Bosham’s Historic Core coming out of lockdown

Many long-running issues to do with visitors and the medieval historic core of Old Bosham have been focussed, concentrated AND amplified FOR local residents in recent weeks, irritating and even outraging them. We have a long summer ahead of us and unless the immediate and long-term issues are seriously addressed we can expect widespread unhappiness. For many years in the last century we were known as ‘Happy Bosham’ and whilst we are pre-eminently a resilient community, certain things need to be addressed. The focus of this present contribution from the Bosham Association is the opportunities for an urban design approach to handling visitor numbers. We leave to others the whole issue of dealing with illegal or criminal activity, but we are hoping to offer a multi-stranded design-based approach which we believe to a lasting effect to the well-being of a very beautiful and widely appreciated place. It is not easy to ‘make’ such places, but it easy to lose them through missing opportunities. We believe this time is such an opportunity.

Many of us in the villages gained valuable insights in the course of writing the Village Design Statement (BVDS), the Review of the Conservation Area Critical Appraisal (CACA) and finally the Bosham Parish Neighbourhood Plan (BPNP). They form together and separately material consideration in the determination of planning applications. It is also worth mentioning the Conservation Area is entirely covered with an Article IV Direction which effectively removes all residual permitted development rights and requires any change to require a specific planning consent. What we see exhibited through these statutory documents is a robust consensus tested in the arena of local public opinion, but still lacking support from elected public figures and statutory authorities who pay lip-service and then failed so far to deliver. It hopefully also points to a way of avoiding one-off unilateral actions by significant stakeholders.

We share this with you now as the basis for a community-supported set of proposals for further discussion and suggestions for a programme of public works emerging from the pandemic. Much of this was well supported through the Neighbourhood Planning exercise in 2013-15 and has yet to be implemented. Some things will have irreversibly changed with new circumstances necessitating adjustment and new ideas. Some of the stakeholders have also changed.

Since these statutory documents were adopted by Council (The local planning authority), we may observe a number of changes. Local stakeholders have also made additional comments and revised their proposal in the past week and these have been incorporated. These can be summarised as follows.

1. More people know about Old Bosham especially through smart phone apps and social media. 2. Whilst car travel may not have increased greatly, cycling, walking, canoeing and paddle boarding has hugely. Indeed the CHC struggle to keep up with licensing of harbour use permits for these craft. 3. A greater proportion of our visitors now seem more aware of tidal conditions and in particular the youngsters know of the swimming opportunities at high tide. 4. New mixed modes have emerged e.g. rail/cycle, car/canoe/paddleboard and this is evident from recent observations at Bosham Station, along Shore Road and on Quay Meadow. 5. As for the car-park, the installation of an EV charging point has occurred and at long last, provision of shore power to the boat park which in time will reduce the noise irritation to local residents. The leylandii in the carpark have been removed and yet the CDC have failed to re-design and replant the layout and the toilet situation has remained unchanged whilst before lockdown the CDC continued to receive a very handy income stream via car-park charges. Car-park charges were waived during lockdown. It has also been pointed out that in October 2018 Midhurst received £55,000 to give its north carpark a make-over. Austerity did not apply there and the pressing needs to an historic centre were addressed. 6. The effective current ban on foreign holidays and the aviation industries’ expectation that former leisure mobility will not fully return must surely mean that more Brits will be holidaying at home. Bosham can only expect an up-turn in British visitors and a likely reduction in visits from foreign nationals. However, the former will undoubtedly be greater than the latter. Local residents express concern as to the objectives setting the maintenance of Quay Meadow itself. It would be helpful were the National Trust explain to nearby stakeholders what that the purpose of such maintenance is – wildflower meadow, just public open green space or a mixture? At present the objective seems to wander with different styles of stewardship at different times. Previous attempts to re-establish a wildflower meadow should have been learnt. The NT on East Head have marked areas of habitat restoration so that people know the intention. 7. The BPNP aimed to reduce street clutter and signage, but boorish and ignorant behaviour of a few recent visitors has now caused the NT and the BPC to erect signs, both more permanent and more temporary ones. It would be much better that a proper sign audit of the area be done and a coherent and holistic strategy be agreed and implemented, 8. The high season this year 2020 is unlikely to be typical of past years nor necessarily an indication of ‘the new normal’. However, a new visitor survey should be done based on carpark use during the busiest weekend of August to gauge capacity and demand for parking (cycles and motor vehicles). 9. Nearby residents adjacent to the High Street, the Church, Quay and Meadow are frustrated by the singular failure to progress any of the Neighbourhood Plan proposals. It may well be that investment will have to await the construction of housing dictated to us by the District Council under the provisions of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The failure of the District Council to have in place a thoroughly reviewed and thereby ‘made’ Local Plan has led to this impasse. Nonetheless the original proposals, backed by such exhaustive community consultation should remain integral part of the annual iteration of the community infrastructure development investment plan agreed by the Parish Council, under the provisions of the CIL. But in view of the facts that Bosham has been deficient on Public Open Space(measured against national standards and rehearsed in the BPNP AND that Bosham is a national and regional destination in non-pandemic times and a regional destination in peri-pandemic times, there needs to be public investment to cope with visitors above and beyond the provisions of the CIL. 10. In terms of prioritisation, two elements stand out that may help to manage the pressures on our beautiful village: one being the facelift of the carpark which would create the mood music for those parking up. But the other is to establish the mood music at Bosham Walk and create shared space at the end of Bosham Lane, from the Craft Centre/Car Park turning (see Figure 5.3.7 on Page 11) or follow the suggestion and get funding for some sort of barrier there which some believe would help. www.kjbramble.co.uk makes Rising Bollards and Traffic Barriers to order and has photographs, etc. on their Home Page. It has been suggested that Rising Bollards might be an excellent idea. We have experienced them in many historic towns and cities in Europe. However up to 300 boats are kept in the BSC boat park and on Bosham Quay combined; all requiring vehicle access in addition to the access required by residents and the sailing club.

