2014 This Plan sets out the views and aspirations of respondents of the Planning for Real Questionnaire
Plan Parish Ganarew and Whitchurch
INTRODUCTION the parish, some with flora and fauna specific to our locality. Whitchurch and Ganarew parish is situated in a spectacular part of the The natural beauty of the area and its Wye Valley around the area of the unique terrain offer a wide range of Wye Gorge and falls within an Area of leisure activities from sightseeing to
ParishPlan Outstanding Natural Beauty. The abseiling and canoeing. We have a beauty of the location has attracted vibrant business environment with tourists for over 200 years and as a more than 150 local businesses in a consequence tourism has had a location well served by a motorway significant impact on the structure of and major road network. our parish. In common with many rural Land use within the area has been communities, our parish residents rely significantly influenced by its on the car for personal mobility and landscape: large tracts of steeply this impacts on diminishing rural sided slopes are suitable only for public transport. There is an woodland and pasture and the increasing awareness of the need to southern and eastern boundaries are preserve and enhance existing formed by the River Wye. Most of the services and to plan for further parish’s population of about 1200 community facilities. Hopefully this
and Whitchurch Ganarew people from 500 households live in Parish Plan can support that aim. Whitchurch, Symonds Yat West and Great Doward, with smaller What is a Parish Plan? settlements at Ganarew, Crocker’s A volunteer group of local residents Ash, Little Doward and Lewstone. supported by the local Parish Council Farming, horticulture, forestry, and Herefordshire Council, sought the tourism, light industry and of course views, concerns and ambitions of local housing, occupy most of the land. people for both what needs maintaining and what changing within Within the parish we have ancient our Parish. archaeological sites dating back to prehistoric times including an Iron Age Parish Plans arose from the hill fort and ancient industrial sites Government’s White Paper on Rural located on the banks of the river. The development which encouraged Wye has been a major communication communities to influence the highway for centuries and with locally development of their surroundings; available resources of coal, wood, they are designed to be evolving water power, limestone and iron ore, documents which outline how a the area played a major role in the community would like to develop over early days of the industrial revolution. the next ten years. Hundreds of Parish There are several nature reserves, Plans have already been completed sites of protected woodlands and Sites which have enabled better of Special Scientific Interests within development in rural communities.
2 Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014
The Whitchurch & Ganarew Parish analysed and the Steering Group
Plan is a summary of the views and summarised the Key Findings to aspirations of those who responded, create a five year Action Plan, which enabling us to identify how local will form the basis for working in people would like the Parish to partnership with both county and develop over the coming years. It national bodies and with our own highlights what people find good volunteer community at the core. about the Parish as well as what irks and what is important if the Parish is Next steps? to flourish. The Parish Plan has taken 18 months to develop and reflects the concerns of Why now? residents and their ideas for the future
It is eight years since the previous development of our community. GanarewParish Plan plan and both people and issues have The Action Plan should be seen as a joint changed. enterprise between: All parishioners, especially the How was it done? many parishioners who responded In the winter of 2012 at a community to the Parish Plan Questionnaire meeting the process of Parish and notified us of their willingness planning was outlined and a Steering to help as volunteers on the task Group was formed from volunteers. groups proposed in the Action
Funding for the Parish Plan came Plan. Whitchurch and Whitchurchand from Herefordshire Council, the The Parish Council with key roles Parish Council and fund raising both to work with the task group events. In the summer of 2013 we volunteers in implementing held a weekend of Planning for Real agreed actions and in driving (PfR) events to enable opinions to be forward issues that are its own canvassed. A comprehensive responsibility. Several external questionnaire was developed, based organisations and agencies, such on the information gathered there. as Herefordshire Council and the The questionnaire contained: - Highways Agency are responsible Requests for background for matters beyond the remit of information on respondents’ age volunteers and the Parish Council. grouping and area of residence (maintaining strict anonymity). Regular feedback on progress with the Several External Agencies. Action Plan will be reported periodically Questions covering all major on the parish website aspects of parish life. www.wagpc.org.uk and in the Extensive opportunity for Village News. additional comments and feedback to be made. Questionnaires were delivered and collected by hand. Their results were professionally
Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014 3
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to the volunteers who helped deliver and collect the Planning for Real questionnaires. Thanks to the proprietors of the Old
Parish Plan Parish Court Hotel for their generosity in
accommodating meeting rooms and refreshments for the planning team.
