO - 92.9%
“Only very limited and depend on size” “Depends on size of garden - not good to have houses crushed together” “Unless the garden is so large that its use would maintain the spaces in “Not unless garden is very big” between that give our village its character” “Only if a LARGE land area is available, and retain rural character” page 6 of 31
Should the village Built Up Area Boundary be Should any new houses have designs that are
enlarged to make land available for extra housing sympathetic to the existing buildings in the Parish? development?
NO 82.3% YES 97.7%
“Depends on how much - a small amount perhaps. Brown field sites preferable” “Yes - if we must have more houses” “Yes but only in strictly controlled circumstances. Only for developments of 3 - 4 homes NOT ‘mini-estates’” “Should be 21st Century, but not boxes”
Four locations have been identified by developers as potential sites for new housing. Do you agree that these sites are suitable for development? Rear of Old School (up to 8 houses) YES 71.4% NO 28.6%
Field opposite Westcombes (up to 10 houses) YES 46.3% NO 53.7%
Ivy Green Farm (up to 6 houses) YES 37.4% NO 62.6% Glebeland opposite the churchyard YES 20.7% NO 79.3% (up to 16 houses)
“The number of new houses shown for each potential development site is too many” “Either the rear of the Old School or Ivy Green Farm should be developed - not both” “Site near Westcombes is far more suitable than Glebe land so if this site was allowed, it should be at the expense of the Glebe land, which should be deemed unsuitable for development” “Cannot comments as I do not know these areas. Within AONB absolutely NOT” “I have not answered this because out of all four options, I see this [field opposite Westcombes] as the only one which will not present difficulties regarding road traffic. However, you will note from Q5 that I do not wish the built up area to be increased. If EDDC demands 10 houses this seems the only viable, if not, there should be no build” Note: Since the questionnaire was distributed, Ivy Green Farm has been sold to new owners. page 7 of 41
What type of housing may be required in the future? What should be the Parish’s housing priorities?
Smaller houses of 71.9% support Housing for local people 86.5% support 1 or 2 bedrooms
Medium sized houses of Sheltered housing 69.3% support 56.3% support for the elderly 3 bedrooms
Flats or maisonettes 25.8 % Shared ownership schemes 55.3% support (affordable housing) Larger houses of 21.8 Second homes/holiday lets 7% support 4 bedrooms or more %
Extra housing could put a strain on infrastructure
within the Parish. How concerned are you about the impact on:
Road quality (potholes etc.) 91.5% support
Road access 89.5% support
Provision of land and 86.3% support road drainage
Congestion 84.8% support
Car parking 80.8% support
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ENERGY AND LOW CARBON
Should new housing in the parish incorporate energy How supportive are you of the following technologies conservation measures such as high levels of insulation? that might be installed and used in our parish? • “Not in favour of new housing but yes [to high levels of insulation]”. Solar panels on farm or 81.3% support commercial buildings • “Yes - if we Must have more 76.3% support houses”. Solar panels on houses* • “Yes, but over and above minimum required by building Small wind turbines 31.8% support YES regs”. Solar farms on • “But bear in mind affordable” 29.5% support 98% agricultural land • “Where possible, more than building regulations required”. Large wind turbines 15.5% • “Maybe but not at expense of appearance e.g. over thick * A score of 1 - “This would be 4 if the subsidy was not so grossly unfair”. double glazed windows”. * A score of 1 - “Yes, but not if I’m subsidising them”.
* A score of 3 - “Careful planning and careful siting needed if not ruining the houses”.
