Ufford Ufford 2020 Parish Plan 'Shaping the future of Ufford' Final Report January 2009 Contents Subject Page no The plan process at Ufford 1 Introduction 2 Situation and History 3 Population 4 The questionnaire Population Structure Population forecasts Why people live in Ufford The Conservation Area Employment and Businesses 5 The workforce Employers Housing 6 Key Service Centre or Local Service Centre? Village envelope Housing requirements Transport 7 Ufford’s roads The Environment (see also pp 5-6) 8 The natural environment Maintaining the environment The Community 9 Village facilities Events Societies St Mary’s Church Local Government – Parish Council Crime Facilities 12 Education Emergency services Utilities Health services Retail services Youth Section 14 Youth club Sporting activities Clubs Schools, Transport Communication, Safety Youth Council Employment, Environment Key Issues for Consideration 16 The Steering group and Parish Council Contact Details 18 Consultation Events 19 Map of Ufford 20 Appendix: Questionnaire results Preface - The Plan Process at Ufford The decision to produce a Parish Plan was adapted to the format required by Suffolk supported by 85% of Ufford`s population in a Acre. referendum held in February 2003. However, The questionnaire contained 75 questions it was not until Autumn 2006 that a steering and was distributed to the 401 properties on group was formed to implement this the electoral roll in September 2007. decision. Adjusting for empty properties 82% of these The group`s first major task was to engage were completed and returned. A youth with the village population in order to questionnaire was also distributed. The ascertain priorities, opinions and what completed documents were immediately sent questions should be included in the to Suffolk Acre for computer analysis and questionnaire which would provide the returned a couple of months later. The necessary information. A number of societies committee was instructed on how best to were addressed, but the major engagement analyse the results which were contained in took place at “The Big Event”, which was the computer program. A painstaking widely advertised and was held at the analysis ensued and each individual prestigious Ufford Park Hotel on 25th March questionnaire was studied in order to take 2007. account of comments made by contributors. The “Big Event” was attended by over 200 A 12-page summary of the Parish Plan was local residents who had the opportunity to prepared and appeared as a supplement in express their views on the numerous display the Ufford Punch in July 2008. This was boards which were arranged by subject immediately followed by 3 consultation matter. In addition 15 of the village`s meetings which exhibited questionnaire societies exhibited their activities and results and gave villagers the opportunity to recruited new members. Even at this early raise any further issues. In the event very stage it became clear that the preservation of few fresh points were made and the Ufford`s rural character was a main priority document formed the nucleus of that which with villagers. follows herein. Key action points were then finalised and added to the plan in November Following the analysis of the results of the and December. A draft copy was presented engagement the Steering Group took the to the Parish Council who agreed to adopt it decision to join the pilot scheme set up by at their meeting on January 2009. Suffolk Acre in order to minimise costs. The results of our engagement were then Photo: The Parish Council stand and launch of the Ufford website at the Big Event. Page 1 Introduction to the Ufford Parish Plan This Parish Plan differs is. When given the choice from many others. Its between a Key or Local successful implementation Service Centre over 3/4 will cost the public purse wanted the latter. The very little. Failure will cost priority of our residents is the residents of Ufford the quality of their life. dearly, and for ever. Economic issues seem Ufford is an attractive, less important. Residents idyllic place in which to fear that the great live. It already has what expansion to be imposed many other villages seek: on Suffolk by our proximity to the politicians will also affect countryside, well-spaced Ufford. There is a danger housing, some historic that it will eliminate the plan is to preserve the buildings, good community very virtues that attract character of Ufford, and people to the village. when change is necessary, spirit in its 15 societies, and good pubs. But at the During the course of this to adapt gently and same time it enjoys plan’s preparation the sympathetically to our convenient access to retail economy has swung ‘from current environment. and employment centres. boom to bust’. For Ufford a John Mann, Chairman - 82% of the village