Also to: - Herefordshire Planning Department Ganarew Herefordshire Association of Local Councils (HALC) Data Orchard (for questionnaire data analysis) Whitchurch and Ganarew Group Parish Council. Wood’s of Whitchurch.
Whitchurch and and Whitchurch
4 Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014
Key Findings
Please note, the following section areas are ordered to facilitate editorial production and not intended to represent priority or preference.
Facilities and Services
Plan Parish Facilities and services needing significant improvement include directional signage, road maintenance, development of footpaths and improvement in community and public transport facilities. See the chart below.
Ganarew Whitchurchand
Facilities for Visitors were identified as needing improvement in signage, public toilet provision, better parking and tidying of unattractive and scruffy areas.
Further Indoor Activities such as Keep Fit, Pilates and Adult Education led and run by volunteers could be held at the Memorial Hall, the Aisle at St Dubricius or at other local venues.
Outdoor Activities generated moderate levels of interest for both adults and young people. These included canoeing, fishing, outdoor chess, netball, junior football, cycling, walking and mountain biking. Offers of help in leading and running these will be followed up.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014 5
Environment
Whereas many of those who responded to the questionnaire told of their pleasure at living in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, concerns were raised about the general appearance of our Parish with litter causing most concern followed by unattractive areas, dog-fouling and illegal dumping.
Parish Plan Parish
The chart below shows that over a third of respondents are concerned about noise pollution by vehicles and around a third registered concern about derelict land. Eighty-one parishioners are concerned about noise from people. Concern was expressed about litter generally throughout the Parish area with certain locations frequently specified - the A40, the B4164, the Old Monmouth Road and the riverside. The specific locations of unattractive areas, illegal dumping, dog-fouling and derelict land were also identified by respondents but these are anonymised in the report.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Whitchurchand
There were fewer responses to the question on environmental services, with nonresponders out-numbering those who expressed an opinion in each section. There is clear support for action to reinstate the bottle bank, to reduce noise from the A40 and to protect and develop heritage sites as well as increase the number of litter, gritting and dog-waste bins. Over a third would like a compostables collection and a fifth would like action on the localised problem of light pollution. Some commented on the need to introduce lighting on busy roads.
6 Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014
Parish Plan Parish
Whitchurch and Ganarew Whitchurchand
The issue of Conservation Area status is important to most respondents though many were unclear about Conservation Area status. The response calls for investigation and a report to residents on the advantages and disadvantages.
The majority of responses to the five proposals for local environmental projects were positive. Most people who answered this question agree there is a need to tidy scruffy areas with 41 offering to help. There were 33 offers to help with cultivating wild life habitats and 32 parishioners have offered to help with cultivating wild flower verges. There is wide support for the proposal to cultivate flowers in the main village area with 16 offering to help.
Although fewer people responded to the proposal to develop and maintain natural and man-made heritage sites the clear majority of those who did are in favour with 22 offering to help. There are even more offers of help (33) in cultivating wild life habitats although fewer responded in favour of the proposal and the point was made that we do already have a wide diversity of indigenous flora and it may not be wise to interfere with the balance. It was suggested that first we survey what we have and possibly seek expert advice.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014 7
Transport, Road and Traffic Problems
The car provides daily transport for over 85% of respondents whereas 7% faced problems through lack of transport.
The most important issue identified by over 80% of respondents was the poor
condition of roads throughout the parish, causing problems for the safety of Parish Plan Parish
drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, walkers and horse riders.
Excessive speed throughout the parish was of concern to nearly two thirds of respondents, notably on the A40, the slip roads, Llangrove Road, Crockers Ash, through Symonds Yat and through Whitchurch.
The complicated access onto and off the A40 at the centre of Whitchurch causes major problems for traffic flow.
Local road signs which have been vandalised need to be repaired.