Other low carbon technologies that you would support for the parish (1) • Fuel cell technologies. Heat engines. Bio-fuels/waste recycling to methane • Warmth from the earth methods • For houses with larger gardens, heat pumps can be sound and economical. Rainwater harvesting has much to recommend it. • Wood burners. Biomass burners using hedge cuttings. • Biogas generator small scale on a farm. • Hydro power with some solar. • Recycling of plastics and cardboard. • Water power River Kit
• Air source heat pump, apparently near the efficiency of ground source pumps and newer types are now fairly quiet. • Water turbine • Deep ground source heating. page 9 of 31
Other low carbon technologies (2) Other low carbon technologies (3) • Water driven turbine at bottom of Redrow at Westcombes. • Electric buses into Axminster and Chard. Electric bicycles - plenty of recharge points. • All new development should strive to be low carbon. Ground • Any new properties must have highest levels of insulation source heating, water capture and storage from run-off, grey water recycling, local sourced building materials and tradesmen. (higher than building regs require) which minimises the use of energy in any form. Ground source and air source heat pumps, • Water turbines. Earth pumps. where possible. • Ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers, reed bed sewerage • Questions 10c and 10d do not mention PV (Photovoltaic panels) system. for generation of electricity. Water conservation is also very • Bio fuel boilers important. Where possible all new buildings should incorporate • New housing to be encouraged to be built with solar panels some rainwater harvesting i.e. storage of rainwater for flushing of despite the need to be “in character”. A sacrifice for the age we WCs - you do not require potable [drinking] water to flush a loo! live in. • Water driven turbines. • Ground heat sources. Triple glazing, use of heat producing • Hydro (Kit) possibilities? No digesters that needs crops to feed glass, recycling water - especially on new builds and extensions. them. • Wind power is too inefficient. No sane engineer could argue • Anaerobic digestion in suitable agricultural land. otherwise. Solar power does have some merit.
• Hydroelectric using the River Kit
Other low carbon technologies (4) • Ground source/air source heat pumps • Chardstock is not near enough to a substation for solar farms on agricultural land. Rain water collection and recycling. Few ‘low carbon’ technologies are what they say - materials have to be imported, manufacturing uses old energy sources. The ‘design life’ of timber frame housing is only 25 years. They should be much cheaper. • More use of ground heat • Hydro-electricity via old water mills. • River turbines. Ground source heat if possible • Ground source heat pumps (3 comments)
• Ground source heat pumps for group of new houses • Can we become a Transition Village? Hydro? • Solar tiles if discreet. • Enhanced grants for bio-mass boilers and heat pumps for any new build or renovation of existing properties, given the lack of mains gas and consequent reliance on oil as a heat source. page 10 of 31
COMMUNITY
Results shown in descending order of the level of support from the General Comments community
Post Office/Village shop 98.3% • “You need to attract more families to the village. Don't provide the service if there is not sufficient demand”. Community Hall 95.2% Public house/restaurants 94.0% • “The Community Hall could benefit from one charge for the entire hall per hour rather than charging per room. Lots of things could Primary School/Preschool 92.7% be improved such as having the option of an online booking Parish Newsletter 91.8% system, painting and decorating of the hall etc. This is a lovely Local Trades and Services 91.3% village hall and could really benefit from the above ideas”.
Play/recreation area (now all ages) 88.7% • Mobile Library - “Doesn’t exist for us now”. Place of Worship 88.6% •“I am certain that many villagers would really appreciate Village walks including maintenance of footpaths 88.5% permanent skips for compostable waste to be emptied on a regular Youth Club 86.9% basis. I should like the Parish Council to look into this and cost Dog waste bin 86.7% involved. Could a fund be set up to pay for this facility?”
Cricket pitch/Bowling green 86.0% • “We need a skip 24/7 please”.
Parish Information Pack 85.7% • Dog waste bin - Walks booklet 81.6% “We need another one at the other end of the village”. Allotments 81.1% “Wish it wasn’t red. Green or black would look better”. Skip for green compostable waste 79.2% “Take it home”. Website 78.8% “A dog license of £40 to cover this”. Trade Directory 77.1%
Mobile Library 77.0% Community Heritage Orchard 72.6%
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TRANSPORT
How many cars are there in your Can all these cars be parked off road?
household?
YES 95% No car 1.2%
One car 36.3%
Two cars 47.5%
Three cars 11.6%
Four cars or more 3.4%
The average number of cars is 1.8
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Approximate number of journeys driven Are the roads in the parish each week adequate to support significantly
more housing development?
15.6%
42.8%
41.6%
NO 89.5%
89.5%
Under 10 per week
10 - 20 per week
20+ per week
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Do you live within reasonable walking
distance of public transport facilities?
No = 89.5% Which of the following need improving?