The rest of this report comprises the following elements from the BPNP process (2012-2014): 1. Pre-draft report of evidence from visitor survey 2. Excerpts from the actual BPNP 3. Report of the Third Exhibition (Public Consultation) on transport, visitors and the historic core.

Notwithstanding the changes in social and economic circumstances in the last 5 or 6 years some of which we list above, we consider it timely to re-visit the consensus achieved through the community planning experience of 2008-2014. We would commend to BPC, CDC, CHC, NT, MoB, and WSCC consideration in partnership for promoting these ideas and establishing a clear plan for funding and implementation.

1. Car Park re-landscaping/signage. 2. Toilet facilities – is there a case for providing temporary loos on the quay at public expense for two or three days when the weather looks hot and we have spring (i.e. mid day) tides 3. Shared space resurfacing and restriction of vehicular access in the High Street 4. Restriction of car parking on Shore Road 5. Provision of cycle racks in the car park (when 50 bicycles are lying down on the meadow, they take up valuable space for others)

Overleaf are two photos taken on 30th May, one on 10th June 2020 and one which we had in the family taken probable before 1914.

Dick Pratt, For the Bosham Association 11/06/20

10/06/20 @ 09.22 Pre-1914 and 30/05/20

1. Prior to drafting the Neighbourhood Plan, a report was commissioned from the BPNP ‘visitor subgroup’ as follows. Visitor Theme: Quay Meadow (2nd draft as at 4th Sept 2013) Quay Meadow warrants specific discussion because it is an important recreational space heavily used by visitors. The situation is complicated by the fact that although the number of residents in Bosham has grown over several decades, there has been almost no growth in recreational space – so Quay Meadow also serves as an important recreational space for residents. Unsurprisingly, at peak periods (school summer holidays) Quay Meadow is under some pressure. On August Bank Holiday Monday 2013 an estimated 2,500 people visited Bosham. Almost all of them will have strolled around or across Quay Meadow at some point during their visit. Of those visitors probably around 400 spent an hour or more on the meadow. From around 11am to 5pm there were at any time 85 - 125 people sitting, lying or playing on the meadow. Given reasonable weather, on any weekend – and certainly on any weekday during school holidays - there will be up to perhaps 25 groups of people on the meadow. Among them are likely to be :- • Several visiting families with children using it as a general play area – impromptu football and cricket, catch, chase games, kite flying, picnicking, etc. • Several visiting families (or resident children) crabbing, fishing with small nets, swimming or launching kayaks. • Two or three large groups of teenagers and young twenties from the surrounding locality, mostly with bikes lying on the meadow, ‘quay jumping”, swimming, playing football, etc. • Several groups of friends or families without children sitting, chatting, watching the sailing, picnicking. • A number of visiting couples sitting or lying around on the meadow • A bunch of children playing on the banks of the Mill Stream. • A group of local children living in the village ‘quay jumping’, swimming and playing on the meadow • Members of the Bosham Sailing Club rigging their dinghies on the meadow. Sometimes (particularly when there are a large number of visiting sailors taking part in a national competition) they may occupy over a quarter of the meadow • On a Saturday afternoon, a wedding party having photos taken (the meadow is next to the church – which is highly popular for weddings) • Residents walking their dogs (mostly confined early morning and late in the day) • One or two amateur artists painting the scene (sometimes there may be a group of perhaps 25) • Any number of individuals taking photos of the church, the sailing, the village, the birds, etc. • Half a dozen or more groups of adults, couples and families strolling slowly across the meadow, watching the sailing and the scene generally • At the end of the day the benches on the west side of the meadow are invariably occupied by couples watching the sunset Capacity Quay Meadow is approximately one acre. On a typical day in summer school holidays (and also in Easter and spring/autumn half term breaks in good weather) there will be over 60 people on the meadow at any one time. On hot sunny days this rises to over 100 whilst on poor weather days it drops away to 35 or under. The absolute capacity of the meadow is hard to estimate. If all the users were simply sitting or lying down it might well accommodate 200 people. But there will often be two or three families or groups of youngsters kicking a ball about, playing catch, engaging in an impromptu game of cricket, flying kites or otherwise occupying a much larger area than if they were simply sitting down. In addition, space is often taken up by boats being rigged by members of the Bosham Sailing Club and by bicycles used by local children to get to the meadow. And even picnics take up space. Observation of the meadow suggests that the capacity is somewhat self limiting – it reaches a point where the limited available space between groups already on the meadow results in fewer visitors adding themselves to those sitting on the meadow. Observation also suggests that on sunny days in summer school holidays Quay Meadow is often running at perhaps 75% of it’s practical capacity. Whilst there are no formal estimates of numbers of visitors in previous years the residents are strongly of the impression that numbers are steadily growing. It therefore seems likely that within a few years Quay Meadow will reach the point of serious congestion at peak times. It is worth noting that few weekends each summer a substantial part of the meadow will be occupied by a marquee erected to house a wedding or other function – reducing the available capacity dramatically. Bosham residents accept the National Trust’s need to earn income from the meadow, in order to contribute towards the cost of maintaining the meadow, repairing sea defences, etc. Access & parking problems On a few days each summer the combination of good weather, high water springs occurring at midday and weekend dinghy racing all conspire to produce a jam of people, boats and cars at the point where the High Street crosses the bridge to meet the road running round the east side of the meadow. There are, of course, other jams in the High Street itself and at Street End (where cars and pedestrians turn from Bosham Lane into the High Street) Generally, few people attempt to park on the road to the east side of meadow. The main bottleneck is created by one resident who habitually parks on the road next to the sailing club plus a sailing club contractor who also parks just outside the club on the meadow road. There are infrequent cases of a visitor driving onto the meadow and parking there but the posts around the meadow act as effective deterrent. There rather more frequent cases of motor cycles parking on the meadow. Garbage Visitors are generally very good about removing their rubbish – with only a few cans, bottles and bags being left on the meadow even at the end of a peak day. However, they mostly put the rubbish in the container by the church wall at the end of the High Street. On peak days this container becomes over – full and rubbish piles up next to it. A dialogue with the organisation responsible for emptying the container has reduced the problem but it still remains. A more specific problem concerns ‘dog poo’. Whilst the majority of dog walkers clear it away a small minority sometimes fail to do so – creating a potential health hazard given the number of children using the meadow. Management of Quay Meadow Quay Meadow is owned and managed by the National Trust – who clearly recognise it as an important recreational space and generally manage it accordingly. Residents and visitors are complimentary about the high standard to which the meadow and the associated sea defences are maintained. Bosham residents recognise the desirability of having an area of the meadow given over to wild flowers but are broadly of the view (in part because of problems in removing dog poo in an area of long grass – where children may play) that any wild flower area should be confined to a fairly small area in the northeast corner of the meadow which is not generally used by visitors and residents.

