A Local Plan for Droitwich Spa
THE VISION
A MORE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY
The vision for the Droitwich Spa Town Plan is for a more sustainable community.
This means maximum self-sufficiency in all services and facilities so that the town has the infrastructure and sense of community to support the current and future inhabitants of our town. We want residents to enjoy living here, to be satisfied with their lifestyle, take part in activities and be proud of the town. We want the town to have a desirable image which makes people aspire to live and work here or just come and visit.
Droitwich Spa Town Plan
Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction ...... 1 Chapter 2 Neigbourhood and Communities ...... 13 Chapter 3 Highways and Traffic ...... 16 Chapter 4 Education...... 21 Chapter 5 Jobs and Opportunities ...... 22 Chapter 6 Community Health ...... 26 Chapter 7 Leisure in General and Leisure and Health ...... 28 Chapter 8 Leisure Group Report ...... 31 Chapter 9 Green Spaces & Green Necklace ...... 42 Chapter 10 Town Approaches & Signing ...... 45 Chapter 11 Town Centre & Shopping ...... 49 Chapter 12 High Street ...... 55 Chapter 13 Historic Buildings ...... 57 Chapter 14 Conservation Areas ...... 62 Chapter 15 Canal Regeneration ...... 65 Chapter 16 Housing & Spatial Strategy ...... 66 Chapter 17 Development Sites ...... 68 Chapter 18 Pollution & Waste Disposal ...... 74 Chapter 19 Droitwich Drainage Area, and Description of the Sewerage System ...... 77 Chapter 20 Policing ...... 89 Chapter 21 64 Ways to improve Droitwich Spa ...... 91 APPENDIX...... 92 A Plan of Droitwich Spa ...... 92 Archaeology ...... 94 A Power Point Presentation on Art in Droitwich Spa ...... 99 A Note ...... 100
Droitwich Spa Town Plan
Chapter 1 Introduction
‘Just Imagine’ Event of April 2005 and Droitwich Spa Town Plan, Preliminary Meeting, September 2005
The „Just Imagine‟ event of 20th April 2005 hosted by Wychavon District Council was held with the view to providing information for the Local Strategic Partnership Committee to consider when formulating a new two to three year strategy.
Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) are partnerships of community, voluntary, private and public sectors that think strategically and take action to make a difference to local people. Their aim is simply to improve people‟s quality of life – things like health, safety, job and learning opportunities, environment, housing, social life and sense of community.
In Wychavon there are three LSPs based around each town and the surrounding rural areas. The LSPs base their work on local needs determined through events like ‘Just Imagine’, health checks, questionnaires, parish plans, local Councillors and other intelligence.
Each year, Wychavon District Council gives the Droitwich Area LSP a small pot of money, called the Community Planning Fund, to help it kick-start community projects that meet local needs. The LSP needs to be clearer about what those needs are so it can plan to meet them and make more effective use of the Community Planning Fund, building on its successes to date.
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Just Imagine Event: 20 April 2005.
Summary of issues identified.
This following summarises all the issues that participants at ‘Just Imagine' identified as being needs or priorities for Droitwich and the surrounding rural areas. The asterisks (*) indicate those issues identified by more than one person. The issues are grouped under the five Community Plan themes. Through the smaller group discussions and prioritising exercise participants narrowed these down into a list of key priorities for the LSP to take away and develop into a two to three year strategy. A list of these is included in the ‘Just Imagine' event write-up.
1 Reducing crime & community safety.
Activities and meeting places for young people - groups of young people in public can be viewed as threatening. ****** It's a very low crime area, need to improve public perception/misunderstanding of „real crime‟ levels. **** More visible policing - around estates and rural areas, in parts of town, at night and weekends on the housing estates. *** Official recognition of crime being dealt with (being seen to be done) and two way relationship with local police. *** Helping people feel safe/reassurance - especially the vulnerable. ** More neighbourhood wardens. Westlands - centre is really run down, needs improvement to help it feel safer. Extend Neighbourhood Warden Scheme to cover evenings/more youth workers. ** Drug use in rural areas - needles discarded etc and personal theft results from it. Droitwich and rural areas - crime with the introduction of ASBO things are improving. Their job changes by taking up training courses. Better lighting on outlying (older) estates. Vandalism of bus shelter on A38. Spate of young people on motorbikes on canal towpaths, playing fields and footpaths/alleys- signs/half barriers needed. Residents' forums.
2 A better environment
Encourage ownership of local environment and community action to improve it and develop pride in local areas. ******* Litter. *** Neighbourhood watch. ** Deterring criminals, preventing vandalism etc. ** Improve/replace subways. Speed checks around estates and rural areas. Improve noise reduction on motorway. Biodiversity. Continue with LSP and support initiatives e.g. Green Necklace. ** Neighbour issues e.g. noise, parking and dog dirt.
Green/open spaces.
Maintain and improve green spaces perceived to be reducing per capita with Government housing demands and the resultant increasing population. . ******* Imaginative use of open/green spaces for community uses, e.g. park keeper to simulate activities for children & young people. **** 2
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Green Necklace Route virtually complete - need to acquire land or permissive paths by Copcut Island, two fields up Pulley Lane. Smarten up approaches/'gateways' to Droitwich and villages, e.g. railway bridge, Copcut Island. Planning & Development. Include rural areas in planning services. Protect green spaces and current greenbelt boundaries - in face of housing demands. **** Think environmentally about as many schemes as possible! Incorporate positive thinking. There's a threat to green spaces that exist e.g. plan for pub on playing fields and woodland in Chawson Valley by canal. Various specific examples given. Parish Plans - links with district council and ensuring they are ongoing/long term.
3 Quality jobs & opportunities.
Housing. More affordable housing in town and rural areas - for priority groups, first time buyers, particularly families. ***** Supported housing scheme for young parents/young single mums. More sheltered and very sheltered housing. More help for families who want to exchange properties belonging to a Housing Association. Purpose designed & constructed housing for older people to downsize/buy, especially in rural communities. Councils/parishioners need to feel they matter in areas of planning. Increase access to benefit advice for those on low incomes. Rural issue - preventing further loss of town amenities (rugby club, school fields) to fill housing quotas.
Economy & jobs. Improve town centre and celebrate -town's heritage. *** Empty shops & retail provision - especially in town centre and on Westlands. Encourage good specialist shops and maintain and support independent retailers. ***** Encourage small local businesses, particularly in villages and rural communities. Action to make Droitwich attractive to inward investment from leading companies. Jobs - is there a market area that we can develop expertise in? Too many people have to commute to work. Increase tourist attractions.****
Learning. Evening classes. Access to learning centres in the town. Education deprivation, a significant issue. Reskilling of workforce to address decline in manufacturing. Great difficulty in Droitwich (probably worst in country) for recruiting social care staff - specifically home care staff. Could this be addressed by closer linking with schools/education?
4 Improving Health.
Community health facilities - new health facility/community hospital, local access to services. ** Access to health services in rural areas - transport and taking services out e.g. social work services in GP surgeries. **** Access for young people from outlying areas. Engaging GPs in initiatives & support. How can we bring vulnerable people/groups into a safe and welcoming place?
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good neighbours. newsletters. sitting services. Local x/ray, physio etc to reduce trips to Worcester etc for 10 min procedures. Strategic activity for mums/dads/toddlers/adolescents. More health visitors - preventive and early intervention. Communication - who is doing, what and how to access - link with local press.
Consultation on healthcare facilities and availability Mental health support services - primary care level. Drug support services. Alcohol - access centres via health care. Life coaching - needle exchange & disposal. Local support workers.
Promote healthy lifestyles - eating & exercise. ***** Schools - parental support. Westlands projects Healthy Living Centre extensions. Links with Leisure Centres. } exercise on referral Promote walking routes. } links with health professionals & Gap in green necklace. } childcare. Walking buses. Cycling routes. Increase sporting facilities for an increasing population.
5 Vibrant communities.
A place where... people speak positively about the area. - have good access to help and health care. - feel that the area is improving. - know that the council does care and is working to make it better with others. - young people feel settled and their opinions matter. - good facilities for people of all ages.
Leisure and cultural activities Activities for young people and access/transport to them - modern versions .of. church youth clubs, cinemas, etc. ********* Community/leisure activities and facilities for all ages. *** More things need to bring people into the town centre at night - families especially. Tourist attractions that also provide leisure facilities for townsfolk.
Access to services. More encouragement for men to access services aimed at families with young children - male outreach workers? Maintain and improve access to benefit agencies. Match housing and other development to infra-structure provision. More facilities for the older people, who seem to come last in the "pecking order" for services and recreation.
Traffic and transport. Greater energy developing an effective and comprehensive transport infrastructure for the town and outlying areas. Rural transport & improved publicity of rural public transport options e.g. Flexilink ***** 4
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Poor bus services. Access to town centre shops from Westlands e.g. public transport. Families living in Chawson need transport to access services at WANDS Children's centre. Consider dual use of vehicles for transport in rural areas e.g. post office buses. Bus transport for elderly from Wychbold to Droitwich. Speeding around the town and Wychbold on A38. Transport for the young. A lot of transport along A442 „Cutnall Green Corridor‟. Improve traffic management in the town Improve parking as the population continues to increase.
Communication and community involvement. Need to develop a „super system' of communication. Formation of community forums in different areas of the town. Encourage public participation in decision making at local level - stand for election/reduce „impediments‟. Town council to promote greater participation by citizens in the debate. Help in developing „volunteers' locally. Droitwich is not a community - but a collection of diverse areas. Meeting places, activities, leisure opportunities - better shops, better access are all needed to address this. Address perceived/actual barriers between young people and rest of community. Adopt a granny - for old people whose families live a long way away.
A plan of the area being referred to as the town of Droitwich Spa can be found as an appendix.
ON THE 22ND SEPTEMBER 2005 A MEETING WAS HELD TO CREATE A NEW GROUP DESIGNATED TO WORK ON THE DROITWICH SPA TOWN PLAN.
The aims of the Town Plan group are in some ways complementary to the LSP and are designed to address the present and future needs of a community. The aim is to bring together ideas about how an area can be improved for the benefit of everyone. An Executive Committee and Steering Group were elected to start work on the plan.
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Droitwich Spa Town Plan
Introduction to Town Plans
What is a Town Plan?
A Town Plan is a statement of how a local community sees itself developing over the next few years. It will:-
Reflect the views of all sections of the community. Identify features and local characteristics that people value. Identify local needs and opportunities. Set out a vision of how people want their community to develop in the future. Include an action plan to achieve the vision.
Town Plans should address the present and future needs of a community. The aim is to bring together ideas about how an area can be improved for the benefit of everyone.
How a Town Plan can be used?
Town Plans should have lots of benefits; mainly because people have to work together to decide how they want their community to develop in the future. Here are some of the key ways in which you can use a Town Plan:-'
To take action to improve quality of life in an area through practical projects such as running a community transport scheme or setting up a youth club. To manage change and address local needs through the planning process such as supporting the protection of community facilities or building affordable housing. To bid for funding for local initiatives and to encourage effective partnership working. To provide additional detail to support the Local Plan through adoption as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). To help influence and inform plans, policies and services of a range of organisations and service providers, including informing district and county Community Plans. To enhance the Town Council's community leadership role.
Who should be involved?
Town Plans need to be owned by the whole community. To be really effective they should involve everyone who might be affected, including:-
Everyone, who lives, works or plays some part in the community. Everyone who has an impact on what goes on in the community. Everyone you hope to influence.
What should a Town Plan contain?
There is no standard format for a Town Plan and no prescriptive list of the subjects it must contain. But it should address the key issues that your community feels are important. Town Plans usually consist of:-
A report explaining how the consultation was carried out and the conclusions drawn. This can take various forms, including photographs, documents, sketches or even a video. A succinct action plan clearly setting out what needs doing, when, why, by whom, and at what cost. 6
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Who leads a Town Plan development?
Anyone with an interest in improving your area can take a lead. Usually the process involves setting up a Town Plan Steering group. This can consist of any members of the community. As the whole community needs to be involved in producing the plan wide membership of the steering group is useful.
Consulting the Community.
Why Consult?
The issues that are important to you or the Steering Group may not be shared by the rest of the community. Consultation is vital as it gives you a chance to find out what people think of your area and identify the key issues to include in the plan.
Who should you consult?
The key to a successful Town Plan is total community involvement. This means you need to consult with everyone in your community. It is particularly important to reach out to those that would not normally get involved in local activities.
Consultation techniques and making it interesting.
There are a range of consultation techniques that can be used. The trick is to find the best method to suit the needs of the community. To get the views of everyone you'll probably have to use a number of techniques.
Questionnaires or surveys - can cover a whole range of issues. If structured so there are several options for each question, the results will be easier to analyse afterwards. Public meetings - useful to keep people informed throughout the process. If publicised, people will have an opportunity to attend and raise issues and give feedback. Interviews - particular issues to explore in more detail. Planning for real events - Maps or other tools are used to get people to contribute to a proposal of what an area could be like in 5 -10 years‟ time. Focus Groups - explore certain issues from a survey in more detail. Display boards and suggestion boxes - put in public places. Entertainment events - can be more fun for the community, base the event around a community theme.
It is important to keep the public informed of the progress of the Town Plan, so providing news updates will be important.
Using the results of your consultation.
The results of the consultation need to be evaluated; if it isn't representative of the community then it may be necessary to do more. It's important to set out the strengths and weaknesses or the research methods used so you know how it can be improved in the future.
When analysing the results, try to identify the key themes and issues and find out what the community as a whole thinks is important. The most supported views should form the basis of the action plan. The next step is to draft the action plan, it may be appropriate to consult people on the draft to check the priorities are right.
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Preparing the Town Plan.
Keep it simple. Arrange action into themes. Set clear timescales for each action. State who is responsible for delivering each action. Be honest about what you can achieve as there may be barriers to some of the actions. Include details of how progress will be monitored and reviewed.
Town Plans and the Planning System
The new planning system
The new land use planning system is intended to reflect a wider, more inclusive approach to planning and has placed greater weight on the use of Town and Parish Plans for this purpose. If your Town Plan contains information about the use of land in your area then you may want to consider adopting it as Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).
Adopted SPDs will form part of the new Local Development Framework (LDF), which will replace the existing Local Plan. The LDF is the main tool the district council will use to guide land use and planning decisions.
The adoption of the land use elements of Town and Parish Plans is however, one of the most difficult aspects of Town and Parish Planning. It is important to ensure the Town Plan supports the LDF and planning policies and the district council agrees the final document as a SPD.
What is a SPD?
If adopted a SPD can add detail to planning policies as they establish a local agenda of important or distinctive issues.
What are the benefits?
SPDs enable local communities to directly influence planning decisions by providing advice to those preparing planning applications and for the planning authority in determining decisions. A SPD is often used to strengthen the planning authority‟s position at planning appeals or when negotiating with applicants or developers and as such, substantial weight can be attached to it.
What do SPD's include?
SPDs may include:-
Detailed layout of land uses in an area - the broad allocation of uses and/or a specific site are established in a development plan document so the SPD could add more detail. Design guidance about the character of properties in the area. Implementation of specific schemes such as a riverside project.
Droitwich Spa - A Peak at The Past
In looking at the past in Droitwich Spa, we wanted to get an impression of the facilities available to the community to see how they compared with today. Sometimes the past can help us put today and the future in perspective. The town has a very long history, but there is little point in going back too far, so for our snapshot we have looked at the decade between 1950 and 1960.
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The population of the town at the time was as follows: 1951 6,467. 1961 7,976. (2,313 households)
The above compared with the current population which is probably nearer 25,000 (over 10,000 households).
During the 1950‟s and 1960‟s the townsfolk enjoyed the following facilities: The Winter Gardens, used for dances, wedding receptions, afternoon tea dances and other social events. The theatre groups also appeared at the Winter Gardens. There were three groups – The Droitwich Spa Dramatic Society, The Droitwich New Players Dramatic Society and the Ariel Players. The present Norbury Theatre opened in 1963.
The hotels, The Raven, The Worcestershire and The Chateau Impney held Saturday night dinner dances.
Salters Hall Cinema provided programmes seven days a week with afternoon/evening performances. There were two different films in the week with a children‟s programme on Saturday mornings and a different programme on Sundays.
There were three large Parish Halls consisting of the Girl Guide Hut and St. Nicholas Church Hall in Friar Street. Also Dodderhill Church Hall in Vines Lane. These were used for private parties, jumble sales and entertainment, such as revues and pantomimes.
The Brine Baths at St. Richard‟s House was in operation with a café at the entrance. There was a remedial pool and a pool 75 feet long known as The Big Swim. This closed at the end of 1975. The open air salt water bathing lido in the Lido Park was acquired for the town after the Second World War and there was an indoor pool added in about 1976. Under The Borough Council, before Wychavon District Council, the borough engineer recommended The Lido be covered to improve protection from the weather.
Vines Park and the Lido Park provided green open spaces, but there was no lack of green space around the town in view of the smaller population. The Lido and Lido Park drew visitors from all around the area and from as far away as Birmingham, in the summer months, giving Droitwich Spa the reputation far and wide as a spa town.
For the young people the Youth Clubs were extremely popular during this period and there were at least two youth clubs run by Dodderhill Church and St. Andrew‟s Church. There may also have been another one at St. Nicholas‟ Church, but this is not certain. There was no lack of things to do for the young people and you did not have to be a member of the church to join the youth club.
There was an ample amount of restaurants and cafes to choose from. Also the Working Man‟s Club and numerous public houses. Droitwich Spa at one time had more public houses than any other town in England.
There library was the Old Library situated in Ombersley Street West.
There were two Specialist Hospitals. Highfield Hospital and St. John‟s Hospital. The remedial treatment given at Highfield also added to the town‟s image as a spa town as people came from all over the country.
The Police Station was open 24 hours a day 365 days a year.
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Sports were played on King George V Playing Field. This included a cricket pitch, several football pitches and a hockey pitch. There was a football pitch at Steyners Avenue and two pitches on Covercroft in the centre of the town. This meant there was Public Open Space in the centre of the town were a car park now stands. Badminton was played at a local school. The Lido was open for swimming in the summer only. There was no Sports and Leisure Centre until the 1990s. However there did not seem to be any lack of space for the population of the time.
Looking at all the facilities available over this decade to a population of less than 8,000, it is hardly surprising that many town residents at the time recall a vibrant town with plenty of activities available.
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The Present The town today with its increased population has arguably less facilities per capita and this is in danger of even more erosion with further building and population increases.
The town has been described as having many disparate parts with little communication between. Residents of Westlands, for example, are separated from the town by the ring road.
Bus routes have been reduced by private firms.
Many footpath and cycle routes have been cut off by new building.
The town has no bus station or substantial parking for visiting coaches.
The train station gives the impression of arriving in an industrial town being surrounded by industrial building with poor signage as to where the town is located.
The station has inadequate parking meaning that after early morning it is not possible to park and use the train. Parking is overflowing onto local roads.
Since the 1960 the town has become a dormitory town to large cities with commuters taking very little interest in community affairs.
The town now has few attractions for visitors or residents.
Young people in particular say “there is nothing to do in the town”. People are travelling out of the town for leisure and entertainment.
The shopping in the town is having to compete with larger centres such as Worcester and Cheltenham.
The town‟s internal transport and travel systems give primacy to the car.
The built environment has suffered from poor design during and since the 1906‟s and as a result the town is less attractive.
Less properly protected Public Open Spaces are being provided with developments despite existing open spaces being built upon.
There are dangers of flooding in areas.
There is a feeling the infrastructure is falling behind the increasing population needs. Road noise is blighting areas of the town.
The Background Since construction started in 1966, an industrial area has been largely completed, approximately 1,360 houses have been provided in the development area and some 900 houses have been built in other areas of the town.
The population at the start of the scheme was about 9,000, it now stands at about 25,000, the target population is approximately 30,000 and a further, as yet undetermined, increase is suggested in the draft County structure plan proposals being formulated by Worcestershire County Council.
The development plan for the town included an area zoned for town centre purposes and an inquiry into the proposals for the central area was held in October, 1969. This area includes and extends the original town centre and the Comprehensive Development Area proposals, together with compulsory 11
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purchase powers (under the Town Development Act 1952) for the first phase of the scheme, were confirmed between October 1971 and January, 1972.
One of the biggest impacts on our perception of Droitwich‟s environment is from our cars and caused by the highway infrastructure with all its paraphernalia and surroundings as it affects our view of the town.
The Saltway is probably the worst offender having opened up the backs and service side of the town centre, created a steel loop around three sides and subjects us to the noise and fumes of constant traffic.
The town plan looks at these issues and those identified at the “Just Imagine” event in order to provide a better and more self reliant town to live in for the future.
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Chapter 2 Neigbourhood and Communities
Wychavon District Council Liveability Survey 2005
Wychavon District Council carried out a survey in 2005 on liveability factors the following were the top seven choices
Good health. Safe environment. Lack of pollution. Affordable housing. Access to educational facilities. Green and safe parks. Facilities for young people.
The top seven resident’s main priorities were:
Young people‟s facilities. Affordable homes. Dealing with anti-social behaviour. Improving Community safety. Housing for the elderly. Litter reduction. Protecting wildlife.
Closely behind these came “Improving recreational, sports and leisure facilities”. In this point there is an element of the need to increase” Young people’s facilities”. Increased facilities can also assist in “Dealing with anti-social behaviour”. There is a chapter on leisure and sport in the Town Plan.
Clear common factors for the Droitwich Spa community are considered by the Neibourhood and Communities study group to be:
Young people‟s facilities. Safe and clean environment. Affordable homes.
Other areas considered to be important to Droitwich Spa were:
Good health. Access to education. Protection of green spaces and wildlife. Community well-being.
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Facilities for Young People
The following factors are considered by the study group to be important when looking at this issue:
Young people being able representing themselves. A range of appropriate activities. Local emphasis on delivery. Strengthening existing provision. Identifying and attracting commercial activities. Which appeal across the age range. A coherent and sustainable strategy. Strategic investment. Sustainable investment where required. Inter-generational initiatives.
Safer and Cleaner Environment
The main priorities here are:
Building in safety as part of the planning processes. Tackling litter by provision of more bins and zero tolerance at sensitive sites. Dealing rapidly with damage to the environment e.g. Vandalism. A pro-active response to damage e.g. More investment in lighting. Looking at pedestrianisation and traffic management. More cycle racks are needed.
Affordable Housing
The main priorities are:
Clarifying the appropriate balance between rented, social and low cost housing. Increasing the rate of supply Extending and modifying joint equity schemes. Encouraging Housing Associations to manage properties more effectively. Using existing legislation for development at the edges of green belt. Avoiding Ghettos. Encouraging high quality infra-structure for low cost and social housing developments. Facilitating transfers as families grow. Encouraging tenant participation in decision making.
Good Health
Here the priorities are:
Personal Health is linked to a sense of community well-being and safety. Ensuring easy access to acute and primary care services e.g. transport, homecare. Strengthening links between local practices and the community. Emphasising the role of preventative medicine. Promoting community pharmacies. Extending the network of needle exchanges. Encouraging healthy exercise in accordance with Sport England recommendations. Providing clean, unpolluted Public Open Spaces, sports and leisure facilities for healthy exercise. 14
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Access to Educational Facilities
The study group considered the priorities are as follows:
The need to provide local access to provision where none currently exists after senior school education. The need to engage with providers to identify local further educational needs. There are clear shortfalls in basic skills, entry level academic courses and recreational facilities. There is a perceived need for a multi-purpose arts centre. Explore the possibility of a formal relationship with a local provider. Make greater use of existing school premises.
Community Well-being
Suggestions under this heading are:
Develop community forums. A need for greater transparency by the town council. A wider cross section of willing people is required to take up representative roles. More venues are needed for community activities. There should be an inter-generational approach.
Protection of Green Spaces and Wildlife
The issue of protection of green spaces and wildlife is a specialist area that has been considered in detail in other reports dealing with the environment, recreational green spaces, the canal regeneration etc in other areas of the town plan.
This report was given in the form of a power point projection in a public meeting and the above is a written version but it may differ slightly from the original because of needing to expand some points. The power point presentation is available for information.
An action plan was presented which required consultation with town residents on these areas to see if the study group‟s thoughts were supported by the town residents.