took the moderation of development ambitions Parish Plan Steering trouble to answer the 75 Group questions contained in our born in a period of questionnaire. Two thirds unsustainable expansion of these said they wanted would probably be to maintain the village as it welcomed. The main action proposed by this View of the water meadows from Spring Lane Page 2 Situation and history Ufford is situated about 2 miles north east of Woodbridge, Suffolk. (GR 295525) The boundary is irregular but in broad terms is boarded to the east by the River Deben and to the west by the A12 Ipswich to Lowestoft road. It will be seen from the map that within the boundary the village envelope is long and narrow. Local residents sometimes divide this into Upper and Lower Ufford, although there is no specific boundary. There are two satellites to the main nucleus: Parklands and part of the Melton Park estate. The latter stands either side of the boundary of Ufford and Melton (see below). Beyond this there are farm houses which also fall within the Hackeries Lane - the 600 year old parish boundary now under review parish. (note Suffolk Coastal District Council There is evidence of early church have proposed a boundary review building at the Parish Church, St Mary`s between Melton and Ufford within Melton of the Assumption. The structure was Park. Ufford Parish Council object to this largely rebuilt towards the end of the 14th on the grounds of cost and potential loss century and is Grade 1 listed The interior of Ufford`s heritage. From the Parish was fortunate to have escaped some of Plan standpoint our questionnaire did not the activities of the iconoclasts and is raise the question of boundaries but noted for its fine carving and magnificent about 6 households (10% of the houses font cover. in Melton Park, Ufford) complained about the current boundary either in writing or A few properties date from the 15th by telephone) century, but as in most villages there has been substantial development in the last Ufford`s roots are well established. The 50 years or so. Nevertheless, housing village was probably founded in the density is very low and this, together with Anglian immigration of the 6th century. It the conservation areas and interface with is thought that the name is derived from the surrounding countryside give the that of the Wuffa dynasty, who lived in village a rural charm which is the main the area and ruled the greater part of reason why its residents have chosen to eastern England. In Mediaeval times it live in it. was this village which gave its name to the Earls of Suffolk. Front page photo: J Colles Photo of Ufford Park: donated Photo of Crown Nurseries: donated Ufford village sign: P Marr All other photos: H Heelis Page 3 Population Age profile of respondents 240 250 The questionnaire 200 The contents of the questionnaire 121 were derived from a series of 150 well-attended consultation events 100 75 held in the village in 2007. It 61 contained 75 questions. 32 26 50 The questionnaire was distributed in September 2007. It was issued 0 to the 401 properties listed on the 16-21 22-30 31-45 46-65 66-74 75-84 electoral role. Of these a Age minimum of 18 were found to be vacant or holiday letting The main points to note are:- Why people live in properties giving a net figure of 383. From this 314 ♦ The largest group are the 46-65 Ufford questionnaires were returned, age band, 42% of the sample, Question 2 asked What is most 82% of the distribution. They and is still the largest if a pro important to you about Ufford?. were completed by 583 rata adjustment is made to The main points are:- respondents. reflect the greater size of the age band. This compares with ♦ Nearly three quarters cited about 30% nationally in the access to the countryside. 82% of households 2001 census. ♦ The second most supported returned their ♦ 26% of adult respondents were selection was maintaining the questionnaire over 65 compared with 20% village as it is. nationally. A total of 314 ♦ The proportion of 5-15 year This voting pattern was common questionnaires olds is similar to the national to all age groups. figure of 14% A youth questionnaire was Population forecasts Most important to people: returned by 98 respondents, (but only completed by 78!). Access to the countryside Applying the population forecasts of the Office of National Statistics (71%) In July 2008 the main conclusions from the questionnaire were to the above figures suggests that Maintaining the village as published in a supplement to the by 2021 around 33% of Ufford`s it is (67%) Ufford Punch, the parish population will be over 65 years old, rising to 40% in 2030. magazine, and meetings were then held to give residents the This is without allowing for the The Conservation Area opportunity to make further continued inflows from elsewhere.