The general lack of car parking, passing points, lay-byes and turning areas causes problems especially during the summer, when the village experiences a large increase in the number of visitors. A further concern is the increase in vehicle traffic from river sports activities (canoes on trailers) during busy
holiday periods, as part of local tourism business.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Whitchurchand
8 Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014
Respondents identified that they would be highly supportive of traffic safety improvements that included the following: Speed limiting along the A40 to enable safe access and egress for vehicles. Lower speed limits for roads specified previously. Improvements to pedestrian safety by improving pavements in the village and along Llangrove Road from the village centre to The
Ridgeway and Yew Tree Close. Plan Parish
Improvements to roads to eliminate potholes and poor road surfaces. Improvements to road signage to rectify those damaged or vandalised and to improve directional signage information. Construction of car parks to cope with seasonal visitors and year round village parking.
There was considerable interest in but no overall support for: Priority parking e.g. resident parking spaces. Parking restrictions e.g. more yellow lines. An increase in disabled parking spaces. Deployment of speed bumps.
Tourism
Ganarew Whitchurchand Tourism’s business activities and facilities impact on the local community as well as servicing the needs of visitors. Ninety percent of respondents had an opinion on facilities for tourism, 46% thought the facilities to be insufficient or in need of improvement. Nearly one in four respondents made comments and suggestions, nine criticised specific attractions and facilities, eleven criticised a lack of tidiness and eleven wanted more parking.
The most significant suggestions (26) were for the improvement of signage to attractions to prevent the impact of unnecessary traffic movements (7).
There were 17 criticisms of the condition of footpaths and the riverside with 18 suggestions for a public toilet.
The operation of tourism businesses has an effect on the general environment and traffic movements in the Parish and these are addressed in key findings elsewhere. Forty six people were very concerned about the traffic movement of canoes on trailers and they represented 11% of respondents to the question, specifying 68 instances of concern. Although these movements and the signage issues mentioned above were not the highest priority for the majority of respondents, the “hot spots” of residential impact need to be addressed where possible.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014 9
Land Use, Planning and Housing
Land Use: Respondents replied that the amount of land taken up by each category, e.g. housing, horticulture etc. was about right as shown in the bar chart below.
Parish Plan Parish
Whitchurch and Ganarew Whitchurchand
However a majority considered that land occupied by craft workshops was
under-developed and therefore that this facility should be increased. There
was also support for the further development of housing, retail development, tourism and horticulture. The level of development for nature reserves is considered about right but the parish is significantly under-developed in the provision of recreation facilities, especially for young people and also in the provision of community spaces, e.g. a village green. The provision of affordable homes and the development of small rural enterprise schemes need to be enhanced.
Housing Development: In the event of developing new housing, there was significant support for the conversion of redundant buildings, the use of previously used sites and the use of infill development. A majority of respondents (57%), thought that there should be some limit on new house building.
Type of new housing: If new houses are to be built in the parish, respondents expressed support for starter homes, family homes and easy access homes.
10 Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014
Parish Plan Parish
Whitchurch and Ganarew Whitchurchand Additional comments made by parishioners mirrored the responses to this question, i.e. that emphasis should be given to providing new starter homes with one or two bedrooms including bungalows.
Some people considered that by increasing the stock of small local homes, current owners of larger homes who wished to downsize but remain in the parish would be able to make available larger houses into the housing stock.
Above all the emphasis should be to support the accommodation needs of younger people and families wanting to remain in or to move into the parish. There was also support for a variety of house types being built, so that an appropriate balance of housing could be maintained.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014 11
Community Support
Less than one in seven replied to the question of Community Support. A quarter of respondents would appreciate support through good neighbour schemes, befriending, social visiting and help with shopping. Three times as many offered help as asked for it.
Parish Plan Parish Neighbourhood Watch schemes were supported by just under a third of residents who were either already or would like to become part of such a local scheme. Many seemed unclear about what is involved. Few however were prepared to lead
Community Resources sharing had limited support. Around one in three sees value in selling surplus garden produce and half that number saw a need for car sharing and for training in computer skills. From written comments there were offers of help for community environmental projects, e.g. litter picking, footpath clearing and tackling scruffy areas.