Many of the points above are developed in more detail in the other chapters of the town plan as other study groups have looked at the issues in more detail or from a different perspective exposing more facets and implications for an overall town plan.
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Chapter 3 Highways and Traffic
Highways
Carriageway Improvements
The current pattern of main roads in Droitwich Spa is a product of the 1960‟s Master Plan, which was drawn up by the Droitwich Town Development Committee. Construction started in 1965 and the majority of the new roads were completed by 1981. Some late changes were made to the plan and two bridges designed to carry local distributor roads cross the railway line at Packington and Chawson were deleted together with a flyover bridge on Roman Way at Westlands Roundabout.
Proposal: Little can now be done to improve the deleted links in the southern part of Droitwich but it would be possible to complete the flyover bridge at the Westlands roundabout, thereby improving road safety for pedestrians and easing traffic congestion at this busy junction. Completion of the dualling of Roman Way to the Copcut Roundabout is also a future option that could be considered.
A new pedestrian crossing of Roman Way from Westlands and enhanced paths leading into the town centre should be given priority.
Footpaths and Cycle ways
Existing routes result from provisions of the Master Plan and incorporate many of he original field paths of he area.
Subsequent developments have tended to ignore the planned pattern of paths and cycleway and introduced new links that are not always appropriate to the needs of the residents
Links previously created as part of planning permissions have been blocked because of the „Fear of Crime' much to the detriment of residents who wish to walk from area to area.
Links to some parts of the town have never been properly completed and require substantial improvements. Inadequate surfaces, the overgrowth of planting and poor lighting all require attention.
New cycleway have been recently constructed as part of the „Safe Routes to School‟ initiative. These schemes have also ignored the Master Plan proposals and have therefore been sited inappropriately.
National cycle routes have recently been established through the town but they do not achieve their intended purpose and start and end at the strangest locations.
The cost of these new schemes has not been justified by usage.
Proposal: Review whole of the main town path link system with a view to making substantial improvements.
Street Lighting
The County Council as the local highway authority manages the provision of street lighting. Street lighting in Droitwich Spa is generally of modern design throughout the town being a result of the development process. 16
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It has been the practice to reduce the visual impact of the street lighting columns, firstly by using the slimmer steel posts and secondly by painting with green or black paint. The recent practice of the County Council is to replace lamp columns with galvanized steel ones without painting. These do not improve the visual environment
Proposal: That the policy of painting street columns black in the town centre and green elsewhere be maintained, to improve the visual environment of the town.
An appropriate policy be prepared and agreed upon.
Street Furniture
???
Street Cleansing
???
Traffic Management
Discussions of 2003.
High Street, possible solutions:- Wider pavements. Repave. Drop off bays. Gateway.
Town centre, possible solutions:- Reverse flow in St. Andrew‟s Street. Two way traffic in St. Andrew‟s Road. Roundabout at junction of Blackfriars Avenue/Saltway/Heritage Way.
Seek the opportunity to employ consultants to evaluate future proposals. Review sources of grants.
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Droitwich Town Centre – Traffic Review – July 1994.
In July 1994, the County Council published the results of a traffic management review exhibition and meeting, which had been held in April 1994, from which the views of participants were used to formulate a future policy for the centre of Droitwich.
The main items on which views were sought were as follows:- Provide more short-term parking. Make Worcester Road and Queen Street one-way. Make Ombersley Street/Victoria Square one-way. Restrict the use of St. Andrew‟s Street by vehicles. Make High Street one-way in the opposite direction. Provide additional facilities for cyclists. Provide additional facilities for the disabled.
The main concern of the meeting was that firstly too little short-term parking was available and secondly the junction layout of Worcester Road with St. Andrew‟s Road gave rise to road safety hazards.
The County Council formulated proposals for providing short term parking in Ombersley Street East, Victoria Square, St. Andrew‟s Road, heritage way, Worcester Road and Friar Street, a total of some 90 spaces. Some long term on street parking was lost especially on Worcester Road.
Additional spaces were to be obtained in Ombersley Street East by changing the zebra crossing to a pelican crossing and adding a bleeper to aid the disabled.
The junction of Worcester Road/St. Andrew‟s Road was to be improved by building out the western kerb line and changing the crossing to a pelican.
Traffic calming measures were considered for the Worcester Road, but as this road is a bus route, speed control ramps were not advocated.
Dr Muffet, County Councillor at the time, advocated the removal of all double yellow lines.
Current Situation - 2007.
The above measures were carried out and have proved successful to date (2007). There have been a few changes to kerb lines and some reduction to short-term on street parking made to facilitate development in the town centre.
It is questionable whether some of these recent changes have enhanced the environment, which was one of the objectives of the above proposals.
In particular:- The small islands now projecting out in to Worcester Road outside the 2006 Whittingham House development have caused accidents, whatever their traffic merits might be. They have also resulted in the loss of some short-term parking spaces. A poorly designed pedestrian crossing point in Ricketts Lane is causing the road surface to break up. Changes to parking priorities in Victoria Square have created a congested area that requires a review. The authorities are ignoring the traffic regulations applied to the High Street on Saturdays and there is a case for repealing the part-time pedestrianisation order and removing the large and environmentally unfriendly signs. 18
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The High Street.
Discussions concerning the merits of whether to keep the High Street open to traffic have been carried out over many years. The first proposal to close the High Street was made as part of the Town Development scheme of the 1970‟s, and if phase two of the town centre shopping redevelopment had been carried out then the High Street would have closed to vehicular traffic.
Events, however, took a different direction and the High Street remained open to vehicles and was eventually repaired and repaved with block materials replacing the original macadam surfaces.
This work has not been entirely successful, the surfacing materials now in use are not easy to maintain in good condition. Because of the multitude of service pipes below the surface of the High Street, poor quality repairs to the road surface are resulting in an unsightly street environment.
Keeping the High Street open to vehicular traffic appears to be a key issue in the overall traffic management plan for Droitwich. Over the last few years there have been a number of suggestions how this might be achieved and a letter which appeared in the „The Standard‟ of the 10th November 2006, detailed some of the ideas which have been under consideration.
These were:- Widen the existing footpaths. Restrict the carriageway to a single track. Install unloading bays for specified hours only. Restrict the weight of vehicles. Introduce pedestrian crossing points. Loading bays to double up as parking bays outside specified hours.
From the experiences of the last 30 years, it appears that it is essential to keep the High Street open. Its closure to vehicular traffic would probably result in the complete demise of the High Street, especially following the recent flooding. Any changes proposed must be carefully worked out and be considered as part of a general improvement to the traffic management plan for Droitwich town centre.
There is an example of a good quality street scene in St. Andrew‟s Street, which was repaired two years ago. Footpaths were finished in a simple block paving, the original stone kerbs and channels were retained to aid drainage and direct traffic, the carriageway surface was finished with close textured macadam. The street has a unified look and feel and the finishes make it appear more spacious and less cluttered than previously.
The use of double yellow lines may also be mitigated by the application of 50mm wide lines, which are allowed within a conservation area. 50mm wide lines could also be used beneficially elsewhere within the town centre. Existing street and road traffic signs should be rationalised and were ever possible attached to walls and lampposts rather than erecting new and obstructive posts.
The Town Council‟s tourist direction signs should be repaired and replaced where they have been removed during recent redevelopments, such as Waitrose. Where the new small blue and white signs duplicate these signs then consideration should be given to the removal of some of this unnecessary street furniture.
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M5 Motorway
Noise:-
It is understood that when resurfacing takes place it will be with material that substantially reduces the noise emitted.
Bridge over Hanbury Road. There is no noise barrier on the bridge as this was not included in the barrier built for the Impney fields estate.
Recommend: That these be included as objectives to ensure their inclusion in future plans.
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Chapter 4 Education
Schools.
Plans to change three tiers to two tiers would appear to have been put on to the back burner for the foreseeable future. However with most of the country two tier and the training colleges geared to teach teachers for two tiers the days of the three tiers could be numbered. There is unlikely to be any major development of the Schools unless or until a clear decision is made to go two tiers. (The Government is unlikely to sanction it).
If three tier remains:-
Is there a need for a second High School - the present High School is NOT Oversubscribed?
On the assumption that ultimately the system will be two tier:-
Two tiers would increase demand on the High School for the extra years which there is probably not enough space to accommodate.
St. Peters School would not have sufficient space to convert to a Primary School. Witton Middle and Chawson First are on adjoining sites and could be joined into a Primary School.
Question:-
Would one Primary School at Old Coach Road and one Primary School at Westlands (where there is probably sufficient space) be acceptable?
If Westacre Middle became the Sixth form college site for the present High School would this be satisfactory?
If a new High School was considered where should this be?
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Chapter 5 Jobs and Opportunities
Where we are now?
This report will look at the following Areas trying to asses where we are now and what conclusions we can arrive at:
2001 census analysis Problems Local Employment Issues The Town Centre Personal and Corporate Growth Conclusions
2001 Census
The latest available figures are contained in the 2001 census. In this Droitwich is divided into 2 electoral divisions, East and West The populations were: East: 9,165 West 10,251
The other main differences were: West had a higher % of people of young/working age. West had a higher % of unqualified people. West had a higher % of unemployed people. West had a higher % of people renting. West had a higher % of people with no access to private vehicles. West had a higher % of single parents with dependant children.
The % of people of ages 0 – 64 was: West 85.9% (8,800) East 80.1% (7,344), against a county % of 83.5%
The % of people aged between 16 – 74, with no qualifications was: West 37.4% (2723) East 23.9% 1586 against a county % of 28.5%
The % of unemployed was: West 3.6% (259) East 2.1% (137) against a county % of 2.6%
The % of households with no car/van was: West 26.8% (1152) East 17.9% (710) against a county % of 17.6%
The % of Lone Parent Households with dependent children was: West 7.8% (333) East 4.1% (160) against a county % of 4.9%.
As the West is clearly more deprived, overall, than the East, we will look first what is required in the West. This will also have significance for the East in certain areas.
We will then look at suggestions for the town centre and the immediate surrounding area.
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1. Problems
Manufacturing and service industries need to add value to compete with developing countries, with low cost bases. To do this they need well educated, skilled and motivated work forces. They need to be able to mentor, recruit and train local people and in return the local people will have sustainable employment, career growth, and reasonable remuneration, this will also benefit the local economy. Droitwich does not provide any facilities for academic, vocational, adult or recreational training beyond the school leaving ages of 16 or 18.
Local employers are engaged in the High School but as all further education, currently, has to be undertaken elsewhere, there are very limited opportunities to grow local talents, provide bespoke training, or allow the unqualified to gain the necessary qualifications for growth.
2. Employment Issues particularly to the West of the town.
The analysis of the 2001 census highlighted specific problems with regard to employment prospects i.e. A high % of unqualified people A high % of unemployment A low % of vehicle ownership A high % of single parent with dependent children households
The specific needs of these groups can be summarised as:
More industrial development on the trading estates to the west outside the Roman Way are needed. Available, local, further/vocational training facilities to allow people to re-skill and/or to upgrade their job prospects. All transport out of town to the external training facilities is time consuming, limited and expensive. A reliable, compatible, reasonably priced, public transport system. Public Transport, specifically on route 20, serving the Hampton Lovett/Stonebridge complexes only provides 6 buses a day, the first one arriving at 0850 and the last one leaving at 1720. This poor level of service does not allow for any shift working, or earlier starting times. Cycle and walking routes to work. There are no child care facilities in Droitwich West, where the greatest need is, to allow single parents to work or train.
The Town Centre
Outside the town centre is dominated by factory centre sites and this is desirable to provide work of a certain type. However this is also true of the areas close to the town where there are a number of factories.
There is a need for more offices offering high technology work or at least more white collar work. We need to see young people having the opportunity to train in the new technologies and not be limited to factory work. Ideally we want to see factories encouraged and based outside the Roman Way ring road with offices based inside the ring road nearer to the town.
There are signs that factories do want to move out to more purpose built sites. This presents an opportunity for new housing and offices close to the town along with the necessary infrastructure for life and work. This would include easier and shorter lines of travel to work.
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Droitwich Spa is located on the proposed Technology Corridor and not only is this type of enterprise welcome but it could balance the type of jobs and opportunities open to young people and existing workers who need to be retrained as industries change and in some cases die.
There are opportunities for work in retail shops and supermarkets in the town centre. These depend on the centre being more attractive and convenient than getting into the car and going to Worcester, other towns, or out of town shopping centre. At present many people go elsewhere and this has not been helped by the flooding in the High Street in July 2007.
The St Andrew‟s Shopping Centre is applying for planning permission to expand. A wider variety of good quality shops and leisure facilities should be encouraged to provide more job opportunities.
The regeneration of the canal offers an opportunity to increase tourist trade and jobs by providing cafes, restaurants, shops and leisure facilities to encourage canal users to stop and shop or spend leisure time in the town. These would also provide attractions for townsfolk and people from other towns and villages to come into the town.
The historic nature off the town should be promoted along with its brine and spa town heritage and the modern salt water lido.
It is vital that all the development along the canal is not housing and offices, which do not create jobs, but that an attractive gateway to the town on the canal is created. Cycle and walking routes into the town from this gateway should be provided and clearly sign posted.
There is also the possibility of encouraging more complimentary medical professionals to the town to build up its spa reputation. This would compliment the private hospital and brine baths.
Personal & Corporate Growth
Small businesses can provide some facilities for personal growth but for the majority larger companies, in industry or the technology field, with detailed training structures, apprenticeships and facilities, will allow for greater personal growth.
These should be encouraged to settle in suitable areas of Droitwich Spa by whatever means are available.
Corporate growth is normally always achieved through the personal growth of employees and so the two facets are inseparable. Growth = Opportunity
Conclusions
One of the objectives of a plan for the town is to create a sustainable community. To achieve this jobs and opportunities for the population are a vital element. Droitwich Spa urgently needs some form of training/educational facility beyond the school facilities for pupils. Public transport systems need to service the places of employment in a more meaningful way. Cycle and walking routes need to connect to places of employment. Affordable child care facilities need to be provided at the locality of their greatest need, at work, and at the training venues. Preferred employers should have meaningful training functions, close liaison with local training facilities and allow reasonable progression up the corporate ladder. Factories are needed and should be located on the industrial estates to the West beyond the Roman Way with direct access to the M5 without heavy vehicles going through the town. 24
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1. Technology businesses and other office based businesses are needed and should be located near to the town on mixed developments with easy travelling to the offices. Also with easy access to after work leisure facilities 2. The layout of the town needs to be organised with industry on the outskirts with easy access to the motorway and offices and shops in or close to the town. This would create a better mix of employment between blue and white collar work and a better spread of incomes. 3. The town centre needs a wider variety of good quality shops and leisure facilities. 4. The regeneration of the canal is an opportunity to create jobs and market the town to businesses, visitors from other areas and the existing populous. 5. The regeneration of the canal can be linked to the other existing tourist attractions to make the town an attractive package. 6. The town needs to build on the spa town image of open spaces, leisure and health facilities, an attractive convenient layout and good design. This would make it attractive to businesses, a better place to live and for people to come here to work. 7. Due to the increased house building since 2001 we must not be deceived in thinking the population will only grow in the same way as between 1991 and 2001 which may have suggested a population of 23879 by 2011(a figured assumed by Wychavon D C in a recent survey of Public open Spaces). In fact we estimate the current population is approximately 24,844 and by 2011 will be close to 27,000. This illustrates the serious need for more local jobs and opportunities in the future. 8. The Government‟s perceived need for more housing means we must have more jobs and training opportunities to match the house building otherwise the problems listed in this report will only increase. 9. If we are successful in encouraging more businesses to the town the population growth may be higher still by 2011. and we will need to look carefully at the whole infrastructure of the town based on these numbers.
Many of these points will be repeated in another context as other reports look at other aspects of the town plan.
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Chapter 6 Community Health
Discussion Paper: Community Health Services for Droitwich Spa: Aims and Objectives.
Context.
A suggested theme for the town plan is a more sustainable community. This clearly implies maximum self-sufficiency in services and facilities, including community health services for the town and surrounding areas. This paper sets out ways in which the planning group might wish to promote greater self-sufficiency in health care.
Existing situation.
Currently there are three group medical practices, and an NHS dental practice, and a public health clinic. There has been, or is planned, considerable capital investment in the medical practices. There have also been additional services provided in recent years, particularly in health promotion and preventive work, but also in the management of diabetes and for example retinography investigations. Additionally, there are 23 nursing or care homes, a private hospital (already providing a few services to NHS patients) and a number of private dental practitioners in or near the town.
The Government‟s 2006 White Paper „Our Health, Our care, Our Community‟ presages further expansion of local health services. It‟s suggestions range from more proactive health promotion programmes for all age groups: end of life services: arrangements for local multi disciplinary assessments of need (for example for older people with falls and/or mobility difficulties, incontinence, memory loss, step up and down and long term packages of care: through to minor injury units, more diagnostic facilities, and satellite services for haemodialysis.
It also suggests alternatives for the provision of the additional services: Public ownership ( Publically financed, built and managed): Joint Ventures ( Publically provided, privately designed, built and run) Community ventures (Combination of partners, including voluntary groups).
Some aspirations?
The system of practice based commissioning, currently in the process of implementation encourages, inter alia, further development of locally based services. So changes, consistent with the aim of greater self-sufficiency are already in train.
Some possible developments are outlined below to provide a starting point for choice of projects that could be put to the medical practices in the town and Primary care Trust. Clearly, it would be advantageous if the town plan objectives went with the „grain‟ of the aspirations of the medical practitioners.
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Expansion of services that can be safely provided away from the District General Hospitals to lessen the need to travel outside the town: for example; Lower tech outpatient clinics, Diagnostic services, Minor injuries, Low tech interventions.
More local assessment, management and arrangement of packages of care for those with long term conditions, including end of life services.
Expansion of locally sited therapy services, especially those that strengthen local „step up, step down „ programmes.
3. Logistical issues and choices.
It may/not be the case that many of these possible aspirations are achievable within the confines of newly expanded GP medical centres, supplemented by partnerships to use private facilities more (e.g. diagnostic services for NHS patients in the private hospital).
If this is not the case or is politically unacceptable, then additional capacity could be sought in a purpose built community hospital. In which case, the critical issues are location, funding and medical support .The latter may be problematic: some years ago, Civic Society Members were left with the impression that GPs were unenthusiastic about taking on responsibilities that would come their way with a community hospital. Also, there is a body of opinion that these improvements can be achieved without the use of inpatient beds.
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Chapter 7 Leisure in General and Leisure and Health
Leisure in General
People pursue their leisure time in different ways not just by sports, physical exercise and interests associated with the arts. They like to go just for a drink or a meal, read, listen to music, go dancing, have hobbies and join *clubs and societies dedicated to various subjects. They like to go to shows, the cinema and other entertainments. They like to visit historical and interesting places. The larger the number of people the more diverse the interests can be. The town‟s population is bound to grow if for no other reason than government demands for more houses to be built in Worcestershire. We are likely to see a considerable increase between now and the next census in 2011 and onwards to 2026(the date mentioned in government plans).
We have received suggestions that the town needs an arts centre consisting of perhaps a small cinema, community hall, meeting and rehearsal rooms, a gallery, a salt museum, a cafe and other facilities.
The Norbury Theatre is under threat because its lease is coming to an end in 4 years and if it cannot continue in its current location an arts centre may provide a new home. The Norbury Theatre is hoping to stay in its current premises and if it can secure a new long lease and if the appearance and facilities at The Norbury could be upgraded to form an arts centre this could answer a number of the town‟s need.
The Brine Baths in the town is not just used by visitors but by the townspeople themselves for relaxation and remedial therapies. The Brine Baths are owned by the Private hospital group Netcare and is used by the private hospital for treating patients.
In a meeting with the manager of the Brine Baths we established that he estimated there were 50,000 to 60,000 visitors a year for the various services they offer including a private membership gym. This means they are moderately to very busy but still have capacity for more visitors. There are regular visitors from other countries like the European countries, America and Japan in the summer months.
The manager of the Brine Baths would like to see them expand. At present for example it is not possible to arrange packages with local hotels because of commitments to treatments. It is curious that people go away from the town to hotels for health weekends when we have local hotels and the Brine Baths and the new lido will open this year. It would be good for the town‟s image if Wychavon Leisure and the Brine Baths could publicise their facilities jointly.
We asked if there was room for another brine oriented facility in the town not directly involved with the hospital. The manager felt this would be counter productive and the emphasis should be on expanding the Brine Baths capacity.
The library is fully used for reading, a place to meet, for its computer facilities and for exhibitions. This is a great asset to the town.
Due to the diversity of interests there is a need for halls that can be booked for use for a large number of purposes. The currently available halls including the community centre at Heritage Way are well used by the current population of the town.
Many people like to attend adult education courses in their leisure time and there are many people who also want to undertake adult studies to improve their future work opportunities. In a Liveability Survey carried out by Wychavon District Council in 2005 access to education and learning 28
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opportunities was rank as the 4th most important item to people in the towns quality of life (behind good health, a safe environment, and a clean unpolluted environment).
There are no adult education classes in the town and we would suggest the setting up of courses based at perhaps the schools or somewhere central in the towns should be given urgent consideration. Because of public transport difficulties it is hard to travel to Worcester or Bromsgrove for courses particularly for the return journey. Even the local High School is difficult to get to for people in some parts of the town with the current transport services.
Based on the current population there are already comments that there is not enough to do in the town particularly from young people. There is a demand for more good restaurants, cafes and entertainments. Older townsfolk have, more easily, the option to get in the car and go to Worcester, Bromsgrove or the surrounding villages but perhaps could be persuaded to spend their money in the town if suitable facilities of the right quality existed. Looking to the future as the population grows there should be even more demand for local leisure facilities.
The schools have a number of clubs within the schools but students still require interests in the town. It is not clear how on leaving the High School students are encouraged to continue their sporting and other interests and we are seeking more information on this from the High School in particular.
One thing the town does not lack is public houses due to its history of salt production it used to have more pubs per capita than any other town in the country. A number of these put on musical entertainment from time to time subject to entertainment licensing. There are also the pubs located in the nearby villages.
Visitor attractions besides attracting people from outside the town can provide leisure activities for the townsfolk. It is felt by many that the town needs a major visitor attraction. The canal redevelopment could attract visitors but could also attract locals if there were shops, cafes, restaurants and leisure interests alongside the canal. This has been dealt with in more detail elsewhere in this groups report by special reference to Netherwich Basin.
The new lido should be open in 2007. In its new format it is not yet clear if it will attract visitors from outside the town as the old lido did. It will certainly provide a popular facility for the children of the town their parents and grandparents. As it will not initially be covered it will only be open in the late spring and summer months.
The historic area of the town could be better signposted with details of the history of various sites for the benefit of visitors but for the education of the local children and interest of adults.
Due to the town‟s past reputation as a spa town there may be the opportunity to base new health and alternative therapy facilities close to the area of the canal redevelopment to rebuild the image and add to other facilities in the town mentioned earlier.
Note:
Refer Appendix E. A list of the clubs and societies in the town is attached. We have not been able to establish yet if they would welcome or could accommodate new members and we hope we can get feedback from them in the Town Plan consultation phases.
Leisure and Health
Sport England maintains that a target of 30 minutes of moderately intensive exercise at least 3 times a week is good for our health. Their
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Active People Survey (announced December 2006 and attached to this report) showed only 21% of the population in England reached this target. Moderate intensive exercise included recreational walking, which was the most popular form of exercise. A further 28.4% had built some moderate intensive exercise into their lives. 50.6% had not taken any moderate intensity sport and active recreation of 30 minutes in the last 4 weeks
The West Midlands was identified as one of the lowest achieving areas. Wychavon District Council had 21.5% meeting the target of 30 minutes 3 times a week, which was above the national figure although 14th out of 19 authorities in the West Midlands.
Nationally 69.5% of adults were satisfied with the sports provision in their local area. Wychavon District Council carried out a Liveability Survey in 2005 that showed in Droitwich Spa only 25% were Very Satisfied and 39% Fairly Satisfied with the Sports/Leisure Facilities. A further 22% were Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied. This appears to be well below the rest of the country.