Number of passing places • “Road to bus stop hazardous for walkers”. YES 85.1% NO 14.9%
• “Question the safety of the walk to the bus stop”. Road strengthening for YES 62.6% NO 37.4% • “Bus service infrequent”. lorries/ large vehicles • “Live two miles from bus stop.
• "Sometimes yes, increasingly No”. Junction Improvements YES 62% NO 38%
• “Yes, could do now, but could struggle when older. Road widening Would worry about walking the lane in the dark”. YES 51.2% NO 48.8%
• “Yes at the present time but probably not when aged/infirm. Tytherleigh 1 mile”. • “Hardly viable given its frequency and cost!”.
Editorial note: Since there is no public transport to or
from the parish beyond the A358, those answering "yes" (c. 10%) are believed to be from the south- eastern end of the parish and mainly from around the Tytherleigh settlement near the main road between
Axminster and Chard.
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Comments regarding improvements
• A one-way system into and out of the village.
• Improvement needed at the Tytherleigh junction with A358.
• One way system at Tytherleigh. The hedges are old, perhaps even 1000 years old, so great care should be exercised before removing any along the lanes.
• Traffic calming measures A358 Tytherleigh. Passing place on the Tytherleigh side of Honey Hill.
• Enforce speed restrictions i.e. 20 and 30 mph areas.
• Speed limits not always adhered to [lives on A358 at Tytherleigh] • All NEED improving but doing so would badly change the nature of the Parish, so should NOT be done.
• There is a balance to be struck between “improvement” and destroying our quality of life. If I wanted to live in a town, I would move to one.
• Junction to A358 [at Tytherleigh] very dangerous. Cars from the left come down the road too fast. Drivers have to use the
windows in the Trading Post to help see if any vehicle is approaching. No reply to a letter I wrote to the council on this issue. Road improvements urgently needed.
• Turning right onto the A358 at Tytherleigh is becoming increasingly difficult - a roundabout is required.
• Has a one-way scheme been considered using Storridge Lane. Tytherleigh junction onto the A358, when turning right, is becoming increasingly dangerous.
• At the A358 junction at Tytherleigh there should be an electronic slow down sign.
• Continued requesting that hedges and verges are trimmed.
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Comments regarding transport improvements (continued)
• Probably all of these - but I don’t want more housing or improved roads.
• Junction improvements are needed at Tytherleigh. Regular side cutting of hedges naturally will widen roads. Currently hedges are badly maintained, bad for visibility, passing and damage to cars.
• If the passing places can’t be improved - then a one- way system is needed.
• Passing places - full width/length (NO crumbling edges). Widening i.e. cut back hedges to give adequate visibility and allow full width of road to be used.
• The present roads in the parish are definitely inadequate, but I can’t see WHERE improvements would be possible. Being a pedestrian and a mother of three small children there is VERY limited space for a pavement to walk to school. The traffic is awful and dangerous.
• The C Road from Chardstock through to the A358 is currently inadequate with the number of cars, vans and lorries which use it. At the very least there must be more passing places and also road widening. Cut hedges minimum TWICE a year.
• Width keeps speed down but hedges need to be kept cut back.
• Turning out onto A358 both ways needs improvement - also from Broom Lane is dangerous. Traffic calming - bumps? • Cars are often parked outside or opposite the post office (albeit for short periods) reducing visibility for oncoming vehicles. Some method (hopefully avoiding the dreaded yellow lines) should be investigated.
• Hedges and overhanging trees should be cut more times and heavily - safety issue.
• Make Storridge Lane/Lane out to Tytherleigh Arms one way out to A358 and one way into village, then no need for any of
above.
