STOKE POGES PARISH APPRAISAL & PLAN APRIL 2005 Contents Foreword Summary Main Report 1. Introduction The context of the appraisal Objectives of the appraisal process Approach 2. The History of Stoke Poges 3. Stoke Poges Today Population Housing Businesses and Shops Religion Education Healthcare Transport Entertainment and Leisure Facilities Development Opportunities Conservation Areas & Open Spaces Parish Charities . 4. Identifying Issues Open days Questionnaires Interviews with clubs, societies and organisations 5. Analysis of results and Issues identified Facts Issues raised 6. Action Plan Involvement in Bell’s Hill Development Retention of Green Belt areas in Stoke Poges Housing development in Stoke Poges Review of Parish Boundary along Wexham Street Suggestions on Transport & Traffic matters Action on Crime Issues Action on Youth Needs in Stoke Poges Action on Village Appearance 7. Photographs General Acknowledgements Appendices 1. 1851 Village Map 2. 2005 Village Map 3. Key Statistical Data for Stoke Poges 4. Feedback from 2002 Questionnaire to Stoke Poges Residents 5. Feedback from 7th February 2005 Open Day 6. List of Local Organisations FOREWORD Stoke Poges Parish Council began the production of a Parish Appraisal in 2002. Over a period, a draft document was prepared, taking into account the comments made by various groups in the Village and the views expressed by residents in response to a questionnaire sent to everyone in the Village in late 2002. It was recognised that further work was necessary to develop the Appraisal in the detail recommended by the Countryside Agency and to derive a Village Plan from this Appraisal. A Parish Appraisal Committee, chaired by Hugh Tulloch, was established by the Parish Council to take charge of this task, and at a Village Meeting on October 2nd 2003 a Stoke Poges Parish Plan Action Group, comprising Appraisal Committee members and a number of Villagers, was established to carry out the necessary work. Financial pressures on the Countryside Agency precluded any funding support to finance professional help. This document has been prepared entirely through the volunteer effort of the Action Group. The protracted time taken to agree and launch the new Bell’s Hill Shopping Centre project has complicated this task, since the decisions taken on this materially affect the future ambience of the Village. Consultation with residents on their needs, concerns and desires inevitably had to include the Bell’s Hill situation. Following the dreadful accident to Hugh Tulloch in June 2004, it was agreed that work on the Appraisal should be delayed, both to await his hoped-for recovery and to allow the Bells Hill situation to clarify. The Action Group has now moved forward and produced this document for final consultation and approval. 1 SUMMARY The objective of the Village Plan process is to identify the current concerns and expectations of the local community and to prepare guidance for South Bucks District Council in the form of a Village Plan, setting out the actions required to meet these expectations. The Appraisal and Plan process has demonstrated that those matters in greatest need of attention fall broadly within three groups, as follows: Preserving and enhancing the environment of the settlement and its surroundings. • The long-term protection and enhancement of the character of the Village and its surroundings. • The provision of a safe and pleasant environment. Preserving the level and quality of local services. • The provision of shops, housing and services appropriate to the needs of the Village. • The improvement of public transport. • The provision of accessible educational and leisure facilities, particularly for young people. Developing a better understanding between councils and elected representatives and the community which they serve. • Enhancing information and facilitating community feedback on local issues. The District Council has a leading role to play in identifying the most effective means of achieving these objectives. At the same time, the Village Plan offers the Parish Council a genuine opportunity - an agenda for enhancing the environment of the Village and the quality of life of the community. The future The Parish Appraisal and Plan will remain an active tool for the future. A full review will be made in two years’ time, to confirm that current major issues have been dealt with, that new challenges and trends have been identified, and that further actions have been agreed where appropriate. The Parish Council will establish a monitoring process to ensure that the currently identified main issues are progressed, in the meantime, by the appropriate responsible parties. 2 MAIN REPORT 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 The context for the Appraisal The Village Appraisal and Plan Process has been carried out under the general guidelines suggested by the Countryside Agency. The Countryside Agency's view is that the present planning process, reliant as it is on individuals commenting on Development Proposals, can be supplemented by establishing community wishes alongside the present planning process. The Countryside Agency booklet 'Planning Tomorrow's Countryside' (September 2000) states: Development plans are prepared and decisions made within a democratic process which allows for individuals to comment. In many cases, this process works well. In recent years, though, many communities have rightly demanded a greater say in the detailed planning of their village, parish or neighbourhood. While new forms of community government and formal community planning might ultimately be the way forward, there are already good ways of establishing community wishes that work alongside the present planning system. Village Design Statements, Local Agenda 21 Schemes, and Village Appraisals all include the sort of participation that is essential to good community planning. Other ideas include community projects for renewable energy and local transport schemes. While community involvement in decision taking can succeed without a formal link to the planning system, in our experience, its effectiveness is greatly enhanced if such a link is established. Communities and many planning authorities already work closely in the preparation of Supplementary Planning Guidance and this approach should continue. Village Design Statements, for example, are becoming a widespread and effective way of helping communities to determine how best their villages might develop or change. Such statements are emerging as a positive force which articulates what high quality development means in the context of a village, its needs, and its surrounding countryside. Community planning is easily undermined if aspirations drawn up with enthusiasm, trickle in to the sand for want of a process to deliver them. Clear frameworks (rather than an additional administrative layer) for the future of a village benefits the community and developer alike. For the future .... Community planning could become more comprehensive -including transport issues and the delivery of public services. Plans or strategies could be prepared by communities, with local planning authorities adopting the role of facilitator, and with the plan forming Supplementary Planning Guidance -provided it conformed with the local plan. This could allow the statutory local plan to be more strategic and to contain less detail; and community planning to be responsive to local needs, local distinctiveness and local ideas. This Village Plan is a start towards achieving that future. It must serve as a guide for both South Bucks District Council and Stoke Poges Parish Council. 3 1.2 Objectives of the Appraisal Process The aims of the Appraisal are to: • Take stock of how Stoke Poges has developed both in the historic and recent past. • Establish the potential threats to Village assets and emerging opportunities. • Identify the needs and priorities of residents, • Identify the action required to meet these needs and priorities. • Enable the local community, statutory authorities and other public and voluntary sector organisations to respond more effectively to community needs and priorities. 1.3 Approach The achievement of these objectives has involved: • An examination of the main features of the physical parish and the local community. • The preparation, distribution and analysis of questionnaires designed to elicit the views and priorities of the residents in Stoke Poges. • An Open Day, when residents were invited contribute views, ideas and express their concerns. • Village Meetings to describe the Bell’s Hill Development and take note of concerns. • The identification of the main issues currently facing residents. • Producing a series of recommended actions in the form of a Village Plan which defines the work required to respond to these priorities and the mechanisms necessary to take the plan forward. This approach is reflected in the structure of the report. Part 2 examines the historical development of the Village. Part 3 examines the Village today. Part 4 outlines the methods adopted in consulting with residents and sets out the main findings. Part 5 summarises the emerging issues and the key objectives of a Village Plan for Stoke Poges and Part 6 identifies the actions required to deliver these objectives. 4 2. THE HISTORY OF STOKE POGES Stoke Poges is a Village with a long history. Situated 2.5miles north of Slough, over 90% of its 2500 acres are designated as Green Belt. It is not a traditional Village with church, houses and shops surrounding a Village Green. Instead,