Exercise is important to health as are other forms of leisure recreation to stimulate body and mind. This keeps us healthier longer making us happier and less of a strain on National Health Service resources.
In younger people sport and other leisure activities are an outlet for their energy and pent up frustrations. In older people they are an outlet from the pressures of work and/or its sedentary nature.
A community with adequate sport and leisure provision is likely to be a happier and more harmonious community. In recent years it is felt by many that increased housing has come without the commensurate infrastructure to support a healthy and happy community in various areas including sport and leisure. This appears to be born out by a liveability surveys by Wychavon District Council and comparison with national standards such as a shortfall in some areas of Recreational Green Space and Outdoor Sports facilities.
The comments above refer in the main to sport but many people use their leisure time in other areas such as hobbies, reading, the arts or just relaxing over a meal out. These still have the benefit of relieving the pressures of the working day.
Droitwich Spa has a local private hospital and this owns the Brine Baths facility in the town. Besides being used by the hospital for treating patients, people can be referred by their GP for remedial treatment or can book themselves either for treatments or relaxation in the brine pool. There is also a membership gymnasium.
Overview
The fact that our sports facilities in the town are fully utilised* is evidence of the desire for healthy exercise. However because the Sports and Leisure centre is heavily booked this may discourages some people from making the effort. We need to ensure facilities grow in tandem with the increasing population of the town. Particularly if we want to continue to encourage more people to exercise.
With the opening of the new salt water lido there is an opportunity for greater co-operation between the Wychavon Leisure run facilities in the town and the Brine Baths to publicise all the town‟s facilities with a health emphasis.
*(see the report on “Outdoor and Indoor Sports Facilities”)
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Chapter 8 Leisure Group Report
(Including: Recreational Open spaces and Outdoor and Indoor Sports Facilities)
Statistics
“Lies, damn lies and statistics”. - Mark Twain
We have to use statistics with care but the Leisure Group needed to know the number of people in Droitwich Spa in the past, present and future who make up the demand for leisure facilities. We needed to compare the facilities past, present and future to see if facilities are adequate otherwise people will go out of the town to spend their leisure time and money.
There is a fear that increased housing in the town will come without the investment in the infrastructure to support the population including the opportunities for leisure required.
To attract commercial investment in leisure it is important to know the target audience can support any investment.
Also we need to attract visitors from outside the town to spend their leisure time here to boost the economy and make businesses viable. The canal project it has been claimed will bring visitors past the town but will they stop here if all the development is in housing and offices?
Census Figures
1981 18023 1991 20968 2001 22883 2011 ?
Worcestershire County Council Parish Profile 2001
Population 22878 Male 48.75% Female 51.25% Full time employees and Self Employed 52.81% Part time employees 13.69% Households with no car 19.95%
Wychavon District Council Liveability Survey 2005
Parks and Open Spaces On a base of 80 31% Very Satisfied On a base of 119 46% Fairly Satisfied On a base of 32 12% Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied
Sports/Leisure Facilities On a base of 99 39% Fairly Satisfied On a base of 55 22% Neither Satisfied or Dissatisfied On a base of 22 9% Fairly or Very Dissatisfied On a base of 64 25% Very Satisfied
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Q40 Which four or five of the following do you think are the most important things Wychavon District Council should concentrate on over the next few years?
Providing activities for young people 32%* Improving recreational, sports and leisure facilities 16% More/better play areas parks and open spaces 13% Improving arts facilities 4% * Highest score behind “Providing affordable homes”.
Even the 16% ranked about 8th out of about 28 questions With only Affordable Homes, Nuisance and antisocial behaviour, Community safety and crime, More parking, Travel and transport and Encouraging job creation and inward investment*, being more important. *(Leisure facilities can encourage job creation and investment).
Q41 Wychavon District Council works with other organisations to improve quality of life. Which three of the items on this card do you think are most important to your quality of life? Good health for you and your family A safe environment A clean unpolluted environment Access to educational and learning opportunities Clean, green and safe parks and open spaces The above items in bold type are included because they were not in the top three but came fourth and fifth as shown.
Worcester Visitor Survey (Worcestershire County Council 2002)
The day visitor market amounts to 58% of all visits to Worcestershire. Bromsgrove 77% of all visits are day visitors Wyre Forest 75% of all visits are day visitors Redditch Borough 76% of all visits are day visitors Droitwich Spa 2% of all day visitors to the county (only 7% of all overnight visitors to the county)
Conclusion – Droitwich Spa has a limited visitors market due largely to a lack of tourism infrastructure.
Consider the impact of this on the economy of a town which is one of the most historic in Worcestershire and used to attract numerous visitors to its Brine Baths and open air lido.
Commercial Leisure Developments
Commercial developers look at the target audience in an area and statistics important to any particular development such as potential footfall. From the 2001 Census it is interesting to note that from the town‟s total population of 22,883 there were 14,909 people were between ages 5 to 59 (10 to 64 in 2006). The highest cohort was from ages 25 to 59 (30 to 64 in 2006) being 8,169. (There has also been a growth in the town‟s total population of an estimated 2000 since 2001.)
Comment
All the above numbers may illustration why there is a general feeling that there are not enough leisure opportunities in the town for not just the young but for all ages. We examine issues raised by these statistics in more detail in the rest of this report.
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In view of the Worcester Visitors Survey of 2002 our immediate impression is that there is a need for a landmark development to service the community and attract the promised visitors once the Droitwich Canal is redeveloped. This should build on our heritage as a salt and spar town. Landmark leisure facilities could also attract visitors from the local villages, Bromsgrove, North Worcester and wider afield. The redevelopment of the lido may not on its own attract large numbers of outside visitors but linked to other attractions is a great asset. Note: Refer Appendix A
Recreational Open Space in Droitwich Spa
Wychavon District Council has commissioned consultants to carry out a survey of green spaces in the district. We have obtained sections of the preliminary report referring to Droitwich Spa. In the Wychavon District Council Survey the term Recreational Open Space is used to cover parks and gardens, natural and semi-natural open space and amenity green space. They should more correctly be called Public Open Space but in order to adhere to the survey and be able to comment on it we will use the term Recreational Green Space in this report.
In looking at this survey we have taken note of the standards recommended by the National Playing Fields Association, English Nature, The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners and recommendations by the consultants. The amount of Recreational Open Space is measured in hectares, per 1,000 of population. Our immediate concern is that this recent survey measures its results on the population of the town in 2001 of 22,878 and assesses the future need by 2011 on a population of 23,879. As the 2001 figure is already over 5 years out of date with a growing town this is not likely to reflect the current position accurately and the future projection of the population in 2011 with all the potential developments currently known seems extremely conservative. There should be some way of arriving at a reasonable guesstimate for the current population of the town and a better projection of the future population with the knowledge of potential new building developments.
In 2002 figures were obtained from Wychavon by the Civic Society which showed, based on an estimated population of 23,472 that there was a deficit of public open space of 10.06 m2 per person (the estimate for the population was used because the 2001 census results had not yet been published). In the event the figure now being used for population in the Wychavon survey is 22,878 and the survey states that in terms of recreational space Droitwich Spa is up to the minimum standard based on the 2001 population. Where the additional open space has come from is not clear unless it is explained by the different figures. However as stated it is only up to the minimum standard based on the 2001 population figures, so we must assume that we will currently be below standard as the population has certainly grown.
Parks and Gardens
There is no national standard for the number Parks and Gardens. There is a Green Flag Award standard for quality. This type of open space includes urban parks, formal gardens and country parks that provide opportunities for informal recreation and community events. Droitwich Spa is listed as having three sites in this category in the town which amount to one hectare per 1,000 of population (2001). This is currently estimated to be above standard for the town in accordance with the District Council‟s survey. Their consultants recommended 0.76 per 1,000 of population.
The parks are in the centre of town leaving an area from East to West across the South of the town deficient from the point of view of access. Vines Park although a very attractive feature of the town
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is compromised by noise with the Saltway running alongside. It is not easy to play any ball games in the park due to the proximity of the river and the canal and so its functions are more limited. We agree that subject to the need for more provision in the south of the town that the current position is not unreasonable. However we feel we should look at the other areas within the Recreational Open Space definition as any shortfalls in other areas may offset the presently favourable statistical position with parks and gardens. Also when approximately 2000 new homes are built in the town (particularly if a number were in the South) further parks and gardens will be necessary. There is currently Government pressure for more houses to be built in Worcestershire between now and 2026.
Natural and Semi-natural Open Spaces.
This type of open space includes woodlands, urban forestry, scrub land, grass lands, wet lands, nature reserves and waste lands with a primary purpose of wildlife conservation and bio-diversity.
English Nature Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard (ANGSt) recommends at least two hectares per 1000 of population subject to certain travel distances for different sizes of site. They also recommend 1 hectare of Local Nature Reserve per 1000 of population.
The town has 1.06 hectare per 1,000 of population based on the 2001 population. Wychavon‟s consultants have recommended 0.75 hectares per 1,000 of population. Their conclusion is that Droitwich Spar is well provided for in respect of this type of land. However their report admits that a number of these sites are small in size and there is difficulty with access.
Our view is that some of these areas are also compromised by road noise and pollution. For example the Community Woods where volunteers have carried out some sterling work is nevertheless bisected by the Roman Way ring road and there is no marked road crossing provided. This means that if these areas are viewed as somewhere where one can commune with nature in peace and quiet, people will be disappointed. In fact when the ring road was constructed a lot of rubbish was thrown onto the land and broken glass, plastic, metal and metal drums (which could have or could contain chemicals) are now being exposed. The question has to be asked if this area, particularly abutting the ring road on the town side, is safe for the public to have access.
The Green Necklace Project to provide a circular walk around the town is to be welcomed although sections will be subject to road noise particularly near to the M5.
We feel that we are underprovided in respect of quality sites. These areas need to be carefully monitored against the increasing population and looked at more closely in terms of their size and accessibility.
Amenity Greenspace
This type of open space is commonly found in housing areas. It includes informal recreational space and green spaces in and around housing, with the primary purpose of providing opportunities for informal activities close to home or work or enhancing the appearance of residential or other areas.
The National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) recommends 2.43 hectares per 1,000 of population for „playing space‟ to include 2 acres (0.81 hectares per 1,000 of population) for children.
Wychavon itself has had a standard of 2.8 hectares per 1,000 of population. 1.62 hectares per 1000 is recommended by the NPFA for outdoor sports – including pitches, athletic tracks*, bowling greens, tennis courts, training areas and croquet lawns. Outdoor sports are dealt with in our section on “Outdoor and Indoor Sport in Droitwich Spa”. 34
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The town currently has 1.13 hectares per 1,000 of Amenity Greenspace Being based on the 2001 census figures this appears to be below standard but Wychavon‟s Consultants say it is up to minimum standards. It is likely that we will be below minimum standard by 2011. These spaces are often small. This means they are limited in functuality for recreation and may suffer from the danger of nearby road traffic and the noise nuisance created.
Provision for Children and Young People
In the Wychavon‟s Consultants survey there is reference to a standard (It is not clear what standard is being referred to but approximates to the NPFA recommendation) of 0.07 hectares per thousand of population for children and 0.02 for young people. The town is currently below the minimum standard. The current total land overall for children is 0.35 hectares which is a shortfall of - 1.25 hectares on the 2001 population and an estimated - 1.32 hectares shortfall by 2011. For young people the current total land is 0.43 hectares which is a shortfall of - 0.03 hectares based on the 2001 population and an estimated shortfall of -0.05 hectares by 2011.
The above figures can only mean that there will be an even greater shortfall when divided by the true current population of the town and that the shortfall by 2011 is a very conservative figure as we expect the population to be much higher than Wychavon District Council‟s estimate.
The main areas of deficiencies in play areas for children are approximately in the area at the town end of Stalls Farm Rd (Newtown) and across the South of the town East to West. The deficiencies for young people are mainly in the South of the town.
It is unhelpful that Wychavon is saying we have double the Amenity Green Space of other areas without acknowledgeing their consultants comments as follow “However many of these sites are small pieces of land located within the streetscape of residential areas. These sites may have limited functionality in terms of recreation and be important for their visual and landscape benefits’.
Allotments and Community Gardens
This includes all forms of allotments with a primary purpose of providing opportunities for people to grow their own produce as part of a longer term promotion of sustainability, health and social inclusion. This type of open space may also include urban farms.
The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners recommend the equivalent of 0.125 hectares per 1000 of population be provided.
For many people allotments are a form of leisure relaxation as well as being useful from the point of view of growing produce and flowers. There are 2 allotment sites in the town amounting to 0.04 hectares per 1,000 of population. There are 2 further allotment sites outside of the town which are larger and may provide for residents of the town who want an allotment plot.
The standard recommended by Wychavon’s consultants for this provision is 0.39 hectares per 1,000 of population. This appears to be based on the fact that sites are fully utilised and there are waiting lists. They recommend the provision should be driven by demand. We are very willing to accept this standard. It can be seen that there is a substantial shortfall in Droitwich Spa based on the 2001 population and the lower standard of 0.125 hectares per thousand suggested by the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners. This deficit can only increase anyway by 2011 unless extra allotments are provided and the additional requirement will be even more if the consultant‟s standard is accepted by Wychavon District Council.
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Cemeteries and Churchyards
The above were included in Wychavon‟s survey. There are no local standards set for cemeteries and churchyards, but the number that exist in the town are considered to be of a high standard. The consultants hired by the district council suggested that an action plan be produced to ensure that good quality and accessibility to these sites is maintained. We concur with this recommendation.
Overview
The overall Recreational Open Space for the town would appear to comply with at least minimum standards based on the 2001 population. This means that it is likely that some provisions may now be below standard like the provision for children and young people. Unless extra provision is made by 2011 we may well be below minimum standard as we do not believe that the population figures used for 2011 are realistic, bearing in mind the number of potential housing/apartment developments and the current government pressure for more properties to be built in Worcestershire. We think the present figures should be reworked on a population of 24,844 as at December 2006 and on 27,000 for 2011 without this the Wychavon‟s consultants report lacks credibility.
Wychavon‟s report claims that Droitwich Spa is better off than some of the other towns in the district, but any comparison is meaningless. If the town is already below recommended standards in some areas we are likely to have even more deficiencies in the future. We also have to ask if minimum standards are enough. Our concern is to request the provision of Recreational Open Space (Public Open Spaces) of preferably above minimum standards, of good quality, with easy accessibility. We need to ensure there are good footpaths and cycle paths connecting to the green spaces, housing and the main town. Adequate car parking should be provided where necessary.
A spa town would normally be expected to have an above the minimum amount of open spaces for the aesthetic look of the town as well as for use for leisure and sporting interests. This is the perception in this country and across the European Union. If we wish to attract visitors from this and other countries we must live up to expectations. We would like to see trim trails placed in suitable areas. Wood sculptures would also be appropriate on some walking routes.
Yew Tree Hill could become a useful recreational area if it could be acquired for the town. This area would present the possibility of kite flying (an increasingly popular activity) and other activities.
We suggest that additional parkland be sought to the south of the town. In view of the popularity of country parks to visitors and residents we suggest the area be developed on this theme. If the land was adjacent to the canal people could walk from and into town.
Deficiencies in the provisions for children, young people and allotments need to be addressed in the areas where they have been highlighted by Wychavon‟s own consultants.
Natural and Semi-natural Open Spaces and Amenity Greenspaces are often small, suffer from road noise and are difficult to access. Footpaths and cycle routes to these areas also need to be improved. Feedback from children at the high school has confirmed that they are concerned that access too many sites is difficult as cycle routes do not link up and they have to cross major roads.
We would like to encourage walkers and other visitors from outside the town to any larger sites with adequate free parking provided. Walkers from the town visiting other areas are able to find free parking places provided in order to walk. Droitwich Spa suffers from a lack of day visitors according to a Worcestershire County Council survey in 2002.
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The Green Necklace walk may encourage visitors as well as being an asset to residents. We would urge that this project be completed as soon as possible.
Many sites are affected by road noise and pollution and noise reduction measures such as quieter road surfaces or embankments should be considered to allow some of these areas to be a quieter and more pleasant experience. Quieter road surfaces are not always effective if the traffic is travelling at high speed.
There is a perception that speeding by cars is not being enforced around the town, particularly on the outskirts, which not only adds to the noise but also the danger for children playing in some of these small green spaces and using cycle routes. There is a need to investigate more enforcement or traffic calming measures. There is a balance to be struck between non- enforcement of speed restrictions and an overbearing approach which can be perceived by some as revenue raising.
The fact that 2001 population figures were used to measure provision in 2006 is disturbing. It is important that Recreational Open Space keeps up with building developments in the town. This should at all times be up to the minimum standard if not above. In order to achieve this some form of estimated rolling measure should be used to ensure that by 2011 the town has not grown significantly in population to comply with governments requirements but at the cost of Recreational Open Space falling well below the minimum.
Notes
1 This report should be read in conjunction with the report on “Outdoor and Indoor Sports in Droitwich Spa”.
2 “Local planning authorities should therefore adopt a more positive approach to applications that include measures to enhance the surrounding area, for example through the creation of open access woodland. This would enable green belt to perform some of the roles for which it was originally intended. The Government should also review the merits of other models of green space provision (drawing on the views of the full range of stakeholders), such as the green wedge/ corridor model adopted in other countries.” Quote from the Barker Revue of Land Use Planning – Final Report.
3 * Refer to our comment on the running track in our “Outdoor and Indoor Sports in Droitwich Spa” section.
Outdoor and Indoor Sports in Droitwich Spa.
In considering sports facilities in the town, we have taken into account national standards recommended by the National Playing Fields Association and Sport England. Wychavon District Council instructed consultants to carry out a survey of leisure and sports facilities in the district in 2006. This preliminary report became available to us in January, 2007.
Our main concern about the Wychavon survey is that the consultants have used a measurement of facilities per 1,000 of the population. For the population of Droitwich Spa they have taken 22,878 which was the population in 2001 and as a result is 5 years out of date. For the forward projections the consultants have taken an assumed population of 23,879 by 2011. Bearing in mind the proposed housing/apartment developments along the canal as the restoration proceeds, the development of the medal site on Worcester Road, the possible development of the pipe works and in the Copcut area of the town the figure for 2011 is likely to be considerably underestimated. We estimate it could be nearer 27,000.
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The result of this is that where the consultants have found the current facilities are adequate but they are not seen to be so by the town residents (the consultants report says that based on their interviews over 50% feel they are insufficient). This maybe because the population and demand have increased since 2001 (also children that were too young to partake in sports in 2001 are now older and able to take part). Any estimated under provision by 2011 based on the consultants very conservative estimate of the population will mean that any under provision will be even more severe than predicted.
Wychavon Leisure, an independent company, runs the Droitwich Spa Sports and Leisure Centre and manages some sporting facilities at the local High School. We arranged a meeting with Mr. Tim Kirkham, the Sports and Leisure Centre Manager, to discuss the current and possible future demands on the facilities.
We firstly tried to identify any potential training facilities, outdoor or indoor, within the town for anyone training for the 2012 Olympics. We came to the conclusion that we were not aware of any suitable facilities.
Outdoor Facilities
The National Playing Fields Association recommends 1.62 hectares per 1,000 of population for outdoor sport – including pitches, athletic tracks, bowling greens, tennis courts, training areas and croquet lawns. Droitwich Spa currently has 1.29 hectares per 1000 (with golf clubs and schools), 0.62 hectares (without golf courses and with schools) and 0.62 (without schools and without golf courses). As we understand there are no golf courses within the town‟s boundaries but including schools this amounts to a shortfall of -1.00 hectares per 1000 of population.
In 2011 these figures are projected to be 1.23, 0.60 and 0.60 respectively based on a very conservative estimation of the increased population of the town. This would increase the shortfall to -1.02 hectares per thousand of population. (There is a possible cross use of this standard with spaces in parks and other areas.)
The outdoor facilities at the Sports and Leisure Centre (in future, in this report, to be referred to as the Sports Centre) consist of football and hockey pitches. These are fully used and there is a demand for more adult and junior pitches, particularly for football. The Wychavon survey indicated a current shortfall of junior pitches, but an over supply of adult pitches across the district. This is not perceived to be the case in Droitwich Spa and may be due to the growth in the population since 2001 and age group changes. Also people from the surrounding area using the pitches. There is definitely a demand for more pitches now and this will be even more the case in the future leading up to 2011. The Sports Centre manager would also like a football pitch with a stand for prestige events.
The Sports Centre manages facilities at the High School out of school hours and the pitches there are fully used. However, these are only available out of school hours and at weekends and during school holidays. This means that, besides weekends and school holidays, usage is limited to the spring and summer months.
The pitches available at the High School are fully utilised, but pitches at other schools, if available, could perhaps assist with the increased demand. However, many of these pitches are only adequate for junior games and are too small for adult games and may not be of a sufficient standard in respect of the playing surface. There is also a demand for more all weather pitches for various uses, which could help relieve some pressure on indoor sports halls.
We have received comments from Droitwich Spa F.C. (Midland Comb. side) [Incl. Droitwich Spa Ladies F.C.]. They have three sides with an estimated membership of over 50. They 38
Droitwich Spa Town Plan
ultimately wish to have their own club house or part of the King George‟s playing fields building currently leased to the Droitwich Spa Hockey Club. They have links with Droitwich Spa Boys & Girls F.C. but would like to improve links if they could have a shared site for pitches in future.
Droitwich Spa Boys & Girls F.C. (a junior side in the town with nearly 400 members approx.aged 6 to18). They would currently welcome further development of a facility at St. Peters Fields linked with other local sports clubs for benefits such as a new clubhouse for all and to improve " Mini Soccer " ages within the club. Their ultimate vision is for a "home" of their own for all 11 a side teams with training facilities plus clubhouse and changing rooms. They have previously applied for in planning permission on land in the Salwarpe region. It is hoped it may be possibly in any future development of land in this region to obtain land and form a greater links with Droitwich Spa F.C. ( Midland Comb. side) [Incl. Droitwich Spa Ladies F.C.].
There are outdoor hard tennis courts at the High School. There are no outdoor tennis courts at the Sports Centre and so tennis is very poorly served, except for the fact that there is a private tennis club in the town. The club has eight outdoor hard courts and has a good youth member recruitment and coaching policy. There are regularly over 100 young members. This does not accommodate non-members of all ages wishing to play occasionally in the summer months. There are a number of courts in the Lido Park, but these are of poor quality. Good quality artificial courts in The Lido Park would be an asset. Perhaps the new lido ticket office could be used for booking courts and some system of maintenance and supervision established.
The Wychavon survey also identified across the district a current shortfall of cricket pitches and junior rugby pitches and a shortfall of hockey pitches. There are Cricket and Hockey Clubs in the town. Although Droitwich Spa Rugby Club falls outside of the town limits, they have a substantial area of pitches for club members.
In discussion with the Sports Centre manager it was regrettably noted that the Athletics Track at the High School could not be used for inter-club competitions as the surface has been poorly constructed and is not flat and there are not sufficient lanes. As a result this is only a training facility and the opportunity appears to have been missed to have had an up to standard running track in the town not only for the use of the towns folk but as an attraction to outside sportspeople to visit the town.
If this track has been included in Wychavon‟s consultants figures it should be noted it has limited use.
Sport England lists the most popular activity as walking. Wychavon Leisure does arrange Walking for the over 50‟s which is very strongly supported with a membership of more than 150. There may be an increasing demand in this area as the membership increased by 18% in the last year. There are other walking groups including The Ramblers Association represented in the area.
It was noted that with the regeneration of the canal that canoeing may become an available activity, subject to health and safety requirements. Fishing is already popular along the canal with stands provided.
There are a number of outdoor sporting facilities not managed by Wychavon Leisure. Some are already mentioned above, but there are also two bowling clubs. There are 2 private golf clubs outside the town limits.
Our conclusion is that the current facilities are fully utilised and there is already a demand for more facilities for the increasing population and, according to our calculations, currently a below standard provision based on the 2001 population. Unless this demand is met there will be a serious under provision by 2011. It should also be borne in mind that 2012 is an Olympic year and
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following an Olympics there is generally an increased desire to take part in sporting activities or an opportunity to encourage people to take more exercise.