Comments regarding transport improvements (continued) page 16 of 31
• Road resurfacing especially potholes. • So many pot-holes would not occur if the Council’s road • Basic maintenance - potholes. maintenance department (DCC/EDDC) would clear roadside ditches and drains so that water was not continually running • Walk paths needed. across the lanes. The lane from Cotley Wash to Hook is a • 20 mph limit from Tytherleigh to Chardstock. disgrace. • Lower statutory speed limits on all C roads - 40 mph and more • The parish roads and poor access are the reasons why 20 and 30 mph zones. significantly more development here should not be encouraged. • Any increase in housing will put more strain on the road system. However the village must not abandon or close their • Speed calming measures on the Chard Road through
eyes to a small increase in population - things need to move Tytherleigh. If significant levels of development were to forward. happen in Chardstock (which I do NOT support) then road access improvements would be needed. • Roads should be maintained better by the Highway Authority. After hedges are trimmed then the cuttings should be • More defined passing places. More regular hedge cutting.
removed to avoid drains and ditches being blocked. Ditches • Defined passing places. Wider hedge. Two way system - should be cleared of debris twice a year. Storridge Lane - Chardstock Road. • The maintenance of the existing lanes is nonexistent and • Suggest a one way system from the Tytherleigh Arms to the where pot-holes have been fixed, it’ll be unfixed in months. Storridge Road junction then becoming two way as per • The roads entering Chardstock are inadequate for the traffic existing to order and exit the village with final exit via the at the moment, what happens when more houses are built? Storridge Road turning.
• There should be one route in and one route out of the village. • Road repairs need to be of a much higher standard. Storridge Lane as when you meet oncoming cars they are Hedgerows need to be cared for and cut back on a regular reluctant/stubborn to reverse. This is made worse with the basis. amount of school traffic too. • I would be against road improvements being a bargaining tool • Storridge Lane part one-way system. regarding new homes. Road improvements should come in
• Some pretty awful sight lines at junctions. support of the present road traffic.
Comments regarding transport improvements (continued) page 17 of 31
• There may be a case for improving the access to the village • [Widening Tytherleigh Lane] would alter the character of the from the A358 up to shop and school. For cars and area. pedestrians - ease to get to A358 bus stop or encourage • Change speed limit in village to 20. bus/minibus service across to the start of the village. • Regular maintenance of hedgerows. • The main problem in the road from A358 to the village school and shop. Pedestrians and cycling interests should be • Hedges and trees need regular pruning as they make some considered. lanes almost impassable. Junction by Tytherleigh Arms needs improving for safety reasons. • General maintenance during poor weather. • Improve junction to the A358. • Road widening - only from Tytherleigh into the village. Road strengthening - other than for agricultural needs. Large lorries • It would be great if the main route from the A358 into should be discouraged. Chardstock could have a few more wider parts/passing places. The junction to the A358 could also have improved visibility • Make Storridge Lane one way out to A359 ‘except for access’. and width if feasible from the land owners point of view. • Access road needs improving in terms of traffic flow and • Cutting of hedges and cutting back the verges. Storridge Lane quality. has only had the verges ploughed back twice in 32 years.
• Road widening - not if there are more passing places. The • Question crossed through. Comment added - Don’t need quality of the roads surface - there is a big problem with pot significant housing development. holes already. Increased traffic will only make this worse.
Access to the village is also problematic now and is too • Roads cannot support significant development.
narrow to cope with increased traffic. • Need the road widen nightmare at school times. Needs • If no more development, there is no need for improving. It widening before any more houses are built. should stay as it is! • Easy, make the roads wider, and cut the hedges back more often, not just when its Street Fayre. • FORGET THE REDEVELOPMENT • Only a few more passing places/improve existing. No • For light vehicles - exit village via Storridge Lane, enter via Tytherleigh. increase in road signage or marking. This would detract from the intrinsic character of parish and generally less signage etc. • A lot of “too fast” driving in the lanes. improves driving. • Less traffic a priority - enough’s enough.
Comments regarding transport improvements (continued) page 18 of 31
• Just routine maintenance. • Ditch maintenance. • Hopefully the inadequacy of the access roads will limit large development in the village.
• End of Storridge Lane turning onto Chard Road traffic comes
through far too fast and therefore when turning out it can be dangerous. • Traffic calming/effective speed control on the A358 through Tytherleigh. Few cars adhere to the 30 mph limit making it
dangerous to walk from one side of Tytherleigh to the other.
• Such “improvements” would destroy the character of the village and surrounding lanes and countryside. • Priority/right of way arrows. • Speed limit of 20 mph extended at least past the Church. Road Narrows signs on slight bend at either side of Strong’s Cottage. Priority arrows on areas of one lane.