2. Relevant excerpts from the Draft BPNP 5.3.1 Policy 3 - Conservation of the Historic Environment

New development will be supported where it can be demonstrated that all the following criteria have been met: • The proposal conserves and enhances the special interest and settings of designated and non- designated heritage assets including: - Sites and areas of archaeological potential or importance and their setting; - Listed buildings; - Buildings of local importance including locally listed and positive buildings; - Historic buildings or structures/features of local distinctiveness and character; - Buildings within a Conservation Area; - Historic and cultural landscapes including streams and ancient woodland. • Development respects distinctive local character and sensitively contributes to creating places of a high architectural and built quality; • Development is in-keeping with existing designed or natural landscapes; • The individual identity of settlements is maintained, and the integrity of predominantly open and undeveloped character of the area, including the openness of the views towards the city and the Cathedral and the South Downs National Park, is not undermined.

New buildings and the extension of existing buildings will be permitted in the historic core of the village where: • The proposal is in keeping with the Historic Built vernacular of the settlement – walls should match original materials whether of stone, flint, brick or shiplap, whilst roofs would be expected to be tile with moderate Flemish bond cornices or dentillated friezes. Existing thatched roofs should be retained. Garden walls which need replacement or repairing must respect the form of coping stones originally used (e.g. coach-house coping) • The proposal maintains and enhances important views of the historic waterfront. (and back toward notable and listed buildings within the Conservation Area). • The proposal maintains, enhances and seeks to better reveal appreciation and understanding of the evolution of the early settlement. • The proposal does not increase the levels of signage but rather seeks to reduce it wherever possible. • The proposal provides adequate parking (to avoid increase pressure on Shore Road etc.) • The proposal maintains the essential variety of spaces including the busy sinuous High Street, the tranquillity of Churchyard, the recreational capacity of Quay Meadow and the historic narrow Trippet footpath.

Justification and evidence

The range of heritage assets in the Parish of Bosham 5.3.2 The settlements and the surrounding rural areas of the parish are rich in historic assets. These comprise listed buildings and structures, notable (locally listed buildings, archaeological sites, ancient millstream and associated pond and sluices, ancient paving, historic settlement pattern as well as the settings and views for all of these discrete elements. Conserving and enhancing, as well as assisting the interpretation, understanding and appreciation of these historic elements are objectives of neighbourhood plan policy.