Indoor Facilities
Sports England recommends various standards for indoor sports and swimming pools.
For Example: Sport England calculation of badminton courts required equates to 0.27 courts per 1000 of population Wychavons provision is 0.47 courts per 1000. Their consultation recommended a standard of 0.47 per 1000. Besides the issue of the population calculations used, which in this case is for Wychavon District, it is not clear if this takes into account courts being taken down and therefore unavailable when classes such as aerobics are being held. When alteration at the Droitwich Sports and Leisure centre were being carried out, and 2 courts where given over to such a class, it was extremely hard to get courts indicating again the present compliment of courts in the town are only just able to meet current demand in the town.
The indoor facilities at the Sports Centre are fully utilised with over 10,000 visitors per week making use of the facilities. This results in the Sports Centre currently operating at near maximum capacity even including the use of the High School indoor facilities. All badminton courts at the Sports Centre and the High School are used to capacity, as are the squash courts at the sports centre. Table Tennis is currently poorly provided for. It is anticipated that without further expansion the Sports Centre would not be able to deal with increased future demand.
Sport England identified swimming as the second most popular activity and again the pool is used to capacity to such an extent that swimming in lanes has to be limited to scheduled periods (more periods are available in school holidays). Feedback from towns‟ people suggests that many people cannot fit in with these times and as a result there is a latent demand for swimming in the town as people do not go to the pool who would otherwise swim if the facility was more easily available. The sports centre has to manage the demand from schools and club bookings as well as people who want to swim in lanes. It is regrettable that the pool was not made into an eight lane pool when constructed in 1995 which may have allowed two lanes to be separated off for regular length swimmers to use more often.
Unfortunately, since its construction in 1995 there have been problems with tiles coming off the pool and other facilities being poor in standard, such as the showers. The plant has recently had to be improved as the water and changing rooms were too cold in some winter months and the plant could not deal with this. It appears that it is only now that the pool and centre is considered fully up to standard (Quest accreditation). Based on the pool being used to capacity already an increase in population will give rise to a demand for increased swimming facilities.
Before the Sports Centre pool opened in 1995 the town had two swimming pools, one indoors and the outdoor Lido. For a time after 1995 this meant the town had three pools. With the closure of the Lido, in spite of increased population, the town now has only the one swimming pool. The Lido is under redevelopment and is expected to open in the summer of 2007. However, it is not anticipated that there will be any lane length swimming as it will be a leisure pool open only in the summer months.
There are no facilities available at the Sports Centre for gymnastics and an additional sports hall to meet increasing demand is necessary.
Wychavon Leisure run Rivers Health Club from the Sports and Leisure Centre where membership involves a monthly fee for gym and sauna facilities plus priority treatment on sport facility bookings. This is very well subscribed and may disadvantage the less wealthy rate payers in being able to book facilities. There are two other health clubs in the town one being at the 40
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Brine Baths and all appear heavily subscribed. Whilst not in the strictest sense being sport the exercise regimes are good for health and go towards meeting Sport England‟s Active People targets *(see the separate report on their Active People Survey).
There is a case for considering another sports hall in another part of the town which would be more accessible to areas where currently it is necessary to travel by car to get to the sports centre.
Overview
Our overall impression of outdoor and indoor facilities is that although there are some sports that are poorly served, in general the current facilities are adequate, but operating at full capacity. This is probably due to the current population of the town and people from the local villages using the facilities. This means that any increase in the towns‟ population between now and 2011 will create a demand which cannot be satisfied by the current facilities.
If the town is to have increased housing it is important that the infrastructure for sport and leisure goes along with the increasing population numbers. This means not being based on the 5years old census figures and very conservative predictions of the population in 2011. As properties are built it should be possible to estimate the increased population.
We suggest the canal regeneration takes into account the provision of temporary stopping places for boats adjacent to the sports centre so that visitors can stop and use the facilities. Also the bus route from the Sports and Leisure Centre into town should be very clearly indicated along with signage in Victoria Square featuring the Sports and Leisure centre as a prominent stop.
*Notes: 1. Sport England in its national Active People Survey (results announced in December 2006) stated the top 10 activities as: recreational walking, swimming, going to the gym, cycling, football, running and jogging, golf, badminton, tennis and aerobics. 2. This report should be read in conjunction with the report on “Recreational Green Space in Droitwich Spa”
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Chapter 9 Green Spaces & Green Necklace
Discussion Paper: Green Spaces
Cabe, the Commission for the Built Environment, has been concerned about unused land, derelict land and the state of Britain‟s parks and open spaces. „People want to live in communities with a range of well maintained public spaces – parks, community gardens, places for wildlife, places for children to play, places where you can simply sit and watch the world go by or meet a friend for a chat. “I find it hard to think of many examples of public spaces created during the past 50 years which have that feel-good factor.” – Stuart Lipton, CABE Chairman.‟ – CABE report Wasted Spaces, 2001.
Preface The aim is to promote the recreational use of paths open spaces and green corridors: Create a strategy knitting together the green network of open spaces and footpaths; To link existing rural footpaths back into the town‟s urban footpath network; Sustain and enhance the footpath network and a green countryside corridor; To encourage a range of recreational and wildlife environments, accessible to all.
There are other objectives, which also need to be taken account of: To improve access for residents and ensuring that existing and new developments maintain or enhance opportunities for informal recreational or quiet contemplation. To promote a healthy and responsible society through leisure pursuits, active walking, jogging, fitness or simply room to fly kites or to toboggan in the winter snows. To provide access for all, safer routes to schools, enhancing the local economy. To provide a wide and varied choice, to attract across every sector of the community and to interpret the varied local heritage and surrounding countryside.
The Civic Society has promoted the concept of a recreational network of paths encircling Droitwich Spa, The Green Necklace, with the backing of Wychavon and the County Council. This path, some 9.7km in length (and 22km of linked paths) is mainly an improvement of existing „rights-of-way‟ with new linking paths to create a circuit that links all the traditional and historic paths and routeways that radiate out from Droitwich Spa‟s urban centre to its hinterland and beyond. These are a legacy of the salt trade and the medieval market charter and are more numerous and extensive than most towns in this region. The Green Necklace, by linking all these historic, radiating routes provides a myriad of small to large circular walks from anywhere on this footpath network, covering virtually every housing area in Droitwich Spa. They also provide a routeway round to every public footpath giving access to the countryside beyond the town boundaries.
To develop this into an environmental policy for Droitwich Spa these routes should be protected and enhanced and to ensure that they are not compromised by developments. The proposed enhancements would be twofold, firstly through the infrastructure, ensuring these are not blocked or diverted by developments and that natural crossings of roads are provided to create a safe environment for walkers and cyclists. Secondly we propose the enhancement of recreational facilities along the radial routes and around the Green Necklace, creating areas for siting, play, and fitness activities (by sports centres/schools) and to enjoy nature and views of the countryside. Worcester has defined the minimum open space for its residents as 50 sq.m. per person. Who Are Catering For? The intention of the Green Necklace is that eventually it will be a weatherproof (though not tarmac) path similar to the canal towpath, which itself will form part of the route. It would thus allow access by most able-bodied persons, pushchairs and assisted wheelchairs, if not in all places at least for the majority of its length.
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There are links to all Droitwich Spa‟s housing areas so these should be accessible to virtually everyone within walking distance from their front door. Car parks have not been considered as this is a local resource for local residents, however there are recognised public parking areas at several points close to the routes and at the town centre near the northern part of the Green Necklace. What Enhancements Would Be Considered? The enhancements will be seen as „pearls‟ on the necklace and would consist of existing and new public open spaces. These could provide at various locations seating, children‟s play equipment and/or fitness equipment trails.
Children‟s play equipment would only be in urban play areas. Fitness equipment would be associated with a circuit or trail possibly linked to a leisure centre or schools and would consist of items located at intervals or in groups, where others can sit and watch.This also brings in the notion that more public open spaces should be created for seating, general play or simply summer relaxation. There are already scheduled open spaces within the urban area from St. Peter‟s Fields (over 16 hectares) to Kingston Close (0.06 hectares) but few designated areas at the fringe. Here woodland glades, grassed slopes (for kite flying or general play and sledging in winter) would be more appropriate. More formal recreation such as active sports, skateboarding, etc. can be dealt with elsewhere.
It is also appropriate to consider the enhancement to the town environment that could be achieved through this approach by additional planting screening and/or protecting of existing grassland as public open space from further development.
Every walker has their own preferences and the Green Necklace has been designed to incorporate a wide range of environments, from parkland, woodland, field edge and waterside. The latter two are in the shortest supply as there are a number of existing open spaces that could be linked in and the circular route uses the canal towpath for much of its length through the town.Field and woodland routes evoke the countryside and are best located as close to the countryside as possible, where the views, sights and sounds of the farming environment can be „borrowed‟.
Along the north side of Pulley Lane the route is enclosed in the narrow wooded shelter and screen belt to the recent housing. To the east of this, where the shelterbelt stops is a newly planted woodland and then the open grassed flanks of Yew Tree Hill, over which the route follows a public footpath. Ideally these slopes could be left having views mainly towards the south with tree screening around the built housing to the north, west and east. These slopes should be created as public open lands with views of the countryside beyond. Public footpaths exist in the countryside through farmland but this does not generally include the right to picnic on or play on any of the land crossed as it is, usually, private land. Yew Tree Hill could become the Droitwich Spa‟s miniature “Malvern Hill”.
Woodland tree planting at the crest of the hill would be acceptable without obscuring the notable landmark of the water tower. New housing development should be prevented from breaching the crest of the hill and become visible from the vale to the south. Even with a thin shelterbelt its lights would shine through at night, particularly in winter, disturbing the tranquillity of the rural scene.
To the east of Yew tree Hill the landscape is opens to the M5 motorway. Here substantial tree shelter belts could screen existing development from the view of traffic. It would help in reducing pollution from traffic fumes and to some extent noise and light pollution, however the main effect would, probably be psychological.
To the west of Pulley Lane the route roughly follows the A38 to the north of the Copcut lands. This area is currently ADR [area of development restraint] in the Local Plan and may be developed at some future date. It is thus proposed that the small Worcestershire Wildlife Trust woodland area be extended to form a substantial woodland screen between this and the A38. This would maintain the A38 – and this proposed tree belt – as a natural visual barrier around Droitwich Spa main 43 Droitwich Spa Town Plan
urban area. It would screen the existing farmland from the A38 and urban development to the north of the A38. The path could currently take advantage of the open views of the farmland and then be relocated within the wooded area if the Copcut lands are developed at some future date.
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Chapter 10 Town Approaches & Signing
Town Approaches
Decide on `Corporate Image' - what exactly are we trying to `sell' Roman? as in `Ancient monument'. Middle Ages? St. Richard etc. Tudor - Merchants House in High St. Victorian - John Corbett. Modern Canal facility etc. - Other modern Leisure facilities.
Then decide if the current town signs need replacing and if so with what.
How to improve the general appearance e.g. The Chateau Impney looks after the area on their frontage but from there in it is unlikely to attract visitors.,
Is the Cop-cut island a wasted opportunity. There are hanging baskets in the summer but are they too scattered and too high to be effective.
Is there scope for improvement on Honeymans Island. - It is understood that the soil is unsuitable for direct planting.
Could the approach from the by-pass be improved and make more of the open space opportunities with signing.
Could the Hanbury Road boundary be improved - e.g. Lorries mounting pavements and leaving `mud ruts'. Could these areas be `cobbled' over.
Brown Signs.
Brown signs before Motorway exits to identify Droitwich Spa as a `Heritage' Town. This has been requested on many occasions before. However since the last occasion the Vines area has been designated as National Monument.
Recommend:- That this matter be given high priority.
Droitwich Spa Direction Signs.
Repositioning of direction sign on exit for Junction 6 in the interests of Road safety and clarity. The position of the current sign for Droitwich Spa is not clearly apparent until after leaving the motorway. Motorists who are unfamiliar with the area either miss their turn off or make a last minute manoeuvre to leave the motorway. As a tourist venue clarity is important for visitors to the Spa.
Recommend:- Priority objective.
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Discussion Paper: The Town Approaches
1. Issues Droitwich Spa does not attract, nor endear itself to visitors on first impression, whether one approaches the town, by car or on public transport and, in future, from the canal. There are three aspects to this issue.
The view of the town as one passes it by (as one can so easily do) from the A38, the Saltway (soon the canal) or from the railway. The experience of approaching the town centre by whatever mode of transport, whether from the station, car parks or canal by foot, by bus and by car. The „legibility‟ of our town. How a visitor, unfamiliar with it, can find their way around. This raises issues about the layout of streets, squares, paths, landmark buildings and spaces, and what signage is needed and to what local attractions? 2. The A38 To the west the A38 bypasses the town. There is little to tempt drivers to visit the town. Neither a brown (attractions) highway sign [is there one on the M5?], nor a town nameplate (with box of annuals) is likely to tempt a visitor. Something more eye-catching is required with a stronger Droitwich Spa identification. To the north the A38 is elevated above the industrial areas beside the Kidderminster Road. The town centre is not identifiable from here and is partly obscured by the railway embankments. The town does not have any outstanding or identifiable features. St. Andrew‟s church spire was once a local landmark. This is what many of the medieval trackways would have been focused upon. In the C18th & C19th there would have also been the smoking saltwork chimneys visible for miles. The town has no identification from the A38. Yew Tree Hill water tower is more of a landmark. It is perhaps the lack of the St. Andrew‟s spire that is the most elementary omission to the skyline. It would be dramatic to recreate rebuilding a modern form of spire. Another solution would be to create an identity for Droitwich Spa in a way that could be represented in sculpture or logo and used on the routes into the town, continued, where required, right to the town centre. In many towns, a driver would expect to see the centre of town and only then only need to rely on signs to reach the car parks. 3. The Approaches The situation is much the same at all the roundabouts and junctions along the A38 there is little indication of, and no sight of, Droitwich Spa‟s historic centre. Hanbury Rd: From the Hadzor there is a fine avenue of chestnut trees within the Canal Conservation Area but nearer the town, they are lost and garages blight the view. This is due to be swept away soon for new canal side developments and hopefully this will include the reinstatement of the lost chestnut tree avenue. A38 Worcester Rd: An oak dominates the east verge. The A38 swings west, but the other routes give no indication as to which is the route to the town centre. A38 Ombersley Rd: The roundabout is above the A38 and could offer elevated views of the town, but principally the suburban part of the town. The route to town becomes a suburban access road with no sense of progression towards the centre. A442/A38 Kidderminster Rd: This roundabout was designed for a flyover but never completed. The route to town follows industrial area and diverts around the station. Pedestrian routes across the junction and into town are intimidating and dangerous. A38 Bromsgrove Rd: Beside the impressive Chateau Impney the route into the town centre is not impressive and Dodderhill hides any view of the urban centre.
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4. The Saltway The Saltway, when built, was predicated on wholesale car use and would allow 50mph speeds. It however separates the town centre from its residential areas. Birmingham has done much to reduce the impact of its inner ring road as restricted pedestrian movement around the city centre. The Saltway too, restricts pedestrian movement because the road is perceived to be wide with fast flowing traffic. The „safe‟ pedestrian routes are underpasses, which many would not consider wholly safe even in the daytime. 5. The Railway Railways often approach via the back gardens of suburbs and the worst face of the industrial hinterland and the approach from the Bromsgrove is elevated giving an panorama of the „backs‟ of the town but there is nothing that identifies where the centre of town is. When the canal basin is developed it may prove a stronger visual attraction than the town. The station, in a cutting, loses sight of the town and nor is the pedestrian route evident, crossing several roads before the Ombersley Way pedestrian underpass. Before industrial redevelopment, a footpath led from the station towards St. Andrews church. 6. ‘Gateways’ From the Saltway there only a few „gateways‟ into the town centre. From the north cars access a sea of parking with several ill-defined pedestrians access routes. Pedestrians crossings of the Saltway are intimidating and improved approaches and pedestrian access to the canal and Vines Park is needed. The Friar St underpass is a narrow underpass but is on the level with roads both sides, without intimidating ramps or steps to negotiate. Formerly a wide route it has recently been reduced to a footpath width by new railings around the fire station. Ombersley Road is one of the main access points, via Coleman Road, where this road splits, but it does not invite or give a clue as to where the town centre might be. The footpath from the station follows the original route of the road now reduced to a ramped pedestrian underpass below the elevated Saltway. There is an unmarked, uncontrolled crossing for pedestrians on the Saltway from Blackfriars Avenue into Heritage Way. A separate vehicle access without paths forms a blind access to a T- junction surrounded by car parks without directional help. The Worcester Road footpath ramps down to an underpass under the Saltway and into St. Andrews Street, one of the old routeways leading to the centre. Vehicles have to turn right or left as the original, St. Andrews Road, straight ahead is pedestrian access only.
7. Victoria Square The confusion continues even here at what should be the centerpiece of the town. The road has short-term parking. Locals drivers hunt up and down looking for parking spaces, though visitors approaching from Heritage Way and Ombersley St will be coerced, by the no-entry roads, to leave the town centre by St. Andrew‟s Road. This is also the exit for all the bus routes, though their stops are in Ombersley Way East. The current traffic circulation allows no other option for them and they have to contend with those hunting for free parking, disabled spaces and taxis as well as unscheduled delivery vehicles.
Allowing an exit for all vehicles from Heritage Way onto the Saltway (even left turn only towards the roundabout) would allow the central portion of Victoria Square to be closed (pedestrianised) during the day with the ends used for disabled parking and deliveries. This would also allow better pedestrian links between the shops on the south side, St. Richard‟s House and the rest of the town center‟s shops and facilities.
8. Opportunities The town centre requires a landmark to replace St. Andrew‟s tower and the chimney stacks of the former salt industry. A regional icon would be welcome, such as Walsall‟s new art gallery that has put Walsall on the tourist map.
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Publicity in some form is required at the A38 roundabouts. This could recognisable icons for the town e.g. sculptures of salt laden packhorses leading to the town centre. The Saltway (and the traffic management) aught to be rethought to provide additional, safer and visually more inviting pedestrian routes into the town, including greatly improving the underpasses access or replacing them with „at grade‟ crossings. Reconsider the traffic circulation within the town centre to facilitate regular or partial pedestrianisation of Victoria Square providing more opportunities for its use.
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Chapter 11 Town Centre & Shopping
Shopping
Protection and regeneration of the High Street.
The news of a buoyant trading environment in the High Street, attributed to the arrival of Waitrose, gives hope that improvements can now be made to `tidy up' the Street scene. The newly appointed Towns Officer will be concentrating efforts in this direction.
However it would seem that Wychavon Planning Officers have still to be convinced that the High Street is a prime retail opportunity since they recently recommended one of the best shop fronts as suitable for change of use to Estate Agents. This was contrary to the Council's stated policy. Sadly the Planning Committee ignored local councillors and took that advice.
Recommended:- That even where the group agrees with District Council policy, as laid out in the District's Local Plan, it should still include issues on which it has strong views in the `town plan'. Thus the `town plan' can give weight to those policies.
Consideration could be given with regard to `links' between the two main shopping centres - Salters & High Street. Also means to bring the shops on the outer ring i.e. Victoria Square and Ombersley St. into the picture. The encouragement of `out of town centre' convenience shops - particularly re. the problems with Westlands.
The transport needs for shoppers.
Discussion Paper: Town Centre
1. Issues In reviewing aspects of the environment, it is the issues related to the development and future prosperity of the town centre that appear the most crucial. A vibrant and economically secure town centre, with a wider range of retail opportunities, will attract the visitors and raise the local support needed to develop the additional town facilities we all seek.
We have taken note of the Inspector‟s Report on the Wychavon‟s Local Plan (up to 2011), where he refers to the recent draft West Midlands Regional Plan [WMRP] as representing a reverse to previous policies. This is summarised, in its relation to Droitwich Spa, as follows: The WMRP is now predicated on sustainability (at a town level) to reduce commuting. As housing is developed in the centre of Birmingham, the plan now advises that each dormitory town should provide a sustainable balance between additional employment and its population. The WMRP also ditches the concept of the „development crescent‟ across the north of Worcestershire for the majority of employment and housing [as in the County Plan]. Accordingly the Inspector has advised Wychavon that Droitwich Spa has a surfeit of housing over employment and currently, large housing developments are not needed in Droitwich Spa. The WMRP proposes a loose concept of the technology corridor from Birmingham University to Malvern, to Cheltenham and to Bristol [to compete with the silicon valley, Reading]. At the Inquiry there were advances from businesses between the railway and the Droitwich town centre proposing the redevelopment of their large industrial sites for development, including re- routing the Saltway via the station to allow a natural amalgamation of both areas.
Our aim is thus: “A Sustainable Community” – more integrated, more self-sufficient, with a greater variety of amenities, with a better and more visual impact. The issues we have identified are; A wider diversity of developments to boost economic growth.
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Possible development around the town centre with the protection of sensitive environments. More housing and mixed developments near the town centre. The visual improvement of the historic centre of the town. Promoting and providing a wider range of visitor attractions. Better environments that will aid the establishment of community neighbourhood improvements. The improvement of the public open spaces, parks and gardens. Improving the approaches to the town, by foot, train and car.
The 1960-1970‟s redesign of the town was predicated on the use of the car. Unfortunately this has left poor pedestrian links to the station. The main bonus for Droitwich Spa compared to Worcester or Bromsgrove is the availability of car parking. This also has come at the cost of disfiguring the majority of the approaches to the town centre by a „sea‟ of tarmac for car parking. The ease of vehicular access, particularly for heavy vehicles to the industrial facilities close to the town centre, creates more noise and air pollution.
Reviewing Development There have been recent concerns over the explosions at the Buntsfield oil depot (in Hemel Hempstead). There are also concerns over the safety of such local facilities. It may be desirable for the redesignation of the town centre located, chemical factory of Baxenden and the oil storage depot on the other side of the canal/railway tracks for other employment uses. This would be an opportunity to create a more sustainable development for the vitality of town centre areas by encouraging mixed usage with mainly office/technology employment with retail and leisure uses at ground level frontages facing pedestrian routes and squares and with flats and apartments on higher floors.
The Saltway has the unfortunate effect of creating a barrier to general pedestrian movement between the town centre and areas to the north, west and south [particularly Vines Park and the station area]. Historically there was no barrier between the town and the canal and river or railway. The only reasonable pedestrian routes, the underpass at Friar St. and Ombersley Rd. East - although good as underpasses go – do not readily or obviously link with the station. This could be addressed by redevelopment west of the Saltway between the station and the canal basin.
Opportunities It would be necessary to link such a new economic heart to the existing centre by as many level pedestrian routes as possible. New pedestrian spaces need to be conveniently and directly linked to the existing town centre [Salters shopping centre, Friar St/High St. and Ombersley Rd. West – via new pedestrian routes across a redesigned Morrison‟s car park/Saltway] and the railway station and proposed new developments around the canal basin.
Any development should continue to cater for sufficient parking for the retail/leisure element to economically sustain the uses proposed. Surface parking should be spread thinly around the buildings, between or even under some and perhaps along one side pedestrian squares and routes to avoid a large „sea‟ of tarmaced parking.
Development of this area held under various land ownerships is inevitably going to be piecemeal, necessitating the development of a strategic plan, but the raised land values through re- designation and the possible support of one or two major land holders would see an acceleration of development once begun.
There may be merit in allowing redevelopment of the west side of the station to the Kidderminster Road, for mixed housing and offices (employment benefit to local economy) as well as allowing a better parking area for the station. Similarly the railway „triangle‟ extending out to Nuway may be suitable for similar re-designations it has close links to the canal basin development.
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The A38 northern link affords an unfortunate view over Droitwich‟s warehouse outskirts west of the railway lines. The redevelopment potential outlined above could provide a dynamic office development as a replacement for this view.
A sustainable community needs local and accessible health care facilities. We would prefer a wider and more extensive range health provision in the town, and our aim would be equivalent to that being provided in Pershore. The Health Centre in Ombersley St. West may not happen in the immediate future, subject to funding. In view of the changing political and health authority opinions of local health care provision it may be opportune to reconsider facility provision in Droitwich Spa. A recent White Paper on health considered a return to cottage hospitals. At this stage, we should be able to consider several possible options including the better utilisation of all the existing facilities (including private) as well as new provision to avoid residents having to be sent elsewhere. 2. Employment Opportunities It is however essential that some additional land is made available for the small factory/warehouse or workshop type developments and it is tentatively suggested that the low lying land to the north of the A38, adjacent to the railway line and the existing Hampton Lovatt estate is made available for modest low key industrial development.