• Lorries and other large vehicles should be restricted to those delivering or servicing land or premises in the parish if that is a feasible objective. • Widening of road from A358 to Chardstock in two sections. • Keep parking of cars off road junctions and bottle neck in the village.
• Mirrors to aid turning onto A358.
• Speed humps.
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NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Should the following be taken into How important is it that most of the parish account when considering a is within the Blackdown Hills AONB and planning application? should this be conserved? Site of Special Scientific Interest or 94.5% support Special Area of Conservation
YES 97.7%
Do you believe that when considering development proposals, the small part of Country wildlife sites the parish which lies just outside but
adjacent to the AONB should be treated as though it is part of the AONB? YES 98.5%
YES - 90.8%
Wet Woodland (a rare habitat in this country)
• The AONB boundary appears (not) to have been well YES 97.3% drawn - definitely duller to the east. Making the boundary fuzzy diminishes the importance of the designation where it needs upholding strongly.
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Do the following qualities make our parish Do you think that the Chardstock Neighbourhood Plan a special place to live? should include policies to conserve:
Mixed flower meadows Our trees and woodlands
YES 96.4% YES 97.7%
Open Farmland
Our hedges and Devon banks YES 98.4%
YES 97.7% Devon Banks and hedgerows • Provided they are managed well. There are many
YES 98% overhanging trees to the roads/lanes and an integral part if this are electricity/telephone lines which if blown down in gales cause several hours of darkness without electricity Lack of light pollution
YES 95.7% How important is it to maintain the purity
• ...but street lights could be switched off earlier and be and quality of our watercourses, capped - they are too bright in particular the River Kit?
Distinctive local landscape 98% Support
YES 96.6%
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ECONOMY, EMPLOYMENT, COMMUNICATIONS
Have you considered starting a business from Encouraging and helping local businesses
home? without damaging the environment
• Work smart using new technologies i.e. waste recycling locally (on YES 28.9% NO 71.1% the spot). Computer programmed farm tasks.
• Allow them to advertise in the Parish Magazine to a greater extent and with less “selectiveness” than at present. If so, would any of the following help you? • Easing planning regulations for small extensions, conversions if for business purposes. Similarly approving temporary wooden buildings Policies to ease YES 44.6% NO 55.4% for offices. GOOD, FAST, RELIABLE and AFFORDABLE broadband. conversion of buildings • By supporting light industrial units within the Parish. Faster and more • Relaxing planning for change of use to buildings. Good local website reliable broadband YES 91% signposting businesses with links to their sites.
Good access to • Trade Fair in village hall. Industrial units in the right place - close to postal services YES 81.7% NO 18.3% A358. • Promotion, publicity and advertisement.
• A decent wifi service. • Continue with Trade Directory. Continue to fight for broadband enhancement, Take a positive view of the use of redundant farm • The ability to have the power supply uprated from 80 to 100 buildings for other uses retail, studios etc. AMP without the expense of having to go to 3-phase • Public transport so employees can travel without enormous cost. • Public transport to be smaller but frequent. SMALLER vehicles but hourly during work 9 - 5 hours would be • Chardstock has this [good access to postal services] no need greatly appreciated. For the elderly too! to go to Axminster. • Mobile phone signal improved • B & Bs could assist walkers/cyclists by arranging next stop and transporting cases. • A mobile phone signal • Better internet speeds. Village website.
• Village website optimisation with business promotion/links.
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• Multiple work spaces with shared facilities. Would you welcome a phone mast here
• Local apprenticeship scheme. to improve mobile phone reception?
• If there were to be a development of part of Ivy Green Farm, a case for more small business sites, access via Chard Lane through Scores between: existing small business complex. 0 (unimportant) 0 4 and 4 (very • Fast internet speeds. Conversion of suitable farm buildings, mobile important phone access. A good public house for hospitality.
• Advertising on village website. 3 2 1 • Better advertising. The overall level of support in favour of • Increase public awareness - leaflets, ads in local press, local a phone mast is website. 54.5% • High internet speeds. New business parks in Axminster. • Internet based services. • Use a landline. • Craft e.g. blacksmith. Livery stable. • Depends where sited. • Fibre broadband services. Low cost business premises and office space. • Depends on location.