The archaeology of Bosham parish 5.3.3 There is evidence of human presence in Bosham Parish from the middle stone age, about ten thousand years ago. However, there was probably no permanent settlement until the advent of farming in the Neolithic Age, whilst the earliest firm evidence of occupation in the parish is in the Bronze Age. Sea salt was utilised at least from the Iron Age, and there seems to have been a late Iron Age shrine near Broadbridge that may have marked the western boundary of a tribal area centred on Fishbourne. Both sites developed into significant establishments in the Roman period, and a Roman road from Chichester to Southampton and Winchester ran across the north of the parish. There seems to have been a Roman building close to the parish church, and it is likely that the site was an important port. The Venerable Bede tells us that there was an Irish monastic centre at Bosham prior to the conversion of the South Saxons by St Wilfrid in the 680s AD, and it seems that the modern layout of the village was influenced by this early Christian presence.

Figure 5.3.1 The Bosham Head: a colossal head now attributed to Emperor Trajan and likely to have been made during the rule of Hadrian, found before 1804 near to the Holy Trinity Church. Now retained at the Novium, Chichester. Photo: by permission of the Novium.

Figure 5.3.2 An aerial view of Church, college area, watermill sites and Quay from the south- west – the medieval core of the settlement. Photo by permission of Chichester Harbour Conservancy

The historic elements in the wider parish 5.3.4 Across the wider parish are scattered sites of archaeological significance (principally Roman finds) and a number of late 18th and early 19th century farmhouses of Georgian style, all of which are also listed. By contrast, with the Conservation Area, which has the form of a compact settlement around the millstream, quay, church and manor, these other sites are relatively isolated and scattered through the rural area of the peninsula.

The historic core of the Village – the Conservation Area 5.3.5 Human settlement in the parish may have dated from the first century AD, with indications of Roman presence and client rulers of Rome engaged in landings around the Bosham peninsula. The earliest Christian communities were also established by 680 AD, and the form of the earliest significant settlement came in the early Medieval period. The manor, mills and mill-stream, church and college date from this early period and significant remnants of this settlement form survive today and are protected by the designation of the Conservation Area and the listed buildings within this area. Other notable buildings in the conservation area largely date from the late 18th and the 19th centuries. Whilst Bosham Stream is unable to enjoy any particular protective designation, it is vital to the historic quality and distinctiveness of the whole settlement. The stream is regulated by the Environment Agency as ‘a major river’ and its flow is subject to the agency’s monitoring. Within the Conservation Area, the compact settlement of 19th century Bosham took form as is shown from early Ordnance Survey maps of the area. Figure 5.3.3 Distribution of listed buildings throughout the parish. (Source: James Kenny District Archaeologist)

Figure 5.3.4 OS map from mid-Victorian period.

The rationale for the Conservation Area 5.3.6 The Conservation Area embraces the compact area of that part of the settlement that had been established by the middle of the nineteenth century with the predominant style being brick-built terraces from the late Georgian and early Victorian period and with some stone buildings from much earlier. Three Character Areas are distinguished within the conservation area. Character Area 1 comprises historic fields and millpond to the west of the Bosham Mill Stream. Character Area 2 comprises relatively low-density settlement including the Manor House, the former Congregational Chapel, Church Farm House and the Mill-stream Hotel and two rows of nineteenth century terraces along Bosham Lane. Character Area 3 comprises the historic built core with relatively high-density frontages, a sinuous often-busy High Street, a tranquil enclosed churchyard surrounding the medieval Holy Trinity Church, an ancient mill converted to a sailing club, Bosham Quay and Raptackle (all focal buildings), and the commanding open space of Quay Meadow. Further along Shore Road is another focal building, the ‘Old Town Hall’. Through the spine of the Conservation Area, following the highest land on the Bosham peninsula all the way to Bosham Quay is the Bosham Millstream. This is of great significance being the reason why there was continuous settlement from Roman to early Saxon times. It provides a source of fresh water, irrigation to neighbouring fields, fishery and mill water head to the community of Bosham from the first century AD to the last century. Hence, the Bosham Millstream qualifies as a notable feature of the cultural landscape. Figure 5.3.5 Bosham Conservation Area

Across the Conservation Area roofs are predominantly tile with some slate with lower pitches. Several terraces have long rear gardens whilst many in the High Street lack any gardens. Front gardens are surrounded by low brick walls creating enclosures whilst allowing vistas. A recent review of the Conservation Area Character Appraisal has sought to

strengthen the protection afforded by the designation as a Conservation Area by applying an Article 4 Direction (English Heritage), which effectively removes permitted development rights (January 2014). At present, the plethora of road signs throughout the Conservation Area, but particularly at the south end of Bosham Lane near to the Harbour creates an overbearing and cluttered appearance. Much of the traffic management and guidance given to pedestrians could be achieved through alternative and much more sensitive surface treatments, creating shared space whilst calming traffic and helping to manage increasing visitor numbers. The public car-park at the heart of the Conservation Area requires enhancement in order to provide a more welcoming and helpful arrival point for visitors to the village. The provision of an interpretation board in the car-park would enhance public appreciation of the village’s historic assets.