The A38 has a vestigial junction [buried below the grass verges] adjacent to the Nuway factory that could access this area directly and an alternative link road into the existing factory estate could be made where the old farm accommodation bridge crosses the railway line at the north end of this suggested area.
This north extent is where the land rises toward the golf course and farmland and this could be tree screened and planted to create both a shelter belt and green route way [green „finger‟] from the canal basin/Vines Lane area out to the countryside. North of this the County Council is tentatively reserving farmland around Hampton Lovatt church for a country park.
The main issue here would be to justify the „bite‟ into the designated Green Belt for employment reasons, primarily but also as a means of funding leisure access into the countryside and protecting/accessing [the north end of the site could be the country park car park and access point] a proposed country park.
There are recognised “health checks” for a town centre that can be used to develop Action Plans, as a tool for addressing these issues. This may also require a consultation process, particularly where significant changes to the existing plan designations, or new development/redevelopment areas are being proposed.
Options Paper: Town Centre
3. Previous Discussion Paper Our aim is a sustainable community, more integrated, more self-sufficient, with a greater variety of amenities, with a better and more visual impact. The insertion of the Saltway was predicated on the use of the car, which has left poor pedestrian links to the station and the proposed canal basin development. Issues identified in the discussion paper and to be discussed here include; A wider diversity of developments to boost economic growth. Possible development around the town centre with the protection of sensitive environments. More housing and mixed developments near the town centre. Promoting and providing a wider range of visitor attractions. Improving the approaches to the town, by foot, train and car.
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4. Opportunities This is an opportunity to create a more sustainable development for the vitality of town by encouraging mixed usage developments, close to the station and links to the town centre. This would include office/technology employment but with retail and leisure uses on the ground level frontages facing existing and new pedestrian routes and squares. Flats and apartments would be on higher floors or even town house development away from principal retail/leisure uses. The existing factory and warehouse businesses, we would hope, would relocate to Hampton Lovatt.
The barrier the Saltway has created to pedestrian movement between the town centre could be addressed by a pedestrian bridge over the Saltway on the line of North Street (formerly a historic path/cart track leading from the station to Winnets Lane – we shall refer to this as Station Avenue, which could be tree lined to identify its route). This opens up many possibilities for the future direction and development of the town centre without imposing further large scale developments upon the historic core of the town, referring to each in turn.
5. Station Avenue We believe this may be the key to delivering an organised expansion of the town centre over time by creating the Station Walk route along North Street linking to Salters Shopping Centre across a redesigned Morrison‟s car park/Saltway. Development of this area held under various land ownerships is inevitably going to be piecemeal, necessitating the development of a strategic plan, but the raised land values through redesignation for retail, office and leisure and the possible support of one or two major land holders would see an acceleration of development once begun.
The Saltway is redesigned to slow traffic and allow the route to be further lowered to allow traffic below a new wide pedestrian deck to accommodate a pedestrian square above. The Saltway adjacent to the entrance into Covercroft and recycling centre is made available for a new office „gateway‟ building. Further pedestrian „squares‟ punctuate new public parking areas. The principal retail opportunities lie on the north side of this avenue (on the old Union Workhouse site) and would be large enough to attract national retail chains. The south side of the avenue, backing onto Ombersley Way would be for office employment and/or retail. A large and a small (Harris Hill), grassed and tree lined, public open space link to Union Lane.
6. Union Lane This is currently al bounded by Baxendens but the south side was the site of the Union Workhouse. The north edge of the site is high on an embankment from a former rail siding line to the Salt works on Winnets Lane (now Morrison‟s car park). This edge of the site is highly visible from the north and the west from both the railway routes and the A38. It is also close to the station and between this and the future tourist attraction of the canal basin. We propose that this is an ideal location for an entertainment complex, featuring a landmark building to distinguish Droitwich Spa. This could be a building such as Birmingham‟s Sea Life Centre or an Omnimax cinema with its spherical auditoria principal screen or possibly a Spa type health club, like Bath.
Union Lane is closed as a through road with public parking from the station end and servicing from Hampton Road. The public green link this to the principal public route to the town centre along „Station Avenue‟ and the shops and offices there.
7. Coal Yard The development funds a new public road [referred to as Coal Yard Lane] from the station end of Union Lane to the canal bridge at the end of Hampton St. The existing Union Lane is closed as a through route for vehicles and all public bus services are diverted along Coal Yard Lane.
Commercial office development would be adjacent to the railway bridge, rising to three stories above the road level with two levels of parking below, the lowest for (and with direct access to) the 52
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station. Offices would front the new road. The land between the road and the rail lines will form a noise buffer through high office or flat development, with parking below. It may well be that commercial rates encourage office development nearer the station and housing nearer the canal, including the boxing club site. This latter would benefit from recreating the original canal basin on the site. East of Coal Yard Lane would be office and/or residential development facing onto the Coal Yard Lane.
8. Salwarpe Road There may be merit in allowing redevelopment of the sites immediately to the west of the station off the Salwarpe Road, for mixed housing and offices (employment benefit to local economy) as well as improving access to the station. A roundabout is indicated to access the two sites and the station car park (commuter/long stay). Improved footpath links around the station and canal banks should form part of these proposals.
The Pipe Works site to the north of the canal has had proposals to redevelop the site for housing, which seems, in principal, to be an acceptable development. The site borders the canal opposite a „winding-hole‟, created to allow narrow boats to access a basin on this site. The development could recreate a modest canal basin under a new towpath bridge. Multi-storey apartment blocks around such a basin, raised above parking with public accessible portions of the basin would be desirable as would restoration of a public path footbridge over the River Salwarpe to the north.
The site fronting Kidderminster Rd. could be densely developed for housing with flats overlooking the river. Commercial use and/or shop unit might be suitable fronting the corner at Salwarpe Rd.
The site on the opposite side of Kidderminster Road is still scheduled as employment but would benefit the area if it became a prestigious office/technology. The A38 northern link currently affords an unfortunate view over Droitwich‟s warehouse west of the railway lines. The potential redevelopments could provide dynamic office/housing views as a replacement for this vista.
9. Bays Meadow This site encompasses the known site of a Roman villa and possibly more undiscovered archaeology and development would be subject to scheduled site requirements and, in the light of any other significant finds, mitigation measures or site layout changes as may be required.
The intent is that this area is development for housing around an open space, allowing display and interpretation of the villa site for education and tourists. The development of this site relies on the relocation of currently thriving business uses to a new site, though this has already been tabled at the last local plan public enquiry by the owners. Primary access for the housing is off Vines Lane.
The A38 has a vestigal junction [buried below the grass verges] adjacent to the Nuway factory that could access this area directly and as an alternative link road to the existing housing development.
10. Kidderminster Road Within the railway „triangle‟ redeveloping the existing builder‟s yard (and the adjacent sites) would be suitable for redesignation as office development and/or apartment dwellings. The site should also be connected to and develop, as public open space, the small triangle of floodable Salwarpe banks. It could also open up to the south through the railway embankments to link up with the canal towpath to enliven this forbidding „tunnel‟ portion of the towpath.
11. Netherwich Basin (north of the canal) The existing Railway Inn is small local identifier that should be retained in some form. The rest of this site behind including the dwelling house could eventually be redeveloped to enlarge this local facilities as a pub/restaurant with the existing inn forming the entrance. Alternatively it could be a
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landmark building for residential or leisure use, arts centre, similar to the Walsall Gallery on their canal. Parking will be an issue that needs resolving within the site, though expansion of the public car park on the north side for residential moorings and canal visitors would be required anyway.
Opposite is a possible housing site for flats hard up against the railway embankment, with parking below. This would act as „gateway‟ to the railway bridge, with this site providing improved access to the towpath.
The existing allotments north of the Salwarpe would be retained but a new cycle-bridge over the Salwarpe should be funded, by canal developments, to link existing and potential Bays meadow developments and Vines Lane housing to the town centre, via the Netherwich Basin.
12. Netherwich Basin (south of the canal) This canal basin is surely to become the principal tourist attraction in Droitwich Spa the public should be able to get as close to the waterfront as possible all the way around the basin. The layout with two new footbridges allows a short circuit walk avoiding use of adjacent roads. It would also allow housing at the extreme east and west ends, beyond these bridges to have their own exclusive waterfront and moorings.
The housing is considered to be most appropriate as apartments on the waterfront and town houses facing Hampton Road, similar to developments in Worcester. Some public parking would be available at the western end of the development, accessed from Hampton Road.
The slipway is retained to attract a little boat activity (even hire boats) and associated ground level tourist/information/craft shops and cafés. The central square is retained from Wychavon‟s SPG fronted by café/bars and restaurants. Above these would be further apartments along the water frontage, but office development within the site and fronting the Saltway.
To avoid traffic in the „square‟ a second access is provided off the Saltway to service the office and apartment parking to the east of the site. The eastern footbridge and routeways would benefit from a direct crossing of the Saltway, though this would only be an option were the fire station to be redeveloped.
13. Friar Street/Fire Station To the south of Friar St. is a small car park site, which could be a small commercial office development site, fronting the Saltway, possibly with small retail units on Friar St. Apartments may be an option, but all should be kept to a maximum of three storeys close to Priory House.
The fire station site, fronting Friar St. could be redeveloped around a new square (Priory Square) facing Priory House and Friar St. with offices to the west, possibly with small retail units fronting Friar St. Housing development would form the remainder of the site, to the south and east of the Saltway, with access and parking off the Saltway. The development should fund an extra crossing over the Saltway to the canal basin, the towpath and Vines Park.
A third site is indicated opposite Norbury house where the Friar St. frontage is „broken‟ by the intrusion of parking instead of a building frontage. New housing would be appropriate.
14. Conclusion Action Plans may be used as a tool to deliver many of these options. There will also be a requirement for an extensive consultation process, particularly where significant changes to the existing plan designations, or where new development/redevelopment areas are being proposed.
We, however, believe this would provide a strategy for the organised growth of Droitwich into the 21st Century, whilst preventing the town being entirely reduced to a satellite of Worcester.
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Chapter 12 High Street
15. The High Street
Discussions concerning the merits of whether to keep the High Street open to traffic have been carried out over many years. The first proposal to close the High Street was made as part of the Town Development scheme of the 1970‟s, and if phase two of the town centre shopping redevelopment had been carried out then the High Street would have closed to vehicular traffic.
Events, however, took a different direction and the High Street remained open to vehicles and was eventually repaired and repaved with block materials replacing the original macadam surfaces.
This work has not been entirely successful, the surfacing materials now in use are not easy to maintain in good condition. Because of the multitude of service pipes below the surface of the High Street, poor quality repairs to the road surface are resulting in an unsightly street environment.
Keeping the High Street open to vehicular traffic appears to be a key issue in the overall traffic management plan for Droitwich. Over the last few years there have been a number of suggestions how this might be achieved and a letter which appeared in the „The Standard‟ of the 10th November 2006, detailed some of the ideas which have been under consideration.
These were:- Widen the existing footpaths. Restrict the carriageway to a single track. Install unloading bays for specified hours only. Restrict the weight of vehicles. Introduce pedestrian crossing points. Loading bays to double up as parking bays outside specified hours.
From the experiences of the last 30 years, it appears that it is essential to keep the High Street open. Its closure to vehicular traffic would probably result in the complete demise of the High Street, especially following the recent flooding. Any changes proposed must be carefully worked out and be considered as part of a general improvement to the traffic management plan for Droitwich town centre.
There is an example of a good quality street scene in St. Andrew‟s Street, which was repaired two years ago. Footpaths were finished in a simple block paving, the original stone kerbs and channels were retained to aid drainage and direct traffic, the carriageway surface was finished with close textured macadam. The street has a unified look and feel and the finishes make it appear more spacious and less cluttered than previously.
The use of double yellow lines may also be mitigated by the application of 50mm wide lines, which are allowed within a conservation area. 50mm wide lines could also be used beneficially elsewhere within the town centre. Existing street and road traffic signs should be rationalised and were ever possible attached to walls and lampposts rather than erecting new and obstructive posts.
The Town Council‟s tourist direction signs should be repaired and replaced where they have been removed during recent redevelopments, such as Waitrose. Where the new small blue and white signs duplicate these signs then consideration should be given to the removal of some of this unnecessary street furniture.
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Due to flooding in the High St in July 2007 the risk of flooding in the future requires urgent consideration. There is a chapter in the Town Plan dealing with drainage in the High St and other areas of the town.
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Chapter 13 Historic Buildings
1. Listed Buildings & Features
English Heritage paper now also advocates the listing or scheduling (on local lists) of artefacts of urban history, as well as buildings. This has been directed at pre-war (WWII) street and traffic signs (many of which disappeared in the war). Artefacts such as tollhouses, tollboards and milestones from turnpike roads are generally already listed, as are Victorian post boxes and the early telephone boxes. Cast iron features from our industrial heritage are now high on the agenda and such features are already listed in other areas, including cast iron road name plates, gas street lamps, bollards, iron kerbing locally made manhole covers, gates and even cobbled roads (listed in Oxford).
Heritage should also include aspects of local historical associations, such as connections with John Corbett, or by eminent regional architects, for which much research and published material has appeared in recent years.
Grade III listing was abolished in the 1970‟s and buildings were either upgraded to Grade II, or moved into council maintained local area listing (but not by Wychavon) or were, as in Droitwich Spa‟s case, lost “in the mists of time”.
Since the last review in the 1970‟s, buildings over 50 years old that could now be considered would include much of the mid-war buildings. The Victorian heritage as well represented in most towns is probably under represented in Droitwich Spa, as development did not take off until after the repeal of the salt tax in 1841 and in the wake of John Corbett developing Spa attractions.
Even in 1993, when Droitwich Spa Civic Society and Droitwich History & Archaeology Society undertook their survey 12 buildings thought worthy of listing had been demolished or so altered as to be unlistable. Since then we have seen the Worcestershire Hotel demolished, rather than converted for flats. There are currently about 50 listings for Droitwich Spa though some refer to terraces of more than one property. There are some locally significant town centre buildings that are not protected other than being in a Conservation Area, and some outside even that limited protection.
2. Reviewing the Built Heritage
We, in consultation with Wychavon Conservation Section propose: To review the recommendations of the Droitwich Spa Civic Society and Droitwich History & Archaeology Society for additional listing of buildings carried out in 1993. To record the current state of existing listed buildings (compared to their listing) and those proposed above. To promote for listing buildings built for John Corbett. To create a Local List of buildings and artefacts, significant for local associations or for historic reasons, but not worthy of national listing. To review the small stock of Victorian buildings as these are under represented in our protected heritage. To investigate Edwardian and mid-war developments for buildings with local associations or by eminent regional architects. To investigate buildings with associations to salt manufacturers. To record artefacts of industrial heritage artefacts from post boxes to coal hole covers. In Worcester there is a project to identify local castings of Hardy & Padmore.
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A second paper will propose a rationale for the extensions and modifications to existing Conservation Areas and will propose new Conservation Areas.
We propose to undertake „field walking‟ reviews over the summer, assessing existing listed buildings, viewing recent „discoveries‟ from other sources, listing industrial artefacts, as found, and considering what could be judged locally significant in the built environment.
3. Initial Suggestions for Buildings to be Included in Listing (@ Grade II)
The town centre area: 26 High Street, mid 19th century narrow-fronted brick facade. 45-47 High Street, 1730-40 brick building. Pillar box by St Andrew‟s church, High Street, 20th century (George VI). 86 Vines Lane, 18th century brick building with timber framing. Salt worker‟s cottages along R Salwarpe, to south of Vines Lane. St Richard's House, Victoria Square, early 20th. Lloyds Bank, Victoria Square, early 20th century. National Westminster Bank, Victoria Square, c.1905. Post Office, Victoria Square, c.1905 baroque style. Baptist Church, Ombersley Street East, c. 1906 by Francis B Andrews.
Bromsgrove Rd. area Dodderhill House, Crutch Lane, early 18th century. Outbuilding at Dodderhill School (formerly HilI Court), Crutch Lane, late C18th. 11 Bromsgrove Rd, HilI End, late 18th century two storey rendered brick house. 13 Bromsgrove Rd, Hill End, late 18th century two storey rendered brick house. 15 Bromsgrove Rd, Hill End, late 18th century two storey brick house. 17 Bromsgrove Rd, Hill End, 1878 Corbett estate cottage with Corbett raven. 19-21 Bromsgrove Rd, HilI End, early 19th century one storey plus attic brick.
East Side of Town 14-15 Woodfield Rd, Hill End, pair of early 19tn century one storey cottages. Cottage in lane off The Holloway, c 1650 one storey plus attic timber frame. 3 The Holloway, mid 17th century two storey stuccoed brick building, old tiIe roof. St John's Hospital, off The HoIloway, late 19th century hospital built by John Corbett for treatment of poorer people, at same time Lido Park laid out. House in Herriotts Lane, mid 19th century building contemporary with The Herriotts. The Surgery, Corbett Avenue, 1906 one-storey plus attic former Corbett estate office. Parkwych, 1 Lyttelton Road, c. 1910 house. Architect poss. John E Seibright. Barham, 3 Lyttelton Road, c. I910 house. Architect poss. John E Seabright. Dunedin, 5 Lyttelton Road, c. 1910 house. Architect poss. John E Seabright.
Other Areas The Hollies, Worcester Rd (former Addenbrooke‟s surgery), c1850. Church of the Sacred Heart and St Catherine of Alexandria, Worcester Rd, 1919-21 Roman basilica style, unique Byzantine-type mosaics, architect Holland W Hobbiss. Amphlett House, Worcester Rd, late 18th/19th century house. Wolf‟s Antiques, 128 Worcester Rd, 19th century. Chawson Barn Community Centre and adjacent barn, 19th century range of barns.
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4. Local Listings [grade III]
The initial list will be made up from those above that are not accepted for national listing.
Other inclusions would be terraces for salt workers, or Victorian buildings that are still substantially as they were built. Corbett Avenue and Lytleton Road were laid out by John Corbett and a number of the houses were built for the Corbett Estate.
This list will probably include street artefacts recorded from the „field walking‟, though Droitwich Spa lacks many recognised or „signature‟ artefacts like VR post boxes or telephone boxes. In the light of this even later artefacts should be included in local listing such as “GR” post boxes [though not uncommon enough –yet– for national listing].
There has also been discussion as to whether (as recently on TV) we should instigate an X-list of incongruous eyesores, that should be redeveloped at the earliest opportunity. The telephone exchange on Worcester Road is a prime example. We might also include the Baxenden works and the surrounding factory „sheds‟ being so close to the historic centre.
5. The Historic Core
The main objective is to promote a vital and viable town centre. The existing centre needs to be promoted by encouraging a wide range of shops and local services, which allow genuine choice, attractive to a wider community. The other objective is the provision of an improved environment, better accessibility to existing and new developments.
This accords with national planning guidance and policies in PPS 6, which are:
to promote social inclusion by ensuring that local communities have access to a range of shopping, leisure and local services; to create new and additional employment opportunities and an improved physical environment; to promote economic growth of local economies; to deliver more sustainable patterns of development, ensuring that locations are fully exploited through high-density, mixed-use development and promoting sustainable transport choices, including reducing the need to travel and providing alternatives to car use; and to promote good design, improving the quality of public open spaces, protecting and enhancing the architectural and historic heritage of centres, and ensuring that town centres provide an attractive and safe environment for businesses, shoppers and residents.
An Action Plan for the town centre should be the way of addressing these local, site-specific issues, where local businesses and the councils can agree common objectives. This has already begun with the multi-agency “High Street Regeneration Group”, which has a draft Action Plan looking forward 4 to 5 years with the intention of extending successful schemes into adjacent shopping areas.
6. Promoting Growth and Managing Change
The new Regional Plan requires we actively plan for self-sufficiency of homes, services and employment (to reduce travel distances). This new work/life balance requires growth in employment, services and apartments for young workers. This plan needs to select appropriate sites to accommodate this growth by making better use of existing land and/or buildings, 59
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including, where appropriate, redevelopment and planning for development of an appropriate scale for significant growth of the existing centre.
Growth can be accommodated by more efficient use of land and buildings within existing centres by increasing the density of development, where appropriate. Opportunities around the existing centre should be identified for redevelopment or where conversions and changes of use would be encouraged for specific uses.
Newly developed, additional shopping areas might be appropriate where large (national) retailers could harm existing historic buildings or a unique character, such as the High Street. Such larger stores with office development could, however, deliver benefits for residents and raise the economic viability and the vitality of the whole town centre. We should seek to make allowance for them close to the main retail centre in this context.
7. Promoting High-Quality Design and Making Efficient Use of Land
The town centre must provide a high-quality and safe environment to remain attractive and competitive. Well-designed public spaces and buildings fit for the purpose, safe, comfortable, attractive, accessible and durable will improve the health, vitality and economic potential of the town centre. Planning policies should promote high quality and inclusive design, in order to improve the character and quality of the area. The canal is an under-used asset (as is the Lido) and access routes from the main town centre would need to be improved, particularly after redevelopment, so that they are clear and direct.
Development in the town centre should take account of these needs, by:
maintaining or enhancing the spatial planning and links (pedestrian and cycle) to the canal, the railway station and surrounding housing; where appropriate, improving the visual approaches or gateways to the town centre; improving the vitality and viability of other businesses within the town centre; increasing the range of services provided within the town centre; reducing vacant properties in the primary shopping area; adding to the quality, attractiveness, physical condition and character of the centre; improving the evening economy of the town through leisure and entertainment uses.
There is a need to better manage the traffic system in the narrow streets of the historic core and to resolve questions of rear servicing or times for frontage servicing to provide for greater pedestrian priority or occasional pedestrian only periods being reintroduced. Paving designs can provide the means of locally enhancing the frontage of listed buildings with quality materials. Conservation Areas deserve quality and preferably natural materials. Listed buildings should be given space to be seen without vehicles constantly parked in front of them, places where people can sit and rest and take stock of their historic surroundings. The gateways into the town centre need improvement, such as Ombersley Road, as well as the links to the railway station.
The High St. Regeneration Group is already proposing an enhancement scheme of all the buildings frontages along the High St. with contributions from owners. There will also be the encouragement for owners to replace incongruous or unsympathetic shop frontages, signs and fitments particularly on historic properties. It is intended, where successful, to extend this to adjacent streets. The High St. Regeneration Group also aims to promote more events in the High Street, and surrounding streets, to give Droitwich Spa a stronger identity as a market town. Activities attract more people, which means greater casual surveillance and an enhanced sense of safety. Crowds also attract more people which also discourages many of the anti-social problems found in underused spaces.
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8. Measuring Vitality and Viability: Health Checks
The key indicators of town centre vitality and viability are [paraphrased from PPS 6]: diversity of main town centre uses – such as offices; shopping; leisure, cultural and entertainment activities; pubs, cafes and restaurants; and, hotels; the retail, leisure and office floor space in edge-of-centre and out-of-centre locations; the potential capacity for growth: the amount of land available for new development; retailer representation including street markets; shopping rents: pattern of movement in Zone A rents within primary shopping areas proportion of vacant street level property; commercial yields on non-domestic property. This indicator should be used with care; pedestrian flows (footfall): a key indicator of the vitality of shopping streets, measured by the numbers and movement of people on the streets, in different parts of the centre at different times of the day and evening, who are available for businesses to attract into shops, restaurants or other facilities; accessibility: ease and convenience of access by a choice of means of travel, including – the quality, quantity and type of car parking; the frequency and quality of public transport services and the range of customer origins served; and, the quality of provision for pedestrians, cyclists and disabled people and the ease of access from main arrival points to the main attractions; customer and residents‟ views and behaviour; perception of safety and occurrence of crime: include views and information on safety and security, and information on the evening and night-time economy; state of the town centre environmental quality: information on problems (such as air pollution, noise, clutter, litter and graffiti) and attractiveness (such as trees, landscaping and open spaces).
