Boughton Aluph and Eastwell Neighbourhood Plan Survey Results
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BOUGHTON ALUPH AND EASTWELL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN SURVEY RESULTS May 2016 Mike King Director [email protected] 01908/ 776940 07788 286337 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Concerns over Development in and around the Parish There are strong concerns in regards to housing development in and around the parish. In terms of nearby developments, three quarters of survey respondents indicated that they were ‘concerned a lot’ about development in Ashford encroaching into the parish. Within the parish itself, rather than housing development taking place in new areas, 79% of respondents indicated that conversion of empty or derelict buildings should be made first priority. When questioned about the suitability of potential development sites three quarters (75%) of respondents felt that BAE1 Lenacre Hall Farm, Sandyhurst Lane- 100+ dwellings, leisure and sheltered housing was unsuitable for development whilst 61% stated BBAE 1 Ashford Golf Club, Sandyhurst Lane- 100+ dwellings and associated uses was also unsuitable. When questioned on industrial development, 83% of those surveyed felt that large scale industry was unimportant as a new form of business development in the parish. Rural Nature of Parish The rural nature of the parish is evidenced with over half of respondents (54%) being able to walk to the countryside in less than 5 minutes from their home and 88% using the nearby countryside for walking/ rambling. Protection of the Rural Nature of the Parish The desire to protect the rural nature of the parish is highlighted with 92% of those surveyed indicating that it was important for them to be able to walk from their home to the countryside, 73% of this cohort offered a rating of ‘very important’. Further augmenting the need to protect the rural nature, 91% of those interviewed stated that it was important to maintain the rural/ urban boundary in the parish, whilst 92% were concerned about the impact of new housing development on the rural nature of the parish, such as the countryside and open spaces. An overriding theme of the analysis that views, landscapes and green areas within the parish needed to be protected from any form of development with specific reference made to North Downs (91%), Crown at Wye (89%), Eastwell Park, lake and woodland (88%) and Eastwell Towers. (83%) 91% of those surveyed also felt that it was important that high grade agricultural land in the parish is protected and the same figure reported that greenfield sites were not important when considering sites for more housing. In terms of specific green spaces, 95% of those surveyed rated the Children’s Play Area, Goat Lees as important in terms of protecting from future development with 90% stating The Village Green, Boughton Lees and King’s Wood. 90% of respondents indicated that the protection of wildlife and their habitat was an important function in the parish over the next 15 years. 2 Improving Access to the Countryside 92% of those surveyed indicated that footpaths clear of obstacles was important in regards to helping improve their access to the countryside with 89% stating stiles and gates in good state of repair was important. Traffic and Transport Respondents were largely reliant on the use of the car. Half of those surveyed lived in households with two cars and 90% reported that they used a car or van on a daily basis on the public roads within the parish. The key theme to emerge from the qualitative suggestions in regards to new housing in the parish was that improved traffic/ transport infrastructure would be needed with any associated development. Supplementing the open text, 95% of respondents were concerned about increased traffic and congestion and 89% increased parking needs. In terms of the development of Eureka Park, traffic and transport issues were also evident. 96% rated the management of the impact on the parish of any increase in Heavy Goods Vehicle traffic and managing any additional traffic on roads throughout the parish as important whilst 94% provided the same rating in regards to adequate parking for residents, employees and customers/clients of the business park. Trinity Road and the A251 were areas of particular concern in regards to traffic and transport issues. 