The setting of the listed buildings 5.3.7 The Conservation Area contains over 40 listed buildings; including the Church of the Holy Trinity, which is Grade I listed. All listed buildings are currently in good condition and adjacent public areas are well maintained. More than 20 are found beyond the Conservation Area but within the Parish, including Sorrell House on Bosham Hoe which is Grade II*. In all, there are 63 separate listed buildings/structures within the parish. The setting of those in the Conservation Area is protected through the Conservation Area Character Appraisal (CACA), whilst those in the AONB are protected by the AONB Management Plan and the AONB design guidelines for new and replacement buildings, whilst those listed buildings outside of both the AONB and the CACA have hitherto been less protected in this respect. Open land to the west of the church (Quay Meadow) and to its north-west (Second Meadow/Mill Meadow) frame the cluster of medieval sites (Church, Manor, and Mill sites).

5.3.8 A visitor survey has been conducted and further detail is under policy 6 and this clearly demonstrates the value of the Heritage Assets to the local economy.

5.3.9 The ensemble of buildings and spaces that constitute the core of the Conservation Area contribute to the village as a visitor destination and a unique contribution to local character and distinctiveness. Hence this Neighbourhood Plan seeks to conserve and enhance the historic environment of the parish and the heritage assets therein. For these reasons it is a requirement that new development respects/maintains/reinforces the historic character and local distinctiveness of the village/parish. The Historic heart of the village grouped around the Saxon Church will be maintained as an important Conservation area and any development proposed in this area will continue to be closely scrutinised.

Other current supporting policies

National Planning Policy on Heritage Assets 5.3.10 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) guidance states our obligation to “conserve heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance, so that they can be enjoyed for their contribution to the quality of life of this and future generations” (Core Planning Principles, p6). 5.3.11 The NPPF further requires that local planning authorities “should recognise that heritage assets are an irreplaceable resource and conserve them in a manner appropriate to their significance” (para 126). Moreover, the guidance states, “As heritage assets are irreplaceable, any harm or loss should require clear and convincing justification.” (para 132).

5.3.12 The emerging 2014 Chichester District-wide Local Plan in respect of economy and employment states “The Local Plan also seeks to maintain an attractive environment through protecting the landscape and heritage assets which will encourage tourism and inward investment from businesses that wish to locate here” (Economy & Employment para 6.3). Furthermore the Chichester District Local Plan Policy 47 on Heritage states:- “New development which recognises, respects and enhances the local distinctiveness and character of the area, landscape and heritage assets will be supported. Planning permission will be granted where it can be demonstrated that all the following criteria have been met: 1. The proposal conserves and enhances the special interest and settings of designated and non-designated heritage assets including: a. Monuments and sites and areas of archaeological potential or importance and their setting; b. Listed buildings; c. Buildings of local importance including locally listed and positive buildings; d. Historic buildings or structures/features of local distinctiveness and character; e. Buildings within a Conservation Area; and f. Historic Parks or Gardens, both registered or of local importance and historic landscapes. 2. Development respects distinctive local character and sensitively contributes to creating places of a high architectural and built quality; 3. Development is in-keeping with existing designed or natural landscapes; and 4. The individual identity of settlements is maintained, and the integrity of predominantly open and undeveloped character of the area, including the openness of the views in and around Chichester and Pagham Harbours, towards the city and the Cathedral and the South Downs National Park, is not undermined.”

5.3.13 The Bosham Village Design Statement (2011) and the Conservation Area Character Appraisal (reviewed 2013) identify character areas relevant to these matters and are material considerations in determining planning applications. The Bosham Parish Neighbourhood Plan supports the designations in these two documents and requires that any future development respects the guidance given in them. In addition, further opportunities shall be sought from any development proposal to enhance the appreciation of the setting and context of these documented historical assets.

5.3.14 Heritage Assets in the Conservation Area and Visitor Management Policies: • Local Public Policies should recognise the economic and social value of Bosham and particularly the harbourside and the conservation area as an important visitor destination. Bosham clearly plays a part in the wider area’s tourist infrastructure (alongside Chichester itself, Arundel, Fishbourne Roman Palace, West Wittering, etc) which brings substantial income into the area. Comparison of annual visitor numbers shows that Bosham attracts a substantially larger number of visitors than any other local attraction with the exception of West Wittering beach. • We should neither actively discourage nor actively encourage visitors. Bosham is a beautiful, historic and unique village and it would be anti-social to discourage visitors. Nevertheless, at the same time, the historic centre of the village (which attracts the visitors) is a confined area, which becomes congested. Our expectation is that the number of visitors is likely to prove self-limiting over the coming years because of the congestion.

5.3.15 Objectives for the conservation and greater appreciation of historic assets 1. Any changes within historic centre of the village should be minimal. 2. Any new development shall respect/maintain/reinforce the historic character and local distinctiveness of the village/parish. 3. The existing footprint of listed buildings in the Conservation Area should be maintained and only in exceptional cases shall modification to the footprint of notable (locally listed) buildings be permitted. 4. Excessive signage should be removed wherever possible. 5. The main car-park should be re-designed with several objectives in mind (see figure 5.3.6): a. Provide more interpretive information within the car-park on the medieval core of the village and assist those navigating this area on foot. b. Allow the existing car-park to realise its full capacity by increasing the visibility of the eastern part through:- i Make more obvious the existence of the unpaved area of the car park in order to accommodate overflow parking ii Replace the Leylandii with suitable native trees and a clearer sign directing people to the overflow area that would increase the actually used capacity from 250 to 400. c. Promote the greater separation of vehicles from pedestrians both in the car-park and access it by: i. Re-landscape the area with walkways with shrub borders, as found in well-designed supermarket car-parks, ii. Promote the ‘north’ access as the pedestrian one and the ‘south’ one as the vehicular one. d. A new focal point information board for visitors to be located at the exit to the north entrance. The provision of information to visitors should be supplemented by providing a downloadable “app” (through a QR code). The board and the app to include archaeological, bird watching and local flora information, village historical information and information about the sailing.