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Chapter 14 Conservation Areas
Discussion Paper: Conservation Areas
1. Issues A concern for civic societies in other areas has been the recent phenomena of back garden development in the market towns of England. It has been the policy of government (under the last revision of PPG3) to encourage development on „brownfield‟ sites, sites already having had development. The side effect has been that gardens are classified as brownfield. It has recently been estimated (Telegraph 22/42006) that 72% of such „brownfield‟ development has, in practice, been developments on former gardens, particularly those attractive to developers; large, spacious ones on residential side streets near town centres.
There is a Private Member on this issue in Parliament trying to reclassify gardens as „open greenspace‟. Meanwhile, protecting areas, particularly those close to town centres, where groups of larger properties sit in substantial gardens would be one way of restricting developer‟s options. Some authorities have introduced areas of “locally distinctive character”. This could be adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance (as part of Planning Documents in the Local Development Framework - our current Local Plan review).
Conservation Areas are also valuable in that they deal with the whole environment, thus trees and hedges, within this area, have a degree of protection. Although trees have protection against felling within a Conservation Area, even here it may be worth obtaining a TPO [Tree Preservation Order] for trees [over 150mm – 6” girth] if they form a particularly significant contribution to the environment. This does need regular reappraisal as trees grow to become significant features or die [or become unsafe] and need to be replaced. The local authority, Wychavon, is unlikely to undertake TPO listing other than when development proposals bring these to the local authority‟s attention, such as the MOD “Medal” now being assessed by Wychavon. Conservation Areas are the Local Authority‟s responsibility and Droitwich Spa‟s was first designated in 1974 covering the town centre, then, after a review in 1980, the Vines Park and St. Peter‟s Fields areas were added, as was a narrow strip covering the existing and former route of the canal. It is apparent that these will not be reviewed until after that of Evesham [current] and Pershore, in about 4-5 years.
2.Reviewing Conservation Area Boundaries Over the decades since the last review attitudes to local history and to what is considered important in the local identity have changed, particularly as the pace of change and redevelopment continue. An assessment needs to evaluate what is locally significant, whether buildings, character or landscape should be protected. This may also include significant views and can include areas that are of archaeological importance, to preserve or improve their settings. It may indicate areas that should now be taken out. These issues have been discussed with Jim Burgin (the Principal Conservation Officer for Wychavon and his staff) and we have the following conclusions: We should propose extensions of the Conservation Areas to protect the setting of listed buildings or to aid the protection of possible new listings. We should propose new Conservation Areas where we consider it essential that the character of an area would be harmed by backland or garden developments. We should propose conservation areas for areas of landscape interest or tree groups, where individual listing may be inappropriate, such as tree lined avenues. We should propose new Conservation Areas to protect development around important archaeological sites. There are various measures that might be considered as part of the Local Plan, but not part of the listed environment, to improve the physical environs of listed buildings. 62 Droitwich Spa Town Plan
We propose to begin this process by a review of the previous joint work of the Droitwich Spa Civic Society and Droitwich History & Archaeology Society in their Environmental Audit carried out in 1993. The Environment sub group will be undertaking a „field‟ review over the summer. We will assess whether any trees or groups of trees that have a significant impact on the local environment have any protection, whilst we are „field walking‟ the existing and possible Conservation Areas. [A further paper will propose a review of the stock of listed buildings as part of the review over the summer.]
2. Opportunities for the Enhancement of Conservation Areas Conservation Areas can also be enhanced via powers the Local Authority have [set out in PPG15 “Planning and the Historic Environment” - though little used], which are: Article 4(2) Direction, to remove permitted development rights of owners, within special areas of locally distinctive character. This would restrict (by requiring planning permission) any external alterations (other than repair) such as window replacements, the colour of external finishes, walls, joinery and even garden boundaries, surfaces and structures. The buildings would need to be close to original and in of a homogeneous nature (e.g. crescent/terrace) for this to apply. See paper on listing for possible application to individual properties. Areas of Special Control of Advertising, however this is only used in countryside areas of “Outstanding Natural Beauty”. Grants, though the availability of such grants depends upon local authority and English Heritage finances. English Heritage no longer grant to unlisted buildings. Wychavon also rarely has the finance to provide grants but do have occasionally the opportunity to negotiate “developer contributions” (S106) from commercial developments to fund improvements in the area around such developments. Urgent Works Notices & Section 215 “Tidy Up” Notices, which can be served on owners of, respectively listed buildings „at risk‟ or on buildings or sites [unlisted] within Conservation Areas. The authority could undertake the work [if they have the funds or have the expectation of being able to recoup them from the owners] if not done.
Area Action Plans will be the key tool for addressing these local issues, via a consultation process, particularly where significant changes to existing, or new, conservation areas are proposed.
3. Management Strategy for Conservation Areas There ought to be some form of commitment, by the local authority, to monitor, maintain and review such environments, as well as providing the necessary guidance or enforcement, where required. Further it should build upon the appraisal and action plans to seek the enhancement of these fragile environments.
4. Review of Conservation Areas Since the last review the esteem with which we view Victorian builders has increased and it would be fitting to now conserve some of their developments. Droitwich was a small industrial town until the Spa movement by John Corbett and others from the mid C19th when it suddenly desired to expand. Similarly those areas laid out by John Corbett (also by his brother and by the estate), during the Edwardian period and during the early part of the 20th century, in the light of the Garden City movements, provide a social and physical environment that we are unlikely to see again.
The Droitwich Spa Civic Society and Droitwich History & Archaeology Society in their Environmental Audit of 1993 suggested new or extended Conservation Areas to cover;
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All the properties along Corbett Avenue and Lyttelton Road Corbett Street, St. Peter‟s Street, St. Mary‟s Road and Parts of Tagwell Road, Worcester Road and St. Andrew‟s Road.
We also suggest reviewing parts of;
The Old Coach Road covering the Corbett cottages and the Sacred Heart Church, none of which are listed. Victorian and Edwardian areas of Victoria Avenue, King George Avenue, Westwood Avenue and some of the Worcester Road. The remainder of Vines Lane to Bromsgrove Road, including the east side of Bromsgrove Road [to include 1 Hanbury Street] East side of Bromsgrove Road including Woodfield. Area around Burrish Street, known as Burrish Town on the 1884 first edition 25” maps which had significant developments by 1886 some still extant in one form or another. Bays Meadow to protect the area around the roman villa site and allow any future development to incorporate its interpretation and access as Public Open Space.
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Chapter 15 Canal Regeneration
1. Canal Regeneration
The impending regeneration of the canals through Droitwich is intended to not only to create a new experience for canal users but to create a revitalised waterfront centre, creating jobs and homes as well as revitalising the town with additional tourist income from the higher profile the town expects.
2. Netherwich Basin
It is expected that the Netherwich Basin would be given priority as a gateway to the town for boaters to disembark and gain access to the town via Friar St. The growing population of the town requires more leisure and entertainment facilities and a well planned area would be an all year round asset to the town with some or most of the following uses catered for: an arts centre a small cinema community hall meeting and rehearsal rooms a gallery/a salt museum a cafes and restaurants
If the Norbury can secure a new long lease it might be upgraded to form an arts centre, which, as it lies on the principal route to the Netherwich Basin, could satisfy a number of these wishes, whilst linking any development at Netherwich Basin to the town centre.
The Saltway creates a barrier to pedestrian movement between the town centre and the canal basin, as it also does to Vines Park and the station area to the west. Prior to the Saltway construction, there was no barrier between the town and the canal, river or the railway station. We should seek to mitigate this.
3. Canal Regeneration
The regeneration of the canal will attract tourists to Droitwich Spa and it should afford them with plenty of canal boat activity. The buildings must be of a quality to enhance the experience, with a mix of activities for the viability and the vitality of this part of the town centre.
Other development sites are the former commercial group of sites along the Hanbury Road adjacent to the river Salwarpe. Also a site at Chawson is proposed for a small leisure development. This is in a sensitive area, but it might have merit for the „right‟ design.
What is needed are key landmark proposals and a range of high quality buildings, particularly around the canal basin.
4. Other Issues
The upgrading of the towpath, in an environmentally sensitive manner, should be included so as to allow its use by cyclists and a wider range of groups (e.g. wheelchair users) for recreation. This may include the creation or improvement of links to the towpath from the local road network.
Any development should cater for sufficient parking to economically sustain the uses proposed. Surface parking should be spread thinly around the buildings, between or even under some, to avoid a large „sea‟ of tarmac parking.
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Chapter 16 Housing & Spatial Strategy
This second Draft RSS from the West Midlands Regional Assembly sets the targets for housing, employment and transport provision across the region until 2026.The South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy [JCS] response is still at draft level for the previous January version, but will now have fewer options to review. Droitwich is barely mentioned but what it does is link the fate of south Worcestershire with that of Worcester.
1. Sustainable Communities The West Midland‟s conurbation will seek to provide all its housing growth within its boundaries on inner area redevelopments (former industrial land or derelict land). Former commuter towns (like Droitwich) are required to "promote local sustainability and a greater degree of self sufficiency”. Worcester is designated (as is Redditch, in Worcestershire) for significant growth and development outside its current boundaries, with the recommendation of a joint „South Worcestershire‟ council‟s policy for Malvern, Worcester & Wychavon. Droitwich is identified as the only large town that will be affected. Droitwich as an overspill town has not yet reached its design capacity of 30,000 pop. with infrastructure capacity and sites for another 10,000 homes (allowing for unplanned infill sites), due to previous lower density housing of the southern estates. Infrastructure remaining unfinished needs to be included in development proposals to ensure provision for future population projections.
2. Enhancing Town & District Centres Policies recommend developing towns to enhance their existing identities and local distinctiveness and to maintain or provide facilities to serve their local population. Centres on transport nodes [railway stations] should encourage mixed use denser redevelopments around the centres of housing, leisure, retail and cultural services. Highest standards of design based on the existing character are required. Co-ordinate educational resources to provide facilities accessible to all. Provide business development and education to link residents to jobs. Maximise the potential of facilities available at community buildings.
3. Communities The housing target for Wychavon is set at 455 dwellings per annum plus 200 or so as part [50%] of Worcester‟s expansion over its boundaries into Wychavon. The recommended phasing to 2026 is principally on previously developed land, then: Where mixed use development meets sustainable objectives. Greenbelt land where the most sustainable development for the town is achieved. “Higher density housing can be important in town renaissance and to ... encourage social and community facilities” and “in order to reduce greenfield land taken”. Affordable dwelling provision is set at 1000 units per year across South Warwickshire and Worcestershire – the second highest after the conurbation – but not by district.
4. Prosperity for All The overall strategy is “a better balance in communities between housing and new employment” to “limit the need for commuting”. Greenfield developments should be close to rail transport nodes with easy access to town centres and respects the natural environment and heritage. Droitwich as a key node in the High-Technology Corridor should provide a range of sites between 0.4ha and 10-20ha for employment.
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Retail developments over 10,000m2 to demonstrate it meets local need. Droitwich is excluded from the list of identified locations for office development as it would need to demonstrate that this did not compete with Worcester‟s development.
5. Quality Environment Urban recreational and greenspace is promoted as is the protection of the local character and local heritage of parks, monuments and buildings. Water management and ecological policies apply to all towns & regions. Worcestershire is identified as being most in need of further waste management facilities for the reuse, recycling, reprocessing or energy recovery systems, with Droitwich named along with Bromsgrove, Worcester, Kidderminster & Redditch.
6. Transport Droitwich is on a transport node, the station, and the A38 & M5, all of forming the High- Technology corridor through Worcestershire. The Worcester „parkway‟ at Norton is identified as a „priority‟ which may have an adverse impact upon Droitwich by removing regional trains from the Droitwich line. The majority of policies relate to the desire to reduce the need to commute and promoting alternative modes of transport, particularly cycling and public transport.
7. Conclusion and Opportunities
It is clear from the current draft policies coming out of the government and the regional office that developers and the building industry are to be provided with a less restrictive framework in order to boost their and presumably Britain‟s economy by allowing them greater potential for development than at present. Policies are in place to streamline the planning system for those that can afford to „fast-track‟ their applications through the planning system avoiding direct public consultations.
If Droitwich is to receive, as it could, a lot more housing, then this should be close to the town centre, where it will best benefit the „High Street‟ economy. Droitwich should also receive more office employment, preferably close to the town centre, as a boost to the local economy, as this is unlikely to seriously impact on the development of Worcester. Droitwich needs to create employment for its current „white collar‟ population and should target sites for prestigious „technology orientated employment uses, even if this type of development has to be on the outer edges of the town, at Copcut or even in the Green Belt north of the A38.
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Chapter 17 Development Sites
Site 1 Canal Basin
Plot A Housing based on waterfront and road frontage flats, minimal car parking provision. Similar to the Lowesmoor development in Worcester.
Plot B Canal Yard; repairs, chandlery & storage. Water frontage reserved for a footbridge/cycle- bridge and access.
Portion of site (B1) to be allocated for suitable street frontage development of canal related activity, e.g. chandler, trust shop, trust offices, etc.
Plot C: Commercial site for mixed development including a proportion of flats with retail and/or leisure activities. Service access off Saltway.
Main canal orientated site (C1) to provide public access to the waterfront via path from Hampton St. and along waterfront. Desirable uses would be museum/craft centre for canal and Droitwich related heritage; café/restaurant; possible penthouse flats. Frontage to Hampton St. [Development Gain: FUNDS new canal bridge from boatyard and public paths from it, along canal frontage and to Hampton St.]
Leisure related development (C2) pub/restaurant, with garden overlooking the bowls green and public path along the canal. [Development Gain: FUNDS new canal bridge (cycle path) from site to Vines Park AND across River Salwarpe to Vines Lane through the existing allotments. Public path along the canal frontage and to the Saltway.]
Plot D: Existing bowls club may be jointly redeveloped with Site C in order to provide better community leisure and club facilities, on or nearby. Site 1b - Canal Basin, land to the north of the Canal
Plot E: Existing allotments to North of canal may be retained BUT a new cycle-bridge over the Salwarpe is to be funded, by Site C, from Vines Lane to Vines Park. Although some allotments are well used, alternative, suitable development might be considered. The site is liable to flood and would be suitable for open leisure uses. Residential flats beside Vines Lane and the railway embankment, may be acceptable, with accommodation kept above the flood level and open floodable land left along the riverside.
Plot F: Key residential or leisure site. A pub/restaurant development associated with Site G would be suitable (see below) as would residential flats matching Site A. [Development Gain: Funds repairs to the canal towpath around the north side of the basin and under the road bridge.]
Plot G: Existing Railway Inn: small local identifier that should be retained in some form. The rest of this site could be redeveloped to enlarge its local facilities; or redeveloped with Plot F (see above), with the existing inn forming an entrance. Car parking provision off the road will be an issue that needs resolving within the site.
Housing site (H1) is one of a possible pair of sites for flats hard up against the railway embankment, parking below. Seen as „gateways‟ to the railway bridge, with this site providing improved access to the towpath.
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Housing site (H2) the twin of the one above, with this site providing improved access paths to Vines Park and giving „casual surveillance‟ over this end of the park.
Site 2 - West Friar St., including possible future development of the Fire Station
Plot A: Commercial and residential development site; small retail units would be desirable on Friar St.. Flats and offices should be kept to three storeys adjacent to Priory House.
Plot B: Retail site fronting Friar St. Redevelop around Priory Square and Friar St. with smaller retail units fronting a larger unit on the fire station site up to the Saltway from which service access and parking is obtained. [Development Gain: FUNDS new path/cycle path from Friar St. to a new bridge (cycle path) over the Saltway, to Site 1 (plot C), thence connection with the towpath and Vines Park.]
Site 3 - Station Coal Yard, including Baxendales
The entire development coud fund a new public road [referred to as Coal Yard Lane] from the station end of Union Lane to the canal bridge at the end of Hampton St. The existing Union Lane to be closed either side of Baxendales (to transferred to their ownership for development) and all public services diverted along Coal Yard Lane. The small factory units to the north, below Baxendales will, as part of this development, be provided with access off Coal Yard Lane, or its junction with Hampton St. with a mini roundabout by the canal bridge.
Plot A: Commercial office development, adjacent to the railway bridge, rising to 6-7 stories with parking below. Offices fronting Union Lane. [Development Gain: FUNDS new path/cycle path below the offices, under the bridge (over the lines) to the station forecourt.
Plot B: The land between the road and the rail lines is to form a noise buffer by suitable high office or flat development, with parking below. It may well be that commercial rates encourage office development nearer the station and housing nearer the canal.
A more open disposition of housing units are possible here (B1) alongside the canal. It would be feasible to arrange a „marina‟ type development of flats fronting a small arm (for smaller craft only) of the canal.
Plot C: The development potential for the east side of Coal Yard Lane is for B1 uses associated with Baxendales or independent users. It would be preferable to see office use or the office portions facing onto the Coal Yard Lane.
Plot D: With the opening of Coal Yard Lane, it would be possible to close off Union Lane and transfer this to Baxendales for the more efficient use and development potential of their two sites either side of this road. The route of the Harris Hill footpath needs to be protected.
Plot E: This site comprises the northern end of Union Lane and the properties bordering it, excluding the industrial units now accessed off Coal Yard Lane. This could be developed for residential uses as an extension of Priory Gardens (off Union Lane), down to Hampton St.
Site 4 - Vines Lane Triangle
This area is currently a mix of uses, housing to Vines Lane, offices and a builder‟s merchant and is bisected by the Salwarpe River.
Plot A: This site is currently a builder‟s merchant but would offer suitable space for residential flats (adjacent to the railway embankments) and houses. Included is the river-side and open
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space to the north side of the river as public open space provision for the development. [Development Gain: FUNDS new path/cycle path link via a cutting between the two railway embankments onto the canal towpath and reinstatement of the towpath below the railway arches either side. ALSO FUNDS restoration and access to the public open space triangle to the north of the River Salwarpe, including small pedestrian bridge or access down from road bridge].
Plot B: Small river-side site for flat development alongside the railway embankment.
Plot C: A mix of flats and houses backing onto the existing houses and facing the river.
At the corner of the site (C1), subject to any adjustment of alignment in the road junctions, this portion of the plot may be suitable for a small retail/commercial outlet at ground floor in addition to residential units above.
Site 5 - Roman Villa - ‘Salinae’, Vines Lane to the A38
This site encompasses the known site of a Roman villa and possibly more undiscovered archaeology and development will be subject to scheduled site requirements and in the light of any other significant finds mitigation measures or site layout changes may be required.
The intent is that this area is development for housing around an open space, allowing interpretation and display of the villa site for education and tourists. The development of this site relies on the relocation of currently thriving business uses to a new site, which is proposed on the north side of the A38 and connected to this site (alongside the railway below the A38) by a spur exit off the A38. Primary access for the housing is off Vines Lane.
Plot A: Public open space for recreation and interpretation of archaeological remains.
Site (A1) for a community use structure that could be developed for education and tourist uses.
Plot B: Mixed housing development, 1st phase.
Mixed housing development (B1) 2nd phase, allowing for access slip road from A38. Mixed housing development (B2) 3rd phase, including links off new slip road to A38.
Possible location within plot B2 for small retail unit for local needs with flats above. [Development Gain: Funds archaeological survey/rescue public open space provision and community building suitable for educational/tourist interpretation of the site. ALSO FUNDS re-alignment of the junction of the Kidderminster Rd. and Vines Lane and link road to Bays Meadow development]
Plot C: Site for housing and/or offices/shops as a buffer against the railway embankment.
Plot D: Additional site for flats against the railway embankment and public open space with footpath connection made through to the church and railway crossing.
Site 6a - Salwarpe Rd., North
These are currently commercial sites, which, in the fullness of time, we would prefer to see convert to residential uses.
Plot A: Fronting Kidderminster Rd. this could be more densely developed for housing with additional houses or flats overlooking the river. Commercial use and/or shop unit might be suitable fronting the corner at Salwarpe Rd. [Development Gain: FUNDS restoration and
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dedication of open space and footbridge along the river to the public. AND FUNDS new cycle path bridge over the river along side the railway embankment.]
Plot B: Situated between the river and the canal to be redeveloped for housing provision. As the site borders the canal opposite a „winding-hole‟ it could incorporate a substantial canal basin via a new canal bridge to carry the towpath over the entrance. Multi-storey apartment blocks around such a basin, raised above parking and public accessible portions of the basin would be desirable. [Development Gain: FUNDS restoration and dedication of open space and footbridge (linking to site A) along the river to the new public cycle path bridge over the canal alongside the railway embankment, with linking paths from the development and between site A and site C and with connections to the canal towpath, riverside path and eventually to the railway station.]
Plot C: Fronting Salwarpe Rd. this could be more densely developed for housing with a wide public open space/local site for nature conservation around the reed beds alongside the canal „winding-hole‟. [Development Gain: FUNDS public open space alongside the canal. AND FUNDS new cycle path alongside the railway embankment, with linking paths from the development site A and site B and extend to the railway station.]
A possible upper part of the site (C1) should development be sought for the redundant western rail sidings. This is more suited to flat development though a mix of flats and offices would be considered.
Plot D: Housing expansion from the Acre Lane development with access from the railway station bridge and links down to site C and Salwarpe Rd. [Development Gain: FUNDS new cycle path link alongside the railway embankment to the railway station.]
Site 7 - Kidderminster Rd.
Plot A, B1: Uses or an expansion of the existing retail park facilities, due to its proximity to the A38 roundabout. Access is via the existing retail park road and could be one or two additional units or an associated retail „village‟ of factory outlets around a car park. The latter arrangement would allow for some frontage development onto the Kidderminster Rd. This is on land already raised, in the main, above the flood plain. [Development Gain: Funds A1]
Public open space, footpath and small river crossing bridge (plot A1) on land not already raised, as part of the public open space corridor within the flood plain.
Plot B; Key corner site for retail or entertainment building, such as 24hr. petrol station and mini- mart, drive in fast food outlet, multiplex cinema, etc. associated and linked with the parking provision on plot A. [Development Gain: FUNDS the rebuilding of the Salwarpe Rd. junction.]
Site 8 - Salwarpe Rd. Leisure Facility
This is a possible site between the River Salwarpe and the canal to the west of the Salwarpe Rd. bridge. This is currently public open space but poorly accessed off this road. Public leisure facilities, however, would be considered suitable to revitalise pedestrian use of this area, if suitable funding can be found. Alternatively more commercial leisure facilities may be considered, such as a health club or multiplex cinema.
In all cases, however, there is little scope for public parking, which would have to be associated with the Development Site 8 and the development would need to provide a direct bridge link to this. Uses that peaked during the evenings would „marry‟ better use of this car park by the proposed developments for site 8.
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Frontage would be to the Salwarpe Rd., where space exists for a separated drop-off lay-by (the bridge/causeway allows for dual carriageways, but only the eastern one was built.) [Development Gain: FUNDS the pedestrian bridge link from the Salwarpe Rd. frontage to Development Site 7 car parking. A pedestrian crossing over the Salwarpe Rd. will also link the site more closely to the station (via site 6) and the town centre. Better pedestrian access is to be provided down to the river footpath and the canal towpath.]
Site 9 - Kidderminster Rd. Industrial Area
This is a possible site between the Salwarpe Rd. junction and the railway embankment/bridge. This is currently under-used. The rear is accessible from the industrial estate but suitable development fronting onto the Kidderminster Rd. is also possible. Suitable associated uses here might be for the relocation of the leisure and sports clubs that we seek to relocate from sites already mentioned e.g. site 6c.
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A Plan for Future Development
(When viewing on-screen, use the +/- buttons to view the plan detail)
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Chapter 18 Pollution & Waste Disposal
Discussion Paper: Pollution
1. Noise Noise pollution is insidious as people get used to it but it still affects their quality of life. Noise is a major problem in Spa Droitwich due to the town‟s proximity to the M5 and increasing traffic on the A38. Increasing traffic on the motorway has raised noise levels as to be an intrusion in many residential areas. The use of quieter road surfaces and natural or artificial barriers needs more investigation and material from the redevelopment of the canal might be used for suitably placed embankments.
