Peover Superior Neighbourhood Plan Consultation Statement November
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PEOVER SUPERIOR NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN CONSULTATION STATEMENT NOVEMBER 2019 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This consultation statement has been prepared to fulfil the legal obligations of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 in respect of the Peover Superior (Over Peover) Neighbourhood Plan. The legal basis of the Statement is provided by Section 15 (2) of Part 5 of the 2012 Neighbourhood Planning Regulations, which requires that a consultation statement should: Contain details of the persons and bodies who were consulted about the proposed Peover Superior Neighbourhood Plan; Explain how they were consulted; Summarise the main issues and concerns raised by the persons consulted; Describe how those issues and concerns have been considered and, where relevant, addressed in the proposed Peover Superior Neighbourhood Plan. 1.2 The Neighbourhood Area is in the unitary authority of Cheshire East Council, and comprises of a rural Parish within the Green Belt. The parish has a small population of some 666 residents (at the time of the 2011 census). The relatively small number of residents has meant that consultation with members of the community has been a real possibility at a manageable scale, which has helped to allow the community to become aware of the Neighbourhood Plan, and to contribute to its development through various consultation events and a questionnaire. Additionally, the Parish Council has published information on the village website https://www.overpeover.com which has pages dedicated to the Neighbourhood Plan, where Neighbourhood Plan documents and background evidence have been published and available to view. 2 BACKGROUND 2.1 The Peover Superior Neighbourhood Plan is a community plan and must derive its vision, objectives and policies from the community. From the outset the Parish Council was determined that the residents should be kept informed and given every opportunity to inform the Steering Group of their views. Communication and consultation, in various forms, have played a major role in formulating the Neighbourhood Plan. 2.2 Throughout the process, the neighbourhood planning steering group has engaged in consultations with the community, using a variety of methods in order to gain as many views as possible. 2.3 It was considered essential to: Promote a high degree of awareness of the project; Form a steering group that contained both Parish Council members and volunteers from the local community; Encourage everyone to contribute to the development of the Neighbourhood Plan; Promote consultation events and provide regular updates on the status of the Neighbourhood Plan and its development. 2.4 Key to this programme was publicity to gain residents’ engagement. This was gained via public meetings, drop-ins, newsletters, a questionnaire, and electronic media via the village website. Consultation versions of the Neighbourhood Plan were available to view on the Parish website, along with other documents and reports. (https://www.overpeover.com) 2.5 Every effort has been made to ensure that the vision, objectives and policies of the Over Peover Neighbourhood Plan reflect the views of the majority of the local residents, whilst having regard to local and national policies. 2.6 The Neighbourhood Plan has been developed through regular consultation with the residents of and businesses in, Over Peover. Cheshire East Council Planning department has also been consulted throughout the process and has provided invaluable information and advice. The Neighbourhood was formally designated by Cheshire East Council on 5th April 2017. 3. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN PRESENTATION 3.1 Who was consulted and how were they consulted? The Neighbourhood Plan steering group held a presentation to the community on 27th September 2017, held at the village hall. The presentation comprised of a power point, followed by questions and answers. The event was advertised by a flyer delivered to each household and approximately 40 local residents attended. The power point presentation can be seen at http://www.overpeover.com/wp- content/uploads/2018/03/Neighbourhood-Plan.pdf 3.2 The presentation was well received, and set out to address - What is driving us to change what we already have? What is a Neighbourhood Plan and why do we need one? What is the process and how long will it take? Who needs to be involved? 3.3 What issues and concerns were raised? Residents asked a number of questions regarding the process of developing a Neighbourhood Plan, and discussed whether it would be a useful document to have, and what it could achieve. 3.4 How have the issues and concerns been considered? Residents were supportive of the decision to produce a Neighbourhood Plan, and agreed that it would be a valuable document that would be of great use to the parish. It was decided that the next steps would include a questionnaire, to find out in more detail what issues residents would like to see addressed in the Neighbourhood Plan. It was also considered sensible to learn from other parishes; establish contact with local groups; and determine with residents, businesses, school and community groups what policies ought to be covered in the Neighbourhood Plan. 4 SHORT SURVEY OF RESIDENTS 4.1 Who was consulted and how were they consulted? In early October 2017 a short survey was delivered by hand to every household in the parish. The survey requested views on the development of 12-14 homes in the village, plus a village community facility which had been proposed by Crabtree Homes. The survey was to be returned by October 22nd either by post to the parish clerk, or by hand to one of three collection points at the village pubs. 4.2 What issues and concerns were raised? There were 282 surveys distributed, and 116 were returned, a response rate of 41%. Almost 90% of households (101 returns) objected or strongly objected to the proposal tabled by Crabtree Homes. Five households were either supportive or strongly supportive of the proposal. 4.3 Those that were supportive highlighted in their comments that communities need to develop, that more housing is needed nationally and that “the offer of a free Village Hall should not be dismissed out of hand”. Of those that objected or strongly objected to the proposal and provided comments, the overwhelming reasons were to the building of houses on greenbelt land and the precedent that this development would set; there being no proven need for additional housing in the Village; and the additional traffic and the access to the site which was considered as being on a dangerous bend. Other objections cited that the village facilities were inadequate to meet the additional housing; that the proposal was not aligned to the Parish Plan in terms of preserving the openness of the Village and preferring development on brownfield sites; and that a more centralised location nearer the school was preferred for a new Village Hall. 4.4 How have the issues and concerns been considered? The results of the survey were fed back to the residents in a village newsletter, which was delivered to each household. The newsletter can be viewed at http://www.overpeover.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Proposed- Development-in-the-Village-Results.pdf. The results highlighted that residents were keen to protect the Green Belt, were concerned about traffic, and also that they would prefer a new village hall, were one to be forthcoming, to be centrally located. It was therefore felt that a traffic survey should be undertaken, and also discussions undertaken with Cheshire East Council regarding the likelihood of a new village hall being delivered within the Parish, and where the most suitable location for this may be. 5 RESIDENTS’ QUESTIONNAIRE 5.1 Who was consulted and how were they consulted? A more detailed questionnaire was delivered by a team of volunteers to every household in the parish in early 2018, to be completed by the end of January. A covering letter explaining the purpose of the questionnaire was also delivered. (The questionnaire results and analysis can be viewed at http://www.overpeover.com/wp- content/uploads/2018/03/Questionnaire-Results-Report.pdf ) 5.2 The questionnaire explained that priorities were being sought in order to understand what issues were important to the community and should be covered in the Neighbourhood Plan. It asked a number of questions, focussing on what people liked and disliked about living in the parish, and asked people to score out of ten how high a priority certain issues were to them. These covered Green Belt protection; gaps within developments; house building; types of new housing; extensions; employment; traffic; a new village hall and biodiversity. 5.3 The questionnaires could be returned by post, popped into one of the collection points at the three village pubs, or handed to one of the Parish Councillors. 5.4 What issues and concerns were raised? 288 questionnaires were delivered, and 76 responses were received, a response rate of 26%, and the results showed what the main priorities and areas of concern to the residents were. 5.5 When asked what residents like about living in the parish of Over Peover, the main response was the countryside and rural situation, and the friendly community, peace and quiet and the pubs. The main dislike was associated with traffic through the village, the threat of new developments in the Green Belt, and the state of the village hall. 5.6 The questionnaire results highlighted that there was emphatic support in favour of protecting the Green Belt. The next highest priority was to protect the open spaces and green gaps within the village. The availability of superfast broadband was considered to be of high importance, along with the need to reduce the impact of traffic through the village. The next highest issue of priority was the promotion and protection of biodiversity, followed by design.