Crime and Public Safety was not a concern for the majority of residents but the biggest concern was theft from 39%. Concern for vandalism was 20%; anti- social behaviour 13% and this was associated with seasonal variation in
activity.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Whitchurchand
12 Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014
Communications
Parish Plan Parish
Whitchurch and Ganarew Whitchurchand
The most frequent suggestion for improving communications was to have a Parish website. A Parish Council website went 'live' on 31st August 2014, under www.wagpc.org.uk.The website will provide parishioners, visitors and the wider community with local information, Parish Council business and links to local services. It is intended that parishioners' feedback and support will enable the website to grow and mature.
The idea of a 'Welcome Pack' for new residents received significant support. An Ideas Box and Parish Blog were also mentioned.
Electronic communications are known to be troublesome. 38% of parishioners have problems with mobile phone reception, 16% with TV reception and 57% with broadband speed, with improvement deadlines unmet (see www.fast-link.com). Of the residents that responded 52% had no problem with mobile reception. Clearly some networks are more effective than others in our area, such that changing networks may be the only solution.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014 13
Action Plan
FACILITIES AND SERVICES ACTION PLAN
ISSUE ACTION POTENTIAL PRIORITY FEASIBILITY PARTNER Organised Set up task group - Volunteers Low High indoor to confirm - Hall and activities. demand for Church additional committees. facilities. - Community
groups. Parish Plan Parish
Facilities for Set up task group - Hall Medium High young people. to review committee suggestions from - School questionnaire. - Church committee - Herefordshire Council - Community groups Footpaths, Identify locations - Parish Council High Medium riverside walk for improvement footpaths and cycle and work with officer ways. enabling - Landowners agencies and - Tourist Boards landowners. - Countryside Agency
- Forestry
Whitchurch and Ganarew Whitchurchand Commission Local Produce Assess demand - Local Medium Medium Market. and feasibility producers for regular local - Hall, school markets. and Church committees Community Set up task group - Parish Council Low Medium and sports to identify - Landowners facilities. potential for - Sports developing a agencies community open space with sports facilities.
14 Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014
TOURISM ISSUE ACTION POTENTIAL PRIORITY FEASIBILITY
PARTNERS
Promotion of Set up forum of - Residents High Medium tourism with residents and - Parish Council regard to the businesses. - Tourist operators concerns of residents.
Impact of Set up task group to - Residents High Medium Parish Plan Parish
tourist traffic. consider improved - Parish Council signage and tourist - Tourist operators business - Herefordshire effectiveness. Council
COMMUNITY SUPPORT ISSUE ACTION POTENTIAL PRIORITY FEASIBILITY PARTNERS Securing - Create a database of - Volunteers High High community help residents able to - Parish webmaster for residents in provide help. - Parish Council difficulty. - Publicise - Support opportunities to give organisations
help and support.
- Link up those in need Ganarew Whitchurchand to those able to offer help.