• Faster internet - fibre optic. • The siting is critical.
• Lower the rates. • It is possible to fit a booster within one’s home. However, more difficult for businesses visiting. • Less red tape. • Depends where located etc. • Better road quality. • Where are you going to put it!! • Monthly farmers market. Build a tennis court for the village - good for all ages (Two would be better as we could have a tennis club). • If very discreet. • Advertising services beyond the parish. • Improvement to mobile reception definitely required. • A small business drop-in would be helpful, perhaps with fast • If correctly sited in an inconspicuous location. internet/printing etc. but mainly to provide face to face interaction • Can be overcome with the provision of high speed internet. which can be a problem when home-based working. • Mobile companies already offer voice over internet as an • We live in a globalised economy. Local businesses will need to adapt alternative. to competition from outside the area. Improved technological links are key, especially high speed internet.
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If Internet speeds and reliability improved, Do you use the Internet? would this change how you operate your
business? YES 86.5% NO 13.5%
YES 64.3% NO 35.7% If so, is it for:
Are there young people in your household for Personal use: social, YES 98.6% shopping etc. whom the Internet is already an integral part of life? To work from home YES 40.6% NO 59.4%
YES 23.3% 76.7%
At a business premises NO 92% Of the 58 people answering YES to this question, 42 (or 72.4%) within the parish indicated that internet speeds would affect where these young people choose to live in later life. At school or college NO 86.6%
How important would be provision of High Speed Broadband
(10 - 15Mb) be to your way of life:
Communicating with 71% Support friends and family
Shopping and
banking etc 67.5% Support
Engaging with other 63.8% Support local services
Working from home 52.5% Support
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SUMMARY
General Comments Respondents chose to use the general comments section of the questionnaire to express their views on a wide range of topics. The more important issues are listed below: • Urbanisation of Chardstock village 11 respondents • Concerns about EDDC with regard to planning 7 respondents • General comments on housing 6 respondents • Road network unsuitable for more housing 3 respondents • Parking problems in the village 3 respondents
High Level Themes: Natural Environment • 91% consider it important that the Parish is within the AONB and this is conserved, and that the small part of Parish outside the AONB should be considered for planning purposes as being within the AONB
• It is very important that the Natural Environment is considered as part of the planning process, because each of the categories listed
below achieved at least 96% support
• SSSI/Special Area of Wildlife Conservation, Country Wildlife sites
• Wet Woodland sites, Mixed Flower meadows, Open Farmland
• The Native Tree species, Devon Banks and Hedgerows, the Distinctive local landscape
• Lack of Light pollution
• The Neighbourhood Plan should include policies to conserve
• Trees and woodland (99% support),
• Hedges and Devon banks (99% support)
• The quality of water courses in particular the River Kit (98% support
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High Level Themes: Economy, Employment and High Level Themes: Built and Historic Environment Telecommunications • 95% support to preserve Chardstock’s Conservation Area and the • 29% of respondents have considered starting a business at Parish’s Listed Buildings home • Clear preference with 72% support for smaller affordable 1 or 2 • Amongst those who have done so, policies to ease the bedroom houses conversion of buildings to office/work use received 45% • 87% support that new houses should cater for local people and 69% support, a faster and more reliable internet received 91% support housing for the elderly support, and good access to postal services received 82% • 56% support for 3 bedroom houses support
• 22% support for 4 or more bedroom houses, 26% for flats • 14% of respondents do not have access to the internet • 20% of respondents do not want any more houses and 67% do not want more than 10 new houses in the parish. • 98% of those with an internet connection use it for social, banking, shopping etc. and 41% to work from home • Only 3% of respondents want more than 20 new houses • 82% of respondents said there should be no change to the Built Up • 8% use the internet to work at business premises within the Area Boundary to allow extra housing parish
• Four locations have been identified as potential sites: • High Speed Broadband attracted support as follows: 53% for