59% and 48% of those surveyed were concerned about the volume of traffic on Trinity Road and the A251 respectively, 48% were concerned about the speed of traffic on Trinity Road and 47% on the A251, whilst 46% expressed a concern about the HGV’s and vans on Trinity Road and 41% on the A251. Throughout the parish speed restrictions (79%), traffic calming measures (68%), safer crossings for pedestrians (67%) and road junction improvements (62%) were all considered important factors for encouraging future road safety. In terms of HGV’s, 80% of respondents reported that vehicle weight restrictions were important. Protection of Historic Buildings Over three quarters (88%) of respondents felt that protecting Eastwell Towers/ Lodge and flanking flint walls from any form of adjacent development was important. Eastwell Manor and Courtyard Gateways (81%), The Great Wall around Eastwell Park (80%), St Mary the Virgin Church (ruins), Eastwell (78%) and All Saints Church, Boughton Aluph (77%) were also classed as important local historic buildings and features in the parish to protect. 3 Type of Development If new housing development were to happen in the parish 63% of those surveyed indicated that this should be homes for sale on the open market. Just over half (52%) of respondents felt that 2-3 bed housing should be first priority for new builds over the next 15 years and 90% stated houses should fit in visually with existing streetscapes. Improving Broadband Just under half (49%) of those surveyed reported that they experienced a problem with the performance of their broadband connection, whilst 88% of business owners reported that high speed internet connectivity was by far the most important consideration in regards to growing their operation within the parish. Augmenting the quantitative data, 184 comments were supplied in regards to problems with broadband connections, 147 of which cited issues with speed. Health Services 88% of survey respondents were concerned about the increased pressure on health services any new housing development would bring. Over three quarters (76%) of those surveyed rated a new GP Surgery as important for the parish over the next 15 years. 4 KEY FINDINGS The following report is structured on the questions as presented in the Neighbourhood Plan Survey. Please note that on the questions where it states ‘Please tick all that apply’ figures may add up to more than 100% as respondents were allowed to provide multiple responses. OBJECTIVE 1: To preserve the rural character of our parish by preventing urban sprawl 1a. How concerned are out about development in Ashford encroaching into our Parish? % Concerns me a lot 75 Concerns me a little 17 No particular opinion 5 Does not concern me 4 Three quarters of respondents indicated that they were concerned a lot about development in Ashford encroaching into the Parish. 1b. The urban/rural border in our parish runs along Sandyhurst Lane to the A251 and then across the playing fields of Towers School. How important is it to you to maintain this rural/urban boundary? % Very Important 73 Important 18 No particular opinion 4 Not very important 3 Not at all important 2 91% of those interviewed stated that it was important (73% very important and 18% important) to maintain the rural/ urban boundary in the parish. 5 1c. When considering sites for more housing in our parish, which of the following do you think are appropriate? (5 is most appropriate and 1 is not appropriate) 5 4 3 2 1 % % % % % Next to existing housing 34 22 24 7 13 Next to businesses 17 20 34 11 17 On brownfield sites 62 17 9 4 7 On Greenfield sites 4 1 5 7 84 On Greenfield sites only if there are no 7 4 12 21 55 ‘brownfield sites’ 5 Most important 4 3 2 1 Not important 100% 7 13 17 4 90% 7 9 80% 11 17 55 70% 24 60% 84 34 50% 22 40% 21 62 30% 20 20% 34 12 7 4 10% 17 5 1 4 7 0% Next to existing housing Next to businesses On brownfield sites On Greenfield sites On Greenfield sites only if there are no ‘brownfield sites’ 79% of respondents felt that brownfield sites were appropriate (62% providing a rating of 5 and 17% a rating of 4) when considering sites for more housing for the parish, whilst 56% provided this rating for ‘next to existing housing’. 91% of respondents reported that greenfield sites were not appropriate (84% providing a rating of 1 and 7% a rating of 2) when considering sites for more housing and 76% stating on greenfield sites only if there are no brownfield sites. (55% providing a rating of 1 and 21% a rating of 2) 6 1d. Is there anything else regarding location that you think is important when thinking about new housing development in the parish? The key theme to emerge from the qualitative suggestions was that improved traffic/ transport infrastructure would be needed when thinking about new housing development in the parish. Examples of comments include; Condition and capacity of the Wye Rd, Adequacy/safety of A28 and A251 junctions/crossings, Adequacy/safety of Wye/Boughton Lees junction, Access to A251 Ensure existing roads can carry extra traffic. Good planning into existing surrounding infrastructure is key. Learn from the mistakes of Kings Hill, Junction 4 M20 Motorway always bottlenecks here, making short journey intolerable at rush hour times need to consider the road infrastructure. State of roads. Traffic congestion on roads.