Figure 5.3.6 Ideas for remodelling the car park

6 The surfacing of the lower end of Bosham Lane and of the High Street should be changed to discourage vehicle traffic and to make sure that drivers of vehicles who have such access are aware that this is shared space with pedestrians, cyclists and boat launching operations. To this end, the pavement in front Gloucester Terrace should be removed and the surface levelled to the road height. Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) in this stretch should be maintained and enforced. The stretch of ancient pavement outside the east wall and north of Beach Cottage must be safeguarded.

Figure 5.3.7 Ideas for creating shared space at the often-congested ‘Street-End’

5.6.1 Visitors and Tourism – Policy 6 • Bosham has a ‘neutral’ policy towards visitors. The unique character of the village is such that it would be both impractical and anti-social to discourage visitors but the growing level of congestion, parking problems and pressure on recreational space are such that significant growth in visitor numbers should not be actively encouraged. • Any changes within the historic centre and waterfront of the village should be minimal. Visitor questionnaire responses make it clear that it is the tranquil, historic beauty of the village centre, coupled with the water views, which attracts visitors. Excess signage should be avoided. • The streets in the historic central area should be resurfaced to emphasise that this is essentially a pedestrian area and discourage non-essential traffic, thereby reducing congestion and lowering the potential risk of a serious accident. • An interpretive information board at the pedestrian exit to the car park should be provided to help visitors to make the best use of their time. A downloadable “app” would further enhance this. • Parking on Shore Road should be very strongly discouraged, in order to improve visitors' aesthetic enjoyment of the picturesque waterside views of the village. • Opportunities to supplement Quay Meadow as a recreational space should be encouraged. • Environmental improvements should be made to the car park in consonance with such a picturesque village. • The number of visitors should continue to be monitored regularly to provide a firm basis for planning how to cope with future visitor numbers. • Some of the changes proposed - aimed at better accommodating visitors - require a level of investment which is well beyond the Parish Council’s present capacity. Additional CDC and WSCC funding would reflect Bosham’s value in bringing tourist income into the wider area.

Justification and evidence 5.6.2 Bosham has to cope with the large number of visitors drawn here by its historic church, listed buildings, picturesque waterfront, working quay and harbour side meadow. There are an estimated 275,000 visitors per year, peaking at around 2,300 a day in summer school holidays.

5.6.3 Most visitors see only a very small area of Bosham – the historic centre and waterfront area – where they have a very significant impact in terms of access, parking, traffic congestion and pedestrian congestion in the narrow, old village streets (particularly at high tide when the Shore Road is impassable).

5.6.4 Generally, visitors spend only 2-3 hours in the village, with the result that they bring only limited income and employment into the village. However, Bosham does bring tourist income into the wider area because many visitors state that they also go to Chichester, Arundel, Fishbourne Roman Palace, West Wittering and Goodwood. Visitor numbers have not been collected in the past but anecdotal experience of long term residents suggests that visitor numbers have been steadily growing over some decades. It seems likely that numbers will at some point prove self-limiting because of congestion in the historic centre of the village.

Community feedback 5.6.5 Consultation on the emerging Neighbourhood Plan revealed agreement on the following key policy issues :- • Adopt a neutral visitor policy. • Make only minimal changes to the historic centre and waterfront. • Resurface the streets in the historic centre to emphasise it as a pedestrian area. • Provide an interpretive information board, supplemented by a downloadable app. • Discourage parking on Shore Road • Encourage any opportunities to relieve the pressure on Quay Meadow recreational space • Improve the aesthetics of the car park. • Monitor visitor numbers regularly in future • CDC and WSCC funding policies should recognise Bosham’s role in bringing tourist income into the area. Plans, documents and strategies supporting the policy

Visitor Survey 5.6.7 A set of recent surveys (2013-14) revealed that Bosham receives an estimated 275,000 visitors per year – placing Bosham in the 120 most popular visitor attractions in to judge from the annual survey figures published by Visit England. The estimate is made with some confidence since it is based on actual car park ticket sales plus sample counts of cars parked in other locations carried out over 9 months. The average visitors per day vary from 1,400 per day in summer school holidays down to about 350 per day in winter months out of school holidays. The peak number of visitors (when the village becomes significantly congested) is around 2,300 per day. • Visitors surveyed made clear that it is the tranquil, historic beauty of the village centre coupled with the water views, which attracts them here. • The number of visitors should be monitored a few times each year (primarily in the peak summer period) in order to provide a firm basis for planning how to cope with future visitor numbers. • The number of visitors arriving by bicycle should be monitored from time to time each year.