• Rear of Old School was considered suitable for development by 71% working from home, 68% for shopping and services, 64% for of respondents engaging with other local services and 71% for communicating with friends and family • Of the other three sites, the Field opposite Westcombes attracted 54% opposition, Ivy Green Farm 63% opposition and the Glebe Land • 64% of respondents indicated that improved communications would change the way their business operates within the parish 79% opposition • Strong consensus that new houses should not be allowed to be built • Of younger members of the parish, 72% considered that
in gardens within Conservation Area (93% opposition) or outside the internet speeds were an important consideration when deciding where to live Conservation Area (74% opposition)
• Very important to consider the following with any future development • There was very mixed support for installing a mobile phone mast within the parish to improve mobile phone reception. 26% • Road Quality - level of concern 91% considered it unimportant, 30% considered it very important,
• Road Access - level of concern 90% and 25% were neutral. Overall, there was a slight majority in • Provision of land and road drainage - level of concern 86% favour, at 55%. The siting is considered critical both for reception and its visible impact on the environment • Provision of Sewage Disposal - level of concern 85% • Congestion - level of concern 84% • Car Parking - level of concern 81% page 26 of 31
High Level Themes: Transport and Accessibility High Level Themes: Energy and Low Carbon • Cars are essential to living in the parish. The responses showed that • Almost 100% support that new housing in the parish incorporate only two households did not have access to a car. energy conservation measures such as high levels of insulation
• Average car ownership is 1.8 per household. 15% of households • 32% support for smaller wind turbines (under 25m), but only 16% have three or more cars. support for larger wind turbines (over 25m) • Only 4.3% of households do not have an off-road parking facility, • High level of support for siting of Solar panels on houses (76%) although parking problems were identified in the village outside and farm/commercial buildings (81%) Strongs • 43% of respondents make fewer than 10 journeys per • 29% support for siting solar farms on agricultural land week, while only 16% make more than 20 journeys per week. • A considerable number of low carbon technologies were • 90% of respondents consider that the roads in the parish are not suggested. Those receiving the greatest support are: adequate to support significantly more housing development. • Ground source heat pumps 19 suggestions • 23% of respondents consider that they are within reasonable walking distance of the bus service along the A358 at Tytherleigh. • Hydro or water power 11 suggestions
There are no public transport facilities serving Chardstock village. • Bio-mass fuels 7 suggestions The long walk from Chardstock to Tytherleigh along narrow, unlit and unpaved lanes is seen as a major obstacle to using the bus • Water harvesting 4 suggestions
service. • Air source heat pumps 4 suggestions
• 96 respondents submitted additional comments concerning • Very high support (98%) that all new houses incorporate energy transport and accessibility, as recorded below: conservation measures such as high level of insulation • Access from Tytherleigh to Chardstock is inadequate/ cannot support more new development 20 suggestions
• Junction improvements/traffic calming required at Tytherleigh Arms High Level Themes: 14 suggestions Society, Community and Services • More/better hedge cutting required 12 suggestions
• One-way system using Storridge Lane 11 suggestions There was strong support for the services listed in the
• More passing places/improvements to Tytherleigh Lane 11 questionnaire. The Post Office/Village shop, Community Hall, suggestions Public House/Restaurants, Primary School Parish Newsletter and Local Trades and Services scored over 90% approval. The lowest • Better maintenance/road repairs 8 suggestions approval rating was 72.6%. • Speed limits need reducing/enforcing 7 suggestions • Walk paths needed/better facilities for pedestrians/cyclists 4 suggestions • Clearance of ditches/removal of waste after hedge cutting 4 suggestions page 27 of 31
BIPS
BUILD • IMPROVE • PROTECT • SUSTAIN
THE WHOLE POINT OF THE CHARDSTOCK PARISH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN IS TO ENSURE THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT SHOWS RESPECT FOR OUR PARISH
AND REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU SET DURING THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND FACT FINDING PHASE OF THE PROJECT.
THIS IS WHAT YOU SAID.