The A38 from the town to Worcester is very noisy and residents close by would benefit greatly for noise reduction measures. It is a particular problem on elevated sections and with heavy traffic heading for the Hampton Lovatt industrial estates. Many other local roads are noisier due to the increase in traffic and the lack of enforcement of speed limits. In order for quieter road surfaces to be effective traffic needs to be travelling at lower speeds. Lack of enforcement of speed limits raises demand for traffic calming measures. Loud motorbikes seemingly use Roman Way and other local roads as a racetrack.
Open spaces act as green lungs to clean our air but are also for relaxation and leisure. Many are blighted by road noise, such as the Community Woods by Roman Way, where it overwhelms nature‟s sounds. We need to look at how these areas can be protected from noise or they cannot fulfil their overall purpose. The Lido Park and St Peter‟s Fields are relatively free of noise (apart from the occasionally noisy Lido itself) and should be used to provide quiet areas for recreation as should all the less noise polluted green spaces.
2. Air Air quality has improved in Droitwich Spa since the close of the smoky and grimy salt industry, at the turn of the last century and with the later Clean Air act. We now enjoy good air quality albeit with additional emissions from increasing levels of traffic. A potential threat is the European Union‟s demand for more incineration (rather than land fill). New plants will meet stringent emission regulations, but they should still not be near schools, housing, or west of towns, where prevailing winds take emissions over the town. The Stoke Works area may be a suitable site and would see emissions carried away across more open country.
Emissions from local factories do not appear to be a problem but there is concern about recent incidents of pollution and explosions from oil (Buntsfield Oil Depot) and chemical (West Bromwich) depots. This raises issues as to whether such uses, Baxenden and the oil depot, should remain so close to centres of population.
3. Land Much of the old industrial land is polluted and sites such as the former gas works at the Netherwich Basin will need to be cleaned up before redevelopment can take place. When existing industries relocate their sites should be checked before any redevelopment.
Brine extraction (whilst not a direct pollutant) has led to extensive subsidence, leading developers to avoid underground parking. Surface parking is a visual pollution in the town. Underground parking or enclosed provision should be considered in future developments if the town is not to be enclosed by a sea of parked cars.
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British Waterways has reported that the levels of mercury in the canal silts in Vines Park are unacceptably high. This will be remedied as part of the restoration work and no doubt they will continue to monitor the water/silt conditions in all parts of the canal system.
4. Effluents During the flooding in July 2007 effluent flooded areas due to the failure of pumps. The subsidence, mentioned above, has, in the case of the High Street, reduced the built in gradient of the drains, such that effluent is not effectively drained. When pumps failed the High Street flooded. Shops have been put out of business for many months and the economy of the town badly affected. In other areas the drains could not cope with the volume of water. If there is to be more building in the town the effects on sewers and water drainage in general must be carefully considered.
5. Litter Litter is a problem, as it is generally around Britain, compared to the situation now experienced in many towns in Europe. It is regrettable to note children leaving schools, also teenagers, simply throwing down paper and cans without regard to the bins provided. Children are by no means the only cause of litter, as many adults are equally to blame, but we should ask the schools exhort the children to be more conscious of the environment. Litter laws should be sensibly enforced in the town if we are to provide a town fit for visitors.
Litterbins are an issue as many regard them as causing much of the problem if not adequately managed, as well as adding to the street clutter. Since the terror bombings of the 1980‟s many places (mainline stations and tourist towns) have removed all bins and others only allowing small light plastic [reduced „shrapnel‟] ones that are often ineffectual and unattractive. Litter should be tackled, where possible, at source. Other towns have insisted that the fast food outlets, which tend to increase litter, provide and manage bins and the pavements along their frontages, cleaning up and removing bins at night.
6. Light Light pollution is an issue due to the motorway lighting and modern standards of lighting to new developments around the periphery of the town. We believe that more should be done to control the upward and outward (to the countryside) spread of light pollution. There does appear to be a greater use of municipal lighting that is top covered to limit emissions into the night sky, in accordance with the „Dark Skies‟ initiative. It is important to continue this into commercial and residential developments.
We note government initiatives [not yet directives] to encourage the reduction of street lighting (in level and duration) in order to reduce energy consumption and hence UK‟s greenhouse gas emissions [Kyoto Agreement]. We should be looking towards standards of lighting aimed at primarily at pedestrian safety, along paths and at junctions, rather than for motor vehicles, which are all now universally fitted with dazzlingly bright headlights.
7. Electromagnetic We should have regard to power cables close to present homes and future residential developments. Droitwich has none of the high-power (400kv & 275kv) pylon lines (recent press hiatus Telegraph 29/04/2006) within the district, the nearest being west of Westwood estate, originating from Bishop‟s Wood sub-station. We do have a mid-power (132kv) mast distribution line from Bishop‟s Wood, running around the eastern boundary of Westwood Park, across the Copcut lands south of the A38 and across the A38 at Pulley Lane. The area of influence is much less than the high pylons but at 100ft/30m will still affect housing immediately bounding Westwood Park and potential development of the Copcut lands.
The sighting of telephone masts is a modern day issue with telephone firms claiming there are little or no problems for health. This is by no means certain and we need to be careful of granting 75
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permission for these masts and there location. There are guidelines that should be followed, but are discretionary, though Planning Permission should be mandatory. They are a visual intrusion, particularly with their accompanying large control boxes, which need to blend, aesthetically, into the landscape. Newer 3G masts, though smaller and slimmer, are required in much greater numbers to achieve the desired operator‟s coverage.
8. Telecommunication Masts The sighting of telephone masts is a modern day issue with telephone firms claiming there are little or no problems for health. This is by no means certain and we need to be careful of granting permission for these masts and there location. There are guidelines that should be followed, but are discretionary, though Planning Permission should be mandatory. They are a visual intrusion, particularly with their accompanying large control boxes, which need to blend, aesthetically, into the landscape. Newer 3G masts, though smaller and slimmer, are required in much greater numbers to achieve the desired operator‟s coverage.
9. Waste Disposal Wychavon District Council is the authority responsible for the collection of household and other waste. All refuse is delivered to waste disposal sites managed by the County Council. A policy of separation and recycling is in operation. The collection of „green waste‟ is dealt with by a mixed policy whereby if special bags are purchased it will be collected and put into landfill, otherwise „green‟ waste will not be collected. Residents are then forced to either dispose of „green‟ waste by home composting or take it to the local disposal site at Hanbury Wharf.
Proposal: That this policy be reviewed and consideration be given to a local collection and composting arrangement for „green‟ waste. Such a collection service could be restricted to the growing season between March and November each year. That the products of a revised service be provided free of charge to residents.
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Chapter 19 Droitwich Drainage Area, and Description of the Sewerage System
Droitwich Development Scheme
Description Of Drainage System – Revised To 1973 and copy of Evidence to Public Inquiry of October 1969
Section 1 Droitwich Development Scheme
In 1963 it was decided to carry out a town expansion scheme in Droitwich under the provision of the Town Development Act 1952. Some 230 hectares of land to the west of the town were designated as a town development area and since construction started in 1966, an industrial area has been largely completed, approximately 1,360 houses have been provided in the development area and some 900 houses have been built in other areas of the town. The population at the start of the scheme was about 9,000, it now stands at about 15,000, the target population is approximately 30,000 and a further, as yet undetermined, increase is suggested in the draft County structure plan proposals being formulated by Worcestershire County Council.
The development plan for the town included an area zoned for town centre purposes and an inquiry into the proposals for the central area was held in October 1969. This area includes and extends the original town centre and the Comprehensive Development Area proposals, together with compulsory purchase powers (under the Town Development Act 1952) for the first phase of the scheme, were confirmed between October 1971 and January, 1972.
10. Section 2 Introduction and History
See revised section on Description of the Sewerage System, dated 1989.
11. Section 3 Existing Town Centre Sewerage System
3.1 This section is divided into the following sub -sections:
3.2 Existing Town Centre Surface Water Drainage System
3.3 Existing Town Centre Foul Water Drainage System
3.4 Brine Drain
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3.2 Existing Town Centre Surface Water Drainage System
The drainage areas contributing to the town centre system are shown on plan No.60.D.5.
Areas 1 and 2 contribute to a highway authority culvert approximately 600 mm dia. in size laid in the A.38 trunk road.
3.2.3 The discharge from Area 3, which is largely parkland and open space, passes through the Heriotts Pool (surface area 0.283 hectares). An outfall from the pool provided in 1972, discharges into a pipe laid at a gradient of 1 in 20 connected to the culvert in the A.38. The highway authority culvert in the A.38 discharges to the River Salwarpe immediately to the east of Chapel Bridge.
Area 4 drains via a 375 mm sewer laid circa 1965 beneath Blackfriars Avenue and Winnetts Lane to an outfall into the River Salwarpe at a point just east of the Bromsgrove branch railway bridge. It is in good condition.
3.2.5 Area 5 drains via a 300 mm sewer laid before 1932 beneath Ombersley Street to a confluence with the Winnetts Lane sewer described above.
3.2.6 An area wholly within the town centre, marked with cross hatching on plan No.63.D.5 has subsided due to brine pumping operations (principally between 1890 and 1920). This area drains to a pumping station (which deals with both SW and FW discharge) powered by a 5 H.P. submersible pump installed in 1968 to augment the compressed air ejection system originally provided in 1935. The pumping main discharges to the River Salwarpe at a point just west of Crossway.
3.2.7 An area wholly within the town centre, drains into a 225/300/375 mm sewer laid before 1900 beneath St. Andrew's Road, St. Andrew's Street, High Street and then via Friar Street and Ricketts Lane to the River Salwarpe.
3.2.8 Other areas immediately alongside the river discharge by individual outfalls laid at various dates, These are, in the main, satisfactory, apart from those serving the low lying areas at the rear of the High Street and Queen Street, where there has been frequent minor flooding.
3.3 Existing Town Centre FVV drainage system
3.3.1 Plans Nos. 60.D.5 and 61.D.5 refer.
3.3.2 The contributing areas to the FW drainage system passing through the town centre follow the surface water drainage areas shown on plan No.60.D.5 closely, with the following major departures:
Area 6 enters the town centre system.
(b) Area 3 has an insignificant foul water discharge.
(c) The town centre area drains to a valley sewer between High Street and the river laid in 1932 which in turn drains to the head of the trunk sewer laid in 1966/7and thence to the Ladywood water pollution control works opened in 1970 (official opening date 24th July, 1970).
3.3.3 The detail of the existing FW drainage system within the town centre is shown on plan No.61.D.5.
3.3.4 Areas 1 and 2 drain via a 300 mm sewer laid before 1932 beneath St. Andrew's Road and St. Andrew's Street and then via Victoria Square and Winnetts Lane to the valley sewer.
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3.3.5 Area 4 drains via a 150 mm sewer laid circa 1965 beneath Blackfriars Avenue and Winnetts Lane to the head of the trunk sewer. It is in good condition.
3.3.6 Area 5 drains via a 225 mm sewer laid before 1932 beneath Ombersley Street to a confluence with the Winnetts Lane sewer described above.
Area 6 drains via a 375 mm sewer laid in 1932 crossing the A.38 trunk road to the valley sewer.
An area wholly within the town centre, marked with cross hatching shown on plan No.63.D.5 has subsided due to the previously mentioned brine pumping operations and this drains to a pumping station (which deals with both FW and SW discharges), powered by a 2.9 H.P. submersible pump installed in 1969 to augment the compressed air ejection system originally provided in 1935. The pumping main discharges into the valley sewer.
3.4 Brine Drain
3.4.1 The background to the use and disposal of brine is contained in the sections dealing with town centre ground conditions and the canal scheme.
The Droitwich Canal Abandonment Act 1939, placed a liability on the council to control the discharge of brine from the spa establishments by a method which would prevent a discharge of brine into the River Salwarpe when the flow of' the river Severn at Bewdley was below a stated level. This liability was incurred after prolonged negotiations and considerations which have no real effect on the present situation and which are not discussed further in this brief.
3.4.3 Due to the intervention of war, no control system was introduced until 1965, when the 305 mm brine drain shown on Plan No.61.D.5 serving the Brine Baths in Victoria Square was laid in Blackfriars Avenue and Winnetts Lane. This discharges to a retention tank as shown.
3.4.4 The brine discharge situation which prevailed prior to 1939 has changed in the following ways:
The spa facilities using brine have been reduced to the single establishment in Victoria Square known as the Brine Baths, apart from the 'sea water' Lido in Droitwich Park, where a mixture of fresh water and brine has adequate separate drainage arrangements.
The remedial treatment facilities at the Brine Baths have been demolished and concentrated brine is now used only in a swimming pool, with an irregular discharge.
The future of' any brine use in the establishment, or in the town generally, is under review.
The construction of the Clywedog dam ensures that the level of the River Severn at Bewdley is maintained at reasonable levels.
3.4.5 The Future of the brine outfall system is therefore uncertain. A decision on any alteration to the existing system will be made when the following further information is available:
The quantity of brine, if any, that will be used.
The question whether the Council's liability could, in fact, be met by discharging brine direct to the FW drainage system.
The proportion of salt, if any, in future Brine Baths discharge to the total quantity of salt discharged into other parts of the drainage system by natural means. 79
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A consideration of the frequency at which the river level at Bewdley falls to a point at which the discharge of brine must be controlled.
The date and extent by which the existing brine drain will be affected by redevelopment.
Section 4 Town Centre Redevelopment Proposals
4.1 General
This section is divided into the following sub -sections:
4.2 Effect on Existing Drainage System 4.3 Outline Requirements for Future Drainage System 4.4 Drainage Considerations at Public Inquiry
4.2 Proposals Affecting Existing Drainage System
4.2.1 The developments which make necessary the renewal, diversion or extension of the existing drainage system are marked on plan Nos. 61•62.D.5 and consist of the following features:
(a) A ring road to be constructed as a principal road by the County Council.
(b) A redevelopment of existing shopping facilities, with associated traffic free streets, service roads, carparks, etc., in the High Street area.
(c) A new commercial development consisting of a shopping precinct, service roads and car parks, etc., between St. Andrew's Street and the western leg of the ring road.
(d) A road link between the ring road and the development areas to the west of the railway.
(e) The redevelopment of the area immediately to the north of the above road link for service industry.
(f) The redevelopment of the brine baths area and the northern end of Blackfriars Avenue.
4.3 Outline Requirements for Future Drainage System
Plan No.62.D.5 refers.
4.3.2 New drainage alongside southern and western legs of ring road New foul and surface water sewerage is required adjacent to the southern and western legs of the ring road to serve the road itself and the new development alongside, since the existing drainage system is either of insufficient capacity or remote.
It is intended to connect drainage areas 4 and 5, at Blackfriars Avenue and Ombersley Street respectively, to the ring road drainage system, since the town centre lengths of these areas will be affected by new development.
The FW outfall will be into the head of the trunk sewer at the junction of Winnetts Lane and Friar Street.
The SW drainage will discharge in the first instance via the existing outfall north of Friar Street serving areas 4 and 5.
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The eventual outfall is within an area of uncertainty dealt with in section 4.3.3.
4.3.3 New Drainage Alongside Northern Leg of Ring Road. New surface water drainage will be required in the area between the rear of the High Street properties and the ring road for the following reasons:
(a) To drain the proposed paved areas.
(b) To overcome the local flooding problem at the rear of High Street and Queen Street.
(c) To provide outfalls for the new drainage system proposed to the south of the area.
New foul water drainage will be required to replace the present valley sewer, which is in poor condition.
A number of considerations in the section on design criteria, but especially unknown factors concerning possible subsidence in this area, particularly to the east of Ricketts Lane, throw this section of the design into an area of uncertainty.
4.3.4 New Drainage Through New Phase 1 Commercial Development West of St, Andrew‟s Street.
In conjunction with this development it is proposed to provide new foul and surface water sewers between Victoria Square and. Friar Street. These sewers will:
(a) serve the new development (b) replace the Winnetts Lane sewer (c) relieve the St. Andrew's Street drainage which is in poor condition.
4.3.5 Area Draining to pumping station to the North of High Street.
It is not possible to avoid the use of a pumping facility for the foul and surface water drainage from the area affected by subsidence centred on High Street and the following considerations may dictate a complete renewal:
The submersible electric pumps have a limited back up system in case of failure because the older compressed air ejection system is in poor condition and dif'f'icult to maintain.
It would be uneconomic to try to make use of the existing pumping station by conversion.
There is no system for generating electricity in the event of power failure, which is at variance with the desire to provide a high degree of flood protection for the valuable commercial properties.
Similar considerations of design criteria to those affecting the new drainage alongside the northern leg of the ring road, together with the eventual design of this length and possible variations in the ground water table, produce a further area of uncertainty about the detailed design.
4.4 Public Inquiry
4.4.1 Evidence about drainage considerations of the town centre presented at the Public Inquiry in October, 1969, is reproduced below: the maps referred to are not attached, as their content may be inferred from the remainder of this brief.
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4.4.2 Droitwich Town Development
Droitwich Town Centre Comprehensive Development Area and Droitwich Town Devlopment Compulsory Purchase Order No.3, 1969
Proof of Evidence of G.L.ROBINSON, C.Eng., F.I.Mun.E., M.I.H.E., F.R.S.H. Borough Engineer and Surveyor of Droitwich
I, GRAHAM LEONARD ROBINSON, will state that:
(a) Identification
I am a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Municipal Engineers, a Member of the Institution of Highway Engineers and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health. I have been Borough Engineer and Surveyor of Droitwich since 1945.
(b ) Background
The natural drainage of Droitwich is mainly in a northerly direction down to the valley of the Salwarpe, in which lies the older part of the town. In 1931, the sewage disposal and sewerage systems of the town were improved, when various parts of the lower and older areas of the town had the sewers reconstructed and the old privy vaults replaced by W C's. I now produce Map No,22, drawn to a scale of 1/1250, which shows the existing foul water sewerage in the town centre area. This map also shows the existing surface water sewerage, which I shall refer to later.
(c) Description of Existing Foul Drainage.
Along the Salwarpe valley there is a foul water interceptor sewer, marked A, C, D on the plan, which leads to the old sewage disposal works situated to the west of the town. The foul drainage of the town centre discharges into this interceptor sewer by a series of smaller tributary sewers. Whilst the interceptor sewer is in a satisfactory condition it surcharges on occasions and the old tributary sewers are in a very poor state, partially due to age and settlement. The joints have cracked, the manholes have deteriorated and surface water is infiltrating into them. Without this infiltration, it might have been possible for the foul water interceptor sewer to receive a small additional area of development. With infiltration, no development can take place, as an area of the town west of Queen Street floods in time of heavy rain. At these periods, sewage surcharges, rises up the drains and floods the rear yards of property. There is a small pumping, station to the north of High Street, which lifts foul water drainage from this area of the town into the interceptor sewer at C. Due to the infiltration already mentioned, it has become necessary to replace the ejector with a larger capacity centrifugal pump. The ejector remains as a standby plant.
(d) Foul Water Drainage Work Under Construction.
A completely new sewage disposal works is in the course of construction and a contract for the construction of a system of foul water trunk sewers is virtually complete. These trunk sewers link the new disposal works with outfall points in the older part of' the town, with the new town development area to the west of the present built up area and to a new outlet for the town centre at Point A on Map No.22. The town centre outlet will receive the discharge from the existing Foul water interceptor sewer early in 1j70, when the sewage works are fully completed.
(e) New Foul Water Drainage Proposals.
Even if there had been no development stimulated by town expansion, it would have been necessary to provide additional foul drainage in the town centre area, which would have taken the 82
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form of a new foul water interceptor sewer, from the trunk sewer outfall point at A, which would link points A, C and D. It would also have been necessary to replace the small pumping station to the north of High Street with a modern one and to provide new drainage and tributary sewers in this area of the town.
(f) Maps Nos. 22 and 23
I now produce Map No.23, drawn to a scale of 1/1250, which shows the proposed foul water sewerage in the town centre area. This map also shows the proposed surface water sewerage, which I shall refer to later. Points A, C and D on this map correspond with the same points on Map No.22.
(g) The basic principles, which I have described for any new foul water drainage scheme, are included in the scheme shown on Map No.23. A new foul water interceptor sewer linking points A, C and D will be provided from the trunk sewer outfall point at A. Subject to detailed design, the line of this sewer will be dictated by the line of the inner ring road between A, C and D, so that the area of land occupied by sewers is kept to the minimum. The capacity of the sewer will be somewhat larger than if there had been no town expansion scheme and there will be more tributaries, on the lines indicated on the plan. A new pumping station will still be required to the north of High Street.
(h) I will now deal with surface water drainage, referring first to Map No.22.
(i) Description of Existing Surface Water Drainage
The existing surface water sewerage system is shown on Map No.22. Examination of this system shows that it is similar in layout to the existing foul water system. The River Salwarpe is the counterpart of the existing foul water interceptor sewer and there are a series of tributary storm sewers which discharge storm water from highways and house roof s in a northerly direction into the river. In a small area of the older part of the town there is combined drainage discharging to the foul water interceptor sewer. Storm water also has to be pumped from the pumping station to the north of High Street to the storm water sewer at C. The storm water section of this pumping station has recently been improved in the same way as described for the foul water section. Although some remedial works have been carried out in the past few years, most of the storm water sewers are very old and in poor condition.
(j) New Surface Water Drainage Proposals
The new surface water drainage proposals for the town centre are shown on Map No.23. It is proposed to take advantage of the ring road line to provide storm water interceptor sewers between the points B, C, D and B E on the map. An outfall will be constructed from Point B to the River Salwarpe at Point F. The ring road provides a convenient route for the interceptor sewers and, subject to detailed design, the storm water sewer can be laid in conjunction with the ring road construction, with consequent economies. The new branch sewers shown on the map will relieve or replace the existing storm water sewers. The old combined drainage system will be abolished and a separate system provided in its stead. A new storm water pumping station will be provided to the north of High Street.
4.4.3 Extracts from the Inspector's report on the Inquiry, which were Forwarded to the Local Authority in May 1971, contained no reference to the drainage proposals,
Section 5 Drainage Design Criteria
5.1 General
This section is divided into the following sub-sections: 83
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5.2 Ground Conditions Sub -divided into: 5.2.1 General Topography 5,2.2 General Geology 5.2.3 Brine Subsidence 5.3 Ring Road Route 5.4 New Development of Commercial Area Between St. Andrew's Road and Western Leg of Ring Road (Phase 1 Commercial). 5.5 Redevelopment of Brine Baths and Development of Northern end of Blackfriars Avenue 5.6 Redevelopment of High Street 5.7 Service Industrial Area and Station Link Road 5.8 River Considerations 5.9 Canal Scheme
5.2 Ground Conditions
This section is divided into three parts:
5.2.1 General Topography 5.2.2 General Geology 5.2.3 Particular Geology of 'Valley' Area
5.2.1 General Topography
The River Salwarpe flows from east to west through the town centre: bank levels vary between 29.4 m. and 28.0 m and 'normal' water level at the east end of the town centre is 27.2 m, all above Ordnance Datum.
On the northern side of the river the land between the river and the railway is comparatively flat (levels vary between 28.5 m and 30.5 m AOD). This area is narrow, varying between 35 m and 95 m in width. The land then rises abruptly to the north, at slopes, which vary between 17.5% and the „cliff' below Dodderhill Church, which is sited on an eminence above the valley at a height of 52.7 m AOD.
On the southern side, the land between the river and the line of High Street/Friar Street running parallel to it, is comparatively flat (levels vary between 29.0 m and 32,0 m AOD) and the width varies between 190 m and 150 m. The land then rises to the south by slopes varying between 6% and 12%, with a shelf extending to the north of Ombersley Street, which is approximately 100 m wide in the Victoria Square area and 150 m wide in the St. Nicholas Church area.
To the east, the town centre area is bounded by the A.38 trunk road, which crosses the valley flow by a shallow causeway and 'Chapel Bridge.'
To the west, the town centre area is bounded by the embankment carrying the Stoke Works Branch of the British Rail (Western Region) track across the valley at Netherwich.
5.2.2 General Geology
The underlying strata throughout Droitwich is Keuper Marl, overlain in places with river terrace material.
The Keuper Marl contains salt strata in the town centre and areas to the eastwards: to the west the salt stratas have been leached away with resulting brecciated bands of material.