5.6.8 An analysis of visitor and business questionnaires is available on the web site. Further supporting evidence can be found in the Chichester Harbour AONB Management Plan 2014 – 2019 and the Chichester Employment Land Review 2013 and in An Economic Strategy for Chichester 2013 – 2019.

5.7.1 Policy 7 – Transport. Communications and Footpaths • The loss of any bus and rail services or facilities will not be supported unless they are going to be replaced with something just as good or better, in the parish. • A 20mph limit should be imposed in most of the village. This will encourage motorists to be more aware of the children whom, amongst others, have to access the primary school. • A pinch point in Taylors Lane should be provided to discourage motorists from excessive speed as well as to protect walkers at the Southern end where a footpath crosses the road. • All existing footpaths and cyclepaths should be maintained and where possible improved. In addition new footpaths and cyclepaths are to be sought in Walton Lane and Delling Lane. • Provide new footpaths to avoid roads, from Critchfield Road to the Broadbridge Business Centre and from Crede Lane north to the A259 to help communication between the two halves of the Parish. • An extension to the pavement in Taylors Lane south to the house 'Byways' should be sought to enable pedestrians to pass this area safely and to give visibility for the crossing of a heavily used footpath • Double Yellow Lines are required across the South side of the T junction (Delling to Walton Lanes) to improve pedestrian safety at this junction. • Extension of the high speed broadband area of coverage to all of the Parish is an aim of this plan. • Any proposed developments must:

• Identify the realistic level of traffic likely to be generated and assess the potential impact of this traffic on pedestrians, cyclists, road safety, parking and congestion within the parish and include measures to mitigate any impacts. Development that would give rise to unacceptable highway dangers will not be permitted. • Maximise opportunities to walk and cycle, including between Bosham, Fishbourne and Chichester as well as supporting public transport where possible.

Justification and Evidence 5.7.2 Bosham is a rural Parish with one major road running through it. The A259 Chichester to Havant road splits the community, with turnings off this highway to the south and north of the village. Traffic flow increases during the summer months and at many weekends throughout the year, as trucks and other motor vehicles pass through the village to the normally commercial nursery at Chequer/Walton Lane. The village centre can become congested during the tourist season. The High Street provides a route to the Quay at most high tides and access must be ensured. 5.7.3 Public transport provision in the parish is just adequate, with the one regular bus service travelling to Chichester, and another, which follows the A259 (Main Road) serving Portsmouth Chichester and Brighton. During school terms, buses are also used to convey schoolchildren to and from the Bourne School. There is a train service which provides on an hourly service links to Chichester and Havant. For most people living in the parish, however, the car has become the principal mode of transport, even for some of the shortest journeys. Better footpaths and public rights of way linking areas of village would help to address this issue. 5.7.4 Conventional broadband internet connections are between 0.6 (at the far end of Bosham Hoe) and 15 Mb/s in the Parish. Most residents are able to access information reasonably fast. High-speed broadband (20 - 80 Mb/s) has recently arrived in parts of the village, extending to about Stumps Lane in the south, and brings with it a range of new opportunities, such as better remote and home working and access to more on-line applications and services. 5.7.5 Public Transport: There is a lack of adequate parking at Bosham Station and possibilities for further car-parking need to be investigated. At present the station car park is full on weekdays. Alternatives exist in Penwarden Way and Old Bridge Road. There is inadequate provision of parking at the Station Road shops. In future years an improved train service which could call at Bosham twice an hour, each way during the day would improve the accessibility to passengers. Currently the 700 service calls at the A259 (Main Road) stops every 20 minutes through the day and an hourly service in the evenings. The 56 service runs about 8 times daily (every 70 mins), Monday – Saturday with journeys starting at 6:55 (7:55 school holidays) and finishing at 17:55. 5.7.6 Cycling should be encouraged by the provision of more cycle paths within the village and better cycle racks throughout the village. Sites to be considered would include: Bosham Station, North Bosham shops, Broadbridge Business Centre, the main car park and Quay meadow

Figure 5.7.1 Proposal for 20mph traffic speed zones

Traffic • 20mph zones – two 20mph limit areas are planned. The first to be north of the A259 including all roads from the level crossing southwards. Secondly, south of the A259 to include all of Walton Lane and Delling Lane from north of Green Lane and southwards to include the whole of the rest of the village except Taylors Lane.. • Pinch Point in Taylors Lane between Byways and Stumps Lane. This would serve a double function – to slow traffic and to provide a safe route for pedestrians through the provision of a footpath. Currently the 30mph sign at the south of Taylors Lane is ignored. Provision of a pinch point would ensure that motorists were reminded that the area is 30mph. The pinch point should be prioritised for those travelling south. This will increase the safety of all walkers in that area of the village. • The introduction of a 'Stop' sign at the end of Stumps lane would complete this area of road improvement. • It is considered that the Parish will benefit from further cycle paths to improve road safety. The two main arteries between the halves of the Parish, Delling Lane and Walton Lane would both benefit from a combined footpath and cycle path. In addition paths should be considered from Critchfield Road to the Broadbridge Business Centre and from Crede Lane to the A259.