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Chardstock - Our Parish - Our Priorities
Build Improve a) New housing must focus on smaller, more a) Any expansion will require road affordable houses as starter homes and helping improvements. The road between the village older residents who wish to “downsize”. We do and the A358, in particular, must be improved. not need any more large, expensive houses. Road safety in the village is an important planning matter. b) The land availability review of 2012 identified some suitable sites. Any new sites b) Business needs good communications and must pass stringent sustainability tests in their younger people, in particular, need ready access to the modern digital environment. The own right, without any need to “bend” the parish needs reliable, high speed broadband. rules. c) Development beyond the current Built Up c) The parish is affected by flooding. It needs Area Boundary seems unnecessary. effective drainage planning and flood prevention measures as a matter of priority, d) The design and density (i.e. the spacing especially where (and before) new houses are between buildings) of new buildings must to be built. reflect and respect the appearance and setting of existing buildings in the immediate area.
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Protect Sustain a) We value Chardstock’s Conservation Area, a) Match levels of development to the ability of its buildings and setting. It must not be the parish's infrastructure to support it. disfigured or have its integrity threatened by b) Use small-business-friendly planning policies insensitive development. to promote the growth of the local economy. b) We value the AONB and wish it to be c) New houses need high (i.e. above minimum) preserved, not encroached upon. This includes levels of energy efficiency and other the small area of our parish which technically environmentally responsible design features. lies outside the Blackdown Hills. d) Encourage local employment, not c) Protect our natural environment and commuting. habitats, especially outside the village. e) Do not overload fragile road surfaces or d) All our listed buildings, whether in the already stretched foul water drainage systems. Conservation Area or not, matter and must be conserved. f) Community facilities need financial support through planning obligations and conditions e) Chardstock’s rural character is important. We do not wish to become either a town or a suburb.
These are the reasons we choose to live here
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A Vision for the Parish of Chardstock
Chardstock is a small, peaceful and attractive community - but it is also active and will grow and change with time. Even a modest growth plan must align preserving what is best now with realising the aspirations of the community for the future. We will do this by rigorously planning the number, size, design and location of new houses and assessing their true impact on the infrastructure and the historical and environmental qualities of our parish before they are approved. Chardstock only needs smaller houses for local people.
Development should be within the Built Up Area Boundary and must be sustainable, recognising the implications for infrastructure, transport, economic growth, building standards and local facilities. Growth will need to be matched by improvements to road quality, telecommunications and other services and by measures to manage flooding. So growth will require investment - in facilities, services and the local economy. Investment that should flow from the development process itself, predicated upon planning obligations established at the time of planning approval.
Chardstock’s built and natural environments are central to its unique sense of place. They must not be damaged unless there is an overwhelming and measurable public benefit. We will seek to protect our Conservation Area and our part of the Blackdown Hills AONB and its immediate environs. In this way, we can look after what we have, whilst ensuring that Chardstock is a place where people of all ages and backgrounds are able to settle and to contribute to our future wellbeing as a community.
Note: This vision statement is a draft, based on a working interpretation of the results of the NP questionnaire. It will evolve with the plan as it progresses. Any changes will be publicised with ample time for comment.
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Chardstock Parish Neighbourhood Plan
Second Exhibition and Consultation We hope you have found this event interesting and useful. It is only the second public event in a series of initiatives designed to keep the community up to date on how the plan is developing and to give everyone plenty of opportunity to comment on or to be involved in the plan's production. Whilst the questionnaire phase is now over, there is still much to be thought about and to seek opinion on. You will be given a BIPS checklist to take away with you - please complete it. Without everyone's opinion we won't know what you think or how you want the plan to develop.
And if you have any other thoughts about how the plan should develop (e.g. what local development management policies are needed), which are new or reflect the fact that you now know more about it than you did, either tell a member of the plan team at this event or send your comments to the Steering Group via:
The Chardstock Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group c/o The Chardstock Stores and Post Office or to [email protected]
And what happens next? The plan team has a lot to think about, mainly because of the excellent and very focused response we got from Chardstock people as a result of the questionnaire process. The next task is to absorb that information along with inputs from other sources of evidence and expert knowledge with a view to drawing some firm conclusions from it all before commencing the task of sketching out an early draft of what will be our Neighbourhood Plan. We shall keep everyone informed of progress with ample opportunity to contribute and comment along the way.
Remember that one day, we hope in the spring of next year, we shall ask you vote in a local referendum on the plan and thus make it a part of the established planning process that cannot easily be ignored. So we need to get it right.
Thank you for your support so far. The Chardstock Neighbourhood Plan Team