Concerns about - Work with police to - Parish Council Medium Medium crime. address local crime - Volunteers concerns. - West Mercia - Consider Constabulary Neighbourhood - Parish website Watch schemes. - Village News Community - Advertise effective - Parish Council Medium Medium Resource existing schemes. - Volunteers schemes. - Promote ideas for - Parish website new schemes. - Village News - Match up volunteers to schemes.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014 15
ENVIRONMENT ISSUE ACTION POTENTIAL PRIORITY FEASIBILITY PARTNERS Provide a - Increase the - Residents High Medium more number and - Parish Council attractive servicing of litter, - Herefordshire
environment. dog and grit bins. Council - Identify - Local ownership of businesses derelict land. - Parish - Provide a link on webmaster parish website to
report illegal Parish Plan Parish
dumping and litter issues. - Raise awareness of environmental actions on the parish website. Noise from Liaise with - Highways High Low the A40. Highways Agency Agency to identify possible - Herefordshire solutions. Council - Parish Council Conservation Set up group to - Residents Low High Area status. investigate the - Parish implications of this webmaster status and report - Parish Council on the parish - National
website. agencies
Whitchurch and Ganarew Whitchurchand The Set up a group to - Volunteers High Medium appearance of bring about - Parish Council the main improvements. - The primary village area of school Whitchurch. - Local Businesses - Charity funders Condition of Set up a group to - Volunteers Medium Medium Heritage identify if sites - Heritage site sites. require support in agencies maintaining or - Charitable improving their funders condition. Recycling. - Reinstate a bottle - Residents High High bank - Hereford - Set up group to Council evaluate recycling - Parish Council facilities. - Charitable funders - Heritage site agencies
16 Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014
ROADS, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT ISSUE ACTION POTENTIAL PRIORITY FEASIBILITY PARTNERS Road conditions. Set up group to - Volunteers High High
coordinate - Parish Council parishioners’ - Herefordshire concerns using Council the parish - Highways website. Direct Agency concerns to appropriate
authority. Plan Parish
Improvement of Set up group to: - Volunteers High Medium road safety by - Review - Parish Council reducing speed of feasibility of a - Herefordshire traffic. 50mph speed Council limit on A40 - Highways through the Agency parish. - Road safety - Review speed agencies reductions at specific locations. Condition and Set up group to - Volunteers High Low availability of review pavements - Parish Council pavements. and develop long - Herefordshire term plan for Council their - Road safety
improvement. agencies. Whitchurch and Ganarew and Whitchurch Local road Set up group to - Volunteers High Medium signage. examine the - Parish Council effectiveness and - Herefordshire condition of road Council signage and to submit a plan to the Parish Council. Visitor parking at Assess availability - Volunteers Medium Medium busy periods. of additional - Landowners parking areas and - Tourism submit to Parish businesses. Council. - Parish Council Adequacy of Assess service - Herefordshire Low Low public transport provision against Council services. demand, - Bus companies especially in the - Private evenings and on contractors Sundays and seek - Voluntary sector solutions. - Car share schemes.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014 17
COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE ACTION POTENTIAL PRIORITY FEASIBILITY PARTNERS
Local news, local Produce and - Parish Council High High information and update an - Residents promotion of effective parish - Local businesses. website. businesses - Parish webmaster
Information for Prepare a - Residents Medium High Parish Plan Parish
new residents. “Welcome - Parish Council Pack” for - Volunteers distribution, - Local also shared with businesses and the parish organisations website. - Local estate agents Local Identify help Young local Medium High communication and support for residents for young people the introduction Parish Council in the parish. of a parish blog, Local schools which could be Volunteers hosted on the parish website. Local notice Identify help - Parish Council Medium Medium boards. and support for - Volunteers
the - Sponsors
Whitchurch and Ganarew Whitchurchand maintenance and development of local notice boards. Broadband and - Seek and - Herefordshire High Low mobile phone sustain support Council effectiveness. from - Parish Council Herefordshire - Residents Council for - BT Open promised fibre Reach optic cable - Mobile phone installation. companies - Lobby mobile phone companies for improved reception.
18 Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014
LAND USE, PLANNING AND HOUSING ISSUE ACTION POTENTIAL PRIORITY FEASIBILITY PARTNERS
Recreation and - Develop a - Parish High High community space database on the webmaster in the parish. parish website for - Residents volunteers to - Parish Council record ideas and - Volunteers offers of help. - Local - Set up a group businesses
to coordinate and - Potential Plan Parish develop a plan to funders address this need. Development of - Publicise this on - Parish Low Medium small enterprise the parish webmaster schemes. website. - Volunteers - Identify ideas - Parish Council and sources of - Potential expertise. developers - Assess the feasibility of developing this. Housing - Publish outline - Parish Council High High development using plans on the - Parish a Neighbourhood parish website. webmaster Plan. - Hold a public - Volunteers
meeting on - Herefordshire
Neighbourhood Council Ganarew Whitchurchand Planning. - Potential - Identify developers volunteers to form a Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.
Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014 19
Whitchurch & Ganarew Parish Plan 2014 Steering Group
Stephen Borthwick John Dixon Judith Gill Edward Heyes Geoff Hiscox Pat Lewis Graham Litson Anne Thomas
20 Whitchurch and Ganarew Parish Plan 2014