Mid Coquetdale Neighbourhood Plan - Vision and Objectives Consultation

March/April 2017

OUR DRAFT VISION FOR THE MID-COQUETDALE Neighbourhood Planning came into force in 2011, through the NEIGHBOURHOOD AREA Localism Bill. It gives us a unique opportunity to produce our own : Neighbourhood Development Plan for our own area. Parish Council, Parish Council and Cartington Parish Council Our Neighbourhood Plan will ensure that and Whitton and Tosson Parish Council have joined together to produce this Plan. Rothbury will retain its special historic appeal. Using its role as the main service centre to Since the last community consultation in 2015 we have been working enhance the economic, environmental and social hard to start drafting a Neighbourhood Plan for the area. We have listened to what you have said, and have come up with a Vision for the wellbeing of the area and provide a warm, Neighbourhood Area and 7 Objectives that we think reflect what the welcome to the Simonside Hills and the Upper community want, and which we think we can achieve through planning Coquet Valley. With improved links to Rothbury, policies and community projects in the Neighbourhood Plan. With each objective, we have identified specific policy areas, which we think the nearby settlements of Thropton, Cartington would help achieve those objectives. and Whitton & Tosson will remain separate, retaining their distinctive character and their Are there things you disagree with? Are there things we have missed? If you don’t tell us, we won’t know. own sustainable communities.

If you have further questions, we are having a Consultation Open Day Do you agree with this Vision? on Saturday 11th March at Thropton Village Hall between 10am - 12pm How could it be changed? and at Rothbury Jubilee Hall between 2pm and 4pm.

This form is also available online on the Rothbury Parish Council website (rothburyparishcouncil.org.uk) Responses are requested by the 22nd April 2017, email: [email protected]

Vision, Objectives and Policy Area Consultation – March 2017 1 Mid Coquetdale Neighbourhood Plan - Vision and Objectives Consultation

March/April 2017

Objective 1: Community Facilities Objective 2: Natural Environment and Landscape

We will protect our most highly valued local community facilities, We will strengthen the role the Plan Area plays as a gateway to the and encourage new community facilities that will increase the Simonside Hills, Upper Coquet Valley and sustainability of each of our settlements in the Plan area National Park, by preserving and enhancing the town's special historic character, the landscapes around it, the green spaces Potential Policy areas: We could… within it, and the special qualities of the Dark Sky Park.  Protect our Community Facilities where they are highly valued (e.g. pubs/post office/village hall/library/hospital/schools/small shops Potential Policy Areas: We could… in the villages).  Define settlement boundaries to ensure that new development does  We could provide a positive policy framework for the provision of not encroach into surrounding landscapes, and to prevent the further facilities - e.g. play areas, toilet facilities, etc. 'merging' of settlements.  Use existing policies in the Rothbury Village Design Statement and What community facilities do you think should be protected and include these in the Neighbourhood Plan (at the moment these why? What new community facilities do we need in the policies are just 'advisory' - if they are in the Neighbourhood Plan Neighbourhood Area? Where should they be? then they will carry much more weight in decision-making)  Ensure all new development has appropriate outside lighting to protect Dark Skies  Allocate land as 'Local Green Space' within the settlements, where it is highly valued by residents

Do you agree with these proposals? Do you have other ideas? Which green spaces are important to you?

Vision, Objectives and Policy Area Consultation – March 2017 2 Mid Coquetdale Neighbourhood Plan - Vision and Objectives Consultation

March/April 2017

Objective 3: Accessibility Objective 4: Housing

To make the Plan area more accessible, we will work to improve To ensure we have a truly sustainable community, we will seek to public transport, improve and provide new cycle ways and ensure there is suitable type and mix of housing to meet the needs enhance public rights of way elsewhere in the Plan area of all sectors of our community

Potential Policy Areas: Potential Policy Areas: We could…  We could look for ways to improve access to (and the  Have a policy to ensure all new housing on un-allocated sites in the surrounding countryside) from within Rothbury itself (Rothbury Neighbourhood Area to be housing for affordable housing or people Design Guide) with a local connection only over the Plan period, once the housing  We could support the installation of a cycle route between requirement of 200 homes has been met. Rothbury and Thropton  Conduct a housing survey to provide evidence to support the  We could support improvements to pedestrian routes within the approach above, and see whether there are other specific housing town needs in the area - for instance, housing for older people.  We could seek to protect the railway line for future use as a  Support the re-use of derelict buildings in rural areas for walking/cycle route housing/economic purposes  We could work more closely with public transport providers to get better bus services Is there a particular type of housing that we should be seeking to promote in the Neighbourhood Plan? Are there any locations that Do you think there are other ways we could improve transport and you think would be suitable - if so, where? accessibility in the Neighbourhood Area?

Vision, Objectives and Policy Area Consultation – March 2017 3 Mid Coquetdale Neighbourhood Plan - Vision and Objectives Consultation

March/April 2017

Objective 5: Flooding Objective 6: The Local Economy

Ensure all new development is in areas at low risk of flooding and Provide opportunities for, and support a more vibrant and diverse increase mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of flooding local economy in the Plan Area elsewhere. Potential Policy Areas: We could… Potential Policy Areas: We could…  Seek to promote more small-scale enterprise hub type businesses  Identify areas that are at risk of flooding and direct development  We could incorporate policies that support rural enterprise (for away from those areas example, farm diversification, businesses related to the National  Ensure that Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems are incorporated Park and its special qualities into all new development to manage and reduce run-off  Seek to promote tourism development that respects the special  We could maximise opportunities for catchment land management qualities of our area within the Neighbourhood Area to minimise the impact of future flooding events What more could we do in relation to the local economy? Are there other areas that we should be looking at? Is this the right approach to take for flooding? Do you have other suggestions?

Vision, Objectives and Policy Area Consultation – March 2017 4 Mid Coquetdale Neighbourhood Plan - Vision and Objectives Consultation

March/April 2017

Objective 7: Local Heritage and Character Do you have any other comments? Either fill in the box, or e-mail us at XXXX:

Preserve and enhance the character of the Conservation Areas in

Rothbury and Witton, and the historic environment in the Plan area

Potential Policy Areas: We could…  Incorporate policies from the Village Design Statement for Rothbury in relation to the built and historic environment in Rothbury  Use the existing Conservation Area Character Appraisals for Whitton & Tosson and Rothbury and incorporate into planning policy

 Have a policy to maintain our historic shop fronts

 Identify which parts of Thropton are historically important  We could identify and give additional protection to buildings which are not listed but are locally important

Is this the right approach? Are there other things we should be doing in relation to local heritage and character? Are there particular buildings that you think need extra protection from inappropriate development?

Vision, Objectives and Policy Area Consultation – March 2017 5