Wolvey Parish Council Contents
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12-04-09 WOLVEY the plan THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF WOLVEY PARISH Wolvey Parish Council Contents Page Foreword by Chair of the Steering Group 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 5 Findings Residents Questionnaire Households 7 Household amenities and services 7 Sustainability 10 Local information 11 Personal 12 Employment 13 Public transport 15 Traffic 17 Housing and development 18 Sports and social amenities 22 Environment 24 Crime and disorder 26 Church buildings 28 The future for Wolvey 28 Business Questionnaire Purpose and definition 31 Findings 31 Conclusions 33 Action Plan 34-46 Acknowledgements 47 1 2 Foreword by the Chair of the Wolvey Plan Steering Group It gives me great pleasure to commend this plan as a document that represents the views of the people of Wolvey Parish. The plan has taken two and a half years to complete and this has been made possible by the willing support and hard work of the Steering Group and a great many local volunteers. We asked parishioners to let us know their thoughts on a number of issues by completing a lengthy questionnaire and we were gratified that 373 households obliged. This magnificent 85% return rate not only exceeded our expectations but also lends credibility and meaning to the plan. The plan has been adopted by Wolvey Parish Council and will be the basis for local decision making for the next few years. It is, however, a fluid document and will be revised and updated as the need arises. We have already acted on a number of ideas and initiatives that came to the fore during the planning process. In a rapidly changing world it is comforting to know that people can still work together to shape the future of their local community. Thank you for your interest and please get involved in any way you can to ensure that Wolvey remains a thriving and vibrant place in which to live. Bozena Kuncewicz Chair of the Wolvey Plan Steering Group August 2008 3 Executive Summary The Wolvey Plan is a statement of how the Parish of Wolvey sees itself developing during the next decade. It forms part of the Government’s Local Development framework which aims to help rural communities take charge of their own destinies. A Steering Group made up of local volunteers drew up the Plan on behalf of the Parish Council. The plan was produced from information and data collected by means of questionnaires completed by local residents and businesses. The questionnaires were devised with professional support following consultations with the local community. The residents’ questionnaire was completed and returned by 85% of households. This means that the plan is based on information and opinions that are highly representative of parishioners as a whole. Wolvey has a high proportion of middle-aged residents. No more than two people occupy most households but car ownership is relatively high. Health services are highly regarded by most people and household services and amenities are generally well received but there are issues to address in both of these areas. Energy saving measures are well established but there could be improvements in sustainable energy and water saving. Recycling facilities are well used by most people but take up could be increased. Unemployment is very low but most people work outside the parish and there is a heavy reliance on cars as a means of transport. This means that Wolvey is, to a large extent, a ‘commuter village.’ Bus services are sparse and not well used but there is apparently a demand for improved services. Traffic is thought to be a significant problem with speeding, parking and heavy goods vehicles being seen as the biggest issues. Most residents expressed views on suggested ways of alleviating these problems. Litter is seen as a problem by a significant minority of residents and most feel that crime and disorder need more attention. Housing and development is the most sensitive issue. The great majority of residents want little change but many acknowledge the need for more affordable housing for young families and bungalows and sheltered accommodation for the elderly. Many residents accept that it is unrealistic to expect no change and understand the need to plan for an appropriate level of development that will enable the rural character of Wolvey to be retained. Many residents have a vision that sees Wolvey as distinctly rural but with some controlled development to attract young families and to cater for elderly residents. The school and post office are seen as important assets of a vibrant community. Quality of life must come through responsible sustainable living, a shared purpose and a cohesive but diverse and engaged community. 4 Introduction This Plan is a statement of how the Parish of Wolvey sees itself developing during the next decade. It sets out a vision for community development and identifies action needed to achieve this vision. The Plan has been prepared in conjunction with Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council Plans and forms part of the Government’s local development framework which aims to help rural communities take control of their own destinies. Wolvey Parish is situated in the north west of the Borough, some 12 miles from the town of Rugby. The nearest major settlements are Coventry, Bedworth, Nuneaton and Hinckley all of which are within a radius of seven miles of Wolvey village. The population of the parish was 1741 at the 2001 Census. Farming is a mainstay of the local economy but there are also some small-scale retail businesses as well as commerce and other services. Significant employers include Galliford Try and the Ministry of Defence. Fewer than 1 in 10 of residents in work are employed within the parish, about 15% work from home and most of the remaining 77% work in surrounding towns and cities. There is a primary school, a shop and post office, a village hall and two churches situated in Wolvey village. Fishing and camping are also prominent as leisure activities within the parish. The planning process began in November 2005 when the Parish Council formed a Steering Group that would be responsible for producing the Plan. The Group began its work by promoting and publicising the purpose of the Plan and seeking views on issues that ought to be addressed. A formal consultation launch took place at the Wolvey Produce Show in September 2006 and this was followed by the distribution of information leaflets and returnable post cards for residents’ suggestions. Presentations were made to local groups and societies and a drop-in day was held for all residents to meet face to face with Steering Group members. The military base at Bramcote Barracks did not respond to several invitations to be involved with the plan. Consequently, the questionnaire was not issued to residents of the Barracks. On the basis of the views and information emerging out of the consultation phase a questionnaire was devised with support and advice from professional data consultants. The questionnaire was evaluated by means of a trial run, involving 14 local volunteers, and the final version was distributed in October 2007. Completed questionnaires were collected by early December and, with the help of many volunteers, a return rate of 85% was achieved. This excellent return rate ensured that the information collected was statistically significant and highly representative. By April 2008 the raw data and written views expressed in the questionnaire had been analysed by the Steering Group with support from professional data consultants. A draft plan was produced and submitted to the Parish Council. This was followed by a public display at the Annual Parish Meeting. In June 2008 the draft was submitted to Rugby Borough Council’s Planning Officer for comments. The final version was approved by the Parish Council in August 2008 and has been submitted to the Borough Council. Publishing the completed document is only the end of the beginning. The Plan expresses the opinions and aspirations of the Wolvey parishioners and it will be used as a consultation document by the local Planning Authority. It also forms a framework for the Parish Council to carry forward and implement changes and improvements. Some projects, including the Environmental Group, Parish Newsletter Group and the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, have already started. 5 The Plan will inevitably be partially governed by financial and resource constraints. Some objectives will be achieved, some only partially achieved and, sadly, some may not be achieved at all. But that should not diminish the importance of the Plan. The message that came across from the results of the questionnaire is that the people of Wolvey are proud of their parish and community. They feel a profound identity with village life that they want to protect as much as possible. Arguably, therefore, the most important part of the Plan relates to future domestic and commercial development within the parish. Although it cannot alter the overall strategic plans of both central and local government, the Plan can make an impact on the actual outcome. The Plan cannot stop change, but it will influence what happens, when it will happen and how it will happen. Please support your Parish Council and the groups that are formed to implement parts of the Plan. You can keep up to date with progress by attending Parish Council meetings, reading the newsletters published by the Parish Council and by visiting the website: www.wolvey.org. 6 Residents Questionnaire - Findings Households Wolvey is a relatively affluent parish with higher than average levels of middle aged and elderly residents who live in their own detached properties. Occupancy is relatively low, over two thirds of households contain just one or two residents.