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The valley 'floor' is dealt with in the succeeding section.
The Droitwich area in general, and the town centre area in particular, has been the subject of reports prepared by the Institute of Geological Services in 1966 and by the Geological Consultants to Droitwich Borough Council and Worcestershire County Council, Messrs. Johnson, Poole and Bloomer of Dudley, in 1971, '72 and '73. The investigations of the latter consultants are continuing.
5.2.3 Particular Geology of 'Valley' Area
Droitwich lies on the western edge of a salt field, the northern boundary of which is in the Stoke Prior area: the eastern boundary and southern boundaries are uncertain. Salt has been extracted from the Droitwich area since pre-Roman times but between the latter part of the eighteenth century and 1920, pumping of 'wild' brine (i.e. a saturated solution of salt and surface water), from salt beds at approximately ordnance datum, has been carried out from some 32 known boreholes. In the late nineteenth century pumping of wild brine commenced at Stoke Prior and continued until February 1972. The typical pattern of subsidence produced by wild brine pumping, consisting of a series of subsidence flashes following the line of the wet rock head, shows itself' between Stoke Prior and Droitwich. In particular it affects certain areas of the River Salwarpe, including the Chateau Impney lakes mentioned earlier, and the town centre area of Droitwich.
Pumping stopped at Stoke Prior in February 1972, and it can be anticipated that a stable situation with no subsidence will be achieved eventually. It is not possible, however, at the present moment to predict exactly when this stable situation will occur and the Council are employing a consultant geologist, Mr. Basil Poole of Johnson Poole and Bloomer, to carry out investigations into this situation.
Whilst many other developments are affected by the subsidence pattern, it is particularly relevant to the main drainage in the Town Centre, specifically in the valley floor area lying between the line of High Street/Friar Street and the River Salwarpe. This area, which is the historic centre of the salt industry, has been worked by various means since pre-Roman times. It is a conglomeration of many types of fill material and is also an area which is still probably subsiding: in addition it may be affected by an anticipated rise in the standing level of brine following the cessation of pumping. A report on these problems is being prepared by the Consultant Geologist.
It is anticipated that the brine 1evel will rise because historically it was artesian but the extent of the rise is not yet predictable. It is also probable that the prevailing ground water level in parts of the town centre will rise. The exact problems which will be caused by the greater quantity of ground water appearing as springs, etc., has yet to be worked out in detail.
Due to the presence of brine in the area, many springs are highly saline, although not concentrated, and all concrete works will be carried out in sulphate resistant material.
Steps are being taken to locate the exact position of disused brine wells in the area and, dependent upon the exact geological mechanism produced by the cessation of pumping, it may be necessary to connect one or more of these wells into the drainage system to relieve ground water pressure.
5.3 Ring Road Route
The ring road, which is a principal road consisting of a 3 lane one-way route is currently under detailed design by the County Surveyor, although the line was fixed at the time of the Public Inquiry into the Comprehensive Development Area.
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5.3.2 The ring road provides a suitable route for main drainage routes for the Following reasons:
(a) The verges are unlikely to be disturbed by future deve1opment:
(b) It provides a continuous route through areas not yet fully designed.
(c) It offers an opportunity for joint surface water drainage provision.
(d) It affords easy access to manholes.
(e) It offers possibilities of joint construction.
5.4 New Development of Commercial Area between St. Andrew's Road and Western Leg of Ring Road
An outline design for some 15.3 hectares of new shopping development, sited immediately to the west of St. Andrew's Street and linking the existing shopping areas of High Street and Victoria Square, has been prepared but the exact detail depends upon negotiations with financial investors which are in hand. Whilst a route for sewerage will be preserved through this area its exact line is at present uncertain.
The area between the western site of the new shopping development and the ring road is to be developed for car parking, servicing and ancillary purposes. The design of this area will depend on the commercial negotiations referred to above but it has been envisaged that substantial alteration in ground levels will be involved, with the possible construction of multi-storey car parks.
5.5 Redevelopment of Brine Baths and Development of Northern end of Blackfriars Avenue
The Planning concept for this area involves some form of building on the junction of Blackfriars Avenue with Ombersley Street to visually enclose the Victoria Square area at the western end. This development would be associated with the redevelopment of' the Brine Baths, extensive demolition having been carried out on the latter site. Negotiations concerning the Brine Baths site are at an early stage and until these are complete no detailed design will be possible but the assumption is made that the northern end of Blackfriars Avenue will be blocked with new buildings, although an east/west route on the northern side of Ombersley Street will be preserved.
5.6 Redevelopment of High Street Area
5.6.1 Some development has commenced in this area although it is generally envisaged that the area will redevelop as a second phase of the commercial area when the effect of first phase has been judged. The exact drainage provision must therefore remain uncertain.
5.6.2 Nine new shops are in the course of construction over the line of the outfall sewerage leading from High Street to the pumping station to the north, and new sleeved pipes have been laid.
5.7 Service Industrial Area and Station Link Road
Similar consideration to the desirability of using the ring road route as a sewerage route applies to the station link road. The area to the north of this road is programmed to develop spasmodically with service industry as and when property becomes available in sufficiently large plots. The existing area consists of mid-Victorian industrial housing served by combined drainage and it is intended that new development shall be designed for eventual, if not immediate, connection to a separate system. 86
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5.8 River Considerations - Affecting Surface Water Sewerage Design Only
Droitwich is situated approximately 9.5 miles from the headwaters of the River Salwarpe and the catchment area of approximately 38.5 sq. miles is long and narrow, the width varying between 2.5 miles and 4 miles. Immediately upstream of Droitwich the river enters a network of lakes in the grounds of the Chateau Impney, which have had a balancing effect, although the regime has been altered by recent dredging operations and also by possible subsidence, which is mentioned later.
The river is subject to flash flooding and the highest recorded flood level in Droitwich, at Chapel Bridge, which is immediately on the upstream side of the Town Centre, was 28.956 m AOD. This level was inferred in 1960 from evidence collected immediately after a period when the centre of the town was flooded. Limited river improvements, consisting of raising the banks in the Town Centre; were carried out immediately after this date.
At about the same time a gauging station was set up at Hawford Hill by the Severn River Authority and daily flow records are available. In May 1970 a temporary gauging station was set up by the Droitwich Town Development at Chapel Bridge: after recording the characteristics of both low and high flows this station was dismantled in October, 1972. There are two major tributaries to the Salwarpe river between these two gauging stations, the Elmbridge Brook and the Hadley Brook (catchment areas 12 sq. miles and 22 sq. miles respectively) and in general it appears that the dry weather flow of the Chapel Bridge Station is approximately half that at Hawford Hill. This figure does not necessarily reproduce itself under flood conditions.
5.8.4 In considering design for the Town Centre it has been decided that every precaution must be taken to prevent river water entering the town, parts of which, as will be described later, lie well below the flood level of the river.
5.8.5 It can also be anticipated that flood levels, if anything, may rise rather than decrease. There is a throttle to the river flow formed by two railway bridges immediately downstream of the Town Centre area at Netherwich and there appears to be little likelihood that this will be improved or removed. It seems probable that the regime of the river through the subsidence area in the Chateau Impney will mature to cause a faster flow and land drainage operations, together with additional surface water drainage upstream, can only increase the volume of water reaching the river.
5.8.6 Whilst no detailed figures are available for extreme flood conditions, river levels up to 28.651 m AOD at Chapel Bridge corresponds to levels approximately 300 mm lower at Netherwich railway bridge.
5.9 Canal Scheme.
5.9.1 The Droitwich Canal, which was built in 1770, followed the line of the River Salwarpe to the River Severn and terminated within the town centre, in the valley area between the High Street/Friar Street line and the river. In fact, during the construction of the canal the river was diverted to its present line. The canal was abandoned in 1939 by Act of Parliament and has been substantially filled, the length within the town centre is almost completely filled in.
5.9.2 There is a proposal, at present at a comparatively preparatory stage, to reopen the canal for navigation as in a report, which was prepared in 1971 by the Development Committee.
5.9.3 Within the town development area to the west of the town centre, the canal is being reclaimed primarily as a water feature, which is being used as a balancing control and a surface
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water outfall, although the standard to which it is being improved will allow it to be used for navigation, if the recreational proposal is implemented.
The recreational proposal will require, and the drainage proposals, (both for surface water and dealing with brine) might require, the re-opening of the town centre length of the canal.
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Chapter 20 Policing
In a sustainable community it is vital for people to feel safe and secure in their homes and going about their daily activities in the community. The Police Station in the town has not been manned in the evening for many years now. We need to look at the crime statistics for guidance but here are a few questions we could ask the current residents of Droitwich Spa during the consultation process:
Do you feel safe in your home? Yes No
If no why not? ______
Do you feel safe out and about the town? Yes No
If not why not? ______
Do you feel safe out at night?
Yes No
If not why not?______
Do you feel there is sufficient police presence for a town of approximately 24,000 people?
Yes No
Do you feel the current police presence will be satisfactory for a population of 27,000 people plus by 2011? Yes No
Do you think that sufficient effort is being put into controlling drug related crime?
Yes No
Would you prefer to see police patrolling on foot /cycle or in a car?
Foot/Cycle Car (You may wish to see both but what is your main preference?)
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Is the use of CCTV surveillance in the town centre acceptable price to pay for the protection of the community?
Yes No
If not not?______
Would you like to see a police station in the town staffed 24 hours a day?
Yes No
Do you feel the speed limits for vehicles in and around the town are properly policed?
Yes No
Do you feel the Neibourhood Watch Scheme works?
Yes No
If not why not?______
Is there a good relationship between the community and police?
Yes No
If not why not?______
Do you feel you know how to contact the police quickly in an emergency at home or away from home?
Yes No
If No what would make it easier for you to contact the police?______
What measures would make you feel safer in your home and around the town?
______
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Chapter 21 64 Ways to improve Droitwich Spa
It is important to have short, medium and long term objectives in our Town Plan. Here we cover a number of ideas which represent short term ways of making the town more attractive for residents and visitors. Many of these ideas involve relatively little cost and some could be achieved by the use of volunteer labour.
A number of these ideas have been mentioned in other sections of the Town Plan but bringing these together illustrates the number of things that could be achieved in the short term whilst longer term projects are developing. The presentation is in the form of a slide show but a printed version of the slides is available.
The ideas are just suggestions like “Brain Storming” some may not be possible and some may need refinement but they may also spark suggestions from townsfolk as consultation on the Town Plan takes place.
A PowerPoint presentation is available as a separate download from the droitwichspa.com web site.
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APPENDIX
A Plan of Droitwich Spa
(When viewing on-screen, use the +/- buttons to view the plan detail)
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Archaeology
Introduction.
“The historic core of Droitwich contains buried archaeological deposits, and these are judged to have very high potential. In addition there is high potential for the recovery of artefact and ecofact assemblages. Extensive waterlogged deposits have been recorded, which is rare in the region. The historic buildings constitute a complementary body of evidence, and are judged to have moderate potential for detailed study and recording. The surviving documentary sources are very extensive and consequently the potential for further study is high. Overall, the significance and potential of buried remains in Droitwich are very high, and may be judged to be of national importance.”
Archaeological assessment of Droitwich, Hereford and Worcester: Victoria Buteux and Derek Hurst with contributions by David Guyatt, Richard Morris, Elizabeth Pearson and Paul Stamper, from Central Marches Historic Towns Survey in 1995. The is is taken from the Central Marches Historic Towns Survey.
Pre Roman Archaeology
From earliest times humans and animals would have been attracted by the brine and salt at Droitwich. The earliest evidence of human activity found in Droitwich are flint tools dating to the Mesolithic period. Evidence of substantial salt production begins with the late Iron Age.
Pre-Roman archaeological evidence
Chance flint finds (Mesolithic and Neolithic) are well spread across Droitwich, with a concentration in situ at Bays Meadow. Occupation in the early first millennium BC is suggested by radio carbon dated charcoal from the Old Bowling Green site. Droitwich was in the territory of the Dobunni and Iron Age roundhouses were found under the Bays Meadow villa. The location of any settlement is not known though south of the river seems to have been the area of late Iron Age activity.
Salt-making area: The Bays Meadow site gives the earliest evidence for salt production dating to the Middle Iron Age, c 500-100 BC. Salt production was seasonal and probably under the control of the nearby Hanbury hill fort. Late Iron Age, c 100 BC-43 AD activity including salt making has been identified on the south bank of the river
Pre-Roman archaeological potential
Finds are well spread across Droitwich and any concentrations are associated with later Roman archaeology, who appear to have developed on the earlier salt making and occupation sites.
Roman Archaeology
The Roman invasion in AD 43 seems to have had little effect on the methods of salt production which continued in the Iron Age tradition into the 2nd century. After AD 43 a fort was built at Crutch Lane to guard the river crossing, which after the Boudiccan revolt, in cAD 61 was replaced by one at Dodderhill. The main Roman road, now followed by the A38, was established at this time and was probably a military construction and the first evidence of a small Roman town at Droitwich dating to the mid-1st century may be associated with its construction, but the production of salt was undoubtedly the reason for the formation of the town. There is no evidence that the Roman small town continued to function after the 4th century, however, there is evidence that salt making activity continued on a substantial scale between the 5th and the 7th centuries and that new methods of boiling brine were introduced in the 5th century.
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The only surviving Roman earthwork in Droitwich is a rampart in the Bays Meadow villa complex. However, many artefacts have been discovered during construction work in the town and excavations, evaluations, salvage recordings and watching briefs have demonstrated that substantial Roman deposits still survive. These include the foundations of stone and timber buildings and contemporary ground surfaces, as well as structures such as hearths and brine tanks associated with the salt industry. In the Salwarpe valley deposits are waterlogged and can contain structural timbers and organic artefacts.
Roman archaeological potential
Only the Roman roads indicate of the Roman urban form in the present townscape. Chance finds and excavations have demonstrated that substantial Roman buried deposits survive at Droitwich although the natural topography and post Roman land use has greatly affected the pattern of this survival. The Bays Meadow site and Dodderhill, to the east of Bays Meadow, are scheduled ancient monuments due to the further potential for archaeological remains. In the valley of the Salwarpe, despite intensive later activity, Roman deposits survive particularly well due to the severe flooding in the 7th century laying down silt, which protected Roman and sub- Roman deposits. The deposits in this area are waterlogged, so preservation of organic remains is exceptional. Observations throughout the town have indicated that Roman deposits can be found at a depth of 2m to 3m below the present ground surface although in some areas such as Vines Park, where there was substantial dumping of industrial waste in the post-medieval period, the deposits may be deeper.
Anglo-Saxon Archaeology
Post-Roman salt production: There are very slight traces of post-Roman activity, and there is no evidence that any Roman settlement continued after the 4th century. There is evidence that salt making activity continued on a substantial scale between the 5th and the 7th centuries and that new methods of boiling brine were introduced in the 5th century.
Anglo-Saxon salt production: In the mid-7th century severe flooding disrupted salt production. Salt-making became impossible as the brine springs were contaminated with fresh water and a thick layer of silt and clay was spread across the valley floor. The importance of the brine meant that the industry was soon back into operation associated with (probably) the royal palace at Wychbold. The brine wells at Upwich, Middlewich and Netherwich are first documented in the 10th century and were controlled by the King, who also owned the largest single group of salt-making buildings. From an early date salt rights were granted to individuals and institutions, and by the 10th century a large number of manors in Worcestershire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire and Warwickshire owned rights to salt or salt-making buildings in Droitwich. The importance of Droitwich at this period is evident from its tax yield which, in 1066, places it second only to London.
The Anglo-Saxon settlement: Documentary references to salt production suggest that there may have been a number of small settlements associated with the individual brine wells, rather than one homogeneous settlement. It is possible that the medieval parishes of St Nicholas, St Andrew, St Peter and St Augustine represent smaller estates, with their own salt production areas, created from one unified territory prior to the 10th century. Archaeological evidence indicates that the settlement, or settlements, were located in the area of the present town, and on either side of the river and that Friar Street had been laid out by the 11th century. The church of St Augustine, Dodderhill, may be the mother church of the Droitwich area and though St Nicholas and St Andrew have been suggested as Anglo-Saxon churches there is no evidence for this.
Anglo-Saxon archaeological evidence
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There are no standing remains, only archaeological evidence of Anglo-Saxon domestic and industrial activity. Excavations (salvage recordings) have demonstrated that Anglo-Saxon deposits do survive, including road surfaces, buildings, ditches, pits and industrial areas.
Anglo-Saxon archaeological potential
The majority of the archaeological evidence for this period comes from sites in the valley of the River Salwarpe. Unfortunately at the most important site excavated in this area, the Upwich brine well, the later Anglo-Saxon evidence had been destroyed by the large-scale refurbishment of the area which took place in the mid-13th century. However, important deposits dating from the end of the Roman period to the 8th century were observed. A large area of the Middlewich brine well with deep waterlogged deposits dating from at least the late Saxon period to the present was severely damaged with almost no archaeological work when the new canal basin was constructed in 1985. No archaeological work has been undertaken at the site of the Netherwich brine well but what information is available from Upwich and Middlewich suggests that important Anglo-Saxon deposits still survive in this area.
Anglo-Saxon deposits are generally less well preserved than Roman deposits in Droitwich, as there is no buffer of alluvium to protect them from medieval and post-medieval disturbance. The deposits are extensive and often waterlogged, however, and in the low-lying areas are generally at least 1m below the present ground surface, although they can be more deeply buried.
The Medieval Archaeology
By the late Anglo-Saxon period salt-making was on a very large scale, and salt was traded over long distances. via a complicated network of routes radiating from the town. The Domesday Survey of 1086 mentions five brine wells in Droitwich with about 250 salt-making buildings. Burgesses seem to be associated with franchises connected with the salt trade, and were possibly freed from a toll on salt in return for salt dues or Salsae paid to the king. Droitwich had the status of a borough before 1066. and is called a burgus for the first time in 1155-6 thus by this time was clearly a single settlement. In 1215 King John gave the town of Droitwich to the burgesses, together with the brine pits and his salt rights, in return for an annual fee farm rent of £100. This fee farm was very high for a town the size of Droitwich, and was more than double the assessments for towns of Hereford, Shrewsbury and Worcester. and ranked Droitwich on a level with important medieval commercial centres such as Newcastle on Tyne.
The medieval settlement: By the 13th century the layout of the town, as it survived into the 18th century, seems to have been established. There were burgage plots fronting the High Street, Friar Street and St Andrew's Street which formed a T-shaped plan to the west of the main north-south road crossing the Salwarpe. In the late 13th century, the town was almost entirely destroyed by a fire, which started in St Andrew's church. Droitwich was dominated by the salt industry, which has been the main focus of archaeological and historical work and little is known about other aspects of the settlement. The small size of the central market place may reflect the low importance of other trade. During the medieval period salt production was centred on the three brine wells of Upwich, Middlewich and Netherwich, although Upwich was by far the most important. The Upwich brine well failed on a number of occasions during the 13th century and in 1264-5 the brine well was rebuilt on a massive scale. Salt production and marketing were highly regulated as a town monopoly and, by setting prices, the salt makers maintained their profits. Salt rights, representing the amount of brine that could be extracted each year, were shared amongst certain of the townspeople. Town officials collected salt dues in order to pay the £100 per year owed to the King, the dues being calculated according to the amount of brine used by each person. Salt rights could only be passed on by inheritance, but over the centuries the original pattern of salt rights was broken up as family holdings were divided. From the mid-14th century there are also records of vats held by lease, sometimes for life, sometimes only for a season. By 1400 annual salt production was at least 1500 tons and used about 11.35 million litres of brine. A further increase 96
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was made possible in the 15th century, when a pump was built at the Upwich brine well to replace the bucket method of extraction. By the late middle ages the Middlewich brine well had gone out of use leaving only Upwich and Netherwich in operation.
Medieval archaeological potential
Chance finds of artefacts demonstrate that medieval datable deposits do survive in Droitwich. On high ground, north of the river, deposits are close to the surface and have been damaged by recent land use, with the best preserved found in the low lying area near the Salwarpe. The depth of medieval deposits varies from 0.3m (at 97 Friar St) to 2.5m (behind the High Street) due to 19th century subsidence. The Middlewich salt making area was destroyed by the new canal basin in 1985, however, important deposits relating to medieval salt industry still survive on the site of the Netherwich brine wells. North of the river the medieval salt industry and associated housing was destroyed by the building of massive 19th century saltworks, canal and the railway and similarly in the town the burgage plots were largely obliterated by 1970s and 1980s development. The medieval urban form is poorly preserved in the modern town except for the churchyards and churches of St Augustine and St Andrew, and the remnants of burgage plots fronting Friar Street and the High Street.
Post-medieval Droitwich
In the C16th the antiquarian Leland visited Droitwich and commented on it: “the town itself is rather unpleasant and dirty when any rain falls… The town owes its pre-eminence to the manufacture of salt. But although the profits from this industry are unusually large, yet in the main the towns people themselves are poor. This is because the majority of the income goes to the gentry, while the townspeople do all the work.” Although seriously damaged during the Civil War, the salt industry recovered and later in the C17 th up to 3000 tons were being produced annually. Droitwich salt was renowned for its purity and production techniques continued to improve during the C16th and C17th, with iron pans for brine boiling and coal for the main fuel. Despite these the organisation of the industry remained basically in a medieval state.
Changes in salt production in the C17th: The whole organisation of the industry changed in 1695, when the monopoly of salt production by the town ceased and brine could now be extracted from sources other than Upwich and Netherwich, and was free from regulation as well as salt dues. Those with salt rights in the borough brine wells were ruined almost overnight. The quantity of salt produced soared and the inevitable consequence was that the value of salt fell. The private brine wells opened after 1695 were much deeper than before and by the early C18th it became possible to construct shafts deep enough (c 61m) to reach the underground brine stream itself, with further increase in production. Steam engines were introduced at the end of the C18th to pump out the brine. In 1772 nearly one third of the country‟s salt tax came from Droitwich. The wealthy salt manufacturers of Droitwich realised the advantages of canals had the Droitwich Canal built by Brindley in 1771, joining Droitwich to the Severn at Hawford. The subsequent rail link in 1852 lead to large amounts of salt being transported by rail and a further increase in production. The peak of production was reached in 1872 when 120,000 tons of salt were produced. This development of the industry also lead to a population increase and expansion of the town. The population in 1801 was 1845, but by 1901 this had risen to 4,201.
The development of the spa: The therapeutic properties of brine was discovered in the 1830s, with the Royal Brine Baths opening in 1836. Further brine baths and hotels were built in the C19th. John Corbett controlled much of Droitwich‟s salt production by the late C19th, but relocated production to Stoke Prior and developed Droitwich as a spa town. Salt production finally ceased in the town in 1922.
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Post-medieval deposits do not survive particularly well because close to the Salwarpe, large areas were seriously damaged by the construction of the canal, railway and large saltworks. Around St Andrew's Street post-medieval deposits have been seriously damaged by C20th development. Despite this post-medieval deposits survive around Friar St. and the High St. Substantial remains of post-medieval salt making were found at Upwich and Vines Lane. Thick deposits of C19th salt- making waste more than 1.3m thick are located by Vines Lane. To the east of the A38 similar deposits are at least 2m thick, and may protect earlier archaeology.The large-scale redevelopment of Droitwich in the second half of the C20th has meant that with the exception of Friar Street, the High Street and Dodderhill the character of the post-medieval town is poorly preserved in the modern settlement.
Post-1800 archaeological potential
Major archaeological remains relating to Droitwich in the period from 1800, exist, including the Droitwich Junction Canal, the railway station and railway lines, saltworks and associated spoil heaps timberyards and saw mill, malthouse, gasworks, workhouse, schools, and chapels. There are over 20 listed buildings dating to the C19th and C20th within Droitwich.
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A Power Point Presentation on Art in Droitwich Spa
A PowerPoint presentation is available as a separate download from the droitwichspa.com web site.
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A Note
The Town Plan has been prepared over a period of more than two years. Sections have been updated but further updates will be found in the shorter versions of the plan which will be used in the process of consultation with town residents.
There are also ongoing consultations and investigations such as an investigation into the status of areas of the town as regards to Public Open Space designation.
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