Community Feedback 5.7.7 Consultation on the emerging Neighbourhood Plan revealed the following key issues in relation to this topic that the policy seeks to address: • Include local traffic problems and proposed mitigations • Show how pedestrian and cycle facilities will be improved • Improve footpaths • Improve public transport, • Look to re-open the booking office at the railway station on a full time basis • Work to improve high-speed broadband provision 5.7.8 Traffic Surveys • A survey was conducted in October 2013 looking at the quantity of vehicles going in both directions along Delling Lane. Results were as follows:

Northbound Cars Vans Lorries Buses Motor Bicycles Adult Child Bikes Pedestrians Pedestrians a.m. 174 15 5 0 0 5 11 1 08:10- 09:10 p.m. 164 11 2 1 0 7 14 9 14:30 – 15:30

Southbound Cars Vans Lorries Buses Motor Bicycles Adult Child Bikes Pedestrians Pedestrians a.m. 135 21 1 1 0 8 12 21 08:10- 09:10 p.m. 153 13 2 14:30 – 15:30

• This was repeated on Thursday 24 October from 11am to 12 noon

Cars Vans Lorries Buses Motor Bicycles Adult Child Bikes Pedestrians Pedestrians Northbound 123 20 6 (inc 1 1 0 8 4 0 tractor) Southbound 95 27 5 1 0 5 4 0

• In July 2014, 3 sets of measurements using a Speed Indicator Device (SID) were undertaken. There was some evidence that drivers reduced their speed on seeing the high visibility jackets worn by the team, however at least 90 vehicles over the three hours were exceeding 30mph.

Date Time North Av. speed >30mph Time South Av. speed >30mph Thursday 09.00 – 100 27.1mph 08.40 - 41 27.8mph 10.7.14 09.30 09.00 Thursday 16.35 – 77 28.6mph 25 17.05 – 82 28.9mph 32 10.7.14 17.05 17.35 Friday 09.05 – 21 28.1mph 5 08.33 – 129 27.2mph 28 11.7.14 09.30 09.05 • It was noted that there was peak of traffic flowing south between 8.30 and 9.00 am – presumably caused by delivery of children to school.

5.7.9 The following plans, documents and strategies support policies 7: • National Planning Policy Framework March 2012 - The National Planning Policy Framework is a key part of the government’s reforms to make the planning system less complex and more accessible. It vastly simplifies the number of policy pages about planning.

• Chichester District Local Plan - The Local Plan provides the broad policy framework and a long-term strategy to manage development, protect the environment, deliver infrastructure and promote sustainable communities within Chichester District (excluding the area within the South Downs National Park) to 2029. Once adopted, all planning applications will be assessed against the policies in the Local Plan. On 30 May 2014, the Chichester Local Plan: Key Policies 2014-2029 and supporting documents were submitted for independent examination to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government via the Planning Inspectorate.

• Bosham Traffic Strategy 2003, adopted by Bosham Parish Council

• Manual for Streets Department of Transport 2000

3. Report of the Third Exhibition (Public Consultation) on transport, visitors and the historic core.

The Third Exhibition of the BPNP was on 1st-2nd/11/13 and was attended by 102 local people.

Crucially people endorsed the concept of Shared Space at Street End and in the High Street. In general, this is an area of public access for pedestrians, cyclist and vehicles alike denoted by distinctive surface treatment (e.g. setts) within a 20mph zone and otherwise devoid of signage and other street clutter. Any existing pedestrian separation would be removed (e.g. pavement) An excerpt of the report from the two-day exhibition follows:

Objective - the Visitor Theme working group considered that the Neighbourhood Plan needed to consider the impact of large numbers of visitors on the village access, parking, congestion, recreational space, etc.

Estimated no: of visitors - Estimated by counting number of cars on sample days • Average visitors per day in summer school holidays 1,300 (in about 400 cars) • Varies from 600 visitors on a cool, wet day to 2,200 on a hot, dry, sunny day • 60,000 visitors in total over the summer school holiday period • Total of 150 - 200,000 visitors per year (subject to revision over next 12 months)

Visitor profile - Survey Questionnaire completed by 480 visitors Aug Bank Holiday weekend • Nearly two thirds visit for 2 hours or less • Drawn here by Bosham’s unspoiled, historic character; beauty; waterside views; birdwatching; photographic opportunities. • Very high proportion of repeat visitors – Half come several times a year, a quarter annually or every few years • Typical visit takes in church, Quay, Quay Meadow, the Trippet, craft centre and a coffee or a pint. • In summer hols a third of visitors are families with kids under 18 • Groups of friends make up another third • About half are from over 50 miles away • Mostly come by car. About 10% by bike or walking • Most (60%) hear about Bosham by word of mouth – friends or family. About third learned about Bosham thro AA guide or equivalent leaflet, etc. 10% through media or web. • Common to combine with visit to Chichester, Arundel or other local place Many visitors congregate on Quay Meadow. It is an important recreational space shared by locals and visitors. Observation of the Meadow on sunny days showed that it is already fairly congested in the school holidays (with upwards of 100 visitors using it at any one time). We believe that the number of visitors is growing and that Quay Meadow it is likely to become over-congested in the fairly near future.